Sussex served with the early form of Force H during the hunt for Admiral Graf Spee, then returned to the Home Fleet for the Norwegian campaign. A turbine defect sent her to Glasgow in August 1940, where bombing caused fires, gutted the aft end, and settled the cruiser on the bottom with a heavy list. The damage expanded a machinery repair into a reconstruction lasting until August 1942. During that interval Sussex gained new radar and fire-control equipment, Oerlikon 20 mm cannon, and eight-barrel pom-poms. Spending much of the dangerous early war period in a shipyard also improved her chances of surviving the conflict. After returning to Scapa Flow for exercises and interception work, she underwent another refit and worked up again in 1943.
Chapter · 52:11-54:47
Sussex's damage, refit, and return to service
Bomb damage kept Sussex out of action until 1942, but the long repair added radar, fire control, and anti-aircraft weapons before she returned to the fleet.