C-Class
Destroyer HMS COMET was ordered with sister destroyer HMS CRUSADER from HM
Dockyard Portsmouth on 15th July 1930 under the 1929 Build Programme. This
programme was intended to include a full Flotilla of eight ships with a
Flotilla Leader but on 30th January 1930 it was announced that only four
destroyers and a Flotilla Leader would be built under the estimates as part
of the economies being made during the depressed economy of that period.
The ship was laid down on 12th September 1930 with the CRUSADER and
launched on 30th September 1931, the same day as CRUSADER. This
destroyer was the 13th to bear the name, introduced in 1695 for a Bomb
Ship, and last borne by a destroyer built in 1910 and sunk by an Italian
submarine in the Mediterranean on 6th August 1918. It was also used by a
tug lost by grounding in Tigris on 1st December 1915 and by a hired vessel
used as a decoy during WW2 and sunk by a mine off Falmouth on 30th
September 1940. Build of this ship was completed on 2nd June 1932 and she was renamed HMCS RESTIGOUCHE on 15th June 1938 after transfer to the Royal Canadian Navy.
B a t t l e H o
n o u r s a s H M S C O M E T
GLORIOUS 1st OF JUNE 1794 - SYLPHE Action
1806 - MESOPOTAMIA 1914-15
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Black, a Comet Silver.
M o t t o
'Follow the Light'
S u m m a r y o
f P r e – W a r S e r v i c e a s
H M S C O M E T
1 9 3 2
May
Contractors trials.
June
2nd
- Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials. Commissioned for service in 2nd
Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet.
On completion
of Acceptance Trials worked-up in Home waters.
July
21st
- Damaged in collision with sister destroyer HMS CRESCENT at Chatham.
28th
- Taken in hand by HM Dockyard, Chatham for repair to propellers.
August
20th - Resumed
duties with Flotilla in Home Fleet on completion of repair work and post repair
trials.
September to December
Deployed with
Flotilla for Home Fleet duties.
1 9 3 3
Home Fleet exercises and visits programme with normal leave periods.
1 9 3 4
January to
June
Home Fleet
deployment with Flotilla in continuation
July
20th - Taken in hand by HM Dockyard, Chatham for
routine docking and refit.
August
Under
refit
September
3rd - Carried
out post refit trials on completion of dockyard work before resuming Flotilla
duties.
October to
December
Deployed with
Flotilla for Home Fleet duties.
1 9 3 5
January to July
Home
Fleet deployment in continuation. Nominated for detached service in Mediterranean. (Note:
Following the Italian invasion of Abyssinia ships of the Home Fleet were despatched to reinforce the fleet in the Mediterranean at
Alexandria.)
August
Passage
to Alexandria. Nominated
for surveillance of Italian warship movements in Red Sea
September to
December
Deployed with
sister ships of 2nd Flotilla in Red Sea.
1 9 3 6
January to
March
Red
Sea deployment in continuation.
April
Nominated for
return to Home Fleet duties and took passage to Sheerness.
23rd
- Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Sheerness.
May
Under Refit
June
29th
- Carried out post refit trials before resuming Flotilla duties in Home Fleet.
July
Nominated for
deployment with ships of Flotilla for patrol duties off Spanish Coast in Bay of
Biscay and took passage for this duty. (Note: Non-intervention patrols were
carried out to intercept shipping carrying contraband goods into Spain and to
protect British flagged shipping.)
August to October
Home
Fleet duties including patrol periods in Bay of Biscay. (Note: Transfer to Royal Canadian
Navy of ships of this Class of destroyer was under consideration by the
Admiralty as the deployment of a Flotilla made up of only four ships was
presenting administrative difficulties.)
November
Reduced to
Special complement pending result of current transfer discussions. (Note:
Sister ship HMS CRUSADER was also subject to this reduction.)
December
Nominated for
special detached RN service in Mediterranean. Passage to
Malta to act as plane guard attached to HM Aircraft Carrier GLORIOUS.
26th - Commenced
duties with HMS GLORIOUS.
1 9 3 7
January to February
Plane Guard
duties with HMS GLORIOUS in continuation. (Note: This duty was primarily
concerned with providing rescue facilities in the event of an aircraft crashing
into the sea during take-off or landing procedures.)
March
Took part with
HMS GLORIOUS in exercises by combined Home and Mediterranean Fleets
held annually and based at Gibraltar. (Note: Because of the civil war in Spain
all serials of the exercises were conducted in the Atlantic with none in the
western Mediterranean. Special precautions were taken to ensure ships were
clearly identified. See CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton.)
April
Deployed at
Gibraltar with HMS GLORIOUS. Nominated for attendance at the Coronation Review
of the Fleet by HM King George VI at Spithead.
May
Passage
to Portsmouth with HMS GLORIOUS.
9th - Arrived
at Portsmouth to prepare for ceremonial duties at Review.
20th - Took
part in Review with 141 other RN ships including eight battleships, two battle
cruisers, 16 cruisers, five aircraft carriers, a seaplane carrier, 60
destroyers 22 submarines, five escort sloops, 20 minor warships and auxiliaries
including a Fleet oiler.
24th - Taken in
hand by HM Dockyard, Portsmouth for repairs
June
Under
repair.
18th - Resumed
operational duties.
26th
- Deployed with HMS GLORIOUS at Falmouth. Took part in briefing for series of Trade Defence exercises in Western Approaches.
July
Deployed for
exercises as Plane Guard for HMS GLORIOUS. For details see above reference.
11th
- Passage to Malta with HMS GLORIOUS on completion of exercises.
16th - Arrived
in Malta to resume Mediterranean Fleet duties.
August
Deployed with
HMS GLORIOUS for major Fleet exercise as part of Force F.
September
17th - On
completion of Fleet exercise nominated for special duty with HMS GLORIOUS to
provide anti-submarine protection for British shipping following Italian
submarine deployments in support of Nationalist forces. (Note: Several ships
had been attacked by these submarines which wore
Spanish Nationalist colours.)
Took passage to Gibraltar with HMS
GLORIOUS. (Note: Following Nyon conference HMS
GLORIOUS was to be deployed based at Oran to provide air patrols for defence against submarines.)
22nd
- Deployed at Oran with HMS GLORIOUS. (Note: Air patrols were carried out.)
October
Returned to
Malta with HMS GLORIOUS.
18th - Arrived
in Malta.
25th - Took
passage from Malta with HMS GLORIOUS which was to re-commission.
30th
- Returned to Chatham.
November to
December
Deployed in
Home waters during period whilst HMS GLORIOUS was at Devonport.
1 9 3 8
January
Resumed
Plane Guard duties for HMS GLORIOUS.
17th
- Sailed from Southampton with HMS GLORIOUS to resume duties in Mediterranean.
24th - Arrived
in Malta.
February to April
Carried out
Plane Guard duties during major exercises in Mediterranean. (Note: These
included joint exercises with Home Fleet ships at Gibraltar.)
Nominated for return to UK to pay off
from RN service after agreement with RCN for transfer.
May
Passage
to Chatham. Paid off prior
to being taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Chatham.
26th
- Taken in hand for refit. (Note:
Ship became responsibility of RCN during refit.)
June
Under refit
15th - Commissioned
for RCN service and renamed HMCS RESTIGOUCHE.
S e r v i c e a s H M C S R
E S T I G O U C H E
July
Under
refit.
August
Harbour trials.
20th
- Carried out post refit sea trials in Nore Command.
September
On completion
of trials carried out work-up with RN ships at Portland and in Home waters.
October
Took passage to
Halifax with HM Canadian Destroyer OTTAWA (i). (Note:
It may be assumed that ship's complement was brought to required standard after
arrival.)
Continued passage in
Atlantic to Panama with HMCS OTTAWA (i).
November
Passage
to Esquimalt after transit of Panama Canal.
7th - Arrived
at Esquimalt with HMCS OTTAWA (i) to begin RCN
service in Pacific.
December
Deployed at
Esquimalt
1 9 3 9
January to August
Carried out
training and patrol duties in Pacific. (Note: RCN ships based at Esquimalt
carried out exercises with those based at Halifax. During this period RCN
destroyers were involved in escort and Guardship
duties during the visit to Canada by HM King George VI and Queen Elizabeth.)
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)
September
Prepared to
take-up war station.
October
Deployed at
Esquimalt.
November
Nominated for
Atlantic convoy defence and took passage to Halifax.
December
Deployed for
Atlantic convoy defence between Halifax and
Newfoundland.
15th - Took
passage via Panama to Halifax.
1 9 4 0
January to April
Atlantic
convoy defence in continuation. Nominated for transfer to Western
Approaches Command in UK for convoy escort duties.
May
Prepared for
service in UK.
24th - Took
passage from Halifax to Plymouth.
31st - Arrived
at Plymouth.
June
Taken in hand
for modifications by HM Dockyard, Devonport. (Note: After bank of torpedo tubes
were removed and 3in AA gun fitted, 2pdr Pom-pom replaced by 0.5in machine
guns.) On completion deployed to support
evacuation operations from French ports in Bay of Biscay.
25th - Rescued
survivors from HM Canadian Destroyer FRASER which had sunk after a collision
with HM Cruiser CALCUTTA in the Gironde River.
July
On release from
Bay of Biscay operations deployed for convoy defence
in Western Approaches based at Liverpool.
August
Nominated for
refit at Halifax.
31st - Took
passage from Liverpool to Halifax.
September
Taken in hand
for refit at Halifax in RCN dockyard.
October to
November
Under
refit.
December
On completion
of post refit trials deployed in Canadian waters. Nominated for return to UK
for convoy defence.
1 9 4 1
January
Passage
to Liverpool to resume duties in Western Approaches.
February to May
Deployed for
escort of Atlantic convoys. (Note: Convoys to eastern Atlantic were escorted to
a dispersal point in NW Approaches from whence escorts transferred to west
bound convoys to UK.)
June
Transferred to
Newfoundland Escort Force based at St Johns and took passage from UK.
July
Deployed for
escort of Atlantic convoys for passage in Atlantic.
August
4th
- During escort deployment grounded in Placentia Bay, Newfoundland and
sustained damage to propellers and underwater fittings.
Taken in hand for repair at St
Johns.
September
Repair
transferred to Halifax. Completion of repair commenced on arrival.
October
Resumed
operational service at St Johns on completion of repair.
November
Deployed for
Atlantic convoy escort in Newfoundland Command.
December
13th
- Sustained serious weather damage during passage to join westbound convoy
ON44.
14th - Took
passage to Clyde for repair.
20th - Repair
arranged in Clyde commercial shipyard after arrival
1 9 4 2
January to
February
Under
repair.
March
Worked-up
at Tobermory. (Note: See SEEK and STRIKE by W Hackmann,
BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS by J Terraine and ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY BY C Barnett for details additional training of RCN
escorts.)
Nominated for
service in 4th Canadian Escort Group EG4 at St Johns. (Note: This Group was
also identified as Task Unit 24.1.14 to suit US Navy system of identities used
for other warships deployed jointly.)
April
Joined Group in
Home waters. (Note: Other ships in Group were: HM Destroyer CHURCHILL, HM
Canadian Destroyer OTTAWA (i), HM Canadian Corvettes*
BRANDON, AMHERST, COLLINGWOOD, SHERBROOKE, WETASKIWIN (Ex BANFF), PICTOU, GALT
and HM Corvette CELANDINE. * Canadian-built entering service during 1942 and
deployed in Canadian Groups before transfer.)
May
15th - Group
joined eastbound Convoy ON95 in Liverpool as escort during Atlantic passage.
29th - Deployed
at St Johns and Group joined eastbound Convoy SC85 as escort during passage to
Clyde.
June
Detached from
SC85 and took passage to support of defence of
eastbound Convoy ONS102 by US Navy Escort Group A3. (Note: EG A3 included US
Coastguard Cutters USS CAMPBELL, DUANE, INGHAM and US destroyer USS LEARY.)
16th - Under
attack by HECHT U-Boat Group and carried out A/S operations. (For details see
HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
18th
- HECHT Group attacks renewed and carried out depth charge attacks. (Note: One mercantile was sunk by
U124. See reference.). On release Group ships and deployed as escort for
westbound Convoy ON 105 during passage from Liverpool.
30th - Group
detached from and deployed in eastern Atlantic.
July
6th - Group
deployed as escort for eastbound Convoy HX197 during passage to Clyde.
17th - Group
detached and convoy arrived at Liverpool.
25th - Group
joined westbound Convoy ONS116 as escort for Atlantic passage.
August
Group detached
from ONS116 and took passage to join eastbound Convoy SC95. (Note: Convoy
ONS116 arrived off Boston on 12th.)
19th
- Detached on arrival of SC95 at Liverpool.
September
4th - Group
deployed as escort for westbound Convoy ON 127 during Atlantic passage.
Group
detached from ON 127 after arrival in Home waters.
19th - Group
deployed as escort for eastbound Convoy SC101 during Atlantic passage.
October
5th
- Detached from SC101 on arrival at Liverpool.
9th - Group
deployed as escort for westbound convoy ON137 during Atlantic passage.
Group
detached from ON137 and took passage to St Johns. Deployed with ships of Group
as escort for eastbound convoy SCI07 during passage to Liverpool.
29th - SC107
sighted by U522 and reported to Bdu. VEILCHEN Group
formed
November
2nd to 4th - Convoy under
sustained attacks by VEILCHEN Group, during which 15 mercantiles
were sunk. (Note: This was the fourth most successful of all U-Boat attacks
made on North Atlantic convoys during WW2. For full details see HITLER'S U-BOAT
WAR by C Blair.)
10th - Group
detached from SCI07 on arrival at Liverpool.
17th - Group
deployed as escort for westbound Convoy ON 147 during Atlantic passage.
December
Group detached
from ON147 and took passage to St Johns. Group deployed as escort for
eastbound Convoy SC112 during passage to Liverpool.
25th - Group
detached from SC112 on arrival.
1 9 4 3
January to
December
Atlantic convoy
defence in continuation
1 9 4 4
January to March
Atlantic
convoy defence in continuation. Nominated for transfer to 12th
Escort Group and deployed in Home waters.
April
Joined HM
Canadian Destroyer QU'APPELLE, SASKATCHEWAN and SKEENA in EG 12
which was deployed for convoy defence and
patrol in Western Approaches. Nominated for anti-submarine support of planned
allied landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE).
May
Detached with
Group for deployment in Plymouth Command.
June
Took up station
in SW Approaches with Group to carry out anti-submarine patrol to prevent any
access by U-Boats for attacks on invasion convoys.
6th
- Deployed in assigned area.
7th - Transferred
to an area north of Ushant and came under attacks by acoustic torpedoes from U-Boats
against ships of Group, all of which were unsuccessful! Took part in
anti-submarine attacks on detected submarines.
July
Deployed with
Group for offensive patrols to attack traffic off French coast (Operation
DREDGER).
5th - Took part
in attack on convoy off Brest during which three patrol boats were attacked and
V717 was sunk. (Note: Ships of Group sustained damage from small calibre return fire.)
8th - Rescued
survivors from 0243 (?) which had been in air attack that day.
August
Channel
deployment in continuation.
12th - Engaged
three trawlers during interception operation with ships of Group and HM Escort Destroyer
ALBRIGHTON.
18th - Deployed
with HM Canadian Destroyers KOOTENAY and CHAUDIERE of 11th Escort Group and
took part in sinking of U621 in Bay of Biscay position 45.52N 02.36W. (See
U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
September
Nominated for
refit and took passage to St Johns.
October
Under
refit.
November
Transferred to
Halifax for completion of refit.
December
Refit in
continuation at HM Canadian Dockyard, Halifax.
1 9 4 5
January
On completion
of post refit trials took passage to Bermuda for work-up.
February
Work-up
at Bermuda.
14th
- Returned to Halifax and deployed for Local Escort of convoys.
March to April
Halifax
deployment in continuation.
May to August
Nominated for
trooping duties after VE Day and took passage to UK to collect Canadian
servicemen for return to Canada. (Note: Three trips were made.)
September
Nominated for
Paying-off.
October
Paid-off and
de-stored.
P o s t W a
r N o t e s
HMCS
RESTIGOUCHE was placed on the Disposal List later in 1945 and sold to
Foundation Maritime for demolition. She
was broken-up in Halifax later that year.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMCS RESTIGOUCHE
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
10/12/39
|
10/12/39
|
TC 001
|
12/12/39
|
17/12/39
|
22/12/39
|
22/12/39
|
TC 002
|
24/12/39
|
30/12/39
|
04/01/40
|
04/01/40
|
HXF 015
|
06/01/40
|
15/01/40
|
06/01/40
|
06/01/40
|
HX 015
|
07/01/40
|
19/01/40
|
20/01/40
|
20/01/40
|
HXF 017
|
21/01/40
|
01/02/40
|
22/01/40
|
22/01/40
|
HX 017
|
23/01/40
|
07/02/40
|
30/01/40
|
30/01/40
|
TC 003
|
01/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
HX 019
|
08/02/40
|
22/02/40
|
22/02/40
|
22/02/40
|
HX 022
|
23/02/40
|
09/03/40
|
05/03/40
|
05/03/40
|
HX 025
|
06/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
HX 027
|
14/03/40
|
28/03/40
|
25/03/40
|
25/03/40
|
HX 030
|
26/03/40
|
09/04/40
|
02/04/40
|
02/04/40
|
HX 032
|
03/04/40
|
17/04/40
|
06/04/40
|
06/04/40
|
HX 033
|
07/04/40
|
20/04/40
|
10/04/40
|
10/04/40
|
HX 034
|
11/04/40
|
26/04/40
|
14/04/40
|
14/04/40
|
HX 035
|
15/04/40
|
29/04/40
|
22/04/40
|
22/04/40
|
HX 037
|
23/04/40
|
07/05/40
|
30/04/40
|
30/04/40
|
HX 039
|
10/05/40
|
15/05/40
|
08/05/40
|
08/05/40
|
HX 041
|
09/05/40
|
23/05/40
|
12/05/40
|
12/05/40
|
HX 042
|
13/05/40
|
28/05/40
|
16/05/40
|
16/05/40
|
HX 043
|
17/05/40
|
31/05/40
|
24/05/40
|
24/05/40
|
HX 045
|
25/05/40
|
08/06/40
|
11/06/40
|
18/06/40
|
TC 005
|
21/06/40
|
21/06/40
|
20/07/40
|
22/07/40
|
OA 187
|
25/07/40
|
unknown
|
08/07/40
|
25/07/40
|
SL 039
|
29/07/40
|
29/07/40
|
03/08/40
|
03/08/40
|
OA 193
|
07/08/40
|
07/08/40
|
27/07/40
|
08/08/40
|
HX 061
|
11/08/40
|
11/08/40
|
11/08/40
|
22/08/40
|
HG 041
|
24/08/40
|
26/08/40
|
11/11/40
|
11/11/40
|
HX 086
|
11/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
29/11/40
|
29/11/40
|
HX 092
|
30/11/40
|
12/12/40
|
10/12/40
|
10/12/40
|
HX 095
|
11/12/40
|
27/12/40
|
16/12/40
|
16/12/40
|
TC 008
|
21/12/40
|
25/12/40
|
22/12/40
|
22/12/40
|
HX 098
|
23/12/40
|
29/12/40
|
15/01/41
|
15/01/41
|
HX 103
|
16/01/41
|
01/02/41
|
17/02/41
|
24/02/41
|
TC 009
|
26/02/41
|
27/02/41
|
28/03/41
|
01/04/41
|
OB 303
|
unknown
|
03/04/41
|
06/04/41
|
16/04/41
|
HX 119A
|
21/04/41
|
22/04/41
|
30/04/41
|
30/04/41
|
SA 1
|
03/05/41
|
03/05/41
|
09/05/41
|
09/05/41
|
HP
|
12/05/41
|
24/05/41
|
22/05/41
|
22/05/41
|
WS 008B
|
26/05/41
|
04/06/41
|
16/05/41
|
28/05/41
|
HX 127
|
01/06/41
|
02/06/41
|
10/06/41
|
15/06/41
|
SC 034
|
18/06/41
|
29/06/41
|
10/06/41
|
16/06/41
|
HX 132
|
18/06/41
|
28/06/41
|
21/07/41
|
21/07/41
|
TC 012
|
26/07/41
|
29/07/41
|
09/10/41
|
09/10/41
|
TC 014
|
15/10/41
|
17/10/41
|
17/10/41
|
25/10/41
|
SC 050
|
31/10/41
|
04/11/41
|
01/11/41
|
06/11/41
|
ON 032
|
13/11/41
|
16/11/41
|
22/11/41
|
24/11/41
|
SC 056
|
05/12/41
|
10/12/41
|
07/12/41
|
12/12/41
|
ON 044
|
14/12/41
|
15/12/41
|
15/03/42
|
16/03/42
|
ON 076
|
28/03/43
|
31/03/42
|
05/04/42
|
09/04/42
|
SC 078
|
21/04/42
|
22/04/42
|
09/06/42
|
12/06/42
|
ON 102
|
21/06/42
|
25/06/42
|
19/09/42
|
23/09/42
|
SC 101
|
03/10/42
|
05/10/42
|
11/10/42
|
12/10/42
|
ON 137
|
22/10/42
|
29/10/42
|
24/10/42
|
30/10/42
|
SC 107
|
10/11/42
|
10/11/42
|
17/11/42
|
18/11/42
|
ON 147
|
28/11/42
|
04/12/42
|
04/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
SC 112
|
25/12/42
|
25/12/42
|
02/01/43
|
05/01/43
|
ON 158
|
17/01/43
|
23/01/43
|
22/01/43
|
27/01/43
|
HX 224
|
04/02/43
|
05/02/43
|
02/03/43
|
02/03/43
|
KMF 010B
|
09/03/43
|
09/03/43
|
10/03/43
|
10/03/43
|
MKF 010B
|
17/03/43
|
17/03/43
|
06/04/43
|
07/04/43
|
ON 177
|
17/04/43
|
23/04/43
|
18/04/43
|
24/04/43
|
HX 235
|
03/05/43
|
05/05/43
|
17/05/43
|
18/05/43
|
ONS 008
|
29/05/43
|
01/06/43
|
05/06/43
|
08/06/43
|
SC 133
|
19/06/43
|
19/06/43
|
03/07/43
|
04/07/43
|
ONS 012
|
15/07/43
|
18/07/43
|
19/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
SC 137
|
03/08/43
|
03/08/43
|
15/01/44
|
16/01/44
|
ON 220
|
28/01/44
|
04/02/44
|
13/02/44
|
17/02/44
|
HX 279
|
28/02/44
|
29/02/44
|
27/02/44
|
02/03/44
|
ONS 030
|
10/03/44
|
13/03/44
|
13/03/44
|
19/03/44
|
HX 283
|
28/03/44
|
29/03/44
|
13/03/45
|
13/03/45
|
TA 193
|
14/03/45
|
19/03/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
|