1 9 3 9
September Under major refit and reconstruction by HM Dockyard Chatham.
to Work done included with ship under Dockyard Control.
December New design superstructure with aircraft hangars, cranes and catapult forward.
Bridge design modernised.
Funnel arrangements changed and only two used.
Two twin 4in AA mountings and additional smaller AA guns fitted.
Air warning radar Type 279 fitted on both masts.
Fire control radar for forward main armament Type 284 and for 4in mountings Type
285 provided with aerial units on gunnery directors. For details of the development
and in RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse).
Armour protection added over machinery spaces.
(Note: The significant increase on displacement after modernisation resulted in
increased structural stresses in a hull which had been designed to met Treaty
limitations. During subsequent service these weaknesses were most likely to
have been the cause of the leakages in fuel and feed water systems during
later service
1 9 4 0
Under Dockyard control at Chatham.
1 9 4 1
January Under Dockyard control at Chatham.
7th Re-commissioned.
February
12th Dockyard refit completed.
22nd Post refit trials commenced.
March Delayed at Chatham for completion of repairs and on completion took passage to join 1st
Cruiser Squadron Home Fleet for work-up.
April
2nd On completion of work-up deployed on Northern Patrol for interception duties with HM Cruiser
KENYA and four Home Fleet destroyers.
10th Returned to Scapa Flow and prepared for foreign service in South Atlantic.
May
12th Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS to Gibraltar with H M Destroyer BRILLIANT prior
to Malta aircraft delivery in Operation SPLICE.
19th Detached with HMS BRILLIANT on arrival at Gibraltar.
Sailed from Gibraltar as escort for ss ARUNDEL CASTLE during passage to Clyde
(Note: This liner was taking evacuees from Gibraltar to UK.)
24th Diverted to join search for BISMARCK after loss of HM Battlecruiser HOOD.
29th Released from operation after sinking of BISMARCK and resumed passage to South Atlantic.
31st Called at Bathurst, Gambia.
June Deployed with HMS BRILLIANT in search for German supply ships in South Atlantic.
4th Intercepted tanker ESSO HAMBURG which scuttled on approach.
6th Intercepted German supply ship EGERLAND which also scuttled.
21st Intercepted German supply ship BABITONGA 900 miles SW of Freetown, Sierra Leone
which also scuttled on approach.
(Note: These interceptions were carried out following decryption of German ENIGMA
signals by GCHQ at Bletchley Park. See BREAKING THE ENIGMA by D Kahn and
BRITISH INTELLIGENCE IN WW2 (HMSO)
July
3rd Deployed as Ocean Escort for military convoy WS10 during passage from Clyde to Freetown.
10th Detached from WS10 on relief as Ocean Escort by HM Cruiser EDINBURGH
Resumed Interception patrol.
August Atlantic trade defence duties in continuation..
September Transferred to Iceland for duty with Home Fleet ships in northern waters.
Deployed with Northern Patrol.
Detached and took passage to Scapa Flow.
22nd Embarked Lord Beaverbrook and Mr. Averill Harriman with an Anglo-American trade
delegation at Scapa Flow and took passage to Archangel.
27th Arrived at Archangel.
28th Joined HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE, HM Destroyer ELECTRA and ACTIVE as escort for
for returning Convoy QP1.
(Note: Re-embarked British delegation for return to UK.)
(For details of all Russian convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg,
CONVOY ! by P Kemp, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman and THE RUSSIAN
CONVOYS by B.Schoefield.).
October
2nd Detached from QP1 and resumed Northern Patrol after disembarking passengers.
9th Returned to Scapa Flow.
30th Taken in hand for repair at Tyne commercial shipyard
November Under repair and refit
To (Note: Eight 20mm Oerlikon guns fitted to replace the existing multiple machine guns to improve
December close range defence against air attack
1 9 4 2
January Under repair
February On completion of dockyard work carried out Post Refit trials
15th Rejoined Home Fleet for patrol and escort in northern waters.
March Deployed for Patrol WHITE in Denmark Strait with HM Cruiser KENT and three
USN ships.
Ordered to set up stations east of Bear Island after refuelling in Iceland to refuel
destroyers deployed for the interception of German battleship TIRPITZ which posed a
threat to convoys to and from North Russia. See ARCTIC DESTROYERS by R Woodman.
On release from refuelling resumed patrol off Iceland.
April Deployed for Northern Patrol.
28th Detached from patrol to Join escort for Russian Convoy PQ15.
30th Joined HM Cruiser NIGERIA in escort of PQ15.
May Under air attacks which were unsuccessful.
1st Detached from PQ15 escort and rejoined Home Fleet for covering duties.
Returned to Scapa Flow.
12th Nominated with HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK, HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS,
HM Cruisers KENT, LIVERPOOL, NIGERIA and NORFOLK, screened by HM Destroyers
ICARUS, BLANKNEY, ECLIPSE, ESCAPADE, FAULKNOR, FURY, INGLEFIELD,
LAMERTON, MARNE, ONSLOW, MIDDLETON, ORIBI and WHEATLAND to cover
return passage from Murmansk of HM Cruiser TRINIDAD
(Note: HMS TRINIDAD had been damaged during defence of an earlier convoy to Russia
but sunk on 14th in air attacks and cover force not deployed.)
15th Took passage with Home Fleet ships to Hvalfjord.
16th Met US aircraft carrier USS WASHINGTON, US cruiser USS TUSCALOOSA and screen of
three USN destroyers who had been detached by USN for duty in support of Home Fleet.
17th Arrived at Hvalfjord.
Resumed Northern Patrol duties
23rd Deployed with HMS DUKE OF YORK, USS WASHINGTON, HMS VICTORIOUS, US
cruiser USS WICHITA and a screen of RN and USN destroyers to provide cover for
passage of Russian Convoy PQ16 and returning Convoy QP12.
June
5th At Scapa Flow
Passage to Iceland to resume Northern Patrol.
30th Sailed from Seidisfjord with HM Cruiser NORFOLK, USS TUSCALOOSA, USS
WICHITA screened by US destroyers USS WAINWRIGHT and USS ROMAN to provide
close cover for passage of Russian Convoy PQ17 and returning QP13.
July
4th After PQ17 was ordered to scatter by Admiralty, returned to Iceland
6th Resumed Northern Patrol.
August Deployed with Home Fleet for interception duties In NW Approaches.
September
12th Sailed from Loch Ewe with HM Cruisers SUFFOLK and NORFOLK to provide Cruiser Cover
for the passage of Russian Convoy PQ18.
18th On arrival of convoy at Kola Inlet resumed Home Fleet interception duties.
October Deployed with Home Fleet for interception in NW Approaches.
November Independent passage to provide cover with HM Cruiser Suffolk for passage of inward convoy
QP15 whilst west of Bear Island,
(Note: This was the final west bound convoy of 1942 season from Kola and the last of PQ/QP
series).
17th Deployed with HMS SUFFOLK screened by HM Destroyers FORESTER, OBDURATE and
ONSLOW
23rd Returned to Scapa Flow.
Nominated for refit in Tyne commercial shipyard
December Under refit.
(Note: Hull strengthening undertaken (see 1939 Note re modernisation).
1 9 4 3
January Under refit
to (Note: Work included installation of:
April Surface warning radar Type 273
Fire control radar Type 282 installed with aerials on directors for 2 pdr Pom-Pom
weapons.
Five additional 20mm Oerlikon mountings fitted.
Removal of aircraft facilities.
Carried out harbour trials
May Rejoined Home Fleet after completion of sea trials.
Passage to Scapa Flow to work-up for service.
June Deployed with Home Fleet for patrol and interception in NW Approaches.
July
7th Deployed with HM Cruisers BELFAST and KENT with destroyer screen for offensive sweep
off Norway as a diversion during Sicily landings (Operation CAMERA).
9th Returned to Scapa Flew and resumed interception duties.
August Deployed on interception duty to prevent breakout of German warships for attacks on
to Atlantic convoys between Faeroes and Iceland.
October Nominated for special duty and sailed for the Mediterranean.
November Deployed with HM Destroyer ULSTER to collect UK Defence Staff for return to UK after
Teheran Conference with US and USSR leaders.
December
3rd Passage to UK with passengers.
On arrival nominated for service in Eastern Fleet and took passage to Rosyth.
1 9 4 4
January Under refit at Rosyth for BPF service
(Note: Four Twin 20mm mountings fitted to improve close range AA defence.
February Passage to Ceylon to Join 4th Cruiser Squadron after post refit trials.
March
13th Joined Squadron at Trincomalee.
24th Deployed with HM Battleships QUEEN ELIZABETH and VALIANT, HM Battlecruiser
RENOWN, HM Cruisers GAMBIA, CEYLON and CUMBERLAND screened by HM
Destroyers QUILLIAM, QUALITY, QUEENBOROUGH, PATHFINDER, NAPIER,
NORMAN, NEPAL, QUIBERON, Dutch destroyers TJERK HIDDES and VAN GALEN
for offensive sweep in Indian Ocean (Operation DIPLOMAT).
27th Met US aircraft carrier USS SARATOGA and US destroyers USS CUMMINGS, USS
DUNLOP and USS FANNING joining Eastern Fleet for temporary service,
(Note: USN ships were to joined planned air attacks on Sumatra.)
April
2nd Arrived Trincomalee with US and RN ships.
16th Deployed with HMS RENOWN, HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS and USS
SARATOGA as Task Force 70 for air attacks on Sabang screened by HM Destroyers
QUILLIAM, QUADRANT, QUEENBOROUGH, USS CUMMINGS, USS FANNING
and HM Submarine TACTICIAN for Air Sea Rescue duty.
(Note: Cover for operation was provided by Task Force 69 (H M Battleships QUEEN
ELIZABETH and VALIANT, French battleship RICHELIEU, HM Cruisers
NEWCASTLE, NIGERIA, CUMBERLAND, CEYLON, GAMBIA and Dutch
cruiser TROMP screened by HM Destroyers PENN ROTHERHAM, RACEHORSE,
PETARD, QUIBERON, NAPIER, NEPAL, NIZAM (RAN), and Dutch VAN
GALEN (Operation COCKPIT).
19th Provided close cover to carriers during attacks on Sabang.
24th Returned to Trincomalee.
30th Deployed with HMS SUFFOLK as escort for Refuelling Group made up of 6 tankers and a
water tanker in Task Force 67.
Took passage to Exmouth Bay, Western Australia to support Task Force 65 during air
operations against Soerabaya (Operation TRANSOM – See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO)
May Arrived at Exmouth Bay with Tanker Convoy.
15th Joined HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, USS SARATOGA, HMS GAMBIA, HMS CEYLON,
HM Destroyers QUADRANT, QUEENBOROUGH, QUILLIAM, USS FANNING and
USS DUNLOP) in Task Force 66 (Operation TRANSOM)
17th Provided close cover to aircraft carriers during attacks on Soerabaya.
18th US Navy ships detached and returned to US Navy administration.
27th Returned to Trincomalee with TF67 ships after refuelling at Exmouth Bay.
June Transferred to 5th Cruiser Squadron, Eastern Fleet and deployed on trade defence and
to interception duty in Indian Ocean.
August
September
8th Took part in Joint Fleet exercises with HM Battleship HOWE, HMS CUMBERLAND and
HMS GAMBIA off Ceylon.
October
15th Joined Task Group 63.2 with HMS SUFFOLK and HMS CUMBERLAND screened by HM
Destroyers RELENTLESS, RAIDER, NORMAN (RAN) and Dutch VAN GALEN for
offensive operations in Indian Ocean as a diversion during US landings on Leyte.
(Note: HM Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE and VICTORIOUS with H M Cruiser
PHOEBE for Fighter Direction and screened by HM Destroyers WHELP,
WAKEFUL, WESSEX and WAGER as Task Unit 62-3 carried out air attacks.
HMS RENOWN screened by HMS QUILLIAM, QUEENBOROUGH and
QUIBERON as Task Unit 62.1 provided cover against any surface interference.
(Operation MILLET).
17th Bombarded targets in Nicobars with TU63.2 ships during daylight.
18th Further bombardment with destroyers after nightfall.
19th Under attacks by torpedo carrying aircraft 7 of which were destroyed.
November Deployed with Squadron for convoy defence and interception in Indian Ocean.
to Retained in East Indies Fleet on formation of British Pacific Fleet
December
1 9 4 5
January Convoy defence and interception duty in continuation
to
March
April
8th Joined Task Force 63 with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, French RICHELIEU, HMS
CUMBERLAND, HM Escort Carriers EMPEROR and KHEDIVE screened by HM
Destroyers SAUMAREZ, VENUS, VIRAGO and VIGILANT for programme of offensive
operations off Sumatra including bombardments, air strikes and photo-reconnaissance of
Port Swettenham and Port Dickson in Malaya (Operation SUNFISH).
11th Carried out bombardment of shore targets at Sabang.
Under air attacks when returning to rejoin TF63.
12th Provided close cover for Escorted Carriers during photo reconnaissance flights.
14th Continued Close Cover during further PR flights.
15th Under air attack during return passage to Trincomalee.
18th Arrived at Trincomalee.
May Passage to Simonstown for refit.
June Under refit by HM Dockyard Simonstown.
to (Note: Radar Type 283 for barrage fire control fitted.
July Anti-aircraft armament modified including 4 Twin 4in mounting to replace 4in guns
of pre-war design.
Radar Type 277 fitted aft to replace Type 273 for surface warning.)
August On completion of post refit trials took passage to Ceylon to rejoin Squadron.
Prepared for support of landing operations in southern Malaya. (Operation ZIPPER).
15th Sailed with Eastern Fleet for landings.
Operation cancelled at US insistence after Japanese surrender and delays in the
implementation of PYTHON Release Scheme for long serving SEAC personnel.
Diverted to Rangoon to await further instructions.
26th Passage to Sabang with HM Battleship NELSON.
28th Anchored 5 miles from Sabang with HMS NELSON and received charts of the Japanese
minefields off Malaya and Singapore from Japanese delegation.
31st Surrender of Japanese forces in Sumatra carried out on board from Vice Admiral HIROSE,
IJN.
September
2nd Landed Royal Marines for occupation of Sabang.
Passage to Singapore.
