N or NAPIER-Class destroyer ordered from John Brown,
Clydebank under the 1939 Programme on 15th April 1939 and
laid down as Job No 564 on 27 July 1939. She was launched on 4th July 1940 and
completed on 19th December 1940. The ship was manned by the Royal
Australian Navy and was commissioned on
8th January
1941 for service in the 7th Destroyer
Flotilla. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 she was adopted by the
civil community of Darlington, Co. Durham. Sister
ships NAPIER, NEPAL, NESTOR and NORMAN were also manned by the
Royal Australian Navy.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
MALTA CONVOYS 1941 - CRETE 1941 - LIBYA 1941 - OKINAWA
1945. :
H e r a l d i c D a
t a
Field: White
Badge: In
front of two bars
wavy blue a quatrefoil
white charged with a
demi
tiger erased proper.
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
December
Contractors
trials.
19th - Build
completion.
1 9 4 1
January
Acceptance
trials.
8th - Commissioned
for service in Royal Australian Navy.
February
Shakedown in NW
Approaches.
10th - Prepared
for foreign service at Clydebank.
13th - At
Clydebank during heavy air attacks.
16th - On
completion of storing took passage to Scapa Flow for work-up with ships of Home
Fleet.
March
Took passage to
join 7th Destroyer Flotilla at Alexandria via Cape of Good Hope.
April
On passage
30th - Arrived
at Aden.
May
Escorted
troopships rms QUEEN ELIZABETH and rms QUEEN MARY during passage in Red Sea.
5th - Joined
Flotilla at Alexandria.
6th - Deployed
with HM Destroyers GRIFFIN, HAVOCK, HERO, HEREWARD, HOTSPUR, JERVIS, JUNO,
KANDAHAR, KIMBERLEY, KINGSTON and NUBIAN as screen for HM Aircraft Carrier
FORMIDABLE, HM Battleships BARHAM, VALIANT and WARSPITE, HM Cruisers AJAX,
ORION, PERTH and ABDIEL to provide Distant Cover for passage of Convoy MW7
taking troops to Malta and military convoy from Gibraltar carrying stores for
Alexandria (Operation TIGER.) (Note: Supply ship HMS BRECONSHIRE was with Fleet
units for transit to Malta.)
8th - Remained
with Mediterranean Fleet units when MW7 was detached to go to Malta.
9th - Joined
TIGER Convoy as part of screen during passage to Alexandria.
12th - Arrived
at Alexandria with Mediterranean Fleet.
18th - Passage
to Crete to join Fleet units for defence of island.
21st - Bombardment
German airfield at Scarpanto with HMS JERVIS and HMS ILEX.
23rd - Deployed
for patrol north of Crete with HM Destroyers JERVIS, ILEX, and HAVOCK
24th - Embarked
Commando for planned landing and took passage to Crete with HMS ABDIEL and HMS
HERO.
27th - Landed
troops and stores at Suda Bay when operation was cancelled due to weather
conditions.
28th - Returned
to Alexandria to embark stores.
29th - Passage
to Sphakia.
30th - Took
part in evacuation of troops at Sphakia with HM Destroyers STUART (RAN), JAGUAR
and DEFENDER. (Note: 700 Troops were embarked.) (Editors Note: Destroyers
taking part to be reconciled with Naval Events for
May 1941 and those on passage on 31st following, also with number of
troops lifted - thanks to Michal Derela)
31st - Passage
with HM Destroyers NAPIER, KELVIN and KANDAHAR for Sphakia. (Note: Damaged
during air attacks in return passage. For details of defence of Crete and
evacuation see THE BATTLE FOR CRETE by SW Pack, London Gazette (1948), ENGAGE
THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett and Naval Staff History.)
June
Under repair at
Alexandria.
Nominated for support of military operations in Syria against Vichy
French. (Operation EXPORTER).
Took passage to join units of Mediterranean Fleet
off Syria.
16th - Deployed
off Palestine coast.
23rd - Engaged
Vichy French destroyer GUÉPARD attempting to enter Beirut. Carried out surface
gun and torpedo attacks with HM Cruisers LEANDER, NAIAD and HM Destroyer
KINGSTON which were unsuccessful and enemy ship was able to escape. (See
RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute.)
July
Joined Inshore
Squadron to support garrisons in Tobruk and Mersa Matruh.
21st - Detached
for screening duty with Mediterranean Fleet.
22nd - Joined
HM Battleships QUEEN ELIZABETH and VALIANT, HM Cruisers AJAX, CARLISLE, NAIAD,
HOBART (RAN), LEANDER, PHOEBE, LATONA and ABDIEL for Diversionary operation
during passage of relief convoy to Malta from Gibraltar (Operation MD5). (Note:
HM Destroyers HASTY, HAVOCK, JACKAL, JAGUAR, JERVIS, KANDAHAR, KIMBERLEY,
KINGSTON and NUBIAN were also deployed for screening of Fleet units.)
25th - Returned
to Alexandria with Fleet units and resumed Tobruk support.
August
Tobruk support
in continuation.
12th - Took
part in relief of ANZAC troops from Tobruk with HM Minelaying Cruisers LATONA
and ABDIEL, HM Australian Cruiser HOBART and HMAS NAPIER. (Note: In all 6,000
troops were taken to Egypt to await return to Australia).
September
Resumed Fleet
duties. (Note: During this period major units of the Mediterranean Fleet
carried out another diversionary operation during passage of a relief convoy to
Malta from Gibraltar (Operation MD6).)
October
Fleet and
support duties in Eastern Mediterranean in continuation.
November
Deployed for
screening duties in Eastern Mediterranean.
2nd - Deployed
with HM Cruiser ABDIEL and HM Destroyer NAPIER for transfer of troops from Palestine
to Cyprus to reinforce garrison.
9th - Resumed
Flotilla duties for Fleet screening at Alexandria.
24th - Joined
HM Battleships BARHAM, QUEEN ELIZABETH and VALIANT with seven other Fleet destroyers
as screen during operation to intercept convoy on passage to Benghazi. Other destroyer were HMS JERVIS, HMS JACKAL and HMS HOTSPUR.
27th - Assisted
in rescue operations after HM Battleship BARHAM was torpedoed by U331 and sunk
north of Sollum.
December
Fleet duties in
continuation based at Alexandria.
31st - Deployed
on anti-submarine sweep while other Fleet units, including HMAS NAPIER and
NESTOR, carried out bombardment of enemy positions at Bardia.
1 9 4 2
January
3rd - Took passage from Alexandria with HMAS
NAPIER and NESTOR
to join Eastern Fleet.
Deployed in Red Sea.
9th - Joined HM
Aircraft Carrier INDOMITABLE with HMAS NAPIER and NESTOR.
23rd - Escorted INDOMITABLE with
NESTOR and 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 of HMS
INDOMITABLE in continuation.
3rd - Delivery
operation cancelled and took passage with HMS INDOMITABLE to Colombo.
20th - At
Colombo and deployed with Flotilla in Eastern Fleet. Nominated for escort of
military convoy SU1 and took passage to join in Indian Ocean during transit
from Aden to Fremantle. (Note: This convoy was taking ANZAC troops back to
Australia after withdrawal from Western Desert because of Japanese threat to
Australia.)
March
Escorted
military convoy SU1 with HM Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN, HM Cruiser CORNWALL, HM
Destroyers EXPRESS, and VAMPIRE (RAN). (Note: This convoy of 12 troopships was
taking ANZAC personnel back to Australia after the Japanese declaration of
war.)
April
On release from
SU1 returned to Colombo. Taken in hand for repair at Bombay.
May
Nominated for
return to Mediterranean on completion. On completion took passage to Alexandria
for planned Malta relief convoy (Operation VIGOROUS).
June
Passage to
Alexandria with 7th Destroyer Flotilla.
13th - Part of
screen for HM Cruisers ARETHUSA, BIRMINGHAM, CLEOPATRA, DIDO, NEWCASTLE, EURYALUS
and HERMIONE with HM Destroyers HASTY, HERO, INCONSTANT, JAVELIN, JERVIS,
KELVIN, NAPIER, NESTOR, NORMAN, PAKENHAM, PALADIN, SIKH and ZULU. (Note: These
ships were providing additional cover for passage of Convoy MW11 to Malta from
Alexandria.)
14th - Under
heavy and sustained air attacks and threat of surface attack by an Italian Squadron
including two battleships.
15th - Convoy
ordered by CinC at Alexandria to reverse course to eastward. Under attacks by
Italian E-Boats during which HMS HASTY had to be sunk after major damage and
HMS NEWCASTLE was disabled. Heavy and sustained air attacks resumed after
daylight. HM Destroyer AIREDALE sunk. Convoy ordered to resume passage towards
Malta. When surface threat renewed, convoy again ordered to turn eastwards. Despite
further instructions to resume passage to Malta operation abandoned due to high
expenditure of anti-aircraft ammunition.
16th - HMS
HERMIONE torpedoed by U205 during return passage and HM Destroyer NESTOR which had
been damaged during air attacks on 15th had to be sunk. Returned to Alexandria
with Fleet units. (For full details of this disastrous and ill-directed
operation see the THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY and Naval Staff History.)
25th - On
release from service in the Mediterranean took passage to Kilindini for Indian
Ocean convoy defence.
July
On arrival at
Kilindini deployed for convoy defence in Indian Ocean. Nominated for service
with Eastern Fleet ships for planned operation.
21st - Sailed
from Kilindini for Colombo with HM Destroyers NORMAN (RAN), INCONSTANT and Dutch VAN GALEN
to join Fleet units for operation.
22nd - HMS
NAPIER (Cdre D) joined for passage to Colombo
28th - At
Colombo and joined by Netherlands cruiser HEEMSKERCK.
30th - Deployed
with HM Destroyer NAPIER (Cdre D) and same destroyers as screen for HM
Battleship WARSPITE, HM Aircraft Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS and FORMIDABLE, HM
Cruisers EFFINGHAM, MAURITIUS and Dutch cruiser HEEMSKERCK to provide cover for
passage of three Dummy Convoys on passage from Vizagapatam, Madras and
Trincomalee towards Andaman Islands. (Operation STAB - A diversionary operation
to suggest landing operations. See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)
August
2nd - Returned
to Trincomalee before taking passage to Kilindini to prepare for planned landings
on Madagascar. (Note: See above reference for explanation of early return by
Force A ships.)
Took part in preparatory exercise
September
9th - Sailed from Kilindini to make
rendezvous 60 miles south of Mayotta Island
with HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM, HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, Dutch cruiser
HEEMSKERCK and ships of assault convoy on passage to Majunga for landings of
troops to complete occupation of Madagascar (Operation STREAM). (Note: Ships of
Force M providing cover and control of landings also included HM Battleship
WARSPITE, HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruisers GAMBIA DAUNTLESS and
MANXMAN, HM Monitor EREBUS, HM Seaplane Carrier ALBATROSS, HM Destroyers
NAPIER, NORMAN, FOXHOUND, HOTSPUR, ARROW, ACTIVE, BLACKMORE, INCONSTANT,
FORTUNE, NEPAL, Dutch VAN GALEN and Dutch TJERK HIDDES). Provided A/S defence
during passage to beachhead.
10th - Present
at landings to provide anti-submarine defence. (Note: No bombardment was
required. For details see WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO) and Naval Staff History.)
12th - On
release resumed Flotilla duties for patrol and convoy defence.
20th - Deployed
for patrol to intercept Vichy French mercantiles on passage to Laurenco Marques.
(See WAR WITH JAPAN.)
23rd - Intercepted
and boarded mercantile ss MARECHEL GELLJENI after report by a South African Air
Force aircraft. Prize was escorted to Capetown by HM South African Whaler
CEDARBERG.
26th - Patrol
in continuation with HM Destroyer NORMAN.
29th - After
report from patrol aircraft located abandoned Vichy French mercantile ss ADMIRAL
PIERRE. Attempt to prevent sinking due to scuttling failed and French ship sunk
by gunfire.
October
Passage to
Simonstown to prepare for refit.
8th - Deployed
with HM Destroyers ACTIVE, ARROW, FOXHOUND and HM Corvette ROCKROSE for A/S
operations after sinking of six mercantiles by U-Boat off Cape of Good Hope. (Note:
Took part in rescue of survivors. For details see HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C
Blair.)
On release from operations taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard,
Simonstown.
November
Under refit.
December
Transferred to
South Atlantic Station on completion of post refit trials. Deployed for convoy
defence and interception.
1 9 4 3
January to May
Convoy defence duty in South Atlantic
and Indian Ocean continued.
June
15th - Joined
HM Destroyers NORMAN (RAN), QUADRANT and REDOUBT in escort of military convoy WS30 in
Indian Ocean during passage in Atlantic.
16th - Remained
with WS30 for passage from Cape Town
19th - Detached
from WS30 on arrival at Durban.
Returned to Indian Ocean with Flotilla
to resume duties based at Kilindini. Nominated for special service at Colombo.
21st - Took
passage from Kilindini with HM Destroyers NORMAN, INCONSTANT and Dutch VAN
GALEN for Colombo with call at Seychelles to join Force A.
23rd - HMAS NAPIER joined during passage.
24th to 29th
- Deployed with HM
Cruisers SUFFOLK, NEWCASTLE, HM Destroyers RELENTLESS , RAIDER and RFA tanker
to carry out search for U-Boats and supply ship CHARLOTTE SCHLIEMANN (Operation
PLAYER - Note: U-Boats were known to be active in Indian Ocean and U-Boat refuelling had taken place. See above reference.)
30th - Search
abandoned and resumed convoy defence duties.
July
Indian Ocean
convoy defence in continuation.
August
Transferred to
Eastern Fleet based at Trincomalee and took passage.
September to
December
Deployed with Eastern
Fleet on convoy defence and patrol in Indian Ocean. (For details of operations
in Indian Ocean see OPERATION PACIFIC by E Gray.)
1 9 4 4
January to
March
Convoy defence and patrol in
India Ocean.
April
Deployed for
Fleet screening duties.
16th - Part of
Task Force 69 as screen for HM Battleships QUEEN ELIZABETH and VALIANT, French
Battleship RICHELIEU, HM Cruisers NEWCASTLE, NIGERIA and CEYLON and Dutch
cruiser TROMP with HM Destroyers ROTHERHAM, RACEHORSE, PENN, PETARD, QUIBERON,
NAPIER (RAN) and Dutch destroyer VAN GALEN (Operation COCKPIT).
18th - Task
Force 69 covered air operations by HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS and the US
Aircraft Carrier SARATOGA (Task Force 70) against targets at Sabang. (See
OPERATION PACIFIC).
May to July
Deployed on convoy defence and patrol in
Indian Ocean and detached for Fleet duty as required. (See ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY)
August
Nominated for
refit in Australia
September
3rd - Arrived
at Melbourne
October
Under refit at
Williamstown
November
On completion
of post refit trials took passage to Ceylon to resume Flotilla duties with Eastern
Fleet. (Note: On formation of British Pacific Fleet transferred to Eastern
Fleet with ships of 7th Flotilla and retained in Eastern Fleet for support of
planned operations in Burma.)
December
Deployed in
support of military operations in Burma including defence of military convoys
in Bay of Bengal (See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY)
1 9 4 5
January
Flotilla
deployment in support of military operations in Burma continued.
February
Released from Eastern Fleet
service and took passage to Australia to join British Pacific Fleet. Called at
Fremantle on passage.
11th - While proceeding Melbourne for Fremantle, and off Cape
Leeuwin at night, changed course in heavy seas and 10 ratings swept overboard,
all drowned.
March
Prepared for service in British Pacific Fleet including
exercises off Sydney using US Navy communications and manoeuvring procedures. Pennant
Number for visual signalling purposes changed to D15 to suit US Navy identity
for destroyers.
April
Nominated for
escort of Logistics Group (Task Force 112) in support of operations by Task
Force 57. Passage
to Manus to join Task Force 112 for escort duty in SW Pacific.
May
Deployed for
escort of Logistics Group during air operations against airfields in Sakashima
Gunto Group (Operation ICEBERG).
9th - Detached
for temporary screening duties with Task Force 57 ships.
14th - After
release from Fleet screen deployed in Area COOLIE with HM Escort Aircraft Carriers
RULER and STRIKER, HM Sloops PHEASANT, CRANE and WOODCOCK for defence of
tankers during replenishment of ships of Task Force. (For details see THE
FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton and Naval Staff History.)
31st - On
completion of ICEBERG II Fleet Train took passage to Australia for R&R.
June
Maintenance and
Leave period in Australia. (Note: Some ships remained in Brisbane. See above
references.)
28th - Took
passage for Fleet Train escort duties during BPF operations against targets in
Japan.
July
Pacific Fleet
deployment in continuation. (Note: Main British Pacific Fleet units, now
designated Task Force 37 and part of
US 3rd Fleet, arrived at Manus on 4th July.)
20th - Part of
screen for Logistics Group during refuelling and replenishment of BPF. (Note:
Escort for the tankers and Stores Issuing Ships included HM Escort Carriers RULER,
STRIKER, HM Destroyers NAPIER, HM Sloops PHEASANT, WHIMBREL, REDPOLE, HM
Frigate FINDHORN and HM Minesweeper GAWLER.)
26th - Part of
escort for Logistics Group during Fleet replenishment. (Note: An additional
tanker was available but not fully operational. Escort for Group had been
increased. See above references. For details of British Pacific Fleet
operations see above references, TASK FORCE 57 by P Smith. and ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by C. Barnett.)
August
6th - Part of
escort for Logistics Group during Fleet replenishment. (Note: Other warships in
Group included HM Escort Carriers ARBITER, CHASER, RULER, HM Destroyer NORMAN,
HM Sloops PHEASANT, CRANE and HM Minesweepers BURNIE and BALLARAT. Hospital
Ship ss TJITJALENGKA was deployed in Group.)
11th - After RN
warships were withdrawn from operations due to lack of fuel from British
tankers, transferred to Task Group 38.5 with HM Destroyer NAPIER (RAN) and
continued escort duty with Support Group. (For details of formation of the
British Token Force which was retained in the 3rd US Fleet. .See above
references.)
20th - Provided
personnel for Commonwealth component of Third Fleet Allied Landing Force which
occupied the Japanese naval base on the island of Azuma.
23rd - Joined
HM Battleship KING GEORGE V, HM Cruisers GAMBIA and NEWFOUNDLAND with HMS
NAPIER and US destroyers UHLMANN and BENHAM in re-introduced Task Force 37 for
the formal entry into Japanese waters.
27th - Anchored
in Sagami Wan with TF37 after delay. (Note: Ship flew Australian Flag at the
Main.)
29th - Proceeded
into Tokyo Bay with allied Flagship Groups. (Note: HM Destroyer QUALITY and
Hospital Ship TJITJALENGKA had joined Group in
September.)
September
2nd - Present
at formal surrender ceremony in Tokyo Bay with representative ships of the British
Pacific Fleet with HM Aircraft Carrier INDEFATIGABLE, HM Battleship KING GEORGE
V, HM Cruisers NEWFOUNDLAND, HOBART (RAN), SHROPSHIRE (RAN) and GAMBIA (RNZN),
HM Destroyers BARFLEUR, WRANGLER, WAKEFUL, TROUBRIDGE, TERMAGANT, TENACIOUS,
TEAZER, NAPIER (RAN), BATAAN (RAN) and WARRAMUNGA (RAN).
P o s
t W a r N o t e s
HMS NIZAM remained in Japanese waters after the surrender
ceremony and embarked PoW from
Wakatama with HMNZS GAMBIA. On release from duties associated with
collection of PoW and allied nationals
the ship returned
to Sydney and was handed back to the Royal Navy in October 1945. She then sailed
to UK and after
arrival at Sheerness on 13th December 1945 was reduced
to Reserve status. Placed in
Reserve
Fleet at Harwich she remained there until 1953 when moved to Chatham. The ship was put on
the
Disposal List in 1955 and sold to T&W Ward for breaking-up at Grays, Essex where she arrived on 16th November that year.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS NIZAM
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
|
30/05/43
|
01/06/43
|
CM 042
|
30/05/43
|
10/06/43
|
26/07/43
|
30/07/43
|
CM 043
|
26/07/43
|
07/08/43
|
04/11/43
|
17/11/43
|
OW 007/1
|
04/11/43
|
17/11/43
|
24/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
CM 048
|
18/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
unknown
|
04/04/44
|
AJ 002/2
|
28/03/44
|
04/04/44
|
21/08/44
|
24/08/44
|
BM 100
|
21/08/44
|
24/08/44
|
19/09/44
|
22/09/44
|
MB 078B
|
19/09/44
|
22/09/44
|
25/09/44
|
28/09/44
|
BM 101
|
25/09/44
|
28/09/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)