Type II HUNT Escort Destroyer
ordered from John Brown, Clydebank in the 1939 War Emergency Programmeon 4th September 1939.
The ship was laid down as Job Number J1569 on 12th February 1940 and launched on 23rd October that year. She was the first
RN warship to carry the name and her Build was completed on 17 February 1941. After a successful WARSHIP
WEEK National Savings campaign in February 1942 the ship was adopted’by the civil community of Trowbridge,
Wiltshire.
Battle
Honours
ATLANTIC 1942-43
- MALTA CONVOYS 1941-42 - LIBYA 1941-42
- SIRTE 1942 - NORTH AFRICA 1942-43 - ADRIATIC 1944
- ENGLISH
CHANNEL
1943-44
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a
Field barry wavy of
four White and Blue on a roundel Red,
within a stirrup White, an escallop 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 1
February Contractors
trials and commissioned for service.
17th Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
On
completion of trials and storing took passage to Scapa Flow.
Nominated for service in Western Approaches Command with Irish Sea Force.
March Worked-up at
Scapa Flow with ships of Home Fleet.
April Deployed
with Irish Sea Force for convoy defence in Irish Sea and NW Approaches.
May Nominated
for service at Gibraltar.
Passage to Gibraltar.
June Deployed
at Gibraltar for convoy defence with HM Escort Destroyers ERIDGE and
FARNDALE
July
Nominated for deployment as part of escort for Malta relief convoy GM1 during
passage
in
western Mediterranean (Operation SUBSTANCE)
17th Joined
military convoy WS9C with HM Destroyer NESTOR , HMS ERIDGE and HMS
FARNDALE for escort of troopship PASTEUR carrying troops for service at
Gibraltar.
(Note: These ships were designated as Convoy GM1and had troops embarked for landing
at
Gibraltar before taking passage to Malta.
WS9C
also included troopship LEINSTER which detached later with separate
escort. The other six ships of WS9C did not enter Gibraltar and were escorted
into
the
western Mediterranean by other Home Fleet ships supplemented by ships of
Force
H from Gibraltar
ss
LEINSTER did not rejoin as she ran aground on departure from Gibraltar.
For
details see Naval Staff History (HMSO), MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman
and
THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre.)
20th Sailed
from Gibraltar to join GM 1 and joined HMS EDINBURGH, HMS MANCHESTER, HMS
ARETHUSA. HM Cruiser MANXMAN, HM
Destroyers COSSACK, MAORI, SIKH, NESTOR
(RAN), Destroyers
of Force H based at Gibraltar and HMS ERIDGE and HMS FARNDALE as
Force X for
escort during passage through Sicilian Narrows to Malta.
Escort for
passage of convoy through Sicilian Narrows to Malta.
23rd Under air
attacks from Sardinia during which both HMS MANCHESTER and HM Destroyer
FEARLESS were damaged and withdrawn from operation.
Detached from GM1 for escort of damaged cruiser during return passage to
Gibraltar
August Deployed for convoy
defence at Gibraltar
September
2nd Deployed
with escort for Convoy HG72 During initial stage of passage from
Gibraltar to Liverpool
with HM Destroyers NESTOR (RAN), BROKE and HM Sloop DEPTFORD).
Nominated for service in eastern
Mediterranean and took passage to
Alexandria via Cape of Good
Hope.
Detached from HG72 and returned to
Gibraltar
Sailed from Gibraltar to join5th Destroyer Flotilla at Alexandria.
October On passage
in Indian Ocean.
November Joined Flotilla
at Alexandria
Deployed for support of Tobruk garrison
(See
Naval Staff History (HMSO-2002)
27th Deployed
with HM Sloop PARRAMATTA (RAN) as escort for mercantile HANNE taking
ammunition to Tobruk
Under
attack by U559 which torpedoed and sank HMAS PARRAMATTA
Rescued the only 20 survivors
30th Escorted
Convoy AT1 to Tobruk with HM Escort Destroyer HEYTHROP
(Note: Convoy comprised HM Armed Boarding Vessel CHAKDINA and mercantile
KIRKLAND a petrol carrying petrol
December
2nd Arrived
at Tobruk with AT1
5th Sailed from Tobruk with HM Escort Destroyer FARNDALE and HM Whaler
THORNGRIM
(SAN) as convoy TA1
Under air attacks
during which CHAKDINA sunk.
(Note: CHAKDINA
was carrying Prisoners of War . Those rescued by HMS FARNDALE
included General
Ravenstein of the Afrika Korps.)
1 9 4 2
January Tobruk
support duty in continuation..
February Deployed with HM
Destroyers SOUTHWOLD, BEAUFORT, DULVERTON, HURWORTH,
ERIDGE and
HEYTHROP of Flotilla for convoy defence in eastern Mediterranean.
12th Part of
escort for Convoy MW9A with HM Cruiser CARLISLE, HM Destroyers LANCE,
HEYTHROP and ERIDGE.
13th Under
heavy and sustained air attacks. For details see above references.
March
20th Joined
escort for Convoy MW10 to Malta with HMS CARLISLE and ships of 5th Destroyer
Flotilla covered by cruisers and destroyers of Mediterranean Fleet.
22nd Under dive
bombing attacks and threat of surface action with Italian heavy units including
battleship LITTORIO and three cruisers.
Sustained damage during air attacks and further damage after being involved in
collision.
(Note: The subsequent engagement by the covering force was able to prevent an attack
on the
convoy – 2nd Battle of Sirte. See references.)
29th Nominated
for return to UK for repair.
Deployed as escort for damaged cruiser HMS AURORA during passage from Malta to
Gibraltar
April Passage
from Gibraltar to Falmouth for repair .
Taken
in hand in commercial shipyard.
May Under
repair
to
June
July Carried
out post repair trials and took passage to work-up for operational service.
Nominated for service Western Approaches Command for defence of convoys to and
from
West
Africa.
August On completion
of work-up joined Western Approaches Command for convoy defence.
to
Transferred to Freetown in continuation
September Passage to
Freetown
October Atlantic
convoy defence in continuation based at Freetown.
20th Joined
military convoy WS23 on departure from Freetown with HM Cruiser DURBAN, HM
Armed
Merchant Cruiser CARTHAGE and Greek destroyer KANARIS as escort during part
of
passage to Cape of Good Hope.
23rd Detached
from WS23 when relieved by HM Sloop MILFORD and HM Cruiser DESPATCH.
Returned to Freetown.
Passage to Gibraltar for escort of military convoys during passage prior to
allied landings in
North
Africa (Operation TORCH).
November Joined Central
Naval Task Force for support of landings at Oran.
(Operation TORCH - For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, Naval
Staff
History and RELUCTANT ENEMIES by
W Tute.)
8th Deployed
with Task Force for support of landings.
On
release transferred for convoy escort duties.
December Deployed for
convoy defence and support of military operations in North Africa.
1 9 4 3
January Transferred
to 59th Destroyer Division and joined HM Escort Destroyers CALPE,
FARNDALE and PUCKERIDGE based at
Gibraltar for convoy defence in western
Mediterranean.
29th Sustained
major damage bit torpedo in air attack.
Whole
of bow structure destroyed.
After
section towed to Gibraltar by HM Escort Destroyer BICESTER.
February Temporary
repair carried out to ensure safe passage under tow for permanent repair.
Passage deferred till suitable convoy available and tow arranged.
March Deployed at
Gibraltar awaiting tow.
to
May
June
25th Passage
to UK under tow as part of Convoy MKS15.
July
7th Arrived
in UK.
22nd Taken in
hand for repair by HM Dockyard Chatham.
August Under repair
to Forward structure rebuilt.
December
1 9 4 4
January Under refit
to Ship nominated for transfer to Royal Hellenic Navy
and to be renamed HHelMS AEGAION
March (Note: This was never implemented due to the mutinous
conduct of Greek personnel manning
units at Alexandria under RN overall command.,)
April Carried out post repair harbour trials
14th Dockyard work completed and commenced sea trials.
May On completion of trials and storing worked-up for
operational service.
Nominated for convoy escort during planned
allied landings in Normandy.
(Operation NEPTUNE – For details of naval activities bore and during landings see
LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO),
OPERATION NEPTUNE by K
Edwards and D DAY SHIPS by J de Winser)
June Deployed at Portsmouth as part of Force L.
6th Sailed from Solent with escort of Follow-up Convoy
L1 from Nore with HM Trawler
DAMSAY and 143rd MMS Flotilla
For details see LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944
(HMSO).
Detached from LI and deployed for convoy
defence.
(Note: As No Battle Honour NORMANDY 1944 was
awarded it is assumed that the ship was
never deployed off the beach head.)
July Deployed for convoy defence
{Note: It is presumed this was in Home waters
based either at Portsmouth or Harwich)
August Under repair in Tyne commercial shipyard.
Nominated for service with 22nd Destroyer
Flotilla in Mediterranean.
On completion of repair took passage to join
Flotilla at Alexandria.
(Note: It is assumed passage was made through
Mediterranean and not via Indian Ocean.).
September Deployed with Flotilla in eastern Mediterranean
to (Note: Did not participate in operations in
defence of Cos and Leros. See WAR IN THE
October AEGEAN by P Smith and E Walker. Several other operations to occupy islands
when Italy surrendered and escort of convoys to
Greece was necessary.)
Transferred to Adriatic for convoy defence, patrol and support of shore operations.
November
1st During deployment with HM Escort Destroyer
WHEATLAND engaged German surface craft
south of Lussino.
Torpedo Boat TA20, Corvettes UJ202 and UJ208
were sunk in position 44.36.5N, 14.32E.
Some survivors were rescued.
(Note: Operation EXTERMINATE to carry out
landings on Pag Island. All these ships may have
been involved.)
December Nominated for service in East Indies after refit.
Took passage to UK
1 9 4 5
January Joined 16th Destroyer Flotilla based at Harwich pending
refit prior to foreign service.
to Refit arranged at Taranto, Italy
February Passage to Taranto
March Taken in hand for refit.
April Under refit.
May On completion returned to UK to Pay-off and
re-commission for foreign service.
June Re-commissioned and prepared for foreign service.
July Carried out work-up for operational service in
Mediterranean
August Deployment cancelled and returned to UK to Pay-off and
reduce to Reserve status.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS AVON VALE Paid-off at Devonport
and was laid-up in Reserve at Plymouth on 10th December 1945. She was transferred to Sheerness Reserve Fleet after refit
at HM Dockyard Sheerness in 1949. When Sheerness Division closed she was transferred to Hartlepool
and laid-up there until placed on the Disposal List. Sold to BISCO in 1958 for demolition by TA Young at Sunderland. she
arrived in tow at the Breaker’s yard on 15th May that year.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS AVON VALE
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
10/06/41
|
11/06/41
|
OB 333
|
13/06/41
|
21/06/41
|
04/06/41
|
17/06/41
|
OG 064
|
18/06/41
|
18/06/41
|
08/07/41
|
08/07/41
|
HG 067
|
unknown
|
24/07/41
|
09/08/41
|
09/08/41
|
HG 070
|
14/08/41
|
23/08/41
|
06/01/42
|
06/01/42
|
AT 014/M
|
08/01/42
|
08/01/42
|
10/01/42
|
10/01/42
|
TA 010/M
|
13/01/42
|
13/01/42
|
14/01/42
|
14/01/42
|
AT 017/M
|
16/01/42
|
16/01/42
|
17/01/42
|
17/01/42
|
TA 017/M
|
18/01/42
|
18/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
AT 019/M
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
02/02/42
|
02/02/42
|
AT 023/M
|
05/02/42
|
05/02/42
|
16/03/42
|
16/03/42
|
AT 034/M
|
18/02/43
|
18/03/42
|
18/03/42
|
18/03/42
|
TA 029/M
|
20/03/42
|
unknown
|
07/09/42
|
08/09/42
|
ST 033
|
11/09/42
|
13/09/42
|
23/09/42
|
23/09/42
|
SL 123
|
25/09/42
|
14/10/42
|
09/09/42
|
25/09/42
|
OS 040
|
27/09/42
|
27/09/42
|
29/09/42
|
03/10/42
|
ST 037
|
03/10/42
|
03/10/42
|
14/11/42
|
20/11/42
|
KMF 003
|
21/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
03/12/42
|
KMF 004
|
06/12/42
|
06/12/42
|
12/12/42
|
31/12/42
|
UGS 003
|
01/01/43
|
01/01/43
|
05/01/43
|
05/01/43
|
MKF 006
|
06/01/43
|
14/01/43
|
11/01/43
|
11/01/43
|
ET 009
|
13/01/43
|
16/01/43
|
19/01/43
|
20/01/43
|
MKS 006
|
21/01/43
|
01/02/43
|
26/01/43
|
29/01/43
|
TE 014
|
29/01/43
|
30/01/43
|
23/06/43
|
23/06/43
|
MKS 015G
|
24/06/43
|
24/06/43
|
24/06/43
|
25/06/43
|
SL 131MK
|
04/07/43
|
04/07/43
|
06/07/43
|
06/07/43
|
CE 189
|
07/07/43
|
07/07/43
|
29/05/44
|
29/05/44
|
CW 272A
|
30/05/44
|
30/05/44
|
10/06/44
|
10/06/44
|
ETM 005
|
11/06/44
|
11/06/44
|
26/06/44
|
26/06/44
|
ETC 019
|
27/06/44
|
27/06/44
|
28/06/44
|
28/06/44
|
FTC 020
|
29/06/44
|
29/06/44
|
01/10/44
|
07/10/44
|
KMF 035
|
11/10/44
|
11/10/44
|
18/10/44
|
unknown
|
XIF 023
|
unknown
|
23/10/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)
|