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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2005

HMS CAMPBELTOWN (I 42) - ex-US Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

sister ship HMCS Niagara showing original appearance (NavyPhotos, click to enlarge)

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Ex USS BUCHANAN (Type B - CALDWELL-Class) built by Bath Iron Works. The ship was laid down on 29th June 1918 and launched on 2nd January 1919- Commissioned on 20th January 1919 for U S naval service she was held in Reserve in 1939. The ship was transferred to the RN under the UK/US Lend Lease Agreement on 3rd September 1940 and commissioned as HMS CAMPBELTOWN at Halifax, Canada on 9th September 1940. The name is common to a town in Florida, USA and one in Argyll, Scotland. It had not been used previously for an RN ship.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC  1941-42 - ST NAZAIRE  1942

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field White, within an annulet Blue charged in base with a

mullet White a sprig of myrtle proper.

 

 

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

 

September             Prepared for transfer to RN control.

                9th          Commissioned as HMS CAMPBELTOWN at Halifax.

                                Passage to Plymouth via St. Johns, Newfoundland.

                29th        Arrived at Devonport and taken in hand for modifications to suit RN use.

 

October                  Under refit and modification.

 

November              Nominated for service in Western Approaches with 17th Flotilla.

                1st           Completed refit and harbour trials.

                2nd         Carried out post refit sea trials

                                Sustained damage in collision with ss RISOY but continued passage to Liverpool

                7th          Under repair at Liverpool.

                24th        On completion of repair took passage to join Flotilla.

 

December              Deployed for convoy defence with Flotilla.

                3rd          Sustained major damage in collision with ss COMUS.

                                Taken in hand for repair.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Under repair.

to                            (Note: During this refit the 4th Funnel was shortened.)

February

 

March                    During repair some Polish personnel on board.

                                (Note: It is not known whether loan to Polish Navy was contemplated.)

                28th        On completion transferred to Royal Netherlands Navy on loan.

                                Joined 7th Escort Group.

 

April                       Deployed with Group for convoy defence.

to                            (Note: A proposal to rename the ship MIDDLEBERG was not agreed as this would

May                        have been contrary to the naming agreed with the US Navy on transfer.)

 

June                        Under repair.

 

July                         On completion resumed service with Group for convoy defence.

 

August                  Convoy defence with Group in continuation.

 

September             Nominated for return to RN service in 7th Escort Group.

                                Worked-up for operational service with RN ships’ company.

 

October                  On completion of work-up joined Group.

                                Deployed for convoy defence with Group for mercantile convoys between UK and West

                                Africa..

 

November              Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to                            Passage to Devonport for repair

December

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Taken in hand by HM Dockyard, Devonport for repair.

                                Selected for special operation and withdrawn from service for modifications.

                                (Note: This ship was to be used for an assault operation at St Nazaire and was considered

                                as being expendable (Operation CHARIOT).

                                For details see Naval Staff History and THE WATERY MAZE by B Fergusson).

 

February                Under modification.

                                (Note: The third and fourth funnels were removed and the other two funnels raked.

                                This was to simulate structure of German MOWE class destroyer

                                A 12pdr HA gun was fitted forward.

                                Demolition charges made up of 24 Depth Charges were fitted with suitable

                                firing mechanism.

                                All unnecessary stores and equipment were landed to lighten ship.

                                Armour protection was provided for bridge structure and new 20mm Oerlikon gun positions

                                fitted on upper deck.

 

March                    On completion of trials embarked Commandos and reduced ships company needed to

                                take ship to French coast and to man armament needed for CHARIOT.

                25th        Took passage from Devonport to Falmouth to join Motor Launches and Motor Torpedo

                                Boats taking part in this operation.

                                (Note: Details of recognition signals used by German warships approaching the French

                                coast had been given to all ships taking part. )

                26th        Sailed from Falmouth towing MTB74 with HM Destroyers ATHERSTONE and TYNEDALE.

                                (Note: MTB74 had been modified to carry special delayed action torpedoes to be used if

                                explosives carried on board did not detonate.)

                27th        Passage into port made from Atlantic direction to ensure approach to St Nazaire was correct.

                                (Note: U593 sighted CHARIOT Force and was attacked without success.

                                See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and THE BATTLE OF THE NARROW

                                SEAS by P Scott for details.)

                                Arrived off St Nazaire and entered Loire estuary.

                28th        Ship wedged against outer lock gate but charges failed to detonate.

                                Some survivors rescued by MTB74 and ML177 were later lost when these two craft were sunk.

                                Depth Charges detonated ten hours later and caused many casualties to enemy personnel who

                                were on board inspecting the ship and others on the dockside.

                                Wreck of ship was driven into the drydock when the caisson was damaged and she

                                remained there for many months.

                                The dock was sealed with a sand wall but could not be used for the rest of WW2.

                                For full details see above references and Naval Staff History.

                                ( Note: The British film THE GIFT HORSE was loosely based on CHARIOT)

 

 


 

Addenda

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS CAMPBELTOWN

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

 

 

 

 

 

02/05/41

02/05/41

OB 318

07/05/41

10/05/41

25/04/41

09/05/41

HX 123

12/05/41

13/05/41

18/05/41

19/05/41

OB 324

24/05/41

27/05/41

09/05/41

24/05/41

SC 031

30/05/41

30/05/41

31/05/41

31/05/41

OB 329

05/06/41

05/06/41

25/05/41

02/06/41

HG 063

09/06/41

09/06/41

08/07/41

19/07/41

HG 067

24/07/41

24/07/41

30/07/41

01/08/41

OG 070

01/08/41

12/08/41

13/07/41

03/08/41

SL 081

08/08/41

08/08/41

13/08/41

14/08/41

OS 003

17/08/41

01/09/41

09/08/41

19/08/41

HG 070

unknown

23/08/41

29/08/41

29/08/41

OG 073

02/09/41

13/09/41

15/08/41

03/09/41

SL 084

08/09/41

08/09/41

12/09/41

12/09/41

OS 006

15/09/41

03/10/41

05/09/41

18/09/41

SC 043

20/09/41

20/09/41

04/01/42

13/01/42

SL 097

24/01/42

24/01/42

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 


 

HMS CAMPBELTOWN PREPARING for ST NAZAIRE

from Dave Martin
 

 

My thanks to Dave Martin for sending me this photograph of HMS Campbeltown being converted to resemble a German destroyer before the famous and heroic raid on St Nazaire. Note the two cut-down funnels and the lines of protective plating being added along both sides behind which the Commandos took cover. He informs me that apart from a few poor photos of her rammed into the Normandie dock gates, he has not seen any more of her during this period, probably "all hush hush",  although he has heard that  the dock gates at Cardiff were used at night for training.

 

VICTORIA CROSS SHIP

The London Gazette, Thursday 21 May, 1942

(From the ADMIRALTY, Whitehall, S.W.1)

 

"The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the award of the VICTORIA CROSS for daring and valour in the attack on the German Naval Base at St. Nazaire, to:

 

Lieutenant‑Commander Stephen Halden Beattie, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Campbeltown.

 

For great gallantry and determination in the attack on St. Nazaire in command of H.M.S. Campbeltown. Under intense fire directed at the bridge from point blank range of about 100 yards, and in the face of the blinding glare of many searchlights, he steamed her into the lock‑gates and beached and scuttled her in the correct position. This Victoria Cross is awarded to Lieutenant-Commander Beattie in recognition not only of his own valour but also of that of the unnamed officers and men of a very gallant ship's company, many of whom have not returned."

 

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revised 15/8/11
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