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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2003

HMS NORFOLK  - County-type Heavy Cruiser
including Convoy Escort Movements

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Norfolk (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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DORSETSHIRE-Class cruiser built by Fairfield shipyard at Govan, Glasgow and launched on 12th December 1928. The completion date was 1st May 1930.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s 

VELEZ MALAGA 1704  - CARTAGENA 1741 - TOULON 1744 - PONDICHERRY 1760 - MANILA 1761 - ATLANTIC 1941 - BISMARCK Action 1941 - NORTH AFRICA 1942 - ARCTIC 1943 - NORTH CAPE 1943 - NORWAY 1943

 

 

D e t a i l s   o f  W a r   S e r v i c e

 

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search

 

 

1 9 3 9

 

September

                6th          On completion of refit joined 8th Cruiser Squadron in Home Fleet.

                15th        Deployed on Northern Patrol to intercept blockade runners

                25th        Part of Home Fleet covering force for escort of HM Submarine SPEARFISH, which had been

                damaged during patrol in North Sea. Deployed with ships of 2nd Cruiser Squadron and 7th

                Destroyer Flotilla, HM Battleships NELSON, RODNEY, HM Battlecruisers HOOD, RENOWN,

                HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL, HM cruisers NEWCASTLE and EDINBURGH.

 

October                  Transferred to 1st Cruiser Squadron in Mediterranean with HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE,

                                SUFFOLK, and BERWICK.

                                Search operation in NW Approaches for German commerce raider cancelled.

                8th          Sailed from Rosyth with HMS SUFFOLK for passage to Alexandria

 

November              Redeployed after arrival when Squadron ordered to return to Home Fleet.

                5th          Took passage to UK with Squadron.

                11th        Arrived Devonport with HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE and SUFFOLK.

                18th        Sailed from Clyde to carry out Northern Patrol in Denmark Strait.

                23rd        Detached with HMS SUFFOLK and joined HM Cruisers CERES and CALYPSO to carry out search

                for German battleships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU after the sinking of HM Armed Merchant

                Cruiser RAWALPINDI by these ships.

                For details of the work of ships on Northern Patrol see ARMED MERCHANT CRUISERS by K

                Poolman).

                27th        Attacked by U47 off Orkneys but the torpedoes exploded astern.

                For details of German submarine torpedo problems see BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS by John

                Terraine, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett, HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by

                C Blair and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO)

 

December

                6th          Under repair in Belfast.

 

1 9 4 0

 

January

                10th        Rejoined 1st Cruiser Squadron and sailed from Rosyth for Northern Patrol to intercept

                                commerce raiders and blockade runners.

 

February                Deployed on Northern Patrol.

 

March

                16th        Intercepted German ship URUGUAY north of Shetland which scuttled.

                After return to Scapa Flow came under air attack and hit on port side of quarterdeck abreast Y

                turret.

                Sustained damaged by bomb which exploded in Shell Room.

                19th        Under repair in Clyde shipyard.

 

April                       Under repair

to

May

 

June

                24th        Rejoined 1st Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet

 

July                         Deployed on Northern Patrol for interception duties off Iceland.

 

August

                23rd        Searched for blockade runners and fishing vessels off Bear Island with HM Australian Cruiser

                                AUSTRALIA.

 

September             Deployed with HM Battlecruisers HOOD, REPULSE and HM Cruiser BERWICK for attack on

                                enemy convoy off Stavanger but recalled on passage.

                30th        Arrived back at Scapa Flow.

 

October                 Under repair in Tyne shipyard.

                First radar equipment fitted

                (Note: This was Type 286M and RAF Air/Surface Vessel (ASV) modified with a fixed aerial

.               for ship use. See RADAR AT SEA by D. Howse for details of development and use of

                radar by RN)

 

November              Carried out post repair trials and rejoined Home Fleet.

                        18th               Joined military convoy WS4B as Ocean Escort during Atlantic passage from Clyde.

                23rd        Detached from WS4B on relief in Atlantic by HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE.

                                Passage to Scapa Flow to rejoin Home Fleet.

                28th        Rejoined 1st Cruiser Squadron at Scapa Flow

 

December

                18th          Deployed off Freetown with HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE and HM Cruiser BERWICK in

                Hunting Group K following raider report by ss DUQUESA.

                Made unsuccessful search for German cruiser HIPPER with HMS FORMIDABLE.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January

                8th          Joined military convoy WS5A on departure from Freetown as Ocean Escort with HM Cruiser

                                HAWKINS and HMS FORMIDABLE

                9th          Detached from WS5A with HMS FORMIDABLE on relief by HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE.

                                 Carried out search for German raider KORMORAN in South Atlantic.

 

February                Escorted two Atlantic convoys in face of threat by German commerce raiders before returning to

                                rejoin Squadron in Home Fleet.

 

March                   Deployed for Northern Patrol in Denmark Strait.

 

April                       Continued deployment on interception in Icelandic waters.

 

May

                19th               Relieved HM Cruiser SUFFOLK for Denmark Strait patrol.

                23rd        Carried out joint patrol with HMS SUFFOLK after German battleship BISMARCK was known

                to be on passage to Atlantic.

                Made first sighting report on BISMARCK and came under fire.

                Shadowed BISMARCK and PRINZ EUGEN with HMS SUFFOLK until enemy ships were lost in

                snow storm.

                26th        Deployed to search for BISMARCK until detached to refuel.

                                Recalled to join Fleet after BISMARCK located.

                27th        Engaged BISMARCK with HM Battleships KING GEORGE V and RODNEY

                                (For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY BY Corelli Barnett and Naval

                                Staff History).

 

June

                3rd          HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS and HM Cruiser NEPTUNE joined WS8X as Ocean

                                Escort during Atlantic passage.

                5th          HMS VICTORIOUS and HMS NEPTUNE detached from Ocean Escort.

                11th        Detached from WS8X on arrival at Freetown and took passage to return to UK

 

July                        Under refit at South Shields.

to

August

 

September

                15th        Rejoined 1st Cruiser Squadron in Home Fleet and deployed on patrol and escort duty.

 

October

                18th        Escorted Russian Convoy PQ2 from Scapa Flow with HM Destroyers ICARUS, ECLIPSE.

                HM Fleet Minesweepers BRAMBLE, SEAGULL and SPEEDY.

                (Note: The Minesweepers were passage to Russia for minesweeping duties and convoy escort.

                For details of all Russian Convoy operations and hazards met during Arctic operations see

                ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R. Ruegg ,

                CONVOY! by Paul Kemp and ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman.)).

                30th        Detached from Convoy PQ2 on arrival at Archangel

 

November

                3rd          Joined Convoy QP2 with HMS ICARUS and ECLIPSE as escort for passage to

                                Scapa Flow.

                12th        Remained in Iceland with Home Fleet units to intercept TIRPITZ in event of breakout.

                                (For details of tactical deployment of Home Fleet see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                                CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett).

                28th        Passage to Scapa Flow with HMS KING GEORGE V and HMS VICTORIOUS screened

                                by Fleet destroyers.

 

December              Deployed with Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                 Deployment with Home Fleet in continuation.

 

February                Under repair at Tyne shipyard.

 

 

March

                16th        Rejoined 1st Cruiser Squadron in Scapa Flow on completion.

                26th        Deployed for patrol SW of Bear Island to provide Cruiser Cover during passage of PQ14 to

                                Kola Inlet and QP9 to Iceland.

 

April                      Cover deployment in continuation.

                8th          Provided distant cover near Bear Island with HM Cruiser EDINBURGH for the passage of

                                Russian Convoy PQ14

 

May

                13th        Part of Home Fleet escort for HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK and HM Aircraft Carrier

                VICTORIOUS with HM Cruisers KENT, LIVERPOOL, LONDON and NIGERIA, screened

                by Fleet destroyers covering the return of the damaged cruiser HMS TRINIDAD from

                Murmansk. For details of loss of HMS TRINIDAD see THE SHIP THAT TORPEDOED

                HERSELF by F. Pearce. Came under air attacks on return passage.

                23rd        Provided cruiser cover with HMS KENT, HMS NIGERIA and HMS LIVERPOOL during

                                passage of Russian Convoy PQ16 to Kola Inlet from Iceland.

                26th        Provided cruiser cover with same ships for returning Convoy QP12.

                29th        Resumed Home Fleet duty.

 

June                       Deployed with Home Fleet.

 

July

                1st           Provided Close Cover with HM Cruiser LONDON, US Cruiser TUSCALOOSA

                and US Cruiser WICHITA for the passage of Russian Convoy PQ17 until convoy

                was scattered on 4th July.

                For details of this disastrous operation see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, THE

                CONVOY IS TO SCATTER by J Broome, Naval Staff History and above references..

                6th          Covered passage to Scapa Flow of HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK, US Battleship

                WASHINGTON and HMS VICTORIOUS with HM Cruisers NIGERIA and CUMBERLAND.

                Transferred to 18th Cruiser Squadron in Home Fleet.

 

August                 Home Fleet deployment in continuation

 

September

                7th          Provided cruiser cover with HMS LONDON and HMS SUFFOLK for passage of Russian

                                Convoy PQ18 and returning Convoy QP14.

                22nd       Resumed Fleet duties.

 

October                 Detached to cover military convoys to Gibraltar for the allied landings in North Africa

                (Operation TORCH - See BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser and Naval Staff

                History).

 

November

                5th          Deployed near Azores with HM Cruiser CUMBERLAND.

                                Returned to interception duty in Icelandic waters on completion of TORCH requirements.

 

December              Deployed on interception patrol in Icelandic waters and NW Approaches.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                 At Scapa Flow for Northern Patrol and Fleet duties.

 

February

                21st         Deployed to give additional cruiser cover with HM Cruisers BELFAST and CUMBERLAND

                                for passage of Russian Convoy JW53.

                26th        Resumed Home Fleet duties.

 

March

                2nd         Provided cruiser cover for returning Convoy RA53 with same ships.

                9th          Resumed Home Fleet duties.

 

April                      Taken in hand for repair at Portsmouth.

 

May                       Under repair

 

June                        On completion rejoined Home Fleet and deployed with HM Cruisers LONDON and KENT

                                for Northern Patrol.

 

July                        Took part in diversionary offensive sweep off Norwegian coast with HM Battleship

                ANSON, US battlecruiser ALABAMA as a diversion during the allied landings in Sicily.

                (Operations CONVENT and CAMERA)

               

August

                16th        Detached for cover of minelay by ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron in the Northern Barrage

                (Operation SN74).

                Provided cover for special operation related to Russian Convoy defence (Operation LORRY.)

 

 September            Home Fleet patrol and Fleet duties in continuation

                14th        Deployed with HM Battleship ANSON and US Aircraft Carrier RANGER screened by

                HM Destroyers HAIDA (RCN), IROQUOIS (RCN), HARDY, JANUS and VIGILANT for

                relief and support of Spitzbergen garrison (Operation EH).

 

October                 Home Fleet deployment in continuation

to

November

 

December              Deployed with Home Fleet.

                23rd        Provided cover for passage of Russian Convoy JW55B and returning Convoy RA55A with

                                HM Cruisers BELFAST and SHEFFIELD as Force I by patrol east of Bear Island.

                26th        Engaged German battleship SCHARNHORST after radar contact by HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD

                and joined by Home Fleet destroyers. Twice hit by enemy fire which damaged X turret and

                radar equipment. Seven of ships’ company were killed and five wounded.

                Took part in the subsequent surface gun action against SCHARNHORST with HM Battleship

                DUKE OF YORK, HM Cruisers BELFAST and SHEFFIELD.

                For details see THE KOLA RUN by D. Campbell and D. Macintyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY

                MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History).

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                 Deployed with Home Fleet.

 

February                Under major refit in Tyne shipyard.

to                            X turret removed. Gunnery fire control radars fitted (Type 274, 282, 283 and 285.)

November              New Surface Warning radars Type 277 and 293 fitted.

                                 (See RADAR AT SEA by D. Howse).

 

December              Worked up for service at Scapa Flow on completion of post refit trials..

                10th        Joined 1st Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet for Fleet duties.

 

1945

 

January                  Deployed with Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.

                11th        Joined Force 1 with HM Cruiser BELLONA screened by three Fleet destroyers for offensive

                sweep off coast of Norway (Operation SPELLBINDER)

                (Note: This operation also covered minelay in Kara Sound by HM Minelayer APOLLO.

                (Operation GRATIS - See Naval Staff History MINING).

                In action against German convoy and sank two ships and an escort.

                12th        Air attack by torpedo bombers repelled by carrier aircraft.

 

February

                12th        Joined Force 1 with HM Cruiser DIDO escorted by two Fleet destroyers to cover an air

                                minelay by HM Escort Carriers PREMIER and PUNCHER (Force 2) in Skatestrommen

                and air attacks on shipping off Bud (Operation SELENIUM)

                No ships were found but air minelay was successful.

                For details see CONVOY! by Paul Kemp.

 

March                   Deployed with Home Fleet for escort duty of Fleet units.

to

April

 

May

                1st           Provided cover with HM Cruiser DIADEM screened by Fleet destroyers for an air strike on

                shipping targets west of Narvik by HM Escort Carriers QUEEN, SEARCHER and

                TRUMPETER (Operation JUDGEMENT).

                4th          During these attacks German Depot Ship BLACK WATCH and submarine U711

                were sunk.

                Whilst returning to Scapa Flow came under dummy torpedo attack by U2511

                (Note: This was one of the new design Type XXI U-Boat and had not been detected.)

                See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and SEEK and STRIKE by

                W Hackmann.).

                6th          Detached to cover transit through Skagerrak of HM Cruisers BIRMINGHAM and

                                DIDO with an escort of five Fleet destroyers for passage to Copenhagen for re-occupation.

                15th        Embarked Vice Admiral R. R. McGrigor for passage to Bergen.

                30th        At Bergen with ships of 30th Escort Group.

 

June

                5th          Carried King Haakon of Norway for passage to Oslo. (Operation INDESTRUCTIBLE).

                8th          Arrived at Oslo with HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE, HM Norwegian Destroyer STORD

                 and HM Destroyer ONSLOW.

                 Passage to Devonport on completion of visit.

                18th        Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Devonport

 

July                        Under refit

to

August

 

P o s  t    W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS NORFOLK went to work up in Malta during October 1945 prior to joining 5th Cruiser Squadron in East Indies. She joined the Squadron as Flagship in December 1945 and remained on Station until 1949 After a refit in  Simonstown the ship arrived at Devonport on 3rd May 1949. She was Paid-off into Reserve before laying-up at Falmouth. Placed on the Disposal List and this cruiser was sold to BISCO on 3rd January 1950 for demolition by Cashmore at Newport, South Wales. The ship arrived at the breaker's yard in tow on 19 February that year. 

 

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS NORFOLK

by Don Kindell

 

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

01/03/41

05/03/41

HX 112

14/03/41

20/03/41

06/04/41

14/04/41

HX 119A

16/04/41

22/04/41

08/06/41

15/06/41

SL 077

27/06/41

03/07/41

13/10/41

18/10/41

PQ 002

30/10/41

30/10/41

03/11/41

03/11/41

QP 002

11/11/41

17/11/41

26/03/42

10/04/42

PQ 014

17/04/42

19/04/42

21/05/42

23/05/42

PQ 016

26/05/42

30/05/42

21/05/42

26/05/42

QP 012

28/05/42

29/05/42

27/06/42

01/07/42

PQ 017

04/07/42

04/07/42

02/09/42

14/09/42

PQ 018

22/09/42

21/09/42

13/09/42

14/09/42

QP 014

22/09/42

26/09/42

15/02/43

21/02/43

JW 053

26/02/43

27/02/43

01/03/43

02/03/43

RA 053

09/03/43

14/03/43

01/11/43

02/11/43

RA 054A

08/11/43

14/11/43

12/12/43

16/12/43

JW 055A

19/12/43

22/12/43

20/12/43

23/12/43

JW 055B

27/12/43

30/12/43

22/12/43

23/12/43

RA 055A

25/12/43

01/01/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

 

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