A-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from Hawthorn
Leslie at Hebburn, Newcastle on 6th March 1928 under the 1927 Programme and
laid down on 10th July that year. She was launched on 9th July 1929 as the 23rd
R N ship to carry this name, introduced in 1758 for a Frigate and last borne by
a 1904 cruiser sold in 1920 and a trawler hired for use as
minesweepers
in 1915. Build was completed on 9th February 1930 and she commissioned for
service on 10th April 1930. Her pre-war service, apart from refits in UK was
with the Mediterranean Fleet until October 1938 when she was placed in Reserve.
Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings Campaign in February 1942
she was adopted by the civil community of Beeston and Stapleford in
Nottinghamshire. This ship had the distinction of serving in many areas abroad
during WW2 and was one of the very few destroyers built before 1939 to survive
without major damage.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
LAGOS 1759 - TRINCOMALEE 1782 - CAMPERDOWN 1797 - EGYPT
1801 - LISSA 1811 - PELAGOSA
1811 - ASHANTEE
1873-4 - JUTLAND 1916 - ATLANTIC 1939-45 - BISMARCK 1941 - ARCTIC 1941
H e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Blue, a
Chamois saliant Gold.
M o t t
o
Festina lente:
'Hasten slowly'
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 with 13th
Destroyer Flotilla based at Gibraltar.
3rd Nominated
interception patrol to enforce blockade and convoy defence.
October
Escort and patrol in Atlantic in continuation.
Nominated for refit.
November Under refit at Gibraltar.
December
1st On
completion of Post Refit trials rejoined Flotilla and resumed Local
Flotilla duties.
29th Joined outward Convoy
HG13F with HM Destroyer WISHART as escort for initial stage of
passage to Liverpool.
1 9 4 0
January
3rd Detached from
HG13F on relief by HM Destroyers VETERAN and WANDERER and took
passage to Gibraltar with HMS WISHART.
21st Deployed as escort
for outward Convoy HG16F with HM Destroyer WHITEHALL during
initial stage of passage to Liverpool.
28th Detached from HG16 with
HMS WHITEHALL and took passage to Gibraltar.
February
9th Deployed as
escort for outward Convoy HG18 with French destroyers VALMY and
VIKINGS during initial stage of passage to Liverpool
10th Detached from HG18 and
took passage to Gibraltar
17th Joined HM Sloops
BIDEFORD, LEITH and HM Destroyer VERSATILE escorting inward
Convoy 18F during passage into Gibraltar and detached on arrival.
22nd Joined inward Convoy OG
18 during final stage of Atlantic passage to Gibraltar and
detached on arrival at
Gibraltar
March
4th Deployed with
HM Destroyers VELOX, VIDETTE and VIMY as escort for outward
Convoy HG21 during initial stage of passage to Liverpool.
6th Detached from
HG 21 and took passage to join French destroyers TIGRE and VIKINGS
escorting inward Convoy OG22F from Liverpool to Gibraltar.
7th Detached from
OG22 on arrival.
9th Joined HG22F
with French destroyers TIGRE and VIKINGS. as escort for initial stage of
passage to Liverpool.
Detached from HG22F with French destroyers and returned to Gibraltar.
April
Local Flotilla duties at Gibraltar in continuation.
to
May
June
Transferred to Force H for temporary duty when Force formed at Gibraltar after arrival
of Home Fleet ships.
July
3rd Participated
in actions against units of French Fleet at Mers el Kebir.
(Operation CATAPULT - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli
Barnett, Naval Staff History (HMSO-2001) and RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W.
Tute).
August
Transferred to Home Fleet to supplement Western Approaches convoy
defence.
Joined 12th Destroyer Flotilla..
29th Detached for escort, of
ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron with HM Cruiser CAIRO,
HM Destroyers TARTAR, BEDOUIN and ASHANTI during lay of northern end of
North
Sea Mine Barrier (Operation SN14).
September Deployed for anti-submarine
defence in Western Approaches.
October
Nominated for escort of military convoy during passage in NW Approaches.
7th Joined Convoy
WS3B Fast in Clyde with HM Destroyers OTTAWA (RCN), DOUGLAS,
ARROW, SABRE and VIMY, HM Cruiser KENYA provided Ocean Escort during
passage to
Freetown.
12th Detached from WS3B Fast
with Local; Escort and returned to Clyde.
November Escorted Convoy HX83 in
Western Approaches.
(Note: One ship of this convoy was sunk by U99 on November 5th.)
Taken in hand for refit at Liverpool.
December Under refit.
1 9 4 1
January Under refit.
to
February
March
On completion transferred to 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet for A/S
defence of Fleet units.
April
Deployed with Home Fleet.
May
23rd Took part in search
operations for BISMARCK with Home Fleet.
(For details see BATTLESHIP BISMARCK by Mullenheim-Rechburg and the
Naval Staff
History.)
June
Deployment with Home Fleet in continuation.
to
July
August
16th Escorted first Russian
convoy with HM Destroyer IMPULSIVE (Operation DERVISH).
29th Detached from DERVISH
convoy and took passage to Scapa Flow to rejoin Home Fleet.
September Embarked RAF personnel for
passage to North Russia.
28th Joined 1st return convoy
from Archangel with HM Destroyer ELECTRA as Ocean Escort
during return passage.
(Note: This convoy was identified as QP1.).
October
Nominated for refit.
5th Detached to
tow disabled Trawler HMS OPHELIA to Akureyri. Iceland.
10th Arrived at Akureyri
Passage to resume Fleet duties
20th Taken in hand for refit.
November Under refit
Nominated for duty with Force H at Gibraltar.
December On completion of Post Refit
trials took passage to join 38th Destroyer Division at Gibraltar.
1 9 4 2
January
Deployed for convoy defence based at Gibraltar.
(See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN by Donald MacIntyre and MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman
for details of operations in western Mediterranean.).
February Nominated for escort of
military convoy from UK to Indian Ocean.
Passage to Clyde to join Convoy WS16
16th Joined Ocean Escort for
WS16 with HM Destroyers ANTHONY, BLANKNEY, CROOME,
DUNCAN, FIREDRAKE, LAFOREY and LIGHTNING.
(Note: HM Battleship MALAYA, HM Cruiser HERMIONE, HM Aircraft
Carriers
EAGLE and ARGUS on passage to Gibraltar provided cover during Atlantic
passage. H M Aircraft Carriers FORMIDABLE on passage to Indian Ocean was
also with this convoy.)
21st Detached from WS16
as screen for HMS MALAYA, HMS HERMIONE, HMS EAGLE and
HMS ARGUS with HM Destroyers BLANKNEY, CROOME, LAFOREY, LIGHTNING
for passage to Gibraltar.
27th Nominated for escort of
HMS EAGLE during aircraft delivery to Malta.
(Operation SPOTTER I)
(Note: Aircraft delivery to Malta by HMS EAGLE, covered by HM
Battleship MALAYA
and HMS HERMIONE screened by HM Destroyers LAFOREY, LIGHTING,
ACTIVE, ANTHONY, DUNCAN, WHITEHALL, WISHART, BLANKNEY and
CROOME.)
28th SPOTTER I cancelled. See
MALTA CONVOYS.
(Note: Incorrect design Long Range Fuel Tanks had been fitted on the
aircraft to be
delivered.)
March
6th Escorted HM
Aircraft Carrier EAGLE during delivery of aircraft to Malta.
(Operation SPOTTER II).
(Note: Escort comprised same ships as SPOTTER except HM Destroyer
EXMOOR
replaced HMS DUNCAN,
The correct type of fuel tanks were installed before execution of
SPOTTER II.)
Nominated for detached service in support of landings in Madagascar.
(Operation IRONCLAD).
Passage to Freetown from Gibraltar.
April
1st Joined
escort for military convoy WS17 with HM Destroyers .ANTHONY and WILD
SWAN,
HM Corvette HYDRANGEA and Free French Corvette Commandant DETROYAT
during
passage in Atlantic.
(Note: WS17 included troopships taking assault force to Durban for
IRONCLAD and
also ships destined for Aden and Indian ports.
6th Detached from
WS17 with Local Escort
on arrival at Freetown.
9th Joined
military convoy WS17A on departure from Freetown with HM Destroyers
ANTHONY, INCONSTANT, JAVELIN, LAFOREY, LOOKOUT, LIGHTNING and
PAKENHAM as escort during the passage to Indian Ocean.
(Note: WS17 split into two sections at Freetown.)
18th At Capetown with WS17A.
22nd Convoy WS17A arrived at Durban.
May
Prepared for support during Operation IRONCLAD.
(See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute, THE
WATERY MAZE by B Fergusson, Naval Staff History and WAR WITH JAPAN
(HMSO).)
7th Provided
Anti-submarine defence during assault.
(Note: HM Cruiser HERMIONE, HM Destroyers LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, LOOKOUT
and ANTHONY from Force H at Gibraltar also took part in IRONCLAD.)
8th Sank Vichy
French submarine MONGE with HM Destroyer PANTHER which was
attempting to attack HM Aircraft Carrier INDOMITABLE.
June
Remained in Indian Ocean for convoy defence and escort of Fleet units.
3rd Sailed as
part of screen for HM Battleship RAMILLIES with HM Destroyers DECOY and
DUNCAN in Force F for passage to Durban.
(Note: HMS RAMILLIES had been torpedoed by a Japanese midget submarine
on 31st
and required repair.)
July
Deployed in Indian Ocean for convoy defence and patrol.
to
August
September Nominated for support of
final occupation of Madagascar (Operation STREAM).
Joined 3rd Destroyer Division of Force M with HM Destroyers ARROW,
BLACKMORE
and INCONSTANT.
9th Provided
escort for Force M ships and protection during landings at Majunga.
(See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO), Volume III).
30th Resumed convoy defence
duties on release from STREAM
October
Convoy defence in Indian Ocean and South Atlantic in continuation.
Deployed at Capetown with HM Destroyers ARROW, FOXHOUND, NIZAM (RAN) and
HM Corvette ROCKROSE for anti-submarine operations after significant
increase in the
attacks by U-Boats in the area.
(For details see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair, Volume 2)
8th Sank U 179 by
depth Charges attacks and surface gunfire in position 33.28N 17.05E
west of
Capetown.
(Note: Ship had been engaged in rescue of survivors from ss CITY OF ATHENS when
submarine was detected by radar. .See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and
above reference.
There were no survivors from this Type IXD (U-cruiser).
November Convoy defence role in
continuation.
to
Nominated for refit in UK.
December
1 9 4 3
January
Passage to UK for refit.
February Under refit.
to
April
May
Nominated for duty with 13th Destroyer Flotilla at Gibraltar.
19th After post refit trials
joined HM Destroyer CLEVELAND, Polish destroyer SLAZAK, HM
Sloops LOWESTOFT,
WELLINGTON and WESTON, HM
Frigates NESS and EXE,
HM Cutter GORLESTON as escort for joint military convoy WS30/ KMS15
during its
passage to Gibraltar
(Note: HM Cruiser SUFFOLK and HM Armed Merchant Cruiser ASTURIAS
provided
cover during passage and FM Aircraft Carrier UNICORN was with convoy. )
23rd In company with HM
Frigate NESS attacked and sank Italian submarine LEONARDO DA
VINCI off Cape Finisterre.
There were no survivors.
25th Detached from joint
convoy and escorted ships of KMS15 to Gibraltar.
June
Deployed with Flotilla for convoy escort duty in Atlantic and Mediterranean.
to
October
November Took part in sinking of
U340 with HM Destroyer WITHERINGTON, H M Sloop
FLEETWOOD and Wellington aircraft of 179 Squadron RAF in position 35.49N
05.14W (Straits of Gibraltar, east of Ceuta.)
(See U-BOATS DESTROYED for details. 48 survivors were taken from
Spanish trawler
by HMS FLEETWOOD.)
December Deployed on A/S escort for
convoys in Western Mediterranean.
1 9 4 4
January
Mediterranean convoy defence role in continuation
to
August
September Nominated for transfer to
Hang Waters to supplement coastal convoy defence.
(Note: Increase in attacks by Schnorkel-fitted U-Boats was expected.)
October
Transferred to 1st Destroyer Flotilla at Portsmouth D1 based at
Portsmouth.
November Nominated for duty in
Eastern Mediterranean and taken in hand for refit.
December Under refit
1 9 4 5
January
On completion of post refit trials took passage to join 3rd Destroyer
Flotilla at
Alexandria.
February Deployed in support of
shore operations in Eastern and Central Mediterranean.
28th Captured landing craft
during operations in Central Mediterranean.
March
Deployed for convoy defence and support of military operations in
Aegean.
to
April
May
Took part in re-occupation of Piscopi (Tilos) in Aegean.
Embarked General Wagner and other German officers for formal surrender
at Symi.
June
Transferred to Gibraltar Local Flotilla for service in Western
Mediterranean and
Atlantic.
July
Deployed at Gibraltar.
to
August
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS ACTIVE returned to UK in September 1945 and reduced to
Reserve status at Barrow. The ship was used for target trials in 1946 before being placed on the
Disposal List. She was sold to BISCO for demolition by West of Scotland Shipbreakers
on 7th July 1946 for demolition and arrived in tow at the breaker's yard in Troon during August that year.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS
ACTIVE
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
08/12/39
|
08/12/39
|
HG 010
|
unknown
|
16/12/39
|
29/12/39
|
29/12/39
|
HG 013F
|
03/01/40
|
05/01/40
|
21/01/40
|
21/01/40
|
HG 016F
|
28/01/40
|
28/01/40
|
09/02/40
|
09/02/40
|
HG 018
|
10/02/40
|
19/02/40
|
11/02/40
|
unknown
|
OG 018F
|
17/02/40
|
17/02/40
|
12/02/40
|
12/02/40
|
OA 090G
|
unknown
|
15/02/40
|
15/02/40
|
unknown
|
OG 018
|
22/02/40
|
22/02/40
|
04/03/40
|
04/03/40
|
HG 021
|
06/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
01/03/40
|
06/03/40
|
OG 020
|
07/03/40
|
07/03/40
|
09/03/40
|
09/03/40
|
HG 022F
|
unknown
|
18/03/40
|
21/04/40
|
21/04/40
|
HG 027
|
28/04/40
|
unknown
|
28/05/40
|
28/05/40
|
HG 032F
|
01/06/40
|
06/06/40
|
20/08/40
|
01/09/40
|
HG 042
|
01/09/40
|
03/09/40
|
30/08/40
|
02/09/40
|
OB 206
|
04/09/40
|
05/09/40
|
01/09/40
|
13/09/40
|
HX 070
|
16/09/40
|
16/09/40
|
19/09/40
|
19/09/40
|
OL 003
|
21/09/40
|
22/09/40
|
10/09/40
|
23/09/40
|
SC 004
|
26/09/40
|
26/09/40
|
07/10/40
|
07/10/40
|
WS 003B
|
12/10/40
|
28/10/40
|
31/10/40
|
31/10/40
|
OB 237
|
02/11/40
|
02/11/40
|
24/10/40
|
04/11/40
|
HX 083
|
06/11/40
|
07/11/40
|
13/11/40
|
13/11/40
|
OB 243
|
18/11/40
|
18/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
OB 250
|
29/11/40
|
29/11/40
|
12/11/40
|
30/11/40
|
SL 055
|
02/12/40
|
02/12/40
|
10/12/40
|
11/12/40
|
OB 257
|
13/12/40
|
13/12/40
|
03/12/40
|
13/12/40
|
HX 093
|
18/12/40
|
18/12/40
|
24/12/40
|
24/12/40
|
OB 264
|
29/12/40
|
29/12/40
|
15/12/40
|
29/12/40
|
SC 016
|
30/12/40
|
31/12/40
|
10/04/41
|
16/04/41
|
TC 010
|
19/04/41
|
19/04/41
|
21/06/41
|
26/06/41
|
TC 011
|
30/06/41
|
30/06/41
|
12/08/41
|
16/08/41
|
DERVISH
|
29/08/41
|
31/08/41
|
28/09/41
|
28/09/41
|
QP 001
|
05/10/41
|
10/10/41
|
26/01/42
|
04/02/42
|
CARNIVAL
|
04/02/42
|
04/02/42
|
20/10/42
|
20/10/42
|
CF 007
|
02/11/42
|
02/11/42
|
04/11/42
|
04/11/42
|
CF 007A
|
unknown
|
17/11/42
|
19/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
KMF 015
|
28/05/43
|
27/05/43
|
10/06/43
|
10/06/43
|
MKS 014G
|
11/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
28/05/43
|
15/06/43
|
UGS 009
|
17/06/43
|
25/06/43
|
16/06/43
|
16/06/43
|
KMS 016
|
22/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
18/06/43
|
22/06/43
|
XTG 002
|
unknown
|
29/06/43
|
13/07/43
|
13/07/43
|
KMS 020G
|
14/07/43
|
14/07/43
|
19/07/43
|
19/07/43
|
GC 025
|
20/07/43
|
20/07/43
|
18/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
GUS 010
|
23/07/43
|
09/08/43
|
12/07/43
|
29/07/43
|
UGS 012
|
05/08/43
|
10/08/43
|
29/07/43
|
30/07/43
|
KMS 021
|
05/08/43
|
10/08/43
|
14/08/43
|
25/08/43
|
SL 135
|
26/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
04/10/43
|
04/10/43
|
MKS 026G
|
05/10/43
|
05/10/43
|
17/10/43
|
27/10/43
|
KMS 030G
|
01/11/43
|
01/11/43
|
18/11/43
|
18/11/43
|
OS 058
|
28/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
02/12/43
|
02/12/43
|
SL 142
|
14/12/43
|
14/12/43
|
25/02/44
|
25/02/44
|
KMS 042
|
06/03/44
|
06/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
GUS 034
|
26/03/44
|
14/04/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)