1 9 4
2
December Contractors trials.
31st Build completion
date and commissioning.
1 9 4 3
January Acceptance trials.
20th On completion took passage to Scapa Flow to work-up with 10th Cruiser
Squadron Home Fleet.
22nd Worked-up with Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
February On
completion of work-up deployed with Squadron in Home Fleet.
Nominated for service in Mediterranean.
March Transferred
to Plymouth Command with two Home Fleet destroyers.
17th Deployed in Bay of
Biscay for interception of blockade runners.
April Passage to Gibraltar to join
12th Cruiser Squadron.
18th Joined Squadron at Algiers for interception of North
African supply convoys.
May Transferred
to 15th Cruiser Squadron for duty as Flagship.
22nd Embarked CinC (Admiral A B Cunningham)
for passage to Malta.
24th Passage to Algiers to rejoin
Squadron.
June
3rd Deployed for
attack on Pantellaria (Operation CORKSCREW).
5th Bombarded Italian
positions on Pantellaria.
8th Repeated
bombardment.
11th Covered landing of 1st British Division
on Pantellaria with H M Cruisers AURORA,
PENELOPE,
ORION and EURYALUS screened by Fleet destroyers and MTB's.
(For
details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett).
13th Deployed with HM Destroyer NUBIAN at Linosa and accepted its surrender
16th Carried out
exercises in Suez Bay until 22nd
June.
July Transferred
to 15th Cruiser Squadron as Flagship.
5th General Montgomery visited ship in Malta.
6th Admiral Ramsay came on board.
9th Passage to Alexandria to cover passage of military
convoys for Sicilian landings
(Operation HUSKY. For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by
. C. Barnett and Naval Staff History).
11th Part of Support Force East for assault
landings with H M Cruisers UGANDA, ORION,
MAURITIUS, CARLISLE, COLOMBO and DELHI.
Provided gunfire support at Pozallo with
HM Destroyers BRISSENDEN and BLANKNEY.
12th Bombarded Syracuse and Augusta. Came under
threat of submarine attacks.
17th Bombarded coastal targets and harbour AA
defences at Augusta until 22nd July.
19th Bombarded gun positions at Catania with HM Destroyers LOOKOUT and BLANKNEY.
20th Bombarded shore positions at Lentini
and Carlentini with same destroyers.
23rd Took passage from Augusta, Sicily for Malta with HM Cruiser MAURITIUS
screened by HM
Destroyers LAFOREY, LOOKOUT and LOYAL.
Under
attack by U407 which failed.
Torpedoed by Italian submarine ASCIANGHI whilst on passage.
Sustained major damage aft to steering gear and stem structure.
One
rating was blown overboard and lost his life and six other men injured.
(Note:
One source records the torpedoes from the Italian submarine missed.
ASCIANGHl was sunk during the subsequent anti-submarine
operations by HM
Destroyers LAFOREY and ECLIPSE.
24th At Malta.
August Temporary
repair carried out before taking passage to USA.
(Note:
Only two shafts were available and steering possible only by main engines.)
8th Sailed for Gibraltar.
12th Sailed for USA.
22nd Taken in hand for repair by US Navy Yard.on arrival at Boston
September Under repair at Boston Navy Yard.
to
December
1 9 4 4
January Repair
at Boston Navy Yard in continuation.
February
14th Captain R W Ravenhill
joined ship to take command.
Commissioned for Trials and passage.
20th Completed refit.
March Carried
out post refit trials.
April Passage to Norfolk, Virginia.
20th Took passage to St. Johns, Newfoundland
29th At St. Johns.
May
3rd Took passage to UK.
Re-commissioned for service after
arrival.
June Under
further refit in Clyde shipyard to completion installation of British radar equipment
units not available in USA.
(Note:
Replacement of main armament fire control radar Type 284 by a new design
of centimetric wavelength, Type
274.
Replacement of surface warning Radar Types 272 by new design Type
293.
Replacement
of air warning Radar Type 281 using both masts by new design Type 281B
using only an aerial on the mainmast.
Installation of new design radar Type 277 for control of
aircraft and for surface
warning.
For
details of development and use of radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA by D. Howse).
Improved
Close Range AA weapons were also fitted.)
July Under
refit
to (Note: Following the addition of new
radars and weapon equipment displacement at Full
October Load
had increased to 11,058 tons compared with 10,840 on build).
November
3rd Refit work completed and commenced
harbour and sea trials.
22nd Prepared for
passage to Scapa Flow to rejoin
Fleet.
Nominated for service as Flagship,
4th Cruiser
Squadron in British Pacific Fleet.
December Deployed at Scapa Flow to work-up for operational
service with ships of the Home Fleet.
21st Passage to Mediterranean.
1 9 4 5
January Deployed
in eastern Mediterranean.
February
2nd Sustained major damage after an
explosion in port torpedo tube mounting Alexandria.
There
were some casualties.
Taken
in hand for repair during which an additional 40mm Close Range AA Armament was
fitted.
(Note:
This work delayed the planned deployment).
March
26th Took passage to Sydney via Colombo, Cocos Island and
Fremantle.
April
20th Arrived at Sydney and prepared for service in
British Pacific Fleet.
27th CinC British Pacific Fleet, Admiral Sir
Bruce Fraser addressed ship's company.
May
4th Sailed to join HM Australian Cruiser
HOBART, HM Australian Destroyer ARUNTA and
HM
Australian Destroyer WARRAMUNGA to support military operations in New Guinea.
10th Bombarded Cape Hoem with HMAS
ARUNTA.
11th Bombarded Dove Bay before
landings (Operation DELUGE).
12th Provided naval gunfire support at Wewak with HMAS HOBART during landings by 6th
Australian Division.
On
release from DELUGE took passage to join British Pacific Fleet at Manus.
19th Took passage to Auckland, New
Zealand.
24th Arrived at Auckland for
R&R and minor repairs.
June
6th Took passage to
Manus to rejoin BPF.
Nominated for duty in Task Group 111.2 for attack on Truk Operation INMATE).
12th Joined HM Aircraft Carriers IMPLACABLE
and RULER with HM Cruisers SWIFTSURE,
ACHILLES
and UGANDA to cover flying operations
on Truk, screened by HM Destroyers
TROUBRIDGE,
TENACIOUS, TERPSICHORE and TEAZER (Operation INMATE).
Deployed as Task Unit 111.2.5 with HMS UGANDA (RCN) and HMS
ACHILLES (RNZN).
Carried out bombardment exercises on passage.
13th Detached with HMS SWIFTSURE and HMS
UGANDA screened by HM Destroyers
TROUBRIDGE, TENACIOUS and
TEAZER as Task Unit 111.2. to cover flying
operations.
14th Deployed in designated area during air
attacks by HMS IMPLACABLE which continued
after nightfall.
15th Rejoined main force at dawn.
Detached with HMS TROUBRIDGE to shell shore batteries on island of Uman.
Carried out bombardment.
(Note:
The other two cruisers carried out bombardment of other targets.
One
source suggests that this was not a total success owing to confusion with
aircraft
spotting reports which covered bombardments by all ships).
16th Task Group reformed for return passage
to Manus.
17th Arrived at British Forward Support Base,
Manus with TG111.2.
Returned
to Sydney with major units of Task Unit 112.3
28th Took
passage from Sydney with HM Battleships KING GEORGE V, HM Aircraft
Carrier,
FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers UGANDA and
EURYALUS screened by eight Fleet Destroyers.
July
4th Arrived
at Manus
6th Took passage from Manus with HM
Battleship KING GEORGE V, HM Aircraft Carriers
FORMIDABLE,
VICTORIOUS and IMPLACABLE, HM Cruisers UGANDA (RCN) and
ACHILLES
(RNZN) screened by RN destroyers of BPF as Task Force 37, part of US 3rd Fleet.
(Note: Destroyer screen comprised HM Destroyers GRENVILLE,
ULYSSES, UNDINE,
URCHIN
URANIA, UNDAUNTED, QUIBERCN (RAN), QUICKMATCH (RAN),
QUALITY
(RAN), QUADRANT (RAN) of 4th Destroyer Flotilla and H M Destroyers
TROUBRIDGE,
TENACIOUS, TERMAGANT, TERPSICHORE and TEAZER of 24th
13th Replenished from Fleet Train.
16th Deployed with TF37 to join Task Groups
38.1, 38.3 and 38.4 of 3rd Fleet for joint
RN/USN
bombardments and carrier air strikes against targets in the
Tokyo-Yokohama area.
17th Bombarded Hitachi Works north of Tokyo with HMS KING GEORGE V, HM
Cruiser BLACK
PRINCE and HM Australian Destroyer QUALITY.
18th Covered operations by H M Aircraft
Carriers FORMIDABLE, VICTORIOUS and IMPLACABLE
against targets on Japanese mainland until 27/7/45.
(For
details see THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton and Naval Staff History).
27th Replenished from
US Navy tankers of Task Unit 30.18.1 with HMNZS ACHILLES.
(Note:
This was necessary because of shortage of fuel from British Fleet Train).
31st Deployed with HM Escort Carrier RULER,
HM Cruisers ARGONAUT and ACHILLES.
Acted as voice radio communications link between British TF37 and
American TF38.
August
4th Released from radio link duty and
rejoined TF37.
9th On re-organisation of allied Task
Forces by US, detached with HMS KING GEORGE V, HMS
GAMBIA
and HM Destroyers TERPSICHORE, TENACIOUS and TERMAGANT to form
TG37.1.8
in 3rd US Fleet. Bombarded Kamaishu
in North Honshu with Task Unit 34.8.1.
12th Retained with HMS KING GEORGE V, HMS
INDEFATIGABLE, HMS GAMBIA and nine
RN
and RAN destroyers as TG38.5 to continue service when remainder of BPF had to
return to
Sydney because of
lack of fuel available from British Fleet Train tankers.
13th Covered HMS INDEFATIGABLE during air
attacks on Tokyo.
15th Joined US Task Group 38.4 for entry into
Japanese waters.
23rd Took passage to Tokyo Bay
27th In Sagami Wan
awaiting formal surrender ceremony.
31st Entered Tokyo Bay with HMS
GAMBIA.
(For
details of operations by British Pacific Fleet see OPERATION PACIFIC by E.
Gray,
THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J. Winton and Naval Staff Histories).
September
2nd Present in Tokyo Bay when Japanese Delegation
signed the Instrument of Surrender on board the
American battleship USS MISSOURI.
Resumed service in 4th Cruiser Squadron under RN control.
3rd Deployed in Japanese waters to assist
in evacuation of allied POW who were taken to hospital
ships and Escort Carriers in Tokyo Bay.
(Note:
Later deployed as Guardship at Yokosuka after other RN and
Commonwealth ships
sailed. Landed Royal Marines to take over Japanese Naval
Base
During
war service ship had steamed 122,490 miles.)
October
1st Took passage
from Yokohama for Sydney with call
at Manus.
7th Arrived in Sydney flying at the masthead
inferior to the White Ensign, the Japanese
Ensign
captured by the Landing Party at the Yokosuka
Ease.
Captain
Ravenhill left ship. Captain C C
A Allen assumed command.
29th Deployed for Goodwill Tour of New
Zealand including calls at Milford Sound, Port Chalmers,
Dunedin, Wellington and Auckland.
November New
Zealand deployment in continuation.
14th On completion took passage to Sydney.
December Deployed
at Sydney.
1 9 4 6
January Deployed
with 2nd Cruiser Squadron, British Pacific Fleet.
to
February
March During
passage in Malacca Straits in stormy weather Commander Liddell was killed on
deck.
April Squadron deployment in continuation.
Visited
Shanghai
May Passage
to Nanking with Admiral Fraser embarked for visit to Chinese Nationalist
Leader,
General Chiang-Kei-Shek.
Grounded in Yangtse River on
sandbank.
June Refit and docking at Hong Kong.
July
15th On completion rejoined Squadron for duty
in Far
East.
Deployed in Japanese waters.
August British Pacific Fleet duties with Squadron in
continuation.
to
September
October Nominated
for reduction to reserve and prepared for return passage.
28th Scuttled Japanese
heavy cruiser TAKAO, 11,350 tons.
(Note:
This cruiser had been damaged at Singapore by limpet mines and
explosive charges
placed by HM Submarine XE3 on 30th
July 1945.
Lieut.
Ian Fraser and Leading Seaman J J Magennis
were both awarded the Victoria
Cross
for this gallant service. See THE FORGOTTEN FLEET and FROGMAN VC by
Ian
Fraser).
November Left
Squadron and took passage to Devonport.
December
On
arrival paid off and taken in hand for refit.
S u m m
a r y o f P o s t W a r S e r v i c e
1 9 4 7
January Reducing
to Reserve status.
to
February
March
10th Deployed as Tender
to HMS RALEIGH for training of Stoker ratings.
April Training deployment in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 8 t o
1 9 4 9
Training deployment in continuation.
1 9 5 0
January Training
deployment in continuation.
to
June
July On
reversion to Reserve status laid up in Reserve Fleet at Devonport.
to Nominated for modernisation by HM
Dockyard, Devonport.
December
1 9 5 1
January Laid-up
at Devonport awaiting modernisation.
February Taken
in hand for modernisation and reconstruction under Dockyard Control.
March Under
dockyard control at Devonport.
to (Note: See Appendix for Notes on
Modernisation)
December
1 9 5 2
January Under dockyard control at
Devonport.
to Nominated to re-commission for service
4th Cruiser Squadron, East Indies.
May
June Advance
party of 25 officers and ratings joined from RN Barracks, Devonport.
July Modernisation in continuation.
to
September
October Carried
cut Post refit trials.
November
14th Commissioned for service
Commanding
Officer - Captain M G Goodenough.
Sea trials, weapon trials and Shakedown.
December On
completion prepared for foreign service.
1 9 5 3
January
8th Took passage from
Devonport for Portland.
9th Took passage from
Portland.
19th Took passage from Gibraltar.
26th Arrived at Malta after
work-up exercises on passage.
Deployed with ships of Mediterranean Fleet in Malta area.
(Note:
During stay visited by CinC, Admiral the Lord
Mountbatten of Burma.)
February Mediterranean
Fleet exercises in continuation.
11th Took passage to
East Indies Station.
23rd At Aden.
27th At Mukalla, South Yemen.
. 28th Sailed from Mukalla.
March
4th Arrived at Mogadishu, Somaliland.
(Note: Held under Italian administration by UN resolution since
1950).
8th Took passage from
Mogadishu to Mombasa. Arrived at
Mombasa, Kenya for visit.
16th Sailed from Mombasa to join
East Indies Squadron at Trincomalee.
24th Arrived at Trincomalee.
April
15th Took part in
multi-national SEATO exercise in Indian Ocean (Exercise JET).
21st On completion returned to Trincomalee.
27th Sailed from
Trincomalee for visit to Colombo.
28th At Colombo.
May
11th Took passage from Colombo for
Trincomalee.
12th Deployed at Trincomalee.
19th Took passage for Mombasa.
28th Arrived at Mombasa..
June
2nd At Mombasa for
Coronation ceremonials.
12th Sailed from Mombasa for visits
programme.
Arrived at Tanga, Tanganyika.
16th At Dar-es-Salaam, capital of Tanganyika.
24th Sailed for Zanzibar arriving
same day.
July
1st Took passage
from Zanzibar for Mauritius. Arrived at
Mauritius.
6th Arrived at Trincomalee.
August
3rd Took passage to Colombo for visit.
4th At Colombo.
17th Return passage from Colombo to Trincomalee.
18th Arrived at Trincomalee.
September Deployed
at Trincomalee with East Indies Squadron.
October At Trincomalee.
5th Took part in
Squadron exercises in Indian Ocean.
8th Returned to
Trincomalee on completion.
16th Took passage from
Trincomalee for duty in Persian Gulf.
24th Visited Mina al Ahmadi.
(Note:
Mina is the principal oil terminal for Kuwait).
November
4th At Bahrain.
9th Took passage to Ras Tanura, Saudi
Arabia for visit arriving same day.
10th Return passage to Bahrain.
11th Passage from Bahrain to Umm
Said, Trucial Emirate of Qatar.
(Note:
Umm Said is the principal industrial and oil complex
of the State and has since
been extensively developed. Now part of
the United Arab Emirates).
12th At Unn Said.
14th Took passage to Sharjah.
(Note:
Now part of the United Arab Emirates.
Became
a large oil exporting state in the 1970's and has since been very
extensively developed.
British
Army units were deployed here at the time.
17th Sailed from Sharjah
to Muscat.
18th At Muscat.
(Note: Capital of the Sultanate of Oman.
At
the time of the visit Oman was still under development,
but oil revenues have
transformed its economy. Muscat was, and still is medieval
and its position inside
a narrow gulf is not easily forgotten).
20th Took passage from Muscat for visit
to Bombay.
23rd At Bombay.
29th Return passage to Trincomalee.
December
3rd Resumed duties with East Indies
Squadron.
14th Took passage for Singapore from
Trincomalee.
21st Arrived at Singapore.
1 9 5 4
January Deployed at Singapore.
to (Note: Fleet at Singapore was significantly dispersed
due to UN requirements in Korea and
February was
also providing support to local anti-terrorist operations).
March
15th Took passage
from Singapore to rejoin
Squadron at Trincomalee.
21st Arrived at Trincomalee.
(Note:
Prepared for Royal escort duty in Indian Ocean).
30th Took passage from
Trincomalee for Cocos Islands for Royal
escort duty.
April
5th Arrived in Cocos Islands.
6th Escorted ss GOTHIC in Indian Ocean to Colombo from Cocos Islands.
(Note:
HM Queen Elizabeth n was embarked in GOTHIC for return passage to UK from
Royal Tour in New
Zealand and Australia.
10th Arrived at Colombo with ss
GOTHIC.
11th Honoured by visit from HM Queen
Elizabeth and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
21st Sailed as escort
for ss GOTHIC from Colombo for
passage to Aden.
27th Arrived at Aden and
detached from ss GOTHIC.
30th Sailed from Men to Berbera,
British
Somaliland.
Deployed
for Sea-Air Rescue duties)
May
4th Took passage
from Berbera to Trincomalee on completion of duties.
10th Arrived at Trincomalee.
Nominated for further detached service at Singapore.
22nd Took passage to Singapore for
support of anti-terrorist operations in Malaya.
27th Arrived at Singapore.
June Deployed
at Singapore
7th Sailed for
support of military operations.
8th Bombarded terrorist positions in Kedah Peak area.
9th On release
passage to Penang for visit,
arriving same day.
14th Took passage from Penang for visit to Sandakan.
20th At
Sandakan with HM
Survey Ship DAMPIER for Queens Birthday
Parade.
Note:
Wearing Flag of FO2 i/c FES).
23rd Took passage from Sandakan for visit to US Naval Base
at Subic Bay, Philippines
24th At Subic Bay,
26th Sailed from Subic Bay for Hong Kong.
28th Arrived at Hong Kong.
July
5th Took passage from Hong Kong for visits and exercise
programme in Japanese waters.
9th Arrived at Sasebo '
(Note:
Sasebo was main base for US Naval Forces serving in
support of the United Nations
in Korean waters after the Armistice).
12th Sailed from Sasebo for visit to Inchon, Korea and RN ships serving off
East coast
on UN duties.
13th At Inchon.
15th Passage in Yellow Sea from Inchon with calls
at Paengongdo and Yongpyongdo.
(Note:
RN and Commonwealth Navies maintained Guardships in
these islands).
17th Return passage from Yongpyongdo
to Sasebo.
19th At Sasebo.
Prepared for visits to Japanese ports and exercises with U S Navy.
27th Took passage from Sasebo for Yokohama.
29th Arrived at Yokohama for visit.
August
2nd Took passage
for Okinawa.
5th At Okinawa.
8th Sailed from Okinawa for Exercise programme based
at Kobe.
12th Deployed at Kobe for
exercises with US Navy and Commonwealth warships.
18th On completion of
exercises sailed for Sasebo.
20th At Sasebo.
22nd Took passage to Hong Kong from Sasebo.
25th Arrived at Hong Kong
28th During stay Hong Kong area
affected by severe weather with routine precautions.
(Typhoon
IDA)
30th Resumed normal routine at Hong Kong after Typhoon IDA.
September
1st Took
passage from Hong Kong for Singapore.
6th Arrived at Singapore.
Docked
for routine inspections
24th Sailed for return
passage to Trincomalee from Singapore.
29th Rejoined East
Indies Squadron at Trincomalee.
October Deployed
at Trincomalee.
Nominated for detached duty in Persian
Gulf after visit to Bombay.
19th Sailed for visit
to Bombay.
23rd At Bombay.
30th Took passage from Bombay to Bahrain.
November
3rd Arrived at Bahrain.
9th Took passage to
Umm Said for visit.
12th Sailed for Ras
Tanura from Bahrain.
13th At Ras Tanura (See above).
16th Took passage to Kuwait.
17th At Kuwait.
20th Took passage to Mena-al-Ahmedi (See above).
23rd Sailed for visit
to Basra, Iraq.
(Note:
Basra,chief port of Iraq is 60 miles up the
Shat-el-Arab estuary and is
a major oil production centre.).
24th At Basra.
30th Took passage from Basra to Dubai for demonstration to Rulers
of Trucial
States.
(Operation
SHOPWINDOW).
December
2nd At Dubai.
3rd Embarked six Rulers of Trucial States for demonstration exercises with HM Frigate
LOCH INSH and aircraft of 73 Squadron,
RAF.
4th Took passage from
Dubai for call
at Muscat.
7th At Muscat (See
above).
9th Took passage from
Muscat to Karachi, West
Pakistan.
11th At Karachi for visit.
17th Return passage to Trincomalee.
21st Arrived at Trincomalee.
28th Sailed from
Trincomalee for visit to Calcutta, East
Pakistan.
1 9 5 5
January
1st At Calcutta.
8th Passage to
Trincomalee from Calcutta.
12th Arrived at
Trincomalee to prepare for return passage to UK.
17th Sailed for visit
to Colombo before
leaving Station to recommission.
18th At Colombo for visit.
22nd Took passage for Aden.
28th At Aden.
(Note:
During visit, President Tito of Yugoslavia was at Aden en route to India).
31st Sailed from Aden to
continue return passage.
February Passage through Red Sea and Eastern
Mediterranean.
8th Arrived in Malta.
10th Sailed from Malta for
passage to Portsmouth.
17th Arrived at Portsmouth to pay off
and re-commission.
(Note:
New Commanding Officer: Captain R E Portlock, RN
joined).
23rd Re-commissioned at Portsmouth for duty in Far East.
March Prepared
for foreign service.
4th Sailed for Malta.
11th Arrived in Malta..
April Deployed
at Malta.
5th Carried relief stores to Argostoli following an earthquake.
(Note:
These had been provided by British Earthquake Relief Fund).
9th Passage to Aden.
15th At Aden.
16th Arrived at Singapore
May
2nd Taken in hand for
refit by HM Dockyard Singapore.
June Under refit at Singapore.
to Commenced post refit trials.
July
August
8th Refit completed.
26th On completion of work-up and preparation
for operational service rejoined Fleet.
Took passage to Labuan, North
Borneo.
29th Arrived at Labuan.
September Return
passage to Singapore.
5th At Singapore.
Took part in exercises off Singapore.
26th Took passage for Manila.
30th At Manila for visit.
October
5th Took passage for Hong Kong.
7th Arrived at Hong Kong.
9th Deployed for
Fleet duties and exercises at Hong Kong.
November Hong Kong deployment
in continuation.
Took part in Fleet exercises off Hong Kong and Fleet
Regatta.
16th Sailed from Hong Kong for visits
programme.
21st At Inchon, South
Korea.
23rd Passage from Inchon to Kure
(Note:
Kure was used by RN and Commonwealth warships
serving with UN for R&R).
26th At Kure.
30th Passage to Nagoya, Honshu, Japan.
December
1st At Nagoya.
5th Passage to Yokohama for visit.
6th At Yokohama.
12th Return passage to Hong Kong.
17th At Hong Kong.
1 9 5 6
January Hong
Kong deployment in continuation.
February
10th Deployed with HM Destroyers CONSORT,
COMUS, ANZAC (RAN), TOBRUK (RAN),
HM Frigate PUKAKI (RNZN) and US warships for joint exercises in South
China Sea.
(Exercise FIRM LINK).
14th On completion
visited Bangkok.
19th Passage to Singapore.
March Deployed
at Singapore.
11th Passage to Hong Kong for
multi-national exercises with ships of Far East Fleet.
19th Took part in
exercises.
to
23rd
26th Deployed in South China Sea.
April
4th At Hong Kong.
Took
part in Exercise with H M Light Fleet Aircraft Carriers ALBION and CENTAUR,
RAN
and RNZN ships (Exercise MONSOON).
23rd Took passage from Hong Kong to Singapore.
30th Deployed at Singapore.
May Singapore deployment
in continuation.
Nominated for duty at Montebello during
Atomic Bomb tests (Operation MOSAIC).
24th Passage to Australia.
31st Arrived at Fremantle.
June
4th At Fremantle for
Foundation Day celebrations.
8th Took passage to Montebello Island.
11th At Montebello for support of nuclear test
(Operation MOSAIC).
(Note: after "wind-finding" in the Indian
to
Ocean,
she sailed to Exmouth Gulf to refuel before heading for Singapore, Robert
Griffiths)
19th On release from MOSAIC took return
passage to Singapore.
(Note: To re-commission at Singapore.
New ship's company to be transferred from
UK by air. (Operation AIRLIFT)
. 28th At Singapore Deployed at Singapore.
July
31st New Commanding Officer Captain John
Hamilton, RN assumed command.
August
2nd Paid off at Singapore.
4th Re-commissioned for service as
Flagship, 5th Cruiser Squadron.
(Note:
Also Flagship, Flag Officer, Second-in-Command, Far East).
8th Took part in
Fleet exercises off Pulau Tioman,
east of Malaya.
Returned to Singapore on
completion.
23rd During support duty for anti-terrorist
operations bombarded positions in the Kota
Tinggi area,
East Coast of Malaya. 101 rounds of 6" fired.
September Singapore deployment
in continuation.
Nominated for attendance at Sydney during
Olympic Games.
4th Passage to visit Penang and Port Dickson.
16th Planned programme f visits to Australia cancelled due to Suez
Crisis.
Transferred to Red Sea for duty
as Senior Naval Officer (Operation MUSKETEER).
Took passage to Trincomalee.
20th Arrived at Trincomalee.
24th Passage to Aden.
27th Arrived at Aden.
October Deployed
at Aden.
18th Took part in
exercises off Yemen in
preparation for war service.
28th Received signal about possible
hostilities with Egypt.
31st Joined HM Destroyer DIANA, HM Sloops
CRANE and MODESTE, French Frigates
LA
PEROUSE, GAZELLE, JASMIN and RFA WAVE SOVEREIGN for the protection
of British and French
shipping in Gulf of Suez
(Operation
TOREADOR – Part of overall Operation MUSKETEER).
November
1st During patrol intercepted darkened
ship following mercantiles travelling north.
Illuminated target that identified as an Egyptian Frigate.
Engaged
and sank frigate DOMEAT (Ex HMS NITH) with 6in and 4in fire.
Hit
by return 4in fire causing slight damage and casualties. 1 killed 5 injured.
69 of Egyptian crew were
rescued.
2nd Opened fire on targets after radar
detection. No return fire.
3rd Deployed in Gulf of Suez.
7th Operation MUSKETEER ended after UN
intervention.
Passage to Aden and remained in area.
December Deployed
at Aden.
9th Took part in
exercises with HM Frigate ST BRIDES BAY in Red Sea.
25th Visited Djibouti,
French Somaliland for Xmas period.
1 9 5 7
January Deployed
at Aden.
Released from East Indies Station duties.
7th Took passage for Singapore from Aden.
18th Deployed at Singapore.
22nd On passage to Hong Kong from Singapore area.
24th Arrived at Hong Kong.
February Deployed
at Hong
Kong.
26th Took part in
exercises at Plover Cove, Mirs Bay.
March
4th Deployed at Hong Kong.
6th Sailed for return
to Singapore from Hong Kong.
16th Arrived at Singapore.
21st Took passage from
Singapore to Hong Kong for refit.
April Taken
in hand for refit at Hong Kong.
May Under
refit.
to
July
August Post refit trials.
16th Took passage from Hong Kong to rejoin
Squadron at Singapore.
30th Deployed at Singapore.
September Singapore deployment
in continuation.
Nominated for visits programme to Japanese ports.
October Passage
to Japanese waters after call at Hong Kong.
8th At Tokyo.
Visits
programme included Yokosuka and Yokohama.
(Note:
Yokosuka was used by US Navy for
repair and R&R).
24th Sailed from Yokohama for Inchon.
28th Deployed in Yellow Sea and visited
Inchon.
November Passage from Inchon to Hong Kong.
8th At Hong Kong.
December Hong Kong deployment
in continuation.
1 9 5 8
January Return
passage to Singapore to re-commission.
18th New Commanding Officer Captain A R Hezlet, RN assumed command.
20th Re-commissioned at Singapore.
February
10th Deployed with Squadron for exercise and
visits programme based at Singapore.
14th Visited Penang.
Returned to Singapore on
completion.
March Deployed
at Singapore.
8th Taken in hand for
refit and docking at Singapore.
April On
completion prepared to resume Squadron duties.
21st Deployed for
exercises with HM Light Fleet Carrier BULWARK off Singapore.
(Exercise
BULLFIGHT)
May Took
part in SEATO Exercise OCEAN LINK.
13th Visited Manila.
15th Passage to Hong Kong.
June Returned
to Singapore for multi-national SEATO
exercises in Indian Ocean.
(Exercise JET).
20th Took part in exercises based at
Trincomalee with Far East Fleet and Commonwealth
warships. These included harbour serials and extensive
convoy defence, gunnery
firings, manoeuvring and replenishment serials.
30th On completion of JET took passage to visit Fremantle, Western Australia.
July
9th At Fremantle.
16th Recalled to Singapore for support of operation in Persian Gulf
On
arrival prepared for detached duty in Persian Gulf as relief for HM Cruiser GAMBIA.
Took
passage to Persian Gulf
(Note:
This deployment was made to provide protection for British interests in Iraq
following the overthrow of the monarchy as part of other
Royal Navy
deployments to reinforce normal presence in the Gulf).
August Passage to Bahrain.
23rd At Bahrain.
September Deployed
in Persian
Gulf.
13th Took passage from Bahrain to resume
Squadron duties at Singapore.
On
arrival nominated for visits and exercise programme in Japanese waters.
30th Passage to Hong Kong.
October
2nd Arrived at Hong Kong.
9th Passage to Japan for
exercises and visits.
24th Paid visit to Kobe.
28th Took passage to Sasebo.
November Deployed
at Sasebo.
3rd Took passage from
Sasebo to Hong Kong.
7th At Hong Kong.
28th Took passage from Hong Kong to Singapore for refit.
December
2nd At Singapore and
prepared for refit.
15th Taken in
hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Singapore.
1 9 5 9
January Under refit.
Nominated for reduction to Reserve on return to UK.
February
12th Refit work completed and carried out
post refit trials.
Prepared
for return passage
16th Sailed for UK via Mombasa, Zanzibar, Dar-es-Salaam,
Lorenco Marques and Durban.
May On
passage in Atlantic
June
25th Arrived at Portsmouth to pay
off.
Final
Phase
HMS
NEWFOUNDLAND paid off and reduced to Reserve at Portsmouth
in October 1959-The ship was sold to Peru
in November that year following the earlier negotiations. On 30th December 1959
she was formally handed over to the Peruvian Navy at Portsmouth and renamed
ALMIRANTE GRAU When the Dutch cruiser DE RUYTER was purchased by Peru in 1973
and was to take the name ALMIRANTE GRAU, this ship was once again given a new
name and became CAPITAN QUINONIS .She was taken cut of service in 1979 and
later sold for breaking-up in Japan.
A p p e n d i x 1
L i
s t o f C o m m a n d i n g O f f i c e r s
1942 to 1943 Captain
W Slayter (Later Vice Admiral)
1943. to 1946 Captain
R W Ravenhill
1945 to 1946 Captain
C C Allen
1952 to 1953 Captain M G Goodenough
(Later Admiral).
1953 to 1955 Captain E H Thomas.
1955 to 1956 Captain, R E Portlock. (Later
Rear Admiral).
1956 to 1958 Captain
J G Hamilton (Later Admiral)
1958 to 1959 Captain
A R Hezlet (Later Vice
Admiral)
Distinguished
Officers serving on board 1942 to 1959.
Captain W R Slayter. Commanding Officer 1942 to 1943
Chief
of Staff, to Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, CinC, Home
Fleet 1944
Lieutenant Commander David Clutterbuck
1942 to 1946.
Chief Staff Officer, Home Fleet and CinC Allied Forces Easterm
Atlantic 1963 to 1966
Deputy
Supreme Allied Commander, Eastern Atlantic 196.6 to 1968,
Captain R W Ravenhill. Commanding Officer 1944 to 1945
Awarded DSC as Commanding Officer, HM Destroyer NUBIAN.
(For
services during Malta Convoys 1941)
Later Director of Naval Ordnance, Admiralty).
Lieutenant Edward Ashmore 1945
Flag
Lieutenant to Flag Officer, 4th Cruiser Squadron, British Pacific Fleet
First Sea Lord 1974 to 1977
Chief
of Defence Staff 1977
Captain M G Goodenough. Commanding
Officer 1952 to 1953-
Principal Assistant to Flag Officer, Dover during Operation DYNAMO 1940
(Evacuation
of British and allied forces from Dunkirk)
Captain J G Hamilton,
Commanding Officer 1956 to 1958
Staff
Gunnery Officer, Mediterranean Fleet 1941 to 1942
Staff
of CinC Mediterranean Fleet, Admiral Sir Andrew
Cunningham)
Last
Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet 1966.
Captain A R Hezlet. Commanding Officer
1958 to 1959.
Awarded
DSO and Bar and DSC for service in submarines 1940 to 1945.
Flag Officer Submarines 1959 to 1961;
Flag Officer Scotland 1961 to 1962
Flag
Officer Scotland and Northern Ireland 1963 to 1964.
Lieutenant Julian Oswald 1956 to 1958.
First Sea Lord and
Chief of Defence Staff 1989.to 1992.
A p p e n d i
x 2
N o t e s o n
M o d e r n i s a t i o n
Cruisers of the SOUTHAMPTON and Improved COLONY Classes which were
held in Reserve after WW2 were taken in hand for extensive refit and
modernisation during the 1950's. This was necessary if they were to be retained
as efficient fighting units and was primarily concerned with incorporating the
changes introduced as a result of wartime experience and the development of
nuclear weapons.
The following summary is divided into the various types of work
involved and shows the extent of work involved. It is not intended as a
comprehensive specification.
Hull -
The entire Bridge structure was replaced by a streamlined design
which would reduce the effects of blast from nuclear weapons. Its internal
layout was designed to provide the facilities for all communications and radar
display equipment needed to fight the ship. The new structure included an
enclosed Bridge which protected personnel from the effects of weather. In
addition to the changes in Bridge structure both masts were replaced by a
Lattice type, essential to support the new design of radar aerials being
fitted. Facilities were provided for protection of the ship and her personnel
during nuclear attack.
Marine Engineering
- No significant changes were
made to the propulsion machinery.
Electrical Systems
- The basic supply systems remained unchanged but additional
generating capacity was provided for the supplies to new communications,
weapons and radar outfits. This work was extensive since the new facilities in
the Bridge structure also required direct contact with all positions involved
in the control and operation of weapons, radar and signal communications. In
addition internal telephone and broadcast communications had to be provided
throughout the ship.
Weapon Fit -
The main and secondary armament gun mountings were unchanged but
new Directors were fitted for 4"
fire-control to suit the design changes to the electrical and radar systems.
The Close Range 20mm
weapons were replaced by 40mm mountings and were sited in new positions. Torpedo armament was removed
during modernisation.
Radar
Equipment -
This was the most significant part of the modernisation since not
only were new outfits fitted to improve the 4" fire control and both
surface and air warning cover, the arrangements for display of radar
information had to be completely changed to suit the new Bridge layout. During
WW2 additional radar equipment and associated displays were added as they
became available and resulted in arrangements entirely unsuited to modern naval
requirements. This was a known area of weakness throughout the Fleet and the
new Bridge layout was designed to provide the space required to accommodate
equipment to suit the new procedures introduced as a result of war experience.
The provision of an Action Information Organisation (AID) to provide the
command with all data relevant to any situation required special attention and
this need was met by the provision of all radar displays in the new structure
with adequate communication arrangements. The compartment included facilities
for control of defence against surface and air attack.
The particular
changes to equipment were:
Replacement of Radar Type 281B by Type 960 of improved design for
aircraft warning.
The new outfit installation included extensive changes to display
arrangements. Replacement of Radar Types 285 by Type 275 of improved design for
4" armament fire control.
Extensive alterations to the fire-control arrangements were needed
casing new Directors
Replacement of existing aerials for Radars Type 277 and
293 and modification of equipment.
Provision of suitable 'Plan' displays for all radars in new compartment in
Bridge Structure. Modification of existing Interrogation equipment associated
with warning radars. These alterations involved significant changes to power supply arrangements.
Communications Equipment
- Changes to the radio equipment arrangements during
modernisation due to replacement of the Bridge structure and to satisfy the
requirements for Action Information were extensive. lt was essential that the
main radio communications centre should be adjacent to the radar display
facilities and equipment arrangements were accordingly redesigned.
New receiving outfits were provided to replace the earlier pre-war
designed equipment and a new type of control system for all radio equipment was
Installed. The radio-telephone outfits which were introduced during WW2 and
essential to communications with aircraft and ships were resited to suit new
requirements. In order to accommodate the planned replacement of VHP equipment
by the modern UHF communications, new wiring was fitted and sites were prepared
for later installation.
The aerial arrangements were
changed and 'Whip’ type units fitted to forward structure and
funnels.
ASDIC (Sonar)
Equipment
- No
significant changes were made.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of
HMS
NEWFOUNDLAND
by Don
Kindell
These convoy lists have not been cross-checked
with the text above
Date
convoy
Joined convoy
Convoy
No. Left convoy Date convoy
sailed
as escort
arrived
15/03/43 19/03/43 KMF 011
20/03/43 23/03/43
12/03/43 27/03/43 SL 126
28/03/43 01/04/43
(Note on Convoys)
