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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  VIVACIOUS (D 36) -  V & W-class Destroyer including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Venetia, V-class sister ship (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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Admiralty V-class Destroyer ordered from Yarrow's of Scotstoun, Glasgow with the 9th Order of the 1916-17 Programme. The ship was laid down in July 1916 and launched on 3rd November that year as the 1st RN warship to carry this name. She was completed in December 1917 and was fitted for use as a minelayer. During 1919-1920 this ship was deployed in the Baltic and was in action against Russian warships. Later she served in the Atlantic and Mediterranean Fleets until the mid 1930’s when placed in Maintenance Reserve at Rosyth and brought forward in August 1939 for the Review of the Reserve Fleet by HM King George VI at Weymouth. The ship remained in commission and began war service in Western Approaches. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 this ship was adopted by the civil community of Solihull, then in Warwickshire.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC 1939-40 - DUNKIRK 1940 - NORTH SEA 1942-45 - DOVER STRAITS 1942 - ARCTIC  1943 - ENGLISH CHANNEL  1943-44 - NORMANDY 1944

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Green a squirrel Gold.

 

M o t t o

Sursum caudus: 'Tails up'

 

 

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 for Review of Reserve Fleet by HM King George VI at Weymouth

                                Manned by Reservists

 

September             Remained in commission when war was declared and took-up allocated war station.

                                Deployed with 17th Destroyer Flotilla based at Plymouth for convoy escort and

                                anti-submarine patrol in Channel and SW Approaches.

                10th        Deployed with HM Destroyer KEITH as escort for BEF convoy of 18 ships taking stores,

                                ammunition and vehicles to Cherbourg.

 

October                  Deployed in SW Approaches and English Channel with Flotilla for

to                            convoy defence based at Plymouth.

November

 

December

                15th        Deployed as escort for inward Convoy HG10 during passage to Liverpool

                                from Gibraltar in SW Approaches.

                16th        Detached from HG10 on arrival and took passage to Plymouth

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Western Approaches deployment for convoy defence based at Plymouth in

to                            continuation

March

 

April

                12th        Deployed with HM Destroyers BROKE and VERITY join inward Convoy HG25

                                during passage from Gibraltar to Liverpool in Western Approaches.

                                Joined HM Sloops BIDEFORD and FOWEY escorting HG25.

                15th        Detached from HG25 with escort on arrival at Liverpool.

                                Transferred to Liverpool as base following move of headquarters of Western

                                Approaches Command to Liverpool.

                26th        Nominated for deployment in support of evacuation of allied troops from Dunkirk.

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

                                Divine, BEF SHIPS by J de Winser and Naval Staff History (HMSO-2002).

                                Deployed from Dover with HM Cruiser CALCUTTA, HM Destroyers GALLANT,

                                GRIFFIN, GREYHOUND, IMPULSIVE, SABRE and WAKEFUL to assist in

                                evacuation.

                27th        Deployed for patrol off beaches to intercept any attack by E-Boats and provided

                                AA defence,

                28th        Made two trips to Dunkirk and embarked 326 and 359 men respectively for passage to

                                Dover.

                30th        Landed 537 men at Dover from Dunkirk.

                31st         Under fire from shore howitzers off Bray and sustained 15 casualties.

                                (Note: Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to 136 to conform with

                                changes made for all RN warships.).

 

June

                1st           Landed 427 men at Dover

                3rd          Deployed for operation to block harbour at Dunkirk (Operation OK)

                                Returned to Dover with crews of blockships..

                                (Note: This ship carried a total of 1,649 passengers to Dover during DYNAMO.)

                7th          Transferred to Sheerness to join 21st Destroyer Flotilla for convoy defence

 

July                         Deployed for convoy escort in North Sea.

 

August                  Carried out convoy defence duty and anti-invasion patrols in North Sea,

 

September             North Sea duties in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 1

 

 

January                  Deployed in North Sea for convoy defence and E-Boat patrol in North Sea.

to                            (For details of North Sea convoy defence see THREE CORVETTES by N Monsarrat

December              THE BATTLE FOR THE NARROW SEAS by P Scott).

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  North Sea deployment with Flotilla in continuation.

 

February

                12th        During Flotilla exercises with HM Destroyers CAMPBELL and WORCESTER

                                of the 21st Destroyer Flotilla, and  MACKAY, WHITSHED and WALPOLE

                                of the 16th Destroyer Flotilla, ordered by Admiralty to make torpedo attack

                                 on German battleships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU then on passage

                                through English Channel with the cruiser PRINZ EUGEN from Brest to Wilhelmshaven.

                                First ship to make an attack and escaped without serious damage or casualties.

                                (Note: This attempt to prevent the enemy ships was unsuccessful but they later

                                detonated mines whilst entering harbour in Germany.

                                See Naval Staff History for details.)

                                Resumed convoy defence in North Sea,

 

March                    Escort and patrol duty in North Sea in continuation.

to                            (Note: This ship was not converted for use as a Long Range Escort

December              See V AND W DESTROYERS 1917-45 by A Preston.

                                Classified as Short Range Escort).

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  North Sea convoy and patrol in continuation.

                                Nominated for detached service in Home Fleet..

 

February

                5th          Deployed as part of escort for returning Russian Convoy RA52 for final stage of

                                passage with HM Escort Destroyers BLANKNEY and MIDDLETON.

 

March                    Home Fleet deployment in continuation.

                                Deployed as part of escort for returning Russian Convoy RA53 for final stage of passage

                                with HM Escort Destroyers MEYNELL and PYTCHLEY.

 

April                       Resumed service with Flotilla for North Sea convoy defence.

 

May                        Deployed in North Sea for convoy defence and E-Boat patrol.

to

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  North Sea deployment in continuation.

to

April

 

May                        Nominated for duty with HM Destroyer CAMPBELL, HM Corvettes CLOVER,

                                PENNYWORT and Motor Launches of Light Coastal Forces as Escort Group 103

                                in Force L for escort of Follow-up convoys during planned allied landings in

                                Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE -For details of naval activities before and during

                                landings see OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY,

                                June 1944 (HMSO).).

 

June                        Began service with 103rd Escort Group in Thames Estuary.

                8th          Escorted Convoy ETM3 comprising 14 Motor Transport ships) from Thames to Solent

                                with Group supplemented by HM Corvettes POPPY and STATICE.

                9th          Passage from Solent to Eastern Task Force area as escort to Convoys ETM33 and Etm3W

                                with Group.

                                Returned to Nore after arrival off beachhead.

                10th        Continued Follow-up convoy escort duty from Thames to beach head with Group.

 

July                         After release from NEPTUNE resumed convoy escort and patrol duties in the English

                                Channel and North Sea with Flotilla.

 

September             Flotilla duties in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 5

 

 

January                  North See and Channel escort and patrol in continuation.

to                            (Note: During this period there was in increase in German minelaying in Thames estuary and

April                       North Sea by E-Boats and submersibles.

                                In addition ‘Schnorkel’ fitted U-Boats were concentrating attacks in convoy focal

                                points and increased escorts were deployed . - See HOLD THE NARROW SEAS by P

                                Smith and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett).

 

May                        After VE Day deployed in support of reoccupation operations.

                15th        Escorted minesweepers with HM Destroyer WOOLSTON during mine clearance operations

                                prior to entry of allied warships into Bergen.

 

June                        Paid-off and reduced to Reserve status.

to

August

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS VIVACIOUS remained laid-up in Reserve until 1947 when she was placed on the Disposal List. Sold to BISCO for demolition by Metal Industries on 17th May the ship arrived in tow at the breakers in Charlestown near Rosyth on 10th September 1948.

 

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS VIVACIOUS

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

06/09/39

27/09/39

11/09/39

11/09/39

BC 001F

12/09/39

12/09/39

15/09/39

unknown

OB 005

unknown

19/09/39

19/09/39

19/09/39

BC 003F

20/09/39

20/09/39

21/09/39

21/09/39

BC 004/1

23/09/39

23/09/39

21/09/39

21/09/39

BC 003FR

22/09/39

22/09/39

21/09/39

22/09/39

BC 004F

23/09/39

23/09/39

24/09/39

24/09/39

BC 005/1

26/09/39

26/09/39

30/09/39

30/09/39

BC 007/1

02/10/39

02/10/39

02/10/39

02/10/39

BC 006R

03/10/39

03/10/39

09/10/39

09/10/39

BC 010/1

11/10/39

11/10/39

19/09/39

10/10/39

KJ 001

11/10/39

11/10/39

17/10/39

17/10/39

BC 010R

19/10/39

19/10/39

07/11/39

07/11/39

BC 014/1

09/11/39

09/11/39

10/11/39

10/11/39

BC 013R

12/11/39

12/11/39

15/11/39

15/11/39

BC 015/1

17/11/39

17/11/39

24/11/39

25/11/39

OB 040

26/11/39

28/11/39

26/11/39

26/11/39

OG 008

28/11/39

03/12/39

10/12/39

10/12/39

AXS 008

11/12/39

11/12/39

09/12/39

15/12/39

HG 010

16/12/39

16/12/39

23/12/39

23/12/39

BC 020/1

25/12/39

25/12/39

29/02/40

29/02/40

BC 028/1

02/03/40

02/03/40

02/03/40

02/03/40

BC 027R

04/03/40

04/03/40

07/03/40

07/03/40

BC 029/1

09/03/40

09/03/40

09/03/40

09/03/40

BC 028R

11/03/40

11/03/40

14/03/40

14/03/40

BC 030/1

16/03/40

16/03/40

16/03/40

16/03/40

BC 029R

18/03/40

18/03/40

22/03/40

22/03/40

BC 031/1

24/03/40

24/03/40

24/03/40

24/03/40

BC 030R

25/03/40

25/03/40

30/03/40

30/03/40

BC 032/1

01/04/40

01/04/40

01/04/40

01/04/40

BC 031R

02/04/40

02/04/40

05/04/40

12/04/40

HG 025

15/04/40

15/04/40

13/04/40

14/04/40

HG 026

16/04/40

23/04/40

16/04/40

16/04/40

OA 130G

18/04/40

18/04/40

24/04/40

unknown

OA 135G

unknown

26/04/40

26/04/40

26/04/40

OG 027

26/04/40

01/05/40

22/04/40

04/05/40

HX 037

07/05/40

07/05/40

08/05/40

unknown

OA 144

unknown

unknown

17/06/40

29/06/40

HX 051

02/07/40

02/07/40

11/09/40

11/09/40

FS 0278

14/09/40

14/09/40

14/09/40

14/09/40

FN 0280

16/09/40

16/09/40

20/09/40

20/09/40

FS 0286

21/09/40

21/09/40

22/09/40

22/09/40

FN 0288

24/09/40

24/09/40

29/01/43

05/02/43

RA 052

07/02/43

09/03/43

01/03/43

09/03/43

RA 053

14/03/43

14/03/43

03/06/43

03/06/43

CW 183

04/06/43

04/06/43

12/06/43

12/06/43

CW 185

13/06/43

13/06/43

25/07/43

25/07/43

CW 196

26/07/43

26/07/43

26/07/43

26/07/43

CE 194

27/07/43

27/07/43

14/08/43

14/08/43

CW 201

15/08/43

15/08/43

06/11/43

06/11/43

CW 222

07/11/43

07/11/43

07/11/43

07/11/43

CE 220

08/11/43

08/11/43

07/04/44

07/04/44

CW 260

08/04/44

08/04/44

08/04/44

08/04/44

CE 258

09/04/44

09/04/44

25/05/44

25/05/44

CW 272

26/05/44

26/05/44

09/06/44

09/06/44

ETM 004

10/06/44

10/06/44

19/06/44

19/06/44

ETM 014

20/06/44

20/06/44

26/06/44

26/06/44

ETM 018

27/06/44

27/06/44

28/06/44

28/06/44

FTM 021

29/06/44

29/06/44

01/07/44

01/07/44

ETM 023

02/07/44

02/07/44

11/07/44

11/07/44

ETM 033

12/07/44

12/07/44

16/07/44

16/07/44

ETM 038

17/07/44

17/07/44

22/07/44

22/07/44

ETM 043

23/07/44

23/07/44

26/07/44

26/07/44

FTM 049

27/07/44

27/07/44

28/07/44

28/07/44

ETC 051

29/07/44

29/07/44

30/07/44

30/07/44

FTC 052

31/07/44

31/07/44

13/08/44

13/08/44

ETM 060

14/08/44

14/08/44

04/12/44

04/12/44

TAM 008

05/12/44

05/12/44

05/12/44

05/12/44

ATM 004

06/12/44

06/12/44

12/12/44

12/12/44

TAM 015

13/12/44

13/12/44

16/12/44

16/12/44

TAM 020

17/12/44

17/12/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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