1 9 4 3
November
26th Commissioned for
service as HMS NAIRANA.
(Note
British radar was fitted during build.)
December Contractors
trials
12th Build completion
and commenced Acceptance Trials.
17th On completion of trials and storing
sailed for to work-up for service.
Nominated
for service in Western Approaches with 2nd British Escort Group based
at Liverpool for Atlantic convoy defence.
Embarked 12 SWORDFISH aircraft and personnel of 838 Squadron.
1 9 4 4
January
25th Embarked nine SWORDFISH and six SEA HURRICANES of 835 Squadron
with
personnel
29th Joined HM Sloops STARLING, WILD GOOSE,
KITE, MAGPIE and WOODPECKER
with HM Escort
Carrier ACTIVITY for operational duty in Atlantic with Group.
31st During provision of anti-submarine
support of joint outward convoy OS66/KMS70
during passage to Gibraltar in NW Approaches ships of
Escort Group sank U592.
There
were no survivors. See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.
(Note : Distant cover was also provided these patrols for
outward Convoys ON222 and
ONS28 on passage to Canada in the area.)
February
7th Provided anti-submarine patrol support
for passage of inward joint convoy SL147/MKS38
to Liverpool.
11th Provided
anti-submarine patrol support for passage of inward convoy HX225 to Liverpool.
13th Provided anti-submarine patrol support
for passage of inward tanker Convoy CU13
into Clyde.
24th Provided anti-submarine patrol support
for passage of joint outward convoy OS69/KMS43
to Gibraltar
(Note : During this period U264 was sunk by HMS WOODPECKER.
and was the first
SCHNORKEL
fitted submarine to be sunk).
March
6th At Gibraltar with
Group.
9th Deployed with HMS ACTIVITY to provide
anti-submarine escort for inward Convoy
MKF29 during passage to Clyde.
24th Sailed from Clyde to provide support during
passage of outward joint Convoy
OS72/KMS46 during passage in NW Approaches to Gibraltar.
April
10th Sailed from Gibraltar for support of inward joint
Convoy SL154/MKS45 during passage
to Clyde
May
13th Deployed for anti-submarine sweep
operation in NW Approaches
(Note : Extensive anti-submarine operations were being
carried out in this area to intercept
U-Boats on passage to and from Norway via
Faeroes – Iceland gap.
16th Deployed to provide anti-submarine
patrols in defence of outward joint Convoys
SL157/MKS48 and SL158/MKS49
June
3rd Returned to Clyde from
Atlantic convoy defence.
12th Deployed with escort for provision of
anti-submarine defence during passage of
outward Convoy KMF32 during passage to Gibraltar
27th Sailed from Gibraltar to provide anti-submarine
air cover during passage of inward
Convoy
KMF34 during Atlantic passage to Clyde.
July
4th On arrival in Clyde detached
from KMF34and taken in hand for routine docking and repair.
August Resumed
service in Western Approaches Command.
24th Deployed for provision f anti-submarine
air cover with escort for outward Convoy
KMF34 during passage to Gibraltar.
September
10th Sailed from Gibraltar for provision of
anti-submarine air cover during passage of
inward Convoy KMF34 during passage to Clyde,
14th Detached from
KMF34 and taken in hand for repair in Clyde shipyard.
October Nominated
for detached service with Home Fleet for Russian Convoy defence.
Embarked
14 SWORDFISH and six WILDCAT aircraft and personnel of 835 Squadron
(For
details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg,
THE
RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R
Woodman and
CONVOY ! by P Kemp.
15th Passage to Scapa Flow for Home
Fleet service.
22nd Joined Main Escort for Russian Convoy
JW61 with HM Escort Carriers TRACKER and
VINDEX,
HM Frigates BYRON, CONN, DEANE, FITZROY, INGLIS, LAWSON,
LORING,
LOUIS, MOUNSEY, NARBOROUGH, REDMILL and RUPERT to provide
anti-submarine patrols and fighter protection against air
attacks during passage to Kola
Inlet
(Operation TRIAL)
28th Detached from JW
61 on arrival at Kola Inlet without loss of any mercantile.
(Note : This was largely due to availability of extensive air
support and a very
strong escort, which prevented any major interference.
November
2nd Sailed from Kola
Inlet with return convoy RA61 and same escorts.
(Note : Before sailing the frigate escorts were deployed off
Kola Inlet to carry
out sustained anti-submarine hunting operations against a
known assembly of
submarines waiting for departure of ships. During these the
frigate HMS MOUNSEY
was torpedoed but able to return to Kola for repair.
7th Detached from RA61 with HM Cruiser
DIDO, HMS VINDEX and HMS TRACKER before
the arrival of RA61 at Loch Ewe without loss.
9th Taken in hand for repair in Clyde shipyard
December On completion resumed detached
duties with Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
2nd Deployed as escort for Russian Convoy
JW62 with HM Cruiser BELLONA and HM Escort
Carrier
CAMPANIA screened by HM Destroyers BEAGLE, BULLDOG,
CAESAR,
CASSANDRA,
CAMBRIAN, CAPRICE, KEPPEL, OBEDIENT, OFFA, ONSLAUGHT,
ONSLOW,
ORIBI, ORWELL and WESTCOTT to provide anti-submarine patrols and air cover
during passage. (Operation ACUMEN)
7th Detached from JW62 on arrival at Kola
Inlet after unscathed passage
10th Sailed with same ships as escort for
return Convoy RA62 after an anti-submarine
operation off Kola Inlet by frigates and corvettes before departure.
(Note : During this operation U387 was sunk by HM Corvette
BAMBOROUGH CASTLE.
11th HM Destroyer CASSANDRA was torpedoed by
U365 but able to return to Murmansk for
repair.
12th HM Norwegian Corvette sank after hitting
a nine.
Under
attack by torpedo bombers two of which were destroyed.
13th During anti-submarine operations by
carriers U365 was sunk by an aircraft from
HMS CAMPANIA.
19th Returned to Scapa Flow with Home
Fleet ships.
20th Under repair in Clyde shipyard.
On completion resumed
detached service in Home Fleet
Nominated for attack on enemy shipping near Vaagso, Norway (Operation SAMPLER)
1 9 4 5
January
1st Operation SAMPLER aborted because of
weather conditions.
24th Deployed
with HM Escort Aircraft Carrier PREMIER to cover night air attacks by
HM Escort Aircraft Carrier CAMPANIA on shipping off Vaagso, Norway
(Operation WINDED)
30th Deployed
to provide cover during air strikes on Norway
February
6th Deployed with HM Cruiser BELLONA, HMS
CAMPANIA, HM Sloop LAPWING,
HM
Corvette DENBIGH CASTLE and HM Trawler OSKOY, screened by HM Destroyers
ONSLAUGHT,
ONSLOW, , OPPORTUNE, ORWELL, SERAPIS, ZAMBESI,
ZEALOUS,
ZEST
and Canadian SIOUX to provide anti-submarine cover during passage of Russian
Convoy
JW64 (Operation HOTBED)
Under surveillance by German aircraft. Ju88 destroyed.
Total
U-Boat threat estimated as 11 submarines.
7th Under sustained attack by torpedo
bombers of which 6 were destroyed by fighters from
Escort
Carriers.
10th Repeated torpedo bomber attacks driven
off but poor convoy fire discipline posed threat
to aircraft from carriers.
13th HM Corvette DENBIGH CASTLE torpedoed.
(Note : Towed to Kola Inlet but sank after grounding).
15th Detached on
arrival of JW64 at Kola Inlet.
16th Took part in anti-submarine operations
with ships of escort against U-Boats off
Kola
Inlet which had assembled to attack return Convoy
RA64.
(Note : After sinking U425 with HM Corvette ALNWICK CASTLE,
HM Sloop LARK was
torpedoed
and became a total loss after tow to Kola Inlet).
17th Joined return convoy on departure from
Kola Inlet.
20th Despite horrendous weather conditions
launched fighter attacks against enemy air
attacks which prevented loss of ships in convoy.
21st Ships in convoy dispersed due to
continuation of extreme weather conditions.
27th Returned to Scapa Flow with HMS BELLONA,
HMS CAMPANIA and Home Fleet destroyers.
March Deployed
with Home Fleet for operations against snipping off Norway.
26th Deployed with HM Escort Aircraft Carrier
PUNCHER to carry out WILDCAT attacks on
shipping in Alesund , Norway (Operation PREFIX)
(Note : The weather conditions were poor During this
operation.)
29th Returned to Scapa
Flow and took
passage to Belfast for refit
31st Taken in hand for major refit.
April Under refit
to
July
August Carried
out harbour trials
7th Sustained serious damage when leaving
dry dock
Taken in hand for repair.
