W-Class Destroyer ordered from Palmers at
Jarrow on 9th December 1916 under the 1916-17 Build Programme with the 10th order for this type of
warship. The ship was laid down in July 1917and launched on 26th March 1918 as the first RN warship to carry this name. Build was completed on 17th April
1918 and this ship served in the Atlantic and Mediterranean Fleets
before her transfer to the Royal Australian Navy in 1933. She was commissioned as HMAS
WATERHEN on 11th October 1933 and remained in the RAN
for the rest of her service.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
LIBYA 1940-41
- GREECE 1941 - CRETE 1941
H e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge: On a Field White a Waterhen proper.
M o t
t o
Domus
in indus: ‘My home is in the waves’
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
Laid-up in
reserve at Sydney. (Note: Ship had
been brought forward in 1938 and returned to Reserve
in April
1939.)
War Station nominated at Singapore with
ships of China Station..
September
1st - Commissioned
for service.
9th - On
completion of storing and preparation for operational service deployed with HM Australian Destroyers STUART and
VAMPIRE in search for a submarine
reported off Broke Bay. No sighting was made.
October
14th - Took
passage from Sydney with HM Australian Destroyers VENDETTA, VOYAGER, VAMPIRE and STUART to join China
Station under RN command.
November
Nominated for
transfer to Mediterranean Fleet during passage to Singapore.
13th - Took
passage from Singapore to Mediterranean with call at Colombo
16th - Detached
to join HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM Cruisers CORNWALL and DORSETSHIRE in Hunting Group formed to intercept commerce
raiders in Indian Ocean. Took
passage to Colombo to join Group. (Note:
HMS VENDETTA was also intended to join the Hunting Group but had detached to land sick officer at
Penang.)
18th - Arrived
at Colombo.
20th - Joined
Hunting Group I.
December
Deployed with
Hunting Group.
14th - Detached
from Hunting Group and resumed passage to Mediterranean with HMAS VENDETTA.
17th - Arrived
at Malta.
1 9 4 0
January to April
Deployed
with HMAS VENDETTA, VOYAGER, VAMPIRE and STUART with ships of
Destroyer Command in Mediterranean for Fleet and Flotilla exercises
and enforcement of blockade.
May
Took part in
preparatory exercises with Mediterranean Fleet in the anticipation of Italian entry into war against Britain and the
Dominions.
27th - Joined
newly formed 10th Destroyer Flotilla with the other destroyers of the RAN.
Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to I22 to
conform with changes made for all RN
ships.
June
Deployed in
Mediterranean, based at Alexandria as 10th Destroyer Flotilla. (Note: During this period the
Mediterranean Fleet was deployed to cover passage
of convoys evacuating personnel from Malta (Operation
MA3). This was abandoned after an action with Italian destroyers during which heavy expenditure of ammunition gave rise for concern. See THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre and
Naval Staff History.)
11th - Deployed with screen for HMS EAGLE, HM Australian Cruiser SYDNEY, HM Battleships
MALAYA and WARSPITE during sweep in the eastern Mediterranean.
12th - Returned to Alexandria with major units.
13th - Deployed with HMAS STUART, VAMPIRE and VOYAGER to carry out anti-submarine
search off Alexandria. (During search Italian submarine FOCA was sighted on
surface and engaged by the other destroyers without success. This submarine had been
carrying out minelaying operation. See THE NAVAL WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN by J Greene and A Massignani.)
26th - Sailed from Alexandria with HMAS VAMPIRE and VENDETTA to join HM
Cruiser ORION for support of commando raid on Castellorizo.
27th - Carried out bombardment of Castellorizo.
July
Deployed off North African coast for support of military operations
August
16th - Sailed with HMAS STUART, VENDETTA and HM Destroyer DIAMOND as
screen for HM Cruiser KENT, HM Battleships MALAYA, RAMILLIES and WARSPITE for
support duties.
17th - Took part in bombardment of Fort Capuzzo. Under air attacks.
23rd - Sailed from Alexandria with HM Cruiser SYDNEY (RAN), HM Destroyers STUART (RAN), DIAMOND,
JUNO and ILEX for bombardment of
shore targets in support of military advance in Libya. Detached to
join HM River Gunboat LADYBIRD for bombardment at Bardia.
24th - Took part in operation to enter Bardia harbour for bombardment. Carried out
bombardment of seaplane base in Gulf of Bomba and escorted HM River
Gunboat LADYBIRD during bombardment.
September
Military support duties with Flotilla in continuation.
October
16th - Taken in hand for self refit at Alexandria.
29th - Resumed duties with Flotilla at Alexandria.
30th - Deployed with HM Netlayer PROTECTOR, HMAS VAMPIRE and
VOYAGER
as escort for convoy to Suda Bay.
November
1st - Passage to Alexandria from Suda Bay.
4th - Deployed with HM Cruisers CALCUTTA and COVENTRY, HM Destroyers
DAINTY, DIAMOND, VAMPIRE (RAN) and VOYAGER (RAN) as escort for Convoy MW3
during passage to Malta covered by ships of Mediterranean Fleet. (Operation MB8
- Part of Operation COAT with ships of Force H from Gibraltar to pass reinforcement
warships for service with the Fleet based at Alexandria. See THE BATTLE
FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre and above reference.)
9th - Convoy MW3 arrived in Malta.
10th - Escorted Convoy ME3 from Malta with HMS RAMILLIES, HMS COVENTRY, HM
Destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER and VAMPIRE during passage from Malta to
Port Said. (Note: Operation JUDGEMENT to attack Italian Fleet ships in Taranto, was carried
out covered by Mediterranean Fleet as part of the execution of Operations COAT and
MB8. See references and The Naval Staff History.)
14th - Detached from ME3 and returned to Alexandria from Port Said.
December
Joined Force B with HM Destroyers VAMPIRE (RAN), VENDETTA (RAN) and VOYAGER for service in
Inshore Squadron to provide support
for military operations by Western Desert Force. (See THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre, THE NAVAL WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN by J
Greene and A. Massignani and Naval
Staff History. Note: Force A
comprising HM monitor TERROR, HM River Gunboats LADYBIRD, APHIS and GNAT was also part of Inshore Squadron which was similarly deployed. Cover was
provided by HM Battleships BARHAM
and MALAYA. HMS EAGLE was deployed as Force D to give air cover as required.)
11th - Deployed with HMAS VAMPIRE and VENDETTA to carry out
bombardment of Bardia which was subsequently cancelled by weather conditions.
12th - Return passage to Alexandria.
15th - Deployed with HMS TERROR, HMAS VAMPIRE and HMAS VOYAGER for
bombardment of Bardia.
24th - Deployed for patrol off Sollum during which Italian schooner was
captured and those on board made Prisoners of War.
1 9 4 1
January
Deployed with Inshore Squadron at Alexandria for support duties.
30th - Involved in collision off Sollum with HM Trawler BANDELERO and seriously
damaged. BANDELERO was sunk
February
On return to
Alexandria taken in hand for repair and refit at Port Tewfiq.
March
Under refit on
completion of docking for repair.
5th - Rejoined
Inshore Squadron and deployed for escort of convoys to Greece taking reinforcements to allied forces
following German attacks. (Operation
LUSTRE).
7th - Escorted
convoy to Piraeus.
14th - Part of
escort for Convoy AS19 from Piraeus to Alexandria.
18th - Part of
escort for Convoy AN21 to Piraeus from Egypt.
21st - Under
air attacks and rescued crew of tanker on fire after bomb hit (Note: HM Trawler AMBER later escorted
damaged tanker to Suda Bay.)
26th - Return
passage to Alexandria. .
April
Resumed Inshore
Squadron duties for support of retreating army units.
4th - Deployed
at Tobruk with HMAS VENDETTA for patrol and support duties.
14th - Took
part with HMAS VENDETTA in rescue of survivors from Hospital Ship VITA which had been bombed off
Tobruk. 470 wounded and nursing
staff were taken to Alexandria.
19th - Deployed
with HM Cruiser COVENTRY, HMAS STUART and VOYAGER as escort for HM Supply ship GLENGYLE taking Commando troops for raid Bardia.
20th - Returned
to Alexandria.
21st - During escort of Convoy AN29
assisted in salvage of mercantile damaged by
air attacks and ensured passage to Suda Bay.
(Note: This was the last convoy of Operation LUSTRE.)
23rd - Detached to assist in evacuation
of allied troops from Megara, Greece. On
passage assisted in defence of Convoy ANF29 under air attacks. (Operation DEMON)
26th - Deployed at Megara, Greece
with HMS COVENTRY, HM Destroyers DECOY,
HASTY, VENDETTA (RAN) and WRYNECK (RAN)
27th - Passage to Suda Bay to
discharge troops.
28th - Part of
escort for evacuation convoy GA14 from Nauphlia, Greece with HMS CALCUTTA, HMS COVENTRY, HMAS STUART,
VAMPIRE and VENDETTA.
29th - Deployed
with HMAS STUART, VAMPIRE, VENDETTA and HM Destroyer GREYHOUND as part of screen for HM Aircraft Carrier, FORMIDABLE and other
Mediterranean Fleet major units which providing
cover for evacuation convoy GA15.
May
Convoy escort
and support duties in continuation.
3rd - Returned
to Alexandria.
5th - Deployed
with HMAS VOYAGER for first relief journey to isolated Tobruk garrison with stores and personnel.
6th - Deployed
with HMAS STUART to join HM Sloops AUCKLAND,
GRIMSBY and FLAMINGO for escort of Convoy AN30 to Suda Bay. Escorted HMS GRIMSBY towing mercantile
damaged by torpedo in an air attack.
10th - Return
passage to Alexandria.
16th - Deployed
with HMS COVENTRY, HMS AUCKLAND and HMAS VOYAGER
to take 700 troops of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders to Timbakion, Crete to reinforce defence
of the island.
18th - On
return to Alexandria resumed Inshore Squadron duties for relief of the Tobruk garrison.
June
Inshore Squadron Tobruk relief
duties in continuation.
16th - Deployed with HM Destroyers
VENDETTA (RAN), VOYAGER (RAN), VAMPIRE
(RAN), DEFENDER, DECOY. DAINTY, HM Sloops FLAMINGO,
AUCKLAND and PARRAMATTA (RAN) for supply of
stores and personnel to Tobruk garrison.
24th - Diverted from relief duty at
Mersa Matruh to assist HMS AUCKLAND which
was under heavy air attacks ENE of Tobruk.
25th - Arrived
on scene after sinking of HMS AUCKLAND and assisted HM Australian Sloop PARRAMATTA in rescue operations. Towed Petrol Carrier which had been under
escort to Alexandria.
28th - Sailed from Alexandria with
relief stores for Tobruk.
29th - Under heavy and sustained air
attacks off Sollum and disabled. Abandoned
and taken in tow by HM Destroyer DEFENDER.
30th - Capsized
and sank in position 32.15N 25.20E during tow.
Survivors were
rescued by HMS DEFENDER.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMAS WATERHEN
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
10/12/39
|
24/12/39
|
K 6
|
26/12/39
|
26/12/39
|
03/01/40
|
03/01/40
|
K 6A
|
05/01/40
|
09/01/40
|
08/10/40
|
08/10/40
|
MF 003
|
11/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
MF 004
|
13/10/40
|
13/10/40
|
04/11/40
|
04/11/40
|
MW 003
|
unknown
|
10/11/40
|
20/02/41
|
20/02/41
|
AS 015/1
|
24/02/41
|
24/02/41
|
14/03/41
|
14/03/41
|
AS 019/1
|
19/03/41
|
19/03/41
|
18/03/41
|
18/03/41
|
AN 021
|
20/03/41
|
22/03/41
|
06/05/41
|
06/05/41
|
AN 030
|
09/05/41
|
09/05/41
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)