September Deployed in Indian Ocean for defence of trade.
to
December
1 9 4 0
January Trade defence duties in continuation
to
April
May Transferred to RN control.
Escorted military convoy US2 which including rms QUEEN MARY, rms MAURITANIA and
seven other passenger liners with HM Cruisers AUSTRALIA (RAN), PERTH (RAN) and
LEANDER (RNZN)
June Deployed in Indian Ocean for convoy defence and Interception of commerce raiders.
to
July
August Escorted Sydney - Fremantle convoys
Searched for raiders off Cocos Islands with PERTH (RAN).
September Convoy defence and Interception in Indian Ocean and Australian coastal waters.
to (For details of activities of commerce raiders see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
October by Corelli Barnett)
November
28th Escorted military Convoy US3 with HMAS PERTH during passage to Ceylon.
December Indian Ocean convoy defence and patrol in continuation.
1 9 4 1
January Under refit.
Close Range Anti- Aircraft defence improved by fitting 8 barrelled Pom-Pom mountings
and 20mm Oerlikons.
February Resumed Indian Ocean duties
Escorted military convoy US9 in Indian Ocean.
Relieved by HM Cruiser LEANDER.
March Indian Ocean interception and trade defence duty in continuation.
4th Intercepted German freighter COBURG and captured Norwegian tanker KETTY BROVIG.
April Deployed with HM Cruiser LEANDER in Indian Ocean.
10th Joined military convoy WS 6 as relief for HM Cruiser PHOEBE.
11th After detaching from WS6 resumed trade defence and interception duty.
May Transferred to ANZAC Squadron for convoy defence against attacks by German commerce
raiders in Indian Ocean and East Indies area.
June ANZAC Squadron deployment in continuation.
to (See OPERATION PACIFIC by Edwyn Gray).
October
November Deployed with HMAS PERTH for convoy defence.
December After outbreak of war with Japan transferred to defence of military convoys in SW Pacific.
Escorted US troop convoy with HMAS PERTH and HMNZS ACHILLES for the final stage of
passage to New Caledonia.
28th Escorted convoy ZK5 from Sydney to Port Moresby with HM Australian Cruisers ACHILLES,
PERTH and AUSTRALIA
1 9 4 2
January Military convoy defence in SW Pacific in continuation.
29th Transferred to ANZAC force with HM Cruisers AUSTRALIA, ADELAIDE, HOBART and
PERTH for service under overall US Navy command. See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).
February Escorted military convoy from New Zealand to Suva.
March Transferred to Indian Ocean for convoy defence.
to
April
May
30th At Sydney during Japanese midget submarine attacks on shipping.
June Nominated for duty with US Navy.
(For details of naval activities in SW Pacific see USN NAVAL OPERATIONS IN WW2
by SE Morison).
July Prepared for duty with US Navy.
10th Sailed from Sydney with HMAS AUSTRALIA, HMAS HOBART and US cruisers USS
CHICAGO and SALT LAKE CITY as Task Force 44 for support of US amphibious
Operations and convoy defence in SW Pacific.
August
7th Deployed on patrol off Talus with HMAS AUSTRALIA, USS CHICAGO and two
destroyers of US Navy.
9th In action with Japanese cruisers CHOKAI, AOKA, KAKO, KINUGASA and
FURUTAKI south of Savo Island whilst in low state of readiness.
Set on fire and received major damage after repeated hits by 5" shells and by four
torpedoes. 84 of ship's company were killed. (Casualty List - note on casualties)
Sunk by USS ELLET in position 09.15s 159.04E.
(Note: The circumstances and details of loss of this ship are the subject of a great
deal of controversy. Two official enquiries were held by RAN and a post-war
US Defence Department study also included this action.
SHAME OF SAVO published in Australia contends that the ship was in fact
sunk by a US Navy destroyer.
There is substantial reason to judge that the sinking has not been explained fully.)
