1
9 1 7
February
Contractors trials and commissioning.
March
7th
Accepted into service with Grand Fleet.
April
Completion of trials and prepared for
operational service.
May Deployed
with Grand Fleet in lst Light Cruiser
Squadron at Scapa Flow.
to
Became Squadron Flagship.
October
November
17th
Took part in action against German
warships in Heligoland Bight and hit by
a 12in shell.
December
Grand Fleet
deployment in continuation.
1
9 1 8
January
Grand Fleet duties at Scapa Flow in
continuation.
to
October
November
21st
German Fleet
surrendered and interned at Scapa Flow
under Home Fleet custody.
December
Nominated for service in Baltic Sea for
operations against Communist forces.
1
9 1 9
January
Grand Fleet duties in continuation.
to
Deployed in Baltic Sea in support of
shore operations against Bolshevik
forces.
March
Blockade of Soviet Fleet based in Baltic
Sea was also maintained
April
Joined Atlantic Fleet as Flagship of 2nd
Light Cruiser Squadron.
May
Deployed in Hone waters with Squadron.
to
December
1
9 2 0
Atlantic Fleet deployment with Squadron
in continuation.
1
9 2 1
January
Atlantic Fleet deployment in
continuation.
to
July
August
Relieved as Flagship of 2nd Cruiser
Squadron by HM Cruiser CURACOA.
26th
Re-commissioned at Chatham for further
service in Atlantic Fleet.
September
Rejoined 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron.
October
Atlantic Fleet deployment in
continuation.
to
December
1
9 2 2
January
Deployed in Home
waters including patrol and support in
Irish Sea and Atlantic
to
during military operations against Irish
insurgents.
June
July
Nominated for detached service in
Mediterranean.
August
Deployed in eastern Mediterranean for
protection of British interests during
the conflict
to
between Turkey and Greece.
November
December
Returned to UK to rejoin Atlantic Fleet.
1
9 2 3
January
Deployed in Baltic at Memel during
attempt by rebel forces to occupy city
February
During detached service involved in
collision with Pilot Vessel NEUMARK I at
the port of Cuxhaven, Germany
March
On return from Baltic service resumed
Atlantic Fleet duties
April
Atlantic Fleet deployment in
continuation.
to
December
1
9 2 4
Atlantic Fleet
deployment in Home waters in
continuation.
Paid off.
1
9 2 5
January
6th
Re-commissioned for further service in
2nd Light cruiser Squadron. Atlantic
Fleet.
February
Atlantic Fleet deployment with Squadron
in continuation.
to
December
1
9 2 6
January
Atlantic Fleet deployment in
continuation.
to
July
August
17th
Paid-Off and taken in hand for refit at
Chatham, under refit.
September
Under refit
to
December
1
9 2 7
January
Under refit
to
June
July
Post refit trials.
August
Nominated for service in 3rd Cruiser
Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet.
September
5th
Re-commissioned for service at Chatham.
October
On completion of
sea trials and preparation for foreign
service took passage to Malta
to
join Squadron.
November
Deployed in Mediterranean with Squadron.
to
December
1
9 2 8
January
29th
Sustained major damage to forward
structure in collision with the Italian
ship ANTARES
in
Doro Channel, Aegean Sea.
February
Under temporary repair by HM Dockyard,
Malta to enable safe passage to UK.
to
March
April
Passage to UK
to
Paid off into Dockyard control at
Devonport.
December
Taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard
Devonport.
1
9 2 9
January
15th
Re-commissioned at Devonport for further
service 3rd Cruiser Squadron.
February
On completion of
trials and preparation for service took
passage to join Squadron
in Malta.
March
Deployed with Squadron in Mediterranean.
to
July
August
8th
Relieved in Squadron by HM Cruiser
CURLEW.
September
Passage to UK for refit.
October
Under refit at Devonport.
to
December
1
9 3 0
January
Under refit
to
May
June
Post refit trials
July
Deployed in Home waters and prepared to
resume service in 3rd Cruiser Squadron.
August
Passage to Malta to rejoin Mediterranean
Fleet.
September
Deployed with
Squadron in Mediterranean.
to
December
1
9 3 1
January
Mediterranean Fleet deployment with
Squadron in continuation.
to
June
July
Relieved in
Squadron by HM Cruiser COLOMBO.
Nominated for reduction to Reserve and
took passage to Devonport.
31st
Re-commissioned for service in Reserve
Fleet for training use.
August
Deployed at Devonport.
to
December
1
9 3 2
January
Reserve training deployment in
continuation at Devonport.
to
November
December
Deployed as Senior Officer's ship,
Reserve Fleet Devonport.
1
9 3 3
Senior Officer Fleet Devonport service
in continuation.
1
9 3 4
January
Senior Officer Reserve Fleet Devonport
deployment in continuation.
to
November
December
Deployed for carrying Army personnel to
Malta.
1
9 3 5
January
Resumed duty as Senior Officer Reserve
Fleet, Devonport.
February
Deployed at Devonport.
to
December
1
9 3 6
January
Devonport duty as Senior Officer,
Reserve Fleet in continuation.
to
September
October
23rd
Relieved as Senior Officer's ship,
Reserve Fleet Devonport by HM Cruiser
COLOMBO.
November
Retained in Reserve at Devonport.
to
December
1
9 3 7
Devonport Reserve Fleet service in
continuation.
Nominated for refit at Chatham.
1
9 3 8
January
Devonport Reserve Fleet service in
continuation.
to
June
July
11th
Passage to Chatham under tow for refit.
August
Under refit by HM Dockyard, Chatham.
to
December
1
9 3 9
January
Under refit
to
May
June
On completion of refit relieved HM
Cruiser CALCUTTA in Reserve Fleet at
Chatham
as Senior Officer’s ship.
July
Brought forward with complement of
Reservists for attendance at Review of
Reserve Fleet at
Weymouth by HM King George VI.
August
9th
Present at Royal Review.
Remained in commission and war station
allocated.
On completion of storing and with
complement for operational use took
passage to Scapa
Flow
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
September
Deployed with 7th Cruiser Squadron at Scapa Flow.
5th
Sailed to carry out Northern Patrol for
interception of German shipping
attempting return
German ports and to maintain contraband
control.
(For details of Northern Patrol see THE
BLOCKADERS by Hastings).
October
Transferred to 11th Cruiser Squadron and
continued Northern Patrol duties.
15th
Sustained weather damage to upper deck equipment during
patrol.
23rd
Established patrol line in
Faeroes-Iceland Passage with HM Cruisers
CARDIFF and HM
Cruiser COLOMBO
to intercept SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU
after sinking of
RAWALPINDI
(For
details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by C Barnett and
Naval Staff History.)
30th
Passage to Tyre
for repair.
December
Nominated for service in the Mediterranean.
(Note: Experience since outbreak of war
had shown this Class of cruiser was
unsuitable for use
in North
Atlantic,)
1st
Under repair in Tyne
shipyard.
19th
On completion transferred to 3rd Cruiser
Squadron,
21st
Passage to Gibraltar
from Plymouth.
28th
Joined Squadron at Malta
for contraband control and patrol duty.
1940
January
Based
at Alexandria and deployed on contraband
control patrol duty in eastern
Mediterranean.
February
Mediterranean
patrol duties in continuation.
to
May
June
11th
After Italy entered war deployed with HM
Battleships WARSPITE and MALAYA, HM
Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM Cruisers
ORION, NEPTUNE, SYDNEY (RAN), LIVERPOOL,
GLOUCESTER
and CALYPSO with
a screen of nine Fleet destroyers for an
offensive patrol
south of Crete
to intercept Italian convoys to Libya.
12th
Rescued survivors from HM Cruiser
CALYPSO with HM Destroyer DAINTY after
sinking by
Italian submarine BAGNOLINI.
Carried out bombardment of Tobruk with
other ships.
14th
Returned to Alexandria.
26th
Joined HM Cruiser CAPETOWN, HM destroyer
GARLAND, H M Australian Destroyer
VAMPIRE
escort for convoy to Dardanelles.
30th
Returned to Alexandria with inward convoy.
July
11th
Escorted convoy to Greece with HMS
CAPETOWN.
30th
Declared unsuitable use in Mediterranean
because of the low speed and lack of AA
armament
in this Class of cruiser.
August
10th
Transferred for duty with East Indies
Squadron in Indian Ocean and Red Sea.
15th
Joined HM Cruisers HOBART, CERES and
CARLISLE, HM Destroyers KANDAHAR.
KIMBERLEY, HM Sloops SHOREHAM, PARRAMATTA
(RAN) and AUCKLAND with
three Armed Merchant Cruisers and a
hospital ship for evacuation of Berbera.
A total of over 7,000 troops and civilians
were taken to Aden.
Provided naval gunfire support against
shore batteries during operation.
September
Deployed for convoy defence and patrol
in Indian Ocean and Red Sea based at
Aden.
to
December
1
9 4 1
January
Convoy defence and patrol in
continuation.
to
February
March
16th
Deployed with HM Cruiser GLASGOW, HM
Destroyers KANDAHAR and KIPLING,
two Armed Merchant Cruisers and HM Motor
Launch 109 to support landings by Indian
troops at Berbera from HM Boarding Ships
CHAKDINA and CHANTALA
(Operation APPEARANCE).
April
In action with HMS GLASGOW against four
Italian destroyers in Red Sea.
Proposal by Prime Minister to use as
blockship with HM Battleship BARHAM
during
planned operation at Tripoli turned down
by CinC Mediterranean
May
Indian Ocean trade defence in
continuation.
to
August
September
Under refit at Colombo.
to
October
November
Resumed trade defence duties in Indian
Ocean with East Indies Squadron ships.
to
December
HMS
Caledon passing destroyer HMS Echo
1
9 4 2
January
Indian Ocean escort and patrol In
continuation.
to
February
March
1st
Detached to cover minelay by HM
Auxiliary Minelayer TEVIOT BANK off
Arakan with
HM Corvette ASTER.
26th
Joined 5th Cruiser Squadron, Eastern
Fleet based at Trincomalee.
31st
Allocated to Force B with HM Battleships
RAMILLIES, ROYAL SOVEREIGN and
REVENGE, HM
aircraft Carrier HERMES, HM Cruiser
DRAGON, Dutch cruiser
VAN HEEMSKERCK and eight
destroyers.
Deployed in support of Force A during
search for Japanese Force reported
on passage to
Ceylon.
(For details see WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO,
2002) and OPERATION PACIFIC by E
Gray)
April
4th
Supported Force A during further sweep
for Japanese warships.
(For details see above references).
9th
Transferred to new base at Kilindini for
trade defence with Force B ships.
(Note: Ships of Eastern Fleet had moved
to East Africa because of Japanese air
threat.)
May
Deployed on trade defence and
interception patrol in Indian Ocean.
to
Nominated for conversion to
Anti-Aircraft Cruiser.
June
July
Passage to UK.
August
Paid off into Dockyard Control prior to
refit.
September
Awaiting refit at Chatham.
14th
Taken in hand for refit and conversion.
(Note: Aircraft warning radar Type 279,
surface warning radar Type 272 and
fire-control
radars Type 285 and Type 282 to be
fitted.
For details of development and use of
radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse)
October
Under refit.
to
December
1
9 4 3
January
Under refit
to
Nominated for service in Mediterranean
October
November
Harbour trials and re-commissioned.
Carried out sea trials
December
7th
On completion
prepared for foreign service.
1
9 4 4
January
Passage to Scapa Flow to work-up with
ships of Home Fleet.
February
On completion of work-up took
passage to Mediterranean.
March
Joined Fleet at Alexandria.
24th
Escorted military convoy to Salerno from
Alexandria with HM Cruiser FROBISHER and
four
HUNT Class Escort Destroyers.
April
Deployed for convoy escort in
Mediterranean.
May
9th
Joined US Navy
Task Group west of Gibraltar for escort
of Convoy UGS40 into Mediterranean.
11th
Under attack by
62 Ju88 aircraft off Cape Bengut and
shot down ten of them.
June
Convoy defence in continuation based at
Malta.
July
Nominated for duty under overall US Navy
Command for support of landings in South
of
France
(Operation DRAGOON).
August
Took part in preparatory exercises for
DRAGOON.
15th
Part of Task Group 88.2 providing AA
cover for Escort Carriers with HM
Cruiser COLOMBO
during landings in south of France.
For details see LANDINGS IN SOUTH FRANCE
(HMSO)
September
Resumed control by CinC Mediterranean
and deployed for convoy defence.
October
Transferred to Aegean area to support
reoccupation of islands.
November
Deployed for support of shore operations
and AA defence duties in Aegean.
December
Deployed in support of military
operations on Greek mainland.
Carried out series of bombardments of
Communist (ELAS) positions near to
Piraeus
and Salamis with HM Escort Destroyer
EASTON, French corvette LA MALOUINE,
Greek
ships SAKHTOURIS and NAVARINON.
12th
Released from military support
Remained in Aegean area for convoy
defence and support of Greek operations.
1
9 4 5
January
Deployment in Greek waters in
continuation.
Nominated for withdrawal from
operational service.
February
Passage to UK.
March
Paid off and to be reduced to Reserve
status
April
On completion of reduction to Reserve
and laid up at Falmouth.
May
Laid-up at Falmouth pending disposal.
