1 9 1 7
June Build completion.
to Accepted into service and commissioned for duty in Grand Fleet with 6th Light Cruiser
October Squadron
Deployed in North Sea and NW Approaches based at Scapa Flow with Squadron
November
17th Took part in action against German warships in Heligoland Bight
December Deployed with Squadron at Scapa Flow.
1 9 1 8
January Squadron duties in Grand Fleet in continuation
to
October
November
21st Lead German High Seas Fleet to Scapa Flow for surrender.
December Nominated for service in Baltic in support of military operations against Bolshevik forces.
1 9 1 9
Deployed with Squadron in Baltic
Nominated for service as Flagship, 3rd Light Cruiser Squadron in Mediterranean
1 9 2 0 t o 1 9 2 7
Mediterranean Fleet service as Flagship of Squadron in continuation.
(Note: Commissions lasted 2 years 6 months and ship returned to UK
to re-commission. Refits were carried out at Malta and in UK.
During this period the Mediterranean Fleet was involved in protection
of British interests during unrest in Greece and Turkey.)
1 9 2 8
January Mediterranean service in continuation.
to
February
March Passage to Chatham to refit.
April
3rd Paid off at Chatham for refit.
May On completion transferred to Portsmouth Depot for manning.
29th Re-commissioned for further service with 3rd Cruiser Squadron in Mediterranean.
June Passage to Malta to join Squadron.
Deployed with Squadron in Mediterranean.
July Squadron deployment in continuation.
to
December
1 9 2 9
January Squadron deployment in Mediterranean in continuation
to Nominated for Long Refit at Devonport.
July
August Relieved in Squadron by HM Cruiser CURACOA
Passage to Devonport.
September
5th Paid off into Dockyard control for refit.
October Under refit
to
December
1 9 3 0
Under refit.
1 9 3 1
January Post refit trials
February Nominated for service as Flagship of 6th Cruiser Squadron on African Station.
to Manning Division transferred to Chatham.
March Passage to Chatham.
April
1st Commissioned at Chatham as Flagship, 6th Cruiser Squadron.
Prepared for foreign service.
May Passage to South Africa after work-up in Home waters.
June Flagship deployment in South Africa based at Simonstown.
to Deployed for visits and exercises in South Atlantic and Indian Ocean.
December
1 9 3 2
African Station deployment In continuation.
1 9 3 3
January African Station deployment in continuation.
to Nominated for transfer to Reserve Fleet.
April
May Relieved in 6th Cruiser Squadron by HM Cruiser DORSETSHIRE.
June Passage to Chatham to Pay-Off.
July Reduced to Reserve status.
14th Re-commissioned as Flagship Reserve Fleet, Nore Command.
August Deployed at Chatham for training and administration of ships in Reserve.
to
December
1 9 3 4
Deployment at Chatham as Flagship, Reserve Fleet for training duties.
1 9 3 5
January Chatham Reserve Fleet deployment In continuation.
to Nominated for attendance at Silver Jubilee Review of the Fleet by H M King George V
May at Spithead
June Prepared for passage to Portsmouth.
July Passage to Portsmouth.
16th Attended Review.
August Return passage to Chatham.
September Chatham Reserve Fleet Flagship duty in continuation.
to
December
1 9 3 6
Chatham deployment in continuation.
1 9 3 7
January Chatham deployment in continuation.
to Nominated for detached service in 9th Cruiser Squadron to attend the Coronation
March Review of the Fleet by H M King George VI at Spithead.
April Prepared for passage to Portsmouth.
May Passage to Portsmouth.
20th Attended Review with ships of 3rd Cruiser Squadron.
June Returned to Chatham.
July Resumed Reserve Fleet duties at Chatham
to
December
1 9 3 8
January Deployed at Chatham as Flagship Reserve Fleet.
to Nominated for operational Service 111 5th Cruiser Squadron, China Station.
June Prepared for re-commissioning.
July Re-commissioned at Chatham for service in 5th Cruiser Squadron.
Deployed in Home waters to prepare for foreign service.
August Took passage from Chatham for Singapore to join Squadron.
September Passage to Singapore and joined Squadron on arrival.
October Deployed with Squadron on China Station for visits and exercises.
to Nominated for conversion to AA cruiser.
December
1 9 3 9
January Deployed with Squadron on China Station.
to Refit arranged at Devonport.
March
April Prepared for return to UK.
29th Sailed from Hong Kong to Pay-Off.
May Passage to Devonport.
June Paid-off into Reserve at Devonport.
(Note: Planned conversion for use as an AA cruiser was cancelled.)
July At Devonport in Reserve.
Nominated for attendance at Review of Reserve Fleet by H M King George VI
Commissioned with Reservists at Devonport.
August Passage to Portland for Review.
9th Attended Review in Weymouth Bay.
Retained in commission in view of political situation.
15th Prepared for war service at Devonport.
(Note: Ship ammunition and stored for operational service and war complement
joined ship.
War Station with 12th Cruiser Squadron nominated.)
Passage to Scapa Flow for Northern Patrol duty with Squadron to intercept German
ships attesting to return to Germany and to enforce blockade.
(For details see ARMED MERCHANT CRUISERS by K. Poolman and Naval Staff
History.)
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 for patrol in NW Approaches based at Scapa Flow
6th Sailed for first patrol.
13th Returned to Scapa Flow.
15th Sailed for second patrol returning on 22nd.
22nd Returned to Scapa Flow.
October
6th Sailed for third patrol.
13th Returned from patrol.
(Note: Transferred to 11th Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet during patrol.)
14th Sailed for fourth patrol.
19th Returned to Sullom Voe,
25th Sailed from Sullom Voe for fifth patrol.
29th Intercepted Norwegian freighter TARE JARL which had been reported
as having been in contact with German submarine, but was allowed to proceed.
November
3rd Returned to Sullom Voe.
6th Sailed for sixth patrol from Sullom Voe.
11th Returned to Sullom Voe.
14th Passage to Loch Ewe (Port A) from Sullom Voe.
17th Sailed for seventh patrol.
Intercepted Norwegian freighter CARMELFJELL and put a boarding party on board.
(Note: This ship was stopped on 29th November by a German submarine but was
again allowed to proceed.)
20th Returned to Port A.
23rd Joined HM Cruisers CALEDON and COLOMBO for patrol off North Rona to intercept.
German battleships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU after loss of the Armed Merchant
Cruiser HMS RAWALPINDI.
26th Returned to Scapa Flow.
27th Sailed for eighth patrol
December
1st Returned to Scapa Flow and took passage to Port A
9th Sailed for ninth patrol.
15th Returned to Scapa Flow.
Withdrawn from Northern Patrol.
(Note: This class of cruiser had been found unsuitable for service in the Atlantic.
. See above reference.)
17th Took passage from Scapa Flow to Plymouth for repair.
19th Arrived in Clyde.
20th Continued passage to Plymouth.
23rd Arrived at HM Dockyard, Devonport for repair of weather damage.
1 9 4 0
January Rejoined Home Fleet for service in 2nd Cruiser Squadron.
(Note: Early intended deployment in West Indies for interception patrol with 8th Cruiser
Squadron was cancelled.)
February Deployed on convoy defence and patrol in Home waters.
March Transferred to Portsmouth Command in continuation.
to
May
June Deployed in Nore Command area in support of the evacuation of British and allied
troops and civilians from French ports. (Operation CYCLE)
12th Provided support at St. Valery during withdrawal troops evacuation of personnel.
(Note: Naval gunfire support was not required.)
For details of naval operations in Channel area in this period see ENGAGE
THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History)
July Deployed at Sheerness for anti-invasion patrol in North Sea and Channel.
August Patrol duty in North Sea.
25th Deployed in Humber area from Scapa Flow with HM Cruiser GALATEA to intercept
enemy craft during Invasion scare.
September Returned to Scapa Flow for patrol duty in NW Approaches and North Sea.
October Withdrawn from operational service.
Prepared for service as Gunnery Training ship by HM Dockyard Portsmouth
(Note: 20mm AA guns fitted.)
November Took passage to Clyde for gunnery training based at Greenock.
to Carried out training in use of close range AA weapons in Clyde area.
December.
1 9 4 1
January Under repair in Clyde shipyard.
to
February
March On completion resumed gunnery training duties In Western Approaches Command.
to
December
1 9 4 2
January Training duties in continuation
to
August
September Routine docking in Clyde commercial shipyard
October Resumed training duties.
to
December
1 9 4 3
January Training duties in continuation
February Taken in hand for fit of Type 290 radar outfit to provide warning of approach of aircraft
and ships.
(Note: This radar was an interim RN design to replace a modified RAF outfit
used in destroyers and other escorts before the introduction of the centimetric
Type 271. Type 291 was not very successful and withdrawn when Type 291
became available In 1943. For details of the development and use of radar in the
RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
March Resumed Gunnery training in Western Approaches Command.
to
June
July Under refit for replacement of Type 290 Radar and fit of Type 271
August Resumed training duties
to
December
1 9 4 4
January Gunnery Training duties in continuation.
to (Note: During this period ship was used for Air Ministry bombing trials and exercises)
December
1 9 4 5
January Trials deployment in continuation
to
April
May After VE Day ceased deployment as training ship.
Taken in hand for refit in Clyde commercial shipyard
June Nominated for reduction to Reserve and refit work suspended
to
August
September
3rd Paid-off and reduced to Reserve status.
P o s t W a r N o t e s