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Heavy cruiser HMS Shropshire (83)

7 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria. (1)

9 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 2045B/9, HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) departed Alexandria for Malta. (1)

11 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0830A/11, HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) arrived at Malta from Alexandria.

She departed for Gibraltar around 1400A/11. (1)

13 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800A/13, HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Malta.

She departed Gibraltar for Marseilles around 1915A/13. (1)

15 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800A/15, HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) arrived at Marseilles from Gibraltar.

She departed for Malta around 1230A/15. (1)

16 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1730A/15, HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) arrived at Malta from Marseilles. She was immediately docked in No.4 Dock. (1)

18 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) is undocked. She departed for Alexandria around 1530A/18. (1)

20 Sep 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0600B/20, HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) arrived at Alexandria from Malta. (1)

23 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0600B/23, HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) departed Capetown for a short patrol. (2)

24 Oct 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0700B/24, HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) returned to Capetown from patrol. (2)

9 Dec 1939 (position -13.00, 11.30)
The German merchant Adolf Leonhardt (2989 GRT, built 1921) was intercepted in the South Atlantic off the coast of Angola in position 13°00'S, 11°30'E by HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.la T. Bisset, RN). However, before the German ship could be captured she was scuttled by her own crew.

28 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0830P/28, HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) arrived at Rio de Janeiro from patrol. (3)

30 Dec 1939 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0745P/30, HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) departed Rio de Janeiro for patrol in the Rio de Janeiro focal area. (3)

9 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800P/9, HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.la T. Bisset, RN) departed Montevideo for Simonstown. (4)

19 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0645B/9, HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.la T. Bisset, RN) arrived at Simonstown from Montevideo. (4)

20 Feb 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.la T. Bisset, RN) is taken in hand for refit at the Simonstown Dockyard. (4)

3 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.la T. Bisset, RN) is docked in the Selborne dry dock at the Simonstown Dockyard. (5)

14 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.la T. Bisset, RN) is undocked. (5)

19 Mar 1940
Around 0945B/19, HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.la T. Bisset, RN) departed the Simonstown Dockyard for exercises in the Cape area. She also conducted D/F calibration trials. (5)

20 Mar 1940
Around 1500B/20, HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.la T. Bisset, RN) returned to Simontown from exercises. (5)

21 Mar 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0930B/21, HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.la T. Bisset, RN) departed Simonstown for Capetown where she arrived around 1500B/21. (5)

2 Apr 1940
Around 1300B/2, HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.la T. Bisset, RN) departed Capetown to cover the transport Port Denison (British, 10334 GRT, built 1918) during part of her passage to Australia. This ship was carrying gold bullion. (6)

7 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800B/7, HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.la T. Bisset, RN) returned to Capetown. (6)

8 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1645B/8, HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.la T. Bisset, RN) departed Capetown to cover the transport Suffolk (British, 11145 GRT, built 1939) during part of her passage to Australia. This ship was carrying gold bullion. (6)

12 Apr 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800B/12, HMS Shropshire (Capt. A.W.la T. Bisset, RN) returned to Capetown. (6)

Aircraft Carrier HMS Formidable (67)

30 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1200A/30, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) is commissioned for trials at her builders yard at Belfast. (7)

21 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0230A/21, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) departed Belfast for Greenock where she arrived around 1250A/21. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Hesperus (Lt.Cdr. D.G.F.W. MacIntyre, RN), HMS Vesper (Lt.Cdr. W.F.E. Hussey, DSC, RN) and HMS Venomous (Lt.Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, RN).

Later that day she carried out D/G trials off Helensburg. (8)

22 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) conducted full power trials in the Clyde area on completion of which she proceeded to Belfast where she arrived around 2100A/22. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Hesperus (Lt.Cdr. D.G.F.W. MacIntyre, RN), HMS Vesper (Lt.Cdr. W.F.E. Hussey, DSC, RN) and HMS Venomous (Lt.Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, RN). (7)

23 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) conducted trials in the North Channel. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Hesperus (Lt.Cdr. D.G.F.W. MacIntyre, RN), HMS Vesper (Lt.Cdr. W.F.E. Hussey, DSC, RN) and HMS Venomous (Lt.Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, RN). (7)

24 Nov 1940
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) conducted trials in the North Channel on completion of which she returned to Belfast where she was officially accepted from the shipyard. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Hesperus (Lt.Cdr. D.G.F.W. MacIntyre, RN), HMS Vesper (Lt.Cdr. W.F.E. Hussey, DSC, RN) and HMS Venomous (Lt.Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, RN). (7)

25 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) conducted trials in the Clyde area on completion of which she proceeded to Greenock. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Vesper (Lt.Cdr. W.F.E. Hussey, DSC, RN) and HMS Venomous (Lt.Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, RN). (7)

26 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) conducted trials in the Clyde area on completion of which she returned to Greenock. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Vesper (Lt.Cdr. W.F.E. Hussey, DSC, RN) and HMS Venomous (Lt.Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, RN). (7)

27 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) conducted trials in the Clyde area on completion of which she returned to Greenock. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Vesper (Lt.Cdr. W.F.E. Hussey, DSC, RN) and HMS Venomous (Lt.Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, RN). (7)

28 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) conducted trials in the Clyde area on completion of which she returned to Greenock. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Vesper (Lt.Cdr. W.F.E. Hussey, DSC, RN) and HMS Venomous (Lt.Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, RN). (7)

29 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) conducted D/G trials off Helensburg. (7)

30 Nov 1940
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) departed Greenock for trials in the Irish Sea. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Vesper (Lt.Cdr. W.F.E. Hussey, DSC, RN) and HMS Venomous (Lt.Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, RN).

They arrived at Belfast on 2 December 1940. HMS Formidable is taken in hand to repair some defects. (7)

9 Dec 1940
Around 2000A/9, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) departed Belfast for Greenock where she arrived around 0930A/10. She was escorted by the destroyers ORP Piorun (Kmdr.por. (Cdr.) E.J.S. Plawski), HMS Vimy (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN) and HMS Burnham (Lt.Cdr. J. Bostock, DSC, RN). HMS Burnham parted company during the trip, presumably on entering the Clyde. She then proceeded independently to Londonderry. (9)

11 Dec 1940
Around 0700A/11, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) departed Greenock for flying exercises in the Clyde area and subsequent passage to Scapa Flow. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Douglas (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Bowerman, RN), HMS Keppel (Lt. R.J. Hanson, RN) and HMS Vimy (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN). HMS Ambuscade (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Fell, RN) was also with them but later parted company off the Skerryvore Lighthouse and returned to Greenock on the 12th. (9)

12 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1500A/12, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN), HMS Douglas (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Bowerman, RN), HMS Keppel (Lt. R.J. Hanson, RN) and HMS Vimy (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from Greenock. (9)

13 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (10)

15 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0930A/15, At Scapa Flow, Rear-Admiral W.F. Wake-Walker CB, OBE, RN, hoisted his flag in HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN). (11)

16 Dec 1940
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.F. Wake-Walker CB, OBE, RN) conducted gunnery and flying exercises off Scapa Flow. She was possibly escorted by HMS Somali (Capt. C. Caslon, RN), HMS Bedouin (Cdr. J.A. McCoy, DSO, RN) and HMS Mashona (Cdr. W.H. Selby, RN). (12)

2 Feb 1941

Operation Breach.

Aircraft from HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) laid five magnetic mines in the entrance to Mogadishu harbour. Other aircraft attacked other target in the area causing damage to an ordnance building at the airport, the railway station, petrol tanks, customs sheds and barracks.

The aircraft took off around 1700C/2 and had all returned by 2100C/2. (13)

13 Feb 1941

Operation Composition.

Aircraft (14 Albacores) from HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) attacked Massawa. The Italian merchant vessel Moncalieri (5723 GRT, built 1918) was heavily damaged.

Aircraft were flown off around 0200C/13. They had returned by 0650C/13. Two aircraft failed to return. Their crews were taken prisoner but were liberated in April when Massawa fell.

During these operations HMS Formidable was escorted by HMS Juno (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Thyrwhitt, RN) and HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, RN). (13)

18 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Three Albacore aircraft from 826 Squadron from the aircraft carrier HMS Formidable but operating for a shore base, torpedoed the small Italian tanker Labor (510 GRT, built 1930) and destroyed two lighters at Buerat. The tanker arrived at Tripoli on the 19th. (14)

26 Jul 1941
Around 1500C/26, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) departed Ismalia for Aden. During the passage to Aden she is escorted by the Greek destroyer RHS Spetsai. (15)

29 Jul 1941
Around 1700C/29, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) and RHS Spetsai arrived at Aden from Ismalia. (16)

30 Jul 1941
Around 0730C/29, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) departed Aden for Capetown. (16)

8 Aug 1941
Around 0730B/8, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) arrived at Capetown from Aden. (17)

10 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0730B/10, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) departed Capetown for Trinidad. (17)

19 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0730P/19, in approximate position 06°55'N, 50°00'W, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) made rendezvous with the RFA tanker Bishopdale (8406 GRT, built 1937). Around 0930P/19, the carrier commenced fuelling which was completed around 1935P/19 after which they parted company.

HMS Formidable is now to proceed to Kingston, Jamaica where she is to disembark her remaining aircraft. (18)

23 Aug 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0530R/23, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) arrived off Kingston, Jamaica. Her remaining aircraft were flown off and aircraft stores were landed before she departed for Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.A. around 1130R/23. (19)

25 Aug 1941
Around 2300R/23, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.A. from Kingston, Jamaica. She was then taken in hand for repairs at the Norfolk Navy Yard. (19)

22 Sep 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) is docked at the Norfolk Navy Yard. (20)

29 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) is undocked. (21)

8 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) conducted D/G and post repair trials in Chesapeake Bay. (22)

10 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.La T. Bisset, RN) conducted full power trials in Chesapeake Bay. (22)

12 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1500R/12, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) and HMS Illustrious (Capt. A.G. Talbot, DSO, RN) departed Norfolk, Virginia, U.S.A. for the U.K.

On board HMS Formidable 9 Martlet fighters and on board HMS Illustrious 23 Martlet fighters are embarked to ferry these to the U.K.

At 0016P/16, in bad weather with limited visibility, HMS Illustrious collided with HMS Formidable causing damage to the stern of HMS Formidable and to the bow of HMS Illustrious. Both ships required between 2 to 4 weeks of repairs. Both had also sustained some weather damage.

The carriers also lost sight of each other and only rejoined company around 1540O/17.

Around 0800O/18, to the north of the Azores, in approximate position 45°00'N, 30°00'W, they were joined by the destroyers HMS Vanquisher (Cdr. N.V. Dickinson, DSC, RN), HMS Volunteer (Lt.Cdr. N. Lanyon, RN) and HMS Witch (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Holmes, RN).

Around 0930A/19, the destroyers HMS Montgomery (Lt.Cdr.(Emgy.) W.L. Puxley, RN) and HMS Chelsea (Lt.Cdr. A.F.C. Layard, RN) also joined.

Around 0800A/21, in approximate position 55°33'N, 06°26'W, HMS Formidable, HMS Volunteer, HMS Chelsea and HMS Montgomery parted company with the other ships.

Around 1400A/21, HMS Formidable arrived at Belfast where she is to undergo repairs to the collision damage and further modifacations at her builders yard, the Harland & Wolff shipyard.

Around 2000A/21, HMS Illustrious arrived at Greenock.

The destroyers HMS Lancaster (A/Cdr. N.H. Whatley, RN) and HMS Newark (Lt.Cdr. R.H.W. Atkins, RN) had left Port Z.A. around 1550A/19 to make rendezvous with the carriers and their escorting destroyers. They returned to Port ZA around 1145A/22. There is however no mention in the logbooks of either carrier that these destroyers actually joined the escort.

Following their escort duty HMS Vanquisher, HMS Volunteer, HMS Witch and HMS Chelsea arrived at Londonderry on 21 December 1941. HMS Montgomery arrived at Greenock on 21 December 1941. (23)

7 Jan 1942
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) is docked in the Thompson graving dock at Belfast.

[There is no mention in the ships log when she was undocked.] (24)

3 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1300A/3, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) departed Belfast for Lamlash where she arrived around 1745A/4. En-route flying exercises were carried out in the Clyde area. On departure from Belfast she was escorted by HMS Sherwood (Lt.Cdr. S.W.F. Bennetts, RN).

Around 1430A/4, HMS Sherwood was relieved by the motor launches HMS ML 302 and ML 338. (25)

5 Feb 1942
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) conducted flying exercises in the Clyde area. (26)

6 Feb 1942
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) conducted flying exercises in the Clyde area. (26)

7 Feb 1942
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) conducted flying exercises in the Clyde area on completion of which she proceeded to Greenock. (26)

10 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) conducted flying exercises in the Clyde area on completion of which she proceeded to Lamlash. (26)

11 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) conducted flying and gunnery exercises in the Clyde area. (26)

12 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) conducted D/F calibration trials in the Clyde area followed by D/G trials off Helensburg on completion of which she proceeded to Greenock. (26)

14 Feb 1942
Around 1430A/14, at Greenock, Vice-Admiral J.F. Somerville, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, hoisted his flag in HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN). (26)

2 Mar 1942
Around 1600Z/2, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral J.F. Somerville, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN) departed Freetown for Capetown. She is escorted by HMS Paladin (Cdr. A.D. Pugsley, RN) and HMS Panther (Lt.Cdr. R.W. Jocelyn, RN). The destroyers had departed Freetown a bit earlier, presumably to carry out an A/S sweep in the area.

It had been arranged that the destroyers could fuel at or near St. Helena. (27)

10 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0640B/10, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral J.F. Somerville, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN), HMS Paladin (Cdr. A.D. Pugsley, RN) and HMS Panther (Lt.Cdr. R.W. Jocelyn, RN) arrived at Capetown from Freetown.

The destroyers then left Capetown at 1000B/10 for Simonstown where they arrived at 1245B/10. (28)

12 Mar 1942
Around 1630B/12, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral J.F. Somerville, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN) departed Capetown for Colombo.

Around 1620B/12, HMS Paladin (Cdr. A.D. Pugsley, RN) and HMS Panther (Lt.Cdr. R.W. Jocelyn, RN) had departed Simonstown to make rendezvous with HMS Formidable near the Cape at 1830B/12.

In the evening of 18 March 1942 the destroyers fuelled at Mauritius while aircraft from HMS Formidable, which remained at sea, provided cover. The destroyers rejoined the carrier around 2300D/18 and the passage to Colombo was resumed. (28)

24 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1800F/24, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral J.F. Somerville, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN), HMS Paladin (Cdr. A.D. Pugsley, RN) and HMS Panther (Lt.Cdr. R.W. Jocelyn, RN) arrived at Colombo. (29)

26 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At Trincomalee, the C-in-C Eastern Fleet, Vice-Admiral J.F. Somerville, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN) hoisted his flag in board HMS Warspite (Capt. F.E.P. Hutton, RN) having struck it earlier (24th or 25th) at Colombo in HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN). (30)

25 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During 25/26 May 1942, HMS Formidable (Capt. A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN) conducted flying exercises off Kilindini / Mombasa. On the 26th aircraft from HMS Formidable conducted dummy attacks on ships in the harbour.

The destroyers HMAS Nestor (Cdr. A.S. Rosenthal, DSO and Bar, RAN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. G.I.M. Balfour, RN) also left harbour on this day. And they may have escorted the carrier during some of her exercises. (31)

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