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Notable events involving Airedale include:

9 Feb 1942
The AA cruiserHMS Cairo (A/Capt. C.C. Hardy, DSO, RN), with 13 Russian Trade Delegates on board, departed the Clyde for Scapa Flow on 9 February 1942.

She arrived at Scapa Flow on 10 February. After topping off with fuel she departed Scapa Flow for Northern Russia later the same day. She was escorted by the escort destroyerHMS Airedale (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN) part of the way. She parted company at 0415A/12 to return to Scapa Flow where she arrived around 1500A/13.

On 11 February 1942, the light cruiserHMS Nigeria (Capt. J.G.L. Dundas, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.M. Burrough, CB, RN) departed the Kola Inlet to provide cover forHMS Cairo.

HMS Cairo andHMS Nigeria both arrived in the Kola Inlet in the early afternoon of 13 February 1942. (1)

20 Mar 1942
HMS Dauntless (A/Capt. J.G. Hewitt, DSO, RN) andHMS Airedale (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN) departed Bathurst for Freetown. (2)

21 Mar 1942
HMS Dauntless (A/Capt. J.G. Hewitt, DSO, RN) andHMS Airedale (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN) arrived at Freetown. (2)

23 Mar 1942
HMS Dauntless (A/Capt. J.G. Hewitt, DSO, RN) andHMS Airedale (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN) departed Freetown for Porte Noire.

28 Mar 1942
HMS Dauntless (A/Capt. J.G. Hewitt, DSO, RN) andHMS Airedale (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN) arrived at Porte Noire.

29 Mar 1942
HMS Dauntless (A/Capt. J.G. Hewitt, DSO, RN) andHMS Airedale (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN) departed Porte Noire for Capetown.

3 Apr 1942
HMS Dauntless (A/Capt. J.G. Hewitt, DSO, RN) andHMS Airedale (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN) arrived at Capetown.

Both ships ran over the DG range at Capetown and then proceeded to Simonstown independently. Both arrived at Simonstown later the same day.

HMS Dauntless arrived with defects to her boilers brickwork and had to be taken in hand for repairs.

4 May 1942
HMS Otus (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Alexandria together withHMS Hurworth (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, RN) andHMS Airedale (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN). (3)

5 May 1942
HMS Otus (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Alexandria together withHMS Airedale (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN),HMS Sikh (Capt. St.J.A. Micklethwait, DSO and Bar, RN) andHMS Jackal (Cdr. C.T. Jellicoe, DSC, RN). (3)

12 May 1942
Around 1705C/12,HMS Torbay (Cdr. A.C.C. Miers, DSO and Bar, RN) departed from Alexandria bound for Gibraltar. She is to proceed to the U.K. for refitting.

She is escorted out until 2020C/12 byHMS Airedale (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN). (4)

20 May 1942
HMS Cleopatra (Capt. G. Grantham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral P.L. Vian, KBE, DSO and 2 Bars, RN),HMS Euryalus (Capt. E.W. Bush, DSO, DSC, RN),HMS Dido (Capt. H.W.U. McCall, RN),HMS Jervis (Capt. A.L. Poland, CB, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN),HMS Kelvin (Cdr. M.S. Townsend, OBE, DSC and Bar, RN),HMS Sikh (Capt. St.J.A. Micklethwait, DSO and Bar, RN),RHS Aetos,RHS Kondouriotis,HMS Airedale (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN) andHMS Aldenham (Lt. H.A. Stuart-Menteth, RN) conducted exercises off Alexandria.

Later the AA cruiserHMS Coventry (Capt. R.J.R. Dendy, RN) also went to sea. (5)

27 May 1942
HMS Otus (Lt. R.J. Clutterbuck, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Alexandria together withHMS Airedale (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN) andHMS Aldenham (Lt. H.A. Stuart-Menteth, RN).

No logs are available for HMS Otus from June 1942 to April 1943 so her exact movements (on a day to day basis) are currently unknown to us). (3)

9 Jun 1942
The transportsPrincess Marguerite (Canadian, 5875 GRT, built 1925) andBhutan (British, 6104 GRT, built 1929) departed Alexandria for Port Said where they arrived at following day.

They were escorted by the destroyersHMAS Nestor (Cdr. A.S. Rosenthal, DSO and Bar, RAN),HMAS Nizam (Lt.Cdr. M.J. Clark, DSC, RAN),HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.M. Burrell, RAN) and the escort destroyerHMS Airedale (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN). (6)

11 Jun 1942

Operation Vigorous.

Convoy MW 11 from ports in the Eastern Mediterranean to Malta.

Operation Vigorous in the Eastern Mediterranean took place at the same time of Operation Harpoon in the Western Mediterranean.

11 June 1942.

On 11 June 1942, a diversionary convoy, MW 11C, departed Port Said for Malta. It was made up of the following transports;Aagtekerk (Dutch, 6811 GRT, built 1934),Bhutan (British, 6104 GRT, built 1929),City of Calcutta (British, 8063 GRT, built 1940) andRembrandt (Dutch, 8126 GRT, built 1941).

The convoy was escorted by the AA cruiserHMS Coventry (Capt. R.J.R. Dendy, RN) and the escort destroyersHMS Airedale (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN),HMS Aldenham (Lt. H.A. Stuart-Menteth, RN),HMS Beaufort (Lt.Cdr. S.O’G Roche, RN),HMS Croome (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Egan, RN),HMS Dulverton (Lt.Cdr. W.N. Petch, OBE, RN),HMS Eridge (Lt.Cdr. W.F.N. Gregory-Smith, DSC, RN) andHMS Hurworth (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, RN).

The four transports all had an MTB in tow. These wereHMS MTB 259,HMS MTB 261,HMS MTB 262 andHMS MTB 264.

The convoy proceeded eastwards and on 12 June the convoy was joined while near Alexandria by the escort destroyerHMS Exmoor (Lt.Cdr. L.StG. Rich, RN).

12 June 1942.

On 12 June 1942, convoy MW 11A departed Haifa for Malta. It was made up of the following transports;Ajax (British, 7540 GRT, built 1931),City of Edinburgh (British, 8036 GRT, built 1938),City of Lincoln (British, 8039 GRT, built 1938),City of Pretoria (British, 8049 GRT, built 1937),Elizabeth Bakke (British, 5450 GRT, built 1937) andPrincess Marguerite (Canadian, 5875 GRT, built 1925).

On depature from Haifa this part of the convoy was escorted by the detroyersHMAS Napier (Capt. S.H.T. Arliss, DSO, RN),HMAS Nestor (Cdr. A.S. Rosenthal, DSO and Bar, RAN),HMAS Nizam (Lt.Cdr. M.J. Clark, DSC, RAN),HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.M. Burrell, RAN),HMS Inconstant (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN) andHMS Hotspur (Lt. T.D. Herrick, DSC and Bar, RN).

Also on 12 June 1942, convoy MW 11B departed Port Said to join up with convoy MW 11A. It was made up of the following merchant vessels;Bulkoil (American (tanker), 8071 GRT, built 1942) andPotaro (British, 5410, built 1940).

It was escorted by the destroyersHMS Pakenham (Capt. E.B.K. Stevens, DSO, DSC, RN),HMS Paladin (Cdr. A.D. Pugsley, RN) andHMS Fortune (Lt.Cdr. R.D.H.S. Pankhurst, RN).

13 June 1942.

Convoy MW 11C turned back eastward after dark on the 12th and joined convoys MW 11A and MW 11B near Alexandria on the 13th. The Hunt-class escort destroyers escorting convoy MW 11C were sent to Alexandria to fuel.

The transportCity of Calcutta had been damaged by a near miss at 2100C/12 while the convoy was still proceeding to the west. She had been detached and was now escorted to Tobruk byHMS Croome andHMS Exmoor. The four MTB's that were in tow of the four merchant ships of convoy MW 11C, were slipped and also sent to Tobruk due to the bad weather conditions.MTB 259 however was damaged and sunk.

The transportElizabeth Bakke was unable to keep up with the convoy and was therefore detached from convoy MW 11A to return to Alexandria. The decoy shipCenturion joined the convoy from Alexandria. This ship was disguised as a battleship.

The destroyersHMS Jervis (Capt. A.L. Poland, CB, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN),HMS Javelin (Lt.Cdr. G.E. Fardell, RN),HMS Kelvin (Cdr. M.S. Townsend, OBE, DSC and Bar, RN),HMS Sikh (Capt. St.J.A. Micklethwait, DSO and Bar, RN),HMS Zulu (Cdr. R.T. White, DSO and Bar, RN),HMS Hasty (Lt.Cdr. N.H.G. Austen, RN) andHMS Hero (Lt. W. Scott, RN) departed Alexandria in the afternoon to relieve all the fleet destroyers which were with the convoy at that time. The rescue shipsAntwerp (British, 2957 GRT, built 1920) andMalines (British, 2969 GRT, built 1921) took passage to the convoy with these destroyers. The destroyers they were to relieve were then to proceed to Alexandria to fuel. The corvettesHMS Delphinium (Cdr.(Retd.) R.L. Spalding, RN),HMS Erica (Lt.Cdr. W.C. Riley, RNR),HMS Primula (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.H. Fuller, RNR) andHMS Snapdragon (T/Lt. P.H. Potter, RNR) also joined the convoy escort from Alexandria.

At 1730C/13 the Rear Admiral Commanding, Fifteenth Cruiser Squadron, which was in overal command, sailed from Alexandria inHMS Cleopatra (Capt. G. Grantham, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral P.L. Vian, KBE, DSO and 2 Bars, RN) withHMS Dido (Capt. H.W.U. McCall, RN),HMS Hermione (Capt. G.N. Oliver, DSO, RN),HMS Euryalus (Capt. E.W. Bush, DSO, DSC, RN),HMS Newcastle (Capt. P.B.R.W. William-Powlett, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN),HMS Birmingham (Capt. H.B. Crane, RN) andHMS Arethusa (Capt. A.C. Chapman, RN). They were escorted by the destroyers:HMAS Napier,HMAS Nestor,HMAS Nizam,HMAS Norman,HMS Pakenham,HMS Paladin,HMS Inconstant,HMS Fortune,HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. A.N. Rowell, RN),HMS Hotspur and the escort destroyersHMS Dulverton,HMS Airedale,HMS Aldenham,HMS Beaufort,HMS Eridge,HMS Hurworth andHMS Tetcott (Lt. R.H. Rycroft, RN).

14 June 1942.

HMS Erica had to be detached to Mersa Matruh during night of 13th/14th due to defects.

The escort destroyersHMS Croome andHMS Exmoor rejoined the convoy at daylight coming from Tobruk.

The transportAagtekerk was unable to keep up with the convoy and was ordered to proceed to Tobruk escorted byHMS Tetcott andHMS Primula. She was later attacked by aircraft, set on fire and had to be grounded near Tobruk. She was later declared a total loss.

The minesweepersHMS Boston (Lt. D.H.G. Coughlan, RNR) andHMS Seaham (Lt.Cdr. R.E. Brett, RNR) joined the convoy coming from Tobruk.

During the afternoon and evening the convoy and escort were heavily bombed. The transportBhutan was hit and sank while the transportPotaro was damaged but she was able to remain with the convoy. The rescue ships picked up crew and passengers from theBhutan following which they parted company with the convoy and proceeded to Tobruk.

In the early evening it was reported that Italian warships had left Taranto.

15 June 1942.

Rear-Admiral Vian ordered the convoy to turn back at 0145C/15 so that an air attack could launched on the enemy fleet before contact could be made. During the night of the 14th/15th the convoy was constantly illuminated by aircraft flares and was also attacked by E-Boats and submarines.HMS Newcastle was hit forward by an E boat (S 56) torpedo around 0300C/15, her speed being reduced to 24 knots and her forward turret was put out of action.HMS Hasty was torpedoed and damaged also byan E boat (S 55) at 0525C/15 and later had to be scuttled byHMS Hotspur which also rescued her crew, only 12 of the crew ofHMS Hasty were lost.

At 0630C/15 the convoy turned west again, but had to turn back to the east at 0930C/15 when the enemy was only 100 miles to the west and air attacks had not developed. At 1115C/15 a Beaufort torpedo bomber striking force reported hits on the two Littorio battleships, and the Commander in Chief Mediterranean ordered the convoy to turn westward once again. However the enemy continued to proceed to the south-east, apparently not reduced in speed. Rear-Admiral Vian, therefore, maintained his course to the eastward.

There were heavy air attacks with mainly Ju-88's and Ju-87's throughout the day and torpedo bombers attacked at dusk. BothCenturion andHMS Birmingham were damaged, but were able to continue.HMS Airedale was hit and she was later scuttled byHMS Aldenham andHMS Hurworth, casualties were fortunately once again slight.HMAS Nestor was also hit and immobilized but she did not sink and taken in tow byHMS Javelin withHMS Beaufort andHMS Eridge escorting the tow.

By 1630C/15 it had been reported that the enemy fleet had turned northward and the Commander in Chief Mediterranean again ordered the convoy to turn to the westward if in any way possible. Shortage of fuel and ammunition, however, did not permit this, and Rear-Admiral Vian was instructed to return to Alexandria with his whole force.

Submarines then intercepted the enemy fleet, but a simultaneous air attack caused the enemy to alter course and unfortunately the attacks could not be pressed home. The heavy cruiserTrento was damaged by the air attack and later sunk byHMS P 35 (Lt. S.L.C. Maydon, RN) while making her way back to Italy.HMS P 35 also reported one torpedo hit on a Littorio-class battleship but this was not the cast, she had missed theVittorio Veneto.

16 June 1942.

At 0126C/16HMS Hermione was torpedoed by the German submarineU-205 and sank shortly afterwards taking 88 of her crew with her.HMS Aldenham,HMS Beaufort andHMS Exmoorrescued 498 of her crew.

The efforts to tow the damagedHMAS Nestor had to be abandoned at 0530C/16 and she was scuttled byHMS Javelin who then proceeded to rejoin the 15th Cruiser Squadron and its escort.

During the day several attacks on A/S contacts were carried out by the convoy escort, but there was no evidence of damage or a submarine sunk.

In the early evening ships started to arrive back at Alexandria and all the remaining ships arrived there during the evening except the merchant vesselsBulkoil andAjax which went on to Port Said escorted byHMS Pakenham,HMS Inconstant,HMS Griffin andHMS Fortune. (7)