HMS Cairo (D87)

HMS "Cairo" (D87) was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy, named after the Egyptian city of Cairo. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name. She was part of the "Carlisle" group of the C-class of cruisers.

She was laid down by Cammell Laird at Birkenhead on 28 November 1917, launched on 19 November 1918 and commissioned on 24 September 1919. She was converted to an anti-aircraft cruiser in 1939.

"Cairo" was not ready for service in World War I and her first posting was to the China Station in 1920, followed by the East Indies Station from 1921 to 1925. After a temporary attachment to the China Station until 1927, she joined the 8th Cruiser Squadron on the America and West Indies Station.

From 1928 to 1930, "Cairo" was in the Mediterranean as flagship for the Rear-Admiral (D) [The suffix "D" indicates responsibility for flotilla(s) of destroyers.] . After a refit in 1931 - 1932, she was with the Home Fleet as Commodore (D).

In World War II she took part in the Norwegian campaign where she was damaged by German planes off Narvik.

In August 1942, "Cairo" took part in Operation Pedestal, the escorting of a convoy to Malta. During the operation she was sunk by the Italian submarine "Axum" north of Bizerta, Tunisia on 12 August 1942.

References

*Colledge
*Jane's Fighting Ships of World War One (1919), Jane's Publishing Company