HMS Janus, destroyer

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August                  Contractors trials

                5th          Build completion and commenced acceptance trials in North Sea.

                                Commissioned for service in 7th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet.

                11th        Passage to Humber to take part ion exercises with Home Fleet destroyers.

                20th        On completion took passage to Portland.

                30th        Withdrawn from work-up and took passage to take up war station with

                                Flotilla in North Sea.

September

                2nd         Joined Humber Force.

                3rd          Deployed for patrol duties to intercept German warships in North Sea.

                6th          Escorted ss BATAVIA during passage in North Sea from position north of Mass LV

                with British Ambassador to Germany and staff who were returning to UK.

                Detached with HM Destroyers JACKAL and JUNO who were part of escort on arrival

                at Tongue LV.

                7th          Transferred to Plymouth for convoy defence in English Channel.

                (Note: Military convoys were in transit to French ports with BEF troops and stores.

                30th        Took passage to return to Humber Force for continuation of North Sea duties.

October                  North Sea deployment in continuation.

to                            (For details of naval activities in Home waters after outbreak of war. See ENGAGE

December              THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett and Naval Staff History. These included

                                enforcement of blockade and interception of enemy surface craft laying mines.

                                Detached for Fleet duties as required for screening major Fleet units.)

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January                  Nominated for refit in Brigham and Cowan shipyard at Hull.

                                Taken in hand for refit and repairs including fit of degaussing equipment.

February                On completion of post refit trials rejoined Humber Force.

                27th        Went to assistance of HM Destroyer JACKAL which had been damage in collision with

                                with Swedish ss STORFORS in North Sea. Rescued survivors from Swedish ship.

                28th        Escorted HMS JACKAL to Tyne for repair.

March                    North Sea deployment in continuation

                19th        Stood by HM Destroyer JERVIS after that ship had collided with Swedish ss TOR and

                and sustained serious structural damage with several casualties.

                (Note: HMS JERVIS, Leader of Flotilla was later towed to Tyne by HMS JAVELIN,)

                Ships of Flotilla may have been on passage to Rosyth for future deployment.)

April                       Deployed for Home Fleet convoy defence duties based at Rosyth.

                (Note: Other ships in Flotilla were:

                HM Destroyers JERVIS (Leader), JAVELIN, JERSEY, JUNO,

                JUPITER, JACKAL and JAGUAR)

                5th          Part of escort of Convoy ON25 during passage to Norway with HM Destroyers

                                JAVELIN, JUNO, ECLIPSE, GRENADE and HM Cruiser CALCUTTA..

                8th          Detached to join units of Home Fleet for support of allied military

                                operations in Norway after German invasion.

                10th        Deployed off Norway with Fleet units.

                16th        Sailed from Scapa Flow as escort for HM Cruiser SUFFOLK during passage in North

                                Sea with HM Destroyers JUNO, HEREWARD and KIPLING.

                17th        Deployed as screen for HMS SUFFOLK during bombardment of airfield at Stavanger,

                Norway (Operation DUCK).

                On completion under heavy and sustained air attacks during which the cruiser

                sustained very serious damage.

                18th        Escorted damaged HMS SUFFOLK.

                25th        Norwegian support in continuation.

                29th        Embarked French troops and AA guns.

                30th        Deployed at Namsos and under heavy air attacks during which HM Sloop BITTERN

                                was hit and set on fire. Rescued survivors from Sloop and sank her by torpedo.

May

                1st           Assisted in evacuation of allied troops at Namsos.

                2nd         Embarked French troops for passage to Moesjon and landed them unobserved

                7th          Detached from Norwegian operations and took passage to Rosyth.

                9th          Sailed from Rosyth with HM Destroyers HEREWARD, HYPERION and HAVOCK as

                                escort for HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM for deployment in Nore Command.

                                Diverted to carry out search for minelayers off Little Fisher Bank

                10th        Resumed passage after search called off. See Naval Staff History.

                11th        Deployed at Sheerness with HM Destroyers HYPERION, HEREWARD,

                HAVOCK, KIMBERLEY, HOSTILE, HM Cruisers GALATEA and

                ARETHUSA for interception patrols and support of military operations in

                Holland and Belgium.

                13th        Passage to Hook of Holland to assist in evacuation (Operation ORDNANCE)

                Took damaged destroyer HMS VERSATILE in tow after taking on board casualties

                due to air attack whilst at Hook of Holland. Soldiers of Irish Guards previously

                rescued by HMS VERSATILE were also embarked for passage to UK

                14th        Returned to Hook of Holland for further evacuation and embarked French and

                                Polish diplomats with other evacuees for passage to Sheerness

                15th        Transferred to 14th Destroyer Flotilla in Mediterranean Fleet and took passage

                                to Plymouth.

                16th        At Plymouth to prepare for passage to Mediterranean

                                Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to G53).

                17th        Sailed from Plymouth to join Fleet at Alexandria.

                25th        Arrived at Alexandria.

June                        Deployed at Alexandria for Fleet screening duties.

                11th        Part of destroyer screen with sister ship HMS JUNO during Mediterranean Fleet

                                sortie into eastern Mediterranean in search for Italian warships.

                12th        Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.

                (Note: During June several operations were carried out including bombardments

                of Tobruk and Bardia as well as antisubmarine sweeps in response to known

                submarine movements. HM Cruiser CALYPSO was sunk off Crete on 11th.)

July

                7th          Part of screen for HM Battleships MALAYA, ROYAL SOVEREIGN and

                WARSPITE, HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM Cruisers LIVERPOOL,

                NEPTUNE, ORION and SYDNEY (RAN) as Force C to provide cover for

                passage of convoys MF1 and MS1 from Malta to Egypt (Operation MA5).

                (Note: Other destroyers in screen were HM Destroyers DEFENDER,

                DAINTY, DECOY, HYPERION, HOSTILE, HASTY, ILEX, JUNO,

                VAMPIRE (RAN) and VOYAGER (RAN).)

                9th          Present at first capital ship engagement with Italian warships off Punto Stilo.

                (Battle of Calabria – This established British ascendancy over Italian major

                ships since the enemy fleet withdrew after their Flagship and a cruiser

                were damaged by initial salvoes from HMS WARSPITE at long range.

                (For details of naval activities in Mediterranean between 1940 and 1943 see

                THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre, ENGAGE

                THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett and THE NAVAL WAR IN

                MEDITERRANEAN by J Greene and A Massignani.)

                10th        Under air attacks during return passage to Alexandria

                11th        Detached from Fleet screen and joined escort for Convoy MS1 during

                passage in Mediterranean to replace HM Destroyer VAMPIRE which had

                been damaged during air attacks.

                15th        Detached from MS1 on arrival and resumed Flotilla duties at Alexandria

                                (Note: Flotilla included HM Destroyers MOHAWK, NUBIAN, JERVIS and JUNO

August

                17th        Deployed with screen for HM Battleships MALAYA and RAMILLIES in

                                bombardment of Bardia.

                21st         Part of screen for major units covering passage of convoy from Egypt to

                                Greek port of Piraeus.

                26th        Took passage for detached service with Force “H” at Gibraltar with HM

                Destroyers HERO, MOHAWK and NUBIAN for escort of reinforcement

                ships on passage from UK to join the Fleet at Alexandria.

                (Operation HATS – See above references.)

                30th        Joined HM Battleship VALIANT, HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS,

                HM Cruisers COVENTRY and CALCUTTA as part of screen during the

                passage from Gibraltar and designated Force F.

                (Note: Other ships in screen were HM Destroyers ENCOUNTER, FAULKNOR,

                FIREDRAKE, FORESIGHT, FORESTER, FORTUNE, FURY, GALLANT,

                GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, HOTSPUR. VELOX, WISHART of Force H

                and HMS HERO and HMS MOHAWK.)

September

                1st           Remained with screen of Force F when Force H ships detached

                for return to Gibraltar.

                (Note: HM Destroyers HERO, JANUS, MOHAWK, NUBIAN, GALLANT,

                GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN and HOTSPUR escorted convoy through to Malta.

                2nd         Ships of Mediterranean Fleet joined after passage through Sicilian Channel.

                                Under air attack off Malta with HM Destroyer IMPERIAL.

                5th          Arrived at Alexandria with Force F and resumed Flotilla duties.

                17th        Carried out bombardment at Sollum. and Sidi Barrani.

                18th        Escorted HM Cruiser KENT under tow by HMS NUBIAN of Flotilla

                during return passage to Alexandria.

                (HMS KENT had been disabled after air attack.)

                22nd       Carried out shore bombardment in support of military operation.

                28th        Part of escort for HM Cruisers LIVERPOOL and GLOUCESTER

                                for passage to Malta from Alexandria with troops.

October

                8th          Deployed with HM Destroyers DAINTY, DECOY, IMPERIAL, JERVIS,

                JUNO, MOHAWK, STUART (RAN) and VAMPIRE (RAN) as

                screen for HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS EAGLE, HMS MALAY, HMS

                RAMILLIES, HMS VALIANT, HMS WARSPITE, HM Cruisers AJAX,

                GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, ORION, SYDNEY (RAN) and YORK

                to provide cover for passage of Convoy MW2 to Malta and ME2 from

                Malta (Operation MB6)

                12th        Under attacks by Italian torpedo boats which were driven off.

                                (Note: Three were sunk. See above references).

                14th        Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.

November

                6th          Deployed with HM Destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER, HASTY,

                HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HERO, HYPERION, ILEX, JERVIS, JUNO,

                MOHAWK and NUBIAN as screen for HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS MALAYA,

                HMS RAMILLIES, HMS VALIANT, HMS WARSPITE, HMS AJAX,

                HMS GLOUCESTER, HMS ORION, HMAS SYDNEY and HMS YORK to

                provide cover for passage of Convoy MW3 to Malta and ME3 from Malta

                (Operation MB8)

                11th        Part of escort for HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS during attacks on Italian

                Fleet at Taranto (Operation JUDGEMENT).

                (Note: This operation was part of Operation COAT to pass additional

                reinforcement warships to Alexandria. See references

December

                8th          Carried out shore bombardment in support of military operation.

                13th        Deployed as escort for HM Cruiser COVENTRY during passage to Alexandria after

                                being badly damaged by aircraft torpedo off the coast of North Africa.

                16th        Deployed with screen for HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS VALIANT, HMS

                WARSPITE, HMS AJAX, HMS GLOUCESTER, HMS ORION, HMAS

                SYDNEY and HMS YORK to provide Distant Cover for passage

                of Convoy MW5 to Malta (Operation MC2).

                17th        Deployed with screen during bombardment of Valona, Albania by Fleet units.

                18th        Detached with HM Destroyers JERVIS and JUNO as screen for HMS

                AJAX, HMS ORION and HMAS SYDNEY to carry out an offensive

                sweep in Gulf of Taranto for interception of Italian convoys to Albania.

                21st         Deployed with Mediterranean Fleet screen during passage to cover transit

                of HMS MALAYA with HM Destroyers HYPERION, ILEX and two supply ships

                (Force F) during passage through Sicilian Narrows en route for Gibraltar.

                22nd       Sank HMS HYPERION, mined during transit and under tow by HMS ILEX

                (Note: This was necessary because of threat of air attack after daybreak.

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January

                3rd          Carried out shore bombardment in support of military operation.

                5th          Sailed from Alexandria as screen for HM Cruisers SOUTHAMPTON and

                                GLOUCESTER with HM Destroyer ILEX during passage to Suda Bay to embark

                                troops to reinforce garrison in Malta.

                6th          Passage to Malta as screen with ILEX for same ships.

                8th          Arrived in Malta for routine docking.

                10th        Sailed from Malta to rejoin Fleet units escorting military convoy from Gibraltar

                after passage through Sicilian narrows.

                (Operation EXCESS – This convoy had been under heavy and sustained air attacks by

                Fleigerkorps X

                (Note: HMS ILLUSTRIOUS has been very badly damaged. See above references for details.)

                11th        Under further heavy air attacks during which HMS SOUTHAMPTON had

                been set on fire.

                Detached from screen with HMS JERVIS, HM Cruiser ORION and HMS

                PERTH (RAN) to assist stricken cruiser. After ship had to be abandoned she was sunk by

                HMS ORION.

                12th        Rejoined screen for EXCESS convoy on passage to Alexandria.

                15th        Arrived at Alexandria with Fleet units.

                18th        Passage to Suda Bay with HMS JUNO, HMS ILEX and HMS GREYHOUND.

                21st         Passage to Malta for escort of HMS ILLUSTRIOUS after completion of temporary

                                repair to damage..

                22nd       Arrived in Malta.

                23rd        Deployed with HM Destroyers GREYHOUND, JERVIS and JUNO for escort of

                                HMS ILLUSTRIOUS to Alexandria.

                25th        Arrived at Alexandria and resumed Flotilla duties with Fleet.

February                Deployed with Flotilla based at Suda Bay for escort of convoys in Aegean.

                (Note: Lack of an aircraft carrier prevented transit of relief convoy to Malta but

                cruisers were used to carry military personnel and some empty mercantiles

                were returned to Egypt with cover from Fleet units (Operation MC8)

March                    Fleet units were deployed to cover passage of Convoy MW6 to Malta.

                                (Operation MC9).

                27th        Joined HM Destroyers JERVIS, NUBIAN and MOHAWK to escort HM Aircraft

                Carrier FORMIDABLE and sailed from Alexandria as part of operation intended to

                intercept force of major Italian warships known to be on passage to attack convoys

                from Egypt to Piraeus.

                28th        Joined HMS WARSPITE, HMS BARHAM, HMS VALIANT at sea and took passage to

                position south of Crete patrolled by cruisers of Mediterranean Fleet deployed to give

                warning of approaching enemy force.

                Took part in Battle of Matapan with Mediterranean Fleet units.

                {Note: For details see MATAPAN by SW Pack and above references),

April                       Nominated for detached service in Malta for interception of supply convoys to North

                                African ports.

                9th          Passage to Malta with HM Destroyers JERVIS, MOHAWK and NUBIAN.

                11th        Arrived in Malta.

                14th        Deployed with same ships for convoy interception.

                16th        All destroyers engaged enemy convoy of 5 ships and escorts with main armament.

                Three of the escorts were hit and all the mercantiles were sunk.
(Note: One escort, LUCA TARIGO sank an hour after initial action and a second,

                BALERNO was set on fire and sank the next day, The third of the escorts LAMPO

                was also set on fire and beached, but later in August 1941 was refloated, repaired

                and re-commissioned in 1942

                HMS MOHAWK was hit by two torpedoes and although afloat had to be scuttled.

                The torpedoes were fired by LUCA TARIGO before that ship was disabled.

                Returned to Malta with HMS JERVIS and HMS NUBIAN after embarking survivors

                from HMS MOHAWK.

                19th        Sailed from Malta with HM Destroyers DIAMOND, JERVIS and NUBIAN as escort for

                Convoy ME7 during passage to Alexandria.

                (Note: ME7 included HMS BRECONSHIRE.)

                20th        Met Mediterranean Fleet units on passage to carry out bombardment of Tripoli and

                                transferred to main Fleet screen with HMS JERVIS.

                21st         Deployed in Force "B" with HM Destroyers HASTY, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HERO,

                HOTSPUR, JAGUAR, JERVIS and JUNO as screen for HM Battleships WARSPITE,

                BARHAM, VALIANT and HM Cruiser GLOUCESTER during bombardment of Tripoli.

                (Operation MD2 - See above references.)

                On completion detached from Force B with HM Destroyers JAGUAR, JERVIS and

                JUNO for passage to Malta to resume interception duties.

                24th        Intercepted Italian convoy during patrol off Tripoli and sank the escorting

                                naval auxiliary EGREO. Ships under escort escaped damage.

                28th        Unable to sail with HM Cruisers DIDO, ABDIEL, HM Destroyers IMPERIAL,

                JAGUAR and JUNO as escort for HMS BRECONSHIRE during passage to Egypt

                because of mechanical defect.

May                        Unable to leave Grand Harbour due to field of magnetic mines.

                9th          Sailed from Malta with HMS JACKAL, HMS KELLY and HMS KELVIN to

                join HM Cruisers AJAX, DIDO, ORION and PERTH (RAN) as escort for military

                convoy from Gibraltar carrying tanks for Eighth Army. (Operation TIGER).

                10th        Passage to Alexandria with screen for Mediterranean Fleet units providing

                Distant Cover for passage of TIGER Convoy. Under air attacks which were

                repelled.

                12th        Arrived at Alexandria.

                18th        Sailed from Alexandria with HM Destroyers NAPIER (RAN), KIMBERLEY, ISIS

                and GRIFFIN as screen for HMS WARSPITE, HMS VALIANT and HM Cruiser

                AJAX in Force A for support of defence of Crete which was under a threat of

                invasion by German force. See above references.

                20th        Transferred to Force D made up of HMS ORION, HMS DIDO, HMS AJAX

                screened by HM Destroyers ISIS, IMPERIAL and KIMBERLEY.

                (Note: HMS HASTY and HMS HEREWARD joined Force D screen later. This

                Force was deployed to intercept invasion craft on passage to land troops

                in Crete.)

                21st         Engaged a convoy of small craft escorted by Italian torpedo boat LUPO in

                position NE of Cannae, Crete. Ten invasion craft were sunk although many were

                rescued. LUPO was hit and damaged.

                (Note: Total of 2,331 German troops are recorded as having been embarked.)

                22nd       Rejoined main Fleet screen and returned to Alexandria.

                25th        Deployed as screen for HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HMS BARHAM and HMS

                FORMIDABLE with HM Destroyers NUBIAN, KANDAHAR HEREWARD, HASTY,

                VENDETTA (RAN) and VOYAGER (RAN).

                Sailed from Alexandria to carry out air attacks on airfield at Scarpanto.

                Under air attacks during which HMS FORMIDABLE and HMS NUBIAN were damaged

                26th        Under air attacks during which HMS BARHAM was damaged..

                27th        Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.

                29th        Took part in evacuation of allied troops from Crete.

                (For details of disastrous operations in defence of Crete see THE LAST

                BATTLE by C Macdonald, The Naval Staff History and above references.)

June        Deployed with Flotilla for support of military operations against Vichy

                French in Syria (Operation EXPORTER – See RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute.

                7th          Took passage from Alexandria to join ships of Force B off Syrian

                coast for gunfire support and defence against Vichy French warship.

                8th          Deployed inshore to intercept Vichy French warships attempting to interfere with shore

                operations.

                9th          With HMS JAGUAR came under fire from Vichy French destroyers

                VALMY and GUEPARD. Sustained damage in Boiler Room and on Bridge after being

                hit by three shells. 13 of ship’s company were killed and 13 other wounded. Ship was

                disabled and taken in tow by HMS KIMBERLEY. Enemy ships withdrew after arrival of

                HMS HOTSPUR, HMS ISIS and threat presented by British cruisers. See THE NAVAL

                WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN by J Gree and A Massignani.

                10th        Passage under tow by HM Destroyer KIMBERLEY to Haifa. for temporary repairs.

                15th        Passage to Suez under tow by HM Netlayer PROTECTOR after repair.

                16th        Arrived at Suez.

                Permanent repair arranged at HM Dockyard Simonstown, South Africa.

July         Passage to Simonstown with calls at Mombasa and Durban.

                21st         Taken in hand by HM Dockyard, Simonstown.

August  Under repair at Simonstown.

to

December

1 9 4 2

January  Under repair at Simonstown

to

February

March    Post refit trials and prepared for operational service..

April       Passage to Alexandria to resume Mediterranean Fleet duties.

                17th        Resumed Flotilla duties at Alexandria.

May        Deployed in eastern Mediterranean for convoy defence and support.

June

                4th          Sustained extensive damage after detonating acoustic mine and withdrawn

                from operational use.

                (Note: This prevented the ship taking part in the disastrous attempt to pass a

                relief convoy to Malta (Operation VIGOROUS).

July         Repair arranged at Suez.

                15th        Taken in hand for survey and repair.

August  Extent of damage precluded further local repair work

September             At Suez awaiting decision on completion of repair.

to

October

November

                11th        Repair arranged in UK and prepared for passage

                23rd        Took passage from Port Said to UK via Cape of Good Hope.

December              Passage in Indian Ocean

1 9 4 3

January                  Passage in Atlantic Ocean.

                Refit arranged at Tyne commercial shipyard

                30th        Arrived in Tyne for repair.

February                Taken in hand for repair and refit

March    Under refit in commercial shipyard

to

July

August  Post refit trials and prepared for service.

                Passage to Scapa Flow on completion.

September             Worked-up with Home Fleet ships at Scapa Flow.

October  On completion of work-up deployed at Scapa Flow with Home Fleet

                14th        Joined HM Destroyers HAIDA (RCN), IROQUOIS (RCN), HARDY and

                VIGILANT as screen for HM Battleship ANSON during passage to Spitzbergen

                for relief of garrison (Operation GEARBOX III).

November              Home Fleet deployment in continuation with 10th Destroyer Flotilla.

                Passage to Plymouth for replacement of gun barrels for main armament.

                18th        Replacement work by HM Dockyard Devonport commenced

                26th        Deployed at Plymouth on completion

December              Nominated for service in Mediterranean with 14th Destroyer Flotilla

                2nd         Taken in hand by HM Dockyard, Devonport for fitted of H/F Direction

                Finding Outfit for detection of source of radio signals.)

                8th          Dockyard work completed and resumed operational deployment

                11th        Sailed from Plymouth to Mediterranean to rejoin 14th Destroyer Flotilla.

                26th        Rejoined Flotilla.

                27th        Passage to Brindisi with HMS JERVIS.

1 9 4 4

January  Deployed for support of military operations in Adriatic.

                3rd          Took part in bombardment at Pesaro,

                4th          Carried out interception patrol sinking three sailing vessels

                5th          Bombarded shore positions including railway track.

                6th          Bombarded positions at Anacin and Civitanova with HMS JERVIS.

                Nominated for support of landings by 1st British Infantry Division at Nazi.

                (Operation SHINGLE).

                Passage to Naples

                18th        Carried out bombardment of Gaeta with HM Cruisers ORION, HM Destroyers

                JERVIS, FAULKNOR and LAFOREY.

                20th        Joined Northern Attack Force (Peter) comprising HM Cruisers ORION and

                SPARTAN, HM Auxiliary AA Ship ULSTER QUEEN, with HM Destroyers

                JERVIS, LAFOREY, LOYAL, INGLEFIELD, TENACIOUS, URCHIN,

                KEMPENFELT, BEAUFORT, BRECON, WILTON and TETCOTT.

                21st         Passage to Anzio with Northern Attack Force.

                22nd       Provided naval gunfire support during assault phase.

                (See Naval Staff History and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C

                Barnett.)

                23rd        Hit by torpedo during air attack off Anzio and sank with heavy loss

                of life when magazine exploded. 94 survivors were rescued by

                HMS JERVIS and HM Tug WEASEL but 158 of ship’s company lost their lives.

                (Note: HMS JERVIS was hit by a Glider Bomb during same attacks

                but was able to return to Naples.)

---

Addendum

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS JANUS

by Don Kindell

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above

(Note on Convoys)