Type II
HUNT-Class Escort Destroyer ordered on 20th December 1939 from Alex.
Stevens, Govan in the 1939 War Emergency
Programme. The ship was laid down on 7th April 1941 as Job No J1480. She was
launched on 29th January 1942 as the first RN ship to carry this name, that of a
fox-hunt in North Yorkshire. Her build was completed on 16th June 1942 and after
a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March
1942 this ship had been adopted by the civil community of Beverley, then in
the East Riding of Yorkshire.
B a t t l e H o n o
u r s
ARCTIC 1942 - NORTH AFRICA 1942 - MALTA CONVOYS
1942
H e
r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Barry wavy of six White and Blue,
a fox sejant Red.
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 2
June
Contractor's Sea Trials and commissioned for service in Western
Approaches.
16th - Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
On completion
of trials and storing took passage to begin work-up
July
Worked-up for operational service in NW Approaches. On completion of
work-up joined Londonderry Special Escort Division. Nominated for detached
service with Home Fleet ships as escort for Malta relief convoy
29th - Joined military convoy WS21 for Indian Ocean in Clyde with sister
destroyer HMS WILTON as Local Escort during passage in NW Approaches.
August
2nd - Detached from WS21 to join Home Fleet ships for escort of ships
destined for Malta.
9th - Deployed with HM Destroyers ASHANTI, LEDBURY, FURY, ICARUS,
INTREPID, PATHFINDER, PENN, WESTCOTT, WRESTLER and VIDETTE as screen for HM cruisers
NIGERIA, KENYA, MANCHESTER and CAIRO as Force X for WS21S Close Escort during
through passage to Malta (Operation PEDESTAL). (For full details of this
dramatic operation see PEDESTAL by P Smith, THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by
D Macintyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett, MALTA CONVOYS by R
Woodman and Naval Staff History).
12th - Under heavy and sustained air attacks during which ss DEUCALIAN
in was sunk hit and immobilised. Detached from Force X as escort for this
mercantile which had been able to get under way.
13th - Rescued survivors from ss DEUCALIAN after it had been sunk by
torpedo aircraft. During passage to rejoin WS21S diverted to stand by ss DORSET
damaged by dive bombing and immobilised. (Note: This ship later sank.)
14th - Deployed with HM Destroyer PENN to assist damaged tanker OHIO to
enter harbour. (See above references and FLEET SWEEPERS AT WAR by J Williams).
19th - Return passage to Gibraltar with HMS PENN and HMS LEDBURY.
21st - Arrived at Gibraltar.
24th - Passage from Gibraltar to Scapa Flow. (Note: One source states
that this destroyer was part of escort for damaged aircraft carrier HMS
INDOMITABLE during passage to UK prior to repair in US Navy dockyard.)
September
Detached service with Home Fleet in continuation. Deployed for escort of
Fleet Auxiliaries required for replenishment of escorts used for defence of
Russian convoy PQ18 and returning QP14.
On release from Home Fleet detachment
rejoined Londonderry Escort Division.
October
Deployed for convoy defame in NW Approaches. Nominated for escort of
military convoys during passage to Gibraltar prior to allied landings in North
Africa (Operation TORCH).
20th - Sailed with HM Destroyer COWDRAY and Polish destroyer ORP
BLYSKAWICA for escort of convoy to Gibraltar.
September
26th - Retained at Gibraltar for escort and support duties during
landings.
November
Joined Eastern Task Force for support of landing at Oran.
8th - Part of escort for assault convoys.
12th - Deployed for escort of coastal convoys in support of military
operations.
20th - Under air attack during escort of convoy between Phillippeville
and Bone. Hit aft abreast 4in mounting and sustained damage when bomb exploded
in sea after passing through structure. An after compartment was flooded and
ship taken under tow to Algiers for temporary repair.
25th - Under repair at Algiers.
December
Repair at Algiers in continuation.
20th - Passage from Algiers to Gibraltar for further repair to allow
return passage to UK.
1 9 4 3
January
Under repair by HM Dockyard, Gibraltar.
24th - Passage to UK as part of escort for Military convoy.
February
Detached from convoy on arrival in UK waters. Repair arranged at
Tyneside commercial shipyard.
Future deployment with Royal Hellenic Navy under
consideration.
9th - Taken in hand for repair prior to transfer
March
Under repair. Paid off from RN service and transferred to Royal Hellenic
Navy.
April to June
Repair in continuation. Greek naval crew joined.
W a r S e r v i c e a s
H H e l M S
T H E M I S T O C L E S
July
Post refit trials and commissioned as HHelMS THEMISTOCLES
10th - Dockyard work completed and ship prepared for work-up.
August
Worked up for operation service. Transferred to Mediterranean Fleet.
September
Passage to Algiers on completion of work-up.
30th - Joined HM Destroyers CROOME, EXMOOR and Greek destroyer KRITI (Ex
HMS TETCOTT ) in 22nd Destroyer Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet.
Nominated for
support of military operations in Aegean,. Passage to operational area.
October
1st - Deployed with HM Destroyer ALDENHAM and sister HUNT Class Greek
destroyer HHelMS MIAOULIS (Ex HMS MODBURY) for patrol to intercept invasion
convoy.
2nd - Interception unsuccessful but patrol maintained in Kasos Strait
after nightfall. (Note: See WAR IN THE AEGEAN by P Smith and E Walker.)
3rd - Passage to Alexandria to refuel and replenish.
4th - Sailed from Alexandria with HM Destroyers ALDENHAM, ROCKWOOD and
Greek MIAOULIS for Limassol to provide support of military operations in
Aegean.
7th - Passage with HMS ALDENHAM from Limassol to meet HM Cruiser
CARLISLE; HM Destroyers PETARD end PANTHER in position south of Scarpanto
Straits.
8th - Detached and returned to Alexandria after unsuccessful search
through Straits.
November
Aegean support and cover for evacuation of troops from Leros.
December
Deployed in eastern Mediterranean for convoy defence end patrol. Nominated
for support of planned landings at Anzio and took passage to Malta.
1 9 4 4
January
Deployed for defence of military convoys assembling for assault at
Anzio. (Operation ANVIL: For details see Naval Staff History and ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY.)
Sailed from Naples with Task Unit 81.6.
21st - Part of escort for assault convoys and carried out defensive
patrols and support during planned landings.
Deployed as part of Attack Force X
February to June
Mediterranean convoy defence and ANVIL support in continuation.
July
Nominated for escort of military convoys during Assault Phase of planned
allied landings in South France (Operation DRAGOON - Formerly ANVIL).
Passage to
Naples for service under US Navy operational command for DRAGON.
August
Deployed at Naples.
11th - Sailed from Naples with US Navy destroyers USS TATNALL, USS
BARRY, USS ROPER, USS GREENE and USS OSMOND INGRAM as escort for Convoy SY1 for
passage to Propriano. (Note: Convoy SY1 was designated as a Commando Convoy and
comprised five British Landing Ships (Infantry) with Commando troops embarked.)
14th - Sailed from Propriano for SITKA area with SY1.
15th - Detached after arrival In SITKA area and deployed for escort of
follow-up convoys to beach head heads.
Resumed RN control on release from
DRAGOON.
September
Transferred to British Aegean Force based at Alexandria and took passage
to join units in eastern Mediterranean. Joined British Aegean Force and
deployed in support of re-occupation of islands in the Aegean and the
interception of evacuation craft.
October
Deployed in Aegean with sister HUNT Class destroyers named by Greek
personnel (Note: These were HHelMS KRITI, PINDOS, KANARIS and MIAOULIS).
15th - Supported landings at Piraeus (Operation MANNA).
November
Deployed in support of military operations on Greek mainland. Transferred
to 12th (Greek) Destroyer Flotilla with Greek manned HUNT Class.
December
Support of military operations in Greek waters with Flotilla.
1 9 4 5
January to May
Support deployment and convoy defence in continuation.
June
Deployed as part of Royal Hellenic Navy.
P o s
t W a r N o t e s
HMS BRAMHAM continued service as HHelMS THEMISTOCLES until
12th December 1959 when she was returned to the Royal Navy and placed on the Disposal List.
This ship was sold to a Greek shipbreaker on 30th June 1960 and broken up in Greece.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS
BRAMHAM
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
02/09/42
|
11/09/42
|
PQ 018
|
14/09/42
|
21/09/42
|
13/09/42
|
23/09/42
|
QP 014
|
unknown
|
26/09/42
|
27/09/42
|
01/10/42
|
AT 024
|
02/10/42
|
02/10/42
|
26/10/42
|
06/11/42
|
KMF 001
|
08/11/42
|
08/11/42
|
10/11/42
|
10/11/42
|
ABF
|
11/11/42
|
11/11/42
|
18/12/42
|
20/12/42
|
ET 006
|
unknown
|
22/12/42
|
19/01/43
|
26/02/43
|
MKS 006
|
01/02/43
|
01/02/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)
|