N-Class destroyer ordered from Denny at Dumbarton with the 1939 Programme on 15th April 1939 with HMS NOBLE of the same Class. Laid down on 22nd May 1940 the ship was sold to the Netherlands on 18th March 1941with her sister ship built in the same shipyard. Tender price was£400,684 excluding cost of Admiralty supplied equipment such as guns, ammunition and communications outfits. These  two ships were allocated to replace HMS NORMAN and HMS NORSEMAN whose build at Woolston, Southampton had been delayed by bomb damage in the Thornycroft shipyard. This ship was launched on 25th June 1941. It is not known whether she was named TJERK HIDDES instead of NONPAREIL but at launch she may have given the Dutch name. She was commissioned into service as HM Neth. Ship TJERK HIDDES on 27th May 1942 after completion on 6th May. The RN name was introduced in 1558 to replace the name PHILLIP AND MARY for a Galleon after rebuild.. It was previously used for a WW1 destroyer built in 1916  and sold in 1921. TJERK HIDDES was not adopted by any civil community in UK after a successful  WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign during  1941-42.   She was the 4th RN ship to bear the name which has not be used again since this ship was sold.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s  

HMS NONPAREIL

 

ARMADA 1588 - CADIZ 1596

 

 

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e   a s   H  Neth  M  S   T J E R K   H I D D E S

 

(for more ship information,  go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search)

 

 

1 9 4 2

 

May

 

Contractors Trials

 

6th - Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials (Special Note: The date of completion in some sources in October 1942 is incorrect. If, as recorded in another reliable source, this ship escorted military convoy WS21P from UK to Middle East in July and August 1942 which suggests build completion in June.)

 

27th - Commissioned into Royal Netherlands Navy service as HM Neth. S. TJERK HIDDES.

 

Nominated for deployment in Eastern Fleet with 7th RN Destroyer Flotilla. On completion of storing took passage to Scapa Flow

 

June

 

4th - Commenced work-up with Home Fleet ships at Scapa Flow.

 

Nominated for escort of military convoy during passage from Clyde to Indian Ocean.

 

July

 

Completed work-up and prepared for foreign service

 

16th - Passage to Clyde.

 

17th - Joined HM Cruiser ORION and HM Destroyer NEPAL as Ocean Escort for military convoy WS21P on formation in Clyde. (Note: This convoy comprised five troopships.)

 

27th - Detached from WS21P on arrival at Freetown.

 

28th - Rejoined WS21P as Ocean Escort with same ships on departure from Freetown.

 

August

 

5th - Eight ships of Convoy AS4, which was taking equipment for the 8th Army in Egypt, joined WS21P. (Note: AS4 had been escorted to rendezvous position 9.05S 11.07W by US Navy warships.)

 

13th - Detached from WS21P on arrival at Capetown.

 

18th - Rejoined WS21P Ocean Escort with same ships during passage from Capetown to Durban. 20th Detached from WS21P with HMS NEPAL and took passage to Kilindini. (Note: HM Destroyer DUNCAN and HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE remained as Ocean Escort.)

 

27th - Deployed at Kilindini for Indian Ocean convoy escort. (Note: Ships of Flotilla were returning from detached service in Mediterranean.)

 

September

 

Nominated for support of planned landings to complete occupation of Madagascar. (Operations STREAM, LINE and JANE.). Took part in preparatory exercises.

 

9th - Sailed from Kilindini to make rendezvous 60 miles south of Mayotta Island with HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM, HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, Dutch cruiser HEEMSKERCK and ships of assault convoy on passage to Majunga for landings. (Note: Ships of Force M providing cover and control of landings also included HM Battleship WARSPITE, HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruisers GAMBIA DAUNTLESS and MANXMAN, HM Monitor EREBUS, HM Seaplane Carrier ALBATROSS, HM Destroyers NAPIER, NORMAN, FOXHOUND, HOTSPUR, ARROW, ACTIVE, BLACKMORE, INCONSTANT, FORTUNE, NEPAL, Dutch VAN GALEN and Dutch TJERK HlDDES.)

 

10th - Deployed with VAN GALEN as screen for HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.

 

26th - On release from Fleet duties resumed Indian Ocean convoy escort with ships of Flotilla.

 

October

 

Flotilla duties in continuation. Nominated for service in SW Pacific for convoy defence under overall control of US Navy. Passage to Fremantle

 

November to December

 

Joined US 7th Fleet Command and deployed for defence of convoys between Sydney and Fremantle

 

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

 

Australian convoy defence in continuation.

 

February

 

18th - Deployed with sister destroyer VAN GALEN (Ex HMS NOBLE), HM Australian Cruiser ADELAIDE and Dutch cruiser TROMP for escort of troop convoy during passage from Fremantle to Melbourne. (Operation PAMPHLET) (Note: This military convoy was carrying ANZAC of 9th Australian Division personnel recalled from Middle East after Japanese threat to Australia, and had been escorted by Eastern Fleet ships during passage from Aden. See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).

 

24th - Detached from PAMPHLET convoy escort on arrival at Melbourne.

 

March to December

 

 SW Pacific convoy defence in continuation with 19th Destroyer Division (RAN) (Note: As the ship required docking and refit during this period further research is required to confirm that ship was taken in hand for this work before resuming operations with Eastern Fleet based at Trincomalee.)

 

 

1 9 4 4

 

January

 

SW Pacific deployment in continuation with Flotilla. Nominated for transfer to Eastern Fleet and took passage to Trincomalee to join 7th Destroyer Flotilla with VAN GALEN and TROMP. (Note: One source also records ship returned with cruiser HEEMSKERK.)

 

February

 

On arrival at Trincomalee joined Flotilla and deployed Fleet screening and convoy defence in Indian Ocean.

 

22nd - Deployed with HM Destroyer ROTHERHAM as screen for HM Cruiser GAMBIA during search for German blockade runner on passage from Japan to Germany in area SW of Cocos.

 

24th - Took return passage to Trincomalee when search was unsuccessful.

 

March

 

Deployed for Flotilla duties based at Trincomalee.

 

22nd - Deployed with HM Australian Destroyers NORMAN, NEPAL, NAPIER (Cdre D) HM Destroyers QUILLIAM, PATHFINDER, QUIBERON, QUEENBOROUGH, QUALITY and Dutch VAN GALEN as screen for HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Battleships QUEEN ELIZABETH, VALIANT, HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruisers LONDON, CEYLON, CUMBERLAND and GAMBIA for sweep in Indian Ocean. (Operation DIPLOMAT – The prime reason for this was to meet the US Aircraft Carrier USS SARATOGA on passage for detached service with Eastern Fleet for air attacks in Indian Ocean).

 

24th - Refuelled from Fleet oilers.

 

25th - Withdrawn from operation after mechanical defects and escorted one of Fleet oilers during return passage to Trincomalee.

 

April to May

 

Under repair,

 

June to September

 

Resumed Flotilla duties and deployed for convoy escort in Indian Ocean.

 

 

Nominated for return to UK

 

October

 

Passage to UK

 

November to December

 

Deployed in SW Approaches for convoy defence with 8th Destroyer Flotilla at Plymouth

 

 

1 9 4 5

 

January to April

 

Deployed at Plymouth Operational availability to be confirmed.

 

Nominated for refit in commercial shipyard at Dundee.

 

May to August

 

Under refit. (Note: To join Royal Netherlands Navy on completion. Modern radar outfits fitted.)

 

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HM Neth. Ship TJERK HIDDES resumed peace time service with the Royal Netherlands Navy after completion of refit at Dundee. She was deployed in the Dutch East Indies until transferred to Indonesia in March 1951. Renamed GADJAH MADA she became Flagship of the Indonesian Navy until 1961 when removed from the Active List.  Sold for demolition in 1956 this destroyer was broken up the next year in Hendrik-Ibo-Anbachht by Rijsdijk.

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Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMNethS TJERK HIDDES

by Don Kindell

 

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

(Note on Convoys)