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We also sunk some cruisers in the last 15 months but those losses are far from being severe...

Those losses aren't that bad really. I mean, they aren't GOOD for the Allies, but not fatal. As you say, CVEs appear in droves, and he may be close to receiving some respawns of those early CV losses. Granted, the Allies are set back some months by this loss, and probably won't have a credible FAST CV fleet until early 1944. But that's still 2 years before the end of the game.

Even waiting until 1944, he could load up 20 divisions somewhere, gather the fleet, and plow through to Iwo or Luzon or Sakhalin or some platform to bomb Japan from, then spend 1945 racking up strategic bombing points.

Just goes to show how tough it is to "win" as Japan outside of '43 auto victory.

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Those losses aren't that bad really. I mean, they aren't GOOD for the Allies, but not fatal. As you say, CVEs appear in droves, and he may be close to receiving some respawns of those early CV losses. Granted, the Allies are set back some months by this loss, and probably won't have a credible FAST CV fleet until early 1944. But that's still 2 years before the end of the game.

Even waiting until 1944, he could load up 20 divisions somewhere, gather the fleet, and plow through to Iwo or Luzon or Sakhalin or some platform to bomb Japan from, then spend 1945 racking up strategic bombing points.

Just goes to show how tough it is to "win" as Japan outside of '43 auto victory.

yeah, CV Enterprise for example was sunk loong ago...

I do like the load up 20 divs and invade a place far away approach! Allied players have done that twice, losing a hell a lot of shipping and while one had Iwo and the other one even landed on Okinawa, both tries were fatal (for them) in the end as I managed to cut them off from the rest of the world. Those approaches don´t always work. [:D] Especially in Nikmod and with stacking limits. This forces you to a more "realistic" approach of your offensive with a working supply line.

Miller can come back if he's able to overcome the extreme demoralization that all of us feel when we're on the wrong end of a massive and one-sided carrier battle.  Your Darwin attack reminds me of nearly every carrier battle I played in UV - I got shellacked every time.  It's tough to get past that and move on, but if Miller does he's still got a very good chance of winning. 

ORIGINAL: Canoerebel

Miller can come back if he's able to overcome the extreme demoralization that all of us feel when we're on the wrong end of a massive and one-sided carrier battle.  Your Darwin attack reminds me of nearly every carrier battle I played in UV - I got shellacked every time.  It's tough to get past that and move on, but if Miller does he's still got a very good chance of winning. 

Miller was relieved as Allied commander... [;)] Ambassador has taken over command in the meantime, already received my turn, will take some time for him to look at everything though.

ORIGINAL: castor troy

ORIGINAL: Q-Ball

Those losses aren't that bad really. I mean, they aren't GOOD for the Allies, but not fatal. As you say, CVEs appear in droves, and he may be close to receiving some respawns of those early CV losses. Granted, the Allies are set back some months by this loss, and probably won't have a credible FAST CV fleet until early 1944. But that's still 2 years before the end of the game.

Even waiting until 1944, he could load up 20 divisions somewhere, gather the fleet, and plow through to Iwo or Luzon or Sakhalin or some platform to bomb Japan from, then spend 1945 racking up strategic bombing points.

Just goes to show how tough it is to "win" as Japan outside of '43 auto victory.

yeah, CV Enterprise for example was sunk loong ago...

I do like the load up 20 divs and invade a place far away approach! Allied players have done that twice, losing a hell a lot of shipping and while one had Iwo and the other one even landed on Okinawa, both tries were fatal (for them) in the end as I managed to cut them off from the rest of the world. Those approaches don´t always work. [:D] Especially in Nikmod and with stacking limits. This forces you to a more "realistic" approach of your offensive with a working supply line.

I agree, the "Hail Mary", if I may call this strategy (and American Football fans will know what that means), carries a ton of risks, and can be fatal.

I would call Canoerebel's approach in his AAR with John3rd a "Hail Mary", that worked, though even that was tenuous, and Dan hadn't lost all the CV's that Miller has. Hail Mary is loading up a huge force, landing them somewhere deep in enemy territory, skipping alot of steps, in the hopes they can fend for themselves.

Maybe I have coined a term, like "Sir Robin"!

EDIT: For our European friends, a Hail Mary in American Football is when you are down 1 touchdown, but there is time for only one play, and you are many yards from the End Zone. So, you just toss the ball deep up in the air in the end zone, and hope one of your guys outjumps their guy, and comes down with it. It doesn't work that often, but sometimes does. It's a risky, kind of desperation play.

I guess it's a "Hail Mary", because you basically toss it up and say a prayer.

Mine wasn't exactly a Hail Mary for several reasons:
 
1)  While it's easy for the Japs to isolate and attack Okinawa, Iwo Jima, and Formosa, my attack went in at Hokkaido/Sikhalin Islands/Aleutians.  This was more remote to the Japs and the Allies, and therefore a little harder for my opponent to isolate and attack effectively.
 
2)  It was Arctic winter making counterattacks much harder.
 
3)  I had good intel on the Jap garrison at Hokkaido, which was next to nothing.
 
4)  I new the my opponent was still tied down in Australia and was heavily reinforcing the Philippines, Formosa, and Okinawa.
 
5)  I already had Iwo Jima, complicating my opponent's ability to counterattack.
 
6)  It was late '43 and the Allied carrier force was intact, so the Allies were strong (an attack in '42 or early '43 would have met with disaster).
 
So, all things considered, I think my plan was quite good and far from a Hail Mary.  However, as things turned out  my opponent was almost able to defeat the attack.

I have sent the turn to my (hopefully) new opponent on Friday but haven´t heard from him so far. Don´t know if he´s really serious about taking over the game. So if it will go on, I will post some real life pics and the history of the ships that have been sunk recently.

Let´s start with the major target, CV Essex.

USS Essex (CV-9, later CVA-9 and CVS-9), 1942-1975

USS Essex, lead ship of a class of 27,100-ton aircraft carriers, was built at Newport News, Virginia. Commissioned on the last day of 1942, she went to the Pacific in May 1943, following shakedown in the Atlantic area. During the rest of that year, Essex took part in raids on Marcus and Wake islands, the invasion of the Gilberts and attacks on Japanese targets in the Marshalls. In 1944, she participated in the Marshalls, Marianas, Palaus, Leyte and Mindoro invasions, the Battles of the Philippine Sea and Leyte Gulf, and conducted air strikes in the Central and Western Pacific. While operating off the Philippines on 25 November 1944, she was damaged by a Kamikaze suicide attack, but was able to remain in the combat zone. Essex continued her war operations in 1945, supporting the landings at Lingayen Gulf, Iwo Jima and Okinawa, as well as raiding enemy targets in Japanese home waters and elsewhere in the Western Pacific. She returned to the United States shortly after Japan's surrender and was placed out of commission in January 1947.

Essex was modernized in the late 1940s and early 1950s, recommissioning in January 1951 with a strengthened flight deck, new island and many other changes. She made two Korean War deployments, in August 1951 - March 1952 and in July 1952 - January 1953, introducing the F2H "Banshee" jet fighter to combat operations. Her designation was changed to CVA-9 in October 1952. Following the Korean armistice, she went to the Western Pacific twice more, in 1953-54 and in 1955, then underwent a second modernization.

Emerging from the shipyard in 1956 with a new angled flight deck and enclosed "hurricane"bow, Essex was now able to safely operate high-performance aircraft. After another WestPac deployment, she was transferred to the Atlantic Fleet in mid-1957. She participated in the Lebanon intervention in mid-1958, then steamed through the Suez Canal to the Western Pacific to operate in the Taiwan area. Essex returned to the Atlantic via the Cape of Good Hope.

After further Atlantic and Mediterranean exercises, Essex was converted to an anti-submarine warfare support aircraft carrier and redesignated CVS-9 in March 1960. Her pattern of Atlantic and Mediterranean operations continued for nearly another decade, ending with her decommissioning in June 1969. USS Essex was stricken from the Naval Vessel Register in June 1973 and sold for scrapping two years later.

And the British ones...



H. M. S. V I C T O R I O U S



ILLUSTRIOUS Class Fleet aircraft carrier ordered from Victors-Armstrong, Newcastle en 13th Jan.1937 and laid down on 5th May that year. The ship was launched by Lady Inskip, Wife of a Defence Minister, on 14th September 1939. She was the 5th RN ship to carry the name, introduced in 1783 for a 3rd Rate, and last used for an 1895 battleship sold in 1923. Build was completed on 15th May 1941 at a cost of £4.05M. Unusually, the ship was adopted by a civil organisation outside the United Kingdom - The War Savings Committee of India.







B a t t l e H o n o u r s

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE 1795 - ST LUCIA 1796 - EGYPT 1801 - WALCHEREN 1809 - RIVOLI Action 1812 - BISMARCK Action 1941 - NORWAY 1941-42 - ARCTIC 1941-42 - MALTA CONVOYS 1942 - BISCAY 1942 - SABANG 1944 - PALEMBANG 1945 - OKINAWA 1945 - JAPAN 1945

H e r a l d i c D a t a

Badge :On a Field Red a winged female figure, habited and supported with the

hands uplifted White, a wreath of Laurel also White.



D e t a i l s of W a r S e r v i c e



1 9 4 1



March

29th Commissioned for service in Home Fleet after work-up.



April Contractors sea trials and passage to Rosyth.

Prepared for operational service.

15th Joined Home Fleet.



May Final Acceptance Trials and worked-up for service.

20th Embarked of aircraft and intended to Join Convoy WS8X escort.

22nd Placed at disposal of CinC Home Fleet and sailed with HM Battleship KING GEORGE V

in search for German battleship BISMARCK which was on passage into Atlantic.

(Note : Aircrew training was incomplete. No other aircraft carrier available).

24th Launched air strike against BISMARCK escorted by HM Cruisers AURORA, KENYA and

HERMIONE. One hit obtained but this ran 'shallow' and did little damage. The

failure of the Aircraft Homing Beacon prejudiced landing of aircraft.

31st Joined escort for convoy WS8X at Clyde with HM Cruisers NEPTUNE.

(Note: HM Cruiser NORFOLK is also recorded in one source.)



June

4th During cover of WS8X carried out series of air searches in Atlantic for German

supply ships with HM Battleship NELSON, HM Cruisers NEPTUNE and HERMIONE.

Located German ss GOZZENHEIM after report from British ss ESPERANCE BAY.

(This ship was intercepted and sunk by HMS NEPTUNE on 5th June).

5th Detached from convoy and took passage to Gibraltar escorted by ships of Force H.

13th Deployed for delivery of HURRICANE aircraft to Malta with HM Aircraft Carrier

ARK ROYAL escorted by HM Battleship RENOWN and ships of Force "H".

(Operation TRACER - 45 of the 48 aircraft launched arrived safely).

18th Passage to UK after completion of TRACER.

(Note : Prisoners from GOZZENHEIM sere embarked at Gibraltar for passage.)



July

6th Working up exercises for embarked FAA Squadrons in NW Approaches.

23rd Deployed with HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS and 1st Cruiser Squadron to escort HM

Minelaying Cruiser ADVENTURE carrying mines to Murmansk (Operation EF).

30th Deployed with HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE and SUFFOLK screened by 6 destroyers of the

Home Fleet as Force P.

Carried out air strikes on Kirkenes concurrently with similar attacks by HMS

FURIOUS on Petsamo for air attacks after refuelling in Iceland.

(Note : 11 ALBACORE and 2 FULMAR aircraft from ship were lost.)



August

26th Covered first convoy to Archangel with HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE and SUFFOLK screened

by HM Destroyers INGLEFIELD, ECLIPSE and ESCAPADE.

(Operation DERVISH – See ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman).

30th Covered return passage of HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS after delivering HURRICANE

aircraft to Murmansk (Operation STRENGTH).

(For details of this and all Russian Convoy operations see "CONVOY!" by P.Kemp,

CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R. RUEGG and THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield.)



September

3rd Launched air strikes against targets at Tromso.

7th Repeated air strikes operation at Tromso.

12th Launched shipping strikes off Bodo and against shore targets in Vestfjord.



October Deployed with Home Fleet based in Iceland for interception of German warships.

(Note : The only modern operational carrier available in Home waters).



November Iceland deployment in continuation.

5th Took passage with HM Battleship KING GEORGE V to carry out patrol in the Denmark

Strait with US battleships USS IDAHO and USS MISSISIPPI, cruisers USS WITCHITA

and TUSCALOOSA to intercept German battleships SCHEER and TIRPITZ.

(Note : This deployment had been made following decryption of an ENIGNA signal

giving details of planned movements to carry out attacks on shipping in North Atlantic.

See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)

13th Withdrawn from patrol when German movements cancelled by Hitler.

Returned to Reykjavik to resume Home Fleet duties.



December Home Fleet deployment for interception based in Iceland in continuation.



1 9 4 2



January Home Fleet duty in continuation.

to

February



March

6th Deployed with HM Battleships KING GEORGE V and DUKE OF YORK, HM Battlecruiser

RENOWN, HM Cruisers BERWICK and KENYA to cover passage of Convoys PQ12 and QP8.

9th Launched unsuccessful ALBACORE strikes on German battleship TIRPITZ.

(Note : This was the opportunity to bring TIRPITZ to action by air strikes.

Two aircraft were lost in these attacks.)

20th Deployed to cover passage of Russian Convoy PQ13 and returning QP9 with same battleships

as for PQ12 and HM cruisers EDINBURGH and KENT.



April

12th Part of Home Fleet covering force for Russian Convoys PQ14 and returning QP10

with HMS KING GEORGE V, HMS DUKE OF YORK, HM Cruisers NIGERIA and KENT.

28th Deployed with HMS KING GEORGE V, US Battleship WASHINGTON, HM Cruiser KENYA,

US Cruiser TUSCALOOSA, US Cruiser WICHITA cover passage of PQ15 and QP11.

(Note : During this operation on 1st May HMS KING GEORGE V came into collision

with HM Destroyer PUNJABI which was sunk and caused major damage to KGV).

13th Joined Home Fleet cover for return of HM Cruiser TRINIDAD from Murmansk with

HMS DUKE OF YORK, HM Cruisers KENT, LIVERPOOL, LONDON, NIGERIA and NORFOLK.

14th Returned to Scapa Flow after HMS TRINIDAD sank.

25th Part of Home Fleet covering force for Russian Convoys PQ16 and QP12.

This was the largest convoy up to date and ships involved included HMS DUKE OF

YORK, USS WASHINGTON, USS WICHITA, HMS LONDON and Home Fleet destroyers.



June

30th Deployed with Home Fleet Distant Covering Force for passage of Russian Convoy

PQ17 and returning QP13. US Battleship WASHINGTON, US Destroyer MAYRANT and US

Destroyer RHIND joined HMS DUKE OF YORK, HM Cruiser CUMBERLAND and NIGERIA.

(See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and above references)



July Returned to Scapa Flow after Convoy QP13 arrived at Reykjavik.

Nominated for escort of Malta relief convoy with other Home Fleet ships.



August

3rd Deployed with HM Battleship NELSON, HM Cruisers NIGERIA, KENYA and MANCHESTER

for escort of support convoy WS21S on passage to Gibraltar.

8th Exercises with HM Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE, FURIOUS, EAGLE and ARGUS to

improve multi-carrier operating techniques (Exercise BERSERK).

10th Joined 'Force Z' covering WS21S to Sicilian Narrows (Operation PEDESTAL).

12th During air attacks hit by bomb which broke up on Impact with flight deck. See PEDESTAL by

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

20th Took passage with Home Fleet ships to Scapa Flow.

(Note : Survivors from HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE were embarked.)



September Nominated for refit.

Taken in hand for refit.



October Under refit.

Prototype Aircraft Direction Room fitted.

(For details of development and use of radar see RADAR AT SEA by D. Howse).

On completion carried out Deck Landing trials at Scapa Flow.



November Passage to Gibraltar with HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE.

8th Joined Force "H" and provided air cover during landings (Operation TORCH).

(Note : Air attacks made at Algiers including Fort Duree.

Four MARTLET fighters landed on Blida airfield and accepted surrender).

18th Passage to UK with HMS DUKE OF YORK and HM Destroyer OPPORTUNE to Scapa Flow.

21st During passage ALBACORE aircraft of 817 Squadron attacked U517 by depth charges

in position 46.10N 17.08W (WNW Cape Finisterre). Submarine structure was badly

damaged. 51 of crew were rescued by HMS OPPORTUNE after having scuttled.



December Nominated for loan service in Pacific with US Navy

20th Passage to Norfolk, Virginia escorted by HM Destroyers QUICKMATCH, RACEHORSE and

REDOUBT.



1 9 4 3



January

1st Independent passage after destroyers detached.

Taken in hand for refit in Norfolk Navy Yard.



February

14th Took passage to Pacific via Panama Canal.

German battleship TIRPITZ. A 'mock-up' vessel was placed in Loch Eriboll.



March Passage in Pacific.

4th On arrival at Pearl Harbour converted for the operation of U S Navy WILDCAT and

AVENGER aircraft. During this period additional close range armament was fitted including

fitting of sponsons outboard of Island structure.



April Under conversion at Pearl Harbour.



May

8th Carried out exercises with US aircraft carrier USS SARATOGA and US battleship USS

NORTH CAROLINA

On completion of work-up for service with US Navy took passage to Join US Third

Fleet Task Group 36.3 for support of US landing operations and



June Deployed with TG 36.3 to provide defence against attacks by IJN surface warships

during landing operations.



July Carried out first 'Cross-Carrier’ operating procedure with USS SARATOGA.



August Deployed with USS SARATOGA and TG63-3 to cover landings on New Georgia.

(Operation CARTWHEEL).



September Released from loan duty and took passage to return to UK.

Called at San Diego before transit of Panama Canal.



October Passage in Atlantic.

15th Rejoined Home Fleet.

(Note : During Pacific service ship's company adopted US Navy working dress.

This was introduced into RN use for ships of British Pacific Fleet later

in 1944 and became standard No 8 uniform in RN after WW2.

Since 1982 No 8 Rig was replaced after review of current requirements

and new uniform provided to improve fire protection and maintenance.)



November Deployed with Home Fleet for interception duties and operations off Norway.



December Taken in hand for refit in Liverpool at commercial shipyard.



1 9 4 4



January Under refit at Liverpool. New radars installed.

to February



March

28th 'Full Dress Rehearsal' with other Home Fleet aircraft carriers for attack on TIRPITZ

30th Joined 'Force 1' to cover Convoy JW58 with HMS DUKE OF YORK and HMS ANSON.



April

2nd In 'Force 2' (HM Aircraft Carriers FURIOUS, SEARCHER, EMPEROR, PURSUER and

FENCER) for attacks on TIRPITZ in Altenfjord, Norway (Operation TUNGSTEN).

3rd Launched BARRACUDA strikes on TIRPITZ which was leaving harbour for trials.

Three BARRACUDA aircraft were lost due to the intense AA fire but several hits were

obtained. Repair of damage took over a month.

For full details see "CONVOY !" by Paul Kemp.)

24th Air strikes on TIRPITZ by Hone Fleet carriers escorted by HMS ANSON abandoned

because of weather conditions (Operation PLANET). Shipping strikes in Bodo

area instead. Three ships in convoy were sunk for loss of six aircraft.



May

15th Deployed for attacks on TIRPITZ with HMS FURIOUS escorted by HMS ANSON which

were cancelled because of cloud cover (Operation BRAWN).

28th Shipping strike when further TIRPITZ attack abandoned due to weather over the

target (Operation TIGER CLAW).

30th Acoustic torpedo (GNAT) attack by U957 failed.



June Deployed on shipping attacks off Norway Operation LOMBARD).

1st Sank minesweeper and merchant ship sunk.

12th Sailed for Ceylon via Mediterranean with HM Aircraft Carrier INDOMITABLE



July Arrived at Colombo and joined Eastern Fleet.

6th Prepared for operations in Indian Ocean.

25th Launched attacks on airfields near Sabang, Sumatra with HM Aircraft Carrier

ILLUSTRIOUS escorted by HM Cruiser PHOEBE (Operation CRIMSON).



August

23rd Covered Eastern Fleet units providing air-sea rescue facilities during series

of attacks by US Army aircraft on Sumatra (Operations BOOMERANG).

29th Carried out air strikes on Padang, Indaroeng and Emmahaven with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS

and HMS INDOMITABLE escorted by HMS HOWE and Eastern Fleet units.

(Operation BANQUET).



September

18th Deployed with HMS INDOMITABLE for attacks on railway yards at Sigli, Sumatra

and photo-reconnaissance of Nicobars escorted by HMS HOWE (Operation LIGHT).

(Note : Aircraft made inadvertent attack on HM Submarine SPIRIT fortunately without

causing any casualties. During this operations steering problems were experienced).

30th Docked at Bombay for repair.



October

6th Rejoined Eastern Fleet on completion of repair work.

17th Attacks on Nicobars and Nancowry harbour with HMS INDOMITABLE escorted by H M

Battlecruiser RENOWN. Four aircraft destroyed and five damaged during enemy air

attacks. Further steering problems arose (Operation MILLET).



November Arrangements made for repair after HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS arrived.

16th Under repair to steering gear at Bombay.

22nd Transferred to British Pacific Fleet on formation.



December Resumed operation duties

(Note : Not available for air strikes on oil refineries at Pangkalang by Eastern

Fleet aircraft carriers. (Operation ROBSON).



1 9 4 5



January

4th Joined HMS INDOMITABLE and HMS IMPLACABLE for air strikes on oil refineries

at Pangkalan Brandan covered by Eastern Fleet TF 63 (Operation LENTIL).

16th With British Pacific Fleet ships as TF63 to attack refineries in Sumatra.

24th Launched air attacks on Pladjoe, with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS INDOMITABLE and

HMS VICTORIOUS during passage to Australia. Mana, SW Sumatra attacked in

second strike. Little opposition from enemy aircraft (Operation MERIDIAN I).

29th Unsuccessful attacks on oil installations at Soengi-Gerong with damage to several aircraft.

Retaliatory KAMIKAZE attacks beaten off. Losses by all Carriers - 16 aircraft in action and

25 lost by ditching or when deck landing. 9 pilots captured by the Japanese were executed

in April 1945 (Operation MERIDIAN II).



February

10th Transferred to Task Force 113 at Sydney to prepare for service with US Navy.

28th Sailed from Sydney for Manus with HMS KING GEORGE V and rest of TF113



March

25th Arrived at Ulithi and joined 5th US Fleet as Task Force 57.

26th Deployed to neutralise airfields in Sakashima Gunto Group (Operation ICEBERG I.)

Air attacks with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS INDEFATIGABLE and HMS INDOMITABLE.



April

1st Escaped damage during KAMIKAZE attack when aircraft exploded alongside.

Aircraft from HMS INDEFATIGABLE landed on when own Flight Deck damaged.

9th Detached with TF57 ships for attacks on Formosan airfields. (Operation ICEBERG OOLONG).

12th Launched attacks on Formosa with same Carriers with little opposition.

16th Returned to operations off Sakishima Gunto group with BPF aircraft carriers.

(HMS FORMIDABLE, HMS INDEFATIGABLE and HMS INDOMITABLE.

Attacked targets at Ishigaki and Mikayo with refuelling breaks until 20/4/45.)



May

1st Sailed with TF57 to join US TF58 off Sakishima Group. (Operation ICEBERG II)

4th Concentrated KAMIKAZE attacks and 7 destroyed but 3 hit selected targets. One

exploded on island structure causing fires and damage to boiler steam piping.

Speed reduced to 19 knots. Air operations resumed after 8 hours.

9th Launched air strikes on Hirara and Ishigaki. Hit twice in unexpected KAMIKAZE

attacks. The first damaged the Flight Deck and equipment but second failed to

explode. 3 killed and 19 of ship's company injured.

Capability reduced due to damaged forward lift but remained operational.

17th Twenty aircraft transferred temporarily to other carriers after damage to flight

deck by crashes on landing. Jury barriers rigged and aircraft returned. Ship remained operational.

25th Left operational area.



June

5th Arrived Sydney for repair and Rest and Recuperation.

16th Transferred with HMS FORMIDABLE and HMS IMPLACABLE to TF37 (US 3rd Fleet)

for joint operations with TF38 on Japan in Yokohama - Tokyo area.

(Note : This due to a reorganisation of naval command structure by US Navy.)

28th Sailed from Sydney with ships of TF57 for Manus.



July

6th Sailed from British forward base at Manus for operations off Japan.

16th Joined US Third Fleet ships 300 miles east of Japan.

17th Aircraft carried cut strikes on airfields in Tokyo area.

18th Air operations restricted by contamination in carrier petrol refuelling supply system.

24th During air strikes on Osaka sank IJN KOBE Class escort carrier in Shido Bay.



August

9th Attacked airfields and shipping in North Honshu and Hokkaido.

12th Returned to Manus with TF37 and then took passage to Sydney.

(Note : Withdrawal of British Pacific Fleet from operational area was due to the

lack of fuel from British sources. Only a 'Token' force remained as part

of US Third Fleet. Sources report steering and machinery problems during

service prior to deployment in Pacific continued.)

For details of all operations by BPF in Pacific see THE FORGOTTEN FLEET

by J Winton, TASK FORCE 57 by Peter C Smith and Naval Staff History.)

31st Ships company took part in Victory Parade at Sydney.

EDIT: For our European friends, a Hail Mary in American Football is when you are down 1 touchdown, but there is time for only one play, and you are many yards from the End Zone. So, you just toss the ball deep up in the air in the end zone, and hope one of your guys outjumps their guy, and comes down with it. It doesn't work that often, but sometimes does. It's a risky, kind of desperation play.

I actually DID understand this, great description Q-Ball! (I made only 1 assumption: "touchdown=score")

H. M. S. I N D O M I T A B L E



Modified ILLUSTRIOUS-Class Fleet Aircraft Carrier ordered under the 1937 Estimates from Vickers Armstrong, Barrow in Furness on 6th July 1937. The ship was laid down on 10th November that year and launched on 26th March 1940 as the 3rd RN Warship to carry the name. It had previously been used by a battlecruiser sold in 1921. She was completed in 1941 and, after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942, was adopted by the civil community of Belfast. Yard No on build was 735.



B a t t l e H o n o u r s



DOGGER BANK 1915 - JUTLAND 1916 - MALTA CONVOYS 1942 - DIEGO SUAREZ 1942 - SICILY 1943 - PALEMBANG 1945 - OKINAWA 1945



H e r a l d i c D a t a

Badge: On a Field Blue, a dexter gauntlet of plate mail White



D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e



1 9 4 1



June Contractors trials and commissioning.

to October Nominated for deployment in Far East with Force "Z".

Passage to West Indies to work-up for operational service.



November

3rd Ran aground during work-up in West Indies and departure for Trincomalee delayed.

Took passage to Norfolk, Va for repair.

(Note: This accident prevented an aircraft carrier being deployed at Singapore with

HM Battleship PRINCE OF WALES and HM Battlecruiser REPULSE in Force Z.

These two major fleet units were lost primarily because of lack of air cover. See THE

HUNTING OF FORCE Z by R Hough and Naval Staff History).



December Passage to join Eastern Fleet in Ceylon.



1 9 4 2



January Diverted to off-load aircraft and embark 50 RAF Hurricane aircraft at Port Sudan for

transfer to Singapore.

Passage to East Indies escorted by HM Destroyers NAPIER, NIZAM and NESTOR.

27th Flew off Hurricanes south of Sumatra for use at Batavia.



February Passage to Trincomalee to refuel.



March Diverted on passage to Java and took second batch of Hurricanes to Ceylon to

reinforce existing air defence resources. Re-embarked own aircraft.

Passage to Addu Atoll for flying training and work-up for operations.

31st Assigned to Force A in Eastern Fleet with HM Battleship WARSPITE, HM Aircraft

Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruiser CORNWALL, HM Cruiser ENTERPRISE and HM

Cruiser EMERALD.

Joined Fleet south of Ceylon and took part in unsuccessful search for & Japanese

aircraft carrier force reported as bound for an attack on Ceylon.



April

5th Sailed with Force A to intercept Japanese ships without success.

(Note: HMS CORNWALL and HMS DORSETSHIRE which had detached earlier were

sunk by Japanese aircraft whilst on passage to Ceylon. For more details see OPERATION

PACIFIC by E Walker and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett).

8th Returned to Addu Atoll.

Took passage to Bombay with Force A.

22nd Nominated for support of allied landings in Madagascar (Operation IRONCLAD).

Took Passage to Durban to join ships preparing for landings

(For details of naval activities in Indian Ocean during 1941 and 1942 see above references).



May

3rd Joined Convoys Y and Z off Madagascar.

5th Deployed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and provided air cover for assault landings.

to Launched attacks in support of shore operations.

7th (For details see RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute and Naval Staff History).

8th Under torpedo attack by Vichy French submarine MONGE which failed.

Submarine was sunk by depth charges from HM Destroyers ACTIVE and PANTHER.



June Under refit followed by flying training

Exercised with HM Battleship VALIANT off Mombasa.



July Transferred to Gibraltar for duty with Force H and took passage.



August Joined HM Aircraft Carriers VICTORIOUS, FURIOUS, EAGLE and ARGUS in

Atlantic for joint exercises in multi-carrier operations and fighter direction.

(Exercise BERSERK - See RADAR AT SEA).

10th Part of Force Z covering passage of military convoy (WS21S) to Malta.

12th Under heavy air attack and hit by three AP bombs. Aircraft already airborne were

diverted to land on HMS VICTORIOUS. Fires brought under control with difficulty

and ship returned to Gibraltar.

(For details of this renowned convoy see PEDESTAL by Peter C. Smith, THE

BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre and Naval Staff History).



September Passage to USA for repair and refit.



October Under repair.

to December



1 9 4 3



January Post refit trials.



February Passage to UK.

Installation of Aircraft Warning Radar Sets Type 218B and Type 79 with new Plan Type

radar displays and radio telephone equipment for fighter direction.

(For details of development and use of radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse).



March Work-up for service.



April Deployed with Home Fleet.

to May Carried out trials with new radar equipments (See RADAR AT SEA).



June

17th Joined Force H at Scapa Flow for duty in Mediterranean and took passage to Oran.



July

5th Sailed from Algiers with HM Battleships WARSPITE, VALIANT, NELSON and

RODNEY, FORMIDABLE, HM cruisers AURORA AND PENELOPE and screen of

five destroyers to cover military convoys to Central Mediterranean.

10th Part of Force H deployed in Ionian Sea to prevent interference by Italian Navy

during landings in Sicily (Operation HUSKY).

(For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and the

Naval Staff History).

16th Torpedoed by aircraft which had been wrongly identified during air attacks as a naval

SWORDFISH returning to carrier.

Repair arranged in USA.



August

20th Took passage to USA via Bermuda escorted by HM destroyers OBDURATE,

OBEDIENT and OPPORTUNE.

31st Arrived at Norfolk Navy Yard, Virginia.



September Under repair and refit.

to December American Radar Types SM1 and SG fitted. (See RADAR AT SEA).



1 9 4 4



January Under repair and refit.

to April



May Completed refit and returned to UK to embark aircraft.





see also HMS Indomitable in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, 1944-1945 - a photographic record





June Passage to Trincomalee.



July

5th Joined Eastern Fleet with HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS.

Prepared for operational duties with Fleet.



August

23rd With Eastern Fleet to provide air-sea rescue facilities during US air attacks by XX

Bomber Command on Sumatra (Operation BOOMERANG).

24th Launched air attacks on Padang with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and HMS VICTORIOUS

covered by HM Battleship HOWE and units of Eastern Fleet. Targets included

cement works at Indaroeng and harbour installations at Emmerhaven (Operation

BANQUET).

(For details of Eastern Fleet operations see OPERATION PACIFIC).



September

18th Deployed with HMS VICTORIOUS escorted by HMS HOWE, two cruisers and seven

Fleet Destroyers to launch air attacks on Sigli, Sumatra and photo-reconnaissance

over Nicobar Islands (Operation LIGHT).

Two aircraft accidentally attacked HM Submarine SPIRIT which was acting as Plane

Guard.



October

15th Deployed with Task Group 63.3 for diversionary operations in Indian Ocean during

US landings on Leyte (Operation MILLET). Six aircrew were lost.

17th Launched air attacks with HMS VICTORIOUS on Nicobar Islands.

HM Cruiser PHOEBE provided fighter direction facilities and AA defence.

Group was screened by HM Destroyers WHELP, WAKEFUL, WAGER and WESSEX.

19th Repeated air attacks on Nicobars.

During retaliatory attacks by Japanese torpedo bombers, ten of the twelve enemy

aircraft were destroyed.



November

20th Deployed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS to launch air attacks on Belawan Deli.

Cover was provided by HM Cruisers NEWCASTLE, ARGONAUT and BLACK

PRINCE screened by HM Destroyers KEMPENFELT (ii), WHIRLWIND, WRANGLER,

WESSEX and WAKEFUL. (Operation OUTFLANK).

(Note: Original target on Pangkalan Brandon could not be attacked due to weather

conditions in the area).

22th Became part of British Pacific Fleet with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and HMS VICTORIOUS.

(For details see TASK FORCE 57 by P Smith and CARRIER VICTORY by JM Ludley).



December

17th With HMS ILLUSTRIOUS launched air attacks on Belawan Deli covered by HM

Cruisers NEWCASTLE, BLACK PRINCE and ARGONAUT screened by seven Fleet

Destroyers. (Operation ROBSON.)



1 9 4 5



January Joined Task Force 63.

4th Deployed with HMS INDEFATIGABLE and HMS VICTORIOUS, H M Cruisers

SUFFOLK, CEYLON, ARGONAUT and BLACK PRINCE screened by HM Destroyers

KEMPENFELT, WHELP, GRENVILLE, WAGER, URANIA, UNDAUNTED, UNDINE

and URSA for air attacks on oil refineries at Pangkalang Brandan, Sumatra (Operation

LENTIL).

(Note: The unsuitability of SEAFIRE aircraft for sustained carrier operations was

mentioned in the report on this operation).

16th Sailed from Trincomalee with TF63 for offensive sweep in Indian Ocean prior to transfer

of British Pacific Fleet for service in Pacific area.

24th With HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS INDEFATIGABLE and HMS VICTORIOUS carried

out air attacks on the oil refinery at Pladjoe, Sumatra. Cover was provided by HM

Battleship KING GEORGE V, HMS ARGONAUT, HMS EURYALUS and HMS BLACK

PRINCE screened by Fleet Destroyers. (Operation MERIDIAN ONE)

29th With same aircraft carriers launched raids on Soengi Gerong oil refineries and airfields

at Lembak and Tanglangbetoetoe (Operation MERIDIAN TWO).

(Note: These attacks were marred by various problems. All seven KAMIKAZE aircraft

which attacked Fleet in retaliation were destroyed but 16 RN aircraft were lost in action

and another 14 by deck landing accidents. 9 pilots captured after baling out were

executed by the Japanese in August 1945. (Operation MERIDIAN TWO).



February

4th Arrived Fremantle with British Pacific Fleet.

9th Arrived at Sydney to prepare for operational service as TF113 with US Navy.



March Re-designated as part of Task Force 57.

17th Joined Task Force 57, BPF element of US 5th Fleet, at Manus

23rd Sailed from Ulithi to take part in combined RN/USN carrier operations in support of

US landings on Okinawa until 7th April (Operation ICEBERG).



April

1st Damaged in KAMIKAZE attack during operations off Sakashima Gunto group. 14 men

were killed and 16 wounded. Extensive damage to Island structure and some fires were

started. Flight deck was cleared and fires extinguished with an hour.

9th Flying operations transferred to targets in Formosa (Operation ICEBERG OOLONG).

11th With HMS INDEFATIGABLE carried attacks on Schinchiku and Matsugama.

16th Transferred with TF57 to renew attacks on airfields in Ishigaki and Miyako in Sakishimas.

20th Returned to Leyte.



May

1st Sailed from Leyte to resume attacks on Sakishima Gunto group.

4th After replenishing with ships of TG57 launched first of a series of air attacks with

HMS VICTORIOUS and HMS FORMIDABLE on airfields at Hiara, Nobara, Miyako

and Ishigaki.

Hit by KAMIKAZE aircraft but remained operational.

9th Damaged in another KAMIKAZE attack but continued flying operations with gaps for

replenishment until 23rd May.

20th In collision with HM Destroyer QUILLIAM which was seriously damaged.

25th Sailed for Manus on completion of operation requirement for TF57.



June Relieved by HM Aircraft Carrier IMPLACABLE and refitted in SYDNEY.



July On completion remained at Sydney.



August

15th Transferred to RN control after Japan surrendered.

Took passage to Subic Bay, Philippines with HM Aircraft Carrier VENERABLE, HM

Cruisers EURYALUS and SWIFTSURE screened by three Fleet Destroyers

27th Sailed with HMS VENERABLE, HMS SWIFTSURE, HMS BLACK PRINCE, HMS EURYALUS

screened by HM Destroyers KEMPENFELT, URSA, QUADRANT and WHIRLWIND as

Task Group 111.2 to re-occupy Hong Kong.

29th Met HM Battleship ANSON and HM Aircraft Carrier VENGEANCE prior to entry into the

Colony of Hong Kong after minesweeping completed.

30th Carried cut air attacks with HMS VENERABLE on Japanese explosive boats in Lamma Bay.

Entered Hong Kong on completion.

CV Illustrious

H. M. S. I L L U S T R I O U S



ILLUSTRIOUS Class Fleet Aircraft Carrier ordered on 12th January 1937 from Vickers Armstrong at Barrow under the 1936 Programme. The ship was laid down on 27th April that year as Yard No 752 and launched by Lady Henderson, wife of the Controller of the Navy on 5th April 1939. She was the 4th RN ship to carry the name, introduced in 1795 and last used for a 1896 battleship sold in 1920. Build completion was delayed to allow the installation of Radar Type 79 to give warning of the approach of aircraft and first fit of this type of radar in an aircraft carrier. The ship was accepted into service on 24th April 1940 and been adopted by the staff of London Insurance Companies following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942.



B a t t l e H o n o u r s

GENOA 1795 - BASQUE ROADS 1809 - JAVA 1811 - TARANTO 1940 - MEDITERRANEAN 1940-41 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941 - DIEGO SUAREZ 1942 - SALERNO 1943 - SABANG 1944 - PALEMBANG 1945 - OKINAWA 1945

C r e s t

Badge: On a Field Blue,in front of a trumpe Erect,

two trumpets in saltire Gold.



D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v I c e



1 9 4 0



January Completion date delayed to allow fitting of Type 79 radar.

to

March



April Contractors trials

20th During departure from Barrow rammed and sank tug POOLGARTH

Passage to Liverpool.



May Docking for underwater inspection at Liverpool.

(Note: Phosphor Bronze propellers fitted.)

24th Final acceptance trials.

(Note: Excessive vibration was noted particularly in the Bridge Structure

This problem was never completely resolved during subsequent service.)

26th Commissioned at Portsmouth for service.



June Embarked aircraft and prepared for work-up.

Nominated for service in Mediterranean.



July Passage to West Indies for work-up.

(Note: Intention to carry out trials based at Dakar was changed after fall oi France.)

On completion of work-up took passage to UK.

28th Arrived in UK.



August Short refit at Clydebank before flying exercises with squadrons embarked

(Note: External DG Cable replaced by internal wiring.

External cable had been damage during Atlantic passage.)

Passage to Gibraltar

30th Sailed from Gibraltar for transit of Mediterranean in Force F with HM Battleship

VALIANT, HM Anti-Aircraft Cruiser CALCUTTA and COVENTRY covered by

ships of Force H to reinforce Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria.

(Operation HATS).

(For details of Mediterranean naval activities in 1940-42 see ENGAGE THE ENEMY

MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett, THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN

by D MacIntyre and Naval Staff History).



September

2nd Joined Mediterranean Fleet off Pantalleria with Force F.

4th Launched aircraft strike against airfields at Maritza and Callato on Rhodes.

17th Air minelay and shipping attacks in Benghazi harbour.

Italian destroyer BOREA was sunk.

(Operation MD1 - This field later sank Italian destroyer AQUILQNE and two supply ships.

28th Escorted HM Cruisers LIVERPOOL and GLOUCESTER taking troops

to Malta escorted by HM Battleships WARSPITE and VALIANT.

Returned to Alexandria.



October

8th Deployed with m Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM Battleship MALAYA, RAMILLIES,

VALIANT, and WARSPITE, HM Cruisers AJAX, GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, ORION,

SYDNEY (RAN) and YORK screened by m Destroyers DAINTY, DECOY, IMPERIAL,

JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO, MOHAWK, VAMPIRE (RAN) and STUART (RAN) to provide

Distant Cover of Convoys MF3 to Malta and Convoy MF4 from Malta to Egypt.

(Operation MB6).

12th Under attack by Italian torpedo craft.

(Note: Three enemy craft were sunk - See BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN)

14th Launched air attacks on Leros with HMS EAGLE.

Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.

23rd Carried out air minelay in Tobruk harbour which was unsuccessful due to shoals.



November

6th Deployed with HM Battleships MALAYA, RAMILLIES, VALIANT and WARSPITE,

HM Cruisers AJAX, ORION, SYDNEY and YORK screened by HM Destroyers

DECOY, DEFENDER, HASTY, HERO, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HYPERION, ILEX,

JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO, MOHAWK and NUBIAN to give Distant Cover to passage

of Convoy MW3 to Malta (Operation MB8).

9th On arrival of convoy in Malta detached with Fleet units to meet HM Battleship

BARHAM, HM Cruisers BERWICK and GLASGOW, HM Destroyers GALLANT,

GREYHOUND and GRIFFIN which were on passage from Gibraltar covered by

ships of Force H to join the Fleet at Alexandria (Operation COAT).

10th Detached from Fleet to carry cut air attack on Italian Fleet at Taranto

11th Outstandingly successful air attacks during which the battleships LITTORIO, CAIO

DUILIO and CONTE DI CAVOUR were crippled (Operation JUDGEMENT).

For details see Naval Staff History.

25th Deployed with HM Battleships WARSPITE and VALIANT, HM Cruisers AJAX,

ORION and SYDNEY screened by nine Fleet destroyers as Force A for escort of

convoy to Suda Bay, Crete (Operation MB9).

27th Launched air attacks on Rhodes covered by Force "A" ships.

29th Returned to Alexandria covered passage to Alexandria of Convoy ME40 with

ships of Mediterranean Fleet (Operation COLLAR - See THE BATTLE FOR THE

MEDITERRANEAN and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett).)

(Note: HM Cruisers MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON joined the Mediterranean

Fleet as part of this Operation).



December

1st Arrived at Alexandria with Fleet units.

16th Deployed with HM Battleships WARSPITE and VALIANT, HM Cruisers AJAX.

GLOUCESTER, ORION, SYDNEY and YORK screened by 11 Fleet destroyers

to provide Distant Cover for passage of Convoy MW6 to Malta and transit of HM

Battleship MALAYA to return to Gibraltar (Operation MG2 and Operation HIDE.

See above references).

17th Detached to carry out air strike on airfields in Stampalia and Rhodes.

21st Launched air attacks on Italian convoy off Kerkennah bound for Tripoli.

Two of the three ships were sunk.

22nd Joined Fleet units covering passage of Convoy ME5 from Malta to Egypt.

24th Arrived at Alexandria with Fleet units.





1 9 4 1



January

3rd Provided air cover for HM Battleships WARSPITE, BARHAM and VALIANT during

Fleet bombardment of Bardia.

7th Part of Force A with HMS WARSPITE and VALIANT screened by HM Destroyers

DAINTY, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, JERVIS, JUNO, MOHAWK and

NUBIAN to provide Distant Cover for passage of Malta Convoy MW5 ½

(Operation MC4) .

10th On arrival south of Malta took passage with Force A to meet military convoy on

passage from Gibraltar to Alexandria (Operation EXCESS)

Under sustained air attack 60 miles west of Malta by newly arrived German

Ju87 dive bombers (See above references).

Sustained major damage from direct hits causing many casualties.

Escorted by HM Destroyers HASTY and JAGUAR to Malta.

11th Taken in hand for temporary repair at Malta.

16th Hit by two bombs during air raid on Malta and sustained further damage.

19th Further damage caused by near miss during air raid.

23rd Sailed for Alexandria at 20 knots escorted by HM Destroyers GREYHOUND), JANUS,

JUNO and JERVIS.

25th Arrived at Alexandria,



February Under repair.

Permanent repair arranged in USA.



March Repair in continuation.

19th Took passage to Durban for docking to assess full extent of underwater and other

structural damage.



April Passage to Norfolk, Virginia.



May

12th Taken in hand for refit and permanent repairs at US Navy Yard.



June Under repair.

to (Note: Other work carried out included installation of another aircraft lift after with

July structural modification to provide additional 50 ft of flight deck space, fit

of ten 20mm Oerlikon guns to improve close range AA defence and

modification of catapult to enable use by US built aircraft.



August New Captain (Lord Louis Mountbatten) took command but later relieved to become

Chief of Combined Operations.



September Under repair.



October Post refit trials.



November

28th Passage to Jamaica to embark 12 SWORDFISH aircraft and carry out flying trials.



December Took joint passage to UK with HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE.

16th In collision with FORMIDABLE whilst on passage. (see Addendum)



1 9 4 2



January Under repair in Liverpool.

(Note: Radar Type 79 was replaced by Type 281 during this period.

(See The Development and use of Radar Equipment for the RN (Ed FA Kingsley

and RADAR AT SEA by D Howse).



February Under repair.

Nominated for service with Eastern Fleet in Indian Ocean.





March On completion embarked squadrons at Scapa Flow and carried out flying trials.

23rd Joined military convoy WS17 in Clyde with HM Destroyers INCONSTANT, JAVELIN

and PAKENHAM as Ocean Escort during passage to Freetown.

31st Detached from WS17 on arrival at Freetown and took passage with same destroyers to join

Force F for planned landings in Madagascar.

(Note: Damage caused by fire in hanf gar was repaired at Freetown.)



April Passage from Freetown to Durban.

Nominated for participation in planned landings at Diego Suarez.

28th Escorted Convoy Z to Madagascar with HM Battleship RAMILLIES, HM Cruiser

HERMIONE and screen of 6 Fleet destroyers



May Deployed east of Madagascar.

5th Provided air cover during assault with HMS INDOMITABLE.

7th Aircraft sank Vichy French submarine LE HEROS.

20th On release from IRONCLAD sailed to Join Eastern Fleet at Mombasa.

(Note: 309 sorties were flown by the two carriers for a loss of four aircraft

by enemy action).

29th Sailed from Kilindini with HM Battleship WARSPITE, HMS FORMIDABLE and HM Cruiser

HERMIONE for Ceylon.



June Deployed in Indian Ocean with ships of Eastern Fleet for interception patrol and convoy

defence.



July Carried out interception patrols in Indian Ocean with Eastern Fleet.

US Navy suggestion that ship be loaned for service in Pacific not agreed.

Eastern Fleet deployment in continuation.

Aircraft used to test air defences of Ceylon



August Deployed with Eastern Fleet for offensive sweep in Indian Ocean at request of US

Navy as a diversion during landings on Guadalcanal (Operation STAB).



September

10th Deployed with HM Battleship WARSPITE, HM Seaplane Carrier ALBATROSS screened

by HM Destroyers HOTSPUR, EXPRESS, FORTUNE, INCONSTANT and NESTOR to

provide air cover during military operation to complete allied occupation of Madagascar.

(Operation STREAM).



October On release from STREAM took passage to Durban.

Taken in hand for short refit



November Under refit.



December On completion rejoined Eastern Fleet in Ceylon.



1 9 4 3



January

5th Withdrawn from Eastern Fleet.

To be relieved by HM Escort Carrier BATTLER in October.



February Passage to Birkenhead for refit including extension to Flight Deck

Taken in hand on arrival.



March Under refit.

to (Notes: Major changes to radar fit were made.

May Aircraft warning radars Type 79B and 281B fitted to provide an improved

cover for all altitudes - See above references.

Surface warning 10cm Radar Type 272 fitted.

Fire-control radars Type 282 and 285 fitted for Anti-Aircraft use.

See above references.

Twin Oerlikon mountings fitted to replace single type to further improve close

AA defence.)

Two additional arrester wires fitted to improve aircraft safety on landing.)



June On completion of post refit trials embarked aircraft and carried out training of

aircrews in Clyde area.



July Joined Home Fleet and took part in offensive sweep off Norway with HM Aircraft

carrier UNICORN. Three German reconnaissance aircraft were shot down.

(Operation CAMERA)



August Home Fleet deployment in continuation.

6th Deployed with HMS UNICORN for anti-submarine patrols in NW Approaches for

convoy defence. Destroyers of 17th Flotilla provided screen.

14th Deployed with ships Home Fleet for escort of rms QUEEN MARY carrying the

Prime Minister on return from QUADRANT conference with US President at Quebec.



September Detached with ships of Home Fleet for service in Mediterranean with Force H.

9th Deployed with HM Battleships NELSON, RODNEY, WARSPITE and VALIANT,

HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE as Covering Force during allied landings at

Salerno.

(Operation AVALANCHE - These ships were intended to prevent any interference to

allied assault landings by Italian surface warships. A screen of 21 destroyers

including French, Polish and Greek warships was provided. See ENGAGE THE

ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and the Naval Staff History).

Attack by torpedo bombers on Covering Force was unsuccessful.



October Returned to UK with Home Fleet ships on release from detached duty.

Nominated for service with Eastern Fleet.

24th Prepared for foreign service at Birkenhead.

(Note: Work included fit of additional twin Oerlikon mountings, modification of

flight deck and improvement to catapult for use with fully loaded

BARRACUDA aircraft.)



November

26th Took passage to Clyde area to carry out flying training.



December Deployed in NW Approaches.

30th Sailed to join Eastern Fleet with HM Battleships QUEEN ELIZABETH and VALIANT,

HM Battlecruiser RENOWN and HM Light Fleet Carrier UNICORN.



1 9 4 4



January Passage to Trincomalee via Mediterranean and Red Sea.

31st Joined Fleet at Trincomalee.

(Note: Complement over 2,000)



February Deployed with Eastern Fleet in Indian Ocean.



March Deployed with HM Cruisers GAMBIA and SUSSEX, HM Destroyer ROTHERHAM

and the Dutch destroyer TJERK HIDDES in search for blockade runners SW of

Cocos Islands. (Operation SLEUTH).

21st Deployed with HM Battleships QUEEN ELIZABETH and VALIANT, HM Battlecruiser

RENOWN, HM Cruisers LONDON, GAMBIA (RNZN), CEYLON and CUMBERLAND

screened by HM Destroyers QUILLIAM, QUALITY, QUEENBOROUGH, PATHFINDER,

NAPIER, NORMAN, NEPAL, QUIBERON, Dutch destroyers VAN GALEN and TJERK

HIDDES to meet US aircraft carrier SARATOGA joining Eastern Fleet with three

destroyers Operation DIPLOMAT).

27th Met USS SARATOGA and destroyer escort SW Cocos Islands.

(Note: US ships were being loaned to Eastern Fleet for future operations).



April

2nd Returned to Trincomalee with RN/USN ships.

Exchange deck landing trials with USS SARATOGA in preparation for operations.

19th Launched Air strikes on Sabang with USS SARATOGA, escorted by Eastern Fleet

major units HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HMS VALIANT, French RICHELIEU and

HMS RENOWN as TF 70 (Operation COCKPIT).



May

6th Deployed with USS SARATOGA, HM Cruisers CEYLON and GAMBIA and a screen

comprising HM Destroyers QUILLIAM, QUADRANT, QUEENBOROUGH, US

destroyers USS FANNING, CUMMINGS and DUNLOP as Task Force 65.

(Note: BARRACUDA aircraft replaced by AVENGERS before this operation)

15th Refuelled in Exmouth Bay, Western Australia.

17th Launched air strikes with aircraft from USS SARATOGA on harbour and refineries

at Soerabaya, Java (Operation TRANSOM).

(Note: Later assessment was that Attacks were not very satisfactory).

18th USS SARATOGA and US Navy destroyers detached.

27th Arrived at Trincomalee after refuelling in Exmouth Bay.



June

10th Launched air attacks on Sabang covered by ships of Eastern Fleet as a diversion

during US landings on Marianas (Operation FORAGER).

19th On return passage launched air attacks on Port Blair harbour and airfield.

(Operation PEDAL).



July Carried out Flying training with HM Aircraft Carriers VICTORIOUS and INDOMITABLE

off Ceylon in preparation for future joint operations.

22nd Deployed with HMS VICTORIOUS, HM Cruiser PHOEBE, HM Destroyers ROEBUCK

and RAIDER to carry cut air attacks on airfields near Sabang (Operation CRIMSON).

25th Launched air strikes.

CORSAIR fighters Intercepted Japanese air retaliation and shot down 7 of the ten

planes for loss of two aircraft.

(Note: Eastern Fleet units carried bombardments concurrently).



August

24th Deployed with HMS VICTORIOUS and HMS INDOMITABLE to provide an 'Air-Sea

Rescue' facility during US Army air raids on Sumatra (Operation BOOMERANG).

(Note: Cover provided by ships of Eastern Fleet).

On completion carried cut air attacks on Padang, SW Sumatra (Operation BANQUET).



September Took passage to Simonstown for refit prior to service in Pacific.

Taken in for refit by HM Dockyard.

(Note: Work done included re-tubing of boilers and fit of US aircraft Homing Beacon (Type YE)

to provide radio signals for assistance of returning aircraft.)

Facilities for re-fuelling escorts in company during ocean passages were also provided.)



October Under refit.

Additional Close Range AA armament fitted.

On completion of post refit trials took passage to Trincomalee.



November

1st Rejoined Eastern Fleet at Trincomalee.

17th Deployed with HMS INDOMITABLE, HM Cruisers NEWCASTLE, ARGONAUT and

BLACK PRINCE screened by HM Destroyers KEMPENFELT, WHIRLWIND,

WRANGLER, WESSEX and WAKEFUL to carry cut air attacks on Pangkalan Brandan,

NW Sumatra,

20th Diverted from planned air attacks by weather and target changed to refineries at

Belawan Deli. Subsequent raids made on airfields near Sabang.

(Operation OUTFLANK).

22nd Transferred to British Pacific Fleet on formation.

23rd Returned to Trincomalee.



December Deployed with HMS INDOMITABLE, HMS BLACK PRINCE, HMS NEWCASTLE and

ARGONAUT with a destroyer screen.

17th Launched air attacks on Belawan Deli (Operation ROBS0N).



1 9 4 5



January

16th Took passage for Australia with HM Aircraft Carriers VICTORIOUS, INDOMITABLE and

INDEFATIGABLE, HM Battleship KING GEORGE V, HM Cruisers ARGONAUT, BLACK

PRINCE and EURYALUS, screened by HM Destroyers GRENVILLE, UNDINE, URSA

UNDAUNTED, WAGER, KEMPENFELT, WAKEFUL, WHIRLWIND and WHELP as Task

Force 63.

20th Refuelled from Task Force 69.

24th After delay due to weather launched air attacks with the other carriers on oil refinery at

Pladjoe, Sumatra (Operation MERIDIAN I). Small Japanese air attacks repulsed. 7 RN aircraft

lost during attacks and 25 by crashes on landing.

26th Refuelled

29th With same ships launched raids on Soengi Gerong oil refineries near Palembang.

During retaliatory KAMIKAZE attacks on Fleet whilst aircraft were landing hit by

two shells from HMS EURYALUS anti-aircraft fire (Operation MERIDIAN TWO).

(Note: 11 killed and 22 other casualties - See OPERATION PACIFIC).



February

9th Arrived at Sydney and prepared for air operations in support of US landings in

Okinawa (Operation ICEBERG).

Under repair. Centre shaft removed. Speed reduced to 24 Knots.

(Note: Vibration problems were still being experienced- see May 1940 entry

Machinery defect rate increase possible due to extensive service.)

28th Took passage to Manus with ships of British Pacific Fleet as Task Force 113



March

7th Arrived at Manus.

BPF ships departure for operations delayed by US Navy pending approval

in Washington for their deployment with US Navy.

18th Attachment of British Pacific Fleet to US 5th Fleet as Task Force 57 approved.

Sailed to Ulithi with Task Force 57 for Joint air operations (Operation ICEBERG)

26th Launched attacks on airfields in Sakishima-Gunto Group with HM Aircraft Carriers

INDOMITABLE, INDEFATIGABLE and VICTORIOUS covered by major units of BPF and with

screen of Fleet destroyers.

Joint operations with US Task Group in continuation with breaks for refuelling

from British Fleet Train.



April Sakishima-Gunto joint operations with US carriers in continuation.

6th Sustained slight above water slight damage when KAMIKAZE aircraft crashed alongside.

Major underwater damage caused when weapon detonated near ship.

Retained in BPF despite effect of structural damage.)

9th Diverted from ICEBERG operations to carry out air attacks on Formosa

12th Launched attacks on chemical plant and airfields in poor weather conditions.

13th Passage to rejoin operations off Sakishima Gunto.

(Note: Ship becoming an increasing liability.)

14th Relieved in Task Force 57 by m Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE.

(Statistics: 505 sorties flown.3,549 tons fuel embarked.88,363 Gallons of AVGAS embarked.

15th Passage to Philippines for underwater examination. Damage found to be much more

extensive than realised.



May Withdrawn from operations and took passage to Sydney.

24th Sailed to UK from Sydney at reduced speed of 19 knots.



June

27th Arrived at Rosyth for repair and four month refit.



July Under repair

to August

ORIGINAL: castor troy
I have sent the turn to my (hopefully) new opponent on Friday but haven´t heard from him so far. Don´t know if he´s really serious about taking over the game. So if it will go on, I will post some real life pics and the history of the ships that have been sunk recently.

Eh, I was still discovering the situation, when you told me that Paul would go on. £And I must say that comparing the lists of sunk capital ships is rather depressing, when you have not seen the reinforcement list yet.[;)]

ORIGINAL: Ambassador

ORIGINAL: castor troy
I have sent the turn to my (hopefully) new opponent on Friday but haven´t heard from him so far. Don´t know if he´s really serious about taking over the game. So if it will go on, I will post some real life pics and the history of the ships that have been sunk recently.

Eh, I was still discovering the situation, when you told me that Paul would go on. £And I must say that comparing the lists of sunk capital ships is rather depressing, when you have not seen the reinforcement list yet.[;)]

I know how the Allied reinforcement list looks like from playing as the Allied often enough. And that´s why I´m always saying that what happened the last couple of turns is surely not nice for the Allied but it´s far from war winning for the Japanese.

As Ambassador already mentioned, Miller sent me an email with a turn telling me that he wants to go on with the campaign. Looks like sleeping a couple of nights over the current situation made him change his oppinion. [:)]

I´ve already sent the next turn back to Miller so the game should go on soon...

glad to hear that paul comes back to the front.[:)]

Here´s the turn I just finished and it was a god damn bad one... [:@]


AFTER ACTION REPORTS FOR 03/26/43

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack near Koepang at 28,77

Japanese Ships
DD Hatsuyuki
DD Akatsuki
DD Ariake
DD Hatsushima
DD Nenohi
DD Hatsuharu

Allied Ships
SS KXVI, hits 5, on fire

one hit, four near misses on this bugger at Koepang...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Night Time Surface Combat at 33,84

Japanese Ships
BB Yamato
BB Musashi
CA Suzuya
CA Kumano
DD Kuroshio
DD Hayashio
DD Yamakaze
DD Umikaze
DD Shinonome
DD Yugiri

Allied Ships
AO Tallulah, Shell hits 32, and is sunk

then we see the first naval engagement of the IJN´s proud as Adm Tanaka engages a burning AO near Darwin. Have sent out three surface combat TFs to engage the supply convoy but guess what, all MISSED it! Can´t believe it, when I look at the position of the supply convoy at the end of the turn it must have moved THREE hexes during the night phase! God damn, the AKs got one extra hex movement and I miss them... [:@]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sub attack at 32,85

Japanese Ships
SS I-15

Allied Ships
DD Craven, Torpedo hits 1, on fire, heavy damage

I-15 finishes a DD... the captain went down with the ship...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ASW attack at 34,84

Japanese Ships
DD Tachikaze
DD Hokaze
DD Yukaze
DD Yakaze
DD Akikaze
DD Okikaze
DD Yuzuki

Allied Ships
SS Sculpin, hits 1

escorts of one of the surface combat groups returning to Darwin... they achieve a wonderful one near miss...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Pamakasan , at 24,66

Japanese aircraft
Ki-45 KAIa Nick x 68

No Japanese losses

Runway hits 8

Aircraft Attacking:
30 x Ki-45 KAIa Nick bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Manila , at 43,52

Japanese aircraft
A6M2 Zero x 54
A6M3a Zero x 105
Ki-43-Ic Oscar x 35
Ki-43-IIa Oscar x 35
Ki-44-IIb Tojo x 47

No Japanese losses

Airbase hits 4
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 109

Aircraft Attacking:
32 x Ki-43-IIa Oscar bombing at 2000 feet
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Derby , at 24,85


Allied aircraft
B-25C Mitchell x 96
B-25J Mitchell x 16


No Allied losses

Port hits 14
Port supply hits 12

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x B-25C Mitchell bombing at 15000 feet

Miller wants to make sure he damages all facilities at Derby...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on Luganville , at 72,107


Allied aircraft
F4F-4 Wildcat x 41
Hurricane IIb x 9
P-36A Mohawk x 25
P-40B Tomahawk x 16


Allied aircraft losses
F4F-4 Wildcat: 7 damaged
Hurricane IIb: 1 destroyed, 2 damaged
P-36A Mohawk: 1 destroyed, 6 damaged
P-40B Tomahawk: 2 destroyed, 4 damaged

Japanese ground losses:
18 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

Airbase hits 1
Airbase supply hits 2
Runway hits 24

Aircraft Attacking:
12 x P-40B Tomahawk bombing at 2000 feet

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 24,83

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 22
Ki-49 Helen x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Waller

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 3000 feet

[8|]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 24,83

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 18
G3M Nell x 3

Japanese aircraft losses
G3M Nell: 3 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Taylor

Aircraft Attacking:
3 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet

[8|]

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 26,83

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 3
Ki-49 Helen x 13

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 9 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Australia, Bomb hits 1, on fire
CLAA Van Heemskerck

Aircraft Attacking:
1 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 3000 feet

[8|] pretty much ridicoulos the strikes we see today...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 30,85

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 70
G3M Nell x 8
G4M1 Betty x 11
Ki-49 Helen x 13

Allied aircraft
Boomerang II x 5
Brewster 339D x 40
P-38G Lightning x 17

Japanese aircraft losses
A6M3a Zero: 11 destroyed, 11 damaged
G3M Nell: 7 damaged
G4M1 Betty: 1 damaged
Ki-49 Helen: 8 damaged

Allied aircraft losses
Boomerang II: 2 destroyed, 1 damaged
Brewster 339D: 20 destroyed
P-38G Lightning: 13 damaged

Allied Ships
DD Hughes
DD Witte de With
DD Laffey
AK Empire Beaver

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 3000 feet
4 x G3M Nell launching torpedoes at 200 feet

that´s the damn supply convoy that moved 5 hexes today and is now one hex North East of Wyndham. This means we have LOST the battle for Wyndham as the enemy will now receive more than 60.000 supplies (if all those AKs are fully loaded) ... [8|] this TF was in range of more than 200 bombers today and all we get is this f*cking strike that doesn´t achieve anything.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Day Air attack on TF at 26,83

Japanese aircraft
A6M3a Zero x 55
Ki-49 Helen x 2

Japanese aircraft losses
Ki-49 Helen: 2 damaged

Allied Ships
CA Australia, on fire

Aircraft Attacking:
2 x Ki-49 Helen bombing at 3000 feet

I just don´t get it why we don´t launch bombers in huge numbers when we spot half a dozen high value TFs, have excellent weather, air HQs and masses of supplies everywhere... well, Miller had a lot of luck today. And this means he now has accomplished his mission! Wyndham will get supplies and that means game over for us in Northern Australia.

What also concerns me of course is that Miller was allowed to read my AAR after waving the white flag, the question now is how much information could he draw from reading the AAR. Not good, not good... [:(]

I have pointed out a couple of times what I think about this area around Timor and while he seemed not to realize that in the past, I guess he now definetely knows what to do here...




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Chungking

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 15847 troops, 180 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 1863

Defending force 273568 troops, 1483 guns, 11 vehicles, Assault Value = 6489



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Kweiyang

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 22690 troops, 268 guns, 7 vehicles, Assault Value = 2820

Defending force 178419 troops, 9 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 5096



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 23,85

Japanese Shock attack

Attacking force 45418 troops, 111 guns, 2455 vehicles, Assault Value = 1372

Defending force 13823 troops, 79 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 306

Japanese max assault: 2280 - adjusted assault: 1515

Allied max defense: 233 - adjusted defense: 7

Japanese assault odds: 216 to 1


Japanese ground losses:
137 casualties reported
Guns lost 2
Vehicles lost 6

Allied ground losses:
775 casualties reported
Guns lost 1


Defeated Allied Units Retreating!

we keep on kicking around the units that had to retreat from Derby... Broome will fall soon, the tanks will enter the base tomorrow after another shock attack, one TK unit will move into the open terrain South East of the base to cut it off. Then all units at Broome will have to surrender.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 36,88

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 53081 troops, 625 guns, 9 vehicles, Assault Value = 2083

Defending force 83235 troops, 956 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2046



Allied ground losses:
94 casualties reported
Guns lost 2

this is the hex four hexes South of Darwin, I´m now thinking about attacking this stack of 6 Allied divs. I´m pretty sure they are not fully supplied that far away from Alice Springs and if we start a2g attacks again the enemy could accumulate some disruption. The tanks could arrive in this hex within the next three or four weeks I guess and as we won´t have a chance to achieve anything at Wyndham we could also move some divs out of the base to fight here. But they have to arrive all within the same turn as we have to do a surprise attack before Miller can retreat. Not much chances to do so though...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Wyndham

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 8301 troops, 279 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 4709

Defending force 135650 troops, 968 guns, 352 vehicles, Assault Value = 2919



Allied ground losses:
258 casualties reported
Guns lost 3
Vehicles lost 1

I wasn´t able to achieve something as long as the Allied had not much supply (at least I think they didn´t have much), now as they will get ten thousands of tons of supply, there is no hope for us anymore...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at Thursday Island

Japanese Bombardment attack

Attacking force 6688 troops, 31 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 150

Defending force 630 troops, 0 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 16



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ground combat at 36,88

Allied Bombardment attack

Attacking force 14403 troops, 190 guns, 0 vehicles, Assault Value = 2039

Defending force 96184 troops, 1025 guns, 30 vehicles, Assault Value = 2083


Japanese ground losses:
49 casualties reported

Let´s go on with the summary about Allied capital ships sunk in the recent battle around Northern Australia. The BBs, starting with BB Sout Dakota.

USS South Dakota (BB-57), 1942-1962

USS South Dakota, lead ship of a class of 35,000-ton battleships, was built at Camden, New Jersey. She was commissioned in March 1942 and in August was transferred to the Pacific where she was soon involved in the Guadalcanal Campaign. On 26 October1942, her anti-aircraft guns played a prominent role in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands, during which her forward sixteen-inch gun turret was hit by a Japanese bomb. Shortly thereafter, she collided with USS Mahan (DD-364). Damage from these incidents was repaired locally, and she was heavily engaged, and damaged again, during the 14-15 November battleship night action off Guadalcanal, a battle that effectively ended Japan's plans to retake that strategic island.

Following repairs in the United States, South Dakota operated in the Atlantic from February into August 1943, including service with the British Home Fleet. She then returned to the Pacific and took part in the Gilberts and Marshalls invasions in November 1943-February 1944. The battleship operated with the fast carriers during raids on Japanese bases during that time and into the Spring of 1944. She next participated in the June 1944 Marianas Campaign, using her heavy guns to shell enemy positions on Saipan and Tinian. In the Battle of the Philippine Sea on 19 June, she was hit by another Japanese bomb.

Another stateside overhaul prepared South Dakota for further Pacific combat operations. From October 1944 to the end of World War II over ten months later, she screened carrier task forces during strikes in the Western Pacific that ranged from the South China Sea to Japan. The invasions of Leyte, Luzon, Iwo Jima and Okinawa were among these operations. In March and April 1945, South Dakota's guns joined in bombarding Okinawa. She shelled targets in the Japanese Home Islands in July and August, during the final acts of the Pacific War, and was present in Tokyo Bay on 2 September 1945 during the Formal Surrender of Japan. South Dakota returned to the United States soon thereafter and was decommissioned in January 1947. She remained inactive until October 1962, when she was sold for scrapping.

The British ones, starting with BB Warspite.



H. M. S. W A R S P I T E



QUEEN ELIZABETH-Class battleship ordered from HM Dockyard, Portsmouth after approval of design in June 1912. The ship was laid down on 31st October 1912 and launched on 26th November 1913. She was the sixth RN warship to bear this name which was introduced in 1956 and last used for a cruiser of 1844 which was sold in 1905. This warship gave a most notable service, which began in March 1915. Her build cost was £2,524,148, excluding items such as guns and wireless equipment. In WWI she was present at the Battle of Jutland and in WWII received considerable renown as shown in the following Chronology. In March 1935 HMS WARSPITE was taken in hand for reconstruction at Portsmouth and was the first of her class to undergo an extensive modernisation. Work done included modifications to her 15" armament to increase the elevation possible and therefore range attainable. Other changes were made to her secondary armament and improved anti-aircraft arrangement were fitted. Provision was made for carrying four aircraft and two hangars were fitted. The most distinctive change made was the change of the forward structure which was redesigned. Work was completed in March 1937 and she rejoined the Fleet later that year. For details of original design and of the modernisation see BRITISH BATTLESHIPS by Alan Raven and John Roberts. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings Campaign in March 1942 the ship was adopted by the members of the London Stock Exchange who maintained an interest in her ship's company and her achievements throughout the war.



B a t t l e H o n o u r s

CADIZ 1596 - ORFORDNESS 1666 - SOLEBAY 1672 - SCHOONVELDT 1673 - TEXEL 1673 - BEACHY HEAD 1690 - BARFLEUR 1692 - VELEZ MALAGA 1704 - MARBELLA 1705 - LAGOS 1759 - QUIBERON 1759 - JUTLAND 1916 - NARVIK 1940 - NORWAY 1940 - CALABRIA 1940 - MEDITERRANEAN 1940-43 - MATAPAN 1941 - CRETE 1941 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941 - SICILY 1943 - SALERNO 1943 - NORMANDY 1944 - WALCHEREN 1944 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1944 - BISCAY 1944

H e r a l d i c D a t a

Badge: On a Field Green, a Ship’s Gun (circa 1660) Gold.



M o t t o

Belli dura despicio: ‘I despise the hard knocks of war’



D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e



1 9 3 9



September Deployed with 1st Battle Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet.



October Nominated for return to Home Waters for duty with 2nd Battle Squadron,

and took passage to Scapa Flow.



November Deployed to cover transit of Atlantic convoys.

23rd Detached from convoy escort to join Home Fleet search for the German

battleships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU after sinking of HM Armed

Merchant Cruiser RAWALPINDI.

Carried out patrol in Denmark Strait to cover possible return passage north of

Iceland.



December Home Fleet deployment in continuation.

6th Became Flagship of CinC Home Fleet. after HM Battleship NELSON was damaged

by mine at Loch Ewe.

Escorted first Canadian Troop Convoy.

(For details of naval activities in Home waters during 1939 see ENGAGE THE ENEMY

MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and Naval Staff History)



1 9 4 0



January Deployed in NW Approaches with Home Fleet.

to Carried out interception patrol and search for German warships in transit to carry out attacks on

February convoys.



March Transferred to Mediterranean



April Recalled on passage to rejoin Home Fleet

(Note: PINK LIST of 9th April shows the ship as part of Home Fleet and ship may have been

deployed in NW Approaches when ordered to rejoin Home Fleet ships in North Sea.

See Naval Staff History (HMS0 – 2001)

9th Deployed with Home Fleet off Norway.

(Note: Presence with Home Fleet during aid attacks to be confirmed)

12th Deployed with HM Battleship RODNEY, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Aircraft Carrier

FURIOUS and screen of six Fleet destroyers in southern approaches to Narvik.

13th Took part in 2nd Battle of Narvik. Ship’s aircraft sank U64 in Vaagsfjord.

(For details see NARVIK by D Macintyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

CLOSELY and Naval Staff History).

15th Remained off Narvik screened by HOSTILE, HAVOCK and FOXHOUND

pending arrival of other warships from UK.

17th Covered HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS during flying operations west of Lofotens.

(Note: No fighter aircraft available on board and role strictly limited.

Warning of approach of German aircraft from shore by observers such as lighthouses !).

24th Provided naval gunfire support during Narvik landings with HM Cruisers

AURORA, EFFINGHAM, ENTERPRISE and eight destroyers.

(For details of disastrous naval operations off Norway see above reference

and NARVIK by D Macintyre).

27th On relief by HMS RESOLUTION nominated for transfer to Mediterranean Fleet as Flagship. P

foreign service on arrival

Took passage to Mediterranean and to join Fleet at Alexandria for service

as Flagship, Mediterranean Fleet.



May On arrival deployed with Fleet units for extensive exercises in anticipation of Italian

entry into the war.

Returned to Alexandria on completion.

June Deployed at Alexandria.

11th Sailed from Alexandria with HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE. HM Battleship

MALAYA, HM Cruisers ORION, SYDNEY (RAN), NEPTUNE,

LIVERPOOL, GLOUCESTER, CALEDON and CALYPSO to carry out

offensive sweep against Italian merchant shipping with return south towards

Tobruk and Benghazi.



July Joined Mediterranean Fleet as Flagship.

4th Took part in negotiations with French Fleet after capitulation of France.

(Operation CATAPULT. See RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute).

7th Sailed from Alexandria to cover passage of Convoys MF1 and MS1 from

Malta with HM Battleships MALAYA and ROYAL SOVEREIGN, HM

Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL,

NEPTUNE, ORION and SYDNEY (RAN) screened by 11 destroyers.

Deployed with 3 destroyers as Force 'B’ (Operation MEl)

8th Slightly damaged during high-level bombing attacks.

9th In brief engagement with Italian surface units off Calabria and made a direct

hit on both the battleship CESARE and the cruiser BOLZANO. The Italian

ships withdrew after this ineffectual action.

(Battle of Punto Stilo - See Naval Staff History).

27th Deployed with HMS MALAYA, HMS RAMILLIES, HMS EAGLE, HMS

NEPTUNE and HMAS SYDNEY in shipping search south of Crete. Under

air attack.



August Under refit at Alexandria.

17th On completion bombarded Bardia in support of military operations with HM

Cruiser KENT as Force 'A'.

30th Sailed from Alexandria with HMS MALAYA, HMS EAGLE, HMS

GLOUCESTER, HMS KENT, HMS ORION and HMAS SYDNEY and

screen of 17 destroyers to cover transit of’ Convoy MS2 during passage to Malta.

31st Under air attack.



September

2nd Covered passage of HM Battleship VALIANT, HM Aircraft Carrier

ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruisers COVENTRY and CALCUTTA as Force 'F'

from Sicilian Channel to Alexandria to reinforce Mediterranean Fleet.

(Operation HATS - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and

THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre).

28th Deployed with HMS Valiant and HMS ILLUSTRIOUS to cover passage of

HMS LIVERPOOL and HMS KENT taking troops to Malta.



October

8th Sailed with HMS MALAYA, HMS RAMILLIES, HMS VALIANT, HMS

EAGLE, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS AJAX, HMS GLOUCESTER and

screen of Fleet destroyers to cover transit of Convoy MF3 to Malta and

Convoy MF4 of empty ships from Malta to Egypt (Operation MB6).

12th Under attack by 8 Italian torpedo boats, three of which were sunk.

14th Cover air operations against Leros with Fleet units.



November

7th Covered transit of Convoys MW3 to Malta and AN6 to Piraeus with HMS

VALIANT, HMS MALAYA, HMS RAMILLIES, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS,

HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER, ORION, SYDNEY (RAN) and YORK

screened by 13 Fleet destroyer’s (Operation MB6).

10th Joined by HM Battleship BARHAM, HM Cruisers BERWICK and

GLASGOW as Force 'F' from Gibraltar reinforcing Fleet in Eastern

Mediterranean (Operation COAT).

(Note: HMS ILLUSTRIOUS detached for Taranto attack (Operation

JUDGEMENT

11th Covered passage of Convoy ME3 from Malta to Port Said with Fleet units.

25th Sailed from Alexandria with HMS VALIANT, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HM

Cruisers AJAX and SYDNEY (RAN) screened by nine Fleet destroyers as

Force 'A' to escort convoy to Suda Bay, Crete and cover air attack on Rhodes

(Operation MB9).

28th Joined Force 'A' of Mediterranean Fleet and newly joined HM Cruisers

MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON (Force 'F') to escort convoy ME4 to Egypt.

(Operation COLLAR - A joint operation with Force 'H' which covered

passage to the Sicilian Narrows during which Italian warships attempted to

prevent passage off Cape Spartivento. See above references).



December

16th Deployed with HMS VALIANT, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruisers AJAX,

GLOUCESTER, ORION, SYDNEY and YORK screened by 11 Fleet

destroyers to provide distant cover for the passage of Convoy MW5 to Malta,

Convoy ME5 to Egypt as well as attacks on Rhodes and Stampalia by aircraft

from HMS ILLUSTRIOUS (Operation MC2).

(Note: This was part of Operation HIDE which included passage of HM

Battleship MALAYA being withdrawn from Fleet at Alexandria).

18th Carried out bombardment of Valona, Albania with HMS VALIANT.

20th Took return passage to Malta

24th Sailed to Alexandria from Malta.



1 9 4 1



January

3rd Bombarded Bardia with Valiant and BARHAM (Force 'A') screened by

nine destroyers and HM Cruiser CARLISLE as AA guardship.

7th Deployed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and HMS VALIANT with screen of 8

Fleet destroyers to provide distant cover for the passage of convoys to and

from Malta. (Operation MC4).

9th Joined by Force 'D' (HM Cruisers ORION PERTH (RAN) and YORK) south

of Crete.

Passage to join military stores convoy south of Pantalleria.

(Operation EXCESS - See above references).

Under air attacks by aircraft of Fligerkorps X during which HMS

ILLUSTRIOUS was seriously damaged.

24th Covered passage of damaged HMS ILLUSRTRIOUS to Alexandria with

HMS VALI ANT.



February

2nd Deployed with major units of Fleet in Eastern Mediterranean as a diversion

during attacks on Tirso Dam in Sardinia by HM Aircraft Carrier ARK

ROYAL of Force 'H' from Gibraltar.

20th Deployed with HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE, HM Battleships

BARHAM and VALIANT, HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER and YORK

screened by destroyers to provide distant cover for passage of Convoy MW6

to Malta (Operation MC.).

Later joined by Cruisers AJAX, ORION and PERTH from Suda Bay.



March Deployed with HMS VALIANT, HMS BARHAM, HMS FORMIDABLE

and destroyer screen in the Eastern Mediterranean to cover military convoys

to Greece.

28th In action with Mediterranean Fleet units against Italian Fleet at Battle of

Cape Matapan (For details see MATAPAN by SWC Pack and Naval Staff

History).



April

18th Deployed with HMS BARHAM, HMS VALIANT, HMS FORMIDABLE,

HM Cruisers CALCUTTA, ORION, GLOUCESTER and PHOEBE with

screen of Fleet destroyers to cover passage of Supply Ship HMS

BRECONSHIRE to Malta and return convoy ME7 from Malta.

20th Deployed with HMS BARHAM and VALIANT, HM Cruiser

GLOUCESTER and screen of 9 Fleet destroyers for bombardment of Tripoli

as Force 'B' (Operation MD3 - see Naval Staff History and above

references).

21st Carried out bombardment of harbour from close inshore.



May

5th Covered passage of Convoy MW7 to Malta with HM Battleships VALIANT

and BARHAM, HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers AJAX,

ORION, PERTH (RAN), ABDIEL and HMS BRECONSHIRE for refuelling

with screen of 12 destroyers (Operation TIGER).

(Note: This major operation also included transit of military convoy of tanks

to Egypt and the transfer of HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH,

HM Cruiser FIJI and HM Cruiser NAIAD to reinforce the Fleet at

Alexandria).

9th Joined by HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM Cruisers NAIAD, FIJI and

GLOUCESTER.

10th Provided distant cover for passage of TIGER convoy to Alexandria.

11th Under air attacks which were repelled by HMS Formidable and ship AA

defences.

21st Covered cruiser and destroyer operations to intercept invasion craft on

passage to Crete after initial airborne landings.

22nd Under air attacks west of Kithera Channel and hit by 550lb SAP bomb on

starboard side which exploded in 6" gun battery causing extensive damage

and some fires. 38 of ship's company were killed and 31 injured.

24th Returned to Alexandria for temporary repair.



June After repair remained at Alexandria

Permanent repair arranged in US Navy Dockyard.

23rd Sustained further damage after 'near miss' by 1,000lb bomb.

Bulge structure fracture caused some flooding.

25th Took passage to USA with calls at Colombo and Sydney



July On passage through Pacific.



August

11th Taken in hand for refit at Bremerton Navy Yard, Puget Sound, Washington.



September Under refit.

to

October



November Surface warning radar Type 271 and aircraft warning Type 281 fitted.

Fire control radar for main armament (Type 284), HA armament (Type

285) and for Close Range AA guns (Type 282) installed



December Post refit harbour trials.

Nominated for service with Eastern Fleet at Trincomalee.

28th Refit completed



1 9 4 2



January Post refit trials and prepared for operational service.

Took passage to Australia.



February Passage in Indian Ocean.



March

12th Joined 3rd Battle Squadron, Eastern Fleet at Colombo.

29th Flagship of Eastern Fleet.

31st Joined HM Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE and FORMIDABLE, HM

Cruisers ENTERPRISE, CORNWALL and EMERALD and 6 Fleet

destroyers in Force 'A'.



April

1st Deployed with Force 'A' in search for Japanese naval force reported on

passage to Ceylon with Force 'A'. Unsuccessful outcome.

5th After refuelling at Addu Attol carried out further search for Japanese warships

with HMS INDOMITABLE, HMS FORMIDABLE, HMS EMERALD and

HMS ENTERPRISE.

6th Returned to Addu Atoll after the sinking of HM Cruisers DORSETSHIRE and

CORNWALL by Japanese aircraft.

7th Transferred with HMS INDOMITABLE and HMS ILLUSTRIOUS to Colombo.

(Note: Use of Ceylon was unacceptable in view of earlier air raids).

19th Embarked Field Marshall Wavell for passage to Colombo from Bombay,

Passage to Kilindini



May Transferred to Kilindini with Fleet units

Deployed for trade defence based at Kilindini

29th Passage to Ceylon with HM Cruiser GAMBIA, HM Aircraft Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS

and FORMIDABLE.



June Deployed for convoy defence and interception in the Indian Ocean.



July Indian Ocean deployment in continuation.



August Transferred with major Fleet units to re-establish Fleet base in Ceylon.

Nominated for support of planned operations in Madagascar



September Passage to operational area.

8th Covered landings of 29th Infantry Bde to complete occupation of Madagascar

with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruisers GAMBIA and BIRMINGHAM,

screened by destroyers of 7th Flotilla (Operation STREAM).

14th Sailed from Majunga to cover landings at Tamatave (Operation JANE)

19th Took part in demonstration off Tamatave in place of the planned

bombardment.

21st Released from JANE and took passage to Durban for refit.



October Under refit in Durban. Surface warning radar Type 271 replaced by Type 273

to

December



1 9 4 3



January Rejoined Eastern Fleet on completion of post refit trials and work-up.



February Covered passage of military convoy taking 9th Australian Division to

Australia in Indian Ocean with HM Battleships RESOLUTION and

REVENGE, HM Cruiser MAURITIUS and 6 destroyers as Force ’A’

(Operation PAMPHLET)



March Passage to UK for refit.



April On arrival prepared for refit prior to service in Mediterranean.



May Under refit. Aircraft facilities removed.



June On completion of post refit trials joined Home Fleet at Scapa Flow to work up.

17th Transferred to Force ‘H’ at Gibraltar.

Deployed with HM Battleships NELSON, RODNEY and VALIANT, HMS

INDOMITABLE and ships of 4th, 8th and 24th Destroyer Flotilla for defence

of military convoys prior to allied landings in Sicily (Operation HUSKY).



July Passage to Alexandria.

7th Escorted troop convoys from Alexandria with HMS VALIANT, HMS

FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers AURORA and PENELOPE and screen of 9

destroyers.

9th Joined major units from Oran to cover passage of assault convoys.

10th Deployed with HM Battleships NELSON, RODNEY and VALIANT, HM

Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE and FORMIDABLE in Ionian Sea to

intercept any Italian surface warship approaching beaches (Operation

HUSKY - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and The Naval

Staff History).



August

17th Bombarded artillery positions at Catania, Sicily.

On release from HUSKY passage to Malta and first battleship to moor in

Grand Harbour since December 1940.



September

2nd Bombarded Calabrian coast prior to landings by British XIII Corps on the

mainland of Italy with HMS VALIANT, HM Cruisers ORION and

MAURITIUS (Operation BAYTOWN).

7th Held in reserve at Malta to support landing at Salerno

(Operation AVALANCHE).

9th Deployed with HMS VALIANT to provided gunfire support and cover at Salerno

and joined HMS NELSON, HMS RODNEY, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and

FORMIDABLE screened by Fleet destroyers.

Detached from AVALANCHE support and took passage to meet surrendered Italian

battleship CESARE and other surrendered warships from Spezia/Genoa east of

Bizerta during their passage for formal surrender in Malta.

(Note: Escort provided by seven destroyers, five of which were British,

10th Return passage to Salerno from Malta after formal surrender.

Gunfire support operations for Salerno landings in continuation.

15th Bombarded enemy forces engaged in counter attack on beachhead areas.

16th Continued bombardment role and under heavy air attacks with Glider Bombs.

Hit by FX1400 radio controlled glider bomb and near missed by a second.

Bomb penetrated to No 4 Boiler Room and exploded in Reserve Feed Tank.

Near miss caused additional damage in another Boiler Room.

Extensive flooding with total disruption of services.

Ship took in 5,000 tons of water.

(Note: Ship was thus unable to return to UK as planned.)

19th Arrived at Malta in tow of USN tug HOPI with air defence cover provided by HM

Cruiser DELHI.



October Under temporary repair at HM Dockyard, Malta.



November

1st Passage to Gibraltar under tow of 4 tugs.

12th Docked at Gibraltar for repair to allow ocean passage.



December Under repair at Gibraltar.



1 9 4 4



January Under repair at Gibraltar.

to February Repair arranged at Rosyth



March

9th Took passage to UK.



April Under repair at Rosyth.

Damage to No 4 Boiler Room was not undertaken and caisson fitted over

hole in ship’s bottom.



May Allocated for support of allied landings in Normandy with Bombarding

Force. (HM Battleship RAMILLIES, HM Monitor ROBERTS, HM

Cruisers MAURITIUS, ARETHUSA, FROBISHER, DANAE and Polish

ORP DRAGON in Eastern Task Force (Operation NEPTUNE).

Target in Pre-arranged Fire Plan – Gun Batteries at Villerville.

Carried out bombardment exercises with Force ‘D’ in NW Approaches.

(For more details of naval activities prior to and during landings see

LANDINGS IN NORMANDY JUNE 1944 (HMSO) and OPERATION

NEPTUNE by K Edwards).

(Note: Some repair work could not be completed but ships was considered

able to meet the requirements for NEPTUNE)(



June Passage to Clyde assembly area with Force ‘D’ ships.

3rd Sailed from Clyde.

4th Operation delayed for 24 hours.

5th Sailed from Solent with Force ‘D’ as Convoy S6 escorted by HM

Destroyers SAUMAREZ, SWIFT, Norwegian STENNER and STORD,

HM Frigates ROWLEY and HIOLMES through swept channel to

bombardment anchorage.

6th Provided gunfire support for assault landings on SWORD area beaches.

(Note: Only 3 turrets were available.

Under E-Boat attack in which HM Norwegian Destroyer SVENNER was sunk.

7th Bombarded Benerville.

9th Re-armed for further gunfire support duties.

10th Transferred to Western Task Force Area.

Bombarded shore targets in support of US Army operations off UTAH Area.

11th Returned to Eastern Task Force and bombarded positions at Arromanches

in support of British 50th Division during German counter-attack.

19th Took passage to Portsmouth

Gun Barrel replacement arranged at Rosyth.



July Took passage to Rosyth for replacement of gun barrels and complete outstanding

work.

13th Detonated acoustic or pressure mine in swept channel at depth of 17 fathoms in a

position miles east of Harwich during passage.

Explosion on port side abreast ‘Y’ turret, jammed rudder and stopped main engines.

Structural damage caused much flooding and propulsion machinery damaged by

shock.

Both port hafts were unusable. Ship list corrected by counter flooding.

Completed passage to Rosyth on starboard shafts.

(Note: Port outer shaft was beyond repair in view of future bombardment

requirements in support of military operations and ship returned to service

with limited speed of 15 knots. The replacement of the shaft was never

carried out.)

20th Repair by HM Dockyard Rosyth and replacement of gun barrels.



July Under repair at Rosyth



August Completed limited repair to allow further use for bombardment duties.

Trials on 3 shafts only achieved speed of 15.5 knots.

15th Rejoined bombardment ships off Normandy.

25th Shelled targets at Brest in support of US army operation to occupy.

(Note: Brest did not fall until 15th September)



September Deployed with HM Monitor EREBUS to provided gunfire support for British

49th and 51st Divisions during shore operations to occupy Le Havre.

(For details see CAMPAIGN IN NORTH WEST EUROPE, JUNE 1944 (HMSO).



October On release from Normandy support retained for further gunfire support

duty.



November Deployed in support of assault on Walcheren (Operation INFATUATE).

1st Bombarded shore batteries in Domburg area with HM Monitors EREBUS

and ROBERTS.

Returned to UK because of extensive wear to gun barrels.

8th Withdrawn from operational service after Walcheren surrendered.



December Not deployed pending decision on future service.





1 9 4 5





January Deployed at Portsmouth

Reduced to Reserve Status,



February Paid-off and reducing to Reserve at Portsmouth.

to

April

BB Valiant, a victim of IJN torp bombers, sunk near Tenimbar.

H. M. S. V A L I A N T



QUEEN ELIZABETH-Class battleship ordered from Fairfield, Govan Glasgow after approval of design in June 1912. The ship was laid down on 31st January 1913 and launched on 4th November 19l4. She was the sixth RN warship to bear this name which was introduced in 1759 for a 3rd Rate It was last used for an Armoured Ship in 1863 hulked in 1897 for use as an oil terminal at Devonport until sold in 1956. Build was completed in February 1915 at a cost of £2,357,037. One source gives a date in 1916 for sea trials, which is difficult, to believe and perhaps should be 1915. She then joined the Grand Fleet and was present at the Battle of Jutland. After WW1 she remained in commission apart from her refits until 1937 when she was taken in hand for reconstruction by HM Dockyard, Devonport. For details of original design and of the modernisation see BRITISH BATTLESHIPS by A.Raven and J Roberts. This ship is not included in the record of adoptions by a civil community following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign during 1941-42. This may have been because she was under repair as shown in the Chronology.



B a t t l e H o n o u r s

BELLEISLE 1761 - HAVANA 1762 - USHANT 1778 - USHANT 1781 - THE SAINTES 1782 - GLORIOUS FIRST OF JUNE 1794 - GROIX 1795 - BASQUE ROADS 1809 - JUTLAND 1916 - NORWAY 1940 - MEDITERRANEAN 1940-43 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941 - MATAPAN 1941 - CRETE 1941 - SICILY 1943 - SALERNO 1943 - SABANG 1944

H e r a l d i c D a t a

Badge: On a Field Blue a fighting cock

with steel spurs all proper.



M o t t o

'Valiant and Vigilant'



D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e



1 9 3 9



September Under refit and reconstruction at Devonport.

to Aircraft warning radar Type 79Z was fitted during the refit.

October (For details of development and use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse).



November

25th Refit completed.



December Post refit trials and took passage to West Indies to work-up.



1 9 4 0



January Work-up in continuation.



February Passage to join Home Fleet on completion of West Indies work-up.

Provided cover for passage of Canadian troop convoy TC3.

Joined HM Battleships RODNEY, WARSPITE, NELSON and BARHAM in

2nd Battle Squadron.



March Deployed with Squadron at Scapa Flow for interception of commerce raiders in NW

Approaches and North Sea.

(Note: Some of the ships’ company were loaned to Home Fleet Destroyers for use as Boarding

Parties placed on intercepted Blockade runners taken to Kikwall for inspection.)



April

7th Sailed from Scapa Flow in search for German heavy units reported in North Sea by aircraft.

In company with HMS RODNEY, 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 was confirmed ,took passage to support the allied

landings. During passage to Bergen to attack German warships ordered by Admiralty

to go to Narvik area (Operation RUPERT/R4).

9th Under air attack for first time off Norway.

13th Deployed with REPULSE to provide cover for passage of military convoy

NP1during passage to Norway, screened by HM Destroyers FEARLESS,

GRIFFIN and BRAZEN

(Note HMS REPULSE detached to refuel during passage.)

14th Remained with other ships of NP1 for passage to Vaagsfjord when

BIRMINGHAM, MANCHESTER and CAIRO detached with CHOBRY

and EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA to land troops at Narvik.

(Note: Other ships in escort were HM Cruiser VINDICTIVE, HM Destroyers

CODRINGTON, ACASTA and ARDENT.

15th Took passage to Scapa Flow screened by FEARLESS, GRIFFIN and BRAZEN.

19th Passage from Scapa Flow to Rosyth for embarkation of special projectiles

to be used for planned bombardment of Trondheim.

(Note: This operation was cancelled.)

29th Passage to Norwegian coast from Scapa Flow.



May Norwegian coast deployment in continuation.

1st Provided radar cover during evacuation at Andalsnes and under air attacks.

Deployed in support of Norwegian military operations.



June Returned to Scapa Flow.

4th Deployed at Scapa Flow for convoy defence and interception.

9th Joined Group 2 evacuation convoy and was informed by Hospital Ship ATLANTIS of the

attacks made on HM Aircraft Carrier GLORIOUS by German Squadron.

6th Deployed off Norway with HM Aircraft Carriers GLORIOUS and ARK ROYAL, HM

Cruisers SOUTHAMPTON, COVENTRY and VINDICTIVE with screen of 10 destroyers.

7th Joined escort of Group 1 evacuation convoy

8th Evacuation convoy escort with HM Destroyers TARTAR, MASHONA, BEDOUIN and

ASHANTI.

(For details of the disastrous operations off Norway see NARVIK by D. MacIntyre,

THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by T Adams, CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton and

the Naval Staff History).

15th Transferred to Force H at Gibraltar and took passage to Mediterranean.

28th Joined HM Battlecruiser HOOD, HM Battleship RESOLUTION, HMS ARK ROYAL,

HM Cruiser ARETHUSA and HM Cruiser ENTERPRISE on formation of Force H.



July

2nd Took part in attack on French Fleet at Mers el Kebir after failure of negotiation

relating to future role of French warships.

(Operation CATAPULT - See RELUCTANT ENEMIES and THE DEADLY STROKE

by W Tute, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and Naval

Staff History).

6th Deployed with HMS HOOD, HMS ARETHUSA and HMS ENTERPRISE to provide

cover for HMS ARK ROYAL during air attacks on French Battleship DUNKERQUE.

(Operation LEVER).

8th Deployed with same ships, HM Battleship RESOLUTION and HM Cruiser DELHI for

attacks by HMS ARK ROYAL on Cagliari (Operation MA5)

(Note: This operation was abandoned after air attacks south of Majorca).

22nd Deployed with Force H ships for attack on enemy shipping in Bay of Biscay.

25th Operation cancelled and returned to Gibraltar with Force H.

31st Covered Malta aircraft delivery by HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS with HM Battleship

RESOLUTION, HM Cruiser ARETHUSA screened by HM Destroyers ESCAPADE,

and VELOX. (Operation HURRY).

August

4th Passage to Liverpool with HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS, HM Destroyers FAULKNOR

and FORESTER.

(Note: This was part of a decision to re-organise Force H).

10th Arrived at Liverpool.

Nominated for service in 1st Battle Squadron based at Alexandria.

20th Took passage to Gibraltar with HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruiser

CALCUTTA and HM Cruiser COVENTRY.

(Note: This was part of a joint operation by Force H ships and the Mediterranean

Fleet to pass reinforcements to Alexandria, a military convoy to Malta from

from Egypt and air attacks on Cagliari.)

(Operation HATS - "Hands across the Sea". See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY

and Naval Staff History).

30th Sailed from Gibraltar with above ships as Force F covered by ships of Force H.



September

1st Passage through Sicilian Narrows with Force F escorted by HM Destroyers HERO, JANUS

MOHAWK, NUBIAN, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN and HOTSPUR.

2nd Joined Mediterranean Fleet off Pantellaria.

(Note: Fleet then comprised HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM Battleship MALAYA,

HM Cruisers KENT, GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, ORION and SYDNEY (RAN).

5th Arrived at Alexandria with HMS WARSPITE and HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.

16th Deployed with HM Cruiser KENT, HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS and screen of seven

destroyers to provide cover for air operations on Benghazi harbour..



October

8th Part of distant cover for passage of convoy MF3 to Malta and convoy MF4 to Egypt

with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS EAGLE, HMS MALAYA, HMS RAMILLIES, HMS

WARSPITE, HM Cruisers and destroyers of Mediterranean Fleet (Operation MB6).

12th Under attack by Italian torpedo flotilla during which two enemy craft were hit.

(Note: One of these ARTIGLIERE, later sunk by HM Cruiser YORK).

14th Arrived at Alexandria after covering air attacks on Leros with Fleet units.



November

6th Deployed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS MALAYA, HMS RAMILLIES and HMS

WARSPITE, HMS AJAX, HMS ORION, HMS GLOUCESTER, HMS YORK and HMS

SYDNEY (RAN) screened by HM Destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER, HASTY, HAVOCK,

HEREWARD, HERO, HYPERION, ILEX, JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO MOHAWK and

NUBIAN to provide distant cover for passage of convoy MW3 to Malta from Egypt and

ME3 from Malta (Operation MB8)).

(Note: This operation was part of a joint operation with Force H to pass further reinforcements

to join the Fleet in the Eastern Mediterranean (Force F). (Operation COAT).)

10th After arrival of convoy in Malta met HM Battleship BARHAM, HM Cruisers BERWICK and

and GLASGOW, HM Destroyers GALLANT, GRIFFIN and GREYHOUND (Force F) with

ships of the Mediterranean Fleet.

Escorted Convoy ME3 from Malta with HM Cruiser COVENTRY, HM Destroyers DEFENDER,

DECOY, VAMPIRE (RAN) and WATERHEN (RAN).

(Note: HMS ILLUSTRIOUS detached on 11th November for the attack on Taranto by her

aircraft (Operation JUDGEMENT).)

13th Under air attack during which HMS DECOY was damaged.

25th Deployed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS WARSPITE, HMS AJAX, HMS ORION and HMS

SYDNEY (RAN) as escort for convoy to Suda Bay.

27th Covered air operations against Rhodes by HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.

Met HM Cruisers MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON on passage to join Fleet at Alexandria

29th Joined other units of Mediterranean Fleet of Malta to escort Convoy ME4 on passage to

Alexandria.

(Note: Mediterranean Fleet units had been taking part in joint operation with the

ships of Force H to cover passage of reinforcements to Alexandria and to

cover passage of Convoy MW4 to Malta from Egypt. (Operation MB9 - Part of Operation

COLLAR). Did not take part in engagement off Cape Spartivento.)



December

1st Arrived at Alexandria with Fleet units.

16th Deployed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS WARSPITE, HMS AJAX, HMS GLOUCESTER

HMS ORION, HMS YORK and HMAS SYDNEY to provided Distant Cover for Convoy MW5

to Malta.

(Operation MC2 - Part of Operation HIDE to transfer HMS MALAYA from Alexandria to

Gibraltar (Force F)).

17th Provided cover for air attacks by HMS ILLUSTRIOUS on Rhodes and Stampalia.

18th Bombarded Valona, Albania with HMS WARSPITE.

21st Covered air attacks by HMS ILLUSTRIOUS on Italian convoy off Kerkennah.

22nd Deployed with Fleet as Distant Escort for return Convoy ME5 from Malta to Egypt.

23rd Involved in collision with HM Destroyer HAVOCK which sustained damage in bow structure.



1 9 4 1



January

3rd Took part in bombardment of Bardia with HMS WARSPITE and HMS BARHAM.

7th Deployed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, and HMS WARSPITE screened by HM Destroyers

DAINTY, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, JERVIS, JUNO, MOHAWK and NUBIAN as Force A

to cover passage of military convoy from Suda Bay to Malta, two convoys from Alexandria to

Malta (MW5) and a return convoy from Malta to Egypt (Operation MC4)

(Note: This was part of a joint operation with Force H to pass a military convoy

WS5A through the Mediterranean (Operation EXCESS).)

9th Met Convoy WS5A with Force A ships.

10th Under heavy air attacks during which HMS ILLUSTRIOUS was badly damaged and had to

enter Malta for repair (See above references).

11th Provided cover for passage of Convoy ME6.

Under heavy air attacks during which HMS GLOUCESTER and HMS SOUTHAMPTON were

both badly damaged. Sustained slight damage and casualties.

(See above references).

(Note: HMS SOUTHAMPTON was later sunk by torpedo from HMS ORION).

23rd Provided cover for return passage of damaged ILLUSTRIOUS to Alexandria from west of

Crete to Alexandria with HMS BARHAM, HMS PERTH and Fleet destroyer screen.



February

2nd Deployed with Mediterranean Fleet in diversionary sweep in eastern Mediterranean

during attacks on Tirso Dam in Sardinia (Operation PICKET) by HMS ARK ROYAL.

22nd Provided distant cover for passage of cruisers taking troops to Malta and a convoy

of empty ships from Malta with HMS EAGLE and HMS BARHAM and destroyer screen.

(Operation MC8).



March

20th Deployed with HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE, HMS BARHAM, HMS WARSPITE, HM

Cruisers GLOUCESTER AND YORK, HM Destroyers HASTY, HEREWARD, ILEX, JERVIS,

STUART (RAN) and VENDETTA (RAN) to provide cover for passage of Convoy MW6 to Malta.

(Operation MC9 - See above references for details).

24th Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.

27th Covered passage of military convoy to Greek ports with HMS WARSPITE, HMS BARHAM and

HMS FORMIDABLE.

28th In action with Mediterranean Fleet units against Italian Fleet at Battle of Cape Matapan.

(For details see MATAPAN by S W Pack and Naval Staff History).



April

18th Deployed with HMS FORMIDABLE, HMS WARSPITE, HMS BARHAM, HM Cruisers

AJAX, CALCUTTA, GLOUCESTER, ORION and PHOEBE screened by HM Destroyers

ENCOUNTER, HASTY, HEREWARD, HAVOCK, HERO, ,JAGUAR, JUNO, DECOY,

DEFENDER, GREYHOUND and ILEX to passage of empty ships from Malta and to carry out

bombardment of Tripoli (Operation MD2).

20th Formed Force B with HMS WARSPITE, HMS BARHAM, HMS GLOUCESTER and HM

Destroyers HERO, HASTY, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HOTSPUR, JAGUAR, JANUS,

JERVIS and JUNO to carry out the bombardment of Tripoli. Cover was provided by HMS

FORMIDABLE and cruisers as Force C which remained offshore.

21st Took part in bombardment with ships of Force B.

22nd Sustained slight damage from mine.

23rd Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units after covering passage of Convoy ME7.



May

6th Deployed with HMS FORMIDABLE, HMS BARHAM, HMS WARSPITE, HM Cruisers AJAX,

ORION, PERTH and ABDIEL screened by HM Destroyers GRIFFIN, HAVOCK,

HEREWARD, HERO,HOTSPUR, JERVIS, JUNO, KANDAHAR, KIMBERLEY, KINGSTON,

NIZAM and NUBIAN to cover passage of military convoy of tanks to Middle East from UK in

eastern Mediterranean (Operation TIGER).

(Note: This operation also covered passage of Convoy MW7 from Alexandria to Malta

and passage of HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER, FIJI

and NAIAD to reinforce Fleet at Alexandria - See above references).

10th Provided Distant Cover for passage of TIGER Convoy from Malta to Alexandria.

Came under air attacks which were repelled by aircraft from HMS FORMIDABLE.

12th Arrived at Alexandria with Fleet units and TIGER Convoy.

20th Deployed off Crete to cover passage of reinforcements and supplies to garrison.

21st Covered minelay by HM Cruiser ABDIEL in Aegean Sea (Operation MAT1).

(For details see Naval Staff History (MINING).)

22nd During cover for operations to intercept invasion craft on passage to Crete came

under air attack and hit by 2 bombs abreast "X" turret and one near miss.

These caused some structural damage and flooding of a bulge compartment.

23rd At Alexandria awaiting repair.



June On completion of repair rejoined Squadron at Alexandria.

(Note: In view of losses off Crete, the major units were not deployed during this

period owing to dominance of enemy aircraft in the area).



July

2nd Deployed with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM Cruisers AJAX, CARLISLE, HOBART (RAN),

LEANDER, NAIAD, NEPTUNE. PHOEBE, ABDIEL and LATONA to provide a diversion

during passage of relief convoy from Gibraltar to Malta

(Operation SUBSTANCE - See above references)

(Operation MD 5).

(Note: Fleet cruised in Eastern Mediterranean to divert attention of enemy).

25th Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.



August Deployed at Alexandria.



September

25th Deployed with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and HMS BARHAM with Mediterranean Fleet

cruisers and screen of Fleet destroyers to carry out cruise in Eastern Mediterranean as a

diversion during passage of relief convoy from Gibraltar to Malta (Operation MD6)

(Note: Relief convoy operation by Force H at Gibraltar was Operation HALBERD).



October Covered operations by cruisers and light forces against supply convoys off North

African.



November Deployed with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and HMS BARHAM to cover operations by

ships of Force K from Malta against enemy supply convoys to North African ports.

25th Present with Fleet units when HMS BARHAM was torpedoed and sunk by U331 off Libya.



December

18th Sustained major damage from explosion of limpet mine placed by Italian frogmen.

Delayed action weapon had been placed under port Bulge abreast A turret and also

caused local flooding (See above references).



1 9 4 2



January Under temporary repair at Alexandria.

(Note: Type 79Z had been converted to Type 279 by this period. Date of conversion

not determined).



February Prepared for passage to Durban for refit.

to

March



April

3rd Sailed to Durban.

15th Taken in hand for repair and refit at Durban.



May Under refit.

to Aircraft warning radar Type 279 replaced by Type 281.

June



July Post refit trials.



August Joined Eastern Fleet for convoy defence in Indian Ocean after working-up.



September Deployed on convoy defence and interception in Indian Ocean.

to Involved in collision with HM Cruiser ENTERPRISE without significant damage.

December



1 9 4 3



January Indian Ocean deployment in continuation.

Nominated for return to UK.



February Passage to UK.



March Arrived at Devonport.

7th Taken in hand for refit



April Under refit.

Aircraft facilities removed.

Surface warning Type 273 fitted and fire control radars Types 284 for the 15" main

armament, four Types 285 for secondary armament and four Type 282 for Close Range

AA armament. Single and twin Oerlikons fitted to supplement AA defence.

28th Refit completed



May Worked up for service at Scapa Flow with Home Fleet.

Deployed with Home Fleet for convoy defence in NW Approaches.



June Transferred with HMS NELSON, HMS RODNEY and HMS WARSPITE for planned

Mediterranean operations based at Oran.

Took passage to Gibraltar.



July Deployed In Eastern Mediterranean.

7th Covered passage of convoys from Alexandria with HMS WARSPITE, HMS FORMIDABLE,

HMS AURORA and PENELOPE screened by 9 destroyers.

9th Joined remainder of covering ships in Gulf of Sirte.

10th Deployed in Ionian Sea with HM Battleships NELSON, RODNEY and WARSPITE, HM

Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE and FORMIDABLE to prevent interference

by any Italian surface forces during Sicily landings (Operation HUSKY).

(For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History).



August Deployed in central Mediterranean for support, of military operations in Sicily.



September

2nd Provided naval gunfire support prior to landings by British XIII Corps on Italian

mainland with HMS WARSPITE, HMS ORION and HMS MAURITIUS

(Operation BAYTOWN).

9th Deployed with HMS WARSPITE as escort for surrendered Italian warships during passage into

Malta.

10th Held in reserve at Malta for support, of landing operations at Salerno.

(Operation AVALANCHE).

Prepared for return to UK.

12th Passage to Salerno with HMS WARSPITE to provide additional gunfire support

at Salerno and joined HMS NELSON, HMS RODNEY, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and HMS

FORMIDABLE screened by destroyers from 4th, 8th and 24th Destroyer Flotillas.

(Note: This deployment prevented planned return to UK,

Ship did not take part in escort of surrendered Italian warships.

See record for HMS KING GEORGE V)

13th Carried out support bombardment against enemy forces engaged in counter attack on

beach head areas.

16th Continued bombardment role and under heavy air attacks including radio-controlled

glider bombs during which HMS WARSPITE was hit.



October On release from AVALANCHE took passage to UK escorted by HM Destroyer OBEDIENT.



November Under refit to prepare for service in Eastern Fleet



December Nominated for service with Eastern Fleet and prepared for passage.

20th Sailed from Scapa Flow for Ceylon in company with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH and HM

Battlecruiser RENOWN with destroyers screen.)

(Note: HM Aircraft Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS and UNICORN joined later from Clyde)



1 9 4 4



January Passage to Ceylon.

30th Joined 1st Battle Squadron, Eastern Fleet on arrival at Colombo.



February Worked-up with Squadron for Fleet operations.

(For details of naval activities in Indian Ocean see OPERATION PACIFIC by E. Gray

and THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton).



March

21st Deployed with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HMS RENOWN. HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HM

Cruisers LONDON, GAMBIA (RNZN), CEYLON and CUMBERLAND for offensive

sweep in Indian Ocean off coast of Sumatra (Operation DIPLOMAT).

27th Met US aircraft carrier USS SARATOGA and three USN destroyers (TG58.5) on loan for

air operations with the Eastern Fleet



April

16th Deployed with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, French battleship RICHELIEU, HMS

NEWCASTLE, HMS NIGERIA, HMS CEYLON, HMS GAMBIA and Dutch cruiser TROMP

as Task Force 69.

Provided cover for air strikes by HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and USS SARATOGA (Task Force 70)

on airfields and installations at Sabang, NW Sumatra (Operation COCKPIT).



May

6th Deployed with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, RICHELIEU, HMS NEWCASTLE, HMS

NIGERIA and the Dutch cruiser TROMP screened by HM Destroyers ROTHERHAM,

RACEHORSE, QUIBERON,NAPIER, NEPAL, QUICKMATCH and Dutch VAN GALEN as

Task Force 65 (Operation TRANSOM)

(Note: These were to provide cover for air attacks on harbour and oil refineries

at Soerabaya by HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and USS SARATOGA as Task Force 66.)

15th Refuelled in Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia

17th Covered flying operations.

18th Returned to Ceylon with ships of TF65 after USS SARATOGA and escort detached.



June Eastern Fleet deployment in continuation



July

22nd Deployed with HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HMS RENOWN, RICHELIEU, HMS

CUMBERLAND, HMS NIGERIA, HMS KENYA, HMS CEYLON and HMS GAMBIA to

cover air attacks by the aircraft carriers HMS ILLUSTRIOUS and HMS VICTORIOUS on

Sabang (Operation CRIMSON).

25th On completion of air attacks bombarded targets at Sabang with Eastern Fleet ships.



August Deployed at Trincomalee.

8th Sustained major damage whilst under refit at Trincomalee in AFD28 when the drydock

collapsed. Three shafts were unusable and the ship was withdrawn from operational service

(Note: See CUNNINGHAM by J Winton for details of subsequent disciplinary action

taken against Naval Constructor responsible for drydock operation.



September Under temporary repair.



October On completion prepared for passage to UK.

3rd Sailed from Trincomalee for Aden.

20th Grounded at entrance to Suez Canal.

Ship refloated after over six hours and diverted to return via Cape of Good Hope with calls

at Durban, Capetown and Freetown.



December Passage in Indian Ocean



1 9 4 5



January Passage in Atlantic



February

2nd Arrived at Devonport

Paid off after arrival.

7th Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard Devonport.



March Under refit.

to Extensive changes made including fit of surface warning radar Type 293 in place of

August Type 273.

Obsolete CVL Hermes was also sunk near Tenimbar...

H.M.S. HERMES



The ninth British warship to bear the name HERMES. and was the first Royal Navy warship designed and built for use as an aircraft carrier. Ordered from Armstrong's at Elswick in July 1917 and laid down on 15th January 1918. After launched on 11th September 1919 work was suspended and in January 1920 the vessel was towed to HM Dockyard Devonport for completion. By the completion date in July 1923 it had been possible to take into account some of the lessons learnt during the conversion and reconstruction of HMS FURIOUS. That ship had been altered from her designed role as a battle cruiser to operate several aircraft instead of being restricted to one or two as in other major warships. Three design changes had been necessary before HMS FURIOUS was able to be used operationally in her new role as an aircraft carrier.



The 'island' structure sited on the starboard side of the flight deck included the funnel and a Gunnery Control position at the top of the mast. A special ventilation system was provided in the hangar to reduce the danger of fire from petrol fumes. New handing gear was used to assist in moving aircraft and an electric lift was fitted from the after end of the hangar to the flight deck.



The original design allowed for 15 aircraft but by 1938 had increased to 20. In 1939 the total complement was 1,575 including aircrew and maintenance personnel.



HMS HERMES proved to be very satisfactory in her designed role and was an excellent sea-boat with little roll.



Her full load displacement was about 12,900 tons with an overall length of 598 feet and a bean of 70 feet 9 outside bilges. She had a mean draught of 18 feet 9 inches. Armour protection was similar to that in light cruisers.



The armament fitted consisted of six 5.5 inch guns for defence against surface ships and AA defence of three 4" guns was provided. Before the outbreak of war additional close range weapons for use against aircraft were fitted and later during WW2 some 20mm guns. Replacement of the 5.5" armament by eight twin 4.5" guns was intended.



Geared turbines with a shaft horsepower of 40,000 driving 2 shafts gave a speed of 25 knots.



HMS HERMES was in use as an accommodation ship for officers under training in 1938 and brought forward for service in 1939. She was deployed in the Atlantic for trade protection duties for a brief period before the outbreak of war and was then transferred to the Indian Ocean. In April 1942 whilst deployed with the Eastern Fleet she came under air attack from a Japanese aircraft carrier with heavy loss of life after being hit by several bombs.









B a t t l e H o n o u r s



BURMA 1852 - ATLANTIC 1940



H e r a l d i c D a t a

Badge : On a Field Blue, the Head of Hermes with winged hat, all gold



M o t t o

Altioro petro - 'I seek higher things'



Details of War Service



1 93 9



September Joined Fleet after being used as an accommodation ship.

Deployed on trade protection duty in Atlantic.



October Joined Hunting Force N in Caribbean for interception of German raiders and

for trade protection with French battleship STRASBOURG.



November Continued duties in western Atlantic.



December Transferred to Indian Ocean in continuation of interception duty.



1 9 4 0



January Continued trade defence and interception duties in Indian Ocean.

to April



May

31st Deployed with HM Cruiser CUMBERLAND to cover passage of Convoy US3

taking ANZAC troops to UK.



June Transferred to Atlantic for convoy defence and interception duties.

8th Joined escort for US3 until relieved by HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS on 12th June.

23rd Joined HM Cruiser DORSETSHIRE in surveillance of Vichy warships at Dakar.



July

6th Escorted by HMS DORSETSHIRE and HM Australian Cruiser AUSTRALIA made

torpedo attacks on French battleship RICHELIEU at Dakar with SWORDFISH

aircraft.



August Resumed convoy defence and interception duties in Atlantic.

to October



November Joined Hunting Group based at St. Helena for interception duties.



December Carried out search for German battleship SCHEER in South Atlantic Ocean with

HM Cruiser DRAGON.



1 9 4 1



January Transferred to Indian Ocean.

Deployed in support of shore military operations in Eritrea.

Carried out air strike on troops and ships.



February Continued support of military operations and made air attacks on Mogadishu and

Kismayu.

22nd Joined HMAS AUSTRALIA, HM Australian Cruiser CANBERRA, HM Cruisers

ENTERPRISE, EMERALD and GLASGOW to search for the German battleship

ADMIRAL SCHEER.

24th Search called off and resumed convoy defence duties.



March Deployed in Indian Ocean in continuation.



April Detached for duty in Persian Gulf to cover allied operations in Iran after a

pro-German coup.



May Supported military operations and aircraft made attacks on shore targets.

Damaged in collision with HM Armed Merchant Cruiser CORFU.



June Passage to South Africa



July Under repair in HM Dockyard Simonstown.

to October



November Resumed convoy defence in Indian Ocean.

16th At Capetown with HM Battleship PRINCE OF WALES on passage to join Force Z

at Singapore. Not deployed with Force Z because of lack of speed.



December Under refit at Durban.



1 9 4 2



January Under refit at Durban.



February On completion resumed convoy defence duties in Indian Ocean.



March

26th At Trincomalee and joined Eastern Fleet on formation.

31st Joined HM Battleships RAMILLIES, REVENGE, RESOLUTION and ROYAL

SOVEREIGN in Force B of Eastern Fleet to support HM Battleship WARSPITE

HM Aircraft Carrier INDOMITABLE, HM Cruiser EMERALD and HM Cruiser

ENTERPRISE (Force A) during search for Japanese warships in Indian Ocean.



April

4th Detached to take passage to Trincomalee and prepare for Madagascar landing

operations.

8th Remained south of Ceylon after Japanese air attacks and had no serviceable

aircraft on board.

9th Under attack by Japanese aircraft off Ceylon and sank after being hit by no

fewer than forty 250 lb Bombs. 306 of her ship's company lost their lives.

(Casualty List - note on casualties)

HM Australian Destroyer VAMPIRE was also sunk in these attacks.

(For details of operations against Japanese warships in Indian Ocean during

March to April 1942 see OPERATION PACIFIC by E. Gray).