1 9 3 9
September Deployed in Australian waters.
to Nominated for escort of military convoys taking ANZAC troops to Middle East.
December
1940
January
10th Joined military Convoy US1 with four troop ships to relieve HMAS SYDNEY as relief for
HM Cruiser LEANDER.
(Note: Convoy included troopships from Wellington, New Zealand and Sydney.)
20th Relieved as US1 escort by HM Cruiser KENT and French cruiser SUFFREN which were
were to provide Ocean escort for part of Indian Ocean transit.
(Note: Convoy was taking ANZAC troops for service in Middle East)
February Deployment for convoy defence off western Australia in continuation..
to Nominated for escort of military convoy US3 and to be transfer to Home Fleet on arrival.
April in Home Waters
May Deployed with HMAS CANBERRA and HMS LEANDER for escort of US3 during passage from
New Zealand to Sydney
(Note: US3 was third convoy taking ANZAC troops for service in Middle East.)
5th Arrived at Sydney with US3
6th Remained with US3 as escort for Ocean passage
US3 Diverted to take passage to UK via Cape of Good Hope. when Italy was considered as being
likely to join the war.
26th Arrived at Cape Town with US3
(Note: Convoy included rms QUEEN MARY, rms MAURITANIA and seven other
passenger liners)
Detached from US3 and took passage to Scapa Flow to join Home Fleet.
June Deployed for Home Fleet duties.
On arrival in Home waters took passage to Scapa Flow to join Home Fleet.
7th Took part in aborted search off Norway for German battleship GNEISENAU with HM
Battlecruisers REPULSE, RENOWN, HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE, SHEFFIELD and
YORK screened by Home Fleet destroyers. (To be confirmed)
July Deployed in Atlantic Ocean for trade defence.
Diverted to support operation against Vichy French at Dakar, West Africa.
7th Deployed with HM Aircraft Carrier HERMES to report French naval movements off Dakar.
8th Took part in attack on French battleship RICHELIEU at Dakar with HM Aircraft Carrier
HERMES and HM Cruiser DORSETSHIRE.
(Note: Attempts by Vichy French aircraft and submarines to intercept after this operation failed.)
26th Deployed with HMS REPULSE, HMS RENOWN, HM Cruisers SHEFFIELD, YORK and
DEVONSHIRE with screen of Home Fleet destroyers in unsuccessful search for GNEISENAU
reported making an attempt to break out into Atlantic.
August Deployed with HM Cruiser NORFOLK to search for blockade runners and other vessels off
Bear Island.
September
1st Replaced HM Cruiser FIJI in Force M during passage to support Vichy French landings at Dakar
(Operation MENACE).
(Note: HMS FIJI was torpedoed in NW Approaches whilst with Force M ships on passage to
Freetown. See RELUCTANT ENEMIES and MENACE by A Marder for details.
8th Under torpedo attack by U36 which failed due to torpedo defect,.
16th Joined HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL, HM Battleship RESOLUTION, HM Battlecruiser
RENOWN and Fleet destroyers from Gibraltar with ships of Force M.
19th Relieved HM Cruiser CUMBERLAND on interception patrol off Dakar.
Intercepted French cruisers (Force Y) attempting passage away from Dakar.
20th Escorted French cruisers GLOIRE and MONTCALM to Casablanca
23rd Engaged three Vichy French destroyers leaving Dakar.
Flotilla Leader L'AUDACIEUX was damaged by 6" gunfire and set en fire.
(Note: This warship was beached later and eventually towed to Bizerta for repair. where she was
sunk in a US air attack in 1943).
26th Took part in initial bombardment of Dakar.
Ship’s WALRUS aircraft shot down during gunnery Fall of Shot duty.
Sustained two hits from return shore fire with little damage..
28th Operation abandoned because of risk of damage to major units from return fire.
October
3rd Escorted convoy taking Free French troops to Duala for landing operation.
8th Covered Free French landings which were successful.
On release from Free French operation resumed Atlantic convoy defence.
November Atlantic trade defence between Gibraltar and West Africa in continuation.
to Passage to UK for refit.
December
1 9 4 1
January On completion carried out post refit trials. Nominated for escort of military convoy
11th Provided AA defence with HM Cruiser NAIAD for troopships assembled at Moelfre Bay
in Clyde prior to passage to Middle East.
12th Deployed as Ocean Escort for Convoy WS5B with HM Battleship RAMILLIES and HM
Cruisers NAIAD, PHOEBE and EMERALD during passage in NW Approaches,
15th Remained with WS5B as Ocean Escort with HMS RAMILLIES when HMS PHOEBE
and HMS NAIAD detached.
17th Remained with WS5B as Ocean Escort with HMS EMERALD when HMS RAMILLIES
detached.
25th Arrived at Freetown with WS5B
29th Rejoined WS5B on departure from Freetown
as Ocean Escort with HMS EMERALD for passage to Capetown.
February
8th Arrived at Capetown with WS5B and HMS EMERALD detached.
12th Sailed from Capetown as Ocean Escort for ships of WS5B destined for Durban.
15th Sailed from Durban as Ocean Escort for passage to Suez. and HMS EMERALD for passage
to Bombay.
21st Remained with ships destined for Suez when Bombay section detached off Mombasa.
March Passage in Red Sea with WS5b
3rd Detached from WS5B on arrival at Suez
Passage to resume trade defence and interception duties in Indian Ocean.
April Deployed for trade defence, interception of blockade runners and commerce raiders in
to Indian Ocean and South Atlantic
October
November Returned to RAN control and took passage to Sydney.
December At Sydney
23rd Deployed as escort for military convoy ZK5 during passage from Sydney to Port Moresby
with HMAS CANBERRA, PERTH and HMNZS ACHILLES. (Note: This convoy included
troopships AQUITANIA and SARPEDON).
1 9 4 2
January
3rd Ferried troops ashore from troopships on arrival.
9th Escorted KZ convoy from Noumea to Suva.
February
19th Joined ANZAC Squadron on formation and deployed in SW Pacific under overall US Navy
command.
(Note: ANZAC Force also includes HM Australian Cruisers CANBERRA, ADELAIDE,
HOBART, PERTH, HM New Zealand Cruisers ACHILLES, LEANDER, US
Cruiser USS CHICAGO and two US Navy destroyers.
27th Deployed with ANZAC Force and ships of US Navy Task Force 11 ships in Coral Sea.
March Deployed in Coral Sea with US Navy.
6th Joined by ships of US Navy Task Force 17 near New Hebrides.
22nd ANZAC Squadron disbanded.
Remainder under US Navy overall command for convoy defence
April Deployment with US Navy in SW Pacific in continuation.
May
1st Deployed as Task Force 44 with HMAS HOBART and USS CHICAGO and two US Navy
to destroyers in support of US TASK Force 17 during US operations by US Navy Task Forces
6th TF17 and 11 against Japanese invasion of New Guinea.. (Battle of Coral Sea)
7th Under air attacks without damage
(Note: Ship took no further part in operations
For details see WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)
June Provided convoy defence in SW Pacific.
12th Remained with Task Force 44 when USS Pacific Fleet was re-organised.
(Note: Ships in TF44 the included HMAS HOBART, HMAS CANBERRA, USS CHICAGO
and nine US Navy destroyers of DESDRON 4.
DESDRON is equivalent of an RN Destroyer Flotilla.)
July
14th Deployed with HM Australian Cruiser HOBART, US Cruisers CHICAGO and
SALT LAKE CITY screened by 3 US destroyers to meet US Task Group off Wellington
(Note: This Task Group was to take part in amphibious operations in SW Pacific.)
26th Joined US Task Force 61 for invasion exercises prior to Guadalcanal landings.
(Operation WATCHTOWER)
For details of naval activities in Pacific area see HISTORY OF USN OPERATIONS
IN WW2 by SE Morris, AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND WARSHIPS 1914-1945
by R Gillette and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO)
31st Deployed as Task Group 62.1 with HMS CANBERRA, HMS HOBART, USS CHICAGO
and destroyers of DESDRON 4 for escort of 23 mercantiles during passage from Fiji
for landings on Guadalcanal.
August
7th On arrival deployed with HMAS CANBERRA and US cruiser CHICAGO in Southern Group
to providing cover for US landings on Tulagi
Detached from these two cruisers to attend conference with Admiral in US Navy Transport
USS MCAWLEY.
(Note:HMAS HOBART and USS SAN JUAN were also not present during the engagement
with Japanese warships off Savo Island during which HMAS CANBERRA was
sunk. See above references and THE SHAME OF SAVO)
21st Patrolled off Solomon Islands with HMAS HOBART.
31st Joined US 4th Fleet Task Force TF44 on formation with HMAS HOBART, US cruise USS
PHOENIX and five USA Navy destroyers.
September
6th Sailed from Brisbane with ships of TF44 for support of operations against Japanese invasion
in New Guinea.
11th Arrived in New Guineas and unable to intercept destroyers evacuating Trobriand Islands.
October Military support and convoy defence with TF44 in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 3
January Task Force 44 deployment in continuation.
February Transferred to US 7th Fleet and redesignated as part of TF74 with HMAS HOBART, HM
Australian Destroyers WARRAMUNGA and ARUNTA.
Deployed south of Australia as Task Group 74.3 with HMAS ADELAIDE and three US Navy
destroyers to cover transit of military cover during passage from Fremantle to Sydney
(Note: Convoy included rms QUEEN MARY, rms AQUITANIA, French Liner ISLE DE
FRANCE and Dutch Liner NIEUW AMSTERDAM.
deployed as Task Group 74.3 for passage to Sydney.
27th Arrived at Sydney with convoy. (Operation PAMPHLET).
March Resumed support and convoy defence duties in SW Pacific.
15th Deployed in Task Farce 74 with HMAS HOBART, USS phoenix and sevn destroyers of
DESDRON 4 for support of US Navy operations in SW Pacific.
April Deployment with Task Force 74 for military support and convoy defence in SW Pacific
to in continuation.
May
June
23rd Covered US amphibious operation in New Georgia with HMAS HOBART, HMAS ARUNTA
HMAS WARRAMUNGA and nine US Navy destroyer.
(Operation CARTWHEEL – See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO)).
July
16th Diverted with HMAS HOBART and four US Navy destroyers from Espiritu Santo to reinforce
US ships supporting the landings in New Georgia. after recent losses.
(Note: HMAS HOBART was hit by torpedo from Japanese submarine I11 and had to return to
Espiritu Santo - See WAR WITH JAPAN.)
August Military support with TF74 in continuation.
September Provided naval gunfire support with T74 ships in support of US landings in New Britain.
October Support deployment in continuation.
November
5th Transferred with HMAS SHROPSHIRE, HMAS ARUNTA HMAS WARRAMUNGA and two US
Navy destroyers of TF74 from Milne Bay to reinforce South Pacific forces. See reference.
December
13th Covered landing by VII Amphibious Force in Arawe, New Britain with HM Australian Cruiser
SHROPSHIRE, HMAS ARUNTA and HMAS WARRAMUNGA with TF74 ships.
(Operation DIRECTOR – See WAR WITH JAPAN for details)
26th Covered landing and provided naval gunfire support for landing of US 1st Marine Division at
Cape Gloucester, New Guinea with HMAS SHROPSHIRE, HMAS ARUNTA, HMAS
WARRAMUNGA and US destroyers HELM and USS RALPH TALBOT.
(Operation BACKHANDER –See WAR WITH JAPAN for details)
1 9 4 4
January
2nd Covered landing by 32nd US Infantry Division near Saidor, New Guinea with HMAS SHROPSHIRE
HMAS ARUNTA, HMAS WARRAMUNGA and six US destroyers.
(Operation DEXTERITY – See WAR WITH JAPAN for details.)
February Under refit
to Close range single Oerlikon guns for AA defence replaced by twin mountings.
March
April On completion rejoined TF74
22nd Covered landings of 1 US Corps IN New Guinea at Hollandia (Operation RECKLESS) and Aitape,
(Operation PERSECUTION) with HMAS SHROPSHIRE, HMAS ARUNTA and two US destroyers
and ships of Task Force 75. See reference for details.)
May
25th Covered landings by 41st US Infantry Division on south coast of Biak with HMAS SHROPSHIRE,
HMAS ARUNTA, HMAS WARRAMUNGA, two US destroyers of TF74 and ships of Task Force 75.
(Operation HORLICKS)
June
8th Deployed with US Navy cruiser USS PHOENIX and destroyer screen to intercept convoy taking
Japanese reinforcements for landing en Biak Island
Convoy reversed course and ineffective exchanges of fire by destroyers during darkness at long
range pursuit was abandoned to ensure air cover would be available after daylight
(See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO)
July
14th Bombarded Japanese troops at Aitape in support of US shore operation with HMAS SHROPSHIRE,
HMAS ARUNTA, HMAS WARRAMUNGA and US destroyers.
August TF74 deployment in continuation.
September Transferred to Task Force 75 with RAN ships.
15th Covered landings of US troops on Morotai and provided naval gunfire support with
HMAS SHROPSHIRE, HMAS ARUNTA, HMAS WARRAMUNGA and two US destroyers
of TG75.2.
October
16th Supported preparatory operations for assault on Philippines with US Cruisers USS PHOENIX
and USS BOISE, HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE (RAN), HM Destroyer ARUNTA,
WARRAMUNGA and US destroyers of TG77.3.
20th Hit on Bridge structure by dive bombing during the Battle of Leyte Gulf and sustained
serious damage with many casualties.
Returned to British Fleet base at Manus.
November Under repair
28th Rejoined US 7th Fleet for support of military operations and convoy defence duties.
December
7th Fleet deployment in continuation.
1 9 4 5
January
5th Deployed with HMAS SHROPSHIRE and US Navy warships in Unit 1 of TG77.2 for support
of Luzon landings.
6th Hit by KAMIKAZE aircraft when entering Lingayen Gulf to provide naval gunfire support.
Sustained major damage.
8th Hit by four more KAMIKAZE aircraft and sustained further damage and many casualties.
9th Under further KAMIKAZE attacks and hit again.
Withdrawn from operations and took passage to Leyte for temporary repair.
February On completion of repair work took passage to Australia with call at Manus.
March Taken in hand for repair.
April Under repair
to Twin 8” mounting in X position removed.
August Improved design radar fitted.
