1 9 4 2

 

October                  Contractors trials.

 

November              Commissioned for service with 8th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet.

                16th        Build completion and acceptance trials.                          

                                Passage to Scapa Flow for work-up with Home Fleet

 

December              Joined Flotilla on completion of working-up.

19th        Deployed with H M Destroyers QUADRANT and MUSKETEER as screen for HM

                                Battleship KING GEORGE V and H M Cruiser BERWICK providing Distant Cover

                                for Russian Convey JW51A during passage to Kola Inlet.

                                (Note: For details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA

                                Ruegg, CONVOY! by P Kemp, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield and

                                ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman.)

22nd       Ceased Distant Cover and remained in area with same ships.

30th        Deployed with same

                                ships to provide Distant Cover for passage of return Convoy RA51.

                                (Note: This convoy had an uninterrupted passage as German forces were carrying out

                                attacks on following inward Convoy JW51B. See references.)

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

                2nd         Deployed with HM Destroyers MONTROSE, MUSKETEER, QUEENBOROUGH,

                                WORCESTER and the Polish destroyer ORP PIORUN as screen for HM Cruiser

                                BERMUDA, HM Battleships KING GEORGE V and HOWE to provide Distant Cover

                                for passage of returning Convoy RA51.

                23rd        Deployed with HM Destroyers ECHO, ECLIPSE, FAULKNOR,

                                INGLEFIELD, QUEENBOROUGH, MONTROSE and ORP PIORUN to screen HM

                                Battleship ANSON and HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD during provision of Distant Cover for

                                passage of Russian Convoy JW52.

 

February                Deployed with Flotilla based at Scapa Flow for screening and patrol duties.

                                Nominated for foreign service in East Indies.

                                Prepared for foreign service.

                27th        Joined military convoy WS27 with HM Battleship MALAYA, HM Destroyers

                                QUEENBOROUGH, QUAIL and WOLVERINE as Ocean Escort during Atlantic passage.

 

March

                8th          Detached from WS27 on arrival at Freetown.

                11th        Rejoined WS27 with same ships for Ocean Escort during passage to Durban.

                29th        Detached from WS27 on arrival at Durban.

 

April                       Deployed at Durban for Indian Ocean convoy defence.

                18th        Joined military convoy WS28 with HM Destroyer NAPIER as Ocean Escort during the

                                passage in Indian Ocean.

                20th        Detached from WS28 during passage and returned to Durban.

 

May                        Indian Ocean convoy escort and patrol duties in continuation!).

                                Nominated for return to Home Fleet for support of planned operations.

 

June                        Passage to UK to Scapa Flow. Rejoined Flotilla.

 

July                         Deployed with Hone Fleet and took passage to Gibraltar for escort of major units

                                providing cover for allied landings in Sicily (Operation HUSKY)

                10th        Deployed as screen for HM Battleships NELSON, RODNEY, WARSPITE and

                                VALIANT, HM Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE, FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers

                                AURORA, PENELOPE, CLEOPATRA and EURYALUS with HM Destroyers

                                QUILLIAM, QUEENBOROUGH, QUAIL, ISIS, FAULKNOR, ECHO, INTREPID,

                                ECLIPSE, FURY, INGLEFIELD, ILEX, TROUBRIDGE, TYRIAN, TUMULT, OFFA,

                                ORP PIORUN and Greek VASILISSA OLGA to provide cover during allied landings

.                               (Note: For details of Sicily operations see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                                CLOSELY by C. BARNETT, THE NAVAL WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN

                                by J Greene and A Massignani and Naval Staff History.)

                               

August                  Flotilla duties in Mediterranean for support of military operations.

 

September

                10th        Part of screen for HM Battleships WARSPITE and VALIANT with H M Destroyers

                                ECHO, FAULKNOR, FURY, INTREPID, Greek VASILISSA OLGA AND French

                                LE TERRIBLE which met Italian Fleet units on passage to Malta after Italian

                                surrender. See above references.

                12th        Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, INTREPID, ECLIPSE, INGLEFIELD,

                                ILEX, ECHO and Greek VASILISSA OLGA to provide cover during allied landings at

                                Salerno. (Operation AVALANCHE. See above references.

 

October                  Mediterranean Fleet and support duties in continuation.

to                            (Note: Did not take an active part in defence of Aegean Islands.)

November

 

December              Nominated for service in Eastern Fleet with 11th Destroyer Flotilla.

                                Took passage to join Flotilla at Trincomalee. (Note: HM Battleships QUEEN

                                ELIZABETH and VALIANT, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Aircraft Carrier

                                ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruiser SUSSEX were also on passage to join Eastern Fleet as

                                part of a reinforcement agreed with USA.)

                                See THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by John Winton

                                and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Passage to Trincomalee.

to                            (Note: When complete Flotilla comprised HM Destroyers RACEHORSE, RAIDER

March                    RAPID, REDOUBT, RELENTLESS, ROCKET, ROEBUCK and

                                ROTHERHAM.)

                                Prepared for Eastern Fleet duties.

 

April                       Deployed in Indian Ocean for convoy defence, interception, patrol and Fleet duties,

 

May                        Deployed for anti-submarine operations in conjunction with aircraft and HM Sloop

                                FALMOUTH off coast of East Africa.

 

                2nd         Assisted in capture of survivors from U852 which had been damaged in air attacks and

                                unable to dive. Submarine had been abandoned after deliberate grounding at Banda

                                Beira, 50 m. south of Cape Guardafui. See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and

                                WAR WITH JAPAN.)

 

June                        Deployed for Fleet duties with Flotilla.

                19th        Deployed with HM Destroyers QUALITY, QUILLIAM, QUICKMATCH,

                                ROTHERHAM, RACEHORSE, RELENTLESS and ROEBUCK as screen for HMS

                                RENOWN, French battleship RICHELIEU, HM Cruisers GAMBIA, NIGERIA,

                                KENYA and CEYLON during air attacks en Port Blair in Andamans.

                                (Operation PEDAL - See WAR WITH JAPAN).

 

July                         Deployed for anti-submarine patrol and interception duties.

                8th          Carried out search for U537 with HMS RACEHORSE NE of Chagos Islands.

                                (Note: This submarine was on passage to Penang with stores and equipment from

                                Europe for use by Japan.)

                22nd       Joined Force 62 with HM Destroyers RELENTLESS. ROTHERHAM, RACEHORSE,

                                ROEBUCK, RAPID, QUILLIAM, QUALITY and QUICKMATCH for screening of

                                HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, VALIANT, French RICHELIEU, HM Aircraft Carriers

                                ILLUSTRIOUS and VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers CEYLON, CUMBERLAND,

                                GAMBIA, KENYA, NIGERIA, PHOEBE and Dutch TROMP during passage in Indian

                                Ocean for air strikes and bombardments at Sabang, Sumatra.

                                (Operation CRIMSON - See above references.)

                                Sailed from Trincomalee

                25th        Deployed with HMS PHOEBE and HMS ROEBUCK as screen for HMS ILLUSTRIOUS

                                and HMS VICTORIOUS during air operations.

 

August

                19th        Joined Force 64 with HM Destroyers ROTHERHAM, REDOUBT, ROEBUCK, RAPID,

                                and ROCKET as screen for HM Battleship HOWE, HM Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE

                                and VICTORIOUS, HMS CEYLON and HMS KENYA during air strikes on Padang and

                                photo-reconnaissance of the airfield.

                                (Operation BANQUET. See above references.)

                                Took passage from Trincomalee.

                24th        Deployed with screen during air operations.

                                (Note: During BANQUET it was discovered that HMS HOWE could not attain designed

                                speed of 29 knots.)

 

September

                14th        Deployed with HM Destroyers ROTHERHAM, REDOUBT, RAPID, ROCKET

                                and RELENTLESS as screen for HMS VICTORIOUS, HMS INDOMITABLE

.                               HMS HOWE, HM Cruisers CUMBERLAND and KENYA during air operations

                                in northern Sumatra

                                (Operation LIGHT. See above references).

                                Sailed from Trincomalee.

                17th        Planned fighter sweep cancelled due to adverse weather.

                                (Operation LIGHT A).

                18th        Deployed with screen during photo-reconnaissance flights and air attacks

.               20th        Returned to Trincomalee with Force 63.

 

October

                15th        Joined Force 63 and allocated with HM Destroyers RELENTLESS, NORMAN,

                                and the Dutch VAN GALEN as Group 2 for screening of HMS CUMBERLAND,

                                LONDON and SUFFOLK during air attacks on shipping by HMS INDOMITABLE

                                and HMS VICTORIOUS and bombardments.

                                (Operation MILLET. This was an Eastern Fleet diversionary operation during the

                                US landings at Leyte. See WAR WITH JAPAN for details of Groups in Force 63.)

                17th        Took part in bombardment of targets in Malacca area with ships of Group 2

.                               Remained with HMS RELENTLESS as screen for HMS SUFFOLK and HMS

                                CUMBERLAND when HMS NORMAN and Dutch VAN GALEN detached for

                                bombardment of Car Nicobar.

                19th        Carried cut bombardment of targets at Car Nicobar with HMS RENOWN, HMS

                                SUFFOLK, HMS QUILLIAM and HMS QUEENBOROUGH.

                                Air attack on Force intercepted by fighter aircraft from HMS VICTORIOUS.

                                Took passage to return to Trincomalee with Force 64 ships.

 

November              Flotilla duties In continuation.

                22nd       Transferred to East Indies Fleet with Flotilla when Eastern Fleet reorganised on

                                formation of British Pacific Fleet. Continued service at Trincomalee.

 

December              Indian Ocean deployment in continuation with Flotilla.

                27th        Allocated with HM Destroyers RAPID and PATHFINDER as part of

                                Bombarding Force 61 during planned assault on Akyab, Burma.

                                (Operation TALON).

                                (Note: Other ships in Force were HM Cruisers NEWCASTLE,

                                PHOEBE and NIGERIA.)

                                Took passage to Chittagong to join Force 61.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Deployed at Chittagong and embarked assault troops for passage to Akyab.

                3rd          Took passage with HM Destroyer NAPIER and HM Sloop SHOREHAM for assault

                                landings as part of Convoy CHARLIE (Operation LIGHTNING.)

                                Operation TALON cancelled as Japanese had evacuated Akyab.

                5th          Despatched to meet damaged submarine HMS SHAKESPEARE escorted by

                                HM Submarine STYGIAN.

                                Took HMS SHAKESPEARE in tow until relieved by HM Destroyer WHELP.

                                (Note: Submarine had been badly damaged in air attacks on 2nd..

                7th          Returned to Trincomalee to resume support duties with East Indies Fleet.

                18th        Took passage from Trincomalee as escort for HI Escort Aircraft Carrier AMEER

                                to provide air support for planned landings on the northern part of Ramree Island

                                (Operation MATADOR).

                21st         Deployed as screen for HMS AMEER during air operations in support of landings by

                                4th British and 71st Indian Brigades. See above references for details.

                                (Note: Ships of Bombarding Force included HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HMS

                                PHOEBE, HMAS NAPIER and HM Indian Sloop KISTNA. HMS PHOEBE

                                also carried out aircraft control duties.

                                Whole Force designated Force 64.)

                24th        Provided cover during landings

                26th        Deployed with HMS AMEER, HMS PHOEBE, HMS NORMAN, HM Frigates SPEY

                                and TEVIOT for bombardment of Cheduba Island south of Ramree prior to landings

                                by Royal Marines.

                                (Operation SANKEY. See above references.)

                                (Note: This was the only purely naval assault landing during WW2.

                                HM Cruisers NEWCASTLE, KENYA and NIGERIA escorted by HM

                                Destroyer PALADIN also took part.)

                30th        Deployed with HMS NORMAN to land personnel on Sagu Island south of Ramree.

 

February                Burma coast deployment in continuation with HM Destroyers NORMAN,

                                PATHFINDER and NEPAL.

                4th          Returned to Akyab for support duties with Flotilla.

 

March                    Flotilla deployment for screening, support and patrol in continuation.

 

April                       Deployed for convoy defence and patrol in Indian Ocean.

 

May                        Deployed with Flotilla for interception of craft evacuating Japanese from Indian

to                            Ocean island garrisons and convoy defence.

June

 

July                         Deployed for Fleet duties at Trincomalee.

                                Took part in preparatory Fleet exercises for planned landings in Malaya.

                                (Operation ZIPPER).

                                (Note: The execution of these landings was delayed by requirements to implement

                                PYTHON Scheme for return of servicemen to UK from SE Asia Command

                                after the end of hostilities in Europe

                                See Final Report by Supreme Commander SEAC (HMSO)).

                17th        Deployed with HM Destroyers ROTHERHAM, RACEHORSE and PALADIN as

                                screen for ships of Force 63 covering mine clearance operations by the 7th

                                Minesweeping Flotilla off Pukhet Island (Operation LIVERY).

                                (Note: Force 63 included HM Battleship NELSON, HM Cruiser SUSSEX,

                                HM Escort Carriers AMEER and EMPEROR. See above references.)

                24th        During first day of Operation HM Minesweeper SQUIRREL was mined and was

                                sunk by one of screening ships.

                28th        Under attack by KAMIKAZE aircraft on last day of Operation.

                                (Note: HM Minesweeper VESTAL was hit by a suicide aircraft and was sunk

                                by HMS RACEHORSE after survivors rescued.

                                Last naval operation in WW2.)

 

August                  Deployed at Trincomalee pending approval to carry out ZIPPER landings.

                8th          Sailed with East Indies Fleet ships to re-occupy Penang

                                (Operation JURIST).

                11th        Jurist delayed at US insistence pending main Japanese surrender.

                15th        Took passage to Penang with Fleet.

                20th        Remained off coast of Sumatra pending approval to proceed with occupation.

                28th        Deployed at Sabang with HMS NELSON and HMS LONDON during attendance

                                of Japanese representatives to provide details of minefields in Malacca Strait

 

September

                4th          At Penang with Flotilla during initial surrender of local forces.