Repulse
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Ship Class | Renown-class Battlecruiser |
| Commissioned | 18 Aug 1916 |
| Sunk | 10 Dec 1941 |
| Displacement | 26,500 tons standard |
| Length | 794 feet |
| Beam | 90 feet |
| Draft | 27 feet |
| Speed | 31 knots |
| Crew | 1,180 |
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
ww2dbaseHMS Repulse, a 26,500-ton Renown class battlecruiser, was built at Clydebank, Scotland. Completed in August 1916, she joined the Grand Fleet following post-trials modifications and operated in the North Sea for the remainder of World War I. The light protection of this class of two battlecruisers was a considerable cause for concern and, soon after the Armistice, Repulse received an extensive refit. This significantly increased her armor, and her displacement, which rose some six-thousand tons. The work was completed in 1922, after which the ship began a peacetime career of fleet operations and long-distance cruises.
ww2dbaseIn 1933-36, Repulse was again modernized, emerging with improved deck armor, a hangar and catapult for aircraft, and a greatly increased anti-aircraft gun battery. She operated with the Home Fleet in the North Sea and Atlantic during the first two years of the Second World War, taking part in the pursuit of the German battleship Bismarck in May 1941. Later in the year she was sent to the Far East, accompanying the new battleship Prince of Wales. The two ships arrived at Singapore just before Japan began the Pacific War. As soon as hostilities commenced, both steamed northwards to intercept a reported invasion force. While returning to Singapore on 10 December 1941, Repulse and Prince of Wales were attacked by Japanese high-level bombers and torpedo planes. Repulse was moderately damaged by bombs early in the action and was later hit by several torpedoes. After receiving this heavy underwater damage, she sank rapidly, followed less than an hour later by the Prince of Wales.
ww2dbaseSource: Naval Historical Center
Last Major Revision: Jan 2005
Battlecruiser Repulse Interactive Map
Photographs
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Repulse Operational Timeline
| 18 Aug 1916 | Repulse was commissioned into service. |
| 2 Dec 1941 | HMS Repulse arrived at Singapore. |
| 10 Dec 1941 | Japanese submarine I-58 spotted British battleship HMS Prince of Wales and battlecruiser HMS Repulse off British Malaya, launched five torpedoes, but all of them missed; beginning at 1117 hours, Japanese aircraft began to attack. Overwhelmed, HMS Repulse was sunk at 1233 hours (513 killed), followed by HMS Prince of Wales at 1318 hours (327 killed); destroyers HMS Electra, HMS Express, and HMS Vampire rescued 1,862 survivors. On land, the British commanders dispatched the 1st Battalion of the 14th Punjab Regiment and the 2nd Battalion of the 1st Gurkha Rifles regiment to Changlun and Asun in northern British Malaya to counter the Japanese advance; contact was made at Changlun at 2100 hours, where two Japanese tanks were destroyed before the Punjabi troops fell back toward Asun. |
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Visitor Submitted Comments
4 Jul 2017 11:49:07 AM
My wife's Grand father Frank Earl Butler served on The Repulse during WW2. He apparently was a CPO. Could you please advise how I may learn more about his service?Thank you
23 Sep 2018 09:33:17 AM
My uncle was killed on the Repulse when they were attacked at sea 1941his name was Pat McStravick. I would love to know if there's any images of the crew anywhere just to keep the memory alive. Thanks mary
28 Oct 2018 12:25:33 PM
My uncle Arthur willoughby was on hams repulse as a boy and won a boxing medal 1925 and then went on to hms sovereign 1934 and won medals for water polo and was in Mediterranean fleet I have his medals and am trying to trace his navy career I believe he was a prisoner of war by the Japanese any info would be greatly appreciated
30 Oct 2018 03:06:20 PM
Although i am almost sure that he is not a relative as my late Father never mentioned him, i would love to know what happened to my namesake Leading Seaman Peter Lupton DMX66802. Has anyone got any idea the best way for me to do this? It looks like he survived the sinking but i would love to know what happened to him after this. I wonder if he returned to the UK to fight on or whether he was in Singapore when it fell??? Thank you for any assistance.
11 Nov 2018 07:16:25 AM
My Uncle Harold Edward Newby was killed on the Repulse 10th December 1941, he was Leading Stoker & his age was only 21. He was the only one never to return from the vilage of Arkholme in Lancashire in the Second World War.
We will Remember them, God Bless them All who died.
11 Nov 2018 07:18:41 AM
My Uncle Harold Edward Newby was killed on the Repulse 10th December 1941, he was Leading Stoker & his age was only 21. He was the only one never to return from the vilage of Arkholme in Lancashire in the Second World War.
We will Remember them, God Bless them All who died.
10 Mar 2019 09:45:26 AM
Researching husbands family tree and I have come across Clifford John Taylor who was a crew member on the HMS Repulse and survived. I would love to hear from anybody who has any more information of any lucky survivors. Many thanks.
14 Apr 2019 12:29:44 PM
Very interesting & humbling to find information of this ship & its crew. My late Grandmother's brother died on that day 10 December 1941. Writer Leslie James Jackson. Rip.
28 Aug 2020 08:01:30 PM
Thank you for sharing this information. Today I discovered a distant relation died on HMS Repulse; Peter Robert Anstey from Devon England. He was only 17 years old and buried at sea.
4 Jan 2021 09:17:33 AM
What happened to able seamen Thomas Brown .he was aboard hms repulse in 1941
8 Aug 2021 01:07:34 PM
Hi looking for information on my dad who sailed on the Repulse on the convoy escorting the nations gold to Canada in 1939.
My dads name is Robert William Fenton. Any information would be really appreciated.
14 Aug 2021 04:27:23 AM
Hi
My uncle George (Morris), who was a Royal Marine, with the rank of Sergeant was aboard the Repulse when she sunk, I was told, I am trying to confirm this. He was a survivor, and was not taken by the Japanese. Does anyone have any information on him
23 Feb 2022 12:39:59 PM
my 2 uncles Walker brothers were lost on this ship they left a lasting impression of heros
8 Nov 2022 04:27:12 AM
There is the potential that my great grandfather served on the Repulse in 1941. Can anyone advise on how I find out if he did and if he did whether he survived or not?
6 Mar 2023 05:43:46 PM
my father served on hms repulse does any one remember him
23 Mar 2023 04:39:46 AM
My father, Alfred Wadley, was a Royal Marine, Sergeant Gunnery Instructor and was in charge of one of the 16 inch turrets. He was caught up in wire cables when she sank and injured his legs. He was rescued by HMAS Vampire and went to hospital in Singapore. He was evacuated just before the Japanese invaded. He was awarded the DSM for his actions during this battle.
22 May 2023 06:40:51 AM
My grandad was on the Repulse when she was attacked, he was rescued but then taken to a POW camp we think somewhere in Borneo, just trying to find out crew lists and any other information to help my dad with some research on what happened.
10 Jul 2024 01:12:45 AM
My grandfather was listed as being on HMS Repulse from 28th July 1939 to 10th Dec 1941 and then HMS Sultan from 11th Dec. looking for a crew list of HMS Repulse if someone can direct me. I was also informed he boarded an Australian ship when Singapore fell. Is this common practice to automatic assign to a land based or is there a ship from the time called HMS Sultan.
3 Sep 2024 10:20:12 AM
john birley lost j=his life hms repu;se jillpage
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19 Dec 2006 01:18:14 AM
Pete, I dont know why youre being so modest-this is impressive. Makes for a nice reference.