History of  Royal Navy cruiser HMS Calypso. Royal Navy cruiser website dedicated to  HMS Calypso including crew and families of ex-crew members notice board for HMS Calypso

HMS Calypso, built by Hawthorn Leslie and laid down on the7th February 1916, Launched 24th January 1917 and completed June 1917. HMS Calypso joined the 6th Light cruiser squadron in June 1917, and on the 17th November 1917 took pat in the Heligoland Bight engagement when the entire bridge personnel including  the commanding officer were killed by a shell. In  November 1918 she was sent to the Baltic and along with HMS Caradoc and the destroyers HMS Vendetta, Vortigern and HMS Wakefull captured the Bolshevik Destroyers Avtroil and Spartak of Reval. HMS Caradoc joined the 3rd Light Cruiser squadron in the Mediterranean in march 1919   She was recommissioned in August 1922, January 1925 and again in August 1927  During World war two HMS calypso served in the Home Fleet 1939and Mediterranean fleet 1940  she was torpedoed and sunk on the 12th June 1940 by the Italian Submarine Bagnlini south of Crete

Displacement: 4,180 tons    Speed: 29kt    Complement: 400 increasing to 437 as a Flagship.

HMS Calypso, July 1935.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP1154

HMS Calypso, July 1935.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP1156

HMS Calypso, July 1935.

A large image size 10" x 7" approx, is available.  Reproduced from the original negative / photo under license from MPL, the copyright holder.  A signed numbered certificate is supplied. Price £25.   Order photograph here   Order Code  XMP1155

HMS Calypso at Malta in 1922.

A reproduction of this original photo / photo-postcard size 10" x 7" approx available.  Order photograph here  © Walker Archive. Order Code  PHC279

HMS Cardiff (centre) with the sloop HMS Bryony (left) and HMS Calypso (right) at Venice, 1926.

HMS Calypso

HMS Calypso at Batoum / Batumi - Black Sea Port, Georgia, Russia, 1920.

Galley's Crew of HMS Calypso, 1924.

HMS Calypso Racing Gig's Crew.  Winners of Cutinelli's Cup. Seaman's Racing Gig's - Runners up, Cambrian Cup - Mediterranean Fleet Regatta, 1930.

Back Row (left to right) - H Garrett A.B., A W Conrad A.B., W S Potton P.O (Coxwain), A H Millar A.B., W M Boreham A.B.

Front Row (left to right) - H W Hopkins Ldg. Sea., Lieut. Comdr. H W McCall R.N., Captain N A Wodehouse R.N., C B White A.B.

Gilbert Roland Milton, contributed by Steve Milton.

Sports team of HMS Calypso, including Gilbert Roland Milton (bottom left) - see details opposite.

Medallion from HMS Calypso. Photograph sent in by Alison McCarthy

Naval Historians, Crew & Family Noticeboard

MESSAGES

JESSE STANLEY WOOD.. Looking for crew lists which include my grandfather who served on HMS Calypso. He also served on HMS Easton in 1943 as a Petty Officer. Contact me at alisonmccarthy_uk@yahoo.co.uk 

CATTEGAT...  I have recently found my grandfathers biography, which he wrote shortly before he died in 1979.  He was a signalman in WW1 and was drafted to the HMS Calypso shortly after it was launched.  He mentions a raid up the Cattegat where he thought about 6 large merchant ships were sunk, a few months later they were at sea, the cruiser squadron (about 4 of them) and some destroyers when they spotted the German Fleet in the Bight.  They gave chase and a short fierce battle took place but two German 11" shells arrived on the bridge at the same time killing all but 3 on the bridge including a Captain Edwards.  My grandfather survived but had to go to Haslar Hospital in Portsmouth where they were unable to remove all the shrapnel from his leg.  Are you able to verify any of the above or provide dates of the raid up the Cattegat and the battle when the Calypso was shelled.    Annie Hemmings.    contact here