N-Class destroyer ordered from J I Thornycroft at Woolston, Southampton with the
1939 Programme on 15th April 1939
with HMS NORSEMAN of the same Class. This ship was laid down on 27th July 1939
and launched on 30th October
1940 as the second RN ship to carry the name which was introduced in 1916 for
destroyer which was sold for
demolition in 1921. It had also been used for trawlers requisitioned in WW1. In
November 1940 it was revealed that
she would be manned by the Royal Australian Navy on loan with sisters HMS
NAPIER, NEPAL, NIZAM and
NESTOR. She was commissioned for service in the Royal Australian Navy on
15th September 1941 and was adopted
by the civil community of Hitchin, Hertfordshire after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign
in March 1942. Her completion was delayed by late delivery of fire control
equipment and the higher priority
given to warship repair work after the evacuation operations from the Norway
and the continent in 1940. (Note: HMS NORSEMAN was later renamed HMAS NEPAL.)
B a t t l e H
o n o u r s
H e r a l d i c
D a t a
Badge: On a Field Blue, a Norman helmet proper,
garnished Gold.
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 1
September
Contractors
trials
15th - Commissioned
for service as HMAS NORMAN.
29th - Build
completion and commenced acceptance trials.
October
Passage
to Scapa Flow for work-up with ships of Home Fleet on completion of trials and Storing.
7th - Work-up
suspended and took passage to Seidisfjord, Iceland to embark Trades Union delegation. (Note: HM Destroyer ANTELOPE which was to have taken the delegation to
Archangel had been unable to sail due to
machinery defects.)
14th - Passage
to Archangel with delegation
17th - During
passage from Archangel to Scapa Flow ordered to return to Archangel to embark delegation for return to UK on completion of their
visit.
21st - Deployed
in North Russia for anti-submarine patrols in White Sea.
27th - Embarked
delegation and took passage to Scapa Flow.
November
Resumed
work-up at Scapa Flow. Nominated
for foreign service in Indian Ocean with 7th Destroyer Flotilla.
December
8th - On
completion of work-up took passage to build yard in Woolston for repair of
defects and installation of radar equipment.
12th - Under
repair.
1 9 4 2
January
4th - On
completion of dockyard work carried out trials
17th - Joined
military convoy WS15 with HM Battleship RESOLUTION and Polish Destroyer ORP GARLAND as Ocean Escort during passage to Freetown. (Note: WS15 comprised 27 ships taking troops to Middle
East, India and Malaya.)
25th - Detached
from WS15 on arrival at Freetown and made independent passage to Simonstown after refuelling.
February
2nd - At
Simonstown.
14th - Rejoined
Ocean Escort for WS15 during passage from Capetown to Durban.
17th - Deployed
with HM Cruiser CERES and HM Armed Merchant Cruiser CHESHIRE as Ocean Escort in Indian Ocean passage from Durban (Note: Ships of WS15 intended to go to Singapore were
diverted to Batavia after the surrender.)
22nd - Deployed
with HM Battleship RAMILLIES as Ocean Escort for ships of Convoy DM3 during passage in Indian Ocean to Batavia. (Note: The nine ships in DM3 had been part of WS15 )
28th - Detached
from DM3 and took passage to Addu Atoll to refuel.
29th - Rejoined
DM3 escort which included HM Armed Merchant Cruiser CORFU.
March
2nd - Orders
for DM3 destination changed and detached with HMS RAMILLIES to escort five
ships during passage to Colombo.
4th - Detached
from DM3 ships on arrival at Colombo and joined 7th Flotilla. Took passage to join Eastern Fleet ships at Addu
Atoll.
(Note: Eastern Fleet had been formed in December
1941
when East Indies Station was disbanded
See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)
On arrival deployed for Fleet duties including screening of major units,
22nd - Escorted
to Colombo tanker CAN CIRILO, badly damaged after being hit by torpedo from a Japanese submarine but able to proceed under own power
31st - Assigned
to Force B of Eastern Fleet.
April
1st - Took
part in search by Force B for Japanese warships reported on passage towards
Ceylon and deployed with HM Destroyers
GRIFFIN, FORTUNE, ARROW, VAMPIRE (RAN), DECOY, SCOUT and Dutch ISAAC SWEERS as screen for HM Battleships
RESOLUTION, RAMILLIES, ROYAL SOVEREIGN, REVENGE,
HM Aircraft Carrier HERMES, HM Cruisers
CALEDON, DRAGON and Dutch JACOB VAN HEEMSKERK. (Note: Ships refuelled at Addu Atoll during this search.)
8th - Search
abandoned and transferred with Force B to Kilindini. (Note: Force B major warships and some of the destroyers were considered
to be unsuitable for offensive operations because of
poor speed capability or armament. For details of this operation and other events in the theatre see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by C Barnett, OPERATION PACIFIC by E
Gray and above reference.)
May
Deployed
with Flotilla based at Kilindini for Eastern Fleet screening and convoy defence
duties.
25th -
Transferred to Mediterranean Fleet as reinforcement after losses in Greece and Crete. Took passage to Alexandria with HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM.
HM Destroyers FORTUNE, NIZAM
and PAKENHAM.
June
On arrival
deployed with HMS NAPIER, NESTOR and NIZAM for screening and patrol in Eastern Mediterranean, based at Alexandria.
9th - Nominated
for escort of Malta relief convoy MW11 and took passage to Haifa to join Convoy MW11A during passage from Haifa to join other
mercantiles for westward passage covered by Mediterranean Fleet.
11th - Sailed
from Haifa with HM Destroyers NAPIER, NIZAM, INCONSTANT, HOTSPUR, HM Fleet Minesweepers BOSTON and SEAHAM as escort for
five ships of MW11A during passage
to join MW11B during passage from Port Said. Detached from MW11A and took passage to join Mediterranean Fleet ships
after refuelling. Sailed from Alexandria with HM
Destroyers HASTY, HERO, INCONSTANT. JAVELIN, JERVIS, KELVIN, NAPIER, NESTOR, NIZAM, PAKENHAM, PALADIN, SIKH and ZULU as screen for HM Cruisers ARETHUSA, BIRMINGHAM,
CLEOPATRA, DIDO, EURYALUS, HERMIONE and NEWCASTLE.
14th - Joined
ships of merged Convoy MW11 with Fleet units from Alexandria. Under heavy and sustained air attacks during which one
mercantile was sunk and another damaged. Threat of an attack by an Italian battle squadron
confirmed by aircraft reports.
15th - Convoy
ordered to reverse course by orders from shore authority. Under night attacks by E-Boats during which HMS
NEWCASTLE and HMS HASTY were hit.
Enemy craft were driven off by HM Destroyers AIREDALE and ALDENHAM of convoy Close Escort (Note: HMS HASTY had to be sunk by HMS HOSTILE later and HMS NEWCASTLE. withdrawn from operation and returned to Alexandria.).
Convoy ordered to resume westward passage after
optimistic reports of successful attack on Italian warships by BEAUFORT aircraft but ignored by Admiral Vian in
command of the Operation. When Italian force retreated westward shore authority again ordered
convoy to resume passage to Malta but this was
disregarded by Admiral Vian because of low stock of anti-aircraft ammunition which would prejudice defence of
convoy if heavy air attacks were renewed. Operation VIGOROUS aborted and ships returned to
Alexandria with escort and covering force. (For full details of this disastrous operation and its conflicting
instructions from shore, see MALTA
CONVOYS by R Woodman, THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre and Naval Staff History.)
16th - Arrived
at Alexandria with Fleet units.
July
Passage
to rejoin Eastern Fleet for convoy defence
8th - Resumed
Indian Ocean convoy defence with Flotilla based at Kilindini.
Nominated for service with Eastern Fleet ships for
planned operation.
21st - Sailed
from Kilindini for Colombo with HM Destroyers NIZAM, INCONSTANT and Dutch VAN GALEN as screen for HM Battleship WARSPITE, HM
Aircraft Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS FORMIDABLE,
HM Cruisers BIRMINGHAM and MAURITIUS during passage to Colombo for operation.
22nd - HMS
NAPIER (Cdre D) joined for passage to Colombo.
28th - At
Colombo and joined by Dutch 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 cruisers HEEMSKERCK as Force A 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 with Force A ships before taking passage to Kilindini to prepare for planned landings in French occupied Madagascar. (Note: See above reference for explanation of early
return by Force A ships.)
Took part
in preparatory exercise TOUCHSTONE.
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 landing
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. Transferred to Cape of Good Hope area and took passage
from Kilindini (Note: German submarine operations
against shipping in this area were planned and U- Boat Group EISBAR was on passage to begin attacks on shipping.
This move
may
have
been intended to counter the threat by reinforcing HM Destroyers ACTIVE, ARROW, FOXHOUND and sister NIZAM based at Simonstown.)
Deployed for convoy defence off South Africa.
October
Cape of
Good Hope convoy escort and patrol in continuation.
21st - Rescued
survivors from ss EMPIRE NOMAD which had been sunk by U159 on 13th
30th - Joined
escort for military convoy WS23 with HM Corvettes THYME and ROCKROSE during passage in South Atlantic from Freetown to
Durban. (Note: WS23 was taking troops to
Bombay and Middle East.)
31st - HM
Cruiser DESPATCH and HM Sloop MILFORD which had escorted WS23 detached. (Note: Greek destroyer KANARIS remained with WS23.)
November
5th - Detached
from WS23 on arrival at Durban,
29th - Joined
escort of military convoy WS24 during passage in Indian Ocean. (Note: This convoy unusually had been diverted to
Bahia, Brazil instead of calling at Freetown. Ocean Escort from Bahia comprised HM Armed Merchant Cruisers QUEEN OF BERMUDA and ALCANTARA with HM Destroyer ROTHERHAM.)
December
4th - Arrived
at Durban and detached from WS24 with HMS ROCKROSE, HMS NEPAL which had joined escort on passage.
Resumed local escort duties with Flotilla.
1 9 4 3
January
Indian
Ocean deployment in continuation.
February
Deployed
for escort of military convoy during passage in Indian Ocean with troops of 9th Australian Division which was returning to Australia
after being withdrawn from service in the Middle East because of Japanese threat to Australia (Operation
PAMPHLET - This convoy included rms
QUEEN MARY, rms AQUITANIA, French liner ILE DE FRANCE and Dutch liner NIEUW AMSTERDAM. Eastern Fleet major warships included HM Battleships WARSPITE, RESOLUTION, REVENGE,
HM Cruiser MAURITIUS screened by HM Australian
Destroyers, NEPAL, NIZAM. NORMAN and
three other Eastern Fleet destroyers. See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)
Took passage to Simonstown for refit on release from PAMPHLET.
March
3rd - Arrived
at Simonstown.
8th - Taken
in hand for refit by HM Dockyard.
April
Under
refit.
May
On
completion of post refit trials resumed convoy defence duties.
18th - Deployed
with HM Destroyers QUADRANT and REDOUBT as escort for troopships ALMANZORA, ATHLONE CASTLE, PARDO and SILVERWALNUT
during passage from Capetown to Durban. (Note: These ships had been part of military convoy WS29
from UK.)
20th - Detached
from troopships on arrival at Durban
25th - Joined
military convoy WS29 with HM Destroyers QUADRANT and REDOUBT as escort during initial stage of passage in Indian Ocean
from Durban to Aden and Bombay.
26th - HM
Cruiser KENYA joined as Ocean Escort.
29th - Detached
from WS29 and took passage to Durban with HMS QUADRANT and REDOUBT.
June
Passage
to Atlantic Ocean to meet military convoy WS30 on passage to Durban.
9th - Joined
Ocean Escort for WS30 comprising HM Cruiser SUFFOLK, HM Destroyer CATTERICK, HM Armed Merchant Cruiser CARNARVON CASTLE
with HMS QUADRANT and HMS REDOUBT as part of
Ocean Escort.
15th - HMS
NIZAM joined escort.
19th - Detached
from WS30 on arrival at Capetown.
25th - Rejoined
WS30 with HM Destroyers QUICKMATCH and ROTHERHAM as escort during passage to Durban.
28th - HM
Armed Merchant Cruiser CANTON joined WS30.
30th - Detached
from WS30 and took passage to Durban with HMS QUICKMATCH and HMS ROTHERHAM.
July
Deployed
for Local convoy escort.
August
Passage
to join military convoy WS32 during passage to Durban from Freetown.
12th - Joined
escort for WS32 with HM Destroyers QUIBERON, RAPID and RELENTLESS.
18th - Detached
from WS32 with same ships on arrival at Capetown. Passage to Durban.
28th - Rejoined
WS32 with HMS QUIBERON and HMS RAPID as escort on departure from Durban as escort during passage in Indian Ocean.
September
3rd - Detached
from WS32 with HMS QUIBERON and RAPID on relief by HM Cruiser EMERALD as Ocean Escort during passage to Bombay. (Note: Four of the five ships were destined for
Bombay, rms STRATHMORE detached on 6th
and took passage independently to Aden.)
Transferred to Trincomalee with ships of Flotilla for defence of convoys
and Fleet screening.
October to
November
Flotilla duties in
continuation based at Trincomalee (Note:
During this period the MONSUN U-Boat Group was active in the Indian Ocean and special precautions taken to increase convoy size and
to provide air cover. See WAR
WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)
December
Deployed
as escort for HM Battleship RAMILLIES during passage to Aden from Trincomalee. (Note: HMS RAMILLIES was returning to UK for service in
Home waters after refit.)
Passage
from Aden to resume Fleet duties.
1 9 4 4
January to
February
Deployed with Flotilla for
Eastern Fleet duties based at Trincomalee.
March
8th - Carried
out offensive sweep in Bay of Bengal with ships of Flotilla
12th - Returned
to Trincomalee.
21st - Joined
HM Destroyers QUALITY, QUEENBOROUGH, QUIBERON, QUILLIAM, NAPIER, NEPAL, PATHFINDER, Dutch destroyers VAN GALEN and
TJERK HIDDES as screen for HM
Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Battleships QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruisers CEYLON, CUMBERLAND, GAMBIA
and LONDON during passage in
Indian Ocean to meet US warships being deployed with Eastern Fleet for planned
operations. (Operation DIPLOMAT)
24th -
Started
replenishment from tankers of Eastern Fleet.
26th - Completed
replenishment and took passage to rendezvous.
27th - Met
US Navy Task Unit 58.5 comprising aircraft carrier USS SARATOGA, destroyers USS CUMMINGS, DUNLAP and FANNING. Took passage to Trincomalee as screen for Fleet units
and US Navy ships.
April
4th - Arrived
at Trincomalee with joint force.
Took
passage to Australia for refit. Taken in
hand for refit at Sydney on arrival
May
Under
refit
June
Carried
out post refit harbour and sea trials.
July
Passage
from Sydney to Fremantle for work-up prior to resuming service in Eastern
Fleet.
August
Passage
from Fremantle to rejoin 7th Flotilla at Trincomalee.
September
Rejoined
Eastern Fleet for Flotilla duties.
October
Nominated
for screening duties during planned diversionary operation by Eastern Fleet (Operation MILLET –Diversion during US landings
on Leyte Island. For details see WAR WITH
JAPAN (HMSO) and THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton.)
15th - Sailed
from Trincomalee with Task Force 63 and deployed in Task Group 63.2 with HM Destroyers RAIDER, RELENTLESS (Cdre D) and Dutch
destroyer VAN GALEN as screen
for HM Cruisers CUMBERLAND, LONDON and SUFFOLK.
16th - Refuelled
from HM Battlecruiser RENOWN with other destroyers of Force 63.
17th - Took
part in bombardment of shore targets in the Malacca area with Task Group 63.2. Detached from Force 63 with HMS LONDON and Dutch VAN
GALEN to carry out night bombardment of Car Nicobar.
18th - Took
part in bombardment and on completion returned to Trincomalee (Note: It is not known whether ship rejoined Task
Force 63 which came under air attacks
on 19th. These were repelled by aircraft from HM Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE and HMS VICTORIOUS OF Task Group 63.3. See above references. )
30th - Resumed
Flotilla duties based at Trincomalee.
November
22nd - Retained
in redesignated East Indies Fleet with Flotilla when British Pacific Fleet was
formed from Eastern Fleet which was
significantly reinforced after September
1944.
December
Nominated
for support of military operations in Burma and convoy defence in Bay of Bengal.
1 9 4 5
January
Military
support and convoy defence in continuation with Flotilla.
16th - Joined
Task Force 64 for escort and support of landings by British 7th and Indian 71st Brigades in northern part of Ramree Island off
Arakan, Burma with HMS QUEEN
ELIZABETH, HM Escort Aircraft Carrier AMEER, HM Cruiser PHOEBE, and HM Destroyers PATHFINDER and RAIDER (Operation
MATADOR).
18th - Sailed
from Trincomalee with HMS PATHFINDER as screen for HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH.
19th - Deployed
as screen for HMS AMEER during provision of cover of bombardment force off assault area. Took passage to Akyab on release from MATADOR.
24th - Sailed
from Akyab with HM Frigates SPEY, TEVIOT and HMS RAIDER to provide naval gunfire support prior to landings of Royal
Marines on Cheduba Island, north of
Ramree (Operation SANKEY).
26th - Provided
support bombardment at Cheduba with HM Destroyers RAIDER, PALADIN and RAPID (Operation CROCODILE).
30th - Landed
troops on island of Sagu south of Ramree with HMS RAIDER and four Landing Craft supported by HMS NEPAL and HMS PATHFINDER.
February
Nominated
for service in Pacific and released from duty with 7th Destroyer Flotilla, East Indies Fleet.
Passage to Sydney with HMS NEPAL as escort for HM Escort Aircraft
Carriers RULER and FENCER with call at Fremantle.
March
16th - Arrived
at Sydney with same ships. Nominated
for service with Fleet train. Prepared
for service with BPF. (Note:
Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to D16.)
April
Passage
to Manus
18th - Joined
Fleet Train off Sakishima Gunto with HMAS NEPAL and NAPIER for escort of tankers and supply ships.
23rd - Returned
to Leyte with Fleet Train on completion of first Phase of attacks (Operation ICEBERG ONE)
May
1st - Sailed
from Leyte with Fleet Train for support Task Force 57 ships during second Phase
of operations off Sakishima Gunto
(Operation ICEBERG TWO -
Note:
Fleet Train designated Task Force 112 escort comprised HM Sloops CRANE,
WHIMBREL and PHEASANT, HM Destroyers NAPIER
(RAN), NORMAN (RAN) and NEPAL (RAN), HM Frigate AVON and HM Escort Aircraft Carriers RULER and STRIKER.)
6th - Deployed
with Fleet Train during replenishment in Area COOTIE.
7th - Detached
as escort for RFA WAVE MONARCH and WAVE KING for passage to Leyte.
Returned to operational area as escort for same ships.
18th - Deployed
with Fleet Train during replenishment of Task Force 57 ships.
20th - Detached
from Fleet Train to take HM Destroyer QUILLIAM in tow after damage by collision with HM Aircraft Carrier INDOMITABLE during fuelling
in dense fog. Resumed Fleet train duties when tow
transferred to HM Cruiser BLACK PRINCE.
22nd - Deployed
as escort for Tug ENVOY during tow of HMS QUILLIAM to Leyte.
28th - Passage
to resumed Fleet Train duties from Leyte
June
Fleet
Train deployment in continuation.
16th - ICEBERG
TWO completed and ship returned to Australia.
24th - Fleet
Train ships sailed for Japan with call at Manus.
July
Passage
to operational area from Manus as escort for Fleet Train.
31st - Deployed
with HM Escort Aircraft Carriers RULER CHASER and SPEAKER, HM Sloops PHEASANT, REDPOLE, WOODCOCK and CRANE, HM Destroyer
QUEENBOROUGH (RAN), HM Frigates ODZANI, DERG and HM
Australian Minesweeper PIRIE as escort for Logistic Support Group during replenishment off Japan.
August
6th - Deployed
with HM Escort Carriers ARBITER, CHASER and RULER, HM Sloops PHEASANT and CRANE, HM Destroyer NIZAM (RAN), HM
Frigate BARLE, HM Minesweepers BALLARAT (RAN) and
BURNIE as escort for Logistics Support Group during replenishment off Japan.
10th - Passage
to Manus with Fleet Train ships.
After VJ
took passage to Australia.
P o s t W a r
N o t e s
HMAS
NORMAN reverted to RN control in October 1945 and
took passage to UK with call at Fremantle in November. The ship arrived at Plymouth on 12th December and
Paid-off. Placed in Reserve early the next year she was laid up in the Reserve Fleet at Plymouth until August 1950 when
transferred to Chatham. Later that year she returned in tow to Devonport where she remained
until January 1953 prior to transfer to lay-up at Penarth. During 1956
consideration was given for possible use
as a drill ship in an RNR Division but this was rejected and she was put on the
Disposal List. Sold to BISCO for demolition
by Cashmore this destroyer arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard in Newport,
Monmouth on 1st April 1958.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMAS NORMAN
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
27/02/42
|
02/03/42
|
DM 003
|
19/02/42
|
06/03/42
|
12/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
MW 011
|
11/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
04/08/43
|
11/08/43
|
CF 013
|
04/08/43
|
11/08/43
|
05/09/43
|
13/09/43
|
MC 009A
|
05/09/43
|
13/09/43
|
14/11/43
|
17/11/43
|
AB 020F
|
10/11/43
|
17/11/43
|
08/01/44
|
11/01/44
|
AB 027A
|
08/01/44
|
14/01/44
|
04/03/44
|
06/03/44
|
KR 009
|
24/02/44
|
06/03/44
|
06/04/44
|
09/04/44
|
XC 018
|
06/04/44
|
09/04/44
|
09/08/44
|
14/08/44
|
AB 043
|
09/08/44
|
14/08/44
|
15/09/44
|
20/09/44
|
ABF 004
|
15/09/44
|
20/09/44
|
25/09/44
|
28/09/44
|
BM 101
|
25/09/44
|
28/09/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)