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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2003

HMS MONTROSE  (D 01) - Scott-class Flotilla Leader
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Montrose (NavyPhotos/Mark Teadham, click to enlarge)

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Emergency War Programme Admiralty design SCOTT-Class Flotilla Leader ordered from Hawthorn Leslie at Newcastle in April 1917 under the 1916-17 Programme as a repeat of: the 1916 Cammell Laird order. The ship was laid down on 4th October, 1918 and launched on 10th June 1917 as the first RN ship to carry this name. She was completed at 14th December 1918. In 1921 she was Leader of the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet and later transferred with the Flotilla to the Mediterranean Fleet; After the Flotilla was relieved in 1931 the ship was placed in Reserve. (See General Information). There is no record of an adoption by a civil community in UK following a WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign during 1941-42.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

ATLANTIC 1939-40 - DUNKIRK 1940 - ARCTIC 1942-43 - NORTH SEA 1942-44 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1943-44 - NORMANDY 1944

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field White, a rose Red seeded Gold

 

M o t t o

Mare dira rosa Decorat: 'The sea enriches, the rose decorates'

 

 

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e

 

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search)

 

 

1 9 3 9

 

August                  Commissioned with Reservists for attendance at Royal Review of Reserve Fleet

                                in Weymouth Bay.

 

September             Remained in commission for war service when Fleet mobilised. and took up war station

                                with 19th Destroyer Flotilla at Plymouth

                3rd          Deployed with Flotilla for convoy escort and patrol in SW Approaches and Channel.

 

October                  Flotilla duties in Western Approaches Command in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Transferred to 16th Destroyer Flotilla at Harwich for convoy defence in North Sea.

 

February                North Sea convoy defence with Flotilla in continuation

to                            Transferred to Western Approaches Command for Atlantic convoy defence.

March

 

April                       Deployed in SW Approaches

                3rd          Joined outward Convoy OG24 with HM Destroyers VELOX, VERDUN, WAKEFUL, HM

                                Trawlers LEEDS UNITED and two French destroyers as escort during passage to Gibraltar

                                on formation.

                                (Note: HMS VELOX remained with OG24 until arrival at Gibraltar and returned with inward

                                Convoy HG26F and it is assumed this ship detached fromOGV24 during Atlantic passage.

                                This ship may have been detached from Harwich duties to replace another Western

                                Approaches ship and was required to return to North Sea duty.).

 

May                        Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to I01.

                26th        Detached for duty at Dover in support of evacuation of allied troops from Dunkirk

                                (Operation DYNAMO –For details see Naval Staff History, and NINE DAYS AT DUNKIRK

                                by S D Divine)

                28th        Embarked 925 troops and took passage to Dover to disembark.

 

June                        Resumed Flotilla duties at Harwich for North Sea convoy defence.

 

July

                27th        Deployed off Aldeburgh to provide cover for minesweeping operation.

                                Under air attack and sustained serious damage which disabled ship.

                                (Note: Bow structure blown off and major damage in remaining hull.

                                HM Destroyer WREN was sunk in these attacks.)

                                Taken to Harwich under tow

 

August                  Under repair

to

December

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  On completion of repair carried out post repair trials.

                                Rejoined Flotilla at Harwich and resumed North Sea convoy defence and patrol duties.

 

February                Flotilla deployment in North Sea in continuation.

to December

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  North Sea duties with Flotilla in continuation.

to                            Nominated for detached service with Home Fleet.

July

 

August                  Passage to Scapa Flow.

 

September             Passage with HM Destroyer WALPOLE to join escort for Russian convoy.

                6th          Joined escort for Russian Convoy PQ18 during passage from Loch Ewe to meet other

                                mercantiles off Iceland for onward passage to Kola Inlet.

                                (Note: Escort comprised HM Destroyers CAMPBELL, ESKDALE, FARNDALE and

                                MALCOLM.)

                7th          Detached from PQ14 and joined HM Destroyers KEPPEL, MACKAY and BRAMHAM

                                as escort for HM Battleships ANSON, DUKE OF YORK and HM Cruiser JAMAICA to

                                provide Distant Cover for transit of PQ18 to Kola Inlet and passage from Kola Inlet of return

                                Convoy QP14

                25th        Return passage to Scapa Flow with Home Fleet units

                                (Note ; For details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg,

                                ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield and

                                CONVOY ! by P Kemp

 

October                  On release from Home Fleet service took passage to Harwich to resume Flotilla duties.

to

November              Nominated for further detached service with Home Fleet,.

 

December              Passage to Scapa Flow for Russian Convoy defence.

 

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

                5th          Deployed with HM Destroyers MUSKETEER, QUEENBOROUGH, RAIDER. WORCESTER,

                                and Polish ORP PIORUN as screen for HM Battleships KING GEORGE V, HOWE and HM

                                Cruiser JAMAICA to provide Distant Cover for passage of return Convoy RA51 from Kola

                                Inlet to Loch Ewe.

                                (Note: RA 51 had an unscathed passage as enemy attention had been diverted to inward Convoy

                                PQ51B

                23rd        Deployed with HM Destroyers ECHO, ECLIPSE, FAULKNOR, INGLEFIELD, RAIDER

                                QUEENBOROUGH and ORP PIORUN as screen for same Home Fleet major units providing

                                cover for passage of inward Convoy JW52 to Kola Inlet.

                26th        Took return passage with Home Fleet units to Scapa Flow.

 

February                On release from Home Fleet duties took passage to Harwich to resume North Sea duties.

                                Resumed Flotilla deployment at Harwich. for convoy defence and patrol.

                18th        In action against E-Boats carrying out minelaying operations SE of Lowestoft.

 

March                    Flotilla duties at Harwich in continuation.

to December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  North Sea deployment based at Harwich in continuation.

to April

 

May                        Nominated for support of planned allied landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE)

                                Joined HM Destroyer WHITSHED, HM Corvettes BORAGE, LOOSESTRIFE and

                                HM Motor Launch 119 to form Escort Group 104 of Force L:.

                                (Note: Exercises were carried out in Home waters in preparation for NEPTUNE including

                                assembly of mercantiles and defence of convoys.)

 

June

                5th          Passage to Harwich to join Convoy L4

                                (Note: Convoy comprised 12 Landing Ships (Tank), 27 Landing Craft (Tank) carrying

                                military units to Western Task Force landing beaches.)

                                Operation delayed 24 hors.

                6th          Sailed from Harwich with Group as escort for re-designated Convoy ETL1.

                                Took return passage to Harwich on arrival off beach head.

                                For details of activities prior to and during execution of NEPTUNE see OPERATION

                                NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO).

                7th          Deployed with Group in accordance with planned movements. for escort of Build-up convoys

                                Sustained serious structural damage in collision with US mercantile.

 

July                         Awaiting survey prior to arrangements for repair

to                            (Note: Repair priorities were given to modern ships.)

December              Survey carried out.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Ship declared Constructive Total Loss

 

February                Placed on Disposal List

 

March                    Laid-up and awaiting Sale.

to August

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS MONTROSE was sold to BISCO on 27th January for demolition by Hughes Bolcow and  taken in tow to Blyth where she arrived at the breaker’s yard later that year.

 

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of  HMS MONTROSE

by Don Kindell

 

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

18/09/39

18/09/39

BC 003/1

20/09/39

20/09/39

20/09/39

20/09/39

BC 002/2

22/09/39

22/09/39

20/09/39

20/09/39

BC 002R

22/09/39

22/09/39

28/09/39

28/09/39

BC 006F

29/09/39

29/09/39

03/10/39

03/10/39

OA 014

04/10/39

06/10/39

09/10/39

09/10/39

BC 010/1

11/10/39

11/10/39

17/10/39

17/10/39

BC 010R

19/10/39

19/10/39

10/11/39

10/11/39

OB 033

13/11/39

15/11/39

17/11/39

17/11/39

OG 007

20/11/39

24/11/39

16/11/39

17/11/39

OB 036

20/11/39

17/11/39

23/11/39

23/11/39

BC 016/1

24/11/39

24/11/39

25/11/39

25/11/39

OB 041

27/11/39

27/11/39

01/12/39

01/12/39

BC 017/1

03/12/39

03/12/39

09/12/39

09/12/39

BC 018/1

11/12/39

11/12/39

02/01/40

02/01/40

BC 021/1

04/01/40

04/01/40

18/01/40

18/01/40

BC 023/1

20/01/40

20/01/40

21/01/40

21/01/40

BC 022R

unknown

unknown

26/01/40

26/01/40

BC 024/1

unknown

unknown

30/01/40

30/01/40

BC 023R

31/01/40

31/01/40

06/02/40

06/02/40

BC 025/1

unknown

unknown

10/02/40

10/02/40

BC 024R

11/02/40

11/02/40

12/02/40

12/02/40

BC 026/1

14/02/40

14/02/40

21/02/40

21/02/40

BC 027/1

23/02/40

23/02/40

23/02/40

23/02/40

BC 026R

24/02/40

24/02/40

24/03/40

25/03/40

OA 116

26/03/40

28/03/40

31/03/40

02/04/40

OB 120

03/04/40

03/04/40

03/04/40

03/04/40

OG 024

14/04/40

08/04/40

07/04/40

07/04/40

BC 033/1

09/04/40

09/04/40

09/04/40

09/04/40

BC 032R

11/04/40

11/04/40

15/04/40

15/04/40

BC 034/1

17/04/40

17/04/40

17/04/40

17/04/40

BC 033R

18/04/40

18/04/40

23/04/40

23/04/40

BC 035/1

24/04/40

24/04/40

25/04/40

25/04/40

BC 034R

26/04/40

26/04/40

01/05/40

01/05/40

BC 036/1

03/05/40

03/05/40

03/05/40

03/05/40

BC 035R

04/05/40

05/05/40

16/05/40

16/05/40

BC 038/1

18/05/40

18/05/40

18/05/40

18/05/40

BC 037R

19/05/40

19/05/40

02/09/42

09/09/42

PQ 018

09/09/42

21/09/42

13/09/42

unknown

QP 014

unknown

26/09/42

30/12/42

06/01/43

RA 051

10/01/43

11/01/43

17/01/43

23/01/43

JW 052

24/01/43

27/01/43

14/05/43

14/05/43

CW 178

15/05/43

15/05/43

15/05/43

15/05/43

CE 176

16/05/43

16/05/43

30/05/43

30/05/43

CW 182

31/05/43

31/05/43

31/05/43

31/05/43

CE 180

01/06/43

01/06/43

10/08/43

10/08/43

CW 200

11/08/43

11/08/43

06/01/44

06/01/44

CW 237

07/01/44

07/01/44

07/01/44

07/01/44

CE 235

08/01/44

08/01/44

02/03/44

02/03/44

CW 251

03/03/44

03/03/44

03/03/44

03/03/44

CE 249

04/03/44

04/03/44

27/04/44

27/04/44

CW 265

28/04/44

28/04/44

28/04/44

28/04/44

CE 263

29/04/44

29/04/44

12/06/44

12/06/44

ETM 007

13/06/44

13/06/44

13/06/44

13/06/44

FTM 006

14/06/44

14/06/44

16/06/44

16/06/44

ETM 011

17/06/44

17/06/44

18/06/44

18/06/44

FTM 011

19/06/44

19/06/44

24/06/44

24/06/44

ETM 016

25/06/44

25/06/44

29/06/44

29/06/44

ETM 021

30/06/44

30/06/44

01/07/44

01/07/44

FTM 024

02/07/44

02/07/44

04/07/44

04/07/44

ETM 026

05/07/44

05/07/44

06/07/44

06/07/44

FTM 029

07/07/44

07/07/44

12/07/44

12/07/44

ETC 035

13/07/44

13/07/44

14/07/44

14/07/44

FTC 036

15/07/44

15/07/44

17/07/44

17/07/44

ETM 039

18/07/44

18/07/44

19/07/44

19/07/44

FTM 042

20/07/44

20/07/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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