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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2003

HMS REDOUBT (H 41) -  R-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements 

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Redoubt (Navy Photos/Mark Teadham, click to enlarge)

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R-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered with 4th Emergency Flotilla from John Brown, Clydebank in April 1940. Construction was delayed became of priority for repair work and she was laid down on 19th June 1941. The ship was launched on 2nd May 1942 as the 3rd RN ship to carry this name, which had previously been used by a WW1 destroyer sold in 1921 and introduced in 1793. Build was completed on 1st October 1942 and the ship had been adopted by Willesden, Middlesex, now in the London Borough of Brent following a successful WARSHIP WEEK for National Savings in March 1942.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC  1943 -  BURMA  1945

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field barry wavy of ten White and  Blue, upon a mount Green

              a redoubt White masoned Black.

 

 

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

 

September             Contractor's sea trials and commissioning. October

                1st           Accepted into service.

                                Passage to Scapa Flow to work-up with Home Fleet for operational service

 

November              On completion of work-up deployed for screening of oajcr ir its and patrol in NW

                                Approaches with 11th Destroyer Flotilla.

                29th        Detached with HM Australian Destroyer QUICKMATCH for escort of military

                                convoy KMF4 during passage to Gibraltar for allied landings in North Africa.

                                (Operation TORCH - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval

                                Staff History)

                30th        During passage in Bay of Biscay with convoy H6 (??) QUICKMATCH detached

                                to intercept a blockade runner sighted by aircraft and bound from Bordeaux to

                                Japan.

                                The ship was identified as the Italian CORTELLAZZO whose crew. including

                                some German nationals abandoned her on approach.

                                Enemy were taken prisoner and ship was sunk by a torpedo from this ship.

 

.December

                1st           Rejoined KMF4.

                                On arrival at Gibraltar took passage to Algiers.

                                Deployed briefly in western Mediterranean until ordered to return to UK with

                                HM Destroyers QUICKMATCH (RAN) and RACEHORSE.

                20th        Joined HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS at Greenock with HM Destroyers

                                QUICKMATCH and RACEHORSE as escort during Atlantic passage.

                23rd        Experienced heavy weather. See BRITISH DESTROYERS by E March).

                                (Note: HMS VICTORIOUS had been loaned to US Navy for service in the

                                Pacific).

                26th        Sustained damage in main switchboard by flooding.

                27th        Attempt to take fuel from HMS VICTORIOUS failed due to swell.

                29th        Detached from HMS VICTORIOUS with HMS RACEHORSE and HMAS

                                QUICKMATCH.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January

                1st           Refuelled at Bermuda and under temporary repair by HM Dockyard.

                4th          Took passage to Newport News for repair to weather damage.

                6th          Taken in hand by US Navy Dockyard for docking and repair.

                12th        Passage to Curacoa with HMS RACEHORSE and HMAS QUICKMATCH

                                for escort of a tanker convoy to Gibraltar.

                18th        Passage to Mediterranean with six tankers.

                                (Note: Refuelled from tanker during passage).

                26th        Passage to join military convoy WS26 in Atlantic during transit to Middle East.

                31st         Joined WS26 in Atlantic with HM Destroyers QUALITY, QUIBERON,

                                QUICKMATCH and RACEHORSE

 

February

                1st           Sustained serious structural damage below waterline by collision with a whale.

                                Dome for submarine detection equipment and Pitometer Log damaged.

                                Detached from WS26 and took passage to Casablanca

                3rd          Under temporary repair at Casablanca.

                                On completion took passage to Gibraltar for permanent repair.

                10th        Docked in Gibraltar for installation of new underwater fittings.

 

March                    Under repair.

                                Nominated for service in Indian Ocean and took passage to Freetown.

                                Retained at Freetown for Local Escort duties pending arrival of military convoy

                                WS28 in transit to Middle East.

                                Escorted mercantiles to Bathurst and Pointe Noire and returned to Freetown.

                30th        Joined WS28 with HM Cruiser KENYA and HM Destroyer QUADRANT on

                                departure from Freetown as Ocean Escort during passage to Capetown.

 

April

                11th        Detached from WS28 on arrival at Capetown.

                15th        Rejoined WS28 with HMS QUADRANT and HMS RELENTLESS on sailing from

                                Capetown.

                20th        Detached from WS28 with HMS RELENTLESS after call at Durban.

                                Returned to Durban for convoy defence in Indian Ocean.

 

May

                18th        Joined military convoy WS29 at Capetown with HMS NORMAN as escort for

                                passage to Durban.

                20th        Detached from W529 on arrival at Durban.

                25th        Rejoined WS29 with HMS QUADRANT on sailing from Durban as the escort for

                                part of passage to Aden.

                29th        Detached from WS29 with HMS QUADRANT and took passage to South Atlantic.

 

June

                9th          Joined escort for Military convoy WS30 with HM Destroyers NORMAN and

                                QUADRANT during passage in South Atlantic.

                19th        Detached from WB30 with HM Destroyers NIZAM, NORMAN and QUADRANT

                                on arrival at Durban.

                                Took passage to South Atlantic to join military convoy WS31.

                               

July

                15th        Joined escort for WS31 with HMS QUADRANT in South Atlantic

                21st         Detached from WS31 with HM Destroyers RAPID and QUADRANT at Capetown.

                26th        Rejoined WS31 with HMS QUADRANT as escort for passage to Durban on sailing

                                from Capetown for Bombay.

 

August

                4th          Detached from WS31 with HMS QUADRANT on relief by HM Cruiser FROBISHER

                                during passage to Bombay.

                                Resumed convoy defence in Indian Ocean based at Kilindini.

 

September             Convoy defence in continuation.

to                            Passage to Simonstown.

October

 

November              Under refit in HM Dockyard Simonstown.

 

December              Resumed convoy defence duties in Indian Ocean and South Atlantic.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Convoy defence in Indian Ocean and Atlantic in continuation.

to                            Man lost overboard.

March                    Nominated for service in Eastern Fleet with HM Destroyers RACEHORSE,

                                ROTHERHAM, RAPID, RELENTLESS, RAIDER, ROCKET and ROEBUCK

                                as 11th Destroyer Flotilla. Joined Flotilla in Eastern Fleet.

 

April                       Deployed with Flotilla for convoy defence and patrol in Indian Ocean

                14th        During boiler clean at Bombay present when ammunition ship exploded causing

                                much devastation and loss of life in subsequent fires.

                                (For details of naval activities in Indian Ocean see OPERATION PACIFIC by

                                Edwyn Gray , ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and THE

                                FORGOTTEN FLEET by John Winton).

 

May                        Flotilla duties in continuation.

to

July

 

August

                24th        Deployed with HM Destroyers, ROTHERHAM, RAIDER, RAPID and ROCKET as screen

                                for HM Battleship HOWE, HMS VICTORIOUS, HMS INDOMITABLE, HMS CEYLON

                                and HMS KENYA in diversionary operation during US attacks on Hollandia, New Guinea.

                                (Operation BANQUET).

                                (Note: Air attacks made by carriers on targets at Padang airfield and ports in Sumatra

                                Photo-reconnaissance flights were also carried out but little attention was paid

                                to these attacks by the Japanese.)

 

September

                14th        Deployed with HM Destroyers ROTHERHAM, RAPID, ROCKET, RELENTLESS,

                                RACEHORSE and RA1DEB as screen for HMS HOWE, HMS VICTORIOUS,

                                HMS INDOMITABLE, HMS CUMBERLAND and HMS KENYA during air strikes

                                and photo-reconnaissance on targets in northern Sumatra (Operation LIGHT)

                                (Note: Operation LIGHT was cancelled by bad weather)

                17th        Provided screen during air operations {Operation LIGHT B)

                                (See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO) for details of various mistakes made.).

 

October                  Fleet duties with Flotilla in continuation.

to                            (Note: Did not take part in Operation MILLET, a diversion during US landings on

November              Leyte Island during October.)

 

December              Passage to Simonstown for refit and R&R.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  On completion of refit took passage to resume Flotilla duties at Trincomalee.

 

February                Deployed with Flotilla for patrol and screening duties.

to                            Based at Akyab for support of military operations.

March

 

April

                1st           Deployed with HM Destroyers ROTHERHAM, RACEHORSE and ROCKET as

                                as Force 62 for the support of inshore operations and landings in Burma.

                                Several small craft were sunk off Narcondam Island and bombardment carried

                                out at Grand Coco.

                                (Operation PENZANCE)

                5th          Refuelled at Akyab.

                7th          Deployed as Force 62 with same ships for offensive sweep off coast of Burma.

                                Intercepted and sank small craft. (Operation PASSBOOK).

                27th        Part of screen for HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH, French battleship RICHELIEU,

                                HM Escort, Carriers SHAH and EMPRESS, HM Cruiser CUMBERLAND,

                                SUFFOLK, CEYLON and Dutch cruiser TROMP with ships of Flotilla in

                                Task Force 63 providing cover for landings near Rangoon.

                                (Operation BISHOP).

                30th        Intercepted convoy of 11 ships with single escort evacuating troops.

                                Destroyed all ships and escort.

                                Bombarded Martaban with HMS RACEHORSE and HMS ROEBUCK.

 

May

                1st           Bombarded Car Nicobar with same ships.

                                Returned to rescue survivors from ships sunk on 30th April some of whom refused

                                assistance and killed themselves

                                Returned to Trincomalee with Flotilla on completion of BISHOP.

 

                13th        Deployed as screen for HM Cruiser NIGERIA with HMS ROEBUCK and

                                RACEHORSE as Force 62 to reinforce Eastern Fleet ships (Task Force 61)

                                carrying cut a search NW of Sumatra for Japanese warships on passage to

                                evacuate troops from Nicobars and Andamans (Operation DUKEDOM).

                14th        Remained with destroyer screen for Task Force 61 when H M

                                Cruiser CUMBERLAND, ships of 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron

                                and 21st Destroyer Flotilla detached to intercept Japanese cruiser

                                HAGURO and destroyer KAMIKAZE.

                                (Note: Japanese cruiser was sunk on 16th May by destroyers of

                                26th Flotilla.

.                               For full details of this brilliant night engagement see SINK

                                THE HAGURO by J Winton., OPERATION PACIFIC by E

                                Gray and the Naval Staff History).

 

June                        Eastern Fleet duties with Flotilla In continuation.

                18th        Deployed with HM Destroyers ROTHERHAM, RELENTLESS, ROEBUCK

                                and RACEHORSE as the screen for HM Escort Carriers STALKER,

                                KHEDIVE and AMEER, HM Cruisers SUFFOLK and ROYALIST during air

                                operations in Malaya and North Sumatra. (Operation BALSAM).

 

July                         Eastern Fleet screening duties with Flotilla in continuation..

                                Preparation for assault landings in Malaya (Operation ZIPPER) ' .

                                (Note: This Operation was delayed at US Insistence and did not

                                take place till after VJ Day - See above references).

                30th        Took passage from Trincomalee to support landings in Malaya.

 

August                  Diverted on passage to Penang for support of re-occupation.

                                On release took passage to Singapore and deployed with Flotilla after

                                support of landings.

                                Present at Singapore during formal Japanese surrender of forces in Malaya

                                Assisted in restoration of facilities at Singapore.

                                On release took passage to Trincomalee.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS REDOUBT returned to UK with Flotilla from Colombo on 22 September 1945. The ship was reduced to Reserve at Chatham during November that year. After being laid up at Chatham she transferred to the Harwich Division of the Reserve Fleet in 1947. During 1948 this destroyer was refitted prior to service with the Indian Navy. On completion the ship was formally handed over on 4 July 1909 and renamed INS RANJIT. She served in the operational Indian fleet until 1979 when placed on the Disposal List and scrapped.

 

S p e c i a l   N o t e

 

Attention is also drawn to 99 YEARS OF NAVY by Sam Morley which describes the service of this ship from the time of commissioning and includes the period in the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Some dates are at variance with other sources.

 

Acknowledgement

 

Details of escorts for WS Series convoys were provided by Donald Kindell, Ohio USA from an unpublished source. This is gratefully acknowledged.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS REDOUBT

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

 

 

 

 

 

27/11/42

01/12/42

KMF 004

06/12/42

06/12/42

10/01/43

11/01/43

TMF 002

unknown

24/01/43

14/02/43

16/02/43

CF 011B

22/02/43

25/02/43

23/05/43

29/05/43

MC 007

02/06/43

02/06/43

10/08/43

10/08/43

CM 044

18/08/43

26/08/43

23/09/43

23/09/43

BA 048

28/09/43

28/09/43

18/12/43

18/12/43

CM 048

24/12/43

31/12/43

08/01/44

08/01/44

AB 027A

14/01/44

14/01/44

26/01/44

26/01/44

XC 015

30/01/44

30/01/44

26/01/44

04/02/44

US 023A

09/02/44

09/02/44

24/02/44

24/02/44

AB 032

03/03/44

04/03/44

04/03/44

04/03/44

BM 087B

08/03/44

08/03/44

14/03/44

14/03/44

MA 026/3

17/03/44

17/03/44

19/03/44

19/03/44

CH 015

20/03/44

20/03/44

23/03/44

23/03/44

MA 027/3

27/03/44

27/03/44

03/05/44

03/05/44

BA 069A

09/05/44

09/05/44

03/06/44

03/06/44

KD 003A

08/06/44

08/06/44

26/05/44

26/06/44

AK 009/2

02/06/44

02/06/44

28/06/44

28/06/44

CM 055

04/07/44

04/07/44

11/07/44

11/07/44

KR 011

22/07/44

22/07/44

02/02/45

unknown

OW 001/2

17/02/45

17/02/45

21/07/45

27/07/45

OW 008/2

30/07/45

30/07/45

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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