1
9 1 9
December
Contractors trials and commissioned for
trials.
18th
Build completion and commenced
Acceptance trials
1
9 2 0
On completion of acceptance trials paid
off.
Recommissioned for service in 5th Light
Cruiser Squadron on
China
Station.
Passage to join
Squadron, based at Hong
Kong.
Deployed for
Squadron duties on China Station.
(Note: Exercises with Squadron ships
included periods in North
China
at Wei Hai
Wei
an island off
the Chantung
Peninsula
leased from China
and used as an RN
Base for many years.
Visits were paid to ports in Japan,
Philippines
and
the Dutch
East Indies
together with Empire territories in the
Pacific.)
1
9 2 1
China Station
deployment with Squadron in
continuation.
1
9 2 2
Recommissioned for service in 4th Light
Cruiser Squadron on the East
Indies Station based in Ceylon.
(Note: Exercises were carried out in the
Indian
Ocean.
Visit programmes included
ports in East
Africa and island groups.)
1
9 2 3 t
o 1 9 2 5
Indian
Ocean
deployment with Squadron in
continuation.
Returned to UK
for refit in HM Dockyard, Chatham.
1
9 2 6
On completion of post refit trials
commissioned for service in 8th Cruiser
Squadron
on American
and West Indies Station based at Bermuda.
1
9 2 7 t
o 1 9 2 8
Deployed for exercises and visits to
port in North and South
America
including
west coast of both continents and empire
possessions in West
Indies.
1
9 2 9
Returned to UK
for long refit at Chatham.
1
9 3 0
Paid-off at Chatham
and transferred to Dockyard Control for
refit.
Under refit by HM Dockyard, Chatham
1
9 3 1
Commissioned for
trials.
Carried out post
refit harbour and sea trials.
On completion commissioned for service
in 3rd Cruiser Squadron,
Mediterranean Fleet.
Passage to join
Squadron at Malta.
1
9 3 2
Nominated for service in East
Indies and recommissioned for service
in 4th
Cruiser Squadron.
Returned to Chatham
to Pay-off and recommission.
Recommissioned for service in East
Indies (June).
Passage to Ceylon
to join Squadron.
1
9 3 2 t
o 1 9 3 4
Deployed for
Squadron duties in Indian
Ocean.
1
9 3 5
Nominated for reduction to Reserve
status and took passage to Chatham
Paid-off at Chatham,
destored
and reduced to Reserve.
Laid-up in Reserve in Nore Command
(December)
1
9 3 6
Nore Command Reserve Fleet in
continuation.
Deployed at Chatham
as Senior Officer’s ship, Reserve
Fleet.
1
9 3 7 t
o 1 9 3 7
Chatham Reserve
deployment in continuation.
Attended Coronation
Review.
1
9 3 8
Mobilised for
service with Reserve Fleet personnel
during Munich
crisis.
1
9 3 9
Commissioned for service with Reservists
for attendance at
Review of Reserve
Fleet by HM King George VI at Weymouth.
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
August
Attended Review and remained in
commission.
Allocated for War Station as Flagship of
11th Cruiser Squadron and remained
in
commission.
On completion of storing and increase to
war complement too passage to Gibraltar
to take up
Station.
(Note: Ship war deployment was for
interception of enemy mercantile traffic
on passage
to Germany
and for trade defence against commerce
raiders.)
September
At Gibraltar and Flagship of 11th Cruiser Squadron.
3rd
Took passage from Gibraltar
for patrol off Casablanca
(Note: To enforce blockade patrols were
carried out to intercept
shipping
carrying contraband destined for Germany.
26th
Escorted convoy from Gibraltar
to SW Approaches.
October
Nominated for service in Northern Patrol
for interception of shipping.
(Note: For details of Northern Patrol service
see THE BLOCKADERS
by C
Hampshire.)
5th
Arrived at Plymouth.
11th
Passage to Scapa
Flow
to commence Northern Patrol duties as
Flagship
of 11th
Cruiser Squadron.
13th
Arrived at Scapa
Flow.
14th
Sailed for Sullom Voe from Scapa
Flow.
20th
Took passage from Sullom Voe for first
patrol in North
Atlantic.
November
Northern Patrol in continuation
11th
Intercepted German freighter MIM and
placed boarding party on board.
Taken as Prize and took passage to Kirkwall.
(Note: During passage captured ship went
aground off Scottish coast.)
Intercepted German
freighter HENNING OLDENDORF.
Boarded and taken to Kirkwall
as Prize.
23rd
Deployed with HM Cruisers CALEDON and CARDIFF
for patrol
off North
Rona to intercept German battlecruisers
SCHARNHORST
and GNEISENAU
after they had attacked an Atlantic
convoy and
had sunk its
escort HM Armed Merchant Cruiser
RAWALPINDI.
27th
Resumed patrol on release from search.
December
Northern Patrol duties in
continuation.
1
9 4 0
January
Nominated for foreign
service.
(Note: This type of cruiser had been
found unsuitable for duty in the
North
Atlantic
and were to be withdrawn. See above
reference.)
6th
Returned to Scapa
Flow
from Patrol.
8th
Sailed for patrol.
11th
Escorted German freighter BERGENSFJORD
to Kirkwall
after it had
been
intercepted by HM Trawler KINGSTON
ONYX.
12th
Took passage to Plymouth
to prepare for foreign
service.
14th
Arrived at Devonport
28th
Sailed for Belfast.
30th
At Belfast.
(Note: Repair to be confirmed.)
February
Passage from Belfast
for Mediterranean.
Deployed in Mediterranean.
Took passage to join
5th Cruiser Squadron at Singapore.
March
On arrival at Colombo
nominated for duty with HM Cruiser CERES
27th
Sailed for Singapore
with HMS CERES.
31st
Arrived at Singapore
and joined Squadron on China Station
April
Deployed for trade defence and
interception patrol based at Singapore.
May
Transferred to 4th Cruiser Squadron and
took passage to Colombo.
Deployed for patrol in Indian
Ocean
June
Indian
Ocean
duties in continuation
to
July
August
Transferred to Red Sea Force for convoy
defence in Arabian
Sea
and Red
Sea.
September
Red Sea Force deployment in
continuation.
October
Nominated for escort of military convoy
WS2C and took passage to
Capetown.
November
1st
Joined WS3C at Capetown as Ocean Escort
(Note: This convoy comprised HM Depot
Ship WOOLWICH
on passage to
the Mediterranean
and freighter CLAN
CAMPBELL.)
5th
Joined Convoy CM5 which continued as
WS3C.
10th
HMS WOOLWICH detached to proceed to Mombasa
for repair.
HM Armed Merchant Cruiser CARTHAGE
joined escort from Mombasa.
23rd
Detached from WS3C on arrival at Suez.
December
Resumed duties at Aden
with Red Sea Force.
1
9 4 1
January
Deployed off Maldives
as part of search for German commerce
raiders
ATLANTIS and PINGUIN
known to be active in Indian
Ocean.
On release from search nominated for
support of military operations
in Somaliland (Operation APPEARANCE).
February
2nd
Deployed with HM Cruisers SHROPSHIRE and
CERES to carry
out blockade
of port
of Kismayu
On release took passage to Colombo
for docking and refit.
March
Under refit
April
On completion took passage to resume
trade defence in Indian
Ocean.
28th
Joined military convoy WS7 from Mombasa
in position 4 S, 42 E
with HM
Cruiser GLASGOW as relief for Ocean
Escort HM
Cruiser HAWKINS.
May
1st
Detached from WS7 when it divided into
sections for Aden
and Bombay.
Deployed as Ocean Escort for Bombay
section
designated
WS7X comprising four troopships.
5th
Detached from WS7X on arrival at Bombay
and resumed trade
defence and
convoy escort duties.
June
Indian
Ocean
deployment in continuation.
to
September
October
Deployed in Indian
Ocean.
Joined HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE, HM Armed Merchant Cruisers
CARTHAGE
and CARNARVON
CASTLE
in search for Vichy
French convoy on
passage to Europe
from Indo China.
November
2nd
Deployed with HM Cruisers SHROPSHIRE,
CERES , HM
Armed Merchant Cruisers
CARNARVON
CASTLE
and CARTHAGE
to intercepted Vichy French convoy east
of Cape
of Good Hope.
Escorting Sloop detached when ships
sighted. Mercantiles
were
captured and
escorted to Ports in South
Africa
December
Indian
Ocean
deployment for trade defence in
continuation.
27th
Escorted troopship ORIZABA
from Mombasa
to join military
convoy WS12Z.
Joined Aden Section of WS12Z when it
divided in position 1.26S,
48.44E and escorted it as Convoy WS12ZA
to Aden.
1
9 4 2
January
Selected for conversion for use as an
Anti-Aircraft Cruiser.
4th
Detached from WS12ZA on arrival off Aden.
20th
Relieved HM Battleship RAMILLIES in
Ocean Escort of military
convoy WS14
with HMS CERES during passage from Durban
(Note: This convoy included troopships
on passage to Singapore).
22nd
Detached from WS14 Ocean Escort
February
Indian
Ocean
deployment in continuation.
26th
Joined HMS CERES in Ocean Escort for
military convoy WS15A
during
passage from Durban
when it detached from WS15 for
onward
transit to Aden.
March
1st
Detached from WS15A off Aden
when ships proceeded to Suez
independently.
Transferred to Eastern Fleet on
formation as part of 5th Cruiser
Squadron and retained on Station for
trade defence in view of the
threat from
Japanese naval units in the area.
April
Indian Ocean Trade defence and convoy
escort in continuation.
1st
Deployed with HM Armed Merchant Cruiser
AURANIA as relief
for HM
Cruisers GLASGOW and NEWCASTLE
as Ocean Escort
with HM Armed
Merchant Cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE for
military
convoy WS16 during passage in Indian
Ocean
from
Durban.
3rd
Detached from WS16 when sections for Bombay
and Aden
divided.
Deployed as Ocean
Escort for Aden Section, designated
WS16A.
6th
Detached from WS16A off Aden
for independent passage
Released from Eastern Fleet duties
May
Passage to UK
for conversion.
June
5th
Arrived at Plymouth.
Paid off into
Dockyard Control for conversion.
July
Under refit
to
(Note: Original armament replaced by
twin 4in AA mountings
December
with Radar Type 285 for fire-control.
Two 2pdr Pom
Pom
mountings with Radar Type 282
fire-control and
20mm Oerlikon guns were fitted for close
range defence
against
aircraft.
Type 279 Aircraft Warning Radar was
fitted on the
main mast and
Type 273 Surface Warning Radar abaft
the mainmast
on the centre line.
1
9 4 3
January
Under refit
February
Post refit
trials and recommissioning.
Nominated for service in the Mediterranean
March
On completion of trials prepared for foreign
service.
April
Passage to Clyde
to work-up for operational service.
13th
Arrived in Clyde
for work-up.
May
Deployed in NW Approaches on completion
of work-up
June
Nominated for support if planned allied
landings in Sicily
(Operation HUSKY)
28th
Joined escort for military Convoy KMF18
in NW Approaches
July
4th
Detached from KMF18 on arrival at Algiers.
6th
Joined Escort Group C and took passage
to join military
Convoy KMS18B in transit from Gibraltar to BARK WEST
Beach head
10th
On arrival deployed for AA defence of
assault area with
HM AA Cruisers CARLISLE
and DELHI.
including
landing of
1st Airborne
Division.
(For details see Naval Staff History,
ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett) and
BRITISH INVASION
FLEETS by J de Winser)
August
Support deployment in continuation.
September
Deployed for convoy defence in Western
Mediterranean.
to
October
November
Joined military convoy KMF25 during
passage to Algiers.
5th
Provided AA defence with 11 US Navy
escorts, three RN
and two Greek
HUNT Class destroyers during attacks by
35
torpedo
aircraft east of Algiers..
(Note: One US
destroyer, USS BEATTY and two ships in
this
convoy were
sunk.)
December
Convoy escort duties in continuation.
1
9 4 4
January
Mediterranean convoy defence in
continuation.
to
February
March
Joined US Navy escort for Convoy UGS36 with ships of 37th
Escort Group west of Gibraltar.
30th
Entered Mediterranean with convoy of 72
ships including
18 Landing Ships (Tank).
31st
Convoy under submarine attacks which
were driven off by
escorts.
April
1st
Under attack by 21 torpedo aircraft off
Algiers
during which
one freighter
in convoy was sunk.
May
Mediterranean convoy defence in
continuation.
to
June
July
Mediterranean convoy defence in
continuation.
Nominated for support of planned landing
in South of
France
with HM Cruiser CALEDON
as part of Task Force 88
under US Navy
command (Operation DRAGOON)
August
Joined HM Escort Aircraft Carriers
STALKER and HUNTER
US
aircraft carriers TULAGI and KASAAN BAY
in Task
Group 88.2.
(For details see INVASION OF THE SOUTH
OF FRANCE
(HMSO).)
15th
Provided AA defence during carrier air
operations against
shore targets
with HMS CALEDON and US Navy destroyers.
27th
Released from US Navy command and
resumed convoy
defence.
September
24th
Transferred to British Aegean Force for
support of
operation to
re-occupy islands in the Eastern
Mediterranean and planned landings in Greece
(Operation MANNA)
Took passage to join
British Aegean Force.
October
Provided AA defence during
re-occupation.
3rd
Bombarded shore targets at Heraklion,
Crete
November
Transferred to Adriatic to provide AA defence in support
of military
operations.
11th
Deployed at Zadar
and accepted surrender of German
forces.
December
Deployed in Aegean
Sea for AA defence during re-
occupation of islands held by German
troops.
Bombarded enemy positions on Aegina
Island
in Gulf
of Athens.
1
9 4 5
January
AA defence and support of operations in
Adriatic
and
to
Aegean
in continuation.
February
March
Nominated for reduction to Reserve and
to be withdrawn
from
operational service in Mediterranean.
April
Passage to UK
May
Deployed in Plymouth Command pending
paying-off and
de-stored
prior to reduction to Reserve status.
June
Passage to Dartmouth
to Pay-off
Paid off.
July
Laid-up in Reserve at Dartmouth.