O or ORIBI-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered on 3rd September 1939 with the 1st Emergency Flotilla from Fairfields, Govan, Glasgow. She was laid down on 15th February (or January) 1940 and launched on 11th March 1941 as the 3rd RN ship to carry the name. Previously it had been used by a destroyer built in 1916 and for a trawler hired in 1915. Build was completed on 21st (or 20th) September 1941 and she was later adopted by the civil community of Crosby, Lancashire following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign held in March 1942.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

NORWAY 1941 - ARCTIC  1941-45 - NORTH AFRICA 1942-43 - MEDITERRANEAN  1943 - ATLANTIC 1943 - SICILY  1943 -  SALERNO 1943  - NORMANDY  1944 - ENGLISH  CHANNEL   1944

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge

                Pre 1942  - On a Field White, An ancient British ship red and gold upon

wavelets Blue and Silver.

                Post 1942 - On a Field Green., in front of four demi-annulets conjoined Gold

a cross couped White.

 

(Courtesy Navy Photos)

 

 

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 1

 

September             Contractors trials and commissioning.

                20th        Build completion and acceptance trials

                21st         During passage to Scapa Flow embarked Lord Beaverbrook and Mr Averill Harriman at Crabster

                                for passage to join HM Cruiser LONDON.

                                (Note: These two politicians were part of an Anglo-American Trade Delegation to Russia for

                                discussion following entry of the USA into war with Germany.

 

October                  Worked-up at Scapa Flow with Home Fleet and joined 17th Destroyer Flotilla.

                31st         Escorted ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron for minelay north of Faeroes in the Northern Barrage,

                                with HM Destroyers ONSLOW, ORIBI and BRIGHTON (Operation SN83).

 

November              Passage to Iceland with HM Destroyers ONSLOW and ORIBI for escort of Convoy PQ4 to

                                Archangel.

                                (For details of all Russian Convoys see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R A Ruegg, CONVOY !

                                by P Kemp. THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield and ARCTIC CONVOYS by R

                                Woodman.)

                23rd        Sailed from Iceland to join PQ4 with HMS ONSLOW.

                25th        Joined escort of Russian Convoy PQ4 with ONSLOW.

                27th        Detached from PQ4 on arrival of HM Minesweepers GOSSAMER, SEAGULL and SPEEDY.

                                (Note: The weather during passage was appalling.)

 

December              Deployed in Iceland area.

                12th        Independent passage with HMS ONSLOW to Scapa Flow.

                17th        Took part in preliminary exercise in preparation for Commando attack.

                22nd       Joined HM Cruiser KENYA with HM Destroyers ONSLOW, ORIBI and CHIDDINGFOLD to

                                cover Commando attack on Vaagso.

                                (Operation ARCHERY - This was a diversion for another raid by No 12 Commando on the

                                Lofotens.)

                24th        Passage to Vaagso escorting Landing Ships PRINCE CHARLES and PRINCE LEOPOLD.

                27th        Took part in bombardment with HMS KENYA and HMS ONSLOW to silence shore batteries.

                                In action with HMS CHIDDINGFOLD off Vaagso against German convoy and escorts.

                                (Note: For details see ARCTIC DESTROYERS by G C Cornell and THE WATERY MAZE by B

.                               Fergusson. During this operation ENIGMA documentation was recovered from the German

                                Trawler FOHN by a Boarding Party from HMS ONSLOW. See BREAKING THE

                                ENIGMA by D Kahn.

                28th        Returned to Rosyth and landed wounded

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Deployed for Home Fleet Flotilla duties based at Scapa Flow.

                                (Note: One source records the escort of return Convoy QP6 by HMS ONSLOW and

                                HMS ORIBI but is not confirmed elsewhere.)

 

February                Home Fleet duties in continuation.

                14th        At Glasgow with HMS ORIBI for Boiler Cleaning.

                22nd       Resumed Fleet duties with Flotilla.

 

March                    Passage to Iceland.

                4th          Joined Russian Convoy PQ12 with HMS ORIBI during passage from Iceland as escort.

                12th        Detached from PQ12 on arrival with PQ12 at Kola Inlet.

                21st         Joined returning Convoy QP9 with H M Minesweepers BRITOMART and SHARPSHOOTER as

                                Ocean Escort.

                24th        Stood by damaged minesweeper HMS SHARPSHOOTER which had been damaged when she

                                rammed and sank U655. See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.

                                Rejoined QP9 after defects had been remedied.

 

April

                1st           Detached from QP9 to refuel in Hvalfjord.

                4th          Resumed Home Fleet duties at Scapa Flow.

                12th        Part of screen for Hone Fleet major units providing Distant Cover for passage of Russian Convoys

                                PQ14 and returning QP10. See above references.

 

May                        Home Fleet deployment in continuation.

 

June                        (Note: No mention of being in escort for QP13 is recorded in above references.)

                30th        Joined Ocean Escort for Russian Convoy PQ17 with HM Destroyers LEDBURY, KEPPEL,

                                FURY, WILTON and LEAMINGTON, HM Corvettes DIANTHUS, LOTUS, POPPY and

                                French LA MALOUINE during passage from Iceland to Kola Inlet.

 

July

                4th          Detached from PQ17 when convoy ordered to disperse by Admiralty. See THE CONVOY IS TO

                                SCATTER by J Broome and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C. Barnett.)

                5th          Rejoined Home Fleet Covering Force providing Distant Cover for returning Convoy QP13.

 

August                  Home Fleet deployment with Flotilla in continuation.

                18th        Escorted HMS KENYA with HMS ONSLOW from Gibraltar on return to Home Fleet.

                                (Note: HMS KENYA had taken part on defence of Malta relief convoy.

                                (Operation PEDESTAL).)

 

September

                9th          Joined Fighting Escort (Force A) for Russian Convoy PQ18 with HM Cruiser SCYLLA, HM

                                Destroyers ASHANTI, ESKIMO, FAULKNOR, FURY, IMPULSIVE, INTREPID, MARNE,

                                MARTIN, METEOR, MILNE, ONSLOW, ONSLAUGHT, OPPORTUNE, SOMALI and

                                TARTAR. See above references for details.

                16th        Detached from PQ18 with Force A ships and HMS Destroyers WHEATLAND and WILTON.

                                Took passage to join return Convoy QP14.

                17th        Joined QP14 as Fighting Escort.

                                (Note: HMS ONSLAUGHT detached on passage to assist disabled mercantile.)

                25th        Detached from QP14 and returned to rejoin Flotilla at Scapa Flow.

 

October

                10th        At Scapa Flow for visit by Prime Minister and Stafford Cripps to Home Fleet.

                31st         Joined military convoy WS24 as Local Escort with HM Destroyers HOLCOMBE, ONSLOW,

                                ORIBI and ROTHERHAM

 

November

                3rd          Detached from WS24 with HMS ONSLOW and HMS ORIBI and took passage for support of

                                planned allied landings in North Africa.

                8th          Deployed with US Task Force 34 covering assault landings in Morocco.

                                (Operation TORCH - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History.)

                10th        On release from Task Force 34 took passage for return to UK.

                12th        Deployed briefly at Gibraltar before passage to UK

                20th        Taken in hand for refit by Amos and Smith in Hull.

 

December              Under refit.

 

1943

 

January                  Post refit trials.

                7th          Resumed Flotilla duties with Hone Fleet at Scapa Flow.

                                Passage to Iceland to join Russian Convoy JW52 during passage to Kola Inlet

                21st         Joined JW52 as Destroyer Escort with HM Destroyers BEAGLE, BULLDOG, MATCHLESS,

                                MUSKETEER, ONSLAUGHT and Polish ORP PIORUN.

                27th        Detached on arrival of JW52 at Kola Inlet.

                29th        Part of Destroyer Escort for return Convoy RA52 with HM Destroyers BEAGLE, BULLDOG,

                                FORESTER, ICARUS, MATCHLESS, MUSKETEER, ONSLAUGHT and ORP PIORUN,

                                four Corvettes and two Fleet Minesweepers. See above references.

                                (Note: HM Destroyer ONSLOW also joined the convoy after damage during action in Battle of the

                                Barents Sea had been temporarily repaired to enable ship to return to UK.

 

February

                2nd         Detached from RA52 to escort damaged HMS ONSLOW to Scapa Flow.

                4th          Arrived at Scapa Flow.

                                Passage for installation of Radar Type 272 Radar.

                                (For details of development and use of radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)

                23rd        Resumed Flotilla duties at Scapa Flow.

                24th        Deployed as part of screen for m Battleships KING GEORGE V, HOWE, KING GEORGE V, HOWE

                                and HM Cruiser BERWICK providing Distant Cover for passage of Russian Convoy JW53.

                                (Note: Other Home Fleet destroyers in screen were ICARUS, METEOR, MUSKETEER, ORP PIORUN

                                and ONSLAUGHT.)

 

March                    Home Fleet screening duties in continuation.

                2nd         Deployed with screen for cover of return convoy RA53.

                9th          Detached from RA53.

                                (Note: HM Cruiser GLASGOW replaced HM Cruiser BERWICK for this period.)

                12th        Ship assumed duty as Leader 17th Destroyer Flotilla during repair of HMS ONSLOW.

                                Transferred to Western Approaches Command for defence of Atlantic convoys as Leader of 3rd Escort

                                Group with HM Destroyers IMPULSIVE, OBEDIENT, ONSLAUGHT, ORIBI and ORWELL.

                                (For details of Atlantic convoy defence see U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO), THE

                                BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC By D MacIntyre and HITLER'S U BOAT WAR by C Blair.

                                For further information about procedures and weapons used for attacks and defence see SEEK AND

                                STRIKE by W Hackmann.)

                22nd       Deployed with Group based at Liverpool.

                27th        Provided support for escorts of Convoys SC123 and HX230 in NW Approaches during which weather

                                damage was sustained.

                31st         Returned to Londonderry with HM Destroyers ONSLAUGHT and ORIBI.

                                (Note: HMS OBEDIENT and HMS ORWELL returned to Scapa Flow.)

 

April                       Passage to Liverpool.

                14th        Deployed for further support at Londonderry.

                                Returned to Liverpool. HM Destroyers PANTHER and PENN joined 3rd Escort Group.

                15th        Sailed with Group for support of Convoy SC126 and HX233-

                17th        Carried out attacks on U-Boat in defence of SC126 with HMS PENN and HMS PANTHER.

                18th        Passage to join HX233 which arrived in UK having lost only one mercantile.

                                (See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR.)

                29th        Despatched with HM Destroyers IMPULSIVE, PENN and PANTHER from Newfoundland to

                                reinforce escort of Convoy OMS5 against attacks by AMSEL1 and AMSEL2 U-Boat Groups.

 

May                        Joined ONS5

                4th          Remained with ONS5 when HMS IMPULSIVE, HMS PENN and HMS PANTHER detached to

                                refuel

                5th          Carried out anti-submarine attacks with HM Frigate TAY and HM Destroyer VIDETTE.

                6th          Carried out attacks on U531 and U266 with HMS ORIBI and HMS VIDETTE)

                                (Note: U 125 was rammed by HMS ORIBI and later sunk by HM Corvette SNOWFLAKE.

                                See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)

                18th        Provided support with Group for Convoy ONS7.

                25th        Deployed with HMS PANTHER in attack on U-boat during defence of Convoy SC131.

                                (Note: Damage to submarine was claimed.)

 

June                        Detached service in Western Approaches terminated.

                3rd          Resumed service as Private ship when HMS ONSLOW returned to Flotilla.

                                Deployed for Home Fleet duties with Flotilla at Scapa Flow.

                                Nominated for further detached service in Mediterranean with 24th Flotilla.

 

July

                1st           Escorted military convoy to Gibraltar and joined Flotilla in Force H.

                8th          Sailed from Malta with Flotilla for screening duties.

                9th          Detached with HM Destroyer INGLEFIELD to join HM Cruisers PENELOPE and AURORA for

                                bombardment of Catania (Operation ARSENAL).

                10th        Part of screen for HM Battleships NELSON, RODNEY, WARSPITE and VALIANT,

                                HM Cruisers AURORA, PENELOPE. CLEOPATRA, EURYALUS, HM Aircraft Carrier

                                INDOMITABLE to provide cover against Italian naval interference during Sicily landings.

                                (Operation HUSKY - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval; Staff History.)

                                Deployed in the Ionian Sea.

                17th        Provided naval gunfire support for military operations in Sicily.

                20th        Deployed with HM Cruisers PENELOPE, AURORA, HM Destroyers TROUBRIDGE, TUMULT,

                                PETARD and ORP PIORUN for offensive sweep off Sicily

                                Bombarded shore battery at Crotone with HMS PETARD.

                24th        Deployed for anti-submarine operations with HMS TROUBRIDGE, HMS PETARD and Polish

                                ORP PIORUN during which attacks were made on U-Boat which were not successful.

 

August                  Mediterranean deployment with flotilla in continuation.

                24th        Completed 100,000 miles steaming since commissioning.

                30th        Deployed as screen for HMS NELSON, HMS RODNEY and HM Cruiser ORION with HMS

                                PETARD and other destroyers during bombardment of Reggio area.

                                (Note: Operation BAYTOWN in preparation for landings on Italian mainland.)

 

September

                1st           Deployed with HMS LOYAL and ORP PIORUN for interception patrol SW of Messina.

                3rd          Provided cover for landings by British XIII Corps near Reggio with HM Cruisers

                                MAURITIUS and ORION, HM Monitors ABERCROMBIE, EREBUS and ROBERTS. HM

                                River Gunboats APHIS and SCARAB.

                9th          Embarked CinC (Admiral AB Cunningham) for passage to join WARSPITE for surrender of

                                Italian Fleet units.

                                (Note: Lead eight Italian destroyers for entry into Malta.

                10th        Joined screen for Force H Units providing cover during allied landings at Salerno with ships

                                of 24th Flotilla.

                                (Operation AVALANCHE - See above references.)

                                (Note: Ships of 24th,4th and 8th Destroyer Flotillas were deployed.)

                                Provided naval gunfire support.

                                Detached to collect General Alexander and AVM Arthur Coningham at Bizerta for passage to

                                Salerno for military conference about landings problems.

                16th        Sustained damage to B gundeck when hit by 4in shell fired by WARSPITE.

                17th        Escorted damaged battleship HMS WARSPITE to Malta with HMS PETARD.

                                (Note: HMS WARSPITE had been hit by radio controlled bombs off Salerno.)

                                Embarked Admiral Cunningham for passage to assault area from Malta.

                18th        Return passage to Malta.

                20th        After repair in Malta took passage to Adriatic to support 8th Army advance.

 

October                  Escorted HMS NELSON and HMS RODNEY during return passage to UK after completion

                                of detached service with 24th Flotilla.

 

November              Taken in hand for refit in commercial shipyard at Hull.

                                (Note: During this refit lattice type mast was fitted to replace original tripod design foremast.)

 

December              Under refit.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January

                1st           Rejoined 17th Destroyer Flotilla at Scapa Flow after post refit trials.

                12th        Passage to Iceland for escort of Russian convoy with HM Destroyer SAVAGE.

                                (Note: Weather conditions were extreme. See above references.)

                21st         Joined escort for Russian Convoy JW56A at Akureri with H M Destroyers INCONSTANT,

                                HARDY, SAVAGE, OBDURATE, VENUS, VIGILANT, VIRAGO and Norwegian STORD.

                25th        Detached for support of HMS SAVAGE and HMS INCONSTANT during rescue of survivors

                                from ss PENELOPE BARKER which had been sunk by U287 whilst with JW56A.

                26th        Rejoined JW56A with the other destroyers on completion.

                                Rescued survivors from ss FORT BELLINGHAM torpedoed by U360 and U957 whilst in

                                convoy.

                                Sustained damage during rescue work when alongside mercantile.

                28th        Landed survivors en arrival of JW56A and despatched with same escort as JW56A to reinforce

                                defence of Convoy JW56B under additional U-Boat threat.

                29th        Joined escort for JW56B.

                30th        Carried out anti-submarine operations during which HMS HARDY was sunk hit by an acoustic

                                torpedo and had to be sunk by HMS SAVAGE.

 

February

                1st           Detached from JW56B on arrival at Kola Inlet.

                3rd          Escorted returning Convoy RA56 with H M Destroyers OPPORTUNE, SAVAGE, VIGILANT,

                                VENUS, INCONSTANT, MAHRATTA, METEOR, MILNE, MUSKETEER, SCOURGE and

                                HURON (RCN).

                7th          Detached from RA56 before convoy arrived in Loch Ewe.

                                Took passage to Scapa Flow.

                22nd       Joined escort of Russian Convoy JW 57 with BLACK PRINCE, HM Destroyers MATCHLESS,

                                MAHRATTA, METEOR, MILNE, OBEDIENT, ONSLAUGHT, ORIBI, SAVAGE, SERAPIS,

                                VIGILANT, VERULAM and SWIFT.

                25th        HMS MAHRATTA torpedoed by U990 and sank with heavy loss of life.

                                See WARSHIP LOSSES IN WW2 by J Brown.

                28th        Detached from JW57 on arrival at Kola Inlet. March

 

March

                2nd         Joined escort of returning Convoy RA57 with HMS BLACK PRINCE, HM Escort Aircraft

                                Carrier CHASER, HM Destroyers IMPULSIVE and same destroyers as JW57 , except HMS

                                MAHRATTA).

                6th          Carried out unsuccessful attacks on submarine

                8th          Detached from RA57 before it arrived at Loch Ewe and returned to Scapa Flow.

                29th        Joined escort of Russian Convoy JW58 with HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Escort Aircraft

                                Carriers ACTIVITY, TRACKER, HM Destroyers OBEDIENT, ONSLOW, OPPORTUNE,

                                ORIBI, ORWELL, SAUMAREZ, SERAPIS, SCORPION, VENUS and Norwegian STORD.

                                (Note: Anti-submarine support was also provided by Sloops and Destroyers from Western

                                Approaches Command.)

 

April

                4th          Detached from JW58 on arrival at Kola Inlet.

                7th          Escorted returning Convoy RA58 with HMS DIADEM, Home Fleet destroyers and ships

                                detached from Western Approaches for additional support.

                13th        Detached from RA58 with Home Fleet destroyers during final stage of passage.

                                (Note: Lack of threat by German battleship TIRPITZ made Home Fleet Distant Cover

                                unnecessary. See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and CONVOY !)

                15th        Boiler cleaning at Rosyth.

                20th        Transferred for duty in SW Approaches and preparation for Normandy landings.

                                Passage to Plymouth with HMS ONSLAUGHT, HMS OPPORTUNE and HMS ORIBI.

                23rd        Deployed at Plymouth for interception patrol in Channel.

                27th        During patrol with HMS ONSLOW, HMS ORWELL east of Plymouth warned of E-Boats

                                in vicinity.

                28th        Engaged E-Boats which had attacked US Landing Craft in Lyme Bay whilst on passage to

                                Slapton Sands for Exercise TIGER.

                                (Note: For details of this disastrous event see LANDINGS IN NORMANDY June 1944

                                (HMSO) and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY.)

                                Ships transferred to Channel took part in the search for survivors from sunken craft

                                and recovery of bodies which were landed at Portland.)

                29th        Diverted from exercise in Lyme Bay to support minelaying operation (HOSTILE 26) by coastal

                                craft after HM Canadian Destroyers HAIDA and ATHABASKAN had been in action with

                                German naval units off Brittany coast.

                                (Note: HMCS ATHABASKAN had been hit by a torpedo and sunk with heavy loss of life.)

                30th        Transferred to Portsmouth Command.

 

May

                1st           Deployed at Portsmouth in continuation of patrol duties and support of exercises.

                4th          Attacked by aircraft south of St Catherine's Point and hit by bomb on upper deck.

                                Three of ship's company were killed and four injured.

                6th          Under repair at Portsmouth.

                26th        Rejoined HMS ONSLOW, HMS ONSLAUGHT and ORP ORIBI at Portsmouth for support of the

                                planned allied landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE)

                                For details of events before and during landings see LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944

                                (HMSO) and OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards.

 

June                        Deployed for interception patrol in western approaches to English Channel to deny access by German

                                surface craft or submarines during Normandy landings.

                6th          Under air attack during patrol with HMS ONSLOW without damage from near misses.

                9th          Patrol area moved to east side of swept Channels to meet threat of attack posed by NARVIK Class

                                destroyers based at Brest.

                                Deployed with m Destroyers ONSLOW, ORIBI, ONSLAUGHT, SCORPION and SCOURGE.

                18th        Under attack by He111 aircraft, during patrol NE of Barfleur.

                24th        Remained in Portsmouth Command after Operation NEPTUNE ended.

 

August                  Interception Patrol duty at Portsmouth in continuation.

                22nd       Took passage from Portsmouth for deployment at Portland.

 

September

                6th          Arrived in London with HMS OPPORTUNE and HMS ORWELL.

                19th        Resumed Home Fleet duties with Flotilla at- Scapa Flow.

 

October                  Flotilla duties at Scapa Flow in continuation.

                22nd       Joined escort for Russian Convoy JW61 with HM Cruiser DIDO, HM Destroyers ORIBI,

                                ONSLOW, OBEDIENT, OPPORTUNE and ORWELL.

                                (Note: HM Escort Aircraft Carriers NAIRANA, TRACKER and VINDEX as well as ships

                                from Western Approaches Command also took part in defence of JW61

                28th        Detached on arrival of JW61 at Kola Inlet without loss.

 

November

                2nd         Joined escort for return convoy RA61 with same ships.

                7th          Detached from RA61 during final stage of passage to Loch Ewe.

                10th        Resumed Home Fleet screening and patrol duty at Scapa Flow.

 

December

                1st           Joined Russian Convoy JW62 with HM Cruiser BELLONA, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers

                                CAMPANIA, NAIRANA, HM Destroyers BEAGLE, BULLDOG, CAESAR, CAMBRIAN,

                                CAPRICE, CASSANDRA, KEPPEL, OBEDIENT, ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW, ORIBI,

                                ORWELL and Norwegian STORD as escort during passage to Kola Inlet.

                                (Note: Ships from Western Approaches Command were also deployed to reinforce the anti-

                                submarine defence. See above references.)

                7th          Detached from JW62 on arrival at Kola Inlet after unscathed passage.

                10th        Took part in anti-submarine operation outside Kola Inlet with the other escorting ships prior to

                                departure of return Convoy RA66.

                                Joined RA66 on completion of operation during which U387 was sunk.

                                See U BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.

                11th        HM Destroyer CASSANDRA torpedoed and had to return to Murmansk for repair.

                12th        HM Norwegian Corvette TUNSBERG CASTLE sank after hitting a mine.

                                U365 sunk by aircraft, from HMS CAMPANIA. See U-BOATS DESTROYED.

                17th        Detached ran RA62 and returned to Scapa Flow with HMS CAMPANIA, HMS ONSLAUGHT

                                and HMS ORIBI.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Home Fleet duties with Flotilla in continuation at Scapa Flow.

                15th        During anti-submarine patrol sustained damaged by explosion of own depth charges due to inept

                                use of weapon at low speed.

                17th        Taken in hand for repair.

 

February                Under repair

 

March                    On completion resumed Flotilla duties at Scapa Flow.

 

April

                18th        Joined Russian Convoy JW66 with HMS BELLONA, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers PREMIER

                                and VINDEX, HM Destroyers ZEALOUS, ZEPHYR, ZEST, ZODIAC, HAIDA (RCN),

                                IROQUOIS (RCN), and Norwegian STORD as escort during passage to Kola Inlet.

                                (Note: 19th Escort Group and other ships from Western Approaches were also deployed with

                                escort. See above references.

                25th        Before entry into Kola Inlet took part in anti-submarine operation to clear known assembly of

                                U-Boats.

                29th        Took part in further anti-submarine operations off Kola Inlet before rejoining RA 66 return

                                convoy with other escorts.

 

May

                8th          Detached from RA66 and took passage to Skaggerak to carry out an anti-submarine sweep prior

                                to entry into Copenhagen of HM Cruisers BIRMINGHAM, DIDO, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers

                                SEARCHER and TRUMPETER for surrender of German naval units.

                                (Operation CLEAVER)).

                23rd        Took passage with HMS OPPORTUNE and HMS OBEDIENT for Guardship duties at Kiel.

                25th        At Cuxhaven prior to passage through Kiel Canal in daylight.

                26th        At Kiel and despatched to Flensburg with HMS OPPORTUNE for recovery of RN MTB.

 

June

                1st           Returned to Kiel with HMS OPPORTUNE.

                                German Training Vessel HORST WESSEL taken as Prize.

                9th          Took passage to Rosyth with HMS OPPORTUNE on relief by HMS ZEST and HMS ZODIAC.

 

July                         Home Fleet duties in continuation including visits programme to UK ports and duty as Guardship

to                            in Baltic ports in support of re-occupation.

August

  

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS OFFA remained in commission after VJ Day and was present at Royal Visit to ships of the Home Fleet at Rosyth on 28th September 1945. After visits during October to Copenhagen and to Swedish ports this ship was deployed in Operation DEADLIGHT, the destruction of surrendered U-Boats in NW Approaches until early 1946 After a period attached to the Torpedo Experimental Establishment in Clyde she escorted four German destroyers to Cherbourg and carried out Guardship duties at Kiel. By September that year she had been nominated for reduction to Reserve status and was laid up at Devonport. The ship was transferred to Pakistan and formally handed over on 3rd November 1949 when renamed TARIQ. Although her sister ships TIPPU SULTAN, formerly HMS ONSLOW and TUGHRIL, formerly HMS ONSLAUGHT were later converted for use as Anti-submarine Frigates, TARIQ, was not selected and returned to the R N at Portsmouth on 10th July 1959. Placed on the Disposal List she was sold to BISCO for demolition by T Young and arrived in tow at the breaker's yard in Sunderland on 13th October 1959.

 

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Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS OFFA

by Don Kindell

 

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

(Note on Convoys)