The British Pacific and East Indies Fleets

The forgotten fleets that fought the Japanese in the Pacific and Indian Oceans


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British Pacific Fleet
Warships

Use the quick links at the top of the page to go directly to a warship type.

Blue links are completed pages, Black links are pages under construction. Green links take users to histories already covered in other areas of the Royal Navy Research Archive.

Note on Pennant numbers: Temporary numbers were issued to all vessels to bring them into line with US Naval practice however these do not appear to have been applied to the hulls of all BPF vessels. This table will show these temporary pennant numbers were they are known.

Key to symbols & abbreviations:

‡ = Joined after August 15th 1945 or no active service, + = Bar award to medal. RA = Rear Admiral, VA = Vice Admiral, C in C = Commander in Chief, RAFT= Rear Admiral Fleet Train, COMAT = Commodore Air Train. CLSG = Commander Logistic Support Group RNVR = Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve, SANF(V) – South African Naval Force (Volunteer) RAN = Royal Australian Navy, RCN = Royal Canadian Navy, RNZN = Royal New Zealand Navy, SAN = South African Navy

Battleships Fleet Carriers Light Fleet Carriers Escort Carriers Cruisers Destroyers Sloops Frigates Submarines Fleet Minesweepers Fast Minelayers Landing Ships Auxiliary A.A. Ship Attached Danlayers

 

Battleships: Flag superior B temporary pennant numbers

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes

ANSON

B1

Flag Capt. A. C. G. Madden 6 Nov 44

Flag Ship, Rear Adm. C. S. Daniel, CB, CBE, DSO
(RA Commanding 1st Battle Squadron)
DUKE OF YORK
 		 B2 Capt. A. D. Nicholl, CBE, DSO 3 Sep 44 Flag Ship, Adm. Sir Bruce A. Fraser, GCB, KBE
(C-in-C, BPF)
HOWE B3 Capt. H. W. U. McCall, DSO 2 Mar 44  
KING GEORGE V
 		 B4 Capt. B. B. Schofield, CBE
Capt.  H. St. L. Nicholson DSC - Apr 45		 Flag Ship, Vice Adm. Sir H. Bernard Rawlings, KCB, OBE (VA 2nd in C BPF )

Fleet Aircraft Carriers: Flag superior R temporary pennant numbers

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
FORMIDABLE R1 Capt. W. G. Andrewes, CBE, DSO - Jul 45 Flag Ship, Vice Adm. Sir Philip L. Vian, KCB, KBE, DSO (Flag Officer Commanding, 1st Aircraft Carrier Squadron)
ILLUSTRIOUS R2 Capt. C. E. Lambe, CB, CVO
Capt. W. D. Stephens 31 jul 45		  
IMPLACABLE R5 Capt. C. C. Hughes-Hallett, CBE 31 Oct 44  
INDEFATIGABLE R7 Capt. Q. D. Graham, CBE, DSO - Sep 43  
INDOMITABLE R8 Capt. J. A. S. Eccles, CBE 22 Feb 44  
VICTORIOUS R23 Rear Adm. M. M. Denny, CB, CBE Capt. J. C. Amesley DSC 15 Aug 45  

Light Fleet Aircraft Carriers : Flag superior R temporary pennant numbers

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
COLOSSUS ‡ R61 Capt. G. H. Stokes, CB, DSC  
GLORY ‡ R62 Capt. A. W. Buzzard, DSO, OBE  
VENERABLE ‡ R63 Capt. W. A. Dallmeyer, DSO  
VENGEANCE ‡ R64 Capt. D. M. L. Neame, DSO+  

Escort Aircraft Carriers : Flag superior R temporary pennant numbers [A number of these also operated as part of the 'Fleet Train' and received 'A' pennant numbers during this period ]

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
ARBITER

R303 / A387

 Capt. D. H. Everett, DSO, MBE  
CHASER R306 Capt. R. G. Poole  
REAPER R324 Cdr. I. T. Dark, OBE  
RULER R311 / A731 Capt. H. P. Currey, OB  
SLINGER R313 / A452 Lt. Cdr. J. G. Hopkins  
SPEAKER R314 Capt. U. H. R. James  
STRIKER R315 / A460 Capt. W. P. Came   Flag Ship, Commodore 2nd Class W. P. Came  [4 Mar 45], Officer in command 30th Aircraft Carrier Squadron
VINDEX‡

R319

Cdr. J. D. L. Williams, DSC  

Cruisers: Flag superior C temporary pennant numbers

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
ACHILLES
(NZ manned)		 C01 Capt. F. J. Butler, MBE  
ARGONAUT C161 Capt. W. P. McCarthy  
BELFAST ‡ C162 Capt. R. M. Dick, CBE, DS  
BERMUDA C163 Capt. J. S. Bethell, CBE  
BLACK PRINCE C164 Capt. G. V. Gladstone  
EURYALUS C167 Capt. R. S. Warne, CBE  
GAMBIA
(NZ manned)		 C168 Capt. R. A. B. Edwards, CBE  
NEWFOUNDLAND C172 Capt. R. W. Ravenhill, CBE, DSC  
ONTARIO
(RCN)		 C184 Capt. H. T. W. Grant, DSO, RCN  
SWIFTSURE C182 Capt. P. V. McLaughlin  
UGANDA (RCN) C175 Capt.. E. R. Mainguy OBE, RCN  

Destroyers : Flag superior D temporary pennant numbers

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
ALGONQUIN (RCN) D76 Lt. Cdr. D. W. Piers, DSC  
ARMADA D73 Lt. Cdr. R. A. Fell  
BARFLEUR D61 Cdr. M. S. Townsend, DSO, OBE, DSC+  
CAMPERDOWN D62 Lt. Cdr. J. J. S. Yorke, DSC+  
GRENVILLE D11 Capt. R. G. Onslow, DSO+++  
HOGUE D82 Cdr. A. St. Clair-Ford, DSO+  
KEMPENFELT D12 Capt. E. G. McGregor, DSO  
NAPIER
(RAN manned) 		D13 Capt. H. J. Buchanan, DSO, RAN  
NEPAL
(RAN manned) 		D14 Lt. Cdr. C. J. Stephenson, RAN  
NIZAM
(RAN manned)		 D15 Cdr. C. H. Brooks, RAN  
NORMAN
(RAN manned)		 D16 Lt. Cdr. J. Plunkett-Cole, RAN  
PENN D70    
QUADRANT D17 Lt. Cdr. P. C. Hopkins  
QUALITY D18 Cdr. Viscount Jocelyn  
QUEENBOROUGH D19 Cdr. P. L. Saumarez, DSC+  
QUIBERON (RAN) D20 Cdr. G. S. Stewart, RAN  
QUICKMATCH (RAN) D21 Lt. Cdr. 0. H. Becher, DSC+, RAN  
QUILLIAM D22 Lt. J. R. Stephens  
TEAZER D45 Lt. Cdr. T. F. Taylor, DSC  
TENACIOUS D46 Lt. Cdr. G. C. Crowley, DSC+  
TERMAGANT D47 Lt. Cdr. D. C. Beatty, DSC+  
TERPSICHORE D48 Cdr. R. T. White, DSO++  
TRAFALGAR D75 Capt. A. F. Pugsiey, CB, DSO++  
TROUBRIDGE D49 Capt. G. F. Burghard  
TUMULT D50 Lt. Cdr. A. S. Pomeroy, DSC  
TUSCAN D51 Lt. Cdr. P. B. N. Lewis, DSC  
TYRIAN D52 Cdr. R. H. Mills  
ULSTER D23 Lt. Cdr. R. J. Hanson, DSO, DSC  
ULYSSES D24 Lt. Cdr. B. G. B. Bordes, DSC  
UNDAUNTED D25 Lt. Cdr. C. E. R. Sharp  
UNDINE D26 Cdr. T. C. Robinson, DSC  
URANIA D27 Lt. Cdr. D. H. P. Gardiner, DSC  
URCHIN D28 Lt. Cdr. A. F. Harkness, OBE, DSC, RD, RNR  
URSA D29 Cdr. D. B. Wyburd, DSO, DSC  
WAGER D30 Lt. Cdr. R. C. Watkin  
WAKEFUL D31 Lt. Cdr. G. D. Pound, DSC  
WESSEX D32 Lt. Cdr. R. Homcastle  
WHELP D33 Cdr. G. A. F.Norfolk  
WHIRLWIND D34 Cdr. W. A. F. Hawkins, DSO, OBE, DSC+  
WIZARD D35 Lt. Cdr. R. H. Hodgkinson, DSC+  
WRANGLER D36 Lt. Cdr. E. G. Warren  

Sloops : Flag superior B temporary pennant numbers

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
ALACRITY B291 Lt. Cdr. J. Clutton-Baker, DSC  
AMETHYST‡ B280 Lt. Cdr. N. Scott-Elliott, DSC+  
BLACK SWAN‡ B282 Lt. Cdr. A. D. C. Inglis  
CRANE B268 Lt. Cdr. R. G. Jenkins, DSC  
CYGNET B621 Lt. Cdr. A. H. Pierce, OBE, RNR  
ENCHANTRESS B283 Lt. Cdr. A. J. Clemence, RNR Command and HQ Ship, Escorts
ERNE‡ B284 Lt. Cdr. P. S. Evans  
FLAMINGO B633 Lt. A. TraiU, RNR  
HART B285 Cdr. H. F. C. Leftwich  
HIND B288 Lt. Cdr. A. D. White, RD, RNR  
OPOSSUM B292 Lt. Cdr. W. F. Hollins  
PHEASANT B274 Cdr. J. B. Palmer  
REDPOLE B276 Lt. Cdr. E. J. Lee  
STARLING   Lt. Cdr. G. C. Julian, RNZNVR  
STORK B297 Lt. Cdr. D. E. Mansfield, DSC  
WHIMBREL B278 Lt. Cdr. N. R. Murch  
WOODCOCK B279 Lt. Cdr. S. J. Parsons, DSC  
WREN B649 Cdr. S. R. J. Woods, DSC, RD, RNR  

Frigates : Flag superior B temporary pennant numbers

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
AVON B26- Cdr. P. G. A. King, DSC, RD, RNR  
BARLE B267 Lt. Cdr. J. Duncan, DSC, RNR  
BIGBURY BAY‡ B596 Lt. Cdr. G. P. D. Hall, DSC  
DERG B269 Lt. Cdr. N. B. J. Stapleton, RD, RNR  
FINDHORN B270 Lt. Cdr. J. P. Burnett, RNVR  
HELFORD B271 Cdr. C. G. Cuthbertson, DSC, RD, RNR  
ODZANI B272 Lt. Cdr. J. N. Burgess, RANVR  
PARRET B273 Lt. Cdr. T. Hood, RNR  
PLYM B275 Lt. Cdr. A. Foxall, RNR  
USK B277 Lt. Cdr. G. B. Medlycott, RNR   
VERYAN BAY‡ B619 Lt. J. S. Brownrigg, DSC  
WHITESAND BAY‡ B622 Lt. Cdr. B. C. Longbottom  
WIDEMOUTH BAY‡ B290 Lt. Cdr. J. H. MacAlister, RNVR  

Submarines : Flag superior S temporary pennant numbers

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
SANGUINE‡ P266 Lt. P. C. S. Pritchard, RNR  
SCOTSMAN S44 Lt. A. H. B. Anderson, DSC, RNR  
SEA DEVIL‡ P244 Lt. D. W. Mills, DSC  
SEA NYMPH P223 Lt. M. 1. Usher  
SEA SCOUT S11 Lt. J. W. Kelly  
SELENE S12 Lt. Cdr. H. R. B. Newton, DSC To BPF June 2nd 1945
SIDON P259 Lt. H. C. Gowan  
SLEUTH S35 Lt. K. H. Martin  
SOLENT S36 Lt. J. D. Martin, DSC  
SPARK S22 Lt. D. G. Kent  
SPEARHEAD S42 Lt. R. E. Youngman, DSC, RNR  
STUBBORN S41 Lt. A. G. Davies  
STYGIAN S27 Lt. G. S. C. Clarabut, DSO  
SUPREME S14 Lt. T. E. Barlow  
TACITURN P334 Lt. Cdr. E. T. Stanley, DSO, DSC  
TAPIR S45 Lt. J. C. Y. Roxburgh, DSO, DSC+  
TAURUS S46 Lt. P. E. Newstead, DSC  
TERRAPIN S3 Lt. R. H. H. Brunner, DSC+  
THOROUGH S4  Lt. A. G. Chandler, DSC, RNR  
THULE P235 Lt. Cdr. A. C. G. Mars, DSO, DSC  
TIPTOE S6 Lt. R. L. Jay  
TOTEM S47 Lt. Cdr. M. B. St. John, DSC  
TRENCHANT P351 Lt. J. C. Ogle, DSC  
TRUMP S8 Lt. A. A. Catlow  
TUDOR S17 Lt. S. A. Porter, DSC  
TURPIN S38 Lt. J. S. Stevens, DSO+, DSC  
VIRTUE S18 Lt. I. G. Raikes, DSC  
VORACIOUS S19 Lt. D. R. Wilson, DSC, RANVR  
VOX S20 Lt. W. E. I. Littlejohn, DSC, RANVR  
XE-1   Lt. J. Smart, RNVR.  
XE-2      
XE-3   Lt. I. E. Fraser, RNR  
XE-4   Lt. M. Shean, RANVR  
XE-5   Lt. H. P. Westmacott  
XE-6      

Fleet Minesweepers : Flag superior B temporary pennant numbers

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
BALLARAT (RAN) B236 Cdr. N. R. Read, RAN  
BENDIGO (RAN) B237 Lt. W. Jackson, RANVR  
BURNIE (RAN) B238 Lt. Cdr. E. M. Andrewartha, RANR  
CAIRNS (RAN) B239 Lt. C. M. Callow, RANVR  
CESSNOCK (RAN) B340 Lt. A. G. Chapman, RANR  
COQUETTE B262 Cdr. R. W. D. Thomson, DSC  
COURIER (RCN manned) B254 Cdr. E. S. Jerome, DSO  
FELICITY (RCN manned) B255 Lt. Cdr. H. R. Richards  
GAWLER (RAN) B241 Lt. Cdr. J. H. P. Dixon, RANR  
GERALDTON (RAN) B242 Cdr. A. J. Travis, RAN  
GOULBURN (RAN) B243 Lt. E. K. Connor, RANR  
HARE B256 Lt. Cdr. J. K. M. Warde, RNVR  
IPSWICH (RAN) B244 Lt. R. H. Creasy, DSC, RANR  
KALGOORLIE (RAN) B245 Lt. Cdr. J. S.McBryde, RANR  
LAUNCESTON (RAN) B236 Lt. Cdr. E. J. Barren, RANR  
LIBERTY B257 Cdr. J. S. Roe, DSC, RNR  
LISMORE (RAN) B247 Lt. K. S. Sutherland, RANVR  
MARYBOROUGH (RAN) B248 Lt. Cdr. M. W. Lancaster, RAN  
MARY ROSE B263 Lt. D. H. Edieston  
MICHAEL B258 Lt. Cdr. J. D. Jones  
MINSTREL B259 Lt. Cdr. E. B. Cutlack, RNR  
MOON B264 Lt. J. B. Lamb, DSC  
PIRIE (RAN) B249 Lt. C. K. Mackenzie, RANVR  
PROVIDENCE B265 Lt. E. G. Mason  
ROWENA B801 Lt. Cdr. G. C. Hocart, DSC, RNR  
SEABEAR B802 Lt. Cdr. W. A. C. Harvey, RNR  
TAMWORTH (RAN) B251 Lt. M. B. Gale, RANR  
THISBE B803 Cdr. F. A. P. Kirkpatrick  
TOOWOOMBA (RAN)   Lt. H. F. Goodwin, RANR  
WAVE B260 Lt. Cdr. D. C. Salter  
WELCOME B261 V  
WHYALLA (RAN) B252 Lt. G. L. B. Parry, RANVR  
WOLLONGONG (RAN) B253 Lt. J. Hare, RANR  

Fast Minelayers : Flag superior B temporary pennant numbers

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
APOLLO   Capt. L. N. Brownfield  
ARIADNE   Capt. F. B. Lloyd, OBE  
MANXMAN   Capt. G. Thistleton-Smith, GM  

Landing Ships : Flag superior B temporary pennant numbers

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
LOTHIAN B201 Capt. G. C. F. Branson, RAN (RAFT) Fleet Train HQ ship until May 1945
EMPIRE SPEARHEAD   Lt. A. F. Benton, RNR  
GLENEARN B210 Capt. C. A. G. Hutchison, DSO+  

Auxiliary A.A. Ships : Flag superior B temporary pennant numbers

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
PRINCE ROBERT (RCN) B611 Capt. W. B. Creery, RCN  

Attached Danlayers {Trawlers)

Name Pennant Commanding Officer Notes
SHILLAY B731 Lt. R. P. Rodriguez, RANVR  
TRODDAY B732 Lt. H. S. Chisholm, RNVR  
       


 

 

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HM Ships COLOSSUS, GLORY, VENERABLE and VENGEANCE. GLORY did not arrive in Sydney until August 16th.

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At the end of June 1945, the Admiralty implemented a new system of classification for carrier air wings, adopting the American practice one carrier would embark a single Carrier Air Group (CAG) which would encompass all the ships squadrons.

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Sturtivant, R & Balance, T. (1994) 'Squadrons of the Fleet Air Arm’ list 899 squadron as conducting DLT on the Escort Carrier ARBITER on August 15th. It is possible that the usual three-day evolution was cancelled due to the announcement of the Japanese surrender on this date and was postponed for a month.

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The reminiscences of

Gordon served with the radio section of Mobile Repair UNit No.1 (MR 1) at Nowra, he was a member of the local RN dance band, and possibly the last member of MONAB I to leave Nowra after it paid off. .

Drafted to

Coming home

In March 1946 I joined 812 squadron, aboard HMS Vengeance, spending some time ditching American aircraft north of Australia. Eventually we sailed for Ceylon ( Sri Lanka ) landing at Trincomalee and setting up a radio section at Katakarunda. In the belief that we were exhausted we were sent to a rest camp at Kandy for a few weeks. We moved down to Colombo to pick up Vengeance and returned to Portsmouth via the Suez Canal . I was discharged in November 1946.

Gordon Theaker