Variant of Royal Navy H-Class Destroyer ordered by
the Brazilian Government in 1938 from Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow The ship was laid down as Yard No 742 on 3rd
June 1938 and was intended to be
named JAPARUA. A sister ship to be named JURUA was also laid down at
the same time. Both ships were requisitioned for Royal Navy service on 5th September 1939 and were launched on
29th September that year. This ship was then named HMS HURRICANE and was the first RN major warship to carry
the name, although used by requisitioned Drifter in WW1 and by a Tug hired in 1939. Build was completed on 3rd
May 1940 and she commissioned on 21st June that year for service in the 9th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet.
After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in February 1942 she was adopted by the civil
community of Hornchurch, Essex. This ship had a very successful record as a convoy escort.
B a t t l
e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1940-43 - BISCAY 1943
H e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge: On a Field
Party per band, dexter bendy wavy of four white
and Black sinister Blue issuant from storm clouds proper
in sinister canton three lightnings Or.
Special Note
Details are shown of convoys escorted by the Flotilla
or Escort Group of which she was a member. The ship did not therefore take part on each occasion unless
indicated in the text as she was under refit or for routine maintenance. Further research is required to ascertain
the dates on which she was not deployed with the Group.
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
April Contractors Trials
May
3rd Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
June Prepared for operational service including storing,
weapon testing and shakedown.
21st Commissioned for service in Home Fleet with 9th
Destroyer Flotilla.
(Note: Delay in final commissioning may have
been due to circumstances involved in
manning and administration due to the evacuation
of allied troops and civilians
from Holland, Belgium and France in which RN
ships and personnel were
extensively involved with many losses in ships
and men.)
July Joined Flotilla and deployed in NW Approaches for
convoy defence.
August
5th Joined military convoy WS2 with HM Destroyers
HARVESTER, HAVELOCK and
HIGHLANDER of Flotilla for Local Escort from
Liverpool during passage in Irish Sea
and NW Approaches.
(Note: HM Cruiser CORNWALL also joined as Ocean
Escort for passage to Indian Ocean.
HM Cruisers EMERALD and SHROPSHIRE WITH four
destroyers joined from
Clyde later with additional mercantiles
7th Detached from WS2 wit HMS EMERALD and destroyers of
Local Escort and took
return passage to Clyde.
September NW Approaches deployment in continuation.
18th Despatched from escort of convoy to carry out rescue
of survivors from ss CITY OF
BENARES and ss MARINA.
(Note: This mercantile was on passage with
Convoy OB213 and was torpedoed by U48
with heavy loss of life amongst the passengers
who including children being
evacuated to Canada. For details see HITLER’S
U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
October
3rd Joined military convoy WS2A(Slow) at Liverpool with
HM Destroyers HARVESTER,
HIGHLANDER, HAVELOCK of Flotilla, HM Destroyers
VERSATILE, VISCOUNT,
and WITHERINGTON for Local Escort in Irish Sea
and NW Approaches.
(Note: HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD was deployed as
Ocean Escort.)
9th Detached with Local Escort and returned to Clyde.
November 9th Destroyer Flotilla re-designated 9th Escort Group
1st Joined military convoy WS4 escorted by Polish
destroyer ORP GARLAND with HMS
HARVESTER as Local Escort from Liverpool during
passage in Irish Sea and NW Approaches.
2nd HM Destroyers BEAGLE, BULLDOG, OTTAWA (RCN),
SAGUENAY (RCN), SKEENA
(RCN) and HESPERUS of Flotilla joined with HM
Cruiser CAIRO and ships from Clyde.
(Note: HM Cruiser CORNWALL also joined from
Clyde as Ocean Escort.)
3rd Detached from WS4 with HMS CAIRO, HM Destroyers
BEAGLE, HESPERUS and
ORP GARLAND
(Note: HMS CAIRO had been deployed for AA
protection during passage in NW Approaches.)
December Convoy defence with Group in continuation.
1 9 4 1
January Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.
February
17th Joined military convoy WS6B at Liverpool with HMS
HESPERUS as Local Escort during
passage in Irish Sea and NW Approaches.
18th HM Destroyers LEGION, GARLAND and Polish destroyer
ORP PIORUN joined WS6B
with mercantiles from Clyde and remained as part
of Local Escort.
(Note: HM Cruiser MAURITIUS joined as Ocean
Escort for WS6B.)
20th Detached from WS6B with destroyers of Local Escort
and took return passage to Clyde.
(Note: One source records joining HM Corvette
PERIWINKLE in anti-submarine operations
in defence of Convoy OB287 which is known to
have been on passage in the area.
See ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM 1939-45 by A Hague.)
March Deployed with Group for convoy defence
April
2nd Despatched from escort of convoy to assist HM Armed
Merchant Cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE
the sole escort of outbound Convoy SC26 and
under attack by nine U-Boats.
(For details see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.
HMS WORCESTERSHIRE was hit and
damaged after being hit by torpedo from U74.
: HMS HAVELOCK and HMS HESPERUS of Flotilla also
went to assist with HM Destroyers
VETERAN and WOLVERINE later deployed to round up
scattered mercantiles.
3rd Deployed as escort for damaged HMS WORCESTERSHIRE
during passage to Liverpool.
29th Despatched to assist in rescue of survivors from ss
CITY OF NAGPUR which had been
sunk in mid-Atlantic.
30th Embarked over 400 personnel and took passage to land
the passengers at Greenock.
(Note: No record can be traced of this ship
being in convoy and it may be assumed she
was making an independent passage. See
CHRONOLOGY OF THE WAR AT SEA
1939-45 by Rohwer and Hummelchen.)
May
1st Landed passengers and resumed Group deployment.
7th Whilst alongside Gladstone Dock, Liverpool during
an air raid hit by bomb on port side
aft which passed through structure and exploded
beneath ship. Extensive flooding and
structural damage with some minor casualties.
Ship moved to Biston Dock and damaged assessment
made.
15th Under repair at
Liverpool
June Under repair. Paid-off and ship’s company
transferred to HM Destroyer LAMERTON building.
to (Note: During this period changes were made to
improve capabilities as an anti -submarine
November escort including fit of modified RAF air/surface radar,
designated Type 286M when
used by RN vessels.
For details of development and use of radar by
the Royal Navy see RADAR AT SEA
by D Howse.)
December Re-commissioned from Chatham Depot.
Carried out post refit harbour and sea trials.
Nominated for service as Leader of 1st British
Escort Group.
1 9 4 2
January Joined Group for convoy escort and defence in Western
Approaches Command.
(Note: Other ships in Group were HM Destroyers
ROCKINGHAM, WATCHMAN, HM
Corvettes ANCHUSA, DAHLIA, WALLFLOWER and
MEADOWSWEET.
Unless otherwise indicated convoys escorted
arrived at destination without losses.
Number of ships in each convoy is shown in
parenthesis.)
27th Ships of Group escorted outbound convoy ON61 (21)
from Liverpool.
February Ships of Group detached from ON61 and joined inward
Convoy SC66 (29) in NW
Approaches.
9th Group detached from SC66 on arrival at Liverpool
March Deployed with Group for Atlantic convoy escort.
(Note: Ship may have been deployed with Group
for training as no record of escort has
been traced for the Group. Some ships may have
been under refit.)
April HM Corvette MONKSHOOD joined Group.
(Note: Group joined inward Convoy HX187 (24) at
Ocean Meeting Point for escort to UK)
May
8th HX187 arrived at
Liverpool.
19th Group escorted outward Convoy ON96 (41) from
Liverpool.
June Detached from ON96 on relief by escort from St
Johns, Newfoundland.
Ships of Group joined inward Convoy HX193 (31)
at Meeting Point for escort to UK.
19th Detached from H 193 on arrival at Liverpool.
July
3rd Ships of Group joined outward Convoy ON108 (37) on
departure from Liverpool.
Group detached from ON108 on relief.
Group joined inward Convoy SC92 (43) in NW
Approaches for escort to UK
31st Ships of Group detached on arrival of SC92 at
Liverpool.
August
5th Ships of Group escorted outbound Convoy ON119 (32)
from Liverpool.
Detached from ON119 in NW Approaches.
Ships of Group joined inward Convoy HX201 (30)
during passage in NW Approaches
and escorted to Liverpool.
14th Detached on arrival of HX201 at Liverpool.
22nd Ships of Group escorted outbound Convoy ON124 (31)
from Liverpool.
Detached from ON124 and returned to Clyde.
September Ships of Group joined inward Convoy HX206 (45) during
passage in NW Approaches.
18th Detached from HX206 on arrival at Liverpool. without
any losses.
26th Ships of Group escorted outbound Convoy ON134 (42)
from Liverpool.
October
Detached from ON134 and returned to Clyde during passage in NW
Approaches.
Passage by ships of Group to join inward Convoy
SC105 (50) during passage in NW
Approaches and escorted to Liverpool.
31st Detached from SC105 on arrival at Liverpool.
November Passage by ships of Group to join inward Convoy HX215 (42)
during passage n NW
Approaches to Liverpool.
25th Detached from HX215 on arrival at Liverpool.
December
3rd Ships of Group escorted outbound Convoy ON151 (38)
from Liverpool.
Detached from ON151 during passage in NW
Approaches and returned to Clyde.
1 9 4 3
January Passage by ships of Group from Liverpool to join inward
Convoy SC114 (31) as
escort to Liverpool.
7th Detached from SC114 on arrival at Liverpool.
23rd Ships of Group escorted outbound Convoy ON162 (58)
from Liverpool.
Detached from ON162 during passage in NW
Approaches and returned to Clyde.
(Note: HM Frigate KALE, HM Corvettes BORAGE,
HONEYSUCKLE and OXLIP
had joined Group.)
February Passage by ships of Group to join inward Convoy SC119
(39) as escort to
Liverpool.
22nd Detached from SC119 on arrival at Liverpool.
March
4th Ships of Group escorted outward Convoy ON171 (38)
from Liverpool.
Detached from ON171 took return passage to
Clyde.
Deployed with HM Destroyers ROCKINGHAM,
WATCHMAN, HMS KALE and
three corvettes and took passage to join inward
Convoy HX230 (41) as escort for
passage to Liverpool
27th Sighted by U305 of SEEWOLF U-BOAT Group.
See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and U-BOAT
WAR IN THE ATLANTIC
(HMSO)
28th Under attack in foul weather by U-Boats of SEEWOLF
and SEETEUFEL Groups
Took part in anti-submarine search operations
including us of Direction Finding
equipment to locate source of enemy wireless
transmissions.
(Note: For details of tactics and weapons used
in Battle of the Atlantic see SEEK
AND STRIKE by W Hackmann and THE BATTLE OF THE
ATLANTIC by
D MacIntyre.)
29th Attacks called off by U- Boat Command. See
references.
(Note: Only one ship was sunk during passage
despite the fact that 34 U-Boats had
been used. No U-Boat was sunk.)
April
2nd Detached from HX230 on arrival at Liverpool.
12th Deployed with HM Destroyer ROCKINGHAM, HMS KALE and
five corvettes of
Group and joined outward Convoy ON178 (58) as
escort from Liverpool during
passage in NW Approaches.
21st Under attacks by U415 which sank two ships in
convoy and U191 which sank a third.
Detached from ON178 and took return passage with
ships of Group.
May Ships of Group deployed for escort of inward Convoy
HX236 (46)
(Note: This Convoy together with Convoy SC128
(31) had been selected for special attention
by U-Boat Command which had deployed 58 U-Boats
in the FINK and AMSEL
Groups to intercept these ships. See above
references.)
9th Detached on arrival of HX236 at
Liverpool without loss
(Note: The two convoys had been re-routed to
avoid the planned enemy dispositions.)
June Detached from Group for special joint anti-submarine
operations with RAF Coastal
to
July Command in Bay of Biscay to intercept submarines taking
passage across this area or
using inshore waters to attack Atlantic shipping
or return to French Bases.
(Note: Sloops of Western Approaches Support
Groups were also deployed as well as
HM Escort Aircraft Carrier ARCHER and covered by
HM Cruisers BERMUDA
and GLASGOW for defence against German
destroyers.)
(See BATTLE OVER THE BAY by N Franks.)
Passage to Plymouth.
Deployed with HM Canadian Destroyers IROQUOIS,
ATHABASKAN, Polish destroyer
ORP ORKAN to carry out attacks on submarines
(Operations SESLU and MUSKETRY)
August Resumed Atlantic convoy escort duties with 1st Escort
Group
(Note: Ships had been transferred for escort of
convoys to and from Gibraltar
including military convoys in support of allied
operations in Italy.
17th Deployed with HMS WANDERER, HM Corvette WALLFLOWER
as escort for joint
convoy OG92/KMS4 during passage to Gibraltar
22nd Received warning from Aircraft of presence of
submarine in area,
25th Took part in rescue of survivors from U523 after
sinking by HMS WANDERER and
HMS WALLFLOWER in position 42.03N 18.02W.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and HITLER’S U –
BOAT WAR.).
30th Detached with escort on arrival at Gibraltar.
September Gibraltar route convoy escort in continuation with Group.
to November
December
15th Deployed with HM Frigate GLENARM as part of escort
for joint Convoy OS62/KMS36
during passage to Gibraltar from Liverpool
22nd Detached from escort to join US Escort Aircraft
Carrier USS CARD which was being
deployed with other USN warships to intercept
and sink two German Blockade Runners,
ORSONO and ALSTERUFER. For details see HITLER’S
U-BOAT WAR.
23rd Under attack by U415 and hit aft by GNAT Acoustic
torpedo which destroyed stern structure
and disabled ship. Three of ship’s company lost
their lives.
(Note: U415 was part of BORKUM U-Boat Group
ordered to carry out attacks on USS CARD
and other ships of Support Group.)
24th Heavy gear jettisoned and ship remained afloat.
25th Ship’s company transferred to HMS GLENARM before
ship was sunk by torpedo from
HMS WATCHMAN.
(Note: Western Approaches Command Standing
Orders required sinking of any escort
after damage which prevented operational use,
since convoys and their escorts
were vulnerable to submarine attacks whilst
attempting salvage operations.
For details see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR.)
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS HURRICANE
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
21/06/40
|
02/07/40
|
HX 052
|
02/07/40
|
06/07/40
|
25/06/40
|
08/07/40
|
HX 053
|
09/07/40
|
10/07/40
|
05/08/40
|
05/08/40
|
WS 002
|
07/08/40
|
08/08/40
|
10/08/40
|
10/08/40
|
ZA
|
unknown
|
19/08/40
|
15/08/40
|
27/08/40
|
SC 001
|
29/08/40
|
29/08/40
|
10/09/40
|
10/09/40
|
AP 003/1
|
12/09/40
|
22/10/40
|
15/09/40
|
15/09/40
|
OB 214
|
17/09/40
|
18/09/40
|
20/09/40
|
21/09/40
|
OG 043
|
25/09/40
|
03/10/40
|
10/09/40
|
26/09/40
|
SL 047
|
28/09/40
|
28/09/40
|
03/10/40
|
03/10/40
|
WS 003A
|
unknown
|
27/10/40
|
13/10/40
|
13/10/40
|
OL 007
|
16/10/40
|
16/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
04/11/40
|
HX 083
|
07/11/40
|
07/11/40
|
09/11/40
|
09/11/40
|
OB 241
|
12/11/40
|
14/11/40
|
14/11/40
|
27/11/40
|
HX 087
|
29/11/40
|
29/11/40
|
14/02/41
|
20/02/41
|
SLG 001A
|
22/02/41
|
22/02/41
|
19/02/41
|
08/03/41
|
HX 110
|
10/03/41
|
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
|
26/03/41
|
26/03/41
|
31/03/41
|
31/03/41
|
OB 304
|
03/04/41
|
04/04/41
|
06/04/41
|
16/04/41
|
HX 119A
|
20/04/41
|
22/04/41
|
26/01/42
|
04/02/42
|
HX 172
|
07/02/42
|
07/02/42
|
19/02/42
|
20/02/42
|
ON 068
|
03/03/42
|
09/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
16/03/42
|
SC 074
|
26/03/42
|
28/03/42
|
02/04/42
|
03/04/42
|
ON 082
|
15/04/42
|
18/04/42
|
26/04/42
|
29/04/42
|
HX 187
|
07/05/42
|
08/05/42
|
19/05/42
|
22/05/42
|
ON 096
|
01/06/42
|
07/06/42
|
07/06/42
|
10/06/42
|
HX 193
|
18/06/42
|
19/06/42
|
30/06/42
|
01/07/42
|
ON 108
|
12/07/42
|
18/07/42
|
17/07/42
|
19/07/42
|
SC 092
|
30/07/42
|
31/07/42
|
06/08/42
|
06/08/42
|
ON 119
|
10/08/42
|
20/08/42
|
02/08/42
|
09/08/42
|
HX 201
|
13/08/42
|
14/08/42
|
22/08/42
|
25/08/42
|
ON 124
|
02/09/42
|
06/09/42
|
06/09/42
|
09/09/42
|
HX 206
|
17/09/42
|
18/09/42
|
26/09/42
|
29/09/42
|
ON 134
|
10/10/42
|
17/10/42
|
11/10/42
|
17/10/42
|
SC 105
|
31/10/42
|
31/10/42
|
11/11/42
|
17/11/42
|
HX 215
|
24/11/42
|
25/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
KMF 004
|
28/11/42
|
06/12/42
|
04/03/43
|
04/03/43
|
ON 171
|
18/03/43
|
23/03/43
|
18/03/43
|
24/03/43
|
HX 230
|
01/04/43
|
02/04/43
|
12/04/43
|
13/04/43
|
ON 178
|
25/04/43
|
02/05/43
|
24/04/43
|
30/04/43
|
HX 236
|
09/05/43
|
09/05/43
|
24/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
ON 186
|
02/06/43
|
07/06/43
|
07/06/43
|
12/06/43
|
HX 243
|
20/06/43
|
21/06/43
|
04/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
OS 051KM
|
11/07/43
|
13/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
12/07/43
|
SL 132MK
|
16/07/43
|
17/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
MKS 018G
|
26/07/43
|
26/07/43
|
26/07/43
|
26/07/43
|
SL 133MK
|
03/08/43
|
05/08/43
|
17/08/43
|
17/08/43
|
KMS 024G
|
30/08/43
|
30/08/43
|
04/09/43
|
04/09/43
|
MKS 023G
|
17/09/43
|
17/09/43
|
27/09/43
|
28/09/43
|
ON 204
|
08/10/43
|
15/10/43
|
11/10/43
|
15/10/43
|
SC 144
|
25/10/43
|
27/10/43
|
05/11/43
|
08/11/43
|
OS 058KM
|
18/11/43
|
18/11/43
|
18/11/43
|
18/11/43
|
KMS 032G
|
19/11/43
|
19/11/43
|
23/11/43
|
23/11/43
|
MKS 031G
|
24/11/43
|
24/11/43
|
24/11/43
|
24/11/43
|
SL 140MK
|
06/12/43
|
07/12/43
|
14/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
SL 142MK
|
21/12/43
|
28/12/43
|
10/12/43
|
22/12/43
|
HX 270
|
22/12/43
|
26/12/43
|
16/12/43
|
23/12/43
|
ON 216
|
23/12/43
|
03/01/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)