HALCYON-Class Minesweeper ordered from HM Dockyard
Devonport on 1st July 1936 with sister ship to be named HMS LEDA. Propulsion machinery was to be
supplied by Richardson Westgarth of West Hartlepool. This ship was laid down on 15th February 1937 and launched on 28th October that year. She was the
9th RN warship to carry this name which had been introduced for a 16
gun Brig Sloop, built at Rotherhithe. The last was a Torpedo Gunboat built by HM Dockyard, Chatham in
1889 and sunk in Collision on 30th September 1918 whilst being used as a
minesweeper. Build was completed
on 30th
May 1938 and she commissioned
for service in the 1st Minesweeping Flotilla based at Portland. During WW2 this ship was adopted by the civil
community of Christchurch, Hampshire 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 seagull flying 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 3 9
August Carried out minesweeping
trial in Lyme Bay for Flotilla.
(Note: This
field had been specially laid to establish minesweeping capabilities.)
Took up War
Station with Flotilla at Scapa Flow.
Other ships in
Flotilla were HM Minesweepers BRAMBLE, BRITOMART, HAZARD,
HEBE,
SHARPSHOOTER and SPEEDY
September Deployed at Scapa Flow with Flotilla
(Note: Ships
were engaged in ensuring clear passages from Scapa Flow for Fleet units and
the gaps in East
Coast Mine Barrier.)
October
14th Transferred to Clyde
and cleared British mine field off Gourock
(Note: Home
Fleet units were moved to Clyde area after sinking of HM Battleship
ROYAL OAK at
anchor in Scapa Flow by a torpedo from U47 which penetrated
the anchorage.)
November Resumed North Sea Service
to ensure passages through East Coast Mine Barrier were kept
to December clear of mines.
(Note: Extensive
enemy minelaying using magnetic mines was being carried
out in North Sea. See above references.)
Transferred to
Stornoway for Atlantic convoy escort duties with Flotilla.
1 9 4 0
January Atlantic convoy defence
in continuation based at Stornoway
Deployed for
escort of convoys during passage to and from Canada.
Returned to Scapa
Flow after anchorage made safe
February Deployed at Scapa Flow with Flotilla for mine clearance in entrances and in
North Sea.
to April
May Remained at Scapa Flow in continuation of Fleet minesweeping duties
to December (Note: NOT deployed for
support of evacuation of allied troops from Dunkirk (Operation
DYNAMO. Pendant
Number for visual signalling purposes changed to J85.)
1 9 4 1
January Scapa Flow deployment in continuation
to February
March Transferred with
Flotilla to Harwich for clearance of convoy routes between southern North
Sea and Solent to
ensure safe passage.
April Transferred to
Western Approaches Command with Flotilla and deployed for Local Escort
of Atlantic
convoys in NW Approaches.
(Note: This
redeployment was made in view of the acute shortage of escorts due to losses
and extensive
repair of suitable ships in the evacuations of allied troops during 1940
and early 1941)
Ships of the
Flotilla not deployed for escort duty carried out minesweeping in
coastal waters.
No record has been traced of this ship being deployed as an Escort.)
May Home waters
minesweeping deployment in continuation.
to August
September Nominated for service in
North Russia to provide Local Escort of convoys and for
minesweeping to
ensure clear passage for convoys on entry and departure.
Prepared for
service in the Arctic but not “Arcticised”
October Passage to Scapa Flow to join HM Cruiser NORFOLK, HM Destroyers ICARUS
and ECLIPSE,
HM Minesweepers
BRAMBLE and SPEEDY of Flotilla for escort of Russian Convoy PQ2
during passage to
Archangel.
(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.)
18th Sailed from Scapa
Flow with PQ2 and escort.
29th HM Minesweepers
GOSSAMER, HUSSAR and LEDA joined QP2 as Local Escort.
(Note: These
sister ships were on detached service from the 5th Minesweeping Flotilla and
had arrived with
Russian Convoy PQ1 on 11th October for similar duties.)
30th Arrived at Archangel
with PQ2 and escort. This convoy had an uneventful passage.
Commenced
detached service in North Russia.
November
3rd Deployed with HMS
BRAMBLE and HMS LEDA for Local Escort of return Convoy QP2
during first
stage of passage to Scapa Flow.
(Note: Ocean
escort was provided by same ships as for PQ2)
5th Detached from QP2
with Local Escort and returned to Archangel.
20th Deployed as Local
Escort for Russian Convoy PQ3 with HMS BRAMBLE and HMS SPEEDY
during final
stage of passage into Archangel.
(Note: Ocean
Escort for PQ3 comprised HM cruiser KENYA, HM Destroyers BEDOUIN and
INTREPID, HM
Trawlers MACBETH and HAMLET.)
22nd Detached from PQ3 with
escorting ships on arrival at Archangel .
27th Joined Russian Convoy
PQ4 with HM Minesweepers GOSSAMER, a and SPEEDY as Local
Escort for final
stage of passage into Archangel.
(Note: Ocean
Escort from Hvalfjord comprised HM Cruiser BERWICK, HM Destroyers
OFFA and ONSLOW,
HM Trawlers BUTE and STELLA CAPELLA, which detached
on arrival of
Local Escort.)
28th Detached from PQ4
with Local Escort on arrival at Archangel.
December North Russia deployment in
continuation for minesweeping and convoy defence locally.
7th Joined Russian
Convoy PQ5 with HMS BRAMBLE as Local Escort for final stage of passage into
Archangel and relieved HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD, HM Minesweepers HAZARD and HEBE as
escort from
Hvalfjord.)
(Note: HM
Minesweeper SHARPSHOOTER with PQ5 on passage for duty in North Russia
remained with
convoy as part of Local Escort.)
13th Detached from PQ5
with Local Escort on arrival at Archangel.
29th Deployed with HMS
LEDA, HMS SPEEDY, HMS BUTE and HMS STELLA CAPELLA
as Local Escort
for return Convoy QP4 during first stage of return passage.
(Note: HMS
SPEEDY had been damaged in action with German destroyers on 17th December
and was returning
to UK for repair escorted by HMS SEAGULL and HMS LEDA
which were to be
“Articised” prior to resuming service in North Russia.)
1 9 4 2
January
5th Detached from Locals
Escort of QP4 after arrival of HM Cruiser EDINBURGH, HM Destroyers
ECHO and ESCAPADE as Ocean Escort.
12th After independent
passage to UK with HMS SPEEDY and HMS LEDA took passage for refit
and “Articisation”.
February Under refit
to March
April On completion of post
refit trials took passage to Clyde to join Russian Convoy PQ15.
10th Sailed with HMS
BRAMBLE, HMS LEDA, HM Trawlers CAPE PALLISER, CHILTERN,
NORTHERN PRIDE
and VIZALMA as part of escort for Russian Convoy PQ15 during
passage to
Reykjavik.
(Note: HM
Destroyer LEDBURY was part of escort with Fleet Tanker GRAY RANGER
but returned to
Lerwick during passage, presumably after refuelling.)
26th Sailed from Iceland
with same escort.
28th HM Auxiliary AA Ship
ULSTER QUEEN, HM Destroyers BADSWORTH, BOADICEA,
MATCHLESS,
SOMALI, VENOMOUS and Norwegian destroyer ST. ALBANS joined
PQ15 to reinforce
escort.
May Passage with PQ 15 in
continuation
(Note: During
Home Fleet operation to cover the passage of PQ15, HM Battleship KING
GEORGE V was
involved in collision with HM Destroyer PUNJABI in which the
destroyer was
sunk and the battleship sustained serious damage.
2nd Under submarine
attacks and heavy and sustained air attacks.
Carried out
successful attack on submarine with HMS ST ALBANS.
(Note: This was
later identified as the Polish ORP JASTRZAB which was outside her
allocated patrol
area and therefore considered hostile.)
3rd Under further air
attacks.
5th Detached from PQ15
on arrival at Murmansk and resumed detached
service in North Russia.
30th Deployed with HMS
BRAMBLE, HMS GOSSAMER and HMS LEDA , HM Destroyer
MARNE, HM
Auxiliary AA Ship ALYNBANK and three Russian destroyers including
GROZNI and
SOKRUSHITELNY as Local Escort for Russian Convoy PQ16 during
passage into
Archangel. Under heavy and sustained air attacks
(Note: This was
the largest convoy sent to North Russia to this date and comprised 36 ships,
seven of which
were lost on passage.)
June
1st Detached from PQ15
with Local Escort on arrival at Archangel.
3rd Deployed for local
minesweeping operations.
21st Joined HMS BRAMBLE,
GOSSAMER and LEDA, Russian destroyers GROZNI and
SOKRUSHITELNY for
Local Escort of return Convoy QP12 during initial part of passage
from Kola Inlet
to Iceland.
(Note: Ocean
Escort also sailed and comprised HMS ULSTER QUEEN, HM Destroyers
BADSWORTH,
VENOMOUS, BOADICEA, ESCAPADE, INGLEFIELD,
Norwegian
destroyer ST ALBANS, HM Minesweeper HARRIER, HM Trawlers
CAPE PALLISER, NORTHERN PRIDE,
NORTHERN WAVE and VIZALMA.)
23rd Detached from QP12
with ships of Local Escort and returned to Kola Inlet.
26th Joined HM
Minesweepers BRAMBLE, HAZARD and LEDA, Russian destroyers
GROZNI,
GREMYASCHI and KUIBYSHEV as Local Escort for return Convoy QP13
during first
stage of passage from Archangel to Iceland.
(Note: Ocean
Escort comprising HMS ALYNBANK, HM Destroyers INGLEFIELD,
INTREPID, ACHATES,
VOLUNTEER, Polish destroyer ORP GARLAND,
HM Minesweepers
HUSSAR, NIGER, HM Corvettes HONEYSUCKLE,
HYDERABAD (RIN),
STARWORT, Free French ROSELYS, HM Trawlers
MADELEINE and ST
ELSTAN with HM Submarine TRIDENT also sailed
with QP13 which
also included HMS ALYNBANK to provided additional
defence again air
attacks.)
28th Detached from QP13
with Local Escort and returned to Archangel.
(Note: This
convoy entered a British minefield off
Iceland in poor visibility on
4th July
and as a result
HMS NIGER and five mercantiles from the convoy were sunk)
July Deployed for
minesweeping operations in North Russia
to August (Note: Russian Convoy
operations were suspended following a reappraisal of the
defence
requirements and political repercussions after the tragic passage of
PQ17. See above
references.)
Nominated with
HMS BRAMBLE and HMS LEDA for return to UK
September
13th Joined HMS BRAMBLE
and HMS LEDA for return passage to Loch Ewe as part of
Ocean Escort for
return Convoy QP14.
(Note: This
convoy also included ships carrying survivors from PQ17 and ships
which had
survived the grievous attacks resulting from the decision to
scatter that
convoy.)
Other ships in the Ocean escort were:
HM Auxiliary AA
Ships ALYNBANK, PALOMARES and POZARICA,
HM Destroyers
BLANKNEY, MIDDLETON, HM Corvettes DIANELLA,
LOTUS, POPPY,
LA MALOUINE, HM Trawlers AYRSHIRE,
LORD AUSTIN, LORD
MIDDLETON and NORTHERN GEM.
17th Home Fleet major
warships joined QP14 to reinforce Ocean Escort.
20th Under attack by
U-Boats during which HMS LEDA was sunk by U435 with many
casualties. HM
Destroyer SOMALI was also hit by a torpedo from U703 and was
disabled. Taken
in tow by HM Destroyer ASHANTI the stricken ship sank in gale
conditions on
24th.
26th Detached from escort
on arrival at Loch Ewe and made independent passage for refit.
October Under refit during which
Radar Type 271 was fitted.
to November
December On completion of post refit
trials prepared to resume duties in North Russia and took
passage to join
escort for Russian Convoy JW51A during passage to Kola Inlet.
15th Deployed with HM
Destroyers, BLANKNEY, CHIDDINGFOLD and LEDBURY,
HM Corvettes
HONEYSUCKLE, OXLIP, HM Trawlers LADY MADELEINE and
NORTHERN WAVE as
escort for Russian Convoy JW51A during passage from Loch
Ewe to Kola
Inlet.
18th Home Fleet destroyers
joined JW51A to provide Fighting Escort.
19th Addition Home Fleet
ships including HM Cruisers SHEFFIELD and JAMAICA with
destroyer screen
joined JW51 escort.
25th Detached from JW51A
with escort on arrival at Kola Inlet without enemy attacks and
resumed detached
service in North Russia.
1 9 4 3
January
3rd Deployed with HMS
HARRIER for Local Escort of Russian Convoy JW51B for final stage of
passage to Kola
Inlet.
4th Detached from JW51B
with HMS HARRIER on arrival at Kola Inlet.
5th Deployed for local
mine clearance.
29th Joined HMS HARRIER
for passage to UK as part of escort for return Convoy RA52.
(Note: Escort
included: HM Destroyers BEAGLE, BULLDOG, FORESTER, ICARUS
MATCHLESS,
MUSKETEER, OFFA, ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW and Polish
ORP PIORUN, HM
Corvettes HONEYSUCKLE, HYDERABAD (RIN),
RHODODENDRON and
OXLIP. HMS ONSLOW was returning to UK after
serious damage
during Battle of Barents Sea. See references.)
February
9th Detached from RA52
on arrival at Loch Ewe.
(Note: Deployed
as SO Escorts when Home Fleet destroyers detached for passage
to Scapa Flow.
March Deployed in Home Waters.
to September (Note: Ship may have been
refitted in this period. To be confirmed)
October
20th Return passage to
Kola Inlet.
Nominated for
escort of mercantiles which had remained in North Russia during
the period that
Russian Convoys were suspended (Operation FR)
Passage to Kola
Inlet as part of escort with other Home Fleet ships to collect mercantiles.
(Note: Other
ships taking part in FR included HM Destroyers MAHRATTA,
MATCHLESS, MILNE,
MUSKETEER, SAUMAREZ, SCOURGE,
SAVAGE, SCORPION,
WESTCOTT, HM Corvette EGLANTINE and
HM Minesweeper
HARRIER.
28th Resumed detached
service in North Russia.
November
1st Deployed with HMS
HARRIER, and two Soviet destroyers including GROMKI
as Local Escort
for return Convoy RA54A during initial stage of passage to UK
from Kola Inlet.
(Note: Ocean
Escort comprised HM Minesweepers JASON and BRITOMART
(returning to UK
from detached service in North Russia), HM Corvette
EGLANTINE, HM
Destroyers MAHRATTA, MATCHLESS, MILNE,
MUSKETEER,
SAVAGE, SAUMAREZ, SCORPION, SCOURGE and
WESTCOTT.)
3rd Detached from RA54A
and returned to Kola Inlet with Local Escort.
26th Deployed with HMS
HUSSAR and HM Trawler LORD AUSTIN as Local Escort
for return convoy
RA54B for initial stage of passage from Archangel to Loch Ewe.
28th Detached from RA54B
with HMS HUSSAR and returned to Archangel.
December Deployed for local
minesweeping, patrol and convoy escort in Barents Sea.
22nd Provided Local Escort
for return Convoy RA55A for first stage of passage from Kola
Inlet to Loch
Ewe.
(Note: Other
escorts on sailing were HM Destroyers BEAGLE, WESTCOTT,
METEOR, MILNE,
MATCHLESS, MUSKETEER, OPPORTUNE,
VIRAGO, ASHANTI
and Canadian ATHABASKAN )
HM Corvettes
DIANELLA, POPPY and Norwegian ACANTHUS
31st Detached from RA55A
and returned to Kola Inlet.
1 9 4 4
January Passage to Loch Ewe to
join escort for Russian Convoy JW56B.
22nd Sailed from Loch Ewe
with HM Destroyers WRESTLER*, WHITEHALL, WESTCOTT,
HM Sloop CYGNET,
HM Corvettes HONEYSUCKLE* and RHODODENDRON,
HM Minesweepers
HYDRA* and ONYX *as escort for JW56B.
26th Ships of Local Escort
(*) detached when HM Destroyers MAHRATTA, MILNE,
MUSKETEER,
OPPORTUNE and SCOURGE joined as reliefs.
29th Escort reinforced by
destroyers from Kola Inlet which had escorted the previous
JW56A.
February
1st Detached from JW56B
with destroyers from Kola Inlet, except HMS HARDY which
was hit by a
torpedo from U278 and had to be sunk.. Took passage to Archangel
3rd Joined HMS GLEANER
for Local Escort of return Convoy RA56 during
initial stage of
passage from Kola Inlet to Loch Ewe.
5th Detached from RA56
and returned to Kola Inlet.
(Note: Other
ships in escort on sailing were HM Destroyers WESTCOTT.
WHITEHALL, HM
Sloop CYGNET, HM Corvettes DIANELLA,
OXLIP, POPPY and
RHODODENDRON as Close Escort with the
Home Fleet
destroyers.
March
2nd Joined return Convoy
RA57 with HM Minesweeper GLEANER as part of escort for
passage to UK on
completion of detached service in North Russia
(Note: Other
escorts for RA57 Ocean Passage were HM Destroyers BEAGLE, BOADICEA,
KEPPEL, WALKER,
HM Corvettes BLUEBELL, CAMELLIA, LOTUS
and RHODODENDRON.
Cover was provided by HM Cruiser BLACK PRINCE
and HM Aircraft
Carrier CHASER with screen of Home Fleet destroyers.
9th Detached from RA57
and took passage to Scapa Flow with HMS BEAGLE
(Note: Only one
ship of the convoy was lost and three U-Boats were sunk, two by
aircraft from HMS
CHASER.)
Passage to rejoin
1st Minesweeping Flotilla.
April Nominated for
minesweeping support of allied landings in Normandy
(Operation
NEPTUNE).
Allocated to
Force S based at Portsmouth for mine clearance of Approach
Channel 9 with
ships of Flotilla.
Carried night
minesweeping exercises with Flotilla prior to deployment with ships
of Force S for
Final exercises with Forces J, G and U.
(Note: Other
ships in Flotilla were: HM Minesweepers BRITOMART,
GLEANER,
HALCYON,
HARRIER (SO), HUSSAR, JASON,
SALAMANDER and
SPEEDWELL.)
May Took part in
preparatory exercises including and Exercise FABIUS series with
Flotilla.
(Note: For
details of naval activities before and during NEPTUNE see
LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY June 1944 (HMSO) and OPERATION
NEPTUNE by K. Edwards. For specific information about minesweeping
activities see
THEY LED THE WAY by J Williams.
Three Motor
Launches and four Isles-Class Danlayers were attached to
the Flotilla for
this specialised operation.)
On completion of
defence exercise deployed in Solent for briefing and
maintenance.
June Deployed at
Portsmouth for briefing and preparations for minesweeping of Channel
9 in advance of
Assault convoys taking troops of 3rd Infantry Bde to SWORD
Beaches.
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 the area between Approach Channels 5 and 6 and
carrying out
interception patrols defence patrols off Eastern Task Force area.
Deployed for
escort of Channel convoy as required.
July Channel minesweeping
and convoy defence in continuation.
(Note: Under
threat of attack by E-Boats and midget submarines.)
Nominated for
refit in commercial shipyard at Lowestoft and took passage.
August (Note: This ship was
therefore not with the Flotilla, which was subjected to air
attacks by RAF
TYPHOON aircraft using rockets, whilst carrying out a
minesweeping
operation off Arromanches on 27th. HMS BRITOMART
and HMS HUSSAR
were sunk by the rocket attacks, HMS SALAMANDER
damaged
beyond repair and scrapped, and HMS JASON damaged.
September On completion of post refit
trials resumed service with Flotilla.
(Note: Other
ships of Flotilla were HM Minesweepers HARRIER, HALCYON,
SPEEDWELL,
GLEANER, HAZARD, SHARPSHOOTER and JASON.
Deployed for
Channel minesweeping.
October Transferred with
Flotilla to carry out minesweeping off north east France and
Belgium, and
based at Ostend.
November Minesweeping deployment in
southern North Sea in continuation
to December (Note: HM Danlayer COLSAY
was sunk by a human torpedo (NEGER) off
Ostend during
these operations on 2nd.November. Provision of clear
approach Channels
to ports in Europe was an essential to passage of
military convoys
supporting allied advance in the Low countries.)
1 9 4 5
January Transferred with
Flotilla to Harwich for minesweeping in southern
North Sea.
to April (Note: During this
period extensive enemy minelaying was being carried out by
submarines,
aircraft and small surface craft
May After VE Day deployed
with ships of Flotilla for clearance of allied and German
to July mines in North Sea and Channel areas.
August Nominated for future
deployment as a Survey Ship and Paid-off
P o s t W a r
N o t e s
HMS SEAGULL was taken in hand
at Rotterdam for the conversion to her new role in September and two months later went to Chatham
for completion of this work, including RN specialist hydrographic equipment in HM Dockyard. On
completion in April 1946 the ship recommissioned for surveying duties. From June onwards she carried
out surveys in Home Waters until again Paid-off and then reduced to Reserve
Status in March 1951. She was laid-up at Devonport and towed to Leith in 1955
for used as the Drill Ship for the RNVR
Division. Placed on the Disposal List in 1956 she was sold to BISCO for
breaking-up by Demelweek and Redding at Plymouth and taken in tow from Leith on 1st May that year.
Addendum
Link to
www.halcyon-class.co.uk
by Bill Burn
