HMS Uganda (66) - Mediterranean Fleet Operations

Mediterranean Fleet Operations

With her refit completed, she was sent to the Mediterranean as escort to one of the largest troop convoys of the war heading to Sicily.

The Uganda was part of the bombardment fleet for Operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily on 10 July 1943. She was then assigned to close support for major bombardments throughout Sicily. On the opening of Operation Avalanche, 9 September 1943, she was part of the fleet bombardment covering the invasion of Italy at Salerno.

While serving in the Mediterranean Sea on 13 September 1943 she took a direct hit from a new German radio controlled 1.4 tonne Glide bomb. Damage control under Lieutenant Leslie Reed managed to get the ship moving with one engine. She was towed to Malta by the USS Narragansett, where temporary repairs were made.

There being no dry dock available in the European Theatre that could handle the repairs, the Uganda was sent to the United States Navy shipyard at Charleston, South Carolina. The heavily damaged ship, with only one of her four propellers working, proceeded across the Atlantic Ocean to Charleston, arriving on 27 November 1943.

During the repairs, Uganda had two hangars designed for carrying Supermarine Walrus reconnaissance aircraft removed. These hangars were used for radio and radar equipment as well as crew amenities.