Ca-Class
Fleet Destroyer ordered under the War Emergency
Programme in February 1942 for build by John
Brown at Clydebank. Originally to be named
SYBIL, this was changed before launch on 12th
April 1944 and she was completed on 12th
December 1944. Following a successful WARSHIP
WEEK in March 1942 the ship was adopted by
Kendal, then in the county of Westmorland, now
in Cumbria.
B
a t t l e H o n o u r s
None
H
e r a l d i c D a t a
On
a Field Blue, a ring Gold nowed at the base by
a snake Proper.
M
o t t o
Cavendo tutus: ‘Safe by taking care‘
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 4 4
December
Contractors sea trials and commissioned for
service.
12th
Build completion and commenced Acceptance
Trials
(Note: Trials using new design propeller were
satisfactory.)
On completion of trials and storing took
passage to Scapa Flow
1
9 4 5
January
Worked-up with ships of Home Fleet
Joined Force 3 with HM Cruiser DIDO, HM Escort
Carriers PREMIER and TRUMPETER,
HM Destroyers OPPORTUNE, ZEST and ZODIAC for
aircraft minelay in Karm Sund,
Norway (Operation GRATIS - For details
see Naval Staff History on MINING).
February
On completion of work-up deployed with Home
Fleet for screening and anti-submarine patrol
in NW Approaches..
11th
Joined Force 2 with HM Destroyers CAVALIER,
SCOURGE, and ZEBRA as escort for HM
Cruiser DEVONSHIRE, HM Aircraft Carriers
PREMIER and PUNCHER for aircraft minelay
off Skatestrooraen (Operation SELENIUM -
Reference as above).
March
Home Fleet screening duties during operations
in North Sea and NW Approaches.
to
April
May
Nominated
for service in British Pacific Fleet
June
Prepared for foreign service
to
(Note: New Radar outfits and communication
equipment up-dated.
July
For details of development and use of radar in
WW2 see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse).
August
Passage to Join British Pacific Fleet
Summary
of Post War Service
1
9 4 5 t o 1 9 4 6
Returned
to UK from Far East after VJ Day and nominated
for redu0ction to Reserve status,.
1
9 4 7 t o 1 9 5 4
Laid-up
in Reserve Fleet at Portsmouth.
During
this period ship sustained malicious damage.
1
9 5 5
Nominated
for modernisation and taken in hand. To be
brought forward for service on completion.
1
9 5 6
Selected
for service with 6th Destroyer Squadron and
commissioned for Home/Mediterranean General
Service Commission.
(Note:
This type of commission was introduced in 1954
and lasted 18 months.
Another type, Foreign Service Commission was
introduced at the same time was for 24 months
on a foreign station. These replaced the
earlier 30 month commission for service in any
area) Commenced service in April
1
9 5 7
Re-commissioned
for further Home/Mediterranean Service with
6th Destroyer Squadron.
1
9 5 8
Deployed
for Home and Mediterranean Fleet duties with
Squadron
1
9 5 9
Deployed
for Home Fleet duties on return from
Mediterranean leg of commission.
Visited
Rockall in June to confirm British possession.
(Note:
Rockall was within the area planned to be use
for testing of Guided weapons from Hebrides.)
Nominated
for foreign service in Far East.
1
9 6 0
Deployed
with Eastern Fleet based at Singapore.
1
9 6 1
Nominated
for refit at Gibraltar
Passage
from Singapore.
Paid-off
and taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard
0Gibraltar in July.
1
9 6 2
Recommissioned
for foreign service commission on completion
of refit. Deployed with 23rd Escort Squadron
in Mediterranean in September.
1
9 6 3
Transferred
to join 21st Escort Squadron for East of Suez
leg in November
Deployed
in Far East with Squadron based at Singapore
1
9 6 4
Far
East deployment in continuation.
During
return passage from visit to Western Australia
in September
Diverted
to join KONFRONTASI operations after Indonesia
infiltration in Borneo.
Nominated
for reduction to reserve at Portsmouth prior
to long refit for further modernisation.
Passage
to Portsmouth from Singapore
Entered
Reserve at Portsmouth in March
1
9 6 5
Taken in hand for modernisation by HM Dockyard Portsmouth during March.
1
9 6 6
Under modernisation refit.
Planned fit of SE AC AT Guided Weapon System for close range air defence
cancelled and nominated for return to
Reserve status on completion of dockyard work.
Towed to Chatham during June to lay-up in Reserve.
1
9 6 7
Placed on Disposal List.
Sold to BISCO for demolition by Hughes Bolcow at Blyth.
Arrived at Breaker's yard under tow on 7th August.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
CAVENDISH
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
14/02/45
|
14/02/45
|
TA
186
|
15/02/45
|
21/02/45
|
|
11/02/45
|
16/02/45
|
AT
189B
|
17/02/45
|
17/02/45
|
|
20/02/45
|
20/02/45
|
TA
189B
|
21/02/45
|
27/02/45
|
|
16/02/45
|
23/02/45
|
AT
190
|
24/02/45
|
24/02/45
|
|
23/02/45
|
23/02/45
|
TA
189
|
24/02/45
|
02/03/45
|
|
18/02/45
|
25/02/45
|
AT
189C
|
26/02/45
|
26/02/45
|
|
28/02/45
|
28/02/45
|
TA
190
|
01/03/45
|
06/03/45
|
|
24/02/45
|
02/03/45
|
AT
192
|
03/03/45
|
03/03/45
|
|
28/02/45
|
05/03/45
|
AT
193
|
06/03/45
|
06/03/45
|
|
08/03/45
|
08/03/45
|
TA
192
|
09/03/45
|
14/03/45
|
|
06/03/45
|
12/03/45
|
AT
195A
|
13/03/45
|
13/03/45
|
|
12/03/45
|
12/03/45
|
TA
194A
|
13/03/45
|
19/03/45
|
|
11/03/45
|
16/03/45
|
AT
197
|
17/03/45
|
17/03/45
|
|
15/04/45
|
15/04/45
|
TA
201B
|
16/04/45
|
23/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
