3rd – At 1030 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN, CO Captain Llewellyn Vaughan Morgan, DSC, RN, Part of 2nd Battle Squadron, Home Fleet, escorted by the destroyers FAULKNOR, FORTUNE, ESKIMO and TARTAR arrived at Scapa Flow from patrol of northern waters.

4th – At 1200 hours Battleships ROYAL SOVEREIGN and ROYAL OAK (Flag CinC Rear Admiral H E C Blagrove) departed Scapa Flow, escorted by destroyers BROKE, WANDERER and WHITEWALL for patrol in the North Sea.
At 1945 hours in position 59-23N, 00-11W the destroyer WANDERER attacked a submarine contact that proved to be non-sub.

5th – at 1128 hours WANDERER rejoined the screen.

6th – At 1330 hours the destroyers FORESIGHT, FORESTER and FURY joined the screen from Scapa.
At 1709 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN, ROYAL OAK, BROKE, FORESIGHT, FORESTER, FURY, WANDERER and WHITEWALL arrived back at Scapa.

23rd – At 2330 hours the ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by destroyers ESK and EXPRESS sailed from Scapa for Portsmouth.

24th – At 1750 hours when approximately 25 miles off the north coast of Ireland the destroyers attacked a submarine that had been sighted on the far side of a group of fishing boats. The submarine dived and a DC attack kept it down until the ROYAL SOVEREIGN was clear.

26th – At 1109 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN and destroyers ESK and EXPRESS arrived at Portsmouth, where ROYAL SOVEREIGN was taken in hand for a refit.
It had been planned to give the ROYAL SOVEREIGN a full modernisation, similar to that received by the ROYAL OAK. However with the outbreak of war the modernisation was postponed indefinitely and she received a short refit that addressed only urgent matters to enable her to remain operational.

At Portsmouth undergoing refit. It was decided to fit ROYAL SOVEREIGN with degaussing cables, which necessitated her going to Plymouth for the fitting to be carried out at Devonport, where she would also complete her refit.

6th – At 1730 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN was moved out of Portsmouth Harbour into Spithead.

7th – At 0042 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by destroyers SALADIN and SCIMITAR sailed from Spithead for Plymouth.
At 1240 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN and destroyers SALADIN and SCIMITAR arrived in Plymouth Sound.

18th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN went into the floating dock where the degaussing cables were installed.

Under refit at Devonport.

Under refit at Devonport.

15th – At Devonport where her new CO, Captain Humphrey Benson Jacomb RN joined.

18th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN was visited by His Majesty King George VI.

At Devonport where Rear Admiral S. S. Bonham-Carter hoisted his flag as Rear Admiral 3rd Battle Squadron.

3rd – Moved out of the dockyard and moored in the Tamar and commenced re-ammunitioning.

7th – At 0400 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by destroyers WITCH and WIVERN sailed from Plymouth for Portsmouth. En route thick fog was encountered so they cruised off Portland Bill until Portsmouth was clear.

8th – At 1200 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN and destroyers WITCH and WIVERN arrived at Portsmouth and went alongside the Pitch House Jetty where she embarked £5M of gold bullion.

14th – At 1200 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by destroyers ACHATES, ARROW and ANTHONY sailed from Portsmouth for Halifax Nova Scotia.

15th – At 1640 hours the destroyers WINDSOR, VISCOUNT and VANQUISHER joined and the destroyers ACHATES, ARROW and ANTHONY detached for Plymouth.

16th – At 1200 hours in approximate position 50N, 10W the destroyers WINDSOR, VISCOUNT and VANQUISHER detached and ROYAL SOVEREIGN proceeded alone across the Atlantic.

23rd – At 0730 hours in approximate position 44-30N, 61W, ROYAL SOVEREIGN was joined by the destroyers HMCS OTTAWA and SAGUENAY.
At 1800 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN and destroyers HMCS OTTAWA and SAGUENAY arrived at Halifax, where ROYAL SOVEREIGN joined the Halifax Escort Force.

31st – At 0800 hours convoy HX 18 escorted by ROYAL SOVEREIGN and the destroyers HMCS SAGUENAY and SKEENA sailed from Halifax.

1st - SAGUENAY and SKEENA detached from HX 18 and returned to Halifax.

8th – In position 49-17N, 31W, ROYAL SOVEREIGN detached from convoy HX 18 and set course to return to Halifax.

12th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived back at Halifax.

22nd - At 1000 hours convoy HX 22 escorted by ROYAL SOVEREIGN and the destroyers HMCS RESTIGOUCHE and SKEENA sailed from Halifax.

23rd – RESTIGOUCHE and SKEENA detached from HX 22 and returned to Halifax.

2nd – At 0800 hours in position 48-10N, 29-10W, ROYAL SOVEREIGN detached from convoy HX 22 and set course to return to Halifax.

8th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived back at Halifax.

18th - At 0800 hours convoy HX 28 escorted by ROYAL SOVEREIGN and the destroyers HMCS SAGUENAY, SKEENA and OTTAWA sailed from Halifax.
At 2000 hours the destroyer OTTAWA detached and returned to Halifax.

19th – At 1800 hours the destroyers RESTIGOUCHE and SKEENA detached and returned to Halifax.

27th – At 1800 hours in position 50-30N, 24-30W, ROYAL SOVEREIGN detached from convoy HX 28 and set course to return to Halifax.

2nd - ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived back at Halifax.

10th – At 0800 hours convoy HX 34 escorted by ROYAL SOVEREIGN and the destroyers HMCS SAGUENAY, RESTIGOUCHE and OTTAWA sailed from Halifax.

11th - SAGUENAY, RESTIGOUCHE and OTTAWA detached and returned to Halifax.

20th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN received a signal from the Admiralty ordering her to detach from convoy HX 34 and proceed to Gibraltar at her best speed to join the Mediterranean Fleet.
At 0415 hours in position 48-52N, 23-36W, ROYAL SOVEREIGN detached from convoy HX 34 and set course for Gibraltar.

(This deployment was in response to the deteriorating situation in Europe. Germany had invaded Norway and Italy was thought to be considering entering the war against Britain and France. The Admiralty therefore decided to reinforce the Mediterranean Fleet)

23rd – At 0300 hours off the Straits of Gibraltar ROYAL SOVEREIGN RVed with the destroyers KEPPEL and WATCHMAN.
At 0800 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN, KEPPEL and WATCHMAN arrived at Gibraltar.

28th – At 1600 hours the battleships MALAYA and ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by destroyers VELOX, WATCHMAN and HMAS VENDETTA and WATERHEN sailed from Gibraltar for Alexandria.

29th – Off Algiers the British Force was joined by the French battleships LORRAINE, BRETAGNE and PROVENCE from Algiers, the heavy cruisers TOURVILLE and DUQUESNE, light cruiser DUGUAY TROUIN and destroyers LION, LYNX and FORBIN from Mers el Kebir.

30th - Off Bizerte the destroyers HMAS STUART and VAMPIRE joined. Later in the Sicilian Channel the light cruiser ORION and the destroyers DECOY and DEFENDER joined the allied Force from Malta.

1st – Off Malta the destroyers VELOX and WATCHMAN detached for Malta.

3rd – At 1820 hours the battleships MALAYA and ROYAL SOVEREIGN the light cruiser ORION and destroyers DECOY and DEFENDER and HMAS STUART, VAMPIRE, VENDETTA and WATERHEN together with the French Force arrived at Alexandria.
On arrival at Alexandria the ROYAL SOVEREIGN joined the Mediterranean Fleet.

5th – ROYAL SOVEREIGN sailed from Alexandria to carry out exercises off the port.
Returned to Alexandria later in the day.

At Alexandria.

10th - At 1645 hours, the Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs informed the British Ambassador in Rome that at one minute past midnight on the 11th, a state of war would exist between Italy and the United Kingdom.

26th – At 2000 hours battleships ROYAL SOVEREIGN and RAMILLIES of Force C, sailed from Alexandria to RV with the remainder of Force C, comprising aircraft carrier EAGLE and destroyers HYPERION, HOSTILE, HASTY, HEREWARD, HAVOCK, HERO, IMPERIAL and ILEX who had sailed at 1700 hours on Operation BQ.
(Operation BQ was a plan for a British and French Force to bombard Augusta and raid in the Messina area. However, at 2153 hours the operation was cancelled due to the French Armistice)

27th – Force C arrived back at Alexandria.

At Alexandria.

7th - The Mediterranean Fleet sailed from Alexandria to cover passage of Convoys MF1 (Fast 13 knots) and MS1 (Slow 9 knots) from Malta. (Operation MA 5). For the Operation the Fleet was divided into three sections, forces A, B & C.
At 1800 hours Force C, comprising battleships ROYAL SOVEREIGN (Flag Rear Admiral H. D. Pridham Wipple, BS.1) and MALAYA, aircraft carrier EAGLE, and destroyers HASTY, HYPERION, ILEX, VOYAGER, VAMPIRE, HOSTILE, JUNO, JANUS, DEFENDER and DAINTY sailed from Alexandria on Operation MA 5.
(Outside the harbour Force C was sighted and reported by a group of eleven S.81 bombers of the 39^th Stormo, who were on a bombing attack of Alexandria.
At approximately 0130 hours the Italian Submarine BEILUL, in position 32-40N, 28-10E, sighted Force B, which comprised WARSPITE and destroyers NUBIAN, MOHAWK, HERO, HEREWARD and DECOY and reported her sighting to Supermarina. So the Italians were well aware that the Mediterranean Fleet was out)

8th - At 0800 hours 200 miles east of Malta HM Submarine PHOENIX sighted and reported the Italian Fleet as being 180 miles east of Malta. Resultant of this report a Sunderland of 228 Sqd. was dispatched from Malta to locate and shadow the Italians.
The Mediterranean Fleet proceeded in a generally NW direction.

(The Italian Fleet had sailed from Taranto at 1410/7/7/40 to cover a Naples to Benghazi convoy; comprising the troopship SS ESPERIA 11,398grt and transports SS CALITEA 4013grt, transports MV MARCO FOSCARINI 6405grt and MV VETTOR PISANI 6339grt escorted by Italian torpedo boats ORSA, PEGASO, PROCIONE, and ORIONE of the 4th Torpedo Boat Division departed Naples for Benghazi. The convoy was joined on the 7th by the transport MV FRANCESCO BARBERO 6343grt and torpedo boats ABBA and PILO from Catania)

At 0950 hours and for the rest of the day the fleet was under air attacks from a total of 126 high level bombers. WARSPITE and EAGLE were generally selected as the main targets, but no hits were achieved on either ship.
At 1600 hours the cruiser GLOUCESTER received a direct hit on her bridge.
At 1515 hours the Sunderland from Malta reported an Italian Fleet of 2 battleships, 6 cruisers and 7 destroyers, 100 miles north west of Benghazi, sailing north. On receipt of the report the Mediterranean Fleet altered course in an attempt to cut off the Italians from their base at Taranto.

9th - At daylight WARSPITE with Force B was 60 miles west of Sapientza LH, SW Greece, with Force A the 4 light cruisers of Vice Admiral Tovey’s 7th CS ahead and Force C astern. Air reconnaissance placed the Italian Fleet 145 miles ahead.
At 1200 hours, when 90 miles east of the Italian Fleet, Cunningham in WARSPITE decided to proceed at WARSPITE’s best speed of 24 knots, leaving MALAYA and ROYAL SOVEREIGN behind. Both battleships followed after Cunningham at their best speed. MALAYA being slightly faster than ROYAL SOVEREIGN overtook her and left ROYAL SOVEREIGN astern. The ROYAL SOVEREIGN was pushed to the limit by her engine room staff but they were unable to produce sufficient steam from her tired boilers to achieve anymore than 19 knots, therefore she failed to get into the action.
At 1448 hours off Punta Stilo ORION sighted the Italian Fleet, but the first sighting report was made by NEPTUNE at 1514 hours.
At 1517 hours the Italian Fleet opened fire at 23500 yards, concentrating on the 4 cruisers of the 7th CS, thus commenced what became know as the Battle of Punta Stilo or the Action off Calabria.
Twice during the action the WARSPITE changed course to allow the slower MALAYA and ROYAL SOVEREIGN to catch up, but neither battleship got within range, therefore they took no part in the battle.
By 1700 hours the enemy was no longer in sight and WARSPITE was within 25 miles of the Calabrian coast. The Fleet turned south for Malta under high level bombing attacks from Italian SM 79’s of 49 Squadriglia, 88 Gruppo, 32 Stormo BT, from Decimomannu airfield, Sardinia. No hits were scored but there were several near misses.

10th – At 2030 hours off Malta, ROYAL SOVEREIGN and the destroyers NUBIAN, MOHAWK and JANUS were detached to refuel at Malta.

11th – At 1000 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN and the destroyers HERO and HEREWARD rejoined the Fleet. Following which the Mediterranean Fleet now consisting of WARSPITE, MALAYA, ROYAL SOVEREIGN, EAGLE, GLOUCESTER, DAINTY, DEFENDER, HASTY, HEREWARD, HERO, HOSTILE, HYPERION and ILEX set course for Alexandria. En route covering slow convoy MS1 (MS1 had sailed from Malta early on 10/7/40 and carried mainly naval stores and equipment that was urgently required at Alexandria )

14th – At 0830 hours battleships ROYAL SOVEREIGN and MALAYA, aircraft carrier EAGLE, light cruiser GLOUCESTER, and destroyers HASTY, HYPERION, ILEX, HOSTILE, DEFENDER, DAINTY, HERO and HEREWARD arrived back at Alexandria.

31st – At 1420 hours battleships ROYAL SOVEREIGN and MALAYA, aircraft carrier EAGLE, with destroyers JERVIS, HERO, HASTY, HEREWARD, IMPERIAL, ILEX, HOSTILE and VENDETTA departed Alexandria as Force B, to carry out gunnery practices. On completion of gunnery practice Force B set course for south west Crete, where it was intended that they would cruise off Gavdos Island in the hope that the Force would be sighted by the Italians and create a diversion for Operation HURRY.

(Operation HURRY was an operation to deliver 12 Hurricanes to Malta. These were carried by ARGUS who had arrived at Gibraltar on 30/7/40 and pass reinforcements through the Mediterranean for the Mediterranean Fleet)

At 2200 hours MALAYA developed condenser problems, this caused the abandonment of the diversion plan and the Force set course for Alexandria.

1st – At 1100 hours Force B arrived back at Alexandria.

11th – At 1530 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by destroyers DAINTY, DEFENDER and DECOY departed Alexandria for Port Said.

12th – At 0800 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN and destroyers DAINTY, DEFENDER and DECOY arrived at Port Said. They then proceeded to pass through the Suez canal.
At 2300 hours at the southern exit of the canal course was set for Aden.

14th – At 2355 hours in approximate position 19N, 39E the Force was sighted by the Italian submarine GUGLIELMO FERRARIS who then unsuccessfully attacked with torpedoes.

16th – At 1730 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN and destroyers DAINTY, DEFENDER and DECOY arrived at Aden. On arrival at Aden ROYAL SOVEREIGN had only one of her 18 boilers operational.
Her engine room staff then set to work using the limited facilities available at Aden to get at least half of her boilers operational.

29th – At 1500 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN sailed from Aden for Durban.

Steaming south through the Indian Ocean en route to Durban.

15th – At 1400 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived at Durban. The average speed had been 8 knots, but on occasions her speed had fallen off to 3 knots. The conditions in the boiler and engine rooms had been a living hell.
ROYAL SOVEREIGN went straight into dry dock for repairs and a refit.

At Durban under repair and refit.

15th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN sailed from Durban bond for Gibraltar calling en route at Cape Town and Freetown.

Sailing north through the South Atlantic en route for Gibraltar.

18th – At 1200 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived at Gibraltar.
On arrival at Gibraltar ROYAL SOVEREIGN was taken in hand for repairs

1st - Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by destroyers JAGUAR and KELVIN departed Gibraltar for Halifax.

2nd - In position 36-02N, 9-42W, KELVIN attacked a submarine contact.

3rd – The destroyers JAGUAR and KELVIN detached and returned to Gibraltar.

9th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived at Halifax and joined the Halifax Escort Force.

16th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN sailed from Halifax to join convoy SC 16 , which had sailed from Halifax on 15/12/40.

Joined convoy as Ocean escort in approximate position 44-30N, 61W.

24th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN detached from convoy SC 16 and returned to Halifax.

28th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived at Halifax 

15th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN, destroyer HMCS RESTIGOUCHE and corvette HMCS ARROWHEAD sailed from Halifax escorting convoy HX 103.

16th - RESTIGOUCHE and ARROWHEAD detached and returned to Halifax.

18th – Convoy HX 103 RVed with convoy BHX 103 that had departed Bermuda on the 13/1/41. The combined convoy proceed as HX 103 with ROYAL SOVEREIGN as Ocean escort.

26th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN detached from convoy HX 103 and returned to Halifax.

30th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived at Halifax 

At Halifax

17th – ROYAL SOVEREIGN and AMC WOLFE sailed from Halifax escorting troop convoy TC 09 of five troopships with 5816 Canadian Troops embarked.

18th – AMC WOLFE detached from TC 09 and returned to Halifax.

23rd – At 1200 hours in approximate position 55N, 30W, the light cruiser EDINBURGH joined convoy TC 09, following which ROYAL SOVEREIGN detached and returned to Halifax.

27th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived at Halifax.

At Halifax

9th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN sailed from Halifax to join convoy HX 113. Convoy HX 113 had sailed from Halifax on 5/3/41.

15th – At 1130 hours in approximate position 50N, 35W, ROYAL SOVEREIGN RVed with convoy HX 113 and its escort of AMC ALAUNIA and corvettes BITTERSWEET and FENNEL.

16th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN and ALAUNIA detached from convoy HX 113.
At 1800 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN RVed with convoy HX 114 and its escort of battleship RODNEY and AMC CHITRAL.

17th –In the morning ROYAL SOVEREIGN detached from HX 114 and returned to Halifax.

21st - ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived at Halifax.

22nd – At 0910 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN sailed from Halifax to convoy HX 116. Convoy HX 116 had sailed from Halifax on 21/3/41.

23rd – At 1200 hours in position 42-28N, 55-53W, ROYAL SOVEREIGN RVed with convoy HX 116 and its escort of AMC ASCANIA.

31st – At 2300 hours in position 58N, 35-30W, ROYAL SOVEREIGN detached from convoy HX 116 and returned to Halifax.

5th – ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived back at Halifax.

11th – At 1030 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN sailed from Halifax to RV with convoy HX 120. Convoy HX 120 had sailed from Halifax on 10/4/41. [convoy HX 120 transported the first priority equipment supplied under lease-lend agreements]

12th – At 1200 hours in position 42-44N, 56-16W, ROYAL SOVEREIGN and the AMC LACONIA RVed with convoy HX 120.

13th – At 1200 hours in approximate position 43-30N, 51W, ROYAL SOVEREIGN joined the escort of convoy SC 28. Convoy SC 28 had sailed from Halifax on 9/4/41 and at the time was very close to convoy HX 120.

19th – At 1500 hours the two convoy HX 120 and SC 28 which had been close now commenced to form one convoy with the HX 120 section ahead.

20th – At 2000 hours in position 55-44N, 36-37W, ROYAL SOVEREIGN detached from the combined convoy and returned to Halifax.

25th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived back at Halifax.

30th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN sailed from Halifax to join convoy HX 124 that had sailed earlier in the day from Halifax.

9th – In approximate position 55N, 40W, ROYAL SOVEREIGN detached from convoy HX 124 and returned to Halifax.

14th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived back at Halifax.

22nd - ROYAL SOVEREIGN sailed from Halifax for Norfolk Navy Yard.

24th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived at Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia, USA. Where she was taken in had for maintenance and improvements to her close range anti-aircraft weapons and fire control.

At Norfolk Navy Yard. Whilst at Norfolk she landed her two quad 0.5" machine guns and had ten single 20mm Oerlikons fitted.

23rd – ROYAL: SOVEREIGN sailed from Norfolk Navy Yard for Bermuda.

27th – ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived at Bermuda.

28th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN sailed from Bermuda and headed north westerly.

7th – In approximate position 43-30N, 20W, ROYAL SOVEREIGN RVed with and joined the aircraft carrier FURIOUS and troopships SS SCYTHIA 1971grt and SS CAMERONIA 16297grt, with 188 prisoners of war embarked, escorted by the light cruiser HERMIONE and destroyers the LANCE and LEGION. The FURIOUS force had sailed from Gibraltar on 4/7/41 and were bound for the Clyde.

11th – The force was joined by the destroyer ORP PIORUN.

12th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN, FURIOUS, HERMIONE, LANCE, LEGION and PIORUN with SCYTHIA and CAMERONIA arrived in the Clyde.

ROYAL SOVEREIGN was taken hand for a refit at Greenock and further enhancement of her close range weapons. During this refit she was also fitted with her first Radar fits, these were: Type 284 fire control radar was fitted for the 15"armament; Type 285 forward and aft for secondary armament. A modified RAF radar outfit Type 286 was also installed for aircraft warning; Type 273 centimetric radar fitted on the mainmast for surface warning. A funnel cap was also fitted.

At Greenock under refit.

(On the 22/9/41in response to Japanese movements in the Far East, particularly the occupation of Saigon and Camranh Bay in Vichy Indo-China, the Admiralty informed the US Naval Authorities that the battleships RAMILLIES, RESOLUTION and ROYAL SOVEREIGN should be available for deployment within the Eastern Theatre by the end of December)

26th – ROYAL SOVEREIGN received a new CO; he was Captain Reginald Henry Portal DSC, RN.

15th – At 1330 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by the destroyers BEDOUIN and ANTHONY departed the Clyde for Scapa Flow.

16th – At 1500 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by the destroyers ORIBI and ANTHONY arrived at Scapa to commence working up exercises.

25th – At 0900 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by destroyers ANTELOPE and DULVERTON, departed Scapa Flow for the Clyde having completed working up exercises.

26th – At 1115 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN and destroyers ANTELOPE and DULVERTON arrived in the Clyde. ROYAL SOVEREIGN then proceeded to Greenock where she was docked for repairs.

12th – At 1500 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN and destroyers FURY, FORESTER and FORESIGHT departed the Clyde for Milford Haven. ROYAL SOVEREIGN was to be the Ocean escort for convoy WS 12Z which had sailed from the Clyde earlier in the day. Because of her limited endurance the ROYAL SOVEREIGN was routed via Milford Haven for refuelling then to pass south of Ireland and to RV with the convoy north of the Azores.

13th – At 1000 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN and destroyers FURY, FORESTER and FORESIGHT arrived at Milford Haven where they topped up their fuel tanks.
At 1700 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN and destroyers FURY, FORESTER and FORESIGHT sailed from Milford Haven to RV with convoy WS 12Z.

16th – At 1900 hours in approximate position 44-30N, 23-30W, ROYAL SOVEREIGN and destroyers FURY, FORESTER and FORESIGHT RVed with and joined convoy WS 12Z and its escort of the destroyers MAORI, DULVERTON and SOUTHWOLD.

17th – At 1600 hours approximately 220 miles north of the Azores the destroyer MAORI detached for Gibraltar.
At 1900 hours the destroyers DULVERTON and SOUTHWOLD detached to refuel at Ponta Delgada.

19th – During the morning in position 34-05N, 25-50W, the destroyers DULVERTON and SOUTHWOLD rejoined, following which the destroyers FURY, FORESTER and FORESIGHT detached to refuel from the oiler RFA DINGLEDALE that had been prepositioned for this purpose. It had been intended that ROYAL SOVEREIGN would also refuel from the DINGLEDALE but Captain Portal decided that he could make Freetown without refuelling.

21st – At 1800 hours the destroyers VIMY and VELOX from Freetown joined the convoy escort.

22nd – In the morning in approximate position 15-30N, 21W, the corvette CLOVER from Freetown joined the convoy escort.

23rd – At 1500 hours the convoy was split into fast and slow sections. ROYAL SOVEREIGN and destroyers DULVERTON, SOUTHWOLD and VELOX proceeded at 16 knots with the fast section.

24th – At 1520 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN and destroyers DULVERTON and SOUTHWOLD entered Freetown ahead of the fast section.

28th – At 1500 hours convoy WS 12Z escorted by ROYAL SOVEREIGN, destroyers DULVERTON and SOUTHWOLD, the sloop MILFORD and corvettes VERBENA and HOLLYHOCK sailed from Freetown for Pointe Noire in French Equatorial Africa.

2nd – At 2100 hours south of Cape Palmas ROYAL SOVEREIGN and the destroyers DULVERTON and SOUTHWOLD detached from convoy WS 12Z and proceeded independently to Pointe Noire.

5th – At 0745 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN anchored off Pointe Noire. Here the tanker MV BULLMOUTH 7519grt, who been socially positioned for this purpose, came alongside and refuelled ROYAL SOVEREIGN, the destroyers were refuelled simultaneously from the tankers other side.
At 2030 hours with refuelling complete ROYAL SOVEREIGN, DULVERTON and SOUTHWOLD sailed to RV with convoy WS 12Z that was waiting their return offshore.

6th – At 0600 hours in approximate position 5-15S, 10-35E, ROYAL SOVEREIGN, DULVERTON and SOUTHWOLD rejoined convoy WS 12Z.
At 0630 hours the sloop MILFORD and corvettes VERBENA and HOLLYHOCK detached from the convoy and proceeded to Pointe Noire to refuel from the BELLMOUTH.
The convoy now proceeded at a speed sufficient for steerageway in a southerly direction awaiting the return of the escorts.

7th – At 0630 hours in approximate position 5-44S, 10-45E, MILFORD, VERBENA and HOLLYHOCK rejoined convoy WS 12Z and course was then set to round the Cape of Good Hope for Durban.

(All the vessels refuelling in the open bay off Pointe Noire experienced difficulties due to the heavy swell. Also at the bottom of the rollers there was only 10ft of bottom clearance)

14th – At 0700 hours in approximate position 36S, 17E, the destroyers DULVERTON and SOUTHWOLD detached to refuel at Simonstown.

15th – At 1400 hours in approximate position 37S, 23E, the convoy was joined by the corvettes ASTER and MARGUERITE from Simonstown.
At 1430 hours the corvettes VERBENA and HOLLYHOCK detached for Simonstown.

18th – At 0001 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN and MILFORD detached from WS 12Z and proceeded ahead to Durban.
At 0600 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN and MILFORD arrived at Durban.

24th – At 1030 hours convoy WS 12Z formed off Durban and escorted by the ROYAL SOVEREIGN, set course for the Mozambique Channel.

30th – At 1000 hours in approximate position 4S, 46E, the light cruiser EMERALD with the US transport MOUNT VERNON joined the convoy.

31st – At 0600 hours in position 1-26S, 48-44E, EMERALD and the troopships ABBEKERK, AORANGI, MOUNT VERNON and NARKUNDA and the MT ship SUSSEX detached forming convoy DM 1 for Singapore.
ROYAL SOVEREIGN continued north with the remaining ships of convoy WS 12Z.
At 0900 hours the heavy cruiser CORNWALL, light cruiser COLOMBO and US transport ORIZABA joined the convoy from Mombasa. At this point the convoy split into two sections, one for Suez and one for Bombay.
ROYAL SOVEREIGN and CORNWALL with the troopships CAPETOWN CASTLE, EMPRESS OF JAPAN, DUCHESS OF BEDFORD, INDRAPOERA and ORIZABA and the MT ships DEUCALION, ADRASTUS, and EMPIRE STAR formed convoy WS 12ZB and set course for Bombay.
At 2330 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN detached from convoy WS 12ZB and steered for the Seychelles.

2nd – At 0600 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived at the Seychelles to refuel.

3rd - At 0800 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN departed the Seychelles for Mombasa.

6th – At 1000 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived at Mombasa.

18th – At 0600 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN sailed from Mombasa and steered south easterly to RV with convoy WS 14.

19th – At 0730 hours in position 8S, 42-30E, ROYAL SOVEREIGN RVed with convoy WS 14. At this point the convoy split into three sections.
ROYAL SOVEREIGN with six troopships and four MT ships, forming convoy DM 2and ultimately bound for the Sunda Strait, set course to pass north of the Seychelles.

21st – At 2230 hours north of the Seychelles convoy DM 2 altered course to pass south of Addu Atoll.

26th – At 0900 hours in position 1-12S, 73-11E, the convoy was joined by the AMC RANCHI. Following which ROYAL SOVEREIGN detached from DM 2 for Addu Atoll.
At 1130 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived at Addu Atoll.

1st – ROYAL SOVEREIGN became part of the 3rd Battle Squadron of the Eastern Fleet.

5th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN and netlayer GUARDIAN departed Addu Atoll for Trincomalee.
In approximate position 3-15N, 79E, ROYAL SOVEREIGN and GUARDIAN RVed with the minesweepers HMAS BATHURST and LISMORE who were to provide an escort to Trincomalee.

6th - BATHURST suffered engine problems and speed was reduced to seven knots. ROYAL SOVEREIGN proceeded unescorted at 17 knots to Trincomalee.

8th – At 1830 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived at Trincomalee.

17th – ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by the destroyers HMAS NIZAM and VAMPIRE sailed from Trincomalee to RV with convoy BM 13.

18th – In approximate position 4N, 82-35E, ROYAL SOVEREIGN, NIZAM and VAMPIRE RVed with the eleven troopship convoy BM 13. Convoy BM 13 had sailed from Bombay on 13/2/42, with seven troopships and on 17/2/42, south of Ceylon, had RVed with the five troopship convoy JS 3 that had sailed from Colombo on 16/2/42. The combined convoy known as BM 13 was bound for the Suda Strait and escorted by the light cruisers GLASGOW, CALEDON, the sloop FALMOUTH and the minesweeper HMAS BATHURST.

21st – When in approximate position 00-30S, 90-30E convoy BM 13 was ordered to reverse course and make for Colombo.

24th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN, NIZAM and VAMPIRE detached from convoy BM 13 and steered for Trincomalee.

25th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN, NIZAM and VAMPIRE arrived back at Trincomalee.

28th – At 2000 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by the destroyers HMAS NIZAM and VAMPIRE sailed from Trincomalee to RV with convoy SU 1.

1st – At 1415 hours in approximate position 5N, 80-30E, ROYAL SOVEREIGN, NIZAM and VAMPIRE RVed with the troopship convoy SU 1. Convoy SU 1 had sailed from Colombo earlier in the day escorted by the heavy cruiser CORNWALL, AMC HMAS MANOORA, destroyer EXPRESS and corvette HOLLYHOCK and was bound for Freemantle. Most of the ships in the convoy had been in convoy BM 13.
At 1430 hours HOLLYHOCK detached and returned to Colombo.

3rd – At 1800 hours in approximate position 2S, 86-15E, ROYAL SOVEREIGN, NIZAM and VAMPIRE detached from convoy SU 1 and set course north for Trincomalee.
During the voyage back to Trincomalee ROYAL SOVEREIGN refuelled NIZAM and VAMPIRE, this operation turned into a disaster due to poor technique causing lines to snap and hoses breaking.

7th – At 0345 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN, NIZAM and VAMPIRE arrived back at Trincomalee.

11th – At 0715 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by the destroyers EXPRESS and TENEDOS sailed from Trincomalee to carry out a 15" practice shoot. On concluding the shoot ROYAL SOVEREIGN and her escort sailed for Colombo.

13th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN, EXPRESS and TENEDOS arrived at Colombo.

23rd – At 0730 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by the destroyers ARROW and FOXHOUND sailed from Colombo to RV with the battleship RAMILLIES.
At 1400 hours the destroyer HMAS NORMAN joined and ARROW detached,
At 1630 hours in approximate position 5N, 79-12E, ROYAL SOVEREIGN, FOXHOUND and NORMAN RVed with RAMILLIES escorted by destroyers GRIFFIN and HNethMS ISAAC SWEERS who had sailed from Trincomalee.
The combined Force then set course for Addu Atoll.

25th – At 1000 hours the Force arrived off Addu Atoll where they carried out a practice shoot.
At 1500 hours the Force entered the anchorage to refuel.

28th – The 3rd Battle Squadron comprising the battleships RESOLUTION (Flag Vice Admiral Sir Algernon Usborne Wills RN, CinC 3rd Battle Squadron) ROYAL SOVEREIGN and RAMILLIES, aircraft carrier INDOMITABLE, destroyers FORTUNE, FOXHOUND, GRIFFIN, DECOY, HMAS NAPIER, NORMAN and NIZAM, and HNethMS ISAAC SWEERS. Sailed from Addu Atoll to carry out fleet exercises. Part of the exercise was a practice shoot at a moving target towed by the netlayer GUARDIAN.
On conclusion of the exercises the 3rd Battle Squadron returned to the anchorage.

(Admiral Somerville had arrived from the UK on 24th March as CinC Eastern Fleet. He took command of a disparate fleet of 29 vessels. He decided to divide his Fleet into a fast division, Force A, and a slow division, Force B. The ROYAL SOVEREIGN and her sisters were to form part of Force B)

29th – At 0030 hours the Eastern Fleet units at Addu Atoll sailed to RV with the battleship WARSPITE (Flag Admiral Somerville) and the other units of the Eastern Fleet.

31st - At 1600 hours off the south coast of Ceylon the various elements of the Eastern Fleet RVed at 4-40N 81-00E. The Fleet was then divided into Force A and Force B.
Force B comprised RESOLUTION, RAMILLIES, REVENGE, ROYAL SOVEREIGN, aircraft carrier HERMES, light cruisers CALEDON, DRAGON and HNethMS JACOB van HEEMSKERK and destroyers ARROW, DECOY, FORTUNE, SCOUT, HMAS NORMAN and VAMPIRE and the HNethMS ISAAC SWEERS.
The Fleet then commenced patrolling off the south of Ceylon, sweeping east during the day and west during the night.

2nd - (Late in the evening, without any sighting of the Japanese being reported and with several of his fleet requiring replenishment, including the R Class battleships, Somerville decided to withdraw his fleet to Addu Atoll).
At 1300 hours FORTUNE detached to search for survivors from the British freighter MV GLENSHIEL 9415grt that was sunk by the Japanese submarine I 7 in position 00-48S, 78-32E.
At 2100 hours the fast group, Force A withdrew first, immediately followed by Force B, less HERMES and VAMPIRE who went to Trincomalee.

4th - At 1500 hours as Force B arrived at Addu Atoll.
(At 1630 hours a sighting report timed at 1605 hours, was received from Catalina L of 413 Sqd. RCAF, flown by SL L. J. Birchall, of a large Japanese force steering north-westward in position 0-40N, 83-10E, 360 miles 155 from Dondra Head Whilst making the sighting report the Catalina was attacked by 12 Zeros and shot down)

5th - At 0700 hours Force B sailed from Addu Atoll

6th - At 0720 hours approximately 150 miles NNE of Addu Atoll Force A and B combined. Then sailed east.
(At this time Somerville didn’t know where the Japanese Fleet was. But Somerville was concerned that the Japanese might be heading for Addu Atoll)
At 1115 hours the Fleet altered course to the south east towards the position of the wreckage reported the previous evening.
At 1800 hours course was reversed to the NE.

7th – At 0200 hours the Fleet altered course to the west.
At 0428 hours an A.S.V. equipped aircraft located two submarines in positions 2-08N, 75-16E and 2-46N, 75-10E; i.e. to the southward of the course of the Fleet.
(Somerville considered that this indicated the possibility of an enemy submarine patrol having been established to cover the eastern approaches to Addu. He therefore decided to pass through the Veimandu Channel to the west of the Maldives and make an unexpected approach to Addu Atoll from the west)
At 0700 the Fleet was almost back at the position it had been 24 hours previously and course of the fleet was altered to 210 degrees.
The Fleet then sailed for Addu Atoll by a circuitous route.

(In the early hours of 7/4/42 the Admiralty signalled Somerville that their policy of discouraging the Japanese from entering the Indian Ocean in force had failed and they further realized that the Eastern Fleet was inferior in all respects to the Japanese Fleet. The R Class battleships were in this respect considered more of a liability than an asset due to their slow speed and poor anti-aircraft armament. Therefore Somerville was given discretion to withdraw them to Africa)

8th - At 1100 hours the Fleet arrived back at Addu Atoll. Refuelling commenced, Force B being refuelled first.
(At 1517 hours a RAF Catalina made a sighting report of Japanese battleships and aircraft carrier approximately 600 miles east of Dondra Head. This report came in whilst Somerville was in conference deciding what action he should pursue. He decided, with the Admiralty’s approval, that due to the enemy’s size and the preponderance of numbers and quality of his aircraft, the most important duty was to keep his Fleet in being. Force B was therefore to be sent to Kilindini and Force A would go to Bombay)

9th – At 0200 hours Force B now comprising, RESOLUTION, RAMILLIES, REVENGE, ROYAL SOVEREIGN, CALEDON and destroyers ARROW, FORTUNE, GRIFFIN, HOTSPUR and ISAAC SWEERS sailed from Addu Atoll for Kilindini.

14th – Force B arrived at Kilindini.

30th – ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by the destroyers ARROW and the HNethMS ISAAC SWEERS sailed from Kilindini to carry out exercises off the coast.
On completion of the exercises ROYAL SOVEREIGN, ARROW and ISAAC SWEERS returned to Kilindini.

At Kilindini.

8th – At 1030 hours ROYAL SOVEREIGN the AMC CORFU escorted by the destroyers ARROW and the HNethMS ISAAC SWEERS sailed from Kilindini to RV with convoy WS 17.
At 1600 hours in position 4-02S, 40-55E, the ROYAL SOVEREIGN force RVed with convoy WS 17 which was escorted by the battleship REVENGE and light cruiser DAUNTLESS.
Following the RV the REVENGE detached for Kilindini escorted by the destroyers ARROW and ISAAC SWEERS.
The convoy then continued in a northerly direction.
At 1900 hours the DAUNTLESS with the troopships ALMANZORA, NOVA SCOTIA, KHEDIVE ISMAIL, SAMARIA, CAMERONIA and MENDOZA detached for Mombasa.
Course was then set for Bombay.

11th – At 0800 hours in position 05-30N, 50-02E, the AMC CORFU with the troopships ELISABETHVILLE and GLAUCUS and the MT ships CITY OF EDINBURGH and CITY OF LINCOLN detached for Aden as convoy WS 17A.
The remainder of the six troopships and four MT ships, now designated convoy WS 17B, continued on course for Bombay escorted by ROYAL SOVEREIGN.

13th – The MT ships BRAZIL, MORMACTIDE and MONTEREY detached as independents for Karachi.

16th – At 1300 hours the remaining ships of convoy WS 17B arrived at Bombay.
At 1315 hours the ROYAL SOVEREIGN anchored west of Karanja Beacon.

22nd – ROYAL SOVEREIGN sailed from Bombay for Kilindini.

30th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived at Kilindini.

At Kilindini.

At Kilindini.

9th – ROYAL SOVEREIGN sailed from Kilindini the RV with convoy CM 29.

11th – In approximate position 3N, 51E, ROYAL SOVEREIGN RVed with seven troopship convoy CM 29 that had sailed from Durban on 1/7/42 escorted by the heavy cruiser FROBISHER, corvette FRITILLARY and the netlayer GUARDIAN.
ROYAL SOVEREIGN took over as escort and FROBISHER, FRITILLARY and GUARDIAN detached.

14th – In approximate position convoy CM 29 was joined by the AMC CORFU, following which ROYAL SOVEREIGN detached and returned to Kilindini.

18th – ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived back at Kilindini.

At Kilindini.

27th – ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by the destroyer DUNCAN sailed from Kilindini for Durban.

2nd – ROYAL SOVEREIGN and DUNCAN arrived at Durban.

12th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by the destroyer DUNCAN sailed from Durban for Cape Town.

15th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN and DUNCAN arrived at Cape Town.

24th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by the destroyer DUNCAN sailed from Cape Town for Saint Helena.

29th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN and DUNCAN arrived at Saint Helena.

30th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN escorted by the destroyer DUNCAN sailed from Saint Helena for Freetown.

5th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN and DUNCAN arrived at Freetown.
Whilst at Freetown her new CO, Captain Desmond Nevill Cooper Tufnell DSC, RN, took command.

7th - ROYAL SOVEREIGN sailed from Freetown with sealed orders. Once at sea the orders were opened and instructed ROYAL SOVEREIGN to proceed to Philadelphia Navy Yard via Bermuda.

18th – ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived at Bermuda.

19th – ROYAL SOVEREIGN in company with two damaged destroyers and the American tanker SS BULKOIL (the BULKOIL was returning to the USA having been on load to the UK) sailed from Bermuda for Philadelphia Navy Yard.

21st – ROYAL SOVEREIGN arrived at the Philadelphia Navy Yard and was taken in hand for repair and upgrading of her armour protection and anti-aircraft weapons. Whilst at Philadelphia:

She was fitted with addition areas of 2in thick non-cemented armour plate; this was the equivalent of British Class B armour plate, over her magazines. This was to give additional protection from bombs and plunging fire.
Landed her two forward 6in guns.
After conning tower was removed.
Watertight integrity was improved; damage control and fire fighting systems were updated.
New water distillation equipment was fitted.
Two Mirlees Bickerton auxiliary diesels were replaced by two General Motors 500hp diesels.
14 single and 16 twin 20mm Oerlikons were fitted.
Shell and cordite handling gear from the magazines to the 15in turrets was found to be badly worn and in need of replacement but the Americans refused to carry out this work.
The lead based paint was chipped off and she was repainted with zinc oxide based paint.

During the period of the works, two thirds of her crew were sent back to the UK for redrafting and she was reduced to care and maintenance.

At Philadelphia Navy Yard

Whilst at Philadelphia, command of ROYAL SOVEREIGN was passed to her Commander, Commander Peter Skelton RN.

At Philadelphia Navy Yard

At the end of her refit ROYAL SOVEREIGN sailed to Norfolk Navy Base from where she carried out trials and working up in Chesapeake Bay.

When the time came for ROYAL SOVEREIGN to return to the UK she was loaded with a range of stores including mines and torpedoes. She also embarked a party of children who were being returned to the UK having been evacuated to the USA earlier in the war; together with a party of American news reporters.

ROYAL SOVEREIGN returned via Argentia, Newfoundland, she then crossed the Atlantic arriving in the Clyde where she disembarked her passengers at Greenock.

Whilst at Greenock her new CO, Captain (retired) Sydney Hopkins RN, took command.

ROYAL SOVEREIGN then sailed round to Rosyth where she off loaded her stores.

At Rosyth.

The Admiralty commissioned a report on the condition of ROYAL SOVEREIGN to see if she would be suitable for bombardment duties during the Normandy Invasion which was at that point of time in the planning stage. The report identified major defects in the shell and cordite handling gear for the main armament which the Admiralty decided not to repair so she was not included in the invasion bombardment plan.

At Rosyth where she was reduced to care and maintenance.

31st – At Rosyth where ROYAL SOVEREIGN was transferred to the Soviet Navy and renamed ARKHANGELSK

At Rosyth where the Russian crew commenced familiarisation with the operation of the ship.

Operating in the Firth of Forth carried out trials and working up exercises. Following which ARKHANGELSK went to Scapa to continue working up exercises.

At Scapa Flow working up.

17th – ARKHANGELSK sailed from Scapa to join convoy JW 59.

25th – ARKHANGELSK arrived at Murmansk and joined the Soviet Northern Fleet.

(When the Germans learnt of the transfer they determined to sink ARKHANGELSK in the same way that Prien in U 47 had sunk ARKHANGELSK’s sister ship ROYAL OAK. This would make a great propaganda coup and lift the spirits of the German public and military who at this point in the war could see that the end was getting closer for Germany. The U 315 was ordered to penetrate Kola Inlet and torpedo the ARKHANGELSK.

On the dark night of 19th September 1944, Herbert Zoller took his Schnorchel fitted U 315 towards the entrance to Kola Inlet and learned to his horror, that the Soviets had strung an anti-submarine net across the entrance to the Inlet , in which U 315 became firmly entangled. They tried again and again, all through the night, but to no avail, the submarine would not budge; she was trapped.

The clock was ticking and soon the morning sun would reveal to the Soviets that they had snagged a U-Boat in their net and the end would come quickly for the men aboard U 315.  A further try to break free was made and the submarine finally broke free. Zoller decided that it was impossible to penetrate the defences of the Inlet and he returned to base)

Served with Soviet Northern Fleet.

Served with Soviet Northern Fleet.