1 9 3
9
September Deployed with Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria as part of
the 1st Battle Squadron with HM Battleships
WARSPITE and BARHAM.
October Transferred to Indian
Ocean with HM Aircraft Carrier GLORIOUS for convoy defence and interception
of raiders.
November Searched for German battle ship ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE off Socotra.
December Transferred to Atlantic in
continuation.
1 9 4 0
January Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence with HM
Battleship VALIANT.
Escorted Canadian troop convoy TC3 bringing Canadian troops to UK.
(Note:
The convoy comprised the liners AQUITANIA, EMPRESS OF
BRITAIN, Polish CHOBRY,
MONARCH OF BERMUDA and EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA.)
February
2nd Arrived in Clyde with TC3
and detached
27th Embarked gold bullion
for transfer to Canada.
March Passage to Halifax. On arrival
deployed with Halifax Escort Force for Atlantic
convoy defence.
Nominated
for transfer to Mediterranean
April Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
Passage to Alexandria.
May
3rd Arrived at Alexandria.
Deployed
with HM Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN to provide cover for passage of convoys in
eastern Mediterranean.
June Joined
1st Battle Squadron and deployed with Fleet for convoy defence and offensive
operations against
enemy shipping in eastern Mediterranean.
(Note:
During this period extensive exercises were carried out by Mediterranean Fleet
units in
anticipation of the outbreak of hostilities with Italy.)
July
4th Took part in
negotiations with French Fleet after capitulation of France.
(Operation
CATAPULT - See RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute).
7th Deployed with HM Battleship ROYAL
SOVEREIGN, HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE
and a screen by 6 destroyers as Force "C" to
provide cover for transit of two
convoys (MF1/MS1) from Malta (Operation
MA5)
(Note:
This was a repeat of Operation MA3 that was cancelled on 28th June
due to engagement with Italian destroyers. See following
references.)
8th Under air
attacks. Fire control cables damaged by near misses repaired.
9th In action with
Italian forces off Punta Stilo (Battle of Calabria).
Enemy
ships withdrew at speed after brief exchange of fire.
(Note:
Enemy ships could not be closed owing lack of speed.)
(For
details of operations during 1940-43 see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY
by C. Barnett, THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D.MacIntyre
THE
NAVAL WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN by J Greene
and A Massignani and the
Naval
Staff History (HMSO-2001))
August
17th Bombarded Bardia
and Fort Capuzzo with HM Battleship
RAMILLIES, WARSPITE and HM Cruiser
KENT as Force
"B" (Operation MB2)
(Note:
62 rounds of 15” and 104 rounds of 6” were fired.)
18th Under ineffective
air attacks during return passage to Alexandria.
September
3rd Covered transit of HM Battleship
VALIANT, HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS,
HM
Cruiser CALCUTTA and HM
Cruiser COVENTRY through
eastern Mediterranean to join the Fleet
at Alexandria (Operation
HATS).
October
8th Deployed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS
EAGLE, HMS RAMILLIES, HMS VALIANT,
HMS
WARSPITE, HM Cruisers AJAX, GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, ORION,
SYDNEY
(RAN) and YORK screened by
nine Fleet destroyers to provide Distant
Cover
for passage of Convoy MF3 from
Egypt and Convoy
MF5 from Malta (Operation
MB6).
12th During return passage to Alexandria with MF3
came under attack by Italian
Torpedo
Boats during which some were damaged and ARTIGLIERE was sunk later
by
HM Cruiser YORK.
14th Under attack by
torpedo aircraft during which HMS LIVERPOOL was damaged.
November
7th Deployed with HM Battleships WARSPITE ,VALIANT and RAMILLIES, HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS,
HM Cruisers AJAX, GLOUCESTER, ORION,
SYDNEY (RAN) and
YORK to provide
cover for the passage of Convoy MW3 to Malta and Convoy
AN6
to the Aegean (Operation
MB8).
11th Covered passage of convoy to Piraeus
Convoy ME3 from Malta to Alexandria with
HMS
WARSPITE, HMS VALIANT, HMS RAMILLIES and newly joined battleship HMS
BARHAM
(Operation COAT).
(Note:
The successful air attack on Taranto by aircraft
from HMS ILLUSTRIOUS on
night
of 11/12th November was also covered as part of this operation ).
Tripoli with HM
Battleship BARHAM as Force "A".
(Note:
This operation also covered the transit of HMS RAMILLIES and HM Cruiser
BERWICK to Gibraltar (Operation COLLAR).
30th Returned to Alexandria with HMS
WARSPITE and HMS VALIANT covering passage
of
newly joined cruisers HMS MANCHESTER, HMS
SOUTHAMPTON and HM
Corvettes PEONY, SALVIA, GLOXINIA and HYACINTH.
December
9th Supported military operation by
bombardment of supply routes in Cyrenaica with
HMS
BARHAM screened by 7 destroyers as Force "C".
16th Escorted Malta supply
convoy MW5 with HM Destroyers HYPERION and ILEX as
Force"F" (Operation MC2).
20th On arrival off Malta, mercantiles of MW5 detached.
ss CLAN FORBES and ss CLAN FRASER joined Force F.
Took passage to join Force H escorted by HMS HYPERION and HMS ILEX.
(Operation
HIDE).
21st HM Destroyer JERVIS joined Force F.
HMS
HYPERION, HMS JERVIS and HMS ILEX detached for return to Alexandria
after
HM Destroyers DUNCAN, ENCOUNTER and ISIS joined
Force F.
(Note:
HMS HYPERION was later sunk after striking a mine.)
22nd Joined ships of Force H (HM Aircraft
Carrier ARK ROYAL, HM
Battlecruiser
RENOWN,
HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD) for passage to Gibraltar with mercantiles
of Force F.
24th Arrived at Gibraltar for loan
service in Force H.
1 9 4 1
January
6th Deployed with HM Battlecruiser RENOWN,
HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL and
HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD screened by
destroyers of Force "H" to
cover the
passage of convoys to Malta and Piraeus and transit
of HM Cruiser
BONAVENTURE
with four Fleet destroyers as reinforcement for Fleet at
Alexandria (Operation
EXCESS).
9th Under high level
attack by Italian Savoia 79 aircraft with HMS GLOUCESTER.
These
were unsuccessful.
Took
passage to Gibraltar with ships of Force H when escort of EXCESS ships
was
transferred to Mediterranean Fleet west of Bizerta.
February
2nd Covered air attacks by HMS ARK ROYAL on
Tirso Dam, Sardinia with HMS
RENOWN,
HMS SHEFFIELD and destroyers of Force "H".(Operation PICKET)
Returned
to Gibraltar
(Note:
Intended bombardment of Genoa was cancelled
(Operation RESULT)
4th Returned to Gibraltar.
6th Sailed to
carry out bombardment of Genoa with ships
of Force H (Operation GROG)
9th Carried out bombardment of Genoa with HMS
RENOWN and covered air attacks on Leghorn and
La Spezia by HMS ARK
ROYAL with cover by HMS RENOWN and HMS SHEFFIELD
screened by 10 Fleet destroyers (Operation GROG).
On
return to Gibraltar deployed in Atlantic to cover UK - Gibraltar convoys.
21st Joined military convoy WS6A as Ocean
Escort during Atlantic from Clyde.
28th Detached from WS6A and took passage to Gibraltar.
March Atlantic trade defence duties in continuation.
8th During cover of Convoy SL67 from Freetown to UK off west African coast briefly sighted German
warships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU after sighting by ship’s
aircraft.
Shadowing
operation abandoned and returned to convoy.
(Note:
Enemy attack not carried out in view if strong escort.
19th Deployed for cover of Convoy SL68 during
passage to from Freetown
20th Under submarine attack 250 miles WNW of
Cape Verde Islands and hit by torpedo fired from U106.
Damaged
in Boiler Room and detached for temporary repair at Port of
Spain, Trinidad.
No
casualties were caused.
Convoy
was scattered.
For
details see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
On
completion took passage to New York for repair.
April Taken in hand for repair in Brooklyn Navy
Yard.
Preparation
for installation of fire-control and air warning radar carried out.
May Under repair and Refit
in New York.
to Some of ship's
company transferred to Ex US Coastguard Cutters being lent to the Royal Navy.
July
August Passage to UK.
A and A work completed including fit of air warning Radar
Type 281, Fire control radars
Types
282
for Close range armament, Type 284 for Main armament, and
Type 285 for HA armament.
. Eleven
single 20mm Oerlikon guns were fitted for close range AA defence.
(For
details of development and use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
(Note:
One source records fitting of Radar Type 291 to provide warning of the approach
of surface ships,
aircraft and land.
This
equipment was a Naval designed outfit intended to replace an earlier RAF
equipment modified
for shipboard use, Type 286. This was never very
satisfactory and replaced in1943 by a centimetric
radar, Type 273. See below.)
September On completion prepared for operational service.
Four
additional 20mm Oerlikon guns fitted.
October Transferred to Force "H" and took passage
to Gibraltar.
November
10th Deployed with HM Cruiser HERMIONE to
cover aircraft delivery by HMS ARK
ROYAL and HMS ARGUS screened by HM Destroyers LAFOREY, LIGHTING,
SIKH, LEGION, ZULU, GURKHA
and Dutch destroyer ISAAC SWEERS.
(Operation PERPETUAL).
13th During return
passage under attack by U81 which fired four torpedoes.
Torpedo
attack resulted in one hit on HMS ARK ROYAL which sank on 14th when under
tow to Gibraltar. (See HITLERS
U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and Naval Staff History.)
Escorted
to Gibraltar by HM Destroyer SIKH after HMS ARK
ROYAL was hit.
December Deployed with Force "H" at Gibraltar for
Atlantic trade defence
(Note:
This ship was the only operational battleship in the Mediterranean as HMS
QUEEN
ELIZABETH
and HMS VALIANT had been disabled at Alexandria by frogmen.
1 9 4 2
January Force "H" deployment in continuation.
February Deployed in Atlantic for convoy
defence.
17th Joined military convoy WS16 in Clyde for Ocean
Escort duty with HM Aircraft
Carrier
EAGLE, HM Cruiser HERMIONE, HM Destroyers ACTIVE, ANTHONY,
BLANKNEY, CROOME, DUNCAN, FIREDRAKE,
LAFOREY and LIGHTNING.
21st Detached from WS16 during Atlantic
passage on relief by HM Cruiser NEWCASTLE
as Ocean Escort.
Took passage to Gibraltar with escorting destroyers.
Resumed duties with Force H.
27th Deployed with HM Cruiser HERMIONE and
screen of nine destroyers to provide cover for
delivery of Spitfire and Hurricane aircraft to Malta (Operation
SPOTTER)
28th Operation cancelled due to problems with
aircraft fuel tanks and returned to Gibraltar.
March
6th Covered for repeat Malta aircraft
delivery by HMS ARGUS and HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE
with same ships (Operation SPOTTER (II)
21st Covered aircraft delivery by HMS ARGUS
and HMS EAGLE with HMS HERMIONE
and Fleet destroyers of Force "H" (Operation
PICKET I).
28th Repeated aircraft
delivery with same ships (Operation PICKET II).
30th Returned to Gibraltar.
Nominated
for detached service in support of planned landings in Madagascar
(Operation
IRONCLAD) .
April
1st Sailed from Gibraltar with HMS
Cruiser HERMIONE, screened by H M Destroyers ACTIVE, ANTHONY,
LAFOREY, LIGHTNING and DUNCAN.
9th Deployed with HMS HERMIONE, HM
Destroyers ACTIVE, ANTHONY, INCONSTANT, JAVELIN,
LAFOREY,
LOOKOUT, LIGHTNING and PACKENHAM as Ocean Escort for military Convoy WS17A
during passage to Capetown.
19th Detached from WS17 on arrival at
Capetown and took return passage to rejoin Force H at Gibraltar
May Passage to Gibraltar and
rejoined Force "H" on arrival.
June Deployed
at Gibraltar with Force H
11th Joined Force "W" for escort of
Malta relief
convoy GM4 as far as Skerki Channel with HMS EAGLE,
HMS
ARGUS, HM Cruisers KENYA, LIVERPOOL and
CHARYBDIS, screened by HM Destroyers
ANTELOPE, ICARUS, ONSLOW, ESCAPADE, VIDETTE, WESTCOTT, WISHART and
WRESTLER.
(Operation
HARPOON - For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett,
THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D. MacIntyre, and Naval Staff
History.)
(Note:
This convoy had been designated WS19WS during passage to Gibraltar from UK.)
14th Detached from WS19 at entrance to Sicilian Narrows and
returned westwards to
await return of Close
Escort
after arrival of convoy in Malta.
16th Detached from Force W with HMS ARGUS, HM
Destroyers ESCAPADE, VIDETTE,
WISHART and WRESTLER.
(Note:
This was due to late departure from Malta of Close Escort).
17th Arrived at Gibraltar with
detached ships of Force W.
24th Deployed for defence of military convoy
during Atlantic passage from Clyde
to Freetown.
26th Joined WS20 with HM Destroyer ANTELOPE
to provide Ocean Escort.
July
2nd Detached from WS20
before its arrival at Freetown.
6th Rejoined WS20 as Ocean Escort escorted
by HM Destroyers BLACKMORE,
BRILLIANT and WIVERN.
17th Detached from WS20 off Cape of
Good Hope and escorted mercantiles from
the convoy destined for Capetown into harbour.
Took
passage to Gibraltar to rejoin Force H
August Deployed at Gibraltar with Force
H.
Nominated for return to UK for refit.
September Passage to UK escorted by
HM Destroyer LOOKOUT.
Prepared for refit.
October Under refit at HM Dockyard
Rosyth.
to Aircraft facilities
removed and additional two 4" mountings fitted abreast
December the catapult position (P & S). Surface warning
radar Type 273 fitted.
(See
above reference).
(Note:
Close range AA armament increased by addition of two multiple
pom pom
guns on sponsons aft and two more 20mm Oerlikon guns.
1 9 4 3
January Worked up for service with Home Fleet. Two more
Oerlikon guns fitted.
February Deployed with Home Fleet for convoy defence in NW
Approaches.
27th Detached for Ocean Escort duty and
joined joint military convoy WS27 to
the Middle East and Convoy
KMF10A to North Africa in Clyde.
(Note:
Other ships in Ocean Escort of WS27 were HM Destroyers
QUEENBOROUGH, QUAIL, RAIDER and WOLVERINE.)
March
2nd Remained with WS27
when KMF10A detached for passage to Gibraltar.
8th Detached from
WS27 with Ocean Escort on arrival at Freetown.
Passage from Freetown to rejoin Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
April
26th Arrived at Scapa Flow and resumed
Home Fleet service.
May Deployment at Scapa Flow in
continuation.
to
June
July
7th Deployed with HM Battleship ANSON, US
Navy battleships USS ALABAMA and USS SOUTH
DAKOTA,
HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS and seven cruisers screened by eight RN and five
USN destroyers for diversionary operation off Norwegian coast.
(Operation
CAMERA – Convoy of miscellaneous ships was deployed to represent a possible
assault
force on passage to Norway
during the planned landings in Sicily.)
9th On completion of simulated approaches
to coast took passage to return to Scapa Flow.
