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Heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (D 81)

10 Feb 1942
Nearing the completion of rearmament and refit, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) is recommissioned at the Devonport Dockyard. (1)

20 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) is docked in No.10 Graving Dock at the Devonport Dockyard for a tilt test. (1)

23 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) is undocked. (1)

25 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted compass swing trials off Plymouth. (1)

26 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted D/F calibration trials off Plymouth. (1)

27 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted full power trials off Plymouth. (1)

28 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted radar trials off Plymouth. (1)

4 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0730A/4, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Plymouth for Scapa Flow. (2)

5 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 2030A/5, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from Plymouth. At Scapa Flow she was then to undergo a work-up programme. (2)

10 Mar 1942
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted close range AA gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (2)

17 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted 7.5" gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (2)

27 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted night 7.5" gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (2)

28 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. Also a speed trial on the measured mile was conducted. (2)

31 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted D/G trials at Scapa Flow. (2)

14 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (3)

15 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (3)

14 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0015B/14, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and the transport Agwileon (American, 6678 GRT, built 1907) arrived at Walvis Bay. (4)

15 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800B/15, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and the transport Agwileon (American, 6678 GRT, built 1907) departed Walvis Bay for Capetown. (4)

18 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1530B/18, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and the transport Agwileon (American, 6678 GRT, built 1907) arrived at Capetown from Walvis Bay. (4)

19 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1500B/19, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Capetown escorting the Capetown section of convoy WS 18.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 18 ' for 16 April 1942.] (4)

29 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 2000C/29, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and the troop transport Llandaff Castle (British, 10799 GRT, built 1926) arrived at Diego Suarez. (4)

30 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0830C/30, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Diego Suarez for Durban. (4)

2 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800C/30, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Durban from Diego Suarez. (5)

10 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1500C/10, the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable (Capt. T.H. Troubridge, RN), heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and the destroyers HMS Foxhound (Cdr. G.H. Peters, DSC, RN) and HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa. The destroyers parted company around 2000C/10 and returned to port. The carrier and heavy cruiser then set course northwards to patrol off the east coast of Africa. (6)

16 Jun 1942
Around 1730C/16, the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable (Capt. T.H. Troubridge, RN) and heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) returned to Kilindini / Mombasa from patrol. They had been around 0630C/16 by the destroyers HMS Duncan (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN) and HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, RN) which then escorted them in. (6)

29 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0700B/29, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Durban from Kilindini / Mombasa. (5)

12 Jul 1942
Around 1300C/12, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN), HMS Duncan (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN), HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, RN) and HMS Arrow (Cdr. A.M. McKillop, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from escort duty. (7)

14 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1100C/14, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Durban. (7)

17 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800B/17, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Durban from Kilindini / Mombasa. (7)

27 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1125D/27, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Mauritius from convoy escort duty. (7)

29 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0615D/29, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Mauritius to join convoy WS 20.

Around 2050D/29, she joined HMS Worcestershire (A/Capt.(Retd.) E.H. Hopkinson, RN) which had already departed Mauritius around 1630D/28 also to join convoy WS 20. Both ships joined the convoy around 0915D/30.

For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 20 ' for 20 June 1942. (8)

6 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1400C/6, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Aden from convoy escort duty. (9)

20 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1500C/20, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Aden. Around 1700C/20, she joined the (troop) transports Bergensfjord (Norwegian, 11015 GRT, built 1913) and Takliwa (British, 7936 GRT, built 1924) to escort them part of their way towards the Persian Gulf.

Around 0600C/24, when off the gulf of Oman, HMS Frobisher parted company with the two ships of the convoy which then proceeded independently to the Persian Gulf. HMS Frobisher set course for Colombo where she was to undergo a short refit including a docking. (9)

27 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1130F/27, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Colombo from escort duty. She is then taken in hand for a short refit. (9)

1 Sep 1942
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) is docked at Colombo. (10)

9 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) is undocked. (10)

16 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) is again docked at Colombo. (10)

20 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) is undocked. (10)

22 Sep 1942
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted post refit trials and exercises, including gunnery exercises, off Colombo. A serious machinery defect had developed requiring further repairs. She was therefore unable to escort convoy US 16 as had originally been intended. (10)

28 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted exercises off Colombo. (10)

4 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted exercises off Colombo. (11)

7 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1745FG/7, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Colombo for Kilindini / Mombasa via the Seychelles. (11)

10 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1700DE/10, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Port Victoria from Colombo. (11)

11 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1800D/11, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Port Victoria for Kilindini / Mombasa. (11)

13 Oct 1942
Around 2200D/13, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Port Victoria. She arrived with engine defects for which she was taken in hand for repairs. (11)

23 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted engine trials and gunnery exercises off Kilindini / Mombasa. (12)

26 Nov 1942
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted engine trials and torpedo firing exercises off Kilindini / Mombasa. (12)

4 Dec 1942
Around 0645C/4, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Durban from Kilindini / Mombasa. (13)

13 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0600D/13, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Port Victoria from convoy escort duty.

After having fuelled from the RFA tanker Olynthus (6888 GRT, built 1918) she departed for Aden around 1615D/13. (13)

16 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1630C/16, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Aden from Port Victoria. (13)

18 Jan 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1600C/18, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from convoy escort duty. Before entering harbour AA gunnery exercises were carried out, however the target aircraft crashed and the exercises were broken off. HMS Frobisher managed to pick up the crew of the aircraft. (14)

6 Feb 1943
Around 1100C/6, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa to join convoy CM 38 at sea.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy CM 38 ' for 1 February 1943.] (15)

20 Feb 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Bombay with convoy CM 38. (15)

25 Feb 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1015FG/25, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Bombay for Kilindini / Mombasa. (15)

3 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0615C/3, the heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) was joined by the destroyers HMS Foxhound (Cdr. C.J. Wynne-Edwards, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN).

Exercises were then carried out later in the morning and in the afternoon.

HMS Frobisher then entered Kilindini / Mombasa around 1600C/3, the two destroyers around 1745C/3. (16)

9 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0600C/9, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for escort duty with convoy WS 26.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Combined convoy WS 26 / KMF 8 ' for 24 January 1943.] (17)

15 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1030C/15, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Aden from convoy escort duty. (17)

16 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1015C/16, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Aden for Kilindini / Mombasa. (17)

20 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0845C/20, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Aden. (17)

23 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1645C/23, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Durban. (17)

27 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0730C/27, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Durban from Kilindini / Mombasa. (17)

29 Mar 1943
Between 0855B/29 and 1150B/29, the heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN), destroyers HMS Rotherham (Lt. J.R.L. Moore, RN), HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN), HMS Foxhound (Cdr. C.J. Wynne-Edwards, DSC and Bar, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Catterick (Lt. A. Tyson, RN) departed Durban with the Durban section of convoy WS 27. They then joined the section coming from Capetown at sea.

[For more info see the event ' Convoy WS 27 / Part of the convoy that proceeded from South Africa to the Gulf of Aden ' for 27 March 1943.] (18)

6 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1530C/6, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from convoy escort duty. (19)

23 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0730C/23, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Diego Suarez from Kilindini / Mombasa. (19)

25 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1315C/25, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Diego Suarez for Simonstown. (19)

1 May 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900B/1, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Simonstown from Diego Suarez. At Simonstown she was taken in hand for a short refit including a docking. (20)

17 May 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) is docked in the Selborne graving dock at the Simonstown Dockyard. (20)

31 May 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) is undocked. (20)

10 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1000B/10, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Simonstown for Durban. On departure she first carried out gunnery exercises. (21)

13 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800B/13, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Durban from Simontown. (22)

14 Jun 1943
Around 0830B/14, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Durban for Kilindini / Mombasa. (21)

18 Jun 1943
Around 0900C/18, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Durban. (21)

29 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During daytime, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN), proceeded from Manza Bay to Kilindini / Mombasa. En-route 4" gunnery exercises were carried out. (21)

14 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted exercises off Kilindini / Mombasa. (23)

28 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1000C/28, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Diego Suarez. (23)

30 Jul 1943
Around 0700C/30, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Diego Suarez from Kilindini / Mombasa. (23)

1 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1130C/1, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Diego Suarez for Mauritius. (24)

3 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800D/3, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Mauritius from Diego Suarez.

Around 1245D/3, she departed Mauritius to join convoy WS 31.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Combined convoy WS 31 / KMS 17 ' for 20 June 1943.] (24)

13 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1200FG/13, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Bombay with the Bombay section of convoy WS 31. (24)

15 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1700FG/15, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Bombay for Aden. (24)

19 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1030FG/19, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Aden from Bombay. (24)

20 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1845C/20, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Aden for Bombay. She is escorting the troop transport Ascanius (British, 10048 GRT, built 1910). (24)

26 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1930FG/26, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and the troop transport Ascanius (British, 10048 GRT, built 1910) arrived at Bombay from Aden. (24)

28 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800FG/28, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Bombay for Colombo. (24)

30 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0730FG/30, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Colombo from Bombay. (24)

3 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) is docked at Colombo. (25)

8 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) is undocked. She then departed Colombo around 1445FG/8 for Kilindini / Mombasa. (25)

14 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1445C/14, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Colombo. (25)

14 Sep 1943

Convoy CM 45.

This convoy departed Durban on 14 September 1943.

The convoy was made up of the troop transports; Highland Brigade (British, 14134 GRT, built 1929), Nea Hellas (British, 16991 GRT, built 1922), Sibajak (Dutch, 12226 GRT, built 1927), Stirling Castle (British, 25550 GRT, built 1936) and Stratheden (British, 23722 GRT, built 1937).

On departure from Durban the convoy was escorted by the battleship HMS Ramillies (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN) and the destroyers HMS Roebuck (Cdr. J.T. Lean, DSO, RN), HMS Relentless (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Fell, RN), HMAS Quickmatch (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades, DSC, RAN), HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN) and HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN).

Around 1330C/19, HMAS Quickmatch parted company with the convoy to proceed ahead to Kilindini / Mombasa where she arrived around 0715C/20. After fuelling she departed again around 1220C/20 to rejoin the convoy which she did around 0700C/21.

Around 1700C/19, the troop transports Nieuw Holland (Dutch, 11066 GRT, built 1927), and Salween (British, 7063 GRT, built 1937) departed Kilindini / Mombasa to join the convoy. They were escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and the destroyer HMS Quadrant (Lt.Cdr. W.H. Farrington, RN). They joined the convoy around 1600C/20.

On these ships joining HMS Ramillies, HMS Roebuck, HMS Relentless and HMAS Napier parted company to proceed to Kilindini / Mombasa where they arrived around 0800C/21.

HMS Roebuck and HMS Relentless departed again around 1625C/21 to rejoin the convoy.

HMAS Nepal arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa around 1010C/22, presumably having parted company with the convoy, most likely on HMS Roebuck and HMS Relentless rejoining.

Around 1500CD/24, the convoy split into two sections. Convoy CM 45A proceeded towards Aden and was made up of the troop transports Nieuw Holland, Salween, Sibajak and Stratheden and escorted by HMS Roebuck, HMS Relentless, HMS Quadrant and HMAS Quickmatch. This section arrived at Aden on 26 September 1943.

Convoy CM 45B was the Bombay section and was made up of the troop transports Highland Brigade, Nea Hellas and Stirling Castle. They were escorted by HMS Frobisher. This section arrived at Bombay on 28 September 1943. (26)

19 Sep 1943
Around 1700C/19, the troop transports Nieuw Holland (Dutch, 11066 GRT, built 1927), and Salween (British, 7063 GRT, built 1937) departed Kilindini / Mombasa to join convoy CM 45. They were escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and the destroyer HMS Quadrant (Lt.Cdr. W.H. Farrington, RN). They joined the convoy around 1600C/20.

[For more info on this convoys see the event ' Convoy CM 45 ' for 14 September 1943.] (27)

28 Sep 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900FG/28, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Bombay with convoy CM 45B.

Before entering harbour HMS Frobisher conducted a bombardment exercise. (25)

2 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1130FG/2, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Bombay for Colombo. (28)

4 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1130FG/4, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Colombo from Bombay. (28)

9 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Colombo. (28)

12 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1630FG/12, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Colombo for Addu Atoll. (28)

14 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0830FG/14, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Addu Atoll from Colombo. (28)

15 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0645FG/15, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Addu Atoll to join the troop transport George Washington (American, 25570 GRT, built 1909) which was en-route from Fremantle to Bombay. She joined around 1300FG/15. (28)

25 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1115FG/25, the troop transport George Washington (American, 25570 GRT, built 1909) departed Bombay for South Africa via the Seychelles. She was escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and the destroyers HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) and HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN).

Around 2030EF/26, the destroyers parted company to return to Bombay.

Around 1215D/30, the George Washington and HMS Frobisher arrived at the Seychelles where HMS Frobisher fuelled. They departed around 2015D/30 to continue their passage.

HMS Frobisher parted company with the troopship off Durban and then entered Durban around 0600B/6. The troopship continued on towards Capetown. (28)

18 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1305C/18, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Durban for Kilindini / Mombasa. She has a gunnery target in tow. (29)

23 Nov 1943
Around 1430C/23, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Durban. (30)

3 Dec 1943
Around 0800C/3, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Trincomalee via Port Victoria, Seychelles. (31)

5 Dec 1943
Around 1045D/5, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Port Victoria from Kilindini / Mombasa. After fuelling she departed for Trincomalee via Addu Atoll shortly after 1700D/5. (31)

7 Dec 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1045F/7, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Addu Atoll from Port Victoria. (31)

8 Dec 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0320F/8, the heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Addu Atoll to make rendezvous with the disabled French light cruiser (large destroyer) Le Triomphant which had sustained heavy damage during a cyclone and was currently in tow of the tanker Cedar Mills (American, 10172 GRT, built 1943). At 0530Z/6, their position had been 16°32'S, 82°30'E. On making rendezvous HMS Frobisher is to take over the tow and then proceed to Diego Suarez with the disabled ship. (32)

10 Dec 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800F/10, the heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) made rendezvous in position 09°40'S, 78°09'E with the disabled French light cruiser (large destroyer) Le Triomphant that was being towed by tanker Cedar Mills (American, 10172 GRT, built 1943). During the day evacuated crew members from the disabled French ship which had been on board the Cedar Mills transferred to HMS Frobisher. Also the tow was transferred and the Cedar Mills parted company to proceed to her own destination.

HMS Frobisher with the Le Triomphant in tow then set course for Diego Suarez.

Around 2045E/14, in approximate position 11°57'S, 63°00'E, the sloop Savorgnan de Brazza joined coming from Diego Suarez.

Around 1500DE/15, the rescue tug HMRT Prudent joined and took over the tow. HMS Frobisher then parted company with the other ships around 1620DE/15. She arrived at Diego Suarez around 1515C/16. The other three ships arrived at Diego Suarez in the evening of 19 December 1943. (31)

21 Dec 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1415C/21, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Diego Suarez for Durban. (33)

24 Dec 1943
Around 1100C/24, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Durban from Diego Suarez. At Durban she is then taken in hand for a short refit. (33)

18 Jan 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) is docked in the graving dock at Durban. (34)

28 Jan 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) is undocked. (34)

2 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted full power trials and gunnery exercises off Durban. (35)

4 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1950C/4, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Durban for Kilindini / Mombasa. (35)

8 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0945C/8, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from Durban. (35)

10 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted radar calibration trials and gunnery exercises off Kilindini / Mombasa. (35)

17 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted exercises off Kilindini / Mombasa. These included A/S exercises with HMS Osiris (T/Lt. M.H. Atkinson, RNR). (35)

7 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1500FG/7, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Colombo for Trincomalee. (36)

8 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1045FG/8, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Trincomalee from Colombo. (36)

9 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1230FG/9, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Trincomalee for Colombo. (36)

10 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0930FG/10, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Colombo from Trincomalee. (36)

12 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1445FG/12, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Colombo for Aden. She is to proceed to the U.K. (36)

17 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0630C/17, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Aden from Colombo.

Around 1800C/17, she departed Aden for Suez. (36)

20 Mar 1944
Around 0600B/20, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Suez from Aden. (36)

21 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) transited the Suez Canal northbound and arrived at Port Said.

She departed Port Said for Alexandria around 2045B/21. (36)

22 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0715B/22, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Alexandria from Port Said. (36)

28 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0730A/28, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Algiers from Alexandria.

Around 1145A/28, she departed Algiers from Gibraltar. (36)

29 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0930A/29, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Algiers.

Around 1830A/29, she departed Gibraltar for Greenock. (36)

2 Apr 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 2015A/2, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Greenock from Gibraltar. (37)

11 Apr 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) proceeded from Greenock to Dalmuir. (37)

28 Apr 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) proceeded Dalmuir to Greenock. (37)

29 Apr 1944
Around 1630B/29, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Greenock for Scapa Flow. (37)

30 Apr 1944
Around 1315B/30, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from Greenock. (37)

4 May 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (38)

6 May 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0730B/6, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Scapa Flow for the Clyde. (38)

7 May 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0615B/7, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Greenock from Scapa Flow. (38)

10 May 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Warspite (Capt. M.H.A. Kelsey, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.R. Patterson, CB, CVO, RN) and HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted bombardment exercises in the Clyde area. (39)

12 May 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Warspite (Capt. M.H.A. Kelsey, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.R. Patterson, CB, CVO, RN) and HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) both conducted bombardment exercises in the Clyde area. (39)

18 May 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1500B/18, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Greenock for Scapa Flow. (38)

19 May 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1120B/19, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from Greenock. (38)

21 May 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. Also speed trials were conducted on the measured mile. (38)

23 May 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0740B/23, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Scapa Flow. First exercises were carried out after which course was set for the Clyde in company with HMS Arethusa (Capt. H. Dalrymple-Smith, RN). (40)

24 May 1944
Around 1745B/24, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and HMS Arethusa (Capt. H. Dalrymple-Smith, RN) arrived at Greenock from Scapa Flow. Before arrival manoeuvring exercises were carried out in the Clyde with HMS Mauritius (Capt. W.W. Davis, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.R. Patterson, CB, CVO, RN) and HMS Danae (Capt. J.R.S. Haines, RN). (41)

26 May 1944
During the night of 26/27 May 1944, the battleships HMS Warspite (Capt. M.H.A. Kelsey, DSC, RN), HMS Ramillies (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN), heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) and light cruisers HMS Mauritius (Capt. W.W. Davis, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.R. Patterson, CB, CVO, RN), HMS Arethusa (Capt. H. Dalrymple-Smith, RN), HMS Danae (Capt. J.R.S. Haines, RN) and ORP Dragon (Kmdr.por. (Cdr.) S.T. Dzienisiewicz) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. They were escorted by the destroyers HMS Saumarez (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), HMS Swift (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Gower, RN), HNoMS Stord (Lt.Cdr. S.V. Storheill) and the frigates HMS Holmes (Lt. D.B.G. Dumas, RN) and HMS Rowley (Lt.Cdr. F.J.G. Jones, RD, RNR). (42)

2 Jun 1944
Around 1930B/2, ' Bombardment Force D ', made up of the battleships HMS Warspite (Capt. M.H.A. Kelsey, DSC, RN), HMS Ramillies (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN), heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN), light cruisers HMS Mauritius (Capt. W.W. Davis, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.R. Patterson, CB, CVO, RN), HMS Arethusa (Capt. H. Dalrymple-Smith, RN), HMS Danae (Capt. J.R.S. Haines, RN), ORP Dragon (Kmdr.por. (Cdr.) S.T. Dzienisiewicz), destroyers HMS Saumarez (Capt. P.G.L. Cazalet, DSC, RN), HMS Swift (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Gower, RN), HNoMS Stord (Lt.Cdr. S.V. Storheill), HNoMS Svenner (Lt.Cdr. T. Holte), frigates HMS Holmes (Lt. D.B.G. Dumas, RN), HMS Rowley (Lt.Cdr. F.J.G. Jones, RD, RNR) and minesweepers HMS Catherine (A/Cdr. L.C. Windsor, RN), HMS Cato (Lt. R.W.E. Harris, RN), HMS Combatant (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) G.L. Barwell, RN), HMS Gazelle (Lt. J.D. Sutcliffe, RN), HMS Gorgon (T/A/Lt.Cdr. F. Mugford, RNR), HMS Grecian (A/Cdr.(Emgy.) C.D.A. Irvine, RN), HMS Pique (T/Lt. W.J.C. Fuller, RNR) and HMS Steadfast (T/A/Lt.Cdr. R. Mowbray, RNR) departed the Clyde for operation Neptune, the landings in Normandy, France.

6 Jun 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 0518B/6, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived in her assigned position off Sword Beach.

At 0547B/6, HMS Frobisher opened fire on an enemy shore battery. Six salvoes were fired.

At 0645B/6, fire was opened on a shore target. Two salvoes straddled this targat around 0706B/6.

Around min-morning, HMS Frobisher took off wounded from a damaged LCI. (43)

7 Jun 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the afternoon , HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) conducted two shore bombardments against enemy targets. (43)

8 Jun 1944
Between 0920B/8 and 0950B/8, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) bombarded a concentration of enemy tanks.

Around 1600B/8, HMS Frobisher weighed anchor and set course to conduct more shore bombardments on completion of which she set course for Portsmouth. On board were now also 85 survivors from HMS Lawford that had been sunk by enemy aircraft earlier in the day. Around 1700B/8, she was straddled by a stick of bombs from enemy fighter bombers. (43)

9 Jun 1944
At 0137B/9, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) dropped anchor in Spithead. (43)

12 Jun 1944
Around 1305B/12, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Portsmouth for the operations area off Normandy.

Around 1845B/12, she dropped anchor off Arromanches and commenced service as depot ship off Mulberry B. (43)

18 Jul 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 0846B/12, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) was straddled by a stick of bombs during a German air attack. One bomb was a direct hit on the forecastle though. The ship sustained superficial damage as well as 8 killed and 12 wounded. (44)

23 Jul 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around noon, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) proceeded from Mulberry B near Arromanches to the area off Courseulles-sur-Mer where she dropped anchor off Juno Beach. (44)

9 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 0717B/9, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) suffered an explosion forward. She sustained damage from bulkhead 49 and then forwards.

The ship had been hit be a German long range 'Dackel' torpedo fired by the German S-boats (motor torpedo boats) S-174, S-180 and S-79. These operated from Le Havre and had launched ten torpedoes into the operations area of Normandy that night. (45)

10 Aug 1944
Around 1315B/10, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) weighed anchor and departed the operations area for the Chatham Dockyard. She is being towed by the tug HMRT Restive.

Around 1530B/10, the escort destroyers HMS Cottesmore (Lt. W.D. O'Brien, DSC, RN) and ORP Krakowiak (Kmdr.ppor. (Cdr.) W. Maracewicz) joined as escorts.

Around 1945B/10, HMS Cottesmore parted company.

Around 2145B/10, the frigate HMS Hotham (A/Lt.Cdr. S. Ayles, RNR) joined.

They arrived off Sheerness around 0650B/12.

HMS Frobisher proceeded to the Chatham Dockyard in the evening. (45)

14 Aug 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) is docked in No.9 Graving Dock at the Chatham Dockyard. (45)

11 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) is undocked. (46)

14 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) proceeded from the Chatham Dockyard to Sheerness. (46)

15 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0800B/15, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) departed Sheerness for the Rosyth Dockyard. She was escorted by HMS Campbell (A/Cdr. E.C. Coats, DSO, DSC, RN) until 2300B/15. (46)

16 Sep 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1400B/16, HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN) arrived at the Rosyth Dockyard from Sheerness. At the Rosyth dockyard she was then taken in hand for further repairs, refit and modifications to cadet training ship. (47)

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