H . M . S .
N E S T O R ( G 0 2 )
“N” Class destroyer ordered from Fairfield at Govan with the 1939 Programme on
15th April 1939 with HMS NAPIER of the same Class Both ships were laid down
on 26th July 1939. This ship was launched on 9th July 1940
as the third RN ship to carry the
name which was introduced in 1781 for a French Privateer
taken in Prize and used as a 6th Rate. It
was last used in 1915 for a
destroyer sunk on 31st May 1915 during the Battle of Jutland. This ship was
transferred on loan to the Royal Australian Navy with sisters HMS NAPIER, NEPAL,
NIZAM and NORMAN. She was commissioned for service in the Royal
Australian Navy on 3rd Feb. 1941 and build was completed on 12th February 1941.
The ship was not adopted by any civil community in UK after a successful “WARSHIP WEEK” National Savings campaign
during 1941-42.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
JUTLAND - ATLANTIC 1941 - BISMARCK Action 1941 - MALTA
CONVOYS 1941-41
H e r a l d i c
D a t a
Badge : On a Field Barry wavy of six white and blue a
rod
of Caduceus Gold within a wreath of laurel green
1 9 4 1
January
Contractor's trials
February
3rd
Commissioned for service in Royal Australian Navy as HMAS NESTOR.
12th
Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
March
1st
Sailed from Clyde on completion of trials and storing to
Scapa Flow for work-up with ships of
Home Fleet.
4th
Worked-up with Home Fleet ships.
(Note : During work-up deployed as part of escort for HM
Battlecruiser
HOOD for passage
from Rosyth to Scapa Flow after refit.
On completion of work-up joined 6th Destroyer Flotilla for Flee duties.
(Note : Although to be part of 7th Flotilla this ship was deployed with 6th
Flotilla pending
completion of build of sister ships
HMAS NAPIER and HMAS
NIZAM .)
April
Passage to Clyde for essential repairs, boiler clean and installation of
Type
285 Gunnery
Control radar equipment
(For details of development and use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D
Howse,.)
9th
Taken in hand by Fairfield yard at Govan.
May
1st
Passage to Scapa
Flow on completion of trials of radar.
3rd
Joined 6th Destroyer Flotilla for Fleet duties
5th
Deployed with HM Destroyers SOMALI, ESKIMO and BEDOUIN as screen for HM Cruisers
EDINBURGH, MANCHESTER and BIRMINGHAM to intercept and capture German Weather
Ship MUNCHEN to obtain an ENIGMA coding machine with associated
documentation.
(Home Fleet Operation EB)
(Note : This operation had been planned to enable GCHQ at Bletchley Park in
their work on
reading enemy wireless traffic For details see BRITISH INTELLIGENCE IN THE
SECOND WORLD WAR Ed FH Hinsley
(HMSO).)
7th
Remained with screen during boarding of vessel and embarked captured equipment.
Detached and took passage to Scapa Flow with all
despatch.
(Note : Vital information was obtained which
enabled enemy radio signals to be
decrypted at
GCHQ for some weeks. See also BREAKING THE ENIGMA by D Kahn.
23rd
Deployed with screen for Home Fleet major units during search for
German battleship BISMARCK.
25th
Detached to Iceland to refuel during search for enemy ships.
27th
Present at sinking of BISMARCK
(For details of search and sinking of BISMARCK see BATTLESHIP
BISMARCK by Mullenheim Rechberg, PURSUIT by L
Kennedy and
Naval Staff History.)
28th
Deployed as part of escort for HM Battleships KING GEORGE V and RODNEY during
return passage to Loch Ewe.
June
Passage to Clyde from Loch Ewe.
8th
Taken in hand for installation of 4” AA gun in place of after set of torpedo
tubes.
13th
On completion took passage to resume Home Fleet duties with Flotilla.
July
Flotilla duties with Home Fleet in continuation.
Nominated for detached service with Home Fleet ships as escort for Malta relief
convoy
(Operation SUBSTANCE).
12th
Deployed with HM Destroyers COSSACK, MAORI, LIGHTNING and SIKH as screen
for HM Battleship NELSON, HM Cruisers MANCHESTER and ARETHUSA
providing
Ocean Escort for military convoy WS9C during passage from Clyde to Gibraltar.
17th
Detached from WS9C to escort troopship PASTEUR with HMS LIGHTNING and HMS
MANCHESTER to Gibraltar
(Note : HM Destroyers AVONVALE,
ERIDGE
and FARNDALE joined WS9C from
Gibraltar to supplement escort during passage in western Mediterranean.)
19th
Arrived at Gibraltar with PASTEUR.
21st
Deployed with screen for HMS NELSON, HMS MANCHESTER, HMS
ARETHUSA
and HM Cruiser MANXMAN with HM Destroyers COSSACK, MAORI, SIKH,
FEARLESS, FOXHOUND, FIREDRAKE,
ERIDGE,
AVONVALE and FARNDALE as
Force X to provide the escort for passage to
Malta of relief convoy.
22nd
Drove off Italian submarine DIASPRO which had fired
torpedoes at ships of Force “H”
providing cover for passage in Mediterranean. The attacks failed.
23rd
Under air attacks during which HMS MANCHESTER and HMS FEARLESS hit.
(Note : HMS FEARLESS was disabled and later had to be sunk.
HMS MANCHESTER had to be escorted back to Gibraltar.)
Under further air attacks after covering force detached during which
HMS FIREDRAKE was disabled and had to be towed back to Gibraltar.
24th
Under attack by Italian MTB and mercantile SYDNEY STAR
was hit and unable to remain
with convoy.
Detached to assist SYDNEY STAR. Embarked 467 troops and
some crew.
Escorted ship which was able to restore propulsion to Malta.
Took passage from Malta with ships of Force X for return to Gibraltar after
disembarking
over 500 passengers.
27th
Arrived at Gibraltar.
Joined HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT, FURY, FORESTER,
FOXHOUND,
COSSACK, MAORI, ENCOUNTER and ERIDGE as screen for HMS
NELSON, HM
Battlecruiser RENOWN and HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL to
provide cover for passage
of HM Cruisers HERMIONE, ARETHUSA and MANXMAN, HMS
LIGHTING and
HMS SIKH during passage from Gibraltar to Sicilian Narrows.
(Note : These ships were carrying troops and stores to Malta
from the troopship LEINSTER
which had been part of SUBSTANCE convoy but which had run aground off
Gibraltar.)
31st
Remained with screen for ships of Force H west of Sicilian Narrows when ships
carrying
stores and personnel detached with escort by Force X to pass through dangerous
waters off
Sicily.
August
1st
Deployed with screen for Force H ships when Force X rejoined and took return
passage
to Gibraltar.
4th
Arrived at Gibraltar with Force H ships.
Retained at Gibraltar for convoy escort duties.
10th
Part of escort for Convoy HG70 during initial part of passage to UK from
Gibraltar
with HM Sloop DEPTFORD, HM Destroyers FAULKNOR,
ENCOUNTER and
AVONVALE.
12th
Under attack U-Boat attacks during passage.
(See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR Volume 1 by C Blair.)
(Note : This convoy was subjected to extensive attacks co-ordinated by U-Boat HQ
but none of these successful. See reference.)
On release from HG70 returned to Gibraltar.
22nd
Deployed with HM Destroyers ENCOUNTER, FORESTER, FORESIGHT and
FURY as screen for HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL, HM Battleship NELSON and
HM Cruiser HERMIONE screen during air strikes on Tempio,
Sardinia as cover for
minelay off Livorno by HM Cruiser
MANXMAN (Operation MINCEMEAT.)
26th
Returned to Gibraltar with ships of Force H.
31st
Deployed with HM Destroyer ENCOUNTER as part of screen for HM
Battlecruiser
REPULSE and HM Armed Merchant Cruiser
DERBYSHIRE to provide Ocean Escort for
military convoy WS11 during Atlantic passage to Freetown from Clyde.
September
4th
Deployed with HMS ENCOUNTER and HMS REPULSE as Ocean Escort for Convoy
WS11 (Fast) when WS11 divided into Fast and
Slow sections.
13th
Sustained damage from premature explosion of depth charge and detached from escort
of WS11 Fast.
Took passage to UK after call at Gibraltar.
October
Taken in hand by HM Dockyard Devonport for refit and repair.
November
Under refit including fit of additional 20mm Oerlikon
weapons to improve close range
AA defence.
Nominated for escort of military convoy to Gibraltar.
December
5th
Sailed from Devonport to Clyde to join military convoy.
9th
Joined HM Destroyers FOXHOUND and GURKHA as part of
Ocean Escort for military
convoy WS14 during part of Atlantic passage from Clyde.
13th
Detached from WS14 with HMS FOXHOUND and HMS GURKHA
and took passage to Gibraltar.
14th
Deployed with HM Destroyers FOXHOUND, CROOME and GURKHA for anti-submarine
search west of Gibraltar following intelligence report
of U-Boat deployments to enter
Mediterranean.
15th
Sighted U127 on surface and carried
out depth charge attacks with the other ships sinking
the submarine in position SE Cape St Vincent.
There were no survivors from U127.
20th
Transferred to Mediterranean Fleet to join Flotilla based at Alexandria.
22nd
Took passage from Gibraltar to Malta through Sicilian Narrows with HM Cruiser
DIDO,
HM Destroyers ARROW, FOXHOUND, GURKHA and ZULU
24th
Arrived at Malta.
26th
Sailed from Malta with HM Cruisers AJAX and DIDO, HM
Destroyers ARROW,
FOXHOUND, GURKHA, LANCE, LIVELY and ZULU as escort for four empty
merchant
ships during passage to Alexandria as Convoy ME8 (Operation MF1)
27th
Under sustained air attacks.
29th
Arrived at Alexandria with out loss of any
ship in convoy.
Joined ships of 7th Destroyer Flotilla.
31st
Bombarded Bardia with HMAS NAPIER and HMAS NIZAM.
1 9 4 2
January
Transferred to East Indies for convoy defence in Indian Ocean with
HMAS NAPIER and HMAS NIZAM
1st
Returned to Alexandria on completion of bombardment.
3rd
Transferred with
HMAS NAPIER and HMS NIZAM for service in Indian Ocean and took
passage to Aden
7th
At Aden.
9th
Deployed for escort of HM Aircraft Carrier INDOMITABLE during passage from Port
Sudan in Red Sea for delivery of aircraft to Singapore (Operation OPPONENT.)
26th
After call at Addu
Atoll, remained with the other two ships as escort for HMS
INDOMITABLE during first launch of aircraft near Cocos
Islands.
(Note : In view of the deterioration of events in Singapore these HURRICANE
aircraft
were diverted to land at Batavia.)
27th
On completion of second aircraft launch remained with HMS INDOMITABLE. as escort
with same ships during passage to Trincomalee.
28th
Further launch of aircraft. See WAR WITH JAPAN, Volume II (HMSO) for
details.
February
2nd Arrived at Trincomalee and joined
Eastern Fleet with same ships.
Passage to Port Sudan with HMS INDOMITABLE as escort with same ships.
24th
Arrived at Port Sudan for embarkation of aircraft on carrier for further
delivery to
Batavia and sailed on completion.
March
3rd
Delivery cancelled and took passage to rejoin Eastern Fleet (See above
reference).
Deployed with Eastern Fleet for screening of major warships.
31st
Part of screen for HM Battleship WARSPITE, HM Aircraft
Carriers INDOMITABLE
and FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers CORNWALL, DORSETSHIRE,
EMERALD and
ENTERPRISE with HM Destroyers FOXHOUND, NAPIER,
PALADIN,
PANTHER and HOTSPUR deployed as Force “A”.
April
4th
Arrived at Addu
Atoll with Force “A” after unsuccessful search for Japanese force on
passage to carry out air attacks at Colombo.
5th
Sailed with screen of Force “A” to carry out further search.
(During the search which was carried out too far west HMS CORNWALL and HMS
DORSETSHIRE which had been detached were sunk in heavy air
attacks.)
8th Returned
to Addu
Atoll with Force “A”.
9th
Passage to Bombay with Force “A” to provide protection for shipping between
Indian
ports and the Red Sea.
11th
Detached from screening duties and took passage to Bombay with HMS NAPIER
forf
routine docking and essential repair.
May On completion took passage to rejoin Eastern Fleet at
Killindini
for convoy defence.
Deployed at Killindini.
Nominated for transfer to Mediterranean for escort of planned Malta relief convoy from Alexandria.
27th
Took passage to Alexandria for detached service with HM Cruiser NEWCASTLE, HM
Destroyers
NAPIER, INCONSTANT, PALADIN, HOTSPUR and GRIFFIN.
June
Deployed at Alexandria
.
Nominated for escort of Malta relief Convoy (Operation VIGOROUS)
12th
Sailed from Alexandria as escort for Convoy MW11B comprising two tankers.
(Note : Other escort for MW11B were :
HM Destroyers HASTY, HERO, INCONSTANT,
JAVELIN, JERVIS, KELVIN,
NAPIER, NIZAM, NORMAN,
PAKENHAM, PALADIN, SIKH and ZULU.
HM Battleship CENTURION disguised as a KING GEORGE V Class battleship
was also part of the escort
and Destroyers FORTUNE, GRIFFIN, HM Corvettes
ERICA, DELPHINIUM, PRIMULA and SNAPDRAGON.
Cover for was provided by HM Cruisers ARETHUSA,
BIRMINGHAM,
CLEOPATRA, DIDO, EURYALUS, HERMIONE and
NEWCASTLE.
13th
Joined escorts for Convoys MW11A and NW11C also
destined for Malta.
14th
Covering Force joined combined convoy.
Under heavy and sustained air attacks during which two
mercantiles
were sunk
15th
Convoy ordered by CinC Mediterranean at Alexandria to reverse course because of threat
from an Italian battle Squadron
known to be on passage to intercept the convoy.
Under attack by German Motor Torpedo Boats during which HMS NEWCASTLE was hit
and had to be withdrawn from covering duty. HMS HASTY was also hit and had to be
sunk.
Convoy ordered to resume westward passage after optimistic
reports of successful air and
submarine attacks on Italian ships.
Order by CinC rescinded and convoy again reversed passage.
Following later reports this order was
cancelled but ignored and convoy maintained course
to return to Alexandria
Under heavy and sustained air attacks during which she sustained serious damage
by three
near misses causing flooding of Boiler Rooms which completely disabled ship.
Taken in tow by HMS JAVELIN and escorted by three other destroyers from escort.
(Note :Several other warships including HMS ARETHUSA, HMS BIRMINGHAM and
HMS AIREDALE were also damaged.).
Owing to heavy expenditure of AA ammunition, local command decided to disregard
the order from CinC.
HMS AIREDALE had to sunk by HMS ALDENHAM.)
16th
Tow broke when ship became unstable due to ingress of water.
Ship’s company taken off by HMS JAVELIN which then sank this ship using shallow
set
depth charges.
(For details of this disastrous attempt to pass a
convoy to Malta from Alexandria and its
conflicting orders from CinC ashore see THE BATTLE FOR
THE MEDITERRANEAN
by Donald Macintyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett,
THE NAVAL WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN by J Greene and A
Massignani
.
MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman and the Naval Staff History.)
