This procedure was carried out as planned during the night of 31 March / 1 April but nothing was seen or located. Force B was to act as a supporting force for Force A, keeping 20 miles to the west of it and confirming to the movements of Force A through the night. If nothing was sighted or located by 0230/1, Force A was to turn back to the south-west and to withdraw outside the enemy’s air search area. After dark, to avoid detection from the air by the enemy, Force A altered course to 080° and proceeded at 15 knots until about 0230 hours when it was thought they would be in the estimated position from where the enemy would fly off their aircraft for the expected attack on Ceylon. HMS Hotspur and HMAS Nestor carried out an A/S sweep of the searched channel before Force A sailed.īy 1600/31 the fleet had made the pre-arranged rendez-vous and formed up. If Force A encountered a superior enemy force the would withdraw towards Force B.Īt 1400/30 the ships mentioned earlier at the top of this article departed Colombo. They were to remain about 20 nautical miles to the west of Force A. Escort to these ships was proviced by the cruisers HMS Dragon, HMS Caledon, HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck and a total of eight destroyers HMS Griffin, HMS Decoy, HMAS Norman, HMS Fortune, HrMs Isaac Sweers, HMS Arrow and one of the old destroyers that had managed to escape from the China station also joined, this was HMS Scout (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) H. This force would try to intercept the enemy and deliver a night air attack on the enemy with their carriers as the main target.įorce A would be covered by the slower Force B which was made up of the battleships HMS Resolution, HMS Ramillies, HMS Royal Sovereign and the light carrier HMS Hermes. They were escorted by the cruisers HMS Cornwall, HMS Enterprise, HMS Emerald and six destroyers HMAS Napier, HMAS Nestor, HMS Paladin, HMS Panther, HMS Hotspur and HMS Foxhound. The fleet would then be divided in two groups Force A (the fast division) was made up of the flagships, battleship HMS Warspite, both fleet carriers, HMS Indomitable and HMS Formidable. The most likely target would be the island of Ceylon and the harbours of Colombo and Trincomalee.Īdmiral Somerville therefore planned to concentrate the Eastern Fleet on the late afternoon / early evening of 31 March 1942 in position 04☄0’N, 81☀0’E. The Japanese had been operating in the Indian Ocean in early March and more attacks were expected in this area by the Allies. Boyd, CBE, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMAS Napier (Capt. Troubridge, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral D.W. Morgan, CBE, MVO, DSC, RN) the aircraft carrier HMS Indomitable (Capt. Tufnell, DSC, RN), HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. Willis, DSO, RN, second in command Eastern Fleet), HMS Ramillies (Capt. Halfhide, CBE, RN, flying the flag of A/Vice-Admiral A.U. HMS Hermes and HMAS Vampire also departed Trincomalee on the 29th. HMS Warspite departed Trincomalee this day and arrived at Colombo in the evening. van Holte, RNN), the destroyer HMAS Vampire (Cdr. Flynn, RN) and HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Cdr. Onslow, DSC, MVO, RN), light cruisers HMS Emerald (Capt. Somerville, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN), the aircraft carrier HMS Hermes (Capt. Hutton, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral J.F. The flagship of the Eastern Fleet, the battleship HMS Warspite (Capt. Rosenthal, DSO and Bar, RAN), HMS Hotspur (Lt. Haynes, DSO, DSC, RN), the destroyers HMS Paladin (Cdr. Manwaring, RN), light cruisers HMS Enterprise (Capt. Agar, VC, DSO, RN) (refitting) and HMS Cornwall (Capt. Bisset, RN), heavy cruisers HMS Dorsetshire (Capt. ![]() On 29 March 1942 the disposition of the Eastern Fleet was as follows Īircraft Carrier HMS Formidable (Capt. Operations by the Eastern Fleet from 29 March to 13 April 1942.Įnemy air attacks on Colombo and later Trincomalee and the loss of HMS Dorsetshire and HMS Cornwall on 5 April 1942 and HMS Hermes, HMAS Vampire on 9 April 1942.ĭispositions of the Eastern Fleet on 29 March 1942. The detonation occurred against the outer bulge and damage was not severe. While engaged in the shelling of Zeebrugge, she was struck amidships by a German "Linsen" explosive motor boat, packing a charge of between 135-225 kg explosive. Please use this if you spot mistakes or want to improve this ships page. You can help improve our commands sectionĬlick here to Submit events/comments/updates for this vessel. Francis Alexander Linley Heron Watson, RN (retired) John Sydney Plumptre Colquhoun, RN Please note that we're still working on this sectionĪnd that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.Ī/Capt.
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