MARNE-class Fleet Destroyer
ordered under the 1939 Programme from Alex Stephens of Govan and laid down on 14th September
1940. She was Launched on 3rd November 1941 as the 8th RN Ship to have this name, introduced
in 1797 and previously used for a pre-WW1 destroyer sold in 1921 The build was completed on
12th August 1942 and the ship had been adopted by Lewisham, Greater London after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign
in March 1942. Build coat was £462,337.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r
DARDANELLES 1807 - CRIMEA 1855 - DOGGER BANK 1915 - ARCTIC 1942-44
- ATLANTIC 1942-43 - NORTH AFRICA 1942 - AEGEAN 1944 - MEDITERRANEAN 1945
H e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge: On a field
Blue, a meteor white.
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)
1 9 4 2
August Contractor's sea trials and commissioning.
12th Build completion and commenced Acceptance
Trials
On
completion of trials and storing took passage to Scapa
Flow to work-up for
operational service.
September Joined 3rd
Destroyer Flotilla.
9th Deployed with H M Cruiser SCYLLA, HM Destroyers
ASHANTI, ESKIMO, FAULKNOR,
FURY, IMPULSIVE,
INTREPID, MARNE, MARTIN, MILNE, ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW,
OPPORTUNE, SOMALI and
TARTAR. as 'Fighting Escort' for Russian Convoy PQ18
(For details of all
Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg,.
ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodhead, CONVOY!
by P Kemp and THE RUSSIAN
CONVOYS by
B. Schoefield).
12th Detached from PQ18 with HM Destroyers
MARNE, MARTIN and MILNE to refuel at
Spitzbergen
accompanied by HMS SCYLLA.
13th
Rejoined PQ18 with same ships.
17th Detached from PQ18 with above ships except
for HMS FURY and HMS IMPULSIVE.
Joined return Convoy
OP14 with above ships from QP18.
Detached from QP14 with
HM Destroyers MARNE, MILNE, OFFA, ONSLAUGHT and
OPPORTUNE.
October Deployed
with Flotilla for Fleet screening and Atlantic
30th Joined HM Cruiser HERMIONE, HM Battleships
DUKE OF YORK and NELSON with HM
Destroyers MARTIN and MILNE as part of screen during passage to
Gibraltar.
November On arrival at
Gibraltar deployed for support of allied landings in North Africa.
8th Part of screen for major units of Home Fleet
providing support and cover for allied landings
(Operation TORCH).
On
release from TORCH support deployed for defence of military convoys in
Atlantic.
December Atlantic
convoy defence in continuation.
Part
of escort for KM Series military convoy during passage to Gibraltar with HM
Destroyer MILNE.
28th Detached from escort of KM convoy with
HMS MILNE to assist defence of mercantile Convoy
ONS154 which was under attacks by SPITZ
and UNGESTUM U-Boat Groups.
29th Joined escort for ONS154.
Drove off night attacks with HMS MILNE
30th Detached from ONS154 with HMS METEOR and
HM Canadian Corvettes BATTLEFORD and
SHEDIAC to refuel in the Azores.
1 9 4
3
January Flotilla duties for convoy defence
in continuation.
February
24th Part of screen for m Cruiser BERWICK, HM
Battleships DUKE OF YORK and HOWE with
HM
Destroyers ICARUS,
MUSKETEER, OFFA, ONSLAUGHT and Polish destroyer ORP PIORUN to
provide cover for passage
of Russian Convoy JW53.
March Home Fleet duties with Flotilla in
continuation.
April Deployed for Atlantic convoy
defence in 21st Escort Group.
(Note: Several Home
Fleet destroyers were deployed at this critical stage of the Battle of the
May Detached
for service in 21 st Escort Group for Atlantic convoy
defence.
(Note: Several destroyers from Home Fleet were transferred to Western Approaches
Command to
provide additional
defence for Atlantic convoys after an increase in U-Boat attacks. Some
destroyers were formed as Support Groups. (See U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC
(HMSO),
THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by
Donald Macintyre, BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS
by J Terraine and SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)
June Deployed
with Group for defence of Atlantic convoys.
July Carried out anti-submarine operations
with Group in the Faeroes Iceland Gap to intercept submarines
on
passage to and from bases in Norway.
August Under refit in Tyne commercial
shipyard.
to Nominated
for duty with 3rd Destroyer Flotilla
October
November Post refit
trials and rejoined Home Fleet.
December
15th
Joined Ocean Escort for Russian Convoy
JW55A with HM Destroyers MATCHLESS, MILNE
MUSKETEER, OPPORTUNE,
VIRAGO, ASHANTI and ATHABASKAN (RCN).
21st Detached from JW55A with Ocean Escort
after arrival of eastern Local Escort.
23rd Joined return Convoy RA55A with same
destroyers for escort to UK.
25th Remained with HM Destroyers ASHANTI, MILNE, BEAGLE,WESTCOTT and
ATHABASKAN (RCN), HM Corvettes DIANELLA, POPPY and
Norwegian ACANTHUS as
escort for RA55A when the other Fleet destroyers were
detached to reinforce escort of Russian
Convoy JW55B which was under threat of surface attack
by German battleship SCHARNHORST.
(For details see above references and Naval Staff History).
31st Detached from RA55A with other ships of Ocean Escort after relief by
the western Local Escort.
1 9 4 4
January. Home Fleet deployment in
continuation.
28th Joined escort of Russian Convoy JW56B to
supplement defence against U-Boat attacks using acoustic
torpedoes against
escorts.
(Note: HM Destroyer OBDURATE had been damaged during earlier attack).
30th Under sustained attacks by WEREWOLF U-Boat
Group during which HM Destroyer HARDY
was
hit and had to be sunk.
Attacked and sank U314 with HM Destroyer WHITEHALL in position
73.46N 26.15E.
There were no survivors from the submarine.
February
1st
Detached from JW56B on arrival at Kola Inlet.
3rd Joined return Convoy RA56 for Ocean Escort with HM Destroyers OPPORTUNE, SAVAGE,
OFFA, VENUS, VIGILANT, INCONSTANT, MAHRATTA, MILNE, MUSKETEER,
SCOURGE, HURON (RCN) and Norwegian
STORD,
9th Detached from RA56.
22nd Joined Russian Convoy JW57 with HM Cruiser
BLACK PRINCE. HM Destroyers MAHRATTA,
MATCHLESS. MILNE, OBEDIENT, OFFA, ONSLAUGHT, ORIBI, .SAVAGE, SERAPIS,
VIGILANT, SWIFT and VERULAM
25th HM Destroyer MAHRATTA
sunk by U990 with only two survivors.
28th Detached from JW57 on arrival at Kola
Inlet.
March
2nd Joined escort for return Convoy RA57 with HM Escort Carrier CHASER, HM Cruiser BLACK
PRINCE, HM Destroyer IMPULSIVE and escorts for JW57.
7th Detached from
RA57 with MS BLACK PRINCE, HM Destroyers IMPULSIVE, OBEDIENT,
SWIFT and VERULAM in NW Approaches.
April
18th Passage to Kola Inlet with destroyers of
Home Fleet for escort of ships lying in
Russian ports
and
to
collect personnel for transit to UK.
(See above references for details).
23rd Arrived in Kola Inlet,
27th Embarked 17 US Navy personnel
(Note: Ex USS MILWAUKEE transferred to Russia).
28th Joined HM Cruiser DIADEM,
H M Escort Carriers FENCER and ACTIVITY, HM Destroyers
ULYSSES, BOADICEA, VERULAM, VIRAGO, WALKER, WHITEHALL, MARNE,
MATCHLESS, MILNE, MUSKETEER, BEAGLE, INCONSTANT, KEPPEL, WESTCOTT
and
WRESTLER, H M Corvette LOTUS
and 4 Canadian Frigates as escort for return Convoy
RA59-
May
4th Detached from RA59 with HM3 ACTIVITY, HM
Destroyers MARNE, MATCHLESS,
MUSKETEER and MILNE before
arrival of convoy in Loch Ewe.
June Deployed as screen for major
Home Fleet units providing Distant Cover during assault landings
in Normandy (Operation
NEPTUNE).
(For details of
activities prior to and during landings see OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edward
and LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, JUNE W4 (HMSO). The Home Fleet deployment was to
prevent any
interference to the Operation by major German warships
based in the Baltic or in
Norwegian ports).
25th On release from
NEPTUNE requirement resumed Home Fleet Russian convoy defence.
29th Deployed with HM Destroyers MATCHLESS and
MUSKETEER to take stores and mail to
British
ships in Russian waters.
Took
passage to Kola Inlet (Operation DC).
July
3rd Arrived Kola Inlet.
4th Took passage to Scapa
Flow to rejoin Flotilla in Home Fleet.
8th Resumed Fleet duties.
August
17th Escorted Russian Convoy JW59 from Loch Ewe
with HM Cruiser JAMAICA, HM Escort
Carriers STRIKER and
VINDEX, HM Destroyers CAPRICE, MARNE, MILNE and
MUSKETEER. Detached
from JW59 on arrival at Kola Inlet.
24th Escorted return Convoy RA59A from Kola Inlet
with same ships.
September
17th Escorted Russian Convoy JW60 with HM
Battleship RODNEY, HM Cruiser DIADEM,
HM Escort Carriers CAMPANIA and STRIKER, HM Destroyers MARNE,
MILNE,
MUSKETEER, VENUS, SAUMAREZ, SCORPION, VERULAM, VIRAGO, VOLAGE,
ALGONQUIN (RCN) and SIOUX (RCN)
23rd Detached from JW60 on arrival at Kola Inlet.
28th Joined escort for return Convoy RA60 with
same ships.
October Nominated for service in Mediterranean.
3rd Detached from RA60 with same ships and
rejoined Home Fleet at Scapa Flow before
arrival of convoy in Loch Ewe.
8th Under repair and prepared for foreign
service at Devonport.
27th Passage to Milford Haven
30th Sailed from Milford Haven for Mediterranean
service
November Passage to
Gibraltar for support of military operations, patrol and convoy defence in
Mediterranean.
December Deployed in
support of military operations in Aegean.
1 9 4 5
January Flotilla duties for support, patrol and
convoy defence in continuation.
February Deployed
for interception patrol and convoy defence.
15th Carried out patrol north of Corsica with HM
Destroyer MATCHLESS and Free French
SIMOON.
16th After radar contact gave chase to minelayer
but failed to engage.
(Note: Free French destroyers BASQUE and
TEMPETE also took part in these patrols.)
March
18th During patrol in Ligurian Sea
with HM Destroyer LOOKOUT intercepted three German
torpedo boats
returning from minelaying off Cape Corso, Corsica.
Engaged and sank by
gunfire TA24 (Ex ARTURO)
.
(Note: TA29 (Ex ERIDANO) was sunk by HMS LOOKOUT).
April
7th Deployed with m Destroyer MUSKETEER and US
destroyer USS MACKENZIE and
to bombardment of traffic routes used by
German troops evacuating Italy. Bombarded Rhodes
12th with HMS MARNE and HMS MUSKETEER.
May
Nominated for reduction to Reserve status.
3rd Bombarded Spezia
and Genoa with HM Destroyer MARNE.
June Flotilla duties in continuation
to
Deployed for support of military re-occupation and took part in Fleet exercises for work-up
August of
ships prior to their service in operations against
Japan..
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS METEOR remained with the Flotilla in the Mediterranean and
visited Turkey during August with HMS AJAX. She paid a further visit with HMS MARNE in September. After
selection for reduction to Reserve the ship returned to in November and Paid-off at Devonport. Laid-up in the Reserve
Fleet at Devonport she was refitted by Yarrows at
Scotstoun in Glasgow during 1951. Transferred to the Reserve Fleet at
Penarth, Wales in 1953 she was placed on the Sales List and sold to Turkey in September that-year. After refit
by Palmers at Hebburn, Newcastle the ship was formally handed over
to the Turkish Navy at Portsmouth on 26th September 1959 and was renamed PIYALE
PASHA. This destroyer remained on the Active List until 1972 when she was sold
for breaking-up. In 1954 it was proposed that the ship be converted into a Type
62 conversion but the planned programme was cancelled.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of
HMS
METEOR
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
09/09/42
|
17/09/42
|
PQ 018
|
02/09/42
|
21/09/42
|
17/09/42
|
25/09/42
|
QP 014
|
13/09/42
|
26/09/42
|
20/12/42
|
22/12/42
|
KMF 005A
|
20/12/42
|
22/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
28/12/42
|
MKF 005
|
24/12/42
|
31/12/42
|
29/12/42
|
30/12/42
|
ON 154
|
18/12/42
|
12/01/43
|
24/02/43
|
26/02/43
|
JW 053
|
15/02/43
|
27/02/43
|
15/12/43
|
21/12/43
|
JW 055A
|
12/12/43
|
22/12/43
|
23/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
RA 055A
|
22/12/43
|
01/01/44
|
28/01/44
|
01/02/44
|
JW 056B
|
22/01/44
|
01/02/44
|
03/02/44
|
09/02/44
|
RA 056
|
03/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
22/02/44
|
28/02/44
|
JW 057
|
20/02/44
|
28/02/44
|
02/03/44
|
07/03/44
|
RA 057
|
02/03/44
|
10/03/44
|
28/04/44
|
04/05/44
|
RA 059
|
28/04/44
|
06/05/44
|
28/08/44
|
05/09/44
|
RA 059A
|
28/08/44
|
05/09/44
|
17/09/44
|
23/09/44
|
JW 060
|
15/09/44
|
23/09/44
|
28/09/44
|
03/10/44
|
RA 060
|
28/09/44
|
05/10/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)