1
9 3 7
August
Contractors trials
9th
Commissioned for trials with
reduced complement.
Commenced
Acceptance trials
September
On completion of Acceptance
Trials
and storing took passage to Portsmouth.
October
Deployed at Portsmouth
and completed storing for service.
Full complement
joined ship.
November
9th
Commissioned
for
Home Fleet service as Flagship of
Commodore (Destroyers)
Passage Portland
for work-up.
December
Joined Home Fleet and on
completion of work-up
1
9 3 8
January
Deployed with Home Fleet
including joint exercises at Gibraltar
with ships of Mediterranean
to
Fleet.
March
April
Returned to UK
for leave period.
May
Deployed
with Home Fleet ships for visits and
exercises in Home waters.
to
(Note: Visits included Copenhagen
and Malmo.).
July
August
Leave Period
September
Deployed in Home waters during
Munich
crisis and prepared for war.
to
Carried out
exercises in NW Approaches and North
Sea.
December
1
9 3 9
January
Home
Fleet deployment including joint
exercises at Gibraltar.
to
March
April
At Portland
May
At Rosyth
June
Home waters deployment
for Fleet exercises and visits.
to
War Station
allocated
August
Passage
to Scapa
Flow
with Home Fleet units.
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
September
Attached to 18th Cruiser
Squadron,
Home Fleet as Flagship for Rear Admiral
(Destroyers).
8th
Deployed with H M Battleships
NELSON and RODNEY, HM
Battlecruiser REPULSE,
HM Aircraft
Carrier ARK ROYAL, HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD
and destroyers of 8th Destroyer
Flotilla in
search for enemy shipping off Norway.
11th
Returned on to Scapa
Flow
13th
Carried out patrol in NW
Approaches.
20th
Returned to Scapa
Flow.
22nd
Deployed with HM Cruisers
SOUTHAMPTON, GLASGOW
and SHEFFIELD
with seven
destroyers
of 7th Destroyer Flotilla for an
offensive sweep
in Kattegat
(Operation DK -
Operation cancelled after a collision
between HM Destroyers JERSEY and
JAVELIN.
23rd
Passage to Scapa
Flow.
25th
Covered return passage of
damaged submarine SPEARFISH to
Rosyth and under air attack at
sea
for first time.
Sustained
slight damage from near misses.
27th
Returned to Scapa
Flow.
October
8th
Escorted HM Battlecruisers
HOOD
and REPULSE with HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD
screened
by
nine destroyers in search for German
battleship GNEISENAU
and cruiser KOLN,
reported
off
Norway.
Returned to
Scapa
Flow
after failing to make any contact.
14tth
Transferred to Loch Ewe
(Port A) after
HM Battleship ROYAL OAK had been
torpedoed and
sunk
in Scapa
Flow.
16th
Deployed with HM Battleships
NELSON and RODNEY, HM
Battlecruiser HOOD, HM
Aircraft Carrier
FURIOUS and HM Cruiser BELFAST,
screened by 10 Home Fleet destroyers
in
support of operations by ships of
Northern Patrol to
intercept blockade runners.
22nd
Returned to Port A
(Loch
Ewe)
23rd
Escorted iron ore convoy from Norway.
31st
Returned to Rosyth.
November
10th
Transferred to 2nd Cruiser
Squadron with HMS SOUTHAMPTON, HMS
GLASGOW and
HMS
BELFAST.
Deployed as a
Striking Force based at Rosyth for the
interception of German
warships in
North
Sea.
11th
Carried cut North
Sea
patrols.
18th
Returned to Rosyth.
21st
During departure from Rosyth
with Striking Force HMS BELFAST
detonated a magnetic
mine
and sustained serious damage which
disabled her.
Stood
by HMS BELFAST until
tow was established.
(Note: For
details of Home Fleet activities in 1939
see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by C
Barnett
25th
Patrolled off Fair
Isle
with HM Cruisers EDINBURGH
and SOUTHAMPTON screened
by
three
Home Fleet destroyers
Carried out
search for German battleships
SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU after
the
sinking
of HM Armed Merchant Cruiser RAWALPINDI.
December
2nd
Returned to Rosyth
6th
Taken in hand for refit in Clyde
shipyard
31st
Qn
completion took passage to Scapa
Flow.
1
9
4 0
January
4th
Rejoined Squadron at Scapa
Flow.
14th
Deployed on patrol in NW
Approaches
February
HM Cruiser ARETHUSA joined
Squadron
Boiler
cleaning and routine maintenance at
Rosyth.
Some seaman
ratings loaned to HM Destroyers MAORI
and COSSACK for use as
Boarding Parties
after German tanker ALTMARK was
intercepted.
Became
Flagship of 2nd Cruiser Squadron.
March
Under maintenance at Rosyth.
April
Nominated for escort of
troopships on passage to Norway
for planned allied landings.
(Operation R4)
2nd
Passage to Clyde
for duty as Flagship for operation.
(Note:
Troopships for operation included CHOBRY
and BATORY.)
8th
Operation R4 cancelled after
German invasion of Norway
confirmed.
Passage to join
Home Fleet ships at Scapa
Flow
for support of planned military
operations.
9th
Rescued survivors from HM
Destroyer GURKHA which had been
sunk during air attacks
on
Home Fleet ships during passage to Norway.
(Note: An
attempt to tow the damaged destroyer was
abandoned.)
10th
Arrived at Scapa
Flow
and despatched to Rosyth to
embark Admiral of the Fleet, the
Earl of Cork and Orrery,
Flag
Officer,
Norway
(designate)
.
12th
Sailed from Rosyth with the
admiral to
join Squadron off Norway.
14th
Arrived at Skelfjord
Joined escort
for military convoy NP1 during final
stage of passage to Norwegian coast
18th
Carried out bombardment of
shore targets in Rombaksfjord..
19th
Embarked General Mackesy
for
reconnaissance of Narvik area.
20th
Deployed with HM Cruiser
EFFINGHAM, HM Destroyers FAULKNOR,
JUPITER and
ESCAPADE
for patrol off Harstad to intercept
enemy convoys.
22nd
Carried out further
bombardment in Rombaksfjord.
24th
Bombarded enemy positions near
Narvik with HMS WARSPITE, HMS
EFFINGHAM,
HMS ENTERPRISE
and HM Destroyer ZULU prior to allied
landings by troops from
HM Cruiser
VINDICTIVE.
27th
Sailed to Harstad from Bjervik
with
HM Destroyer FAULKNOR.
30th
Assisted in evacuation from
Molde with
HM Cruiser GALATEA.
May
1st
Provided naval gunfire support
at Otfjord
with HM Battleship RESOLUTION and
HMS
EFFINGHAM.
3rd
Carried out further
bombardments in Beisfjord
with HMS RESOLUTION and Polish
destroyers
ORP GROM and ORP BLYSKAWICA which were
damaged by return
fire.
7th
Sustained serious damage during
air attacks with two
turrets disabled and several
casualties.
12th
Bombarded enemy positions in Herjangsfjord,
north of Narvik with HMS RESOLUTION,
HM Cruisers
EFFINGHAM, VINDICTIVE and Fleet
destroyers during landings by
French
Foreign Legion battalions.
(Note: 1,500
troops were embarked in warships for
passage to landings.
General Auchinleck
was embarked during the bombardment.
Support
bombardment limited by availability of
turrets)
13th
Released from support of
landing and returned to Harstad
Passage to
UK
for repair.
25th
Arrived at Portsmouth
for repair.
(Note: For
details of the disastrous naval
operations off Norway
see NAVAL
OPERATIONS OF
THE CAMPAIGN IN NORWAY,
April-June 1940),
THE DOOMED
EXPEDITION by T Adams,
NARVIK by D Macintyre,
CARRIER GLORIOUS
by J Winton and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by
C Barnett.)
June
Under
repair by HM Dockyard, Portsmouth.
(Note: Close range
AA defence augments by fit of two 2pdr
Pom-pom mountings
July
5th
Passage to rejoin Squadron in
Home
Fleet on completion of repairs.
20th
Nominated for service with
Humber Force and took passage to Humber.
22nd
Deployed for anti-invasion
patrols with
Humber Force.
August
Humber Force patrol duties in
continuation.
31st
Deployed with HMS GALATEA and
three destroyers to intercept
German warships
reported
on passage in North
Sea.
September
1st
Returned to Humber
after unsuccessful search.
6th
Transferred to Nore Command
for
anti-invasion operations.
9th
Carried out bombardment of Boulogne
to destroy reported assembly of invasion
craft.
October
Nore
Command deployment in continuation.
November
18th
Resumed Home Fleet duties
with Squadron
at Scapa
Flow.
Deployed for
Northern Patrol to intercept commerce
raiders and supply ships.
20th
Provided Ocean Escort for
minelay in Northern Barrage by
ships of 1st Minelaying
Squadron
(Operation SN1
IE - See Naval Staff History (Mining).
December
NW Approaches service in
continuation.
1
9 4 1
January
3rd
Deployed with HM Cruiser
ARETHUSA screened by HM Destroyers
BEDOUIN,
MATABELE,
MASHONA, and TARTAR to cover minelay off
Egersund,
Norway
by
HM Destroyers
INTREPID
and ICARUS (Operation DZ).
23rd
Deployed with HM Cruiser NAIAD
to meet five merchant ships which
had escaped from
Sweden
and were on passage to UK
in North
Sea
(Operation RUBBLE).
24th
Met mercantiles
ELIZABETH BAKKE,
TAURUS and TAI SHAN and transferred
escort
to HM Cruisers
EDINBURGH and BIRMINGHAM
screened by HM Destroyers
ELECTRA
and ECHO.
Carried out
successful search for other RUBBLE mercantiles,
JOHN
BAKKE and
RA
which were then escorted
to Kirkwall.
25th
Arrived at Kirkwall
with mercantiles.
February
1st
Sailed with HMS ARETHUSA
screened by HM Destroyers
MATABELE and TARTAR
to
cover minelay off Fro Havet
near Trondheim
by HMS INTREPID.
Returned to
Scapa
Flow
when operation cancelled due to
weather conditions.
March
9th
Provided Ocean Escort for ships
of 1st Minelaying Squadron
during minela
in Northern
Barrage (Operation
SN69).
April
6th
Covered Minelay by ships of 1st
Minelaying Squadron during
minelay in Northern
Barrage (Operation
SN8)
Resumed patrol
duties in NW Approaches on completion of
minelay.
30th
Taken
in hand
for repair in Tyne
commercial shipyard
May
Resumed
Squadron duties at Scapa
Flow
on completion.
Carried out sea
trial RN design replacement for Type 286
Type 290 prior to its
introduction.
(Note:
Type 286 was an RAF
Air-Surface warning radar modified
for for shipborne
use
and was of limited value. See RADAR AT SEA
by
D Howse..)
22nd
Deployed with other ships of
Squadron as screen for HM
Battleship KING GEORGE
V
and
HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS during
search for German battleship
BISMARCK and
cruiser PRINZ EUGEN which were known to
have sailed
for
attacks
on
Atlantic convoys. For details see Naval
Staff History, ENGAGE
THE ENEMY
MORE
CLOSELY and BATTLESHIP BISMARCK
by Mulleneheim
Rechberg).
24th
Detached with HM Cruisers KENYA
and HERMIONE to escort HMS
VICTORIOUS
during
air search operations.
26th
Detached to refuel in Iceland.
30th
Resumed patrol duty in NW
Approaches after sinking of BISMARCK.
June
3rd
Intercepted
German
supply ship BELCHEN in Denmark
Strait
with HMS KENYA.
(Note: Sank
BELCHEN by torpedo after radar detection
and surface gun attacks
following
information
obtained from decrpyption
of ENIGMA signals.
See IN HARMS
WAY
by B Crabb
and Naval Staff
History. The enemy ship
had
been deployed to provide fuel
for
German commerce raiders. This
interception
had
after decryption of enemy signal traffic
by GCHQ
at Bletchley
Park.
See
BRITISH INTELLIGENCE IN WW2 (HMSO -Ed by Hinsley)
25th
Provided cover with HMS KENYA
for minelay by ships of 1st
Minelaying Squadron in
Northern
Barrage (Operation SN70B).
July
Deployed in further
search for German supply ships
1st
Returned to Scapa
Flow.
27th
Deployed with HM Cruiser NIGERIA,
HM Destroyers PUNJABI and TARTAR
to
carry out
a
reconnaissance to determine the
suitability of use of Spitzbergen
for
refuelling
warships in Lowe Sound.
(Note: This was
in anticipation of future requirements
for Russian convoys and to
deny
use of the island to Germany.
See ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY).
31st
Arrived at Spitzbergen.
August
2nd
Called
at
Bear lsland
on return passage and destroyed
installations before
evacuating
personnel.
6th
Arrived at Scapa
Flow.
19th
Deployed with HM Cruiser NIGERIA,
HM Destroyers TARTAR, ICARUS,
ANTHONY,
ANTELOPE and ECLIPSE as escort for ss
EMPRESS OF
AUSTRALIA
during
passage to land Canadian troops on Spitzbergen
(Operation GAUNTLET)
(Note: This was
to demolish mines and evacuate Russian
and Norwegian nationals
at Barentsburg.
Personnel were
taken to Archangel
by HMS NIGERIA and the liner.
September
1st
HMS
NIGERIA
rejoined from Archangel.
2nd
Canadians re-embarked and
sailed from Spitzbergen.
(Note: Several
small vessels captured during raid also
sailed.
See ARCTIC
CONVOYS by R Woodman and THE WATERY MAZE
by B
Fergusson.)
7th
Carried out surface gunfire
attack on German military
convoy off North
Cape
with
HMS NIGERIA.
(Note: A German
naval training ship BREMSE deployed as
escort was sunk and
two
other escorts damaged. The two
troopships in this convoy
escaped.
HMS NIGERIA was
damaged possibly after grounding or
striking a wreck.)
8th
Escorted three colliers, an
icebreaker, a whaler, a tug and
fishing vessels to
Clyde.
10th
Returned to Scapa
Flow
and resumed Squadron patrol
duties.
Deployed for
interception duties near Iceland
25th
Arrived in Iceland
during patrol.
October
Transferred with HM Cruiser
PENELOPE to 15th Cruiser Squadron based
at
Alexandria
and prepared for service in Mediterranean.
12th
Sailed from Scapa
Flow
for Gibraltar
with HM Cruiser PENELOPE.
18th
At Gibraltar.
19th
Sailed from Gibraltar
with HMS PENELOPE and met HM Destroyers
LANCE and
LIVELY
before taking joint
passage to Malta
to form Force K.
21st
Arrived in Malta
for deployment as Force K for attacks on
enemy supply
traffic
to and from North African ports.
25th
Deployed with Force K ships to
intercept convoy reported on
passage to Brindisi.
Returned to
Malta
after unsuccessful search.
November
1st
Carried out another
unsuccessful
search with ships of Force K.
9th
During interception operation
carried out night attack on
seven ship convoy escorted
by
four
destroyers. Sank
all mercantiles
and Italian destroyer FULMINE in gun
attacks.
(Note: Two other
destroyers EURO and GREGALE were
damaged.)
Returned to Malta
undamaged with HMS PENELOPE, HMS LANCE
and HMS
LIVELY
18th
Carried out offensive sweep
as a
diversion during military operations
in North
Africa.
21st
Deployed with Force K in
further diversionary operation to
simulate convoy
movement
and returned
to Malta
after nightfall.
23rd
Sailed for interception of
convoy on
passage to Benghazi
from Greece.
24th
Intercepted convoy west of Crete
and
sank mercantiles
MAROTZA and PROCIDA
carrying
oil fuel.
The two torpedo
boats LUPO and CASSIOPEA escorting the
convoy were
damaged.
25th
Returned to Malta
with ships of Force K
28th
Sailed from Malta
with ships of Force K to meet HM
Cruisers AJAX and
NEPTUNE,
HM Destroyers
KIMBERLEY and KINGSTON
on passage from Alexandria
to
reinforce
Malta Striking
Force as Force B to increase offensive
operations against
supply
traffic.
29th
Arrived in Malta.
30th
Deployed on joint deployment
with Force B
December
1st
Engaged Italian auxiliary
cruiser ADRIATICO with ships of
Force K and later
intercepted
tanker IRIDIO MANTOVANI escorted by
destroyer
ALVISE DA
MOSTA which
were both sunk by surface fire in
position 75 miles NE
of Tripoli.
(Note: Ships of
Force B were deployed separately.)
For details
see following references.)
9th
Deployed in search for convoy
with HM Cruisers PENELOPE and
NEPTUNE
screened
by HM Destroyers JAGUAR and KANDAHAR.
10th
Returned to Malta
after unsuccessful operation.
17th
Joined HM Cruisers NAIAD and
EURYALUS of 15th Cruiser
Squadron from
Alexandria
and Fleet destroyers escorting HM Supply
Ship BRECONSHIRE
carrying
supplies for Malta
and under threat of attack by Italian
major warships
including
battleship LITTORIO and two cruisers.
Took part
in tactical deployments which caused
Italian ships to
retire.
(1st Battle
of Sirte -
See ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY, MALTA
CONVOYS by R
Woodman, THE BATTLE
FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN
by D
Macintyre
and Naval Staff History (HMSO-2001).
Afterwards
detached with ships of Force K to ensure
safe arrival of HMS
BRECONSHIRE.
18th
Deployed with HMS PENELOPE, HMS
NEPTUNE,
HM Destroyers
KANDAHAR LANCE, LIVELY and HAVOCK to
intercept
a
convoy off Tripoli.
19th
Force ran into enemy minefield
as a result of which HMS
NEPTUNE and HMS
KANDAHAR were sunk.
Struck mine on
port side
forward, abreast B turret
,causing flooding and severe
structural
damage. List corrected by counter
flooding and
ship returned to Malta
escorted
by HMS LANCE and HMS HAVOCK. See above
references
21st
Taken in hand for repair by
HM Dockyard Malta.
1
9 4 2
January
Under
temporary repair to allow permanent
repair in UK.
to
Sustained further
damage in dry dock during air raids.
February
March
29th
Passage to Gibraltar
escorted by HM Destroyer AVONVALE
31st
Arrived at Gibraltar
after unsuccessful air attacks when
south of Sardinia.
April
Atlantic
Passage to Liverpool.
5th
Taken in hand for repair at
commercial
shipyard on arrival.
May
Under repair and refit
to
(Note: Aircraft
warning radar Type 281 using new tripod
masts was fitted with
June
Fire-control radars for
main and AA armament (Types 284 and 285)
See RADAR AT SEA.
20mm
Oerlikon weapons were installed to
improve defence against close
range
air attacks.
July
Carried out post refit
trials.
7th
On completion took passage from
Liverpool
to Scapa
Flow.
Worked-up
with ships of Home Fleet.
August
On completion deployed with
Home Fleet.
21st
Provided cover for ships of 1st
Minelaying Squadron during
minelay in
Northern
Barrage (Operation
SN73).
29th
Joined military convoy WS22 as
Ocean Escort during Atlantic passage
with HM
Armed Merchant
Cruiser CARTHAGE,
HM Destroyers PARTRIDGE and
QUIBERON.
September
9th
Detached from WS22 on arrival
at Freetown
and deployed for trade defence.
October
Atlantic trade defence in
continuation based at Freetown.
22nd
Joined Fleet at Gibraltar
after release from trade defence duties
28th
Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier
FURIOUS with HM Cruiser
CHARYBDIS
during
an aircraft
delivery
to Malta
(Operation TRAIN).
November
Nominated for support of allied
landings in North
Africa.
(Operation TORCH see
above references and Naval Staff
History)
5th
Joined escort of military
convoy KMF1 on passage to Gibraltar.
7th
Deployed with Central Task
Force with HM Landing Ship
LARGS,
HM Escort
Aircraft Carriers
BITER, DASHER, HM Cruisers JAMAICA
and
DELHI
with screen of 13 Fleet
destroyers
to provide escort and
cover
during allied landings in North
Africa.
Led assault
craft to marker submarine (HMS P54)
stationed off X and Y
Beaches.
8th
Deployed on patrol in Bay
of Oran
and then supported Ex USN Coastguard
Cutters HMS
HARTLAND and HMS WALNEY during the
attack on Oran
harbour.
Joined by HM
Destroyers CALPE and BOADICEA to give
naval gunfire
support.
Engaged
four Vichy French destroyers off Oran
with main armament.
Destroyers
TORNADE, TRAMONTANE and TYPHON were sunk
with
EPERVIER beached
after sustained serious damage,
For
details see RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W
Tute
and Naval Staff History.
10th
Bombarded forts at Du
Santon and
Cap Canastel
with HM
Battleship
RODNEY and
HM Cruiser
JAMAICA
in support of final attack at Oran.
11th
Embarked Commodore T. Troubridge
for tour of X and Y Beaches.
26th
Embarked Admiral Cunningham
and staff at Gibraltar
for passage to Algiers.
(Note: Admiral
Cunningham was Commander of Naval Force
for
TORCH and was
transferring to Algiers
to re-establish his headquarters.)
27th
Selected for service at Bone
with HM Cruisers ARGONAUT and
SIRIUS
with
HM Destroyers QUENTIN and QUIBERON as
Force Q for
interception
of
enemy shipping on passage in Central
Mediterranean
December
1st
Took passage to Bone with
ships of
Force Q.
Deployed as
Flagship, Force Q.
2nd
Carried out surface gun attack
on convoy of four ships north
of Cape
Bon
with
ships of Force
Q.
The four mercantiles
were sunk and the Italian destroyer
FOLGORE one
of
the
escorts.
Two of the
others escorts, destroyer DE RECCO and
Torpedo boat
PROCIONE were
damaged.
See above
references.
Under air
attacks during return passage to Bone
during which HMS QUENTIN
was
sunk.
10th
After HM Cruiser DIDO joined
Force Q deployed with HMS
ARGONAUT
for
interception
patrols
off North African coast.
(Note: HMS
SIRIUS and HMS DIDO were also deployed
as a pair to share
this
deployment.
Patrols
were carried out from Algiers
and Bone and
included
defence of allied convoys.)
1
9 4 3
January
Force Q deployment in
continuation.
(Note: HM
Cruiser PENELOPE joined Force Q to
replace HMS
ARGONAUT which
had been seriously damaged in an air
attack
on
18th December.))
23rd
Bombarded Zuara,
Libya
with other ships in support of military
operations.
February
Deployed with Force Q for
interception patrol and convoy defence.
March
12th
Under attack by E-Boats
during
interception patrol north of Bizerta.
(Note: HM Destroyer
LIGHTING was sunk in these attacks.)
April
Force Q deployment in
continuation.
(Note: During
this period extensive deployments were
made to prevent
evacuation
of enemy personnel from North
Africa
after the defeat of
the
Afrika
Corps.
May
Transferred to 12th
Cruiser Squadron with HM Cruisers,
PENELOPE,
SIRIUS and
DELHI.
31st
Took part in preparatory
exercises for planned British
attack on Pantelleria
with
HM Cruisers NEWFOUNDLAND,
PENELOPE, ORION,
EURYALUS
and Fleet destroyers (Operation
CORKSCREW).
June
8th
Carried out Dress Rehearsal for
CORKSCREW by mock attack
with same
cruisers
and HM
Destroyers
NUBIAN, TARTAR, LAFOREY,
LOOKOUT,
TROUBRIDGE, JERVIS
and WHADDON.
10th
Embarked
General
Eisenhower for passage to witness final
stage of
rehearsal.
11th
Provided cover for assault on Pantellaria
with same ships except HMS
EURYALUS.
19th
Embarked HM King George at Tripoli
for passage to Malta
escorted by
HM
Destroyers
LOOKOUT,
JERVIS, NUBIAN and ESKIMO.
Returned to Tripoli
with His Majesty on completion of visit
26th
Passage to Alexandria
from Malta
for defence of military convoys during
transit
in eastern Mediterranean
from Egypt
to take part in planned allied
landings
in Sicily
(Operation HUSKY
- For details see
Naval Staff History.)
July
Returned to Bone
5th
Sailed from Bone to join
military convoy KMS16 during
passage to Beach
Head in Sicilian
Narrows
from Gibraltar.
7th
Detached
from KMS16 to rejoin main force
covering force.
(Note: Ships in
covering force included HM Battleships
VALIANT,
WARSPITE, HM
Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE, HMS
PENELOPE with
destroyer screen)
9th
Detached from covering force
with HMS PENELOPE and two
destroyers
to
carry out bombardment of Catania
and Taormina.
(Operation ARSENAL.)
Rejoined
covering force in Gulf
of Sirte
on completion
.
10th
Deployed with covering force
during landings with HM
Battleships
NELSON, RODNEY,
WARSPITE and VALIANT
and deployed in
Ionian
Sea.
11th
Provided naval gunfire
support for
military operations.
Release from
duty with covering force
21st
Carried out bombardment at Crotone.
August
Based at Bizerta
with HM Cruisers PENELOPE, SIRIUS and
DIDO for
support
requirements associated with military
operations in Italy
11th
Bombarded Scaleta,
south of Naples
with HMS EURYALUS,
HM
Destroyers JERVIS and PALADIN.
During passage
to Palermo
sank several Siebel Ferries used for
traffic
between
Sicily
and
Italian mainland.
26th
Deployed at Tunis.
September
Joined HM Cruisers PENELOPE,
DIDO,
SIRIUS, ABDIEL and
US
cruiser USS BOISE at Bizerta.
Nominated
for support of planned allied landings
at Salerno.
(Operation
AVALANCHE - See Naval Staff History
, BRITISH
INVASION FLEETS
by J de Winser
and ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE
CLOSELY.)
8th
Embarked troops of 1st Airborne
Division troops for
occupation of
Taranto.
(Operation SLAPSTICK).
Took passage
covered by HM Battleships KING GEORGE V
and
HOWE screened by
four HUNT Class Escort Destroyers.
9th
During passage passed ships of
Italian Fleet units going to Malta
for surrender
10th
Disembarked troops arid took
passage to join Fleet units
deployed for
support
of allied landings at Salerno.
11th
Provided naval gunfire support
during counter-attack in beachhead
area
at Salerno
with HM Monitor EREBUS, HM Cruisers MAURITIUS,
ORION,
US
cruisers BOISE
and PHILADELPHIA,
HM Destroyers
LOYAL, LOOKOUT,
TARTAR, NUBIAN, BRECON, QUANTOCK
and
EGGESFORD.
Under heavy air
attacks by glider and radio controlled
bombs.
13th
Remained at Salerno
after withdrawal of HMS UGANDA, USS
PHILADELPHIA
and USS SAVANNAH because of damage in
air
attacks.
October
1st
Returned to Malta
on release from AVALANCHE fire support
and patrol.
4th
Sailed from Malta
with HM Cruisers PENELOPE for passage to
Aegean
for
support of defence
of Cos,
Met HM
Destroyers TUMULT and PATHFINDER south
of Crete
and
carried
out offensive
sweep
in Kaso
Channel.
No craft sighted
but came under spasmodic air attacks.
Involved in
collision south of Cos
Channel with HMS DIDO and
sustained
damage above waterline
(Note: Italian
forces had been replaced by German units
after capitulation.
For details of
the disastrous operations in defence of
Aegean
islands
see FIGHTING
DESTROYER
by GC Connell and
WAR IN THE
AEGEAN
by P Smith
and E
Walker.
HMS SIRIUS and
HMS DIDO were also deployed with Fleet
destroyers
,from Malta
and Taranto.)
Passage to
Alexandria
for repair.
6th
Arrived at Alexandria.
(Note: HMS DIDO
did not resume service in Aegean.)
15th
Resumed operational service on
completion of repair.
16th
Deployed with HM Destroyers
JERVIS, PENN,
HURSLEY and Greek
MIAOULIS to take
stores to Leros
17th
Landed stores overnight and
withdrew through Kaso
Straits under air attacks.
(Note: HUNT
Class destroyers carried out patrol and
in action against
two
E-Boats and
a Sloop of Kalymos,
See above reference.)
Met HM Cruiser
SIRIUS and carried out joint bombardment
of Cos
harbour.
Under air
attacks.
18th
Took passage to Alexandria
after carrying out patrol south of Scarpanto.
Bombarded Rhodes
with
Greek destroyer MIAOULIS and
under
air attack in Scarpanto
Straits.
27th
Relieved HMS PHOEBE with HM
Destroyers PATHFINDER,
EXMOOR
and BLENCATHRA.
Carried out
offensive sweep with air cover from Beaufighters
of
227
and
252 Squadrons.
28th
Returned to Alexandria
with same destroyers.
29th
After refuelling sailed with HM
Destroyers ECHO,
ROCKWOOD and
Polish ORP
KRAKOWIAK.
Under air
attacks SE of Casteloriso
without damage.
30th
Met HM Destroyers PETARD,
BELVOIR and BEAUFORT during their
passage
with
personnel and vehicles for military
units at Leros.
During passage
to Turkish waters for transfer of troops
and despite availability of
air
cover came under heavy and sustained
attacks by Ju87 and
Ju88 aircraft, hit by
500
Kg bomb abaft the after funnel.
Extensive damage
to after structure including armament
with fires caused by
detonation
of ammunition. 47 personnel killed and
30
wounded.
See above
reference for details.
31st
Withdrawn from operational
service and under escort for
passage to
Alexandria
by HMS BELVOIR.
(Note: HM
Cruiser PHOEBE was then the only one of
the cruisers sent to the Aegean
that
was available in the eastern Mediterranean.)
November
Taken in hand for temporary
repair
at Alexandria.
Permanent repair
arranged at Taranto.
Took
passage to Taranto.
December
Transferred to 15th Cruiser
Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet.
Taken in
hand for repair at Taranto.
1
9 4 4
January
Under repair and refit
to
(Note: Additional
close range weapons fitted)
March
April
Carried out post refit
trials
10th
Rejoined Squadron and prepared
for operational service.
Passage to
Alexandria.
May
Deployed with
Squadron in eastern Mediterranean
27th
Sustaining weather damage
during deployment with HM Destroyer
KIMBERLEY
and three Free French destroyers.
30th
Transferred to Malta
with Squadron for service in Central
Mediterranean.
June
Deployed
in Central
Mediterranean.
July
Passage
to Algiers
Embarked WRNS
personnel of AFHQ for passage to set up
new headquarters in Italy
Passengers
disembarked at Naples.
Nominated
for support of planned allied landings
in South
France.
For details of
preliminary movements and landings see
INVASION OF
THE SOUTH OF FRANCE (HMSO) (Operation
DRAGOON).
29th
At Algiers prior to joining
Task Force 84 (Support Force
ALPHA)
under
US Navy overall command.
August
Passage to Malta
to join other RN ships nominated for
DRAGOON
Took part in
exercises in preparation for DRAGOON.
(Note:
Task Group 84 ships included HM Cruisers
AJAX, BLACK
HM
Destroyers TERMAGANT, TERPSICHORE, US Navy
Cruiser USS
QUINCY,
US Navy Destroyers USS LIVERMORE, EBERLE,
ERICSSON
and
Free French battleship GLOIRE.
11th
Sailed from Malta
with ships of TF84.
13th
Met HM Battleship RAMILLIES which
was on
passage in
Mediterranean
from UK
to
join TF84.
15th
Arrived off Assault area and took
part
in naval gunfire support
to
in ALPHA
area, SITKA Area and against batteries
defending
24th
the port
of Toulon.
For full details see
above reference.
(Note:
Effect of fire support given by ships was
highly commended
by the
US
Navy Commander.)
25th
Released from
DRAGOON and resumed service in
Mediterranean Fleet.
September
Deployed with British Aegean
Force for blockade and
occupation
of
islands occupied by German forces
Carried
out interception patrols against shipping,
bombardments
and
supported covert landings.
(Note:
Other ships involved were seven Escort
Aircraft Carriers,
HM
Cruisers ORION, ROYALIST, BLACK PRINCE,
ARGONAUT
and COLOMBO
with ships of 24th
Destroyers
Flotilla and HUNT Class Escort Destroyers
of the
RN and Greek Navies.
Nominated
for support of allied re-occupation of Greece
(Operation MANNA)
October
5th
Deployed with HM Destroyer
CATTERICK
for support of
re-occupation
of the island
of Levitha.
15th
Covered reoccupation of Piraeus
with HM Cruisers BLACK PRINCE,
AJAX,
ORION, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers
STALKER,
ATTACKER and
EMPEROR AS PART OF Force 120
(Operation
MANNA).
(Note: Troops,
vehicles and stores had been embarked in
Alexandria
for passage).
For
details of MANNA see Military Staff
History, Mediterranean (HMSO)
25th
Carried out
bombardment of Milos
with HM Destroyers TETCOTT and TYRIAN.
November
Deployment in support of military
operations in Greece
(Note:
Civil war broke out in Greek and allied
military operations
in
support of civil authorities were given
naval
co-operation
as required.)
December
Eastern Mediterranean deployment
in continuation
4th
Carried out bombardment of
shipping at Rhodes
to prevent shipping being
used
to assist in evacuation of German Forces
from Aegean
islands.
1
9
4 5
January
Deployed for support in Eastern
Mediterranean with ships of
Squadron.
Nominated
for transfer to support of operations in
western
Mediterranean
based at Naples.
February
Passage to Naples.
to
Deployed for
interception of shipping supporting enemy
forces
April
and naval gunfire support
of military ashore.
May
6th
At Genoa
Nominated
for service in Malta
with Mediterranean Fleet
(Note:
Mediterranean Fleet units were deployed
for support of occupation forces
at Trieste,
for
interception of ships carrying illegal
immigrants to Palestine
and
for work-up exercises for ships on passage
to join the
Eastern Fleet
and
the British Pacific Fleet.
June
Mediterranean Fleet
deployment in continuation.
July
Taken in hand for refit by HM
Dockyard, Malta.
August
Under refit
HMS
AURORA remained in the
Mediterranean on completion of refit in
October 1945. She was then deployed
for duties with cruisers of the
Mediterranean Fleet for visits, exercises
and patrol.. In November 1945 it was
announced that the ship was to be sold to
China.. She took passage from Trieste to pay
off at Portsmouth on 17th April
1946. Before transfer this cruiser was
refitted and renamed CHUNGKING
when handed over to
the Nationalist in
1948. After the ship
defected to the new Communist government and
her name changed to TCHOUNKING
she was sunk during an air attack on Yaku
harbour in March 1949. Salvaged in 1951 this
cruiser re-commissioned
with a new name HSUANG
HO but this was later again
changed to PEI CHING.
By 1958 she had become a
harbour hulk and given the name KUANG
CHOU. It is
recorded that she was broken-up in 1960.