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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  SCIMITAR (H 21) - Old S-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Scimitar (Navy Photos/Paul Simpson, click to enlarge)

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Admiralty S-Class destroyer ordered from John Brown at Clydebank in April 1917 in the 11th Order of the 1917-18 Programme. She was laid down on 30th May the same year and launched on 27th February 1918 as the first RN ship to bear this name. Build was completed on 29th April 1918 and the ship served briefly with the Grand Fleet before the armistice in November 1918. In 1938 she was deployed with the Portsmouth Local Flotilla and used for training purposes. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 she was adopted by the civil community of Pershore, men in Worcestershire.

 

           B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

DUNKIRK 1940 - ATLANTIC 1940-44 - ARCTIC 1942 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1943-44

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Azure, a saltire couped ragulee, 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

 

September             Deployed for convoy defence in Channel.

12th        Escorted military convoy DB1 from Southampton to Brest with HM Destroyer

                                VANSITTART.

 

October                  Channel convoy escort duties in continuation.

to                            Withdrawn from operational duties and modified for minesweeping duties.

December              On completion resumed convoy defence duties.

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Convoy escort deployment in continuation in Home waters.

to

April

 

May

                26th        Transferred to Dover Command to assist in evacuation of allied troops from

                                Dunkirk (For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by

                                Corelli Bamett, Naval Staff History, NINE DAYS AT DUNKIRK by AD

                                Divine, and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.)

31st                         Involved in collision with HM Destroyer ICARUS and grounded with damage

                                to propellers.

 

June                        Under repair and resumed convoy escort in Channel.

                                Sustained damage during air raid on Portland.

 

July                         Under repair and selected for service as an Anti-submarine escort.

                                On completion of modifications resumed Channel duties.

                12th        Embarked troops of No 3 Commando at Dartmouth for planned raid on Guernsey.

                                Passage with HM Destroyer SALADIN.

                14th        Returned to Dartmouth after failure of operation.

                                (For details see COMMANDO STRIKE by K Massey.)

 

August                  Transferred to Western Approaches Command for Atlantic convoy escort in

                                5th Escort Group

 

September             Part of escort for Convoy HX72 with ships of Group.

                21st         Under attack by pack of six U-boats and drove off an attack by U32.

                                (Note: This was the first attack on an Atlantic convoy by a group of six

                                submarines. For details see HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)

 

October                  Atlantic convoy escort in NW Approaches with ships of Group.

to                             For details of U-Boat deployments see above reference and U-BOAT WAR IN

December              THE ATLANTIC (HMSO)

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Atlantic convoy escort with Group in continuation

to

February

 

March                    Part of escort for Convoy HX112 with HM Destroyers WALKER, VANOC,

                                VOLUNTEER, SARDONYX and six FLOWER Class Corvettes, including

                                HMS BLUEBELL and HMS HYDRANGEA.

                7th          Sighted U100 on surface and carried out attacks

                                Took part in sinking of U100 in position 61.04N 16.30W with HMS VANOC

                                and HMS WALKER,

                                (Note: This German submarine was commanded by J Schepke who had

                                achieved distinction as a successful U-boat commander. He was not

                                one of the six survivors rescued. See U-BOATS DESTROYED by

                                P Kemp.)

 

April                       Atlantic escort with Group in continuation.

to

May

 

June                        Deployed with 8th Escort Group as part of escort for Convoy HX133 with

                                HM Destroyer MALCOLM, WATCHMAN, SARDONYX, HM Corvettes

                                ARABIS, NASTURTIUM, VIOLET and HM Minesweeper SPEEDWELL.

                29th        Took part in anti-submarine operations with Group against U651 which

                                resulted in sinking of the submarine in position 59.52N 18.36W. 44 of the

                                crew of U651 were rescued..

 

July                         Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.

 

August                  Part of escort for Convoy HX143 with HMS MALCOLM, HMS WATCHMAN

                                and six FLOWER Class corvettes of 8th Escort Group.

 

September             Atlantic convoy escort with Group in continuation.

 

October                  Deployed with Group for escort of Convoy ON30.

 

November              Deployed with Group for escort of Convoy HX160 for outward passage to

                                Mid-Ocean Meeting Point.

 

December              Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Transferred to 1st Escort Group in continuation of Atlantic escort duties.

                                Based at Londonderry with HM Destroyer SABRE and HM Corvette

                                ALISMA.

 

February                Deployment with Group in continuation

to                            During this period the Group escorted 13 convoys many of which had no

December              losses in transit. For details of tactics used in defence and those used by

                                German submarines as well as information about new weapons introduced

                                see THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre, CONVOY

                                ESCORT COMMANDER, BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS by J Terrain

                                and SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)

 

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Transferred to 21st Escort Group and joined HM Destroyers SALADIN,

                                SKATE and SABRE for escort of UK-Iceland convoys.

 

February                Convoy escort with Group between UK and Iceland in continuation.

to

June

 

July                         Deployed as Stand-By Group based in Iceland for reinforcement of escorts

                                of Atlantic convoy under attack by U-Boat Groups (Operation ROSEGARDEN)

                                Sustained damage in heavy weather conditions and withdrawn from operational

                                duty for repair. Passage to UK for repair.

 

August                  Under repair.

                                (Note: Escort Group was disbanded during this period and later reformed

                                with new CAPTAIN Class Frigates built in USA under Lend-Lease.)

 

September             On completion of repair and refit resumed operational service.

                4th          Deployed with HM Destroyers LANCASTER, SARDONYX and METEOR as

                                escort for HM Auxiliary Minelayers AGAMEMNON, MENESTHEUS and

                                PORT QUEBEC during Northern Barrage Minelay (Operation SN222B).

                                (Note: See Naval Staff History (Mining) for details of Northern Barrage. HM

                                Minesweeper SCOTT was specially deployed for navigation duties

                                during this operation.)

 

October                  Withdrawn for Atlantic escort duties.

                                (Note: This was due to her age and also the fact that new ships were now

                                becoming available for ocean escort duties) Transferred to Plymouth

                                Command for Channel coastal convoy escort.

 

November              Coastal convoy escort in continuation.

to

December

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Channel deployment in continuation.

 

February                Deployed with HM Destroyer WARWICK in search for submarine reported

                                in S W Approaches.

                20th        Carried out anti-submarine search operations during which HMS WARWICK

                                was hit by T5 homing torpedo and sank very quickly when explosives were

                                detonated. Rescued 93 survivors from HMS WARWICK.

 

March                    Plymouth deployment for convoy defence and patrol in continuation.

 

April                       Deployed for escort duties in support of landing craft during exercises in

                                preparation for planned allied landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE)

                26th        During escort of convoy of US landing ships on passage for landings on

                                Slapton Sands (Exercise TIGER) involved in collision with LST and sustained

                                structural damage.

                                Withdrawn from Exercise and took passage to Plymouth for repair.

                                (Note: This poorly escorted convoy was later attacked by E-Boats which sank

                                several ships with heavy casualties. See LANDINGS IN NORMANDY,

                                June 1944 (HMSO)

 

 May                       Resumed coastal convoy deployment on completion of repair.

 

June                        Coastal convoy escort in continuation.

                                (Note: Did not take part in escort or support of landings in Normandy.

 

July                         Coastal convoy escort in continuation

to

September

 

October                  Withdrawn from operation service and relegated to Training role based at

to                             Plymouth.

December             

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Training duties in continuation.

to

May

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS SCIMITAR was Paid-off after VJ Day and reduced to Reserve Status. Placed on the Disposal List in 1947 she was sold to BISCO and arrived in tow at the Breaker's yard on 30th June that year for demolition by T W Ward at Briton Ferry. This WWI built destroyer had rendered notable service in the Atlantic, despite her age and unsuitability for ocean escort.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS SCIMITAR

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

 

 

 

 

 

20/09/39

20/09/39

DB 005

21/09/39

21/09/39

30/10/39

30/10/39

SA 015

31/10/39

31/10/39

13/11/39

13/11/39

SA 017

14/11/39

14/11/39

25/06/40

07/07/40

HX 053

10/07/40

10/07/40

20/07/40

21/07/40

CW 007

22/07/40

22/07/40

03/09/40

04/09/40

OB 208

07/09/40

07/09/40

25/08/40

09/09/40

SC 002

10/09/40

10/09/40

19/09/40

19/09/40

OL 003

21/09/40

22/09/40

09/09/40

21/09/40

HX 072

21/09/40

21/09/40

24/09/40

25/09/40

OA 219

28/09/40

28/09/40

17/09/40

29/09/40

HX 074

21/09/40

02/10/40

03/10/40

03/10/40

OB 223

06/10/40

08/10/40

26/09/40

07/10/40

HX 076

10/10/40

10/10/40

21/10/40

21/10/40

OB 232

25/10/40

26/10/40

15/10/40

31/10/40

SC 008

31/10/40

31/10/40

14/11/40

26/11/40

HX 088

29/11/40

30/11/40

30/11/40

01/12/40

OB 252

04/12/40

04/12/40

22/11/40

05/12/40

SC 013

07/12/40

07/12/40

14/12/40

15/12/40

OB 259

17/12/40

17/12/40

06/12/40

18/12/40

HX 094

20/12/40

22/12/40

28/12/40

28/12/40

OB 266

31/12/40

01/01/41

15/12/40

01/01/41

SL 059

05/01/41

05/01/41

02/01/41

13/01/41

HX 098/1

16/01/41

17/01/42

12/01/41

29/01/41

SC 019

30/01/41

02/02/41

10/01/41

31/01/41

SL 062

03/02/41

03/02/41

15/02/41

15/02/41

OG 053

19/02/41

01/03/41

08/03/41

09/03/41

OB 295

14/03/41

14/03/41

01/03/41

15/03/41

HX 112

19/03/41

20/03/41

23/03/41

23/03/41

OB 301

27/03/41

27/03/41

15/03/41

27/03/41

HG 056

02/04/41

02/04/41

16/04/41

19/04/41

OB 311

22/04/41

25/04/41

18/04/41

23/04/41

OB 312

25/04/41

25/04/41

09/04/41

24/04/41

SC 028

28/04/41

28/04/41

19/04/41

30/04/41

SC 029

04/05/41

08/05/41

30/04/41

12/05/41

HX 124

14/05/41

20/05/41

12/05/41

18/05/41

OB 322

20/05/41

20/05/41

10/05/41

22/05/41

HX 126

24/05/41

28/05/41

20/05/41

02/06/41

HX 128

unknown

06/06/41

21/06/41

22/06/41

OB 338

26/06/41

03/07/41

16/06/41

27/06/41

HX 133

30/06/41

03/07/41

01/07/41

13/07/41

SC 036

18/07/41

19/07/41

26/07/41

27/07/41

ON 001

30/07/41

09/08/41

22/07/41

02/08/41

HX 140

05/08/41

06/08/41

11/08/41

13/08/41

ON 006

16/08/41

24/08/41

05/08/41

17/08/41

HX 143

20/08/41

20/08/41

15/11/41

18/11/41

ON 037

22/11/41

30/11/41

15/11/41

25/11/41

HX 160

29/11/41

30/11/41

21/12/41

01/01/42

HX 166

04/01/42

05/01/42

11/01/42

20/01/42

SL 097G

24/01/42

24/01/42

26/01/42

27/01/42

ON 060

30/01/42

15/02/42

26/01/42

04/02/42

HX 172

07/02/42

07/02/42

15/02/42

03/03/42

SC 070

05/03/42

07/03/42

11/03/42

11/03/42

DS 024

15/03/42

15/03/42

16/03/42

16/03/42

SD 024

19/03/42

19/03/42

14/03/42

19/03/42

TA 012

unknown

25/03/42

14/03/42

30/03/42

SL 103

02/04/42

02/04/42

11/04/42

11/04/42

UR 019

15/04/42

15/04/42

18/04/42

18/04/42

RU 019

22/04/42

22/04/42

01/05/42

01/05/42

DS 026

03/05/42

03/05/42

03/05/42

03/05/42

SD 026

05/05/42

05/05/42

21/05/42

21/05/42

UR 025

27/05/42

25/05/42

27/05/42

27/05/42

RU 025

30/05/42

01/06/42

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

26/06/42

26/06/42

UR 030

01/07/42

01/07/42

02/07/42

02/07/42

UR 031

07/07/42

07/07/42

02/07/42

02/07/42

RU 030

06/07/42

06/07/42

09/07/42

09/07/42

RU 031

13/07/42

13/07/42

17/10/42

17/10/42

UR 046

21/10/42

21/10/42

14/11/42

14/11/42

KMF 003

15/11/42

23/11/42

09/11/42

26/11/42

SC 109

30/11/42

30/11/42

04/12/42

21/12/42

SC 112

25/12/42

25/12/42

21/12/41

22/12/42

ON 049

27/12/41

05/01/42

21/01/43

21/01/43

DS 036

23/01/43

23/01/43

25/01/43

25/01/43

SD 036

27/01/43

27/01/43

10/02/43

11/02/43

PW 292

12/02/43

12/02/42

08/06/43

08/06/43

DS 041

11/06/43

11/06/43

12/06/43

12/06/43

SD 041

14/06/43

14/06/43

01/08/43

01/08/43

DS 043

03/08/43

03/08/43

06/08/43

06/08/43

SD 043

08/08/43

08/08/43

28/09/43

28/09/43

DS 045

02/10/43

02/10/43

03/10/43

03/10/43

SD 045

05/10/43

05/10/43

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

27/11/43

27/11/43

DS 047

29/11/43

29/11/43

02/12/43

02/12/43

SD 047

04/12/43

04/12/43

06/01/44

18/01/44

HX 274

20/01/44

21/01/44

16/02/44

16/02/44

WP SP 20

18/02/44

18/02/44

17/03/44

18/03/44

WP 493

19/03/44

19/03/44

08/04/44

08/04/44

WP 504

09/04/44

10/04/44

10/04/44

10/04/44

WP 505

12/04/44

12/04/44

16/04/44

16/04/44

WP 508

17/04/44

18/04/44

18/04/44

18/04/44

WP 509

19/04/44

20/04/44

24/04/44

24/04/44

WP 512

25/04/44

26/04/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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