holding a
sword. all Gold.
orion1 9 3 9
September Deployed on the America and West
Indies Station with the 8th
Cruiser Squadron.
(Note:
Other ships in Squadron were HM Cruisers BERWICK, YORK
and PERTH (RAN).
3rd Deployed at Kingston, Jamaica for interception of blockade runners in Caribbean
area.
23rd Returned to Kingston and nominated for patrol off Curacoa.
October
1st Sailed for patrol from Kingston.
Returned to Kingston from patrol.
21st Sailed for Caribbean patrol from Kingston
23rd Sighted German tanker EMMY FRIEDRICH in Yucatan Channel.
(Note: This ship
later was scuttled when approached by HM Cruiser CARADOC).
26th Returned to Kingston
from patrol.
30th Sailed from Kingston
for patrol
November
8th Returned from patrol.
13th Sailed from Kingston
for patrol.
25th Returned from patrol
28th Sailed from Kingston
for patrol.
(For details of
Interception operations see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by
C. Barnett and THE BLOCKADERS by C. Hampshire).
December
5th Returned from patrol.
9th Sailed from Kingston for patrol
19th Intercepted German freighter ARAUCA off
coast of Florida with assistance from US Navy
aircraft.
Freighter
avoided boarding by reaching US coastal waters and entered Everglades
where
it was
interned.)
27th Returned from patrol
(Note: Ship had
spent 102 days at sea since outbreak of war,)
1 9 4 0
January
2nd Took passage from Kingston for routine docking at Bermuda.
5th Taken in hand by HM Dockyard Bermuda on
arrival.
February Nominated for passage via Canada and to bring the ashes of Lord Tweedsmuir
to UK
(Note: Lord Tweedsmuir was the famous author John Buchan who had been
Governor
General of Canada.)
Passage to Halifax.
Passage to
Devonport and deployed as escort to troopship ss
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD.
March Under refit in HM Dockyard
Devonport.
(Note: It is
assumed docking in Bermuda was deferred.
Work undertaken
at Devonport included installation of de-gaussing
equipment.)
14th Sailed from Devonport to rejoin Squadron in West Indies.
Nominated for
transfer to 7th Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet
April
1st Took passage from Bermuda to
join Squadron and for deployment as Flagship of
Destroyer
Command.
May Joined HM Cruisers
NEPTUNE, SYDNEY (RAN), LIVERPOOL and GLOUCESTER
in 7th Cruiser
Squadron at Alexandria.
Took part in
Fleet exercises arranged in anticipation of war with Italy.
June
11th Deployed with HM Battleships WARSPITE and MALAYA, HM
Aircraft Carrier EAGLE and
ships of Squadron screened by 12 destroyers of 2nd and 14th
Flotillas.)
Met HM Cruisers
CALEDON and CAPETOWN during passage.
(Note: This
deployment was made to intercept any Italian ships encountered and to provide
defence against
any attack on Malta. See Naval Staff History (HMSO-2002).
Other ships in
Squadron were HM Cruisers NEPTUNE, SYDNEY (RAN),
LIVERPOOL and
GLOUCESTER.)
12th HM Cruisers CALEDON and CALYPSO joined off Crete.
(Note:
HMS CALEDON was sunk by Italian submarine BAGNOLINI which had been
been
one of a group of submarines positioned to attack warships in the
eastern
Mediterranean For Full details of this RN deployment see Naval
Staff
History (HMSO, 2002).)
21st Bombarded Bardia with French
battleship LORRAINE, HM Cruisers NEPTUNE and
SYDNEY, HM
Destroyers STUART (RAN), DECOY, DAINTY and HASTY.
(Operation
MD3 – See Naval Staff History, Battle
Summary No 6)
(Note:
This was the last joint operation with French naval units based at Alexandria.)
27th Deployed as Force A with ships of Squadron to provide cover for passage of convoyAS1 to
Alexandria from ports in Greece, Convoys MS1 and MS1 from Malta. (Operation MA3)
Took part in
engagement with Squadron against three Italian destroyer s escorting convoy
SW of Crete. The
destroyer ESPERO which were covering escape of
the other two
destroyers
(OSTRO and ZEFPIRO). See reference for details.
28th Owing to the excessive expenditure of 6” ammunition by the
cruisers, passage of MS1 and
MF1 was
abandoned and Fleet units returned.
July
7th Joined Force "A" of Mediterranean Fleet with HM
Cruisers NEPTUNE, SYDNEY (RAN),
GLOUCESTER and LIVERPOOL to cover transit of Malta Convoys MS1 and MF1 in event
of interference
from Italian Fleet.
Under high level
air attacks which ware ineffectual.
9th In action against two Italian battleships, cruisers and
escorts with HHS EAGLE,
HM Battleships
WARSPITE and MALAYA (Battle of Calabria).
(For details of operations and actions in the Mediterranean
during 1940 –44 see THE
BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN
by D. Macintyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by
Corelli Barnett and the Naval Staff History).
10th Provided cover during refuelling of HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN and
destroyers.
24th Deployed with HM Australian Destroyers VOYAGER and VAMPIRE
for a diversionary
demonstration
off Casteloriso to divert enemy air activity away
from protection
of Aegean
convoys.
27th Deployed with HM Armed Boarding Vessels CHAKLA and FIONA
escorted by the RAN
destroyers for a
diversionary simulated landing approach on Casteloriso
. Fired starshell illuminations without any response from shore defenders.
31st Deployed with HMS NEPTUNE and HMAS SYDNEY screened by four
destroyers to carry out
diversionary
sweep in Aegean during Malta aircraft delivery by ships of Force H from
Gibraltar
(Operation MA3)
(Note: These
ships were now deployed as 7th Cruiser Squadron).
August
3rd Returned to Alexandria with ships of Squadron.
30th Joined HM Battleships WARSPITE and MALAYA, HMS
EAGLE, HMAS SYDNEY and
screen of ten
destroyers deployed as Force I to provide cover for transit of Convoy MS2
during
passage from Alexandria to Malta.
September
2nd Provided escort for ships of Force
F, HM Battleship VALIANT, HM Aircraft Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS, HM
Cruisers CAIRO and COVENTRY joining Fleet based at Alexandria
from Gibraltar
(Operation HATS). See above references for details.
4th Detached from Force I and carried out bombardment of
targets at Scarpanto with HMAS
SYDNEY, HM
Destroyers ILEX and DECOY.
Under attack by
Italian torpedo boats MA536 which was damaged and MAS 537
sunk by.
HMS ILEX
5th Returned to Alexandria.
28th Sailed from Alexandria
with HM Battleships WARSPITE, VALIANT, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS,
HM
Cruisers SYDNEY (RAN) and YORK screened by
11 destroyers to provide cover for the
passage of HM
Cruisers LIVERPOOL and GLOUCESTER taking troops to Malta.
(Operation MB5)
29th Under attack by high level bombing and later by torpedo
aircraft. See Naval Staff History.
(Note: Threat of
attack by Italian surface units did not materialise as enemy ships withdrew,
See
references.)
30th Remained with Fleet units when cruisers
carrying troops detached.
October
1st Sighted by aircraft which was shot
down by FULMAR aircraft from HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.
Cruisers
rejoined and Fleet units took passage to return to Alexandria.
Detached
with HMAS SYDNEY and took passage to Stampalia.
3rd Carried out night bombardment of Port Maltaezana.
Returned
to Alexandria with HMAS SYDNEY.
8th Sailed from Alexandria
with HM Battleships WARSPITE, VALIANT, MALAYA and
RAMILLIES,
HM Aircraft Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS and EAGLE, HM Cruisers YORK,
GLOUCESTER,
LIVERPOOL, AJAX
and SYDNEY (RAN) screened by 16 destroyers
including
HM Destroyers DAINTY, DECOY, IMPERIAL, JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO,
MOHAWK,
NUBIAN, VAMPIRE (RAN) and VENDETTA (RAN) to provide cover for
passage
of Convoy MF3 to Malta
and return Convoy MF4 to Egypt
(Operation MB6).
11th After arrival
off Malta detached with HMS AJAX, HM Destroyers NUBIAN and MOHAWK
to position
north east of Fleet units in intercept any Italian attempt to close Fleet units
and
convoy..
12th Enemy destroyers engaged by HMS AJAX which damaged ARTIGLIERE
and sank ARIEL
and ARIONE.
(Note: HMS AJAX
was damaged in this action,
ARTIGLIERE later
surrendered and sank after being abandoned. Position of survivors
was signalled on
commercial frequency to enable rescue of survivors by Italian ships.
For details see
above references.)
13th Rejoined Fleet to cover carrier air attacks on Leros.
14th Under air attacks off east end of Crete during
which HMS LIVERPOOL was hit by torpedo
and disabled.
Took HMS
LIVERPOOL in tow
15th Tow parted after 100 miles and the cruiser's forward
structure broke off.
Re-established
tow.
16th Arrived at Alexandria and detached after tow transferred.
See above
references for details.)
25th Deployed with HMS MALAYA, HMS EAGLE, HMAS SYDNEY, HM Cruiser COVENTRY
screened by HM
Destroyers JERVIS, JUNO and six other destroyers to provide cover for
passage of
Convoy AN5 in Aegean (Operation MAQ2)
(Note: This also
included anti-submarine sweep and air attacks Port Maltezana,
Stampalia.)
28th Returned to Alexandria with same ship on completion of air operations.
(Note: Greece entered WW2 after German ultimatum and made necessary the
provision of
assistance for
defence of Crete including establishment of base at Suda Bay.)
November Embarked RAF personnel and stores
at Port Said and took passage to Suda Bay.
Sailed from Suda Bay after disembarkation and joined Force A on Mediterranean
Fleet
on passage to
meet re-inforcements in transit from Gibraltar as
Force F and covering passage
to Malta of west bound Convoy MW3.(Operation COAT)
11th Detached from Force A with HM Cruisers AJAX. SYDNEY, HM Destroyers MOHAWK and
NUBIAN to carry
out attacks on convoys in Strait
of Taranto (Note: This was part of Fleet
Operation MB8.
(Note: HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS with Force A carried out air attacks on Italian Fleet at Taranto
to execute
Operation JUDGEMENT after HMS ORION detached to proceed to Strait
of Taranto).
13th Took part in night action with detached ships against convoy
of four mercantiles and the escort
off Brindisi.
All four mercantiles were sunk and the escorts were damaged.
14th Returned to Alexandra.
15th Embarked 1,000 troops at Alexandria for passage to Piraeus with HM Cruisers AJAX, YORK,
GLOUCESTER and SYDNEY (RAN).
20th Returned to Alexandria.
23rd Sailed from Alexandria Force A to cover passage of military
Convoy to Suda Bay.
(Note: Ships of
Force A included HMS WARSPITE, HMS VALIANT, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS,
HM Cruisers
SYDNEY (RAN). AJAX ,YORK, GLOUCESTER and GLASGOW
screen by nine
destroyers
This deployment
was part of a Operation COLLAR with Force H to pass reinforcement
ships to Alexandria from Gibraltar, return of HMS RAMILLIES and HMS BERWICK as
well as covering
Convoy MW4 to Malta (Operation MB9).
29th Detached from Fleet unite with HM Cruisers SYDNEY (RAN) and AJAX to provide cover for
Convoy ME4
during passage to Alexandria. See Naval Staff History.
December
2nd Arrived at Alexandria with ME4,
12th Deployed with HMAS SYDNEY and HMS AJAX to provide cover
passage of military convoy in
Aegean
(Operation MC3)
16th Refuelled at Suda Bay and resumed cover duty.
18th After rejoining Fleet units which were covering Convoy MW5 on
passage from Alexandria to
Malta detached to carry out fruitless anti-shipping sweep with
HMS AJAX and HMAS SYDNEY
between Bari and Durazzo screened by HM
Destroyers JANUS, JERVIS and JUNO.
(Note: Fleet
units carried out bombardment of Valona (Operation
MC2)
20th Rejoined Fleet units to cover passage of Convoy ME5 on
passage to Egypt
24th Returned to Alexandria.
.
1 9 4 1
January
6th Escorted RFA Tanker BRAMBLELEAF from Alexandria to Suda Bay, Crete with HM Cruiser
YORK and HM Corvettes HYACINTH, PEONY, GLOXINIA and SALVIA.
7th Passage from Suda Bay with HMS AJAX and HM Cruiser PERTH
(RAN) to join Fleet as
Force D
. 9th Joined Fleet for deployment to provide cover passage of
military convoy carrying tanks to Middle
East, the
transit of convoys MW5A/B and ME4 and from Malta as well as another convoy taking
stores for Greece (Operation MC4 – See Naval Staff History)
(Note: This was
part of joint Operation EXCESS with Force H to pass re-inforcements
to
Fleet at Alexandria, HM Cruiser BONAVENTURE and four destroyers with a
military
convoy to Piraeus and Egypt. (Operation EXCESS).)
10th Deployed for escort of EXCESS Convoy. Utter heavy and
sustained air attacks.
11th Detached with HMAS PERTH, HMS JERVIS and HMS JANUS to help
damaged Cruiser HMS
SOUTHAMPTON
on fire during heavy air attacks. On arrival assisted HM GLOUCKS1KR also
damaged and
later rescued survivors from HMS SOUTHAMPTON with HMAS PERTH and HM
Destroyer
DIAMOND.
Sank hulk of HMS
SOUTHAMPTON with three torpedoes.
February Deployed
with Fleet in Eastern Mediterranean
(Note: First
radar set fitted to Alexandria. Type 286M a modified RAF Air-Surface set used for
detection of
surface targets and limited air cover. For details of development and use of
radar by RN see
RADAR AT SEA by D. Howse and THE DEVELOPMENT
OF RADAR
EQUIPMENTS FOR
THE RN Edited by FA Kingsley.)
19th Took passage from Alexandria
with HM Cruisers AJAX and GLOUCESTER
screened by HM
Destroyers
NUBIAN and MOHAWK for Malta.
(Note:
Troops of Cheshire and Hampshire
Regiments and stores were embarked for passage.)
21st Arrived in Malta
and returned as escort for HM Supply Ship BRECONSHIRE and ss
CLAN
MACAULAY
during return passage to Alexandria
with HMS AJAX and HM Destroyers
HAVOCK
and HOTSPUR (Operation MC8)
(Note:
The two escorted ships were returning empty.)
March
4th Embarked troop at Suda Bay and escorted Convoy AG3 with AG3 to with HMS AJAX, HMAS
PERTH and HMS GLOUCESTER (Operation
LUSTRE).
(Note: Operation
LUSTRE was the passage of of additional support by
Army units for defence of
Greece.
12th Further embarkation of troops for passage to Pireaus (Operation LUSTRE
14th Deployed on offensive sweep in Aegean
against Italian convoys with HMS AJAX HMAS
PERTH and HMS GLOUCESTER
screened by four Fleet destroyers identified as Force 9).
20th Sailed from Suda
Bay with same ships to meet Fleet
units covering passage of Convoy MW6
during
passage to Malta
(Operation MC9)
21st Met Fleet units which detached and
continued as escort for MW6 to Malta.
23rd Rejoined Fleet units after arrival in
Malta of MW6 and later detached to resume covering duties
for
convoys to and from Pireaus.
25th Escorted Convoy AG9 to Pireaus with
HMS AJAX and HM Australian Destroyer VENDETTA.
27th At Pireaus and despatched to rejoin
Fleet units on passage to intercept major Italian units on
passage to
attacks LUSTRE Convoys.
26th Rejoined Fleet and detached to carry out patrol in Kithera Channel with same ships to report any
sighting of
Italian Fleet..
Made first
sitting of Italian cruisers and lead these towards Mediterranean Fleet.
Deployed to NE
of main Fleet during Battle of Matapan.
(For full
details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C. Barnett, MATAPAN by
SH Pack and
Naval Staff History.
29th Rejoined Fleet and returned to Alexandria.
31st Arrived at Alexandria with Fleet units.
April Based at Suda Bay with Cruisers of Mediterranean Fleet.
12th Deployed with HMS AJAX and HMAS PERTH, screened by six
destroyers to patrol along
North African
coast and provide support to military operation at Ras-el-Tin.
18th Deployed with Squadron and Fleet unite to cover the passage
to Malta of HM Supply
Ship
BRECONSHIRE and the return of four empty ships (Convoy ME7) to Alexandria.
(Operation
MD2)
21st Part of Force
"C" as escort for HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE with HMAS PERTH
and
HMS JAX during attacks on shore targets at Tripoli by Main Fleet), screened by HM
Destroyers
GRIFFIN, DEFENDER, KINGSTON and FURY (Operation MD2).
25th Returned to Suda Bay from Alexandria on completion of MD2.
26th Covered evacuation of allied troops from
Greece and then ordered to replace Store Ship HMS
GLENEARN
at Nauphlia with HMAS PERTH.
On
arrival joined HM Cruisers PHOEBE and CALCUTTA, HM Destroyers DEFENDER,
DIAMOND
and GRIFFIN.
Embarked
300 men taken off beach at Tolon
by HM Australian Destroyer STUART
(Operation
DEMON).
27th Passage to Suda Bay with HMS AJAX, HMAS PERTH and HMAS STUART.
29th Covered evacuation convoy GA15 taking
10,930 troops to Alexandria with HMAS PERTH,
HMS
PHOEBE, HMS DECOY and HMS HASTY.
Later
met HM Battleships BARHAM, VALIANT and MALAYA and
escorted GA15.
May
6th Deployed
with HMS WARSPITE, HMS BARHAM, HMS VALIANT, .HMS FORMIDABLE,
HMS
AJAX and HMAS PERTH with screen of 19
destroyers to cover Malta supply convoy
and
also a military convoy to Alexandria from central Mediterranean.
(Note:
HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM Cruisers NAIAD, FIJI and GLOUCESTER
were
also joining Mediterranean
from Gibraltar (Operation TIGER)
Joint
Operation MD4 with Force H.).
9th Met TIGER convoy with HMS AJAX, HMAS
PERTH, HMS DIDO and HMS PHOEBE
screened
by HM Destroyers KELLY, KELVIN and JACKAL.
12th Arrived at Alexandria with Convoy.
21st Deployed with HM Cruisers DIDO and AJAX screened by HM Destroyers HASTY, HERO,
GREYHOUND
and HEREWARD as Force D for patrol between Suda. Bay and Maleme
to
intercept invasion craft taking German troops to Crete.
Despite
sustained air opposition made successful attack
on caiques and mercantiles
NE of
Canae.
22nd Continued patrol and returned with Force
"D" to Alexandria to replenish.
28th Deployed with HM Cruisers AJAX and DIDO,
DECOY, .HM Destroyers HEREWARD,
HOTSPUR,
IMPERIAL, JACKAL and KIMBERLEY as Force "B" to evacuate troops from
Heraklion.
Under
air attack on passage and remained off shore on arrival to embark troops
from destroyers.
29th Sailed with 1,900 troops and came under
dive-bombing air attacks from daylight
until
about 100 miles from Alexandria.
Sustained
direct hits on "A" Turret and on
bridge structure with many casualties
(Note:
100 members of the ship’s company were killed and 260 troops with 280
troops
wounded.)
Ship
was disabled and fires caused with a loss of all services.
After
extensive damage control had been undertaken returned to Alexandria at 12 knots
June Under temporary repair at Alexandria.
29th Sailed for passage to Simonstown via Aden.
July Under repair in HM Dockyard, Simonstown during which catapult was removed and fitted in
HM
Seaplane Tender ALBATROSS.
Permanent
repair arranged in US Navy Yard.
August On completion of repair to allow safe passage,
sailed to San Francisco.
28th Transit of Panama Canal.
September
5th Arrived at Mare Island US Navy Yard.
Taken
in hand for repair.
October Under
repair
to
December
1 9 4 2
January Under
repair and post refit trials.
February Harbour
trials
15th Carried out sea trials on completion of
dockyard work.
(Note:
Work undertaken included preparation for installation of RN radar equipment.)
March Passage to Plymouth
April Taken in hand by HM
Dockyard Devonport for installation of radar equipment
to provide
aircraft warning (Type 279);surface warning (Type 273); Main armament
fire control
(Type 284) and Secondary armament fire control (Three Type 285)
Reference as
above.
21st On completion took passage to work-up and to carry out radar
trials.
28th Arrived at Lamlash to carry out
trials and work-up for operational service
May Deployed in NW
Approaches
June Under repair in Clyde
commercial shipyard
24th Passage from Clyde to Scapa Flow
26th Arrived at Scapa
Flow.
Nominated
for service with 15th Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet.
July Prepared for foreign service.
17th Joined military convoy WS21P in Clyde with HM
Destroyer NEPAL and Dutch destroyer
TJERK
HIDDES as Ocean escort during passage to Aden.
27th At Freetown with WS21P
August
13th At Capetown with
WS21P
16th Rejoined WS21P with HMS NEPAL and TJERK
HIDDES to relieve HM Cruiser
SHROPSHIRE
and HM Destroyer DUNCAN as Ocean Escort to Aden.
29th Detached from WS21P on arrival off Aden and took passage to join Squadron at Alexandria
September Passage in Indian
Ocean and Red Sea.
29th Suez Canal
transit
October Deployed in eastern Mediterranean
with ships of Squadron for interception patrol and support
of
military operations.
(Note:
Other ships in Squadron were HM Cruisers CLEOPATRA, ARETHUSA, DIDO and
EURYALUS.
November
16th Escorted Malta Relief Convoy MW13 with ships of Squadron
screened by HM Destroyers
JAVELIN, JERVIS,
KELVIN, NUBIAN, PAKENHAM, PALADIN, PETARD and HUNT
Class Escort
Destroyers.
(Operation
STONEAGE – See MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman)
17th Detached from MW 13 and returned to Alexandria with Fleet destroyers
