Ca-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered under the War Emergency Programme in February 1942 for build by John Brown at Clydebank. Originally to be named SYBIL, this was changed before launch on 12th April 1944 and she was completed on 12th December 1944. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK in March 1942 the ship was 'adopted1 by Kendal, then in the county of Westmorland, now in Cumbria.,

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

None

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

On a Field Blue, a ring Gold nowed at the base by a snake Proper.

M o t t o

Cavendo tutus : ‘Safe by taking care ‘

D e t a i l s   o f    W a r   S e r v i c e

1 9 4 4

December            Contractors sea trials and commissioned for service.

            12th          Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials

                             (Note : Trials using new design propeller were satisfactory.)

                             On completion of trials and storing took passage to Scapa Flow

1 9 4 5

January                 Worked-up with ships of Home Fleet

                              Joined Force 3 with HM Cruiser DIDO, HM Escort Carriers PREMIER and TRUMPETER,

                              HM Destroyers OPPORTUNE, ZEST and ZODIAC for aircraft minelay in Karm Sund,

                              Norway (Operation GRATIS - For details see Naval Staff History on MINING).

February               On completion of work-up deployed with Home Fleet for screening and anti-submarine patrol

                              in NW Approaches..

            11th           Joined Force 2 with HM Destroyers CAVALIER, SCOURGE, and ZEBRA as escort for HM

                              Cruiser DEVONSHIRE, HM Aircraft Carri0ers PREMIER and PUNCHER for aircraft minelay

                              off Skatestrooraen (Operation SELENIUM - Reference as above).

March                   Home Fleet screening duties during operations in North Sea and NW Approaches.

to

April

May                      Nominated for service in British Pacific Fleet

June                      Prepared for foreign service

to                          (Note :New Radar outfits and communication equipment up-dated.

July                                  For details of development and use of radar in WW2 see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse).

August                  Passage to Join British Pacific Fleet

Summary of Post War  Service

1 9 4 5   t o  1 9 4 6

Returned to UK from Far East after VJ Day and nominated for redu0ction to Reserve status,.

1 9 4 7   t o   1 9 5 4

Laid-up in Reserve Fleet at Portsmouth.

During this period ship sustained malicious damage.

1 9 5 5

Nominated for modernisation and taken in hand. To be brought forward for service on completion.

1 9 5 6

Selected for service with 6th Destroyer Squadron and commissioned for Home/Mediterranean General Service Commission.

(Note : This type of commission was introduced in 1954 and lasted 18 months.

              Another type, Foreign Service Commission was introduced at the same time was for 24 months

              on a foreign station. These replaced the earlier 30 month commission for service in any area) Commenced service in April

.

1 9 5 7

Re-commissioned for further Home/Mediterranean Service with 6th Destroyer Squadron.

1 9 5 8

Deployed for Home and Mediterranean Fleet duties with Squadron

1 9 5 9

Deployed for Home Fleet duties on return from Mediterranean leg of commission.

Visited Rockall in June to confirm British possession.

(Note : Rockall was within the area planned to be use for testing of Guided weapons from Hebrides.)

Nominated for foreign service in Far East.

1 9 6 0

Deployed with Eastern Fleet based at Singapore.

1 9 6 1

Nominated for refit at Gibraltar

Passage from Singapore.

Paid-off and taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard 0Gibraltar in July.

1 9 6 2

Recommissioned for foreign service commission on completion of refit. Deployed with 23rd Escort Squadron in Mediterranean in September.

1 9 6 3

Transferred to join 21st Escort Squadron for East of Suez leg in November

Deployed in Far East with Squadron based at Singapore

1 9 6 4

Far East deployment in continuation.

During return passage from visit to Western Australia in September

Diverted to join KONFRONTASI operations after Indonesia infiltration in Borneo.

Nominated for reduction to reserve at Portsmouth prior to long refit for further modernisation.

Passage to Portsmouth from Singapore

Entered Reserve at Portsmouth in March

1 9 6 5

Taken in hand for modernisation by HM Dockyard Portsmouth during March.

1 9 6 6

Under modernisation refit.

Planned fit of SE AC AT Guided Weapon System for close range air defence cancelled and nominated for return to

Reserve status on completion of dockyard work.

Towed to Chatham during June to lay-up in Reserve.

1 9 6 7

Placed on Disposal List.

Sold to BISCO for demolition by Hughes Bolcow at Blyth.

Arrived at Breaker's yard under tow on 7th August.

Addendum

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of  HMS CAVENDISH

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

14/02/45                 14/02/45                    TA 186                  15/02/45                 21/02/45

11/02/45                 16/02/45                    AT 189B                17/02/45                 17/02/45

20/02/45                 20/02/45                    TA 189B                21/02/45                 27/02/45

16/02/45                 23/02/45                    AT 190                  24/02/45                 24/02/45

23/02/45                 23/02/45                    TA 189                  24/02/45                 02/03/45

18/02/45                 25/02/45                    AT 189C                26/02/45                 26/02/45

28/02/45                 28/02/45                    TA 190                  01/03/45                 06/03/45

24/02/45                 02/03/45                    AT 192                  03/03/45                 03/03/45

28/02/45                 05/03/45                    AT 193                  06/03/45                 06/03/45

08/03/45                 08/03/45                    TA 192                  09/03/45                 14/03/45

06/03/45                 12/03/45                    AT 195A               13/03/45                 13/03/45

12/03/45                 12/03/45                    TA 194A               13/03/45                 19/03/45

11/03/45                 16/03/45                    AT 197                  17/03/45                 17/03/45

15/04/45                 15/04/45                    TA 201B                16/04/45                 23/04/45

(Note on Convoys)