KENT-Class
Cruiser ordered from Vickers Armstrong at
Barrow on 26th April 1924 and laid down on
18th October 1924. The ship was launched on
16th March 1926 as the 10th RN ship to carry
the name, introduced for
a 3rd Rate in 1695 and last used for an
armoured cruiser in 1902 which was sold in
1921. Build completed on
23rd January 1928. This cruiser has a long
association with the civil community of the
County whose name she
bears.
1
9 3 9
September
3rd
On passage in Atlantic
to Join South American Division of 8th
Cruiser Squadron.
7th
On arrival at Freetown was deployed on
trade protection duty in Atlantic became
part of Hunting
Group G for interception of blockade
runners and commerce
raiders off
east coast of South America.
11th
Passage to Rio de Janeiro
Aircraft sighted German pocket battleship
GRAF SPEE and tanker ALTMARK but enemy
ships escaped
interception.
15th
Carried out patrol off south of Ascension
Island.
25th
After meeting HM Cruiser NEPTUNE and HM
Destroyers HUNTER and HYPERION
carried
out joint search
for blockade runners.
October
5th
After refuelling at Freetown sent to join
HM Cruisers EXETER, ACHILLES and AJAX
for
continuation of interception patrols as
Force G.
Failed to report 'raider’ signal from ss
NEWTON BEACH sunk by German warship GRAF
SPEE and sighted by aircraft from German
ship.
(Note: Ship was maintaining radio silence
to prevent enemy interception of traffic.)
15th
Resumed patrol between Rio de Janeiro and
Buenos Aires
November
10th
Passage to Capetown.
18th
Deployed with Force G ships off coast of
Brazil in search for GRAF SPEE.
22nd
Passage to Plate estuary.
December
2nd
Detached for patrol between Plate and Falklands.
5th
In company with HMS AJAX intercepted
German ship USSUKUMA which scuttled.
12th
Under self-refit and boiler cleaning at
Port Stanley.
13th
Ordered to join EXETER, AJAX and ACHILLES
off Plate estuary after GRAF SPEE had
sought refuge
in Montevideo following her defeat in
Battle of the River Plate.
14th
Joined other ships in Plate estuary
awaiting departure of GRAF SPEE.
17th
At Montevideo after GRAF SPEE scuttled.
21st
Passage to Port
Stanley.
24th
Refuelled and prepared for further
interception duty in South Atlantic.
29th
Sailed for patrol in Plate area.
1
9 4 0
January
8th
Passage to Cape
of Good Hope.
11th
Under refit in HM Dockyard Simonstown.
February
13th
Resumed interception patrol and trade
defence in the South Atlantic.
March
1st
Passage to Freetown.
4th
Transferred to 6th Cruiser Squadron and
continued interception and trade defence
duties.
April
South Atlantic trade defence in
continuation.
May
31st
Joined escort at Capetown for military
convoy US3 taking ANZAC troops to UK.
June
2nd
Passage to Freetown
with US3.
7th
Arrived Freetown.
8th
Escort Joined by HM Aircraft Carrier
HERMES
10th
HMS HERMES detached.
12th
Escort Joined by HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE
until 14th June when replaced by
ships from
Home Fleet including HM Battleship HOOD
and HM Aircraft Carrie ARGUS.
16th
Detached from convoy
on arrival in Clyde.
29th
Joined escort at Greenock for Middle East
convoy WS1 for passage to Capetown.
July
After arrival of WS1 at Capetown carried
out unsuccessful search for the German
commerce raider
THOR reported in South Atlantic.
Joined Ocean Escort for military convoy WS1
during passage to Ceylon
21st
HM Cruiser KENT joined Ocean Escort for WS1
in position 34.20S 33.00E.
(Note: WS1 comprised rms
AQUITANIA, rms
MAURETANIA and rms
QUEEN MARY taking troops to join 8th Army in
EGYPT.
29th
Detached from WS1 on arrival in Ceylon where
troops were transferred
to smaller
transports for onward passage.
(Note: As the two liners were not required
to pass through the Red Sea they went to
Trincomalee after
disembarkation.)
August
Deployed on interception patrol and trade
defence in South Atlantic.
September
13th
Joined escort for military convoy on
passage to Dakar with HM Cruiser CORNWALL.
14th
Detached with HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE,
AUSTRALIA and HM Aircraft Carrier ARK
ROYAL to establish patrol off Cape Verde
for interception of three Vichy French
cruisers
attempting to reach Dakar.
15th
Operation cancelled when French ships
entered Dakar.
Carried out
surveillance.
16th
Intercepted French
mercantile POITIERS
on passage to Ivory Coast.
18th
Deployed in pursuit of French warships
GLOIRE, GEORGES LEYGUES and
MONTCALM with HM Australian Cruiser
AUSTRALIA
(Note: These ships sailed from Dakar
without detection
French ships were later intercepted by HM
Cruisers CORNWALL and DELHI
The cruiser GLOIRE was persuaded to go
into Casablanca but the other ships went
back to Dakar.
(For details see RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W. Tute).)
21st
Joined HMS ARK Royal, HM Battleships
RESOLUTION and BARHAM, HM
Cruisers DEVONSHIRE,
AUSTRALIA and Fleet destroyers in support
of Free French
landing at
Dakar and carried out defensive patrol
offshore (Operation MENACE).
23rd
Provided naval gunfire support and hit by
9.4in shell from shore battery.
Steam pipe
fracture caused loss of electrical power
and ship withdrawn from operation.
(Note: 4in Magazine was flooded as a
precaution.)
29th
Returned to Freetown
when operation abandoned.
October
Based at Freetown for Atlantic trade
defence.
9th
Relieved HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD as escort of
military convoy to Middle East.
November
24th
Joined Hunting Group
in search for German battleship ADMIRAL
SCHEER off Brazil.
December
9th
Deployed with HM
Cruiser ENTERPRISE
in search for German commerce raider
THOR.
18th
Diverted with HMS ENTERPRISE to join HM
Cruiser NEWCASTLE in renewed search
or ADMIRAL
SCHEER. then
reported between Rio de Janeiro and the
Plate.
Later was also deployed to search for
commerce raider PINGUIN.
1
9 4 1
January
Deployed in South Atlantic for trade
protection.
to
Nominated for refit.
May
June
Passage to UK.
26th
Arrived at Sheerness
July
Under refit at HM Dockyard Chatham.
to
Radar equipment fitted for aircraft
warning and fire control for forward main
September
armament.
Close range 20mm Oerlikon weapons fitted
for Close Range AA defence,
October
Carried out harbour trials
11th
On completion of dockyard work carried out
post refit trials.
November
Joined 18th Cruiser Squadron in Home Fleet
at Scapa Flow.
December
Home Fleet deployment for convoy defence
and interception of commerce raiders in NW
Approaches.
1
9 4 2
January
Nominated for Russian Convoy operation. and
took passage to Murmansk
16th
Embarked Foreign Secretary, Sir Stafford
Cripps, for return passage to UK and
escorted return
Convoy QP5 from Murmansk with HM
Destroyers ICARUS and TARTAR.
19th
Resumed Hone Fleet duties after arrival.
February
Deployed with Home Fleet.
March
Under repair at Chatham.
to
April
May
Rejoined 18th Cruiser Squadron in Home
Fleet
June
Deployed on patrol and convoy defence in
MM Approaches.
26th
Part of Home Fleet cover with HM
Battleship DUKE OF YORK, US Navy
Battleship
USS WASHINGTON, HM Cruiser NIGERIA and
screen of 14 RN/USN destroyers for
passage of
Russian convoy
PQ17.
July
4th
After dispersal of PQ17 covered passage of
returning convoy QP13.
(Note: For details of this ill fated
operation and its repercussions see ENGAGE
THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C. Barnett, CONVOY!
by P Kemp,
RUSSIAN
CONVOYS by R Woodman, CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by
R A Ruegg,
THE
CONVOY IS TO SCATTER by G Broome and Naval
Staff History)
8th
Returned to Scapa Flow with combined
RN/USN covering force.
10th
Covered passage of HM Battleship KING
GEORGE V from Liverpool to Scapa Flow.
August
Deployed with Home Fleet.
September
14th
Joined HM Cruisers SHEFFIELD, SUFFOLK and
LONDON to cover passage and landing
of Norwegian
party at Spitzbergen
(Operation GEARBOX)
(Note: This deployment also covered
passage of Russian
Convoy PQ18.).
18th
Landed parties at Barentsberg
with HMS SHEFFIELD and HM Destroyer
ECLIPSE.
19th
Passage to Hvalfjord,
Iceland and provided cover for returning
Convoy QP14.
23rd
Passage to Greenock.
(Note: Details of warships and mercantiles
involved in Russian Convoy operations are
provided in
above references.)
October
Deployed on patrol and trade defence in NW
Approaches.
31st
Sailed from Scapa
Flow with HM Cruiser NORFOLK with screen
of 5 destroyers.
Nominated for support
of planned allied landings in North
African (Operation TORCH.).
November
5th
Deployed off Azores
with HMS NORFOLK to cover US landings on
Atlantic coast.
On release returned to Northern Patrol.
December
21st
Provided distant cover with HM Battleship
ANSON and HM Destroyers FORESTER,
ICARUS, IMPULSIVE ,
HM Escort Destroyers BLANKNEY and
CHIDDINGFOLD.
for passage of
Russian Convoy JW51B.
31st
Returned to Iceland
1
9 4 3
January
Deployed for Northern Patrol based in
Iceland for interception of commerce
raiders.
February
21st
Provided additional cruiser cover with HMS
BELFAST and HMS NORFOLK during passage of
Russian Convoy JU53
and returning RA53.
28th
Experienced extreme weather conditions
during which HMS SHEFFIELD had to return
to
Scapa
Flow after sustaining serious structural
damage.
March
9th
Returned to Iceland.
14th
Deployed for Northern Patrol.
April
Deployed in rotation with HM Cruiser
BELFAST on Northern Patrol.
Nominated for refit
Passage to Sheerness
Taken in hand for refit
May
Under refit by HM Dockyard Chatham during
which additional 20mm weapons were fitted.
On completion took passage to Scapa Flow
to resume Home Fleet duties.
31st
Joined HM Cruiser BERMUDA to relieve
garrison at Spitzbergen
escorted by HM Destroyers
ECLIPSE and ATHABASKAN (RCN) covered by HM
Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS, HM
Cruiser SCYLLA
screened by HM Destroyers ECHO and
MIDDLETON
(Operation GEARBOX
II).
June
Heavy weather on passage to Spitzbergen
forced ships to shelter at Akureyri.
7th
Sailed from Iceland to Spitzbergen,
10th
Arrived at Spitzbergen
for GEARBOX support operation.
Return passage to Scapa Flow.
July
Home Fleet deployment at Scapa Flow.
Nominated for refit in commercial shipyard
prior to foreign
service.
August
Passage to Tyne.
6th
Commenced refit prior to transfer to
Eastern Fleet.
(Note: Aircraft facilities removed.
Changes in radar equipment included
Surface warning Type 273
Fire-control Type 285 for forward 4in HA
armament
Air warning radar Type 281 with an
Interrogator outfit
Close range fire-control radar (Type 282)
20mm Oerlikon arrangements improved and
additional mountings fitted.
September
Under refit
to
October
November
Carried out harbour trials
29th
On completion of dockyard carried out post
refit trials in North Sea.
December
Worked-up at Scapa Flow for service with
4th Cruiser Squadron, Eastern Fleet
1
9 4 4
January
Passage to Ceylon via Mediterranean with
HM Cruiser LONDON.
February
On passage from Alexandria with HMS
LONDON.
March
Prepared for service in 4th Cruiser
Squadron on arrival at Trincomalee.
21st
Carried out offensive sweep in Indian
Ocean with HM Battleships QUEEN
ELIZABETH, VALIANT,
HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Aircraft
Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruisers
LONDON, GAMBIA and CEYLON screened by
Fleet destroyers.
(Operation
DIPLOMAT).
27th
Met US Task Group 58.5 (US Aircraft
Carrier SARATOGA and 3 USN destroyers)
SW off
Cocos
Islands with ships of Eastern Fleet.
April
4th
Joint RN/USN force returned to
Trincomalee.
May
Deployed in
Indian Ocean.
June
Transferred to 5th Cruiser Squadron in
Eastern Fleet.
26th
Deployed on petrol in Indian Ocean and
called at Fremantle.
July
Rejoined Eastern Fleet for offensive
operation against targets in Sumatra with
HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HMS VALIANT, HMS
RENOWN, French battleship
battleship
RICHELIEU, HM Cruisers
NIGERIA, KENYA, CEYLON and GAMBIA
screened by
five Fleet destroyers (Operation CRIMSON).
25th
Bombarded Japanese positions at Sabang..
August
Deployed in Indian Ocean and prepared for
future support of carrier operations.
September
8th
Exercised with HM Battleship HOWE, HMS
LONDON and HMS GAMBIA.
14th
Provided cover with HMS HOWE and Eastern
Fleet cruisers during air operations by
HM Aircraft Carriers VICTORIOUS and
INDOMITABLE carriers on Sigli,
Northern
Sumatra (Operation LIGHT).
October
17th
Bombarded airfields on Nicobar
Islands with HM Cruisers LONDON, SUFFOLK
and Fleet
destroyers as Task Group 63.2 (Operation
MILLET).
(Note: This was a diversionary operation
during the US assault on Leyte
and
included
attacks on Japanese positions)
19th
Under unsuccessful attack by torpedo
carrying aircraft.
November
Deployed in Eastern Fleet with 5th Cruiser
Squadron.
December
Passage to South Africa for refit
1
9 4 5
January
Under refit by HM Dockyard Simonstown.
to
February
March
3rd
Carried out Post refit trials off
Capetown.
On completion took passage to resume Fleet
duties at Trincomalee
(Note: Ship would be joined renamed East
Indies Fleet. See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).
April
8th
Joined Task Group 63.2 with HMS QUEEN
ELIZABETH, French Battleship RICHELIEU and
HMS LONDON screened by 5 Fleet destroyers
to cover air reconnaissance flights by HM
Escort Aircraft Carriers
EMPRESS and KHEDIVE at Port Swettenham
and Port Dickson,
Malaya.
(Operation SUNFISH).
11th
Bombarded targets at Sabang
during offensive sweep against shipping in
Indian Ocean
as part
of SUNFISH.
27th
Joined Task Force 63 with HMS QUEEN
ELIZABETH, French battleship RICHELIEU, HM
Escort Aircraft Carriers SHAH and EMPRESS
with HM Cruisers
SUFFOLK, CEYLON and
Dutch cruiser TROMP
escorted by five Fleet destroyers
for attacks on Nicobars.
(Operation BISHOP).
(Note: This was a diversion during assault
on Rangoon (Operation DRACULA).
29th
Bombarded Car Nicobar
and Port Blair.
May
1st
Continued bombardments on airfields at
Port Blair and Car Nicobar.
2nd
Further bombardment of shore targets.
3rd
Joined Task Force 68 with FS RICHELIEU,
HMS SHAH, HMS EMPRESS, HMS CEYLON
and three
Fleet destroyers
for attacks on shipping off coast of
Burma.
6th
Rejoined East Indies Fleet to provide
cover during air strikes on Andamans.
10th
Deployed in TF61 with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH,
FS RICHELIEU, HMS Cruiser
ROYALIST, Dutch cruiser TROMP, HMS HUNTER,
HMS KHEDIVE, HMS SHAH and
HMS EMPEROR of 21st
Carrier Squadron.
Destroyer screen
comprised HM Destroyers SAUMAREZ, VENUS,
VERULAM, VIRAGO,
VIGILANT, NUBIAN and
ROTHERHAM (Operation DUKEDOM)
(Note: For interception and sinking of
Japanese ships evacuating forces from
Burma).
11th
Detached with FS RICHELIEU and destroyers
to be in position 50 miles ahead of
main body
of TF61 in 6
Degree Channel.
14th
Detached to escort Carriers during air
search for shipping off Diamond Point.
(Operation MITRE).
(Note: This ship was not involved in the
later sinking of Japanese cruiser HAGURO
which
was 50 miles
away from the position I which she was
intercepted by Fleet destroyers.)
For details of this and other Eastern
Fleet Operations see OPERATION PACIFIC
by. E. Gray and
THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton and WAR
WITH JAPAN
(HMSO)
June
Deployed with Eastern Fleet and prepared
for support of military operations in
Malaya.
to
(Operation ZIPPER).
July
August
15th
Sailed with Eastern Fleet for Malayan
assault (Operation ZIPPER).
(Note: The planned assault Landings were
delayed due to pressure from the U S and
indecision
in London for
political considerations associated with
return of service personnel from
the Far East in
the PYTHON Scheme. For details see The
Supreme Commander SEAC
Report to Joint Chiefs of Staff and above
references).
16th
Passage to Rangoon.
27th
Deployed in Indian Ocean off Sumatra to
assist in military operations after the
Japanese
surrender.
September
4th
At Singapore.