January
Deployed for
Atlantic convoy defence.
2nd - Arrived at
Halifax.
14th - Sailed from
Halifax and joined destroyers HMCS's
OTTAWA and SAGUENAY escorting convoy HX
16.
15th - HMCS-s
OTTAWA and SAGUENAY detached from convoy
HX 16 and MALAYA remained as ocean escort.
23rd - Detached
from convoy HX 16
30th - Sailed from
Halifax in company with battleship
VALIANT, cruiser ENTERPRISE, destroyers
HUNTER, and HMCS's FRASER, OTTAWA,
RESTIGOUCHE and ST LAURENT escorting
Canadian troop convoy TC3 bringing
Canadian troops to the UK.
(Note: The convoy comprised the liners
AQUITANIA, EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, Polish
CHOBRY, MONARCH OF BERMUDA and EMPRESS OF
AUSTRALIA.)
February
1st - HUNTER,
HMCS's FRASER, OTTAWA, RESTIGOUCHE and ST
LAURENT detached from convoy TC3.
4th - ENTERPRISE
detached from convoy TC3.
5th - At 0825
hours, 650 miles west of Malin Head
destroyers DARING, DIANA, FAME, FAULKNOR,
FEARLESS, FIREDRAKE, FORESIGHT, FORTUNE,
FOXHOUND, FURY, KELVIN, KINGSTON joined
convoy TC3.
7th - Arrived in
Clyde with TC3 and detached
27th - Sailed from
the Clyde with embarked gold bullion for
transfer to Canada in company with armed
merchant cruiser ASCANIA escorted by
destroyers FAME, FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY
and MOHAWK.
March
Passage to
Halifax.
4th - Arrived at
Halifax. On arrival deployed with Halifax
Escort Force for Atlantic convoy defence.
10th - Sailed from
Halifax and joined destroyers HMCS's
SAGUENAY and SKEENA escorting convoy HX
26.
11th - SAGUENAY
and SKEENA detached from convoy HX 26 and
MALAYA remained as ocean escort.
22nd - Detached
from HX 26 and returned to Halifax.
Nominated for
transfer to Mediterranean
April
3rd - Sailed from
Halifax escorted by destroyer HMCS ST
LAURENT.
At 1800 hours took over escort of convoy
HX 32 from destroyers HMCS's RESTIGOUCHE
and SAGUENAY. RESTIGOUCHE, SAGUENAY and ST
LAURENT then detached from HX 32.
14th - Detached
from HX 32 for Gibraltar.
19th - Arrived at
Gibraltar.
28th - At 1600
hours, sailed from Gibraltar for
Alexandria in company with battleship
ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by destroyers
VELOX, WATCHMAN and HMAS's VENDETTA and
WATERHEN.
29th - Off Algiers
they were joined by a French battle group
of 3 battleships, 4 cruisers and 3
destroyers.
30th - Off
Bizerte, destroyers HMAS STUART and
VAMPIRE joined. Later in the Sicilian
Channel cruiser ORION and destroyers DECOY
and DEFENDER joined.
May
1st - Off Malta
VELOX and WATCHMAN detached.
3rd - At 1820
hours arrived at Alexandria.
Deployed with
battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN to provide
cover for passage of convoys in eastern
Mediterranean.
June
Joined 1st Battle
Squadron and deployed with Fleet for
convoy defence and offensive operations
against enemy shipping in eastern
Mediterranean.
(Note: During this period extensive
exercises were carried out by
Mediterranean Fleet units in anticipation
of the outbreak of hostilities with Italy.
Italy declared war at 0001hours on
11/6/40)
12th - At 0230
hours sailed from Alexandria in company
with battleship WARSPITE, aircraft carrier
EAGLE screened by destroyers DAINTY,
HASTY, ILEX, JANUS, JUNO, NUBIAN and
HMAS's STUART, VAMPIRE and VOYAGER to
carry out a sweep west along the African
coast.
At 0840 hours, cruiser CALEDON joined the
fleet at sea.
At 1325 hours, cruiser CALYPSO joined the
fleet at sea and destroyer MOHAWK joined
later.
At 1840 hours, destroyers HAVOCK,
HEREWARD, HERO, HOSTILE, HYPERION and
IMPERIAL joined the fleet.
At 1953 hours, HMAS's STUART, VAMPIRE and
VOYAGER detached from the fleet. Later
destroyer DIAMOND joined the fleet.
14th - Returned to
Alexandria.
July
4th - Took part in
negotiations with French Fleet after
capitulation of France. (Operation
CATAPULT - See RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W
Tute).
7th - At 2330
hours sailed from Alexandria in company
with battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN, aircraft
carrier EAGLE screened by destroyers
DAINTY, DEFENDER, HASTY, HYPERION, ILEX,
JANUS, JUNO and HMAS's VAMPIRE and VOYAGER
as Force C to provide cover for transit of
two convoys (MF1/fast 13 knot and MS1/slow
9 knot) from Malta (Operation MA5)
(Note: This was a repeat of Operation MA3
that was cancelled on 28th June due to
engagement with Italian destroyers. See
following references.)
8th - During the
day, the fleet was under air attacks from
a total of 126 high level bombers. In one
attack fire control cables were damaged by
near misses and repaired.
At 1515 hours, a Sunderland reported an
Italian Fleet of 2 battleships, 6 cruisers
and 7 destroyers, 100 miles north west of
Benghazi, sailing north. On receipt of the
report the Mediterranean Fleet altered
course in an attempt to cut off the
Italians from their base at Taranto.
At 1600 hours, cruiser GLOUCESTER received
a direct hit on her bridge.
9th - At 1515
hours off Punta Stilo the two fleets
sighted each other. EAGLE, covered by
GLOUCESTER, was detached and the
Battleships with their destroyer screens
worked up to full speed to engage the
Italian Fleet. At 1552 hours 30 miles west
of Punta Stilo WARSPITE and the Italian
Battleship GIULIO CESARE opened fire on
each other and so the Battle of Calabria
commenced. Twice during the action,
WARSPITE changed course to allow the
slower MALAYA to catch up. At 1554 hours
MALAYA opened fire, but her shots were
2700 yards short and she ceased fire at
1558 hours. The enemy ships withdrew at
speed after the brief exchange of fire.
(Note: Enemy ships could not be closed
owing lack of speed.)
(For details of operations during 1940-43
see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C.
Barnett, THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN
by D. MacIntyre, THE NAVAL WAR IN THE
MEDITERRANEAN by J Greene and A Massignani
and the Naval Staff History (O-2001)
(In his after-battle report the CinC
Mediterranean Fleet Admiral Cunningham;
wrote that having seen the deficiencies of
MALAYA and ROYAL SOVEREIGN both in terms
of speed and main armament range he did
not believe that he could accomplish his
strategic objective of dealing decisively
with the Italian Fleet without
reinforcement by modernised battleships)
10th - At 0830
hours, EAGLE flew off a strike force
against shipping in Augusta Roads.
At 2030 hours off Malta, ROYAL SOVEREIGN
and attendant destroyers detached to
refuel at Malta. MALAYA, EAGLE and
attendant destroyers proceeded to the
south of Malta to await ROYAL SOVEREIGN.
11th - At 1000
hours, ROYAL SOVEREIGN and attendant
destroyers rejoined, following which the
combined Force consisting of MALAYA, ROYAL
SOVEREIGN, EAGLE, GLOUCESTER, DAINTY,
DEFENDER, HASTY, HEREWARD, HERO, HOSTILE,
HYPERION and ILEX set course for
Alexandria covering convoy MS1 (MS1 had
sailed from Malta early on 10/7/40)
15th - At 0900
hours, arrived at Alexandria.
19th - At 1230
hours, sailed from Alexandria in company
with battleship RAMILLIES with EAGLE and
escorting destroyers. Their mission was to
sweep westward along the coast searching
for the damaged Italian cruiser GIOVANNI
DELLE BANDE NERE (Damaged earlier in the
day in an engagement with HMAS SYDNEY off
Cape Spada) and believed to be making for
Tobruk.
20th - Off Tobruk,
EAGLE launched an air strike which failed
to locate the cruiser but which sank two
Italian destroyers.
21st - Arrived
back at Alexandria.
27th - 0300 hours
sailed from Alexandria in company with
battleships WARSPITE and RAMILLIES,
aircraft carrier EAGLE escorted by
destroyers DECOY, HEREWARD, HERO,
HYPERION, ILEX, IMPERIAL, JERVIS, JUNO,
NUBIAN and MOHAWK to cover the passage of
convoy AS2/1. South of Crete the fleet was
joined by cruisers NEPTUNE and HMAS
SYDNEY.
28th - The fleet
divided. South of the Kithera Strait
convoy AS2/1 escorted by cruisers CAPETOWN
and LIVERPOOL and destroyers DAINTY,
DEFENDER, DIAMOND and HMAS STUART were met
by the covering Force of MALAYA,
RAMILLIES, EAGLE, HEREWARD, HERO, JERVIS,
JUNO, MOHAWK and NUBIAN
30th - Arrived
back at Alexandria.
31st - 1420 hours
sailed from Alexandria in company with
battleship RAMILLIES, aircraft carrier
EAGLE escorted by destroyers HASTY,
HEREWARD, HERO, HOSTILE, ILEX, IMPERIAL,
JERVIS and HMAS VENDETTA to carry out
gunnery practice. Following this, they
were designated Force B for Operation
HURRY and were to sail west towards Gavdo
Island. However when MALAYA developed
problems with salt water in her condensers
the whole of Force B returned to
Alexandria.
August
2nd - Arrived back
at Alexandria.
16th - 1030 hours
sailed from Alexandria in company with
battleships WARSPITE and RAMILLIES,
cruiser KENT, escorted by destroyers
DIAMOND, HEREWARD, HOSTILE, MOHAWK, NUBIAN
and HMAS's STUART, VENDETTA and WATERHEN
and proceeded westwards on Operation
MB2. After sailing the fleet was
organised into two forces. Force B
comprised MALAYA, RAMILLIES, HEREWARD,
HERO, JUNO, STUART, VENDETTA and WATERHEN.
17th - Between
0658 and 0720 hours the fleet bombarded
Bardia and Fort Capuzzo (Operation MB2).
(Note: 62 rounds of 15in and 104 rounds of
6in were fired.)
18th - Under
ineffective air attacks by
Savoia-Marchetti S.M.79’s, 12 of which the
fleet shot down, during return passage to
Alexandria.
30th - At 0445
hours, sailed from Alexandria in company
with battleship WARSPITE, aircraft carrier
EAGLE, cruisers ORION and HMAS SYDNEY
escorted by destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER,
HEREWARD, IMPERIAL, HMAS's STUART,
VAMPIRE, VENDETTA and VOYAGER and Polish
ORP GARLAND on Operation HATS/MB3. The
Fleet sailed towards the Gulf of Taranto.
(The objective of Operation HATS was to
cover the passage of reinforcements for
the Mediterranean Fleet and convoy MF2 for
Malta. Convoy MF2 was weakly escorted by 4
destroyers to act as bait to invite an
attack by the Italian Fleet).
31st - Early in
the morning the Fleet was joined by
cruisers KENT, GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL and
destroyers HASTY, HYPERION and ILEX,
returning from a sweep of the southern
Aegean. On reaching a point approximately
100 miles west of Cape Matapan the Fleet
turned south.
At 1554 hours KENT, GLOUCESTER and
LIVERPOOL detached from the Fleet to join
convoy MF2.
At 1700 hours when the Mediterranean Fleet
was around 150 miles west of Crete, the
Italian Fleet (4 battleships, 14 cruisers
and 39 destroyers that had sailed from
Taranto at 0600/31/8/40) was only 120
miles north west of their position making
a Fleet action very likely. However at
that point the Italian high command, who
knew of the convoy but not the presence of
the Mediterranean Fleet ordered the
Italian Fleet to return to base.
At 1815 hours the Fleet turned west
heading for towards Malta and DECOY was
detached to join MF2.
September
1st - At 0900
hours west of Malta the Mediterranean
Fleet R/Ved with Force F from Gibraltar,
and turned with Force F towards Malta.
At 1657 hours east of Malta the Fleet
divided for Operation MB3 (an operation to
attack Italian installations in the
southern Dodecanese). Force E comprised
MALAYA, EAGLE, COVENTRY, DAINTY, DIAMOND,
JANUS, JUNO, VAMPIRE and VENDETTA.
3rd - West of
Crete the Fleet again divided and MALAYA,
EAGLE, DAINTY, DIAMOND, VAMPIRE, VENDETTA
and WRYNECK proceeded direct to
Alexandria.
4th - At 2100
hours arrived at Alexandria.
October
8th - Sailed from
Alexandria in company with ILLUSTRIOUS,
EAGLE, RAMILLIES, VALIANT, WARSPITE,
cruisers AJAX, GLOUCESTER, ORION, YORK,
HMAS SYDNEY screened by destroyers HASTY,
HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HERO, HYPERION, ILEX,
IMPERIAL, JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO and NUBIAN
to provide distant cover for passage of
Malta convoy MF3 from Egypt and convoy ME4
from Malta, and convoy AS4 from Greece and
an air attack on Leros (Operation MB6).
9th - At 0254
hours the fleet was joined at sea by
cruiser LIVERPOOL and destroyer DIAMOND.
10th - At 1715
hours RAMILLIES, HASTY, HEREWARD, HERO,
HYPERION, ILEX and NUBIAN detached from
the Fleet to refuel at Malta. At intervals
through the day and during the 11th,
various units of the Fleet detached to
refuel in Malta.
11th - At 1105
hours IMPERIAL was mined and badly
damaged. She was towed into Malta by
DECOY.
At 1600 hours convoy MF3 arrived at Malta
in company with ORION, STUART and
VENDETTA. At this time the main body of
the Mediterranean Fleet was 100 miles
south east of Malta, where it was sighted
and reported by an Italian civil airliner.
At 2245 hours convoy ME4, which included
River Gunboat APHIS, sailed from Malta
escorted by cruisers CALCUTTA and COVENTRY
and destroyers WRYNECK and HMAS WATERHEN.
Late in the evening following the return
of all the refuelled units, the Fleet
turned for Alexandria.
(North east of Malta, and positioned in
anticipation that a convoy would be
sailing from Malta were 4 Italian
destroyers, 3 torpedo boats and 4 MAS
boats)
12th - During
return passage to Alexandria, at 0200
hours, the fleet was 125 miles west of
Malta, and about 70 miles north of
the convoy. The three Italian torpedo
boats launched torpedoes against AJAX, the
northern most unit of the Fleet, all of
which missed. AJAX, after initial
confusion, opened fire at 4000 yards,
sinking ARIEL and ARIONE. In return AJAX
received 3 hits from AIRONE. (AJAX was
equipped with type 279 radar which was a
long range air search set and of little
use in a surface engagement). Immediately
the 4 Italian destroyers came to the aid
of the torpedo boats and at 0230 hours
ARTIGLIERE launched a torpedo attack which
AJAX avoided. AJAX managed to damage
AVIERE and severely damage ARTIGLIERE. In
return ARTIGLIERE hit AJAX 4 times,
putting her radar out of action and
damaging a twin 4in mount. At the time of
the second engagement the moon had set and
the lack of flashless powder caused
problems for AJAX’s gunners.
At 0235 hours when the Italian
destroyers withdrew behind a smoke screen
AJAX broke off the action since Capt.
McCarthy believed that he had been in
action against 4 destroyers and 2
cruisers. (This action is known by the
Italians as the Battle of Cape Passero).
The gunfire drew other cruisers of the
Mediterranean Fleet to the scene, but they
arrived too late to see action.
13th - At dawn,
the damaged ARTIGLIERE under tow by the
destroyer CAMICIA NERE, was sighted 107
miles west of Malta by a Sunderland. The
sighting report resulted in an air strike
by Swordfish from ILLUSTRIOUS, without
result. YORK, AJAX and 4 destroyers were
despatched from the fleet and arrived at
the position at 0900 hours. CAMICIA NERE
slipped the tow and made off, and YORK
finished off ARTIGLIERE.
At 1100 hours south east of Gavdos Island
convoy ME4 was joined by convoy AS4 that
had sailed from Piraeus.
In the evening the Fleet divided and
ILLUSTRIOUS, GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL,
HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HERO and NUBIAN headed
into the Aegean.
14th - Early in
the morning Swordfish from ILLUSTRIOUS
carried out an air strike on the airfield
on the Island of Leros.
At 0840 hours the ILLUSTRIOUS Force
rejoined the main body of the Fleet and
the combined Fleet set course for
Alexandria.
In the evening the Fleet came under air
attack and at 1845 hours 70 miles SE of
Crete, LIVERPOOL sustained an aerial
torpedo hit in the starboard bow,
delivered by an Italian torpedo aircraft.
At 1920 hours the petrol storage
compartment exploded, blowing the roof off
A turret the port gun fell into the sea
and a fire was started. DECOY and HEREWARD
stood by.
At 2230 hours ORION took her in tow
backwards at 9.5 knots towards Alexandria
escorted by DAINTY, DECOY, DIAMOND and
VAMPIRE.
15th - At 0100
hours the Mediterranean Fleet arrived back
at Alexandria.
25th - Sailed from
Alexandria in company with aircraft
carrier EAGLE, cruiser COVENTRY, escorted
by destroyers JANUS, MOHAWK, WRYNECK and
HMAS's VAMPIRE and VOYAGER on Operation
MAQ2 (covering a Port Said to Piraeus
convoy AN5 and carry out an air attack on
Rhodes in the Dodecanese)
26th - The Fleet
sailed to the southern end of the Kasos
Strait.
27th - Swordfish
from EAGLE carried out an air strike on
the airfield at Maritza on the Island of
Rhodes.
28th - Arrived
back at Alexandria.
29th - At 0130
hours sailed from Alexandria in company
with battleships WARSPITE, VALIANT and
RAMILLIES, aircraft carriers ILLUSTRIOUS
and EAGLE escorted by destroyers DAINTY,
DECOY, DEFENDER, DIAMOND, HASTY, HAVOCK,
HEREWARD, HERO, HYPERION, ILEX, JANUS,
JERVIS, JUNO, MOHAWK and NUBIAN. The Fleet
sailed for the west of Crete on Operation
CHURCH. (Following Italy’s attack on
Greece on 28/10/40 the Greek Government
invited Britain to set up a base at Suda
Bay on the north coast of Crete. Operation
CHURCH was the operation covering the
military convoys carrying personnel and
stores to Suda Bay). Late in the evening
south of Crete cruisers YORK, GLOUCESTER,
ORION and HMAS SYDNEY joined the Fleet.
30th - The Fleet
continued to sail north west and at 2000
hours, was 126 miles west of Cape Matapan.
31st - At 1630
hours 75 miles west south west of Cape
Matapan WARSPITE, ILLUSTRIOUS, YORK,
GLOUCESTER, HASTY, HEREWARD, HERO, ILEX
and JERVIS detached from the Fleet and
proceeded towards Alexandria. The rest of
the Fleet remained cruising to the west of
Crete.
November
2nd - Arrived back
at Alexandria.
6th - Sailed from
Alexandria in company with battleships
WARSPITE ,VALIANT and RAMILLIES,
ILLUSTRIOUS, cruisers YORK and GLOUCESTER,
destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER, HASTY, HAVOCK,
HEREWARD, HERO, HYPERION, ILEX, JANUS,
JERVIS, JUNO and MOHAWK on Operation MB8
and Operation COAT. Later joined by
cruisers AJAX and HMAS SYDNEY from Suda
Bay. (Operation MB8 was to provide cover
for the passage of Convoy MW3 [sailed from
Alexandria on 5/11/40] to Malta and Convoy
AN6 [from Port Said on 4/11/40] to the
Aegean. Operation Coat was the passage of
reinforcements for the Mediterranean
Fleet).
7th - Covered the
passage of convoy AN6 and MW3. The two
convoys proceeded together from off
Alexandria towards west Crete. (Operation
MB8).
9th - In the
evening RAMILLIES, HAVOCK, HYPERION and
ILEX detached for Malta to refuel.
10th - The
Mediterranean Fleet cruised to the south
east of Malta.
At 1015 hours Force F, comprising
battleship BARHAM, cruisers BERWICK and
GLASGOW and destroyers GALLANT, GREYHOUND
and GRIFFIN, and preceeded by destroyers
FAULKNOR, FORTUNE and FURY acting as
minesweepers, R/Ved with the Mediterranean
Fleet. Force F (The reinforcements for the
Mediterranean Fleet, Operation COAT)
entered Valletta harbour to disembark
their troops and supplies and the 3
F-class destroyers to refuel.
At 1330 hours convoy ME3, which included
Monitor TERROR, sailed from Malta,
escorted by RAMILLIES, COVENTRY, DECOY,
DEFENDER and AS VENDETTA.
After disembarking their troops and
supplies BARHAM, BERWICK, GLASGOW,
GALLANT, GREYHOUND and GRIFFIN sailed from
Malta and joined the Mediterranean Fleet
sailing east.
11th - Covered
passage of convoy ME3 from Malta to
Alexandria.
At 1310 hours AJAX, ORION, AS SYDNEY,
MOHAWK and NUBIAN detached from the Fleet
to carry out a raid on Italian military
convoys in the southern Adriatic.
At 1800 hours ILLUSTRIOUS, YORK, BERWICK,
GLASGOW, GLOUCESTER, HASTY, HAVOCK,
HYPERION and ILEX detached from the Fleet
to carry out Operation JUDGEMENT.
(Note: The successful air attack on
Taranto (Operation JUDGEMENT) by aircraft
from ILLUSTRIOUS during the night of
11/12th November was also covered as part
of Operation COAT).
12th - At dawn
ILLUSTRIOUS, YORK, BERWICK, GLASGOW,
GLOUCESTER, HASTY, HAVOCK, HYPERION and
ILEX rejoined the Fleet.
13th - The Fleet
and convoy ME3 arrived at Alexandria.
(Following the success of Operation
JUDGEMENT it was decided RAMILLIES and
MALAYA could be released from the
Mediterranean Fleet)
23rd - Sailed from
Alexandria in company with battleship
RAMILLIES, aircraft carrier EAGLE,
cruisers AJAX, ORION and AS SYDNEY
escorted by destroyers DAINTY, DIAMOND,
HASTY, HAVOCK, HYPERION and ILEX,
designated as Force C for Operation MB9
and Operation COLLAR.
(Operation MB9 was an operation to provide
Fleet cover for Malta convoy MW4.
Operation COLLAR covered the passage of
RAMILLIES, BERWICK and NEWCASTLE through
the Mediterranean to Gibraltar)
24th - At 0800
hours Force C arrived at Suda Bay to
refuel. After refuelling, Force C sailed
from Suda Bay. Off Suda Bay cruiser
BERWICK joined Force C, which then
sailed westward towards Malta.
26th - At 0813
hours convoy MW4 arrived at Malta
accompanied by MALAYA and RAMILLIES to
refuel.
At 1200 hours MALAYA sailed from Malta to
rejoin Force C.
30th - Returned to
Alexandria with WARSPITE and VALIANT
covering passage of newly joined cruisers
MANCHESTER, SOUTHAMPTON and corvettes
PEONY, SALVIA, GLOXINIA and HYACINTH.
December
16th - Sailed from
Alexandria in company with destroyers
DEFENDER and DIAMOND escorting Malta
supply convoy MW5A (Operation MC2).
20th - At 0400
hours arrived at Malta in company with
destroyers DEFENDER, DIAMOND, NUBIAN and
WRYNECK with mercantiles of MW5A.
21st - At 1250
hours sailed from Malta screened by
destroyers HEREWARD, HYPERION and ILEX and
escorting convoy MG1 formed of SS CLAN
FORBES and SS CLAN FRASER. They were
joined by HASTY and HERO. The force headed
for the Sicilian Narrows, to R/V with
Force H. The transfer of MALAYA to Force H
formed part of Operation HIDE.
22nd - At 0156
hours 24 miles west of Cape Bon, HYPERION
was torpedoed and seriously damaged by
Italian submarine SERPENTE. ILEX was
detached to assist HYPERION.
At 0940 hours joined ships of Force H
(aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL, battlecruiser
RENOWN, cruiser SHEFFIELD) for
passage to Gibraltar with mercantiles of
convoy MG1.
24th - At 1000
hours arrived at Gibraltar for loan
service in Force H.
7th - At 0800
hours sailed from Gibraltar in company
with battlecruiser RENOWN, aircraft
carrier ARK ROYAL and cruiser SHEFFIELD
screened by destroyers FAULKNOR,
FIREDRAKE, FORESTER, FORTUNE, FOXHOUND,
FURY and JAGUAR as Force H to cover the
passage of convoys to Malta and
Piraeus, and transit of cruiser
BONAVENTURE with four Fleet destroyers,
DUNCAN, HASTY, HEREWARD and HERO,
reinforcements for the Mediterranean Fleet
at Alexandria (Operation EXCESS).
9th - At 0930
hours cruisers GLOUCESTER and SOUTHAMPTON
and destroyer ILEX joined from the east to
augment the convoy’s close escort through
the Skerki Channel and on to Malta.
At 1320 hours the Force came under high
level attack by 10 Italian SM 79 aircraft,
8 aircraft attacked MALAYA, all their
bombs falling just ahead and causing no
damage. Two of the attackers were shot
down by FAA Fulmars from ARK ROYAL.
At 2200 hours Force H reversed course and
set course for Gibraltar.
11th - At 1930
hours Force H arrived back at Gibraltar.
14th - Dry-docked
in No. 1 dock.
31st - At 1300
hours Force H sailed from Gibraltar on
Operations PICKET (air attack on Lake
Omodeo Dam, central Sardinia) and RESULT
(the bombardment of Genoa). The Force was
divided into 4 groups:
Group 1:
battleship MALAYA, battlecruiser RENOWN,
aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL and cruiser
SHEFFIELD.
Group 2:
destroyers FEARLESS, FIREDRAKE,
FORESIGHT, FOXHOUND, FURY and JERSEY.
Group 3:
destroyers DUNCAN, ENCOUNTER, ISIS and
JUPITER.
Group 4: RFA
ORANGELEAF escorted by Trawlers ARCTIC
RANGER and HAARLEM.
February
2nd - At 0530
hours, 8 torpedo armed Swordfish took off
from ARK ROYAL to carry out an air strike
against the Santa Chiara d’Ula dam on Lake
Omodeo, central Sardinia (Operation
PICKET). Due to the bad weather only 4
aircraft reached the dam where they met an
intense barrage. One aircraft was lost for
no result.
(Note: Intended bombardment of Genoa
(Operation RESULT) was cancelled due to
bad weather.)
4th - En route to
Gibraltar all ships carried out a practice
shoot. At 1800 hours Force H arrived back
at Gibraltar.
6th - At 1615
hours Force H sailed from Gibraltar on
Operation RESULT (The bombardment of
Genoa). The Force was divided into three
groups:
Group 1:
battleship MALAYA, battlecruiser RENOWN,
aircraft carrier ARK ROYAL and cruiser
SHEFFIELD.
Group 2:
destroyers FEARLESS, FIREDRAKE,
FORESIGHT, FOXHOUND, FURY and JERSEY.
Group 3:
destroyers DUNCAN, ENCOUNTER, ISIS and
JUPITER.
9th - At 0400
hours Ark Royal and 4 destroyers detached
to carry out an air strike against the
Azienda oil refinery at Leghorn.
Between 0715 and 0745 hours, 10 miles off
the Italian coast, carried out bombardment
of Genoa with RENOWN and SHEFFIELD. The
two Walrus aircraft from SHEFFIELD carried
out fall of shot observations. The three
ships fired 273 rounds of 15in, 782 rounds
of 6in and 400 rounds of 4.5in. The result
was 28 civil vessels sunk or damaged and
harbour installations destroyed and
damaged.
At 0845 hours the ARK ROYAL Force rejoined
and Force H made at best speed, which at
one point was only 17 knots, the best
MALAYA could make, for Gibraltar.
11th - At 1430
hours Force H arrived back at Gibraltar.
On return to
Gibraltar nominated for deployment in
Atlantic to cover UK - Gibraltar convoys.
17th - Sailed from
Gibraltar to R/V with convoy WS6A.
19th - Off the
Azores joined military convoy WS6A as
Ocean Escort, following which Force H
detached and returned to Gibraltar.
28th - At 0800
hours convoy WS6A was joined by destroyers
FAULKNOR and FORESTER.
At 1815 hours in company with FAULKNOR and
FORESTER detached from WS6A, proceeded
ahead of convoy to Freetown.
March
1st - At 1600
hours, in company with FAULKNOR and
FORESTER, arrived at Freetown. They
immediately refuelled.
At 1705 hours, in company with FAULKNOR
and FORESTER, sailed from Freetown to
catch up convoy SL67.
3rd - At 1500
hours, in company with FAULKNOR and
FORESTER, joined AMC CILICIA, corvette
ASPHODEL and trawlers KELT, SPANIARD and
TURCOMAN escorting convoy SL67.
4th - KELT,
SPANIARD and TURCOMAN detached from SL67.
7th - German
battlecruisers SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU
sighted convoy SL67, but on finding MALAYA
was part of the escort, they hauled off
and made a R/V with U.124.
(Note: none of the escorts of SL67
observed the German ships)
At the meeting between the battlecruisers
and U.124 a plan was drawn up for U.124
and U.105 to attack SL67 and try to sink
or damage MALAYA.
During the afternoon MALAYA refuelled
FAULKNOR, FORESTER and ASPHODEL.
8th - Between 0251
and 0256 hours, 5 merchants in the convoy
were torpedoed and sunk by U.105 and
U.124.
At 1330 hours 130 miles off Cape Blanco
FORESTER, which was well to the west of
the convoy, briefly sighted SCHARNHORST
and GNEISENAU steaming towards the convoy.
The German ships were also sighted at the
same time by MALAYA’S patrolling
Swordfish. Following the sightings MALAYA
and FAULKNOR hauled out of the convoy to
join FORESTER, and to put themselves
between the convoy and the enemy.
At 1645 hours MALAYA and SCHARNHORST
sighted each other.
At 1648 hours SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU
turned away and after a brief pursuit
MALAYA (at least 10 knots slower than the
German ships) and her consorts returned to
the convoy.
At 1900 hours they rejoined the convoy
10th - At 1500
hours battlecruiser REPULSE, aircraft
carrier FURIOUS and destroyers DUNCAN and
FOXHOUND took over the escort of the SL67,
and MALAYA, FAULKNOR and FORESTER detached
for Gibraltar.
12th - Arrived at
Gibraltar.
13th - Sailed from
Gibraltar escorted by destroyer WISHART.
15th - In company
with WISHART joined AMC CANTON and
Corvettes CALENDULA, CROCUS and MARGUERITE
escorting convoy SL68.
20th - At 2323
hours 250 miles NNW of Cape Verde Islands,
SL68 came under submarine attack. MALAYA
was hit by a torpedo from U.106. The hit
the port side caused damage in the boiler
room and the ship had a 7 degree list.
There were no casualties. MALAYA detached
from SL68, escorted by CROCUS, set course
for Port of Spain, Trinidad.
23rd - CROCUS
detached and returned to Freetown.
29th - Arrived at
Port of Spain, Trinidad, where temporary
repairs were carried out.
(For details see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C
Blair.)
On completion took
passage to New York for repair.
April
6th - Arrived at
the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and taken in hand
for repair. She was the first RN vessel to
be repaired/refitted in the USA in World
War 2,
Preparation for
installation of fire-control and air
warning radar carried out.
Some of ship's
company transferred to Ex US Coastguard
Cutters being lent to the Royal Navy.
(First 4 Coastguard Cutters, BANFF,
CULVER, FISHGUARD and HARTLAND were handed
over on 30/4/41 and Captain A.F.E.
Pallister DSO RN the CO of MALAYA accepted
the cutters on behalf of the RN)
May
to July
Under repair and
refit in New York.
August
Passage to UK.
A and A work
completed including fit of air warning
Radar Type 281, Fire control radars Types
282 for close range armament, Type 284 for
Main armament and Type 285 for HA
armament. Eleven single 20mm Oerlikon guns
were fitted for close range AA defence.
(For details of development and use of
radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
(Note: One source records fitting of Radar
Type 291 to provide warning of the
approach of surface ships, aircraft and
land. This equipment was a Naval designed
outfit intended to replace earlier RAF
equipment modified for shipboard use, Type
286. This was never satisfactory and
replaced in 1943 by centimetric radar,
Type 273. See below.)
September
On completion
prepared for operational service. Four
additional 20mm Oerlikon guns fitted.
October
Nominated for
transfer to Force H
20th - At 1030
hours sailed from Scapa Flow for the Clyde
escorted by destroyers BEDOUIN and
PUNJABI.
At 1530 hours off Tiumpan Head destroyers
LAFOREY and LIGHTNING joined, and BEDOUIN
and PUNJABI detached and returned to Scapa
Flow.
Off Stornoway LAFOREY detached and landed
a sick crew member at Stornoway.
At 1700 hours LAFOREY sailed and rejoined
MALAYA.
21st - Arrived in
the Clyde.
22nd - Sailed from
the Clyde escorted by LIGHTNING. En route
destroyers HAVELOCK and HARVESTER joined.
24th - 575 miles
west of Ushant destroyers SIKH and ZULU
joined and HAVELOCK and HARVESTER
detached.
27th - Arrived at
Gibraltar with LIGHTNING, SIKH and ZULU.
On entering Harbour she was in collision
with merchant ships MV HOEGH HOOD, 9356
tons and MV CLAN MACDONALD, 9656 tons,
sustaining slight damage to her
forecastle.
November
At Gibraltar,
MALAYA became the Flagship of Force H.
(The CinC Force H, Admiral Sir James
Somerville was most unhappy with MALAYA as
his Flagship which he believed to be most
unsuitable)
10th - At 0235
hours sailed from Gibraltar in company
with cruiser HERMIONE to cover the
delivery of Hurricane aircraft by
ARK ROYAL and ARGUS to Malta, screened by
destroyers LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, SIKH,
LEGION, ZULU, GURKHA and Dutch destroyer
ISAAC SWEERS. (Operation PERPETUAL).
12th - By 1100
hours, 37 Hurricanes had been flown off
from ARK ROYAL and ARGUS, following which
the Force turned west and headed back to
Gibraltar.
13th - At 1541
hours, 30 miles from Gibraltar during the
return passage under attack by U.81 which
fired four torpedoes. One hit ARK ROYAL
which sank on 14th when under tow to
Gibraltar. (See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C
Blair and Naval Staff History.)
Escorted to Gibraltar by destroyers SIKH,
ZULU and ISAAC SWEERS, after ARK ROYAL was
hit.
At 1622 hours ZULU was detached to return
to assist ARK ROYAL.
At 1830 hours arrived back at Gibraltar.
(On arrival at Gibraltar the CinC
immediately transferred to SIKH and
returned at high speed to the scene of the
attack)
December
Deployed with
Force H at Gibraltar for Atlantic trade
defence.
(Note: This ship was the only operational
battleship in the Mediterranean as QUEEN
ELIZABETH and VALIANT had been disabled at
Alexandria on 19/12/41 by frogmen.