1
9 3 9
September
Under refit at HM Dockyard, Portsmouth.
Pre-production air warning radar outfit
Type 79Z fitted to provide warning of the
approach of
aircraft
.
(For details see RADAR AT SEA by D. Howse)
.
23rd
Refit completed.
29th
Sailed to Scapa
Flow from Portsmouth to work up for
service.
October
1st
On arrival at Scapa Flew nominated for
duty in the Mediterranean with the 1st
Cruiser Squadron
8th
Passage to Gibraltar
from Rosyth.
14th
Joined Squadron at Alexandria.
Work-up and radar
trials in Mediterranean
with Squadron.
November
Squadron recalled from Mediterranean to join Home Fleet.
3rd
Passage to UK
with HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE.
11th
Arrived at Portsmouth.
19th
Deployed for duty on Northern Patrol for
convoy defence and the interception of
commerce raiders
and blockade
runners. Sailed from
Clyde
for Denmark Strait.
(See THE BLOCKADERS by C Hampshire.)
21st
Patrol off Iceland.
23rd
Joined search for SCHARNHORST and
GNEISENAU with HM Cruisers NORFOLK, CERES and
CALYPSO after HM Armed Merchant Cruiser RAWALPINDI
had been sunk in action with
German SCHARNHORST and
GNEISENAU. Deployed
in Iceland
- Faeroes Gap.
(For details see RAWALPINDI by Ludovic
Kennedy).
29th
Returned to Scapa
Flow from Clyde after completion of
duty.
December
Rejoined 1st Cruiser Squadron now
including HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE, BERWICK
and
and NORFOLK.
3rd
Sailed for further
Northern Patrol interception duty.
29th
Returned to Scapa
Flow from patrol duties.
1
9 4 0
January
Deployed on interception patrols in NW
Approaches based on Clyde.
February
Continued patrol duties in NW Approaches
(For details of Northern Patrol duties,
See ARMED MERCHANT CRUISERS by K. Poolman).
2nd
Sustained damage in collision with ss
MISRAM.
5th
Taken in hand for repair
in Clyde shipyard.
March
Under repair in Clyde shipyard.
April
Post refit trials and passage to Scapa Flow.
10th
On completion rejoined Squadron.
11th
Embarked Royal Marines for initial
occupation of Faeroes.
12th
Passage to Faeroes escorted by HM
Destroyers HAVANT and HESPERUS
13th
Landed Royal Marines for initial
occupation of Faeroes (Operation
VALENTINE).
(Note: HM Destroyers HESPERUS and HAVANT
carried out anti-submarine search
operations
before entry
into Thorshavn.)
On completion took passage to join HM
Cruisers DEVONSHIRE and BERWICK for
support of
military
operations in Norway.
14th
During
passage to Lofotens
area intercepted German tanker SKAGERRAK
which scuttled on
approach.
Diverted by Admiralty order and took
passage to Scapa Flow for special
operation.
16th
Took passage
from Scapa
Flow with HM Destroyers JANUS, JUNO,
HEREWARD and KIPLING.
17th
Met HM Submarine SEAL which had acted a
navigational Beacon off Stavanger.
Bombarded Stavanger
airfield (Operation DUCK).
Deployed to intercept force of German
destroyers and came under heavy air
attacks for
several
hours
(Note: 33 individual attacks were
counted).
Only one direct
hit of the 88
near misses reported.
Sustained major damage
aft that disabled
steering gear.
Extensive flooding and fire resulted and
speed was reduced to
18 knots.
(Note: Air cover arranged did not
arrive and left the ship without
any protection
from the expected air attacks. See Naval
Staff History (HMSO-2001)
and following
references for details.)
For details of naval operations off Norway
see NARVIK by D Macintyre.,
ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by
Corelli Bamett
and Naval Staff History (HMSO 2001).).
18th
Returned to Scapa
Flow steering by engines and with
quarterdeck awash.
Temporary repair carried out at Scapa Flow.
20th
Taken in hand for
repair at Greenock.
May
Under repair
to
Work done included
December
Installation of Surface Gunnery control
radar (Type 284) and replacement air
warning
radar Type
279 fitted in
place of Type 79Z.
Fire control Radar Type 284 fitted for
main armament and Type 285 Radar for the
control of
secondary armament. (See above reference.)
Twin 4in mountings fitted in place of 4in
single mountings.
1
9 4 1
January
Under repair at Greenock.
to
February
March
On completion of post refit trials,
worked-up and rejoined the Squadron in
Home
Fleet at
Scapa
Flow.
20th
Deployed for convoy
defence and patrol duty in NW
Approaches.
March
Carried out convoy defence and
interception duties based in Iceland.
to
April
May
8th
Deployed in Denmark
Strait
19th
Relieved by HM Cruiser
NORFOLK
to refuel at Hvalfjord.
22nd
Joined HMS NORFOLK in
Denmark
Strait.
23rd
During interception
patrol in Denmark Straits made first
sighting of BISMARCK.
Engaged enemy ships
before they became engulfed by fog.
24th
Shadowed BISMARCK and PRINZ EUGEN with HMS
NORFOLK until the enemy ships
were
engaged by HM
Battlecruiser HOOD and HM Battleship-
PRINCE OF WALES.
Remained in radar
contact with enemy ships after loss of
HOOD.
25th
Lost contact with German warships and
deployed with Fleet during search for
BISMARCK
Detached to
refuel in Iceland
(For full details see SINK THE BISMARCK
by L. Kennedy,
BISMARCK by Baron Burkhard
von Mullenheim
Rechberg and
Naval Staff
History).
27th
Sailed to resume
interception duties.
June
Deployed on interception duties in north Atlantic,
based in Iceland.
30th
Returned to Scapa
Flow with ships of Squadron.
July
Deployed for Fleet duties based at Scapa Flow
23rd
Passage to Iceland
with HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE, HM Destroyers
ACHATES, ECHO,
ESCAPADE, ECLIPSE and INTREPID to cover
air attacks on Tromso
and Kirkness
by HM
Aircraft Carriers
FURIOUS and VICTORIOUS (Operation EF).
26th
Passage to Norway
for air operations.
30th
Provided cover during carrier air attacks.
August
1st
Unsuccessful air
attack by Do18 aircraft.
7th
Returned to Scapa
Flow.
9th
Present at Royal Visit
to Home Fleet by HM King George VI.
24th
Provided Distant Cover for the first
Russian Convoy with H M Aircraft Carrier
VICTORIOUS, HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE, HM Destroyers ECLIPSE, ESCAPADE
and INGLEFIELD
(Operation
DERVISH).
26th
Met convoy west of Bear
Island.
30th
Refuelled at Spitzbergen.
September
2nd
Escorted HMS VICTORIOUS for series of air
strikes on Hammerfest
with HM Cruiser
DEVONSHIRE
screened by HM Destroyers INGLEFIELD,
ECLIPSE and ESCAPADE.)
6th
Provided Distant Cover for HM Aircraft
Carrier ARGUS with HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE
and screen of
same Fleet destroyers as DERVISH for
passage to Archangel
taking
HURRICANE aircraft and
RAF personnel for service in North
Russia.
(Operation STRENGTH).
(For details of all Russian convoys see
CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg,
CONVOY !
by
P Kemp, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman and THE RUSSIAN
CONVOYS By B Schoefield.)
7th
Returned to Spitzbergen
to refuel with HMS VICTORIOUS and HMS
DEVONSHIRE after
aircraft
launched.
12th
Stationed off Lofoten
Islands to supported HMS VICTORIOUS during
air strikes on
Bodo,
Norway.
19th
Returned to Scapa
Flow.
29th
Escorted Russian Convoy PQ1 with HM
Destroyer IMPULSIVE, HM Fleet Minesweepers
BRITOMART, GOSSAMER,
LEDA and HUSSAR from Hvalfjord.
October
11th
Arrived at Archangel
without enemy interference.
Returned to Scapa
Flow to rejoin Squadron.
November
3rd
Deployed with Home Fleet to Intercept
German battleships TIRPITZ and ADMIRAL
SCHEER reported attempting beak out to
attack Atlantic convoy routes.
5th
Arrived Hvalf
jord with HM
Battleship KING GEORGE V, HMS VICTORIOUS,
HM
Cruisers
BERWICK and KENT,
screened by HM Destroyers ASHANTI,
MATABELE,
PUNJABI, OFFA and
ORIBI
December.
Returned
with Home Fleet to Scapa
Flow.
1
9 4 2
January
17th
Sailed with Home Fleet ships to Iceland
to intercept German warships reported
to be
making another
sortie into the Atlantic.
19th
Deployed off Iceland.
February
Interception patrols in continuation based
in Iceland.
19th
Sailed from Hvalfjord
with Home Fleet after TIRPITZ was reported
under way at
Aasfjord.
(Note: HMS VICTORIOUS was to carry out air
attacks on Tromso
if no enemy break
out was
established.
20th
Attack on Tromso
cancelled when German warships ADMIRAL
SCHEER snd
PRINZ
EUGEN were reported off Holland and steaming north.
21st
Deployed to cover HMS
VICTORIOUS during attacks on these
German ships.
Operation cancelled when ship reported at
Aasfjord.
Return passage to Scapa Flow
March
8th
Arrived for refit in Tyne
shipyard.
April
Under refit.
to
Radar Type 279 replaced new design Type
281.
June
Centimetric
Radar Type 273 of new design fitted to
provide surface warning.
(See above reference.)
Additional 20mm Oerlikon guns fitted for
close range defence.
July
Post refit
trials.
8th
On completion carried out trials and
work-up.
17th
Rejoined Fleet at Scapa
Flow.
August
Deployed with Home Fleet and based in Iceland
for Russian Convoy operation.
September
17th
Provided cruiser cover for passage of
Russian Convoy PQ18 and returning convoy
QP14 with HM Cruisers
LONDON
and NORFOLK.
22nd
Returned to Hvalfjord.
October
Remained with Home Fleet for patrol and
interception duty in Iceland.
23rd
Passage to Scapa
Flow.
November
Deployed with Hans Fleet based at Scapa Flow.
17th
Provided cruiser cover
for returning convoy QP15 with LONDON
and screened by
HM
Destroyers FORESTER,
OBDURATE and ONSLAUGHT.
(Note: HM Submarines P312, P216 and French
submarine JUNON carried out patrols
off
Altenfjord
to intercept any surface ship
interference.)
28th
Returned to Hvalfjord
December
Passage to UK
and began refit in Thames shipyard.
1
9 4 3
January
Under refit
to
Radar Type 282 fitted for fire-control of
Close Range AA defence.
February
Close range 20mm armament comprised 5 Twin
and three single mountings.
Nominated for foreign
service in Indian
Ocean.
March
Post refit
trials.
31st
Completed refit.
April
Completed sea trials and shakedown for
service with 4th Cruiser Squadron.
15th
Began work-up at Scapa
Flow.
May
Work-up in continuation.
19th
Joined joint military convoy WS30/KMF15 in
Clyde.
21st
Sailed with convoy as part of Ocean
Escort.
(Note: Escort also included HM Maintenance
Aircraft Carrier UNICORN, HM Armed
Merchant Cruiser ASTURIAS, HM Destroyers
ACTIVE, BOADICEA, CLEVELAND,
Polish ORP SLAZAK, HM Sloops WELLINGTON,
LOWESTOFT and WESTON,
HM Cutters
GORLESTON and TOTLAND, HM
Frigates EXE and NESS.)
25th
Detached from joint convoy with WS30 off Gibraltar
as Ocean Escort to Freetown when KMF15
took passage to
Mediterranean
with main escort.
(Note: HM Destroyers ANTELOPE, CATTERICK,
FOXHOUND joined escort from Gibraltar
for the passage
to Freetown.
29th
Detached from WS30 on arrival at Freetown.
June
2nd
Joined WS30 on departure from Freetown
as Ocean Escort.
(Note: HM Armed Merchant Cruisers CORFU and CARNARVON
CASTLE, HM Destroyers
CATTERICK, RAPID, WITCH and WOLVERINE also
part of escort.)
9th
Local Escort detached and relieved by HM
Destroyers NORMAN, QUADRANT and REDOUBT
for passage to
Cape.
16th
Detached from WS30 on arrival at
Capetown for independent passage to Durban.
20th
At Durban.
24th
Sailed from Durban
to join Squadron.
July
Joined 4th Cruiser Squadron at Kilindini
15th
Trials and exercises with HM Cruisers
NEWCASTLE, FROBISHER and SUSSEX.
27th
Arrived at Diego Suarez.
August
Deployed on convoy defence and
interception of supply ships in Indian
Ocean.
30th
Sailed from Fremantle for convoy defence
duty.
September
18th
Returned to Kilindini.
October
Indian
Ocean convoy defence and interception in
continuation.
to
(Note: Significant military convoy traffic
was on passage to India.)
December
1
9 4 4
January
Convoy defence and interception in Indian Ocean.
Deployed with HM Cruisers NEWCASTLE, KENYA,
HM Armed
Merchant Cruiser
CANTON.
HM Destroyer NEPAL
and HM Frigate BANN in an unsuccessful
search for
German blockade
runner reported
on passage to Europe
from
Japan
(Operation THWART).
February
Indian Ocean deployment in continuation.
March
8th
Deployed as Force 68 with HM Destroyer
QUADRANT in search for U-Boat Supply Ship
BRAKE supported by RAF aircraft from Mauritius
(Operation COVERED).
(Note: HMS NEWCASTLE, HM Aircraft Carrier BATTLER and HM
Destroyer ROEBUCK
deployed as
Force 67
intercepted and sank the enemy ship on
12th March.
See WAR WITH JAPAN
(HMSO).
April
Resumed Indian
Ocean convoy defence duty.
30th
Deployed with HM Cruiser LONDON
as escort for Replenishment Group (Force
67) of six
tankers and a
water carrier to support Force 66 ships
for air operations by Eastern Fleet
against
harbour
installations and oil refineries at Soerabaya.
Took passage to Exmouth
Bay, NW Australia (Operation TRANSOM).
30th
(Note: Operation was covered by ships of
Eastern Fleet as Force 65.
See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO) for details.)
May
Passage to Exmouth Bay with Force 67.
15th
After refuelling was complete transferred
to Force 68 with HMS LONDON.
Joined aircraft carriers HMS ILLUSTRIOUS
and USS SARATOGA,
HM Cruisers CEYLON and
and GAMBIA
(RNZN) screened by HM Destroyers QUILLIAM,
QUEENBOROUGH,
QUADRANT,
US destroyers USS, DUNLOP, CUMMINGS and
FANNING for passage to
launching area.
Provided cover during air strikes.
18th
USS SARATOGA and US
destroyers detached to return to US 5th
Fleet
(Note: One aircraft from USS SARATOGA was
lost during TRANSOM.)
21st
Rejoined Force 67 as escort for passage
back to Trincomalee.
30th
At Trincomalee. Prepared
for refit.
June
Passage to Durban.
Commenced refit.
July
Under refit.
August
21st
Completed refit.
September
Passage to Ceylon
to join 5th Cruiser Squadron, Eastern
Fleet,
October
Nominated for service in Force 63 for
planned operation.
15th
Joined TG63.2 with HM Cruisers CUMBERLAND,
LONDON, HM Destroyers RELENTLESS,
RAIDER, NORMAN (RAN) and Dutch destroyer
VAN GALEN for an Eastern Fleet
diversionary
operation against Japanese targets on Nicobar
Islands during the US
landings on
Leyte
(Operation MILLET.
(For details see OPERATION PACIFIC by E
Gray and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).
Sailed from
Trincomalee with Force 63 for MILLET.
(Note: TG63.1 comprised HMS RENOWN
screened by H M Destroyers QUILLIAM,
QUIBERON
and QUEENBOROUGH.
TG63.3 comprised HM Aircraft Carriers
INDOMITABLE, VICTORIOUS, HM
Cruiser PHOEBE, HM
Destroyers WHELP, WAGER, WESSEX
and WAKEFUL.)
16th
Refuelled from HMS RENOWN of TG63.1
17th
Bombarded targets in Malacca area with
TG63-2 between carrier air strikes.
19th
Bombarded Car Nicobar
with HM Battleship RENOWN, HMS RAIDER, HMS
QUILLIAM
and HMS
QUEENBOROUGH during air strikes at Nancowry
by Force 63.3.
Under attacks by aircraft which were
repelled by fighters from Fleet.
(Note: Seven enemy aircraft were destroyed
for loss of three from carriers.
See above references.)
22nd
Rejoined Squadron for Indian
Ocean convoy defence.
November
Continued Squadron duties based at
Trincomalee.
to
December
1
9 4 5
January
1st
Deployed with HM Cruisers CEYLON,
ARGONAUT and BLACK PRINCE in Force 65,
screened by H M
Destroyers KEMPENFELT, WAGER, WHELP,
GRENVILLE, URANIA,
UNDAUNTED, UNDINE and URSA to cover air
attacks by HM Aircraft Carriers
INDOMITABLE, VICTORIOUS and INDEFATIGABLE
on oil refineries at Pangkalan
Brandan, Sumatra (Operation LENTIL).
(Note: This was intended as a second
rehearsal for planned raid on Palembang.
(Operation MERIDIAN).
4th
Provided defence during carrier
operations.
7th
Returned to Trincomalee and rejoined
Squadron for convoy defence duties.
12th
Detached with HMS UNICORN, HM Destroyers ULSTER,
QUIBERON and QUICKMATCH
for escort of
liner taking HRH
The Duke of Gloucester (Governor General
designate of Australia)
during final
leg of journey from Fremantle to Sydney.
Passage to Australia.
February
Royal Escort duty in continuation.
12th
Return passage from Fremantle on
completion of escort duty.
March
Deployed in support of military operations
in Burma
and based at Akyab.
20th
Assisted in temporary repair of HM
Destroyer RAPID at Akyab.
(Note: This destroyer had been damaged
during shipping strike in Andamans.
Operation TRANSPORT.
April
Continued deployment in Malacca Strait
and off Burmese coast.
27th
Deployed with HM Battleship QUEEN
ELIZABETH, French RICHELIEU, HM Cruisers
CEYLON,
CUMBERLAND, Dutch TROMP and HM Escort
Carriers EMPRESS and SHAH,
screened by H M
Destroyers ROTHERHAM,
NUBIAN and PENN as Force 63
(Operation BISHOP)
(Note: This was intended to prevent
interference by Japanese warships during
the
British landings
near Rangoon
(Operation DRACULA).
30th
Provided cover during air strikes on
airfields at Car Nicobar
and bombarded shore targets at
Car Nicobar
and Port Blair with ships of Force 63.
May
1st
Took part in
further bombardment of Car Nicobar.
2nd
Before taking passage with Force 63 to
cover landings carried cut bombardments at
Port Blair.
3rd
Deployed with Force 63 to cover DRACULA
landing operations.
to
(Note: Carrier aircraft made strikes en
shipping and aircraft during this period and HMS QUEEN
8th
ELIZABETH
bombarded Stewart Sound in Andamans.
9th
Returned to Trincomalee with Force 63.
10th
Resumed convoy defence and patrol duty in
Indian
Ocean with Squadron.
June
Nominated for duty in Force 63 for planned
operation.
18th
Escorted H M Escort Carriers STALKER,
KHEDIVE and AMEER of 21st Aircraft Carrier
Squadron with HM Cruiser ROYALIST screened
by HM Destroyers ROTHERHAM,
RACEHORSE, REDOUBT, RELENTLESS and ROEBUCK
during series of photo-
reconnaissance
flights over south Malaya, air attacks en
airfields in northern Sumatra and on
shipping in the
Malacca Strait (Operation BALSAM). (For
details of naval operations in Indian
Ocean see OPERATION PACIFIC by E Gray, THE
FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton and
WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).
July
Withdrawn from operational Fleet duty
6th
Sailed for UK
for deployment on trooping duties.
August
On arrival in UK
prepared for use in trooping duties.