KING GEORGE V-Class battleship ordered on 28th April 1937 from the Fairfield shipyard at Govan, Glasgow under the 1937 Build Programme. Laid down on 1st June 1937, the original name chosen was BEATTY, but this was changed on 21st February 1940 before launch on 9th April 1940. She was 6th RN ship to bear this name, introduced in 1791 to commemorate Richard Earl Howe (1726-1799).  No work was carried out for six months after May 1940 because of higher priority repair work.  Her build was completed on 29th August 1942. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in December 1941 this ship was adopted by the civil community of the city of Edinburgh.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ARCTIC 1942-43 - SICILY 1943 - OKINAWA 1945

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Field :  Barry wavy of 4 white and blue.

Badge :  In front of a circle of chain Gold, a sword erect

point upwards with a diamond studded hilt proper,

surmounted by a wolf's head couped Black.

 

M o t t o

Utcumque placuerit  deo  - 'God's will be done'

 

 

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

 

June

                17th        Commissioned for service in Home Fleet.

                                Commanding Officer: Captain H C L Woodhouse, RN.

                                Minimum manning for trials.

                28th        Passage to Rosyth for completion of radar outfit installation work.

 

July                         Completion of radar fit at Rosyth in continuation.

 

August                  Radar equipment fit completed. A total of 14 radar sets were fitted.

                26th        Contractors Sea Trials.

                29th        Build completion date.

                                (Note: Some of the delay in completion was due to changes made following the

                                loss of HM Battleship PRINCE OF WALES. See BRITISH BATTLESHIPS by Raven

                                and Roberts. Total build time was 5 years and 2 months.)

                30th        Commenced work-up with Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.

 

September

                2nd         Carried out Full Power Trials and achieved 27.5 knots.

 

October                  Work-up at Scapa Flow in continuation.

 

November              Continuation of working up exercises but was available for deployment with the  

                                Home Fleet to carry out patrol duties or interception of surface warships attempting

                                to break out in Atlantic for attacks on convoy routes.

December

                                Continuation of working up exercises but was available for deployment with the  

                                Home Fleet to carry out patrol duties or interception of surface warships attempting

                                to break out in Atlantic for attacks on convoy routes.

                31st         On receiving news of the attack by the German Pocket Battleship LÜTZOW and the Cruiser  

                                HIPPER and 6 Destroyers on convoy JW51B (What became known as the Battle of the  

                                Barents Sea). The CinC Home Fleet flying his flag in HM Battleship KING GEORGE V with  

                                HM Battleship HOWE and HM Cruiser BERMUDA screened by HM Destroyers  

                                MONTROSE, MUSKETEER, QUEENBOROUGH, RAIDER, WORCESTER and Polish  

                                ORP PIORUN sailed from Scapa Flow. The objective was to provide cover for the  

                                returning Convoy RA51 and to attempt to catch LÜTZOW which it was thought might attempt  

                                to break out into the Atlantic.

                                (For details of all Russian Convoy operations and naval deployments in the NW

                                Approaches see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R. Ruegg, CONVOY! by P Kemp, THE  

                                RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B. Schoefield, and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY  

                                by C. Barnett).

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

                3rd          Resumed working up exercises at Scapa Flow but remained available for interception patrol  

                                and convoy defence in NW Approaches.

 

February

                1st to 12th          Continuation of working up exercises at Scapa Flow during which she was screened by HM

                            Destroyers ECLIPSE and FAULKNER.

               

                24th        Covered passage of Russian Convoy JW53 and returning RA53 with HMS KING GEORGE  

                                V and HM Cruiser BERWICK screened by HM Destroyers ICARUS, METEOR,  

                                MUSKETEER, OFFA, ONSLAUGHT and Polish ORP PIORUN

 

March

                10th        Resumed interception and convoy defence duty in NW Approaches.

 

April                       Deployed with Hone Fleet in continuation.

 

May                        Nominated for support of allied landings in Sicily after docking at Rosyth

                                (Note : Close range AA defence was supplemented by provision of 20mm Oerlikon

                                guns which were fitted during passage to Gibraltar by ship's staff.)

                                Whilst at Scapa Flow she was visited by Churchill followed a few days later by HM King  

                                George VI during a royal visit to the Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.

                21st         Passage from Rosyth to Gibraltar screened by HM Destroyers ONSLOW and ORWELL.

                                (Note: Carried out bombardment exercises during passage in NW Approaches.)

                26th        Arrived at Gibraltar and joined Force H and prepared for support of allied landings in  

                                Sicily. (Operation HUSKY - See Naval Staff History and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE  

                                CLOSELY by C Barnett.).

 

June                        Force H including HMS HOWE transferred to Algiers

                               

                12th        Present at Algiers during a visit by HM King George VI who came on board.

 

July                         Nominated with HMS KING GEORGE V for duty in Reserve Force to be deployed west

                                of Sicily to prevent interference during landings by Italian warships.

                5th          In company with HMS KING GEORGE V she sailed from Gibraltar for Algiers screened by  

                                HM Destroyers ARROW, JERVIS, PALADIN, PANTHER, PATHFINDER, PENN,  

                                PETARD and TYRIAN. Off Oran the Force was joined by HM Battleships NELSON and  

                                RODNEY and HM Aircraft Carrier INDOMITABLE.

                8th          The Force arrived at Algiers.

                9th          Passage to take up station with HMS KING GEORGE V screened by six destroyers.

                10th        Deployed south of Sardinia as part of the Reserve Covering Force with HMS KING

                                GEORGE V, HM Cruisers DIDO and SIRIUS, screened by HM Destroyers JERVIS,  

                                PANTHER, PATHFINDER, PENN, PALADIN and PETARD during the landings in Sicily.

                12th        Bombarded Trapani and the islands of Favignana and Levanzo with HMS KING GEORGE  

                                V as a deception to suggest landings on west coast of Sicily (Operation FRACTURE)

                                On release from HUSKY returned to Algiers.

August

                4th          At Algiers when HM Destroyer ARROW was badly damaged whilst assisting to fight

                                fires on the British mercantile SS Fort Le Montee carrying explosives. After the explosion  

                                parties were sent to help in rescue work and dealing with casualties.

                                (Note: Over 100 of the crew of HMS ARROW were killed.)

 

September             Based at Algiers for future support deployments.

                7th          Sailed for Malta with HMS KING GEORGE V screened by HM Destroyers Jervis,  

                                PALADIN, PANTHER, PATHFINDER and PENN.

                8th          With HMS KING GEORGE V she stood off Malta whilst the destroyers went in to refuel.  

                                Whilst off Malta news came through of the formal surrender of Italy (actual surrender date  

                                had been 3 September 1943). The CinC Malta Vice Admiral A J Power was ordered to  

                                hoist his flag in HMS HOWE and to take under his command HM Cruisers AURORA  

                                PENELOPE, DIDO, SIRIUS, HM Minelaying Cruiser ABDIEL and the US Cruiser USS  

                                BOISE (the cruisers and the minelayer had embarked the 1st British Airborne Division) and  

                                proceed with all dispatch to seize the Italian naval base of Taranto. En route to Taranto the  

                                Force encountered the Italian Battleships ANDREA DORIA and CAIO DUILIO, the Cruisers  

                                LUIGI CADORNA and POMPEO MAGNO and the Destroyer NICOLOSO Da RECCO  

                                steaming to Malta to surrender. HMS KING GEORGE V detached from the Force to escort  

                                the Italian squadron to Malta.

                9th          Covered landing of 1st British Airborne Division at Taranto by HM Cruisers AURORA

                                PENELOPE, DIDO, SIRIUS and HM Minelaying Cruiser ABDIEL. (Operation  

                                SLAPSTICK)

                                (Note: HM Minelaying Cruiser ABDIEL sank after being mined when entering harbour.

                                See Naval Staff History (Mining)).

                14th        Deployed with HM Battleship KING GEORGE V for escort of the surrendered Italian

                                warships during passage to Alexandria from Malta.

                                (Note : These included battleships ITALIA and VITTORIO VENETO, four cruisers and

                                four destroyers)

                16th        Arrived at Alexandria with Italian warships and met by HM Minesweeper DERBY with

                                CinC Levant embarked.

                                Passage from Alexandria to Algiers.

 

October

                1st           Arrived at Algiers and rejoined HMS KING GEORGE V

                                Recalled to Scapa Flow to resume Home Fleet duties.

                                Took passage escorted by HM Destroyers FOXHOUND, ECLIPSE, FURY and ECHO.

                                On arrival deployed with Home Fleet on interception and convoy defence.

 

November              Nominated for service in Far East after refit.

                                To be paid off and recommissioned on completion.

                                Passage to Devonport.

                                Paid-off and taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Devonport.

 

December              Taken in hand for refit prior to service in Pacific.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January to February                

                               Under refit and routine docking.

                                (Note: Radar Type 276 fitted to give improved air and surface warning capability.

                                New design fire control radar Type 274 replaced original Type 284 for main

                                armament. Aircraft facilities were removed during this period. For details

                                of development and use of radar during WW2 see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)

 

March                    Undocked.            

 

April                       Refit in continuation.

                                Recommissioned for service in British Pacific Fleet.

                                Commanding Officer: Captain H McCall, RN.

                11th        Carried out Full Power Trial. Returned to Devonport on completion

 

May                        Refit complete.

                10th        Took passage to Scapa Flow.

                12th        Arrived at Scapa Flow for work-up with Home Fleet.

 

June                       

                30th        On completion of work-up took passage from Scapa Flow to Mediterranean.

               

 

July

                7th          Arrived at Algiers.

                9th          Took passage from Algiers for Port Said.

                22nd       Took passage from Port Tewfik for Aden

                28th        Took passage from Aden for Colombo. En Route see was joined by HM Cruisers CEYLON  

                                and KENYA and HM Destroyers RAPID, RAIDER, REDOUBT, ROCKET and  

                                ROTHERHAM.   

 

August                 

                3rd          Arrived at Colombo.

                9th          Arrived at Trincomalee and joined the Eastern Fleet for deployment pending the formation  

                                of British Pacific Fleet.

                                (Note: HM Battleship VALIANT sustained major damage when the Floating Dock AFD 28  

                                in which she being refitted collapsed. This ship was then withdrawn from operations.)

                24th        Covered HM Aircraft Carriers VICTORIOUS and INDOMITABLE with two cruisers and five  

                                destroyers of the Eastern Fleet during air attacks on Padang, Sumatra (Operation  

                                BANQUET). One Japanese freighter sunk and two damaged.

                28th        Provided air-sea rescue and fighter cover for attacks by US XX Bomber Command B29  

                                aircraft on targets in NW Sumatra from Ceylon. In company with HM Battleship QUEEN  

                                ELIZABETH, Free French Battleship RICHELIEU, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM  

                                Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE, ILLUSTRIOUS and VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers  

                                CEYLON and KENYA and HM Destroyers RACEHORSE, RAPID, RELENTLESS,  

                                ROCKET and ROTHERHAM the Eastern Fleet. (Operation BOOMERANG).

 

September

                16th        Covered air attacks by HMS INDOMITABLE and HMS VICTORIOUS on Sigli, Sumatra  

                                and a series of photo-reconnaissance flights on Nicobars, with HM Cruisers  

                                CUMBERLAND and KENYA and HM Destroyers RACEHORSE, RAPID, RAIDER,  

                                REDOUBT, RELENTLESS, ROCKET and ROTHERHAM of Eastern Fleet (Operation  

                                LIGHT).

                                (For details of Eastern Fleet operations see OPERATION PACIFIC by Edwin Gray, THE

                                FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton, and Naval Staff History).

 

October                  Deployed with Eastern Fleet in Ceylon.

 

November

                22nd       Joined British Pacific Fleet on formation in Ceylon with HMS KING GEORGE V, HMS

                                INDEFATIGABLE, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS VICTORIOUS, HMS INDOMITABLE,

                                HM Cruisers BLACK PRINCE, SWIFTSURE, ARGONAUT and two Destroyer Flotillas.

                26th        Carried out Full Power Trial.

 

December

                4th          Took passage from Trincomalee escorted by HM Destroyers QUADRANT, QUALITY and  

                                QUILLIAM.                         

                6th          Crossing the Line ceremonials.

                11th        Arrived at Fremantle. Took passage later in the day for Sydney.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                 

                18th        Arrived at Sydney.

                               

February               

                2nd         Took passage from Sydney for Auckland flying the flag of the CinC British Pacific Fleet,  

                                Admiral Sir Bruce Austin Frazer escorted by HM Cruisers HMNZS ACHILLES and  

                                GAMBIA and HM Destroyers QUADRANT, QUEENBROUGH and QUIBERON. For  

                                independent visit by CinC to RNZN and discussions with the NZ War Cabinet.

                5th          The Force arrived at Auckland.

                10th        The Force sailed from Auckland. After clearing Auckland harbour and in sight of the coast  

                                she gave a gunnery demonstration by firing her 14in guns. She then took passage to Sydney to  

                                join the British Pacific Fleet for operations with the US 5th Fleet.

                28th        Sailed from Sydney with BPF ships for passage to Forward Base at Manus in the

                                Admiralty Islands.

 

March

                7th          At Manus, British Fleet base in Admiralty Islands.

                8th          Delayed at Manus pending approval by US Naval CinC Admiral King for deployment of

                to            BPF in Pacific naval operations.

                14th        (Note: RN ships had been re-designated Task Force 113).

                15th        Deployment in US 5th Fleet approved.

                18th        Took passage from Manus to Ulithi prior to joining 5th Fleet in operational area.

                20th        Arrived at Manus with ships of TF113.

                23rd        Part of Re-designated Task Force 57 and sailed for Sakishima Gunto Group.

                                (Note: Task Force 57 comprised:

                                Task Group 57.1 - HMS HOWE and HMS KING GEORGE V (1st Battle Sqdn.)

                                Task Group 57.2 - HM Aircraft Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS, INDEFATIGABLE,

                                INDOMITABLE, VICTORIOUS (1st Aircraft Carrier Sqdn).

                                Task Group 57.5 - HM Cruisers ARGONAUT, BLACK PRINCE, GAMBIA (RNZN)

                                and SWIFTSURE (4th Cruiser Sqdn.)

                                Task Group 57.8 - HM Cruiser EURYALUS (RA(D)) and destroyers of 4th, 25th and

                                27th Flotillas).

                26th        Joined ships of Task Force 58 for operations to neutralise airfields in Sakishima

                                Gunto Group (Operation ICEBERG ONE).

 

April                       Deployment off Sakishima Gunto in continuation.

                                Operation continued in conjunction with TF58 with Replenishment periods from ships

                                of Fleet Train. For details see WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO) and above references.

                21st         Withdrew from operational area with Task Force 57.

                23rd        Arrived at Leyte for replenishment and repair period.

 

May

                1st           Sailed with Task Force 57 to continue operations with US Navy off Sakishima Gunto.

                                (Operation ICEBERG TWO).

                                (Note: HMS ILLUSTRIOUS did not rejoin Task Group 57.2.

                                Task Group organisation otherwise as for ICEBERG ONE).

                4th          Rejoined US Task Force 58 with Task Force 57 for further joint operations in the

                                Sakishima Gunto Group.

                                Detached to carry out bombardment of airfield at Hiara, Miyako Shima with HMS KING

                                GEORGE V, HMS SWIFTSURE, HMS BLACK PRINCE, HMS EURYALUS, HMNZS  

                                GAMBIA and HMCS UGANDA screened by 25th Destroyer Flotilla.

                                Returned to rejoin other snips which were under KAMIKAZE attacks during which HMS

                                FORMIDABLE was hit and sustained serious damage with many casualties.

                5th          Deployed with Task Force and provided defence against conventional and KAMIKAZE

to            air attacks. See following references for details.

                24th        Replenished periodically from Fleet Train with Task Force.

                25th        Withdrew for replenishment before taking passage to Sydney via Manus.

                                (Note: HMS KING GEORGE V detached from Task Group 57.1 to visit Guam.)

                                (For details of operations by British Pacific Fleet see OPERATION PACIFIC by Edwyn

                                Gray, THE FORGOTTEN Fleet by J Winton, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY  

                                by C. Bamett, TASK FORCE 57 by J Winton, WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO) and the Naval  

                                Staff History).

                30th        Arrived at Manus.              

 

June                       

                2nd         Took passage from Manus for Sydney.

                5th          Arrived at Sydney. Withdrawn from service with British Pacific Fleet

                8th          Took passage from Sydney for Durban with call at Fremantle to refuel, to refit in Durban  

                                because no suitable facilities were available in Australia.

                27th        Arrived at Durban and commenced refit.

 

July  to September                      

                               Under Refit.

                10th        On completion of refit took passage to Cape Town.

 

  

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS HOWE visited Cape Town after completion of refit and returned to UK. She remained in commission in 1946 and became Flagship of the Training Squadron at Portland for the next 4 years. The ship reduced to Reserve status in 1950 and became headquarters of the Devonport Division, Reserve Fleet. During 1957 this major warship was placed on the Disposal List with the other three ships of the KING GEORGE V Class battleships. Sold  to BISCO for demolition she arrived in tow at Inverkeithing on 2nd June 1958 for breaking-up by TW Ward.

 

Note: KING GEORGE V CLASS BATTLESHIPS by VE Tarrant includes details of this ship and her service. 

 

 

---

 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of  HMS HOWE

by Don Kindell

 

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

 

 

(Note on Convoys)