1
93 9
September
Joined
Fleet after being used as an accommodation
ship.
Deployed
on trade protection duty in Atlantic.
October
Joined
Hunting Force N in Caribbean for
interception of German raiders and
for
trade protection with French battleship
STRASBOURG.
November
Continued
duties in western Atlantic.
December
Transferred
to Indian Ocean in continuation of
interception duty.
1
9 4 0
January
Continued
trade defence and interception duties in
Indian Ocean.
to April
May
31st
Deployed with HM Cruiser CUMBERLAND to
cover passage of Convoy US3
taking
ANZAC
troops to UK.
June
Transferred
to Atlantic for convoy defence and
interception duties.
8th
Joined escort for US3 until relieved
by HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS on 12th June.
23rd
Joined HM Cruiser DORSETSHIRE in
surveillance of Vichy warships at Dakar.
July
6th
Escorted by HMS DORSETSHIRE and HM
Australian Cruiser AUSTRALIA made
torpedo
attacks on French battleship RICHELIEU at
Dakar with SWORDFISH
aircraft.
August
Resumed
convoy defence and interception duties in
Atlantic.
to October
November
Joined
Hunting Group based at St. Helena for
interception duties.
December
Carried
out search for German battleship SCHEER in
South Atlantic Ocean with
HM
Cruiser DRAGON.
1
9 4 1
January
Transferred
to Indian Ocean.
Deployed
in support of shore military operations in
Eritrea.
Carried
out air strike on troops and ships.
February
Continued
support of military operations and made
air attacks on Mogadishu and
Kismayu.
22nd
Sailing with light cruiser CAPETOWN, and
joined by HM Heavy Cruisers AUSTRALIA,
CANBERRA (both RAN) and SHROPSHIRE, and HM Cruisers HAWKINS,
EMERALD,
ENTERPRISE and GLASGOW to search for the German battleship
ADMIRAL
SCHEER.
24th
Search called off and resumed convoy
defence duties.
March
Deployed
in Indian Ocean in continuation.
April
Detached
for duty in Persian Gulf to cover allied
operations in Iran after a
pro-German
coup.
May
Supported
military operations and aircraft made
attacks on shore targets.
Damaged
in collision with HM Armed Merchant
Cruiser CORFU.
June
Passage
to South Africa
July
Under
repair in HM Dockyard Simonstown.
to October
November
Resumed
convoy defence in Indian Ocean.
16th
At Capetown with HM Battleship PRINCE OF
WALES on passage to join Force Z
at
Singapore. Not deployed with Force Z
because of lack of speed.
December
Under
refit at Durban.
1
9 4 2
January
Under
refit at Durban.
February
On
completion resumed convoy defence duties
in Indian Ocean.
March
26th
At Trincomalee and joined Eastern Fleet
on formation.
31st
Joined HM Battleships RAMILLIES,
REVENGE, RESOLUTION and ROYAL
SOVEREIGN in Force B of Eastern Fleet to
support HM Battleship WARSPITE
HM Aircraft Carrier INDOMITABLE, HM
Cruiser EMERALD
and HM Cruiser
ENTERPRISE (Force A) during search for
Japanese warships in Indian Ocean.
April
4th
Detached to take passage to Trincomalee
and prepare for
Madagascar landing
operations.
8th
Remained south of Ceylon after
Japanese air attacks and had no
serviceable
aircraft
on board.
9th
Under attack by Japanese aircraft off
Ceylon and sank after being hit by no
fewer than forty 250 lb Bombs. 306 of her
ship's
company lost their lives.
(Casualty
List -
note
on
casualties)
HM Australian Destroyer VAMPIRE was also
sunk in
these attacks.
(For details of operations against
Japanese warships
in Indian Ocean during
March to April 1942 see OPERATION PACIFIC
by E.
Gray).
Addendum
Convoy
Escort Movements of
HMS
HERMES
by
Don Kindell
These
convoy lists have not been cross-checked
with the text above
|
|
|
|
|
Date
convoy sailed
|
Joined
convoy as escort
|
Convoy
No.
|
Left
convoy
|
Date
convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
27/12/39
|
01/01/40
|
SL
014F
|
09/01/40
|
11/01/40
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)