1 9 3 9
September Contractors trials and commissioned
for service in 5th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet.
14th Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
On
completion took passage to Portland
to work-up for operational service.
Commenced
work-up
October
3rd Took
passage to join Flotilla on completion of work-up
Deployed for convoy defence in Channel and off East coast.
29th Arrived
at Scapa Flow and taken in hand for repair by HM Depot Ship
GREENWICH,
(Note: In common with other ships of the Class defects were
associated with leaks in
Reserve Feed Water tanks, due to stresses whilst steaming at speed.
November
5th Repair
work at Scapa Flow terminated and arranged for attention at commercial
shipyard.
7th Passage
to Leith.
9th Under
repair.
19th Resumed
operational service and returned to Scapa Flow for
screening of Home Fleet major
warships and for anti-submarine patrol.
29th Took
part in sinking of U35 off Shetlands in position 60.55N 02.47E with HM
Destroyers
KASHMIR and ICARUS.
December Home Fleet deployment in
continuation.
(Note: For details of naval activities in Home waters during
1939 see ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett and the Naval Staff History.)
1 9 4 0
January Home
Waters convoy defence and patrol with Home Fleet screening in continuation.
to (Note: During this period ship
continued to experience leaking in water systems and further
February was arranged at commercial
shipyard in Falmouth.)
March Passage to Falmouth.
3rd Taken
in hand for repair by Silley Cox & Co.
April Under
repair
(Note:
De-gaussing equipment was fitted and strengthening
structure was carried out
On completion resumed Flotilla
duties for convoy defence and patrol in Channel and
southern
North Sea.)
May Nominated
for service in Mediterranean with 14th Destroyer Flotilla based
at Alexandria.
16th Sailed
from Plymouth for Gibraltar.
Pennant
Number for visual signalling purposes changed to G64
24th Arrived
at Alexandria
25th Transferred
to Red Sea for convoy defence with sister destroyers HMS
KANDAHAR, HMS
KHARTOUM and HMS KIMBERLEY.
(Note:
This was part of precautionary moves by CinC
Mediterranean in anticipation of the
entry
of Italy into the war with Germany. Italian surface ships and submarines were
based
at Massawa and were a threat to convoys in the Red Sea.)
June Based at
Aden for interception patrol and surveillance.
10th After outbreak of war against Italy deployed for convoy defence in Red Sea and Indian Ocean.
23rd Took
part in sinking of Italian submarine TORRICELLI off Perim Island with HMS
KANDAHAR, HMS KHARTOUM and HM Sloop
SHOREHAM.
(Note: During
this surface gun engagement HMS KHARTOUM was hit by return fire and
in a
subsequent explosion sustained serious damage and major fire which caused
a
magazine to explode and ship sank.)
28th Carried out unsuccessful attack on Italian submarine PERLA.
July Convoy
defence and patrol duties based at Aden in continuation.
to August
September
12th Joined
military convoy WS2A off Perim with HMS KANDAHAR,
Cruisers HOBART (RAN)
and COVENTRY as escort during passage in Red Sea.
(Note:
Convoy comprised troopships ANDES, EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA and EMPRESS
OF CANADA taking troops for service in Middle East.)
14th Detached from WS2A in Red Sea when Italian threat became
unlikely.
(Note: WS2A
SLOW section was escorted by HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE, HMS KIMBERLEY,
HMS Sloops
AUCKLAND and FLAMINGO which made separate passage in Red Sea.)
October Aden deployment in continuation.
to November
December
18th Joined
military convoy WS4 off Aden
with HM Cruisers CARLISLE and PERTH (RAN),
HM Sloops INDUS (RIN) and YARRA
(RAN) as escort during passage in Red Sea,
(Note:
This was FAST Section of WS4 and comprised troops DUNEDIN STAR,
MELBOURNE STAR and STIRLING CASTLE.)
1 9 4 1
January Red Sea deployment in continuation for convoy defence and. interception patrol
to February
March
2nd Located
Italian destroyers PANTERA and TIGRE which were aground inshore to the south
of Jeddah. These ships were then scuttled and later
destroyed by gunfire and air attacks.
16th Deployed
with HM Destroyer KANDAHAR, HM Cruisers GLASGOW and CALEDON as
escort for HM Armed Boarding Vessels CHAKDINA and CHANTALA
during passage to
Berbera for
landings in British Somaliland.
(Operation APPEARANCE).
17th Took part in support of landings at Berbera.
April Nominated
for further support of planned military operations in Somali.
8th Took
part in occupation of Italian Somaliland at Massawa
with Force G.
(Note:
Details of ships in Force G to be investigated and date confirmed.)
Passage to
rejoin Flotilla at Alexandria after release from East Indies
Station service.
Deployed with
Flotilla for Fleet screening and convoy defence.
(Note:
Service as part of screen during bombardment of positions in Libya to be confirmed)
25th Deployed for defence of military convoys to Greece.
Diverted for support of evacuation of troops from Greece.
26th Took
part in evacuation from Raphti and embarked 650
troops for passage to Suda Bay, Crete.
27th Returned to Raphti and embarked 640
troops for passage to Suda Bay.
29th Assisted in evacuation at Kalamata
and embarked 39 troops.
Returned to Alexandria for Flotilla duties.
May
4th Deployed
with HM Destroyers GRIFFIN, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HERO, HOTSPUR,
JERVIS, JUNO, KANDAHAR, KIMBERLEY,
NIZAM and NUBIAN as screen for HM
Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE, HM
Battleships BARHAM, VALIANT and WARSPITE,
HM Cruisers AJAX, ORION, PERTH (RAN), HM Cruiser ABDIEL
and HM Supply
Ship BRECONSHIRE to provide
Distant Cover for passage of Convoys MW7A/B during
passage
to Malta in eastern Mediterranean.
9th Remained
with Mediterranean Fleet units off Malta before providing Distant Cover for
military convoy from Gibraltar to Egypt bringing tanks for 8th Army (Operation TIGER).
12th Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units after arrival of
TIGER convoy in Alexandria.
20th Deployed
with HM Cruisers NAIAD, PERTH
(RAN), CALCUTTA and CARLISLE with
HM
Destroyers NUBIAN, JUNO and KANDAHAR
as Force C for interception of invasion craft on passage to
land German troops in Crete.
21st In action with Italian Torpedo Boat LUPO which was escorting
an invasion convoy.
Enemy vessel damaged by cruiser
6in shells but hit by return fire causing minor damage
(Note:
Two torpedoes were fired by LUPO without success.
Ten of caiques
under escort by LUPO were sunk. See THE NAVAL WAR IN
THE MEDITERRANEAN by J Greene and A Massignini.)
Under unsuccessful night attack
by six Italian torpedo boats.
22nd Under
constant air attacks after dawn
Force C search for another
convoy of 30 caiques was hampered by low speed of HMS
CARLISLE
and
planned attack was called off because of heavy expenditure of AA ammunition by
cruisers.
See above reference for details.
Later with HMS KANDAHAR rescued
of survivors from HM Destroyer GREYHOUND
sunk in
air attacks.
23rd Deployed
with HMS KANDAHAR in search for survivors from HM Cruisers FIJI and
GLOUCESTER which had been sunk on 22nd in air
attacks.
(Note:
523 survivors from both cruisers were rescued by the destroyers.
Continuing threat of air attacks
had prevented any search after this tragic event. This
failure
has been the subject of much criticism since 1945. See THE BATTLE
FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre ,CRETE by SW Pack and above
references
for details of operations in defence of Crete.)
24th On
return to Alexandria taken in hand for repair of action damage
June
16th Passage
to join Mediterranean Fleet ships off Syria.
17th Deployed
for patrol and naval gunfire support of British military operations against Vichy
French in Syria.
(Operation
EXPORTER.- See RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute for details.)
23rd Engaged
Vichy French destroyer GUEPARD with HM Cruisers LEANDER and NAIAD,
HM Destroyers
NIZAM (RAN) and JAGUAR.
(Note:
French vessel was able to escape due to her high speed.)
July
2nd Took
part in bombardment of Damour area, Syria with HMAS PERTH.
Open
release from EXPORTER resumed Flotilla duties at Alexandria and deployed for
escort of convoys during passage to and from Cyprus.
22nd Deployed
with HM Destroyers HASTY, HAVOCK, JACKAL, JAGUAR, JERVIS, KANDAHAR
KIMBERLEY, NIZAM (RAN) and NUBIAN as screen for HM Battleships
VALIANT and
QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM Cruisers AJAX, NAIAD, CARLISLE, HOBART
(RAN), LEANDER,
NEPTUNE, PHOEBE, ABDIEL and
LATONA during cruise by ships of Mediterranean Fleet
in
eastern Mediterranean as a diversion during passage of convoy to Malta from Gibraltar
(Operation MD5 –part of
Operation SUBSTANCE.)
August Flotilla
duties based at Alexandria including support of Tobruk garrison.
September (Note:
Ships of Mediterranean Fleet carried out a diversionary cruise in eastern Mediterranean
between
25th and 27th. Deployment with Flotilla as screen to be
confirmed.
(Operation
MD6: Co-incident with Operation HALBERD, Passage of Malta relief
convoy
from Gibraltar.)
October Flotilla
duties based at Alexandria including escort of convoys and transport of troops
and
stores to Tobruk,
30th Aircraft
crashed into sea after hitting mast during exercises. All aircrew were killed
November
27th Passage
to Malta with HM Cruisers AJAX and NEPTUNE and HMS KIMBERLEY to
reinforce
Force K. HM Cruisers EURYALUS and NAIAD screened by HM Destroyers
GRIFFIN and HOTSPUR provided cover for this transit.
29th Arrived in Malta for reinforcement of Force K with
HMS KIMBERLEY.
30th Deployed
with HMS AURORA, HMS PENELOPE, HMS AJAX, HMS NEPTUNE and
HMS KIMBERLEY for interception of a supply convoy.
December
1st Took
part in attack on convoy off Benghazi with ships of Force K sinking ammunition
Ship
ADRIATICO.
2nd Took
part in attack on convoy off Kerkenah Bank with Force
K during which Italian
destroyer ALVISE DA MOSTA and mercantile MANTOVANI were
sunk.
5th Sailed
from Malta with HM Destroyers KINGSTON and LIVELY, HM Cruisers AJAX and
NEPTUNE as escort for HM Supply Ship BRECONSHIRE during passage to meet ships
from Alexandria.
6th HMS
AJAX, HMS NEPTUNE and HMS LIVELY detached and took passage to Malta
Remained with HMS KIMBERLEY as escort for HMS BRECONSHIRE to Alexandria.
7th HM
Cruiser HOBART (RAN) joined but detached later to assist damaged Sloop HMS
FLAMINGO off Tobruk.
8th Arrived
at Alexandria with HMS BRECONSHIRE and HMS KIMBERLEY.
15th Joined
HM Cruisers CARLISLE, EURYALUS and NAIAD with HM Destroyers DECOY,
HASTY, HAVOCK, JERVIS, KINGSTON, KIPLING and NIZAM as Force C for escort
of HMS
BRECONSHIRE during passage from Alexandria to meet Force K for escort into
Malta (Operation MF1)
17th Remained
with Force C when Italian battle fleet was sighted and HMS BRECONSHIRE
detached escorted by HMS DECOY and HMS HAVOCK.
Took part in brief engagement
with Italian warships which withdrew when British destroyers
approached
to deliver torpedo attacks.
(1st Battle of Sirte. See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, THE BATTLE FOR
THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre and Naval Staff
History.)
18th Deployed
with Force C during continued search for Italian convoy.
19th Returned
to Alexandria with Force B.
1 9 4 2
January
5th Deployed
with HM Destroyers FOXHOUND, GURKHA, KIPLING and SIKH as screen
for HM Cruisers DIDO, EURYALUS and NAIAD as Force B for
escort of HM Supply
Ship
GLENGYLE during passage from Alexandria to Malta and as escort from Malta
of the returning HMS BRECONSHIRE (Operation MF2)
7th Passage
to Alexandria with Force B as escort for HMS BRECONSHIRE.
(Note:
Escort of HMS GLENGYLE was transferred to ships of Force C from Malta.
HMS HAVOCK joined Force C and
HMS SIKH transferred to Force B at meeting
west of
Derna.)
9th Detached
on arrival of Force B at Alexandria.
24th Deployed
with HM Destroyers GRIFFIN, KELVIN, KIPLING, JAGUAR, HASTY, ARROW
and
Dutch destroyer ISAAC SWEERS as screen for HM Cruisers CARLISLE, DIDO,
EURYALUS and NAIAD as Force B to
escort supply convoy to Malta and return Convoy
ME10 from Malta (Operation MF4).
Took passage
from Alexandria with Force B having embarked a
company of infantry.
(Note:
HMS BRECONSHIRE was part of this convoy.)
For details of this and other
convoys to Malta in 1942 see above references.)
26th Detached
from Force B when convoy escorts were exchanged and took passage to Malta
as relief for HM destroyer LANCE in Force K.
27th Arrived
in Malta and nominated for routine docking.
February Deployed at Malta with Force K ships on completion of docking.
(Note: No record of participation
in defence of relief convoy MW9 to Malta which
failed
to arrive and return Convoy ME10 to Egypt which arrived has been found
(Operation MF5) Ship may have
been in dock and not available for Force K
service
as work in HM Dockyard Malta was delayed by the heavy air attacks on Malta. .
For details of failed passage of
convoy MW10 see above references and THE
NAVAL WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN by J Greene and A Massignani.)
March
10th Sailed
from Malta with HM Cruiser CLEOPATRA to join HM Cruisers NAIAD
and
EURYALUS screened by eight
Mediterranean Fleet destroyers which were returning
to Alexandria after search for Italian cruiser damaged in air
attack. See references.
(Note:
Under sustained air attacks which were repelled.
11th HMS
NAIAD sunk by torpedo from U655
15th Returned to Alexandria after cruiser bombardment of Rhodes.
20th Joined
HM Destroyers JERVIS, KELVIN and KIPLING as screen for HMS CLEOPATRA
HMS DIDO and HMS EURYALUS as
Force B to reinforce escort of Convoy MW10 during
passage
from Alexandria to Malta (Operation MG1)
(Note This
convoy included HMS BRECONSHIRE and three mercantiles.)
22nd Convoy
joined by ships of Force K from Malta
Force B ships ordered to remain
with MW10 in view of threat of attack by an Italian force
including
battleship LITTORIO, two heavy cruisers and a light cruiser squadron with
destroyer
screens.
Took part in engagement with
Italian ships and whilst turning to take part in torpedo attack
with
the other destroyers hit by 15”shell which pass through ship and then exploded
causing
serious
damage with 15 fatalities and 20 others of ships company injured. Three
torpedoes
were
fired before ship came to a stop. Withdrew from scene when able to get under
way and
took
passage to Malta for repair escorted by HM Destroyer HAVOCK.
27th Following
survey which established that repair would be lengthy ship was taken in hand by
HM
Dockyard, Malta
April Under
repair which was interrupted on a daily basis due to extent of air attacks on
dockyard
area
5th Hit
by bomb and sustained additional damage with flooding.
7th Sustained
further air raid damage.
11th Sank
in No 4 Dock
(Note:
Further casualties were caused during period under repair with 14 killed and
four
others
injured.
Ship declared a Total
Constructive Loss