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 recommissioned 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.
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
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
PRIMAGUET
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 6in
mountings were replaced by US Navy 5in
mountings which
November
had an anti-aircraft capability
controlled by MK 37 USN Directors. No 3
midships 6in
mounting
was retained.
Additional weapons were fitted for close
range defence against aircraft.
The 6in 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 U567 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