HMS Duke of York

HMS Duke of York underway in heavy seas.

                                                                                                       Source: © IWM (A 7552)

HMS Duke of York was a King George V-class battleship of the Royal Navy, built by John Brown and Company and commissioned in November 1941. Her design, like that of her sister ships, was influenced by the limitations of pre-war naval treaties, resulting in a main armament of 14-inch guns.

This formidable warship had a standard displacement of over 36,700 long tons and was powered by steam turbines giving her a top speed of 28 knots. Her primary weapons were ten 14-inch guns in one twin and two quadruple turrets, supported by sixteen 5.25-inch dual-purpose guns and numerous smaller anti-aircraft guns, including 40mm "pom-poms" and 20mm Oerlikons.

During World War II, HMS Duke of York had a notable service history. In December 1941, she carried Prime Minister Winston Churchill to the United States. She was involved in escorting vital Arctic convoys to Russia and participated in diversionary operations during Allied invasions. A key moment in her career was the Battle of the North Cape in December 1943, where she played a crucial role in the sinking of the German battleship Scharnhorst. Although hit twice by the German ship with little significant damage, Duke of York's 14-inch shells disabled Scharnhorst, contributing to her eventual destruction after a prolonged engagement.

In 1945, she was transferred to the British Pacific Fleet and was present in Tokyo Bay for the Japanese surrender ceremonies, serving as the fleet's flagship. After the war, HMS Duke of York continued in active service with the Home Fleet until 1949, was laid up in 1951, and ultimately scrapped in 1957.