H. M. S. D E L H I
“D”
Class Cruiser ordered from Armstrongs High Walker
Shipyard at Elswick with sister
ships HMS DUNEDIN and HMS DURBAN in July 1917 as the second group of the Class.
The ship was laid down on 29th October 1917 and was launched on23rd August 1918 as the first RN ship to carry
this name. Build was completed on 7th
June 1919. She was adopted
by the civil community of Sunderland, County Durham following a WARSHIP WEEK
campaign for National Savings
held during February 1942.
B a t t l e
H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1940 - NORTH AFRICA 1942 - SICILY 1943 - SALERNO 1943
- ANZIO 1944 - SOUTH FRANCE 1944 - ADRIATIC 1944
C r e s t
Field: Red.
Badge: An Elephant caparisoned gold.
M o t t o
Dilecta non deleta:
'Chosen not destroyed'
D
e t a i l s o f F u l l S e r v i c e
1 9 1 9
May Contractors Trials
June
Commissioned for
service in 1st Light Cruiser Squadron Atlantic Fleet
Nominated for
service in Baltic to replace HM Cruiser CURACOA which had been damaged by a
mine.
7th Build completion date and
commenced Acceptance trials.
On completion
completed storing and took passage to join RN ships deployed in Baltic to
assist in the
defence of
countries under attack from Soviet army.
July Baltic deployment in
continuation.
to
December
1 9 2 0
On release
from Baltic service joined Squadron in Atlantic Fleet.
Took part in
Fleet exercises including those with ships of Mediterranean Fleet.
1 9 2 1
Atlantic Fleet
deployment with Squadron in continuation.
1 9 2 2
Recommissioned for service in Atlantic Fleet
Took part in
exercise and visits programme.
1 9 2 3
Atlantic Fleet
deployment in continuation
October Prepared for World cruise.
Nominated for
service in special Squadron for visits to British Empire territories and also
countries in
South America.
November
Deployed at Devon port
and joined HM Cruisers DANAE, DRAGON, DAUNTLESS and
DUNEDIN as
escort for HM Battlecruisers HOOD and REPULSE.
27th Sailed from Plymouth with
ships of World Cruise Squadron.
December
21st Arrived at Cape Town after
call at Freetown during Atlantic passage.
Took passage
to Durban
30th Passage from Durban to
Zanzibar.
1
9 2 4
January Arrived at Durban after calls
at Port Elizabeth, East London and Mossel Bay
1st Arrived at Zanzibar,
17th Took passage from Zanzibar for
Fremantle, Australia.
February Exercised on passage in Indian
Ocean.
28th Arrived at
Fremantle.
March Passage from Fremantle for visits to Albany, Adelaide and Melbourne.
April Passage from Melbourne to
Hobart.
3rd At Hobart, Tasmania.
6th Sailed from Hobart.
9th Arrived at Sydney.
20th Took passage from Sydney with
ships of Squadron for visits in New Zealand.
23rd Arrived at Wellington.
May
5th Deployed in New Zealand coastal
waters for visits.
16th Took passage for visits to
Empire territories in Pacific Ocean/
(Note: Visits were paid
to Suva, Samara, Fiji Islands, Apia, West Samoa.)
Passage to
Victoria, Canada with call at Pearl Harbour for visit to US Naval Base.
June Deployed at Victoria.
July
6th Visited Vancouver
On completion
of visits to ports on west coast of North America detached from HMS HOOD
and HMS
REPULSE with HM Cruisers DANAE, DRAGON, DAUNTLESS and DUNEDIN for
visits to
ports in South America.
August South American visits
programme in continuation.
to
October
November Return passage to UK
December Paid off and re-commissioned for
service in 1st Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet
1 9 2 5
January Prepared for foreign service
and took passage to Malta to join Squadron
to
February
March Deployed with Squadron in
Mediterranean and took part in exercise and visits programme.
1 9 2 6
Mediterranean
deployment with Squadron in continuation.
Took part in
Fleet exercises and visits programmes.
1
9 2 7
January Squadron deployment in
continuation.
Nominated for
detached duty on China Station.
February Passage to Hong Kong.
March Deployed at Hong Kong.
21st Following capture by
pirates of ss HOPSANG, a British flagged merchant ship
owned by the China
Steam
Navigation Company, despatched with HM Aircraft Carrier HERMES, HM Cruiser
FROBISHER and
HM Sloop FOXGLOVE to Bias Bay to recover the vessel.
22nd Provided Landing Party at
Bias Bay search for pirates.
(Note:
Pirates had left ss HOPSANG at Bias Bay. Landing
Parties destroyed junks and sampans
used for piracy.)
Returned to
Hong Kong.
April Detached service on
China Station in continuation.
to
December
1 9 2 8
January Returned to Mediterranean
and rejoined 1st Cruiser Squadron.
to Nominated for refit in UK
June
July Paid off and taken
in hand for refit.
to
December
1 9 2 9
January Under refit
to Nominated for
service in 8th Cruiser Squadron, America and West Indies Station.
June
July Deployed in West
Indies
to
December
1 9 3 0
Deployed in
West Indies and visited ports in South America and USA|
1
9 3 1
West Indies
Station deployment in continuation.
1 9 3 2
8th Cruiser
Squadron deployment in continuation.
Joined HMS
HOOD, HMS REPULSE, HM Cruisers NORFOLK and DORSETSHIRE
for visits
to Madeira and West Indies.
Deployed as
Flagship of 8th Cruiser Squadron before return to UK
1 9 3 3
Returned to
UK and recommisioned for further service in West
Indies
Transferred
to 3rd Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet.
1 9 3 4
Deployed in Mediterranean as
Flagship 3td Cruiser Squadron.
Took part
in Fleet exercises and visits.
1 9 3 5
Mediterranean deployment with Squadron in continuation.
1 9 3 6
Re-commissioned for further Mediterranean Fleet service in 3rd Cruiser
Squadron.
1
9 3 7
Mediterranean Fleet deployment with Squadron in continuation.
Nominated
for reduction to Reserve status.
1
9 3 8
January Prepared for return to UK
February Passage to Devonport to
Pay-Off.
March Paid-Off and destored.
April Reducing to Reserve
status.
to
June
July Laid up in Reserve
Fleet at Devonport
to
December
1 9 3 9
January Laid up at Devonport
to Nominated for transfer
to Reserve Fleet at Chatham.
June Towed to Chatham.
July Laid up at Chatham
War Station
allocated for service in 12th Cruiser Squadron for trade defence and
interception
of blockade
runners.
August (Note: It is assumed that
when Fleet was mobilised this ship was manned with Reservists.
In most cases the ships brought forward and manned by RNR and RNVR
personnel
attended the Royal Review held in Weymouth Bay at the end of this month.
However no record of attendance at the Review has been found.
After
re-commissioning took passage to Scapa Flow to join Squadron.
September
3rd At Scapa Flow
5th Passage to Portland.
6th At Portland.
10th Deployed for interception
patrol.
13th At Scapa Flow.
14th Interception patrol in
continuation.
18th Returned to Scapa Flow.
20th Deployed for patrol.
22nd At Scapa Flow.
25th Deployed for patrol.
October
1st At Scapa Flow.
6th Deployed for patrol.
13th Transferred to 11th
Cruiser Squadron in continuation of interception duties.
14th Sailed from Scapa Flow for
patrol
(Note: HM Battleship ROYAL OAK was sunk
at Scapa Flow by U47.
Fleet units were transferred to Loch Ewe and ships deployed for
interception duties
returned to Sullom Voe.
20th Returned to Sullom Voe.
22nd Sailed for patrol between
Faeroes and Iceland.
25th. Intercepted German
freighter REINGOLD SE of Iceland which was captured and taken to Kirkwall.
(Note:
This ship was later taken into service by the Ministry of War Transport and
renamed
EMPIRE MARINER.)
28th Returned to Sullom Voe.
31st Deployed for patrol.
November
6th At Sullom
Voe.
8th Sailed for patrol.
12th Intercepted German
freighter MECKLENBURG SW of Faeroes which scuttled on approach and
was
abandoned by crew. Boarding impracticable due to weather conditions and
mercantile was
sunk by
gunfire.
15th Returned to Scapa Flow.
23rd Deployed with HM Cruisers
NEWCASTLE, CALEDON, CARDIFF and HM Armed Merchant
Cruiser
RAWALPINDI for patrol in Faeroes-Iceland Gap in search for the German
SCHARNHORST
and
GNEISENAU known to be on passage to Atlantic for attacks on convoys.
Detached
with HMS NEWCASTLE to intercept German ships after loss of HMS RAWALPINDI.
24th
Sighted German
ships and ordered to shadow but lost contact in poor weather.
(Note:
Neither British ship had surface warning radar.)
Returned to
Scapa Flow.
25th Sailed for patrol.
December
2nd Returned to Sullom Voe.
8th Resumed Patrol duties.
16th Returned to Scapa Flow.
17th Sailed for patrol.
20th On relief took passage to
Belfast for refit and docking.
21st Taken in hand at commercial
shipyard.
1 9 4 0
January
10th On completion took passage to
Scapa Flow for patrol and interception duties.
12th Deployed for patrol
17th Returned to Scapa Flow.
(Note:
Following representation by the Senior Officer, Northern Patrol this Class of
ship was
withdrawn from service in the North Atlantic.)
Nominated
for duty in Mediterranean as Flagship of Destroyer Command at Malta.
18th Carried out last patrol in
NW Approaches.
19th Returned to Scapa Flow.
20th Took passage to Portsmouth
to prepare for foreign service.
31st Sailed from Portsmouth to
Gibraltar.
February
1st Part of escort for convoy
during passage.
(Note: One source suggests ship was deployed
in Atlantic before joining Fleet in Malta.)
March Joined Destroyer
Command and deployed in Mediterranean
April Mediterranean Fleet
deployment in continuation as Flagship for Rear Admiral (Destroyers).
(Note: During this period
the Mediterranean Fleet was preparing for war with Italy)
May Under refit in Malta.
June On completion
transferred to 9th Cruiser Squadron for convoy defence duty in Atlantic based
at
Gibraltar.
July Deployed at
Gibraltar and attached to newly formed Force “H”.
(Note:
Not directly involved in the action
against French warships at Oran by Force “H”.
(Operation CATAPULT.)
8th Joined HM Battlecruiser
HOOD, HM Battleships VALIANT and RESOLUTION, HM Cruisers
ARETHUSA and ENTERPRISE to
provide cover for air attacks on Cagliari airfield in Sardinia
by HM
Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL (Operation MA5)
(Note: HM
Destroyer ESCORT was torpedoed by Italian submarine MARCONI and sustained
major damage. Although taken in tow the ship foundered three days
later.)
9th Under high level bombing
attack by Italian aircraft
Operation
cancelled after these attacks since element of surprise had been lost.
(For
details of operations in Mediterranean in 1940-41 see Naval Staff History and
ENGAGE
THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett.)
31st Deployed with HMS HOOD, HMS
VALIANT, HMS ARETHUSA and HMS ENTERPRISE to
provide
cover by Force “H” for HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS during Malta aircraft
delivery and
air
attacks on the airfield at Cagliari (Operation HURRY)
(Note:
This information was only found in one source and further confirmation is
needed.)
August Deployed interception of
Vichy French ships during for operations in West Africa.
6th At Pointe Noire, but Vichy
ships had sailed.
19th Deployed with HM Cruiser
CORNWALL and intercepted Vichy French cruiser PRIMAGUETT
and tanker
TARN in Gulf of Guinea on passage to Libreville
After
negotiation French ships accepted escort to Casablanca instead of being engaged
in action
by British
warships.
24th Arrived at Casablanca and
French ships detached for entry.
Took
passage to join HM Battleships BARHAM and RESOLUTION, HMS ARK ROYAL, HM
Cruisers
DEVONSHIRE, AUSTRALIA and DRAGON in Force M for support of landings by Free
French
troops at Dakar (Operation MENACE).
(For details
of operations in West Africa see MENACE by Arthur Marder
and RELUCTANT
ENEMIES by
N Tute.)
25th Took part in bombardment of
ships at Dakar and damaged by return fire (Operation NASTY).
Returned to
Freetown with ships of Force M when operation MENACE abandoned.
October Resumed trade defence role
in South Atlantic.
Called at Cameroons.
November Deployed for support of Free
French attack on Libreville.
7th Carried out blockade duty
with HMS DEVONSHIRE. to prevent interference by Vichy French.
29th Embarked survivors from Vichy
French submarine PONCELOT from HM Sloop MILFORD.
(Note: PONCELOT had been sunk by HMS MILFORD on 8th November.)
December Resumed trade defence
deployment in South Atlantic.
1 9 4 1
January Atlantic deployment in
continuation.
Nominated
for refit in USA.
February Passage to New York.
March Under refit at US Navy
Yard, Brooklyn for conversion to an Anti-Aircraft Cruiser
to (Note: The two forward
and two after 6” mountings were replaced by US Navy 5” mountings which
November had an
anti-aircraft capability controlled by MK 37 USN Directors. No 3 midships 6” mounting
was retained. Additional weapons were fitted for close range defence
against aircraft.
The 6” mountings were later fitted in HM Armed Merchant Cruiser
ASTURIAS.
This ship was the only RN ship to be fitted with US destroyer gun
mountings.
Bridge structure was also modified and tripod masts were fitted
In addition preparations were made to install British radar equipment
including
changes to the new main armament fire control directors and provision of
new
compartments for the radar outfits with the new electric cabling.
December Post refit sea trials.
1
9 4 2
January
12th Refit work and trials
completed..
21st Arrived at Norfolk Virginia
prior to return passage to UK
February
4th Took passage to Plymouth.
15th Installation work for new
radar outfits in hand by HM Dockyard Devonport.
(Note:
Two Type 285 Fire control radar outfits fitted for forward and after main
armament
Type 282 Fire control radar was fitted for close range weapons mounted
on either beam.
Surface warning radar Type 271 sited forward of mainmast.
Aircraft warning radar Type 281 using both masts.
For details of development and use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D
Howse
and companion volumes
on equipment prepared by The Radar Trust.)
March Radar equipment
installation and trials in continuation.
April Deployed at Plymouth
for radar trials and shakedown..
May Retained in Plymouth
Command for convoy defence in Channel and SW Approaches
June Deployed with Irish
Sea Force.
17th Provided AA defence for rms QUEEN ELIZABETH during passage in NW Approaches to the
Middle
East, escorted by HM Destroyers BOADICEA, LEAMINGTON, KEPPEL, SALISBURY
and ST
MARYS. Designated as Convoy WS19Y.
18th Detached from rms
QUEEN ELIZABETH and returned to Clyde with escorting destroyers.
19th Deployed in Clyde to
work-up for operational service in Mediterranean.
July On completion resumed
deployment with Irish Sea Force for AA defence of convoys in Western
Approaches.
August Irish Sea Force
deployment in continuation
to
September
October Nominated for support of
planned allied landings in North Africa (Operation TORCH).
27th Took passage from Clyde with
HM Battleship RODNEY, HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS, HM
Escort
Aircraft Carriers BITER and DASHER and HM Cruisers JAMAICA and HERMIONE,
HM
Auxiliary AA Ship ALYNBANK as Force X to join Central Naval Force at Gibraltar
for
support of
Operation TORCH.
November
5th Joined Central Naval Force
at Gibraltar.
6th Sailed from Gibraltar with
HMS RODNEY, HMS FURIOUS, HM Escort Carriers BITER and
DASHER as
escort for Convoy KMF(O)1 for assault at Oran.
7th Joined Advance Carrier Force
to provide AA defence during Air operations..
8th Deployed with HMS RODNEY, HMS
FURIOUS, HMS HERMIONE, HM Escort Carriers BITER
and DASHER for AA defence during
landings.
(For
details see RELUCTANT ENEMIES, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and The
Naval Staff
History.)
9th Central Naval Force duties in continuation.
On release
too passage to Algiers for AA defence.
20th Under air attack whilst under
way off Algiers and hit by bomb on Quarterdeck which destroyed
stern
structure. Fighting efficiency seriously impaired but ship remained on patrol
with
reduced
speed capability and limited steering.
December Passage to Gibraltar for
temporary repair by HM Dockyard to allow passage to UK.
1 9 4 3
January On completion of dockyard
work took passage to Newcastle for repair by Palmers at Hebburn.
Taken in
hand on arrival.
February Under repair
to Nominated to resume
service with 12th Cruiser Squadron in Mediterranean on completion.
March
April On completion took
passage to Plymouth to prepare for operational duty.
May Retained in Plymouth
Command for convoy defence and support of interception patrols off
French
coast.
14th During deployment with HM
Destroyer TUSCAN and Polish destroyer ORP
ORKAN assisted
in
operation to save HMS TUSCAN after she struck a mine in Bristol Channel.
15th Escorted ORP ORKAN which had
taken damaged destroyer in tow.
Released
from Plymouth Command and took passage to join Squadron at Gibraltar.
June Deployed with
Squadron at Gibraltar
Nominated
for service in Support Force East during planned assault on Sicily.
(Operation
HUSKY).
July Joined HM Cruisers NEWFOUNDLAND,
MAURITIUS, ORION, CARLISLE and COLOMBO
in Support
Force East.
10th Deployed with Support Force
to cover British landings at Syracuse.
(For details see the
Naval Staff History and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY)
11th Support deployment off Sicily
in continuation.
(Replenishment was available in Malta and at Algiers.).
September Nominated for service in
Northern Attack Force (TF85) during planned landings at Salerno.
3rd Involved in collision with
HM Cruiser UGANDA during operation in Straits of Messina..
(Note: Ship
was obscured by smoke screen.
Temporary repairs were made later with US Navy assistance.
Deployed
with HM Cruisers MAURITIUS, UGANDA, ORION and HM Monitor ROBERTS
to provide
naval gunfire support during landings.
4th Northern Attack Force
deployment off beachhead for fire support and air defence in continuation.
to Under air
attacks and return fire from shore.
16th
17th Provided AA defence during
passage to Malta of HM Battleship WARSPITE for repair.
(Note: This
battleship had been hit by Glider Bomb off
the beachhead and was under tow.)
Destroyed Fw 90 aircraft during attack whilst on passage.
19th Arrived in Malta with HMS
WARSPITE.
Resumed duty with
Northern Attack Force.
October
12th Under repair in Malta.
November Released from Attack Force.
2nd Took passage to Gibraltar.
Deployed for convoy
defence in western Mediterranean and Atlantic.
December Gibraltar deployment in
continuation.
1 9 4 4
January Nominated to provide
additional AA defence at Anzio during landings of British 1st
Division
(Operation SHINGLE).
Passage to
Naples for briefing
25th Joined HM Cruisers DIDO, PHOEBE
,MAURITIUS and PENELOPE, HM Auxiliary AA
Ship ULSTER
QUEEN at Anzio for defence of assembled shipping and to provide naval
gunfire
support.
(Note:
Ships had been under attack by aircraft including glider bombs as well as
minelaying.
HM Destroyer JANUS had been sunk and HM Destroyer JERVIS badly damaged.
Submarines
had also been carrying out attacks.
Took part
in bombardment of shore targets at Formia.
February Deployed with HM Cruisers
DIDO, PHOEBE, PENELOPE, MAURITIUS, US Cruisers USS
to BROOKLYN and USS PHILADELPHIA
in support of operations at Nazi and for
AA
March defence.
(Note:
Ships were based at Naples and deployed in pairs for these duties.)
On release
from SHINGLE support took passage to Gibraltar to resume convoy defence duty.
April Deployed at Gibraltar
10th Joined US Task Group 65 ships
escorting military convoy UGS37 on passage in western
Mediterranean to reinforce AA defence with HM Frigate NADDER, US
destroyer USS
LANSDALE
and HM Corvette JONQUIL.
11th Under attack by torpedo
aircraft off Cape Bergut, Cyrenaica
US
destroyer USS HOLDER of original escort hit by torpedo and sustained major
damage.
12th Under attack by U407 during
which one mercantile was sunk and another damaged.
May
Gibraltar
deployment in continuation.
3rd Joined US Task Force 66 ships
escorting military convoy GUS38 during passage in western
Mediterranean
to Atlantic.
Under attack by U371 which is driven off
by escort after hit by T5 torpedo on a US destroyer
USS MENGES.
(Note: U371
was sunk on 4th May in Gulf of Bougie. See U-BOATS
DESTROYED by
P
Kemp.
5th Under attack by U567 and US
Destroyer FECHTELER sunk by H567 which escapes despite
counter
attacks.
June Gibraltar deployment in
continuation.
July Nominated for duty with
Task Group 88.1 of Carrier Task Force 88 to provide support during
planned
landings in South of France (Operation ANVIL/DRAGOON)
August Passage to join Task Force under over
command of US Navy..
15th Deployed with HM Cruiser ROYALIST,
HM Escort Aircraft Carriers KHEDIVE. EMPEROR
SEARCHER,
PURSUER and ATTACKER, screened by HM Destroyers TROUBRIDGE,
TYRIAN, TUSCAN,
TEAZER, TUMULT, WHEATLAND and Greek NAVARINON to
provide AA
defence during air operations.
(For details of
DRAGOON see LANDINGS IN SOUTH FRANCE and above references.
19th Detached with ships of Task Group
to refuel at Maddalena
21st Resumed AA defence duties with Task
Group south of Marseilles..
24th Returned to
Maddalena.
27th Detached from Task Group when it
was released from DRAGOON and returned to RN control.
September Deployed in western Mediterranean.
13th Present at formal re-entry of Free
French Navy top naval base at Toulon.
Nominated for
service to support military operations in Adriatic Sea.
October Passage to Adriatic.
Provided AA
defence for convoys and units off Yugoslav coast.
November Adriatic deployment in continuation
at Split.
10th Formal surrender of German forces at
Split carried out on board.
December Deployed at Split for AA defence
and support of harbour defences.
1 9 4 5
January Deployment at anchor in harbour
at Split for defence against attack by aircraft or small
surface craft.
February
12th Attacked by explosive motor boat at
anchor in Split.
Despite the
defensive boom several enemy craft entered the harbour.
Engaged enemy
craft with 20mm fire.
Landing craft
Flak ( LCF8) lying alongside the ship hit by explosive motor
boat.
The resulting
explosion caused damage aft including propeller “A” Bracket and Rudder equipment.
(Note: Damage
was not sufficient to seriously affect fighting efficiency. See report at PRO
in in
ADM199/890.)
March
12th Passage to Malta
April Passage to Sheerness.
May Underwent survey by HM
Dockyard Chatham and permanent repair assessed as uneconomic.
Ship to be Paid
off and reduced to Reserve status.
June
Destored
and reduced to Reserve at Chatham.
to
July
P o s
t W a r N o t e s
HMS DELHI
was taken in tow to the River Fal after being de-equipped where she was laid-up. After being placed on the
Disposal List in 1947 she was sold to BISCO for demolition by J Cashmore on 20th January 1948. In March of that
year she was taken in tow to Newport, Mon. and arrived at the breaker's yard on 5th March.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS DELHI
by Don
Kindell
Date convoy Joined
convoy
Convoy
No. Left convoy Date convoy
sailed as escort arrived
02/08/40 02/08/40 SL 042 08/08/40 21/08/40
04/06/42 08/06/42 AT 015Z 09/06/42 09/06/42
07/10/42 07/10/42 TA 024 08/10/42 14/10/42
05/10/42 10/10/42 AT 025 11/10/42 11/10/42
17/10/42 17/10/42 TA 025 18/10/42 22/10/42
11/12/42 12/12/42 MKF 004Y 14/12/42 24/12/42
24/05/43 25/05/43 GTX 001 26/05/43 04/06/43
19/05/43 27/05/43 KMF 015 28/05/43 27/05/43
31/05/43 02/06/43 KMS 015 08/06/43 14/06/43
16/06/43 17/06/43 KMS 016 unknown
28/06/43
18/06/43 22/06/43 XTG 002 unknown
29/06/43
30/08/43 30/08/43 KMS 024 05/09/43 10/09/43
06/09/43 06/09/43 TSF 001 09/09/43 09/09/43
04/11/43 24/11/43 UGS 023 25/11/43 01/12/43
22/11/43 unknown MKS 032 unknown 03/12/43
