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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2003

HMAS ADELAIDE -  World War 1 Birmingham-class light cruiser including Convoy Escort Movements

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMAS Adelaide (Navy Photos/Mark Teadham, click to enlarge)

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BIRMINGHAM-Class Cruiser ordered from Cockatoo Island Shipyard, Sydney, and Australia in 1914. Build was delayed until adequate material was available and the ship was laid down on 20th October 1917. Although she was launched on 27th July 1918 her completion was leisurely until 5th August 1922 when commissioned for training duties. In 1924 she was deployed with HM Battlecruisers HOOD and REPULSE, HM Cruisers DANAE, DELHI, DAUNTLESS, DRAGON and DUNEDIN as part of the Dominion Cruise Squadron during tour by HRH The Prince of Wales. Later she served on the China Station. Old design made her of small value as a fighting unit and she was withdrawn from service to refit and placed in Reserve. In view of the political situation the ship was taken in hand to modernise, which involved reducing her armament and conversion of all boilers to burn oil fuel. As a result only three funnels were needed. Three 4" HA guns were fitted for AA defence and the submerged torpedo tubes were removed. This work began in late 1938 and was completed in March 1939.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

None are listed in the Official Record.

 

H e r a l d i c  D a t a

As this ships was part of the Royal Australian Navy no details are

included the Official List of Heraldic Crests for the Royal Navy

 

 

 

D e t a i l s  o f  W a r  S e r v i c e

 

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search)

 

 

1 9 3 9

 

August

 

Carried out trials prior to re-commissioning. Nominated for trade defence duties on mobilisation of the Fleet.

 

September

 

1st - Re-commissioned at Sydney.

 

10th - Deployed with HM Australian Cruisers AUSTRALIA and CANBERRA in search off Gabo Island for minelayers.

 

On completion deployed for convoy escort.

 

October to November

 

Convoy escort in continuation. Nominated for service in Western Force based at Fremantle for ocean escort duties.

 

December

 

Joined Western Force.

 

13th - Relieved HM Australian Cruiser Sydney as escort for troopship STRATHALLAN Returned to Fremantle. (Note: This troopship was taking 2nd Australian Imperial Force to Middle East.)

 

 

1 9 4 0

 

January

 

Under refit at Sydney.

 

February

 

22nd - On completion joined Eastern Force in place of HMAS SYDNEY.

 

March

 

Escort duty off Eastern and Southern Australia

 

April

 

15th - Part of escort with HM Battleship RAMILLIES for troopships ETTRICK, NEURALIA, STRATHAIRD and DUNERA from Melbourne to Fremantle.

 

21st - Detached from troopships and returned to Sydney.

 

May to August

 

Eastern Force escort duties in Australian waters in continuation.

 

September

 

2nd - Took passage from Sydney with Free French minister to Vila, New Hebrides. (Note: This representative to become Governor of the French colony at Noumea.)

 

7th - Arrived at Vila.

 

16th - Took passage from Vila for Noumea as escort for Norwegian tanker NORDEN.

 

19th - Landed Governor at Noumea. Ordered to remain at Noumea as Vichy French Sloops DURVILLE and AMIRAL CHARNER were known to be in the area.

 

20th - Carried out patrol off Noumea.

 

October

 

Deployed at Noumea.

 

5th - Took passage to return to Sydney.

 

8th - Resumed duty with Eastern Force on arrival at Sydney.

 

21st - Sailed from Sydney to carry out patrol 120 miles SE of Gabo Island after commerce raider was reported.

 

November

 

Patrol duty in continuation.

 

6th - Returned to Sydney.

 

8th - Despatched from Sydney to carry out search for minelayer after sinking of ss CAMBRIDGE.

 

10th - Returned to Sydney after fruitless search. (Note: Mines were laid by German commerce raider ORION.)

 

Deployed as escort for mail steamer during initial part of passage to Vancouver.

 

December

 

2nd - Transferred escort duty to HM Australian Cruiser ACHILLES off North Cape.

 

Took passage to Sydney. On arrival taken in hand for refit.

 

 

1 9 4 1

 

January to March

 

Under refit.

 

On completion of post refit trials resumed duties with Eastern Force.

 

April to August

 

Deployed for escort of convoys between Brisbane and Rabaul, New Guinea.

 

September

 

Convoy escort in continuation.

 

25th - Escorted steamer from Melbourne to Chatham Island.

 

30th - Arrived in Auckland after detaching from steamer.

 

October

 

Return passage to Sydney. Resumed duties in Eastern Force.

 

November

 

Convoy escort in Australian waters in continuation.

 

December

 

14th - Escorted troop convoy from Darwin to Ambon, Java.

 

17th - Detached on arrival and returned to Sydney.

 

 

1 9 4 2

 

January

 

3rd - Escorted trans-Tasman Sea convoy from Sydney to meet RNZN trawlers

 

8th - Detached after transfer and returned to Sydney. (Note: Only two such convoys were carried out.)

 

29th - Transferred to ANZAC Force with HM Australian Cruisers AUSTRALIA, CANBERRA, HOBART and PERTH, HM Australian Destroyers STUART, VOYAGER, VENDETTA, HM Australian Sloop MORESBY, HM Australian Armed Merchant Cruisers KANIMBLA, MANOORA and WESTRALIA, HM New Zealand Cruisers ACHILLES and LEANDER. (Note: This was in implementation of a decision made at a conference in Washington to establish a naval force in the north eastern part of the Australia Station. See WAR WITH JAPAN Volume III (HMSO).)

 

February

 

Nominated for escort of tanker convoy and took passage to Tanjong Priok, Java

 

3rd - Deployed as escort for Convoy MS4 during passage from Java to Fremantle.

 

On arrival at Fremantle took passage to Java for duty with ANZAC Force.

 

22nd - Met HMAS VENDETTA off Java as escort of convoy during passage to Fremantle.

 

 

March to May

 

ANZAC Force deployment for convoy escort in Australian waters. (Note: Evacuation of allied troops from Dutch East Indies involved escort of convoys search for individual ships making independent passage.)

 

Nominated for duty with SW Pacific Area Force.

 

June to October

 

Deployed for escort of convoys in area during passage between USA and Australia.

 

November

 

Transferred for convoy escort in Indian Ocean. (Note: German blockade runner RAMSES was known to be on passage from Japan.)

 

24th - Escorted military Convoy OW1 with Dutch cruiser HEEMSKERCK during passage in Indian Ocean from Fremantle.

 

26th - Intercepted RAMSES in position 23.20S 99.13E (700 miles south of Cocos Islands). Engaged enemy ship which was scuttling and sank her with gunfire.

 

28th - On relief by HM Cruiser GAMBIA as escort for OW1 took passage to return to Fremantle.

 

December

 

Indian Ocean and Australia waters convoy escort in continuation.

 

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

 

Deployed at Fremantle for convoy defence.

 

February

 

Passage from Fremantle to meet military convoy from Aden. (Note: PAMPHLET Convoy included rms QUEEN MARY, AQUITANIA, QUEEN OF BERMUDA, French liner ILE DE FRANCE and Dutch liner AMSTERDAM. It was carrying 9th Australian Division returning from the Middle East for service in Pacific area following the Japanese advance through Dutch East Indies.).

 

17th - Joined escort for PAMPHLET Convoy. (Note: Escort from Aden included HM Battleships REVENGE, RESOLUTION and WARSPITE, Dutch cruisers HEEMSKERCK and TROMP with destroyers.)

 

18th - PAMPHLET Convoy arrived at Fremantle

 

19th - Escorted PAMPHLET Convoy during passage from Fremantle with Dutch Cruisers HEEMSKERCK, TROMP and Dutch destroyer TJERK HIDDES.

 

On arrival at Sydney detached from PAMPHLET convoy.

 

March to December

 

Coastal convoy defence in continuation.

 

 

1 9 4 4

 

January to February

 

Coastal convoy defence in continuation.

 

March

 

11th - Escorted convoy from Melbourne to Albany, Western Australia.

 

20th - Returned with submarine tenders as escort for passage to Sydney.

 

April

 

Coastal convoy defence in continuation based at Fremantle.

 

May

 

Nominated for support of Eastern Fleet operation and took passage from Fremantle to Exmouth Gulf (Operation COCKPIT).

 

14th - Deployed as Guardship for Tanker Force assembled at Exmouth Gulf for replenishment of Eastern Fleet ships prior to air attacks on targets at Sabang in Sumatra. (See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)

 

19th - Took passage from Exmouth Gulf to Melbourne on completion of COCKPIT deployment.

 

Resumed coastal convoy defence duty.

 

June to November

 

Deployed for coastal convoy defence Nominated for withdrawal from operational duty.

 

December

 

Deployed at Melbourne pending passage to Sydney

 

 

1 9 4 5

 

January

 

Passage from Melbourne to Sydney. Deployed at Sydney.

 

February to April

Sydney deployment in continuation. To be Paid-off.

 

May

 

13th - Paid off and destored.

 

June to August

 

At Sydney awaiting decision re future use

 

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e.

 

HMAS ADELAIDE remained at Sydney until 1947 when she was used for a target during night gunnery exercises. Placed on the Disposal List in 1948 this ship was sold to the Australian Iron and Steel Company for demolition the next year. She was towed to Port Kembla on 30th March 1949 and breaking-up had been completed by January 1950.

 

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS ADELAIDE

by Don Kindell

 

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

17/02/42

unknown

SJ 003

03/03/42

unknown

20/07/42

20/07/42

ZK 014

28/07/42

28/07/42

13/07/42

30/07/42

SCHOONER

02/08/42

07/08/42

24/08/42

28/08/42

US 017

11/09/42

23/09/42

23/08/42

02/09/42

US 016

11/09/42

02/10/42

24/11/42

24/11/42

OW 001/1

29/11/42

unknown

25/01/43

20/02/43

PAMPHLET

24/02/43

27/02/43

20/03/43

20/03/43

OW 003/1

25/03/43

02/04/43

12/01/44

14/01/44

US 023A

23/01/44

09/02/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

 

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revised 12/6/11
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