The Battle Honours of HMS Orion
The Glorious 1st of June, 1794 In May 1794 the British fleet
of 25 ships under Admiral Lord Howe was at sea off the French
coast to prevent a large grain convoy from America reaching
France. The French fleet of 26 ships sailed from Brest in late
May and was engaged by the British 260 miles off Lands End.
Each fleet in line ahead attacked each other at close quarters
on 1st June. The engagement lasted all day with Britain winning
with no ships lost and seven of the enemy sunk or captured.
HMS Orion, a 76 gun ship on two fighting decks, fought the
French “Patriote” but did not sink her. This 76
gun class of ship was known as a three-rater being the most
popular in the navy with a balance of speed and power. HMS
Vanguard of the same class was Nelson’s flagship at the
battle of the Nile..
The Cape St Vincent Battle, 1797 On 13 February the famous
Admiral Sir John Jervis whom Nelson liked, with 15 ships of
the line attacked a Spanish fleet of 27 ships. Jervis in HMS
Victory turned into the enemy from the north. Orion was the
4th ship behind Admiral Troubridge in HMS Colluden -the leading
ship-and one ship ahead of Jervis and was in the thick of the
fighting. Culloden seriously damaged a Spanish 1st rater with
a doubleshot broadside. Commodore Nelson, in HMS Captain in
the rear, without instructions, lead three ships into the front
Spanish ships damaging and capturing four ships. Captain was
damaged losing a mast but it was an English victory due to
some extent to Nelson’s quick thinking.
The Battle of the Nile,1st August 1798. Jervis who was blockading
Cadiz ordered Nelson who was now an Admiral to follow Napoleon
who was on his way to Egypt with a French fleet and convoy.
He found 18 enemy ships in Aboukir Bay a few miles east of
Alexandria and immediately turned his fleet into the bay at
1800 hours and commenced the action. The French were taken
completely by surprise. Orion was commanded by a senior Captain,
Sir James Saumarez and was located in line ahead close to HMS
Vanguard the flagship and became involved ia a close fire night
sea battle. Orion ssnk the French frigate Serieuse and assisted
in the sinking of other ships. Orion was badly damaged but
had low casualties- 12 killed and 16 wounded including the
captain.It was stunning victory with 13 French ships destroyed
although four French. were able to escape in the night confusion.
This action revolutionized naval warfare.
The Battle of Trafalgar, 1805 At noon on the 21 October-
a day that is remembered by every British Commonwealth navy
to this day- the British fleet of 29 ships in two columns attacked
the enemy from the west in light winds.Nelson lead one column
in Victory, a 1st rater 100 gun ship-now in dry dock in Portsmouth,
England. Collingwood lead the other column. They headed for
the middle of the enemy lying across their path in line ahead.
The English held their fire until they were within a few hundred
yards of the French receiving much punishment. But once they
crossed that line a typical Nelsonian battle ensued with fighting
at close quarters by highly drilled English gunners and by
1640 hours the battle ended with 18 enemy ships striking their
colours. Orion was in the Nelson column and conducted herself
with her usual efficiency and bravery. She tried to get alongside
the Spanish flagship and sink her but did much damage and sank
a French 74 gun ship. This was to be her last sea battle, she
was 18 years old.
The Battle of Jutland 30 & 31 May 1916 This
battle took place on the Jutland bank 500 miles from England
off the Skagerrak
Strait between Denmark and Norway. Orion sailed from Invergordon
in Scotland with the Second Battle Squadron with three ships
of the sub section of the Dreadnought class, Conqueror, Monarch
and Thunderer. This was a very successful new type of battleship
carrying ten 13.5”guns with increased armour and speed..
They joined up with the Grand fleet and the battle began at
1430. This fleet had 37 capital ships versus 27 Germans. It
was a drawn-out complicated battle that went into the next
day. The British lost three battle-cruisers and 11other ships
against one battleship, one battle-cruiser and 9 others. Both
sides experienced serious damage. Orion took part in the action
but suffered no damage or casualties. England won the battle
because the German fleet was driven back to Germany and never
ventured again into Norwegian waters.
Cape Matapan action with three Italian destroyers 1940 (391
rounds fired) This action was fought off the southern tip of
Greece.
Destruction of the Otranto enemy convoy 1940 (204)
The Battle of Cape Matapan 28/29 March 1941 Orion was in a
cruiser squadron that made contact with an Italian force with
a battleship northwest of Crete. As the British squadron was
outgunned, a retiring action was fought behind a smoke screen
in an attempt to lead the enemy towards a back-up Battle squadron.
No hits were received.. In a night action, the Battle squadron
destroyed two Italian cruisers and another was sunk. The Italian
battleship was damaged by aircraft from our aircraft carrier,
HMS Formidable.
The Battle of Crete 20/31 May 1941 The Germans dropped their
Air division on Crete and eventually won a close run hard
fought battle. 7,000 of our troops were evacuated. 22,000
Germans were killed with 5,000 being lost at sea. Orion ,
carrying 1,100 troops back to Alexandria, suffered a terrible
blow. Having suffered numerous near-misses from enemy aircraft,
it received two grievous direct hits causing 160 troops to
be killed and 280 to be wounded including the captain killed.
The ship was seriously damaged., and had to go to San Fransisco
USA for repairs from September 1941 to February 1942.
Landings in Sicily 10 Jul/ 4 Aug. 1943 (1045), Salerno
9/17 Sept 1943 (1160)
Anzio 22 Jan./Mar 1944.(1788) Orion provided much needed
gunnery support for our armies.
Landings in Normandy 6/12 June 1944 (3358)
The South of France 15/17 August 1944 (40)
Relief of Greece 15/17 April 1944
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