Type III HUNT-Class Escort
Destroyer ordered from Swan Hunter at Wallsend on
Tyne on 28th July 1940 under the 1940 War Emergency Programme. The ship was
laid down as Job No J4293 on 23rd June 1941 and launched on 5th March 194.1 as
the first RN ship to bear the name, that of a fox-hunt in Cumberland. Build was
completed on 10th October 1942. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National
Savings campaign this ship was adopted by the civil community of Cockermouth in the county of Cumberland.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
NORMANDY
1944 - ATLANTIC 1944-45 - ENGLISH
CHANNEL 1943-44 - NORTH SEA 1945
H e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Red a sun in
splendour Gold, pierced by
a broken spear erect Block.
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
October Contractors trials. and
commissioned for service in 15th Destroyer Flotilla.
10th Build completion and
commenced Acceptance Trials
Passage to Scapa
Flow on completion of trials and storing.
November Deployed at Scapa Flow with
ships of Home Fleet to work-up for operational service.
Passage to
Plymouth to join Flotilla.
December Deployed at Plymouth with
Flotilla for convoy defence and patrol in Channel and SW
Approaches.
(Note: Local
Escort for initial stage of passage to Gibraltar and Freetown was provided by
ships based a
Plymouth
1 9 4 3
January Atlantic and coastal
convoy escort in SW Approaches in continuation.
30th Passage to Clyde with
escort for HM Battleship RENOWN, HM Aircraft carriers FURIOUS
and ILLUSTRIOUS.
February
4th Arrived in Clyde and
took passage to resumed coastal convoy escort in Channel. and SW
Approaches.
March Deployed at Plymouth for
convoy defence and patrol.
to
May
June Embarked stores and
equipment for planned operations in Mediterranean.
Passage from UK
to Gibraltar, Casablanca and Malta.
Joined escort for
routine Convoy XK9 on return passage from Gibraltar.
July Resumed Flotilla
duties at Plymouth.
9th Detached for
interception operation with HM Escort Destroyer WENSLEYDALE and
HM Norwegian
Escort Destroyer GLAISDALE against enemy coastal convoy
10th In action 45 miles NE
of Ushant against escort of convoy and significant damage.
(Note: Escort
comprised minesweepers M9, M10, M12, M84 and M153.
M153 was sunk by
surface gunfire from the three destroyers.)
Repair arranged
at London commercial shipyard on return to Plymouth.
August Under repair in London.
(Note: Refit
work was also undertaken.)
September
2nd Carried out post
repair trials on completion of dockyard work.
Passage to
Plymouth to resume Flotilla duties.
October Channel and SW
Approaches coastal convoy escort and patrol in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 4
January Channel and SW
Approaches duties in continuation.
to
February
March
15th In action with HM
Escort Destroyer BRISSENDEN against E-Boats attacking Convoy WP492
off Lands End.
(Note: German
E-Boat S143 was damaged in this engagement.)
April
16th Detached for special
duties.
17th Deployed with HM
Escort Destroyer TANATSIDE and Light Coastal Forces MTB's in support
of minelaying
operation by HM Minelaying Cruiser APOLLO in preparation for the planned
allied landings
in Normandy landings (Operation MAPLE-HOSTILE 23).
19th Joined HM Escort
Destroyers TANATSIDE, WENSLEYDALE, HM Destroyers HAIDA (RCN),
ASHANTI and
MTB's to cover minelay by HM
Motor Launch ML10 in HOSTILE Series.
(Operation MAPLE
- HOSTILE 24).
Detached for
support of planned allied landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE)
(Note: Allocated
for duty in Force O of Western Task Force under overall
US Navy command
with HM Escort Destroyers TANATSIDE and TALYBONT.)
Preparatory
exercises were carried out in Portsmouth and Plymouth command areas
during this
period.)
May Resumed convoy defence
and patrol duties.
Detached for
support of Normandy landings with HM Destroyers TANATSIDE
and TALYBONT
(Operation NEPTUNE).
For details of
naval activities before and during NEPTUNE see LANDINGS IN NORMANDY.
June 1944,
OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and for information about all ships
taking part D-DAY
SHIPS by J de Winser.).
(Note: Allocated
for duty with Bombardment Force C in Force O in Western Task Force under
overall US Navy
command..
Force O included
US Battleships USS TEXAS and USS ARKANSAS, HM Cruiser
GLASGOW, two Free
French cruisers and US destroyers.
Bombardment
exercises were carried out in NW Approaches in May but ship may not
then have been
attached to Force C.)
June Deployed with Force O
(Note: Ships of
Bombardment Force C sailed from Belfast after assembly on completion of
bombardment
exercises
4th Operation delayed 24
hours
Passage to Solent
with Bombardment Force C.
5th Passage to OMAHA Beach Head
6th Provided naval
gunfire support close to Assault Beach Heads in Western Task Force Assault
area.
Deployed for
defensive patrols to prevent interference with landings by surface craft or
submarines.
11th Intercepted E-Boats
and which were engaged in a brief unresolved action off Cap d'Antifer.
27th Remained in Channel
area after termination of NEPTUNE.
July Channel deployment
in continuation.
7th In action with HM
Escort Destroyer CATTISTOCK, HM Frigate THORNBOROUGH and Free
French HUNT Class
LA COMBATTANTE against E-Boats attacking ships off Beach Heads.
22nd Engaged E-Boats S90,
S132, S135 and Torpedo Boat T28 between
Boulogne and Le Havre.
August Deployed with Flotilla at
Plymouth for convoy defence and patrol in Channel.
21st In action with HM
Destroyers WATCHMAN and FORESTER in defence of E-Boat attack on
convoy off Beachy
Head..
24th Deployed with HM
Frigate RETALICK and Light Coastal Forces MTB’'s against enemy craft
evacuating French
Channel ports.
Sustained slight damage when attacking evacuation ships between Cap d'Antifer
and Fecamp.
28th Under attack by
unidentified aircraft during Channel patrol,
20 casualties including 5 killed.
Structural damage
forward with some flooding of compartments.
September Repair arranged in
commercial shipyard at Barry.
Passage to
Bristol Channel.
Taken in hand for
repair at Barry.
October Under repair
Nominated for
transferred to 21st Destroyer Flotilla at Sheerness on completion
November
11th Carried out post
repair trials on completion and took passage to Sheerness for convoy defence
and patrol in
North Sea
(Note: This
deployment was made after increase enemy activity by minelayers and attacks on
convoys by
Schnorkel-fitted U-Boats in Nore Command.)
December Deployed for Flotilla
duties at Sheerness.
1 9 4 5
January North Sea convoy defence and interception patrol in continuation.
to
April
May
5th Grounded and
received structural damage to Keel plates and Asdic Dome.
6th Taken in hand for
repair by HM Dockyard Sheerness.
June Under repair.
to
August
P
o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS
MELBREAK Paid-off and was reduced to Reserve status on completion of repair.
Laid up in Reserve at Chatham this ship was not brought forward for further
service. After attendance at the Coronation Review in 1953
she was placed on the Disposal List. Sold to BISCO in 1956 for demolition by T W
Ward at Grays, Essex she
arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard on 22nd November 1956.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
MELBREAK
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
|
Convoy No.
|
Left convoy
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Date convoy arrived
|
|
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|
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30/11/42
|
30/11/42
|
KX 007
|
08/12/42
|
08/12/42
|
06/12/42
|
13/12/42
|
MKS 003Y
|
23/12/42
|
23/12/42
|
05/01/43
|
05/01/43
|
PW 274
|
07/01/43
|
07/01/43
|
11/01/43
|
12/01/43
|
PW 277
|
14/01/43
|
14/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
22/01/43
|
WP 283
|
24/01/43
|
24/01/43
|
07/02/43
|
07/02/43
|
WP 291
|
09/02/43
|
09/02/43
|
12/02/43
|
12/02/43
|
PW 293
|
14/02/43
|
14/02/43
|
18/02/43
|
18/02/43
|
PW 296
|
20/02/43
|
20/02/43
|
22/02/43
|
23/02/43
|
PW 298
|
24/02/43
|
24/02/43
|
25/02/43
|
25/02/43
|
WP 300
|
25/02/43
|
27/02/43
|
28/02/43
|
28/02/43
|
PW 301
|
02/03/43
|
02/03/43
|
03/03/43
|
03/03/43
|
WP 303
|
04/03/43
|
05/03/43
|
11/03/43
|
11/03/43
|
WP 307
|
13/03/43
|
13/03/43
|
15/03/43
|
15/03/43
|
WP 309
|
17/03/43
|
17/03/43
|
18/03/43
|
18/03/43
|
PW 310
|
20/03/43
|
20/03/43
|
23/03/43
|
23/03/43
|
WP 313
|
24/03/43
|
25/03/43
|
26/03/43
|
26/03/43
|
PW 314
|
28/03/43
|
28/03/43
|
01/04/43
|
01/04/43
|
WP 317
|
03/04/43
|
03/04/43
|
01/04/43
|
01/04/43
|
PW 317
|
03/04/43
|
03/04/43
|
04/04/43
|
04/04/43
|
WP 319
|
06/04/43
|
06/04/43
|
17/05/43
|
18/05/43
|
PW 340
|
19/05/43
|
19/05/43
|
21/05/43
|
21/05/43
|
PW 342
|
22/05/43
|
23/05/43
|
23/05/43
|
23/05/43
|
PW 343
|
25/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
24/05/43
|
24/05/43
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WP 344
|
25/05/43
|
26/05/43
|
04/06/43
|
12/06/43
|
OS 049KM
|
13/06/43
|
13/06/43
|
13/06/43
|
13/06/43
|
KMS 016G
|
15/06/43
|
15/06/43
|
22/06/43
|
22/06/43
|
XK 009
|
28/06/43
|
28/06/43
|
05/07/43
|
06/07/43
|
WP 365
|
07/07/43
|
07/07/43
|
17/07/43
|
17/07/43
|
WP 371
|
19/07/43
|
19/07/43
|
27/09/43
|
27/09/43
|
WP 407
|
29/09/43
|
29/09/43
|
08/01/43
|
08/10/43
|
WP 276
|
10/01/43
|
10/01/43
|
26/11/43
|
26/11/43
|
WP 437
|
28/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
06/12/43
|
06/12/43
|
WP 442
|
08/12/43
|
08/12/43
|
14/12/43
|
14/12/43
|
WP 446
|
16/12/43
|
16/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
WP 449
|
22/12/43
|
22/12/43
|
07/01/44
|
07/01/44
|
WP 458
|
08/01/44
|
09/01/44
|
11/01/44
|
11/01/44
|
WP 460
|
13/01/44
|
13/01/44
|
15/01/44
|
15/01/44
|
WP 462
|
16/01/44
|
17/01/44
|
19/01/44
|
19/01/44
|
WP 464
|
21/01/44
|
21/01/44
|
21/01/44
|
21/01/44
|
WP 465
|
22/01/44
|
24/01/44
|
05/02/44
|
05/02/44
|
WP 472
|
07/02/44
|
07/02/44
|
08/02/44
|
09/02/44
|
WP 474
|
10/02/44
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10/02/44
|
07/03/44
|
07/03/44
|
WP 488
|
08/03/44
|
09/03/44
|
09/03/44
|
09/03/44
|
WP 489
|
10/03/44
|
12/03/44
|
23/03/44
|
24/03/44
|
WP 496
|
25/03/44
|
25/03/44
|
31/03/44
|
31/03/44
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WP 500
|
02/04/44
|
02/04/44
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07/04/44
|
07/04/44
|
WP SP 27
|
09/04/44
|
09/04/44
|
08/05/44
|
08/05/44
|
WP 519
|
10/05/44
|
10/05/44
|
12/01/45
|
12/01/45
|
ON 278
|
15/01/45
|
31/01/45
|
03/01/45
|
15/01/45
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HX 330
|
17/01/45
|
17/01/45
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(Note on Convoys)
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