二次世界大戰資料庫 (WW2DB)

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbasePaid for by the Federated Malay States, the battleship Malaya was a member of the 5th Battle Squadron of the Grand Fleet during WW1 and took part in the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916. In 1921, she made a trip to Malay with the Duke of Cannaught. Between 1924 and the start of WW2, she served mostly in the Mediterranean Sea. During the inter-war years she was also rebuilt twice. The latter rebuilding in the mid-1930s added a new hangar, two cranes, and a fixed catapult to give her aircraft reconnaissance and spotting capabilities, while the addition of two twin 4-inch anti-aircraft guns and two 8-barrelled 2-pounder "pom pom" guns bolstered her armament.

ww2dbaseMalaya began her WW2 service by continuing to serve in the Mediterranean Sea, escorting convoys and operating against the Italian Navy. On 9 Feb 1941, British ships Renown, Malaya and Sheffield bombarded the Italian port city of Genoa, sinking 4 ships and damaging 18 others. At 2323 on 20 Mar 1941, she was hit by a torpedo from German submarine U-106 and received serious damage on the port side; she received temporary repairs at Trinidad, then sailed for New York Navy Yard in the United States for permanent repairs. On 9 Jul 1941, she sailed under the command of Captain Cuthbert Coppinger on a return trip to Britain, escorting a VIP convoy from Nova Scotia to Britain en route. In 1942, the aircraft and catapult were removed to provide room for two additional 4-in anti-aircraft mounts and two additional 2-pounder guns, among other configuration changes. She performed convoy duties between Britain, Malta, and Cape Town until summer of 1943.

ww2dbaseMalaya retired from active service at the end of 1944, by which time the development of the war lessened the Allies' need for a powerful surface navy. She was sold on 20 Feb 1948 to Metal Industries and was broken up beginning on 12 Apr 1948.

Battleship Malaya 互動地圖

Photographs

Malaya Operational Timeline

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