1 9 3 9
September
1st
- Departed Scapa Flow for escort duties from
Devonport
3rd
- Arrived at Plymouth. Refuelled and sailed
for Portland.
5th
- Sailed from Portland in company with
destroyers EXMOUTH and ESCAPADE to join the
escort of convoy GC1. (Convoy GC.1 consisted
of 11 passenger liners that sailed from the
Clyde on 5/9/39)
6th
- Destroyers ECLIPSE and ENCOUNTER joined
from Plymouth.
At
1845 hours NW of the Scilly Isles,
RAMILLIES, ECLIPSE, ENCOUNTER, ESCAPADE and
EXMOUTH joined destroyers VERITY, VOLUNTEER,
WITHERINGTON and WOLVERINE escorting convoy
GC1, following which the local escort of
destroyers VIVACIOUS, VANESSA, VANQUISHER
and WAKEFUL detached and returned to the
Clyde.
8th
- Destroyers VERITY, VOLUNTEER, WITHERINGTON
and WOLVERINE detached and returned to
Plymouth.
10th
- At 1100 hours 350 miles west of Gibraltar
the French destroyers FS FORTUNE, RAILLEUSE
and SIMOUN joined from Gibraltar.
11th
- At 1300 hours GC1, less the liner SS
SCYTHIA, arrived at Gibraltar followed later
by RAMILLIES and FORTUNE. RAMILLIES Joined
the Mediterranean Fleet.
October
3rd
- Sailed from Gibraltar in company with
cruiser
CAPETOWN,
and destroyers KEPPEL and WATCHMAN to join
the liner SS ATHLONE CASTLE and escort her
to Freetown. After leaving harbour,
RAMILLIES suffered condenser problems and
returned to Gibraltar with the destroyers.
5th
- Ordered to join the North Atlantic Escort
Force.
At
1215 hours sailed from Gibraltar for the UK
escorted by destroyers WISHART and
VORTIGERN.
6th
- At 2233 hours she was recalled to
Gibraltar to replace battleship
MALAYA,
which
was
due to leave the Mediterranean.
8th
- Arrived back at Gibraltar with WISHART and
VORTIGERN.
15th
- Sailed from Gibraltar to join the 1st
Battle Squadron at Alexandria escorted by
destroyers GRAFTON and GALLANT. (The
destroyers had arrived from Alexandria on
14/10/39)
17th
- Destroyer DUNCAN detached from convoy Blue
4 and joined RAMILLIES, following which
GRAFTON and GALLANT detached for Malta.
18th
- Destroyers DAINTY and DEFENDER joined for
Malta and DUNCAN detached.
20th
- Arrived at Alexandria.
25th
- Sailed from Alexandria escorted by
destroyers DAINTY, DIANA and DEFENDER for a
15-inch gun shoot, with the Queen Bee target
operated from cruiser
PENELOPE.
27th
- Sailed from Alexandria escorted by
destroyers DIANA and DEFENDER for a 15-inch
gun shoot, with the Queen Bee target again
operated from cruiser
PENELOPE.
November
Transferred
to Indian Ocean for trade defence.
11th
- Sailed from Port Said escorted by
destroyer DELIGHT to relieve battleship
MALAYA
and destroyer DARING off Aden.
16th
- Arrived at Aden and after refuelling,
joined battleship MALAYA and destroyer
DELIGHT at sea of Socotra.
Carried
out search for German ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE
18th
- At Aden with MALAYA, aircraft carrier
GLORIOUS, BULLDOG, DARING and DELIGHT, where
they were designated Force J. (Note: On
15/11/39 the ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE had sunk the
British merchant SS AFRICA SHELL off Lorenco
Marques and on 16/11/39 west of Durban
stopped the Dutch merchant MV MAPIA. When
the CinC East Indies received this news he
immediately formed hunting groups to search
for the raider in the Indian Ocean, Force J
being one. However following the
interception of the MAPIA, GRAF SPEE moved
back into the Atlantic). Force J continued
anti raider patrols in the Gulf of Aden.
December
Indian
Ocean trade defence duty in continuation.
Passage
to New Zealand for escort of military troop
convoy. This followed a visit to London by
the New Zealand Prime Minster, the Hon. P.
Frazer, who insisted that RAMILLIES must be
made available to escort the New Zealand
First Echelon of troops from Wellington.
(The Admiralty had intended that HMNZS
LEANDER would be the only escort for the
troop convoy from Wellington to Sydney)
20th
- Arrived at Fremantle.
25th
- Arrived at Melbourne.
31st
- Arrived at Wellington.
1 9 4 0
January
5th
- At Wellington, New Zealand on the eve of
the departure of the first echelon of New
Zealand troops to the Middle East. RAMILLIES
flew a banner ‘Well done the ACHILLES’.
(This was in recognition of ACHILLES part in
the destruction of GRAF SPEE)
6th
- At 0600 hours sailed from Wellington in
company with cruiser HMAS CANBERRA as escort
for military troop convoy US1, comprising
the troopships ORION, STRATHAIRD, EMPRESS of
CANADA and RANGITATA, carrying 4000 North
Island troops.
At
1000 hours in the Cook Strait, cruiser HMNZS
LEANDER joined US1 with two further troop
transports, DUNERA and SOBIESKI with 2500
South Island troops.
10th
- Off Sydney Heads, cruiser HMAS AUSTRALIA
joined convoy US.1 with troop transports
EMPRESS of JAPAN, ORCADES, OTRANTO, ORFORD
and STRATHNAVER with 7000 AIF troops
embarked. LEANDER detached for Sydney.
20th
- Arrived at Fremantle with convoy US1,
AUSTRALIA and CANBERRA detached. After
refueling, convoy US1 sailed escorted by
RAMILLIES, cruiser KENT and French cruiser
FS SUFFREN.
30th
- Arrived at Colombo with convoy US1. KENT
detached.
February
1st
- Sailed from Colombo in company with
aircraft carrier EAGLE and cruiser SUSSEX
escorting convoy US.1. At Colombo the convoy
had been joined by the French mercantiles
ATHOS 2 and MESSAGERIES MARITIME.
2nd
- At 1000 hours cruiser HMAS HOBART joined
convoy US1.
6th
- At 1900 hours arrived at Aden with convoy
US1. (At Aden convoy US.1 split into two.
The first section sailed on 7/1/40 escorted
by HOBART and SUSSEX. The second section
sailed on 8/1/40 escorted by SUSSEX and
destroyer WESTCOTT) (Note: RAMILLIES
reported that the very large distances
steamed, sometimes at high speed, were
straining her boilers, machinery and
engine-room personnel. Further to this
report and discussions with the New Zealand
Government, who wanted RAMILLIES, or another
battleship to escort the second echelon of
NZ troops; the Admiralty compromised by
deciding to send RAMILLIES for a short refit
at Sydney; following which she would escort
the troop convoy from Sydney.)
15th
- Sailed from Aden for Colombo.
21st
- Arrived at Colombo.
23rd
- HOBART arrived at Colombo with 8
midshipmen for RAMILLIES, embarked at Aden
on 17/2/40; one of the midshipmen was the
future HRH Duke of Edinburgh.
28th
- At 0830 hours sailed from Colombo.
March
14th
- Arrived at Sydney to commence short refit
at Garden Island Naval Yard.
April
8th
- Arrived at Melbourne.
15th
- Off Melbourne in company with cruiser HMAS
SYDNEY, took over the escort of troop convoy
US2, comprising the troop ships DUNERA,
ETTRICK, NEURALIA and STRATHAIRD with 5700
troops embarked, from cruiser HMAS ADELAIDE,
which then detached to Melbourne.
21st
- Arrived at Fremantle with convoy US2.
After refueling, sailed with convoy US2, the
troopship NEVASA with 1200 troops embarked,
joined the convoy. (Aircraft carrier EAGLE
was to have been deployed as part of the
escort from Fremantle but suffered an on
board accident on 12/3/40 and had to be
docked at Singapore)
28th
- SYDNEY detached to return to Fremantle.
May
3rd
- Arrived at Colombo with convoy US2.
5th
- Sailed from Colombo in company with
cruiser KENT and French cruiser FS SUFFREN.
11th
- Destroyers DECOY and DEFENDER joined
convoy US2; they had departed Aden at
1700/10/5/40.
12th
- Arrived at Aden with convoy US2.
13th
- Sailed from Aden in company with KENT,
SUFFREN, DECOY and DEFENDER escorting convoy
US2.
15th
- In Red Sea joined by cruiser LIVERPOOL and
sloop SHOREHAM.
17th
- Arrived at Suez with convoy US2.
23rd
- Arrived at Alexandria. On arrival at
Alexandria taken in hand for refit in
floating dock.
June
11th
- Refit suspended after Italy entered the
war.
28th
- Sailed from Alexandria as Force B in
company with battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN
aircraft carrier EAGLE and destroyers
HAVOCK, HASTY, HERO, HEREWARD, HYPERION,
JUNO, JANUS of the 2nd DF, to cover the
passage of convoy AS1. (The force was also
to provide cover for Operation MA 3, the
passage of convoys MF1 and MS1 from Malta)
July
2nd
- Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.
(Note: The passage of MF1 and MS1 was
postponed on 28th June because of the
prodigious expenditure of 6in ammunition by
Vice Admiral Tovey’s 7th CS when sinking the
Italian destroyer ESPERO)
4th
- At Alexandria when French warships crisis
was resolved (Operation CATAPULT). (See
RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute).
13th
- Sailed from Alexandria escorted by
destroyers DIAMOND, HAVOCK, IMPERIAL and
HMAS VENDETTA. Later in the day they RVed
with convoy MS1 (which had sailed from Malta
early on 10/7/40) escorted by cruisers
CALEDON and CAPETOWN, and destroyers DECOY
and HMAS VAMPIRE and VOYAGER.
15th
- At 0900 hours arrived at Alexandria with
convoy MS1.
23rd
- At 0400 hours sailed from Alexandria
escorted by destroyers HYPERION, ILEX,
HEREWARD, and IMPERIAL to cover the passage
of convoys AN2 and AS2. (Convoy AS2
recalled)
24th
- Arrived back at Alexandria.
27th
- At 0300 hours sailed from Alexandria in
company with battleships WARSPITE and
MALAYA, 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. (Convoy then
proceeded to Port Said escorted by cruiser
CAPETOWN and destroyers DAINTY and DIAMOND)
31st
- At 1420 hours sailed from Alexandria in
company with battleship MALAYA, 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
16th
– At 1030 hours sailed from Alexandria in
company with battleships WARSPITE and
MALAYA, cruiser KENT, escorted by destroyers
DIAMOND, HEREWARD, HOSTILE, MOHAWK, NUBIAN
and HMAS 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.
September
Mediterranean
Fleet deployment in continuation.
October
8th
- Sailed from Alexandria in company with
aircraft carriers ILLUSTRIOUS and EAGLE,
battleships MALAYA, VALIANT and WARSPITE,
cruisers AJAX, GLOUCESTER, ORION, YORK and
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, convoy ME 4 from
Malta, convoy AS 4 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 the 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. (To the north east of Malta
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, 125 miles west of Malta, and
about 70 miles north of the convoy, the 3
Italian torpedo boats launched torpedo
attacks on the northernmost unit of the
Fleet, which was AJAX, all of which missed.
However AJAX, after initial confusion,
opened fire on the attackers 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 the AVIERE
and severely damage the 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
Sunderland’s sighting report resulted in an
air strike by Swordfish from ILLUSTRIOUS,
without result. Also YORK, AJAX and 4
destroyers were despatched from the fleet
and arrived at the position at 0900 hours.
CAMICIA NERE slipped the tow a made off and
YORK finished off the ARTIGLIERE.
At
1100 hours south east of Gavdos Island,
convoy ME 4 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 then 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
roof, 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, towing her
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 VAMPIRE and VOYAGER on
Operation MAQ 2. Operation MAQ 2 was an
operation to cover 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 MALAYA, 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 towards 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 northwest and
at 2000 hours the Fleet 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 MALAYA,
aircraft carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, cruisers YORK
and GLOUCESTER, destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER,
HASTY, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HERO, HYPERION,
ILEX, JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO and MOHAWK on
Operation MB 8 and Operation COAT. Later the
Fleet was joined by cruisers AJAX and HMAS
SYDNEY from Suda Bay. (Operation MB 8 was to
provide cover for the passage of Convoy MW3
[sailed from Alexandria on 5/11/40] to Malta
and Convoy AN6 [sailed 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 AN 6 and MW
3. The two convoys proceeded together from
off Alexandria towards west Crete.
(Operation MB 8).
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 preceded by destroyers FAULKNOR, FORTUNE
and FURY acting as minesweepers, RVed with
the Mediterranean Fleet. Force F (the
reinforcements for the Mediterranean Fleet,
Operation COAT) entered Valetta harbour to
disembark their troops and supplies and the
3 F destroyers to refuel.
At
1330 hours convoy ME 3, which included
Monitor TERROR, sailed from Malta, escorted
by RAMILLIES, COVENTRY, DECOY, DEFENDER and
HMAS 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, HMAS 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 JUDGMENT. (Note: The
successful air attack on Taranto (Operation
JUDGMENT) 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 ME 3 arrived at
Alexandria. (Following the success of
Operation Judgment it was decided that
RAMILLIES and MALAYA could be released from
the Mediterranean Fleet)
23rd
- Sailed from Alexandria in company with
battleship MALAYA, aircraft carrier EAGLE,
cruisers AJAX, ORION and HMAS SYDNEY
escorted by destroyers DAINTY, DIAMOND,
HASTY, HAVOCK, HYPERION and ILEX, designated
as Force C for Operation MB 9 and Operation
COLLAR. (Operation MB 9 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 MW 4 arrived at Malta
accompanied by MALAYA and RAMILLIES to
refuel. At 1200 hours sailed from Malta as
Force D in company with cruisers NEWCASTLE
and COVENTRY, and destroyers GREYHOUND,
GRIFFIN, DIAMOND, DEFENDER and HEREWARD. To
join Force H. The ships joined heavy cruiser
BERWICK at sea.
27th
- During the night of 26/27, RAMILLIES,
BERWICK and NEWCASTLE were attacked by
Italian torpedo bombers. (At 0630 hours a
Sunderland of 228 Sqdn. reported a strong
Italian naval force off Cape Spartivento,
Sardinia. On receipt of this report Admiral
Somerville decided to wait until Force D
joined Force H before taking offensive
action).
At
1130 hours Force D, RAMILLIES, BERWICK and
NEWCASTLE joined Force H. At which point
Force H turned north to meet the Italian
fleet.
At
1222 hours RAMILLIES open fire on the
Italians (Battle of Cape Spativento) but
after a few rounds she ceased fire as the
Italians were out of range and she was too
slow to take any further part in the battle.
29th
- At 1530 hours arrived at Gibraltar. (For
details of Mediterranean Fleet activities in
1940-41 see THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN
by D MacIntyre).
December
7th
- Sailed from Gibraltar in company with
aircraft carrier ARGUS, Troopship SS
FRANCONIA, escorted by destroyers ECLIPSE,
KELVIN, VELOX and WRESTLER.
9th
- 550 miles west of Cape St Vincent the
Gibraltar group RVed with aircraft carrier
FURIOUS and cruiser DIDO (sailed from
Freetown on 2/12/40). Following which VELOX
detached and returned to Gibraltar.
11th
- At 1000 hours, 360 miles southwest of
Rockall destroyers COSSACK and SIKH joined
the force.
14th
- At 1410 hours arrived in the Clyde. Went
to Devonport for a refit.
1 9 4 1
January
6th
- Sailed from Plymouth for the Clyde.
11th
- Sailed from the Clyde in company with
cruiser PHOEBE, and destroyers CHURCHILL,
LINCOLN, WATCHMAN, FEARLESS, BEAGLE,
BRILLIANT and FS LEOPARD and the Clyde
portion of convoy WS5B.
12th
- At 1130 hours off Orsay convoy WS5B formed
up. The escort was RAMILLIES, cruisers
NAIAD, PHOEBE and HMAS AUSTRALIA and
destroyers LINCOLN, VANSITTART, FEARLESS,
BRILLIANT, WATCHMAN, BEAGLE, JACKAL,
LEAMINGTON, HIGHLANDER, HARVESTER,
WITHERINGTON and FS LEOPARD.
14th
- At 0001 hours LEOPARD detached having
reached the limit of her endurance.
At
1400 hours WITHERINGTON detached with
condenser trouble.
15th
- At 0200 hours 4 destroyers detached to
return to UK.
At
0600 hours 2 destroyers detached to return
to the UK.
At
1200 hours, 550 miles NNE of the Azores,
cruiser EMERALD joined the convoy. PHOEBE,
FEARLESS and one other destroyer detached
for Gibraltar and NAIAD detached to return
to Scapa.
16th
- At 0400 hours, 360 miles north of the
Azores 2 destroyers detached to return to
Londonderry.
17th
- At 0600 hours, 60 miles north of the
Azores, RAMILLIES and the SS DUKE of YORK,
carrying German POW’s, detached from WS5B
for Halifax.
30th
- Sailed from Halifax in company with
corvette HMCS COLLINGWOOD escorting convoy
HX106.
31st
- COLLINGWOOD detached.
February
8th
- At 1100 hours in position 52,55N 34W, 900
miles west of Slyne Head Ireland, whilst
providing cover for Convoy HXl06, she
sighted the mast and top of a warship. In
her report to the Admiralty she stated that
it was possibly a Hipper class cruiser. (At
the time the Admiralty was unaware that the
HIPPER was at Brest. In fact RAMILLIES had
sighted the German battlecruiser SCHARNHORST
which was in company with the GNEISENAU. The
Germans had sighted the convoy at 1030 hours
and closed to attack, but when the presence
of a battleship was identified Admiral
Lütjens called off the German action. They
withdrew at high speed to avoid damage in
action with a battleship)
10th
- Detached from HX106 for St Johns.
21st
- Joined convoy HX110 as ocean escort.
March
3rd
- Detached from convoy HX110 for St Johns.
April
3rd
- At 1245 hours 360 miles south of St Johns
in company with the French submarine
SURCOUF, she joined AMC WOLFE escorting
convoy HX118.
9th
- Early in the day she detached from HX118
and drew ahead and at 0600 hours in position
53,30N 37,19W joined AMC SALOPIAN escorting
convoy SC27.
At
1400 hours she detached from SC27 and
rejoined HX118 as HX118 was overtaking SC37.
10th
- At 0530 hours in position 58,10N 33,57W
RAMILLIES and SURCOUF detached from HX118.
RAMILLIES returned to St Johns.
30th
- At 0730 hours she joined AMC DERBYSHIRE
escorting convoy HX123.
May
4th
- At 0430 hours she detached from Convoy
HX123. RAMILLIES returned to Halifax.
16th
- Sailed from Halifax in company with HMCS
ST CROIX, AGASSIZ and WETASKIWIN escorting
convoy HX127.
18th
- HMCS ST CROIX, AGASSIZ and WETASKIWIN
detached from HX127.
23rd
- Destroyer LINCOLN and corvette SUNFLOWER
joined HX127.
24th
- Following the sinking of the HOOD by the
German battleship BISMARCK. The Admiralty
ordered RAMILLIES, which with HX127 was
about 900 miles south of the BISMARCK, to
detach from HX127 and steam north towards
her position.
At
1212 hours in position 46.25N 35.24W,
RAMILLIES detached from HX127
26th
- At 1200 hours RAMILLIES who was proceeding
at her best speed of 19 knots was ordered to
give up the pursuit of BISMARCK and to
search for the troopship BRITANNIC and
escort her to Halifax.
June
1st
- Sailed from Halifax in company with HMCS
PICTOU, RIMOUSKI and RAYON D’OR escorting
convoy HX130.
4th
- Corvettes HMCS AGASSIZ, ALBERNI, and
WETASKIWIN and destroyers BURNHAM and
CHURCHILL joined HX130.
9th
- RAMILLIES detached from HX130 and returned
to Halifax.
21st
- Sailed from Halifax in company with
battlecruiser REPULSE, and destroyers HMCS
ASSINIBOINE, BUXTON, HAVELOCK, HMCS SKEENA,
and HMCS ST LAURENT escorting troop convoy
TC11.
24th
- ASSINIBOINE, SKEENA, and ST LAURENT
detached from TC11.
26th
- Dutch cruiser HNethMS JACOB VAN HEEMSKERCK
joined the convoy.
27th
- RAMILLIES detached from convoy TC11.
28th
- Arrived at Hvalfjord.
July
22nd
- At Hvalfjord where she was ordered to
raise steam because of a possible breakout
by the German battlecruiser SCHARNHORST.
(The SCHARNHORST moved from Brest to La
Pallice) RAMILLIES was stood down.
August
Atlantic
deployment in continuation.
18th
- Passage from Hvalfjord, Iceland to Scapa.
September to November
Atlantic
convoy defence in continuation.
Under
refit at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead.
Transferred to Gladstone Dock, Liverpool for
completion of work. On completion of the
refit went to Scapa Flow to work up. Radar
fitted for aircraft and surface warning as
well as fire control of main and secondary
armament. (See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
Nominated for service in East Indies.
December
On
completion of work up, nominated for foreign
service as flagship of the second in command
of the new Eastern Fleet.
1st
- At 0925 hours sailed from Scapa Flow
escorted by destroyers ESCAPADE and
WHEATLAND.
2nd
– At 1200 hours the ships arrived in the
Clyde. Rear Admiral S. S. Bonham-Carter CB,
CVO, DSO, hoisted his flag of Battle
Squadron 3 in battleship RAMILLIES in the
Clyde.
7th
- Sailed from the Clyde escorted by
destroyers VANQUISHER, VOLUNTEER and WITCH.
8th
- Arrived at Milford Haven.
9th
- Sailed from Milford Haven escorted by
destroyers VANQUISHER, VOLUNTEER and WITCH
to join convoy WS14.
13th
- At 0940 hours, 150 miles north of the
Azores they joined destroyers FOXHOUND,
GURKHA and NESTOR and AMC CILICIA escorting
military convoy WS14. (Having failed to
locate the convoy the previous day in its
expected position).
At
1000 hours destroyers BADSWORTH and BEAUFORT
joined the escort of WS14, and FOXHOUND,
GURKHA and NESTOR detached for Gibraltar.
At
1800 hours 80 miles north of Sao Miguel,
BADSWORTH and BEAUFORT detached from WS14 to
refuel at Ponta Delgada.
14th
- BADSWORTH and BEAUFORT rejoined and
VANQUISHER detached.
15th
- VOLUNTEER and WITCH detached from WS14.
18th
- Destroyers BRILLIANT and HURWORTH joined
convoy WS14.
19th
- Destroyers VANSITTART and WILD SWAN joined
the convoy.
21st
- At 0700 hours arrived Freetown with WS14.
On arrival, Rear Admiral S. S. Bonham-Carter
was ordered to haul down his flag and return
to the UK.
25th
- At 1400 hours sailed from Freetown in
company with destroyers BEAUFORT, HURWORTH,
VANSITTART and WILD SWAN and sloop
BRIDGEWATER, escorting convoy WS14.
27th
- VANSITTART and WILD SWAN detached for
Freetown.
1 9 4 2
January
4th
- At 0900 hours off the Cape of Good Hope,
AMC DERBYSHIRE joined the escort of WS14.
At
1800 hours RAMILLIES, BEAUFORT and HURWORTH
detached from WS14
5th
- Arrived at Cape Town.
9th
- RAMILLIES and corvettes HOLLYHOCK and
VERBENA sailed from Cape Town escorting the
16 mercantiles of the Cape Town section of
convoy WS14.
10th
- HOLLYHOCK and VERBENA detached from WS14.
12th
- RAMILLIES detached from WS14 to carry out
a firing exercise and then proceed to Durban
to refuel.
13th
- At 1500 hours off Durban, all sections of
WS14 re-assembled, escorted by RAMILLIES and
AMC Corfu, after which the convoy split into
two sections, and WS14C for Aden was
escorted by RAMILLIES.
20th
- Off Mombasa she detached from WS14 on
relief by cruiser COLOMBO. She then went
into Kilindini.
February
21st
- Sailed from Kilindini to join convoy DM3.
22nd
- North of the Comoro Islands she took over
the escort of military convoy DM3 (This
convoy had been formed from convoy WS15
following General Wavell’s signal not to
send further reinforcements to Java).
23rd
- Destroyer HMAS NORMAN joined from the
Seychelles where she had refuelled. (Note:
WS15 was originally bound for Singapore.
Following the fall of Singapore the
destination was changed to Batavia. But with
the deteriorating situation in Java the
destination was changed to Colombo).
28th
- Detached from DM3 with NORMAN to refuel at
Addu Atoll and returned on 29th
March
2nd
- Destination of convoy changed to Bombay
and Colombo. Detached from DM3 and took
passage to Colombo with designated
mercantiles.
4th
- On arrival at Colombo detached from DM3 to
join ships of East Indies Squadron.
7th
- Sailed from Colombo for Trincomalee. (Vice
Admiral Somerville arrived at Colombo at
0800/26/3/42 and assumed command of the
Eastern Fleet. His first task was to
evaluate his assets. These he found to be a
mixed collection of old and new and without
fleet battle training. His immediate
decision was to split his Fleet into two
Forces, a fast force, Force A and a slow
force, Force B)
26th
- Sailed from Ceylon in company with
battleships RESOLUTION, REVENGE and ROYAL
SOVEREIGN, forming the 3rd Battle Squadron,
to carry out tactical and gunnery exercises
at Addu Atoll.
28th
- (Somerville was informed that a Japanese
attack against Ceylon was to be expected on
or about 1/4/42. Somerville, now on board
his flagship battleship WARSPITE resolved to
take the fleet to sea to meet the threat.
All ships of the Eastern Fleet were
therefore ordered to RV to the south of
Ceylon)
29th
- Sailed from Addu Atoll in company with
battleships RESOLUTION, REVENGE, ROYAL
SOVEREIGN and aircraft carrier INDOMITABLE.
31st
- Off the south coast of Ceylon Force A and
B of the Eastern Fleet RVed at 04.40N
81,00E. RAMILLIES formed part of Force B
which also included battleships RESOLUTION,
REVENGE and ROYAL SOVEREIGN, aircraft
carrier HERMES, cruisers CALEDON, DRAGON and
Dutch cruiser HNethMS HEEMSKERCK and
destroyers ARROW, DECOY, FORTUNE and SCOUT,
HMAS NORMAN and VAMPIRE and the Dutch
HNethMS ISAAC SWEERS. The Fleet then
commenced patrolling off the south of
Ceylon, sweeping east during the day and
west during the night.
April
2nd
- (Late in the evening, without any sighting
of the Japanese being reported and with
several of his fleet requiring
replenishment, including the R Class
battleships, Somerville decided to withdraw
his fleet to Addu Atoll)
At
2100 hours the fast group, Force A withdrew
first, immediately followed by Force B, less
HERMES and VAMPIRE which went to
Trincomalee.
4th
- At 1500 hours as Force B arrived at Addu
Atoll. (At 1005 hours a Catalina of 413
Sqdn. located and reported the Japanese
Fleet 360 miles 155° from Dondra Head)
5th
- At 0700 hours Force B sailed from Addu
Atoll
6th
- At 0700 hours Force A and B combined. The
combined Fleet then set course SE for the
estimated position of the Japanese Fleet.
At
1800 hours course was reversed to the NE.
7th
- (In the early hours the Admiralty signaled
Somerville that their policy of discouraging
the Japanese from entering the Indian Ocean
in force had failed and they further
realized that the Eastern Fleet was inferior
in all respects to the Japanese Fleet. The R
Class battleships were in this respect
considered more of a liability than an
asset. Therefore Somerville was given
discretion to withdraw them to Africa). The
Fleet then sailed for Addu Atoll by a
circuitous route.
8th
- The Fleet arrived back at Addu Atoll. (For
details of Indian Ocean operations in 1942
see OPERATION PACIFIC by E Gray).
9th
- Sailed from Addu Atoll in company with
battleships RESOLUTION, REVENGE and ROYAL
SOVEREIGN.
14th
- Arrived at Kilindini. Since RAMILLIES had
enjoyed a rather easier life than her
sisters and was therefore in better
condition, she was nominated to replace
MALAYA for Operation IRONCLAD, an operation
to capture the French naval base at Diego
Suarez in Madagascar.
16th
- Sailed from Kilindini.
22nd
- Arrived at Durban where Rear Admiral E N
Syfret hoisted his flag as FO Commanding
Naval Force F for Operation IRONCLAD.
28th
- Sailed from Durban escorting invasion
Convoy Z, the fast convoy, in company with
ILLUSTRIOUS and cruiser HERMIONE screened by
destroyers LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, LOOKOUT and 3
other destroyers.
May
3rd
- The Fast and Slow convoys joined, and the
force was joined by aircraft carrier
INDOMITABLE escorted by destroyers HMAS
NIZAM and NORMAN. NIZAM and NORMAN then
detached and returned to the Eastern Fleet
that was providing distant cover for
Operation IRONCLAD.
5th
- At 0430 hours the first troop landing took
place in Courrier Bay and RAMILLIES provided
naval gunfire support during the landings.
Formed part of the landing covering force
which also included ILLUSTRIOUS,
INDOMITABLE, HERMIONE and 7 destroyers.
6th
- Early in the morning the attacking force
that was moving east towards Antsirane was
held up by Vichy resistance. Following a
conference on RAMILLIES, the land commander,
General Sturges asked if it would be
possible to land a small force in the
enemy’s rear. The suggestion was quickly
acted upon. The destroyer ANTHONY was called
alongside RAMILLIES and 50 Royal Marines
from RAMILLIES, under Captain M Price RM
transferred to ANTHONY.
At
1545 hours ANTHONY cast off and proceeded at
high speed around Cape Amber heading for the
Oronjia Pass at the entrance to Diego Suarez
harbour. RAMILLIES and her escorting
destroyers then set off after ANTHONY.
7th
- At 0800 hours, in the dark, ANTHONY
steamed through the Oronjia Pass and at 0850
hours she landed the Marines on the quay at
Antsirane. Their effect on the garrison was
such that the main Army attack from the west
was completely successful and by 1500 hours
the Army was able to report the complete
occupation of the town.
At
1040 hours off the Oronjia Peninsula
RAMILLIES, DEVONSHIRE and HERMIONE in line
ahead, screened by 4 destroyers opened fire
on the Vichy defences.
At
1050 hours fire was checked when it was
learned that the defences had surrendered.
8th
- Entered Diego Suarez Bay with other units
of the fleet. (Operation IRONCLAD - see
RELUCTANT ENEMIES and Naval Staff History)
29th
- At 2230 hours a Yokosuka E14Y "Glen"
floatplane from the Japanese submarine I-10
on a reconnaissance mission glided over
Diego Suarez harbour and made as if to land
between RAMILLIES and cruiser FROBISHER
which was anchored close to RAMILLIES.
Although RAMILLIES had her AA guns manned,
she did not open fire because the aircraft
might be French and they might have hit
FROBISHER. Just as it appeared the aircraft
was about touch down she opened her throttle
and flew out of sight behind a hill. The
whole episode lasted little over a minute.
It was assumed that the aircraft was hostile
and had come from an enemy warship.
Therefore the decision was taken to move
position. (The aircraft had been launched
from the Japanese submarine I-10 which in
company with I-16 and I-20 had arrived off
northern Madagascar earlier in the day.
After returning to I-10 and reporting their
findings, Captain Ishizaki ordered a midget
submarine attack on RAMILLIES and FROBISHER
for 0230 hours on 31 May )
30th
- After raising steam RAMILLIES and
FROBISHER weighed anchor, FROBISHER put to
sea and RAMILLIES steamed around the
harbour. An air search to a depth of 200
miles was carried out which sighted nothing,
and RAMILLIES anchored in another position
close to tanker MV BRITISH LOYALTY (6993
tons).
At
1710 hours, about 9 nautical miles east of
Diego Suarez, I-20 launched midget submarine
M-20b.
At
2025 hours M-20b fired one of her two 450mm
Type 98 torpedoes with a 350kg warhead at
RAMILLIES. The torpedo hit and holed the
bulge and bottom plating, opening a 30-foot
by 30-foot hole in the port bulge forward of
A turret. The electrical system was damaged
and power lost all over the ship. The
six-inch armor belt above the site of the
explosion was displaced and the forward
magazines and shell rooms (15-inch main
calibre and 4-inch AA) flooded.
At
2120 hours M-20b fired her other torpedo at
RAMILLIES. But following the first hit on
RAMILLIES, the BRITISH LOYALTY, a motor
ship, was able to weigh anchor and start to
move her berth. As she was going astern she
was hit by the second torpedo that was meant
for RAMILLIES and seriously damaged. The
crew of RAMILLIES worked to control the
flooding, following which she weighed anchor
and moved to a narrow arm of the harbour,
and moored with her bows to seaward in order
to present the least possible target to any
further attack.
(The
crew of the submarine, Lieutenant Saburo
Akieda and Petty Officer Masami Takemoto,
beached their submarine at Nosy Antalikely
and proceeded towards a pick-up point near
Cape Amber. They were informed upon when
they bought food at a village and both were
killed in a firefight with
Royal
Marines three days later).
(The
Japanese issued a communiqué, claiming that
they had sunk a cruiser of the FROBISHER
class and torpedoed a battleship of the
QUEEN ELIZABETH class which had been left
sinking. The Admiralty were able to counter
this with complete truth, by saying that no
cruiser of the FROBISHER class had been sunk
and that no battleship of the QUEEN
ELIZABETH class had been at Diego Suarez)
31st
- Work carried out to lighten the bows by
moving anchors and cable aft, shoring up the
damaged bulkheads and counter flooding.
June
1st
- Work continuing to make her seaworthy.
2nd
- Destroyer DECOY arrived at Diego Suarez
with Constructor Captain H. S. Pengelly
RCNC, the Eastern Fleet Constructor Officer.
Pengelly inspected the work carried out on
RAMILLIES and confirmed she was fit for sea.
3rd
- Passage to Durban escorted by cruiser
EMERALD and destroyers ACTIVE, DECOY and
DUNCAN.
7th
- Escort reinforced with corvettes
FRITILLARY and JASMINE.
9th
- Arrived at Durban. Taken in hand for
repair on arrival.
July
Under
repair at Durban. During her stay at Durban
her CO, Captain D N C Tufnell DSC RN was
appointed to command battleship ROYAL
SOVEREIGN and most unusually her second in
command, Commander L N Brownfield took over
with the temp. rank of Captain. Ship to
return to UK for refit and completion of
repair outstanding.
August
6th
- Sailed from Durban for Cape Town. (When
she sailed she was seaworthy, but due to the
extensive internal damage, there was no
means of controlling either the 15-inch or
the 6-inch guns. The anti-aircraft armament
was operational)
9th
- Arrived at Cape Town
13th
- Sailed from Cape Town for Devonport via
Freetown and Gibraltar.
September
8th
- Arrived at Devonport for repair and refit.
October to December
Under
repair and refit.
1 9 4 3
January to June
Under
repair and refit. Additional armour plate
was added over her magazines, 4 x 6inch
casemate guns were landed and 2 x quad
pom-poms added. Re-commissioned and carried
out post refit trials.
3rd
- Sailed from Plymouth for the Clyde
escorted by the destroyers WENSLEYDALE, HMCS
IROQUOIS and ORP ORKAN. Passage to
Scapa Flow for work-up with Home Fleet.
July
Nominated
for service with the Eastern Fleet.
August
Prepared
for foreign service.
September
Passage
to join the Eastern Fleet.
14th
- Sailed from Durban in company with
destroyers NAPIER, NEPAL, RELENTLESS and
ROEBUCK escorting convoy CM45, a convoy of 5
troopships for Aden
20th
- At the latitude of Mombasa, RAMILLIES,
NAPIER and NEPAL detached from CM45 and
preceded to Mombasa.
October to November
Deployed
for convoy defence in Indian Ocean.
December
Nominated
for return to UK for support of military
operations in Home waters.
1 9 4 4
January
Passage
to UK
14th
- Sailed from Port Said escorted by Frigates
DUCKWORTH, BERRY, BLACKWOOD, COOKE, DOMETT
and ESSINGTON.
26th
- Arrived in the Clyde.
February
Defence
against aircraft improved, including fit of
radar for close weapons.
March
Joined
Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
April to May
Took
part in preparatory exercises for planned
assault landings. Nominated for service in
Eastern Task Force with Bombarding Force D.
Target in Pre-arranged Fire Plan -
Benerville Battery. (Operation NEPTUNE - For
details of naval activities prior to and
during landings see OPERATION NEPTUNE by K
Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944
(HMSO).).
June
2nd
- At 1900 hours sailed from Greenock for the
Normandy beachhead on Operation NEPTUNE in
company with battleship WARSPITE, Monitor
ROBERTS, cruisers MAURITIUS, ARETHUSA,
FROBISHER, DANAE and Polish ORP DRAGON and
escorting destroyers. RAMILLIES sailed with
a reduced ships complement so that only two
of her four 15 inch turrets could be manned
at any one time. This was designated
Bombarding Force S and was to have sailed
directly to their bombarding stations off
the beachhead. However due to bad weather
the operation was postponed for 24 hours so
they made for Portsmouth.
4th
- Arrived off Portsmouth.
5th
- Passage through swept channel to Assault
area with ships of Force S of the Eastern
Task Force in Convoy S6, escorted by
destroyers SAUMAREZ, SWIFT, Norwegian
destroyers HNorMS SVENNER and STORD and
Frigates ROWLEY and HOLMES.
6th
- At 0530 hours NE of Sword Beach,
approximately 11 miles west of Le Havre (at
this time Le Havre was cut off from the
invasion fleet by a smoke screen) RAMILLIES
opened fire on the Benerville Battery at a
range of 24000 yards. (The Benerville
battery consisted of 4 x 150mm guns, three
in casemates and one in an open pit open).
Almost simultaneously with opening fire, the
bombarding force was attacked by the German
5th Torpedo Boat Flotilla of T28, FALKE,
JAGUAR and MÖWE which fired 18 torpedoes and
made off. Torpedoes were seen approaching
RAMILLIES and she turned away from them.
They passed between RAMILLIES and WARSPITE,
narrowly missing both, but one went on to
hit and sink the Norwegian destroyer HNoMS
SVENNER at 0535 hours. (The 5th TB flotilla
had sailed from Le Havre at 0440 hours with
orders to attack landing craft that had been
sighted off Port en Bessin. But on breaking
through the smoke screen they were
confronted by the bombardment line of
battleships, monitor and cruisers. On seeing
the overwhelming force they fired their
torpedoes and returned to Le Havre at
speed). After 48 rounds, a hydraulic valve
in A turret failed and the gun crew
immediately transferred to B turret. In the
evening, ran out of 15 inch ammunition and
sailed for Portsmouth.
7th
- At 0830 hours arrived at Portsmouth to
re-ammunition.
At
2030 hours sailed for the beachhead.
8th
- Arrived off the beachhead and anchored
near battleship RODNEY and bombarded targets
nominated by army.
10th
- Bombarded targets around Caen.
11th
- Bombarded targets around Caen, including a
German armoured concentration of 200 tanks.
12th
- Bombarded targets around Caen, including
railway marshalling yards. Carried a
bombardment in support of 6th Airborne
Division assault.
14th
- Bombarded strongpoint NW of Caen. Carried
a bombardment in support of 6th Airborne
Division assault.
15th
- Returned to her D-Day bombardment position
and re-engaged the mobile field guns that
had been moved back into the Benerville
position.
17th
- Further bombardment of the Benerville
position.
18th
- After firing 1000 rounds of 15 inch she
was withdrawn and returned to Portsmouth.
July
After
release from NEPTUNE prepared for
bombardment duties in Mediterranean.
Allocated for service under US Command for
support of landings in South France.
(Operation DRAGOON - For details see
LANDINGS IN SOUTH FRANCE (HMSO).
August
Passage
to Gibraltar
11th
- Arrived at Algiers to join ALPHA Gunfire
Support Group in Task Force 84. (Note: The
Group had already sailed for Malta and
programme rearranged).
10th
- Took passage to join cruisers ORION,
AURORA, AJAX and BLACK PRINCE, US cruiser
USS QUINCY and French cruiser GLOIRE in
Assault area.
15th
- Joined Gunfire Support Group. Provided
naval gunfire support with ships of Group
during landings by 3rd US Div in the Baie de
Cavalaire. Batteries at St Tropez and Cape
Camarat silenced.
19th
- Transferred to SITKA area. Fired 12 rounds
at fort. After defence collapsed in SITKA
area took passage to Propriano.
August
24th
- Took passage to Algiers from Propriano.
Recalled to support military operations in
Marseilles Bay.
25th
- Arrived at Porquerolles with cruiser
SIRIUS and US cruiser OMAHA. Joined in the
bombardment of batteries on St. Mendrier
peninsula.
26th
- Resumed bombardment of batteries.
27th
- Bombardment in continuation. (See above
references for details).
29th
- Released from US command and remained in
Mediterranean.
September
Deployed
in Mediterranean.
October
Passage
to UK
November to December
Deployed
with Home Fleet
1 9 4 5
January to February
Home
waters deployment in continuation
March
Withdrawn
from operational service
April to August
Deployed
as Accommodation Ship and for training