F-Class Fleet
Destroyer ordered on 15th March 1933 from Parsons Marine Turbine Company under
the 1932 Programme. The ship was built
by Vickers-Armstrong at Newcastle and laid down on 5th July 1933 at the same time as sister ship HMS FAME
in the same shipyard. She was launched on 26th July 1934, also the same day as HMS FAME, and was the 7th RN
ship to carry this name. It had been introduced in 1648 and previously carried by a 1912 destroyer scrapped
in 1921. Build completed on 30th May 1936 and she served mainly in the Mediterranean until 1939
including patrols for the protection of British shipping during the Spanish
civil war. After a successful
WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign held in February 1942 she
was adopted by the civil community of
Tynemouth. then in the county of Northumberland, now in Tyne and Wear.
B a t
t l e H o n o u r s
BANTRY BAY
1680 - GOREE 1758 - BELLEISLE
1761 - HELIGOLAND 1914 - ATLANTIC
1939-42 - NORWAY 1940 - SPARTIVENTO
194-0 - MEDITERRANEAN 1940-41 -
MALTA CONVOYS 1941
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On s Field Black, a
Firedrake green with red wings
and flames issuing from his mouth.
M o t
t o
Vitute ardeo: '1 burn with valour'
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 Part
of 8th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet.
3rd Deployed on fleet protection and escort in Home waters.
14th Part of screen for HM Aircraft Carrier COURAGEOUS in SW Approaches.
Participated in sinking of U39 with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR and FOXHOUND.
(Note: Attacking submarine had made an unsuccessful attack on HMS
COURAGEOUS
and disabled in a series of depth charge attacks. After surfacing the
submarine
was abandoned in position 58.32N 11.39W.
The first U- Boat 'kill' of WW2.)
29th Deployed with screen for Home Fleet during operation in North Sea to
ensure the
safe return of damaged submarine SPEARFISH.
October
4th Rescued survivors of as GLEN FAHG 25 miles East of Orkneys.
November Home
Fleet screening and convoy defence in continuation.
to
(For details of naval activities In Horns waters see ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY
December by
C. Barnett and Naval Staff History).
1 9 4 0
January
Home Fleet duties with Flotilla in continuation.
to
February.
March
28th Damaged when going alongside HM Destroyer ICARUS at Invergordon.
April
Passage to Cardiff for repair in commercial shipyard.
2nd Taken in hand for repair.
May
Convoy defence and bombardment duties in continuation.
23rd In action with aircraft and received some splinter damage.
27th Provided naval gunfire support with HM Cruisers CAIRO and COVENTRY
during allied
Military operations to retake Narvik.
28th Deployed with HM Cruiser SOUTHAMPTON in Ofotfjord.
29th Took part In Bodo evacuation with m Destroyers ARROW, ECHO, HAVELOCK
and
VANOC.
(For details of the disastrous operations off Norway see CARRIER
GLORIOUS by John
Winton, NARVIK by D Maclntyre. THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by Jack Adams and
the Naval Staff History (2001) )
Rescued pilot of crashed Hurricane off Narvik.
30th Evacuated Irish Guards, Independent Companies and Military Police
from Bodo with
HM Destroyer FAME.
June
Norwegian evacuation support in continuation.
8th Escorted troopships from Norway.
12th Evacuated troops from Harstad (Operation ALPHABET)
Under air attacks during which A-Gun and steering motor were damaged.
Returned to UK on completion of repair.
16th Under repair in Clyde
shipyard
20th Detached for escort duty in Atlantic with 4th Destroyer Flotilla.
July
Home Fleet duties in continuation.
2nd Searched for survivors from ARANDORA STAR sunk by U47 in NW
Approaches 350
miles west of Malin Head in position 55.20N 10.33W).
August
Home Fleet duties in continuation.
17th Escorted ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron with HM Destroyers
INGLEFIELD, JAVELIN
and JAGUAR during extension of East Coast Mine Barrier across Moray
Firth.
(Operation SN12 - See Naval Staff History (MINING) for details.)
22nd Part of screen for HM Aircraft
Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruisers SHEFFIELD and
YORK for passage to Gibraltar to Join Force H.
29th Rejoined 8th Destroyer Flotilla for service with Force H on arrival.
30th Deployed as screen for HMS ARK ROYAL, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN and
HMS
SHEFFIELD with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FURY, FORTUNE, FORESIGHT,
FORESTER and ENCOUNTER as Force B to cover passage of reinforcements to
Mediterranean Fleet in Alexandria.
(Operation HATS - HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Battleship VALIANT, HM Cruisers
CALCUTTA and COVENTRY, were to be met by ships Iron Alexandria after
passing
through the Sicilian Narrows.
(For details of operations in Mediterranean see THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and
Naval Staff History).
September
2nd Return passage to Gibraltar
after transit of reinforcements.
October
Deployed at Gibraltar.
18th Sank Italian submarine DURBO with HM Destroyer WRESTLER and two
aircraft.
Retrieved documents before submarine sank.
31st Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, GALLANT, GREYHOUND
and GRIFFIN as screen for HMS RENOWN during patrol off coast of West
Africa.
November
7th Deployed with HM Destroyers DUNCAN, ISIS, FOXHOUND, FORESTER,
FAULKNOR,
FURY and FORTUNE as screen for HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS 3HEPFILED as Force
B
providing cover for passage of HM Battleship BARHAM, HM Cruiser BERWICK
and HM
Cruiser GLASGOW to reinforce the Fleet in the eastern Mediterranean.
(Operation COAT - See above references).
14th Returned to Gibraltar with Force B after an air attack on Cagliari.
(Operation CRACK).
15th Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORTUNE, FORESTER and FOXHOUND
as screen for HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD in Force B to
provide cover for Malta aircraft delivery by HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS.
(Operation WHITE).
(Note: Only five aircraft arrived and diversionary air attack on
Alghero was not carried
out because of adverse weather).
25th Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY, WISHART,
ENCOUNTER, KELVIN and JAGUAR to screen HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL,
HM Cruisers SHEFFIELD and DESPATCH during escort of Military convoy
during
passage through western Mediterranean.
(Operation COLLAR - This also included the transit of HM Cruisers
MANCHESTER and
SOUTHAMPTON to reinforce Fleet based at Alexandria).
27th Took part in brief engagement with Italian warships (Battle of
Spartivento).
For details see above references).
December
Force H screen in duties with Flotilla in continuation.
(Note: During this period an offensive sweep was carried out off the
Azores by HMS
SHEFFIELD and HMS ARK ROYAL)
1 9 4 1
January
Intercepted convoy of Vichy French ships and escorted them to Gibraltar
with HM
Destroyers FOXHOUND, DUNCAN and JAGUAR.
Exchanged fire with shore batteries.
7th Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY, FOXHOUND,
FORTUNE
and DUNCAN as screen for HMS RENOWN, HMS MALAYA, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS
SHEFFIELD to provide cover for passage of military convoy in western
Mediterranean.
(Operation EXCESS - See above references).
13th Returned to Gibraltar with Force H ships.
31st Escorted HMS RENOWN, HMS MALAYA, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD
with
HM Destroyers FEARLESS, FOXHOUND, FORESIGHT, FURY and JERSEY as Group 2
to
provide cover for an aircraft attack from HMS ARK ROYAL on Tirso Dam in
Sardinia.
February
4th Returned to Gibraltar
with Force H ships.
7th Joined HM Destroyers DUNCAN, ISIS and JUPITER to form Group 3 as
escort for HMS
ARK ROYAL to carry out air operations against
Livorno
as a diversion during naval
bombardment of Genoa
(Operation GROG - replacing Operation RESULT which had been cancelled.
See above references).
March
1st Ran aground off Malaga in fog with damage to A/S Dome and
propellers.
2nd Taken in hand for temporary repair in Gibraltar.
21st On completion took passage to Chatham for permanent repair.
April
Repair in continuation.
to
May
June
19th Carried out post repair trials.
20th Passage to Gibraltar as escort for 9th Motor Launch Flotilla with HM
Destroyer BEVERLEY.
28th Resumed Flotilla duties at Gibraltar.
July
Flotilla deployment with Force H in continuation.
20th Joined escort for military convoy WS9C during passage in Atlantic to
Gibraltar
(Note: This was a Malta relief convoy and part of Operation SUBSTANCE).
21st Joined screen for HM Cruisers EDINBURGH, MANCHESTER, ARETHUSA and
MANXMAN with HM Destroyers COSSACK, MAORI, SIKH, NESTOR, FEARLESS,
FOXHOUND, ERIDGE, AVONVALE and FARNDALE in Force X for escort of relief
convoy WS9C to Malta.
23rd Under air attacks south of Sardinia.
(Note: HMS MANCHESTER and HMS FEARLESS were torpedoed and the latter
had to be
sunk after these attacks).
Sustained serious structural damage by near miss from 100Kg bomb.
Passage to Gibraltar
under tow by HMS ERIDGE and escorted
by HMS AVONVALE and HMS SIKH.
30th After arrival at Gibraltar
taken in hand for temporary repair.
August
Under temporary repair and permanent repair arranged in US shipyard.
September
Prepared for ocean passage.
13th Passage to Boston USA with HM Cruiser MANCHESTER for completion of
repair.
23rd Taken in hand for repair in US Navy Yard, Boston.
October
Under repair and conversion for deployment as Anti-submarine destroyer.
to
(Note: Conversion included removal of A gun and replacement by
HEDGEHOG weapon as
December well
as installation of Radar Type 271 for surface detection.
For details and tactics used for convoy warfare see SEEK AND STRIKE by
W Hackmann)
1 9 4 2
January
Post refit trials.
12th Passage to UK as escort for Convoy NA2
February
Nominated for Atlantic convoy defence with 7th British Escort Group.
(Note: Other ships in Group included HM Destroyer CHESTERFIELD and HM
Corvettes
SUNFLOWER, LOOSESTRIFE, ALISMA, PINK, JONQUIL and COREOPSIS.)
17th Joined military convoy WS16 in Clyde for Local Escort in NW
Approaches with HM
Destroyers ACTIVE, ANTHONY, BLANKNEY, CROOME, DUNCAN, LAFOREY,
LIGHTNING, VERITY, WALKER and WITHERINGTON.
Damaged ASDIC Dome.
21st Detached from WS16 and returned to Clyde.
Taken in hand for repair in Clyde shipyard.
March
During escort of convoy WS16 damaged ASDIC Dome.
Taken in hand for repair in Clyde shipyard.
April
Under repair.
May
Resumed Atlantic convoy defence with Group
June
Deployed in NW Approaches for convoy defence.
to
July
August
Under repair in Belfast.
September
Rejoined Group and deployed for Atlantic convoy defence.
26th Rescued survivors from Swedish OLAF FOSTENES which had been sunk on
18th Sept.
October
Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.
November
19th Despatched with US destroyer USS BADGER to reinforce defence of
Convoy ONS144 by 6th
British Escort Group under sustained attacks by four U-Boats.
(Note: HM Corvette MONTBRETIA of this Group and manned by the Royal
Norwegian
Navy had been sunk by U262 on 18th in defence of this
convoy.)
Joined HM Corvettes VERVAIN, POTENTILLA, ROSE and EGLANTINE in escort of
ONS144.
20th Detached from ONS144 on arrival of RCN Local Escort.
(Note: U184 was sunk but five of the thirty three mercantiles in this
convoy were lost.
See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
December
Deployed with ships of Group including HMS CHESTERFIELD, HM Corvette SUNFLOWER
and four other corvettes for escort of the thirty-eight mercantiles in
Convoy ONS153.
15th Under attack by U-Boats of RAUFBOLD Group in extreme weather
conditions.
17th Torpedoed by U211 on starboard side and broke In two in position
50.50N 5.50W 600 miles
south of Iceland.
Stern portion remained afloat for some hours. Only 26 of the Hl8
personnel from the 148 on
board survived and were rescued by HM Corvette SUNFLOWER.
(See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and WARSHIP LOSSES OF WW2 by D
Brown.)
(Note: Three mercantiles in this convoy were also sunk.)
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS FIREDRAKE
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
22/12/39
|
28/12/39
|
TC 002
|
30/12/39
|
30/12/39
|
30/01/40
|
05/02/40
|
TC 003
|
07/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
09/10/40
|
09/10/40
|
HG 045
|
15/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
17/01/41
|
18/01/41
|
HG 051
|
20/01/41
|
03/02/41
|
24/04/41
|
24/04/41
|
HG 060
|
28/04/41
|
12/05/41
|
30/01/42
|
31/01/42
|
NA 002
|
08/02/42
|
08/02/42
|
26/02/42
|
27/02/42
|
ON 071
|
08/03/42
|
08/03/42
|
21/03/42
|
25/03/42
|
HX 181
|
02/04/42
|
02/04/42
|
08/04/42
|
09/04/42
|
ON 084
|
22/04/42
|
25/04/42
|
20/04/42
|
24/04/42
|
HX 186
|
29/04/42
|
02/05/42
|
12/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
ON 094
|
22/05/42
|
25/05/42
|
31/05/42
|
03/06/42
|
HX 192
|
08/06/42
|
11/06/42
|
23/06/42
|
24/06/42
|
ON 106
|
05/07/42
|
08/07/42
|
10/07/42
|
13/07/42
|
SC 091
|
24/07/42
|
24/07/42
|
31/07/42
|
01/08/42
|
ON 117
|
10/08/42
|
15/08/42
|
19/08/42
|
19/08/42
|
HA 004
|
28/08/42
|
28/08/42
|
02/09/42
|
02/09/42
|
AH 003
|
10/09/42
|
10/09/42
|
19/09/42
|
19/09/42
|
SC 102
|
26/09/42
|
06/10/42
|
26/09/42
|
03/10/42
|
SC 103
|
13/10/42
|
14/10/42
|
31/10/42
|
02/11/42
|
ON 142
|
13/11/42
|
21/11/42
|
07/11/42
|
19/11/42
|
ON 144
|
22/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
19/11/42
|
24/11/42
|
HX 216
|
03/12/42
|
06/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
12/12/42
|
ON 153
|
17/12/42
|
31/12/42
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)