This issue of Norway of 1990 shows “The Battle of Narvik” on 28 May 1940, in the top on the right are four British warships depict of which 3 are named she are the HMS COVENTRY, SOUTHAMPTON and CAIRO.
The fourth name is not given.
Norway 1990 4Kr sg1075, scott976.
The HMS COVENTRY was built as a light cruiser under yard No 1035 by Swan, Hunter & W. Richardson, Wallsend-on-Tyne for the Royal Navy.
04 August 1916 keel laid down as HMS CORSAIR but before launching changed.
06 July 1917 launched as HMS COVENTRY one of the C-class light cruisers.
Displacement 4,190 ton light, 5,150 ton full load, dim. 137.6 x 13.3 x 4.1m. (draught), length bpp. 129.5m.
Powered by two Brown-Curtis geared steam turbines, 40,000 shp, twin shafts, speed 29 knots.
Bunker capacity 300 tons, maximum 950 tons fuel oil.
Armament: 5 – 6 inch, 2 – 3 inch, 2 – 2 pdr guns and 8 – 21 inch torpedo tubes.
Crew 327.
21 February 1918 commissioned.
HMS COVENTRY was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy, named after the English city of Coventry. She was part of the Ceres group of the C-class of cruisers.
Early career and wartime service
COVENTRY was initially going to be called HMS Corsair. She was laid down on 4 August 1916, launched 6 July 1917 and completed for naval service in February 1918. HMS COVENTRY was in the 5th Light Cruiser squadron from February 1918 till May 1919, and served in the Baltic in this time. Commissioned with the pennant (D43) in May 1919 she was accepted into the Atlantic fleet, until in 1920 when HMS COVENTRY became the HQ ship for naval Inter allied Disarmament Commission. She went into refit in late 1920 and once the refit was completed she joined the 2nd Light cruiser squadron and she became flagship to the Rear-Admiral [D], Mediterranean Fleet Andrew Cunningham. A torpedo explosion while in Gibraltar in March 1923 caused the death of two of her crew, Chief Stoker Burt and ERA Jackson. At the outbreak of World War II HMS COVENTRY was serving with the Home Fleet between 1939 and 1940, and was damaged on 1 January 1940 in a German air attack on the Shetland Islands, north of Scotland. She took part in the Narvik operations in 1940. She was assigned to the Mediterranean fleet in 1940, and was torpedoed and damaged by the Italian submarine NEGHELLI in the eastern Mediterranean. COVENTRY also participated in the Battle of Cape Spartivento.
The Victoria Cross
On 18 May 1941 the first Victoria Cross of the Mediterranean campaign was awarded poshumously to Petty Officer Alfred Edward Sephton for "great courage and endurance" while on HMS COVENTRY as she was being attacked by Geman Stuka dive bombers while off Crete. The COVENTRY had gone to the assistance of a hospital ship which was being attacked by German dive-bombers. When the enemy engaged COVENTRY, raking her with machine-gun fire, Petty Officer Sephton was mortally wounded, a bullet actually passing through his body and injuring an able seaman beside him. Although in great pain and partially blinded, he stuck to his instruments and carried out his duties until the attack was over. He died of his injuries next day. Petty Officer Sephton was buried at sea. His VC was on display at Coventry Cathedral but was stolen on 25 September 1990.
Loss
14 September 1942 HMS COVENTRY was heavily damaged in the Eastern Mediterranean, north-west of Alexandria, Egypt by 16 German Junkers Ju 88s of I./Lehrgeschwader 1 under the command of Joachim Helbig, whilst participating in Operation Agreement. The ship was on fire and had to be scuttled by .HMS ZULU in position 32 48N 28 17E, with the loss of 63 men.
Guyana 2015 $80 sg?, scott?.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Coventry_(D43)