SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2 by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2003 HMS GLASGOW  -  Town-type Light Cruiser including Convoy Escort Movements return to Contents List or back to Naval-History.Net

above left  - HMS Glasgow

(NP, click photographs for enlargements)

H. M. S. G L A S G O W

“SOUTHAMPTON” Class Cruiser ordered from Scotts at Greenock on 17th December 1934 and laid down on 16th April 1935. The ship was launched on 20th June 1936 by Mrs Stanley Baldwin, wife of the Prime Minister. She was the 7th RN ship to bear this name, introduced in 1707 for a Scots Navy 6th Rate completed in 1696 and named ROYAL MARY. The last ship to bear the name was a 2nd Class Cruiser built in 1909 and sold in 1927. Build was completed on 8th September 1937 but without some components of main armament fire control system. These items were fitted at the end of that year during her first commission. This cruiser escorted the liner rms EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA with HM King George VI embarked for passage to Canada in May 1939. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in May 1942 this cruiser was “adopted” by the civil community of the county of Lanarkshire.

B a t t l e H o n o u r s

LAGOS 1759 - HAVANA 1762 - ALGIERS 1816 - NAVARINO 1827 - FALKLANDS 1914 - NORWAY 1940 - BISCAY 1943  - ARCTIC 1943 - NORMANDY 1944  - FALKLANDS 1982*

(* Awarded to 8th HMS GLASGOW.)

H e r a l d i c D a t a

Badge:  On a Field Blue, the figure of St Kentigon.

M o t t o

Memor es tuorum:  'Be mindful of your ancestors'

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

1 9 3 9

September Deployed with 2nd Cruiser Squadron Home Fleet.

3rd Detached for patrol off Norway with Humber Force to intercept any

Commerce Raider attempting passage to Atlantic or any blockade runner

on passage to German port.

4th During patrol with HM Destroyer JERSEY Intercepted German freighter

JOHANNES MOLKEN BUHR which was then scuttled by crew.

8th Patrol duty in North Sea in continuation with HM Cruiser SOUTHAMPTON

22nd Deployed with HM Cruisers SOUTHAMPTON, SHEFFIELD and AURORA

for offensive patrol in Skaggerak.

Returned to Rosyth when operation cancelled after HM Destroyers JERSEY

JAVELIN were involved in collision.

26th Deployed with Home Fleet units to escort damaged submarine HMS

SPEARFISH on passage to base in North Sea.

Under air attacks.

October

8th Joined HM Battlecruisers HOOD and REPULSE with screen of Home Fleet

destroyers to carry out search for German battlecruiser GNEISENAU and

cruiser KOLN reported on passage in North Sea.

November

12th Deployed with HM Cruiser NEWCASTLE as escort for convoy of 19

tankers in SW Approaches.

25th Detached from convoy and returned to Scapa Flow

10th Joined HM Cruisers BELFAST, SOUTHAMPTON and AURORA

to form North Sea Striking Force based at Rosyth.

21st Returned to Rosyth after HMS BELFAST detonated a magnetic mine

when Striking Force was leaving harbour and planned operation was

cancelled.

November

23rd Carried out unsuccessful search off Norway with two destroyers for

German liner BREMEN.

Diverted to join Home Fleet ships in NW Approaches in search for

battlecruisers SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU after the sinking of

HM Armed Merchant Cruiser RAWALPINDI which had been escorting

an Atlantic convoy.

28th Deployed in an unsuccessful search for ss CITY OF FLINT which had

been captured by a German commerce raider and was on passage with

a Prize Crew to Germany.

December Deployed in North Sea and NW Approaches for interception patrol.

1 9 4 0

January Transferred to 18th Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet.

7th Escorted convoy in NW Approaches with HMS NEWCATLE.

February North Sea escort and patrol duties in continuation

17th Captured German trawler off Trondheim during patrol.

On release took passage to Belfast for routine docking and maintenance.

Deployed at Belfast.

(Note: During docking period Degaussing equipment fitted to prevent

protection against detonation of magnetic mines

See THE TORPEDOMEN by A Poland.)

For details of Home Fleet activities and work of the Northern

Patrol see Naval Staff History, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and ARMED MERCHANT

CRUISERS by K Poolman).

March

20th Resumed Home Fleet duties on completion of repair.

April

6th Passage to Rosyth from Scapa Flow.

7th Embarked troops and stores in Forth with HM Cruisers BERWICK,

YORK and DEVONSHIRE to take part in planned allied landings

in Norway (Operation RUPERT/R4)

8th Troops disembarked when Operation cancelled

Took passage from Forth with same cruisers to intercept enemy

warships reported on passage in North Sea.

9th Detached from search with HM Cruisers MANCHESTER,

SHEFFIELD, SOUTHAMPTON and AURORA to attack shipping at

Bergen after German invasion of Norway.

Bergen attack cancelled by Admiralty and rejoined Fleet units.

Under heavy and sustained air attacks during which HM Destroyer

GURKHA was sunk. Two ratings killed on board when ship was

“near missed”. See Naval Staff History (HMSO – 2001)

10th Detached with HMS SHEFFIELD and took passage to refuel at Scapa

Flow. Under further air attacks.

11th Sailed from Scapa Flow with HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD screened by

HM Destroyers SOMALI, SIKH, MASHONA, AFRIDI, MATABELE

and MOHAWK to carry out sweep in search of enemy vessels taking

troops to Norway.

13th Deployed with same destroyers to search for warships reported by

aircraft in Alesund area of Norway.

Diverted on Admiralty orders to carry out landings at Namsos by

seamen and marines from the two cruisers (Operation HENRY)

14th Landed advance party at Bangsund, near Namsos Oerat

On completion carried out patrol northwards (Operation HARRY).

17th Recovered landing party from destroyers.

Passage to Scapa Flow to replenish.

Nominated reinforcement of allied force at Andalsnes

(Operation SICKLE)

Passage to Rosyth for troops and stores.

22nd Sailed from Rosyth HM Cruisers GALATEA and SHEFFIELD,

screened by HM Destroyers VANSITTART, CAMPBELL, ICARUS,

IVANHOE, IMPULSIVE and WITCH.

23rd Anchored off shore on arrival and discharged passengers and stores

into destroyers and small craft for landing (Operation SICKLE)

On completion took passage to rejoin Home Fleet ships east of Shetlands.

28th Passage to Molde with HM Destroyers JACKAL and JAVELIN.

29th Embarked King Haakon of Norway at Molde with Crown Prince ,

Government ministers and allied legation personnel for passage to Tromso.

(Note: A quantity of gold bullion was also embarked.)

30th Passage to Scapa Flow from Tromso escorted by HMS JAVELIN

and HMS JACKAL, after passengers transferred to a Norwegian warship.

(For details of the disastrous operations off Norway see NARVIK by

D MacIntyre, THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by J Adams and

Naval Staff History).

May On arrival at Scapa Flow nominated for special duty and took

passage to Greenock.

7th Embarked Royal Marines at Greenock.

8th Sailed from Greenock for Iceland with HM Cruiser BERWICK,

HM Destroyers FEARLESS and FORTUNE to carry out initial

occupation prior to landing of military occupation force.

(Operation FORK)

10th Arrived at Reykjavik and disembarked Marines.

Sailed for with German nationals for internment and carried

out patrol in eastern fjords before final departure.

On arrival at Liverpool taken in hand for refit

June Under refit.

(Note: Work included installation of an RAF air-surface radar

modified for naval use (Radar Type 286M). For details of

development and use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA

by D Howse.).

10th Boarded and captured Italian freighter GAMBIANO in Liverpool

docks after Italy declared war.

July

1st Resumed Home Fleet deployment on completion of refit.

16th Deployed in North Sea with HM Cruisers SOUTHAMPTON,

SUSSEX and SHROPSHIRE in search for German warships.

During passage in fog at high speed, collided with HM Destroyer

IMOGEN off Duncansby Head.

Extensive fires started and structural damage forward above the waterline.

Rescued crew of HMS IMOGEN when fires became out of control

and this warship had to be abandoned.

22nd Taken in hand for repair at Liverpool.

August Under repair.

to

September

October Nominated for service in Mediterranean.

Resumed operational service on completion.

30th Took passage to Gibraltar with HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL and

HM Battleship BARHAM with screen of four destroyers.

November

6th Arrived at Gibraltar.

7th Embarked troops for passage to Malta and joined Force X with

HM Battleship BARHAM, HM Cruiser BERWICK, HM

Destroyers, GALLANT, GRIFFIN, GREYHOUND and

ENCOUNTER for passage to Malta (Operation COAT).

(Note: Cover for the passage of these reinforcements for the Fleet

in Alexandria was provided by Force H. See MALTA

CONVOYS by R Woodman, THE BATTLE FOR THE

MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre and Naval Staff History).

11th Landed troops in Malta and joined 7th Cruiser Squadron.

Deployed as escort for HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS with

HM Cruisers BERWICK, GLOUCESTER and YORK to provide cruiser cover

during air attacks on Italian Fleet at Taranto (Operation JUDGEMENT).

14th Embarked troops in Alexandria with HM Cruisers BERWICK,

YORK and SYDNEY (RAN) for passage to Piraeus, Greece.

16th Disembarked troops in Piraeus and took return passage to Egypt

23rd Deployed with HMS GLOUCESTER and HMS YORK with screen

of four destroyers for escort of Malta relief convoy MW4 as Force E

(Operation MB9 – Covered by Force D, HM Battleship RAMILLIES,

HM Cruisers BERWICK, COVENTRY and NEWCASTLE screened

by HM Destroyers DEFENDER, DIAMOND, GALLANT,

GREYHOUND and HEREWARD. Force C. HM Aircraft Carrier

EAGLE, HM Battleships MALAYA and BARHAM provided

Distant Cover. Part of major Operation COLLAR))

26th Arrived in Malta with ships of Force E and MW4.

27th Took passage from Malta with Force E.

28th Joined HM Cruisers MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON on

passage as Force F from Gibraltar to join Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria.

29th Deployed with Ships of Forces D, E and F as escort for Convoy ME4

during passage from Malta to Alexandria.

December

1st Arrived at Alexandria.

2nd Passage to Suda Bay, Crete.

3rd Under air attack at Suda Bay and damaged by two torpedoes.

Extensive flooding and some fires aft. Two shafts were damaged.

Returned to Alexandria at 17 knots.

10th Under temporary repair at Alexandria.

(Note: For further details see above references.)

1 9 4 1

January Under repair.

February Transferred to East Indies Station because of speed limitation

to 24 knots following damage at Suda Bay.

(Note: Only two shafts were available as repair not possible at Alexandria.)

15th Transit of Suez Canal; on passage to Indian Ocean.

(Note: Ship provided cover for passage of HM Supply Ships

GLENEARN, GLENGYLE and GLENROY to Mediterranean

as Force Y. They were to be deployed with Mediterranean Fleet

and later converted for use as Landing Ships (Infantry).

21st Diverted on passage to join search in Indian Ocean by East Indies

Fleet ships for German ADMIRAL SCHEER which had sunk a

Canadian Armed Merchant Cruiser.

22nd Continued search with HM Aircraft Carrier HERMES. HM Cruisers

AUSTRALIA (RAN), CANBERRA (RAN), EMERALD, SHROPSHIRE

and ENTERPRISE.

Ship’s WALRUS aircraft sighted SCHEER in a position 140 miles from ship

and surface contact not attempted because of inadequate fuel remaining.

28th Joined Force Y on release from search and escorted during passage to Aden.

March

16th Joined HM Cruiser CALEDON with HM Destroyers KIPLING and

KANDAHAR for escort of HM Armed Boarding Vessels

CHAKDINA and CHANTALA during passage to Berbera.

17th Provided naval gunfire support during landings of military units

at Berbera, British Somaliland, which was captured.

(Operation APPEARANCE)

On release from APPEARANCE deployed for convoy defence

and interception patrol in Indian Ocean.

April Passage to Seychelles for escort of ss TALAMBA.

Deployed with HM Cruiser CANBERRA (RAN) as escort for ss

TALAMBA from Seychelles to join military convoy WS6 on

passage from Mombasa to Aden.

10th Joined WS6 and relieved HM Cruisers CORNWALL and PHOEBE as

Ocean Escort.

(Note: HM Cruiser DORSETSHIRE remained with WS6)

13th Detached from WS6 and resumed interception patrol duties in

conjunction with HM Cruiser COLOMBO.

24th At Mombasa with HMS COLOMBO.

28th Joined military convoy WS7 as Ocean Escort with HMS

COLOMBO as relief for HM Cruiser HAWKINS.

(Note: WS7 included troopships on passage to Aden and Bombay.)

May

1st Remained with WS7 when convoy divided into sections for Aden

and Bombay (WS7X)

3rd Detached from WS7 Ocean Escort when convoy dispersed on its

arrival off Perim

20th During passage from Aden to Colombo diverted to carry out search for

commerce raider PINGUIN known to be active in Indian Ocean.

June Indian Ocean interception patrol and convoy defence duties in

to continuation, including call at Singapore.

September

October

17th Joined military convoy WS11X as Ocean Escort for passage to Bombay

after it had detached from WS11 during passage from Durban.

22nd Detached from WS11X on arrival at Bombay and resumed patrol duties.

November

17th Joined military convoy WS12 during passage from Durban to Aden and

detached as Ocean Escort for new convoy WS12J during passage to

Colombo.

(Note: WS12J comprised the troopships DUCHESS OF RICHMOND,

DOMINION MONARCH and EMPRESS OF CANADA.)

23rd Detached from WS12J on arrival at Colombo.

24th Deployed as Ocean Escort for DOMINION MONARCH and

EMPRESS OF CANADA as Convoy WS12 during passage in

Indian Ocean to Singapore.

26th Relieved by HM Cruiser DRAGON as Ocean Escort for rest of

passage to Singapore and returned to Colombo as escort for ss AWATEA.

30th Resumed Indian Ocean patrol duties on arrival at Colombo

December Deployed in Bay of Bengal.

9th Opened fire and sank Royal Indian Navy Patrol Vessel HMIS

PRABNAVATI which had been mistakenly identified as a

Japanese submarine. Landed survivors at Bombay.

(Note: This 500 ton ship had been requisitioned by the RIN).

1 9 4 2

January Convoy defence and patrol in continuation.

to

February

March Passage from Durban with HM Armed Merchant Cruiser

WORCESTERSHIRE to reinforce escort for military convoy.

25th Joined HMS NEWCASTLE and HM Sloop MILFORD as

Ocean Escort for military convoy WS16.

(Note: HMS NEWCASTLE detached later that day.)

April Nominated for repair and refit in USA.

1st Detached from WS16 on relief by HM Cruiser COLOMBO

and HM Armed Merchant Cruiser ALAUNIA.

(Note: Japanese naval units were known to be operating in

Indian Ocean. See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)

Took return passage to Mombasa.

Prepared for passage to USA and sailed from Mombasa.

May

6th Taken in hand for repair and refit by US Navy Yard in New York.

June Under refit.

to (Note: Work done included

Main armament Fire-control Radar Type 284, Aircraft warning

July Fire-control Radars Type 285 and 282, Aircraft warning Radar

Radar Type 281 installation and Radar Type 286M replaced by

new Type 271.

Close range AA armament improved by fit of additional 20mm

Oerlikon guns.)

August On completion of Post Refit trials took passage to UK to complete radar

installations at Portsmouth.

September On completion of refit work carried out trials off Portsmouth..

3rd Joined 10th Cruiser Squadron and worked-up at Scapa Flow.

October Resumed operational service with Squadron in Home Fleet

based at Scapa Flow.

November Home Fleet deployment in continuation.

December Under repair at Clyde commercial shipyard.

1 9 4 3

January Rejoined Squadron in Home Fleet.

20th Deployed with HM Cruisers BERMUDA and KENT to provide cruiser

cover against attack on Russian Convoy JW52 and return convoy RA52

during transit.

(Note: For details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO

RUSSIA by RA Ruegg, CONVOY ! by P Kemp, ARCTIC

CONVOYS by R Woodman and THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by

B Schoefield.)

February Deployed with Squadron for Home Fleet duties.

Provided cover for Atlantic convoys based in Iceland.

23rd Dragged anchor at Seidisfjord and grounded.

Towed clear by tugs.

March

2nd Deployed with HM Battleships KING GEORGE V and

HOWE to provide Distant Cover for return passage of

Convoy RA53 from Kola Inlet. See references.

30th Deployed for Northern Patrol based in Iceland.

During Area WHITE Patrol in Denmark Strait intercepted German

blockade runner REGENSBERG on passage from Japan. Enemy

ship scuttled on approach. Six survivors were rescued.

April Home Fleet deployment for interception and convoy defence

in continuation.

May Transferred to Plymouth Command for interception of coastal

shipping and blockade runners in SW Approaches.

June

12th Deployed to cover destroyer operations against French coastal

shipping with HMS BERMUDA.

20th Deployed in Bay of Biscay and SW Approaches to cover HM Escort

Aircraft Carrier ARCHER and frigates of Escort Group B5 during

anti-submarine operations.

(For details of the offensive carried out against U-Boats in transit

to and from Atlantic convoy routes see HITLER’S U-BOAT

WAR by C Blair, THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D

Macintyre, U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and

Naval Staff History).

29th Provided Ocean Escort for ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron

during minelay in Northern Barrage.

(Operation SN22A – See Naval Staff History (Mining).)

July Channel deployment in continuation.

20th Deployed with HM Destroyers ATHABASCAN (RCN),

IROQUOIS (RCN) and Polish ORP ORKAN for offensive

patrol in Bay of Biscay.

August Under refit by HM Dockyard Devonport.

to (Note: Aircraft facilities removed. Additional 20mm weapons

September