After commissioning in 1943, HMS Black Prince was thrust into the war, first serving as a vital escort during the critical "Arctic Convoy" days. In late-April, 1944, she was part of a force that claimed the German torpedo boat T-29 and managed to damage vessels T-24, and T-27 near Brittany. In June of 1944, as part of "Force A" (Task Force 125), she formed a portion of the Allied naval contingent in the north of France in support of the D-Day landings at Normandy - her station was at Utah Beach and she was joined by American warships in the resulting action.
With the invasion of Northern France proving successful, the ship was relocated to the Mediterranean Theater that August in support of the invasion of Southern France to envelope the Axis defenders. From there, the ship had assignments in the Aegean, near Egypt, and offshore of the island of Crete. In November of 1944, she transited the Suez Canal en route to the Indian Ocean to begin her Pacific Theater career as part of the East Indies Fleet, now directing her capabilities against the Japanese Empire.
In January of 1945, she was assigned to the British Pacific Fleet and was part of the Okinawa campaign before moving on to the ultimately destruction of the Japanese mainland itself. At this time, the ship was rebuilt with 12 x 2-pounder guns in three quadruple-gunned emplacements, 24 x 20mm AA guns in eight twin-gunned and eight single-gunned emplacements, and 6 x 21" triple torpedo tubes.
Japan capitulated in August of 1945 and the war officially ended the following month.
In the post-war period, HMS Black Prince was loaned out to ally New Zealand on May 25th, 1946. Planned modernization of the veteran vessel was ultimately cancelled and she was sent to reserve during 1947. Still afloat, the ship was being readied for service once more in early 1952 and recommissioning followed in February of 1953 still under the banner of the Royal New Zealand Navy. At this time, she fielded her 5.25" main gun battery along with 8 x 40mm Bofors Mk 3P "Toadstool"(NZ) Close-in Weapon Systems (CIWSs). This second career lasted just until August of 1955 when the vessel was decommissioned (by British authorities) for a second time due to her obsolescence, once again placed in reserve.
In March of 1962, the stripped hull was sold for scrapping and moved from Auckland to Osaka, Japan for the final work.
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