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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2001

HMS KIMBERLEY (F 50) -  K-class Destroyer including Convoy Escort Movements

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Kelvin, sister-ship (Navy Photos/George Knight, click to enlarge)

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K-Class Destroyer ordered from John I Thornycroft at Woolston under the 1937 Programme and laid down on 17th January 1938 as Yard No 1179. She was launched on  1st June1939.  It was the first use of this name for  a warship other than for requisitioned vessels. Her Build was completed early in 1940. One source gives a date of 21st February , however on this date other records suggest she was deployed with the Home Fleet , see Chronology below. Following  a successful WARSHIP WEEK campaign for National Savings  in  February 1942 this ship was adopted by the civil communities of Eastwood. Kimberley and Selston, Nottinghamshire.

  

H e r a l d i c  D a t a

Badge: On a Field barry wavy of six White and Blue a diamond

with rays White, charges with a lion rampant Black

 

 

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 4 0

 

January                  Contractors trials and commissioned for service.

 

February                Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

                                On completion of trials, storing and weapon system calibration passage to Scapa Flow for

                                work-up with ships of Home Fleet.

                21st         Deployed with HM Cruiser MANCHESTER in NW Approaches for patrol to intercept enemy

                merchant shipping attempting return to Germany and of commerce raiders on passage to attack

                Atlantic convoys.

                Intercepted and captured German freighter WAHEHE .Provided a boarding party to take ship

                to Kirkwall as a Prize. (See THE BLOCKADERS by C Hampshire.)

 

March                    Home Fleet deployment in continuation.

 

April

                7th          Part of screen for HM Battleships RODNEY and VALIANT, HM Battlecruiser REPULSE

                                and cruisers of Home Fleet during search in NW Approaches for German ships reported on

                                passage to Atlantic.

                8th          After German invasion of Norway remained with screen during passage to support allied

                landings in Norway (Operation WILFRED/R4).

                Detached with HM Destroyers BEDOUIN, ESKIMO and PUNJABI to assist HM Destroyer

                GLOWWORM which was under attack by German battleship HIPPER.

                                (Note: HMS GLOWWORM was sunk with heavy loss of life.)

                11th        Despatched with HM Destroyer ESKIMO and HM Cruiser PENELOPE to attacks transports

                                reported at Bodo. During entry into fjord at Fleinvaer HMS PENELOPE ran aground

                and had to be towed clear by HMS ESKIMO.

                Entered fjord but found no ships and returned as escort for tow during return passage to Fleet

                units off Narvik.

                13th        Took part in 2nd Battle of Narvik and attempted to tow HM Destroyer COSSACK which had

                been damaged in action with German destroyers and disabled. This was unsuccessful.

                (Note: HMS COSSACK was later towed successfully by HM Destroyer FORESTER)

                Returned to Scapa Flow.

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

                CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by

                C Barnett, THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by J Adams and Naval Staff History.)

 

May                        Nominated for transfer to Mediterranean and prepared for foreign service.

                Damage during Norwegian operations repaired.

                Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to G50.

                16th        Took passage to Mediterranean with HM Destroyers KANDAHAR and KHARTOUM.

                23rd        On arrival at Alexandria nominated for service in Red Sea with HM Destroyers KANDAHAR,

                KINGSTON and KHARTOUM.

                (Note: This was part of a series of precautions in anticipation of war with Italy which had

                destroyers and submarines based in Eritrea.)

 

June                        Deployed for convoy defence in Red Sea

to

July

 

August                  Nominated for support of evacuation of British nationals from Berbera, British Somaliland

Joined HM Cruisers CALEDON, HOBART (RAN), CERES and CARLISLE, HM Sloops

                PARAMATTA (RAN), SHOREHAM and AUCKLAND, HM Armed Boarding Vessels

                CHAKALA, CHAKDINA, LAOMEDON and Hospital Ship VITA with HMS KANDAHAR.

                16th        Assisted in evacuation during which over 7,000 people were embarked for passage to Aden.

 

September

                12th        Joined military convoy WS2A as Local Escort for passage in Red Sea with HM Cruiser

                                SHROPSHIRE, HMS AUCKLAND and HM Sloop FLAMINGO.

                14th        Detached from WS2A.

 

October

                20th        Part of escort for Convoy BN7 with HM Cruiser LEANDER and five Sloops of East Indies

                                Squadron.

                21st         Under attack by four Italian destroyers 150 miles east of Massawa.

                Engaged Italian FRANCISCO NULLO and driven ashore on Harmi Island.

                Fired torpedo at enemy ship and came under fire from shore batteries.

                Sustained damage in engine room which disabled ship.

                Taken in tow for passage to Port Sudan by HMS LEANDER.

                27th        Under repair.

                31st         Took passage to resume convoy defence duties but with reduced speed capability.

 

November

                12th        Escorted troopships DUCHESS OF YORK and GEORGIC from Aden with HM Cruiser

                                CALEDON to rejoin military convoy WS3 in Red Sea.

                14th        Detached and returned to Aden.

 

December

                25th        Escorted military convoy WS4B with HM Cruiser CARLISLE and HMS KANDAHAR

                                during passage in Red Sea.

                27th        Detached from WS4B and returned to Aden.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Passage to Bombay to complete repairs.

 

February                Under repair by HM Dockyard Bombay.

 

March                    Passage to rejoin Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria.

 

April                       Deployed with Mediterranean Fleet.

                16th        Part of screen for HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE with HM Destroyers GRIFFIN,

                                DEFENDER and KINGSTON during passage to Suda Bay with Fleet units prior to planned

                                bombardment of Tripoli as Force C (Operation MD2)

                21st         Remained off shore with HMS FORMIDABLE during bombardment.

                22nd       Deployed with Fleet screen during return passage to Alexandria after completion of MD2.

                23rd        Arrived at Alexandria with Fleet units.

                26th        Deployed as escort for Convoy AG15 to Pireaus with HM Destroyer VAMPIRE (RAN) and

                                HM Sloop AUCKLAND.

                27th        Took part in evacuation of allied troops from Raphti, Greece.

                29th        Took part in evacuation from Kalamata. Greece.

 

May

                1st           Passage from Kalamata after three trips carrying evacuated troops.

                                (See Naval Staff History and BATTLE OF THE WINE DARK SEA by L Lind.)      

                6th          Deployed with HM Destroyers GRIFFIN, HAVOCK, HEREWARD,

                HERO, HOTSPUR, JERVIS, JUNO, KANDAHAR, KINGSTON, NIZAM and NUBIAN

                as screen for HMS FORMIDABLE, HM Battleships BARHAM, VALIANT and WARSPITE,

                HM Cruisers ORION, PERTH and ABDIEL to provide cover for passage of convoys in the

                eastern Mediterranean (Operation MD4).

                (Note: These convoys were MW7 from Egypt to Malta and military convoy from Malta to

                Alexandria with tanks for 8th Army (Operation TIGER).

                8th          Remained with Fleet screen after ME7 detached to enter Malta.

                9th          Deployed with Fleet screen during cover for passage of TIGER convoy to Alexandria.

                10th        Arrived at Alexandria with Fleet units after unsuccessful air attacks.

                15th        Deployed with screen for Fleet units providing cover for convoys on passage to reinforce

                                defence of Crete.

                21st         Deployed with HM Destroyers JANUS, HASTY and HEREWARD as screen for HM Cruisers

                                DIDO, ORION and AJAX as Force D.

                22nd       Intercepted invasion convoy with Force D north of Crete and sank several craft.

                23rd        Took part in bombardment of airfield at Scarpanto.

                24th        Deployed with HM Destroyers DECOY, HOTSPUR, HEREWARD, IMPERIAL and JACKAL

                                as screen for HMS AJAX and HMS DIDO during search operation in Kaso Strait to intercept

                                invasion craft.

                25th        Passage to Alexandria.

                28th        Sailed from Alexandria with HM Cruisers AJAX, ORION and DIDO, HM Destroyers

                                HOTSPUR, HEREWARD, IMPERIAL and JACKAL for evacuation of troops from Crete.

                29th        At Heraklion and ferried troops to cruisers offshore.

                Under heavy and sustained air attacks during return passage.

                (Note: HMS AJAX and HMS DIDO were both badly damaged.)

                For details of the disastrous Crete operations see above references and CRETE by

                SW Pack.)

                31st         Passage to Crete.

 

June

                1st           Took part in evacuation of troops from Sphakia.

                2nd         Returned to Alexandria.

                6th          Nominated for support of military operations in Syria with HM Destroyers KANDAHAR,

                JACKAL, JANUS and HM Cruiser PHOEBE (Operation EXPORTER – See RELUCTANT

                ENEMIES by W Tute and THE NAVAL WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN by J Greene

                and A Massignani.)

                7th          Deployed off Syria for patrol to intercept Vichy French destroyers attempting to provide

                                support to defending military units.

                                Provided naval gunfire support.

                9th          Took HMS JANUS in tow after being disabled during engagement with Vichy French

                                destroyers.

                                Under air attack by Vichy French aircraft during passage to Haifa.

                10th        Carried out bombardment of Khan bridge area in support of military advance.

                15th        During deployment off Beirut in action with French destroyer GUEPARD and VALMY.

 

July                         Syrian support deployment in continuation.

                4th          Carried out further support bombardment.

                                On release from EXPORTER deployed at Alexandria for Flotilla duties.

                22nd       Deployed as screen for HM Battleships QUEEN ELIZABETH and VALIANT, HM Cruisers

                AJAX, CARLISLE, HOBART (RAN), LEANDER, NAIAD, NEPTUNE, PHOEBE, ABDIEL

                and LATONA with HM Destroyers HASTY, HAVOCK, JACKAL, JAGUAR, JERVIS,

                KANDAHAR, KINGSTON, NIZAM and NUBIAN during diversionary operation in eastern

                Mediterranean (Operation MD5).

                (Note: This was to divert enemy attention from progress of a Malta relief convoy from

                Gibraltar (Operation SUBSTANCE).

 

August                  Deployed for support of Tobruk and screening of Fleet units during

to                            search for enemy supply convoys.

October

 

November              Transferred to join HM Cruisers AURORA and PENELOPE in Force K based in Malta

                                for interception of enemy supply convoys to North Africa.

                22nd       Passage to Malta with HM Cruisers AJAX, NEPTUNE and HMS KINGSTON to reinforce

                                Force K. HM Cruisers EURYALUS and NAIAD screened by two destroyers provided

                                cover for this transit.

                30th        Deployed with HMS AURORA, HMS PENELOPE, HMS AJAX, HMS NEPTUNE and

                                HMS KINGSTON to intercept supply convoy.

 

December

                1st           Carried out attack on convoy off Benghazi sinking ammunition ship ADRIATICO.

                2nd         Sank Italian destroyer ALVISE DA MOSTA and mercantile MANTOVANI off Kerkenah

                                Bank.

                5th          Sailed from Malta with HM Destroyers KINGSTON and LIVELY, HM Cruisers AJAX

                                and NEPTUNE as escort for HM Supply Ship BRECONSHIRE during passage to meet ships

                                from Alexandria.

                6th          HMS AJAX, HMS NEPTUNE and HMS LIVELY detached and took passage to Malta.

                                Remained with HMS BRECONSHIRE.

                7th          HM Cruiser HOBART (RAN) joined but detached later to assist damaged Sloop HMS

                                FLAMINGO off Tobruk.

                                Remained as escort for HMS BRECONSHIRE to Alexandria with HMS KINGSTON

                8th          Arrived at Alexandria with HMS BRECONSHIRE.

                15th        Joined HM Cruisers CARLISLE, EURYALUS and NAIAD with HM Destroyers HASTY,

                                HAVOCK, JERVIS, KINGSTON, KIPLING. DECOY and NIZAM as Force C for escort

                                of HMS BRECONSHIRE during passage for escort by Force K from Malta

                16th        Remained with HMS BRECONSHIRE after threat from an Italian battle group escorting a

                                supply convoy to Benghazi was probable.

                17th        Remained with Force C when Italian battle fleet was sighted and HMS BRECONSHIRE

                detached escorted by HMS DECOY and HMS HAVOCK.

                Took part in brief engagement with Italian warships which withdrew when British destroyers

                approached to deliver torpedo attacks.

                (1st Battle of Sirte. - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, THE BATTLE FOR

                THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre and Naval Staff History.)

                18th        Return passage to Alexandria with escorts.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Deployed for support of Tobruk garrison and convoy defence.

                12th        Hit by torpedo fired by U77 off Tobruk and sustained major

                                damage to stern structure. Disabled ship taken in tow by HM Escort Destroyer HEYTHROP

                13th        Passage to Alexandria in tow.

 

February                Repair arranged at Alexandria. Paid off.

to                            Taken in tow to Alexandria with minimal crew.

December              Under repair by HM Dockyard Bombay.

 

1 9 4 3

 

                                Under repair and re-commissioned for service in Mediterranean.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Post refit trials and prepared for operational service.

to                            Passage to Alexandria

March

 

April                       Deployed in Mediterranean.

                                (Note: Extension deployments were made in support of the reoccupation of islands in the

                                Mediterranean and in the Adriatic for interception and military support.)

 

May

                27th        During deployment with HM Cruiser AURORA, Free French destroyers Le MALIN,

                                Le TERRIBLE and Le FANTASQUE sustained damage in heavy weather and returned to

                                Alexandria for repair.

 

June                        On completion of repair resumed duties based in Malta.

 

July                         Mediterranean deployment in continuation.

                                Nominated for special duties during planned allied landings in South France.

 

August

                14th        Embarked CinC Mediterranean for passage to watch progress of the assault convoys

                                through Straits of Bonifacio.

                                (Note: Signal to execute Operation DRAGOON was made whilst CinC was on board.

                                CinC's advanced command post was established at Ajaccio on 11th August

                15th        Embarked Prime Minister Winston Churchill for visit to the Assault Area.

                16th        Embarked CinC with military commander General Maitland- Wilson for visit to

                landing beaches.

                (Note: For details of Operation DRAGOON see INVASION OF THE SOUTH OF

                FRANCE (HMSO) and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY.)

                On release from Special Duties deployed in Adriatic for patrol and support of military

                operations.

                Passage to join HM Destroyers UNDINE, URCHIN, LOYAL and HM River Gunboats

                APHIS and SCARAB in Adriatic for the support of British Army advance up the east

                coast if Italy.

 

September

                1st           Began a series of bombardments in Rimini area.

                13th        On completion of bombardment duties resumed deployment for patrol and convoy

                                defence.

 

October                  Transferred to British Aegean Force for support of landings to reoccupy Greek

                                mainland. (Operation MANNA)

                                (Note: For details see Military Staff History, Mediterranean.)

                29th        Intercepted Hospital Ship GRADISCCA in the Aegean and captured as Prize.

 

November              Support deployment in continuation.

                                Carried out interception patrols to prevent evacuation of German personnel from

                                occupied territory.

                5th          Sank F-Lighter off Piscopi

                11th        Carried out bombardment at Alimnia.              

 

December              Aegean deployment in continuation.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Deployed in support of operations on Greek mainland.

to                            (Note: At Athens during Communist rising.)

April                       Transferred for support of military operations in Aegean.

 

May

                1st           Took part in raid on island of Rhodes with HM Escort Destroyer CATTERICK and

                                Greek destroyer KRITI.

 

June                        Remained in Mediterranean until nominated for return to

to                            UK to Pay-off.

July

 

August                  Passage to UK.

 

September             Paid off and de-stored.

                                Reduced to Reserve status.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS KIMBERLEY was initially laid-up at Dartmouth and transferred to Harwich. When placed on the Disposal List in 1948 she was selected for use in  Ship Target Trials  in  the Clyde area and towed from Harwich for this purpose. On completion in 1949 she was sold for breaking-up by the West of Scotland Shipbreakers on 30th March that  year.  The  ship arrived at the breaker’s yard in Troon during June. She was one of the only two of  the K-Class of  Fleet Destroyer to survive WW2.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS KIMBERLEY

by Don Kindell

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

19/01/40

19/01/40

HN 008

22/01/40

22/01/40

05/02/40

06/02/40

ON 010/1

08/02/40

08/02/40

08/02/40

10/02/40

HN 010

11/02/40

11/02/40

07/03/40

09/03/40

HN 017

10/03/40

10/03/40

10/03/40

10/03/40

HN 018

13/03/40

13/03/40

15/03/40

16/03/40

ON 020/1

18/03/40

18/03/40

24/03/40

24/03/40

ON 022/1

27/03/40

27/03/40

27/03/40

27/03/40

HN 022

30/03/40

30/03/40

18/03/40

28/03/40

HN 020

22/03/40

22/03/40

04/04/40

06/04/40

HN 024

07/04/40

07/04/40

17/07/40

30/07/40

BN 002

03/08/40

05/08/40

10/08/40

17/08/40

BN 003

21/08/40

23/08/40

01/09/40

03/09/40

BS 003A

06/09/40

06/09/40

30/08/40

12/09/40

WS 002A

14/09/40

14/09/40

15/09/40

15/09/40

BS 004C

18/09/40

19/09/40

24/09/40

27/09/40

SW 001

29/09/40

08/10/40

10/10/40

19/10/40

BN 007

20/10/40

26/10/40

29/10/40

12/11/40

WS 003

16/11/40

16/11/40

18/11/40

18/11/40

BS 008B

21/11/40

21/11/40

23/11/40

23/11/40

SW 003

27/11/40

05/12/40

23/11/40

23/11/40

BN 009A

25/11/40

28/11/40

27/11/40

03/12/40

BN 010

05/12/40

10/12/40

04/12/40

unknown

BS 010

unknown

11/12/40

25/12/40

25/12/40

BS 011A

29/12/40

29/12/40

27/12/40

02/01/41

BN 012

05/01/41

09/01/41

03/01/41

unknown

BS 012

unknown

11/01/40

11/01/41

11/01/41

BN 012A

unknown

15/01/41

12/01/41

12/01/41

SW 004B

unknown

25/01/41

17/01/41

17/01/41

BN 013

18/01/41

24/01/41

01/04/41

03/04/41

BS 022

08/04/41

09/04/41

03/01/42

03/01/42

AT 011/M

07/01/42

07/01/42

15/04/44

15/04/44

BA 066B

20/04/44

20/04/44

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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