1
9 4 3
November
26th
Commissioned for service as HMS
NAIRANA.
(Note: British radar was fitted during
build.)
December
Contractors trials
12th
Build completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials.
17th
On completion of trials and storing
sailed for to work-up for service.
Nominated for service in Western
Approaches with 2nd British Escort Group
based
at Liverpool for Atlantic convoy defence.
Embarked 12
SWORDFISH aircraft and personnel of
838 Squadron.
1
9 4 4
January
25th
Embarked nine SWORDFISH and six SEA
HURRICANES of 835 Squadron with
personnel
29th
Joined HM Sloops STARLING, WILD GOOSE,
KITE, MAGPIE and WOODPECKER
with HM
Escort
Carrier
ACTIVITY for operational duty in Atlantic
with Group.
31st
During provision of anti-submarine
support of joint outward convoy
OS66/KMS70
during
passage to Gibraltar
in NW Approaches ships of Escort Group
sank U592.
There were no survivors. See U-BOATS
DESTROYED by P Kemp.
(Note:
Distant cover was also provided these
patrols for outward Convoys ON222 and
ONS28 on passage to
Canada
in the area.)
February
7th
Provided anti-submarine patrol support
for passage of inward joint convoy
SL147/MKS38
to Liverpool.
11th
Provided anti-submarine patrol support
for passage of inward convoy HX225 to
Liverpool.
13th
Provided anti-submarine patrol support
for passage of inward tanker Convoy CU13
into Clyde.
24th
Provided anti-submarine patrol support
for passage of joint outward convoy
OS69/KMS43
to Gibraltar
(Note:
During this period U264 was sunk by HMS
WOODPECKER. and was the first
SCHNORKEL fitted submarine to be sunk).
March
6th
At Gibraltar
with Group.
9th
Deployed with HMS ACTIVITY to provide
anti-submarine escort for inward Convoy
MKF29 during passage
to Clyde.
24th
Sailed from Clyde
to provide support during passage of
outward joint Convoy
OS72/KMS46 during
passage in NW Approaches to Gibraltar.
April
10th
Sailed from Gibraltar
for support of inward joint Convoy
SL154/MKS45 during passage
to Clyde
May
13th
Deployed for anti-submarine sweep
operation in NW Approaches
(Note:
Extensive anti-submarine operations were
being carried out in this area to
intercept
U-Boats on passage
to and from Norway
via Faeroes – Iceland gap.
16th
Deployed to provide anti-submarine
patrols in defence of outward joint
Convoys
SL157/MKS48
and SL158/MKS49
June
3rd
Returned to Clyde
from Atlantic convoy defence.
12th
Deployed with escort for provision of
anti-submarine defence during passage of
outward
Convoy KMF32 during passage to Gibraltar
27th
Sailed from Gibraltar
to provide anti-submarine air cover
during passage of inward
Convoy KMF34 during Atlantic passage to
Clyde.
July
4th
On arrival in Clyde
detached from KMF34and taken in hand
for routine docking and repair.
August
Resumed service in Western Approaches
Command.
24th
Deployed for provision f anti-submarine
air cover with escort for outward Convoy
KMF34 during passage
to Gibraltar.
September
10th
Sailed from Gibraltar
for provision of anti-submarine air
cover during passage of
inward Convoy
KMF34 during passage to Clyde,
14th
Detached from KMF34 and taken in hand
for repair in Clyde
shipyard.
October
Nominated for detached service with Home
Fleet for Russian Convoy defence.
Embarked 14 SWORDFISH and six WILDCAT
aircraft and personnel of 835 Squadron
(For details of all Russian Convoy
operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg,
THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield,
ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman and
CONVOY ! by
P Kemp.
15th
Passage to Scapa
Flow for Home Fleet service.
22nd
Joined Main Escort for Russian Convoy
JW61 with HM Escort Carriers TRACKER and
VINDEX, HM Frigates BYRON, CONN, DEANE, FITZROY, INGLIS, LAWSON,
LORING, LOUIS, MOUNSEY, NARBROUGH,
REDMILL and RUPERT to provide
anti-submarine
patrols and fighter protection
against air attacks during passage to
Kola
Inlet (Operation TRIAL)
28th
Detached from JW 61 on arrival at Kola
Inlet without loss of any mercantile.
(Note: This
was largely due to availability of
extensive air support and a very
strong
escort, which prevented any major
interference.
November
2nd
Sailed from Kola Inlet with return
convoy RA61 and same escorts.
(Note:
Before sailing the frigate escorts were
deployed off Kola Inlet to carry
out sustained
anti-submarine hunting operations
against a known assembly
of
submarines
waiting for departure of ships. During
these the frigate HMS MOUNSEY
was torpedoed
but able to return to Kola for repair.
7th
Detached from RA61 with HM Cruiser DIDO,
HMS VINDEX and HMS TRACKER before
the arrival
of RA61 at Loch Ewe without loss.
9th
Taken in hand for repair in Clyde
shipyard
December
On completion resumed detached duties
with Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
2nd
Deployed as escort for Russian Convoy
JW62 with HM Cruiser BELLONA and HM
Escort
Carrier CAMPANIA screened by HM Destroyers BEAGLE,
BULLDOG, CAESAR,
CASSANDRA, CAMBRIAN, CAPRICE, KEPPEL,
OBEDIENT, OFFA, ONSLAUGHT,
ONSLOW, ORIBI, ORWELL and WESTCOTT to
provide anti-submarine patrols and air
cover
during
passage. (Operation ACUMEN)
7th
Detached from JW62 on arrival at Kola
Inlet after unscathed passage
10th
Sailed with same ships as escort for
return Convoy RA62 after an
anti-submarine
operation off
Kola Inlet by frigates and corvettes
before departure.
(Note:
During this operation U387 was sunk by
HM Corvette BAMBOROUGH CASTLE.
11th
HM Destroyer CASSANDRA was torpedoed by
U365 but able to return to Murmansk
for
repair.
12th
HM Norwegian Corvette sank after hitting
a nine.
Under attack by torpedo bombers two of
which were destroyed.
13th
During anti-submarine operations by
carriers U365 was sunk by an aircraft
from
HMS CAMPANIA.
19th
Returned to Scapa
Flow with Home Fleet ships.
20th
Under repair in Clyde
shipyard.
On completion resumed detached service
in Home Fleet
Nominated for
attack on enemy shipping near Vaagso,
Norway (Operation SAMPLER)
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9 4 5
January
1st
Operation SAMPLER aborted because of
weather conditions.
24th
Deployed with HM Escort Aircraft Carrier
PREMIER to cover night air attacks by
HM Escort Aircraft Carrier CAMPANIA on
shipping off Vaagso,
Norway
(Operation WINDED)
30th
Deployed to provide cover during air
strikes on Norway
February
6th
Deployed with HM Cruiser BELLONA, HMS
CAMPANIA, HM Sloop LAPWING,
HM Corvette DENBIGH CASTLE and HM Trawler OSKOY, screened by HM
Destroyers
ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW,
OPPORTUNE, ORWELL, SERAPIS, ZAMBESI,
ZEALOUS,
ZEST and Canadian SIOUX to provide
anti-submarine cover during passage of
Russian
Convoy JW64 (Operation HOTBED)
Under surveillance
by German aircraft. Ju88
destroyed.
Total U-Boat threat estimated as 11
submarines.
7th
Under sustained attack by torpedo
bombers of which 6 were destroyed by
fighters from
Escort Carriers.
10th
Repeated torpedo bomber attacks driven
off but poor convoy fire discipline
posed threat
to aircraft
from carriers.
13th
HM Corvette
DENBIGH CASTLE torpedoed.
(Note:
Towed to Kola Inlet but sank after
grounding).
15th
Detached on arrival of JW64 at Kola
Inlet.
16th
Took part in anti-submarine operations
with ships of escort against U-Boats off
Kola Inlet which had assembled to attack
return Convoy
RA64.
(Note:
After sinking U425 with HM Corvette
ALNWICK CASTLE, HM Sloop LARK was
torpedoed
and became a
total loss after tow to Kola Inlet).
17th
Joined return convoy on departure from
Kola Inlet.
20th
Despite horrendous weather conditions
launched fighter attacks against enemy
air
attacks which
prevented loss of ships in convoy.
21st
Ships in convoy dispersed due to
continuation of extreme weather
conditions.
27th
Returned to Scapa Flow with HMS BELLONA,
HMS CAMPANIA and Home Fleet destroyers.
March
Deployed with Home Fleet for operations
against snipping off Norway.
26th
Deployed with HM Escort Aircraft Carrier
PUNCHER to carry out WILDCAT attacks on
shipping in Alesund
, Norway (Operation PREFIX)
(Note: The
weather conditions were poor During this
operation.)
29th
Returned to Scapa Flow and took passage
to Belfast for refit
31st
Taken in hand for major refit.
April
Under refit
to
July
August
Carried out harbour trials
7th
Sustained serious damage when leaving
dry dock
Taken in hand for
repair.