1
9 4 2
February
Contractors
trials.
5th
- Commissioned
for service.
21st
- Build
completion and commenced acceptance
trials.
On
completion
of trials and storing took passage to
Rosyth for installation of 6
single 20mm Oerlikon mountings to
improve defence against close range
air attack.
March
Passage
to
Scapa Flow to worked-up with 18th
Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet for
service in 4th Cruiser Squadron,
Eastern Fleet. Nominated for escort of
military convoy
to Indian Ocean.
April
On
completion
of work-up too passage to Clyde to
join military convoy WS18.
14th
- Joined
HM Cruiser FROBISHER, Dutch Destroyer
VAN GALEN and HM Destroyer TETCOTT as
ocean escort during Atlantic passage.
(Note: Convoy also included HM
Destroyer
Depot Ship HECLA.)
29th
- Detached
from WS18 on arrival at Freetown.
May
5th
- Rejoined
WS18 on departure from Freetown as
ocean escort with same ships.
13th
- Detached
when HMS HECLA was mined off South
Africa and escorted damaged ship to
Simonstown.
18th
- Passage
to Kilindini to join Squadron in
Eastern Fleet for convoy defence in
Indian
Ocean.
29th
- Passage
to Ceylon with HM Battleship WARSPITE,
HM Aircraft Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS and
FORMIDABLE to re-establish Base in
Ceylon.
June
On
arrival deployed on convoy escort
and interception patrol in Indian
Ocean.
July
13th
- Joined
SCHOONER Convoy taking ANZAC troops
for part of passage from Ceylon back
to Australia with HM Armed Merchant
Cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE. (Note:
Convoy included rms QUEEN MARY, rms
AQUITANIA, ILE DE FRANCE. NIEUW
AMSTERDAM and rms QUEEN OF BERMUDA.)
19th
- Relieved
by USS PHOENIX and returned to Ceylon.
August
Passage
to
Mombasa with ships of Eastern Fleet
for execution of planned landings to
complete occupation of Madagascar
(Operation STREAM).
September
Took
part in
Exercise TOUCHSTONE in preparation for
STREAM with Madagascar Assault Force.
5th
- Deployed
with HMS WARSPITE, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HM
Cruisers BIRMINGHAM, DAUNTLESS and
CARADOC screened by
destroyers as Force M
13th
- Escorted
transports taking 29th Infantry
Brigade to Majunga for final
occupation of
Madagascar with HMS BIRMINGHAM and
HM Netherlands cruiser VAN HEEMSKERCK.
Cover
was provided by HMS WARSPITE and HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS (Operation STREAM). (Note:
HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE was
intended to take part but had been
retained in Home waters. For full
details of STREAM and other operations
in the re-occupation see WAR WITH
JAPAN (HMSO).)
October
Remained
in
area until military operations
completed and then went to Bombay for
docking.
November
12th
- On
completion of docking returned to
convoy defence in Indian Ocean.
28th
- Relieved
HM Australian Cruiser ADELAIDE and
Netherlands cruiser HEEMSKERCK as
escort for Convoy OW1.
December
Indian
Ocean
convoy defence and patrol in
continuation.
1
9 4 3
January
Indian
Ocean
duty in continuation.
February
6th
- Joined
Ocean Escort off Socotra for military
convoy taking ANZAC troops back to
Australia from Suez with HM Cruiser
DEVONSHIRE. (Note: Cover was
provided by HM Battleships REVENGE,
RESOLUTION and WARSPITE, HM Cruiser
MAURITIUS and 6 destroyers. Operation
PAMPHLET - Convoy included rms
QUEEN MARY, AQUITANIA, ILE DE
FRANCE, NIEUW AMSTERDAM and mv QUEEN
OF BERMUDA.)
17th
- Passage
to Durban from Fremantle.
March
17th
- Deployed
as Flagship in 4th Cruiser Squadron
for patrol and Fleet exercises in
Indian
Ocean.
April
Deployed
for
trade defence in Indian Ocean.
May
28th
- Took
passage to UK from Capetown with call
at Bathurst.
June
16th
- Paid-off. (Note: During refit in
Liverpool
commercial shipyard: Aircraft
facilities removed. 10cm surface
warning radar Type 272 and additional
fire-control radar Type 283 fitted for
barrage control. For details of
development and use of
radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA by D
Howse).
July to
August
Transferred
to
RNZN in place of HM Cruisers ACHILLES
and LEANDER approved. Under refit.
W
a r S e r v i c
e a s H M N Z
S
G
A M B I A
September
Harbour
trials
22nd
- Commissioned
for service with RNZN.
October
Passage
to
Scapa Flow on completion of post refit
trials.
11th
- Shakedown
and work-up with Home Fleet at Scapa
Flow.
November
Deployed
with
Home Fleet for convoy defence on
completion of work-up.
December
Transferred
to
Plymouth for service in SW Approaches.
12th
- Deployed
with HM Cruiser GLASGOW NNW of Azores
for interception of supply ships and
blockade runners in conjunction with
RAF Coastal Command aircraft.
Refuelling
arranged
in Azores (Operation STONEWALL).
23rd
- Diversion
orders cancelled after blockade runner
sunk by aircraft.
27th
- At Fayal
in Azores and deployed to join HM
Cruisers GLASGOW, ENTERPRISE, PENELOPE
and ARIADNE in search for German
supply
tanker ALSTRUFER, which was sunk later
by HALIFAX
aircraft strike before ships could
arrive. (See
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by
Corelli Barnett).
28th
- Unable
to join operation in time to take part
in engagement by HMS GLASGOW and
ENTERPRISE against German destroyers
sent
to assist ALSTRUFER. Carried out
search for survivors.
30th
- Relieved
from patrol deployment by Free French
FS LE FANTASQUE and FS LE MALIN and
returned to Plymouth.
1
9 4 4
January
Prepared
for
service with Eastern Fleet.
30th
- Took
passage to join Eastern Fleet via
Mediterranean
February
19th
- Joined
4th Cruiser Squadron, Eastern Fleet at
Trincomalee.
22nd
- Deployed
in unsuccessful search for blockade
runners in Indian Ocean SW of Cocos
Islands with HM Aircraft Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruiser SUSSEX, HM
Destroyers ROTHERHAM and Dutch
destroyer TJERK HIDDES (Operation
SLEUTH). (For details see WAR WITH
JAPAN (HMSO) and
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY).
28th
- Detached
to refuel in Fremantle after relieved
by HMS SUSSEX.
March
2nd
- At
Fremantle.
8th
- Escorted
Indian Ocean convoy to Ceylon.
17th
- Returned
to Trincomalee after arrival of
convoy.
21st
- Deployed
with HM Battleships QUEEN ELIZABETH
and VALIANT, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN,
HM Cruisers LONDON and CEYLON
screened by ten destroyers, for
offensive sweep
in Indian Ocean (Operation DIPLOMAT).
27th
- Met US
Aircraft Carrier SARATOGA and US
destroyers joining Eastern Fleet
Returned with Eastern Fleet ships to
Ceylon..
April
2nd
- Arrived
at Trincomalee.
18th
- Joined
HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HMS VALIANT,
French battleship RICHELIEU), HM
Cruisers CEYLON, NEWCASTLE, NIGERIA
and Dutch cruiser TROMP in Task Force
69. Detached with HMS CEYLON to
cover air attacks on Sabang by HM
Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS and USS
SARATOGA as Task Force 70. (Operation
COCKPIT).
May
6th
- Joined HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HMS
VALIANT, FS RICHELIEU, HM Cruisers
NEWCASTLE, HMS NIGERIA, and
Netherlands cruiser TROMP (Task Force
65) to cover
air strikes on Soerabaya by HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS and USS SARATOGA (TF66).
(Operation
TRANSOM).
8th
- Full
transfer to RNZN approved except for
operational control.
15th
- Refuelled
at Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia
from Replenishment Group.
17th
- Covered
flying operations from position south
of Java.
27th
- Returned
to Trincomalee with Eastern Fleet
after refuelling in Exmouth Gulf.
June
10th
- Deployed
with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and HM Escort
Carrier ATHELING for offensive sweep
in Bay of Bengal.
11th
- Covered
carrier operations at targets in
Sabang as diversion during US assault
on Marianas (Operation FORAGER).
13th
- Passage
to Madras to embark FAA personnel for
transfer to Colombo.
17th
- Rest and
Recuperation period at Colombo.
July
Carried
out
exercises with Eastern Fleet.
22nd
- Joined
Eastern Fleet cover for attacks by HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS and HMS VICTORIOUS for
bombardment of Sabang with HMS
VALIANT,
HMS RENOWN, FS RICHELIEU, HM
Cruisers CUMBERLAND, KENYA, NIGERIA,
CEYLON, Netherlands cruiser TROMP and
destroyers (Operation CRIMSON).
25th
- Bombarded
shore batteries at Sabang with HMS
KENYA.
August
Carried
out
Squadron exercises.
September
8th
- Joined in
Eastern Fleet exercises with HM
Battleship HOWE, HM Cruisers
CUMBERLAND and LONDON.
10th
- Under
refit at Colombo.
October
6th
- Rejoined
Squadron on completion of refit.
16th
- Joined
escort for convoy to Fremantle during
passage to New Zealand.
November
Paid
series of
call at ports in New Zealand before
arrival at Wellington.
22nd
- Transferred
to British Pacific Fleet on formation.
December
Taken
in hand
for refit by HM New Zealand Dockyard,
Auckland.
1
9 4 5
January
26th
- On
completion of post refit trials
carried out work-up for BPF service in
Auckland
area.
February
14th
- Passage
to Sydney with HM Battleship HOWE
screen by HM Australian Destroyers
QUALITY and QUEENBOROUGH. Carried out
gunnery exercises on passage
with HMS HOWE.
March
1st
- Sailed
with part of BPF for exercises prior
to passage to Manus to join British
Task Force 113
17th
- Joined
TF113 at Manus. (For details of all
BPF operations see THE FORGOTTEN FLEET
by John Winton, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY, OPERATION PACIFIC by E Gray
and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)
23rd
- Joined Task
Force 57 on formation with ships of
Task Force 113 when approval was given
by US Navy Commander in Chief for
British
ships to be deployed with the US 5th
Fleet for operations against airfields
in the Sakishima Group. Designated as
part of Task Group 57.5
with HM Cruisers SWIFTSURE, BLACK
PRINCE and
ARGONAUT. Sailed from Ulithi for
Operation ICEBERG ONE.
27th
- Covered
series of air attacks by HM Aircraft
Carriers INDOMITABLE, VICTORIOUS,
ILLUSTRIOUS and IMPLACABLE on
airfields
in Sakishima-Gunto Group with TF57.
April
1st
- Under
sustained air attack including the
first by KAMIKAZES.
2nd
- Detached
to tow damaged destroyer HMS ULSTER to
Leyte for repair, escorted by HM
Destroyer QUIBERON (RAN).
4th
- Joined by
minesweepers HMAS BALLARAT and
LISMORE. Tow broke and replacement
delayed passage.
6th
- Returned
to operations from Leyte with HM
Cruiser UGANDA, HM Destroyer URCHIN
and URSA.
11th
- Rejoined
TF57 with HMS UGANDA and deployed to
cover carrier attacks on airfields in
Formosa by HMS INDEFATIGABLE
(Operation ICEBERG OOLONG).
13th
- Accidentally
shot down HELLCAT aircraft.
16th
- Resumed
covering role for British carrier
attacks on Sakishima Gunto.
20th
- Took
passage to Leyte with TF57 after 6th
strike by RN carriers.
23rd
- Arrived
at Leyte. (Note: The ship had and
epidemic of mumps on board with 45
personnel infected).
May
4th
- Deployed
with TF57 in joint operations with US
TF58 for renewed air attacks and
bombardments of targets in
Sakishima-Gunto (Operation ICEBERG
TWO). Redesignated
as part of Task Group 57.5 with HM
Cruisers SWIFTSURE, UGANDA (RCN),
EURYALUS and BLACK PRINCE (See above
references).
TG57.5
detached with HM
Battleships KING GEORGE V and HOWE for
bombardment of the airfields on Miyako
Shima. Withdrew after signal received
notifying RN aircraft carriers in Task
Group 57.2 were under extensive air
attacks (See above references).
8th
- Further
KAMIKAZE attacks during which HMS
FORMIDABLE and HMS VICTORIOUS were
hit.
23rd
- Took
passage to Manus prior to R&R
period at Sydney. (For full details
see above references.)
27th
- On
re-organisation by US Navy transferred
to US 3rd Fleet in redesignated as
TF37.
30th
- Passage
to Sydney.
June
5th
- Arrived
Sydney for repair and leave.
28th
- Took
passage with ships of TF37 for Manus
arriving on 4th July.
July
4th
- Arrives
at Manus with TF37 ships
6th
- Took
passage to join BPF ships off Japan
(Operation OLYMPIC initial phase).
16th
- Joined
TF 37 with HM Battleship KING GEORGE
V, HM Aircraft Carriers FORMIDABLE,
VICTORIOUS, IMPLACABLE, HM
Cruisers NEWFOUNDLAND, ACHILLES
(RNZN), EURYALUS, UGANDA (RCN), BLACK
PRINCE and Fleet destroyers to cover
joint air operations and bombardments
by TF37
and TF38 off Japan.
18th
- Covered
carrier group during air attacks on
targets in Tokyo - Yokohama area.
August
2nd
- Detached
with HM Cruisers ARGONAUT, BLACK
PRINCE and NEWFOUNDLAND to provide
radio communications link between
BPF and US TF38.
4th
- Released
from Link duties.
9th
- Detached
as Task Unit 37.1.8 to join US Task
Unit 34.8.1 to carry out bombardment
of Ironworks at Kamaishi, Northern
Honshu
with HMS NEWFOUNDLAND, HM Destroyers
TERMAGANT and TERPSICHORE. Under air
attack and shot down one aircraft.
Rejoined
TF37 on completion.
12th
- Transferred
to TF38 with HMS KING GEORGE V, HMS
INDEFATIGABLE, HMS NEWFOUNDLAND and
nine RN Fleet destroyers of 24th
Destroyer
Flotilla as TG38.5 under command of
US Admiral TF38.
13th
- Covered
HMS INDEFATIGABLE during air attacks
on airfields and shipping in North
Honshu and Hokkaido.
14th
- Covering
operations in continuation.
15th
- Shot
down one aircraft attacking force at
the time of official cease-fire. (For
details see above references.)
31st
- Entered
Tokyo Bay with HMS NEWFOUNDLAND.
September
2nd
- Represented
RNZN at Japanese surrender ceremony in
Tokyo Bay. (For RNZN war service see
AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND WARSHIPS by
R. Gillett).