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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2003

HMS DEVONSHIRE  - County-type Heavy Cruiser
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Devonshire (Navy Photos/Mark Teadham, click to enlarge)

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KENT-Class Cruiser ordered from HM Dockyard, Devonport on 12th October 1925 and laid down on  10th March 1926. The ship was launched on 22nd October 1927 and was the 7th RN ship to bear this  name, introduced in 1692 for a 3rd Rate. The last ship to bear the name was a Cruiser built in 1904 and sold in 1921. Build was completed on 18th March 1929 and the ship then was deployed in the Mediterranean Fleet with the 1st Cruiser Squadron. Her pre-war service was marred soon after joining the Squadron when an explosion in one of the 8in turrets during gunnery firings in the Aegean killed 17 of the ship’s company. She was paid off and re-commissioned in October 1931 after repair. Following a WARSHIP WEEK  National Savings Campaign in March 1942 this ship was adopted by the civil community of Torquay. Devonshire. Ships of this name have also established a firm relationship with the County which has been maintained since WW2.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

HARLOWS ACTION 1697 - FINISTERRE (i) 1747 - LOUISBERG 1758 - QUEBEC 1759 - MARTINIQUE 1762  - HAVANA 1762 - NORWAY 1940 - ARCTIC 1941 - DIEGO SUAREZ 1942

 

M o t t o

Auxilio Divino: 'By the help of God'

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Silver, A Lion rampant Red, armed Blue, crowned Blue.

 

 

 

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e

 

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search

 

 

1 9 3 9

 

September             Deployed in Mediterranean with 1st Cruiser Squadron.

                                (Note: Ships of Mediterranean Fleet were deployed for enforcement of blockade by

                                interception of German shipping and neutrals carrying cargo destined for

                                enemy use.)

                11th        Sailed from Alexandria for exercises with Squadron.

                17th        Returned to Alexandria.

 

October                  Mediterranean deployment in continuation.

                11th        Took passage from Alexandria to Malta for repair.

                13th        Under repair to rudder in Malta.

                24th        Took passage from Malta for Alexandria.

                26th        Arrived at Alexandria.

 

November              Nominated for return to Home waters with ships of Squadron.

                3rd          Sailed for Plymouth with ships of Squadron.

                8th          Sailed from Gibraltar with HM Cruisers SUFFOLK and NORFOLK.

                11th        Arrived at Plymouth and transferred to Home Fleet with ships of Squadron.

                                Taken in hand for repairs.

                21st         Took passage to Clyde to join ships of Home Fleet for

                                Atlantic convoy defence and interception of enemy blockade

                                runners and commerce raiders.

                23rd        Sailed from Clyde with HM Battleships NELSON and RODNEY

                                to carry out search north of Shetlands for German battlecruisers

                                SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU after sinking of HM Armed

                                Merchant Cruiser RAWALPINDI in defence of Atlantic convoy.

                29th        Returned to Clyde with HMS NELSON after unsuccessful search.

                                (Note HMS RODNEY had detached.)

 

December              Transferred to Loch Ewe instead of Scapa Flow after loss of HM

                                Battleship ROYAL OAK in Scapa Flow.

                4th          Entered Loch Ewe with HMS NELSON, HMS RODNEY.

                                (Note: HMS NELSON detonated a magnetic mine laid by U31 in

                                October. This battleship was badly damaged and was under

                                repair at Portsmouth for four months).

                6th          Returned to Clyde for Atlantic convoy defence duties.

                9th          Deployed in NW Approaches.

                22nd       On release returned to Scapa Flow.

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Resumed Atlantic duties based in Clyde.

                3rd          Sailed for patrol.

                10th        Returned to Clyde.

                18th        Passage to Scapa Flow arriving on 19th.

                20th        Deployed in NW Approaches.

 

February                Atlantic convoy defence and interception duties in continuation. based in Clyde.

 

March

                6th          Flag of 1st Cruiser Squadron Home Fleet, Vice-Admiral J H D Cunningham

                                transferred..

                                (Other ships of Squadron were HM Cruisers BERWICK, YORK, SUSSEX

                                NORFOLK and SUFFOLK. Last two ships were under repair in Clyde.)

                                NW Approaches deployment in continuation.

 

April                       Nominated for support of planned allied landings in Norway and took passage to

                                Rosyth. (Operation R4)

                7th          Deployed at Rosyth with HM Cruisers BERWICK, YORK and GLASGOW to

                                embark troops of 1/5th Royal Leicestershire Regiment and stores for landings at

                                Stavanger and Bergen,

                8th          Following German invasion of Norway, R4 was cancelled.

                                Troops and stores were landed before the four cruisers sailed to join Home Fleet

                                ships in North Sea. See NAVAL OPERATIONS OF THE CAMPAIGN IN

                                NORWAY 1940 (HMSO) for details.)

                9th          Joined French cruiser EMIL BERTIN and two French destroyers off Kinnaird Head

                                and carried out sweep to north in search for German force reported on passage to

                                reinforce landings in Norway. Rejoined main body of Fleet, including HM

                                Battleships RODNEY and VALIANT with destroyer screen.

                                Under heavy air attacks in position SW of Bergen and sustained

                                slight damage from wear miss with heavy expenditure of ammunition.

                10th        Remained with Fleet during air operations carried out by aircraft from

                                HMS FURIOUS at Trondheim.

                11th        Detached with HMS BERWICK, HM Destroyers INGLEFIELD and

                                ISIS, joined later by ISIS and ILEX to carry out search for enemy

                                shipping in Inner Lead between Trondheim to Vestfjord.

                12th        On completion of extended but unsuccessful search in Tromso area

                                ordered to intercept German warships reported to be on passage off

                                Lofoten Islands. Rejoined Fleet after fruitless search.

                13th        Took passage to Tromso with HMS ISIS and ILEX for meeting with

                                Norwegian military and naval authorities.

                14th        Sailed from Tromso after discussions and took passage to Kirkenes.

                15th        Joined by HMS BERWICK and HMS INGLEFIELD off North Cape.

                                Escorted Norwegian troop convoy from Kirkenes.

                16th        Deployed at Narvik with HMS BERWICK and HMS FURIOUS for

                                support for operations pending arrival of main allied landing force.

                                (Operation RUPERT).

                19th        Released from support after landing force arrived and took passage to

                                Scapa Flow with HMS BERWICK and HMS INGLEFIELD.

                20th        At Scapa Flow.

                29th        Sailed from Scapa Flow with HM Cruiser YORK, French cruiser

                                MONTCALM, HM Destroyers AFRIDI, NUBIAN, HASTY,

                                IMPERIAL and French Destroyer BISON as escort for French

                                transports LE D’JEZAIR, EL KANTARA and EL MANSOUR during

                                passage for evacuation at Namsos.

 

May

                1st           Subjected to air attacks and near missed. Operation delayed after fog

                                prevented transfer of troops from shore by destroyers.

                2nd         Remained off shore and decision made to carry out evacuation in one

                                night instead of two.

                                Deployed off Kya Light with HMS YORK and French transport

                                MONTCALM whilst the transports and destroyers entered Namsos to

                                embark troops.

                                (Note: HM Cruiser YORK, HMS Destroyers AFRIDI. KELLY

                                GRENADE and GRIFFIN together with the other troopships

                                carried out the evacuation.)

                3rd          Escorted transport EL D'JEZAIR with HM Cruiser CARLISLE to Scapa Flow.

                                During air attacks whilst on passage HMS AFRIDI and French

                                destroyer BISON were sunk. See above reference for details.

                5th          Arrived at Scapa Flow

                                (Note: See also THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by J Adams, NARVIK by

                                D Macintyre and CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton. for details of the

                                disastrous operations off Norway).

                                Passage to Norway to resume duties off Narvik in support of shore operations.

                31st         Deployed off Narvik.

 

June

                6th          Detached and took passage to Tromso to embark Norwegian Royal

                                Family, allied diplomats and members of the Norwegian government

                                for passage to UK.

                7th          Sailed independently for Clyde from Tromso with passengers.

                8th          During transit intercepted wireless signals from HM Aircraft Carrier

                                GLORIOUS when she came under attack by German battlecruisers

                                SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU,

                                (Note: The transmissions were garbled and in any event no response was made in

                                view of the need for security. See CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton

                10th        Resumed Home Fleet Atlantic convoy defence duties after the passengers

                                disembarked at Greenock and took passage to join Military convoy US3 to reinforce

                                escort.

                                (Note: This convoy was composed of ships carrying ANZAC personnel who

                                eventually served in Egypt.)

                16th        Detached from US3 west of Gibraltar and took passage to Halifax..

                23rd        At Halifax to replenish.

 

July                         Deployed with HM Battle cruisers RENOWN and REPULSE, HM Cruisers

                                AUSTRALIA (RAN) and YORK screened by Home Fleet destroyers in an

                                unsuccessful search for SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU reported on passage

                                to attack Atlantic shipping.

 

August                  Nominated for detached service in support of planned landing of

                                Free French troops at Dakar (Operation MENACE).

                31st         Deployed with HM Battleship BARHAM, HM Cruiser FIJI with screen of four

                                Home Fleet destroyers as Force M and sailed from Clyde as escort for troopships

                                during passage to Freetown in preparation for landings.

 

September

                1st           HMS FIJI withdrawn from operation after being hit by torpedo fired by U31.

                3rd          At Gibraltar with Force M.

                13th        Part of escort by Force M for passage from Freetown to Dakar.

                                (Note: HMS ARK ROYAL, HMAS AUSTRALIA and HM

                                Cruiser AUSTRALIA had joined Force M.)

                14th        Deployed to intercept Vichy French cruisers MONTCALM, GEORGES

                                LEYGUES and GLOIRE reported on passage to Dakar from Casablanca.

                16th        Returned to Freetown when the Vichy French ships had arrived in Dakar.

                19th        Sailed from Freetown to join HMAS AUSTRALIA and HMS CUMBERLAND to

                                ensure enemy cruisers could not leave Dakar during landing operations.

                23rd        Took part in bombardment of defences at Dakar with ships of Force M

                                (Note: HM Battleship RESOLUTION hit by shore return fire.

                24th        Under shore fire during approach for resumed bombardment.

                                Carried out further attack on defences with ships of Force M

                25th        Bombardment duties in continuation with HMS BARHAM,

                                HMS RESOLUTION and HMS CUMBERLAND.

                                After HMS BARHAM was hit by return fire from Vichy French battleship

                                RICHELIEU and HMS RESOLUTION hit by a torpedo from Vichy French

                                submarine BEVEZIERS the planned landings were cancelled.

                                (For details see MENACE by A Marder.)

                29th        Returned to Freetown with ships of Force M.

                                Nominated for further service with Force M in support of planned Free French

                                operations.

 

October

                2nd         Sailed from Freetown with 4 destroyers as escort for transport WESTRALIA during

                                passage for landings at Duala, French Cameroons by Free French troops.

                7th          Deployed with HM Sloop BIDEFORD to cover landings at Duala.

                                (For details see RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute.)

                10th        On release from support duties returned to Freetown.

                                Transferred to South Atlantic Station for support of Free French

                                operations and trade defence based at Freetown.

 

November

                7th          Deployed with HM Cruiser DELHI to establish blockade of Gabon

                                during Free French attack on Libreville.

                9th          Vichy French submarine PONCELOT attacked by ship’s aircraft

                                and subsequently surrendered to HMS MILFORD.

                23rd        Relieved HM Cruiser NORFOLK as Ocean Escort for military

                                convoy WS4B during Atlantic passage from Clyde to Freetown.

                29th        Arrived at Freetown with WS4B.

 

December

                1st           Sailed from Freetown as Ocean Escort for WS4B during passage to Durban.

                                (Note: HMS CUMBERLAND was also deployed until 4th when relieved by

                                HM Cruiser HAWKINS.

                12th        Arrived at Durban with WS4B

                16th        Sailed from DURBAN as WS4B Ocean Escort with HM Cruise SHROPSHIRE.

                18th        Detached from WS4B and took passage to resume trade defence in South Atlantic.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Nominated for refit in UK.

                6th          Deployed with HM Cruiser NORFOLK and HM Armed Merchant

                                Cruiser ARAWA in search for the German commerce raider

                                KORMORAN which was operating in the South Atlantic.

                29th        Detached from search and took passage to Freetown.

 

February

                3rd          Sailed from Freetown to UK for refit. Rejoined 1st Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet.

 

March                    Taken in hand for refit at Liverpool commercial shipyard.

to                            (Note: Twin 4in mountings fitted and close range AA armament

May                        increased. Tripod foremast and mainmast fitted to enable

                                Aircraft Warning Radar Outfit 281 to be fitted. See RADAR

                                AT SEA by D Howse for details of development and use of

                                radar by RN. Type 285 Fire-Control Radar Type 285 was

                                fitted.)

 

June                        Post refit trials carried out before rejoining Squadron for Home Fleet

                                duties at Scapa Flow.

 

July                         Deployed with Squadron for fleet duties.

                23rd        Took passage to Iceland with HM Aircraft Carriers FURIOUS and

                                VICTORIOUS, HMS NORFOLK screened by six destroyers.

                29th        Sailed from Seidisfjord with HMS FURIOUS, HMS VICTORIOUS

                                and HMS NORFOLK with screen of four destroyers to carry out

                                air attacks on shipping at Petsamo and Kirkenes.

                30th        Provided cover during air operations.

                                (For details see CONVOY ! by P Kemp.)

 

August

                1st           Deployed as escort for HMS VICTORIOUS during passage to Tromso for air

                                operations

                4th          Provided cover during attacks at Tromso.

                5th          Passage to Scapa Flow with HMS VICTORIOUS.

                9th          Present during visit to Scapa Flow by HM King George VI and took part in

                                demonstrations.

                23rd        Deployed with HMS VICTORIOUS, HMS SUFFOLK, HM Destroyers ECLIPSE,

                                ESCAPADE and INGLEFIELD and sailed from Scapa Flow to provide Distant

                                Cover for passage of first Russian Convoy to Murmansk (Operation DERVISH)

                                and the passage of HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS with a mercantile to Archangel.

                                (Note: For details of all Russian Convoys with names of escorts and mercantiles see

                                CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B

                                Schoefield, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman and Naval Staff History.)

                26th        Joined Convoy PQ1.

                30th        Detached from PQ1 to refuel at Spitzbergen.

 

September

                2nd         Took passage from Spitzbergen to join HMS VICTORIOUS for covering duty with

                                HM Cruiser SUFFOLK during air attacks at Hammerfest.

                3rd          Provided cover during air operations and detached on completion to provide Distant

                                Cover for passage of HMS ARGUS, HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE, HM Destroyers

                                ECLIPSE, ESCAPADE and INGLEFIELD during passage to Archangel with aircraft

                                and RAF personnel. (Operation STRENGTH).

 

September

                4th          Joined HMS ARGUS and HMS SHROPSHIRE.

                7th          Detached with HMS VICTORIOUS and HMS SUFFOLK to refuel at Spitzbergen.

                12th        Deployed with HMS SUFFOLK to provide cover during air strikes on Bodo by HMS

                                VICTORIOUS.

                13th        Arrived at Scapa Flow on completion of air operations.

                                Transferred for Atlantic trade defence and took passage to Clyde.

 

October

                1st           Joined military convoy WS12 in Clyde as Ocean Escort for passage in Atlantic.

                12th        Detached from WS12 on relief by HM Cruiser DORSETSHIRE.

                19th        Provided Ocean Escort for WS12 with HMS DORSETSHIRE on departure from

                                Freetown.

                30th        Detached from WS12 on arrival of HM Armed Merchant Cruiser DERBYSHIRE.

 

November              Deployed interception of Vichy French ships with HM cruiser

                                COLOMBO, HM Armed Merchant Cruisers CARTHAGE and

                                CARNARVON CASTLE. (Operation BELLRINGER)

                2nd         Intercepted convoy on passage east of Cape of Good Hope from Indo China to

                                France. Captured five ships which were escorted to South African ports.

                13th        Consequent on decryption of ENIGMA traffic deployed for the

                                interception of German commerce raider ATLANTIS known to

                                be operating in South Atlantic and also providing fuel for U-Boats.

                                (Note: HMS DORSETSHIRE and HMS CARNARVON CASTLE were also deployed

                                independently to intercept this raider and another raider, PYTHON.

                                See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR Volume 1 by C Blair.)

                22nd       Intercepted ATLANTIS in position north of Ascension Island after sighting by

                                aircraft from ship. German vessel was in process of refuelling U126.

                                Opened fire at long range obtaining hits after which ATLANTIS scuttled and was

                                abandoned.

                                Withdrew from area at high speed because of threat of attack from U126 which had

                                been able to leave the supply ship. See reference.

 

December              Deployed for trade defence in Indian Ocean.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Nominated for repair in USA and passage to Freetown.

                12th        At Freetown and passage to Norfolk, Va.

                                (Note: One source records escort of Convoy BM12 in Indian Ocean)

                24th        Taken in hand for repair by US Navy Yard at Norfolk.

 

February                Under repair

                                (Note: Surface warning Radar Type 273 fitted during this period

                                See above reference.)

 

March                    Transferred to 4th Cruiser Squadron in Indian Ocean.

                                On completion of trials took passage to join US Navy escort of

                                Military convoys AS1 and AS2 during Atlantic passage

                                (Note: These convoys were on passage to Freetown and

                                Ascension. US Navy ships included US cruisers MEMPHIS and

                                CINCINNATI with screen of eight USN destroyers.

                                HM Escort Aircraft Carrier ARCHER was also part of the escort

                                before detaching to proceed to UK.)

                                On release from escort took passage to Freetown.

                13th        Escorted Convoys AS1 and AS2 with US Navy ships.

                                (See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)

                19th        Detached from escort and resumed independent passage from

                                Freetown

 

April                       Nominated for support of planned landings in Madagascar.

                                (Operation IRONCLAD).

                6th          Joined HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Battleship MALAYA and HM

                                Cruiser HERMIONE for passage to Durban. as Force F

                22nd       Arrived at Durban with ships of Force F.

                                HM Battleship RAMILLIES joined Force F.

                24th        Detached as escort for Y convoy with 3 destroyers, corvettes of

                                23rd Escort Group and ships of 14th Minesweeping Flotilla.

 

 May                       Rejoined Force F.

                3rd          Deployed with HM Aircraft Carrier INDOMITABLE. HM Battleship RAMILLIES

                                and two destroyers from Eastern Fleet for escort of Fast convoy from Durban during

                                passage to flying off and gunfire support positions during landings.

                5th          Provided cover during landings (Operation IRONCLAD)

                7th          Bombarded position at Diego Suarez. with HMS RAMILLIES and HM Cruise

                                HERMIONE.

                10th        On release from IRONCLAD resumed trade defence duties in Indian Ocean.

 

June                        Indian Ocean trade defence in continuation.

                26th        Relieved HM Cruiser MAURITIUS as Ocean Escort for military

                                convoy WS19 during passage in Indian Ocean to Aden.

                27th        Replaced as Ocean Escort by HM Armed Merchant Cruiser

                                CORFU and detached from WS19 with three troopships as Ocean

                                Escort for passage to Bombay.

July                         (Note: During this period special deployments of Eastern Fleet

                                cruisers were made to carrying out search operations for

                                enemy supply ships operating in support of submarine

                                operations in the Indian Ocean See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)

                1st           Detached from troopships on arrival at Bombay.

                14th        Relieved HMS MAURITIUS as Ocean Escort for Convoy WS19L

                                during passage from Durban in Indian Ocean.

                17th        Detached from WS19L on arrival at Aden.

 

August                  Indian Ocean trade defence and patrol duties in continuation.

to                            See above Note.

September             Escorted convoys between India, West Africa and Fremantle,

 

October

                3rd          Joined military convoy WS22 in Durban as Local Escort during passage in Indian

                                Ocean.

                11th        Detached from WS22 on arrival at separation point for Aden and Bombay sections.

                21st         Took passage from Kilindini to join search operation with HM Cruisers

                                MAURITIUS and ENTERPRISE for submarine supply ships in Gulf of Aden and

                                Gulf of Oman (Operation DEMCAT)

                27th        Commenced DEMCAT search with RAF CATALINA aircraft co-operation.

                30th        DEMCAT search terminated without success and resumed trade defence duties.

 

November              Indian Ocean trade defence in continuation.

 

December              Indian Ocean deployment in continuation.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Indian Ocean trade defence in continuation.

 

February

                4th          Joined military convoy of five troopships with HM Cruiser GAMBIA as Ocean

                                Escort during passage in Indian Ocean from Suez to Fremantle with 30,000 men

                                of 9th Australian Division recalled from Middle East service to Australia after

                                Japanese threat to Australia and New Zealand. (Operation PAMPHLET)

                18th        Detached from convoy on arrival at Fremantle and resumed Eastern Fleet duties.

 

March                    Indian Ocean deployment in continuation.

                                Nominated for return to UK for refit.

 

April                       Passage to UK via Cape of Good Hope.

                29th        Called at Freetown.

 

May                        Rejoined 1st Cruiser Squadron in Home Fleet and took passage to Tyne for refit.

                                Taken in hand for refit at commercial shipyard.

 

June                        Under refit.

to                            (Note: Work included:

December              Removal of X Turret and increase of close range AA

                                armament with additional 20mm weapons.

                                Replacement of Radar Type 281 by Type 281B which

                                required use of only one mast for aerial siting.

                                Additional Fire-control radar outfits added.

                                Surface warning radar Type 273 resited amidships.

                                IFF equipment added to radar fit. See RADAR AT SEA.).

 

1 9 4 4

January                  Under refit

 

February                Post refit trials

 

March                    On completion of sea trials rejoined Home Fleet to work-up for

                                operational service.

 

April                       Work-up at Scapa Flow.

 

May                        Deployed with Home Fleet for exercises in preparation for

                                planned allied landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE)

 

June                        Deployed with Squadron in Home Fleet at Scapa Flow for

                                Distant Cover if required to protect landings in Channel.

 

July

                17th        Provided cover for air operations by HM Aircraft Carriers

                                FORMIDABLE, INDEFATIGABLE and FURIOUS against

                                German battleship TIRPITZ lying in Altenfjord, Norway with

                                HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK, HM Cruisers KENT,

                                JAMAICA and BELLONA screened by destroyers of Home

                                Fleet (Operation MASCOT)

                                (Note: These attacks were unsuccessful.)

 

 August

                9th          Took passage from Scapa Flow with HMS KENT and five

                                Home Fleet destroyers as escort for HMS INDEFATIGABLE,

                                HM Escort Aircraft Carriers NABOB and TRUMPETER to

                                carry out air attacks on German airfield at Gossen near

                                Kristiansund and an air minelay between Lepsoy and Haramsa

                                Island (Operation OFFSPRING).

                10th        Provided cover during air operations

                11th        Returned to Scapa Flow

                15th        Deployed with HMS DUKE OF YORK, HM Cruiser

                                BERWICK and 14 Home Fleet destroyers to provide cover for

                                air attacks by HMS INDEFATIGABLE, HMS FURIOUS and

                                HMS FORMIDABLE, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers NABOB

                                and TRUMPETER on TIRPITZ (Operation GOODWOOD).

                                (Note: This operation also provided Distant Cover for passage

                                of Russian Convoy JW59 to Kola Inlet and returning

                                Convoy RA59A to UK.)

                20th        Provided cover during air operations during which only two hits

                to            were made on the enemy ship due to weather conditions and

                29th        use of smoke screens after warning of attacks.

 

September

                5th          Joined HMS KENT and HMS BERWICK as escort for rms

                                QUEEN MARY taking the Prime Minister and Chiefs of Staff

                                to USA for meeting with US President.

                9th          Return passage to UK with same ships.

                12th        Deployed with HMS KENT and destroyers as escort for HMS

                                FURIOUS and HMS TRUMPETER for air minelay and attack

                                on shipping south of Voska Is. (Operation BEGONIA)

 

October                  Under refit at Rosyth for fit of additional 20mm mountings.

                24th        Deployed as Senior Officer Force 2 comprising HM Escort

                                Aircraft Carriers CAMPANIA and TRUMPETER with screen

                                of destroyers to carry out air minelay and shipping attacks in

                                Haramsfjord (Operation HARDY).

 

November              Squadron deployment in Home Fleet at Scapa Flow in

                                continuation

 

December

                14th        Deployed with HM Escort Aircraft Carriers TRUMPETER and PREMIER, HM

                                Destroyers ZEALOUS, ZEPHYR, SIOUX (RCN), ALGONQUIN (RCN),

                                SAVAGE and SERAPIS as Senior Officer Force 2 to carry out air minelay and

                                shipping strikes in Ramousund area. (Operation LACERATE).

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Home Fleet deployment in continuation.

 

 February

                12th        Deployed with HMS PREMIER, HMS PUNCHER, HM Destroyers

                                CAVENDISH, CAVALIER, SCOURGE and ZEBRA as Force 2 to carry out air

                                minelay off Skatestrommen (Operation SELENIUM)

 

March                    Home Fleet deployment in continuation.

to

April

 

May

                12th        Escorted HM Minelayers APOLLO and ARIADNE with four

                                destroyers for passage to Oslo from Rosyth.

                                (Note: HMS APOLLO had the Crown Prince of Norway

                                embarked for his return following VE Day)

                14th        Relieved HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM as Guardship at Copenhagen.

                24th        Escorted German cruiser PRINZ EUGEN to Wilhelmshaven

                                with HM Destroyers IROQUOIS (RCN) and SAVAGE.

 

June                        Nominated for trooping duties after dockyard conversion.

                5th          Escorted HM Cruiser NORFOLK with HM Norwegian Destroyer STORD,

                                HM Destroyers ONSLOW and ORWELL during passage from Rosyth to Oslo.

                                (Note: HM King Haakon was embarked in HMS NORFOLK for return to his

                                Kingdom after end of hostilities.)

                                Passage to Plymouth

                                Converted for use as troopship.

                29th        Took passage from Plymouth for Australia

 

July                         Deployed for transport of returning prisoners of war and

to August              allied nationals to UK and service personnel to Australia.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS DEVONSHIRE was used for trooping duties until January 1946 and then selected for service as a Cadet Training Ship. She was taken in hand for conversion to suit this role by HM Dockyard, Devonport in September 1946. Her  main armament except A Turret was removed and some other AA weapons with extensive changes to provide accommodation and instructional facilities. The ship recommissioned in April 1947 and was used for Cadet training until 1953. During this service she visited many ports in Europe and paid-off on 6th October 1953. This ship was put on the Disposal List in 1954 and sold for breaking up by J Cashmore at Newport where she arrived in tow on 12th December that year. The eighth ship to carry this name was a Guided Missile Destroyer completed in 1960 and taken out of use in 1983 and sunk as a target in the Channel on 17th July 1987. 

 

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS DEVONSHIRE

by Don Kindell

 

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

31/08/40

31/08/40

MP

14/09/40

14/09/40

12/08/41

24/08/41

DERVISH

30/08/41

31/08/41

19/03/42

19/03/42

AS 002

03/04/42

03/04/42

07/04/42

07/04/42

AS 002A

19/04/42

19/03/42

23/08/42

11/09/42

US 016

21/09/42

02/10/42

11/12/42

21/12/42

US 018

02/01/43

05/01/43

10/01/43

10/01/43

MC 003

18/01/43

23/01/43

25/01/43

04/02/43

PAMPHLET

18/02/43

27/02/43

30/03/43

07/04/43

MC 006

13/04/43

13/04/43

19/04/43

19/04/43

CF 012

28/04/43

28/04/43

29/04/43

29/04/43

CF 012A

unknown

10/05/43

03/05/43

04/05/43

SL 128MK

06/05/43

14/05/43

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

 

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