HMS Foylebank

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Career (UK)

Name:	HMS Foylebank
Builder:	Harland and Wolff, Belfast, Northern Ireland
Launched:	12 June 1930
Acquired:	1939
Commissioned:	6 June 1940
Fate:	Sunk, 5 July 1940
General characteristics
Displacement:	5,582 tons
Armament:	2 pounder pom-poms .5 inch machine guns 4 twin high angle 4 inch turrets.

HMS Foylebank was a converted 5,500 ton merchant ship active during the Second World War. She was launched in 1930 and requisitioned in September 1939.^[1] She was converted into an anti-aircraft ship, equipped with .5 inch machine guns and four twin high angle 4 inch turrets. The Foylebank was to see action in Portland Harbour next to the Isle of Portland in Dorset, England. She arrived in Portland on 9 June 1940 for a build-up to anti-aircraft duties. On 4 July 1940 whilst the majority of her crew were at breakfast, unidentified aircraft were reported to the south. These were originally thought to be Allied aircraft returning to base but they turned out to be 26 Stuka dive bombers. These aircraft had the objective of disabling the Foylebank which was seen as a threat to their plans to destroy Britain's coastal shipping. 2 aircraft were shot down by the Foylebank but 22 bombs hit the ship and the ship listed to port, shrouded in smoke. She sank on 5 July 1940. One of the ship's company, Jack Foreman Mantle, was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions in defending the ship from aircraft whilst mortally injured.^[2]