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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 VIMIERA  (L 29) -  V & W-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Valorous, V-class sister ship (click to enlarge)

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V-Class destroyer ordered with the 1917-18 Program (9th Order) V from Swan Hunter at Wallsend on 30th Jura 1916. The ship was laid down in October that year and launched on 22nd June 1917 as the 2nd RN warship to carry this name, first used for a Prize captured in 1808. Build was completed on 19th September and after service during WW1 remained in commission after November 1918. She was placed in Reserve as indicated in the General Information page. This destroyer was selected for conversion to an Escort Destroyer (WAIR) with an increased anti-aircraft and anti-submarine armament as part of the naval rearmament programme before outbreak of war in September 1939. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Saving campaign in December 1941 She was adopted by the civil community of Sandbach, Cheshire. Her association was short lived owing to her loss a few weeks later. In 1945 the name was to have been given to a new ship but build was cancelled.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

GUADALOUPE 1810 - NORTH SEA 1941-42

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On  a Field Black a  lion's head Red,

rising out of an Eastern crown, Gold.

 

M o t t o

Sicut clin: ‘Victory as formerly’

 

 

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             Under conversion.

to                            (Note: Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to L29 to conform with identity

December              used for convoy escort destroyers.

                                Carried out post refit trials and commissioned for service.

                                (Note: For details of conversion see BRITISH DESTROYERS by E. March)

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Joined Nore Command for convoy escort duty:

 

February                Deployed on coastal convoy escort in North Sea and English Channel.

to

March

 

April                       Transferred to Dover Command for duty in support of military operations.

                10th        Deployed at Dunkirk to provide additional AA defence (Operation FA).

 

May

                12th        Assisted in evacuation of allied personnel from Flushing.

                16th        Provided naval gunfire support to military at Escault with HM Destroyer WOLSEY

                19th        Rescued survivors from HM Destroyer WHITLEY.

.               22nd       Escorted ships taking two Guards Battalions to Boulogne.

                23rd        Assisted in evacuation from Boulogne.

                                Carried out bombardment of Calais with HM Destroyer WESSEX and Polish destroyer ORP

                                BURZA.

                                Sustained alight damage in air attacks.

                22nd       Deployed with HM Destroyer WHITSHED to support defence of Boulo

                                Sailed from Dover as escort for mercantiles BIARRITZ and QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL

                                taking troops of Guards Brigade and stores to Boulogne.

                                (Note: The two mercantiles embarked wounded soldiers and medical staff before return.)

                                Remained at Boulogne to assist in evacuation.

                24th        Embarked troops and returned to Dover with HMS WHITSHED.

                                Despatched from Dover to assist in defence and evacuation operations at Calais with HM

                                Destroyer WOLFHOUND, WESSEX and Polish ORP BURZA.

                                Under fire from shore battery which was returned by the other destroyers

                                Came under heavy air attacks during which HMS WESSEX was sunk and ship shaken by six

                                near misses.

                                Embarked survivors from HMS WESSEX and returned to Dover with ORP BURZA.

                                Speed limited by effects of air attacks.

                25th        Taken in hand for repair

                                (Note: Ship was not therefore deployed for evacuation of allied troops from Dunkirk

                                (Operation DYNAMO - See Naval Staff History (HMSO-2002.)and BEF SHIPS by J de Winser.)

 

June                        On completion of repair resumed convoy defence in North Sea.

 

July                         Deployed for convoy defence and patrol in North Sea.

 

August                  Carried out anti-invasion patrols in North Sea.

to                            (See THE BATTLE FOR THE EAST COAST by J P Foynes)

September

 

October                  Resumed east coast convoy defence duties

 

November              Deployed in North Sea

to

December

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Deployed in North Sea in defence of East Coast convoys.

to

December

 

1 9 4 2

 

January

                9th          Sank after striking a mine in the Thames estuary.

 

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS VIMIERA

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

 

 

 

 

 

13/03/40

13/03/40

FS 0120

15/03/40

15/03/40

13/03/40

13/03/40

MT 029

13/03/40

13/03/40

20/03/40

20/03/40

FS 0125

22/03/40

22/03/40

20/03/40

20/03/40

MT 034

20/03/40

20/03/40

31/03/40

31/03/40

FS 0134

02/04/40

02/04/40

31/03/40

31/03/40

MT 041

31/03/40

31/03/40

07/04/40

07/04/40

FS 0140

09/04/40

09/04/40

07/04/40

07/04/40

MT 046

07/04/40

07/04/40

15/04/40

15/04/40

FS 0147

17/04/40

17/04/40

15/04/40

15/04/40

MT 052

15/04/40

15/04/40

25/04/40

25/04/40

FS 0155

27/04/40

27/04/40

25/04/40

25/04/40

MT 059

25/04/40

25/04/40

03/05/40

03/05/40

FS 0161

05/05/40

05/05/40

03/05/40

03/05/40

MT 063

03/05/40

03/05/40

09/05/40

09/05/40

MT 066

10/05/40

10/05/40

05/06/40

05/06/40

FN 0189

07/06/40

07/06/40

12/06/40

12/06/40

FS 0193

14/06/40

14/06/40

19/06/40

19/06/40

MT 091

20/06/40

20/06/40

20/06/40

20/06/40

FS 0200

22/06/40

22/06/40

23/06/40

23/06/40

FN 0203

25/06/40

25/06/40

26/06/40

26/06/40

MT 096

27/06/40

27/06/40

27/06/40

27/06/40

FS 0206

29/06/40

29/06/40

30/06/40

30/06/40

FN 0209

02/07/40

02/07/40

09/07/40

09/07/40

FS 0217

10/07/40

10/07/40

12/07/40

12/07/40

FN 0220

14/07/40

14/07/40

19/07/40

19/07/40

FN 0226

21/07/40

21/07/40

22/07/40

22/07/40

FS 0229

24/07/40

24/07/40

25/07/40

25/07/40

FN 0232

27/07/40

27/07/40

04/08/40

04/08/40

FS 0242

06/08/40

06/08/40

11/08/40

11/08/40

FS 0249

14/08/40

14/08/40

18/08/40

18/08/40

FS 0256

20/08/40

20/08/40

25/08/40

25/08/40

FN 0262

27/08/40

27/08/40

03/09/40

03/09/40

FN 0271

05/09/40

05/09/40

05/09/40

05/09/40

FN 0273

07/09/40

07/09/40

14/09/40

14/09/40

FS 0281

16/09/40

16/09/40

17/09/40

17/09/40

FN 0283

19/09/40

19/09/40

24/09/40

24/09/40

FS 0289

25/09/40

25/09/40

26/09/40

26/09/40

FN 0291

28/09/40

28/09/40

05/10/40

05/10/40

FS 0301

07/10/40

07/10/40

08/10/40

08/10/40

FN 0303

10/10/40

10/10/40

13/10/40

13/10/40

FS 0308

17/10/40

17/10/40

16/10/40

16/10/40

FN 0310

18/10/40

18/10/40

23/10/40

23/10/40

FN 0316

25/10/40

25/10/40

01/11/40

01/11/40

FS 0325

03/11/40

03/11/40

04/11/40

04/11/40

FN 0327

06/11/40

06/11/40

09/11/40

09/11/40

FS 0332

11/11/40

11/11/40

13/11/40

13/11/40

FN 0333

15/11/40

15/11/40

18/11/40

18/11/40

FS 0338

20/11/40

20/11/40

21/11/40

21/11/40

FN 0339

23/11/40

23/11/40

30/11/40

30/11/40

FS 0348

02/12/40

02/12/40

03/12/40

03/12/40

FN 0349

05/12/40

05/12/40

08/12/40

08/12/40

FS 0356

10/12/40

10/12/40

11/12/40

11/12/40

FN 0357

13/12/40

13/12/40

17/12/40

17/12/40

FS 0363

19/12/40

19/12/40

29/12/40

29/12/40

FS 0374

01/01/41

01/01/41

01/01/41

01/01/41

FN 0373

03/01/41

03/01/41

07/01/41

07/01/41

FS 0382

09/01/41

09/01/41

13/01/41

13/01/41

FS 0387

16/01/41

16/01/41

31/01/41

31/01/41

FN 0396

02/02/41

02/02/41

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 


 

LIEUTENANT COMMANDER ANGUS A MACKENZIE RNR

Commander of HMS VIMIERA at the time of her loss

Click her for his wartime career, including service on HMS HOOD, VENOMOUS, VIMIERA, LIDDESDALE and UNDAUNTED

With thanks to Bill Forster, Holywell House Publishing, 29 July 2012

 

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revised 31/7/12
further editing and formatting is required