1 9 3 9
September
Deployed with Home Fleet units for
anti-submarine operations and searches for
commerce
raiders and
blockade runners in NW Approaches.
October
Took part in unsuccessful
search for German battleship GNEISENAU and
cruiser KOLN north
of Shetlands
after report of their passage into
Atlantic for attacks on shipping.
November
Atlantic deployment for trade
defence in continuation.
(For details of naval activities in
Home waters during 1939 see Naval Staff
History and ENGAGE
THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by C Barnett.)
23rd
Sailed
from Halifax, NS with HM Battlecruiser
REPULSE to join HM
Battleship WARSPITE in search for
German battleship SCHARNHORST
following
sinking of HM Armed Merchant Cruiser
RAWALPINDI.
When search abandoned returned to
Halifax with HMS REPULSE and
resumed
Atlantic convoy defence duties,.
December
Escorted military convoy TC1
carrying Canadian troops from Halifax to
UK
with HM
Battleship RESOLUTION, HMS REPULSE and HM
Cruiser EMERALD.
1
9 4 0
January
Atlantic deployment in
continuation.
to
February
March
Under refit at Devonport.
April
Passage to Scapa Flow to
rejoin Home Fleet.
10th
Deployed
with HM Battleship WARSPITE in search for
German warships SCHARNHORST and
GNEISENAU.
(Note:
Despite
the obvious need for protection against
air attacks after the German invasion
of
Norway, no fighter aircraft were
embarked.)
11th
Launched
an air strike against warships and
shipping at Trondheim
where German cruiser HIPPER
had been
reported.
(Note:
HIPPER had sailed and torpedo attacks on
other ships failed.)
12th
Launched
bombing attacks and photo reconnaissance
flights over Narvik prior to entry of
HMS
WARSPITE into Fjord, planned for 13th
April.
(Note: This
ship was the only aircraft carrier
available for Fleet defence, support of
military
operations
ashore and provision of air cover for
passage of incoming convoys.)
13th
Provided anti-submarine air cover off
Narvik during 2nd
Battle of Narvik.
18th
Under air attacks at Tromso
and
sustained damage by Near Miss.
(Note:
Damage to shafts and machinery reduced
speed to 20 knots.
Only half of embarked SWORDFISH
aircraft were serviceable.)
26th
Relieved
by HM Aircraft Carriers ARK ROYAL and
GLORIOUS.
(Note:
“Well Done “ signal received from Prime
Minister for services off Norway as the
only
available
aircraft carrier.)
27th
Passage to Scapa Flow.
(Note: For
details of the disastrous operations off
Norway see NARVIK by D Macintyre,
CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton, THE
DOOMED EXPEDITION by D Adams and
Naval Staff
History. (HMSO
– 2001).)
May
1st
Taken
in hand for repair in Clyde shipyard.
14th
Resumed
duties with Home Fleet and deployed for
aircraft delivery to Norway,
18th
Deployed
with HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS GLORIOUS for
defence of Fleet units off Norway
and for
support of military operations.
21st
Landed GLADIATOR aircraft to operate
from shore.
Took passage to
return to Scapa Flow.
June
Taken in hand for refit.
July
Under refit
August
On completion carried out post refit
trials and
took passage to rejoin the Home Fleet.
September
Deployed with Home Fleet units
during anti-shipping operations off coast
of Norway.
to
October
November
Home Fleet duties in continuation.
Nominated for
aircraft delivery.
December
Embarked aircraft for transfer to
the Middle East from Takoradi
.
19th
Joined
military convoy WS5A with HM Aircraft
Carrier ARGUS during passage in NW
approaches
from Clyde to Freetown.
(Note:
Crated aircraft in transit were carried on
flight decks).
HMS ARGUS was also carrying un-crated
RAF aircraft for delivery.
Ocean Escort was provided by HM
Cruisers NAIAD.)
24th
HM
Cruiser NAIAD relieved by HM Cruisers
BERWICK. DUNEDIN, BONAVENTURE and
four FLOWER
Class Corvettes.
Under threat of
attack by German cruiser HIPPER.
25th
WS5A
ships attacked by HIPPER
Engaged by HMS
BERWICK and HMS BONAVENTURE.
HIPPER withdrew due to fear of
torpedo attack after damaging ships in
WS5A.
Convoy scattered and counter attack
by unarmed carrier aircraft was delayed
and when launched
were unable
to find enemy ship.
Further air
operations by carriers cancelled by
Admiralty.
(For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History.)
1
9 4 1
January
6th
WS5A
arrived at Freetown after re-assembly.
Detached for
passage to Takoradi
to disembark aircraft.
February
Return passage to rejoin Home
Fleet.
March
Home Fleet deployment in continuation.
Embarked infantry
for passage to Gibraltar.
Joined military
convoy for passage to Gibraltar.
(Note: This
included troopship mv
STRATHMORE”
April
Deployed to carry aircraft to Gibraltar
for
transfer to HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL
(Note: Delivery
operations WINCH and DUNLOP after launch
in western Mediterranean
from HMS ARK
ROYAL.)
May
8th
Damaged by bomb in air-raid on Belfast,
one man killed (See Addendum for
fuller account)
Embarked
HURRICANE aircraft for delivery to
Gibraltar and took passage with HM Cruiser
LONDON as escort.
19th
Joined
HMS ARK ROYAL off Gibraltar and passed
into Mediterranean.
Cover for delivery was provided by HM
Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Cruisers
SHEFFIELD and
LONDON, screened by HM Destroyers
FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FOXHOUND, FURY,
HESPERUS and BRILLIANT (Operation
SPLICE)
(Note: HM
Destroyers HARVESTER, WRESTLER and
FEARLESS were also deployed as
escort.)
21st
Launched
aircraft for flight to Malta and took
passage to Gibraltar.
Passage to UK to
embark aircraft for further delivery.
29th
Embarked
HURRICANE aircraft and took passage to
Gibraltar.
June
Arrived at Gibraltar.
5th
Sailed
from Gibraltar as part of Group 1 with HMS
RENOWN, HM Destroyers FAULKNOR,
FORESIGHT, FORESTER and FOXHOUND
(Operation ROCKET)
6th
Launched
aircraft for flight to Malta and returned
to Gibraltar
(Note: HMS
ARK ROYAL also made a delivery as part of
ROCKET and formed Group 2 with
HMS SHEFFIELD, HMS
FEARLESS and HMS FEARLESS as screen.)
Passage to UK to
collect aircraft for further delivery of
aircraft to Malta.
22nd
Passage
to Gibraltar escorted by HM Destroyers
LANCE and LEGION
25th
Arrived
at Gibraltar and transferred some
HURRICANE aircraft to HM Aircraft Carrier
ARK
ROYAL for delivery after launch in
western Mediterranean.
(Operation RAILWAY Phase One)
26th
Assembled
crated aircraft for delivery as Phase two
of RAILWAY.
27th
Passage
to launch area with HM Cruiser HERMIONE,
screened by HM Destroyers FEARLESS,
FOXHOUND and LEGION
as Group A.
(Note:
Force B comprising HM Battlecruiser
RENOWN, HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL
screened by
HM Destroyers FAULKNOR FURY, FORESTER and
LANCE were
deployed
concurrently for launch operation by HMS
ARK ROYAL which carried
26 HURRICANE
aircraft.)
30th
During
launch operation the second aircraft
struck part of ships structure
and crashed
overboard. Fuel tank caught fire causing
13 casualties, nine
of which
were fatal.
Launch operation resumed when fire
was extinguished.
(Note: Nine
HURRICANE and six BLENHEIM aircraft
arrived in Malta.)
Took return passage to Gibraltar.
July
1st
Arrived
at Gibraltar and later sailed for Scapa
Flow to resume duties with Home Fleet.
23rd
Sailed
from Scapa Flow for Iceland with HM
Cruiser ADVENTURE and HM Aircraft Carrier
VICTORIOUS escorted by ships of 1st
Cruiser Squadron and Fleet destroyers.
28th
Detached with HMS ADVENTURE for passage
to Archangel.
(Note: HMS
ADVENTURE was carrying mines for use by
Soviet Fleet.)
30th
Carried
out series of air strikes at Petsamo.
(Note:
Operation EF – This also included air
attacks on Kirkenes
by HMS VICTORIOUS.
Attacks on Petsamo
were unsatisfactory owing to early
detection and
eleven
SWORDFISH
aircraft were lost. See CONVOYS TO RUSSIA.
by R
Woodman.)
August
Return passage to Scapa Flow.
Nominated for further Malta aircraft
delivery duties and embarked aircraft.
31st
Joined
military convoy WS11 in Clyde with HMS
REPULSE and HM
Cruiser SHEFFIELD for Atlantic
passage..
September
4th
Detached
from WS11 for passage to Gibraltar.
8th
Deployed
at Gibraltar during Phase I of Operation
STATUS.
(Note:
Operation STATUS I was an aircraft
delivery by HMS ARK ROYAL covered by HM
Cruiser HERMIONE
and destroyers of FORCE H.
12th
Passage
as part of Force A with HMS HERMIONE, HM
Destroyers LEGION, FORESTER
and
FORESIGHT in Western Mediterranean.
Cover was provided by Force B
comprising HM Battleship NELSON, HMS ARK
ROYAL,
HM Destroyers ZULU,
GURKHA. LANCE
and LIVELY.
13th
Launched
aircraft and returned to Gibraltar with
Force A.
Passage to UK to
resume Home Fleet duties. Nominated
for refit in USA.
October
Embarked
aircraft for delivery to Jamaica to
provide anti-submarine air facilities in
Caribbean area.
Passage to Jamaica.
Disembarked
aircraft and took passage to USA for
refit.
November
Under
refit as US Navy Yard, Philadelphia.
to
(Note: Refit work included preparations
for fitting Fire-control radar
December
Type
285 for fire control of main armament by
both Gunnery Directors.
1
9 4 2
January
Under
refit
to March
April
Post
refit trials
3rd
On completion took passage to Bermuda.
6th
Sailed from
Bermuda and joined eastbound convoy.
Provided
air cover during passage with HM Escort
Aircraft Carriers
ARCHER and
AVENGER
which were in
transit to UK after build in
US shipyards.
Escort
for this convoy was provided by US Navy
for part of passage.
15th
Detached on
arrival of convoy in Home waters.
Taken in hand for
completion of refit work including units
of radar
outfits not undertaken in USA.
May
Under
refit
to
Embarked
aircraft and prepared for operational
service in Home Fleet.
June
July
Resumed
Home Fleet duties at Scapa Flow.
August
Nominated
for detached service in support of Malta
relief convoy.
(Operation
PEDESTAL - For details of this operation see
ENGAGE
THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN
by D MacIntyre,
PEDESTAL by P Smith and
Naval Staff History.)
2nd
Joined convoy WS21S in Clyde with
detached ships from Home Fleet as
escort during
passage in
Atlantic.
5th
Detached with
other aircraft carriers to take part in
exercises.
6th
Joined HM Aircraft Carriers
VICTORIOUS, INDOMITABLE, EAGLE
and ARGUS in
Atlantic for
multi-carrier
Aircraft Direction and
Control
exercises (Exercise
BERSERK)
(Note: This was
preparation for defence of planned Malta
Relief (Operation PEDESTAL)
For
details see MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman)
8th
On completion of
BERSERK rejoined WS21S for further
exercises and
detached to refuel at Gibraltar.
11th
Rejoined convoy during passage in
western Mediterranean.
Under
attack by Italian submarine UARSCIEK which
failed.
Sustained slight
damage in collision with HMS VICTORIOUS.
Detached
from WS21S escorted by HM Destroyers
LAFOREY and LOOKOUT to take passage to
flying-off
position.
Launched aircraft for
delivery to Malta (Operation BELLOWS).
Returned
to Gibraltar escorted by HM Destroyers
KEPPEL, MALCOLM,
VENOMOUS,
WOLVERINE and
WRESTLER.
12th
Under attack by
Italian submarine DAGABUR which was sunk
by HMS WOLVERINE.
(See
HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair Volume 2.)
16th
Sailed from Gibraltar for aircraft
delivery escorted by HM Cruiser
CHARYBDIS with
screen of 12
destroyers
(Operation BARITONE).
18th
Returned to
Gibraltar with same ships after
launching aircraft.
Passage to UK from
Gibraltar to resume Home Fleet duties.
September
Deployed
with Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
Nominated for support
of planned allied landings in North
Africa.
(Operation
TORCH - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY,
HITLER'S U-BOAT
WAR
and Naval Staff
History.)
October
Embarked
aircraft for delivery to Malta.
20th
Took passage to
Gibraltar.
21st
Joined HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK to
provide cover for passage of military
convoys to Gibraltar.
28th
Sailed from Gibraltar escorted by HM
Cruisers CHARYBDIS and
AURORA,
HM Destroyers WESTCOTT, WISHART, COWDRAY,
BRAMHAM, ACHATES,
VANOC, VERITY and
Polish ORP BLYSKAWICA for aircraft
delivery.
30th
Returned to
Gibraltar with escort.
November
Prepared
for service in Central Task Force at
Gibraltar for TORCH support.
(Note: During
this period Type 286 radar was fitted to
provided limited
air and surface
warning. See above reference. This
equipment
had a rotating
aerial but
was a
RAF
outfit modified for shipboard use.).
8th
Deployed with HMS
ARGUS in Central Task Force covering
landings
at
Oran.
Under
attacks by U565 and U431 which were
repelled by escort.
(See
HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR.)
Launched air attacks
on airfields which destroyed 47 Vichy
French
aircraft.
December
Deployed
in Mediterranean for support of shore
operations.
1
9 4 3
January
Retained
in western Mediterranean.
to
On
release from detached service returned to
UK with HMS RENOWN
and HM Aircraft
Carrier
February
ILLUSTRIOUS.
March
Deployed
with Home Fleet to provide cover for Fleet
units and based in
to
Clyde
for deployments to intercept any break out
by German battleship
SCHARNHORST
May
June
Deployed
with HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK and HM
Destroyer ORWELL for reinforcement
of Garrison at
Spitzbergen.
(Operation
FH - Part of GEARBOX Series.)
(Note: Radar
Type 286P had been replaced by Type 291,
the RN
designed
replacement.
This
equipment was not suitable for control of
aircraft
See
above reference.)
July
Home
Fleet duties in continuation.
8th
Took part in offensive sweep off
Norwegian coast with HM Battleships
DUKE OF YORK,
ANSON
and MALAYA,
screened by cruisers and destroyers of
Home
Fleet as a diversion during allied
landings in
Sicily (Operation HUSKY).
(Note:
Home Fleet Operation
GOVERNOR).
August
Under
refit.
to
Rejoined
Home Fleet at Scapa Flow on completion.
December
1
9 4 4
January
Home
Fleet deployment in continuation.
February
Took
part in Home Fleet operation off Norway
for attacks on shipping and coastal
targets
(Operation
BAYLEAF).
24th
Launched air attacks with cover from HMS
ANSON and French
battleship
RICHELIEU.
March
Home
Fleet deployment in continuation.
(Note: Radar
Type 79B had been fitted by this date and
provided better
coverage
for warning of
aircraft than
previously available.)
Nominated
for provision of air cover during passage
of Russian Convoy JW58
to Kola Inlet
and return Convoy RA58 together with
attacks
on German
battleship
TIRPITZ.
30th
Deployed with HMS DUKE OF YORK, HMS
ANSON, HM Aircraft
Carrier
VICTORIOUS, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers
EMPEROR, FENCER,
SEARCHER
and PURSUER to provide air cover for
convoys.
(For
details of all Russian Convoys see CONVOYS
TO RUSSIA by RA
Ruegg, THE
RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield,
CONVOY ! by
P
Kemp and ARCTIC
CONVOYS by R Woodman.)
April
3rd
Detached from covering duties to carry
out attacks on German battleship TIRPITZ
in Altenfjord
with HMS
VICTORIOUS and Escort Aircraft Carriers.
Cover
was provided by HMS ANSON and HM Cruisers
JAMAICA,
ROYALIST,
BELFAST and
SHEFFIELD with 14
destroyer screen.
14
hits were recorded (Operation TUNGSTEN -
(See CONVOY!)
23rd
Deployed with HMS VICTORIOUS and Escort
Carriers for further series
of attacks on
TIRPITZ
at Altenfjord
(Operation PLANET
24th
Operation abandoned because of weather
conditions.
25th
Launched air attacks with the other
carriers on shipping.
(See above
reference.)
May
6th
Launched air attacks on shipping in Kristiansund
North with HM Escort Aircraft Carrier
SEARCHER
covered by HM
Cruiser BERWICK and two Home Fleet
destroyers
.
Two
ships were sunk.
11th
Present at Royal visit to Home Fleet at
Scapa Flow by HM King George VI
(Note:
Selected personnel from Fleet were
inspected on board
by the King. and demonstrations were
carried out by
Fleet units off Scapa Flow
during the
visit.)
14th
Deployed for further air attacks on
TIRPITZ with HMS VICTORIOUS
screened by
Fleet units (Operation BRAWN).
15th
Operation abandoned due to weather
conditions.
28th
Further series of air attacks on TIRPITZ
cancelled because of weather.
(Operation
TIGER CLAW - See CONVOY
!)
June
1st
Launched series of air strikes on
convoy off Statlandet
July
16th
Deployed with HMS INDEFATIGABLE and HMS
FORMIDABLE for
further
air attacks on
TIRPITZ
covered by HMS DUKE OF YORK, HM Cruisers
KENT, DEVONSHIRE, JAMAICA and
BELLONA
with screen of Home Fleet destroyers
(Operation MASCOT)
17th
Launched air attacks which were detected
and s smoke screen to be placed to cover
target.
(See
CONVOY ! and
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY.)
August
8th
Took part in Home Fleet rehearsal for
planned further attacks on TIRPITZ
with HM Aircraft
Carriers
FORMIDABLE,
INDEFATIGABLE and HM
Escort
Carrier NABOB (Operation GOODWOOD).
17th
Deployed with HMS INDEFATIGABLE, HMS
FORMIDABLE, covered by HMS DUKE OF YORK,
HM
Cruisers BERWICK and DEVONSHIRE screened
by 14 Home Fleet destroyers to provide
air
cover during
passage of Russian Convoy JW59A and return
convoy RA59.
19th
Detached with aircraft carriers and
covering ships HMS DUKE OF YORK,
HMS BERWICK and
HMS DEVONSHIRE for
planned GOODWOOD operations, joined by
HMS
NABOB.
20th
Operation delayed by weather.
22nd
Launched strikes by BARRACUDA and CORSAIR
aircraft which were frustrated by early
warning of
approach
Under U-Boat attack
during which HMS NABOB was hit and
sustained
major damage.
See
references.
24th
Launched two further attacks with HMS
FORMIDABLE
and HMS
INDEFATIGABLE
with limited
effect.
29th
Launched further attacks without
obtaining any hits
(Note: During
GOODWOOD 247 sorties were flown by
carriers
and 11 aircraft were lost.
The
lack of success in attacks from aircraft
carry resulted in use of RAF Bomber
Command.
See
references.)
September
12th
Joined HM Escort Carriers TRUMPETER and
AVENGER and deployed
for air minelay
south of
Vorso Island
and shipping attack near Statlandet
covered by HMS DEVONSHIRE and Home Fleet
destroyer
screen,
(Operation
BEGONIA - See Naval Staff History
(Mining).)
October
Withdrawn
from operation service with Home Fleet.
November
Deployed
for aircrew training duties and trials in
Home waters.
to
December
1
9 4 5
January
Training
and trials deployment in continuation.
to
August
