1
9 3 9
September
Took up War Station with Channel Force
based at Portland.
6th
Transferred to Nore Command.
11th
Deployed to provide AA defence during
minelay of Dover Barrage by
HM Minelaying Cruiser ADVENTURE, HM
Auxiliary Minelayers
HAMPTON and
SHEPPERTON (Operations GR, DM and HW).
(For details of all minelaying
operations see Naval Staff History
MINING).
19th
On completion deployed at Dover.
26th
Transferred to Humber Force and took
passage to Grimsby.
October
Deployed at Grimsby with Humber Force
and carried out patrols in
North
Sea to provide AA defence for East
Coast shipping.
November
North Sea deployment in continuation.
December
Deployed with HM Cruiser CALCUTTA
(Note: Details not available but may
have been for special AA protection)
Called at Aberdeen
and at sea over Xmas period.)
1
9 4 0
January
Returned to Thames area to give Leave at
Chatham.
19th
Resumed duties with Humber Force.
20th
Deployed with Humber Force as part of
20th Cruiser Squadron.
February
Humber Force deployment for AA defence
of convoys in North Sea and
NW Approaches. Assisted mv
ORONSAY with HM Armed Merchant
Cruiser CHESHIRE
after air attack.
March
Deployed for AA defence of convoys to
and from Norway with HM Cruisers
CALCUTTA
and SHEFFIELD.
April
8th
Transferred to Home Fleet after German
invasion of Norway.
11th
Deployed with HM Destroyers VOLUNTEER,
WITHERINGTON, VANOC, VOLUNTEER,
WHIRLWIND and HIGHLANDER as escort for
military convoy NP1 taking troops for
landings
at Narvik..
(Operation RUPERT – For details see
NAVAL OPERATIONS OF THE CAMPAIGN IN
NORWAY
(HMSO), NARVIK by D Macintyre and THE
DOOMED EXPEDITION by J Adams.)
14th
Detached with HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM, HM
Destroyers VANOC, WHIRLWIND and
HIGHLANDER to escort Polish liner CHOBRY
and
ss
EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA for passage to
revised landing at Namsos.
(See references).
15th
Diverted to Lillesjona
for transfer of troops to shore by
destroyers.
(Operation MAURICE).
18th
Met French troopships EL D’JEZAIR, EL
MANSOUR, EL KANTARA,
VILLE D’ORAN and led these ships into Namsos.
(Note: French cruiser EMIL BERTIN and
French destroyer were escort
from UK).
19th
Under air attacks during passage
through fjords with French destroyers.
(Note: EMIL BERTIN was hit and had to
return).
Provided AA cover
during landings by French troops.
20th
Escorted empty French transports during
return passage to UK.
25th
Passage to Rosyth from Scapa
Flow for refit.
26th
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard
Rosyth.
May
6th
On completion resumed Home Fleet
duties.
11th
Joined HM Cruiser ENTERPRISE, HM
Destroyer HESPERUS and HM Sloop
FLEETWOOD
taking Scots
Guards with ss
MARGOT to Mo, south of Narvik, as
reinforcements.
12th
Drove off air attacks after arrival at
Mo.
16th
Deployed as AA Guardship
at Harstad.
17th
Escorted HM Cruiser EFFINGHAM with HM
Cruiser COVENTRY, HM Destroyers
MATABELE and ECHO during passage from
Harstad with troops of South Wales
Borderers to
Bodo.
Took part in rescue of troops and ship’s
company from HM Cruiser EFFINGHAM after
she had
run aground.
See references.
June
1st
Taken in hand for repair by Palmers
and Hebburn.
July
Under repair
(Note: Type 279 Radar for aircraft
warning was fitted.
For details of development and use of
radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
August
12th
Post repair and radar trials on
completion before resuming Home
Fleet service with
Humber Force.
17th
Provided AA cover during minelay by
ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron in East
Coast Barrier
(Operation SN12 – See above reference)
September
Deployed for AA defence in North Sea.
(Note: Enemy air activity prior to
planned invasion was intense and
extensive anti-invasion naval
deployments
demanded high level AA defence.)
5th
Provided AA cover during minelay by
ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron in East
Coast Barrier
(Operation SN5A – See above reference.)
October
Under repair and refit at Rosyth.
Transferred to
Western Approaches Command on
completion.
November
Deployed in Western Approached based in
Clyde.
2nd
Joined military convoy WS4 in Clyde with
HM Destroyers BEAGLE, HESPERUS,
HURRICANE, OTTAWA (RCN), SAGUENAY (RCN)
SKEENA (RCN) and Polish ORP
GARLAND for return passage to Clyde.
GARLAND as Local escort during passage
in NW Approaches.
3rd
Detached from WS4 with HMS BEAGLE, HMS
HESPERUS, HMS HURRICANE and ORP
5th
Arrived in Clyde
for AA defence in NW Approaches.
(Note: Ocean Escort included HM Cruiser
CORNWALL)
18th
Joined military convoy WS4B in Clyde
with HM Destroyers BATH,
ST ALBANS, ST MARY’S, HIGHLANDER, OTTAWA,
SAGUENAY, SKEENA and ST
LAURENT as Local Escort during passage
in NW
Approaches.
19th
Detached from WS4B with HMS BATH, HMS ST
ALBANS and HMS ST MARY’S for return
passage to
Clyde
(Note: Ocean Escort included HM Cruiser
EDINBURGH)
December
Western Approaches deployment in
continuation.
Taken in hand for
repair to storm damage.
1
9 4 1
January
Under repair and refit in Tyne
shipyard.
to
(Note: Radar Type 285 for main AA
armament fitted.
February
March
Post refit
trials.
5th
Resumed operational service in Western
Approaches based in Clyde.
25th
Joined military convoy WS7 during
passage in NW Approaches with HM
Destroyers VICEROY
WINCHELSEA, ST CLARE, ECLIPSE and
FOXHOUND as part of Local Escort during
passage
in NW
Approaches.
(Note: HM Cruiser EDINBURGH was also
with Local Escort and HM Battleships
NELSON and
REVENGE provided Ocean Escort.)
April
Under repair for replacement of boiler
tubes in Clyde shipyard.
May
Deployed in Western Approaches as part
of Irish Sea Force.
22nd
Joined military convoy WS8B with HM
Destroyers COSSACK, ERIDGE, MAORI,
OTTAWA,
SIKH, RESTIGOUCHE (RCN), ZULU and Polish
ORP PIORUN as Local Escort during
passage in NW
Approaches.
(Note: HM Cruiser EXETER provided Ocean
Escort and acted as Commodore’s ship.)
25th
Detached northwards for increased
protection after break out of
German battleship BISMARCK
and cruiser
PRINZ EUGEN was known.
26th
Released from escort of WS8B and took
passage to Clyde.
June
Resumed duty with Irish Sea Force.
3rd
Joined military convoy WS9A in Clyde
with HM Armed Merchant Cruiser AUSONIA,
HM Destroyers COSSACK, MAORI, OTTAWA, RAMSEY, RESTIGOUCHE,
RICHMOND,
SIKH, VANQUISHER, WINCHELSEA and ZULU,
Polish ORP GARLAND and ORP
PIORUN as Local
Escort during passage in NW
Approaches.
7th
Detached from WS9A with Local Escorted
and took return passage.
(Note: Ocean Escort was provided by HM
Cruiser BIRMINGHAM and HM Armed Merchant
Cruiser
DUNNOTAR CASTLE.)
29th
Joined military convoy WS9B with HM
Destroyers CASTLETON, MAORI, ST
FRANCIS
(RCN), VANQUISHER, WINCHELSEA. WOLVERINE, READING
and ORP PIORUN as
Local Escort during
passage in NW Approaches.
July
2nd
Detached from WS9B with destroyers,
except HMS READING and took passage to
Clyde.
(Note: Ocean Escort for WS9B was
provided by HM Cruiser EDINBURGH)
Deployed with Irish Sea Force..
August
2nd
Joined military convoy WS10 with HM
Armed Merchant Cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE,
HM Destroyers WHITEHALL, WINCHELSEA,
WITCH, BROADWAY, GURKHA, LANCE,
LEGION, Dutch ISAAC SWEERS and ORP
PIORUN as Local Escort during passage in
NW Approaches.
5th
Detached from WS10 with HMS WHITEHALL,
HMS WINCHELSEA, HMS WITCH and
took return
passage to Clyde.
(Note: Ocean Escort was provided by HM
Cruiser LONDON).
31st
Joined military convoy WS11 with HM
Destroyers COSSACK, HIGHLANDER, LEGION,
LIVELY, ORP PIORUN, ORP GARLAND and
Dutch ISAAC SWEERS as Local Escort for
passage in NW
Approaches.
September
On release from WS11 returned to Clyde
with Local Escort.
(Note: HM Battleship REPULSE provided
Ocean Escort.)
Resumed AA defence
duties with Irish Sea Force.
October
1st
Joined military convoy WS12 in Clyde
with HM Destroyers VERITY, WHITEHALL, WITCH,
ASSINIBOINE,
SAGUENAY,
BADSWORTH, BRADFORD, BRIGHTON, LANCASTER,
BLANKNEY, STANLEY, HM Armed Merchant
Cruiser CATHAY and HM Auxiliary
Minelayer AGAMEMNON
as Local Escort during passage in NW
Approaches.
4th
Detached from WS12 with HMS WHITEHALL,
HMS VERITY and HMS WITCH for return
passage to
Clyde.
Resumed duties with Irish Sea Force
based in Belfast.
November
Irish Sea Force deployment in
continuation.
December
18th
Passage to Devonport for refit.
19th
Arrived at Devonport.
(Note On departure from Western
Approaches ship received a signal of
congratulation from
CinC
to say her steaming performance and good
work reflected great credit on all
concerned
1
9 4 2
January
Under refit.
February
6th
Passage to Greenock on completion of
post refit
trials.
7th
Arrived at Greenock.
9th
Took passage to Murmansk with Trade
Delegation for discussions
with Soviet
officials.
15th
Arrived at Kola Inlet.
18th
Took passage from Kola Inlet for Scapa
Flow.
23rd
Passage from Scapa
Flow to Greenock.
25th
Arrived at Greenock,
March
Under repair at Belfast.
(Note: Type 271 for surface warning
fitted.)
April
On completion resumed duties in Irish
Sea Force.
Nominated for
detached service.
13th
Took passage from Belfast to join HM
Cruiser CHARYBDIS
for special
duty at Gibraltar.
16th
Arrived at Gibraltar with HMS CHARYBDIS.
18th
Sailed from Gibraltar with HM
Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Cruiser
CHARYBDIS,
HM Destroyers WESTCOTT, WISHART,
VIDETTE, WRESTLER, ANTELOPE,
INGLEFIELD, US destroyers USS LANG and USS
MADISON as escort for US
Aircraft Carrier USS WASP during passage
in western Mediterranean for launch of
SPITFIRE
aircraft to
Malta.
21st
Returned to Gibraltar with USS WASP and
took passage to UK..
May
Deployed with
Irish Sea Force.
(Note: No record of participation with
Malta aircraft deliveries
Operations BOWERY and LB has been
traced.
Records for escort of rms
QUEEN MARY on 25th with HM
Destroyers BEAGLE, DOUGLAS, KEPPEL and
SARDONYX
to be
confirmed.)
June
3rd
Took passage from Belfast for Gibraltar
to provide AA defence
during
operation in western Mediterranean
(Operation HARPOON – Convoy WS19Z sailed
from Clyde to
Gibraltar.
Part of coincidental
operation VIGOROUS. to
pass convoy
from Egypt Joint identity Operation
JULIUS.
For details of HARPOON see THE BATTLE
FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre and MALTA
CONVOYS
by R
Woodman.)
11th
Joined HM Destroyers BEDOUIN, MARNE,
MATCHLESS,
ITHURIEL, PARTRIDGE, BLANKNEY,
MIDDLETON,
BADSWORTH, Polish ORP KUJAWIAK, HM
Minesweepers
HEBE, HYTHE, RYE and SPEEDY as Force X
to provide
Close Escort for passage of HARPOON
convoy through Sicilian
Narrows
to Malta.
Sailed from Gibraltar
to join convoy.
(Note: HM Battleship MALAYA, HM Aircraft
Carriers EAGLE,
and ARGUS, HM
Cruisers KENYA, LIVERPOOL and
CHARYBDIS screened by Home Fleet and
Gibraltar
Escort Force destroyers were also
deployed as Force W.)
14th
Under submarine and air attacks during
which HMS LIVERPOOL
was damaged
and returned to Gibraltar.
15th
Remained with Force X when Force W
ships detached.
Under threat of
attack by Italian cruiser force.
Took part in action
against Italian ships with Force X.
Hit by two 6” shells with serious
damage.
Under air attacks.
(For full details see above references
and NAVAL WAR IN
THE MEDITERRANEAN by J Greene and A
Massignani.)
16th
Arrived in Malta with the two surviving
mercantiles
of the
HARPOON convoy.
(Note: Four mercantiles
were sunk on passage.)
Sailed from Malta
with ships of Force X for Gibraltar.
(Note: ORP KUJAWIAK was mined and sunk
on entry and
both HMS
BADSWORTH and HMS MATCHLESS
were
seriously damaged and remained in
Malta.)
19th
Arrived at Gibraltar
with ships of Forces W and X.
20th
Under repair at Gibraltar.
26th
Resumed operational service.
July
Gibraltar deployment in continuation.
15th
Deployed with HMS EAGLE and HMS
CHARYBDIS
screened by
HM Destroyers WESTCOTT, WRESTLER
ANTELOPE, VANSITTART and ITHURIEL during
Malta
aircraft delivery.
16th
Returned to Malta. See MALTA CONVOYS.
20th
Deployed for further aircraft delivery
with same ships.
(Operation INSECT).
22nd
Returned to Gibraltar
with same ships.
August
Gibraltar deployment in continuation.
11th
Sailed with HM Destroyers WESTCOTT,
WRESTLER and
VIDETTE as Force X to provide Close
Escort for Malta
relief convoy
(Operation PEDESTAL – See above
references
and PEDESTAL
by P Smith.)
12th
Under air attacks.
Deployed with HM Cruisers NIGERIA, KENYA and
MANCHESTER, HM Destroyers INTREPID,
ICARUS, FURY,
PATHFINDER, LEDBURY, BICESTER, ASHANTI, PENN
WILTON and DERWENT in Force X for escort
through Sicilian
Narrows when ships of Force H detached.
Under air and
submarine attacks.
Hit aft by two torpedoes from Italian
submarine AXUM of Bizerta.
Ship totally disabled and abandoned.
Survivors were rescued by
HMS WILTON and hulk finally sunk by
gunfire from HMS
DERWENT after torpedoes from HMS
PATHFINDER had
failed to do
this. (Casualty
List - note
on casualties)
(Note: HMS NIGERIA was also hit by same
salvo but survived
Loss of CAIRO reduced the defence
resources since
she was fitted for aircraft direction.
