Type I HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Swan Hunter, Newcastle
under 1939 Programme on 21st March 1939 The ship was laid down on 8th June that year and
launched on 12th December 1939. She was the 2nd RN warship to carry the name, that of a Fox-hunt in Hampshire
and previously carried by a minesweeper sold in 1922. She was completed 0on
8th June 1940. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign in March 1942 this Escort Destroyer was, very appropriately 'adopted’ by the
civil community of Hambledon, Hampshire.
B a t t l e Ho n o u r s
NORTH SEA 1941-44 -
ENGLISH CHANNEL 1943 -
SICILY 1943 - SALERNO 1943 - AEGEAN 1944 - MEDITERRANEAN
1944
- NORMANDY 1944
H e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Red, a fox's mask and in base two foxes
brushes 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 0
May
Contractors trials.
June
Commissioned for service in 21st Destroyer Flotilla.
8th Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials
(Note: Sister ship HMS HOLDERNESS built in same shipyard completed 2 days
later).
Took passage to
Portland for work-up on completion of trials and storing.
July Deployed
for work-up at Portland.
10th Deployed
with HM Destroyers INGLEFIELD, IMOGEN, ATHERSTONE and FERNIE for
escort of HM
Auxiliary Minelayers
SOUTHERN PRINCE., PORT NAPIER, PORT QUEBEC
and
MENESTHEUS of
1st Minelaying Squadron during lay of first section of Northern Barrage
north
of
North Rona (Operation SN1)
For
details see Naval Staff History (Mining)
12th Work-up
transferred to Scapa because of increased Channel activity.
On
completion of working-up joined flotilla at Sheerness for convoy defence and
patrol in English
Channel and East Coast.
August
31st Deployed
with HM Escort Destroyer GARTH to join ships of 5th Destroyer Flotilla
for rescue
operations off Dutch coast after ships carrying out minelay had run into
an enemy minefield.
(Note: HM Destroyer ESK had sunk after striking a mine and HM Destroyer EXPRESS had
been
very badly damaged losing her bow structure).
Remained in area to provide protection until arrival
of tug.
September Flotilla
deployment in North Sea and Channel in continuation.
October Nominated
for duty in Force B for operation to place fire-ships in Channel
ports.
(Operation LUCID).
(Note: This operation was later aborted.)
7th
Activated acoustic mine off South Foreland.
Sustained major damage to after structure.
A-Brackets for both shafts were broken and
stem compartments flooded.
1 rating was killed and two others injured.
Towed to Sheerness by HM Destroyer VESPER.
8th Taken in
hand for repair at Chatham
November Under repair
to
December
1 9 4 1
January Under repair
to
Nominated for transfer to 16th Destroyer Flotilla based at Harwich.
April (Note:
Fire control radar for main armament was fitted (Type 285) .
For
details of development and use of radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA by D
Howse).
May Post refit
trials and prepared for operational service.
14th Joined
new Flotilla at Harwich for East coast convoy defence and patrol.
June Flotilla
duties in continuation.
to Carried
out anti-invasion patrols.
December For details of
East Coast convoy defence see THREE CORVETTES by N Monsarrat. BATTLE
OF THE
NARROW SEAS by P Scott and THE BATTLE
OF THE EAST COAST by J P Foynes.)
1 9 4 2
January Deployed
with Flotilla for convoy defence and patrol in North Sea.
to (Note:
During this period Radar Type 271 was fitted for the detection of surface
September craft. .It was
particularly useful for use against E-Boats and for the safe
navigation of the
ship
in the dangerous waters off the east coast during bad
weather).
October Nominated
for detached service.
(Note: Reduction of East coast convoy traffic was made to provide convoy escorts for
use
elsewhere).
November Deployed for
escort of Atlantic military convoys to Gibraltar before the planned allied
landings
in
North Africa (Operation TORCH)
For
details of this operation see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett, Naval
Staff
History and for details of all ships involved BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de
Winser.)
12th Sustained
slight damage due to torpedo explosion.
December On release from
TORCH convoy escort duty resumed service with Flotilla based at Harwich for
service in Home waters.
1 9 4 3
January Deployed
with Flotilla for East Coast and Channel convoy escort.
to Carried
out patrols for interception of E-Boats attempting to attack convoys and enemy
coastal
May traffic.
For
details of naval activities in Channel area see HOLD THE NARROW SEA by Peter C
Smith.
June Nominated for detached service in support of planned
allied landings in
Sicily and transferred to 58th Destroyer
Division.
Passage to Clyde from Harwich.
21st Joined HM Cruiser UGANDA, HM Escort Destroyers
ARROW, BLANKNEY,
BLENCATHRA, BRECON, BRISSENDEN, LEDBURY, MENDIP,
HM Destroyers VICEROY,
WALLACE, WITHERINGTON and WOOLSTON as escort for
joint military convoy WS31/KMF17
during Atlantic passage.
26th On relief by HM Destroyer AMAZON, BULLDOG, FOXHOUND
and HM Escort Destroyer
BLACKMORE detached with same ships as escort for
Passage to Gibraltar with KMF17.
28th Deployed at Gibraltar and nominated for service with
Escort Group V for escort and support of
landings in Sicily.
(Operation HUSKY – For details see Naval Staff
History and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by
J de Winser.)
July
7th Deployed as escort for military convoy KMF18 during
passage in western Mediterranean with
HM Escort Destroyers BLANKNEY, BRECON,
BLENCATHRA and BRISSENDEN of Escort
Group V.
9th Detached from KMF18 to refuel and rejoined on
completion.
10th Detached from KMF18 on arrival in BARK WEST Assault
area and deployed for escort and
patrol in support of HUSKY.
See above references for details.
31st Released from HUSKY support and deployed with 58th
Division based in Malta for convoy
defence and patrol.
August Nominated for
to embark Admiral Cunningham during planned landings on
Italian mainland at Salerno (Operation AVALANCHE).
(Note: Admiral Cunningham was Commander Designate for Western Task Force)
September
9th Embarked
Admiral Cunningham and General Eisenhower at Bizerta for passage to witness
surrender of Italian Fleet.
10th Present
at entry into Malta of surrendered Italian warships
Passage to Salerno for support of landings
(For
details of AVALANCHE see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, Naval Staff
History and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS.)
October On release
from AVALANCHE duties deployed in Eastern Mediterranean for support of
military operations in defence of Leros and
Cos after the Italian surrender.
(Note: German troops were landed to hold these islands which had been garrisoned by
Italians..
See
WAR IN THE AEGEAN by P Smith and E Gray.
Battle Honour was awarded but no trace of specific mention of action with
invasion craft.
has
been found.
RN
ships were extensively used to land troops and stores).
November Aegean islands
defence in continuation.
Resumed convoy defence and patrol in central
Mediterranean based in
Malta when operations
off
Cos and Leros ended.
December Deployed in
central Mediterranean.
(For
details of naval activities in
Mediterranean see Official War History WAR IN THE
MEDITERRANEAN (HMSO) and Naval Staff History.).
1 9 4 4
January Deployment
in central Mediterranean with 58th Division in continuation.
to
Transferred to Naples.
February Supported
military operations on west coast of Italy and carried cut patrols.
March
29th
Despatched from Naples with HM Escort Destroyer BLENCATHRA to assist in hunt for
U-Boat
in
position NE of Palermo.
Joined hunt near Filicudi island 135 miles south of Naples.
Ceased depth charge firings as ordered by HMS LAFOREY
Continued surveillance of target whose position was known.
Illuminated submarine when it surfaced after several hours of surveillance.
Took
part in destruction of U223 by surface gunfire of with other ships but before
its sinking
the
submarine fired a torpedo which hit and sank HMS LAFOREY.
After
rescue of survivors from HMS LAFOREY picked up German sailors.
See
U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp for details.
Carried out funerals of British and German dead before return to Naples.
(Note: Only 69 of the ship's company survived the loss of HMS LAFOREY.
182
lives were lost.
14
Germans were rescued of whom two died during return passage.
April Central
Mediterranean deployment in continuation.
Nominated with HM Escort Destroyers BLENCATHRA and MENDIP of 58th Division
to
return to UK for support
of planned landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE).
For
details of naval activities before and during landings see OPERATION NEPTUNE
by K
Edwards, LANDINGS IN NORMANDY
JUNE 1944 (HMSO) and Naval Staff History).
May Passage to
UK to join 21st
Destroyer Flotilla at Sheerness.
Allocated for escort of assault Convoy G16 for passage to beach head head and
for duty
in
Eastern Task Force area after assault phase.
June Joined Force G escorts in West Solent.
4th Operation delayed 24 hours because of weather
conditions.
5th Escorted
m Escort Destroyer ALBRIGHTON, nine Landing Craft (Infantry) and two Rescue
Craft
through swept channel to GOLD Beach Head as Convoy G16.
(Note: HMS ALBRIGHTON was HQ Ship for control of
landings on GOLD
Beach).
6th On
arrival at Beach Head bombarded beach defences.
On
release returned to Solent area for Build-up convoy escort.
In
action with E-Boats attempting to attack convoys in swept Channel south of Isle
of Wight.
7th Joined
HM Sloops MAGPIE, HM Frigates SPRAGGE and STOCKHAM in 112 Escort
Group
for
escort of Convoy EBP2 to Beach Head..
(Note: Convoy comprised five Personnel Ships, MULBERRY A HQ Ship and three
miscellaneous
craft
taking pre-loaded US Build-up Division to the Western
Task Force area)
8th On
release from escort duties deployed for defensive patrol and interception off
Beach Heads and
in
English Channel.
July
Nominated for service with 16th Destroyer Flotilla at Harwich.
Passage to Harwich to joined Flotilla.
Deployed for North Sea and Channel convoy defence.
August Flotilla
duties in continuation.
8th Escorted
south coast convoy with HM Destroyer- WALPOLE
September Deployed with
Flotilla for convoy defence.
to
December
1 9 4 5
January Harwich
deployment with Flotilla in continuation.
to (Note:
An increase in enemy submarine activities concentrating attacks on focal points
of convoy
February by SCHNORKEL
fitted submarines and minelay by surface minelayers and submarines
made
necessary additional patrols in Thames Estuary area.
The
existing East Coast and Channel Flotillas were reinforced by Escort Groups from
Western Approaches Command.
See
HOLD THE NARROW SEA by
P. Smith and SEEK and STRIKE by W Hackmann).
March Deployed for
defence of military conveys to Belgian and Dutch ports and patrol in Nore and
Dover Command areas.
April
Deployed for patrol and convoy defence in southern
North Sea and Channel.
12th In action
against minelaying E-Boats off Flushing with HM Frigate EKINS..
May After VE
Day transferred to Nore Local Flotilla.
June Deployed
in Nore Command for support of re-occupation forces and training.
to
August
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS HAMBLEDON remained in Nore Command until Paid-off and
reduced to Reserve status in December 1945. She was laid-up in the Harwich Division of Reserve Fleet
from 1946 until 1953 when transferred to Barrow. During 1955 she was de-equipped and placed on the Disposal
list. In August 1957 the ship was sold to BISCO for
demolition by Clayton and Davie at Dunston
on Tyne. She arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard in September 1957.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS HAMBLEDON
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
|
unknown
|
02/06/41
|
06/12/42
|
06/12/42
|
CW 139
|
07/12/42
|
07/12/42
|
07/12/42
|
07/12/42
|
CE 137
|
08/12/42
|
08/12/42
|
15/01/43
|
15/01/43
|
CW 149
|
16/01/43
|
16/01/43
|
16/01/43
|
16/01/43
|
CE 147
|
17/01/43
|
17/01/43
|
14/02/43
|
14/02/43
|
CW 156
|
15/02/43
|
15/02/43
|
16/02/43
|
16/02/43
|
CE 154
|
17/02/43
|
17/02/43
|
10/03/43
|
10/03/43
|
CW 162
|
11/03/43
|
11/03/43
|
11/03/43
|
11/03/43
|
CE 160
|
12/03/43
|
12/03/43
|
18/06/43
|
26/06/43
|
KMF 017
|
27/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
28/06/43
|
28/06/43
|
MKF 017
|
30/06/43
|
30/06/43
|
13/06/43
|
02/07/43
|
UGS 010
|
06/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
28/06/43
|
07/07/43
|
KMF 018
|
10/07/43
|
11/07/43
|
17/07/43
|
17/07/43
|
KMS 019M
|
18/07/43
|
18/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
GUS 010X
|
25/07/43
|
13/08/43
|
12/07/43
|
29/07/43
|
UGS 012
|
07/08/43
|
10/08/43
|
29/07/43
|
29/07/43
|
KMS 021
|
07/08/43
|
10/08/43
|
16/10/43
|
25/10/43
|
KMF 025
|
29/10/43
|
30/10/43
|
02/11/43
|
03/11/43
|
XIF 003
|
06/11/43
|
06/11/43
|
31/10/43
|
12/11/43
|
MKF 025A
|
14/11/43
|
24/11/43
|
03/12/43
|
unknown
|
XIF 005
|
unknown
|
09/12/43
|
05/12/43
|
21/12/43
|
UGS 026
|
25/12/43
|
30/12/43
|
12/01/44
|
12/01/44
|
SNF 012
|
16/01/44
|
16/01/44
|
20/01/44
|
20/01/44
|
SNF 013
|
22/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
10/08/44
|
10/08/44
|
ETM 059
|
11/08/44
|
11/08/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)
|