1 9 3 9
August
Deployed for
training based at Sydney,
War Station nominated and to be
transferred for service with the RN on the China Station
based at Singapore.
September
Deployed for
patrol off eastern Australia.
4th - Carried
out patrol off Port Stephens.
9th - Deployed
with HM Australian Destroyers STUART and WATERHEN in search for a submarine reported off Broken Bay. This proved to be
false.
October
14th - Took
passage to Singapore with HMAS STUART and WATERHEN.
On
arrival carried out anti-submarine training.
November
Transfer to
Mediterranean Fleet requested by Admiralty and approved by RAN.
13th - Took
passage from Singapore with HMAS STUART, VOYAGER
and WATERHEN to join Mediterranean Fleet in Malta.
15th - Detached
to land sick Medical Officer at Penang.
19th - Rejoined
RAN Flotilla at Colombo.
20th - Resumed
passage with Flotilla and carried out patrol.
December
Passage through
Red Sea and Suez Canal.
14th - Arrived
in Malta for Fleet duties with RAN destroyers as 19th Destroyer Division.
1 9 4 0
January to
April
Deployed with HMAS STUART,
VAMPIRE, VOYAGER and WATERHEN for interception
patrols to enforce Blockade and for exercises
with Destroyer Command in anticipation of the entry of Italy into hostilities.
May
Fleet duties in
continuation. Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to I69.
27th - Transferred
to newly formed 10th Destroyer Flotilla with RAN ships.
June
Under refit by
HM Dockyard Malta.
July
Resumed
Flotilla duties on completion of post refit trials.
9th - Deployed
with HM Destroyers DIAMOND and JERVIS as escort for Convoy MF1 during passage from Malta to Egypt. (Note: This was part of Operation MA5 to take supply
ships from Malta and evacuate non-essential personnel. It
was a repeat of an earlier attempt which
was abandoned.)
10th - HM
Cruisers GLOUCESTER, NEPTUNE, ORION and HMAS STUART joined
MF1 to reinforce escort.
13th - Detached
from MF1 to join escort for HM Battleship RAMILLIES which was providing Distant Cover.
14th - Arrived
at Alexandria.
19th - Deployed
with HMAS VAMPIRE as part of screen for HMS ORION to join HM Australian Cruiser SYDNEY after the action with
Italian warships during which the Italian Cruiser BARTOLOMEO
COLLEONI was sunk in Gulf of Athens. (For details see NAVAL WAR IN
THE MEDITERRANEAN by J. Green and A Massignani and THE
BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre.)
20th - Returned
to Alexandria with HMAS SYDNEY.
23rd - Deployed
with HMS ORION and HMAS VAMPIRE to carry out diversionary operation off Castellorizo which was to simulate a
planned landing.
27th - Bombarded
Castellorizo.
30th - Returned
to Alexandria.
August
16th - Sailed
from Alexandria with battleships MALAYA, RAMILLIES and WARSPITE, cruiser KENT as screen with destroyers
DIAMOND, STUART (RAN) and WATERHEN (RAN).
17th - Carried
out bombardment of Fort Capuzzo.
18th - Returned
to Alexandria with bombardment ships.
30th - Joined
destroyers DECOY, IMPERIAL, JANUS, NUBIAN, VAMPIRE (RAN)
and GARLAND (ORP) as screen for aircraft carrier EAGLE, battleships MALAYA, WARSPITE, and cruisers KENT,
ORION, GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, SYDNEY
(RAN) to provide cover for the passage of Convoy MS2 to Malta
(Operation MB 3. Note: This was part of Operation HATS with ships of
Force H at Gibraltar to pass reinforcements to the Fleet
at Alexandria.)
31st - Under
air attacks during which ORP GARLAND was damaged.
September
1st - Remained
with Fleet screen after convoy arrived in Malta and took passage to meet reinforcement ships designated Force F off
Pantellaria. (Note: Force F comprised HM Aircraft
Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Battleship VALIANT, HM Cruisers
CALCUTTA and COVENTRY.)
4th - Deployed
with screen during air attacks on Rhodes by ILLUSTRIOUS and EAGLE.
5th - Returned
to Alexandria with Fleet units.
October
9th - Deployed
with HM Destroyers DAINTY, DECOY, IMPERIAL, JUNO, JANUS,
JERVIS, STUART (RAN) and VAMPIRE (RAN) as screen for Fleet
units providing Distant Cover for passage of Convoy MF3 and MF4 to and from Malta.
11th - Detached
from screen on arrival of convoy in Malta and took passage to Malta.
12th - Taken in
hand for refit by HM Dockyard.
November
9th - On
completion of post refit trials resumed Flotilla duties.
10th - Escorted
HM Monitor EREBUS for passage from Malta to Suda Bay, Crete.
11th - Detached
at Suda Bay and took passage to Alexandria.
December
Joined Inshore
Squadron for support of military operations in Western Desert.
10th - Passage
to Sollum with HMAS VAMPIRE and HMAS WATERHEN to carry out
bombardment of Bardia.
11th - Bombardment
cancelled because of sandstorm and returned to Alexandria.
15th - Deployed
with HM Monitor TERROR, HMAS VAMPIRE, HMAS VOYAGER and
HMAS WATERHEN and took passage to Bardia.
16th - Bombarded
Bardia with HMS TERROR.
1 9 4 1
January
Inshore
Squadron deployment in continuation.
7th - Sailed
from Alexandria with Senior Officer of Squadron embarked for passage to join HM River Gunboat LADYBIRD at Bardia.
11th - Deployed
with screen for HM Battleship BARHAM and HMS EAGLE during planned bombardment in support of advance of ANZAC
Division for capture of Tobruk. (Note:
One source records that this bombardment was cancelled due to weather conditions. For details of naval activities in
Mediterranean during early 1941 see above references and
military Staff History.)
17th - Arrived
at Alexandria and resumed Flotilla duties with Mediterranean Fleet. Deployed for defence of military convoys between Egypt
and Greece. (Operation LUSTRE - Transfer
of allied troops.)
February
LUSTRE Convoy
defence duties in continuation.
March
11th - Part of
escort for Convoy AN19 from Alexandria to Pireaus.
15th - Detached
from AN19 on arrival.,
20th - Joined
HM Destroyers HASTY, HEREWARD, ILEX, JERVIS and STUART (RAN)
as screen for Fleet units providing Distant Cover for passage of Convoy MW6 to Malta (Operation MC9. Note:
The availability of HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE to replace the damaged HMS ILLUSTRIOUS allowed protection of Malta
convoys to be resumed.)
22nd - Detached
from Fleet units with HM Cruisers ORION, AJAX, PERTH (RAN), GLOUCESTER and HM Destroyer HEREWARD to provide cover
for passage of convoys to Piraeus.
27th - Sailed
from Piraeus with ships of covering force to meet HM Destroyers ILEX and HASTY off Gavdo Island for deployment as Force B (Note: This Force had been formed in anticipated
action against the Italian Fleet reported by aircraft as on
passage to attack convoys between Egypt and Greece.)
28th - Joined
Fleet units with Force B and took part in the initial phase of the Battle of Matapan. Developed machinery defect and
withdrawn from action. Took passage to Alexandria for
repair.
30th - Under
repair at Alexandria. (Note: For details of the Battle
see above references and MATAPAN by SW
Pack.)
April
On completion
resumed duties with Inshore Squadron.
Deployed
with HMAS STUART and HMAS WATERHEN in support of army
units retreating from Cyrenaica. Passage to Tobruk for patrol and
support duties.
14th - Assisted
in rescue of wounded men and nursing staff from Hospital Ship VITA which had been bombed off Tobruk. Arranged for
tow of wreck to clear harbour entrance and deployed
for patrol and support duty off Derna.
15th - Deployed
off Derna with HM Destroyer GREYHOUND.
16th - Sank
schooner in a night action during patrol.
21st - Resumed
convoy defence duties with HMAS WATERHEN. Escorted
last LUSTRE Convoy AN29 from Alexandria to Piraeus with HM Sloop GRIMSBY and HMAS WATERHEN.
24th - Under
air attacks.
25th - Detached
from AN29 with HMAS WATERHEN and took passage to join evacuation
of allied troops from Greece at Megara. Under
further air attacks. (Note: Ironically this was ANZAC Day,
marked as a National Remembrance of losses of Australian and New
Zealand troops at the Dardanelles. Many
ANZAC Forces were involved in defence of Greece.)
26th - Took
part in evacuation at Megara with HMS COVENTRY, HMS DECOY, HMS HASTY, HMAS WATERHEN and HMS WRYNECK. Embarked troops and stores for passage to Suda Bay
(Operation DEMON. Note: 4,700 TROOPS were evacuated.)
27th - Deployed
with HMS CALCUTTA, HMS COVENTRY, and HMAS STUART,
WATERHEN and VAMPIRE as escort for Convoy
GA14 during passage from Nauphlia to Alexandria.
29th - Deployed
with HMAS STUART, VAMPIRE, VOYAGER and
WATERHEN as screen for HMS BARHAM, HMS VALIANT and
HMS FORMIDABLE to provide cover for passage of Convoy GA15.
May
3rd - Returned
to Alexandria and resumed service with Inshore Squadron.
8th - Deployed
supply of stores to Tobruk.
12th - Escorted
Convoy ANF 30 with HMAS STUART from Alexandria to Suda Bay
for reinforcement of defence of Crete.
14th - Deployed
with HMAS STUART as screen for HM Cruiser DIDO during escort
of Convoy ASF31 from Suda Bay to Alexandria. (Note:
HMS DIDO was carrying £7M of Greek government gold.)
20th - Deployed
for Fleet screening duties.
23rd - Joined
Fleet units off Crete with HMAS STUART and HMAS VOYAGER and
took part in search for survivors from HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER and FIJI which were sunk in air attacks on
22nd May.
24th - Returned
to Alexandria.
25th - Deployed
with screen for Fleet units covering air attacks by HMS FORMIDABLE
on airfield at Scarpanto.
26th - Under
air attacks during which HMS FORMIDABLE sustained major damage.
Returned to Alexandria escorting damaged carrier.
June
Deployed for
support of isolated garrison at Tobruk and carried stores and personnel from Mersa Matru and Alexandria.
24th - During
passage from Mersa Matruh to Tobruk with HMAS WATERHEN diverted
to assist HM Sloop AUCKLAND which was under heavy air attack
near Tobruk. Arrived at scene after sinking of HMS AUCKLAND and escorted tow of disabled Petrol Carrier to Tobruk
by HMAS WATERHEN after taking part in rescue
of survivors from Sloop.
July
Tobruk support
in continuation.
11th - Sailed
from Tobruk with HM Destroyer DEFENDER. Under
heavy and sustained air attacks during which HMS DEFENDER was disabled by near misses. Took damaged ship in tow
but tow had to be abandoned when vessel began to
sink. Embarked survivors and sank the destroyer by torpedo.
August
Tobruk support
in continuation.
2nd - Final
support trip to Tobruk returning next day. (Note: Ship had made 39 trips since end
of May - See THE SCRAP IRON FLOTILLA.)
4th - Transferred
for escort of convoys to Syria and Cyprus. (Note:
Military operations in Cyprus were supported by warships of Mediterranean Fleet (Operation EXPORTER) and garrison
in Cyprus was reinforced).
September
Convoy defence
in continuation. Nominated for refit at Singapore.
October
Released from
convoy defence duties.
30th - Took
passage from Alexandria
November
Passage in Red
Sea and Indian Ocean with calls at Aden and Colombo.
December
Passage from
Ceylon to Singapore.
8th - Arrived
at Singapore and taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard. (Note: This date has some significance !)
1 9 4 2
January
At Singapore in
Dockyard. (Note: Refit work progress is
difficult to assess.)
February
2nd - Taken in
tow by HM Destroyer STRONGHOLD to Tanjong Priok, Java.
17th - Taken in
tow by mercantile for passage to Australia escorted by HM Australian Sloop YARRA.
22nd - HM
Australian Cruiser ADELAIDE joined escort.
March
Passage under
tow in continuation. Refit arranged at Melbourne.
April
4th - Arrived
at Melbourne and docked. (Note: Passage of 5,000 miles from
Singapore via Adelaide had taken 72 days during which tow had parted
four times in gales.)
Nominated for conversion as an
Escort Destroyer.
May to December
Under refit and Conversion. (Note: For details of changes see V & W Destroyers
by A Preston.)
Changes included fitting of HEDGEHOG Anti-submarine Mortar in place of
A-Mounting (see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann)
and installation of surface warning radar Type 271 (see
RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
1 9 4 3
January to
April
Under refit
May
Deployed for
training and convoy defence in Australian waters.
June
18th - Deployed
in search for Japanese submarine off Cape Howe. (Note:
Submarine had attacked Convoy GP55 and sunk one ship.)
July to
December
Deployed for training and
convoy defence duties.
1 9 4 4
January to
March
Convoy defence and training
in continuation.
April
Nominated for
support of operations in SW Pacific.
13th - Commenced
new deployment. (Note: This included transport of personnel
used for coastwatching in isolated areas, transport of
troops and supplies with patrol duties off New Guinea, New Britain
and Solomon Islands.)
24th - Embarked
troops for passage to Bogadjim from Langemak.
25th - Disembarked
passengers at Bogadjim and took passage to Bili Bili and Madang.
May
Support
deployment in continuation. (Note: Carried 1,927 troops and 95
tons of supplies from Langemak to Madang during this period.)
June
23rd - Embarked
troops for passage to Waterfall Bay, New Britain.
July to
September
Support and patrol
duties in continuation.
October
Deployed with
HMAS BARCOO for patrol and bombardment duties off
New Guinea in support of military operations at Jaquinot Bay..
31st - Passage
to Langemak with HMAS SWAN and other support ships.
November
6th - Carried
out bombardment in Wide Bay.
9th - Carried
out bombardments in Galela Bay and off Halmahera.
December
Patrol and
support bombardments in New Britain area continued.
1 9 4 5
January
Passage to
Sydney. Resumed training duties in
Australian waters.
February to
July
Training
deployment in continuation.
August
15th - Nominated
for service with British Pacfic Fleet, now under RN control.
September
Passage to
Jauquinot Bay to embark Australian officers for surrender
of Japanese forces.
2nd - Took
passage to Rabaul for discussion of surrender terms with Japanese officers. Returned
to Jaquinot Bay.
5th - Took
passage to Rabaul with aircraft carrier GLORY.
6th - Arrived
at Rabaul. (Note: Other ships present included
HM Sloops AMETHYST and HART, HM Australian Corvettes KIAMA,
DUBBO, LITHGOW and TOWNSVILLE.)
7th - Embarked
Japanese representatives at Rabaul for passage to HMS GLORY
prior to formal surrender of all Japanese forces in Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea and Solomon Islands.
