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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  VERITY (D 63) -  V & W-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

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

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Modified Admiralty W-Class destroyer ordered from John Brown, Clydebank with 13th Order of the 1918 Build Programme in January 1918. The ship was laid down on 17th May 1918 and launched on 19th March 1919 as the 1st RN warship to carry the name. Build was completed on 17th September 1919. Between the wars she served in the Atlantic and Mediterranean Fleets. In 1938 the ship was part of the Local Flotilla at Portsmouth. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 she was  adopted by the civil community of Stratford North  in Warwickshire.

 

with wartime modifications (Mike Pocock)

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC  1939-45 - DUNKIRK  1940 - NORTH SEA  1940 - NORTH AFRICA  1942-43

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a  Field Black,  a Roman Lamp Gold

 

M o t t o

Prevalebit:  ‘Truth shall prevail ‘

 

 

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                  Nominated for service with 19th Destroyer Flotilla at Harwich.

 

September             Deployed for convoy defence in SW Approaches.

                5th          Escorted Convoy GC1 from Milford Haven with HM Destroyers WITHERINGTON,

                                WOLVERINE and VOLUNTEER

 

October                  Transferred to Harwich for East coast convoy defence duty

to

December

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Transferred to Plymouth for convoy defence in SW Approaches and Channel.

to                            Based at Plymouth.

March

 

April

                10th        Joined outward Convoy OG25 on formation in SW Approaches as escort during

                                initial stage of passage to Gibraltar with HM Destroyers BROKE and WAKEFUL.

                11th        Detached from OG25 with HMS BROKE and took passage to join inward Convoy

                                HG25 as escort during passage in SW Approaches to Liverpool

                12th        Joined HM Sloops BIDEFORD and FOWEY as escort for HG25.

                15th        Detached from HG25 on arrival at Liverpool and returned to Plymouth.

 

May                        Transferred to Dover Command with ships of Flotilla for support of operations in Belgium

                                and France.

                5th          Detached for escort of minelay In Galloper area in Thames Estuary.

                                (Operation CML9. For details of all minelaying operations see Naval Staff History

                                (MINING)).

                12th        Took detachment of Royal Marines to Hook of Holland with HM Destroyer VENOMOUS.

                                (Operation D(C)).

                21st         Assisted with evacuation at Boulogne.

                22nd       Embarked Admiral Somerville for passage to Calais.

                                On return nominated for evacuation of troops at Boulogne and took passage.

                                Found port under military attack

                25th        Passage to Calais with HM Destroyer WOLFHOUND with Royal Marines and ammunition..

                                Under fire from 6in howitzers which was returned.

                26th        Under heavy air attacks at Calais.

                                Passage to assist in evacuation of troops from beaches at Dunkirk. until 2nd June.

                                (Operation DYNAMO - For details see THE NINE DAYS OF DUNKIRK by AD Divine,

                                NAVAL STAFF HISTORY (HMSO-2002) and BEF SHIPS by J de Winser,

                27th        Deployed as escort for mercantiles BIARRITZ and ARCHANGEL during passage to Dunkirk

                                for evacuation (Operation DYNAMO)

                                Came under fire from shore batteries near Calais and sustained casualties.

                                Returned to Dover

                29th        Landed 315 troops at Dover from beaches.

                30th        Landed 52 troops from beaches

                                (Note: Total number of troops evacuated by this ship during DYNAMO was 367.)

 

June                        On release from DYNAMO resumed Flotilla duties.

                19th        Carried out first sea trial with RAF ASV Mark 1 Radar at Spithead.

                                (Note: This equipment was later introduced into naval service as Radar 286/M.

                                For details of development and use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse).

 

July                         Transferred to 18th Destroyer Flotilla based at Liverpool for convoy defence in Atlantic

 

August                  Convoy defence in continuation.

 

September             Transferred to 6th Escort Group based at Liverpool.

 

October                  Atlantic escort duty with Group in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.

to

February

 

March                    Deployed with HM Corvettes CAMELLIA and ARBUTUS as escort for outward Convoy OB239.

                6th          Under threat of attack by U37, U47, U99 and ex Turkish submarine design UA.

                7th          Came under sustained torpedo attacks from the four submarines and carried out effective

                                anti-submarine operations during which U70 was sunk by the two corvettes.

                                (Note: U47 commanded by the renowned Gunther Prien was not sunk in this series of attacks as

                                presumed until after the end of WW2.

                                For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp an HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR

                                by C Blair).

 

April                       Atlantic escort duty with Group in continuation.

to

September

 

October

                1st           Joined military convoy US12 in Clyde with HM Cruiser CAIRO, HM Destroyers WITCH and

                                WHITEHALL as Local Escort for passage in NW Approaches.

                4th          Detached from WS12 with Local Escort and returned to Clyde.

                                Later part of escort for Convoy ONS29 with Group.

 

November              Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.

 

February

                17th        Joined military convoy WS16 from Clyde at Oversay with H M Destroyers WALKER and

                                WITHERINGTON as Local Escort for passage in NW Approaches.

                22nd       Detached from WS16 with Local Escort and returned to Clyde.

 

March                    Western Approaches deployment in continuation.

to                            Nominated for escort of military convoys to Gibraltar for planned allied landings.

September             in North Africa (Operation TORCH).

 

October                  Deployed for Atlantic escort of military convoys to North Africa.

 

November              Deployed for defence of military convoys on passage to Gibraltar prior to planned allied landings

                                in North Africa (Operation TORCH).

                4th          Sailed from Gibraltar to supplement escort for military convoy KMF1 during passage to Algiers .

                6th          Detached from KMF1 and returned to Gibraltar.

                7th          Nominated for support of landings on YANKEE Beach Head at Oran.

                8th          Deployed at Oran

 

December              Support of TORCH operations and convoy defence in continuation at Gibraltar.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Convoy defence based at Gibraltar in continuation

 

February                Nominated for conversion to Long Range Escort.

 

March                    Passage to UK for refit and conversion.

 

April                       Taken in hand for conversion by HM Dockyard, Portsmouth

 

May                        Under conversion.

to

September

 

October                  Post refit trials and work-up for operational service.

 

November              Resumed Atlantic convoy defence deployment.

to                            (For details of development of new weapons and tactics for convoy defence and the

December              introduction of counter measures by German submarines see SEEK AND STRIKE by

                                Hackmann)

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence duty in continuation.

to

December

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to                            (Note: During this period Atlantic convoys were re-routed through English Channel and German

March                    ‘Schnorkel’ fitted U-Boats were concentrating attacks in focal points of convoys that

                                altered the deployment patterns of Western Approaches Escorts)

 

April                       After VE Day nominated for reduced to Reserve status and paid off.

to

May

 

P o s t   W a r    N o t e s

 

HMS VERITY remained in Reserve until 1946 when she was placed on the Disposal List. She was sold to BISCO in 1946 for demolition by J Cashmore and arrived in tow at the breaker's in Newport on 14th September 1947

 

S p e c i a l   N o t e s

 

This ship in common with many other Atlantic escorts was one of the 'unsung' veterans of the sea war in the Atlantic. It should be remembered that 70% of all convoys had an unscathed passage but this was possible due to vastness of the ocean and the constant vigilance of ships companies.

 

Details of escorts for WS Series military convoys ware provided by Donald Kindell of Ohio, USA from an unpublished source. This is gratefully acknowledged.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS VERITY

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

 

 

 

 

 

05/09/39

05/09/39

RED 1

08/09/39

27/09/39

04/10/39

24/10/39

KJ 003

28/10/39

28/10/39

02/11/39

02/11/39

OA 029

07/11/39

07/11/39

16/11/39

18/11/39

OA 036G

19/11/39

24/11/39

24/11/39

24/11/39

OA 040G

26/11/39

26/11/39

01/12/39

02/12/39

OA 044

03/12/39

03/12/39

25/11/39

04/12/39

HXF 010

09/12/39

09/12/39

28/12/39

30/12/39

OA 062

31/12/39

31/12/39

20/12/39

02/01/40

HX 013

04/01/40

04/01/40

05/01/40

05/01/40

OB 067

09/01/40

09/01/40

12/01/40

14/01/40

OA 071

16/01/40

16/01/40

01/01/40

16/01/40

SL 015

19/01/40

19/01/40

20/01/40

20/01/40

OA 076

23/01/40

23/01/40

25/01/40

26/01/40

OA 079

28/01/40

28/01/40

20/01/40

29/01/40

HXF 017

01/02/40

01/02/40

02/02/40

02/02/40

OA 084

04/02/40

05/02/40

13/02/40

13/02/40

OA 091

16/02/40

16/02/40

05/02/40

17/02/40

SL 019F

20/02/40

20/02/40

21/02/40

21/02/40

OA 096

23/02/40

unknown

08/04/40

08/04/40

OA 125G

10/04/40

10/04/40

08/04/40

08/04/40

OB 125

10/04/40

10/04/40

10/04/40

10/04/40

OG 025

11/04/40

16/04/40

05/04/40

12/04/40

HG 025

15/04/40

15/04/40

04/10/40

14/10/40

HX 078

19/10/40

20/10/40

20/10/40

20/10/40

HX 082

04/11/40

06/11/40

27/10/40

27/10/40

OB 235

31/10/40

31/10/40

09/11/40

11/11/40

OB 241

14/11/40

14/11/40

31/10/40

15/11/40

HG 046

17/11/40

19/11/40

23/11/40

23/11/40

OB 248

26/11/40

26/11/40

13/11/40

27/11/40

SC 012

29/11/40

29/11/40

06/12/40

08/12/40

OB 255

10/12/40

10/12/40

01/01/41

18/01/41

SL 061

24/01/41

24/01/41

02/03/41

02/03/41

OB 293

07/03/41

08/03/41

23/02/41

10/03/41

HX 111

12/03/41

12/03/41

16/03/41

16/03/41

OB 298

20/03/41

20/03/41

01/03/41

21/03/41

SL 067

24/03/41

26/03/41

31/03/41

01/04/41

OB 304

03/04/41

04/04/41

20/03/41

04/04/41

SC 026

05/04/41

08/04/41

12/04/41

12/04/41

OB 309

15/04/41

19/04/41

03/04/41

16/04/41

HG 058

20/04/41

21/04/41

26/04/41

27/04/41

OB 315

01/05/41

04/05/41

25/04/41

08/05/41

HX 123

09/05/41

13/05/41

08/05/41

13/05/41

OB 320

14/05/41

14/05/41

06/05/41

16/05/41

HX 125A

18/05/41

22/05/41

18/05/41

24/05/41

OB 324

27/05/41

27/05/41

27/05/41

06/06/41

HX 129

12/06/41

12/06/41

20/06/41

21/06/41

OB 337

24/06/41

28/06/41

14/06/41

25/06/41

HG 065

29/06/41

29/06/41

04/07/41

04/07/41

OG 067

09/07/41

20/07/41

18/06/41

09/07/41

SL 078

12/07/41

12/07/41

03/07/41

23/07/41

SL 080

26/07/41

29/07/41

17/10/41

17/10/41

CT 004

20/10/41

23/10/41

22/10/41

23/10/41

ON 029

26/10/41

05/11/41

22/10/41

31/10/41

HX 156

04/11/41

05/11/41

03/12/41

05/12/41

ON 043

07/12/41

15/12/41

13/12/41

13/12/41

DS 018

16/12/41

16/12/41

20/12/41

20/12/41

SD 018

23/12/41

23/12/41

02/02/42

02/02/42

ON 063

07/02/42

13/02/42

14/02/42

28/02/42

ON 067

01/03/42

01/03/42

09/03/42

09/03/42

HX 179

13/03/42

22/03/42

27/03/42

27/03/42

HX 182

30/03/42

09/04/42

11/04/42

11/04/42

SC 079

15/04/42

27/04/42

14/04/42

14/04/42

HX 185

18/04/42

27/04/42

08/04/42

22/04/42

ON 084

25/04/42

25/04/42

07/05/42

07/05/42

SC 083

12/05/42

23/05/42

06/05/42

14/05/42

ON 092

17/05/42

21/05/42

21/05/42

21/05/42

BX 019

23/05/42

23/05/42

22/05/42

02/06/42

ON 097

06/06/42

05/06/42

08/06/42

08/06/42

BX 023B

10/06/42

10/06/42

21/06/42

21/06/42

XB 026

23/06/42

23/06/42

24/06/42

24/06/42

BX 026

26/06/42

26/06/42

06/07/42

06/07/42

HX 197

09/07/42

17/07/42

30/06/42

12/07/42

ON 108

18/07/42

18/07/42

20/07/42

20/07/42

BX 029C

22/07/42

22/07/42

27/07/42

27/07/42

HX 200

30/07/42

07/08/42

24/07/42

03/08/42

ON 115

08/08/42

08/08/42

09/08/42

09/08/42

BX 032C

unknown

11/08/42

16/08/42

16/08/42

HX 203

19/08/42

28/08/42

09/08/42

21/08/42

ON 120

27/08/42

27/08/42

26/10/42

04/11/42

KMF 001

06/11/42

08/11/42

01/11/42

11/11/42

KMF 002

12/11/42

12/11/42

14/11/42

14/11/42

MKS 001O

15/11/42

15/11/42

08/11/42

22/11/42

KMS 003G

26/11/42

26/11/42

20/12/42

20/12/42

KMF 005A

22/12/42

22/12/42

22/12/42

26/12/42

MKS 004

27/12/42

06/01/43

12/12/42

31/12/42

UGS 003

01/01/43

01/01/43

24/12/42

04/01/43

KMS 006G

09/01/43

09/01/43

05/01/43

08/01/43

MKS 005

11/01/43

22/01/43

07/01/43

18/01/43

KMS 007G

23/01/43

21/01/43

19/01/43

21/01/43

MKS 006

22/01/43

01/02/43

23/01/43

23/01/43

ET 009X

27/01/43

27/01/43

24/01/43

31/01/43

KMF 008

31/01/43

01/02/43

31/01/42

31/01/43

GUF 004

02/02/43

13/02/43

07/02/43

08/02/43

MKS 007

10/02/43

17/02/43

08/02/43

14/02/43

KMF 009

16/02/43

16/02/43

07/02/43

25/02/43

UGS 005

26/02/43

26/02/43

25/02/43

27/02/43

ET 012

02/03/43

02/03/43

18/02/43

06/03/43

UGS 005A

08/03/43

06/03/43

26/02/43

08/03/43

KMS 010G

11/03/43

11/03/43

23/03/43

23/03/43

GUS 005A

26/03/43

15/04/43

03/01/44

03/01/44

OS 064KM

05/01/44

15/01/44

14/01/44

14/01/44

OS 065KM

16/01/44

26/01/44

15/01/44

17/01/44

KMF 028

22/01/44

29/01/44

25/01/44

25/01/44

RS 014

01/02/44

01/02/44

19/02/44

19/02/44

SR 010

27/02/44

27/02/44

01/03/44

01/03/44

RS 015

08/03/44

14/03/44

26/03/44

29/03/44

SR 012

03/04/44

03/04/44

06/04/44

06/04/44

RS 016

14/04/44

14/04/44

15/04/44

15/04/44

STL 019

19/04/44

19/04/44

27/04/44

27/04/44

LTS 018

01/05/44

01/05/44

04/05/44

04/05/44

SR 013

11/05/44

11/05/44

14/05/44

14/05/44

RS 017

21/05/44

21/05/44

22/05/44

22/05/44

STL 023

26/05/44

27/05/44

21/06/44

25/06/44

RS 018

27/06/44

27/06/44

29/06/44

29/06/44

STL 026

03/07/44

03/07/44

10/07/44

10/07/44

LTS 027

14/07/44

14/07/44

17/07/44

17/07/44

SR 015

24/07/44

24/07/44

25/03/45

25/03/45

MKF 041

26/03/45

30/03/45

12/04/45

12/04/45

MKF 042

15/04/45

17/04/45

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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