1
9 3 9
September
Part of
3rd Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet.
3rd
Deployed with in Mediterranean Fleet
on contraband control and patrol duty.
(For
details of Fleet deployments in Mediterranean
before Italy
entered the war, see
WAR
AT SEA Vol 1 by S H Roskill and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by
C. Barnett).
November
Mediterranean
deployment in continuation
to
December
1
9 4 0
January
Transferred
to Home Fleet.
5th
Passage to UK
with call at Gibraltar.
11th
Arrived at Portsmouth
February
Joined
2nd Cruiser Squadron and deployed in NW
Approaches and North
Sea.
In
addition to covering transit of convoys
against attack by commerce raiders,
this
deployment
included
interception of blockade runners.
See THE
BLOCKADERS by C. Hampshire).
March
Home
Fleet duties in continuation.
Boiler
cleaning at Rosyth.
April
5th
Returned to Scapa
Flow
to rejoin Squadron.
7th
Took part in search with HM
Battleships RODNEY and VALIANT, HM
Battlecruiser
REPULSE
and HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD for German warships reported on passage to Atlantic.
April
8th
Detached with HMS REPULSE, HM
Destroyers BEDOUIN, ESKIMO, PUNJABI and
KIMBERLEY
to assist HM Destroyer
GLOWWORM after attack by HIPPER.
Joined
HM Battlecruisers RENOWN and REPULSE in
Vestfjord after fruitless search.
9th
Deployed with Fleet off Norway
in support of allied
landings (Operation WILFRED/R4).
(For
details of the disastrous operations off
Norway In 1940 see NARVIK by Donald
Macintyre,
CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton, ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
and
the Naval Staff History (HMSO-2001)).
10th
Remained off Vestfjord during 1st Battle
of Narvik and supported withdrawal of the
destroyers
of
2nd Flotilla.
Sustained
slight damage by near miss during air
attacks.
11th
Detached with HM Destroyers ESKIMO and KIMBERLEY
for attack on transports
reported
at
Bodo.
Grounded
whilst attempting to enter fjord at
Fleinvaer.
Holed
forward and boiler room flooded.
Towed
to Skelsfjord by HM Destroyer ESKIMO.
14th
Remained in Norwegian waters to
supplement available defence against
continuing air
attacks,
later moved to Harstad.
May
Deployment
at Harstad in continuation.
11th
Passage to UK
under tow with HM Cruisers
COVENTRY and CALCUTTA, HM Destroyers
ISIS,
ZULU, CAMPBELL
and WITCH.
18th
Taken in hand for repair at Greenock.
June
Under
temporary repair.
to
Permanent
repair arranged in Tyne shipyard.
July
August
15th
Passage to Tyne
Paid-off.
September
Under
repair.
to
(Note:
Major structural repair carried out
including renewal of bottom plating. Close
Range
December
20mm
guns fitted for anti-aircraft defence.
Tripod masts fitted to support warning
radar
aerials.
Aircraft
Warning Radar Type 281 installed.
Fire Control radar equipment for main
armament (Type 284) and secondary armament
(Type 285) fitted.
For details of development and use of
radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse).
1
9 4 1
January
Under
repair.
to
Re-commissioned
for service.
June
July
Post
refit harbour and sea trials.
August
Worked-up
for operational service.
17th
Rejoined Squadron at Scapa
Flow.
September
Deployed
with Home Fleet for interception and
defence of convoys, based in Clyde.
9th
Detached with HM Destroyers ICARUS and
LIGHTNING for escort of HM Battleship DUKE
OF
YORK
to Rosyth from Clyde.
(Note:
Build had been completed by John Brown and
armament work prior to acceptance
was
to be carried out by HM Dockyard, Rosyth.)
After
arrival at Rosyth took passage to rejoined
Home Fleet ships in Iceland.
October
5th
Deployed with HMS KING GEORGE V and
six Home Fleet destroyers as screen to
cover HM
Aircraft
Carrier VICTORIOUS during air strikes on
coastal shipping off Bodo,
Norway.
(Operation
EJ).
9th
Cover of HMS VICTORIOUS continued
during further air operations which 13,000
tons of
shipping
was sunk
(See
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY).
12th
Transferred to 3rd Cruiser Squadron,
Mediterranean Fleet with HM Cruiser
AURORA.
(Note:
Ships were both to be deployed in Malta
for interception of enemy
supply convoys to
North
Africa.)
Passage
to Gibraltar
with HMS AURORA.
19th
After embarking ammunition at Gibraltar
met HM Destroyers LANCE and
LIVELY with HMS
AURORA
to form Force
K.
Took
passage to Malta
as escort for two supply
ships.
(Part
of Operation CALLBOY - For details of
operations in Mediterranean
see ENGAGE THE
ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY, THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN
by D.Macintyre
and
Naval Staff History (HMSO, 2002).).
21st
Deployed with Force K to
intercept convoy on passage to Brindisi
but returned when no ships
sighted
November
8th
In action with HMS AURORA against
supply convoy and escort during which 7
ships were
sunk
as well as Italian destroyer FULMINE.
Another
escort, Italian destroyer GRECALE
was badly
damaged.
18th
Carried out diversionary sweep from Malta
during Army operations in
western desert.
21st
Escorted ‘dummy’ convoy towards North
African coast as further diversionary
move.
24th
Intercepted two ships carrying supplies
to Benghazi.
Two
escorting destroyers were
damaged and both
mercantiles were sunk.
28th
Deployed with Force K to
meet HM Cruisers AJAX and NEPTUNE, HM
Destroyers
KINGSTON
and KIMBERLEY
on passage to reinforce
Force K in Malta.
30th
Deployed with Force K ships
and reinforcements as Force B for convoy
attacks.
December
1st
Intercepted and sank Italian naval
auxiliary ADRIATICO and later the tanker
IRIDIO
MANTOVANI
with her escorting destroyer ALVISO DA
MOSTA.
9th
Carried out an unsuccessful search for
convoy with HM Cruisers AURORA and NEPTUNE
screened
by HM Destroyers JAGUAR and KANDAHAR.
15th
Deployed with Force K to escort HM
Supply Ship BRECONSHIRE for last stage of
passage
into
Malta
from Alexandria.
17th
Took part in 1st Battle of Sirte.
Superior Italian force which was covering
passage
of
a convoy to Libya
withdrew in the face of
possible night action and an incorrect
assumption
that British force included a battleship.
HMS
BRECONSHIRE completed her
passage safely.
18th
During operation with HMS NEPTUNE, HMS
AURORA and HM Destroyers LANCE,
LIVELY,
KANDAHAR and HAVOCK to intercept
ships
reported waiting off Tripoli
ran
into enemy minefield
20 miles north
of port.
Detonated
mine in port paravane abreast bridge
damaging fire control director.
(Note:
Both HMS NEPTUNE and HMS AURORA also hit
mines, the former ship being
sunk
with only one of her ships’ company of 763
surviving. He was rescued
and
taken prisoner.)
Stood-by
with HMS LIVELY whilst HMS LANCE and HMS
HAVOCK escorted damaged
HMS
AURORA to Malta.
(See
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval
Staff History.).
20th
Under repair in Malta
1
9 4 2
January
On
completion of repair resumed operational
service.
19th
Escorted Malta relief convoy from Alexandria
with HM Destroyers SIKH,
ZULU, LANCE,
LIVELY
and JAGUAR.
Under
sustained air attacks.
25th
Deployed with HM Destroyers MAORI, ZULU,
LANCE, LEGION and LIVELY as escort for
HM
Supply Ship GLENGYLE and mv ROWALLAN
CASTLE
returning from Malta
to
Alexandria.
26th
Relieved Mediterranean Fleet ships from Alexandria
as escort for HM Supply Ship
BRECONSHIRE
for
remainder
of passage to Malta.
February
15th
Escorted HMS BRECONSHIRE, ss AJAX,
ss CITY
OF CALCUTTA
and ss CLAN
FERGUSON
as Convoy ME10 for first
part of
return passage
to Alexandria
with HM Destroyers
SIKH,
ZULU, LEGION, LIVELY FORTUNE
and DECOY
(Operation MF5)
14th
Met HM Cruiser CARLISLE
and escorts joining from Alexandria.
Again
under heavy and sustained air
attacks during
which ss ROWALLAN
CASTLE
was
damaged
and although taken in tow by HMS
ZULU later had
to be sunk by HMS LIVELY.
15th
Returned to Malta
after this disastrous
attempt to pass convoy into Malta
had failed.
March
Malta
deployment in continuation.
22nd
Sailed from Malta
with HMS LEGION to take over
escort for supply convoy (MW10) being
escorted
ships of 15th Cruiser Squadron and
destroyers from Alexandria.
(Operation
MG1).
Deployed
as 2nd Division for defence of convoy
during attack by Italian force with
HM cruiser
DIDO
and HMS LEGION (2nd Battle of Sirte).
(For
details see MEDITERRANEAN MAELSTROM by G.
Cornell, ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE
CLOSELY and Naval Staff History.)
Escorted
surviving ships to Malta
with HM Destroyers LEGION, KINGSTON,
HAVOCK and
HM
Cruiser CARLISLE.
(Note: Ships in
Convoy had been detached during the
engagement.)
23rd
Passage delayed by weather and continued
air attacks after arrival off Malta.
Attempt
to tow
disabled HMS BRECONSHIRE when hit by
bomb proved impossible and ship
had
to be
beached at
Marsaxlokk in Malta.
26th
Sustained damage by near miss during air
raid on Malta
whilst alongside.
27th
Docked for repair in HM Dockyard, Malta
and sustained further
damage.
Provided
additional AA defence whilst work In
progress and almost wore out new gun
barrels
(See
HMS PEPPERPOT by E Gordon.)
April
8th
Sustained further significant damaged
by near miss during air raid whilst still
in dock.
but
sailed from Malta
after further
temporary
repair (See above reference).
9th
Under air attacks during westward
passage.
11th
Taken hand for temporary repair in dry
dock by HM Dockyard, Gibraltar
Permanent
repair arranged in USA.
May
Under
temporary repair and prepared for passage
to USA.
10th
Took passage to New
York
with call at Bermuda.
19th
Taken in hand for repair at Brooklyn
Navy Yard on arrival.
June
Under
repair
to
July
August
On
completion carried cut post refit harbour
and sea trials.
September
1st
Took passage to Norfolk,
Va.
17th
Passage to Portsmouth
with call at Bermuda.
October
Nominated
for service with 12th Cruiser Squadron in
Mediterranean.
1st
Arrived at Portsmouth
for completion of work not
done in USA.
November
Modification
work and preparation for operational
service..
December
Passage
to Scapa
Flow
2nd
Arrived at Scapa
Flow
and deployed with Home
Fleet..
1
9 4 3
January
Passage
from Scapa Flow to relieve HM Cruiser AJAX
in Force Q at
Bone.
22nd
Called at Gibraltar
on passage.
On
arrival at Bone deployed with Force Q to
search for enemy shipping
with HM Cruisers
DIDO,
AURORA and SIRIUS.
February
Force
Q deployment in continuation for shipping
strikes and support of
military
to
operations
in Algeria
and Tunisia
with Force
May
(See
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY).
June
1st
Carried out bombardment of
Pantelleria with HM Destroyers PALADIN and
PETARD prior
to
landings by 1st
British
Division.
Hit
by shore fire (Operation CORKSCREW).
8th
Took part in Dress Rehearsal for
Pantelleria assault off that island.
10th
Provided cover for landings on
Pantelleria with HM Cruisers AURORA,
NEWFOUNDLAND,
EURYALUS
and
ORION
screened by Fleet destroyers.
12th
Bombarded Lampedusa with HMS ORION and
HMS NEWFOUNDLAND.
Island
capitulated.
July
5th
Passage to Alexandria
with HMS AURORA and 6 destroyers
for cover of military convoys
during
passage to Sicily
(Note:
HM Battleships WARSPITE, VALIANT and HM
Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE
were
deployed to prevent any interference by
Italian warships to landings
(Operation
HUSKY).)
7th
Escorted Convoy KMS18 through Tunisian
Channel before joining Force H ships in
the
Gulf
of Sirte
prior to assault phase of
landings.
9th
Bombarded
Catania and Taormina with HMS AURORA and two destroyers.
(Operation
ARSENAL)
10th
Cruised in Ionian
Sea
to cover landings operations
in Sicily with combined Force H and
Mediterranean
Fleet capital ships.
(See ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History).
11th
Carried out bombardment of northern flank of
British advance
in Sicily.
August
Passage to Bizerta with call
at Malta
when
released from HUSKY.
Deployed with HM
Cruisers AURORA, DIDO and SIRIUS.
September
8th
Embarked 1st Airborne Division for
passage to Taranto from Bizerta with HM Cruisers
AURORA,
DIDO and SIRIUS and sailed to join HMS
KING GEORGE V off Taranto
(Operation
SLAPSTICK).
9th
Landed troops covered by HM
Battleships KING GEORGE V and HOWE.
Detached
to join 12th Cruiser Squadron in support
of landings at Salerno.
11th
Joined US
cruiser USS BOISE
to replace HM cruiser UGANDA,
US
cruisers USS
SAVANNAH
and USS
PHILADELPHIA which had been damaged off
beach head
(Operation
AVALANCHE).
14th
Provided naval gunfire support to
military during defence of beach heads.
(See
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval
Staff History.)
26th
Returned to Malta
from beach head.
October
4th
Transferred with Squadron to Levant
Command to intercept craft taking German
troops
to
Aegean Islands
after Italian surrender.
7th
Intercepted convoy of transports
taking German garrison to Cos with HMS SIRIUS,
HM
Destroyers
FAULKNOR and
FURY south of Levita.
Four
small transports and F Lighters with
escorting
trawlers were attacked and either sunk
or
set on fire.
Under
heavy
air attacks in Scarpanto
Strait
and sustained serious
damaged by direct hit
abreast
Y turret
and near misses.
List
corrected by damage control and continued
passage.
12
of ships’ company were killed at 29
injured during this attack.
Returned
to Alexandria with HMS SIRIUS escorted by HM
Destroyers
FAULKNOR and
FURY.
9th
Under repair in Alexandria.
November
On
completion rejoined Levant Command for
support of military operations.
Based
at Haifa.
(Note:
During this period Operation ACCOLADE was
being considered to re-occupy the
Aegean
Islands
but the failure to hold Cos
and Leros resulted in this being
cancelled.
In
any case operation of major warships had
been shown as hazardous
and
cruiser
deployment was only likely if adequate
cover by allied aircraft were
possible.)
December
On
release from Levant Command transferred to
Gibraltar.
22nd
Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence and
interception of blockade runners.
Searched
for German blockade runner ALSTERUFER with
HM Cruiser GAMBIA
and HM
Minelaying
cruiser ARIADNE.
(See
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY).
29th
Returned to Gibraltar
after ALSTRUFER had been
sunk.
1
9 4 4
January
19th
Deployed with 15th Cruiser Squadron at Naples
for duty in support of
landings
at
Anzio (Operation SHINGLE).
(See
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval
Staff History).
21st
Deployed as part of Southern Attack
Force (X-Ray) with USS BROOKLYN,
HM
Fighter Direction Ship
PALOMARES and
USN and RN destroyers
22nd
Provided naval gunfire support at X
Beach.
25th
Deployed as a pair with HMS DIDO, to
provide naval gunfire support to shore
military
operations
as required.
(Note:
These two cruisers were deployed in
rotation with HM Cruiser DELHI
and USS
BROOKLYN,
HMS PHOEBE and HMS ORION,
HM Cruiser MAURITIUS
and
USS
PHILADELPHIA
27th
Bombarded Formia
(Note:
During the period up to 17th February,
ships in the assault area came under
several
U-Boat attacks.).
February
Military
support role in continuation with ships of
Force X.
8th
Carried out five bombardments in
support of military operations at Anzio
beachhead.
17th
During passage to Naples
to replenish ammunition hit
by acoustic torpedo (T5) fired
from
U410 35 miles west
of Naples
off Cape
Circe.
Sank
10 minutes after further torpedo attack by
U410 which caused major explosion.
415
of the ships’ company were lost with 250
survivors rescued by landing craft
(Casualty
List - note
on
casualties)