Reinforcements for the Royal Navy

 

So, I am glad to report some welcome additions have been made to my Royal Navy fleet for Victory At Sea, first in the form of the King George V class battleship HMS Prince of Wales

Launched from Cammell Laird in 1939, the same shipyard that built HMS Ark Royal several years before, HMS Prince of Wales was to see action before she was even completed as she was attacked and suffered mild damage while still in the fitting out dock at the Birkenhead shipyard. Once completed she moved to the base at Scapa Flow to continue her working up and as such was one of the only available heavy units of the Home Fleet able to sortie at short notice when the Kriegsmarine warships Bismarck and Prinz Eugen commanded by Vice Admiral Günther Lütjens attempted to break out into the North Atlantic. Under the command of Captain John Leach, who was to command her throughout her life, sailed alongside HMS Hood and HMS Prince of Wales engaged Bismarck and her consort in may 1941 in the Battle of the Denmark Strait, despite the loss of HMS Hood, malfunctioning main battery guns and multiple hits on Prince Of Wales, one of which passed directly through the ships bridge killing everyone except Captain Leach, Prince of Wales managed to score multiple hits on Bismarck forcing her to abandon her mission and attempt to run to port for repairs, which led to her eventual sinking by the Home Fleet. 

       After repairs she was assigned to convoy escort for Malta in the mediterranean after which was transferred to Singapore joining HMS Repulse, both ships were sortied to engage Japanese troop convoys off Malaya and on 10th December 1941 both ships were sunk by Japanese aircraft. The wreck lies upside down 223 ft down near Kuanton in the South China Sea. Despite the wreck being designated a war grave divers have reported the wreck has been damaged by salvagers looting metals from the ship.

In game the King George V class ships are some of the most heavily armoured ships around having 7+ armour 89 hull points, her speed is not the best at 5" but is not the worst, 10 14in guns in 3 turrets is a decent main armament, I really like the KGV class of ships in game for the core of a task force despite its cost, at 600pts it is a bit expensive, though would pair it with a cruiser with good anti air firepower as Local 6 is not the best.