HMAS Vampire (D68) - Part of The Scrap Iron Flotilla

While the second HMAS Vampire is arguably better known- due to being a museum ship -the first Vampire has an interesting story all her own. Serving as part of the creatively named 'Scrap Iron Flotilla', she sailed up and down the Mediterranean. Vampire would escort convoys, fend off air attack, and generally make a nuisance of herself from the Axis perspective.

Unfortunately, while she evaded damage in that theater, Vampire would ultimately succumb to Japanese air attack. Unable to fend off the dive bombers, she was lost alongside HMS Hermes.

Her wreck remains missing, to this day.

Further Reading:
https://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chr...
https://www.navy.gov.au/hmas-vampire-i
https://www.amazon.com/British-Destro...

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• #history
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