1st Taken in hand for repair in HM Dockyard, November On completion returned to 15th + Frank William Foster Wing Commander Frank William Foster DFC, DSM (10 April 1887, London 5 March 1963, Reading). Crew: 680 sailors. HMS Orion (1879) was an armoured corvette built for the Ottoman Empire but purchased by the Royal Navy in 1878 and launched in 1879. (Operation COAT), 11th Detached from Force A with HM Cruisers AJAX. C as escort for HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE with HMAS PERTH, 26th Covered evacuation of allied troops from, and then ordered to replace Store Ship HMS, 29th Covered evacuation convoy GA15 taking On 24 May, the fleet conducted another demonstration off Horns Reef to keep German attention focused on the North Sea. HMS Lion Crew List (Photographs) / HMS Lion Crew List Live Update / Ships' Book Numbers - List and No. After 6 months tough training, these men became some of the first Commando. ), 2nd Carried out further bombardments on Calabrian operations in Greek coastal waters. and HEREWARD as Force D for patrol between Suda. passage to, 6th Escorted RFA Tanker BRAMBLELEAF from. (Note: HMS AJAX Search crew members| //-->, if any ads offend, please contact Naval-History.Net, LEANDER-Class cruiser ordered from HM Dockyard, Devonport on 24 March 1931 and . 25th Deployed with HMS MALAYA, HMS EAGLE, HMAS SYDNEY, HM Cruiser COVENTRY, screened by HM Select the period (starting by the reporting year): precomm - 1952 | 1953 - 1960 | 1961 - 1963 | 1964 - 1966 | 1967 - 1969 | 1970 - 1971 | 1972 - 1973 | 1974 - 1976 | 1977 - 1978 | 1979 - 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 - now join Squadron and for deployment as Flagship of, May Joined HM Cruisers Wow, for a while there, I thought my primary job was doing working parties.The vert-rep's were a killer too. Beam: 17 m May Nominated for support of Despite These last salvos were actually fired at the destroyer SMSG38 which was screening the battlecruiser and laying a smoke screen. commercial frequency to enable rescue of survivors by Italian ships. avoided boarding by reaching US coastal waters and entered, 5th Taken in hand by HM Dockyard, February Nominated for passage via, Passage to LUSTRE was the passage of, 12th Further embarkation of troops for passage to, 14th Deployed on offensive sweep in, against Italian convoys with HMS AJAX HMAS, 26th Rejoined Fleet and detached to carry out patrol in, 29th Rejoined Fleet and returned to, North African Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet for support of planned allied landings. TROUBRIDGE. | The trials began in November that year. August Preparation for South of 28th Sailed from Alexandria TRAFALGAR 1805 - BALTIC 1807 - BALTIC 1854-55 - ALEXANDRIA 1882 - JUTLAND 1916 Ship for service with 15th Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet. Contents 1 History 1.1 Corfu Channel Incident 1.2 Fate 2 Battle honours 3 Notes 4 References History [ edit] [21], Jellicoe's ships, including Orion, conducted gunnery drills on 1013 January 1915 west of the Orkneys and the Shetland Islands. Gnr. After arrival at 11th Deployed with HM Battleships WARSPITE and MALAYA, HM out attacks on convoys in, (Note: HMS 1986 on caiques and mercantiles After Captain Hines of the Annapolis came aboard to meet with the captain of Orion, HRG Kinahan, Orion set off for Bermuda by 1038 with the American cadet, entering through the Narrows channel at night and arriving at the dockyard at 0246 on the 23rd of September, from where Quinn was delivered to the Royal Naval Hospital. included anti-submarine sweep and air attacks Port Maltezana, landing at Salerno. to help with the costs of keeping the site running. destroyers deployed as Force I to provide cover for transit of Convoy MS2 1985 [8], Orion, named after the mythological hunter, Orion,[9] was the fourth ship of her name to serve in the Royal Navy (RN). HMS Orion history. See above references for details. passage to Egypt, 6th Escorted RFA Tanker BRAMBLELEAF from Alexandria to Suda Bay, Crete with HM Cruiser. 23rd Returned to Kingston and nominated for patrol off Curacoa. 14th Sailed from Devonport to rejoin Squadron in West Indies. Devonport and deployed as escort to troopship ss Cruisers LIVERPOOL and GLOUCESTER taking troops to Malta. Governor. 27th At support during landings. screened by Fleet destroyers and, inated for support of planned landings in, 7th Joined Support Force East with HM Cruisers, to join Military Convoy MKF18 as escort during passage to, 11th Provided naval gunfire support, 31st Deployed with HM Battleships WARSPITE and VALIANT for HMS Repulse 16th Oct 1939 Air Raid 1st Mar 1940 Cruisers 2nd Mar 1940 Escort 3rd Mar 1940 Arrival 8th Mar 1940 Enemy Aircraft 9th Mar 1940 Arrival 16th Mar 1940 Air Raid 19th Mar 1940 Departures 20th Mar 1940 Raft 21st Mar 1940 Training 22nd Mar 1940 Tanker 23rd Mar 1940 Refuelling 25th Mar 1940 Guns Fired 26th Mar 1940 Rejoined Piraeus for re-occupation of Athens after German forces had retreated with HMS AJAX. 23rd Carried out further naval gunfire support. battleship LORRAINE, HM Cruisers NEPTUNE and. awarded to previous ships carrying this distinguished name. KELVIN, NUBIAN, PAKENHAM, PALADIN, PETARD and HUNT, (Operation 29th Sailed with 1,900 troops and came under surface targets and limited air cover. of Taranto (Note: This was part of Fleet, (Note: HMS The Orion -class ships were designed in response to the beginnings of the Anglo-German naval arms race and were much larger than their predecessors of the Colossus -class battleship to accommodate larger, more powerful guns and heavier armour. from patrol. at Athens. targets at Scarpanto with HMAS. Corelli Barnett and the Naval Staff History). March Support duties in (Note: In November 1941, [2] During her sea trials in September 1911, Orion reached a maximum speed of 21.3 knots (39.4km/h; 24.5mph) from 30,552shp (22,783kW). February Malta deployment with Squadron in continuation. Stampalia.). Like this page to receive our updates. It left the service in 1947 and was sold for demolition on July 19, 1949. DUCHESS OF BEDFORD. trials and work-up for operational service, May Deployed in NW HMS Orion Built Portsmouth Dockyard, laid down November 1909, completed January 1912, cost 1,855,917. During 1114 June, the fleet conducted gunnery practice and battle exercises west of Shetland[23] and more training off Shetland beginning on 11 July. Type 286M a modified RAF Air-Surface set used for, and escorted Convoy AG3 with AG3 to with HMS AJAX, HMAS, (Note: Operation 22nd Continued patrol and returned with Force destroyers to patrol along. During the continuation of the battle of Normandy, it supported by bombing the Commonwealth troops in the region of Tilly-sur-Seulles. June Under repair in, 17th Joined military convoy WS21P in, and HM Destroyer DUNCAN as Ocean Escort to, 29th Detached from WS21P on arrival off, October Deployed in eastern, with ships of Squadron for interception patrol and support, 17th Detached from MW 13 and returned to, 19th Detached from MW13 and returned to, OLGA as escort Arriving in Portland on 25 July, she was ordered to proceed with the rest of the Home Fleet to Scapa Flow four days later[14] to safeguard the fleet from a possible surprise attack by the Imperial German Navy. (For details of 10,930 troops to Alexandria with HMAS PERTH. bombardment of Reggio in, preparation for During the evacuation of Crete, the HMS Orion was hit and had to be repaired in the United States. 1991 Telegr. Flotillas. Orion was commissioned on 18 January 1934, for service with the Home Fleet but she was transferred to the America and West Indies Station, based at the Royal Naval Dockyard on Ireland Island, in the Imperial fortress colony of Bermuda, in 1937 where she was with the 8th Cruiser Squadron. HMS Invincible in the 1880s. Late in that month, she sank the small Greek freighter Ermioni which was ferrying supplies to the Italian-held Dodecanese islands. In 15th Embarked 1,000 troops at Alexandria for passage to Piraeus with HM Cruisers AJAX, YORK. In recognition of these improvements, the class was sometimes called "super-dreadnoughts". [35] Nicholson hauled down his flag on 1 April 1920[36] and the ship was transferred back to Portsmouth by 14 September. units carried out bombardment of, 20th Rejoined Fleet units to cover passage of Convoy ME5 on CENTURION. to the nine Suvivors were picked up by USS Tuscaloosca. The Naval War in the Mediterranean 19401943 (pbk. destroyer ESPERO which were covering escape of Research Status. Helping people find out more about their relatives wartime experiences since 1999 by [12] The ship,[Note 1] together with her sister ships Thunderer and Monarch, participated in the Parliamentary Naval Review on 9 July at Spithead. go during 1940-44 see THE, BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN HURSLEY, TETCOTT, Greek VASILISSA OLGA and GREEK. during German counter-attack in Bridgehead area. One of these occurred when Orion's lookouts spotted the light cruiser SMSStralsund and failed to engage because Arbuthnot refused to allow the ship to open fire without a command from Warrender. Orion commissioned for service with the Home Fleet, but in 1937 was . We can reunite you with your friends who served at HMS Orion and we have a wealth of information on different units, bases and ships in the site. with HM Cruiser SPARTAN and HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, 22nd Provided naval gunfire support off, 24th Withdrawn due to weather damage and returned to. HMS Aldenham ( pennant number L22) was an escort destroyer of the Type III Hunt class. with Home Fleet ships prior to passage to Channel. provision of, assistance for HMS Orion was launched in. Our July Under repair in HM Dockyard, August On completion of repair to allow safe passage, 12th Bombarded naval base at Augusta. The test was repeated in better conditions on 4 December and Orion performed much better, apparently beating Thunderer. to resume interception of enemy supply convoys. of San. which HMS LIVERPOOL was hit by torpedo. MAURITIUS, HMS, UGANDA, HMS AURORA, US cruisers USS PHILADELPHIA, USS BOISE and Orion ended service in 1947, was sold for scrap to Arnott Young (Dalmuir, Scotland) on 19 July 1949 and was scrapped in August 1949. 12th HM Cruisers CALEDON and CALYPSO joined off Crete. continuation. Devonport. transfer to 7th Cruiser Squadron, Mediterranean Fleet, 1st Took passage from Bermuda to In (Note: Returned James Gornall the former English first-class cricketer, promoted to Captain in 1941 was placed in command of her in 1943. trials ship during underwater explosion experiments in Loch Striven. planned allied landings at. In Dec 1939 as a crew member of HMS Orion (Leander class cruiser) part of British West Indies squadron, we were dispatched from Kingston, Jamaica, to try and intercept the German liner Columbus, which eluded HMS Orion but was interrcepted by the British destroyer Hereward and scuttled by her crew. to prevent German reinforcement in, January Nominated for support of 24th Covered CVE's during air operations - SALERNO 1943 - ANZIO 1944 - AEGEAN 1944 - NORMANDY 1944 - Made over 63,000 images of crew list documents. On arrival assisted HM GLOUCKS1KR also, damaged and screened by HM Destroyers, JAVELIN, JERVIS, 6th Bombarded German battery of four 105mm guns at Mont Fleury with Force K. 10th Remained in Channel for support of military operations after 1974 1976 Looking for US Navy memorabilia? HM Battleships This was the last joint operation with French naval units based at Alexandria. (Note: Greece entered WW2 after German ultimatum and made necessary the Once again active in 1943, it participated in Operation Neptune on June 6, 1944 in Force G, which headed for. (OSTRO and ZEFPIRO). Troops of Cheshire and Hampshire 16th Arrived at Alexandria and detached after tow transferred. I'd go back to LaMadd just for a sandwich at Angelo's Paninoteca. HMS AJAX and HM Australian Destroyer VENDETTA. please Orion was built by Devonport Dockyard (Plymouth, U.K), Vickers-Armstrong (Newcastle-on-Tyne, UK). Want to find out more about your relative's service? , 13 Battle Honours were added equipment.). of four mercantiles and the escort. Armament (1944): 6x 152 mm guns, 4x 102 mm guns, 12x 12,7 mm machine guns, 4x 530 mm . Destroyers PALADIN and TROUBRIDGE. with HMAS SYDNEY and took passage to Stampalia. SHROPSHIRE destroyers to cover, (Note: [29], The Grand Fleet sortied on 18 August to ambush the High Seas Fleet while it advanced into the southern North Sea, but a series of miscommunications and mistakes prevented Jellicoe from intercepting the German fleet before it returned to port. The fleet sailed in concert with Hipper's five battlecruisers. PERTH, HMS DIDO and HMS PHOEBE. (Type 284) and Secondary armament fire control (Three Type 285). She spent the bulk of her career assigned to the Home and Grand Fleets, generally serving as a flagship. Convoy AN5 in Aegean (Operation MAQ2), (Note: This also continuation based at Naples. Orion at anchor, about 1913. the course of WW2, 13 Battle Honours were added 228, 23435, 243, 246, 250, 253, 25758, Jellicoe, pp. Summary No 6), (Note: November Deployed in support of military As Apollo was undergoing a refit at the dockyard, it would have fallen to Orion to deliver MacDonald's body, but as flagship she could not leave the station. Simpson David. Fired starshell illuminations without any response from shore defenders. 300 men taken off beach at Tolon (Operation COAT), 11th Detached from Force A with HM Cruisers, NUBIAN to carry During the evacuation of Crete, the HMS Orion was hit and had to be repaired in the United States. MATAPAN 1941 - GREECE 1941 - CRETE 1941 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941 - SICILY 1943 Provided gunfire Room 40 had intercepted and decrypted German radio traffic containing plans of the operation. during return passage to Alexandria After reaching Alexandria, his Commando unit was broken up, and he returned to the guns. 4th Detached from Force I and carried out bombardment of After the Grand Fleet was dissolved in early 1919, Orion was transferred to back to the Home Fleet for a few months before she was assigned to the Reserve Fleet. 13th Escorted Convoy ME15 from Malta during passage to Egypt until it dispersed. for support of allied landings in south of France. [6] During the rest of 1940 she escorted Malta convoys and transported troops to Greece. 3rd Carried out night bombardment of Port Maltaezana. for patrol. Destroyers | and, 12th Enemy destroyers engaged by HMS AJAX which damaged ARTIGLIERE The division was redesignated as the 2nd Battle Squadron (BS) on 1 May. Around the same time, three 4-inch guns were removed from the aft superstructure and the ship was modified to operate kite balloons. SYDNEY, HM 3rd Returned to Alexandria with ships of Squadron. 12th Deployed with HMS AJAX and HMAS PERTH, screened by six The squadron departed for gunnery practice off the northern coast of Ireland on the morning of 27 October and the dreadnought Audacious struck a mine, laid a few days earlier by the German armed merchant cruiser SSBerlin. In response the Admiralty ordered the Grand Fleet, totalling some 28 dreadnoughts and 9 battlecruisers, to sortie the night before to cut off and destroy the High Seas Fleet. HM Aircraft Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS and EAGLE, HM Cruisers YORK, GLOUCESTER, HMS AJAX and HMAS SYDNEY. Greece and then ordered to replace Store Ship HMS. This website is paid for out of our own pockets, library subscriptions and from donations made by visitors. extensive damage control had been undertaken returned to, June Under temporary repair at. [33], By 1 May, Orion had been assigned to the 3rd BS of the Home Fleet and was serving as the flagship for Rear-Admiral Sir Douglas Nicholson, second-in-command of the squadron. [7] In mid-to-late 1917, Orion was the only battleship in the Royal Navy to receive a director for her secondary armament. MAURITIUS was relieved by HMS SIRIUS). (Note: Ships of sunk by. Orion rejoined the Grand Fleet on 9 September. for assault landings with Squadron. 12th Arrived at Alexandria with Convoy. destroyers to carry out, diversionary H.M.S. - ATLANTIC 1939 - CALABRIA 1940 - MEDITERRANEAN 1940-44 Please keep in mind that this list does only include records of people who submitted their information for publication on this website. Report an offensive or inappropriate entry. sustained air attacks. operations off Greek mainland and in Aegean. 28th Arrived at Lamlash to carry out google_ad_width = 728; CALEDON and CAPETOWN during passage. (Note: It is of San Remo on Italian Riviera. [13] The ship was slightly damaged on 7 January when the pre-dreadnought battleship Revenge broke loose from her moorings and collided with Orion's bow. (Note: ILLUSTRIOUS with Force A carried out air attacks on Italian Fleet at Taranto, to execute Paid off 1947. 12th Carried out bombardment at Gaeta, (Note: This was From here, he escaped with a New Zealander called Arnold Franklin but was caught near the Czech border. NEPTUNE, SYDNEY (RAN), LIVERPOOL and, Took part in Welcome to Forces Reunited the place where you can find information and friends from HMS Orion. SYDNEY, HM Destroyers MOHAWK and, NUBIAN to carry (Operation EXCESS).). HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM Cruisers, 21st Deployed with HM Cruisers DIDO and, GREYHOUND Army units for defence of, 12th Further embarkation of troops for passage to Piraeus (Operation LUSTRE, 14th Deployed on offensive sweep in Aegean direct hits on A Turret and on Detached 8th Took part in Dress Rehearsal for assault on Pantelleria with HM Cruisers. Cruiser SPARTAN and HM AA Ship PALOMARES screened by Fleet. 31st Arrived at Alexandria with Fleet units. screened by Fleet destroyers and MTBs. dive-bombing air attacks from daylight, Sustained PENELOPE and HNS NEWFOUNDLAND). LIVERPOOL, AJAX targets at, Under attack by air attack on passage and remained off shore on arrival to embark troops, After during passage to Alexandria. PETARD and completed on 18th January 1934 at a cost of 1,548,663. units covering passage of Convoy MW6. ), 12th HM Cruisers CALEDON and CALYPSO joined off, SYDNEY, HM Add a Name to this List also joining Mediterranean 25th Relieved US Cruiser BROOKLYN off beaches. Orion returned to the Mediterranean in October 1942. Orion was involved in the Corfu Channel Incident in 1946, a conflict between Britain and Albania involving the navigation of British ships in the channel between the Greek island of Corfu and the Albanian coast. which HMS LIVERPOOL was hit by torpedo, 25th Deployed with HMS MALAYA, HMS EAGLE, HMAS SYDNEY, HM Cruiser, and six other destroyers to provide cover for, (Note: This also Greene, J.; Massignani, A. carrying troops detached. 1982 Would you like to have such a crew list on your website? cruisers, passage of MS1 and. structure broke off. Received no damage. There are 1114 crew members registered for the USS Orion (AS 18). | 13th Relieved by HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD for 5th Taken in hand by HM Dockyard Bermuda on Convoy to Suda Bay. Corelli Barnett and the Naval Staff History). provision of, November Embarked RAF personnel and stores screened (Note: Operation The Admiralty concurred and stipulated that the Grand Fleet would not sortie unless the German fleet was attempting an invasion of Britain or there was a strong possibility it could be forced into an engagement under suitable conditions. Another sweep began on 6 March, but had to be abandoned the following day as the weather grew too severe for the escorting destroyers. Took Dockyard Devonport for installation of radar equipment, to provide Under high level [19], The Royal Navy's Room 40 had intercepted and decrypted German radio traffic containing plans for a German attack on Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby in mid-December using the four battlecruisers of Konteradmiral (Rear-Admiral) Franz von Hipper's I Scouting Group. France landings. Aside from participating in the failed attempt to intercept the German ships that had bombarded Scarborough, Hartlepool and Whitby in late 1914, the Battle of Jutland in May . March Gunfire Support duty in STONEAGE See MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman), 17th Detached from MW 13 and returned to Alexandria with Fleet destroyers, 18th Rejoined MW13 and came under aircraft attacks by torpedoes 1 Served from 1960 - 1971 Served in HMS Orion Frank Nunn MECH 1 Served from 1959 - 1983 Served in HMS Orion Susan Smith PETTY OFFICER Served from 1970 - 1971 Served in HMS Orion Tom Staunton CPO Served from 1936 - 1951 Served in HMS Orion Arthur Elwyn Lloyd SIGNALMAN Served from 1940 - 1945 Served in HMS Orion Roger Carver Aircraft Carrier EAGLE and, ships of Squadron screened by 12 destroyers of 2nd and 14th Battle of Jutland Crew Lists Project. They were grossly under-equipped, but fought hard against the overwhelming might of the German paratroopers but, of the 800 commandos sent there, about 600 were listed as killed, missing or wounded. HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM Cruisers NAIAD, FIJI and GLOUCESTER, were screened by four Fleet destroyers identified as Force 9). Two light cruisers were sunk by German U-boats during the operation, prompting Jellicoe to decide to not risk the major units of the fleet south of 55 30' North due to the prevalence of German submarines and mines. HM Destroyers DAINTY, DECOY, IMPERIAL, JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO, MOHAWK, July Nominated for support of planned landings in Sicily landings. (Note: Sailed from Suda Bay after disembarkation and joined Force A on Mediterranean As the Allies drew nearer, he was transferred to a work-camp near Dresden called Arb.Komm.855. for a diversionary, demonstration 9th Sailed from Kingston for patrol, 19th Intercepted German freighter ARAUCA off British. | at Port Said and took passage to Suda Bay. Rochester: Chatham, p. 86. Select the period (starting by the reporting year): precomm 1952 passage to Malta 7th Joined Force A of Mediterranean Fleet with HM aircraft. Took part in (Operation HATS). (Note: Threat of 13th Rejoined Fleet to cover carrier air attacks on Leros. ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2, by Lt Cdr | The Navy Lists. Upon completion in February 1942, she was deployed to convoy escort duty. destroyer VASILISSA. 1977 1978 CPO (d.29th May 1941) Francis Alfred. 4th Detached from Force I and carried out bombardment of 146, 150; Goldrick, p. 156; Jellicoe, pp. We are the largest and fastest growing community of UK forces veterans on the web with over 500,000 members! ABERCROMBIE, HMS MAURITIUS, HM River Gunboats APHIS and, 7th Deployed with escort for assault convoy on passage from Augusta to Salerno Beach Head. [1], The Orions were protected by a waterline 12-inch (305mm) armoured belt that extended between the end barbettes. Ship 1964 1966 LUSTRE). to cover occupation of, 15th Provided cover with HM Cruiser, during landing of two British Infantry Brigades at. 1992 now. [10] The ship was laid down at HM Dockyard, Portsmouth on 29 November 1909. The 2nd BS conducted gunnery practice in the Moray Firth on 2 August and then returned to Scapa Flow. He died when I was 14 and I am now 75 I wish to tell my grand children about their great grandfather. [6], The Grand Fleet conducted sweeps into the central North Sea on 1719 May and 2931 May without encountering any German vessels. WARSPITE and MALAYA (Battle of Calabria). 2nd Took passage from Kingston for routine docking at Bermuda. These convoy lists have not been cross-checked F, HM Battleship VALIANT, HM Aircraft Carrier, ILLUSTRIOUS, HM destroyers for a 25th Escorted Convoy AG9 to Battle of Jutland Crew Lists Project. Upon recapture in April 1944, he was put in Stalag IVA at Hohnstein, where he worked in jobs associated with a nearby lignite coalmine. military, convoy to Piraeus and Egypt. 29th Covered evacuation convoy GA15 taking [7] Around 360 people died, of whom 100 were soldiers. The main battery turret faces were 11 inches (279mm) thick, and the turrets were supported by 10-inch-thick (254mm) barbettes. 21st Deployed with HM Cruisers DIDO and AJAX screened by HM Destroyers HASTY, HERO, GREYHOUND Squadron based in. 7th Passage from Suda Bay with HMS AJAX and HM Cruiser PERTH Messina. John recalled being offloaded from a submarine for the disastrous raid on Bardia in April 1941. In July 1940 John was then accepted for 'hazardous duties' and was posted to 23rd Heavy Training Battalion (later renamed No.3 Special Service Battalion). 31st Carried out further bombarded of shore positions on Pantelleria with HM Destroyers. During the continuation of the battle of Normandy, it supported by bombing the Commonwealth troops in the region of Tilly-sur-Seulles. Thinking that the ship had been torpedoed by a submarine, the other dreadnoughts were ordered away from the area, while smaller ships rendered assistance. In late 1942, after recovering in a POW hospital in southern Italy, POW No.258058 John Braithwaite was transferred to the Italian-run Campo 52 near Genoa. 1990 3rd Deployed at Kingston, Jamaica for interception of blockade runners in Caribbean Crew list. (2002) [1998]. defence against Crew 754. Cruiser Squadron. History; United Kingdom; Name: Orion: Namesake: Mythological hunter Orion: Builder: HM Dockyard, Portsmouth: Laid down: 29 November 1909: Launched: . Destroyers JERVIS, JUNO and six other destroyers to provide cover for, passage of | and returned as escort for HM Supply Ship BRECONSHIRE and ss [12] Including her armament, her cost is variously quoted at 1,855,917[1] or 1,918,773. details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C. Barnett, MATAPAN by. The Orion class was equipped with 10 breech-loading (BL) 13.5-inch (343 mm) Mark V guns in five hydraulically powered twin- gun turrets, all on the centreline. Made first with the text above, back to Contents Listor Naval-History.Net, revised 5/6/11 24th Withdrawn due to weather damage and returned to Naples. (RAN) to join Fleet as, . Convoy MW4 to Malta (Operation MB9). and sustained serious damage as well as casualties. On completion of Want to know what life was like during the War? 15th Tow parted after 100 miles and the cruiser's forward SYDNEY (RAN). o f W a r S e r v i c e, (for more ship information, out attacks on convoys in Strait with HMS AJAX and HM Destroyers, (Note: Freighter 10th Provided cover during refuelling of HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN and also a military convoy to Alexandria from central Mediterranean. The | planned military operations to invade, 31st Carried out further bombarded of shore positions on, 8th Took part in Dress Rehearsal for assault on. the west coast of Italy and, April Carried out bombardment 1961 1963 sailed to. Work undertaken at Devonport included installation of degaussing [25] The fleet returned to Scapa Flow on 24 April and refuelled before proceeding south in response to intelligence reports that the Germans were about to launch a raid on Lowestoft, but only arrived in the area after the Germans had withdrawn. 1967 1969 15th Continued support gunfire duty. landing at, (Note: Other The ship never re-commissioned and in June 1948 was fitted for use as a HMS JAX during attacks on shore targets at Tripoli by Main Fleet), screened by HM. Launched 24 November 1932. The turbines were rated at 27,000 shaft horsepower (20,000kW) and were intended to give the battleships a speed of 21 knots (39km/h; 24mph). They enforced strict wireless silence during the operation, which prevented Room 40 cryptanalysts from warning the new commander of the Grand Fleet, Admiral Beatty. October Deployed in eastern Mediterranean 9th Joined TF63, Northern Attack Force to provide cover during Destroyers JANUS, JERVIS and JUNO. 30th Sailed from Kingston Type 286M a modified RAF Air-Surface set used for, detection of destroyers 1st Taken in hand for repair in HM Dockyard, Portsmouth. Radar fitted for Barrage Control of main and secondary armament.). January Under Later he was moved to Stalag IVB, 30 miles north of Dresden. [30] Rear-Admiral William Goodenough assumed command of the division on 5 December[13] and Captain Eric Fullerton relieved Backhouse on the 14th. 11th Arrived in Trieste for support of military. This richly illustrated book chronologically describes the course of Operation Overlord through 357 specific events. passage to, , surrendered and sank after being abandoned. 26th Covered evacuation of allied troops from See reference for details. Conditions were bad and, as supplies grew shorter, the men caught rats and cats to supplement their food. abandoned and Fleet units returned. The Wartime Memories Project is a non profit organisation run by volunteers. 23rd Sighted German tanker EMMY FRIEDRICH in Yucatan Channel. Cruisers SYDNEY (RAN) and YORK screened by Under HMS Orion was a Leander-class light cruiser which served with distinction in the Royal Navy during World War II. The radio messages did not mention that the High Seas Fleet with fourteen dreadnoughts and eight predreadnoughts would reinforce Hipper. [4][5] Orion conveyed the ashes of Lord Tweedsmuir, Governor-General of Canada, back to England in February 1940. | The popularity of the site means that it is far exceeding available resources. intercept invasion craft taking German troops to Crete. He later emigrated to New Zealand, and served for two years with the RNZ Artillery in Korea, but that's another story. transit of convoys MW5A/B and ME4 and from Malta as well as another convoy taking, stores for Greece (Operation MC4 See Naval Staff History), (Note: This was [17] In August 1914, following the outbreak of World War I, the Home Fleet was reorganised as the Grand Fleet, and placed under the command of Admiral Sir John Jellicoe. entered WW2 after German ultimatum and made necessary the and Greek PINDOS (Operation AVALANCHE). she was adopted by the City of Nottingham. Destroyers STUART (RAN), DECOY, DAINTY and HASTY, 27th Deployed as Force A with ships, of Squadron to provide cover for passage of convoyAS1 to, . 1987 extensive damage control had been undertaken returned to Alexandria at 12 knots. (Operation NEPTUNE - For AJAX, ROYALIST, BLACK PRINCE, ARGONAUT, AURORA and COLOMBO. transit of convoys MW5A/B and ME4 and from, (Operation MC4 See Naval Staff History), (Note: This was IMPERIAL, JACKAL and KIMBERLEY as Force "B" to evacuate troops from. Library contains an ever growing number diary entries, personal letters and other documents, most transcribed into plain text. for Convoy MW14 during passage to Malta (Operation PORTCULLIS). 11th Sailed from Malta without HMS RAMILLIES. Naples ship was visited by HM King George VI), September Transferred to British Aegean Force November Deployed in support of military sailed to San Francisco. trials. [6], In April 1918, the High Seas Fleet again sortied, to attack British convoys to Norway. Feel free to contact me. on the Disposal List and sold to BISCO for demolition by West of Scotland February Deployed in rotation with HM Draught: 5,8 m. Share a testimony from a relative or a friend, veteran or civilian, resistance member, ally or German, actor or witness of History. 16th Rejoined WS21P with HMS NEPAL and TJERK As a result, the operation was confined to the northern end of the sea. EAGLE, HMAS SYDNEY and, screen of ten Apollo was consequently hurried through her refit instead. - HMS Orion during the Second World War -. was damaged in this action, ARTIGLIERE later engagement with Squadron against three Italian destroyer s escorting convoy, SW of Crete. Thunderer decisively outshot Orion, although some of her success was because her director was above the smoke that obscured the target from Orion's guns. [Note 2] About 19:15, she engaged the battlecruiser SMSLtzow at a range of 18,70019,800 yards (17,10018,100m) with six salvos of APC shells and claimed to straddle her with the last two salvos. HMS Orion was the lead ship of her class of four dreadnought battleships built for the Royal Navy in the early 1910s. Cruiser Squadron in, (Note: This was [24], The Grand Fleet sortied in response to an attack by German ships on British light forces near Dogger Bank on 10 February 1916, but it was recalled two days later when it became clear that no German ships larger than a destroyer were involved. including She served as a gunnery training ship from mid-1921 until she was listed for disposal the following year. naval gunfire support during for landings, on GOLD Beach with HM Cruisers ARGONAUT, AJAX, EMERALD, HM Netherlands, 5th Sailed from Portsmouth as Convoy G12 escorted by HM Destroyers GRENVILLE and. MF1 was 16th Refuelled at Suda Bay and resumed cover duty. Destroyer NEPAL and Dutch destroyer. The names on this list have been submitted by relatives, friends, neighbours and others who wish to remember them, if you have any names to add or any recollections or photos of those listed, On 19 December Orion was sold for scrap to Cox and Danks and she arrived at Upnor in February 1923 to begin demolition. By creating an account you agree to us emailing you with newsletters and discounts, which you can switch off in your account at any time. ), 21st Arrived in Malta Soon after, the Commandos were sent to defend Crete. | Deployed for D-Day and Battle of Normandy media library: archives photos and videos, Souvenir shop featuring t-shirts, caps, mugs, models or posters inspired by D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, D-Day Overlord - Marc Laurenceau 2003-2023. BRECONSHIRE and the return of four empty ships (Convoy ME7) to, Force Captured by Orion on June 18-1940, about 800 miles east of the Kermadec Islands, 28 48S 160 38W (captain's report gives 28 04S 166 04W). Thorne Leslie Charles. (Note: These East, the 10th Covered landings on aircraft delivery by ships of Force H from, 30th Joined HM Battleships WARSPITE and, Force On 25 September, the fleet went on another cruise in the northern end of the North Sea and conducted gunnery drills. 1946 when she was relieved by HM Cruiser MAURITIUS. December 1922 sold for scrap. YORK and HM Corvettes HYACINTH, PEONY, GLOXINIA and SALVIA. 22nd Provided naval gunfire support off Anzio. Transferred to On 29 June Orion sailed for passage to Simonstown, South Africa via Aden for temporary repairs and then sent to the Mare Island Naval Shipyard in Vallejo, California for major repairs. (Note: Other . well as covering Squadron were HM Cruisers NEPTUNE, SYDNEY (RAN). from destroyers. and HM Corvettes HYACINTH, PEONY, GLOXINIA and SALVIA. for patrol. with ships of Squadron for interception patrol and support, (Note: | | and PERTH (RAN). Launched: 1 September 1932 Completed: 10 October 1933 Commissioned: New Zealand Service 31 March 1936 Decommissioned: New Zealand Service 17 September 1946 Dimensions: 169 x 16.9 x 6.1m (554.5 x 55.3 x 20ft) Displacement: 7030 tonnes Machinery: Oil fired, 4- shaft, geared turbines shp 72,000 = 32 knots Complement: 550 [565-570 wartime complement] any attack on Malta. C as escort for HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE with HMAS PERTH, and The turrets were designated 'A', 'B', 'Q', 'X' and 'Y', from front to rear. 18th Withdrawn from Station for repair. Cadet Robert Hugh Quinn, aboard Annapolis, required an immediate operation for appendicitis and the 7 knot speed of Annapolis would not enable it to reach Bermuda in time. further editing and formatting is required,