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Light cruiser HMS Curacoa (D 41)

7 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Curacoa (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) is docked in No.3 graving dock at the Rosyth Dockyard. (1)

29 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Curacoa (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) is undocked. (1)

3 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Curacoa (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) is docked in No.3 graving dock at the Rosyth Dockyard. (1)

15 May 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Curacoa (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) is undocked. (1)

Light cruiser HMS Nigeria (60)

29 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The battleships HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Admiral J. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet), USS Washington (Capt. H.H.J. Benson, USN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.C. Griffen, USN), aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (Capt. H.C. Bovell, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir B. Fraser, CB, KBE, RN, second in command Home Fleet), heavy cruiser HMS Cumberland (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, AM, RN), light cruiser HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.M. Burrough, CB, RN), destroyers HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN), HMS Onslaught (Cdr. W.H. Selby, RN), HMS Marne (Lt.Cdr. H.N.A. Richardson, DSC, RN), HMS Martin (Cdr. C.R.P. Thomson, RN), HMS Escapade (Lt.Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN), and the escort destroyers HMS Blankney (Lt.Cdr. P.F. Powlett, RN), HMS Middleton (Lt.Cdr. D.C. Kinloch, RN) and HMS Wheatland (Lt.Cdr. R.de.L Brooke, RN) departed Scapa Flow to provide cover for convoys PQ 17 and QP 13.

[For more information on these convoys see the event ' Convoy operations PQ 17 / QP 13 ' for 27 June 1942.] (2)

8 Jul 1942
HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral J. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet), HMS Victorious (Capt. H.C. Bovell, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral Sir B. Fraser, CB, KBE, RN, second in command Home Fleet), HMS Cumberland (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, AM, RN), HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.M. Burrough, CB, RN), HMS Inglefield (Cdr. A.G. West, RN), HMS Icarus (Lt.Cdr. C.D. Maud, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Intrepid (Cdr. C.A. de W. Kitcat, RN), HMS Foresight (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Fell, RN), HMS Fury (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Offa (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Ewing, RN), HMS Blankney (Lt.Cdr. P.F. Powlett, RN), HMS Ledbury (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Hill, RN), HMS Middleton (Lt.Cdr. D.C. Kinloch, RN), HMS Wheatland (Lt.Cdr. R.de.L Brooke, RN) and HMS Wilton (Lt. A.P. Northey, DSC, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from convoy escort / cover operations. (2)

14 Jul 1942
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.M. Burrough, CB, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. (3)

20 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.M. Burrough, CB, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Greenock. (3)

21 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.M. Burrough, CB, RN) arrived at Greenock from Scapa Flow. (3)

24 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) is towed from Greenock to Glasgow for some repairs. (3)

31 Jul 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) proceeded from Glasgow to Greenock. (3)

12 Aug 1942 (position 37.26, 10.22)
During Operation Pedestal, escorting a convoy bound for Malta, HMS Nigeria was torpedoed (one hit) by the Italian submarine Axum, in position 37°26'N, 10°22'E. She made back to Gibraltar escorted by three destroyers. She was sent from there to the United States for repairs, which took nine months to complete. (4)

20 Aug 1942
The damaged HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) is docked in No.2 graving dock at the Gibraltar Dockyard for temporary repairs. (5)

28 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 0957B/28, a fire was reported in 'A' boiler room, on board HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN), which was still in No.2 Dock at the Gibraltar Dockyard for temporary repairs.

At 1017B/28, order was given to start flooding the dock.

At 1045B/28, the fire was reported to be under control.

At 1101B/28, flooding the dock was halted and the dock was pumped dry again. (5)

12 Oct 1942
With the temporary repairs completed, HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN), is undocked. (6)

14 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) departed Gibraltar for Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Full repairs to her action damage were to be made at the Charleston Navy Yard. (7)

14 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) departed Gibraltar for Charleston, South Carolina, USA. Full repairs to her action damage were to be made at the Charleston Navy Yard. (7)

22 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) arrived at Charleston, South Carolina, USA from Gibraltar. (6)

8 Feb 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) is docked at the Charleston Navy Yard. (8)

26 Mar 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) is undocked. (8)

28 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) conducted D/G trials at Charleston. (9)

29 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) conducted compass adjustment trials at Charleston. (9)

6 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
With her damage repairs completed HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) departed Charleston for Norfolk, Virginia, USA. (10)

7 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) arrived at Norfolk, Virginia, USA from Charleston, South Carolina, USA. En-route full power trials had been conducted. In the afternoon HMS Nigeria carried out gunnery exercises in Chesapeake Bay. (10)

8 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) conducted D/F calibration trials and gunnery exercises in Chesapeake Bay. (10)

9 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) conducted HA gunnery exercises in Chesapeake Bay. (10)

10 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) proceeded to the Norfolk Navy Yard. (10)

11 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) departed Norfolk Navy Yard for Greenock. (10)

18 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) arrived at Greenock from Norfolk, Virginia, USA. (10)

19 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) departed Greenock for Sheerness. (10)

21 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) arrived at Sheerness from Greenock. (10)

23 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Having completed de-ammunitioning, HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN), proceeded from Sheerness to the Chatham Dockyard where she will be taken in hand for refit. (11)

24 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) is docked in No.9 Dock at the Chatham Dockyard. (10)

27 Aug 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) is undocked. (12)

1 Jan 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
With her refit completed, HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN), proceeded from the Chatham Dockyard to Sheerness. (13)

2 Jan 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) conducted D/G trials off Tilbury. (13)

4 Jan 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) conducted exercises off Sheerness. (13)

5 Jan 1944
Around 0850A/5, the light cruiser HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) and the AA cruiser HMS Caledon (Capt. R.F. Nichols, RN) departed Sheerness for Scapa Flow. They were escorted until 1715A/5 by the escort destroyer HMS Meynell (Lt. B.M.D. I'Anson, RN).

HMS Nigeria and HMS Caledon arrived at Scapa Flow around 1530A/6. (14)

10 Jan 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (13)

14 Jan 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. (13)

24 Jan 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) conducted D/F trials at Scapa Flow.

In the evening she conducted night encounter exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Jamaica (Capt. J.L. Storey, DSO, RN). (15)

26 Jan 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) conducted torpedo firing exercises at Scapa Flow and gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. (13)

31 Jan 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) and HMS Terpsichore (Cdr. A.C. Behague, DSC, OBE, RN) conducted A/S exercises at Scapa Flow with HNoMS Ula (Lt. R.M. Sars). (13)

2 Feb 1944
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]. (16)

3 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. (17)

8 Feb 1944
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) and the light cruiser HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. Destroyers were also present to escort the battleships, HMCS Haida (Cdr. H.G. De Wolf, RCN), HMCS Iroquois (Cdr. J.C. Hibbard, DSC, RCN) and HMS Urania (Lt.Cdr. D.H.P. Gardiner, DSC, RN) seems to have been among them. (18)

10 Feb 1944

Operation Posthorn.

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 Athabaskan (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. (19)

15 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) conducted an A/S exercises during which HMS Vigorous (Lt. J.C. Ogle, DSC, RN) served as the target submarine.

On completion of this A/S exercise HMS Nigeria conducted D/F calibration trials. (17)

16 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. (17)

17 Feb 1944
HMS Sheffield (Cdr. G.M. Sladen, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (20)

27 Feb 1944
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Greenock. (17)

28 Feb 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) arrived at Greenock from Scapa Flow. (17)

3 Mar 1944

Convoy KMF 29A.

This convoy departed the Clyde on 3 March 1944 for Alexandria.

It was made up of the troop transport Strathnaver (British, 22283 GRT, built 1931). Also part of the convoy were the escort carriers HMS Atheling (Capt. R.I. Agnew, OBE, RCN), HMS Begum (A/Capt. J.E. Broome, DSC, RN) and the aircraft transports HMS Athene (T/A/Cdr. C.H. Moulton, RNR) and HMS Engadine (Capt. W.T. Fitzgerald, RD, RNR). These ships were ferrying aircraft.

Escort was provided by the light cruiser HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN), sloop HMIS Cauvery (A/Cdr. A.W. Beeton, RIN) and the frigates Cranstoun (Lt. E.W. Rainey, RN), HMS Deane (Lt. V.A. Hickson, DSO, RN), HMS Redmill (Lt. J.R.A. Denne, RN), HMS Findhorn (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Dawson, RD, RNR), HMS Lossie (Lt.Cdr. A.F. MacFie, OBE, RNR), HMS Shiel (Lt. H.P. Crail, DSC, RNR), HMS Spey (Cdr. G.A.G. Ormsby, RN) and HMS Taff (T/Lt.Cdr. A. Harrison, RNR).

Around 0800Z/6, the sloop HMS Erne (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Hickey, RNR) joined the convoy.

Around 1800Z/6, the frigates HMS Cranstoun, HMS Deane and HMS Redmill parted company with the convoy.

During the night of 9/10 March, HMS Nigeria fuelled at Gibraltar and then rejoined the convoy.

Around 1000A/11, HMS Erne parted company with the convoy to proceed to Algiers.

At 0137B/13, HMS Nigeria parted company with the convoy to proceed ahead of it to Port Said.

Around 1710A/13, the light cruiser HMS Phoebe (Capt. C.P. Frend, RN) joined the convoy.

Around 0600B/16, HMS Phoebe parted company with the convoy to proceed to Alexandria.

The convoy arrived at Port Said late in the afternoon of the 16th.

15 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) arrived at Port Said. (21)

16 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) departed Port Said for Aden. (21)

19 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) arrived at Aden from Port Said. She departed for Colombo later the same day. (21)

24 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) arrived at Colombo from Aden. (21)

26 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) departed Colombo for Trincomalee. (21)

27 Mar 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) arrived at Trincomalee from Colombo. (21)

27 Apr 1944
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN) departed Trincomalee for Colombo where she is to undergo a short refit. (22)

28 Apr 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN) arrived at Colombo from Trincomalee. (22)

30 Apr 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) is docked at Colombo. (22)

7 May 1944 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN) is undocked. (23)

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