1 9 3 9

 

September             Deployed with 2nd Battle Squadron, Home fleet at Scapa Flow for the

                                interception of enemy warships attempting to enter Atlantic through

                                NW Approaches.

                                Carried out unsuccessful search for German liner BREMEN returning

                                to Germany.

                26th        Provided cover in North Sea for ships of Home Fleet escorting the

                                damaged submarine HMS SPEARFISH during return to UK.

                                Came under air attacks for first time.

                                (Note: This was the first occasion on which radar was used to give

                                warning of the approach of enemy aircraft. Prototype Radar Type 79Y had been

                                fitted in October 1938.)

                                Deployed with HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL and a screen of Home

                                Fleet destroyers).

 

October

                8th          Carried out search for German battleship GNEISENAU and screen of

                                nine destroyers in the Faroes-Iceland gap.

                                (Note: Enemy ships had made a brief sortie off coast of Norway but had

                                returned to harbour when RN ships arrived.)

                                Provided cover for passage of iron ore convoy from Narvik.

                31st         Returned to Clyde after Scape Flow defences had been penetrated by

                                U47 which sank HM Battleship ROYAL OAK on 14th October.

 

November              Atlantic and North Sea convoy defence based in Clyde in continuation.

                23rd        Sailed from Clyde with HM Battleship NELSON and HM Cruiser

                                DEVONSHIRE and screen of seven Fleet destroyers to carry out an

                                unsuccessful search in Faroes–Iceland Gap for German battleships

                                SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU which had attacked convoy.

                                (Note HM Armed Merchant Cruiser RAWALPINDI had been sunk

                                in action with these warships which were carrying out attacks

                                on Atlantic shipping.)

 

December

                1st           Part of escort for 1st Canadian Troop Convoy (TC1).

                                Steering problems developed and ship took passage to Liverpool for

                                repair.

                9th          Under repair in commercial shipyard..

                                (Note: Modification to strengthen rudder stiffening carried out.

                                This had already been done in sister ship HMS NELSON).

                                For details of naval activities in Home waters during 1939 see

                                ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett

                                and Naval Staff History).

                29th        Took passage from Liverpool to rejoin the Fleet on completion of repair.

                31st         Resumed Home Fleet duties and replaced HM Battleship NELSON as

                                Flagship.

                                (Note: HMS NELSON had been mined at Loch Ewe on 4th December

                                and was under repair).

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  On completion of repairs resumed Atlantic duties based in Clyde.

 

February                Atlantic and North Sea interception and convoy defence in continuation.

                                Serious problems were developing due to 'panting' of plates in ship's side.

 

March                    Returned to Scapa Flow after anchorage defences improved.

                16th        Under air attack whilst at Scapa Flow.

 

April                       Home Fleet interception and convoy defence in continuation.

                7th          Deployed with HM Battleship VALIANT, HM Battlecruiser REPULSE, HM

                                Cruiser SHEFFIELD, HM Cruiser PENELOPE and French EMIL BERTIN

                                screened by HM Destroyers CODRINGTON, GRIFFIN, JUPITER,

                                ELECTRA, ESCAPADE, BRAZEN, BEDOUIN, PUNJABI, ESKIMO

                                and KIMBERLEY.

                8th          After German invasion of Norway redeployed with Fleet units to attack

                                enemy ships on passage to ports in Norway.

                                On receipt of enemy report from HM Destroyer GLOWWORM attempted

                                to intercept German cruiser HIPPER but made no contact.

                                (Note: HMS GLOWWORM which had been detached earlier to escort

                                minelayers was sunk by HIPPER after a gallant fight)

                9th          Under air attacks and hit by bomb abaft funnel. Partial detonation caused

                                damage and fire with 18 casualties.

                                (Note: HM Destroyer GURKHA (i) was sunk in these attacks.)

                10th        Provided cover to HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS during air attacks on

                                Trondheim.

                11th        Provided cover to Fleet units deployed at Narvik

                                (Note: HMS WARSPITE and Fleet Destroyers were in action in Narvik

                                Fjord ( First Battle of Narvik.)

                12th        Deployed off Narvik with WARSPITE, RENOWN and FURIOUS

                                screened by six destroyers.

                13th        Provided cover off Narvik during 2nd Battle of Narvik.

                15th        Took passage to Scapa Flow with RENOWN screened by IVANHOE,

                                KIMBERLEY. ESK, FORESTER and ICARUS.

                                (Note: Serious threat of air attacks in Norwegian waters and need to

                                retain heavy units for interception of commerce raiders made

                                this necessary).

                                (Note      During frequent air attacks off Norway including 2 near misses

                                flooding of compartments took place due to weaknesses in ship'

                                side plating. Repair by ship's staff was carried out but not totally

                                effective.)

                17th        Arrived at Scapa Flow

 

May                        Deployment at Scapa Flow in continuation

 

June

                9th          Joined HMS VALIANT with HMS RENOWN in North Sea to supplement cover

                                for return of evacuation convoy from Narvik (Operation ALPHABET).

                12th        Deployed with HM Battlecruiser RENOWN and Fleet units with destroyer screen

                                to cover air operations by HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL against German

                                warships known to be at Trondheim

                15th        Returned to Scapa Flow with Fleet units.

                                (Note: These air attacks were unsuccessful and eight aircraft were lost.

                                See Naval Staff History for details.)

 

July                         Deployed at Scapa Flow with Home Fleet.

                24th        Flag transferred to HMS NELSON.

                                Nominated for refit and took passage to Rosyth.

 

August                  Under refit by HM Dockyard Rosyth for installation of the Radar Type 79Z

                                in place of prototype Type79Y fitted in 1938.

                                (For details of development and use of radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA

                                by D. Howse).

 

September             Resumed Home Fleet duties based at Rosyth for interception of any attempt by

                                major German warships attempting to enter English Channel or take passage

                                for attacks on Atlantic shipping.

 

October                  Home Fleet duties at Rosyth in continuation.

 

November              Despatched from Rosyth with HMS NELSON to carry out interception patrol

                                in Faroes-Iceland Gap following the sinking of HM Armed Merchant Cruiser

                                JERVIS BAY in defence of Convoy HX84 against attack by German cruiser

                                ADMIRAL SCHEER.

                                (Note: German ship did not return to North Sea and was sent to attack shipping

                                in South Atlantic.)

                17th        Remained in NW Approaches to cover passage of Atlantic convoys when these

                                were resumed following earlier attack.

 

December              Atlantic deployment in continuation.

                8th          Sustained major structural damage forward due to heavy weather.

                                Earlier ship's staff repair torn away and flooding of compartments due to

                                panting of plates made necessary extempore pumping which affected

                                watertight integrity of forward structure.

                18th        Taken in hand for repair of weather damage at Rosyth

                                Additional stiffening provided.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  On completion resumed Home Fleet duties.

                28th        Deployed with HM Battlecruiser REPULSE eight Home Fleet cruisers

                                and screen of 11 Fleet destroyers in search for German battleships SCHARNORST

                                and GNEISENAU.

                                (Note: Sighting by HM Cruiser NAIAD gave warning of the presence of RN units

                                and German ships retreated at speed and were never engaged.)

                                Returned to Scapa Flow.

 

February

                6th          Provided cover for ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron during minelay in

                                Northern Barrage (Operation SN7A).

                                (For details of all minelaying operations see Naval Staff History (MINING)).

                15th        Joined military convoy WS6A with HM Destroyers ECLIPSE and ELECTRA

                                as Ocean Escort with HM Armed Merchant Cruiser CATHAY, HM Cruisers

                                BIRMINGHAM and PHOEBE during Atlantic passage to Freetown.

                17th        Detached from WS6A with destroyers when relieved in Ocean Escort by

                                HMS RENOWN and HMS ARK ROYAL

 

 March                   Home Fleet deployment in NW Approaches for convoy defence and

                                interception.

                16th        Detached from provision of cover for Convoy HX114 to intercept

                                GNEISENAU

                                After sighting enemy ship lost contact in bad weather.

                                Returned to position of sighting and rescued survivors of mercantile

                                mv CHILEAN REEFER which had been sunk by GNEISENAU on 14th.

                                (Note: SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU had been carrying out attacks

                                on Atlantic shipping sinking 13 ships. They returned to Brest

                                without interception on 22nd.)

 

April                       Home Fleet convoy defence and interception duties in continuation.                      

                                Nominated for refit in USA.

 

May                        Withdrawn from operational service and prepared for refit in USA to remedy

                                hull structural problems and repair an accumulation of defects.

                22nd       Took passage from Clyde as escort for mv BRITANNIC with HM Destroyers

                                ESKIMO, SOMALI, MASHONA and TARTAR.

                24th        Detached with destroyers to join search for German battleship BISMARCK

                                by Home Fleet in NW Approaches.

                25th        Deployed between French coast and last known position of BISMARCK.

                                (Note: High speed operations caused machinery problems which were dealt

                                with by ship's staff and ship remained on station).

                27th        Took part in Home Fleet attacks on BISMARCK and obtained several hits

                                before BISMARCK was sunk by torpedoes from HM Cruiser DORSETSHIRE.

                                (For full details of search for and sinking of BISMARCK see BATTLESHIP

                                BISMARCK by Mullenheim Rechberg, PURSUIT by L Kennedy and Naval

                                Staff History).

                                (Note: One source records that the ship was the first to obtain hits on BISMARCK.)

                                Under air attacks later.

 

June                        Passage to Boston, USA after Home Fleet BISMARCK operations.

                13th        Taken in hand for refit at Boston Navy Yard

 

July                         Under repair and refit.

                                Prepared for installation of new fire control radar for main armament and of

                                New surface warning radar as well as replacement of Type 79Z by Type 281.

 

August

                12th        Refit work completed and commenced Harbour and Sea trials.

                                On completion took passage to Bermuda for work-up in West Indies.

                                During work-up joined US Navy Task Group to take part in search for commerce

                                raiders.

                                Sailed for UK for completion of radar installation and trials.

                                (Note: Radar fit included Type 284 main armament fire control,

                                Type 271 surface warning and Type 281 air warning.).

                                Resumed Home Fleet duties at Scapa Flow.

                                Detached for escort of Malta supply convoy took passage to Gibraltar.

                                (Operation HALBERD).

 

September             Nominated for support of Malta relief convoy during passage from Clyde

                                to Sicilian Narrows.

                                (For details of all Malta convoy operations see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                                CLOSELY by Corelli Bamett, THE BATTLE TOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D

                                MacIntyre, MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman and Naval Staff History).

                17th        Deployed with HM Battleship PRINCE OF WALES, HM Cruisers SHEFFIELD,

                                KENYA, EDINBURGH, EURYALUS and screen of nine destroyers for escort of

                                military convoy WS11X during Atlantic passage (Operation HALBERD)

                24th        Entered Gibraltar to take part in deception to conceal true destination by leaving

                                harbour as if departing for UK. (See MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman.)

                                Rejoined WS11X, then re-designated Convoy GM2 with HMS RODNEY for

                                escort to Sicilian Narrows.

                                (Note: Other ships in escort which joined convoy from Gibraltar were HM

                                Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL, and HM Cruiser HERMIONE with

                                11 destroyers as screen.)

                26th        Under perceived threat of attack by Italian force including two battleships.

                27th        Took up station with HMS NELSON, HMS PRINCE OF WALES screened by

                                six destroyers in readiness to engage enemy ships.

                                Italian warships reversed course when it became evident that convoy was under

                                escort by three battleships with air cover.

                                Under air attacks during which HMS NELSON was hit by a torpedo but remained

                                with escort although with restricted speed capability.

                                On arrival at Narrows remained with HMS NELSON, HMS PRINCE OF WALES.

                                GM2 ships detached with destroyer and cruiser escort and took passage to Malta.

                29th        HMS NELSON detached and took passage to Gibraltar.

                30th        Close escort ships rejoined from Malta after safe arrival of MG10 and returned to

                                Gibraltar.

                                (Note: Operation HALBERD also provided cover for passage of three empty

                                mercantiles from Malta to Gibraltar as Convoy MG2.)

 

October

                1st           Retained at Gibraltar to replace HMS NELSON in as Flagship of Force H.

                16th        Covered Malta aircraft delivery by HMS ARK ROYAL with HM Cruiser HERMIONE

                                and HM Destroyers COSSACK, FORESTER, FORESIGHT, FURY, LEGION, SIKH

                                and ZULU as screen (Operation CALLBOY)

                19th        Covered passage to Malta of HM Cruisers AURORA and PENELOPE.

                                (Note: These two cruisers were to form Force K for attacks on enemy convoys).

 

November              After relief by HM Battleship MALAYA took passage to rejoin Home Fleet.

                                On arrival at Scapa Flow resumed convoy defence and interception duties in

                                North Sea and NW Approaches.

 

December              Deployed in NW Approaches for Atlantic convoy defence.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Convoy defence duties based on Clyde.

                                Nominated for refit at Liverpool

 

February                Taken in hand for refit in commercial shipyard.

 

March to April

                                Under Refit.

                                (Note: Radars Type 282, Type 283 and Type 285 fitted for fire control of HA

                               armament. See above reference).

                                Close range 20mm Oerlikon weapons fitted to improve defence against air attacks.

 

May

                5th          Dockyard work completed and commenced post refit trials.

                                Rejoined Home Fleet on completion of post refit trials and resumed interception

                                patrol and Atlantic convoy defence duties.

                                (Note: Planned deployment in East Indies was cancelled.)

 

June                        Deployed in Atlantic.

                19th        Joined military convoy WS19P with HMS NELSON, HM Destroyers

                                PATHFINDER, PENN, QUENTIN and DERWENT on departure from

                                Freetown as Ocean Escort during passage to Capetown.

                26th        Detached from WS19P on relief by HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE.

 

July                         Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

 

August                  Nominated for detached service for support of Malta relief convoy WS21X.

                                Took passage to Gibraltar (Operation PEDESTAL).

                10th        Joined Force Z to cover passage of convoy to Malta with HMS NELSON, HM

                                Aircraft Carriers EAGLE, INDOMITABLE and VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers PHOEBE

                                SIRIUS and CHARYBDIS screened by HM Destroyers ITHURIEL, ANTELOPE,

                                VANSITTART, WISHART, LIGHTNING and LOOKOUT.

                                (For details of PEDESTAL see above references and PEDESTAL by P Smith and

                                above references.)

                12th        Detached from WS21X at Sicilian Narrows and returned to Gibraltar with ships

                                of Force H.

                16th        Passage to Scapa Flow with Home Fleet units to resume duties at

                                Scapa Flow.

 

September             Deployed at Scapa Flow with Home Fleet.

                                Routine docking and maintenance at Rosyth.

 

October                  Nominated for detached service in Mediterranean for support of planned allied

                                landings in North Africa (Operation TORCH- For details see INVASION CONVOYS

                                by J de Winser, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MOPRE CLOSELY and the Naval Staff

                                History.)

                                Passage to Gibraltar for briefing and preparation for support duties.

                                (Note: Part of escort for military convoy.)

 

November              Joined HM Battleships DUKE OF YORK, NELSON and HMS RENOWN at

                                Gibraltar.

                6th          Sailed from Gibraltar with ships of Force H to provide cover during landings at Oran.

                7th          Detached from Force H and took passage to carry out patrol north of Oran to

                                intercept any attempt by Vichy French surface warships to interfere with the landings.

                8th          Deployed off Oran beach head and provided naval gunfire support during landings.

                10th        On release from support duties resumed Force H service.

 

December              Gibraltar deployment in continuation.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January to February

                               Deployed at Gibraltar with Force H and covered passage of build-up

                               convoys.

 

March                    Gibraltar deployment in support of military operation in North Africa.

                23rd        Under attack off Mers-el-Kebir by human torpedoes which were repelled.

 

April                       Mediterranean deployment in continuation

                                Nominated for return to UK for routine docking

 

May

                7th          Sailed from Gibraltar from Plymouth

                13th        Taken in hand for routine docking and maintenance by HM Dockyard, Devonport.

                                Resumed Home Fleet service at Scapa Flow on completion.

 

June                        Nominated for detached service in support of planned allied landings in Sicily

                                (Operation HUSKY – See above references.)

                17th        Transferred with HMS NELSON, HMS VALIANT, HM Aircraft Carrier

                                INDOMITABLE and Home Fleet Destroyers.

                                Passage to Oran to join Force H.

 

July                         Deployed in western Mediterranean and prepared for support of landings.

                9th          Provided cover for passage of military convoys in western Mediterranean

                                prior to assault phase of HUSKY.

                10th        Deployed with HMS NELSON, HMS WARSPITE, HMS VALIANT, HMS

                                FORMIDABLE, HMS INDOMITABLE, HM Cruisers AURORA, PENELOPE.

                                CLEOPATRA, EURYALUS and destroyer screen in Ionian Sea to prevent

                                interference to HUSKY landings by Italian Fleet major warships.

                                (For details see above references.)

                12th        Released from HUSKY and took passage to Malta.

 

August                  Retained in Malta for support of planned military operations in Italy.

                31st         Bombarded Calabrian coast between Reggio Calabria and Pessaro with HMS

                                NELSON, HM Cruiser ORION and Fleet destroyers prior to British landings

                                across Messina Straits. (Operation BAYTOWN - See above references).

 

September             Remained in Malta with HMS NELSON, HMS VALIANT and HMS WARSPITE

                                for continued military support duties.

                9th          Provided cover and naval gunfire support with same ships WARSPITE and HM

                                Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE for landings at Salerno (Operation AVALANCHE).

                                (For details see the Naval Staff History and above references).

                                Under air attacks without damage.

 

October                  Released from Mediterranean support duties and took passage to Scapa

                                Flow with HM Battleship NELSON to resume Home Fleet service.

                                Escorted from Gibraltar by HM Destroyer OFFA.

 

November              Withdrawn from operational service because of machinery problems and

                                structural defects with consequential heavy work load and poor availability.

 

December              Passage from Gibraltar to Clyde for refit.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Static role at Scapa Flow in continuation.

 

February to March

                                Routine docking and maintenance at Rosyth.

 

April                       Resumed duties at Scapa Flow.

 

May                        Nominated for support of allied landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE)

                                To be Reserve Bombarding Ship for Eastern Task Force with HM Cruiser

                                SIRIUS.

                                (For details of naval activities before and after landings see OPERATION

                                NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944 (HMSO).)

                                Carried out bombardment exercises in NW Approaches.

 

June                        Passage to Clyde.

                3rd          Sailed from Clyde for Solent.

                4th          Operation postponed for 24 hours.

                5th          Remained at Portsmouth in Reserve.

                6th          Passage to beachhead for bombardment duties.

                                Carried out bombardment of shore batteries at Le Havre.

                                Returned to Portsmouth to replenish ammunition.

                7th          Resumed duty off beachhead.

                                Bombarded targets in Caen area.

                8th          Continued bombardment of Caen area.

                9th          Engaged batteries at Benerville and Houlgate.

                10th        Passage to Portsmouth to re-ammunition.

                18th        Replaced HMS NELSON in Eastern Task Force area.

                                (Note: HMS NELSON was mined whilst returning to Portsmouth on 18th June).

                19th        Bombardment operations suspended during gales.

                26th        Bombarded positions in Caen area in support of military advance.

                30th        Bombarded concentration of enemy armoured vehicles south of Arromanches.

 

July                         Remained in Normandy area for gunfire support after NEPTUNE completed.

                7th          Provided naval gunfire support during British attacks near Caen with HM

                                Monitor ROBERTS, HM Cruiser BELFAST and HM Cruiser EMERALD.

                8th          Carried out bombardment of the Caen area in support of military operation.

                                Under air attack and attempt by human torpedoes both of which failed.

                18th        Provided naval gunfire support to 2nd British Army during assault SE of Caen.

                                Remained in area for support until 30th.

 

August                  Passage to Devonport on release from military support.

                12th        Bombarded targets on Alderney and returned to Devonport.

                                Based at Portland for naval gunfire support requirements.

 

 September

                14th        Passage from Portland to rejoin Home Fleet.

                                Nominated for covering duty of Russian Convoy.

                15th        Passage to Kola Inlet as cover for passage of Convoy JW60.

                                (CinC Home Fleet embarked).

                20th        Arrived at Kola Inlet.

                28th        Sailed with return Convoy RA60.

                                (Note: Whilst in North Russia ship was visited by Russian CinC, Admiral Golovko)

 

October

                3rd          Detached from RA60 and returned to Scapa Flow.

                5th          Resumed static role at Scapa Flow.

                30th        Deployed as Flagship, Home Fleet

 

November to December

                               Deployed at Scapa Flow as Flagship in Static role.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January to May

                               Remained at Scapa Flow as Flagship in static role until relieved by HM Battlecruiser

                               RENOWN.

 

June to August

                               Deployed at Rosyth