The British Eastern Fleet (also known as the East Indies Fleet) was a fleet of the Royal Navy during World War II. It operated in the Indian Ocean and was based in Trincomalee in Ceylon.

List of ships

Ships attached to the Eastern Fleet include:

• HMS Hermes
• HMS Victorious
• HMS Illustrious
• HMS Indomitable
• HMS Newcastle

The USS Saratoga also served with the Eastern Fleet.

Singapore

Before the fall of Singapore, The naval base there was part of the British Far East Command.

Indian Ocean retreat

Following the Japanese Indian Ocean raid in eary 1942, the Fleet retreated to Kilindini near Mombasa in Kenya, as their more forward fleet anchorages could not be adequately protected from Japanese attack. The fleet in the Indian Ocean was then gradually reduced to little more than a convoy escort force as other commitments called for the more powerful ships. From May 1942, it was also used in the invasion of Madagascar — an operation aimed at thwarting any attempt by Japan to use bases on the Vichy French controlled territory.

Indian Ocean strike

During late 1944, as more British aircraft carriers came into the area a series of strikes were flown against oil targets in Sumatra to prepare British carriers for the upcoming operations in the Pacific. The USS Saratoga was leant for the first attack by the United States. The oil installations were heavily damaged by the attacks, aggravating the Japanese fuel shortages due to the American blockade. The final attack was flown as the carriers were heading for Sydney to become the British Pacific Fleet.

After the departure of the main battle forces the Indian Ocean was left with escort carriers and older battleships as the mainstay of its naval forces. Nevertheless, during those months important operations were launched in the recapture of Burma, including landings on Ramree and Akyab and near Rangoon.

See also

• South-East Asian Theatre of World War II#Indian Ocean