page_title: C-class cruiser
section_title: Second World War service
hierarchical_section_title: C-class cruiser / Second World War service
caption_attribution_description: This is en:HMS Caroline (1914) in the en:Titanic Quarter, en:Belfast.
context_page_description: The C class was a group of twenty-eight light cruisers of the Royal Navy, and were built in a sequence of seven groups known as the Caroline class, the Calliope class, the Cambrian class, the Centaur class, the Caledon class, the Ceres class and the Carlisle class. They were built for the rough conditions of the North Sea, and proved to be rugged and capable vessels, despite their being somewhat small and cramped.
context_section_description: The Caledon, Ceres and Carlisle-class ships served in the Second World War, despite their age.
  Calypso caught the German blockade-runner Konsul Hendrik Fisser in 1939. That same year, Caradoc intercepted the German tanker Emmy Friedrich, whose crew subsequently scuttled her. A number of ships took part in the Norwegian campaign in 1940.
  The C class were also extensively used in the Mediterranean Sea; the first notable engagement by a ship of the class being Coventry's participation in the Battle of Cape Spartivento in 1940.
  In 1941, Calcutta and Carlisle took part in the Battle of Cape Matapan, in which a number of Italian warships were sunk. C-class cruisers also took part in the campaign and evacuation of Crete, coming up against heavy German opposition from the air. In 1942, Carlisle took part in the Second Battle of Sirte.
  Colombo and Caledon went in for their refits in 1942/43 – getting 40 mm Bofors and 20 mm Oerlikons alongside the twin mounts.
  In 1943, Carlisle was badly damaged by German aircraft, but did not sink. She became a base ship in Alexandria Harbour until 1945.
  Capetown provided support to the Normandy Landings in 1944, bombarding German positions.
  Six ships of the C class were lost during the war: 
  Curlew was sunk by German aircraft off Narvik during the Norwegian campaign on 26 May 1940; 
  Calypso was sunk by the Italian submarine Bagnolini on 12 June 1940; 
  Calcutta was attacked and sunk by German aircraft during the evacuation of Crete on 1 June 1941;
  Cairo was sunk on 12 August 1942 by the Italian submarine Axum during Operation Pedestal (the pivotal resupply of Malta);  
  Coventry was badly damaged by German aircraft while covering a raid on Tobruk on 14 September 1942, forcing the destroyer HMS Zulu to scuttle her; and  
  Curacoa was sunk after colliding with the ocean liner RMS Queen Mary on 2 October 1942.
caption: HMS Caroline sporting her three flags (From left to right) Union Flag, Commodore RNR's Rank flag, Flag of the Royal Navy (White Ensign)
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