1
9 2 8
April
Contractors Trials
19th
Commissioned at Chatham for trials
May
5th
Paid-off on completion of Acceptance
Trials
(Note: Cost of build was £2,084,213)
June
22nd
Commissioned at Chatham
for service on the China Station with
5th Cruiser Squadron.
July
Prepared for foreign
service
5th
Sailed from Sheerness after ammunitioning
6th
Sailed from Spithead
for Gibraltar
11th
Sailed from Gibraltar for Malta
14th
Deployed in Malta
16th
Sailed from Malta for Port Said.
20th
Sailed from Port Said for Colombo
31st
At Colombo
August
4th
Sailed from Colombo for Singapore
12th
Sailed from Singapore for Hong Kong.
17th
Arrived at Hong Kong
Joined Squadron as Flagship of CinC
China Station..
(Note: Squadron included HM Cruisers
SUFFOLK and BERWICK
September
Deployed with Squadron at Hong Kong.
to
October
November
Took passage from Hong to Yokohama for
Official Visit.
December
2nd
Arrived at Yokohama
with Squadron to attend Coronation
Review by Emperor Hirohito.
4th
Present at Review to represent Great
Britain.
Return passage to Hong Kong
1
9 2 9
Deployed on China Station and carried
out official visits and took part in
exercises
with RN ships
on the China Station
Carried out Guardship
duties at Chinese ports with trade
connections with Great Britain
and the
Empire
1
9 3 0
China Station
deployment with Squadron in
continuation.
Deployed as Guardship
in Yangste
in June
1
9 3 1
January
Squadron duties on China Station in
continuation
to
February
March
Prepared for return passage to UK for
re-commissioning and refit.
15th
Sailed from Hong Kong.
April
Passage in Mediterranean
30th
Arrived at Chatham
May
Paid off and taken in hand for refit at
HM Dockyard, Chatham.
June
Under refit
July
Re-commissioned for service on China
Station in 5th Cruiser Squadron.
15th
Sailed from Sheerness to Hong Kong.
August
On passage in Indian Ocean
30th
Arrived at Hong Kong.
September
Resumed Squadron duties on China
Station.
October
Deployed with Squadron for visits, Guardship
and Station exercises.
to
December
1
9 3 2
China Station duties in continuation
1
9 3 3
China Station deployment in continuation
including visit to Yokohama
in September
1
9 3 4
January
China Station duties with Squadron
to
February
March
Prepared for return passage to re
commission
April
Passage to Chatham
On arrival Paid-off and taken in hand
for refit by HM Dockyard Chatham
May
25th
Re-commissioned for service on China
Station with 5th Cruiser Squadron.
June
On passage to rejoin Squadron at Hong
Kong
July
Arrived at Hong Kong
August
Deployed on China Station for Squadron
duties based at Hong Kong.
to
December
1
9 3 5
China Station duties
in continuation.
1
9 3 6
January
China Station Squadron duties in
continuation
to
September
October
Sailed from Hong Kong to Chatham for
refit and re-commissioning.
November
Passage delayed in Mediterranean because
of Abyssinian crisis
December
Resumed passage
1
9 3 7
January
Paid off on arrival and taken in hand
for major refit
February
Under refit
to
(Note: Changes included:
December
4in Gun mounting between funnels replace
by twin 4in mounting
Two eight barrelled Pom-Pom
AA guns fitted on both sides of
superstructure.
Narrow belt of armour plate fitted at
waterline level over machinery spaces.
Torpedo Tube mountings removed.
High Angle Control Directors fitted in
place of range finders for AA defence.
Two Cranes fitted one each either side
of after funnel.
1
9 3 8
January
Under refit
to
April
May
Harbour trials
25th
Re-commissioned for service on China
Station with 5th Cruiser Squadron.
26th
Commenced sea trials and Shakedown. in
Nore area.
June
Deployed at Chatham and completed
storing.
July
Passage to Spithead.
Sailed for foreign
service.
August
Passage with calls at Malta, Port
Said, Aden and Singapore.
September
Passage from Singapore to join Squadron
at Hong Kong.
4th
Arrived at Hong
Kong and joined Squadron as Flagship.
Assisted French liner CHENONCEAU which
had gone aground in the
entrance to
Hong Kong harbour.
October
Deployed as Flagship of Squadron based
at Hong Kong.
to
December
1
9 3 9
January
Flagship duties in continuation
to
(Note: Other ships in Squadron were HM
Cruisers CORNWALL,
May
DORSETSHIRE and BIRMINGHAM.)
June
Embarked CinC
China Station for passage from Hong Kong
to Singapore.
(Note: Admiral Sir Percy Noble chaired
an Anglo-French Defence Conference
considering
Japanese activities in China.
July
Carried out exercises in anticipation of
hostilities
to
Prepared to take up allocated war
station.
August
September
Deployed as Flagship of 5th Cruiser
Squadron on the China Station.
(Note: Other ships in Squadron were HM
Cruisers BIRMINGHAM,
DORSETSHIRE and CORNWALL.)
2nd
Sailed from Hong Kong to take up war
station and deployed for interception
of German
shipping on passage in China Sea.
D
e t a i l
s o
f W a
r S e r v i
c e
(for
more ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and
type name in Site Search
3rd
Carried out patrols to intercept German
shipping off Shantung
11th
Returned to Hong Kong.
13th
Sailed for interception patrol off
Chinese Mainland.
28th
Returned to Hong Kong
October
1st
Resumed patrol
24th
Returned to Hong Kong for routine
docking
31st
Sailed for interception patrol
November
8th
Returned to Hong
Kong from patrol.
Transferred to 4th Cruiser Squadron,
East Indies Station based
at Colombo.
12th
Took passage to Singapore.
15th
Arrived at Singapore.
16th
Deployed with French Cruiser SUFFREN, HM
Australian Destroyers
VOYAGER and VAMPIRE to form Hunting
Group for interception of
German shipping attempting to return to
Europe from ports in Sumatra
and Java.
23rd
Called at Nancowry.
December
2nd
Arrived at Colombo
to join 4th Cruiser Squadron.
4th
Deployed for patrol in Indian Ocean for
interception of commerce
raiders and
support ships.
14th
Returned to Colombo.
1
9 4 0
January
8th
Passage to Fremantle, Australia for
escort of military convoy
during
passage in Indian Ocean.
17th
Arrived at Fremantle.
20th
Relieved HM Australian Cruisers CANBERRA
and AUSTRALIA off Fremantle
as escort for
Convoy US1
30th
Detached from US1 on relief by HM
Aircraft Carrier EAGLE and HM Australian
Cruiser HOBART.
(Note: US1 was taking ANZAC troops for
service in the Middle East.
February
Indian Ocean patrol deployment in
continuation.
March
Returned to Colombo for refit.
22nd
On completion resumed Squadron duties.
April
27th
Took passage from Trincomalee to join
military convoy US2 as escort during
passage
to Colombo in
Indian Ocean.
(Note: US2 was also taking ANZAC troops
to Egypt.
May
Transferred to 3rd Cruiser Squadron for
service with Mediterranean Fleet.
5th
Sailed from Colombo as escort for US2
with HM Battleship RAMILLIES and
FS SUFFREN.
12th
Joined by HM Destroyers DECOY and
DEFENDER to supplement escort during
passage in
Red Sea.
15th
Joined by HM Cruiser LIVERPOOL and HM Sloop SHOREHAM for added defence.
17th
Detached from US2 on arrival at Suez.
24th
Joined Squadron at Alexandria.
June
Took part in preparatory exercises with
ships of Mediterranean Fleet in
anticipation
of outbreak of war with Italy.
July
Nominated for detached service in Indian
Ocean.
Took passage from Alexandria
to Aden.
21st
Joined military convoy WS1 during
passage to Ceylon in position 34.20S
33.00E.
(Note: WS1 comprised rms
AQUITANIA, rms
MAURETANIA and rms
QUEEN MARY taking troops to join 8th
Army in EGYPT. As these ships
were not
required to pass through the Red Sea
they had been diverted to Trincomalee.
29th
Detached from WS1 on arrival in Ceylon
where troops were transferred
to smaller
transports for onward passage.
Took passage to
rejoin Squadron at Alexandria.
August
Passage to Alexandria.
(Note: One source records that ship
escorted troopships during passage.)
15th
Sailed from Alexandria with HM
Battleships WARSPITE, MALAYA and
RAMILLIES as part of Force A,
Mediterranean Fleet
17th
Provided cover during air attacks by HM
Aircraft Carrier EAGLE and
bombardment
of Bardia
by Force A.
18th
Under air attacks during return
passage.
30th
Deployed with ships of Squadron to cover
passage of supply convoy to Malta
and transit
of HM Battleship VALIANT, HM Aircraft
Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS,
HM Cruisers CALCUTTA and COVENTRY during
passage in Eastern
Mediterranean to reinforce Fleet at
Alexandria
(Operation HATS –See Naval Staff
History, THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre,
MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman)
September
2nd
Detached from HATS to escort 5
ship convoy from Greece with HM
Cruisers GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, HM
Destroyers MOHAWK and NUBIAN
5th
Arrived at Alexandria.
9th
Deployed with HMS VALIANT and HM
Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS to provide
cover during
air strikes and shore bombardment at Bardia.
17th
Carried out bombardment of Fort
Cappuzo.
Hit by torpedo from Italian aircraft
during air attacks and disabled.
Taken in tow by HMS
NUBIAN.
19th
Arrived in tow at Alexandria,
where emergency repairs were carried
out.
(additions and corrections made to
this account through to December
27th.
With thanks to Ella Kemp, whose father
joined HMS KENT at Alexandria
October 25th)
October Under
emergency repair at Alexandria.
26th
Sailed from Alexandria for Port Said
27th
Arrived Port Said.
28th
Departed Suez with convoy SW20
November
2nd
Departed Aden
7th
Arrived Mombasa
11th
Departed Mombasa
18th
Arrived Simonstown
25th
Departed
Simonstown
December
4th
Arrived
Freetown
7th
Departed Freetown with convoy SL 58
27th Arrived at Plymouth.
1
9 4 1
January
Under repair by HM Dockyard, Portsmouth
to
20mm Oerlikon guns fitted on turrets and
after structure.
August
Radar Type 284 fitted for fire-control
of forward main armament mountings.
Radar Type 285 fitted for fire-control
of secondary AA armament.
Radar Type 28 1 fitted for aircraft
warning
(For details of development and use of
radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by
D Howse.)
September
Post refit
trials.
30th
Took passage from Portsmouth for work-up
at Scapa Flow with ships of the
Home Fleet.
October
Joined 1st Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet
on arrival.
Deployed at Scapa
Flow for work-up.
November
3rd
Sailed from Scapa Flow with HM
Battleship KING GEORGE V, HM Cruisers
BERWICK, SUFFOLK and HM Aircraft Carrier
VICTORIOUS after report that
German warships SHEER and TIRPITZ were
expected to attempt breakout into
the Atlantic.
6th
Deployed in Iceland and available to
provide cover for passage of Russian
Convoy PQ3 to Archangel.
(Note: For details of all Russian
Convoys see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA
Ruegg, THE
RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schofield, ARCTIC
CONVOYS
by R Woodman
and CONVOY ! by
P Kemp.
Embarked military
mission for passage to Archangel.
24th
Landed Mission and returned to Scapa
Flow.
December
8th
Embarked Foreign Secretary (Anthony
Eden) and Russian Ambassador
for passage
to Kola Inlet to attend meeting in
Moscow.
12th
Arrived at Kola Inlet and disembarked
passengers.
17th
Despatched from Kola Inlet with two
Russian destroyers to assist HM
Minesweepers
SPEEDY and HAZARD which were under
attack by German destroyers Z23,
Z24, Z25 and Z27.
Returned to Kola Inlet after
unsuccessful search
25th
Took passage from Kola Inlet for UK with
Foreign Secretary embarked.
1
9 4 2
January
After arrival returned to Iceland to
resume covering duties and for
interception of
German warships
attempting to enter Atlantic
for attacks on Atlantic traffic.
February
Iceland deployment in continuation.
18th
Deployed with HM Battleships KING GEORGE
V, DUKE OF YORK, HMS
VICTORIOUS, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM
Cruiser EDINBURGH, HM
Destroyers ASHANTI, BEDOUIN, ESCAPADE,
ECHO, ESKIMO,
FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT, ICARUS, INGLEFIELD,
LEDBURY, MARNE,
MIDDLETON, PUNJABI, TARTAR and WHEATLAND
to provide Distant
Cover for passage of Russian Convoy PQ
13 and return convoy QP9 from Kola
Inlet
March
Deployed for Patrol WHITE in Denmark
Strait with HM Cruiser LONDON and three
USN ships.
Ordered to set up stations east of Bear
Island after refuelling in Iceland to
refuel
destroyers
deployed for the interception of German
battleship TIRPITZ which posed a
threat to
convoys to and from North Russia. See
ARCTIC DESTROYERS by R Woodman.
On release from refuelling resumed
patrol off Iceland.
April
Returned to Scapa Flow after QP9 had
arrived in Iceland.
9th
Provided Distant Cover for passage of
Russian Convoy PQ14 and return
Convoy QP10 with HMS KING GEORGE V, HMS
DIKE OF YORK, HMS
VICTORIOUS, HM Cruiser NIGERIA screened
by twelve Home Fleet
destroyers:
'See above references.
Returned to Scapa
Flow on release from covering duty.
22nd
Deployed with HM Cruiser NIGERIA, HM
Destroyers ESKIMO ESCAPADE
and FAULKNOR
as screen for HMS DUKE OF YORK during
passage from
Scapa
Flow to Iceland.
May
Deployed in
Iceland.
13th
Carried out covering patrol west of Bear
Island during return passage of damaged
cruiser HMS
TRINIDAD with HM Cruisers NORFOLK,
NIGERIA and LIVERPOOL
screened by
four destroyers.
15th
Joined ships of Home Fleet and returned
to Iceland after loss of HMS TRINIDAD
Came under air
attacks on return passage.
23rd
Deployed with HM Cruisers LIVERPOOL,
NIGERIA and NORFOLK screened
by HM
Destroyers MARNE, ONSLOW and ORIBI to
provide cruiser cover during
passage of
Russian Convoy PQ16 and return Convoy
QP12 from Kola Inlet.
28th
On release from covering duties returned
to Iceland
June
Return passage to Scapa Flow and
prepared for refit at Liverpool.
July
Taken in hand for refit.
August
Under refit
to
Surface warning centimetric
radar Type 273 fitted aft on mainmast
platform.
September
Single 20mm Oerlikon weapons fitted to
improve close range AA defence.
October
Post Refit Trials and setting to work
21st
Refit work completed.
November
8th
Arrived at Scapa Flow to complete weapon
and radar trials during work-up for
operational
deployment with Squadron in Home Fleet.
December
Deployed at Scapa Flow for interception
and patrol in NW Approaches.
Sailed from Scapa Flow with HM Cruiser
BERWICK to relieve HM Cruisers
JAMAICA and SHEFFIELD providing Cruiser
Cover for passage of return
Convoy RA51 from Kola Inlet.
1
9 4 3
January
2nd
Relieved HMS JAMAICA and HMS
SHEFFIELD.
Returned to Scapa
Flow on release from covering duties.
(Note: Distant Cover was provided by
Home Fleet units. See references.)
17th
Sailed from Scapa Flow with HM Cruisers
GLASGOW and BERMUDA to provide Cruiser
Cover during passage of Russian Convoy
JW52 during passage to Kola Inlet.
24th
Under air and U-boat attacks which
failed.
27th
Arrived at Kola Inlet.
30th
Provided Cruiser Cover for passage of
return convoy RA52 from Kola Inlet with
HM
Cruisers BERMUDA and GLASGOW,
February
2nd
Released from covering duties and
returned to Scapa Flow.
March
Deployed at Scapa Flow for Home Fleet
duties.
to
May
June
Passage to Iceland for interception
patrol and covering duties.
July
7th
Deployed with HM Cruisers LONDON and
BELFAST in Home Fleet operation off
Norwegian coast to divert enemy
attention during allied landings in
Sicily
(Operation CAMERA)
9th
Returned to Scapa Flow.
August
Passage to Halifax, NS.
14th
Deployed with HM Destroyers MATCHLESS,
OBDURATE and OPPORTUNE as
escort for HM
Battlecruiser RENOWN during passage from
Halifax to UK.
(Note: HMS RENOWN was taking the Prime
Minister back to the Clyde after
QUADRANT conference at Quebec with the
US President)
19th
Passage to Scapa after arrival in Clyde.
25th
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard
Chatham
September
Under refit.
Four Radar Type 283
to provide Barrage control of 4in AA
Directors fitted.
October
4th
On completion of post refit trials took
passage to resume Squadron duties with
Home Fleet at Scapa
Flow.
8th
Released from Cruiser Cover and returned
to Scapa Flow.
November
2nd
Provided Cruiser Cover during passage of
return convoy RA54A from Kola Inlet with
HM Cruisers BELFAST
and NORFOLK.
19th
Provided Cruiser Cover during passage of
Russian Convoy JW54A to Kola Inlet
with HM
Cruisers BERMUDA and JAMAICA.
24th
Arrived at Kola Inlet.
26th
Embarked gold bullion as payment for
supplies to Russia.
27th
Deployed with HMS BELFAST and HMS
JAMAICA to provide Cruiser Cover during
passage of
return convoy RA54B from Kola Inlet and
inward Convoy JW54B on
passage from
UK
December
3rd
Released from covering duties and took
passage to Scapa Flow to resume Squadron
duties.
1
9 4 4
January
12th
Provided Cruiser Cover for passage of
Russian Convoy JW56A and JWS6B during
their
passages to Kola Inlet and that of the
return convoy RA56, with HMS BERMUDA
and HMS
BERWICK.
(Note: HMS BERWICK detached later and
returned to Scapa Flow with defects.)
Convoy JW56B sailed 14 days later.)
February
11th
On release from covering duties returned
to Scapa Flow.
March
Squadron duties with Home Fleet in
continuation.
April
Nominated for support of planned allied
landings in Normandy. (Operation
NEPTUNE)
(Note: Deployed as Flagship of 1st
Cruiser Squadron (Rear Admiral RR
McGrigor)
with HMS BERWICK and HMS DEVONSHIRE.)
30th
Took part in preparatory exercises
with Home Fleet ships.
May
Squadron deployment at Scapa Flow in
continuation.
June
Remained with Home Fleet based at Scapa
Flow during landings to provide Distant
Cover for NEPTUNE in the event of any
attempt by major German warships to
interfere
with this operation.
(Note: For details of naval activities
before and during landings see LANDINGS
IN
NORMANDY,
June 1944 (HMSO) and OPERATION NEPTUNE
by K Edwards.)
28th
At Rosyth
July
Squadron deployment in continuation at
Scapa Flow.
17th
Deployed with HMS DUKE OF YORK, HM
Cruisers DEVONSHIRE, JAMAICA and
BELLONA as part of Home Fleet Distant
Cover during air attacks from HM
Aircraft
Carriers FORMIDABLE, FURIOUS and
VICTORIOUS on the German battleship
TIRPITZ in Altenfjord, Norway
(Operation MASCOT)
(Note: These attacks were unsuccessful)
August
10th
Deployed with HMS DEVONSHIRE to provide
cover during air operations by
HM Aircraft Carrier INDEFATIGABLE
, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers
TRUMPETER
and NABOB on
airfields at Goosen,
Norway and air minelay near Lepsoy
Island
(Operation OFFSPRING)
18th
Escorted HMS NABOB and HMS TRUMPETER
during air strikes on TIRPITZ by
HMS FORMIDABLE, HMS FURIOUS and HMS
INDEFATIGABLE
(Operation GOODWOOD)
22nd
Returned to Scapa
Flow with Home Fleet units.
(Note: These attacks were also
unsuccessful.)
September
5th
Deployed as escort for rms
QUEEN MARY with HMS DEVONSHIRE and HMS
BERWICK during passage in Atlantic
(Note: rms
QUEEN MARY was taking the Prime Minister
to attend the OCTAGON
conference
with the US President.)
11th
Resumed Fleet duties at Scapa Flow.
October
Home Fleet deployment in continuation.
12th
Deployed to provide cover for shipping
strikes near Stadtlandet
and an air minelay
south of Vorso
Island, Norway by HMS FURIOUS HMS
AVENGER and HMS
TRUMPETER.
(Operation BEGONIA)
November
12th
Deployed with HM Cruiser BELLONA to
carry out offensive operation against
shipping off
Norway. screened
by HM Destroyers MYNGS, VERULAM, ZAMBESI
and Canadian
ALGONQUIN.
15th
Attacked German convoy KS357 off Listerfjord,
sinking two mercantiles
and five
escorts See
Naval Staff History and RADAR AT SEA.
December
Deployed with Squadron for Home Fleet
duties.
To be withdrawn from operational service
and Paid-off.
1
9 4 5
January
Passage to Clyde to reduce to Category B
Reserve.
5th
Reducing to Reserve status in Gareloch
February
16th
Placed in Category B Reserve and at 4
months Notice for return to operational
use
March
Laid up in Gareloch.