1 9 4 3
December Contractors trials
1 9 4 4
January Commissioned for service.
6th Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
On completion of trials and storing took passage to Scapa Flow.
February Worked-up for service with 10th Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet.
March On completion deployed in NW Approaches for convoy defence and interception.
29th Joined escort for Russian Convoy JW58 with HM Escort Aircraft Carriers ACTIVITY,
and TRACKER screened by HM Destroyers IMPULSIVE, INCONSTANT,
OBEDIENT, OFFA, ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW, ORIBI, ORWELL, SAUMAREZ,
SERAPIS, SCORPION VENUS and Norwegian STORD (Operation FZ).
(For details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg,
THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield, CONVOY ! by P Kemp and RUSSIAN
CONVOYS by R Woodman.).
April
6th Joined escort for returning convoy RA58 with Fleet destroyers.
13th Detached and rejoined Home Fleet.
20th Independent passage to Murmansk with HM Escort Carriers ACTIVITY and FENCER, 16
destroyers and 6th Escort Group to escort empty ships returning from Russia.
28th Escorted returning convoy RA59 with HMS FENCER and Fleet destroyers.
May
3rd Detached and rejoined Home Fleet
30th Detached for support duty during Normandy landings in Bombarding Force E.
(Operation NEPTUNE).
June
3rd Sailed from Clyde with HM Cruiser BELFAST escorted by HM Destroyers ULSTER and
URCHIN as Convoy G14.
6th Bombarded Battery at Beny sur Mer in accordance with Pre-arranged Fire Plan.
Provided naval gunfire support as required.
14th Deployed with Eastern Task Force on completion of Assault Phase.
19th Damaged in collision with RHINO Ferry off Normandy during gale.
26th Bombarded Caen area with HM Battleship RODNEY, HM Monitor ROBERTS, HM Cruisers
ARGONAUT and BELFAST to support military operations to break-out from coastal areas
and move inland.
July Transferred to Plymouth Command for interception of evacuation convoys in Bay of Biscay.
(For details o Channel operations see HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith).
August Damaged slightly by German explosive motor boat (LINSEN) attack off Normandy.
12th Deployed with HM Destroyer ONSLOW and Polish destroyer ORP PIORUN as Force 28 for
offensive sweeps in Bay of Biscay.
Sank German minesweeper (SPERBRECHER 7) near La Rochelle.
22nd Attacked targets on Ile d'Yeu with HMS ONSLOW and ORP PIORUN.
September Rejoined Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
19th Part of escort for Russian Convoy JW60 with HM Escort Carriers CAMPANIA and
STRIKER screened by Fleet destroyers
23rd Released on arrival at Kola Inlet.
28th Joined escort for returning convoy RA60 with HM Battleship RODNEY and escorting
ships as JW60.
October
3rd Rejoined Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
November Under repair at Rosyth.
20th Senior Officer of Force 3 escorting HM Escort Carriers PREMIER and PURSUER for air
minelay in Karm Sund with Fleet destroyers (Operation HANDFAST).
(For details of all minelaying operations see Naval Staff History MINING).
December
7th Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier IMPLACABLE, HM Escort Carriers TRUMPETER and
PREMIER for joint air minelay and shipping strikes in Karm Sund with eight Fleet destroyers.
(Operation URBANE)
1 9 4 5
.
January
1st Joined Russian Convoy JW63 with HM Escort Carrier VINDEX to reinforce anti-
submarine defence.
(Note: HM Destroyers , SAVAGE, SCOURGE, SERAPIS, ZAMBESI, ZEBRA,
HM Canadian Destroyers SIOUX, ALGONQUIN and the Norwegian destroyer
STORD were deployed as Fighting Destroyer Escort.
HM Destroyers KEPPEL, WALKER, WESTCOTT, HM Sloops CYGNET, LARK,
HM Corvettes ALNWICK CASTLE, BAMBOROUGH CASTLE, BLUEBELL and
RHODODENDRON formed Closer Escort.
11th Returned with Convoy RA63 which was forced to shelter in Faeroes from extreme weather.
23rd Resumed Home Fleet duties.
28th In action with HM Cruiser MAURITIUS against German destroyers of 4th Flotilla which were
attempting to enter Baltic Sea from Bergen. German Z31 was damaged and enemy ships
returned to port.
Sustained damage abaft fore funnel from 5.9in shell.
(Note: Other 2 destroyers (Z34 and Z38) made transit next day).
February Under repair for two weeks.
March Rejoined Home Fleet on completion.
12th Joined Russian Convoy JW65 with HMS CAMPANIA. HM Destroyers ONSLAUGHT,
OPPORTUNE, ORWELL, SCORPION and ZAMBESI as Ocean Escort.
(Note: Close escort included HM Destroyer MYNGS, SIOUX (RCN), Norwegian STORD,
HM Sloop LAPWING and seven corvettes from Western Approaches Command.
HM Escort Carrier TRUMPETER screened by HM Destroyers SAVAGE and SCOURGE
joined JW65 later.)
20th Under U-Boat attacks during which HMS LAPWING and a mercantile were sunk.
Detached on arrival at Kola Inlet.
23rd Sailed from Kola Inlet as part of escort for returning convoy RA65 with HMS TRUMPETER,
HMS CAMPANIA and Fleet destroyers of JW63 escort.
30th Detached from RA65 and Rejoined Home Fleet.
April Provided Distant Cover during passage of Russian Convoy JW66 and returning RA66 with
Home Fleet ships deployed for operations off Norway.
22nd Escorted HM Escort Carriers SEARCHER and QUEEN with Fleet destroyers for attacks on
shipping off coast of Norway
May
4th Escorted HMS SEARCHER, HMS QUEEN, HMS TRUMPETER with HM Cruiser
NORFOLK and Fleet destroyers during air attacks on shipping west of Narvik and on shore
targets.
German Depot Ship BLACK WATCH, U711 and a trawler were sunk.
(Operation JUDGEMENT).
5th Recalled to prepare for re-occupation operations in Low countries.
23rd At Copenhagen as Guardship.
June Attended Oslo Victory Parade with HM Cruiser BELLONA.
28th Deployed at Copenhagen as Guardship.