24th – At 0100 hours off the Mull of Kintyre the Fleet was joined by the destroyers SOMALI, ASHANTI, PUNJABI and MASHONA. Course was then set to proceed via the Minches and the Pentland Firth towards position 58-36N, 03-00E. On the way north the Fleet ran into a severe gale and FAME, FORESIGHT and FORTUNE suffered weather damage.
FAME and FORESIGHT detached and returned to the Clyde for repairs.
At 1600 hours in the Pentland Firth FORTUNE detached to take over the patrol of the Pentland Firth from BEDOUIN, who then joined the Fleet.

25th – At 0800 hours the cruiser DEVONSHIRE was detached on Admiralty orders to join the cruiser patrol line at 61- 35N.
At 1600 hours the fleet arrived at their interception position at 62.30N approximately 120 miles off the Norwegian coast. For the next three days the fleet patrolled in this area and the destroyers were refuelled in relays at Sullom Voe.
It was the intention of CinC Home Fleet  to remain on patrol until the DEUTSCHLAND (sic) made a bid for home.
(However due to poor weather with visibility reduced to 1 to 2 miles the German battlecruisers evaded the various patrol lines of the Home Fleet and returned to Wilhelmshaven at 1300/27/11/39 albeit with weather damage)

28th – At 1000 hours destroyers SOMALI, ASHANTI and PUNJABI detached to refuel at Sullom Voe then to join the HOOD.

(In the early morning of 29/11/39 the CinC HF received a message from the Admiralty, stating that they were against maintaining a patrol in U-Boat waters in approximately the same position for any considerable time, and suggesting abandoning the present patrol line and making a sweep to the northward so as to sweep out just north of latitude 65N, by daylight)

29th – At 0800 hours the CinC HF ordered all forces to sweep to the northward.
At 2200 hours during the sweep to the north off the Norwegian coast RODNEY suffered a serious rudder defect. She was ordered to detach and proceed to the Clyde.

(The rudder design of the NELSON class was poor. This was attributable to having twin screws and an inadequate single centre rudder which was out of the propeller race. The problem was recognised and the NELSON’s rudder was reinforced but RODNEY’s had not. In February 1940 the CinC in his report that it was evident that the design of the rudder was too weak to stand the strain of constant steaming in rough seas and zig-zagging)

RODNEY escorted by destroyers GURKHA and KANDAHAR detached and set course for the Clyde. Because of her steering difficulties she went west of the Shetlands and the Isle of Lewis.

1st – At 1200 hours in approximate position 56-48N, 08-03W, RODNEY escorted by destroyers GURKHA and KANDAHAR, RVed with HOOD and her escort of destroyers SOMALI, ASHANTI and PUNJABI.

2nd – At 0200 hours off Holy Island PUNJABI was in collision with the SS LAIRDCREST 789grt.
At 0400 hours RODNEY arrived off Greenock. Examination of her rudder found that about one third had been torn away.

13th – At 0330 hours in approximate position 68N, 11-30E WARSPITE with destroyers COSSACK, HERO, FORESTER and FOXHOUND detached from the Home Fleet and steered for position 67-44N, 13-22E to RV with destroyers BEDOUIN, ESKIMO, ICARUS, KIMBERLEY and PUNJABI, then to proceed on Operation DW.
At 0400 hours destroyers HOSTILE and IVANHOE detached and followed WARSPITE and her destroyers into Vestfjord.
RODNEY, RENOWN, FURIOUS, DEVONSHIRE and BERWICK and destroyers HAVOCK and ESK patrolled off the Lofoten Islands.
At 1058 hours off Tranoy Lighthouse ESKIMO sighted U 48 on the surface and drove her under and carried out a depth charge attack.
At 1115 hours the destroyers HAVOCK and ESK were detached to join HOSTILE and IVANHOE to hunt U 48.
At 1220 hours FURIOUS launched a striking force of ten Swordfish, 6 from 816 and 4 from 818 Sqds to assist operation DW by bombing the coast defences on Baroy Island and at Ramnes Point. When no defences were found at these locations bombing attacks were carried out on enemy destroyers without result. Two aircraft from 818 Sqd were lost.
At 2300 hours DEVONSHIRE and BERWICK detached from the CinC and proceeded north to sweep for German shipping.

14th - RODNEY, RENOWN and FURIOUS patrolled off the Lofoten Islands. Aircraft from FURIOUS carried out a reconnaissance of the area from Narvik to Tromso.

15th – At 0400 hours destroyers ILEX and ISIS joined the CinC off the Lofoten Islands. Following which FURIOUS detached with ILEX and ISIS and proceeded north for operations off Tromso.
At 1700 hours in approximate position 67-30N, 11E, RODNEY, RENOWN and destroyers ESK, ICARUS and IVANHOE, RVed with WARSPITE and destroyers GREYHOUND, HAVOCK, HOSTILE, HERO, FORESTER and KIMBERLEY.
After redistributing the destroyer screens, RODNEY, RENOWN and destroyers ESK, ICARUS, IVANHOE, GREYHOUND, FORESTER and KIMBERLEY set course for Scapa.

17th – At 1000 hours when in approximate position 59N, 4W, the CinC HF received a signal informing him the heavy cruiser SUFFOLK was under attack from the Luftwaffe off the Norwegian coast.
RENOWN with the destroyers FORESTER and KIMBERLEY were immediately detached and preceded through the Fair Isle Channel to SUFFOLK’s aid.
At 1200 hours RODNEY and destroyers ESK, ICARUS, IVANHOE and GREYHOUND, who had been damaged by heavy weather and sustained structural damage en route, arrived back at Scapa Flow.
RODNEY remained at Scapa Flow for the remainder of April.

RODNEY (Flag CinC Home Fleet) at Scapa Flow for the whole month.

2nd – At 2100 hours the cruiser SHEFFIELD arrived at Scapa Flow with the survivors of the 1/5 Battalion The Leicestershire Regiment who she had evacuated from Aandalsnes. Following SHEFFIELD’s arrival the survivors were transferred to RODNEY for the night.

3rd – In the morning the survivors were transferred from RODNEY to the Polish liner MV SOBIESKI.

17th – At 0014 hours the CinC Home Fleet received the following message from the Admiralty:

(Reference Admiralty’s 1857/16. The chance of attack on Shetlands by parachute troops and troop-carrying aircraft with possibly subsequent landing by surface craft is sufficiently real to justify increased precautions. You should make such adjustments as you consider to he necessary for the development of land and air forces at your disposal to guard against this eventuality, the necessity for denying Lerwick and the aerodrome to the enemy ships being most important. Three naval 4-inch QF guns mounted on baulk platforms and two 3.7-inch howitzers are being despatched at very earliest opportunity. Military reinforcements are also being sent)

The reinforcements and guns were sent up during the next few days, hut in the interim the Vice-Admiral Commanding Orkneys and Shetland stationed the destroyer ATHERSTONE, when not at sea, at Lerwick as a precautionary measure)

18th – Because of concerns about invasion the Admiralty felt the CinC Home Fleet must ensure that the heavy ships did not become immobilised through lack destroyers.
At 1000 hours the CinC Home Fleet instructed the Rear Admiral (D) as follows:

(A screen of nine destroyers is to be provided for the heavy ships. This is from now on to take priority over all other destroyer commitments except by my special permission)

5th – At 0645 hours RODNEY with destroyers ZULU, MAORI and FOXHOUND sailed from Scapa Flow to carry out heavy calibre firing practice off Cape Wrath.
At 1800 hours RODNEY, ZULU, MAORI and FOXHOUND arrived back at Scapa Flow.

9th - (At 0938 hours the CinC Home Fleet received a report from the VALIANT to the effect that she had met the hospital ship ATLANTIS and that the latter had reported sighting an attack by enemy pocket battleship [ it was actually the cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER operating with the battlecruisers SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU and engaged on Operation Juno] on the empty troop transport SS ORAMA 19840grt in position 67-44N, 03-52E at 0900/8/6/40)

At 1250 hours RODNEY (Flag CinC Home Fleet), RENOWN and destroyers ZULU, KELVIN, INGLEFIELD (D.3), ELECTRA and ESCORT sailed from Scapa Flow steering for position 66N, 00E to cover all slow convoys returning from Norway.

(At the time of the CinC Home Fleet sailing the German battlecruisers were safely in harbour at Trondheim having, unbeknown at the time to the Admiralty, sunk the aircraft carrier GLORIOUS and destroyers ACASTA and ARDENT. The SCHARNHORST having been damaged by a torpedo hit on her port bow fired by ACASTA. The Admiralty became aware of the sinkings from a German broadcast at 1615/9/6/40 )

10th - (At 0846 hours a RAF Blenheim of 254 Sqd from Sumburgh on reconnaissance over Trondheim reported sighting 4 enemy cruisers; this was subsequently amended to a battlecruiser and a large transport and 7 destroyers patrolling off the fiord entrance)

At 1525 hours in position 66-40N, 2-30W the CinC’s force RVed with ARK ROYAL and her escorting destroyers ASHANTI, HIGHLANDER and MASHONA. The Home Fleet then steered in a generally eastward direction until midnight.

11th – At 0000 hours the Home Fleet turned on to a north westerly course.
At 0900 hours the Home Fleet turned on to a southerly course covering the last of the convoys.

(RAF Blenheims from 254 Sqd maintained reconnaissance over Trondheim keeping the CinC informed of the situation in the port. The RAF also carried out a bombing attack with 12 Hudsons of 269 Sqd from Wick 36 x 250lb AP bombs were dropped but no hits were scored)

12th – At 0630 hours the destroyers AMAZON, ANTELOPE, ESCAPADE and FEARLESS joined the CinC. The destroyers ACHERON, DIANA and HIGHLANDER detached for Scapa.
At 0935 hours the Home Fleet turned on to course 080¼ to close the Norwegian coast to launch an air strike against enemy shipping at Trondheim.

13th – At 0000 hours the Home Fleet reached position 64-58N, 04-38E.
At 0030 hours the ARK ROYAL flew off a strike force of 15 Skuas, 6 from 800 Sqd and 9 from 803 Sqd, each armed with one 500lb SAP bomb.

(The dive bombing attack by the Skuas was to be supported by an attack on Vaernes airfield by 4 RAF Beauforts of 22 Sqd. Unfortunately the Beaufort attack, instead of suppressing the Luftwaffe, alerted them, causing the launch of Me 109 and 110 fighters. Also the plan called for RAF Blenheim fighters to provide cover over the target.

At 0145 hours the 15 Skuas arrived over the SCHARNHORST, who was ready and waiting having been alerted when the Skuas crossed the coast 20 minutes earlier. 800 Sqd attacked stern to bow and 803 Sqd attacked bow to stern. One hit was achieved, which failed to explode, returning pilots reported two hits. In the attack 8 Skuas were shot down. The RAF Blenheims arrived late and played no part in the operation.

At 0345 hours in thick fog the 7 remaining Skuas had been recovered and the Home Fleet steered west away from the coast to avoid the expected Luftwaffe counter attack which failed to materialise)

At 1000 hours in thick fog destroyers ELECTRA and ANTELOPE collided while escorting ARK ROYAL. ZULU took ELECTRA in tow and INGLEFIELD stood by ANTELOPE.
At 1800 hours destroyers ASHANTI, BEDOUIN, MAORI and TARTAR joined the CinC.

14th - The retirement of the two damaged destroyers was covered by RODNEY, RENOWN, TARTAR, FEARLESS, ASHANTI, BEDOUIN, MASHONA and MAORI.

15th – At 1640 hours RODNEY, RENOWN, TARTAR, FEARLESS, ASHANTI, BEDOUIN, MASHONA and MAORI arrived at Scapa Flow.

(19/6/40 the Swedish destroyers PUKE Commodore T. Hagman RSN, ex-Italian GIOVANNI NICOTERA and PSILANDER, ex-Italian BETTINO RICASOLI and torpedo boats ROMULUS, ex-Italian SPICA and REMUS, ex-Italian ASTORE, en route to Sweden from Italy, arrived at Skaalefjord in the Faroes. They were accompanied by the depot ship PATRICA, ex-Italian PATRIS II.

1930/19/40 destroyers TARTAR [D.6], MASHONA, MAORI, departed Scapa Flow and arrived at Skaalefjord in the Faroes early morning on the 20th to requisition the Swedish warships. Finally on 30/6/40 the destroyers were returned to the control of their crews)

22nd – Steaming parties drawn from the crews of the battleships RODNEY and VALIANT were embarked on the accommodation ship ST MAGNUS (1312grt) and escorted by anti-submarine whalers BUTTERMERE and WINDERMERE, sailed from Kirkwall for Skaalefjord, the Faeroes. The steaming parties were to man the requisitioned Swedish destroyers PSILANDER and ROMOLUS.

3rd – At 2200 hours RODNEY, heavy cruiser NORFOLK, light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON, anti-aircraft cruiser COVENTRY, and all available destroyers at Scapa Flow were put at two hours notice for steam until 0500/3/7/40.

4th – On board RODNEY in Scapa Flow a conference was held to discuss the re-routing of convoys from the Western Approaches to the North Western Approaches, his following the German occupation of France. Minelaying strategy was also discussed.
RODNEY remained at Scapa Flow for the remainder of July.

23rd – At 0640 hours RODNEY departed Scapa Flow escorted by destroyers INGLEFIELD, ECHO, ESCAPADE and JAVELIN. At 2110 hours RODNEY and escort arrived at Rosyth. RODNEY to dock for a refit and to give leave.
RODNEY was at Rosyth for the remainder of the month. During the docking a Radar Type 79Z was fitted in place of prototype Type79Y that had been fitted in 1938.

At Rosyth under going refit.

11th – On this day RODNEY was due to leave Rosyth, but was ordered by the Admiralty to remain there.

(In the early morning of 13/9/40 the CinC Home Fleet, was informed by the Admiralty that all evidence pointed to an attempted invasion on a large scale being imminent, and that the SCHARNHORST, GNEISENAU and BISMARCK, and the two old battleships and one pocket battleship might be used by the enemy. In consequence the NELSON, Flag CinC HF, and HOOD were ordered to Rosyth to join the RODNEY)

For the remainder of September RODNEY was held at Rosyth for the interception of any attempt by major German warships attempting to enter English Channel or take passage for attacks on Atlantic shipping.

During October RODNEY continued to be stationed at Rosyth in readiness for the interception of any attempt by major German warships attempting to enter English Channel or take passage for attacks on Atlantic shipping.

4th – At 1615 hours the Battleships NELSON (Flag CinC HF) and RODNEY, anti-aircraft cruisers NAIAD (CS15) and BONAVENTURE and destroyers COSSACK (D4), MAORI, MATABELE, ELECTRA and BRILLIANT sailed from Rosyth.
At 1730 hours in the Firth of Forth the Fleet was joined by the destroyer PUNJABI from Scapa.
The Fleet then set course for the west of the Orkneys to carry out a full calibre practice.

5th – At 1530 hours the Fleet arrived at Scapa Flow.

(At 1730/5/11/40 in position 52.41N, 32.17W the German Pocket Battleship ADMIRAL SCHEER attacked the Armed Merchant Cruiser JERVIS BAY which was the sole escort of convoy HX 84 of thirty seven ships. JERVIS BAY was sunk in 22 minutes)

6th - At 0700 hours NELSON (Flag CinC Home Fleet), RODNEY, light cruiser SOUTHAMPTON and destroyers COSSACK (D4), MAORI, BRILLIANT, DOUGLAS, KEPPEL and VIMY sailed from Scapa Flow to cover the Iceland-Faroes Channel against a possible return to Germany by the SCHEER.

7th - RODNEY detached to join the escort of convoy SC 11.
At 1511 hours in approximate position 59-30N, 18-30W a U-Boat transmitted a W/T signal and probably reported the RODNEY who at that time was in the vicinity.

12th – In approximate position 48N, 50W the RODNEY joined the escort of convoy SC 11.

15th – In approximate position 52-30N, 43W RODNEY detached from convoy SC 11 and set course to provide cover for convoys HX 85/1 and HX 86.

21st – At 1830 hours In position 61N, 25W RODNEY set course for Scapa Flow.

22nd – At 1030 hours in position 60N, 17W RODNEY was met by destroyers BRILLIANT, BEAGLE, BULLDOG and ELECTRA who then escorted her to Scapa Flow. Shortly after making the RV destroyer BULLDOG lost contact and proceeded independently to Scapa Flow.

23rd - At 1400 hours RODNEY arrived at Scapa Flow.

(At 0122/5/12/40 the Admiralty signalled the CinC Home Fleet, to send a capital ship as soon as practicable to cover the incoming Halifax convoys. The RODNEY was chosen for this duty)

5th – At 0830 hours RODNEY with destroyers ESCAPADE, SIKH, BRILLIANT and BEAGLE departed Scapa Flow and headed west for position 60N, 25W.

6th – At 0300 hours in approximate position 60N, 12W the destroyer BEAGLE suffered a failure of her steering gear and had to detach and return to Scapa Flow. The SIKH also detached and escorted BEAGLE back to Scapa Flow.

7th – At 1500 hours arrived at position 60N, 25W, ESCAPADE and BRILLIANT detached and returned to Scapa Flow. RODNEY continued in a westerly direction searching for convoy HX 92.
During the day the weather worsened until it became a full westerly gale. In the severe weather RODNEY suffered major structural damage forward causing fractured frames and stringers and splitting of her outer bottom plates. Flooding of compartments due to panting of plates was also experienced making necessary extempore pumping which affected the watertight integrity of her forward structure.

9th – At 1050 hours in approximate position 59-20N, 27W RODNEY made a RV with the AMC MONTCLARE who was the ocean escort of convoy HX 92, at this time the convoy had been scattered due to the severe weather and MONTCLARE was in the process of re-assembling the convoy.
At 1030 hours MONTCLARE detached and returned west.

11th – At 1300 hours in position 57-27N, 33- 49W RODNEY joined convoy HX 93 and took over as ocean escort. When handing over to RODNEY, visibility was poor and only 19 ships could be seen, but 25 ships had been in company at sunset the previous day. Following the hand over the AMC AURANIA detached and set course south westerly to search for the destroyer HMCS ST CROIX.

13th – At 1030 hours RODNEY detached from HX 93 and was joined by the destroyers ESCAPADE, ELECTRA and BULLDOG from Scapa.
RODNEY, ESCAPADE, ELECTRA and BULLDOG then set course to return to Scapa.

14th – In the early hours the destroyer MATABELE joined the force.

(MATABELE had sailed from Scapa in company with destroyers ESCAPADE, ELECTRA and BULLDOG. But at 2130/11/12/40 in approximate position 59-12N. 8-17W she had detached to go the aid the SS TOWA 5,419 grt. TOWA had been in convoy HX 92 but at 2052 hours she had been torpedoed by U 96 stopped. MATABELE picked up 19 survivors from the crew of 37)

15th – At 1300 hours RODNEY and destroyers MATABELE, ESCAPADE, ELECTRA, BULLDOG arrived at Scapa Flow.

16th – At 2130 hours RODNEY and destroyers ESCAPADE, ELECTRA and ECLIPSE sailed from Scapa Flow for Rosyth.

17th – At 1145 hours RODNEY and destroyers ESCAPADE, ELECTRA and ECLIPSE arrived at Rosyth.

18th - RODNEY was docked for repair of her weather damage. Additional stiffening was fitted in the damaged areas.

Under repair at Rosyth.

14th - RODNEY, with destroyers ECHO, ELECTRA and KEPPEL, arrived back at Scapa Flow after repairing weather damage at Rosyth.

25th – At 2320 hours battleships NELSON (Flag CinC Home Fleet) and RODNEY, battle cruiser REPULSE, light cruisers ARETHUSA, GALATEA, AURORA of the 2nd CS, MAURITIUS, NAIAD, PHOEBE of the 15th CS, EDINBURGH and BIRMINGHAM of the 18th CS, with destroyers BEDOUIN (T/D.6) MATABELE, TARTAR, PUNJABI, ESCAPADE, ECHO, ELECTRA, BEAGLE, BRILLIANT, KEPPEL and ORP PIORUN sailed from Scapa Flow for position 61-30N, 17-30W to cover the Denmark Strait and the Iceland-Faeroes passage.

(This deployment resulted from an Admiralty message at 1152/25/1/41 giving information of a D/F bearing of an enemy unit between Rockall and the Hebrides. Followed by an Admiralty message at 1751/25/1/41 giving information from the British Naval Attache at Stockholm that two heavy ships believed to be the SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU had passed through the Great Belt northwards during the forenoon of 23/1/41.

The vessels sighted were indeed the SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU, commencing Operation BERLIN, and they passed Utsira Island, 59-18N, 4-53E, northbound at 0300/26/1/41intending to breakout into the Atlantic through the Iceland-Faeroes passage)

27th – At 1200 hours the Fleet was in position 62N, 21-30W, there having been no further news of the enemy the CinC Home Fleet ordered the EDINBURGH (Flag VA 18thCS) to take the RODNEY, BIRMINGHAM, MAURITIUS, BEAGLE, BRILLIANT, KEPPEL and PIORUN under command and return to Scapa Flow.
The CinC Home Fleet with the remainder of the Fleet patrolled in the vicinity of the above position.

28th – At 2345 hours RODNEY, EDINBURGH, BIRMINGHAM, MAURITIUS, BEAGLE and BRILLIANT arrived back at Scapa Flow.

4th – At 2105 hours RODNEY and destroyers INGLEFIELD, ELECTRA, ECHO and BRILLIANT sailed from Scapa Flow and set course west then north westerly.

(The deployment was to provide heavy cover for the 1st Minelaying Squadron, comprising the minelayers SOUTHERN PRINCE, AGAMEMNON, MENESTHEUS and PORT QUEBEC escorted by the cruiser NIGERIA and destroyers BRIGHTON, LANCASTER, ST ALBANS, CHARLESTOWN who were to lay minefield SN 7A in the Iceland, Faeroes gap. The lay of 1110 mines was completed early on 6/2/41)

7th – At 1530 hours RODNEY, light cruiser NIGERIA and destroyers INGLEFIELD, ECHO, ELECTRA and BRILLIANT arrived at Scapa Flow.

(At 0618/8/2/41 hours the German battlecruiser SCHARNHORST, who was in company with the GNEISENAU, made radar contact at 17200 metres with convoy HX 106. On closing the convoy SCHARNHORST, at 0947 hours, sighted a battleship, which was the RAMILLIES. On sighting the battleship the Germans broke off.

At 1150Z/8/2/41, the Admiralty received a report from the RAMILLIES, escorting convoy HX 106 in position 52- 55N, 34-00W, some 900 miles west of Slyne Head, had had a brief glimpse of the mast and top of a ship which was possibly a German Hipper class cruiser estimated to be steering a course of 030¡. Following the encounter the SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU headed for refuelling point blue in approximate position 53-55N, 57W, arriving on 14/2/41 and refuelled from the German tankers SCHLETTSTADT (8028grt) and ESSO HAMBURG (9847grt).

The Admiralty appreciation was that the Hipper class cruiser seen in dock at Brest between 2nd January and 1st February had not been located there on 4th February, and if she was the ship seen by the RAMILLIES she might well hare been attempting to return to Germany by the northern passages. At twenty-five knots she could have reached a position by dusk on 9th February to the westward of the Iceland-Faeroes channel appropriate for a night passage through the gap which would have taken her well clear to the eastward by dawn the following day. At twenty knots she would have been too far to the westward before dusk to give a reasonable chance of interception if she attempted a night passage, but she might conveniently be caught to the eastward at daylight. Ships at Scapa were accordingly sailed and disposed to meet either of these contingencies.

At 1947/8/2/41 the Admiralty ordered the cruiser EDINBURGH (CS 18), who was in the Clyde ready to sail with convoy WS 6A, and the destroyers KELLY (D5), KIPLING, KASHMIR and JACKAL from Plymouth, to proceed to Scapa for orders. At 2331/8/2/41 the CinC HF requested that EDINBURGH and the destroyers RV with RODNEY at 1100/10/2/41 in position 64-15N, 9W)

9th – During the forenoon the battleships RODNEY and KING GEORGE V and destroyers INGLEFIELD (D3), BEDOUIN, MAORI, ZULU, BRILLIANT and BOREAS sailed from Scapa Flow for position 65N, 8-30W.

10th – At 1100 hours in position 64-15N, 9W the light cruiser EDINBURGH (CS18) RVed the RODNEY force.
At 1640 hours, there having been no further developments, EDINBURGH and the RODNEY force were ordered to return to Scapa.

11th – At 2045 hours RODNEY, KING GEORGE V with destroyers INGLEFIELD, BEDOUIN, ZULU, MAORI, and BRILLIANT arrived at Scapa Flow.

(On the morning of 1/2/41the German cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER sailed from Brest on her second raiding mission with orders to join up with the battlecruisers GNEISENAU and SCHARNHORST. At 0440/9/2/41 in position 35-53N, 13-13W the 21 ship convoy HG53, with only the sloop DARTFORD as escort, was attacked by U 37, following the attack U 37 made a sighting report. On receipt of the report Dšnitz sensed an opportunity to mount a combined U boat, air and surface attack on the convoy. Dšnitz ordered U 37 to shadow the convoy and transmit beacon signals. At 1600/9/2/41 in 35 54N, 14 41W 5 FW 200’s made a low level bombing attack on HG53 sinking 5 ships. At first the Oberkommando der Marine [OKM] was reluctant to release the ADMIRAL HIPPER, but at 1140/10/2/41 when in approximate position 45N, 30W, ADMIRAL HIPPER was ordered to attack HG53. The ADMIRAL HIPPER missed HG53 but found the 19 unescorted ships of convoy SLS64. At 0925/12/2/41 in position 37-10N, 21 20W, ADMIRAL HIPPER opened fire on the ships of SLS 64 and in 80 minutes she sank 7 and damaged 3. [250 seamen from convoy SLS64 were lost. Their deaths have not been acknowledged in convoy loss statistics as the Admiralty regarded these ships as independents] In the engagement the ADMIRAL HIPPER expended a large amount of ammunition and she set course to return to Brest, arriving on 15/2/41. The Admiralty were aware of HIPPER’s arrival at 1115/15/2/41.

A RRR raider report that was picked up at 0930 hours by the SS EGYPTIAN PRINCE in convoy HG 53.

When the Admiralty received the raider report part of their response was the decision to provide close escort for all ocean convoys as far as possible. This would require detachments from the Home Fleet)

12th – At 1830 hours RODNEY and destroyers ECLIPSE, ELECTRA and BRILLIANT sailed from Scapa Flow with orders to proceed at best speed through position 59N, 25W and thence down meridian 25W to join the troop convoy WS 6A.

14th – At 1135 hours RODNEY was signalled by CinC Home Fleet to release her destroyers.
At 1145 hours destroyers ECLIPSE, ELECTRA and BRILLIANT detached and proceeded to Skaalefjord to refuel.

15th - At 0700 hours in approximate position 45-30N, 23W, RODNEY RVed with convoy WS 6A. Convoy WS 6A comprised 17 troop transports with almost 23000 troops embarked and 12 MT ships. The convoy was weakly escorted by the cruisers BIRMINGHAM and PHOEBE and the AMC CATHAY.
On joining the convoy RODNEY took station 3 miles ahead of the port column.
Following which PHOEBE detached to refuel at Gibraltar.

17th – At 0830 hours in approximate position 38-30N, 23W, convoy WS 6A and its escort of RODNEY, BIRMINGHAM and CATHAY was joined by the battle cruiser RENOWN and aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL At 0900 hours RODNEY, ECLIPSE and ELECTRA detached from WS 6A.

18th – RODNEY joined the escort of convoy HX 108 which was a convoy of 50 mercantiles escorted by the corvettes MAYFLOWER and SNOWBERRY. The convoy had sailed from Halifax on 9/2/41.

20th – In position 61-40N, 25W RODNEY detached from HX 108 escorted by destroyers ESKIMO, MATABELE and TARTAR. The destroyers had sailed from Scapa to escort RODNEY back to Scapa.

23rd – At 0300 hours RODNEY and destroyers ESKIMO, MATABELE and TARTAR arrived at Scapa Flow.

9th – At 0058 hours the Admiralty signalled the CinC Home Fleet, 'Request you sail 2 battleships in company to Halifax. These ships should be routed so as to afford NORFOLK with HX 112 as much support as possible'.

(This followed the receipt of a signal from the MALAYA stating,' two German ships, probably the battlecruisers SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU, sighted at 1600Z/8/3/41 in position 21-37N, 20-21W'. Following their sighting the German ships moved off in a north westerly direction)

At 0740 hours battleships RODNEY and KING GEORGE V escorted by destroyers SOMALI, BEDOUIN, PUNJABI, TARTAR, MATABELE and ESKIMO departed Scapa Flow. They were routed through 59N, 07-30W, 62N, 11W, 62N, 25W, 58N, 30W, and thence to Halifax. RODNEY and KING GEORGE V to provide ocean escort for convoys HX 115 and 116.

10th – At 1946 hours the Admiralty signalled the RA Halifax and RODNEY , 'as RAMILLIES will not be available for HX 114 or 115, RODNEY is to join and escort convoy HX 114 from approximately 49W, joining about 1200/15/3/41'.

11th – At 1130Z hours in position 62N, 25W destroyers SOMALI, BEDOUIN, PUNJABI, TARTAR, MATABELE and ESKIMO detached and returned to Scapa Flow.

12th – At 1945Z hours RODNEY signalled the Admiralty, 'that owing to high speed necessary on outward voyage will not have sufficient fuel to return to Scapa without refuelling at Reykjavik'.

13th – At 0200Z hours KING GEORGE V was detached, in accordance with Admiralty instructions, to proceed with despatch towards Halifax or estimated position of warship raider should any further information be received.

(This signal followed the receipt by Canso Radio, Nova Scotia, of weak signals from two unknown ships being attacked by a warship raider)

15th – At 1000Z-3 hours in position 42-55N, 49W, RODNEY joined the AMC CHITRAL escorting the 27 ships in convoy HX 114.
At 1636 hours a raider distress signal was received from the tanker MV SAN CASIMIRO 8046grt, in position 39-58N, 43-19W.
At 1737 hours the Admiralty signalled RODNEY, 'reference SAN CASIMIRO distress signal. Detach one AMC and submarine THUNDERBOLT to search area and protect independently routed ships'. The Admiralty then informed RODNEY that 14 ships of which 10 are tankers are reckoned to be within 150 miles of position of attack.

(After being sighted by the MALAYA, the battlecruisers SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU moved into the mid Atlantic and joined up with their supply ships the UCKERMARK and the ERMLAND. On the evening of 12/3/41 all four ships commenced sailing in a north westerly direction towards the HX convoy routes. They were spread out in line abreast, in formation from the east, UCKERMARK, GNEISENAU, SCHARNHORST and ERMLAND, spaced so as to cover a path 120 miles wide. On the morning of the 15/3/41, UCKERMARK sighted a ship and when GNEISENAU closed the ship it proved to be the Norwegian tanker MV BIANCA 5684GRT. The BIANCA and the next ship sighted the MV SAN CASIMIRO were from the dispersed convoy OB 294, which had dispersed on 9/3/41 in position 51-29N, 20-30W. The SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU then proceeded to capture 3 and sink 12 ships from the dispersed convoy)

16th – At 1800Z-3 hours the battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN joined the escort of convoy HX 114.
At 2010Z-3 the Danish ship the MV CHILEAN REEFER 1831grt, in position 46-11N, 44-51W transmitted a RRRR raider signal. At the time RODNEY was about 25 miles north east of the attack position, almost immediately the raider opened fire and hit the CHILEAN REEFER setting her on fire.
RODNEY steered 150¼ towards the scene and at 2030 hours, in position 46-16N, 45-08W, she sighted an unknown ship, this was the UCKERMARK, which immediately made off to the west and was soon lost in the poor light.
At about 2037 hours RODNEY sighted, off her port bow, what she took to be a warship and signalled what ship? The vessel sighted was the GNEISENAU, who replied HMS EMERALD and then made off at speed, working up to 32 knots, to the west. RODNEY attempted to follow but the speed differential was too great and with poor visibility she soon gave up. She then turned back to pick up the 27 survivors of the CHILEAN REEFER.

(At 1710Z-3/16/3/41 the MV CHILEAN REEFER, on passage from Newcastle to St John, New Brunswick, with general cargo, was sailing on a south westerly course, when the masthead lookout sighted a vessel on the port bow, about 12 miles away. The ship was immediately turned away to starboard to bring the unknown vessel astern, and speed increased to the maximum of 14 knots, 13.5 knots was her rated top speed. It was clear that the unknown vessel was endeavouring to intercept, so the distress signal QQQQ to be made by W/T. As soon as W/T silence was broken the unknown vessel opened fire, it was in fact the GNEISENAU, the CHILEAN REEFER signalled RRRR and gave her position. GNEISENAU’s first salvo landed 100 yards off the port beam, evasive action was taken and two smoke floats were dropped, one on the port side and one on the starboard side.

At about 1720 hours when the raider seemed within 4in gun range, CHILEAN REEFER opened fire with her poop gun. At about the same time a shell entered the accommodation under the bridge and probably one of the same salvos entered Number two hold causing a fire to break out. It was soon evident that the ship could not be saved and to prevent unnecessary loss of life, fire was ceased and the boats lowered. All the survivors cleared the doomed vessel by 1745 hours. The CHILEAN REEFER now with her forward half well alight but refusing to sink, so the GNEISENAU, now almost stopped, continued to fire at the blazing wreck.

GNEISENAU ordered the lifeboat to lay alongside, which was ignored until the rescue work was incomplete and only after picking up all visible men, six in all, did the survivors comply. Failing light compelled the abandonment of the search for survivors, and the lifeboat then made for the lee side of the GNEISENAU. But to do so it was necessary to cross her bow and when practically ahead of her she got under way, and the lifeboat was swept along at her side. No attention, however, was paid to the survivors by GNEISENAU’s crew, as she rapidly increased speed and steered westerly. This was when the RODNEY had been sighted and recognised.

After giving up the chase RODNEY returned at 1945 hours and picked up the 27 survivors. When RODNEY steamed away the CHILEAN REEFER was still burning fiercely)

17th – In the morning the ROYAL SOVEREIGN detached from convoy HX 114.

23rd – At 2200Z-2 hours in position 60N, 27W, destroyers COSSACK (D4), ZULU and MAORI RVed with convoy HX 114. Following which RODNEY escorted by destroyers COSSACK, ZULU and MAORI detached from convoy HX 114 and proceeded to Hvalfjord to refuel.

24th - At 1345Z-2 hours RODNEY and destroyers COSSACK, ZULU and MAORI arrived at Hvalfjord.

25th – At 1030Z-2 hours RODNEY escorted by destroyers COSSACK, ZULU and MAORI sailed from Hvalfjord for Halifax.

26th – At 0630Z-2 hours in approximate position 61-16N, 30W, destroyers COSSACK, ZULU and MAORI detached from RODNEY and returned to Hvalfjord to refuel.

31st – RODNEY arrived at Halifax.

RODNEY at Halifax at fours hours notice until 4/4/41, making good defects.

7th – Nominated for ocean escort of troop convoy TC 10.

(Between 0852 and 0928 hours, BISMARCK reported to Group West and Seekriegsleitung:-

Possession of radar equipment by opponent, effective range at least 35,000 meters, adversely affects to the highest degree the operations in the Atlantic. Ships were located in the Strait of Denmark in dense fog and were continuously tracked. Disengagement failed even in favourable weather conditions. Oil replenishment is generally no longer possible, if disengagement of opponent cannot be accomplished with higher speed. Running battle between 20,800 and 18,000 meters. Opponent HOOD concentrates fire on BISMARCK. After five minutes, HOOD is destroyed by an explosion; thereafter, change of target to King George who then turns away in black smoke caused by definitively observed hits. He remains out of sight for several hours. Own munitions expenditure: 93 rounds. Later, King George took on the fight only at extreme distances. BISMARCK received two hits from King George; of those one hit below the side armour belt at sections XIII-XIV. Hit in compartment XX-XXI impaired speed and caused a 1¼ bow burying forward and destruction of oil cells. Release of PRINZ EUGEN possible by engagement of cruisers and battleship by BISMACK. Own EM-2 [radar] instrument prone to failures, especially during firing.

This signal was DFed by various Y stations who feed their bearings to the Admiralty OIC, who were then able to plot a fairly accurate fix at 55-30N, 30 to 32W.

On the specific orders of the CinC Home Fleet the Admiralty only supplied the bearings and not the fix calculated by the OIC. The staff of the CinC Home Fleet then calculated BISMARCK’s position incorrectly at 57N, 30W)

At 1047 hours the CinC Home Fleet Admiral Tovey advised all ships, including RODNEY, to search northwards of BISMARCK’s last known position, this order was based on the error in plotting the DFed bearings. Dalrymple-Hamilton realised the error and did not follow believing that the error would be quickly corrected by the Admiralty.

At 1158 hours the Admiralty signalled RODNEY to act on the assumption that BISMARCK was heading to a Bay of Biscay port and also supplied the latest DFed bearing fixes. From these fixes Dalrymple-Hamilton decided that RODNEY was now to the south of BISMARCK’s track, so he turned north east and worked up to 21 knots.
At 1428 hours the Admiralty ordered RODNEY to act on the assumption that BISMARCK was proceeding to Norway via the Iceland-Faeroes passage and to conform to the movements of the CinC HF. Why the Admiralty sent this signal remains a mystery since at the time the opinion of the OIC and the Directors of the Plans and Operations Divisions at the Admiralty was that BISMARCK was heading for France. Dalrymple-Hamilton ignored the order.
At 1810 hours Dalrymple-Hamilton decided that BISMARCK was making for Brest.
At 1805 hours the Admiralty signalled RODNEY stating that BISMARCK was making for the west coast of France.
At 1812 hours the Admiralty signalled all ships of the Home Fleet to confirm their 1805 that BISMARCK was definitely heading for the west coast of France (this signal was based on information from the GAF Enigma that GC and CS had been reading for some time).
At 1930 hours RODNEY with the destroyers SOMALI, TARTAR and MASHONA turned on to a south easterly course, conforming to, but north of and astern of the BISMARCK. The CinC Home Fleet in the battleship KING GEORGE V was some distance astern of RODNEY on the same heading.
RODNEY was now on the same approximate course as BISMARCK who was some way ahead to the south east. However Dalrymple-Hamilton, the CinC and the Admiralty were unaware of BISMARCK’s actual location.
At 2400 hours the destroyer SOMALI, whose fuel was running low, detached to refuel.

28th – RODNEY’s steering problems persisted.
RODNEY, NELSON and destroyers PATHFINDER, PENN and QUENTIN were joined by the destroyer DERWENT from St Helena.

1st – At 0400 hours RODNEY, NELSON and destroyers DERWENT, PATHFINDER, PENN and QUENTIN arrived at Freetown.
Whilst at Freetown the ships staff carried out work on her steering mechanism.

16th – RODNEY sailed from Freetown with DERWENT in company to carry out steering trials, during which all appeared to be satisfactory.

17th – At 0630 hours RODNEY, NELSON and destroyers DERWENT and PATHFINDER sailed from Freetown.

21st – South of the Azores PATHFINDER detached and picked up 23 survivors from the SS CORTONA 7093grt.

(The CORTONA had detached from convoy OS 33 had been sunk on 12/7/42 by U 116 and U 201, PATHFINDER landed her survivors at Londonderry on 26/7/42)

22nd – The destroyer DERWENT detached and destroyers PENN and QUENTIN joined from Freetown.

23rd – RODNEY, NELSON, escorted by destroyers PENN, and QUENTIN, RVed with destroyers SOMALI, ICARUS and FORESIGHT from Londonderry.

26th – At 1100 hours RODNEY, NELSON, escorted by destroyers SOMALI, ICARUS, FORESIGHT, PENN, and QUENTIN arrived Scapa from Freetown.
RODNEY immediately commenced a boiler clean and rectification work on her steering mechanism.

2nd - At 1545 the NELSON (Flag Vice-Admiral E N Syfret CinC Force F), RODNEY (embarked, travelling incognito was Vice Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, the deputy CinC HF) and destroyers ASHANTI, SOMALI, ESKIMO, TARTAR, PATHFINDER and QUENTIN sailed from Scapa for Operation PEDESTAL. (The destroyer PENN was delayed by defects).
At 2000 Convoy W S 21S, comprising 13MT ships and one tanker, left the Clyde with the light cruisers NIGERIA and KENYA, and destroyers BICESTER and BRAMHAM for Operation PEDESTAL.

(Operation PEDESTAL was an operation to pass a supply convoy MW 12, of 13 MT ships and a tanker, through the western Mediterranean to Malta. The convoy was provided with the largest escort that the Admiralty could assemble. The convoy sailed from the Clyde at 2000/2/8/42 under the designation WS 21S)

3rd – At 0430 hours the destroyer PENN sailed from Scapa.
At 1400 hours in approximate position 55-30N, 9-30W with the convoy sailing west at 12 knots, the convoy escort of NIGERIA and KENYA and destroyers BICESTER and BRAMHAM was joined by Force F of NELSON, RODNEY, ASHANTI, TARTAR, SOMALI, PATHFINDER, QUENTIN, and ESKIMO.
At 1500 hours KEPPLE, MALCOLM, AMAZON, VENOMOUS and WOLVERINE from Londonderry joined the convoy following which the convoy turned on to a southerly course at 14 knots.
At 1630 hours PENN arrived at Londonderry to refuel.
At 2030 hours PENN sailed from Londonderry to catch up with the convoy WS 21S.

4th - At 1034 hours the convoy changed on to 186¼.
In the morning NIGERIA refuelled DERWENT, VENOMOUS, WISHART and WOLVERINE. KENYA refuelled AMAZON, MALCOLM and ZETLAND.
NIGERIA and KENYA then detached to refuel at Gibraltar.
In the morning the destroyer PENN joined the convoy.
During the day the convoy carried out the manoeuvre of changing from 4 to 2 columns with destroyers ASHANTI and DERWENT taking the place of the column leaders.
At 1500 hours the convoy course changed to 155¼

5th - At 1100 a U-boat contact was made and the convoy did a 45¼ turn to port.
In the morning the light cruiser MANCHESTER and aircraft carrier FURIOUS [822 Sqd - 4 Albacores (detachment) and with 38 Spitfire VB’s with modified propellers (because of problems with the hump in FURIOUS’s deck) embarked for Malta, Operation BELLOWS] and the destroyers, ORP BLYSKAWICA and WISHART joined the convoy.
Following which MANCHESTER, ESKIMO, TARTAR, WISHART and DERWENT detached to refuel at Gibraltar.
During the day the ships of the convoy and escort practiced blind and umbrella barrages and emergency turns.
A FW 200 was spotted in the distance by a lookout from the MT ship SS EMPIRE HOPE.
In the evening the convoy ran into thick fog.

6th – During the night the convoy continued in thick fog.
At 1500 hours the convoy course was altered to 155¼ and FURIOUS and ORP BLYSKAWICA detached to take part in Operation BERSERK.

(Operation BERSERK [This was an exercise involving five aircraft carriers to improve Fighter Direction and multi-carrier operating techniques in preparation for the defence of the Malta convoy, Operation PEDESTAL]. The operation was carried out in position 35N, 14W.

INDOMITABLE [with the most experienced fighters aboard, these were 800 Sqd -12 Sea Hurricanes, 880 Sqd - 12 Sea Hurricanes, 880 Sqd – 6 Martlet IIs, 827 Sqd - 12 Albacores and 831 Sqd - 12 Albacores] with her attendant light cruiser PHOEBE.

EAGLE [801 Sqd - 12 Sea Hurricanes with 4 more in reserve, 813 Sqd - 4 Sea Hurricanes] with her attendant light cruiser CHARYBDIS.

VICTORIOUS [809 Sqd - 12 Fulmars, 884 Sqd - 6 Fulmars, 885 Sqd - 6 Sea Hurricanes, 817 Sqd - 2 Albacores (9 detached), 832 Sqd - 12 Albacores] with her attendant light cruiser SIRIUS.

ARGUS [804 Sqd – 6 Sea Hurricanes]

FURIOUS [822 Sqd - 4 Albacores (detachment) and 38 Spitfires embarked for Malta]

Escorted by destroyers INTREPID, ICARUS, FORESIGHT, FURY, ANTELOPE, ITHURIEL, WRESTLER LAFOREY (D19), LOOKOUT and LIGHTNING the operation lasted 2 days

RFA ABBEYDALE escorted by the corvettes ARMERIA and BURDOCK known as Force W. [ABBEYDALE was in attendance to refuel the escorts but due to unsuitable equipment and inexperienced crew refuelling was not completed]. This meant that additional vessels, above those planned for, had to be refuelled in Gibraltar on 7th and 8th August)

8th - At 1015 in approximate position 36N, 15W convoy WS 21S changed to course to 092¼.
The FAA aircraft performed dummy air attacks during the afternoon, followed by a fly past. This was done to exercise the radar reporting and fighter direction organization and to give ships' gun crews an opportunity to recognize the markings of friendly aircraft.
At the end of BERSERK the five carriers joined the main force; there were then a total of 67 ships in company.

9th - Night of 9/10 (At midnight Cape Spartel was passed) the passage of the Strait of Gibraltar was uneventful. Fishing boats and one merchant vessel were passed at close quarters, but due to a moonless night and indifferent visibility, it was thought improbable that the force had been sighted from the shore. Reports received later, however, showed that the enemy was fully aware of the convoy's passage of the Straits.

(During early August the Germans and Italians received reports from their agents in Spain and Ceuta, concerning increased activity of British air and naval forces in the western Mediterranean; and off the Strait of Gibraltar. On the 5/8/42 this information convinced Kesselring that a large operation to supply Malta from the west was imminent. To meet the threat Kesselring ordered on 5/8/42 the redeployment of aircraft from Crete to Sardinia and Sicily. Kesselring also ordered the II Air Corps to prepare to accommodate reinforcements from X Air Corps that would be transferred for short-term employment and would, in cooperation with the IAF, strengthen the ground organization at Elmas, Sardinia. On the night of 8-9 August enemy agents reported intensive shipping traffic in the Strait of Gibraltar heading east, thus confirming Kesselring’s assessment. Because of Kesselring’s planning the axis had approximately 784 aircraft available, 456 German and 328 Italian to attack the convoy)

10th - At 0245 hours fog was encountered as the convoy entered the Mediterranean. On entering the Mediterranean the convoy designation became MW 12.
At 0300 hours Force R comprising the oilers DINGLEDALE and BROWN RANGER escorted by corvettes JONQUIL, GERANIUM, SPIREA, COLTSFOOT and SALVONIA sailed from Gibraltar.
At 0500 fog cleared.
At 0500 hours PENN sailed from Gibraltar to RV with the carrier EAGLE which with the other two carriers was stationed about 40 miles astern of the convoy.
At 0500 hours a Vichy French civil aircraft flying from France to Algeria reported the convoy as 2 battleships, 2 aircraft carriers, 2 cruisers and 14 destroyers escorting 14 merchant ships.
At 0515 hours VICTORIOUS flew off 2 surplus Albacores and an unserviceable Fulmar to Gibraltar.
At 0525 hours VICTORIOUS scrambled 4 Sea Hurricanes to intercept an unidentified aircraft, which they failed to, do.

At 0645 hours VICTORIOUS again scrambled Sea Hurricanes to intercept an unidentified aircraft, which turned out to be a RAF Hudson which hadn’t switched on its IFF.
At 0745 hours CAIRO, TARTAR, ESKIMO, QUENTIN, ITHURIEL and ANTELOPE joined the convoy.
At 0800 hours ASHANTI, SOMALI, LEDBURY and ZETLAND joined the convoy.
At 0840 hours the convoy proceeded east at 13½ knots
At 1130 hours MANCHESTER, INDOMITABLE, EAGLE, CHARYBDIS, LAFOREY, LOOKOUT and LIGHTNING, rejoined the convoy after fuelling at Gibraltar.

At 1600 hours EAGLE, CHARYBDIS, PENN, and PATHFINDER joined the convoy from Gibraltar.
Up to 1600 hours the escorts that refuelled in Gibraltar joined the convoy, except for WRESTLER who was replaced by AMAZON
At 2130 hours ASHANTI, LEDBURY, ZETLAND, WILTON, BRAMHAM, BICESTER, FORESIGHT and DERWENT detached to RV with Force R

11th - Between 0600 and 2030 the oilers DINGLEDALE and BROWN RANGER of Force R refueled CAIRO and the 24 destroyers of Force Z and X namely:

Force Z escorts LAFOREY (D19), LIGHTNING, LOOKOUT, ESKIMO, SOMALI, TARTAR, QUENTIN, ITHURIEL, ANTELOPE, VANSITTART, WESTCOTT, ZETLAND and WILTON [WRESTLER was part of Force Z escorts but had been delayed at Gibraltar with a mechanical defect. She was later replaced by AMAZON from Gibraltar]

Force X escorts ASHANTI (D6), FORESIGHT, FURY, INTREPID, ICARUS, PATHFINDER, PENN, BICESTER, BRAMHAM, DERWENT and LEDBURY.

At 0815 the first radar contact with enemy Ju 88,s was made these were flying at 20000 feet and difficult for the FAA Fulmars and Hurricanes to intercept. However one was shot down but a Fulmar and Hurricane were lost, but their crews were picked up.
At 0845 SIRIUS, PHOEBE and JAUNTY joined the convoy after refuelling from Force R.
At 0840 hours the Italian submarine UARSCIEK surfaced astern of the convoy and reported its speed, course and composition.
At 1010 hours a German Ju 88 reported the convoy as being in position 38-08N, 01-56E, which was slightly out, steering 90¼ and comprising 3 aircraft carriers, 3 battleships, 20 cruisers and destroyers and 20 merchant ships.
At 1055 hours the CinC in NELSON received VA North Atlantic’s signal 0902A informing of an enemy sighting report of Force F at 0620Z (This was the signal made by UARSCIEK).
At 1128 hours three distant disturbances, as if from torpedo discharges, were observed from NELSON and CHARYBDIS, bearing 200¼ at 3 miles.

At 1218 hours FURIOUS screened by LIGHTNING and LOOKOUT moved out to the port quarter to commence Operation BELLOWS.
At 1229 the first Spitfire flew off FURIOUS, 16 were flown off before emergency turns made necessary by the torpedoing of EAGLE. By 1450 hours 38 had been flown off, one of which made an emergency landing on INDOMITABLE. The remaining 37 arrived at Malta. The flying distance between FURIOUS and Malta was 555 nautical miles (1,028 km) to 584 nautical miles (1,082 km).
At 1315 EAGLE was torpedoed by 4 torpedoes from U 73, in position 38-05N, 3-02E, she was positioned on the quarter of the starboard wing; convoy speed was 13 knots, mean line of advance 090¼. LAFOREY and LOOKOUT were ordered to stand by EAGLE; JAUNTY also immediately proceeded towards EAGLE. The 927 survivors were picked up by the three vessels, 163 of her crew were lost. At the time of her sinking, EAGLE had 4 Sea Hurricanes in the air. One landed on INDOMITABLE and 3 on VICTORIOUS.
Following the sinking of Eagle, the convoy made a serious of rapid emergency manoeuvres
At 1420 hours approaching aircraft were detected by radar at a great height.
At 1430 hours NELSON and RODNEY opened fire in barrage at the unseen aircraft, but checked fire after a few minutes.
At 1430 hours the destroyers KEPPEL, MALCOLM, VENOMOUS, WOLVERINE and WRESTLER from Gibraltar arrived on the scene of EAGLE’s sinking. These destroyers had arrived to escort FURIOUS back to Gibraltar. However on there arrival Captain D19, ordered KEPPEL, MALCOLM and VENOMOUS to carry out and anti-submarine sweep.

At 1515 hours FURIOUS successfully completed Operation BELLOWS. She then set course to return Gibraltar escorted by the destroyers WOLVERINE and WRESTLER.
At 1545 hours KEPPEL, MALCOLM, VENOMOUS, WOLVERINE and WRESTLER having been unsuccessful in locating U 73, rejoined in the rescue effort. Captain Hutton ordered them to take on board EAGLE’s survivors that had been picked up; KEPPEL embarked 194 survivors from LAFOREY, VENOMOUS embarked 535 survivors from LOOKOUT and MALCOLM embarked 198 survivors from JAUNTY.
AMAZON detached from the convoy when ordered to take JAUNTY under her orders.
At 1634 hours the CinC received the VA North Atlantic signal 1446A, warning that the enemy would probably make a Ju 88 attack at dusk.
At 1635 hours NELSON, RODNEY and the cruisers NIGERIA, KENYA and MANCHESTER streamed paravanes.
From 1700 hours the convoy was being shadowed by enemy aircraft.

At 1830 hours the transfer of EAGLE’s survivors was complete and LAFOREY and LOOKOUT then proceeded to RV with Force R to refuel prior to rejoining the convoy.
At 1830 hours KEPPEL, MALCOLM, VENOMOUS, WOLVERINE and WRESTLER joined FURIOUS and escorted her back to Gibraltar.
At 1854 hours the CinC ordered D6 in the absence of D19 to position the escorts in Cruising Disposition No 17 to repel an air attack expected at sunset.
At 2030 hours LAFOREY and LOOKOUT rejoined the convoy.
At 2056 hours, 15 minutes after sunset, an air attack by 30 Ju 88’s and six 11/FG26s He 111 torpedo-bombers took place. The He 111’s were put off their torpedo runs by the barrage. Two bombs were fell close astern of LAFOREY without causing any damage. The only casualty from this raid was MANCHESTER’S Walrus aircraft. The attack lasted until 2130 hours. Three aircraft, two by VICTORIOUS, were claimed to have been shot down by ships gunfire. Force R came under air attack at the same time. No damage was done to any ship in this attack.
At 2100 hours QUENTIN (position A) obtained a sonar contact and made a DC attack, without result.

(RAF medium and heavy bombers from Malta were made small raids on Sardinian and Sicilian airfields in an attempt to take some of the pressure off the convoy. At Elmas the RAF bombers were spotted, and the enemy was able to get his planes away. But, at Decimomannu the RAF achieved complete surprise and destroyed six bombers, badly damaging several others. As the flight returned to Malta, it sighted Admiral da Zara's 7th Cruiser Squadron which had just sortied out from the harbour and was steering east. The Beaufighters shadowed the group for a while, but were low on fuel and broke off and returned to Malta. A Wellington was sent out to keep an eye on the Italians, 'O for Orange', the Wellington made an ASV contact at 2,500 feet and reported locating four cruisers and eight destroyers steering east, the ships were followed into the Tyrrhenian Sea. The Wellington made an ineffectual bombing attack at 0130/12/8/42 before turning back to Malta)

(A further diversion, Operation WHYNOT, an attack on the Italian airfield of Catania, Sicily, was mounted by M section of the SBS. At 2100/11/8/42 the submarine UNA, from Malta, surfaced in approximate position 37-28N, 15-06E which was about 1400 yards from the beach and launched 3 Folboats, a fourth one was found to be holed, carrying the 6 man M section. Their mission was to destroy as many of the German Ju 88’s, that were known to be on the airfield, as possible. Unfortunately they were surprised by a patrol and had to abort their mission. They attempted to return to UNA but without success and they were eventually captured)

12th - At 0630 hours a German Ju 88 sighted the convoy and reported 50 ships in position 37-50N, 06-50E. As did an Italian Cant Z1007.
At 0630 hours INDOMITABLE and VICTORIOUS both flew off 2 Sea Hurricanes, but they lacked the speed to catch the shadowers.
At 0710 hours the carriers launched a standing patrol of 12 fighters.
At 0740 hours the KENYA sighted 3 torpedo tracks and turned to comb them. As KENYA was astern of the convoy in company with NELSON and RODNEY it was likely that the battleships were the target
At 0800 hours, based on information received about a possible submarine concentration north of Galita Island, the CinC ordered D19 to reduce the distance between the ahead and wing destroyers.
The submarines UARSCIEK, U 73 and U 205 were in contact astern of the convoy and were transmitting sighting reports.

At 0907 hours radar picked up a large number of aircraft approaching from ahead, there turned out to be 19 Ju 88’s dive bombers, 6 of which were shot down; no damage was inflicted on the convoy.
The first air attack of the day proved to be disastrous, with a merchant ship sunk and destroyer FORESIGHT damaged.
At 0923 hours LAFOREY (position B) made a DC attack on a possible submarine contact.
At 0935 hours lookouts on RODNEY observed torpedoes, ahead crossing from port to starboard.
At 0935 hours FURY (on the starboard wing) confirmed a sonar contact, this was thought to be the same contact that LAFOREY had attacked, and made a DC attack, FORESIGHT joined her in the hunt. This turned out to be the Italian submarine BRIN.
At 0940 hours D19 ordered all the destroyers to rejoin the screen.
At 0955 hours FORESIGHT was sunk by TARTAR in position 37-40N, 10-00E.
At 1045 hours lookouts on RODNEY observed a torpedo passing astern.
At 1135 hours PATHFINDER (position C port bow) obtained a sonar contact and was joined in the attack by ZETLAND.
At 1150 hours PATHFINDER and ZETLAND called off the hunt and rejoined the screen.

At 1200 hours radar reported an air attack from ahead.
At 1211 hours the destroyers in the van opened fire on the attackers.
At 1215 hours the Italian air force attacked with 10 Sm 84’s of 38 Gruppe's 32 Stormo each armed with 2 Motobomba FFF’s, escorted by 14 Mc 202 fighters. In order to avoid what were thought to be mines the convoy made an emergency turn of 90¼ to port.

(The Motobomba FFF (Freri, Fiore, Filpa), was a torpedo developed by the Italians in 1939. The designation FFF was derived from the last names the three men involved with its original design: Lieutenant-Colonel Prospero Freri, Captain-Disegnatore Filpa, and Colonel Amedeo Fiore. The weapon was a 500 mm diameter electric torpedo which was dropped on a parachute, on entering the water it was designed to steer concentric spirals of between 500 and 4,000 m until it found a target. It weighed 350 kg had a 120 kg warhead, a speed of 40 knots and an endurance of 15–30 minutes)

At 1217 hours RODNEY shot down an Italian bomber.
Further air attacks were made on the convoy by 33 Sm 79’s torpedo bombers and 10 Sm 84’s torpedo bombers, escorted by 26 Re 2001’s. The FAA fighters dealt effectively with the Sm 84’s before they could reach the convoy. The Sm 79’s, however pressed on, attacking from the port bow, port beam and starboard quarter and all their attacks were beaten off mainly by the 16 inch guns of NELSON and RODNEY firing shells with a proximity fuse which burst in the air and shells with impact fuses which, when they hit the sea, created a splash barrage.
As the Italians withdrew the Germans arrived, it had been planned as a co-ordinated attack but the timings were out. The German force was 37 Ju 88 dive bombers, they were engaged by the FAA fighters, but 12 Ju 88’s broke through to the convoy.

At 1300 hours the MV DEUCALION 7740grt, lead ship of the port column, was hit by a stick of bombs from a Ju 88. The bombs caused serious damage; she lost electrical power and stopped. At this point some of the crew, without orders, abandoned ship. However her captain thought she could be saved. The BRAMHAM was ordered to stand by DEUCALION. Eventually DEUCALION was got under way making 10 knots, later she worked up to 12 knots. The two vessels made for the Tunisian coast with the intention of proceeding westward along the coast. Later DEUCALION managed to work up to her maximum speed of 16 knots, but due to stresses on the damaged hull she had to reduce speed to 12.5 knots.

At 1305 hours RODNEY was under air attack.
At 1330 hours bombs fell off RODNEY’s starboard side. NELSON and CAIRO were also suffered near misses.
At 1345 hours as VICTORIOUS was recovering her Sea Hurricanes, 2 of the ‘Hurricanes’ detached and dived onto the carriers flight deck both releasing bombs, they were Italian Re2001’s. The bombs were estimated to be about 50Kg.
At 1400 hours RODNEY experienced steering problems and was forced to keep her speed below 15 knots.
At 1650 hours ITHURIEL (position I port quarter) DCed and rammed and sank the Italian submarine COBALTO in position 37-39N, 10E, she picked up 41 survivors. Two of ITHURIEL’s crew managed to get as far as the conning tower before the sub went down.
At 1750 hours when ITHURIEL, who’s maximum speed was 20 knots due to her damaged bow, was returning to her place in the screen she was attacked by 4 Ju 88’s and a Cr 42 fighter bombers. No damage was caused.

At 1800 hours the convoy course was altered in succession to 121¼, this being the course to pass through the Skerki Channel.
At 1800 hours further heavy air attacks developed on the convoy, estimated at 100 to 120 aircraft, their were 22 FAA fighters in the air at the time. In this attack RODNEY was singled out by an Italian Ju 87. The bomb landed in the sea just off the port side abreast X turret. Following this attack RODNEY engaged 10 Sm79 torpedo bombers approaching on her starboard side. In the middle of this attack the convoy made an emergency turn to port to avoid what was thought to be aircraft laying mines ahead.
The violent manoeuvring carried out by RODNEY had caused further problems with her boilers reducing her speed to 18 knots.
In this attack FORESIGHT was torpedoed on her starboard side aft, breaking her back and wrecking her steering gear.
At 1820 hours VICTORIOUS managed to fly off 4 Fulmars.
At 1830 hours 12 Ju 87’s of 1/Stg.3 singled out INDOMITABLE she received two direct hits from 500kg bombs and three near misses. This attack finished INDOMITABLE as a fighting unit. CHARYBDIS, LOOKOUT LIGHTNING and SOMALI were detached to stand by INDOMITABLE who turned west away from the wind.
At 1836 hours RODNEY came under attack from Italian Ju 87’s.
At 1842 hours a bomb landed on RODNEY’s X turret, it failed to penetrate the armour and it bounced off and landed in the sea on her port side.
At 1848 hours an enemy aircraft crashed off RODNEY’s port bow.
At 1855 hours in approximate position 37-42N, 10E, Force Z detached and withdrew westwards. The withdrawal was brought forward by 20 minutes due to the damaged INDOMITABLE.

Force Z comprised NELSON, RODNEY (limited to 15 knots by boiler problems), VICTORIOUS, INDOMITABLE (severely damaged but eventually able to steam at 28 knots), CHARYBDIS, PHOEBE, SIRIUS, LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, LOOKOUT, QUENTIN, ESKIMO, SOMALI, TARTAR, ITHURIEL (damaged from ramming and limited to 20 knots), ANTELOPE, AMAZON, WESTCOTT, WISHART and ZETLAND.
At 1956 hours when the convoy was in position 37-40N, 10-06E, the submarine AXUM fired 4 torpedoes and hit the CAIRO (was hit by two torpedoes, port side aft, she immediately lost power and started to settle by the stern), NIGERIA (was hit in the forward boiler room and lost all electrical power, took on a list of 13¼ and started to circle to starboard). Also as she and CAIRO were the fighter direction ships the support of the RAF fighters from Malta was lost) and OHIO (the torpedo hit amidships, created a hole, 24ft. x 27ft., wrecked the pump room and started a fire).
At 2115 hours on hearing about the torpedoing of NIGERIA and CAIRO, the CinC of Force Z immediately ordered CHARYBDIS, SOMALI and ESKIMO to reinforce Force X.

13th - Throughout the day Force Z proceeded westward.
At 2300 hours RODNEY, INDOMITABLE, ITHURIEL, ANTELOPE, AMAZON, WESTCOTT, WISHART and ZETLAND detached and proceeded to Gibraltar at RODNEY’s best speed. The remainder of Force Z turned eastward to give cover to Force X should the Italian navy decide to attack.

14th - At 1830 hours RODNEY, INDOMITABLE, ITHURIEL, ANTELOPE, AMAZON, WESTCOTT, WISHART and ZETLAND arrived at Gibraltar.

16th – At 0200 hours RODNEY, with survivors from CAIRO embarked and VICTORIOUS escorted by the destroyers ASHANTI, INTREPID, ICARUS, and MATCHLESS sailed from Gibraltar for the UK. RODNEY’s steering was still causing problems.

19th – The force ran into a gale which necessitated repeated helm movements. This caused further problems with her steering.

20th – RODNEY had further problems with her boilers.
At 1400 hours in approximate position 53N, 30W the force was joined by the destroyers INGLEFIELD, ECLIPSE, WORCESTER and WINDSOR.
Following which the destroyers INTREPID and ICARUS detached from Greenock.

21st – At 2000 hours RODNEY and VICTORIOUS escorted by destroyers ASHANTI, MATCHLESS, INGLEFIELD, ECLIPSE, WORCESTER and WINDSOR arrived at Scapa Flow.
RODNEY disembarked Vice Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser. Then almost immediately she sailed for Rosyth escorted by INGLEFIELD, ECLIPSE and WINDSOR.

22nd – At 1030 hours RODNEY arrived at Rosyth. Where she was immediately taken in hand for essential repairs to her steering and boilers. During her stay at Rosyth she also received further 20mm Oerlikons.

Under repair at Rosyth.

20th – At 1400 hours RODNEY and the aircraft carrier VICTORIOUS escorted by the destroyers WHADDON and BLEAN sailed from Rosyth for Scapa Flow.

21st – At 0400 hours RODNEY and VICTORIOUS escorted by the destroyers WHADDON and BLEAN arrived at Scapa Flow.

22nd – At 0600 hours RODNEY escorted by the destroyers TANATSIDE, PENYLAN and BLEAN sailed from Scapa Flow for Loch Cairnbawn (Loch a’ Chairn Bhain) which is an inlet at the head of Eddrachillis Bay in Sutherland.
At 1430 hours RODNEY arrived in Loch Cairnbawn she anchored then proceeded to surrounded herself with anti-torpedo netting and other underwater defence equipment.

11th – Force H cruised off eastern Sicily.

12th - Force H cruised off eastern Sicily.
WARSPITE and VALIANT with escorting destroyers detached from Force H and proceeded to Malta to for refuelling.

13th - 25 miles SE of Cape Spartivento destroyers ECHO and ILEX, who were part of Force H screen, sank the Italian submarine NEREIDE.

14th – RODNEY and destroyer escort detached from Force H for Malta.
On arrival at Grand Harbour RODNEY became the first battleship to Valetta harbour since WARSPITE in December 1940.

16th – RODNEY and destroyer escort sailed from Malta to rejoin Force H.
Late on the night, Force H was subjected to a heavy air attack.

17th – At 0015 hours INDOMITABLE was hit by a torpedo dropped by a Luftwaffe Ju 88 aircraft.

18th – RODNEY with destroyer escort detached from Force H and returned to Malta.
Because of her poor mechanical condition RODNEY spent the remainder of July at Malta.

At Malta.

5th – RODNEY sailed from Malta for gunnery exercises.

6th – Returned to Malta.

30th - At 1900 hours Force H, comprising NELSON and RODNEY, light cruiser ORION and destroyers OFFA, PETARD, QUAIL, QUILLIAM, QUEENBOROUGH, TARTAR, TROUBRIDGE, TUMULT and TYRIAN and ORP PIORUN sailed from Malta to carry out Operation HAMMER.

(Operation HAMMER was the naval bombardment of the coastal batteries, including two 203mm guns, on the Calabrian coast adjacent to the Straits of Messina. This was in preparation for landings on Italian mainland by the 8th Army, Operation BAYTOWN, which took place on 3/9/43)

31st - At 1000 hours in position 37-56N, 15-25E at the southern entrance of the Straits of Messina , NELSON commenced bombarding coastal batteries north east of Reggio di Calabria.
At 1030 hours RODNEY commenced her bombardment. One of RODNEY’s early salvos landed in the middle of an ammunition dump which exploded making it clear they had hit their target.
The spotting Spitfires reported the targets were well covered and at least one 203mm gun was knocked out.
At 1200 hours the bombardment, which had silenced the shore batteries for good, was terminated and Force H set course for Malta.
At 2000 hours Force H arrived back at Malta.

7th - At 1530 hours Division 1 of Force H, comprising NELSON (Flag Force H) and RODNEY (Flag Rear Admiral Force H), aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS and destroyers PETARD, QUAIL, QUEENBOROUGH and QUILLIAM, OFFA, TROUBRIDGE, TUMULT, TYRIAN and ORP PIORUN and the French Destroyers FFS Le FANTASQUE and Le TERRIBLE, sailed from Malta for Operation AVALANCHE. They proceeded NW along the south coast of Sicily.

(Operation AVALANCHE was the landing of the Fifth US Army (6th US Corps and 10th British Corps) in the Gulf of Salerno which took place in the early hours of 9/9/43. The primary purpose of Force H was to prevent the Italian navy from intervening in the operation. [Although not known at the time, the Italians had surrendered on 3/9/43] The secondary purpose was to provide support and air cover for Force V. Force V, also known as TF 88, comprised the escort carriers UNICORN, ATTACKER, BATTLER, HUNTER and STALKER, [carrying a total of 78 Seafire11c to provide fighter cover over the beachhead] light cruisers EURYALUS (Flag Force V Rear Admiral Sir Philip Vian), CHARYBDIS and SCYLLA and destroyers ATHERSTONE, CALPE, CLEVELAND, FARNDALE, HAYDON, HOLCOMBE, LIDDLESDALE, SILVERTON, ORP KRAKOWIAK and SLAZAK )

8th - At 0700 hours in the Sicilian Channel, Division 1 was joined by Division 2 (Who had sailed from Malta at 1715 hours), comprising the battleships WARSPITE and VALIANT, aircraft carrier FORMIDABLE and destroyers ECHO, FAULKNOR, FURY, ILEX, INGLEFIELD, INTREPID, RAIDER and RHS VASILISSA OLGA.
At 1000 hours the combined Force H arrived off Marettimo Island where they cruised until 1730 hours.
At 1400 hours OFFA detached for Bizerta.
At 1730 hours Force H set course for the Salerno area. The course set was designed to keep Force H end on to the moon, thereby presenting the most difficult target for air attack.
At 1830 hours Radio Algiers announced that Italy had concluded an armistice with the Allies.

(At 1845 hours Marshal Badoglio announced on radio "The Italian Government, recognizing the impossibility of continuing the uneven struggle against the overwhelming enemy power, with the intent of saving further and more serious calamities to the Nation, has asked Gen. Eisenhower, CinC of the Allies forces, for an armistice. The request has been accepted. Consequently every action of hostility against the allied armed forces must stop from the Italian armed forces in every place. They [the Italian forces], however, will react to possible attacks of any other origin. The armistice had actually been signed in Sicily on 3/9/43)

From 2100 hours, when in position 40N, 13-30E, the capital ships of Force H were under air attack mainly from Luftwaffe single engined fighter bombers.

9th – From early morning the air attacks continued. In one attack WARSPITE was singled out and a torpedo bomber came within 800 yards before dropping its torpedo.
At 0040 hours the air attacks ceased.
At 0300 hours the assault troops started to land.
At 0500 hours the air attacks re-commenced.
At 1330 hours WARSPITE, VALIANT, FAULKNOR, FURY, ECHO, INTREPID, RAIDER, RHS VASILISSA OLGA and FS Le TERRIBLE detached from Force H to carry out Operation GIBBON.

10th – Force H continued to cruise north west of the beachhead to provide air cover for Force V.
In afternoon OFFA rejoined.

11th - Force H continued to cruise north west of the beachhead to provide air cover for Force V.
In the evening the FORMIDABLE and ILLUSTRIOUS transferred all their serviceable Seafires to the carriers of Force V. Following which Force H sailed for Malta.

12th – In the evening Force H arrived at Malta. Where on arrival they found the surrendered Italian Fleet.

14th - At 1700 hours Force H comprising battleships NELSON (CinC Force H), RODNEY, WARSPITE, and VALIANT, aircraft carriers FORMIDABLE and ILLUSTRIOUS escorted by destroyers JERVIS (D14), ILEX, PATHFINDER, PENN and PETARD sailed from Malta for Gibraltar.
At 2000 hours the CinC Force H received a signal recalling Force H and instructing him to detach WARSPITE and VALIANT with the escorting destroyers to proceed with all dispatch to Salerno Bay.

4th – West of Ireland RODNEY with destroyers TEAZER and ROCKET detached and steered for the Clyde.

5th – RODNEY with destroyers TEAZER and ROCKET arrived in the Clyde.

RODNEY’s condition was now very poor and with the war expected to continue for several more years, plans were draw up to modernise both RODNEY and NELSON; but constraints on shipbuilding/ship repair facilities and the need to concentrate on escort vessels meant the plan never materialised.

In the Clyde off Greenock.

7th - Embarked army officers for training as bombardment liaison officers. She the proceeded to the Clyde bombardment range and carried out a 6in shoot

17th – Arrived at Scapa from the Clyde.

29th – Sailed from Scapa to carry out exercises with the French battleship FS RICHELIEU. (The RICHELIEU had joined the Home Fleet at Scapa on 20/11/43)

At Scapa Flow.

8th – Due to lack of maintenance, leaks in RODNEY’s hull plating were letting in 1000 tons of water per hour and her pumps were struggling to keep up with the inflow. In an attempt to stop some of the leaks RODNEY was careened to port so that her ships staff could work on some of the worst leaks.

11th – The work on the stopping the leaks had been unsuccessful and this resulted in RODNEY being declared unseaworthy.

16th – At 2100 hours RODNEY escorted by the destroyers ONSLAUGHT and ORWELL sailed from Scapa for Rosyth

17th – At 0900 hours RODNEY arrived at No 23 buoy off Rosyth for refit. ONSLAUGHT and ORWELL returned to Scapa.

The start of the refit was delayed, then it was cancelled, as Churchill had written to the First Sea Lord, Admiral of the Fleet Cunningham stating that he hoped that RODNEY would be part of the bombarding fleet for the Normandy invasion. The decision was then taken to carry out the minimum of work necessary to keep her in service.

Moored off Rosyth.

28th - Moved in to No 1 dry dock in Rosyth dockyard where her leaks were attended to and her torpedo tubes, aircraft and aircraft catapult etc removed.

At Rosyth undergoing repair.

31st – Sailed from Rosyth for Scapa.

1st – Arrived at Scapa to carry out working up exercises, which included intensive bombardment practice.

14th - Whilst carrying out a 16inshoot her steering motors failed

19th - Sailed from Scapa in the evening to carry out a 16in& 6in shoot against stack Skerry

22nd – Sailed from Scapa for the Clyde.

23rd – Arrived off Greenock.

26th – In company with the battleship RAMILLIES, Monitor EREBUS and US battleship TEXAS carried out a shore bombardment practice on the Clyde bombardment range.

1st – In the Clyde where she was hit by an experimental magnetic torpedo fired during development trials; no damage was caused.

For the next four days carried out a shore bombardment practice on the Clyde bombardment range.

3rd – Embarked 398 HE shells for her 16in guns, also embarked proximity fused AA shells

6th – At 1300 hours sailed from Greenock for Scapa.

7th – At 1400 hours RODNEY arrived at Scapa to carry out more exercises, including AA fire against glider bombs. A Miles Martinet trainer aircraft was used to simulate a glider bomb.

9th – RODNEY was visited by General Montgomery.

20th – RODNEY escorted by the destroyer METEOR sailed from Scapa to carry out exercises to test her defences against E-Boats.
At 2000 hours four more destroyers joined in the exercises.
At 2100 hours a simulated air attack was carried out by FAA Barracudas and RAF Spitfires followed by simulated glider bomb attacks.