HMS Dido (37)

HMS Dido was the name ship of her class of light cruisers for the Royal Navy. She was built by Cammell Laird Shipyard (Birkenhead, UK), with the keel being laid down on 26 October 1937. She was launched on 18 July 1939 and commissioned on 30 September 1940.

Mediterranean
On 18 August 1942 Captain H. W. U. McCall brought Dido to Massawa for major repairs to a bomb-damaged stern. Because Dido was at that time one-quarter of British surface power in the Eastern Mediterranean it was critical that she be repaired as quickly as possible. The only working drydock in Massawa wasn't large enough to lift Dido entirely so she was partially floated up to clear the stern, leaving the bow low in the water. Six days later Dido was undocked to return to battle alongside her three sister ships, Euryalus, Cleopatra and Sirius.

Post War
In 1953 she took part in the Fleet Review to celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, where she was Flag ship of the Reserve Fleet.

Publications

 * World War II cruisers
 * HMS Dido at Uboat.net
 * HMS Dido at Uboat.net