1 9 4 0
October
Acceptance
trials and commissioning.
Second
aircraft carrier fitted with
aircraft
warning radar
(Type 279).
(For details of
development and use of radar by RN See
RADAR AT SEA
by D Howse).
November
Joined Home Fleet and worked up
24th
Deployed in Force C at Freetown with HM
Cruiser
NORFOLK for convoy
defence and
interception of supply ships and commerce
raiders.
December
Searched for German battleship
SCHEER and other commerce raiders in
Atlantic.
(See ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli
Barnett).
1
9 4 1
January
Transferred to Mediterranean
to replace HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS
which had been
seriously damaged in air attacks.
(See THE BATTLE
FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre).
Took passage to
Alexandria via Cape of Good Hope.
February
Deployed with East Indies Fleet
for support of military operations in
Somaliland.
Air minelays
carried out off Mogadishu (Operation
BREACH).
March
On release from BREACH
continued passage to Suez.
10th
Joined Mediterranean Fleet after delay
due mines which had closed Suez Canal.
20th
Deployed with HM Battleships BARHAM,
VALIANT and WARSPITE, HM
Cruisers
GLOUCESTER,
YORK and destroyer
screen to cover passage of Convoy
MW6.
(Operation MC9)
27th
Joined HMS WARSPITE and HMS BARHAM to
intercept Italian
Fleet.
28th
Successful torpedo attacks on Italian
cruisers resulted in
Battle of Matapan.
(See MATAPAN by
SW Pack and Naval Staff History).
29th
Broke up air attacks on Fleet during
passage back to Alexandria.
April
Deployed with Fleet to
cover passage of Convoy ME7.
21st
Provided cover during Fleet bombardment of
Tripoli escorted
by HM Cruisers
ORION, PERTH (RAN),
AJAX and 4 Fleet destroyers (Force
C).
Aircraft
illuminated shore targets
(Operation MD2).
22nd
Aircraft shot down two Ju88 when Fleet was
attacked on return
passage.
May
10th
Joined Fleet operation to cover transit of
Convoy MW7 from
Alexandria and
passage of
military convoy from Sicilian Channel
(Operation
TIGER).
20th
Lack of fighter aircraft delayed sailing
to assist in defence
of Crete.
26th
Under sustained air attacks during passage
to launch strikes
on Scarpanto
airfield. Major
structural damage including X
Turret and Flight Deck
equipment.
(For details of
naval activities in the Mediterranean see
THE BATTLE FOR
THE MEDITERRANEAN and
Naval Staff History.)
June
Passage
to USA via Cape of Good Hope for repair.
July
Under repair
to
Preparations for
installation of additional radars carried
out.
November
(See
RADAR AT SEA).
December
Post refit
trials.
Joint
passage
to UK with HM Aircraft Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS.
12th
In collision with
ILLUSTRIOUS whilst on passage (see
Addendum).
1
9 4 2
January
Returned to UK to prepare for
service with Eastern Fleet.
(Note : Radar
Type 281 to replace Type 279 installed
after
arrival).
Two fire control
radars Type 265 fitted for anti-aircraft
mountings).
Sea trials on radar
equipments.
February
15th
Passage to Indian Ocean as part of escort
for military convoy
to Middle
East via Cape of Good
Hope.
(Note : CinC
Designate, Eastern
Fleet, Vice Admiral Sir James
Somerville
embarked to
take up appointment).
March
2nd
Sailed from Freetown.
10th
Arrived at Capetown.
26th
Joined Eastern Fleet.
(Note : This
ship was in need of extensive training of
air
group before she could
be an effective
fighting unit).
31st
Deployed with HMS WARSPITE, HM Aircraft
Carrier INDOMITABLE,
HM Cruisers
CORNWALL,
EMERALD and ENTERPRISE as Force A.
Searched for Japanese
force reported on passage towards
Ceylon.
Damaged
propeller and withdrawn from search
April
Under
repair at Bombay.
23rd
On completion of repair took passage to
rejoin Fleet at Mombasa.
(For details of
naval activities in Indian Ocean in 1942
see RELUCTANT ENEMIES
by W
Tute,
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli
Barnett.
THE FORGOTTEN
FLEET by J
Winton, OPERATION PACIFIC by Edwin
Gray and
Naval Staff History.
May
5th
Deployed NE of Madagascar to provide cover
against Japanese
air attacks during
the landings.
(Operation IRONCLAD - See above
references)).
MARTLET aircraft
shot down Japanese HK6 seaplane after
detection by radar
during passage
to refuel in Seychelles.
10th
Based at Kilindini for convoy defence
and operational sweeps in Indian Ocean.
29th
Took part in Fleet training with HM
Battleship WARSPITE, HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS and
HM Cruiser
GAMBIA during passage to Ceylon from
Kilindini.
June
Convoy
defence and interception duty with
Eastern Fleet in Indian Ocean.
to
July
August
Aircraft intercepted and
destroyed Japanese Flying Boat in Indian
Ocean.
24th
Transferred to Mediterranean to replace
HMS INDOMITABLE and
took
passage to UK.
September
Embarked SEAFIRE aircraft before
sailing to Mediterranean.
October
Aircraft Direction facilities
provided to improve control of aircraft by
use of
radio telephone
based on radar information.
30th
Sailed for Gibraltar to provide air cover
during planned
landings in North Africa.
(Operation TORCH
- See above references and Naval Staff
History).
November
Passage
to Gibraltar
Deployed
with HMS VICTORIOUS and HMS FURIOUS in
Force H on arrival
at Gibraltar.
8th
Deployed 30 miles north of Algiers to
provide air cover during landings
13th
Aircraft destroyed shore battery on Cape Matifu.
17th
Aircraft of 820 Squadron sank U331 in
position 37.05N 2.24E
(NW Algiers).
(Note :
Submarine had already been under attack by
aircraft
of 500 Bomber Sqdn,
RAF and
surrendered but this was not known by
pilots of 820 Squadron.
December
Deployed in western Mediterranean
in support of military operations and for
defence
of military
convoys.
1
9 4 3
January
Convoy defence in western
Atlantic and Mediterranean including
Convoy KMF3.
February
Western
Mediterranean deployment in
continuation.
March
Based at Algiers in
continuation and for interception of enemy
supply convoys.
April
5th
Transferred to Alexandria for convoy
defence in Eastern Mediterranean.
May
Convoy defence and
support of military operations.
to
June
July
Carried out
diversionary operation north of Crete and
covered passage of convoys
to Central
Mediterranean for planned assault
landings.
7th
Sailed from Malta with HM Battleships
VALIANT and WARSPITE
escorted by HM Cruisers
AURORA and
PENELOPE screened by six destroyers.
Deployed in Tyrrhenian Sea to
provided cover
for military convoys from Alexandria
during
on passage in eastern
Mediterranean for
assault landings.
8th
Under air attacks
9th
Joined HM Battleships NELSON, RODNEY and
HM Fleet Aircraft
Carrier
INDOMITABLE, HM
Cruisers AURORA and PENELOPE in Gulf of Sirte
to
cover the
assault phase
of Sicily invasion against interference
from
Italian surface units.
(Operation
HUSKY) - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
and Naval
Staff History).
10th
Provided air cover during landings and
build-up phases.
to
14th
15th
Under attacks by Italian torpedo bombers
during which HMS
INDOMITABLE was
hit and had to
be withdrawn from operation (See RADAR AT
SEA).
August
Based in Malta and provided
air cover for ships deployed off Sicily.
September
Support of military operations in
continuation.
8th
Joined covering force with HMS NELSON, HMS
RODNEY, HMS
WARSPITE, HMS
VALIANT and HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS for air defence during
landings at
Salerno.
(Operation AVALANCHE
- See above references).
(HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
had replaced HMS INDOMITABLE - See above)
October
Deployed in support of
military operations off Italian coast.
Released from
Mediterranean operations and took passage
to UK.
November
Deployed with Home Fleet
2nd
Provided Distant Cover for return
Convoy RA54 from Kola Inlet with HM
Battleship
ANSON, HM Cruisers JAMAICA screened by HM
Destroyers ONSLOW,
VENUS,
HAIDA (RCN), Norwegian STORD, US
destroyers USS CAPPS and USS
HOBSON.
December
Home Fleet deployment in
continuation
1
9 4 4
January
Passage to UK for refit.
February
Under
refit.
to
Aircraft warning
radar equipment modernised (Radar Types
281B and 79B fitted
April
in
order to provide
efficient cover at all altitudes.
Surface warning
radar fitted (Type 277 - See RADAR AT
SEA).
May
Post refit trials
June
On completion embarked
aircraft and prepared for operational
service.
July
Deployed with Home
Fleet based at Scapa Flow.
17th
Launched unsuccessful air attacks on
German battleship
TIRPITZ in Altenfjord
with HM
Aircraft Carriers INDEFATIGABLE and
FURIOUS covered
by HM Battleship
DUKE OF YORK.
Target was obscured by smoke screen after
early warning of
approach.
(Operation
MASCOT - See CONVOY !
by P Kemp).
August
Home
Fleet deployment in continuation.
Prepared for air
attacks on TIRPITZ (Operation GOODWOOD
Series).
22nd
Repeated air attacks on TIRPITZ with HMS
FURIOUS, HMS
INDEFATIGABLE and
HM Escort Carrier
NABOB. These were unsuccessful
due to
weather conditions.
24th
Further air attacks on TIRPITZ with HMS
FURIOUS and HMS
INDEFATIGABLE.
Two hits were
reported.
29th
Unsuccessful air attacks on TIRPITZ with
HMS INDEFATIGABLE.
(Note : The
lack of significant success by Fleet Air
Arm
attacks resulted in the
decision to use
heavy bombers for this task).
No official
record of Battle Honour NORWAY 1944 can be
traced for either
September
Nominated for service with
British Pacific Fleet after refit.
October
Taken in hand for refit at
Gibraltar with extensive machinery repair
carried out.
November
Under
refit.
to
December
1
9 4 5.
January
Post refit
trials.
February
Passage to join 5th US Fleet for
air operations in Pacific.
March
10th
Arrived at Sydney.
Passage to Manus to
join British Pacific Fleet.
April
4th
Arrived Leyte
for Joint RN/USN
flying operations in Task Force 57.
(Task Force 57
comprised :-
HM Battleships
KING GEORGE V and Howe - Task Group 57.1.
HM Aircraft
Carriers INDOMITABLE, VICTORIOUS,
ILLUSTRIOUS and
INDEFATIGABLE - Task
Group 57.2.
HM Cruisers
SWIFTSURE, GAMBIA (RNZN), BLACK PRINCE and
ARGONAUT
-Task Group 57-3
HM Cruiser
EURYALUS, HM Destroyers GRENVILLE, ULSTER,
UNDINE,
URANIA,
UNDAUNTED, WHELP
and WAGER, HM Australian
Destroyers
QUICKMATCH, QUIBERON,
QUEENBOROUGH and
QUALITY - Task Group 57.8.
14th
Joined HM Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE,
VICTORIOUS,
ILLUSTRIOUS and
INDEFATIGABLE in Task
Group 57.2 as replacement for HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS.
Took part in air
operations to neutralise Japanese
airfields in Sakishima
Gunto
Group during US
landings in Okinawa.
(Operation
ICEBERG I- For details see TASK FORCE 57
by Peter C Smith,
ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY, THE FORGOTTEN FLEET BY J
Winton
and Naval Staff
History).
Under sustained
'suicide' aerial attacks by BAKA piloted
bombs.
20th
Withdrew from operational area with
ships of Task Force 57.
23rd
Arrived at Leyte
for R&R period.
May
1st
Sailed for operational area with
ships of Task Force 57.
(Note: HM
Cruisers EURYALUS and UGANDA (RCN) had
joined Task Group 57.5
in place
of HMS ARGONAUT.
Task Group 57.8
then comprised HM Destroyers GRENVILLE,
URSA, UNDINE,
URCHIN, URANIA, UNDAUNTED, KEMPENFELT,
WHIRLWIND,
WESSEX and HM Australian Destroyers
QUIBERON,
QUEENBOROUGH, QUICKMATCH and QUALITY.
4th
Resumed flying operations off Sakishima
Gunto.
(Operation ICEBERG II
- See above references).
Provided air
cover and fall of shot spotting during
bombardment of airfields by
HM Battleships
KING GEORGE V and HOWE.
During sustained
KAMIKAZE attacks aircraft crashed on
flight deck.
Bomb detonated
abreast Island structure.
11 aircraft
destroyed and Boiler Room damage reduced
speed to 18 knots.
Casualties
included 3 killed and 47 wounded).
Note: Cruisers
of TF57 had been detached with HM
Battleships KING GEORGE V
and HOWE to
carry out bombardment of airfields at
Miyagi and
their AA
weapons
could have
provided
additional protection to the three
aircraft
carriers.
(See THE
FORGOTTEN FLEET and WAR WITH JAPAN
(HMSO).)
HELLCAT aircraft
approaching to land-on during the KAMIKAZE
attack was
shot down by
close range 20mm Oerlikon (See ALARM
STARBOARD
by
G Brooke).
5th
Full power restored.
Joint flying
operations with US carriers and
bombardments continued.
9th
Sustained further damage after hit by
KAMIKAZE aircraft
during renewed operations
in Sakishima
Gunto
Group. One fatal
casualty.
(For full details see
A FORMIDABLE COMMISSION and above
references).
18th
Fire in hangar after CORSAIR aircraft
accidentally fired guns
during refuelling.
30 aircraft were
destroyed or made unusable in this
conflagration.
19th
Resumed air operations on Sakishima
Gunto despite
shortage of aircraft.
22nd
Detached before completion of operations
and left operational
area for passage to
Manus escorted
by HM Destroyers KEMPENFELT and WHIRLWIND.
June
On completion of
temporary repair at Manus took passage to
Sydney
Repair and R&R in
Sydney.
July
Redeployed with HM
Aircraft Carriers IMPLACABLE and
VICTORIOUS as part of US
3rd Fleet in Task
Force 37.
(Note : US
Naval Command structure had been changed
and
British Pacific Fleet
was redesignated
as Task Force
37).
Force 37
comprised:-
HM Battleship
KING GEORGE V (Flagship of Vice Admiral,
British Pacific Fleet.
HM Aircraft Carriers
FORMIDABLE (Flagship), VICTORIOUS and
IMPLACABLE.
(Note : HMS
IMPLACABLE was delayed by defect from
sailing
from Manus).
HM Cruisers
NEWFOUNDLAND (Flagship), BLACK PRINCE,
EURYALUS,
UGANDA (RCN) and
GAMBIA. HM
Destroyers
GRENVILLE, UNDINE, URANIA,
URCHIN, ULYSSES,
UNDAUNTED, QUIBERON (RAN), QUICKMATCH
(RAN),
QUEENBOROUGH
(RAN), QUALITY (RAN), TROUBRIDGE,
TENACIOUS,
TERMAGANT, TERPSICHORE
AND TEAZER.
6th
Sailed with HMS VICTORIOUS and HMS
IMPLACABLE for operational area.
16th
Joined ships of Third Fleet for Joint
RN/USN attacks in Tokyo
and Yokohama area.
17th
Carried out first British attacks on
Japanese mainland and
provided air cover for
ships of TF37.
25th
Combat Air Patrol (CAP) destroyed 3 AICHI
torpedo bombers
when Task Force 37
on passage to
refuel. One other was damaged.
(Note : HMCS
UGANDA withdrew from operations on relief
by HM
Cruiser ARGONAUT.
This was a
result of recent Canadian Government
regulation about service
of Canadian
personnel in the Japanese campaign
(See CANADIAN MILITARY
HISTORY Vol.4 No.2).
August
Deployed with US Task Group 38
Units for Joint air operations.
9th
Attacked airfields and shipping in North
Honshu and
Hokkaido with HMS VICTORIOUS
HMS INDEFATIGABLE and
HMS IMPLACABLE. Cover was
provided by
major RN units of
TF37.During an
attack on Onegawa
a CORSAIR piloted by Lieut. Robert
Gray, DSC,
RCNVR bombed
and sank the Japanese frigate AMAKUSA
despite
extensive cross-fire
from other
ships. For this feat of bravery which cost
him
his life was awarded the VC
posthumously.
10th
Air operations in continuation.
12th
Returned to Manus with ships of British
Pacific Fleet to refuel.
(Note : Not
transferred to Task Group Unit 38.5 with
HMS
INDEFATIGABLE.
This was due to
the enforced withdrawal of TF37 ships
because of a shortage of
fuel from
British tankers - See above references and
A
FORMIDABLE
COMMISSION).
