Type II HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Vickers
Armstrong (Tyne) on 4th September 1939 under 1939 War Emergency Programme and
laid down on 10th April 1940 as Job No J4213. The ship was launched on 12th May
1941 as the first RN Ship to carry this name, that of a Yorkshire fox-hunt.
Build was completed on 10 January 1943. .Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign in March 1942 this ship was adopted by the civil
community of Hayes, Middlesex, now part of the London Borough of Hillingdon.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ARCTIC
1942-43 - MALTA CONVOYS 1942 - ATLANTIC 1944 - NORMANDY 1944 -
ENGLISH CHANNEL 1944
- NORTH SEA 1944-45
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field White, a
fret Blue and a
hunting horn
interlaced Red.
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
January Contractors
trials and commissioned for service.
10th Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials
Passage to Scapa Flow on completion of trials and storing;.
Worked-up for operational service at
Scapa Flow with ships of Home Fleet.
30th During
work-up deployed as part of Local Escort for Russian Convoy PQ6 during initial
stage
of passage to Iceland
in NW Approaches,
February On completion
of work-up deployed with 17th Destroyer Flotilla, at Scapa Flow.
14th Escorted
Russian Convoy PQ11 from Kirkwall with HM Escort Destroyer AIREDALE, HM
Trawlers BLACKFLY, CAPE ARGONA and CAPE
MARIATO for part of passage to Iceland.
17th Detached
from PQ11 and returned to Scapa Flow.
25th Part of
escort for HM Auxiliary Minelayers MENESTHEUS, AGAMEMNON, PORT QUEBEC
and
SOUTHERN PRINCE of 1st Minelaying Squadron with HM Destroyer SKATE for lay of
a
section of Northern Barrage (Operation SN85).
Sustained damage in heavy weather and returned for repair.
(For
details of all minelaying operations see Naval Staff History (MINING))
March
3rd Taken in
hand for repair at commercial shipyard in Immingham.
17th On
completion resumed Home Fleet Flotilla duties.
20th Deployed
with screen for HM Battleships KING GEORGE V and DUKE OF YORK, HM Aircraft
Carrier VICTORIOUS, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Cruisers EDINBURGH and KENT of
Home
Fleet with HM Destroyers ASHANTI, BEDOUIN, ECHO, ESCAPADE, ESKIMO.
FAULKNOR,
FORESIGHT, ICARUS, INGLEFIELD, FURY,
MARNE, ONSLOW,
PUNJABI, TARTAR and HM Escort Destroyer WHEATLAND
providing Distant Cover for
passage of Russian Convoy PQ13 and returning QP9.
(Note: This heavy Home Fleet presence was required because the German warships
TIRPITZ,
ADMIRAL SCHEER and ADMIRAL HIPPER were all known to be deployed in the
north
of Norway to carry
out attacks on Russian Convoys.
For
details of all Russian Convoy operations see ARCTIC CONVOYS by R. Woodman,
CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA
Ruegg,, CONVOY! by P Kemp and THE RUSSIAN
CONVOYS by B.
Schoefield).
On
release from screening duties detached for escort duty in English Channel.
April
1st
Deployed with escort for Commando Raid on shipping at
Bayonne.
(Operation MYRMIDON - This raid was aborted).
Carried out bombardment at Saint Jean de Luz.
On
release from MYRMIDON resumed duties with Hone Fleet at Scapa Flow.
8th Part of
screen for HM Battleships KING GEORGE V and DUKE OF YORK, HM Aircraft
Carrier
VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers KENT and NIGERIA with HM Destroyers BEDOUIN,
BELVOIR, ESCAPADE, ESKIMO, FAULKNOR, LEDBURY,
MATCHLESS, OFFA,
ONSLOW, SOMALI and HM Escort Destroyer WHEATLAND providing Distant Cover for
passage of Russian Convoy PQ14 and return
Convoy QP10.
26th Part of
screen for HM Battleship KING GEORGE V, US Battleship USS WASHINGTON,
HMS
VICTORIOUS, HM Cruiser KENYA, US cruisers TUSCALOOSA and WICHITA with
HM
Destroyers BELVOIR, ESCAPADE, FAULKNOR, HURSLEY,
INGLEFIELD,
LAMERTON, ORIBI and PUNJABI, US destroyers USS MADISON, USS PLUNKETT, USS
WAINWRIGHT and USS WILSON
providing Distant Cover for the transit of Russian
Convoy
PQ15
and return Convoy QP11.
(Note: The US Navy warships had been provided to reinforce Home Fleet because
of recent
losses
in RN strength).
May
1st HMS
PUNJABI sank after collision in fog with HMS KING GEORGE V which was badly
damaged and had to be replaced by HMS DUKE OF
YORK.
13th Deployed
with screen for HMS DUKE OF YORK, HMS VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers
LIVERPOOL,
KENT, LONDON, NIGERIA
and NORFOLK with HM Destroyers BLANKNEY,
ECLIPSE. ESCAPADE,
FAULKNOR, FURY, ICARUS, INGLEFIELD, LAMERTON,
MARNE, ONSLOW, ORIBI and WHEATLAND to provide cover for return of HM Cruiser
TRINIDAD from Murmansk.
(Note: This ship had been under temporary repair following her self-inflicted
torpedo damage
during action with German destroyers on 29th March. See above
references).
23rd Part of
screen for HMS DUKE OF YORK, USS WASHINGTON, HMS VICTORIOUS, HMS
LONDON and USS WICHITA.
(Note: These Home Fleet units were covering passage of PQ16 and returning QP12.)
June Detached
for escort of Malta Relief Convoy with other ships of Home Fleet.
(Operation HARPOON).
5th Deployed
as part of escort for convoy from Clyde with. HM Cruisers KENYA and
LIVERPOOL, HM
Destroyers ONSLOW, ICARUS, ESCAPADE, BEDOUIN,
MARNE,
MATCHLESS, ITHURIEL, BLANKNEY,
PARTRIDGE, BADSWORTH and Polish destroyer
ORP
KUJAWIAK.
12th Joined
Force X as Close escort for passage of convoy through Sicilian Narrows
to Grand
Harbour, Malta with HM Cruiser CAIRO, HM Destroyers BEDOUIN, MATCHLESS,
MARNE,
ITHURIEL, PARTRIDGE, BLANKNEY, BADSWORTH, ORP KUJAWIAK and four
Fleet
minesweepers.
14th Under
heavy air attack during which HMS LIVERPOOL was torpedoed.
Detached and deployed as escorted for tow of damaged HMS LIVERPOOL by HM
Destroyer
ANTELOPE to Gibraltar
18th Passage
to Scapa Flow with Hone Fleet ships.
July Deployed
as part of screen for HMS DUKE OF YORK USS WASHINGTON, HMS
VICTORIOUS, HM Cruiser
CUMBERLAND
and HM Cruiser NIGERIA with HM Destroyers
ASHANTI, BLANKNEY, MARNE, ESCAPADE, FAULKNOR, MARTIN, ONSLAUGHT,
ONSLOW. WHEATLAND, US destroyers USS
MAYRANT and RHIND to provide Distant
Cover
for transit of Russian Convoy PQ17
and returning Convoy QP13.
4th PQ17
scattered on orders from Admiralty because of threat of attack by German warships
TIRPITZ, ADMIRAL SCHEER and LUTZOW.
(See
above references, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and THE CONVOY IS TO
SCATTER by J Broome.).
20th Embarked
stores and ammunition and took passage with HMS MARNE, HMS MARTIN and
HMS
BLANKNEY to Archangel for replenishment of returning escorts.
Refuelled on passage by Royal Fleet Auxiliary BLACK RANGER.
24th Arrived
Kola Inlet .
Retained in North Russia
August Deployed at
Murmansk.
September
13th Joined Ocean Escort for returning Convoy QP14 with
HMS BLANKNEY, .HM Auxiliary AA
ships ALYNBANK, PALOMARES and POZARICA, three
Fleet minesweepers, four Corvettes
and four Trawlers.
25th Detached
from OP14 on arrival of Local Escort and returned to
Scapa Flow.
October Deployed for
escort of convoys between UK and Iceland.
November
22nd Joined
Ocean Escort for returning Convoy QP15 with HM Destroyer LEDBURY.
30th Detached
from OP15 and returned to Scapa Flow.
December
3rd Taken in
hand for refit in commercial shipyard at
Hull.
1 9 4 3
January
4th Rejoined
Home Fleet on completion of post refit trials.
Deployed for Western Local Escort duties with Russian Convoys.
17th Escorted
Russian Convoy JW52 with HM Destroyers BLANKNEY and LEDBURY.
21st Detached
from JW52 on arrival of destroyers for Ocean Escort.
February
5th Joined
return Convoy RA52 with HM Destroyer BLANKNEY.
8th Detached
from RA52 on arrival at Loch Ewe.
15th Escorted
Russian Convoy JW53 with HM Destroyers MEYNELL, and PYTCHLEY.
21st Detached
from JW53 after destroyer escort for ocean passage had arrived.
March Deployed for
escort of UK -
Iceland route convoys.
to
July
August
16th Relieved
escort of HM Auxiliary Minelayers AGAMEMNON, MENESTHEUS and PORT
QUEBEC of 1st Minelaying Squadron during lay of section of Northern Barrage in
Denmark
Strait to allow refuelling (Operation SN74).
September Home Fleet
deployment for convoy defence in continuation.
October
20th Escorted
HM Cruiser LONDON and US cruiser USS AUGUSTA whilst covering passage to
North
Russia of nine Home Fleet destroyers, two Fleet Minesweepers and a Corvette for
escort of returning convoy RA54A (Operation FR).
November
10th Joined
returning Convoy RA54A with HM Escort Destroyer BRISSENDEN and HM
Minesweeper HALCYON as Local Western Escort.
13th Detached
from RA54A before arrival at Loch Ewe.
22nd Deployed
as Local Escort for Russian Convoy JW54B with HM Destroyers SALADIN.
25th Detached
from JV54B after arrival of Ocean Escort.
December
5th Joined
return Convoy RA54B as Local Escort with HM Destroyers SKATE, .SALADIN and
BRISSENDEN.
9th Detached
from RA54B on arrival at Loch Ewe and resumed
Iceland
route duties.
1 9 4 4
January Deployed for
escort of UK -
Iceland route convoys.
to
February
March Nominated
for refit.
10th Taken in
hand for refit by Charles Hill at Bristol.
April
7th Carried
out post refit trials.
10th
Transferred to 1st Destroyer Flotilla based at Portsmouth.
Deployed with Flotilla for convoy defence and patrol in Channel area
20th In action
with French HUNT Class Destroyer LA COMBATTANTE against E-Boats off
Beachy Head.
21st In
action with HM Destroyer VOLUNTEER against attack on WP convoy.
One
E-Boat was damaged.
May Nominated
for service in Force S of Eastern Task Force to support plannred allied landings
in
Normandy. (Operation NEPTUNE)
(Note: Target allocated in Pre-Arranged Fire Plan - SWORD Area Beaches.)
For
details of naval activities before and during NEPTUNE see LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO), OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and
D DAY
SHIPS by J de Winser for information listing all ships iunvolved.).
Detached to join Force S and took part in preliminary exercises.
2nd Final
rehearsal for Force S, west of Littlehampton (Operation FABIUS)
18th Defence
Exercise in Channel off Brighton for all Assault Groups.
June Joined
Polish Destroyer ORP SLAZAK for patrol in Channel 10 of the "SPOUT"
during passage
of ships to Assault area.
4th
Operation delayed for 24 hours.
5th Deployed
for Patrol between 15th and 40th Minesweeping Flotillas in Channel 10
during passage of Convoy S2
6th Provided
support gunfire during landings on SWORD beaches with ORP SLAZAK.
7th Deployed
in Eastern Task Force area for gunfire support and interception patrols
to to
prevent interference to follow-up convoys by E-Boats or submersibles.
24th
Replenished at Portsmouth as available.
25th On
release when NEPTUNE terminated resumed Flotilla duties based at Portsmouth.
July Convoy
defence and support of military operations in continuation.
August Deployed for
Offensive patrols against craft evacuating Channel ports.
28th In action
against convoy of Landing Craft off Cap d'Antifer.
Four
of these craft were sunk.
September Channel
military support and convoy defence in continuation.
6th Under
fire from shore batteries at Cap Griz Nez.
Transferred to 21st Destroyer Flotilla baaed at Sheerness.
(Note: This deployment change was made because of increased mining and submarine
activities in Nore Command after advance of allied armies. Convoy routes were
under
increased threat and number oif escorts increased for patrol and for
interception of enemy traffic.)
October Deployed for
convoy defence and patrol in
English Channel and North Sea.
to (See
HOLD THE NARROW SEA by
P Smith).
December
1 9 4 5
January Flotilla
deployment based at Harwich in continuation.
to (Note:
During this period there was a significant increase in U-Boat activity
April by
SCHNORKEL fitted submarines and minelaying by E-Boats and submersibles.
As a
result destroyer patrols were introduced to protect
military convoys to Channel
Ports. See above reference)
May Deployed
in North Sea in support of re-occupation operations.
June Nominated
for deployment in Far East after refit at Simonstown.
July
14th Took
passage to Simonstown from Portsmouth.
August
4th Taken in
hand for refit by HM Dockyard.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS MIDDLETON completed refit at Simonstown
in December 1945 and returned to UK to Pay off and to reduce to Reserve status at Portsmouth. The ship was
transferred to lay-up at Penarth in 1953 and a year
later transferred to the
Reserve Fleet Sub-Division at Gibraltar. Before being placed on the Disposal
List she returned to UK and was placed on the Disposal List in 1956. Whilst
in use as part of an artificial harbour at Harwich she was sold to BISCO for demolition by Hughes Bolcow. The ship arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard on
4th October 1957 and demolition was reported complete in
February the next year.
Addenda
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS MIDDLETON
by Don Kindell
These convoy lists have not been cross-checked
with the text above
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Date convoy
sailed
|
Joined convoy as escort
|
Convoy No.
|
Left convoy
|
Date convoy
arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
14/02/42
|
14/02/42
|
PQ 011
|
17/02/42
|
22/03/42
|
10/03/42
|
22/03/42
|
PQ 013
|
24/03/42
|
31/03/42
|
21/03/42
|
22/03/42
|
QP 009
|
28/03/42
|
03/04/42
|
26/03/42
|
12/04/42
|
PQ 014
|
18/04/42
|
19/04/42
|
10/04/42
|
12/04/42
|
QP 010
|
18/04/42
|
21/04/42
|
10/04/42
|
28/04/42
|
PQ 015
|
04/05/42
|
05/05/42
|
28/04/42
|
28/04/42
|
QP 011
|
04/05/42
|
07/05/42
|
21/05/42
|
23/05/42
|
PQ 016
|
29/05/42
|
30/05/42
|
21/05/42
|
23/05/42
|
QP 012
|
29/05/42
|
29/05/42
|
12/06/42
|
12/06/42
|
HARPOON
|
16/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
27/06/42
|
27/06/42
|
PQ 017
|
04/07/42
|
04/07/42
|
26/06/42
|
27/06/42
|
QP 013
|
04/07/42
|
07/07/42
|
13/09/42
|
13/09/42
|
QP 014
|
25/09/42
|
26/09/42
|
17/11/42
|
22/11/42
|
QP 015
|
30/11/42
|
30/11/42
|
17/01/43
|
17/01/43
|
JW 052
|
21/01/43
|
27/01/43
|
29/01/43
|
05/02/43
|
RA 052
|
08/02/43
|
09/03/43
|
15/02/43
|
15/02/43
|
JW 053
|
21/02/43
|
27/02/43
|
01/11/43
|
10/11/43
|
RA 054A
|
13/11/43
|
14/11/43
|
22/11/43
|
22/11/43
|
JW 054B
|
25/11/43
|
03/12/43
|
26/11/43
|
05/12/43
|
RA 054B
|
09/12/43
|
09/12/43
|
14/04/44
|
14/04/44
|
WP 507
|
16/04/44
|
16/04/44
|
12/06/44
|
12/06/44
|
ETC 008
|
14/06/44
|
14/06/44
|
02/10/44
|
02/10/44
|
ON 257
|
03/10/44
|
18/10/44
|
21/09/44
|
03/10/44
|
HX 310
|
06/10/44
|
05/10/44
|
20/10/44
|
20/10/44
|
ON 261
|
23/10/44
|
05/11/44
|
10/10/44
|
23/10/44
|
HX 313
|
25/10/44
|
24/10/44
|
03/11/44
|
03/11/44
|
ON 264
|
06/11/44
|
21/11/44
|
25/10/44
|
06/11/44
|
HX 316
|
10/11/44
|
10/11/44
|
07/12/44
|
07/12/44
|
TAM 011
|
08/12/44
|
08/12/44
|
11/12/44
|
11/12/44
|
ATM 010
|
12/12/44
|
12/12/44
|
12/12/44
|
12/12/44
|
TAM 015
|
13/12/44
|
13/12/44
|
|
|
|
|
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(Note on Convoys)
WARTIME SERVICE OF RADAR OPERATOR ALBERT HENRY FAIRS
by Malcolm Fairs
My
Dad, who was born in 1924, joined HMS MIDDLETON on 27 July 1943 after
doing his basic training in North Wales, and served on her until 4 July 1945. He
was a Radar Operator during this time. The ship mainly did Convoy Escort duty.
I think he only went as far as Iceland but remembers being involved at D-Day and
was relieved just before the she was sent to Simonstown, he being dispatched to
Scotland to guard prisoners before being demobbed. He suffered minor injury when
MIDDLETON came under fire from a shore battery in the English Channel and ended
up in Haslar Hospital.
On his ship's papers, HMS MIDDLETON is in brackets and is preceded by names like
PROSPERINE, TYNE, VICTORY, GLENDOWER, PEMBROKE, COLLINGWOOD and ORLANDO. These
were naval bases and PROSPERINE was Scapa Flow.
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