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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 SALADIN (H 54)  - Old S-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movement

HMS Saladin (Navy Photos/Mark Teadham, click to enlarge)

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S-class Destroyer ordered from Alex. Stephen at Govan on 9th April 1917 with the Emergency 1917-18  Programme (12th Order), The ship was laid down on 10th September 1917 and launched on 17th February as the first RN ship to carry this name.  Build was completed on11th April 1918 and the ship joined the Grand Fleet for service before the end of hostilities. After the end of WW1 she was laid-up in Reserve and did not re-commission for Fleet duties. In 1939 she was brought forward and manned by Fleet Reserve personnel to attend the Review of the Reserve Fleet by HM King George V during August 1939. After a successful National Savings campaign during a WARSHIP WEEK in March 1942 this destroyer was adopted by the civil community of Pudsey in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

DUNKIRK 1940 - ATLANTIC 1940-44 - ARCTIC 1942-43 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1944

 

H e r a l d i c    D a t a

Badge: On a Field Blue an eagle wings elevated grasping with

the dextter claw a scimitar also Gold.

 

 

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                  Brought forward from Reserve for Royal Review in Weymouth Bay.

                                Remained in commission when Fleet mobilised for war and stored for operational service

 

September             Nominated for convoy defence and took up War Station in English Channel.

                                Deployed for defence of convoys in Channel and SW Approaches.

 

October                  Deployed in Channel and western approaches in continuation

to

December

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Western Approaches Command service in continuation

to                            (Note: CinC Western Approaches was based at Plymouth until moved to Liverpool

April                       at the end of this period. See Naval Staff History and ENGAGE THE ENEMY

                                MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett.)

 

May                        Transferred to Dover Command for duty in support of evacuation of allied personnel from

                                (Operation DYNAMO.)

                                Passage to Dover.

                26th        Deployed at Dover for evacuation of troops from Dunkirk and under heavy and sustained

                                air attacks on passage to and from area as well as whilst embarking passengers to ports

                                in Kent.

                                (For details see Naval Staff History, EVACUATION OPERATIONS by J de Winser and

                                NINE DAYS OF DUNKIRK by AD Divine.)

                30th        Sustained damage during air attacks.

 

 

June                        Under repair.

                10th        On completion of repair took part in evacuation of allied personnel including civilians from

                                Le Havre and St Valerie (Operation CYCLE - see above references).

                13th        On release from, CYCLE resumed convoy defence in Western Approaches Command.

 

July                         Deployed for convoy defence.

                                Nominated for support of planned landings by Commando unit on Guernsey.

                12th        Joined HM Destroyer SCIMITAR and embarked troops on No 3 Commando at Dartmouth.

                                Passage to Guernsey.

                                Operation failed and returned to Dartmouth to disembark troops.

                15th        Resumed convoy defence duties.

 

August                  Transferred to Clyde

                                Nominated for escort of military convoy from Scapa Flow to Clyde.

                                Passage to Scapa Flow.

                15th        Escorted Convoy WS8C from Scapa Flow with HM Destroyers ANTELOPE,

                                CASTLETON, CHARLESTOWN, DOUGLAS, GEORGETOWN, INTREPID

                                and LEAMINGTON.

                                (Note: This convoy had been assembled at Scapa Flow as part of a planned operation to

                                occupy the Azores, but had been cancelled.)

                17th        Detached from WS8C escort on arrival in Clyde and resumed Atlantic convoy defence.

 

September             Nominated for refit.

 

October                  Under refit during which Sonar equipment was modified to improve performance.

to

December

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Under refit

 

February                On completion of post refit trials rejoined Western Approaches Command.

 

March                    Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence in NW Approaches.

to

August

 

September             Transferred to Iceland for service with 2nd Escort Group and deployed for convoy

                                defence in mid-Atlantic.

                                Joined escort for Convoy SC42 with HM Destroyers DOUGLAS, VETERAN, SKATE

                                and LEAMINGTON to reinforce defence.

                                See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO)

                                for details.

 

October                  NW Approaches convoy defence in continuation.

to                            For details of Atlantic convoys in this period see ALLIED CONVOYS IN WW2 by A Hague.

December

 

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to

February

 

March                    Nominated for escort of Russian convoys during passage in NW Approaches.

                11th        Deployed with HM Destroyers SABRE, LAMERTON and Polish ORP BLYSKAWICA for escort

                                of Russian Convoy PQ13 during passage to Iceland.

                17th        Detached from PQ13 on arrival in Iceland and resumed Atlantic convoy defence.

                                (Note: For details of all Russian Convoy operations including mercantiles and warships see

                                CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield

                                and ARCTIC CONVOYS by P Kemp.)

 

April                       Nominated for escort of minelayers during planned operations.

                18th        Joined escort of ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron for planned minelay in Northern Barrage.

                                (Operation SN88 -See Naval Staff History (Mining)

 

May                        Deployed for convoy defence in NW Approaches.

 

June

                1st           Part of escort for 1st Minelaying Squadron during further Northern Barrage minelay.

                                (Operation SN72 - See above reference.)

 

July

                11th        Part of escort for ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron during further Northern Barrage minelay,

                                (Operation SN30 - See above reference.)

 

August                  Atlantic convoy defence in NW Approaches.

to

December

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Joined 21st Escort Group for escort of convoys between UK and Iceland.

 

February                Convoy defence with Group in continuation.

to

June

 

July                         Deployed in Iceland for anti-submarine operations against U-Boat Groups operating in

                                mid Atlantic. (Operation ROSEGARDEN - See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.

                                This operation included air support from RAF Coastal Command.)

                                (Note: Following extent of repair due to weather damage in this Class of destroyer

                                during Atlantic operations arrangements to be made for withdrawal from ocean

                                convoy defence.)

 

August                  Nominated for escort during Northern Barrage minelay.

                16th        Deployed with escort of ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron during Northern Barrage minelay.

                                (Operation SN74 - See above reference.)

                26th        Further deployment with 1st Minelaying Squadron escort during Northern Barrage minelay

                                (Operation SN22C - See above reference.)

                                (Note: Continued Atlantic deployment may have been necessary because of delays in

                                build completion in USA of new CAPTAIN Class Frigates.)

 

September             NW Approaches convoy defence in continuation.

to October

 

November              Nominated for Local Escort of Russian Convoys during initial stage of passage to Kola

                                Inlet from Loch Ewe.

                22nd       Joined Russian Convoy JW54 with HM Destroyers MIDDLETON and SKATE as Local

                                Escort form Loch Ewe.

                25th        Detached from JW54 after arrival of Ocean Escort.

 

December

                5th          Joined return Convoy RA54B with HM Destroyers SKATE, BRISSENDEN and MIDDLETON

                                as Local Escort into Loch Ewe

                9th          Detached from RA54B on arrival.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Withdrawn from Atlantic convoy escort and transferred for coastal convoy defence in English

to                            Channel.

April

 

May                        Nominated for escort of landing craft during exercises in preparation for planned allied landings

                                in Normandy (NEPTUNE).

                                (Note: During Exercise TIGER a convoy of Landing Ships and Landing Craft were attacked by

                                E-boats with heavy loss of life. See LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO)

 

June                        Deployed at Plymouth for coastal convoy escort.

to July                    (Note: This ship was not deployed for escort of Assault or Follow-up convoys during NEPTUNE)

 

August                  Withdrawn from operational duties and transferred to the training role.

 

September             Deployed for sea training duties.

to December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Training duties in continuation.

to May

 

June                        Paid-off and laid-up in Reserve.

to August

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS SALADIN was placed on the Disposal List after VJ and sold to BISCO on 29th June 1947 for demolition by E Rees at Llanelli, S Wales. The ship arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard on 3rd July that year.

 

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS SALADIN

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

 

 

 

 

 

21/09/39

21/09/39

MB 006/1

23/09/39

23/09/39

06/11/39

06/11/39

SA 016

07/11/39

07/11/39

12/05/40

12/05/40

OB 147

14/05/40

14/05/40

22/10/40

07/11/40

SL 052F

08/11/40

10/11/40

14/11/40

26/11/40

HX 088

29/11/40

30/11/40

08/12/40

08/12/40

OB 256

12/12/40

12/12/40

24/01/41

24/01/41

OB 278

27/01/41

27/01/41

10/01/41

30/01/41

SL 062

03/02/41

03/02/41

08/02/41

08/02/41

OB 283

12/02/41

12/02/41

30/01/41

12/02/41

HX 106

14/02/41

18/02/41

20/02/41

06/03/41

HG 054

12/03/41

12/03/41

17/03/41

18/03/41

OG 056

21/03/41

02/04/41

01/03/41

21/03/41

SL 067

26/03/41

26/03/41

23/03/41

15/04/41

SL 069

16/04/41

unknown

27/04/41

30/04/41

OB 316

04/05/41

05/05/41

19/04/41

04/05/41

SC 029

08/05/41

08/05/41

30/04/41

19/05/41

HX 124

20/05/41

20/05/41

21/05/41

21/05/41

OB 325

25/05/41

29/05/41

14/05/41

26/05/41

HG 062

02/06/41

02/06/41

10/06/41

23/06/41

HX 132

28/06/41

28/06/41

26/06/41

07/07/41

HX 135

10/07/41

12/07/41

12/07/41

23/07/41

SC 037

27/07/41

28/07/41

16/08/41

18/08/41

ON 008

21/08/41

25/08/41

10/08/41

24/08/41

SC 040

29/08/41

29/08/41

05/09/41

06/09/41

ON 013

09/09/41

11/09/41

30/08/41

11/09/41

SC 042

17/09/41

20/09/41

19/09/41

21/09/41

ON 018

24/09/41

02/10/41

10/10/41

11/10/41

ON 025

16/10/41

24/10/41

10/10/41

19/10/41

HX 154

23/10/41

23/10/41

10/02/42

22/02/42

SC 069

27/02/42

27/02/42

10/03/42

11/03/42

PQ 013

17/03/42

31/03/42

14/03/42

29/03/42

SL 103

31/03/42

02/04/42

03/04/42

03/04/42

UR 018

07/04/42

07/04/42

10/04/42

10/04/42

RU 018

14/04/42

14/04/42

24/04/42

24/04/42

UR 021

28/04/42

28/04/42

30/04/42

30/04/42

RU 021

03/05/42

03/05/42

02/05/42

unknown

AT 015

15/05/42

15/05/42

11/06/42

11/06/42

UR 028

15/06/42

15/06/42

18/06/42

18/06/42

RU 028

22/06/42

22/06/42

02/07/42

02/07/42

UR 031

07/07/42

07/07/42

09/07/42

09/07/42

RU 031

13/07/42

13/07/42

12/07/42

20/07/42

HX 198

21/07/42

23/07/42

10/08/42

10/08/42

TA 019

11/08/42

16/08/42

16/08/42

16/08/42

DS 031

18/08/42

18/08/42

22/08/42

22/08/42

SD 031

24/08/42

24/08/42

08/09/42

08/09/42

TA 021

09/09/42

14/09/42

05/09/42

10/09/42

AT 022

11/09/42

11/09/42

14/09/42

14/09/42

TA 022

15/09/42

19/09/42

06/09/42

14/09/42

HX 206

16/09/42

18/09/42

27/09/42

01/10/42

AT 024

02/10/42

02/10/42

17/10/42

17/10/42

UR 046

21/10/42

21/10/42

26/10/42

26/10/42

RU 046

31/10/42

31/10/42

16/10/42

05/11/42

SL 125

08/11/42

09/11/42

26/11/42

26/11/42

RU 050

01/12/42

01/12/42

14/04/43

14/04/43

DS 039

16/04/43

16/04/43

19/04/43

19/04/43

SD 039

21/04/43

21/04/43

01/06/43

01/06/43

RU 076

05/06/43

05/06/43

07/07/43

07/07/43

DS 042

09/07/43

09/07/43

10/07/43

10/07/43

SD 042

13/07/43

13/07/43

28/10/43

28/10/43

DS 046

30/10/43

30/10/43

02/11/43

02/11/43

SD 046

04/11/43

04/11/43

22/11/43

22/11/43

JW 054B

25/11/43

03/12/43

26/11/43

05/12/43

RA 054B

09/12/43

09/12/43

16/12/43

16/12/43

DS 047A

18/12/43

18/12/43

19/12/43

19/12/43

SD 047A

21/12/43

21/12/43

31/12/43

31/12/43

DS 048

03/01/44

03/01/44

04/01/44

04/01/44

SD 048

07/01/44

07/01/44

06/01/44

18/01/44

HX 274

20/01/44

21/01/44

24/01/44

25/01/44

ON 221

25/01/44

11/02/44

24/01/44

27/01/44

OS 066KM

29/01/44

05/02/44

16/02/44

16/02/44

WP SP 20

18/02/44

18/02/44

17/03/44

17/03/44

WP 493

18/03/44

19/03/44

19/03/44

19/03/44

WP 494

20/03/44

21/03/44

04/04/44

04/04/44

WP 502

05/04/44

06/04/44

20/04/44

20/04/44

WP 510

21/04/44

22/04/44

22/04/44

22/04/44

WP 511

23/04/44

24/04/44

06/05/44

07/05/44

WP 518

08/05/44

08/05/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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