(for
more ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and
type name in Site Search
1
9 4 1
March
29th
Commissioned for
service in Home Fleet after work-up.
April
Contractors sea trials and passage to
Rosyth.
Prepared for
operational service.
15th
Joined Home Fleet.
May
Final
Acceptance Trials and worked-up for
service.
20th
Embarked of
aircraft and intended to Join Convoy
WS8X escort.
22nd
Placed at disposal of CinC
Home Fleet and sailed with HM Battleship
KING GEORGE V
in search for
German battleship BISMARCK
which was on passage into Atlantic.
(Note:
Aircrew training was incomplete. No
other aircraft
carrier available).
24th
Launched air strike against BISMARCK
escorted by HM Cruisers AURORA, KENYA and
HERMIONE. One
hit obtained but this ran 'shallow' and
did
little damage. The
failure of the
Aircraft Homing Beacon prejudiced landing
of
aircraft.
31st
Joined escort for convoy WS8X at Clyde
with HM Cruisers NEPTUNE.
(Note: HM
Cruiser NORFOLK
is also recorded in one
source.)
June
4th
During cover of WS8X carried out
series of air searches in Atlantic for German
supply ships
with HM Battleship NELSON, HM Cruisers
NEPTUNE
and HERMIONE.
Located German ss
GOZZENHEIM after report
from British ss
ESPERANCE
BAY.
(This
ship was intercepted and sunk by HMS
NEPTUNE on 5th June).
5th
Detached from convoy and took passage
to Gibraltar
escorted by ships of Force
H.
13th
Deployed for delivery of HURRICANE
aircraft to Malta
with HM Aircraft Carrier
ARK
ROYAL escorted by HM Battleship RENOWN and
ships of Force "H".
(Operation
TRACER - 45 of the 48 aircraft launched
arrived safely).
18th
Passage to UK
after
completion of TRACER.
(Note:
Prisoners from GOZZENHEIM sere
embarked at Gibraltar
for passage.)
July
6th
Working up exercises for embarked FAA
Squadrons in NW Approaches.
23rd
Deployed with HM Aircraft Carrier
FURIOUS and 1st Cruiser Squadron to escort
HM
Minelaying
Cruiser ADVENTURE carrying mines to Murmansk
(Operation EF).
30th
Deployed with HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE
and SUFFOLK screened by 6 destroyers of
the
Home Fleet as Force P.
Carried
out air strikes on Kirkenes
concurrently with similar
attacks by HMS
FURIOUS on Petsamo
for air attacks after
refuelling in Iceland.
(Note:
11 ALBACORE and 2 FULMAR aircraft
from ship were
lost.)
August
26th
Covered first convoy to Archangel
with HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE
and SUFFOLK screened
by HM
Destroyers INGLEFIELD, ECLIPSE and
ESCAPADE.
(Operation
DERVISH – See ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman).
30th
Covered return passage of HM Aircraft
Carrier ARGUS after delivering HURRICANE
aircraft to Murmansk
(Operation STRENGTH).
(For
details of this and all Russian Convoy
operations see CONVOY! by P.Kemp,
CONVOYS TO RUSSIA
by R.
RUEGG and THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield.)
September
3rd
Launched air strikes against targets
at Tromso.
7th
Repeated air strikes operation at Tromso.
12th
Launched shipping strikes off Bodo
and against shore targets in Vestfjord.
October
Deployed
with Home Fleet based in Iceland
for interception of German
warships.
(Note:
The only modern operational carrier
available in Home
waters).
November
Iceland deployment
in continuation.
5th
Took passage with HM Battleship KING
GEORGE V to carry out patrol in the Denmark
Strait
with US
battleships USS IDAHO and
USS MISSISSIPPI, cruisers USS WICHITA
and TUSCALOOSA
to intercept German
battleships SCHEER and TIRPITZ.
(Note:
This deployment had been made
following decryption of
an ENIGMA signal
giving details
of planned movements to carry out attacks
on
shipping in North Atlantic.
See
HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
13th
Withdrawn from
patrol when German movements cancelled
by Hitler.
Returned to Reykjavik
to resume
Home Fleet duties.
December
Home Fleet deployment for
interception based in Iceland in
continuation.
1
9 4 2
January
Home Fleet duty in continuation.
to
February
March
6th
Deployed with HM Battleships KING
GEORGE V and DUKE OF YORK, HM Battlecruiser
RENOWN, HM
Cruisers BERWICK and KENYA
to cover passage of Convoys
PQ12 and QP8.
9th
Launched unsuccessful ALBACORE strikes
on German battleship TIRPITZ.
(Note:
This was the opportunity to bring
TIRPITZ to action
by air strikes.
Two
aircraft were lost in these attacks.)
20th
Deployed to cover passage of Russian
Convoy PQ13 and returning QP9 with same
battleships
as for PQ12 and
HM cruisers EDINBURGH and KENT.
April
12th
Part of Home Fleet covering force for
Russian Convoys PQ14 and returning QP10
with HMS KING
GEORGE V, HMS DUKE OF YORK,
HM Cruisers NIGERIA and KENT.
28th
Deployed with HMS KING GEORGE V, US
Battleship WASHINGTON, HM Cruiser KENYA,
US
Cruiser TUSCALOOSA,
US Cruiser WICHITA cover
passage of PQ15 and QP11.
(Note:
During this operation on 1st May HMS
KING GEORGE V
came into collision
with HM
Destroyer PUNJABI which was sunk and
caused major
damage to KGV).
13th
Joined Home Fleet cover for return of HM
Cruiser TRINIDAD from Murmansk with
HMS DUKE OF YORK,
HM
Cruisers KENT, LIVERPOOL, LONDON,
NIGERIA and NORFOLK.
14th
Returned to Scapa
Flow after HMS TRINIDAD sank.
25th
Part of Home Fleet covering force for
Russian Convoys PQ16 and QP12.
This
was the largest convoy up to date and
ships involved included HMS DUKE OF
YORK,
USS WASHINGTON, USS
WICHITA, HMS LONDON and Home Fleet
destroyers.
June
30th
Deployed with Home Fleet Distant
Covering Force for passage of Russian
Convoy
PQ17 and returning
QP13. US Battleship WASHINGTON,
US Destroyer MAYRANT and US
Destroyer
RHIND joined HMS DUKE OF YORK, HM Cruiser CUMBERLAND and NIGERIA.
(See
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli
Barnett and
above references)
July
Returned
to Scapa
Flow
after
Convoy QP13 arrived at Reykjavik.
Nominated for escort
of Malta
relief
convoy with other Home Fleet ships.
August
3rd
Deployed with HM Battleship NELSON, HM
Cruisers NIGERIA,
KENYA and MANCHESTER
for escort of
support convoy WS21S on passage to Gibraltar.
8th
Exercises with HM Aircraft Carriers
INDOMITABLE, FURIOUS, EAGLE and ARGUS to
improve
multi-carrier operating techniques
(Exercise
BERSERK).
10th
Joined 'Force Z' covering WS21S to Sicilian
Narrows (Operation PEDESTAL).
12th
During air attacks
hit by bomb which broke up on Impact
with flight deck. See PEDESTAL by
P Smith, MALTA
CONVOYS by
R Woodman and Naval Staff History.)
20th
Took passage with Home Fleet ships to Scapa
Flow.
(Note:
Survivors from HM Aircraft Carrier
EAGLE were
embarked.)
September
Nominated
for refit.
Taken in hand for
refit.
October
Under refit.
Prototype
Aircraft Direction Room fitted.
(For
details of development and use of radar
see RADAR AT SEA
by D. Howse).
On
completion carried out Deck Landing trials
at Scapa
Flow.
November
Passage to Gibraltar with HM
Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE.
8th
Joined Force H and
provided air cover during landings
(Operation TORCH).
(Note:
Air attacks made at Algiers
including Fort Duree.
Four
MARTLET fighters landed on Blida
airfield and accepted
surrender).
18th
Passage to UK
with HMS
DUKE OF YORK and HM
Destroyer OPPORTUNE to Scapa Flow.
21st
During passage ALBACORE aircraft of 817
Squadron attacked U517 by depth charges
in position
46.10N 17.08W (WNW Cape Finisterre).
Submarine
structure was badly
damaged. 51 of
crew were rescued by HMS OPPORTUNE after
having scuttled.
December
Nominated
for loan service in Pacific with US Navy
20th
Passage to Norfolk,
Virginia escorted by HM Destroyers
QUICKMATCH, RACEHORSE and
REDOUBT.
1
9
4 3
January
1st
Independent passage after destroyers
detached.
Taken in hand for
refit in Norfolk Navy Yard.
February
14th
Took passage to
Pacific via Panama Canal.
March
Passage
in Pacific.
4th
On arrival at Pearl
Harbour converted for the operation
of US Navy WILDCAT and
AVENGER aircraft.
During this period additional close range
armament was fitted including
fitting
of sponsons
outboard of
island
structure.
April
Under conversion at Pearl Harbour.
May
8th
Carried out exercises with US
aircraft carrier USS
SARATOGA and US
battleship USS
NORTH
CAROLINA
On
completion of work-up for service with US
Navy took passage to join US Third
Fleet
Task Group 36.3 for support of US landing
operations.
June
Deployed
with TG 36.3 to provide defence against
attacks by IJN surface warships
during landing
operations.
July
Carried
out first cross-carrier operating
procedure with USS SARATOGA.
August
Deployed
with USS SARATOGA and TG63-3 to cover
landings on New Georgia.
(Operation
CARTWHEEL).
September
Released
from loan duty and took passage to return
to UK.
Called at San
Diego before
transit of Panama Canal.
October
Passage in Atlantic.
15th
Rejoined Home
Fleet.
(Note:
During Pacific service, ship's
company adopted US Navy
working dress.
This
was introduced into RN use for ships of
British Pacific Fleet later
in 1944 and
became standard No 8 uniform in RN after
WW2.
Since
1982 No 8 Rig was replaced after review of
current requirements
and new uniform
provided to improve fire protection and
maintenance.)
November
Deployed
with Home Fleet for interception duties
and operations off Norway.
December
Taken
in hand for refit in Liverpool at commercial shipyard.
1
9 4 4
January
Under refit at Liverpool.
New radars installed.
to
February
March
28th
Full Dress Rehearsal with other Home
Fleet aircraft carriers for attack on
TIRPITZ
30th
Joined Force 1 to cover Convoy JW58
with HMS DUKE OF YORK and HMS ANSON.
April
2nd
In Force 2 (HM Aircraft Carriers
FURIOUS, SEARCHER, EMPEROR, PURSUER and
FENCER) for attacks on
TIRPITZ in Altenfjord,
Norway (Operation
TUNGSTEN).
3rd
Launched BARRACUDA strikes on TIRPITZ
which was leaving harbour for trials.
Three
BARRACUDA aircraft were lost due to the
intense AA fire but several hits were
obtained.
Repair of damage took over a month.
For full details see
CONVOY ! by
Paul Kemp.)
24th
Air strikes on TIRPITZ by Hone Fleet
carriers escorted by HMS ANSON abandoned
because of
weather conditions (Operation PLANET).
Shipping
strikes in Bodo
area instead.
Three ships in convoy were sunk for loss
of
six aircraft.
May
15th
Deployed for attacks on TIRPITZ with HMS
FURIOUS escorted by HMS ANSON which
were cancelled
because of cloud cover (Operation BRAWN).
28th
Shipping strike when further TIRPITZ
attack abandoned due to weather over the
target
(Operation TIGER CLAW).
30th
Acoustic torpedo (GNAT) attack by U957
failed.
June
Deployed
on shipping attacks off Norway Operation
LOMBARD).
1st
Sank minesweeper and merchant ship
sunk.
12th
Sailed for Ceylon
via Mediterranean with HM Aircraft Carrier
INDOMITABLE
July
Arrived
at Colombo and joined Eastern Fleet.
6th
Prepared for
operations in Indian
Ocean.
25th
Launched attacks on airfields near Sabang,
Sumatra with HM Aircraft Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS
escorted by HM Cruiser PHOEBE (Operation
CRIMSON).
August
23rd
Covered Eastern Fleet units providing
air-sea rescue facilities during series
of attacks by
US Army aircraft on Sumatra
(Operations BOOMERANG).
29th
Carried out air strikes on Padang,
Indaroeng
and Emmahaven
with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
and HMS
INDOMITABLE escorted by HMS HOWE and
Eastern Fleet
units.
(Operation
BANQUET).
September
18th
Deployed with HMS INDOMITABLE for
attacks on railway yards at Sigli,
Sumatra
and
photo-reconnaissance of Nicobars
escorted by HMS HOWE (Operation LIGHT).
(Note:
Aircraft made inadvertent attack on
HM Submarine
SPIRIT fortunately without
causing any
casualties. During this
operations steering problems were
experienced).
30th
Docked at Bombay
for
repair.
October
6th
Rejoined Eastern Fleet on completion
of repair work.
17th
Attacks on Nicobars
and Nancowry
harbour with HMS INDOMITABLE escorted by
H M
Battlecruiser
RENOWN. Four aircraft destroyed and five
damaged during enemy air
attacks.
Further steering problems arose (Operation
MILLET).
November
Arrangements
made for repair after HM Aircraft Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS arrived.
16th
Under repair to
steering gear at Bombay.
22nd
Transferred to
British Pacific Fleet on formation.
December
Resumed
operation duties
(Note:
Not available for air strikes on oil
refineries at Pangkalang
by Eastern
Fleet aircraft
carriers. (Operation ROBSON).
1
9 4 5
January
4th
Joined HMS INDOMITABLE and HMS
IMPLACABLE for air strikes on oil
refineries
at Pangkalan
Brandan
covered by Eastern Fleet TF 63 (Operation
LENTIL).
16th
With British Pacific Fleet ships as TF63
to attack refineries in Sumatra.
24th
Launched air attacks on Pladjoe,
with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS INDOMITABLE and
HMS VICTORIOUS during
passage to Australia.
Mana,
SW Sumatra attacked in
second strike.
Little opposition from
enemy aircraft (Operation MERIDIAN I).
29th
Unsuccessful attacks on oil
installations at Soengi-Gerong
with damage to several
aircraft.
Retaliatory
KAMIKAZE attacks beaten off. Losses
by all Carriers
- 16 aircraft in action and
25 lost by ditching or when deck
landing. 9 pilots captured by the Japanese
were executed
in April 1945
(Operation MERIDIAN II).
February
10th
Transferred to
Task Force 113 at Sydney
to prepare
for service with US Navy.
28th
Sailed from Sydney
for Manus with HMS KING
GEORGE V and rest of TF113
March
25th
Arrived at Ulithi
and joined 5th US Fleet as Task Force
57.
26th
Deployed to
neutralise airfields in Sakashima
Gunto
Group (Operation ICEBERG I.)
Air
attacks with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS
INDEFATIGABLE and HMS INDOMITABLE.
April
1st
Escaped damage during KAMIKAZE attack
when aircraft exploded alongside.
Aircraft
from HMS INDEFATIGABLE landed on when own
Flight Deck damaged.
9th
Detached with TF57 ships for attacks
on Formosan airfields.
(Operation
ICEBERG OOLONG).
12th
Launched attacks on Formosa
with same Carriers with
little opposition.
16th
Returned to
operations off Sakishima
Gunto
group with BPF aircraft carriers.
(HMS FORMIDABLE, HMS
INDEFATIGABLE and HMS INDOMITABLE.
Attacked targets at Ishigaki
and Mikayo
with refuelling breaks until 20/4/45.)
May
1st
Sailed with TF57
to join US TF58 off Sakishima
Group.
(Operation
ICEBERG II)
4th
Concentrated KAMIKAZE attacks and 7
destroyed but 3 hit selected targets. One
exploded on
island structure causing fires and damage
to
boiler steam piping.
Speed
reduced to 19 knots. Air operations
resumed after 8 hours.
9th
Launched air strikes on Hirara
and Ishigaki.
Hit twice in
unexpected KAMIKAZE
attacks. The
first damaged the Flight Deck and
equipment but
second failed to
explode. 3
killed and 19 of ship's company injured.
Capability
reduced due to damaged forward lift but
remained operational.
17th
Twenty aircraft transferred temporarily
to other carriers after damage to flight
deck by crashes
on landing. Jury barriers rigged and
aircraft returned.
Ship remained
operational.
25th
Left operational
area.
June
5th
Arrived Sydney for repair and Rest and
Recuperation.
16th
Transferred with HMS FORMIDABLE and HMS
IMPLACABLE to TF37 (US 3rd Fleet)
for
joint operations
with TF38 on Japan
in Yokohama - Tokyo area.
(Note:
This due to a reorganisation of
naval command
structure by US Navy.)
28th
Sailed from Sydney
with ships
of TF57 for Manus.
July
6th
Sailed from
British forward base at Manus for
operations off Japan.
16th
Joined US Third Fleet ships 300 miles
east of Japan.
17th
Aircraft carried cut strikes on
airfields in Tokyo area.
18th
Air operations
restricted by contamination in carrier
petrol refuelling supply
system.
24th
During air strikes on Osaka
sank IJN KOBE Class escort
carrier in Shido
Bay.
August
9th
Attacked airfields and shipping in North
Honshu and Hokkaido.
12th
Returned to Manus with TF37 and then
took passage to Sydney.
(Note:
Withdrawal of British Pacific Fleet
from operational
area was due to the
lack of fuel
from British sources. Only a Token force
remained as part
of US Third
Fleet. Sources report steering and
machinery
problems during
service prior
to deployment in Pacific continued.)
For
details of all operations by BPF in
Pacific see THE FORGOTTEN FLEET
by J Winton,
TASK FORCE 57 by Peter C Smith and Naval
Staff
History.)
31st
Ships company
took part in Victory Parade at Sydney.
