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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
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Date convoy sailed
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Joined convoy as escort
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Convoy No.
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Left convoy
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Date convoy arrived
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02/09/42
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20/09/42
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PQ 018
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08/09/42
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21/09/42
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16/10/42
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16/10/42
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WP 234
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19/10/42
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19/10/42
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25/10/42
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02/11/42
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KMS 002G
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10/11/42
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12/11/42
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12/11/42
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12/11/42
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MKF 001X
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18/11/42
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19/11/42
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20/02/43
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20/02/43
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PW 297
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22/02/43
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22/02/43
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21/02/43
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21/02/43
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WP 298
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23/02/43
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23/02/43
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24/02/43
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24/02/43
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PW 299
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25/02/43
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26/02/43
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25/02/43
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26/02/43
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WP 300
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26/02/43
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27/02/43
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13/03/43
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13/03/43
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WP 308
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15/03/43
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15/03/43
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17/03/43
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17/03/43
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WP 310
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19/03/43
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19/03/43
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20/03/43
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20/03/43
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PW 311
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22/03/43
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22/03/43
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21/03/43
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21/03/43
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WP 312
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23/03/43
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23/03/43
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24/03/43
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24/03/43
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PW 313
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26/03/43
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26/03/43
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25/03/43
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25/03/43
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WP 314
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27/03/43
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27/03/43
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29/03/43
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29/03/43
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WP 316
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31/03/43
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31/03/43
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01/04/43
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01/04/43
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PW 317
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03/04/43
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03/04/43
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02/04/43
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02/04/43
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WP 318
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04/04/43
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04/04/43
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10/04/43
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10/04/43
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WP 322
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12/04/43
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12/04/43
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09/04/43
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10/04/43
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PW 321
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11/04/43
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11/04/43
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13/04/43
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13/04/43
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PW 323
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15/04/43
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15/04/43
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(Note on Convoys)
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