1 9 4 1
August Contractor's
trials and commissioned for service in 19th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet
21st Build completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials.
On
completion of trials and weapon calibration passage to Scapa Flow
for work-up with ships of
Home Fleet.
September On completion of work-up joined
19th Destroyer Flotilla as Leader for duty with Home Fleet.
17th Nominated for support of planned Malta relief (Operation HALBERD) and joined military
convoy WS1 IX with HM Battleships PRINCE OF WALES, RODNEY,
HM Cruisers
EURYALUS, KENYA, SHEFFIELD, EDINBURGH, HM Destroyers LIGHTNING, ORIBI,
Dutch destroyer ISAAC SWEERS, Polish destroyers ORP GARLAND and
PIORUN.
24th Escort joined by destroyers from Gibraltar and
Force H ships provided cover for passage
in western Mediterranean of re-identified Convoy GM2.
Nominated for transfer to Force X as escort for GM2 during transit
of Sicilian Narrows.
27th Under air attacks during which HM Battleship NELSON was hit
by torpedo but remained
with convoy.
(Note: Threat of surface attack by Italian warships did not
materialise.)
Joined HM Destroyers COSSACK, FORESIGHT, FORESTER, FURY, ORIBI.
ZULU,
FARNDALE
and HEYTHROP with HM Cruisers EDINBURGH, EURYALUS, HERMIONE
and SHEFFIELD as Force X when Ships of Force H, designated Force A
detached from GM2
west of Sicilian
Narrows
28th Sailed from Malta with Force X after safe arrival of
convoy.
29th Rejoined Force A ships west of Sicily
Detached
with HMS PRINCE OF WALES, HMS KENYA, HMS SHEFFIELD, HM Destroyers
LIGHTNING,
ORIBI, FORESTER and FURY and took return passage to Gibraltar.
(Note: Remaining warships covered passage of Convoy MG2 from
Malta during passage to
Gibraltar,)
October Transferred
to Force H based at Gibraltar for screening duties, patrol and convoy defence.
November
10th Deployed with HM Destroyers LIGHTNING, LEGION, SIKH, ZULU,
GURKHA and Dutch
destroyer ISAAC SWEERS as screen for HM Battleship MALAYA,
HM Aircraft Carriers
ARK ROYAL. ARGUS and HM Cruiser HMS HERMIONE during provision of
cover for Malta
aircraft delivery from the two aircraft carriers (Operation
PERPETUAL).
13th Carried out unsuccessful anti-submarine
operations after suspected contact.
Under attack by U81 during which HMS ARK ROYAL was hit by torpedo
and disabled.
Stood by stricken ship with HMS LIGHTNING.
14th HMS ARK ROYAL sank during tow to Gibraltar by
two tugs. (For full details see MALTA
CONVOYS
by R Woodman)
December Gibraltar
deployment in continuation
For
details of naval operations including Malta relief operations see ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE
CLOSELY by C Barnett, THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by Donald
Maclntyre, THE NAVAL WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
by J Greene and A Massignini,
The Naval Staff History and above reference.
1 9 4 2
January Deployed with Force H and formed part of Anti-submarine
Striking Force with HM Destroyers
CROOME, HESPERUS and WESTCOTT.
(Note: Extensive anti-submarine patrols had been instituted
at Gibraltar after loss of HMS ARK
ROYAL
in intercept attempts by U-Boats to pass through the Straits.)
Despatched to carry out operations after U-Boats attacked convoy.
See
HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.
18th Took part in sinking of U93 with HMS HESPERUS in defence of
Convoy SL97
. (Note: Sinking was after depth charge and surface gun
attacks.
41 of
crew survived See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.
February
8th Reinforced
escort of Atlantic convoy.
Passage to Clyde for escort of military convoy WS16 during Atlantic
passage.
(Note
WS16 was taking troops to Middle
East and India.)
17th Joined Convoy WS16 with HM Destroyers
ACTIVE, ANTHONY, BLANKNEY, CROOME,
DUNCAN, FIREDRAKE and LIGHTNING and took passage as escort.
21st Detached from WS16 with same ships ands returned to Gibraltar.
(Note: HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS was part of WS16 and on
passage to Gibraltar to carry out
Malta aircraft delivery.
It may
be assumed that the destroyers detached as escort for HMS ARGUS.)
23rd Arrived at Gibraltar.
27th Deployed with HM Destroyers LIGHTNING, ACTIVE, ANTHONY, WHITEHALL,
WISHART,
BLANKNEY, EXMOOR and CROOME as screen for HMS ARGUS,
HMS
EAGLE, HMS HERMIONE and HMS MALAYA providing escort
for Malta aircraft
delivery from carriers (Operation SPOTTER I)
28th Operation cancelled due to aircraft fuel tank defects and
returned to Gibraltar
March
6th Deployed for Operation SPOTTER II with same ships as
SPOTTER I
8th Arrived at Gibraltar after successful launch of aircraft.
19th Nominated for support of planned landings in Madagascar with other ships of Force H
on completion of planned aircraft delivery (Operation
IRONCLAD)
20th Deployed with HM Destroyers DUNCAN, ACTIVE, ANTHONY, WHITEHALL,
WISHART,
BLANKNEY, EXMOOR and CROOME as screen for HMS MALAYA,
HMS ARGUS and HMS EAGLE during Malta aircraft delivery by the two carriers.
(Operation
PICKET I)
22nd Return passage
to Gibraltar with same ships when operation cancelled due to defects
in aircraft fuel
tanks
27th Deployed with same ships for repeat aircraft delivery
(Operation PICKET II)
April
1st Passage to Freetown to join military convoy WS17 for IRONCLAD
6th At Freetown
9th Sailed from Freetown as screen for HMS MALAYA and HMS HERMIONE with
HM
Destroyers ACTIVE, ANTHONY, INCONSTANT, JAVELIN, LIGHTNING,
LOOKOUT and PAKENHAM.
18th Arrived at Cape Town with WS17.
22nd Arrived at Durban with
WS17.
(Note: Some mercantiles in WS17
were destined for the Middle East and Indian detached
at ports in South Africa and continued passage as WS17.)
28th Deployed with HM Destroyers LIGHTNING, LOOKOUT and other
destroyers as escort for
Convoy
Z during passage to Diego Suarez, northern Madagascar. (Note: HMS ILLUSTRIOUS,
HMS
HERMIONE
May
2nd Carried out bombardment exercise in
preparation for support of landings.
3rd Convoy Y merged with Slow Convoy Y which had taken passage
10 days earlier
4th Deployed with HMS ANTHONY and HMS LIGHTNING to mark and
buoy approach
channel to landing area at Diego Suarez.
5th Led HMS LIGHTNING and HM Landing Ship (Infantry) into Courier Bay for landings.
Provided naval gunfire support during assault.
6th Deployed with HMS LOOKOUT and HMS LIGHTNING as screen for
HMS RAMILLIES
during search for Japanese warships reported in area.
7tth Provided naval gunfire support
during landing by Royal Marines from HMS ANTHONY on
Antisirana Peninsular
8th At Diego Suarez and deployed periodically for
anti-submarine patrols with HMS LIGHTNING
and HMS LOOKOUT until released from IRONCLAD.
(Note: For details of IRONCLAD see RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute, ENGAGE THE
ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY, WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO), The Naval Staff History
and STRUCK BY LIGHTNING by G Gilroy (Privately published.)
27th Released from IRONCLAD with HMS LOOKOUT and HMS LIGHTNING.
29th Took passage Colombo to join Eastern Fleet.
31st At Seychelles to refuel.
June
1st Joined HM Aircraft Carriers FORMIDABLE, ILLUSTRIOUS and HM
Cruiser GAMBIA
for exercises in Indian Ocean
5th Arrived at Colombo.
12th Deployed with HMS LIGHTNING, HMS LOOKOUT and two other
Eastern Fleet destroyers
as screen for HM Battleship WARSPITE, HMS FORMIDABLE, HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS and
HMS GAMBIA during offensive sweep in Indian Ocean as Force A.
18th Returned to Colombo with Force A.
22nd Deployed with HMS LIGHTNING for exercises
off Colombo.
23rd Took passage from Colombo as screen for ships of Force A during
passage to Mombasa.
28th At Seychelles to refuel.
July
1st Arrived at Mombasa with ships of Force A
9th Transferred to South Atlantic for trade defence and interception of
commerce raiders.
Took passage with HMS INDOMITABLE, HMS LIGHTNING and HMS LOOKOUT.
19th Nominated for service in Mediterranean
in support of Malta relief operation,
(Operation
PEDESTAL)
20th Passage to Freetown.
23rd Detached from HMS INDOMITABLE with destroyers to refuel at
Pointe Noire,
French
Equatorial Africa and rejoined on completion.
27th Joined by HM Cruiser PHOEBE.
28th Arrived at Freetown.
August
1st Sailed from Freetown for Gibraltar as screen for same ships.
5th Deployed with HM Destroyers FORESIGHT, FURY, ICARUS,
INTREPID,
LIGHTNING,
LOOKOUT, VANSITTART, WESTCOTT and WRESTLER as screen
for HM Aircraft Carriers
ARGUS, EAGLE, INDOMITABLE, VICTORIOUS, HM
Cruisers
PHOEBE , CHARYBDIS
and SIRIUS during Exercise BERSERK west of
Gibraltar to
carry out tactics for use during planned
defence of PEDESTAL convoy.
10th Refuelled and nominated with HMS LOOKOUT
for escort of HM Aircraft Carrier
FURIOUS during aircraft delivery to Malta.
(Operation
BELLOWS - Coincident with PEDESTAL)
11th During screening of HMS FURIOUS detached when HMS EAGLE was
hit by torpedo
fired by U73 and sank within eight minutes. Carried out
rescue work with HMS
LOOKOUT
and HM Tug JAUNTY
(Note: These ships rescued a total of 927 survivors from a ships company of 1160.)
Transferred
survivors to HM Destroyer KEPPEL and refuelled from tanker in Force R
Took passage to join ships covering passage of PEDESTAL convoy
after refuelling.
Carried
out successful anti-submarine operations against Italian submarine BRIN with
HM
Destroyers FORESIGHT and FURY and attack failed.
12th Under series of air attacks throughout
the day during which HMS INDOMITABLE was
badly damaged and
HMS FORESIGHT had to be sunk following damage.
Detached from PEDESTAL Convoy with part of Force Z on arrival at Sicilian Narrows.
(Note: These were HMS NELSON, HMS VICTORIOUS, HMS PHOEBE,
HMS SIRIUS,
HM
Destroyers LAFOREY, LIGHTNING. LOOKOUT and QUENTIN.
Remained
in area to provide cover for ships of Force X which had remained as escort for
PEDESTAL convoy for passage into Malta.
14th Passage to Gibraltar as part of screen for ships of Forces X and Z..
(Note: For details of PEDESTAL see PEDESTAL by P Smith and
above references.)
15th Arrived at Gibraltar
16th Deployed as screen for HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS and HMS
CHARYBDIS with HM
Destroyers
LOOKOUT, LIGHTNING, ANTELOPE, WISHART, MALCOLM, KEPPEL,
ESKIMO. SOMALI, VENOMOUS and BICESTER during Malta aircraft delivery from HMS
FURIOUS (Operation BARITONE).
18th Returned to Gibraltar with same ships on completion of
BARITONE.
21st Deployed for ant-submarine operations off Gibraltar
September
3rd Deployed with HMS LOOKOUT to provide escort for ss LEINSTER into Gibraltar
(Note: ss LEINSTER was
part of military convoy WS22 during passage in Atlantic from
Clyde to Freetown.
4th Met WS22 and escorted detached ss LEINSTER to Gibraltar with HMS LOOKOUT.
12th Passage from Gibraltar to Southampton for refit.
17th Taken in hand for refit in commercial shipyard
October Under
refit
November
20th Carried out post refit trials and took passage to Scapa Flow
for work-up prior to resuming
Flotilla duties at Gibraltar.
23rd Worked-up at Scapa
Flow with HM Destroyer LIGHTNING.
December Nominated for escort of military
convoy during passage to Gibraltar.
7th Sailed from Scapa Flow for Greenock on completion of work-up.
12th Took passage to Liverpool with HMS LIGHTNING to escort troopship DUCHESS OF
ATHOL
during passage from Liverpool to join military convoy KMF5 during passage in
Atlantic from Clyde to Algiers.
15th Joined KMF5 Ocean Escort with HMS LIGHTNING and DUCHESS OF
ATHOL
20th Arrived at Gibraltar after stormy passage.
21st Took part in rescue operations with HMS LIGHTNING after
troopship STRATHALLAN
was hit by torpedo from U562 off Algerian coast.
(Note: STRATHALLAN was taking 4.408 troops and 296 Nurses to
North Africa and sank
on 23rd after fires became uncontrollable.)
1 9 4 3
January
1st Arrived at Bone for duty with
Flotilla as part of Force Q.
(Note: Force Q included HM Cruisers AJAX, PENELOPE, AURORA.
SIRIUS, HM
Destroyers LIGHTNING, LOOKOUT and LOYAL.)
Under heavy air attacks at Bone.
6th Sank tanker EMPIRE METAL which had
been hit and set on fire during air raid.
February Deployed for screening duties
with Force Q during interception patrols and convoy defence
to off
North African coast in western Mediterranean.
March
April Based
at Bone for Force Q deployment and interception patrols.
28th During patrol with HM Destroyer TARTAR in action against six
E-Boats and a submarine
in position 37.46N 01.33E.
Sank
one E-Boat by ramming and damaged two others.
Sustained damage to forepeak.
May Deployed
with HM Destroyers LOYAL, TARTAR, ZETLAND, LAMERTON,
ALDENHAM,
BICESTER, HURSLEY, DULVERTON, LAUDERDALE, OAKLEY,
WILTON, ZETLAND and Polish destroyer BLYSKAWICA to intercept
craft evacuating
troops from Cape
Bon area after defeat of the Afrika Korps .
(Operation
RETRIBUTION - For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY
and Naval Staff History.)
8th Deployed with HMS TARTAR and intercepted
two mercantiles.
9th During RETRIBUTION under fire by shore battery near Cape Bon and
hit in engine room
causing damage with some serious injuries
Took passage to Malta for repair.
10th Taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard
15th During passage to resumed Force Q duties investigated Plane Island and found 23 enemy
soldiers who were taken prisoner.
23rd Deployed with HM Destroyer LOOKOUT for patrol in central Mediterranean
and sank
supply ship.
June Nominated
for support of planned landings in Pantelleria
(Operation CORKSCREW).
(Note: Other ships involved included HM Cruisers AURORA,
NEWFOUNDLAND,
ORION,
PENELOPE and EURYALUS, HM Destroyers LOOKOUT, LOYAL,
JERVIS, TARTAR, NUBIAN, TROUBRIDGE and WHADDON.)
Provided
cover for minesweeping operations prior to CORKSCREW.
8th Bombarded positions in Pantelleria.
11th Provided naval gunfire support during
landings on Pantelleria by 1st British Division.
On
release from CORKSCREW took passage to Alexandria to provice escort for assault
convoys on passage to Sicily for planned allied landings in Sicily (Operation HUSKY)
July
8th Deployed with HM Destroyers LOOKOUT and LOYAL for escort
for military Convoy
KMF36
9th Detached from KMF36 and took passage to BARK Beach Head in
British Sector.
10th Joined support Force East and deployed for screening duties
on passage to assault area.
Provided
naval gunfire support during landings (Note: See
ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE
CLOSELY, BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser and
Naval Staff
History
fo details of HUSKY.)
15th Embarked General Alexander for passage to Augusta.
16th Deployed with HMS NUBIAN for screening of HMS ORION and HMS
UGANDA during
passage from Malta as relief for HMS NEWFOUNDLAND,
18th Carried out bombardment in support of
military operations in eastern Sicily.
23rd Deployed for anti-submarine operations after HMS NEWFOUNDLAND
had been
torpedoed off Augusta by the Italian submarine ASCIANGHI
Sank ASCIANGHI with HM Destroyer ECLIPSE.
August Nominated
for support of planned allied landings on Italian mainland at Salerno
(Operation
AVALANCHE - See references for details.)
21st Deployed with four other destroyers for offensive sweep off
Italian mainland near Straits
of Messina.
(Note: Landings at Salerno were preceded by bombardment operations between Reggio
Calabria and Pessaro prior to British
landings on Italian mainland
(Operation
BAYTOWN).
September Deployed at Malta and prepared for AVALANCHE.
(Note: See above references.
Planned
deployment with Flotilla and HUNT Class destroyers
of 21st Destroyer
Flotilla
as part of Northern Attack Force for screening of HM Cruisers
MAURITIUS, UGANDA, ORION, DEHLI and HM Monitor EREBUS during
passage and support bombardments)
9th Under fire during support bombardment
and sustained damage by return fire.
Hit by
five shells
One of
ships company was killed and two other injured.
One
Boiler Room was unusable.
Passage to Malta for repair including structural damage.
Taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard.
October Under
repair
On
completion resumed Flotilla duties in support of military operations.
13th Provided naval gunfire support for military operation near Volturno with HMS
LOOKOUT and Dutch Gunboat FLORES.
November
1st Escorted two mercantiles during
passage from Malta to Naples.
3rd Deployed as escort for military convoy
during passage to Augusta.
4th Deployed at Augusta for patrol duties off western coast of Italy.
5th Assisted US mercantile aground NE of Augusta and towed vessel clear
before taking
passage to Malta to refuel.
6th Carried out anti-submarine exercises
on passage.
December Deployed intermediately at Malta for R&R and to replenish.
23rd Took passage from Malta for Naples.
25th Passage to Bay of Naples for anti-submarine patrol duty.
Intercepted
two E-Boats by radar contact and engaged with main armament but enemy
ships escaped.
29th Deployed with Dutch Gunboat FLORES, HM
Destroyers FAULKNOR and LOYAL
to carry out bombardment.
30th Took part in bombardment of Gaeta.
On
completion returned to Naples to re-ammunition.
Nominated for support of planned allied landings at Anzio (Operation SHINGLE).
Passage to Ajaccio from Naples.
1 9 4 4
January
4th Deployed for patrol off Corsica with
calls at Ajaccio
and Sartene
5th Passage from Maddalena
for patrol in Bay of Naples.
6th During patrol sank hulk of US LIBERTY Ship by gunfire and
torpedo.
7th Deployed at Naples and despatched to Capri area to search for lifeboat.
16th Deployed for patrol of Bay of Gaeta.
18th Sailed from Naples with HM Cruiser SPARTAN, HM Destroyers JERVIS and FAULKNOR
for bombardment
duties in Gaeta area.
Joined
by HM Cruiser ORION and HM Destroyer JANUS and carried out bombardment
of shore targets.
Under air attacks and fire from shore batteries.
19th Returned to Naples to replenish ammunition.
20th Sailed for Anzio as part of escort for Assault Convoy with HM Destroyers
JERVIS and
LOYAL.
21st Joined by HMS JANUS, US destroyers and Landing Ships for
passage to Anzio.
(Operation
SHINGLE)
22nd Deployed with HM Destroyer LOYAL to lead
Assault Force to
P Beach landing areas.
Detached
after nightfall to carry out patrol south of Anzio to intercept any attempt to
attack ships off Anzio beaches.
23rd Provided gunfire support and defence against air and surface
attacks on assembled ships.
Assisted
in rescue of survivors from HMS JANUS which sank after being hit by radio
controlled bomb.
24th Provided naval gunfire support.
27th Returned to Naples to replenish.
28th Passage to resume duties off PETER
Beach.
29th Support deployment off Anzio in continuation.
Assisted
in rescue of survivors from HMS SPARTAN after the cruiser had been hit by
radio controlled bombs.
Under
air attacks and near missed.
Deployed for night interception patrol with other destroyers.
(For
details of SHINGLE see Naval Staff History, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by C Barnett and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.)
February SHINGLE support in continuation.
Transferred to 14th Destroyer Flotilla.
18th Carried out bombardment of Formica.
21st Return passage to Naples to replenish.
25th Deployed for patrol with HM Destroyer
FAULKNOR to intercept E-Boats.
Detached to assist Landing Ship (Tank) aground at Sabaudio but unable to help.
During
continued patrol with HMS FAULKNOR carried out depth charge attacks
on possible submarine contact.
26th Joined in anti-submarine search by HM Escort Destroyers
LAMERTON and
HAMBLEDON.
Under
attack by Acoustic torpedo which exploded in wake.
27th Anti-submarine operations in continuation.
Two
additional destroyers joined.
28th Anti-submarine operations abandoned and ship returned to Naples to replenish and fuel.
Took
passage to Malta with survivors from HM Destroyer INGLEFIELD which had been
sunk by a Glider Bomb off Anzio on 25th February.
March Passage
from Malta to Naples to resume support duties at Anzio.
9th Deployed off Anzio for support and patrol duties until 19th
23rd Returned to Anzio for support and patrol duties.
24th Deployed for night interception and anti-submarine patrol
with HM Destroyer
GRENVILLE.
25th Engaged E-Boats after radar detection.
Took passage to Naples from Anzio on completion of patrol.
28th Deployed for patrol off west coast of Italy.
29th Carried out hunt for U223 north of Palermo with HM Destroyers TUMULT and WILTON.
Joined
HM Destroyers TUMULT, TUSCAN, URCHIN, HAMBLEDON and
BLENCATHRA.
30th After several hours of depth charge attacks the submarine
surfaced and was engaged by all
ships by surface gunfire at a range of about 1,500 yards.
Despite
being hit repeatedly U223 fired three torpedoes which hit the ship and quickly
sank
her.
Only
65 of the ships company survived out of a total of 247 on board.
The commanding officer and Senior officer of Flotilla, Captain HT Armstrong, DSO, DSC*
RN was
one of the ships company killed.
U223
also sank soon afterwards and survivors from
both the destroyer and the submarine
were rescued by HMS HAMBLEDON, HMS TUMULT and HMS BLENCATHRA.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
LAFOREY
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
24/09/41
|
25/09/41
|
HALBERD
|
27/09/41
|
27/09/41
|
11/01/42
|
12/01/42
|
SL 097G
|
17/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
10/01/42
|
23/01/42
|
OG 078
|
24/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
12/12/42
|
12/12/42
|
KMF 005
|
20/12/42
|
20/12/42
|
20/12/42
|
20/12/42
|
KMF 005A
|
21/12/42
|
22/12/42
|
24/01/43
|
31/01/43
|
KMF 008
|
01/02/43
|
01/02/43
|
02/02/43
|
02/02/43
|
MKF 008
|
04/02/43
|
09/02/43
|
21/01/43
|
04/02/43
|
KMS 008G
|
07/02/43
|
10/02/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)