Naval History Homepage and Site Search

 

 

SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2003

HMS BONAVENTURE (i)  -  Dido-class AA cruiser  
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Bonaventure (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

 return to Contents List 
 

 DIDO-Class cruiser ordered from Scotts of Greenock on 21st March 1937 under the 1937 Programme. The ship was laid down on 30th August 1937 and launched on 19th April 1939. She was the 10th Royal Navy ship to carry the name, introduced in 1?89 and previously used by a cruiser sold in 1921.The recently introduced aircraft warning radar Type 279 was fitted during build. For details of the development and use of radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

LOWESTOFT 1665 - FOUR DAYS' BATTLE 1666 - ORFORDNESS 1666 - SOLEBAY 1672 -  SCHOONEVELDT 1673 - TEXEL 1673 - BEACHY HEAD 1690 - BARFLEUR 1693 - CHINA 1900

H e r a l d i c  D a t a

Badge:  On a Field barry wavy of 6 White and Blue.

within a horseshoe inverted Gold, a Griffin 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 4 0

 

May

                24th        Commissioned for Contractors Trials.

 

June                        Contractor's trials in continuation.

                19th        Accepted Into service and prepared for work-up.

 

July

                5th          Escorted liners SOBIESKI, MONARCH CF BERMUDA and BATORY taking bullion

                                to Halifax, Canada escorted by HM Battleship REVENGE.

                18th        Sailed from Halifax via Bermuda for Scapa Flow.

                25th        Commenced work up for service with 15th Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet at Scapa Flow

 

August

                21st         On completion deployed with HM Cruiser COVENTRY to escort Atlantic convoy.

 

September             Deployed with Home Fleet in NW Approaches.

                13th        Deployed on Northern Patrol for interception of commerce raiders.

 

October

                16th        Detached to escort newly commissioned battleship HMS KING GEORGE V from Tyne to

                                Rosyth with HM Cruiser NAIAD screened by HM Destroyers BRILLIANT, ELECTRA,

                                MAORI and SIKH.

 

November              Nominated for duty in Mediterranean Fleet with 15th Cruiser Squadron.

                6th          Resumed Home Fleet Northern Patrol duty. Sustained weather damage to foc'sle deck.

 

December

                4th          Taken in hand for repair at Rosyth.

                                On completion deployed as escort for Middle East military convoy WS5A from UK.

                                (Note: This convoy included 4 ships carrying supplies for Malta and Piraeus as part

                                of Operation EXCESS - See THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D

                                Maclntyre and Naval Staff History (HMSO).)

                18th        Joined WS5 as Ocean Escort during passage in Atlantic.

                                (Note: HM Corvettes CLEMATIS, CYCLAMEN, GERANIUM and JONQUIL were also

                                part of escort to Freetown.)

                25th        In action with German cruiser HIPPER off Finisterre with H M Cruisers BERWICK and

                                DUNEDIN and HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS in defence of convoy.

                                (Note: 6in turret jammed in training as a result of which modifications were carried out in

                                all ships of this Class. (See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli

                                Barnett)

                26th        Rounded up ships of convoy which had scattered.

                28th        Detached with mercantiles taking passage through Mediterranean.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January

                6th          Part of Force F with W Destroyers HASTY, HERO, HERE WARD and JAGUAR as

                                escort to Skerki Channel where convoy was to be transferred to Mediterranean Fleet

                                ships already covering transit of convoys in Eastern Mediterranean.

                7th          Ships of Force H joined convoy to provide additional cover (Operation EXCESS).

                                (For details of operations in Mediterranean see THE BATTLE FOR THE

                                MEDITERRANEAN by D Maclntyre, MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman and Naval

                                Staff History (HMSO).).

                9th          Under air attack by Italian Savoia bombers, three of which were destroyed.

                                In action against two Italian destroyers with HMS HEREWARD.

                                Italian Destroyer VEGA sunk and the other damaged.

                                Minor superficial damage was sustained.

                                Covered tow of damaged destroyer HMS GALLANT by HM Destroyer MOHAWK to

                                Malta.

                11th        Arrived in Malta and joined 15th Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet.

                14th        Sailed with HM Cruisers PERTH (RAN), ORION and JAGUAR for Alexandria.

 

February                Deployed at Suda Bay with CS15 ships.

                24th        Joined HM Armed Boarding Vessel ROSAURA, being used as troop transport with HM

                                Cruiser GLOUCESTER, HM Destroyer HEREWARD and HM Destroyer DECOY for

                                commando raid on the Island of Casteloriso.

                                This was cancelled (See WAR IN THE AEGEAN by P Smith and E Walker and THE

                                NAVAL WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN by Greene and A Massignani.).

                27th        Escorted HMS ROSAURA with HM Cruiser PERTH screened by HM Destroyers HASTY

                                and JAGUAR to make second attempt at landing on Casteloriso

                28th        Patrolled north of Casteloriso during landings which proved a disaster.

 

March

                1st           Transferred to 3rd Cruiser Squadron.

                6th          Escorted Convoy AG1 to Pireaus with HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER and YORK

                9th          Returned to Alexandria.

                23rd        Damaged by bomb splinters during air attacks on Grand Harbour, Malta.

                                Under repair in Malta.

                                On completion rejoined Squadron at Alexandria for escort of convoys to Greece.

                                (Operation LUSTRE - See above references).

                30th        Joined HM Destroyers HEREWARD, GRIFFIN and STUART (RAN) for escort

                                of military Convoy GAS on passage to Alexandria (Operation LUSTRE).

                                Under attack by Italian submarine DAGABUR which was unsuccessful.

                                Torpedoed amidships on starboard side by Italian submarine AMBRA off Sollum.

                                Extensive flooding caused sinking within 6 minutes.

                                310 of crew rescued by HMS HEREWARD and HMAS STUART.

                                (Note: Official Casualty List was published on 17th May 1941.)

                                (Casualty List - note on casualties)

 

 

 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS BONAVENTURE

by Don Kindell

 

This convoy lists has not been cross-checked with the text above

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

29/03/41

30/03/41

GA 008

31/03/41

31/03/41

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 
 

back to Contents List
or Naval-History.Net

revised 3/6/11
further editing and formatting is required