E-Class Fleet
Destroyer ordered on 1st November
1932 from Hawthorn Leslie, Newcastle under the
1931 Build Programs. The ship
was laid down on 15th March 1933, the same day
as her sister ship HMS ENCOUNTER
also built in this shipyard. She was launched
on 15th February 1934 as the
seventh RN snip to carry the name introduced
for a Brig Sloop in 1760 and last
used for hired Trawler in WW1 as well as for a
Boom Defence Vessel known as
ELECTRA II during WW2. Build was completed on
13th September 1934 for a cost of
£253,350 excluding the items supplied by the
Admiralty such as guns and communications
equipment. Her peace time service in the Home
Fleet included deployment for intervention
patrol during the Spanish civil war. The ship
was refitted at Sheerness in 1938
before being place in Reserve.
B
a t t l
e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1939-40
- NORWAY 1940 - BISMARCK
Action
1941 - ARCTIC 1941
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge: On a Field
Blue, a female head proper, rising
out of wavelets Silver and Green.
M
o t t o
Fulgens
ab undis:
'Shining from the waves'
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
2nd
Brought forward with Reservist ship's company
for Royal Review in Weymouth Bay.
26th
Attended Review by King George VI.
September
Retained in commission and took passage to war
station.
Joined 12th Destroyer Flotilla at Portland for
anti-submarine patrol and convoy defence
duty in
SW Approaches.
3rd
Took part in rescue of survivors from ss
ATHENIA and arrived before the sinking of this
liner
after being torpedoed by U30 west of Ireland.
October
Transferred to Greenock Escort Force for
service in in NW Approaches.
to
Deployed for defence of convoys between Clyde
and Forth.
December
Boiler cleaning carried out at Rosyth.
1 9 4 0
January
Atlantic aid North Sea convoy defence in continuation.
to
March
April
Deployment with 12th Flotilla in Rosyth
Command for escort of convoys between Forth
and Clyde
8th
Transferred with Flotilla for service with
Home Fleet after German invasion of Norway.
(Note: Flotilla also included HM Destroyers
ECHO, ESCORT, ESCAPADE,
ENCOUNTER
and
ECLIPSE.)
12th
Joined HM Cruiser SOUTHAMPTON as escort during
passage to Vaagsfjord with HMS
ESCAPADE.
(Note: General Mackesey, Commanding Land
Forces in Norway was embarked in HM
Cruiser
SOUTHAMPTON with an Advance Party to prepare for the planned military
operation.
See NAVAL OPERATIONS OF THE CAMPAIGN OFF
NORWAY (HMSO.)
14th
Arrived at Vaagsfjord and remained for support
duties in Norway.
24th
Escorted HM Cruiser VINDICTIVE during passage
from Bogen for landing by Irish
Guards
in
Narvik area after bombardment by HM Battleship
WARSPITE, HM Cruisers
AURORA, EFFINGHAM
and ENTERPRISE.
May
Norwegian support and convoy escort duties in
continuation
(For details of the disastrous operations off
Norway sea CARRIER GLORIOUS by J
Winton,
NARVIK by D Macintyre, THE DOOMED EXPEDITION
by Adams and Naval
Staff
History
(HMSO, 2001) )
8th
Ship had been at 30 mins Notice for steam or
under way since 3rd April.
Returned to Scapa Flow to replenish..
June
Deployed for screening of Home Fleet
ships covering passage of evacuation
convoys
from Narvik area.
11th
Part of escort for HM Aircraft Carrier ARK
ROYAL during air attacks on Trondheim.
13th
Sustained major structural damage in collision
with HM Destroyer ANTELOPE.
Passage to UK.
Taken in hand for repair in commercial
shipyard at Troon.
July
Under repair at Troon.
(Note: During this period the after torpedo
tubes were removed and replaced by a 3in
AA gun.
20mm Oerlikon guns were fitted on the bridge
wings as an additional defence
against
close range air attack).
August
Refit and modifications in continuation.
31st
Carried out post refit trials on completion of
shipyard work.
September
On completion of trials joined 3rd Destroyer
Flotilla, Hone Fleet based at Scapa Flow for
escort
of major Fleet units.
11th
Deployed for escort of ships of 1st Minelaying
Squadron with HM Destroyers JACKAL,
VERSATILE and VIMY during lay of deep
minefield in NW approaches to Irish Sea.
(Operation SN41 - See the Naval Staff History
(MINING).
October
Home Fleet deployment in continuation.
November
6th
Part of escort for HM Battlecruiser REPULSE
during search for German battleship
SCHEER
after sinking of HM Armed Merchant Cruiser
RAWALPINDI.
(Note: Provided covered for passage of Convoy
HX 84 during this operation.)
December
Deployed with Home Fleet in search for
commerce raider in North Atlantic lasting over
Xmas
period.
(See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Bamett
for details of this period).
1 9 4 1
January
Home Fleet deployment in continuation.
3rd
Part of screen for HM Battlecruiser HOOD
during provision of cover for minelay in the
Northern Barrage by ships of 1st Minelaying
Squadron.
(Operations SN6 and SN65 - See above
reference).
7th
Resumed Flotilla duties in (tea Fleet on
release from SN65)
Escorted single merchant ship through Irish
Sea and on return passage rescued three
survivors
from Coastal Command ANSON aircraft which
crashed nearby.
25th
Part of screen for Fleet units engaged in
escort of Norwegian mercantiles which had
escaped
from Baltic ports (Operation RUBBLE).
26th
Deployed with screen for major Home Fleet
units during search in NW Approaches for
German
battleships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU.
30th
Resumed Home Fleet Flotilla duties.
February
8th
Part of anti-submarine screen for HM
Battleship RODNEY during Hone Fleet cover for
minelay in Northern Barrage (Operation SK7A -
See above reference).
15th
Deployed as screen for HMS RODNEY with HM
Destroyer ECLIPSE during Ocean
Escort
of military Convoy WS6A during passage from
Clyde to Freetown
17th
Detached from WS6A with HMS RODNEY and HMS
ECLIPSE on relief by HM
Battlecruiser
RENOWN.
19th
Escorted HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH and HM
Battlecruiser HOOD during
search
for
SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU after sighting by
RODNEY.
(Note: This search lasted three days.)
29th
Escorted HM Battleship PRINCE OF WALES during
contractor's trials.
March
Home Fleet screening duties in continuation.
to
April
May
15th
Escorted ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron
during minelay in Northern Barrage.
(Operation SN9B - See above reference).
23rd
Escorted HMS HOOD from Scapa Flow with HM
Destroyers ICARUS and ANTHONY
for the
interception of the German battleship BISMARCK
known to be on passage to
attack
Atlantic
convoys.
(Note: Ship was therefore not present when HMS
HOOD was sunk)
24th
Detached with other escorts to carry cut
search towards the north.
Returned to area and rescued the only 3
survivors.
Refuelled in Iceland.
29th
Escorted damaged PRINCE OF WALES to Rosyth.
June
Nominated for refit.
23rd
Joined escort for routine convoy to Thames for
passage to refit in London at Green and
Silley
Weir shipyard.
25th
Taken in hand for refit.
July
Under refit.
(Note: Radar Type 286 to provide limited
surface and air warning fitted.
See RADAR AT SEA by D. Hawse for details of the development and use of radar in
RN.
August
Post refit trials.
5th
On completion of dockyard work took passage to
Sheerness to ammunition after carrying
out
post refit trials..
Joined escort for routine East Coast convoy on
return to rejoin Home Fleet.
12th
Deployed as Senior Officers ship of the escort
for first Russian Convoy.
(Operation DERVISH)
Passage via Iceland to Archangel.
(Note: For details of all Russian convoys see
CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg,
ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman and THE RUSSIAN
CONVOYS by
B Schoefield
31st
Remained at Archangel after arrival of DERVISH
convoy.
September
Deployed at Archangel and carried cut anti-submarine patrol duties.
26th
Joined escort for first returning Russian
Convoy OP1 with HM Destroyer ACTIVE,
HM Cruisers LONDON and SHROPSHIRE.
October
8th
Detached from QP1 and took passage to Scapa
Flow.
Nominated for foreign service.
10th
At Rosyth to give leave.
18th
Deployed at Scapa Flow with Home Fleet.
21st
Took passage to Greenock to embark stores
prior to foreign service.
23rd
Sailed from Greenock with HM Destroyer EXPRESS
to join HM Battleship PRINCE OF
WALES as escort during passage to Singapore.
November
On passage with calls at Freetown and
Capetown.
28th
Joined HM Battlecruiser REPULSE, HM Destroyers
ENCOUNTER and JUPITER after
arrival at Colombo.
(Note: These ships formed FORCE Z ).
30th
Passage to Singapore with Force Z
December
2nd
Arrived at Singapore with Force Z.
8th
Sailed with Force Z to Intercept reported
landings on East coast of Malaya.
10th
Under attack by Japanese aircraft during which
both HMS PRINCE OP WALES and
HMS
REPULSE were sunk.
Took part in rescue operations and embarked
600 survivors.
Signalled news of sinking of HMS PRINCE OF
WALES to Singapore.
11th
Arrived at Singapore with survivors.
(For details see THE HUNTING OF FORCE Z by R
Hough. ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History).
15th
Deployed on convoy escort including inward
military convoys and ships evacuating
civilians
from Singapore to Ceylon.
1 9 4 2
January
Convoy defence at Singapore in continuation.
18th
In action with aircraft in Sunda Strait.
27th. In
action with HM Australian Destroyer VAMPIRE
against invasion craft In Gulf of Slam
February
3rd
Towed HM Destroyer ISIS to Java.
(Note: This ship has been under repair at
Singapore)
Returned to Singapore on completion of tow.
11th
Deployed with HM Cruisers EXETER, HOBART (RAN)
and Dutch cruiser JAVA in
search
for Japanese invasion craft off
Singapore.
Redeployed at Tangjong Prick for escort duties
with allied fleet units.
Subjected to many air attacks
25th
Sailed for Sourabaya with HMS EXETER, HMAS
PERTH, HMS ENCOUNTER and HMS
JUPITER to join ABDA Fleet.
27th
Deployed in unsuccessful search with ABDA
ships for invasion ships.
During return passage enemy ships reported and
deployed to intercept.
In action with Japanese cruiser JINTSU and
destroyers.
Engaged Japanese destroyer ASAGUMA and
obtained hits.
Hit by 5in return fire whilst making torpedo
attack and caught fire.
Ship disabled and sank rapidly with the loss
of 108 of her ship's company.
54 survivors ware rescued by US submarine USS
S38 and taken to Java.
(Note: 7 of those rescued later died leaving
only 42 from 178 on board.
Further details of war service are in
available in T. J. Cain's book HMS ELECTRA.
Mailer 1959).
See also THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton and
WAR WITH JAPAN
(HMSO).)
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS ELECTRA
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
|
06/09/39
|
27/09/39
|
17/09/39
|
17/09/39
|
BC
001S
|
19/09/39
|
19/09/39
|
17/09/39
|
17/09/39
|
BC
001FR
|
19/09/39
|
19/09/39
|
21/09/39
|
21/09/39
|
BC
004/1
|
23/09/39
|
23/09/39
|
21/09/39
|
21/09/39
|
BC
003FR
|
22/09/39
|
22/09/39
|
21/09/39
|
21/09/39
|
BC
004F
|
23/09/39
|
23/09/39
|
23/09/39
|
23/09/39
|
BC
004R
|
25/09/39
|
25/09/39
|
30/09/39
|
30/09/39
|
BC
007/1
|
02/10/39
|
02/10/39
|
02/10/39
|
02/10/39
|
BC
006R
|
03/10/39
|
03/10/39
|
13/10/39
|
13/10/39
|
OA
019
|
17/10/39
|
17/10/39
|
13/10/39
|
19/10/39
|
HG
003
|
19/10/39
|
21/10/39
|
23/10/39
|
23/10/39
|
OA
024G
|
26/10/39
|
26/10/39
|
23/10/39
|
08/11/39
|
SL
006
|
10/11/39
|
10/11/39
|
12/11/39
|
12/11/39
|
OA
034
|
14/11/39
|
unknown
|
28/11/39
|
28/11/39
|
OA
043
|
30/11/39
|
01/12/39
|
08/12/39
|
10/12/39
|
HN
004
|
12/12/39
|
12/12/39
|
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
|
02/03/40
|
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
|
15/03/40
|
15/03/40
|
ON
020/1
|
18/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
HN
020
|
21/03/40
|
22/03/40
|
08/03/41
|
09/03/41
|
OB
295
|
14/03/41
|
14/03/41
|
20/04/41
|
04/05/41
|
HX
122
|
08/05/41
|
08/05/41
|
12/08/41
|
12/08/41
|
DERVISH
|
29/08/41
|
31/08/41
|
28/09/41
|
28/09/41
|
QP
001
|
09/10/41
|
10/10/41
|
08/01/42
|
20/01/42
|
BM
010
|
22/01/42
|
25/01/42
|
19/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
BM
011
|
29/01/42
|
29/01/42
|
03/02/42
|
12/02/42
|
JS
001
|
14/02/42
|
14/02/42
|
17/02/42
|
17/02/42
|
SJ
003
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
21/02/42
|
21/02/42
|
SJ
006
|
22/02/42
|
23/02/42
|
22/12/41
|
03/01/43
|
BM
009B
|
06/01/42
|
06/01/42
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)