HMS Nelson, British battleship, WW2

SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2003

HMS NELSON - Nelson-class 16in gun Battleship
including Convoy Escort Movements

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	above left - HMS Nelson (MQ, click photographs for enlargements)
	H. M. S. N E L S O N HMS NELSON was ordered from Armstrongs, High Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne in 1923 having been laid down on 28th December 1922. She was launched on 3rd September 1925 and was commissioned on 15th August 1927. This ship and her sister battleship HMS RODNEY had a most distinctive silhouette making them instantly recognisable. During pre war service she was given periodic refits but the planned full modernisation was not carried out because of the outbreak of war. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings Campaign in February 1942 this ship was adopted by the civil community of the city of Manchester in the county of Lancashire. B a t t l e H o n o u r s MALTA CONVOYS 1941-42 - NORTH AFRICA 1942 -43 - MEDITERRANEAN 1943 - SICILY 1943 - SALERNO 1943 - NORMANDY 1944 H e r a l d i c D a t a Badge: On a Field White,.a Lion rampant regardant holding in his paw a palm branch all proper. M o t t o Palmam Qui Meruit Ferat : 'Let him bear the palm who deserves it'. D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v I c e 1 9 3 9 September Flagship of Home Fleet. (Note: This ship was to have been fitted with a prototype aircraft warning radar (Type 79) in 1938 but as one of its two aerial units would have been sited in the position used for the Admiral's Flag, the equipment fit was transferred to HMS RODNEY!! See RADAR AT SEA By D Howse). 3rd Deployed Home Fleet and carried out interception patrol to prevent German ships returning to North Sea via NW Approaches. 26th Deployed with HM Battleship RODNEY, HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL and other Home Fleet ships to cover return of submarine HMS SPEARFISH which could not dive. Came under German air attack at sea for the first time. (See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett). October Deployed with other Fleet units in search for German battleship GNEISENAU and cruiser KOLN off Norway. November Transferred with Home Fleet units to Loch Ewe after HM Battleship ROYAL OAK was torpedoed by a U-Boat in Scapa Flow. 24th Carried out search with HMS RODNEY and HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE screened by seven Fleet destroyers for German Battleships GNEISENAU and SCHARNHORST after they had attacked a convoy and sunk HM Armed Merchant Cruiser RAWALPINIDI. (See above reference). December 4th Sustained serious structural damage and flooding after detonating magnetic mine when entering Loch Ewe. Main armament equipment was also damaged by shock. (Note: For details of naval operations in Home waters during 1939, see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY). 1 9 4 0 January 4th Took passage to Portsmouth for repair, escorted by HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FAME, FOXHOUND, FORESIGHT, ISIS and IMPULSIVE. 8th Taken in hand for repair. February Under repair to Prototype fire control radar fitted for main armament (See RADAR AT SEA). May June Transferred to Clyde for completion of refit and escorted by minesweepers. (Note: Two mines were detonated during passage.) On completion carried out trials on fire control radar which were successful and and allowed work on Type 284 radar for use with main armament in battleships and cruisers to be developed for production. Radar equipment removed on completion. July Rejoined Home Fleet at Scapa Flow. Type 279 Aircraft warning radar fitted. August Deployed with Fleet in preparation for interception of invasion craft. September Transferred to Rosyth in continuation of counter invasion requirements. Carried out operation with HM Aircraft Carrier Furious to attack shipping off Norwegian coast during which one ship was sunk. October Home Fleet deployment in continuation. November Deployed in Denmark Strait with HMS RODNEY to intercept German battleship SCHEER after the sinking of HM Armed Merchant Cruiser JERVIS BAY. December Resumed Fleet duties at Scapa Flow. 1 9 4 1 January Carried out search off Iceland for German battleships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU with HM Battleship RODNEY and HM Battlecruiser REPULSE, 8 cruisers of Home Fleet and destroyer screen. (Note: Although sighted briefly by HM Cruiser NAIAD enemy ship not intercepted. February Deployed on Northern Patrol for interception of German warships attempting to enter Atlantic through NW Approaches for attacks on convoys. March 1st Provided cover for ships taking Commando units to Lofoten Island for raid. (Operation CLAYMORE), 19th Deployed with HM Cruiser NIGERIA to cover minelay by 1st Minelaying Squadron in the Northern Barrage. (Operation SN69 - For details of all minelaying operations see The Naval Staff History (MINING). 24th Joined military convoy WS7 in Clyde with HM Battleship REVENGE and HM Destroyer ARROW to provide Ocean Escort during Atlantic passage. 28th Remained with WS7 when HMS REVENGE detached with mv GEORGIC to take passage to Halifax. April 4th At Freetown with WS7. 7th Sailed from Freetown as Ocean Escort for WS7. 15th Detached from WS7 on relief by HM Cruiser NEWCASTLE. Deployed for trade defence in South Atlantic. 16th Passage to Durban after call at Capetown. 21st Routine docking and repair at Durban. May 10th Sailed from Durban with HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE to search for German commerce raider ATLANTIS in South Atlantic. (Note: Raider passed within 4 miles of the two RN ships at night during passage but was not detected.) Took passage to Gibraltar for escort of Convoy SL75. June Atlantic deployment in continuation. 4th Joined in search with HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS, HM Cruiser NEPTUNE and HM Cruiser HERMIONE for German supply ship GOZZENHEIM, intended for support of the German battleship BISMARCK during her commerce raiding operations. (Note: After aircraft sighting, GOZZENHEIM later scuttled on the approach of HMS NEPTUNE - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY). 8th Returned to Scapa Flow and rejoined Home Fleet. 19th Arrived at Gibraltar and joined Force H. 21st Covered passage of Malta supply convoy with HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL and HM Cruiser HERMIONE, screened by six destroyers of Force H as far as the Sicilian Narrows (Operation SUBSTANCE - For details of all the operations in Mediterranean see THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre) 24th Detached from mercantiles off Bizerta with ships of Force H and remained to the west of Sicilian Narrows. 25th Covered passage of Convoy M31 from Bizerta area with ships of Force H. (Note: Convoy M31 comprised HM Store Carrier BRECONSHIRE and 4 mercantiles returning to Gibraltar from Malta.) 29th Covered passage of personnel convoy from Gibraltar to Sicilian Narrows with HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and screen of 5 destroyers (Operation STYLE). (Note: Troops were embarked in HM Cruisers ARETHUSA, HERMIONE and MANXMAN with screen of HM Destroyers MAORI and COSSACK as Force X. ) August 1st Returned to westward when Force X entered Sicilian Narrows. 3rd After meeting ships of Force X returned to Gibraltar with Force H ships. 4th Retained in Mediterranean with Force H and relieved HM Battlecruiser RENOWN. 21st Deployed with HMS HERMIONE, HM Destroyers NESTOR (RAN), FORESTER, FURY, FORESIGHT and ENCOUNTER to cover a demonstration sweep off Valencia as a diversion during air attacks on Tempia, Sardinia by HMS ARK ROYAL and a minelaying operation by HM Minelaying Cruiser MANXMAN off Leghorn (Operation MINCEMEAT). September 9th Covered Malta aircraft delivery by HMS ARK ROYAL and HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS with screen of 7 destroyers (Operation STATUS I). 13th Repeated STATUS I (Operation STATUS II). 20th At Gibraltar during unsuccessful attempt by Italian midget submarines to attack ships in harbour. 28th Detached from Force A and took passage to Gibraltar for repair escorted by HM Destroyer DUNCAN, Polish Destroyers ORP GARLAND and ORP PIORUN. (For details see THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D.MacIntyre and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY). 30th Arrived at Gibraltar and taken in hand for temporary repair. October Under repair at Gibraltar. (Note: HMS RODNEY was retained in Mediterranean as replacement in Force H.) November On completion of repair took passage to UK for permanent repair. (Note: Some survivors from HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL were embarked.) 23rd Arrived at Rosyth and taken in hand by HM Dockyard. December Under repair. Fire control radars Type 284, 285 and 283 fitted for main and secondary armament and barrage control fitted. (See RADAR AT SEA). Torpedo tubes removed. 1 9 4 2 January Refit and repair work in continuation. to Radar Type 273 for surface warning fitted. March April Post refit trials and prepared for operational service. 30th Rejoined Home Fleet at Scapa Flow. May Worked up for service with Home Fleet in NW Approaches. Detached for escort of military convoy during Atlantic passage. June 1st Joined military convoy WS19P in Clyde for Ocean Escort. 13th Detached from WS19P and took independent passage to Freetown. 19th Rejoined WS19P on departure from Freetown as Ocean Escort for Atlantic passage with HM Battleship RODNEY, HM Destroyers DERWENT, PATHFINDER, QUENTIN and PENN. 26th Detached from WS19P when HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE joined as Ocean Escort. Deployed for Atlantic Trade defence. July Return passage to rejoin Home Fleet with HMS RODNEY and same destroyers. 26th At Scapa Flow Nominated for detached service with Force H. August Joined escort for Malta Relief convoy with Home Fleet ships during passage from Clyde to Gibraltar. Note: Other Home Fleet ships included HMS RODNEY, HMS KENYA, HMS NIGERIA and Home Fleet destroyers. 10th Covered transit of convoy to Skerki Bank with HMS RODNEY, HM Aircraft Carriers EAGLE, INDOMITABLE and VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers PHOEBE, CHARYBDIS and SIRIUS as Force Z with screen of seven Fleet Destroyers (Operation PEDESTAL). (For details see OPERATION PEDESTAL by P Smith, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Bamett, and the Naval Staff History.) 20th Took passage from Gibraltar with HMS FURIOUS to rejoin Home Fleet. September Under repair at Rosyth. Nominated for service in Force H on completion. October 16th Post repair trials and work-up for service commenced. On completion took passage to join Force H for support of allied landings in N. Africa (Operation TORCH) (For Details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute, and The Naval Staff History). November (Note: Arrived at Gibraltar after initial assault operations.) Deployed east of landing area to prevent interference by Vichy French warships from Toulon. December Gibraltar deployment for support of military operations in continuation. 6th Released from TORCH and took passage to Scapa Flow to rejoin Home Fleet. 1 9 4 3 January Escorted military convoy KMF6 during passage from Atlantic to Algiers. Transferred to Algiers for support role of military operations in North Africa. February Deployed in western Mediterranean for support duties. to April May Passage to UK with HMS RODNEY for bombardment exercises with ships taking part in planned allied landings in Sicily. Bombardment and preparatory exercises off Cape Wrath. June Deployed to cover passage of military convoys from UK to Gibraltar. July Joined Covering Force for landing operations in Sicily (Operation HUSKY). 10th Deployed in Ionian Sea with HMS RODNEY, HM Battleships WARSPITE and VALIANT, HM Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE and FORMIDABLE. This Force was screened by HM Cruisers AURORA, PENELOPE, CLEOPATRA and EURYALUS. August Continued support and convoy defence duty during Sicilian operations. (For details of HUSKY see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, and Naval Staff History. 31st Bombarded coastal targets between Reggio Calabria and Pessaro with HMS RODNEY and HM Cruiser ORION screened by 9 Fleet destroyers in preparation for landings on Italian mainland (Operation HAMMER - Part of Operation BAYTOWN). September 9th Covered assault landings at Salerno with Force H ships including HMS RODNEY, HMS WARSPITE, HMS VALIANT, HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS and FORMIDABLE with screen of destroyers from 8th and 24th Destroyer Flotillas. (Operation AVALANCHE - For details see same references as HUSKY). 14th Survived several days of air attacks when deployed in support off Salerno. 29th Italian capitulation signed on board in Malta by General EISENHOWER and Italian Marshal Bagdolio. October Passage to Scapa Flow with HMS RODNEY escorted by HM Destroyer OFFA. Rejoined Home Fleet. November Under repair. to (See General Introduction re decline in availability.) December 1 9 4 4 January On completion resumed Home Fleet deployment at Scapa Flow. to (Operational state subject to doubt). April May Nominated to be held in Reserve at Milford Haven for bombardment duties during allied landings in Normandy. Carried out bombardment exercises in NW Approaches in preparation. June 2nd Sailed from Scapa Flow for Milford Haven prior to landings. (Operation NEPTUNE - For details see OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY (HMSO)). 6th Remained in Reserve at Milford Haven for use as required by either of the Task Force Commanders. 10th Provided naval gunfire support against selected targets including the Houlgate Battery in Eastern Task Force Area. 12th Bombarded enemy concentrations around Caen with HMS RODNEY. (Note: On this day a US Navy destroyer USS NELSON was torpedoed in the US assault area and gave rise to the rumour that HM Battleship NELSON was the ship which had been torpedoed). 18th During passage to Portsmouth to re-ammunition detonated 2 acoustic mines in the Eastern Task Force area which caused serious damage and flooding forward of the Bridge. July Under temporary repair at Portsmouth. Permanent repair arranged in USA. 20th Took passage to USA for repair. August Taken in hand for repair by US Navy Yard, Philadelphia. September Under repair. to Nominated for service with Eastern Fleet. December 1 9 4 5 January Passage to UK with call at New York after completion of trials. February Completion of alterations not possible in US dockyard. Prepared for work-up. March Worked-up in Home Waters for service with Eastern Fleet. April Deployed in Home waters and called at Plymouth. 29th Sailed from Plymouth for Mediterranean. May Deployed in Mediterranean, based at Malta for further exercises. June Passage to Ceylon via Mediterranean. July 12th Joined Eastern Fleet at Trincomalee after call at Colombo. (Note: Relieved HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH at Flagship of 3rd Battle Squadron.) 19th Deployed with HM Cruiser SUSSEX screened by HM Destroyers PALADIN, RACEHORSE, RAIDER and ROTHERHAM to cover air attacks by the Escort Carriers HMS EMPEROR and HMS AMEER on targets in Phuket Island. A minesweeping operation by ships of the 7th Minesweeping Flotilla was also covered by these ships, during which one (HMS SQUIRREL was sunk. Shore installations ware bombarded (Operation LIVERY). 26th Under KAMIKAZE attacks during which HM Minesweeper VESTAL was sunk. Rescued 94 survivors from HMS VESTAL. No damage sustained. (Note: Operation LIVERY was the last offensive operation carried out by Eastern Fleet.) August Deployed in support of proposed landings in Malaya (Operation ZIPPER). (Operation delayed until after the Japanese surrender at the insistence of the US Government and delay in London due to Demobilisation arrangements for Service personnel in the Far East.) 17th Provided cover for minesweeping operations in Nicobar islands. Returned to Rangoon to await start of ZIPPER. 28th Arrived at Penang with HM Cruiser CEYLON, HM Escort Carrier HUNTER and HM Escort Carrier ATTACKER. September 2nd Surrender of Japanese forces at Penang accepted on board by Vice Admiral Walker. 7th Took passage to Singapore. 12th At Singapore when the Japanese Forces in South East Asia were officially surrendered. P o s t W a r N o t e s HMS NELSON returned to Trincomalee and sailed from Colombo to return to UK on 11th October 1945. After calls at Kilindini, Malta and Gibraltar she arrived at Portsmouth on 17th November 1945. She was then deployed as Flagship of the Training Battleship Squadron in place of HMS VALIANT and arrived at Portland on 27th December that year. The ship carried out training duties including the Home Fleet 1946 Spring cruise before being relieved by HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS on 22nd Sept 1947. Paid off and reduced to Reserve status this ship was placed on the Disposal List. During 1948 she was used as a bombing target during trials in the Firth of Forth. The relevance of these which were intend to establish the effectiveness of ship's armour protection against bombs is hard to credit at a time when guided weapons and atomic warheads were being developed. She was sold to BISCO for demolition by TW Ward on 19th March 1948 and arrived at Inverkeithing in tow on 15th March 1949. The name was again carried forward for use in 1972 when it replaced that of HMS VICTORY for the Royal Navy Barracks at Portsmouth. HMS VICTORY remained in commission as nominal Flagship of Naval Home Command in Portsmouth Dockyard. Special Note Details of escorts for WS Series military convoys were provided by Donald L Kindell, Ohio, USA from an unpublished source. This is gratefully acknowledged. Addendum CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS NELSON by Don Kindell Date convoy Joined convoy Convoy No. Left convoy Date convoy sailed as escort arrived 17/05/41 01/06/41 SL 075 05/06/41 13/06/41 24/09/41 25/09/41 HALBERD 27/09/41 27/09/41 (Note on Convoys)

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