HMS Rawalpindi was a British armed merchant cruiser and Royal Navy light cruiser during World War II. It was launched in 1925 and served in various roles until its sinking in 1939. The ship was named after the city of Rawalpindi in what is now Pakistan. During the war, Rawalpindi was patrolling off Iceland when it encountered the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau. Despite being significantly outgunned, Rawalpindi engaged the enemy in a courageous but futile action. The ship was heavily damaged and eventually sank, with the loss of most of its crew. The sinking of Rawalpindi became a symbol of British determination in the face of overwhelming odds early in the war. The ship's sacrifice was widely recognized, and its crew was praised for their bravery. The sinking of HMS Rawalpindi serves as a reminder of the crucial role played by merchant cruisers and naval vessels in protecting vital sea lanes during wartime.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.