GREYHOUND-Class
Fleet Destroyer ordered from Fairfield of Govan under the 1933 Programme in
March 1934. The ship was laid down on 4th September that year and launched on
7th November 1935 as the 5th RN warship to carry the name that dates from 1799.
This name was last used in 1897 when given to a Destroyer sold in 1921. Build
was completed on 22nd February 1936 at a cost of £250,364 which excluded
Admiralty supplied equipment such as guns, ammunition and radio communications
equipment. She served mainly in the Mediterranean until October 1939 when
recalled to Home waters.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
DOVER PATROL 1914-18 -
ATLANTIC 1939
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Green a
female gipsy's head Proper.
M o t t o
'Trust your luck'
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
1st Destroyer Flotilla for patrol and contraband control in Eastern
Mediterranean based at Alexandria.
October Transferred
for duty in Home Waters.
Took
passage to Gibraltar.
22nd Sailed
from Gibraltar to UK with HM Destroyers GRENADE and GRIFFIN.
During passage deployed in SW Approaches for anti-submarine duties.
November SW Approaches
deployment in continuation.
11th Called at
Plymouth during passage to Harwich with HM Destroyer GREYHOUND to join
22nd
Destroyer Flotilla for North Sea convoy defence and patrol duties.
12th
Sustained slight damage in collision with HMS
GREYHOUND in fog.
13th Under
repair at Harwich.
Rescued survivors from German aircraft in sea off Harwich
Detonated mine amidships when leaving harbour for North Sea patrol with
HM Destroyers
GRIFFIN, KEITH and BOADICEA of Flotilla.
Ship
broke in two. 30 killed including Captain.
115
survivors were rescued by ships in company.
(Note: The short career of this ship belied her Motto!)
P o s t W a r N o t e
The two sections of the wreck were later beached and were
subsequently salvaged. They were broken up during 1940.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS GIPSY
by Don Kindell
This convoy list has not been cross-checked with the text above
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Date convoy sailed
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Joined convoy as escort
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Convoy No.
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Left convoy
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Date convoy arrived
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07/09/39
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13/09/39
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GREEN 1
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18/09/39
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18/09/39
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28/09/39
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28/09/39
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GREEN 3
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03/10/39
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07/10/39
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22/10/39
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22/10/39
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HG 004
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29/10/39
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29/10/39
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25/10/39
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06/11/39
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HX 006
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unknown
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06/11/39
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(Note on Convoys)