1 9 3 9
September Nominated
for minelaying duties.
3rd On passage to Singapore from Hong Kong after
conversion.
4th Commenced lay of defensive minefield
at Singapore
17th Completed minelay. Retained at Singapore as minelayer.
October Deployed
for minelaying duties at Singapore.
November Reverted
to A/S role after conversion at Singapore.
December Deployed
at Singapore on local escort and patrol
duty.
1 9 4 0
January Singapore duties in continuation
to (Note: RN ships on the China Station were used for surveillance of German ships
December especially in Dutch East
Indies ports. After commerce raider activities
extended into the Indian Ocean additional trade defence
deployment
were carried out by cruisers and destroyers in the Malaya
Force.
(See
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett)
1 9 4 1
January Trade defence duties with Malaya Force in
continuation.
to
November
December Nominated
for service with Force Z.
3rd Part of escort for HM Battlecruiser
REPULSE and HM Battleship PRINCE
OF
WALES as Force Z with HM Destroyers
EXPRESS, ELECTRA and
VAMPIRE (RAN).
5th Deployed as escort for HMS REPULSE
with HMAS VAMPIRE for passage
to Darwin.
6th Returned to Singapore when Japanese
invasion force reported in Gulf of Siam.
8th Sailed from Singapore with Force Z
as part of escort.
9th Detached to transmit radio request for
reinforcement
10th In action with
Japanese aircraft locking for Force Z.
Avoided
damage and returned to Singapore.
(Note: Ships of Force Z came under heavy high level and
torpedo air attacks
and HMS PRINCE OF WALES and HMS REPULSE were both sunk.
See
Naval Staff History and THE HUNTING OF FORCE Z by R Hough.
1 9 4 2
January Joined
Western Striking Force with HM Destroyer SCOUT and escorted convoys
from Australia.
February
2nd Rescued survivors from ss NORAH MULLER with HM Australian Cruiser HOBART
during escort of convoy to Tanjong
Priok.
26th Escorted HM Cruisers HOBART (RAN),
DRAGON and DANAE from Tanjong
Priok for the
interception of Japanese invasion force heading towards Java.
Returned to base after failing to find the Japanese ships.
(See
OPERATION PACIFIC by E Grey).
March
1st Transferred to
join Fleet in
Ceylon and escorted
HMAS HOBART.
April At Colombo.
5th Sunk in Colombo harbour
during Japanese air attack.
33
of Ship's Company lost their lives.