1 9 3 9
September
Contractors Trials
October
Commissioned
for service
10th
Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials
On
completion took passage from Clyde
to Portland
24th
Passage from Portland
on completion of work-up.
November
Under repair by HM Dockyard,
Devonport for defects since leaving Clyde.
14th
Passage from Plymouth
to join Flotilla at Scapa
Flow.
16th
Deployed
with Flotilla based at Scapa Flown for
interception patrol and convoy
defence in North
Sea
and NW Approaches.
December
Flotilla duties in continuation.
1
9 4 0
January
17th
Under repair at Rosyth for leaks in Feed
Tanks and Petrol stowages.
30th
Resumed Flotilla duties on completion of
repairs.
February
Nominated special Home Fleet Operation
WR for interception of blockade runner
reported on
passage in North
Atlantic.
21st
Deployed
with HM Cruiser MANCHESTER
and HM Destroyer KIMBERLEY
of
Flotilla
and intercepted German Freighter WAHEHE that
was boarded by party
from HMS
KIMBERLEY and taken in Prize to Kirkwall.
March
North
Sea deployment in continuation.
9th
Withdrawn
from operational service for further
repairs.
Passage to Hull
for repair in commercial shipyard.
April
Under
repair at Hull
May
(Note:
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes change to G28.)
3rd
Rejoined
Flotilla in North
Sea
for interception patrol.
(Note:
Flotilla had been transferred from Home
Fleet duties to Nore Command with
HM Cruisers ARETHUSA and
GALATEA, HM Destroyers HAVOCK,
HEREWARD, HOSTILE, HYPERION,
KELLY, KIMBERLEY
and JANUS,)
9th
Joined
HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM,
HM Destroyers JANUS, HYPERION, HAVOCK
and
HEREWARD with HM Destroyers KELLY, KIMBERLEY
and HOSTILE in
search
for German minelayers.
Detached with HMS KELLY to carry
out an anti-submarine search during which
HMS KELLY was torpedoed during
attacks by E-Boats and sustained major
damage.
10th
Embarked
injured from HMS KELLY and took passage to
land them.
12th
Nominated
for service in Mediterranean
with 14th Destroyer Flotilla and took
passage
to Plymouth
to prepare for foreign service.
16th
Passage to Malta.
21st
Arrived
in Malta
and nominated for service in Red
Sea.
Took passage to Alexandria.
Transferred to East
Indies
Station.
June
Deployed
in Red
Sea
with HM Destroyers KHARTOUM,
KIMBERLEY
and
KINGSTON
for convoy defence, support of military
operations
and interception
of Italian
warships and submarines.
18th
Deployed
with HM Sloop SHOREHAM to search for
submarine reported by an
aircraft.
After detection of radio transmissions
carried out ant-submarine search and
depth
charge attacks. HM Trawler MOONSTONE
remained in area to carry out patrol
to
intercept the submarine surfaced.
19th
After
surrender of Italian submarine GALILEO
GALILEI to HMS MOONSTONE,
placed
prize crew on board submarine which was then
taken in tow to Aden.
Tow later parted but power was
restored.
(Note:
GALILEO GALILEI had been attacked by HMS
MOONSTONE on
resurfacing
and engaged by surface fire after which she
surrendered.
Invaluable information about
Italian submarine movements and codes were
recovered
by the boarding party.
23rd
Took
part in sinking near Perim
of the Italian submarine
EVANGELISTA
TORRICELLI with HMS KINGSTON,
HMS KHARTOUM and HMS SHOREHAM by
surface
gun engagement.
(Note:
This sinking resulted after study of
information obtained from GALILEO
GALILEI.
HM Destroyer KHARTOUM
was damaged by an explosion during this
engagement.
The circumstances have never
been clearly identified. It is however
generally
agreed
that a Mark X torpedo warhead may have
exploded but whether this was
prematurely
or after the ship had been hit by return
fire from the submarine, has not
been
established. This type of torpedo air vessel
had a previous history of
explosions
due to
design flaw.
HMS KHARTOUM had to be abandoned
when fires became out of control causing
after
magazine to explode. The ships later settled
on the sea bed.)
July
Red
Sea
deployment in continuation.
August
Nominated for support of
evacuation of British personnel from Berbera,
British
Somaliland.
15th
Deployed with HM Cruisers CALEDON,
HOBART (RAN), CERES and CARLISLE,
HMS
KIMBERLEY, HM Sloops AUCKLAND and PARAMATTA
(RAN) for evacuation
at Berbera
(Note: Three
Armed Merchant Cruisers and a Hospital Ship
also
took part and 7.000
personnel were
taken to Aden.)
September
East
Indies Station deployment in continuation.
October
Nominated for routine docking
and maintenance and took passage to Bombay.
13th
Docked at Bombay
November
Maintenance
and repair at Bombay in continuation
Preparation for return
to deployment at Aden.
December
1st
Took passage to Aden
from Bombay.
25th
Escorted military convoy WS4B in Red
Sea
with HM Cruiser CARLISLE
and HMS
KIMBERLEY.
27th
Detached from WS4B on arrival at Suez
1
9 4 1
January
Red
Sea
deployment based at Aden
in continuation.
February
Nominated
for support of military operations in Italian Somaliland
with Force T
10th
Joined HM Cruisers CAPETOWN, CERES,
HAWKINS and SHROPSHIRE,
for support of
military
operations at Mogadiscio.
On release took passage to Mombasa
for R&R Period.
21st
Escorted troopships EMPRESS OF
AUSTRALIA, ORMONDE, EMPRESS OF JAPAN and
WINDSOR
CASTLE
from military convoy WS5B in Indian
Ocean
for passage to Mombasa
after
detaching from
main body of ships.
(Note: This was
a precaution after German raider ADMIRAL
SCHEER had been reported in the
area.)
March
16th
Deployed with HM Cruisers GLASGOW, CALEDON,
HM Destroyer KINGSTON,
HM Armed
Boarding
Vessels CHAKDINA and CHANTALA as Force D to
provide support during landings at
Berbera, Italian Somaliland
(Operation
APPEARANCE).
30th
Intercepted German
freighter BERTHA RICKMERS attempting
passage from Massawa.
April
Transferred back to 14th
Destroyer Flotilla at Alexandria and took passage.
On
arrival joined HM Destroyers JERVIS
(Leader), KELVIN, KINGSTON,
KIMBERLEY,
JAGUAR,
SIKH and ZULU for Mediterranean Fleet duties
23rd
Deployed in support of evacuation of
Commonwealth troops from Greece
(Operation DEMON).
26th
Assisted in evacuation at Raphti
with HM Sloop AUCKLAND
and HMAS VAMPIRE and took
560 troops to Suda
Bay.
27th
Assisted
in evacuation at Kalamata
with HM Destroyers
KIMBERLEY and
KINGSTON.
Embarked 126 troops for
passage to
Suda
Bay.
29th
Part
of escort for Convoy GA15 from Suda Bay
during passage to Egypt
with
evacuated
troops.
(Note:
For details see BATTLE OF THE WINE DARK SEA by Lew Lind. Naval
and
Military Staff Histories, THE BATTLE
FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN
by D MacIntyre
and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C
Barnett.
May
6th
Sailed
from Alexandria
with HM Destroyers GRIFFIN,
HAVOCK, HEREWARD
HERO, HOTSPUR, JERVIS, JUNO, KIMBERLEY,
KINGSTON,
NIZAM, and
NUBIAN as screen for HMS
FORMIDABLE, HMS BARHAM, HMS VALIANT,
HMS WARSPITE, HMS ORION, HMAS PERTH,
HMS ABDIEL and HM Supply
Ship BRECONSHIRE during
provision of Distant Cover for passage of
Convoy MW7
to Malta
and a military convoy bring tanks to Egypt
from UK
(Operations MD4 and
TIGER.)
9th
Refuelled
from HMS BRECONSHIRE and rejoined screen for
Mediterranean Fleet ships
covering
passage to Egypt
of TIGER Convoy.
(Note:
See THE BATTLE
FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN and
Naval Staff History.)
10th
Under air attacks without damage.
12th
Returned to Alexandria
with Fleet units.
18th
Deployed
with Fleet screen during search in area
north and west of Crete
for assault convoys
on passage to
land in Crete.
20th
Part
of destroyer screen for HM Cruisers NAIAD,
PERTH (RAN), CALCUTTA
and
CARLISLE
with HMS KINGSTON and NUBIAN.
21st
Under
heavy air attacks during which HMS NAIAD and
HMS CARLISLE were damaged
and HMS
JUNO
sunk..
Under unsuccessful attack by
Italian motor torpedo boats..
Rescued
survivors from HMS JUNO
with HMS KINGSTON and HMS NUBIAN.
22nd
Under further sustained air attacks during
passage to Alexandria.
Detached with HMS KINGSTON as
screen for HMS GLOUCESTER and HMS FIJI to
assist
HM Destroyer GREYHOUND which had been hit
and disabled. in
air attacks.
Rescued
survivors from HMS GREYHOUND.
After loss of both cruisers
dropped life rafts and left area to avoid
further losses.
Returned after nightfall and
with HMS KINGSTON rescued 523 survivors from
HMS FIJI.
28th
Joined
Force C with HMS NAPIER, HMAS NIZAM and
KELVIN and took passage to
Spakhia
to land
essential stores and evacuate non
essential personnel.
29th
Under
air attack during which HMAS NIZAM was
damaged whilst on return passage
30th
Sailed
from Alexandria
with same destroyers and had to return due
to
mechanical defect/.
June
7th
Deployed
with HM Cruiser PHOEBE, HM Destroyers KIMBERLEY,
JANUS and
JACKAL for
support of military operations against
Vichy French in Syria.
(Operation EXPORTER – See
RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W
Tute
for
details.)
Carried out patrol to intercept
Vichy French warships on passage to carry
out attacks
on
advancing allied troops and to provide naval
gunfire support.
9th
Joined
HMS KIMBERLEY
and assisted HMS JANUS after damage in an
engagement
with
Vichy French destroyers. Provide cover for
passage of HMS JANUS to Egypt
under
tow. by
HMS JACKAL. Rescued
pilots from two
aircraft which had collided.
10th
Carried
out bombardment of area north of Khan bridge
in
support of military advance.
July
Deployed
at Haifa
for support duties with HMAS PERTH, HMS
NAIAD, HMS
GRIFFIN
and HMS HAVOCK.
2nd
Carried
out support bombardment in Damour
area.
7th
On
release from EXPORTER took passage to Alexandria
to resume Flotilla duties.
15th
Deployed
for support of Tobruk garrison and carried
essential stores and personnel
in addition to
providing defence for convoys in eastern Mediterranean.
August
Tobruk support
and convoy defence duties in continuation.
to
October
(Note: Nine separate support passage were
made in this period.
HMS
KINGSTON and HMS KIPLING were also deployed
for support of
Tobruk
garrison
November
Deployed for escort of convoys to
and from Cyprus.
Carried out interception
and anti-submarine patrols in eastern Mediterranean.
December
Nominated for service with Force K
based in Malta
5th
Took
passage from Alexandria
with HM Destroyer JAGUAR to Malta
to join Force K.
8th
Met
HMS NEPTUNE
and HMS AJAX and joined screen for passage
to Malta
On arrival taken in hand
for repair of mechanical defects.
17th
Resumed
service with Force K and sailed from Malta
with HM Cruiser NEPTUNE
and HMS
JAGUAR for support of Forces C and K which
were escorting HMS
BRECONSHIRE during passage back
to Alexandria
and which were under threat
of
attack by an Italian Battle Squadron.
For details
sea above references.
(Note:
The subsequent brief contact between RN
Forces C, K and the Italian battle
group
became known as the First Battle of Sirte.
For
details see MALTA
CONVOYS by R Woodhead
and above references.)
18th
Joined
Force K with Force C after the Italian ships
withdrew and took passage to
Malta.
Other ships in Force K were HM Cruisers
NEPTUNE,
AURORA and
PENELOPE, HM Destroyers LANCE,
LIVELY and HAVOCK.
Soon after arrival sailed from Malta
with Force K to intercept the Italian convoy
which
had been under escort by the Italian battle
group and which was approaching
Tripoli.
19th
Sustained
serious damage aft after hitting a mine
whilst going to assist HMS NEPTUNE
which
had struck a mine and was disabled in an
unknown enemy minefield 20 miles
north
of Tripoli..
(Note:
Sources are at variance as to whether the
mines were laid by German or Italian
forces.
HMS AURORA was seriously damaged
and HMS PENELOPE sustained slight
damaged
by mines but were able to return to Malta..
HMS NEPTUNE capsized and sank
with heavy loss of life. There was only one
survivor
who was captured.)
Sunk by torpedo from HMS JAGUAR
when it became impossible to carry out any
salvage
within
an area known to be mined. 174 men were
first rescued by HMS JAGUAR
For further details see HMS
PEPPERPOT by E Gordon and above references.
(Note:
This disastrous incident represents the
nadir of RN strength in the Mediterranean
and was
the demise of the Malta Striking Force.)
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS KANDAHAR
by
Don Kindell
These
convoy lists have not been cross-checked
with the text above
|
|
|
|
|
Date
convoy sailed
|
Joined
convoy as escort
|
Convoy No.
|
Left
convoy
|
Date
convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
15/11/39
|
17/11/39
|
HN
002
|
18/11/39
|
18/11/39
|
30/11/39
|
02/12/39
|
HN
003
|
04/12/39
|
04/12/39
|
05/12/39
|
08/12/39
|
ON
004/1
|
08/12/39
|
08/12/39
|
10/12/39
|
unknown
|
TC
001
|
17/12/39
|
17/12/39
|
06/01/40
|
07/01/40
|
ON
007/1
|
09/01/40
|
09/01/40
|
09/01/40
|
09/01/40
|
HN
007
|
12/01/40
|
12/01/40
|
08/02/40
|
11/02/40
|
HN
010
|
11/02/40
|
11/02/40
|
07/03/40
|
08/03/40
|
ON
018/1
|
10/03/40
|
10/03/40
|
23/06/40
|
06/07/40
|
BN
001
|
10/07/40
|
12/07/40
|
17/07/40
|
30/07/40
|
BN
002
|
03/08/40
|
05/08/40
|
01/09/40
|
03/09/40
|
BS
003A
|
06/09/40
|
06/09/40
|
30/08/40
|
12/09/40
|
WS
002A
|
14/09/40
|
14/09/40
|
12/09/40
|
14/09/40
|
BS
004B
|
16/09/40
|
16/09/40
|
22/08/40
|
20/09/40
|
AP
001/1
|
23/09/40
|
23/09/40
|
19/09/40
|
25/09/40
|
BN
005A
|
28/09/40
|
29/09/40
|
24/09/40
|
27/09/40
|
SW
001
|
29/09/40
|
08/10/40
|
08/10/40
|
10/10/40
|
SW
002
|
12/10/40
|
22/10/40
|
10/09/40
|
20/10/40
|
AP
003/1
|
22/10/40
|
22/10/40
|
04/12/40
|
08/12/40
|
BS
010
|
unknown
|
11/12/40
|
01/01/41
|
01/01/41
|
SW
004A
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
11/01/41
|
11/01/41
|
BN
012A
|
unknown
|
15/01/41
|
12/01/41
|
12/01/41
|
SW
004B
|
unknown
|
25/01/41
|
25/01/41
|
unknown
|
BS
013A
|
01/02/41
|
01/02/41
|
26/01/41
|
01/02/41
|
BNF
001
|
03/02/41
|
06/02/41
|
01/02/41
|
04/02/41
|
BSF
001
|
07/02/41
|
07/02/41
|
19/02/41
|
04/03/41
|
FORCE
Z
|
06/03/41
|
07/03/41
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)