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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 COLOMBO - World War 1 C-type Light Cruiser
including Convoy Escort Movements

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Colombo (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

return to Contents List 

 

CAPETOWN-Class Cruiser ordered from Fairfield  at Govan in July 1917 and laid down on 8th December 1917. The ship was launched on 18th December 1918 and was the 1st RN ship to bear this name. Build was completed on 18th June 1919 and she commissioned for foreign service. Until 1935 she was deployed in the East Indies, America and West Indies Stations and in the Mediterranean. She was deployed as Senior Officer’s ship in Chatham Reserve Fleet in 1936. The ship was recommissioned in 1939 and took up war station at Gibraltar before war was declared with Germany on 3rd September. Following a WARSHIP  WEEK National Savings Campaign in March 1942 this ship was adopted by the civil community of Salford, then in the county of Lancashire.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC 1939–44  - SICILY 1943 - AEGEAN 1944  - SOUTH FRANCE 1944 - ADRIATIC 1944

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge:  On a Field Green, an elephant’s head proper

arising out of a mural crown Gold.

 

M o t t o

Selon le defense l’attaque

 

S u m m a r y   o f   P r e - War   S e r v i c e

 

1 9 1 9

 

December              Contractors trials and commissioned for trials.

                18th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance trials

 

1 9 2 0

 

                                On completion of acceptance trials paid off.

                                Recommissioned for service in 5th Light Cruiser Squadron on

                                China Station.

                                Passage to join Squadron, based at Hong Kong.

                                Deployed for Squadron duties on China Station.

                                (Note: Exercises with Squadron ships included periods in North China at Wei Hai Wei

                                an island off the Chantung Peninsula leased from China and used as an RN

                                Base for many years. Visits were paid to ports in Japan, Philippines and

                                the Dutch East Indies together with Empire territories in the Pacific.)

 

1 9 2 1

 

                                China Station deployment with Squadron in continuation.

 

1 9 2 2

 

                                Recommissioned for service in 4th Light Cruiser Squadron on the East

                                Indies Station based in Ceylon.

                                (Note: Exercises were carried out in the Indian Ocean. Visit programmes included

                                ports in East Africa and island groups.)

 

1 9 2 3    t o    1 9 2 5

 

                                Indian Ocean deployment with Squadron in continuation.

                                Returned to UK for refit in HM Dockyard, Chatham.

 

1 9 2 6

 

                                On completion of post refit trials commissioned for service in 8th Cruiser Squadron

                                on American and West Indies Station based at Bermuda.

 

1 9 2 7    t o    1 9 2 8

 

                                Deployed for exercises and visits to port in North and South America

                                including west coast of both continents and empire possessions in West

                                Indies.

 

1 9 2 9

 

                                Returned to UK for long refit at Chatham.

 

1 9 3 0

 

                                Paid-off at Chatham and transferred to Dockyard Control for refit.

                                Under refit by HM Dockyard, Chatham

 

1 9 3 1

 

                                Commissioned for trials.

                                Carried out post refit harbour and sea trials.

                                On completion commissioned for service in 3rd Cruiser Squadron,

                                Mediterranean Fleet.

                                Passage to join Squadron at Malta.

 

1 9 3 2

 

                                Nominated for service in East Indies and recommissioned for service

                                in 4th Cruiser Squadron.

                                Returned to Chatham to Pay-off and recommission.

                                Recommissioned for service in East Indies (June).

                                Passage to Ceylon to join Squadron.

 

1 9 3 2    t o    1 9 3 4

 

                                Deployed for Squadron duties in Indian Ocean.

 

1 9 3 5

 

                                Nominated for reduction to Reserve status and took passage to Chatham

                                Paid-off at Chatham, destored and reduced to Reserve.

                                Laid-up in Reserve in Nore Command (December)

 

1 9 3 6

 

                                Nore Command Reserve Fleet in continuation.

                                Deployed at Chatham as Senior Officer’s ship, Reserve Fleet.

 

1 9 3 7    t o    1 9 3 7

 

                                Chatham Reserve deployment in continuation.

                                Attended Coronation Review.

 

1 9 3 8

 

                                Mobilised for service with Reserve Fleet personnel during Munich crisis.

 

1 9 3 9

 

                                Commissioned for service with Reservists for attendance at

                                Review of Reserve Fleet by HM King George VI at Weymouth.

 

 

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

 

 

August                  Attended Review and remained in commission.

                                Allocated for War Station as Flagship of 11th Cruiser Squadron and remained

                                in commission.

                                On completion of storing and increase to war complement too passage to Gibraltar

                                to take up Station.

                                (Note: Ship war deployment was for interception of enemy mercantile traffic on passage

                                to Germany and for trade defence against commerce raiders.)

 

September             At Gibraltar and Flagship of 11th Cruiser Squadron.

                3rd          Took passage from Gibraltar for patrol off Casablanca

                                (Note: To enforce blockade patrols were carried out to intercept

                                shipping carrying contraband destined for Germany.

                26th        Escorted convoy from Gibraltar to SW Approaches.

 

October                  Nominated for service in Northern Patrol for interception of shipping.

                                (Note: For details of Northern Patrol service see THE BLOCKADERS

                                by C Hampshire.)

                5th          Arrived at Plymouth.

                11th        Passage to Scapa Flow to commence Northern Patrol duties as Flagship

                                of 11th Cruiser Squadron.

                13th        Arrived at Scapa Flow.

                14th        Sailed for Sullom Voe from Scapa Flow.

                20th        Took passage from Sullom Voe for first patrol in North Atlantic.

 

November              Northern Patrol in continuation

                11th        Intercepted German freighter MIM and placed boarding party on board.

                                Taken as Prize and took passage to Kirkwall.

                                (Note: During passage captured ship went aground off Scottish coast.)

                                Intercepted German freighter HENNING OLDENDORF.

                                Boarded and taken to Kirkwall as Prize.

                23rd        Deployed with HM Cruisers CALEDON and CARDIFF for patrol

                                off North Rona to intercept German battlecruisers SCHARNHORST

                                and GNEISENAU after they had attacked an Atlantic convoy and

                                had sunk its escort HM Armed Merchant Cruiser RAWALPINDI.

                27th        Resumed patrol on release from search.

 

December              Northern Patrol duties in continuation.

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Nominated for foreign service.

                                (Note: This type of cruiser had been found unsuitable for duty in the

                                North Atlantic and were to be withdrawn. See above reference.)

                6th          Returned to Scapa Flow from Patrol.

                8th          Sailed for patrol.

                11th        Escorted German freighter BERGENSFJORD to Kirkwall after it had

                                been intercepted by HM Trawler KINGSTON ONYX.

                12th        Took passage to Plymouth to prepare for foreign service.

                14th        Arrived at Devonport

                28th        Sailed for Belfast.

                30th        At Belfast.

                                (Note: Repair to be confirmed.)

 

February                Passage from Belfast for Mediterranean.

                                Deployed in Mediterranean.

                                Took passage to join 5th Cruiser Squadron at Singapore.

 

March                    On arrival at Colombo nominated for duty with HM Cruiser CERES

                27th        Sailed for Singapore with HMS CERES.

                31st         Arrived at Singapore and joined Squadron on China Station

 

April                       Deployed for trade defence and interception patrol based at Singapore.

 

May                        Transferred to 4th Cruiser Squadron and took passage to Colombo.

                                Deployed for patrol in Indian Ocean

 

June                        Indian Ocean duties in continuation

to July

 

August                  Transferred to Red Sea Force for convoy defence in Arabian Sea

                                and Red Sea.

 

September             Red Sea Force deployment in continuation.

 

October                  Nominated for escort of military convoy WS2C and took passage to

                                Capetown.

 

November

                1st           Joined WS3C at Capetown as Ocean Escort

                                (Note: This convoy comprised HM Depot Ship WOOLWICH

                                on passage to the Mediterranean and freighter CLAN

                                CAMPBELL.)

                5th          Joined Convoy CM5 which continued as WS3C.

                10th        HMS WOOLWICH detached to proceed to Mombasa for repair.

                                HM Armed Merchant Cruiser CARTHAGE joined escort from Mombasa.

                23rd        Detached from WS3C on arrival at Suez.

 

December              Resumed duties at Aden with Red Sea Force.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Deployed off Maldives as part of search for German commerce raiders

                                ATLANTIS and PINGUIN known to be active in Indian Ocean.

                                On release from search nominated for support of military operations

                                in Somaliland (Operation APPEARANCE).

 

February

                2nd         Deployed with HM Cruisers SHROPSHIRE and CERES to carry

                                out blockade of port of Kismayu

                                On release took passage to Colombo for docking and refit.

 

March                    Under refit

 

April                       On completion took passage to resume trade defence in Indian Ocean.

                28th        Joined military convoy WS7 from Mombasa in position 4 S, 42 E

                                with HM Cruiser GLASGOW as relief for Ocean Escort HM

                                Cruiser HAWKINS.

 

May

                1st           Detached from WS7 when it divided into sections for Aden

                                and Bombay. Deployed as Ocean Escort for Bombay section

                                designated WS7X comprising four troopships.

                5th          Detached from WS7X on arrival at Bombay and resumed trade

                                defence and convoy escort duties.

 

June                        Indian Ocean deployment in continuation.

to September

 

October

                                Deployed in Indian Ocean.

                                Joined HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE, HM Armed Merchant Cruisers

                                CARTHAGE and CARNARVON CASTLE in search for Vichy

                                French convoy on passage to Europe from Indo China.

 

November

                2nd         Deployed with HM Cruisers SHROPSHIRE, CERES , HM Armed Merchant Cruisers

                                CARNARVON CASTLE and CARTHAGE to intercepted Vichy French convoy east

                                of Cape of Good Hope. Escorting Sloop detached when ships sighted. Mercantiles were

                                captured and escorted to Ports in South Africa

 

 

December              Indian Ocean deployment for trade defence in continuation.

                27th        Escorted troopship ORIZABA from Mombasa to join military

                                convoy WS12Z.

                                Joined Aden Section of WS12Z when it divided in position 1.26S,

                                48.44E and escorted it as Convoy WS12ZA to Aden.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Selected for conversion for use as an Anti-Aircraft Cruiser.

                4th          Detached from WS12ZA on arrival off Aden.

                20th        Relieved HM Battleship RAMILLIES in Ocean Escort of military

                                convoy WS14 with HMS CERES during passage from Durban

                                (Note: This convoy included troopships on passage to Singapore).

                22nd       Detached from WS14 Ocean Escort

 

February                Indian Ocean deployment in continuation.

                26th        Joined HMS CERES in Ocean Escort for military convoy WS15A

                                during passage from Durban when it detached from WS15 for

                                onward transit to Aden.

March

                1st           Detached from WS15A off Aden when ships proceeded to Suez

                                independently.

                                Transferred to Eastern Fleet on formation as part of 5th Cruiser

                                Squadron and retained on Station for trade defence in view of the

                                threat from Japanese naval units in the area.

 

April                       Indian Ocean Trade defence and convoy escort in continuation.

                1st           Deployed with HM Armed Merchant Cruiser AURANIA as relief

                                for HM Cruisers GLASGOW and NEWCASTLE as Ocean Escort

                                with HM Armed Merchant Cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE for

                                military convoy WS16 during passage in Indian Ocean from

                                Durban.

                3rd          Detached from WS16 when sections for Bombay and Aden divided.

                                Deployed as Ocean Escort for Aden Section, designated WS16A.

                6th          Detached from WS16A off Aden for independent passage

                                Released from Eastern Fleet duties

May                        Passage to UK for conversion.

 

June

                5th          Arrived at Plymouth.

                                Paid off into Dockyard Control for conversion.

 

July                         Under refit

to                            (Note: Original armament replaced by twin 4in AA mountings

December              with Radar Type 285 for fire-control. Two 2pdr Pom

                                Pom mountings with Radar Type 282 fire-control and

                                20mm Oerlikon guns were fitted for close range defence

                                against aircraft.

                                Type 279 Aircraft Warning Radar was fitted on the

                                main mast and Type 273 Surface Warning Radar abaft

                                the mainmast on the centre line.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Under refit

 

February                Post refit trials and recommissioning.

                                Nominated for service in the Mediterranean

 

March                    On completion of trials prepared for foreign service.

 

April                       Passage to Clyde to work-up for operational service.

                13th        Arrived in Clyde for work-up.

 

May                        Deployed in NW Approaches on completion of work-up

 

June                        Nominated for support if planned allied landings in Sicily

                                (Operation HUSKY)

                28th        Joined escort for military Convoy KMF18 in NW Approaches

 

July

                4th          Detached from KMF18 on arrival at Algiers.

                6th          Joined Escort Group C and took passage to join military

                                Convoy KMS18B in transit from Gibraltar to BARK WEST

                                Beach head

                10th        On arrival deployed for AA defence of assault area with

                                HM AA Cruisers CARLISLE and DELHI. including landing of

                                1st Airborne Division.

                                (For details see Naval Staff History, ENGAGE THE ENEMY

                                MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett) and BRITISH INVASION

                                FLEETS by J de Winser)

 

August                  Support deployment in continuation.

 

September             Deployed for convoy defence in Western Mediterranean.

to

October

 

November              Joined military convoy KMF25 during passage to Algiers.

                5th          Provided AA defence with 11 US Navy escorts, three RN

                                and two Greek HUNT Class destroyers during attacks by 35

                                torpedo aircraft east of Algiers..

                                (Note: One US destroyer, USS BEATTY and two ships in this

                                convoy were sunk.)

 

December              Convoy escort duties in continuation.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Mediterranean convoy defence in continuation.

to

February

 

March                    Joined US Navy escort for Convoy UGS36 with ships of 37th

                                Escort Group west of Gibraltar.

                30th        Entered Mediterranean with convoy of 72 ships including

                                18 Landing Ships (Tank).

                31st         Convoy under submarine attacks which were driven off by

                                escorts.

 

April

                1st           Under attack by 21 torpedo aircraft off Algiers during which

                                one freighter in convoy was sunk.

 

May                        Mediterranean convoy defence in continuation.

to June

 

July                         Mediterranean convoy defence in continuation.

                                Nominated for support of planned landing in South of

                                France with HM Cruiser CALEDON as part of Task Force 88

                                under US Navy command (Operation DRAGOON)

 

August                  Joined HM Escort Aircraft Carriers STALKER and HUNTER

                                US aircraft carriers TULAGI and KASAAN BAY in Task

                                Group 88.2.

                                (For details see INVASION OF THE SOUTH OF FRANCE

                                (HMSO).)

                15th        Provided AA defence during carrier air operations against

                                shore targets with HMS CALEDON and US Navy destroyers.

                27th        Released from US Navy command and resumed convoy

                                defence.

 

September

                24th        Transferred to British Aegean Force for support of

                                operation to re-occupy islands in the Eastern

                                Mediterranean and planned landings in Greece

                                (Operation MANNA)

                                Took passage to join British Aegean Force.

 

October                  Provided AA defence during re-occupation.

                3rd          Bombarded shore targets at Heraklion, Crete

 

November              Transferred to Adriatic to provide AA defence in support

                                of military operations.

                11th        Deployed at Zadar and accepted surrender of German

                                forces.

 

December              Deployed in Aegean Sea for AA defence during re-

                                occupation of islands held by German troops.

                                Bombarded enemy positions on Aegina Island in Gulf

                                of Athens.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  AA defence and support of operations in Adriatic and

to                            Aegean in continuation.

February

 

March                    Nominated for reduction to Reserve and to be withdrawn

                                from operational service in Mediterranean.

 

April                       Passage to UK

 

May                        Deployed in Plymouth Command pending paying-off and

                                de-stored prior to reduction to Reserve status.

 

June                        Passage to Dartmouth to Pay-off

                                Paid off.

 

July                         Laid-up in Reserve at Dartmouth.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS COLOMBO remained in Reserve at Dartmouth until placed on the Disposal List in 1947. The ship was sold to BISCO for breaking-up by J J Cashmore on 22nd January 1948. She arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard in Newport on 15th May 1948.

 

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS COLOMBO

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

 

 

 

 

 

26/09/39

26/09/39

HG 001

05/10/39

06/10/39

19/09/40

19/09/40

BN 005A

25/09/40

29/09/40

26/09/40

26/09/40

AK 002/1

03/10/40

03/10/40

01/11/40

01/11/40

WS 003C

16/11/40

16/11/40

04/11/40

04/11/40

CM 005

11/11/40

11/11/40

09/12/40

09/12/40

CM 007

15/12/40

15/12/40

06/04/41

06/04/41

BN 024

13/04/41

13/04/41

30/05/41

07/06/41

SW 007

12/06/41

12/06/41

15/08/41

15/08/41

CM 016A

21/08/41

21/08/41

03/09/41

03/09/41

CM 016B

10/09/41

10/09/41

16/11/41

16/11/41

CM 022

20/11/41

24/11/41

30/11/41

30/11/41

CM 023

07/12/41

13/12/41

08/12/41

08/12/41

MA 003/1

16/12/41

16/12/41

18/08/43

25/08/43

KMS 023

27/08/43

30/08/43

25/08/43

01/09/43

MKS 023

04/09/43

03/09/43

17/10/43

17/10/43

MKF 025

21/10/43

04/11/43

01/11/43

01/11/43

KMS 030

04/11/43

11/11/43

27/10/43

04/11/43

KMF 025A

08/11/43

11/11/43

31/10/43

09/11/43

MKF 025A

15/11/43

24/11/43

15/11/43

24/11/43

KMF 026

27/11/43

30/11/43

17/11/43

29/11/43

MKF 026

01/12/43

09/12/43

09/12/43

09/12/43

KMS 034

14/12/43

20/12/43

06/12/43

13/12/43

GUS 024

17/12/43

03/01/44

21/12/43

21/12/43

KMS 035

26/12/43

01/01/44

17/01/44

17/01/44

KMS 038

21/01/44

27/01/44

15/01/44

21/01/44

GUS 028

26/01/44

15/02/44

28/01/44

28/01/44

KMS 039

02/02/44

07/02/44

25/01/44

03/02/44

GUS 029

05/02/44

22/02/44

17/02/44

17/02/44

KMS 041

20/02/44

27/02/44

14/02/44

21/02/44

GUS 031

26/02/44

18/03/44

21/02/44

27/02/44

KMF 029

02/03/44

05/03/44

18/02/44

01/03/44

UGS 033A

03/03/44

29/02/44

02/03/44

05/03/44

MKF 029

09/03/44

16/03/44

05/03/44

05/03/44

SNF 016

08/03/44

08/03/44

17/03/44

17/03/44

KMS 044

21/03/44

27/03/44

15/03/44

24/03/44

GUS 034

26/03/44

14/04/44

14/03/44

01/04/44

UGS 036

03/04/44

09/04/44

30/03/44

09/04/44

MKS 045

11/04/44

11/04/44

17/04/44

17/04/44

KMS 047

18/04/44

27/04/44

06/05/44

06/05/44

KMS 049

10/05/44

16/05/44

03/05/44

21/05/44

UGS 041

25/05/44

30/05/44

13/05/44

30/05/44

UGS 042

02/06/44

08/06/44

08/06/44

09/06/44

MKS 052

20/06/44

20/06/44

03/06/44

11/06/44

GUS 042

16/06/44

29/06/44

12/06/44

29/06/44

UGS 045

01/07/44

07/07/44

28/06/44

05/07/44

MKS 054

10/07/44

10/07/44

14/07/44

21/07/44

GUS 046

23/07/44

08/08/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys) 

 

 

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