Type
III HUNT-Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Swan Hunter at
Newcastle on 28th July 1940 and laid
down on 1st May 1941 as Job Number J4287. The ship was launched on 3rd February
1942 as the first RN ship
to carry the name HMS BORDER, that of a fox-hunt on the border between England
and Scotland. Before
completion she was transferred to the Royal Hellenic Navy on loan and renamed
HHelMS ADRIAS. Commissioned
in July 1942, her Build was completed on 5th August and after her Acceptance
Trials she was prepared
for service with the 22nd Destroyer Flotilla based at Alexandria.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
No British Battle Honours were
awarded as
the ship served in an allied
Navy
Ship Badge
None is included in the Official
List of Heraldic
Crests for RN warships as she
was never
in commission with the Royal
Navy.
D e t a i l s o f
W a r S e r v i c e a s H H e l M S
A D R I A S
(for more ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search)
1 9 4 2
July
Commissioned under Greek Navy command as HHelMS ADRIAS.
August
Contractors Trials.
5th - Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
On completion of
trials and storing took passage to Scapa Flow to work-up for service with ships
of the Home Fleet. During work-up she sustained damage and returned to her
build yard for repair.
September to November
Under repair at Wallsend.
December
Resumed work-up at Scapa Flow.
1 9 4 3
January
Completed work-up and nominated for escort of military convoy during Atlantic
passage to Indian Ocean.
23rd - Joined HM Cutters BANFF and FISHGUARD, HM Armed Merchant Cruisers
CANTON and CILICIA, HM Destroyer QUADRANT, the Greek Destroyer MIAOULIS (Ex HMS
MODBURY), French Sloop SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA and HM Destroyer RELENTLESS in Clyde
for escort of joint Convoy WS26 to Middle East and KMF8 to the Mediterranean.
29th - Convoy KMF8 detached for separate passage to the Mediterranean.
31st - HM Destroyers QUALITY, QUICKMATCH, QUIBERON, RACEHORSE, and
REDOUBT joined escort
February
3rd - Detached from WS26 for independent passage before arrival of WS26
at Freetown
March
Joined 22nd Destroyer Flotilla at Alexandria after passage via the Cape
of Hope and Red Sea. Deployed in eastern Mediterranean for convoy defence and
patrol.
April
Transferred to Algiers with Flotilla for convoy defence and support of military
operations.
May
Algiers deployment in continuation. Took part in blockade of Cape Bon
area for interception of craft which were evacuating German personnel from
North Africa. (Operation RETRIBUTION – See Naval Staff History, THE
BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by C Barnett.)
June
Deployed in central Mediterranean with Flotilla.
July
10th - Took part in allied invasion of Sicily as part of Support Force
East with other allied ships including Greek destroyers KANARIS, MIAOULIS, THEMISTOCLES
and SAKHTOURIS (Operation HUSKY).
August
Convoy defence and support of military operations in Sicily and Italian mainland
in continuation.
September
Transferred with Flotilla to Alexandria after Italian surrender. (Note:
Increase in naval activity was anticipated in support of the planned allied
operations to occupy Dodecanese islands in the Aegean Sea (Operation ACCOLADE)
– See IMPROVISE AND DARE by JS Guard, WAR IN THE AEGEAN by E. Walker and
P Smith and the above references.)
October
Support of Aegean operations in continuation.
21st - Deployed with HM Destroyers JERVIS, PATHFINDER and HURWORTH for
transport of stores for Leros.
22nd - Laid-up in Gulf of Cos overnight. Carried out search with HMS
HURWORTH for invasion barges at Port Lathi and Port Arki without success. Diverted
to carry out further search south of Leros. Both ships ran into a newly laid
minefield east of Kalymos and this ship detonated a mine which completely
destroyed the bow structure as far as the forward gun mounting. Although the
main propulsion machinery was undamaged other services including her compass
and other essential items were rendered useless. Parts of the forward mounting
were lying across the bridge. 21 of the ships company lost their lives. HMS
HURWORTH then struck another mine and broke in two, sinking after 15 minutes
with heavy loss of life. Since the ship was able to steam it was decided to
beach her in Turkish waters and attempt to restore some services to enable
return to Alexandria. (For full details see WAR IN THE AEGEAN.)
23rd - After rescue of survivors from HMS HURWORTH ship arrived in
Turkish waters and beached in Gurvergenik Bay.
November
Under repair by ship's company at Gumusluk in Gurgervenik Bay. (Note:
During this period air cover was provided in daylight and some Motor Launches
sent to assist. Wounded were landed and taken to Izmir. Dead were buried
locally although reburied in Greece after the end of WW2.)
December
1st - Ship repair to allow passage completed and sailed under own power
from Gumusluk after nightfall, escorted by Motor Gunboats.
2nd - Laid-up during daylight in Turkish waters.
3rd - Met HMS JERVIS and HMS PENN off Castelorizo and laid in Kavavia
Bay until HM Tug BRIGAND arrived. Taken in tow to Limasssol, Cyprus.
4th - Sailed for Alexandria escorted by HMS JERVIS and HMS PENN. (Note:
Tow attempt proved difficult and passage was completed under own power.)
6th - Arrived at Alexandria to tumultuous welcome from ships in harbour.
(Note: Message was sent to Builders to pay tribute to the construction which
had allowed an ahead passage for 600 miles under such a damaged condition. Commander
Toumbas, Royal Hellenic Navy was awarded the Greek equivalent of the Victoria
Cross for his heroic performance and his determination to return to Alexandria
with the ship.)
1 9 4 4
Laid-up at Alexandria until
return to UK where she arrived in December.
1 9 4 5
Laid-up at Newcastle and declared a Constructive Total
Loss.
P o s
t W a r
N o t e s
HMS
BORDER was placed on the Disposal List on 10th October 1945 and sold to Messrs King
& Co of Gateshead. She arrived at the breakers for demolition on 20th
November that year.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HM Hellenic Ship
ADRIAS
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
24/01/43
|
24/01/43
|
KMF 008
|
01/02/43
|
01/02/43
|
29/04/43
|
29/04/43
|
MW 027
|
unknown
|
04/05/43
|
08/06/43
|
14/06/43
|
GTX 002
|
unknown
|
19/06/43
|
24/06/43
|
24/06/43
|
MKS 016
|
29/06/43
|
29/06/43
|
05/07/43
|
05/07/43
|
MWF 036
|
10/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
MWF 037
|
13/07/43
|
13/07/43
|
21/07/43
|
21/07/43
|
KMS 019A
|
22/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
03/08/43
|
07/08/43
|
MWF 039
|
10/08/43
|
10/08/43
|
04/09/43
|
05/09/43
|
MKS 024
|
unknown
|
13/09/43
|
20/09/43
|
21/09/43
|
XIF 001
|
24/09/43
|
24/09/43
|
17/09/43
|
25/09/43
|
MKF 024
|
27/09/43
|
07/10/43
|
06/10/43
|
06/10/43
|
XIF 002
|
09/10/43
|
09/10/43
|
16/11/44
|
16/11/44
|
MKF 036
|
23/11/44
|
30/11/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)