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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 EDINBURGH  -  Edinburgh-class Light Cruiser
including Convoy Escort Movements

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Edinburgh (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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Improved SOUTHAMPTON or Edinburgh-Class "heavy" cruiser ordered on 15th August 1936 from Swan Hunter at Wallsend under the 1936 Estimates on with sister ship HMS BELFAST from Harland and Wolf at Belfast. The ship was laid down in December 1936 and launched on 31st March 1938 as the 45th RN ship to carry this name introduced for a 5th Rate Scots ship ROYAL WILLIAM transferred to the RN  in 1707 and last used for a Turret Ship in 1882, sold in 1910. Build was completed on 3rd August 1939 and she joined the Home Fleet for working-up before outbreak  of war. This cruiser was not adopted by a civil community as a result of a WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign during 1941 and 1942.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

FINISTERRE II 1747 - CAPE FRANCOIS 1757 - SYRIA 1840 - BALTIC 1854 - 55 - NORWAY 1940 - BISMARCK Action 1941 - ATLANTIC 1941 - ARCTIC 1941 -42

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge:  On a Field White, upon a moint of rock in base

Proper, a castle, triple turreted, mason White. the

flags, windows and portcullis Red.

 

 

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

 

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

 

 

1 9 3 9

 

August                  Contractors trials and commissioning

                3rd          Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

                On completion took passage to Scapa Flow to work-up with ships of Home Fleet.

                operation al service in 18th Cruiser Squadron.

 

September             On completion of work-up joined 18th Cruiser Squadron for Home Fleet duties.

                8th          Deployed with HM Battleship HOOD, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN and HM Cruiser

                                BELFAST in NW Approaches for interception of enemy merchant ships and raiders

                18th        Deployed on patrol in NW Approaches.

                26th        Joined HM Battleships NELSON and RODNEY, HMS HOOD, HMS RENOWN,

                HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL and HM Cruiser NEWCASTLE, screened by

                destroyers of the 4th and 8th Destroyer Flotillas covered by the 2nd Cruiser Squadron and

                ships of the 7th Destroyer Flotilla escorting the damaged submarine HMS SPEARFISH

                from Horns Reef.

 

October

                1st           Transferred to 2nd Cruiser Squadron when relieved by HM Cruiser SUFFOLK.

                8th          Searched with HM Cruisers GLASGOW and SOUTHAMPTON for the German battleship

                                GNEISENAU and cruiser KOLN reported in North Sea.

                16th        Damaged by splinters from near misses during air attack on ships of the Home

                                Fleet in Firth of Forth.

                30th        Under repair in HM Dockyard Rosyth.

 

November

                12th        Transferred to Humber Estuary for North Sea patrol duty in case of possible

                                break out of German warships into the Atlantic.

                23rd        Joined HM Cruisers SOUTHAMPTON and AURORA with three destroyers to search in

                                Fair Isle Channel for German Battleships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU following

                                the loss of HM Armed Merchant Cruiser RAWALPINDI.

 

December

                2nd         Returned to Humber for North Sea patrol duty.

                                Boiler clean in HM Dockyard, Rosyth.

 

1 9 4 0

 

January

                7th          Deployed with HM Cruiser GLASGOW for convoy escort In Atlantic.

                12th        Resumed interception duty in North Sea and NW Approaches.

                28th        Deployed with HMS GLASGOW and four Fleet destroyers to escort HM Submarine

                                SEAL during return from patrol and unable to dive.

 

February                Interception patrol in NW Approaches and North Sea.

                                (Note: For further information about Home Fleet operations between September

                1939 until the German invasion of Norway in April 1940 see ENGAGE

                THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and ARMED MERCHANT

                CRUISERS by K.Poolman).

 

March                    Under repair in builders shipyard at Newcastle to correct structural design

to                            weakness which had caused cracks in hull abaft hangar. Air warning radar Type

September             279 was fitted during this period.

                (Note: Details of design weaknesses in this ship and HMS BELFAST are given

                in A CENTURY OF NAVAL CONSTRUCTION by D. K. Brown, RCNC.)

 

October                  Joined 18th Cruiser Squadron and worked-up for service.

 

November              Deployed in Atlantic on convoy defence between UK and Freetown because of the

                                threat of German warship attacks. ADD New items in existing November 1940

                                record.

                17th        Joined military convoy WS4B at Liverpool as Ocean Escort during Atlantic passage

                                to Freetown.

                29th        Detached from WS4B on arrival at Freetown.

 

December              On return to Home waters from Freetown detached for patrol off Iceland with

                                HMS HOOD.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January

                3rd          Provided Ocean Escort for ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron during minelay in Northern

                                Barrage (Operation SN6).

                24th        Deployed with HMS BIRMINGHAM and destroyer screen to join HM Cruisers AURORA

                and NAIAD to cover passage to Kirkwall of merchant ships escaping from Sweden.

                Escorted the ships able to enter the North Sea to Kirkwall. (Operation RUBBLE).

 

February                Relieved HM Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN as escort for a military convoy TC9

                                bringing Canadian troops to UK.

                17th        Covered minelay by ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron in Northern Barrage.

                                (Operation SN7B and SN68A).

 

March

                3rd          Deployed with NIGERIA in support of Commando Raid on Lofoten Islands.

                11th        Covered minelay by ships of ML1 in Northern Barrage (Operation SN68B)

                24th        Joined HM Battleships NELSON and REVENGE in Clyde for deployment as Ocean

                                Escort for military convoy WS7 during Atlantic passage.

                28th        HMS REVENGE detached with mv GEORGIC for passage to Halifax.

                29th        Detached from WS 7 and returned to Scapa Flow to resume duty with Home Fleet.

 

April                       Deployed on convoy defence and interception in NW Approaches.

 

May

                6th          Covered minelay by ships of ML1 in Northern Barrage (Operation SN9A).

                7th          Diverted to Join HM Cruisers BIRMINGHAM and MANCHESTER with four

                destroyers to intercept German weather ship MUNCHEN.

                On approach. HM Destroyer SOMALI sent boarding party which recovered ENIGMA

                documentation before enemy ship sank.

                (Note: Battle Honour NORWAY 1940-41 must relate to this operation as HMS

                EDINBURGH was under repair during the operations off Norway in 1940).

                24th        Diverted to Join Home Fleet in search for German battleship BISMARCK after

                                the sinking of HMS HOOD.

                25th        Intercepted German supply ship LECH which was taken as Prize

                27th        Returned to Londonderry to refuel and resumed Northern Patrol.

 

June                        Home Fleet duties based at Scapa Flow for interception patrols in continuation.

                                Nominated for escort of military convoy.

                29th        Joined convoy WS9B in Clyde as part of Ocean Escort during Atlantic passage to Freetown.

                (Note: HM Armed Merchant Cruisers CATHAY, CHITRAL and MORETON BAY

                with HM: Cruiser GALATEA were also part of Ocean Escort.

 

July

                3rd          Detached from WS9B and took passage to resume Home Fleet duties at Scapa Flow.

                12th        Nominated for detached service with other Home Fleet ships for escort of Malta relief

                                convoy.

                15th        Detached from Home Fleet with HMS NELSON, HM Cruisers MANCHESTER and

                ARETHUSA, HM Minelayer MANXMAN and 11 Fleet destroyers to escort Malta

                relief convoy from UK (Operation SUBSTANCE).

                2Oth       Joined escort for Convoy WS9C during passage. Detached to join Force X.

                21st         Part of Force X with HMS ARETHUSA, HMS MANXMAN, HM Destroyers COSSACK,

                                MAORI and SIKH for escort of merchants through to Malta.

                24th        Under E-Boat attack in Skerki Channel.

                25th        Rejoined Force H ships with empty merchantmen for escort to Gibraltar.

                27th        Deployed in Atlantic for defence of Freetown convoys.

 

August                  Atlantic convoy defence duties in continuation.

                10th        Joined military convoy WS11 during passage in Atlantic from Clyde to Freetown and

                                relieved HM Cruiser LONDON as Ocean Escort.

                17th        Arrived at Freetown with WS11

                21st         Joined WS 11 on departure as Ocean Escort with HM Destroyer JUPITER during

                                passage to Cape Town.

 

September             Nominated for escort of military convoy.

                2nd         Detached from WS 11 on arrival at Cape Town and took passage to Gibraltar to join

                                escort for Malta convoy.

                18th        Deployed with HM Battleships PRINCE OF WALES, NELSON and RODNEY,

                                HM Cruisers KENYA, EURYALUS and Fleet destroyers for escort of convoy

                                GM1 from UK (Operation HALBERD).

                24th        Part of Force X with HM Cruisers KENYA, SHEFFIELD, HERMIONE and

                                EURYALUS for escort of merchant snips through to Malta.

                27th        Under heavy air attacks and a threat from a superior Italian force which did

                                not materialise.

                28th        Escorted returning convoy MG2 from Malta to Gibraltar.

                30th        Arrived at Gibraltar.

 

October                  Passage to UK with Home Fleet ships.

 

November              Deployed on convoy defence and interception duty in NW Approaches.

 

December              NW Approaches deployment in continuation

                                Nominated with HM Destroyers ECHO and ESCAPADE.

                12th        Joined PQ6 after delay due to heavy weather and refuelling in Iceland..

                                See ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman.

                13th        Detached for gunnery exercises.

                14th        Provided fuel to HMS ESCAPADE in extreme icing conditions.

                18th        HMS ESCAPADE detached to investigate engagement between HM Minesweepers

                                HAZARD and SPEEDY and German minelaying destroyers. See above reference.

                19th        Detached from PQ6 for escort of two Russian mercantiles into Murmansk

                20th        Lost contact with one mercantile and detached HMS ECHO to escort second ship into

                                Murmansk

                20th        Under air attack which was repelled by Russian HURRICANES.

                                Arrived at Murmansk with mercantile and took passage to Kola Inlet.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Deployed in Kola Inlet to await departure of return Convoy QP4.

                5th          Relieved Local Escort for Convoy QP4 from Archangel and deployed as Ocean Escort

                                with HM Destroyers ESCAPADE and ECHO.

                9th          Detached when QP6 dispersed and took passage to Scapa Flow.

                15th        Under refit in Tyne shipyard.

 

February                Under refit.

 

March

                8th          Rejoined Home Fleet and deployed on Northern Patrol.

                21st         Part of reinforced Home Fleet Distant Cover for Russian Convoy PQ13 and the

                returning Convoy QP9. Joined HM Battleships KING GEORGE V and DUKE OF YORK,

                HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS and HM Cruiser KENT.

                screened by eleven Home Fleet destroyers.

                (Note: This was required because of the threat presented by the deployment of German

                major warships, TIRPITZ, ADMIRAL SCHEER and HIPPER in Northern waters.

                For details of Russian Convoy operations see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                CLOSELY by Corelli Barrett, CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R. Ruegg and

                CONVOY ! by P Kemp).

 

April

                3rd          Met US Navy ships, the battleship USS WASHINGTON, aircraft carrier USS WASP, the

                cruisers TUSCALOOSA and WICHITA with a screen of nine USN destroyers as Task

                Force 69. These allied warships were joining the British Home Fleet whilst RN

                Ships were deployed for Madagascar landings.

                9th          Joined Distant Covering force for Russian Convoy PQ14 with the destroyers

                                HMS FORESIGHT and HMS FORESTER but did not join close escort.

                25th        Independent passage to Murmansk with steel plates for repair of the damaged

                                cruiser HMS TRINIDAD and to embark gold bullion for transfer to UK.

                29th        Sailed from Murmansk to join returning convoy.

                30th        On Joining escort for Convoy QP11 whilst taking position ahead of the body of

                ships was twice attacked by German submarine U456. The first attack failed but

                on the second attempt two torpedoes struck on the starboard side. One hit

                amidships and the other blew away the stern structure including the rudder.

                Although the ship was able to use the port shafts, steering by engines was

                impracticable because of the prevailing weather conditions. Little progress

                was made and a towing attempt by HMS FORESTER failed when the tow broke

                HMS FORESIGHT was then taken in tow by the damaged cruiser which proved

                much more successful until both destroyers had to be detached to refuel.

 

 

May

                1st           After making slow progress eastwards other RN ships and a Russian tug arrived

                but an attempt to tow again failed. Despite the significant damage the main

                armament could still be used in Local Control.

                2nd         Engaged German destroyers making torpedo attacks and hit SCHOEMANN which was

                abandoned by her crew and subsequently sank. One of the torpedoes fired by

                the German destroyer Z24 hit the ship on the port side amidships abreast

                the hangar. Further major damage amidships sealed her fate as it was unlikely

                that the structure could remain intact. As salvage was clearly impracticable

                the ship had to be abandoned. 790 men of the 847 in the complement were taken

                off by HM Minesweepers HARRIER and GOSSAMER before HMS FORESIGHT

                was ordered to sink the ship by torpedo. The final casualty list recorded that 78

                men were killed and 43 wounded. (Casualty List - note on casualties)

                For details see ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman and Naval Staff History.

                (Note: More details of this heroic action are given in THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS

                by B. B. Schoefield, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli

                Barnett, CONVOY! by P. Kemp and in the Naval Staff War History).

                95% of bullion was recovered in the 1981 despite the fact that the wrecked

                hull of HMS BELFAST is designated as a "War Grave").

 

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS EDINBURGH

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

 

 

 

 

 

26/10/39

26/10/39

NARVIK 1

31/10/39

31/10/39

04/11/39

04/11/39

ON 001/1

07/11/39

07/11/39

05/12/39

05/12/39

ON 004/1

08/12/39

08/12/39

18/12/39

18/12/39

NARVIK 2

24/12/39

24/12/39

29/12/39

29/12/39

ON 006/1

01/01/40

01/01/40

06/01/40

06/01/40

ON 007/1

09/01/40

09/01/40

15/01/40

17/01/40

ON 008/1

19/01/40

19/01/40

19/01/40

19/01/40

HN 008

22/01/40

22/01/40

24/01/40

25/01/40

ON 009/1

27/01/40

27/01/40

27/01/40

27/01/40

HN 009A

31/01/40

31/01/40

11/02/40

11/02/40

HN 010B

13/02/40

13/02/40

12/02/40

12/02/40

HN 011

15/02/40

15/02/40

13/02/40

13/02/40

ON 012/1

16/02/40

16/02/40

16/02/40

16/02/40

HN 012

17/02/40

19/02/40

17/02/40

20/02/40

ON 014/1

22/02/40

22/02/40

03/03/40

04/03/40

ON 017/1

07/03/40

07/03/40

04/03/40

04/03/40

ON 017A/

08/03/40

08/03/40

07/03/40

07/03/40

ON 018/1

10/03/40

10/03/40

07/03/40

07/03/40

HN 017

10/03/40

10/03/40

11/03/40

12/03/40

ON 019/1

14/03/50

14/03/40

14/03/40

14/03/40

HN 019

17/03/40

17/03/40

09/01/40

09/12/40

HN 007

12/01/40

12/01/40

17/02/41

23/02/41

TC 009

27/02/41

27/02/41

23/03/41

05/04/41

SL 069

14/04/41

unknown

24/09/41

24/09/41

HALBERD

27/09/41

27/09/41

08/12/41

11/12/41

PQ 006

20/12/41

20/12/41

26/12/41

05/01/42

QP 004

09/01/42

09/01/42

10/03/42

23/03/42

PQ 013

28/03/42

31/03/42

21/03/42

23/03/42

QP 009

28/03/42

03/04/42

28/04/42

30/04/42

QP 011

30/04/42

07/05/42

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

 

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