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Type III HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Fairfields, Govan on 27th August 1940 in the 1940 War
Emergency Programme. The ship was laid down as Admiralty Job No J1694 on 30th
January 1941 but was not launched until 3rd February 1942 because of damage to
the shipyard during air raids on the Clyde area in March 1941 .She was the 1st
RN warship to carry the name which is that of a foxhunt In the North Riding of
Yorkshire. Build was completed on 6th November 1942. This ship was adopted by
the civil community of Axbridge, Somerset following a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1943 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1943 - NORTH SEA 1944 -
NORMANDY
1944
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a
Field
Red,.three
pikes White,two in saltire
and
one
erect, interlaced by an annulet 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 2
November Contractor's
trials and commissioned for service in 15th Destroyer Flotilla.
6th Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
Took
passage to Scapa Flow on completion of trials and storing.
December Worked up for
operational service with ships of Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
1 9 4 3
January
Joined 15th Destroyer Flotilla at
Plymouth for convoy defence and
interception
patrol
in
English Channel and SW Approaches.
Deployed with in search and attack on German coastal convoy including Blockade
Runner
TOGO.
This
attack was unsuccessful.
(For
details of naval activities in
English Channel and SW Approaches see HOLD
THE
NARROW SEA by P Smith) .
February Flotilla
deployment at Plymouth in continuation.
March Detached for
escort duty in Western Approaches Command
16th Joined HM
Escort Destroyers BADSWORTH, EGGESFORD, WHADDON, Polish
ORP
KRAKOWIAK, HM Destroyers ASHANTI, DOUGLAS, HM Sloops WOODPECKER,
and
WREN as Ocean Escort for joint convoy WS28 for Indian Ocean and KMF11 for
Gibraltar.
21st Detached
from joint convoy with KMF11 ships destined for Gibraltar and took passage as
escort to Mediterranean with HM Escort Destroyers BADSWORTH, EGGESFORD,
WHADDON, ORP KRAKOWIAK, HMS DOUGLAS, HMS WREN and HMS WOODPECKER.
Detached on arrival at Gibraltar and took return passage
April Resumed
Flotilla duties at Plymouth.
Deployed for operation to intercept enemy coastal convoy.
27th Took part
in attack on convoy off Sept Ile with HM Escort Destroyer ALBRIGHTON
(Note: Italian Blockade Runner BUTTERFLY and one of the three escorts an Anti-
submarine vessel UJ1402.
Sustained some damage from return fire.
May
29th In action
with E-Boats attacking coastal convoy off
Portland.
June
Channel deployment in continuation.
to
Nominated for detached service in support of planned allied landings in
Normandy.
August (Operation
NEPTUNE).
Withdrawn from Flotilla duties for conversion for use as HQ ship.
September
3rd In
action with HM Escort Destroyer LIMBOURNE against E-Boats attacking coastal
convoy.
Passage to Liverpool for conversion in commercial shipyard.
29th
Transferred to Rosyth Command for duration of refit.
Taken
in hand for conversion to suit deployment as Headquarters ship for Assault
Group.
(Note: The principal changes made were:
a.
Installation of additional radio facilities to provide
radio telephone and telegraph
communications with assault craft and Force Commanders.
b.
Provision of additional accommodation for combined operations signals and
administration personnel.
Complement including both Army and RAF personnel increased by over 100
c.
Replacement of single 20mm mountings by twin mountings to improve defence
against aircraft.
d.
Addition of 2pdr Pom-Pom type mounting in bows to provide defence against
attacks by
E-Boats approaching from ahead bearings. This addition had proved successful
when
fitted in North Sea convoy escorts.)
October Under
conversion.
to
Nominated for duty with Assault Force S of Eastern Task Force.
December
1 9 4 4
January Carried out
harbour trials when work completed.
February Post refit
sea trials.
Passage to Invergordon to prepare for duty in headquarters role.
Joined in landing exercises at Burghead in
Moray Firth by 3rd British Infantry
Division
with
ships and landing craft of Force S.
(Note: Allocated as Headquarters Ship for Assault Group S3).
March Took part in
final assault exercise at Burghead.
Deployed for convoy defence in
North Sea.
April Passage
to Portsmouth with ships of Force S.
May Deployed
at Portsmouth for final exercises prior to Normandy landings when Force S
transferred to Portsmouth.
(Operation NEPTUNE - For details of naval activities before and during assault
see
OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards, LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO)
and D
DAY SHIPS by J de Winser for details of all ships involved.)
2nd Took part
in Final Rehearsal for Normandy landings (Operation FABIUS).
3rd Deployed
with Force S for Berthing, loading and sailing requirements exercise
4th Deployed
for Assault landings exercise with by Force S west of Littlehampton.
18th Took part
in joint Defence Exercises with Forces G and J off Brighton.
(Note: During these ships came under simulated attacks by air,
surface and midget submarines,
On completion deployed at
Portsmouth to prepare for duties off
SWORD area
(Note: Senior Officer Assault Group S3 - Captain E W Bush, DSO, DSC Royal Navy)
June
3rd Joined
Convoy S2 at Spithead for passage through swept channel to beachhead areas.
(Note:
Convoy S5 comprised:
Special Service Ship HMS ST ADRIAN, one Landing Craft (Headquarters) to be used
as
replacement for HMS GOATHLAND in event of damage or loss, ten Landing Craft
(AVRE);
four Landing Craft (Flak), five Landing Craft (Rocket); 18 Landing Craft (SP)
. and
nine Landing Craft Assault (HR).
4th Operation NEPTUNE postponed for 24 hours.
5th Took passage from
Spithead to SWORD Beach in Convoy S5 also escorted
by tow
Motor Launches. Commanding Officer Lieut. Cdr B
G B Bordes, RN.
6th Deployed off QUEEN White and Red Beaches to control initial
landings by 8th
Infantry Brigade
(Note: Captain E W Bush, DSO RN, Senior Officer
3rd Assault Group Force S and
Brigadier E S Cass, Brigadier 8th Infantry
Brigade were responsible for the
landings using the facilities provided by the HQ
Ship.)
7th Embarked Captain R Gotto, RN from HM Frigate DACRES
to assume duty as
Captain, Northbound Sailings including
allocation of escorts. See LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY.
10th Shipping control duties in continuation.
Provided party to assist in clearance of debris
from Beach.
11th Shipping control duties in continuation.
Further assistance provided for beach clearance.
(Note: Opportunity was given for all ship’s company who could be spared to land.
17th Shipping control duties transferred to newly
established shore authority.
Took passage to Spithead to replenish. Anchored in Spithead on arrival.
18th Remained at anchor in Spithead and embarked stores.
19th Took passage from
Spithead to return to Assault
area.
Encountered increasing severe weather
conditions.
20th Dragged anchor overnight. Second anchor laid.
Deployed for patrol at nightfall for
interception of any enemy attempt to enter area.
21st Detonated two mines without damage or casualties on
board.
22nd Deployed to collect mail from ships in anticipation
of return to UK .
Embarked Captain C H Petrie, DSO, RN from HM
Cruiser DESPATCH in
MULBERRY B off Arromanches for passage to UK.
(Note: Captain Petrie had been acting as NOIC
Arromanches and was relieved by
Captain H Hickling DSO RN when shore facilities
for the NOIC were
available in the port. See LANDINGS IN NORMANDY)
. Took passage to Spithead to land passenger.
23rd HQ Ship role terminated and transferred to control
by Captain (D), Portsmouth for
Interception patrol duties in Eastern Assault
Area.
27th Took passage to Assault Area for interception patrol
duties
28th Last of HQ Ship staff left ship.
29th Night Patrol deployment in continuation
to
30th
July
1st Defensive Station deployment and interception
patrol every other night..
3rd Rescued German airman during patrol with HM
Destroyer BLEASDALE.
German prisoner collected by US Navy craft.
4th Return passage to
Spithead
9th Took passage to Eastern Assault Area after R&R at
Portsmouth.
Carried out search for survivors NE of Le Havre
during patrol on return but
only wreckage and life rafts sighted.
10th Nightly interception patrol in continuation
to
23rd
24th Activated ground mine during patrol and sustained
major structural damage with
some flooding. Propulsion turbines and
generators damaged with shafts bent.
25th Tow to be arranged to UK
August After arrival survey carried out to assess extent of
damage and extent of repair
required.
No Repair other that needed to enable ship to
move under own steam was carried
out. Ship paid off and remained at Portsmouth
pending a decision on future use.
(Note: Availability of ship’s company for
transfer to other ships being completed
may have been a contributing factor to this
decision.
September Laid-up at Portsmouth,
October Passage to Clyde
(Note: One reliable source suggests that the
ship was steamed to Clyde.)
On arrival taken to Inverary and laid
unmaintained at Moorings.
November Laid-up at Inverary
to
December
1 9 4 5
January At Inverary
February Towed to Gareloch and placed in Care and Maintenance.
March Deployed at Gareloch in Reserve.
to
April
May
28th Reduced to Category C Reserve after VE Day.
P o s t W a r
N o t e s
HMS GOATHLAND
was placed on the Disposal List after the end of hostilities with Japan and
sold to BISCO for
demolition by West of Scotland at Troon. The ship arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard in Troon, Ayrshire February 1946.
Acknowledgement
A copy of the
Daily Bulletin “Tally Ho!, Tally Ho!, Tally Ho! produced on board by the
Chaplain during the period June 6 to July 24 was kindly lent to me by Mr G Boxall of Dymchurch, Kent who
served on board during during
Operation
NEPTUNE. The information provided in this record has been invaluable as it shed
more light on the ship’s
deployment during and after Operation NEPTUNE. The loan of the booklet is
acknowledged with thanks.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS GOATHLAND
by Don Kindell
These convoy lists have not been cross-checked
with the text above
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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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09/01/43
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09/01/43
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PW 276
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11/01/43
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11/01/43
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12/01/43
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12/01/43
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WP 278
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14/01/43
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14/01/43
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15/01/43
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16/01/43
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PW 279
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17/01/43
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17/01/43
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18/01/43
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18/01/43
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WP 281
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19/01/43
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20/01/43
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24/02/43
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25/02/43
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PW 299
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26/02/43
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26/02/43
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28/02/43
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28/02/43
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PW 301
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02/03/43
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02/03/43
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08/03/43
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08/03/43
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PW 305
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10/03/43
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10/03/43
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15/03/43
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15/03/43
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KMF 011
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23/03/43
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23/03/43
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25/03/43
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26/03/43
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MKF 011
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01/04/43
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05/04/43
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05/04/43
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05/04/43
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MKF 011A
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12/04/43
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12/04/43
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22/05/43
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22/05/43
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WP 343
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24/05/43
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24/05/43
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31/05/43
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31/05/43
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PW 347
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02/06/43
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02/06/43
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01/06/43
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02/06/43
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WP 348
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03/06/43
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03/06/43
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04/06/43
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04/06/43
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PW 349
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06/06/43
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06/06/43
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08/06/43
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08/06/43
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PW 351
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10/06/43
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10/06/43
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27/06/43
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27/06/43
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WP 361
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29/06/43
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29/06/43
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05/07/43
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05/07/43
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WP 365
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06/07/43
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07/07/43
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07/07/43
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07/07/43
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WP 366
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09/07/43
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09/07/43
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25/07/43
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25/07/43
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WP 375
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27/07/43
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27/07/43
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10/08/43
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10/08/43
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WP 383
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11/08/43
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12/08/43
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13/09/43
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13/09/43
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WP 400
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15/09/43
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14/09/43
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17/09/43
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17/09/43
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CE 207
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18/09/43
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18/09/43
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18/06/44
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19/06/44
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ETM 013
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19/06/44
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19/06/44
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(Note on Convoys)
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