page_title: HMAS Nestor (G02)
section_title: Loss
hierarchical_section_title: HMAS Nestor (G02) / Loss
caption_attribution_description: AWM Caption: MEDITERRANEAN, 1942-06-16. P0RT QUARTER VIEW OF THE DESTROYER HMAS NESTOR (G02) LISTING TO PORT AND ABANDONED AFTER SUFFERING FATAL DAMAGE TO HER BOILER ROOMS IN A BOMBING ATTACK. NOTE THE HAMMOCKS DRAPED OVER THE SIDE FOR USE AS FENDERS WHEN THE DESTROYER HMS JAVELIN CAME ALONGSIDE TO TAKE OFF HER CREW. THE SHIP IS FITTED WITH TYPE 285 FIRE CONTROL RADAR ON HER HIGH ANGLE DIRECTOR TOWER.(NAVAL HISTORICAL COLLECTION)
context_page_description: HMAS Nestor (G02) was an N-class destroyer of the Royal Australian Navy. Built in Scotland, Nestor was commissioned in February 1941; although manned by Australians and commissioned as an Australian warship, she remained the property of the Royal Navy.
  Entering service in 1941, Nestor spent most of her career as a patrol and escort vessel in the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean, and the Far East. In December 1941, the destroyer located and sank the German submarine U-127. In June 1942, Nestor sailed as part of the Operation Vigorous escort force, protecting a supply convoy to Malta. On the evening of 15 June, the ship was heavily damaged by air attack. Despite attempts to tow the ship to base, Nestor was abandoned and scuttled off Crete the next morning. Nestor is the only ship of the RAN that never operated in Australian waters.
context_section_description: On 12 June 1942, Nestor sailed from Haifa as part of the large escort force for Operation Vigorous; a Malta Convoy consisting of 11 merchant ships carrying food, fuel, and supplies for the besieged island. Air harassment of the convoy began almost immediately after leaving port. During the afternoon of 15 June, the convoy received word that a second convoy (Operation Harpoon) sailing from the west had successfully arrived, and based on the quantity of air attacks and intelligence that an Italian fleet was in the area, it was decided to return the Vigorous convoy to Alexandria.
  According to one source, at around 18:00, while off Crete, an Italian bomber attacked Nestor, killing four sailors and seriously damaging the destroyer's engine rooms. Other sources assert the attack was carried out by Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers from Sturzkampfgeschwader 3. HMS Javelin began to tow Nestor, but by 05:30 on 16 June, the quantity of water taken on by the Australian ship meant that recovery was no longer practical. The ship's company transferred to Javelin, and Nestor was scuttled with depth charges. Nestor was the only major RAN ship to never visit Australia.
  Nestor's wartime service was recognised with four battle honours: "Bismarck 1941", "Atlantic 1941", "Malta Convoys 1941–42", and "Indian Ocean 1942". The ship's bell was recovered, and is on display at the museum at HMAS Cerberus.
caption: Nestor sinking after being scuttled
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