K-Class Destroyer ordered from John I Thornycroft at Woolston, Southampton under the 1937 Programme in March 1935 and laid down on 11th October. Originally the ship was to have been named JAVELIN but this was changed before launch on 21st March 1939 as the first RN warship to carry this name. Her build was completed on 10th October 1939 at a contract price of £391,570 and she was commissioned with a Portsmouth Depot complement for service in the 5th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

NORTH SEA 1939 - CRETE 1941 - MEDITERRANEAN 1941

 

H e r a l d i c  D a t a

Badge: On a Field Blue two white roses in chief, barbed and

seeded proper and in a base a sun in splendour rising.

 

 

De 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

 

October                   Contractors Trials  and commissioning.

                                Involved in collision with a tug and returned to builder’s yard for repair.

            26th             Took passage to Portland on completion of Acceptance Trials.

 

November               Work-up at Portland for operational service.

            10th             Passage to Rosyth as escort for HM Base Ship DUNLUCE CASTLE.

            12th             Arrived at Scapa Flow for duties in Flotilla with Home Fleet.

                                (Note: Other ships in 5th Flotilla were HM Destroyers KELLY, KELVIN, KIPLING,

                                            KIMBERLEY, KANDAHAR, KHARTOUM and KINGSTON.)

                                Deployed for convoy defence in North Sea and NW Approaches for anti-submarine

                                patrol and interception of blockade runners.

            29th             Took part in sinking of U35 with HM Destroyers KINGSTON and ICARUS off

                                Shetland Isles in position 60.53N  02.47E. 43 of the submarine crew were rescued.

                                (Note:  For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and HITLER’S U-BOAT

                                             WAR by C Blair.)

 

December                Home Fleet deployment with Flotilla in continuation.

                                 For details of naval activities in Home waters see Naval Staff History and ENGAGE

                                 THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett.)

 

                1 9 4 0

 

January                    North Sea and NW Approaches deployment in continuation.

to February              Deployed for screening of Home Fleet major warships as required during Fleet

                                 operations to intercept commerce raiders.)

 

March                      Under repair at Govan.

                                 On completion resumed Flotilla duties in Home Fleet.

 

April                        Deployed in NW Approaches with HM Destroyers FEARLESS, HYPERION, HERO,

                                 ZULU, COSSACK, KELVIN, IMPULSIVE and DELIGHT as screen for HM Aircraft

                                 Carrier FURIOUS and HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM

                                 (Note: HMS FURIOUS was rejoining Home Fleet after refit at Devonport).

             7th               Deployed with HM Destroyers AFRIDI, GURKHA, SIKH, MOHAWK, ZULU, COSSACK.

                                 KELVIN, Polish destroyers GROM, BLYSKAWICA and BURZA as screen for HM Cruisers

                                 Cruisers GALATEA and ARETHUSA during search for German warships reported on passage

                                 on passage in NW Approaches.

                 8th            HM Destroyers JAVELIN, JANUS, JUNO and GRENADE joined screen.

                 9th            Sustained serious damage when rammed by HM Destroyer KELVIN during screening duties.

                                  Unable to steer and detached with HMS ZULU and HMS COSSACK.

                                  Passage to Scapa Flow under tow by HMS COSSACK and escorted by HMS ZULU to Lerwick.

               11th            Survey for damage assessment. Repair arranged in Swan Hunter shipyard at Newcastle.

               15th            Passage to Tyne.

               16th            Taken in hand for repair,

                                  (Note: Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to G12.)

 

May                           Under repair.

 

June                           Nominated for service with Flotilla in Humber Force on completion.

               17th            Resumed operational duties with Flotilla after post repair trials.

 

July                           East coast patrol and convoy defence in continuation.

                 9th            Under air attack in North Sea but undamaged by bombs.

               31st            Sustained serious damage in collision with Trawler KURD and withdrawn from

                                  operational service.

 

August                      Under repair at Hull by Brigham and Cowan shipyard.

               22nd           Passage to Scapa Flow to resume duties with Flotilla.

                                  Deployed in North Sea with HM Destroyers JAVELIN, JACKAL, JUPITER,

                                  KELVIN and KIPLING for convoy defence and patrol.

 

September

                 5th            Deployed with HM Cruiser CAIRO, HM Destroyers KIPLING, SIKH and ZULU as

                                  escort for HM Auxiliary Minelayers PORT QUEBEC and MENESTHEUS during

                                  minelay in Northern Barrage (Operation SN 5A)

                                  For details see Naval Staff History (Mining.)

                                  On release from SN5A took passage to rejoin Flotilla at Plymouth.

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

                                             German destroyers KARL GASTNER, HANS LODY, FRIEDRICH IHN,

                                             RICHARD BEITZEN and ERICH STEINBRINK from Wilhelmshaven

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

                                  Deployed for patrol and interception of enemy destroyers in Channel and SW Approaches

 

October

               10th            Escorted HM Battleship REVENGE with HM Destroyers JAVELIN, JUPITER,

                                  KIPLING and JACKAL during passage to Cherbourg.

               11th            Took part in bombardment with other ships.

                                  (Note: Cover for this operation was provided by HM Cruisers NEWCASTLE

                                              and EMERALD.)

                                  On completion took passage to Portsmouth with same ships.

               12th            On arrival took passage with ships of Flotilla to resume duties at Plymouth.

               17th            Deployed as screen for HMS NEWCASTLE and HMS EMERALD with HM Destroyers

                                  JACKAL, JUPITER, KIPLING and KELVIN during operation to intercept German

                                  destroyers sighted on passage from Brest to attack convoys in SW Approaches.

                                  Came under unsuccessful torpedo attack from enemy ships.

                                  Although engaged by HMS NEWCASTLE the British ships were advised to break off

                                  action because of lack of air cover from shore.

                                  Took passage to Plymouth.

               18th            Arrived at Plymouth.

 

 November

                    28th             Deployed with HM Destroyers JAVELIN, JACKAL, JUPITER and JERSEY to intercept

                                        three German destroyers reported on passage in Channel,

                    29th             Carried out patrol between Start Point and Lands End with HMS JERSEY and HMS

                                        JUPITER

                                        Rejoined Flotilla after HMS JAVELIN engaged in gun action with enemy ships and

                                        took part until enemy ships escaped at speed under cover of smoke.

                                        (Note: HMS JAVELIN had come under torpedo attack and sustained series damage after

                                                     three torpedo hits which destroyer forward after structure. Flotilla had been led

                                                     by HMS JAVELIN and was commanded by Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten.)

                                        Returned to Plymouth with HMS JUPITER and HMS JERSEY.

                                        (Note: For full details of this poorly executed operation and other TUNNEL Operations

                                                    in English Channel see DESTROYER MAN by AF Pugsley, ENGAGE THE

                                                    ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith.)

 

December

                      3rd             Deployed with HMS KIPLING and HMS PUNJABI as escort for HM Destroyer  ICARUS

                                        during planned minelay off Ile de Bas, Bay of Biscay which was cancelled after defect in

                                        Taut Wire Measuring Gear on board HMS ICARUS.

                                        (Operation GR – see Naval Staff History (Minelaying.)

                                        Detached and took passage to join HM Minelaying Cruiser ADVENTURE.

                                        Escorted HMS ADVENTURE with HMS KIPLING and HMS JUPITER during minelay

                                        on Little Sole Bay (Operation GQ1)

                      5th             Passage to Gibraltar with HMS JERSEY and HMS JUPITER.

                      8th             Escorted HM Cruiser MANCHESTER with HMS JERSEY, JUPITER and KELVIN during

                                        passage from Gibraltar to UK.

                     10th            Detached in SW Approaches and returned to Plymouth.

                     29th            Escorted HMS ADVENTURE with HMS JERSEY and HMS JUPITER during minelay

                                        on Little Sole Bank (Operation GQ2 – See above reference).

 

1 9 4 1

 

 

January                            Detached for patrol and convoy defence in NW Approaches based in Clyde..

                     10th            Took passage from Clyde with HM Destroyers KELLY, KIPLING and JERSEY.

                                        (Note: HMS KELLY was rejoining Flotilla after major repairs.)

                     18th            Deployed at Plymouth with Flotilla for interception and patrol in Channel and

                                        SW Approaches.

 

February

                     20th            Deployed with HMS KELLY, KIPLING and JACKAL as escort for HM Destroyers

                                        INTREPID, ICARUS and IMPULSIVE during minelay off Brest.

                                        (Operation GS – See Naval Staff History (Mining.)

 

March

                     24th            Escorted HM Minelaying Cruiser ABDIEL with HMS KIPLING during minelay

                                        off Brest  (Operation GV).

                     28th            Escorted HM Destroyers INTREPID, ICARUS and IMPULSIVE during minelay

                                        off Brest with HM Destroyers KELLY, KELVIN and JACKAL

 

April                               Nominated for transfer to Mediterranean with Flotilla.

                                        Prepared for foreign service in Malta as a strike force

                        21st         Took passage to Gibraltar with HM Destroyers KELLY, KELVIN, KIPLING, JERSEY

                                        and JACKAL.

                      24th           Sailed from Gibraltar with HM Cruisers DIDO and ABDIEL as screen with same ships

                                        during passage to Malta as Force S (Operation SALIENT).

 

April

                       28th            Arrived in Malta as relief for ships of 14th Destroyer Flotilla and deployed with

                                          same ships of Flotilla as Force K for attacks on supply shipping in central

                                          Mediterranean.

 

May

                         1st            Deployed with Flotilla for interception patrol.

                         2nd           On return to Malta with Flotilla remained off entrance to Grand Harbour whilst HM

                                          Destroyers KELLY, JERSEY, JACKAL and KELVIN entered.

                                          Deployed with HMS KIPLING as screen for HMS GLOUCESTER during passage

                                          Gibraltar when entrance to Grand Harbour was blocked by wreck of HMS JERSEY

                                          which had sunk after detonating a recently laid mine

                         4th            Arrived at Gibraltar with HMS GLOUCESTER and HMS KIPLING.

                                          (Note: HMS GLOUCESTER was damaged during passage through Sicilian

                                                      Narrows when a mine exploded in her paravane gear,

                         5th           Deployed with HMS KIPLING and HMS GLOUCESTER as Force D for defence

                                          of military convoy during passage to Malta and joined convoy near Gibraltar.

                                          (Operation TIGER)

                         9th            Rejoined Flotilla after TIGER convoy escort was reinforced by ships of Mediterranean

                                          Fleet off Malta and deployed with screen.

                        10th           Detached from TIGER convoy screen with ships of Force K and took passage to carry

                                          Carried out bombardment with Flotilla at Benghazi before return to resume strike duties in Malta.

                        11th           Arrived at Malta with HM Destroyers KELLY, JACKAL, KELVIN and KIPLING.

                        21st           Despatched with Flotilla to assist in defence of Crete against invasion by German forces

                                          and took passage from Malta to join Mediterranean Fleet ships already deployed off

                                          the island.

                        22nd          Deployed with HMS KELLY and HMS KIPLING to carry out patrol north of Crete to

                                          intercept invasion craft.

                                          Carried out bombardment of Maleme airfield

                        23rd           Under heavy and sustained air attacks by German aircraft during which ship was hit

                                          and sank within two minutes in position 34.40N  24.10E south of Gavo, Crete.

                                          (Note: HMS KELLY was also sunk in these attacks.

                                                      HMS KIPLING which had become detached earlier rescued survivors from both

                                                      ships including 159 from this destroyer.

                                                      For details see THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre,

                                                      CRETE by SW Pack and Naval Staff History.

 

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Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS KASHMIR

by Don Kindell

 

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above

(Note on Convoys)