1 9 1 7
February Contractors trials and commissioning.
March
7th Accepted into service with Grand Fleet.
April Completion of trials and prepared for operational service.
May Deployed with Grand Fleet in lst Light Cruiser Squadron at Scapa Flow.
to Became Squadron Flagship.
October
November
17th Took part in action against German warships in Heligoland Bight and hit by
a 12in shell.
December Grand Fleet deployment in continuation.
1 9 1 8
January Grand Fleet duties at Scapa Flow in continuation.
to
October
November
21st German Fleet surrendered and interned at Scapa Flow under Home Fleet custody.
December Nominated for service in Baltic Sea for operations against Communist forces.
1 9 1 9
January Grand Fleet duties in continuation.
to Deployed in Baltic Sea in support of shore operations against Bolshevik forces.
March Blockade of Soviet Fleet based in Baltic Sea was also maintained
April Joined Atlantic Fleet as Flagship of 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron.
May Deployed in Hone waters with Squadron.
to
December
1 9 2 0
Atlantic Fleet deployment with Squadron in continuation.
1 9 2 1
January Atlantic Fleet deployment in continuation.
to
July
August Relieved as Flagship of 2nd Cruiser Squadron by HM Cruiser CURACOA.
26th Re-commissioned at Chatham for further service in Atlantic Fleet.
September Rejoined 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron.
October Atlantic Fleet deployment in continuation.
to
December
1 9 2 2
January Deployed in Home waters including patrol and support in Irish Sea and Atlantic
to during military operations against Irish insurgents.
June
July Nominated for detached service in Mediterranean.
August Deployed in eastern Mediterranean for protection of British interests during the conflict
to between Turkey and Greece.
November
December Returned to UK to rejoin Atlantic Fleet.
1 9 2 3
January Deployed in Baltic at Memel during attempt by rebel forces to occupy city
February During detached service involved in collision with Pilot Vessel NEUMARK I at
the port of Cuxhaven, Germany
March On return from Baltic service resumed Atlantic Fleet duties
April Atlantic Fleet deployment in continuation.
to
December
1 9 2 4
Atlantic Fleet deployment in Home waters in continuation.
Paid off.
1 9 2 5
January
6th Re-commissioned for further service in 2nd Light cruiser Squadron. Atlantic Fleet.
February Atlantic Fleet deployment with Squadron in continuation.
to
December
1 9 2 6
January Atlantic Fleet deployment in continuation.
to
July
August
17th Paid-Off and taken in hand for refit at Chatham, under refit.
September Under refit
to
December
1 9 2 7
January Under refit
to
June
July Post refit trials.
August Nominated for service in 3rd Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet.
September
5th Re-commissioned for service at Chatham.
October On completion of sea trials and preparation for foreign service took passage to Malta to
join Squadron.
November Deployed in Mediterranean with Squadron.
to
December
1 9 2 8
January
29th Sustained major damage to forward structure in collision with the Italian ship ANTARES in
Doro Channel, Aegean Sea.
February Under temporary repair by HM Dockyard, Malta to enable safe passage to UK.
to
March
April Passage to UK
to Paid off into Dockyard control at Devonport.
December Taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard Devonport.
1 9 2 9
January
15th Re-commissioned at Devonport for further service 3rd Cruiser Squadron.
February On completion of trials and preparation for service took passage to join Squadron
in Malta.
March Deployed with Squadron in Mediterranean.
to
July
August
8th Relieved in Squadron by HM Cruiser CURLEW.
September Passage to UK for refit.
October Under refit at Devonport.
to
December
1 9 3 0
January Under refit
to
May
June Post refit trials
July Deployed in Home waters and prepared to resume service in 3rd Cruiser Squadron.
August Passage to Malta to rejoin Mediterranean Fleet.
September Deployed with Squadron in Mediterranean.
to
December
1 9 3 1
January Mediterranean Fleet deployment with Squadron in continuation.
to
June
July Relieved in Squadron by HM Cruiser COLOMBO.
Nominated for reduction to Reserve and took passage to Devonport.
31st Re-commissioned for service in Reserve Fleet for training use.
August Deployed at Devonport.
to
December
1 9 3 2
January Reserve training deployment in continuation at Devonport.
to
November
December Deployed as Senior Officer's ship, Reserve Fleet Devonport.
1 9 3 3
Senior Officer Fleet Devonport service in continuation.
1 9 3 4
January Senior Officer Reserve Fleet Devonport deployment in continuation.
to
November
December Deployed for carrying Army personnel to Malta.
1 9 3 5
January Resumed duty as Senior Officer Reserve Fleet, Devonport.
February Deployed at Devonport.
to
December
1 9 3 6
January Devonport duty as Senior Officer, Reserve Fleet in continuation.
to
September
October
23rd Relieved as Senior Officer's ship, Reserve Fleet Devonport by HM Cruiser COLOMBO.
November Retained in Reserve at Devonport.
to
December
1 9 3 7
Devonport Reserve Fleet service in continuation.
Nominated for refit at Chatham.
1 9 3 8
January Devonport Reserve Fleet service in continuation.
to
June
July
11th Passage to Chatham under tow for refit.
August Under refit by HM Dockyard, Chatham.
to
December
1 9 3 9
January Under refit
to
May
June On completion of refit relieved HM Cruiser CALCUTTA in Reserve Fleet at Chatham
as Senior Officer’s ship.
July Brought forward with complement of Reservists for attendance at Review of Reserve Fleet at
Weymouth by HM King George VI.
August
9th Present at Royal Review.
Remained in commission and war station allocated.
On completion of storing and with complement for operational use took passage to Scapa Flow
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
September Deployed with 7th Cruiser Squadron at Scapa Flow.
5th Sailed to carry out Northern Patrol for interception of German shipping attempting return
German ports and to maintain contraband control.
(For details of Northern Patrol see THE BLOCKADERS by Hastings).
October Transferred to 11th Cruiser Squadron and continued Northern Patrol duties.
15th Sustained weather damage to upper deck equipment during patrol.
23rd Established patrol line in Faeroes-Iceland Passage with HM Cruisers CARDIFF and HM
Cruiser COLOMBO to intercept SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU after sinking of
RAWALPINDI (For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett and
Naval Staff History.)
30th Passage to Tyre for repair.
December Nominated for service in the Mediterranean.
(Note: Experience since outbreak of war had shown this Class of cruiser was unsuitable for use
in North Atlantic,)
1st Under repair in Tyne shipyard.
19th On completion transferred to 3rd Cruiser Squadron,
21st Passage to Gibraltar from Plymouth.
28th Joined Squadron at Malta for contraband control and patrol duty.
1940
January Based at Alexandria and deployed on contraband control patrol duty in eastern Mediterranean.
February Mediterranean patrol duties in continuation.
to
May
June
11th After Italy entered war deployed with HM Battleships WARSPITE and MALAYA, HM
Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM Cruisers ORION, NEPTUNE, SYDNEY (RAN), LIVERPOOL,
GLOUCESTER and CALYPSO with a screen of nine Fleet destroyers for an offensive patrol
south of Crete to intercept Italian convoys to Libya.
12th Rescued survivors from HM Cruiser CALYPSO with HM Destroyer DAINTY after sinking by
Italian submarine BAGNOLINI.
Carried out bombardment of Tobruk with other ships.
14th Returned to Alexandria.
26th Joined HM Cruiser CAPETOWN, HM destroyer GARLAND, H M Australian Destroyer
VAMPIRE escort for convoy to Dardanelles.
30th Returned to Alexandria with inward convoy.
July
11th Escorted convoy to Greece with HMS CAPETOWN.
30th Declared unsuitable use in Mediterranean because of the low speed and lack of AA armament
in this Class of cruiser.
August
10th Transferred for duty with East Indies Squadron in Indian Ocean and Red Sea.
15th Joined HM Cruisers HOBART, CERES and CARLISLE, HM Destroyers KANDAHAR.
KIMBERLEY, HM Sloops SHOREHAM, PARRAMATTA (RAN) and AUCKLAND with
three Armed Merchant Cruisers and a hospital ship for evacuation of Berbera.
A total of over 7,000 troops and civilians were taken to Aden.
Provided naval gunfire support against shore batteries during operation.
September Deployed for convoy defence and patrol in Indian Ocean and Red Sea based at Aden.
to December
1 9 4 1
January Convoy defence and patrol in continuation.
to
February
March
16th Deployed with HM Cruiser GLASGOW, HM Destroyers KANDAHAR and KIPLING,
two Armed Merchant Cruisers and HM Motor Launch 109 to support landings by Indian
troops at Berbera from HM Boarding Ships CHAKDINA and CHANTALA
(Operation APPEARANCE).
April In action with HMS GLASGOW against four Italian destroyers in Red Sea.
Proposal by Prime Minister to use as blockship with HM Battleship
BARHAM during
planned operation at Tripoli turned down by CinC Mediterranean
May Indian Ocean trade defence in continuation.
to
August
September Under refit at Colombo.
to
October
November Resumed trade defence duties in Indian Ocean with East Indies Squadron ships.
to December
HMS Caledon passing destroyer HMS Echo
1 9 4 2
January Indian Ocean escort and patrol In continuation.
to
February
March
1st Detached to cover minelay by HM Auxiliary Minelayer TEVIOT BANK off Arakan with
HM Corvette ASTER.
26th Joined 5th Cruiser Squadron, Eastern Fleet based at Trincomalee.
31st Allocated to Force B with HM Battleships RAMILLIES, ROYAL SOVEREIGN and
REVENGE, HM aircraft Carrier HERMES, HM Cruiser DRAGON, Dutch cruiser
VAN
HEEMSKERCK and eight destroyers.
Deployed in support of Force
A during search for Japanese Force reported on passage to
Ceylon.
(For details see WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO, 2002) and OPERATION PACIFIC by E
Gray)
April
4th Supported Force A during further sweep for Japanese warships.
(For details see above references).
9th Transferred to new base at Kilindini for trade defence with Force B ships.
(Note: Ships of Eastern Fleet had moved to East Africa because of Japanese air threat.)
May Deployed on trade defence and interception patrol in Indian Ocean.
to Nominated for conversion to Anti-Aircraft Cruiser.
June
July Passage to UK.
August Paid off into Dockyard Control prior to refit.
September Awaiting refit at Chatham.
14th Taken in hand for refit and conversion.
(Note: Aircraft warning radar Type 279, surface warning radar Type 272 and fire-control
radars Type 285 and Type 282 to be fitted.
For details of development and use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse)
October Under refit.
to
December
1 9 4 3
January Under refit
to Nominated for service in Mediterranean
October
November Harbour trials and re-commissioned.
Carried out sea trials
December
7th On completion prepared for foreign service.
1 9 4 4
January Passage to Scapa Flow to work-up with ships of Home Fleet.
February On completion of work-up took passage to Mediterranean.
March Joined Fleet at Alexandria.
24th Escorted military convoy to Salerno from Alexandria with HM Cruiser FROBISHER and four
HUNT Class Escort Destroyers.
April
Deployed for convoy escort in Mediterranean.
May
9th Joined US Navy Task Group west of Gibraltar for escort of Convoy UGS40 into Mediterranean.
11th Under attack by 62 Ju88 aircraft off Cape Bengut and shot down ten of them.
June Convoy defence in continuation based at Malta.
July Nominated for duty under overall US Navy Command for support of landings
in South of
France (Operation DRAGOON).
August Took part in preparatory exercises for DRAGOON.
15th Part of Task Group 88.2 providing AA cover for Escort Carriers with HM Cruiser COLOMBO
during landings in south of France.
For details see LANDINGS IN SOUTH FRANCE (HMSO)
September Resumed control by CinC Mediterranean and deployed for convoy defence.
October Transferred to Aegean area to support reoccupation of islands.
November Deployed for support of shore operations and AA defence duties in Aegean.
December Deployed in support of military operations on Greek mainland.
Carried out series of bombardments of Communist (ELAS) positions near to Piraeus
and Salamis with HM Escort Destroyer EASTON, French corvette LA MALOUINE, Greek
ships SAKHTOURIS and
NAVARINON.
12th Released from military support
Remained in Aegean area for convoy defence and support of Greek operations.
1 9 4 5
January Deployment in Greek waters in continuation.
Nominated for withdrawal from operational service.
February Passage to UK.
March Paid off and to be reduced to Reserve status
April On completion of reduction to Reserve and laid up at Falmouth.
May Laid-up at Falmouth pending disposal.