1
9 2 2
May
Contractors trials and commissioned for
service on China Station in 3rd Light
Cruiser Squadron.
June
2nd
Build Completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials in Nore Command.
July
On completion of trials worked-up for foreign
service in Home waters
to
August
September
Passage to join Squadron on China
Station.
October
Deployed with Squadron for visits and
exercises.
to
December
1
9 2 3 t
o 1 9 2 5
Deployed with Squadron on China
Station
(Note: Ship would have carried out
refits on Station with docking
facilities
available at
Hong
Kong
and Singapore.
1
9 2 6
China Station
deployment in continuation.
On 16th November this ship with HM
Cruiser VINDICTIVE was despatched from
Hong
Kong to search for pirates who had taken over the mercantile ss
SUNNING
and abandoned
the ship in a lifeboat.
1
9 2 7
Returned to UK
to pay off and re-commissioned for
service in 8th Cruiser Squadron
on America
and West
Indies
Station as Squadron Flagship.
Sailed for Bermuda on 20 December and after a stormy passage via the Azores
arrived in
Bermuda
on 31st December having damaged one
propeller and using one engine.
1
9 2 8
January
On completion of repairs deployed for
visits programme to ports in South
America.
to
April
May
Deployed in West
Indies
to
June
July
2nd
Sailed for Halifax,
Nova
Scotia.
On arrival off Halifax
towed HM Cruiser DAUNTLESS off rocks on
which this ship
had grounded.
12th
Took return passage to Bermuda
August
Deployed on West Indies Station for
exercise and visits programme.
to
December
1
9 2 9 t
o 1 9 3 0
West
Indies
deployment with Squadron in
continuation.
(Note: Docking and refits for ships in
Squadron were carried out
in HM
Dockyard at Bermuda
or in RCN dockyard at
Halifax)
1
9 3 1
January
Nominated for reduction to Reserve on
return to UK
pending refit
to
August
Passage to UK
from Bermuda
on relief.
September
In Reserve at
Portsmouth
to
December
1
9 3 2
January
Passage to Chatham
for refit
20th
Paid-off into Dockyard control and
taken in hand for refit.
February
Under refit
to
December
Carried out Post refit trials
1
9 3 3
January
On completion of trials took passage to
Portsmouth.
February
3rd
Re-commissioned for service in 3rd
Cruiser Squadron Mediterranean Fleet.
March
Deployed in Home waters and worked up
for service.
to
August
September
Passage to Alexandria
to join Squadron.
25th
Arrived at Alexandria.
October
Deployed with Squadron for exercises and
visits
to
December
1
9 3 4
Squadron deployment in Mediterranean
including joint exercises with ships of
Home Fleet at Gibraltar and Mediterranean Fleet Spring and Summer Cruises
(Note: Visits included ports in western
and eastern Mediterranean
with Fleet
Regatta.
1
9 3 5
January
Mediterranean Fleet deployment in
continuation
to
March
Nominated for attendance with HM Cruiser
COVENTRY
at Jubilee Review by
HM King George V at
Spithead.
April
Passage to Portsmouth
May
Deployed in Home waters and
prepared for Review ceremonials.
to
June
July
Present at Review.
On completion took passage to Malta
with Rear Admiral (Destroyers),
Mediterranean Fleet embarked.
August
Resumed Squadron duties
Deployed with HM Battleship RESOLUTION
in eastern Mediterranean
(Note: Following the Italian invasion of
Ethiopia
significant reinforcement of
of the
Mediterranean Fleet took place and Fleet
activities were adjusted to
to ensure
suitable response to any escalation of
hostilities in the area.
September
2nd
At Port Said
with HMS RESOLUTION.
15th
Rejoined Mediterranean Fleet units.
October
Deployed in Eastern
Mediterranean
with Squadron.
to
December
1
9 3 6
Squadron deployment in continuation with
Fleet units and including
exercises
planned to provide instant readiness to
deal with the existing
emergency and
the outbreak of civil war in Spain.
1
9 3 7
January
to
Deployed in Mediterranean
with Squadron which carried out Fleet
and
October
Squadron exercises and visits in
accordance with Fleet Programmes,.
(Note: Extensive deployments were made
by ships of Mediterranean Fleet
to deal with
civil war in Spain.
Ship visited Varna
in the Black
sea.
November
Passage to UK
December
Nominated for reduction to Reserve
Status.
Arrived at Portsmouth
1
9 3 8
January
Paid-off and de-stored
to
February
Accepted into Reserve at Portsmouth.
March
Laid-up at Portsmouth
in Reserve
to
December
1
9 3 9
January
Laid-up at Portsmouth
in reserve.
to
June
July
Brought forward for service to take-up
war station in South
Atlantic
on
mobilisation.
August
Commissioned at Portsmouth
for service with ship’s company mainly
of
Reservists and to be
deployed with 9th Cruiser Squadron in
South
Atlantic.
Took passage to Gibraltar
with HM Cruiser DAUNTLESS to take up
war station.
(Note: Attendance at Royal Review of
Reserve Fleet at Weymouth
to be confirmed.)
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
Sailed from Gibraltar
with HMS DAUNTLESS as escort for
convoy to Freetown.
14th
Arrived at Freetown.
21st
Sailed for patrol from Freetown.
October
Transferred to 8th Cruiser Squadron for
service ion West
Indies.
2nd
On return to Freetown
prepared for service based in Bermuda.
4th
Sailed for West
Indies.
23rd
Joined West Indies Station for trade
protection and interception of blockade
runners.
26th
Arrived at Kingston,
Jamaica
29th
Deployed for interception patrol in Caribbean
November
Diverted for interception operation in
Pacific.
19th
Transit of Panama
Canal.
21st
Deployed off west coast of South
America
December
5th
Intercepted German freighter DUSSELDORF
off Punta
Caldera,
Chile.
Captured enemy ship
which was taken as Prize.
15th
Resumed patrol duties in Caribbean
1
9 4 0
January
Caribbean
area patrol and interception in
continuation.
to
February
March
Intercepted German freighters TROSA and
HEIDELBERGH which both
scuttled on
approach.
April
Interception and trade defence duties in
continuation.
to
May
June
Under refit by HM Dockyard, Bermuda.
July
25th
On completion of post refit trials
resumed trade protection and
interception
patrol
duties.
August
Caribbean
area duties in continuation.
Detached from Squadron and returned to
Home waters prior to refit and repair
September
1st
Took passage from Kingston
for UK
29th
Sailed from Clyde
to Portsmouth
October
Under repair by HM Dockyard, Portsmouth
Nominated for
service at Gibraltar
with Force H on completion.
November
Took passage to Clyde
on completion of post refit trials
3rd
Arrived in Clyde
and took passage for Gibraltar as escort for HM Aircraft
Carrier ARGUS taking aircraft to Mediterranean
for onward flight to Malta.
(Note: For details of naval activities
in the western Mediterranean
during 1940
see THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN
by D
Macintyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by C Barnett, Malta
Convoys by R Woodman and the Naval Staff
History.)
15th
Deployed with HM Destroyers DUNCAN, FURY
and WISHART as escort
during
passage in western Mediterranean
to launch position for delivery of
aircraft to Malta
(Operation WHITE). Cover was provided by
HM Battlecruiser
RENOWN, HM
Cruiser SHEFFIELD
and screen of eight destroyers of Force
H.
(Note: Only four HURRICANE
and one SKUA aircraft of the 14 launched
arrived.
18th
On return to Gibraltar
joined Force H for Mediterranean
deployment.
25th
Joined HMS RENOWN, HM Aircraft
Carrier
ARK
ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD
as Force B to
provide cover for passage of Force F (HM
Cruisers SOUTHAMPTON
and MANCHESTER
to join Mediterranean Fleet in eastern Mediterranean
and a
convoy of mercantiles
taking stores to Malta.
(Operation COLLAR)
(Note: HM Destroyers FAULKNOR,
FIREDRAKE, FORESTER, FURY, WISHART
ENCOUNTER, KELVIN and JAGUAR were
deployed as Screen for Force B.
and HM
Destroyers DUNCAN, HOTSPUR, and VIDETTE
with four corvettes
as escort for
Force F.)
27th
Met HM Battleship RAMILLIES, HM Cruisers
BERWICK and NEWCASTLE
of
Mediterranean Fleet on passage to
provide cover during eastward passage.
Detached with HMS VIDETTE and HMS
WISHART as Close escort for mercantiles
after threat
of attack by an Italian naval force
including the battleship VITTORIO
VENETO
(Note: Italian force withdrew after
brief engagement by other ships of Force
B and
Mediterranean Fleet Battle of
Spartivento – See above references.)
29th
Returned to Gibraltar
with Force B.
December
Passage to Portsmouth
prior to resuming duties in West
Indies with Squadron.
1
9 4 1
January
Deployed for trade defence duties during
return passage to Bermuda.
February
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard,
Bermuda.
to
March
April
Resumed trade defence. interception
and patrol duties off east coast of South
America
to
July
and in Caribbean area.
August
Atlantic deployment with Squadron in
continuation.
15th
During operation with HM Armed
Merchant
Cruiser
PRETORIA
CASTLE
intercepted
German freighter NORDERNEY
NE
of Amazon estuary but ship scuttled on
approach.
September
Atlantic deployment in continuation.
to
November
December
Transferred to Pacific for service in
conjunction with US Navy Task Group to
intercept
any Japanese
attempt to attack Falkland
islands.
1
9 4 2
January
Pacific deployment in continuation
(Note: One source records service off Galapagos
Islands,
but this is to be confirmed.
Released from Pacific duties and
returned to Bermuda.
February
Passage to Bermuda.
8th Cruiser Squadron disbanded.
26th
Docking and routine maintenance at Bermuda.
March
20th
Deployed in South
Atlantic
for interception duties and trade
defence.
April
Nominated for return to Home waters and
took passage to UK.
Joined Home Fleet at
Scapa
Flow.
May
Passage to Chatham
for refit.
Taken in hand by HM
Dockyard, Chatham.
June
Under refit.
July
Refit completion transferred to Tyne
commercial shipyard
Passage to Tyne
August
Under refit
(Note: Close range AA defence was
improved by fit of eight 20mm single
Oerlikon
weapons.
Radar outfit Type 271 was fitted to
provide surface warning and a
Modified RAF Air-Surface radar naval
Type 286 also installed to provide
limited air
warning. For details of the development
and use of radar in the RN
see RADAR AT
SEA
by D Howse.)
September
On completion of post refit trials
resumed Home Fleet service and took
passage to Scapa
Flow
October
Worked up for operational service with
ships of Home Fleet at
Scapa
Flow.
Nominated for detached service at Freetown
for trade defence and
interception
patrol
4th
Joined military convoy WS23 in Clyde
with HM Cruiser DURBAN.
HM
Armed Merchant Cruiser QUEEN OF BERMUDA, HM Destroyer PUCKERIDGE,
and Greek
destroyer KANARIS as Ocean Escort during
Atlantic passage to Freetown.
15th
Detached from WS23 on arrival of Local
Escort from Freetown.
23rd
Rejoined WS23 with HM Sloop during
convoy passage to Cape
of Good Hope.
31st
Detached from WS23 before convoy arrived
at Capetown and took passage to join
military
convoy WS24 then on passage in Atlantic
from UK
to Brazil.
(Note: Atlantic passage for WS24, en
route to Middle
East
exceptionally been routed
via Bahia,
Brazil to avoid extensive US traffic on passage to North
Africa
for
the planned
landings in North
Africa
(Operation TORCH).
November
11th
Joined HM Armed Merchant Cruiser QUEEN
OF BERMUDA and HM
Destroyer
ILEX with HMS
ROTHERHAM to supplement Ocean Escort
for WS24.
17th
Detached from WS24 on arrival of
convoy at Bahia.
20th
Rejoined WS24 with HM Armed Merchant
Cruisers QUEEN OF BERMUDA,
ALCANTARA, HMS
ROTHERHAM and HMS ILEX as Ocean
Escort.
23rd
Detached from WS24 during passage in South
Atlantic
and resumed Trade Defence
and patrol
duties.
December
South Atlantic deployment in
continuation.
1
9 4 3
January
South Atlantic deployment in
continuation
to
March
April
Under self refit and routine
maintenance at Rio
de Janeiro.
May
Resumed South
Atlantic
trade defence and patrol duties.
June
South Atlantic deployment in
continuation.
Nominated for escort duty in Indian
Ocean
and took passage to join
military
convoy.
July
Passage to Indian
Ocean
an d joined by HM Destroyers QUADRANT
and REDOUBT.
26th
Joined military convoy WS31 as Ocean
Escort during passage to Bombay.
August
4th
Detached from WS31 on relief by HM
Cruiser FROBISHER.
and resumed
trade defence and patrol in Indian
Ocean.
September
Withdrawn from duties in South
Atlantic
Passage to Scapa
Flow.
October
Nominated for special duty in planned
operations after refit and
conversion to
new role at Portsmouth.
Passage to Portsmouth
and taken in hand by HM Dockyard.
November
Under refit and conversion for use as
depot ship.
to
December
(Note: 6in armament, a single 4in AA
mounting and the four triple torpedo
tubes
were removed.
Close
Range
AA defence was improved by installation
of 16 40mm
single weapons and two twin 20mm
mountings.
1
9 4 4
January
Under refit.
February
Nominated for support of planned landing
in Normandy
and to
to
April
be deployed as HQ Ship stationed at Arromanches
with MULBERRY
B in Eastern Task
Force Area.
May
On completion of post refit trials
prepared for new type of deployment.
June
In Solent
area during assembly of invasion
forces.
4th
Operation delayed by 24 hours.
6th
Joined Convoy EWP1 comprising six
personnel ships and two hospital
ships for
transit through swept channel escorted
by HM Sloops REDPOLE
and STORK, HM
Escort Destroyer EGLINTON, HM Frigates
DUFF and
HOTHAM.
7th
Passage to Arromanches.
9th
On arrival commenced Depot Ship duties
at MULBERRY B in Eastern
Task Force area.
(Note: NOIC for Naval Party 1500 was
Captain C H Petrie, DSO, RN)
16th
Present during visit to MULBERRY B by
HM King George VI.
24th
NOIC moved ashore and HQ duties
terminated
For details of naval activities before
and during NEPTUNE
see OPERATION
NEPTUNE
by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY
(HMSO).
July
Returned to Portsmouth
on release from NEPTUNE.
August
Nominated for refit and took passage to
Devonport.
September
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard,
Devonport
Nominated for
reduction to Reserve at Falmouth
and Paid-off.
October
Laid-up at Falmouth.
to
December
1
9 4 5
January
Selected for duty as an Accommodation
Ship at Portsmouth
Passage to Portsmouth.
February
Deployed at Portsmouth
as an Accommodation Ship.
to
August