Type I HUNT-Class Escort Destroyer (but see Addendum)
ordered from Cammell Laird, Birkenhead on 4th September 1939 under the1939 War Emergency Build Programme. The ship was laid down as Job No.
V1048 on 11th November 1939 and launched on 6th August 1940 as the 1st RN ship to carry the name of the Fox-Hunt
in Cumberland. Build was completed on 14th December
1940 and after acceptance she served with the 1st Destroyer Flotilla based at Portsmouth. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 she was adopted by the civil community
of Keswick, then in Cumberland. .
B a t t l e
H o n o u r s
NORTH SEA 1941-45 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1942-44 -
SICILY 1943 - SALERNO 1943 - AEGEAN 1943
- NORMANDY 1944 - MEDITERRANEAN 1944
H e r a l d i c
D a t a
Badge: On a field Red a hunting horn and a crozier
in saltire, both 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 0
December Contractors trials and commissioned for service with 1st
Destroyer Flotilla
14th Build completion and commenced Acceptance trials
On completion of trials and storing carried out
work-up for operational service.
1 9 4 1
January Joined Flotilla at Portsmouth for convoy defence and
patrol in English Channel
February Deployment based at Portsmouth in continuation.
to
April (Note: Flotilla then included HM Destroyers CLEVELAND,
TYNEDALE, FERNIE,
BERKELEY and ATHERSTONE all of this Class of
Escort.)
May
12th Escorted HM Cruiser BERWICK with sister destroyer
HMS BERKELEY during
passage from Portsmouth to Rosyth for completion
of repair.
June Flotilla duties for convoy defence and patrol based
at Portsmouth in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 2
January Deployment at Portsmouth with Flotilla in continuation
to
February (Note:
Other ships in Flotilla were:
HM Destroyers BERKELEY, FERNIE, PUCKERIDGE and
WHEATLAND
all of this Class.)
March Flotilla deployment based at Portsmouth.
14th Took part in operation to intercept Auxiliary
Cruiser MICHEL (SCHIFF 28))
in English Channel. Sustained damage by return
fire
(Note: This ship escaped and completed transit
to Atlantic via Channel for
passage to Far East. After several sinkings she
was sunk east of
Yokohama on 17 October 1942 by the US submarine
USS TARPON.)
April Channel escort and patrol duties in continuation
to
May
June
18th Under air attack during escort of Channel convoy and
sustained damage by near
misses and cannon fire.
July Deployed in English Channel until transferred to
21st Destroyer Flotilla for escort
to
December of North Sea convoys between Thames and Forth Estuary, based
at Sheerness
Joined sister destroyers HMS CATTISTOCK,
COTTESMORE, FERNIE, GARTH,
HOLDERNESS, MENDIP, MEYNELL and PYTCHLEY.
1 9 4 3
January Sheerness deployment with 21st Flotilla in
continuation.
to
February
March Deployed for escort of Convoy FS1074 in North Sea
28th During escort of FS1074 under attack by E-Boats of
2nd German Flotilla which was
successfully driven off with HM Destroyer
WARWICK in area of Smiths Knoll.
April Flotilla duties in North Sea in continuation.
May Nominated for transfer for escort and support of
planned allied landings in Sicily
(Operation HUSKY)
Prepared for foreign service.
June Nominated for escort of military convoy to Gibraltar
during passage from Clyde.
Passage to join joint military convoy WS31 to
Middle East and KMF17 to Gibraltar.
21st Joined HM Cruiser UGANDA and HM Destroyers ARROW,
BLANKNEY*, BRECON*,
BRISSENDEN*, HAMBLEDON*, LEDBURY*, MENDIP*,
VICEROY, WALLACE,
WITHERINGTON and WOOLSTON as Ocean Escort for
joint convoy during passage
in Atlantic.
(Note: Ships marked * were all HUNT Class.)
26th Detached from join convoy when Middle East and
Gibraltar section divided and took
passage to Gibraltar with KMF17.
(Note: Escort for WS31 during onward passage to
Freetown was provided by destroyers
from Gibraltar.)
July Joined 58th Destroyer Division, Mediterranean Fleet
for escort of military convoys to
landing beaches in Sicily.
Carried out preparatory exercises for HUSKY.
Joined Support Force East for escort of assault
convoy.
9th Took part in defence of assault convoys with other
HUNT Class destroyers.
10th Deployed for escort of build-up convoys and patrol
to intercept attack by E-Boats.
August On release from HUSKY deployed for convoy escort and
patrol in central Mediterranean.
Nominated for escort and support of planned
allied landings on Italian mainland at
Salerno (Operation AVALANCHE).
(Note: Extensive operations were carried out in
Messina Strait including bombardment of
positions on mainland during the last week of
this month.)
September
9th Took part in escort of assault convoys during
passage and for patrol off beach head
during landings.
AVALANCHE deployment for escort and patrol
during subsequent build-up.
October On release from AVALANCHE nominated for service in
Eastern Mediterranean.
Passage to join naval units providing defence
against enemy landings in Aegean islands
previously garrisoned by Italian forces.
8th Carried out search for invasion craft on passage
with German troops for invasion.
27th Deployed as escort for HM Cruiser AURORA with HM
Destroyers PATHFINDER
and sister ship HMS EXMOOR.
(Note: HMS AURORA was to relive HM Cruiser
PHOEBE for interception patrols.)
November Military support and interception patrol in continuation.
(Note: During night periods ship laid in
Turkish coastal waters to avoid air attacks.)
9th Carried out interception patrol off Amorgas with HM
Destroyers FURY and EXMOOR.
13th Sailed from Alexandria to Aegean to reinforce naval
support to military.
14th Carried out bombardment of enemy positions in Alinda
Bay, Leros with HM Destroyers
PENN and ALDENHAM.
19th Towed damaged destroyer HMS ROCKWOOD from Turkish
waters to Alexandria.
(Note: HMS ROCKWOOD had been damaged after being
hit by a Glider bomb during
support of military defence.
For details of the defence and later evacuation
of the Aegean islands see WAR
IN THE AEGEAN by E Gray.)
December Deployed in Eastern Mediterranean with 58th Division for
convoy defence and anti-
submarine patrol based at Alexandria.
(Note: Ships in Division were HM Destroyers
HAMBLEDON, BLANKNEY and
BRECON.)
1 9 4 4
January Transferred with ships of Division for deployment based
in Malta.
(Note: Allied landings had been made at Anzio
(Operation SHINGLE which had
involved a large proportion of warships based in
Malta, with a consequent
reduction in availability of escort for convoy
defence and patrol..)
February Deployed for convoy defence and patrol in central
Mediterranean including service
in support of SHINGLE convoys.
March SHINGLE support in continuation, based at Naples.
9th Deployed for anti-submarine operations.
10th Took part in sinking of U450 with HM Destroyers
BLANKNEY, BRECON, EXMOOR
URCHIN and US destroyer USS MADISON in position
41.11N. 12.27E off Anzio.
51 of the crew were rescued by HMS URCHIN when the submarine was
scuttled.
For details see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair
and U-BOATS DESTROYED
by P Kemp.
29th Despatched with HM Destroyers HAMBLEDON and WILTON
to assist HM Destroyers
LAFOREY, TUMULT and ULSTER in hunt for submarine
which had been detected by
ASDIC equipment, north of Sicily.
Joined search operation on arrival.
30th Submarine identified as U223 forced to surface by
series of sustained depth charge
attacks and attempted to escape under cover of darkness.
Took part in gunfire
engagement with other ships during which U223 fired acoustic
torpedo which hit and sank
HMS LAFOREY.
U223 sunk in position 38.54N. 14.18E after 27
hours under depth charge and HEDGEHOG
mortar attacks.
(Note: Only 69 of the complement of 258
survived the sinking of HMS LAFOREY and
23 of the 50 crew of U223 survived this
engagement.
For details see above references.)
April Nominated for support of planned allied landings in
Normandy.
Passage to UK to prepare for Operation NEPTUNE.
May Joined 21st Destroyer Flotilla based at Sheerness.
Took part in preparatory exercises for NEPTUNE.
For details of naval activities prior to and
during NEPTUNE see LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO) and OPERATION NEPTUNE
by K Edwards.
(Note: Participation in Exercise FABIUS to be
confirmed as this ship was to
be deployed in Escort Group 113 for escort of
Build-Up Phase US military
convoy in SW Approaches.
June Deployed with HM Sloops HART and WHIMBREL, HM
Frigates WHITTAKER
and WALDEGRAVE as EG113 and took passage to
Milford Haven for escort of
Convoy EBP2 for passage to Western Task Force
area with Pre-loaded US Division.
4th Operation delayed 24 hours.
5th Passage to position south of Isle of Wight as
escort of EPB2.
(Note: HM Frigates SPRAGGE and STOCKHAM
belonging to Escort Group 112
were also part of escort for EPB2)
6th Passage through swept channel to Beach Head,
Detached from EPB2 on arrival in Unloading
anchorage and returned to Plymouth
for escort of military convoys.
Deployed for escort of Follow-up military
convoys to landing areas.
(Note: Based at Plymouth with HMS HAMBLEDON and
HMS MENDIP.)
30th Retained for service in English Channel on
termination of NEPTUNE
July Channel deployment for patrol, convoy defence and
support of military operations
in continuation.
August
3rd Carried out salvage operation on captured human
torpedo but sustained damage when
its scuttling charge exploded during recovery.
(Note: Series of attacks was carried out on
ships off French coast using this type of
weapon and recovery of any which were captured
or found was of great
importance.
September On release from service in support of military operations
resumed convoy defence
to
December and patrol with 21st Flotilla at Sheerness
(Note: During this period extensive attacks
were carried out by E-Boats, SCHNORKEL
and conventional submarines on traffic in Nore
Command. As a result additional
escorts were transferred to Nore Command to
supplement existing strength so
that North Sea convoys could be adequately
escorted.
(For details see Naval Staff History, HOLD THE
NARROW SEA by P Smith
and THE CAPTAIN CLASS FRIGATES by D
Collingwood.)
1 9 4 5
January Flotilla deployment in Nore Command in continuation.
to
May
June Remained in commission after VE Day and deployment
with Flotilla for support
to
July of re-occupation and visits to UK and European ports.
August
15th Sustained damage in collision with ss WILLOWDALE
(see addenda) and
taken in hand for repair.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS BLENCATHRA remained in service after repair and was
deployed for use as an Air Target Ship when her armament had been
removed and the necessary modifications to suit this type of work had been made
by HM Dockyard at Rosyth. The ship was then used for
training of air crew in identification and attacks on ships at a station in the North Sea between October 1945 and June 1948.
She Paid-off in July that year and was reduced to Reserve status. She was laid-up at Harwich until 1953 and
the transferred to the Reserve Fleet Division at Barrow-in-Furness. A proposed sale to
Norway never materialised in April 1950 and the ship was placed on the Disposal List in October 1956 with nine other HUNT Class destroyers.
Sold to BISCO in 1956 she was towed to the breaker’s yard at Barrow on 2nd January 1957 for demolition
by T W Ward & Co.
Addenda
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS BLENCATHRA
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
16/11/42
|
16/11/42
|
CW 134
|
17/11/42
|
17/11/42
|
26/12/42
|
26/12/42
|
CW 144
|
27/12/42
|
29/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
CE 142
|
28/12/42
|
28/12/42
|
15/03/43
|
15/03/43
|
CW 163
|
16/03/43
|
16/03/43
|
16/03/43
|
16/03/43
|
CE 161
|
17/03/43
|
17/03/43
|
02/05/43
|
02/05/43
|
CW 175
|
03/05/43
|
03/05/43
|
03/05/43
|
03/05/43
|
CE 173
|
04/05/43
|
04/05/43
|
03/05/43
|
04/05/43
|
PW 333
|
05/05/43
|
05/05/43
|
18/06/43
|
26/06/43
|
KMF 017
|
27/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
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
|
05/07/43
|
unknown
|
MKF 017A
|
unknown
|
17/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
GUS 010X
|
25/07/43
|
13/08/43
|
12/07/43
|
30/07/43
|
UGS 012
|
07/08/43
|
10/08/43
|
29/07/43
|
30/07/43
|
KMS 021
|
07/08/43
|
10/08/43
|
03/12/43
|
unknown
|
XIF 005
|
unknown
|
09/12/43
|
05/12/43
|
21/12/43
|
UGS 026
|
25/12/43
|
30/12/43
|
20/01/44
|
20/01/44
|
SNF 013
|
22/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
28/02/44
|
28/02/44
|
VN 024
|
29/02/44
|
29/02/44
|
09/12/44
|
09/12/44
|
TAM 012
|
10/12/44
|
10/12/44
|
14/12/44
|
14/12/44
|
TAM 018
|
16/12/44
|
16/12/44
|
15/12/44
|
15/12/44
|
ATM 014
|
16/12/44
|
16/12/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)
HMS BLENCATHRA,
BROCKLESBY and LIDDESDALE
- "ONE-OFF" TYPE II HUNTs?
by Jon Summers
(Editor's Notes:
1. HMS BLENCATHRA is listed above as a Type 1 Hunt by Lt Cdr
Mason. HMS BROCKLESBY and LIDDESDALE are usually found grouped with BLENCATHRA,
and were listed as Type II, but have been changed to Type I.
2. "Conways All the World's Fighting
Ships 1922-46" lists the three as Type I; Lenton's "British and Empire
Warships of the Second World War" includes them in the Type I section but
prefaces their names with Type II, and then lists their details under Type
II!)
Blencathra (Cammel Laird),
Brocklesby (Cammel Laird) and Liddesdale (VA, Tyne) were all Type II Hunts, and
were among the earlier builds, so the "two mount" layout in these ships is
possibly either a "left over" from the Type I layout or the result of supply
problems - one of the three mounts intended to be fitted on the Type I in the
original Admiralty design was removed by the time the Type I's entered service,
due to stability problems. The "beamier" hull of the Type II was no doubt part
of the response to this problem. After the bulk of the Type II's had been
completed with three 4in mounts, the Type III Hunts then returned to a "two
mount" layout, but this is rather later, so is presumably a separate development
(to enable them to carry a pair of torpedo tubes, not fitted in the earlier
Types).
As for BLENCATHRA:
Hull dimensions were those of the slightly beamier Type
II:
(Type I, 264.25 (pp), 280 (oa) x 29 x 7.75')
(Type II, 264.25 (pp), 282.5 (oa) x 31.5 x 7.75')
However, she is listed as having the Type I main
armament:
(Type I, 2 x twin 4"; Type II, 3 x twin 4").
The lack of a third turret reduced her standard
displacement to 1,000 tons
(Type I, 907 tons; Type II, 1,050 tons)
and also reduced standard complement to 146
(Type I, 146; Type II, 168)
(above data from Lenton & Colledge, "Warships of World
War II")
The evolution of the Hunt class:
1939 Estimates (ordered circa Mar/Apr 1939) - All Type
I Hunts
1939 War Programme (ordered circa Sep 1939) - All Type
II Hunts
1940 War Programme - All Type III Hunts
The two Type IV Hunts (to the Thornycroft design)
The date ordered in your records fits in with the above
scheme, and your records also state she was built under the "1939 War Emergency
Programme", all this again making her a Type II.
COLLISION of 15 AUGUST 1945
by
Nigel Scott Collett
I have been
unable to trace s.s. Willowdale in the 1945/6 Lloyds Register, although there
are two vessels with similar names:
Willodale,
1,777 gross tons, built 1909 and owned by Brommage Shipping Co Ltd of Cardiff
Willowdale
Park, WW2 Canadian Standard, 7,243 gross tons, built 1944 and owned by the
Canadian Government (Managers: Park S.S. Co Ltd)