Charles Henry Lawrence Woodhouse, RN

Born  9 Jul 1893Tuxford, Nottinghamshire, England, U.K.
Died  23 Sep 1978(85)Warlingham, Surrey, England, U.K.


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Ranks

15 May 1911 Mid.
15 Sep 1913 A/S.Lt.
15 Mar 1914 S.Lt.
15 Apr 1915 Lt.
15 Apr 1923 Lt.Cdr.
31 Dec 1927 Cdr.
31 Dec 1934 Capt.
8 Jan 1944 Rear-Admiral
21 Jan 1948 Vice-Admiral
26 Jan 1952 Admiral (Retd.)

Retired: 15 Aug 1950


Decorations

23 Dec 1939 CB
9 Jun 1949 KCB

Warship Commands listed for Charles Henry Lawrence Woodhouse, RN


ShipRankTypeFromTo
HMS Ajax (22)Capt.Light cruiser9 Oct 193722 Apr 1940
HMS Howe (32)Capt.Battleship3 Apr 1942Dec 1943

Career information

We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.

Events related to this officer

Light cruiser HMS Ajax (22)


3 Sep 1939 (position -33.50, -53.30)
HMS Ajax (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, RN) intercepts the German merchant Olinda (4576 GRT) off the coast of Uruguay in position 33°50'S, 53°30'W. The German ship is sunk by gunfire.

4 Sep 1939 (position -34.19, -48.29)
HMS Ajax (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, RN) intercepts the German merchant Carl Fritzen (6594 GRT) in the South Atlantic off the coast off Uruguay in position 34°19'S, 48°29'W. However before the ship can be captured she is scuttled by her crew.


Battleship HMS Howe (32)


1 Jun 1942
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) is commissioned at her builders yard at Govan although is is not yet completed. (1)

28 Jun 1942
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) proceeded from her builders yard at Govan to Greenock. (1)

29 Jun 1942
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted D/G trials off Helensburgh. (1)

9 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) is undocked. (2)

26 Aug 1942
The new battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) departed the Firth of Forth for Scapa Flow. She is escorted by the light cruiser HMS Jamaica (Capt. J.L. Storey, RN) and the destroyers HMS Inglefield (Cdr. A.G. West, RN) and HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. E. Mack, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Offa (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Ewing, RN).

Aroumd 0615B/27, HMS Jamaica parted company. She then entered Scapa Flow around 0700B/27.

HMS Howe remained out for trials escorted by the three destroyers. They entered Scapa Flow late in the afternoon of the 27th. (3)

29 Aug 1942
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted full power trials at Scapa Flow following which she was taken over from her builders. (2)

31 Aug 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted D/G trials at Scapa Flow. (2)

1 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted aircraft launching and recovering trials at Scapa Flow. (4)

11 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted D/G trials aircraft launching and recovering exercises and gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (4)

15 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted D/F calibration trials at Scapa Flow. (4)

22 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) and light cruiser HMS Bermuda (Capt. T.H. Back, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. HMS Howe was escorted by the destroyers HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN), HMS Porcupine (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN) and HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO, RN). (5)

23 Sep 1942
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted log trials at Scapa Flow. (5)

25 Sep 1942
In the afternoon and evening, the battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. She was escorted by the destroyer HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Blean (Lt. N.J. Parker, RN) and HMS Tanatside (Lt.Cdr. F.D. Brown, RN). (5)

29 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
the battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) first conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. She then left Scapa Flow for exercises with aircraft in the Pentland Firth. While in the Pentland Firth she was, most likely, escorted by the destroyers HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN), HMS Intrepid (Cdr. C.A.de W. Kitcat, RN) and HMS Campbell (A/Cdr. E.C. Coats, DSO, DSC, RN). (5)

1 Oct 1942
HMS Duke of York (Capt. G.E. Creasy, DSO, RN), HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) and HMS Renown (Capt. C.S. Daniel, CBE, DSO, RN) conducted exercises off the Orkney Islands.

HMS Duke of York and HMS Howe were, most likely, escorted by the destroyers HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN), HMS Marne (Lt.Cdr. H.N.A. Richardson, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Campbell (A/Cdr. E.C. Coats, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Windsor (Lt.Cdr. D.H.F. Hetherington, DSC, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Blean (Lt. N.J. Parker, RN) and HMS Penylan (Lt.Cdr. H. Kirkwood, DSC, RN).

HMS Renown was, most likely, escorted by the destroyers HMS Impulsive (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Roper, DSC, RN), HMS Intrepid (Cdr. C.A.de W. Kitcat, RN) and HMS Offa (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Ewing, RN).

HMS Duke of York and HMS Renown returned to Scapa Flow late in the evening.

HMS Howe remained out for exercises and only returned in the afternoon of the following day. It looks like that on her return to harbour HMS Howe was escorted by the destroyers Porcupine, Montrose and the escort destroyer Lamerton. (6)

5 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (4)

16 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. She appeared to have been escorted by, at least, the destroyer HMS Eskimo (Capt. J.W.M. Eaton, DSO, DSC, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Penylan (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Wallace, DSC, RN). (4)

21 Oct 1942
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow.

She also served as target for a torpedo attack by two destroyers, possibly these were HMS Tartar (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, DSC, RN) and HMS Redoubt (Lt.Cdr. N.E.G. Ropner, DSO, RN). (4)

22 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Nelson (Capt. H.B. Jacomb, RN) and HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. [No info available on the escorting destroyers.] (7)

23 Oct 1942
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. She had, most likely, been escorted by the destroyers HMS Onslow (Capt H.T. Armstrong, DSC, RN), HMS Offa (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Ewing, RN) and HMS Opportune (Cdr. M.L. Power, OBE, RN). (4)

26 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted bombardment exercises at Scapa Flow. (4)

13 Nov 1942
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) departed Loch Cairnbawn (Port H.H.Z.) around 1145A/13 to proceed to Scapa Flow. She was escorted by the escort destroyers HMS Limbourne (Cdr. C.B. Alers-Hankey, DSC, RN), HMS Haydon (Lt. R.C. Watkin, RN) and HMS Melbreak (Lt. G.E.C.G. Baines, RN) which had departed Scapa Flow around 0530A/13 for Loch Cairnbawn earlier that morning.

HMS Howe and her escort arrived at Scapa Flow around 1850A/13. (8)

17 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) and light cruiser HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. During these exercises HMS Howe was escorted by the destroyer HMS Matchless (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, DSO, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Limbourne (Cdr. C.B. Alers-Hankey, DSC, RN) and HMS Tanatside (Lt.Cdr. F.D. Brown, RN). (9)

20 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
In the morning, HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN), conducted aircraft launching and recovering exercises at Scapa Flow.

These were followed by underway refuelling exercises with the escort destroyer HMS Haydon (Lt. R.C. Watkin, RN) in the afternoon. (8)

27 Nov 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted aircraft launching and recovering exercises at Scapa Flow. These were followed by gunnery exercises. (8)

2 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During 2/3 December 1942, the battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN), which was escorted by the destroyers HMS Lightning (Cdr. H.G. Walter, DSC, RN), HMS Obedient (Lt.Cdr. D.C. Kinloch, RN) and escort destroyer HMS Blankney (Lt.Cdr. P.F. Powlett DSO and Bar, DSC, RN), conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. On 2 December exercises were carried out with first, the heavy cruiser HMS Norfolk (Capt. E.G.H. Bellars, RN) and then with the light cruiser HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN). (10)

16 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted D/G trials at Scapa Flow. (10)

17 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted exercises at Scapa Flow. (10)

22 Dec 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted exercises at Scapa Flow. (10)

23 Dec 1942
The battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Mackay (Capt. S.V. Jephson, RN), HMS Montrose (A/Cdr. W.J. Phipps, OBE, RN), HMS Walpole (Lt. A.S. Pomeroy, DSC, RN) and HMS Worcester (Lt.Cdr. W.A. Juniper, RN). (10)

2 Feb 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted exercises at Scapa Flow. (11)

4 Feb 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Queenborough (Cdr. E.P. Hinton, DSO and Bar, MVO, RN), HMS Quail (Lt.Cdr. R.F. Jenks, RN) and HMS Raider (Lt.Cdr. K.W. Michell, RN). (11)

15 Feb 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) and the destroyers ORP Orkan (Cdr. S. Hryniewiecki), HMS Intrepid (Cdr. C.A.de W. Kitcat, RN), HMS Fury (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. E. Mack, DSO, DSC, RN) departed Hvalfjord for Akureyri. (12)

16 Feb 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN), ORP Orkan (Cdr. S. Hryniewiecki), HMS Intrepid (Cdr. C.A.de W. Kitcat, RN), HMS Fury (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. E. Mack, DSO, DSC, RN) arrived at Akureyri from Hvalfjord. (12)

10 Mar 1943
The battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Greenock for repairs and give leave to her crew. During the passage she was escorted by the destroyers HMS Musketeer (Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN), HMS Meteor (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Middleton (Lt. C.S. Battersby, RN). (13)

12 Mar 1943
The battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) and HMS Middleton (Lt. C.S. Battersby, RN) arrived at Greenock from Scapa Flow.

HMS Musketeer (Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN) and HMS Meteor (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN) had been detached to Plymouth around 1830A/11. (13)

17 Mar 1943
Around 1145A/17, the battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) and aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable (Capt. G. Grantham, CB, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral A.L.St.G. Lyster, CB, CVO, DSO, RN) departed the Clyde for Scapa Flow. HMS Indomitable had been underway earlier to fly on her aircraft. On leaving the Clyde around 1830A/17, they were joined the destroyers HMS Offa (Capt. J. A. McCoy, DSO, RN), HMS Onslaught (Cdr. W.H. Selby, RN), HMS Obedient (Cdr. D.C. Kinloch, RN), HMS Opportune (Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO and Bar, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Blankney (Lt.Cdr. D.H.R. Bromley, RN). These destroyers had departed Scapa Flow around 1700A/16. (14)

18 Mar 1943
Around 1100A/18, HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN), HMS Indomitable (Capt. G. Grantham, CB, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral A.L.St.G. Lyster, CB, CVO, DSO, RN), HMS Offa (Capt. J. A. McCoy, DSO, RN), HMS Onslaught (Cdr. W.H. Selby, RN), HMS Obedient (Cdr. D.C. Kinloch, RN), HMS Opportune (Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Blankney (Lt.Cdr. D.H.R. Bromley, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow. (15)

22 Mar 1943
Around 0930Z/22, HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN), HMS Belfast (Capt. F.R. Parham, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE, RN), HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN), HMS Intrepid (Cdr. C.A.de W. Kitcat, RN), HMS Echo (Lt. R.H.C. Wyld, RN) and HMS Brecon (Lt.Cdr. T.D. Herrick, DSC and Bar, RN) arrived at Hvalfjord from Scapa Flow. (16)

13 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted exercises off Hvalfjord. She was escorted by the destroyer HMS Intrepid (Cdr. C.A.de W. Kitcat, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Blankney (Lt.Cdr. D.H.R. Bromley, RN) and HMS Middleton (Lt. C.S. Battersby, RN). (17)

22 Apr 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) and the light cruiser HMS Glasgow (Capt. E.M. Evans-Lombe, RN) conducted exercises off Hvalfjord. During the exercises HMS Howe was escorted by the escort destroyers HMS Blankney (Lt.Cdr. D.H.R. Bromley, RN), HMS Middleton (Lt. C.S. Battersby, RN) and HMS Brecon (Lt.Cdr. T.D. Herrick, DSC and Bar, RN). (18)

4 May 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted D/G trials at Scapa Flow. These were followed by night gunnery exercises in the Flow. She returned to the anchorage early the following day. (19)

6 May 1943
The battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) departed Scapa Flow for exercises during which she was escorted by the destroyers HMS Tyrian (Cdr. C.W. Greening, RN), HMS Onslow (Lt.Cdr. R.F. Leonard, RN) and HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. P.G. Merriman, RN).

On completion of the exercises set course to proceed to the Rosyth where some repairs were to be undertaken at the Royal Dockyard. She arrived at Rosyth around 0700B/7. During the passage from the Pentland Firth to the Firth of Forth she was escorted by the destroyers HMS Tyrian HMS Active and the escort destroyer ORP Slazak (Lt.Cdr. R. Nalecz-Tyminski, ORP). (19)

19 May 1943
The battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) departed Rosyth for Scapa Flow where she arrived the following morning. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Musketeer (Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN), HMS Inglefield (Lt.Cdr. R. Horncastle, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Brissenden (Lt. D.C. Beatty, RN). (19)

20 May 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Gibraltar. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Onslow (Lt.Cdr. R.F. Leonard, RN), HMS Orwell (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN) and HMS Inglefield (Lt.Cdr. R. Horncastle, RN). (20)

25 May 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN), HMS Onslow (Lt.Cdr. R.F. Leonard, RN), HMS Orwell (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN) and HMS Inglefield (Lt.Cdr. R. Horncastle, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from Scapa Flow. (19)

10 Jun 1943
The battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) departed Mers-el-Kebir for Algiers where she arrived the following morning. During the passage she was escorted by the escort destroyers HMS Farndale (Cdr. D.P. Trentham, RN), HMS Calpe (Lt.Cdr. H. Kirkwood, DSC, RN), HMS Puckeridge (Lt. J.C. Cartwright, DSC, RN) and HMS Tynedale. The escort destroyers then returned to Mers-el-Kebir. (21)

16 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) departed Algiers for Gibraltar. She was escorted by the escort destroyers HMS Farndale (Cdr. D.P. Trentham, RN), HMS Eggesford (Lt.Cdr. D.W. Austin, RN), HMS Haydon (Lt. R.C. Watkin, RN) and HMS Tynedale. (21)

17 Jun 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN), HMS Farndale (Cdr. D.P. Trentham, RN), HMS Eggesford (Lt.Cdr. D.W. Austin, RN), HMS Haydon (Lt. R.C. Watkin, RN) and HMS Tynedale arrived at Gibraltar from Algiers. (21)

28 Aug 1943
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted AA gunnery exercises in the anchorage near Algiers. (22)

10 Sep 1943
At Taranto, Vice-Admiral A.J. Power, CB, CVO, RN, transferred his flag from the battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) to the destroyer HMS Paladin (Lt. E.A.S. Bailey DSC, MBE, RN).

HMS Howe then departed Taranto for Malta. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Jervis (Capt. J.S. Crawford, DSO, RN) and HMS Wishart (Lt. J.A. Holdsworth, RN).

They were swept out of Taranto harbour by the minesweepers HMS Hazard (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Smith, RN), HMS Hebe (Lt.Cdr. G. Mowatt, RD, RNR) and HMS Sharpshooter (Lt.Cdr. W.L. O'Mara, DSC, RN). (23)

11 Sep 1943
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN), HMS Jervis (Capt. J.S. Crawford, DSO, RN) and HMS Wishart (Lt. J.A. Holdsworth, RN) arrived at Malta from Taranto. (23)

22 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted gunnery and D/G exercises at Scapa Flow. (24)

26 Oct 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (24)

2 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The battleship HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted underway refuelling exercises with destroyers at Scapa Flow, first with HMS Urchin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN) and then with HMS Hardy (Lt.Cdr. R. Horncastle, RN). (25)

8 Nov 1943
The battleships HMS Duke of York (Capt. B.B. Schofield, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral B.A. Fraser, KCB, KBE, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet) and HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. They were escorted by the destroyers HMCS Iroquois (Cdr. J.C. Hibbard DSC, RCN), HMS Ashanti (Lt.Cdr. J.R. Barnes, RN), HMS Orwell (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN) and HMS Vigilant (Lt.Cdr. L.W.L. Argles, RN). (26)

9 Nov 1943
The battleships HMS Duke of York (Capt. B.B. Schofield, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral B.A. Fraser, KCB, KBE, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet), HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN), aircraft carriers HMS Formidable (Capt. P. Ruck-Keene, CBE, RN), USS Ranger (Capt. G. Rowe, USN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral O.M. Hustvedt, USN), heavy cruiser USS Augusta (Capt. G. Hutchins, USN), light cruiser HMS Bermuda (Capt. T.H. Back, RN) and the destroyers HMS Onslaught (Cdr. W.H. Selby, DSC, RN), HMS Vigilant (Lt.Cdr. L.W.L. Argles, RN), HMS Hardy (Lt.Cdr. R. Horncastle, RN), HMCS Huron (Lt.Cdr. H.S. Rayner, DSC, RCN), HMCS Iroquois (Cdr. J.C. Hibbard DSC, RCN), USS Forrest (T/Cdr. K.P. Letts, USN), USS Fitch (T/Cdr. K.C. Walpole, USN), USS Corry (T/Cdr. L.B. Ensey, USN), USS Hobson (T/Lt.Cdr. K. Loveland, USN) and USS Capps (T/Cdr. B.E.S. Trippensee, USN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. (27)

16 Nov 1943
The battleships HMS Duke of York (Capt. B.B. Schofield, RN, flying the flag of A/Admiral B.A. Fraser, KCB, KBE, RN, C-in-C Home Fleet), HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN), light cruiser HMNZS Gambia (Capt. N.J.W. William-Powlett, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Venus (Cdr. J.S.M. Richardson DSO, RN), HMS Urchin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Scourge (Lt.Cdr. G.I.M. Balfour, RN) and HMS Mahratta (Lt.Cdr. E.A.F. Drought, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. During these exercises the submarine HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. J.W. McCoy, DSC, RN) conducted practice attacks on the group. (28)

23 Nov 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (25)

30 Nov 1943
Around 0930A/30, HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Plymouth where she is to refit at the Devonport Dockyard. On departure from Scapa Flow she was not escorted.

The escort destroyers HMS Talybont (Lt. E.F. Baines, DSO, RN) and HMS Tanatside (Cdr. B.J. de St. Croix, RN) joined around 2030A/1.

Around 0045A/2, HMS Talybont was in collision with the merchant vessel Florence Reynolds (British, 397 GRT, built 1923). As a result the merchant vessel sank at 0340A/2 in position 51°01'N, 04°44'W.

Around 0215A/2, HMS Tanatside was detached to stand by HMS Talabont which had also sustained damage.

Around 0430A/2, the destroyer HMS Janus (Lt.Cdr. W.B.R. Morrison, RN) joined.

HMS Howe and HMS Janus arrived at Plymouth around 0850A/2. (29)

6 Dec 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
On completion of de-ammunitioning HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) proceeded to the Devonport Dockyard. (30)

9 Dec 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Howe (Capt. C.H.L. Woodhouse, CB, RN) entered No.10 Dock at the Devonport Dockyard. The dock is pumped out the following day. (30)

Sources

  1. ADM 53/116066
  2. ADM 53/116068
  3. ADM 53/116068 + ADM 53/116096
  4. ADM 53/116070
  5. ADM 53/116069
  6. ADM 53/115835 + ADM 53/116070 + ADM 53/116528
  7. ADM 53/116070 + ADM 53/116355
  8. ADM 53/116071
  9. ADM 53/115992 + ADM 53/116071
  10. ADM 53/116072
  11. ADM 53/117630
  12. ADM 53/117630 + ADM 199/632
  13. ADM 53/117631
  14. ADM 53/117631 + ADM 53/117667 + ADM 199/632
  15. ADM 53/117631 + ADM 53/117667
  16. ADM 53/117011 + ADM 53/117573 + ADM 53/117631 + ADM 199/632
  17. ADM 53/117632
  18. ADM 53/117574 + ADM 53/117632
  19. ADM 53/117633
  20. ADM 53/117633 + ADM 199/632
  21. ADM 53/117634
  22. ADM 53/117636
  23. ADM 53/117637
  24. ADM 53/117638
  25. ADM 53/117639
  26. ADM 53/117404 + ADM 53/117639
  27. ADM 53/117032 + ADM 53/117404 + ADM 53/117523 + ADM 53/117639
  28. ADM 53/117404 + ADM 53/117568 + ADM 53/117639 + ADM 173/18231
  29. ADM 53/117639 + ADM 53/117640 + ADM 199/2284 + ADM 199/2285
  30. ADM 53/117640

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


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