1 9 3 9
August Deployed
on China Station.
4th Re-commissioned at Hong Kong for continued service on China
Station.
(Note: New
ships company had taken passage by sea to join ship)
12th Sailed from Hong Kong for Singapore to refit
Embarked aircraft
after leaving Hong Kong..
19th Arrived at Singapore and taken in hand for refit.
31st Undocked after ship required for service in view of
possibility of war with Germany
September Deployed on China Station and
transferred to join East Indies Squadron.
1st Sailed for war station and deployed with HM Cruiser
BIRMINGHAM and HM
Destroyer DARING
for interception of German mercantiles
4th Carried out interception patrol off west coast of Sumatra.
Intercepted
German mercantile FRANKEN.
6th Took passage to Colombo for deployment on East Indies
Station
10th Arrived at Colombo after aircraft launched to RAF airfield at
Ratamala for night landing
and torpedo
launch training.
25th Sailed from Colombo to meet HM Cruiser LIVERPOOL for escort
of mercantile into
Colombo during
passage in Indian Ocean from Bombay..
28th Arrived at Colombo
29th Sailed for interception patrol in Indian Ocean
October
5th Returned to Colombo from patrol.
Nominated for
service with HM Cruisers CORNWALL and DORSETSHIRE
Force I to carry
out trade defence duties in Indian Ocean.
(Note: German
commerce raiders were known to be active in the area and enemy
mercantiles on
passage were to be intercepted. Similar Hunting Groups
were formed for
this purpose in the Atlantic.)
11th Took passage to meet HMS CORNWALL and proceed to together to
Trincomalee
for formation of
Force I.
13th Arrived at Trincomalee with HMS CORNWALL after entry delayed
by weather
conditions. Took
passage to Colombo with HMS CORNWALL after refuelling.
15th Arrived at Colombo.
Sailed for
patrol south of Ceylon with HMS CORNWALL
17th Joined by HM Cruiser LIVERPOOL for Indian Ocean patrol
20th Remained on patrol when HMS GLOUCESTER detached.
23rd Returned to Colombo.
(Note: Ships
aircraft carried out search operations during ocean patrols.
28th Sailed from Colombo with HM Cruisers DAUNTLESS and DURBAN fot
Indian Ocean
interception patrol.
November
1st Arrived at Singapore with same ships.
8th Took passage to Colombo from Singapore with HM Australian
Cruiser HOBART.
12th Arrived at Colombo
14th Deployed with HMS DORSETSHIRE and CORNWALL for Indian Ocean
patrol.
18th Returned to Colombo with same ships.
25th Sailed from Colombo with HMS DORSETSHIRE, HMS CORNWALL and HM
Australian
Destroyer WATERHEN to meet French convoy on passage to Colombo.
(Note: Crew of
SWORDFISH aircraft which had ditched were rescued by HMAS
WATERHEN on
27th.)
December
1st Diverted whilst off Madagascar and took passage south to
carry out search for
in Chagos
Archipelago for German battleships GRAF SPEE and ADMIRAL SHEER
known to be
carrying out attacks on shipping
3rd HMS DORSETSHIRE detached to carry out search near
Mauritius.
5th Two aircraft unable to find ship on return from search due to
weather conditions,
Ship laid smoke
screen which was sighted by aircraft and enabled safe return.
7th At Diego Suarez and met HMS GLOUCESTER
8th Sailed from Diego Suarez with HMS GLOUCESTER and HMS
CORNWALL.
Detached and
took independent passage to Durban for routine docking.
(Note: Earlier
order for passage to Simonstown was cancelled.)
12th Arrived at Durban.
14th Despatched to Capetown support HMS Cruisers AJAX, ACHILLES
and EXETER
in anticipation
of action against German GRAF SPEE which had taken refuge in
Montevideo after
Battle of the River Plate on 13th.
16th Diversion cancelled and took return passage.
(Note: This may
have been because reinforcement by other ships had been arranged.
See Naval Staff
History.)
21st Arrived in Durban for delayed docking.
22nd Resumed Indian Ocean interception duties with HMS CORNWALL and
HMS
GLOUCESTER.
24th HMS CORNWALL detached..
26th Refuelled at Mauritius and resumed patrol with HMS
GLOUCESTER.
29th At Seychelles after search in Carajos Islands.
31st Sailed for Colombo
1 9 4 0
January Nominated for escort of
military Convoy US1.
(Note: This
convoy was carrying ANZAC troops for service in Egypt.)
4th Arrived at Colombo.
Joined HM
Cruiser SUSSEX in 4th Cruiser Squadron
5th HMS SUSSEX with CinC East Indies arrived in Colombo,
6th CinC visited ship.
15th Sailed from Colombo with HMS SUSSEX and HMAS HOBART for
exercises.
17th Returned to Colombo with same ships.
25th Sailed for Trincomalee.
26th At Trincomalee
31st Sailed from Trincomalee with HMAS HOBART to meet HMS SUSSEX
and
February
1st Joined HM Battleship RAMILLIES and HM Cruiser KENT with
same ships to
reinforce escort
of US1.
(Note: US1
comprised twelve Large Ocean Liners including a French and a
Polish vessel.)
6th HM Destroyer WESTCOTT on passage from
Singapore joined US1and was
refuelled.
8th Arrived at Aden with US1.
(Note: Ship had
steamed 34,889 miles since 3rd September 1939 and aircraft
had carried out
search of over 365 square miles since 1st January).
9th Carried out patrol in Gulf of Aden escorted by HMS WESTCOTT
to cover passage of
US1.
17th Sailed from Aden for Colombo with HMS RAMILLIES and HMS
SUSSEX. to
resume Force I
duties.
21st Nominated for return to UK.
25th Arrived at Colombo and planned return to UK cancelled,
Ship required to
relieve HM Cruiser KENT in escort for second ANZAC troop
convoy US2
during passage in Indian Ocean.
March At Colombo
5th Carried out gunnery exercises on passage to Trincomalee for
Force I service.
6th Deployed for Indian Ocean interception patrol in Ceylon
area until 12th when to be
detached from
Force I to take passage to Singapore for refit prior to joining US2
12th Took passage from Trincomalee for Singapore with HMAS HOBART.
13th Diverted to investigate report of suspicious vessel in Bay of
Bengal.
14th Whilst proceeding independently major explosion occurred in F
bomb room where
250 lb aircraft
bombs were being stowed in bomb room after removal from aircraft.
14 members of
ships company were killed and three seriously injured.
Fire in hangar
area was extinguished by automatic sprinkler system causing damage
15th Resumed passage to Singapore during which burial of those
killed took place.
16th Arrived at Singapore and remaining bombs landed.
(Note: The
subsequent Board of Enquiry found that the explosion of a bomb in F
bomb room had
been caused by damage to a safety device which could have
been caused
during heavy landing of an aircraft although rigorous procedures
were carried out
to check this mechanism after any suspect damage. For
to aircraft and
explosion caused expensive structural damage.
details see
EAGLES WAR by P. Smith.)
27th Ship entered dry-dock
(Note: Planned
deployment with US2 cancelled.
Ships company
moved into Shore Accommodation.)
April Under repair and refit
(Note Radio
Homing Beacon was fitted to assist return of aircraft in poor weather
May Nominated for transfer
to Mediterranean Fleet to replace HM Aircraft GLORIOUS
which had been
recalled to Home waters after German invasion of Norway.
9th Sailed from Singapore to join Fleet at Alexandria with calls
at Colombo and Aden.
23rd Passage in Red Sea in company with HM Cruisers LIVERPOOL,
GLOUCESTER and
SYDNEY (RAN).
26th Arrived at Port Said independently.
(Note: The
cruisers detached during passage.)
27th Joined Mediterranean Fleet escorted by HM Destroyers HEREWARD
and HERO.
Transferred to
1st Battle Squadron comprising HM Battleships WARSPITE,
RAMILLIES, ROYAL
SOVEREIGN, VALIANT and MALAYA
June Carried out exercises
with HM Battleships WARSPITE, MALAYA, ROYAL
SOVEREIGN and
French battleship LORRAINE and screen of four destroyers.
(Note: These
were in anticipation of outbreak of war with Italy.)
10th Sailed from Alexandria with HMS WARSPITE, HMS MALAYA, HM
Cruisers ORION,
NEPTUNE, SYDNEY,
LIVERPOOL, GLOUCESTER, CALEDON and CALYPSO
screened by HM
Destroyers DAINTY, HASTY, ILEX, JANUS, JUNO, NUBIAN,
STUART (RAN),
VAMPIRE (RAN) and VOYAGER RAN) to take up position in Aegean
Sea to engage
any Italian major Fleet units which may take passage prior to or immediately
on outbreak of
hostilities.
11th Hostilities started at 0001 BST.
Australian
destroyers detached on relief by HM Destroyers HAVOCK, HERO,
HEREWARD,
HOSTILE, HYPERION and IMPERIAL.
12th Carried out air search for shipping without success.
Took return
passage with Fleet unit and ships of 7th Cruiser Squadron which had been
deployed for
shipping sweep in an area east of Sicily.
Fleet units
under submarine attack during which HM Cruiser CALYPSO was torpedoed
by Italian
submarine BAGNOLINI and sank with loss of 38 lives.
14th Arrived at Alexandria after minesweep had been carried out by
destroyers.
(Note: Some
Aircrew were landed to fly GLADIATOR aircraft from Dekehelia
22nd Deployed with HMS RAMILLIES and HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN with
destroyer
screen to carry
out offensive sweep between Libyan coast and south Italy.
(Operation BQ)
23rd Returned to Alexandria when BQ cancelled.
27th Sailed from Alexandria with HM Battleships RAMILLIES. ROYAL
SOVEREIGN, HM
Cruisers
GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, NEPTUNE, ORION and SYDNEY screened
by Mediterranean
Fleet Destroyers
28th Deployed as Force B with HMS RAMILLIES, ROYAL SOVEREIGN, HM
Destroyers
HASTY, HAVOCK,
HEREWARD, HERO and HYPERION of 2nd Destroyer Flotilla
to provide
Distant Cover for passage of Convoys MS1 and MF1 from Malta to Alexandria
as well as
Convoy AS1 from Piraeus to Alexandria (Operation MA3).
(Note: The
cruisers deployed as Force A engaged three Italian destroyers during MA 3
sinking one
(ESPERO). For details see Naval Staff History, THE BATTLE FOR
THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre)
29th Aircraft sighted and reported Italian submarines.
(Note: ARGONAUTA, UEBI SCEBELI and LUIZZI were sunk in the A/S operations
by ship’s
aircraft and HM Destroyers DAINTY, DECOY, DEFENDER, ILEX
and VOYAGER
(RAN) deployed as Force C.)
July
2nd Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.
(Note: The
passage of MS1 and MS1 was postponed on 28th June because of the
prodigious
expenditure of 6in ammunition.)
3rd Ship involved in measures taken by CinC Mediterranean to
ensure French warships
deployed at
Alexandria under his overall command were prevented from leaving the
port. Armament
was trained on French warships.
(Note: These
measures had been required following the withdrawal of France from
hostilities. For
further details see RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute and
Naval Staff
Histories which include the operations at Oran which were far
different.)
5th Sailed from Alexandria with HM Battleships WARSPITE, MALAYA
and ROYAL
SOVEREIGN, HM
Cruisers GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, NEPTUNE and ORION
screened by HM
Destroyers DAINTY, DEFENDER, HASTY, HOSTILE, HYPERION,
ILEX, IMPERIAL,
JANUS, JUNO, VAMPIRE (RAN) and VOYAGER (RAN)
to provide
Distant Cover for passage of MS1 and MF1 which had been postponed.)
(Operation MA5)
(Note: Ships
aircraft based ashore at Maaten Bagush caerried out torpedo attacks on
shipping at
Tobruk sinking the destroyer ZEFFIRO and a mercantile with
damage to
another destroyer and mercantile.)
8th Under sustained air attacks.
Italian Fleet
movements reported by RAF flying boats enabled preparation for engagement
to be made.
9th Launched torpedo aircraft attacks on
enemy Fleet units.
over
RN units. Detached from Battle Squadron and Cruiser Squadron during Fleet
engagement
(Battle of Calabria – For full details see Naval Staff History)
10th Launched air attacks on Augusta, Sicily
sinking the destroyer LEONI PANCALLO in the
harbour.
(Note: This ship was subsequently salvaged and returned to service only to be sunk
again
in April 1943)
11th Under sustained air attacks which were unsuccessful although
ship was near missed.
`14th Returned to Alexandria with 1st Battle
Squadron having maintained anti-submarine
patrols as part
of Distant Cover for the two convoys.
25th Under night air attacks in harbour whilst at Alexandria
26th Further night air raids
27th Deployed with HM Battleships WARSPITE, MALAYA and RAMILLIES
of 1st Battle
Squadron, HM
Cruisers NEPTUNE and SYDNEY (RAN) screened by HM Destroyers
JERVIS, JANUS,
NUBIAN, MOHAWK, HEREWARD, IMPERIAL and POLISH
ORP GARLAND to
provide Distant Cover for passage of Convoy AN2 from Egypt to
Greece.
29th Under air attacks during which ship’s aircraft destroyed one
bomber.
30th Returned to Alexandria.
31st Deployed with HM Battleships MALAYA and ROYAL SOVEREIGN
screened by HM
Destroyers
JERVIS, HERO, HEREWARD, HASTY, HOSTILE, IMPERIAL, ILEX and
VENDETTA (RAN)
as Force B to carry out diversionary operation coincident with Malta
aircraft
delivery by HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS in western Mediterranean
(Operation MA9
–diversion for Operation HURRY by Force H)
August Since commissioning mileage
steamed was 54,671.
1st On completion of gunnery exercises Force B had to return
to harbour instead of carrying
out cruise in
eastern Mediterranean,
(Note: HMS
MALAYA had developed machine problems requiring repairs.)
22nd Detached aircraft based at Maaten Bagush carried out attacks
on Bomba.
The Italian
submarine IRIDE and a depot ship MONTE GARGANO were sunk and a
second submarine
EURO was damaged.
30th Sailed from Alexandria to provide Distant Cover for passage
of convoy MF2 to Malta
and to meet HM
Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Battleship VALIANT, HM
Cruisers
CARLISLE and COVENTRY (Force F) joining the Mediterranean Fleet.
(Operation MB3 –
Part of joint Operation HATS with Force H based at Gibraltar,
(Note: The other
Mediterranean Fleet ships, designated as Force I comprised
HM Battleships
WARSPITE and MALAYA, HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER,
KENT, LIVERPOOL,
ORION and SYDNEY (RAN) with HM Destroyers
DECOY, DEFENDER,
HASTY, HEREWARD, HYPERION, ILEX,
IMPERIAL, STUART
(RAN), VAMPIRE (RAN), VENDETTA
VOYAGER and
Polish ORP GARLAND.)
31st Under air attack.
Italian major
units reported by aircraft from ship
(Note: Italian
Fleet returned to base.
September
2nd Force F ships joined Force I off Malta.
Returning Italian
Fleet sighted by reconnaissance aircraft from ship.
4th Under air attacks which delayed launch of aircraft for
planned bombing of airfield
at Maritza,
Rhodes. Four aircraft from ship were lost.
5th Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.
(See Naval Staff
History for details of HATS)
Docked for
inspection of hull in case of near miss damage.
7th Undocked and resumed operational duties,
21st Carried out daylight landing exercises.
October
8th Provided cover for passage of Convoy MF3 during passage to
Malta.
(Operation MB6)
(Note: Other
ships of Mediterranean Fleet providing cover were HM Battleships
MALAYA,
RAMILLIES and WARSPITE, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HM
Cruisers AJAX,
GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, ORION, SYDNEY (RAN)
and YORK with HM
Destroyers DAINTY, DECOY, DEFENDER, HAVOCK,
HASTY, HAVOCK,
HEREWARD, HERO, ILEX, IMPERIAL, JANUS
JERVIS, JUNO,
NUBIAN, VAMPIRE (RAN) and VENDETTA (RAN)
12th Ships aircraft located damaged Italian destroyer ARTIGLIERE
which was under
tow following
damage in an action with HMS AJAX on 11th during which two
other
destroyers, ARIEL and AIRONE were sunk. See Naval Staff History.)
(Note: ARTIGLIERE was later sunk by HMS YORK.
Under air
attacks during which the two aircraft carriers claimed destruction of five
enemy machines.
14th Further air attacks by bomb and torpedo aircraft. HMS
LIVERPOOL was hit by a
torpedo and
seriously damaged.
Returned to
Alexandria with Fleet units.
20th Carried out day and night deck landing trials escorted by HM
Destroyers DECOY, HASTY,
HAVOCK, HEREWARD
and ILEX, returning on 21st.
(Note: Ships
aircraft operating from shore carried out air attacks and minelaying on 23rd
and 28th.)
25th Deployed with HMS MALAYA, HM Cruisers ORION, SYDNEY (RAN), HMS
COVENTRY and screen
of eight destroyers to provide cover from north bound Convoy
AN5 to Greece
during passage from Egypt (Operation MAQ2)
27th Air strikes launched for attack on Port Matenza, Rhodes.
28th Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.
(Note: Italian
forces entered Greece on this day.)
29th Sailed from Alexandria with HM Battleships WARSPITE, MALAYA,
RAMILLIES, and
VALIANT, HM
Cruisers YORK, ORION, SYDNEY (RAN) and GLOUCESTER screened by
Fleet destroyers
to provide cover for passage of military convoys taking stores and
personnel to set
up forward operating base at Suda Bay in Crete (Operation BARBARITY)
November
1st Under heavy and sustained attacks whilst deployed with
Fleet units in Aegean to provide
aerial
protection and anti-submarine patrols.
Returned to
Alexandria with Fleet units.
5th Examination of hull revealed significant damage and
accounted for contamination of
aviation fuel
system by damage caused during air attacks in recent weeks.
Withdrawn from
operational service and nominated for extensive refit.
(Note: HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS had joined the Fleet at Alexandria in September and amongst
the many
deficiencies of this ship was lack of any radar and unprotected upper deck.
Participation in
planned air attacks on Italian Fleet at Taranto was not possible and
some air crew
were transferred to HMS ILLUSTRIOUS to take part.
(Operation
JUDGEMENT)
6th Under repair.
16th Sailed from Alexandria and took passage to Suda Bay to
provide cover for passage of troop
convoys to Greece.
17th Took return passage from Suda Bay with HM Battleship BARHAM,
19th At Alexandria after delay on passage due to machinery defects
in HMS BARHAM
23rd Deployed as Force C with HM Battleships RAMILLIES and MALAYA,
HM Cruisers
BERWICK, SYDNEY
(RAN), AJAX and ORION with destroyer screen and took passage to
Suda Bay to
provide cover for a series of joint operations with Force H which included
transit of Malta
relief convoys including additional reinforcements for Fleet at Alexandria.
(Operation MB9 –
Part of overall joint Operation COLLAR,, see Naval Staff History).
24th Under air attacks at Suda Bay but sailed same day.
25th Deployed with Fleet units to cover passage of Convoy MF4
26th Detached and took passage to carry out planned air operations.
Carried out
night air attacks on Tripoli.
29th Returned to Alexandria.
(Note: For full
details of COLLAR see Naval Staff History)
December Deployed at Alexandria.
Under repair to
stern gland defects.
Squadrons 813
and 824 disembarked for operations based ashore.
(Note:
Nominated for future deployment for Ocean interception and trade defence duties
when available
for release from Mediterranean Fleet duties after arrival of HM
Aircraft Carrier
FORMIDABLE)
1 9 4 1
January
6th Carried out Deck Landing trials with SEA GLADIATOR
aircraft.
11th Deployed with HMS BARHAM, HMS AJAX and destroyer screen to
carry out
attacks on Dodecanese as Force X (Operation MC6).
12th Operation MC6 cancelled because of damage to HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.
(Note: HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS had been deployed in defence of major joint operation
with Force H to
pass convoys to Malta.
(Operation
EXCESS – See Naval Staff History)
RAF personnel
embarked in Alexandria for passage to Malta transferred to HMS
PERTH (RAN) at
Suda Bay for onward passage.
13th Sailed from Suda Bay with HMS BARHAM to carry out air
operations in area near
Rhodes.
Planned attacks
cancelled due to weather conditions.
When weather
eased launched aircraft to search for Italian convoy which was sighted.
Further air
attack failed to locate convoy.
(Note: One
aircraft failed to return from search.)
15th Returned to Suda Bay when planned attacks on Benghazi were
cancelled.
Rejoined Fleet
units to cover passage of Convoy ME6 from Malta.
(Note: Part of
EXCESS)
17th Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.
23rd Carried out air defence exercises in
Eastern Mediterranean.
25th Docked at Alexandria.
30th Resumed Fleet duties.
February First FULMAR aircraft embarked and four SWORDFISH
transferred for shore base
operations.
1st Took part in Fleet air defence
exercises.
3rd Returned to Alexandria.
19th Carried out Deck Landing training for
BREWSTER BUFFALO aircraft which were
unsatisfactory
On
completion took passage to join Force A.
21st Joined HM Battleships BARHAM and
VALIANT screened by nine
destroyers
for Operation MC8.
Air
attack repelled by ships aircraft which destroyed one machine before reaching
convoy.
See Naval Staff History for details of MC8
22nd Returned to Alexandria with Force A ships.
March
3rd Carried out successful BREWSTER BUFFALO Deck Landing
Trials.
On completion
carried out Boiler Clean at Alexandria prior to Ocean deployment.
On completion
held at Alexandria pending arrival of HMS FORMIDABLE to replace
HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
taken out of service for repair.
(Note: Approval
for release from Mediterranean was dependant on clearance
of mines and
wrecks in Suez Canal.)
25th Disembarked Squadrons remained ashore and transferred to Port
Sudan to counter
the Italian
threat to convoy traffic in Red Sea by warships based at Massawa.
(Operation
ATMOSPHERE)
April
3rd Squadron aircraft carried out successful attacks on Italian
destroyers.
(Note: NAZARIO
SAURA, DANIELE MANIN, PANTERA, TIGRE and DANIELE
BATISTI were
sunk directly or scuttled after being seriously damaged.
See EAGLE’S WAR
by P smith and WARSHIP LOSSES OF WW2 by D Brown)
8th HMS FORMIDABLE arrived and released from Mediterranean
service.
9th Took passage from Alexandria escorted by HM Destroyers
ENCOUNTER and DECOY
10th Escort detached and ship began Canal transit.
Transit delayed
in Great Bitter Lake due to obstruction.
15th Resumed transit when obstruction cleared.
16th Refuelled at Port Suez
18th At Port Tewfik.
19th Took passage to Aden and re-embarked aircraft.
(Note: Intended
deployment with Hunting Group V which included
HM Cruiser
LEANDER (RNZN) ).
21st Joined HM Cruiser CORNWALL at Aden and took passage to
Mombasa.
26th Arrived at Mombasa.
(Note: HM Cruisers
GLASGOW and COLOMBO and HM Destroyers KINGSTON and
KANDAHAR were
present.)
29th Despatched from Mombasa to search for commerce raider which
has attacked a
mercantile.
30th Aircraft sighted a mercantile but ships was identified as a
neutral.
(Note: Planned
joint search with HM Cruiser HAWKINS did not take place.)
May Intended deployment with
Indian Ocean Hunting Group cancelled and ship nominated
for service at
Gibraltar.
3rd Took return passage to Mombasa after fruitless air searches.
4th Arrived at Mombasa to refuel
5th Deployed with HMS HAWKINS to carry out search for German
commerce raider
PINGUIN known to
be active in Indian Ocean.
(Note: PINGUIN
was sunk on 8th by HMS CORNWALL.
9th Arrived at Durban after passage at reduced speed to
conserve fuel stock.
10th Sailed from Durban to Capetown for further search duty in
South Atlantic with HM
Battleship
NELSON.
(Note: HMS
NELSON had been part of escort for military convoy during passage to
Middle East from
UK.)
This deployment
was made to carry out search for German commerce raider
ATLANTIS known
to be active in South Atlantic.)
Arrived at Cape
Town for duty in South Atlantic.
(Note: Extreme
weather conditions were experienced in Capetown which caused a
liberty boat
from HMS NELSON to capsize with loss of life.)
13th Sailed from Capetown for search with HMS NELSON and HMS
Cruiser MAURITIUS.
18th German raider passed close to the searching ships overnight
without detection.
See EAGLE’S WAR
and GERMAN RAIDERS OF WW2 by R Hale.)
Refuelled at St
Helena and sailed a few hours later.
19th Resumed search.
22nd HM Destroyers DUNCAN and HIGHLANDER join as escort for passage
into
Freetown.
23rd HM Destroyers BOREAS and VELOX relieved
escort. and rejoined after
refuelling
in Freetown.
25th Arrived at Freetown with same four
destroyers.
26th HMS NELSON detached and sailed for
Gibraltar.
29th Sailed from Freetown on completion of
replenishment.
Resumed
search with HM Cruiser DUNEDIN.
June (Note: The search operations for German supply ships known to be deployed
for
support of German battleship BISMARCK were controlled direct
from
the Admiralty in London based on decryption of German ENIGMA
signals
(See BRITISH INTELLIGENCE IN WW2 by Hinsley)
5th Refuelled from HM Feet Auxiliary
BISHOPSDALE.
6th Aircraft bombed blockade runner ELBE which scuttled near
Azores.
13th Refuelled from BISHOPSDALE.
15th German U-Boat supply ship LOTHRINGEN sighted by aircraft in
position
19.40N 39
30W enabling capture by HMS DUNEDIN.
(Note: LOTHRINGEN later became EMPIRE SALVAGE.)
17th Deployed in further search operation
with HM Cruiser LONDON, HMS
DUNEDIN
and HMS BRILLIANT.
19th Returned to Freetown to replenish.
July Nominated for
interception patrol with HMS LONDON, HMS DUNEDIN and
HM Armed
Merchant Cruiser ALCANTARA as Hunting Group Z.
5th Sailed for patrol in South Atlantic with HMS ALCANTARA
escorted by HM
Destroyers VELOX
and VANSITTART,
8th Arrived at St Helena and joined HMS DUNEDIN.
9th Resumed patrol.
23rd Returned to ST Helena.
24th Deployed for patrol WSW of St Helena
August
3rd Returned to St Helena to refuel and embarked 43 labourers
for passage to Freetown.
On completion
took return passage to Freetown
(Note: Instructions for passage included interception of Vichy French mercantiles
known to be
attempting passage from Far East to France.)
10th Arrived at Freetown for boiler clean and R&R..
21st Deployment for interception and patrol in South Atlantic to
be continued until end of
August at
request of CinC South Atlantic.
(Note:
Admiralty had required ship to return to UK.)
(Note: During
period in Freetown one of ship’s company was killed by as fall when
a guard rail
failed whilst he was on Bridge structure.
Ship also assisted
in rescue of personnel after a picket boat capsized whilst
returning to HM
Sloop BRIDGEWATER with liberty men. Eight on board
lost their lives
and twelve were rescued by a motor boat from EAGLE.)
29th Took passage from Freetown with HM
Cruiser DORSETSHIRE to meet HM Cruiser
NEWCASTLE
for convoy defence.
(Note: A German
cruiser has been reported in the area and presented a threat to many
convoys on
passage in South Atlantic.)
September Deployed as Force F with same
ships.
6th Refuelling with HM Fleet Tanker ECHODALE failed due to
weather conditions.
7th Further refuelling again failed.
9th Resumed patrol with HMS DORSETSHIRE after completion of
refuelling.
17th Refuelled at St Helena with difficulty due to weather
conditions.
18th Deployed with HMS DORSETSHIRE in search for raider (Operation
ZEAL)
20th Fire broke out in hangar when pyrotechnic ignited during
maintenance work.
(Note: Aircraft
in hangar were drenched by immediate operation of spray
extinguishers.
Only four SWORDFISH were available for operations
but air
operations continued.)
21st Ship’s WALRUS aircraft crashed whilst landing on deck and
sank overboard.
Crew were
rescued with some injuries.
23rd Patrol
terminated due to machinery problems which reduced speed
(Note: Defect
in evaporators had made necessary speed reduction and emphasised
need for refit
already evident by overall state of machinery)
26th Refuelled at St Helena.
28th Ship took passage to Freetown with HMS DORSETSHIRE.
October
3rd Arrived at Freetown.
4th Took passage from Freetown with HM Cruiser DUNEDIN, Free
French
COMMANDANT
DETROYAT and two RN corvettes.
(Note: The
other ships later detached.)
9th HM Destroyer WILD SWAN joined as escort.
11th Arrived at Gibraltar with HMS WILD SWAN and HM Escort
Destroyer CROOME.
21st Sailed from Gibraltar with HM Aircraft ARGUS with Local
Escort by HM Destroyers
FORESIGHT,
FORESTER, SIKH and ZULU.
26th Arrived in Clyde and aircraft disembarked during passage.
30th Took passage to Liverpool for refit by Cammell Laird,
escorted by Polish destroyer
BURZA,
November
1st Docked for refit.
(Note: Extent
of Refit was under review because of loss of HMS ARK ROYAL and
later by
implications of war with Japan.)
December Under refit.
(Note: Refit work included fit of RN radar (Type 291 for surface warning and three
Type 285 for
fire control of AA armament. 20mm Oerlikon guns were
fitted for close
range defence against air attacks.
Ship was to
carry out 14 days work-up on completion before resuming
operational
service.)
1 9 4 2
January Under refit and carried out
harbour trials.
9th Sailed from Liverpool for Clyde escorted by HM Destroyer
SKATE and Polish
ORP
BLYSKAWICA.
Carried out Post
Refit trials
15th Commenced work-up for service based in Clyde.
27th Completed work-up and prepared for
service in Mediterranean as replacement.
for HMS ARK
ROYAL.
February Nominated for Ocean Escort of
military convoy WS16 during Atlantic passage.
17th Joined military convoy WS16 with
HM Battleship MALAYA, HM Aircraft
ARGUS, HM
Cruiser HERMIONE screened by HM Destroyers ACTIVE,
ANTHONY,
BLANKNEY, CROOME, DUNCAN, FIREDRAKE, LAFOREY and
LIGHTNING.
(Note: HMS
FORMIDABLE which also joined Ocean Escort was with this convoy
on passage to
Indian Ocean)
21st Detached with other ships intended for service in
Mediterranean.
23rd Joined Force H at Gibraltar,
27th Deployed with HMS MALAYA, HMS ARK ROYAL, HMS ARGUS and HMS
HERMIONE
screened by HM Destroyers LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, BLANKNEY,
CROOME, DUNCAN,
ACTIVE, ANTHONY, WHITEHALL and WISHART
to cover
delivery of SPITFIRE aircraft to Malta from western Mediterranean
(Operation
SPOTTER).
28th Returned to Gibraltar when operation cancelled due to defects
in aircraft long range
fuel tanks.
March
6th Carried out Malta aircraft delivery with HM Aircraft
Carrier ARGUS, covered by
HM Cruiser
HERMIONE (Repeat Operation SPOTTER).
(Note: HMS
EXMOOR was deployed with screen in place of HMS LAFOREY
and HMS
LIGHTNING
8th Returned to Gibraltar after successful launch.
11th Under repair to machinery
21st Repeated Malta aircraft deliveries with HMS ARGUS, escorted
by HMS MALAYA
and HMS HERMIONE
(Operation PICKET I).
(Note: Some
aircraft were unserviceable but two BEAUFORT and SPITFIRES were
launched.
28th Second aircraft delivery with same ships (Operation PICKET
II)
30th On return to Gibraltar taken in hand for further repair by HM
Dockyard.
April Under repair.
30th Carried out exercises with HM Cruiser CHARYBDIS.
May
8th Deployed for Malta aircraft delivery with US aircraft
carrier USS WASP as part
of Force W. HM
Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Cruiser CHARYBDIS screened by
HM Destroyers
ANTELOPE, ECHO, GEORGETOWN, ITHURIEL, INTREPID,
PARTRIDGE,
SALISBURY, VIDETTE, WISHART and WRESTLER. US Navy
destroyers LANG
and STERRETT were also deployed in screen.
(Operation
BOWERY - See Naval Staff History.
10th Returned to Gibraltar with Force W.
17th Malta aircraft delivery with HMS ARGUS, escorted by HMS
CHARYBDIS, screened]
by HM Destroyers
ANTELOPE, ITHURIEL, PARTRIDGE, VIDETTE, WISHART.
WESTCOTT and
WRESTLER
(Operation LB).
20th Returned to Gibraltar after air attacks during passage after
launch. See EAGLE’S WAR
June
1st Carried out exercises with HMS CHARYBDIS,
2nd Malta aircraft delivery escorted by HMS CHARYBDIS and
screened by HM Destroyers
ITHURIEL,
WESTCOTT, WISHART and WRESTLER (Operation STYLE).
4th Returned to Gibraltar after successful launch.
(Note: Two
aircraft failed to arrive after attack by German aircraft from Pantellaria.)
8th Malta aircraft delivery escorted by HM Cruisers CAIRO and
CHARYBDIS screened
by
HM Destroyers ANTELOPE, ITHURIEL, PARTRIDGE, WESTCOTT, WISHART
and
WRESTLER (Operation SALIENT).
11th Deployed as Force W with HMS MALAYA. HMS ARGUS, HM Cruisers
LIVERPOOL,
KENYA and
CHARYBDIS screened by HM Destroyers ANTELOPE, ESCAPADE, ICARUS,
ONSLOW, VIDETTE,
WESTCOTT, WISHART and WRESTLER for escort of Malta supply
convoy in
western Mediterranean.
(Note: Force X
comprised of ships to act as Close Escort during passage to Malta through
the Sicilian
Narrows. Force Y was made up of an RFA tanker and two corvettes for
supply of fuel
to escorts during passage.)
12th (Operation HARPOON - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett,
THE BATTLE FOR
THE MEDITERRANEAN by Donald MacIntyre, EAGLE’S WAR and
the Naval Staff
History for details of Malta aircraft deliveries and Mediterranean
naval
activities.)
13th Under heavy and sustained air attacks.
14th Air attacks including torpedo bombers in
continuation and HMS LIVERPOOL hit
15th Return passage to Gibraltar after Force
X detached
17th Arrived at Gibraltar
July
14th Malta aircraft delivery escorted by HMS CHARYBDIS and HMS
CAIRO screened by
HM Destroyers
ANTELOPE, ITHURIEL, VANSITTART, WESTCOTT and WRESTLER
(Operation
PINPOINT).
(Note: Attack
by Italian submarine failed during passage to launch area.)
16th Returned to Gibraltar.
20th Deployed with same ships for repeat Malta aircraft delivery (Operation
INSECT).
22nd Returned to Gibraltar
August
7th Joined HM Aircraft Carriers VICTORIOUS, INDOMITABLE,
FURIOUS and ARGUS
in Atlantic for
series of exercises to improve Fighter
Direction and multi-carrier
operating
techniques prior to defence of planned Malta convoy.
(Exercise
BERSERK see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
10th Joined HM Battleship NELSON, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HMS
INDOMITABLE
and HMS
VICTORIOUS escorted by Fleet destroyers to provide cover for passage of
Convoy WS21S to
Skerki Channel.
(Operation
PEDESTAL - see above references.)
11th Under attack by U73 which penetrated destroyer screen. Hit by
four torpedoes and
sank in eight
minutes south of Majorca (Position 38.05N 03.02E).900 of her
complement of
1160 were rescued by HM Destroyers LAFOREY, LOOKOUT
and a Tug.). (Casualty List
-
note on
casualties)
See
above references, MALTA CONVOYS by Woodman and PEDESTAL by P Smith.
