HMS Khartoum (F45)

HMS Khartoum (F45) was a K-class destroyer of the Royal Navy, ostensibly named after the capital of Sudan, Khartoum.

History
Khartoum was launched on 6 February 1939. Her initial action occurred on 19 December 1939, during deployment in the Firth of Clyde, when she was subject to an unsuccessful torpedo attack by a submarine near Holy Isle. She then carried out an anti-submarine search for 24 hours without success. In February 1940, she was deployed for escort of convoys to Norway based at Rosyth where she sustained structural damage during anti-submarine operations at high speed in heavy weather and was sent to Falmouth for repair. On completion in May 1940, she took passage to assist in operations in Nore Command for evacuation of personnel from the Netherlands and Belgium but developed a machinery defect and was taken to Portsmouth for two days of repair, where her pennant number for visual signaling purposes changed to G45.) On 8 May she was nominated for service with the British 14th Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean Sea and on the 16th, took passage from Plymouth for Gibraltar with sister destroyer Kandahar. On 23 May, they joined the flotilla at Alexandria, Egypt, and deployed for screening and patrol duties with the Flotilla. The Khartoum and Kandahar detached with other K Class destroyers Kimberley and Kingston for surveillance of Italian warship movements from Massawa on the Red Sea. In June 1940, The Khartoum deployed in the Red Sea with sloops of the East Indies Squadron and her other sister destroyers and prepared for war service in defense of Red Sea shipping. On the 10th, after outbreak of war, she deployed for patrol and convoy defense based at Aden. On the 21st she carried out attack on Italian submarine Torricelli, a Brin class submarine, which was unsuccessful. Then on the 23rd she was deployed with HMS Kandahar, HMS Kingston and the sloop Shoreham in search for Torricelli near Perim Island. After interception, she took part in surface engagement with these ships, during which, the Torricelli was sunk. However, during the battle, she was hit by return fire which damaged the after torpedo tube mounting. Subsequently, a torpedo's compressed air chamber exploded, causing a serious uncontrollable fire resulting in an explosion of the ship's artillery magazine, killing one of the ship’s company, injuring three others and wrecking the stern structure aft of the engine room while causing extensive flooding. The ship beached on an even keel with forward structure awash and the ship’s company was rescued by the HMS Kandahar and taken to Aden, Yemen. Yeoman of Signals John Murphy was awarded a Mention in Despatches for his actions in securing the ship's code books. The ship’s equipment was dismantled and other security measures were implemented before the ship was abandoned. The shipwreck, in position 12º38'N, 43º24'E, remained visible after the end of World War II.

Confusion over cause of sinking
Some sources deny that Khartoum was damaged by gunfire from the Italian submarine Torricelli. According to them, the fire aboard Khartoum broke out 5 and a half hours after the sinking of the Torricelli. Torricelli was sunk at 0624 local time. The fire aboard Khartoum started at 1150. A torpedo air flask exploded propelling the warhead through the deck house of number 3 4.7" mount. A ruptured oil tank for the mount started the fire which led eventually to the loss of the ship. Her loss seems more due to inexperienced damage control. The Admiralty inquest ruled out damage from enemy action and sabotage, even though captured members of the Torricelli's crew were housed aboard.