View source for HMS Repulse (1916)

{{short description|1916 Renown-class battlecruiser of the Royal Navy}}
{{other ships|HMS Repulse}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2014}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=File:Renown-7.jpg
|Ship caption=''Repulse'' with other capital ships of the [[Atlantic Fleet (United Kingdom)|Atlantic Fleet]] on manoeuvres in the 1920s
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=[[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship name=''Repulse''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=30 December 1914
|Ship builder=[[John Brown & Company]], Clydebank
|Ship laid down=25 January 1915
|Ship launched=8 January 1916
|Ship commissioned=18 August 1916
|Ship honours=
|Ship identification=[[Pennant number]]: 34
|Ship fate=Sunk by Japanese bombers, 10 December 1941
|Ship motto=*''Qui Tangit Frangitur''
* ''Who touches me is broken''
|Ship nickname=''Repair''<ref>Stephen, p. 103</ref>
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=(as built)
|Ship class={{sclass|Renown|battlecruiser}}
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|27200|LT|t|0|lk=on}} (normal)
* {{convert|32220|LT|t|0|abbr=on}} ([[deep load]])
|Ship length=*{{convert|750|ft|2|in|m|1|abbr=on}} [[Length between perpendiculars|p.p.]]
* {{convert|794|ft|1.5|in|m|0|abbr=on}} ([[Length overall|o.a.]])
|Ship beam={{convert|90|ft|1.75|in|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|27|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=* 42 × [[water-tube boiler]]s
* {{cvt|112000|shp|kW|lk=on}}
|Ship propulsion=*4 × shafts, 2 × [[steam turbine]] sets,
|Ship speed={{convert|31.5|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship armament=*3 × twin [[BL 15 inch Mk I naval gun|{{cvt|15|in|mm|0}} gun]]s
* 5 × triple, 2 × single [[BL 4 inch Mk IX naval gun|{{cvt|4|in|mm|0}} gun]]s
* 2 × single [[QF 3 inch 20 cwt|{{cvt|3|in|0|adj=on}}]] [[AA gun]]s
* 2 × [[British 21 inch torpedo|{{convert|21|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}]] [[torpedo tube]]s
|Ship armour=*[[Belt armor|Belt]]: {{convert|3|-|6|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
* [[Deck (ship)|Deck]]s: {{convert|1|-|2.5|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
* [[Barbette]]s: {{convert|4|-|7|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
* [[Gun turret]]s: {{convert|7|-|9|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
* [[Conning tower]]: {{convert|10|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
* [[Bulkhead (partition)|Bulkhead]]s: {{convert|3|-|4|in|mm|abbr=on}}
|Ship crew=*967
* 1,222 (1919)
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=(1939)
|Ship class=
|Ship displacement={{convert|34600|LT|t|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|29|ft|8|in|m|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship power= 8 × boilers, {{convert|112000|shp|kW|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=4 × shafts, 4 × steam turbines
|Ship speed={{convert|31|kn}}
|Ship range={{convert|6650|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} <!-- At what speed? -->
|Ship complement=1,181
|Ship armament=*3 × twin {{cvt|15|in|0|adj=on}} guns
* 3 × triple {{cvt|4|in|0|adj=on}} guns
* 6 × single {{cvt|4|in|mm|adj=on|0}} AA guns
* 2 × quadruple {{cvt|40|mm|1}} [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|2-pdr]] AA guns
|Ship armour=*[[Belt armor|Belt]]: {{convert|2|-|9|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
* [[Deck (ship)|Deck]]s: {{convert|1|-|4|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
* otherwise no change
|Ship aircraft=4 × [[seaplane]]s
|Ship aircraft facilities=1 × [[aircraft catapult]]
|Ship notes=
}}
|}

'''HMS ''Repulse''''' was one of two {{sclass|Renown|battlecruiser}}s built for the [[Royal Navy during the First World War]]. Originally laid down as an improved version of the {{sclass|Revenge|battleship|2}}, her construction was suspended on the outbreak of war because she would not be ready in time. [[John Fisher, 1st Baron Fisher|Admiral Lord Fisher]], upon becoming [[First Sea Lord]], gained approval for her to resume construction as a battlecruiser that could be built and enter service quickly. The [[Director of Naval Construction]] (DNC), [[Sir Eustace Tennyson-d'Eyncourt, 1st Baronet|Eustace Tennyson-d'Eyncourt]], quickly produced an entirely new design to meet Admiral Lord Fisher's requirements and the builders agreed to deliver the ship in 15 months. They did not quite meet that ambitious goal, but the ship was delivered a few months after the [[Battle of Jutland]] in 1916. ''Repulse'' and her [[sister ship]] {{HMS|Renown|1916|2}} were the world's fastest [[capital ship]]s upon completion.

''Repulse'' participated in the [[Second Battle of Heligoland Bight]] in 1917, the only combat she saw during the war. She was reconstructed twice between the wars; a reconstruction in the 1920s increased her armour protection and made lesser improvements, while another in the 1930s was much more thorough. ''Repulse'' accompanied the battlecruiser {{HMS|Hood|51|2}} during the [[Cruise of the Special Service Squadron]] on a round-the-world cruise in 1923 to 1924 and protected international shipping during the [[Spanish Civil War]] in 1936 to 1939.

The ship spent the first months of the [[Second World War]] hunting for German raiders and blockade runners. She participated in the [[Norwegian Campaign]] of April to June 1940 and searched for the {{ship|German battleship|Bismarck||2|up=y}} in 1941. ''Repulse'' escorted a troop convoy around the [[Cape of Good Hope]] from August to October 1941 and was transferred to the [[East Indies Station|East Indies Command]]. She was assigned in November to [[Force Z]], which was supposed to deter Japanese aggression against [[British possessions]] in the Far East. ''Repulse'' and her [[consort (nautical)|consort]], the battleship {{HMS|Prince of Wales|53|2}}, were sunk by Japanese aircraft on 10 December 1941 when they attempted to intercept landings in [[British Malaya]].

In December 2023, a memorial was erected at [[Teluk Cempedak]] beach, commemorating both ''Repulse'' and ''Prince of Wales''. The memorial was unveiled by [[Yang di-Pertuan Agong|King]] [[Abdullah of Pahang]].<ref>{{cite web|title=King unveils memorial for HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales|website=Free Malaysia Today|date=10 December 2023|url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2023/12/10/king-unveils-memorial-for-hms-repulse-and-hms-prince-of-wales/|access-date=11 December 2023}}</ref>

==Design and description==
[[File:Repulse-1.jpg|thumb|left|''Repulse'', circa 1916–1917, after post-trials alterations]]
Admiral Lord Fisher first presented his requirements for the new ships to the [[Director of Naval Construction]] (DNC) on 18 December 1914, before the ships had even been approved. He wanted a long, flared bow, like that on the [[pre-dreadnought]] {{HMS|Renown|1895|2}} but higher, four 15-inch guns in two twin-[[gun turret]]s, an anti-[[torpedo boat]] armament of twenty {{convert|4|in|adj=on|0}} guns mounted high up and protected by [[gun shield]]s only, a speed of 32 knots using oil fuel and armour on the scale of the battlecruiser {{HMS|Indefatigable|1909|2}}. Within a few days Fisher increased the number of guns to six and added two torpedo tubes. Minor revisions in the initial estimate were made until 26 December and a preliminary design was completed on 30 December.<ref>Roberts, pp. 47–48</ref>

During the following week the DNC's department examined the material delivered for the two battleships and decided what could be used in the new design. The usable material was transferred to the builders who had received enough information from the DNC's department to lay the [[keel]]s of both ships on 25 January 1915, well before the altered contracts were completed on 10 March.<ref>Roberts, pp. 45, 47</ref>

''Repulse'' had an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|794|ft|2.5|in|m|1}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|89|ft|11.5|in|m|1}} and a maximum [[draft (hull)|draught]] of {{convert|29|ft|9|in|m|1}}. She displaced {{convert|26854|LT|t}} at normal load and {{convert|31592|LT|t}} at [[deep load]].<ref name=b97/> The Brown-Curtis direct-drive [[steam turbine]]s were designed to produce {{convert|112000|shp|lk=in}}, which would propel the ship at {{convert|32|kn|lk=on}}. During trials in 1916, ''Repulse''{{'}}s turbines provided {{convert|118913|shp|abbr=on}}, allowing her to reach a speed of {{convert|31.73|kn}}.<ref>Roberts, p. 81</ref> The ship normally carried {{convert|1000|LT|t|0}} of [[fuel oil]] but had a maximum capacity of {{convert|4289|LT|t}}. At full capacity, she could steam at a speed of {{convert|18|kn}} for {{convert|4000|nmi|0}}.<ref name=b97>Burt 1986, p. 297</ref>

The ship mounted six 42-[[caliber (artillery)|calibre]] [[BL 15 inch Mk I naval gun|BL 15-inch Mk I guns]] in three twin hydraulically powered gun turrets, 'A', 'B' and 'Y' from front to rear.<ref name=b97/> Her secondary armament consisted of 17 [[BL 4 inch Mk IX naval gun|BL 4-inch Mark IX guns]], fitted in five triple and two single mounts. ''Repulse'' mounted a pair of [[QF 3-inch 20 cwt]]<ref group=Note>"cwt" is the abbreviation for [[hundredweight]], 30 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.</ref> [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] guns mounted on the shelter deck abreast the rear funnel.<ref name=rr48>Raven and Roberts, p. 48</ref> She mounted two submerged [[torpedo tube|tube]]s for [[British 21 inch torpedo|{{convert|21|in|adj=on|0}}]] torpedoes, one on each side forward of 'A' barbette.<ref>Roberts, p. 83</ref>

''Repulse''{{'}}s [[waterline]] [[Belt armor|belt]] of [[Krupp armour|Krupp cemented armour]] measured {{convert|6|in|mm|0}} thick amidships. Her gun turrets were {{convert|7|–|9|in|mm|0}} thick with roofs {{convert|4.25|in|mm|0}} thick. As designed the high-tensile-steel [[deck (ship)|deck]]s ranged from {{convert|0.75|to|1.5|in|0}} in thickness. After the [[Battle of Jutland]] in 1916, while the ship was still completing, an extra inch of high-tensile steel was added on the main deck over the [[magazine (artillery)|magazine]]s.<ref name=b94>Burt 1986, p. 294</ref> ''Repulse'' was fitted with a shallow [[anti-torpedo bulge]] integral to the hull which was intended to explode the torpedo before it hit the hull proper and vent the underwater explosion to the surface rather than into the ship.<ref>Roberts, p. 111</ref>

Despite these additions, the ship was still felt to be too vulnerable to plunging fire and ''Repulse'' was refitted in Rosyth between 10 November 1916 and 29 January 1917 with additional horizontal armour, weighing approximately {{convert|504|LT|t}}, added to the decks over the magazines and over the steering gear.<ref name=b94/> ''Repulse'' was the first capital ship fitted with a [[Flight deck#Early|flying-off platform]] when an experimental one was fitted on 'B' turret in the autumn of 1917. [[Squadron Leader]] [[Frederick Rutland]] took off in a [[Sopwith Pup]] on 1 October. Another platform was built on 'Y' turret and Rutland took off from it on 8 October. One [[fighter aircraft|fighter]] and a reconnaissance aircraft were normally carried.<ref>Raven and Roberts, p. 51</ref>

==Service history==
===First World War===
{{main|World War I}}
''Repulse'' was laid down by [[J. Brown Shipyard|John Brown]], [[Clydebank]], [[Scotland]] on 25 January 1915. The ship was launched on 8 January 1916 and completed on 18 August 1916, after the Battle of Jutland. Her construction cost £2,829,087 (£{{formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|2829087|1917|r=-4}}}} in {{CURRENTYEAR}}).<ref name=b97/> She served with the [[Grand Fleet]] in the [[North Sea]] during the remaining two years of the First World War. ''Repulse'' relieved {{HMS|Lion|1910|2}} as flagship of the [[1st Battlecruiser Squadron (United Kingdom)|1st Battlecruiser Squadron]] for the duration of the war.<ref name=b02/>

====Second Battle of Heligoland Bight====
{{Main|Second Battle of Heligoland Bight}}
[[File:BRITISH SHIPS OF THE FIRST WORLD WAR SP720.jpg|thumb|''Repulse'' in the [[Firth of Forth]] serving as the flagship of the [[1st Battlecruiser Squadron]], 1918]]
Over the course of 1917 the Admiralty became more concerned about German efforts in the North Sea to sweep paths through the British-laid minefields intended to restrict the actions of the [[High Seas Fleet]] and German [[submarine]]s. A preliminary raid on German minesweeping forces on 31 October by light forces destroyed ten small ships and the Admiralty decided on a larger operation to destroy the [[minesweeper (ship)|minesweeper]]s and their escorting [[light cruiser]]s. Based on intelligence reports the Admiralty decided on 17 November 1917 to allocate two light cruiser squadrons, the [[1st Cruiser Squadron]] covered by the reinforced 1st BCS (less ''Renown'') and, more distantly, the [[battleship]]s of the [[1st Battle Squadron]] to the operation.<ref>Newbolt, pp. 164–165</ref>

The German ships, four light cruisers of II Scouting Force, eight [[destroyer]]s, three divisions of minesweepers, eight [[Sperrbrecher]]s (cork-filled [[naval trawler|trawler]]s, used to detonate mines without sinking) and two trawlers to mark the swept route, were spotted at 7:30&nbsp;a.m.,<ref group=Note>The times used in this article are in [[Coordinated Universal Time|UTC]], which is one hour behind [[Central European Time|CET]], which is often used in German works.</ref> silhouetted by the rising sun. The light battlecruiser {{HMS|Courageous|50|2}} and the light cruiser {{HMS|Cardiff|D58|2}} opened fire with their forward guns seven minutes later. The Germans responded by laying an effective [[smoke screen]]. The British continued in pursuit, but lost track of most of the smaller ships in the smoke and concentrated fire on the light cruisers as opportunity permitted. ''Repulse'' was detached not long after and raced forward at full speed to engage the enemy ships. She opened fire at about 9:00,<ref>Newbolt, pp. 173–175</ref> scoring a single hit on the light cruiser {{SMS|Königsberg|1915|6}} during the battle.<ref name=b02>Burt 1986, p. 302</ref> When the German battleships {{SMS|Kaiser|1911|6}} and {{SMS|Kaiserin}} were spotted about 9:50 the British broke off their pursuit and ''Repulse'' covered their retreat, aided by a heavy fog that came down around 10:40.<ref>Newbolt, pp. 175–176</ref> The ship fired a total of 54 15-inch shells during the battle and scored one hit on the light cruiser ''Königsberg'' that temporarily reduced her speed.<ref>Campbell, p. 64</ref>

On 12 December 1917, ''Repulse'' was damaged in a collision with the battlecruiser {{HMAS|Australia|1911|6}}.<ref>Roberts, p. 123</ref> The ship was present at the surrender of the High Seas Fleet at Scapa Flow on 21 November 1918.<ref name=b02/>

===Inter-war period===
[[File:HMS Repulse (1919) profile drawing.png|thumb|left|''Repulse'' in 1919]]
''Repulse'' began a major refit at [[Portsmouth]] on 17 December 1918<ref name=b02/> intended to drastically improve her armour protection. Her existing six-inch armour belt was replaced by {{convert|9|in|adj=on|0}} armour plates made surplus by the conversion of the battleship {{ship|Chilean battleship|Almirante Cochrane||2}} (originally ordered by Chile and purchased after the war began) to the [[aircraft carrier]] {{HMS|Eagle|1918|2}}. The original armour was fitted between the main and upper decks, above the new armour. Additional high-tensile plating was added to the decks over the magazines. The ship's anti-torpedo bulge was deepened and reworked along the lines of that installed on the battleship {{HMS|Ramillies|07|2}}. The bulge covered her hull from the submerged torpedo room to 'Y' magazine, the inner compartments of which were filled with crushing tubes. The bulges added {{convert|12|ft|8|in|m|1}} to her beam and {{convert|1|ft|4|in|m|1}} to her draught. The refit added about {{convert|4500|LT|t}} to her displacement and raised her [[metacentric height]] to {{convert|6.4|ft|m|0}} at deep load. Three {{convert|30|ft|m|adj=on}} rangefinders were also added as well as eight torpedo tubes in twin mounts on the upper deck. Both flying-off platforms were removed.<ref>Raven and Roberts, pp. 55–56</ref> This refit cost £860,684.

[[File:HMS Repulse entering Vancouver Harbour 1924.jpg|thumb|''Repulse'' entering [[Burrard Inlet|Vancouver Harbour]] during her [[Cruise of the Special Service Squadron|world tour]] with ''Hood'' and other ships of the Special Service Squadron, 1924]]
''Repulse'' was recommissioned on 1 January 1921 and joined the Battlecruiser Squadron of the [[Atlantic Fleet (United Kingdom)|Atlantic Fleet]]. In November 1923, ''Hood'', accompanied by ''Repulse'' and a number of {{sclass|Danae|cruiser|2}}<nowiki/>s of the [[1st Light Cruiser Squadron (United Kingdom)|1st Light Cruiser Squadron]], set out [[Cruise of the Special Service Squadron|on a world cruise]] from west to east via the [[Panama Canal]]. They returned home ten months later in September 1924.<ref name=b02/> Shortly after her return the ship's two three-inch AA guns and her two single four-inch gun mounts were removed and replaced with four QF four-inch Mark V AA guns.<ref name=rr43>Raven and Roberts, p. 143</ref> The Battlecruiser Squadron visited [[Lisbon]] in February 1925 to participate in the [[Vasco da Gama]] celebrations before continuing on to the Mediterranean for exercises.<ref>Burt 1993, p. 220</ref> A squash court was added on the starboard side between the funnels, and a sauna and bubble bath on the quarterdeck for the Prince of Wales' tour of Africa and South America<ref name=rr43/> that lasted from March to October.<ref>Burt 1993, pp. 220–221</ref> Upon her return, she was refitted from November 1925 to July 1926 and had a high-angle control position (HACP) added to her fore-top.<ref name=rr43/>

====1930s reconstructions====
[[File:Haifa, result of terrorist acts & government measures. H.M.S. Repulse taken from the docks, marine on guard below British flag.1938.jpg|thumb|''Repulse'' in July 1938, from the stern]]
After ''Repulse'' completed her 1926 refit, she remained in commission, aside from a brief refit from July to September 1927, with the Battlecruiser Squadron of the Atlantic Fleet until she was paid off in June 1932 prior to beginning her reconstruction in April 1933. Most of the existing layers of high-tensile steel that constituted the ship's horizontal armour were replaced by non-cemented armour plates {{convert|2.5|-|3.5|in}} in thickness and the torpedo control tower was removed from the aft superstructure.<ref>Raven and Roberts, pp. 206–207</ref> A fixed catapult replaced the midships 4-inch triple mount and a [[hangar]] was built on each side of the rear funnel to house two of the ship's Fairey III aircraft. One additional aircraft could be carried on the deck and another on the catapult itself. Electric cranes were mounted above each hangar to handle the aircraft.<ref name="Burt, pp. 210, 213">Burt, pp. 210, 213</ref>

The four 4-inch AA guns were moved, one pair abreast the rear funnel at the level of the hangar roof and the other pair abreast the fore funnel on the forecastle deck. Four prototype QF 4-inch Mark XV [[Dual purpose gun|dual-purpose gun]]s were added in twin-gun Mark XVIII mounts abreast the mainmast. Two octuple Mark VI [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|2-pounder]] mounts were fitted on extensions of the conning-tower platform abreast the fore funnel. Above these a pair of quadruple Mark II* mountings for the [[Vickers machine gun|0.5-inch Vickers Mark III]] machine gun were added.<ref name="Burt, pp. 210, 213"/> These mounts could depress to −10° and elevate to a maximum of 70°. The machine guns fired a {{convert|1.326|oz|adj=on}} bullet at a muzzle velocity of {{convert|2520|ft/s|m/s|abbr=on}}. This gave the gun a maximum range of about {{convert|5000|yd|m|abbr=on}}, although its effective range was only {{convert|800|yd|m|abbr=on}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_5-62_mk3.htm|title=British 0.50"/62 (12.7 mm) Mark III – Japanese 12 mm/62 "HI" Type|date=27 January 2010|publisher=navweaps.com|access-date=8 June 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100207221146/http://navweaps.com/Weapons/WNBR_5-62_mk3.htm|archive-date=7 February 2010|df=dmy-all}}</ref> ''Repulse'' received two [[HACS|High-Angle Control System]] anti-aircraft directors, one Mark II on the fore-top and a Mark I* mounted on a pedestal above the rear superstructure. The two submerged torpedo tubes were removed and the vacant spaces sub-divided and turned into store-rooms.<ref>Raven and Roberts, pp. 207, 209</ref>

[[File:HMS Repulse LOC matpc 18612.jpg|thumb|left|''Repulse'' in Haifa harbor during the [[1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestine|Arab Revolt]], July 1938]]
''Repulse'' was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet when she recommissioned in April 1936. She transported 500 refugees from [[Valencia]] and [[Palma de Mallorca]] to [[Marseille]], France in late 1936 after the start of the [[Spanish Civil War]]. The ship was present at the Coronation [[Fleet Review]] at [[Spithead]] on 20 May 1937 for King [[George VI]]. ''Repulse'' was sent to [[Haifa]] in July 1938 to maintain order during the [[1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine#The role of the Royal Navy|Arab Revolt]]. She was selected to convey the King and Queen during their May 1939 Canadian Tour and she was refitted between October 1938 and March 1939 for this role. The twin 4-inch AA guns were replaced by two more Mark V guns and two additional quadruple .50-calibre mounts were added. The King and Queen ultimately travelled aboard the [[Ocean liner|liner]] {{RMS|Empress of Australia|1919|6}} while ''Repulse'' escorted them on the first half of the journey.<ref>Burt 1993, pp. 221, 224</ref>

===Second World War===
At the beginning of the Second World War, ''Repulse'' was part of the Battlecruiser Squadron of the [[Home Fleet]]. She patrolled off the Norwegian coast and in the North Sea in search of German ships, as well as to enforce the blockade for the first couple months of the war.<ref>Rohwer, pp. 3, 6</ref> Early in the war, the aft triple 4-inch gun mount was replaced with an 8-barrel 2-pounder mount.<ref name=rr17>Raven and Roberts, p. 217</ref> In late October, she was transferred to [[Halifax Regional Municipality|Halifax]] with the aircraft carrier {{HMS|Furious|47|2}} to protect convoys and search for German raiders. ''Repulse'' and ''Furious'' sortied from Halifax on 23 November in search of the {{ship|German battleship|Scharnhorst}} after it had sunk the [[armed merchant cruiser]] {{HMS|Rawalpindi||2}}, but ''Repulse'' was damaged by heavy seas in a storm and was forced to return to port.<ref>Burt 1993, p. 224</ref> ''Repulse'' escorted the convoy bringing most of the [[1st Canadian Infantry Division]] to Britain from 10 to 23 December 1939 and was reassigned to the Home Fleet. In February 1940, she accompanied the aircraft carrier {{HMS|Ark Royal|91|2}} on a fruitless search for six German [[blockade runner]]s that had broken out of [[Vigo]], Spain.<ref>Rohwer, pp. 11, 15</ref>

[[File:HMS Repulse escorting a troop convoy A6793.jpg|thumb|''Repulse'' escorting the last convoy to reach Singapore, December 1941]]
''Repulse'' was assigned to support Allied operations during the [[Norwegian Campaign]] in April–June 1940. On 7 April, ''Repulse'', along with the bulk of the Home Fleet, was ordered to sea to intercept what was thought to be another attempt to break-out into the North Atlantic. The ship was detached the following day to search for a German ship reported by the destroyer {{HMS|Glowworm|H92|2}}, but the destroyer had been sunk by the {{ship|German cruiser|Admiral Hipper}} before ''Repulse'' arrived and she was ordered to rendezvous with her sister ''Renown'' south of the [[Lofoten Islands]], off the Norwegian coast.<ref>Haarr 2009, pp. 86, 93, 105</ref> On 12 April, ''Repulse'' was ordered to return to [[Scapa Flow]] to refuel and she escorted a troop convoy upon her return.<ref>Haarr 2010, pp. 116, 139</ref> In early June the ship was sent to the North Atlantic to search for German raiders and played no part in the evacuation of Norway.<ref>Rohwer, p. 25</ref>

Accompanied by ''Renown'' and the 1st Cruiser Squadron, ''Repulse'' attempted to intercept the {{ship|German battleship|Gneisenau||2|up=y}} as it sailed from [[Trondheim]] to Germany in July. Until May 1941, the ship escorted convoys and unsuccessfully searched for German ships. On 22 May, ''Repulse'' was diverted from escorting Convoy WS8B to assist in the search for the {{ship|German battleship|Bismarck||2|up=y}}, but she had to break off the search early on 25 May as she was running low on fuel. The ship was refitted from June–August<ref>Burt 1993, pp. 224–225</ref> and received six [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon|Oerlikon {{convert|20|mm|adj=on}}]] [[autocannon]] as well as a [[List of World War II British naval radar#Type 284|Type 284]] surface gunnery [[radar]].<ref name=rr17/> ''Repulse'' escorted a troop convoy around the [[Cape of Good Hope]] from August to October and was transferred to [[East Indies Command]].<ref>Burt 1993, p. 225</ref>

====Force Z====
{{Main|Sinking of Prince of Wales and Repulse}}

[[File:HMS Repulse leaving Singapore.jpg|thumb|''Repulse'' departing from Singapore on 8 December 1941]]
In late 1941 [[Winston Churchill]] decided to send a small group of fast capital ships along with one modern aircraft carrier to Singapore, to deter expected Japanese aggression. In November, ''Repulse'' which was in the Indian Ocean was ordered to [[Colombo]], [[Ceylon]] to rendezvous with the new battleship {{HMS|Prince of Wales|53|2}}. The carrier {{HMS|Indomitable|92|2}}, which was assigned to join them, was delayed when she ran aground in the Caribbean. ''Prince of Wales'' and ''Repulse'' and their escorting destroyers comprised [[Force Z]], which arrived in Singapore on 2 December 1941. On the evening of 8 December, Force Z set out on an attempt to destroy Japanese troop convoys and protect the army's seaward flanks from Japanese landings in their rear.<ref>Burt 1993, pp. 226–227</ref>

Force Z was spotted during the afternoon of 9 December by the {{Jsub|I-65}}, and [[floatplane]]s from several Japanese cruisers spotted the British ships later that afternoon and shadowed them until dark. [[Admiral]] Sir [[Tom Phillips (Royal Navy officer)|Tom Phillips]] decided to cancel the operation as the Japanese were now alerted. Force Z turned back during the evening, after having tried to deceive the Japanese that they were heading to [[Singora]]. At 00:50 on 10 December, Admiral Philips received a signal of enemy landings at [[Kuantan]] and correspondingly altered course so that he would arrive shortly after dawn.<ref>Stephen, pp. 107–108</ref>

The crew of {{Jsub|I-58|1925|2}} spotted Force Z at 02:20, reported their position, and fired five torpedoes, all of which missed. Based on this report the Japanese launched 11 reconnaissance aircraft before dawn to locate Force Z. Several hours later 86 bombers from the 22nd Air Flotilla based in [[Saigon]] were launched carrying bombs or torpedoes. The crew of a [[Mitsubishi G3M]] reconnaissance bomber spotted the British at 10:15 and radioed in several reports. The pilot was ordered to maintain contact and to broadcast a directional signal that the other Japanese bombers could follow.<ref>Shores, et al., pp. 113–116</ref>

[[File:Japanese high-level bombing attack on HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse 1941-12-10.jpg|thumb|''Repulse'' is at the bottom of the frame, having been hit by a bomb, 10 December 1941]]
The first attack began at 11:13 when {{convert|250|kg|lb|0}} bombs were dropped from eight G3Ms from an altitude of {{convert|11500|ft|m|0}}. The battlecruiser was [[wikt:straddle|straddled]] by two bombs, then hit by a third which penetrated through the hangar to explode on the armoured deck below. This inflicted a number of casualties and damaged the ship's [[Supermarine Walrus]] seaplane, which was then pushed over the side to remove a fire hazard. Anti-aircraft fire damaged five of the Japanese bombers, two so badly that they immediately returned to Saigon. In the ensuing attacks, ''Repulse'' was skilfully handled by her captain, [[William Tennant (Royal Navy officer)|Bill Tennant]], who managed to avoid 19 torpedoes as well as the remaining bombs from the G3Ms.<ref>Shores, et al., pp. 116–120</ref> The gunners on the ''Repulse'' shot down two planes and heavily damaged eight more. However, ''Repulse'' was then caught by a synchronised pincer attack by 17 [[Mitsubishi G4M]] torpedo bombers and hit by four or five torpedoes in rapid succession which proved fatal.<ref>Shores, et al., pp. 120–121</ref> At 12:23, ''Repulse'' listed severely to port, quickly [[capsizing|capsized]] and went down by the stern<ref>{{cite book |last1=Middlebrook |first1=Martin |author-link=Martin Middlebrook |title=The Sinking of the Prince of Wales & Repulse: The End of the Battleship Era |last2=Mahoney |first2=Patrick |publisher=Pen & Sword Books |year=2014 |location=United Kingdom}}</ref> with the loss of 508 officers and men. The destroyers {{HMS|Electra|H27|2}} and {{HMAS|Vampire|D68|2}} rescued the survivors, including Captain Tennant.<ref>Stephen, pp. 112–114</ref>

==Wreck==

HMS Repulse came to rest at {{convert|183|ft|m}}, almost upside down with her starboard side elevated and her port side buried in the seabed at {{Coord|3|37|N|104|20|E}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2023/november/16/20231116-royal-navy-remembers-pacific-tragedy-with-service-over-ww2-wrecks|title=Royal Navy remembers Pacific tragedy with service over WW2 wrecks|publisher=Royal Navy|date=16 November 2023|accessdate=11 June 2024}}</ref>
<ref>Denlay, p. 6</ref>
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/great_britain/battleships/repulse_1916/hms_repulse_1916_wreck_map.htm|title=HMS Repulse (1916) Wreck Map|publisher=Maritime Quest|accessdate=11 June 2024}}</ref>
The wreck site was designated as a 'Protected Place' in 2002 under the [[Protection of Military Remains Act 1986]], 60 years after her sinking.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2006/20062616.htm|title=Statutory Instrument 2006 No. 2616 The Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2006|publisher=Queen's Printer of Acts of Parliament|access-date=20 November 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708214655/http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2006/20062616.htm|archive-date=8 July 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Survivors described five torpedo hits on ''Repulse'', four on the port side and one on the starboard side. The four portside hits purportedly were: two amidship, one abreast of the rear turret and one near the propellers. The starboard side hit was amidships. A 2007 diving expedition could confirm only two of the hits by examination of the wreck: the portside hit near the propellers and the starboard hit amidship. Unfortunately, at the time of the expedition, the portside midships section of the wreck was buried in the ocean floor thus the claimed hits there could not be confirmed. However, the area abreast of the port rear turret was accessible and no sign whatsoever of a torpedo hit, as described by survivors, was found.<ref>Denlay, pp. 6–8</ref>

In October 2014, ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' reported that both ''Prince of Wales'' and ''Repulse'' were being "extensively damaged" with explosives by scrap metal dealers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/malaysia/11187603/Celebrated-British-warships-being-stripped-bare-for-scrap-metal.html|title=Celebrated British warships being stripped bare for scrap metal |first1=Julian |last1=Ryall |first2=Joel |last2=Gunter |name-list-style=amp |work=The Daily Telegraph|date=25 October 2014|access-date=26 October 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026012728/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/malaysia/11187603/Celebrated-British-warships-being-stripped-bare-for-scrap-metal.html|archive-date=26 October 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref> In May 2023, it was reported that a Chinese ship, ''Chuan Hong 68'', illegally scavenged the wreck for its [[low-background steel]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Grady |first=John |date=2023-05-25 |title=U.K. Royal Navy 'Distressed and Concerned' by Illegal Chinese Salvage of WWII Wrecks |language=en-US |website=[[USNI News]] |url=https://news.usni.org/2023/05/25/u-k-royal-navy-distressed-and-concerned-by-illegal-chinese-salvage-of-wwii-wrecks |access-date=2023-05-26}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Seidel |first=Jamie |date=May 23, 2023 |title=Chinese salvage ship caught red-handed looting battleship wrecks |work=[[news.com.au]] |url=https://www.news.com.au/technology/innovation/military/chinese-salvage-ship-caught-redhanded-looting-battleship-wrecks/news-story/169b13b741a4842edaaad2727e90d37d |access-date=May 26, 2023}}</ref> In July 2024, this same vessel, ''Chuan Hong 68'', suspected of not only looting the wrecks of Force Z<ref>{{cite web | url=https://thisismast.org/maritime-observatory/chuan-hong-68.html | title=Chuan Hong 68 and looting of multiple WW2 wrecks including HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse }}</ref> but other World War II wrecks in Asian waters, was back 'working' in the region and was subsequently detained by Malaysia authorities for 'paperwork violations'.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.usni.org/2024/07/04/chinese-ship-suspected-of-raiding-world-war-ii-wrecks-detained?ct=t%28USNI_NEWS_DAILY%29&mc_cid=9d31d94771&mc_eid=7eecb75fa4 |title=Chinese Ship Suspected of Raiding World War II Wrecks Detained |first=John |last=Grady |date=4 July 2024 |work=USNI News |publisher=U.S. Naval Institute}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=Note}}

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
* {{cite book|last=Brooks|first=John|title=Dreadnought Gunnery and the Battle of Jutland: The Question of Fire Control|publisher=Routledge|location=Abingdon, Oxfordshire|year=2005|series=Naval Policy and History|volume=32|isbn=0-415-40788-5}}
* {{cite book|last=Burt|first=R. A.|title=British Battleships, 1919–1939|year=1993|publisher=Arms and Armour Press|location=London|isbn=1-85409-068-2}}
* {{cite book|last=Burt|first=R. A.|title=British Battleships of World War One|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1986|isbn=0-87021-863-8}}
* {{cite book |last=Campbell |first=N. J. M. |title=Battle Cruisers: The Design and Development of British and German Battlecruisers of the First World War Era |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=Greenwich |year=1978 |series=Warship Special |volume=I |isbn=0-85177-130-0}}
* {{cite web|url=http://www.explorers.org/flag_reports/Flag_118_-_Kevin_Denlay_-_Update.pdf|title=Expedition Job 74|last=Denlay|first=Kevin|year=2007 |website=[[The Explorers Club]] |access-date=6 June 2013 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015203117/https://explorers.org/flag_reports/Flag_118_-_Kevin_Denlay_-_Update.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2017}}
* {{cite book|last=Haarr|first=Geirr H.|title=The Battle for Norway: April–June 1940|year=2010 |publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=978-1-59114-051-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Haarr|first=Geirr H.|title=The German Invasion of Norway: April 1940|year=2009 |publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=978-1-59114-310-9 |url=https://archive.org/details/germaninvasionof00geir}}
* {{cite book|last=Newbolt|first=Henry|title=Naval Operations|orig-year=1931|series=History of the Great War Based on Official Documents|volume=V|year=1996|publisher=Battery Press|location=Nashville, Tennessee|isbn=0-89839-255-1|author-link=Henry Newbolt}}
* {{cite book |last1=Parkes |first1=Oscar |title=British Battleships, ''Warrior'' 1860 to ''Vanguard'' 1950: A History of Design, Construction, and Armament |date=1990 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=1-55750-075-4 |edition=New & rev.|orig-year=1966|author-link=Oscar Parkes}}
* {{cite book |last1=Raven |first1=Alan |last2=Roberts |first2=John |title=British Battleships of World War Two: The Development and Technical History of the Royal Navy's Battleships and Battlecruisers from 1911 to 1946 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |year=1976 |isbn=978-0-87021-817-0 |name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book |last=Roberts |first=John |title=Battlecruisers |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |year=1997 |isbn=1-55750-068-1}}
* {{cite book|last=Rohwer|first=Jürgen|title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2005|edition=Third Revised|isbn=1-59114-119-2 |author-link=Jürgen Rohwer}}
* {{cite book|last1=Shores|first1=Christopher|last2=Cull|first2=Brian|last3=Izawa |first3=Yasuho |title=Bloody Shambles: The Drift to War to the Fall of Singapore|volume=I|year=1992|publisher=Grub Street|location=London|isbn=0-948817-50-X|name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book|last=Stephen|first=Martin|title=Sea Battles in Close-Up: World War 2|year=1988 |publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=0-87021-556-6 |url=https://archive.org/details/seabattlesinclos00mart}}

==Further reading==
* Brown, Cecil. ''Suez to Singapore'', ([https://books.google.com/books?id=WAU1AAAAIAAJ&q=Suez+to+SIngapore Google Books]), Random House, New York: 1942, {{OCLC|396440}}.
* Hein, David. "Vulnerable: HMS ''Prince of Wales'' in 1941". ''Journal of Military History'' Volume 77, no. 3 (July 2013): pp.&nbsp;955–89, {{ISSN|0899-3718}}.
* Horodyski, Joseph M. Military Heritage, December 2001, Volume 3, No. 3, pp.&nbsp;69–77 {{ISSN|1524-8666}} (feature on the ''Repulse'' and its sinking)
* {{cite book |last= Johnston |first= Ian |year= 2011 |title= Clydebank Battlecruisers: Forgotten Photographs from John Brown's Shipyard |location= Annapolis, Maryland |publisher= Naval Institute Press |type= Hardcover |isbn= 978-1591141204}}
* Middlebrook, Martin and Mahoney, Patrick "Battleship: The Sinking of the ''Prince Of Wales'' and the ''Repulse''", Scribner's: New York, 1979, {{OCLC|5843076}}
* Alan Matthews, ''Sailors' Tales: Life Onboard HMS ''Repulse'' During World War Two'', Wrexham (1997) {{ISBN|0-9531217-0-4}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|HMS Repulse (ship, 1916)|HMS Repulse}}
* [http://www.maritimequest.com/warship_directory/great_britain/battleships/repulse_1916/hms_repulse_1916.htm Maritimequest HMS ''Repulse'' Photo Gallery]
* [http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/ Force Z Survivors Association] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181010175752/http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/ |date=10 October 2018 }}
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80007995 IWM Interview with survivor William Selby]
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80008051 IWM Interview with survivor Reginald Wood]
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80011082 IWM Interview with survivor Charles Rogers]
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80007282 IWM Interview with survivor Reginald Jeffries]
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80007982 IWM Interview with survivor Frederick Bowen]
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80008699 IWM Interview with survivor Victor Clark]
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80008459 IWM Interview with survivor Richard Smith]
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80008067 IWM Interview with survivor Robert Fraser]
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80009038 IWM Interview with survivor Richard Pool]
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80007981 IWM Interview with survivor Arthur Bartholomew]
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80016112 IWM Interview with survivor Eric Monaghan]
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80018689 IWM Interview with survivor Frank Claxton]
* [http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/80008526 IWM Interview with survivor Douglas Davies]

{{Renown class battlecruiser}}
{{December 1941 shipwrecks}}
{{Recreational dive sites|wresit}}
{{Coord|3|33|36|N|104|28|42|E|display=title|scale:5000000}}
{{Good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Repulse (1916)}}
[[Category:Military of Singapore under British rule]]
[[Category:Renown-class battlecruisers]]
[[Category:World War II battlecruisers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Ships built on the River Clyde]]
[[Category:Protected wrecks of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in December 1941]]
[[Category:1916 ships]]
[[Category:World War I battlecruisers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:World War II shipwrecks in the South China Sea]]
[[Category:Ships sunk by Japanese aircraft]]
[[Category:Wreck diving sites]]
[[Category:Underwater diving sites in Malaysia]]