E-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered on 1st November 1932
from Denny at Dumbarton under the 1931 Build Programme. The ship was laid down
on 22nd March 1932 and launched on 12th April 1934 as the tenth RN ship to carry
the name introduced in 1715. It was last used for a Trawler during WW1. Build
was completed on 29th November 1934 for a cost of £246,664, excluding items supplied by the Admiralty such as guns
and communications equipment. Much of her service was in the Mediterranean
until 1936 because of the Abyssinian crisis. In April 1936 after some months
refitting she joined the Home Fleet with the 5th Destroyer Flotilla and for some months was deployed again in the
Mediterranean. This destroyer was held in Reserve in 1938 and re-commissioned
in August 1939 manned by Reservists for the Royal Review of the Reserve Fleet
at Weymouth. She remained in commission and after a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign in March 1942 was adopted by the civil community of Elland, then in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
B a t t l e H o n o
u r s
MAURITIUS 1810 - NEW
ZEALAND 1863-64 - SUEZ 1882 - NEW ZEALAND 1889 - NORWAY 1940 - ARCTIC 1942-42
- SICILY 1943 -
ATLANTIC 1943 -
SALERNO
1943 - AEGEAN 1943
H e r
a l d i c D a
t a
Badge: On a Field Blue, the Earth Black over a sun Gold.
M o t t
o
Nunquan: ‘Never eclipsed’
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
August Commissioned for Review of Reserve Fleet.
September Joined 12th Destroyer Flotilla at Rosyth for
anti-submarine defence of Fleet units
and North Sea convoy escort.
5th Part of escort for HM Battleship RAMILLIES with HM
Destroyers EXMOUTH,
ENCOUNTER and ESCAPADE during provision of cover
for troop convoy in Atlantic.
October Deployment in North Sea and NW Approaches in
continuation.
November
24th Part of destroyer screen for HM Battlecruiser HOOD
during Atlantic search for German
warships GNEISENAU and SCHARNHORST after the
sinking of HM Armed Merchant
Cruiser RAWALPINDI with HM Destroyers ECHO and EXMOUTH.
December Transferred to Western Approaches Command for Atlantic
convoy defence and patrol.
For details of naval activities in Home waters
during 1939 see ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett).
1 9 4 0
January Convoy defence and Fleet escort in NW Approaches
continued.
February
5th Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayer PRINCESS VICTORIA
mines along East Coast Barrier
off East coast of Scotland.
(Operation LD1: For details of all minelaying
activities in WW2 see Naval Staff History
(Mining) .)
March Convoy defence and Fleet escort in NW Approaches in
continuation.
April Deployed on convoy escort in NW Approaches.
8th Detached from escort of Convoy ON 25 (UK - Norway)
to Norway for support of allied
military operations.
Deployed for screening duties and attached to
20th Destroyer Flotilla.
11th Damaged in air attack on Fleet units off Norwegian
Hit aft caused major flooding.
Towed to Lerwick by HM Destroyer ESCORT
(Note: HM Destroyer HYPERION was deployed as
escort during passage.)
Taken in hand for repair in Clyde shipyard.
May Under repair
to
July
August Carried out post refit trials.
10th On completion joined 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, Home
Fleet for screening duties.
21st Escorted ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron with HMS
ECHO during lay in Northern
Barrage (Operation SN2).
31st Detached for escort of troop convoy to West Africa
for Dakar landings.
(Operation MENACE).
September Deployed with screen for Force M major ships for MENACE.
Returned to Freetown with defects before
operation abandoned.
Under repair at Freetown.
October Repair could not be completed.
Took passage to Gibraltar to complete repair work.
November Under repair at Gibraltar
15th On completion carried out post repair trials
Passage to UK to rejoin 3rd Destroyer Flotilla.
December Deployed for anti-submarine protection duties with Home
Fleet
1 9 4 1
January Flotilla duties with Home Fleet in continuation.
February
15th Deployed as screen for HM Battleship RODNEY with HM
Destroyer ELECTRA during
Ocean Escort for military Convoy WS6A during
passage from Clyde to Freetown
17th Detached from WS6A with HMS RODNEY and HMS ELECTRA.
March
25th Joined military Convoy WS7 with HM Destroyer
FOXHOUND for anti-submarine
protection during passage in NW Approaches.
28th Detached from WS& with HMS FOXHOUND on arrival of
Ocean Escort.
April Nominated for refit
12th Under refit by HM Dockyard, Devonport.
May Under refit.
June
4th Carried out post refit trials on completion of
dockyard work.
Passage to rejoin Flotilla to resume Home Fleet
duties.
25th Deployed to assist defence of ships of 1st
Minelaying Squadron during lay in Northern
Barrage after HM Destroyer BRIGHTON had been
damaged in collision with HM Cruiser
KENYA
(Operation SN70B – See above reference.)
July
23rd Deployed with escort for HM Aircraft Carriers
FURIOUS and VICTORIOUS for air
attacks
on shipping between Kirkenes and Petsamo (Operation EF).
August Home Fleet screening duties with Flotilla in
continuation.
19th Deployed as screen for HM Cruisers AURORA and
NIGERIA with HM Destroyers
ECLIPSE, ANTELOPE, ANTHONY, ICARUS and TARTAR as
escort for ss EMPRESS
OF
CANADA and Auxiliary Tanker OLIGARCH during passage to Spizbergen.
(Operation GAUNTLET – Landing of Canadian troops
and collection of civilian
personnel.)
(Note: These included Norwegians for passage to
UK and Russians miners to be taken
to
Archangel. Coal Mining machines were destroyed and Norwegian national evacuated,
For details see COMBINED OPERATIONS (HMSO) ,THE
WATERY MAZE
by B Fergusson and ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman.)
25th Deployed for escort of HM Aircraft Carrier
VICTORIOUS, HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE
and H M Cruiser SUFFOLK to provide Distant Cover
for passage of first Russian
Convoy.
(Operation DERVISH - For details of this and all
other Russian convoys see CONVOYS
TO RUSSIA by R A Ruegg, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R
Woodman, CONVOY ! by Paul
Kemp and THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B. Schoefield)
30th Deployed with same ships to cover HM Aircraft
Carrier ARGUS and Fleet Destroyers
during passage to Archangel with Hurricane
aircraft and RAF personnel.
(Operation STRENGTH)
September
2nd Part of escort for EXPRESS OF CANADA and Prizes
captured at Spitzbergen for return
passage to UK on completion of GAUNTLET.
October
18th Joined Russian Convoy PQ2 as escort with HM Cruiser
NORFOLK for passage to
Archangel with HM Destroyer ICARUS, HM Minesweepers BRAMBLE, SEAGULL
and SPEEDY.
(Note: The minesweepers were to remain in
North Russia for convoy escort
and
minesweeping duties )
30th Detached from PQ2 en arrival after uninterrupted
passage.
November
3rd Joined return Convoy Part (P2 as escort with same
ships as P02.
17th Detached from QP2 with HMS ICARUS.
Resumed Hone Fleet duties with Flotilla.
December Deployed with Hone Fleet for screening duty.
6th Taken in hand for repair in Hull shipyard.
1 9 4 2
January Under repair.
February Under repair
21st On completion of post refit trials resumed Flotilla
duties with Home Fleet.
March Home screening duties in continuation.
1st Part of destroyer screen for HM Battleships KING
GEORGE , DUKE OF YORK,
VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers BERWICK and KENYA with
destroyers of Home Fleet to
give
Distant Cover for Russian Convoy PQ12 and returning Convoy QP8.
8th Detached with HM Destroyers ONSLOW, PUNJABI, FURY,
ASHANTI and ECHO to
search
for German battleship TIRPITZ and
destroyers attacking ships which had
scattered
from convoy in gale.
Returned to Seidisfjord to refuel after
fruitless search.
9th Rejoined Home Fleet units which been covering HMS
VICTORIOUS during air strikes on
German battleship TIRPITZ which failed.
10th Returned to Scapa Flow with Fleet units.
21st Deployed with HM Destroyer FURY as screen for HM
Cruiser TRINIDAD to provide
Close
Cover for passage of Russian Convoy PQ13 to Murmansk.
26th Convoy dispersed due to exceptionally heavy weather
conditions.
27th Deployed in search for scattered ships.
29th In action with HMS TRINIDAD against German
Destroyers.
Pursued German destroyer Z26 with HMS FURY and
engaged with main armament
hitting
enemy with 6 rounds of 4.7in shell.
German ship later sank.
Sustained two hits from 5in shells causing fire
and major damage with 23 killed and nine
wounded.
(Note: During this engagement HMS TRINIDAD was
hit by one of her own torpedoes
which
had a malfunction, probably due to icy conditions - for details see above
references).
Escorted HMS TRINIDAD to Kola Inlet with HMS
FURY
30th Began temporary repair at Murmansk to allow passage
back to UK.
April
6th On completion of repair prepared for passage.
10th Escorted returning Convoy QP10 with HM Cruiser
LIVERPOOL, HM Destroyers ORIBI,
FURY, PUNJABI and MARNE.
17th Detached from QP10.
May Under repair of action damage in HM Dockyard
Devonport.
(Note: This included ship's side plating, fuel
tanks, shrapnel damage and gun
mountings.)
6th On completion rejoined Flotilla at Scapa Flow in
continuation of screening duties.
12th Deployed as part of destroyer screen for HMS DUKE OF
YORK, the US battleship USS
WASHINGTON, HMS VICTORIOUS, HM Cruiser LONDON
and US cruiser USS
TUSCALOOSA with ten other Home Fleet destroyers
to provide cover for return
passage
of damaged HMS TRINIDAD from Murmansk.
14th Resumed Flotilla duties AFTER HMS TRINIDAD was sunk
by air attacks.
23rd Deployed with Home Fleet and US Navy destroyers as
screen for HMS DUKE OF YORK.
USS WASHINGTON, HMS VICTORIOUS, HMS LONDON and
US cruiser USS
WICHITA covering the passage of Russian Convoy
FQ16 and returning QP12.
28th Resumed Flotilla duties with Home Fleet
June Deployed with Flotilla for Home Fleet screening
duty.
July Transferred to 8th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet
as part of re-organisation.
to Screening duties in continuation. August
August
September Deployed with HM Destroyers AMAZON, BULLDOG, ECHO and
VENOMOUS as
screen
for HM Cruisers CUMBERLAND and SHEFFIELD to establish re-fuelling facility
at Lowe
Sound, Spitzbergen and re-supply of garrison (Operation GEARBOX).
(Note: This facility was required to refuel
Russian Convoys PQ18 and QP14 escorts.)
27th Taken in hand for refit in Humber shipyard
October Under refit.
November Under refit.
20th On completion of post refit trials rejoined Flotilla
at Scapa Flow.
December Deployed on screening duties with Flotilla.
18th Joined Russian Convoy JW51A with HM Destroyers
FAULKNOR, BOADICEA, ECHO,
FURY and INGLEFIELD as Fighting Destroyer
Escort.
(Note: This convoy was first to proceed from
Loch Ewe to Kola Inlet without first calling
in
Iceland).
25th Detached on arrival at Kola Inlet without
interception by enemy aircraft.
30th Joined Fighting Escort for return Convoy RA51 with
same ships.
1 9 4 3
January
6th Detached from RA51 which had an uninterrupted
passage because of enemy attack on
JW51B
by German cruiser HIPPER during which HM Destroyer ACHATES was sunk.
23rd Part of destroyer screen for HM Battleship ANSON and
HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD with
HM
Destroyers ECHO, FAULKNOR, INGLEFIELD, MONTROSE, QUEENBOROUGH,
RAIDER
and Polish ORP ORKAN providing Distant
Cover for passage of Russian
Convoy JW52
February Home Fleet screening duty with Flotilla in continuation.
21st Joined Ocean Escort for Russian Convoy JW53 with HM
Cruiser SCYLLA and HM
Destroyers MILNE, FAULKNOR, BOADICEA,
INGLEFIELD, ORWELL, OPPORTUNE,
OBEDIENT, OBDURATE, FURY, IMPULSIVE, INTREPID
and Polish ORP ORKAN.
27th Detached after extreme weather conditions which
restricted enemy activities.
March
1st Joined escort for return Convoy RA53 with same
ships and HM Destroyer IMPULSIVE.
12th Detached from escort of RA 53 with HMS BOADICEA,
IMPULSIVE, INGLEFIELD and
FAULKNOR.
April Nominated for anti-submarine duty in Atlantic for support of convoys.
(For details of weapons and tactics used in
Battle of the Atlantic see U-BOAT WAR IN
THE ATLANTIC (HMSO), THE BATTLE OF THE
ATLANTIC by D Macintyre, SEEK
AND STRIKE by W Hackmann and CONVOY
ESCORT COMMANDER by P Gretton).
6th Detached for duty as 4th Support Group with HM
Destroyers INGLEFIELD, ICARUS and
FURY to reinforce escort of Convoy HX231 in
North Atlantic.
With air support drove off U-Boats maintaining
contact with convoy.
25th Reinforced sea escort for HX231 and ONS5 with ships
of Group.
May Atlantic convoy support with Group in continuation.
23rd Provided additional A/S protection for Convoy HX239
with Group and air support by
HM Escort Aircraft Carrier Carrier ARCHER.
June Resumed Home Fleet duties as 8th Destroyer Flotilla.
Nominated for transfer to Mediterranean with
Flotilla for support of the planned allied
landings in Sicily.
(Operation HUSKY - For details see ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY Naval
Staff History and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J
de Winser.).
28th Arrived Gibraltar
Passage to Alexandria.
July Deployed for escort of military convoys in eastern
Mediterranean during passage to
Beachhead
in Sicily
8th Detached from escort and took passage to join ships
of Force H being deployed in
Ionian
Sea to prevent any interference by Italian
warships during landings
10th Part of destroyer screen for HM Battleships NELSON,
RODNEY, WARSPITE,
VALIANT, HM Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE and
FORMIDABLE during
deployment in Ionian Sea.
23rd Sank Italian submarine ASCIANGHI with HM Destroyer
LAFOREY after it had
attacked a cruiser force.
August Mediterranean screening duties in continuation.
September Nominated for support of landings at Salerno as screen for
major units.
7th Part of destroyer screen for Covering Force with
ships of 8th and 24th Destroyer
Flotillas during landings at Salerno
(Operation AVALANCHE - See above references).
13th Transferred with Flotilla to Alexandria for support
of British military operations
to occupy Aegean islands after Italian surrender
and to prevent German invasion.
16th Arrived at Alexandria with Flotilla for duty in
Eastern Mediterranean.
Deployed in support of Aegean Islands landings and to prevent
German reinforcement
of garrisons.
17th Carried out Offensive Sweep in Aegean to intercept
Italian evacuation craft or any
ships carrying German troops to islands.
23rd Sank German destroyer TA10 (Ex French LA POMONE) and
Italian merchant ship
DONEZITI carrying troops to Rhodes.
Intercepted and attacked Italian evacuation
convoy.
October Detached for special escort duty.
1st Escorted HM Battleships KING GEORGE V and HOWE to
Malta with BM Destroyers
ECHO, FAULKNOR and FURY.
4th Redeployed in Aegean and took passage from Malta as
screen for HM Cruisers
AURORA
and PENELOPE to reinforce naval support in Aegean.
5th Resumed support and convoy defence duties.
17th Deployed with HM Cruiser SIRIUS, HM Destroyer
PATHFINDER and HM Destroyer
BEAUFORT to take stores and personnel to Leros.
Under air attacks during passage.
18th Laid up in Turkish waters during daylight.
Landed stores and personnel at Leros after dusk.
Carried out offensive sweep off Levitha before
withdrawing.
23rd Embarked Troops of Royal East Kent Regiment for
passage to Leros to reinforce the
garrison.
Captain P Todd, DSO, OBE (Commodore Levant
Flotillas) was also embarked.
24th Hit mine laid in 48 fathoms (Position 37.01N 27.11E
south of island.)
Ship broke in two and sank in 5 minutes after
internal explosions and fires
119 of Ship's Company and 134 troops were killed.
(For details of the disastrous operations in the
Aegean during 1943 see WAR IN THE
AEGEAN by P Smith and W Walker, FIGHTING
DESTROYER by GC Connell
THE LAST DESTROYER
by FA Mason and Official Histories of Mediterranean
War (HMSO)).
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS ECLIPSE
by Don Kindell
This convoy list has not been cross-checked with the text above
|
|
|
|
|
Date convoy sailed
|
Joined convoy as escort
|
Convoy No.
|
Left convoy
|
Date convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
05/09/39
|
06/09/39
|
RED 1
|
11/09/39
|
27/09/39
|
05/10/39
|
05/10/39
|
BC 007R
|
08/10/39
|
08/10/39
|
09/10/39
|
09/10/39
|
BC 010/1
|
11/10/39
|
11/10/39
|
12/10/39
|
12/10/39
|
BC 009R
|
14/10/39
|
14/10/39
|
29/12/39
|
29/12/39
|
ON 006/1
|
29/12/39
|
01/01/40
|
01/01/40
|
01/01/40
|
HN 006
|
04/01/40
|
04/01/40
|
09/02/40
|
09/02/40
|
ON 011/1
|
12/02/40
|
12/02/40
|
17/02/40
|
17/02/40
|
ON 014/1
|
22/02/40
|
22/02/40
|
22/02/40
|
22/02/40
|
HN 014
|
25/02/40
|
26/02/40
|
28/02/40
|
28/02/40
|
ON 016/1
|
02/03/40
|
02/03/40
|
02/03/40
|
05/03/40
|
HN 016
|
05/03/40
|
05/03/40
|
07/03/40
|
07/03/40
|
ON 018/1
|
10/03/40
|
10/03/40
|
10/03/40
|
10/03/40
|
HN 018
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
19/03/40
|
19/03/40
|
ON 021/1
|
23/03/40
|
23/03/40
|
22/03/40
|
22/03/40
|
HN 021
|
25/03/40
|
25/03/40
|
27/03/40
|
27/03/40
|
ON 023/1
|
31/03/40
|
31/03/40
|
31/03/40
|
31/03/40
|
HN 023B
|
04/04/40
|
04/04/40
|
05/04/40
|
05/04/40
|
ON 025/1
|
08/04/40
|
unknown
|
17/02/41
|
25/02/41
|
TC 009
|
27/02/41
|
27/02/41
|
12/08/41
|
24/08/41
|
DERVISH
|
30/08/41
|
31/08/41
|
13/10/41
|
17/10/41
|
PQ 002
|
30/10/41
|
30/10/41
|
03/11/41
|
03/11/41
|
QP 002
|
17/11/41
|
17/11/41
|
01/03/42
|
06/03/42
|
PQ 012
|
10/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
10/03/42
|
23/03/42
|
PQ 013
|
30/03/42
|
31/03/42
|
10/04/42
|
10/04/42
|
QP 010
|
17/04/42
|
21/04/42
|
21/05/42
|
23/05/42
|
PQ 016
|
29/05/42
|
30/05/42
|
21/05/42
|
23/05/42
|
QP 012
|
29/05/42
|
29/05/42
|
02/09/42
|
14/09/42
|
PQ 018
|
22/09/42
|
21/09/42
|
13/09/42
|
14/09/42
|
QP 014
|
22/09/42
|
26/09/42
|
15/12/42
|
18/12/42
|
JW 051A
|
25/12/42
|
25/12/42
|
30/12/42
|
30/12/42
|
RA 051
|
06/01/43
|
11/01/43
|
17/01/43
|
23/01/43
|
JW 052
|
24/01/43
|
27/01/43
|
15/02/43
|
21/02/43
|
JW 053
|
27/02/43
|
27/02/43
|
01/03/43
|
01/03/43
|
RA 053
|
12/03/43
|
14/03/43
|
25/03/43
|
06/04/43
|
HX 231
|
08/04/43
|
10/04/43
|
01/04/43
|
12/04/43
|
HX 232
|
15/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
12/04/43
|
25/04/43
|
HX 234
|
25/04/43
|
29/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
27/04/43
|
SC 127
|
30/04/43
|
03/05/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)