Ca-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered under the War Emergency Programme in February 1942 for build by John Brown at Clydebank. Originally to be named SYBIL, this was changed before launch on 12th April 1944 and she was completed on 12th December 1944. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK in March 1942 the ship was adopted
by Kendal, then in the county of Westmorland, now in
Cumbria.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
None
H e r a l d i c D a t a
On a Field Blue, a ring Gold nowed at the base by a snake Proper.
M o t t o
Cavendo tutus: ‘Safe by taking care‘
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 4
December Contractors sea trials and commissioned for service.
12th Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials
(Note: Trials using new design propeller were satisfactory.)
On completion of trials and storing took passage to Scapa Flow
1 9 4 5
January Worked-up with ships of Home Fleet
Joined Force 3 with HM Cruiser DIDO, HM Escort Carriers PREMIER and TRUMPETER,
HM Destroyers OPPORTUNE, ZEST and ZODIAC for aircraft minelay in Karm Sund,
Norway (Operation GRATIS - For details see Naval Staff History on MINING).
February On completion of work-up deployed with Home Fleet for screening and anti-submarine patrol
in NW Approaches..
11th Joined Force 2 with HM Destroyers CAVALIER, SCOURGE, and ZEBRA as escort for HM
Cruiser DEVONSHIRE, HM Aircraft Carriers PREMIER and PUNCHER for aircraft minelay
off Skatestrooraen (Operation SELENIUM - Reference as above).
March Home Fleet screening duties during operations in North Sea and NW Approaches.
to
April
May Nominated for service in British Pacific Fleet
June Prepared for foreign service
to (Note: New Radar outfits and communication equipment up-dated.
July For details of development and use of radar in WW2 see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse).
August Passage to Join British Pacific Fleet
Summary of Post War Service
1 9 4 5 t o 1 9 4 6
Returned to UK from Far East after VJ Day and nominated for redu0ction to Reserve status,.
1 9 4 7 t o 1 9 5 4
Laid-up in Reserve Fleet at Portsmouth.
During this period ship sustained malicious damage.
1 9 5 5
Nominated for modernisation and taken in hand. To be brought forward for service on completion.
1 9 5 6
Selected for service with 6th Destroyer Squadron and commissioned for Home/Mediterranean General Service Commission.
(Note: This type of commission was introduced in 1954 and lasted 18 months.
Another type, Foreign Service Commission was introduced at the same time was for 24 months
on a foreign station. These replaced the earlier 30 month commission for service in any area) Commenced service in April
1 9 5 7
Re-commissioned for further Home/Mediterranean Service with 6th Destroyer Squadron.
1 9 5 8
Deployed for Home and Mediterranean Fleet duties with Squadron
1 9 5 9
Deployed for Home Fleet duties on return from Mediterranean leg of commission.
Visited Rockall in June to confirm British possession.
(Note: Rockall was within the area planned to be use for testing of Guided weapons from Hebrides.)
Nominated for foreign service in Far East.
1 9 6 0
Deployed with Eastern Fleet based at Singapore.
1 9 6 1
Nominated for refit at Gibraltar
Passage from Singapore.
Paid-off and taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard 0Gibraltar in July.
1 9 6 2
Recommissioned for foreign service commission on completion of refit. Deployed with 23rd Escort Squadron in Mediterranean in September.
1 9 6 3
Transferred to join 21st Escort Squadron for East of Suez leg in November
Deployed in Far East with Squadron based at Singapore
1 9 6 4
Far East deployment in continuation.
During return passage from visit to Western Australia in September
Diverted to join KONFRONTASI operations after Indonesia infiltration in Borneo.
Nominated for reduction to reserve at Portsmouth prior to long refit for further modernisation.
Passage to Portsmouth from Singapore
Entered Reserve at Portsmouth in March
1 9 6 5
Taken in hand for modernisation by HM Dockyard Portsmouth during March.
1 9 6 6
Under modernisation refit.
Planned fit of SE AC AT Guided Weapon System for close range air defence cancelled and nominated for return to
Reserve status on completion of dockyard work.
Towed to Chatham during June to lay-up in Reserve.
1 9 6 7
Placed on Disposal List.
Sold to BISCO for demolition by Hughes Bolcow at Blyth.
Arrived at Breaker's yard under tow on 7th August.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS CAVENDISH
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
14/02/45
|
14/02/45
|
TA 186
|
15/02/45
|
21/02/45
|
11/02/45
|
16/02/45
|
AT 189B
|
17/02/45
|
17/02/45
|
20/02/45
|
20/02/45
|
TA 189B
|
21/02/45
|
27/02/45
|
16/02/45
|
23/02/45
|
AT 190
|
24/02/45
|
24/02/45
|
23/02/45
|
23/02/45
|
TA 189
|
24/02/45
|
02/03/45
|
18/02/45
|
25/02/45
|
AT 189C
|
26/02/45
|
26/02/45
|
28/02/45
|
28/02/45
|
TA 190
|
01/03/45
|
06/03/45
|
24/02/45
|
02/03/45
|
AT 192
|
03/03/45
|
03/03/45
|
28/02/45
|
05/03/45
|
AT 193
|
06/03/45
|
06/03/45
|
08/03/45
|
08/03/45
|
TA 192
|
09/03/45
|
14/03/45
|
06/03/45
|
12/03/45
|
AT 195A
|
13/03/45
|
13/03/45
|
12/03/45
|
12/03/45
|
TA 194A
|
13/03/45
|
19/03/45
|
11/03/45
|
16/03/45
|
AT 197
|
17/03/45
|
17/03/45
|
15/04/45
|
15/04/45
|
TA 201B
|
16/04/45
|
23/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)