Badge: On a Field Blue, a half length
figure in semi-classical dress
holding
a sword. all Gold.
1 9 3 9
September
Deployed on the America
and West
Indies
Station with the 8th
Cruiser Squadron.
(Note:
Other ships in Squadron were HM
Cruisers BERWICK, YORK
and PERTH (RAN).
3rd
Deployed at Kingston,
Jamaica
for interception of blockade runners in Caribbean
area.
23rd
Returned to Kingston
and nominated for patrol off Curacoa.
October
1st
Sailed for patrol from Kingston.
Returned to Kingston
from patrol.
21st
Sailed for Caribbean
patrol from Kingston
23rd
Sighted German tanker EMMY FRIEDRICH in
Yucatan Channel.
(Note: This ship
later was scuttled when approached by HM
Cruiser CARADOC).
26th
Returned to Kingston
from patrol.
30th
Sailed from Kingston
for patrol
November
8th
Returned from patrol.
13th
Sailed from Kingston
for patrol.
25th
Returned from patrol
28th
Sailed from Kingston
for patrol.
(For details of
Interception operations see ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by
C. Barnett
and THE BLOCKADERS by C. Hampshire).
December
5th
Returned from patrol.
9th
Sailed from Kingston
for patrol
19th
Intercepted German freighter ARAUCA
off
coast of Florida
with assistance from US Navy
aircraft.
Freighter
avoided boarding by reaching US coastal
waters and entered Everglades
where
it was
interned.)
27th
Returned from patrol
(Note: Ship had
spent 102 days at sea since outbreak of
war,)
1
9 4 0
January
2nd
Took passage from Kingston
for routine docking at Bermuda.
5th
Taken in hand by HM Dockyard Bermuda
on
arrival.
February
Nominated for passage via Canada
and to bring the ashes of Lord Tweedsmuir
to UK
(Note: Lord Tweedsmuir
was the famous author John Buchan who had
been
Governor
General of Canada.)
Passage to Halifax.
Passage to
Devonport and deployed as escort to
troopship ss
DUCHESS OF BEDFORD.
March
Under refit in HM Dockyard
Devonport.
(Note: It is
assumed docking in Bermuda
was deferred.
Work undertaken at Devonport included
installation of degaussing
equipment.)
14th
Sailed from Devonport to rejoin Squadron
in West
Indies.
Nominated for
transfer to 7th Cruiser Squadron,
Mediterranean Fleet
April
1st
Took passage from Bermuda
to
join Squadron and for deployment as
Flagship of
Destroyer
Command.
May
Joined HM Cruisers
NEPTUNE, SYDNEY (RAN), LIVERPOOL and GLOUCESTER
in 7th Cruiser
Squadron at Alexandria.
Took part in
Fleet exercises arranged in anticipation
of war with Italy.
June
11th
Deployed with HM Battleships WARSPITE and
MALAYA,
HM
Aircraft Carrier EAGLE and
ships of
Squadron screened by 12 destroyers of 2nd
and 14th
Flotillas.)
Met HM Cruisers
CALEDON and CAPETOWN during passage.
(Note: This
deployment was made to intercept any
Italian ships encountered and to provide
defence against
any attack on Malta.
See Naval Staff History (HMSO-2002).
Other ships in
Squadron were HM Cruisers NEPTUNE, SYDNEY
(RAN),
LIVERPOOL
and
GLOUCESTER.)
12th
HM Cruisers CALEDON and CALYPSO joined off
Crete.
(Note:
HMS CALEDON was sunk by Italian submarine
BAGNOLINI which had been
been
one of a group of submarines positioned to
attack warships in the
eastern
Mediterranean For Full details of this RN
deployment see Naval
Staff
History (HMSO, 2002).)
21st
Bombarded Bardia
with French
battleship LORRAINE,
HM Cruisers NEPTUNE and
SYDNEY, HM
Destroyers STUART (RAN), DECOY, DAINTY and
HASTY.
(Operation
MD3 – See Naval Staff History, Battle
Summary No 6)
(Note:
This was the last joint operation with
French naval units based at Alexandria.)
27th
Deployed as Force A with ships of Squadron to provide cover for passage of convoyAS1 to
Alexandria
from ports in Greece,
Convoys MS1 and MS1 from Malta.
(Operation MA3)
Took part in
engagement with Squadron against three
Italian destroyer s escorting convoy
SW of Crete.
The
destroyer ESPERO which were covering
escape of
the other two
destroyers
(OSTRO and ZEFPIRO). See reference for
details.
28th
Owing to the excessive expenditure of 6in
ammunition by the
cruisers, passage of MS1 and
MF1 was
abandoned and Fleet units returned.
July
7th
Joined Force A of Mediterranean Fleet with
HM
Cruisers NEPTUNE, SYDNEY
(RAN),
GLOUCESTER
and LIVERPOOL
to cover transit of Malta Convoys MS1 and
MF1 in event
of interference
from Italian Fleet.
Under high level
air attacks which ware ineffectual.
9th
In action against two Italian battleships,
cruisers and
escorts with HHS
EAGLE,
HM Battleships
WARSPITE and MALAYA
(Battle
of Calabria).
(For details of
operations and actions in the Mediterranean
during 1940-44 see THE
BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN
by D. Macintyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by
Corelli Barnett
and the Naval Staff History).
10th
Provided cover during refuelling of HMS
ROYAL SOVEREIGN and
destroyers.
24th
Deployed with HM Australian Destroyers
VOYAGER and VAMPIRE
for a diversionary
demonstration
off Casteloriso
to divert enemy air activity away
from protection
of Aegean
convoys.
27th
Deployed with HM Armed Boarding Vessels
CHAKLA and FIONA
escorted by the RAN
destroyers for a
diversionary simulated landing approach on
Casteloriso
.
Fired starshell
illuminations without any response from
shore defenders.
31st
Deployed with HMS NEPTUNE and HMAS SYDNEY
screened by four
destroyers to carry out
diversionary
sweep in Aegean
during Malta
aircraft delivery by ships of Force H from
Gibraltar
(Operation MA3)
(Note: These
ships were now deployed as 7th Cruiser
Squadron).
August
3rd
Returned to Alexandria
with ships of Squadron.
30th
Joined HM Battleships WARSPITE and MALAYA,
HMS
EAGLE, HMAS SYDNEY
and
screen of ten
destroyers deployed as Force I to provide
cover for transit of Convoy MS2
during
passage from Alexandria
to Malta.
September
2nd
Provided escort for ships of Force
F,
HM Battleship VALIANT, HM Aircraft
Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS, HM
Cruisers CAIRO and COVENTRY
joining Fleet based
at Alexandria
from Gibraltar
(Operation HATS). See above references for
details.
4th
Detached from Force I and carried out
bombardment of
targets at Scarpanto
with HMAS
SYDNEY, HM
Destroyers ILEX and DECOY.
Under attack by
Italian torpedo boats MA536 which was
damaged and MAS
537
sunk by.
HMS ILEX
5th
Returned to Alexandria.
28th
Sailed from Alexandria
with HM Battleships WARSPITE, VALIANT, HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS,
HM
Cruisers SYDNEY (RAN) and YORK
screened by
11 destroyers to
provide cover for the
passage of HM
Cruisers LIVERPOOL and GLOUCESTER
taking troops to Malta.
(Operation MB5)
29th
Under attack by high level bombing and
later by torpedo
aircraft. See Naval Staff History.
(Note: Threat of
attack by Italian surface units did not
materialise as enemy ships withdrew,
See
references.)
30th
Remained with Fleet units when cruisers
carrying troops detached.
October
1st
Sighted by aircraft which was shot
down by FULMAR aircraft from HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS.
Cruisers
rejoined and Fleet units took passage to
return to Alexandria.
Detached
with HMAS SYDNEY and took passage to Stampalia.
3rd
Carried out night bombardment of Port Maltaezana.
Returned
to Alexandria
with HMAS SYDNEY.
8th
Sailed from Alexandria
with HM Battleships WARSPITE, VALIANT, MALAYA
and
RAMILLIES,
HM Aircraft Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS and EAGLE,
HM Cruisers YORK,
GLOUCESTER,
LIVERPOOL, AJAX
and SYDNEY (RAN) screened by 16 destroyers
including
HM Destroyers DAINTY, DECOY, IMPERIAL,
JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO,
MOHAWK,
NUBIAN, VAMPIRE (RAN) and VENDETTA (RAN) to
provide cover for
passage
of Convoy MF3 to Malta
and return Convoy MF4 to Egypt
(Operation MB6).
11th
After arrival
off Malta
detached with HMS AJAX, HM Destroyers
NUBIAN and MOHAWK
to position
north east of Fleet units in intercept any
Italian attempt to close Fleet units
and
convoy..
12th
Enemy destroyers engaged by HMS AJAX which
damaged ARTIGLIERE
and sank ARIEL
and ARIONE.
(Note: HMS AJAX
was damaged in this action,
ARTIGLIERE later
surrendered and sank after being
abandoned. Position of survivors
was signalled on
commercial frequency to enable rescue of
survivors by Italian ships.
For details see
above references.)
13th
Rejoined Fleet to cover carrier air
attacks on Leros.
14th
Under air attacks off east end of Crete
during
which HMS LIVERPOOL was hit by torpedo
and disabled.
Took HMS
LIVERPOOL in tow
15th
Tow parted after 100 miles and the
cruiser's forward
structure broke off.
Re-established
tow.
16th
Arrived at Alexandria
and detached after tow transferred.
See above
references for details.)
25th
Deployed with HMS MALAYA, HMS EAGLE, HMAS
SYDNEY, HM Cruiser COVENTRY
screened by HM
Destroyers JERVIS, JUNO
and six other destroyers to provide cover
for
passage of
Convoy AN5 in Aegean
(Operation MAQ2)
(Note: This also
included anti-submarine sweep and air
attacks Port Maltezana,
Stampalia.)
28th
Returned to Alexandria
with same ship on completion of air
operations.
(Note: Greece
entered WW2 after German ultimatum and
made necessary the
provision of
assistance for
defence of Crete
including establishment of base at Suda
Bay.)
November
Embarked RAF personnel and stores
at Port
Said
and took passage to Suda
Bay.
Sailed from Suda
Bay
after disembarkation and joined Force A on
Mediterranean
Fleet
on passage to
meet re-inforcements
in transit from Gibraltar
as
Force F and covering passage
to Malta
of west bound Convoy MW3.(Operation COAT)
11th
Detached from Force A with HM Cruisers AJAX. SYDNEY, HM Destroyers MOHAWK and
NUBIAN to carry
out attacks on convoys in Strait
of Taranto
(Note: This was part of Fleet
Operation MB8.
(Note: HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS with Force A carried out air
attacks on Italian Fleet at Taranto
to execute
Operation JUDGEMENT after HMS ORION
detached to proceed to Strait
of Taranto).
13th
Took part in night action with detached
ships against convoy
of four mercantiles
and the escort
off Brindisi.
All four mercantiles
were sunk and the escorts were damaged.
14th
Returned to Alexandra.
15th
Embarked 1,000 troops at Alexandria
for passage to Piraeus
with HM Cruisers AJAX, YORK,
GLOUCESTER
and SYDNEY (RAN).
20th
Returned to Alexandria.
23rd
Sailed from Alexandria Force A to cover
passage of military
Convoy to Suda
Bay.
(Note: Ships of
Force A included HMS WARSPITE, HMS
VALIANT, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS,
HM Cruisers
SYDNEY (RAN). AJAX
,YORK,
GLOUCESTER
and GLASGOW
screen by nine
destroyers
This deployment
was part of a Operation COLLAR with Force
H to pass reinforcement
ships to Alexandria
from Gibraltar,
return of HMS RAMILLIES and HMS BERWICK as
well as covering
Convoy MW4 to Malta
(Operation MB9).
29th
Detached from Fleet unite with HM Cruisers
SYDNEY (RAN) and AJAX to provide cover for
Convoy ME4
during passage to Alexandria.
See Naval Staff History.
December
2nd
Arrived at Alexandria
with ME4,
12th
Deployed with HMAS SYDNEY and HMS AJAX to
provide cover
passage of military convoy in
Aegean
(Operation MC3)
16th
Refuelled at Suda
Bay
and resumed cover duty.
18th
After rejoining Fleet units which were
covering Convoy MW5 on
passage from Alexandria
to
Malta
detached to carry out fruitless
anti-shipping sweep with
HMS AJAX and HMAS SYDNEY
between Bari
and Durazzo
screened by HM
Destroyers JANUS, JERVIS and JUNO.
(Note: Fleet
units carried out bombardment of Valona
(Operation
MC2)
20th
Rejoined Fleet units to cover passage of
Convoy ME5 on
passage to Egypt
24th
Returned to Alexandria.
.
1
9 4 1
January
6th
Escorted RFA Tanker BRAMBLELEAF from Alexandria
to Suda
Bay,
Crete
with HM Cruiser
YORK
and HM Corvettes HYACINTH, PEONY, GLOXINIA
and SALVIA.
7th
Passage from Suda Bay with HMS AJAX and HM
Cruiser PERTH
(RAN) to join Fleet as
Force D
.
9th
Joined Fleet for deployment to provide
cover passage of
military convoy carrying tanks to Middle
East, the
transit of convoys MW5A/B and ME4 and from
Malta
as well as another convoy taking
stores for Greece
(Operation MC4 – See Naval Staff History)
(Note: This was
part of joint Operation EXCESS with Force
H to pass re-inforcements
to
Fleet at Alexandria,
HM Cruiser BONAVENTURE and four destroyers
with a
military
convoy to Piraeus
and Egypt.
(Operation EXCESS).)
10th
Deployed for escort of EXCESS Convoy.
Utter heavy and
sustained air attacks.
11th
Detached with HMAS PERTH, HMS JERVIS and
HMS JANUS to help
damaged Cruiser HMS
SOUTHAMPTON
on fire during heavy air attacks. On
arrival assisted HM GLOUCKS1KR also
damaged and
later rescued survivors from HMS
SOUTHAMPTON with HMAS PERTH and HM
Destroyer
DIAMOND.
Sank hulk of HMS
SOUTHAMPTON with three torpedoes.
February
Deployed
with Fleet in Eastern
Mediterranean
(Note: First
radar set fitted to Alexandria.
Type 286M a modified RAF Air-Surface set
used for
detection of
surface targets and limited air cover. For
details of development and use of
radar by RN see
RADAR AT SEA
by D. Howse
and THE DEVELOPMENT
OF RADAR
EQUIPMENTS FOR
THE RN Edited by FA Kingsley.)
19th
Took passage from Alexandria
with HM Cruisers AJAX and GLOUCESTER
screened by HM
Destroyers
NUBIAN and MOHAWK for Malta.
(Note:
Troops of Cheshire
and Hampshire
Regiments and stores were embarked for
passage.)
21st
Arrived in Malta
and returned as escort for HM Supply Ship
BRECONSHIRE and ss
CLAN
MACAULAY
during return passage to Alexandria
with HMS AJAX and HM Destroyers
HAVOCK
and HOTSPUR (Operation MC8)
(Note:
The two escorted ships were returning
empty.)
March
4th
Embarked troop at Suda
Bay
and escorted Convoy AG3 with AG3 to with
HMS AJAX, HMAS
PERTH
and HMS GLOUCESTER (Operation
LUSTRE).
(Note: Operation
LUSTRE was the passage of of
additional support by
Army units for defence of
Greece.
12th
Further embarkation of troops for passage
to Piraeus
(Operation LUSTRE
14th
Deployed on offensive sweep in Aegean
against Italian convoys with HMS AJAX HMAS
PERTH
and HMS GLOUCESTER
screened by four Fleet destroyers identified
as Force 9).
20th
Sailed from Suda
Bay
with same ships to meet Fleet
units covering passage of Convoy MW6
during
passage to Malta
(Operation MC9)
21st
Met Fleet units which detached and
continued as escort for MW6 to Malta.
23rd
Rejoined Fleet units after arrival in
Malta of MW6 and later detached to resume
covering duties
for
convoys to and from Piraeus.
25th
Escorted Convoy AG9 to
Piraeus with
HMS AJAX and HM Australian Destroyer
VENDETTA.
27th
At
Piraeus and despatched to rejoin
Fleet units on passage to intercept major
Italian units on
passage to
attacks LUSTRE Convoys.
26th
Rejoined Fleet and detached to carry out
patrol in Kithera
Channel with same ships to report any
sighting of
Italian Fleet..
Made first
sitting of Italian cruisers and lead these
towards Mediterranean Fleet.
Deployed to NE
of main Fleet during Battle of Matapan.
(For full
details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by C. Barnett, MATAPAN by
SH Pack and
Naval Staff History.
29th
Rejoined Fleet and returned to Alexandria.
31st
Arrived at Alexandria
with Fleet units.
April
Based at Suda
Bay
with Cruisers of Mediterranean Fleet.
12th
Deployed with HMS AJAX and HMAS PERTH,
screened by six
destroyers to patrol along
North African
coast and provide support to military
operation at Ras-el-Tin.
18th
Deployed with Squadron and Fleet unite to
cover the passage
to Malta of HM Supply
Ship
BRECONSHIRE and the return of four empty
ships (Convoy ME7) to Alexandria.
(Operation
MD2)
21st
Part of Force
C
as escort for HM Aircraft Carrier
FORMIDABLE with HMAS PERTH
and
HMS JAX
during attacks on shore targets at Tripoli
by Main Fleet), screened by HM
Destroyers
GRIFFIN,
DEFENDER, KINGSTON
and FURY (Operation MD2).
25th
Returned to Suda
Bay
from Alexandria
on completion of MD2.
26th
Covered evacuation of allied troops from
Greece
and then ordered to replace Store Ship HMS
GLENEARN
at Nauphlia
with HMAS PERTH.
On
arrival joined HM Cruisers PHOEBE and
CALCUTTA,
HM Destroyers DEFENDER,
DIAMOND
and GRIFFIN.
Embarked
300 men taken off beach
at Tolon
by HM Australian Destroyer STUART
(Operation
DEMON).
27th
Passage to Suda
Bay
with HMS AJAX, HMAS PERTH
and HMAS STUART.
29th
Covered evacuation convoy GA15 taking
10,930 troops to Alexandria
with HMAS PERTH,
HMS
PHOEBE, HMS DECOY and HMS HASTY.
Later
met HM Battleships BARHAM, VALIANT
and MALAYA
and
escorted GA15.
May
6th
Deployed
with HMS WARSPITE, HMS BARHAM, HMS
VALIANT, .HMS FORMIDABLE,
HMS
AJAX and HMAS
PERTH with screen of 19
destroyers to cover Malta
supply convoy
and
also a
military convoy to Alexandria
from central Mediterranean.
(Note:
HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM Cruisers
NAIAD,
FIJI
and GLOUCESTER
were
also joining
Mediterranean
from Gibraltar
(Operation TIGER)
Joint
Operation MD4 with Force H.).
9th
Met TIGER convoy with HMS AJAX, HMAS
PERTH, HMS DIDO and HMS PHOEBE
screened
by HM Destroyers KELLY, KELVIN and JACKAL.
12th
Arrived at Alexandria
with Convoy.
21st
Deployed with HM Cruisers DIDO and AJAX screened by HM Destroyers HASTY, HERO,
GREYHOUND
and HEREWARD as Force D for patrol between
Suda. Bay and Maleme
to
intercept invasion
craft taking German troops to Crete.
Despite
sustained air opposition
made successful attack
on caiques
and mercantiles
NE of
Canae.
22nd
Continued patrol and returned with Force
D to Alexandria
to replenish.
28th
Deployed with HM Cruisers AJAX and DIDO,
DECOY, .HM Destroyers HEREWARD,
HOTSPUR,
IMPERIAL, JACKAL
and KIMBERLEY
as Force "B" to evacuate troops from
Heraklion.
Under
air attack on passage and remained off
shore on arrival to embark troops
from destroyers.
29th
Sailed with 1,900 troops and came under
dive-bombing air attacks from daylight
until
about 100 miles from Alexandria.
Sustained
direct hits on A Turret and on
bridge
structure with many casualties
(Note:
100 members of the ship’s company were
killed and 260 troops with 280
troops
wounded.)
Ship
was disabled and fires caused with a loss
of all services.
After
extensive damage control had been
undertaken returned to Alexandria
at 12
knots
June
Under temporary repair at Alexandria.
29th
Sailed for passage to Simonstown
via Aden.
July
Under repair in HM Dockyard, Simonstown
during which catapult was removed and
fitted in
HM
Seaplane Tender
ALBATROSS.
Permanent
repair arranged in US Navy Yard.
August
On completion of repair to allow safe
passage,
sailed to San
Francisco.
28th
Transit of Panama
Canal.
September
5th
Arrived at Mare
Island
US
Navy Yard.
Taken
in hand for repair.
October
Under
repair
to
December
1
9 4 2
January
Under
repair and post refit trials.
February
Harbour
trials
15th
Carried out sea trials on completion of
dockyard work.
(Note:
Work undertaken included preparation for
installation of RN radar equipment.)
March
Passage to Plymouth
April
Taken in hand by HM
Dockyard Devonport for installation of
radar equipment
to provide
aircraft warning (Type 279); surface
warning (Type 273); Main armament
fire control
(Type 284) and Secondary armament fire
control (Three Type 285)
Reference as
above.
21st
On completion took passage to work-up and
to carry out radar
trials.
28th
Arrived at Lamlash
to carry out
trials and work-up for operational service
May
Deployed in NW
Approaches
June
Under repair in Clyde
commercial shipyard
24th
Passage from Clyde
to Scapa
Flow
26th
Arrived at Scapa
Flow.
Nominated
for service with 15th Cruiser Squadron,
Mediterranean Fleet.
July
Prepared for foreign service.
17th
Joined military convoy WS21P in Clyde
with HM
Destroyer NEPAL
and Dutch destroyer
TJERK
HIDDES as
Ocean escort during passage to Aden.
27th
At Freetown
with WS21P
August
13th
At Capetown with
WS21P
16th
Rejoined WS21P with HMS NEPAL and TJERK
HIDDES to relieve HM Cruiser
SHROPSHIRE
and HM Destroyer DUNCAN as Ocean Escort to
Aden.
29th
Detached from WS21P on arrival off Aden and took passage to join Squadron at Alexandria
September
Passage in Indian
Ocean
and Red
Sea.
29th
Suez
Canal
transit
October
Deployed in eastern Mediterranean
with ships of Squadron for interception
patrol and support
of
military operations.
(Note:
Other ships in Squadron were HM Cruisers
CLEOPATRA, ARETHUSA, DIDO and
EURYALUS.
November
16th
Escorted Malta Relief Convoy MW13 with
ships of Squadron
screened by HM Destroyers
JAVELIN, JERVIS,
KELVIN, NUBIAN, PAKENHAM, PALADIN, PETARD
and HUNT
Class Escort
Destroyers.
(Operation
STONEAGE – See MALTA
CONVOYS by R Woodman)
17th
Detached from MW 13 and returned to Alexandria
with Fleet destroyers
18th
Rejoined MW13 and came under aircraft
attacks by torpedoes
during which HMS
ARETHUSA was hit
and sustained serious damage as well as
casualties.
19th
Detached from MW13 and returned to Alexandria.
21st
Arrived at Alexandria.
December
3rd
Deployed with HM Destroyers PAKENHAM,
PETARD and Greek
destroyer VASILISSA
OLGA as escort
for Convoy MW14 during passage to Malta
(Operation PORTCULLIS).
(Note: MW14 was
the last major relief convoy operation to
Malta
see above reference.)
5th
Arrived in Malta
with MW14.
7th
Sailed from Malta
as escort for return Convoy ME 11 during
initial stage of
passage to Egypt.
HM Escort
Destroyers PAKENHAM, PETARD, ALDENHAM,
BELVOIR, CROOME,
DULVERTON, EXMOOR,
HURSLEY, TETCOTT, Greek VASILISSA OLGA and
GREEK
PINDOS.
9th
Detached from ME11 off Derna
with
HM Destroyers ALDENHAM, CROOME,
DULVERTON, EXMOOR
and
HURSLEY (Operation QUADRANGLE
Took passage to Malta
1 9 4 3
January
Deployed with ships of
Squadron based in Malta
for interception of enemy supply convoys
and convoy
defence.
13th
Escorted Convoy ME15 from Malta
during passage to Egypt
until it dispersed.
(Note: HM
Destroyers PAKENHAM, NUBIAN, JAVELIN,
PALADIN, HM Escort
Destroyers
ALDENHAM, BELVOIR and HURSLEY.
Returned to Malta.
February
Malta
deployment with Squadron in continuation.
to
April
May
Nominated for support of
planned military operations to invade Pantelleria.
12th
Carried out bombardment of
Pantelleria.
31st
Carried out further bombarded of shore
positions on Pantelleria
with HM Destroyers
PETARD and
TROUBRIDGE. (Operation CORKSCREW).
June
3rd
Bombarded
Pantelleria with HM
Destroyers PALADIN and TROUBRIDGE.
8th
Took part in Dress Rehearsal for assault
on Pantelleria
with HM Cruisers
NEWFOUNDLAND,
AURORA, PENELOPE, EURYALUS and seven
destroyers.
(Operation
CORKSCREW
10th
Covered landings on
Pantelleria
with HM Cruisers
NEWFOUNDLAND, PENELOPE and
EURYALUS
screened by Fleet destroyers and MTBs.
12th
Bombarded Lampedusa
with HM Cruisers
PENELOPE and HNS NEWFOUNDLAND).
July
Nominated for
support of planned landings in Sicily
landings.
7th
Joined Support Force East with HM Cruisers
NEWFOUNDLAND,
PENELOPE and
EURYALUS and
destroyer screen (Operation HUSKY).
9th
Sailed from Malta
to join Military Convoy MKF18 as escort
during passage to BARK
Beach
Head
10th
Provided cover during assault phase of
landings.
11th
Provided naval gunfire support with
HM Monitor EREBUS, HM Cruisers GAMBIA,
MAURITIUS
and NEWFOUNDLAND.
12th
Bombarded naval base at Augusta,
August
3rd
At Augusta
Took
passage to Malta
to resume interception of enemy supply
convoys.
6th
Deployed in Malta.
21st
Carried out bombardment of shore batteries
in Straits of
Messina.
31st
Deployed with HM Battleships WARSPITE and
VALIANT for
bombardment of Reggio
in
preparation for
planned landings on Italian mainland
(Operation BAYTOWN)
(Note: HM
Battleships NELSON and RODNEY also
bombarded shore positions.)
September
2nd
Carried out further bombardments on Calabrian
coast with HM Cruiser MAURITIUS
and
destroyers.
3rd
Deployed in support of landing of British
XIII Corps with
HM Monitors EREBUS,
ROBERTS,
ABERCROMBIE, HMS MAURITIUS, HM River
Gunboats APHIS and
SCARAB with
destroyers
7th
Deployed with escort for assault convoy on
passage from Augusta
to Salerno Beach Head
with HMS
MAURITIUS, HMS UGANDA, HM Destroyers
LAFOREY, NUBIAN,
LOOKOUT, TARTAR
and Greek PINDOS (Operation AVALANCHE).
9th
Joined TF63, Northern Attack Force to
provide cover during
landing at Salerno.
(Note: Other
ships in TF63 included HM Cruiser DELHI,
HMS ROBERTS and destroyers
of 19th and 21st
Flotillas.)
11th
Provided naval gunfire support with HMS
ROBERTS, HMS
MAURITIUS, HMS
UGANDA,
HMS AURORA, US cruisers USS PHILADELPHIA,
USS BOISE and
British
destroyers
during German counter-attack in Bridgehead
area.
13th
Relieved by HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD
for
renewal of gun barrel rifling.
15th
Continued support gunfire duty.
17th
Relieved by HM Cruiser DIDO
(Note: HMS
MAURITIUS was relieved by HMS SIRIUS)
18th
Withdrawn from Station for repair.
Took passage to UK.
October
1st
Taken in hand for repair in HM Dockyard, Portsmouth.
November
On completion returned to 15th
Cruiser Squadron in Mediterranean.
27th
Bombarded positions north of Garigilano
River
with HM Destroyers PALADIN,
TROUBRIDGE and
TEAZER.
29th
Arrived at Taranto
December
Based at Taranto
for support of military operations.
12th
Carried out bombardment at Gaeta
(Note: This was
to prevent German reinforcement in Cassino
area.)
1
9 4 4
January
Nominated for support of
planned allied landings at Anzio
and took passage to Naples
15th
Bombarded Gaeta
with HM Cruiser SPARTAN and HM Destroyers
FAULKNOR,
JERVIS, JANUS
and LAFOREY.
18th
Repeated bombardment at Gaeta
with same ships.
21st
Part of Northern Assault Force (PETER)
escorting 1st
Infantry Division with HM HQ Ship
BULOLO, HM
Cruiser SPARTAN and HM AA Ship PALOMARES
screened by Fleet
destroyers for
landings as Anzio
(Operation SHINGLE).
22nd
Provided naval gunfire support off Anzio.
23rd
Carried out further naval gunfire support.
24th
Withdrawn due to weather damage and
returned to Naples.
25th
Relieved US Cruiser BROOKLYN off beaches.
February
Deployed in rotation with HM
Cruisers HMS DIDO, DELHI,
PHOEBE, PENELOPE.,
MAURITIUS,
US Cruisers USS PHILADELPHIA
and USS BROOKLYN for naval
gunfire support
at Anzio.
March
Gunfire Support duty in
continuation.
April
Transferred to 10th
Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet for support
of planned allied landings
in Normandy
and took passage to UK.
28th
Arrived at Rosyth.
May
Took part in exercises
for assault landings with Squadron.
June
2nd
Assembled in Clyde
with Home Fleet ships prior to passage to
Channel.
3rd
Sailed with Bombardment Force K to provide
naval gunfire support during for landings
on GOLD
Beach
with HM Cruisers ARGONAUT, AJAX, EMERALD, HM Netherlands
Gunboat FLORES.
5th
Sailed from Portsmouth
as Convoy G12 escorted by HM Destroyers
GRENVILLE and
UNDINE
(Operation NEPTUNE
- For
details see Naval Staff History (HMSO).
6th
Bombarded German battery of four 105mm
guns at Mont Fleury
with Force K
10th
Remained in Channel for support of
military operations after
initial landings.
(Note: Returned
to Portsmouth
to replace worn gun barrels)
July
Transferred to Mediterranean
for support of allied landings in south of
France.
Nominated as
Flagship of Gunfire Support Group (Task
Force 84) with ALPHA
Attack Force.
(Note: Other
ships in Group were HM Battleship
RAMILLIES, HM Cruisers AJAX,
AURORA and BLACK
PRINCE, and US
cruiser USS QUINCY.
22nd
Arrived Naples and joined TF84.
August
Preparation for South of
France landings.
11th
Sailed from Malta
without HMS RAMILLIES.
15th
Met HMS RAMILLIES in Assault Area.
Provided gunfire
support during landings.
(Operation
DRAGOON - For details see Naval Staff
History (HMSO).
22nd
Released from Task Force and returned to Naples..
(Note: Whilst at
Naples
ship was visited by HM King George VI)
September
Transferred to British Aegean Force
to cover occupation of Aegean Islands
and Greek
mainland.
24th
Covered CVE's
during air operations
in support of landings and reconnaissance.
Deployed for
offensive sweeps and interceptions of
evacuation craft with HM Cruisers
AJAX, ROYALIST, BLACK PRINCE, ARGONAUT, AURORA
and COLOMBO.
October
Deployed in support of
operations in Greek coastal waters.
15th
Provided cover with HM Cruiser AJAX during landing of two British Infantry Brigades at
Piraeus
for re-occupation of Athens
after German forces had retreated with HMS
AJAX.
November
Deployed in support of military
operations off Greek mainland and in Aegean.
December
Support deployment in
continuation.
7th
Landed Marine detachment to assist in
prevention of sniping
at Athens.
14th
Sailed for Malta.
1
9 4 5
January
Under repair in Malta
February
5th
Mr Churchill and President Roosevelt on
board prior to
Yalta conference with Stalin.
On completion of
repair resumed Squadron support duties in
western Mediterranean for
operations off
the west coast of Italy and south
coast of France.
March
Support duties in
continuation based at Naples.
April
Carried out bombardment
of San Remo
on Italian Riviera
Transferred to
Adriatic to support military operations.
May
11th
Arrived in Trieste for support of military
15th
Under fire from Albanian shore batteries
in Corfu Channel,
June
Deployed In
Mediterranean based at Malta.
to
(Note: Type 283
Radar fitted for Barrage Control of main
and secondary armament.)
August