1 9 3 9
September Deployed with 2nd Cruiser Squadron
Home Fleet.
3rd Detached
for patrol off Norway with Humber Force to intercept any
Commerce Raider attempting passage to
Atlantic or any blockade runner
on passage
to German port.
4th During
patrol with HM Destroyer JERSEY Intercepted German freighter
JOHANNES MOLKEN
BUHR which was then scuttled by crew.
8th Patrol
duty in North Sea in continuation with HM Cruiser SOUTHAMPTON
22nd Deployed
with HM Cruisers SOUTHAMPTON, SHEFFIELD and AURORA
for
offensive patrol in Skaggerak.
Returned to Rosyth when operation
cancelled after HM Destroyers JERSEY
JAVELIN were
involved in collision.
26th Deployed
with Home Fleet units to escort damaged submarine HMS
SPEARFISH on passage to base in North Sea.
Under air attacks.
October
8th Joined
HM Battlecruisers HOOD and REPULSE with screen of Home Fleet
destroyers
to carry out search for German battlecruiser GNEISENAU and
cruiser KOLN
reported on passage in North
Sea.
November
12th Deployed
with HM Cruiser NEWCASTLE as escort for convoy of 19
tankers in
SW Approaches.
25th Detached
from convoy and returned to Scapa
Flow
10th Joined
HM Cruisers BELFAST, SOUTHAMPTON and AURORA
to form
North Sea Striking Force based at Rosyth.
21st Returned
to Rosyth after HMS BELFAST detonated a magnetic mine
when
Striking Force was leaving harbour and planned operation was
cancelled.
November
23rd Carried
out unsuccessful search off Norway with two destroyers for
German liner BREMEN.
Diverted to join Home Fleet ships in
NW Approaches in search for
battlecruisers
SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU after the sinking of
HM Armed Merchant Cruiser RAWALPINDI
which had been escorting
an Atlantic
convoy.
28th Deployed
in an unsuccessful search for ss CITY OF FLINT which had
been
captured by a German commerce raider and was on passage with
a Prize Crew
to Germany.
December Deployed in North Sea and NW Approaches for interception patrol.
1 9 4 0
January Transferred to 18th Cruiser
Squadron, Home Fleet.
7th Escorted
convoy in NW Approaches with HMS NEWCATLE.
February North Sea escort and patrol duties in continuation
17th Captured German trawler off Trondheim during patrol.
On release took passage to Belfast for routine docking and maintenance.
Deployed at Belfast.
(Note: During docking period
Degaussing equipment fitted to prevent
protection
against detonation of magnetic mines
See THE TORPEDOMEN by A Poland.)
For details of Home Fleet activities
and work of the Northern
Patrol see
Naval Staff History, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and ARMED
MERCHANT
CRUISERS by K Poolman).
March
20th Resumed Home Fleet duties on completion of repair.
April
6th Passage
to Rosyth from Scapa Flow.
7th Embarked
troops and stores in Forth with HM Cruisers BERWICK,
YORK and DEVONSHIRE to take part in planned allied landings
in Norway (Operation RUPERT/R4)
8th Troops
disembarked when Operation cancelled
Took passage from Forth
with same cruisers to intercept enemy
warships
reported on passage in North
Sea.
9th Detached
from search with HM Cruisers MANCHESTER,
SHEFFIELD, SOUTHAMPTON and AURORA to attack shipping at
Bergen after German invasion of Norway.
Bergen attack cancelled by Admiralty and rejoined Fleet
units.
Under heavy and sustained air attacks
during which HM Destroyer
GURKHA was sunk. Two ratings killed
on board when ship was
“near
missed”. See Naval Staff History (HMSO – 2001)
10th Detached
with HMS SHEFFIELD and took passage to refuel at Scapa
Flow. Under further air attacks.
11th Sailed
from Scapa Flow with HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD screened by
HM Destroyers SOMALI, SIKH, MASHONA,
AFRIDI, MATABELE
and MOHAWK
to carry out sweep in search of enemy vessels taking
troops to Norway.
13th Deployed
with same destroyers to search for warships reported by
aircraft in Alesund area of Norway.
Diverted on Admiralty orders to carry
out landings at Namsos by
seamen and
marines from the two cruisers (Operation HENRY)
14th Landed
advance party at Bangsund, near Namsos
Oerat
On completion carried out patrol
northwards (Operation HARRY).
17th Recovered landing party from destroyers.
Passage to Scapa Flow to replenish.
Nominated reinforcement of allied
force at Andalsnes
(Operation SICKLE)
Passage to Rosyth
for troops and stores.
22nd Sailed
from Rosyth HM Cruisers GALATEA and SHEFFIELD,
screened by
HM Destroyers VANSITTART, CAMPBELL, ICARUS,
IVANHOE, IMPULSIVE
and WITCH.
23rd Anchored
off shore on arrival and discharged passengers and stores
into
destroyers and small craft for landing (Operation SICKLE)
On completion took passage to rejoin
Home Fleet ships east of Shetlands.
28th Passage to Molde with HM Destroyers JACKAL and JAVELIN.
29th Embarked
King Haakon of Norway at Molde with Crown Prince ,
Government ministers and allied
legation personnel for passage to Tromso.
(Note: A quantity of gold bullion was
also embarked.)
30th Passage
to Scapa Flow from Tromso escorted by HMS
JAVELIN
and HMS
JACKAL, after passengers transferred to a Norwegian warship.
(For details of the disastrous
operations off Norway see NARVIK by
D MacIntyre, THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by
J Adams and
Naval Staff
History).
May On arrival at Scapa Flow nominated for special duty and took
passage to Greenock.
7th Embarked
Royal Marines at Greenock.
8th Sailed
from Greenock for Iceland with HM Cruiser BERWICK,
HM Destroyers FEARLESS and FORTUNE to
carry out initial
occupation
prior to landing of military occupation force.
(Operation FORK)
10th Arrived at Reykjavik and disembarked Marines.
Sailed for with German nationals for
internment and carried
out patrol
in eastern fjords before final departure.
On arrival at Liverpool taken in hand for refit
June Under refit.
(Note: Work included installation of an RAF air-surface radar
modified for
naval use (Radar Type 286M). For details of
development
and use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA
by D Howse.).
10th Boarded
and captured Italian freighter GAMBIANO in Liverpool
docks after Italy declared war.
July
1st Resumed
Home Fleet deployment on completion of refit.
16th Deployed
in North Sea with HM Cruisers SOUTHAMPTON,
SUSSEX and SHROPSHIRE in search for German warships.
During passage
in fog at high speed, collided with HM Destroyer
IMOGEN off Duncansby Head.
Extensive fires
started and structural damage forward above the waterline.
Rescued crew of
HMS IMOGEN when fires became out of control
and this warship had to be abandoned.
22nd Taken in hand for repair at Liverpool.
August Under repair.
to
September
October Nominated for service in Mediterranean.
Resumed operational
service on completion.
30th Took
passage to Gibraltar with HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL and
HM Battleship BARHAM with screen of
four destroyers.
November
6th Arrived
at Gibraltar.
7th Embarked
troops for passage to Malta and joined Force X with
HM Battleship BARHAM, HM Cruiser
BERWICK, HM
Destroyers, GALLANT, GRIFFIN, GREYHOUND and
ENCOUNTER for passage to Malta (Operation COAT).
(Note: Cover for the passage of these
reinforcements for the Fleet
in Alexandria was provided by Force H. See MALTA
CONVOYS by R Woodman, THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre and Naval Staff
History).
11th Landed
troops in Malta and joined 7th Cruiser Squadron.
Deployed as escort for HM Aircraft
Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS with
HM Cruisers BERWICK, GLOUCESTER and YORK to provide cruiser cover
during air
attacks on Italian Fleet at Taranto
(Operation JUDGEMENT).
14th Embarked
troops in Alexandria with HM Cruisers BERWICK,
YORK and SYDNEY (RAN) for passage to Piraeus, Greece.
16th Disembarked
troops in Piraeus and took return passage to Egypt
23rd Deployed
with HMS GLOUCESTER and HMS YORK with
screen
of four
destroyers for escort of Malta relief convoy MW4 as Force E
(Operation MB9 – Covered by Force D,
HM Battleship RAMILLIES,
HM Cruisers BERWICK, COVENTRY and NEWCASTLE screened
by HM
Destroyers DEFENDER, DIAMOND, GALLANT,
GREYHOUND and
HEREWARD. Force C. HM Aircraft Carrier
EAGLE, HM Battleships MALAYA
and BARHAM provided
Distant Cover.
Part of major Operation COLLAR))
26th Arrived in Malta with ships of Force E and MW4.
27th Took passage from Malta with Force E.
28th Joined
HM Cruisers MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON on
passage as
Force F from Gibraltar to join Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria.
29th Deployed
with Ships of Forces D, E and F as escort for Convoy ME4
during
passage from Malta to Alexandria.
December
1st Arrived
at Alexandria.
2nd Passage
to Suda Bay, Crete.
3rd Under
air attack at Suda Bay and damaged by two torpedoes.
Extensive flooding
and some fires aft. Two shafts were damaged.
Returned to Alexandria at 17 knots.
10th Under temporary repair at Alexandria.
(Note: For further details see above
references.)
1 9 4 1
January Under repair.
February Transferred to East Indies
Station because of speed limitation
to 24 knots
following damage at Suda Bay.
(Note: Only two shafts were available
as repair not possible at Alexandria.)
15th Transit of Suez Canal; on passage to Indian Ocean.
(Note: Ship provided cover for
passage of HM Supply Ships
GLENEARN, GLENGYLE and GLENROY to Mediterranean
as Force Y.
They were to be deployed with Mediterranean Fleet
and later
converted for use as Landing Ships (Infantry).
21st Diverted
on passage to join search in Indian
Ocean by East Indies
Fleet ships for German ADMIRAL SCHEER
which had sunk a
Canadian Armed Merchant Cruiser.
22nd Continued search with HM Aircraft Carrier HERMES. HM
Cruisers
AUSTRALIA (RAN), CANBERRA (RAN), EMERALD, SHROPSHIRE
and ENTERPRISE.
Ship’s WALRUS aircraft sighted SCHEER
in a position 140 miles from ship
and surface
contact not attempted because of inadequate fuel remaining.
28th Joined Force Y on release from search and escorted during
passage to Aden.
March
16th Joined
HM Cruiser CALEDON with HM Destroyers KIPLING and
KANDAHAR for escort of HM Armed Boarding Vessels
CHAKDINA and
CHANTALA during passage to Berbera.
17th Provided
naval gunfire support during landings of military units
at Berbera, British
Somaliland, which was
captured.
(Operation APPEARANCE)
On release from APPEARANCE deployed
for convoy defence
and
interception patrol in Indian
Ocean.
April Passage to Seychelles for escort of ss
TALAMBA.
Deployed with HM Cruiser CANBERRA (RAN) as escort for ss
TALAMBA from Seychelles to join military convoy WS6 on
passage from
Mombasa to Aden.
10th Joined
WS6 and relieved HM Cruisers CORNWALL and PHOEBE as
Ocean Escort.
(Note: HM Cruiser DORSETSHIRE
remained with WS6)
13th Detached
from WS6 and resumed interception patrol duties in
conjunction
with HM Cruiser COLOMBO.
24th At Mombasa with HMS COLOMBO.
28th Joined
military convoy WS7 as Ocean Escort with HMS
COLOMBO as relief for HM Cruiser HAWKINS.
(Note: WS7 included troopships on
passage to Aden and Bombay.)
May
1st Remained
with WS7 when convoy divided into sections for Aden
and Bombay (WS7X)
3rd Detached
from WS7 Ocean Escort when convoy dispersed on its
arrival off Perim
20th During
passage from Aden to Colombo diverted to carry out search for
commerce
raider PINGUIN known to be active in Indian Ocean.
June Indian Ocean
interception patrol and convoy defence duties in
to continuation,
including call at Singapore.
September
October
17th Joined
military convoy WS11X as Ocean Escort for passage to Bombay
after it had
detached from WS11 during passage from Durban.
22nd Detached from WS11X on arrival at Bombay and resumed patrol duties.
November
17th Joined
military convoy WS12 during passage from Durban to Aden and
detached as
Ocean Escort for new convoy WS12J during passage to
Colombo.
(Note: WS12J comprised the troopships
DUCHESS OF RICHMOND,
DOMINION MONARCH
and EMPRESS OF CANADA.)
23rd Detached from WS12J on arrival at Colombo.
24th Deployed
as Ocean Escort for DOMINION MONARCH and
EMPRESS OF CANADA as Convoy WS12
during passage in
Indian Ocean to Singapore.
26th Relieved
by HM Cruiser DRAGON as Ocean Escort for rest of
passage to Singapore and returned to Colombo as escort for ss AWATEA.
30th Resumed
Indian Ocean patrol duties on arrival at Colombo
December Deployed in Bay of Bengal.
9th Opened
fire and sank Royal Indian Navy Patrol Vessel HMIS
PRABNAVATI which had been mistakenly
identified as a
Japanese submarine.
Landed survivors at Bombay.
(Note: This 500 ton ship had been
requisitioned by the RIN).
1 9 4 2
January Convoy defence and patrol in
continuation.
to
February
March Passage from Durban with HM Armed Merchant Cruiser
WORCESTERSHIRE to
reinforce escort for military convoy.
25th Joined
HMS NEWCASTLE and HM Sloop MILFORD
as
Ocean Escort for military convoy
WS16.
(Note: HMS
NEWCASTLE detached later that day.)
April Nominated for repair and refit in USA.
1st Detached
from WS16 on relief by HM Cruiser COLOMBO
and HM Armed
Merchant Cruiser ALAUNIA.
(Note: Japanese naval units were
known to be operating in
Indian Ocean. See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)
Took return passage to Mombasa.
Prepared for passage to USA and sailed from Mombasa.
May
6th Taken
in hand for repair and refit by US Navy Yard in New York.
June Under refit.
to (Note:
Work done included
Main armament Fire-control Radar Type
284, Aircraft warning
July Fire-control Radars Type 285 and 282,
Aircraft warning Radar
Radar Type 281 installation and Radar
Type 286M replaced by
new Type
271.
Close range AA armament improved by
fit of additional 20mm
Oerlikon guns.)
August On completion of Post Refit trials took passage to UK to complete radar
installations
at Portsmouth.
September On completion of refit work carried
out trials off Portsmouth..
3rd Joined
10th Cruiser Squadron and worked-up at Scapa Flow.
October Resumed operational service
with Squadron in Home Fleet
based at Scapa Flow.
November Home Fleet deployment in
continuation.
December Under repair at Clyde commercial shipyard.
1 9 4 3
January Rejoined Squadron in Home
Fleet.
20th Deployed
with HM Cruisers BERMUDA and KENT to
provide cruiser
cover
against attack on Russian Convoy JW52 and return convoy RA52
during
transit.
(Note: For details of all Russian
Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO
RUSSIA by RA Ruegg, CONVOY ! by P Kemp, ARCTIC
CONVOYS by R Woodman and THE RUSSIAN
CONVOYS by
B Schoefield.)
February Deployed with Squadron for Home
Fleet duties.
Provided cover for Atlantic convoys
based in Iceland.
23rd Dragged
anchor at Seidisfjord and grounded.
Towed clear by tugs.
March
2nd Deployed
with HM Battleships KING GEORGE V and
HOWE to provide Distant Cover for
return passage of
Convoy RA53 from Kola Inlet. See
references.
30th Deployed
for Northern Patrol based in Iceland.
During Area WHITE Patrol in Denmark Strait intercepted German
blockade
runner REGENSBERG on passage from Japan. Enemy
ship
scuttled on approach. Six survivors were rescued.
April Home Fleet deployment for interception and
convoy defence
in
continuation.
May Transferred to Plymouth Command for
interception of coastal
shipping and
blockade runners in SW Approaches.
June
12th Deployed
to cover destroyer operations against French coastal
shipping
with HMS BERMUDA.
20th Deployed
in Bay of Biscay and SW Approaches to cover HM Escort
Aircraft Carrier ARCHER and frigates
of Escort Group B5 during
anti-submarine
operations.
(For details of the offensive carried
out against U-Boats in transit
to and from
Atlantic convoy routes see HITLER’S U-BOAT
WAR by C Blair, THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D
Macintyre, U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and
Naval Staff
History).
29th Provided
Ocean Escort for ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron
during
minelay in Northern Barrage.
(Operation SN22A – See Naval Staff
History (Mining).)
July Channel deployment in continuation.
20th Deployed
with HM Destroyers ATHABASCAN (RCN),
IROQUOIS (RCN) and Polish ORP ORKAN for offensive
patrol in Bay of Biscay.
August Under refit by HM Dockyard
Devonport.
to (Note:
Aircraft facilities removed. Additional 20mm weapons
September fitted to improve Close Rage air
defence. Radar outfits
modernised
with new Fire-Control Type 283 fitted. IFF
equipment
was installed and VHF radio-telephone outfits.
October On completion transferred to
Portsmouth Command in continuation.0
27th Embarked
First Sea Lord, Admiral Sir Andrew Cunningham
and Lady
Dudley Pound for ceremonial interment of Admiral
of the Fleet
Sir Dudley Pound whose ashes were scattered 30
miles off Nab Tower.
November Deployed in English Channel and SW Approaches to cover
attacks on
French coastal shipping (Operation TUNNEL Series)
December Interception patrol and covering
duties in continuation.
12th Deployed
with HM Cruiser GAMBIA NNW of Azores to
intercept
blockade runners known to be on passage from Far East
(Operation STONEWALL).
27th After
sighting by SUNDERLAND aircraft, redeployed with HM Cruisers
ENTERPRISE, PENELOPE and ARIADNE to intercept blockade runner
ALSTERUFER.
In action with German destroyers and
torpedo boats sent to meet blockade
runner and
with HMS ENTERPRISE sank destroyer Z25 and torpedo
boats T25
and T26.
Sustained slight
structural damage from splinters.
ALSTERUFER was abandoned after air
attacks and later sank.
62
survivors were rescued.
28th Under
attack by Glider Bombs controlled by aircraft whilst on passage to
Plymouth with HMS ENTERPRISE after engagement
29th Arrived
at Plymouth.
1 9 4 4
January Convoy defence, cover and
interception patrol duties in
to continuation.
April Nominated for support of planned allied landings
in Normandy
(Operation NEPTUNE)
Allocated for service with Western
Task Force under US Navy
Command in Bombarding Force C with US
Battleships USS
TEXAS and ARKANSAS, Free French Cruisers MONTCALM and
GEORGES LEYGUES, nine US Navy
destroyers and three RN
HUNT Class Destroyers.
(For details of naval activities
before and during NEPTUNE See
LANDINGS IN NORMANDY. June 1944 (HMSO) and
OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards.)
Prepared for
bombardment duties.
May Took part in bombardment exercises in Cape Wrath area.
June
3rd Passage
from Belfast to Channel with ships of Force C.
4th Operation
postponed for 24 hours.
5th Passage
through Swept Channel to OMAHA Beach head with Convoy O1
from St
Albans Head.
6th Provided
covering fire during landings on OMAHA Beaches with ships
of Force C,
7th Remained
off beaches to provide naval support gunfire as required.
(Note: Replenished ammunition and
supplies during Build-Up Phase and
returned to
Assault area
20th Nominated
for naval bombardment of defences of Cherbourg and took
passage to Portland to join Task Force 129.
21st At Portland for briefing. See references
Joined Bombardment Group No 1 with
HMS ENTERPRISE, US cruisers
TUSCALOOSA, QUINCY and NEVADA.
(Note: British 9th Minesweeping
Flotilla and US 159th Minesweeping
Flotilla were
part of Group 1 with screen of six US Navy destroyers.
24th Sailed
from Portland with Task Force.
25th Carried
out preliminary bombardment with ships of Group 1 from position
25,000
yards NW of Cherbourg
(For details see LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY.)
On completion of preliminary
bombardment took passage with ships of
Group 1 to Fire Support Area No.3 for
close range joint bombardment of
defences
with Groups 1 and 2 after mine clearance..
Under heavy shore fire before minesweep completed and carried out
bombardment
to north of Fire Support Area.
Sustained damage by
two direct hits and one near miss.
(Note: Structural damage in hangar
area and aft with damage
to electric
cabling and fire control equipment. See reference)
30th Withdrawn from Western Task Force.
July Withdrawn from operational service and took
passage to Tyne
Called at Belfast during passage for refit in
commercial shipyard.
3rd Arrived
in Tyne.
Paid-off and taken in hand for refit
and repair to action damage.
August Under refit and repair
to (Note:
Modern radar were fitted together with an Aircraft Homing
December Beacon (Outfit YE). Type 281B with
single aerial replaced
Air Warning Type
281 which required use of both masts.
Type 293 replaced Surface Warning
Type 273. Type 274
new Gunnery
radar replaced Type 284 for main armament.
“X” Turret removed.
1 9 4 5
January Refit and repair in
continuation
to
May
June Re-commissioned for service and post refit
trials.
29th Dockyard
work completed.
July Prepared for foreign
service with East Indies Fleet
Worked-up for
operational war service in Mediterranean.
August
22nd Sailed to join Fleet in East Indies with HM Cruiser JAMAICA.
