1 9 4 2
August
Contractors
trials and commissioned for service in 11th
Destroyer Flotilla.
27th
Build completion and carried out Acceptance
Trials.
On completion of
trials and storing took passage to
Scapa Flow for work-up with ships
of
Home Fleet.
September
Worked up for service with 8th Destroyer
Flotilla at Scapa
Flow.
Nominated
for service in Indian
Ocean
with Flotilla.
October
On completion of work-up deployed
at Scapa
Flow
with
Home Fleet.
31st
Joined Local Escort for military Convoy WS24
with HM Destroyers
SARDONYX,
SKATE, HOLCOMBE,
OFFA, ONSLOW, ORIBI and US Seaplane Tender
BARNEGAT for during
passage in NW Approaches.
(Note:
This convoy of six
troopships
was exceptionally routed to avoid any
complications
with the passage of troop
convoys to Gibraltar
for allied
landings
in
North
Africa.
(Operation TORCH).
Instead of making
the usual call at
Freetown,
West
Africa,
WS24 called
at
Bahia, Brazil.
This diversion had been made possible
after
Brazil
declared
war against
Germany
and
Italy
on 30th
August
1942.)
November
3rd
HM Armed Merchant Cruiser QUEEN OF
BERMUDA
joined WS24 to supplement
Ocean Escort whilst
on passage in Atlantic.
Detached with Local
Escort and returned to Clyde.
Took
independent passage from Clyde
to rejoin WS24
as part of Ocean Escort.
11th
Rejoined WS 24 with
HM Cruiser DESPATCH.
(Note:
HM Destroyer ILEX had
joined
WS24 on 9th).
17th
Detached from WS24
on arrival at Bahia.
(Note:
British troops were
landed to
take part in a route march at the request of
the
Brazilian
authorities following the allied
landings
in
North
Africa.)
20th
Sailed from Bahia
as Ocean Escort for WS24 with HM
Armed Merchant Cruisers
QUEEN OF
BERMUDA
and ALCANTARA, HM Cruiser DESPATCH
and HMS ILEX
23rd
HMS DESPATCH detached from WS24.
25th
HMS ILEX detached.
29th
HM Destroyer NORMAN joined Ocean Escort.
30th
HM corvettes ROCKROSE and THYME joined Ocean
Escort.
(Note:
The additional Ocean
Escorts
were provided during passage off
South
Africa
because
of known German submarine activities
in that area.)
December
1st
HM Destroyer
NEPAL
joined Ocean Escort.
2nd
HMS THYME detached.
4th
Detached from WS24
with ships of Ocean Escort on arrival at
Durban.
Joined 11th Destroyer
Flotilla for convoy defence in
Indian Ocean and
South
Atlantic
based
at
Durban.
1 9 4 3
January
Convoy defence with Flotilla based
at Durban in continuation.
February
Detached for Eastern Fleet duties
and took passage to Trincomalee.
22nd
Deployed as screen for HM Aircraft Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruiser GAMBIA with
Dutch destroyer TJERK HIDDES and sailed
from Trincomalee to carry out search in
area
SW of Cocos area (Operation SLEUTH)
26th
HM Cruiser SUSSEX joined search operation.
March
1st
Detached from search and returned to
Trincomalee with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.
(Note : HMS GAMBIA also detached and took
passage to Fremantle, Australia.)
HMS SUSSEX continued the search until 6th
when it was abandoned and
took passage to refit.)
On
arrival at Trincomalee joined 26th Destroyer
Flotilla. For Indian
Ocean convoy defence.
April
Deployed in
South
Atlantic
with Flotilla.
11th
Joined HM Cruiser
KENYA
with HM Destroyers FOXHOUND and
QUILLIAM in
Escort of military
Convoy WS28 as relief for HM Destroyers
QUADRANT, REDOUBT,
RELENTLESS
and RACEHORSE during passage from Freetown
to Capetown.
14th
Detached from WS28
on arrival at Capetown.
May
South
Atlantic
convoy defence in continuation.
11th
Joined HM Cruiser
NEWCASTLE
with HM Destroyers RACEHORSE and
RELENTLESS
in
Escort for military Convoy WS29 as
relief for HM Destroyers MALCOLM, RAPID and
WOLVERINE
during passage from Freetown
to Capetown.
16th
Detached from WS29 on relief by HMS REDOUBT
and HMS NORMAN before
arrival
at
Capetown.
22nd
Joined WS29 with HMS RACEHORSE and HMS
RELENTLESS as escort for
ss
LLANSTEPHAN
CASTLE
and
ss
EMPIRE KAMAL during
passage to Durban.
26th
Detached from WS29
on arrival at Durban.
June
Indian
Ocean
convoy defence
in continuation.
25th
Joined military Convoy WS30 with HM
Destroyers NORMAN, and QUICKMATCH
as
escort
during passage from Capetown
to Durban.
30th
Detached from WS30 with HMS QUICKMATCH.
July
Indian
Ocean
deployment in
continuation.
to
Transferred
to Trincomalee with Flotilla for Eastern
Fleet duties.
November
December
Deployed for convoy defence and Fleet
duties based at Trincomalee.
1 9 4 4
January
Flotilla
deployment in Indian
Ocean.
February
22nd
Deployed as screen for HM Aircraft Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruiser
GAMBIA
with
Dutch destroyer TJERK HIDDES and
sailed from Trincomalee
to carry out search in area
SW of Cocos
area (Operation SLEUTH)
26th
HM
Cruiser SUSSEX
joined search operation.
March
1st
Detached
from search and returned to Trincomalee
with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.
(Note:
HMS GAMBIA also detached
and took passage to Fremantle, Australia.
HMS SUSSEX continued
the search until 6th when it was abandoned
and
took
passage to refit.)
Interception
Patrol and convoy defence duties in
Indian Ocean
continued.
April
Deployed with Eastern Fleet
as part of Task Force 69 (TF69).
16th
Provided destroyer screen for HM Battleship
QUEEN
ELIZABETH
and VALIANT,
HM Cruisers CEYLON,
NIGERIA,
NEWCASTLE,
GAMBIA
and Dutch cruiser
TROMP with HM Destroyers
RACEHORSE, PENN,
PETARD, QUIBERON, NAPIER (RAN)
NEPAL
(RAN) and NIZAM (RAN).
(Note:
Eastern Fleet ships were
providing
cover for air operations against targets in
at Sabang
in
NW Sumatra by HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and
US
aircraft carrier
SARATOGA
as Task
Force
70. Operation COCKPIT -
For details
see WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO and
OPERATION
PACIFIC by E Gray.)
19th
Japanese attack by torpedo aircraft driven
off by fighter aircraft
from the two carriers.
24th
Returned to Trincomalee with Fleet Units.
May
Eastern
Fleet duties in continuation.
6th
Joined HM Destroyers RACEHORSE,
PENN,
NAPIER,
NEPAL,
QUIBERON and
QUICKMATCH
with Dutch destroyer VAN GALEN in TASK
Force 65.
(Operation
TRANSOM).
Sailed as destroyer
screen for HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HMS VALIANT,
French
battleship
RICHELIEU,
HMS NEWCASTLE, HMS NIGERIA and
Dutch cruiser TROMP
from
Trincomalee.
(Note:
Eastern Fleet ships were
deployed
as Task Force 65 to provide cover during air
operations
at Sourabaya
by HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
and USS SARATOGA deployed
as
Task Force 66.)
15th
Refuelled in
Exmouth
Bay,
Northern
Australia
from Tanker Support Group of Eastern
Fleet.
17th
Deployed with Task Force 64 screen during
air attacks on oil refineries
and harbour
installations.
18th
USS SARATOGA and
US
destroyers detached from Task Force
66.and took passage to resume
US
Fleet duties.
27th
Returned to Trincomalee
with Fleet units after refuelling in Exmouth
Bay.
June
Deployed with Flotilla in
Indian
Ocean
based at Trincomalee.
19th
Deployed with HM Destroyers QUILLIAM,
QUALITY, QUICKMATCH, RACEHORSE,
RELENTLESS, ROEBUCK
and RAIDER as screen for HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HM
Battlecruiser RENOWN,
French RICHELIEU, HM Cruisers
NIGERIA,
KENYA
and
CEYLON
during a series of air attacks on
Port Blair, Andamans.
(Operation PEDAL
–See above references for details.)
22nd
Returned to Trincomalee
with Fleet units.
July
Nominated with Flotilla
for Fleet duties during planned operations.
22nd
Deployed with HM Destroyers RELENTLESS,
RACEHORSE, ROCKET and RAPID
for
screening of Eastern Fleet units
during air attacks and bombardments of shore
targets
(Operation CRIMSON).
(Note:
Major Eastern Fleet units
deployed
were HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HMS VALIANT,
HM Battleship RENOWN,
French battleship RICHELIEU,
HM Cruisers NIGERIA,
CUMBERLAND,
KENYA,
CEYLON
and GAMBIA.
HM Aircraft Carriers
INDOMITABLE and VICTORIOUS which had
recently joined
Eastern Fleet were
to attack airfield targets at Sabang,
Sumatra
and Fleet units were
to
bombard port installations including
shipping.)
25th
Took part in bombardments.
Returned
to Trincomalee as part of screen for
Eastern
Fleet major units.
August
Eastern
Fleet duties with Flotilla in
continuation.
24th
Deployed with HM Destroyers REDOUBT, RAIDER,
RAPID and ROCKET
as screen for
screen
for HM Aircraft Carriers VICTORIOUS
and INDOMITABLE, HM Battleship HOWE,
HM Cruisers CEYLON
and KENYA
as Force 64 during air operations
on targets in Sumatra.
(Operation BANQUET
[
See above references.)
(Note:
These included
photo-reconnaissance
flight and air strikes on airfields and
harbour
installations.
The operation was a diversion
to pin down the Japanese air and naval
forces
during US operations in Hollandia, New Guinea.)
26th
Return passage to Trincomalee with Fleet
unit
September
14th
Deployed with HM Destroyers RAPID, REDOUBT,
RELENTLESS, RACEHORSE
and
RAIDER, as screen
for HMS INDOMITABLE, HMS VICTORIOUS, HMS
HOWE, HMS
CUMBERLAND
and HMS KENYA during photo-reconnaissance
flights and air strikes on
on
airfields in
Sumatra
(Operation LIGHT)
17th
Operations against airfields cancelled due
to adverse weather
conditions.
Photo-reconnaissance
flights were however carried out over
northern
Sumatra
and the
Nicobar
islands.
(Operation LIGHT A)
18th
Remained with screen during air attacks by
carrier aircraft at
Sigli.
Sumatra.
(Operation LIGHT
B)
October
Passage to Simonstown
for refit.
(Note:
Ship did not take part in
Operation
MILLET in this period.)
November
Under.
by
HM Dockyard, Simonstown.
(Note:
She docked for Inclining
experiment.)
December
Passage to resume Eastern Fleet duties
with Flotilla on completion of post refit
trials.
1 9 4 5
January
Deployed with Flotilla for patrols
to intercept Japanese ships supplying stores
and
carrying
personnel to garrisons in Andamans
and Nicobars.
Provided support
for military operations in
Burma.
February
Deployed with HM Destroyers RAPID,
ROCKET and ROEBUCK as Force 68 and
carried
out patrols to intercept shipping
in Andaman Sea.
21st
Sailed from Trincomalee
with ships of Force 68 (Operation
SUFFICE).
24th
After sighting no enemy shipping carried out
bombardment of
Great
Coco
Island.
(Note:
Over 1,000 rounds of
4.7in shell
were fired by the four ships.)
25th
Passage to
Akyab,
Burma
to replenish fuel and ammunition.
27th
Sailed from Akyab
for offensive sweep between Tavoy
island
and Heanzay Basin
with
ships of Force 68 (Operation TRAINING).
March
1st
Attacked and sank three coasters.
3rd
Took part in bombardment
of Port Blair, Andamans
with ships of Force 68.
(Note:
Two sailing ships were
sunk and
other ships damage in the harbour
during
this bombardment.).
Return passage to
Trincomalee with Force 68.
20th
Deployed with HM Destroyers RACEHORSE,
REDOUBT and ROCKET for
anti-shipping
sweep between Mergui
and Amherst on coast of
Burma.
(Operation
PENZANCE).
April
1st
After reconnaissance of Narcondam Island
detected junk and a coastal steamer
which
were sunk by Force 62 ships in
a night action.
(Note:
This visit was made to
establish
the suitability of the island for use as
a
base for operations by Motor Torpedo
Boats.)
4th
Took part in bombardment of radar station on
Great
Cocos Island
with
ships
of Force 62.
5th
Passage to Akyab
for replenishment.
7th
Sailed from Akyab
for further anti-shipping operation off
coast of
Burma
with
ships of Force 62 (Operation PASSBOOK)
9th
Carried sweep operation till 11th.
12th
During return passage sighted 68 survivors
from Japanese Naval
Tender
AGATA MARU which
had been sunk in an attack by LIBERATOR
aircraft
earlier
that day,
15th
Returned to Trincomalee.
Nominated for service
in Force 63 to provide cover for allied
landings near
Rangoon
(Operation BISHOP)
(Note:
This was naval part of
Operation
DRACULA).
27th
Sailed from Trincomalee with HM Destroyers
NUBIAN,
PENN,
VERULAM,
and
TARTAR for screening of HMS QUEEN
ELIZABETH, French RICHELIEU,
HM Cruisers
SUFFOLK,
CEYLON
and
CUMBERLAND,
Dutch TROMP, HM
Escort Aircraft Carriers
EMPRESS and SHAH to carry out diversionary
operation
operation
during landings.
29th
Refuelled from RFA
OLWEN during cover operation.
30th
Deployed with screen during bombardment and
air strikes on Car
Nicobar
and
Port
Blair by Force 63.
May
Screening duties in continuation.
3rd
Deployed with TF63 during
shipping sweep off Burma
to intercept enemy traffic.
4th
Joined Force 68 as screen for HMS
CUMBERLAND,
HMS CEYLON,
French
RICHELIEU and Dutch TROMP with HMS ROEBUCK
and HMS REDOUBT.
5th
Fuelled with ships of TF68 from RFA OLWEN
7th
Resumed screening duty with Force 63 which
carried out attacks on airfield at
Car Nicobar
by carrier aircraft.
8th
VE Day.
Mainbrace
spliced.
9th
Returned to Trincomalee with ships of TF65
10th
Deployed with screen for Task Force 63 to
intercept ships evacuating Japanese
personnel
from Andamans
and Nicobars
(Operation DUKEDOM)
(Note:
All available warships at
Trincomalee were deployed.
For
details see OPERATION PACIFIC by E Grey, THE
FORGOTTEN
FLEET
by J Winton, SINK THE HAGURO by J Winton and
WAR WITH
JAPAN
(HMSO)
After
sailing, Japanese cruiser with escorts
reported on passage to support the
Japanese
evacuation operations..
11th
Remained with screen for HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH
when HMS CUMBERLAND,
FS
RICHELIEU AND
26th Destroyer Flotilla detached as Task
Group 61.2 to steam ahead
of
main body of TF61.
14th
Remained with screen when 21st Aircraft
Carrier
Squadron, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers
HUNTER,
SHAH, KHEDIVE and EMPEROR, HM Cruiser
ROYALIST, HM Destroyers
NUBIAN
and PENN
detached with 26th Destroyer Flotilla to
intercept and destroy
HAGURO
and escorting warships (Operation
MITRE).
(Note:
After a brilliant
tactical interception
on 15th and 16th, HM Destroyers SAUMAREZ,
VERULAM,
VIGILANT, VENUS and VIRAGO engaged and sank
HAGURO.
See
above references and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by C Barnett.
18th
Passage
to Trincomalee with screen for TF61.
June
Eastern Fleet Flotilla duties
in continuation.
Deployed
with H M Destroyers RACEHORSE, RELENTLESS,
REDOUBT and ROEBUCK as
screen
for HM Cruisers ROYALIST and
SUFFOLK, HM Escort, Carriers STALKER, KHEDIVE
and
AMEER during air operations (Operation
BALSAM).
18th
Part of screen during air attacks on
airfields
in Sumatra.
to
and
photo-reconnaissance flights
19th
See above references
20th
On completion of BALSAM returned to
Trincomalee.
July
Fleet screening duties in
continuation.
19th
Sailed from Trincomalee as screen for HM
Battleship NELSON, HM Cruiser SUSSEX,
Escort
Aircraft Carriers EMPRESS and AMEER with HM
Destroyers RACEHORSE, RAIDER
and
PALADIN as Force 63 (Operation LIVERY).
24th
Part of screen for Force 63 during cover
of minesweeping operations off Phuket
Island
at northern entrance to Malacca Straits.
(Note:
During Minesweeping by
7th Minesweeping
Flotilla, HM Fleet Minesweeper
SQUIRREL
was badly damaged by a mine and had to be
sunk by gunfire.
25th
Screening
duty for Force 63 in continuation.
26th
Force 63 under air attack by suicide
bombers.
Three
aircraft shot down. HM Minesweeper VESTAL
hit by suicide aircraft and had
to
be sunk by gunfire from HMS RACEHORSE.
30th
At
Trincomalee.
(Note:
Operation LIVERY was the
last
Eastern Fleet operation before VJ Day.
August
Deployed with Flotilla for Eastern
Fleet screening duties during passage
to
the assault area in southern
Malaya
near Port Swettenham
(Operation
ZIPPER).
(Note:
This had been delayed
until after
VJ Day for various reasons, see above
references
and final
SEAC
Report (HMSO).).
Deployed
as escort for HMS SUSSEX for passage to
Singapore
from Penang for
the
surrender of Japanese forces.
(Note:
HMS SUSSEX was Flagship
of 5th
Cruiser Squadron.)
September
Passage
through Malacca Straits with HMS SUSSEX and
ships of 7th Minesweeping
Flotilla
deployed ahead for mine clearance.
4th
Arrived at
Singapore
with HMS SUSSEX after passage into
harbour preceded by
six
Japanese minesweepers.
(Note:
Surrender of 77,000
Japanese
personnel carried out on board HMS SUSSEX.)
5th
Independent passage to
Singapore
naval dockyard to accept the surrender of
34,000
personnel of the Imperial Japanese Navy.
Ship at Action Stations
8th
Formal surrender of IJN personnel signed
ashore in former RN Base HMS
SULTAN)
(Note: Captain
Biggs, commanding officer assumed command of
the
dockyard.)
A
commemorative plaque was later placed in the
wardroom of HM Naval
base
and remained there until the RN
left
Singapore
in 1971.
The
main entrance to HM
Dockyard, Singapore
was renamed
ROTHERHAM
Gate.