Allied Warships
HMS Curacoa (D 41)
Light cruiser of the Ceres class
HMS Curacoa in 1941 after reconstruction
| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | Light cruiser |
| Class | Ceres |
| Pennant | D 41 |
| Built by | Pembroke Dockyard (Pembroke, Wales): Harland & Wolff (Belfast, Northern Ireland) |
| Ordered | Apr 1916 |
| Laid down | Jul 1916 |
| Launched | 5 May 1917 |
| Commissioned | 18 Feb 1918 |
| Lost | 2 Oct 1942 |
| Loss position | 55.50N, 08.38W |
| History | HMS Curacoa was rearmed as an Anti-Aircraft cruiser from August 1939 until April 1940. HMS Curacoa was engaged in convoy escort duties with the Queen Mary. While both ships were zigzagging, the Curacoa (Capt. John Wilfred Boutwood, RN, survivor) crossed the Queen Mary's bow with insufficent clearance. The Queen Mary knifed into her at a speed of 28 knots, cutting the Curacoa in two. Separated by about 100 yards, she sank instantly with 338 casualties in position 55º50'N, 08º38'W. The Queen Mary did not falter or slow down, despite the fact of a 40 foot gash in her bow, for fear of German submarines. The convoy behind picked up 26 survivors. |
Commands listed for HMS Curacoa (D 41)
Please note that we're still working on this section.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Capt. Edward Arthur Aylmer, DSC, RN | 5 Dec 1939 | 10 Aug 1940 |
| 2 | Capt. Cecil Charles Hughes-Hallett, RN | 10 Aug 1940 | 20 Feb 1942 |
| 3 | Capt. Stuart Henry Paton, RN | 20 Feb 1942 | 13 Jun 1942 |
| 4 | Capt. John Wilfrid Boutwood, RN | 13 Jun 1942 | 2 Oct 1942 |
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Noteable events involving Curacoa include:
24 Apr 1940
After four days serving as AA protection off Aldansnes, Norway HMS Curacoa (Capt. E.A. Aylmer, DSC, RN) is seriously damaged by bombs from German aircraft. Repairs lasted into August.
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