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HMS Dragon was launched on 29.XII.1917, as first unit of this class, and loaned to Polish Navy on 1.I.1943. Dragon joined 5th Light Cruiser Squadron, Harwich Force in August 1918 just before the end of the war, and then went to Baltic in 1919 before joining 1st Light Cruiser Squadron, Atlantic Fleet. She was a part of escort for Prince of Wales visit to West Indies in August 1919. In 1923 Dragon joined British Special Service Squadron in Australia. During years 1927-28 cruiser joined the Mediterranean Fleet.
 | | Dragon in 1929 |
In 1928 Dragon went to shipyard for general renovation, which ended in 1930, during which her AA armament was changed to 3 x 102 mm guns, 2 x 40 mm and 10 MG. Also tonnage of the cruiser increased to 4850 tons. After the renovation Dragon joined 8th Light Cruiser Squadron until the end of July of 1937 when she was transferred to 7th Light Cruiser Squadron. In the autumn 1939 7th Cruiser Squadron, with the rest of Home Fleet was searching for German pocket battleships Admiral Graf Spee and Deutschland. In the spring of 1940 Dragon, after fall of France was moved to Freetown. On 16.IX.1940 Dragon requisitioned French steamer Tuareg. Soon she took part in operation "Menance" in which she was slightly damaged. In the end of 1941 she was moved to Far East to Singapore where she joined "China Force". Until the end of March 1942 Dragon (also with Danae) was escorting convoys between Australia and Java. After destruction of Western Striking Force both unit were moved to Ceylon, where until the end of 1942 Dragon was escorting troops. After one year in the service in the Far East, Dragon returned to England to shipyard. After the return of the ship, decision was made by the British Admiralty of transferring Dragon to PMW.
On 1.I.1943 Dragon was transferred to Polish Navy, in Royal Naval shipyard in Birkenhead. Because of the political reasons ship wasn't renamed to ORP Lwow, but to ORP Dragon. The commander of the ship was appointed cpt. Eugeniusz Plawski.
 | | Dragon in 1943 |
During long repairs ship received radars and new weapons (one 152 mm gun was removed, all 102 mm guns were taken and replaced by 40 mm AA guns - "pom-pom", and eight 20 mm AA guns were added, radars type 282 and 286). On 23 August 1943 the repairs were over and Dragon sailed to Scapa Flow. In October 1943 Dragon again went to the shipyard for another time. In the beginning of 1944 Dragon joined the Home Fleet. On 12.I.1944 cpt. E. Plawski was replaced by new commander - cmdr. Stanislaw Dzienisiewicz. On 20.II.1944 Dragon with British cruisers Berwick and Jamaica sailed to Soviet Union as an escort of JW.57 and RA.57 convoys. Soon she joined 10th Light Cruisers Squadron where Dragon was training the invasion tactics. In April 1944 Dragon again sailed into yard for renovations. This time stern "pom-pom" was replaced by 102 mm AA double gun, 20 mm AA guns were doubled and torpedo tubes were removed. New radars were added - type 273, 282 and 286Q. On 16.V.1944 the renovation was finished, month later on 6.VI.1944 the second front was opened.
On 6.VI.1944 Dragon with gunfire of hers 152 mm helped 3 British Infantry Division by destroying the enemy battery in Calleville sur Orne.
 | Two cruisers sunk as breakwaters at Normandy
nearer is the Dutch Sumatra, the further is Dragon |
That night Dragon was attacked by the enemy bomber but without any damage. Next day on 7.VI.1944 Dragon destroyed mortar battery in Caen and 6 German 'Panther' tanks. On 9.VI.1944 Dragon for all day was firing into enemy batteries. On 10.VI.1944 she returned to Portsmouth for fresh supplies. On 12.VI.1944 Polish cruiser was back in action until the 17th June, when she sailed back with battleship Nelson to Portsmouth. During those 5 days Dragon was firing 44 times using 1297 shells (152 mm). After short repairs on 7.VII.1944 Dragon sailed back to Normandy where, day later on 8.VI.1944, she was torpedoed by "Ein-Mann-Torpedo" (type Neger), with lost of 37 hands. Towed by tugs to "Gooseberry 4" port, where she was scuttled. On 3.VIII.1944 wreck of Dragon was totally destroyed by enemy motorboats type Linse.
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