Improved
BIRMINGHAM or Hawkins-class cruiser built
by HM
Dockyard, Chatham and laid down on 3rd
June 1916. The first HAWKINS fought
the Armada.
This cruiser was completed on 19th July
1919, went to the China Station
until 1928 and paid off for
major repair. In 1929 this ship
re-commissioned for service in the
Atlantic Fleet and after refit was
re commissioned again
for duty in the East Indies. On return to
UK in 1935 she paid off into
Reserve. During 1939 she
was taken in hand for
modernisation by HM Dockyard Portsmouth
that was completed on 23rd December
1939. After a successful
WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in
February 1942 she was adopted by
the civil community of the Borough of
Stockport then in the County of Cheshire.
B a t t
l e H o
n o u r
s
ARMADA
1588 - NORMANDY 1944
H e r a
l d i c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Blue, a demi-Moor Proper, bound
and decorated gold,
arising
out of wavelets black and silver.
M o t t
o
Nil desperandum:
'Never despair'
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
Under refit and re-arming at Portsmouth
(See General
Information).
to
Nominated for trade defence
in South Atlantic.
November
Harbour trials
December
Post refit sea trials
23rd
On completion of trials and storing too
passage to work-up at Portland.
1 9 4 0
January
Worked-up at Portland
9th
Took passage from Portland to join
Squadron for trade
defence and interception
of
commerce raiders and blockade runners.
14th
At Freetown
17th
Took passage from Freeetown for duties
in South
Atlantic
February
Under refit at Port Stanley.
On
completion deployed on patrol in Plate
area.
March
Patrol and interception in South Atlantic
and West Indies in continuation.
5th
Sailed from Montevideo for patrol and took
passage on
completion to Port Stanley
15th
Sailed from Port Stanley to resume Plate
area patrol
April
South Atlantic patrols in
continuation
to
June
July
Carried out search for German
commerce raider in West Indies area.
August
Patrol and trade defence
in continuation.
September
Passage to Durban for refit.
October
Under refit.
November
Post Refit trials.
19th
On completion resumed duties in South
Atlantic.
December
Deployed in South Atlantic.
4th
Joined HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE as relief for
HM Cruiser CUMBERLAND in Ocean Escort
or
military convoy WS5B during passage from
Freetown to Durban.
8th
Detached to refuel.
10th
Rejoined WS5B.
12th
Detached on arrival of WS5B at Durban.
Took
passage to Freetown
for escort of
military convoy.
January At
Freetown.
8th
Provided Ocean
Escort for Convoy WS5A with HM Cruiser NORFOLK
from Freetown.
9th Detached
with HM Aircraft Carrier
FORMIDABLE.
Took independent
passage to Simonstown with HMS
FORMIDABLE.
Transferred
to East Indies Squadron for convoy defence
and interception
duties in Indian
Ocean.
21st
Escorted ss
ANSELM and ss CITY OF CANTERBURY
from WS5A
into Capetown.
22nd
Detached on arrival
of ships in Capetown.
27th
Escorted ss
ANSELM from Capetown for passage to Durban
. 29th
Detached on arrival
at Durban and joined
ships of WS5A for passage to Aden.
Relieved as Ocean Escort for WS5A by HM
Cruisers CERES and SHROPSHIRE.
February
1st
Took passage from Mombasa
to support
military operations in Italian
Somaliland.
Covered
HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE which was
diverted during passage
in the Indian
Ocean
to join Mediterranean Fleet to carry cut
air attacks at Mogadishu.
10th Joined
HM Aircraft Carrier HERMES, HM
Cruisers CAPETOWN, CERES, and
SHROPSHIRE, and HM Destroyer
KANDAHAR in Force T on formation for
support of
operations and
landings by Indian troops in Somaliland.
11th
Intercepted
8 Italian and 2 German ships
attempting to leave Mogadishu following
sighting by
aircraft from HMS HERMES. Five
Italian ships scuttled en approach.
17th
Detached to join Hunting Group V in
search for German battleship ADMIRAL
SCHEER
reported in
Indian Ocean.
21st
Detached to join HM Australian Cruiser
AUSTRALIA as escort for military convoy
WS5B off Mombasa
on passage in
Indian Ocean.
22nd
Relieved by HM Cruiser ENTERPRISE and
rejoined search for ADMIRAL
SCHEER after a
sighting report
by an aircraft from HM Cruiser
GLASGOW.
. 26th
Search abandoned and resumed convoy
defence role.
March
3rd
Arrived at
Aden
12th
Rejoined Hunting Group V for Patrol and
interception duty in Indian Ocean.
Detached for
convoy defence between Durban
and Capetown.
April
Joined
HM Cruisers CORNWALL and LEANDER in search
for commerce raider in
Indian
Ocean.
On
release took passage to Simonstown.
18th
Sailed to Capetown
for escort of military convoy.
20th
Joined military convoy WS7 ships as escort
for passage to Durban.
28th
Detached from WS7 when relieved by HM
Cruisers COLOMBO and GLASGOW in position
03 32N.
51.12E
May Trade
defence and interception
duty in continuation.
24th
Joined military convoy WS8A during
passage from Freetown and relieved HM
Cruiser
MAURITIUS
as Ocean
Escort for passage in Indian Ocean.
31st
Sailed from Durban with WS8A.
June
2nd
Detached from WS8A for repair.
4th
Under repair at Durban.
July
On completion took passage to
join military convoy W59A.
2nd
Relieved HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM as Ocean
Escort for WS9A for
passage to Durban.
8th
Sailed from Durban
as Ocean
Escort for ships of WS9A during passage
to Aden.
21st
Detached from
WS9A on arrival at
Aden.
August Indian Ocean
trade defence in continuation.
September
2nd
Joined military convoy WS10 as Ocean
escort from Capetown to Durban.
8th
Detached on
arrival of WS10 at
Durban.
9th
Escorted ss
ARONDA from Durban to join military convoy
WS10B
for onward passage
to Bombay.
On
arrival deployed as Ocean Escort for
WS10B.
15th
Detached from
WS10B in position 03.32N 51.12E on
relief by HM Cruiser EMERALD.
Resumed trade defence
duty in Indian
Ocean.
October
Indian Ocean deployment in
continuation.
November
Withdrawn from service for refit and took
passage to UK.
December
Taken in hand for refit at Portsmouth on
arrival.
20mm Oerlikon guns and 2pdr Pom Poms
fitted.
Aircraft warning radar
fitted on both masts with new tripod
mainmast.
Surface warning radar
Type 271 fitted.
Fire control radar Type
285 installed for 4in AA mountings.
(For
details of the
development and use of radar in the RN see
RADAR AT SEA by D Hawse).
1 9 4 2
January
Under refit.
to
Nominated for service with
5th Cruiser Squadron. Post refit trials
March
April
Harbour
trials
May Post
refit sea trails and storing
29th
On completion took passage to Scapa Flow.
June Worked
up with ships of Home Fleet for
operational service.
29th
Deployed in NW Approaches based on Clyde
July
26th
Joined HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK with
four destroyers as escort
for passage to
Iceland.
Returned to Clyde
when
detached.
August Passage
from Clyde to Freetown.
7th
Arrived at Freetown.
15th Joined
military convoy WS21 as Ocean
Escort during passage from Freetown with
HM
Destroyers CATTERICK
and PETARD.
27th
Detached on arrival
of WS21 at Capetown.
30th
Rejoined WS21 on departure from Capetown
as Ocean Escort for passage in Indian
Ocean.
September
5th Arrived
at Durban with WS21
10th
Remained with ships of WS21 when Aden
Section detached.
11th
Detached from WS21
Bombay Section on relief by HM Cruiser ENTERPRISE.
Escorted ss VOLENDAM
during passage to Mombasa
from WS21.
13th Joined
Squadron at Kilindini for
deployment in Eastern Fleet for convoy
defence
and patrol in
Indian Ocean and Red Sea.
October
11th Joined
military convoy WS22B as Ocean
Escort for Bombay Section.
17th
Detached from WS22B
on arrival at
Bombay.
November
Indian Ocean deployment in
continuation.
11th Joined military
convoy WS23 escorted by H M
Armed Merchant Cruiser CARTHAGE as relief
for
HM Cruiser DAUNTLESS
during passage from Durban.
16th
Detached from WS23 as
escort for ss EMPRESS OF RUSSIA for
passage to Mombasa.
18th
Detached from
mercantile on arrival at
Mombasa.
December
Indian Ocean duties in
continuation.
1 9 4 3
January
Transferred to 4th Cruiser Squadron.
29th
Joined Squadron at Bombay.
February
Eastern Fleet trade defence and
interception duties in continuation.
March
9th Joined
military convoy
WS26 during passage in Indian Ocean as the
relief for HM Cruiser
BIRMINGHAM.
11th Detached from WS26
with
Bombay Section redesignated WS26B as
escort for passage to Bombay.
17th Detached from WS26B
on
arrival at Bombay
April
Deployed for Squadron duties in Indian
Ocean.
to Passage
to Simonstown for
refit.
May
June
Under refit at Simonstown.
July
Post
refit trials
before resuming Indian Ocean duties.
Took
passage
to Ceylon.
August Indian
Ocean Squadron duties in
continuation.
28th Joined
military convoy
WS32 with H M Destroyers NORMAN, QUIBERON
and RAPID
for escort
during passage to Bombay.
September
3rd
Detached from WS32 on
relief by HM Cruiser EMERALD.
Embarked CinC Eastern
Fleet for passage to Ceylon
on transfer
of Flag.
October
Convoy defence and interception duty in
Indian Ocean.
to
November
December
Under refit and repair at Simonstown.
1 9 4 4
January
Post refit
trials and passage to Kilindini to resume
duties. Arrived at Kilindini
11th Sailed from
Kilindini with Convoy KR8 as
escort during passage to Colombo with HM
Destroyers
PALADIN and PETARD.
Local
Escort was provided by HM Corvette
HONESTY, HM Cutters SENNEN and
LULWORTH.
This
convoy comprised the
troopships ss KHEDIVE ISMAIL, VARSOVA,
EKMA, ELLENGA
and CITY OF
PARIS
12th Convoy
attacked by Japanese submarine 127
in 1 1/2 Degree Channel, Maldives.
Troopship
KHEDIVE ISMAIL was
torpedoed and sunk with heavy loss of
life.
Remained with convoy
because of lack of A/S
capability.
(Note:
I27 was later sunk by the
destroyers. See FIGHTING DESTROYER by G
Cornell and
PASSAGE TO DESTINY by
B J Crabb.)
13th Arrived
at Addu
Atoll with the four troopships
Embarked
survivors of KHEEDIVE ISMAIL from HMS
PETARD and resumed the
passage
to
Colombo
March
1st Arrived
at Colombo with KR8.
Withdrawn from Eastern
Fleet duties for service in
Hone waters.
19th In collision
with Greek
destroyer KANARIS in Red Sea during
passage to UK.
29th Arrived Clyde
for repair.
31st
Taken in hand for
repair in commercial shipyard.
April
Under
repair
20th On completion
joined 1st
Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet.
Detached
for support duty with Force
U in Western Task Force during Normandy
landings.
(Operation NEPTUNE).
Allocated
to Bombarding Force A with US battleship
USS NEVADA, US cruisers USS
QUINCY
and USS TUSCALOOSA, HM
Monitor EREBUS and HM Cruisers BLACK
PRINCE
and ENTERPRISE.
May
Carried
out preparation exercises in NW Approaches
for NEPTUNE bombardment duty.
25th Assembled
with Bombarding
Force A at Belfast.
June
4th
Operation delayed by 24
hours during passage with Bombardment
Force ships.
5th Joined
USS BAYFIELD
(Flagship of Force U) and Dutch Gunboat
SOEMBA off Isle of
Wight
for passage through
swept channels.
6th
Provided naval
gunfire support during assault on UTAH
Beach.
(Note:
Bombardment targets allocated were
Maisy and St. Martin de Varreville
batteries.
12th
Deployed at GOOSEBERRY 4, north of
Courselles with Commodore Depot Ships
embarked.
Provided support and
accommodation for crews of small
craft.
Available for
bombardment duty if required.
20th After
release from NEPTUNE took passage to
rejoin Home
Fleet.
31st
At Rosyth and withdrawn from operational
service.
Nominated for service
in Training Squadron at Rosyth.
August Passage
to Clyde for refit.
September
Under refit and conversion prior to
relieving HM Cruiser DAUNTLESS.
1
9 4 5
January
Under refit
to
Future deployment under
consideration.
April
May
Training
requirement cancelled and ship
to reduce to Reserve status.
June
Reducing to Reserve in Clyde.
P o s t W a r
N o t e s
HMS HAWKINS was later laid up at Falmouth in Category C Reserve and
placed on the Disposal List. She was
first
used for target trials and sold
to BISCO for demolition by Arnott Young on
26th August 1947. The ship was towed to
Dalmuir
on the Clyde and arrived at the breaker's
yard during December that year.
S p e c i a l N o t e
Details
of escorts for WS Series convoys
was provided by Donald Kindell,
Ohio USA from an unpublished
source. This is gratefully acknowledged.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of
HMS HAWKINS
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
31/10/41
|
03/11/41
|
CF
003
|
16/11/41
|
16/11/41
|
02/10/42
|
02/10/42
|
CM
032A
|
04/10/42
|
unknown
|
09/11/42
|
11/11/42
|
CM
034
|
16/11/42
|
21/11/42
|
09/01/43
|
17/01/43
|
CM
037B
|
25/01/43
|
25/01/43
|
11/02/43
|
11/02/43
|
MC
004
|
19/02/43
|
27/02/43
|
21/04/43
|
21/04/43
|
AB
007
|
26/04/43
|
26/04/43
|
07/05/43
|
07/05/43
|
JM
001
|
13/05/43
|
18/05/43
|
05/02/44
|
05/02/44
|
KR
008
|
14/02/44
|
14/02/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)