Loss
Following the Japanese Fast Carrier Task Force's attack on Colombo in early April, Hermes and Vampire were ordered to depart Trincomalee to avoid a follow-up strike. Sailing on April 8, the two ships avoided the aerial bombing of the port early the next morning, but were spotted and attacked by Japanese carrier aircraft at 10:35.
Hermes was lost within twenty minutes, and after the aircraft left, those aboard Vampire thought they had been spared. However, the aircraft had returned to the carriers to rearm, and on their return bombed the destroyer heavily. Vampire shot down at least one aircraft before breaking in half and sinking: her ensign the last to submerge. Despite the ferocity of the attack, Vampire's commanding officer and eight sailors were the only fatalities. The survivors from both Hermes and Vampire were recovered by the hospital ship Vita.
Vampire was awarded five battle honours for her wartime service: "Calabria 1940", "Libya 1940–41", "Greece 1941", "Crete 1941", and "Indian Ocean 1941–42".
Read more about this topic: HMAS Vampire (D68)
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