W-Class
destroyer ordered on 9th December 1916 from JS White at Cowes, IoW under the
1916-17 Build Programme and laid down on 25th May 1917. The
ship was launched on 15th December 1917 and was the 7th RN ship to
carry the name, introduced in 1694 and probably named after the 6th Earl of Winchelsea (1647-1730) who was a Lord
of the Admiralty in 1679 and a supporter of William III. The last ship to bear
the name was a 5th Rate of 1740. Build was completed on 15th March 1918. In the
immediate post-war years this ship served in both
Atlantic and Mediterranean Fleets and in 1938 was
serving with the 5th Submarine Flotilla at Portsmouth as Senior Officer’s ship. Following a successful
WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 she was
adopted by the civil community of Winslow,
Cheshire.
B a t t l e
H o n o u r s
GUADALOUPE 1794 - MARTINIQUE 1794 - EGYPT 1801
- ATLANTIC
1939-45 - DUNKIRK 1940 - NORTH SEA 1942
H e r a l d i c
D a t a
B a d g e: On a Field Blue a Lymphad Gold.
M o t t o
Filia classium matris: 'Daughter of the Mother of Fleets'
photographed from unknown ship (Michael Pocock)
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 at Portland in 11th Destroyer Flotilla for convoy escort
and anti-submarine patrol.
9th Escorted Convoy OB2 with HM Destroyers VANQUISHER and WALKER.
11th Escorted Convoy OB3 with HM Destroyer MACKAY
Detached to assist HM Destroyers VANQUISHER and
WALKER after they had
collided and sustained serious damage with
several casualties.
October
Channel deployment in continuation.
November
Transferred to Western Approaches Command for convoy defence based at
Plymouth.
December SW
Approaches convoy escort and patrol in continuation.
1 9 4 0
January
6th Joined outward Convoy OG13 on formation in SW Approaches with HM
Destroyer
VENETIA as escort for initial stage of passage to
Gibraltar.
8th Detached from OG13 with HMS VENETIA and took passage to Plymouth.
February
3rd Joined outward Convoy OG17F on formation in SW Approaches with HM
Destroyers BROKE
VELOX, VERSATILE and HM Sloop ENCHANTRESS as
escort during passage to Gibraltar.
Detached from OG17F and took passage with HMS
BROKE to meet inward Convoy
HG17F during passage to Liverpool from
Gibraltar.
4th Joined HG17F escorted by HM Destroyer BROKE, and HM Sloop SANDWICH
with
with HMS BROKE to supplement escort during final
stage of passage to Liverpool.
6th HMS BROKE detached.
7th Detached with escort on arrival of HG17F at Liverpool.
March
11th Joined outward Convoy OG21 on formation in SW Approaches with HMS
BROKE and
HM Destroyer VIMY as escort during initial stage
of passage to Gibraltar.
Detached from OG21 on arrival of two French
warships and took passage to join inward
Convoy HG21 on passage from Gibraltar.
Relieved HM Destroyers VELOX and VIDETTE with HM
Destroyer WINDSOR as escort for
inward HG21 during passage to Liverpool.
13th Detached with escort on arrival of HG21 at Liverpool and returned to Plymouth.
23rd Joined inward Convoy HG23F with HM Destroyers WAKEFUL and WHITEHALL
in place of two French warships as escort during
final stage passage to Liverpool.
26th Detached with escort on arrival of HG23F at Liverpool.
(Note: Destroyers based at Plymouth were
transferred to Liverpool when the
headquarters of Western Approaches
April Western Approaches deployment in continuation.
May Detached for service in Nore Command in support of
evacuation of allied troops
from Dunkirk (Operation DYNAMO).
For details see Naval Staff History and BEF
SHIPS by J de Winser.
28th Deployed at Dover and for support of evacuation.
29th Landed 458 troops at Dover.
30th Landed 925 troops at Dover.
31st During embarkation of troops at Dunkirk with HM Destroyer VENOMOUS,
WHITEHALL and Yacht GRIVE under air attacks.
(Note: On departure HMS WHITEHALL and GRIVE
were involved in collision.)
Took passage to Dover with HMS VENOMOUS.
June Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes
changed to I46 to conform with
revision of these identities for RN warships.
1st Landed 1,150 troops at Dover.
2nd Landed 460 troops at Dover.
3rd Landed 152 troops at Dover.
On release from DYNAMO deployed in Channel for
patrol and convoy defence.
Nominated for support of evacuation operations
from Channel Islands and
ports in Bay of Biscay.
17th Passage to St Malo for support of evacuation.
18th Sailed from St Nazaire as part of escort for returning troopships.
20th Arrived at Plymouth with returning ships.
Resumed deployment at Liverpool for Atlantic
convoy defence.
July Atlantic escort deployment in continuation.
to (For details of convoy defence and deployment of
U-Boats in
December
the Atlantic see U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO),
THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre and
CONVOY ESCORT COMMANDER by P Gretton.)
1 9 4 1
January
Atlantic deployment in continuation.
to
February
March
25th Deployed with HM Destroyers LEGION, BROADWATER, BEDOUIN
MASHONA, MATABELE, SOMALI, ROCKINGHAM, ST CLARE,
ECLIPSE, VICEROY, FOXHOUND, French destroyer
LEOPARD
and Polish destroyer ORP PIORUN as Local Escort
for military convoy
WS7 during passage to Middle East in NW
Approaches.
(Note: HM Cruiser CAIRO provided AA defence in
NW Approaches
and Ocean Escort was HM Cruiser EDINBURGH).
26th Detached from WS7 with HMS LEGION, HMS CAIRO, HMS
and HMS ROCKINGHAM for return passage to Clyde.
April Resumed commercial convoy defence.
May Atlantic convoy escort in continuation
June
3rd Deployed with HM Cruiser CAIRO, HM Armed Merchant Cruiser
AUSONIA, HM Destroyers COSSACK, MAORI, OTTAWA
(RCN),
RAMSEY, RESTIGOUCHE (RCN),
RICHMOND, SIKH, VANQUISHER
and ZULU for Local Escort of military convoy
WS9A during passage in
NW Approaches.
(Note: HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM and HM Armed
Merchant Cruiser
DUNNOTTAR CASTLE provided Ocean Escort for
passage to Freetown.)
7th Detached from WS7 with Local Escort and returned to Clyde.
29th Joined military convoy WS9B in Irish Sea as Local Escort for passage
in NW Approaches with HMS CAIRO, HM Destroyers
CASTLETON,
MAORI, ST FRANCIS, VANQUISHER, WOLVERINE, WELLS,
READING, Polish destroyers ORP GARLAND and
PIORUN.
(Note: HM Cruisers EDINBURGH and GALATEA
provided Ocean
Escort with HM Armed Merchant Cruisers CATHAY.
MORETON BAY and CHITRAL.)
July
2nd Detached from WS9B with Local Escort except HMS READING
which remained until 3rd.
Passage to Clyde with ships of Local Escort.
13th Joined military convoy WS9C in Clyde for Local Escort during passage
in NWE Approaches with HM Sloop STORK, HM
Destroyers GURKHA
VANOC and WANDERER.
13th (Note: This convoy which was mainly composed of ships for
passage to Malta in Operation SUBSTANCE was also
escorted by ships of the Home Fleet. See MALTA
CONVOYS
by R Woodman and THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN
by D Macintyre.)
Detached from WS9C independent of Local escort.)
August
2nd Joined military convoy WS10 in Clyde as part of Local Escort during
passage in NW Approaches with HMS CAIRO, HM
Armed
Merchant Cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE, HM Destroyers
WHITEHALL
WITCH, BROADWAY, GURKHA, LANCE, LEGION, LIVELY,
Dutch destroyer ISAAC SWEERS and Polish ORP
PIORUN.
(Note: Ocean Escort was provided by HM Cruiser
EDINBURGH.)
6th Detached from WS10 with HMS CAIRO, HMS WHITEHALL and
HMS WITCH for return passage to Clyde.
9th Deployed with HM Destroyers BULLDOG, CASTLETON, ECHO,
CHARLESTOWN, INTREPID, WHITEHALL and WITCH as
escort
for military convoy WS8C from Clyde to Scapa
Flow.
(Note: This convoy was on passage to join other
ships for a planned
landing of British forces in the Azores which
was cancelled
later in the month.)
10th Detached from WS8C on arrival and took passage to Clyde.
31st Deployed as Local Escort for military convoy WSS11 during passage
in NW Approaches from Clyde with HMS CAIRO, HM
Destroyers
COSSACK, HIGHLANDER, LEGION, LIVELY, ZULU, Dutch
destroyer ISAAC SWEERS and Polish ORP PIORUN.
(Note: Ocean Escort comprised HM Battlecruiser
REPULSE, HM Destroyers ENCOUNTER,
NESTOR, HM Sloop SUTLEJ (RIN), HM Cutters SENNEN
and TOTLAND
as well as HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD and HM Aircraft
Carrier FURIOUS for initial
part of passage.)
September
Detached from WS11 with Local Escort and returned to Clyde.
Resumed convoy escort for routine Atlantic
convoys
October
Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.
to Nominated for conversion to Long Range Escort.
December
(See General Information, BRITISH DESTROYERS by E March and V&W Destroyers
by A Preston.
1 9 4 2
January
Taken in hand for conversion by HM Dockyard, Sheerness.
February
Under conversion and refit
to
March
Nominated for service with 4th Escort Group on completion.
(Note: In May 1942 this Group re-designated B4
consisted of HM Destroyers HIGHLANDER,
ROXBOROUGH, WINCHELSEA, BEVERLEY, HM Corvettes
BORAGE,
ABELIA,
ANEMONE, PENNYWORT, ASPHODEL and
CLOVER.)
April Post refit trials and passage for work-up.
May Joined Group for Atlantic convoy escort on completion
of work-up.
to (Note: During this period the Group escorted
outward convoy ONS99.
June and returned as escort for inward convoy SC87.
For details of the increase in U-Boat
deployments between 1941 and 1943 see
HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by C Barnett.)
June Deployed at Greenock for escort duties.
to
July
August
Group ships escorted Convoys HX99, ONS126, HX204 and ONS130
to without loss of any ships.
September HM
Destroyer BEVERLEY joined Group.
October
Escort of inward convoy HX209 by ships of Group.
2nd HX 209 under attacks by LUCHS U-Boat Group which was provided with
air cover by
CATALINA aircraft and arrived in
UK with loss of only one ship.
Escorted Convoy ONS14O which was under threat of
attacks by BELCHEN Group but
arrived at Mid Ocean Meeting Point without loss.
See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR.
November
Group escorted Convoy HX214 from meeting point without loss.
December
Group escorted Convoys HX220 and ONS150 without loss.
1 9 4 3
January
Group escorted Convoy ON161 to meeting point without loss.
(Note: Corvettes in Group were HMS ABELIA,
ASPHODEL,
CLOVER, PENNYWORT and SNOWFLAKE.
February
Group escorted Convoy ONS169 with loss of only one ship.
(Note: This convoy was diverted from planned
course to avoid
attacks by RAUBGRAF Group. See above
references.)
March
Deployed with Group as escort for Convoy HX229 which
had a disastrous crossing with extreme weather
conditions
and series of attacks by RAUBGRAF Group losing
13 of the
ships in convoy. See above references.
April Group escorted Convoys HX234 and ONS176 with loss of
two
ships in each convoy.
(Note: This period was the peak of the German
onslaught and is well documented.
For details of the weapons and tactics used in
defence and for attacks
on Atlantic convoys also SEEK AND STRIKE by
W Hackmann.)
May Group escorted Convoy ON183 to meeting point without
loss.
June Atlantic convoy escort with Group in continuation.
to
July
August
Transferred with Group to GIBRALTAR for escort duties in
Atlantic and western Mediterranean.
(Note: This deployment was made to counter the
increase of U-Boat activities in
the area by increase in defence of the military
convoys on passage for
support of military operations.)
September
Gibraltar based deployment in continuation with Group.
to
October
November
19th Deployed to reinforce defence of merged Convoy MKS30/SL139
which had been under sustained attacks by SCHILL
U-Boat Group
with support from Fw 200 aircraft. See
references.
December
Gibraltar deployment in continuation with Group.
1 9 4 4
January
Group deployment at Gibraltar in continuation.
to Nominated for return to Home waters for coastal
convoy defence
April (Note: Home Waters requirements had increased due
to
planned allied invasion and more modern escorts
had become available for defence of Atlantic
traffic.)
May Passage to UK for coastal convoy defence in Nore
Command.
June Coastal convoy defence deployment in North Sea.
to Note: Did not take part in escort of assault and
Build-up
August
convoys during allied landings (Operation NEPTUNE)
September
Coastal convoy escort in North Sea.
to
December
1 9 4 5
January
Deployed for patrol and convoy defence in North Sea
to (Note: During this period the increase in attacks
in coastal waters by SCHNORKEL
February
fitted submarines and midget submarines as well minelaying by these craft made
necessary additional patrols in Nore Command to
protect military convoys to
Channel and North Sea ports. Atlantic convoys were also re-routed through
English Channel as the threat of air attack from
French bases had been removed.)
Withdrawn from operational service and reduced
to Reserve
status. Paid-off and destored.
March
Placed on Disposal List.
20th Sold to Metal Industries for breaking-up.
P o s t W a r
N o t e
HMS WINCHELSEA was towed to the
breaker’s yard at Rosyth and arrived for demolition
at Charlestown, near Rosyth in August 1945.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS
WINCHELSEA
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
09/09/39
|
09/09/39
|
OB 002
|
10/09/39
|
14/09/39
|
|
11/09/39
|
11/09/39
|
OB 003
|
15/09/39
|
16/09/39
|
|
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
|
|
17/10/39
|
17/10/39
|
OB 021
|
20/10/39
|
22/10/39
|
|
27/10/39
|
27/10/39
|
OB 026
|
30/10/39
|
01/11/39
|
|
06/11/39
|
06/11/39
|
OB 031
|
09/11/39
|
11/11/39
|
|
31/10/39
|
10/11/39
|
HXF 007
|
12/11/39
|
12/11/39
|
|
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
|
28/11/39
|
03/12/39
|
|
04/12/39
|
04/12/39
|
OB 047
|
07/12/39
|
08/12/39
|
|
14/12/39
|
14/12/39
|
OB 053
|
17/12/39
|
19/12/39
|
|
22/12/39
|
22/12/39
|
OB 058
|
25/12/39
|
26/12/39
|
|
06/01/40
|
06/01/40
|
OG 013
|
08/01/40
|
12/01/40
|
|
01/01/40
|
16/01/40
|
SL 015
|
19/01/40
|
19/01/40
|
|
25/01/40
|
25/01/40
|
OB 079
|
28/01/40
|
28/01/40
|
|
01/02/40
|
01/02/40
|
OB 083
|
03/02/40
|
03/02/40
|
|
03/02/40
|
03/02/40
|
OG 017F
|
03/02/40
|
09/02/40
|
|
29/01/40
|
04/02/40
|
HG 017F
|
07/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
|
09/02/40
|
09/02/40
|
OB 089
|
12/02/40
|
14/02/40
|
|
31/01/40
|
13/02/40
|
HX 018
|
16/02/40
|
16/02/40
|
|
15/02/40
|
15/02/40
|
OB 092
|
18/02/40
|
18/02/40
|
|
26/02/40
|
26/02/40
|
OB 099
|
29/02/40
|
01/03/40
|
|
08/03/40
|
08/03/40
|
OB 105
|
09/03/40
|
09/03/40
|
|
04/03/40
|
11/03/40
|
HG 021
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
|
17/03/40
|
23/03/40
|
HG 023F
|
26/03/40
|
26/03/40
|
|
26/03/40
|
26/03/40
|
OB 119
|
unknown
|
29/03/40
|
|
21/03/40
|
02/04/40
|
HX 029
|
04/04/40
|
04/04/40
|
|
10/05/40
|
10/05/40
|
OA 145G
|
unknown
|
12/05/40
|
|
12/05/40
|
12/05/40
|
OG 029
|
13/05/40
|
16/05/40
|
|
19/05/40
|
19/05/40
|
OB 151
|
22/05/40
|
22/05/40
|
|
09/05/40
|
23/05/40
|
SL 031
|
26/05/40
|
26/05/40
|
|
25/06/40
|
08/07/40
|
HX 053
|
09/07/40
|
10/07/40
|
|
03/07/40
|
14/07/40
|
HX 055
|
14/07/40
|
18/07/40
|
|
23/07/40
|
23/07/40
|
OB 188
|
27/07/40
|
27/07/40
|
|
23/07/40
|
04/08/40
|
HX 060
|
06/08/40
|
07/08/40
|
|
11/08/40
|
11/08/40
|
OB 196
|
14/08/40
|
15/08/40
|
|
22/08/40
|
23/08/40
|
OB 202
|
25/08/40
|
26/08/40
|
|
11/08/40
|
27/08/40
|
SL 043
|
31/08/40
|
31/08/40
|
|
04/09/40
|
05/09/40
|
OB 209
|
08/09/40
|
09/09/40
|
|
28/08/40
|
09/09/40
|
HX 069
|
12/09/40
|
12/09/40
|
|
13/09/40
|
13/09/40
|
OB 213
|
unknown
|
18/09/40
|
|
05/09/40
|
18/09/40
|
HX 071
|
20/09/40
|
20/09/40
|
|
25/09/40
|
25/09/40
|
OB 219
|
29/09/40
|
30/09/40
|
|
17/09/40
|
29/09/40
|
HX 074
|
21/09/40
|
02/10/40
|
|
27/09/40
|
09/10/40
|
SC 006
|
11/10/40
|
12/10/40
|
|
28/11/40
|
15/12/40
|
SL 057
|
unknown
|
19/12/40
|
|
26/12/40
|
26/12/40
|
OB 265
|
30/12/40
|
30/12/40
|
|
08/01/41
|
08/01/41
|
OB 271
|
12/01/41
|
12/01/41
|
|
01/01/41
|
13/01/41
|
HX 100
|
16/01/41
|
18/01/41
|
|
22/01/41
|
22/01/41
|
OB 277
|
27/01/41
|
27/01/41
|
|
15/01/41
|
28/01/41
|
HX 103
|
31/01/41
|
01/02/41
|
|
05/02/41
|
05/02/41
|
OG 052
|
09/02/41
|
21/02/41
|
|
27/01/41
|
10/02/41
|
HG 052
|
15/02/41
|
15/02/41
|
|
23/02/41
|
23/02/41
|
OB 290
|
26/02/41
|
27/02/14
|
|
10/03/41
|
11/03/41
|
OB 296
|
15/03/41
|
15/03/41
|
|
28/02/41
|
15/03/41
|
SC 024
|
19/03/41
|
19/03/41
|
|
21/03/41
|
05/04/41
|
HX 116
|
09/04/41
|
09/04/41
|
|
29/03/41
|
20/04/41
|
SL 070
|
20/04/41
|
23/04/41
|
|
11/05/41
|
12/05/41
|
OB 321
|
16/05/41
|
17/05/41
|
|
06/05/41
|
16/05/41
|
HG 061
|
20/05/41
|
20/05/41
|
|
10/05/41
|
30/05/41
|
SL 074
|
02/06/41
|
04/06/41
|
|
21/07/41
|
26/07/41
|
TC 012
|
29/07/41
|
29/07/41
|
|
20/08/41
|
20/08/41
|
ON 009
|
23/08/41
|
25/08/41
|
|
10/09/41
|
12/09/41
|
HX 149
|
16/09/41
|
25/09/41
|
|
30/04/42
|
04/05/42
|
SC 082
|
16/05/42
|
16/05/42
|
|
29/05/42
|
30/05/42
|
ON 099
|
07/06/42
|
12/06/42
|
|
12/06/42
|
15/06/42
|
SC 087
|
25/06/42
|
27/06/42
|
|
03/07/42
|
04/07/42
|
ON 109
|
10/07/42
|
18/07/42
|
|
19/07/42
|
22/07/42
|
HX 199
|
29/07/42
|
30/07/42
|
|
09/08/42
|
10/08/42
|
ON 120
|
21/08/42
|
27/08/42
|
|
23/08/42
|
26/08/42
|
HX 204
|
03/09/42
|
04/09/42
|
|
11/09/42
|
14/09/42
|
ON 129
|
20/09/42
|
25/09/42
|
|
19/09/42
|
26/09/42
|
SC 102
|
05/10/42
|
06/10/42
|
|
16/10/42
|
17/10/42
|
ON 139
|
27/10/42
|
01/11/42
|
|
09/11/42
|
16/11/42
|
SC 109
|
22/11/42
|
30/11/42
|
|
26/11/42
|
26/11/42
|
RU 050
|
01/12/42
|
01/12/42
|
|
01/12/42
|
05/12/42
|
ON 150
|
15/12/42
|
25/12/42
|
|
21/12/42
|
26/12/42
|
HX 220
|
09/01/43
|
09/01/43
|
|
25/05/43
|
06/06/43
|
HX 241
|
09/06/43
|
10/06/43
|
|
19/06/43
|
20/06/43
|
ONS 011
|
01/07/43
|
05/07/43
|
|
08/07/43
|
12/07/43
|
SC 136
|
22/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
|
28/07/43
|
28/07/43
|
KMS 022G
|
09/08/43
|
09/08/43
|
|
09/08/43
|
09/08/43
|
KMS 022
|
11/08/43
|
20/08/43
|
|
14/08/43
|
14/08/43
|
MKS 021G
|
27/08/43
|
25/08/43
|
|
05/09/43
|
05/09/43
|
KMS 026G
|
11/09/43
|
18/09/43
|
|
16/11/43
|
19/11/43
|
SL 139MK
|
22/11/43
|
26/11/43
|
|
03/01/44
|
03/01/44
|
OS 064KM
|
16/01/44
|
15/01/44
|
|
16/01/44
|
16/01/44
|
KMS 038G
|
17/01/44
|
17/01/44
|
|
23/01/44
|
24/01/44
|
SL 146MK
|
31/01/44
|
02/02/44
|
|
12/02/44
|
12/02/44
|
OS 068KM
|
23/02/44
|
23/02/44
|
|
24/02/44
|
24/02/44
|
KMS 042G
|
25/02/44
|
25/02/44
|
|
21/02/44
|
02/03/44
|
SL 150
|
03/03/44
|
03/03/44
|
|
03/03/44
|
03/03/44
|
SL 150MK
|
04/03/44
|
14/03/44
|
|
02/03/44
|
09/03/44
|
MKF 029
|
15/03/44
|
16/03/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
