1 9 3 9
September
Deployed with
1st Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria.
9th - Carried
out contraband control patrol in Mediterranean to enforce blockade of
enemy shipping and cargoes destined
for German ports.
11th - At
Malta.
13th - At
Gibraltar.
15th - Returned
to Malta for docking.
18th - Passage
to Alexandria from Malta.
20th - Rejoined
Squadron at Alexandria.
October
Transferred to
South Atlantic command for interception of commerce raiders and trade
defence
2nd - Took
passage to Simonstown via Suez Canal and Red Sea.
14th - Arrived
at Simonstown.
16th - Deployed
with HM Cruiser SUSSEX as part of Hunting Group in search for German
battleship GRAF SPEE operating off
South Africa.
November
11th - Sailed
from Simonstown for Plate area to continue search.
23rd - Returned
to Simonstown.
December
3rd - Deployed
with HMS SUSSEX for interception and trade defence in Indian Ocean.
9th - Intercepted
German blockade runner ADOLF LEONHARDT which scuttled to avoid
capture.
15th - Returned
to Capetown and sailed to Plate area to support operations after sinking of
GRAF SPEE.
18th - Diverted
on passage to Rio de Janeiro and continued trade defence duties.
28th - Passage
to Falklands.
1 9 4 0
January
18th - Arrived
at Port Stanley.
21st - Deployed
with HM Cruiser DORSETSHIRE as escort for damaged cruiser HMS
EXETER during passage in South
Atlantic to UK.
February
10th - Detached
from escort on relief by Home Fleet ships and took passage to Simonstown.
20th - Taken in
hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Simonstown.
March
16th - Resumed
trade defence and interception duties on completion.
April
Trade defence
and interception patrol in South Atlantic and Indian Ocean in
continuation
May
Nominated for
escort of military convoy on passage to UK from Australia.
20th - Relieved
HM Australian Cruiser CANBERRA as Ocean Escort for convoy US3
during passage in Indian Ocean
(Note: US3 was taking ANZAC
personnel for service in Europe.)
26th - Arrived
at Capetown with US3.
31st - Sailed
from Capetown with HM Cruiser CUMBERLAND as Ocean Escort during
passage in Atlantic.
June
7th - At
Freetown with US3.
8th - Sailed
from Freetown and joined by HM Aircraft Carrier HERMES and HMS
CUMBERLAND as Ocean Escort.
10th - HMS
HERMES detached.
12th - Joined
by HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE.
14th - HM
Battlecruiser HOOD, HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS and six Home Fleet destroyers
joined Convoy US3 escort.
16th - Arrived
in Clyde with US3
20th - Under
refit in Clyde commercial shipyard.
July
15th - On
completion transferred to Home Fleet for temporary duty.
16th - Deployed
with HM Cruisers SUSSEX, SOUTHAMPTON and GLASGOW,
screened by ten Fleet destroyers in
search for German warships reported on passage
in North Sea. Operation cancelled
when German ships reversed passage. During the
return to Scapa Flow HMS GLASGOW was
involved in collision with HM Destroyer
IMOGEN which sank.
August
5th - Joined
military convoy WS2 in Clyde as Ocean Escort during passage to Freetown with
HM Cruiser EMERALD.
(Note: Local Escort by HM Destroyers
HARVESTER, HAVELOCK, HIGHLANDER, HURRICANE, VORTIGERN and WATCHMAN were deployed as
Local Escort during passage from Clyde until detached
on 7th July.)
8th - Remained
with Slow Section of WS2 when convoy divided.
16th - Detached
from WS2 Slow Section on arrival at Freetown.
18th - Rejoined
WS2 Slow Section on departure from Freetown for Ocean Escort during
passage to Capetown.
25th - Detached
from WS2 Slow Section on arrival at Capetown.
30th - Joined
Convoy WS2 on departure from Capetown as Ocean Escort for passage to
Perim.
September
14th - Remained
with Slow Section when Fast Section detached for passage to Suez
escorted by HM Australian Cruiser
HOBART, HM Cruiser COVENTRY, HM Destroyers KANDAHAR and KINGSTON which joined WS2 off Perim.
Slow Section escort was then
reinforced by HM Destroyer KIMBERLEY, HM
Sloops AUCKLAND and FLAMINGO.
20th - After
arrival at Suez with Slow Section of WS2A detached and took passage to Aden
for convoy defence duties with Red
Sea Force.
October to November
Deployed for
convoy defence and support of military operations with ships of Red Sea
Force.
December
Deployed for
Indian Ocean trade defence and took passage to Durban.
16th - Joined
military convoy WS4B at Durban for Ocean Escort during passage to Aden with
HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE and
SOUTHAMPTON.
25th - Detached
from WS4B on arrival at Aden and resumed Squadron trade defence duties.
1 9 4 1
January
Indian Ocean trade
defence duties in continuation and passage to Capetown.
21st - Joined
military convoy WS5A at Capetown to replace HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE
and HAWKINS as Ocean Escort during
passage to Durban.
22nd - Detached
from WS5A on arrival at Durban.
29th - Deployed
as Ocean Escort for Convoy WS5A with HM Cruiser CERES during passage
in Indian Ocean to Aden.
30th - Detached
during passage on relief by HM Cruiser ENTERPRISE and took passage to
join HM Cruisers HAWKINS, CAPETOWN,
CERES, HM Aircraft Carrier HERMES and HM Destroyer KANDAHAR as Force T.
Owing to outbreak of epidemic on
board withdrawn from patrol and planned support
operations. Relieved in Force T by
HM Cruiser ENTERPRISE.
Arrived at Durban for control of epidemic.
February
3rd - Took
passage to resume Force T deployment (Note: Some of ships complement reported as fit only
for light duties after epidemic had been controlled.)
10th - Provided
support to military operations in Somaliland with ships of Force T.
14th - Bombarded
Italian positions at Mogadicio in support of British advance.
(Note: Heavy damage caused in port
area and tanker PENSILVANIA was sunk.)
19th - Returned
to Durban.
21st - Sailed
from Durban to rejoin Force T.
22nd - Joined
HM Australian Cruisers AUSTRALIA and CANBERRA, HM Cruisers
GLASGOW, EMERALD and ENTERPRISE to
form Hunting Group and carry out search for German battleship ADMIRAL SCHEER operating
in Indian Ocean for attacks
on shipping.
March
2nd - Intercepted
Vichy French freighter VILLE DE STRASBOURG and taken as Prize.
5th - Detached
from Hunting Group on relief by HM Armed Cruiser RANCHI and took
passage to Simonstown after
replenishment at Durban.
8th - Arrived
at Simonstown and taken in hand for refit
April
Under refit and
docking.
May
7th - Refit
completion and prepared for post refit trials.
13th - Post
refit trials unsatisfactory. (Note: Defects included sudden excessive vibration in
starboard turbine and starboard outer condenser due to perforated tubes contaminating
water in all boilers. Ship unable to steam and taken in tow to Simonstown
for repairs.)
18th - Under
repair
June
8th - Took
passage to Freetown.
14th - At
Freetown. (Note:
Embarked German prisoners of war for passage to UK under guard.)
21st - Passage
to UK for service with Home Fleet (Note: Relieved in 4th Cruiser Squadron by HM Cruiser
MAURITIUS.)
July
5th - Arrived
at Scapa Flow and joined 1st Cruiser Squadron.
(Note: Prisoners were disembarked.)
25th - Sailed
from Scapa Flow to Hvalfjord on completion of exercises.
28th - Passage
from Hvalfjord for Denmark Strait patrol.
(Note: During this period provided
cover for ships of Home Fleet were carrying Operation
EF for air attacks from HM Aircraft
Carriers VICTORIOUS and FURIOUS on Tromso and Kirkeness and passage of HM Cruiser
ADVENTURE for delivery
of mines to Archangel.)
August
1st - Sailed
from patrol area for Havalfjord with call at Akureri.
18th - Took
passage from Hvalfjord to Scapa Flow with HM Battleships PRINCE OF
WALES, RAMILLIES, and screen of five Home Fleet Destroyers. (Note: HMS PRINCE OF WALES was taking Prime Minister
Winston Churchill back
to UK from the Atlantic Charter meeting with US President Franklin
Roosevelt.)
23rd - Deployed
at Scapa Flow after call in Clyde to disembark passengers from meeting.
27th - Nominated
for refit at Chatham. (Note: Originally intended to begin in September,
this was
delayed by Home Fleet operational requirements.)
30th - Deployed
as escort for HMS ARGUS, screened by HM Destroyers MATABELE,
PUNJABI and SOMALI during passage to
Archangel. (Note:
HMS ARGUS was taking HURRICANE aircraft and RAF personnel for
duties in North Russia. (Operation
STRENGTH). Cover was provided by HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS, HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE
screened by
HM Destroyers ECLIPSE, ESCAPADE and INGLEFIELD.)
September
6th - Took
passage to Seidisfjord with escort after launch of aircraft to airfield near
Murmansk.
10th - Passage
from Seidisfjord to Scapa Flow to resume Home Fleet duties.
14th - Arrived
at Scapa Flow.
28th - Passage
to Archangel for escort of return convoy from North Russia.
October
2nd - Joined HM
Cruiser LONDON, HM Destroyers ELECTRA and ACTIVE in escort for
Convoy QP1 during passage from
Archangel.
10th - Detached
from QP1 off Orkneys and returned to Scapa Flow.
11th - Passage
to Sheerness.
17th - Paid-off
and taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Chatham
November to December
Under refit
1 9 4 2
January
Post refit
harbour trials.
30th - Passage
to Sheerness to ammunition and carry out post-refit sea trials.
31st - Trials
unsatisfactory due to failure of starboard outer turbine.
February
Returned to
Chatham for repair. (Note:
Decision made for ship to only use three shafts.
Repair to be undertaken by Harland
and Wolf at Scotstoun, Glasgow.)
16th - Passage
to Clyde for repair.
20th - Under
repair at Scotstoun. (Note:
One official records states that radar outfits were fitted:
Type 281 for aircraft warning,
Type 273 for surface warning,
Type 285 for Secondary armament fire
control and Type
282 for close range AA armament fire control.)
March
On completion
to be deployed for Atlantic convoy defence
21st - Passage
to Clyde from Belfast.
23rd - Joined military
convoy WS17 in Clyde for Ocean Escort during passage to Freetown
with HM Armed Merchant Cruiser
ALCANTARA, HM Destroyers ALDENHAM, GROVE and LOOKOUT.
April
6th - Detached
from WS17 on arrival at Freetown where convoy split into two sections.
11th - Joined
military convoy WS17B on departure as Ocean Escort with HM Sloop
MILFORD
23rd - Detached
from WS17B on arrival at Capetown and deployed for trade defence in
Indian Ocean.
29th - Returned
to Simonstown after patrol including call at Durban.
May
12th - Resumed
trade defence duties.
25th - Returned
to Capetown.
June
2nd - Sailed
from Capetown to join military convoy WS19 as Ocean Escort during passage
to Durban from Cape of Good Hope.
5th - Provided
Ocean Escort to WS19 during passage to Durban.
9th - Arrived
at Durban with WS19.
12th - Escorted
WS19 during passage from Durban in Indian Ocean
18th - Detached
from WS19 on relief as Ocean Escort by HM Cruiser MAURITIUS.
Took passage to relieve HM
Battleships RODNEY and NELSON as Ocean Escort for
military convoy WS19P.
26th - Relieved
HM Battleships NELSON and RODNEY as Ocean Escort for WS19P
during passage from Freetown to
Capetown.
July
Nominated for
return to UK for Home Fleet service.
1st - Remained
as Ocean Escort for WS19P to Durban on arrival off Cape of Good Hope.
4th - Detached
from WS19P on arrival at Durban and resumed trade defence.
12th - Arrived
at Simonstown.
14th - Deployed
in Cape area.
16th - Returned
to Simonstown.
August
Deployment
restricted to Local Escort by CinC South Atlantic.
Escorted convoy to Durban.
28th - Returned
to Simonstown.
September
1st - Taken in
hand for docking and emergency defects by HM Dockyard, Simonstown.
8th - Offered
to Royal Australian Navy as replacement for HM Australian Cruiser
CANBERRA which had been sunk after
damage in an action against Japanese warships at Savo Island on 9th August 1942.
22nd - Resumed
operational duties on completion of dockyard work.
25th - Joined
military convoy WS22 off Capetown as escort for passage to Durban.
29th - Detached
from WS22 on arrival at Durban,
30th - Took
passage to Capetown.
October
Deployed at
Simonstown and nominated for escort of convoy to UK.
20th - Passage
to UK,
November
Transfer to RAN
confirmed. RAN Captain to be appointed.
2nd - At
Freetown.
16th - Arrived
in Clyde
20th - Took
passage to Sheerness.
22nd - De-ammunitioned
and prepared to Pay-off prior to refit and transfer to Royal
Australian Navy.
(Note: Ship had steamed 220,000 miles
since September 1939.)
December
Under refit and
RAN personnel joined the ship. Single 4in Secondary armament mountings replaced by
Twin mountings. Close
range AA defence supplemented by 20mm single Oerlikon guns.
Aircraft facilities removed.
1 9 4 3
January to March
Refit work in
continuation
April
Refit
completion date programmed for end of May, Ex Trials.
20th - Commissioned
as HMAS SHROPSHIRE.
S e r v i c e
as H M A S S H R O P S H I R E
May
Refit work in
continuation
June
Harbour trials
and sea trials in Thames area.
16th - Trials
completion and prepared to work-up with Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
July
Deployed at
Scapa Flow for work-up
August
Nominated for
Ocean Escort of military convoy to Indian Ocean on completion.
13th - Joined
joint military convoy KMF22 to Mediterranean and WS33 in Clyde as
Ocean Escort with HM Escort Aircraft
Carrier HUNTER, HM Destroyer WRESTLER, HM Sloops CHANTICLEER, WESTON and NARBADA
(RIN).
24th - Detached
from WS33/KMF22 on arrival at Gibraltar and took independent passage
to Fremantle with call at
Simonstown.
September
24th - Arrived
at Fremantle.
October
Nominated for
service with Task Force 74 under US Navy command.
Taken in hand for refit on arrival
at Sydney. On
completion prepared for service with 7th US Navy Fleet in SW Pacific
30th - Joined
HM Australian Cruisers AUSTRALIA and HOBART at Brisbane as part
of Task Force 74.
November
Passage to
Milne Bay, Papua with HMAS AUSTRALIA for support of planned
military operations.
5th - Deployed
for patrol with ships of TF74 off New Hebrides.
11th - Supported
assault on Bougainville at Point Purvis.
17th - Passage
to Milne Bay.
December
Deployed with
TG74.
13th - Provided
cover for landings by 112th US Cavalry at Arawe, New Britain with
HMAS AUSTRALIA and HM Australian
Destroyers ARUNTA and WARRAMUNGA. (Operation DIRECTOR).
24th - Joined
TG74.1 with HMAS AUSTRALIA and took passage from Milne Bay to Cape
Gloucester, New Guinea.
26th - Covered
landing of US 1st Marine Division with HMAS AUSTRALIA, HMAS ARUNTA
and HMAS WARRAMUNGA.
Bombarded assault beaches with a
high standard of accuracy and received praise from
Command (Operation DEXTERITY).
On completion took passage to Buna.
1 9 4 4
January
2nd - Covered
landing by 32nd US Infantry Division near Saidor, New Guinea with HMAS
AUSTRALIA, HMAS ARUNTA, HMAS
WARRAMUNGA and US destroyers.
23rd - Deployed
with TF74 at Milne Bay for patrols and exercises.
27th - Passage
to Sydney.
30th - Leave
period in Sydney.
February
9th - Sailed
for Milne Bay having relieved HMAS AUSTRALIA as Flagship of TF74.
13th - Deployed
on patrols at Milne Bay.
29th - Passage
to Sudea to Join TF74.
March
3rd - Sailed
with TF74 to The Admiralty Islands. Deployed with US Cruisers PHOENIX and NASHVILLE and
bombarded gun positions on Hauwei and Nbrilo Islands at entrance to Seeadler
Harbour during the assault on the Admiralty Islands by 5th US Cavalry.
7th - Continued
bombardment of same targets with TF74 ships.
Returned to Sudea to replenish.
11th - Arrived
at Milne Bay with TF74.
April
14th - Passage
from Milne Bay to Sudest with TF74 for Joint operations under TF77
command for support of landings in
Dutch New Guinea.
22nd - Deployed
with HMAS AUSTRALIA, HMAS ARUNTA and two US destroyers to provide
cover during landings at Hollandia
and Aitape by US I Corps. (Operations RECKLESS and PERSECUTION).
Provided naval gunfire support at
Tanamera Bay until 30th.
May
4th - Returned
to Seeadler with TF74.
5th - Carried
out exercises before further support duties.
17th - Passage
to Sawar and Salmai, Dutch New Guinea.
On arrival bombarded enemy positions and deployed on
patrol till 22nd.
23rd - Passage
to Biak via Humboldt Bay
25th - Deployed
with HMAS AUSTRALIA, HMAS ARUNTA, HMAS WARRAMUNGA and two
US Navy destroyers in support of
landings by 41st US Infantry Division on the south
coast of Biak as Task Group 77.2.
27th - Provided
naval gunfire support.
28th - Propeller
shaft defective. Withdrawn
from operations.
Took
passage to Sydney for repair and refit
June
3rd - In dock
at Sydney. Torpedo
tubes removed and additional 20mm Oerlikons fitted.
29th - On
completion took passage to rejoin TF74.
July
6th - Arrived
Humboldt Bay for operational service.
12th - Sailed
for Aitape from Seeadler to support military operation.
14th - Bombarded
Japanese positions opposing US advance with HMAS AUSTRALIA, HMAS
ARUNTA, HMAS WARRAMUNGA and US Navy
destroyers.
15th - Deployed
on patrol in Aitape area to support operations by US Navy motor torpedo boats
(PT craft).
25th - On
completion of patrol returned to Humboldt with HMAS ARUNTA.
30th - Covered
assault on Cape Sansapor, New Guinea.
August
Continued
deployment and patrol off Sanaspor and only RAN representative.
September
1st - Joined
Task Group 75.2 with HMAS AUSTRALIA, HMAS ARUNTA, HMAS
WARRAMUNGA and two US Navy
destroyers.
12th - Deployed
in support of landings by US 31st Infantry Division and 32nd Divn of XI Corps
at Morotai in Moluccas, based at
Biak.
15th to 16th - Provided
naval gunfire support at Morotai.
18th - Transferred
to Nios Wundi.
October
Allocated to
TG7.2 with HMAS AUSTRALIA, USS BOISE. USS PHOENIX, HMAS
ARUNTA, HMAS WARRAMUNGA and five US
Navy destroyers.
11th - Sailed
from Manus for Hollandia with TG77.2 to support ships of TF78 during the US
assault on Leyte.
13th - Re-designated
as Task Unit 77.3.2 and escorted military convoy to Leyte.
Under air attacks
20th - Bombarded
Leyte beachhead.
21st - Replaced
damaged HMAS AUSTRALIA as senior RAN ship.
24th - In
action with Japanese warships MOGAMI, SHIGURE and YAMASHIRO during Battle
of Leyte Gulf (Surigao Strait).
All these
enemy ships were sunk. Achieved high rate of 8in gunfire (8 broadsides within
2 minutes). Took
part in an unsuccessful pursuit of other enemy warships.
25th - Carried
out patrols off entrance to Strait after return from pursuit.
29th - Joined
Task Group 77.1 with HMAS ARUNTA and deployed in support of landings by
providing naval gunfire support and
carrying out patrols to intercept any Japanese attempt
to prevent landings.
November
1st - Under
KAMIKAZE attacks and near missed by aircraft which then hit and sank US Navy
destroyer USS ABNER READ.
Continued patrol and support till
16th
16th - Returned
to Manus with USN ships.
December
4th - Joined
TG74.1 with HMAS AUSTRALIA.
15th to 21st - Covered
landings on Mindoro by 503rd Parachute Regiment and 19th RCT.
26th - Detached
for Rest & Recuperation period at Palua Island.
1 9 4 5
January
1st - Joined
Fire Support Group TG77.2 for support of landings at Lingayen Gulf.
3rd - Escorted
Carrier Task Group TG77.4 during passage.
6th - Provided
naval gunfire support prior to landings.
Under KAMIKAZE attacks and again
near missed by an aircraft which then hit USS NEW
MEXICO.
A second attacker near missed B
turret and crashed in sea.
7th to 9th -
Continued bombardment duties.
10th - Took
part in operations off Luzon with Luzon Defence Force as cover for US Navy
aircraft Carriers.
Deployed for patrols off Luzon with
TG77 ships.
15th - Provided
fire support at Corregidor with USS PORTLAND and USS MINNEAPOLIS.
16th - Deployed
off Luzon in support role.
24th - Covered
landings in West Luzon with USS BOISE and USS PHOENIX as TG74.3.
Landing ships under attack by
Japanese submarine Ro46.
February
Part of Reserve
Force with USS MINNEAPOLIS and USS PORTLAND.
14th - Reinforced
bombardment force after some ships damaged by mines.
17th - Returned
to Lingayen.
26th - Took
passage to Leyte.
March
1st - RAN
Squadron disbanded and took passage to Manus via Seadler
16th - Passage
to Sydney.
April to May
Under refit at Sydney.
All 20mm AA guns replaced by 13
single 40mm weapons. Surface
warning radar Type 273 replaced by Type 293 and Type 277.
Fire control radar for main armament
replaced.
June
Worked-up for
further operational service.
13th - Joined
Task Group 74.1 at Tawi Tawi
15th - Passage
to Brunei.
18th - Bombarded
Labuan Island till 19th
20th - Deployed
off Borneo in support duty.
26th - Passage
to Balikpapan for support of assault operation from Tawi Tawi after
replenishment. (Operation
OBOE II).
27th - Rejoined
TG74.Cruiser Covering Force with HMAS HOBART and 2 USN destroyers off
Balikpapan.
Bombarded shore targets until 1st.
July
1st - Returned
to Tawi Tawi to replenish.
5th - Passage
to Balikpapan to continue bombardment duty.
7th to 9th -
Bombardment of shore targets.
9th - Passage
to Tawi Tawi on completion.
11th - Passage
to Subic Bay from Tawi Tawi.
14th - Arrived
at Subic Bay.
19th - Passage
to Manila for Rest and Recuperation period.
26th - Rejoined
TF74 at Subic Bay.
August
Remained at
Subic Bay.
17th - After
Japanese surrender took passage to Japan via Manila and Okinawa.
Joined Task Group 70.9 with HMAS
HOBART, HM Australian Destroyers BATAAN and
WARRAMUNGA and 3 RAN minesweepers.
31st - Joined
TF38 ships at Sagami Bay with TF70.9
