HMS Gambia (C48)
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| Career |  |
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| Ordered: | |
| Laid down: | |
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| Commissioned: | |
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| General Characteristics | |
| Displacement: | 8,000t |
| Dimensions: | 555.6ft x 62ft x 16.6ft (169m x 18.9m x 5.0m) |
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| Propulsion: | 4 Parsons geared turbines, 4 boilers, 4 shafts, 80,000 hp (60 MW) Ceylon class = 32kts (59km/h) |
| Range: | 10,100nm (18,700km) at 12kts (22km/h) |
| Complement: | 900 |
HMS Gambia was a Crown Colony class cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was in the service of the Royal New Zealand Navy (RNZN) as HMNZS Gambia from 1943 to 1946.
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[edit] Original Service
Gambia was originally laid down in 1939, and saw active service in the British Eastern Fleet. She was involved in the assault on Madagascar.
[edit] Royal New Zealand Navy Service
Because New Zealand's two other cruisers of the time, HMNZS Leander and HMNZS Achilles were damaged, it was decided in discussions with the Royal Navy Admiralty that HMS Gambia would be recommissioned as HMNZS Gambia, for the use of the Royal New Zealand Navy. Gambia served with the British Pacific Fleet, and participated in attacks on Japanese positions throughout the Pacific. She was under attack by Japanese aircraft at the time that a ceasefire was announced, so has the honour of firing some of the last shots of World War II.
She was present on 1945-09-02 in Tokyo Bay for the signing of Japanese Instrument of Surrender.
[edit] Royal Navy Service
The ship was returned to the Royal Navy in 1946, where she spent the rest of her life, until being broken up in 1968.
[edit] External links
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