H-Class Fleet
Destroyer ordered from Denny's at Dumbarton under 1934 Programme on 13th
December 1934. The ship was laid down on 15th April 1935 and launched on 5th May 1936 as the fourth Royal Navy
warship to carry this name, dating from 1798. She was completed on 11 November
1936 and her build cost was £248,611 excluding Admiralty supplied items such as
guns and signalling outfits. Her service prior to WW2 was with the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla
in the Mediterranean. This ship was adopted by the
civil community of Scarborough, then in the East Riding of Yorkshire following
a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in February 1942. She had a
most outstanding career in WW2 as shown by the award of 11 Battle Honours in
less than 3 years.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1939 - NORWAY 1940 -
CALABRIA 1940 - SPADA 1940 - MEDITERRANEAN 1940-41 - MATAPAN
1941 - GREECE 1941 - CRETE 1941 - LIBYA 1941-42 - SIRTE 1942
- MALTA CONVOYS 1941-42
H e r
a l d i c D a
t a
Badge: On a Field Red,
a Spear gold winged silver
(Note: Latin 'Hasta' a spear)
M o t t o
Certe Ac Celeriter:
"Sure and Swift'
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
Carrying cut work-up in Malta
prior to rejoining 2nd Destroyer Flotilla in the
Mediterranean Fleet
after re-commissioning.
3rd
Deployed on escort and Contraband Control duty in Mediterranean.
October
Transferred to Force K based at Freetown for search in Atlantic to intercept
surface raiders and
blockade runners with HM Destroyers HARDY, HERO, HASTY and HOSTILE of 2nd
Destroyer
Flotilla.
November Atlantic
search duties in continuation.
December Diverted to
join warships on passage to Plate estuary after German battleship GRAF SPEE
sought
refuge in Montevideo.
Arrived after GRAF SPEE had scuttled.
Resumed trade defence duties in Atlantic.
(For details of activities in the Atlantic see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by
Corelli Barnett and Naval Staff History).
1 9 4 0
January Withdrawn
from Atlantic duty to return to UK and took passage.
February
12th During
passage intercepted German blockade runner MOREA off coast of Spain.
Captured enemy ship.
March Under
refit at Devonport.
Nominated for service with Home Fleet on completion.
19th With
HM Destroyer VIVIEN, escorted to Newcastle damaged destroyer HMS JERVIS which
had been in collision with a Swedish merchant ship in the North Sea.
April
Deployed at Scapa Flow for escort of major Home Fleet ships during Atlantic
operations to
cover planned minelay off Norway and for interception of enemy ships on passage
to
attack shipping. (Operation RUPERT/R4)
(Note: This plan was overtaken by events)
(For details see CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton, NARVIK by D Macintyre and Naval
Staff History (HMSO, 2001))
8th After
German invasion of Norway deployed escort duty and defence of Home Fleet ships
supporting military operations in Norway.
Under heavy air attacks during passage to Narvik area.
For details of the disastrous operations off Norway see above references and THE
DOOMED
EXPEDITION by T Adams.
13th Under
repair at Dundee
20th On
completion of repair resumed Home Fleet duties
(Note: Following allied landings in Norway, Home Fleet destroyers were deployed
for escort
of
military convoys, support of military operations and AA defence of ships in
landing places.)
23rd
Escorted HM Aircraft Carriers GLORIOUS and ARK ROYAL during air operations off
Norway (Operation DX).
27th
Escorted HMS GLORIOUS on passage to Scapa Flow to embark reinforcement aircraft
and to
refuel.
May
2nd
Assisted in evacuation of allied forces at Namsos and came under sustained air
attacks.
16th
Transferred to Mediterranean with Flotilla for Fleet service.
Passage to Alexandria,
June
Deployed with Fleet screen in Mediterranean during cover of convoys on passage
to Malta and
Alexandria.
(Note: Mediterranean Fleet was in a high state of readiness in anticipation of
was with Italy.)
28th
Nominated for escort of Fleet units escorting convoy to Malta (Operation ME1)
Operation postponed.
July
7th
Deployed with HM Destroyers DAINTY, DEFENDER, HOSTILE, HYPERION, ILEX,
IMPERIAL, JANUS, JUNO, VAMPIRE (RAN) and VOYAGER as screen for HM Aircraft
Carrier EAGLE, HM Battleships MALAYA. ROYAL SOVEREIGN and WARSPITE.
HM
Cruisers GLOUCESTER, ORION, LIVERPOOL, NEPTUNE and SYDNEY (RAN)
to
cover passage of Malta convoy. (Operation MA5).
9th Took
part in engagement with Italian Fleet off Calabria whilst covering passage of
convoy
(Battle of Calabria).
(For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett, THE BATTLE
FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre, MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman and
Naval Staff History (HMSO- 2001.).
10th
Remained with Fleet units to cover air attacks by HMS EAGLE on Augusta, Sicily.
19th
Deployed in Eastern Mediterranean with HM Destroyers HERO, HYPERION and ILEX as
escort for HM Australian Cruiser SYDNEY.
Engaged and sank the Italian cruiser BARTOLOMEO COLLEONI
(Battle of Spada - References as above)
August
Mediterranean Fleet deployment with Flotilla in continuation
to
September
October
2nd
Participated in sinking of Italian submarine BERILLO off Egyptian coast with HM
Destroyer
HAVOCK
.
Italian crew members including the captain were saved.
November
6th
Deployed with HM Destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HERO,
HYPERION, ILEX. JANUS, JERVlS, ,JUNO, MOHAWK and NUBIAN as destroyer screen
for HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Battleships MALAYA, RAMILLIES, VALIANT
and WARSPITE, HM Cruiser SYDNEY and HM Cruiser YORK to provide Distant Cover for
passage of Malta Convoy MW3 (Operation MB6).
(Note: This was combined with Operation COAT to pass HM Battleship BARHAM,
HM
Cruisers BERWICK and GLASGOW (Force F) to reinforce Fleet at Alexandria.
11th Escorted
HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS during attack on Italian Fleet lying at Taranto,
(Operation JUDGEMENT).
13th
Deployed with Fleet units which covered MW3 and ships of Force F to provide the
Distant Cover
for passage of return convoy ME3 from Malta to Alexandria.
14th
Returned to Alexandria with Fleet.
18th
Escorted ships of Mediterranean Fleet during bombardment of Valona, Albania by
HM
Battleships WARSPITE and VALIANT.
December
Mediterranean Fleet deployment in continuation.
16th
Deployed with destroyer screen for major ships providing Distant Cover for the
passage of Malta
Convoy MW5 (Operation MC2) .
22nd
Detached with HM Destroyers HERO, HEREWARD, HYPERION and ILEX as escort for HM
Battleship MALAYA and two supply ships (Convoy MG1 ) to Malta. HMS HYPERION was
torpedoed and later sank.
HMS ILEX was detached to assist.
(Note: This was part of a combined operation to pass HMS MALAYA to Gibraltar
with MG1
See above references.
24th
Arrived at Gibraltar and retained for future operation.
1 9 4 1
January Nominated
for escort of military convoy to Eastern Mediterranean.
(Operation EXCESS - See above references).
7th Joined HM Force F at Gibraltar with HM Destroyers HEREWARD, HERO
and JAGUAR as
screen for HM Cruiser BONAVENTURE for transit to Eastern Mediterranean.
10th Under
unsuccessful attacks by Italian submarine and E-Boats. (HMS BONAVENTURE sank
Italian torpedo boat VEGA).
Met Mediterranean Fleet and took passage to Alexandria. (HM Destroyer GALLANT of
Force A
was mined and had to be towed to Malta). Deployed with Fleet to cover passage of
convoy ME6
to
Alexandria from Malta.
Under sustained and heavy on Fleet units deployed to ensure safe passage of
Convoy to
Alexandria.
(Note: These were being made by dive bombers of German Fliegerkorps X recently
moved
to
Mediterranean, See references.)
After HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS was seriously damaged escorted carrier to
Malta
with HMS JAGUAR.
12th
Embarked military personnel at Suda Bay for passage to Malta.
16th
Rejoined Flotilla at Alexandria.
February Deployed
with Fleet in Eastern Mediterranean covering the passage of personnel convoy to
Malta (Operation MC8).
(Note: Operations in Eastern Mediterranean were restricted until HMS FORMIDABLE
had
joined Fleet to replace HMS ILLUSTRIOUS. See references.).
March
20th
Deployed with destroyer screen for HMS FORMIDABLE, HMS BARHAM, HMS VALIANT,
HM
Cruisers GLOUCESTER and YORK with HM Destroyers HEREWARD, ILEX, JERVIS,
STUART (RAN) and VENDETTA (RAN) covering passage of Convoy MW6 to Malta.
(Operation MC9).
22nd
Deployed as screen for HM Cruisers AJAX, GLOUCESTER, ORION and PERTH (RAN)
with HM
Destroyers ILEX, HEREWARD and VENDETTA in
Aegean to tempt a sortie by
Italian Fleet in
order to force an engagement.
27th After
Italian Fleet movement reported by aircraft ordered to meet HMS WARSPITE,
HMS BARHAM, HMS VALIANT and HMS FORMIDABLE SW of Crete.
28th Took
part in Fleet action against Italian Fleet at Battle of Matapan.
(For details see MATAPAN by S Pack, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY,
THE BATTLE FOR
THE M5DITERRENEAN and Naval Staff History.)
April Fleet
screening duty in continuation.
18th
Deployed as screen for HMS FORMIDABLE, HMS WARSPITE, HMS VALIANT,
HM
Cruisers AJAX, GLOUCESTER,
ORION, PHOEBE and CALCUTTA with HM
Destroyers ENCOUNTER, HAVOCK, HERO, HEREWARD, JAGUAR, JUNO,.
DEFENDER, DECOY, GREYHOUND and ILEX for passage to Suda Bay, Crete for
cover of Convoy ME7 from Malta TO Alexandria.
20th Joined
Force B as screen for HMS WARSPITE, BARHAM, VALIANT and HM
Cruiser GLOUCESTER with
HM Destroyers HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HERO, HOTSPUR,
JAGUAR, JANUS, JERVIS and JUNO to
carry out bombardment of
Tripoli
(Operation MD3).
21st
Deployed in minesweeping role with HMS HOTSPUR, HERO and HAVOCK prior to s
10
minute bombardment by Force B units.
23rd
Returned to Alexandria Force B ships except HMS JAGUAR, JUNO, JANUS and
JERVIS
which had been detached to form Force K in Malta.
24th Took
part in evacuation of British troops from Greece with Mediterranean Fleet.
(Operation DEMON. For details see above references).
30th
Resumed Fleet duties when released from DEMON.
May
6th Part
of escort for Fleet units covering passage of military convoys through the
Mediterranean.
In
action with aircraft.
(Operation TIGER – See references).
12th Returned to Alexandria with eastbound convoy.
18th
Deployed with Fleet units in support of military operations in Crete.
21st In
action with Force D against German invasion craft north of Cannae with HM
Cruisers
DIDO and ORION, HM Destroyers JANUS, KIMBERLEY and HEREWARD.
Sank 3 ships and 12
caiques.
27th Took
part in evacuation of allied troops from Crete
Under heavy and sustained air attacks.
(See references above)
June Deployed in support of Crete evacuation.
Nominated for support of military operations in Syria.
8th Deployed
off Syria for defence of Fleet units
(Operation EXPORTER – See RELUCTANT ENEMIES by
W Tute and Naval Staff History.)
July
4th Provided
naval gunfire support for shore operation in Syria.
August Deployed in
support of Tobruk garrison and as escort to supply convoys.
to See
Naval Staff History (HMSO 2001)
October
November Resumed
Mediterranean Fleet duties with Flotilla
15th Joined
Fleet units covering passage of HM Supply Ship BRECONSHIRE on passage to Malta
and returning convoy of empty ships.
December
17th Took
part in Fleet action with Italian warships which retreated from area.
(1st Battle of Sirte – See references.).
21st
Resumed Tobruk support duties.
Stood by damaged Landing Ship HMS GLENROY after torpedo damage.
23rd
Participated in sinking of U79 off Tobruk with HM Destroyer HOTSPUR.
For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and above references,
(Note: This was first
German submarine to be sunk in
Eastern Mediterranean).
1 9 4 2
January Deployed
with Fleet units covering passage of Malta convoys MW8A and MF4.
February Part of
Force B covering Malta supply convoy MF5
12th Joined
covering force for 3 ship Malta supply convoy (MW9A and MW9B) .
14th In
action with dive bomber aircraft.
After two merchantmen had been sunk and one
other damaged the covering operation
was called off and force returned to Alexandria.
(See references including MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman.)
22nd
Transferred to 22nd Destroyer Flotilla as part of reorganisation of Destroyer
Flotillas in
Mediterranean.
March Fleet
screening duties in continuation.
15th Part
of screen for Fleet units during bombardment of Rhodes..
20th Joined
close escort for Malta supply convoy MW10.
22nd Drove
off torpedo carrying aircraft.
In
action with Italian surface ships
including Battleship LITTORIO and two cruisers.
Sustained serious weather damage
during this action
(2nd Battle of Sirte - see above references) .
April
Resumed duties with Flotilla after repair.
May Fleet
screening and support of military operations in continuation.
June
12th Joined
covering force for passage of westbound Malta convoy (Operation VIGOROUS.
14th Under
heavy and sustained air attacks against MW10 and under threat from Italian Fleet
which had sailed to
intercept the passage of this supply convoy to
Malta.
15th In
action with E-Boats west of Crete.
After HM Cruiser NEWCASTLE was torpedoed
gave chase until the enemy craft no
longer presented a threat and returned to
give protection to HMS
NEWCASTLE.
Two hours later hit by torpedo from Italian
E-Boat S55 on port side forward.
Bow structure completely destroyed causing fire in forward Boiler Room and
flooding.
Ship unable to steam ahead.
Ship had to be abandoned and was sunk by torpedo from HM destroyer HOTSPUR which
rescued most of the ship's company, 13 of whom were lost.
(For details of this disastrous operation and its ill-directed control by shore
authorities see
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C. Barnet, BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre, MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman.).
(Note: Casualty List was published on 23rd July 1942.)
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS HASTY
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
09/09/39
|
09/09/39
|
BLUE 001
|
19/09/39
|
19/09/39
|
22/09/39
|
22/09/39
|
GREEN 2
|
27/09/39
|
unknown
|
15/10/39
|
15/10/39
|
SL 005
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
20/01/40
|
20/01/40
|
SL 017F
|
unknown
|
04/02/40
|
23/11/40
|
23/11/40
|
MW 004
|
26/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
03/02/41
|
03/02/41
|
ASF 014
|
05/02/41
|
05/02/41
|
01/04/41
|
01/04/41
|
ASF 022
|
04/04/41
|
04/04/41
|
13/12/41
|
13/12/41
|
TA 003/M
|
15/12/41
|
15/12/41
|
23/12/41
|
23/12/41
|
TA 005/M
|
25/12/41
|
25/12/41
|
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
|
31/01/42
|
31/01/42
|
AT 022/M
|
03/02/42
|
unknown
|
02/03/42
|
02/03/42
|
AT 032/M
|
04/03/42
|
04/03/42
|
04/03/42
|
04/03/42
|
TA 025/M
|
06/03/42
|
06/03/42
|
22/04/42
|
22/04/42
|
AT 041/M
|
24/04/42
|
24/04/42
|
02/05/42
|
02/05/42
|
AT 043/M
|
04/05/42
|
04/05/42
|
05/05/42
|
05/05/42
|
TA 040/M
|
07/05/42
|
07/05/42
|
11/06/42
|
14/06/42
|
MW 011
|
15/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)