The temporal development of two-dimensional viscous incompressible flow induced by an impulsively started circular cylinder which performs time-dependent rotational oscillations about its axis and translates at right angles to this axis is investigated. The investigation is based on the solutions of the unsteady Navier–Stokes equations. A series expansion for small times is developed. The Navier–Stokes equations are also integrated by a spectral–finite difference method for moderate values of time for both moderate and high Reynolds numbers. The numerical method is checked with the results of the analytical solution. The effects of the Reynolds number and of the forcing Strouhal number S on the laminar asymmetric flow structure in the near-wake region are studied. The lift and drag coefficients are also extracted from numerical results. An interesting phenomenon has been observed both in the flow patterns and in the behaviour of drag coefficients for S = π/2 at Reynolds number R = 500 and is discussed. For comparison purposes the start-up flow is determined numerically at a low Reynolds number and is found to be in good agreement with previous experimental predictions.