H-Class
Fleet
Destroyer ordered from Scotts
at Greenock under 1934
Programme on 13th December 1934.The ship
was laid down on 27th February 1935 on
the same day as her sister ship HMS
HOSTILE She was launched on 23rd March
1936
as the fourth Royal Navy warship to carry
this name, last used for a Turret
Ship sold in 1904 and introduced in 1810.
Build was completed on
29th December 1936 at a cost of £253,037.
Her service before the
outbreak of war was In the Mediterranean
with the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla.
Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign in
March 1942 this ship was adopted by the
civil community of Tottenham in Greater
London.
B
a t t
l e H o n o u r s
EGYPT
1801 - ATLANTIC
1940-41 - NARVIK 1940 - SPARTIVENTO 1940 - MEDITERRANEAN
1940 - MATAPAN
1941 -
GREECE
1941 - CRETE
1941
- LIBYA
1941-42
-
NORMANDY
1944
He
r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Gold, a Lion
rampant Blue and langued
Red.
M
o t t
o
Fortiter in
re:
‘Bravely in action’.
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
3rd
On passage from
Sheerness to rejoin 2nd Destroyer
Flotilla,
Mediterranean
after refit was
curtailed.
6th
Transferred to Freetown on arrival at
Gibraltar.
On arrival deployed in South Atlantic in
search for surface raiders and German
blockade
runners.
October
22nd
Re-deployed in West Indies area for convoy
defence and patrol duty.
November
Carried out Trade defence and interception
duty in West Indies.
to
December
1
9 4 0
January
Returned to
UK
for refit and took passage to Sheerness.
18th
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard,
Sheerness.
February
Under refit.
March
On completion of Post Refit Trials took
passage to Scapa Flow.
6th
Re-joined 2nd Destroyer Flotilla for duty
with Home Fleet.
Deployed for convoy escort and Fleet
screening in NW Approaches.
31st
Nominated to Join Force WV as escort for
minelay in Vest
Fjord, Norway.
(Operation WILFRED/R4).
April
6th
Sailed from Sullom Voe and met minelayers
on passage to
Norway.
7th
Detached with Force WV with HM Destroyers
HARDY, HAVOCK and HUNTER as escort
for HM Destroyers ESK. IMPULSIVE, ICARUS
and IVANHOE during minelay.
8th
On completion of operation rejoined HM
Battlecruiser RENOWN and present during
first part
of engagement with German battleship
SCHARNHORST, until isolated by bad
weather.
Joined 2nd Destroyer Flotilla in patrol
off Vest Fjord.
9th
Entered Ofotfjord with ships of 2nd
Destroyer Flotilla and attacked German
destroyers.
Sustained several direct hits which caused
structural damage making ship unseaworthy
.
No.2 Boiler out of action and electrical
supplies were disrupted.
Soon afterwards in collision with HM
Destroyer HUNTER and the two ships locked
together
under fire.
13 of ship's company were killed during
this action.
(Note: HMS HUNTER subsequently sank. – 1st
Battle of Narvik.)
.
10th
Towed to Lofotens by HM Destroyer HOSTILE.
12th
Under temporary repair at Skelfjord.
19th
Passage to Chatham under own power.
May
2nd
Taken in hand for repair in HM Dockyard.
June
Under repair.
Nominated for transferred to 13th
Destroyer Flotilla at Gibraltar for
defence of
Atlantic
convoy and screening duty with Force H.
July
Under refit
16th
On completion carried out post refit
trials and preparation for foreign service
24th
Passage to Gibraltar with HM Aircraft
Carrier ARGUS, HM Destroyers ENCOUNTER and
GREYHOUND
as escort for ss
REINA DEL
PACIFICO and SS CLAN FERGUSON on
passage to Cape of
of Good Hope.
30th
Deployed with destroyer screen for Fleet
units covering delivery of aircraft to
Malta
by HMS
ARGUS (Operation HURRY).
August
2nd
On completion of HURRY screened Fleet
units covering air attacks on
Cagliari
by HM Aircraft
Carrier ARK ROYAL (Operation CRUSH).
30th
Deployed with screen for Force H units
covering the passage of HM Battleship
VALIANT,
HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM
Cruisers CALCUTTA and COVENTRY to
reinforce Mediterranean Fleet at
Alexandria
(Operation HATS).
(Note: For details of all Force H
operations see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by
C Barnett, THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIintyre and Naval
Staff History (HMSO –2002)).
September
3rd
Returned to Gibraltar with Force H on
completion of HATS.
11th
During patrol off Gibraltar sighted Vichy
French cruisers on passage to Dakar.
October
Force H deployment in continuation.
18th
In company with HM Destroyers GALLANT and
GRIFFIN of 13th Destroyer Flotilla
rammed
and sank Italian submarine LAFOLE , SE of
Alboran Island in the western
Mediterranean.
Sustained major damage to forward hull
structure.
22nd
Taken in hand for repair.
November
Under repair.
20th.
To be
transferred to
Malta
for completion of work.
25th
Joined Screen for Fleet units covering
passage of H M Cruisers MANCHESTER and
SOUTHAMPTON
to reinforce Fleet at Alexandria and Malta
convoy.
(Operation COLLAR).
27th
Present with screen for HM Battlecruiser
RENOWN, HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL,
HM
Cruisers
SHEFFIELD and DESPATCH during brief
engagement with two Italian
battleships, seven cruisers and destroyer
screen.
When Italian force withdrew British
covering force remained with convoy to
ensure safety
and did not pursue
enemy ships (Battle of Cape
Spartivento).
(Note: This decision was questioned later
by the Admiralty but the subsequent
Board of
Enquiry concluded that the action taken
was correct.
For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and
Naval Staff History.)
29th
Taken in hand for permanent repair in
Malta.
December
Under repair.
1
9 4 1
January
Under repair.
February
20th
On completion transferred to 2nd Destroyer
Flotilla for duty with Fleet in the
Eastern
Mediterranean and took passage to
Alexandria.
March
15th
Part of escort for HM Battleships
WARSPITE, BARHAM and VALIANT, HM Aircraft
Carrier FORMIDABLE from Alexandria to Join Cruiser force based at
Suda
Bay, Crete
in anticipation of action against Italian
Fleet believed to be making offensive
sweep in
Aegean Sea.
17th
Participated in Battle of Matapan.
(For details see MATAPAN by SW Pack,
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and
Naval
Staff History).
April
Deployed on escort of convoys between
Alexandria and Piraeus (Operation LUSTRE).
24th
Assisted in evacuation of British troops
from Nauphlia with HM Cruiser CALCUTTA,
HM Destroyers DIAMOND and ISIS.
In all 1,000 troops were embarked. (See
above references and THE BATTLE OF THE
WINE
DARK SEA by L Lind.)
May
1st
Resumed Fleet duties on completion of
evacuation duties.
6th
Deployed with Fleet units to cover transit
of convoys and Force F, HM Battleship
QUEEN
ELIZABETH, HM Cruisers NAIAD, FIJI,
GLOUCESTER joining Fleet in Eastern
Mediterranean
(Operation TIGER).
7th
Detached on passage to escort HM Cruiser
AJAX with HM Destroyers IMPERIAL and
HAVOCK for
bombardment of Benghazi.
12th
Returned with Fleet to Alexandria.
20th
Deployed off Crete to intercept German
invasion craft.
24th
Searched unsuccessfully for invasion
convoys with HM Cruisers AJAX and DIDO, HM
Destroyers ISIS and IMPERIAL.
25th
Assisted in support of military operations
in defence of Crete.
28th
Part of Force B for evacuation of 4,000
troops from Heraklion.
29th
Detached on return passage to rescue
ship's company and embarked troops from HM
Destroyer IMPERIAL whose steering gear had
been disabled after being near-missed
during air attacks.
Sank HMS IMPERIAL with two torpedoes.
31st
Deployed with HM Cruisers PHOEBE and
MANXMAN to evacuate remaining troops from
Spakhia,
Crete.
In action against aircraft during outward
and return passages but
without major
damage.
June
Deployed with HM Destroyer JANUS in
support of military operations in Syria.
Engaged and
drove off two French destroyers
bombarding Australian troops.
(Operation EXPORTER).
July
Transferred for duty with Inshore Squadron
for supply and support of the Tobruk
garrison.
Carried stores and personnel.
August
Inshore Squadron deployment in
continuation.
to
October
November
24th
Part of destroyer screen for HM
Battleships QUEEN ELIZABETH, BARHAM and
VALIANT in search
for Italian
warships covering passage of convoys in
Eastern
Mediterranean.
25th
Took part in rescue of survivors after HMS
BARHAM was torpedoed by U331.
29th
In action against Italian torpedo carrying
aircraft but escaped damage.
Escorted HM Cruiser NAIAD with HM
Destroyer GRIFFIN for bombardment of
Derna.
December
Deployed with Fleet screen during searches
for Italian convoys.
23rd
Whilst escorting Convoy AT5 with HM
Destroyer HASTY carried out attack on
ASDIC
contact for over 3 hours forcing U79 to
surface.
44 survivors were rescued after submarine
was abandoned and sunk in position 32.15N
25.19E. See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.
(Note: This was the first German submarine
to be sunk in Eastern Mediterranean.)
1
9 4 2
January
Deployed with Fleet to cover passage of
Malta support convoy MF3.
February
Nominated for transfer to Eastern Fleet.
Malta convoy cover duties with
Fleet until
reorganisation of Mediterranean Fleet
Destroyer
Flotillas.
23rd
Detached for duty with Eastern Fleet and
took passage to
Ceylon.
March
Deployed with Fleet units in Indian Ocean
but still part of 2nd Flotilla.
31st
Joined HM Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE
and FORMIDABLE, H M Cruisers
CORNWALL, DORSETSHIRE, ENTERPRISE and
EMERALD in Force A as screen
with five other Fleet destroyers.
April
1st
Sailed with Force A from Colombo prior to
Japanese air attack and carried out
unsuccessful
search for Japanese naval force reported
on passage towards Ceylon.
(For
details of operations in Indian Ocean
after the loss of HM Aircraft Carrier
HERMES and
HM Cruiser DORSETSHIRE see OPERATION
PACIFIC by E. Grey and WAR WITH
JAPAN (HMSO)
May
Deployed in Indian Ocean for convoy
defence and patrol.
June
Recalled to Mediterranean to rejoin 2nd
Destroyer Flotilla.
Passage to Alexandria.
12th
Joined escort for Malta relief convoy with
Fleet units (Operation VIGOROUS).
14th
Under sustained air attacks on convoy and
threat of surface action by units of
the
Italian Fleet known to been passage to
attack Aegean convoys.
15th
In action against E-Boats during which HM
Destroyer HASTY was torpedoed.
Sank HMS HASTY by torpedo after rescue of
her ship's company.
Returned with the
convoy to
Alexandria
when it was recalled and Operation
abandoned.
(For full details of this disastrous and
ill directed operation see ENGAGE THE
ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett, THE
BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by
Donald MacIntyre and Naval Staff History.
July
Passage to Aden to rejoined Eastern Fleet
for convoy defence and Fleet screening in
Indian
Ocean.
August
Deployed in Indian Ocean on escort and
patrol duties.
to
December
1
9 4 3
January
Transferred to South Atlantic in
continuation of trade defence role.
February
Nominated for refit and conversion for use
as A/S Escort Destroyer.
14th
Passage to Freetown.
On arrival Joined escort for convoy to UK.
27th
Arrived at Plymouth.
Took passage to Sheerness for refit.
March
Under refit in HM Dockyard, Sheerness.
to
(Note: Work done included ;
May
Fit of HEDGEHOG Ahead Throwing Mortar
anti-submarine weapon.
Surface warning Radar Type 271 and HF D/F
Outfit
fitted for
detection of wireless
transmissions.
See SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann and THE
TORPEDOMEN by Poland).
June
1st
On completion of poet refit trials took
passage to Tobermory to work-up.
July
Joined 4th Escort Group based at Greenock for convoy defence in
North Atlantic.
August.
Deployed on convoy escort with Group.
September
27th
In action with other escorts against
submarine attacks on Convoy ONS19.
October
Atlantic convoy escort duty in
continuation.
to
December
1
9 4 4
January
Atlantic convoy escort duty in
continuation.
to
May
June
Transferred to 14th Escort Group and based
at Plymouth.
(Note: Others Ships in Group:
HM Destroyers FAME, ICARUS, HAVELOCK,
INCONSTANT.)
6th
Deployed in SW Approaches for offensive
patrol to prevent access by U-Boats into
English
Channel for attacks on convoys for
Normandy
landings.
(Operation NEPTUNE - For details of naval
activities before and during landings
see
OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and
LANDINGS IN NORMANDY , June 1944
(HMSO).
14th
Group operational area moved eastwards
after more A/S Support Groups available
for this
task.
18th
Took part in sinking of U767 by ships of
Group after detection of wireless
transmissions.
Submarine was sunk in position 29.03N
12.03W after HEDGEHOG attacks.
Only one of crew was rescued.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and
HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair).
July
Resumed Atlantic convoy defence duties
with 14th Escort Group.
August
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
to
September
October
Withdrawn for refit.
31st
Taken in hand for refit at Vickers
shipyard in Barrow.
November
Under refit for use as an A/S Escort.
to
(Note: Armament changed. Only three 4.7in
guns fitted, two mountings forward and 1
aft.
December
1
9 4 5
January
Under refit
to
February
March
9th
On completion of post refit trials and
work-up deployed in Irish Sea.
Convoy escort and patrol duty against
increased threat to coastal convoy traffic
by
SCHNORKEL fitted U-Boats.
April
Carried out anti submarine operations In
Irish Sea and SW Approaches
May
Transferred to Rosyth Escort Force for
patrol and escort in North Sea.
June
Deployed in North Sea in support of
re-occupation operations.
to
August
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS
HOTSPUR was transferred to the Londonderry
Training Squadron in August 1945 and
remained on training duties until June 1946.
She then served with the 4th
Escort Group until February 1947 when
refitted at Portsmouth. Later that year the
ship joined the 3rd Training
Flotilla based Portland before entering
Reserve at Portsmouth in 1946. Sale
negotiations with the Republic of
Dominica were completed by November that
year when she was renamed TRUJILLO. After
over 25 years in the
Dominican Navy the ship was renamed DUARTE
and scrapped after 1970.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS HOTSPUR
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
09/10/40
|
09/10/40
|
HG
045
|
15/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
20/11/40
|
20/11/40
|
HG
047
|
unknown
|
04/12/40
|
25/11/40
|
25/11/40
|
COLLAR
|
28/11/40
|
28/11/40
|
04/03/41
|
04/03/41
|
AS
016/1
|
08/03/41
|
08/03/41
|
14/03/41
|
14/03/41
|
AS
019/1
|
19/03/41
|
19/03/41
|
08/04/41
|
08/04/41
|
ASF
024
|
11/04/41
|
11/04/41
|
23/12/41
|
23/12/41
|
TA
005/M
|
25/12/41
|
25/12/41
|
03/01/42
|
03/01/42
|
AT
011/M
|
07/01/42
|
07/01/42
|
11/06/42
|
12/06/42
|
MW
011
|
16/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
04/08/42
|
04/08/42
|
RT
001
|
06/08/42
|
13/08/42
|
10/01/43
|
20/01/43
|
MC
003
|
23/01/43
|
23/01/43
|
25/01/43
|
25/01/43
|
CF
011
|
27/01/43
|
27/01/43
|
30/01/43
|
30/01/43
|
CF
011A
|
11/02/43
|
11/02/43
|
14/02/43
|
14/02/43
|
CF
011B
|
24/02/43
|
25/02/43
|
03/07/43
|
04/07/43
|
ONS
012
|
15/07/43
|
18/07/43
|
19/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
SC
137
|
03/08/43
|
03/08/43
|
14/08/43
|
15/08/43
|
ON
197
|
22/08/43
|
28/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
02/09/43
|
HX
254
|
09/09/43
|
12/09/43
|
22/09/43
|
23/09/43
|
ON
203
|
03/10/43
|
10/10/43
|
05/10/43
|
11/10/43
|
HX
260
|
18/10/43
|
20/10/43
|
31/10/43
|
01/11/43
|
ON
209
|
10/11/43
|
17/11/43
|
13/11/43
|
18/11/43
|
HX
266
|
26/11/43
|
27/11/43
|
09/12/43
|
10/12/43
|
ON
215
|
22/12/43
|
28/12/43
|
22/12/43
|
27/12/43
|
HX
272
|
05/02/44
|
06/01/44
|
15/01/44
|
16/01/44
|
ON
220
|
28/01/44
|
04/02/44
|
29/01/44
|
02/02/44
|
SC
152
|
14/02/44
|
15/02/44
|
27/02/44
|
28/02/44
|
ONS
030
|
10/03/44
|
13/03/44
|
13/03/44
|
19/03/44
|
HX
283
|
28/03/44
|
29/03/44
|
08/04/44
|
15/04/44
|
MKF
029B
|
17/04/44
|
17/04/44
|
12/04/45
|
15/04/45
|
MKF
042
|
17/04/45
|
17/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)