HMS Kenya Joined the Home fleet and served in convoy protection in the Atlantic. In May 1941 while serving with the 2nsd Cruiser squadron. HMS Kenya was involved in the Hunt for the German battleship Bismarck. and In June 1941 with HMS Aurora, HMS Kenya intercepted the German supply ship Belchen. in the Davies Strait. She went to the Mediterranean in September 1941. to take part in Operation halberd. after which she returned once again to serve with the Home Fleet serving in the arctic. and during this time took part in bombarding of German coastal position in Norway. In December 1941 HMS Kenya covered the Vaagso Raid.. Then returning to the Mediterranean in June 1942. while serving in the Mediterranean she took part in Operation harpoon./ and in August 1942 she participated in the famous pedestal Convoys to re supply Malta and on the 12th August she was torpedoed and damaged buy the Italian Submarine Alagi. Putting in for repairs which took until December 1942. HMS Kenya served with the Home Fleet during 1943. transferring to the 4th Cruiser squadron in the Eastern Fleet in January 1944.. During that year she covered the Carrier raids on the Japanese controlled islands in the Indian Ocean. and Covered the Arakan landings in 1945 and also bombarding Japanese Coastal defenses in Malaysia. As the war ended HMS Kenya was in refit. Serving in the 8th cruiser squadron in the west Indies station From October 1946. until December `1947 when she went into reserve. re commissioned into the 5th cruiser squadron to serve during the Korean war. during 11951 and 152. moving to the Mediterranean the following year.. finally coming back to the UK on the 24th February 1953 went into reserve once again. After a refit in 1955 she served again in the West Indies Station with he 8th cruiser squadron. returning to the Home fleet in November 1956 until 1957. when she went to the Mediterranean for the last time to become the flagship of the 1st cruiser squadron. Finally paid of in September 1958. remained in reserve at Portsmouth until being scrapped In Scotland at Faslane in October 1962.
HMS Illustrious and HMS Kenya at Devonport by Ivan Berryman HMS Illustrious slips quietly away from the docks at Devonport, Plymouth with the Fiji class cruiser in the middle distance, 1941.