1 9 4 3
August
Contractor's trials and
commissioning
10th
Build completion and commenced Acceptance
Trials
On completion of
trial and storing took passage to Scapa
flow
for work-up with
Home Fleet
ships.
September
Refitted for use as an Escort
Carrier Squadron Flagship
October
On completion deployed at Plymouth
for interception duty in SW Approaches.
Nominated for
transfer to Mediterranean
and took passage to Malta
to join Squadron.
November
8th
Arrived at Naples
from Malta
as part of Force K.
Deployed for
support of military operations.
December
Passage to Gibraltar.
1
9 4 4
January
Nominated for support of
planned landings at Anzio.
15th
Bombarded German positions at Gaeta,
north of Naples
prior to Anzio
landings.
18th
Carried out further bombardment of Gaeta
with HM Destroyers
FAULKNOR, LAFOREY
and JERVIS.
21st
Joined HM Cruisers ORION and PENELOPE, HM
Destroyers
INGLEFIELD, and LOYAL
in
Northern Attack Force (Peter) at Anzio.
Escorted
Landing Ships (Tank) taking 1st British
infantry Division to beachhead with
HMS
ORION and 12 destroyers.
22nd
Provided naval gunfire support during
landings with HMS ORION,
HM AA Snip ULSTER
QUEEN.
HM Destroyers LAFOREY and LOYAL.
(Operation
SHINGLE - For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by
C
Barnett and the
Naval Staff History.)
29th
Hit on port side abaft after funnel by
Hs 293 Glider which exploded in engine room.
Compartment flooded and fire started in
after
superstructure causing explosions.
Capsized and abandoned after an hour when
fires could
not be controlled.
Sank in position 41.26N 12.41E.
523 Survivors were rescued by HM Cruiser
DIDO, HMS
LAFOREY and HMS LOYAL.
(Casualty
List
- note
on
casualties)