Allied Warships
HMS Belfast (35)
Light cruiser of the Belfast class
Photo courtesy of Paul Johnson Collection
| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | Light cruiser |
| Class | Belfast |
| Pennant | 35 |
| Built by | Harland & Wolff (Belfast, Northern Ireland) |
| Ordered | 15 Aug 1936 |
| Laid down | 10 Dec 1936 |
| Launched | 17 Mar 1938 |
| Commissioned | 3 Aug 1939 |
| End service | 1963 |
| History | Decommissioned for the final time in late 1963. Hit by U-boat |
| U-boat Attack | See our U-boat attack entry for the HMS Belfast |
Commands listed for HMS Belfast (35)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
| Commander | From | To | ||
| 1 | Capt. George Arthur Scott, DSC, RN | 24 Apr 1939 | 4 Jan 1940 | |
| 2 | Capt. Charles Maurice Blackman, DSO, RN | 19 Jun 1940 | 4 Jul 1940 | |
| 3 | Capt. Frederick Robertson Parham, RN | 29 Sep 1942 | 29 Jul 1944 | |
| 4 | Capt. Royer Mylius Dick, DSC, RN | 29 Jul 1944 | 12 Jul 1946 | |
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Notable events involving Belfast include:
The page with the wartime history of HMS Belfast was created in April 2023.
The page of HMS Belfast was last revised in June 2023.
31 Aug 1939
Around 1800A/31, the Home Fleet departed Scapa Flow to patrol between Scotland, Iceland and Norway for returning German merchant vessels.
Ships that participated in this patrol were; battleships HMS Nelson (Capt. G.J.A. Miles, RN, flying the flag of Admiral J.M. Forbes, KCB, DSO, RN), HMS Rodney (Capt. E.N. Syfret, RN), aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal (Capt. A.J. Power, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral L.V. Wells, CB, DSO, RN), light cruisers HMS Aurora (Capt. G.B. Middleton, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.H.C. Hallifax, RN), HMS Sheffield (Capt. E. de F. Renouf, CVO, RN), HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) (from the 18th Cruiser Squadron), HMS Effingham (Capt. J.M. Howson, RN), HMS Cardiff (Capt. P.K. Enright, RN), HMS Dunedin (Capt. C.E. Lambe, CVO, RN), HMS Emerald (Capt. A.W.S. Agar, VC, DSO, RN) (from the 12th Cruiser Squadron), HMS Caledon (Capt. C.P. Clark, RN), HMS Calypso (Capt. N.J.W. William-Powlett, DSC, RN), HMS Diomede (Commodore E.B.C. Dicken, OBE, DSC, RN), HMS Dragon (Capt. R.G. Bowes-Lyon, MVO, RN) (from the 7th Cruiser Squadron. These ships were escorted by destroyers from the 8th Destroyer Flotilla; HMS Faulknor (Capt. C.S. Daniel, RN), HMS Fame (Cdr. P.N. Walter, RN), HMS Fearless (Cdr. K.L. Harkness, RN), HMS Firedrake (Lt.Cdr. S.H. Norris, RN), HMS Foresight (Lt.Cdr. G.T. Lambert, RN), HMS Forester (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Tancock, RN), HMS Fortune (Cdr. E.A. Gibbs, RN), HMS Foxhound (Lt.Cdr. P.H. Hadow, RN) and HMS Fury (Cdr. G.F. Burghard, RN).
To patrol off the Skagerrak was the battlecruiser squadron which was made up of the battlecruisers HMS Hood (Capt. I.G. Glennie, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.J. Whitworth, CB, DSO, RN), HMS Repulse (Capt. E.J. Spooner, DSO, RN) which were escorted by destroyers from the 6th Destroyer Flotilla; HMS Somali (Capt. R.S.G. Nicholson, DSC, RN), HMS Ashanti (Cdr. W.G. Davis, RN), HMS Bedouin (Cdr. J.A. McCoy, RN), HMS Eskimo (Cdr. St. J.A. Micklethwait, RN), HMS Mashona (Cdr. P.V. McLaughlin, RN), HMS Matabele (Cdr. G.K. Whitmy-Smith, RN), HMS Punjabi (Cdr. J.T. Lean, RN) and HMS Tartar (Capt. G.H. Warner, DSC, RN). These ships departed Scapa Flow around the same time.
Some of the ships had already been at sea for exercises.
The bulk of the Fleet returned to Scapa Flow in the morning of September 6th.
Most of the cruisers had acted independently to inspect shipping. HMS Caledon, HMS Calypso, HMS Cardiff and HMS Dunedin returned to Scapa Flow in the early morning of September 5th.
HMS Aurora and HMS Sheffield returned to Scapa Flow in the evening of September 5th.
HMS Belfast returned to Scapa Flow on the 6th after having joined other ships for exercises on the 5th.
HMS Diomede, HMS Dragon, HMS Effingham and HMS Emerald returned to Scapa Flow in the morning of the 7th.
Most of the destroyer had to return to Scapa Flow once to refuel, HMS Somali and HMS Ashanti were at Scapa Flow between 0100/2 and 0400/2.
HMS Faulknor, HMS Fearless, HMS Firedrake, HMS Fortune and HMS Foxhound were at Scapa Flow between 1000A/3 and 1530A/3.
HMS Bedouin, HMS Eskimo, HMS Punjabi and HMS Tartar were at Scapa Flow between 1100A/3 and 1600A/3.
HMS Fame was detached at 2359A/3 to go to the aid of the torpedoed liner Athenia but she was not needed to pick up survivors and proceeded to the Clyde arriving in the moring of the 5th having carried out an A/S sweep en-route.
HMS Matabele was detached to Scapa Flow at 1130/5. Around 2030A/5, she grounded near the boom and damaged her propellers.
HMS Foresight, HMS Forester, HMS Fury and HMS Mashona did not refuel before they returned with the Fleet in the morning of the 6th. (1)
5 Sep 1939
Around 0530A/5, battlecruiser HMS Renown (Capt. C.E.B. Simeon, RN), light cruiser HMS Edinburgh (Capt. F.C. Bradley, RN) and the destroyers HMS Foresight (Lt.Cdr. G.T. Lambert, RN) and HMS Fury (Cdr. G.F. Burghard, RN) departed Scapa Flow for exercises.
At sea, at 0830A/5, they made rendezvous with the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) who was returning from operations with the Home Fleet. (2)
6 Sep 1939
Around 0545A/6, HMS Renown (Capt. C.E.B. Simeon, RN), light cruisers HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN), HMS Edinburgh (Capt. F.C. Bradley, RN) and the destroyers HMS Foresight (Lt.Cdr. G.T. Lambert, RN) and HMS Fury (Cdr. G.F. Burghard, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow. (2)
8 Sep 1939
Around 0715A/8, the battlecruisers HMS Hood (Capt. I.G. Glennie, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.J. Whitworth, CB, DSO, RN), HMS Renown (Capt. C.E.B. Simeon, RN), light cruisers HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN), HMS Edinburgh (Capt. F.C. Bradley, RN) and the destroyers HMS Fame (Cdr. P.N. Walter, RN), HMS Fearless (Cdr. K.L. Harkness, RN), HMS Forester (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Tancock, RN) sailed from Scapa Flow to patrol between Iceland and the Faroes as cover for the cruisers of the Northern Patrol. The destroyer HMS Fury (Cdr. G.F. Burghard, RN) joined the force at sea later on the 8th.
12 Sep 1939
Around 1200A/12, the battlecruisers HMS Hood (Capt. I.G. Glennie, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.J. Whitworth, CB, DSO, RN), HMS Renown (Capt. C.E.B. Simeon, RN) and the destroyers HMS Fame (Cdr. P.N. Walter, RN), HMS Fearless (Cdr. K.L. Harkness, RN), HMS Forester (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Tancock, RN) and HMS Fury (Cdr. G.F. Burghard, RN) returned to Scapa Flow.
The light cruisers HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) and HMS Edinburgh (Capt. F.C. Bradley, RN) had in the meantime been detached on the evening of the 9th, for patrol duties with the Northern Patrol. They refuelled at Sullom Voe on 15 September and then continued their patrol. They only returned to Scapa Flow on 20 September.
26 Sep 1939
HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) conducted D/F calibration trials at Scapa Flow. (3)
27 Sep 1939
HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) conducted D/F calibration trials and exercises at Scapa Flow. (3)
28 Sep 1939
HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) conducted catapult trials and gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (3)
29 Sep 1939
HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow and AA gunnery exercises in the Pentland Firth. (3)
30 Sep 1939
HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow.
Later the same day, she conducted HA and LA gunnery exercises in the Pentland Firth. (3)
2 Oct 1939
Around 1000A/2, HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) departed Scapa Flow and after conducting 6" and 4" gunnery exercises set course for the Northern Patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Iceland / Faeroer gap. (4)
9 Oct 1939
Around 1130A/9, the German passenger/cargo ship Cap Norte (13615 GRT, built 1922) is captured north of the Faeroer Islands in approximate position 63°35'N, 07°50'W by the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN).
Light cruiser HMS Calypso (Capt. N.J.W. William-Powlett, DSC, RN) also arrived on the scene to assist.
The German ship was sent to Kirkwall with a prize crew. Later the light HMS Delhi (Capt L.H.K. Hamilton, DSO, RN) arrived to escort her as did the armed boarding vessel HMS Northern Rover (Lt. (Retd.) M.H. Macpherson, RN). They arrived at Kirkwall on 12 October.
The Cap Norte was later renamed Empire Trooper and served as troopship.
13 Oct 1939
Around 1500A/13, HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from patrol. (4)
14 Oct 1939
Around 0830A/14, the light cruisers HMS Aurora (Capt. G.B. Middleton, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.H.C. Hallifax, RN) and HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Loch Ewe where they arrived around 1500A/14. (5)
15 Oct 1939
Around 1800A/15, the battleships HMS Nelson (Capt. G.J.A. Miles, RN, flying the flag of Admiral J.M. Forbes, KCB, DSO, RN), HMS Rodney (Capt. E.N. Syfret, RN), battlecruiser HMS Hood (Capt. I.G. Glennie, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.J. Whitworth, CB, DSO, RN), HMS Furious (Capt. M.L. Clarke, DSC, RN), light cruisers HMS Aurora (Capt. G.B. Middleton, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.H.C. Hallifax, RN), HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Bedouin (Cdr. J.A. McCoy, RN), HMS Fearless (Cdr. K.L. Harkness, RN), HMS Foxhound (Lt.Cdr. P.H. Hadow, RN) and HMS Fury (Cdr. G.F. Burghard, RN) departed Loch Ewe for operations.
They were to patrol north of Iceland as it was thought the German pocket battleship Deutschland was proceeding into the Atlantic. From this position they were able to support the Northern Patrol.
More destroyers later joined at sea; HMS Mashona (Cdr. P.V. McLaughlin, RN), HMS Matabele (Cdr. G.K. Whitmy-Smith, RN), HMS Punjabi (Cdr. J.T. Lean, RN and HMS Firedrake (Lt.Cdr. S.H. Norris, RN) departed Scapa Flow on the 15th. They were followed on the 16th by HMS Forester (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Tancock, RN).
On the 18th the battlecruiser HMS Repulse (Capt. E.J. Spooner, DSO, RN), which had completed boiler cleaning, departed Rosyth escorted by the destroyers HMS Jervis (Capt. P.J. Mack, RN), HMS Jersey (Lt.Cdr. A.M. McKillop, RN), HMS Cossack (Capt. D. de Pass, RN) and HMS Maori (Cdr. G.N. Brewer, RN). HMS Cossack and HMS Maori returned to Rosyth on the 19th. HMS Repulse, HMS Jervis and HMS Jersey joined the fleet at sea on the 20th but HMS Jervis and HMS Jersey were detached to Sullum Voe shortly afterwards.
HMS Nelson, HMS Rodney, HMS Hood, HMS Repulse, HMS Furious, HMS Aurora, HMS Belfast, HMS Bedouin, HMS Mashona, HMS Matabele, HMS Punjabi, HMS Fearless, HMS Firedrake, HMS Forester, HMS Foxhound and HMS Fury arrived at Loch Ewe around 0830A/22.
23 Oct 1939
Around 1735A/23, HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) departed Loch Ewe for Greenock where she arrived around 1020A/24. (4)
25 Oct 1939
HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) proceeded from Greenock to Glasgow where she was taken in hand for a short refit and a docking (she was docked on this day) at the Harland & Wolff Shipyard at Govan. (4)
4 Nov 1939
HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) is undocked. (6)
7 Nov 1939
HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) proceeded from Glasgow to Greenock. (6)
8 Nov 1939
Around 0940A/8, HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) departed Greenock for Rosyth where she arrived around 1745A/9. (6)
11 Nov 1939
The light cruisers HMS Southampton (Capt. F.W.H. Jeans, CVO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral G.F.B. Edward-Collins, CB, KCVO, RN), HMS Glasgow (Capt. F.H. Pegram, RN), HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN), HMS Aurora (Capt. G.B. Middleton, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.H.C. Hallifax, RN) and the destroyers HMS Bedouin (Cdr. J.A. McCoy, RN), HMS Gurkha (Lt.Cdr. P.V. James, RN), HMS Mashona (Cdr. P.V. McLaughlin, RN) and HMS Tartar (Lt.Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, RN) departed Rosyth around 0400A/11 for Immingham where they arrived around 1700A/11.
16 Nov 1939
The light cruisers HMS Southampton (Capt. F.W.H. Jeans, CVO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral G.F.B. Edward-Collins, CB, KCVO, RN), HMS Glasgow (Capt. F.H. Pegram, RN), HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN), HMS Edinburgh (Capt. F.C. Bradley, RN) and the destroyers HMS Afridi (Capt. G.H. Cresswell, DSC, RN), HMS Gurkha (Lt.Cdr. P.V. James, RN), HMS Maori (Cdr. G.N. Brewer, RN) and HMS Zulu (Cdr. J.S. Crawford, RN) departed Immingham around 1700A/16 hours for Rosyth where they arrived around 0830A/17.
20 Nov 1939
The light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Afridi (Capt. G.H. Cresswell, DSC, RN), HMS Gurkha (Lt.Cdr. P.V. James, RN) conducted torpedo firing and gunnery exercises off the Firth of Forth. (7)
21 Nov 1939
Light cruisers HMS Southampton (Capt. F.W.H. Jeans, CVO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral G.F.B. Edward-Collins, CB, KCVO, RN) and HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) departed Rosyth around 0915A/21 for gunnery exercises off the Firth of Forth. The destroyer HMS Afridi (Capt. G.H. Cresswell, DSC, RN) was with them.
At 1059A/21, HMS Belfast detonated a magnetic mine in approximate position 56°05'N, 02°32'W. The mine had been laid on November 4th by the German submarine U-21.
HMS Belfast was badly damaged with her back broken. She was towed to the Rosyth Dockyard by the tugs Krooman, Bramham, Grangebourne and Oxcar. Tug Bulger was standing by as was the escort destroyer HMS Vivien (Lt.Cdr. W.D.G. Weir, RN). HMS Belfast was immediately docked in No.2 Dock. HMS Belfast, which had a broken back was out of action for about three years during which the ship was reconstruced.
29 Dec 1939
HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) is undocked at the Rosyth Dockyard. (8)
4 Jan 1940
At 0800A/4, HMS Belfast (Capt. G.A. Scott, DSC, RN) is paid off into dockyard control. (8)
13 Jan 1940
Belfast is docked in No.1 Dock at the Rosyth Dockyard to be taken in hand for temporary repairs to make her fit to be towed away to another port for permanent repairs. (8)
23 May 1940
Belfast is undocked. (8)
28 Jun 1940
HMS Belfast departed Rosyth for Plymouth. She had recommissioned as warship for the passage only with a streaming party on board under command of Capt. Blackman. During the passage she was escorted by the destroyers HMS Gallant (Lt.Cdr. C.P.F. Brown, RN) and HMS Walpole (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Bowerman, RN).
They arrived at Plymouth on 30 June. HMS Belfast was paid off into dockyard control again on 4 July 1940. (9)
3 Nov 1942
At 0900A/3, with her reconstruction completed HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN), is recommissioned at the Devonport Dockyard. (10)
26 Nov 1942
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) conducted D/G trials at Plymouth. (10)
28 Nov 1942
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) conducted D/F calibration trials at Plymouth. (10)
2 Dec 1942
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) conducted full power trials off Plymouth. She was escorted by HMS Tynedale (Lt. J.J.S. Yorke, DSC, RN). (11)
8 Dec 1942
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) conducted D/F calibration trials at Plymouth. (11)
9 Dec 1942
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) conducted D/G trials at Plymouth. (11)
10 Dec 1942
Around 0915A/10, the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) departed Plymouth for Scapa Flow. She is escorted until 1040A/10 by the escort destroyer ORP Slazak (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.W.M. Wronski) which is then ordered to return to Plymouth. (11)
11 Dec 1942
Around 1600A/11, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow to work-up. (11)
16 Dec 1942
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) conducted compass swing trials at Scapa Flow. (11)
17 Dec 1942
In the afternoon HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) conducted 6" gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (11)
18 Dec 1942
In the morning, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) conducted torpedo firing exercises at Scapa Flow. She then left Scapa Flow for RIX (rangefinding and inclination exercises) in the Pentland Firth with HMS Bermuda (Capt. T.H. Back, RN). (11)
19 Dec 1942
In the morning, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) conducted 6" gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (11)
22 Dec 1942
In the morning, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) conducted 6" gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. She then left Scapa Flow and conducted RIX and NEX (rangefinding and inclination and night encounter exercises) with HMS Queenborough (Cdr. E.P. Hinton, DSO and Bar, MVO, RN) in the Pentland Firth during the remainder of the day. (11)
23 Dec 1942
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) conducted 6" gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. these were followed by RIX and NEX (rangefinding and inclination and night encounter exercises) with HMS Carlisle (Capt. H.F. Nalder, RN) and several destroyers.
HMS Carlisle had earlier on the day been carrying out RIX exercises with HMS Bermuda (Capt. T.H. Back, RN). (12)
26 Dec 1942
In the morning, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) conducted torpedo firing exercises at Scapa Flow. (11)
30 Dec 1942
In the morning, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) conducted torpedo firing exercises at Scapa Flow.
She then left Scapa Flow for AA gunnery exercises in the Pentland Firth in the afternoon.
Also a RIX (rangefinding and inclination exercise was carried out with HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN). (11)
1 Jan 1943
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) conducted 6" gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (13)
4 Jan 1943
In the early part of the afternoon, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) conducted underway refuelling exercises during which the destroyer HMS Onslaught (Cdr. W.H. Selby, RN) was refuelled. (13)
5 Jan 1943
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN), HMS Carlisle (Capt. H.F. Nalder, RN), HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN) and HMS Penelope (Capt. G.D. Belben, DSC, AM, RN) all conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (14)
6 Jan 1943
HMS Malaya (Capt. J.W.A. Waller, RN) and HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) conducted tactical exercises off Scapa Flow. (15)
7 Jan 1943
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) conducted aircraft launching and recovering exercises at Scapa Flow. (13)
12 Jan 1943
Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN, commanding the 10th Cruiser Squadron, hoisted his flag in HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) after having struck his flag as Rear-Admiral destroyers in Tyne (Capt. C.T.M. Pizey, CB, DSO and Bar, RN). (13)
13 Jan 1943
HMS Malaya (Capt. J.W.A. Waller, RN), HMS Sussex (Capt. W.Y.La R. Beverley, RN) and HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (16)
14 Jan 1943
In the second half of the morning, HMS Penelope (Capt. G.D. Belben, DSC, AM, RN), conducted radar calibration exercises off Scapa Flow.
The were followed by a rangefinding and inclination exercises with HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) which was being escorted by three destroyers, two of which were HMS Montrose (A/Cdr. W.J. Phipps, OBE, RN) and HMS Walpole (Lt. A.S. Pomeroy, DSC, RN) [We are unable to read the name of the third destroyer in the logbook of HMS Howe]. Later in the afternoon HMS Howe had three other destroyers with her during an rangefinding and inclination exercise with HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN). These destroyers were HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. E. Mack, DSO, DSC, RN), HMCS Iroquois (Cdr. W.B.L. Holms, RCN) and HMS Raider (Lt.Cdr. K.W. Michell, RN).
And finally HMS Penelope conducted gunnery exercises for the 6" armamant.
HMS Belfast had first concucted RDF exercises in the morning and then had conducted throw off gunnery exercises with HMS Sussex (Capt. W.Y.La R. Beverley, RN). (17)
16 Jan 1943
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) conducted aircraft launching and recovering and gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. Also speed trials were carried out on the measured mile. (13)
21 Jan 1943
in the afternoon HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) conducted depth charge exercises at Scapa Flow. (13)
22 Jan 1943
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) conducted torpedo firing exercises and underway refuelling exercises at Scapa Flow. During the fuelling exercises she fuelled from the RFA tanker Blue Ranger (3417 GRT, built 1941). (13)
26 Jan 1943
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) and HMS Kenya (Capt. D.P. Evans, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (18)
27 Jan 1943
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) conducted aircraft launching / recovering and gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (13)
28 Jan 1943
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN), HMS Malaya (Capt. J.W.A. Waller, RN), HMS Cumberland (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, AM, RN), HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) and HMS Jamaica (Capt. J.L. Storey, RN) conducted tactical exercises off Scapa Flow. During the exercises HMS Howe was escorted by HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN), HMS Intrepid (Cdr. C.A.de W. Kitcat, RN) and HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. E. Mack, DSO, DSC, RN). (15)
3 Feb 1943
In the morning, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises at Scapa Flow. This must have been with HMS P 225 (Lt. C.H. Rankin, RN).
In the afternoon HMS Belfast conducted exercises in the Pentland Firth together with HMS Uganda (Capt. W.G. Andrewes, RN) which was also out exercising on this day. (19)
6 Feb 1943
In the afternoon, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) conducted throw off shoot gunnery exercises in the Pentland Firth during HMS Uganda (Capt. W.G. Andrewes, RN) acted as target.
In the evening HMS Belfast conducted night encounter exercises with HMS Newfoundland (Capt. W.R. Slayter, DSC, RN). (20)
11 Feb 1943
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (21)
14 Feb 1943
Around 0815A/14, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Loch Ewe where she arrived around 1630A/14. She proceeded there so that Rear-Admiral Burnett could attend the convoy conference of convoy JW 53. (21)
15 Feb 1943
Convoy JW 53.
This convoy departed Loch Ewe for Northern Russia on 15 February 1943.
On departure from Loch Ewe the convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Artigas (Panamanian, 5613 GRT, built 1920), Atlantic (British, 5414 GRT, built 1939), Beaconhill (American, 6941 GRT, built 1919), Bering (American, 7631 GRT, built 1920), British Governor (British (tanker), 6840 GRT, built 1926), City of Omaha (British, 6124 GRT, built 1920), Dover Hill (British, 5815 GRT, built 1918), Empire Baffin (British, 6978 GRT, built 1941), Empire Fortune (British, 6140 GRT, built 1943), Empire Galliard (British, 7170 GRT, built 1942), Empire Kinsman (British, 6744 GRT, built 1942), Empire Portia (British, 7058 GRT, built 1942), Empire Scott (British, 6150 GRT, built 141), Explorer (British, 6235 GRT, built 1935), Francis Scott Key (American, 7191 GRT, built 1941), Israel Putnam (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), James Bowie (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), John Laurance (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Joseph E. Johnston (American, 7196 GRT, built 1942), Komiles (Russian, 3962 GRT, built 1932), Llandaff (British, 4825 GRT, built 1937), Marathon (Norwegian, 7208 GRT, built 1930), Mobile City (American, 6157 GRT, built 1920), Ocean Freedom (British, 7173 GRT, built 1942), Petrovski (Russian, 3771 GRT, built 1921), Pieter de Hoogh (British, 7168 GRT, built 1941), Tblisi (Russian, 7169 GRT, built 1912), Thomas Hartley (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942) and Tobruk (British, 7048 GRT, built 1942).
Three of the above listed ships sailed only on the 16th as convoy JW 53B and were to overtake and join the main convoy [see below].
On departure from Loch Ewe the convoy was escorted by the minesweeper HMS Jason (Cdr. H.G.A. Lewis, RN), corvettes HMS Bergamot (Lt. R.T. Horan, RNR), HMS Dianella (T/Lt. J.F. Tognola, RNR), HMS Poppy (Lt. N.K. Boyd, RNR) and the A/S trawlers HMS Lord Austin (T/Lt. E.L. Wathen, RNR) and HMS Lord Middleton (T/Lt. T.D. Bennett, RNR).
The escort destroyers escort destroyers HMS Meynell (Lt. B.M.D. I'Anson, RN), HMS Middleton (Lt. C.S. Battersby, RN), HMS Pytchley (Lt.Cdr. H. Unwin, DSC and Bar, RN) and minesweeper HMS Hazard (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Smith, RN) departed Scapa Flow on the same day and joined the convoy escort at sea. HMS Hazard however returned to Scapa Flow later the same day with weather damage and presumably never actually joined the convoy. She was replaced by HMS Halcyon (T/A/Lt.Cdr. H.L.D. Hoare, RNR) which departed Scapa Flow early on the 16th joining the convoy escort p.m. that day.
Also on the 16th convoy JW 53B, made up of three merchant ships of the above list, and escorted by the corvette HMS Bryony (T/Lt. T. Hand, RNR) departed Loch Ewe to overtake and join the convoy. The destroyers HMS Matchless (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, DSO, RN) and HMS Musketeer (Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN) departed Scapa Flow to join convoy JW 53B which they did the following day after which HMS Bryony was detached to Liverpool as she had sustained weather damage. She arrived at Liverpool on the 18th.
On the 17th, the A/S trawler HMS Lord Middleton was detached with weather damage to Scapa Flow escorted by the corvette HMS Dianella. They arrived at Scapa Flow on the 18th.
On the 18th, one of the ships from convoy JW 53B was detached to Scapa Flow with weather damage. She was escorted by HMS Matchless. The merchant vessel eventually went back to Loch Ewe arriving there on the 22nd. HMS Matchless then went to Scapa Flow arriving there also on the 22nd.
On the 19th, the two remaining ships of convoy JW 53B also turned back, due to the weather conditions they were unable to overtake the main convoy. Three ships from the main convoy also turned back to Loch Ewe with weather damage. These five merchant vessels arrived back at Loch Ewe on 22 February. The destroyer HMS Musketeer proceeded to Akureyri, Iceland arriving there on the 20th.
On the 20th the destroyers HMS Milne (Capt. I.M.R. Campbell, RN), HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN), HMS Boadicea (Lt.Cdr. F.C. Brodrick, RN), HMS Inglefield (Cdr. A.G. West, RN), HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO, RN), HMS Obedient (Cdr. D.C. Kinloch, RN), HMS Opportune (Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Orwell (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN) departed Seidisfjord to join the escort of convoy JW 53 as did the corvettes HMS Bluebell (Lt. G.H. Walker, RNVR) and HMS Camellia (T/Lt. R.F.J. Maberley, RNVR). All these escorts joined the convoy p.m. 20th.
Also on the 20th the AA cruiser HMS Scylla (Capt. I.A.P. Macintyre, CBE, DSO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Fury (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. E. Mack, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Impulsive (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Roper, DSC, RN), HMS Intrepid (Cdr. C.A.de W. Kitcat, RN) and ORP Orkan (Kmdr.por. (Cdr.) S. Hryniewiecki) departed Akureyri also to join the escort of convoy JW 53 which they did on 21 February.
On the 21st, HMS Middleton and HMS Pytchley were detached from the escort of convoy JW 53 to proceed to Seidisfjord where the arrived p.m. the same day. HMS Middleton was unable to anchor at Seidisfjord and the proceeded to Scapa Flow instead where she arrived on 23 February.
On the 22nd, HMS Meynell and HMS Halcyon parted company with convoy JW 53. HMS Meynell arrived at Seidisfjord p.m. on the 22nd, HMS Halcyon arrived the next day.
On 23 February the convoy was sighted and reported by German air reconnaissance and of the next day the convoy was being shadowed by aircraft and U-boats.
At 2142A/24, the German submarine U-622 attacked a destroyer with torpedoes. She missed but was later depth charged by the destroyer HMS Orwell which most likely had also been the target of her attack. The submarine escaped without damage though.
On 25 February the convoy was attacked around noon by 14 Ju.88's in position 73°41'N, 29°42'E. No damage was done to any ship in the convoy.
Around noon the 26th the convoy was attacked again from the air, in position 71°16'N, 36°54'E and again no damage was done.
Also on the 26th a Russian escort made up of the destroyers Gromkiy, Grozniy, Valerian Kyubishev and Uritsky joined as did the British minesweeper HMS Britomart (Lt.Cdr. S.S. Stammwitz, RN).
Later on the 26th, seven of the merchant vessels were detached to Archangelsk with the Russian escorts as well as the minesweeper HMS Britomart.
The bulk of the convoy arrived in the Kola Inlet on 27 February. The Archangelsk section arrived there the following day.
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A battle force (distant cover force) for this convoy was also deployed. It departed Akureyri, Iceland on 22 February 1943 and was made up of the battleships HMS King George V (Capt. T.E. Halsey, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Admiral J.C. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet), HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN), heavy cruiser HMS Berwick (Capt. G.H. Faulkner, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Onslaught (Cdr. W.H. Selby, RN), HMS Offa (Cdr. R.A. Ewing, DSC, RN), HMS Musketeer, HMS Meteor (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN), ORP Piorun (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) T. Gorazdowski) and HMS Icarus (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Walmsley, DSC, RN).
They arrived in their covering position, 150 miles south-west of Bear Island on 24 February.
On the 26th the distant cover force returned to Akureyri except for HMS Berwick which was detached to Hvalfjord where she arrived on the 27th.
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Besides the distant cover force there was also a cruiser / close cover force ' Force R '.
It was made up of the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) and the heavy cruisers HMS Cumberland (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, AM, RN) and HMS Norfolk (Capt. E.G.H. Bellars, RN) departed Seidisfjord on 21 February.
' Force R ' arrived in the Kola Inlet on 26 February 1943.
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A ' carrier ' force made up of the escort carrier HMS Dasher (Cdr. C.N. Lentaigne, DSO, RN) and the destroyer HMS Impulsive and the escort destroyers HMS Blankney (Cdr. P.F. Powlett, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN) and HMS Ledbury (Lt. D.R.N. Murdoch, RN) was also to be deployed from Seidisfjord but as HMS Dasher and HMS Blankney suffered weather damage in the built up stage of the convoy operation so the deployment of the ' carrier ' force was cancelled. HMS Impulsive then went to Akureyri to join the ' battle ' force instead. (22)
16 Feb 1943
Around 1200A/16, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) departed Loch Ewe for Seidisfjord where she arrived around 0500A/19. She had been unable to enter the day before due to the bad weather conditions and had to remain at sea for the night. (21)
21 Feb 1943
The light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) and the heavy cruisers HMS Cumberland (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, AM, RN) and HMS Norfolk (Capt. E.G.H. Bellars, RN) departed Seidisfjord to provide close cover for convoy JW 53 during its passage to northern Russia.
[For more information on this convoy see the event ' Convoy JW 53 ' for 21 February 1943.] (23)
26 Feb 1943
The light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) and the heavy cruisers HMS Cumberland (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, AM, RN) and HMS Norfolk (Capt. E.G.H. Bellars, RN) arrived in the Kola Inlet from convoy cover operations. (23)
1 Mar 1943
Convoy RA 53.
This convoy departed the Kola Inlet on 1 March 1943.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Calobre (Panamanian, 6891 GRT, built 1919), Chester Valley (American, 5078 GRT, built 1919), Cornelius Harnett (American, 7177 GRT, built 1942), Dan-Y-Bryn (British, 5117 GRT, built 1940), Delsud (American, 4982 GRT, built 1919), El Oriente (Panamanian, 6012 GRT, built 1910), Empire Archer (British, 7031 GRT, built 1941), Empire Clarion (British, 7031 GRT, built 1942), Empire Emerald (British, 8032 GRT, built 1941), Empire Snow (British, 6327 GRT, built 1941), Empire Tristram (British, 7167 GRT, built 1942), Executive (American, 4978 GRT, built 1920), Gulfwing (American (tanker), 10217 GRT, built 1928), J.L.M. Curry (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Jefferson Myers (American, 7582 GRT, built 1920), John H.B. Latrobe (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942), Mossovet (Russian, 2981 GRT, built 1935), Nicholas Gilman (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Ocean Faith (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942), Oremar (American, 6854 GRT, built 1919), Puerto Rican (American, 6076 GRT, built 1919), Ralph Waldo Emerson (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Richard Basset (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942), Richard Bland (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942), San Cipriano (British (tanker), 7966 GRT, built 1937), Temple Arch (British, 5138 GRT, built 1940), Vermont (American, 5670 GRT, built 1919), West Gotomska (American, 5728 GRT, built 1918) and Yorkmar (British, 5612 GRT, built 1919).
The RFA (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) tanker Oligarch (6894 GRT, built 1918) was also part of the convoy.
On departure the close escort was made up of the AA cruiser HMS Scylla (Capt. I.A.P. Macintyre, CBE, DSO, RN), destroyers HMS Milne (Capt. I.M.R. Campbell, RN), ORP Orkan (Kmdr.por. (Cdr.) S. Hryniewiecki), HMS Opportune (Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO, RN), HMS Obedient (Cdr. D.C. Kinloch, RN), HMS Orwell (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN), HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN), HMS Fury (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. E. Mack, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Inglefield (Cdr. A.G. West, RN), HMS Impulsive (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Roper, DSC, RN), HMS Intrepid (Cdr. C.A.de W. Kitcat, RN), HMS Boadicea (Lt.Cdr. F.C. Brodrick, RN), corvettes HMS Bergamot (Lt. R.T. Horan, RNR), HMS Lotus (Lt.Cdr. H.J. Hall, DSC, RNR), HMS Poppy (Lt. N.K. Boyd, RNR), Starwort and the A/S trawlers HMS Northern Pride (T/Lt. A.L.F. Bell, RNR) and HMS St. Elstan (Lt. R.M. Roberts, RNR).
On the 2nd the convoy was reported by the German submarine U 255 on 2 February 1943 which then commenced shadowing the convoy. Later in the day U 622 and U 629 also made contact with the convoy but were driven off. In the afternoon U 657 also made contact but soon lost it. In the evening the German submarine U 622 was depth charged by some ships of the convoy escort.
Early in the afternoon U 657 was driven off and depth charged but she escaped without damage.
In the late afternoon of 3 March the German submarine U 355 made a torpedo attack on the convoy but no hits were obtained. Following this attack the German submarine was depth charged by HMS Bergamot but she managed to escape without damage.
On 4 March U 255 was twice driven off before she could attack. Early in the day U 622 was detected and depth charged by the escort but she managed to escape without damage. The shortly before noon U 657 and shortly after noon U 355 both had the same experience.
Early on the 5th the convoy was also reported by German air reconnaissance.
In the morning of the 5th the German submarine U 255 made a torpedo attack. The British merchant Executive was sunk and the American merchant Richard Brand was hit and damaged. The torpedo did not explode but went right through the ship making a hole on both sides. The damaged ship was able to remain with the convoy for the moment though.
Around 1400A/5, the convoy was attacked by German Ju.88 aircraft but no damage was done.
On the 6th the destroyer HMS Vivacious (Lt.Cdr. R. Alexander, RN) and escort destroyers HMS Ledbury (Lt. D.R.N. Murdoch, RN), HMS Meynell (Lt. B.M.D. I'Anson, RN) and HMS Pytchley (Lt.Cdr. H. Unwin, DSC and Bar, RN) departed Akureyri to join the convoy which they did only on the 9th having been delayed by ice and bad weather. HMS Vivacious had also smashed her Asdic dome while en-route.
Around 1900A/6, the destroyers HMS Faulknor, HMS Eclipse, HMS Impulsive and HMS Opportune parted company with the convoy to proceed to Seidisfjord to fuel. They arrived at Seidisfjord around 2015A/8.
On the 7th, the destroyers HMS Intrepid, HMS Boadicea, HMS Obdurate and HMS Obedient parted company with the convoy to proceed to Seidisfjord to fuel.
Around 0740A/9, HMS Scylla was detached to Akureyri where she arrived around 1140A/10.
In the morning of the 9th, HMS Vivacious, HMS Ledbury, HMS Meynell and HMS Pytchley joined the convoy while HMS Intrepid, HMS Boadicea, HMS Obdurate and HMS Obedient arrived at Seidisfjord to fuel. HMS Ledbury joined a straggler, the Cornelius Harnett to escort her to Seidisfjord where they arrived around 0900A/10.
Also on the 9th the American merchant vessel J.L.M. Curry broke up in heavy weather and sank. Apparently her hull had developed cracks earlier. Her crew was picked up by HMS St. Elstan.
HMS Faulknor, HMS Eclipse, HMS Impulsive and HMS Opportune departed Seidisfjord around 1430A/9 to rejoin the convoy which they did around 1930A/9 in position 66°38'N, 11°24'W.
Around 2220A/9, HMS Eclipse and HMS Impulsive were detached to go to the assistance of the Puerto Rican, a straggler, which had been torpedoed by U 586. They searched the area for the ship but it had sunk in about 15 minutes and no survivors were found. eventually on 12 March one survivor, wearing a survival suit, was picked up from a raft by HMS St. Elstan.
On these destroyers joining, HMS Milne, ORP Orkan, HMS Orwell and HMS Inglefield detached from the convoy to proceed to Akureyri to fuel. They arrived around 1445A/10. Except for HMS Inglefield which turned back and rejoined the convoy around 0248A/10.
Around 0835A/10, HMS Vivacious was detached to Seidisfjord due to fuel shortage.
Around 0940A/10, HMS Meynell and HMS Pytchley were detached to Seidisfjord to fuel.
Besides that, on the 10th, the merchant vessel Richard Bland, which had been damaged earlier, (see above), was again sighted by U 255 after having straggled from the convoy. The submarine now managed to sink her. HMS Eclipse and HMS Impulsive which were about to rejoin the convoy after their fruitless search for survivors of the Puerto Rican were ordered to search for survivors.
Around 2130A/10, HMS Milne and ORP Orkan departed Akureyri to search for stragglers from the convoy. HMS Orwell departed later but was ordered to rejoin the convoy.
The merchant vessel John H.B. Latrobe was towed to Seidisfjord as she had defective steering by the destroyer HMS Oppurtune which had been detached from the convoy around 2050A/10. They were escorted by HMS St. Elstan. They arrived at Seidisfjord around 2100A/11.
HMS Vivacious and HMS Pytchley also departed Seidisfjord and rejoined the convoy around 0600A/11.
Around 1035A/11, HMS Fury was detached to Seidisfjord to fuel. She was ordered to take the Oligarch with her.
Around the same time HMS Bergamot, HMS Lotus and HMS Starwort left the convoy to fuel at Seidisfjord. After doing so they left Seidisfjord later on the 11th to rejoin the convoy.
HMS Poppy also parted company with the convoy, but later then the other corvettes. She too went to Seidisfjord but did not rejoin the convoy afterwards as she was held back, together with the two A/S trawlers to escort the Oligarch.
HMS Boadicea escorting the Cornelius Harnett departed Seidisfjord on the 11th to rejoin the convoy.
Around 1600A/11, HMS Eclipse rejoined the convoy.
Around 2200A/11, HMS Fury rejoined the convoy.
Around 0200A/12, HMS Orwell joined. She had encountered another straggler, the Oremar, en-route.
Around 0400A/12, HMS Meynell joined.
Around 1315A/12, HMS Inglefield, HMS Ledbury, HMS Bergamot, HMS Lotus and HMS Starwort rejoined the convoy. HMS Inglefield however remained briefly with the convoy as she was detached to Scapa Flow almost immediately.
Around 2000A/12, HMS Faulknor, HMS Fury, HMS Eclipse and HMS Orwell were detached to Scapa Flow where they arrived around 1330A/13.
On the 13th, HMS Impulsive arrived at Seidisfjord with survivors and HMS Milne also arrived there having searched for stragglers. ORP Orkan which had also been searching for stragglers proceeded direct to Scapa Flow arriving there on the 15th.
Also on the 13th, HMS Vivacious, HMS Ledbury, HMS Meynell and HMS Pytchley detached from the convoy and proceeded to Scapa Flow where they arrived on the 14th.
Two of the merchant vessels arrived at Loch Ewe on the 13th apparently having proceeded ahead of the convoy.
On the 14th, HMS Boadicea detached from the convoy to proceed to the Clyde where she arrived on the 15th.
HMS Bergamot detached with the Clyde section of the convoy (5 ships). After having delivered them off the Clyde on the 15th, HMS Bergamot continued on to Liverpool where she arrived later on the 15th.
The Loch Ewe section of the convoy (16 ships) arrived there on the 15th.
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To provide distant cover for this convoy the ' battlefleet ' departed Akureyri around 0600N/2. The ' battlefleet ' was made up of the battleships HMS King George V (Capt. T.E. Halsey, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Admiral J.C. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet), HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN), light cruiser HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN) and the destroyers HMS Onslaught (Cdr. W.H. Selby, RN), HMS Offa (Cdr. R.A. Ewing, DSC, RN), HMS Musketeer (Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN), ORP Piorun (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) T. Gorazdowski), HMS Icarus (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Walmsley, DSC, RN) and HMS Forester (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Burnett, DSC, RN).
They arrived in their covering position to the north of the convoy route on the 4th.
On the 5th they left the covering position for Scapa Flow where they arrived on the 6th minus HMS Glasgow and HMS Forester which had been detached to Skaalefjord, Faeroer Islands on the 5th. These two ships arrived there on the 6th. HMS Forester then fuelled from HMS Glasgow and they departed for Scapa Flow later the same day.
HMS Glasgow and HMS Forester arrived at Scapa Flow on the 7th.
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A cruiser, close cover, Force was also deployed. It was known as ' Force R ' and was made up of the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) and the heavy cruisers HMS Cumberland (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, AM, RN) and HMS Norfolk (Capt. E.G.H. Bellars, RN).
They had departed the Kola Inlet around 1100C/2 and arrived at Seidisfjord around 0700A/7.
After fuelling they departed again around 1615A/8 to continue to provide cover for the convoy.
On the 9th they set course to proceed to Scapa Flow where they arrived around 0500A/11. (22) 2 Mar 1943 [For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy RA 53 ' for 1 March 1943.] (24) 7 Mar 1943 8 Mar 1943 [For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy RA 53 ' for 1 March 1943.] (24) 11 Mar 1943 HMS Norfolk departed Scapa Flow for the Clyde later the same day. (24) 20 Mar 1943 The ' opposing force ' was made up of the battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN), light cruisers HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN), HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN), destroyers HMS Intrepid (Cdr. C.A.de W. Kitcat, RN), HMS Echo (Lt. R.H.C. Wyld, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Brecon (Lt.Cdr. T.D. Herrick, DSC and Bar, RN) which had departed Scapa Flow for Hvalfjord around 0800A/20. (25) 22 Mar 1943 29 Mar 1943 HMS Intrepid left patrol to return to Hvalfjord on 1 April 1943.
HMS Belfast also returned to Hvalfjord arriving there around 2330A/29. (27) 7 Apr 1943 13 Apr 1943 28 Apr 1943 11 May 1943 13 May 1943 21 May 1943 23 May 1943 24 May 1943 On 24 May 1943, the auxiliary minelayers HMS Menestheus (Capt.(Retd.) R.H.F. de Salis, DSC, OBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.M. Peters, DSC, RN), HMS Agamemnon (Capt.(Retd.) F. Ratsey, RN) and HMS Port Quebec (A/Capt.(Retd.) V. Hammersley-Heenan, RN) departed departed Port ZA. (Loch Alsh) to lay minefield SN 111B. They were escorted by the destroyers HMS Castleton (Cdr.(Retd.) C.W.V.T.S. Lepper, RN), HMS Lancaster (T/A/Lt.Cdr. J.R. Clarke, DSC, RNVR), HMS Newark (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN) and HMS St. Marys (Lt. D.B.G. Dumas, RN).
Around 0045B/24, the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Scapa Flow to join them in position 59°45'N, 05°30'W around 0700B/25.
A total of 1491 mines were laid on 26 May 1943 three cables either side of a line joining positions 64°02'N, 10°19'W and 64°22'N, 10°33'W.
Depths were set to 95, 185 and 275 feet in rotation. A total of 10 failures were observed, but no premature explosions. Visibility throuhout the lay was poor and thick fog developed at the end of the minelaying operation.
The ships laid as follows; HMS Menestheus 410 mines, HMS Agamemnon 530 mines and HMS Port Quebec 551 mines.
HMS Belfast returned to Scapa Flow around 1715B/27.
The auxiliary minelayers and destroyers returned to Port ZA. (Loch Alsh) on 28 May 1943. (32) 8 Jun 1943 9 Jun 1943 9 Jun 1943 On 9 June 1943, the auxiliary minelayers HMS Menestheus (Capt.(Retd.) R.H.F. de Salis, DSC, OBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.M. Peters, DSC, RN), HMS Agamemnon (Capt.(Retd.) F. Ratsey, RN) and HMS Port Quebec (A/Capt.(Retd.) V. Hammersley-Heenan, RN) departed departed Port ZA. (Loch Alsh) to lay minefield SN 111C. They were escorted by the destroyers HMS Castleton (Cdr.(Retd.) C.W.V.T.S. Lepper, RN), HMS Lancaster (T/A/Lt.Cdr. J.R. Clarke, DSC, RNVR), HMS Newark (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN) and HMS St. Marys (Lt. D.B.G. Dumas, RN)
Around 2200B/9, the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) departed Scapa Flow to join the minelayers and their escort which she did around 0430B/10.
A total of 1490 mines were laid on 11 June 1943 three cables either side of a line joining positions 64°17'0"N, 10°11'5"W and 64°37'0"N, 10°25'0"W.
Depths were set to 95, 185 and 275 feet in rotation. One premature explosion was observed and a further 23 were felt. There were also a number of other failures.
The ships laid as follows; HMS Menestheus 409 mines, HMS Agamemnon 530 mines and HMS Port Quebec 551 mines.
HMS Belfast returned to Scapa Flow around 1500B/12.
The auxiliary minelayers and destroyers returned to Port ZA. (Loch Alsh) on 13 June 1943. (32) 12 Jun 1943 14 Jun 1943 15 Jun 1943 The Home Fleet cruisers HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN), HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN), HMS London (Capt. R.V. Symonds-Tayler, DSC, RN), HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.T. Addis, RN), screened by the Home Fleet destroyers HMS Onslow (Capt. J.A. McCoy, DSO, RN), HMS Scorpion (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN) and HMS Grenville (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Hill, DSO, RN) simulated an enemy fleet.
The exercises included night encounter exercises. (35) 17 Jun 1943 18 Jun 1943 19 Jun 1943 29 Jun 1943 30 Jun 1943 6 Jul 1943 The object of this operation was to pin down enemy forces in Norway before the Sicilian campaign commenced.
Four forces were deployed during this operation, these were;
' The Battlefleet ' to provide cover for the operation. It was made up of the battleships HMS Duke of York (Capt. G.E. Creasy, DSO, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral B.A. Fraser, KCB, KBE, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet), USS South Dakota (Capt. L.D. McCormick, USN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral O.M. Hustvedt, USN), aircraft carrier HMS Furious (Capt. G.T. Philip, DSO, DSC, RN), light cruiser HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN) and the destroyers HMS Milne (Capt. I.M.R. Campbell, DSO, RN), HMS Mahratta (Lt.Cdr. E.A.F. Drought, DSC, RN), HMS Meteor (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN) and HMS Musketeer (Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN), USS Ellyson (T/Cdr. E.W. Longton, USN), USS Rodman (T/Cdr. J.F. Foley, USN), USS Emmons (T/Cdr. E.B. Billingsley, USN), USS Macomb (T/Cdr. J.C. South, USN) and USS Fitch (T/Cdr. K.C. Walpole, USN).
' Force Q ' was made up of the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN, Senior Officer ' Force Q ' ), heavy cruisers HMS Kent (Capt. G.A.B. Hawkins, DSC, MVO, RN), HMS London (Capt. R.V. Symonds-Tayler, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral L.H.K. Hamilton, CB, DSO and Bar, RN) and the destroyers HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Onslaught (Cdr. W.H. Selby, DSC, RN).
' Force R ', which was representing a convoy was made up of the destroyers HMS Opportune (Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO and Bar, RN, Senior Officer ' Force R '), HMS Obedient (Lt.Cdr. H. Unwin, DSC and Bar, RN), trawlers HMS Bressay (T/Lt. J.E. Wilmot, RNVR), HMS Cape Barracouta (Skr.Lt.(Retd.) A. Flaws, DSC, RNR), HMS Cape Nyemetzki (T/Lt. A. Flaaten, RNR), HMS Hamlet (T/Lt. J.C. Boyd, RNVR), HMS Hawthorn (T/Lt. G.W. Fox, RNVR), HMS Larch (T/Skr. J.G. Mackay, RNR), HMS Macbeth (T/Lt. A. Parker, RNR), HMS Oak (A/Skr.Lt. P. Buchan, DSC, RNR), HMS Skye (T/Lt. W.G. Burt, RNR), HMS Sycamore (Skr. G. Reaich, RNR) and the Motor Launches HMML 276 (T/Lt. E.W. Lovelady, RNVR), HMML 286 (T/Lt. J.R.T. Ward, RNVR), HMML 345 (T/Lt. A. Priestley, RNVR), HMML 445 (T/Lt. B.W. Kelly, RNVR), HMML 452 (T/Lt. P.L.K. Wait, RNVR), HMML 466 (T/Lt.Cdr. D. Wilkie, RNVR).
' Force S ' which was made up of the heavy cruisers
HMS Berwick (Capt. H.J. Egerton, RN, Senior Officer ' Force S '), HMS Norfolk (Capt. D.K. Bain, RN) and the destroyer HMS Scorpion (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN).
Around 1630A/6, ' Force S ' left Hvalfiord, Iceland for position 'A' (66°13'N, 12°05'W) and then to position 'B' (66°40'N, 10°01'W).
Around 0700B/7, ' Force R ' left Scapa Flow for position ' W ' (61°15'N, 01°25'W) and then to position ' X ' (61°40'N, 01°00'E).
Around 0900B/7, ' Force Q ' (besides HMS Obdurate) left Scapa Flow for position ' T ' (62°20'N, 05°30'W) where it was joined by HMS Obdurate coming from Skaalefiord, Faeroer, and then to position ' V ' (62°20'N, 01°00'E).
Around 1700B/7, ' The Battlefleet ' left Scapa Flow for position ' Y ' (62°52'N, 01°45'W) and then to position ' Z ' (61°20'N, 01°00'E).
In the afternoon of 8 July all forces commenced to withdraw having been sighted by enemy aircraft as had been the idea.
Martlets from HMS Furious shot down one BV 138 aircraft which was shadowing the ' Battlefleet ' and ' Force R '.
On 9 July, HMS Obdurate was detached from ' Force Q ' to return to Skaalefiord.
' Force Q ' and later the ' Battlefleet ' both returned to Scapa Flow arriving around 1300B/9 and 1600B/9 respectively.
' Force R ' arrived at Sullom Voe, sailing again P.M. for Scapa Flow.
' Force S ' returned to Hvalfiord where they arrived around 2330Z/9.
' Force R ' returned to Scapa Flow around 0700A/10. (39) 13 Jul 1943 HMS Belfast also conducted gunnery exercises.
In the evening HMS Diomede conducted a tracking exercise during which HMS Brilliant (Lt. J. Smallwood, RN) served as the target. (40) 15 Jul 1943 21 Jul 1943 22 Jul 1943 25 Jul 1943 The object of this operation was again to pin down enemy forces in Norway and try to get the large German warships to intervene.
Five Force took part in the operation;
' Force A ', which was made up of the battleships HMS Anson (Rear-Admiral H.R.G. Kinahan, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.R. Moore, KCB, DSO, CVO, RN) and USS Alabama (Capt. F.D. Kirtland, USN), aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN) and the destroyers HMS Milne (Capt. I.M.R. Campbell, DSO, RN), HMS Mahratta (Lt.Cdr. E.A.F. Drought, DSC, RN), HMS Meteor (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN) and HMS Musketeer (Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN), USS Rodman (T/Cdr. J.F. Foley, USN), USS Emmons (T/Cdr. E.B. Billingsley, USN), USS Macomb (T/Cdr. J.C. South, USN) and USS Fitch (T/Cdr. K.C. Walpole, USN).
' Force B ' which was made up of the battleships HMS Duke of York (R.Adm. G.E. Creasy, DSO, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral B.A. Fraser, KCB, KBE, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet), USS South Dakota (Capt. L.D. McCormick, USN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral O.M. Hustvedt, USN), aircraft carrier HMS Unicorn (Capt. Q.D. Graham, CBE, DSO, RN), light cruiser HMS Bermuda (Capt. T.H. Back, RN) and the destroyers HMS Onslow (Capt. J.A. McCoy, DSO, RN), HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Obedient (Lt.Cdr. H. Unwin, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Grenville (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Hill, DSO, RN), HMS Ulster (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Donald, DSC, RN), HMS Saumarez (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Walmsley, DSC, RN), HMS Scorpion (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN), HMS Matchless (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, DSO, RN) and HMS Impulsive (Lt. P. Bekenn, RN).
' Force C ' representing a convoy, was made up of the destroyers HMS Savage (Cdr. R.C. Gordon, DSO, RN, Senior Officer ' Force C '), HMS Ripley (Lt. L.G. Toone, RN), trawlers HMS Cedar (T/Skr. B. Godfrey, RNR), HMS Hawthorn (T/Lt. G.W. Fox, RNVR), HMS Larch (T/Skr. J.G. Mackay, RNR), HMS Lilac (T/Skr. J.W. Brown, RNR), HMS Oak (A/Skr.Lt. P. Buchan, DSC, RNR), HMS Skye (T/Lt. W.G. Burt, RNR), HMS Switha (T/Lt. L.H. Green, RNR), HMS Willow (T/Lt. J.E.W. Graves, RNVR), Motor Launches HMML 252 (T/Lt. T.R. Neale, RNVR), HMML 286 (T/Lt. J.R.T. Ward, RNVR), HMML 442 (T/Lt. R.W. Dunn, RANVR), HMML 445 (T/Lt. B.W. Kelly, RNVR), HMML 473 (T/Lt. J.C. Sargeant, RNVR), and the landing craft HMLCI(L) 167 (?).
' Force D ' was made up of the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) and the destroyers HMS Oribi (Lt.Cdr. J.C.A. Ingram, DSC, RN) and HMS Orwell (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN).
' Force E ' which was made up of the heavy cruisers HMS London (Capt. R.V. Symonds-Tayler, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral L.H.K. Hamilton, CB, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Kent (Capt. G.A.B. Hawkins, DSC, MVO, RN) and HMS Norfolk (Capt. D.K. Bain, RN).
On 25 July, ' Force C ' departed from Scapa Flow for Sullom Voe where it arrived the following day.
On 26 July ' Force A ' departed from Hvalfiord to pass through position ' N ' (66°30'N, 08°00' W) and then through position ' P ' (66°00'N, 01°30'E).
On 27 July ' Force E ' departed from Hvalfiord for position ' M ' (67°20'N, 02°00'W).
' Force B ' departed from Scapa Flow to pass through position ' W ' (61°40'N, 04°40'W) and then through position ' T ' (61°30'N, 01°30'E).
' Force C ' departed from Sullom Voe to pass through position ' U ' (61°45N, 00°50W) and then through postition ' S ' (61°50'N, 01°00'E).
' Force D ' (minus both destroyers) departed from Scapa Flow to proceed to position ' V ' (62°15'N, 05°20'W) where they were to rendezvous on the 28th with the destroyers coming from Skaalefiord, Faeroer Island and then to position ' R ' (62°00'N, 00°30'E).
On 28 July ' Force D ' was sighted and reported by enemy aircraft. The other forces were apparently not sighted by the Germans.
Beaufighters shot down two BV 138's in the vicinity of ' Force D ' and damaged two others.
Martlets from HMS Illustious shot down two BV 138's in the vicinity of Forces ' A ' and ' D '.
' Force D ' joined ' Force A ' in position ' Q ' (63°10'N, 01°30'E). The two destroyers from ' Force D ' were then detached to return to Skaalefiord where they arrived on the 29th.
All forces commenced to withdraw.
' Force C ' arrived at Sullom Voe, sailing PM for Scapa
Flow.
' Force B ' arrived at Scapa Flow.
Forces ' A ' and ' D ' (less the two destroyers) arrived at Scapa Flow.
On 30 July ' Force C ' arrived at Scapa Flow and ' Force E ' arrived at Hvalfiord. (44) 2 Aug 1943 The cruiser also conducted gunnery exercises and exercises with aircraft. (45) 5 Aug 1943 This convoy was only made up of one ship, the troopship Queen Mary (British, 81235 GRT, built 1936) which departed the Clyde on 5 August.
On board the Queen Mary was Prime Minister Churchill, Chiefs of Staff and their entourage which were en-route to the Quebec conference.
Close (A/S) escort for the convoy was provided by the destroyers HMS Matchless (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, DSO, RN) and HMS Scorpion (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN) which had departed Londonderry on 5 August. They returned to the Clyde on 8 August.
Two destroyers had already left Londonderry on the 4th, these were HMS Saumarez (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Walmsley, DSC, RN) and HMS Scourge (Lt.Cdr. G.I.M. Balfour, RN). These probably first proceeded westwards at economical speed and later took over from HMS Matchless and HMS Scorpion. They arrived at Argentia, Newfoundland on 9 August.
Cover for this convoy was provided by the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN) which was escorted by HMS Opportune (Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Obedient (Lt.Cdr. H. Unwin, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO and Bar, RN). They departed the Clyde around 1230B/5 and returned there around 1000B/8.
During daylight on the 6th, the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) provided cover for the convoy. She had departed Scapa Flow around 0300B/5 and returned there around 0630B/8.
Close escort for the convoy was provided by the light cruiser HMS Bermuda (Capt. T.H. Back, RN) which had departed Scapa Flow around 0500B/5 and joined the troopship around 2200B/5. She remained with the troopship until around 0930B/7 when course was set to return to Scapa Flow where she arrived around 1600B/9.
The heavy cruiser HMS Kent (Capt. G.A.B. Hawkins, DSC, MVO, RN) sailed from Hvalfjord around 0130Z/5. She first sighted the Queen Mary with HMS Bermuda in company around 1930Z/6. She remained with or near the Queen Mary until 0815Z/8 when she parted company to proceed to Argentia, Newfoundland where she arrived around 1000N/9.
The light cruiser HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN) joined HMS Kent around 0650Z/7. She parted company around 2145Z/7. HMS Glasgow had departed Plymouth around 1545B/4 and returned there around 1830B/10.
Shortly before HMS Kent parted company with the Queen Mary the heavy cruiser USS Tuscaloosa (Capt. J.B.W. Waller, USN) and the destroyers USS Isherwood (T/Cdr. R.E. Gadrow, USN), Luce (T/Cdr. D.C. Varian, USN), USS Bell (T/Cdr. L.C. Petross, USN) and Hale (T/Cdr. K.F. Poehlmann, USN) joined coming from Charleston, South Carolina which they had departed on the 4th together with the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (Capt. G. Rowe, USN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral O.M. Hustvedt, USN) and the destroyers USS Forrest (T/Cdr. K.P. Letts, USN), USS Corry (T/Cdr. L.B. Ensey, USN) and USS Hobson (T/Lt.Cdr. K. Loveland, USN) which were also in the area providing air cover with the aircraft of USS Ranger.
The convoy arrived at Halifax on the 9th. 14 Aug 1943 15 Aug 1943 The object of this operation was to create a diversion off Norway.
Around 1600A/15, the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) and the destroyers HMS Onslow (Capt. J.A. McCoy, DSO, RN) and HMS Orwell (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN) departed Scapa Flow for the operation.
On passing through position 64°15'N, 03°01'W early the following day they were sighted and reported by an enemy aircraft as had been intended.
The force arrived at Skaalefjord, Faeroer Islands around 0600A/15. Shortly before arrived they had been sighted and reported again by an enemy aircraft. (47) 19 Aug 1943 22 Aug 1943 Around 2040A/22, she was joined by the destroyer HMS Impulsive (Lt.Cdr. P. Bekenn, RN) and course was set for Hvalfjord, Iceland where they arrived around 1030Z/24. (47) 26 Aug 1943 The object of this operation was to run two destroyers to Murmansk with relief personnel, stroes, mail and RAF equipment for British aircraft operation in the Kola Inlet area.
HMS Musketeer (Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN) and HMS Mahratta (Lt.Cdr. E.A.F. Drought, DSC, RN) departed Scapa Flow on 26 August 1943. They topped off with fuel at Skaalefjord, Faeroer Islands the following day. They arrived in the Kola Inlet on 31 August.
After unloading and fuelling the destroyers left again later the same day for the return trip. They fuelled at Skaalefjord on 3 September and returned to Scapa Flow on 4 September.
The trip had been uneventful except for a submarine been sighted and then seen to dive on 1 September in position 74°38'N, 16°35'E.
A cover force had been deployed made up of the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN), heavy cruiser HMS Norfolk (Capt. D.K. Bain, RN) and the destroyer HMS Impulsive (Lt.Cdr. P. Bekenn, RN). It had sailed from Hvalfjord on 28 August and proceeded to an area to the west of Bear Island. The cover force left the area on 1 September and arrived back at Hvalfjord on 3 September. (39) 8 Sep 1943 The light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) and the destroyer HMS Impulsive (Lt.Cdr. P. Bekenn, RN) sailed from Hvalfjord, Iceland around 1645Z/8 to make rendezvous north-east of Iceland.
As it would be impossible to be on time to intercept the German before they would be back in their anchorages in Northern Norway all ships set course to return to their ports of origin in the afternoon of September 9th.
Ships from the Home Fleet returned to Scapa Flow around 1215A/10 except for HMS London and the American ships which had been detached for exercises around 2000A/9. They returned to Scapa Flow around 1630A/10.
HMS Belfast and HMS Impulsive arrived back at Hvalfjord around 1500Z/10. (49) 25 Sep 1943 28 Sep 1943 29 Sep 1943 2 Oct 1943 The object of this operation was an attack by the air group of USS Ranger on shipping targets in the Bodo area.
Around 1200A/2, the Battlefleet, made up of the battleships HMS Duke of York (Capt. B.B. Schofield, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral B.A. Fraser, KCB, KBE, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet), HMS Anson (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO and Bar, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.R. Moore, KCB, DSO, CVO, RN), USS Ranger (Capt. G. Rowe, USN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral O.M. Hustvedt, USN), heavy cruiser USS Tuscaloosa (Capt. J.B.W. Waller, USN), light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) and the destroyers HMS Milne (Capt. I.M.R. Campbell, DSO, RN), HMS Vigilant (Lt.Cdr. L.W.L. Argles, RN), HMS Teazer (Lt.Cdr. A.A.F. Talbot, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Opportune (Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO and Bar, RN), USS Forrest (T/Cdr. K.P. Letts, USN), USS Hobson (T/Lt.Cdr. K. Loveland, USN), USS Fitch (T/Cdr. K.C. Walpole, USN), USS Corry (T/Cdr. L.B. Ensey, USN) and USS Capps (T/Cdr. B.E.S. Trippensee, USN) departed Scapa Flow for Operation Leader.
Around 0200A/3, the destroyers HMS Savage (Cdr. R.C. Gordon, DSO, RN), HMS Scorpion (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN) and HMS Scourge (Lt.Cdr. G.I.M. Balfour, RN) joined the Battlefleet's screen coming from Skaalefiord, Faeroer Islands and the force proceeded north eastwards through position 66°40'N, 02°01'W to position 07°17'N, 08°20'E which was reached shortly before dawn on the 4th.
The weather was most favourable for the attack and at this point two air striking forces were flown off from USS Ranger at approximately half an hour's interval. 20 Dauntless and 8 Wildcats were launched in the first attack group and 10 Avengers and 6 Wildcats in the second.
Both striking groups found numerous targets in the Leads and pressed home their attacks to the full. 14 500lb and 1000lb bomb hits were claimed on nine merchant ships of three to ten thousand tons including an 8000 ton tanker. Two other small vessels were damaged by hits or near misses and all targets were raked with machine gun and cannon fire which undoubtedly accounted for further damage which cannot be assessed.
German sources gives the following damage inflicted; merchant vessels sunk, La Plata (German, 8056 GRT, built 1922), Rabat (German, 2719 GRT, built 1929), Skramstad (Norwegian, 4300 GRT, built 1925), Vaagan (Norwegian, 687 GRT, built 1921). Damaged were the Ibis (German, 593 GRT, built 1920), Cap Guir (German, 1536 GRT, built 1927), Schleswig (German (tanker), 10139 GRT, built 1942, former Norwegian Austanger), Kerkplein (Dutch, 5053 GRT, built 1921), Topeka (Norwegian, 4991 GRT, built 1925). The Topeka was later declared a total loss. The merchant vessel Malaga (German, 2146 GRT, built 1936) was hit by a dud torpedo.
Three of the aircraft were shot down, all by flak. One Dauntless crashed at Bodo and one made a forced landing in the water 12 miles west of Bodo. The third aircraft, an Avenger, was shot down off Alsten. Several members of the crews of these aircraft were seen swimming in the water and it is probable that they have been taken prisoner.
The two air attack groups returned to USS Ranger and landed on, losing one other aircraft during this operation, the Battlefleet then set course to return to Scapa Flow.
During the afternoon of the 4th, two enemy reconnaissance aircraft, a JU 88 and a HE 115, shadowed the Fleet and were promptly shot down by fighter patrols from USS Ranger. Except for these two aircraft no enemy air opposition was encountered throughout the operation.
The Force withdrew on a course of 260° through positions 67°10- N, 02°01'E and 64°10'N, 02°18'W.
At 1255A/5, HMS Savage, HMS Scorpion, and HMS Scourge were detached to return to Skaalefiord.
The Battlefleet returned to Scapa Flow around 0645A/6. (39) 12 Oct 1943 15 Oct 1943 21 Oct 1943 28 Oct 1943 29 Oct 1943 30 Oct 1943 1 Nov 1943 This convoy departed Archangelsk on 1 November 1943 for the U.K.
On departure from Archanglesk the convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Beaconhill (American, 6941 GRT, built 1919),
British Governor (British (tanker), 6840 GRT, built 1926),
City of Omaha (American, 6124 GRT, built 1920),
Empire Fortune (British, 6140 GRT, built 1943),
Empire Gaillard (British, 7170 GRT, built 1942),
Empire Kinsman (British, 6744 GRT, built 1942),
Empire Portia (British, 7058 GRT, built 1942),
Francis Scott Key (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942),
Israel Putnam (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942),
Mobile City (American, 6157 GRT, built 1920),
Pontfield (British, 8319 GRT, built 1940),
Thomas Hartley (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942) and
Tobruk (Polish, 7048 GRT, built 1942).
On departure from Archangelsk the convoy was escorted by the destroyer HMS Westcott (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) H. Lambton, RN), minesweepers HMS Britomart (Lt.Cdr. S.S. Stammwitz, RN), HMS Harrier (Cdr. H.E.H. Nicholls, RN), HMS Jason (Cdr. H.G.A. Lewis, RN), HMS Seagull (T/A/Lt.Cdr. R.W Ellis, DSC, RNR) and the corvette HNoMS Eglantine (?). The Russian destroyers Gromkiy and Valerian Kyubishev were also with the convoy.
On 2 November 1943, ' Force 3 ', made up of the destroyers HMS Milne (Capt. I.M.R. Campbell, DSO, RN), HMS Mahratta (Lt.Cdr. E.A.F. Drought, DSC, RN), HMS Matchless (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, DSO, RN), HMS Musketeer (Cdr. R.L. Fisher, OBE, RN), HMS Saumarez (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Walmsley, DSC, RN), HMS Savage (Cdr. R.C. Gordon, DSO, RN), HMS Scorpion (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN) and HMS Scourge (Lt.Cdr. G.I.M. Balfour, RN) departed the Kola Inlet to join the convoy which they did the following day.
HMS Harrier, HMS Seagull and the two Russian destroyers were then detached.
On 8 November 1943, HMS Matchless and HMS Musketeer were detached to Seidisfjord where they were to fuel.
On 9 November 1943, HMS Savage and HMS Westcott were also detached to fuel at Seidisfjord.
On completion of fuelling HMS Westcott departed Seidisfjord to rejoin the convoy. She departed Seidisfjord together with ' Force 4 ', made up of the escort destroyers HMS Brissenden (Lt. D.D.E. Vivian, RN), HMS Middleton (Lt. C.S. Battersby, RN) and the minesweepers HMS Halcyon (T/A/Lt.Cdr. L.J. Martin, RNVR) and HMS Speedwell (Lt.Cdr. T.E. Williams, RD, RNR). They joined the convoy on the 10th, the destroyers HMS Milne, HMS Mahratta, HMS Saumarez, HMS Scorpion and HMS Scorpion then parted company with the convoy to proceed to Seidisfjord.
On the 13th, HMS Middleton detached to proceed to the Clyde.
Also on the 13th the convoy split into several parts to proceed their individual destinations with local escorts.
From the escorts, HMS Brissenden proceeded to Loch Ewe. HMS Britomart, HMS Halcyon, HMS Jason and HMS Speedwell proceeded to Scapa Flow. HMS Westcott and HMS Eglantine proceeded to Liverpool. All ships arrived on the 13th except for HMS Westcott and HMS Eglantine arrived on the 14th.
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For close cover, ' Force 1 ' of the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) and the heavy cruiser HMS Kent (Capt. G.A.B. Hawkins, DSC, MVO, RN) and HMS Norfolk (Capt. D.K. Bain, RN) was deployed. This force departed Seidisfjord on 2 November to provide cover for the convoy between positions 73°58'N, 31°32'E and 71°19'N, 00°58'W
On the 8th, ' Force 1 ' split up with HMS Kent and HMS Norfolk set course for Scapa Flow arriving there on the 9th. HMS Belfast set course for Hvalfjord also arriving on the 9th.
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' Force 2 ' was the distant cover force, it was made up of the battleship HMS Anson (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO and Bar, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.R. Moore, KCB, DSO, CVO, RN), aircraft carrier HMS Formidable (Capt. P. Ruck-Keene, CBE, RN), light cruiser HMS Jamaica (Capt. J.L. Storey, DSO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Onslow (Capt. J.A. McCoy, DSO, RN), HMS Venus (Cdr. J.S.M. Richardson DSO, RN), HNoMS Stord (Lt.Cdr. S.V. Storheill), HMCS Haida (Cdr. H.G. De Wolf, RCN), USS Hobson (T/Lt.Cdr. K. Loveland, USN) and USS Capps (T/Cdr. B.E.S. Trippensee, USN). ' Force 2 ' departed Akureyri on 2 November to proceed to a patrol area near position 72°27'N, 09°30'E.
' Force 2 ' arrived at Scapa Flow on 8 November 1943. (39) 2 Nov 1943 [For more info see the event ' Operation FS, passage of convoy RA 54A ' for 1 November 1943.] (56) 15 Nov 1943 This convoy departed Loch Ewe on 15 November 1943 for Northern Russia.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Daniel Drake (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Edmund Fanning (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Empire Carpenter (British, 7025 GRT, built 1943),
Empire Celia (American, 7025 GRT, built 1943),
Empire Nigel (British, 7067 GRT, built 1943),
Fort Yukon (British, 7153 GRT, built 1943),
Gilbert Stuart (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Henry Villard (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942),
James Gordon Bennett (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942),
James Smith (American, 7181 GRT, built 1942),
Junecrest (British, 6945 GRT, built 1942),
Mijdrecht (Dutch (tanker), 7493 GRT, built 1931),
Norlys (Panamanian (tanker), 9892 GRT, built 1936),
Ocean Vanity (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942),
Ocean Verity (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942),
Park Holland (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Thomas Sim Lee (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942) and
William Windon (American, 7194 GRT, built 1943).
The rescue vessel Copeland (British, 1526 GRT, built 1923) was also with the convoy.
On departure from Loch Ewe the convoy was escorted by the destroyers HMS Inconstant (Lt.Cdr J.H. Eaden, DSC, RN), HMS Whitehall (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN), HMS Termagant (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Scatchard, DSC, RN), ORP Burza (Cdr. F. Pitulko, ORP), escort destroyer HMS Brissenden (Lt. D.D.E. Vivian, RN), minesweeper HMS Hussar (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Biggs, DSO, DSC, RN) and the corvette HMS Heather (T/Lt. W.L. Turner, RNR).
On 17 November, the destroyer HMS Onslaught (Cdr. W.H. Selby, DSC, RN) departed Seidisfjord, Iceland to join the convoy. She was escorting the Russian minesweepers T 116, T 117 and patrol vessels BO 205, BO 207 and BO 212 which were to join the convoy for passage to Northern Russia. [These were the former American minesweepers AM 143 / Arcade, AM 144 / Arch and patrol vessels SC 1287, SC 1074 and SC 721 respectively.]
Later on 17 November the destroyers HMS Onslow (Capt. J.A. McCoy, DSO, RN), HMS Obedient (Lt.Cdr. H. Unwin, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Orwell (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN), HMCS Iroquois (Cdr. J.C. Hibbard DSC, RCN), HMCS Haida (Cdr. H.G. De Wolf, RCN), HMCS Huron (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Rayner, DSC, RCN) and HMS Impulsive (Lt.Cdr. P. Bekenn, RN) also sailed from Seidisfjord to join the convoy.
On 18 November all ships that had departed Seidisfjord the day before joined the convoy. HMS Termagant, ORP Burza and HMS Brissenden then parted company with the convoy. The British ships proceeded to Seidisfjord arriving on the 19th, ORP Burza set course to return to Loch Ewe also arriving on the 19th.
On 19 November HMS Obedient developed serious rudder defects and she returned to Seidisfjord arriving later the same day.
On 24 November eight of the merchant vessels arrived in the Kola Inlet escorted by HMS Onslow, HMS Onslaught, HMS Obedient, HMS Orwell, HMCS Iroquois, HMCS Haida, HMCS Huron and HMS Impulsive. The five small Russian craft that had been with the convoy arrived in the Kola Inlet on the 25th.
The remaining ships proceeded to Archangelsk escorted by HMS Inconstant, HMS Whitehall, HMS Hussar and HMS Heather. These were later replaced by the minesweeper HMS Seagull (T/A/Lt.Cdr. R.W. Ellis, DSC, RNR), two Russian destroyers and three Russian minesweepers. On the joining of these ships HMS Inconstant, HMS Whitehall and HMS Heather parted company and proceeded to Iokanka. The remainder of the convoy arrived in the Archangelsk area on the 26th.
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This convoy departed Loch Ewe on 22 November 1943 for Northern Russia.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Arthur L. Perry (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Daldorch (British, 5571 GRT, built 1930),
Empire Lionel (British, 7030 GRT, built 1942),
Empire Stalwart (British, 7045 GRT, built 1943),
Eugene Field (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Fort Columbia (British, 7155 GRT, built 1942),
Fort McMurray (British, 7133 GRT, built 1942),
Fort Poplar (American, 7134 GRT, built 1942),
Horace Gray (American, 7200 GRT, built 1943),
John Fitch (American, 7181 GRT, built 1942),
Ocean Strength (British, 7173 GRT, built 1942),
San Adolfo (British (tanker), 7365 GRT, built 1935),
Thomas Kearns (American, 7194 GRT, built 1943) and
William L. Marcy (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942).
The rescue ship Rathlin (British, 1600 GRT, built 1936) was also part of the convoy.
On departure from Loch Ewe the convoy was escorted by the destroyers HMS Beagle (Lt.Cdr. N.R. Murch, RN), HMS Saladin (T/A/Lt.Cdr. P.G.C. King, RNVR), HMS Skate (Lt. J.C. Rushbrooke, DSC, RN), escort destroyer HMS Middleton (Lt. C.S. Battersby, RN), minesweepers HMS Halcyon (T/A/Lt.Cdr. L.J. Martin, RNVR), HMS Speedwell (Lt.Cdr. T.E. Williams, RD, RNR) and the corvettes HMS Poppy (T/Lt. D.R.C. Onslow, RNR) and HMS Rhododendron (T/Lt. O.B. Medley, RNVR).
On 23 November the corvette HMS Dianella (T/Lt. J.F. Tognola, RNR) joined the convoy.
On 25 November the destroyers HMS Saumarez (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Walmsley, DSC, RN), HMS Savage (Cdr. R.C. Gordon, DSO, RN), HMS Scorpion (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN), HMS Scourge (Lt.Cdr. G.I.M. Balfour, RN), HNoMS Stord (Lt.Cdr. S.V. Storheill), HMS Hardy (Lt.Cdr. R. Horncastle, RN), HMS Venus (Cdr. J.S.M. Richardson DSO, RN) and HMS Vigilant (Lt.Cdr. L.W.L. Argles, RN) departed Seidisfjord, Iceland and joined the convoy. HMS Saladin, HMS Skate, HMS Middleton and HMS Speedwell then parted company and proceeded to Seidisfjord where they arrived on the 26th except for HMS Speedwell which went to Scapa Flow arriving there on the 29th.
On 2 December seven of the merchant vessels detached from the convoy escorted by HMS Saumarez, HMS Savage, HMS Scorpion, HMS Scourge, HNoMS Stord, HMS Hardy, HMS Venus, HMS Vigilant and HMS Halcyon. They proceeded to the Kola Inlet arriving there later the same day.
The other ships continued on to Archangelsk escorted by HMS Beagle, HMS Dianella, HMS Poppy and HMS Rhododendron. They arrived at Archangelsk on 3 December.
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This convoy departed Archangelsk on 26 November 1943 for the U.K.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Aritgas (Panamanian, 5613 GRT, built 1920),
Atlantic (British, 5414 GRT, built 1939),
Bering (American, 7631 GRT, built 1920),
Dover Hill (British, 5815 GRT, built 1918),
Empire Scott (British, 6150 GRT, built 1941),
Llandaff (British, 4825 GRT, built 1927),
Marathon (Norwegian, 7208 GRT, built 1930),
Norlys (Panamanian (tanker), 9892 GRT, built 1936) and
Pieter de Hoogh (Dutch, 7168 GRT, built 1941).
The rescue ship Copeland (British, 1526 GRT, built 1923) was also part of the convoy.
On departure from Archangelsk the convoy was escorted by the minesweepers HMS Hussar, HMS Seagull and the A/S trawler HMS Lord Austin (T/Lt. E.L. Wathen, RNR). Also three Russian minesweepers were with the convoy escort.
On 27 November the destroyers HMS Inconstant, HMS Whitehall, minesweeper HMS Harrier (Cdr. H.E.H. Nicholls, RN) and corvette HMS Heather departed Iokanka and joined the convoy. The three Russian minesweepers were then detached.
On 28 November the destroyers HMS Onslow, HMS Onslaught, HMS Orwell, HMCS Iroquois, HMCS Haida, HMCS Huron and HMS Impulsive departed the Kola Inlet and joined the convoy. HMS Hussar and HMS Seagull were then detached to the Kola Inlet where they arrived the following day.
On 4 December HMCS Iroquois was detached to Seidisfjord to fuel. She arrived there later the same day.
On 5 December the destroyers HMS Saladin, HMS Skate and escort destroyers HMS Middleton and HMS Brissenden departed Seidisfjord to join the convoy which they did later the same day. Also on 5 December, first HMS Onslaught and HMCS Huron detached from the convoy and arrived at Seidisfiord to fuel. Then HMCS Haida and HMS Impulslive detached and arrived Seidisfiord to fuel and finally HMS Onslow and HMS Orwell also arrived Seidisfiord to fuel.
On 8 December the convoy split in two and proceeded to east and west coast harbour with local escorts (trawlers).
HMS Inconstant and HMS Whitehall proceeded to the Clyde arriving on 9 December.
HMS Saladin and HMS Skate proceeded to Londonderry arriving on 9 December.
HMS Heather and HMS Lord Austin proceeded to Liverpool arriving there also on 9 December.
HMS Middelton, HMS Brissenden and HMS Harrier proceeded to Scapa Flow arriving there later on the 8th.
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A close cover force was deployed. This was ' Force 1 ', made up of the heavy cruiser HMS Kent (Capt. G.A.B. Hawkins, DSC, MVO, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral A.F.E. Palliser, CB, DSC, RN) and the light cruisers HMS Bermuda (Capt. T.H. Back, RN) and HMS Jamaica (Capt. J.L. Storey, DSO, RN) departed Seidisfjord on 19 November to provide cover for convoy JW 54A between 15°00'E and 41°00'E.
' Force 1 ' arrived in the Kola Inlet on 24 November.
' Force 1 ' departed the Kola Inlet on 27 November to provide cover for convoy JW 54B between 15°00'E and 41°00'E and RA 54B between 41°00'E and 05°00'E.
On 3 December, HMS Jamaica was detached to Hvalfjord where she arrived on 5 December.
On 4 December, HMS Kent and HMS Bermuda arrived at Scapa Flow.
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Also a distant cover force was deployed. This was ' Force 2 ', the battle force, which was made up the battleship HMS Anson (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO and Bar, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.R. Moore, KCB, DSO, CVO, RN), heavy cruiser USS Tuscaloosa (Capt. J.B.W. Waller, USN) and the destroyers USS Forrest (T/Cdr. K.P. Letts, USN), USS Fitch (T/Cdr. K.C. Walpole, USN), USS Corry (T/Cdr. L.B. Ensey, USN) and USS Hobson (T/Lt.Cdr. K. Loveland, USN) departed Akureyri on 19 November to cover convoy JW 54A from approximate position 73°00'N, 11°00'E.
On 24 November, while on passage back to Akureyri, USS Tuscaloosa was detached to Hvalfiord where she arriving later on the same day.
HMS Anson arrived at Akureyri also on 24 November escorted by the American destroyers which then went on to Hvalfjord.
On 28 November ' Force 2 ', now made up of the battleship HMS Anson, light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) and the destroyers HMS Musketeer (Cdr. R.L. Fisher, OBE, RN), HMS Matchless (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, DSO, RN), HMS Ashanti (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Barnes, RN) and HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO, RN) departed Akureyri to provide cover for convoy JW 54B and RA 54B from approximate position 73°00'N, 11°00'E.
On 29 November the destroyers had to be detached due to heavy weather as they were unable to keep up without sustaining damage. In fact, HMS Matchless had sustained damage and proceeded to Seidisfjord with defects. The destroyers rejoined on 1 December.
On 4 December ' Force 2 ' arrived at Scapa Flow. HMS Matchless also arrived there on the same day. (39) 22 Nov 1943 28 Nov 1943 [For more info see the event ' Operation FT, passage of convoys JW 54A and JW 54B from the U.K. to Northern Russia as well as convoy RA 54B from Northern Russia to the U.K. ' for 15 November 1943.] (58) 4 Dec 1943 9 Dec 1943 11 Dec 1943 12 Dec 1943 This convoy departed Loch Ewe on 12 December 1943 for Northern Russia.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Collis P. Huntington (American, 7177 GRT, built 1942),
Daniel Willard (American, 7200 GRT, built 1942),
Empire Archer (British, 7031 GRT, built 1942),
Empire Pickwick (British, 7068 GRT, built 1943),
Fort Astoria (British, 7189 GRT, built 1943),
Fort Hall (British, 7157 GRT, built 1943),
Fort Missanabie (British, 7147 GRT, built 1943),
Fort Thompson (British, 7134 GRT, built 1942),
George Weems (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942),
James A. Farrell (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
James Woodrow (American, 7200 GRT, built 1942),
Lapland (British, 2897 GRT, built 1942),
Lewis Emery Jr. (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Lucerna (British (tanker), 6556 GRT, built 1930),
Philip Livingston (American, 7176 GRT, built 1941),
San Ambrosio (British (tanker), 7410 GRT, built 1935),
Stage Door Canteen (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Thistledale (British, 7241 GRT, built 1942) and
Thomas Scott (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942).
On departure from Loch Ewe the convoy was escorted by the destroyer HMS Westcott (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) H. Lambton, RN), minesweepers HMS Harrier (Cdr. H.E.H. Nicholls, RN), HMS Speedwell (Lt.Cdr. T.E. Williams, RD, RNR), HMS Cockatrice (A/Lt.Cdr. C.W. Armstrong, RNR) and the corvette HNoMS Acanthus (?).
on 15 December the destroyers HMS Milne (Capt. I.M.R. Campbell, DSO, RN), HMS Matchless (Lt. W.D. Shaw, RN), HMS Meteor (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN), HMS Musketeer (Cdr. R.L. Fisher, OBE, RN), HMS Opportune (Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Virago (Lt.Cdr. A.J.R. White, RN), HMS Ashanti (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Barnes, RN) and HMCS Athabascan (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Stubbs, RCN) joined the convoy coming from Skaalefjord, Faeroer Islands. HMS Harrier and HMS Cockatrice were then detached with orders to proceed to Skaalefjord.
On 20 December 1943 the convoy split into two sections, one for Murmansk with the original escort and one for Archangelsk with a new escort made up of the minesweepers HMS Hussar (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Biggs, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Halcyon (T/A/Lt.Cdr. L.J. Martin, RNVR), the Russian destroyers Gromkiy, Grozniy, Valerian Kyubishev as well as three Russian minesweepers.
The Murmansk section arrived at its destination on 21 December 1943, the Archangelsk section a day later.
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This convoy departed Loch Ewe on 20 December 1943 for Northern Russia.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Bernard N. Baker (American, 7191 GRT, built 1943),
British Statesman (British (tanker), 6991 GRT, built 1923),
Brockhorst Livingston (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942),
Cardinal Gibbons (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942),
Fort Kullyspell (British, 7190 GRT, built 1943),
Fort Nakasley (British, 7132 GRT, built 1943),
Fort Verscheres (British, 7128 GRT, built 1942),
Harold L. Winslow (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
John J. Abel (American, 7191 GRT, built 1943),
John Vining (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942),
John Wanamaker (British, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Norlys (Panamanian (tanker), 9892 GRT, built 1936),
Ocean Gipsy (British, 7178 GRT, built 1942),
Ocean Messenger (British, 7178 GRT, built 1942),
Ocean Pride (British, 7173 GRT, built 1942),
Ocean Valour (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942),
Ocean Viceroy (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942),
Thomas U. Walter (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943) and
Will Rogers (American, 7200 GRT, built 1942).
On departure from Loch Ewe the convoy was escorted by the destroyers HMS Whitehall (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN), HMS Wrestler (Lt. R.W.B. Lacon, DSC, RN), minesweepers HMS Gleaner (Lt.Cdr. F.J.G. Hewitt, DSC and Bar, RN), Hound (A/Cdr.(Retd.) A.H. Wynne-Edwards, RN), Hydra (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.T.J. Wellard, RNR) and the corvettes HMS Borage (Lt. W.S. MacDonald, DSC, RNVR), HMS Honeysuckle (Lt. H.H.D. MacKillican, DSC, RNR), HMS Oxlip (Lt. C.W. Leadbetter, RNR) and HMS Wallflower (Lt. G.R. Greaves, RNR).
On 22 December 1943 the destroyers HMS Onslow (Capt. J.A. McCoy, DSO, RN), HMS Onslaught (Cdr. W.H. Selby, DSC, RN), HMS Orwell (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN), HMS Impulsive (Lt.Cdr. P. Bekenn, RN), HMS Scourge (Lt.Cdr. G.I.M. Balfour, RN), HMCS Iroquois (Cdr. J.C. Hibbard DSC, RCN), HMCS Haida (Cdr. H.G. De Wolf, RCN) and HMCS Huron (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Rayner, DSC, RCN) joined the convoy coming from Skaalefjord, Faeroer Islands. HMS Hound, HMS Hydra, HMS Borage and HMS Wallflower were then detached to Skaalefjord.
For 23 December 1943 onwards the convoy was shadowed by enemy aircraft, U-boats joined them the following day.
On 24 December 1943, the convoy reversed it's course for a few hours in order to have the battle cover force ' Force 2 ' close the distance due to the threat to the convoy of the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst [see below for more info in the resulting ' Battle of the North Cape '.]
On 25 December 1943, the destroyers HMS Musketeer, HMS Matchless, HMS Opportune and HMS Virago joined the convoy having detached from convoy RA 55A. They were detached again the following day and joined cover force ' Force 1 ' [again see below for more info].
On 26 December the convoy was diverse to the north to evade the Scharnhorst. Later in the day, following the sinking of the German ship the convoy resumed its normal course.
On 28 December 1943 the convoy split into two sections, one for Murmansk with the original escort and one for Archangelsk with a new escort made up of the minesweepers HMS Hussar, HMS Halcyon, HMS Speedwell, the Russian destroyers Razyarenniy, Razumniy, Valerian Kyubishev as well as four Russian minesweepers.
The Murmansk section arrived at its destination on 29 December 1943, the Archangelsk section a day later.
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This convoy departed the Kola Inlet (Murmansk) on 22 December 1943 for the U.K.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Arthur L. Perry (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Daniel Drake (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Edmund Fanning (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Empire Carpenter (British, 7025 GRT, built 1943),
Empire Celia (British, 7025 GRT, built 1943),
Empire Nigel (British, 7067 GRT, built 1943),
Fort McMurray (British, 7133 GRT, built 1942),
Fort Yukon (British, 7153 GRT, built 1943),
Gilbert Stuart (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Henry Villard (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942),
James Smith (American, 7181 GRT, built 1942),
Junecrest (British, 6945 GRT, built 1942),
Mijdrecht (Dutch (tanker), 7493 GRT, built 1931),
Ocean Strength (British, 7173 GRT, built 1942),
Ocean Vanity (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942),
Ocean Verity (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942),
Park Holland (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
San Adolfo (British (tanker), 7365 GRT, built 1935),
Thomas Kearns (American, 7194 GRT, built 1943),
Thomas Sim Lee (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942),
William L. Marcy (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942) and
William Windom (American, 7194 GRT, built 1943).
The rescue vessel Rathlin (British, 1600 GRT, built 1936) was also with the convoy.
On departure from the Kola Inlet the convoy was escorted by the destroyers HMS Milne, HMS Matchless, HMS Meteor, HMS Musketeer, HMS Opportune, HMS Virago, HMS Ashanti, HMCS Athabascan, HMS Westcott, HMS Beagle (Lt.Cdr. N.R. Murch, RN), minesweeper HMS Jason (Cdr. H.G.A. Lewis, RN) and the corvettes HMS Dianthus (A/Lt.Cdr. B.J. Bowick, RNVR) and HMS Poppy (T/Lt. D.R.C. Onslow, RNR).
On 23 December the merchant vessel Thomas Kearns had to return with defects.
On 25 December, HMS Musketeer, HMS Matchless, HMS Opportune and HMS Virago were detached to join JW 55B.
On 26 December the convoy got scattered during a gale.
On 28 December HMCS Athabascan and HMS Beagle were detached to Skaalefjord, Faeroer Islands where they arrived on the 29th.
On 30 December, the minesweepers HMS Hound, HMS Hydra and the corvettes HMS Borage and HMS Wallflower joined the convoy. They had departed Skaalefjord on the 29th.
Also on the 30th, HMS Ashanti and later HMS Westcott were detached to fuel at Skaalefiord.
On 31 December HMS Westcott rejoined the convoy after fuelling at Skaalefiord.
Also on 31 December HMS Milne and HMS Meteor were detached from the convoy to proceed direct to Scapa Flow arriving there later the same day. HMS Seagull was also detached for Scapa Flow also arriving the same day but later then the destroyers.
The convoy arrived at Loch Ewe on 1 January 1944, escorted by HMS Borage and HMS Wallflower.
HMS Hound and HMS Hydra had been detached to return to Skaalefiord where they arrived on 2 January 1944.
HMS Westcott, HMS Acanthus, HMS Dianella and HMS Poppy had been detached to proceed to east coast ports to rejoin the Western Approaches Command. They arrived at their destinations on 2 January 1944.
This convoy departed the Kola Inlet (Murmansk) on 31 December 1943 for the U.K.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Daldorch (British, 5571 GRT, built 1930),
Empire Stalwart (British, 7045 GRT, built 1943),
Fort Columbia (British, 7155 GRT, built 1942),
Fort Poplar (British, 7134 GRT, built 1942),
James Gordon Bennett (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942),
Lucerna (British (tanker), 6556 GRT, built 1930),
San Ambrosio (British (tanker), 7410 GRT, built 1935) and
Thomas Kearns (American, 7194 GRT, built 1943).
On departure from the Kola Inlet the convoy was escorted by the destroyers HMS Onslow, HMS Onslaught, HMS Orwell, HMS Impulsive, HMCS Iroquois, HMCS Haida, HMCS Huron, HMS Whitehall, HMS Wrestler, minesweepers HMS Halcyon, HMS Hussar, HMS Speedwell and the corvettes HMS Honeysuckle, HMS Oxlip and HMS Rhododendron (T/Lt. O.B. Medley, RNVR).
On 1 January 1944, HMS Halcyon, HMS Hussar, HMS Speedwell were detached to return to the Kola Inlet where they arrived the following day.
On 6 January 1944, the minesweepers Ready (Cdr. A.V. Walker, RN) and Orestes (Lt.Cdr. A.W.R. Adams, RN) joined the convoy coming from Skaalefjord, Faeroer Islands.
Also on 6 January 1944, HMCS Huron, HMS Honeysuckle, HMS Oxlip and HMS Rhododendron fuelled at Skaalefjord and then rejoined the convoy.
On 7 January 1944, HMS Onslow, HMS Onslaught, HMS Orwell, HMS Impulsive, HMCS Iroquois, HMCS Haida, HMCS Huron parted company with the convoy to proceed to Scapa Flow where they arrived later the same day.
On 8 January 1944, the convoy arrived at Loch Ewe escorted by HMS Ready and HMS Orestes.
HMS Whitehall, HMS Wrestler, HMS Honeysuckle, HMS Oxlip and HMS Rhododendron had parted company shortly before arrival to proceed to East coast ports to rejoin the Western Approaches Command.
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' Force 1 ' was the cruiser cover force for these convoy's. It was made up of the light cruisers HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN), HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.T. Addis, RN) and the heavy cruiser HMS Norfolk (Capt. D.K. Bain, RN).
On 16 December 1943, ' Force 1 ', departed Seidisfjord, Iceland to provide cover for Convoy JW 55A.
On 19 December 1943, ' Force 1 ', arrived in the Kola Inlet.
On 23 December 1943, ' Force 1 ', departed the Kola Inlet to provide cover for convoys RA 55A and JW 55B.
On 26 December 1943, ' Force 1 ', was joined by the destroyers HMS Musketeer, HMS Matchless, HMS Opportune and HMS Virago and ' Force 1 ' was in action with the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst during which HMS Sheffield and HMS Norfolk were damaged [see below for more info.]
On 27 December 1943, ' Force 1 ' arrived in the Kola Inlet to fuel and make temporary repairs to the damaged ships.
On 29 December 1943, ' Force 1 ' (HMS Belfast, HMS Sheffield and HMS Norfolk) departed the Kola Inlet for Scapa Flow where they arrived on 1 January 1944.
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' Force 2 ' was the battle cover force for these convoy's. It was made up of the battleship HMS Duke of York (Capt. G.H.E. Russell, CBE, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral B.A. Fraser, KCB, KBE, RN), light cruiser HMS Jamaica (Capt. J. Hugh-Hallett, DSO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Savage (Cdr. R.C. Gordon, DSO, RN), HMS Saumarez (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Walmsley, DSC, RN), HMS Scorpion (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN) and HNoMS Stord (Lt.Cdr. S.V. Storheill).
On 12 December 1943, ' Force 2 ' had departed Scapa Flow for the Kola Inlet where it arrived on 16 December 1941.
On 18 December 1943, ' Force 2 ', departed the Kola Inlet to provide cover from convoy JW 55A.
On 21 December 1943, ' Force 2 ', arrived at Akureyri, Iceland. It was swept in by the minesweepers HMS Loyalty (Lt.Cdr. James Edward Maltby, RNR).
On 23 December 1943, ' Force 2 ', departed Akureyri to provide cover for convoys JW 55B and RA 55A.
On 26 December 1943, ' Force 2 ' was in action with the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst [see below for more info.]
On 27 December 1943, ' Force 2 ' arrived in the Kola Inlet to fuel and to make some repairs.
On 28 December 1943, ' Force 4 ', made up of HMS Duke of York, HMS Jamaica, HMS Musketeer, HMS Matchless, HMS Opportune, HMS Virago, HMS Savage, HMS Scorpion and HNoMS Stord departed the Kola Inlet for Scapa Flow. HMS Saumarez was unable to sail, her action damage some more repairs.
On 1 January 1944, ' Force 4 ' arrived at Scapa Flow.
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Dispositions at 0400A/26.
At 0400A/26, the situation in the Bear Island area was as follows;
Westbound convoy RA 55A was about 220 nautical miles to the westward of Bear Island in approximate position 74°42'N, 05°27'E, steering 267°, speed 8 knots. This convoy was apparently still not detected by the enemy.
Eastbound convoy JW 55B was about 50 miles south of Bear Island in approximate position 73°31'N, 18°54'E, steering 070°, speed 8 knots.
' Force 1 ', the cruiser force, was in position 73°52'N, 27°12'E (some 150 nautical miles to the eastward of convoy JW 55B. They were steering 235° at 18 knots.
' Force 2 ', the battle force, was in position 71°07'N, 10°48'E, some 350 miles to the south-west of the cruisers. They were proceeding on course 080° at 24 knots. In the weather conditions the destroyers had difficulty keeping up and the bow of HMS Duke of York was almost constantly under water.
Convoy JW 55B had been sighted and shadowed by aircraft for a while and when flying conditions deteriorated U-boats had been in contact with the convoy. Admiral Fraser had no doubt that this convoy would be the target for the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst and the destroyers Z 29, Z 30, Z 33, Z 34 and Z 38 which were known to be at sea. He therefore decided to divert the convoy to the northward in order to increase the enemy's difficulties in finding it. This would entail breaking wireless silence and revealing the presence of covering forces but the decided that the safety of the convoy must be the primery object. At 0628A/26, Convoy JW 55B was ordered to steer 045° and ' Force 1 ' was ordered to close it for support.
' Force 1 ' altered course to 270° at 0712A/26 in order to approach the convoy from the southward and thus, in the event of action, to avoid steaming into the strong south-westerly wind and heavy seas. Course was held for an hour, and after receiving the position, course and speed of the convoy, course was altered to 300° at 0815A/26. Speed was increased to 24 knots.
Meanwhile the German battlegroup had continued to proceed northwards and at 0730 hours was in estimated position 73°52'N, 23°10'E. Soon afterwards the destroyers were detached to form a reconnaissance line 10 miles ahead of the Scharnhorst. Some of the destroyers did not receive this order and as a result they moved ahead but the area of their search was not the one intended. At 0800 hours the German battlegroup altered course to 230°, probably on account of a submarine report on the position of the convoy. At this time the destroyers were some 10 miles ahead of the battlecruiser, spread approximately in line abreast but it seems that soon afterwards the Scharnhorst turned to the north-eastward, and all communication between her and the destroyers broke down. Communication was restored two hours later but the destroyers never rejoined the battlecruiser.
First contact with the enemy.
At 0840A/26, HMS Belfast picked up a radar contact at 35000 yards, bearing 295°. The Belfast's estimasted position was then 73°35'N, 23°21'E and Vice-Admiral Burnett reckoned the convoy was bearing 287°, 48 nautical miles from him. At the same time Capt. McCoy in HMS Onslow placed the enemy about 36 nautical miles, bearing 125°, from the convoy.
In the Belfast the range of the main echo decreased rapidly, and twenty minutes later - at 0900A/26 - a second echo was obtained, bearing 299°, 24500 yards. This second echo remained on a steady bearing till 0930A/26, when, from its estimated speed of 8-10 knots, the Vice-Admiral considered that it was probably a merchant ship from the convoy, and disregarded it. It may well have been, however, one of the enemy destroyers, detached to shadow the convoy.
At 0915A/26 the main echo bore 250°, 13000 yards, speed approximately 18 knots. At this time ' Force 1 ' was formed on a line of bearing 180°, in the order HMS Belfast, HMS Sheffield and HMS Norfolk, HMS Belfast being the northern ship. The line of bearing had just been altered to 160°, when at 0921A/26, HMS Sheffield reported ' enemy in sight ' bearing 222°, 13000 yards. At 0924A/26, HMS Belfast opened fire with starshell and at 0929A/26, ' Force 1 ' was ordered to engage with main armament, course being altered 40° towards the enemy, to 265°. HMS Norfolk opened fire at a range of 9800 yards, but had to drop back to clear the Belfast's range. She continued firing till 0940 and obtained one git, with her second or third salvo, either on the crow's nest of the bridge port director, which caused several casualties, and possible a hit on the forecastle. The 6" cruisers did not fire during this phase of the action, nor did the enemy, whole altered course to about 150°, steaming at 30 knots. ' Force 1 ' altered to 105° at 0938A/26 and to 170° at 0946A/26 by which time the range had opened to 24000 yards and chased to the southward, but the enemy drew away and the range continued to increase.
At 0955A/26, the Scharnhorst altered course to the north-east, and Vice-Admiral Burnett at once appreciated that she was trying to work round to the northward of the convoy for a second attempt to attack it. Possibly this was the result of an exhortation from Admiral Dönitz which appears to have been received and read to her ship's company around this time. In the prevailing weather conditions - wind force 7 to 8 from the southwest - ' Force 1's ' maximimum speed was 24 knots, and as that of the enemy appeared to be 4 to 6 knots faster the Vice-Admiral decided that he must get between the Scharnhorst and the convoy. He therefore altered course to 305° at 1000A/26, and to 325° at 1014A/26, with result that six minutes later contact was lost with the enemy bearing 078°, 36000 yards, and steering to the north-east at about 28 knots.
Meanwhile the Commander-in-Chief had ordered Capt. McCoy, the escort commander, to turn the convoy to the northward at 0930A/26, and to send four destroyers to join ' Force 1 ' at 0937A/26. HMS Musketeer, HMS Matchless, HMS Opportune and HMS Virago were detached at 0951A/26. They joined Vice-Admiral Burnett at 1024A/26. By 1030A/26, when it was clear to the Commander-in-Chief that ' Force 1 ' had lost touch with the enemy, and he was again closing the convoy, he ordered convoy JW 55B to resume course 045°.
Second engagement of ' Force 1 '.
Half an hour after losing touch with the enemy ' Force 1 ' made radar contact with the convoy, bearing 324°, 28000 yards, at 1050A/1, and the cruisers commenced zigzagging 10 miles ahead of it, with the four destroyers disposed ahead as a screen.
At 1058A/1, the Commander-in-Chief informed Vice-Admiral Burnett that ' Force 2 ' wound have little chance of finding the enemy unless some unit regained touch with him and shadowed, but in view of the enemy's advantage in speed under the prevailing weather conditions, the Vice-Admiral ' rightly considered it undesirable to split his force by detaching one or more ships to search, feeling confident that the enemy would return to the convoy from the north or north-east '. An hour went by, and the Commander-in-Chief found himself faced with the difficult question of the destroyers fuel situation. He had ' either to turn back or go to the Kola Inlet, and if the Scharnhorst had already turned for home, these was obviously no chance of catching him. This latter contingency was by no means improbable, for ' Force 2 ' had been shadowed from the starboard quarter by three enemy aircraft since about 1000A/26, and their reports had presumably been passed to the Scharnhorst. Then, at 1205A/26, came a signal from HMS Belfast reporting radar contact again with the enemy, and he knew that there was every prospect of cutting him off.
The convoy had remained on a course of 045° till just before noon, when Capt. McCoy, who had been ordered by the Commander-in-Chief at 1122 hours to use his discretion as to its course, altered to 125° in order to keep ' Force 1 ' between the convoy and the probable direction of the enemy. HMS Norfolk had reported a radar contact at 27000 yards at 1137A/26, but had lost it a few minutes later, and by noon, when the convoy was turning to 125°, ' Force 1 ' was in position 74°11'N, 22°18'E, steering 045°, 18 knots, with the convoy about 9 miles on the port quarter. Five minutes later (1205A/26), HMS Belfast radar picked up the enemy bearing 075°, 30500 yards. Vice-Admiral Burnett concentrated his four destroyers on his starboard bow, and at 1219A/26, altered course to 100°. The enemy course and speed was estimated at 240°, 20 knots. A minute later the Scharnhorst appeared to alter course slightly to the westward and at 1221A/26, HMS Sheffield reported ' enemy in sight '. ' Force 1 ' immediately opened fire, and the destroyers were ordered to attack with torpedoes, but were unable to reach a firing position owing to the weather conditions, and the enemy's hurried retirement.
This second action, fought by the cruisers at ranges from 9000 to 16000 yards, lasted about 20 minute, and again the Scharnhorst was ' most effectively driven off the convoy by Force 1's determined attack '. The enemy altered course from west round to south-east, increasing speed to 28 knots, and the range soon began to open. Several hits were claimed by the cruisers, but only one, which struck the port side aft and apparently failed to explode, was subsequently confirmed by prisoners. HMS Musketeer, however, which was herself engaging the enemy at a range of 4500 yards, consided there were others, and the prisoners agreed that the cruisers fire was unpleasantly accurate and filled the air with fragments.
At 1233A/26, 12 minutes after the action started, HMS Norfolk received two hits, one through the barbette of 'X' turret, which was put out of action, and one amidships. All radar, except Type 284, became unsericeable and these were several casualties. One officer and six ratings were killed and five seriously wounded. At the same time an 11" salvo straddled HMS Sheffield, and several pieces of shell, came inboard, fragments penetrated the ship at various points.
By 1241A/26, the enemy was on a course of 110° steaming 28 knots, and the range had opened to 12400 yards. Vice-Admiral Burnett decided to check fire, and to shadow with his whole force until the Scharnhorst could be engaged by ' Force 2 '. He therefore increased speed to 28 knots, and at 1250A/26, the enemy range and bearing were steady at 13400 yards, 138°. The destroyers, to the westward of the cruisers, continued to pursue the enemy in line ahead, their range opeing to 20000 yards and then remaining steady.
Shadowing operations.
The Scharnhorst had by this time given up all idea of attacking the convoy and for the next three hours her course was to the south-east and south. As she was retiring on a course so favourable for interception by ' Force 2 ', Vice-Admiral Burnett did not re-engage, and kept his cruisers concentrated, shadowing by radar from just outside visual range, about 7.5 nautical miles and slightly to the eastward of the enemy's course. The four destroyers of ' Force 1 ', which owing to the heavy sea had been unable to close the enemy sufficiently to attack with torpedoes, was stationed to the westward by the Commander-in-Chief at about 1600A/26 to guard against the Scharnhorst breaking back in that direction towards the convoy or Alten Fjord.
Despite her damage HMS Norfolk kept up with ' Force 1 ' throughout the afternoon, but at 1603A/26, she was obliged to reduce speed to fight a fire and a few minutes later, at 1607A/26, HMS Sheffield dropped back, reporting her port inner shaft out of action and speed reduced to 10 knots. By 1621A/26, she was able to proceed at 23 knots, but the delay and reduction of speed prevented her from rejoining HMS Belfast until about 2100A/26. For the rest of the action she remained some 10 miles astern. HMS Norfolk was able to rejoin HMS Belfast around 1700A/26.
Movements of the German destroyers.
All this time, while the Scharnhorst was being gradually haunded to her doom, the German destroyers had played a singularly ineffective part. After losting contact soon after 0800A/26, they continued on the south-westerly course (230°) to which the force had just turned, spread approximately five miles apart. No orders were received from the Flag Officer, Battle Group, until 1009A/26 - just after the close of the first action with Vice-Admiral Burnett's cruisers - when a signal was received directing the destroyers ' to advance into the immediate vicinity of the convoy '. To this Z 29, the Flotilla Leader, replied that they were advancing according to plan, course 230°, speed 12 knots. Twenty minutes later, Admiral Bey had apparently come to the conclusion that the convoy was further to the north then that he had previously supposed, and at 1027 he ordered the Flotilla to alter course to 070° and to increase speed to 25 knots, an hour later (1135A/26) he ordered a further change of course to 030°.
At 0945A/26, a report from the submarine U-277 had been received in the Scharnhorst placing the convoy in position 73°58'N, 19°30'E, but this seems to have been disregarded by Admiral Bey and it was not until two-and-a-half hours later (1218A/26), that he ordered the destroyers to operate in this area. Course was accordingly altered to 280° and the flotilla concentrated on the northern ship but it was too late and the convoy was well to the north-eastward of the position reported by the U-boat, though the destroyers must have passed within 10 miles of it at about 1300A/26 on passage to the new area, owing to Capt. McCoy's turn to the south-eastward at noon. On this Admiral Bey was unaware, and at 1418A/26, he ordered the destroyers to break off the operation and make for the Norwegian coast. With the excetion of Z 33, which had become separated in the bad weather, the Flotilla - then some 16 nautical miles south-east of Bear Island - at once altered course to 180° and eventually entered Norwegian coastal waters at about 0200A/27.
Z 33 made her own way back, at 1810A/26, she sighted what was believed to be a straggler from the convoy. At this target she fired four torpedoes, which missed, and continued on her way to her base.
Movements of the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet ' Force 2 '.
Meanwhile ' Force 2 ', acting on reports of Vice-Admiral Burnett's cruisers, had been steering throughout the day to intercept. During the first two cruiser engagements the composition of the enemy's force was not clear to the Commander-in-Chief, but on confirmation by the Vice-Admiral that only one heavy unit was present, he decided to engage on similar courses, with HMS Jamaica in support, opening fire at about 13000 yards and detaching his destroyers to make a torpedo attack. At 1400A/26 he estimated that if the enemy maintained his course and speed, ' Force 2 ' would engage him at about 1715A/26, but the Scharnhorst altered to the south soon afterwards, and at 1617A/26 the Duke of York's Type 273 radar picked her up at 45500 yards bearing 020°. The range closed rapidly, and soon HMS Belfast was picked up astern of the target. At 1632A/26, a quarter of an hour after the first contact, the Duke of York's Type 284 found the enemy at 29700 yards, apparently zig-zagging on a mean course of 160°. Five minutes later, the destroyers, which had formed sub-divisions on either bow of the flagship shortly after first contact, were ordered to take up most advantageous position for torpedo attack, but not to attack until ordered to do so. The destroyers had formed sub-divisions as follows, HMS Savage with HMS Saumarez and HMS Scorpion with HNoMS Stord.
At 1642A/26, the enemy seemed to alter course slightly to port and two minutes later ' Force 2 ' altered to 080° in order to open 'A' arcs. At 1647A/26, HMS Belfast opened fire with starshell, followed at 1648A/26 by HMS Duke of York. Those from the latter illuminated the enemy at 1650A/26. The Commander-in-Chief then made an enemy report and ' Force 2 ' opened fire with their main armament.
' Force 2 ' engages, 1650-1844 hours, 26 December 1943.
When HMS Duke of York and HMS Jamaica opened fire at 12000 yards. There was every indication that the Scharnhorst was completely unaware of their presence, her turrets were reported trained fore and aft, she did not immediately reply to the fire of ' Force 2 ' and when she did her fire was erratic. Prisoners subsequently confirmed that she had made no radar contact during the approach of ' Force 2 '. They had been told they would not have to engage anything larger then a cruiser and were badly shaken when informed that a capital ship to the southward was engaging them.
The Scharnhorst altered round at once to the northward, and the Duke of York to 360° to follow and also to avoid torpedoes which the enemy, had he been on the alert, might have been fired. On this, HMS Belfast prepared to fire torpedoes, but the Scharnhorst altered away to the eastward, probably with the double object of avoiding ' Force 1 ' and opening 'A' arcs, and HMS Belfast and HMS Norfolk then engaged her with their main armamant, steering northerly and north-easterly courses in order to prevent her breaking back to the north-westward, until 1712A/26, when she ran out of range, after firing two ineffective salvoes at the cruisers. Vice-Admiral Burnett continued to the north-north-west until 1720A/26, and it was then apparent that the enemy meant to escape to the eastward, gradually altered round to follow. Just then orders were received from the Commander-in-Chief to ' steer 140° ' and join him, and the cruisers steadied on a south-easterly course at 1727A/26.
The hunt was up, and for the next hour there was a chase to the eastward, HMS Duke of York and HMS Jamaica engaging at ranges which gradually increased, as the enemy's superior speed began to tell. By 1708A/26, the Scharnhorst was steadily on an easterly course and engaging HMS Duke of York and HMS Jamaica with her main armamant. Her tactics were to turn to the southward, fire a broadside, and then turn on end-on away to the east till ready to fire the next salvo, making the Duke of York's gunners a problem.
By 1730A/26, the situation was as follows. To the south-west of the enemy HMS Duke of York and HMS Jamaica were engaging him and pursuing similar tactics. ' Force 2's ' destroyers - still well astern of him - were endeavouring to gain bearing to attack with torpedoes, taking individual avoiding action when fired on, HMS Savage and HMS Saumarez edging over to get on his port side while HMS Scorpion and HNoMS Stord remained on the starbord side. To the north-west, HMS Musketeer, HMS Matchless, HMS Opportune and HMS Virago, which had turned at 1700A/26, was creeping up on a easterly course roughly parallel to that of the enemy and some miles to the northward. Further to the north-west HMS Belfast and HMS Norfolk were steering to the south-eastward to join the Commander-in-Chief, with HMS Sheffield some distance astern, and dropping owing to her reduced speed. What the German Admiral though of the situation may be judged from his signal to the German War Staff (timed 1724 hours); ' Am surrounded by heavy units '.
HMS Duke of York probably obtained hits with her first and third salvoes, which, accordingly to prisoners, were on the quarter deck close to ' C ' turret, and low down forward. This latter may have put ' A ' turret out of action as it did not fire again. Little is known about other hits during this first engagement, but it seems certain that HMS Duke of York had obtained hits which may have caused some underwater damage that eventually reduced the Scharnhorst speed. HMS Jamaica claimed on hit.
The Scharnhorst's gunfire was erratic to begin with but later improved as the range increased. Between ranges of 17000 - 20000 yards HMS Duke of York was straddled several times. Her hull was not hit but both masts were shot through by 11" shells which fortunately did not explode.
By 1742A/26, the range had opened to 18000 yards and HMS Jamaica then ceased fire, her blind fire at this range considered of doubtful value and liable to confuse the Duke of York's radar spotting. At this time all the cruisers were out of range, and the destroyers had not yet been seriously engaged by the enemy. The gun duel between HMS Duke of York and the Scharnhorst continued till 1820A/26 when the enemy ceased firing at 20000 yards, and reduced speed, though this was not immediately apparent. At the same time the Commander-in-Chief decided to turn south-eastward towards the Norwegian coast, in the hope she would also lead round and so to give his destroyers a chance to attack. At 1824A/26, the range having opened to 21400 yards, HMS Duke of York checked fire. She had fired 52 broadsides, of which 31 have been reported as straddles and 16 as within 200 yards of the enemy.
Just at this moment the Scharnhorst was sending her final signal - a message from Admiral Bey to the Führer - ' We shall fight to the last shell '. This was the last report the German Naval Staff received from her as to her fate, though no doubt they were able to draw their conclusions three-quarters of an hour later (1919A/26) when they intercepted a British signal ' Finish her off with torpedoes '.
First destroyer attack, 1850 hours, 26 December 1943.
At 1824A/26, the Commander-in-Chief was of the opinion that the Scharnhorst might escape and much depended on the four 'S-class' destroyers to damage of sink her. Since 1713A/26, when they had been ordered to attack, they had been gradually gaining bearing on the Scharnhorst, but their progress was very slow and their chances of attack depended on a radical alteration of course by their quarry. Then, at 1820A/26, when they had closed to 12000 yards they started to forge ahead. The enemy had reduced speed. By 1840A/26, the first sub-division (HMS Savage and HMS Saumarez), astern of the enemy, and the second sub-division (HMS Scorpion and HNoMS Stord), on his starboard beam, had each closed to about 10000 yards. Some three minutes earlier, the Commander-in-Chief, observing on his radar plot the enemy's reduction of speed, had altered course directly towards her, and was beginning to close rapidly.
The Scharnhorst opened a fairly heavy, though ineffective, fire on HMS Savage and HMS Saumarez, which they returned when the range closed to 7000 yards. As these two approached from the north-westward, drawing the enemy's fire, HMS Scorpion and HNoMS Stord were closing in apparently unseen, and certainly unengaged from the south-eastward. At 1849A/26, starshells from HMS Savage illuminated the enemy, and she was seen to be turning to the southward. The Scorpion and Stord immediately swung to starboard, each firing eight torpedoes at 2100 and 1800 yards respectively. HMS Scorpion claimed one hit, HNoMS Stord none, probably due to the Scharnhorst combing the latter's tracks. Both destroyers were engaged by the enemy's secondary and light armament while retiring, the the firing was wild and inflicted no damage. They returned the fire and scored several hits on the superstructure. The Scharnhorst continued to alter round to starboar after this attack till on a south-westerly course, thus placing HMS Savage and HMS Saumarez in an excellent position on her starboard bow. Her movements could be followed clearly in the light of their starshell, and HMS Savage with HMS Saumarez on her starboard quarter, hastily training their torpedo tubes to starboard, turned in to attack at 1855A/26, coming under heavy fire from the enemy's entire armament as they did so. HMS Savage fired eight torpedoes from 3500 yards, but HMS Saumarez received damage which prevented her training one set of tubes, and got off only four from 1800 yards. Subsequent analysis credited there attacks with three hits altogether. The destroyers then withdrew to the northward, engaging the Scharnhorst as they did so. Fortunately damage to HMS Saumarez was all above the waterline. Shells had passed through her director and rengefinders without exploding, but she had suffered considerably from splinters which reduced her speed to 10 knots on one engine only. One officer and ten ratings were killed and eleven ratings were wounded.
Second engagement of ' Force 2 '.
As the destroyers withdrew to the northward, HMS Duke of York and HMS Jamaica coming up from the south-west, re-engaged at a range of 10400 yards, opening fire at 1901A/26. Hits were immediately scored, while the enemy continued to fire at the retiring destroyers. HMS Norfolk, too joined in from the northward, but had difficulty in finding the right target, and checked fire after a couple of salvoes. After five minutes, when the Scharnhorst had been repeatedly hit and fires and flashes from exploding ammunition were flaring up, she shifted her secondary armament fire to HMS Duke of York at a range of about 8000 yards. During this second action she apparently engaged HMS Duke of York and HMS Jamaica with only part of her main armament, and that intermittently.
The battle was then approaching its end. Between 1901A/26 and 1926A/26 the enemy's speed fell drastically from 20 to about 5 knots. At 1915A/26, HMS Belfast opened fire on her at a range of 17000 yards, and a few minutes later she steadied on a northerly course. About this time (1919A/26) the Commander-in-Chief ordered HMS Jamaica and HMS Belfast to close the enemy, who was then almost stationary, and to sink her with torpedoes. HMS Duke of York continued firing - getting of 25 broadsides, of which 21 were straddles - till 1928A/26, when she checked fire to enable the cruisers, which had altered course towards the enemy to diliver their torpedo attacks. According to prisoners HMS Duke of York had obtained at least 10 hits.
Torpedo attacks by HMS Belfast and HMS Jamaica.
In the Scharnhorst - battered by gunfire and crippled by four torpedoes - resistance was pracically at an end as the cruisers closed in from north and south. Prisoners subsequently stated that after sending their final signal to Hitler, assuring him that the Scharnhorst would fight to the last shell, the Admiral and Captain had shot themselves on the bridge but this could not be confirmed.
HMS Jamaica fired three torpedoes to port (one of which misfired) at 1925A/26 from 3500 yards but claimed no hits as the enemy's speed appeared to have been underestimated. Two minutes later HMS Belfast also fired three torpedoes, one of which may have git, though this was subsequently considered unlikely. Both cruisers then hauled round to fire their remaining tubes. Meanwhile HMS Jamaica scored several hits with her main and secondary armamant. The Scharnhorst replied with wild fire from her secondary armamant and light weapons which did no damage and had ceased firing altogether when at 1937A/26, at a range of 3750 yards, HMS Jamaica fired three torpedoes to starboard at the enemy, broadside on and almost stopped. The result could not be seenm as the target was completely hidden by smoke, but underwater explosions were heard after the correct time interval, and it is probable that two torpedoes took effect. Two minutes earlier (1935A/26), HMS Belfast had turned to fire her port torpedoes but then HMS Musketeer, HMS Matchless, HMS Opportune and HMS Virago arrived at the scene and HMS Belfast retired to the south to await developments.
Torpedo attacks by the 36th Destroyer Division.
The 36th Division, made up of HMS Musketeer, HMS Matchless, HMS Opportune and HMS Virago, starting the chase well to the westward of the other forces, had been tracking the enemy by radar and slowly gaining bearing on a parallel course to the northward throughout the action. The destroyers now closed in sub-divisions (HMS Musketeer with HMS Matchless and HMS Opportune with HMS Virago) from the north and astern. At 1930A/27 they commenced their attacks, HMS Musketeer and HMS Matchless from the port side and HMS Opportune and HMS Virago from the starboard side. HMS Opportune fired two salvoes of four torpedoes each at 1931A/26 and 1933A/26 from range of 2100 and 2500 yards. She claimed two hits. HMS Virago followed her in, and at 1934A/26 fired seven torpedoes from 2800 yards. Two hits were observed and the sub-division then retired to the westward with HMS Virago firing on the enemy as long as possible.
On the port side, HMS Musketeer fired four torpedoes from 1000 yards at 1933A/26 and observed two and possibly three hits and then withdrew to the westward. HMS Matchless could not fire as her torpedo tubes training had been effected by a heavy sea. She therefore hauled round without firing and then came in to attack again from the enemy's port bow, but before she could fire the Scharnhorst had sunk. She then joined HMS Scorpion in picking up survivors. The German ship was last seen around 1938A/26 though no ship saw her actually sinking. This most probably occured at 1945A/26 when a large underwater explosion was felt.
For the next hour, HMS Belfast, HMS Norfolk and most of the destroyers searched the area for survivors. In all only thirty were picked up in the heavy weather from the icy waters by HMS Scorpion and six by HMS Matchless. No officer was among them. The most senior was the equivalant rating of Acting Petty Officer.
Conclusion.
Around 2100A/26, HMS Sheffield rejoined ' Force 1 ' and all forces in the area were ordered to proceed independently to the Kola Inlet where they all arrived unmolested the next day.
(61) 13 Dec 1943 15 Dec 1943 [For more info and their subsequent movements see the event ' Operation FV, passage of convoys JW 55A and JW 55B to Northern Russia and RA 55A and RA 55B from Northern Russia and the sinking of the German battleship Scharnhorst. ' for 12 December 1943.] (62) 20 Dec 1943 23 Dec 1943 [For more info and their subsequent movements see the event ' Operation FV, passage of convoys JW 55A and JW 55B to Northern Russia and RA 55A and RA 55B from Northern Russia and the sinking of the German battleship Scharnhorst. ' for 12 December 1943.] (63) 27 Dec 1943 The destroyers HMS Savage (Cdr. R.C. Gordon, DSO, RN), HMS Saumarez (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Walmsley, DSC, RN), HMS Scorpion (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN), HNoMS Stord (Lt.Cdr. S.V. Storheill), HMS Virago (Lt.Cdr. A.J.R. White, RN), HMS Opportune (Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Musketeer (Cdr. R.L. Fisher, OBE, RN and HMS Matchless (Lt. W.D. Shaw, RN) also arrived in the Kola Inlet on this day. (63) 29 Dec 1943 1 Jan 1944 HMS Sheffield had defects to her shafts. (64) 6 Jan 1944 7 Jan 1944 24 Jan 1944 2 Feb 1944 3 Feb 1944 10 Feb 1944 The object of this operation was to attack shipping on the Norwegian coast in the Stadlandet area with carrier borne aircraft.
A force made up of the battleships HMS Anson (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO and Bar, RN flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.R. Moore, KCB, DSO, CVO, RN), Richelieu (Capt. R.G. Lambert), aircraft carrier HMS Furious (Capt. G.T. Philip, DSO, DSC, RN), light cruisers HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, KBE, DSO, RN), HMS Nigeria and the destroyers HMCS Iroquois (Cdr. J.C. Hibbard DSC, RCN), HMCS Haida (Cdr. H.G. De Wolf, RCN), HMCS Athabascan (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Stubbs, RCN), HMS Serapis (Lt.Cdr. E.L. Jones, DSC, RN), HMS Onslaught (Cdr. the Hon. A. Pleydell-Bouverie, RN), HMS Oribi (Lt.Cdr. J.C.A. Ingram, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Impulsive (Lt.Cdr. P. Bekenn, RN) left Scapa Flow around 1000A/10 and poceeded to the north-east, arriving in the flying off position around 0900A/11 the following day.
Ten Barracudas, escorted by Twelve Seafires were flown off from HMS Furious. The weather was suitable to flying but cloud conditions were poor for dive bombing. No shipping targets were found under way and attacks were therefore directed at a ship found beached in two halves in Ervik Bay. This ship, which had been hit earlier by airborne and submarine torpedoes, was the Emsland (5180 GRT, built 1901) was seen to have been prepared for towing and at least 4 bomb hits on each part of the vessel were confirmed and the wreck was now thoroughly destroyed.
Enemy fighters were encounted, at least two FW-190's and 3 ME-109's were airborne before the arrival of the striking group. They were engaged by Seafires who claim one of the enemy shot down, one probably shot down and two enemy were claimed to have been damaged. One Seafire was lost. Only light anti-aircraft fire was experienced and the remainder of the striking force returned safely.
The Force was reported by enemy aircraft, but was not shadowed for any length of time. It arrived back at Scapa shortly before noon on the 12th. (69) 17 Feb 1944 1 Mar 1944 3 Mar 1944 4 Mar 1944 5 Mar 1944 9 Mar 1944 10 Mar 1944 16 Mar 1944 23 Mar 1944 26 Mar 1944 HMS Diadem then departed Scapa Flow around 1130A/26 for Loch Ewe where she arrived around 1745A/26. (76) 27 Mar 1944 27 Mar 1944 This convoy departed Loch Ewe on 27 March 1944 and arrived in the Kola Inlet on 4 April 1944.
On departure the convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Andrew Carnegie (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942),
Arunah S. Abell (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Barbara Frietchie (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Benjamin H. Latrobe (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942),
Benjamin Schlesinger (American, 7176 GRT, built 1944),
Charles Gordon Curtis (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942),
Charles Henderson (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Dolabella (British, 8142 GRT, built 1939),
Edward P. Alexander (American, 7201 GRT, built 1943),
Empire Prowess (British, 7058 GRT, built 1943),
Fort Columbia (British, 7155 GRT, built 1942),
Fort Hall (British, 7157 GRT, built 1943),
Fort Kullyspell (British, 7190 GRT, built 1943),
Fort Vercheres (British, 7128 GRT, built 1942),
Fort Yukon (British, 7153 GRT, built 1943),
Francis Scott Key (American, 7191 GRT, built 1941),
Francis Vigo (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
George Gale (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942),
George M. Cohan (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
George T. Angell (American, 7176 GRT, built 1944),
Grace Abbott (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942),
Hawkins Fudske (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Henry Villard (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942),
James Smith (American, 7181 GRT, built 1942),
John B. Lennon (American, 7198 GRT, built 1943),
John Carver (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942),
John Davenport (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942),
John McDonogh (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Joseph N. Nocollet (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Joshua Thomas (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Joyce Kilmer (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Julien Poydras (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
Lacklan (British (tanker), 8670 GRT, built 1929),
Morris Hillquit (American, 7210 GRT, built 1944),
Nicholas Biddle (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942),
Noreg (Norwegian (tanker), 7605 GRT, built 1931),
Pierre S. Dupont (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942),
Thomas Sim Lee (American, 7191 GRT, built 1942),
Townsend Harris (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
W.R. Grace (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
William D. Byron (American, 7210 GRT, built 1944),
William Matson (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943),
William McKinley (American, 7200 GRT, built 1943),
William Moultrie (American, 7177 GRT, built 1942),
William Pepper (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943) and
William S. Thayer (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943).
The rescue vessel Rathlin (British, 1600 GRT, built 1936) was also with the convoy.
On departure from Loch Ewe the convoy was escorted by the destroyers HMS Westcott (Cdr.(Retd.) H. Lambton, RN), HMS Whitehall (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Cowell, DSC, RN), HMS Wrestler (Lt.Cdr. R.W.B. Lacon, DSC, RN), HMS Inconstant (Lt.Cdr J.H. Eaden, DSC and Bar, RN), minesweepers Rattlesnake (Lt.Cdr. A.E. Coles, RD, RNR), Orestes (Lt.Cdr. A.W.R. Adams, RN), HMS Onyx (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.C.L. Gaussen, RNVR) and the corvettes HMS Bluebell (Lt. G.H. Walker, DSC, RNVR), HMS Honeysuckle (T/Lt. J.A. Wright, RNR), HMS Lotus (Lt. C.S. Thomas, RNR), HMS Rhododendron (T/Lt. O.B. Medley, RNVR) and HMS Starwort (Lt. A.H. Kent, RNR).
On 28 March 1944, the light cruisers HMS Diadem (Capt. E.G.A. Clifford, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN), USS Milwaukee (T/Capt. C.F. Fielding, USN), escort carriers HMS Activity (Capt. G. Willoughby, RN), HMS Tracker (A/Capt. J.H. Huntley, RN) and the destroyers HMS Venus (Cdr. J.S.M. Richardson DSO, RN), HMS Scorpion (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN), HMS Serapis (Lt.Cdr. E.L. Jones, DSC, RN) and HNoMS Stord (Lt.Cdr. S.V. Storheill) departed Scapa Flow to join the convoy which they did on 29 March.
The sloops HMS Starling (Capt. F.J. Walker, CB, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), HMS Wild Goose (Lt.Cdr. D.E.G. Wemyss, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Whimbrel (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Moore, DSC, RNR), HMS Wren (Lt.Cdr. S.R.J. Woods, RNR) and HMS Magpie (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Abram, RN) departed Scapa Flow also on 28 March to join the convoy which they too did on 29 March.
On 29 March 1944, the destroyers HMS Saumarez (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), HMS Onslow (Capt. J.A. McCoy, DSO, RN), HMS Oribi (Lt.Cdr. J.C.A. Ingram, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Offa (Lt.Cdr. R.F. Leonard, RN), HMS Obedient (Lt.Cdr. H. Unwin, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Opportune (Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Orwell (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN), HMS Impulsive (Lt.Cdr. P. Bekenn, RN), HMS Beagle (Lt.Cdr. N.R. Murch, RN), HMS Boadicea (Lt.Cdr. F.W. Hawkins, RN), HMS Keppel (Cdr. I.J. Tyson, DSC, RD, RNR) and HMS Walker (Lt.Cdr. A.N. Rowell, RN) departed Skaalefiord, Iceland and joined the convoy.
On 29 March 1944, the German submarine U-961 was sunk near the convoy by HMS Starling.
Also on 29 March, two more merchant ships joined the convoy, these were the Gilbert Stuart (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943) and
John T. Holt (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943) coming from Reykjavik, Iceland. The merchant vessel Eloy Alfaro (American, 7176 GRT, built 1944) had also sailed with them but had to return and proceeded to Seidisfjord before she could join the convoy due to ice damage. She arrived at Seidisfjord on the 30th. These ships were escorted by the frigate HMS Fitzroy (Lt. C.D.C. McNeil, RNVR) and the minesweepers HMS Chamois (T/A/Lt.Cdr. D.P. Richardson, RNVR) and HMS Chance (T/Lt. P.P. Lees, RNVR). These escorts did not join the convoy.
Also on 29 March the minesweepers HMS Rattlesnake, HMS Onyx, HMS Orestes and the corvette HMS Starwort parted company with the convoy. The minesweepers proceeded to Skaalefjord, Faeroer Islands arriving there later the same day. HMS Starwort proceeded to Londonderry arriving the on the 30th.
On 30 March four German shadowing aircraft were shot down by fighters from the escort carriers which themselves lost two aircraft.
On 31 March the German submarine U-673 was damaged by HMS Beagle and aircraft from HMS Tracker.
On 2 April two German shadowing aircraft were shot down by fighters from the escort carriers. Also the German submarine U-360 was sunk by Hedgehog attack from HMS Keppel.
On 3 April the German submarine U-288 was sunk by aircraft from the escort carriers.
ON 4 April, the convoy (39 ships) was split into two sections, one proceeded to the Kola Inlet arriving later the same day with the original escort. The other (with 10 ships), with a local escort which joined on this day to the White Sea where it arrived on the 6th. This local escort was made up of the Russian destroyers Gremyashchiy, Razumniy, Razyarenniy and Valerian Kyubishev.
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Distant cover for this convoy was provided by a battleforce known as ' Force 1 ', it departed Scapa Flow around 1200A/30 and was made up of the battleships HMS Duke of York (Capt. G.H.E. Russell, RN, flying the flag of Admiral B.A. Fraser, GCB, KBE, RN), HMS Anson (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO and Bar, RN flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.R. Moore, KCB, DSO, CVO, RN), aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (Capt. M.M. Denny, CB, CBE, RN), light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Onslaught (Cdr. the Hon. A. Pleydell-Bouverie, RN), HMS Javelin (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN), ORP Piorun (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) T. Gorazdowski), HMCS Algonquin (Lt.Cdr. D.W. Piers, DSC, RCN) and HMCS Sioux (A/Lt.Cdr. E.E.G. Boak, RCN).
Around 0250A/31, the destroyers HMS Milne (Capt. I.M.R. Campbell, DSO, RN), HMS Marne (Lt.Cdr. P.A.R. Withers, DSO, RN), HMS Matchless (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Walmsley, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Meteor (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN), HMS Undaunted (Lt.Cdr. A.A. Mackenzie, RD, RNR) and HMS Ursa (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, DSC, RN) joined coming from Skaalefjord, Faeroer Islands.
Around 0340A/31, the original destroyer screen were detached to Skaalefjord arriving there later the same day.
On 2 April ' Force 1 ' proceeded to join ' Force 2 ' coming from Scapa Flow for the upcoming Operation Tungsten. (71) 28 Mar 1944 30 Mar 1944 [For more info see the events ' Convoy JW 58 ' for 27 March 1944 and ' Operation Tungsten ' for 30 March 1944.]
(77) 30 Mar 1944 Air attacks by the FAA against the German battleship Tirpitz
Around 1200A/30, ' Force 1 ', departed Scapa Flow. It was made up of the battleships HMS Duke of York (Capt. G.H.E. Russell, RN, flying the flag of Admiral B.A. Fraser, GCB, KBE, RN), HMS Anson (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO and Bar, RN flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.R. Moore, KCB, DSO, CVO, RN), aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (Capt. M.M. Denny, CB, CBE, RN), light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Onslaught (Cdr. the Hon. A. Pleydell-Bouverie, RN), HMS Javelin (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN), ORP Piorun (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) T. Gorazdowski), HMCS Algonquin (Lt.Cdr. D.W. Piers, DSC, RCN) and HMCS Sioux (A/Lt.Cdr. E.E.G. Boak, RCN).
Ships of ' Force 1 ' was first to provide cover for Convoy JW 58 for part of it's passage to Northern Russia.
Around 1900A/30, ' Force 2 ' departed Scapa Flow. It was made up of the light cruisers HMS Royalist (Capt. M.H. Evelegh, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.W.la T. Bisset, RN), HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.T. Addis, DSO, RN), HMS Jamaica (Capt. J. Hugh-Hallett, DSO, RN), aircraft carrier HMS Furious (Capt. G.T. Philip, DSO, DSC, RN), escort carriers HMS Searcher (Capt. G.O.C. Davies, RN), HMS Pursuer (A/Capt. H.R. Graham, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Fencer (A/Capt. W.W.R. Bentinck, OBE, RN), HMS Emperor (A/Capt. T.J.N. Hilken, DSO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Swift (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Gower, RN), HMS Verulam (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Thomas, DSC, RN), HMS Vigilant (Lt.Cdr. L.W.L. Argles, RN), HMS Virago (Lt.Cdr. A.J.R. White, RN) and HMS Wakeful (Lt.Cdr. G.D. Pound, DSC, RN).
The RFA oilers Black Ranger (3417 GRT, built 1941) and Blue Ranger (3417 GRT, built 1941) were also with ' Force 2 '.
Around 0250A/31, the destroyers HMS Milne (Capt. I.M.R. Campbell, DSO, RN), HMS Marne (Lt.Cdr. P.A.R. Withers, DSO, RN), HMS Matchless (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Walmsley, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Meteor (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN), HMS Undaunted (Lt.Cdr. A.A. Mackenzie, RD, RNR) and HMS Ursa (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, DSC, RN) joined ' Force 1 ' coming from Skaalefjord, Faeroer Islands.
Around 0340A/31, the original destroyer screen of ' Force 1 ' was detached to Skaalefjord arriving there later the same day.
On 2 April ' Force 1 ' fuelled its destroyers (by the battleships) and proceeded to join ' Force 2 ' coming from Scapa Flow for the upcoming Operation Tungsten. Rendezvous was effected around 1600A/2.
Some regrouping was done and the battleship HMS Duke of York and the destroyers HMS Marne and HMS
Matchless parted company to proceed to position 74°00'N, 12°30'E from where they were to provide cover for the operation.
' Force 1 ' was now made up of HMS Anson, HMS Victorious, HMS Furious, HMS Belfast, HMS Jamaica, HMS Milne, HMS Meteor, HMS Swift, HMS Ursa, HMS Undaunted and HMS Virago. This force proceeded to the flying off position for Operation Tungsten which was in approximately 71°30'N, 19°00'E.
' Force 2 ' was now made up of HMS Royalist, HMS Sheffield, HMS Searcher, HMS Pursuer, HMS Fencer, HMS Emperor, HMS Onslaught, HMS Verulam, HMS Vigilant, HMS Wakeful, HMCS Algonquin and HMS Sioux.
And there was also ' Force 7 ' the oiling force made up of the RFA oilers Black Ranger, Blue Ranger escorted by ORP Piorun and HMS Javelin.
In the morning of 3 April, HMS Victorious and HMS Furious launched air strikes against the German battleship Tirpitz in the Altafjord. In two strikes the German battleship was hit by a total of 15 bombs. In total 123 of the crew of the Tirpitz were killed and 329 were wounded for the loss of only four British aircraft.
Course was then set by all units to return to Scapa Flow.
Around 1400A/3, the escort carrier HMS Searcher, which had developed engine trouble, parted company with ' Force 2 '. She was given an escort, made up of the the light cruiser HMS Jamaica and the destroyers HMS Virago and HMS Wakeful.
On 4 April the destroyer HMS Ulysses (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Hanson, DSO, DSC, RN) departed Scapa Flow to join ' Force 7 ', the oiling force as additional escort.
HMS Duke of York, HMS Marne and HMS Matchless arrived around 0915A/5.
' Force 1 ' and ' Force 2 ' arrived around 1600A/6.
Around 0115A/7, HMS Searcher, HMS Jamaica, HMS Virago and HMS Wakeful arrived at Scapa Flow.
Around 0330A/7, the fuelling force arrived at Scapa Flow. (71) 13 Apr 1944 13 Apr 1944 13 Apr 1944 15 Apr 1944 20 Apr 1944 22 Apr 1944 25 Apr 1944 4 May 1944 9 May 1944 13 May 1944 17 May 1944 19 May 1944 26 May 1944 30 May 1944 3 Jun 1944 They were given the designation of convoy ' G 14 '.
Around 2200B/5, the gunboat HMS Flores (Lt.Cdr. G. Koudijs, RNN) joined 'Bombarding Group E' in position 50°27'N, 01°25'W (south of the Isle of Wight).
Convoy ' G 14 ' was to arrive in their selected position for the landings at 0435B/6.
The two bombarding groups parted company around 0120B/6 to proceed to their respective destinations.
[Further research on these ships exact movements and bombardments during Operation Neptune is required.] (86) 6 Jun 1944 7 Jun 1944 8 Jun 1944 9 Jun 1944 10 Jun 1944 Around 1245A/10, HMS Belfast opened fire on a shore target. Several more target were fired on during the remainder of the day.
Around 2000A/10, after having completed her last bombardment HMS Belfast set course for Spithead where she arrived around 0005A/11. She then fuelled and re-ammunitioned. (86) 11 Jun 1944 13 Jun 1944 14 Jun 1944 18 Jun 1944 19 Jun 1944 20 Jun 1944 21 Jun 1944 23 Jun 1944 26 Jun 1944 HMS Roberts (A/Capt.(Retd.) R.E.C. Dunbar, RN) apparently also participated in this bombardment. [No log for this ship is available, so more details can be given.]
HMS Diadem (Capt. E.G.A. Clifford, RN) also participated in this bombardment. She opened fire around 0800B/26.
The targets were the 1st, 9th and 12th SS Panzer Divisions.
At 1232B/26, HMS Rodney opened fire with her 16" main battery. Target was Carpiquet airfield. Fire was ceased at 1326B/26.
Around 1615B/26, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Vice-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) and HMS Diadem opened fire on a shore battery. (87) 29 Jun 1944 30 Jun 1944 1 Jul 1944 2 Jul 1944 8 Jul 1944 9 Jul 1944 10 Jul 1944 11 Jul 1944 12 Jul 1944 26 Jul 1944 27 Jul 1944 28 Jul 1944 17 Apr 1945 1 May 1945 6 May 1945 21 May 1945 Around 1330B/21, HMS Diadem departed Rosyth for Copenhagen.
At 2100B/21, the flag of the Rear-Admiral was struck on board HMS Belfast and was hoisted in HMS Birmingham (Capt. H.W. Williams, RN) at 0800B/22. (92) 11 Jun 1945 14 Jun 1945 14 Jun 1945 Later this day an RDF tracking exercises was carried out with HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN). (94) 16 Jun 1945 17 Jun 1945 21 Jun 1945 She departed Gibraltar for Malta around 1615A/21. (93) 23 Jun 1945 25 Jun 1945 26 Jun 1945 27 Jun 1945 28 Jun 1945 29 Jun 1945 She returned to Malta the following morning. (93) 3 Jul 1945 4 Jul 1945 5 Jul 1945 6 Jul 1945 11 Jul 1945 12 Jul 1945 13 Jul 1945 HMS Belfast returned to Malta the following day. (95) 16 Jul 1945 These included exercises with HMCS Ontario (Capt. H.T.W. Grant, DSO, RCN), HMS Abercrombie (A/Capt.(Retd.) C.F.H. Churchill, DSC, RN), HMS Avon Vale (Lt. I. Hall, RN) and HMS Brecon (Lt. N.R.H. Rodney, RN). (95) 24 Jul 1945 En-route exercises were carried out. These included bombardment exercises on the 26th. (95) 28 Jul 1945 1 Aug 1945 6 Aug 1945 7 Aug 1945 14 Aug 1945 16 Aug 1945 21 Aug 1945 30 Aug 1945 4 Sep 1945 She departed for Leyte around 1815K/4.
Post-war, HMS Belfast remained in the Far East until 1947. (96) Sources ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.
Around 1100C/2, the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) and the heavy cruisers HMS Cumberland (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, AM, RN) and HMS Norfolk (Capt. E.G.H. Bellars, RN) departed the Kola Inlet to provide close cover for convoy RA 53.
Around 0700A/7, the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) and the heavy cruisers HMS Cumberland (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, AM, RN) and HMS Norfolk (Capt. E.G.H. Bellars, RN) arrived at Seidisfjord to fuel. (24)
On completion of fuelling, the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) and the heavy cruisers HMS Cumberland (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, AM, RN) and HMS Norfolk (Capt. E.G.H. Bellars, RN) departed Seidisfjord around 1615A/8 to continue to provide close cover for convoy RA 53.
Around 0500A/11, the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) and the heavy cruisers HMS Cumberland (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, AM, RN) and HMS Norfolk (Capt. E.G.H. Bellars, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from convoy cover duty.
The battleship HMS Anson (Capt. H.R.G. Kinahan, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir B. Fraser, CB, KBE, RN), heavy cruiser HMS Kent (Capt. A.E.M.B. Cunninghame-Graham, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral L.H.K. Hamilton, CB, DSO and Bar, RN), light cruiser HMS Bermuda (Capt. T.H. Back, RN) and the destroyers ORP Piorun (Cdr. T. Gorazdowski), HMS Matchless (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, DSO, RN) and HMS Icarus (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Walmsley, DSC, RN) departed Hvalfjord around 0930A/20 for Scapa Flow. En route various exercises were to be carried out with a force proceeding from Scapa Flow to Hvalfjord.
Around 0930Z/22, HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN), HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN), HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN), HMS Intrepid (Cdr. C.A.de W. Kitcat, RN), HMS Echo (Lt. R.H.C. Wyld, RN) and HMS Brecon (Lt.Cdr. T.D. Herrick, DSC and Bar, RN) arrived at Hvalfjord from Scapa Flow. (26)
Around 2200Z/29, the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) and the destroyer HMS Intrepid (Cdr. C.A.de W. Kitcat, RN) departed Hvalfjord to patrol in the Denmark Strait.
Around 2000Z/7, the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) departed Hvalfjord to patrol in the Denmark Strait. (28)
Around 1730Z/13, the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) returned to Hvalfjord from patrol. (28)
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) and HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN) conducted exercises south of Iceland on completion of which HMS Belfast returned to Hvalfjord. HMS Glasgow joined other ships to proceed to Scapa Flow. (29)
Around 1200Z/11, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) and HMS Jamaica (Capt. J.L. Storey, DSO, RN) departed Hvalfjord to patrol in the Denmark Strait and to conduct exercises. (30)
Around 0300Z/13, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) and HMS Jamaica (Capt. J.L. Storey, DSO, RN) returned to Hvalfjord from patrol and exercises. (30)
Around 1615Z/21, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) departed Hvalfjord for Scapa Flow. (31)
Around 0645B/23, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from Hvalfjord. (31)Minelaying operation SN 111B.
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. (33)
Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN, transferred his flag from HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) to HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN). (34)Minelaying operation SN 111C.
Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN, transferred his flag from HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN) to HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN). (34)
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) conducted D/G trials at Scapa Flow. (33)
During 15/16 June, a large exercise was carried out off Scapa Flow by ships that were to participate in the upcoming landings on Sicily.
The ships that participated were; the battleships HMS Nelson (Capt. G.H.E. Russell, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral A.U. Willis, KCB, DSO, RN), HMS Rodney (Capt. J.W. Rivett-Carnac, DSC, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. L.H. Ashmore, RN), HMS Warspite (Capt. H.A. Packer, RN), aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable (Capt. G. Grantham, CB, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, RN). They were escorted by destroyers the destroyers HMS Quilliam (Capt. S.H. Carlill, DSO, RN), HMS Quail (Lt.Cdr. R.F. Jenks, RN), HMS Queenborough (Cdr. E.P. Hinton, DSO and Bar, MVO, RN), HMS Panther (Lt.Cdr. R.W. Jocelyn, RN), HMS Pathfinder (Cdr. E.A. Gibbs, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, DSO, RN), HMS Fury (Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Intrepid (Cdr. C.A.de W. Kitcat, RN), HMS Arrow (Lt.Cdr. W.W. Fitzroy, RN), HMS Meteor (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN), HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Obedient (Lt.Cdr. H. Unwin, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Opportune (Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO and Bar, RN) (these last four remained with the Home Fleet) and escort destroyers HMS Viceroy (Lt. T.F. Hallifax, RN) and HMS Woolston (Lt. F.W. Hawkins, RN). [It is likely that even more destroyers / escort destroyers participated in these exercises.
Around 2230B/17, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Rosyth where she was to dock and give leave to her crew. (36)
Around 0930B/18, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Rosyth. (33)
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) is docked in No.1 Dock at the Rosyth Dockyard. (37)
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) is undocked. (37)
Around 2300B/30, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow where she arrived around 1100B/1. (38)Operation Camera.
In the afternoon HMS Diomede (Capt. H.T.W. Grant, RCN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN).
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN), HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN) and HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.T. Addis, RN) all conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (41)
HMS Renown (Capt. W.E. Parry, CB, RN), HMAS Shropshire (Capt. J.A. Collins, CB, RAN) and HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. During the exercises the destroyers HMS Musketeer (Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN) and HMS Obedient (Lt.Cdr. H. Unwin, DSC and Bar, RN) might have been escorting HMS Renown. (42)
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) and HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.T. Addis, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. These included gunnery exercises. (43)Operation Governor.
HMS Stubborn (Lt. A.A. Duff, RN) conducted attack exercises off Scapa Flow during which HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN) served as target.
Convoy TA 58 / Operation Quadrant.
The battleships HMS Duke of York (Capt. B.B. Schofield, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral B.A. Fraser, KCB, KBE, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet and with H.M. the King on board), HMS Anson (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO and Bar, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.R. Moore, KCB, DSO, CVO, RN), battlecruiser HMS Renown (Capt. W.E. Parry, CB, RN), light cruisers HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN), HMS Phoebe (Capt. C.P. Frend, RN) and the destroyers HMS Onslow (Capt. J.A. McCoy, DSO, RN), HMS Orwell (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN), HMS Matchless (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, DSO, RN), HMS Ulster (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Donald, DSC, RN) and HMCS Huron (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Rayner, DSC, RCN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. They had been led out of the harbour by HMIS Godavari (Capt. J.W. Jefford, OBE, RIN). (46)Operation FN.
Around 1930A/19, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Skaalefjord for Scapa Flow where she arrived around 0715A/20. (48)
Around 1745A/22, the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Scapa Flow for gunnery exercises and a run on the measured mile.
Operation Lorry.
As enemy ships were reported off Spitsbergen ships from the Home Fleet went to sea around 1615A/8 from Scapa Flow to try to intercept. These were the battleships HMS Duke of York (Capt. B.B. Schofield, CBE, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral B.A. Fraser, KCB, KBE, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet), HMS Anson (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO and Bar, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.R. Moore, KCB, DSO, CVO, RN), aircraft carrier USS Ranger (Capt. G. Rowe, USN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral O.M. Hustvedt, USN), heavy cruisers HMS London (Capt. R.V. Symonds-Tayler, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral A.F.E. Palliser, CB, DSC, RN), USS Augusta (Capt. G. Hutchins, USN), USS Tuscaloosa (Capt. J.B.W. Waller, USN) and the destroyers HMS Onslow (Capt. J.A. McCoy, DSO, RN), HMS Rocket (Lt.Cdr. H.B. Acworth, OBE, RN), HMS Mahratta (Lt.Cdr. E.A.F. Drought, DSC, RN), ORP Orkan (Kmdr.por. (Cdr.) S. Hryniewiecki), HMCS Huron (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Rayner, DSC, RCN), HMCS Iroquois (Cdr. J.C. Hibbard DSC, RCN), USS Forrest (T/Cdr. K.P. Letts, USN), USS Corry (T/Cdr. L.B. Ensey, USN), USS Hobson (T/Lt.Cdr. K. Loveland, USN), USS Isherwood (T/Cdr. R.E. Gadrow, USN), USS Bell (T/Cdr. L.C. Petross, USN).
Around 1430Z/25, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Hvalfjord for Scapa Flow where she arrived around 0645A/27. (50)
During 28/29 September the battleships HMS Duke of York (Capt. B.B. Schofield, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral B.A. Fraser, KCB, KBE, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet), HMS Anson (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO and Bar, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.R. Moore, KCB, DSO, CVO, RN), battlecruiser HMS Renown (Capt. W.E. Parry, CB, RN), aircraft carrier USS Ranger (Capt. G. Rowe, USN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral O.M. Hustvedt, USN), heavy cruiser USS Tuscaloosa (Capt. J.B.W. Waller, USN), light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) and the destroyers HMS Janus (Lt.Cdr. W.B.R. Morrison, RN), HMS Onslaught (Cdr. W.H. Selby, DSC, RN), HMCS Iroquois (Cdr. J.C. Hibbard DSC, RCN), USS Forrest (T/Cdr. K.P. Letts, USN), USS Hobson (T/Lt.Cdr. K. Loveland, USN), USS Fitch (T/Cdr. K.C. Walpole, USN), USS Corry (T/Cdr. L.B. Ensey, USN) and USS Capps (T/Cdr. B.E.S. Trippensee, USN), conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. These included night encounter exercises. (51)
HMS Tuna (Lt. D.S.R. Martin, DSO and Bar, RN) conducted practice attacks on USS Tuscaloosa (Capt. J.B.W. Waller, USN) and HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN). (52)Operation Leader.
Around 0915A/12, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Greenock where she arrived around 0730A/13. On leaving Scapa Flow gunnery exercises were carried out. (53)
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) conducted a bombardment demonstration exercise in the Clyde area on completion of which she set course to return to Scapa Flow where she arrived around 1100A/16. (53)
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) conducted D/G trials and gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (53)
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) and HMS Kent (Capt. G.A.B. Hawkins, DSC, MVO, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (54)
Around 0600A/29, the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) and the heavy cruisers HMS Kent (Capt. G.A.B. Hawkins, DSC, MVO, RN) and HMS Norfolk (Capt. D.K. Bain, RN) all departed Scapa Flow for Seidisfjord, Iceland. (55)
Around 1315A/30, the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) and the heavy cruisers HMS Kent (Capt. G.A.B. Hawkins, DSC, MVO, RN) and HMS Norfolk (Capt. D.K. Bain, RN) arrived at Seidisfjord from Scapa Flow. (55)Operation FS, passage of convoy RA 54A.
Convoy RA 54A
.
The light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) and the heavy cruisers HMS Kent (Capt. G.A.B. Hawkins, DSC, MVO, RN) and HMS Norfolk (Capt. D.K. Bain, RN) departed Seidisfjord to provide close cover for convoy convoy RA 54A.
Operation FT, passage of convoys JW 54A and JW 54B from the U.K. to Northern Russia as well as convoy RA 54B from Northern Russia to the U.K.
Convoy JW 54A
.
Convoy JW 54B
.
Convoy RA 54B
.
Around 1435N/22, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Hvalfjord for Akureyri where she arrived around 1325N/23. (57)
Around 1530N/28, ' Force 2 ', now made up of the battleship HMS Anson (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO and Bar, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.R. Moore, KCB, DSO, CVO, RN), light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) and the destroyers HMS Musketeer (Cdr. R.L. Fisher, OBE, RN), HMS Matchless (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, DSO, RN), HMS Ashanti (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Barnes, RN) and HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO, RN) departed Akureyri to provide cover for convoy JW 54B and RA 54B.
Around 0815A/4, ' Force 2 ', now made up of the battleship HMS Anson (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO and Bar, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.R. Moore, KCB, DSO, CVO, RN), light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) and the destroyers HMS Musketeer (Cdr. R.L. Fisher, OBE, RN), HMS Ashanti (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Barnes, RN) and HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from operations. (59)
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. (60)
Around 1115A/11, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Loch Ewe where she arrived around 1645A/11. At Loch Ewe, Vice-Admiral Burnett was to attend the convoy conference for convoy JW 55A. (60)Operation FV, passage of convoys JW 55A and JW 55B to Northern Russia and RA 55A and RA 55B from Northern Russia and the sinking of the German battleship Scharnhorst.
Convoy JW 55A
.
Convoy JW 55B
.
Convoy RA 55A
.
Convoy RA 55B
.
' Force 1 '
.
' Force 2 '
.
Action with and sinking of the German battlecruiser Scharnhorst, 26 December 1943.
.
Around 1330A/13, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Loch Ewe for Seidisfjord where she arrived around 1800A/14. (60)
Around 2100A/15, ' Force 1 ', made up of the light cruisers HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN), HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.T. Addis, RN) and the heavy cruiser HMS Norfolk (Capt. D.K. Bain, RN) departed Seidisfjord for Operation EV.
Shortly after midnight during the night of 19/20 December 1943, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN), HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.T. Addis, RN) and the heavy cruiser HMS Norfolk (Capt. D.K. Bain, RN) arrived in the Kola Inlet from convoy cover operations. (63)
Around 0330C/23, ' Force 1 ', made up of the light cruisers HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN), HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.T. Addis, RN) and the heavy cruiser HMS Norfolk (Capt. D.K. Bain, RN) departed the Kola Inlet to provide cover for the convoys RA 55A and JW 55B.
Around 1730C/27, Around 0330C/23, ' Force 1 ', made up of the light cruisers HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN), HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.T. Addis, RN) and the heavy cruiser HMS Norfolk (Capt. D.K. Bain, RN) arrived back in the Kola Inlet from the Battle of the North Cape.
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN), HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.T. Addis, RN) and the heavy cruiser HMS Norfolk (Capt. D.K. Bain, RN) departed the Kola Inlet for Scapa Flow. (62)
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, DSO, OBE, RN), HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.T. Addis, RN) and the heavy cruiser HMS Norfolk (Capt. D.K. Bain, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from the Kola Inlet.
Around 2245A/6, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral R.L. Burnett, KBE, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Rosyth for repairs and to give leave to her crew. (65)
Around 1000A/7, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral R.L. Burnett, KBE, DSO, OBE, RN) arrived at Rosyth from Scapa Flow. (66)
Around 2145A/24, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral R.L. Burnett, KBE, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow where she arrived around 1015A/25. (66)
The battleships HMS Anson (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO and Bar, RN flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.R. Moore, KCB, DSO, CVO, RN), Richelieu (Capt. R.G. Lambert), aircraft carrier HMS Furious (Capt. G.T. Philip, DSO, DSC, RN), light cruisers HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, KBE, DSO, RN) and HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. [No details available on escorting destroyers]. (67)
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral R.L. Burnett, KBE, DSO, OBE, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (68)Operation Posthorn.
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral R.L. Burnett, KBE, DSO, OBE, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (68)
Around 1715A/1, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral R.L. Burnett, KBE, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Greenock where she arrived around 1145A/2. (70)
At Greenock, Vice-Admiral R.L. Burnett, KBE, DSO, OBE, RN, struck his flag in HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN). (71)
At Greenock, Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN, hoisted his flag in HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN). (70)
Around 1445A/5, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) departed Greenock for Scapa Flow where she arrived around 0915A/6. (70)
HMS Kent (Capt. G.A.B. Hawkins, DSC, MVO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral A.F.E. Palliser, CB, DSC, RN), HMS Berwick (Capt. N.V. Grace, RN) and HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. HMS Belfast remained at sea during the night. (72)
Exercises were carried out off Scapa Flow. Ships participating were the battleships HMS Duke of York (Capt. G.H.E. Russell, CBE, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Adm. B.A. Fraser, GCB, KBE, RN), HMS Anson (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO and Bar, RN flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.R. Moore, KCB, DSO, CVO, RN), Richelieu (Capt. R.G. Lambert), aircraft carrier HMS Furious (Capt. G.T. Philip, DSO, DSC, RN), escort carrier HMS Hunter (Capt. H.H. McWilliam, RN), heavy cruisers, HMS Kent (Capt. G.A.B. Hawkins, DSC, MVO, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral A.F.E. Palliser, CB, DSC, RN), HMS Berwick (Capt. N.V. Grace, RN), light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) and several destroyers, of which HMS Marne (Lt.Cdr. P.A.R. Withers, DSO, RN) and HMS Wakeful (Lt.Cdr. G.D. Pound, DSC, RN) were certainly present. Others may have been HMS Verulam (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Thomas, DSC, RN), HMCS Algonquin (Lt.Cdr. D.W. Piers, DSC, RCN), HMS Ulysses (Lt.Cdr. R.J. Hanson, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Undaunted (Lt.Cdr. A.A. Mackenzie, RD, RNR), HMS Swift (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Gower, RN), HMS Meteor (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN) and HMS Impulsive (Lt.Cdr. P. Bekenn, RN). (73)
The light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN), HMS Sheffield (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Bermuda (Capt. J.S. Bethell, CBE, RN) and HMS Diadem (Capt. E.G.A. Clifford, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (74)
Exercises were carried out off Scapa Flow. The following ships participated, battleship HMS Duke of York (Capt. G.H.E. Russell, CBE, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Adm. B.A. Fraser, GCB, KBE, RN), heavy cruisers HMS Kent (Capt. G.A.B. Hawkins, DSC, MVO, RN), HMS Berwick (Capt. N.V. Grace, RN), light cruisers HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN), HMS Sheffield (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSO, DSC, RN) and several destroyers of which HMCS Algonquin (Lt.Cdr. D.W. Piers, DSC, RCN), HMS Ursa (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, DSC, RN), HMS Obedient (Lt.Cdr. H. Unwin, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Orwell (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN) were present for sure. (75)
At Scapa Flow, Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN, transferred his flag from HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN) to HMS Diadem (Capt. E.G.A. Clifford, RN).
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (70)Convoy JW 58.
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (70)
Around 1200A/30, the battleforce, aka ' Force 1 ', departed Scapa Flow to provide cover for convoy JW 58 and Operation Tungsten. It was made up of the battleships HMS Duke of York (Capt. G.H.E. Russell, RN, flying the flag of Admiral B.A. Fraser, GCB, KBE, RN), HMS Anson (Capt. E.D.B. McCarthy, DSO and Bar, RN flying the flag of Vice-Admiral H.R. Moore, KCB, DSO, CVO, RN), aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (Capt. M.M. Denny, CB, CBE, RN), light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Onslaught (Cdr. the Hon. A. Pleydell-Bouverie, RN), HMS Javelin (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN), ORP Piorun (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) T. Gorazdowski), HMCS Algonquin (Lt.Cdr. D.W. Piers, DSC, RCN) and HMCS Sioux (A/Lt.Cdr. E.E.G. Boak, RCN).
Operation Tungsten
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (78)
HMS Visigoth (Lt. J.R.H. Haddow, DSC, RN) participated in A/S exercises at / off Scapa Flow. One of the ships involved in the A/S exercises was HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN). (79)
In the evening, at Scapa Flow, Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN, transferred his flag from HMS Diadem (Capt. E.G.A. Clifford, RN) and HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN). (80)
Around 1045B/15, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Greenock where she arrived around 0830B/16. (78)
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) conducted bombardment exercises in the Clyde area. (78)
Around 0700B/22, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) departed Greenock for Rosyth where she arrived around 1630B/23. (78)
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) is docked in No.1 Dock at the Rosyth Dockyard. (78)
No.1 Dock at the Rosyth Dockyard is flooded. HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) was again waterborne but she only left the dock on 6 May. (81)
Around 1620B/9, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow where she arrived around 0615B/10. (78)
Around 1215B/13, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Scrabster. On board is His Majesty, King George VI who left the ship off Scabster around 1345B/13. HMS Belfast was escorted by HMS Onslaught (Cdr. the Hon. A. Pleydell-Bouverie, RN), HMCS Sioux (A/Lt.Cdr. E.E.G. Boak, RCN) and HMS Whelp (Cdr. G.A.F. Norfolk, RN). (82)
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) conducted exercises with aircraft and gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. (83)
HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) conducted exercises at Scapa Flow. (83)
During 26/27 May, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN), HMS Diadem (Capt. E.G.A. Clifford, RN), HMS Argonaut (Capt. E.W.L. Longley-Cook, CBE, RN), HMS Ajax (Capt. J.J. Weld, MVO, RN), HMS Orion (Capt. J.P. Gornall, RN) and HMS Emerald (Capt. F.J. Wylie, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. These included night exercises. (84)
The light cruisers HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN), HMS Diadem (Capt. E.G.A. Clifford, RN), HMS Argonaut (Capt. E.W.L. Longley-Cook, CBE, RN), HMS Ajax (Capt. J.J. Weld, MVO, RN), HMS Orion (Capt. J.P. Gornall, RN), HMS Emerald (Capt. F.J. Wylie, RN) and the destroyers HMS Grenville (Capt. H.P. Henderson, RN), HMS Ulster (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Donald, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Undine (Cdr. T.C. Robinson, RN) and HMS Urchin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN) departed Scapa Flow for the Clyde where they arrived the following day. (85)
Around 1100B/3, 'Bombarding Group E' made up of the light cruisers HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN), HMS Diadem (Capt. E.G.A. Clifford, RN) and 'Bombarding Group K' made up of the light cruisers HMS Emerald (Capt. F.J. Wylie, RN), HMS Argonaut (Capt. E.W.L. Longley-Cook, CBE, RN), HMS Ajax (Capt. J.J. Weld, MVO, RN) and HMS Orion (Capt. J.P. Gornall, RN) departed Greenock as part of the invasion force for Operation Neptune, the Normandy landings. They were escorted by the destroyers HMS Grenville (Capt. H.P. Henderson, RN), HMS Ulster (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Donald, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Undine (Cdr. T.C. Robinson, RN) and HMS Urchin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN).
Around 0527B/6, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) commenced bombarding operations in the 'Juno Beach' area. Further bombardments were carried out at intervals throughout the day. (86)
Around 0940A/7, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) commenced her first bombardment of the day. Bombardments continued throughout the entire day. (86)
Around 1430A/8, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) commenced her first bombardment of the day. Further bombardments were carried out during the remainder of the day.
Around 1420A/9, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) commenced her first and only bombardment of the day. Fire was ceased around 1535A/9. (86)
The enemy was very active in the early hours of the day in the area HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) and her armament was in action on several occasions during the night.
Around 1425A/11, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) departed Spithead to return to the operations area where she anchored around 1845A/11. (86)
Around 1420A/13, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) commenced her first bombardment of the day. Further bombardments were carried out during the remainder of the day. (86)
Around 1525A/14, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Rear-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) departed the operations area for Spithead where she arrived around 2000A/14. (86)
Around 0800A/18, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Vice-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) departed Spithead to return to the operations area (off Sword Beach). (86)
Around 1205A/19, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Vice-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) commenced her first bombardment of the day. Further bombardments were carried out during the remainder of the afternoon. (86)
Around 1223A/20, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Vice-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) commenced her first bombardment of the day. Further bombardments were carried out during the remainder of the day. (86)
Around 1211A/21, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Vice-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) commenced her first bombardment of the day. Further bombardments were carried out during the remainder of the day. (86)
Around 0615A/23, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Vice-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) opened fire on ashore target in the Caen area. More bombardments were carried out during the remainder of the day. (86)
HMS Rodney (Capt. R.O. Fitzroy, RN) started a bombardment with her 16" main battery at 0819B/26. Fire was ceased at 0954B/26.
Around 2005A/29, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Vice-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) conducted a short bombardment of a shore target. (86)
Around 1530A/30, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Vice-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) conducted a short bombardment of a shore target. (86)
Around 1055A/1, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Vice-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) conducted a short bombardment of a shore target. Two more short bombardments were carried out during the afternoon. (88)
Around 1500A/2, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Vice-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) conducted a short bombardment of a shore target. (88)
Around 1200A/8, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Vice-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) departed the operations area for Spithead where she arrived around 1800A/8. (88)
Around 2345A/9, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Vice-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) departed Spithead for Greenock. (88)
Around 2000A/10, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Vice-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) arrived at Greenock from Spithead. (88)
Around 2130A/11, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Vice-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) departed Greenock for Scapa Flow. (88)
Around 1400A/12, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of flying the flag of Vice-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from Greenock. (88)
At Scapa Flow, Vice-Admiral F.H.G. Dalrymple-Hamilton, CB, RN, transferred his flag from HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN) to HMS Diadem (Capt. E.G.A. Clifford, RN). (89)
Around 1700A/27, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN) departed Scapa Flow for the Tyne where she is to undergo a refit by the Middle Docks & Engineering Company Ltd. at South Shields. (88)
Around 1200A/28, HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, DSO, RN) arrived at North Shield from Scapa Flow. (88)
With her refit almost completed, HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) conducted D/G trials off the Tyne. (90)
HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) conducted gunnery trials off the Tyne. (91)
Around 1145B/6, HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) departed North Shields (Tyne) for Rosyth where she arrived around 1910B/6. En-route full power trials had been carried out. At Rosyth she was taken in hand for the fitting of some new equipment such as radar. (90)
At 0800B/21, at Rosyth, Rear-Admiral A.E.M.B. Cunninghame-Graham, CBE, RN, transferred his flag from HMS Diadem (Capt. A.M. Knapp, RN) to HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN).
Around 1525B/11, HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow where she arrived around 0830B/12. En-route trials had been carried out. (93)
HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) conducted D/G trials at Scapa Flow. In the afternoon and evening various exercises were carried out off Scapa Flow. (93)
HMS Sea Devil (Lt. D.W. Mills, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises at Scapa Flow with HMS Caesar (Capt. G.N. Brewer, DSO, RN). Also a practice attack was carried out on this destroyer.
HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) conducted 4" gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. (93)
Around 2330B/17, HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Gibraltar. (93)
Around 1000B/21, HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Scapa Flow.
Around 1030B/23, HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) arrived at Malta from Gibraltar. At Malta she was to work-up. She was to join the British Pacific Fleet on completion of her work-up programme. (93)
HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Malta, these included gunnery exercises. (93)
HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Malta, these included gunnery exercises. (93)
HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (93)
HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (93)
HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Malta, these included gunnery and night exercises.
HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Malta. Also refuelling at sea exercises were carried out during which HMS Eggesford (Lt. G.H. Evans, RN) was fuelled. (95)
HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Malta, these included gunnery exercises. (95)
HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Malta, these included a range and inclination exercises (RIX) with HMS Sirius (Capt. R.L.M. Edwards, CBE, RN) and HMS Farndale (Cdr. E.G. Roper, DSO, DSC, RN). (95)
During 6/7 July 1945, HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Malta, these included a range and inclination exercises (RIX), night encounter (NEX), gunnery and torpedo firing exercises with HMS Sirius (Capt. R.L.M. Edwards, CBE, RN) and HMS Amethyst (Lt.Cdr. N. Scott-Elliot, DSC, RN). (95)
In the afternoon, HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (95)
HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN), HMS Sirius (Capt. R.L.M. Edwards, CBE, RN) and Chevron (Lt.Cdr. J.F.D. Bush, DSC and 2 Bars, RN) conducted exercises off Malta. (95)
HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) and HMCS Ontario (Capt. H.T.W. Grant, DSO, RCN) conducted exercises off Malta.
From 16 to 18 July 1945, HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Malta.
Around 1500B/24, HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) departed Malta for Suez where she arrived around 2045C/25.
Around 1800C/28, the light cruiser HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Bleasdale (T/A/Lt.Cdr. T.G. Clarke, DSC, RNVR), HMS Cowdray (A/Lt.Cdr. D.J. Beckley, DSO, DSC, RN) HMS Eggesford (Lt. G.H. Evans, RN) departed Suez for Aden where they arrived around 1200C/31. En-route exercises had been carried out. (95)
Around 1030C/1, HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) departed Aden for Colombo. (96)
Around 0715FG/6, HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) arrived at Colombo from Aden. (96)
Around 1630FG/7, HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) departed Colombo for Fremantle. On leaving harbour D/G trials were carried out. (96)
Around 0645H/14, HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) arrived at Fremantle from Colombo. (96)
Around 0830H/16, HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) departed Fremantle for Sydney. (96)
Around 1530K/21, HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) arrived at Sydney from Fremantle. On entering harbour she ran over the D/G range. (96)
Around 1130K/30, HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) departed Sydney for Manus. On leaving harbour she ran over the D/G range. (96)
Around 0645K/4, HMS Belfast (Capt. R.M. Dick, CBE, DSC, RN) arrived at Manus from Sydney.