1
9 4 2
December
Contractors trials.
31st
Build completion date and commissioning.
1
9 4 3
January
Acceptance trials.
20th
On completion took passage to Scapa
Flow
to work-up with 10th Cruiser Squadron Home
Fleet.
22nd
Worked-up with Home Fleet at Scapa
Flow.
February
On completion of work-up deployed with
Squadron in Home Fleet.
Nominated for service in Mediterranean.
March
Transferred to Plymouth Command with two Home
Fleet destroyers.
17th
Deployed in Bay
of Biscay for interception of blockade runners.
April
Passage to Gibraltar
to join 12th Cruiser Squadron.
18th
Joined Squadron at Algiers
for interception of North African supply
convoys.
May
Transferred to 15th Cruiser Squadron for duty
as Flagship.
22nd
Embarked CinC (Admiral A B Cunningham) for
passage to Malta.
24th
Passage to Algiers
to rejoin Squadron.
June
3rd
Deployed for attack on Pantellaria
(Operation CORKSCREW).
5th
Bombarded Italian positions on Pantellaria.
8th
Repeated bombardment.
11th
Covered landing of 1st British Division on Pantellaria
with H M Cruisers AURORA,
PENELOPE, ORION and EURYALUS screened by Fleet
destroyers and MTB's.
(For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by Corelli Barnett).
13th
Deployed with HM Destroyer NUBIAN at Linosa
and accepted its surrender
16th
Carried out exercises in Suez
Bay
until 22nd June.
July
Transferred to 15th Cruiser Squadron as
Flagship.
5th
General Montgomery visited ship in Malta.
6th
Admiral Ramsay came on board.
9th
Passage to Alexandria
to cover passage of military convoys for
Sicilian landings
(Operation HUSKY.
For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by
.
C. Barnett and Naval Staff
History).
11th
Part of Support Force East for assault
landings with HM Cruisers UGANDA, ORION,
MAURITIUS,
CARLISLE,
COLOMBO
and DELHI.
Provided gunfire support
at Pozallo with
HM Destroyers BRISSENDEN and BLANKNEY.
12th
Bombarded Syracuse
and Augusta.
Came under threat of
submarine attacks.
17th
Bombarded coastal targets and harbour AA
defences at Augusta until 22nd July.
19th
Bombarded gun positions at Catania
with HM Destroyers LOOKOUT and BLANKNEY.
20th
Bombarded shore positions at Lentini
and Carlentini
with same destroyers.
23rd
Took passage from Augusta,
Sicily
for Malta
with HM Cruiser MAURITIUS screened by HM
Destroyers LAFOREY,
LOOKOUT and LOYAL.
Under attack by U407 which failed.
Torpedoed by Italian
submarine ASCIANGHI whilst on passage.
Sustained major damage aft
to steering gear and stem structure.
One rating was blown overboard and lost his
life and six other men injured.
(Note: One source records the torpedoes from
the Italian submarine missed.
ASCIANGHl was sunk
during the subsequent anti-submarine
operations by HM
Destroyers LAFOREY and
ECLIPSE.
24th
At Malta.
August
Temporary repair carried out before taking
passage to USA.
(Note: Only two shafts were available and
steering possible only by main engines.)
8th
Sailed for Gibraltar.
12th
Sailed for USA.
22nd Taken
in hand for repair by US Navy Yard
on arrival at Boston
September
Under repair at Boston Navy Yard.
to
December
1
9 4 4
January
Repair at Boston Navy Yard in continuation.
February
14th
Captain R W Ravenhill
joined ship to take command.
Commissioned for Trials
and passage.
20th
Completed refit.
March
Carried out post refit trials.
April
Passage to Norfolk,
Virginia.
20th
Took passage to St.
Johns,
Newfoundland
29th
At St.
Johns.
May
3rd
Took passage to UK.
Re-commissioned
for service after arrival.
June
Under further refit in Clyde shipyard to completion installation of British radar equipment
units not available
in USA.
(Note: Replacement of main armament fire
control radar Type 284 by a new design
of centimetric
wavelength, Type 274.
Replacement of surface
warning Radar Types 272 by new design Type
293.
Replacement of air warning Radar Type 281
using both masts by new design Type 281B
using only an
aerial on the mainmast.
Installation of new
design radar Type 277 for control of
aircraft and for surface
warning.
For details of development and use of radar in
RN see RADAR AT SEA
by D. Howse).
Improved Close Range AA weapons were also
fitted.)
July
Under refit
to
(Note: Following the addition of new radars
and weapon equipment displacement at Full
October
Load had increased to 11,058 tons compared
with 10,840 on build).
November
3rd
Refit work completed and commenced harbour and
sea trials.
22nd
Prepared for passage to Scapa Flow
to rejoin Fleet.
Nominated for service as Flagship,
4th Cruiser Squadron in
British Pacific Fleet.
December
Deployed at Scapa
Flow
to work-up for operational service with ships
of the Home Fleet.
21st
Passage to Mediterranean.
1
9 4 5
January
Deployed in eastern Mediterranean.
February
2nd
Sustained major damage after an explosion in
port torpedo tube mounting Alexandria.
There were some casualties.
Taken in hand for repair during which an
additional 40mm Close Range AA Armament was
fitted.
(Note: This work delayed the planned
deployment).
March
26th
Took passage to Sydney
via Colombo,
Cocos
Island
and Fremantle.
April
20th
Arrived at Sydney
and prepared for service in British Pacific
Fleet.
27th
CinC British Pacific Fleet, Admiral Sir Bruce
Fraser addressed ship's company.
May
4th
Sailed to join HM Australian Cruiser HOBART,
HM Australian Destroyer ARUNTA and
HM Australian Destroyer WARRAMUNGA to support
military operations in New
Guinea.
10th
Bombarded Cape
Hoem
with HMAS ARUNTA.
11th
Bombarded
Dove
Bay
before landings (Operation DELUGE).
12th
Provided naval gunfire support at Wewak
with HMAS HOBART during landings by 6th
Australian Division.
On release from DELUGE took passage to join
British Pacific Fleet at Manus.
19th
Took passage to Auckland,
New
Zealand.
24th
Arrived at Auckland
for R&R and minor repairs.
June
6th
Took passage to Manus to rejoin BPF.
Nominated for duty in Task
Group 111.2 for attack on Truk
Operation INMATE).
12th
Joined HM Aircraft Carriers IMPLACABLE and
RULER with HM Cruisers SWIFTSURE,
ACHILLES and UGANDA
to cover flying operations on Truk,
screened by HM Destroyers
TROUBRIDGE, TENACIOUS, TERPSICHORE and TEAZER
(Operation INMATE).
Deployed as Task Unit
111.2.5 with HMS UGANDA (RCN)
and HMS ACHILLES (RNZN).
Carried out bombardment
exercises on passage.
13th
Detached with HMS SWIFTSURE and HMS UGANDA
screened by HM Destroyers
TROUBRIDGE,
TENACIOUS and TEAZER as Task Unit
111.2. to
cover flying operations.
14th
Deployed in designated area during air attacks
by HMS IMPLACABLE which continued
after nightfall.
15th
Rejoined main force at dawn.
Detached with HMS
TROUBRIDGE to shell shore batteries on island
of Uman.
Carried out bombardment.
(Note: The other two cruisers carried out
bombardment of other targets.
One source suggests that this was not a total
success owing to confusion with aircraft
spotting reports
which covered bombardments by all ships).
16th
Task Group reformed for return passage to
Manus.
17th
Arrived at British Forward Support Base, Manus
with TG111.2.
Returned to Sydney with major units of Task Unit 112.3
28th
Took passage from Sydney with HM Battleships KING GEORGE V, HM
Aircraft Carrier,
FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers UGANDA and EURYALUS
screened by eight Fleet Destroyers.
July
4th
Arrived at Manus
6th
Took passage from Manus with HM Battleship
KING GEORGE V, HM Aircraft Carriers
FORMIDABLE, VICTORIOUS and IMPLACABLE, HM
Cruisers UGANDA
(RCN)
and
ACHILLES (RNZN) screened by RN destroyers of
BPF as Task Force 37, part of US 3rd Fleet.
(Note: Destroyer
screen comprised HM Destroyers GRENVILLE,
ULYSSES, UNDINE,
URCHIN URANIA, UNDAUNTED, QUIBERON (RAN),
QUICKMATCH (RAN),
QUALITY (RAN), QUADRANT (RAN) of 4th Destroyer
Flotilla and HM Destroyers
TROUBRIDGE, TENACIOUS, TERMAGANT, TERPSICHORE
and TEAZER of 24th
13th
Replenished from Fleet Train.
16th
Deployed with TF37 to join Task Groups 38.1,
38.3 and 38.4 of 3rd Fleet for joint
RN/USN
bombardments and
carrier air strikes against targets in the
Tokyo-Yokohama
area.
17th
Bombarded Hitachi Works north of Tokyo
with HMS KING GEORGE V, HM Cruiser BLACK
PRINCE and HM Australian
Destroyer QUALITY.
18th
Covered operations by H M Aircraft Carriers
FORMIDABLE, VICTORIOUS and IMPLACABLE
against targets on
Japanese mainland until 27/7/45.
(For details see THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J
Winton and Naval Staff History).
27th
Replenished from US Navy tankers of Task
Unit 30.18.1 with HMNZS ACHILLES.
(Note: This was necessary because of shortage
of fuel from British Fleet Train).
31st
Deployed with HM Escort Carrier RULER, HM
Cruisers ARGONAUT and ACHILLES.
Acted as voice radio
communications link between British TF37 and
American TF38.
August
4th
Released from radio link duty and rejoined
TF37.
9th
On re-organisation of allied Task Forces by US,
detached with HMS KING GEORGE V, HMS
GAMBIA
and HM Destroyers TERPSICHORE, TENACIOUS and
TERMAGANT to form
TG37.1.8 in 3rd US Fleet. Bombarded
Kamaishu in North
Honshu
with Task Unit 34.8.1.
12th
Retained with HMS KING GEORGE V, HMS
INDEFATIGABLE, HMS GAMBIA and nine
RN and RAN destroyers as TG38.5 to continue
service when remainder of BPF had to return to
Sydney
because of lack of fuel available from British
Fleet Train tankers.
13th
Covered HMS INDEFATIGABLE during air attacks
on Tokyo.
15th
Joined US Task Group 38.4 for entry into
Japanese waters.
23rd
Took passage to Tokyo
Bay
27th
In Sagami Wan awaiting formal surrender
ceremony.
31st
Entered Tokyo
Bay
with HMS GAMBIA.
(For details of operations by British Pacific
Fleet see OPERATION PACIFIC by E.
Gray, THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J. Winton and
Naval Staff Histories).
September
2nd
Present in Tokyo
Bay
when Japanese Delegation signed the Instrument
of Surrender on board the
American battleship USS
MISSOURI.
Resumed service in 4th
Cruiser Squadron under RN control.
3rd
Deployed in Japanese waters to assist in
evacuation of allied POW who were taken to
hospital
ships and Escort
Carriers in Tokyo
Bay.
(Note: Later deployed as Guardship
at Yokosuka
after other RN and Commonwealth ships
sailed. Landed
Royal Marines to take over Japanese Naval Base
During war service ship had steamed 122,490
miles.)
October
1st
Took passage from Yokohama
for Sydney
with call at Manus.
7th
Arrived in Sydney
flying at the masthead inferior to the White
Ensign, the Japanese
Ensign
captured by the
Landing Party at the Yokosuka
Ease.
Captain Ravenhill
left ship. Captain C C
A Allen assumed command.
29th
Deployed for Goodwill Tour of New Zealand
including calls at Milford Sound (29th) and
Bluff (30th).
November
New
Zealand
deployment in continuation with calls at Port Chalmers (1st-2nd),
Dunedin (2nd-5th),
Lyttelton
(6th-9th) and Wellington
for bunkers (10th) (New Zealand
dates with thanks to Chris Howell)
10th
On completion took passage to Sydney.
December
Deployed at Sydney.
1
9 4 6
January
Deployed with 2nd Cruiser Squadron, British
Pacific Fleet.
to
February
March
During passage in Malacca Straits in stormy
weather Commander Liddell was killed on deck.
April
Squadron deployment in continuation.
Visited Shanghai
May
Passage to Nanking with Admiral Fraser embarked for visit to Chinese Nationalist
Leader,
General Chiang-Kei-Shek.
Grounded in Yangtse
River
on sandbank.
June
Refit and docking at Hong
Kong.
July
15th
On completion rejoined Squadron for duty in Far
East.
Deployed in Japanese
waters.
August
British Pacific Fleet duties with Squadron
in continuation.
to
September
October
Nominated for reduction to reserve and
prepared for return passage.
28th
Scuttled Japanese heavy cruiser TAKAO,
11,350 tons.
(Note: This cruiser had been damaged at Singapore
by limpet mines and explosive charges
placed by HM
Submarine XE3 on 30th
July 1945.
Lieut. Ian Fraser and Leading Seaman J J
Magennis were both
awarded the Victoria
Cross for this gallant service. See THE
FORGOTTEN FLEET and FROGMAN VC by
Ian Fraser).
November
Left Squadron and
took passage to Devonport.
December
On arrival paid off and taken in hand for
refit.
S
u m m a r
y o f P o s
t W a r S
e r v i c e
1
9 4 7
January
Reducing to Reserve status.
to
February
March
10th
Deployed as Tender to HMS RALEIGH for
training of Stoker ratings.
April
Training deployment in continuation.
to
December
1
9 4
8 t o 1
9 4 9
Training deployment in
continuation.
1
9 5 0
January
Training deployment in continuation.
to
June
July
On reversion to Reserve status laid up in
Reserve Fleet at Devonport.
to
Nominated for modernisation by HM Dockyard,
Devonport.
December
1
9 5 1
January
Laid-up at Devonport awaiting modernisation.
February
Taken in hand for modernisation and
reconstruction under Dockyard Control.
March
Under dockyard control at Devonport.
to
(Note: See Appendix for Notes on
Modernisation)
December
1
9 5 2
January
Under dockyard control at Devonport.
to
Nominated to re-commission for service 4th
Cruiser Squadron, East Indies.
May
June
Advance party of 25 officers and ratings
joined from RN Barracks, Devonport.
July
Modernisation in continuation.
to
September
October
Carried cut Post refit trials.
November
14th
Commissioned for service
Commanding Officer - Captain M G Goodenough.
Sea trials, weapon trials
and Shakedown.
December
On completion prepared for foreign
service.
1
9 5 3
January
8th
Took passage from Devonport for Portland.
9th
Took passage from Portland.
19th
Took passage from Gibraltar.
26th
Arrived at Malta
after work-up exercises on passage.
Deployed with ships of
Mediterranean Fleet in Malta
area.
(Note: During stay visited by CinC,
Admiral the Lord Mountbatten of Burma.)
February
Mediterranean Fleet exercises in continuation.
11th
Took passage to East Indies Station.
23rd
At Aden.
27th
At Mukalla, South
Yemen.
.
28th
Sailed from Mukalla.
March
4th
Arrived at Mogadishu,
Somaliland.
(Note: Held under Italian
administration by UN resolution since 1950).
8th
Took passage from Mogadishu
to Mombasa.
Arrived at Mombasa,
Kenya
for visit.
16th
Sailed from Mombasa
to join East Indies Squadron at Trincomalee.
24th
Arrived at Trincomalee.
April
15th
Took part in multi-national SEATO exercise
in Indian
Ocean
(Exercise JET).
21st
On completion returned to Trincomalee.
27th
Sailed from Trincomalee for visit to Colombo.
28th
At Colombo.
May
11th
Took passage from Colombo
for Trincomalee.
12th
Deployed at Trincomalee.
19th
Took passage for Mombasa.
28th
Arrived at Mombasa..
June
2nd
At Mombasa
for Coronation ceremonials.
12th
Sailed from Mombasa
for visits programme.
Arrived at Tanga,
Tanganyika.
16th
At Dar-es-Salaam,
capital of Tanganyika.
24th
Sailed for Zanzibar
arriving same day.
July
1st
Took passage from Zanzibar
for Mauritius.
Arrived at Mauritius.
6th
Arrived at Trincomalee.
August
3rd
Took passage to Colombo
for visit.
4th
At Colombo.
17th
Return passage from Colombo
to Trincomalee.
18th
Arrived at Trincomalee.
September
Deployed at Trincomalee with East Indies Squadron.
October At
Trincomalee.
5th
Took part in Squadron exercises in Indian
Ocean.
8th
Returned to Trincomalee on completion.
16th
Took passage from Trincomalee for duty in Persian
Gulf.
24th
Visited Mina al Ahmadi.
(Note: Mina is the principal oil terminal for
Kuwait).
November
4th
At Bahrain.
9th
Took passage to Ras
Tanura,
Saudi
Arabia
for visit arriving same day.
10th
Return passage to Bahrain.
11th
Passage from Bahrain
to Umm Said, Trucial
Emirate of Qatar.
(Note: Umm Said is
the principal industrial and oil complex of
the State and has since
been extensively
developed. Now part of
the United
Arab Emirates).
12th
At Umm Said.
14th
Took passage to Sharjah.
(Note: Now part of the United Arab Emirates.
Became a large oil exporting state in the
1970's and has since been very
extensively
developed.
British Army units were deployed here at the
time.
17th
Sailed from Sharjah
to Muscat.
18th
At Muscat.
(Note: Capital of the Sultanate of Oman.
At the time of the visit Oman
was still under development, but oil revenues
have
transformed its
economy. Muscat
was, and still is medieval and its position
inside
a narrow gulf is
not easily forgotten).
20th
Took passage from Muscat
for visit to Bombay.
23rd
At Bombay.
29th
Return passage to Trincomalee.
December
3rd
Resumed duties with East Indies Squadron.
14th
Took passage for Singapore
from Trincomalee.
21st
Arrived at Singapore.
1
9 5 4
January
Deployed at Singapore.
to
(Note: Fleet at Singapore
was significantly dispersed due to UN
requirements in Korea
and
February
was also providing support to local
anti-terrorist operations).
March
15th
Took passage from
Singapore
to rejoin Squadron at Trincomalee.
21st
Arrived at Trincomalee.
(Note: Prepared for Royal escort duty in Indian Ocean).
30th
Took passage from Trincomalee for Cocos
Islands
for Royal escort duty.
April
5th
Arrived in Cocos
Islands.
6th
Escorted ss
GOTHIC in Indian
Ocean
to Colombo
from Cocos
Islands.
(Note: HM Queen Elizabeth II was embarked in
GOTHIC for return passage to UK
from
Royal Tour in New
Zealand
and Australia.
10th
Arrived at Colombo
with ss GOTHIC.
11th
Honoured by visit from HM Queen Elizabeth and
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh.
21st
Sailed as escort for ss
GOTHIC from Colombo
for passage to Aden.
27th
Arrived at Aden
and detached from ss
GOTHIC.
30th
Sailed from Men to Berbera,
British
Somaliland.
Deployed for Sea-Air Rescue duties)
May
4th
Took passage from
Berbera to
Trincomalee on completion of duties.
10th
Arrived at Trincomalee.
Nominated for further
detached service at Singapore.
22nd
Took passage to Singapore
for support of anti-terrorist operations in
Malaya.
27th
Arrived at Singapore.
June
Deployed at Singapore
7th
Sailed for support of military operations.
8th
Bombarded terrorist positions in Kedah
Peak
area.
9th
On release passage to Penang
for visit, arriving same day.
14th
Took passage from Penang
for visit to Sandakan.
20th
At Sandakan
with HM Survey Ship DAMPIER for Queens
Birthday Parade.
Note: Wearing Flag of FO2 i/c
FES).
23rd
Took passage from Sandakan
for visit to US Naval Base at Subic Bay, Philippines
24th
At Subic
Bay,
26th
Sailed from Subic
Bay
for Hong
Kong.
28th
Arrived at Hong
Kong.
July
5th
Took passage from Hong
Kong
for visits and exercise programme in Japanese
waters.
9th
Arrived at Sasebo
'
(Note: Sasebo was main base for US Naval Forces
serving in support of the United Nations
in Korean waters
after the Armistice).
12th
Sailed from Sasebo
for visit to Inchon,
Korea
and RN ships serving off East coast
on UN duties.
13th
At Inchon.
15th
Passage in Yellow
Sea
from Inchon
with calls at Paengongdo
and Yongpyongdo.
(Note: RN and Commonwealth Navies maintained Guardships
in these islands).
17th
Return passage from Yongpyongdo
to Sasebo.
19th
At Sasebo.
Prepared for visits to
Japanese ports and exercises with U S Navy.
27th
Took passage from Sasebo
for Yokohama.
29th
Arrived at Yokohama
for visit.
August
2nd
Took passage for Okinawa.
5th
At Okinawa.
8th
Sailed from Okinawa
for Exercise programme based at Kobe.
12th
Deployed at Kobe
for exercises with US Navy and Commonwealth
warships.
18th
On completion of exercises sailed for Sasebo.
20th
At Sasebo.
22nd
Took passage to Hong
Kong
from Sasebo.
25th
Arrived at Hong
Kong
28th
During stay Hong
Kong
area affected by severe weather with routine
precautions.
(Typhoon IDA)
30th
Resumed normal routine at Hong
Kong
after Typhoon IDA.
September
1st
Took passage from
Hong
Kong
for Singapore.
6th
Arrived at Singapore.
Docked for routine inspections
24th
Sailed for return passage to Trincomalee
from Singapore.
29th
Rejoined East
Indies Squadron at Trincomalee.
October
Deployed at Trincomalee.
Nominated for detached
duty in Persian
Gulf after visit to Bombay.
19th
Sailed for visit to Bombay.
23rd
At Bombay.
30th
Took passage from Bombay
to Bahrain.
November
3rd
Arrived at Bahrain.
9th
Took passage to Umm Said for visit.
12th
Sailed for Ras Tanura
from Bahrain.
13th
At Ras Tanura
(See above).
16th
Took passage to Kuwait.
17th
At Kuwait.
20th
Took passage to Mena-al-Ahmedi
(See above).
23rd
Sailed for visit to Basra,
Iraq.
(Note: Basra,
chief
port
of Iraq
is 60 miles up the Shat-el-Arab estuary and is
a major oil
production centre.).
24th
At Basra.
30th
Took passage from Basra
to Dubai
for demonstration to Rulers of Trucial
States.
(Operation SHOPWINDOW).
December
2nd
At Dubai.
3rd
Embarked six Rulers of Trucial
States for demonstration exercises with HM
Frigate
LOCH
INSH and aircraft of 73 Squadron, RAF.
4th
Took passage from Dubai
for call at Muscat.
7th
At Muscat
(See above).
9th
Took passage from Muscat
to Karachi,
West
Pakistan.
11th
At Karachi
for visit.
17th
Return passage to Trincomalee.
21st
Arrived at Trincomalee.
28th
Sailed from
Trincomalee for visit to Calcutta,
East
Pakistan.
1
9 5 5
January
1st
At Calcutta.
8th
Passage to Trincomalee from Calcutta.
12th
Arrived at Trincomalee to prepare for return
passage to UK.
17th
Sailed for visit to Colombo
before leaving Station to recommission.
18th
At Colombo
for visit.
22nd
Took passage for Aden.
28th
At Aden.
(Note: During visit, President Tito of Yugoslavia
was at Aden
en route to India).
31st
Sailed from Aden
to continue return passage.
February
Passage through Red
Sea
and Eastern
Mediterranean.
8th
Arrived in Malta.
10th
Sailed from Malta
for passage to Portsmouth.
17th
Arrived at Portsmouth
to pay off and re-commission.
(Note: New Commanding Officer: Captain R E Portlock,
RN joined).
23rd
Re-commissioned at Portsmouth
for duty in Far
East.
March
Prepared for foreign
service.
4th
Sailed for Malta.
11th
Arrived in Malta..
April
Deployed at Malta.
5th
Carried relief stores to Argostoli
following an earthquake.
(Note: These had been provided by British
Earthquake Relief Fund).
9th
Passage to Aden.
15th
At Aden.
16th
Arrived at Singapore
May
2nd
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard Singapore.
June
Under refit at Singapore.
to
Commenced post refit trials.
July
August
8th
Refit completed.
26th
On completion of work-up and preparation for
operational service rejoined Fleet.
Took passage to Labuan,
North
Borneo.
29th
Arrived at Labuan.
September
Return passage to Singapore.
5th
At Singapore.
Took part in exercises off
Singapore.
26th
Took passage for Manila.
30th
At Manila
for visit.
October
5th
Took passage for Hong
Kong.
7th
Arrived at Hong
Kong.
9th
Deployed for Fleet duties and exercises at Hong
Kong.
November
Hong
Kong
deployment in continuation.
Took part in Fleet
exercises off Hong
Kong
and Fleet Regatta.
16th
Sailed from Hong
Kong
for visits programme.
21st
At Inchon,
South
Korea.
23rd
Passage from Inchon
to Kure
(Note: Kure was used by RN and Commonwealth
warships serving with UN for R&R).
26th
At Kure.
30th
Passage to Nagoya,
Honshu,
Japan.
December
1st
At Nagoya.
5th
Passage to Yokohama
for visit.
6th
At Yokohama.
12th
Return passage to Hong
Kong.
17th
At Hong
Kong.
1
9 5 6
January
Hong
Kong deployment in continuation.
February
10th
Deployed with HM Destroyers CONSORT, COMUS,
ANZAC (RAN), TOBRUK (RAN),
HM Frigate PUKAKI (RNZN)
and US warships for joint exercises in South
China Sea.
(Exercise FIRM
LINK).
14th
On completion visited Bangkok.
19th
Passage to Singapore.
March
Deployed at Singapore.
11th
Passage to Hong
Kong
for multi-national exercises with ships of
Far East Fleet.
19th
Took part in exercises.
to
23rd
26th
Deployed in South
China Sea.
April
4th
At Hong
Kong.
Took part in Exercise with H M Light Fleet
Aircraft Carriers ALBION and CENTAUR,
RAN and RNZN ships (Exercise MONSOON).
23rd
Took passage from Hong
Kong
to Singapore.
30th
Deployed at Singapore.
May
Singapore
deployment in continuation.
Nominated for duty at Montebello
during Atomic Bomb tests (Operation MOSAIC).
24th
Passage to Australia.
31st
Arrived at Fremantle.
June
4th
At Fremantle for Foundation Day
celebrations.
8th
Took passage to Montebello
Island.
11th
At Montebello
for support of nuclear test (Operation MOSAIC).
(Note: after
to
"wind-finding" in the Indian Ocean,
she sailed to Exmouth Gulf to refuel before
19th
heading
for Singapore. With thanks to Robert
Griffiths)
On release from MOSAIC took return passage to
Singapore.
(Note: To re-commission at
Singapore.
New
ship's company to be transferred from UK
by air.
(Operation AIRLIFT)
28th
At Singapore
Deployed at Singapore.
July
31st
New Commanding Officer Captain John Hamilton,
RN assumed command.
August
2nd
Paid off at Singapore.
4th
Re-commissioned for service as Flagship, 5th
Cruiser Squadron.
(Note: Also Flagship, Flag Officer,
Second-in-Command, Far
East).
8th
Took part in Fleet exercises off Pulau
Tioman, east of
Malaya.
Returned to Singapore
on completion.
23rd
During support duty for anti-terrorist
operations bombarded positions in the Kota
Tinggi
area, East Coast of Malaya. 101
rounds of 6" fired.
September
Singapore
deployment in continuation.
Nominated for attendance
at Sydney
during Olympic Games.
4th
Passage to visit Penang
and Port Dickson.
16th
Planned programme of visits to Australia
cancelled due to Suez Crisis.
Transferred to Red
Sea
for duty as Senior Naval Officer (Operation
MUSKETEER).
Took passage to
Trincomalee.
20th
Arrived at Trincomalee.
24th
Passage to Aden.
27th
Arrived at Aden.
October
Deployed at Aden.
18th
Took part in exercises off Yemen
in preparation for war service.
28th
Received signal about possible hostilities
with Egypt.
31st
Joined HM Destroyer DIANA, HM Sloops CRANE and
MODESTE, French Frigates
LA PEROUSE,
GAZELLE, JASMIN and
RFA WAVE
SOVEREIGN for the protection
of British and
French
shipping in Gulf
of Suez
(Operation TOREADOR – Part of overall
Operation MUSKETEER).
November
1st
During patrol intercepted darkened ship
following mercantiles
travelling north.
Illuminated target that
identified as an Egyptian Frigate.
Engaged and sank frigate DOMEAT (Ex HMS NITH)
with 6in and 4in fire.
Hit by return 4in fire causing slight damage
and casualties. 1 killed 5 injured.
69 of Egyptian crew were rescued.
2nd
Opened fire on targets after radar detection.
No return fire.
3rd
Deployed in Gulf
of Suez.
7th
Operation MUSKETEER ended after UN
intervention.
Passage to Aden
and remained in area.
December
Deployed at Aden.
9th
Took part in exercises with HM
Frigate
ST
BRIDES
BAY
in Red
Sea.
25th
Visited Djibouti, French Somaliland for Xmas
period.
1
9 5 7
January
Deployed at Aden.
Released from East Indies
Station duties.
7th
Took passage for Singapore
from Aden.
18th
Deployed at Singapore.
22nd
On passage to Hong
Kong
from Singapore
area.
24th
Arrived at Hong
Kong.
February
Deployed at Hong
Kong.
26th
Took part in exercises at Plover Cove, Mirs
Bay.
March
4th
Deployed at Hong
Kong.
6th
Sailed for return to Singapore
from Hong
Kong.
16th
Arrived at Singapore.
21st
Took passage from Singapore
to Hong
Kong
for refit.
April
Taken in hand for refit at Hong Kong.
May
Under refit.
to
July
August
Post refit trials.
16th
Took passage from Hong
Kong
to rejoin Squadron at Singapore.
30th
Deployed at Singapore.
September
Singapore
deployment in continuation.
Nominated for visits
programme to Japanese ports.
October
Passage to Japanese waters after call at Hong Kong.
8th
At Tokyo.
Visits programme included Yokosuka
and Yokohama.
(Note: Yokosuka
was used by US Navy for repair and R&R).
24th
Sailed from Yokohama
for Inchon.
28th
Deployed in Yellow
Sea
and visited Inchon.
November
Passage from Inchon
to Hong
Kong.
8th
At Hong
Kong.
December
Hong
Kong
deployment in continuation.
1
9 5 8
January
Return passage to Singapore
to re-commission.
18th
New Commanding Officer Captain A
R Hezlet, RN
assumed command.
20th
Re-commissioned at Singapore.
February
10th
Deployed with Squadron for exercise and visits
programme based at Singapore.
14th
Visited Penang.
Returned to Singapore
on completion.
March
Deployed at Singapore.
8th
Taken in hand for refit and docking at Singapore.
April
On completion prepared to resume Squadron
duties.
21st
Deployed for exercises with HM Light Fleet
Carrier BULWARK off Singapore.
(Exercise BULLFIGHT)
May
Took part in SEATO Exercise OCEAN LINK.
13th
Visited Manila.
15th
Passage to Hong
Kong.
June
Returned to Singapore
for multi-national SEATO exercises in Indian Ocean.
(Exercise JET).
20th
Took part in exercises based at Trincomalee
with Far East Fleet and Commonwealth
warships. These
included harbour serials and extensive convoy
defence, gunnery
firings,
manoeuvring and replenishment serials.
30th
On completion of JET
took passage to visit Fremantle,
Western
Australia.
July
9th
At Fremantle.
16th
Recalled to Singapore
for support of operation in Persian
Gulf
On arrival prepared for detached duty in Persian Gulf
as relief for HM Cruiser GAMBIA.
Took passage to Persian Gulf
(Note: This deployment was made to provide
protection for British interests in Iraq
following the
overthrow of the monarchy as part of other
Royal Navy
deployments to
reinforce normal presence in the Gulf).
August
Passage to Bahrain.
23rd
At Bahrain.
September
Deployed in Persian
Gulf.
13th
Took passage from Bahrain
to resume Squadron duties at Singapore.
On arrival nominated for visits and exercise
programme in Japanese waters.
30th
Passage to Hong
Kong.
October
2nd
Arrived at Hong
Kong.
9th
Passage to Japan
for exercises and visits.
24th
Paid visit to Kobe.
28th
Took passage to Sasebo.
November
Deployed at Sasebo.
3rd
Took passage from Sasebo
to Hong
Kong.
7th
At Hong
Kong.
28th
Took passage from Hong
Kong
to Singapore
for refit.
December
2nd
At Singapore
and prepared for refit.
15th
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard,
Singapore.
1
9 5 9
January
Under refit.
Nominated for reduction to
Reserve on return to UK.
February
12th
Refit work completed and carried out post
refit trials.
Prepared for return passage
16th
Sailed for UK
via Mombasa,
Zanzibar,
Dar-es-Salaam, Lorenco
Marques and Durban.
May
On passage in Atlantic
June
25th
Arrived at Portsmouth
to pay off.
Final
Phase
HMS
NEWFOUNDLAND paid off and reduced to Reserve at
Portsmouth
in October 1959-The ship was sold to Peru
in November that year following the earlier
negotiations. On 30th December 1959 she was
formally handed over to the Peruvian Navy at
Portsmouth and renamed ALMIRANTE GRAU When the
Dutch cruiser DE RUYTER was purchased by Peru in
1973 and was to take the name ALMIRANTE GRAU,
this ship was once again given a new name and
became CAPITAN QUINONIS .She was taken cut of
service in 1979 and later sold for breaking-up
in Japan.
A
p p
e n d i
x 1
L
i s
t o f C o
m m a n d i
n g O f f
i c e r s
1942 to 1943
Captain W Slayter
(Later Vice Admiral)
1943. to 1946
Captain R W Ravenhill
1945 to 1946
Captain C C Allen
1952
to
1953
Captain M G Goodenough
(Later Admiral).
1953
to
1955
Captain E H Thomas.
1955
to
1956
Captain, R E
Portlock.
(Later Rear Admiral).
1956 to 1958
Captain J G Hamilton (Later Admiral)
1958 to 1959
Captain A R Hezlet
(Later Vice Admiral)
Distinguished
Officers serving on board 1942 to 1959.
Captain
W R Slayter.
Commanding Officer 1942 to 1943
Chief of Staff, to Admiral Sir Bruce Fraser, CinC,
Home Fleet 1944
Lieutenant Commander David Clutterbuck
1942 to 1946.
Chief Staff Officer, Home Fleet and CinC
Allied Forces Easterm
Atlantic 1963 to 1966
Deputy Supreme Allied Commander, Eastern
Atlantic 196.6 to 1968,
Captain
R W Ravenhill.
Commanding Officer 1944 to 1945
Awarded DSC as Commanding
Officer, HM Destroyer NUBIAN.
(For services during Malta Convoys 1941)
Later Director of Naval
Ordnance, Admiralty).
Lieutenant
Edward Ashmore
1945
Flag Lieutenant to Flag Officer, 4th Cruiser
Squadron, British Pacific Fleet
First
Sea
Lord 1974 to 1977
Chief of Defence Staff 1977
Captain M G Goodenough. Commanding
Officer 1952 to 1953-
Principal Assistant to Flag Officer, Dover
during Operation DYNAMO 1940
(Evacuation of British and allied forces from
Dunkirk)
Captain
J G Hamilton, Commanding Officer 1956 to 1958
Staff Gunnery Officer, Mediterranean Fleet
1941 to 1942
Staff of CinC
Mediterranean Fleet, Admiral Sir Andrew
Cunningham)
Last Commander-in-Chief, Mediterranean Fleet
1966.
Captain A R Hezlet. Commanding Officer
1958 to 1959.
Awarded DSO and Bar and DSC for service in
submarines 1940 to 1945.
Flag Officer Submarines 1959 to 1961; Flag
Officer Scotland
1961 to 1962
Flag Officer Scotland
and Northern
Ireland
1963 to 1964.
Lieutenant Julian Oswald 1956 to 1958.
First
Sea
Lord and Chief of Defence Staff 1989.to
1992.
A
p p e n d i x 2
N
o t e s o n M o d e
r n i s a t i o n
Cruisers of the SOUTHAMPTON and Improved COLONY
Classes which were held in Reserve after
WW2 were taken in hand for extensive refit
and modernisation during the 1950's. This
was necessary if they were to be retained
as efficient fighting units and was
primarily concerned with incorporating the
changes introduced as a result of wartime
experience and the development of nuclear
weapons.
The following summary is divided into the various
types of work involved and shows the
extent of work involved. It is not
intended as a comprehensive specification.
Hull
- The entire Bridge structure was replaced by a
streamlined design which would reduce the
effects of blast from nuclear weapons. Its
internal layout was designed to provide
the facilities for all communications and
radar display equipment needed to fight
the ship. The new structure included an
enclosed Bridge which protected personnel
from the effects of weather. In addition
to the changes in Bridge structure both
masts were replaced by a Lattice type,
essential to support the new design of
radar aerials being fitted. Facilities
were provided for protection of the ship
and her personnel during nuclear attack.
Marine
Engineering - No significant changes
were made to the propulsion machinery.
Electrical
Systems
- The
basic supply systems remained unchanged but
additional generating capacity was provided
for the supplies to new communications,
weapons and radar outfits. This work was
extensive since the new facilities in the
Bridge structure also required direct
contact with all positions involved in the
control and operation of weapons, radar and
signal communications. In addition internal
telephone and broadcast communications had
to be provided throughout the ship.
Weapon
Fit
- The main and secondary armament gun mountings were
unchanged but new Directors were fitted
for 4" fire-control to suit the design
changes to the electrical and radar
systems. The Close Range 20mm weapons were
replaced by 40mm mountings and were sited
in new positions. Torpedo
armament was removed during modernisation.
Radar
Equipment - This was the most significant part of the
modernisation since not only were new
outfits fitted to improve the 4" fire
control and both surface and air warning
cover, the arrangements for display of
radar information had to be completely
changed to suit the new Bridge layout.
During WW2 additional radar equipment and
associated displays were added as they
became available and resulted in
arrangements entirely unsuited to modern
naval requirements. This was a known area
of weakness throughout the Fleet and the
new Bridge layout was designed to provide
the space required to accommodate
equipment to suit the new procedures
introduced as a result of war experience.
The provision of an Action Information
Organisation (AID) to provide the command
with all data relevant to any situation
required special attention and this need
was met by the provision of all radar
displays in the new structure with
adequate communication arrangements. The
compartment included facilities for
control of defence against surface and air
attack.
The
particular changes to equipment were:
Replacement of Radar Type 281B by Type 960 of
improved design for aircraft warning.
The new outfit installation included extensive
changes to display arrangements.
Replacement of Radar Types 285 by Type 275
of improved design for 4" armament fire
control.
Extensive alterations to the fire-control
arrangements were needed casing new
Directors
Replacement
of existing aerials for Radars Type 277 and
293 and modification of
equipment. Provision of suitable 'Plan'
displays for all radars in new compartment
in Bridge Structure. Modification of
existing Interrogation equipment associated
with warning radars. These alterations
involved significant changes to power supply
arrangements.
Communications
Equipment - Changes
to the radio equipment arrangements during
modernisation due to replacement of the
Bridge structure and to satisfy the
requirements for Action Information were
extensive. lt was essential that the main
radio communications centre should be
adjacent to the radar display facilities and
equipment arrangements were accordingly
redesigned.
New receiving outfits were provided to replace the
earlier pre-war designed equipment and a
new type of control system for all radio
equipment was Installed. The
radio-telephone outfits which were
introduced during WW2 and essential to
communications with aircraft and ships
were resited to suit new requirements. In
order to accommodate the planned
replacement of VHP equipment by the modern
UHF communications, new wiring was fitted
and sites were prepared for later
installation.
The
aerial arrangements were changed and
'Whip’ type units fitted to forward
structure and funnels.
ASDIC (Sonar) Equipment - No significant
changes were made.
return
to Lt-Cdr Mason's researches
or
to post-war, 1945 on
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
NEWFOUNDLAND
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
15/03/43
|
19/03/43
|
KMF
011
|
20/03/43
|
23/03/43
|
12/03/43
|
27/03/43
|
SL
126
|
28/03/43
|
01/04/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)