1 9 4 2

 

November

                30th        Commissioned for service in Home Fleet.

 

December

                12th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance trials.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Defects found during Acceptance trials made good.

                30th        On completion to passage to Scapa Flow

 

February                Sustained significant structural damage in adverse weather conditions during work-up

                                and took passage to build shipyard for additional stiffening and damage repair.

 

March                    Nominated for passage to Canada for inspection by Royal Canadian Navy Constructors

                and shipyard representatives

                Sustained further structural damage during passage to Halifax.

                Taken in hand and docked for repair work and inspections.

                (Note : The need for additional stiffening in future warship construction by Canadian shipyards

                was made evident during the examinations.)

 

April                       Took return passage to UK for operational service

                                Nominated for service in Plymouth Command.

                24th        Sustained further weather damage.

                                On arrival taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard Devonport.

 

May                        Under repair.

                                On completion deployed for convoy defence on UK-Gibraltar route.

 

June                        Deployed based at Plymouth for ant-submarine operations in Bay of Biscay

                (Operation MUSKETRY)

                (Note: Ship was part of a Support Group for these operations with HMCS ATHABASKAN,

                and Polish destroyer ORP ORKAN as screen for HM Escort Aircraft Carrier ARCHER

                to provide cover against attacks by German destroyers during MUSKETRY.

                9th          Deployed with HM Destroyer DOUGLAS and HM Frigate MOYOLA as escort for

                troopship convoy during passage to Gibraltar.

                (Note : It may be assumed that ship was detached from MUSKETRY for this duty, or

                that she detached from support duties for escort of these ships.)

                11th        Under air attacks by He177 aircraft using Hs293 Radio Controlled bombs which hit ss

                CALIFORNIA and ss DUCHESS OF YORK in position 41.18N 41.24W, 300 miles of

                Vigo, Spain despite AA defence from the escorts. Both ships ships sank after extensive

                fires. A third ship mv PORT NAPIER survived the attacks. Took part in rescue of 628

                men from the two troopships.

                12th        Passage to Casablanca with mv PORT FAIRY which was damaged in further air attacks.

                15th        Rescued an officer and five ratings, sole survivors from U506 which had been sunk by

                US LIBERATOR aircraft on 12th July.

                (Note : During return passage to Plymouth an insignia from the officers uniform was stolen

                which resulted in disciplinary action. Stoppage of shore leave after arrival caused

                significant disorder and the commanding officer had a heart attack and was taken ashore.

                See AFRIDI TO NIZAM by J English and U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)

 

July                         Deployed at Plymouth

                19th        Carried out support of anti-submarine operations with Polish destroyer ORP ORKAN and

                HMCS ATHABASKAN and sailed from Plymouth for anti-submarine operations after the disorder

                problems resolved. See above Note.

                After return transferred to Scapa Flow for Home Fleet screening duties.

                Involved in collision with HM Trawler KINGSTON BERYL in Irish Sea during passage to

                Scapa Flow. Repair of damage arranged in commercial shipyard at Troon, Ayrshire.

 

August

                2nd         Taken in hand for repair.

                25th        On completion resumed passage to rejoin Home Fleet.

                26th        On arrival nominated for work-up prior to deployment in defence of Russian convoy.

 

September             Work-up in continuation. On completion resumed operational service with Home Fleet. for

                                local escort and patrol duties.

 

October

                1st           Deployed with HM Destroyers ONSLAUGHT and HURON (RCN) to take replenishment stores

                                and mail to North Russia for warships which had been based there during summer months.

                                (Operation HOLDER).

                11th        Returned to Scapa Flow from Kola Inlet..

                14th        Joined HM Destroyers JANUS, VIGILANT, HARDY, HAIDA (RCN) and US destroyer USS CORRY

                                as escort for HM Battleship ANSON to provide cover for replenishment of Spitzbergen garrison

                                (Home Fleet Operation FQ).

                16th        On completion of FQ provided cover for passage of five minesweepers and six motor launches to

                North Russia. (Home Fleet Operation FR

                (Note : HM Cruiser LONDON and US Cruiser AUGUSTA were also deployed in covering force.

                These Lease Lend warships were destined for service with the Russian Northern Fleet and

                manned by Russian crews. Close Escort was provided by nine Home Fleet destroyers

                23rd        Detached and returned to Scapa Flow.

 

November              Home Fleet duties in continuation.

                18th        Deployed with HM Destroyers IMPULSIVE, ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW, ORWELL, OBEDIENT

                                HURON (RCN) and HAIDA (RCN) as Ocean Escort for Convoy JW54A during passage to Kola Inlet.

                19th        HMS OBEDIENT withdrawn from Close Escort due to defect and returned to Scapa Flow.

                24th        Detached from JW54A with Close Escort on arrival.

                26th        Joined return Convoy RA54B with same ships as Close Escort for passage to UK.

                (Note : For details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R. A. Ruegg,

                THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R. Woodman and

                CONVOY ! by R Woodman.)

 

December

                5th          Detached from RA54B and returned to Scapa Flow with Close Escort.

                22nd       Deployed with HM Destroyers IMPULSIVE, ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW, ORWELL, SCOURGE,

                                HMCS HURON and HMCS HAIDA as escort for Russian Convoy JW55 during passage to Kola Inlet.

                25th        Close Escort reinforced by HM Destroyers MATCHLESS, MUSKETEER, OPPORTUNE and VIRAGO

                in view of the threat of attack by German Battleship SCHARNHORST. See above references.

                (Note : German warship was engaged and sunk by ships of Home Fleet providing cover for passage of

                this convoy and two others in the Arctic.)

                Under sustained attacks by aircraft and submarines

                29th        Detached with ships of Close Escort on arrival of JW55B at Kola inlet.

                31st         Deployed as Close Escort for passage of return Convoy RA55B to UK with same ships.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January

                3rd          Under submarine attacks.

                7th          Detached from RA55B with Close Escort and returned to Scapa Flow.

                10th        Transferred with HMCS HAIDA for detached service and took passage to Plymouth to join

                                Plymouth Command for duty in English Channel.

                13th        Deployed at Plymouth.

                19th        Carried out patrol off French coast for interception of coastal convoy traffic. (Operation TUNNEL

                                Series.)

                20th        Returned to Plymouth.

 

February                Nominated for return to Canada for refit.

                2nd         Carried out further TUNNEL Operation.

                3rd          Returned to Plymouth.

                4th          Recalled for duty in Home Fleet and took passage to Scapa Flow with sister ships HMCS HAIDA

                                and HMCS ATHABASKAN

                5th          Arrived at Scapa Flow for Home Fleet screening duties.

                10th        Deployed with HMCS HAIDA and HMCS ATHABASKAN as part of destroyer screen for HM

                Battleship ANSON and French battleship RICHELIEU, HM Cruisers BELFAST and HMS NIGERIA

                during anti-shipping strike off Norwegian coast (Operation POST HORN)

                12th        Returned to Scapa Flow after only secondary shore targets had been attacked by aircraft.

                13th        Released from Home Fleet duties and returned to Plymouth

                15th        On arrival at Plymouth joined HM Destroyers TARTAR and HMS ASHANTI of 10th Destroyer

                Flotilla with HMCS HAIDA and HMCS ATHABASKAN.

                (Note :This Flotilla was deployed as Force 26.)

                18th        Under torpedo attack by submarine which was avoided by prompt action after sonar detection.

                19th        On return to Plymouth withdrawn from service in Flotilla by HMCS HURON and took passage to

                                Canada

                26th        Arrived at Halifax and taken in hand for refit.

 

March                    Under refit

to                            (Note : Lattice foremast was fitted to replace original Tripod type for installation of aerial

May                        outfit for new radar installation of new radar on return to UK before resuming service.

 

June                        On completion of Post Refit Trials took passage to Liverpool for fit of centimetric warning radar

                outfit.

                (Note : This was probably Type 276, later changed to Type 293 when new aerial was available.)

                Ship did not therefore take part in support operations during allied landings in Normandy.

                See LANDINGS IN NORMANDY (HMSO).)

                8th          Arrived at Liverpool and taken in hand for fit of radar.

                30th        On completion sailed from Liverpool to Scapa Flow.

 

July                         Deployed at Scapa Flow for trials.

                17th        Commenced work-up for operational service with Home Fleet ships at Scapa Flow.

                30th        Took passage to Plymouth to rejoin 10th Destroyer Flotilla for patrol duties in Bay of Biscay

                                and Channel.

 

August

                5th          Deployed with HM Cruiser BELLONA, HMS TARTAR, HMS ASHANTI and HMCS HAIDA for

                                interception patrol in Bay of Biscay as Force 26.

                6th          Intercepted evacuation convoy with several escorts near Ile d'Yeux

                During the engagement by ships of Force and explosion of shell being loaded into Y

                Gun caused 10 casualties, two of which were fatal. Some damage was sustained.

                (Note : In this action German minesweepers M286 and M486, Patrol Boat V414 and

                a launch were sunk. Many hundreds of soldiers being evacuated lost their lives.

                Whilst taking part in this engagement there was an accident in HMCS HAIDA but

                despite this serious incident that ship remained with Force 26.)

                Took part in an attack on a second convoy between Bellisle and Quiberon Bay the result of

                which was inconclusive.

                Force 26 ordered to withdraw before daylight and return to Plymouth

                8th          Flotilla deployment for interception operations in continuation.

                14th        Deployed with HM Cruiser MAURITIUS and HM Destroyer URSA for offensive patrol

                                off coast of Brittany as Force 27.

                15th        Carried out attack on convoy off Sables d’Olonne with ships of Force during which German

                Minesweeper M385 was hit and became a total loss after being beached. A Sperrbrecher ((157),

                Torpedo Boat T24 , Minesweeper M275 and a coaster were also damaged.

                (Note : The enemy ships included an Aircraft Repair Ship (RICHTOFEN).

                Took passage to Plymouth after the action.

                23rd        During later patrol off Audierne with same ships carried out attack on coastal convoy sinking

                patrol boats V702, V717,V720, V729 and V730

                (Note : These ships were identified by post-war analysis.)

                30th        Deployed with HMCS HAIDA for escort of French cruiser JEANNE D ARC for

                                passage in SW Approaches from Algiers to Cherbourg.

                31st         Met JEANNE D ARC which had members of the French Provisional Government on

                                board and escorted ship to her destination.

 

September

                5th          Arrived at Cherbourg with French cruiser

                8th          Deployed as escort for rms QUEEN MARY taking Prime Minister to Quebec Conference

                with US President during Atlantic passage.

                (Note : Detached later near Azores and returned to Plymouth for routine Boiler Cleaning.)

                On completion resumed Channel duties based at Plymouth.

 

October                  Transferred to Scapa Flow for Home Fleet screening duties.

 

November              Resumed service in Channel based at Plymouth for interception patrols and convoy escort.

to December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Western Approaches duties in continuation.

to February

 

March                    Rejoined Flotilla for Home Fleet duties.

                19th        Deployed with HM Destroyers ONSLOW, SERAPIS, ZEST and HAIDA (RCN)

                as screen for HM Escort Aircraft Carriers PREMIER, SEARCHER, QUEEN and

                HM Cruiser BELLONA deployed as Force 1 to cover air minelaying off the coast

                of Norway (Operation CUPOLA – See Naval Staff History (Mining).)

                21st         Returned to Scapa Flow with ships of Force 1 on completion.

                24th        Joined HM Destroyers ONSLOW, SERAPIS, CARYSFORT, ZEALOUS and

                HAIDA (RCN) as screen for HM Escort Aircraft Carriers SEARCHER, NAIRANA,

                QUEEN and PUNCHER deployed as Force Two for air strikes on shipping off the coast

                of Norway (Operation PREFIX I)

                26th        In absence of shipping aircraft carried out attacks on shore targets.

                28th        Attacks made on shipping by carrier aircraft which destroyed two Me109 for the loss

                of a BARRACUDA from HMS PUNCHER (Operation PREFIX II).

                29th        Returned to Scapa Flow with ships of Force Two.

 

April                       Home Fleet deployment with Flotilla in continuation.

                3rd          Deployed with HM Destroyers ZEALOUS and ZEST as screen for HM Cruiser DIDO for

                                attacks on Norwegian coast shipping and identified as Force 3 (Operation FOX CHASE.

                4th          Took part in attacks on convoy with ships of Force.

                                (Note : Some sources describe result as indeterminate but post war records suggest

                                two of the mercantiles were damaged.)

                15th        Deployed with HM Destroyers ZEPHYR, ZODIAC, ZEALOUS, ZEST, OFFA HURON

                (RCN), HAIDA (RCN) and Norwegian destroyer STORD as escort for JW66 with HM

                Cruiser BELLONA, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers VINDEX and NAIRANA.

                HM Sloop CYGNET, HM Corvettes ALNWICK CASTLE, BAMBOROUGH

                CASTLE, FARNHAM CASTLE, HONEYSUCKLE, LOTUS and OXLIP of 7th

                Escort Group were also part of Close escort with Frigates of 19th Support Group in

                                support for anti--submarine operations.

                25th        Detached from JW66 with Close Escort on arrival at Kola Inlet.

                (Note : Ships of escort carried out anti-submarine attacks in entrance to Kola Inlet to ensure

                safety of convoy.)

                29th        Joined return convoy RA66 on departure from Kola Inlet.

                (Note : During anti-submarine operations outside Kola Inlet before departure of RA66 U 307

                and U286 were sunk by ships of 19th Support Group but HM Frigate GOODALL

                was torpedoed and sunk by U968 although some survivors were rescued. See above

                references for details.

                After departure came under torpedo attack by U427 which missed., See HITLER’S U-BOAT

                WAR, Vol II by C Blair.)

 

May                        Nominated for return to Canada on release from service with RN.

                8th          Detached from RA66 on arrival in Clyde and returned to Scapa Flow with Home Fleet ships.

                12th        Joined HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE, ARIADNE and APOLLO with HM Destroyers SAVAGE,

                SCOURGE AND Norwegian ARENDAL as escort during passage to Oslo

                (Note : Crown Prince Olaf of Norway was embarked in HMS APOLLO for his return to Norway.)

                13th        Arrived in Oslo with same ships and took passage to Copenhagen with HMS DEVONSHIRE and

                                HMS SAVAGE to relieve HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM, HM Destroyers ZEST and ZEPHYR as

                                Guardships following German surrender.

                14th        At Copenhagen.

                24th.       Passage from Copenhagen to Wilhemshaven with HM Cruiser DIDO, HMS DEVONSHIRE and

                                HMS SAVAGE as escort for German cruisers PRINZ EUGEN and NURNBERG.

                                (Note : The two German ships had formally surrendered to the Royal Navy on 22nd May.)

                26th        At Wilhemshaven.

                30th        Passage to Greenock to join HMCS HAIDA and HMS HURON

 

June                        At Greenock preparing for return to Canada.

                4th          Took passage from Greenock for Halifax with her two sister ships

                10th        Arrived at Halifax to a resounding welcome.

 

July                         Under refit including tropicalisation to suit service in the Pacific.

 

August                  After VJ Day ship was nominated for reduction to Reserve status