1
9 4 1
January
Contractor's
trials
February
3rd
- Commissioned
for service in Royal Australian Navy as HMAS
NESTOR.
12th
- Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
March
1st
- Sailed
from Clyde on completion of trials and
storing to Scapa Flow for work-up with
ships of
Home
Fleet.
4th
- Worked-up
with Home Fleet ships.
(Note:
During work-up deployed as
part of escort for HM Battlecruiser HOOD for
passage
from
Rosyth
to Scapa Flow after refit.)
On
completion of work-up joined 6th
Destroyer Flotilla for Fleet duties. (Note:
Although
to be part of 7th Flotilla this ship was
deployed with 6th Flotilla
pending
completion
of build of sister ships HMAS
NAPIER and HMAS NIZAM .)
April
Passage
to
Clyde for essential repairs, boiler clean
and installation of Type 285 Gunnery
Control
radar equipment
(For
details
of development and use of radar by RN see
RADAR AT SEA by D Howse,.)
9th
- Taken in
hand by Fairfield yard at Govan.
May
1st
- Passage
to Scapa Flow on completion of trials of
radar.
3rd
- Joined
6th Destroyer Flotilla for Fleet duties
5th
- Deployed
with HM Destroyers SOMALI, ESKIMO and
BEDOUIN as screen for HM Cruisers
EDINBURGH,
MANCHESTER and BIRMINGHAM to intercept and
capture German Weather
Ship
MUNCHEN to obtain an ENIGMA
coding machine with associated
documentation.
(Home
Fleet
Operation EB)
(Note:
This operation had been
planned to enable GCHQ at Bletchley Park in
their work on
reading
enemy wireless traffic For details see
BRITISH
INTELLIGENCE IN THE
SECOND
WORLD WAR Ed FH Hinsley
(HMSO).)
7th
- Remained
with screen during boarding of vessel and
embarked captured equipment.
Detached
and took passage to Scapa Flow with all
despatch.
(Note:
Vital information was
obtained which enabled enemy radio signals
to be decrypted at
GCHQ
for some weeks. See also BREAKING THE ENIGMA
by D
Kahn.)
23rd
- Deployed
with screen for Home Fleet major units
during search for
German
battleship BISMARCK.
25th
- Detached
to Iceland to refuel during search for enemy
ships.
27th
- Present
at sinking of BISMARCK
(For
details of search and sinking
of BISMARCK see BATTLESHIP
BISMARCK
by Mullenheim Rechberg,
PURSUIT by L Kennedy and
Naval
Staff History.)
28th
- Deployed
as part of escort for HM Battleships KING
GEORGE V and RODNEY during
return
passage to Loch Ewe.
June
Passage
to
Clyde from Loch Ewe.
8th
- Taken in
hand for installation of 4in AA gun in place
of after set of torpedo tubes.
13th
- On
completion took passage to resume Home Fleet
duties with Flotilla.
July
Flotilla
duties
with Home Fleet in continuation.
Nominated
for detached service with
Home Fleet ships as escort for Malta relief
convoy
(Operation
SUBSTANCE).
12th
- Deployed
with HM Destroyers COSSACK, MAORI, LIGHTNING
and SIKH as screen
for
HM Battleship NELSON, HM Cruisers MANCHESTER
and
ARETHUSA providing
Ocean
Escort for military convoy
WS9C during passage from Clyde to Gibraltar.
17th
- Detached
from WS9C to escort troopship PASTEUR with
HMS LIGHTNING and HMS
MANCHESTER
to Gibraltar
(Note:
HM
Destroyers AVONVALE, ERIDGE and FARNDALE
joined WS9C from
Gibraltar
to supplement escort during passage in
western Mediterranean.)
19th
- Arrived
at Gibraltar with PASTEUR.
21st
- Deployed
with screen for HMS NELSON, HMS MANCHESTER,
HMS ARETHUSA
and
HM Cruiser MANXMAN with HM Destroyers
COSSACK,
MAORI, SIKH,
FEARLESS,
FOXHOUND, FIREDRAKE, ERIDGE,
AVONVALE and FARNDALE as
Force
X to provide the escort for
passage to Malta of relief convoy.
22nd
- Drove
off Italian submarine DIASPRO which had
fired torpedoes at ships of Force''H"
providing
cover for passage in Mediterranean. The
attacks failed.
23rd
- Under
air attacks during which HMS MANCHESTER and
HMS FEARLESS hit.
(Note:
HMS FEARLESS was disabled and later had to
be
sunk.
HMS
MANCHESTER had to be escorted
back to Gibraltar.)
Under
further air attacks after
covering force detached during which HMS
FIREDRAKE
was disabled and had to be towed back to
Gibraltar.
24th
- Under
attack by Italian MTB and mercantile SYDNEY
STAR was hit and unable to remain
with
convoy. Detached
to
assist SYDNEY STAR. Embarked 467 troops and
some crew.
Escorted
ship which was able to restore propulsion to
Malta.
Took
passage from Malta with ships
of Force X for return to Gibraltar after
disembarking
over
500
passengers.
27th
- Arrived
at Gibraltar.
Joined
HM Destroyers FAULKNOR,
FORESIGHT, FURY, FORESTER, FOXHOUND, COSSACK,
MAORI,
ENCOUNTER and ERIDGE as screen for HMS
NELSON, HM
Battlecruiser
RENOWN and HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL
to provide cover for passage
of
HM Cruisers HERMIONE, ARETHUSA
and MANXMAN, HMS LIGHTING and
HMS
SIKH during passage from
Gibraltar to Sicilian Narrows.
(Note:
These ships were carrying
troops and stores to Malta from the
troopship LEINSTER
which
had
been part of SUBSTANCE convoy but which had
run aground off
Gibraltar.)
31st
- Remained
with screen for ships of Force H west of
Sicilian Narrows when ships carrying
stores
and personnel detached with escort by Force
X
to pass through dangerous waters off Sicily.
August
1st
- Deployed
with screen for Force H ships when Force X
rejoined and took return passage
to
Gibraltar.
4th
- Arrived
at Gibraltar with Force H ships.
Retained
at Gibraltar for convoy
escort duties.
10th
- Part of
escort for Convoy HG70 during initial part
of passage to UK from Gibraltar
with
HM Sloop DEPTFORD, HM Destroyers FAULKNOR,
ENCOUNTER and
AVONVALE.
12th
- Under
attack U-Boat attacks during passage. (See
HITLER'S
U-BOAT WAR Volume 1 by C Blair.)
(Note: This convoy was subjected to
extensive attacks coordinated by U-Boat HQ
but
none of these successful. See reference.)
On
release from HG70 returned to Gibraltar.
22nd
- Deployed
with HM Destroyers ENCOUNTER, FORESTER,
FORESIGHT and
FURY
as
screen for HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL, HM
Battleship NELSON and
HM
Cruiser HERMIONE screen during air strikes
on
Tempio, Sardinia as cover for
minelay
off Livorno by HM Cruiser
MANXMAN (Operation MINCEMEAT.)
26th
- Returned
to Gibraltar with ships of Force H.
31st
- Deployed
with HM Destroyer ENCOUNTER as part of
screen for HM Battlecruiser
REPULSE
and HM Armed Merchant Cruiser DERBYSHIRE to
provide Ocean Escort for
military
convoy WS11 during Atlantic
passage to Freetown from Clyde.
September
4th
- Deployed
with HMS ENCOUNTER and HMS REPULSE as Ocean
Escort for Convoy
WS11
(Fast) when WS11 divided into Fast and Slow
sections.
13th
- Sustained
damage from premature explosion of depth
charge and detached from escort
of
WS11 Fast. Took
passage
to UK after call at Gibraltar.
October
Taken
in hand
by HM Dockyard Devonport for refit and
repair.
November
Under
refit
including fit of additional 20mm Oerlikon
weapons to improve close range
AA
defence. Nominated
for
escort of military convoy to Gibraltar.
December
5th
- Sailed
from Devonport to Clyde to join military
convoy.
9th
- Joined HM
Destroyers FOXHOUND and GURKHA as part of
Ocean Escort for military
convoy
WS14 during part of Atlantic passage from
Clyde.
13th
- Detached
from WS14 with HMS FOXHOUND and HMS GURKHA
and
took
passage to Gibraltar.
14th
- Deployed
with HM Destroyers FOXHOUND, CROOME and
GURKHA for anti-submarine
search
west of Gibraltar following intelligence
report
of U-Boat deployments to enter
Mediterranean.
15th
- Sighted
U127 on surface and carried out depth charge
attacks with the other ships
sinking
the
submarine in position SE Cape St
Vincent.
There
were no survivors from U127.
20th
- Transferred
to Mediterranean Fleet to join Flotilla
based at Alexandria.
22nd
- Took
passage from Gibraltar to Malta through
Sicilian Narrows with HM Cruiser DIDO,
HM
Destroyers ARROW, FOXHOUND, GURKHA and ZULU
24th
- Arrived
at Malta.
26th
- Sailed
from Malta with HM Cruisers AJAX and DIDO,
HM Destroyers ARROW,
FOXHOUND,
GURKHA, LANCE, LIVELY and ZULU as escort for
four empty merchant
ships
during passage to Alexandria
as Convoy ME8 (Operation MF1)
27th
- Under
sustained air attacks.
29th
- Arrived
at Alexandria with out loss of any ship in
convoy.
Joined
ships
of 7th Destroyer Flotilla.
31st
- Bombarded
Bardia with HMAS NAPIER and HMAS NIZAM.
1
9 4 2
January
1st
- Returned
to Alexandria on completion of bombardment.
3rd
- Transferred
with HMAS NAPIER and HMS NIZAM for service
in Indian Ocean and took
passage
to Aden
7th
- At Aden.
9th
- Deployed
for escort of HM Aircraft Carrier
INDOMITABLE during passage from Port
Sudan
in Red Sea for delivery of aircraft to
Singapore
(Operation OPPONENT.)
26th
- After
call at Addu Atoll, remained with the other
two ships as escort for HMS
INDOMITABLE
during first launch of aircraft near Cocos
Islands.
(Note:
In view of the deterioration
of events in Singapore these HURRICANE
aircraft
were
diverted
to land at Batavia.)
27th
- On completion of second aircraft launch
remained with HMS INDOMITABLE.
as escort
with
same ships during passage to Trincomalee.
28th -
Further launch of aircraft.
(See WAR WITH JAPAN, Volume II (HMSO) for
details.)
February
2nd
- Arrived
at Trincomalee and joined Eastern Fleet with
same ships.
Passage
to Port Sudan with HMS INDOMITABLE as escort
with same ships.
24th
- Arrived
at Port Sudan for embarkation of aircraft on
carrier for further delivery to
Batavia
and sailed on completion.
March
3rd
- Delivery
cancelled and took passage to rejoin Eastern
Fleet (See above reference).
Deployed
with Eastern Fleet for screening of major
warships.
31st
- Part of
screen for HM Battleship WARSPITE, HM
Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE
and
FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers CORNWALL,
DORSETSHIRE,
EMERALD and
ENTERPRISE
with HM Destroyers FOXHOUND,
NAPIER, PALADIN,
PANTHER
and HOTSPUR deployed as
Force A.
April
4th
- Arrived
at Addu Atoll with Force A after
unsuccessful search for Japanese force on
passage
to carry out air attacks at Colombo.
5th
- Sailed
with screen of Force A to carry out further
search.
(During
the
search which was carried out too far west,
HMS CORNWALL and HMS
DORSETSHIRE
which had been detached were sunk in heavy
air attacks.)
8th
- Returned
to Addu Atoll with Force A.
9th
- Passage
to Bombay with Force A to provide protection
for shipping between Indian
ports
and the Red Sea.
11th
- Detached
from screening duties and took passage to
Bombay with HMS NAPIER for
routine
docking and essential repair.
May
On
completion
took passage to rejoin Eastern Fleet at
Killindini for convoy defence.
Deployed
at Killindini.
Nominated
for
transfer to Mediterranean for escort of
planned Malta relief convoy from
Alexandria.
27th
- Took
passage to Alexandria for detached service
with HM Cruiser NEWCASTLE, HM
Destroyers
NAPIER,
INCONSTANT, PALADIN, HOTSPUR
and GRIFFIN.
June
Deployed
at
Alexandria.
Nominated
for
escort of Malta relief Convoy (Operation
VIGOROUS)
12th
- Sailed
from Alexandria as escort for Convoy MW11B
comprising two tankers.
(Note:
Other escort for MW11B were:
HM
Destroyers HASTY, HERO, INCONSTANT, JAVELIN,
JERVIS, KELVIN,
NAPIER,
NIZAM, NORMAN, PAKENHAM,
PALADIN, SIKH and ZULU.
HM
Battleship CENTURION disguised as
a KING GEORGE V Class battleship
was
also part of the escort and
Destroyers FORTUNE, GRIFFIN, HM Corvettes
ERICA,
DELPHINIUM,
PRIMULA and SNAPDRAGON. Cover
for
was provided by HM Cruisers ARETHUSA,
BIRMINGHAM,
CLEOPATRA,
DIDO,
EURYALUS, HERMIONE and NEWCASTLE.
13th
- Joined
escorts for Convoys MW11A and NW11C also
destined for Malta.
14th
- Covering
Force joined combined convoy.
Under
heavy and sustained air
attacks during which two mercantiles were
sunk
15th
- Convoy
ordered by CinC Mediterranean at Alexandria
to reverse course because of threat
from
an Italian battle Squadron known to be on
passage
to intercept the convoy.
Under
attack by German Motor Torpedo
Boats during which HMS NEWCASTLE was hit
and
had
to be withdrawn from covering duty. HMS
HASTY was also hit and had to be
sunk.
Convoy
ordered to resume westward
passage after optimistic reports of
successful air and
submarine
attacks
on Italian ships.
Order
by CinC rescinded and convoy
again reversed passage.
Following
later reports this order
was cancelled but ignored and convoy
maintained course
to
return
to Alexandria.
Under
heavy and sustained air
attacks during which she sustained serious
damage by three
near
misses causing flooding of Boiler Rooms
which
completely disabled ship.
Taken
in tow by HMS JAVELIN and
escorted by three other destroyers from
escort.
(Note:
Several
other warships including HMS ARETHUSA, HMS
BIRMINGHAM and
HMS
AIREDALE were also damaged.).
Owing
to heavy expenditure of AA ammunition, local
command decided to disregard
the
order from CinC to reverse course yet again.
HMS
AIREDALE had to sunk by HMS ALDENHAM.
16th
- Tow
broke when ship became unstable due to
ingress of water.
Ship's
company taken off by HMS JAVELIN which then
sank this ship using shallow set
depth
charges.
(For
details of this disastrous attempt to pass a
convoy to Malta from Alexandria and its
conflicting
orders
from CinC ashore see THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN
by
Donald Macintyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by
C Barnett,
THE
NAVAL WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
by J Greene and A Massignani .
MALTA
CONVOYS by R Woodman and the
Naval Staff History.)
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMAS NESTOR
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
08/08/41
|
12/08/41
|
OG 070
|
30/07/41
|
12/08/41
|
11/08/41
|
13/08/41
|
HG 070
|
09/08/41
|
23/08/41
|
14/06/42
|
15/06/42
|
MW 011
|
11/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)