Enterprise's wartime itinerary shows the value of a fast cruiser that could be redeployed between fleets and oceans. She transferred to the Home Fleet in April 1940 and then joined Force H, bringing her close to the operation at Mers-el-Kébir. She supported Operation Hurry's aircraft delivery to Malta before moving on to Cape Town. Her next operation involved the County-class cruiser Cumberland and the Town-class cruiser Newcastle. In the Indian Ocean she joined the carrier Hermes in the hunt for Admiral Scheer. Her early war involved repeated redeployment across several theatres.
Chapter · 14:37-15:20
Enterprise's early-war deployments
From 1940, Enterprise moved from the Home Fleet to Force H, Malta aircraft-delivery duties, South African waters, and the Indian Ocean hunt for Admiral Scheer.