1 9 1 8
November Contractors trials
18th Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials
December On completion commissioned for
service in Harwich Force
1 9 1 9
January Paid off and reduced to Care
and Maintenance.
February Nominated for Foreign service on
China Station in 5th Light Cruiser Squadron.
March
1st Commissioned at Chatham.
April Passage to China Station
to May
June Deployed with 5th LCS
and carried out programmed visits and exercises
to December
1 9 2 0
China Station
service in continuation.
Returned to UK to recommission.
1 9 2 1
January
1st Re-commissioned at Chatham for further service on China Station.
Prepared for
foreign service
February Passage to China Station
to March
April Deployed with Squadron on
China Station.
to December
1 9 2 2
China Station
deployment in continuation.
1 9 2 3
January Return passage to UK
February
3rd Re-commissioned for service on China Station
March Passage to resume foreign
service
to April
May Deployed with Squadron
on China Station.
to December
1 9 2 4
China Station
deployment with Squadron
Nominated to
recommission on Station.
(Note: Ships
company took passage in commercial ship to Hong Kong.
1 9 2 5
January Deployed with Squadron on China Station.
to September
October
22nd Re-commissioned at Hong Kong
for further service in LCS5.
November Deployed with Squadron on China Station
to December
1 9 2 6
t o 1 9 2 7
China Station
deployment with LCS5 in continuation.
1 9 2 8
January China Station deployment in
continuation.
to June Nominated for return to UK to refit and recommission.
July
16th Sailed from Hong
Kong to Chatham to refit
August
31st Arrived at Chatham.
September Paid off.
12th Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Chatham
October Under refit
to December
1 9 2 9
January Under refit
to August Nominated for further foreign
service.
Manning Division
changed to Devonport.
September New ships company joined from
Devonport Division
3rd Re-commissioned for service in 6th Light Cruiser Squadron
on South African Station.
Refit work
completed and commenced post refit trials in Thames area.
Took passage to
Devonport to prepare for foreign service.
20th Sailed from Devonport to join Squadron at Simonstown as
replacement for HM Sloop
LOWESTOFT.
October On arrival deployed with
Squadron for visits and exercises in South Atlantic and
Indian Ocean.
November Squadron duties based at
Simonstown in continuation.
to
December
1 9 3 0
t o 1 9 3 1
Deployed with
ships of LCS6 for Squadron duties on Station.
1 9 3 2
January Prepared for return passage.
Took passage to
Devonport.
February Arrived at Devonport.
Nominated for
further service on South African Station with newly designated
6th Cruiser
Squadron.
March
1st Re-commissioned for service in CS6
April Passage to Simonstown to
join Squadron
May Deployed with Squadron
on Station
to December
1 9 3 3
Squadron
deployment on Station in continuation.
1 9 3 4
January Deployed with Squadron on
Station.
to July Nominated for further
foreign service on South Africa Station
August Passage to Devonport
September
5th Re-commissioned for service in CS6 on South Africa Station.
October Passage to Simonstown for
Squadron duties on Station.
to December Deployed with Squadron on arrival.
1 9 3 5
t o 1 9 3 6
Squadron
deployment in continuation.
1 9 3 7
January Deployed with Squadron on
Station.
to February Nominated for reduction to Reserve
status on relief by HM Cruiser NEPTUNE
March
16th Sailed from Capetown on relief by HMS NEPTUNE.
April Passage to Devonport to
Pay-off
March Paid-off and destored at
Devonport
to August
September Laid up in Reserve at Devonport.
to October
November
4th Approved for conversion to Anti-aircraft cruiser.
December Laid-up at Devonport.
1 9 3 8
Deployed at
Devonport as Boys Training Ship.
Conversion by HM
Dockyard Devonport to commence in January 1939
1 9 3 9
January Taken in hand for conversion.
to August
D e t a i l s o f
W a r S e r v i c e
September
3rd Under conversion at HM Dockyard Devonport for use as an
Anti-aircraft cruiser.
(Note: Being
fitted with an Army Type GL Mark 2 radar for detection of
aircraft at long
ranges. This equipment was designated Radar Type 280
when used by the
RN. Only two other warships, both Auxiliaries, had this
particular
equipment. For details of development and use of radar in RN
see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse)
October Under conversion
to November Nominated for service in Home Fleet as
an AA ship
December Post refit trials and
commissioning.
1 9 4 0
January
12th Conversion completed and carried out sea trials.
Prepared for
radar trials in Mediterranean based in Malta.
February
1st Took passage to Malta for work-up and to carry out sea trials
on the new radar
outfit. See
above reference.
(Note: This
equipment was found to be very suitable for shipborne detection
of aircraft at
long ranges).
March On completion of radar
trials took passage to return to Scapa Flow.
Joined 1st AA
Squadron and deployed in Humber Force, Home Fleet.
April Deployed in North Sea for AA defence.
9th After German invasion of Norway deployed with Home Fleet in support of
allied
military
operations (Operation RUPERT/R4).
17th Sailed from Rosyth with troops of MAURICE FORCE for passage
to Andalsnes
with HM Cruisers
GALATEA, ARETHUSA and CURACOA
(Operation
SICKLE).
18th After landing troops relieved the Sloop HMS BLACK SWAN as AA
Guardship in
Romdalsjord.
Later shared AA guard duties at Molde with H M Cruiser CURACOA
HM Sloops BLACK
SWAN and BITTERN.
20th Arrived at Andalsnes for AA Guardship duties.
22nd Transferred to Namsos in continuation.
28th Deployed at Namsos as AA Guardship.
(For details of
the disastrous naval operations off Norway see the Naval Staff
History, THE
DOOMED EXPEDITION by J Adams, NARVIK by D. MacIntyre
and CARRIER
GLORIOUS by J Winton).
29th Passage to Skel Fjord to refuel
30th Resumed AA Guardship duties at Namsos
(Note: HM Sloop
BITTERN deployed for AA defence had to be sunk after
sustaining major
damage in air attacks.)
May
1st Flagship and AA Guardship during Namsos evacuation with H
M Cruisers
DEVONSHIRE and YORK,
Ordered to sea
to ensure available for evacuation duty.:
2nd Unable to re-enter Namsos by fog and sailed to join HMS
DEVONSHIRE on
passage off Norway for evacuation.
Embarked troops
after nightfall. For details see Naval Staff History.
3rd Sailed for UK
with HMS DEVONSHIRE, HM Destroyers AFRIDI, GRENADE,
IMPERIAL
and French destroyer BISON.
Under heavy and
sustained air attacks during which BISON was sunk
. See Naval Staff
History for details.
5th Arrived at Scapa
Flow,
11th Returned to Norwegian coast with HM Destroyer ZULU to
intercept ship reported
taking German
reinforcement troops to Narvik area but failed to arrive in time
to take any
action.
18th Transferred to Mediterranean Fleet.
Took passage to Malta from Devonport with HM Destroyers JAGUAR
and JAVELIN
for service with
4th Cruiser Squadron.
24th Passage to Alexandria from Malta with 4 "K" Class destroyers.
June Nominated for AA defence
of Red Sea convoys in view of threat of attacks
from
Italian aircraft
during hostilities.
Passage to Aden for duty as Flag Officer Red Sea Force.
11th In action with Italian aircraft during air raid at Aden.9
aircraft destroyed by ship
and shore
defences.
July Deployed on convoy
escort between Aden and Port Sudan.
Visited Djibouti, French Somaliland..
August
15th Assisted with the evacuation of troops and civilians from
Berbera with other
warships
including HM Cruisers HOBART (RAN), CALEDON, CERES and
HM Destroyer KANDAHAR.
18th Passage to Aden with passengers.
September Under refit at Colombo.
October Returned to Aden for AA Guardship duty and convoy escort.
November Red Sea deployment in continuation.
12th Escorted ss CITY
OF LILLE with HM Sloops AUCKLAND and PARRAMATTA
(RAN) to join
military convoy WS3 off the port.
Joined Ocean
Escort HM Cruiser DORSETSHIRE with the two Sloops to provide
anti- aircraft
defence during passage of WS3 in Red Sea.
14th Detached from WS3 with HMS DORSETSHIRE during passage after
vulnerability
to air attack
was no longer likely. Took passage to Aden.
December Deployed at Aden.
18th Joined military convoy WS4 at Aden with HM Cruiser PERTH (RAN), H M Sloops
INDUS (RIN),
YARRA (RAN) and HM Destroyer KINGSTON as escort during
passage in Red Sea.
20th Detached from WS4 with HMIS INDUS and returned to Aden.
(Note: HMS PERTH
and HMS KINGSTON remained with convoy.
25th Joined military convoy WS4B at Aden with HM Destroyers KANDAHAR and
KIMBERLEY for escort during passage in Red Sea.
(Note: H M
Cruiser SOUTHAMPTON which had been part of Ocean Escort from
Durban remained with convoy until arrival at Suez on 28th.)
27th Detached from WS4B with HMS KIMBERLEY and returned to Aden.
(Note: During
this period defect developed in propeller shaft which reduced the
speed normally
possible.)
1 9 4 1
January Red Sea Force deployment in
continuation.
Defect in one
propeller shaft and repair arranged at Bombay.
Repair deferred
and required for service in Mediterranean
February Passage to Mediterranean.
Remained at Suez as FO Suez Area until aircraft laid
mines in Suez
Canal were
cleared.
March Deployed at Suez pending completion of minesweeping
operation to allow transit
through Suez Canal.
7th Passage to Great Bitter Lake and experienced further delay.
8th Resumed transit with HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE, HM
Destroyers
JANUS, GRIFFIN and HM Sloop GRIMSBY.
10th Arrived at Alexandria.
Taken in hand
for repair after arrival at Alexandria
(Note: Defective
shaft was taken to Malta by submarine for repair in HM Dockyard.)
20th Deployed for escort of Convoy MW6 with HM Cruisers
BONAVENTURE,
CALCUTTA and COVENTRY during passage to Malta (Operation MC9)
(Note: Ship was
without one shaft,
Cover was
provided for transit by HM Battleships BARHAM, VALIANT
and WARSPITE,
HMS FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers GLASGOW and
YORK with screen of nine Fleet destroyers.)
23rd Under heavy and sustained air attacks on arrival in Malta with MW6.
24th Passage to Suda Bay for AA Guardship duties.
26th Arrived at Suda Bay.
(Note: In an
attack by Italian explosive motor boats HM Cruiser YORK was hit
and sustained
serious damage on 25th)
March Deployed at Suda by for
defence of military convoys on passage between Egypt
and Greek ports
for transfer of British personnel and stores for defence against
invasion of Greece (Operation LUSTRE – See Naval Staff
History.)
(Note: Did not
take part in the Battle of Cape Matapan as not operationally
available for
Fleet duties involving major units.)
April Returned to Alexandria.
24th Sailed from Alexandria as escort for Convoy AG14 to Greece with HMS KINGSTON
and HMS
KANDAHAR.
25th Diverted from escort of Convoy AG14 to evacuate allied troops
from Greece.
(Operation DEMON
- See Naval Staff History and ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by
Corelli Barnett).
26th Assisted with the evacuation of NZ troops and some civilians
from Greek port of
Raphtis with HMS
KANDAHAR, HMS KINGSTON and ss SALWEEN
. Because of a
machinery defect secured alongside HMS KANDAHAR.
1,410 passengers
were taken to Suda Bay although only 500 had been expected.
(Note: For full
details of Raphtis evacuation with names of all ships involved
with totals see
Naval Staff History.)
29th Sailed from Greek waters-as escort for Convoy GA15 (6 ships)
with HM Australian
Cruiser PERTH, HM Sloop AUCKLAND, HM Destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER
and KANDAHAR.
Passage to Alexandria.
May
1st Arrived at Alexandria with GA15.
5th Deployed with HM Cruiser COVENTRY, HM Corvette GLOXINIA, HM Whaler
SWONA (SANF) and
HM Tug ST ISSEY as escort for Convoy MW7A to Malta.
(Operation MD4)
(Note: Part of
Operation TIGER involving ships of Force H at Gibraltar to pass
a military
convoy from Gibraltar and passage of convoys MW7A and
MW7B from Egypt to Malta. For details see THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN
and Naval Staff History.).
6th Remained with escort when Convoy MW7B merged with Convoy
MW7A.
9th After arrival of Convoy MW7 in Malta formed part of escort for TIGER convoy
to
Alexandria with HM Cruisers CALCUTTA, COVENTRY, DIDO, NAIAD
PHOEBE and HMS
ST. ISSEY screened by destroyers of Mediterranean Fleet..
12th Arrived in Alexandria.
Taken in hand
for repair in Dry Dock at Alexandria.
21st Undocked before completion of work to rejoin Fleet in
defence of Crete.
Speed restricted
because of lack of shaft awaiting installation.
Deployed for
offensive patrols off Crete to intercept invasion craft with H M
Cruisers NAIAD,
PERTH (RAN), CALCUTTA and Fleet destroyers (Force
"C").
Came under heavy
air attacks.
22nd Supplemented AA defence for HMS NAIAD which was short of
ammunition.
Subjected to
dive bombing attacks causing some damage and casualties including
Captain who was
killed.
23rd On arrival at Alexandria had little ammunition left.
25th Resumed repair at Port Said with No 2 AA mounting replaced.
(Note: Repaired
shaft had been delivered by submarine from Malta.)
June Under repair during
which shaft was replaced.
July On completion of repair
deployed as AA Guardship at Haifa and with Fleet units
operating off
Syrian coast (Operation EXPORTER)
(See RELUCTANT
ENEMIES by W Tute and Naval; Staff History for details).
6th Carried out bombardment near Damur in support of military
operations with
six destroyers
18th At Beirut with HMS COVENTRY
Deployed at Suez for AA defence
(Note: This was
required following increase in enemy air raids during period
when
reinforcements were arriving for 8th Army. See Naval Staff History.)
August
29th Relieved HMS COVENTRY as AA Guardship to provide defence at
anchorages
"F" and
"H" in Suez
Bay used by troopships.
September Deployed for escort of convoys in
support of Tobruk garrison.
to October Transferred to Suez for AA defence with HMS COVENTRY.
November Returned to Alexandria for Fleet duties in support of Tobruk
garrison
(Operation
AGGRESSION)
22nd Sailed from Alexandria with three destroyers as escort for HM
Supply Ship
GLENROY taking
military personnel with stores for passage toTobruk.
23rd Under air attack on passage.
HMS GLENROY hit
by torpedo and seriously damaged.
Took HMS GLENROY
in tow which was later transferred to HM Escort
Destroyer
FARNDALE.
(Note: HMS
GLENROY was beached west of Mersa Matruh and later
refloated and
taken in tow by Tugs from Alexandria.)
December
7th Deployed with HM Cruisers HOBART (RAN) and GALATEA with two
destroyers to
meet HMS BRECONSHIRE in eastern Mediterranean as relief
for escort from Malta, covered by HM Cruisers NEPTUNE and AJAX. during
passage to Alexandria.
8th Arrived in Alexandria with HMS BRECONSHIRE.
15th Escorted Supply Ship HMS BRECONSHIRE taking relief supplies
to Malta
with HMS NAIAD,
HMS EURYALUS, HM Destroyers DECOY, HASTY,
HAVOCK, JERVIS, KIMBERLEY, KIPLING and NIZAM deployed as Force C
16th Detached. from Force C when operation under threat of attack
by Italian major
warships and
made radio transmissions to suggest presence of Major Fleet
units available
for cover of this operation.
Returned to Alexandria.
(Note: Ships of
Force C later took part in brief engagement with Italian units which
withdrew after
threat of torpedo attacks.
1st Battle of Sirte. See Naval Staff History,
BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre and NAVAL WAR IN THE
MEDITERRANEAN by J Green and A Massignani.)
1 9 4 2
January
16th Joined H M Destroyers ARROW, GRIFFIN, HASTY and HERO as escort for
Convoy MW8A, ss AJAX and ss THERMOPYLAE, covered by HM Cruisers
DIDO, EURYALUS
and NAIAD with destroyer screen (Operation MF3)
18th After Convoys MW8A and MW8B merged came under air attacks.
Detached with HM
Destroyers FOXHOUND and HOTSPUR to escort
ss THERMOPYLAE because of machinery defects.
Destination was later
changed to Alexandria.
19th HM Corvette GLOXINIA joined escort.
In action
against aircraft which sank THERMOPYLAE off Derna.
21st Arrived at Alexandria.
24th Escorted HMS BRECONSHIRE with HM Cruisers NAIAD, DIDO and
EURYALUS
screened by eight destroyers for passage to Malta as Force B.
26th After HMS BRECONSHIRE escort was handed to Force K from Malta returned
with the ships of
Force B escorting two empty merchantiles to Alexandria.
28th Arrived at Alexandria
February
12th Joined HM Destroyers LANCE, AVONVALE, ERIDGE and HEYTHROP as
escort for
Convoy MW9A, ss CLAN CAMPBELL and ss CLAN CHATTAN)
to Malta from Alexandria.
(Operation MF5
covered by HM Cruisers EURYALUS, NAIAD and destroyer
screen).
13th Convoys MW9A and MW9B merged.
Under air
attacks during which CLAN CAMPBELL was damaged and sent to Tobruk.
In later air
attacks CLAN CHATTAN was sunk by HM Destroyer DECOY after
she had caught
fire and been abandoned.
(Note: For
details of this disastrous operation in which no merchant ship was
able to reach Malta see above references).
After the
operation was cancelled escorted return Convoy ME10 from Malta to
Alexandria with HM Cruisers NAIAD, DIDO and
EURYALUS. During passage
The main steam
pipe in the Engine Room fractured disabling ship.
During the
repair work AA defence was provided by 3 HUNT Class destroyers.
Near missed in
later air attacks.
15th Rejoined convoy and returned to Alexandria.
March
20th Part of close escort for Malta supply convoy MW10 with HM Destroyers
HASTY, HERO,
HAVOCK, LIVELY, SIKH and ZULU of 22nd Destroyer
Flotilla.
(Note: Convoy
comprised HMS BRECONSHIRE, ss CLAN CAMPBELL,
ss PAMPAS and ss TALABOT).
Cover provided
by HM Cruiser CLEOPATRA, DIDO and EURYALUS
screened by HM
Destroyers JERVIS, KIPLING, KELVIN and KINGSTON
of 5th Destroyer
Flotilla (Operation MG1).)
22nd Under attack from torpedo and bomber aircraft after escort
reinforced by Force
“K” from Malta.
After Italian
battle squadron comprising the battleship LITTORIO and 3 cruisers
with ten
escorting destroyers, intercepted MW10,
Detached with 7
HUNT Class Escort Destroyers as escort for mercantiles and
positioned to SW
of covering warships which engaged the Italian cruisers.
(Note: The
aggressive action by British destroyers resulted in the withdrawal of
the Italian
major ships which did not relish any night attacks by a radar
fitted enemy.
2nd Battle of Sirte. For- Full details see
MEDITERRANEAN MAELSTROM
by GC Connell
and above references).
23rd Detached with HM Destroyers BEAUFORT and SOUTHWOLD to escort
HMS
BRECONSHIRE into
Malta.
Under
synchronised air attacks by torpedo and dive bombers. Collided with HM
Destroyer HMS
AVON VALE whilst taking avoiding action against aircraft in a
smoke screen.
Attempt to tow damaged HMS BRECONSHIRE called off because
of the shortage
of fuel and ammunition. One rating killed during an air attack by
an Me 109
fighter when entering Valetta.
25th Passage to Alexandria with HM Escort Destroyers BEAUFORT,
DULVERTON,
ERIDGE and
HURWORTH
28th Arrived at Alexandria.
April Deployed at Alexandria and prepared for return passage to UK.
Nominated for
refit.
May Passage from Alexandria.
Diverted to
provide escort for military convoy W318 that had been subjected to
delay due to
damage by mines off the Cape
of Good Hope.
15th Joined ships of military convoy WS18 at Capetown as Ocean
Escort during passage
in Indian Ocean to Durban
18th Detached from WS18 on arrival at Durban and resumed passage to UK.
June Called at Simonstown
Called at Freetown..
On arrival at Plymouth taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard
Devonport.
July Taken in hand for refit
by HM Dockyard Devonport.
August Under refit.
to (Note: Work included
the replacement of the aircraft warning radar Type 280
November by Type 281 and installation of
surface warning radar Type 273.
AA fire control
radars Type 285 for 4" mountings and Type 282 for
Close Range armament were also fitted. See RADAR AT SEA.).
Nominated for
service in Mediterranean.
Post refit
trials.
December On completion of post refit trials
took passage to Scapa
Flow.
7th Arrived at Scapa
Flow for
work-up with Home Fleet
1 9 4 3
January Developed defects and
withdrawn from work-up.
Returned to
Devonport for repair.
February Under repair.
On completion
took passage to Scapa
Flow to resumed
work-up
March Resumed Work-up in
continuation
On completion
took passage to Gibraltar.
April
2nd Arrived at Gibraltar and allocated to Force "Q" for
attacks on enemy convoys m
central Mediterranean.
May
19th Deployed as escort with four destroyers for first convoy
through Mediterranean
to Alexandria since relief of Malta.
26th Arrived in Alexandria.
June Mediterranean convoy
defence in continuation.
July Transferred to 15th
Cruiser Squadron for service in Eastern Mediterranean.
Escorted
military convoys to Central
Mediterranean
prior to Sicily landings
10th Part of Support Force East with HM Cruiser NEWFOUNDLAND, UGANDA,
MAURITIUS, ORION, COLOMBO and DELHI during landings of 1st Airborne
Division SW of Syracuse.
Assisted in
rescue of survivors from Hospital Ship TALAMBA.
(Operation HUSKY
- See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval
Staff History).
11th Attempted tow of ammunition ship BAARN off beaches failed
after which it had
to be sunk by HM
Destroyer TARTAR.
August Deployed in support of
military operations off Sicily.
September Transferred to Levant Command to
reinforce 12th Cruiser Squadron.
4th Deployed with Squadron in Aegean to intercept invasion craft and support
the
military
operations to occupy islands after Italian surrender.
October Aegean deployment in
continuation.
7th Carried out offensive sweep in Scarpanto Strait with HM Destroyers PANTHER
and PETARD.
Later joined by
the destroyers HMS ALDENHAM and Greek THEMISTOCLES
for further
sortie in same area. (Operation CREDENTIAL).
8th HM Destroyer ROCKWOOD and Greek MIAOULIS replaced ALDENHAM
and
THEMISTOCLES in
for a third offensive sweep as CREDENTIAL Force.
9th Came under air attack by Ju87 's during patrol in Scarpanto Strait with HMS
PANTHER and HMS
ROCKWOOD. The ship received four direct hits and
several near
misses which caused extensive structural damage and flooding
. Starboard shaft
and propeller blown off with Port shaft was buckled.
Disabled with 20
of the ship's company killed and 17 wounded.
(Casualty
List -
note
on casualties)
Stricken vessel
was taken in tow to Alexandria by HMS ROCKWOOD.
(Note: During
this operation by CREDENTIAL Force HMS PANTHER was
sunk).
16th Under repair at Alexandria.
November Declared a constructive total loss
and converted for use as a Base ship for
Escorts at Alexandria.
December Under conversion for new role.
1 9 4 4
January Conversion in continuation
to March Proposal to use at Aden was not implemented.
April Service as a Base ship at
Alexandria.
to December
1 9 4 5
January Base Ship service in
continuation
to August
