HMS Ariadne (F72) was a Dido-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy that served during World War II. The ship was laid down in 1939, launched in 1940, and commissioned in 1941. Ariadne participated in various operations in the Mediterranean, including convoy escort duties and supporting Allied landings in North Africa and Sicily. The cruiser also played a role in the Battle of Cape Bon and the Battle of Pantelleria. In 1943, HMS Ariadne was damaged by a torpedo from a German aircraft during the Allied invasion of Sicily. The ship underwent repairs and continued to serve in the Mediterranean until the end of the war. After the war, Ariadne was placed in reserve in 1946 and eventually sold for scrapping in 1949. HMS Ariadne had a displacement of around 5,600 tons and was armed with a main battery of ten 5.25-inch guns. The ship had a top speed of 32.25 knots and a range of 2,414 nautical miles at 16 knots. Ariadne had a crew complement of around 480 officers and sailors. Overall, HMS Ariadne had a relatively short but eventful service history during World War II, contributing to Allied operations in the Mediterranean and engaging in combat against Axis forces. The ship's legacy is remembered as part of the Royal Navy's efforts during the conflict.

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