Type II HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Alex
Stephen at Govan under 1939 War Emergency Programme on 4th September 1939. She
was laid down as Job No 1478 on 16th July 1940 and launched on 1st April 1941
as the lst RN ship to carry this name, that of two
fox-hunts in Somerset. Build completion date was 27th September 1941. In March
1942 after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign she
was 'adopted' by the civil community of Dulverton,
Somerset.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
LIBYA 1942 - SIRTE 1942
-
MEDITERRANEAN 1942 - MALTA
CONVOYS 1942 -
SICILY
1943 - SALERNO
1943 - AEGEAN 1943
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field barry wavy of
six White and Blue within
an annulet
per fess Red and Green, a Griffin's claw
erased Red grasping
a
riding whip and an axe in saltire 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
September Contractors
trials and commissioned for service.
27th Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
October, Passage to
Scapa Flow on completion of trials and storing.
Worked-up for service with Home Fleet ships at
Scapa Flow.
November Nominated for
service in Mediterranean Fleet and prepared for foreign service.
19th Joined
military convoy WS12Z with HM Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN and HM Destroyer
SOUTHWOLD as Ocean Escort for passage in
Atlantic.
22nd Detached
from WS12Z with HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN and HMS SOUTHWOLD and took
passage to
Freetown.
28th Rejoined
WS12Z with HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN and HMS SOUTHWOLD as Ocean Escort
during passage
to Durban.
December Passage to
Durban.
18th Detached
from WS12 with Ocean Escort on arrival at
Durban.
Took
independent passage to Alexandria from Durban.
1 9 4 2
January Passage in
Red Sea.
4th Joined
5th Destroyer Flotilla at Alexandria for Fleet escort, convoy defence, anti
submarine
patrol and support of Tobruk garrison.
February Deployed for
escort of Malta
relief convoy.
12th Joined HM
Escort Destroyers BEAUFORT, HURWORTH and SOUTHWOLD to escort
Convoy MW 9A
(Operation MF5)
(Note: Cover was provided by HM Cruisers DIDO, NAIAD and EURYALUS screened by
HM
Destroyers ARROW,
GRIFFIN, HASTY, HAVOCK, JAGUAR,
JERVIS,
13th Convoys
MW9A and B merged and continued passage under air attacks.
14th Detached
with escort from Alexandria and returned as escort for Convoy ME10.
(Note: ROWALLAN CASTLE was later hit during air attacks and had to be sunk.
For
details see THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre,
MALTA
CONVOYS by R Woodman and Naval Staff History.)
15th Returned
to Alexandria with covering ships of Force B.
March
20th Deployed
with HM Escort Destroyers AVON VALE, BEAUFORT, ERIDGE, HEYTHROP,
HURWORTH and
SOUTHWOLD to carry out anti-submarine sweep along the path of
planned Malta relief convoy (Operation MG1).
(Note: HMS HEYTHROP was torpedoed and sunk off Sollum during this operation.. See
above
references.)
21st Joined
escort for Convoy MW10 after refuelling at Tobruk.
22nd Convoy
under threat of attack by Italian battle Squadron, including battleship
LITTORIO,
cruisers GORIZIA, TRENTO and BANDE NERE screened by ten destroyers.
Cruiser PENELOPE and HM Destroyer LEGION joined Convoy from Malta
before Italian
ships
were sighted.
MW10
detached escorted by HM Cruiser
CARLISLE and destroyers from Tobruk.
Under
air attack and fire from Italian ships.
HM
Cruisers CLEOPATRA, DIDO, EURYALUS and PENELOPE and destroyer screen
positioned
between convoy and engaged enemy squadron in heavy weather.
Italian ships lacking radar were at a disadvantage and retired when attacked by
torpedoes
from
destroyers of Fleet screen.
(2nd
Battle of Sirte - See above reference and Naval Staff History for details
of this tactical
and
moral victory.)
23rd Detached
with HMS AVON VALE to escort mercantiles ss PAMPAS and ss TALABOT when
ships
of convoy scattered.
(Note: Despite sustained air attacks ships reached Grand Harbour.)
25th Sailed
from Malta with HMS CARLISLE, HM Destroyers BEAUFORT, ERIDGE and
HURWORTH,
28th Arrived
at Alexandria.
April Deployed
in support of Tobruk garrison with ships of 5th Destroyer Flotilla.
to
May
June Nominated
for Malta relief operation.
(Note: This was a joint operation (JULIUS) with Force H at Gibraltar (Operation
HARPOON)
11th Sailed
from Port Said with HM Cruiser COVENTRY with HM Escort Destroyers
AIREDALE, ALDENHAM, BEAUFORT, CROOME, ERIDGE,
EXMOOR and
HURWORTH as escort for Convoy MW11C (Operation REMBRANDT)
. (Note: MW11C comprised four mercantiles each of which was towing an MTB.)
This
convoy was intended as a diversion to distract enemy attention from passage of
the
HARPOON Convoy to Malta
from Gibraltar
Mediterranean element of JULIUS was Operation VIGOROUS).
12th Under air
attacks during which ss CITY OF COVENTRY was damaged and unable to
maintain convoy speed
(Note: CITY OF COVENTRY was detached for passage to Tobruk escorted by HMS
CROOME and HMS EXMOOR.)
13th MW11C and
escort reversed course and took passage to
Alexandria.
Detached from MW11C with escort to refuel and rejoin MW11B from Alexandria.
(Note: Mediterranean Fleet units deployed as escort included HM Battleship CENTURION
which
had been disguised to resemble an battleship of the KING GEORGE V Class.
For
full details of warships and mercantiles in VIGOROUS see above references.)
Joined escort for Convoy MW11C from Haifa and Convoy MW11B from Alexandria which
had
merged for passage to Malta.
14th Merged
convoy and escorts under heavy and sustained air attacks with additional threat
of
surface attack from an Italian battle squadron.
(Note: Italian warships included battleships LITTORIO, VITTORIA VENETO, Heavy
cruisers
GORIZIA, TRENTO, light cruisers GUISEPPE GARIBALDI., DUCA D'AOSTA with
destroyer screen.)
Reversed course with ships and escort as ordered by CinC ashore in Alexandria..
(Note: This involved difficult manoeuvring under German E-Boat attacks during which
HM
Cruiser NEWCASTLE and HM Destroyer HASTY were torpedoed.
HMS
HASTY which had been disabled in air attacks had to be sunk by own ships.
15th Convoy
ordered to resume course to Malta and under further extensive air attacks and an
interception by Italian warships still judged to be viable .
Further instruction from shore required convoy to turn eastward.
(Note: This order was ignored by Admiral Vian in command of British ships since even
though
Italian Fleet had returned to the west he considered a further attempt to make
passage
to
Malta was impracticable because of heavy expenditure of ammunition and the
operation was abandoned.
The
order was later rescinded.
HMS
AIREDALE of Flotilla had been sunk in the current air attacks.)
16th During
return passage HM Australian Destroyer NESTOR, damaged in earlier air attacks
also
had to be sunk and HM Cruiser HERMIONE was sunk by U205.
Arrived at Alexandria with Fleet units.
(Note: This disastrous operation during which the conflicting instructions from shore
authorities were at variance with the more realistic assessments being made by
the
Admiral at sea charged with ensuring the safe passage of the vital convoy.
See
above references.
July Eastern
Mediterranean Flotilla duties in continuation.
12th Carried
out bombardment of Mersa Matruh with other Fleet units.
19th Provided
defensive screen for cruisers during bombardment of Mersa Matruh.
August Deployed with
Fleet units in patrol and support of military operations.
12th Joined HM
Destroyers JERVIS, KELVIN, PAKENHAM, PALADIN, ALDENHAM,
BEAUFORT, ERIDGE, HURSLEY, HURWORTH, HM Corvette HYACINTH and HM
Auxiliary ANTWERP to escort three ships as Convoy MW12 covered by HM Cruisers
ARETHUSA and EURYALUS. (Operation MG3)
(Note: This was a Dummy Convoy to act as a diversion during the passage of Malta
relief
convoy from Gibraltar (Operation PEDESTAL).
For
details see PEDESTAL by Peter C Smith and above references).
13th Returned
to Port Said with Dummy Convoy.
September Nominated for
support of planned assault landings at Tobruk (Operation AGREEMENT).
12th Deployed
with HM Escort Destroyers BELVOIR, CROOME and HURSLEY as screen for HM
Cruiser COVENTRY and took passage to Tobruk for landings by Royal Marines.
13th Deployed
off Tobruk and provided gunfire support during assault.
Under
fire from shore batteries.
14th Under
heavy and sustained attack by Ju87 aircraft.
After
HMS COVENTRY was set on fire during air attacks and had to be abandoned by
ship's
company, rescued the survivors swimming in the water.
(Note: HMS BEAUFORT went alongside the cruiser to take off the men still on board.
HMS
COVENTRY then torpedoed by HM Destroyer ZULU and sank.
Took
return passage to Alexandria with HMS BEAUFORT and HMS HURWORTH.
(Note: HMS ZULU was herself sunk following further attacks by Italian aircraft.
AGREEMENT proved a very costly failure due to poor planning and execution during
which
many lives were lost.
See
MASSACRE AT TOBRUK by G. C. Cornell and Naval Staff History).
October Deployed
with Flotilla for convoy escort and patrol in eastern Mediterranean.
30th After
U559 had been reported by aircraft 70 miles north of Nile Delta. despatched from
Alexandria with HM Destroyers PETARD, PAKENHAM and HURWORTH to relieve HMS
ECHO
who was carrying out search for submarine.
Deployed to carry out an anti-submarine operations with these ships for ten
hours.
The
prolonged depth charge attacks by the three destroyers forced submarine to
surface after
nightfall and it was then engaged by gunfire from all ships.
HM
Destroyer PETARD sent a boarding party to recover the ENIGMA coding machine and
its
associated documentation.
During search the submarine was sinking and two of the Party were trapped and
drowned when
U559
sank.
(Note: Their gallant conduct was recognised by award of a George Cross to each and a
George
Medal
to a young NAAFI Canteen assistant who escaped whilst assisting in recovery
of
invaluable material.
The
ENIGMA machine was not recovered. but the documentation played an important
part
in decryption by GCHQ of German signal traffic in Atlantic.
Many
ships and lives were saved as a direct result.
For
further details see GCHQ by Nigel West, BREAKING THE ENIGMA by D Kahn
and
SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)
31st Escorted
HMS PETARD to Haifa to land the items obtained from U559.
November
Eastern Mediterranean
deployment with Flotilla in continuation..
17th Joined HM
Escort Destroyers ALDENHAM, BEAUFORT, BELVOIR, CROOME,
EXMOOR,
HURSLEY, HURWORTH, TETCOTT and Greek PINDOS as escort for Convoy MW13 to
Malta. (Operation MG9/STONEAGE.)
(Note: This was the first relief convoy from Alexandria since June and effectively
lifted the
siege. It was covered by HM Cruisers ARETHUSA, ORION, CLEOPATRA and
DIDO.)
18th Under air
attacks during which HM Cruiser ARETHUSA was torpedoed and badly damaged.
20th Arrived in Malta with Convoy MW13 and took passage
back to Alexandria with other escorts.
December Passage to
Malta for
escort of empty supply ships to Alexandria.
7th Part of
escort for Convoy ME 11 of nine ships with HM Cruiser ORION, HM destroyers
PAKENHAM, PETARD, ALDENHAM, BELVOIR, CROOME,
EXMOOR, HURSLEY,
TETCOTT and Greek VASILISSA OLGA and PINDOS (Operation MH2).
9th Detached
from ME11 with HM Cruiser ORION, HM Escort Destroyers ALDENHAM,
CROOME, EXMOOR and HURSLEY for passage to Malta to meet Convoy MW15 during
transit from Egypt.
(Operation QUADRANGLE A - This was the last Malta relief convoy from Port Said).
1 9 4 3
January Continued
deployment with Flotilla in eastern
Mediterranean for patrol and support of
to
military operations as well as convoy escort.
April Transferred to Malta for service with 21st Flotilla.
May Deployed with other destroyers to establish a
blockade between Cape Bon and Sicily.
(Operation RETRIBUTION - to prevent enemy
personnel attempting to leave North Africa
after collapse of German army resistance.
(Note: The blockade prevented the escape of Axis
troops from North Africa and proved very
effective. Only a few hundred men were able to
make a successful crossing.)
Carried out bombardment of enemy positions at
Kelebia.
June Based in
Malta with
Flotilla for anti-submarine patrol and convoy defence.
Nominated for service in support of planned allied landings in Sicily (Operation
HUSKY)
(Note: To be deployed as Escort Group Q with HM Escort Destroyer BELVOIR.)
July Passage to
Alexandria for convoy escort.
3rd Sailed from
Alexandria as part of escort for military Convoy MWS36 during passage to in
eastern
Mediterranean.
7th Detached from MWS36
and took passage to Benghazi.
Joined escort for
military Convoy MWF36 during passage to Beach Head.
10th On arrival at BARK
WEST area and detached for support during landings.
For details of
HUSKY see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, Naval Staff
History and
BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.
Provided AA defence and A/S protection off beach head. with naval gunfire
support.
August HUSKY convoy
escort and support in continuation
Nominated with ships of Flotilla for convoy defence and support of planned
allied
landings in Italy
(Operation AVALANCHE).
September Passage to
Tripoli to join military convoy.
6th Sailed
from Tripoli as part of escort for military convoy TSF1
9th Detached
from TSF1 and joined Task Force 85 with ships of the 21st Destroyer Flotilla
for
naval gunfire support and defence of landing area.
On
release from AVALANCHE too passage to Alexandria for operations in defence of
Aegean Islands.
(Note: After Italian surrender German forces were attempting replace Italian
garrisons,)
Rejoined 5th Destroyer Flotilla and deployed as Senior Officers’ ship.
October Deployed at
Alexandria.
10th Carried
out unsuccessful search with HM Destroyers ECHO and BELVOIR for craft taking
German troops to Leros..
22nd Bombarded
shore targets at Levitha.
27th Deployed
for transport of stores and troops to Leros.
Subjected to sustained air attacks and by threat of E-Boat attacks.
November Deployment in
defence of Leros in continuation.
13th In action
with Do217 aircraft off Leros and hit by Hs293 Glider Bomb.
Forward structure demolished.
109
of ships’ company rescued by HMS BELVOIR.
When
recovery of ship was clearly impracticable ship was scuttled
(Note: 77 of the ship's company were lost including her captain.
The
calamitous operations in defence of Aegean islands are described in WAR IN THE
AEGEAN by P. Smith and E. Walker, and Military and Naval Staff Histories).
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS DULVERTON
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
31/01/42
|
31/01/42
|
AT 022/M
|
03/02/42
|
unknown
|
23/02/42
|
23/02/42
|
AT 030/M
|
25/02/42
|
25/02/42
|
25/02/42
|
25/02/42
|
TA 023/M
|
27/02/42
|
27/02/42
|
02/03/42
|
02/03/42
|
AT 032/M
|
04/03/42
|
04/03/42
|
04/03/42
|
04/03/42
|
TA 025/M
|
06/03/42
|
06/03/42
|
10/03/42
|
10/03/42
|
AT 033/M
|
12/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
TA 027/M
|
14/03/42
|
24/03/42
|
27/03/42
|
27/03/42
|
TA 030/M
|
29/03/42
|
29/03/42
|
16/04/42
|
16/04/42
|
AT 039/M
|
18/04/42
|
18/04/42
|
18/04/42
|
18/04/42
|
TA 035/M
|
19/04/42
|
19/04/42
|
27/04/42
|
27/04/42
|
AT 042/M
|
28/04/42
|
28/04/42
|
28/04/42
|
29/04/42
|
TA 038/M
|
30/04/42
|
30/04/42
|
30/04/42
|
30/04/42
|
TA 039/M
|
02/05/42
|
02/05/42
|
05/05/42
|
07/05/42
|
TA 040/M
|
07/05/42
|
07/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
AT 045/M
|
15/05/42
|
15/05/42
|
15/05/42
|
15/05/42
|
TA 041/M
|
17/05/42
|
unknown
|
18/05/42
|
18/05/42
|
AT 046/M
|
21/05/42
|
21/05/42
|
03/06/42
|
03/06/42
|
AT 048/M
|
05/06/42
|
05/06/42
|
11/06/42
|
11/06/42
|
MW 011
|
16/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
07/12/42
|
07/12/42
|
ME 011
|
09/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
06/12/42
|
09/12/42
|
MW 015
|
10/12/42
|
09/12/42
|
17/12/42
|
17/12/42
|
MW 017
|
20/12/42
|
20/12/42
|
28/12/42
|
28/12/42
|
ME 014
|
01/01/43
|
01/01/43
|
07/01/43
|
07/01/43
|
MW 019
|
11/01/43
|
11/01/43
|
13/01/43
|
13/01/43
|
ME 015
|
18/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
MH 003/M
|
26/01/43
|
26/01/43
|
27/01/43
|
27/01/43
|
ME 016
|
01/02/43
|
01/02/43
|
01/03/43
|
01/03/43
|
MW 022
|
06/03/43
|
06/03/43
|
01/04/43
|
01/04/43
|
ME 022
|
06/04/43
|
06/04/43
|
24/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
GTX 001
|
unknown
|
04/06/43
|
16/06/43
|
23/06/43
|
KMS 016
|
28/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
20/07/43
|
20/07/43
|
MES 037
|
26/07/43
|
26/07/43
|
03/08/43
|
03/08/43
|
MWF 039
|
03/08/43
|
unknown
|
06/09/43
|
06/09/43
|
TSF 001
|
09/09/43
|
09/09/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)