H. M. S. Q U E E N E L I Z A B E T H
“QUEEN ELIZABETH” Class battleship ordered from HM Dockyard
Portsmouth in June 1912 and laid down on 21st October that year. The ship
was launched on 16th October 1913 as the first RN warship to carry this
name.
Her Badge reflects the particular association with the Royal Family. Build was
completed on 22 December 1914 and she was deployed in
the Mediterranean. Her distinctive service during WW1 included participation in the Dardanelles campaign
and the surrender of the German High Seas Fleet in 1918 when the terms of
surrender were given to Admiral Von Reuter on board. In 1937 she was selected
for an extended modernisation which began
in August that year and was not completed until 1939. Her WW2 service was
particularly well known as
she was seriously damaged at Alexandria after explosive charges had been
placed on her hull in an attack by
two man human torpedoes in December 1941. She then had an extensive period under
repair and refit in a US Navy Dockyard Norfolk, Va before resuming Fleet service
in the East Indies Fleet. She took part in many offensive operations
against the Japanese bases in the Indian Ocean and in support of landing
operations in Burma before return to UK before VJ Day. After brief service in
the Home Fleet she was placed in Reserve at Portsmouth during 1946 and
sold for demolition two years later. In March 1942 this ship was adopted
by The Baltic Exchange, London after
a WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign.
1 9 1 5
Passage
to Mediterranean after Acceptance Trials
Took part in bombardment of Turkish shore targets during Dardanelles operations.
Sank enemy transport.
Returned
to UK for
repair of defective turbine and joined Grand Fleet at Scapa Flow.
1 9 1 6
Under
repair and resumed Grand Fleet service.
(Note:
Did not take part in Battle of Jutland.)
1 9 1 7
Grand
Fleet Service with periodic refits to modify armament equipment, improve
protection and machinery arrangements.
1 9 1 8
Grand
Fleet service including presentation of surrender terms to German Admiral
von Reuter after the armistice.
1 9 1 9 t o
1 9 2 4
Deployed with Atlantic Fleet.
1 9 2 5
Deployed with Mediterranean Fleet.
1 9 2 6 t o
1 9 2 7
Under
major refit during which torpedo bulges were fitted and two funnel
trunks merged into one single uptake.
3" AA
armament replaced by 4" mountings.
Aircraft
platform removed from Y turret.
Fire
control arrangements changes involving redesign of bridge structure.
1 9 2 8
Deployed in Home waters for trials.
1 9 2 9
Deployed
in Mediterranean
1 9 3 0
Under
refit during which fire control system was fitted for AA weapons with
director on fore-top.
1 9 3 1 t o
1 9 3 3
Deployed in Mediterranean.
1 9 3 4
Under
refit during which aircraft catapult was removed from B turret.
1 9 3 5
Deployed
in Mediterranean
1 9 3 6
Under
refit during which two Pom-Pom mountings were fitted
on conning tower platform
for
close range AA defence.
Nominated for modernisation at Portsmouth.
1 9 3 7 t o
1 9 3 8
Paid-off
into Dockyard control and taken in hand by HM Dockyard, Portsmouth
for
modernisation on 11th August
During
modernisation the following changes were made:
Existing
25 boilers replaced by 8 High Pressure type saving 50% weight
and 33% space.
New
turbines fitted to improve speed performance from 22½ knots to 25 knots.
Main
armament elevation modified to increase range by 8,000 yards to 32,200 yards.
6" armament replaced by
five twin 4.5" dual-purpose mountings.
AA
close range armament improved by fit of quadruple Pom-Pom
weapons.
Aircraft
stowage provided for four aircraft and athwartships
catapult fitted.
Complete
redesign of bridge structure.
1 9 3 9
January Approval
given for fit of radar equipment for gunnery fire control when this became
available.
to Modernisation
in continuation
December Under
modernisation at Portsmouth.
1 9 4 0
January Under
modernisation
to November Arrangements made for completion of modernisation by HM
Dockyard Rosyth.
(Note:
This was made after air raids on Portsmouth
December
10th Re-commissioned for trials.
12th Passage to Rosyth.
1 9 4 1
January Harbour
trials in continuation.
31st Modernisation completed
February Post
refit sea trials and preparation for foreign service
in Mediterranean.
25th On completion of full power trial took
passage to Scapa Flow for work-up with Home Fleet..
(Note:
Radar outfits to provide warning of approach of aircraft (Type 279) and for
fire control of main armament (Type 284) and secondary
armament (Type 284)
were fitted before ship left Rosyth. For details of
development and use of radar
in the RN see RADAR AT SEA
by D Howse.)
March Deployed
at Scapa Flow and diverted during work-up to join HM
Battleship NELSON
during Home Fleet search for German cruiser SCHEER in NW
Approaches.
April On
completion of work-up, took passage to reinforce
Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria.
(Note:
One source records the ship escorted a convoy during Atlantic passage.
This
is not recorded as being with WS Series convoys. To be investigated)
May At
Gibraltar
5th Sailed from Gibraltar
with HM Destroyers FORESIGHT, FORTUNE, FEARLESS and
VELOX
to relieve HM Battlecruiser REPULSE, HM Destroyers HAVELOCK, HARVESTER,
and HESPERUS as escort for four mercantiles
during passage to Gibraltar.
(Note:
These ships had been part of military convoy WS8 for passage from Clyde
and had
detached to join mercantiles of
planned Malta
relief convoy (Operation TIGER).)
6th Joined HM Cruisers NAIAD,
FIJI and GLOUCESTER,
HM Destroyers FAULKNOR,
FURY,
FORESTER, FORTUNE with HMS FORESIGHT, HMS FORTUNE and
HMS
FEARLESS to form Force F for escort of Malta
relief convoy during passage in
western Mediterranean and through Sicilian
Narrows to Grand
Harbour.
8th Under air attacks some of which were
repelled by aircraft from HM Aircraft Carrier ARK
ROYAL
deployed with ships of Force H from Gibraltar to cover
passage of TIGER convoy in
western Mediterranean.
Detached
from Force H ships with convoy on arrival at Skerki
Channel and escorted
mercantiles with ships of Force F
and destroyer screen which also included HMS KASHMIR
and HMS KIPLING.
12th Arrived at Alexandria and
joined Mediterranean Fleet.
(For
details of Operation TIGER and all Malta
relief convoys, see MALTA CONVOYS by
R
Woodman, THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN
by D MacIintyre, ENGAGE
THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and the Naval Staff History.)
26th Deployed with HM Battleship BARHAM and
screen of eight Mediterranean Fleet destroyers
to provide cover for series of air attacks by aircraft from
HM Aircraft Carrier on airfield
at Scarpanto.
(Note:
HMS FORMIDABLE was badly damaged during air attacks and later was withdrawn
from Mediterranean Fleet for repair in USA.
This placed severe restrictions on use of
capital ships in eastern Mediterranean
at a crucial time.)
28th Not deployed during naval operations in
defence and later evacuation of Crete. See above.
June Deployed
at Alexandria.
July
22nd Deployed with HM Battleship VALIANT, HM
Cruisers CARLISLE, HOBART (RAN),
LEANDER,
NAIAD, NEPTUNE, PHOEBE, ABDIEL screened by HM Destroyers
HASTY,
HAVOCK,
JACKAL, JAGUAR, JERVIS, KANDAHAR, NIZAM
and NUBIAN for
diversionary cruise in eastern Mediterranean
during passage of a relief convoy to Malta
from Gibraltar (Operation MD5 –cover
for Operation SUBSTANCE by Force H.)
August Deployed
at Alexandria.
September
1st Became Flagship of Mediterranean
Fleet.
(See
CUNNINGHAM by J Winton.)
25th Deployed with HMS BARHAM. HMS VALIANT,
cruisers of Mediterranean Fleet and
destroyer screens for diversionary cruise in eastern Mediterranean
during passage of Malta
relief convoy (Operation MD6 – cover for Operation HALBERD
by Force H.)
October Deployed
at Alexandria
November Deployed
in support of military advance in western desert (Operations CHIEFTAIN and
LANDMARK to provide naval gunfire support.)
24th Carried out search for enemy supply
ships on passage to Benghazi with
HMS BARHAM,
HMS
VALIANT screened by HM Destroyers DECOY, GRIFFIN,
JERVIS, HOTSPUR,
NIZAM (RAN) and three other destroyers from Alexandria.
25th Under submarine attack by U331 which
penetrated screen and fired torpedoes which hit
and sank HMS BARHAM in Gulf
of Sollum.
December Deployed
at Alexandria.
18th Attacked by Italian two man human
torpedoes whose crew placed limpet mine on ship’s hull
underwater. Resulting explosion whilst ship was an anchor
caused major damage extending
for 190 feet below B Boiler Room. Extensive flooding of
machinery compartments and
bulges caused ship to sink to seabed. Seven of ship’s
company were killed. Withdrawn from
service. (For details see THE NAVAL WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
by J Greene and
A Massignani.)
1 9 4 2
January Under
temporary repair in dry-dock at Alexandria
to enable passage for permanent repair.
to Repair
arranged in US Navy dockyard.
May
June
27th Undocked and prepared for ocean passage.
28th Sailed from Port Said for Aden on first
stage of passage.
July Passage
in Indian Ocean with call at Durban.
August Passage
in Atlantic Ocean with call at Cape
Town.
September
6th Arrived at Norfolk and taken
in hand for repair.
Paid-off.
October Under
repair with reduced complement
to (Note:
Work included:
December Increased
AA armament to improve defence against close range attacks.
Preparation for fit of British radar equipment for fire-control and
surface warning.
See
above reference.)
1 9 4 3
January Under
repair
to
April
May Post
refit harbour and sea trials.
Complement
increased for return passage.
June
1st Refit completed
Post refit sea trials and prepared for passage to UK
July Passage
to Devonport to complete refit work by HM Dockyard, Devonport.
to (Note:
Work included:
September Fit
of radar equipment.
Aircraft
facilities removed.
Direction
Finding outfit fitted on quarterdeck.
Re-commissioned for service in Eastern Fleet.
October Passage
to Scapa Flow to work-up with ships of Home Fleet and
for radar equipment trials.
to
November
December Deployed
at Scapa Flow.
30th Sailed from Scapa Flow
with HM Battleship VALIANT, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM
Aircraft
Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS and UNICORN screened by 7 Fleet destroyers.
1 9 4 4
January Passage
in Mediterranean and Red Sea.
26th Arrived at
Trincomalee and joined Eastern Fleet.
February Deployed
with Eastern Fleet and carried out exercises in preparation for planned
operations.
(For
details of naval activities in Indian Ocean by Eastern
Fleet see THE FORGOTTEN FLEET,
by J Winton, Operation PACIFIC by E Gray and WAR WITH JAPAN
(HMSO).)
March
21st Carried out offensive sweep in Indian
Ocean with HMS VALIANT, HMS RENOWN, HMS
HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruisers LONDON, GAMBIA
(RNZN), CEYLON
and
CUMBERLAND
screen by 10 destroyers of Eastern Fleet (Operation DIPLOMAT)
24th Replenished from
tanker.
27th Met US
aircraft carrier USS SARATOGA
escorted by US destroyers USS FANNING,
DUNLAP and CUMMINGS on passage in Indian Ocean for loan service
with Eastern Fleet.
April Deployed
as Flagship, Eastern Fleet.
2nd Returned to
Trincomalee with US Navy ships and Eastern Fleet ships.
16th Deployed to provided cover for series of
air attacks on Sabang, Sumatra
with HMS VALIANT,
Free
French battleship RICHELIEU as Force 69. HM Cruisers NEWCASTLE,
NIGERIA, CEYLON,
GAMBIA
(RNZN) and Dutch TROMP were also deployed with Force 69.
HM
Destroyers NAPIER, NEPAL,
NIZAM, ROTHERHAM, RACEHORSE, PETARD,
PENN,
QUIBERON (RAN) and Dutch VAN GALEN provided screen.
(Operation
COCKPIT).
(Note:
Attacks were to be carried out by aircraft from HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and USS
SARATOGA
deployed as Force 70. HMS RENOWN, HMS LONDON
HM
Destroyers QUILLIAM, QUEENBOROUGH, QUADRANT, USS CUMMINGS,
DUNLAP
and FANNING were deployed as screen for Force 70.)
18th HMS CEYLON and HMS GAMBIA detached to
provide additional AA defence for Force 70
during air operations.
19th Deployed with Force 70 during air
operations
24th At Trincomalee
May Deployed
as Flagship, Eastern Fleet
6th Joined HMS VALIANT, HMS RENOWN, Free
French battleship RICHELIEU, HMS KENYA,
Dutch
cruiser TROMP and deployed as Force 65 to provide cover for joint air attacks
on
Soerabaya, Batavia by HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
and USS SARATOGA (Operation TRANSOM).
(Note:
HM Destroyers NAPIER, NEPAL
(RAN), ROTHERHAM, RACEHORSE, QUIBERON
(RAN),
QUALITY and QUICKMATCH (RAN) were deployed as screen for Force 65.
HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS and USS SARATOGA were deployed as Force 66 with HMS
GAMBIA
(RNZN), HMS CEYLON, screened by HM Destroyers QUILLIAM,
QUEENBOROUGH,
QUADRANT, USS DUNLAP, USS CUMMINGS and USS
FANNING.)
15th Refuelled in Exmouth
Gulf, Western Australia from
Tanker Force of 7 RFA screened by
HMS LONDON and HMS SUFFOLK.
17th Provided air and surface cover during
TRANSOM air operations at Soerabaya.
(Note:
RN and USN submarines were deployed to carry out patrols to give warning of any
enemy attempt to interfere with operations by surface or
submarine attack. Air Sea
Rescue
requirements were covered by USN submarines near Soerabaya.)
27th Returned to
Trincomalee with RN ships.
(Note:
USN ships detached from TRANSOM and returned to Pacific Fleet surface on 18th.
Fuel
remaining on return was less than 20%.)
June Deployed
at Trincomalee.
(Note:
A diversionary operation (COUNCILLOR) was carried out by Force 68 including
HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS and HM Escort Aircraft Carrier ATHELING screened by
HM
Cruisers GAMBIA, CEYLON,
PHOEBE and five destroyers with HM Submarine
SURF. Operation PEDAL later this month by HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
carried out air attacks
on Port Blair in the Andamans. It
may be assumed that major Eastern Fleet units
provided cover during both.)
July
22nd Joined HMS VALIANT, HMS RENOWN, Free
French battleship RICHELIEU, HM Aircraft
Carriers
ILLUSTRIOUS and VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers NIGERIA,
GAMBIA, KENYA,
CEYLON,
CUMBERLAND, PHOEBE and Dutch TROMP
as Force 62 screened by HM
Destroyers
RELENTLESS, ROTHERHAM, RACEHORSE, RAIDER, ROEBUCK,
ROCKET,
RAPID,
QUILLIAM, QUALITY and QUICKMATCH to provide cover during air operations by
the two carriers at Sabang, Sumatra
and then carry out bombardment of shore targets.
(Operation
CRIMSON)
24th Remained with Force 62 ships when HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS and HMS VICTORIOUS
detached with HMS PHOEBE, HMS ROEBUCK and HMS RAIDER to take
passage to
carrier operational area.
25th On completion of air operations carried
out bombardment with HMS VALIANT, HMS
RENOWN, RICHELIEU, cruisers and destroyers.
29th Deployed at Trincomalee.
August Deployment
at Trincomalee as Fleet Flagship in continuation.
(Note:
Eastern Fleet ships were deployed to carry out Air-Sea Rescue duties in Indian
Ocean
during US air attacks on targets in NW Sumatra.
(Operation
BOOMERANG).
September Nominated
for refit in Durban and took
passage.
October
6th Taken in hand for refit
November
17th Carried out post refit trials when work
completed
On
completion prepared for return passage to Trincomalee.
December Passage
in Indian Ocean to Ceylon
to rejoin the East Indies Fleet.
(Note:
The Eastern Fleet was renamed in November 1944)
On
arrival became Flagship of 3rd Battle Squadron.
(Note:
Other ship in Squadron was HMS RENOWN.
HMS
VALIANT had been withdrawn from Eastern Fleet in August 1944
after being damaged in floating dock which had collapsed.)
1 9 4 5
January Deployed
at Trincomalee and prepared for support of planned landings on Ramree
Island
off coast of Burma
(Operation MATADOR)
(Note:
Supreme Commander East Allied Commander, Admiral Mountbatten was
to be embarked to witness this operation
18th Sailed from Trincomalee and called at Colombo
to embark Supreme Commander.
HM
Destroyers NORMAN and PATHFINDER were deployed as screen during
passage to Ramree
Island to provide naval gunfire
support during assault by troops
of 26th Indian Division.
21st Carried out
bombardment with other ships including HMS PHOEBE.
25th Deployed at Trincomalee
February Trincomalee
deployment in continuation and prepared for support of planned
to operations
in Indian Ocean
March (Note:
HMS RENOWN was replaced by Free French battleship RICHELIEU
on 20th March.)
April
8th Sailed from Trincomalee with Free
French battleship RICHELIEU, HMS LONDON,
HM
Destroyers SAUMAREZ, VERULAM and VIGILANT as Force 62 to cover air
operations and carry out bombardment of Sabang
(Operation SUNFISH)
11th Carried out
bombardment at Sabang with RICHELIEU and HMS LONDON.
12th Force 63 refuelled from tanker support
Force 70.
14th Provided cover
during air reconnaissance from carriers.
20th Returned to Trincomalee with Force 63.
27th Sailed from Trincomalee with Free French
battleship RICHELIEU, HM Escort Aircraft
Carriers
EMPRESS, SHAH, HM Cruisers CUMBERLAND,
SUFFOLK, CEYLON,
Dutch
TROMP, HM Destroyers ROTHERHAM, TARTAR, VERULAM, NUBIAN
and
PENN
as Force 63 to create diversion during planned landings at Rangoon
and to
intercept shipping in Indian Ocean
supporting Japanese bases in Andamans and Nicobars.
(Operation
BISHOP)
30th Carried out bombardment of airfields at
Car Nicobar concurrent with air strikes from the
two aircraft carriers followed by bombardment of Port Blair
May
1st Repeated
bombardments during air strikes at Car Nicobar.
2nd Repeated bombardments
during air strikes at Port Blair.
3rd Deployed for
interception of shipping along coast of Burma
with ships of Force 63.
6th Carried out bombardment of shore
batteries in Stewart Sound
between North and South
Andaman Islands.
(Note:
These batteries had hit and damaged HM Destroyers VOLAGE and RAPID during
Operation
SUFFICE to attack shipping on 19th March by ships of the 26th
Destroyer Flotilla.)
9th Returned to
Trincomalee with Force 63 ships.
10th Sailed from Trincomalee with Force 61 to
intercept Japanese cruisers ASHIGARI
and destroyer KAMIKAZE reported to have left Singapore
and taken passage
northwards in Malacca Straits (Operation DUKEDOM).
(Note:
The enemy ships were heading for the Andamans to
evacuate the garrison.)
Other
ships in Force 61 were HM Cruisers ROYALIST, CUMBERLAND,
Dutch TROMP.
HM
Escort Aircraft Carriers HUNTER, KHEDIVE, SHAH and EMPEROR screened by
HM
Destroyers SAUMAREZ, VENUS, VERULAM, VIRAGO, VIGILANT, ROTHERHAM,
TARTAR and NUBIAN.
14th Escort Carriers and destroyers detached
from Force 61 to carry out interception of the
Japanese warships which were reported on 12th as heading southwards
in Indian Ocean.
(Operation
MITRE).
(Note:
The enemy ships were the cruiser HAGURO and destroyer KAMIKAZE on
passage to the Andamans.)
Remained
clear of the interception area and refuelled from RFA ECHODALE escorted by
HM
Destroyer PALADIN deployed as Force 70.
15th HMS CUMBERLAND and Dutch cruiser TROMP
detached to support the impending
attack by destroyers of 26th Flotilla.
(Note:
Aircraft from the Escort Carriers were unable to locate the Japanese ships
during
daylight but the destroyers intercepted the two Japanese
warships and carried
out a brilliantly executed night encounter during which the
cruiser was sunk in
a gun and torpedo action. See Naval Staff History, WAR WITH JAPAN
(HMSO)
and SINK THE HAGURO by J Winton)
17th Took passage to
Trincomalee with part of Force 61.
June East
Indies Fleet duties in continuation at Trincomalee
(Note:
During this period planning was in progress to carry out landings in Malaya
Operation
ZIPPER). These were to be delayed because of difficulties in obtaining
US
government approval for any offensive other than those in the Pacific.
For
details see Final Report of Supreme Commander South East Asia and above
references. Preparatory exercises were carried out by
Eastern Fleet ships.)
July Relieved
by HM Battleship NELSON as Flagship 3rd Battle
Squadron, East Indies Fleet.
12th Flag of BS3 transferred to HMS NELSON.
17th Took passage from Ceylon to return to UK.
(Note:
ZIPPER was further delayed by problems related to implementation of the PYTHON
scheme to repatriate service personnel who had been in SEAC
for several years.)
August On
passage
15th Arrived at Rosyth.
HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH was used briefly as an Accommodation
Ship at Rosyth after VJ Day and then joined the Home Fleet. She was
based at Portland in December and served in Home waters until relieved by HM Battleship HOWE in February 1946 and reduced to Reserve
status at Portsmouth during the period March to September. The ship remained in
commission with a reduced complement at Portsmouth until being placed
on the Disposal List in January
1948. Paid-off on 15th May 1948, she was sold to BISCO for breaking-up
by Arnott
Young on 19th May that year. Taken in tow to the breaker’s yard she arrived at Dalmuir on 22nd June to be de-equipped and the hull was
later taken to Troon in Ayrshire for final demolition.
The link between this famous battleship and The Baltic
Exchange was first established after the adoption in 1942 when a sum of £18,312,000 was
raised. Apart from the contacts made with the ship’s company during WW2
the
association has continued after the ship had been broken-up. The Ship’s Bell
and a Ship’s Crest were obtained and
are now kept with the Plaque presented to the Exchange in 1942 to record the
result of the WARSHIP WEEK. These items were transferred
to the first new building after WW2. When that building was destroyed in an IRA
bombing,
the Bell was salvaged and is now kept in the new site together with a copy of
the original Chronology for public view. This has maintained the strong tie
between the members of the Baltic Exchange and the Royal Navy.
