1 9 3 9
September to October
Under
refit and reconstruction at Devonport.
Aircraft
warning radar Type 79Z was fitted during the refit.
(For
details of development and use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse).
November
25th Refit completed.
December Post
refit trials and took passage to West Indies to work-up.
1 9 4 0
January Work-up
in continuation.
February Passage
to join Home Fleet on completion of West Indies work-up.
Provided
cover for passage of Canadian troop convoy TC3.
Joined
HM Battleships RODNEY, WARSPITE, NELSON and BARHAM in
2nd Battle Squadron.
March Deployed
with Squadron at Scapa
Flow for
interception of commerce raiders in NW
Approaches and North Sea.
(Note:
Some of the ships’ company were loaned to Home Fleet Destroyers for use as
Boarding
Parties
placed on intercepted Blockade runners taken to Kikwall
for inspection.)
April
7th Sailed from Scapa Flow in search for German heavy units reported
in North Sea by aircraft.
In
company with HMS RODNEY, HM Battlecruiser REPULSE, HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD,
HM
Cruiser PENELOPE and French EMIL BERTIN
screened by HM Destroyers CODRINGTON,
GRIFFIN, JUPITER, ELECTRA, ESCAPADE, BRAZEN, BEDOUIN,
PUNJABI, ESKIMO
and KIMBERLEY.
8th After German invasion of Norway was confirmed ,took
passage to support the allied
landings. During passage to Bergen to attack German warships ordered by
Admiralty
to go to Narvik area (Operation RUPERT/R4).
9th Under air attack
for first time off Norway.
13th Deployed with REPULSE to provide cover for passage of
military convoy
NP1during
passage to Norway, screened by HM Destroyers FEARLESS,
GRIFFIN and BRAZEN
(Note HMS
REPULSE detached to refuel during passage.)
14th Remained with other ships of NP1 for passage to Vaagsfjord when
BIRMINGHAM, MANCHESTER
and CAIRO detached with CHOBRY
and EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA to land troops at Narvik.
(Note:
Other ships in escort were HM Cruiser VINDICTIVE, HM
Destroyers
CODRINGTON, ACASTA and ARDENT.
15th Took passage to Scapa Flow screened
by FEARLESS, GRIFFIN and BRAZEN.
19th Passage from Scapa
Flow to Rosyth for
embarkation of special projectiles
to be used for planned bombardment of Trondheim.
(Note: This
operation was cancelled.)
29th Passage to
Norwegian coast from Scapa Flow.
May Norwegian
coast deployment in continuation.
1st Provided radar cover during
evacuation at Andalsnes and under air attacks.
Deployed in support of Norwegian military operations.
June Returned
to Scapa Flow.
4th Deployed at Scapa Flow for convoy defence and
interception.
9th Joined Group 2 evacuation convoy and
was informed by Hospital Ship ATLANTIS of the
attacks made on HM Aircraft Carrier GLORIOUS by German
Squadron.
6th Deployed off Norway with HM Aircraft Carriers GLORIOUS and
ARK ROYAL, HM
Cruisers SOUTHAMPTON, COVENTRY and VINDICTIVE with
screen of 10 destroyers.
7th Joined escort of Group 1 evacuation
convoy
8th Evacuation convoy escort with HM
Destroyers TARTAR, MASHONA, BEDOUIN and
ASHANTI.
(For
details of the disastrous operations off Norway see NARVIK by D. MacIntyre,
THE
DOOMED EXPEDITION by T Adams, CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton and
the Naval Staff History).
15th Transferred to Force H at Gibraltar and took passage to Mediterranean.
28th Joined HM Battlecruiser HOOD, HM
Battleship RESOLUTION, HMS ARK ROYAL,
HM Cruiser ARETHUSA and HM Cruiser ENTERPRISE on formation of Force
H.
July
2nd Took part in attack on French Fleet at Mers el Kebir after failure of
negotiation
relating to future role of French warships.
(Operation
CATAPULT - See RELUCTANT ENEMIES and THE DEADLY STROKE
by W Tute, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and Naval
Staff History).
6th Deployed with HMS HOOD, HMS ARETHUSA
and HMS ENTERPRISE to provide
cover for HMS ARK ROYAL during air attacks on French
Battleship DUNKERQUE.
(Operation
LEVER).
8th Deployed with same ships, HM
Battleship RESOLUTION and HM Cruiser DELHI for
attacks by HMS ARK ROYAL on Cagliari (Operation MA5)
(Note:
This operation was abandoned after air attacks south of Majorca).
22nd Deployed with Force H ships for attack on
enemy shipping in Bay
of Biscay.
25th Operation cancelled and returned to Gibraltar with Force H.
31st Covered Malta aircraft delivery by HM
Aircraft Carrier ARGUS with HM Battleship
RESOLUTION,
HM Cruiser ARETHUSA screened by HM Destroyers ESCAPADE,
and VELOX. (Operation HURRY).
August
4th Passage to Liverpool with HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS, HM
Destroyers FAULKNOR
and FORESTER.
(Note:
This was part of a decision to re-organise Force H).
10th Arrived at Liverpool.
Nominated
for service in 1st Battle Squadron based at Alexandria.
20th Took passage to Gibraltar with HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM
Cruiser
CALCUTTA and HM
Cruiser COVENTRY.
(Note:
This was part of a joint operation by Force H ships and the Mediterranean
Fleet
to pass reinforcements to Alexandria, a military convoy to Malta from
from Egypt and air attacks on Cagliari.)
(Operation HATS - "Hands across the Sea". See
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
and Naval Staff History).
30th Sailed from Gibraltar with above ships as
Force F covered by ships of Force H.
September
1st Passage through Sicilian Narrows with Force F escorted by HM Destroyers
HERO, JANUS
MOHAWK, NUBIAN, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN and HOTSPUR.
2nd Joined Mediterranean Fleet off Pantellaria.
(Note:
Fleet then comprised HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM Battleship MALAYA,
HM Cruisers KENT, GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, ORION and SYDNEY
(RAN).
5th Arrived at Alexandria with HMS WARSPITE and HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.
16th Deployed with HM Cruiser KENT, HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS and
screen of seven
destroyers to provide cover for air operations on Benghazi harbour..
October
8th Part of distant cover for passage of
convoy MF3 to Malta and convoy MF4 to Egypt
with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS EAGLE, HMS MALAYA, HMS RAMILLIES,
HMS
WARSPITE, HM Cruisers and destroyers of Mediterranean Fleet
(Operation MB6).
12th Under attack by
Italian torpedo flotilla during which two enemy craft were hit.
(Note:
One of these ARTIGLIERE, later sunk by HM Cruiser YORK).
14th Arrived at Alexandria after covering air attacks on Leros with
Fleet units.
November
6th Deployed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS
MALAYA, HMS RAMILLIES and HMS
WARSPITE,
HMS AJAX, HMS ORION, HMS GLOUCESTER, HMS YORK and HMS
SYDNEY
(RAN) screened by HM Destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER, HASTY, HAVOCK,
HEREWARD,
HERO, HYPERION, ILEX, JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO MOHAWK and
NUBIAN
to provide distant cover for passage of convoy MW3 to Malta from Egypt and
ME3 from Malta (Operation MB8)).
(Note:
This operation was part of a joint operation with Force H to pass further
reinforcements
to join the Fleet in the Eastern Mediterranean (Force F). (Operation COAT).)
10th After arrival of convoy in Malta met HM Battleship BARHAM, HM Cruisers
BERWICK and
and GLASGOW, HM Destroyers GALLANT, GRIFFIN and GREYHOUND (Force F) with
ships of the Mediterranean Fleet.
Escorted
Convoy ME3 from Malta with HM Cruiser COVENTRY, HM Destroyers DEFENDER,
DECOY, VAMPIRE (RAN) and WATERHEN (RAN).
(Note:
HMS ILLUSTRIOUS detached on 11th November for the attack on Taranto by her
aircraft (Operation JUDGEMENT).)
13th Under air attack
during which HMS DECOY was damaged.
25th Deployed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS
WARSPITE, HMS AJAX, HMS ORION and HMS
SYDNEY
(RAN) as escort
for convoy to Suda Bay.
27th Covered air operations against Rhodes by HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.
Met
HM Cruisers MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON on passage to join Fleet at Alexandria
29th Joined other units of Mediterranean
Fleet of Malta to escort Convoy ME4 on passage to
Alexandria.
(Note:
Mediterranean Fleet units had been taking part in joint operation with the
ships of Force H to cover passage of reinforcements to Alexandria and to
cover passage of Convoy MW4 to Malta from Egypt. (Operation MB9 - Part of Operation
COLLAR). Did not take part in engagement off Cape Spartivento.)
December
1st Arrived at Alexandria with Fleet units.
16th Deployed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS
WARSPITE, HMS AJAX, HMS GLOUCESTER
HMS
ORION, HMS YORK and HMAS SYDNEY to provided Distant Cover
for Convoy MW5
to Malta.
(Operation
MC2 - Part of Operation HIDE to transfer HMS MALAYA from Alexandria to
Gibraltar (Force F)).
17th Provided cover for air attacks by HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS on Rhodes and Stampalia.
18th Bombarded Valona, Albania with HMS WARSPITE.
21st Covered air attacks by HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
on Italian convoy off Kerkennah.
22nd Deployed with Fleet
as Distant Escort for return Convoy ME5 from Malta to Egypt.
23rd Involved in
collision with HM Destroyer HAVOCK which sustained damage in bow structure.
1 9 4 1
January
3rd Took part in
bombardment of Bardia with HMS WARSPITE and HMS
BARHAM.
7th Deployed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, and HMS
WARSPITE screened by HM Destroyers
DAINTY,
GALLANT, GREYHOUND, JERVIS, JUNO, MOHAWK and NUBIAN as Force A
to cover passage of military convoy from Suda Bay to Malta, two convoys from Alexandria to
Malta
(MW5) and a return convoy from Malta to Egypt (Operation MC4)
(Note:
This was part of a joint operation with Force H to pass a military convoy
WS5A through the Mediterranean (Operation EXCESS).)
9th Met Convoy WS5A with Force A ships.
10th Under heavy air attacks during which HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS was badly damaged and had to
enter Malta for repair (See above references).
11th Provided cover for
passage of Convoy ME6.
Under
heavy air attacks during which HMS GLOUCESTER and HMS SOUTHAMPTON were
both badly damaged. Sustained slight
damage and casualties.
(See
above references).
(Note:
HMS SOUTHAMPTON was later sunk by torpedo from HMS ORION).
23rd Provided cover for return passage of
damaged ILLUSTRIOUS to Alexandria from west of
Crete to Alexandria with HMS BARHAM, HMS
PERTH and Fleet destroyer screen.
February
2nd Deployed with Mediterranean Fleet in
diversionary sweep in eastern Mediterranean
during attacks on Tirso Dam in Sardinia (Operation PICKET) by HMS ARK ROYAL.
22nd Provided distant cover for passage of
cruisers taking troops to Malta and a convoy
of empty ships from Malta with HMS EAGLE and HMS BARHAM and
destroyer screen.
(Operation
MC8).
March
20th Deployed with HM Aircraft Carrier
FORMIDABLE, HMS BARHAM, HMS WARSPITE, HM
Cruisers
GLOUCESTER AND YORK, HM Destroyers HASTY, HEREWARD, ILEX,
JERVIS,
STUART
(RAN) and VENDETTA (RAN) to provide cover for passage of Convoy MW6 to Malta.
(Operation
MC9 - See above references for details).
24th Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.
27th Covered passage of military convoy to
Greek ports with HMS WARSPITE, HMS BARHAM and
HMS FORMIDABLE.
28th In action with
Mediterranean Fleet units against Italian Fleet at Battle of Cape Matapan.
(For
details see MATAPAN by S W Pack and Naval Staff History).
April
18th Deployed with HMS FORMIDABLE, HMS
WARSPITE, HMS BARHAM, HM Cruisers
AJAX, CALCUTTA, GLOUCESTER, ORION and PHOEBE screened by HM
Destroyers
ENCOUNTER,
HASTY, HEREWARD, HAVOCK, HERO, ,JAGUAR, JUNO, DECOY,
DEFENDER,
GREYHOUND and ILEX to passage of empty ships from Malta and to carry out
bombardment of Tripoli (Operation MD2).
20th Formed Force B with HMS WARSPITE, HMS
BARHAM, HMS GLOUCESTER and HM
Destroyers
HERO, HASTY, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HOTSPUR, JAGUAR, JANUS,
JERVIS and JUNO to carry out the
bombardment of Tripoli. Cover was provided by HMS
FORMIDABLE and cruisers as Force C which remained offshore.
21st Took part in
bombardment with ships of Force B.
22nd Sustained slight damage from mine.
23rd Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units after
covering passage of Convoy ME7.
May
6th Deployed with HMS FORMIDABLE, HMS
BARHAM, HMS WARSPITE, HM Cruisers AJAX,
ORION,
PERTH and ABDIEL screened by HM
Destroyers GRIFFIN, HAVOCK,
HEREWARD,
HERO,HOTSPUR, JERVIS, JUNO, KANDAHAR, KIMBERLEY, KINGSTON,
NIZAM
and NUBIAN to cover passage of military convoy of tanks to Middle East from UK in
eastern Mediterranean (Operation TIGER).
(Note:
This operation also covered passage of Convoy MW7 from Alexandria to Malta
and passage of HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER, FIJI
and NAIAD to reinforce Fleet at Alexandria - See above references).
10th Provided Distant Cover for passage of
TIGER Convoy from Malta to Alexandria.
Came under air attacks which were repelled by aircraft from HMS
FORMIDABLE.
12th Arrived at Alexandria with Fleet units and
TIGER Convoy.
20th Deployed off Crete to cover passage of
reinforcements and supplies to garrison.
21st Covered minelay by HM Cruiser ABDIEL in Aegean Sea (Operation MAT1).
(For
details see Naval Staff History (MINING).)
22nd During cover for operations to intercept
invasion craft on passage to Crete
came
under air attack and hit by 2 bombs abreast "X"
turret and one near miss.
These caused some structural damage and flooding of a bulge
compartment.
23rd At Alexandria
awaiting repair.
June On
completion of repair rejoined Squadron at Alexandria.
(Note:
In view of losses off Crete,
the major units were not deployed during this
period owing to dominance of enemy aircraft in the area).
July
2nd Deployed with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM
Cruisers AJAX, CARLISLE, HOBART (RAN),
LEANDER,
NAIAD, NEPTUNE. PHOEBE, ABDIEL and LATONA to provide a
diversion
during passage of relief convoy from Gibraltar to Malta
(Operation
SUBSTANCE - See above references)
(Operation
MD 5).
(Note:
Fleet cruised in Eastern
Mediterranean to
divert attention of enemy).
25th Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.
August Deployed
at Alexandria.
September
25th Deployed with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and
HMS BARHAM with Mediterranean Fleet
cruisers and screen of Fleet destroyers to carry out cruise
in Eastern
Mediterranean as
a
diversion during passage of relief convoy from Gibraltar to Malta (Operation MD6)
(Note:
Relief convoy operation by Force H at Gibraltar was Operation HALBERD).
October Covered
operations by cruisers and light forces against supply convoys off North
African.
November Deployed
with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and HMS BARHAM to cover operations by
ships of Force K from Malta against enemy supply convoys to North
African ports.
25th Present with Fleet
units when HMS BARHAM was torpedoed and sunk by U331 off Libya.
December
18th Sustained major damage from explosion of
limpet mine placed by Italian frogmen.
Delayed
action weapon had been placed under port Bulge abreast A turret and also
caused local flooding (See above references).
1 9 4 2
January Under
temporary repair at Alexandria.
(Note:
Type 79Z had been converted to Type 279 by this period. Date of conversion
not determined).
February to March
Prepared
for passage to Durban for refit.
April
3rd Sailed to Durban.
15th Taken in hand for
repair and refit at Durban.
May to June
Under
refit.
Aircraft
warning radar Type 279 replaced by Type 281.
July Post
refit trials.
August Joined
Eastern Fleet for convoy defence in Indian Ocean after working-up.
September to December
Deployed
on convoy defence and interception in Indian Ocean.
Involved
in collision with HM Cruiser ENTERPRISE without significant damage.
1 9 4 3
January Indian Ocean deployment in
continuation.
Nominated for return to UK.
February Passage
to UK.
March Arrived
at Devonport.
7th Taken in hand for refit
April Under
refit.
Aircraft
facilities removed.
Surface
warning Type 273 fitted and fire control radars Types 284 for the 15" main
armament, four Types 285 for secondary armament and four
Type 282 for Close Range
AA armament. Single and twin Oerlikons
fitted to supplement AA defence.
28th Refit completed
May Worked
up for service at Scapa
Flow with Home
Fleet.
Deployed with Home Fleet for convoy defence in NW Approaches.
June Transferred
with HMS NELSON, HMS RODNEY and HMS WARSPITE for planned
Mediterranean
operations based at Oran.
Took passage to Gibraltar.
July Deployed
In Eastern
Mediterranean.
7th Covered passage of convoys from Alexandria with HMS WARSPITE, HMS FORMIDABLE,
HMS
AURORA and PENELOPE screened by 9 destroyers.
9th Joined remainder of covering ships in Gulf of Sirte.
10th Deployed in Ionian Sea with HM Battleships NELSON, RODNEY and
WARSPITE, HM
Aircraft
Carriers INDOMITABLE and FORMIDABLE to prevent interference
by any Italian surface forces during Sicily landings (Operation HUSKY).
(For
details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History).
August Deployed
in central Mediterranean for support, of military operations in Sicily.
September
2nd Provided naval gunfire support prior to
landings by British XIII Corps on Italian
mainland with HMS WARSPITE, HMS ORION and HMS MAURITIUS
(Operation
BAYTOWN).
9th Deployed with HMS WARSPITE as escort
for surrendered Italian warships during passage into
Malta.
10th Held in reserve at
Malta for support, of landing
operations at Salerno.
(Operation
AVALANCHE).
Prepared for return to UK.
12th Passage to Salerno with HMS WARSPITE to provide additional
gunfire support
at Salerno and joined HMS NELSON, HMS RODNEY, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and HMS
FORMIDABLE
screened by destroyers from 4th, 8th and 24th Destroyer Flotillas.
(Note:
This deployment prevented planned return to UK,
Ship
did not take part in escort of surrendered Italian warships.
See
record for HMS KING GEORGE V)
13th Carried out support bombardment against
enemy forces engaged in counter attack on
beach head areas.
16th Continued bombardment role and under
heavy air attacks including radio-controlled
glider bombs during which HMS WARSPITE was hit.
October On
release from AVALANCHE took passage to UK escorted by HM Destroyer OBEDIENT.
November Under
refit to prepare for service in Eastern Fleet
December Nominated
for service with Eastern Fleet and prepared for passage.
20th Sailed from Scapa Flow for Ceylon in company with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and
HM
Battlecruiser
RENOWN with destroyers screen.)
(Note:
HM Aircraft Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS and UNICORN joined later from Clyde)
1
9 4 4
January Passage
to Ceylon.
30th Joined 1st Battle
Squadron, Eastern Fleet on arrival at Colombo.
February Worked-up
with Squadron for Fleet operations.
(For
details of naval activities in Indian Ocean see OPERATION PACIFIC by E. Gray
and THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton).
March
21st Deployed with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HMS
RENOWN. HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HM
Cruisers
LONDON, GAMBIA (RNZN), CEYLON and CUMBERLAND for offensive
sweep in Indian Ocean off coast of Sumatra (Operation DIPLOMAT).
27th Met US aircraft carrier USS SARATOGA and three USN destroyers (TG58.5) on loan
for
air operations with the Eastern Fleet
April
16th Deployed with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH,
French battleship RICHELIEU, HMS
NEWCASTLE, HMS NIGERIA, HMS CEYLON, HMS GAMBIA and
Dutch cruiser TROMP
as Task Force 69.
Provided
cover for air strikes by HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and USS SARATOGA (Task Force 70)
on airfields and installations at Sabang,
NW Sumatra (Operation COCKPIT).
May
6th Deployed with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH,
RICHELIEU, HMS NEWCASTLE, HMS
NIGERIA and the Dutch cruiser TROMP screened by
HM Destroyers ROTHERHAM,
RACEHORSE,
QUIBERON,NAPIER, NEPAL, QUICKMATCH and Dutch VAN GALEN as
Task
Force 65 (Operation TRANSOM)
(Note:
These were to provide cover for air attacks on harbour and oil refineries
at Soerabaya by HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
and USS SARATOGA as Task Force 66.)
15th Refuelled in Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia
17th Covered flying operations.
18th Returned to Ceylon with ships of TF65
after USS SARATOGA and escort detached.
June Eastern
Fleet deployment in continuation
July
22nd Deployed with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HMS
RENOWN, RICHELIEU, HMS
CUMBERLAND, HMS NIGERIA, HMS KENYA, HMS CEYLON and
HMS GAMBIA to
cover air attacks by the aircraft carriers HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
and HMS VICTORIOUS on
Sabang (Operation CRIMSON).
25th On completion of
air attacks bombarded targets at Sabang with Eastern
Fleet ships.
August Deployed
at Trincomalee.
8th Sustained major damage whilst under
refit at Trincomalee in AFD28 when the drydock
collapsed. Three shafts were unusable and the ship was
withdrawn from operational service
(Note:
See CUNNINGHAM by J Winton for details of subsequent disciplinary action
taken
against Naval Constructor responsible for drydock
operation.
September Under
temporary repair.
October On
completion prepared for passage to UK.
3rd Sailed from Trincomalee for Aden.
20th Grounded at
entrance to Suez Canal.
Ship
refloated after over six hours and diverted to return
via Cape of Good Hope with calls
at
Durban, Capetown and Freetown.
December Passage
in Indian Ocean
1 9 4 5
January Passage
in Atlantic
February
2nd Arrived at Devonport
Paid off after arrival.
7th Taken in hand for
refit by HM Dockyard Devonport.
March to August
Under
refit.
Extensive
changes made including fit of surface warning radar Type 293 in place of
Type
273.
