H-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from Parsons
Marine: Turbine Company with the hull ruction sub-contracted to Vickers Armstrong at Newcastle under the 1934
Programme en on 28th February 1935 at the same time as sister ship HMS HERO. She was 1st Royal Navy warship to carry this name and was launched on 19th March 1936 on the same date as HMS HERO. Build
was completed on 9th December 1936 at a tender price of £249,591, excluding cost of Admiralty
supplied items such as guns and signalling outfits. This destroyer was fitted with a prototype twin 4.7in gun mounting in B position,
with no gun fitted in A position. During trials the new mounting was found
unsatisfactory and the twin mounting was replaced by the normal single 4.7in mounting with a second single mounting fit of two single in
B position. This destroyer served with the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla in
the Mediterranean until the outbreak of WW2, apart from a refit at Portsmouth in mid 1939.
B a t t l e H o n o
u r s
ATLANTIC 1940 - CALABRIA 1940 - SPARTIVENTO 1940 - LIBYA
1940 - MATAPAN 1941 GREECE 1941 - CRETE 1941 - MEDITERRANEAN
1940-41 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Red , the
"Wake" knot Gold
Motto
Vigila
et ora : 'Watch and pray'.
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 Deployed
in Mediterranean with 2nd Destroyer Flotilla for Contraband Control duty
and
screening of major Fleet units.
October Transferred
to Freetown for convoy escort duty.
Intercepted German mercantile UHENFELS 300 miles SW Freetown and took her to
Freetown as Prize.
Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL during search for raiders in South
Atlantic.
November Deployed for
convoy defence based at Trinidad.
December South Atlantic
convoy defence in continuation.
17th At Plate
Estuary after GRAF SPEE action.
On
release from duty in South Atlantic resumed duty in Caribbean area.
Maintained blockade on Port Everglades, Florida to prevent German mercantile
ARAUCA
leaving harbour to return to Germany.
1 9 4 0
January Deployed for
special escort duty.
23rd Sailed
from Bermuda for Halifax with HM Destroyer HUNTER as escorted for HM Battleship
VALIANT and HM Cruiser ENTERPRISE with HM Destroyer HUNTER.
(Note: HMS VALIANT had been working-up in the West Indies).
27th Taken in
hand for weather damage repair on arrival at Halifax
February Under repair.
16th Repair
work completed.
28th Escorted
HM Cruiser ORION, carrying ashes of Governor General of Canada to UK.
March On passage
to UK.
11th Taken in
hand for repair and installation of Degaussing at Portsmouth.
April
12th On
completion of repair and worked-up for service with Home Fleet.
(Note: The repair work prevented the ship being with her Flotilla during the 1st
Battle
of
Narvik).
17th Escorted
HM Cruiser SUFFOLK for bombardment of Sola airfield, Stavanger.
(Operation DUCK – To support landings at Andalsnes (Operation PRIMROSE)).
19th Deployed
with Fleet units in convoy escort and support of military operations off Norway.
23rd Escorted
HI Aircraft Carriers ARK ROYAL and GLORIOUS with HM Destroyers HASTY.
FURY,
FEARLESS and JUNO from Scapa Flow to carry cut flying operation and protection
of
Fleet units off Norway (Operation DX).
Deployed as escort for HMS ARK ROYAL with HM Destroyers HYPERION, FEARLESS
and
JUNO.
(Note: HMS GLORIOUS returned to Scapa Flow to refuel).
May Norwegian
deployment in continuation
(For
details of the disastrous Norwegian operations see NARVIK by D Macintyre, THE
DOOMED EXPEDITION by Adams and Naval Staff History (HMSO – 2001) ).
7th
Nominated for transfer to Harwich with HM Destroyers JANUS, HYPERION, HAVOCK,
KELLY, KIMBERLEY, KANDAHAR and HOSTILE for support of military operations
in
Nore Command.
8th Passage
to Rosyth.
9th During
passage from Rosyth to Harwich with HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM, HM Destroyers
JANUS,
HYPERION and HAVOCK detached with destroyers to take part in search by other
Home
Fleet destroyers for enemy minelayers reported in North Sea.
Deployed with Flotilla at Harwich to assist with operations off Dutch coast.
(Note: HMS BIRMINGHAM was later joined by destroyers of 5th Destroyer Flotilla
commanded by Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten.
These
destroyers later engaged enemy torpedo boats and HMS KELLY was hit
by a
torpedo and sustained major damage,
On
release from search resumed passage to Harwich.
11th Escorted
trawlers to Scheveningen to evacuate British nationals from Holland.
13th Embarked
HM Queen Wilhelmina of Netherlands for passage to Harwich.
16th
Transferred with Flotilla to Mediterranean for Fleet screening and patrol
duties.
17th Took
passage to Alexandria.
24th On
arrival at Alexandria deployed with Mediterranean Fleet.
June Deployed
with Fleet units in eastern Mediterranean.
(Note: Extensive exercises were carried out by Fleet units in anticipation of was
with Italy.
See
Naval Staff History (HMSO- 2001).)
28th Sailed
from Alexandria as part of Force B to provide cover for convoys on passage in
eastern Mediterranean (Operation MA3)
Deployed with ships of Flotilla as screen for HM Battleships RAMILLIES, ROYAL
SOVEREIGN and HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE.
(Note: During this operation ships of Force A comprising HM Cruisers ORION,
NEPTUNE, SYDNEY (RAN), LIVERPOOL and GLOUCESTER OF 7th Cruiser
Squadron engaged three enemy destroyers, one of which ESPERO was sunk.
This
engagement was not considered satisfactory in view of the very significant
expenditure of ammunition. See Naval Staff History (HMSO-2001).)
July
9th Escorted
HM Battleship WARSPITE during covering operation for transit of convoys in
eastern Mediterranean (Operation MA5 for Convoys MF1/MS1))
Took
part in action against Italian Fleet off Calabria.
(See
Naval Staff History and THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN.)
18th Detached
from Fleet units with HM Destroyer IMPERIAL and took passage to Port Said to
escort mercantiles on passage to join Convoy AN2. See Naval Staff History
August Deployed in
Eastern Mediterranean.
30th Part of
screen for HMS EAGLE., HM Battleships MALAYA and WARSPITE, HM Cruisers
KENT,
GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, ORION and SYDNEY (RAN) covering passage of
Convoy ME2 from Alexandria to Malta (Operation MB3).
September
2nd Deployed
with screen during meeting near Pantellaria with reinforcement ships on passage
to
join
the Fleet from Gibraltar (Operation HATS).
(Note: HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Battleship VALIANT, HM Cruisers
CALCUTTA and Cruiser COVENTRY).
5th Arrived
back in Alexandria with Fleet units.
25th Carried
out bombardment of military target at Sidi Baranni with HM Destroyers HYPERION,
JANUS
and MOHAWK.
October Eastern
Mediterranean deployment fir convoy defence in continuation.
(Note: Convoy MF3 was passed to Malta and Convoy ME4 to Egypt with destroyer
escort
from
Alexandria (0peration MB6).
This
ship was not deployed with Fleet screen for cover of these convoys).
November
6th Joined
HM Destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER, HASTY, HAVOCK, HERO, HYPERION,
ILEX,
JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO, MOHAWK and NUBIAN (Operation MB8).
as
screen for Fleet units providing cover for passage of Convoy MW3 to Malta.
(Note: This was part of a joint major deployment with Force H to pass further
reinforcements
to
join the Fleet at Alexandria (Operation COAT).
Ships
being transferred were HM Battleship BARHAM, HM Cruisers BERWICK and
GLASGOW screened by HM Destroyers GALLANT, GRIFFIN and GREYHOUND.
from
Gibraltar.)
10th Detached
as escort for HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS during air attack on Italian Fleet
at
Taranto (Operation JUDGEMENT)
11th
Returned to rejoin Fleet with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.
14th Arrived
at Alexandria.
25th Deployed
with HM Destroyers DEFENDER, DIAMOND, GALLANT and GREYHOUND as
screen for HMS RAMILLIES, HM Cruisers BERWICK, NEWCASTLE and COVENTRY to
provide cover for the passage of Convoy MW4 to Malta and return of Convoy ME4 to
Egypt
as
Force D.
(Operation MB9 - Part of Operation COLLAR - The transfer of HM Cruisers
MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON with HM Destroyer HOTSPUR (Force F) from UK
to
Alexandria.
27th Force D
met reinforcement ships and convoy from Gibraltar.
Present during brief engagement with Italian warships which attempted to attack
a convoy
from
Gibraltar (Battle of Cape Spartivento)
(See
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History for details)
29th Return
passage to Alexandria as escort for Convoy ME4 with ships of Mediterranean
Fleet.
December
10th Deployed
in support of military operations after Italian provided naval gunfire support
against
road
traffic.
13th Sank
Italian submarine NAIADE with HM Destroyer HYPERION.
Submarine crew were rescued.
14th Returned
to Alexandria).
21st Detached
from Fleet screen to join HMS MALAYA and HM Destroyers HERO and HASTY as
escort for two mercantiles to Gibraltar (Convoy MG1 ).
25th
Despatched from Gibraltar to support Atlantic convoy under attack by German
cruiser HIPPER.
(See
above references).
29th Returned
to Gibraltar with three ships dispersed from attacked convoy
1 9 4 1
January
7th Deployed
as part of Force F with HM Destroyers HASTY. HERO and JAGUAR to escort HM
Cruiser BONAVENTURE during passage to reinforce Fleet in eastern Mediterranean.
Cover
was provided by Ships of Force H.
(Part
of Operation EXCESS - passage of military convoy to Malta and Piraeus).
10th In action
against Italian E-Boats CIRCE and VEGA in Sicilian Channel.
Torpedoed and sank VEGA which had been damaged by gunfire from HMS BONAVENTURE.
Force
F met ships of Mediterranean Fleet later that morning.
(Note: Mediterranean Fleet had been under heavy and sustained dive-bombing attacks by
German Fliegerkorps X during which HMS ILLUSTRIOUS was badly damaged.
See
above references).
11th Detached
from Force F on arrival In Malta and rejoined Fleet.
Under
further heavy and sustained air attacks during which HMS SOUTHAMPTON was hit and
on
fire.
Later
this cruiser was sunk by HM Cruiser ORION).
15th Returned
to Alexandria.
February Detached for
special duties.
13th Escorted
HM Armed Boarding Vessel CHAKLA into Benghazi.
22nd
Participated in Commando raid on Castellorizio in Aegean with HM Destroyer
DECOY.
(Operation ABSTENTION)
March Deployed for
escort of military convoys to Greece (Operation LUSTRE)
See
BATTLE OF THE WINE DARK SEA by L Lind and Military History)
4th Escorted
Convoy AN17 to Piraeus with HM Cruiser Coventry, HM Destroyer STUART (RAN)
and
HM Corvette HYACINTH.
20th Deployed
with H M Destroyers HASTY, ILEX, JERVIS, STUART (RAN), and VENDETTA
(RAN)
as screen for HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE, HM Battleships BARHAM,
VALIANT, WARSPITE. HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER and YORK to cover passage of Convoy
MW6
to Malta. (Operation MD9).
26th Escorted
HM Cruisers AJAX, GLOUCESTER, ORION and PERTH for offensive sweep in the
eastern Mediterranean to lure Italian Fleet into surface action.
28th Deployed
with Fleet screen during Battle of Matapan.
For
details see MATAPAN by SW Pack and Naval Staff History).
29th Detached
from Fleet screen and deployed with HM Destroyer GRIFFIN and HMAS STUART
to
escort Convey GA8 from Piraeus.
April
18th Joined
screen for HMS FORMIDABLE, HM Battleships BARHAM, VALIANT and
WARSPITE, HM Cruisers AJAX, CALCUTTA, GLOUCESTER, ORION and PHOEBE with
HM
Destroyers ENCOUNTER, HASTY, HAVOCK. HERO, JAGUAR and JUNO to cover
passage of HM Supply Ship BRECONSHIRE to Malta and return passage of Convoy ME7.
Operation MD2)
19th Refuelled
at Suda Bay, Crete and sailed to resume cover operation.
20th Detached
from Fleet units and deployed as screen for HM Battleships WARSPITE,, BARHAM,
VALIANT and HM Cruiser GLOUCESTER with HM Destroyers HASTY, HAVOCK, HERO,
HOTSPUR, JAGUAR, JANUS, JERVIS and JUNO in Force B.
(Note: Other ships were deployed as Force C for planned bombardment.
21st Deployed
as screen for Force B during inshore bombardment close inshore (Operation MD2).
Passage to Tripoli. to carry out Bombardment (Operation MD3)
On
completion took passage with to Alexandria with Forces B and C.
23rd Arrived
at Alexandria.
26th Deployed
at Kalamata, Greece with HM Cruisers PHOEBE, HM Destroyers DEFENDER, HERO,
HM
Sloop FLAMINGO and two mercantiles for evacuation of British troops from Crete.
(Note: For details se Naval Staff History. 7,000 troops were left.)
27th
Under air attack during return passage to Alexandria,
(Note: One mercantile was sunk without casualties.)
28th Deployed
at Kalamata, Greece for evacuation with HM Destroyers HERO, KANDAHAR,
KIMBERLEY, KINGSTON, NUBIAN, DEFENDER, DECOY and HASTY
(Note: Troops were embarked from wharves and taken to HM Cruisers PHOEBE and PERTH
(RAN)
lying off-shore.)
29th Returned
to Alexandria.
May
6th Deployed
as screen for HMS FORMIDABLE, HMS BARHAM, HMS VALIANT, HMS
WARSPITE, HM Cruisers ORION, PERTH (RAN), ABDIEL and HMS BRECONSHIRE with
HM
Destroyers HOTSPUR, HAVOCK, GRIFFIN, HERO, JERVIS, JUNO, KANDAHAR,
KIMBERLEY, KINGSTON, NIZAM and NUBIAN (Operation MD4)
(Part
of Operation TIGER - Clover for passage of Convoy MW7 to Malta and that of a
military
convoy in eastern Mediterranean bringing tanks to 8th Army in Egypt.
8th Detached
with Fleet units and took passage to meet TIGER Convoy
9th Met
TIGER Convoy.
12th Arrived
at Alexandria with TIGER convoy.
20th
Participated in defence of Crete against German occupation.
Under
air attacks
21st Deployed
as Force D in position SW of Kithera with HM Cruisers DIDO, ORION and AJAX with
HM
Destroyers JANUS, KIMBERLEY and HASTY.
Moved
westward into Aegean to intercept any invasion craft.
In
action against invasion craft NW of Suda Bay and sank caiques.
22nd Ordered to
return to Alexandria because of shortage of AA ammunition.
Supported military operations and provided defence for Fleet units off Crete.
28th Escorted
HM Cruisers ORION, AJAX and DIDO with HM Destroyers DECOY, JACKAL,
HOTSPUR, IMPERIAL and KIMBERLEY to evacuate allied troops from Heraklion.
(Note: Under air attacks on passage and HMS AJAX detached after sustaining damage by
near
miss.)
29th Under
sustained aerial attacks after completing evacuation and hit by bomb during
passage to
Alexandria which reduced speed.
(Note: Air cover had been expected but arrival was delayed.
See
Naval Staff History for details.)
Became isolated from other ships and subjected to further air attacks 5 miles
south of Crete.
Ship
sank in position 35.20N 26.20E after another bomb hit.
76
members of ship's company were killed and 89 were taken prisoner.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS HEREWARD
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
|
26/02/40
|
unknown
|
HX 023
|
unknown
|
12/03/40
|
08/03/41
|
08/03/41
|
AS 017/1
|
12/03/41
|
12/03/41
|
22/03/41
|
24/03/41
|
AN 022
|
25/03/41
|
25/03/41
|
29/03/41
|
29/03/41
|
GA 008
|
31/03/41
|
31/03/41
|
13/04/41
|
13/04/41
|
ASF 025
|
15/04/41
|
15/04/41
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)