Type II 'HUNT'
Class Escort Destroyer built by John Brown at Clydebank, Glasgow under the 1939
War Emergency Programme and ordered as Job No J1570 on 4 September 1939. The
ship was laid down on 17th May 1940 and was the first RN warship to bear the
Name. She was launched on 19th December 1940 and completed on 11th April 1941.
After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in February 1942
this Escort Destroyer was adopted by the civil community of Nantwich in Cheshire
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1941-43
- MALTA CONVOYS 1942
- ARCTIC 1942-43 - SICILY
1943 - SALERNO
1943 - NORMANDY 1944
-
MEDITERRANEAN 1944
H
e r a l d i c
D a t a
Badge: On a Field Red,
a griffin's head erased Gold
in front of two hunting horns in saltire
White.
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
April Contractors trials and commissioned for service
11th Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
On completion of trials and storing took passage
to work-up for operational service.
May On completion of work-up joined Irish Sea Escort
Force
16th (see addenda)
June
Deployed for Atlantic convoy escort duty in NW
Approaches.
to Nominated for escort of military convoy to
Gibraltar
August
September
17th Joined military convoy WS11X as part of escort with ships detached
from the Home Fleet
including HM Battleship PRINCE OF WALES, HM
Cruisers EURYALUS and KENYA. HM
Destroyers GALLANT, LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, ORIBI
and Polish ORP GARLAND and
PIORUN.
(Operation HALBERD - Malta Relief Convoy .See
Naval Staff History (HMSO-2002) and
THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by
D Macintyre.)
24th Detached from WS11X on relief off Gibraltar by ships of Force H.
Passage to resume duties In NW Approaches.
October
1st Joined military convoy WS12 in Clyde with HM Destroyer STANLEY as
part of escort during
Atlantic passage.
4th Remained with WS12 after Local Escort including HM Cruiser CAIRO
detached.
7th Detached from WS12 with HMS STANLEY and returned to Clyde.
November
Transferred to 11th Escort Group in continuation of Atlantic convoy defence.
Nominated for transfer to Mediterranean.
December
Joined 20th Escort Group at Londonderry.
Part of escort for Convoy HG76 for passage to
Gibraltar.
(Note: Carried stores for RAF at Gibraltar with
HM Destroyer ARROW.
Transferred to 13th Destroyer on arrival at
Gibraltar.
17th Part of escort for Convoy HG76 during initial stage of passage from
Gibraltar to Liverpool..
During support operations in defence of convoy
participated in sinking of U131 with HM
Destroyer EXMOOR and ships of 36th Escort Group
commanded by Commander F J Walker a
renowned U-Boat killer.
(For details of this operation and other
sinkings in the Atlantic see U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO), THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D
Macintyre, ENGAGE
THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY BY Corelli Barnett,
RELENTLESS PURSUIT by D
Wemyss and U- BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.).
18th Continued A/S defence of HG76.
Deployed with HM Destroyer STANLEY and located,
rammed and sank U434.
Sustained consequential structural damage.
21st Taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard Gibraltar
1 9 4 2
January
Under repair at Gibraltar.
February
On completion joined 37 Destroyer Division at Gibraltar for Local defence of
convoys.
(For details of operations in Mediterranean
during 1942 see above references and Naval Staff
History,
Passage from Gibraltar to Clyde for escort of
military convoy.
16th Joined HM Destroyers ACTIVE, ANTHONY, CROOME, DUNCAN, FIREDRAKE,
LIGHTNING and
LAFOREY as part of escort for Convoy WS16 during Atlantic passage.
21st Detached from WS12 as escort for HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS carrying
aircraft for transfer
to Malta as part of Operation SPOTTER.
27th Joined escort for HM Aircraft Carriers ARGUS and EAGLE ferrying
reinforcement aircraft to
Malta covered by HM Battleship MALAYA, HM
Cruiser HERMIONE, HM Destroyers
LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, ACTIVE, ANTHONY,
WHITEHALL, WISHART, EXMOOR
and CROOME. (Operation SPOTTER).
28th Operation aborted and returned to Gibraltar.
March
6th Joined same ships for escort of carriers (Operation SPOTTER)
(Note: Repeat of previous operation)
20th Joined escort for HMS ARGUS and HMS EAGLE with HMS MALAYA, HMS
HERMIONE,
HM Destroyers LAFOREY, DUNCAN, ACTIVE, ANTHONY,
WHITEHALL, WISHART,
EXMOOR and CROOME for repeat Malta aircraft
delivery (Operation PICKET I).
27th Deployed with same ships for further aircraft delivery (Operation
PICKET II).
April Transferred to 6th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet
and took passage to UK.
Deployed with Home Fleet in NW Approaches.
May
2nd Escorted HM Battleship KING GEORGE V to UK from Iceland after her
collision in
low visibility with HM Destroyer PUNJABI during
cover for passage of the Russian
Convoy PQ15.
23rd Part of Escort for Home Fleet ships covering Russian Convoy PQ16 and
returning Convoy
QP12 from the Kola Inlet
(For details of all Russian Convoy operations
see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R Ruegg.
THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B. Schoefield and CONVOY! by P Kemp).
June Detached for defence of Malta relief convoy from UK
5th Joined Malta relief convoy in Clyde as escort during passage to
Gibraltar with HM Cruisers
KENYA and LIVERPOOL, HM Destroyers BEDOUIN,
ESCAPADE, ICARUS, MARNE,
MATCHLESS, ONSLOW, HM Escort Destroyers
BADSWORTH and MIDDLETON.
(Operation HARPOON)
(See above references for Mediterranean
service.).
11th On arrival off Gibraltar deployed as part of Force X for Close
Escort of Malta Convoy through
to Malta with HM Cruiser CAIRO, HM
Destroyers BEDOUIN, MARNE, MATCHLESS,
ITHURIEL, PARTRIDGE, HM Escort Destroyers
MIDDLETON, BADSWORTH and Polish
destroyer ORP KUJAWIAK.
(Note: Force X also included HM Minesweepers
HEBE, SPEEDY, HYTHE and RYE on passage
for minesweeping duties based in Malta.)
Cover for passage to Sicilian Narrows was
provided by HM Aircraft Carriers EAGLE, ARGUS,
HM Battleship MALAYA, HM Cruiser CHARYBDIS, and
destroyers from Gibraltar Local
Flotilla deployed as Force W.
For full details of HARPOON see MALTA CONVOYS by
R Woodman.
15th In action with Italian cruiser Squadron in defence of convoy after
covering force from Gibraltar
had detached from Force X.
16th Took passage to Gibraltar on arrival of remaining two mercantiles in
Malta with surviving ships
of Force X.
(Note: ORP KUJAWIAK was sunk on arrival with
HMS BADSWORTH and HMS
MATCHLESS SERIOUSLY damaged by mines.)
19th Returned to Gibraltar with Force X and ships of covering Force
22nd Passage to UK to rejoin Flotilla with other ships detached from Home
Fleet.
July Deployed with HM
Destroyers ASHANTI, ESCAPADE, FAULKNOR, MARNE, MARTIN,
ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW,
HM Escort Destroyer MIDDLETON, US destroyers USS
MAYRANT and RHIND
as screen for HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK, US battleship USS
WASHINGTON,
HM Aircraft Carrier
VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers CUMBERLAND and NIGERIA to provide
Distant Cover for
passage of Russian Convoy PQ17 and return Convoy QP13 from Murmansk to
Iceland.
3rd Took passage to return to Scapa Flow with Distant Cover ships when
PQ17 scattered by order
from Admiralty.
See above references and THE CONVOY IS TO
SCATTER by J Broome.
20th Carried replenishment stocks of ammunition to Murmansk with HM
Destroyers MARNE,
MARTIN and MIDDLETON.
24th Arrived at Murmansk.
30th Damaged in collision at Murmansk and taken in hand for repair.
August
Under repair.
September On
completion of repair remained in North Russia to join escort for next return
convoy to UK.
13th Sailed from Archangel
as part of Local Escort for return Convoy QP14 and transferred Home
Fleet ships which
transferred from inward Convoy PQ18 for defence of QP14 during transit to
Loch Ewe.
(Note: This
deployment for return after repair is to be confirmed)
Detached from QP18 and returned to Scapa Flow
for Home Fleet duties.
(Note: Further repair may have been require
before resuming operational service in Home Fleet)
October
Deployment with Home Fleet in NW Approaches to be confirmed.
to
November
December
15th Provided Western Local Escort from Loch Ewe for outward Russian
Convoy JW51A with
HM Escort Destroyers
CHIDDINGFOLD and LEDBURY.
18th Detached from JW51B and returned to Scapa Flow.
22nd Provided Local Western Escort for Russian Convoy JW51B with same
ships.
25th Detached from JW51B.
1 9 4 3
January
6th Joined returning Russian Convoy RA51 as Local Western Escort with
HMS LEDBURY.
10th Detached from RA51.
17th Provided Local Western Escort from Loch Ewe for Russian Convoy JW52
with HMS
LEDBURY and HMS
MIDDLETON.
21st Detached from JW52.
February
5th Joined returning Russian Convoy RA52 with HMS MIDDLETON for local
escort.
8th Detached on arrival at Loch Ewe.
10th Resumed Home Fleet duties at Scapa Flow.
March
Deployed in NW Approaches for escort and patrol duties.
to
May
June Nominated for duty in support of Mediterranean
operations.
21st Detached from joint convoy with ships destined for Mediterranean
(Convoy KMF17)
with Home Fleet escorts after relief by HM
Destroyers AMAZON, BLACKMORE, BULLDOG
and FOXHOUND which escorted ships destined for
Freetown (WS31).
On arrival at Gibraltar joined 58 Destroyer
Division, Mediterranean Fleet
July Deployed with Support Force East for Sicily
landings (Operation HUSKY).
(For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
and Naval Staff History)
Deployed as Escort Group V with HM Escort
Destroyers BLENCATHRA, BRECON and
BRISSENDEN.
(For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
and Naval Staff History.)
Passage to Bone for convoy escort.
7th Sailed from Bone as part of escort for military Convoy KMF18
9th Detached from KMF18 to refuel,
10th Rejoined KMF18 escort for passage to BARK WEST beach head,
Detached from escort on arrival and deployed for
patrol and support during ;landings
(For details see BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de
Winser.)
Bombarded shore batteries in BARK EAST Landing
area with HM Escort Destroyer
PUCKERIDGE.
13th Involved in collision with HM Destroyer BRISSENDEN during
anti-submarine operation.
(Note: Remained operational but HMS PUCKERIDGE
sustained extensive damage to port
bow structure.
August
Deployed in central Mediterranean for support of landing operations.
September
Nominated for escort and support of planned allied landing as at Salerno.
Passage to Bizerta
4th Deployed for escort of military convoy FSS1 from Bizerta to beach
head
(Operation AVALANCHE)
9th Joined Northern Task Force with 21st Destroyer Flotilla gunfire
support and patrol off Salerno..
See above references and Naval Staff History).
October
Deployed for escort and patrol duty with 58 Destroyer Division in Western
Mediterranean.
to
December
1 9 4 4
January
Deployment for convoy defence and patrol in central and western in continuation.
to
February
March
8th Participated in sinking of U50 SW of Anzio in position 41.11N
12.27E with HM Destroyers
BLENCATHRA, BRECON and US destroyer USS MADISON.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.
April Convoy defence and anti-submarine patrol in
continuation.
May Nominated for support of allied landings in Normandy
(Operation NEPTUNE)
(LANDINGS IN NORMANDY (HMSO). D-DAY SHIPS by J
de Winser and ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett).
3rd Deployed in support of US warships escorting Convoy GUS38.
4th Participated in sinking of U371 off Bougie in position 37.M9N 5.39E
with with US ships and
Free French SENEGALAIS.
Passage to UK to join 1st Destroyer Flotilla
based at Portsmouth
Allocated to Force G for support of British
landings in Normandy..
18th Took part with ships of Forces J and S in joint defence exercise off
Brighton.
June Joined Escort Group 115 with HM Sloops LARK, CRANE,
HM Frigates CHELMER and
TORRINGTON.
5th Escorted ten Infantry Landing Craft and two Rescue Craft (Convoy
G15) from Solent to GOLD
beachhead.
6th Detached from G15 on arrival and deployed in Eastern Task Force
until Build-up Phase.
7th Returned to Portsmouth for escort and patrol duty in support of
landings.
On termination of NEPTUNE deployed for Support
duty in continuation off beach heads
July Channel support duties
in continuation.
to
August
September
Deployed for Channel convoy escort and patrol duty with Flotilla.
to Escort of convoys in eastern Channel area.
October
Nominated for refit in commercial shipyard.
November
Under refit at Liverpool.
to
December
1 9 4 5
January
Nominated for duty with 21st Destroyer Flotilla based at Sheerness.
Carried out Post refit trials in Irish Sea..
6th Passage to Join Flotilla.
15th Deployed for North Sea convoy escort, for interception of E-Boats
and other craft including
submersibles attempting minelaying and other
operations in the Thames estuary.
February
North Sea duties in continuation.
to
(Note: Schnorkel-fitted submarines were being
deployed at convoy assembly
May areas for Atlantic convoy traffic which had been
re-routed via Channel when air threat
from French bases had been removed by the allied
advance.
This increased the load on all escorts for
anti-submarine defence.).
June Nominated for transfer to Eastern Fleet and prepared
for foreign service.
(Note: To be refitted at Simonstown before
operation deployment.)
July Passage to South Africa
Taken in hand for refit.
August
Under refit.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS BLANKNEY completed refit after VJ Day and the ship returned to
UK. In May 1946 she was Paid off and entered Reserve at Devonport
. The ship had a refit in 1948 and was then laid up in Reserve Fleet at Sheerness . Later during 1952 she was transferred to moved to Hartlepool
.Approval was given for her to be placed on the Disposal List on 22nd October
1958. Placed on the Sales list the next year she was sold to BISCO for
demolition by Hughes Bolcow at Blyth
and arrived at the breaker’s yard in tow on 9th March that year.
Addenda
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS BLANKNEY
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
16/09/41
|
25/09/41
|
HX 150
|
27/09/41
|
30/09/41
|
02/10/41
|
09/10/41
|
HG 074
|
11/10/41
|
18/10/41
|
15/11/41
|
15/11/41
|
CT 006
|
18/11/41
|
24/11/41
|
13/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
TC 015
|
21/11/41
|
21/11/41
|
14/12/41
|
14/12/41
|
HG 076
|
18/12/41
|
30/12/41
|
27/04/42
|
27/04/42
|
PW 147
|
29/04/42
|
29/04/42
|
21/05/42
|
23/05/42
|
PQ 016
|
29/05/42
|
30/05/42
|
21/05/42
|
23/05/42
|
QP 012
|
29/05/42
|
29/05/42
|
12/06/42
|
12/06/42
|
HARPOON
|
16/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
27/06/42
|
29/06/42
|
PQ 017
|
04/07/42
|
04/07/42
|
26/06/42
|
29/06/42
|
QP 013
|
04/07/42
|
07/07/42
|
13/09/42
|
13/09/42
|
QP 014
|
25/09/42
|
26/09/42
|
15/12/42
|
15/12/42
|
JW 051A
|
18/12/42
|
25/12/42
|
22/12/42
|
22/12/42
|
JW 051B
|
30/12/42
|
04/01/43
|
30/12/42
|
06/01/43
|
RA 051
|
09/01/43
|
11/01/43
|
17/01/43
|
17/01/43
|
JW 052
|
17/01/43
|
27/01/43
|
29/01/43
|
05/02/43
|
RA 052
|
08/02/43
|
09/03/43
|
28/06/43
|
28/06/43
|
MKF 017
|
30/06/43
|
30/06/43
|
13/06/43
|
02/07/43
|
UGS 010
|
06/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
28/06/43
|
07/07/43
|
KMF 018
|
10/07/43
|
11/07/43
|
27/07/43
|
12/08/43
|
UGS 013
|
unknown
|
24/08/43
|
25/10/43
|
13/11/43
|
UGS 022
|
16/11/43
|
22/11/43
|
18/12/43
|
18/12/43
|
VN 012A
|
19/12/43
|
19/12/43
|
07/02/44
|
07/02/44
|
SNF 014
|
11/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
03/02/44
|
13/02/44
|
MKF 028A
|
16/02/44
|
20/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
SNF 015
|
24/02/44
|
24/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
27/02/44
|
KMF 029
|
02/03/44
|
05/03/44
|
18/02/44
|
01/03/44
|
UGS 033A
|
02/03/44
|
29/02/44
|
15/10/44
|
15/10/44
|
ON 260
|
18/10/44
|
30/10/44
|
05/10/44
|
17/10/44
|
HX 312
|
18/10/44
|
21/10/44
|
15/10/44
|
19/10/44
|
OS 092KM
|
unknown
|
25/10/44
|
17/03/45
|
17/03/45
|
TAM 110
|
18/03/45
|
unknown
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)
SINKING OF SS ARCHANGEL on 16 MAY 1941
with thanks to Peter Houston ((a) 7 Feb 2011 and
(b) 7 Feb 2012)
(a) "During research into my Father's war experiences, I came across
this information regarding HMS BLANKNEY. At the time, my late father was aboard
the ARCHANGEL and I recall him describing the action as outlined below.
196 and 182 Batteries (65th Reg HAA, RA) were ordered to
redeploy to Birmingham and, on 16 May 1941, embarked on SS ARCHANGEL at Kirkwall
for Aberdeen. The destroyer HMS BLANKNEY was assigned as escort. Around midnight
ARCHANGEL was attacked off Aberdeen by three German aircraft believed to be
operating out of Norway. The following is the direct word-for-word account as
recorded in the regimental war diary [1]:
'16 May, 2359 hr approximately. Three Heinkel III
approached ARCHANGEL and one of them flying at approximately fifty feet
dropped two HE bombs on the ship, one aft and one in the engine room,
causing boiler explosion and disabling damage to the ship. Enemy aircraft
engaged by escorting destroyer HMS BLANKNEY (Lt Comdr Powlett R.N.) as it
returned to machine gun damaged ARCHANGEL and destroyer’s boats and after
three runs it was damaged and fell into the sea. Evacuation of all personnel
on board ARCHANGEL not killed by explosion continued. Remaining enemy
aircraft made off. Evacuation of personnel completed by putting BLANKNEY
alongside ARCHANGEL.
17 May, ARCHANGEL taken in tow by tug and beached
approximately 30 miles north of Aberdeen.
0800 (approx) Personnel evacuated from ARCHANGEL reached
Aberdeen in BLANKNEY. Total deaths (including those who died in hospital up
to 29 May) 41 ORs, 38 of them of 182 Hy AA Bty and 3 of 196 Hy AA Bty.
Injured and admitted to hospital and still living on 31 May, of 182 Hy AA
Bty 18 ORs (including BSM Bee J.C., No 3511578) and 24 ORs of 196 Hy AA Bty
(including W/BSM Flitcroft W., No 3522907). No officer casualties. All
injured suffered from burns." (NOTE: HMS Blankney was misspelt twice in
the above report)'"
Peter's father was not injured but he described the terrible
burns of those who were. The uninjured men were assigned to look after the
injured personnel on a one-to-one basis. He spoke very highly of the BLANKNEY -
described how she put up a tremendous AA barrage whilst circling the stricken
ARCHANGEL at high speed. I am struck by the matter of fact reporting in the 65th
HAA war diaries of the shooting down of one of the He111s "after three runs it
was damaged and fell into the sea"!
He subsequently went overseas and survived 31/2 years as a POW in the Far
East after taking part in the defence of Singapore, Sumatra and Java.
[ 1] 65th Reg. HAA, RA War diaries,
Royal Artillery Museum Library, Woolwich
and by Don Kindell
British steamer ARCHANGEL (2448grt) was sunk by German bombing
57-55N, 2-03W, ten miles northeast of Aberdeen. Forty crew of a crew of seventy
five and twelve troops (note: different number from official 65th Reg HAA
account) of four hundred on board were lost. The survivors were rescued by
destroyer BLANKNEY which landed them at Aberdeen. The destroyer attempted to
take the steamer in tow, but she beached off Black Dog, five miles south of
Newburgh, and broke in four pieces. (b)
I recently found some more accounts
(summarised below) on a web site which was advertising the sale of medals
belonging to the captain of Archangel, A. P. Sutton.
http://www.dnw.co.uk/medals/auctionarchive/searchcataloguearchive/itemdetail.lasso?itemid=59658.
The following report of
the incident was recorded by the Ministry of War Transport:
‘I am sorry to inform you
that the Archangel was attacked by enemy aircraft about midnight on 16 May 1941,
while conveying troops from Kirkwall to Aberdeen. She was struck heavily
amidships, the engine and boiler rooms being put out of action and the upper
decks so badly damaged that there was no communication between the fore and aft
of the ship. The Master, Captain A. P. Sutton, was seriously injured, and out of
a crew of 75, 17 are dead or missing and 15 injured ... Casualties among the
troops were very heavy but the discipline throughout of both troops and crew was
excellent. The destroyer escort sent a Surgeon to assist the ship’s Medical
Officer. While they were attending the wounded there were two further attacks
from the air, but these were beaten off by the Archangel’s own guns. At 4
o’clock in the morning tugs arrived and both the wounded and uninjured troops,
with part of the crew, were transferred to a destroyer. The Archangel was
beached but unfortunately is a total wreck.’
Since Captain Sutton was
seriously wounded, Chief Officer A. W. Greenham submitted his report of the
action as follows:
‘The enemy aircraft released three
bombs simultaneously which struck the ship amidships between the funnels ...
They wrecked the whole of the upper decks and blew out the private cabins;
wrecked the engine and boiler rooms and there was hell let loose with escaping
steam. I noted that the engine room skylights still remained in position but
there was nothing left of the after funnel except a great chunk of iron ... the
Second Officer came back and said he had found the Captain on the deck injured,
and the O.C. Troops and I decided there was nothing to do but collect the
wounded. Just at this time we heard the destroyer [H.M.S. Blankney; her
Captain’s report included], which was ahead of us at the time of the attack,
firing at an aircraft and our guns joined him. The starboard forward gun was
very busy, and I think he got off two or three belts, but I am unable to say
whether the after guns were used. The aircraft flew over us twice, using his
machine-guns, and I saw tracer bullets flying directly at me. Although I did not
actually see the aircraft I got the impression it was flying about 500 feet
high, as I saw bursts of shells in the half-light about 1000 yards away at low
altitude. I believe the destroyer shot down the aircraft. Some of the crew
thought that tracer bullets from our guns struck the aircraft, but it was not
seen approaching or overhead. The first thing we heard was the bombs and later
there were machine-gun attacks ... ’ |