1 9 3 9
August
9th Attended Review
of Reserve Fleet at Weymouth.
War
complement joined and remained in commission.
War
Station allocated for Atlantic patrol with 4th Cruiser Squadron.
Completed
storing and took passage to join Squadron.
September
6th Joined Squadron at Portsmouth
9th Sailed for Scapa Flow
18th Carried out patrol in NW Approaches to
intercept enemy shipping on passage to ports in
Germany.
October
2nd After two patrols transferred to America and West Indies Squadron.
Took passage to Plymouth.
(For details of blockade operations
see THE BLOCKADERS by C Hampshire).
7th Embarked
gold bullion for transfer to Canada to pay for war materials obtained in
USA.
Sailed with HM Cruiser EMERALD
escorted by HM Battleship REVENGE and HM Cruiser
CARADOC.
22nd On
arrival at Halifax transferred to Halifax Escort Force.
23rd Deployed on patrol off eastern Canada.
November Deployed as Ocean Escort for Canada - UK convoys
2nd Sailed
from Halifax as escort for Atlantic convoy.
15th Arrived
at Portsmouth
December
4th Sailed
for Portland to resume Atlantic convoy defence. ,
8th Passage
from Portland to join convoy.
15th At Halifax.
19th Sailed
from Halifax for convoy escort duty.
29th Arrived at Portsmouth after detaching from convoy.
1 9 4 0
January
4th Sailed
from Portsmouth to join Atlantic convoy.
10th On
arrival at Halifax transferred to West Indies Station for trade protection.
14th Passage to Bermuda.
(Note: See entry for 27th February)
23rd Return
passage to Halifax.
26th On
arrival prepared for return to Portsmouth for refit.
February
27th During passage to Portsmouth intercepted
German freighter KONSUL HORN but could not board
because of weather.
Mercantile avoided capture and arrived safely in Germany.
(Note:
One source records this interception during January off Aruba and that blockade runner,
purporting
to be a Soviet mercantile was not detained.)
March
2nd Taken
in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Portsmouth.
April Under refit
Nominated for duty
with Home Fleet on completion.
11th Carried
out post refit trials and took passage to Scapa Flow.
14th Deployed with Home Fleet in support of operations in Norway (Operation RUPERT).
19th Came under unsuccessful attack by U65 off Lofoten Islands.
(Note: This was due to torpedo
failure. See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR Vol 1.)
21st Relieved
HM Cruiser EFFINGHAM on patrol off Harstad.
24th Bombarded enemy positions at Narvik with
H M Battleship WARSPITE, HM Cruiser AURORA
and HM Cruiser EFFINGHAM.
May Deployment
in support of military operations in continuation.
4th Rescued
survivors from Polish destroyer ORP GROM sunk in air attacks.
7th Deployed
with HM Cruiser CAIRO, HM Destroyer HESPERUS and HM Sloop FLEETWO0D to
take Scots
Guards to Mo to hold the southern approaches to Narvik.
11th Embarked
Scots Guards for passage to Mo.
Passage to Bodo with HM Destroyer HESPERUS, HM Sloop FLEETWOOD and ss MARGOT.
12th Landed
troops at Mo.
Came under
sustained air attacks.
13th Provided gunfire support to French Foreign Legion landings at
Herjansfjord.
29th Withdrawn from operational service.
Embarked
members of Norwegian Government and 20 tone of gold before passage to Devonport
for repair
(For details of the disastrous naval
operations off Norway see NARVIK by Donald Macintyre,
CARRIER GLORIOUS by
John. THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by J Adams and
Naval Staff History
(HMSO.)
31st Landed
passengers and gold before being taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard at
Devonport.
June Under repair.
Nominated for duty
at Gibraltar with newly formed Force "H".
22nd Dockyard
work completed. Joined Force H on formation at Plymouth.
29th Sailed from Plymouth to join HM
Battleships HOOD, VALIANT, RESOLUTION, HM Aircraft
Carrier ARK ROYAL, HM Cruiser
ARETHUSA and ships of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla at
Gibraltar.
July Arrived at Gibraltar and deployed with Force
"H" to attempt negotiation with the French Admiral
at Mers-el-Kebir for satisfactory disposal of French warships.
(Operation
CATAPULT - for details see THE DEADLY STROKE bv W. Tute
8th Covered
passage of HMS ARK ROYAL for air attacks on Cagliari with HMS HOOD, HMS
VALIANT, HMS RESOLUTION, HM Cruisers
DELHI and ARETHUSA screened by
destroyers
9th Under
high level air attacks.
10th Deployed
with Force H to provide cover passage of convoys threatened by attack by Italisn
warship in
western Mediterranean.
23rd Deployed
with screen of four destroyers to cover air strikes by HMS ARK ROYAL on targets
at Bordeaux and on enemy
shipping
(Note: This operation was cancelled
because of weather conditions.)
26th Returned
to Gibraltar.
31st Joined
HMS HOOD, HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FORESIGHT and
FOXHOUND as Group 1 of Force H to
provide cover for aircraft delivery to Malta
by HMS ARGUS
(Operation HURRY) and diversionary attacks by aircraft from HMS
ARK ROYAL (Operation CRUSH).
For details of naval operations in
the Mediterranean between 1940 and 1942 see THE
BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre, ENGAGE THE
ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by C
Barnett and Naval Staff History (HMSO).
August Transferred to West Africa Command as part of the
re-organisation of Force H.
28th Sailed for Capetown with call at Freetown.
September On arrival at Simonstown
became Flagship of South American Division.
Deployed for trade
defence and interception duty in South Atlantic.
(Note: German coumerce
raiders were active in South Atlantic.)
October Trade defence and interception in continuation.
25th Refuelled
at Buenos Aires.
November Convoy defence and interception duty in continuation.
December
7th Joined
HM Cruisers NEWCASTLE and CUMBERLAND in an
unsuccessful search for the
German raider THOR (Raider "E" - SCHIFF
10) after she had attacked and damaged HM
Armed Merchant Cruiser CARNARVEON CASTLE south east of Rio on 5th December.
18th Carried
out search for German battleship ADMIRAL SCHEER between Rio de Janeiro and
Plate Estuary with
the same ships.
1 9 4 1
January Deployed in South Atlantic and Indian Ocean for trade defence and
interception.
30th Replaced
HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE as Ocean Escort for military convoy WS5A during passage
in Indian Ocean.
(Note: This convoy from UK was taking troops to Middle East.)
February Transferred to East Indies Squadron.
1st Detached
from WS5Aand took passage to join escort for troop convoy on passage from
Australia to Aden.
22nd Detached
from convoy at Aden and joined HM Aircraft Carrier HERMES, HM Cruisers
AUSTRALIA (RAN)), CANBERRA (RAN), GLASGOW, SHROPSHIRE and EMERALD
as a Hunting
Group. Searched for German battleship ADMIRAL SCHEER in Indian Ocean.
24th After
search abandoned detached from Group and joined military convoy WS5BX off Mombasa
as Ocean
Escort during passage to Bombay.
(Note: This convoy was part of Convoy
WS5B and included ships destined for the Middle East
and Singapore.
Ships for Singapore were designated WS5BX.
The convoy comprised EMPRESS OF
AUSTRALIA, EMPRESS OF JAPAN,
ORMONDE and WINDSOR CASTLE.
27th HM
Cruiser CAPETOWN joined for Ocean Escort.
March
3rd Arrived
at Bombay with WS5BX.
5th Joined
4th Cruiser Squadron, East Indies.
Sailed from Bombay as escort
for rms AQUITANIAN and rms
EMPRESS OF JAPAN during
passage to Singapore.
8th HM
Cruiser DURBAN joined escort.
9th Detached
from convoy and took passage to rejoin Squadron.
April Covered
transit of military convoy to Basra for occupation of Iraq.
(Operation COUNTENANCE.)
28th Deployed
at Basra with H M Aircraft Carrier HERMES and H M Cruisers LEANDER and
EMERALD to support
landings of allied troops after pro-German revolt in Iraq.
May Remained in Persian Gulf in support of military
operations.
June Resumed trade defence and interception duties
in Indian Ocean.
July Indian Ocean deployment in continuation.
to
August
September Deployed with HM Cruisers MAURITIUS
and HAWKINS for the interception of a Vichy
French convoy on
passage in Indian Ocean to Madagascar from Indo China.
(Operation SNIP -
See WAR WITH JAPAN).
12th Search for Vichy French convoy unsuccessful.
(Note: This was possibly due to
diversion of RAF aircraft. See Reference.)
October Indian Ocean trade defence duty in continuation.
November Under
refit at Colombo.
(Note:
During this period the two 6" gun mountings fitted amidships on either
beam
were replaced by two quadruple 21b Pom-pom mountings for
defence against
air attack at close range.)
December After
outbreak of war with Japan deployed for escort of military convoys in Bay of
Bengal to Rangoon and Singapore.
(Note: For details of Fleet
dispositions see WAR WITH Japan (HMSO)
1 9 4 2
January Part of escort for military convoy EM10 during
passage to Singapore.
Returned to Colombo,
February Embarked Royal Marines (VIPER Force) at Colombo for passage
to Rangoon for the
defence of Burma against Japanese advance.
11th Arrived
at Rangoon and resumed convoy defence role after landing marines.
March Deployed in Indian Ocean.
7th Relieved
US cruiser USS PHOENIX as escort for Convoy MS5 in Celebes Sea.
31st Allocated
to Force "A" of Eastern Fleet with HM Battleship WARSPITE, HM
Aircraft Carriers
INDOMITABLE, FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers,
CORNWALL, DORSETSHIRE and
EMERALD.
Took part in unsuccessful search for Japanese warships reported to be
heading
towards Ceylon.
(For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY, OPERATION PACIFIC by
E Gray and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)
April
5th Carried
out further search for Japanese ships which were not intercepted,
6th Rescued
1,122 survivors from HMS DORSETSHIRE in Indian Ocean with HM Destroyers
PALADIN and
PANTHER.
Landed survivors at
Bombay after refuelling at Addu
Atoll.
May Deployed
in Indian Ocean on interception and trade defence duties.
30th Joined
military convoy WS18 with HMS EMERALD for Ocean Escort during passage in
Indian Ocean as reliefs
for HM Battleship RESOLUTION and H M Seaplane Carrier
ALBATROSS.
June
2nd Remained
with WS18 as escort for Bombay Section when Aden Section detached.
7th Detached
from WS18 on arrival at Bombay and resumed Squadron duties.
July Escorted Troopship MONARCH OF BERMUDA during
passage from Aden to Kilindini.
(Note: This mercantile had been part
of military convoy WS19 and was on return passage
to UK after troops disembarked in Egypt.)
16th Joined
military convoy WS19P to relieve Dutch cruiser HEEMSKERK as Ocean Escort
during
passage in Indian Ocean.
17th Detached
with Bombay section (designated Convoy WS19PB as Ocean Escort.
23rd Detached from WS19PB on arrival at Bombay and resumed Squadron duties.
August Indian Ocean deployment in continuation.
Passage to join military convoy WS
21PG
20th Joined
WS21PG off Durban with HM Destroyer DUNCAN and HM Corvette
CYCLAMEN for Ocean
Escort during initial phase of passage to Persian Gulf.
(Note: HM Armed Merchant Cruiser was
already with convoy)
25th Detached
from WS21PG with HMS DUNCAN during passage and resumed Squadron duties
for trade
defence.
September Indian Ocean deployment in continuation.
11th Joined
military convoy WS21B as relief for HM Cruiser HAWKINS as Ocean Escort.
19th Detached on arrival of remaining mercantiles
from WS21B at Bombay.
(Note: Two of the five ships in WS21B
detached during passage for Persian Gulf as
independents.)
Took passage to Bombay.
27th Nominated for return to UK via Cape of Good Hope.
October Refuelled at Aden and took passage to Killindini.
21st During
passage took part in search by HM Cruisers MAURITIUS and HAWKINS for a
Japanese mercantile suspected as
being used as submarine supply ship.
(Operation DEMCAT).
(Note: This operation was terminated
on 30th October)
27th Diverted
during passage in Atlantic to assist HM Cruiser PHOEBE which had been beached
at Pointe
Noire in French Equatorial Africa after being hit by torpedo from U161.
On entry at 16 knots with two paravanes streamed on either beam both fouled.
(Note: One on a lighthouse and the
other on the Mole. This brought the ship to a
halt !
November Deployed off west African
coast.
1st Resumed
passage to UK.
2nd Arrived
at Freetown.
December Passage
to Clyde.
Paid off and taken in hand for refit
at commercial shipyard.
1 9 4 3
January Taken in hand for refit in Clyde shipyard.
February Under refit
to Work carried out included: -
October Replacement of the two 6"
mountings on either beam.
Fire control radar Type 284 fitted on
forward Director for forward twin 6” mounting
Fire control radar Type 285 fitted
amidships for AA defence
Fire control radar Type 282 fitted
for Pom-pom weapons
20mm
Oerlikon guns added for close range air defence.
Two tripod masts fitted for aircraft
warning radar Type 281.
Surface warning Radar Type 272 fitted
with aerial on foremast structure.
(For details of development and use
of radar see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
Nominated for service with 4th
Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet
November Carried out post refit trials and prepared for service.
December Worked-up at Scapa Flow with Home Fleet.
On completion transferred to Plymouth
Command for interception duties in Biscay of
Biscay.
(For details of
naval operations in Channel between 1941 THE NARROW SEA by P Smith).
2?th Deployed with HM Cruiser GLASGOW to join HM Cruiser GAMBIA for interception of
German blockade
runner ALSTERUFER (Operation STONEWALL).
28th In
action in Bay of Biscay with HMS GLASGOW against ten destroyers and torpedo
boats on
passage to escort ALSTERUFER.
Engaged at 18,000
yards.
Defect in forward gun turret
training.
Sank torpedo boat
(T26) by torpedo.
(Note: During this engagement
destroyers Z27and T25 were also sunk.)
Some survivors rescued by British
ships which later came conventional bombing
and by radio
controlled glider bombs.)
29th Arrived at Plymouth with machinery defects.
Taken in hand for
repair.
1 9 4 4
January On completion resumed interception duties in
Plymouth Command.
February Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Devonport.
Aircraft and catapult landed and four
additional 20mm Oerlikons added.
March Post refit trials.
5th Deployed
in SW Approaches for convoy defence and interception duties.
April Nominated for support of allied landings in Normandy (Operation
NEPTUNE).
. Transferred to 1st
Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet.
14th Detached
for duty with Bombarding Force A in support of Assault Force "U" with
American Western
Task Force.
(For details of naval operations in
support of Normandy landings see OPERATION
NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944 (HMSO).
Prepared at Portsmouth for support role.
Nominally part of
Home Fleet.
May Passage
to Belfast.
25th Joined
Bombardment Force "A" (HM Cruisers HAWKINS, BLACK PRINCE, HM
Monitor EREBUS, US battleship USS NEVADA, US cruisers USS TUSCALOOSA,
USS QUINCY and Netherlands Gunboat SOEMBA).
June Passage
to Plymouth.
3rd Sailed
with Assault Convoy U1A from Plymouth.
5th Passage
from Solent to Western Task Force area.
6th Bombarded
St. Martin de Vassville batteries and other defence
positions during the
assault on UTAH Beach with ships
of Bombardment Force "A".
20th Detached
and took passage to Portland.
24th Sailed
from Portland with Group 1
of TF129.
25th Bombarded
shore batteries at Querqueville with USS NEVADA, USS
TUSCALOOSA,
USS QUINCY and HMS
GLASGOW.
(Note: Preliminary phase at long range
(25,000 yards) had been cancelled and
all the
ships moved
to 13,000 yards.)
Under heavy fire
from shore but without serious damage.
26th Returned to Portsmouth on completion.
Released from NEPTUNE duties.
July Transferred to RN control.
4th Deployed
off Normandy in support of British military operations with HMS RODNEY,
HM Monitors EREBUS, ROBERTS, HM Cruisers MAURITIUS, ARGONAUT,
DRAGON and EMERALD.
(See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY,
June 1944.)
17th Provided
naval gunfire support for British attacks near Caen with HMS MAURITIUS
and
ROBERTS.
18th Continued bombardment of Caen area.
August
4th Rejoined
Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
At Rosyth for
replacement of gun-barrels.
September Detached for further bombardment
duties in support of military operations.
Deployed at Portsmouth for
bombardment duties off Dutch coast in support of 2nd
British Army.
Not used operationally.
(Note: Transfer to Royal Canadian
Navy for use as training cruiser considered but
not
implemented.
October Withdrawn from
operational service
Took Passage to Rosyth to Pay-off and
reduce to Reserve status.
16th Joined Reserve Fleet at Rosyth.
Future deployment
for trooping duties under consideration.
November Reducing
to Reserve Category "B".
December In Reserve at Rosyth.
1 9 4 5
January In Reserve
to Refit approved for conversion to suit
trooping duties.
February
March Under refit by HM Dockyard, Chatham
to (Note: Three 6" mountings removed.)
April
May Carried out post refit trials and prepared
for new duty.
June Trooping deployments:
to To Bombay 6 - 7/45
December To Colombo 8 - 9/45
To Colombo 10 - 11/45
To South Africa 12/45
