HALCYON-Class
Minesweeper ordered from HM Dockyard
Devonport on 11 August 1937 and
laid down on 1st January 1938 and
launched on 23rd August that year. She
was
the
7th RN warship to carry this name
which had been
introduced for a Brig Sloop captured
at Copenhagen in September 1807. The
last to carry the name was a
Gunboat built in 1899 and sold in
1920 for mercantile use. Build was
completed on 24th August 1939 and
during WW2 this ship was
adopted by the civil community of Clowne,
Derbyshire after a successful WARSHIP
WEEK National
Savings campaign in February 1942.
B
a t t l
e H o n o u r s
ARCTIC
1942 - NORMANDY
1944
H e r a l
d i
c D a t a
On
a field barry
wavy of six white and blue a
a
decresant
Gold overall a net Black
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 3 9
August
Contractors trials.
War Station nominated as North Sea.
Commissioned for service in 1st
Minesweeping Flotilla and prepared for
war operations.
24th
Build completion and commenced
Acceptance trials at Devonport.
September
On completion of trials and storing
joined HM Minesweepers
BRAMBLE, HAZARD, HEBE, SHARPSHOOTER,
SPEEDY and
SEAGULL in 1st Minesweeping Flotilla at
Scapa Flow.
Deployed for minesweeping operations to
ensure clear passage for Home
Fleet ships in and out of Fleet
anchorage.
October
Scapa Flow deployment in continuation.
November
Transferred with Flotilla to Clyde for
continuation of minesweeping duties.
(Note: This transfer was made after
sinking of HM Battleship ROYAL OAK
at Scapa Flow when Home Fleet major ships were also moved to west
coast of Scotland pending the
improvement of ant-submarine defences
at the main Fleet anchorages. See ENGAGE
THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by C Barnett and the Naval Staff
History.)
Deployed at Greenock.
December
Resumed North Sea Service to ensure
passages through East Coast Mine
Barrier were kept clear of mines.
(Note: Extensive enemy minelaying using
magnetic mines was being carried
out in North Sea. See above references.)
1 9 4 0
January
Transferred with Flotilla for Atlantic
convoy defence based at Stornoway.
Deployed for escort of convoys during
passage to Canada.
February
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
March
Passage to Leith for refit
(Note: Sister ship HMS BRAMBLE was also
refitted at Leith in this period,)
April
Under refit
to
(Note: NOT deployed for support of
evacuation of allied troops from Dunkirk
May
(Operation DYNAMO.)
June
On completion of post refit trials
rejoined Flotilla at Scapa Flow.
Deployed for mine clearance operations
with Flotilla to ensure safe passage
of Home Fleet ships.
July
Scapa Flow deployment in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 1
January
Scapa Flow duties with Flotilla in continuation.
to
Nominated for transfer to Harwich.
February.
March
Passage to Harwich and deployed with HMS
BRAMBLE, HMS HEBE
and HMS SHARPSHOOTER for minesweeping of
convoy routes in Nore
Command to ensure safe passage of east
coast and Channel convoys.
15th
Under air attack during minesweeping
operations off Rye, Sussex and hit by
bomb which exploded near Wardroom
killing all personnel therein.
Damage sustained did not prevent passage
under own steam to Portsmouth
escorted by HMS SHARPSHOOTER.
April
Under repair at Portsmouth
to
May
June
On completion resumed operational
detached service with HMS HAZARD
to
and HMS BRAMBLE as part of 3rd Escort
Group.
August
Deployed for Local Escort of Atlantic
convoys based at Stornoway.
(Note: When not required for escort and
anti-submarine patrol carried out
minesweeping as required by Local
Command.
Nominated for detached service in North
Russia for minesweeping operations
to ensure safe passage of Russian
convoys to and from Iceland.
(Note: HM Minesweepers GOSSAMER, LEDA
and HUSSAR were also
nominated and the four HALYCONs were to
join HM Minesweepers
HALCYON, HARRIER and SALAMANDER already
at Archangel.)
September
Prepared for arctic service and took
passage to
Iceland.
29th
Joined escort for Russian convoy PQ1
with HM Cruiser SUFFOLK, HMS
GOSSAMER, LEDA and SALAMANDER.
October
11th
Arrived at Archangel with PQ1 and
commenced deployed in North Russia.
(Note: For details of all Russian Convoy
operations with names of the
mercantiles and the escorts see CONVOYS
TO RUSSIA by RA
Ruegg, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B
Schoefield, CONVOY !
by P Kemp and ARCTIC CONVOYS by R
Woodman.)
November
Deployed in North Russia for
minesweeping operations in Barents Sea to
to
ensure safe passage of traffic in and
out of Archangel and Murmansk.
December
1 9 4 2
January
North Russian deployment in
continuation.
February
7th
Joined inward joint Russian convoy
PQ9/10 as Local Escort with HMS
SHARPSHOOTER.
10th
Detached from PQ9/10 on arrival at
Murmansk.
13th
Joined return convoy QP7 for Local
Escort during passage in Barents Sea
with HMS SHARPSHOOTER.
15th
Detached from QP7 and returned to
Murmansk with HMS SHARPSHOOTER.
March
North Russian deployment in
continuation.
Nominated for return to UK
21st
Joined Ocean Escort for return convoy
QP9 at Kola Inlet with HMS
SHARPSHOOTER.
April
3rd
Detached from QP9 on arrival at Rekjavik
and took passage for return to UK.
Taken in hand for refit and for leave
after arrival.
May
Under refit during which Radar Type 271
was fitted.
(Note: For details of development and
use of radar by RN see RADAR AT
SEA by D Howse.)
June
On completion of post refit trials took
passage to Iceland to resume duties in
North Russia.
27th
Joined escort for Russian Convoy PQ17 at
Reykjavik with HMS HALCYON
and HMS SALAMANDER.
(Note: Ocean Escort for PQ17 included HM
Auxiliary AA Ships POZARICA
and PALOMARES, HM Destroyers FURY,
KEPPEL, LEAMINGTON
LEDBURY, OFFA and WILTON, four Corvettes
and four Trawlers.
Cover was provided by ships of Home
Fleet )
July
4th
Convoy ordered to scatter by Admiralty
in view of presumed threat of attack
by German battleships TIRPITZ,
SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU.
(Note: For details of this ill-judged
and disastrous decision see the above
references and THE CONVOY IS TO SCATTER
by J Broome.)
5th
Deployed with other smaller escorts in
search for scattered ships.
Passage to Novaya Zembla with six
mercantiles from PQ17
Under air attacks.
11th
Arrived at Archangel escorting some of
ships from PQ17 formed into convoy
and survivors rescued from sea or small
boats.
Resumed minesweeping duties in Barents
Sea.
August
North Russian deployment in
continuation.
September
13th
Part of Local Escort for return convoy
QP14 with HM Minesweepers
HALCYON, HAZARD and SALAMANDER.
(Note: This convoy was taking some of
the survivors from PQ17 to UK
and had a particularly strong Ocean
Escort provided by Home Fleet.
See references for details including
loss of HM Destroyer SOMALI
and HM Minesweeper LEDA.)
18th
Joined two Soviet destroyers in escort
of inward Russian convoy PQ18 in
Barents see with Local Escort of QP14.
Under air attacks.
20th
Detached from PQ18 on arrival and
resumed local minesweeping and patrol
duties.
October
North Russian deployment in
continuation.
November
17th
Deployed with HM Minesweepers HALCYON,
HAZARD, SALAMANDER
and SHARPSHOOTER as Local Escort from
Archangel during passage in
Barents of Convoy QP15 to Loch Ewe.
20th
Detached from QP15 and returned to
Archangel with Local Escort.
December
North Russia deployment in continuation.
1 9 4 3
January
Nominated for escort of Russian Convoy
JW52 and took passage to join
this inward convoy at Loch Ewe.
17th
Deployed with HM Corvettes LOTUS and
STARWORT and three trawlers
as part of Ocean Escort for JW52 from
Loch Ewe.
(Note: Fighting Escort of seven Home
Fleet destroyers joined on 21st and
Distant Cover was provided by Home
Fleet. See references.)
24th
Under air attacks which were
ineffective.
27th
Detached from JW52 on arrival at Kola
Inlet and resumed Local Duties in
North Russia.
February
Deployed in North Russia for
minesweeping and patrol duties.
26th
Joined inward Russian convoy JW53 as
Local Escort for passage to Kola
Inlet with five Soviet destroyers.
27th
Detached from JW53 and resumed local
duties.
March
North Russian deployment in
continuation.
(Note: Russian convoys from UK were
suspended due to need for escorts
to defend Atlantic traffic. See above
references.)
April
Deployed for minesweeping and patrol in
North Russia.
to
May
June
17th
Deployed with HM Fleet Minesweeper JASON
as escort during passage of Russian
icebreakers
during passage from White Sea to Kara Sea..
22nd
Detached with HMS JASON from icebreakers
on arrival in Kara Sea and returned to Kola Inlet
July
North Russian deployment in
continuation.
to
In this period, whilst minesweeping off
Cape Artica came under air attack
and hit by two bombs
September
that were deflected off deck without
exploding.
(Note: Other minesweepers in North
Russia were JASON, HAZARD,
HALCYON, GOSSAMER and SHARPSHOOTER.)
October
Nominated for return to UK with HMS
JASON.
Prepared for return passage.
November
1st
Joined return Convoy RA54A at Kola Inlet
as part of Ocean Escort with
JASON, HM Norwegian Corvette SOROY and
nine Home Fleet destroyers
which had made independent passage from
UK for this duty. Cover was
provided by Home Fleet. See references.)
14th
Detached from RA54 on arrival at Loch
Ewe after uninterrupted passage.
Taken in hand for refit and leave for
ship’s company.
December
Under refit.
1 9 4 4
January
Nominated for service with newly formed
1st Minesweeping Flotilla.
(Note: Other ships in Flotilla were HM
Minesweepers HARRIER,
GLEANER, HALCYON, HUSSAR, JASON,
SALAMANDER,
SEAGULL and SPEEDWELL.)
On completion of trials carried out
work-up exercises.
February
Deployed for exercises, minesweeping and
patrol in North Sea with Flotilla.
to
Nominated for minesweeping support
during planned allied landings in
March
Normandy (Operation
NEPTUNE).
April
Took passage to Portsmouth to join Force
S.
May
Nominated with Flotilla for mine
clearance of approach Channels to the
beach head anchorage areas.
(Note: Three Motor Launches and four
Isles-Class Danlayers were
attached to Flotilla for this
specialised operation
Took part in preparatory exercises with
ships of Force S (Exercise
FABIUS and carried out night sweeping
exercises with Flotilla.
For details of naval activities before
and during landings see LANDINGS
IN NORMANDY JUNE 1944 and OPERATION
NEPTUNE by K Edwards.
June
Deployed at Portsmouth for briefing and
preparations for minesweeping
of Channel 9 in advance of Assault
convoys.
4th
Operation delayed by 24 hours.
5th
Sailed from Solent to commence Channel
clearance.
No mines cleared or exploded.
6th
On completion deployed for mine sweeping
of anchorages.
8th
Deployed for widening approach Channels
and defence patrols off
Eastern Task Force landing areas.
Carried out Channel convoy escort as
required.
July
Channel minesweeping and convoy defence
in continuation,
(Note: Under threat of attack by E-Boats
and midget submarines.)
August
Channel deployment in continuation off
Arromanches with HM
Minesweepers HARRIER, JASON, HUSSAR,
GLEANER and
SALAMANDER..
22nd
Transferred to Le Havre area for mine
sweeping operation in anchorage
selected for bombardment of enemy
positions by HM Battleship
WARSPITE, HM Monitors EREBUS and
ROBERTS.
23rd
Under shore fire during minesweeping
operations.
26th
Permission to remain in area instead of
taking passage back to Arromanches
approved in order to complete clearance.
27th
During final clearance came under rocket
attacks by RAF TYPHOON
aircraft in which ship was hit and sank
after direct hits.
(Note: HMS HUSSAR was also hit and sunk,
with major damage in
HMS SALAMANDER which lost stern
structure and later declared a Total
Loss. HMS JASON and two trawlers
were also hit.
For Details see OUT SWEEPS by Lund and
Ludlam, FRIEND OR
FOE by P Kemp and Naval Staff History.
This disaster was directly due to
failure of Flag Officer British
Assault Area to ensure that approval of
extended minesweeping
operation had been advised to all
concerned with air operations.)
Addendum
Link
to
www.halcyon-class.co.uk
by
Bill Burn