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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2004

HMS  VENOMOUS (D 75) -  V & W-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Venomous (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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Modified W-Class destroyer ordered in January 1918 from John Brown at Clydebank with the 10th order of the 1918-19 Programs. The ship was laid down on 31st May 1918 and was launched on 21st December 1918. She was originally to have been named HMS VENOM but this was changed In order to avoid confusion with the Torpedo School HMS VERNON. Build was completed on 24th August 1919 and the ship joined the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet. After the new B-Class of destroyers began service in 1931 she was placed in Reserve. During February 1942 she was adopted by the civil community of Loughborough, Leicestershire following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign during February 1942.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC  1940-43 - DUNKIRK 1940 - ARCTIC  1942 - MALTA CONVOYS 1942 - NORTH AFRICA 1942 - SICILY 1943

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge  On a Field Black, a goblet, Gold, with two snakes intertwined Green.

 

M o t t o

Hostibus nocens amiscis innoncens:  'Deadly to foes, harmless to Friends’

 

 

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 with 16th Destroyer Flotilla at Portsmouth for escort of convoys taking

                                the BEF to France.

                7th          Escorted troop convoy to Cherbourg with HM Destroyer WREN.

                12th        Escorted Convoy MB2 to Cherbourg with HMS WREN.

                15th        Escorted Convoy DB2 with HMS WREN.

 

October                  Transferred to mercantile convoy escort duty in SW Approaches and Channel

 

November              Convoy defence and anti-submarine patrol in SW Approaches in continuation.

to December

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Deployment in Western Approaches continued.

to April

 

May                        Transferred to assist in evacuation of British troops and allied nationals from ports in Holland,

                                Belgium and France.

                12th        Embarked party of Royal Marines for passage to Hook of Holland with HM Destroyer VERITY.

                15th        Evacuated refugees from Amsterdam for passage to Dover.

                21st         Deployed for evacuation from Boulogne with HM Destroyer KEITH and WILD SWAN.

                                Returned to Folkestone

                26th        Deployed to assist in evacuation of troops from Dunkirk (Operation DYNAMO)

                                (For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and Naval

                                Staff History (HMSO, 2002 )and BEF Ships by J de Winser).

                31st         Deployed for evacuation of troops from Dunkirk and made two trips.

                                Landed 670 at Dover from La Panne and Bray on first trip.

                                Landed 408 at Dover from Pier at Dunkirk on second trip with HM Destroyers WHITEHALL

                                Land WINCHELSEA.

                                (Note: During May Pennant Number for Visual Signalling purposes was changed to I75 to

                                conform with revision of these identities introduced for all RN warships.)

 

June

                2nd         Landed 630 troops at Dover from beaches

                3rd          Landed 957 troops at Dover from beaches

                4th          Landed 463 troops at Dover after last trip to Dunkirk beaches.

                                (Note: In all this ship carried 3,128 personnel to Dover during DYNAMO)

                7th          On release from DYNAMO deployed for escort of North Sea convoys based at Harwich.

                11th        During escort of Convoy FN19 off Great Yarmouth with H M Destroyer WIVERN under

                                attack by six aircraft.

                                Damage avoided by skilful manoeuvring.

 

July                         Carried out anti-invasion patrol in North Sea when not required for convoy dfence..

to

August

 

September             Patrolled off Boulogne with HM Destroyer WILD SWAN.

 

October                  Transferred to Western Approaches Command for convoy defence in Atlantic.

 

November

                13th        Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS to Gibraltar for Malta aircraft delivery.

                                (Operation WHITE).

 

December              Transferred to 1st Escort Group based at Londonderry for Atlantic Convoy defence.

                                During escort of Convoy HX96 sustained damaged by mine explosion and taken in hand

                                for repair

 

 1 9 4 1

 

January                  Under repair

to                            Rejoined Group at Londonderry on completion.

February

 

March                    Convoy defence in Western Approaches in continuation.

 

April                       Damaged in collision with HM Submarine H31 and under repair for 2 weeks.

 

May                        On completion resumed Atlantic convoy defence with Group.

to

June

 

July                         Part of escort of Convoy OB343.

                                Detached of Iceland and returned to Londonderry for machinery repairs.

 

August                  Under repair

 

September             Rejoined Group on completion and resumed convoy escort duty.

                                Group renamed B1 (1st British) and comprised HM Destroyers SHIKARI,

                                ROCKINGHAM, SABRE, KEPPEL, LINCOLN and four FLOWER Class Corvette

                                (For details of Atlantic convoy defence see THE BATTLE CF THE ATLANTIC by Donald

                                MacIntyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett and U-BOAT WAR

                                IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO)).

 

October                  Deployed as escort for Convoy ONS21 with ships of Group.

 

November              Damaged in collision with HM Destroyer KEPPEL during escort of Convoy OS35.

                                Withdrawn from service for repair and conversion into Long Range Escort.

 

December              Under repair and conversion at Greenock in commercial shipyard.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Under repair and conversion

to                            Radar Type 271 for surface warning fitted.

March                    (Note: For details of development and use of radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA by D

                                Howse.)

                                (See SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann, U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC

                                (HMSO) and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair for details of weapons and tactics

                                used in the Battle of the Atlantic and Russian convoy defence.)

 

 April

                20th        On completion deployed with Home Fleet for escort of Russian Convoy.

                28th        Joined escort for Russian Convoy PQ15 with Home Fleet destroyers

 

May

                5th          Detached from PQ15.

                21st         Joined Ocean Escort for returning Convoy QP12.

                27th        Detached from QP12.

                                (For full details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R A

                                Ruegg,, CONVOY! by P Kemp, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by D. MacIintyre and

                                ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman.)

 

June                        Resumed Atlantic convoy defence duty.

 

July                         Detached to escort HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS for Malta aircraft delivery.

 

August

                11th        Escorted HMS FURIOUS in Western Mediterranean for aircraft delivery.

                                (Operation BELLOWS - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, MALTA

                                CONVOYS by R Woodman, Naval Staff History (HMSO, 2002) for details.)

 .                              Returned to Scapa Flow on completion.

                                Nominated for escort duty with Russian Convoy PQ18 escort.

 

September             Boiler defect prevented joining convoy..

                10th        Deployed with HM Destroyers AMAZON, BULLDOG, ECHO and ECLIPSE to establish

                                base for refuelling of destroyers escorting Convoys PQ18 and returning QP14

 

October                  Detached from Home Fleet service for escort, of military convoys to Gibraltar for

                                planned allied landings in North Africa.

                                (Operation TORCH. See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History).

 

November              Escorted HM Cruiser VINDICTIVE and HM Depot Ship HECLA with HM Destroyer MARNE

                                during Atlantic passage to Gibraltar.

                12th        Detected U515 with Type 271 Radar Outfit about 180 miles west of Gibraltar.

                                Carried out hunt for submarine which fired full salvo of bow torpedoes at the two larger

                                warships.

                                HMS VINDICTIVE avoided two after seeing their wakes

.                               Two of the other torpedoes hit HMS HECLA but these did not sink her.

                                Hunt for U515 with HMS MARNE continued..

                                In further torpedo attack by U515 both HMS MARNE and HMS HECLA were hit.

                                (Note: HMS HECLA sank soon afterwards with the loss of 279 lives.

                                Stem structure of HMS MARNE was blown off but the ship remained afloat.)

                                Carried out rescue of survivors from HMS HECLA and took HMS MARNE in tow.

                                During tow of HMS MARNE obtained radar contact with submarine and carried out a series of

                                depth charge attacks which drove off U515.

                                Relieved as escort, of HMS MARNE by HM Corvette JONQUIL and took passage with 568

                                survivors to Casablanca.

                                (For details see HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR Volume 2 by C Blair.)

 

December              Deployed for escort of KMF convoys to Gibraltar.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Gibraltar Atlantic convoy defence in continuation .

 

February                Deployed for convoy defence in western Mediterranean.

 

March                    Escorted military convoys in Western Mediterranean.

                                Nominated for convoy escort during planned allied landings in Sicily.

                                (Operation HUSKY).

 

April                       Passage to Clyde to join military convoy WS29.

                16th        Joined WS29 with HM Destroyer LAUDERDALE, HM Sloops WELLINGTON, WESTON,

                                HM Cutters GORLESTON, TOTLAND, HM Frigates EXE and NESS as Local Escort during

                                passage in NW Approaches.

                                (Note: HM Cruiser NEWCASTLE provided Ocean Escort with HM Destroyer RAPID.)

                20th        Detached from WS29 with Local Escort, and returned to Clyde.

 

May                        Convoy defence of UK-Gibraltar convoys in continuation.

to June                   Deployed in western Mediterranean for military convoy escort-.

 

July

                9th          Sailed from Alexandria with HM Destroyers WISHART and WITHERINGTON as part

                                of escort for follow-up military Convoy MWF37 during passage to Sicily.

                13th        Detached from MWF37 on arrival at Syracuse and deployed off coast for anti -submarine

                                and anti E-boat patrol as well as naval gunfire support for shore operations.

                                Joined Support Force East for landings in Sicily (Operation HUSKY)

                                (For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History.)

 

August                  On release from HUSKY resumed convoy defence duties in Mediterranean.

to                            Nominated for refit in UK.

September

 

October                  Passage to UK for refit in commercial.

 

November              Under refit at Falmouth.

to December          (Note: Age of this ship and it significant operational service was a factor to be considered

                                when deciding that further refit was required.)

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Future service under consideration.

to July                    Withdrawn from operational duties and converted for service as a target ship for training of

                                aircrew in shipping attacks.

                                Paid off.

 

August                  Re-commissioned for duty as aircraft target ship and tender.

 

September             Deployed as Target Ship.

to December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Air Target. Ship duty in continuation.

to April

 

May                        Detached for support of allied re-occupation operations.

                14th        Escorted minesweepers with HM Destroyer VALOROUS during clearance operations prior

                                to entry of allied ships into Kristiansund South.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS VENOMOUS was reduced to Reserve after the end of the European War and placed on the Disposal List. She was sold on 4th March 1947 for breaking up by Metal Industries at Charlestown, Rosyth and arrived at the breakers yard in August of that year.

 


 

Addenda

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS VENOMOUS

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

 

 

 

 

 

22/09/39

22/09/39

DB 006

23/09/39

23/09/39

24/09/39

24/09/39

DB 007

25/09/39

25/09/39

27/09/39

27/09/39

DB 008

28/09/39

28/09/39

29/09/39

29/09/39

DB 009

30/09/39

30/09/39

06/10/39

06/10/39

SA 011

07/10/39

07/10/39

09/10/39

09/10/39

SA 012

10/10/39

10/10/39

16/10/39

16/10/39

SA 013

17/10/39

17/10/39

23/10/39

23/10/39

SA 014

24/10/39

24/10/39

27/11/39

27/11/39

SA 019

28/11/39

29/11/39

14/12/40

27/12/40

HX 096

29/12/40

30/12/40

25/02/41

26/02/41

OG 054

03/03/41

14/03/41

12/03/41

12/03/41

OB 297

17/03/41

17/03/41

05/03/41

17/03/41

HX 113

20/03/41

21/03/41

24/03/41

24/03/41

OB 302

unknown

30/03/41

17/03/41

29/03/41

HX 115

03/04/41

03/04/41

07/04/41

08/04/41

OB 307

11/04/41

13/04/41

30/03/41

23/04/41

SC 027

18/04/41

18/04/41

17/05/41

19/05/41

OB 323

22/05/41

25/05/41

10/05/41

26/05/41

HX 126

28/05/41

28/05/41

02/06/41

03/06/41

OB 330

07/06/41

07/06/41

27/05/41

08/06/41

HX 129

12/06/41

12/06/41

15/06/41

17/06/41

OB 336

22/06/41

23/06/41

10/06/41

24/06/41

SC 034

28/06/41

29/06/41

06/07/41

06/07/41

OB 343

12/07/41

21/07/41

21/07/41

22/07/41

OB 349

26/07/41

01/08/41

16/07/41

26/07/41

HX 139

31/07/41

31/07/41

27/08/41

29/08/41

ON 010

10/10/41

11/09/41

21/08/41

02/09/41

HX 146

06/09/41

06/09/41

11/09/41

11/09/41

ON 015

13/09/41

16/09/41

05/09/41

16/09/41

SC 043

20/09/41

20/09/41

28/09/41

30/09/41

ON 021

05/10/41

14/10/41

28/09/41

09/10/41

HX 152

14/10/41

14/10/41

20/10/41

23/10/41

ON 028

25/10/41

03/11/41

17/10/41

31/10/41

SC 050

04/11/41

04/11/41

10/11/41

10/11/41

ON 035

12/11/41

27/11/41

17/04/42

17/04/42

UR 020

22/04/42

22/04/42

10/04/42

28/04/42

PQ 015

05/05/42

05/05/42

21/05/42

21/05/42

QP 012

27/05/42

29/05/42

02/09/42

14/09/42

PQ 018

22/09/42

21/09/42

13/09/42

14/09/42

QP 014

22/09/42

26/09/42

22/10/42

22/10/42

KX 004A

04/11/42

04/11/42

15/11/42

17/11/42

MKF 002

17/11/42

23/11/42

08/11/42

22/11/42

KMS 003G

26/11/42

26/11/42

01/12/42

01/12/42

ET 003

04/12/42

04/12/42

26/11/42

07/12/42

KMS 004G

13/12/42

13/12/42

05/12/42

14/12/42

ET 005

16/12/42

16/12/42

11/12/42

23/12/42

KMS 005G

unknown

27/12/42

10/01/43

21/01/43

TMF 002

24/01/43

24/01/43

31/01/42

31/01/43

GUF 004

02/02/43

13/02/43

06/02/43

15/02/43

KMS 009G

16/02/43

20/02/43

08/02/43

18/02/43

UGF 005

19/02/43

19/02/43

07/02/43

25/02/43

UGS 005

26/02/43

26/02/43

05/03/43

18/03/43

UGF 006

19/03/43

18/03/43

04/03/43

21/03/43

UGS 006

22/03/43

22/03/43

23/03/43

23/03/43

GUS 005A

26/03/43

15/04/43

16/04/43

20/04/43

KMF 013

23/04/43

23/04/43

17/05/43

17/05/43

KMS 014X

22/05/43

26/05/43

28/04/43

18/05/43

UGS 008

21/05/43

21/05/43

21/06/43

21/06/43

GTX 003

unknown

04/07/43

10/07/43

10/07/43

MWF 037

13/07/43

13/07/43

13/07/43

13/07/43

MEF 037

17/07/43

17/07/43

20/07/43

20/07/43

MWF 038

24/07/43

24/07/43

12/10/43

12/10/43

MKF 024A

17/10/43

18/10/43

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 


 

The story of HMS VENOMOUS

 

A HARD FOUGHT SHIP

by Robert J Moore and John A Rodgaard

 

 

available from Holywell House Publishing

 

 

 

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revised 10/7/11
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