August                  Transferred to RN control..

                29th        Sailed from Auckland for war deployment on the America and West Indies Station.

 

September             Deployed at Balboa for interception of German shipping.

                                (Note: The only RN warship off the west coast of the American continent.

                13th        After refuelling at Valparaiso continued patrol off Chilean coast.

                16th        Unable to intercept German ships which escaped in territorial waters.

                30th        Escorted liner ORDUNA from Buenaventura, Columbia to Callao, Peru

 

October

                5th          Transferred to Force "G" in South Atlantic for defence of trade and interception of enemy shipping.

                10th        Took passage to meet Join Force G after self maintenance period in Valparaiso.

                19th        Passed through Straits of Magellan.

                23rd        Sailed from Port Stanley after refuelling.

                26th        Met HM Cruiser EXETER off Lobes Island.

                27th        Joined HM Cruisers CUMBERLAND and EXETER and carried out joint patrol.

 

November

                11th        Carried out patrol with Force G after call at Rio de Janeiro

                                Returned to Plate estuary.

                22nd       Unsuccessful search for German shipping with HM Cruiser AJAX.

                26th        Patrolled off Brazilian coast.

 

 

December

                3rd          Called at Recife..

                10th        Joined HMS AJAX at Plate estuary.

                12th        Met HMS EXETER and began Joint patrol off estuary.

                13th        Took part in Battle of River Plate with HM Cruisers EXETER and AJX against the German

                                battleship GRAF SPEE.

                (For further details see THE BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE by Dudley Pope and Naval Staff

                History).

                Shadowed GRAF SPEE after action until enemy ship entered Montevideo.

                17th        Patrol terminated after GRAF SPEE scuttled.

                21st         Landed wounded at Port Stanley and deployed on local patrol.

                30th        Returned to Plate estuary for interception patrolled with IMS AJAX

 

1 9 4 0

 

January

                5th          Sailed for Falklands after transferring Flag to HMS AJAX.

                16th        Sailed for patrol off Rio de Janeiro.

                29th        After visit to Montevideo inspected wreck of GRAF SPEE before taking passage to Port Stanley.

 

February

                2nd         Took passage to New Zealand from Port Stanley.

                23rd        Reverted to service in New Zealand Division after arrival at Auckland.

                                Taken in hand for refit and damage repair.

 

March                    Under refit.

to

May

 

June                        Carried out post refit trials and prepared for operational service.

                14th        Deployed for Sea Trials and work-up in Hauraki Gulf.

                18th        Despatched to assist survivors of ss NIAGARA which had struck mine laid by the German raider

                                KONDOR.

                                Located lifeboats and towed these towards Hauraki Gulf.

                22nd       Deployed for search near Kermadac Islands.

                28th        Returned to Auckland.

 

July

                20th        Embarked Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Air Staff for passage to Fiji

                                Passage to Fiji for Defence conference.

                23rd        Arrived at Fiji.

                26th        Passage to Tonga.

                28th        Arrived at Tonga.

                31st         On return to Auckland became Flagship for Commodore NZ Division.

 

August

                20th        Deployed in search for German raider ORION after sinking of ss TURAKINA in Three Kings

                                Island area.

                25th        After refuelling in Auckland deployed to continued search off Campbell Island in Southern Ocean

                27th        Escorted mv ORCADES from Wellington to Lyttleton.

                28th        Escorted troop convoy to Melbourne.

                                (Note: Convoy include mv ORCADES, ss EMPRESS OF JAPAN and rms MAURETANIA).

 

September

                2nd         Return passage to Auckland.

                6th          Embarked NZ Government officers for passage to Tahiti for conference.

                15th        Passage to Cook Islands with officials for conference.

                21st         Passage to Auckland from Raratonga.

 

October

                21st         Deployed for interception patrol off North Cape..

 

November

                7th          Escorted Military Convoy US7 for passage to Sydney.

                16th        Deployed for patrol off Auckland Island and Campbell Island.

                28th        Searched for raider after report from ss RANGATANE which was subsequently sunk.

                                Located wreckage.

                30th        Interception patrol continued off Auckland.

 

December

                1st           Escorted mail steamer from North Cape to Tasman Sea.

                5th          Escorted mv DOMINION MONARCH to Wellington.

                8th          Carried out search for raider in Tasman Sea.

                                Returned to Auckland when operation cancelled.

                20th        Escorted Military Convoy US8 to Sydney

                23rd        At Sydney.

                30th        Escorted US Military Convoy T1 for passage to Auckland.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January

                2nd         Detached to escort Convoy VK1 to Auckland.

                6th          Escorted as EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA for passage to Fiji and returned to Auckland.

                10th        Routine docking.

 

February

                7th          Escorted liner for part of passage to Panama and detached at Chatham Island.

                12th        Escorted Convoy ZT2 to Sydney.

                18th        Detached for escort of liner to Cap Maria Van Diemen, North Island NZ.

                26th        Escorted Convoy AP13 on passage to Panama to position 450 miles N of Chatham Is.

 

March

                3rd          Escorted Convoy APP14 to same area.

                6th          Deployed on escort of Panama convoys towards Chatham Island.

                20th        Released from convoy defence in Pacific.

 

April

                7th          Escorted military convoy to Australian coast with HM Australian Cruisers AUSTRALIA and

                                HOBART.

                10th        Detached for escort of rms QUEEN MARY to join Convoy US10 from Sydney to Aden.

                11th        Joined Military Convoy US10 which included rms QUEEN ELIZABETH, ss ILE DE

                                FRANCE, ss MAURETANIA and ss NIEUW AMSTERDAM.

                12th        Detached and returned to Auckland after refuelling in Sydney.

 

May                        Passage to Fiji with escort of liner to position 500 miles SE of East Cape, North Island NZ.

                14th        On return passage rescued 'survivors of HMNZ Minesweeper PURIRI which had sunk during

                                minesweeping operation to clear mines laid by raider ORION off Hauraki Gulf.

                20th        Escorted mv RANGATIRA from Wellington to Fiji.

 

June

                2nd         Returned to Wellington after 26 days at sea steaming 9875 miles).

                10th        Escorted Convoy AP41 (Ex VK12) to Chatham Island.

                12th        Detached and escorted ship during return passage to Wellington.

                14th        Further convoy escort duty Convoy to Chatham Island.

                15th        When detached escorted ship for passage from Noumea

                20th        Returned to Auckland.

                23rd        Escorted liner to North Cape and returned with another ship to Vfeellington.

                27th        Escorted ss AQUITANIA to Bass Strait.

                30th        Joined HM Australian Cruiser AUSTRALIA for escort of Military Convoy US11A for part of

                passage to Aden. Convoy included as AQUTTANIA, rms QUEEN MARY and rms

                QUEEN ELIZABETH.

 

July                         Detached from convoy and returned to Auckland for refit

                Taken in hand on arrival.

                (Statistics: Miles steamed since 9/39: 133,327

                Miles steamed since last docking: 41,937).

                Transferred to Royal New Zealand Navy on formation and became HMZNS ACHILLES.

 

August                  Under refit and carried out post refit trials.

                29th        Resumed escort duty and escorted rms RIMUTAKA from Cape Palliser to Chatham Island.

 

September             When detached escorted mercantile to Wellington.

                15th        Deployed as Ocean Escort for Convoy US12B.

                18th        On relief by HMAS ADELAIDE and HMAS SYDNEY returned to Auckland.

 

October                  Deployed for interception duty in Pacific.

                3rd          Carried out raider search in Tasman Sea with HMAS ADELAIDE and an HM New Zealand

                                Armed Merchant Cruiser MONOWAI.

                10th        Returned to Auckland with HMNZS MDNOWAI of New Zealand Division.

                14th        Relieved HMAS ADELAIDE in Tasman Sea as escorted for liner to Auckland.

                20th        Escorted US liner from Auckland for part of passage to USA as far as Equator.

                27th        Detached and took passage to Suva.

 

November              Passage to Auckland arriving on 4th.

                8th          Escorted US Liner for passage to Australia.

                22nd       Took over escort of Convoy VK21 in Bass Strait from HMAS ADELAIDE.

                24th        Detached east of Chatham Island.

                27th        Escorted convoy from Cape Brett to Navalu Passage.

                30th        Passage from Suva with HM Cruiser LEANDER to Auckland.

 

December

                5th          Deployed on escort of ships between New Zealand and Fiji..

                8th          Transferred to Eastern Fleet after outbreak of war with Japan.

                                Took passage from Suva for Port Moresby.

                11th        Order to join HM Battleship PRINCE OF WALES and HM Battlecruiser REPULSE in the

                Eastern Fleet as part of Force "Z" cancelled after loss of these two ships.

                Released from Eastern Fleet duty and returned to Auckland.

                16th        Passage from Auckland to join US Convoy for New Caledonia from Brisbane.

                19th        Joined US Cruiser US S PENSALCOLA for escort of convoy which later was reinforced

                                by HM Australian Cruisers CANBERRA and PERTH.

                22nd       Detached and took passage to Sydney with HMAS CANBERRA and HMAS PERTH.

                28th        Escorted Convoy ZK5 including ss AQUITANIA, ss SARPEDON and ss HERSTEIN, taking

                                troops and stores from Sydney to Port Moresby, with HMAS AUSTRALIA, HMAS

                                CANBERRA and HMAS PERTH.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January

                4th          Detached to escort ss SARPEDON and ss HERSTEIN to Noumea.

                9th          Escorted NZ military convoy to Suva.

                11th        Joined HM Cruiser LEANDER to escort three freighters to Auckland.

                15th        Covered passage of freighters to Suva with HMS LEANDER, HMAS AUSTRALIA and

                                HMAS PERTH.

                17th        Under routine docking

                25th        Resumed operational duty.

                27th        Escorted US military convoy to Suva with US Cruiser USS PHOENIX.

                29th        Detached when relieved by HMS LEANDER.

 

February

                12th        Joined HMAS AUSTALIA, HMNZS MOINOIWAI, US Cruiser USS CHICAGO and US

                                Destroyers USS LAMSON and USS PERKINS in ANZAC Squadron at Suva with HMS

                                LEANDER.

                14th        Deployed with Squadron for patrol between Fiji and New Caledonia.

                18th        Squadron joined US Task Force 11 for defence operation off Rabaul.

                (Note: TF11 included aircraft carrier USS LEXINGTON, cruisers USS INDIANAPOLIS,

                USS MINNEAPOLIS, USS PENSACOLA and USS SAN FRANCISCO) with

                screen of US Navy destroyers.)

                20th        Under air attack and need for high speed manoeuvres reduced fuel stock. ,

                Withdrew from area to refuel and rejoined on 22nd.

 

March

                3rd          Relieved US Cruiser PORTLAND with HMS LEANDER as escort for Convoy PW2034

                                during passage to Brisbane.

                16th        Deployed at Noumea.

                17th        Escorted HM Australian Armed Merchant Cruiser WESTRALIA with HMS LEANDER for

                                passage to Epata.New Hebrides with US personnel and equipment for construction of an

                                airstrip.

                18th        Returned to Noumea.

                28th        Deployed with ANZAC Squadron for escort of convoy taking US troops to Vila, New

                                Hebrides.

                                Returned to Suva on release..

 

April

                1st           Sailed from Noumea to meet Convoy PW2055.

                3rd          Escorted rma QUEEN ELIZABETH, ss MARIPOSA and ss PRESIDENT COOLIDGE from

                                Kermadoc Islands during passage to Sydney.

                6th          Mountings for seven single 20am Oerlikon mountings fitted in Sydney to supplement defence

                                against close range air attacks.

                18th        Deployed as escort liner on passage from Melbourne to San Francisco as far as a position NE

                                of Samoa.

                29th        Joined US Destroyers USS HELM and USS HELMSEY to meet US destroyer HEMSLEY and

                                HMS LEANDER to form Task Group 12.2

                                Escorted Convoy PW2059 for passage to Vila.

 

May

                4th          Arrived at Vila with convoy.

                5th          Joined US Task Force 17 with HMAS AUSTRALIA and HMAS HOBART for the support of

                                US amphibious operations in SW Pacific.

                                20mm Oerlikon guns fitted (Ex HMS LEANDER).

                6th          Commenced series of night patrols off New Hebrides.

                25th        Escorted US ships to Wallis Island.

                29th        Deployed for further escort of US ships to Wallis Island.

 

June                        Deployed as Guardship at Wallis Island.

                20th        Returned to Suva and rejoined TF17.

 

July                         Deployed with TF17.

                9th          Escorted military convoy from Bora Bora to Wellington.

                11th        Arrived at Wellington.

                28th        Passage to Pago Pago from Auuckland with transports.

                31st         Arrived at Pago Pago with transports.

 

August                  Deployed at Pago Pago for convoy defence and support duties.

                2nd         Escorted US convoy on passage from San Francisco to Suva.

                12th        Convoy defence and support in continuation.

                22nd       Deployed at Noumea.

 

September

                2nd         Escorted ships to Tonga from Noumea and Niue.

                16th        Passage to Auckland for refit.

                20th        Taken in hand for refit at Auckland.

 

October                  Under refit.

to

November

 

December              Carried out post refit trials.

                12th        On completion escorted ss AQUITANIA from Wellington to Tasmania.

                                Relieved off Tasmania by HMAS ADELAIDE.

                17th        After refuelling in Melbourne took passage to Noumea

                21st         On arrival at Noumea joined US Task Force 65.

                30th        Transferred to US Task Force 67 at Espiritu Santo. New Hebrides.

                                (Note: TF 67 included US cruisers USS HONOLULU, USS COLOMBIA,

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

                3rd          Escorted military convoys to Guadalcanal with ships of TF67.

                4th          Deployed off Solomons and bombarded airfield at Munda, New Georgia.

                5th          Whilst providing naval gunfire support off Guadalcanal hit on "X" turret during

                                air attacks and badly damaged.

                8th          Under temporary repair at Espiritu Santo by US repair ship VESTAL.

                                On completion of repair took passage to Melbourne.

 

February

                1st           Passage from Melbourne to Auckland.

                3rd          Arrived at Auckland.

                4th          Repair arranged in UK and prepared for passage.

                19th        Took passage to UK via Panama call with calls at Bora Bora and Bermuda.

 

March                    On passage to UK.

                22nd       Arrived at Portsmouth and Paid-off.

 

April                       Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard Portsmouth,

to

May

 

June

                22nd       Explosion in 'empty’ fuel tank killed several dockyard workers and caused very

                                extensive structural damage.

 

July

                                Refit completion deferred from September 1943 to May 1944.

 

August                  Under refit.

to                            One 6" mounting ("X") removed

December              Single 4" AA mountings replaced by Twin 4" mountings.

                                Additional 20mm Oerlikons fitted.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Under refit at Portsmouth.

to                            Surface warning, combined surface and aircraft warning radars fitted.

April                       Fire control radars fitted for 6" and AA armament installed.

                                (For details of development and use of radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA by

                                D Howse).

 

May

                23rd        Commissioned for service with RNZN.

                Not ready for operational deployment.

                Ordered to leave Portsmouth because of requirements for planned Normandy

                landings.

 

June

                2nd         Sailed for Scapa Flow via Irish Sea.

                                Machinery defects during passage.

                                Allocated for service with 4th Cruiser Squadron in Eastern Fleet.

                3rd          Taken in hand for repair at Greenock.

 

July                         Under repair.

                                On completion of repair work took passage to Scapa Flow for work-up.

 

August                  Worked-up with for operational service with ships of Home Fleet.

                16th        Took passage for Gibraltar.

                19th        Embarked 300 troops.

                20th        Took passage to Algiers and disembarked troops.

                22nd       Passage to Alexandria with call at Malta.

                30th        Sailed from Alexandria for Ceylon.

 

September

                5th          Boiler Room fire caused damage needing repair.

                13th        Under repair at Trincomalee after call at Bombay.

 

October                  Under repair.

 

November              Under repair

                22nd       Transferred to BPF on formation.

 

December              Carried out harbour trials.

                4th          Joined Squadron at Colombo on completion of trials.

                9th          Sailed from Colombo with HM Escort Aircraft Carriers ATHELING, BATTLER,

                                HM Destroyers WAGER and WHELP for passage to Australia.

                10th        Joined HM Escort Aircraft Carriers FENCER, STRIKER, HM Cruiser

                                SWIFTSURE, HM Destroyers KEMPENFELT, WAKEFUL and WESSEX.

                16th        Detached with HMS SWIFTSURE for visits to Fremantle and Hobart.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  At Hobart.

                9th          Sailed from Hobart with HM Destroyers QUIBERON and QUICKMATCH as

                                escort for three liners on passage to Indian Ocean.

                14th        Detached when relieved by HM Cruiser LONDON and took passage to

                                Fremantle.

                21st         Joined escort for mv RIMUTAKI taking Governor General Designate of Australia

                                (HRH The Duke of Gloucester) to Sydney as relief for HM Cruiser SUFFOLK,

                                HM Aircraft Carrier UNICORN and HM Destroyer ULSTER.

                27th        Arrived at Sydney with mv RIMUTAKI, HMS QUIBERON and HMS

                                QUICKMATCH.

                31st         Passage to Auckland with HM Battleship HOWE, HM Destroyers QUADRANT,

                                QUALITY and QUICKMATCH for visit by CinC British Pacific Fleet.

 

February

                5th          Arrived at Auckland

                6th          Taken in hand for refit.

 

March                    Under refit.

                                Single 20mm mountings replaced by twin Oerlikon mountings.

 

April                       Carried out post refit trials.

                26th        On completion took passage to Australia for work-up prior to BPF service.

 

May

                2nd         Worked up with BPF ships in Sydney and Jervis Bay exercise area.

                11th        Sailed to join BPF at Manus.

                22nd       Joined Task Force 57 in Replenishment area COOTIE off Okinawa.

                23rd        Deployed with screen during flying operations off Sakishima Gunto.

                                (Operation ICEBERG).

                30th        Arrived at Manus and remained when other BPF ships went to Australia..

 

June                        Operational deployment in SW Pacific with 5th US Fleet.

                12th        Transferred to Task Unit 111.2 for series of air attacks on Truk by HM Aircraft

                Carrier IMPLACABLE and HM Escort Aircraft Carrier RULER, HM Cruisers

                SWIFTSURE, UGANDA and NEWFOUNDLAND screened by HM Destroyers

                TROUBRIDGE, TENACIOUS, TEAZER, TERPSICHORE and TERMAGANT.

                (Operation INMATE).

                (For details of operations in Pacific see OPERATION PACIFIC by E Gray,

                TASK FORCE 57 by P Smith and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).

                13th        Detached with cruisers during flying operations.

                14th        Bombarded island of Dublon with UGANDA and TENACIOUS.

                17th        Began Self Refit on return to Manus.

                28th        Resumed operational service at Manus.

 

July                         Transferred to 3rd US Fleet for duty in Task Force 37 with BPF ships.

                6th          Rejoined 4th Cruiser Squadron when British Pacific Fleet returned to Manus

                                from Australia.

                16th        Deployed with BPF as redesignated TF37 in operations off mainland of Japan.

                                Acted as Screen and used for shore bombardment with BPF

                                (Preliminary phase of Operation OLYMPIC).

                20th        Refuelled from USN tankers of Task Unit 30.8 with HM Cruisers UGANDA

                                and GAMBIA in order to continue participation in joint RN/US operations off

                                Japan.

                24th        Covered carrier flying operations against targets in Kure, Miko, Kobe, Nagoya

                                and Tokyo.

                31st         Stationed between US Task Force 37 and British Task Force 38 during

                                refuelling of USN ships to act as voice communication link between allied

                                ships.

 

August                  BPF deployment in continuation.

                6th          Remained in operational area with TF37 during final air operations.

                11th        Returned to Manus with HM Aircraft Carriers FORMIDABLE, IMPLACABLE,

                                VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers ARGONAUT and EURYALUS screened by eight

                                destroyers.

                24th        Passage to Auckland to rejoin RNZN.