N-Class destroyer ordered from Fairfield at Govan on
15th April 1939 with another of the same Class and laid down on 26th July that year. The ship
was launched on 22nd May 1940 as the 2nd RN ship to carry the name, that of Admiral Sir Charles
Napier who commanded the British Fleet at the capture of the island of Bomarsund in the
Baltic during the Crimean War. This name had been introduced in 1915 for a destroyer sold in 1921. She
was commissioned for service in the Royal Australian Navy on 28th November 1940 and build was
completed on 11th December 1940. In May 1942 the ship was adopted by the civil community of
Dumbartonshire, Scotland after a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
CRETE 1941 - LIBYA 1941 - BURMA 1944-45 -
OKINAWA 1945
H
e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field White a fess wavy Blue. a saltire engrailed
Red surmounted by a crescent White, within the horns
a rose Red.
D e t a i l s o f
W a r S e r v i c e
(for more ship information,
go
to Naval History Homepage
and type name in Site Search)
1 9 4 0
November
Contractors
trials.
28th - Commissioned
as HMAS NAPIER for service in the 7th Destroyer Flotilla.
December
11th - Build
completion and commenced acceptance trials based at Greenock..
20th - On
completion took passage to Scapa Flow to commence work-up for
operational service.
Carried
out Full Power Trial on passage.
1 9 4 1
January
Deployed at
Scapa Flow for work-up
4th - Escorted
two armed merchant cruisers to Iceland with HM Destroyers KELLY
and Polish ORP PIORUN.
11th - Resumed
work-up at Scapa Flow on return from Iceland.
15th - Embarked
Prime Minister, US Diplomat Harry Hopkins, Lord and Lady Halifax
at Thurso for passage to join HM Battleship KING
GEORGE V at Scapa Flow.
(Note: Lord Halifax, British
Ambassador designate to USA was being taken
to
Indianapolis by HMS KING GEORGE V to take up his appointment.
Winston Churchill and Harry Hopkins were accompanying
him but were
not taking passage.)
February
Deployed at
Scapa Flow with 7th Destroyer Flotilla on completion of work-up
at Scapa Flow with ships of Home Fleet.
2nd - Deployed
as escort for HMS KING GEORGE V during return passage in NW
Approaches.
6th - Arrived
at Scapa Flow with HMS KING GEORGE V.
20th - Deployed
as part of escort for HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH and HM
Cruiser DIDO during passage from Rosyth to Scapa Flow.
March
Nominated for
service in Mediterranean.
4th - Taken in
hand by builder at Govan for repair of defects arising since ship
commissioned.
20th - On
completion took passage to join military convoy at Greenock.
21st - Sailed
from Greenock as part of escort for convoy during passage to Gibraltar.
29th - Detached
from convoy on arrival at Gibraltar
31st - Sailed
from Gibraltar as escort for ss HIGHLAND MONARCH during passage
to Capetown.
April
17th - Arrived
at Simonstown,
Took passage from Simonstown to join
Fleet at Alexandria.
May
Passage in Red
Sea.
4th - Arrived
at Alexandria for Mediterranean Fleet service.
6th - Took part
in Mediterranean Fleet operations in Eastern Mediterranean including
defence of military convoy during passage from Malta
(Operation TIGER)
(Note: This ship was not part of
screen for major warships providing cover for
convoy
MW7 from Alexandria to Malta and the passage of the TIGER
convoy and it is assumed that she was part of TIGER
convoy escort
from 9th May.)
10th - Under
air attacks but unscathed.
12th - Arrived
at Alexandria with TIGER convoy.
20th - Part of
screen for HM Battleships BARHAM and QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM Aircraft
Carrier FORMIDABLE for bombardment of Scarpanto and
air attacks on airfield at
Pogadia Bay with HM Destroyers
JERVIS, NIZAM, JERVIS and other Fleet
destroyers.
25th - Deployed
for transport of stores and ammunition to Crete garrison.
28th - Sailed
from Alexandria as part of Force C for evacuation of allied troops at
Sphakia with HMAS NIZAM, HM Destroyers KELVIN and
KANDAHAR.
29th - Returned
to Alexandria with 244 troops from Sphakia.
30th - Took
passage from Alexandria to resume evacuation duties at Sphakia with ships
of Force C
(Note:
During passage HMS KANDAHAR returned to Alexandria with machinery
defects and HMS KELVIN was damaged during air attack
and also had to
return to harbour.)
31st - Embarked
troops at Sphakia with HMS NIZAM and sustained slight damage when
near missed during air attacks.
June
1st - Returned
to Alexandria with 709 men.
Ship withdrawn from service for repairs.
12th - Taken in
hand by HM Depot Ship WOOLWICH
27th - Further
repair required and ship remained non-operational.
July
9th - Passage
in tow to Port Said for repair to propulsion machinery.
August
Under repair at
Port Said.
On completion transferred to support
of Tobruk garrison
18th - Deployed
with HM Australian Cruiser HOBART and HMAS NIZAM for Tobruk support.
(Note: Troops were embarked in warships for passage.)
26th - Deployed
for support of garrison at Tobruk. Embarked troops and stores for Tobruk
garrison
September
11th - Deployed
for support of Tobruk garrison
15th - Deployed
for further Tobruk trip.
18th - Deployed
for further Tobruk trip.
24th - Deployed
for further Tobruk trip,
(Note: HM Cruisers LATONA and ABDIEL
as well as HM Australian Cruiser HOBART
and
HMAS NIZAM carried 6,500 ANZAC troops which were replaced by British
and Polish units.)
25th - Part of
screen for Fleet units during diversionary cruise in eastern Mediterranean.
(Operation MD6).
27th - Returned
to Alexandria with Fleet units.
(See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by C Barnett, Naval Staff History and
THE
ROYAL AUSTRALIAN NAVY IN WW2.)
Ship was fitted with 20mm
Oerlikon weapons to improve close range AA defence.
October
19th - Final
Tobruk support trip.
On release from Tobruk garrison
support deployed for transport of British 50th
Division
troops from Cyprus.
November
Transport
duties in continuation.
2nd - Deployed
for transport of 5th Indian Division troops from Haifa to reinforce garrison in
Cyprus.
8th - On
release from transport of troops deployed at Alexandria for Fleet screening and
interception of enemy supply convoys.
24th - Part of
screen for HM Battleships QUEEN ELIZABETH, BARHAM and VALIANT with
HM Destroyers NIZAM (RAN), JACKAL, KIPLING, JERVIS and
HOTSPUR to provide
cover for cruisers carrying out
search for enemy supply convoys.
Took part in rescue of crew of ss
GLENROY torpedoed near Alexandria.
(Note:
This ship was being used as a store carrier and was later converted for
use as a Landing Ship.)
25th - Took
part in rescue of survivors from HMS BARHAM after she had been sunk by
U331 off Sollum. (See Naval Staff History.)
December
Under repair at
Alexandria.
(Note: Did not take part in
Operation MF1 to escort HM Supply Ship BRECONSHIRE
during
passage to Malta.)
Nominated for transfer to the
Eastern Fleet for service in the Indian Ocean.
(Note:
This followed the request of the Australian Government that their armed
forces be made available for the defence of Australia
following the fall of
Malaya and Singapore.)
31st - Carried
out bombardment of Bardia with HMAS NIZAM.
(Note:
7th Destroyer Flotilla then also included HM Destroyers JACKAL, KIPLING,
NESTOR and NIZAM.)
1 9 4 2
January
3rd - Took passage from Alexandria with HMAS NESTOR
and HMAS NIZAM to join Eastern Fleet.
Deployed in Red Sea.
23rd - Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier INDOMITABLE with
HMAS NESTOR and HMAS NIZAM during passage from Port Sudan to
Indian Ocean (Operation OPPONENT). HMS INDOMITABLE was carrying HURRICANE aircraft for delivery to
Singapore. (See WAR WITH JAPAN Volume II (HMSO).)
27th - Aircraft
launched near Cocos islands after call at Addu Atoll and passage as part of escort.
28th - Further launch of aircraft. (See WAR WITH JAPAN
for details.)
February
Escort for HMS INDOMITABLE in continuation in Indian
Ocean.
2nd - Joined Eastern Fleet.
24th - Arrived
at Port Sudan as escort for HMS INDOMITABLE for further aircraft delivery to Singapore.
Passage
from Port Sudan as escort for HMS INDOMITABLE with same ships.
March
3rd - Delivery
operation cancelled and HMS INDOMITABLE diverted to Colombo.
5th - Arrived
at Colombo and deployed for Fleet duties based at Colombo.
28th - Sailed
as part of screen for Force A from Colombo Force A to intercept Japanese force reported on passage in Indian Ocean to carry out
air attacks on Ceylon. Force A also included HM
Battleship WARSPITE, HM Aircraft INDOMITABLE and
FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers ENTERPRISE, EMERALD, DORSETSHIRE and CORNWALL screened by HM Destroyers FOXHOUND,
NESTOR (RAN), PALADIN and HOTSPUR.
April
Indian Ocean search deployment in continuation.
covered by Force B ships. (Note: This comprised HM Aircraft
Carrier HERMES and older battleships with
destroyer
screen.)
3rd - HMS CORNWALL and HMS DORSETSHIRE detached from
Force A.
4th - Search unsuccessful and took passage with Force
A to refuel at Add Atoll. At Addu Atoll with Force A (Port T).
(See WAR WITH JAPAN Volume II) (Note: HMS CORNWALL and HMS
DORSETSHIRE were sunk in air attacks on 5th April.)
5th - (Colombo
was attacked from Japanese carriers on 5th April.)
8th - Returned to Addu Atoll after failing to
intercept returning Japanese force.
9th - Deployed with screen Force A and took passage to
Bombay
12th - Detached from screen with HMAS NIZAM during
deployment in Arabian Sea to deter Japanese attacks on shipping
between Aden and ports in India.
13th - Under routine docking at Bombay and for
installation of additional 20mm Oerlikon guns
to improve close range AA defence.
May
On completion
took passage to rejoin Eastern Fleet for convoy defence in Indian Ocean (Note: CinC Eastern Fleet decided
that Bombay was too vulnerable to future attacks
and that Fleet should be based in East Africa instead.)
Nominated
for transfer to Mediterranean for support of planned Malta relief operation
27th - Took
passage to Mediterranean for detached service with HM Cruiser
NEWCASTLE, HM Destroyers NESTOR, INCONSTANT, PALADIN,
HOTSPUR and
GRIFFIN.
June
Resumed
Mediterranean Fleet service.
13th - Sailed
from Alexandria with Mediterranean Fleet and deployed with HM Destroyers
HASTY, HERO, INCONSTANT, JAVELIN, JERVIS, KELVIN,
NESTOR, NIZAM, NORMAN,
PAKENHAM, PALADIN, SIKH and ZULU as
screen for HM Cruisers ARETHUSA,
BIRMINGHAM CLEOPATRA, DIDO, EURYALUS,
HERMIONE and NEWCASTLE to
provide escort for Malta Convoy MW11
during passage in eastern Mediterranean.
(Operation
VIGOROUS).
This operation was
co-incident with a similar relief convoy from Gibraltar
which
came under heavy submarine and surface warship attacks although
two mercantiles arrived in Malta (Operation HARPOON).
HM Battleship CENTURION, disarmed before outbreak of
WW2 was also
deployed with MW11 and disguised to
resemble a KGV Class battleship.
Twelve other destroyers were also
deployed as close escorts for MW11
for
period, prior to arrival of Mediterranean Fleet units. (For
details see THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre,
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett, HITLER'S
U-BOAT
WAR by C Blair and the Naval Staff
History.)
14th - Joined
MW11 with Fleet units. Under heavy and sustained air attacks.
Submarine attack by U77 driven off by HMS PACKENHAM.
Convoy under threat of attack by Italian fleet units.
15th - Convoy
ordered by CinC ashore in Alexandria to reverse course.
Under
night attack by German E-Boats during which HMS HASTY was torpedoed
and had to be sunk by HMS HOTSPUR.
HMS NEWCASTLE was also hit by a torpedo and withdrawn
from escort to return
to Alexandria.
Air attacks resumed after daylight but convoy ordered
to resume westward
passage although this was later
rescinded.
During the air attacks HMS ARETHUSA,
HMS BIRMINGHAM and HMS CENTURION
were all damaged. HMS AIREDALE and
HMS NESTOR had to be sunk.
Owing to the heavy expenditure of AA
ammunition by escorts which would have
left
insufficient stocks to ensure safe passage to Malta the operation was
abandoned.
16th - Returned
to Alexandria with Fleet units.
On release from detached service at
Alexandria took passage to resume Eastern
Fleet
duties in Indian Ocean.
July
Deployed for
convoy defence in Indian Ocean.
Nominated for duty with Eastern
Fleet units for deception operation.
Detached
from convoy escort and took passage to join ships of Eastern Fleet during
their passage to Colombo from Kilindini.
23rd - Joined
HM Destroyers NORMAN, INCONSTANT and Dutch destroyer VAN GALEN for
screening of HM Battleship WARSPITE, HM Aircraft
Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS and
FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers MAURITIUS
and BIRMINGHAM during passage in Indian
Ocean
as Force A to simulate a possible attack on Andaman Islands.
(Operation STAB)..
28th - At
Colombo with Force A units including Dutch cruiser HEEMSKERCK and prepared
for STAB.
30th - Sailed
from Colombo with Force A.
August
1st - Deception
convoys sailed for STAB.
Force A sighted by Japanese aircraft
and information broadcast by enemy.
2nd - Enemy
flying boat shot down by MARTLET aircraft from HMS FORMIDABLE.
Operation terminated as Eastern Fleet ships required
for planned operation in
Madagascar. Returned to Trincomalee
with Eastern Fleet units
(For details of Operation STAB See
WAR WITH JAPAN, Volume III (HMSO).)
September
Prepared for
operations to complete occupation of Madagascar.
Took
passage to Kilindini with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS BIRMINGHAM and
Dutch cruiser HEEMSKERCK to join Force M for Madagascar
operations.
8th - Met
troopship EMPIRE PRIDE and embarked troop of No 5 Commando.
10th - Deployed
with Dutch cruiser HEEMSKERCK, Dutch destroyers VAN GALEN,
TJERK HIDDES (both sister ships) to land Commando unit
at Morondava on
west coast of Madagascar (Operation
TAMPER).
(Note: This attack on a radio
station and airfield was a diversion for the main
landings
at Majunga (Operation STREAM).)
14th - Took
part of landings at Tamatave on east coast of Madagascar with ships of
Force M (Operation JANE).
29th - Deployed
with HMS INCONSTANT and Dutch VAN GALEN to cover landings of
South African troops and Royal Marines from HMS
BIRMINGHAM at Tulear on
SE coast of Madagascar (Operation
ROSE).
October
Resumed convoy
defence duties on release from ROSE based at Killindini.
November
Convoy defence
in Indian Ocean in continuation.
28th - Sustained
damage after grounding at Kilindini.
December
8th - Taken in
hand for repair and refit at Durban.
(Note:
7th Destroyer Flotilla the also included HM Destroyers NEPAL, NIZAM,
NORMAN, Dutch destroyers VAN GALEN and TJERK HIDDES.)
1 9 4 3
January to February
Under refit
March
On completion
of post refit trials resumed convoy defence duties.
29th - Joined
military Convoy WS27 with HM Cruiser FROBISHER, HM Destroyers
CATTERICK, FOXHOUND and ROTHERHAM at Durban as escort
during passage
in Indian Ocean to Aden.
April
1st - Detached
from WS27 with destroyers for escort during passage.
18th - Joined
military Convoy WS28 at Durban with HM Destroyer RAIDER as part of
escort during initial part of passage to Aden.
(Note: HM Cruiser KENYA, HM Destroyers REDOUBT and
RELENTLESS already
the escort from Cape remained with
convoy on departure from Durban.)
20th - Detached
from WS28 with destroyers during passage in Indian Ocean.
May
Passage to
Simonstown for support of anti-submarine operations
(Note
A significant increase in U-Boat activity had required reinforcement of
escorts for convoy defence and A/S patrols in area
around Cape of Good
Hope. See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C
Blair and U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO).)
June to September
Resumed convoy
defence duties based at Durban
(Note: Use of Fleet destroyers for
trade defence including convoy escort and
patrol
for interception of commerce raiders and blockade runners made
their deployment for screening of Eastern Fleet major
units an
unacceptable option. Both German and
Italian submarines were carrying
out attacks on shipping and several
blockade runners were attempting
passage to and from the Far East.
Ship was retained at Kilindini for
these
duties.)
October to December
Deployed for convoy escort between
Aden and Bombay.
(Note: Significant military
reinforcements and additional supplied were being
sent
to SEAC in this period and required effective defence.)
1
9 4 4
January
Convoy escort
in continuation
Nominated for Fleet screening
duties.
February
Convoy duties
when not deployed to take part in preparatory exercises in
anticipation of planned Fleet operations.
March
21st - Joined
HM Destroyers QUIBERON, QUILLIAM, QUALITY, QUEENBOROUGH,
PATHFINDER, NEPAL, NORMAN, Dutch destroyers VAN GALEN
and TJERK
HIDDES as screen for HM Battleships
QUEEN ELIZABETH and VALIANT,
HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Aircraft
Carrier FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers LONDON,
GAMBIA
(RNZN), CEYLON and CUMBERLAND on departure of Fleet from Trincomalee
to meet US aircraft carrier SARATOGA on passage
for loan service with British
Eastern Fleet. Commodore
(Destroyers) Eastern Fleet was embarked.
24th - Refuelled
with Fleet units.
27th - Met SARATOGA and screening US destroyers CUMMINGS, DUNLAP and FANNING
. in position
13.10S 85.05E and took joint passage to Ceylon.
April
2nd - Returned
to Ceylon with Fleet and USN ships.
16th - Joined
HM Destroyers ROTHERHAM, RACEHORSE, PENN, PETARD, QUIBERON, NEPAL and
NAPIER as screen for HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HMS VALIANT,
French battleship RICHELIEU,
HM Cruisers NEWCASTLE, NIGERIA and
CEYLON on departure from Trincomalee as Force 69
to
provide cover for air operations against targets at Sabang, Sumatra by HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS and
USS SARATOGA designated Force 70 (Operation
COCKPIT).
(Note: Force 70 also included HMS
RENOWN and HM Cruiser LONDON with HMS QUILLIAM,
HMS
QUADRANT, HMS QUEENBOROUGH, USS CUMMINGS, USS DUNLAP and
USS FANNING as screen.).
18th - HMS
GAMBIA and HMS CEYLON joined Force 70.
19th - Deployed
with screen during air operations.
On
completion took passage with Fleet screen for return to Ceylon.
23rd - Deployed
at Ceylon with Eastern Fleet.
May
6th - Joined HM
Destroyers ROTHERHAM, RACEHORSE, PENN, NEPAL, QUIBERON, QUICKMATCH
and Dutch destroyer VAN GALEN as screen for HMS QUEEN
ELIZABETH, HMS VALIANT, the
French battleship RICHELIEU, HMS
NIGERIA, HMS NEWCASTLE and Dutch cruiser TROMP
on
departure from Trincomalee as Force 65 to provide cover during air attacks on
Soerabaya by HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS and USS SARATOGA,
designated Force 66. (Operation TRANSOM)
(Note:
Force 66 also included HMS RENOWN, HMS CEYLON, HMS GAMBIA and HM Destroyers
QUILLIAM, QUADRANT, QUEENBOROUGH, USS CUMMINGS, USS
DUNLAP and
USS FANNING as screen.
Commodore (Destroyers), Eastern Fleet was embarked for
this Operation.)
15th - Replenished
with Fleet units in Exmouth Bay, Northern Australia.
17th - Deployed
with screen for Forces 65 and 66 during air operations.
On
completion took passage to Ceylon with combined Forces.
18th - US Navy
ships on loan service detached for return passage to Pacific.
27th - Arrived
in Ceylon with Eastern Fleet units.
June to July
Deployed for convoy defence in Indian
Ocean.
(Note: Operation CRIMSON an attack
on Sabang by Eastern Fleet took place in July, but ship is not
recorded with screens for major ships of the Eastern
Fleet. See THE FORGOTTEN FLEET
by J Winton and WAR WITH JAPAN
(HMSO) for details.
The build-up of the 14th Army and
other requirements for the invasion of Burma and Malaya
involved
an increase in convoys in the Indian Ocean where the shortage of escorts was
critical.)
August
Passage from
Addu Atoll to Williamstown Dockyard, Melbourne for refit
September
Under refit
October
15th - On
completion of post refit trials took passage to resume Eastern Fleet duties.
November
Eastern Fleet
deployment as convoy escort in continuation.
8th - Rescued
survivors from ss MARION MOLLER adrift in two lifeboats off east coast of
India.
(Note: This merchant ship of 3,827grt
had been torpedoed and sunk on 5th November.)
22nd - British
Pacific Fleet formed in Colombo from units of Eastern Fleet and new arrivals
from
(Note: The RAN destroyers were
allocated to the British Pacific Fleet was formed but were retained
in the Eastern Fleet for support of planned
operations.)
December
Nominated for
service in Force 64 for support of military operations in Burma.
6th - Passage
to Chittagong for support of military operations on Arakan coast with HMAS
NEPAL.
13th - Deployed
with HM Australian Destroyer NEPAL and HM Harbour Defence Motor Launches 1275
and 1303 as a Bombardment Group based at Chittagong.
24th - Bombardment duties in support of
military operations in Mayu peninsula
completed .
(Operation ROMULUS)
(Note: A total of 13 Bombardments was carried out by
the Group. See Naval Staff History.)
7th
Destroyer Flotilla also included HM Destroyers NEPAL, NIZAM and NORMAN (all
RAN).
1 9 4 5
January
Force 64
deployment in continuation. for support of landings at Akyab (Operation
LIGHTNING)
3rd - Embarked
3rd Commando Brigade units at Teknaf with HMAS NEPAL and HM Sloop
SHOREHAM.
Took
passage with landing craft as Convoy C to landing position without gunfire
support needed.
8th - Nominated
for support of assault landing at Myebon by 3rd Commando Brigade (Operation
PUNGENT)
12th - Deployed
with HM Indian Sloops NARBADA and JUMNA with landing craft for support duties.
(Note: Senior officer for Support was embarked.
HM Cruiser PHOEBE provided aircraft control for air
strikes.)
During air attacks one OSCAR
aircraft was shot down by ship.
21st - Took
part in bombardment of Ramree Island prior to landings (Operation MATADOR -
Note: Joint Force Commander had been embarked and
ship was nominated as standby HQ ship
for use if needed. See THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton and
WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO) ).
Other
ships in Force were HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM Cruiser PHOEBE, HM
Destroyer RAPID, HM Sloops FLAMINGO and KISTNA (RIN).)
22nd - Escorted
HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH from Ramree to Trincomalee.
24th - Detached
from escort on arrival and took passage to Colombo for routine docking.
February
22nd - Released
from Eastern Fleet duties and nominated for service with BPF.
23rd - Took
passage as escort for HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE with HM Destroyer
URCHIN to Sydney with call at Fremantle.
March
3rd - At
Fremantle.
7th - Sustained
weather damage during passage to Sydney in Bass Strait and lost two
men overboard.
14th - Under
repair to weather damage at Williamstown Dockyard, Melbourne.
29th - Resumed
operational service on completion of repair.
April
Nominated for
duty in Fleet Train Task Force 112.
1st - Took
passage from Sydney to join Fleet Train at Manus.
On
arrival deployed for escort of Fleet Train during passage to Leyte for support
of
Task Force 57.
(Note: British warships allocated for service with US
5th Fleet were designated Task
Force 57 and had begun operations in
Sakishima Gunto Group on 17th March.
(Operation
ICEBERG I)
18th - Deployed
as part of escort for Refuelling Group in Area MOSQUITO ONE during
replenishment of TF57 ships.
19th - Detached
from TG113 with HM Destroyers NORMAN and NEPAL for escort of ships of
TF57. See THE FORGOTTEN FLEET.
21st - Passage
to Leyte as escort with TF57.
23rd - Resumed
TF113 service on arrival at Leyte.
May
1st - Sailed
with Fleet Train for support of British ships in Task Force 57 during renewed
joint attacks with US Navy Task Group on Sakishama
Gunto islands.
(Operation ICEBERG II).
(For details of make-up of Fleet Train see THE
FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton.)
3rd - Deployed
with HMAS NEPAL, HMAS NORMAN, HMAS NIZAM, HM Sloops CRANE,
WHIMBREL, PHEASANT, WOODCOCK, HM Frigates AVON,
PARRET, FINDHORN,
HM Australian Corvettes WHYALLA,
BALLARAT and BENDIGO as screen for HM Escort
Carriers
RULER, STRIKER, CHASER and SPEAKER during Replenishment of Task
Force 57.
9th - Detached
from Fleet Train escort duty with HMAS NEPAL and joined HM Destroyers
TROUBRIDGE, TENACIOUS and TERMAGANT to relieve destroyers
deployed as
screen for aircraft carriers of Task
Force 57 during air operations against Sakishima
Gunto.
(For details see THE FORGOTTEN FLEET, WAR WITH JAPAN, TASK FORCE 57,
by P Smith and the Naval Staff History.)
15th - Detached
as escort for HM Escort Aircraft Carrier STRIKER during passage to Leyte
after aircraft delivery to TF57 aircraft carriers
during replenishment period
20th - Deployed
with TF113 as escort.
22nd - Deployed
with Fleet Train escort in Area COOTIE during Replenishment of Task
Force 57
25th - Took
return passage with Fleet Train to Australia when ICEBERG II operations ceased.
June
Deployed in Australia during R&R period for Task
Force 57 Ships.
28th - Fleet Train escort duties resumed for support of operations off Japanese
mainland
during joint attacks operations by British and
American Task Groups.
(Note: British ships had been transferred
to US 3rd Fleet and redesignated TF37).
July
Passage to
operational area with call at Manus, the forward base for BPF.
20th - Deployed
with HMAS NIZAM, HM Sloops PHEASANT, WHIMBREL, REDPOLE, HM
Frigate FINDHORN and HMAS GAWLER as escort for Fleet
Train tankers AMBROSIO,
WAVE MONARCH, SAN ADOLPHO, HM Supply
Ship GLENARTNEY, HM Escort
Carriers RULER, ARBITER and STRIKER
during replenishment of BPF ships during
attacks
on Japan.
26th - Deployed
with HMAS NIZAM, HMAS NEPAL, HM Ships PHEASANT, CRANE, REDPOLE,
PARRET, PLY, HM Australia Corvettes WHYALLA, PIRIE and
LAUNCESTON as escort
for tankers and supply ships of
Fleet Train during operations off Japan.
Transferred
to Task Force 37 for escort of major units.
(Note:
Ship is not recorded as part of Fleet Train escort during replenishment of
BPF.)
15th - Deployed
as escort for TF38.5 ships during final air strikes on air fields in Tokyo
plain.
(Note: Operations ceased on
instructions from Admiral Nimitz after the strikes
which
were launched at 0400)
17th - Joined
US 3rd Fleet ships with TF38.5 escort.
30th - Passage
to Tokyo Bay with HM Destroyer QUALITY, HMAS NIZAM and Hospital
Ship TJITJALENGKA as escort for HMS KING GEORGE V.
31st - HM
Australian Cruisers HOBART and SHROPSHIRE, HM Australian Destroyers
BATAAN and WARRAMUNGA, HM Australian Minesweepers
IPSWICH, BALLARAT
and CESSNOCK joined Token Force.
(Note: 7th Destroyer Flotilla comprised HMAS NAPIER,
HMAS NEPAL, HMAS
NIZAM and HMAS NORMAN.)
August
Deployed with
screen of BPF.
7th - Fuel shortage
reported due to lack of correct fuel in tankers.
12th - Transferred
to British Token Force in US Navy Task Force 38 and designated Task Group
38.5)
(Note: The other BPF ships deployed
off Japan retained in Task Group 38.5 were
HM
Battleship KING GEORGE V, HM Aircraft Carrier INDEFATIGABLE,
HM New Zealand Cruiser GAMBIA, HM Cruiser
NEWFOUNDLAND,
HM Destroyers TROUBRIDGE, TERMAGANT,
TENACIOUS, TEAZER,
BARFLEUR, HM Australian Destroyer
NIZAM.
For details of the background to the
decision to withdraw other ships from the area
due
to lack of fuel from tankers of the British Fleet Train see above references.)
September
2nd - Present
at formal surrender of Japan signed on board US battleship USS
MISSOURI in Tokyo Bay.
Deployed
for support of repatriation of PoW and allied nationals.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMAS NAPIER returned to Australia on release from duties in Japan and
was deployed as part of the Royal Australian Navy until being Paid-off on 24th October 1945. She
was replaced in the RAN by HM Destroyer QUALITY and was recommissioned as HMS NAPIER the next day.
The ship took passage to UK from Fremantle, manned by personnel from HMS QUALITY on 5th November
and Paid–off at Devonport on 12th December 1945.
She was de-stored and reduced to Reserve status there on 7th March 1946.
The ship laid-up at Portsmouth in August 1950 and in May 1952 returned to the
Reserve Fleet at Devonport. Towed to Penarth in January 1953 she remained there until placed on the
Disposal List in 1955. and sold to BISCO for demolition by T W Ward. She arrived
at the Breakers Yard in Briton Ferry on 17th January 1956 to be broken-up.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMAS NAPIER
by Don Kindell
These convoy lists have not been cross-checked
with the text above
|
|
|
|
|
Date convoy sailed |
Joined convoy as escort
|
Convoy No.
|
Left convoy
|
Date convoy arrived |
|
|
|
|
|
12/06/42 |
16/06/42 |
MW 011 |
11/06/42 |
16/06/42
|
22/03/43 |
23/03/43 |
CM 040 |
22/03/43 |
01/04/43
|
25/04/43 |
11/05/43 |
CM 041 |
25/04/43 |
11/05/43
|
14/09/43 |
20/09/43 |
CM 045 |
14/09/43 |
27/09/43
|
24/12/43 |
31/12/43 |
CM 048 |
18/12/43 |
31/12/43 |
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys) |