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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2005

HMS HAVELOCK (H 88) -  ex-Brazilian H-type Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Hesperus, sister ship (Navy Photos/Mike Pocock, click to enlarge)

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Variant of H-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered on 8th December 1937 from  JS White of Cowes, IoW by Brazil. The ship was laid down on 31st May 1938 and was to have been named JUTAHY. However she as requisitioned by the Admiralty in September that year and launched as HMS HAVELOCK on 16th October 1939. This name had been used by a Monitor built during WW1. Basic design was similar to the Royal  Navy H-Class but her cabin accommodation was much improved. Prior to entering RN service the after 4.7in gun was removed to enable more depth charges to be carried. This ship was commissioned on 10th February 1940. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in January 1942 this destroyer  was adopted by the civil community of Wimbledon, Surrey.

 

B a t t le   H o n o u r s

DARDANELLES 1915 - NORWAY 1940 - ATLANTIC 1940-45 - BISCAY 1943  - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1944 - NORMANDY 1944

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Blue, a demi lion erased langued and armed

Red holding in the paws a battle axe all Gold.

 

 

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 4 0

 

February                Contractors trials.

                10th        Build completion and commissioned for service

                                Commenced Acceptance Trials

                15th        Worked-up at Portland

 

March                    Deployed with HM Destroyers HESPERUS and HIGHLANDER as 9th Destroyer Flotilla in

                                Western Approaches Command for Atlantic convoy defence

 

April                       Transferred to Home Fleet with Flotilla after German landings in Norway.

                                Escorted military convoys to Norway and deployed for support and defence against air

                                attacks.

 

May                        Norwegian support in continuation.

                13th        Provided support during assault landings at Bjerkvik, near Narvik with HM Battleship

                                RESOLUTION, HM Cruisers AURORA and EFFINGHAM,. HM Destroyers SOMALI, FAME,

                                WREN and BASILISK.

                                (Note: French army mortar mounted forward was used.)

                28th        Deployed in Rombaksfjord with HM Destroyers BEAGLE, FAME and WALKER to cover

                                landing by French Foreign Legion.

                29th        Took part in evacuation of allied troops from Bodo with HM Destroyers ARROW, ECHO,

                                FIREDRAKE and VANOC.

June                        Norwegian evacuation support in continuation.

                4th          Co-ordinated evacuation arrangements at Harstad.

                8th          Part of escort for Group II Evacuation convoy with HM Cruisers COVENTRY and

                                SOUTHAMPTON. HM Destroyers FAME, FIREDRAKE, BEAGLE and ECHO.

                                (For details of the disastrous naval operations off Norway see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                                CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett, .NARVIK by D Macintyre, Naval Staff History (HMSO-2001_

                                and THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by Adams.)

.               10th        Arrived at Scapa after completion of Norwegian evacuation.

                                Resumed duty In Western Approaches with 9th Destroyer Flotilla.

                11th        Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence.

                16th        Detached to cover evacuation of troops from St. Nazaire.

                                (Operation AERIAL - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and BEF SHIPS by

                                J de Winser.)

 

July                         Returned to Atlantic convoy escort duty with Flotilla

 

August                  Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

 

September             Transferred to Liverpool

                                (See THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre).

 

October                  convoy escort in continuation.

 

November

                8th          Attacked and sank Italian submarine COMANDANTE FAA DI BRUNO during defence

                                of Convoy HX84.

 

December              Atlantic convoy escort with Group in continuation.

 

1 9 4 1

 

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to

March

 

April                       Part of escort for military convoy WS8A.

                                Nominated for duty with Force H with HM Destroyers HESPERUS and HARVESTER

                                in Force H at Gibraltar.

 

May                        Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS for passage from

                6th          Deployed as escort for HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL

                and HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD with HM Destroyers HESPERUS, HARVESTER, KASHMIR

                and KIPLING during cover of passage of military convoy taking tanks to the Middle East.

                (Operation TIGER - This operation also included passage of HM Battleship QUEEN

                ELIZABETH, HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER, NAIAD and FIJI to reinforce the Fleet in the

                Eastern Mediterranean.

                For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, THE BATTLE FOR THE

                                MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre and the Naval Staff History (HMSO-2001)

                10th        Returned to Gibraltar from position west of Malta.

                12th        Retained at Gibraltar for service in Force H.

                19th        Deployed for initial escort of major ships covering Malta aircraft delivery by HM Aircraft

                                Carriers ARK ROYAL and FURIOUS (Operation SPLICE)

                                Withdrawn from Force H because of inadequate anti-aircraft capability.

 

June                        Returned to Atlantic convoy escort duty.

 

July                         Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.

to                            For details of development of anti-submarine weapons and tactics see SEEK AND STRIKE

February                by W Hackmann, U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).

 

March                    Transferred to 5th (British) Escort Group as Senior Officers’ Ship.

 

April                       Deployed with Group for Atlantic convoy escort.

to

July

 

August                  Deployed with Group off Eastern American coast for escort of convoys from the Caribbean

                                area to Newfoundland and Gibraltar.

 

September             Joined escort of Convoy WAT13

 

October                  Deployment in American coastal waters in continuation.

to                            (See above references)

December

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

                12th        Escorted Tanker Convoy TM1 with HM Corvettes PIMPERNEL and GODETIA.

                                (Note: This convoy suffered severe losses in U-Boat attacks during passage to

                                Mediterranean from the West Indies.

                                Covered passage of convoy SC1 with 9th British Escort Group.

 

February                Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

 

March

                16th        Participated in defence of Convoy SC122 with H M Corvettes GODETIA, PIMPERNEL,

                BUTTERCUP, LAVENDER, SAXIFRAGE, HM Frigate SWALE, HM Destroyer

                LEAMINGTON of Group against sustained U-Boat attacks from STURMER Group.

                (For details see CONVOY by M Middlebrook and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.).

 

April                       Escorted Convoy SC126 with ships of Group.

                                (See above references)

 

May                        Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.

                                Deployed in Support role.

 

June                        Deployed with Group in Joint anti-submarine operations with RAF Coastal Command

to                            to attack submarines in transit through Bay of Biscay. Cover was provided by HM

August                  Cruisers SCYLLA, GLASGOW and BERMUDA with HM Escort Carrier ARCHER.

                                (Operations MUSKETRY and SEASLUG - For details see CONFLICT OVER THE BAY by N.

                                Franks, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR.).

 

September             Resumed convoy defence with Group in Support role.

                30th        Escorted military convoy to establish aircraft bases in Azores.

                Deployed with HM Destroyers WARWICK and VOLUNTEER, HM Sloop LOWESTOFT

                and the Corvettes HMS BUTTERCUP, FMS LAVENDER and HMS GODETIA.

                (Operation ALACRITY).

 

October                  Atlantic convoy support with Group in continuation.

to                            (For details of development and use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Hawse)

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Atlantic convoy support in continuation.

to

April

 

May        Nominated for support of Normandy landings and joined 14th Escort Group with HM

                Destroyers FAME, HOTSPUR, ICARUS and INCONSTANT.

                Transferred to Plymouth Command.

 

June

                5th          Deployed with Group in SW Approaches to prevent entry of U-Boats into English

                Channel for attacks on invasion convoys (Operation NEPTUNE).

                (For full details of naval activities prior to and during landings see LANDINGS

                IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944 (HMSO), OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards

                and D-DAY SHIPS by J de Winser.)

                12th        Deployed in English Channel and under unsuccessful attack by torpedo bombers south

                of Lyme Bay

                18th        Participated in sinking of U767 with HMS FAME and HMS INCONSTANT in Channel in

                position U9.03N 03-13W.

 

July                         Under refit in Liverpool.

to

August

 

September             On completion of post refit trials rejoined Group for convoy escort in SW Approaches

                                and Irish Sea.

 

October                  Deployed in SW Approaches and Channel area for convoy defence.

to

December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Irish Sea and Channel coastal convoy defence in continuation.

 

February                Under repair at Portsmouth.

to

March

 

April                       Rejoined Group in continuation of support and escort role in Irish Sea.

                30th        Participated in sinking of U242 by Hedgehog attack with HM Destroyer HESPERUS and

                RAF aircraft NW of Anglesey.

                (Note: The credit for this sinking is in dispute

                See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp).

 

May

                8th          On cessation of hostilities against Germany deployed with Home Fleet.

                29th        Escorted rms ANDES carrying Norwegian Government officials back to Oslo with HMS

                HESPERUS.

 

June                       Nominated for service Air Target Ship duty.

                Taken in hand for conversion to suit new role.

 

July                         Deployed as an Air Target Ship for training of aircrew.

to

August

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS HAVELOCK continued in use as an Air Target Ship until 1946. She was reduced to Reserve status on 2nd August that year and placed on the Disposal List. Sold to BISCO on 31st October 1946 for demolition by T W Ward and towed to the breaker’s yard at Inverkeithing the same day.

 

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS HAVELOCK

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

 

 

 

 

 

07/07/40

09/07/40

OB 180

09/07/40

10/07/40

29/06/40

11/07/40

HX 054

13/07/40

14/07/40

06/07/40

15/07/40

BC A

16/07/40

16/07/40

05/08/40

05/08/40

WS 002

07/08/40

08/08/40

15/08/40

27/08/40

SC 001

29/08/40

29/08/40

24/09/40

24/09/40

OL 004

27/09/40

27/09/40

13/10/40

13/10/40

OL 007

16/10/40

16/10/40

19/10/40

19/10/40

OL 008

21/10/40

22/10/40

09/10/40

22/10/40

HG 045

27/10/40

27/10/40

14/11/40

26/11/40

HX 087

29/11/40

29/11/40

30/11/40

04/12/40

OB 252

04/12/40

04/12/40

30/01/41

30/01/41

OBA

03/02/41

03/02/41

21/01/41

05/02/41

BHX 104

07/02/41

09/02/41

17/02/41

24/02/41

TC 009

25/02/41

27/02/41

19/02/41

06/03/41

HX 110

11/03/41

11/03/41

16/03/41

18/03/41

OB 298

20/03/41

20/03/41

01/03/41

21/03/41

SL 067

24/03/41

26/03/41

31/03/41

31/03/41

OB 304

03/04/41

04/04/41

20/03/41

05/04/41

SC 026

07/04/41

08/04/41

06/04/41

16/04/41

HX 119A

22/04/41

22/04/41

06/05/41

06/05/41

TIGER

12/05/41

12/05/41

23/05/41

23/05/41

unknown

unknown

unknown

08/06/41

10/06/41

OB 332

18/06/41

23/06/41

21/06/41

21/06/41

TC 011

27/06/41

30/06/41

27/06/41

03/07/41

OB 340

13/07/41

13/07/41

21/07/41

21/07/41

TC 012

26/07/41

29/07/41

08/08/41

08/08/41

CT 001

11/08/41

15/08/41

26/08/41

27/08/41

TC 012B

01/09/41

01/09/41

09/10/41

09/10/41

TC 014

17/10/41

17/10/41

13/11/41

18/11/41

TC 015

21/11/41

21/11/41

03/12/41

10/12/41

ON 043

10/12/41

15/12/41

15/12/41

22/12/41

TC 016

unknown

25/12/41

14/03/42

14/03/42

TA 012

unknown

25/03/42

24/03/42

28/03/42

SC 076

06/04/42

11/04/42

16/04/42

17/04/42

ON 087

26/04/42

26/04/42

18/05/42

18/05/42

OT 001

22/05/42

22/05/42

23/05/42

23/05/42

TO 001

26/05/42

26/05/42

29/05/42

29/05/42

OT 004

01/06/42

01/06/42

02/06/42

02/06/42

TO 004

04/06/42

04/06/42

09/06/42

09/06/42

OT 007

13/06/42

13/06/42

14/06/42

14/06/42

TO 007

16/06/42

16/06/42

24/06/42

24/06/42

OT 011

27/06/42

27/06/42

02/07/42

02/07/42

TAW 001

10/07/42

10/07/42

14/07/42

14/07/42

WAT 005

23/07/42

23/07/42

27/07/42

27/07/42

TAW 009

05/08/42

05/08/42

09/08/42

09/08/42

WAT 013

19/08/42

19/08/42

27/08/42

27/08/42

TAW 016

30/08/42

30/08/42

31/08/42

31/08/42

GN SPEC1

06/09/42

06/09/42

19/09/42

19/09/42

GN 005

26/09/42

26/09/42

14/01/43

17/01/43

MKS 005X

25/01/43

25/01/43

21/02/43

22/02/43

ON 168

07/03/43

12/03/43

05/03/43

12/03/43

SC 122

22/03/43

24/03/43

08/04/43

13/04/43

SC 126

23/04/43

23/04/43

24/06/43

27/06/43

KMS 018B

03/07/43

10/07/43

30/09/43

30/09/43

UA 002

09/10/43

09/10/43

02/12/43

03/12/43

ON 214

13/12/43

20/12/43

15/12/43

19/12/43

SC 149

29/12/43

30/12/43

13/01/44

14/01/44

ONS 027

28/01/44

31/01/44

28/01/44

02/02/44

HX 277

12/02/44

13/02/44

23/04/44

23/04/44

OS 075KM

28/04/44

04/05/44

13/12/44

15/12/44

ONS 038

16/12/44

02/01/45

08/01/45

unknown

HX 331

unknown

22/01/45

23/01/45

unknown

HX 334

unknown

06/02/45

22/03/45

22/03/45

VWP 102

23/03/45

23/03/45

12/04/45

12/04/45

MKF 042

17/04/45

17/04/45

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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