Description: storage P1 P1 LARGER P BOX KENT-Class cruiser ordered under the 1924-25 Estimates from HM Dockyard, Chatham and laid down on 15th November 1924. The ship was launched on 16th March 1926 as the 8th RN ship to bear the name, introduced in 1852 for a 40 gun ship and last used by a 1901 cruiser sold in 1920. Build was completed on 22nd June 1928 and she was manned from Chatham Port Division. There is no record of an adoption by a civil community in UK after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign between 1941 and 1942, but warships carrying this name have all had a close relationship with the County of Kent. B a t t l e H o n o u r s PORTLAND 1653 - GABBARD 1653 - PORTO FARINA 1655 - LOWESTOFT 1665 - ORFORDNESS 1666 - BARFLEUR 1692 - VIGO 1702 - VELEZ MALAGA 1704 - CAPE PASSARO 1718 - FINISTERRE (2) 1747 - CHANDERNAGORE 1757 - EGYPT 1801 - FALKLANDS 1914 - ATLANTIC 1940 - MEDITERRANEAN 1940 - ARCTIC 1942-43 H e r a l d i c D a t a Badge The White Horse of Kent on a Field Red (Appropriately the Badge of the County of Kent. M o t t o Invicta: 'Unconquered' 1 9 2 8 April Contractors Trials 19th Commissioned at Chatham for trials May 5th Paid-off on completion of Acceptance Trials (Note: Cost of build was £2,084,213) June 22nd Commissioned at Chatham for service on the China Station with 5th Cruiser Squadron. July Prepared for foreign service 5th Sailed from Sheerness after ammunitioning 6th Sailed from Spithead for Gibraltar 11th Sailed from Gibraltar for Malta 14th Deployed in Malta 16th Sailed from Malta for Port Said. 20th Sailed from Port Said for Colombo 31st At Colombo August 4th Sailed from Colombo for Singapore 12th Sailed from Singapore for Hong Kong. 17th Arrived at Hong Kong Joined Squadron as Flagship of CinC China Station.. (Note: Squadron included HM Cruisers SUFFOLK and BERWICK September Deployed with Squadron at Hong Kong. to October November Took passage from Hong to Yokohama for Official Visit. December 2nd Arrived at Yokohama with Squadron to attend Coronation Review by Emperor Hirohito. 4th Present at Review to represent Great Britain. Return passage to Hong Kong 1 9 2 9 Deployed on China Station and carried out official visits and took part in exercises with RN ships on the China Station Carried out Guardship duties at Chinese ports with trade connections with Great Britain and the Empire 1 9 3 0 China Station deployment with Squadron in continuation. Deployed as Guardship in Yangste in June 1 9 3 1 January Squadron duties on China Station in continuation to February March Prepared for return passage to UK for re-commissioning and refit. 15th Sailed from Hong Kong. April Passage in Mediterranean 30th Arrived at Chatham May Paid off and taken in hand for refit at HM Dockyard, Chatham. June Under refit July Re-commissioned for service on China Station in 5th Cruiser Squadron. 15th Sailed from Sheerness to Hong Kong. August On passage in Indian Ocean 30th Arrived at Hong Kong. September Resumed Squadron duties on China Station. October Deployed with Squadron for visits, Guardship and Station exercises. to December 1 9 3 2 China Station duties in continuation 1 9 3 3 China Station deployment in continuation including visit to Yokohama in September 1 9 3 4 January China Station duties with Squadron to February March Prepared for return passage to re commission April Passage to Chatham On arrival Paid-off and taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard Chatham May 25th Re-commissioned for service on China Station with 5th Cruiser Squadron. June On passage to rejoin Squadron at Hong Kong July Arrived at Hong Kong August Deployed on China Station for Squadron duties based at Hong Kong. to December 1 9 3 5 China Station duties in continuation. 1 9 3 6 January China Station Squadron duties in continuation to September October Sailed from Hong Kong to Chatham for refit and re-commissioning. November Passage delayed in Mediterranean because of Abyssinian crisis December Resumed passage 1 9 3 7 January Paid off on arrival and taken in hand for major refit February Under refit to (Note: Changes included: December 4in Gun mounting between funnels replace by twin 4in mounting Two eight barrelled Pom-Pom AA guns fitted on both sides of superstructure. Narrow belt of armour plate fitted at waterline level over machinery spaces. Torpedo Tube mountings removed. High Angle Control Directors fitted in place of range finders for AA defence. Two Cranes fitted one each either side of after funnel. 1 9 3 8 January Under refit to April May Harbour trials 25th Re-commissioned for service on China Station with 5th Cruiser Squadron. 26th Commenced sea trials and Shakedown. in Nore area. June Deployed at Chatham and completed storing. July Passage to Spithead. Sailed for foreign service. August Passage with calls at Malta, Port Said, Aden and Singapore. September Passage from Singapore to join Squadron at Hong Kong. 4th Arrived at Hong Kong and joined Squadron as Flagship. Assisted French liner CHENONCEAU which had gone aground in the entrance to Hong Kong harbour. October Deployed as Flagship of Squadron based at Hong Kong. to December 1 9 3 9 January Flagship duties in continuation to (Note: Other ships in Squadron were HM Cruisers CORNWALL, May DORSETSHIRE and BIRMINGHAM.) June Embarked CinC China Station for passage from Hong Kong to Singapore. (Note: Admiral Sir Percy Noble chaired an Anglo-French Defence Conference considering Japanese activities in China. July Carried out exercises in anticipation of hostilities to Prepared to take up allocated war station. August September Deployed as Flagship of 5th Cruiser Squadron on the China Station. (Note: Other ships in Squadron were HM Cruisers BIRMINGHAM, DORSETSHIRE and CORNWALL.) 2nd Sailed from Hong Kong to take up war station and deployed for interception of German shipping on passage in China Sea. D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e (for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search 3rd Carried out patrols to intercept German shipping off Shantung 11th Returned to Hong Kong. 13th Sailed for interception patrol off Chinese Mainland. 28th Returned to Hong Kong October 1st Resumed patrol 24th Returned to Hong Kong for routine docking 31st Sailed for interception patrol November 8th Returned to Hong Kong from patrol. Transferred to 4th Cruiser Squadron, East Indies Station based at Colombo. 12th Took passage to Singapore. 15th Arrived at Singapore. 16th Deployed with French Cruiser SUFFREN, HM Australian Destroyers VOYAGER and VAMPIRE to form Hunting Group for interception of German shipping attempting to return to Europe from ports in Sumatra and Java. 23rd Called at Nancowry. December 2nd Arrived at Colombo to join 4th Cruiser Squadron. 4th Deployed for patrol in Indian Ocean for interception of commerce raiders and support ships. 14th Returned to Colombo. 1 9 4 0 January 8th Passage to Fremantle, Australia for escort of military convoy during passage in Indian Ocean. 17th Arrived at Fremantle. 20th Relieved HM Australian Cruisers CANBERRA and AUSTRALIA off Fremantle as escort for Convoy US1 30th Detached from US1 on relief by HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE and HM Australian Cruiser HOBART. (Note: US1 was taking ANZAC troops for service in the Middle East. February Indian Ocean patrol deployment in continuation. March Returned to Colombo for refit. 22nd On completion resumed Squadron duties. April 27th Took passage from Trincomalee to join military convoy US2 as escort during passage to Colombo in Indian Ocean. (Note: US2 was also taking ANZAC troops to Egypt. May Transferred to 3rd Cruiser Squadron for service with Mediterranean Fleet. 5th Sailed from Colombo as escort for US2 with HM Battleship RAMILLIES and FS SUFFREN. 12th Joined by HM Destroyers DECOY and DEFENDER to supplement escort during passage in Red Sea. 15th Joined by HM Cruiser LIVERPOOL and HM Sloop SHOREHAM for added defence. 17th Detached from US2 on arrival at Suez. 24th Joined Squadron at Alexandria. June Took part in preparatory exercises with ships of Mediterranean Fleet in anticipation of outbreak of war with Italy. July Nominated for detached service in Indian Ocean. Took passage from Alexandria to Aden. 21st Joined military convoy WS1 during passage to Ceylon in position 34.20S 33.00E. (Note: WS1 comprised rms AQUITANIA, rms MAURETANIA and rms QUEEN MARY taking troops to join 8th Army in EGYPT. As these ships were not required to pass through the Red Sea they had been diverted to Trincomalee. 29th Detached from WS1 on arrival in Ceylon where troops were transferred to smaller transports for onward passage. Took passage to rejoin Squadron at Alexandria. August Passage to Alexandria. (Note: One source records that ship escorted troopships during passage.) 15th Sailed from Alexandria with HM Battleships WARSPITE, MALAYA and RAMILLIES as part of Force A, Mediterranean Fleet 17th Provided cover during air attacks by HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE and bombardment of Bardia by Force A. 18th Under air attacks during return passage. 30th Deployed with ships of Squadron to cover passage of supply convoy to Malta and transit of HM Battleship VALIANT, HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruisers CALCUTTA and COVENTRY during passage in Eastern Mediterranean to reinforce Fleet at Alexandria (Operation HATS –See Naval Staff History, THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre, MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman) September 2nd Detached from HATS to escort 5 ship convoy from Greece with HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, HM Destroyers MOHAWK and NUBIAN 5th Arrived at Alexandria. 9th Deployed with HMS VALIANT and HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS to provide cover during air strikes and shore bombardment at Bardia. 17th Carried out bombardment of Fort Cappuzo. Hit by torpedo from Italian aircraft during air attacks and disabled. Taken in tow by HMS NUBIAN. 19th Arrived in tow at Alexandria, where emergency repairs were carried out. (additions and corrections made to this account through to December 27th. With thanks to Ella Kemp, whose father joined HMS KENT at Alexandria October 25th) October Under emergency repair at Alexandria. 26th Sailed from Alexandria for Port Said 27th Arrived Port Said. 28th Departed Suez with convoy SW20 November 2nd Departed Aden 7th Arrived Mombasa 11th Departed Mombasa 18th Arrived Simonstown 25th Departed Simonstown December 4th Arrived Freetown 7th Departed Freetown with convoy SL 58 27th Arrived at Plymouth. 1 9 4 1 January Under repair by HM Dockyard, Portsmouth to 20mm Oerlikon guns fitted on turrets and after structure. August Radar Type 284 fitted for fire-control of forward main armament mountings. Radar Type 285 fitted for fire-control of secondary AA armament. Radar Type 28 1 fitted for aircraft warning (For details of development and use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.) September Post refit trials. 30th Took passage from Portsmouth for work-up at Scapa Flow with ships of the Home Fleet. October Joined 1st Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet on arrival. Deployed at Scapa Flow for work-up. November 3rd Sailed from Scapa Flow with HM Battleship KING GEORGE V, HM Cruisers BERWICK, SUFFOLK and HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS after report that German warships SHEER and TIRPITZ were expected to attempt breakout into the Atlantic. 6th Deployed in Iceland and available to provide cover for passage of Russian Convoy PQ3 to Archangel. (Note: For details of all Russian Convoys see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schofield, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman and CONVOY ! by P Kemp. Embarked military mission for passage to Archangel. 24th Landed Mission and returned to Scapa Flow. December 8th Embarked Foreign Secretary (Anthony Eden) and Russian Ambassador for passage to Kola Inlet to attend meeting in Moscow. 12th Arrived at Kola Inlet and disembarked passengers. 17th Despatched from Kola Inlet with two Russian destroyers to assist HM Minesweepers SPEEDY and HAZARD which were under attack by German destroyers Z23, Z24, Z25 and Z27. Returned to Kola Inlet after unsuccessful search 25th Took passage from Kola Inlet for UK with Foreign Secretary embarked. 1 9 4 2 January After arrival returned to Iceland to resume covering duties and for interception of German warships attempting to enter Atlantic for attacks on Atlantic traffic. February Iceland deployment in continuation. 18th Deployed with HM Battleships KING GEORGE V, DUKE OF YORK, HMS VICTORIOUS, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Cruiser EDINBURGH, HM Destroyers ASHANTI, BEDOUIN, ESCAPADE, ECHO, ESKIMO, FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT, ICARUS, INGLEFIELD, LEDBURY, MARNE, MIDDLETON, PUNJABI, TARTAR and WHEATLAND to provide Distant Cover for passage of Russian Convoy PQ 13 and return convoy QP9 from Kola Inlet March Deployed for Patrol WHITE in Denmark Strait with HM Cruiser LONDON and three USN ships. Ordered to set up stations east of Bear Island after refuelling in Iceland to refuel destroyers deployed for the interception of German battleship TIRPITZ which posed a threat to convoys to and from North Russia. See ARCTIC DESTROYERS by R Woodman. On release from refuelling resumed patrol off Iceland. April Returned to Scapa Flow after QP9 had arrived in Iceland. 9th Provided Distant Cover for passage of Russian Convoy PQ14 and return Convoy QP10 with HMS KING GEORGE V, HMS DIKE OF YORK, HMS VICTORIOUS, HM Cruiser NIGERIA screened by twelve Home Fleet destroyers: 'See above references. Returned to Scapa Flow on release from covering duty. 22nd Deployed with HM Cruiser NIGERIA, HM Destroyers ESKIMO ESCAPADE and FAULKNOR as screen for HMS DUKE OF YORK during passage from Scapa Flow to Iceland. May Deployed in Iceland. 13th Carried out covering patrol west of Bear Island during return passage of damaged cruiser HMS TRINIDAD with HM Cruisers NORFOLK, NIGERIA and LIVERPOOL screened by four destroyers. 15th Joined ships of Home Fleet and returned to Iceland after loss of HMS TRINIDAD Came under air attacks on return passage. 23rd Deployed with HM Cruisers LIVERPOOL, NIGERIA and NORFOLK screened by HM Destroyers MARNE, ONSLOW and ORIBI to provide cruiser cover during passage of Russian Convoy PQ16 and return Convoy QP12 from Kola Inlet. 28th On release from covering duties returned to Iceland June Return passage to Scapa Flow and prepared for refit at Liverpool. July Taken in hand for refit. August Under refit to Surface warning centimetric radar Type 273 fitted aft on mainmast platform. September Single 20mm Oerlikon weapons fitted to improve close range AA defence. October Post Refit Trials and setting to work 21st Refit work completed. November 8th Arrived at Scapa Flow to complete weapon and radar trials during work-up for operational deployment with Squadron in Home Fleet. December Deployed at Scapa Flow for interception and patrol in NW Approaches. Sailed from Scapa Flow with HM Cruiser BERWICK to relieve HM Cruisers JAMAICA and SHEFFIELD providing Cruiser Cover for passage of return Convoy RA51 from Kola Inlet. 1 9 4 3 January 2nd Relieved HMS JAMAICA and HMS SHEFFIELD. Returned to Scapa Flow on release from covering duties. (Note: Distant Cover was provided by Home Fleet units. See references.) 17th Sailed from Scapa Flow with HM Cruisers GLASGOW and BERMUDA to provide Cruiser Cover during passage of Russian Convoy JW52 during passage to Kola Inlet. 24th Under air and U-boat attacks which failed. 27th Arrived at Kola Inlet. 30th Provided Cruiser Cover for passage of return convoy RA52 from Kola Inlet with HM Cruisers BERMUDA and GLASGOW, February 2nd Released from covering duties and returned to Scapa Flow. March Deployed at Scapa Flow for Home Fleet duties. to May June Passage to Iceland for interception patrol and covering duties. July 7th Deployed with HM Cruisers LONDON and BELFAST in Home Fleet operation off Norwegian coast to divert enemy attention during allied landings in Sicily (Operation CAMERA) 9th Returned to Scapa Flow. August Passage to Halifax, NS. 14th Deployed with HM Destroyers MATCHLESS, OBDURATE and OPPORTUNE as escort for HM Battlecruiser RENOWN during passage from Halifax to UK. (Note: HMS RENOWN was taking the Prime Minister back to the Clyde after QUADRANT conference at Quebec with the US President) 19th Passage to Scapa after arrival in Clyde. 25th Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard Chatham September Under refit. Four Radar Type 283 to provide Barrage control of 4in AA Directors fitted. October 4th On completion of post refit trials took passage to resume Squadron duties with Home Fleet at Scapa Flow. 8th Released from Cruiser Cover and returned to Scapa Flow. November 2nd Provided Cruiser Cover during passage of return convoy RA54A from Kola Inlet with HM Cruisers BELFAST and NORFOLK. 19th Provided Cruiser Cover during passage of Russian Convoy JW54A to Kola Inlet with HM Cruisers BERMUDA and JAMAICA. 24th Arrived at Kola Inlet. 26th Embarked gold bullion as payment for supplies to Russia. 27th Deployed with HMS BELFAST and HMS JAMAICA to provide Cruiser Cover during passage of return convoy RA54B from Kola Inlet and inward Convoy JW54B on passage from UK December 3rd Released from covering duties and took passage to Scapa Flow to resume Squadron duties. 1 9 4 4 January 12th Provided Cruiser Cover for passage of Russian Convoy JW56A and JWS6B during their passages to Kola Inlet and that of the return convoy RA56, with HMS BERMUDA and HMS BERWICK. (Note: HMS BERWICK detached later and returned to Scapa Flow with defects.) Convoy JW56B sailed 14 days later.) February 11th On release from covering duties returned to Scapa Flow. March Squadron duties with Home Fleet in continuation. April Nominated for support of planned allied landings in Normandy. (Operation NEPTUNE) (Note: Deployed as Flagship of 1st Cruiser Squadron (Rear Admiral RR McGrigor) with HMS BERWICK and HMS DEVONSHIRE.) 30th Took part in preparatory exercises with Home Fleet ships. May Squadron deployment at Scapa Flow in continuation. June Remained with Home Fleet based at Scapa Flow during landings to provide Distant Cover for NEPTUNE in the event of any attempt by major German warships to interfere with this operation. (Note: For details of naval activities before and during landings see LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO) and OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards.) 28th At Rosyth July Squadron deployment in continuation at Scapa Flow. 17th Deployed with HMS DUKE OF YORK, HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE, JAMAICA and BELLONA as part of Home Fleet Distant Cover during air attacks from HM Aircraft Carriers FORMIDABLE, FURIOUS and VICTORIOUS on the German battleship TIRPITZ in Altenfjord, Norway (Operation MASCOT) (Note: These attacks were unsuccessful) August 10th Deployed with HMS DEVONSHIRE to provide cover during air operations by HM Aircraft Carrier INDEFATIGABLE , HM Escort Aircraft Carriers TRUMPETER and NABOB on airfields at Goosen, Norway and air minelay near Lepsoy Island (Operation OFFSPRING) 18th Escorted HMS NABOB and HMS TRUMPETER during air strikes on TIRPITZ by HMS FORMIDABLE, HMS FURIOUS and HMS INDEFATIGABLE (Operation GOODWOOD) 22nd Returned to Scapa Flow with Home Fleet units. (Note: These attacks were also unsuccessful.) September 5th Deployed as escort for rms QUEEN MARY with HMS DEVONSHIRE and HMS BERWICK during passage in Atlantic (Note: rms QUEEN MARY was taking the Prime Minister to attend the OCTAGON conference with the US President.) 11th Resumed Fleet duties at Scapa Flow. October Home Fleet deployment in continuation. 12th Deployed to provide cover for shipping strikes near Stadtlandet and an air minelay south of Vorso Island, Norway by HMS FURIOUS HMS AVENGER and HMS TRUMPETER. (Operation BEGONIA) November 12th Deployed with HM Cruiser BELLONA to carry out offensive operation against shipping off Norway. screened by HM Destroyers MYNGS, VERULAM, ZAMBESI and Canadian ALGONQUIN. 15th Attacked German convoy KS357 off Listerfjord, sinking two mercantiles and five escorts See Naval Staff History and RADAR AT SEA. December Deployed with Squadron for Home Fleet duties. To be withdrawn from operational service and Paid-off. 1 9 4 5 January Passage to Clyde to reduce to Category B Reserve. 5th Reducing to Reserve status in Gareloch February 16th Placed in Category B Reserve and at 4 months Notice for return to operational use March Laid up in Gareloch. P o s t Wa r N o t e s HMS KENT remained in Category B Reserve in the Gareloch until placed on the Disposal List in 1947. She was sold to BISCO on 22nd January 1948 and arrived at Dalmuir for demolition on 31st January that year On 1st March 1948 she was towed to Troon for breaking-up by the West of Scotland Shipbreakers. This name was carried forward on 27th September 1961 when given to a COUNTY Class Guided Weapon Destroyers. The 12th HMS KENT served on the Active List until 1980 when she was relegated to the Training role at Portsmouth before being also being placed on the Disposal List. Addendum CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS KENT by Don Kindell These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above Date convoy sailed Joined convoy as escort Convoy No. Left convoy Date convoy arrived 06/06/40 06/06/40 BC 19/06/40 10/06/40 22/06/40 22/06/40 CMA 01/07/40 01/07/40 29/06/40 21/07/40 WS 001 29/07/40 29/07/40 28/10/40 28/10/40 SW 002A 30/10/40 01/11/40 07/12/40 07/12/40 SL 058 23/12/40 28/12/40 10/03/42 23/03/42 PQ 013 28/03/42 31/03/42 21/03/42 23/03/42 QP 009 28/03/42 03/04/42 26/03/42 12/04/42 PQ 014 20/04/42 19/04/42 10/04/42 17/04/42 QP 010 18/04/42 21/04/42 21/05/42 23/05/42 PQ 016 26/05/42 30/05/42 21/05/42 26/05/42 QP 012 28/05/42 29/05/42 17/01/43 21/01/43 JW 052 24/01/43 27/01/43 29/01/43 30/01/43 RA 052 02/02/43 09/03/43 01/11/43 02/11/43 RA 054A 08/11/43 14/11/43 15/11/43 19/11/43 JW 054A 24/11/43 24/11/43 22/11/43 27/11/43 JW 054B 03/12/43 03/12/43 26/11/43 27/11/43 RA 054B 03/12/43 09/12/43 12/01/44 23/01/44 JW 056A 26/01/44 28/01/44 22/01/44 unknown JW 056B unknown 01/02/44 03/02/44 05/02/44 RA 056 07/02/44 11/02/44
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End Time: 2024-12-10T17:09:41.000Z
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