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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 WALPOLE (D 41) -  V & W-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Walpole (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

return to Contents List 
 

Admiralty V-Class destroyer ordered with the 10th Order of the 1916-17 Program from William Doxford of Sunderland. The ship was laid down in May 1917 and launched on 12th February 1918 as the 1st warship to carry the name. She was completed on 7th August 1918 and then joined the 13th Destroyer Flotilla in the Grand Fleet. After the Armistice in 1918 she took part in naval operations in the Baltic and later transferred to the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla as part of the Atlantic Fleet. During 1938 she was attached to the 1st Anti-Submarine Flotilla at Portland. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 the ship was adopted by the civil community of Ely, Cambridgeshire with whom strong links were forged and have been maintained since the loss of the ship in 1945.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

ATLANTIC 1939-43 - DOVER STRAIT  1942 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1942-44 - NORTH SEA 1942-44 - NORMANDY  1944

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Black, an Antelope's head Silver,

collared blue and gold, armed and chained gold ',

 

M o t t o

Fari quod aentiaa: ' Speak as you feel'

 

 

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 D19 at Harwich for convoy escort aid patrol duty in North Sea.

                                Detached for duty In Western Approaches.

 

October                  Deployed on convoy defence in Atlantic.

to                            (For details of naval activities in Horn Waters during 1939-40 see ENGAGE THE

December              ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett).

 

1 9 4 0

January                  Passage to Gibraltar

                13th        Joined HM Sloop ENCHANTRESS, HM Destroyers BROKE, KEPPEL and

                                WALKER as escort for inward Convoy HG15F during passage to Liverpool.

                19th        Detached from HG15F with escort on arrival at Liverpool

                31st         Deployed with HM Destroyers WHITSHED and WITHERINGTON as escort for

                                outward Convoy OG16 during passage to Gibraltar on formation in SW Approaches.

                                Detached later and took passage with escort ships to join inward Convoy HG16 in passage

                                from Gibraltar.

                                Escorted HG16 in SW Approaches with HM Destroyer WOLVERINE.

 

February

                3rd          Detached from HG16 with HMS WOLVERINE on arrival at Liverpool.

                24th        Deployed with HM Destroyers MACKAY and WHITSHED to join HM Sloops BIDEFORD

                                and LEITH in escort for inward Convoy HG19 during passage from Gibraltar to Liverpool in

                                SW approaches.

                27th        Detached from HG19 with escort on arrival at Liverpool .

 

March                    Convoy defence in Western Approaches Command in continuation.

to

April

 

May                        Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to I41 to conform with new

                                identities for all RN ships.

                12th        Sent to Amsterdam to collect stocks of industrial diamonds.

                                (Operation AMSTERDAM - See ADVENTURE IN DIAMONDS by D Walker).

 

June                        Deployed on convoy escort and patrol duty in North Sea.

                6th          Detached for escort of HM Auxiliary Minelayer TEVIOT BANK and HM Minelayer

                                PLOVER with HM Destroyer GALLANT for Minelay in East Coast Barrier.

                                (Operation SN11).

                                (For details of all minelaying operations see Naval Staff History (MINING).

                10th        Escorted HMS TEVIOT BANK and HMS PLOVER with HMS GALLANT for further

                                minelay in East Coast Barrier (Operation SN12)

                14th        Escorted HMS TEVIOT BANK and HMS PLOVER with HMS GALLANT for third

                                minelay in east Coast Barrier (Operation SN14)

                                Resumed Flotilla escort and patrol duties on completion.

 

July                         Flotilla duties in continuation.

 

August                  Additionally deployed on anti-invasion patrol in North Sea and Eastern Channel

                28th        Came under dive bombing attack at Dover and sustained damage to turbines.

 

September             Taken in hand for repair at Chatham

                                Resumed Flotilla duties on completion.

 

October                  North Sea convoy escort and patrol in continuation.

                16th        Detached for escort of HM Monitor EREBUS during bombardment of Calais.

                28th        Detonated magnetic mine off Sunk LV and disabled.

                                Towed to Sheerness.

 

November              Transferred to London commercial shipyard for repair.

                                Paid off and taken in hand by Green and Silley Weir.

 

December              Under repair.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Under repair

to

March

 

April

                18th        Re-commissioned.

                19th        Prepared for operational service

                                Carried out poet refit harbour and sea trials.

                22nd       Passage to Scapa Flow for work-up with HM Destroyer ST ALBANS.

                24th        Exercised with HM Cruisers MANCHESTER and EDINBURGH during gunnery shoot.

 

May

                7th          Escorted mercantile to Aberdeen from Lerwick.

                19th        Joined HM Battleship KING GEORGE V, HM Battlecruiser HOOD and five Home Fleet

                                destroyer for exercises.

                17th        Part of escort for HM Battleship PRINCE OF WALES during shoot.

                19th        Passage to London for repair of defects arising since refit.

                21st         Taken in hand for repair.

 

June

                6th          Joined 16th Destroyer Flotilla at Harwich for North Sea Convoy escort.

                13th        Under air attack during escort of North Sea convoy.

                25th        Detached to escort HMS TEVIOT BANK for minelay in East Coast Barrier. (Operation BS65).

                                Rejoined Flotilla on completion.

 

July                         Flotilla North Sea escort duties in continuation.

                                (For details of North Sea Convoy escort see THREE CORVETTES by N Monsarrat).

                27th        Deployed on E-Boat patrols in addition to escort duties.

 

August                  Flotilla duties in continuation at Harwich.

 

September

                2nd         Taken in hand for Repair at Chatham.

                12th        Passage to rejoin Flotilla at Harwich.

                13th        Resumed Flotilla duties.

 

October                  North Sea escort and patrol in continuation.

                14th        Taken in hand for repair at Chatham.

 

November              Harwich deployment in continuation.

                3rd          Withdrawn for Boiler cleaning.

                16th        Resumed escort and patrol duties.

 

December

                4th          Sustained structural damaged after hitting mine which did not explode.

                8th          Under repair at Harwich.

                12th        Resumed Flotilla duties.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  North Sea escort and patrol in continuation.

                14th        Detached to escort HM Cruiser SUFFOLK from Rosyth to Aberdeen.

                15th        Resumed convoy escort with HM Escort Destroyer WHADDON.

                17th        Destroyed Do 217 aircraft in Thames estuary.

                18th        Convoy escort duty.

 

February

                12th        Joined Flotilla exercises with HM Destroyers CAMPBELL, VIVACIOUS, WORCESTER of

                               21st Destroyer Flotilla and HM Destroyers MACKAY, WHITSHED and WALPOLE of 16th

                                Destroyer Flotilla.

                12th        Diverted to make torpedo attacks on German warships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU and

                                PR1NZ EUGEN during their passage from Brest to Wilhelmshaven.

                                Developed machinery defect and withdrawn from operation.

                                Came under air attack by WELLINGTON aircraft during passage to Harwich.

                                (Note: Driven off by German fighters!)

                20th        Under repair.

 

March                    On completion resumed Flotilla convoy defence and patrol duties.

                13th        Deployed with HM Destroyers BLENCATHRA, CALPE, FERNIE and WINDSOR to support an

                                interception operation by Light Coastal Forces to attack German raider MICHEL

                                (For details see THE BATTLE OF THE NARROW SEAS by P Scott and Hold THE NARROW

                                SEA by P Smith).

                                (Note: MICHEL (SCHIFF 28) eluded attacks and was sunk by US submarine TARPON east of

                                Yokohama on 17th October 1943).

                15th        Resumed Convoy Escort and patrol duty in North Sea.

 

April                       Convoy defence and patrol in continuation.

to

May

 

June

                29th        Detached to take part in Combined Operations exercise and embarked Canadian troops in Solent

                                (Note: This was in preparation for the attack at Dieppe which failed (Operation JUBILEE)

 

July

                5th          Resumed Flotilla duties on return to Harwich.

 

August

                1st           Detached for service with Home Fleet and took passage to Scapa Flow with HM Destroyers

                                MONTROSE, WINDSOR and WORCESTER.

                3rd          Took part in Exercises with Home Fleet ships.

                10th        Escorted HM Cruiser LIVERPOOL from Scapa Flow to Rosyth.

                14th        Took passage to Hvalfjord, Iceland with MONTROSE.

                16th        Joined HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK, HM Cruiser LONDON, HM Destroyers

                                IMPULSIVE and US Navy ships.

                17th        Carried out Anti-submarine patrol off Iceland .

                20th        Escorted HM Cruisers LONDON and CUMBERLAND with HM Destroyers IMPULSIVE and

                                MONTROSE.

                                Detached for anti-submarine search operation.

                24th        Carried out further anti-submarine patrols off Iceland.

                25th        Boiler clean at Hvalfjord.

                28th        Deployed for anti submarine operations off Iceland with HM Destroyers WORCESTER and

                                OFFA.

 

September

                2nd         HM Battleship ANSON arrived for Russian Convoy covering duty.

                5th          A/S patrols off Iceland.

                6th          Met Russian Convoy PQ18(?) on passage to Iceland from Loch Ewe.

                                Sustained damage to the underwater Dome unit of the Anti-Submarine detection equipment

                                (ASDIC) and detached to return to Iceland.

                9th          Passage to Scapa Flow for repair

                11th        Under repair at Scapa Flow

                17th        Escorted ss LADY OF MAN to Lerwick.

                18th        Deployed on patrol off Lerwick.

                25th        Nominated for repair to underwater fittings at Tilbury.

                26th        Passage to Thames.

                28th        Taken in hand for repair.

 

October                  Under repair

                8th          Resumed East Coast convoy defence and patrol with 16th Destroyer Flotilla at Harwich with

                                HM Escort Destroyers QUORN, HAMBLEDON and ATHERSTONE.

                9th          In action against E-Boats

                21st         Boiler Cleaning.

                26th        Resumed Flotilla duties.

 

December

                1st           Deployed for North Sea convoy defence and patrol duties

                19th        Nominated far detached duty with Home Fleet.

                21st         Passage to Scapa Flow with HM Destroyers MACKAY, MONTROSE and WORCESTER.

                23rd        Escorted HM Battleship HOWE, HM Cruiser CARLISLE and HM Auxiliary Merchant Cruiser

                                FORFAR with HMS MACKAY, HMS MONTROSE and HMS WORCESTER.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

                2nd         Carried out exercises with HMS WINDSOR.

                3rd          Boiler clean at Scapa Flow.

                8th          Deployed as Local Escort for returning Russian Convoy RA51 during final stage of passage from

                                Iceland to Loch Ewe.

                                (For details of all the Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R A Ruegg,

                                ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman, CONVOY I by P Keep and THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS

                                by B Sohoefield).

                9th          Carried out exercises with Polish destroyer ORP PIORUN.

                11th        Took part in Home Fleet exercises with HM Battleships HOWE and MALAYA, HM Cruisers

                                BELFAST, SUSSEX, HM Destroyers LEDBURY, MONTROSE, EASTON and US Navy ships.

                13th        Took passage to Iceland with passengers and mail for HM Cruisers CUMBERLAND and

                                NORFOLK.

                21st         Returned to Scapa Flow for repair to weather damage.

                22nd       Under repair including docking.

                30th        On completion deployed at Scapa Flow as Emergency Destroyer.

 

February

                1st           Passage to Harwich with HMS MONTROSE to rejoin Flotilla.

                3rd          Resumed convoy escort and patrol duty with Flotilla.

                4th          Deployed patrols to intercept E-Boats in Thames Estuary.

                6th          Escorted convoy to Dover.

                8th          Deployed for North Sea convoy defence.

 

March                    Nominated for refit.

                7th          De-ammunitioned at Sheerness prior to refit.

                8th          Taken in hand for refit at Chatham.

 

April                       Under refit.

                24th        Resumed escort and patrol duties in Flotilla with HM Destroyers CATTISTOCK,

                                BLEASDALE and Norwegian GLAISDALE

 

May                        North Sea Convoy defence and patrol in continuation.

to

July

 

August

                25th        In action with E-Boats during patrol

                                (For details of increase in enemy E-Boat activity (See BATTLE OF THE NARROW SEAS by

                                P Scott).

 

September             North Sea Convoy defence and patrol in continuation.

 

October

                6th          Carried out torpedo firing exercises with HM Destroyers MONTROSE and WORCESTER

                                against HM Cruisers DAUNTLESS and KENT.

 

November              North Seas duties with Flotilla in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Flotilla duties in continuation.

 

February                Nominated for refit by HM Dockyard Chatham.

                21st         Taken in hand for refit.

 

March                    Under refit.

 

April                       Carried out post refit harbour and sea trials.

                29th        Resumed Flotilla duties at Harwich.

                30th        Convoy defence and patrol in continuation.

May                        Nominated for escort of convoys for Normandy landings based In Thames
                                (Operation Neptune)
                                Allocated to 133rd Escort Group with HM Corvette ORCHIS and two Motor Launches from
                                Light Coastal Forces.
                                (For details of activities prior to and during Normandy landings see OPERATION NEPTUNE by
                                K Edwards, LANDINGS IN NORMANDY June 1944 (HMSO) and D DAY SHIPS by
                                J de Winser.
.                               Took part in preparatory Convoy defence, patrol and other exercises.

June

                3rd          Escorted Convoy ETC1 (6 AA ships and and Ammunition Supply Ship) from Southend.

                4th          Returned to Southend after NEPTUNE landings postponed for 24 hours.

                5th          Passage with ETC1 to position off Beachy Head and under fire when in Dover Straits from

                                shore batteries.

                                On arrival in Solent detached for escort of later convoys from Solent.

                6th          Commenced Daily Cycle of escort duty for convoys to beachhead beginning with Convoy ETC3.

                8th          Daily Cycle in continuation.

 

July                         On completion of NEPTUNE regained deployed for Channel convoy escort.

 

August

                1st           Resumed convoy escort and petrol with Flotilla in Channel and North Sea.

                17th        In action with E-Boats with HM Destroyer OPPORTUNE and 4 MTB's during defence convoy

                                off Dover.

 

September             Flotilla duties in continuation.

 

October

                8th          Deployed on patrol to intercept E-Boats in North Sea..

 

November              Convoy defence and patrol in North Sea in continuation.

                22nd       In action against E-Boats in south of Scheldt with HM Frigate CURZON and Light Coastal Forces

                                craft.

                                Two E-Boats sunk and another damaged.

 

December              Convoy defence and patrol duties in continuation.

                12th        During patrol with FM Frigates CURZON, RIOU and TORRINGTON engaged three E-Boats

                                minelaying NW of Ostend sinking S192.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Deployed for Anti-E-Boat patrols.

                6th          Hit and exploded floating mine abreast forward Boiler Room on port side.,

                                Two of ships company were killed and five seriously injured.

                                Flooding caused list and ship was disabled without propulsion or electric power.

                                Initial tow to Sheerness by HM Frigate RUTHERFORD taken over by tugs.

                10th        Transferred to Chatham Dockyard.

                                Declared Constructive Total Loss on survey and placed on Disposal List.

 

February

                8th          Sold for breaking up.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s.

 

HMS WALPOLE arrived in tow for demolition at the T W Ward’s breaker's yard in Grays, Essex in March 1945. Due acknowledgement is made to Peter Cable who provided many details of war service

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS WALPOLE

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

 

 

 

 

 

17/09/39

17/09/39

OB 006

unknown

20/09/39

25/09/39

25/09/39

OB 010

28/09/39

28/09/39

05/10/39

05/10/39

OB 015

08/10/39

08/10/39

16/10/39

16/10/39

OB 020

18/10/39

17/10/39

17/10/39

18/10/39

OG 003

19/10/39

26/10/39

25/10/39

25/10/39

OB 025

28/10/39

30/10/39

23/10/39

08/11/39

SL 006

10/11/39

10/11/39

14/11/39

14/11/39

OB 035

17/11/39

19/11/39

08/11/39

19/11/39

HXF 008

20/11/39

21/11/39

24/11/39

24/11/39

OB 040

26/11/39

28/11/39

26/11/39

26/11/39

OG 008

26/11/39

03/12/39

03/12/39

03/12/39

OB 046

03/12/39

07/12/39

25/11/39

07/12/39

SL 010F

05/12/39

08/12/39

12/12/39

12/12/39

OB 052

14/12/39

17/12/39

04/12/39

16/12/39

HX 011

18/12/39

18/12/39

20/12/39

20/12/39

OB 057

23/12/39

23/12/39

12/12/39

24/12/39

HX 012

27/12/39

27/12/39

05/01/40

05/01/40

OB 067

09/01/40

09/01/40

13/01/40

13/01/40

HG 015F

19/01/40

22/01/40

15/01/40

15/01/40

OB 072

unknown

18/01/40

27/01/40

28/01/40

OB 080

31/01/40

31/01/40

31/01/40

31/01/40

OG 016

31/01/40

04/02/40

24/01/40

31/01/40

HG 016

03/02/40

03/02/40

07/02/40

07/02/40

OB 086

09/02/40

10/02/40

13/02/40

13/02/40

OB 091

16/02/40

17/02/40

05/02/40

17/02/40

SL 019F

20/02/40

20/02/40

17/02/40

24/02/40

HG 019

27/02/40

27/02/40

02/03/40

02/03/40

OB 102

05/03/40

06/03/40

22/02/40

06/03/40

HX 022

09/03/40

09/03/40

10/03/40

10/03/40

OB 107

15/03/40

15/03/40

02/03/40

13/03/40

HX 024

17/03/40

17/03/40

25/04/40

25/04/40

OB 136

28/04/40

28/04/40

15/04/40

29/04/40

SL 028

01/05/40

unknown

26/04/40

01/05/40

HX 038

12/05/40

12/05/40

04/05/40

04/05/40

OB 142

07/05/40

08/05/40

21/05/40

21/05/40

FS 0176

23/05/40

23/05/40

31/05/40

31/05/40

FS 0184

02/06/40

02/06/40

31/05/40

31/05/40

MT 078

31/05/40

31/05/40

03/06/40

03/06/40

FN 0187

05/06/40

05/06/40

02/09/42

09/09/42

PQ 018

08/09/42

21/09/42

06/02/43

06/02/43

CW 154

07/02/43

07/02/43

07/02/43

07/02/43

CE 152

08/02/43

08/02/43

23/06/43

23/06/43

CW 188

24/06/43

24/06/43

24/06/43

24/06/43

CE 186

25/06/43

25/06/43

14/08/43

14/08/43

CW 201

15/08/43

15/08/43

27/09/43

27/09/43

CW 212

28/09/43

28/09/43

28/09/43

28/09/43

CE 210

29/09/43

29/09/43

29/12/43

29/12/43

CW 235

30/12/43

30/12/43

21/05/44

21/05/44

CW 271

22/05/44

22/05/44

22/05/44

22/05/44

CE 269

23/05/44

23/05/44

05/06/44

05/06/44

ETC 001

05/06/44

06/06/44

12/06/44

12/06/44

ETC 008

14/06/44

14/06/44

14/06/44

14/06/44

FTC 007

15/06/44

15/06/44

18/06/44

18/06/44

ETM 013

19/06/44

19/06/44

20/06/44

20/06/44

FTM 013

21/06/44

21/06/44

25/06/44

25/06/44

ETC 018

26/06/44

26/06/44

27/06/44

27/06/44

FTC 019

28/06/44

28/06/44

07/07/44

07/07/44

ETC 030

08/07/44

08/07/44

09/07/44

09/07/44

FTC 031

10/07/44

10/07/41

14/07/44

14/07/44

ETC 037

15/07/44

15/07/44

16/07/44

16/07/44

FTC 038

17/07/44

17/07/44

19/07/44

19/07/44

ETC 042

20/07/44

20/07/44

21/07/44

21/07/44

FTC 043

22/07/44

22/07/44

31/07/44

31/07/44

ETM 051

01/08/44

01/08/44

03/08/44

03/08/44

FTM 056

04/08/44

04/08/44

10/08/44

10/08/44

ETM 059

11/08/44

11/08/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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