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Destroyer HMS Kelvin (F 37)

10 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kashmir (Cdr. H.A. King, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) returned to Immingham from patrol. (1)

13 Jul 1940
HMS Javelin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) returned to Immingham from patrol. (1)

23 Jul 1940
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) departed Immingham to reinforce patrol 'U'. (1)

24 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) returned to Immingham from patrol. (1)

25 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jackal (Cdr. T.M. Napier, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) departed Immingham for patrol 'U'. (1)

27 Jul 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jackal (Cdr. T.M. Napier, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) returned to Immingham from patrol. (1)

31 Jul 1940
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) departed Immingham for patrol. She was to relieve HMS Javelin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN) which then returned to Immingham later the same day.

HMS Kelvin was joined for the night by HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN). (1)

1 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
While with convoy FS 38, HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) was bombed by enemy aircraft but she sustained no damage. (1)

3 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) returned to Immingham from patrol. (1)

7 Aug 1940
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Jupiter (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, RN) departed Immingham to hunt a reported enemy submarine.

The enemy submarine had been reported in positions 53°29'N, 00°54'E and 53°48'N, 00°31'E.

The destroyers returned later the same day.

[No German submarine was operating in the area though so the reports must have been bogus.] (1)

13 Aug 1940
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN, with Capt. L.F.A.V.N. Mountbatten, GCVO, RN = Capt.(D.5) on board) and HMS Jackal (Cdr. T.M. Napier, RN) conducted exercises off the Humber. (1)

24 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, RN, with Capt. L.F.A.V.N. Mountbatten, GCVO, RN = Capt.(D.5) on board), HMS Jackal (Cdr. T.M. Napier, RN), HMS Kashmir (Cdr. H.A. King, RN), HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Vortigern (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Howlett, RN) conducted exercises off the Humber. On completion of the exercises they returned to Immingham except HMS Kashmir which was to proceed to Scapa Flow. (1)

29 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN, with Capt. L.F.A.V.N. Mountbatten, GCVO, RN = Capt.(D.5) on board), HMS Jackal (Cdr. C.L. Firth, MVO, RN), HMS Jupiter (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, RN) and HMS Vortigern (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Howlett, RN) conducted exercises off the Humber. (1)

31 Aug 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, RN, with Capt. L.F.A.V.N. Mountbatten, GCVO, RN = Capt.(D.5) on board), HMS Jackal (Cdr. C.L. Firth, MVO, RN), HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN and HMS Vortigern (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Howlett, RN) conducted exercises off the Humber.

HMS Jupiter, HMS Kelvin and HMS Vortigern departed the Humber later the same day with five minelaying destroyers of the 20th Destroyer Flotilla for a minelaying mission of the northern Dutch coast. [See the event ' Minelaying opertion CBX 5' for 31 August 1940 for more information.] (1)

2 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, RN, with Capt. L.F.A.V.N. Mountbatten, GCVO, RN = Capt.(D.5) on board), HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Vortigern (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Howlett, RN) returned to Immingham. (1)

6 Sep 1940
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Jupiter (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, RN) departed Immingham to hunt a reported enemy submarine. They returned later the same day.

[No German submarines were operating off the east coast of the U.K. so the report must have been bogus.] (1)

10 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN, with Capt. L.F.A.V.N. Mountbatten, GCVO, RN = Capt.(D.5) on board), HMS Javelin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN) and HMS Jupiter (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, RN) conducted exercises off the Humber. (1)

12 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During the night of 12/13 September, HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN,) and HMS Javelin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN) patrolled off the Humber. (1)

13 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During the night of 13/14 September, HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN,) and HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) patrolled off the Humber. (1)

14 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Javelin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN, with Capt. L.F.A.V.N. Mountbatten, GCVO, RN = Capt.(D.5) on board), HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) conducted exercises off the Humber. (1)

15 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During the night of 15/16 September 1940, HMS Javelin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN), HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN), patrolled off the Humber. (1)

20 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN, with Capt. L.F.A.V.N. Mountbatten, GCVO, RN = Capt.(D.5) on board), HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN), HMS Javelin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN) and HMS Watchman (Lt.Cdr. E.C.L. Day, RN) conducted exercises off the Humber. (1)

21 Sep 1940
During the night of 21/22 September 1940, HMS Javelin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN), patrolled off the Humber. (1)

23 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During the night of 23/24 September 1940, HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN), patrolled off the Humber. (1)

24 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Javelin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN, with Capt. L.F.A.V.N. Mountbatten, GCVO, RN = Capt.(D.5) on board), HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) conducted exercises off the Humber. (1)

27 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
During the night of 27/28 September 1940, HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN), patrolled off the Humber. (1)

28 Sep 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Jupiter (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, RN, with Capt. L.F.A.V.N. Mountbatten, GCVO, RN = Capt.(D.5) on board), HMS Jersey (Lt.Cdr. W. Evershed, RN), HMS Javelin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN), HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) conducted exercises off the Humber. (1)

30 Sep 1940
Around 0800A/30, HMS Javelin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN), HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN), departed Immingham for Plymouth. (1)

1 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Javelin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN), HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) arrived at Plymouth from Immingham. (2)

1 Oct 1940
During the night of 1/2 October 1940 the light cruiser HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN), HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN), ORP Garland (Lt.Cdr. A. Doroszkowski, ORP) and Blyskawica (Lt.Cdr. W. Franki) conducted a sweep from Ushant towards Plateau des Roches Douvres (a reef to the west of Jersey). On completion of the sweep they returned to Plymouth. [Orders were to departed from Plymouth at 2000/1 and return at 0800/2.] (3)

2 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and Blyskawica (Lt.Cdr. W. Franki) departed Plymouth at 1000/2 to patrol between Eddystone and Wolf Rock. They were to return to Plymouth at 0800/3. (3)

3 Oct 1940
At 1440/3 the MA/SB boats HMS MA/SB 42, HMS MA/SB 43 HMS MA/SB 51 departed Fowed as enemy activity was reported in the erea to the south of the Scillies / Lands End.

At 1535/3, the destroyers HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Wanderer (Cdr. J.H. Ruck-Keene, DSC, RN) departed Plymouth to proceed to the area.

At 1815/3, MA/SB 42 signalled that nothing had been sighted.

At 1927/3, HMS Kelvin and HMS Wanderer were ordered to remain out for the night and patrol the Lizard / Start Point area and return to Plymouth at 0630/4. In fact they returned at 0745/4 [ADM 53/112889]. (3)

5 Oct 1940
Around 0805 hours, HMS Jupiter (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, RN) departed Plymouth, followed around 0950 hours by HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN), HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Kipling (Cdr. A. St. Clair-Ford, RN).

They returned to harbour around 1500 hours. Most likely they went out for exercises. (4)

7 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1530/7, HMS Javelin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN), HMS Kashmir (Cdr. H.A. King, RN), HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Kipling (Cdr. A. St. Clair-Ford, RN) departed Plymouth. They returned around 0415/8. Presumably they had been on patrol in the Western Channel. (4)

12 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Broke (Cdr. B.G. Scurfield, RN) departed Plymouth on this day. Both returned the next day. They might have been on patrol in the western Channel during the night of 12/13 October 1940. [No further details currently available.] (5)

13 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and Burza (Lt.Cdr. A. Doroszkowski) departed Plymouth on this day. Both returned the next day. They might have been on patrol in the western Channel during the night of 13/14 October 1940. [No further details currently available.] (6)

22 Oct 1940
HMS Jackal (Cdr. C.L. Firth, MVO, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) departed Plymouth around 1820 hours. [presumably for a patrol but we have been unable to find confirmation for this in documents.]

They returned around 0850/23.

They already had been at sea between 1000/22 and 1215/22, presumably for exercises. (7)

27 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1830 hours, HMS Jackal (Cdr. C.L. Firth, MVO, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) departed Plymouth for patrol. Sailing with them was HMS Kipling (Cdr. A. St. Clair-Ford, RN) which was to proceed to the Tyne to refit.

(7)

28 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1830 hours, HMS Jackal (Cdr. C.L. Firth, MVO, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN), which were still at sea, were ordered (at 1845/28) to patrol between Eddystone and 3'W keeping 20 nautical miles from the shore during the night of 28/29 October. They were to return to Plymouth by 0900/29.

29 Oct 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1000 hours, HMS Jackal (Cdr. C.L. Firth, MVO, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) returned to Plymouth. (4)

2 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) is taken in hand for repairs and a docking at Plymouth (Devonport). (2)

13 Nov 1940
The light cruiser HMS Newcastle (Capt. E.A. Aylmer, DSC, RN) departed Plymouth for Gibraltar. She was escorted part of the way by the destroyers HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Jersey (Lt.Cdr. W. Evershed, RN).

HMS Newcastle had on board RAF personnel and stores for Malta. She was to have sailed earlier but was blocked in the harbour due to enemy mining. (8)

15 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Jersey (Lt.Cdr. W. Evershed, RN) arrived at Dartmouth. (3)

21 Nov 1940
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) departed Plymouth to join the escort of a convoy to Gibraltar.

They departed a day late as they could not departed earlier as the harbour was closed due to enemy mines.

[See the event for 16 November 1940 for more information on the convoy.] (9)

23 Nov 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 1915A/23, HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) arrived at Gibraltar from convoy escort duty. On board HMS Kelvin were a number of British and other passengers, including escaped POW'S, which she had taken off from the small Portugese merchant vessel Mar Azul near Cape Spartel. The Portugese ship was en-route from Casablanca to Lisbon.

1 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 1800 hours, the battleship HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. H.B. Jacomb, RN) departed Gibraltar for Halifax. She was being escorted by the destroyers HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN). (10)

4 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 0100 hours, HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) parted company with HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. H.B. Jacomb, RN).

The battleship continued it's passage to Halifax while the destroyers set course to return to Gibraltar. (10)

5 Dec 1940
At 0100 hours, HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN), returned to Gibraltar around 0930 hours from escort duty.

HMS Jaguar needed repairs on her return to Gibraltar for which she needed to be docked [date currently not known to us.] (11)

7 Dec 1940
Around 1600A/7, the troopship Franconia (British, 20175 GRT, built 1923) departed Gibraltar for the U.K. She was escorted the battleship HMS Ramillies (Capt. A.D. Read, RN), aircraft carrier HMS Argus (Capt. E.G.N. Rushbrooke, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN), HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. I.T. Clark, RN), HMS Wrestler (Lt. E.L. Jones, DSC, RN) and HMS Velox (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Roper, DSC, RN). (12)

9 Dec 1940
Shortly before noon, the troopship Franconia (British, 20175 GRT, built 1923), battleship HMS Ramillies (Capt. A.D. Read, RN), aircraft carrier HMS Argus (Capt. E.G.N. Rushbrooke, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN), HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. I.T. Clark, RN) and HMS Velox (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Roper, DSC, RN) made rendez-vous with the aircraft carrier HMS Furious (Capt. A.G. Talbot, DSO, RN), light cruiser HMS Dido (Capt. H.W.U. McCall, RN) shortly before noon. Around 1500A/9 the armed merchant cruiser HMS California (Capt. C.J. Pope, RAN) also joined. All these ships were to proceed to the U.K. except for HMS Velox which parted company around 1900A/9 to return to Gibraltar. (11)

12 Dec 1940
Shortly after 1200A/10, the troopship Franconia (British, 20175 GRT, built 1923), battleship HMS Ramillies (Capt. A.D. Read, RN), aircraft carriers HMS Furious (Capt. A.G. Talbot, DSO, RN), HMS Argus (Capt. E.G.N. Rushbrooke, DSC, RN), light cruiser HMS Dido (Capt. H.W.U. McCall, RN), armed merchant cruiser HMS California (Capt. C.J. Pope, RAN) and the destroyers HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. I.T. Clark, RN) were joined by the AA cruiser HMS Cairo (Capt. P.V. McLaughlin, RN and the destroyers HMS Cossack (Capt. P.L. Vian, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Sikh (Cdr. G.H. Stokes, RN), HMCS St. Laurent (Lt. H.S. Rayner, RCN), HMCS Skeena (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Hibbard, RCN) and HMS Bradford (Lt.Cdr. M.T. Collier, RN). (11)

13 Dec 1940
Around 0800A/13, the aircraft carrier HMS Furious (Capt. A.G. Talbot, DSO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Bradford (Lt.Cdr. M.T. Collier, RN) parted company with the troopship Franconia (British, 20175 GRT, built 1923), battleship HMS Ramillies (Capt. A.D. Read, RN), aircraft carrier HMS Argus (Capt. E.G.N. Rushbrooke, DSC, RN), light cruiser HMS Dido (Capt. H.W.U. McCall, RN), AA cruiser HMS Cairo (Capt. P.V. McLaughlin, RN),armed merchant cruiser HMS California (Capt. C.J. Pope, RAN) and the destroyers HMS Cossack (Capt. P.L. Vian, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Sikh (Cdr. G.H. Stokes, RN), HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. I.T. Clark, RN), HMCS St. Laurent (Lt. H.S. Rayner, RCN) and HMCS Skeena (Lt.Cdr. J.C. Hibbard, RCN) which continued on towards the Clyde. (11)

14 Dec 1940
The aircraft carrier HMS Furious (Capt. A.G. Talbot, DSO, RN) and the destroyer HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) arrived off Liverpool.

Due to the bad weather conditions they were unable to enter the harbour. HMS Furious anchored while HMS Kelvin proceeded to Belfast where she arrived later the same day.

The other escorting destroyer HMS Bradford (Lt.Cdr. M.T. Collier, RN) had already been detached to Londonderry earlier due to defects. (13)

15 Dec 1940 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) shifted from Belfast to Liverpool. (14)

15 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
After having returned to Greenock from escort duty the previous day, HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN), departed Greenock today for Rosyth. (2)

16 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) arrived at Rosyth. She departed again for the Humber later the same day. (2)

17 Jan 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) arrived at Immingham where she was taken in hand for refit. (2)

23 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
With her refit completed, HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN), departed Immingham for Scapa Flow where she arrived later the same day. (2)

24 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Plymouth. (2)

26 Feb 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) arrived at Plymouth. (2)

25 Mar 1941
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Jackal (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, DSC, RN) parted company with HMS Exeter (Capt. O.L. Gordon, MVO, RN) around 0830 hours.

The destroyers were ordered to patrol between the longitude of Scilly Isles and The Lizard. They were to arrive at Plymouth at 0730/26.

The purpose of this patrol was to cover shipping from Falmouth to the Bristol Channel.

26 Mar 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Jackal (Lt.Cdr. R.McC.P. Jonas, DSC, RN) arrived at Plymouth on completion of last night's patrol.

8 Jun 1941
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Aphis (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.O. Campbell, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria for Port Said.

Damage to HMS Kelvin was such that it could not be repaired on Station. It had been decided that she was to proceed to Bombay where she would be repaired by the Bombay Royal Dockyard.

HMS Aphis was also damaged but she could undergo repairs at Port Said. (2)

9 Jun 1941
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) and HMS Aphis (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.O. Campbell, DSC, RN) arrived at Port Said.

HMS Kelvin then transited the Suez Canal southbound and departed from Suez for Aden later the same day. (2)

14 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison DSO, RN) arrived at Aden. (2)

15 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison DSO, RN) departed Aden for Bombay. (2)

19 Jun 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison DSO, RN) arrived at Bombay for repairs. (2)

31 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
With her repairs and post repair trials completed HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) departed Bombay for Alexandria where she was to rejoin the Mediterranean Fleet. (2)

3 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) arrived at Aden. After fuelling she departed later the same day for Suez. (2)

6 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN) arrived at Suez. She then transited the Suez Canal northbound and departed from Port Said for Alexandria later the same day. (2)

7 Jan 1942
At 1000 hours, HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Allison, DSO, RN), arrived at Alexandria. (2)

4 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The destroyers HMS Jervis (Capt. P.J. Mack, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Alliston, DSO, RN), HMS Lance (Lt.Cdr. R.W.F. Northcott, RN), HMS Havock (Lt.Cdr. G.R.G. Watkins, DSC, RN), HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Griffin (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Arrow (Cdr. A.M. McKillop, RN) and escort destroyers HMS Heythrop (Lt.Cdr R.S. Stafford, RN) and HMS Hurworth (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, RN) departed Alexandria to conduct an A/S sweep to the westwards together with aircraft. When near Tobruk the escort destroyers were to be detached to escort a convoy from Tobruk to Alexandria. (15)

5 Feb 1942
The destroyers HMS Jervis (Capt. P.J. Mack, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Alliston, DSO, RN), HMS Lance (Lt.Cdr. R.W.F. Northcott, RN), HMS Havock (Lt.Cdr. G.R.G. Watkins, DSC, RN), HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Griffin (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Arrow (Cdr. A.M. McKillop, RN) were still at sea conducting an A/S sweep.

At 0630/5, in position 32°07'N, 25°35'E which is north-north-west of Sidi Barani, HMS Jaguar sighted an enemy submarine on the surface which quickly dived. HMS Jaguar dropped depth charges but the submarine, which was the German U-73, was able to escape.

Later in the day, shortly before 0900 hours HMS Kelvin and HMS Lance also attacked a firm contact. This was the German submarine U-375, which was damaged and had to abort her patrol. Earlier on the day, at 0427 hours U-375 had fired four torpedoes at two destroyers but missed. [No mention can be found in British records so the attack was most likely not observed.]

In the evening, at 2239 hours, a Sunderland from 815 Squadron/FAA attacked an enemy submarine in position 32°07'N, 25°10'E. This was the German submarine U-81 but she was not damaged. (15)

6 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
The destroyers HMS Jervis (Capt. P.J. Mack, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Alliston, DSO, RN), HMS Lance (Lt.Cdr. R.W.F. Northcott, RN), HMS Havock (Lt.Cdr. G.R.G. Watkins, DSC, RN), HMS Hero (Cdr. H.W. Biggs, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Griffin (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Arrow (Cdr. A.M. McKillop, RN) returned to Alexandria on completion of their A/S sweep. (15)

5 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Alliston, DSO, RN) and HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, DSO, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria with one company of 11th Royal Marines Batallion and special boat equipment on board for landing exercises on Cyprus. (15)

7 Mar 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Alliston, DSO, RN) and HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. L.R.K. Tyrwhitt, DSO, DSC, RN), with one company of 11th Royal Marines Batallion and special boat equipment on board which had conducted landing exercises on Cyprus, returned to Alexandria.

A landing had been attempted in difficult conditions during the night of 6/7 March but it proced largely unsuccessful. One Royal Marine drowned and several boats had capsized during the landing attempt. (15)

1 Apr 1942
HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Alliston, DSO, RN) shifted from Beirut to Famagusta where she joined the troop transports Princess Kathleen (Canadian, 5875 GRT, built 1925), Malines (British, 2969 GRT, built 1921) as escort for their passage to Alexandria. (15)

2 Apr 1942
The troop transports Princess Kathleen (Canadian, 5875 GRT, built 1925), Malines (British, 2969 GRT, built 1921), and their escort, HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Alliston, DSO, RN) arrived at Alexandria.

After embarking troops the three ships departed again for Famagusta later the same day. (15)

3 Apr 1942
The troop transports Princess Kathleen (Canadian, 5875 GRT, built 1925), Malines (British, 2969 GRT, built 1921), and their escort, HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Alliston, DSO, RN) arrived at Famagusta.

HMS Kelvin arrived with engine defects. She departed Famagusta later the same day to proceed to Beirut for repairs.

The troop transports departed for Alexandria later the same day but now escorted by HMS Sikh (Capt. St.J.A. Micklethwait, DSO and Bar, RN). (15)

7 Apr 1942
The troop transports Princess Kathleen (Canadian, 5875 GRT, built 1925), Malines (British, 2969 GRT, built 1921), and their escort, HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Alliston, DSO, RN) arrived at Haifa.

After embarking troops the troop transports departed again for Famagusta later the same day but now escorted by HMS Dulverton (Lt.Cdr. W.N. Petch, OBE, RN). (15)

8 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Sikh (Capt. St.J.A. Micklethwait, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Alliston, DSO, RN) departed Haifa for Alexandria. (15)

9 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Sikh (Capt. St.J.A. Micklethwait, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Kelvin (Cdr. J.H. Alliston, DSO, RN) arrived at Alexandria. (15)

Destroyer HMS Zephyr (R 19)

31 Dec 1944
On 31 Dec, 1944, the British destroyer HMS Zephyr (Lt.Cdr. J.F.D. Bush, DSC and 2 Bars, RN) was damaged by an explosion west of the Pentland Firth. According to British reports this was very likely caused by a floating mine and not by a torpedo. U-1020 was long believed to have hit the destroyer. (16)

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