§ 7. Mr. George Craddockasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the date and cost of constructing and fitting out the battleships "Anson," "Howe," "Duke of York," and "King George V"; what has been their cost of maintenance per annum since construction; and what is the number of crew.
§ Mr. SoamesHer Majesty's Ships "King George V," "Duke of York," "Anson", and "Howe" were completed between 1940 and 1942 at a cost of approximately £M8½ each. No record was kept of their maintenance cost during the war years. For the past ten years it has averaged £40,000 for each ship. During this period maintenance costs have been progressively reduced until they are now very small indeed. These ships carry no crews.
§ Mr. CraddockDoes the Minister not think the time has come when we could dispense with these huge warships, which would be sitting targets in the event of hostilities?
§ Mr. SoamesThe hon. Gentleman will not be surprised if I tell him that that is under active consideration.
§ Mr. ShinwellWill the Parliamentary Secretary be a little more frank with the House when these Questions are asked? Does that mean that it is the intention of the Government to dispense with these battleships altogether in view of the fact that they will never be used again in any kind of war?
§ Mr. SoamesIt means that the Government are considering it. When a decision has been taken, it will be announced to the House.
§ Mr. ShinwellWhere does the hon. Gentleman think he is?
§ 8. Mr. George Craddockasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty in which actions against the enemy the battleships "Anson," "Howe," "Duke of York," and "King George V," have taken part; and how many times their guns were fired during those actions.
§ Mr. SoamesThese ships played a notable part in the Second World War. "Anson" took part in ten actions, "Howe" in four, "Duke of York" in fourteen and "King George V" in thirteen. Since the detailed list of these actions is lengthy, I will with permission have it printed in the OFFICIAL REPORT. During these actions, "Anson" fired a total of 509 rounds from her main batteries alone. "Duke of York" 1,265, "Howe" 602 and "King George V" 1.181.
§ Mr. CraddockCan the Minister say how much that works out per round? Will he be good enough to speed up the Government with regard to getting rid of these large warships, which would be no earthly use in a future war?
§ Following is the information:
§ H.M. Ships "Anson". "Howe", "Duke of York" and "King George V"
§ Actions against the Enemy, Second World War
§ "ANSON". Commissioned 22nd June, 1942
§ September. 1942. Cover for Russian Convoys P.Q. 18 and Q.P. 14
360§ December, 1942-January, 1943 Cover for Russian Convoy J.W. 51B and action on 31st December. 1942, with enemy surface forces
§ January, 1943. Cover for Russian Convoys J.W. 52 and R.A. 52
§ March, 1943 Cover for returning Russian Convoy R.A. 53
§ July, 1943. Operation "Governor", to pin down enemy forces in Norway during invasion of Sicily
§ October, 1943. Sea and air strike on enemy shipping off Norway. Operation to Spitzbergen with reliefs and stores
§ November, 1943. Cover for returning Russian Convoy J.W. 54A.
§ February, 1944. Sea and air strike on enemy shipping off Norway.
§ March-April, 1944. Cover for Operation "Tungsten", Naval air attack on "Tirpitz"
§ April, 1944. Sea and air strike on enemy shipping off Norway.
§ (Under refit, Devonport, June, 1944-March, 1945, then Mediterranean and Far East.)
§ "HOWE". Commissioned 1st June, 1942
§ February. 1943. Cover for Russian Convoy J.W. 53.
§ July, 1943. Invasion of Sicily, Operation "Husky". Bombarded Favignana, July. 11– 12
§ September. 1943. Under refit, Devonport. December, 1943-April 1944, then Eastern Fleet
§ September, 1944. Covered carrier air strike on Sigli, Sumatra
§ (Joined British Pacific Fleet. December, 1944.)
§ March-May, 1945. Operation "Iceberg", to neutralise airfields on Sakishima Gunto during American attack on Okinawa. On 4th May, bombarded targets on Miyako
§ "DUKE OF YORK". Commissioned 4th November. 1941
§ March, 1942. Cover for Russian Convoys P.Q. 13 and Q.P. 9
§ April. 1942. Cover for Russian Convoys P.Q. 14 and Q.P. 10.
§ May, 1942. Cover for Russian Convoys P.Q. 16 and Q.P. 12
§ June-July. 1942. Cover for Russian Convoys P.Q. 17 and Q.P. 13.
§ September, 1942. Cover for Russian Convoys P.O. 18 and Q.P. 14
§ November, 1942. Covered landings in North Africa, Operation "Torch"
§ (Under refit. Rosyth. December, 1942 March, 1943.)
§ June, 1943. Covered Allied reliefs for Spitzbergen
§ July, 1943 Operation "Camera", diversion to pin down enemy forces in Norway during invasion of Sicily. Also repeat Operation "Governor".
§ October, 1943. Sea and air strike on enemy shipping off Norway.
§ December, 1943. Cover for Russian Convoys J.W. 55A and J.W. 55B. Action on 26th December, 1943, resulted in destruction of German battle cruiser "Scharnhorst''
361§ March, 1944. Cover for Russian Convoys J.W. 58 and R.A. 58
§ July, 1944. Operation "Mascot", naval air attack on "Tirpitz" (unsuccessful).
§ August, 1944. Cover for Russian Convoys J.W. 59 and R.A. 59A coupled with naval air strike on "Tirpitz".
§ (Under refit, Liverpool, September, 1944—March 1945, then to British Pacific Fleet) August, 1945. In Forward Area during final operations against Japanese
§ "KING GEORGE V". Commissioned 11th December, 1940.
§ March, 1941. Raid on Lofoten Islands, Operation "Claymore"
§ May, 1941. Operation against "Bismarck",
§ resulting in her destruction on 27th May.
§ October. 1941 Sea and air strike on enemy shipping off Norway.
§ February, 1942. Covered naval air sweep off Norway.
§ March, 1942. Cover for Russian Convoys P.Q. 12 and Q.P. 8
§ April-May, 1942. Cover for Russian Convoys P.Q. 15 and Q.P. 11
§ December, 1942. Cover for Russian Convoys J.W. 51A and R.A.
§ March, 1943. Cover for returning Russian Convoy R.A. 53
§ July, 1943. Invasion of Sicily, Operation "Husky". Bombarded Levanzo and Trapani Islands, 12th July
§ September, 1943. Under refit, Liverpool, February-July, 1944
§ (Left Scapa for British Pacific Fleet, 28th October, 1944)
§ November, 1944. Bombarded enemy battery at Lakida, Milos, Aegean, an route to the Pacific.
§ January, 1945. Covered naval air strike on enemy oil installations at Pladjoe, Palembang area, Southern Sumatra.
§ March-May, 1945. Operation "Iceberg", to neutralise airfields on Sakishima Gunto during American attack on Okinawa
§ July, 1945. Attack on Japanese mainland. Shelled Hitachi area of Honshu, 17th July. Bombarded Hamamatsu, South Coast of Honshu, night of 29th-30th July
§ Honshu, night of 29th-30th July.