Operation Provident

Operation Provident was carried out during World War II by the Home Fleet of the Royal Navy in the period 22–29 November 1944. The purpose of the operation was to carry out attacks on enemy shipping on the coast of Norway between latitudes 64° 30′ and 69° North. The operation took place under the personal command of the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet, Admiral Sir Henry Ruthven Moore, flying his flag in the aircraft carrier HMS Implacable. It is remembered for the destruction of MS Rigel in Norway's worst disaster at sea.

The force consisted of two groups, designated Force 7 and Force 8.^[1] Force 7 comprised the flagship Implacable, HMS Dido, and six destroyers: HMS Myngs (Captain (D) 23rd Destroyer Flotilla), HMS Scorpion, HMS Scourge, HMCS Sioux, HMS Zephyr and HMCS Algonquin. Embarked on Implacable were Naval Air Squadrons 801, 880 and 1771 of the Fleet Air Arm, equipped with Supermarine Seafire and Fairey Firefly aircraft.

Force 8 comprised the cruiser HMS Devonshire under the command of Captain D.K Bain RN, two escort carriers HMS Premier and HMS Pursuer, and five destroyers: HMS Saumarez (Captain (D) 26th Destroyer Flotilla), HMS Volage, HMS Zealous, HMS Venus and HMS Vigilant.