1 9 4 3
December
7th Build completion and transferred to Royal Navy as HMS QUEEN.
Carried out Acceptance Trials.
17th Took passage to Esquimalt for modifications to suit RN deployment for convoy defence.
Taken in hand by HM Canadian Dockyard, Esquimalt.
1 9 4 4
January Under modification
February On completion of dockyard work carried out sea trials
26th Sustained damage after running aground during trials
Under repair.
March Carried out sea trials on completion of dockyard repair work.
22nd Took passage from Esquimalt for Panama with calls at ports on west coast of North America.
April
15th Transit of Panama Canal
16th Passage to Norfolk, Va.
24th Arrived at US Navy
Yard in Norfolk.
Embarked 112 AVENGER aircraft for transport to UK destined for 855 Squadron.
May Deployed at Norfolk.
6th Too passage to New York.
8th Sailed from New York to Clyde.
(Note: Passage with routine convoy to be confirmed.)
23rd Arrived in Clyde and disembarked aircraft.
Nominated for continued service as a Ferry Carrier,
28th Took passage to New York to embark US aircraft for delivery to Casablanca for US use.
June
9th Arrived in New York and embarked aircraft.
13th Took passage to Casablanca.
27th Arrived at Casablanca and disembarked aircraft.
July
2nd Took passage to Freetown
12th Arrived at Freetown
(Note: This deployment to be investigated. Passage time seems excessive,)
17th Took passage to Gibraltar.
24th Arrived at Gibraltar
August
4th Joined inward Convoy MKGF33 and took passage to Liverpool.
10th Detached from MKF33 and took passage to Clyde.
Deployed in Clyde for repair of defects.
Passage to Dundee for refit
31at Taken in hand for refit in commercial shipyard in Dundee,
September Under refit.
to
November
December Commenced harbour trials
23rd Sailed for sea trials and passage to Rosyth
27th Arrived at Rosyth
(Note: Ship may have carried out sea trials and shakedown.)
1 9 4 5
January Deployed at Rosyth
(Note: Modification to petrol distribution system to be confirmed.)
Nominated for service in Home Fleet
23rd Passage to Clyde for work-up
February Embarked 853 Squadron AVENGER and WILDCAT aircraft and persoinnel
Worked-up for operational service in Clyde area.
March Passage to Scapa Flow on completion of work-up
2nd Joined Home Fleet at Scapa Flow
Nominated for planned aircraft minelay off Norway (Operation CUPOLA).
20th Joined HM Escort Aircraft Carriers PREMIER and SEARCHER as Force 1 for minelay.
Aircraft laid mines at Askevold (Position 61.21N, 05.05E).
(Note: Operation had been delayed and was subject to heavy swell and poor weather
conditions and was part of a joint shipping strike and air minelay operation off
the coast of Norway. Other ships engaged were HM Cruiser BELLONA screened
by HM Destroyers ONSLOW, ZEST, SERAPIS, HAIDA (RCN) and
IROQUOIS (RCN)).
21st Returned to Scapa Flow.
26th Took part in operations against shipping oft Norway with HMS SEARCHER.
(Operation PREFIX – No shipping was sunk but three enemy aircraft were shot down.,)
29th Returned to Scapa Flow.
April Home Fleet deployment in continuation.
6th Deployed with HM Escort Aircraft Carriers PUNCHER, SEARCHER and TRUMPETER
for air operations off Norway
Carried out air attack on U-Boat Depot Ships at Kilbotn after delay caused by bad
weather conditions. (Operation NEWMARKET)
12th Returned to Scapa Flow.
May Joined HMS SEARCHER and HMS TRUMPETER for a Norwegian coast
shipping strike with Home Fleet (Operation JUDGEMENT).
(Note: The Task Force included HM Cruisers NORFOLK, DIADEM and Destroyer
screen by HM Destroyers CARYSFORT, OPPORTUNE, SAVAGE, SCOURGE,
ZAMBESI. HMS OBEDIENT and ORWELL which joined later.)
4th Aircraft made attacks west of Narvik during which U711 and a Depot Ship
BLACK WATCH were sunk. U-boat Pens at Narvik were also attacked.
(Note: U711 was the last German submarine to be destroyed by aircraft of
the Fleet Air Arm during the war with Germany).
6th Deployed with HMS TRUMPETER and HMS SEARCHER and joined
HM Cruiser DIDO screened by HM Destroyers ZEALOUS ZEPHYR and ZEST
during passage to Copenhagen to liberate the city after the end of hostilities
with Germany (Operation CLEAVER).
10th Returned to Scapa Flow.
12th Deployed to provide cover for passage of the last Russian Convoy.
(Note: Escort for JW67 comprised HM Destroyers OBDURATE and ONSLOW,
HM Frigates BAZELEY, BENTINCK, BYARD, DRURY and PASLEY
of 4th Escort Group as to Kola Inlet (Operation TIMELESS).
20th Arrived at Kola Inlet without incident.
23rd Escorted return Convoy RA67 with same ships.
(Note: Navigation lights were burned throughout passage
30th Detached from convoy after arrival in Clyde and rejoined Home Fleet.
Disembarked aircraft and personnel of 853 Squadron.
June Deployed at Greenock
to Under refit in Clyde commercial shipyard
August Nominated for conversion to allow use as troopship.
September Deployed at Belfast
(Note: Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes was allocated as R320 to
conform with US Navy identity for this type of warship.)