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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2004

 

HNorMS ESKDALE (L 36) - Type III, Hunt-class Escort Destroyer including Convoy Escort Movements

 

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HNorMS Eskdale (Navy Photos/George Knight, click to enlarge)

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Type III HUNT-Class Escort Destroyer HMS ESKDALE was ordered on 23rd August 1940 from Cammell Laird, Birkenhead under 1940 War Emergency Programme. The ship was laid down on 18th January 1941 as Job No J 3269 (Yard No 1080). She was launched on 16th March 1942 as the first RN ship to carry this name which is that of a Cumberland fox-hunt. Build was completed on 31st July 1942 and she served under the command of the Royal Norwegian Navy. The ship was operationally deployed in an RN Flotilla. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 this destroyer was adopted  by the civil community of Kendal, then in Westmorland, now in the county of Cumbria.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ARCTIC 1942 - ENGLISH  CHANNEL 1942-44

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Red, a caltrop White in front

of 2 hunting horns in saltire gold.

 

 

 D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e   a s   H  N o r  M S    E S K D A L E 

  

(for more ship information,  go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search)

 

  

1 9 4 2

 

June

 

Transferred to Royal Norwegian Navy as replacement for the Ex US Navy destroyer HMS NEWPORT which was no longer suitable for operational use. Contractors trials. Nominated for service in 1st Destroyer Flotilla based at Portsmouth.

 

July

 

20th - Commissioned for service with Norwegian ship's company.

 

25th - Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

 

Passage to Scapa Flow on completion of trials and storing.

 

August

 

Worked-up for operational service at Scapa Flow with Home Fleet. Nominated for escort of Russian convoy and detached for Home Fleet duty.

 

September

 

2nd - Joined HM Destroyers CAMPBELL, MALCOLM and sister destroyer FARNDALE as Local Escort for Russian convoy PQ18 between Loch Ewe and Iceland. (For details of all Russian convoy operations see THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B. Schofield CONVOY! by P. Kemp, CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg and ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman. )

 

6th - Detached from PQ18 and took passage to Portsmouth..

 

8th - Joined 1st Destroyer Flotilla for coastal escort and patrol in English Channel and North Sea.

 

October

 

13th - Deployed with sister Destroyers HMS COTTESMORE, QUORN, ALBRIGHTON and HNorMS GLAISDALE as Group A to intercept and destroy German commerce raider KOMET. (Note: This modem ship was known to be on passage to the Atlantic for attacks on shipping. Motor Torpedo Boats of Light Coastal Forces were also deployed as Groups B and C but owing to the fast speed of the enemy ship, only Group A was able to make contact. KOMET was sunk by the combined fire of these ships. For further details in BATTLE OF THE NARROW SEAS by Peter Scott.)

 

On release from KOMET operation resumed convoy defence duties with Flotilla.

 

November

 

Flotilla convoy defence duties in continuation.

 

12th - Sustained serious damage to wheelhouse and gunnery director in action off Dieppe. Returned to harbour using emergency steering..

 

15th - Taken in hand for repair at Portsmouth. under repair

 

December

 

Under repair

 

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

 

Under repair.

 

16th - On completion of repair rejoined Flotilla for Channel convoy defence..

 

February to March

 

Flotilla deployment in continuation.

 

 

April

 

14th - Joined sister-ship GLAISDALE and five trawlers for escort of Channel Convoy PW232. Under attack 12 miles ENE of the Lizard by E-Boats of 3rd German Flotilla. Hit by two torpedoes fired by German S90 and disabled. Sank in position 50.03N, 05.46 W after hit by further torpedo from S112.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HNorMS ESKDALE

by Don Kindell

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

02/09/42

20/09/42

PQ 018

08/09/42

21/09/42

16/10/42

16/10/42

WP 234

19/10/42

19/10/42

25/10/42

02/11/42

KMS 002G

10/11/42

12/11/42

12/11/42

12/11/42

MKF 001X

18/11/42

19/11/42

20/02/43

20/02/43

PW 297

22/02/43

22/02/43

21/02/43

21/02/43

WP 298

23/02/43

23/02/43

24/02/43

24/02/43

PW 299

25/02/43

26/02/43

25/02/43

26/02/43

WP 300

26/02/43

27/02/43

13/03/43

13/03/43

WP 308

15/03/43

15/03/43

17/03/43

17/03/43

WP 310

19/03/43

19/03/43

20/03/43

20/03/43

PW 311

22/03/43

22/03/43

21/03/43

21/03/43

WP 312

23/03/43

23/03/43

24/03/43

24/03/43

PW 313

26/03/43

26/03/43

25/03/43

25/03/43

WP 314

27/03/43

27/03/43

29/03/43

29/03/43

WP 316

31/03/43

31/03/43

01/04/43

01/04/43

PW 317

03/04/43

03/04/43

02/04/43

02/04/43

WP 318

04/04/43

04/04/43

10/04/43

10/04/43

WP 322

12/04/43

12/04/43

09/04/43

10/04/43

PW 321

11/04/43

11/04/43

13/04/43

13/04/43

PW 323

15/04/43

15/04/43

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 
 

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revised 12/8/11
further editing is required


 

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