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

 

HMS FARNDALE (L 70) - Type II, Hunt-class Escort Destroyer including Convoy Escort Movements

 

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Farndale  (Navy Photos/George Knight, click to enlarge)

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Type II HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Swan Hunter at Wallsend on 4th September 1939 after the outbreak of WW2 under the 1939 War Emergency Programme. The ship was laid down as Job No 4133 on 21st November that year. The ship was launched on 30th September 1940 as the first RN warship to carry the name, She was completed on 27th April 1941 and following; a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942, was adopted by the civil community of Southgate, then in the county of Middlesex. During her most extensive war service this ship was awarded no less than 11 Battle Honours, a quite remarkable achievement.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

MALTA CONVOYS 1941 - MEDITERRANEAN 1941 - LIBYA 1942 - ATLANTIC 1942  - ARCTIC 1942 - NORTH AFRICA 1942-43 - SICILY 1943 - SALERNO 1943 - AEGEAN 1943 - SOUTH FRANCE 1944 - NORTH SEA  1945

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge:  On a Field Red, a plate thereon a fox’s head caboosed

Red within an annulet Blue

 

 

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

 

April                       Contractor's sea trials and commissioned for service in 13th Destroyer Flotilla based at

                                Gibraltar.

                27th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

 

May                        Passage to Scapa Flow on completion of trials and storing.

                                Worked-up for operational service with ships of Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.

 

June                        Passage to Gibraltar to join Flotilla for Local convoy escort.

                                Joined Flotilla and deployed for Local escort with Gibraltar Escort Force.

 

July                         Gibraltar deployment in continuation.

                17th        Joined military convoy WS9C with HM Escort Destroyers ERIDGE and AVON VALE west

                                of Gibraltar to escort troopship PASTEUR into Gibraltar for embarkation of personnel for

                                passage to Malta.

                                (Note: WS9C included eight mercantiles destined for Malta and had been escorted from Clyde

                                by Homer Fleet ships (Operation SUBSTANCE)

                21st         Passage from Gibraltar with HM Destroyers COSSACK, MAORI, SIKH, NESTOR (RAN),

                                FEARLESS, FOXHOUND, FIREDRAKE. HM Escort Destroyers ERIDGE and AVON VALE

                                as screen for HM Cruisers EDINBURGH, MANCHESTER, ARETHUSA and MANXMAN

                                deployed Force X as Close Escort for Malta relief convoy .

                                (Note: Convoy WS9C had been re-designated MG1 for passage in Mediterranean.

                                Cover for passage to Sicilian Narrows was provided by ships of Force H.)

                22nd       Under air attacks during which HMS FEARLESS was sunk and HMS MANCHESTER damaged

                                by torpedoes.

                                (Note: For details see BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre, ENGAGE

                                THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and Naval Staff History

                                (HMSO, 2001).)

                23rd        Remained with Force X ships as Close Escort when ships of Force H detached and remained

                                with MG1 during passage to Malta.

                24th        Under E-Boat attack.

                                MG1 arrived in Malta.

                                Ship remained in Malta for repair to boilers.

                30th        Return passage to Gibraltar independently.

 

August                  Part of escort for Gibraltar route outward Convoy HG72 and inward OG73.

 

September             Convoy defence with Flotilla in continuation.

                                Nominated for service in eastern Mediterranean.

                24th        Joined HM Destroyers COSSACK, ZULU, FORESIGHT, ORIBI, LAFOREY, LIGHTNING

                                HM Escort Destroyer HEYTHROP as screen for HM Cruisers KENYA, EDINBURGH,

                                SHEFFIELD, HERMIONE and EURYALUS in Force X to form Close Escort for Malta relief

                                convoy during passage through Sicilian Narrows to Malta.

                                (Operation HALBERD - see above references.)

                                (Note: Relief convoy had been designated WS11X during Atlantic passage but became Convoy

                                GM2 for passage in Mediterranean.)

                                Cover was provided by ships of Force H.)

                27th        Passage through Sicilian Narrows with Force X.

                28th        Arrived in Malta with Force X.

                                Took passage from Malta to Gibraltar with Force X ships.

                                (Note: Previous intention for ship to take onward passage to Alexandria was not approved.)

                29th        Rejoined Force H ships west of Narrows with Force X for return to Gibraltar

 

October                  Transferred to Eastern Mediterranean for service with 22nd Destroyer Flotilla.

                1st           Arrived in Gibraltar with ships of Close Escort and Force H.

                                Passage to Alexandria via Cape of Good Hope and Red Sea.

                17th        Joined Flotilla on arrival at Alexandria.

 

November              Deployed defence of supply convoys to Tobruk and patrol in eastern Mediterranean.

 

December              Eastern Mediterranean duties with Flotilla in continuation.

                                Deployed for support of military operations and took passage to Bardia.

                                See Naval Staff History.

                11th        Carried out depth charge attacks on Italian submarine CARACCIOLO off Bardia.

                                Submarine forced to surface and sunk by surface gunfire

                                (Note: 53 survivors were rescued but an Italian general was drowned.

                                It is assumed that the general was being evacuated because of threat of capture

                                by advancing army units.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Coastal convoy defence and patrol in continuation.

 

February

                9th          Hit by bomb during air attack West of Mersa Matruh.

                                Extensive structural damage caused and flooding of Boiler Room.

                11th        Towed to Mersa Matruh by HM Corvette GLOXINIA.

 

March                    Under temporary repair at Alexandria.

                                Withdrawn from operational service for permanent repair in UK.

                                On completion of repair work to allow passage returned to UK via Cape of Good Hope.

 

April                       Passage to UK.

                8th          Nominated for repair in London at commercial shipyard. hand for repair in London.

 

May

                2nd         Taken in hand for refit and repair.

 

June                        Under repair

to

July

 

August                  Nominated for service with Home Fleet.

                                Carried out harbour trials

                8th          On completion of shipyard work carried out Post Repair trials.

                                On completion of trials and storing took passage to Scapa Flow for Home Fleet service.

 

September

                2nd         Joined escort for Russian Convoy PQ18 at Loch Ewe with HM Destroyers CAMPBELL,

                                MALCOLM, HM Norwegian Escort Destroyer ESKDALE and four Trawlers for the passage to

                                Iceland.

                                (For details of Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R A Ruegg,

                                ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman. the RUSSIAN convoys by B Schoefield..

                7th          Detached from PQ18 on arrival of Ocean Escort.

                                Passage to Scapa Flow to resume convoy defence and patrol with Home Fleet.

 

October                  Nominated for escort and support of allied landings in North Africa. (Operation TORCH).

                                Escorted military convoy to Gibraltar.

                                Allocated for service with HM Escort Destroyers AVON VALE, CALPE and PUCKERIDGE in

                                59th Destroyer Division.

 

November              Deployed at Gibraltar and prepared for TORCH.

                                Joined Central Task Force for North African landings.

                7th          Provided naval gunfire support during landings at Oran on Beach R/2

                                For details see Naval Staff History, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and BRITISH

                                INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.)

                                Deployed on defensive patrols and escort of follow-up convoys.

 

December              Convoy defence and patrol duties in western Mediterranean.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Deployed at Gibraltar for Atlantic and Mediterranean convoy defence.

to

April

 

May                        Deployed for escort of convoys UGS8 and KMF14.

 

June                        Nominated for escort and support of planned allied landings in Sicily (Operation TORCH)

                                Deployed at Algiers.

 

July                         Joined Support Force East. and deployed as part of Escort Group S.

                5th          Part of military convoy KMS18 during passage from Algiers to beach head.

                8th          Detached from KMS18 to refuel and returned to escort on completion.

                10th        On arrival at BARK WEST detached from KMS18 and deployed for AA defence, naval

                                gunfire support and interception patrol to prevent enemy interference with landings

                                For details see Naval Staff History, BRITISH INVASION FLEETS and ENGAGE THE

                                ENEMY MORE CLOSELY

                                Convoy escort and defence in continuation.

 

August                  Nominated for escort and support during planned allied landings at Salerno.

                                (Operation AVALANCHE)

 

September             Joined screen for HM Cruisers EURYALUS, SCYLLA, CHARYBDIS, HM Escort Carriers

                                BATTLER, HUNTER, ATTACKER, STALKER and Light Fleet Carrier HMS UNICORN in

                                Support Carrier Force TF88 with HM Escort Destroyers CLEVELAND, HOLCOMBE, CALPE

                                ATHERSTONE, LIDDESDALE, Polish KRAKOWIAK and SLAZAK

                9th          Deployed off beach head with screen for escort aircraft carriers deployed as Force V.

                                Under attack by aircraft and E-Boats.

                                See above references for details.

 

October                  Resumed convoy escort and patrol in Central and Western Mediterranean.

to                            Deployed with HM Escort Destroyers ATHERSTONE, CALPE, CATTERICK, CLEVELAND,

December              HAYDON, LIDDESDALE, Polish destroyers KRAKOWIAK and SLAZAK in Mediterranean

                                HUNT-Flotilla based in Malta

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Mediterranean convoy defence with Flotilla in continuation.

to

June

 

July                         Nominated for escort of military convoys for landings in South of France under US Command

                                (Operation DRAGOON).

                                (For details see INVASION OF THE SOUTH OF FRANCE (HMSO), ENGAGE THE

                                ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS.).

 

August                  Passage to Taranto to join convoy.

                10th        Part of escort for Convoy TM1 with HM Corvettes AUBRETIA and COLUMBINE, French

                                Destroyer TEMPETE, French Escort Destroyers and Sloops during passage from Taranto

                                to assault area.

                11th        Passage to assault area

                15th        At Ajaccio.

                16th        Arrived off beach head.

                                On release from DRAGOON reverted to RN control and resumed escort duties with Flotilla.

 

September             Transferred to eastern Mediterranean for support of operations to re-occupy islands in the

                                Aegean.

                24th        Deployed for patrols to intercept craft evacuating garrisons.

 

October                  Nominated for return to UK and took passage.

 

November              Joined 16th Destroyer Flotilla at Harwich.

                                Deployed for convoy, defence and patrol in North Sea and Thames Estuary.

                                (Note: The reinforcement of destroyer flotilla in UK was necessary because of increase in

                                attacks by SCHNORKEL fitted U-Boats on coastal convoys. See SEEK AND STRIKE

                                by W Hackmann, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and HOLD THE

                                NARROW SEA by P Smith.).

 

December              Convoy defence and patrol with Flotilla in continuation.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Flotilla deployment in continuation.

                                (Note: There was in increase in enemy minelaying by E-Boats and submersibles in which

                                required additional patrol by escorts).

                14th        In action with E-Boats of 5th German Flotilla off Humber estuary while protecting convoy.

 

February                East coast and Thames estuary patrol and convoy defence in continuation

to                            Nominated for service in Eastern Fleet.

April

 

May                        Taken in hand for refit and modification for foreign service.

 

June                        Took passage to join HM Escort Destroyers BICESTER, BLACKMORE., BLEASDALE and

                                BRECON in 18th Destroyer Flotilla at Trincomalee.

 

July                         On arrival prepared for support of landings in Malaya (Operation ZIPPER)

                                (Note: This operation was delayed after US insistence and problems related to release of

                                long serving personnel in SEAC under the PYTHON Scheme.

                                See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, OPERATION PACIFIC by E Gray

                                WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO) and Final Report by Supreme Commander SEAC

                                (HMSO).)

 

August                  Deployed for ZIPPER convoys.

 

September

                9th          At Port Swettenham during ZIPPER landings near Port Dickson.

  

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS FARNDALE returned to UK after the Japanese surrender in Malaya. She was Paid-off reduced to Reserve status at Chatham during November 1945. The ship re-commissioned for service with the Nore Local Flotilla in 1946 and served with it for five years. In 1951 she again entered Reserve at Chatham. and later transferred to Hartlepool and was de-humidified.  Placed on the Disposal List in 1961 this ship was sold to BISCO for demolition by Hughes Bolckow at Blyth . The ship arrived in tow at the breaker’s on 29th November 1962.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS FARNDALE

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

 

 

 

 

 

16/05/41

unknown

HX 127

30/05/41

02/06/41

10/06/41

11/06/41

OB 333

13/06/41

21/06/41

04/06/41

17/06/41

OG 064

18/06/41

18/06/41

24/06/41

24/06/41

HG 066

30/06/41

09/07/41

24/06/41

06/07/41

OG 066

08/07/41

08/07/41

08/07/41

09/07/41

HG 067

14/07/41

24/07/41

02/09/41

02/09/41

HG 072

07/09/41

17/09/41

29/08/41

08/09/41

OG 073

13/09/41

13/09/41

17/09/41

17/09/41

HG 073

20/09/41

01/10/41

24/09/41

25/09/41

HALBERD

27/09/41

27/09/41

05/12/41

05/12/41

TA 001/M

07/12/41

07/12/41

10/12/41

10/12/41

TA 002/M

12/12/41

12/12/41

11/01/42

11/01/42

AT 016/M

11/01/42

14/01/42

28/01/42

28/01/42

AT 021/M

30/01/42

30/01/42

08/02/42

08/02/42

AT 027/M

unknown

unknown

02/09/42

20/09/42

PQ 018

08/09/42

21/09/42

27/11/42

03/12/42

KMF 004

06/12/42

06/12/42

25/02/43

03/03/43

KMF 010A

04/03/43

04/03/43

26/02/43

08/03/43

KMS 010G

11/03/43

11/03/43

28/04/43

18/05/43

UGS 008

19/05/43

21/05/43

17/05/43

18/05/43

KMS 014

19/05/43

21/05/43

10/07/43

10/07/43

MKF 018

17/07/43

23/07/43

14/07/43

14/07/43

KMS 019Y

unknown

unknown

23/07/43

23/07/43

KMS 019T

24/07/43

24/07/43

26/07/43

26/07/43

MKS 019Y

31/07/43

31/07/43

20/08/43

21/08/43

GUS 013

29/08/43

14/09/43

07/02/44

07/02/44

SNF 014

11/02/44

11/02/44

03/02/44

13/02/44

MKF 028A

16/02/44

20/02/44

21/02/44

27/02/44

KMF 029

02/03/44

05/03/44

18/02/44

01/03/44

UGS 033A

03/03/44

29/02/44

07/03/44

09/03/44

SNF 016A

10/03/44

10/03/44

23/03/44

23/03/44

NSF 018

27/03/44

27/03/44

28/03/44

28/03/44

SNF 018

31/03/44

31/03/44

29/03/44

05/04/44

KMF 030

12/04/44

12/04/44

29/04/44

30/04/44

MKS 048

08/05/44

10/05/44

11/06/44

23/06/44

KMF 032

24/06/44

24/06/44

28/06/44

unknown

XIF 017

unknown

02/07/44

04/07/44

unknown

IXF 017

unknown

08/07/44

12/07/44

13/07/44

XIF 018

18/07/44

18/07/44

18/07/44

20/07/44

KMF 033

31/07/44

31/07/44

28/07/44

28/07/44

MKF 033

04/08/44

11/08/44

20/12/42

10/08/44

TM 001

16/08/44

14/01/43

24/08/44

01/09/44

KMF 034

07/09/44

07/09/44

20/10/44

24/10/44

KMF 035A

27/10/44

31/10/44

05/11/44

05/11/44

SM 019

08/11/44

08/11/44

06/11/44

16/11/44

KMF 036

19/11/44

19/11/44

18/07/44

18/07/84

IXF 018

22/07/44

22/07/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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