H.M.S. CAMPANIA Gallery

Home

navigation

HMS CAMPANIA gallery

Images marked ♣ are courtesy of John Crowther who served aboard CAMPANIA as a Naval Air Mechanic (ordnance). Additional Images, marked © IWM, are reproduced under the terms of the IWM Non-Commercial Licence.

Most of these images are sized to fit the screen, however where possible those containing groups of personnel will open large enough to see individuals. Many, but not all, of these images are available in larger, high-res versions and copies can be supplied upon receipt of a photo request. If you have pictures or other memorabilia that you can contribute to this project please contact the Webmaster using the Offer of assistance form.

The Royal Navy Research Archive is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License See our terms of use for conditions regarding using these images in other works.

Working up with her Squadrons : April - June 1944

April 23rd 1943: CHASER on passage from her builder’s yard at Pascagoula, Mississippi, she is approaching Norfolk Navy Yard.

c. March 1943: CAMPANIA operating with a Fulmar Mk.II Night fighter of 784 squadron B flight.

Rear Admiral McGrigor, CB, DSO, and Captain K. Short, RN, with the officers of 813 squadron. Taken during the escort of convoy JW.60 to North Russia and the return convoy RA.60 back to the UK C. September/October 1944. © IWM (A 28223)

CAMPANIA with Wildcats and Swordfish of 813 squadron ranged on the the light deck.

Wildcat ‘4F’ sits engine running and personnel waiting to remove the last lashings and the chocks before take-off. This is one of 4 Wildcat Mk. V of ‘F’ flight 1832 squadron attached to 813 as a fighter element from April 6th 1944.

Wildcat ‘3F’ sits engine running and personnel waiting to remove the last lashings and the chocks before take-off. This is one of 4 Wildcat Mk. V of ‘F’ flight 1832 squadron attached to 813 as a fighter element from April 6th 1944.

Wildcat ‘3F’ has been stopped by the crash barrier and ended up balanced on its n9se. This is one of 4 Wildcat Mk. V of ‘F’ flight 1832 squadron attached to 813 as a fighter element from April 6th 1944.

This unidentified Wildcat has been stopped by the crash barrier but its tail has slewed to port and the aircraft has stopped athwartships just behind another Wildcat in the forward aircraft park. Date unknown.

Convoy protection duties and operations with the Home Fleet: June 1944 - February 1945

On the bridge L-R Captain K. Short, RN, the CO- Lieut Cdr G. R. G. Watkins, DSO, DSC, RN, SO Ops- and Rear Admiral McGrigor, CB, DSO, in command convoy escort. © IWM (A 27525)

CAMPANIA rolls to Starboard in rough seas.♣

CAMPANIA pitching and rolling in rough seas.

813 squadron Armourers (Air Mechanics (Ordinance)) pose with a Wildcat in Arctic waters. L – R: S. Atherton, J. Crowtrher, Petty Officer McKenzie, C. Hardy, C. Peacher, K. Snape, N. Guest, ‘Tubby’ Kenswell, H. Pyke. ♣

The tail-gunners view from a Fairey Swordfish moments after take-off as the ship steams through North Atlantic.

Snow and ice being cleared from CAMPANIA'S flight deck before ranging aircraft as she prepares to leave Kola Inlet, Murmansk, on the return to Britain. © IWM (A 27218).

Swordfish ranged on deck ready to begin anti-submarine patrols as soon as he ship leaves Kola Inlet. © IWM (A 27524)

CAMPANIA ready to sail from Kola Inlet, Murmansk, on the return to Britain. Sufficient snow has been cleared to range all squadron aircraft along the starboard edge of the flight deck but more must be shifted to allow Swordfish aircraft to use the whole length of the deck to get airborne. © IWM (A 28224)

Post War service: The Festival ship CAMPANIA 1951

CAMPANIA C. May 1950 at Camell-Laird shipyard at Birkenhead about to be converted in the exhibition ship for the Festival of Britain.

The Festival ship CAMPANIA open for the public.

he Festival ship CAMPANIA being maneuvered into her berth by tugs.

he Festival ship CAMPANIA secured alongside at one of her exhibition ports of cakll.

British Atomic bomb test Headquarters ship, Operation HURRICANE 1952

CAMPANIA reconfigured as the headquarters ship of the special squadron for the British Atomic bomb tests. She can no longer operate fixed wing aircraft, but can operate two Sea Otters embarked to act as the ship’s flight, and three Dragonfly helicopters for rescue, communications and collection of post detonation samples.

CAMPANIA celebrated ths 'crossing the line' ceremony on passage to Fremantle.

CAMPANIA anchored at Monte Bello Island off North West Australia in preparation for the detonation of Britain’s first nuclear bomb, the device was detonated on October 3rd 1952 in a lagoon off the western shore of Trimouille Island. © IWM FL 7474

CAMPANIA , possibly on her arrival at Portsmouth on December 16th 1952 after Operation HURRICANE.

August 18th 1954: CAMPANIA at anchor as part of the Reserve Fleet at Chatham, awaiting disposal.

CAMPANIA, possibly at the breaker’s yard at Blyth where she had arrived under tow on November 11th 1955.