Naval Historywith Dr. Alex

Q&A · 6:48:12-6:50:00

Why the Hs 293 hit crippled HMS Spartan

The guided bomb struck a lightly protected area near the machinery spaces, where blast, flooding, and mast collapse compounded one another.

Damage ControlDido Class Light CruisersGuided WeaponsHenschel Hs 293HMS Spartan
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Question

Was the area where HMS Spartan was hit by an Hs 293 protected by armor?

Short answer

Not meaningfully; the weapon struck near lightly protected machinery spaces and triggered flooding and structural collapse beyond the initial blast.

Notes

Spartan was a Dido-class light cruiser with limited protection, described here as a 1-inch armoured deck and 3-inch belt. The Hs 293 struck just abaft the funnel near the machinery spaces. Its explosion opened a large hole and damaged compartments around the boiler rooms. Mast collapse and additional structural damage then compounded the flooding. The location of the hit exposed the limits of the ship's armour coverage and light construction.