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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2007

HMS CALCUTTA  -  World War 1 C-type light cruiser
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Carlisle (Navy Photos, click to enlarge) return to Contents List 
 

CAPETOWN Class cruiser ordered from by Armstrong’s at Newcastle in June 1917 and laid down on 18th October 1917. She was launched on 9th July 1918 and build was completed on 21st August 1919. After 1927 HMS CALCUTTA was placed in Reserve and used for training of Boy Seamen. She was selected for conversion to an AA Cruiser at Chatham in 1938 and on completion the next year joined the Home Fleet. This ship was the only AA cruiser not fitted with radar.

.

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

BALTIC 1855 - CHINA 1856-58 - NORWAY  1940 - DUNKIRK 1940 - GREECE 1941 - CRETE 1941 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941 - MEDITERRANEAN 1941

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge:  On a Field Black, a sea-lion holding a lotus flower Proper.

 

Motto

'Per ardua stabilis':  'Steadfast in difficulties'

 

 

S u m m a r y   o f   P r e – W a r   S e r v i c e

 

1 9 1 9

 

July

                2nd         Commissioned for Trials

                                Contractors trials

                8th          Took passage to Portsmouth from Tyne.

 

August                  At Portsmouth for trials and completion.

                18th        Passage to Greenock for Acceptance Trials in Clyde area.

                21st         Formal Build completion date and commenced Acceptance Trials.

                22nd       Passage to Portsmouth for full commissioning and completion of storing.

                24th        Commissioned for service as Flagship of 8th Light Cruiser Squadron on North America

                                and West Indies Station.

 

September             Deployed at Portsmouth preparing for foreign service.

                28th        Took passage to Bermuda with call at Devonport.

 

October

                9th          Arrived at Bermuda.

                21st         Sustained damage whilst alongside jetty at Bermuda in hurricane conditions

 

November              Deployed as Flagship 18th Light Cruiser Squadron

to                            (Note: Visits were paid to ports in Caribbean and North America with Squadron exercises

December              in Atlantic.)

 

1 9 2 0    t o    1 9 2 5

 

                                Deployment as Flagship on North America and West Indies Station based at Bermuda

                                in continuation

1 9 2 6

 

January                  Bermuda deployment in continuation

to September

 

October

                21st         Sustained serious structural damage at Bermuda caused by ship rolling against masonry whilst

                                alongside jetty during hurricane weather conditions.

 

November              Under repair to allow ship to return to UK.

                                On completion took passage to Chatham

 

December

                4th          Commission termination and Paid-off.

                                (Note: Ship’s company transferred to HM Cruiser DESPATCHES.

                13th        Placed in Nore Command Reserve Fleet.

 

1 9 2 7

 

January                  Laid-up in Medway awaiting dockyard repair.

to                            (Note: Ship may have been used for training of new entries and other personnel.)

December

 

1 9 2 8

 

January                  Laid-up in Reserve at Chatham

to

March

 

April

                21st         Taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard, Chatham.

 

May                        Under repair

to                            Nominated for service as Flagship of 6th Cruiser Squadron on South Africa Station.

August

 

September             On completion prepared for Foreign Service at Chatham

                18th        Commissioned for service in place of HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM based at Simonstown.

 

October                  Passage to Simonstown.

 

November              Deployed as Flagship for CS6 and carried out visits and exercise programme with

to                            ships of Squadron.

December              (Note: Ships of Squadron visited ports in South Atlantic and Indian Oceans.)

 

1 9 2 9    t o    1 9 3 0

 

                                South African Station Squadron deployment in continuation.

 

1 9 3 1

 

January                  Nominated for refit on return to UK.

                                Prepared for return passage

 

February                Passage to Chatham to Pay-off

 

March                    Taken in hand for refit prior to reduction to reserve status.

 

April

                24th        Commenced Reserve service at Chatham.

 

May                        Laid-up at Chatham.

to December

1 9 3 2

 

                                Chatham Reserve service in continuation.

 

1 9 3 3

 

January                  Chatham Reserve service in continuation

to                            Nominated for use as overflow Boys Training Ship pending availability of

October                  HM Cruiser DRAGON for this duty.

 

November

                10th        Re-commissioned for use as Boys Training Ship at Chatham

 

December              Training Ship service at Chatham in continuation

 

1 9 3 4    t o    1 9 3 6

 

                                Training Ship service at Chatham in continuation.

 

1 9 3 7

 

                                Training Ship service at Chatham in continuation

                                Nominated for conversion to Anti-aircraft Ship

 

1 9 3 8

 

January                  Training Ship service at Chatham in continuation.

to                            Conversion delayed and remained in use at Training Ship

May

 

June                        Deployed as SORF for Nore Command after relief in Training role by HM Cruiser

                                DRAGON

 

July                         Deployed as RNVR Drill Ship for Humber Division as relied for HM Cruiser

                                CARDIFF.

 

August                  Taken in hand for conversion to AA cruiser by HM Dockyard Chatham

                                (Note: The work undertaken was not as extensive as in the earlier changes made

                                in HM Cruisers COVENTRY and CURLEW in order to reduce the

                                time required for dockyard work. This was an important factor in view of

                                the likelihood of hostilities with Germany.)

 

September             Under conversion.

to December

 

1 9 3 9

 

January                  Under conversion.

to                            Carried out post conversion trials in Nore Command area.

July

 

August                  Re-commissioned and nominated for service with Home Fleet

                                War Station nominated.

                                Passage to Scapa Flow for service as AA Guardship.

                                (Note: The possibility of all trials not being complete is to be investigated

                                as the time available to complete working-up must have been limited.)

 

 

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             Deployed with Home Fleet as AA ship at Scapa Flow.

                15th        Sailed from Scapa Flow

                                (Note: This may have been part of a working-up requirement.)

                18th        Returned to Scapa Flow to resume AA Guardship duty

                26th        Detached for duty with 7th Cruiser Squadron for Northern Patrol to intercept

                                German mercantiles returning to Germany and for Contraband Control.

                29th        Transferred to Humber Force for AA defence of East Coast convoys based at Grimsby.

                30th        Deployed for convoy AA defence in North Sea and NW Approaches.

 

October                  Coastal convoy defence in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Coastal convoy defence in North Sea and leave period.

 

February                Transferred to Home Fleet for AA defence duties and convoy escort.

                27th        Escorted damaged destroyer HMS IMPERIAL to Lerwick after collision with merchant

                                ship in convoy.

 

March                    Home Fleet deployment for AA defence in continuation.

 

April

                1st           Provided AA defence for inward Norwegian convoy HN20

                5th          Escorted outward Norwegian Convoy ON25 with HM Destroyers JAVELIN, GRENADE

                                and JANUS during passage from Clyde in NW Approaches.

                7th          Convoy recalled after German invasion and detached to rejoin Home Fleet

                10th        Deployed with Home Fleet for AA defence off Norway (Operation RUPERT/R4)

                16th        Searched with HM Cruiser EFFINGHAM, HM Cruiser YORK and HM Destroyer

                                ASHANTI for German warships reported off Alesund on passage to Trondheim.

                20th        Arrived at Andalsnes to provide AA defence.

                                (Note: Rear Admiral Vivian was embarked as Flag Officer AA cruisers and later became

                                Senior Naval Officer at Namsos.)

                22nd       Covered landing of French troops from transport VILLE D'ALGER at Namsos with

                                HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM, HM Destroyer MAORI. HM Sloop AUCKLAND,

                                French destroyers BISON and FOUDROYANT.

                                Landings could not be completed because of snow storm.

                                Transferred to Namsos for AA defence

                27th        Transferred to Andalsnes and deployed as AA Guardship duty in Romsdalfjord.

                29th        Provided AA defence during evacuation of allied troops from Andalsnes and Molde.

 

May

                1st           Embarked last 720 troops from SICKLE FORCE for return to UK.

                9th          Diverted with HM Destroyer ZULU to intercept ship taking 300 German troops to

                                Hemneskerget to cut off British troops.

                10th        Interception failed and British had left area.

                                Sank ss NORD NORGE and destroyed petrol stores before leaving to assist with the

                                evacuation at Mo and Mosjoin.

                                On completion joined HM Cruiser PENELOPE, HM Sloop IBIS, HM Destroyer WITCH

                                and HM Destroyer Leader CAMPBELL to supplement AA defence during passage to UK.

                                (For details of naval activities during military operations in Norway see ENGAGE THE

                                ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett, NARVIK by Donald Macintyre, THE

                                DOOMED EXPEDITION by D Adams and Naval Staff History).

                14th        Deployed at Scapa Flow.

                                Nominated for service in Mediterranean with three Sloops.

                26th        Transferred to Nore Command for evacuation of allied troops from Dunkirk

                                (Operation DYNAMO).

                                Foreign service deployment delayed.

                28th        Evacuated 534 troops from beaches and took passage to Sheerness to disembark

                                passengers.

                29th        Returned to beaches and embarked 1,200 troops for return to Sheerness.

                                Disembarked passengers.

                30th        Deployed to provide AA defence in Nore Command

 

June                        Channel and Nore Command deployment in continuation

                                (For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History

                                (HMSO – 2002).

                                On completion of DYNAMO deployed in English Channel to provide AA defence and to

                                assist in evacuation of allied forces and civilians from France.

                18th        Assisted with evacuation from La Verdone (Operation AERIAL).

                                Deployed off French coast to intercept enemy ships off Gironde estuary with H M

                23rd        Embarked troops and other personnel at St Jean de Luz and took passage to Portsmouth.

                25th        Joined in Gironde Estuary by HM Canadian Destroyers FRASER and RESTIGOUCHE

                                to intercept craft reported in area.

                                In collision at speed with HMCS FRASER whilst manoeuvring off Bayonne.

                                Destroyer’s bows broke away and sank.

                                150 survivors were rescued but 66 men were lost.

                26th        After part of HMCS FRASER sunk with scuttling charges.

                                Took passage to Devonport with part of the bridge structure of HMCS FRASER still on

                                board.

                                HM Destroyer HIGHLANDER provided escort.

                                (For details of allied evacuation operations see Naval Staff Histories).

                27th        Arrived at Plymouth and disembarked passengers.

                                Repair arranged at Tyne commercial shipyard

 

July                         Took passage to Tyne from Plymouth.

                                Under repair in Tyne shipyard.

                                Rejoined Home Fleet on completion.

                20th        Detached as AA Guardship during minelay by ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron in

                                SW Approaches (Operation SN31).

                                On completion deployed for AA defence.

 

August                  Prepared for service with Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria to augment AA defence.

                                Notified of departure for Mediterranean with ships on passage to join Fleet at Alexandria,

                23rd        Passage to Gibraltar with HM Battleship VALIANT, HM Aircraft Carrier

                                ILLUSTRIOUS and HM Cruiser COVENTRY covered by HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD

                                and destroyers of the 8th Destroyer Flotilla as escort for Middle East military convoy.

                28th        Joined ships of Force H for exercised with Force H ships.

                30th        Part of Force F with HMS VALIANT, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and HMS COVENTRY

                                escorted by HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL, HMS

                                SHEFFIELD and destroyers of Force H to join Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria.

                                (Operation HATS).

 

September

                2nd         Disembarked passengers in Malta.

                3rd          Detached with HMS COVENTRY to escort Convoy AS3 during passage in Aegean

                                from Greece to Alexandria.

                                Under air attacks.

                6th          Arrived at Alexandria for Mediterranean Fleet duties.

                10th        Deployed as Close Escort for Convoy AN3 during passage from in Alexandria in

                                Aegean.

                                (Note: Cover was provided by HM Cruisers KENT, LIVERPOOL and GLASGOW

                                of 3rd Cruiser Squadron.)

                13th        Convoy under unsuccessful air attacks

                29th        Deployed as escort for Convoy AN5 with two destroyers during passage in Aegean

                                to Piraeus.

                                (Note: This was concurrent with Operation MB5 passage of military convoy to

                                Malta, See Naval Staff History (HMSO 2002.)

 

October

                8th          Deployed as Close Escort for Malta Convoy MF5 with HMS COVENTRY and four

                                destroyers during passage from Alexandria covered by Mediterranean Fleet units.

                                (Operation MB6 .See above reference.)

                11th        Arrived and Malta and sailed as escort for eastbound Convoy MF4 with same ships

                                during passage to Alexandria.

                                (Note: Cover was provided by Mediterranean Fleet units.)

                                Italian attack by torpedo boats repelled by Fleet units which sank three enemy ships.)

                12th        Fleet units under air attacks

                13th        Remained with ME4 when HM Cruisers COVENTRY and AJAX were detached with

                                two destroyers to join Convoy AS4 as escort during passage to Alexandria from

                                Greece.

                14th        Fleet units under further air attacks during which HM Cruiser LIVERPOOL was

                                badly damaged.

                                AS4 and escort merged with ME4.

                16th        Arrived at Alexandria.

                                For full details see above reference.)

                29th        Deployed with two destroyers as escort for Convoy AN5 during passage to Greece

                                covered by Fleet units (Operation MAQ2)

 

November

                4th          Deployed with HMS COVENTRY, and five destroyers as escort for Convoy MW3

                                during initial stage of passage to Malta. (Operation MB8)

                                Detached from MW3 and escorted Convoy AN6 to Suda Bay.

                5th          Arrived at Suda Bay with AN6 and returned to Alexandria.

                                (Note: Operation MB8 was part of a Fleet operation in conjunction with the attack

                                on the Italian Fleet at Taranto by Force H (Operation JUDGEMENT).

 

December              Deployed in Eastern Mediterranean for AA defence.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January

                7th          Joined Force C with HM Cruiser CALCUTTA, HM Destroyers DIAMOND and

                                DEFENDER as close escort for Malta supply convoy (MW5 1/2) covered by

                                Mediterranean Fleet as part of joint operation for passage of military convoy from

                                Gibraltar to Piraeus and Alexandria (Operation EXCESS)

                                Under sustained and heavy air attacks by newly arrived German Stuka aircraft.

 

February                Deployed in eastern Mediterranean for AA defence duties.

 

March

                5th          Provided AA defence for military convoys from Alexandria to Piraeus with sister

                                AA cruisers HMS COVENTRY and HMS CARLISLE (Operation LUSTRE).

                22nd       Assisted defence of convoy off Piraeus with HMS COVENTRY.

                25th        When refuelling with HMS COVENTRY at Suda Bay, HM Cruiser YORK was

                                attacked by Italian Explosive Motor Boats.

 

April

                7th          Undamaged at Piraeus during air attack on port when ss CLAN FRASER was bombed

                                and blew up.

                18th        Escorted Malta supply convoy(ME1) including supply ship HMS BRECONSHIRE to

                                Malta with HM Battleships WARSPITE and BARHAM, HM Aircraft Carrier

                                FORMIDABLE and HM Cruiser PHOEBE screened by destroyers.

                20th        Deployed for AA defence of Mediterranean Fleet during bombardment of Tripoli.

                23rd         Escorted Convoy AG13 with HMS PHOEBE, HM Destroyers STUART (RAN) and

                                VOYAGER (RAN) to Suda Bay for evacuation of allied troops from Greece

                                (Operation DEMON).

                24th        Based at Suda Bay with HM Cruisers ORION, AJAX, PHOEBE, PERTH,

                                COVENTRY and CARLISLE for evacuation of allied troops.

                                Deployed with HM Destroyers STUART (RAN), VOYAGER (RAN), HM Corvettes

                                HYACINTH and SALVIA to escort three ships in Convoy AG13 to evacuate troops from

                                Raftia and Nauphlia.

                                Took passage to Suda Bay to disembark passengers.

                26th        Joined HMS ORION, HMS PHOEBE and HM Destroyer DEFENDER off Nauphlia with

                                HMS DIAMOND, HMS STUART (RAN) and HMS GRIFFIN off to continue evacuation

                27th        Returned to Suda Bay.

                                Escorted Convoy GA14 taking troops to Alexandria.

 

May

                5th          Covered two convoys to Malta with HM Cruisers DIDO, PHOEBE, COVENTRY and

                                CARLISLE.

                9th          Deployed with Mediterranean Fleet ships to meet military convoy bringing tanks for 8th

                                Army in Egypt (Operation TIGER)

                10th        Air attacks repelled by aircraft from HMS FORMIDABLE.

                20th        Deployed north of Crete as Force C with HMS NAIAD, HMS PERTH and 4 destroyers

                                to intercept invasion convoys.

                                Sighted one ship which was sunk by destroyers.

                                Subjected to sustained air attacks.

                21st         Under heavy attack by Italian high level bombers during which HM Destroyer JUNO

                                was sunk.

                22nd       Deployed with HMS NAIAD, HMS PERTH (RAN), HMS CARLISLE, HM Destroyers

                                KANDAHAR, KINGSTON and NUBIAN off Heraklion for patrol and interception.

                                Under sustained heavy air attacks.

                26th        Assisted with evacuation of allied troops from Sphakia.

                27th        Under air attack during passage to Alexandria and twice hit.

                28th        Sailed as Force D with HMS PHOEBE, HMS PERTH, HMS CALCUTTA,

                                HMS COVENTRY, HMS JERVIS, HMS JANUS and HMS HASTY.

                29th        Continued evacuation at Spahkia and took passage to Alexandria on completion.

 

June

                1st           On passage with HMS COVENTRY from Alexandria to provide additional AA protection

                                for HMS PHOEBE and other ships returning with more troops from Sphakia.

                                Under air attack by two Ju88.

                                Hit by two bombs and sank in a few minutes.

                                255 of ship's company were rescued by HMS COVENTRY.

                                (For details of Mediterranean operations in 1940 - 1941 by Force H at Gibraltar and

                                Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria see BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by

                                Donald MacIntyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, MALTA CONVOYS

                                by R Woodman and Naval Staff Histories)

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS CALCUTTA

by Don Kindell

 

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

27/01/40

28/01/40

FN 0081

28/01/40

28/01/40

13/02/40

15/02/40

ON 012/1

16/02/40

16/02/40

16/02/40

16/02/40

HN 012

19/02/40

19/02/40

23/02/40

25/02/40

ON 015/1

27/02/40

27/02/40

28/02/40

28/02/40

HN 015

01/03/40

01/03/40

03/03/40

03/03/40

ON 017/1

07/03/40

07/03/40

04/03/40

05/03/40

ON 017A/

08/03/40

08/03/40

11/03/40

13/03/40

ON 019/1

14/03/40

14/03/40

27/03/40

29/03/40

ON 023/1

31/03/40

31/03/40

30/03/40

30/03/40

HN 023A

03/04/40

03/04/40

31/03/40

31/03/40

HN 023B

04/04/40

04/04/40

05/04/40

05/04/40

ON 025/1

08/04/40

unknown

11/09/40

14/09/40

AN 003

15/09/40

15/09/40

08/10/40

08/10/40

MF 003

11/10/40

11/10/40

11/10/40

11/10/40

MF 004

13/10/40

13/11/40

04/11/40

04/11/40

MW 003

unknown

10/11/40

23/11/40

23/11/40

MW 004

26/11/40

26/11/40

26/11/40

26/11/40

ME 004

29/11/40

29/11/40

03/02/41

03/02/41

ASF 014

05/02/41

05/02/41

20/02/41

20/02/41

AS 015/1

24/02/42

24/02/41

04/03/41

04/03/41

AS 016/1

08/03/41

08/03/41

07/03/41

07/03/41

AN 018

11/03/41

11/03/41

01/04/41

01/04/41

ASF 022

unknown

04/04/41

11/05/41

13/05/41

ANF 030

14/05/41

14/05/41

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

 

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