14 June
Chief Engineer conducting boiler tests all day on No.4 boiler.
15 June
Sooty funnel repainted today. Casualty evacuation drills.
16 June
Turret drills in A turret and gunnery drills at forward starboard gun 3.7in mount. This evening a lecture was held on hygiene below decks in the starboard hangar.
[SIZE=1]A Turret during the loading and firing drills[/SIZE]
17 June
Rear Admiral Vian holds a squadron party in the newly redecorated officer’s mess. Officers from all the cruisers in the squadron attended and some brass from Rosyth. The party went well and was a success. Dinner was very good and of best quality produce from town.
18 June
Whole ship’s company assembled this afternoon for Captain’s talk and inspection. Officer’s enjoyed leftovers from yesterday’s party for dinner.
19 June
Ship put to sea for anti-aircraft exercises with HMS Leviathan and aircraft of 143 Squadron, No 18 Group, Coastal Command from RAF Leuchars. Ship attacked by a variety of torpedo-bomber profiles flown at low altitudes and with combining attacks. The ship’s tally was four Bristol Beauforts. Two torpedoes were combed. After departing exercise area ship returned to port.
20 June
04:00 orders come through to leave harbour within two hours. All crew awakened and stations manned for leaving harbour. Boilers brought on line and ship manoeuvred out of berth with tug assistance at 05:48. Left Rosyth at speed followed by HMS Leonidas and destroyers HMS Xena and HMS Yukon of 12th Destroyer Flotilla. Once in open waters preceded at high speed to point Tango Charlie Four, arrived at 08:27. Rear Admiral Vian in command of force, commenced raider searching pattern according to exercise orders. 11:08 ran into fog bank, formation loosened and eventually in clearer visibility by 11:55. Box search pattern set up and enemy cruiser ‘R’ (HMS Kingfisher) spotted off port quarter at 13:14. Acting in concert with HMS Yukon chased down ‘R’ and brought her to combat. Ten salvos fired and HMS Yurkon made a long-range torpedo attack. HMS Leonidas and HMS Xena arrived on scene at 13:48 and ‘R’ declared severely damaged and surrendered. Damage to ship limited to ten casualties and four hits along portside with port middle 3.7in mount declared knocked out. After exercise course set north to Scapa Flow.
21 June
Anchored at Scapa Flow at 01:40. Live ammunition released in magazine and gunnery evaluation group came aboard at 09:20. HMS Lancaster and HMS Leonidas weigh anchor at 10:15 at set course for firing ranges. 11:40 begin live shoot at target buoys. A and X turrets used for live firing exercises. Score of 80 determined. Second attempt at range at 13:50, scored 75. 120 live shells expended in total. Returned to anchorage overnight.
22 June
Set sail at 10:10 for anti-aircraft exercises with HMS Leonidas and destroyers HMS Xena and HMS Yukon of 12th Destroyer Flotilla. Aircraft of No 1 Carrier Aircraft Group from Ayr, 802 Squadron with Fairey Firefly fighters and 811 Squadron and 832 Squadron with Fairey Barracuda torpedo-bombers. Ship’s tally was four Barracudas. Fly-boy’s claimed two torpedo hits and one dive-bomb hit from a Firefly fighter. Exercise lasted two hours. Return to Scapa Flow, anchored 14:26.
23 June
Day of rest at anchor as planned firing shoot abandoned owing to poor visibility. Damage control drills and casualty evacuation drills conducted. Cleaning of turrets and barrels continues and several areas of the superstructure scraped and repainted. This evening officers from 16th Destroyer Flotilla came aboard for dinner.
24 June
Set sail at 09:40 for anti-aircraft exercises with HMS Leonidas and destroyers HMS Xena and HMS Yukon of 12th Destroyer Flotilla and HMS Zephyr, HMS Zoe and HMS Zorro of 16th Destroyer Flotilla. Aircraft of No 1 Carrier Aircraft Group from Ayr, 802 Squadron with Fairey Firefly fighters and 811 Squadron and 832 Squadron with Fairey Barracuda torpedo-bombers. Ship’s tally was three Barracudas and one Firefly. Pilot’s claimed two torpedo hits and one dive-bomb near-miss from a Firefly fighter. Exercise lasted two hours. Force then proceeded to practice manoeuvring at high speeds in formation for tactical exercises 14:10 to 15:30. With HMS Leonidas and destroyers HMS Xena and HMS Yukon set course for Rosyth.
25 June
Back to home berth at 04:30. Ship’s crew back to normal running routine. Rest of ammunition disembarked.
26 June
Rear Admiral Vian and his staff leave the ship for shore accommodation. Several areas of the superstructure scraped and repainted. One Fairey Seafox (K4304) taken back aboard following maintenance and air test. Used for dummy catapult training this evening. Educational films shown in starboard hangar this evening.