Name HMS Argonaut Commissioned 8 August 1942 Construction started 21 November 1939 Length 156 m | Laid down 21 November 1939 Out of service 6 July 1946 Launched 6 September 1941 Draft 4.3 m | |
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Reclassified In reserve between 1946 to 1955 Fate Scrapped, Arrived at J Cashmore, Newport on 19 November 1955 | ||
HMS Argonaut was a Dido-class cruiser. During October through November of 1942, HMS Argonaut served as part of Operation "Torch", Allied landings in North Africa. In this time part of Force "H", Gibraltar, commanding officers Vice Admiral Sir E. N. Syfret. Force "H" was a supporting force against German–Italian attacks or French counterattacks. December 1942 part of the new Force "Q" (RAdm. C. H. J. Harcourt) to fight against German–Italian convoys on the Tunisian coast. Part of Force "Q" are the cruisers Aurora, Sirius, Argonaut and the both Australian destroyers Quiberon and Quentin. On 1 December fighting with Italian Escort forces, the Italian convoy lost all four transport ships and the Italian destroyer Folgore. On the following day the German Air Force sunk HMAS Quentin westward of Cap Serrat.
On 14 December 1942, Argonaut was heavily damaged by Italian submarine Mocenigo not far from Bone. The ship then went to Algiers for repairs.