Greyhound or
G-Class Fleet
Destroyer ordered from Vickers Armstrong, Newcastle under 1933 Programme in
March 1934. The ship was laid down on 30th September that year as Yard No 700.
The ship was launched on 15th August 1935. She was the 6th RN warship to carry
the name which dates from 1656 and had been used by 2 merchant ships which
fought against the Spanish Armada in 1588. Build was completed on 6 March 1936
at a cost of £248,528 (excluding Admiralty supplied equipment such as guns,
ammunition and communications equipment. Before beginning Fleet service with
the 1st Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean she was used to carry out
comparative trials using Admiralty design and commercial design propellers.
After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March
1942 this ship was adopted by the civil community of Oldbury,
then in Worcestershire. Yard No on build was 700.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ARMADA
1588 - BEACHY HEAD 1690 - BARFLEUR
1692 - VIGO 1702 -
VELEZ
MALAGA 1704 - CAPE
PASSARO 1718 - NORWAY 1940 - MEDITERRANEAN 1940-41 - MATAPAN
1941 - GREECE 1941 - CRETE
1941 - LIBYA 1942 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941-42
H e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Blue,
a Griffin Gold
M o t t
o
Dentibus ac rostro:
'With teeth and beak’
D e t a i
l s o f W a r S e r v i
c e a s H M S G R I F F I N
(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 (D1) for patrol and contraband control In the Mediterranean.
October
Transferred
with Flotilla for duty in Home Waters.
22nd - Took
passage to Plymouth from Gibraltar with HM Destroyers GRENADE, GRENVILLE and GIPSY.
November
Joined Western
Approaches Command and transferred to Harwich with Flotilla.
16th
- Commenced convoy defence and contraband control
duties.
17th
- Damaged at Harwich.
19th
- Taken in hand for repair in London commercial shipyard.
21st - Took
part in rescue of survivors from HM Destroyer GIPSY which sank in the entrance
to
Harwich after detonating a magnetic
mine.
(Note: HM Destroyers KEITH and
BOADICEA also assisted in the rescue operations.)
December
7th - Resumed
duties at Harwich.
1 9 4 0
January
Deployed on
North Sea patrol and contraband duties.
19th - Took
part in search and rescue operation with HMS GRENADE for survivors from HM Destroyer GRENVILLE that had been mined and sunk 23
miles east of Kentish Knock Light Vessel (Note: 113 men were picked up by these two ships.)
February
Patrol and
convoy defence duty based at Harwich in continuation.
2nd - During
escort of East Coast southbound Convoy FS 84 with HMS GALLANT, stood by tanker BRITISH COUNCILLOR that had been torpedoed by
submarine.
Rejoined convoy. (Note: HMS GALLANT detached from escort and took
survivors to Rosyth.)
March
North
Sea convoy defence, patrol and contraband duties in
continuation.
(For details of North Sea activities
in 1940 see THREE CORVETTES by M Monsarrat and THE BATTLE OF THE EAST COAST by J P Foynes.)
April
Transferred to
Home Fleet at Scapa Flow prior to planned landings in Norway (Operation RUPERT/R4).
4th
- Deployed in NW Approaches and North Sea.
14th - Part of
screen for HM Battleship VALIANT and HM Repair Ship VINDICTIVE with HM Destroyers CODRINGTON, ACASTA, ARDENT, FEARLESS and
BRAZEN, to cover
passage of military convoy taking
troops for landing at Narvik.
Convoy
destination changed to Namsos. (For details of the disastrous naval operations off
Norway see CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton, NARVIK
by D MacIntyre THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by Adams.)
16th
- Deployed with Fleet units off Norway.
24th - Intercepted
and captured trawler POLARIS believed to be supporting U-Boats in North Sea.
May
Deployment
off Norway In continuation.
2nd - Took part
in evacuation at Namsos with HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE,
YORK, CARLISLE and
French cruiser MONTCALM, HM
Destroyers AFRIDI, NUBIAN, MAORI, KELLY, HASTY,
IMPERIAL,
GRENADE, French destroyer BISON and three troopships.
Home Fleet duties in support of evacuation operations
in continuation.
June
Transferred to
English Channel in support of evacuation from French ports and for convoy defence duty.
July
Channel
deployment in continuation.
19th
- In action with aircraft off Dover.
24th
- Transferred to 13th Destroyer Flotilla at Gibraltar.
Passage to Gibraltar.
August
Deployed for
convoy defence and patrol duties.
30th
- Joined HM Destroyers NUBIAN, MOHAWK, JANUS, HERO, GALLANT, HOTSPUR and GREYHOUND in Force A.
31st - Screened
Force F which comprised HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Battleship VALIANT, HM Cruisers COVENTRY and CALCUTTA. (Note: These ships were on passage to Malta and were
to reinforce Mediterranean Fleet in Alexandria
(Operation HATS).
September
4th
- Returned to Gibraltar with HM Destroyers GALLANT, GREYHOUND and HOTSPUR.
October
Gibraltar
Flotilla duties in continuation.
22nd - Participated
in the sinking of Italian submarine LAFOLE off Gibraltar with HMS GALLANT and HMS HOTSPUR.
31st
- Shadowed movements of Vichy French destroyers off Moroccan coast.
November
Transferred to
14th Destroyer Flotilla at Alexandria for duty with Fleet In the Eastern Mediterranean.
7th - Joined HM
Battleship BARHAM, HM Cruisers BERWICK and GLASGOW with HM Destroyers GALLANT, GREYHOUND and ENCOUNTER in Force F
for passage to Malta
to reinforce Mediterranean Fleet. (Note: Cover for the transit to
Malta was provided by Force H (Operation COAT).)
December
Deployed with
Fleet in Eastern Mediterranean.
1 9 4 1
January
3rd
- Screened HM Battleships WARSPITE, VALIANT and BARHAM during bombardment of Bardia with HM Destroyers HEX, GREYHOUND,
JUNO and JANUS.
7th - Joined HM
Destroyers JERVIS, JUNO, JANUS,. NUBIAN,
MOHAWK, GREYHOUND, GALLANT and DAINTY as screen for HM
Battleships WARSPITE and VALIANT as Force A. Covered passage of
military convoy to Piraeus in Eastern Mediterranean after transfer from
Force H (Operation EXCESS/ MC4).
(Note:
Passage of convoys MW5(F), MW5(S) and ME6 between
Malta and Egypt was also covered by this
Operation).
10th - Rescued
survivors from HMS GALLANT which was mined 25 miles SE of Pantellaria. (Note: Stem portion of HMS GALLANT was later towed to
Malta.)
15th
- Re-deployed in Red Sea for convoy escort duty.
February
Provided
support for military offensive in Italian Somaliland (Operation CANVAS).
March
Rejoined
Mediterranean for Fleet duties. Part
of escort for HMS WARSPITE, HMS VALIANT, HMS BARHAM and HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE, during offensive sweep in Eastern
Mediterranean.
19th
- Deployed with HM Cruiser BONAVENTURE, HM Destroyers GRIFFIN, HAVOCK and HOTSPUR as escort for Convoy MW6 for passage to Malta. Under sustained air attacks during
transit.
20th - Mercantile
ss CLAN FERGUSON joined MW6 with HM Cruisers
COVEN1RY, CALCUTTA
and COVENTRY. On arrival of MW6 in Malta took passage to rejoin
Fleet at Alexandria.
28th
- Present at Battle of Matapan as part of screen for
Fleet units.
Sank Italian destroyers VITTORIO
ALFIERI and GIOSUE CARDUCCI with HM Destroyers
GREYHOUND
and HAVOCK.
(See Naval Staff History and MATAPAN
by SW Pack.)
29th
- Part of screen for Fleet units covering passage of military convoys to
Piraeus
(Operation LUSTRE).
April
Mediterranean
Fleet deployment for support of military convoys to Greece in continuation.
15th - Bombarded
Sollum with HM Destroyer STUART (RAN) and HM River
Gunboat GNAT
24th - Escorted
Convoy AN29 with HM Destroyers DECOY, HASTY, WATERHEN (RAN) and VENDETTA (RAN).
Detached
to join HM Cruiser COVENTRY and three other destroyers as escort for ss PENLAND and ss THIRLAND CASTLE to evacuate troops from Megara near
Corinth
(Operation DEMON). Under air attacks during which ss PENLAND was sunk.
Rescued
survivors from PENLAND and detached to Suda Bay. (For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and
Naval Staff History).
29th
- Towed HM Store Carrier GLENEARN from Suda Bay. (Note: Tow was later transferred to HM Sloop GRIMSBY). Returned to Greek coast to assist in rescue of
survivors.
30th - Escorted
HM Netlayer PROTECTOR towing damaged submarine HMS
ROVER from Suda
Bay
to Alexandria
May
18th
- Deployed with Fleet units in support of evacuation from Crete. Embarked allied troops for passage from Suda Bay and Sphakia. (For details of Crete Campaign see THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN,
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and
Naval Staff History.)
June to July
On completion
of Crete evacuation deployed in support of military operations in Syria against Vichy French, based at Haifa (Operation EXPORTER). Bombarded vehicles on road between
Haifa and Beirut.
Part
of escort for cruisers during bombardment near Beirut. (For details see RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute).
August to September
Transferred to
Alexandria for support of Tobruk garrison. Deployed for escort of convoys and transport of mail,
troops and supplies. Under air
attacks during passages. Took part in
relief of Australian garrison and replacement by Polish and British troops. (See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff
History)
October
Tobruk support in continuation.
21st - Took
part in rescue of personnel from HM River Gunboat GNAT north of Bardia with HM Destroyer
JAGUAR.
(Note: HMS GNAT had been torpedoed
by U99 and badly damaged).
Towed HMS GNAT
until arrival of tugs off Mersa Matruh.
November
Deployed with
2nd Destroyer Flotilla for screening of major Fleet units.
24th - Part of
screen for HM Battleships QUEEN ELIZABETH, VALIANT and BARHAM with other Fleet destroyers during search for enemy supply
convoys reported on passage to Benghazi.
25th - Took
part in anti-submarine operation after HMS BARHAM had been sunk by U331. (Note: HMS BARHAM sank in less than 5 minutes with
loss of 862 lives. )
December
Deployed with
2nd Destroyer Flotilla for interception of enemy convoys and the bombardment of enemy shore positions at Dena in support of 8th
Army advance.
14th - Took
part in rescue of 144 survivors from HM Cruiser GALATEA after she had been
torpedoed
by U557.
(Note:
This cruiser sank almost immediately.)
18th - Carried
out operations against human torpedoes at Alexandria after HMS VALIANT and HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH were badly damaged by limpet mines in harbour. (See above references.)
1 9 4 2
January
16th
- Joined HM Cruiser CARLISLE, HM Destroyers ARROW, HASTY and HERO as escort for Convoy MW8A from Alexandria to Malta (Operation MF3). (Note: This convoy comprised supply ships AJAX and
THERMOPYLAE).
18th - After
escort for joint Convoy MW8A/B transferred to Force K.
Returned to Alexandria. Taken in hand for refit.
February
On completion
resumed Flotilla duties.
13th - Joined
Force B as screen for HM Cruisers DIDO, EURYALUS and NAIAD with HM Destroyers HASTY, ARROW, HAVOC, JAGUAR, JERVIS, KELVIN
and KIPLING for
cover of Convoy MW9 during passage
to Malta and Convoy ME10 from Malta to Egypt
(Operation
MF5).
14th - After
Convoy MW9A/B had been overwhelmed and sunk in air attacks, returned with Force
B to
Alexandria as escort for Convoy
ME10.
(For details of this disastrous
attempt to pass a relief convoy to Malta see above references).
20th
- Transferred with HM Destroyers DECOY, HAVOCK, HASTY, HOTSPUR and HERO of Flotilla to Eastern Fleet based in Ceylon.
Took passage to Trincomalee
with call at Bombay. Under repair at
Bombay before joining Eastern Fleet at Colombo.
March
Joined Fleet
for screening duties and convoy defence.
28th - Allocated
to Force B with HM Destroyers ARROW, DECOY, NORMAN, FORTUNE, VAMPIRE (RAN) and SCOUT for screening of HM Aircraft
Carrier HERMES, HM
Battleships RESOLUTION, REVENGE,
ROYAL SOVEREIGN and RAMILLIES, HM Cruisers
CALEDON and DRAGON.
30th - Sailed
with Force B ships to intercept Japanese warships in the event of an attack on
Ceylon
by carrier aircraft operating in
Indian Ocean.
31st - Took
part in unsuccessful search operation with ships of Force B in conjunction with
Force A.
April
2nd to 8th - Resumed search operation with Force B after
refuelling at Addu Atoll. (For details see OPERATION PACIFIC by E Gray and WAR
WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)
10th - Passage to Killindini
with Force B.
(Note: Force B ships were dispersed
to East Africa as it was recognised that RN strength
in the
Indian Ocean was insufficient to
prevent Japanese attack on Ceylon.)
May
Deployed on
convoy defence in Indian Ocean.
Detached with HMS FORTUNE and HMS HOTSPUR to reinforce
defence for Malta relief
convoy
from Alexandria.
Took passage to Bombay. Escorted HM Battleship CENTURION to
Alexandria.
(Note: HMS CENTURION, launched in
1911, had been disguised to resemble a modem
KING
GEORGE V Class battleship and was to be deployed during Malta relief convoy operation as a decoy. See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY)
June
Called at Massawa on passage to Mediterranean with HMS CENTURION.
12th - Joined
HM Cruisers CLEOPATRA, DIDO, HERMIONE, EURYALUS, ARETHUSA., COVENTRY, NEWCASTLE and BIRMINGHAM for defence of Convoy MW11 to Malta
(Operation
VIGOROUS).
HMS CENTURION was deployed with
convoy.
(See above references and MALTA
CONVOYS by R Woodman.
Note: Other
destroyers in screen were HM Australian Destroyers NAPIER, NESTOR, NORMAN, NIZAM, HM Destroyers JERVIS, KELVIN, JAVELIN,
PAKENHAM,
PALADIN, INCONSTANT, SIKH, ZULU,
HASTY and HERO, HM Destroyers DULVERTON,
EXMOOR, CROOME, ERIDGE, AIREDALE, BEAUFORT,
HURWORTH,
TETCOTT, ALDENHAM, FORTUNE and HOTSPUR).
14th - Under
series of air attacks which continued after nightfall.
15th - Threat
from superior force of Italian warships was anticipated and convoy was ordered
to
reverse course. As a result of temporary confusion ships became a
sitting target for waiting E-Boats which
resulted
in sinking of HMS HASTY and damage to HMS NEWCASTLE.
Ships
again ordered to reverse course towards Malta.
After
dawn sustained air attacks were renewed which
seriously depleted stocks of ammunition
and
damaged escort destroyer HMS AIREDALE had to be sunk.
Operation
was then abandoned.
During return to Alexandria HMS
HERMIONE was sunk by U205 and HM Destroyer
NESTOR
(RAN), previously damaged in the air attacks, had to be scuttled. (For details of this ill directed and ill conceived operation see THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY,
MALTA
CONVOYS and Naval Staff History.)
July
Passage to
rejoin Eastern Fleet at Kilindini. Resumed convoy escort duty in Indian Ocean.
August
Deployed in
Indian Ocean for convoy defence and interception. Nominated for refit and conversion for use as an A/S
Escort Destroyer.
September
Took part in Eastern
Fleet amphibious exercise at Zanzibar.
Passage to Freetown.
October
Joined escort
for convoy to Bermuda at Freetown. On
release from escort took passage to Southampton.
November
2nd
- Taken in hand at Southampton for refit and conversion for anti-submarine
escort duties. (Note: Work
done included:
Two of the 4.7in gun mountings
removed. The forward
mounting was replaced by HEDGEHOG Ahead Throwing A/S
mounting
and additional Depth Charge facilities were fitted in place of the after gun. Warning radar
sets Type 286 and 271 were also added as well as additional 20mm Oerlikon guns for close range AA defence. For details of
development of A/S weapons and radar see SEEK AND STRIKE by W. Hackmann and RADAR AT SEA
by D Howse).
December
Under
refit.
1 9 4 3
January to
February
Under
refit.
March
1st
- Transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy.
20th
- Commissioned for service as HMCS GRIFFIN.
24th
- Refit work completed.
S e r v i c e a s H M C
S O T T A W A (i i)
April
10th
- Renamed HM Canadian Destroyer OTTAWA, despite the objection of the captain. (Note: This name had been previously carried by a
Canadian destroyer sunk in the Atlantic by a
U-Boat in September 1942.)
May
Worked up at Tobermory for service as Senior Officer's ship in the 5th
Canadian
Escort Group based at St. John's. Passage to Canada to join Group for
Mid-Ocean Escort duty.
27th
- Part of escort for Convoy HX240.
June
Mid-Atlantic
escort duty in continuation.
10th
- Formally handed over to Royal Canadian Navy as a gift.
July to December
Mid-Atlantic
convoy escort in continuation.
1 9 4 4
January
Mid-Atlantic
convoy escort in continuation.
February
24th - Escorted
Convoy SC153.
March to April
Mid-Atlantic
convoy escort in continuation.
Nominated
for duty in support of allied landings in Normandy
(Operation
NEPTUNE).
May
Transferred to
11th Canadian Escort Group as Senior Officer's ship.
Passage to Plymouth.
Joined
HM Canadian Destroyers CHAUDIERE, GATINEAU, KOOTENAY and ST LAURENT.
June
Deployed at
Plymouth.
4th
- Carried out anti-submarine operations with Group to prevent any entry of
U-Boats into
English Channel.
11th
- Transferred to Portsmouth Command to improve protection available for convoys
to beachheads.
(For details of naval activities
prior to and during the invasion see OPERATION NEPTUNE
by
K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY June 1944 (HMSO).)
July
Channel
anti-submarine deployment in continuation.
6th - Participated
in sinking of U678 with HMCS KOOTENAY and HMS STATICE in position 50.32N 00.23W. There were no survivors. (See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
August
Re-deployed in
SW Approaches and Bay of Biscay for U-Boat interception.
18th - Participated
in sinking of U621 with HMS KOOTENAY and HMCS CHAUDIERE in Bay of Biscay in position 45.52N 0.26W. There were no
survivors. (See above reference.)
20th - Participated
in sinking of U984 with HMCS KOOTENAY and HMCS CHAUDIERE in English Channel in position 48.16N 05.53W. There were
no survivors. (See above reference.)
September
Deployment
in English Channel in continuation.
October
On release from
RN control took passage to Canada.
12th
- Taken in hand for refit at St. John's.
November to
December
Under
refit.
1 9 4 5
January
Under
refit.
February
Rejoined 11th
Escort Group at St. John's for convoy defence off
Canadian coast.
March
Convoy defence and support in continuation.
11th
- Sustained structural damage in collision with HMCS STRATFORD during A/S sweep
off
Halifax.
13th
- Taken in hand for repair.
April
Carried out harbour trials.
30th - Resumed
convey defence duties.
May
After VE Day
nominated for trooping duties.
June
Deployed to
carry Canadian servicemen back to Canada from UK.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMCS OTTAWA (ii) was paid off
on 31st October 1945 at Sydney, NS on completion of trooping duties and placed
on the Disposal List. She was sold in August 1946 to the International Iron and
Metal Co. for breaking up after a particularly extensive and distinguished
record of operational service in WW2.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS as
HMS GRIFFIN
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
07/09/39
|
13/09/39
|
GREEN 1
|
16/09/39
|
18/09/39
|
28/09/39
|
28/09/39
|
GREEN 3
|
03/10/39
|
07/10/39
|
30/09/39
|
05/10/39
|
BLUE 003
|
08/10/39
|
11/10/39
|
23/10/39
|
08/11/39
|
SL 006
|
10/11/39
|
10/11/39
|
11/04/40
|
13/04/40
|
NP 001
|
15/04/40
|
15/04/40
|
10/08/40
|
11/08/40
|
ZA
|
unknown
|
19/08/40
|
29/03/41
|
29/03/41
|
GA 008
|
31/03/41
|
31/03/41
|
29/12/41
|
29/12/41
|
TA 007/M
|
31/12/41
|
31/12/41
|
03/01/42
|
03/01/42
|
AT 011/M
|
07/01/42
|
07/01/42
|
11/01/42
|
11/01/42
|
AT 016/M
|
14/01/42
|
14/01/42
|
07/09/42
|
07/09/42
|
CF 005
|
10/09/42
|
10/09/42
|
30/09/42
|
02/10/42
|
CF 005B
|
03/10/42
|
14/10/42
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
as HMCS OTTAWA (ii)
|
|
|
|
|
|
06/05/43
|
07/05/43
|
ON 182
|
10/05/43
|
22/05/43
|
19/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
HX 240
|
03/06/43
|
04/06/43
|
10/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
ON 188
|
20/06/43
|
26/06/43
|
23/06/43
|
29/06/43
|
HX 245
|
05/07/43
|
07/07/43
|
16/07/43
|
17/07/43
|
ON 193
|
25/07/43
|
31/07/43
|
30/07/43
|
05/08/43
|
HX 250
|
11/08/43
|
12/08/43
|
26/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
ON 199
|
04/09/43
|
09/09/43
|
18/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
HX 262
|
02/11/43
|
02/11/43
|
13/11/43
|
14/11/43
|
ON 211
|
24/11/43
|
29/11/43
|
06/01/44
|
11/01/44
|
HX 274
|
21/01/44
|
21/01/44
|
30/01/44
|
31/01/44
|
ON 222
|
10/02/44
|
16/02/44
|
13/02/44
|
20/02/44
|
SC 153
|
01/03/44
|
02/03/44
|
13/03/44
|
14/03/44
|
ONS 031
|
25/03/44
|
30/03/44
|
28/03/44
|
02/04/44
|
HX 285
|
11/04/44
|
12/04/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)