HMS Diadem (84)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Diadem.

History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Diadem
Builder:	R. and W. Hawthorn, Leslie and Company, Limited (Hebburn-on-Tyne, UK)
Laid down:	15 December 1939
Launched:	21 August 1942
Commissioned:	6 January 1944
Decommissioned:	1950
Reclassified:	In reserve between 1950 to 1956
Fate:	Sold to the Pakistan Navy on 29 February 1956
Pakistan
Name:	Babur
Acquired:	29 February 1956
Commissioned:	5 July 1957
Renamed:	Jahangir
General characteristics
Class & type:	Dido-class light cruiser
Displacement:	5,950 tons standard 7,200 tons full load
Length:	485 ft (148 m) pp 512 ft (156 m) oa
Beam:	50.5 ft (15.4 m)
Draught:	14 ft (4.3 m)
Propulsion:	Parsons geared turbines Four shafts Four Admiralty 3-drum boilers 62,000 shp (46,000 kW)
Speed:	32.25 knots (60 km/h; 37 mph)
Range:	2,414 km (1,303 nmi; 1,500 mi) at 30 kn (56 km/h; 35 mph) 6,824 km (3,685 nmi; 4,240 mi) at 16 kn (30 km/h; 18 mph) 1,100 tons fuel oil
Complement:	530
Armament:	Original configuration: 8 × 5.25 in (133 mm) dual guns, 6 × 20 mm dual AA guns, 3 × 2 pdr (37 mm/40 mm) pom-poms quad guns, 2 × 21 in (533 mm) triple Torpedo Tubes. Early 1945 - Early 1956 configuration: 8 × 5.25 in (133 mm) dual guns, 8 × 20 mm dual AA guns, 8 × 20 mm single AA guns, 3 × 2 pdr (37 mm/40 mm) pom-poms quad guns, 2 × 21 in (533 mm) triple Torpedo Tubes.
Armor:	Original configuration: Belt: 3 in (76 mm) Deck: 1 in (25 mm) Magazines: 2 in (51 mm) Bulkheads: 1 in (25 mm)

HMS Diadem was a Dido-class light cruiser of the Bellona subgroup of the Royal Navy. She was a modified Dido design with only four turrets but improved anti-aircraft armament - also known as Dido Group 2. She was built by R. and W. Hawthorn, Leslie and Company, Limited (Hebburn-on-Tyne), UK), with the keel being laid down on 15 December 1939. She was launched on 21 August 1942, and commissioned 6 January 1944.

Service history

Royal Navy service

Diadem served on the Arctic convoys and covered carrier raids against the German battleship Tirpitz in the early months of 1944, then became part of Force G off Juno Beach during the invasion of Normandy in June. After the landings she carried out offensive patrols against German shipping around the Brittany coast, sinking, with destroyers, Sperrbrecher 7 off La Rochelle on 12 August. She returned to northern waters in September, where she covered Russian convoys and carrier raids against German shipping routes along the Norwegian coast, as well as making offensive sweeps herself. In the course of one such sweep, accompanied by HMS Mauritius on 28 January 1945, the cruiser engaged three German destroyers, damaging Z31. Diadem remained with the 10th Cruiser Squadron until after the war, and served in the Home Fleet until 1950. She was placed in reserve between 1950 to 1956. She was sold to the Pakistan Navy in 1956 and refitted.

Pakistan service

The refit was substantial, the light armament was standardised as 14 40 mm guns in three twin mounts, Mk 5 and eight single mounts. Radar was substantially updated to 974 navigation, 293 target indicator and air warning 281B at near 960 capability similar to HMS Euralyus in 1954. She was renamed Babur, after the founder of the Mogul empire. She was later renamed Jahangir, and converted into a training ship for cadets in 1961. Nevertheless she was operationally deployed in a clash with India in 1965, and carried out a shore bombardment of Dwarka in September 1965.

Publications

• World War II cruisers
• HMS Diadem at Uboat.net