1 9 4 0
September Contractors trials
30th Build completion and commenced acceptance trials
October
4th On completion of trials and storing took passage to Scapa Flow to work-up
with ships of Home Fleet.
Nominated for duty with Home Fleet in NW Approaches on completion
of work-up.
November Deployed with HM
Battlecruisers HOOD, RENOWN, REPULSE, HM Cruisers DIDO
arid
NAIAD in Bay at
Biscay to block entry by German pocket battleship SCHEER after attacks on
Atlantic convoys and loss of HM Armed Merchant Cruiser JERVIS BAY.
(For details see
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett).
December Transferred to Mediterranean
6th Routine docking at Clyde shipyard.
11th Rejoined Home Fleet.
Detailed for
escort of military convoy WS5B with HM Battleship RAMILLIES,
HM Cruisers AUSTRALIA (RAN) arid NAIAD during passage to Alexandria.
1 9 4 1
January
12th Joined military convoy WS5B in Clyde as part
of Ocean Escort during passage in NW
Approaches with
HM Battleship RAMILLIES, HM Cruisers AUSTRALIA (RAN), NAIAD
and EMERALD
. 15th Detached from WS5B to continue working-up for operational
service and for Atlantic convoy
defence.
February
18th Joined military convoy WS6A in Clyde as
Ocean Escort with HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM
and HM Armed Merchant Cruiser CATHAY during passage to Freetown.
(Note: HM
Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL, HM Battleships
RODNEY and MALAYA also
provided cover at different times during passage.)
March
1st At Freetown with WS6A.
8th Sailed from Freetown with joint military convoy WS6A and WS6B as Ocean Escort during
passage to Cape
of Good Hope with HMS BIRMINGHAM
and HMS CATHAY
21st Detached from convoy with four mercantiles as escort for passage into Capetown.
22nd Sailed from Capetown as escort for same
ships during passage to Durban.
28th Detached from mercantiles on
arrival at Durban and took independent passage
to Suez
via Aden.
April Joined 7th Cruiser
Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet.
18th Joined Convoy
ME7 with HM Cruiser CALCUTTA covered by HM Battleships
WARSPITE, BARHAM, VALIANT and HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE.
as escort during passage to Malta from Alexandria.
21st Took part in bombardment of Tripoli with HM Battleships WARSPITE, BARHAM
VALIANT, HM
Cruisers CALCUTTA and GLOUCESTER
(Operation MD2 -
For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, THE
BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN and The Naval Staff History).
23rd Detached with HMS CALCUTTA, HM Destroyers VOYAGER and STUART
(RAN)
for escort of Convoy AG13 to coast of Greece to begin evacuation of allied troops
To be based at Suda Bay during evacuation.
(Operation DEMON
- See above references and Naval Staff History).
24th Patrolled in Kithera Channel
with HM Cruiser PERTH (RAN) and
supported the
passage of convoy AG13
Deployed at Nauphlia with HMAS STUART and
HMAS VOYAGER.
(Note 2,500
troops were embarked.)
25th At Nauphlia with HM Cruisers AJAX,
ORION and PERTH (RAN) for evacuation
27th Covered passage of Convoy GA14 taking
troops from Nauphlia with HM Destroyers
DECOY and HASTY during passage south of Crete.
28th Took part in evacuation of 7,000 troops from Kalamata with HMS PERTH which could not be
completed due to enemy capture of area.
29th Deployed with HMAS PERTH, HMS CARLISLE and HM sloop AUCKLAND to cover
passage of evacuation
convoy GA15.
30th Relieved by m Battleships BARHAM, VALIANT and HM Aircraft
Carrier FORMIDABLE.
May
6th Deployed for escort of two convoys to Malta with HM Cruisers DIDO, CALCUTTA,
CARLISLE and COVENTRY screened by three destroyers.
9th Joined Fleet units covering passage of
convoy carrying tanks to Middle East.
(Operation TIGER
- See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY).
12th Deployed en defence of military convoys to Crete.
14th During cover of convoy with HM Cruiser NAIAD, HM destroyers
GREYHOUND and
HASTY as Force D.
Developed defect
and returned to Alexandria after being relieved by
HMAS PERTH.
18th After repair deployed on patrol off Crete with HM
Cruiser DIDO and three destroyers.
Assisted HMS COVENTRY in defence of Hospital Ship ABBA against air
attacks.
(See ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History)
19th Deployment for patrol and Interception of invasion convoys In continuation.
30th Assisted Sphakia evacuation with HM Cruisers PERTH, COVENTRY, CALCUTTA and HM
Store Ship
GLENGYLE as Force D.
(See THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre).
31st Took part in final evacuation at Sphakia with HM Cruisers
ABDIEL and COVENTRY,
HM Destroyers KIMBERLEY, HOTSPUR and JACKAL.
June
1st Sailed overnight and in action against aircraft with HM
Destroyer ISIS during the return passage
to Alexandria.
(Note: HM
Cruiser CALCUTTA was lost after air attacks during this passage.
See Naval Staff
History for details of evacuation operations which were carried out
under incessant air attack.
8th Deployed with HM Cruisers AJAX, COVENTRY and HMS GLENGYLE in support of military
operations in Syria against Vichy French (Operation EXPORTER).
(For details see
RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute).
9th Covered landings near Litania and
bombarded Australian troops in error.
Attack by Vichy submarine failed.
15th Deployed with HM Cruisers LEANDER and COVENTRY screened by three destroyers in a
search for Vichy French convoys north of Beirut
19th On relief by HM Cruiser NAIAD returned to Alexandria.
July Nominated for support
of garrison at Tobruk.
3rd Unsuccessfully attacked by Italian submarine MALACHITE in Eastern Mediterranean.
August Deployed for Tobruk support
and embarked stores and personal for passage.
Covered passage
of HM Cruisers ABDIEL and LATONA taking troops to Tobruk for the
replacement of the Australian Brigade.
27th Damaged by torpedo during Italian air
attack off Bardia whilst engaged in Tobruk support
duty.
Hit on starboard
side forward with major underwater damage which caused flooding of some
compartments.
September
1st Under temporary repair in Alexandria.
Arrangements
made for permanent repair in USA
.
October Took passage to New York.
November On
passage.
21st Taken in hand for repair at Brooklyn
Navy Yard, New York.
(Note: Work done
during refit included replacement of 4in mounting forward by Quadruple
40mm mounting in order to reduce top-weight and increase of 20mm AA
armament.
December Under repair
1 9 4 2
January Under repair
to
March
April Post
Refit trials.
27th Took passage to Plymouth.
May On
arrival taken in hand by HM Dockyard Devonport for completion of work on
Alterations and
Additions (A
and A's) which could not be completed
in USA.
(Note: This
included British radar equipment.)
June On
completion of dockyard work and trials preparation for operational service.
July Rejoined Fleet and
deployed for convoy defence in Atlantic after further repair
period at Scapa
flow.
Escorted convoy to Freetown.
August Passage
to Gibraltar with HM Aircraft Carrier INDOMITABLE.
5th During passage joined HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE,
VICTORIOUS, FURIOUS ARGUS,
HM Cruisers
CHARYBDIS and SIRIUS for exercises in fighter direction and operation
of several aircraft carriers together in preparation for
defence of a Malta relief convoy.
(Exercise
BERSERK - See RADAR AT SEA. by D House)
9th Joined escort for Malta convoy WS21S off Gibraltar.
10th Deployed in Force 2 covering passage of convoy to
Skerki Channel with HM Battleships
NELSON, RODNEY, HM Aircraft Carriers VICTORIOUS, INDOMITABLE and
EAGLE.
HM Cruisers SIRIUS and CHARYBDIS.
(Operation
PEDESTAL - See PEDESTAL by P. Smith, THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN
by D MacIntyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by C. Barnett, MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman and Naval Staff History)
20th Passage from Gibraltar to Freetown with HM Cruiser SIRIUS, HM Destroyers QUENTIN
and VANSITTART for Atlantic convoy defence.
24th Escorted rms QUEEN ELIZABETH to USA with HMS SIRIUS, HM Destroyers QUENTIN,
VANSITTART,
PATHFINDER and VIMY
September Deployed on convoy defence in
southern Atlantic and Indian
Ocean.
Detached with
HMS SIRIUS to assist South African Naval Force to establish patrols
for interception of blockade runners.
October Resumed convoy defence duty in
South Atlantic.
23rd During passage to Freetown hit abreast Q turret on port side forward by
torpedo
fired by U161 off Pointe Noire, Belgian Congo.
Sustained major
structural damage and flooding.
All forward
turrets unusable.
Escorted to Pointe Noire by HMS SIRIUS. Speed reduced to 6
knots.
25th
While tied up at a jetty, temporary repairs included the
removal of B turret.
December Repair arranged in USA.
Took passage via Takoradi and Trinidad escorted by HM Sloop BRIDGEWATER.
1 9 4 3
January On
passage.
15th Taken in hand for repair at Brooklyn
Navy Yard.
February Under
repair.
to
May
June Post
refit trials.
14th Passage to UK with call at Bermuda.
July Under
repair by Vickers Armstrong shipyard at Barrow in Furness.
(Note: Work done
included
Replacement of A turret.
Installation of
Fire control radar for HA mountings,
Modified warning
surface radar Type 272 and IFF Interrogation outfits fitted.
(For details of
development and use of radar see RADAR AT SEA by
D Howse).
8th On completion prepared for operational service
August Nominated for work-up with
Home Fleet
2nd Took passage to Scapa
Flow
Worked up with Home Fleet.
September
2nd Attached to Plymouth Command for interception operations
against French coastal convoys.
(TUNNEL
Operations - See HOLD THE HARROW SEA by P Smith).
October Transferred to Mediterranean
for service with 15th Cruiser Squadron.
Passage to Join
Squadron for deployment in support of military operations in Aegean and
for interception of German invasion craft.
(For details see
FIGHTING DESTROYER by G. Cornell).
15th Unsuccessful search with W Destroyers FURY and FAULKNOR for
invasion convoy.
18th Deployed with HM Escort Destroyers BELVOIR, BEAUFORT, HM
Destroyers FAULKNOR,
and FURY in defence of
Aegean islands and support of garrisons.
19th Bombarded enemy positions at Port Kalymos
and took stores to Casteloriso with HM
Escort Destroyer
HURWORTH.
24th Deployed with HM Escort Destroyers ALDENHAM and HURSLEY for
diversionary sortie
when Leros garrison was being reinforced.
26th Escorted HM Destroyer FAULKNOR, HM Escort Destroyers BEAUFORT
and BELVOIR
carrying troops to Leros.
Patrolled SE of Rhodes..
27th Returned to Alexandria when relieved by m Cruiser AJAX.
November
3rd Escorted HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, ECHO, PENN
and PATHFINDER taking 1st Battalion
KOYLI to Limassol.
(Note: Troops
were taking onward passage in these destroyers to Leros.
Refuelled destroyers which left
independently.
12th Escorted HM Destroyers ECHO,
DULVERTON and BELVOIR for passage to Kos to
relieve
HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, BEAUFORT and the Greek destroyer PINDOS.
Withdrew on arrival at Kos.
13th Under sustained air attacks in Aegean.
(For details of
operations in defence of Aegean islands see WAR IN THE AEGEAN by
P Smith and E Walker).
December ,After
loss of Aegean Islands returned to Malta for support of operation off the Italian coast
with ships of Squadron
1 9
4 4
January Deployment
in support of military operations in Italy in continuation.
25th Provided naval gunfire support during Anzio landings with HM Cruisers DIDO, DELHI,
ORION, PENELOPE, MAURITIUS, US cruisers USS BROOKLYN and USS
PHILADELPHIA
. (Operation
SHINGLE – For details see Naval Staff History).
(Note: During
the period up to 10th March 1944
sustained U-Boat attacks were made off
Beach Head.
February Support of military operations
at Anzio.
March Nominated for duty with
Eastern Fleet and to be converted for specialist use as a Fighter
Direction Ship.
Under repair in Alexandria including conversion work for new role.
April Conversion
work in hand.
May Passage
to Ceylon.
June
2nd Arrived at Trincomalee and Joined 4th Cruiser Squadron,
Eastern Fleet.
Deployed with Squadron for patrol and interception in Indian Ocean.
July Squadron
deployment in continuation.
22nd Joined m Battleship VALIANT, French battleship RICHELIEU, HM
Battlecruiser RENOWN
with ships of Squadron to cover air attacks on Sabang by HM Aircraft Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS
and VICTORIOUS (Operation CRIMSON).
25th Escorted HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and HMS VICTORIOUS screened by HM
Destroyers
ROEBUCK and RAIDER during air
attacks on airfields at Sabang, Sumatra.
On completion bombarded shore targets with other Eastern Fleet
ships.
August Under repair in Bombay
September Under repair
12th On completion rejoined Squadron.
October Deployed with Squadron in Indian Ocean.
17th Part of TG63.3 with HM Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE,
VICTORIOUS,
HM Destroyer
WHELP, WAKEFUL, WESSEX and WAGER during air attacks
on Nicobar Islands as a diversion for US landings on Leyte
(Operation
MILLET).
19th Air operations executed and resumed Squadron duties.
November Deployed with Squadron on
completion of MILLET,
17th Joined Force64 for fighter direction duty in support of Arakan landings.
(Operation AVON).
December
1st Joined m Cruisers NEWCASTLE, KENYA and NIGERIA In 5th Cruiser Squadron,
East Indies Fleet.
(Note: East Indies
Fleet was formed when some ships of Eastern Fleet were transferred to
British Pacific Fleet.)
1 9 4 5
January
2nd Part of Task Force 61 for cover of landings at Akyab by British and Indian troops with HM
Cruisers
NEWCASTLE and NIGERIA screened by destroyers.
Bombardment not
required as Japanese had withdrawn.
12th Provided fighter direction facilities during landings by the
3rd Commando Brigade between
Akyab and Ramree Island.
17th Embarked troops at Chittagong for Ramree landings in Burma
21st Joined Bombardment Group with HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH,
HM Destroyer
RAPID, HM Sloop FLAMINGO and HM Indian Sloop KISTNA (BIN)
to provide naval
gunfire support during
landings in northern part of Ramree Island.
(Operation MATADOS - for details see WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).).
24th Provided fighter direction facility for HM Escort Carrier
AMEER during landings by Royal
Marines on Cheduba Island (Operation SANKEY).
27th Covered 21st Carrier Squadron with HM Cruiser ROYALIST for Rangoon landings.
(Operation
DRACULA - Sea OPERATION PACIFIC by E Gray).
February Deployed with Squadron based at
Trincomalee for intercept patrol and support of military
to operations
March
April Deployed at Trincomalee
and prepared for planned operations in Burma
30th Deployed with HMS ROYALIST and ships of 21st Carrier Squadron
to cover assault landings
at Rangoon (Operation DRACULA)
May
1st Provided Fighter Direction during DRACULA landings
5th Deployed with 21at Carrier Squadron during attacks on
Japanese bases on coast of Burma
between Mergui and Victoria Paint.
{Note: 21st
Carrier Squadron comprised HM Escort Carriers HUNTER, STALKER
EMPEROR and PURSUER).
11th Supported Royal Indian Navy Sloops during offensive patrol in
Andaman Sea for the
interception of ships evacuating Andaman Islands
and to prevent delivery of any supplies to
garrisons
Joined Force 69
when relieved by HM Cruiser CEYLON and patrolled between Andamans
and Burma
June Patrol
and interception duties in continuation.
to Carried out
exercises with East Indies Fleet in preparation for Fleet for planned landings in
July (Note: These were
delayed by US insistence and also by implementation of the PYTHON
Scheme to return long serving personnel from SEAC to UK for release.
See
FINAL REPORT BY SUPREME COMMANDER SEAC
(HMSO) for details.
September Deployed with Squadron in Bay of Bengal
covering passage of assault convoys prior to
landings in Malaya (Operation ZIPPER)
(For details see
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO)
