1 9 3 7
August Contractors trials
9th Commissioned for trials with reduced complement.
Commenced
Acceptance trials
September On completion of Acceptance Trials
and storing took passage to Portsmouth.
October Deployed at Portsmouth and completed storing for service.
Full complement
joined ship.
November
9th Commissioned
for Home Fleet service as Flagship of Commodore (Destroyers)
Passage Portland for work-up.
December Joined Home Fleet and on
completion of work-up
1 9 3 8
January Deployed with Home Fleet
including joint exercises at Gibraltar with ships of Mediterranean
to Fleet.
March
April Returned to UK for leave period.
May Deployed
with Home Fleet ships for visits and exercises in Home waters.
to
(Note: Visits included Copenhagen and Malmo.).
July
August Leave Period
September Deployed in Home waters during Munich crisis and prepared for war.
to Carried out
exercises in NW Approaches and North Sea.
December
1 9 3 9
January Home
Fleet deployment including joint exercises at Gibraltar.
to
March
April At Portland
May At Rosyth
June Home waters deployment
for Fleet exercises and visits.
to War Station
allocated
August Passage
to Scapa Flow with Home Fleet units.
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
September Attached to 18th Cruiser Squadron,
Home Fleet as Flagship for Rear Admiral (Destroyers).
8th Deployed with H M Battleships NELSON and RODNEY, HM Battlecruiser REPULSE,
HM Aircraft
Carrier ARK ROYAL, HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD and destroyers of 8th Destroyer
Flotilla in search for enemy shipping off Norway.
11th Returned on to Scapa Flow
13th Carried out patrol in NW Approaches.
20th Returned to Scapa Flow.
22nd Deployed with HM Cruisers SOUTHAMPTON, GLASGOW and SHEFFIELD with seven
destroyers of 7th Destroyer Flotilla for an offensive sweep
in Kattegat
(Operation DK -
Operation cancelled after a collision between HM Destroyers JERSEY and
JAVELIN.
23rd Passage to Scapa Flow.
25th Covered return passage of damaged submarine SPEARFISH to
Rosyth and under air attack at
sea for first time.
Sustained slight damage from near misses.
27th Returned to Scapa Flow.
October
8th Escorted HM Battlecruisers HOOD
and REPULSE with HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD screened
by nine destroyers in search for German battleship GNEISENAU
and cruiser KOLN, reported
off Norway.
Returned to Scapa Flow after failing to make any contact.
14tth Transferred to Loch Ewe (Port A) after
HM Battleship ROYAL OAK had been torpedoed and
sunk in Scapa Flow.
16th Deployed with HM Battleships NELSON and RODNEY, HM
Battlecruiser HOOD, HM
Aircraft Carrier
FURIOUS and HM Cruiser BELFAST, screened by 10 Home Fleet destroyers
in support of operations by ships of Northern Patrol to
intercept blockade runners.
22nd Returned to Port A (Loch Ewe)
23rd Escorted iron ore convoy from Norway.
31st Returned to Rosyth.
November
10th Transferred to 2nd Cruiser Squadron with HMS SOUTHAMPTON, HMS
GLASGOW and
HMS BELFAST.
Deployed as a
Striking Force based at Rosyth for the interception of German warships in
North Sea.
11th Carried cut North Sea patrols.
18th Returned to Rosyth.
21st During departure from Rosyth with Striking Force HMS BELFAST detonated a magnetic
mine and sustained serious damage which disabled her.
Stood by HMS BELFAST until
tow was established.
(Note: For
details of Home Fleet activities in 1939 see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by C
Barnett
25th Patrolled off Fair Isle with HM Cruisers EDINBURGH
and SOUTHAMPTON screened by
three Home Fleet destroyers
Carried out
search for German battleships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU after the
sinking of HM Armed Merchant Cruiser RAWALPINDI.
December
2nd Returned to Rosyth
6th Taken in hand for refit in Clyde shipyard
31st Qn completion took passage to Scapa Flow.
1 9
4 0
January
4th Rejoined Squadron at Scapa Flow.
14th Deployed on patrol in NW Approaches
February HM Cruiser ARETHUSA joined
Squadron
Boiler cleaning and routine maintenance at Rosyth.
Some seaman
ratings loaned to HM Destroyers MAORI and COSSACK for use as
Boarding Parties
after German tanker ALTMARK was intercepted.
Became Flagship of 2nd Cruiser Squadron.
March Under maintenance at Rosyth.
April Nominated for escort of
troopships on passage to Norway for planned allied landings.
(Operation R4)
2nd Passage to Clyde for duty as Flagship for operation.
(Note:
Troopships for operation included CHOBRY and BATORY.)
8th Operation R4 cancelled after German invasion of Norway confirmed.
Passage to join
Home Fleet ships at Scapa Flow for support of planned military
operations.
9th Rescued survivors from HM Destroyer GURKHA which had been
sunk during air attacks
on Home Fleet ships during passage to Norway.
(Note: An
attempt to tow the damaged destroyer was abandoned.)
10th Arrived at Scapa Flow and despatched to Rosyth to
embark Admiral of the Fleet, the
Earl of Cork and Orrery, Flag Officer, Norway (designate)
. 12th Sailed from Rosyth with the admiral to
join Squadron off Norway.
14th Arrived at Skelfjord
Joined escort
for military convoy NP1 during final stage of passage to Norwegian coast
18th Carried out bombardment of shore targets in Rombaksfjord..
19th Embarked General Mackesy for
reconnaissance of Narvik area.
20th Deployed with HM Cruiser EFFINGHAM, HM Destroyers FAULKNOR,
JUPITER and
ESCAPADE for patrol off Harstad to intercept enemy convoys.
22nd Carried out further bombardment in Rombaksfjord.
24th Bombarded enemy positions near Narvik with HMS WARSPITE, HMS
EFFINGHAM,
HMS ENTERPRISE
and HM Destroyer ZULU prior to allied landings by troops from
HM Cruiser VINDICTIVE.
27th Sailed to Harstad from Bjervik with
HM Destroyer FAULKNOR.
30th Assisted in evacuation from Molde with
HM Cruiser GALATEA.
May
1st Provided naval gunfire support at Otfjord with HM Battleship RESOLUTION and
HMS EFFINGHAM.
3rd Carried out further bombardments in Beisfjord with HMS RESOLUTION and Polish
destroyers ORP GROM and ORP BLYSKAWICA which were damaged by return
fire.
7th Sustained serious damage during air attacks with two
turrets disabled and several
casualties.
12th Bombarded enemy positions in Herjangsfjord,
north of Narvik with HMS RESOLUTION,
HM Cruisers
EFFINGHAM, VINDICTIVE and Fleet destroyers during landings by
French Foreign Legion battalions.
(Note: 1,500
troops were embarked in warships for passage to landings.
General Auchinleck was embarked during the bombardment.
Support
bombardment limited by availability of turrets)
13th Released from support of landing and returned to Harstad
Passage to UK for repair.
25th Arrived at Portsmouth for repair.
(Note: For
details of the disastrous naval operations off Norway see NAVAL
OPERATIONS OF
THE CAMPAIGN IN NORWAY, April-June 1940),
THE DOOMED
EXPEDITION by T Adams, NARVIK by D Macintyre,
CARRIER GLORIOUS
by J Winton and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by C Barnett.)
June Under
repair by HM Dockyard, Portsmouth.
(Note: Close range
AA defence augments by fit of two 2pdr Pom-pom mountings
July
5th Passage to rejoin Squadron in Home
Fleet on completion of repairs.
20th Nominated for service with Humber Force and took passage to Humber.
22nd Deployed for anti-invasion patrols with
Humber Force.
August Humber Force patrol duties in
continuation.
31st Deployed with HMS GALATEA and three destroyers to intercept
German warships
reported on passage in North Sea.
September
1st Returned to Humber after unsuccessful search.
6th Transferred to Nore Command for
anti-invasion operations.
9th Carried out bombardment of Boulogne to destroy reported assembly of invasion
craft.
October Nore
Command deployment in continuation.
November
18th Resumed Home Fleet duties with Squadron
at Scapa Flow.
Deployed for
Northern Patrol to intercept commerce raiders and supply ships.
20th Provided Ocean Escort for minelay in Northern Barrage by
ships of 1st Minelaying
Squadron
(Operation SN1
IE - See Naval Staff History (Mining).
December NW Approaches service in
continuation.
1 9 4 1
January
3rd Deployed with HM Cruiser ARETHUSA screened by HM Destroyers
BEDOUIN,
MATABELE,
MASHONA, and TARTAR to cover minelay off Egersund, Norway
by HM Destroyers INTREPID
and ICARUS (Operation DZ).
23rd Deployed with HM Cruiser NAIAD to meet five merchant ships which
had escaped from
Sweden and were on passage to UK in North Sea (Operation RUBBLE).
24th Met mercantiles ELIZABETH BAKKE,
TAURUS and TAI SHAN and transferred
escort to HM Cruisers
EDINBURGH and BIRMINGHAM screened by HM Destroyers
ELECTRA and ECHO.
Carried out
successful search for other RUBBLE mercantiles, JOHN
BAKKE and
RA which were then escorted
to Kirkwall.
25th Arrived at Kirkwall with mercantiles.
February
1st Sailed with HMS ARETHUSA screened by HM Destroyers
MATABELE and TARTAR
to cover minelay off Fro Havet near Trondheim by HMS INTREPID.
Returned to Scapa Flow when operation cancelled due to weather conditions.
March
9th Provided Ocean Escort for ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron
during minela in Northern
Barrage (Operation
SN69).
April
6th Covered Minelay by ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron during
minelay in Northern
Barrage (Operation SN8)
Resumed patrol
duties in NW Approaches on completion of minelay.
30th Taken in hand
for repair in Tyne commercial shipyard
May Resumed
Squadron duties at Scapa Flow on completion.
Carried out sea
trial RN design replacement for Type 286 Type 290 prior to its
introduction.
(Note:
Type 286 was an RAF Air-Surface warning radar modified
for for shipborne
use and was of limited value. See RADAR AT SEA by
D Howse..)
22nd Deployed with other ships of Squadron as screen for HM
Battleship KING GEORGE V
and HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS during search for German battleship
BISMARCK and
cruiser PRINZ EUGEN which were known to have sailed
for attacks
on Atlantic convoys. For details see Naval Staff History, ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY and BATTLESHIP BISMARCK by Mulleneheim Rechberg).
24th Detached with HM Cruisers KENYA and HERMIONE to escort HMS
VICTORIOUS
during air search operations.
26th Detached to refuel in Iceland.
30th Resumed patrol duty in NW Approaches after sinking of BISMARCK.
June
3rd Intercepted
German supply ship BELCHEN in Denmark Strait with HMS KENYA.
(Note: Sank
BELCHEN by torpedo after radar detection and surface gun attacks
following information
obtained from decrpyption of ENIGMA signals.
See IN HARMS WAY by B Crabb and Naval Staff
History. The enemy ship
had been deployed to provide fuel
for German commerce raiders. This interception
had after decryption of enemy signal traffic by GCHQ
at Bletchley Park.
See
BRITISH INTELLIGENCE IN WW2 (HMSO -Ed by Hinsley)
25th Provided cover with HMS KENYA for minelay by ships of 1st
Minelaying Squadron in
Northern Barrage (Operation SN70B).
July Deployed in further
search for German supply ships
1st Returned to Scapa Flow.
27th Deployed with HM Cruiser NIGERIA, HM Destroyers PUNJABI and TARTAR
to carry out a
reconnaissance to determine the suitability of use of Spitzbergen for
refuelling warships in Lowe Sound.
(Note: This was
in anticipation of future requirements for Russian convoys and to
deny use of the island to Germany.
See ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY).
31st Arrived at Spitzbergen.
August
2nd Called at
Bear lsland on return passage and destroyed
installations before
evacuating personnel.
6th Arrived at Scapa Flow.
19th Deployed with HM Cruiser NIGERIA, HM Destroyers TARTAR, ICARUS,
ANTHONY,
ANTELOPE and ECLIPSE as escort for ss EMPRESS OF
AUSTRALIA
during passage to land Canadian troops on Spitzbergen (Operation GAUNTLET)
(Note: This was
to demolish mines and evacuate Russian and Norwegian nationals
at Barentsburg.
Personnel were
taken to Archangel by HMS NIGERIA and the liner.
September
1st HMS NIGERIA
rejoined from Archangel.
2nd Canadians re-embarked and sailed from Spitzbergen.
(Note: Several
small vessels captured during raid also sailed.
See ARCTIC
CONVOYS by R Woodman and THE WATERY MAZE
by B Fergusson.)
7th Carried out surface gunfire attack on German military
convoy off North Cape
with HMS NIGERIA.
(Note: A German
naval training ship BREMSE deployed as escort was sunk and
two other escorts damaged. The two troopships in this convoy
escaped.
HMS NIGERIA was
damaged possibly after grounding or striking a wreck.)
8th Escorted three colliers, an icebreaker, a whaler, a tug and
fishing vessels to
Clyde.
10th Returned to Scapa Flow and resumed Squadron patrol
duties.
Deployed for
interception duties near Iceland
25th Arrived in Iceland during patrol.
October Transferred with HM Cruiser
PENELOPE to 15th Cruiser Squadron based at
Alexandria and prepared for service in Mediterranean.
12th Sailed from Scapa Flow for Gibraltar with HM Cruiser PENELOPE.
18th At Gibraltar.
19th Sailed from Gibraltar with HMS PENELOPE and met HM Destroyers LANCE and
LIVELY before taking joint
passage to Malta to form Force K.
21st Arrived in Malta for deployment as Force K for attacks on enemy supply
traffic to and from North African ports.
25th Deployed with Force K ships to intercept convoy reported on
passage to Brindisi.
Returned to Malta after unsuccessful search.
November
1st Carried out another unsuccessful
search with ships of Force K.
9th During interception operation carried out night attack on
seven ship convoy escorted
by four destroyers. Sank
all mercantiles and Italian destroyer FULMINE in gun
attacks.
(Note: Two other
destroyers EURO and GREGALE were damaged.)
Returned to Malta undamaged with HMS PENELOPE, HMS LANCE and HMS
LIVELY
18th Carried out offensive sweep as a
diversion during military operations in North Africa.
21st Deployed with Force K in further diversionary operation to
simulate convoy
movement and returned to Malta after nightfall.
23rd Sailed for interception of convoy on
passage to Benghazi from Greece.
24th Intercepted convoy west of Crete and
sank mercantiles MAROTZA and PROCIDA
carrying oil fuel.
The two torpedo
boats LUPO and CASSIOPEA escorting the convoy were
damaged.
25th Returned to Malta with ships of Force K
28th Sailed from Malta with ships of Force K to meet HM Cruisers AJAX and
NEPTUNE,
HM Destroyers
KIMBERLEY and KINGSTON on passage from Alexandria to
reinforce Malta Striking
Force as Force B to increase offensive operations against
supply traffic.
29th Arrived in Malta.
30th Deployed on joint deployment with Force B
December
1st Engaged Italian auxiliary cruiser ADRIATICO with ships of
Force K and later
intercepted tanker IRIDIO MANTOVANI escorted by destroyer
ALVISE DA
MOSTA which were both sunk by surface fire in position 75 miles NE
of Tripoli.
(Note: Ships of
Force B were deployed separately.)
For details see following references.)
9th Deployed in search for convoy with HM Cruisers PENELOPE and
NEPTUNE
screened by HM Destroyers JAGUAR and KANDAHAR.
10th Returned to Malta after unsuccessful operation.
17th Joined HM Cruisers NAIAD and EURYALUS of 15th Cruiser
Squadron from
Alexandria and Fleet destroyers escorting HM Supply Ship BRECONSHIRE
carrying supplies for Malta and under threat of attack by Italian major warships
including battleship LITTORIO and two cruisers.
Took part in tactical deployments which caused Italian ships to
retire.
(1st Battle of Sirte - See ENGAGE THE
ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY, MALTA
CONVOYS by R
Woodman, THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D
Macintyre and Naval Staff History (HMSO-2001).
Afterwards
detached with ships of Force K to ensure safe arrival of HMS
BRECONSHIRE.
18th Deployed with HMS PENELOPE, HMS NEPTUNE,
HM Destroyers
KANDAHAR LANCE, LIVELY and HAVOCK to intercept
a convoy off Tripoli.
19th Force ran into enemy minefield as a result of which HMS
NEPTUNE and HMS
KANDAHAR were sunk.
Struck mine on
port side forward, abreast B turret
,causing flooding and severe
structural damage. List corrected by counter flooding and
ship returned to Malta
escorted by HMS LANCE and HMS HAVOCK. See above references
21st Taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard Malta.
1 9 4 2
January Under
temporary repair to allow permanent repair in UK.
to Sustained further
damage in dry dock during air raids.
February
March
29th Passage to Gibraltar escorted by HM Destroyer AVONVALE
31st Arrived at Gibraltar after unsuccessful air attacks when south of Sardinia.
April Atlantic
Passage to Liverpool.
5th Taken in hand for repair at commercial
shipyard on arrival.
May Under repair and refit
to (Note: Aircraft
warning radar Type 281 using new tripod masts was fitted with
June Fire-control radars for
main and AA armament (Types 284 and 285)
See RADAR AT SEA.
20mm
Oerlikon weapons were installed to improve defence against close
range air attacks.
July Carried out post refit
trials.
7th On completion took passage from Liverpool to Scapa Flow.
Worked-up with ships of Home Fleet.
August On completion deployed with
Home Fleet.
21st Provided cover for ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron during
minelay in
Northern Barrage (Operation
SN73).
29th Joined military convoy WS22 as Ocean Escort during Atlantic passage
with HM
Armed Merchant
Cruiser CARTHAGE, HM Destroyers PARTRIDGE and
QUIBERON.
September
9th Detached from WS22 on arrival at Freetown and deployed for trade defence.
October Atlantic trade defence in
continuation based at Freetown.
22nd Joined Fleet at Gibraltar after release from trade defence duties
28th Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS with HM Cruiser
CHARYBDIS
during an aircraft delivery
to Malta (Operation TRAIN).
November Nominated for support of allied
landings in North Africa.
(Operation TORCH see above references and Naval Staff History)
5th Joined escort of military convoy KMF1 on passage to Gibraltar.
7th Deployed with Central Task Force with HM Landing Ship
LARGS,
HM Escort
Aircraft Carriers BITER, DASHER, HM Cruisers JAMAICA
and DELHI with screen of 13 Fleet
destroyers to provide escort and
cover during allied landings in North Africa.
Led assault
craft to marker submarine (HMS P54) stationed off X and Y
Beaches.
8th Deployed on patrol in Bay of Oran and then supported Ex USN Coastguard
Cutters HMS HARTLAND and HMS WALNEY during the attack on Oran
harbour.
Joined by HM
Destroyers CALPE and BOADICEA to give naval gunfire
support.
Engaged four Vichy French destroyers off Oran with main armament.
Destroyers
TORNADE, TRAMONTANE and TYPHON were sunk with
EPERVIER beached
after sustained serious damage,
For details see RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute and Naval Staff History.
10th Bombarded forts at Du Santon and Cap Canastel with HM
Battleship
RODNEY and HM Cruiser JAMAICA in support of final attack at Oran.
11th Embarked Commodore T. Troubridge for tour of X and Y Beaches.
26th Embarked Admiral Cunningham and staff at Gibraltar for passage to Algiers.
(Note: Admiral
Cunningham was Commander of Naval Force for
TORCH and was
transferring to Algiers to re-establish his headquarters.)
27th Selected for service at Bone with HM Cruisers ARGONAUT and
SIRIUS
with HM Destroyers QUENTIN and QUIBERON as Force Q for
interception
of enemy shipping on passage in Central Mediterranean
December
1st Took passage to Bone with ships of
Force Q.
Deployed as Flagship, Force Q.
2nd Carried out surface gun attack on convoy of four ships north
of Cape Bon
with ships of Force Q.
The four mercantiles were sunk and the Italian destroyer FOLGORE one
of
the escorts.
Two of the
others escorts, destroyer DE RECCO and Torpedo boat
PROCIONE were damaged.
See above
references.
Under air
attacks during return passage to Bone during which HMS QUENTIN
was sunk.
10th After HM Cruiser DIDO joined Force Q deployed with HMS
ARGONAUT
for interception patrols
off North African coast.
(Note: HMS
SIRIUS and HMS DIDO were also deployed as a pair to share
this deployment. Patrols
were carried out from Algiers and Bone and
included defence of allied convoys.)
1 9 4 3
January Force Q deployment in
continuation.
(Note: HM
Cruiser PENELOPE joined Force Q to replace HMS
ARGONAUT which had been seriously damaged in an air attack
on 18th December.))
23rd Bombarded Zuara, Libya with other ships in support of military operations.
February Deployed with Force Q for
interception patrol and convoy defence.
March
12th Under attack by E-Boats during
interception patrol north of Bizerta.
(Note: HM Destroyer
LIGHTING was sunk in these attacks.)
April Force Q deployment in
continuation.
(Note: During
this period extensive deployments were made to prevent
evacuation of enemy personnel from North Africa after the defeat of
the Afrika Corps.
May Transferred to 12th
Cruiser Squadron with HM Cruisers, PENELOPE,
SIRIUS and DELHI.
31st Took part in preparatory exercises for planned British
attack on Pantelleria
with HM Cruisers NEWFOUNDLAND, PENELOPE, ORION,
EURYALUS and Fleet destroyers (Operation CORKSCREW).
June
8th Carried out Dress Rehearsal for CORKSCREW by mock attack
with same
cruisers and HM Destroyers
NUBIAN, TARTAR, LAFOREY,
LOOKOUT,
TROUBRIDGE, JERVIS and WHADDON.
10th Embarked
General Eisenhower for passage to witness final stage of
rehearsal.
11th Provided cover for assault on Pantellaria with same ships except HMS
EURYALUS.
19th Embarked HM King George at Tripoli for passage to Malta escorted by
HM Destroyers LOOKOUT,
JERVIS, NUBIAN and ESKIMO.
Returned to Tripoli with His Majesty on completion of visit
26th Passage to Alexandria from Malta for defence of military convoys during
transit in eastern Mediterranean from Egypt to take part in planned allied
landings in Sicily
(Operation HUSKY
- For details see Naval Staff History.)
July Returned to Bone
5th Sailed from Bone to join military convoy KMS16 during
passage to Beach
Head in Sicilian Narrows from Gibraltar.
7th Detached from KMS16 to rejoin main force covering force.
(Note: Ships in
covering force included HM Battleships VALIANT,
WARSPITE, HM
Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE, HMS
PENELOPE with
destroyer screen)
9th Detached from covering force with HMS PENELOPE and two
destroyers
to carry out bombardment of Catania and Taormina.
(Operation ARSENAL.)
Rejoined
covering force in Gulf of Sirte on completion
. 10th Deployed with covering force during landings with HM
Battleships
NELSON, RODNEY,
WARSPITE and VALIANT and deployed in
Ionian Sea.
11th Provided naval gunfire support for
military operations.
Release from
duty with covering force
21st Carried out bombardment at Crotone.
August Based at Bizerta with HM Cruisers PENELOPE, SIRIUS and DIDO for
support requirements associated with military operations in Italy
11th Bombarded Scaleta, south of Naples with HMS EURYALUS,
HM Destroyers JERVIS and PALADIN.
During passage
to Palermo sank several Siebel Ferries used for traffic
between Sicily and
Italian mainland.
26th Deployed at Tunis.
September Joined HM Cruisers PENELOPE, DIDO,
SIRIUS, ABDIEL and
US cruiser USS BOISE at Bizerta.
Nominated for support of planned allied landings at Salerno.
(Operation
AVALANCHE - See Naval Staff History , BRITISH
INVASION FLEETS
by J de Winser and ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY.)
8th Embarked troops of 1st Airborne Division troops for
occupation of
Taranto. (Operation SLAPSTICK).
Took passage
covered by HM Battleships KING GEORGE V and
HOWE screened by
four HUNT Class Escort Destroyers.
9th During passage passed ships of Italian Fleet units going to Malta for surrender
10th Disembarked troops arid took passage to join Fleet units
deployed for
support of allied landings at Salerno.
11th Provided naval gunfire support during counter-attack in beachhead
area
at Salerno with HM Monitor EREBUS, HM Cruisers MAURITIUS,
ORION, US cruisers BOISE and PHILADELPHIA, HM Destroyers
LOYAL, LOOKOUT,
TARTAR, NUBIAN, BRECON, QUANTOCK
and EGGESFORD.
Under heavy air
attacks by glider and radio controlled bombs.
13th Remained at Salerno after withdrawal of HMS UGANDA, USS
PHILADELPHIA and USS SAVANNAH because of damage in air
attacks.
October
1st Returned to Malta on release from AVALANCHE fire support
and patrol.
4th Sailed from Malta with HM Cruisers PENELOPE for passage to Aegean
for support of defence of Cos,
Met HM
Destroyers TUMULT and PATHFINDER south of Crete and
carried out offensive sweep
in Kaso Channel.
No craft sighted
but came under spasmodic air attacks.
Involved in
collision south of Cos Channel with HMS DIDO and
sustained damage above waterline
(Note: Italian
forces had been replaced by German units after capitulation.
For details of
the disastrous operations in defence of Aegean
islands see FIGHTING
DESTROYER by GC Connell and
WAR IN THE AEGEAN by P Smith and E Walker.
HMS SIRIUS and
HMS DIDO were also deployed with Fleet
destroyers ,from Malta and Taranto.)
Passage to Alexandria for repair.
6th Arrived at Alexandria.
(Note: HMS DIDO
did not resume service in Aegean.)
15th Resumed operational service on completion of repair.
16th Deployed with HM Destroyers JERVIS, PENN,
HURSLEY and Greek
MIAOULIS to take
stores to Leros
17th Landed stores overnight and withdrew through Kaso Straits under air attacks.
(Note: HUNT
Class destroyers carried out patrol and in action against
two E-Boats and a Sloop of Kalymos, See above reference.)
Met HM Cruiser
SIRIUS and carried out joint bombardment of Cos harbour.
Under air attacks.
18th Took passage to Alexandria after carrying out patrol south of Scarpanto.
Bombarded Rhodes with
Greek destroyer MIAOULIS and
under air attack in Scarpanto Straits.
27th Relieved HMS PHOEBE with HM Destroyers PATHFINDER,
EXMOOR and BLENCATHRA.
Carried out
offensive sweep with air cover from Beaufighters of
227
and 252 Squadrons.
28th Returned to Alexandria with same destroyers.
29th After refuelling sailed with HM Destroyers ECHO,
ROCKWOOD and
Polish ORP
KRAKOWIAK.
Under air
attacks SE of Casteloriso without damage.
30th Met HM Destroyers PETARD, BELVOIR and BEAUFORT during their
passage
with personnel and vehicles for military units at Leros.
During passage
to Turkish waters for transfer of troops and despite availability of
air cover came under heavy and sustained attacks by Ju87 and
Ju88 aircraft, hit by
500
Kg bomb abaft the after funnel.
Extensive damage
to after structure including armament with fires caused by
detonation of ammunition. 47 personnel killed and 30
wounded.
See above
reference for details.
31st Withdrawn from operational service and under escort for
passage to
Alexandria by HMS BELVOIR.
(Note: HM
Cruiser PHOEBE was then the only one of the cruisers sent to the Aegean
that was available in the eastern Mediterranean.)
November Taken in hand for temporary repair
at Alexandria.
Permanent repair
arranged at Taranto.
Took passage to Taranto.
December Transferred to 15th Cruiser
Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet.
Taken in hand for repair at Taranto.
1 9 4 4
January Under repair and refit
to (Note: Additional
close range weapons fitted)
March
April Carried out post refit
trials
10th Rejoined Squadron and prepared for operational service.
Passage to Alexandria.
May
Deployed with
Squadron in eastern Mediterranean
27th Sustaining weather damage during deployment with HM Destroyer
KIMBERLEY and three Free French destroyers.
30th Transferred to Malta with Squadron for service in Central Mediterranean.
June Deployed
in Central Mediterranean.
July Passage
to Algiers
Embarked WRNS
personnel of AFHQ for passage to set up new headquarters in Italy
Passengers
disembarked at Naples.
Nominated for support of planned allied landings in South France.
For details of
preliminary movements and landings see
INVASION OF THE SOUTH OF FRANCE (HMSO) (Operation DRAGOON).
29th At Algiers prior to joining Task Force 84 (Support Force
ALPHA)
under US Navy overall command.
August Passage to Malta to join other RN ships nominated for DRAGOON
Took part in exercises in preparation for DRAGOON.
(Note:
Task Group 84 ships included HM Cruisers AJAX, BLACK
HM
Destroyers TERMAGANT, TERPSICHORE, US Navy Cruiser USS
QUINCY,
US Navy Destroyers USS LIVERMORE, EBERLE, ERICSSON
and Free French battleship GLOIRE.
11th Sailed from Malta with ships of TF84.
13th Met HM Battleship RAMILLIES which was on
passage in
Mediterranean from UK to
join TF84.
15th Arrived off Assault area and took part
in naval gunfire support
to in ALPHA
area, SITKA Area and against batteries defending
24th the port of Toulon. For full details see above reference.
(Note:
Effect of fire support given by ships was highly commended
by the US Navy Commander.)
25th Released from
DRAGOON and resumed service in Mediterranean Fleet.
September Deployed with British Aegean Force for blockade and
occupation
of islands occupied by German forces
Carried
out interception patrols against shipping, bombardments
and supported covert landings.
(Note:
Other ships involved were seven Escort Aircraft Carriers,
HM
Cruisers ORION, ROYALIST, BLACK PRINCE,
ARGONAUT
and COLOMBO with ships of 24th
Destroyers
Flotilla and HUNT Class Escort Destroyers
of the RN and Greek Navies.
Nominated
for support of allied re-occupation of Greece (Operation MANNA)
October
5th Deployed with HM Destroyer CATTERICK
for support of
re-occupation of the island of Levitha.
15th Covered reoccupation of Piraeus with HM Cruisers BLACK PRINCE,
AJAX, ORION, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers STALKER,
ATTACKER and
EMPEROR AS PART OF Force 120
(Operation
MANNA).
(Note: Troops,
vehicles and stores had been embarked in Alexandria for passage).
For
details of MANNA see Military Staff History, Mediterranean (HMSO)
25th Carried out
bombardment of Milos with HM Destroyers TETCOTT and TYRIAN.
November Deployment in support of military operations in Greece
(Note:
Civil war broke out in Greek and allied military operations
in support of civil authorities were given naval
co-operation as required.)
December Eastern Mediterranean deployment in continuation
4th Carried out bombardment of shipping at Rhodes to prevent shipping being
used to assist in evacuation of German Forces from Aegean
islands.
1 9
4 5
January Deployed for support in Eastern Mediterranean with ships of Squadron.
Nominated
for transfer to support of operations in western
Mediterranean based at Naples.
February Passage to Naples.
to Deployed for
interception of shipping supporting enemy forces
April and naval gunfire support
of military ashore.
May
6th At Genoa
Nominated
for service in Malta with Mediterranean Fleet
(Note:
Mediterranean Fleet units were deployed for support of occupation forces
at Trieste, for
interception of ships carrying illegal immigrants to Palestine
and for work-up exercises for ships on passage to join the
Eastern Fleet
and the British Pacific Fleet.
June Mediterranean Fleet
deployment in continuation.
July Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Malta.
August Under refit
HMS AURORA remained in the
Mediterranean on completion of refit in October 1945. She was then deployed for duties with cruisers of the
Mediterranean Fleet for visits, exercises and patrol.. In November 1945 it was
announced that the ship was to be sold to
China.. She took passage from Trieste to pay off at Portsmouth on 17th April
1946. Before transfer this cruiser was
refitted and renamed CHUNGKING when handed over to
the Nationalist in 1948. After the ship
defected to the new Communist government and her name changed to TCHOUNKING she was sunk during an air attack on Yaku harbour in March 1949. Salvaged in 1951 this cruiser re-commissioned
with a new name HSUANG HO but this was later again
changed to PEI CHING. By 1958 she had become a
harbour hulk and given the name KUANG CHOU. It is
recorded that she was broken-up in 1960.