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Battleship HMS Ramillies (07)

12 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) is docked in the Gladstone graving dock at Liverpool. (1)

27 Oct 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) is undocked. (1)

20 Nov 1941
Around 1330A/20, the battleship HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN), which had completed her refit, departed Liverpool for Scapa Flow.

She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Vanquisher (Cdr. N.V. Dickinson, DSC, RN) and HMS Witch (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Holmes, RN).

Before departure HMS Ramillies had conducted D/G trials. (2)

22 Nov 1941
Around 1030A/22, the battleship HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) and HMS Witch (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Holmes, RN) arrived at Scapa Flow from Liverpool.

The other escorting destroyer, HMS Vanquisher (Cdr. N.V. Dickinson, DSC, RN), adid not enter Scapa Flow but set course to return to Liverpool where she arrived on 24 October 1941. (3)

26 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (2)

27 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) conducted compass adjustment and D/G trials at Scapa Flow. (2)

28 Nov 1941
HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) conducted AA gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (2)

29 Nov 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Scapa Flow. She was escorted by the destroyer HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. I.T. Clark, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Wheatland (Lt. R.deL. Brooke, RN). (2)

1 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0900A/1, the battleship HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) departed Scapa Flow for Greenock. She was escorted by the destroyer HMS Escapade (Lt.Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Wheatland (Lt. R.deL. Brooke, RN).

They arrived at Greenock in the afternoon of the following day. Before anchoring, HMS Ramillies ran over the D/G range. (4)

2 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At Greenock, Rear-Admiral S.S. Bonham-Carter, CB, CVO, DSO, RN, hoisted his flag in HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN). (4)

8 Dec 1941
Around 1245A/8, the battleship HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral S.S. Bonham-Carter, CB, CVO, DSO, RN) departed Greenock for Milford haven where she arrived around 0945A/9.

She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Vanquisher (Cdr. N.V. Dickinson, DSC, RN), HMS Volunteer (Lt.Cdr. N. Lanyon, RN) and HMS Witch (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Holmes, RN). (4)

9 Dec 1941
Around 1700A/9, the battleship HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral S.S. Bonham-Carter, CB, CVO, DSO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Vanquisher (Cdr. N.V. Dickinson, DSC, RN), HMS Volunteer (Lt.Cdr. N. Lanyon, RN) and HMS Witch (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Holmes, RN) departed Milford Haven to join convoy WS 14 at sea.

Around 1140A/10, in approximate position 50°40'N, 10°40'W, the destroyer HMS Gurkha (Cdr. C.N. Lentaigne, RN), which came from Plymouth, joined company.

Around 0940Z/13, HMS Ramillies, HMS Vanquisher, HMS Volunteer, HMS Witch and HMS Gurkha joind convoy WS 14 in approximate position 44°00'N, 22°16'W.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 14 ' for 9 December 1941.] (4)

21 Dec 1941
In the morning, HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral S.S. Bonham-Carter, CB, CVO, DSO, RN), HMS Cilicia (Capt.(Retd.) V.B. Cardwell, OBE, RN), HMS Brilliant (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Poe, RN), HMS Vansittart (Lt.Cdr. R.L.S. Gaisford, RN), HMS Wild Swan (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Hurworth (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, RN), HMS Badsworth (Lt.Cdr. M.S. Townsend, DSC and Bar, OBE, RN) and HMS Beaufort (Lt.Cdr. S.O’G Roche, RN) arrived at Freetown with convoy WS 14. (5)

24 Dec 1941 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At Freetown, Rear-Admiral S.S. Bonham-Carter, CB, CVO, DSO, RN, struck his flag on board HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN). (4)

25 Dec 1941
The battleship HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN), destroyers HMS Brilliant (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Poe, RN), HMS Vimy (Lt.Cdr. H.G.D. de Chair, RN), escort destroyers HMS Beaufort (Lt.Cdr. S.O’G Roche, RN), HMS Hurworth (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, RN) and the sloop HMS Bridgewater (A/Cdr.(Retd.) H.F.G. Leftwich, RN) departed Freetown escorting convoy WS 14.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 14 ' for 9 December 1941.] (4)

4 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0830B/4, HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) arrived at Capetown with the Capetown section of convoy WS 14. (6)

9 Jan 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) departed Capetown with the Capetown section of Convoy WS 14.

Before departure D/G trials were carried out during which she was escorted by the corvettes HMS Hollyhock (Lt. T.E. Davies, OBE, RNR) and HMS Verbena (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Rayner, DSC, RNVR) which also joined the convoy on completion of HMS Ramillies's D/G trials. (6)

21 Jan 1942
Around 0700C/21, HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) arrived at Kilindini / Mombasa from convoy escort duty. She then commenced boiler cleaning for which she was given ten days to complete. (6)

5 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) conduced gunnery exercises off Kilindini / Mombasa. (7)

21 Feb 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0640C/21, HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for escort duty with convoys WS 15 / DM 3.

[For more info on convoy WS 15 see the event ' Convoy WS 15 ' for 12 January 1942.]

[For more info on convoy DM 3 see the event ' Convoy DM 3 ' for 22 February 1942.] (7)

16 Apr 1942
Around 1630C/16, HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Durban. She was escorted by HMS Hotspur (Lt. T.D. Herrick, DSC, RN) until 1600C/17. (8)

21 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Around 0730B/21, HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) arrived at Durban from Kilindini / Mombasa. (8)

22 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At Durban, Rear-Admiral E.N. Syfret, CB, RN, hoisted his flag on board HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN). (8)

30 May 1942
While HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral E.N. Syfret, CB, RN) was anchored in Diego Suarez harbour (Madagascar), two midget submarines were launched at nightfall from Japanese submarines I-16 and I-20 (both offsite links). One, from I-20, managed to get through and enter the harbour, finding HMS Ramillies and the tanker British Loyalty (British (tanker), 6993 GRT, built 1928). Armed with only two torpedoes, the Japanese commander chose to target HMS Ramillies, first firing one torpedo which hit. He then fired a second torpedo at the battleship but by now the tanker had gotten underway and ended up in the track of the torpedo resulting in a hit on the tanker which sank thus saving HMS Ramillies from more damage. HMS Ramillies was severely damaged. (9)

15 Jun 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Ramillies (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) is docked in the graving dock at Durban.

[We have been unable to find out the date she was undocked.] (10)

Battleship HMS Royal Sovereign (05)

7 Aug 1942
During 7/8 August 1942, the battleships HMS Resolution (Capt. A.R. Halfhide, CBE, RN, flying the flag of A/Vice-Admiral A.U. Willis, DSO, RN), HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN), conducted exercises off Kilindini during which they were escorted by the destroyers HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. G.I.M. Balfour, RN), HMS Foxhound (Cdr. C.J. Wynne-Edwards, DSC, RN), HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. A.N. Rowell, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Blackmore (Lt. H.T. Harrel, RN). (11)

1 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) departed Kilindini for Durban. She is escorted by the destroyer HMS Duncan (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN). (12)

6 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) and HMS Duncan (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN) arrived at Durban. (12)

8 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) is docked at Durban. (12)

12 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) is undocked. (12)

17 Sep 1942
HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN), HMS Duncan (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN) and HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN) departed Durban for Capetown. (12)

20 Sep 1942
HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN), HMS Duncan (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN) and HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN) arrived at Capetown. (12)

21 Sep 1942
HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN), HMS Duncan (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN) and HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN) departed Capetown for Freetown via St. Helena. (12)

27 Sep 1942
HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN), HMS Duncan (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN) and HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN) made a short stop at St. Helena. Both ships were fuelled and they departed for Freetown later the same day. (12)

3 Oct 1942
HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN), HMS Duncan (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN) and HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN) arrived at Freetown. (13)

7 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN), HMS Duncan (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN) and HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN) departed Freetown to Bermuda. (13)

17 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN), HMS Duncan (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN) and HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN) arrived at Bermuda. (13)

18 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN), HMS Duncan (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN) and HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN) departed Bermuda for Philadelphia. (13)

20 Oct 1942
HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) arrived at Philadelphia. She had been escorted to there by HMS Duncan (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN) and HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN) which then continued on to New York where they arrived the following day. (13)

21 Oct 1942
HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. D.N.C. Tufnell, DSC, RN) proceeded up the Delaware River to the Philadelphia Navy Yard where she was taken in hand for refit and modernisation. (13)

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