W-Class destroyer
included in the 10th Order of the 1916-17 Programme for build by
Fairfield at Govan, Glasgow and laid down in April 1917. The ship was launched on 14th March 1918 as the 1st RN ship to carry the name and build was completed on
27th April that year. After service with the Grand Fleet in the 13th Destroyer
Flotilla during WW1 she was part of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet
in 1921. Later the Flotilla transferred to the Mediterranean where she was deployed until
she went into Reserve at Chatham. During 1938 she was
selected for conversion to an AA Escort (WAIR) by HM Dockyard Chatham which was
completed in May 1940. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
campaign in November. 1941 this ship was adopted by the
civil community of Bridgwater in Somerset.
B a t
t l e H o n o
u r s
DUNKIRK
1940 - NORTH SEA 1943-45
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field
Black, a wolfhound's head, Silver, collared Gold.
M o t
t o
'In at the death'
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 refit and conversion for use as an AA Escort.
to (For
details of conversion see V&W DESTROYERS 1917-1945 by A Preston).
December
1 9 4 0
January Under
conversion. (I 56 after conversion)
to
March
April Post
refit trials and commissioning for service.
May On
completion of trials and storing joined 1st Destroyer Flotilla at Portsmouth for
defence of
Channel convoys.
26th Detached
for support of evacuation of allied troops from France.
Carried cut bombardment of
Calais with HM Destroyer VERITY.
27th Deployed
in Dover Command for communication duties during evacuation from Dunkirk.
(Operation DYNAMO - See Naval Staff History, NINE DAYS AT DUNKIRK by AD Divine
and
BEF
SHIPS by J de Winser.)
(Note: Senior Officer's ships for evacuation - Captain WG Tennant, Royal Navy).
28th Embarked
142 troops for passage to Dover.
29th Resumed
duties at Dunkirk.
Sustained major damage in air attacks at Dunkirk.
Ship
broke her back but was salvaged and towed to Chatham for repair.
June Paid off
and under Dockyard Control.
Awaiting repair at Chatham.
(Note: Priority for repair work was given to damaged ships which could most easily be
quickly
returned to operation duties.
July Under
repair.
to (Note:
Major reconstruction was required).
December
1 9 4 1
Under
repair by HM Dockyard, Chatham.
1 9 4 2
January Under repair
by HM Dockyard Chatham
to August
Re-commissioned for trials.
September Carried out post repair harbour and sea trials
October Prepared for
operational service.
November On completion
deployed for convoy defence in North Sea.
December Convoy defence
duties in North Sea in continuation.
1 9 4 3
Deployed for convoy defence and patrol in
North Sea.
(Note: During this period Radar Type 285 was fitted for fire control of main armament
and
Type
286P to give surface and air warning.
See
RADAR AT SEA by D Howse for details of development and use of radar in
Provision of VHF radio telephone equipment enabled communication with aircraft
and
other
escorts.
See
also BATTLE OF THE NARROW SEA by Peter Scott).
1 9 4 4
North
Sea convoy defence and patrol in continuation.
(Note: NOT detached for support or escort duties during allied landings in France.
(Operation NEPTUNE).
1 9 4 5
January North Sea
convoy defence and patrol duties in continuation.
to (Note:
During this period enemy minelaying and submarine activities increased and
additional
April patrols
were carried out especially in
Thames estuary.
See
HOLD THE NARROW SEA by
P Smith and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by C
Barnett.
Atlantic convoys were also re-routed via
English Channel as there
was no longer an air
threat from bases in France).
May After VE
Day detached for support of the re-occupation of Norway.
14th Deployed
with HM Destroyer WOLSEY with Norwegian Corvettes to cover minesweeping
operations prior to allied occupation of Bergen. Deployed in Nore Command for
support of
reoccupation operations and local duties.
S p e c i a l N o t e
This destroyer with a fit of
armament very suited to convoy defence against sea and air attacks was amongst
other unsung heroines of North Sea convoy escort. Many convoys arrived without loss but the dangers
of operations in
coastal waters as well as those of
the enemy and weather were ever present.
Little publicity was given to these.
P o s
t W a r N o t e s
HMS WOLFHOUND was Paid off and
reduced to Reserve status after VJ Day.
She was put on the Disposal List and sold to BISCO in February 1948 for
demolition by Granton Shipbreakers.
The ship was towed to the breakers yard at Granton on the Forth later that year.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS
WOLFHOUND
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
13/06/40
|
13/06/40
|
MT 088
|
14/06/40
|
14/06/40
|
14/06/40
|
14/06/40
|
FS 0195
|
16/06/40
|
16/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
17/09/40
|
FN 0198A
|
18/06/40
|
18/06/40
|
21/06/40
|
21/06/40
|
MT 093
|
22/06/40
|
22/06/40
|
22/06/40
|
22/06/40
|
FS 0202
|
24/06/40
|
24/06/40
|
25/06/40
|
25/06/40
|
FN 0205
|
27/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
02/07/40
|
02/07/40
|
FN 0211
|
04/07/40
|
04/07/40
|
11/07/40
|
11/07/40
|
FS 0219
|
12/07/40
|
12/07/40
|
14/07/40
|
14/07/40
|
FN 0222
|
16/07/40
|
16/07/40
|
18/07/40
|
18/07/40
|
FS 0225
|
19/07/40
|
19/07/40
|
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
|
30/08/40
|
30/08/40
|
FS 0267
|
01/09/40
|
01/09/40
|
02/09/40
|
02/09/40
|
FN 0270
|
04/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
11/09/40
|
11/09/40
|
FN 0278
|
13/09/40
|
13/09/40
|
15/09/40
|
15/09/40
|
FS 0282
|
16/09/40
|
16/09/40
|
18/09/40
|
18/09/40
|
FN 0284
|
20/09/40
|
20/09/40
|
25/09/40
|
25/09/40
|
FS 0290
|
26/09/40
|
26/09/40
|
27/09/40
|
27/09/40
|
FN 0292
|
29/09/40
|
29/09/40
|
01/10/40
|
01/10/40
|
FS 0297
|
03/10/40
|
03/10/40
|
04/10/40
|
04/10/40
|
FN 0299
|
06/10/40
|
06/10/40
|
10/10/40
|
10/10/40
|
FS 0305
|
12/10/40
|
12/10/40
|
13/10/40
|
13/10/40
|
FN 0307
|
15/10/40
|
16/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
FN 0318
|
26/10/40
|
26/10/40
|
29/10/40
|
29/10/40
|
FS 0322
|
01/11/40
|
01/11/40
|
02/11/40
|
02/11/40
|
FN 0325
|
04/11/40
|
04/11/40
|
06/11/40
|
06/11/40
|
FS 0329
|
08/11/40
|
08/11/40
|
09/11/40
|
09/11/40
|
FN 0330
|
11/11/40
|
11/11/40
|
19/11/40
|
19/11/40
|
FS 0339
|
21/11/40
|
21/11/40
|
22/11/40
|
22/11/40
|
FN 0340
|
24/11/40
|
24/11/40
|
06/12/40
|
06/12/40
|
FS 0354
|
08/12/40
|
08/12/40
|
09/12/40
|
09/12/40
|
FN 0355
|
11/12/40
|
11/12/40
|
01/01/41
|
01/01/41
|
FS 0377
|
03/01/41
|
03/01/41
|
05/01/41
|
05/01/41
|
FN 0376
|
07/01/41
|
07/01/41
|
09/01/41
|
09/01/41
|
FS 0384
|
11/01/41
|
11/01/41
|
25/01/41
|
25/01/41
|
FN 0391
|
27/01/41
|
27/01/41
|
29/01/41
|
29/01/41
|
FS 0399
|
31/01/41
|
31/01/41
|
02/02/41
|
02/02/41
|
FN 0398
|
04/02/41
|
04/02/41
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)