ORIBI-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from
John I Thornycroft, Woolston on 3rd September 1939 with the 1st Emergency
Flotilla. She was laid down on 28th March 1940 and launched on 21st January
1942 as the 2nd RN ship to carry this name, previously used for a destroyer
sold in 1923. Her build was completed on 14th August 1942 after delay in
deliveries of equipment by manufacturers due to enemy bombing and damage to
shipyard in an air raid during December 1940. She was one of the four of the
Class designed for use as a minelayer if
required. In March 1942 after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
campaign the ship was adopted by the civil community of Brentford, Middlesex,
new in the Greater London Borough of Hounslow.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ARCTIC 1942-45 - NORTH
AFRICA 1942 - ATLANTIC 1943 - NORTH
CAPE 1943 - NORMANDY 1944
H e r a
l d i c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Blue, an hour glass Gold.
M o t t o
Felix oportunitate pugnae: 'Happy at the chance of a fight'
or 'Fortunate in the timeliness of her fight.
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 trials and commissioned for service with 17th Destroyer
Flotilla in Home Fleet
15th Carried out acceptance trials
during passage to Scapa Flow as part of the escort for Convoy PW202
to Bristol.
17th Independent passage to Scapa Flow
after landing trials party at Plymouth.
18th Commenced Work-up with Home Fleet
at Scapa Flow.
September
Minelaying trials delayed by requirement to join escort for Russian
Convoy PQ18.
9th Deployed with HM Destroyers
ASHANTI, ESKIMO, FAULKNOR, FURY, IMPULSIVE,
INTREPID, MARNE, MARTIN, METEOR, MILNE, OFFA, ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW,
OBEDIENT, SOMALI and TARTAR as part of screen for HM Escort Carrier
AVENGER
and HM Cruiser SCYLLA for passage of PQ18 to North Russia. (See Naval
Staff
History (Mining).)
17th Detached from PQ18 and joined
returning Convoy QP14 with HMS SCYLLA, HMS AVENGER
and Home Fleet
destroyers.
20th Detached with HM Destroyers ESKIMO,
INTREPID and HM Trawler LORD MIDDLETON to
escort damaged destroyer HMS SOMALI under tow by HMS ASHANTI.
(For details of all Russian
Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg,
THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman and
CONVOY ! by P Kemp).
24th Rejoined Fleet units after sinking of
HMS SOMALI in gale conditions.
25th Landed survivors from HMS SOMALI at
Scapa Flow.
Passage to Immingham for conversion as minelayer.
October Under conversion.
13th Carried out first of Class
minelaying trials.
14th On completion of detached for
minelay in East Coast Barrier (Operation BS86).
(For details of all minelaying in WW2 see the Naval Staff History
(Mining).
30th Escorted HMS SCYLLA with Admiral
A. B. Cunningham embarked for passage to Gibraltar
to take up appointment as Allied Naval Commander for North African
landings.
(Operation TORCH - For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C
Barnett).
November
1st Arrived at Gibraltar and joined
exercises for landings with other ships.
5th Deployed on anti-submarine patrols
off landing areas.
8th Deployed with screen for Force H
ships during cover of landings at Algiers.
18th Escorted HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK
and HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS for passage
back to rejoin Home Fleet at Scapa Flow after supporting allied
landings.
21st Rescued survivors from U517 which
had been forced to surface by SWORDFISH aircraft
from HMS VICTORIOUS and had scuttled. See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
24th Landed German prisoners at
Greenock.
Passage to Scapa Flow to rejoin Home Fleet.
December
Deployed with Flotilla for screening and patrol in NW Approaches.
14th Escorted HM Cruisers SHEFFIELD and
JAMAICA with HM Destroyer MATCHLESS and
BEAGLE as Force R to cover passage of Russian Convoy JW51A.
19th Joined escort for JW51A with above
ships.
20th Deployed with Force R south of
convoy.
24th Arrived at Kola Inlet with Force
R.
27th Sailed from Kola Inlet with HMS
JAMAICA, HMS SHEFFIELD and HMS MATCHLESS to
provide Cruiser Cover for Russian Convoy JW51B.
29th Detached from JW51B with HMS
MATCHLESS and returned to Iceland.
(Note: Took no direct part in the Battle of the Barents Sea on 31st.
Battle
Honour NOT awarded . See above references and 73 NORTH by D Pope).
1 9 4 3
January
Return passage to Scapa Flow to resume Home Fleet duties.
February
19th Joined HM Destroyers BOADICEA, FAULKNOR,
INGLEFIELD, MILNE, OBDURATE,
OBEDIENT and ORWELL as destroyer Escort for Russian Convoy JW53-
(Note: HM Cruiser SCYLLA provided Distant Cover.)
27th Detached from JW53 after local escort
arrived.
March
1st Joined escort for returning RA53-
6th Detached with HM Destroyers
FAULKNOR, ECLIPSE and IMPULSIVE to carry cut an anti-
submarine operation ahead of convoy before taking passage to
Seidisfjord.
10th Rejoined convoy in storm conditions
with same ships after refuelling. Deployed to assist
mercantile J H LATROBE which had drifted into a minefield after machinery
defects.
Took stranded ship in tow.
(Note: Salvage money was later paid for this retrieval from a minefield
!)
11th Detached from RA53 with HM Destroyer
FURY and resumed Hone Fleet duties.
20th Nominated for Atlantic convoy defence
and deployed as 5th Support Group with HM Destroyers
OBDURATE, PATHFINDER and HM Escort Carrier BITER
Deployed in support of passage of Atlantic convoys.
(For details of development of tactics used in the Battle of the
Atlantic see SEEK AND STRIKE
by W Hackmann and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO), ).
April
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
23rd Deployed with Group to support
Convoy ONS4 escort which was under threat of attack by MEISE
U-Boat Group.
25th Participated in sinking of U203 with
HMS PATHFINDER and aircraft from HMS BITER.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
May
5th Sailed from St Johns with ships of
Group to support defence of Convoy HX237 after refuelling.
7th Joined convoy with Group after
delay due to fog off Newfoundland.
12th Carried cut unsuccessful search for
missing aircraft from HMS BITER.
Deployed for anti-submarine search with HMS PATHFINDER after sighting by
LIBERATOR
aircraft. Depth charge attack on submarine was later assessed as damaged.
13th Transferred with Group to support
passage of SC129.
June
Resumed Home Fleet duties with Flotilla.
Deployed for support of replenishment of garrison at Spitzbergen.
(Operation FH in GEARBOX Series.)
July
Deployed in NW Approaches for convoy defence and Fleet duties.
Took part in Flotilla exercises in NW Approaches.
August
Nominated for support of planned operations in Mediterranean.
3rd Escorted HM Aircraft Carriers
ILLUSTRIOUS and UNICORN with M Destroyers
OBEDIENT and OBDURATE for anti-submarine flying operations in NW
Approaches.
13th Escorted HMS UNICORN to Gibraltar
for support of Salerno landings.
17th Detached on arrival at Gibraltar.
20th Escorted damaged aircraft carrier
HMS INDOMITABLE from Gibraltar to Norfolk, Va
for repair with HM Destroyers OBEDIENT and OBDURATE.
31st Arrived at Norfolk.
September
1st Took passage to Halifax, Nova
Scotia.
14th Escorted HM Battlecruiser RENOWN
carrying Prime Minister back to UK after meeting
with US President (QUADRANT
Conference).
(Note: HM Cruiser KENT, HM Destroyers OBEDIENT, OBDURATE and ORWELL were
part of
screen for this passage.
17th Rejoined Flotilla at Scapa Flow for Home Fleet
duties.
October
4th Took part in air attack on shipping
at Bodo, Norway of Norway as part of screen.
(Note: Ships involved included US aircraft carrier USS RANGER as well
Home Fleet.
(Operation LEADER).
November
Home Fleet duties in continuation.
(Note: Radar Type 272 had been installed by this period.
For details of development and use of
radar see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
December
15th Joined Ocean Escort for Russian
Convoy JW55A with HM Destroyers ASHANTI, MATCHLESS,
METEOR, MILNE, MUSKETEER, VIRAGO and Canadian ATHABASKAN.
21st Detached to reinforce escort of
returning Convoy RA55A.
22nd Joined RA55A with HM Destroyers
MATCHLESS, MUSKETEER and VIRAGO.
25th Detached to reinforce escort of
Convoy JW55B under threat of attack by the German
battleship SCHARNHORST.
26th Directed by CinC Home Fleet in HM
Cruiser BELFAST to join H M Cruisers SHEFFIELD
and NORFOLK with HM Destroyers MATCHLESS, MUSKETEER and VIRAGO.
After SCHARNHORST had been crippled these ships delivered the coup de gras by a
series of torpedo attacks.
(Note: Six hits were registered before SCHARNHORST sank.)
(For
details see KOLA RUN by D MacIntyre, ARCTIC DESTROYERS by P Kemp
and Naval Staff History)
28th Passage to Scapa Flow after
refuelling at Kola Inlet.
1 9 4 4
January
1st Resumed Fleet duties with Flotilla
on arrival.
26th Joined escort for Russian Convoy
JW56B with HM Destroyers MAHRATTA, MILNE,
SCOURGE and Canadian HURON.
February
1st Detached from JW56B on arrival at
Kola Inlet.
3rd Joined escort for returning Convoy RA56, HM
Destroyers OFFA, SAVAGE, VENUS, VIGILANT,
INCONSTANT, MAHRATTA, METEOR, MILNE ,MUSKETEER, SCOURGE, Canadian
HURON and Norwegian STORD.
7th Detached from RA56 with HM Destroyers
OFFA, SAVAGE, VENUS and VIGILANT before
convoy arrival at Loch Ewe.
March Took part in anti-E-Boat exercises with Home Fleet ships to prepare for
support of Normandy
Normandy landings.
29th Joined escort for Russian Convoy
JW58 with HM Destroyers OBEDIENT, ORWELL, ONSLOW,
ORWELL, SAUMAREZ, SERAPIS, SCORPION, VENUS and Norwegian STORD.
April
4th Detached from JW58 on arrival at
Kola Inlet after unscathed passage.
7th Joined escort for return convoy
RA588 with HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Destroyers ONSLOW,
OFFA, ORWELL, SAUMAREZ, SERAPIS and Norwegian STORD.
12th Detached and took passage to Hull
for boiler clean.
23rd On completion deployed with ships of
Flotilla In English Channel as Task Force 27 for
exercises and patrol prior to allied landings In Normandy.
28th In action with E-Boats which had
attacked convoy of US landing craft on passage to Slapton
Sands for Exercise TIGER.
E-Boats escaped through smoke screen.
(For details see E-BOAT ALERT by Trent and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June
1944
(HMSO).).
May
Nominated for duty in Dover Command in support of Normandy landings.
(Operation NEPTUNE: For
details of naval activities prior to and during assault
see OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY JUNE 1944
(HMSO).
Deployed in English Channel
based at Dover.
Under air attack during Channel patrol.
June Deployed en interception patrol with HM Destroyers OBEDIENT, ORWELL and
SAVAGE.
(Note: These ships carried out patrols to intercept any German warships
trying to enter
Channel
from the east to attack assault or build-up convoys.)
4th Operation delayed for 24 hours.
5th Maintained patrol in eastern
English Channel
6th Deployed between Dungeness and
Worthing to the south of gun zone and to seaward of coastal
channel. See above reference.
July
Retained in channel based at Dover after NEPTUNE build-up phase
completed.
27th Engaged E-boats off Dungeness with
Motor Torpedo Boats of Light Coastal Forces and HM
Destroyers OBEDIENT and SAVAGE in defence of convoy.
August Channel deployment in continuation.
17th Engaged E-Boats off Dover with HM
Destroyer WALPOLE and MTB's.
September On release from Channel patrol duties completed boiler clean in London.
Resumed Home Fleet duties with Flotilla at Scapa Flow.
October
Deployed with Flotilla in NW Approaches.
November
22nd Part of escort for Russian Convoy
JW61 with HM Cruiser DIDO, HM Destroyers OFFA,
OBEDIENT, ONSLOW, ORIBI and ORWELL.
24th Carried out anti-submarine attacks
which were unsuccessful.
28th Detached on arrival of JW61 at Kola
Inlet.
November
2nd Part of escort for returning Convoy
RA61 with HMS DUX) and destroyers and frigates
of Western Approaches Command.
7th Detached from RA61 before arrival
of convoy in Loch Ewe.
11th Deployed with HM Destroyers
CAVENDISH, ZEST and ZODIAC as Force 3 to escort cruiser
HMS DIDO, HM Escort Carriers PREMIER and TRUMPETER for air strikes on
shipping off
Egersund, Norway (Operation GRATIS).
December
Home Fleet deployment with Flotilla in NW Approaches and North Sea
continued.
1 9 4 5
January
10th Joined HM Destroyers CAVENDISH,
ZEST and ZODIAC as screen for H M Cruiser DIDO,
HM Escort Carriers PREMIER and TRUMPETER in Force 3 for combined air
minelay and
shipping strike off Norway (Operation SPELLBINDER).
11th Part of screen during air
minelaying operations in Karm Sound. (Operation GRATIS).
(Note: HM Cruiser APOLLO carried cut minelay off Utsira with Force 2.)
13th Returned to Scapa Flow with Force
3.
February
6th Joined escort for Russian Convoy
JW64 with HM Destroyers ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW,
ORWELL, SERAPIS, ZAMBESI, ZEALOUS, ZEST and Canadian SIOUX.
15th Detached from JW64 on arrival at
Kola Inlet.
(Note: HM Destroyers ZAMBESI, ZEALOUS, ZEST and SIOUX (RCN) had
detached
earlier
to evacuate Russian nationals from the island of Soroy).
17th Joined escort for return Convoy RA64
with same ships as JW64.
Rescued several aircrew after ditching.
23rd
Detached with HMS ORWELL to search for US mercantile HENRY BACON
Rescued survivors from HENRY BACON which had which had failed to keep with convoy.
(Note: Many of these were Norwegians rescued from Soroy..
26th Landed survivors in Faeroes.
March Nominated for minelaying
operation.
8th Converted for minelaying role at
Immingham after boiler cleaning in Hull.
(Note: ARCTIC DESTROYERS by GC
Cornell gives this data and also that a
minelay
T3 was carried out on 10/3/45.This is at variance with the
Naval
Staff History which shows T3 was done in
April.
It is
assumed only one lay was actually carried out and that as shown below.
This
second lay is also quoted in the first reference, so something is wrong.
Another
source suggests a minelay was carried out in East Coast Barrier.
This may
have been immediately after conversion to confirm serviceability.)
12th Joined escort for Russian Convoy
JW65 with HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Escort Carrier
CAMPANIA, HM
Destroyers ONSLAUGHT, ORWELL, SCORPION, ZAMBESI and
Canadian SIOUX.
21st Detached from JW65 on arrival at
Kola Inlet.
23rd Part of escort for return Convoy RA65
with HM Destroyers MYNGS, SAVAGE, SCOURGE
and destroyers from
JW65.
30th Detached from RA65 with Home Fleet
units leaving frigates and corvettes for escort during
final stage of
passage.
April Nominated for minelaying
operation in Kola Inlet.
4th Detached for minelaying operation
and took passage to load mines at Rosyth.
8th Carried out minelay in NW
Approaches with HM Cruiser APOLLO, HMS OBEDIENT
and HMS and HMS
ORWELL.
(Operation CH -
Field T3) was carried out when Russian agreement for Kola lay was
not obtained in time
to meet planned date)
. (Note: See March 6th
Note above.).
13th Loaded mines at Milford Haven for
minelay off Kola Inlet when Russian approval given.
17th Joined HMS APOLLO with HMS OBEDIENT
and HMS ORWELL as Force 5 for minelay
in Kola Inlet
(Operation TRAMMEL -
See Naval Staff History).).
21st After delayed fuelling at Kola Inlet
embarked Russian observers.
22nd Laid Anti-Submarine Trap minefield
with Force 5 ships and returned to Kola Inlet to refuel.
23rd Sailed for Rosyth with Force 5.
Passage speed
reduced to 15 knots when HMS ORWELL reported fracture in Hull structure.
25th Joined Hone Fleet Task Force with
HMS OBEDIENT to screen HM Cruisers NORFOLK and
DIADEM, HM Escort
Carriers SEARCHER, QUEEN and TRUMPETER with Hone Fleet
destroyers for
snipping strike off Narvik (Operation JUDGEMENT).
May
4th Acted as Carrier Plane Guard during
successful air attacks shipping west of Narvik.
5th Carried cut anti-submarine patrol in
Skaggerak entrance prior to arrival of two cruisers,
HMS BIRMINGHAM and
HMS DIDO on passage to Copenhagen to accept surrender of German
warships (Operation
CLEAVER).
24th Deployed with OBEDIENT and OFFA for
Guardship duties.
25th Arrived at Cuxhaven
27th Guardship duty at Flensburg with HMS
OPPORTUNE.
June
1st Returned to Kiel with HMS OFFA
(Note: German
Training Ship HORST WESSEL also brought as Prize.)
9th Returned to Chatham to land sick captain
and took passage to rejoined Flotilla in Scapa Flow.
July Deployed with Hone Fleet.
(Note: Fleet duties
included service in support of military operations in and visits programme
to UK ports.)
P
o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS OPPORTUNE remained in service after VJ Day and
deployed at Portsmouth for submarine training and Local Flotilla duties until
1950. She then refitted and joined the
Nore Local Flotilla. The ship was placed in Reserve at
Chatham
during November 1952. Transferred to Portsmouth in July 1953 she went en the
Disposal List the next year.
After sale to BISCO in November 1955 she arrived in tow at Milford Haven on
25th November to be broken-up by TW Ward.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
OPPORTUNE
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
|
21/09/42
|
QP 014
|
13/09/42
|
26/09/42
|
19/12/42
|
25/12/42
|
JW 051A
|
15/12/42
|
25/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
29/12/42
|
JW 051B
|
22/12/42
|
04/01/43
|
19/02/43
|
27/02/43
|
JW 053
|
15/02/43
|
27/02/43
|
01/03/43
|
11/03/43
|
RA 053
|
01/03/43
|
14/03/43
|
13/04/43
|
15/04/43
|
ON 178
|
12/04/43
|
02/05/43
|
23/04/43
|
26/04/43
|
ONS 004
|
13/04/43
|
05/05/43
|
09/05/43
|
13/05/43
|
HX 237
|
01/05/43
|
17/05/43
|
14/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
SC 129
|
02/05/43
|
21/05/43
|
15/12/43
|
21/12/43
|
JW 055A
|
12/12/43
|
22/12/43
|
23/12/43
|
25/12/43
|
RA 055A
|
22/12/43
|
01/01/44
|
25/12/43
|
26/12/43
|
JW 055B
|
20/12/43
|
30/12/43
|
26/01/44
|
01/02/44
|
JW 056B
|
22/01/44
|
01/02/44
|
03/02/44
|
05/02/44
|
RA 056
|
03/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
29/03/44
|
04/04/44
|
JW 058
|
27/03/44
|
04/04/44
|
07/04/44
|
13/04/44
|
RA 058
|
07/04/44
|
14/04/44
|
08/06/44
|
10/06/44
|
FTC 001
|
08/06/44
|
10/06/44
|
22/10/44
|
28/10/44
|
JW 061
|
20/10/44
|
28/10/44
|
02/11/44
|
07/11/44
|
RA 061
|
02/11/44
|
09/11/44
|
06/02/45
|
13/02/45
|
JW 064
|
03/02/45
|
15/02/45
|
17/02/45
|
27/02/45
|
RA 064
|
17/02/45
|
28/02/45
|
14/03/45
|
21/03/45
|
JW 065
|
11/03/45
|
21/03/45
|
23/03/45
|
30/03/45
|
RA 065
|
23/03/45
|
01/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)