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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2006

HMS ACHERON (H 45) -  A-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Acheron (CyberHeritage, click to enlarge)

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A-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from John I Thornycroft at Woolston under 1927 Programmes on 29th May 1928 and laid down on 29th October that year. The ship was launched on 18th March 1930 as the 5th RN ship to carry the name which was introduced in 1803. It had previously been carried by a pre WW1 destroyer sold in 1921. Build was completed on 31st October 1931 and the mechanical problems which became evident in the first year of her service plagued her for the whole of her service, despite a succession of modifications and refits. In September she was under repair at Portsmouth and did not immediately take up her war station until December 1939.  She was not adopted by a civil community.

 

B a t t l e  H o n o u r s

 

CAPE TENEZ 1805 - HELIGOLAND 1914 - DOGGER  BANK 1915 - JUTLAND   1916 - NORWAY   1940

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Black barry wavy of 4 Silver

 

M o t t o

Post tenbras lux:   'After darkness  light'

 

 

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 repair at Portsmouth.

                                Post repair trials and prepared for war service.

 

October                  Deployed with 18th Destroyer Flotilla based at Portsmouth for patrol and convoy defence in

to                            English Channel.

November

 

December

                12th        Taken in hand for machinery repair at Portsmouth.

 

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Under repair.

to

February

 

March                    Nominated for service with 16th Destroyer in Home Fleet

                23rd        On completion of post repair trials took passage to join Flotilla at Scapa Flow.

 

April                       Deployed with Flotilla in NW Approaches and North Sea.

                9th          After German invasion of Norway deployed for convoy defence and Fleet screening

                                duties in support of military landings in Norway.

                17th        Part of escort for HM Cruisers GALATEA, ARETHUSA, CARLISLE and CURACOA

                                with HM Destroyer ARROW (Operation MAURICE).

                                (Note: Cruisers were taking troops for landing at Lillesjona.

                                The landing was later transferred to Andalsnes and Molde (Operation SICKLE).

                18th        Detached on arrival in Andalsnes.

                19th        Deployed for patrol and escort duty in support of Norwegian operations.

                29th        Escorted M Aircraft Carrier GLORIOUS from Scapa Flow to cover evacuation of the allied

                                troops at Andalsnes.

                30th        Deployed with HM Destroyers ANTELOPE and BEAGLE for patrol and support

                                at Namsos

 

May

                1st           Resumed Fleet duties on arrival of HMS GLORIOUS on station.

                31st         Escorted HM Aircraft Carriers ARK ROYAL and GLORIOUS from Scapa Flow for

                                passage to Norway for support of final evacuation with HM Destroyers HIGHLANDER,

                                DIANA, ACASTA and ARDENT.

                                (For details of the disastrous operations off Norway see CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton,

                                NARVIK by D Macintyre, THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by Adams and the Naval Staff

                                History).

 

June

                2nd         Deployed in support of evacuation. Escorted ARK ROYAL for passage to UK as cover for passage

                                of Group II Convoy (Operation ALPHABET).

                9th          Resumed Flotilla duties on completion of ALPHABET.

                                Passage to English Channel for patrol and convoy defence.

                21st         3in High Angle gun fitted at Portsmouth to improve anti-aircraft defence.

 

July                         Channel duties in continuation.

                20th        In action with aircraft 10 miles South of St. Catherines Point.

                                Sustained damage by nine near misses during dive bombing attacks.

 

August                  Awaiting repair in HM Dockyard Portsmouth.

                6th          Taken in hand for repair.

                24th        Seriously damaged during air raid with two killed and three injured.

                                (Note: Whilst lying at NW Wall hit by bomb aft which exploded within after part of ship and

                                caused major damage to machinery, Y-gun and structure).

 

September             Under repair

to                            (Note: Y-Gun replaced by mounting from HM Destroyer BOADICEA.

October

 

November              Nominated for service as gunnery training destroyer.

 

December

                2nd         Repair work completed and began post refit trials.

                17th        Mined during post refit trials off Isle of Wight.

                                Sustained Major structural damage forward and ship sank quickly.

                                167 of ship's company crew killed together with 25 dockyard workmen.

                                There were only 19 survivors.

                                (Note: Thus concluded 9 years of service which was notable for its succession of

                                mechanical problems, mainly associated with her turbine machinery).

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS ACHERON

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

 

 

 

 

 

19/09/39

19/09/39

MB 005/1

21/09/39

21/09/39

23/09/39

23/09/39

MB 007/1

25/09/39

25/09/39

29/09/39

29/09/39

MB 009/1

30/09/39

30/09/39

01/10/39

01/10/39

MB 010/1

02/10/39

02/10/39

06/04/40

06/04/40

SA 036

08/04/40

08/04/40

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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revised 27/7/11
further editing and formatting is required


 

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