One of two Prototypes intended to determine the design of post 1918 RN destroyers. Designed and and built by John I Thornycroft at Woolston, Southampton under the 1924-25 Programme and commissioned on 5 May 1927. This ship had been under Dockyard Control since August 1936 and was re-commissioned in February 1939 for duty with the Torpedo School HMS VERNON. She was adopted by the Hinckley, Leicestershire after a successful WARSHIP WEEK in February 1942

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

MARTINIQUE  1762 - DROITS DE L'HOMME action 1797* - COPENHAGEN 1801 - BELLE POULE action  1806* - BELGIAN COAST  1914-16 - ATLANTIC 1939–43 - NORWAY  1940 - ARCTIC  1942 - MALTA CONVOYS 1942 - NORTH AFRICA 1942-43

(* Single Ship Actions)

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Red, an Amazon’s head Gold.

 

M o t t o

Audaciter: 'Boldly'

 

 

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

                3rd          Deployed with 18th Destroyer Flotilla on Convoy escort and A/S patrol duties in English

                                Channel and SW Approaches based at Plymouth.

 

October                  Convoy defence and A/S duties in continuation.

to                            (For details of anti-submarine and escort policy between September 1939 and March 1940

December              see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and Naval Staff History.)

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Deployed in SW Approaches

                17th        Joined inward Convoy HG15F during passage from Gibraltar as escort.

                22nd       Detached from HG15F on arrival at Liverpool.

 

February                Deployed for convoy defence in Channel and SW Approaches in continuation.

to

March

 

April

                8th          Transferred to Home Fleet for A/S defence of convoys during operations off Norway.

                27th        Deployed with HM Destroyers AFRIDI and AMAZON for escort of supply convoy to Norway

                                and under air attacks on arrival at destination landing from only two mercantiles was possible.

                28th        Under further air attacks during escort of return convoy.

                                See Naval Staff History –2000)

                29th        Carried out attacks on submarine.

                                (Note: This was not successful. See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)

 

May                        Norwegian support and escort in continuation.

                                (For details of naval operations in Norway see above references, NARVIK by D. Macintyre,

                                CARRIER GLORIOUS by J. Winton and THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by Adams.)

                27th        Escorted damaged destroyer HMS ESKIMO from Harstad to Home waters with HM Destroyer

                                VOLUNTEER and HM Sloop FLEETWOOD.

                                Pennant Number changed to I39 to conform with changes to identities for all Fleet units.

 

June                        Norwegian evacuation convoys escort (Operation ALPHABET)

                10th        Transferred to D16 based at Harwich.

                                Deployed for East Coast convoy defence and anti-invasion patrol.

 

July                         Harwich deployment in continuation.

 

August                  Transferred to 12th Destroyer Flotilla at Belfast for convoy escort duty in Western Approaches

                                Command.

 

September             Atlantic escort duty in continuation with Flotilla.

to

October

 

November              Transferred to 3rd Escort Group for Atlantic convoy defence. Deployed with Group in Atlantic.

 

December              Deployment with Group for Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Deployed for defence of UK - Iceland convoys.

                                Escorted Armed Merchant Cruiser on passage to Northern Patrol station.

                                Taken in hand for refit in Glasgow commercial shipyard.

 

February                Under refit.

 

March                    Rejoined Group on completion and deployed in Atlantic convoy defence based in Iceland.

                                (For details of Atlantic Convoy defence see BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Maclntyre,

                                THE U BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and ESCORT COMMANDER by P Gretton)

 

April                       Iceland deployment with Group for escort of convoys in North Atlantic continued

                                (Note: Group included HM Destroyers BULLDOG and AMAZON, three FLOWER Class corvettes

                                and three Trawlers to resume convoy defence deployment in 3rd Escort Group.

 

May                        Took passage with Group from Iceland as escort for HM Armed Merchant Cruiser RANPURA and

                                four freighters to join Convoy OB 318 and relieve ships of 7th Escort Group as escort during mid

                                Atlantic passage.

                7th          Relief of 7th Escort Group delayed to improve defence of OB381 from known threat of U-Boat

                                attacks.

                                Both Groups formed escort for OB318.

                                Under torpedo attack by U94 during which two mercantiles were sunk.

                                Carried out attacks on U94 with HM Destroyer BULLDOG and HM Sloop ROCHESTER of 7th

                                Escort Group.

                                (Note: The four hour attacks damaged U94 which had to abort planned second attack.)

                                Sustained damage to steering gear and rigged sail until defect repaired.

                                See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.

                8th          Rejoined Group in escort for OB318.

                9th          Further U-Boat attacks on convoy by U110 and U201. Two mercantiles were sunk.

                                Remained with convoy during anti-submarine operations by HM Destroyers BULLDOG and

                                BROADWAY during which Ul10 was taken in tow but sank later.

                                See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp for details.

                                Embarked rescued survivors and U110 prisoners from HM Corvette AUBRETIA,

                                Resumed OB318 escort with two other corvettes and two trawlers.

                                Taken in hand for repair on return to Iceland.

 

June                        Rejoined EG3 on completion.

 

July                         NW Approaches convoy defence in continuation

to

August

 

September             Escorted Convoy SCW(?).

 

October                  Escorted Convoys ON24 and SCA8 (?).

 

November              Escorted Convoy ON31.

 

December              Atlantic convoy defence duty in continuation.

                                Nominated for refit

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Under refit in Liverpool commercial shipyard.

to

March

 

April                       On completion deployed with Home Fleet for defence of Russian convoys.

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

                                CONVOY ! by P. Kemp, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman and RUSSIAN CONVOYS

                                by B. Schoefield).

                                Nominated for Ocean Escort of Russian Convoy PQ14 and returning QP11

                                (Note: Distant cover was to be provided for this convoy and returning QP10 by major units of Home Fleet )

                12th        Joined PQ14 as Ocean Escort with HM Destroyers BEAGLE, BEVERLEY, BULLDOG.

                                HM Corvettes CAMPANULA, OXLIP, SAXIFRAGE, SNOWFLAKE and three trawlers.

                                (Note: HM Cruiser EDINBURGH was on passage to Murmansk to collect cargo of gold, bullion.)

                                (Note two of the trawlers did not complete passage to Kola.).

                17th        Eastern Local Escort joined.

                19th        Arrived at Murmansk with PQ14

                                For details of the eventful passage see above references.

                                (Note: German destroyers HERMANN SCHOEMANN, Z24 and Z25 failed to make contact

                28th        Sailed from Murmansk as Ocean Escort for QP11 with HM Destroyers FORESTER and FORESIGHT and

                                same ships as arrived with PQ14.

                29th        Under threat of submarine attacks.

                30th        HM Cruiser EDINBURGH joined convoy after embarking gold bullion at Murmansk.

                                Under attacks by U88 and U 456.

                                HMS EDINBURGH hit by torpedo from U456 and sustained serious damage.

                                with HMS BULLDOG, HMS BEAGLE and BEVERLEY

 

May

                1st           Under air attacks and later attacks by German destroyer HERMANN SCHOEMANN, Z24 and Z2 sent to

                                attack HMS EDINBURGH

                                In action against German ships with HMS EDINBURGH and destroyers of Close Escort.

                                (Note: HMS EDINBURGH sustained further significant damage from return fire from enemy destroyers.

                                Ship sustained damage to steering gear with several casualties including her Captain who was subsequently

                                awarded the DSC.

                                HMS EDINBURGH detached and took passage to Murmansk with HMS FORESTER and HMS

                                FORESIGHT.

                                (Note: HMS EDINBURGH was subjected to further attacks by the German destroyers and had to be

                                abandoned and sunk on 2nd May. See references for details.)

                3rd          Detached from QP11 with HMS BEVERLEY and took passage to land wounded in Iceland.

                                Passage to Clyde for repair.

 

June                        Under repair in Clyde shipyard.

 

July                         On completion Joined Greenock Escort Force for Atlantic convoy defence.

                                Escorted convoy to Halifax.

August                  Detached for duty with Home Fleet for Malta Convoy WS21 (Operation PEDESTAL).

                                For details see PEDESTAL by P. Smith, Naval Staff History, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                                CLOSELY, THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D. Macintyre and MALTA

                                CONVOYS by R Woodman.

                10th        Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS during aircraft delivery to Malta concurrent with

                                PEDESTAL (Operation BELLOWS).

                11th        Escorted HM Tug JAUNTY to join Refuelling Group (Force R) which was with PEDESTAL ships.

                                (Note: HMS JAUNTY had rescued some of survivors from HMS EAGLE on board.)

                13th        Deployed with HM Destroyers ANTELOPE, WISHART, WESTCOTT and ZETLAND for

                                escort of HMS INDOMITABLE and HM Destroyer ITHURIEL during passage to Gibraltar.

                                (Note: These two ships were returning to Gibraltar for repair after damage during air attacks

                                on PEDESTAL convoy.)

                16th        Passage to Scapa Flow.

 

September

                9th          Part of escort for tankers deployed to establish a fuelling base for replenishment of escorts for

                                Convoys PQ18 and returning QP14. and re-supply Norwegian meteorological station.

                                (Note: HM Destroyers ECLIPSE, BULLDOG, ECHO and VENOMOUS were also involved.)

                                Passage from Lowe Sound to joined escort for return Convoy QP 14 on completion.

 

October                  Deployed for escort of convoys to Gibraltar for North African landings. (Operation TORCH)

 

 

November              Deployed at Gibraltar for support of TORCH convoy defence.

                8th          Deployed for escort of assault convoy to Oran.

                                Returned to UK on release from TORCH duties.

                                For details of allied operations in TORCH see Naval Staff History, ENGAGE THE ENEMY

                                MORE CLOSELY and RELUCTANT ENEMIES by N. Tute).

 

December              Nominated for refit and took passage to UK

                                Under refit in commercial shipyard at Troon.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Under refit

to

March.

 

April                       Joined Western Approaches Command on completion and deployed on Atlantic convoy defence.

                                Nominated for convoy defence based at Freetown

 

May                        Passage to Gibraltar,

 

June                        Deployed at Gibraltar

                                Nominated for escort of military Convoy WS31 during passage to Freetown.

                26th        Joined WS31 with HM Destroyers BLACKMORE, BULLDOG and FOXHOUND as relief for

                                Home Fleet ships which had formed escort from Clyde.

 

July

                4th          Detached from WD31 on arrival at Freetown and commenced duties with Freetown Escort Force

                                for convoy escort and patrol.

 

August                  Freetown deployment in continuation.

to

September

 

October                  Passage to UK for refit.

 

November              Under refit at Rosyth.

                                Hull condition found unsatisfactory for ocean escort duty

                                Allocated for use as air target ship.

 

December              Deployed as Target Ship.

                                (Note: Air Target ships were stationed at specific sites in coastal waters, clear of convoy routes

                                and used for training of aircrew in warships recognition and procedures for attacks on

                                shipping. They were used for Fleet Air arm and RAF training.)

 

1 9 4 4

 

                                Target Ship duty in continuation.

                                Withdrawn from duty in December.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Used for structural tests by Naval Constructive Research Establishment at Rosyth

to April

 

May                        Placed on Disposal List.

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS AMAZON remained in use for underwater explosion trials until 1948 when  placed on Sales List. She was sold to BISCO for demolition by West of Scotland Shipbuilder and arrived at the Breaker’s yard at Troon, Ayrshire on 6th October that year. This name was carried forward in April 1971 when given to a Type 21 Frigate built at Woolston Southampton as First of Class for a new design warship. This Class had been designed by Vosper-Thornycroft in conjunction with Yarrow Shipbuilders and has a direct relationship with the arrangements made for the previous HMS AMAZON in 1924.

 

---

 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS AMAZON

by Don Kindell 

 

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above

(Note on Convoys)