1 9 4 3
July
Commissioned for service as HMCS HURON.
28th - Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
August
On completion of trials took passage to Scapa Flow to work-up.
12th - Deployed as escort to HM Destroyer ONSLOW with HM King George VI
embarked during passage to Scapa Flow from Scrabster for visit to Home Fleet.
26th - Rescued pilot of SKUA aircraft which had ditched off Orkneys.
September
Working-up with Home Fleet at Scapa Flow in continuation.
6th - Joined 3rd Destroyer Flotilla in Home Fleet on completion of
work-up.
October
1st - Took passage to Murmansk with HM Destroyers ONSLAUGHT and IROQUOIS
carrying supplies to RN warships based in North Russia. Cover was provided by HM Cruiser
LONDON and HM Destroyer IMPULSIVE.
6th - After arrival in Murmansk embarked Russian diplomats and took
return passage to Scapa Flow.
11th - After arrival at Scapa Flow sustained damage during collision
with oiler. Repair arranged at Leith commercial shipyard.
12th - Passage to Leith for repair.
November
14th - Resumed Flotilla duties on completion of repair.
18th - Deployed with HM Destroyers IMPULSIVE, ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW, ORWELL,
OBDURATE, HMCS HAIDA and IROQUOIS as Ocean Escort for Convoy JW54A during
passage to Kola Inlet. (Note: For details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO
RUSSIA by R. A. Ruegg, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield, ARCTIC CONVOYS by
R. Woodman and CONVOY ! by R Woodman.)
19th - HMS OBDURATE withdrawn from Close Escort due to defect and
returned to Scapa Flow.
24th - Detached from JW54A with Close Escort on arrival.
26th - Joined return Convoy RA54B with same ships as Close Escort for
passage to UK.
December
5th - Detached from RA54B and returned to Scapa Flow with Close Escort.
22nd - Deployed with HM Destroyers IMPULSIVE, ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW, ORWELL,
SCOURGE, HMCS HAIDA and IROQUOIS as Close Escort for Russian Convoy JW55
during passage to Kola Inlet
25th - Close Escort reinforced by HM Destroyers MATCHLESS, MUSKETEER,
OPPORTUNE and VIRAGO in view of the threat of attack by German Battleship SCHARNHORST. See
above references. (Note: German warship was engaged and sunk by ships of Home Fleet
providing cover for passage of this convoy and two others in the Arctic.)
Under
sustained attacks by aircraft and submarines.
29th - Detached with ships of Close Escort on arrival of JW55B at Kola
inlet.
31st - Deployed as Close Escort for passage of return Convoy RA55B to UK
with same Ships.
1 9 4 4
January
3rd - Under submarine attacks.
7th - Detached from RA55B with Close Escort and returned to Scapa Flow.
10th - Retained with Home Fleet when HMCS HAIDA and HMCS IROQUOIS
transferred to Plymouth.
26th - Joined HM Destroyers MAHRATTA, MILNE, MUSKETEER, OPPORTUNE and
SCOURGE for escort
for Russian Convoy JW56B during passage to Kola Inlet. (Note: Close
Escort comprised HM Destroyers WHITEHALL, WESTCOTT, HM Sloop CYGNET, HM Corvette
OXLIP and HM Minesweeper SEAGULL. Cruiser cover was provided by HM Cruisers
BERMUDA, BERWICK and KENT.)
29th - Additional destroyers joined convoy to supplement anti-submarine
defence which was under attack by Group of U-Boats.
30th - HM Destroyer HARDY, one of the additional escorts was hit by a
torpedo from U278 and had to be sunk by HM Destroyer VENUS, another of the later
arrivals. (Note: U314 was sunk by HM Destroyers WHITEHALL and METEOR.)
February
1st - Detached from JW56A on arrival at Kola Inlet.
3rd - Joined HM Destroyers OFFA, OPPORTUNE, SAVAGE, VENUS, VIGILANT,
INCONSTANT, MAHRATTA, METEOR, MILNE, MUSKETEER, SCOURGE, WESTCOTT, WHITEHALL, SWIFT, Norwegian
destroyer STORD, HM Sloop CYGNET, four corvettes and three minesweepers for the escort of
return Convoy RA56 on departure from Kola Inlet.
6th - HM Destroyers SWIFT, OBEDIENT and VERULAM joined escort as
reinforcements.
9th - Detached from RA56 after an uninterrupted passage.
10th - Nominated for service at Plymouth with 10th Destroyer Flotilla in
place of HMCS IROQUOIS..
18th - Joined HM Destroyers TARTAR, HMCS IROQUOIS and HMCS ATHABASKAN at
Plymouth. (Note: This Flotilla was deployed as Force 26. HMCS IROQUOIS took passage to
Canada for refit.)
20th - Nominated for service with Flotilla in planned allied assault
landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE.)
Took part in preparatory exercises for NEPTUNE.
March
Deployed at Plymouth for NEPTUNE exercises and interception patrols off
French coast. (Note: For details of preparations and execution of Operation NEPTUNE
see OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards, LANDINGS IN NORMANDY (HMSO) and Naval Staff
History.
30th - Joined HM Destroyers BRISSENDEN and TANATSIDE with HMCS HAIDA to
take part in preparatory exercise as screen for HM Cruisers BLACK PRINCE and GLASGOW
which were providing Gunfire support during landings (Exercise BEAVER).
April
NEPTUNE preparatory exercises and interception duties in continuation. (Note:
Interception operations in the TUNNEL series were carried out against coastal
traffic off the French coast. See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith. These were by no
means invariably successful.)
12th - Took part in large scale combined exercise with HMCS HAIDA and
HMS TARTAR in sea area west of Needles and deployed as part of screen for
major warships deployed off assault area (Exercise TROUSERS).
25th - Deployed with HMS BLACK PRINCE, HMS ASHANTI, HMCS ATHABASKAN and
HMCS HAIDA as Force 26 for an operation in Tunnel Series to intercept coastal
traffic in Bay of Biscay.
26th - Under fire from shore batteries during patrol off French coast. Intercepted
three ELBING Class German destroyers, T24, T27 and T29 which were on passage
for minelay and for cover of coastal convoy. Engaged enemy ships with
surface gunfire after initial radar detection. Force 26 attacked by torpedoes from
Germany destroyers that failed to hit any of ship. During this engagement
Force 26 ships fired torpedoes and engaged with main armament. Although
torpedo attack failed T29 was sunk by gunfire north of Ile de Bas in position
48.53N 3.35W. 135 of her ships company were killed.. The other two enemy ships
withdrew. Returned to Plymouth with Battle Ensigns flying. This was the first
destroyer sunk by an RCN ship. (Note: During entry into Plymouth involved in
collision with HMS ASHANTI and taken in hand for repair.)
May
7th - Resumed Flotilla duties on completion of repair.
20th - Deployed with HMS BELLONA, HMS TARTAR and HMCS HAIDA to cover
minelay by HMS APOLLO north of Ushant (Operation HOSTILE 33).
22nd - Deployed with HMS TARTAR and HMCS HAIDA to cover minelay off Ile
de Vierge by HMS APOLLO (Operation HOSTILE 34).
25th - Deployed with HMS TARTAR and HMCS HAIDA to cover minelay NW of
Ushant by HMS APOLLO (Operation HOSTILE 40) (Note: This was the last minelay
in the MAPLE III Series.)
June
Deployed for support of Operation NEPTUNE based at Plymouth. (Note: Not
attached to either Task Force and required for interception of any enemy
warships attempting to approach transit routes for Assault Convoys.)
4th - Operation postponed 24 hours.
5th - Sailed from Plymouth with Flotilla for patrol north of Channel
Islands.
6th to 7th - Interception duties in continuation.
8th - Transferred to new patrol line east-west from 49.30N 5.00W to
49.30N 6.00W on orders from CinC Plymouth who anticipated a movement of enemy
destroyers in attempt to attack invasion traffic. Reconstituted as Force 26. Change of
patrol line ordered and took passage to 15 miles off Brittany coast. Distance from
coast altered by CinC Plymouth to 20 miles from coast because of mine dangers. Commenced
sweep between Ile de Bas and Ile de Vierge.
9th - Radar
contact made and Force 26 ships closed to investigate. Four ships were T24, an ELBING
Class destroyer, Z32 and Z24, both NARVIK Class destroyers and ZH1, the
Ex Dutch destroyer TJERK HIDDES captured after fall of Holland in May 1940. Enemy ships altered course and fired torpedoes which were avoided. Engaged enemy
ships with HMS TARTAR, HMS ASHANTI and HMCS HAIDA by main and secondary
armament at close range. During the action Z32 was serious damaged and
eventually ran ashore on Ile de Bas. ZH1 was sunk by gunfire and two torpedoes from
HMS ASHANTI. Z24 and T24 although badly damaged were able to escape. HMS TARTAR sustained
some damage and had 17 casualties including four killed. Returned to Plymouth with ships
of Force 26 after a successful action which did much to ensure safe passage
of allied convoys to the beachhead.
12th - Sailed from Plymouth with HMCS HAIDA to carry out diversionary
operation to the south of the Channel Island and east of Roches Dourves. (Note: This
was to be in association with planned air attacks.)
13th - Special party which had been embarked carried out W/T
transmissions to suggest possible landings on west coast of the Cherbourg
Peninsula. Returned to Plymouth on release.
14th - Deployed at Plymouth for patrol in English Channel to intercept
any attempts to interfere with convoys to and from beachheads.
July
Plymouth deployment for interception patrols in continuation,.
2nd - Deployed for tow of HM Destroyer ESKIMO to Plymouth. (Note: HMS
ESKIMO had been seriously damaged in collision with HM Destroyer JAVELIN during return from
interception patrol in SW Approaches.)
8th - In action with HMS TARTAR against convoy escorted by E-Boats and
minesweepers two of which were reported as being sunk.
August
Nominated for refit in Canada.
13th - Took passage to Halifax for refit.
27th - Under refit at Halifax.
September to October
Refit in continuation
November
12th - Carried out Post Refit trials and prepared for return to UK for
further refit
28th - Arrived at Cardiff for fit of new radar in commercial
shipyard.
December
Fit of Type 276 Radar and Plan Position Displays for surface and
aircraft warning with Target Indication in continuation.
1 9 4 5
January
20th - Carried out trials on new radar equipment and on completion
worked-up for operational service.
February
Work-up in continuation.
10th - On completion resumed operational service in SW Approaches and
Channel based at Plymouth.
March
Nominated for transfer to Home Fleet for screening duties.
31st - Took passage to Scapa Flow.
April
15th - Deployed with HM Destroyers ZEPHYR, ZODIAC, ZEALOUS, ZEST, OFFA,
HAIDA (RCN), IROQUOIS (RCN) and Norwegian destroyer STORD as escort for Russian
convoy JW66 with HM Cruiser BELLONA, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers VINDEX and NAIRANA.
In addition, HM
Sloop CYGNET, HM Corvettes ALNWICK CASTLE, BAMBOROUGH CASTLE, FARNHAM CASTLE, HONEYSUCKLE,
LOTUS and OXLIP of 7th Escort Group were also part of Close escort with Frigates of
19th Support Group deployed for support for anti-submarine operations.
25th - Detached from JW66 with Close Escort on arrival at Kola Inlet. (Note: Ships
of escort carried out anti-submarine attacks in entrance to Kola Inlet to
ensure safety of convoy.)
29th - Joined return convoy RA66 on departure from Kola Inlet. (Note: During
anti-submarine operations outside Kola Inlet before departure of RA66 U 307 and U286 were
sunk by ships of 19th Support Group but HM Frigate GOODALL was torpedoed
and sunk by U968 although some survivors were rescued. See above references for
details.)
May
Nominated for return to Canada on release from service with RN.
8th - Detached on arrival of RA66 at Greenock. VE Day!! Returned to
Scapa Flow with Home Fleet ships.
16th - Deployed with HM Cruiser BERWICK and HMCS HAIDA for visit to
Trondheim.
17th - Arrived at Trondheim to a tumultuous reception with subsequent
outstanding hospitality.
23rd - Passage from Trondheim.
24th - Arrived at Scapa Flow.
25th - Sailed from Scapa Flow for passage to Greenock with HMCS HAIDA.
26th - At Greenock with HMCS HAIDA and HMCS IROQUOIS.
June
Nominated for service with British Pacific Fleet after return to Canada.
4th - Took passage from Greenock for Halifax with her two sister ships.
10th - Arrived at Halifax to a resounding welcome.
July
Under refit including tropicalisation to suit service in the Pacific.
August
14th - Refit suspended.
