1 9 1 9
December Contractors trials and commissioned for trials.
18th Build completion and commenced Acceptance trials
1 9 2 0
On completion of acceptance trials paid off.
Recommissioned for service in 5th Light Cruiser Squadron on
China Station.
Passage to join Squadron, based at Hong Kong.
Deployed for Squadron duties on China Station.
(Note: Exercises with Squadron ships included periods in North China at Wei Hai Wei
an island off the Chantung Peninsula leased from China and used as an RN
Base for many years. Visits were paid to ports in Japan, Philippines and
the Dutch East Indies together with Empire territories in the Pacific.)
1 9 2 1
China Station deployment with Squadron in continuation.
1 9 2 2
Recommissioned for service in 4th Light Cruiser Squadron on the East
Indies Station based in Ceylon.
(Note: Exercises were carried out in the Indian Ocean. Visit programmes included
ports in East Africa and island groups.)
1 9 2 3 t o 1 9 2 5
Indian Ocean deployment with Squadron in continuation.
Returned to UK for refit in HM Dockyard, Chatham.
1 9 2 6
On completion of post refit trials commissioned for service in 8th Cruiser Squadron
on American and West Indies Station based at Bermuda.
1 9 2 7 t o 1 9 2 8
Deployed for exercises and visits to port in North and South America
including west coast of both continents and empire possessions in West
Indies.
1 9 2 9
Returned to UK for long refit at Chatham.
1 9 3 0
Paid-off at Chatham and transferred to Dockyard Control for refit.
Under refit by HM Dockyard, Chatham
1 9 3 1
Commissioned for trials.
Carried out post refit harbour and sea trials.
On completion commissioned for service in 3rd Cruiser Squadron,
Mediterranean Fleet.
Passage to join Squadron at Malta.
1 9 3 2
Nominated for service in East Indies and recommissioned for service
in 4th Cruiser Squadron.
Returned to Chatham to Pay-off and recommission.
Recommissioned for service in East Indies (June).
Passage to Ceylon to join Squadron.
1 9 3 2 t o 1 9 3 4
Deployed for Squadron duties in Indian Ocean.
1 9 3 5
Nominated for reduction to Reserve status and took passage to Chatham
Paid-off at Chatham, destored and reduced to Reserve.
Laid-up in Reserve in Nore Command (December)
1 9 3 6
Nore Command Reserve Fleet in continuation.
Deployed at Chatham as Senior Officer’s ship, Reserve Fleet.
1 9 3 7 t o 1 9 3 7
Chatham Reserve deployment in continuation.
Attended Coronation Review.
1 9 3 8
Mobilised for service with Reserve Fleet personnel during Munich crisis.
1 9 3 9
Commissioned for service with Reservists for attendance at
Review of Reserve Fleet by HM King George VI at Weymouth.
D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e
(for more ship information,
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August Attended Review and remained in commission.
Allocated for War Station as Flagship of 11th Cruiser Squadron and remained
in commission.
On completion of storing and increase to war complement too passage to Gibraltar
to take up Station.
(Note: Ship war deployment was for interception of enemy mercantile traffic on passage
to Germany and for trade defence against commerce raiders.)
September At Gibraltar and Flagship of 11th Cruiser Squadron.
3rd Took passage from Gibraltar for patrol off Casablanca
(Note: To enforce blockade patrols were carried out to intercept
shipping carrying contraband destined for Germany.
26th Escorted convoy from Gibraltar to SW Approaches.
October Nominated for service in Northern Patrol for interception of shipping.
(Note: For details of Northern Patrol service see THE BLOCKADERS
by C Hampshire.)
5th Arrived at Plymouth.
11th Passage to Scapa Flow to commence Northern Patrol duties as Flagship
of 11th Cruiser Squadron.
13th Arrived at Scapa Flow.
14th Sailed for Sullom Voe from Scapa Flow.
20th Took passage from Sullom Voe for first patrol in North Atlantic.
November Northern Patrol in continuation
11th Intercepted German freighter MIM and placed boarding party on board.
Taken as Prize and took passage to Kirkwall.
(Note: During passage captured ship went aground off Scottish coast.)
Intercepted German freighter HENNING OLDENDORF.
Boarded and taken to Kirkwall as Prize.
23rd Deployed with HM Cruisers CALEDON and CARDIFF for patrol
off North Rona to intercept German battlecruisers SCHARNHORST
and GNEISENAU after they had attacked an Atlantic convoy and
had sunk its escort HM Armed Merchant Cruiser RAWALPINDI.
27th Resumed patrol on release from search.
December Northern Patrol duties in continuation.
1 9 4 0
January Nominated for foreign service.
(Note: This type of cruiser had been found unsuitable for duty in the
North Atlantic and were to be withdrawn. See above reference.)
6th Returned to Scapa Flow from Patrol.
8th Sailed for patrol.
11th Escorted German freighter BERGENSFJORD to Kirkwall after it had
been intercepted by HM Trawler KINGSTON ONYX.
12th Took passage to Plymouth to prepare for foreign service.
14th Arrived at Devonport
28th Sailed for Belfast.
30th At Belfast.
(Note: Repair to be confirmed.)
February Passage from Belfast for Mediterranean.
Deployed in Mediterranean.
Took passage to join 5th Cruiser Squadron at Singapore.
March On arrival at Colombo nominated for duty with HM Cruiser CERES
27th Sailed for Singapore with HMS CERES.
31st Arrived at Singapore and joined Squadron on China Station
April Deployed for trade defence and interception patrol based at Singapore.
May Transferred to 4th Cruiser Squadron and took passage to Colombo.
Deployed for patrol in Indian Ocean
June Indian Ocean duties in continuation
to July
August Transferred to Red Sea Force for convoy defence in Arabian Sea
and Red Sea.
September Red Sea Force deployment in continuation.
October Nominated for escort of military convoy WS2C and took passage to
Capetown.
November
1st Joined WS3C at Capetown as Ocean Escort
(Note: This convoy comprised HM Depot Ship WOOLWICH
on passage to the Mediterranean and freighter CLAN
CAMPBELL.)
5th Joined Convoy CM5 which continued as WS3C.
10th HMS WOOLWICH detached to proceed to Mombasa for repair.
HM Armed Merchant Cruiser CARTHAGE joined escort from Mombasa.
23rd Detached from WS3C on arrival at Suez.
December Resumed duties at Aden with Red Sea Force.
1 9 4 1
January Deployed off Maldives as part of search for German commerce raiders
ATLANTIS and PINGUIN known to be active in Indian Ocean.
On release from search nominated for support of military operations
in Somaliland (Operation APPEARANCE).
February
2nd Deployed with HM Cruisers SHROPSHIRE and CERES to carry
out blockade of port of Kismayu
On release took passage to Colombo for docking and refit.
March Under refit
April On completion took passage to resume trade defence in Indian Ocean.
28th Joined military convoy WS7 from Mombasa in position 4 S, 42 E
with HM Cruiser GLASGOW as relief for Ocean Escort HM
Cruiser HAWKINS.
May
1st Detached from WS7 when it divided into sections for Aden
and Bombay. Deployed as Ocean Escort for Bombay section
designated WS7X comprising four troopships.
5th Detached from WS7X on arrival at Bombay and resumed trade
defence and convoy escort duties.
June Indian Ocean deployment in continuation.
to September
October
Deployed in Indian Ocean.
Joined HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE, HM Armed Merchant Cruisers
CARTHAGE and CARNARVON CASTLE in search for Vichy
French convoy on passage to Europe from Indo China.
November
2nd Deployed with HM Cruisers SHROPSHIRE, CERES , HM Armed Merchant Cruisers
CARNARVON CASTLE and CARTHAGE to intercepted Vichy French convoy east
of Cape of Good Hope. Escorting Sloop detached when ships sighted. Mercantiles were
captured and escorted to Ports in South Africa
December Indian Ocean deployment for trade defence in continuation.
27th Escorted troopship ORIZABA from Mombasa to join military
convoy WS12Z.
Joined Aden Section of WS12Z when it divided in position 1.26S,
48.44E and escorted it as Convoy WS12ZA to Aden.
1 9 4 2
January Selected for conversion for use as an Anti-Aircraft Cruiser.
4th Detached from WS12ZA on arrival off Aden.
20th Relieved HM Battleship RAMILLIES in Ocean Escort of military
convoy WS14 with HMS CERES during passage from Durban
(Note: This convoy included troopships on passage to Singapore).
22nd Detached from WS14 Ocean Escort
February Indian Ocean deployment in continuation.
26th Joined HMS CERES in Ocean Escort for military convoy WS15A
during passage from Durban when it detached from WS15 for
onward transit to Aden.
March
1st Detached from WS15A off Aden when ships proceeded to Suez
independently.
Transferred to Eastern Fleet on formation as part of 5th Cruiser
Squadron and retained on Station for trade defence in view of the
threat from Japanese naval units in the area.
April Indian Ocean Trade defence and convoy escort in continuation.
1st Deployed with HM Armed Merchant Cruiser AURANIA as relief
for HM Cruisers GLASGOW and NEWCASTLE as Ocean Escort
with HM Armed Merchant Cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE for
military convoy WS16 during passage in Indian Ocean from
Durban.
3rd Detached from WS16 when sections for Bombay and Aden divided.
Deployed as Ocean Escort for Aden Section, designated WS16A.
6th Detached from WS16A off Aden for independent passage
Released from Eastern Fleet duties
May Passage to UK for conversion.
June
5th Arrived at Plymouth.
Paid off into Dockyard Control for conversion.
July Under refit
to (Note: Original armament replaced by twin 4in AA mountings
December with Radar Type 285 for fire-control. Two 2pdr Pom
Pom mountings with Radar Type 282 fire-control and
20mm Oerlikon guns were fitted for close range defence
against aircraft.
Type 279 Aircraft Warning Radar was fitted on the
main mast and Type 273 Surface Warning Radar abaft
the mainmast on the centre line.
1 9 4 3
January Under refit
February Post refit trials and recommissioning.
Nominated for service in the Mediterranean
March On completion of trials prepared for foreign service.
April Passage to Clyde to work-up for operational service.
13th Arrived in Clyde for work-up.
May Deployed in NW Approaches on completion of work-up
June Nominated for support if planned allied landings in Sicily
(Operation HUSKY)
28th Joined escort for military Convoy KMF18 in NW Approaches
July
4th Detached from KMF18 on arrival at Algiers.
6th Joined Escort Group C and took passage to join military
Convoy KMS18B in transit from Gibraltar to BARK WEST
Beach head
10th On arrival deployed for AA defence of assault area with
HM AA Cruisers CARLISLE and DELHI. including landing of
1st Airborne Division.
(For details see Naval Staff History, ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett) and BRITISH INVASION
FLEETS by J de Winser)
August Support deployment in continuation.
September Deployed for convoy defence in Western Mediterranean.
to
October
November Joined military convoy KMF25 during passage to Algiers.
5th Provided AA defence with 11 US Navy escorts, three RN
and two Greek HUNT Class destroyers during attacks by 35
torpedo aircraft east of Algiers..
(Note: One US destroyer, USS BEATTY and two ships in this
convoy were sunk.)
December Convoy escort duties in continuation.
1 9 4 4
January Mediterranean convoy defence in continuation.
to
February
March Joined US Navy escort for Convoy UGS36 with ships of 37th
Escort Group west of Gibraltar.
30th Entered Mediterranean with convoy of 72 ships including
18 Landing Ships (Tank).
31st Convoy under submarine attacks which were driven off by
escorts.
April
1st Under attack by 21 torpedo aircraft off Algiers during which
one freighter in convoy was sunk.
May Mediterranean convoy defence in continuation.
to June
July Mediterranean convoy defence in continuation.
Nominated for support of planned landing in South of
France with HM Cruiser CALEDON as part of Task Force 88
under US Navy command (Operation DRAGOON)
August Joined HM Escort Aircraft Carriers STALKER and HUNTER
US aircraft carriers TULAGI and KASAAN BAY in Task
Group 88.2.
(For details see INVASION OF THE SOUTH OF FRANCE
(HMSO).)
15th Provided AA defence during carrier air operations against
shore targets with HMS CALEDON and US Navy destroyers.
27th Released from US Navy command and resumed convoy
defence.
September
24th Transferred to British Aegean Force for support of
operation to re-occupy islands in the Eastern
Mediterranean and planned landings in Greece
(Operation MANNA)
Took passage to join British Aegean Force.
October Provided AA defence during re-occupation.
3rd Bombarded shore targets at Heraklion, Crete
November Transferred to Adriatic to provide AA defence in support
of military operations.
11th Deployed at Zadar and accepted surrender of German
forces.
December Deployed in Aegean Sea for AA defence during re-
occupation of islands held by German troops.
Bombarded enemy positions on Aegina Island in Gulf
of Athens.
1 9 4 5
January AA defence and support of operations in Adriatic and
to Aegean in continuation.
February
March Nominated for reduction to Reserve and to be withdrawn
from operational service in Mediterranean.
April Passage to UK
May Deployed in Plymouth Command pending paying-off and
de-stored prior to reduction to Reserve status.
June Passage to Dartmouth to Pay-off
Paid off.
July Laid-up in Reserve at Dartmouth.