1 9 3 2
October Ordered under 1931 Estimates
1 9 3 3
February
7th Laid down at Barrow by
Vickers-Armstrong
1 9 3 4
March
1st Launched
1 9 3 5
March Contractors
Trials
April Acceptance
Trials
15th Commissioned for
service in South American Division on America and West Indies Squadron.
May Worked-up
for service.
June Diverted
for detached service in Mediterranean Fleet after Abyssinian crisis.
July Deployed
in Mediterranean.
to October
November Released
from detached service and took passage to Bermuda to
join Squadron.
December Deployed
in West Indies.
1 9 3 6 t o 1 9 3 7
Deployed
with West Indies Squadron for exercise and visits including ports in
South America, USA and Canada.
Return
passage to UK to refit and re-commission.
1 9 3 8
January
11th Recommissioned for
service in America and West Indies Squadron.
(Note:
During refit single 4in guns in secondary armament replaced by twin 4in
mountings.)
February Rejoined
Squadron at Bermuda,
March Deployed
with Squadron in West Indies
to
December
1 9 3 9
January Deployed
off west coast of South America.
27th Joined HM Cruiser EXETER at Talcuahano, Chile to assist local authority
in rescue of victims following an earthquake.
February Returned
to Bermuda.
March Deployed
with South American Division in South Atlantic.
to August.
D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e
(for more ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and type name in Site Search
1 9 3 9
September Took-up war station
3rd Deployed for trade defence duty.
Intercepted
German ships OLINDA and CARL FRITZEN between Rio Grande
do Sul and Plate estuary and both
scuttled.
11th Guardship at Port Stanley and carried out patrol in Falklands area.
21st Redeployed on trade defence between
Plate Estuary and Rio de Janeiro.
October
3rd Joined HM Cruiser EXETER after sinking of ss CLEMENT by
German battleship
GRAF SPEE which HAD LEFT
Germany before the outbreak of war.
5th Deployed with HM Cruisers EXETER and CUMBERLAND as Force G Hunting
Group in South Atlantic to search for GRAF SPEE.
November Search for commerce raider in
continuation.
27th Arrived at Port Stanley.
December Resumed search duty with Force G
5th Intercepted German freighter USSKUMA
with HM Cruiser CUMBERLAND.
German ship
scuttled.
13th Took part in Battle of the River Plate with HM Cruisers
EXETER and ACHILLES.
Harried GRAF
SPEE after HMS EXETER retired from action.
X and Y-turrets were disabled and some structural damage was sustained.
There were 12
casualties including 7 killed.
(For details see
BATTLE OF THE RIVER PLATE by W Pope and Naval Staff
History).
16th Remained off Plate estuary with HMS
CUMBERLAND and HMS ACHILLES.
17th GRAF SPEE scuttled off Montevideo.
18th Detached to refuel at Port Stanley.
29th Resumed trade defence duty.
1 9 4 0
January
1st Visited Montevideo.
5th Passage to Freetown, via Rio de Janeiro.
Joined by HM
Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Destroyers
HASTY, HERO,
DAINTY and DIAMOND during passage
22nd Passage to UK for refit.
31st Arrived at Plymouth.
February Paid off and taken in hand for
refit by HM Dockyard Chatham.
March Under refit.
to Zarebas fitted to 4in Guns. Tripod masts fitted and aircraft warning radar Type 279
June installed.
July Post refit trials and recommissioning.
Nominated for service in Mediterranean.
August Worked-up for service and
transferred to 7th Cruiser Squadron.
Nominated for
escort of mercantiles carrying motor transport during
passage to
Egypt.
(Note: This
convoy was intended to pass through the Mediterranean as part of Operation
HATS but it was
later decided to divert it via Cape of Good Hope.
The ships
carrying personnel and tanks remained with the warships joining
the Mediterranean Fleet which went direct to Alexandria. For details see
Naval Staff History (2002).)
21st Sailed from UK as part of escort with HM Cruiser YORK during passage via Cape of Good
Hope to Middle
East.
September
2nd At Freetown.
13th At Durban
(Note: Italian
offensive in western desert began.)
26th Escorted troopships EMPRESS OF JAPAN, ORION and ORONSAY from Aden to Suez.
23rd At Suez.
30th Joined HMS SYDNEY (RAN) in 7th Cruiser Squadron at Alexandria for deployment in
Eastern Mediterranean.
October
3rd Sailed from Alexandria with HM Battleships MALAYA, RAMILLIES, HM Aircraft
Carrier
EAGLE, HM Cruiser COVENTRY with
screen of eight destroyers to
2nd Took part in searched for Italian convoys taking supplies to Libya with Fleet units
8th Deployed with HM Battleships WARSPITE, VALIANT, MALAYA and
RAMILLIES, HM
Aircraft
Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS and EAGLE, HM Cruisers YORK, GLOUCESTER,
LIVERPOOL, SYDNEY and ORION with screen of 16 Fleet destroyers to cover
passage
of Malta convoy MF3 (Operation MB6)
11th Detached at Malta with HMS ORION for patrol SE of island.
12th Provided cover for Convoy MF4 to Alexandria with Fleet units and deployed with ships of
Squadron east of
Fleet
In close range
night action with HM Cruisers ORION, SYDNEY and YORK screened
by HM Destroyers NUBIAN and MOHAWK against Italian convoy in Gulf of Otranto.
Two destroyers,
AIRONE and ARIEL were sunk and destroyer ARTIGLIERE damaged.
Hit by 7 shells
resulting in 35 casualties including 13 killed.
(Note: Bridge
structure and radar items damaged.
For details see
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett
and Naval Staff History (HMSO 2002).
ARTIGLIERE was sunk later by HMS YORK when under tow after the action)
14th Under air attacks during which HMS
LIVERPOOL was hit by a torpedo and had to be
taken in tow by HMS ORION.
16th Arrived at Alexandria with Fleet units.
29th Embarked advance party of York and
Lancaster Regiment for passage to Suda Bay.
(Note:
This was in response to Italian invasion of Greece and first phase of British
support for defence of Crete.)
November
1st Arrived at Suda Bay, Crete from Alexandria with HM Cruisers COVENTRY and CALCUTTA,
HM Netlayer PROTECTOR, HM Minesweeper FAREHAM and
for destroyers to set up
forward base.
Under air attack
and near missed.
2nd During return to Alexandria with HMS COVENTRY again under air attack and again
near missed.
4th Sailed from Alexandria for Suda Bay with HMS SYDNEY (RAN) having embarked HQ
14th Armoured Brigade, AA Guns and troops for service in Crete (Operation BARBARITY).
5th After disembarking troops and equipment sailed from Suda Bay with HMS ORION
for visits to
Piraeus and Candida.
(Note: The
passage of reinforcements to Crete and of Aegean convoys were covered by Fleet
units including HM Battleships BARHAM, VALIANT and HMS EAGLE
with
screen of eight destroyers (Operation MB8).
6th Passage to join Fleet units covering
the passage of Convoy MW3 to Malta.
10th Joined HMS WARSPITE, HMS VALIANT, HMS MALAYA, HMS
RAMILLIES,
HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS
GLOUCESTER, HMS YORK, HMS ORION and destroyer screen
deployed as Force A.
(Part of
Operation COAT with ships of Force H to cover transit of convoys to and
from Malta,
concurrent with reinforcement of Mediterranean Fleet by ships from UK).
11th Detached from Force A with HMS ORION, HMS SYDNEY, HM
Destroyers MOHAWK and
NUBIAN to carry out offensive sweep in Straits of Otranto during JUDGEMENT.
(Note: Ships of
Force A were deployed for cover of air attacks on Taranto by
HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
which had detached with screen of cruisers and destroyers
(Operation
JUDGEMENT).)
12th Intercepted Italian 4 ship convoy escorted by auxiliary
cruiser RAMB III and
torpedo boat FABRIZI. All mercantiles were sunk but escorts escaped.
Rejoined Force A.
(Note: A second
attack on Taranto was planned but cancelled in view of weather
forecast in target area.)
13th Detached from Force A with HMS MALAYA,
HMS BARHAM, and five destroyers.
Took passage to Suda Bay to refuel before return to Alexandria to resume Squadron
duties.
For details of
these operations see Naval Staff History.
15th Embarked troops at Alexandria with HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER, YORK,
SYDNEY and
ORION for passage to Piraeus.
20th Disembarked troops and took return passage to Alexandria.
23rd Deployed with HM Battleships MALAYA,
RAMILLIES, HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE,
HM Cruisers BERWICK, ORION, SYDNEY, screened by destroyers as
Force B to cover
passage of convoy to Crete and
carry out air attacks on Tripoli from HMS EAGLE.
26th Arrived at Malta with Force C when HMS MALAYA, HMS RAMILLIES and HMS
BERWICK detached
to join Force D for passage to Gibraltar.
28th Deployed to cover passage of HM Cruisers
MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON, four corvettes
and four mercantiles during
passage through Sicilian Narrows.
(Note:
These ships had been involved in the action against an Italian Force on 27th
and detached afterwards from ships of Force H.
Battle
of Cape Spartivento, see Naval Staff History.)
On
arrival off Malta detached from cover and took passage to Suda Bay with the four corvettes.
30th Arrived at Suda Bay.
December Deployed with HMS ORION and HMAS
SYDNEY for defence of convoys in Aegean.
based at Suda Bay.
16th Returned to Suda Bay with Squadron to refuel and resumed cover for Aegean
convoys.
17th Joined by HM Cruisers YORK and GLOUCESTER of CS3 and took passage as Force B to
to rejoin Mediterranean Fleet units providing Distant Cover
for transit of Convoys MW5A
and B from Egypt to Malta, as well as of Convoy.ME5 from Malta to Egypt.)
(Note:
Part of Operations MC2 and MC3. These also included air attacks on Dodecanese.
on Port Skala, Valona,
bombardment of Valona and cover of transit of HMS
MALAYA
four destroyers and two mercantiles to Gibraltar. All by Force A ships which comprised
HMS WARSPITE,
HMS VALIANT and HMS ILLUSTRIOUS screened by 11 destroyers.
18th Detached with HM Cruisers ORION and SYDNEY and HM Destroyers JANUS,
JERVIS and JUNO as screen during offensive sweep in Otranto Strait.
19th Rejoined Force A to provide cover for transit of ships to Gibraltar after unsuccessful search.
(Operation
HIDE.)
23rd Remained with Force A to provide escort
for passage of Convoy ME5A to Alexandria.
24th Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.
1 9 4 1
January
6th Sailed from Alexandria with HMS ORION, HMS YORK,
HM Corvettes GLOXINIA,
PEONY, HYACINTH, SALVIA and RFA Tanker BRAMBLELEAF to Suda Bay.
7th Arrived at Suda Bay with two destroyers and four corvettes for defence of
military convoys
to and from Greece.
(Note: Part of
Mediterranean Fleet major operation designed to cover the passage of military
convoys to Greece and Malta concurrent with other Malta supply convoys
(Operation
EXCESS - See Naval Staff History and ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE
CLOSELY).
11th Detached with HM Battleship BARHAM, HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE
and destroyers
to carry out commando raid on Dodecanese but operation cancelled due to weather.
(Note: Source
other than the Naval Staff History records this Operation, MC6 was
to carry out air attacks on Dodecanese from HMS ILLUSTRIOUS but that
cancellation was due to withdrawal of the aircraft carrier
because of damage
after air attacks on 10th.)
12th Joined HMS WARSPITE, HMS VALIANT which had been deployed to
cover passage
of to Alexandria for convoy ME6 after passage through Sicilian Narrows.
(Note Operation
MC4 part of Operation EXCESS transit of military convoy in eastern
Mediterranean,
See Naval Staff History, Battle Summary No.18.)
These major
Fleet units had been under sustained and heavy air attacks during
which HM Cruiser SOUTHAMPTON was sunk, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and
HM Cruiser GLOUCESTER seriously damaged.. See reference
and MALTA
CONVOYS by R Woodman.)
16th Arrived at Alexandria after completion of ME6 escort
31st Escorted convoy to Piraeus with HM Cruiser COVENTRY.
February
2nd Took passage from Piraeus after arrival of convoy.
19th Embarked troops and stores of Cheshire Regt. and Hampshire
Regt. and sailed from
Alexandria with HMS ORION and HMS GLOUCESTER also carrying troops for
the
reinforcement of Malta Garrison. HM Destroyers NUBIAN and
MOHAWK were
deployed for escort during high speed passage.
(Operation MC8
which also included cover by Fleet units for this transit and that of
two mercantiles from Malta to Egypt.)
21st Disembarked troops in Malta and took return passage to Alexandria with HMS
ORION.
March
4th Embarked troops at Suda bay for passage to Greece with HMS PERTH (RAN), ORION
and GLOUCESTER screened by four destroyers.
(Operation
LUSTRE – Military support of Greece by British personnel).
6th Deployed with same ships to cover
passage of troop reinforcements to Greece.
24th Escort of convoy to Piraeus from Alexandria with HMS PERTH, HMS ORION and
HMS GLOUCESTER.
27th On arrival ordered to be in position south of Crete off Gavdo Island by 0630 on
28th March to
join Mediterranean Fleet units.
28th Ships became Force B of Mediterranean Fleet and took part in
Battle of Matapan.
(Full details in
THE BATTLE OF MATAPAN by SW Pack, and Naval Staff History,
Battle Summary No 44.)
29th Detached with HM Cruiser PERTH and HM Destroyers STUART (RAN) and GRIFFIN
for escort of LUSTRE convoys to Piraeus.
April
6th At Piraeus with HMS COVENTRY during air raid when ss CLAN FRASER was hit
and blown up. No damage
sustained.
10th Covered passage of HM Destroyers JERVIS, JANUS, NUBIAN and
MOHAWK to
Malta for duty as striking force against
Italian supply convoys.
12th Carried out offensive sweep off Ras-el-Tin with HMS ORION and HMS PERTH (RAN).
18th Sailed from Alexandria with HM Battleships WARSPITE, BARHAM, VALIANT,
HMS ILLUSTRIOUS,
HM Cruisers CALCUTTA, GLOUCESTER, ORION and
PHOEBE screened
by destroyers to provide cover for passage of HM Supply Ship
BRECONSHIRE to Malta from Egypt and Convoy ME7 from Malta (Operation MD2).
19th At Suda Bay with same ships and sailed after destroyers had
refuelled as Force C
with HMS FORMIDABLE. HMS ORION and HMAS PERTH, screened by
HM
Destroyers
DECOY, DEFENDER, GREYHOUND and ILEX to provide air cover to
major warships designated Force B during bombardment of Tripoli (Operation MD3)
21st Deployed off shore during air
operations in defence of Fleet units during bombardment.
See Naval Staff
History, Battle Summary No 19 for details of MD2 and MD3)
24th Assisted in evacuation of allied troops from Greece with HMS ORION, HMS PHOEBE
and HMAS PERTH (Operation DEMON).
27th Embarked 3,850 men from Rafina and Raftis with HM Destroyers KINGSTON and
KIMBERLEY for passage to Suda Bay
29th Embarked further 1,700 men including Major-General Sir
Bernard Freyburg, VC the,
commander of the NZ Division commander and Rear Admiral HT
Baillie-Grornan at
Monemvasia and took them to Suda Bay.
HM Destroyers
GRIFFIN, ISIS and HOTSPUR also embarked troops, Total
4,320.
(Note:
Evacuations were made under frequent air attacks, See Naval Staff History.)
May
6th Covered passage to Malta of convoys MW7A and B with HMS WARSPITE, HMS BARHAM, HMS
MALAYA, HMS
FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers ORION and PERTH screened by 19
destroyers and deployed as Force A (Operation MD4)
(Note: MD4 was a
joint operation with Force H to provide cover for passage of military
TIGER convoy
carrying tanks from UK to Egypt for the 8th Army. It also provided
cover for Convoys MA7A and B during passage to Malta and passage of reinforcement
warships to Alexandria , HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH and HM Cruiser FIJI..
7th Detached with HM Destroyers IMPERIAL, HAVOCK and HOTSPUR
for bombardment
of the Benghazi area (Operation MD6)
8th Carried out bombardment.
During passage
to rejoin Fleet engaged and sank an Italian supply vessels TENACE and
CAPITANO CECCHI. See Naval Staff History.
Rejoined Force A.
9th Detached with HMS ORION, HMAS PERTH, HMS DIDO and ships of
5th Destroyer
Flotilla for escort of TIGER convoy.
11th Under air attacks which were repelled by
aircraft from HMS FORMIDABLE.
12th Arrived at Alexandria with Fleet units.
18th Sailed from Alexandria with HMS WARSPITE, HMS VALIANT and screen of 8 destroyers
to relieve HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and HMS VALIANT on patrol
north of Crete.
19th Deployed off Crete.
20th Joined HMS ORION, HMS DIDO, HM Destroyers
KIMBERLEY, JANUS,
HASTY and
HEREWARD in Force D.
21st Under air attacks and sustained damage from near miss
Detached to join
HMS WARSPITE and HMS VALIANT escorted by Fleet destroyers for
cover of minelay by HM Minelaying Cruiser ABDIEL off Cephalonia to block entry
to Corinth Canal (Operation MAT1 - See Naval
Staff History (MINING)).
Carried out
offensive sweep with HMS DIDO and ORION escorted by HM Destroyers
JANUS,, KIMBERLEY, HASTY and HEREWARD.
Intercepted enemy convoy north of Cannae. Under heavy air attacks during the operation.
Sank 10 caiques and damaged Italian destroyer LUPO. See Naval Staff
History.
22nd Returned to Alexandria to refuel and replenish ammunition.
Took passage back to Crete on completion.
24th Carried out unsuccessful search for invasion convoys N. of
Crete with HMS DIDO,
HM Destroyers HOTSPUR, ISIS and IMPERIAL.
27th Refuelled and re-ammunitioned at Alexandria.
28th Sailed to assist in evacuation of allied
troops from Crete.
Damaged in air
attack on passage with HMS DIDO, HMS ORION, HM Destroyers
DECOY, JACKAL, IMPERIAL,
HOTSPUR, KIMBERLY and HEREWARD.
(Note:
Withdrew but damage found to be less serious and took passage to Heraklion
to evacuate troops.
29th During return passage under sustained air attacks and
sustained further damage
by near misses causing some flooding.
(Note: For full
details of the disastrous operations off Greece and Crete see
THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by Donald MacIntyre, ENGAGE
THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY, Naval Staff History and Military History,
Middle East Vol. 2.)
During the
evacuations and other operations since April
the ship spent less than
10 nights in harbour).
June Deployed In support of
military operations against Vichy French in Syria.
(Operation
EXPORTER).
7th Sailed from Alexandria with HM Cruiser PHOEBE, HM Destroyers JACKAL, JANUS,
KANDAHAR and KIMBERLEY deployed as Force B for support of military operations
and to provide cover for commando attack north of Tyre from HM Special Service Vessel
GLENGYLE
escorted by HM Cruiser COVENTRY.
8th Arrived off coast of Syria.
Operation
abandoned due to weather.
Escorted convoy
to Sidon with Force B and under torpedo attack by the Vichy submarine
CAIMAN which was
believed damaged during 2 hour anti-submarine attacks by destroyers.
9th Commando operation to capture bridge
over Litani River successful.
On release from
cover duty took passage with Force B and HM Destroyers ISIS,
HOTSPUR, JANUS and JACKAL for patrol off Tyre.
Diverted to
intercept Vichy destroyers reported shelling bridge in Litania river but
ships had left the area.
Took passage to Haifa leaving destroyers at the scene.
Returned with
HMS PHOEBE to assist destroyers which had been in action against
Vichy French destroyers GUEPARD and VALMY.
On arrival
remained with HMS JANUS which had been seriously damaged with several
casualties.
Took passage to Haifa with HMS KANDAHAR as escort for tow of HMS JANUS by
HMS KIMBERLEY.
(Note: Naval
support to military operations and offensive operations against Vichy
warships continued with reliefs from Alexandria for cruisers and destroyers
deployed for DEMON which returned for replenishment.)
July
4th Bombarded Vichy positions near Beirut with HMS NAIAD, HMS KIMBERLEY, HMS
HAVOCK and HMS HASTY
Repeated this support operation daily until 7th July.
When released from
EXPORTER resumed Fleet duties at Alexandria.
22nd Deployed with HMS VALIANT, HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM Cruisers
LEANDER,
PHOEBE,
HOBART (RAN), NEPTUNE screened by SEVEN destroyers
for diversionary
Operation MD5 west of Crete during passage of Malta relief convoy from Gibraltar.
(Operation
SUBSTANCE).
(Note: Naval
Staff History quotes operation identity as ME3.)
25th Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.
August Under
repair at Alexandria.
(Note: An
accumulation of defects required attention.)
September Resumed Fleet duties with CS7 and
deployed for support of military operations.
20th Bombarded enemy positions at Tobruk with HM Cruisers HOBART
(RAN) and
GALATEA.
24th Further bombardment at Tobruk with HMAS
HOBART and HMS NEPTUNE.
26th Carried out bombardment of Bardia with CS7 ships.
October Under
refit and repair.
(Note: This may
have been a follow-up to earlier repair period.
Work possibly
carried out at Alexandria or in Egypt to be determined.
Unlike to have been done in Malta.)
November Resumed duty with Squadron for
support of Tobruk garrison during siege.
17th Sailed from Alexandria with HMS NEPTUNE and HMAS HOBART to carry out a
bombardment in Gulf of Sollum in support of planned military offensive.
(Operation
CRUSADER).
18th On arrival in bombardment position
operation abandoned due to weather conditions.
20th Sailed with CS7 ships to carry out bombardment of Bardia-Tobruk road.
21st Carried out bombardment.
24th Deployed with HM Cruisers NAIAD, NEPTUNE, GALATEA, EURYALUS
and screen
of four destroyers as Force B to carry out
interception of enemy convoys reported at sea.
with Force K from Malta. Cover was provided by HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HMS
VALIANT and HMS BARHAM.
(Note: During
covering operation HMS BARHAM was torpedoes and sunk by U331.
See Naval Staff
History.)
25th Following a successful attack by Force K carried out
offensive sweep along coast until
ordered to return to Alexandria.
27th Deployed with HM Cruiser NEPTUNE, HM Destroyers KIMBERLEY and KINGSTON
covered by HM Cruisers
EURYALUS and NAIAD with HM Destroyers GRIFFIN and
HOTSPUR to join Force K in Malta. Under air attack and near missed by aircraft
torpedo.
(Note:
Ammunition and torpedoes for delivery to Malta were embarked )
29th Arrived in Malta for operations against enemy shipping
with Force K.
30th With HMS NEPTUNE, HMS KIMBERLEY and HMS KINGSTON detached
from Force K
to search for enemy convoy
bound for Tripoli.
December
1st Returned to Malta with ships of Force K which had carried out a successful
action
against an enemy supply convoy.
5th Escorted HM Supply Ship BRECONSHIRE for passage to Alexandria from Malta.
with HMS NEPTUNE, HMS
KINGSTON, HMS KIMBERLEY and HMS LIVELY.
(Operation MD8)
6th On relief by HMAS HOBART, HMS GALATEA, HMS JAGUAR and HMS
KANDAHAR
returned to Malta with HMS NEPTUNE and HMS LIVELY.
16th Under
repair in Malta.
26th Sailed from Malta with HMS LANCE and HMS LIVELY as Force B to reinforce
escort of Convoy ME8 by HM Cruiser DIDO, HM destroyers
ARROW, FOXHOUND
GURKHA
and NESTOR (RAN) as Force C.
(Note:
Force C ships were joining the Fleet at Alexandria.)
28th Under attack by
Italian aircraft which were driven off by aircraft based ashore.
See
Naval Staff History
31st Engaged shore batteries at Bardia with four destroyers in support of military
operations
to recapture the port.
1 9 4 2.
January To
be withdrawn from service for refit in UK.
February
6th Sailed from Suez for passage via Cape of Good Hope.
March
9th Called at Mombasa.
April
4th Called at Freetown.
14th Arrived in Clyde.
May Paid off at Chatham and prepared for refit.
June
6th Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard
Chatham.
July Under refit
to Additional AA
armament fitted including eleven 20mm Oerlikon guns.
September Fire control radars fitted for main
armament (Type 284), for AA armament(Type285)
and Barrage Control (Type 283). Improved design Aircraft
warning radar (Type 281)
replaced Type 279. Surface warning radar fitted (Type 272).
Aircraft
facilities removed.
(For details of
development and use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by
D Howse).
October Post refit trials.
Nominated for service in Mediterranean after work-up.
24th Recommissioned at Chatham
November
6th Passage to Sheerness to embark ammunition before sailing to Scapa Flow
9th Worked-up at Scapa Flow with Home Fleet for
operational service.
December On completion of work-up prepared
for foreign service.
Passage to Mediterranean.
31st Joined Force Q at Bone for attacks on enemy
convoys and convoy defence.
1 9 4 3
January
1st Damaged by air attacks during escort of coastal convoy and
later by 1,000lb bomb
during air raid at Bone. Two boiler rooms put out of action
and a third damaged.
7th Towed to Gibraltar for temporary repair
February Under
temporary repair at Gibraltar.
Permanent repair
arranged in USA.
March Passage to New York.
April Taken in hand for repair
at Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia.
May Under repair
to US quadruple 40mm AA
mountings fitted with provision for British fire control
September radar
Type 282. IFF Type 242 fitted.
US Fire control radar fitted in place of Type 284.
October Post refit trials.
November
2nd Passage to UK via Bermuda.
December Completion of installation of
British equipment not possible in USA and prepared
for service.
Nominated for service in Mediterranean.
25th Recommissioned at Portsmouth.
28th Commenced Work-up with Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
1 9 4 4
January On completion took passage to
Join Fleet in Mediterranean.
February
2nd Arrived at Algiers and deployed in Central Mediterranean.
March Transferred to Alexandria for duty in Eastern Mediterranean.
April Eastern
Mediterranean deployment at Alexandria in continuation.
8th Boarding party sent to suppress mutiny on Greek cruiser
GEORGIOS AVEROFF.
May
2nd Bombarded Rhodes as part of diversionary operations in
eastern Mediterranean.
On completion
took passage to UK for support of allied landings in Normandy as
part of Bombarding Force K supporting Force G in
British Eastern Task Force.
(Operation NEPTUNE: For
details see OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and
LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944 (HMSO)).
31st Arrived at Clyde.
June Joined HM Cruisers
ORION, ARGONAUT and EMERALD in Bombarding Force K.
3rd Passage to Channel with Force K escorted by HM
Destroyers GRENVILLE
and UNDINE as Convoy G12.
6th Passage to Beachhead in Convoy G12.
Provided naval gunfire support during assault phase. First ship to open fire.
Destroyed shore
battery at Longues.
7th Deployed in Eastern Task Force area to
provide naval gunfire support.
22nd Portsmouth refit to replace 6in guns. 2,587 shells were fired off Normandy.
July Nominated for support
of allied landings in South France (Operation DRAGOON).
(For details see
INVASION OF THE SOUTH OF FRANCE (HMSO)).
Passage to Mediterranean for duty with Support Group ALPHA in Task Force 88.
Under US command for this operation.
Joined HM
Cruisers AURORA and BLACK PRINCE, US cruiser QUINCY, French
cruiser GLOIRE, HM Destroyers TERMAGANT, TERPSICHORE and US
destroyers
in Malta.
August Preparation
for DRAGOON.
11th Sailed with ALPHA Group using Convoy
Route 2 to Assembly area.
15th HM Battleship
RAMILLIES joined Group from Algiers.
Provided naval
gunfire support before assault on YELLOW Beach and then on other
targets as required. Fired 116 rounds.
17th Covered minesweeping operations with HMS TERPSICHORE and HMS
TERMAGANT.
22nd Released from DRAGOON and reverted to control of CinC Mediterranean.
September Transferred to British Aegean Force
to cover re-occupation of Aegean Islands
and Greek mainland (Operation MANNA).
24th Deployed on patrol and interception of
evacuation craft in Aegean.
October
14th Passage to Piraeus to support allied military operations.
19th Accepted surrender of German garrison at Santorin, north of Crete.
November Deployed on convoy escort, convoy
interception and naval gunfire support.
Based at Skiathos off East coast of Greece during military operations.
December Deployed at Piraeus.
21st Bombarded
Communist (ELAS) positions near Piraeus.
25th Prime Minister and Mr Anthony Eden
(Foreign Secretary) on board at Malta.
Ship used for
meetings in preparation for Yalta conference.
1 9 4 5
January Deployed in Mediterranean on convoy defence and support of military operations.
to
March
April Transferred for support
duty in Adriatic
May At Trieste on VE Day.
June Deployed in Mediterranean.
to
August