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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2004

HMS VENUS (R 50) -  V-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Verulam, sister-ship (Navy Photos, click to enlarge) return to Contents List 
 

V-Class destroyers ordered from Fairfield of Govan, Glasgow with the 8th Emergency Flotilla on 1st September 1941. She was laid down on 12th January 1942 and launched on 23rd February 1943 as the 11th RN warship to carry this name previously used for a cruiser sold in 1921. She had been adopted by the civil community of Evesham, Worcestershire following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in November 1941. Build was completed on 28th August 1943 and the ship was fitted for arctic service.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

GLORIOUS FIRST OF JUNE 1794 - QUIBERON 1759 - ST LUCIA  1778 - ST LUCIA 1803 - ARCTIC  1943-44 - NORMANDY 1944  - MALAYA 1945 - BURMA 1945

 H e r a l d i c  D a t a

Badge: On a Field Blue, the symbol of the planet Venus Gold.

 

 

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 3

 

August                Contractor's sea trials and commissioning.

            28th          Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

 

September           On completion of trials and storing took passage to Scapa Flow to work-up with ships of Home

                             Fleet

                             Worked-up for operational service at Scapa Flow.

                             Joined 26th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet on completion.

 

October                Deployed with Flotilla in NW Approaches for Fleet escort and patrol.

 

November

              3rd         Deployed as part of screen for HM Battleship ANSON, HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE, HM

                            Cruiser JAMAICA with HM Destroyers ONSLOW, HAIDA (RCN), Norwegian STORD, US

                            destroyer  USS CAPPS and USS HOBSON).

                            (For details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg

                            CONVOY! by P Kemp and THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield).

            23rd         Joined Ocean Escort for Russian Convoy JW54B with m Destroyers HARDY, SAVAGE,

                            SAUMAREZ, SCORPION, SCOURGE and VIGILANT.

 

December

              3rd         Made independent return passage to Scapa Flow with Home Fleet units after arrival of JW54B

                            at approaches to Archangel.

                            Resumed Fleet duties with Flotilla.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January

            21st          Joined escort for Russian Convoy JW56A at Akureyi with HM Destroyers OBDURATE,

                             HARDY, OFFA, INCONSTANT, SAVAGE, VIGILANT, VIRAGO and Norwegian destroyer

                             STORD.

            28th          On arrival at Kola Inlet despatched to join escort for following Convoy JW56B.

            29th          Reinforced escort for JW56B.

            30th          After HMS HARDY had been torpedoed by U27b assisted in rescue of survivors.

                             Sank hulk of HMS HARDY.

 

February

             3rd        Joined escort for returning Convoy RA56 at Kola Inlet with Home Fleet ships.

             7th        Detached from RA56 with HM Destroyers OFFA, OPPORTUNE, SAVAGE and VIGILANT.

 

March                Flotilla duties in NW Approaches in continuation.

            29th       Joined Russian Convoy JW58 with m Cruiser DIADEM, HM Escort Carriers ACTIVITY,

                          TRACKER, HM Destroyers OBEDIENT', OFFA, OPPORTUNE ORIBI. ORWELL,

                          SERAPIS, SAUMAREZ, SCORPION and Norwegian STORD.

 

April

             4th        Detached from JW58 on arrival at Kola Inlet.

             7th        Joined escort for return Convoy RA58 with HMS ACTIVITY and Fleet destroyers.

            12th       Detached from RA58 with HM Destroyers BEAGLE. BOADICEA, INCONSTANT,

                          KEPPEL,  WALKER, WESTCOTT, WHITEHALL and WRESTLER before arrival

                          of convoy in Loch Ewe.

                          Nominated for duty in Support Force J during planned allied landings in Normandy with

                          HM Canadian Destroyers SIOUX, ALGONQUIN, HM Destroyers KEMPENFELT and

                          VIGILANT of 27th Destroyer Flotilla.

                          (Operation NEPTUNE - See OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and NORMANDY

                          LANDINGS JUNE 1944 (HMSO) for details).

 

May                   Passage to Channel for preparatory exercises.

                          Joined HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FURY, BLEASDALE, GLAISDALE (Nor.)

                          STEVENSTONE and the French LA COMBATTANTE with ships of Flotilla In Force J.

             2nd       Final rehearsal for Forces O, S, G and J (Exercise FABIUS).

             3rd        Berthing, and loading and sailing phases exercised.

             4th         Assault landing at  Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex. Defence exercise In Channel off Brighton.

           18th         On completion, took passage to Solent for final preparations.

                           Bombardment target allocated in Pre-Arranged Fire Plan.

                                         Beaches west of Corseulles with HM Destroyer FURY.

 

June                    Deployed in Solent.

             3rd         Joined HMS STEVENSTONE and French LA COMBATTANTE as escort for Convoy J9.

                           (Note: This comprised HM Frigate LAWFORD, 10 Landing Ships (Infantry), three Motor Gun

                                       Boats from Light Coastal Forces and two US Navy Coastguard Cutters).

             4th         Convoy sailing delayed by 21 hours.

             5th         Escorted Convoy through swept channel.

             6th         On arrival at beach head took up bombardment station.

                           Provided naval gunfire support, for JUNO Beaches.

             7th         Deployed in Task Force area for patrol, convoy defence and support as required by Assault

                           Force Commander.

            27th        Retained in Channel area after NEPTUNE terminated.

            28th.       In action off Cherbourg with light. German, naval units during offensive sweep.

 

July                     Channel deployment in continuation.

                            On release from Channel deployment rejoined Home Fleet at Scapa Flow with Flotilla.

 

August                 Deployed for Flotilla duties with Home Fleet.

 

September

            17th           Joined escort for Russian Convoy JW60 with HM Battleship RODNEY, HM Cruiser

                               DIADEM, HM Escort. Carriers CAMPANIA and STRIKER with HM Destroyers MARNE,

                               METEOR, MILNE, MUSKETEER, SAUMAREZ, SCORPION, VERULAM, VIRAGO,

                               VOLAGE and ALGONQUIN.

            23rd            Detached from JW60 on. arrival at Kola Inlet.

            28th            Escorted returning Convoy RA60 from Kola Inlet with same ships.

 

October

             3rd            Detached with Home Fleet escorts before arrival in Loch Ewe.

            23rd            Part of screen for HM Aircraft Carrier IMPLACABLE, HM Cruiser MAURITIUS with HM

                               Destroyers, MYNGS, VERULAM, VOLAGE, ALGONQUIN and SIOUX during air attacks

                               by carrier on Sorreisa and Bardufoss airfield.

 

November

            14th            Escorted HM Escort. Carrier PURSUER and HM Cruiser EURYALUS with HM Destroyers

                               NUBIAN and ZEPHYR for carrier attacks on Trondheim

                               Nominated for refit and took passage to Forth.

 

December               Under refit at Commercial shipyard in Leith prior to service with Flotilla in Eastern Fleet

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                   Under refit.

 

February                 Prepared for service with Eastern Fleet after completion of post refit trials

                               Passage to Trincomalee.

                               (Note: During passage in Mediterranean carried our further exercises .

 

March                     Joined Flotilla in Eastern Fleet.

                               Deployed on Fleet screening and patrol in Indian Ocean.

 

April

            10th            Part of screen for HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH and French battleship RICHELIEU.,

                               HM Cruisers CUMBERLAND and LONDON with ships of Flotilla for bombardment of

                                Sabang,  Sumatra (Operation SUNFISH).

            30th             Sailed from Kyaupu to join aircraft carrier prior to planned landings in Burma.

 

May

             1st              Part of screen for Eastern Fleet major ships of covering force during landings at Rangoon.

                                (Operation DRACULA - See OPERATION PACIFIC by E Gray, THE FORGOTTEN

                                FLEET by J Winton and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)

             6th              Joined Force 63 as screen for HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH,  French RICHELIEU, HM

                                Escort Carriers SHAH, EMPRESS, HM Cruisers CUMBERLAND, SUFFOLK, CEYLON

                                and Dutch cruiser VAN TROMP during bombardment of Andamans.

                                (Operation BISHOP).

             9th              Joined Force 61 comprising HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, FS RICHELIEU, HMS

                                CUMBERLAND, Dutch VAN TROMP and 21st Carrier Squadron with Fleet destroyers.

                                Deployed to intercept Japanese ships sifted in entrance to Malacca Straits.

                                (Operation DUKEDOM).

           14th              Detached with m Destroyers SAUMAREZ, VERULAM, VIGILANT and VIRAGO to

                                search for enemy warships sighted on passage north of Sumatra

                                (Operation MITRE).

            15th             In action with Japanese cruiser HAGURO and destroyer KAMIKAZE. During a brilliantly

                                executed tactical night attack HAGURO was sunk by torpedoes in Malacca Straits SW of

                                Penang.

                                (For full details see SINK THE HAGURO by John Winton and above references.).

 

June                       Eastern Fleet screening and Indian Ocean patrol duties in continuation.

to                           Took part in preparatory exercises for allied landings in Malaya (Operation ZIPPER).

July

 

August                   Deployed with screen for Eastern Fleet major units providing cover for landings.

                                 (Note: This Operation was postponed at the insistence of the US Government and problems

                                          relating to the release of long serving SEAC personnel under the PYTHON Scheme.

                                          As a result it did rot take place until after VJ Day .

                                          For more details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett

                                          and above references.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS VENUS returned to UK after the surrender at Singapore and the joined the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla at Malta for service in the Mediterranean. In 1949 this ship Paid off and was reduced to Reserve status at Devonport. She was converted into a Type 15 Anti-submarine Frigate by HM Dockyard Devonport and then spent two years in the Home Fleet in the 6th Frigate Squadron, and later joined the Dartmouth Training Squadron in which she remained until being again reduced to Reserve status at Portsmouth. Before being placed on the Disposal List she was used for SEADART Guided Missile Trials in 1969. The ship was sold to BISCO for demolition by T W Ward in 1972 arid arrived in tow at the breaker's yard in Briton Ferry on 20th December 1972.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of  HMS VENUS

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

 

 

 

 

 

01/11/43

02/11/43

RA 054A

08/11/43

14/11/43

22/11/43

25/11/43

JW 054B

02/12/43

03/12/43

12/01/44

21/01/44

JW 056A

27/01/44

28/01/44

22/01/44

29/01/44

JW 056B

01/02/44

01/02/44

03/02/44

03/02/44

RA 056

07/02/44

11/02/44

27/03/44

29/03/44

JW 058

04/04/44

04/04/44

07/04/44

07/04/44

RA 058

12/04/44

14/04/44

15/09/44

17/09/44

JW 060

23/09/44

23/09/44

28/09/44

28/09/44

RA 060

03/10/44

05/10/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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revised 11/8/11
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