HMS Kingston after bombing
- Extended Description
- Credited to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Kingston_(F64)
On 22 March 1942 Kingston took part of the escort of convoy MW10 in the Second Battle of Sirte, where, as the destroyers turned to fire their torpedoes on the Italian battle fleet, she was hit by a 15-inch shell fired by the Italian battleship Littorio which passed right through the foremost starboard whaleboat and burst under the anti-aircraft guns mounting, leaving a big hole in the deck; despite this, she launched three torpedoes. Fifteen men of her crew were killed in this incident, which left the destroyer temporarily dead in the water, the whaleboat torn to pieces, her anti-aircraft guns, searchlight tower and torpedo launchers smashed by the explosion, her starboard boiler and port engine out of action. She was able to proceed to Malta but while under repair she was further damaged on 11 April during an air raid and broke in two.
15 Members of her Crew are buried in Capuccini Naval Cemetery, Malta.
