Click on any of the photos for a closer look

H.M.S. Sheffield was the fourth of the Southampton class cruisers to be launched, on 23/7/36. The class was designed as an answer to the new 10.000 ton Japanese and American 6" cruisers, and turned out to be one of the most successful cruiser designs ever. They quickly established a reputation as superb sea boats, the first ship of the class, HMS Newcastle, running her full power trials in a full gale without a problem. Sheffield was the first R.N. ship to have her brightwork made from stainless steel, rather than brass, and as a result became known as "Old Shiny". The class saw arduous war service, Sheffield in particular constantly being in the thick of it. Her Battle Honours speak for themselves: Norway 1940, Spartivento 1940, Atlantic 1941-43, Bismarck Action 1941, Mediterranean 1941, Malta Convoys 1941, Arctic 1941-43, North Africa 1942, Barents Sea 1942, Salerno 1943, Biscay 1943, North Cape 1943. During the pursuit of the Bismarck, Sheffield had the dubious distinction of being attacked by Swordfish aircraft from HMS Ark Royal, who mistook her for Bismarck. The ship escaped unscathed due to Capt. Larcom’s superb ship handling, and an extremely large slice of luck. Sheffield survived the war, and continued her service with the Royal Navy until finally being broken up at Faslane in 1967. Her story is told in "HMS Sheffield: The life and times of Old Shiny", by Ronald Bassett, published by Arms & Armour Press. A recent release, available from WEM, is as follows, and is recommended:

Shiny Sheff, Lofthouse, s/b, 162pp, The story of all 3 warships named Sheffield containing numerous photographs and a pull-out cutaway of the WW2 Sheff at 8.95 Pounds

Displacement: 9100 tons standard, 11350 full load.

Dimensions (feet): 558pp, 591’ 6"oa x 61’ 9" x 17.

Machinery: 4 shaft Parsons SR geared turbines. 4 Admiralty 3-drum boilers. 72,000 shp, giving 32 knots.

Armour: 1" - 4 1/2". Main belt 4 1/2".

Armament: 12 x 6" in 4 triple turrets. 8 x 4" AA in 4 twin turrets. 8 x 2pdr pom-poms in 2 quad mounts. 8 x .5" MG in 2 quad mountings. 6 x 21" TT in 2 triple mountings.

2 or 3 Supermarine Walrus aircraft.

Complement: 750.

This kit portrays Sheffield in May 1941. Further kits will be released depicting the Southampton class in later configurations. For super detailing purposes we recommend the plan of HMS Manchester by Sambrook Maritime (the nearest plan to Sheffield’s wartime fit, and available of course from White Ensign Models!).

Crane booms, Funnel cap cages (several types), Aircraft catapult, Type 284 gunnery radar, Aft superstructure access ladders, Type 281 radars, Boat stowage platform, 8-barrelled pom-poms, Quad pom-poms, 20mm Oerlikons, Twin Oerlikon barrels, Carley float supports, pom-pom directors with radar yagi aerials, D.F. loops, various ladders, Anchor cables, boat chocks, radar lantern support tower, anchors, Aft searchlight platform braces, yards, Funnel well platforms, Torpedo tube doors Carley float racks, Bridge armoured roof, funnel baffle, Shelter deck supports, Boat well skid beams, platforms galore!, Bridge windscreen, Accommodation ladders and davits,,279 radar aerials, Walrus parts 2 sets (interplane struts, propeller, u/c, Scarff ring and machine gun), Pom-pom directors, Mast starfish, depth charge racks, HACS Type 285 radars, Jack/ensign staffs, Aircraft handling trolley, Type 243 aerial, Type 290/291 aerial and more!