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Light cruiser HMS Newcastle (76)

24 Jul 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During her refit, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN), is docked at the Simonstown Dockyard. (1)

25 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN) is undocked. (2)

26 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN) conducted D/F trials in False Bay upon completion of which she set course to proceed to Capetown where she arrived later the same day. En-route gunnery exercises were carried out. (3)

27 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN) conducted D/G trials off Capetown on competion of which she returned to Simonstown. (3)

3 Oct 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN) conducted full power trials off Simonstown. (4)

4 Oct 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN) departed Simonstown for Kilindini. (4)

10 Oct 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN) arrived at Kilindini. (4)

11 Oct 1944
During 11-13 October 1944, HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN), conducted exercises off Kilindini. During these exercises the sloop (cutter) HMS Landguard (Lt. B.M. Skinner, RN) served as target ship on several occasions.

On completion of the exercises on 13 October HMS Newcastle proceeded to Manza Bay. (4)

15 Oct 1944
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN) departed Manza Bay for exercises which would continue until 16 October. During some of these exercises the sloop (cutter) HMS Fishguard (Lt.Cdr. C.D. Smith, DSC, RNR).

Upon completion of the exercises on 16 October 1944 both ships proceeded to Kilindini. (4)

19 Oct 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN) departed Kilindini for Trincomalee. (4)

25 Oct 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN) arrived at Trincomalee. (4)

1 Nov 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During 1 / 2 November 1944, HMS Nigeria (Capt. H.A. King, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN), HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN) and HMNZS Achilles (Capt. F.J. Butler, CBE, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. (5)

23 Nov 1944
During 23/24 November 1944, HMS London (Capt. R.V. Symonds-Tayler, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.T.C. Walker, CB, RN), HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN), HMS Phoebe (Capt. S.M. Raw, CBE, RN) and HMNZS Achilles (Capt. F.J. Butler, CBE, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. (6)

30 Nov 1944
During 30 November / 1 December 1944, HMS Cumberland (Capt. P.K. Enright, RN), HMS Suffolk (Capt. D. Gilmour, RN) and HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. These included night exercises.

During 30 November HMS London (Capt. R.V. Symonds-Tayler, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.T.C. Walker, CB, RN) also participated in the exercises but she returned back to harbour early in the evening. (7)

17 Dec 1944

Operation Robson.

Air strike against the Pangkalan Brandan oil refinery (North-East Sumatra).

On 17 December 1944, Task Force 67, made up of the aircraft carriers HMS Indomitable (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral P.L. Vian, KCB, KBE, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), HMS Illustrious (Capt. C.E. Lambe, CB, CVO, RN), light cruisers HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN), HMS Argonaut (Capt. E.W.L. Longley-Cook, CBE, RN), HMS Black Prince (Capt. D.M. Lees, DSO, RN), destroyers HMS Kempenfelt (Capt. E.G. McGregor, DSO, RN), HMS Wager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Watkin, RN), HMS Wakeful (Lt.Cdr. G.D. Pound, DSC, RN), HMS Wessex (Lt.Cdr. R. Horncastle, RN), HMS Whelp (Cdr. G.A.F. Norfolk, RN), Whirlwind (Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, DSO, DSC, OBE, RN) and Wrangler (Lt.Cdr. D.W. Austin, RN) departed Trincomalee for a carrier raid on the Pangkalan Brandan oil refinery.

On 18 December, HMS Argonaut, HMS Black Prince and the destroyers topped off with fuel from the RFA tanker Wave King (8159 GRT, built 1944).

At dawn on 20 December, north of Diamond Point, a total of 28 Avengers, 16 Hellcats and 16 Corsairs were flown off to attack the Pangkalan Brandan oil refinery. On arrival they found the refinery completely obscured by clouds and they therefore attacked harbour warehouses, railway yards and oil installations at Belawan. The fighters also attacked some airfields.

The enemy was taken by surprise, no fighters were encountered and flak was light. The results were difficult to observe due to the low cloud. No aircraft were lost in the attacks.

The weather had been unfavourable and as no improvment was expected the force withdrew and no second strike was carried out.

On 21 December rendezvous was made with the tanker Wave King but apparently no ship needed to fuel. HMS Wager and HMS Whirlwind were detached to escort the tanker back to Trincomalee.

Task Force 67 arrived at Trincomalee on 22 December 1944. (8)

28 Dec 1944
Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN, transferred his flag from HMS Nigeria (Capt. H.A. King, DSO, RN) to HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN). (9)

30 Dec 1944
Task Force 61, made up of the light cruisers HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN), HMS Nigeria (Capt. H.A. King, DSO, RN), HMS Phoebe (Capt. S.M. Raw, CBE, RN) and the destroyers HMS Raider (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Cartwright, DSC, RN), HMS Rapid (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Pathfinder (Lt.Cdr. T.F. Hallifax, RN) departed Trincomalee for Chittagong.

They were to be deployed as a bombarding force during the upcoming assault on Akyab. HMS Phoebe was to be deployed as fighter direction ship.

They arrived at Chittagong on 1 January 1945. (10)

3 Jan 1945
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN), HMS Nigeria (Capt. H.A. King, DSO, RN), HMS Phoebe (Capt. S.M. Raw, CBE, RN) and the destroyers HMS Raider (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Cartwright, DSC, RN), HMS Rapid (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Pathfinder (Lt.Cdr. T.F. Hallifax, RN) departed Chittagong to give support during the landings at Akyab, Burma.

They were not required for bombardment duties as the enemy had retreated from the area and were ordered to return to Trincomalee later the same day except for HMS Phoebe which returned to Chittagong to remain behind in the area for fighter direction duty if required.

The other ships arrived at Trincomalee on 5 January 1945. (11)

8 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN) conducted a practice bombardment off Trincomalee. (12)

13 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN), HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN) and HMS Nigeria (Capt. H.A. King, DSO, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. (13)

20 Jan 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN) conducted AA gunnery exercises off Trincomalee. She also ran over the DG range. (12)

26 Jan 1945

Operation Sankey.

Landings on Cheduba Island.

Task Force 65, made up of the light cruisers HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN), HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN), HMS Nigeria (Capt. H.A. King, DSO, RN) and the destroyer HMS Paladin (Lt.Cdr. M.C. Morris, RN) departed Trincomalee on 23 January 1945 with 500 Royal Marines embarked in the cruisers.

They were joined on 25 January by ships coming from Akyab, which they had departed on the 24th, these were the light cruiser HMS Phoebe (Capt. S.M. Raw, CBE, RN), escort carrier HMS Ameer (A/Capt. J.H. Lewes, OBE, RN) destroyers HMS Raider (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Cartwright, DSC, RN), HMAS Norman (Cdr. J. Plunkett-Cole, RAN) and the frigates HMS Teviot (Cdr.(Retd.) T. Taylor, DSC, RN) and HMS Spey (T/Lt.Cdr. A. Harrison, RNR).

An 26 January the destroyer HMS Rapid (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, DSC and Bar, RN) joined with the Landing Craft for the operation. Also small craft such as BYMS and an ML's arrived.

The landing of the marines was successful. They were later relieved by the Army and the marines were re-embarked A.M. on 31 January 1945.

During 27-31 January the cruisers supported the Army operations on Ramree Island by bombardments.

Sagu Island was occupied on 30 January after HMAS Norman and HMS Raider had neutralized Japanese field guns which had repulsed an attempted landing the previous day.

Force 65 left the the area P.M. on 31 January having carryied out a final bombardment of Ramree Island. (14)

2 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN), HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN) arrived at Trincomalee from operations of the Burmese coast. (15)

12 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN) departed Trincomalee for Calcutta. (16)

14 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN) arrived at Calcutta. (16)

20 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN) departed Calcutta for Trincomalee. (16)

22 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN) arrived at Trincomalee. (16)

23 Feb 1945
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN) departed Trincomalee for Colombo. (16)

24 Feb 1945
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN) arrived at Colombo. (16)

25 Feb 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN) is docked at Colombo. (16)

7 Mar 1945
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN) is undocked. (17)

10 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN, struck his flag in HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN).

Rear-Admiral W.R. Patterson, CB, CVO, RN, then hoisted his flag. (17)

17 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.R. Patterson, CB, CVO, RN) departed Colombo for Trincomalee. (17)

18 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.R. Patterson, CB, CVO, RN) arrived at Trincomalee. (17)

25 Mar 1945
Rear-Admiral W.R. Patterson, CB, CVO, RN, struck his flag in HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN) and hoisted it in HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN).

HMS Newcastle then departed Trincomalee for Fremantle later the same day. (18)

31 Mar 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN) arrived at Fremantle. (17)

1 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN) departed Fremantle for Sydney. (19)

5 Apr 1945 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Newcastle (Capt. J.G. Roper, OBE, RN) arrived at Sydney. (19)

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