1 9 3 9

 

September

 

Deployed in Australian waters for anti-submarine patrol.

 

8th - Carried out patrol off Fremantle with HM Cruiser SYDNEY (RAN) and HM Destroyer VOYAGER (RAN).

 

October

 

Transferred at Admiralty request to join RN ships at Singapore.

 

14th - Took passage from Fremantle to Sydney to prepare for RN service based at Singapore. Sailed to Singapore for service on China Station. (Note : The Australian destroyers STUART, VENDETTA, VOYAGER and WATERHEN were also transferred.)

 

29th - At Singapore.

 

November

 

Deployment at Singapore cancelled and ship required to join the Fleet in the Mediterranean.

 

13th - Took passage from Singapore to Colombo

 

16th - Detached with HMAS VOYAGER to join HM Cruiser KENT and French cruiser SUFFREN in search for commerce raider GRAF SPEE in Indian Ocean.

 

December

 

On release from Hunting Group took passage to joined the Fleet in Malta.

 

24th - Arrived in Malta via Suez Canal and joined Mediterranean Fleet as part of 19th Division with HMAS STUART (Leader), VENDETTA, VOYAGER and WATERHEN.

 

 

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January to April  

 

19th Division deployment for contraband control and exercises with Fleet units.

 

May

 

27th - Joined newly formed 10th Destroyer Flotilla with RAN ships and HM Destroyers DAINTY, DECOY and DEFENDER of 20th Division.

 

June

 

Took part in Fleet exercises prior to outbreak of war with Italy.

 

Provided cover with HM Destroyer VOYAGER (RAN) for convoys to and from the Dardanelles

 

11th - Deployed with screen for HM Battleship MALAYA and WARSPITE, HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE and ships of 7th Cruiser Squadron during passage from Alexandria for offensive sweep in Aegean Sea.

 

12th - Detached from screen and joined ships of Flotilla at Alexandria for anti-submarine patrol during which two Italian minefields were located.

 

13th - Carried out further patrol off Alexandria with Flotilla and engaged in gun action with Italian submarine in process of minelaying. Submarine was damaged but further pursuit deterred by existence of mines.

 

26th - Deployed with HM Destroyer GARLAND as escort for HM Cruiser CALEDON for passage to join escort for convoy to Greece.

 

27th - Detached and joined incoming convoy to Port Said as escort.

 

July

 

Nominated for Fleet screening duties.

 

7th - Deployed with HM Destroyers DAINTY, DEFENDER, HASTY, HOSTILE, HYPERION, ILEX, IMPERIAL, JANUS, JUNO and VOYAGER (RAN) as screen for HM Battleships MALAYA, ROYAL SOVEREIGN, WARSPITE, HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, NEPTUNE, ORION and SYDNEY (RAN) to provide cover for transit of Convoys MF1 and MF2 from Malta (Operation MA5. Note: These convoys were supply ships carrying naval stores and some passenger ships evacuating civilians from Malta. An earlier operation had been cancelled after the warships involved had expended huge quantities of ammunition in an engagement with Italian warships and had to return to Alexandria. See MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman, THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre and THE NAVAL WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN by J Greene and A Massignani.)

 

9th - Took part in brief engagement with Italian warships. (Battle of Calabria – See references.)

 

10th - Detached and joined Slow Convoy MS1 with HMS DECOY and HMAS VOYAGER as escort for passage to Port Said.

 

11th - Replaced in escort by HMS JANUS after sustaining damage from near miss in an air attack. One man was killed by splinters. Took passage independently to Alexandria.

 

23rd - Deployed with HM Cruiser ORION and HMAS VENDETTA for a diversionary operation during passage of landing ships from Alexandria for simulated assault at Castelloriza..

 

26th - Joined HMS ORION, HM Auxiliaries FIONA and CHAKLA off Castelloriza.

 

27th - Carried out bombardment during simulated landing operation (Note: Enemy shore defences did not react.)

 

29th - Return passage to Alexandria with Mediterranean Fleet ships.

 

August

 

Flotilla deployment in continuation.

 

30th - Deployed with HM Destroyers GARLAND, DECOY, ILEX, IMPERIAL, MOHAWK, NUBIAN and VENDETTA as screen for HMS EAGLE, HMS MALAYA, HMS WARSPITE, HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER, KENT, LIVERPOOL and ORION to provide Distant Cover for passage of Convoy MS2 during passage to Malta and passage of reinforcement warships to join Fleet at Alexandria from western Mediterranean (Operation MB3. Note : This was part of Operation HATS involving ships of Force H from Gibraltar.

 

September

 

2nd - Part of screen for major units of reinforced Fleet during passage from Malta to Alexandria.

 

5th - Arrived at Alexandria with Fleet units after an air attack on Rhodes by HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS.

 

14th - At Port Taufik for routine docking

 

24th - Resumed Flotilla duties at Alexandria.

 

October

 

Flotilla duties including convoy escort in continuation.

 

9th - Deployed with HM Destroyers DAINTY, DECOY, IMPERIAL, JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO, MOHAWK, STUART and VAMPIRE in screen for HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS EAGLE, HMS MALAYA, HMS RAMILLIES, HMS VALIANT, HMS WARSPITE, HM Cruisers AJAX, GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, ORION, SYDNEY and YORK to provide Distant Cover during passage of Convoy MF3 from Egypt and MF4 from Malta.

 

12th - Under attack by Italian destroyers during which HMS AJAX hit and disabled the Italian ARTIGLIERE. Rescued survivors from ARTIGLIERE after it had been sunk by HMS YORK. (See above references for details of this engagement.)

 

14th - Under attack by torpedo aircraft during which HMS LIVERPOOL was damaged. Detached to screen HMS LIVERPOOL during passage under tow by HMS ORION.

 

16th - Boiler cleaning at Alexandria with disinfection.

 

25th - Resumed Flotilla duties and deployed with HMAS VOYAGER as screen for HMS MALAYA during offensive patrol in Kaso Strait as cover for passage of convoy.

 

28th - On return sailed with HM Netlayer PROTECTOR, HMAS VOYAGER and HMAS WATERHEN as escort for first military convoy to Crete.

 

30th - Arrived at Suda Bay.

 

November

 

4th - Deployed with HM Cruisers COVENTRY, CARLISLE, HM Destroyers DAINTY, DIAMOND, VOYAGER (RAN) and WATERHEN (RAN) to escort Convoy AN6 during passage to Crete (Note : The passage of this convoy was part of a major Fleet movement to pass convoys to Malta (MW3) and from Malta (ME3) as well as to cover the passage of warships from the western Mediterranean to reinforce the Mediterranean Fleet based at Alexandria (Operation COAT) - See above references.)

 

8th - Passage to Malta to join Convoy ME3 as escort during passage to from Malta to Port Said.

 

10th - Joined ME3 in Malta with HM Battleship RAMILLIES, HMS COVENTRY, HM Destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER and WATERHEN.

 

13th - Under air attack during which HMS DECOY was damaged.

 

14th - Detached from ME3 and resumed Fleet duties with Flotilla. Transferred with ships of Flotilla for support of military operations (Note: During following week under persistent air raids whilst at Alexandria.)

 

December

 

Deployed as Force B with HMAS VENDETTA, VOYAGER and WATERHEN for duty in Inshore Squadron for bombardment of coastal positions in support of the military offensive. (Note : Inshore Squadron also included Force A - HM Monitor TERROR, HM River Gunboats APHIS, LADYBIRD and GNAT, Force C - HM Battleships BARHAM and MALAYA, and Force D - HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE with destroyer screen.)

 

11th - At Sollum prior to planned bombardment of Bardia with HMAS VENDETTA and HMAS WATERHEN.

 

12th - Took passage to Alexandria when bombardment cancelled due to sandstorm in target area.

 

15th - Sailed from Alexandra with HM Monitor TERROR, HMAS VENDETTA, VOYAGER and WATERHEN as Inshore Squadron to carry out bombardments of retreating Italian army units on North African coast.

 

16th - Deployed to give cover for ships of Inshore Squadron during bombardment.

 

18th - Return passage to Alexandria.

 

19th - Taken in hand for machinery repairs.

 

 

1 9 4 1

 

January

 

9th - Resumed Flotilla duties.

 

11th - Deployed with HMAS STUART, VENDETTA and VOYAGER as screen for HMS EAGLE and HMS BARHAM for attacks on Dodecanese islands.

 

16th - Return passage to Alexandria after planned operation cancelled.

 

17th - Detached on arrival and resumed Flotilla duties.

 

21st - Provided naval gunfire support from inside harbour during attack on Tobruk by 6th Australian Division.

 

22nd - Carried out unsuccessful search for Italian cruiser SAN GIORGI off Tobruk.

 

Captured Italian schooner carrying lubricating oil.

 

February

 

7th - RAN ships visited by Australian Prime Minister.

 

12th - Took passage to Benghazi to carry out clearance of obstructions preventing discharge of cargoes.

 

13th - Deployed at Benghazi and on completion took passage to Bardia.

 

17th - Escorted HMS TERROR to Tobruk from Bardia.

 

Passage to Alexandria. On arrival took passage to escort of military convoy GA2 from Piraeus to Egypt.

 

March

 

Escort of military convoys to and from Greece in continuation (Operation LUSTRE).

 

12th - Escorted Convoy AG3 to Piraeus.

 

April

 

LUSTRE deployment in continuation.

 

12th to18th - Escorted Convoy AN27 to Piraeus and AS26 from Greece with HM Sloop AUCKLAND.

 

24th - Sailed from Alexandria with HMS AUCKLAND and HM Destroyer KIMBERLEY as escort for Convoy AG15 to Piraeus.

 

27th - Detached on arrival and took passage to assist in the evacuation of allied troops from Greece.

 

28th - Joined HM Cruisers CALCUTTA, COVENTRY, HM Destroyers STUART, VENDETTA and WATERHEN for escort of Convoy GA14 from Nauphlia to Alexandria.

 

29th - On arrival deployed with screen for HMS FORMIDABLE and other ships of Mediterranean Fleet to provide cover for passage of Convoy GA15 from coast of Greece.

 

May

 

3rd - Returned to Alexandria after diversions for support of evacuation.

 

6th - Deployed with HMAS STUART, HM Sloops AUCKLAND and FLAMINGO as escort for Convoy AN30 from Alexandria to Suda Bay for collection of troops evacuated from Greece.

 

9th - Returned to Alexandria.

 

10th - Deployed with HMAS VOYAGER as escort for Convoy AS30 on passage from Suda Bay to Egypt.

 

11th - Resumed Inshore Squadron duties and embarked stores and supplies for transit to Tobruk.

 

21st - Withdrawn from Tobruk support because of increase in defect rate, particularly propulsion  machinery

 

25th - Released from RN deployment in Mediterranean.

 

28th - Took passage from Alexandria for refit at Singapore, via Red Sea.

 

June

 

Passage in Indian Ocean.

 

16th - Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard at Singapore.

 

July to October  

 

Under refit.

 

November

 

On completion of post refit trials remained at Singapore for convoy defence duties.

 

December

 

3rd - Transferred to Force G, Eastern Fleet

 

5th - Sailed from Singapore with HM Destroyer TENEDOS as escort for HM Battlecruiser REPULSE during passage to Darwin.

 

6th - Returned to Singapore with HMS REPULSE after Japanese convoys reported in Gulf of Siam.

 

8th - Deployed with HM Destroyers TENEDOS, ELECTRA and EXPRESS as screen for HMS REPULSE and HM Battleship PRINCE OF WALES as Force Z to intercept Japanese invasion Fleet covering landings on east coast of Malaya.

 

9th - Report of sighting Japanese aircraft ignored. Under attack by Japanese high level bombers but unable to carry out effective fire due to poor AA armament. HMS REPULSE and HMS PRINCE OF WALES were subsequently overwhelmed by bomb and torpedo attacks and sunk. (See THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton, THE SINKING OF FORCE Z by R Hough and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).) Rescued 225 survivors from the two major warships and returned to Singapore.

 

15th - Deployed for cover of minelaying operation off Kuantan..

 

19th - Deployed with HM Cruisers DRAGON and DURBAN as escort for troopships during passage from Singapore to Colombo.

 

 

1 9 4 2

 

January

 

10th - Deployed with HM Destroyers ENCOUNTER and JUPITER and joined HM Cruisers DURBAN, EXETER and HM Sloop JUMNA (RIN) in escort of military convoy DM1 during passage from Addu Atoll to Singapore with reinforcement troops from UK

 

13th - Detached from DM1 on arrival at Singapore.

 

Resumed local convoy escort

 

20th - Transferred to ABDA Command for convoy escort. (See WAR WITH JAPAN).

 

24th - Escorted Convoy MS2A from Ratan Bay with HMS THANET.

 

26th - Deployed with HM Destroyer THANET with air cover for the interception of Japanese convoy off Endai, east coast of Malaya. (Note : Japanese force included cruiser SENDAI with six destroyers and five minesweepers.)

 

27th - Engaged Japanese destroyer SHIRAYUKI and fired two torpedoes unsuccessfully. Under heavy return fire but able to escape unscathed. (Note: HMS THANET was sunk in this action.)

 

28th - Deployed with HM Sloop YARRA (RAN) as escort for convoy during passage from Singapore to Sunda Straits.

 

29th - Detached at Sunda Strait and took passage to Padang.

 

February

 

1st - Deployed with HMS EXETER and HMS JUPITER as escort for two transports on passage from Batavia to Sunda.

 

2nd - Joined military convoy DM2 and Convoy BM12 from Indian Ocean with HMS JUPITER and joined HM Cruiser DANAE, Dutch cruiser JAVA, HM Sloop SUTLEJ (RIN), and HMAS YARRA for escort to Batavia.

 

3rd - Detached on arrival at Batavia.

 

5th - Deployed as escort for mercantile convoy on passage from Tandjong Priok to Colombo.

 

11th - Arrived at Colombo. Joined Eastern Fleet.

 

March

 

1st - Deployed with HM Destroyers EXPRESS, NIZAM, HM Corvette HOLLYHOCK as screen for HM Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN, HM Cruiser CORNWALL and HM Armed Merchant Cruiser MANOORA (RAN) for escort of military convoy SU1 during Indian Ocean passage. (Note : This convoy was taking troops returning to Australia from the Middle East.)

 

Later detached from SU1 to prepare for planned landings in Madagascar and took passage to Ceylon.

 

April

 

Eastern Fleet deployment in continuation.

 

8th - Sailed from Trincomalee with HM Aircraft Carrier HERMES, HM Corvette HOLLYHOCK, HM Auxiliary Minelayer TEVIOT BANK and RFA Tanker PEAR LEAF to avoid impending air attack on Ceylon from Japanese aircraft carriers.

 

9th - After sighting by Japanese aircraft, provision of air cover from shore delayed by failure of communications in Ceylon. Both ships came under attack. HMS HERMES was the initial target and sank after several bomb hits. Subsequently ship under heavy attacks and broke in half after several hits and near misses. One aircraft reported destroyed. (See WAR WITH JAPAN for details.). Captain and seven others of ship's company were killed. Hospital ship VITA near by, whose immunity was respected and which was not attacked, rescued the survivors from both ships.