1 9 3 9
August
Deployed
on China Station.
4th
Re-commissioned at Hong Kong for continued
service on China
Station.
(Note: New
ships company had taken passage by sea to
join ship)
12th
Sailed from Hong Kong for Singapore to
refit
Embarked aircraft
after leaving Hong Kong..
19th
Arrived at Singapore and taken in hand for
refit.
31st
Undocked after ship required for service
in view of
possibility of war with Germany
September
Deployed on China Station and
transferred to join East Indies Squadron.
1st
Sailed for war station and deployed with
HM Cruiser
BIRMINGHAM and HM
Destroyer DARING
for interception of German mercantiles
4th
Carried out interception patrol off west
coast of Sumatra.
Intercepted
German mercantile FRANKEN.
6th
Took passage to Colombo for deployment on
East Indies
Station
10th
Arrived at Colombo after aircraft launched
to RAF airfield at
Ratamala for night landing
and torpedo
launch training.
25th
Sailed from Colombo to meet HM Cruiser
LIVERPOOL for escort
of mercantile into
Colombo during
passage in Indian Ocean from Bombay..
28th
Arrived at Colombo
29th
Sailed for interception patrol in Indian
Ocean
October
5th
Returned to Colombo from patrol.
Nominated for
service with HM Cruisers CORNWALL and
DORSETSHIRE
Force I to carry
out trade defence duties in Indian Ocean.
(Note: German
commerce raiders were known to be active
in the area and enemy
mercantiles on
passage were to be intercepted. Similar
Hunting Groups
were formed for
this purpose in the Atlantic.)
11th
Took passage to meet HMS CORNWALL and
proceed to together to
Trincomalee
for formation of
Force I.
13th
Arrived at Trincomalee with HMS CORNWALL
after entry delayed
by weather
conditions. Took
passage to Colombo with HMS CORNWALL after
refuelling.
15th
Arrived at Colombo.
Sailed for
patrol south of Ceylon with HMS CORNWALL
17th
Joined by HM Cruiser LIVERPOOL for Indian
Ocean patrol
20th
Remained on patrol when HMS GLOUCESTER
detached.
23rd
Returned to Colombo.
(Note: Ships
aircraft carried out search operations
during ocean patrols.
28th
Sailed from Colombo with HM Cruisers
DAUNTLESS and DURBAN fot
Indian Ocean
interception patrol.
November
1st
Arrived at Singapore with same ships.
8th
Took passage to Colombo from Singapore
with HM Australian
Cruiser HOBART.
12th
Arrived at Colombo
14th
Deployed with HMS DORSETSHIRE and CORNWALL
for Indian Ocean
patrol.
18th
Returned to Colombo with same ships.
25th
Sailed from Colombo with HMS DORSETSHIRE,
HMS CORNWALL and HM
Australian
Destroyer WATERHEN to meet French convoy
on passage to Colombo.
(Note: Crew of
SWORDFISH aircraft which had ditched were
rescued by HMAS
WATERHEN on
27th.)
December
1st
Diverted whilst off Madagascar and took
passage south to
carry out search for
in Chagos
Archipelago for German battleships GRAF
SPEE and ADMIRAL SHEER
known to be
carrying out attacks on shipping
3rd
HMS DORSETSHIRE detached to carry out
search near
Mauritius.
5th
Two aircraft unable to find ship on return
from search due to
weather conditions,
Ship laid smoke
screen which was sighted by aircraft and
enabled safe return.
7th
At Diego Suarez and met HMS GLOUCESTER
8th
Sailed from Diego Suarez with HMS
GLOUCESTER and HMS
CORNWALL.
Detached and
took independent passage to Durban for
routine docking.
(Note: Earlier
order for passage to Simonstown was
cancelled.)
12th
Arrived at Durban.
14th
Despatched to Capetown support HMS
Cruisers AJAX, ACHILLES
and EXETER
in anticipation
of action against German GRAF SPEE which
had taken refuge in
Montevideo after
Battle of the River Plate on 13th.
16th
Diversion cancelled and took return
passage.
(Note: This may
have been because reinforcement by other
ships had been arranged.
See Naval Staff
History.)
21st
Arrived in Durban for delayed docking.
22nd
Resumed Indian Ocean interception duties
with HMS CORNWALL and
HMS
GLOUCESTER.
24th
HMS CORNWALL detached..
26th
Refuelled at Mauritius and resumed patrol
with HMS
GLOUCESTER.
29th
At Seychelles after search in Carajos
Islands.
31st
Sailed for Colombo
1
9 4 0
January
Nominated for escort of
military Convoy US1.
(Note: This
convoy was carrying ANZAC troops for
service in Egypt.)
4th
Arrived at Colombo.
Joined HM
Cruiser SUSSEX in 4th Cruiser Squadron
5th
HMS SUSSEX with CinC East Indies arrived
in Colombo,
6th
CinC visited ship.
15th
Sailed from Colombo with HMS SUSSEX and
HMAS HOBART for
exercises.
17th
Returned to Colombo with same ships.
25th
Sailed for Trincomalee.
26th
At Trincomalee
31st
Sailed from Trincomalee with HMAS HOBART
to meet HMS SUSSEX
and
February
1st
Joined HM Battleship RAMILLIES and HM
Cruiser KENT with
same ships to
reinforce escort
of US1.
(Note: US1
comprised twelve Large Ocean Liners
including a French and a
Polish vessel.)
6th
HM Destroyer WESTCOTT on passage from
Singapore joined US1and was
refuelled.
8th
Arrived at Aden with US1.
(Note: Ship had
steamed 34,889 miles since 3rd September
1939 and aircraft
had carried out
search of over 365 square miles since 1st
January).
9th
Carried out patrol in Gulf of Aden
escorted by HMS WESTCOTT
to cover passage of
US1.
17th
Sailed from Aden for Colombo with HMS
RAMILLIES and HMS
SUSSEX. to
resume Force I
duties.
21st
Nominated for return to UK.
25th
Arrived at Colombo and planned return to
UK cancelled,
Ship required to
relieve HM Cruiser KENT in escort for
second ANZAC troop
convoy US2
during passage in Indian Ocean.
March
At Colombo
5th
Carried out gunnery exercises on passage
to Trincomalee for
Force I service.
6th
Deployed for Indian Ocean interception
patrol in Ceylon
area until 12th when to be
detached from
Force I to take passage to Singapore for
refit prior to joining US2
12th
Took passage from Trincomalee for
Singapore with HMAS HOBART.
13th
Diverted to investigate report of
suspicious vessel in Bay of
Bengal.
14th
Whilst proceeding independently major
explosion occurred in F
bomb room where
250 lb aircraft
bombs were being stowed in bomb room after
removal from aircraft.
14 members of
ships company were killed and three
seriously injured.
Fire in hangar
area was extinguished by automatic
sprinkler system causing damage
15th
Resumed passage to Singapore during which
burial of those
killed took place.
16th
Arrived at Singapore and remaining bombs
landed.
(Note: The
subsequent Board of Enquiry found that the
explosion of a bomb in F
bomb room had
been caused by damage to a safety device
which could have
been caused
during heavy landing of an aircraft
although rigorous procedures
were carried out
to check this mechanism after any suspect
damage. For
to aircraft and
explosion caused expensive structural
damage.
details see
EAGLES WAR by P. Smith.)
27th
Ship entered dry-dock
(Note: Planned
deployment with US2 cancelled.
Ships company
moved into Shore Accommodation.)
April
Under repair and refit
(Note Radio
Homing Beacon was fitted to assist return
of aircraft in poor weather
May
Nominated for transfer
to Mediterranean Fleet to replace HM
Aircraft GLORIOUS
which had been
recalled to Home waters after German
invasion of Norway.
9th
Sailed from Singapore to join Fleet at
Alexandria with calls
at Colombo and Aden.
23rd
Passage in Red Sea in company with HM
Cruisers LIVERPOOL,
GLOUCESTER and
SYDNEY (RAN).
26th
Arrived at Port Said independently.
(Note: The
cruisers detached during passage.)
27th
Joined Mediterranean Fleet escorted by HM
Destroyers HEREWARD
and HERO.
Transferred to
1st Battle Squadron comprising HM
Battleships WARSPITE,
RAMILLIES, ROYAL
SOVEREIGN, VALIANT and MALAYA
June
Carried out exercises
with HM Battleships WARSPITE, MALAYA,
ROYAL
SOVEREIGN and
French battleship LORRAINE and screen of
four destroyers.
(Note: These
were in anticipation of outbreak of war
with Italy.)
10th
Sailed from Alexandria with HMS WARSPITE,
HMS MALAYA, HM
Cruisers ORION,
NEPTUNE, SYDNEY,
LIVERPOOL, GLOUCESTER, CALEDON and CALYPSO
screened by HM
Destroyers DAINTY, HASTY, ILEX, JANUS,
JUNO, NUBIAN,
STUART (RAN),
VAMPIRE (RAN) and VOYAGER RAN) to take up
position in Aegean
Sea to engage
any Italian major Fleet units which may
take passage prior to or immediately
on outbreak of
hostilities.
11th
Hostilities started at 0001 BST.
Australian
destroyers detached on relief by HM
Destroyers HAVOCK, HERO,
HEREWARD,
HOSTILE, HYPERION and IMPERIAL.
12th
Carried out air search for shipping
without success.
Took return
passage with Fleet unit and ships of 7th
Cruiser Squadron which had been
deployed for
shipping sweep in an area east of Sicily.
Fleet units
under submarine attack during which HM
Cruiser CALYPSO was torpedoed
by Italian
submarine BAGNOLINI and sank with loss of
38 lives.
14th
Arrived at Alexandria after minesweep had
been carried out by
destroyers.
(Note: Some
Aircrew were landed to fly GLADIATOR
aircraft from Dekehelia
22nd
Deployed with HMS RAMILLIES and HMS ROYAL
SOVEREIGN with
destroyer
screen to carry
out offensive sweep between Libyan coast
and south Italy.
(Operation BQ)
23rd
Returned to Alexandria when BQ cancelled.
27th
Sailed from Alexandria with HM Battleships
RAMILLIES. ROYAL
SOVEREIGN, HM
Cruisers
GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, NEPTUNE, ORION and
SYDNEY screened
by Mediterranean
Fleet Destroyers
28th
Deployed as Force B with HMS RAMILLIES,
ROYAL SOVEREIGN, HM
Destroyers
HASTY, HAVOCK,
HEREWARD, HERO and HYPERION of 2nd
Destroyer Flotilla
to provide
Distant Cover for passage of Convoys MS1
and MF1 from Malta to Alexandria
as well as
Convoy AS1 from Piraeus to Alexandria
(Operation MA3).
(Note: The
cruisers deployed as Force A engaged three
Italian destroyers during MA 3
sinking one
(ESPERO). For details see Naval Staff
History, THE BATTLE FOR
THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre)
29th
Aircraft sighted and reported Italian
submarines.
(Note: ARGONAUTA, UEBI SCEBELI and LUIZZI
were sunk in the A/S operations
by ship’s
aircraft and HM Destroyers DAINTY, DECOY,
DEFENDER, ILEX
and VOYAGER
(RAN) deployed as Force C.)
July
2nd
Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.
(Note: The
passage of MS1 and MS1 was postponed on
28th June because of the
prodigious
expenditure of 6in ammunition.)
3rd
Ship involved in measures taken by CinC
Mediterranean to
ensure French warships
deployed at
Alexandria under his overall command were
prevented from leaving the
port. Armament
was trained on French warships.
(Note: These
measures had been required following the
withdrawal of France from
hostilities. For
further details see RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W
Tute and
Naval Staff
Histories which include the operations at
Oran which were far
different.)
5th
Sailed from Alexandria with HM Battleships
WARSPITE, MALAYA
and ROYAL
SOVEREIGN, HM
Cruisers GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, NEPTUNE
and ORION
screened by HM
Destroyers DAINTY, DEFENDER, HASTY,
HOSTILE, HYPERION,
ILEX, IMPERIAL,
JANUS, JUNO, VAMPIRE (RAN) and VOYAGER
(RAN)
to provide
Distant Cover for passage of MS1 and MF1
which had been postponed.)
(Operation MA5)
(Note: Ships
aircraft based ashore at Maaten Bagush
caerried out torpedo attacks on
shipping at
Tobruk sinking the destroyer ZEFFIRO and a
mercantile with
damage to
another destroyer and mercantile.)
8th
Under sustained air attacks.
Italian Fleet
movements reported by RAF flying boats
enabled preparation for engagement
to be made.
9th
Launched torpedo aircraft attacks on
enemy Fleet units.
over
RN units. Detached from Battle Squadron and
Cruiser Squadron during Fleet
engagement
(Battle of Calabria – For full details see
Naval Staff History)
10th
Launched air attacks on Augusta, Sicily
sinking the destroyer LEONI PANCALLO in the
harbour.
(Note: This ship was subsequently salvaged
and returned to service only to be sunk
again
in April 1943)
11th
Under sustained air attacks which were
unsuccessful although
ship was near missed.
`14th
Returned to Alexandria with 1st Battle
Squadron having maintained anti-submarine
patrols as part
of Distant Cover for the two convoys.
25th
Under night air attacks in harbour whilst
at Alexandria
26th
Further night air raids
27th
Deployed with HM Battleships WARSPITE,
MALAYA and RAMILLIES
of 1st Battle
Squadron, HM
Cruisers NEPTUNE and SYDNEY (RAN) screened
by HM Destroyers
JERVIS, JANUS,
NUBIAN, MOHAWK, HEREWARD, IMPERIAL and
POLISH
ORP GARLAND to
provide Distant Cover for passage of
Convoy AN2 from Egypt to
Greece.
29th
Under air attacks during which ship’s
aircraft destroyed one
bomber.
30th
Returned to Alexandria.
31st
Deployed with HM Battleships MALAYA and
ROYAL SOVEREIGN
screened by HM
Destroyers
JERVIS, HERO, HEREWARD, HASTY, HOSTILE,
IMPERIAL, ILEX and
VENDETTA (RAN)
as Force B to carry out diversionary
operation coincident with Malta
aircraft
delivery by HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS in
western Mediterranean
(Operation MA9
–diversion for Operation HURRY by Force H)
August
Since commissioning mileage
steamed was 54,671.
1st
On completion of gunnery exercises Force B
had to return
to harbour instead of carrying
out cruise in
eastern Mediterranean,
(Note: HMS
MALAYA had developed machine problems
requiring repairs.)
22nd
Detached aircraft based at Maaten Bagush
carried out attacks
on Bomba.
The Italian
submarine IRIDE and a depot ship MONTE
GARGANO were sunk and a
second submarine
EURO was damaged.
30th
Sailed from Alexandria to provide Distant
Cover for passage
of convoy MF2 to Malta
and to meet HM
Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM
Battleship VALIANT, HM
Cruisers
CARLISLE and COVENTRY (Force F) joining
the Mediterranean Fleet.
(Operation MB3 –
Part of joint Operation HATS with Force H
based at Gibraltar,
(Note: The other
Mediterranean Fleet ships, designated as
Force I comprised
HM Battleships
WARSPITE and MALAYA, HM Cruisers
GLOUCESTER,
KENT, LIVERPOOL,
ORION and SYDNEY (RAN) with HM Destroyers
DECOY, DEFENDER,
HASTY, HEREWARD, HYPERION, ILEX,
IMPERIAL, STUART
(RAN), VAMPIRE (RAN), VENDETTA
VOYAGER and
Polish ORP GARLAND.)
31st
Under air attack.
Italian major
units reported by aircraft from ship
(Note: Italian
Fleet returned to base.
September
2nd
Force F ships joined Force I off Malta.
Returning Italian
Fleet sighted by reconnaissance aircraft
from ship.
4th
Under air attacks which delayed launch of
aircraft for
planned bombing of airfield
at Maritza,
Rhodes. Four aircraft from ship were lost.
5th
Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.
(See Naval Staff
History for details of HATS)
Docked for
inspection of hull in case of near miss
damage.
7th
Undocked and resumed operational duties,
21st
Carried out daylight landing exercises.
October
8th
Provided cover for passage of Convoy MF3
during passage to
Malta.
(Operation MB6)
(Note: Other
ships of Mediterranean Fleet providing
cover were HM Battleships
MALAYA,
RAMILLIES and WARSPITE, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS,
HM
Cruisers AJAX,
GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, ORION, SYDNEY (RAN)
and YORK with HM
Destroyers DAINTY, DECOY, DEFENDER,
HAVOCK,
HASTY, HAVOCK,
HEREWARD, HERO, ILEX, IMPERIAL, JANUS
JERVIS, JUNO,
NUBIAN, VAMPIRE (RAN) and VENDETTA (RAN)
12th
Ships aircraft located damaged Italian
destroyer ARTIGLIERE
which was under
tow following
damage in an action with HMS AJAX on 11th
during which two
other
destroyers, ARIEL and AIRONE were sunk.
See Naval Staff History.)
(Note: ARTIGLIERE was later sunk by HMS
YORK.
Under air
attacks during which the two aircraft
carriers claimed destruction of five
enemy machines.
14th
Further air attacks by bomb and torpedo
aircraft. HMS
LIVERPOOL was hit by a
torpedo and
seriously damaged.
Returned to
Alexandria with Fleet units.
20th
Carried out day and night deck landing
trials escorted by HM
Destroyers DECOY, HASTY,
HAVOCK, HEREWARD
and ILEX, returning on 21st.
(Note: Ships
aircraft operating from shore carried out
air attacks and minelaying on 23rd
and 28th.)
25th
Deployed with HMS MALAYA, HM Cruisers
ORION, SYDNEY (RAN), HMS
COVENTRY and screen
of eight destroyers to provide cover from
north bound Convoy
AN5 to Greece
during passage from Egypt (Operation MAQ2)
27th
Air strikes launched for attack on Port
Matenza, Rhodes.
28th
Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.
(Note: Italian
forces entered Greece on this day.)
29th
Sailed from Alexandria with HM Battleships
WARSPITE, MALAYA,
RAMILLIES, and
VALIANT, HM
Cruisers YORK, ORION, SYDNEY (RAN) and
GLOUCESTER screened by
Fleet destroyers
to provide cover for passage of military
convoys taking stores and
personnel to set
up forward operating base at Suda Bay in
Crete (Operation BARBARITY)
November
1st
Under heavy and sustained attacks whilst
deployed with
Fleet units in Aegean to provide
aerial
protection and anti-submarine patrols.
Returned to
Alexandria with Fleet units.
5th
Examination of hull revealed significant
damage and
accounted for contamination of
aviation fuel
system by damage caused during air attacks
in recent weeks.
Withdrawn from
operational service and nominated for
extensive refit.
(Note: HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS had joined the Fleet at
Alexandria in September and amongst
the many
deficiencies of this ship was lack of any
radar and unprotected upper deck.
Participation in
planned air attacks on Italian Fleet at
Taranto was not possible and
some air crew
were transferred to HMS ILLUSTRIOUS to
take part.
(Operation
JUDGEMENT)
6th
Under repair.
16th
Sailed from Alexandria and took passage to
Suda Bay to
provide cover for passage of troop
convoys to Greece.
17th
Took return passage from Suda Bay with HM
Battleship BARHAM,
19th
At Alexandria after delay on passage due
to machinery defects
in HMS BARHAM
23rd
Deployed as Force C with HM Battleships
RAMILLIES and MALAYA,
HM Cruisers
BERWICK, SYDNEY
(RAN), AJAX and ORION with destroyer
screen and took passage to
Suda Bay to
provide cover for a series of joint
operations with Force H which included
transit of Malta
relief convoys including additional
reinforcements for Fleet at Alexandria.
(Operation MB9 –
Part of overall joint Operation COLLAR,,
see Naval Staff History).
24th
Under air attacks at Suda Bay but sailed
same day.
25th
Deployed with Fleet units to cover passage
of Convoy MF4
26th
Detached and took passage to carry out
planned air operations.
Carried out
night air attacks on Tripoli.
29th
Returned to Alexandria.
(Note: For full
details of COLLAR see Naval Staff History)
December
Deployed at Alexandria.
Under repair to
stern gland defects.
Squadrons 813
and 824 disembarked for operations based
ashore.
(Note:
Nominated for future deployment for Ocean
interception and trade defence duties
when available
for release from Mediterranean Fleet
duties after arrival of HM
Aircraft Carrier
FORMIDABLE)
1
9 4 1
January
6th
Carried out Deck Landing trials with SEA
GLADIATOR
aircraft.
11th
Deployed with HMS BARHAM, HMS AJAX and
destroyer screen to
carry out
attacks on
Dodecanese as Force X (Operation MC6).
12th
Operation MC6 cancelled because of damage
to HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.
(Note: HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS had been deployed in defence
of major joint operation
with Force H to
pass convoys to Malta.
(Operation
EXCESS – See Naval Staff History)
RAF personnel
embarked in Alexandria for passage to
Malta transferred to HMS
PERTH (RAN) at
Suda Bay for onward passage.
13th
Sailed from Suda Bay with HMS BARHAM to
carry out air
operations in area near
Rhodes.
Planned attacks
cancelled due to weather conditions.
When weather
eased launched aircraft to search for
Italian convoy which was sighted.
Further air
attack failed to locate convoy.
(Note: One
aircraft failed to return from search.)
15th
Returned to Suda Bay when planned attacks
on Benghazi were
cancelled.
Rejoined Fleet
units to cover passage of Convoy ME6 from
Malta.
(Note: Part of
EXCESS)
17th
Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.
23rd
Carried out air defence exercises in
Eastern Mediterranean.
25th
Docked at Alexandria.
30th
Resumed Fleet duties.
February
First FULMAR aircraft embarked and four
SWORDFISH
transferred for shore base
operations.
1st
Took part in Fleet air defence
exercises.
3rd
Returned to Alexandria.
19th
Carried out Deck Landing training for
BREWSTER BUFFALO aircraft which were
unsatisfactory
On
completion took passage to join Force A.
21st
Joined HM Battleships BARHAM and
VALIANT screened by nine
destroyers
for Operation MC8.
Air
attack repelled by ships aircraft which
destroyed one machine before reaching
convoy.
See Naval Staff History for details of MC8
22nd
Returned to Alexandria with Force A ships.
March
3rd
Carried out successful BREWSTER BUFFALO
Deck Landing
Trials.
On completion
carried out Boiler Clean at Alexandria
prior to Ocean deployment.
On completion
held at Alexandria pending arrival of HMS
FORMIDABLE to replace
HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
taken out of service for repair.
(Note: Approval
for release from Mediterranean was
dependant on clearance
of mines and
wrecks in Suez Canal.)
25th
Disembarked Squadrons remained ashore and
transferred to Port
Sudan to counter
the Italian
threat to convoy traffic in Red Sea by
warships based at Massawa.
(Operation
ATMOSPHERE)
April
3rd
Squadron aircraft carried out successful
attacks on Italian
destroyers.
(Note: NAZARIO
SAURA, DANIELE MANIN, PANTERA, TIGRE and
DANIELE
BATISTI were
sunk directly or scuttled after being
seriously damaged.
See EAGLE’S WAR
by P smith and WARSHIP LOSSES OF WW2 by D
Brown)
8th
HMS FORMIDABLE arrived and released from
Mediterranean
service.
9th
Took passage from Alexandria escorted by
HM Destroyers
ENCOUNTER and DECOY
10th
Escort detached and ship began Canal
transit.
Transit delayed
in Great Bitter Lake due to obstruction.
15th
Resumed transit when obstruction cleared.
16th
Refuelled at Port Suez
18th
At Port Tewfik.
19th
Took passage to Aden and re-embarked
aircraft.
(Note: Intended
deployment with Hunting Group V which
included
HM Cruiser
LEANDER (RNZN) ).
21st
Joined HM Cruiser CORNWALL at Aden and
took passage to
Mombasa.
26th
Arrived at Mombasa.
(Note: HM Cruisers
GLASGOW and COLOMBO and HM Destroyers
KINGSTON and
KANDAHAR were
present.)
29th
Despatched from Mombasa to search for
commerce raider which
has attacked a
mercantile.
30th
Aircraft sighted a mercantile but ships
was identified as a
neutral.
(Note: Planned
joint search with HM Cruiser HAWKINS did
not take place.)
May
Intended deployment with
Indian Ocean Hunting Group cancelled and
ship nominated
for service at
Gibraltar.
3rd
Took return passage to Mombasa after
fruitless air searches.
4th
Arrived at Mombasa to refuel
5th
Deployed with HMS HAWKINS to carry out
search for German
commerce raider
PINGUIN known to
be active in Indian Ocean.
(Note: PINGUIN
was sunk on 8th by HMS CORNWALL.
9th
Arrived at Durban after passage at reduced
speed to
conserve fuel stock.
10th
Sailed from Durban to Capetown for further
search duty in
South Atlantic with HM
Battleship
NELSON.
(Note: HMS
NELSON had been part of escort for
military convoy during passage to
Middle East from
UK.)
This deployment
was made to carry out search for German
commerce raider
ATLANTIS known
to be active in South Atlantic.)
Arrived at Cape
Town for duty in South Atlantic.
(Note: Extreme
weather conditions were experienced in
Capetown which caused a
liberty boat
from HMS NELSON to capsize with loss of
life.)
13th
Sailed from Capetown for search with HMS
NELSON and HMS
Cruiser MAURITIUS.
18th
German raider passed close to the
searching ships overnight
without detection.
See EAGLE’S WAR
and GERMAN RAIDERS OF WW2 by R Hale.)
Refuelled at St
Helena and sailed a few hours later.
19th
Resumed search.
22nd
HM Destroyers DUNCAN and HIGHLANDER join
as escort for passage
into
Freetown.
23rd
HM Destroyers BOREAS and VELOX relieved
escort. and rejoined after
refuelling
in Freetown.
25th
Arrived at Freetown with same four
destroyers.
26th
HMS NELSON detached and sailed for
Gibraltar.
29th
Sailed from Freetown on completion of
replenishment.
Resumed
search with HM Cruiser DUNEDIN.
June
(Note: The search operations for German
supply ships known to be deployed
for
support of German battleship BISMARCK were
controlled direct
from
the Admiralty in London based on decryption
of German ENIGMA
signals
(See BRITISH INTELLIGENCE IN WW2 by Hinsley)
5th
Refuelled from HM Feet Auxiliary
BISHOPSDALE.
6th
Aircraft bombed blockade runner ELBE which
scuttled near
Azores.
13th
Refuelled from BISHOPSDALE.
15th
German U-Boat supply ship LOTHRINGEN
sighted by aircraft in
position
19.40N 39
30W enabling
capture by HMS DUNEDIN.
(Note: LOTHRINGEN later became EMPIRE
SALVAGE.)
17th
Deployed in further search operation
with HM Cruiser LONDON, HMS
DUNEDIN
and HMS BRILLIANT.
19th
Returned to Freetown to replenish.
July
Nominated for
interception patrol with HMS LONDON, HMS
DUNEDIN and
HM Armed
Merchant Cruiser ALCANTARA as Hunting
Group Z.
5th
Sailed for patrol in South Atlantic with
HMS ALCANTARA
escorted by HM
Destroyers VELOX
and VANSITTART,
8th
Arrived at St Helena and joined HMS
DUNEDIN.
9th
Resumed patrol.
23rd
Returned to ST Helena.
24th
Deployed for patrol WSW of St Helena
August
3rd
Returned to St Helena to refuel and
embarked 43 labourers
for passage to Freetown.
On completion
took return passage to Freetown
(Note: Instructions for passage included
interception of Vichy French mercantiles
known to be
attempting passage from Far East to
France.)
10th
Arrived at Freetown for boiler clean and
R&R..
21st
Deployment for interception and patrol in
South Atlantic to
be continued until end of
August at
request of CinC South Atlantic.
(Note:
Admiralty had required ship to return to
UK.)
(Note: During
period in Freetown one of ship’s company
was killed by as fall when
a guard rail
failed whilst he was on Bridge structure.
Ship also assisted
in rescue of personnel after a picket boat
capsized whilst
returning to HM
Sloop BRIDGEWATER with liberty men. Eight
on board
lost their lives
and twelve were rescued by a motor boat
from EAGLE.)
29th
Took passage from Freetown with HM
Cruiser DORSETSHIRE to meet HM Cruiser
NEWCASTLE
for convoy defence.
(Note: A German
cruiser has been reported in the area and
presented a threat to many
convoys on
passage in South Atlantic.)
September
Deployed as Force F with same
ships.
6th
Refuelling with HM Fleet Tanker ECHODALE
failed due to
weather conditions.
7th
Further refuelling again failed.
9th
Resumed patrol with HMS DORSETSHIRE after
completion of
refuelling.
17th
Refuelled at St Helena with difficulty due
to weather
conditions.
18th
Deployed with HMS DORSETSHIRE in search
for raider (Operation
ZEAL)
20th
Fire broke out in hangar when pyrotechnic
ignited during
maintenance work.
(Note: Aircraft
in hangar were drenched by immediate
operation of spray
extinguishers.
Only four SWORDFISH were available for
operations
but air
operations continued.)
21st
Ship’s WALRUS aircraft crashed whilst
landing on deck and
sank overboard.
Crew were
rescued with some injuries.
23rd Patrol
terminated due to machinery problems which
reduced speed
(Note: Defect
in evaporators had made necessary speed
reduction and emphasised
need for refit
already evident by overall state of
machinery)
26th
Refuelled at St Helena.
28th
Ship took passage to Freetown with HMS
DORSETSHIRE.
October
3rd
Arrived at Freetown.
4th
Took passage from Freetown with HM Cruiser
DUNEDIN, Free
French
COMMANDANT
DETROYAT and two RN corvettes.
(Note: The
other ships later detached.)
9th
HM Destroyer WILD SWAN joined as escort.
11th
Arrived at Gibraltar with HMS WILD SWAN
and HM Escort
Destroyer CROOME.
21st
Sailed from Gibraltar with HM Aircraft
ARGUS with Local
Escort by HM Destroyers
FORESIGHT,
FORESTER, SIKH and ZULU.
26th
Arrived in Clyde and aircraft disembarked
during passage.
30th
Took passage to Liverpool for refit by
Cammell Laird,
escorted by Polish destroyer
BURZA,
November
1st
Docked for refit.
(Note: Extent
of Refit was under review because of loss
of HMS ARK ROYAL and
later by
implications of war with Japan.)
December
Under refit.
(Note: Refit work included fit of RN radar
(Type 291 for surface warning and three
Type 285 for
fire control of AA armament. 20mm Oerlikon
guns were
fitted for close
range defence against air attacks.
Ship was to
carry out 14 days work-up on completion
before resuming
operational
service.)
1
9 4 2
January
Under refit and carried out
harbour trials.
9th
Sailed from Liverpool for Clyde escorted
by HM Destroyer
SKATE and Polish
ORP BLYSKAWICA.
Carried out Post
Refit trials
15th
Commenced work-up for service based in
Clyde.
27th
Completed work-up and prepared for
service in Mediterranean as replacement.
for HMS ARK
ROYAL.
February
Nominated for Ocean Escort of
military convoy WS16 during Atlantic
passage.
17th
Joined military convoy WS16 with
HM
Battleship MALAYA, HM Aircraft
ARGUS, HM
Cruiser HERMIONE screened by HM Destroyers
ACTIVE,
ANTHONY,
BLANKNEY, CROOME, DUNCAN, FIREDRAKE,
LAFOREY and
LIGHTNING.
(Note: HMS
FORMIDABLE which also joined Ocean Escort
was with this convoy
on passage to
Indian Ocean)
21st
Detached with other ships intended for
service in
Mediterranean.
23rd
Joined Force H at Gibraltar,
27th
Deployed with HMS MALAYA, HMS ARK ROYAL,
HMS ARGUS and HMS
HERMIONE
screened by HM Destroyers LAFOREY,
LIGHTNING, BLANKNEY,
CROOME, DUNCAN,
ACTIVE, ANTHONY, WHITEHALL and WISHART
to cover
delivery of SPITFIRE aircraft to Malta
from western Mediterranean
(Operation
SPOTTER).
28th
Returned to Gibraltar when operation
cancelled due to defects
in aircraft long range
fuel tanks.
March
6th
Carried out Malta aircraft delivery with
HM Aircraft
Carrier ARGUS, covered by
HM Cruiser
HERMIONE (Repeat Operation SPOTTER).
(Note: HMS
EXMOOR was deployed with screen in place
of HMS LAFOREY
and HMS
LIGHTNING
8th
Returned to Gibraltar after successful
launch.
11th
Under repair to machinery
21st
Repeated Malta aircraft deliveries with
HMS ARGUS, escorted
by HMS MALAYA
and HMS HERMIONE
(Operation PICKET I).
(Note: Some
aircraft were unserviceable but two
BEAUFORT and SPITFIRES were
launched.
28th
Second aircraft delivery with same ships
(Operation PICKET
II)
30th
On return to Gibraltar taken in hand for
further repair by HM
Dockyard.
April
Under repair.
30th
Carried out exercises with HM Cruiser
CHARYBDIS.
May
8th
Deployed for Malta aircraft delivery with
US aircraft
carrier USS WASP as part
of Force W. HM
Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Cruiser CHARYBDIS
screened by
HM Destroyers
ANTELOPE, ECHO, GEORGETOWN, ITHURIEL,
INTREPID,
PARTRIDGE,
SALISBURY, VIDETTE, WISHART and WRESTLER.
US Navy
destroyers LANG
and STERRETT were also deployed in screen.
(Operation
BOWERY - See Naval Staff History.
10th
Returned to Gibraltar with Force W.
17th
Malta aircraft delivery with HMS ARGUS,
escorted by HMS
CHARYBDIS, screened]
by HM Destroyers
ANTELOPE, ITHURIEL, PARTRIDGE, VIDETTE,
WISHART.
WESTCOTT and
WRESTLER
(Operation LB).
20th
Returned to Gibraltar after air attacks
during passage after
launch. See EAGLE’S WAR
June
1st
Carried out exercises with HMS CHARYBDIS,
2nd
Malta aircraft delivery escorted by HMS
CHARYBDIS and
screened by HM Destroyers
ITHURIEL,
WESTCOTT, WISHART and WRESTLER (Operation
STYLE).
4th
Returned to Gibraltar after successful
launch.
(Note: Two
aircraft failed to arrive after attack by
German aircraft from Pantellaria.)
8th
Malta aircraft delivery escorted by HM
Cruisers CAIRO and
CHARYBDIS screened
by
HM Destroyers ANTELOPE, ITHURIEL, PARTRIDGE,
WESTCOTT, WISHART
and
WRESTLER
(Operation SALIENT).
11th
Deployed as Force W with HMS MALAYA. HMS
ARGUS, HM Cruisers
LIVERPOOL,
KENYA and
CHARYBDIS screened by HM Destroyers
ANTELOPE, ESCAPADE, ICARUS,
ONSLOW, VIDETTE,
WESTCOTT, WISHART and WRESTLER for escort
of Malta supply
convoy in
western Mediterranean.
(Note: Force X
comprised of ships to act as Close Escort
during passage to Malta through
the Sicilian
Narrows. Force Y was made up of an RFA
tanker and two corvettes for
supply of fuel
to escorts during passage.)
12th
(Operation HARPOON - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY
by C Barnett,
THE BATTLE FOR
THE MEDITERRANEAN by Donald MacIntyre,
EAGLE’S WAR and
the Naval Staff
History for details of Malta aircraft
deliveries and Mediterranean
naval
activities.)
13th
Under heavy and sustained air attacks.
14th
Air attacks including torpedo bombers in
continuation and HMS LIVERPOOL hit
15th
Return passage to Gibraltar after Force
X detached
17th
Arrived at Gibraltar
July
14th
Malta aircraft delivery escorted by HMS
CHARYBDIS and HMS
CAIRO screened by
HM Destroyers
ANTELOPE, ITHURIEL, VANSITTART, WESTCOTT
and WRESTLER
(Operation
PINPOINT).
(Note: Attack
by Italian submarine failed during passage
to launch area.)
16th
Returned to Gibraltar.
20th
Deployed with same ships for repeat Malta
aircraft delivery (Operation
INSECT).
22nd
Returned to Gibraltar
August
7th
Joined HM Aircraft Carriers VICTORIOUS,
INDOMITABLE,
FURIOUS and ARGUS
in Atlantic for
series of
exercises to improve Fighter
Direction and multi-carrier
operating
techniques prior to defence of planned
Malta convoy.
(Exercise
BERSERK see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
10th
Joined HM Battleship NELSON, HM
Battlecruiser RENOWN, HMS
INDOMITABLE
and HMS
VICTORIOUS escorted by Fleet destroyers to
provide cover for passage of
Convoy WS21S to
Skerki Channel.
(Operation
PEDESTAL - see above references.)
11th
Under attack by U73 which penetrated
destroyer screen. Hit by
four torpedoes and
sank in eight
minutes south of Majorca (Position 38.05N
03.02E).900 of her
complement of
1160 were rescued by HM Destroyers
LAFOREY, LOOKOUT
and a Tug.).
(Casualty
List
- note
on
casualties)
See
above references, MALTA CONVOYS by Woodman
and PEDESTAL by P Smith.