N-Class
destroyer ordered from Fairfield at Govan
on
15th April 1939 with another of the same
Class and laid down on 26th July that
year. The ship
was launched on 22nd May 1940 as the 2nd
RN ship to carry the name, that of Admiral
Sir Charles
Napier who commanded the British Fleet at
the capture of the island of Bomarsund in
the
Baltic during the Crimean War. This name
had been introduced in 1915 for a
destroyer sold in 1921. She
was commissioned for service in the Royal
Australian Navy on 28th November 1940 and
build was
completed on 11th December 1940. In May
1942 the ship was adopted by the civil
community of
Dumbartonshire, Scotland after a
successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign.
B a t t l
e H o n o u r s
CRETE 1941 - LIBYA 1941 - BURMA 1944-45 -
OKINAWA 1945
H
e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge:
On
a Field White a fess wavy Blue. a saltire
engrailed
Red
surmounted by a crescent White, within the
horns
a
rose Red.
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)
1
9 4 0
November
Contractors
trials.
28th
- Commissioned
as HMAS NAPIER for service in the 7th
Destroyer Flotilla.
December
11th
- Build
completion and commenced acceptance trials
based at Greenock..
20th
- On
completion took passage to Scapa Flow to
commence work-up for
operational
service.
Carried
out
Full Power Trial on passage.
1
9 4 1
January
Deployed
at
Scapa Flow for work-up
4th
- Escorted
two armed merchant cruisers to Iceland
with HM Destroyers KELLY
and
Polish ORP PIORUN.
11th
- Resumed
work-up at Scapa Flow on return from
Iceland.
15th
- Embarked
Prime Minister, US Diplomat Harry Hopkins,
Lord and Lady Halifax
at
Thurso for passage to join HM Battleship
KING
GEORGE V at Scapa Flow.
(Note:
Lord Halifax, British
Ambassador designate to USA was being
taken
to
Indianapolis
by HMS KING GEORGE V to take up his
appointment.
Winston
Churchill and Harry Hopkins were
accompanying
him but were
not
taking passage.)
February
Deployed
at
Scapa Flow with 7th Destroyer Flotilla on
completion of work-up
at
Scapa Flow with ships of Home Fleet.
2nd
- Deployed
as escort for HMS KING GEORGE V during
return passage in NW
Approaches.
6th
- Arrived
at Scapa Flow with HMS KING GEORGE V.
20th
- Deployed
as part of escort for HM Battleship QUEEN
ELIZABETH and HM
Cruiser
DIDO during passage from Rosyth to Scapa
Flow.
March
Nominated
for
service in Mediterranean.
4th
- Taken in
hand by builder at Govan for repair of
defects arising since ship
commissioned.
20th
- On
completion took passage to join military
convoy at Greenock.
21st
- Sailed
from Greenock as part of escort for convoy
during passage to Gibraltar.
29th
- Detached
from convoy on arrival at Gibraltar
31st
- Sailed
from Gibraltar as escort for ss HIGHLAND
MONARCH during passage
to
Capetown.
April
17th
- Arrived
at Simonstown,
Took
passage from Simonstown to join
Fleet at Alexandria.
May
Passage
in Red
Sea.
4th
- Arrived
at Alexandria for Mediterranean Fleet
service.
6th
- Took part
in Mediterranean Fleet operations in
Eastern Mediterranean including
defence
of military convoy during passage from
Malta
(Operation TIGER)
(Note:
This ship was not part of
screen for major warships providing cover
for
convoy
MW7
from Alexandria to Malta and the passage
of the TIGER
convoy
and it is assumed that she was part of
TIGER
convoy escort
from
9th May.)
10th
- Under
air attacks but unscathed.
12th
- Arrived
at Alexandria with TIGER convoy.
20th
- Part of
screen for HM Battleships BARHAM and QUEEN
ELIZABETH, HM Aircraft
Carrier
FORMIDABLE for bombardment of Scarpanto
and
air attacks on airfield at
Pogadia
Bay with HM Destroyers
JERVIS, NIZAM, JERVIS and other Fleet
destroyers.
25th
- Deployed
for transport of stores and ammunition to
Crete garrison.
28th
- Sailed
from Alexandria as part of Force C for
evacuation of allied troops at
Sphakia
with HMAS NIZAM, HM Destroyers KELVIN and
KANDAHAR.
29th
- Returned
to Alexandria with 244 troops from
Sphakia.
30th
- Took
passage from Alexandria to resume
evacuation duties at Sphakia with ships
of
Force C
(Note:
During
passage HMS KANDAHAR returned to
Alexandria with machinery
defects
and HMS KELVIN was damaged during air
attack
and also had to
return
to harbour.)
31st
- Embarked
troops at Sphakia with HMS NIZAM and
sustained slight damage when
near
missed during air attacks.
June
1st
- Returned
to Alexandria with 709 men.
Ship
withdrawn from service for repairs.
12th
- Taken in
hand by HM Depot Ship WOOLWICH
27th
- Further
repair required and ship remained
non-operational.
July
9th
- Passage
in tow to Port Said for repair to
propulsion machinery.
August
Under
repair at
Port Said.
On
completion transferred to support
of Tobruk garrison
18th
- Deployed
with HM Australian Cruiser HOBART and HMAS
NIZAM for Tobruk support.
(Note:
Troops were embarked in warships for
passage.)
26th
- Deployed
for support of garrison at Tobruk.
Embarked troops and stores for Tobruk
garrison
September
11th
- Deployed
for support of Tobruk garrison
15th
- Deployed
for further Tobruk trip.
18th
- Deployed
for further Tobruk trip.
24th
- Deployed
for further Tobruk trip,
(Note:
HM Cruisers LATONA and ABDIEL
as well as HM Australian Cruiser HOBART
and
HMAS
NIZAM carried 6,500 ANZAC troops which
were replaced by British
and
Polish units.)
25th
- Part of
screen for Fleet units during diversionary
cruise in eastern Mediterranean.
(Operation
MD6).
27th
- Returned
to Alexandria with Fleet units.
(See
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by C Barnett, Naval Staff History and
THE
ROYAL
AUSTRALIAN NAVY IN WW2.)
Ship
was fitted with 20mm
Oerlikon weapons to improve close range AA
defence.
October
19th
- Final
Tobruk support trip.
On
release from Tobruk garrison
support deployed for transport of British
50th
Division
troops
from Cyprus.
November
Transport
duties
in continuation.
2nd
- Deployed
for transport of 5th Indian Division
troops from Haifa to reinforce garrison in
Cyprus.
8th
- On
release from transport of troops deployed
at Alexandria for Fleet screening and
interception
of enemy supply convoys.
24th
- Part of
screen for HM Battleships QUEEN ELIZABETH,
BARHAM and VALIANT with
HM
Destroyers NIZAM (RAN), JACKAL, KIPLING,
JERVIS and
HOTSPUR to provide
cover
for cruisers carrying out
search for enemy supply convoys.
Took
part in rescue of crew of ss
GLENROY torpedoed near Alexandria.
(Note:
This
ship was being used as a store carrier and
was later converted for
use
as a Landing Ship.)
25th
- Took
part in rescue of survivors from HMS
BARHAM after she had been sunk by
U331
off Sollum. (See Naval Staff History.)
December
Under
repair at
Alexandria.
(Note:
Did not take part in
Operation MF1 to escort HM Supply Ship
BRECONSHIRE
during
passage
to Malta.)
Nominated
for transfer to the
Eastern Fleet for service in the Indian
Ocean.
(Note:
This
followed the request of the Australian
Government that their armed
forces
be made available for the defence of
Australia
following the fall of
Malaya
and Singapore.)
31st
- Carried
out bombardment of Bardia with HMAS NIZAM.
(Note:
7th
Destroyer Flotilla then also included HM
Destroyers JACKAL, KIPLING,
NESTOR
and NIZAM.)
1 9 4 2
January
3rd - Took
passage from Alexandria with HMAS NESTOR
and HMAS NIZAM to join
Eastern Fleet.
Deployed
in Red Sea.
23rd -
Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier INDOMITABLE
with
HMAS NESTOR and HMAS NIZAM
during passage from Port Sudan to
Indian Ocean (Operation OPPONENT). HMS
INDOMITABLE was carrying HURRICANE
aircraft for delivery to
Singapore.
(See WAR WITH JAPAN Volume II (HMSO).)
27th - Aircraft
launched near Cocos islands after call
at Addu Atoll and passage as
part
of escort.
28th -
Further launch of aircraft. (See WAR
WITH JAPAN
for details.)
February
Escort for
HMS INDOMITABLE in continuation in
Indian
Ocean.
2nd -
Joined Eastern Fleet.
24th - Arrived
at Port Sudan as escort for HMS
INDOMITABLE for further aircraft
delivery
to Singapore.
Passage
from Port Sudan as escort for HMS
INDOMITABLE with same ships.
March
3rd - Delivery
operation cancelled and HMS INDOMITABLE
diverted to Colombo.
5th - Arrived
at Colombo and deployed for Fleet duties
based at Colombo.
28th - Sailed
as part of screen for Force A from
Colombo Force A to intercept Japanese
force reported on passage in Indian
Ocean to carry out
air attacks on Ceylon. Force A also
included HM
Battleship WARSPITE, HM Aircraft
INDOMITABLE and
FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers ENTERPRISE,
EMERALD, DORSETSHIRE and CORNWALL
screened by HM Destroyers FOXHOUND,
NESTOR (RAN), PALADIN
and HOTSPUR.
April
Indian
Ocean search deployment in continuation.
covered by Force B ships.
(Note: This comprised HM Aircraft
Carrier HERMES and older battleships
with
destroyer
screen.)
3rd - HMS
CORNWALL and HMS DORSETSHIRE detached
from
Force A.
4th -
Search unsuccessful and took passage
with Force
A to refuel at Add Atoll.
At Addu Atoll with Force A (Port T).
(See WAR WITH JAPAN Volume II) (Note:
HMS CORNWALL and HMS
DORSETSHIRE were sunk in air attacks on
5th April.)
5th -
(Colombo
was attacked from Japanese carriers on
5th April.)
8th -
Returned to Addu Atoll after failing to
intercept returning Japanese force.
9th -
Deployed with screen Force A and took
passage to
Bombay
12th -
Detached from screen with HMAS NIZAM
during
deployment in Arabian Sea to deter
Japanese attacks on shipping
between Aden and ports in India.
13th -
Under routine docking at Bombay and for
installation of additional 20mm Oerlikon
guns
to improve close range AA defence.
May
On completion
took passage to rejoin Eastern Fleet for
convoy defence in Indian Ocean (Note:
CinC Eastern Fleet decided
that Bombay was too vulnerable to future
attacks
and that Fleet should be based in East
Africa instead.)
Nominated
for transfer to Mediterranean for
support of planned Malta relief
operation
27th
- Took
passage to Mediterranean for detached
service with HM Cruiser
NEWCASTLE,
HM Destroyers NESTOR, INCONSTANT, PALADIN,
HOTSPUR and
GRIFFIN.
June
Resumed
Mediterranean
Fleet service.
13th
- Sailed
from Alexandria with Mediterranean Fleet
and deployed with HM Destroyers
HASTY,
HERO, INCONSTANT, JAVELIN, JERVIS, KELVIN,
NESTOR, NIZAM, NORMAN,
PAKENHAM,
PALADIN, SIKH and ZULU as
screen for HM Cruisers ARETHUSA,
BIRMINGHAM
CLEOPATRA, DIDO, EURYALUS,
HERMIONE and NEWCASTLE to
provide
escort for Malta Convoy MW11
during passage in eastern Mediterranean.
(Operation
VIGOROUS).
This
operation was
co-incident with a similar relief convoy
from Gibraltar
which
came
under heavy submarine and surface warship
attacks although
two
mercantiles arrived in Malta (Operation
HARPOON).
HM
Battleship CENTURION, disarmed before
outbreak of
WW2 was also
deployed
with MW11 and disguised to
resemble a KGV Class battleship.
Twelve
other destroyers were also
deployed as close escorts for MW11
for
period,
prior to arrival of Mediterranean Fleet
units.
(For
details
see THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D
Macintyre,
ENGAGE
THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett,
HITLER'S
U-BOAT
WAR
by C Blair and the Naval Staff
History.)
14th
- Joined
MW11 with Fleet units. Under heavy and
sustained air attacks.
Submarine
attack by U77 driven off by HMS PACKENHAM.
Convoy
under threat of attack by Italian fleet
units.
15th
- Convoy
ordered by CinC ashore in Alexandria to
reverse course.
Under
night
attack by German E-Boats during which HMS
HASTY was torpedoed
and
had to be sunk by HMS HOTSPUR.
HMS
NEWCASTLE was also hit by a torpedo and
withdrawn
from escort to return
to
Alexandria.
Air
attacks resumed after daylight but convoy
ordered
to resume westward
passage
although this was later
rescinded.
During
the air attacks HMS ARETHUSA,
HMS BIRMINGHAM and HMS CENTURION
were
all damaged. HMS AIREDALE and
HMS NESTOR had to be sunk.
Owing
to the heavy expenditure of AA
ammunition by escorts which would have
left
insufficient
stocks to ensure safe passage to Malta the
operation was
abandoned.
16th
- Returned
to Alexandria with Fleet units.
On
release from detached service at
Alexandria took passage to resume Eastern
Fleet
duties
in Indian Ocean.
July
Deployed
for
convoy defence in Indian Ocean.
Nominated
for duty with Eastern
Fleet units for deception operation.
Detached
from
convoy escort and took passage to join
ships of Eastern Fleet during
their
passage to Colombo from Kilindini.
23rd
- Joined
HM Destroyers NORMAN, INCONSTANT and Dutch
destroyer VAN GALEN for
screening
of HM Battleship WARSPITE, HM Aircraft
Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS and
FORMIDABLE,
HM Cruisers MAURITIUS
and BIRMINGHAM during passage in Indian
Ocean
as
Force A to simulate a possible attack on
Andaman Islands.
(Operation
STAB)..
28th
- At
Colombo with Force A units including Dutch
cruiser HEEMSKERCK and prepared
for
STAB.
30th
- Sailed
from Colombo with Force A.
August
1st
- Deception
convoys sailed for STAB.
Force
A sighted by Japanese aircraft
and information broadcast by enemy.
2nd
- Enemy
flying boat shot down by MARTLET aircraft
from HMS FORMIDABLE.
Operation
terminated as Eastern Fleet ships required
for planned operation in
Madagascar.
Returned to Trincomalee
with Eastern Fleet units
(For
details of Operation STAB See
WAR WITH JAPAN, Volume III (HMSO).)
September
Prepared
for
operations to complete occupation of
Madagascar.
Took
passage
to Kilindini with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS
BIRMINGHAM and
Dutch
cruiser HEEMSKERCK to join Force M for
Madagascar
operations.
8th
- Met
troopship EMPIRE PRIDE and embarked troop
of No 5 Commando.
10th
- Deployed
with Dutch cruiser HEEMSKERCK, Dutch
destroyers VAN GALEN,
TJERK
HIDDES (both sister ships) to land
Commando unit
at Morondava on
west
coast of Madagascar (Operation
TAMPER).
(Note:
This attack on a radio
station and airfield was a diversion for
the main
landings
at
Majunga (Operation STREAM).)
14th
- Took
part of landings at Tamatave on east coast
of Madagascar with ships of
Force
M (Operation JANE).
29th
- Deployed
with HMS INCONSTANT and Dutch VAN GALEN to
cover landings of
South
African troops and Royal Marines from HMS
BIRMINGHAM at Tulear on
SE
coast of Madagascar (Operation
ROSE).
October
Resumed
convoy
defence duties on release from ROSE based
at Killindini.
November
Convoy
defence
in Indian Ocean in continuation.
28th
- Sustained
damage after grounding at Kilindini.
December
8th
- Taken in
hand for repair and refit at Durban.
(Note:
7th
Destroyer Flotilla the also included HM
Destroyers NEPAL, NIZAM,
NORMAN,
Dutch destroyers VAN GALEN and TJERK
HIDDES.)
1
9 4 3
January
to February
Under
refit
March
On
completion
of post refit trials resumed convoy
defence duties.
29th
- Joined
military Convoy WS27 with HM Cruiser
FROBISHER, HM Destroyers
CATTERICK,
FOXHOUND and ROTHERHAM at Durban as escort
during passage
in
Indian Ocean to Aden.
April
1st
- Detached
from WS27 with destroyers for escort
during passage.
18th
- Joined
military Convoy WS28 at Durban with HM
Destroyer RAIDER as part of
escort
during initial part of passage to Aden.
(Note:
HM Cruiser KENYA, HM Destroyers REDOUBT
and
RELENTLESS already
the
escort from Cape remained with
convoy on departure from Durban.)
20th
- Detached
from WS28 with destroyers during passage
in Indian Ocean.
May
Passage
to
Simonstown for support of anti-submarine
operations
(Note
A
significant increase in U-Boat activity
had required reinforcement of
escorts
for convoy defence and A/S patrols in area
around Cape of Good
Hope.
See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C
Blair and U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC
(HMSO).)
June
to September
Resumed
convoy
defence duties based at Durban
(Note:
Use of Fleet destroyers for
trade defence including convoy escort and
patrol
for
interception of commerce raiders and
blockade runners made
their
deployment for screening of Eastern Fleet
major
units an
unacceptable
option. Both German and
Italian submarines were carrying
out
attacks on shipping and several
blockade runners were attempting
passage
to and from the Far East.
Ship was retained at Kilindini for
these
duties.)
October
to December
Deployed
for convoy escort between
Aden and Bombay.
(Note:
Significant military
reinforcements and additional supplied
were being
sent
to
SEAC in this period and required effective
defence.)
1
9 4 4
January
Convoy
escort
in continuation
Nominated
for Fleet screening
duties.
February
Convoy
duties
when not deployed to take part in
preparatory exercises in
anticipation
of planned Fleet operations.
March
21st
- Joined
HM Destroyers QUIBERON, QUILLIAM, QUALITY,
QUEENBOROUGH,
PATHFINDER,
NEPAL, NORMAN, Dutch destroyers VAN GALEN
and TJERK
HIDDES
as screen for HM Battleships
QUEEN ELIZABETH and VALIANT,
HM
Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Aircraft
Carrier FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers LONDON,
GAMBIA
(RNZN),
CEYLON and CUMBERLAND on departure of
Fleet from Trincomalee
to
meet US aircraft carrier SARATOGA on
passage
for loan service with British
Eastern
Fleet. Commodore
(Destroyers) Eastern Fleet was embarked.
24th
- Refuelled
with Fleet units.
27th
- Met SARATOGA and screening US destroyers
CUMMINGS, DUNLAP and FANNING
.
in position
13.10S 85.05E and took joint passage to
Ceylon.
April
2nd
- Returned
to Ceylon with Fleet and USN ships.
16th
- Joined
HM Destroyers ROTHERHAM, RACEHORSE, PENN,
PETARD, QUIBERON, NEPAL and
NAPIER
as screen for HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HMS
VALIANT,
French battleship RICHELIEU,
HM
Cruisers NEWCASTLE, NIGERIA and
CEYLON on departure from Trincomalee as
Force 69
to
provide
cover for air operations against targets
at Sabang, Sumatra by HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS and
USS
SARATOGA designated Force 70 (Operation
COCKPIT).
(Note:
Force 70 also included HMS
RENOWN and HM Cruiser LONDON with HMS
QUILLIAM,
HMS
QUADRANT,
HMS QUEENBOROUGH, USS CUMMINGS, USS DUNLAP
and
USS
FANNING as screen.).
18th
- HMS
GAMBIA and HMS CEYLON joined Force 70.
19th
- Deployed
with screen during air operations.
On
completion
took passage with Fleet screen for return
to Ceylon.
23rd
- Deployed
at Ceylon with Eastern Fleet.
May
6th
- Joined HM
Destroyers ROTHERHAM, RACEHORSE, PENN,
NEPAL, QUIBERON, QUICKMATCH
and
Dutch destroyer VAN GALEN as screen for
HMS QUEEN
ELIZABETH, HMS VALIANT, the
French
battleship RICHELIEU, HMS
NIGERIA, HMS NEWCASTLE and Dutch cruiser
TROMP
on
departure
from Trincomalee as Force 65 to provide
cover during air attacks on
Soerabaya by HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS
and USS SARATOGA,
designated Force 66. (Operation TRANSOM)
(Note:
Force
66 also included HMS RENOWN, HMS CEYLON,
HMS GAMBIA and HM Destroyers
QUILLIAM,
QUADRANT, QUEENBOROUGH, USS CUMMINGS, USS
DUNLAP and
USS
FANNING as screen.
Commodore
(Destroyers), Eastern Fleet was embarked
for
this Operation.)
15th
- Replenished
with Fleet units in Exmouth Bay, Northern
Australia.
17th
- Deployed
with screen for Forces 65 and 66 during
air operations.
On
completion
took passage to Ceylon with combined
Forces.
18th
- US Navy
ships on loan service detached for return
passage to Pacific.
27th
- Arrived
in Ceylon with Eastern Fleet units.
June
to July
Deployed
for convoy defence in Indian
Ocean.
(Note:
Operation CRIMSON an attack
on Sabang by Eastern Fleet took place in
July, but ship is not
recorded
with screens for major ships of the
Eastern
Fleet. See THE FORGOTTEN FLEET
by
J Winton and WAR WITH JAPAN
(HMSO) for details.
The
build-up of the 14th Army and
other requirements for the invasion of
Burma and Malaya
involved
an
increase in convoys in the Indian Ocean
where the shortage of escorts was
critical.)
August
Passage
from
Addu Atoll to Williamstown Dockyard,
Melbourne for refit
September
Under
refit
October
15th
- On
completion of post refit trials took
passage to resume Eastern Fleet duties.
November
Eastern
Fleet
deployment as convoy escort in
continuation.
8th
- Rescued
survivors from ss MARION MOLLER adrift in
two lifeboats off east coast of
India.
(Note:
This merchant ship of 3,827grt
had been torpedoed and sunk on 5th
November.)
22nd
- British
Pacific Fleet formed in Colombo from units
of Eastern Fleet and new arrivals
from
(Note:
The RAN destroyers were
allocated to the British Pacific Fleet was
formed but were retained
in
the Eastern Fleet for support of planned
operations.)
December
Nominated
for
service in Force 64 for support of
military operations in Burma.
6th
- Passage
to Chittagong for support of military
operations on Arakan coast with HMAS
NEPAL.
13th
- Deployed
with HM Australian Destroyer NEPAL and HM
Harbour Defence Motor Launches 1275
and
1303 as a Bombardment Group based at
Chittagong.
24th
- Bombardment duties in support of
military operations in Mayu
peninsula
completed .
(Operation
ROMULUS)
(Note:
A total of 13 Bombardments was carried out
by
the Group. See Naval Staff History.)
7th
Destroyer
Flotilla also included HM Destroyers
NEPAL, NIZAM and NORMAN (all
RAN).
1
9 4 5
January
Force
64
deployment in continuation. for support of
landings at Akyab (Operation
LIGHTNING)
3rd
- Embarked
3rd Commando Brigade units at Teknaf with
HMAS NEPAL and HM Sloop
SHOREHAM.
Took
passage
with landing craft as Convoy C to landing
position without gunfire
support needed.
8th
- Nominated
for support of assault landing at Myebon
by 3rd Commando Brigade (Operation
PUNGENT)
12th
- Deployed
with HM Indian Sloops NARBADA and JUMNA
with landing craft for support duties.
(Note:
Senior officer for Support was embarked.
HM
Cruiser PHOEBE provided aircraft control
for air
strikes.)
During
air attacks one OSCAR
aircraft was shot down by ship.
21st
- Took
part in bombardment of Ramree Island prior
to landings (Operation MATADOR -
Note:
Joint Force Commander had been embarked
and
ship was nominated as standby
HQ ship
for use if needed. See THE FORGOTTEN FLEET
by J Winton and
WAR
WITH JAPAN (HMSO) ).
Other
ships
in Force were HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM
Cruiser PHOEBE, HM
Destroyer
RAPID, HM Sloops FLAMINGO and KISTNA
(RIN).)
22nd
- Escorted
HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH from Ramree
to Trincomalee.
24th
- Detached
from escort on arrival and took passage to
Colombo for routine docking.
February
22nd
- Released
from Eastern Fleet duties and nominated
for service with BPF.
23rd
- Took
passage as escort for HM Aircraft Carrier
FORMIDABLE with HM Destroyer
URCHIN
to Sydney with call at Fremantle.
March
3rd
- At
Fremantle.
7th
- Sustained
weather damage during passage to Sydney in
Bass Strait and lost two
men
overboard.
14th
- Under
repair to weather damage at Williamstown
Dockyard, Melbourne.
29th
- Resumed
operational service on completion of
repair.
April
Nominated
for
duty in Fleet Train Task Force 112.
1st
- Took
passage from Sydney to join Fleet Train at
Manus.
On
arrival
deployed for escort of Fleet Train during
passage to Leyte for support
of
Task
Force 57.
(Note:
British warships allocated for service
with US
5th Fleet were designated Task
Force
57 and had begun operations in
Sakishima Gunto Group on 17th March.
(Operation
ICEBERG
I)
18th
- Deployed
as part of escort for Refuelling Group in
Area MOSQUITO ONE during
replenishment
of TF57 ships.
19th
- Detached
from TG113 with HM Destroyers NORMAN and
NEPAL for escort of ships of
TF57.
See THE FORGOTTEN FLEET.
21st
- Passage
to Leyte as escort with TF57.
23rd
- Resumed
TF113 service on arrival at Leyte.
May
1st
- Sailed
with Fleet Train for support of British
ships in Task Force 57 during renewed
joint
attacks with US Navy Task Group on
Sakishama
Gunto islands.
(Operation
ICEBERG II).
(For
details of make-up of Fleet Train see THE
FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton.)
3rd
- Deployed
with HMAS NEPAL, HMAS NORMAN, HMAS NIZAM,
HM Sloops CRANE,
WHIMBREL,
PHEASANT, WOODCOCK, HM Frigates AVON,
PARRET, FINDHORN,
HM
Australian Corvettes WHYALLA,
BALLARAT and BENDIGO as screen for HM
Escort
Carriers
RULER,
STRIKER, CHASER and SPEAKER during
Replenishment of Task
Force
57.
9th
- Detached
from Fleet Train escort duty with HMAS
NEPAL and joined HM Destroyers
TROUBRIDGE,
TENACIOUS and TERMAGANT to relieve
destroyers
deployed as
screen
for aircraft carriers of Task
Force 57 during air operations against
Sakishima
Gunto.
(For
details see THE FORGOTTEN FLEET, WAR WITH
JAPAN, TASK FORCE 57,
by
P Smith and the Naval Staff History.)
15th
- Detached
as escort for HM Escort Aircraft Carrier
STRIKER during passage to Leyte
after
aircraft delivery to TF57 aircraft
carriers
during replenishment period
20th
- Deployed
with TF113 as escort.
22nd
- Deployed
with Fleet Train escort in Area COOTIE
during Replenishment of Task
Force
57
25th
- Took
return passage with Fleet Train to
Australia when ICEBERG II operations
ceased.
June
Deployed
in Australia during R&R period for
Task Force 57 Ships.
28th - Fleet Train escort
duties resumed for support of operations
off Japanese mainland
during
joint attacks operations by British and
American Task Groups.
(Note:
British ships had been transferred
to US 3rd Fleet and redesignated TF37).
July
Passage
to
operational area with call at Manus, the
forward base for BPF.
20th
- Deployed
with HMAS NIZAM, HM Sloops PHEASANT,
WHIMBREL, REDPOLE, HM
Frigate
FINDHORN and HMAS GAWLER as escort for
Fleet
Train tankers AMBROSIO,
WAVE
MONARCH, SAN ADOLPHO, HM Supply
Ship GLENARTNEY, HM Escort
Carriers
RULER, ARBITER and STRIKER
during replenishment of BPF ships during
attacks
on
Japan.
26th
- Deployed
with HMAS NIZAM, HMAS NEPAL, HM Ships
PHEASANT, CRANE, REDPOLE,
PARRET,
PLY, HM Australia Corvettes WHYALLA, PIRIE
and
LAUNCESTON as escort
for
tankers and supply ships of
Fleet Train during operations off Japan.
Transferred
to
Task Force 37 for escort of major units.
(Note:
Ship
is not recorded as part of Fleet Train
escort during replenishment of
BPF.)
15th
- Deployed
as escort for TF38.5 ships during final
air strikes on air fields in Tokyo
plain.
(Note:
Operations ceased on
instructions from Admiral Nimitz after the
strikes
which
were
launched at 0400)
17th
- Joined
US 3rd Fleet ships with TF38.5 escort.
30th
- Passage
to Tokyo Bay with HM Destroyer QUALITY,
HMAS NIZAM and Hospital
Ship
TJITJALENGKA as escort for HMS KING GEORGE
V.
31st
- HM
Australian Cruisers HOBART and SHROPSHIRE,
HM Australian Destroyers
BATAAN
and WARRAMUNGA, HM Australian Minesweepers
IPSWICH, BALLARAT
and
CESSNOCK joined Token Force.
(Note:
7th Destroyer Flotilla comprised HMAS
NAPIER,
HMAS NEPAL, HMAS
NIZAM
and HMAS NORMAN.)
August
Deployed
with
screen of BPF.
7th
- Fuel shortage
reported due to lack of correct fuel in
tankers.
12th
- Transferred
to British Token Force in US Navy Task
Force 38 and designated Task Group
38.5)
(Note:
The other BPF ships deployed
off Japan retained in Task Group 38.5 were
HM
Battleship
KING GEORGE V, HM Aircraft Carrier
INDEFATIGABLE,
HM
New Zealand Cruiser GAMBIA, HM Cruiser
NEWFOUNDLAND,
HM
Destroyers TROUBRIDGE, TERMAGANT,
TENACIOUS, TEAZER,
BARFLEUR,
HM Australian Destroyer
NIZAM.
For
details of the background to the
decision to withdraw other ships from the
area
due
to
lack of fuel from tankers of the
British Fleet Train see above references.)
September
2nd
- Present
at formal surrender of Japan signed on
board US battleship USS
MISSOURI
in Tokyo Bay.
Deployed
for
support of repatriation of PoW and allied
nationals.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMAS NAPIER returned to Australia on release from duties in Japan and
was deployed as part of the Royal
Australian Navy until being Paid-off on
24th October 1945. She
was replaced in the RAN by HM Destroyer
QUALITY and was recommissioned as HMS
NAPIER the next day.
The ship took passage to UK from
Fremantle, manned by personnel from HMS
QUALITY on 5th November
and Paid–off at Devonport on 12th December
1945.
She was de-stored and reduced to Reserve
status there on 7th March 1946.
The ship laid-up at Portsmouth in August
1950 and in May 1952 returned to the
Reserve Fleet at Devonport. Towed to
Penarth in January 1953 she remained
there until placed on the
Disposal List in 1955. and sold to BISCO
for demolition by T W Ward. She arrived
at the Breakers Yard in Briton Ferry on
17th January 1956 to be broken-up.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMAS NAPIER
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
MW 011
|
11/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
22/03/43
|
23/03/43
|
CM 040
|
22/03/43
|
01/04/43
|
25/04/43
|
11/05/43
|
CM 041
|
25/04/43
|
11/05/43
|
14/09/43
|
20/09/43
|
CM 045
|
14/09/43
|
27/09/43
|
24/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
CM 048
|
18/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
|