LEANDER-Class
cruiser ordered under the 1930
programme from HM Dockyard Devonport
on 2nd March
1931 and laid down on 24th September that
year. She was launched on 31st March
1932 as the 14th RN ship to carry the name,
introduced in 1683 for a 2nd Rate
and last used for a 1909 battleship which
was sold in 1922. Build was completed
on 22nd February 1934. In 1939 she was
deployed in the South Atlantic.
1
9 3 9
September
Stationed
in south Atlantic and part of 6th Cruiser Squadron.
3rd
Deployed on patrol in Freetown
area.
8th
Returned to Freetown
from patrol to intercept
commerce raiders and German ships
attempting
return to Europe.
20th
Passage to Dakar.
26th
Sailed from Dakar
to join HM Cruiser CUMBERLAND
and the destroyers HYPERION
and
HUNTER for
combined patrol In search for enemy
shipping south of Ascension.
October
2nd
Returned to Freetown.
5th
Nominated to join Hunting Group
N which was never formed.
7th
Deployed on trade defence in Freetown
area because of activities
of commerce raiders
in
Atlantic.
16th
Sailed from Freetown
to join HM Aircraft Carrier
ARK ROYAL
18th
Joined Hunting Group K (HM Aircraft
Carrier
ARK
ROYAL and HM Battlecruiser
RENOWN)
Took
passage to Indian Ocean for raider search off Mozambique.
22nd
Rescued crew of German freighter ADOLPH
WOERMANN which scuttled off Ascension.
Later
transferred prisoners to HM Armed
Merchant Cruiser CARNARVON CASTLE.
November
Trade
defence duty in Indian Ocean and Atlantic.
Returned
to Freetown.
25th
Passage from Freetown
to Join HMS ARK ROYAL and
HMS RENOWN.
December
4th
Deployed with Hunting Group from
Capetown to search for German raider
GRAF SPEE
in
South
Atlantic.
12th
Joined by HM Aircraft Carrier HERMES, HM
Destroyers HOSTILE and HUNTER off St.
Paul’s
Rocks and took passage to Plate estuary.
(Note:
After GRAF SPEE scuttled this
re-inforcement was not required).
18th
After refuelling at Rio
de
Janeiro
rejoined HMS ARK ROYAL.
20th
Took passage to Freetown
with HMS ARK ROYAL.
26th
Arrived at Freetown.
1
9 4 0
January
8th
Deployed on interception patrol off Dakar.
Intercepted
British Q Ship BOTLEA (ss LAMBRIDGE) and
boarded without knowing
her
true identity and function.
February
Atlantic
trade defence and interception patrol in
continuation.
Nominated
for transfer to 7th Cruiser Squadron,
Mediterranean Fleet
To
be relieved by HM Cruiser GLOUCESTER
which never took place..
March
Took
passage to Malta
to join Squadron.
April
Deployed
with Squadron on patrol and for
exercises to prepare for the entry of
to
Italy
into the war.
May
(Note:
Other ships in Squadron were HM Cruisers
ORION, SYDNEY,
GLOUCESTER
and
LIVERPOOL.)
June
Deployed
with Fleet at Alexandria.
12th
Took part on offensive sweep off Benghazi
with HMS ORION and HMS
SYDNEY (RAN)
14th
Returned to Alexandria.
20th
Escorted French Battleship LORRAINE
with HM Cruisers ORION and SYDNEY
and HM
Destroyers
STUART (RAN), DECOY, HASTY and DAINTY
for bombardment of Bardia
(Operation
MA3- See Naval Staff History (HMSO-2001)
21st
Took part in bombardment and returned
to Alexandria.
27th
Sailed from Alexandria
with HMS EAGLE, HM
Battleships ROYAL SOVEREIGN,
RAMILLIES,
HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER,
LIVERPOOL,
ORION, H M Australian
Cruiser
SYDNEY,
HM
Destroyers
DAINTY, DECOY, DEFENDER, DIAMOND,
ILEX, JERVIS,
JUNO
and VOYAGER (RAN)
to cover
passage of two convoys (MS1 and MF1)
from Malta
to
Egypt.
(Note: These
convoys were carrying personnel
evacuated from
Malta).
28th
Intercepted Three Italian destroyers
with cruisers of Squadron off Zante.
Engaged
enemy destroyers and avoided torpedoes
(Note
Disabled Italian destroyer ESPERO was
sunk later by HMAS SYDNEY but
OSTRO
and ZEFFIRO escaped.
Because
of the expenditure of ammunition the
mercantile passage was cancelled.)
30th
During return passage to Alexandria
with Fleet under air attack
and ship’s
aircraft
damaged by near misses.
July
Prepared
to cover passage of same convoys
(Operation MA5)
4th
Took part in negotiation with French
cruiser to avoid bloodshed when
Admiralty
attempted
to impose rigid implications of
Operation CATAPULT on CinC
Mediterranean.)
(Note:
For details of Operation CATAPULT at Oran
and situation at Alexandria
see
RELUCTANT
ENEMIES by W Tute
and Naval Staff History
(HMSO – 2001).
7th
Sailed from Alexandria
with HMS EAGLE, HM
Battleships ROYAL SOVEREIGN,
WARSPITE,
HM Cruisers
GLOUCESTER,
LIVERPOOL,
ORION and SYDNEY (RAN)
screened
by HM Destroyers DAINTY,
DEFENDER,
HASTY, HOSTILE, HYPERION,
ILEX,
IMPERIAL, JANUS, JUNO,
VAMPIRE (RAN) and
VOYAGER (RAN).
9th
After Italian heavy units were
reported by aircraft from HMS EAGLE came
under fire
from
cruisers which disengaged when HMS
WARSPITE retaliated and attack by
aircraft
from HMS EAGLE.
(Battle
of Punta Stilo - first clash
with Italian Fleet units).
(Note:
Italian heavy squadron included the
battleships CAVOUR and CESARE, 16
cruisers
and screen of four destroyers.
See
THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN
by D MacIntyre and above
reference).
12th
Joined escort for Convoy MF1 with HMS
GLOUCESTER, HMS ORION and H M Destroyer
STUART
(RAN).
13th
Arrived at Alexandria
with MF1.
21st
Deployed SW of
Crete
with HM Battleships MALAYA,
ROYAL SOVEREIGN, WARSPITE,
HMS
EAGLE and HM Cruisers SYDNEY (RAN)
screened by ten Fleet destroyers to
cover
passage
of Convoy
23rd
Covered diversionary operation at
Castelloriso by HMS ORION, HM Australian
Destroyers
VAMPIRE
and VENDETTA.
27th
On completion of operation detached with
HMAS SYDNEY to meet HMS MALAYA, HMS
RAMILLIES
and HMS EAGLE south of Crete.
Under
air attack.
28th
Detached with HMAS SYDNEY to carry out
sweep away from Fleet.
Intercepted
and sank Greek petrol carrier ERMIONE.
August
Transferred
to Indian
Ocean
for trade defence duties.
(Note:
CinC had requested that an 8in cruiser
be provided but HMS AJAX was sent
instead
and was fitted with radar to give
warning of the approach of aircraft.).
Took
passage to Durban to carry out patrol and interception.
September
2nd
Deployed at Durban
for trade defence
30th
Transferred to South Atlantic Command
and took passage to Freetown for Atlantic
convoy
defence and interception patrol duty.
October
7th
Sailed from Capetown to Freetown
Returned
during passage for repair of defects.
November
8th
On completion took passage to Freetown.
Nominated
to relieve HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE.
Flag
transferred from DEVONSHIRE at Duala, French Cameroons.
Covered
military operation by Free French in Cameroons.
(Note:
See RELUCTANT ENEMIES).
Resumed
trade defence duties on release from
Free French operation.
December
Atlantic
trade defence in continuation.
2nd
Sailed from Lagos,
Nigeria
for patrol
18th
Deployed with HM Cruiser DORSETSHIRE in
search for German ADMIRAL SCHEER after
ss
DUQUESA had made a raider report to
divert attention from the break out of
German
cruiser
HIPPER into the Atlantic.
28th
Sailed from Freetown
to UK
and escorted convoy during
passage.
1
9 4 1
January
29th
Sailed from Gibraltar
February
4th
At Scapa
Flow
5th
Took passage to Plymouth.
Deployed
at Plymouth
Nominated
for refit.
March
Passage
to Sheerness.
Taken
in hand for refit by HM Dockyard
(Note:
One source records damaged in an air
raid. This is to be confirmed.)
April
Carried
out post harbour trials.
Nominated
for return to Mediterranean after work-up with Home Fleet,
May
On
completion of post refit sea trials took
passage to Scapa
Flow.
3rd
Joined 2nd Cruiser Squadron, Home
Fleet and commenced work-up..
Deployed
with ships of Squadron to escort. HM
Battleship KING GEORGE V and HM
23rd
Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS during
search for German Battleship BISMARCK.
Took
part in search operation after loss of
HM Battlecruiser HOOD.
25th
Detached with HMS VICTORIOUS and HM
Cruiser NORFOLK.
Covered
passage of military convoy WS8X against
possible attack by BISMARCK.
June
3rd
Joined HM Cruiser NORFOLK
with HM Aircraft Carrier
VICTORIOUS to strengthen the
Ocean Escort
for military convoy WS8X during
Atlantic
passage.
5th
Detached from WS8X to intercept German
ship GOZENHEIM, one of BISMARCK's
supply
ships
which had been reported by aircraft from
HM Battlecruiser RENOWN.
Enemy
ship scuttled on approach and hulk was
then torpedoed.
63
survivors taken to Gibraltar.
Took
passage to rejoin WS8X as Ocean Escort
during passage from Freetown
to Cape
of
Good
Hope.
24th
Detached from WS8X on arrival at
Capetown.
Joined
South
Atlantic Command at Simonstown.
28th
Rejoined WS8X for escort during passage
to Aden
July
Transferred
to Mediterranean Fleet
(Note:
This was due to heavy losses in defence
of Crete).
11th
Detached from WS8X on arrival at Aden
and made independent pass to
Alexandria.
20th
Deployed in Eastern
Mediterranean
in 7th Cruiser Squadron as
relied for HM Cruiser
LEANDER.
(HM
Australian Cruiser HOBART relieved HMAS
PERTH during this period.)
Embarked
Army and RAF personnel for passage to Cyprus
to reinforce garrison
(Operation GUILLOTINE).
22rd
Deployed with HM Battleships QUEEN
ELIZABETH, VALIANT, HM Cruisers NAIAD,
AJAX,
PHOEBE, LEANDER, CARLISLE,
ABDIEL and HOBART (RAN)
screened by HM
Destroyers
HASTY, HAVOCK, JACKAL, JAGUAR, JERVIS, KANDAHAR
and NUBIAN
for
diversionary sweep in eastern Mediterranean. (Operation MD5)
(Note:
This deployment was made to distract
enemy attention during passage of a
relief
convoy
to
Malta
from Gibraltar
(Operation SUBSTANCE).
25th
Returned to Alexandria
with Fleet units.
August
Eastern
Mediterranean deployment in
continuation.
September
25th
Deployed with HM Battleships QUEEN
ELIZABETH, BARHAM and VALIANT with
cruisers
of Mediterranean Fleet screened by
destroyers from Alexandria
for diversionary
operation
in eastern Mediterranean
(Operation MD5)
(Note:
This was during passage of convoy from Gibraltar
to Malta.
(Operation
HALBERD.)
27th
Returned to Alexandria
with Fleet units.
October
Fleet
deployment in continuation.
23rd
Carried out bombardment of petrol tanks
at Bardia with HM Cruisers AJAX and
HOBART.
November
17th
Carried out bombardment at Halfaya in
support of military advance in Western
Desert
(Operation
CRUSADER).
Nominated
for transfer to Malta
for interception of enemy
supply convoys.
27th
Took passage to Malta
as Force B with HM Cruiser AJAX,
HM Destroyers KIMBERLEY and
KINGSTON
to reinforce Force K.
(Note:
HM Cruisers NAIAD, EURYALUS, HM
Destroyers HOTSPUR and GRIFFIN
deployed
as Force C also sailed in company.
HMS
AJAX came under attack by torpedo
aircraft but was able to avoid the
weapon.
29th
Arrived in Malta
to join Force K.
30th
Deployed as Force B in
unsuccessful search operation with Force
K.
(Note:
Concurrent Force K deployment was
successful.)
December
5th
Escorted HM
Supply Ship
BRECONSHIRE on passage to Alexandria
with HM Cruiser
AJAX,
HM Destroyers KIMBERLEY,
KINGSTON
and LIVELY (Operation MD8)
6th
Detached with HMS AJAX and HMS LIVELY
from escort of HMS BRECONSHIRE.
7th
Detached from HMS BRECONSHIRE on
relief as escort for passage to Alexandria
by
HM
Cruisers HOBART (RAN), GALATEA and CARLISLE.
8th
Arrived in Malta.
9th
Deployed with HM Cruisers AURORA and
PENELOPE, HM Destroyers JAGUAR and
KANDAHAR
in unsuccessful search for
an enemy convoy.
10th
Returned to Malta.
17th
Sailed from Malta
with HM Destroyers JAGUAR
and KANDAHAR as Force B to support
Mediterranean
Fleet ships from Alexandria which were engaging Italian warships
attempting
to
prevent return of HMS BRECONSHIRE
bringing fuel supplies to Malta
(Operation
MF1 - First Battle of Sirte. See Naval Staff History,
ENGAGE THE
ENEMY
MORE
CLOSELY by C
Barrett and THE BATTLE
FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN).
18th
After Italian, warships withdrew
deployed in search for Italian convoy
M42.
Returned
to Malta
after failing to find M42.
On
return despatched with HM Cruisers
AURORA, PENELOPE, HM Destroyers
KANDAHAR,
LANCE, LIVELY and HAVOCK to
intercept the supply convoy reported
outside
entrance to Tripoli harbour.
During
passage, in position 20 miles from Tripoli,
ran into enemy minefield.
Hit
one mine and disabled.
Whilst
adrift hit second mine which wrecked
propellers and rudder.
Subsequently
detonated a third mine which caused
further damage aft.
Nearly
three hours later a 4th mine was struck
amidships and the ship then sank very
quickly.
Only
one seaman survived and taken prisoner.
He
was the only survivor out of a
complement of 764. (Casualty
List - note
on
casualties)
(Note: HMS AURORA and HMS PENELOPE
were also damaged but managed to return
to Malta.
Casualty List was published on 17th July 1942.)
