1 9 3 9
August
Deployed in
Australian waters.
War Station nominated at Singapore
with ships of China Station..
September
Prepared for
war service.
3rd - Deployed
for patrol off Cape Howe.
8th - Deployed
with HM Destroyer VAMPIRE (RAN) to join HM Cruiser SYDNEY
for patrol off western Australia.
October
14th - Took
passage from Sydney with HM Australian Destroyers VENDETTA, WATERHEN, VAMPIRE and STUART to join China Station
under RN command.
November
Nominated for
transfer to Mediterranean Fleet during passage to Singapore.
13th - Took
passage with HM Destroyers STUART, VAMPIRE, VENDETTA and WATERHEN from Singapore to join Mediterranean Fleet.
16th - Detached
to form Raider Hunting Group with HM Cruiser KENT, HMAS VAMPIRE
and French Cruiser SUFFREN for interception off Sumatra.
17th - Took
passage to Trincomalee to join Hunting Force for deployment in the Nicobar area following reports that German battleship
GRAF SPEE had entered the Indian Ocean
December
On release from
duty with Hunting Group resumed passage to Alexandria for
service in the Mediterranean.
24th - Arrived
at Malta after calls at Aden and Alexandria.
1 9 4 0
January to April
Deployed with HMAS VENDETTA,
WATERHEN, VAMPIRE and STUART with ships of Destroyer
Command in Mediterranean for Fleet and Flotilla exercises and
enforcement of blockade.
May
Took part in
preparatory exercises with Mediterranean Fleet in the anticipation
of Italian entry into war against Britain and the Dominions.
27th - Joined
newly formed 10th Destroyer Flotilla.
June
Deployed in
Mediterranean, based at Alexandria as 10th Destroyer Flotilla. Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed
to I31
11th - Part of
screen for HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM Battleships MALAYA and WARSPITE with HMAS SYDNEY during offensive sweep
in the Aegean Sea. Later detached to take passage
to Alexandria.
13th - Sailed
from Alexandria with HMAS STUART, VAMPIRE and WATERHEN to
carry out anti-submarine patrol in eastern Mediterranean. Sighted Italian submarine FOCA which had been
minelaying. Engaged with main armament but submarine escaped. After nightfall a second submarine was sighted and
attacked by HMAS STUART and after submarine submerged, by
depth charges from HM Destroyer DECOY. (Note:
The submarines was CONSOLE GENERALE LUIZZI. See
THE NAVAL WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN by J Greene and A
Massignani and Note below.)
27th - Deployed
with HM Destroyers DAINTY, DECOY, DEFENDER and ILEX to
join an evacuation convoy from Malta in Aegean (Operation MA3.
Note: Convoys MF1 and MS1 were planned to remove
empty mercantiles from the island to bring
non-essential personnel to Egypt. After three Italian
destroyers were engaged in action by cruisers of Mediterranean Fleet providing cover for this operation, due to heavy
expenditure of ammunition, Operation MA3 was
cancelled. See THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre and The Naval Staff
History.)
29th - Carried
out surface gun attack with other ships after submarine sighted by HMS DAINTY followed by depth charges when submarine
submerged. Over an hour later submarine surface and
was again engaged by main armament and scuttled
south of Crete. (Note: Submarine was the Italian
UEBI SCEBELI and a boarding party was able
to recover codebooks which provided valuable information about Italian submarine movements. See BRITISH INTELLIGENCE
IN WW2 by Hinsley , Volume 1 (HMSO).)
30th - Returned
to Alexandria with Fleet units.
July
7th - Joined HM
Destroyers DAINTY, DEFENDER, HASTY, HOSTILE, HYPERION, ILEX,
IMPERIAL, JANUS, JUNO and VAMPIRE as screen for HMS EAGLE, HM Battleships MALAYA, ROYAL SOVEREIGN and WARSPITE,
HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, NEPTUNE,
ORION and SYDNEY (RAN) to provide Distant Cover for passage of
Convoys MF1 and MS1 from Malta. (Operation MA5 – Repeat of the
earlier MA3. See above.)
8th - Deployed
with screen for HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN, HMS RAMILLIES and HMS
EAGLE when Fleet dispositions changed in anticipation of engagement with Italian battle squadron on passage to intercept
convoys and covering ships. Under Italian air attacks.
9th - Took part
in engagement with Italian ships during Battle of Calabria. (For details see above references, NAVAL WAR IN THE
MEDITERRANEAN by J Greene and A Massignani and
MATAPAN by SW Pack.)
10th - On
release following the retirement of the Italian ships, took passage with HMS DECOY and HMAS VAMPIRE to join Convoy MS1 as escort
during passage to Alexandria Under further attack by Italian aircraft based in
Libya during which HMAS VAMPIRE was damaged and HMS
LIVERPOOL was near missed with some casualties.
11th - HMS JUNO
replaced HMS VAMPIRE
13th - HM
Cruisers CALEDON and CAPETOWN joined escort.
15th - Arrived
at Alexandria with MS1 and resumed Flotilla duties after repair.
24th - Deployed
with HM Cruiser ORION and HMAS VAMPIRE for diversionary operation
off Casteloriza. (Note: This was intended to divert
enemy air attacks on convoys in the area.)
27th - Took
part in simulated landing approach at Casteloriza with HMS ORION, HMAS VAMPIRE and HM Landing Ships FIONA and CHAKLA.
August
Flotilla duties
with Mediterranean Fleet in continuation.
30th - Mediterranean
Fleet units sailed for Operation MB3. (Note:
Part of joint operation with Force H to cover passage of convoys to Malta and the transit of reinforcement ships for
service at Alexandria. (Operation HATS) - See above
references.)
September
Under refit by
HM Dockyard Malta.
October
2nd - Resumed
Flotilla duties at Alexandria. (Note: Not recorded as part of
screen for Fleet units during cover of passage of
reinforcement ships and passage of convoys to and from Malta. (Operation COAT).)
25th - Deployed
with HMAS VAMPIRE as part of screen for HMS MALAYA during provision of cover for passage of convoy in Aegean.
28th - Returned
to Alexandria.
29th - Joined
HM Netlayer PROTECTOR with HM Australian Destroyers VAMPIRE and WATERHEN as escort for convoy to Suda Bay.
November
1st - Return
passage to Alexandria.
4th - Sailed
from Port Said as AN6 escort with HM Cruisers CALCUTTA and COVENTRY, HM Destroyers DAINTY, DIAMOND, VAMPIRE and WATERHEN. (Note:
This convoy was covered by Fleet deployment in Operation COAT which included the passage of convoys to and from
Malta, the passage of warships from the western
Mediterranean and also preliminary phase
of the attack on the Italian Fleet at Taranto by HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS.)
5th - Detached
from AN6 on arrival at Suda Bay and escorted convoy back to Port Said.
14th - At
Alexandria. (Note: During this period subject to
repeated air raids on port.)
December
Nominated for
service in Inshore Squadron with Flotilla..
4th - Joined
HMAS VAMPIRE, HMAS VENDETTA and HMAS WATERHEN in
Force B for support of military advance in Western Desert.
9th - Provided
naval gunfire support. (Note: Other ships in Inshore
Squadron included HM Monitor TERROR, HM
River Gunboats LADYBIRD, APHIS and GNAT as Force A with
HMS BARHAM and HMS MALAYA as Force C).
15th - Deployed
with HMS TERROR and HM Australian Destroyers VAMPIRE VENDETTA
and WATERHEN to provide naval gunfire support to military advance against retreating Italian army units.
16th - Carried
out Bombardment at Bardia.
30th - During
patrol off Bardia intercepted and captured Italian schooner.
1 9 4 1
January
2nd - Provided
screen for HMS TERROR with HM DAINTY during Bardia bombardment.
3rd - Detached
from HMS TERROR with HMS DAINTY and joined screen for HM
Battleships WARSPITE, BARHAM and MALAYA for bombardment of
Sidi Barrani. Returned to Alexandria on
completion.
11th - Deployed
with HM Destroyers VAMPIRE, VENDETTA and STUART as screen
for HMS EAGLE and HMS BARHAM during offensive sweep in eastern
Mediterranean.
15th - Operation
cancelled and returned to Alexandria with major units.
17th - Arrived
at Alexandria.
21st - Resumed
Inshore Squadron deployment.
22nd - Deployed
with HM Monitors TERROR and EREBUS, HM River Gunboat LADYBIRD,
HMAS STUART and HMAS VAMPIRE for support of the
6th Australian Division during attack on Tobruk. (Note:
Search for Italian cruiser SAN GIORGIO was also carried out.)
February
At Alexandria.
7th - Visited
by Australian Prime Minister during period in harbour.
12th - Deployed
for military support with Inshore Squadron.
13th - Deployed
at Benghazi with HMAS VAMPIRE and HMAS STUART for
clearance of harbour obstructions.
15th - Escorted
HMS terror from Bardia to Tobruk.
19th - Deployed
with HMAS STUART as escort for convoy from Tobruk to Alexandria.
March
Nominated for
escort of military convoys to and from Greece. (Operation
LUSTRE - Reinforcement of allied forces in Greece.)
April
Convoy escort
duties in continuation.
10th - Escort
of convoy to Piraeus.
13th - Joined
escort for Convoy AS23 from Piraeus.
18th - Arrived
at Alexandria and resumed Inshore Squadron duties. (Note:
Following air attacks during passage sank two mercantiles under escort which had been disabled and were unable to proceed.)
19th - Joined
HMAS STUART and HMAS WATERHEN as escort for HM Cruiser COVENTRY
and HM Supply Ship GLENGYLE during passage to Bardia with
Commando unit for raid of the port.
20th - Returned
to Alexandria with same ships
.
23rd - Sailed
from Alexandria with HMAS STUART, HM Cruisers CALCUTTA and
PHOEBE as escort for Convoy AG13 to Suda Bay for evacuation of allied troops from Greece (Operation DEMON).
24th - Passage
to Greek coast from Suda Bay with same ships, HM Corvettes HYACINTH and SALVIA.
24th - Embarked
troops and stores. Sailed for Alexandria with call at Suda Bay to discharge troops.
29th - Deployed
with HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE, HMAS STUART HM
Destroyer GREYHOUND to join other Fleet units covering passage of convoy GA15.
May
3rd - Returned
to Alexandria with Fleet units.
5th - Escorted
first relief convoy to Tobruk with HMAS WATERHEN after the garrison was isolated.
10th - Deployed
with HMAS VAMPIRE as escort for Convoy AS30 from Suda
Bay to Alexandria.
16th - Deployed
with HMS COVENTRY, HM Sloop AUCKLAND and HMAS WATERHEN
to take 700 troops of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders from Egypt to Timbakion, Crete to reinforce defence of
the island.
19th - Returned
to Alexandria.
23rd - Passage
to Crete with HMAS STUART and HMAS VENDETTA
(Note: HMS FIJI was sunk after sustained
air attacks on 22nd May
and rescue operations had been delayed by fear of further
losses.)
24th - Returned
to Alexandria with Fleet units.
25th - Deployed
with screen for Fleet units during air attacks on Scarpanto by HMS FORMIDABLE. Under air attacks.
26th - Deployed
as escort for HMS FORMIDABLE with HM Destroyers DECOY, HEREWARD
and HMAS VENDETTA during return passage to Alexandria.
June
5th - Resumed
Inshore Squadron deployment for Tobruk support. Deployed
with HM Destroyers VENDETTA (RAN), WATERHEN (RAN), VAMPIRE
(RAN), DEFENDER, DECOY, DAINTY, HM Sloops FLAMINGO,
AUCKLAND and PARRAMATTA (RAN) for supply of stores
and personnel to Tobruk garrison. (Note: Ships were under sustained
air attacks during which HMAS WATERHEN and HMS AUCKLAND were sunk. This duty continued nightly for the remainder of ship's
service at Alexandria.)
July
Tobruk support
in continuation.
13th - Sailed
from Tobruk for last time and arrived in Alexandria with only one engine operational.
Nominated
for return to Australia.
24th - Took
passage from Alexandria for Sydney
August
Passage to
Darwin with calls at Aden and in Ceylon.
September
12th - Arrived
at Darwin.
25th - Arrived
at Sydney to Pay-Off for major refit.
October
Taken in hand
for refit at Sydney.
November to
December
Under refit.
1 9 4 2
January to
February
Under refit On completion of post refit trials deployed for convoy
escort and support
March
30th - Recommissioned.
April
Post refit
trials and shakedown..
May
Deployed for
local convoy defence based at Sydney.
12th - Transferred
to Fremantle for convoy defence and patrol in Indian Ocean Australian coastal waters.
June to August
Fremantle deployment in continuation.
September
Nominated for
support of military operations.
20th - Arrived
at Darwin for support of Australian garrison at Timor.
22nd - Took
passage to Timor with troops embarked.
23rd - Grounded
in Betano Bay (position 0.11S 125.42E) whilst landing troops. Unable to move clear because of disembarkation
activities.
24th - Under
air attacks and sustained major damage. One
ZERO fighter aircraft shot down
25th - Demolished
by crew when tow and salvage found impossible. Ship's
company rescued by HM Australian Minesweepers KALGOORLIE and WARNAMBOOL. (Note:
Crew returned to Darwin with only seven minor casualties.)