1 9 3 9

 

June                        Contractors Trials

                10th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

 

July                         Worked-up at Portland on completion of trials.

 

August                  Joined 7th Flotilla as relief for HM Destroyer ESK and carried out Flotilla and Fleet exercises.

                                Passage to join Humber Force at allocated War Station

 

 

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)

 

 

September             Deployed for North Sea patrol to intercept enemy warships on passage for attacks on Fleet units or to

                                Enter Atlantic as commerce raiders.

                                (For details of naval deployments at outbreak of war see Naval Staff History and ENGAGE THE

                                ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C. Barnett.)

                2nd         Carried out first patrol off Norway.

                22nd       Involved in collision with HM Destroyer JERSEY during patrol with HM Cruisers SOUTHAMPTON

                                and GLASGOW in Skagerrak (Operation SK).

                                Sustained damage. Operation cancelled.

                                Taken in tow for repair in Tyne shipyard

                23rd        Repair by Hawthorn Leslie commenced

 

October

                22nd       During post repair trials prior to rejoining Flotilla involved in a further collision with mercantile ss

                                MORDANT. Two ratings were killed in after messdeck and a third was washed overboard but was

                                able to climb back on board.

                                Taken in tow by HM Destroyer JUPITER and escorted to Middlesbrough for repair.

                23rd        Taken in hand for repair by Smiths Dock.

 

November              Under repair.

to

December

 

1 9 4 0

 

January

                3rd          On completion of post repair trials rejoined Flotilla and deployed for convoy defence and patrol in

                                North Sea.

                                (Note: One source records that on departure from Middlesbrough ship detonated mine damaging

                                one shaft and returned for repair. To be investigated.)

 

February                Under repair.

 

March                    On completion deployed for North Sea convoy defence with Flotilla

                19th        After sister ship HMS JERVIS sustained major structural damage after collision with Swedish ss

                                TOR escorted damaged destroyer to Tyne for repair.

 

April                       Detached for escort of Trinity House Ship PATRICIA during lay of navigation buoys in Smiths Knoll.

                5th          Deployed with HM Destroyers JANUS, JUNO and ECLIPSE as escort for Convoy ON25 on passage to

                                Norway.

                8th          Returned to Kirkwall with convoy after German invasion of Norway.

                9th          Deployed with Flotilla for screening of Home Fleet major units and support of military operations

                                Passage to Norwegian waters and under air attacks.

                13th        Escorted HM Battlecruiser REPULSE during passage from Norwegian coast to Scapa Flow.

                20th        Deployed with HM Destroyers JACKAL as escort for ST MAGNUS, ST SUNNIVA and

                                CEDARBANK during passage from Aberdeen taking troops to reinforce landings at Andalsnes,

                                Norway (Operation SICKLE).

                21st         CEDARBANK sunk by torpedo during passage.

                                Detached on arrival at Rombaksfjord. Under air attacks.

                22nd       Escorted merchant ship to Alesund

                                (Note: This ship has insufficient coal to return to UK).

                                Under further air attacks.

                23rd        Took passage to UK escorting troopship.

                27th        Deployed as escort for HM Cruiser GLASGOW with HMS JAVELIN to Molde from Scapa Flow.

                29th        Sailed from Molde for Malangen Fjord near Tromso with HMS JACKAL as escort for HMS

                                GLASGOW during passage.

                                (Note: HMS GLASGOW had embarked HM King Haakon of Norway and members of the

                                Norwegian Government with a quantity of bullion.

                30th        Detached with HMS JACKAL after passengers disembarked from HMS GLASGOW at Malangen

                                and resumed support duties.

 

May                        Resumed Flotilla duties in support of Norwegian operations.

                10th        Deployed with HMS JAVELIN as escort for military convoy to Norway.

                11th        On arrival diverted with convoy to Mo for support of landing of the troops.

                12th        Provided naval gunfire support with HM Cruiser ENTERPRISE during the

                                landings and came under sustained air attacks.

                13th        Returned to Scapa Flow.

                (Note: For details of the disastrous operations off Norway see NARVIK by D

                Macintyre, CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton, THE DOOMED

                EXPEDITION by J Adams and The Naval Staff History.)

                16th        Transferred to 1st Flotilla and deployed in Nore Command at Harwich for support of military

                                operations and North Sea convoy defence.

                19th        Escorted HM Trawlers GRAMPIAN, PELTON, JAMES LAY, MILFORD

                QUEEN, MILFORD PRINCES and CAPE MELVILLE with HMS JAGUAR

                and HM Corvette PUFFIN to cut commercial cables for UK to Continent

                communications off coast of Norfolk (Operation QUIXOTE)

                27th        Transferred to Dover Command with ships of Flotilla to assist in evacuation

                                of allied troops from beaches and harbour at Dunkirk (Operation DYNAMO).

                28th        Rescued survivors from merchant ship sunk by torpedo. Remained off

                beaches and embarked troops from boats. Took passage to Dover with 900 troops.

                (Note: Further men were not embarked as ship stability affected by reduction in

                fuel carried.)

                29th        Returned to Dunkirk after disembarking troops at Dover.

                                Entered harbour to embark troops and under air attacks.

                30th        Took passage to Dover with 850 troops.

                31st         After return to Dunkirk ordered to take passage to Sheerness for duty with

                anti-invasion force and withdrawn from DYNAMO.

                (For details of DYNAMO see NINE DAYS AT DUNKIRK by AD Divine

                and Naval Staff History.)

                Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to G61.

 

June

                1st           Arrived at Sheerness and remained on call for new duties.

                5th          Released from duty at Sheerness and took passage to Humber for delayed routine

                                docking and maintenance.

                6th          Taken in hand by Brigham and Cowan shipyard in Hull

                (Note: Modified RAF Air-Surface radar set fitted during this period.

                This was designated Naval Type 286. For details of development and

                use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)

                16th        On completion transferred to 5th Destroyer Flotilla based at Immingham for

                patrol and interception duties in North Sea.

                (Note: Other ships in Flotilla were HM Destroyers JACKAL, JUPITER,

                KELVIN, KASHMIR and KIPLING, joined later by HMS JACKAL.

                Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten was Senior Officer of the Flotilla and

                embarked in HMS JAVELIN during some patrols.

 

July                         North Sea deployment with Flotilla in continuation.

 

August                  Detached for duty with Home Fleet at Scapa Flow

                17th        Deployed as escort for HM Auxiliary Minelayers SOUTHERN PRINCE,

                PORT NAPIER, PORT QUEBEC and MENESTHEUS of 1st Minelaying

                Squadron with HM Destroyers INGLEFIELD, JAGUAR. FIREDRAKE

                (HM Cruiser CAIRO as AA Guardship during minelay in Moray Firth to

                extend North Sea Mine Barrier (Operation SN12 – See Naval Staff History (Mining).)

                20th        On completion resumed detached service at Scapa Flow for patrol and screening duties.

                                Deployed with escort for initial stage of passage in NW Approaches for ships taking part

                                in planned landing of Free French troops at Dakar (Operation MENACE.)

 

September

                1st           Escorted damaged cruiser HMS FIJI to Clyde for repair

                (Note: HMS FIJI was part of assault force on passage to West Africa.)

                On release from detached service with Home Fleet resumed service with Flotilla.

                Transferred with Flotilla to Plymouth Command for duties in English Channel.

                (Note: This deployment was made in consequence of the movement of the

                German destroyers KARL GASTNER, HANS LODY, FRIEDRICH IHN,

                RICHARD BEITZEN and ERICH STEINBRINK from Wilhemshaven

                to Cherbourg which posed a threat to convoys from mines and surface attacks.)

 

October                  Deployed at Plymouth for interception patrols and convoy defence

                10th        Joined HM Battleship REVENGE with H M Destroyers JAGUAR,

                JACKAL, JUPITER, KASHMIR and KIPLING to carry out bombardment of Cherbourg.

                Took part in bombardment covered by HM Cruisers NEWCASTLE and EMERALD,

                11th        On completion escorted HMS REVENGE with ships of Flotilla during the return passage

                to Portsmouth.

                Detached on arrival and sailed for refit at Immingham

                16th        Taken in hand for refit by Humber Graving Dock.

 

November

                15th        Post refit trials

                16th        Sailed for Plymouth to rejoined Flotilla for interception patrols.

                28th        Sailed from Plymouth with HM Destroyers JACKAL, JUPITER, JERSEY and KASHMIR

                                to intercept German destroyers reported by an aircraft on passage in Channel from Brest.

                                Deployed on patrol line between Lands End and Start Point.

                29th        Sighted enemy destroyers which had attacked convoy off Start Point sinking two ships.

                Took part in night action against KARL GASTNER, HANS LODY and RICHARD

                BEITZEN during which enemy ships fired torpedoes. Hit by torpedo forward and another aft

                causing extensive damage.

                Complete bow structure forward of gun mounting demolished and after structure were both

                demolished with extensive fire caused when magazine exploded.

                Major flooding of other compartments and ship totally disabled. Only 155 feet of original

                353 feet length of hull remained. 46 of ship’s company lost their lives

                For full details see DESTROYER MAN by AF Pugsley who was in command of the ship.

                Casualties were taken off by HMS JACKAL and the other ships returned to scene after a

                fruitless chase of the German destroyers.

                Air attacks were driven off by RAF aircraft and ship taken in tow to Plymouth by a Falmouth

                tug escorted by HMS KASHMIR.

                30th        Arrived at Plymouth and taken in hand for repair by Devonport Dockyard.

                (Note: Captain Lord Mountbatten was on board the ship during this action and in command of

                the Flotilla. The execution of this attack has been the subject of much criticism. See

                above reference, HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith and ENGAGE THE ENEMY

                MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett.)

 

December              Paid off into Dockyard Control and under repair.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Under repair. Bow and stern structures completely replaced.

to December         

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Recommissioned and on completion of post refit trials took passage to Scapa Flow.

 

February                Worked-up for operational service with ships of Home Fleet.

                                On completion deployed with Home Fleet for screening of major ships.

 

March

                1st           Deployed with HM Destroyers ASHANTI, BEDOUIN, ECHO, ECLIPSE,

                ESKIMO, FAULKNOR, FURY, GROVE, ICARUS, INCONSTANT, JAVELIN,

                INTREPID, LANCASTER, LEDBURY, LOOKOUT, ONSLOW,

                PUNJABI, TARTAR, VERDUN, WELLS and WOOLSTON as screen for HM

                Battleships KING GEORGE V and DUKE OF YORK, HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS,

                HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Cruisers BERWICK and KENYA to provide cover

                for passage of Russian Convoy PQ12 to Murmansk and the return convoy QP8 to Iceland..

                (For details of all Russian convoys see CONVOYS TO RUSSIAN by RA

                Ruegg, CONVOY! by P Kemp, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B. Schoefield

                and ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman.)

                10th        On return to Scapa Flow nominated for support of planned British landings in

                Madagascar (Operation IRONCLAD)

                Prepared for foreign service and took passage to Clyde.

                23rd        Joined military convoy WS17 with HM Destroyers INCONSTANT and PAKENHAM

                as part of escort during Atlantic passage.

                (Note: Ocean Escort included HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS.)

                24th        HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE and HM Armed Merchant Cruiser ALCANTARA

                                with screen of three destroyers joined Ocean Escort.

                31st         Detached from WS17 and took passage to Freetown.

 

April

                6th          Joined Convoy WS17A with HM Destroyers ACTIVE, ANTHONY, LAFOREY,

                LOOKOUT, LIGHTNING, PAKENHAM and INCONSTANT as Ocean Escort during

                passage to Durban.

                (Note: Convoy WS17 had split at Freetown into two Sections, WS17A and WS17B

                which made separate passage to Cape of Good Hope.

                22nd       Detached from WS17A on arrival at Durban and joined 14th Destroyer Flotilla for service

                                in Indian Ocean.

 

May                        Deployed at Durban and prepared for support of IRONCLAD.

                5th          Took part in support of landings at Diego Suarez and provided gunfire support.

                Deployment included anti-submarine defence of assembled ships.

                (For details of IRONCLAD see RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute, WAR WITH

                JAPAN (HMSO) and Naval Staff History.)

                9th          On release from IRONCLAD transferred with Flotilla for service at

                Alexandria with Mediterranean Fleet.

                Took passage to Alexandria via Aden and Suez Canal.

 

June                        Passage in Red Sea

                9th          Joined 14th Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet for Fleet duties in eastern Mediterranean.

                13th        Sailed from Alexandria with H M Destroyers HASTY, HERO, INCONSTANT, JERVIS,

                KELVIN, NAPIER, NESTOR, NIZAM, NORMAN, PAKENHAM, PALADIN, SIKH

                and ZULU as screen for HM Cruisers ARETHUSA, BIRMINGHAM, CLEOPATRA,

                DIDO, EURYALUS, HERMIONE and NEWCASTLE to join Convoy MW11 which had

                sailed earlier from Egypt (Operation VIGOROUS).

                14th        Met convoy and came under air attacks.

                                Convoy under threat of attack by U77 which was beaten off by HMS PAKENHAM.

                15th        Under attack by German E-Boats during which HMS NEWCASTLE was hit by a torpedo

                and had to return to Alexandria. HMS HASTY was also torpedoed and had to be sunk

                by HMS HOTSPUR.

                (Note: HMS HOTSPUR had been part of escort for Convoy MW11A from Haifa which had

                joined MW11B and merged to form MW11 for passage to Malta.)

                Convoy ordered to reverse course following report of threat of attack by an Italian battle

                squadron reported by aircraft.

                Under heavy and sustained air attacks but earlier order rescinded and convoy ordered to

                resume westward passage.

                (Note: During these attacks HM Cruisers ARETHUSA and BIRMINGHAM HM

                Destroyers AIREDALE, NESTOR (RAN) and HM Battleship CENTURION were

                damaged. HMS CENTURION, had been disguised as a battleship of the KING

                GEORGE V Class.)

                Took damaged HMAS NESTOR in tow.

                Owing to heavy expenditure of AA ammunition and despite further order from CinC at

                Alexandria operation was abandoned and ship took passage to return to Alexandria with

                convoy and escorts.

                16th        Tow terminated during passage and HMAS NESTOR scuttled after her crew were

                rescued. Returned to Alexandria.

                (For details of this disastrous, confused and ill-directed operation see THE BATTLE

                FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                CLOSELY.)

 

July                         Retained for service in Mediterranean with 14th Destroyer Flotilla.

                                Deployed at Alexandria for convoy defence, patrol and military support

                17th        Carried out bombardment at Mersa Matru.

                23rd        Carried out further bombardment at Mersa Matru.

 

August                  Flotilla duties in continuation.

                12th        Carried out bombardment at Rhodes.

                                Under repair at Haifa.

 

September             Resumed Flotilla duties on completion

                14th        Carried out bombardment at Daba.

 

October                  Flotilla duties in eastern Mediterranean including support of military operations.

 

November

                16th        Deployed with HM Cruiser EURYALUS, HM Destroyers JERVIS, KELVIN, NUBIAN,

                PAKENHAM, PALADIN and PETARD as escort for Convoy MW13 to Malta from Egypt

                (Operation PORTCULLIS)

                (Note: This was the first westward convoy passage to be attempted air cover from North

                Africa was available due to advance of the 8th Army from Alamein.)

                17th        Detached from MW13 after HM Destroyers ALDENHAM, BEAUFORT, BELVOIR,

                CROOME, DULVERTON, EXMOOR, HURSLEY, HURWORTH, TETCOTT and Greek

                destroyer PINDOS arrived as escort for passage to Malta.

                Took passage to Alexandria with Fleet destroyers.

                18th        Sailed from Alexandria with same Fleet destroyers as screen for HM Cruisers ARETHUSA,

                CLEOPATRA, DIDO and ORION to provide cover for passage of Convoy MW13 to Malta.

                Under air attacks off Derna after joining MW13 and HMS ARETHUSA hit by torpedo and

                had to be towed back to Alexandria by HMS PETARD.

                Detached from MW13 covering force and escorted HMS PETARD during tow of HMS

                ARETHUSA.

                (See above references and THE CROSS AND THE ENSIGN by P Elliot.)

                Transferred to Malta with HM Destroyers JERVIS, KELVIN and NUBIAN for interception

                of enemy supply convoys to North Africa as screen for HM Cruisers CLEOPATRA and

                DIDO as Force K.

 

December              Deployed at Malta with Force K for convoy interception.

                2nd         Took part in attack on convoy in Gulf of Gabes with HMS JERVIS, KELVIN and NUBIAN

                during which Italian destroyer LUPO was sunk whilst rescuing survivors from SS VELOCE

                sunk in an early convoy attack.

                13th        Deployed with HMS CLEOPATRA, HMS DIDO, HMS JERVIS, HMS KELVIN and HMS

                NUBIAN and carried out successful attack on convoy off Tunisia.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Force K deployment in continuation.

                8th          Sank three small schooners off Kuriat during interception patrol.

                17th        Deployed with HMS PAKENHAM off Lampedusa and attacked supply convoy escorted

                                by torpedo boats and sank naval auxiliary.

                30th        Intercepted Italian convoy north of Tripoli with HMS KELVIN and sank all eleven ships

                                including four minesweepers.

 

February                Malta deployment in continuation. Escort for convoy to Alexandria.

 

March to                Deployed for interception patrols with ships of Force K

April

 

May                        Deployed with ships based in Malta to establish blockade of Cape Bon area to intercept

                                craft attempting to evacuation enemy personnel from North African coast after the defeat

                                of the Afrika Corps (Operation RETRIBUTION – See above references.)

 

June                        Deployed with Fleet units and ships of Flotilla for bombardment of Pantellaria prior to

                occupation by British troops. (Operation CORKSCREW – See above references.)

                Nominated for refit in UK. for passage to UK as part of escort for military convoy

                MKF15.

                15th        Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Portsmouth.

 

July                         Under refit by HM Dockyard.

to December          Nominated for service with 10th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Under refit and carried out harbour trials.

 

February

                10th        Carried out post refit trials and took passage to Scapa Flow.

                Deployed with HM Destroyers ASHANTI, ESKIMO, HAIDA (RCN),

                HURON (RCN), TARTAR, Polish destroyer BLYSKAWICA and Polish

                destroyer ORP PIORUN of 10th Flotilla.

 

February                Home Fleet deployment for screening duties during operations off Norway

to April                  Nominated for service in support of planned allied landings in Normandy

                (Operation NEPTUNE – For details of naval activities prior to and during

                landings see OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN

                NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO).

 

May                        Transferred to Plymouth with Flotilla and took part in exercises prior to landings.

 

June                        Deployed with Flotilla to carry out patrols between Gulf of St Malo and Ushant for

                                interception of enemy surface craft attempting to attack cross Channel military

                                convoys or coastal traffic.

                5th          Deployed for patrol north of Ushant.

                6th          Following aircraft sighting of two NARVIK Class destroyers and an Ex Dutch

                destroyer (TJERK HIDDES) carried out search with Flotilla but did not find the

                enemy ships.

                7th          Returned to Plymouth with Flotilla on relief by 23rd Destroyer Flotilla.

                8th          Deployed with Flotilla NE of Ushant to intercept NARVIK Class ships

                                reported on passage in the area from Brest.

                9th          In action against German destroyers with ships of Flotilla 20 miles NW of Ile de Bas

                during which TJERK HIDDES was sunk, NARVIK Z32 driven ashore and

                subsequently wrecked. NARVIK was damage and the ELBING Class T24 was

                able to return to Brest.

                (See LANDINGS IN NORMANDY for details.)

                25th        Retained in Channel area with Flotilla based at Plymouth after NEPTUNE closed.

 

July                         Deployed at Plymouth for interception of enemy convoys in Bay of Biscay and

                                Channel coast with ships of Flotilla.

                7th          During return passage to Plymouth after interception patrol off Ushant involved in

                                collision with HMS ESKIMO and sustained major damage aft. Three of ship’s

                                company were killed and one injured.

                                Steering for remainder of passage was by main engines.

                10th        Taken in hand for temporary repair by HM Dockyard, Devonport.

                20th        Passage to Belfast for permanent repair.

                                (Note:  One source records at Liverpool – to be confirmed.)

                27th        Taken in hand by Harland and Wolff shipyard.

 

August                  Under repair

to                            Nominated for service in Mediterranean with 14th Destroyer Flotilla and re-commissioned.

November

 

December

                31st         Completion of repair and prepared for post refit trials.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Passage to Scapa Flow on completion of post refit trials.

                                Worked-up with ships of Home Fleet for operational service

 

 

February                Took passage to join Flotilla in Mediterranean on completion of work-up.

                19th        Arrived at Alexandria and joined Flotilla.

 

March

                9th          Withdrawn from Flotilla duties for replacement of boiler tubes at Alexandria.

 

April                       Boiler tube replacement work in progress.

 

May

                8th          Resumed Flotilla duties on completion of post repair trials.

 

June                        Remained with Flotilla in Mediterranean after VE Day and deployed for Fleet duties

to August              and support of re-occupation requirements at Trieste

                                (Note: Ships on passage to Far East were worked-up for service in the Mediterranean

                                during exercises with Fleet units.)