1
9 3 9
September to December
Deployed in Australian
waters. Nominated for escort of
military convoys taking ANZAC troops
to Middle East.
1
9 4 0
January
10th
- Joined military Convoy US1 with four
troop ships to relieve HMAS SYDNEY as
relief for HM Cruiser LEANDER. (Note:
Convoy included troopships from
Wellington, New Zealand and Sydney.)
20th
- Relieved as US1 escort by HM Cruiser
KENT and French cruiser SUFFREN which
were were to provide Ocean escort for
part of Indian Ocean transit. (Note:
Convoy was taking ANZAC troops for
service in Middle East)
February to
April
Deployment
for convoy defence off western
Australia in continuation. Nominated
for escort of military convoy US3 and
to be transfer to Home Fleet on
arrival. in Home Waters
May
Deployed
with HMAS CANBERRA and HMS LEANDER for
escort of US3 during passage from New
Zealand to Sydney (Note: US3 was third
convoy taking ANZAC troops for service
in Middle East.)
5th
- Arrived at Sydney with US3
6th
- Remained with US3 as escort for
Ocean passage.
US3
Diverted to take passage to UK via
Cape of Good Hope when Italy was
considered as being likely to join the
war.
26th
- Arrived at Cape Town with US3 (Note:
Convoy included rms QUEEN MARY, rms
MAURITANIA and seven other passenger
liners).
Detached
from US3 and took passage to Scapa
Flow to join Home Fleet.
June
Deployed
for Home Fleet duties. On arrival in
Home waters took passage to Scapa Flow
to join Home Fleet.
7th
- Took part in aborted search off
Norway for German battleship GNEISENAU
with HM Battlecruisers REPULSE,
RENOWN, HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE,
SHEFFIELD and YORK screened by Home
Fleet destroyers. (To be confirmed)
July
Deployed
in Atlantic Ocean for trade defence.
Diverted to support operation against
Vichy French at Dakar, West Africa.
7th
- Deployed with HM Aircraft Carrier
HERMES to report French naval
movements off Dakar.
8th
- Took part in attack on French
battleship RICHELIEU at Dakar with HM
Aircraft Carrier HERMES and HM Cruiser
DORSETSHIRE. (Note: Attempts by Vichy
French aircraft and submarines to
intercept after this operation
failed.)
26th
- Deployed with HMS REPULSE, HMS
RENOWN, HM Cruisers SHEFFIELD, YORK
and DEVONSHIRE with screen of Home
Fleet destroyers in unsuccessful
search for GNEISENAU reported making
an attempt to break out into Atlantic.
August
Deployed
with HM Cruiser NORFOLK to search for
blockade runners and other vessels off
Bear Island.
September
1st
- Replaced HM Cruiser FIJI in Force M
during passage to support Vichy French
landings at Dakar (Operation MENACE).
HMS FIJI was torpedoed in NW
Approaches whilst with Force M ships
on passage to Freetown. (See RELUCTANT
ENEMIES and MENACE by A Marder for
details.)
8th
- Under torpedo attack by U36 which
failed due to torpedo defect,.
16th
- Joined HM Aircraft Carrier ARK
ROYAL, HM Battleship RESOLUTION, HM
Battlecruiser RENOWN and Fleet
destroyers from Gibraltar with ships
of Force M.
19th
- Relieved HM Cruiser CUMBERLAND on
interception patrol off Dakar.
Intercepted French cruisers (Force Y)
attempting passage away from Dakar.
20th
- Escorted French cruisers GLOIRE and
MONTCALM to Casablanca
23rd
- Engaged three Vichy French
destroyers leaving Dakar. Flotilla
Leader L'AUDACIEUX was damaged by 6in
gunfire and set en fire. (Note: This
warship was beached later and
eventually towed to Bizerta for
repair, where she was sunk in a US air
attack in 1943).
26th
- Took part in initial bombardment of
Dakar. Ship's WALRUS aircraft shot
down during gunnery Fall of Shot duty.
Sustained two hits from return shore
fire with little damage..
28th
- Operation abandoned because of risk
of damage to major units from return
fire.
October
3rd
- Escorted convoy taking Free French
troops to Duala for landing operation.
8th
- Covered Free French landings which
were successful.
On
release from Free French operation
resumed Atlantic convoy defence.
November
to December
Atlantic
trade defence between Gibraltar and
West Africa in continuation. Passage
to UK for refit.
1
9 4 1
January
On
completion carried out post refit
trials. Nominated for escort of
military convoy
11th
- Provided AA defence with HM Cruiser
NAIAD for troopships assembled at
Moelfre Bay in Clyde prior to passage
to Middle East.
12th
- Deployed as Ocean Escort for Convoy
WS5B with HM Battleship RAMILLIES and
HM Cruisers NAIAD, PHOEBE and EMERALD
during passage in NW Approaches,
15th
- Remained with WS5B as Ocean Escort
with HMS RAMILLIES when HMS PHOEBE and
HMS NAIAD detached.
17th
- Remained with WS5B as Ocean Escort
with HMS EMERALD when HMS RAMILLIES
detached.
25th
- Arrived at Freetown with WS5B
29th
- Rejoined WS5B on departure from
Freetown as Ocean Escort with HMS
EMERALD for passage to Capetown.
February
8th
- Arrived at Capetown with WS5B and
HMS EMERALD detached.
12th
- Sailed from Capetown as Ocean Escort
for ships of WS5B destined for Durban.
15th
- Sailed from Durban as Ocean Escort
for passage to Suez, and HMS EMERALD
for passage to Bombay.
21st
- Remained with ships destined for
Suez when Bombay section detached off
Mombasa.
March
Passage
in Red Sea with WS5B.
3rd
- Detached from WS5B on arrival at
Suez.
Passage
to resume trade defence and
interception duties in Indian Ocean.
April to October
Deployed
for trade defence, interception of
blockade runners and commerce raiders
in Indian Ocean and South Atlantic
November
Returned
to RAN control and took passage to
Sydney.
December
At
Sydney
23rd
- Deployed as escort for military
convoy ZK5 during passage from Sydney
to Port Moresby with HMAS CANBERRA,
PERTH and HMNZS ACHILLES. (Note: This
convoy included troopships AQUITANIA
and SARPEDON).
1
9 4 2
January
3rd
- Ferried troops ashore from
troopships on arrival.
9th
- Escorted KZ convoy from Noumea to
Suva.
February
19th
- Joined ANZAC Squadron on formation
and deployed in SW Pacific under
overall US Navy command. ANZAC Force
also included HM Australian Cruisers
CANBERRA, ADELAIDE, HOBART, PERTH, HM
New Zealand Cruisers ACHILLES,
LEANDER, US Cruiser USS CHICAGO and
two US Navy destroyers.
27th
- Deployed with ANZAC Force and ships
of US Navy Task Force 11 ships in
Coral Sea.
March
Deployed
in Coral Sea with US Navy.
6th
- Joined by ships of US Navy Task
Force 17 near New Hebrides.
22nd
- ANZAC Squadron disbanded. Remainder
under US Navy overall command for
convoy defence
April
Deployment
with US Navy in SW Pacific in
continuation.
May
1st
to 6th - Deployed as Task Force 44
with HMAS HOBART and USS CHICAGO and
two US Navy to destroyers in support
of US TASK Force 17 during US
operations by US Navy Task Forces
TF17 and 11 against Japanese
invasion of New Guinea (Battle
of Coral Sea)
7th
- Under air attacks without damage.
Ship took no further part in
operations (For details see WAR WITH
JAPAN (HMSO).)
June
Provided
convoy defence in SW Pacific.
12th
- Remained with Task Force 44 when USS
Pacific Fleet was re-organised. (Note:
Ships in TF44 the included HMAS
HOBART, HMAS CANBERRA, USS CHICAGO and
nine US Navy destroyers of DESDRON 4.
DESDRON is equivalent of an RN
Destroyer Flotilla.)
July
14th
- Deployed with HM Australian Cruiser
HOBART, US Cruisers CHICAGO and SALT
LAKE CITY screened by 3 US destroyers
to meet US Task Group off Wellington
(Note: This Task Group was to take
part in amphibious operations in SW
Pacific.)
26th
- Joined US Task Force 61 for invasion
exercises prior to Guadalcanal
landings. (Operation WATCHTOWER - For
details of naval activities in Pacific
area see HISTORY OF USN OPERATIONS IN
WW2 by SE Morris, AUSTRALIAN AND NEW
ZEALAND WARSHIPS 1914-1945 by R
Gillette and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO)
31st
- Deployed as Task Group 62.1 with
HMAS CANBERRA, HMAS HOBART, USS
CHICAGO and destroyers of DESDRON 4
for escort of 23 mercantiles during
passage from Fiji for landings on
Guadalcanal.
August
7th
- On arrival deployed with HMAS
CANBERRA and US cruiser CHICAGO in
Southern Group to providing cover for
US landings on Tulagi.
Detached
from these two cruisers to attend
conference with Admiral in US Navy
Transport USS MCAWLEY. (Note: HMAS
HOBART and USS SAN JUAN were also not
present during the engagement with
Japanese warships off Savo Island
during which HMAS CANBERRA was sunk.
See above references and THE SHAME OF
SAVO)
21st
- Patrolled off Solomon Islands with
HMAS HOBART.
31st
- Joined US 4th Fleet Task Force TF44
on formation with HMAS HOBART, US
cruiser PHOENIX and five US
destroyers.
September
6th
- Sailed from Brisbane with ships of
TF44 for support of operations against
Japanese invasion in New Guinea.
11th
- Arrived in New Guineas and unable to
intercept destroyers evacuating
Trobriand Islands.
October to
December
Military
support and convoy defence with TF44
in continuation.
1
9 4 3
January
Task
Force 44 deployment in continuation.
February
Transferred
to US 7th Fleet and redesignated as
part of TF74 with HMAS HOBART, HM
Australian Destroyers WARRAMUNGA and
ARUNTA. Deployed south of Australia as
Task Group 74.3 with HMAS ADELAIDE and
three US Navy destroyers to cover
transit of military cover during
passage from Fremantle to Sydney
(Note: Convoy included rms QUEEN MARY,
rms AQUITANIA, French Liner ISLE DE
FRANCE and Dutch Liner NIEUW
AMSTERDAM. deployed as Task Group 74.3
for passage to Sydney.
27th
- Arrived at Sydney with convoy.
(Operation PAMPHLET).
March
Resumed
support and convoy defence duties in
SW Pacific.
15th
- Deployed in Task Farce 74 with HMAS
HOBART, USS PHOENIX and seven
destroyers of DESDRON 4 for support of
US Navy operations in SW Pacific.
April to
May
Deployment
with Task Force 74 for military
support and convoy defence in SW
Pacific in continuation.
June
23rd
- Covered US amphibious operation in
New Georgia with HMAS HOBART, ARUNTA,
WARRAMUNGA and nine US Navy destroyer.
(Operation CARTWHEEL – See WAR WITH
JAPAN (HMSO).)
July
16th
- Diverted with HMAS HOBART and four
US Navy destroyers from Espiritu Santo
to reinforce US ships supporting the
landings in New Georgia after recent
losses. (Note: HMAS HOBART was hit by
torpedo from Japanese submarine I11
and had to return to Espiritu Santo -
See WAR WITH JAPAN.)
August
Military
support with TF74 in continuation.
September
Provided
naval gunfire support with T74 ships
in support of US landings in New
Britain.
October
Support
deployment in continuation.
November
5th
- Transferred with HMAS SHROPSHIRE,
ARUNTA, WARRAMUNGA and two US Navy
destroyers of TF74 from Milne Bay to
reinforce South Pacific forces. (See
reference.)
December
13th
- Covered landing by VII Amphibious
Force in Arawe, New Britain with
SHROPSHIRE, ARUNTA and WARRAMUNGA with
TF74 ships. (Operation DIRECTOR – See
WAR WITH JAPAN for details)
26th
- Covered landing and provided naval
gunfire support for landing of US 1st
Marine Division at Cape Gloucester,
New Guinea with SHROPSHIRE, ARUNTA,
WARRAMUNGA and US destroyers HELM and
RALPH TALBOT. (Operation BACKHANDER
–See WAR WITH JAPAN for details)
1
9 4 4
January
2nd
- Covered landing by 32nd US Infantry
Division near Saidor, New Guinea with
HMAS SHROPSHIRE, ARUNTA,
WARRAMUNGA and six US destroyers.
(Operation DEXTERITY – See WAR WITH
JAPAN for details.)
February to March
Under
refit. Close range single Oerlikon
guns for AA defence replaced by twin
mountings.
April
On
completion rejoined TF74
22nd
- Covered landings of 1 US Corps in
New Guinea at Hollandia (Operation
RECKLESS) and Aitape (Operation
PERSECUTION) with HMAS SHROPSHIRE,
ARUNTA and two US destroyers and ships
of Task Force 75. (See reference for
details.)
May
25th
- Covered landings by 41st US Infantry
Division on south coast of Biak with
HMAS SHROPSHIRE, ARUNTA, WARRAMUNGA
and two US destroyers of TF74 and
ships of Task Force 75. (Operation
HORLICKS)
June
8th
- Deployed with US cruiser PHOENIX and
destroyer screen to intercept convoy
taking Japanese reinforcements for
landing on Biak Island.
Convoy
reversed
course and ineffective exchanges of
fire by destroyers during darkness at
long range, pursuit was abandoned to
ensure air cover would be available
after daylight. (See WAR WITH JAPAN
(HMSO).)
July
14th
- Bombarded Japanese troops at Aitape
in support of US shore operation with
HMAS SHROPSHIRE, ARUNTA, WARRAMUNGA
and US destroyers.
August
TF74
deployment in continuation.
September
Transferred
to Task Force 75 with RAN ships.
15th
- Covered landings of US troops on
Morotai and provided naval gunfire
support with HMAS SHROPSHIRE, ARUNTA,
WARRAMUNGA and two US destroyers of
TG75.2.
October
16th
- Supported preparatory operations for
assault on Philippines with US
Cruisers PHOENIX and BOISE, HMAS
SHROPSHIRE, ARUNTA, WARRAMUNGA and US
destroyers of TG77.3.
20th
- Hit on Bridge structure by dive
bombing during the Battle of Leyte
Gulf and sustained serious damage with
many casualties.
Returned
to British Fleet base at Manus.
November
Under
repair
28th
- Rejoined US 7th Fleet for support of
military operations and convoy defence
duties.
December
7th
- Fleet deployment in continuation.
1
9 4 5
January
5th
- Deployed with HMAS SHROPSHIRE and US
Navy warships in Unit 1 of TG77.2 for
support of Luzon landings.
6th
- Hit by KAMIKAZE aircraft when
entering Lingayen Gulf to provide
naval gunfire support. Sustained major
damage.
8th
- Hit by four more KAMIKAZE aircraft
and sustained further damage and many
casualties.
9th
- Under further KAMIKAZE attacks and
hit again. Withdrawn from operations
and took passage to Leyte for
temporary repair.
February
On
completion of repair work took passage
to Australia with call at Manus.
March
Taken
in hand for repair.
April
to August
Under
repair. Twin 8in mounting in X
position removed. Improved design
radar fitted.