Cruise of the Special Service Squadron

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In 1923-24, HMS Hood and the Special Service Squadron sailed around the world on The Empire Cruise, visiting many ports of call in the countries which had fought together during the First World War.

Ships involved were:

• Battlecruisers under Vice Admiral Sir Frederick Field -
  • HMS Hood (Captain John K im Thurm)
  • HMS Repulse (Captain Henry Parker)

• Light cruisers under Rear Admiral Sir Hubert Brand
  • HMS Delhi (Captain J Pipon)
  • HMS Danae (Captain F Austin)
  • HMS Dragon (Captain B Fairbairn)
  • HMS Dauntless (Captain C Round-Turner)
  • HMAS Adelaide

Intended ports of call were:

• HMNB Devonport

Africa and the Indian Ocean

• Sierra Leone
• Cape Town
• Durban
• Zanzibar
• Mombasa
• Dar-es-Salaam (Danae)
• Trincomali

Far East

• Penang
• Port Swettenham
• Singapore

Australia and New Zealand

• Fremantle
• Albany, Western Australia
• Adelaide
• Melbourne
• Hobart
• Jervis Bay
• Sydney (Adelaide joins)
• Brisbane, Wellington
• Sydney (2)
• Lyttleton
• Campbelltown Bluff (one ship)
• Dunedin (Dunedin)
• Auckland

Pacific

• Fiji
• Honolulu

Canada and the USA

• Vancouver/Victoria
• Esquimalt
• San Francisco
• Panama
• Colón, Panama
• Jamaica
• Callao
• Halifax

South America (separate leg)

• Valparaiso (Delhi, Danae)
• Talcahuano (Dauntless, Dragon)
• Punta Arenas (if necessary)
• Falkland Islands (if weather suits)
• Bahia Blanca (Dragon)
• Buenos Aires (Delhi, Danae)
• Montevideo (Dauntless)
• Rio de Janeiro

Canada and the USA

• Newfoundland and Nova Scotia

Africa

• Cape Verde

• Home ports.

Australian Itinerary from the HMS Repulse

HMS Hood Empire Cruise

Photo album from Empire Cruise