Allied Warships

HMS Venerable (04)

Aircraft Carrier of the Colossus class

NavyThe Royal Navy
TypeAircraft Carrier
ClassColossus 
Pennant04 
Built byCammell Laird Shipyard (Birkenhead, U.K.) 
Ordered7 Aug 1942 
Laid down3 Dec 1942 
Launched30 Dec 1943 
Commissioned17 Jan 1945 
End serviceApr 1947 
History

HMS Venerable, which had been decommissioned in April 1947, was sold to the Netherlands and renamed Karel Doorman in May 1948. Reconstructed during 1955-1958 with an angled deck. Decommissioned by the Dutch Navy in April 1968 due to a boiler room fire. Sold to Argentina as Veinticinco de Mayo on 15 October 1968 and refitted with replacement boilers from the incomplete HMS Leviathan. Commissioned into Argentinean Navy on 22 August 1969. Out of service since June 1986. Retained in reserve until 1997. Left Argentina under tow to be scrapped at Alang, India in January 1999.  

Commands listed for HMS Venerable (04)

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and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.

CommanderFromTo
1Capt. William Alexander Dallmeyer, DSO, RN16 Oct 1944Mar 1946

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Notable events involving Venerable include:


The page dealing with the wartime history of HMS Venerable was was created in December 2023.

20 Dec 1944
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) is commissioned for trials at Birkenhead. (1)

14 Jan 1945
Around 1400A/14, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) departed Liverpool for Greenock. En-route gunnery trials and full power trials were carried out and shortly before arrival at Greenock also D/G trials were carried out on the D/G range at Helensburg.

She was escorted until around 2340A/14, by HMS Pimpernel (T/A/Lt.Cdr. H.D. Hayes, DSC, RNR). (2)

17 Jan 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) conducted full power trial in the Clyde area following which she was commissioned for service. (2)

20 Jan 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) conducted D/G trials off Helensburg. (2)

21 Jan 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) conducted compass adjustment trials in the Clyde area. (2)

31 Jan 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) landed on aircraft in the Clyde area. (2)

1 Feb 1945
During 1/2 February 1945, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) conducted flying trials in the Clyde area. (3)

6 Feb 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) conducted vibration trials in the Clyde area. (3)

8 Feb 1945
Around 2000A/8, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) and HMS Arbiter (Capt. D.H. Everett, DSO, RN) departed the Clyde for Bangor Bay / Belfast Lough where they arrived around 0300A/9. They were escorted by HMS Magpie (Lt.Cdr. G.O. Symonds, DSC, RN) and HMS Loch Quoich (Lt.Cdr. G. MacClelland, DSC, RN). (4)

10 Feb 1945
Around 0500A/10, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) and Eastway (T/A/Lt.Cdr. W.A. Fletcher, RNR) departed Bangor Bay / Belfast Lough for the Clyde where they arrived around 1815A/10. They were escorted by HMS Magpie (Lt.Cdr. G.O. Symonds, DSC, RN) and HMS Loch Quoich (Lt.Cdr. G. MacClelland, DSC, RN). (5)

12 Feb 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) conducted flying exercises in the Clyde area. (3)

13 Feb 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) conducted flying exercises in the Clyde area. (3)

14 Feb 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) conducted flying exercises in the Clyde area. (3)

15 Feb 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) conducted flying exercises in the Clyde area. (3)

16 Feb 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) got underway for flying exercises in the Clyde area but she quickly returned to the anchorage after the exercises were cancelled due to the bad weather conditions. (3)

19 Feb 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) conducted flying exercises in the Clyde area. (3)

20 Feb 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) conducted flying exercises in the Clyde area. (3)

21 Feb 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) conducted flying exercises in the Clyde area. (3)

22 Feb 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) conducted flying exercises in the Clyde area. (3)

23 Feb 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) conducted flying exercises in the Clyde area. (3)

24 Feb 1945
During 24/25 February 1945, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) conducted flying exercises in the Clyde area. (3)

1 Mar 1945
At Greenock, Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN, hoisted his flag in HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN). (6)

5 Mar 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) conducted flying exercises in the Clyde area. (3)

6 Mar 1945
The light aircraft carrier HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) and escort carrier HMS Trouncer (Capt. B.J. Fisher, DSO, RN) proceeded from Greenock to Belfast. They were escorted by the destroyer HMS Escapade (Lt.Cdr. H.R.A. Kidston, RN) and the frigate HMS Inman (T/A/Lt.Cdr. H.E. Petre, RNR).

At Belfast HMS Trouncer was to be taken in hand for conversion to assault carrier flagship at the Harland & Wolff shipyard. Conversion was completed in late August 1945 but by then the Second World War had ended. (7)

7 Mar 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) proceeded from Belfast Lough to Greenock. She was escorted by the destroyer HMS Escapade (Lt.Cdr. H.R.A. Kidston, RN) and the frigate HMS Inman (T/A/Lt.Cdr. H.E. Petre, RNR). (6)

8 Mar 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) conducted flying exercises in the Clyde area. (6)

12 Mar 1945
Around 1330A/12, the light aircraft carriers HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) departed the Clyde for Malta. They were escorted by the destroyers HMS Tartar (Capt. B. Jones, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN), HMS Ulysses (Lt.Cdr. B.G.B. Bordes, DSC, RN), HMCS Assiniboine (Cdr.(Retd.) E.L. Armstrong, RCN) and the frigates HMS Cotton (Lt.Cdr. I.W.T. Beloe, RN), HMS Inman (T/A/Lt.Cdr. H.E. Petre, RNR) and HMS Stockham (T/A/Lt.Cdr. B.C. Hamilton, RNR).

Around 0830A/15, HMS Cotton, HMS Inman and HMS Stockham parted company.

Around 1130A/15, the escort destroyer HMS Croome (A/Lt.Cdr. B.C. Ward, DSC, RN) joined company.

Around 1300A/16, the destroyers HMS Malcolm (Cdr. H. Lloyd-Williams, DSO, RNVR), HMS Verity (Lt.Cdr. C.G. Cowley, RN) and HMS Wolverine (A/Lt.Cdr. A.J.M. Miller, DSC, RNVR) joined company.

Around 1330A/17, the light aircraft carriers anchored in Gibraltar Bay.

Around 1500A/17, the light aircraft carriers weighed anchor to continue their passage to Malta. They were now escorted by HMS Ulysses. To the east of Gibraltar RDF exercises were carried out with the destroyer HMS Barfleur (Cdr. M.S. Townsend, DSO, DSC and Bar, OBE, RN).

Around 2215A/17, HMS Tartar rejoined company apparently having been delayed at Gibraltar.

Around 1000A/20, the fleet arrived at Malta. (8)

27 Mar 1945
Around 1520A/27, HMS Teazer (Lt.Cdr. T.F. Taylor, DSC, RN) collided with HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) while shifting berth at Malta. Both ships sustained some damage. (6)

16 Apr 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) conducted flying exercises off Malta. (9)

17 Apr 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) conducted flying exercises off Malta. (9)

18 Apr 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) conducted flying exercises off Malta. (9)

19 Apr 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) conducted D/G trials and flying exercises at / off Malta. (9)

20 Apr 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) conducted flying exercises off Malta. (9)

21 Apr 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) conducted flying exercises off Malta. (9)

23 Apr 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) conducted flying exercises off Malta. (9)

24 Apr 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) conducted flying exercises off Malta. Also underway refuelling exercises were carried out during which HMS Calpe (A/Lt.Cdr. N.F.R. Gill, RNR) was refuelled. (9)

25 Apr 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) conducted flying exercises off Malta. (9)

26 Apr 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) conducted flying exercises off Malta. Also underway refuelling exercises were carried out during which HMS Brecon (Lt. N.R.H. Rodney, RN) was refuelled. (9)

27 Apr 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) conducted flying exercises off Malta. (9)

30 Apr 1945
From 30 April to 2 May 1945, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) conducted flying exercises off Malta. (10)

2 May 1945
During 2 / 3 May 1945, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) conducted flying exercises off Malta. (11)

3 May 1945
From 3 to 5 May 1945, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) conducted flying exercises off Malta. (11)

11 May 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) is docked in No.4 graving dock at the Malta Dockyard. (11)

21 May 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) is undocked. (11)

22 May 1945
Around 0630B/22, the light aircraft carriers HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Glory (Capt. A.W. Buzzard, DSO, OBE, RN) departed Malta for Alexandria. They were escorted by the destroyer HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN). (12)

25 May 1945
Around 1400C/25, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Glory (Capt. A.W. Buzzard, DSO, OBE, RN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN) arrived at Alexandria from Malta after having carried out exercises during the last night.

HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN) did not participate in these exercises and had already put into Alexandria around 1415C/24. (12)

27 May 1945
Around 1800C/27, the light aircraft carriers HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) departed Alexandria for Suez.

They passed the Suez Canal southbound the following day and arrived at Suez around 1815C/27. (13)

28 May 1945
Around 2215C/28, the light aircraft carriers HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) departed Suez for Aden. They were escorted by the destroyers HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN). (13)

1 Jun 1945
Around 1430C/1, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN), HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN) arrived at Aden from Suez. (14)

2 Jun 1945
Around 1130C/2, the light aircraft carriers HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN) departed Aden for Ceylon / Madras.

Around 1800C/2, the battleship HMS Duke of York (Capt. A.D. Nicholl, DSO, RN) joined company.

Around 0700FG/8, HMS Colossus and HMS Vengeance parted company to proceed to Madras and Trincomalee respectively. The other ships entered Colombo harbour later that morning. (14)

11 Jun 1945
Around 1800FG/11, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) departed Colombo for Madras. She was escorted by HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN).

Around 1500FG/12, HMS Tyrian and HMS Tuscan were detached to Trincomalee where they arrived later that afternoon.

Around 1110FG/13, HMS Venerable arrived at Madras. (15)

14 Jun 1945
Around 1225FG/14, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) departed Madras for Trincomalee. (15)

15 Jun 1945
Around 0900FG/15, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) arrived at Trincomalee from Madras. (15)

18 Jun 1945
Around 1130C/2, the light aircraft carriers HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN) HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) and the destroyer HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. (14)

20 Jun 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) conducted D/G trials at Trincomalee on completion of which, around 1120FG/20, she left Trincomalee for Colombo. (15)

21 Jun 1945
Around 1130FG/21, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) arrived at Colombo from Trincomalee. (15)

24 Jun 1945
Around 1700FG/24, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) departed Colombo for Trincomalee. (15)

25 Jun 1945
Around 1800FG/25, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) arrived at Trincomalee from Colombo. (15)

2 Jul 1945
Around 1200FG/2, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) departed Trincomalee for Madras. (16)

3 Jul 1945
Around 0900FG/3, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) arrived at Madras from Trincomalee.

Around 1930FG/3, she departed Madras for Colombo. (16)

5 Jul 1945
Around 1100FG/5, HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) arrived at Colombo from Madras. (16)

7 Jul 1945
Around 0630FG/7, the battleship HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN) departed Trincomalee for Fremantle. She first conducted underway refuelling exercises off Trincomalee.

Around 0730FG/7 the light carriers HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN) also departed Trincomalee for Fremantle and joined HMS Anson.

They were joined around 1900FG/7 by the light carrier HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN) which had departed Colombo around 0800FG/7.

HMS Anson joined the other ships around 0630FG/8.

En-route to Fremantle both destroyers refuelled from HMS Anson.

They arrived at Fremantle around 0800H, 16 July 1945. (17)

16 Jul 1945
Around 1745H/16, the battleship HMS Anson (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN), light carriers HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN), Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) and HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN) departed Fremantle for Sydney.

Around 2100H/16, HMS Anson was detached to fuel at Albany where she arrived around 1430H/17.

Around 1200H/18, HMS Anson departed Albany for Sydney.

All ships arrived at Sydney in the morning of 22 July except for HMS Tuscan which arrived in the afternoon and HMS Vengeance and HMS Colossus which entered Jervis Bay in the morning of 22 July.

HMS Vengeance and HMS Colossus proceeded from Jervis Bay to Sydney on 23 July. (17)

12 Aug 1945
At Sydney, Rear-Admiral R.J.H. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN, struck his flag on board HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN). (18)

13 Aug 1945
HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) conducted flying exercises off Sydney during which she was escorted by HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN). (18)

15 Aug 1945
The aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C.H.J. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), light carriers HMS Colossus (Capt. G.H. Stokes,CB, DSC, RN), HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN), HMS Vengeance (Capt. D.M.L. Neame, DSO and Bar, RN), light cruisers HMS Bermuda (Capt. J.S. Bethell, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN), HMS Swiftsure (Capt. P.V. McLaughlin, RN) and the destroyers HMS Kempenfelt (Capt. E.G. McGregor, DSO, RN), HMS Whirlwind (Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, DSO, DSC, OBE, RN), HMS Ursa (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, DSC, RN), HMS Tumult (Lt.Cdr. A.S. Pomeroy DSC, RN), HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. P.B.N. Lewis, DSC, RN) and HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN) departed Sydney for Manus where they arrived on 19 / 20 August 1945.

The following vessels arrived at Manus on 19 August 1945; HMS Illustrious, HMS Venerable, HMS Swiftsure, HMS Kempenfelt, HMS Whirlwind and HMS Ursa. The remaining vessels arrived on 20 August 1945. (19)

19 Aug 1945
The aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C.H.J. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), light carrier HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN), light cruisers HMS Swiftsure (Capt. P.V. McLaughlin, RN), HMS Euryalus (Capt. R. Oliver-Bellesis, RN) and the destroyers HMS Kempenfelt (Capt. E.G. McGregor, DSO, RN), HMS Whirlwind (Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, DSO, DSC, OBE, RN), HMS Ursa (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, DSC, RN) and HMS Quadrant (Lt.Cdr. P.C. Hopkins, RN) departed Manus for Leyte where they arrived on 22 August.

These ships were to form part of Task Unit 111.2 and were to participate in the liberation of Hong Kong. (20)

23 Aug 1945
The aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable (Capt. J.A.S. Eccles, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C.H.J. Harcourt, CB, CBE, RN), light carrier HMS Venerable (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN), light cruisers HMS Swiftsure (Capt. P.V. McLaughlin, RN), HMS Euryalus (Capt. R. Oliver-Bellesis, RN) and the destroyers HMS Kempenfelt (Capt. E.G. McGregor, DSO, RN), HMS Whirlwind (Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, DSO, DSC, OBE, RN), HMS Ursa (Cdr. D.B. Wyburd, DSC, RN) and HMS Quadrant (Lt.Cdr. P.C. Hopkins, RN) departed Leyte (San Pedro Bay) for Subic Bay where they arrived the following day minus HMS Venerable and HMS Quadrant which arrived on the 25th after first having conducted exercises. (20)

Sources

  1. ADM 199/2574
  2. ADM 53/122444
  3. ADM 53/122445
  4. ADM 53/120850 + ADM 53/122445 + ADM 199/1443
  5. ADM 53/122445 + ADM 199/1443
  6. ADM 53/122446
  7. ADM 53/122373 + ADM 53/122446
  8. ADM 53/121137 + ADM 53/122446 + ADM 53/122458
  9. ADM 53/122447
  10. ADM 53/122447 + ADM 53/122448
  11. ADM 53/122448
  12. ADM 53/121457 + ADM 53/122248 + ADM 53/122460
  13. ADM 53/121139 + ADM 53/122448 + ADM 53/122460
  14. ADM 53/121140 + ADM 53/122449 + ADM 53/122461
  15. ADM 53/122449
  16. ADM 53/122450
  17. ADM 53/120838 + ADM 53/121141 + ADM 53/122450 + ADM 53/122461
  18. ADM 53/122451
  19. ADM 53/120982 + ADM 53/121564 + ADM 53/122451 + ADM 53/122463 + ADM 187/51
  20. ADM 199/1457

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


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