1 9 3 9
September
2nd Passage to south coast of Japan for interception patrol.
(Note:
Italian cruiser BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI had been reported in Japan and would
have
been brought to action in event of war with Italy).
3rd Trade defence and interception duties
in continuation off Japan and China.
(Note:
Enemy mercantiles were to be taken as Prize if possible but it was known
that
ships would scuttle if unable to prevent capture.)
16th Passage to Hong Kong after relief by HM Cruiser KENT.
22nd Passage to resume patrol duties in
Northern area.
October Interception
and trade defence patrol in continuation.
11th Passage to Hong Kong for docking.
18th Transferred to East Indies Station.
Prepared
for passage to Colombo with call at Singapore.
25th On arrival at Colombo deployed with HM Cruisers
GLOUCESTER and CORNWALL for
trade
defence and interception patrol in Indian Ocean.
28th Joined Hunting Force "I" with
HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM Cruiser CORNWALL, HM
Destroyers
WATERHEN (RAN) and VENDETTA (RAN) based at Colombo.
(Note:
This Group was deployed for interception of commerce raiders known to be operating
in
Indian
Ocean
and South
Atlantic and including the battleship
GRAF SPEE.
(See
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett).
November Force
"I" deployment in continuation.
10th Carried out search for GRAF SPEE in Indian Ocean with Force I.
December
3rd During interception patrol transferred
to South Atlantic Station.
Detached
from Force "I" and took passage via Mauritius to Simonstown.
10th Arrived at Simonstown for duty in South Atlantic.
13th Sailed for patrol between Tristan Da Cunha and Falkland Islands.
19th Diverted to join HM Cruisers ACHILLES
(RNZN), AJAX and EXETER off Montevideo
after
sinking of German battleship GRAF SPEE (See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY
and THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE by Dudley Pope).
22nd After refuelling off Montevideo sailed for Port Stanley, Falklands.
24th Joined HMNZS ACHILLES, HMS AJAX and HMS
EXETER at Port Stanley.
(Note:
Shore leave not granted because of weather conditions).
29th Sailed from Port Stanley with HM Cruiser CUMBERLAND.
30th Passage to patrol area after HMS
CUMBERLAND detached for transit to Simonstown.
1 9 4 0
January
3rd Joined HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE.
5th Deployed on patrol off Montevideo.
12th Carried out Gunnery exercises with HMS
AJAX and HMS SHROPSHIRE.
On
completion too passage from patrol area to Falklands.
(Note: HMS AJAX. sailed for Freetown on passage to Plymouth).
18th Arrived at Port Stanley.
(Note:
Shore Leave granted for first time in Falklands)
21st Escorted KM Cruiser EXETER with HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE during passage to UK
after being, damaged
in action with GRAF SPEE.
29th Escort of WS EXETER transferred to Home
Fleet ships in position 17 Degrees South
30
Degrees West.
(Note:
These included HM Battlecruiser REPULSE and HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL
and
Fleet Destroyers).
Resumed
trade defence and interception duties in South Atlantic.
February South
Atlantic duties in continuation with HMS SHROPSHIRE.
3rd HM Cruiser HAWKINS joined patrol.
8th Detached for passage to Buenos Aires.
(Note:
On arrival received 76 Bags of mail, the first since leaving Colombo !)
Outstanding
hospitality from British community).
9th Resumed patrol.
10th Joined HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL, HM Battlecruiser
RENOWN and HM Cruiser
CUMBERLAND for interception of commerce
raiders and blockade runners in Atlantic.
12th Ship's aircraft intercepted German
freighter WAKAMA off Cape Frio.
Enemy
ship set on fire by crew and scuttled.
46
rescued from boats and made Prisoners of War.
27th Passage to Falklands from patrol area.
29th Arrived at Port Stanley.
(Note:
Planned visit to Montevideo cancelled).
March
2nd Embarked wounded survivors from HIS
EXETER and took passage.
7th Called at Tristan da Cunha
(Note:
Ship had steamed 100,000 miles since leaving UK on 14 September 1937.
11th Disembarked wounded and prisoners from
WAKAMA at Capetown.
(Note:
The prisoners had been released from close custody.).
15th Passage to HM Dockyard Simonstown for
docking and refit.
(Note:
During the 190 days since outbreak of war ship has steamed 60,000 miles).
April Under
repair at Simonstown.
24th Took passage for UK for further refit with calls
at Freetown and Gibraltar.
May Passage in Atlantic
22nd Sailed from Gibraltar.
25th Arrived at Plymouth.
Taken
in hand for refit by HM Dockyard Devonport.
(Note:
Leave granted - 7 days for each Watch ! ).
June Under
refit.
9th Carried out Post Refit trials.
23rd Joined HM Aircraft Carrier HERMES for
surveillance of French warships at Dakar.
25th Shadowed French battleship RICHELIEU during her passage from Dakar to Casablanca.
July Surveillance
of Vichy French warships in continuation.
4th Joined HM Cruiser AUSTRALIA (RAN) and
HMS HERMES off Dakar.
8th Deployed with HMAS AUSTRALIA to provide cover during
attack on RICHELIEU at Dakar.
(Note:
Depth charges were dropped alongside French warship by motor boat from
HMS
HERMES covered by aircraft. See RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute)
On
completion resumed interception duties in Atlantic with HMS HERMES.
10th HMS HERMES in collision with H M Anted
Merchant Cruiser CORFU and detached to
go
to Freetown.
HMS
CORFU taken in tow by tug,
15th Carried out unsuccessful search for
raider 500 miles west of Cape Verde Islands.
24th Intercepted Portuguese ship and detained
Italian Consul who was a passenger.
29th Landed Consul at Freetown and refuelled.
On
completion sailed to carry out search for German raider reported by HM Armed
Merchant
Cruiser ALCANTARA.
August Atlantic
search in continuation.
11th Refuelled at Freetown and resumed search.
21st Called at St. Helena.
24th Sailed to join rms ORION as escort to
Capetown.
25th Completed 3 years since commissioning.
28th Relieved Netherlands cruiser as escort
for rms ORION.
29th Arrived at Capetown and took passage to
Simonstown.
September Passage
to Durban for routine docking.
4th Arrived Durban.
(Note:
Mileage steamed in first year of war 92,300.)
18th On completion took passage to Freetown to resumed interception and
convoy defence
duties
in Atlantic with call at Simonstown.
29th Arrived at Freetown after rough passage.
October
7th Resumed patrol duties.
18th Returned to Freetown to refuel
19th Joined escort for military convoy WS3B
during passage in Atlantic and Indian Ocean
for
defence against raiders.
(Note:
Convoy included mv GEORGIC, rms MONARCH OF BERMUDA, rms ORONTES,
. ss
DUCHESS OF YORK, rms CAPETOWN CASTLE and rms STIRLING CASTLE).
28th Detached from convoy on arrival at
Capetown.
30th Rejoined escort for WS3 after stay at
Simonstown.
November Escort
of WS3 in continuation.
3rd Additional 7 ships joined convoy for
passage to Aden.
12th HM Cruisers CARLISLE, CALEDON, HM Sloops PARAMATTA (RAN)
and AUCKLAND
joined
WS3 as escort during passage in Red Sea.
14th Detached from WS3 and took passage to Aden.
17th On departure from Aden took passage to resume
duties in Atlantic.
Diverted
for support of military operations in Somaliland on passage to Durban.
18th Bombarded Dante in Italian Somaliland. 200 rounds fired.
Discharged
torpedoes at wharves to prevent use.
On
release resumed passage..
December Passage
in Indian
Ocean
(Note:
Sighted by German raider ATLANTIS which withdrew without being observed.
Planned
operations in southern oceans were abandoned after the unexpected
encounter.)
2nd Sailed from Durban to Simonstown.
4th Routine docking at Simonstown.
(Note:
No all night leave granted even to 'natives').
15th Sailed for Freetown.
18th On arrival refuelled and immediately
deployed with HM Cruiser NEPTUNE to search
in
area 500 miles west of Freetown for German battleship SCHEER
after ss DUQUESA
made
a raider report
(Note:
Deployed as Hunting Force "K")
26th Returned to Freetown to refuel after dismal Xmas
Day at sea during search.
27th Sailed to reinforce defence of Convoy
WS5A.
(Note:
German cruiser HIPPER had been driven off an attack on WS5A by HM Cruisers
BERWICK
and DEVONSHIRE on 25th December._)
31st HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE joined
Force.
1 9 4 1
January
3rd HM Cruiser DUNEDIN and HM Aircraft
Carrier FURIOUS deployed to reinforce defence
of
WS5A
5th Arrived at Freetown.
8th Deployed with HMS FORMIDABLE and HM
Cruiser NORFOLK for interception patrol and
to
cover passage of WS5A to Cape of Good Hope..
15th HMS FORMIDABLE and HMS NORFOLK detached
to continue cover for WS5A.
Resumed
interception patrol
(Note:
Burial at sea of Petty Officer who had committed suicide.).
21st Intercepted Vichy French ss MENDOZA.
Prize
crew put on board. and ship proceeded independently to Freetown).
Trade
defence and interception patrol resumed.
25th Called at St Helena.
(Note:
Tanker was stationed at St Helena for support of ships deployed in South Atlantic)
26th Passage to Freetown.
29th Arrived at Freetown.
February
1st Resumed patrol duties after Prize
crew rejoined.
3rd After refuelling at Freetown deployed for convoy defence
and took passage to join military
convoy
on passage to Middle East.
7th Met HM Cruiser KENYA with convoy and escorted to Freetown.
11th Sailed with convoy for Capetown.
19th Arrived at Capetown.
20th Leading Seaman committed suicide whilst
at Capetown..
21st Sailed with convoy for passage in Indian Ocean.
24th Detached from convoy in search for
raider reported in area.
26th Rejoined convoy after unsuccessful
search.
28th HM Cruiser GLASGOW joined convoy.
(Note:
These convoys have not been identified as WS Series. Further research
required.)
March
2nd Detached from Convoy and took passage
to Seychelles.
5th During stay at Seychelles ship's WALRUS aircraft
crashed on shore.
(Four
naval personnel and one civilian lost their lives.)
6th Took passage to Simonstown after the
funeral of those killed in WALRUS crash.
12th Arrived at Simonstown.
27th Deployed for escort of military Convoy
WS6 during passage in Indian Ocean and sailed from
Capetown.
(Note:
German raider PINGUIN was active in Indian Ocean in this period).
April
2nd (Note: An additional 19 ships of Convoy
WS6 were escorted separately by HM Cruisers
PHOEBE
and CORNWALL.)
7th Detached from WS6 SHIPS and took
passage to Durban.
10th Arrived at Durban.
(Note:
HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS in port during passage from Mediterranean to
USA for repair after being badly
damaged in air attacks).
15th Deployed for escort of military convoy
to Capetown.
(Note:
Convoy included ss EMPRESS OF JAPAN and mv MONARCH OF BERMUDA).
19th HMS ILLUSTRIOUS joined convoy.
23rd Sailed with same ships for passage to St Helena.
27th Additional ships joined convoy at St Helena and took passage the same
day
. 29th Transferred escort of mercantiles to HM
Cruiser DUNEDIN and remained as escort for HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS
for passage north.
May
4th Transferred escort of HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
to HM Cruiser CARADOC.
Detached
for independent passage to Freetown.
6th Rescued 35 survivors from ss OAKDENE,
torpedoed by submarine earlier that day.
(Note:
HMS CORNWALL deployed in Indian Ocean received a distress message from the
British
tanker BRITISH EMPEROR on 7th May after being attacked by German
commerce
raider PINGUIN.
PINGUIN
was intercepted and sunk on 8th May by HMS CORNWALL).
8th Arrived at Freetown.
11th On arrival nominated for escort of
Convoy SL747 which had sailed on 10th May for passage
to
UK.
12th Joined HM Armed Merchant Cruiser BULOLO
as escort for Convoy SL74.
26th Detached from Convoy SL74 to join search
operation for German battleship BISMARCK
after
sinking of HM Battlecruiser HOOD.
27th Directed to BISMARCK'S position by HM Destroyer
COSSACK.
Took
part in engagement with HM Battleships RODNEY and KING GEORGE V.
Sank
BISMARCK with torpedoes after she had been demolished by
surface gunfire.
Rescued
110 survivors with HM Destroyer MAORI until operation cancelled because of
increased
threat of attack by U-Boats and aircraft.
(For
details see PURSUIT by Ludovic Kennedy and Naval Staff History)
29th Burial for German sailor who had died
from injuries received during action.
30th Prisoners landed and handed to military
escort.
Arrived
at South
Shields.
June Paid
off after 3 years, 10 months in commission.
Total
mileage steamed 207,401.
Taken
in hand for refit in Tyne shipyard.
Air
warning radar fitted
(Note:
For details of development and use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse)
July Re-commissioned
for Atlantic interception and convoy defence based at Freetown
19th Carried out Post Refit trials.
27th On completion took passage to Scapa Flow.
28th Commenced work-up with 1st Cruiser
Squadron.
August Work-up
in continuation.
8th Captain B C S Martin relieved by
Captain Agar.
9th Present at Royal visit by Ml King
George VI to Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
(Note:
Royal Inspection by HM The King on board HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS
included some of ship's
company.)
15th Sailed from Scapa Flow to join escort for military
Convoy WS10X in Clyde.
20th Provided Ocean Escort for Atlantic
passage of WS10X from Clyde.
28th Detached from WS10X on arrival at Freetown.
Deployed
for trade defence.
29th Passage to St Helena.
September South
Atlantic deployment In continuation
18th Deployed with HMS EAGLE off St Helena.
