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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2004

HMS CAMPBELL (D 60)  - Scott-class Flotilla Leader including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Campbell (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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SCOTT-Class Destroyer Flotilla Leader ordered from Cammell Laird of Birkenhead in April 1917. The ship was laid down as Yard No. 849 on I0th November 1917 and launched on 21st September 1918. She was the 2nd RN ship to carry this name, introduced in 1796. Build was completed on 21st December 1918 and she served in the Atlantic Fleet until 1925 when laid up in Reserve. She was brought forward from Reserve when the Reserve Fleet was mobilised in 1939 and in May 1942 was adopted by the civil community of Caithness following  a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in May 1942.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

NORWAY 1940 - ATLANTIC 1942-43 - NORTH SEA 1941-45 - DOVER STRAIT 1942 - ARCTIC 1942 - NORMANDY 1944

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Black, a bear's head Gold, langued and armed Silver

 

 

M o t t o

‘Dinna forget’

 

 

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

 

September             Joined 19th Destroyer Flotilla at Harwich for convoy escort in North Sea.

to                            (For details of naval activities in North Sea in 1939 see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

December              CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett, BATTLE FOR THE EAST COAST by J Foynes and

                                Naval Staff History.)

 

 1 9 4 0

 

January                  East Coast convoy escort in continuation.

to                            Nominated for service in Western Approaches.

February

 

March                    Deployed in SW Approaches

                25th        Joined Convoy OG23 on assembly as escort during initial stage of passage to Gibraltar.

                27th        Detached from OG23 and took passage to join inward Convoy HG23 as escort during  

                                passage to Liverpool from Gibraltar.

                30th        Detached from HG23 and returned to Plymouth

                                (For details of OG and HG convoys see THE ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM by A Hague.)

 

April                       Detached from escort of routine convoys as required by CinC Home Fleet to support

                                operations off Norway.

                                (Note: Not recorded in Naval Staff History (HMSO - 2001) as permanently deployed with

                                Home Fleet during Norwegian campaign.)

                22nd       Embarked 60 troops and stores for planned landings at Molde and Andalsnes and sailed

                                from Rosyth with HM Destroyers VANSITTART, IVANHOE, ICARUS and IMPULSIVE

                                as screen for HM Cruisers GALATEA, SHEFFIELD and GLASGOW during passage to

                                Tromso area (Operation SICKLE)

                23rd        Landed troops and stores at Andalsnes.

                24th        Returned to UK on release from SICKLE.

 

June                        Part of escort for evacuation convoy from Harstad.

                                Resumed North convoy defence duties

 

July                         Convoy defence duty and anti-invasion patrols

to

October

 

November

                19th        In action with E-Boats off Southwold, Suffolk.

                                Rammed and sank E-Boat S23. 19 of the crew were rescued and became PoW.

                                (Note: This was the first confirmed sinking of an E-Boat in the N. Sea.

                                See THE BATTLE OF THE EAST COAST by JP Foynes)

 

December              North Sea deployment in continuation.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Deployed in North Sea for convoy defence and patrol.

to                            (For details of East Coast convoy activities see THREE CORVETTES by N Montserrat

October                  and THE BATTLE OF THE NARROW SEAS by P Scott).

 

November              Escorted Convoy FS50 with HM Destroyers VERDUN, VESPER, WOLSEY, GARTH,

                                HAMBLEDON, QUORN, HM Corvettes KITTIWAKE and WIDGEON.

                20th        During defence of FS50 opened fire on HMS GARTH in error causing serious damage.

                                See FRIEND OR FOE by P Kemp).

                                (Note: During these attacks tanker WAR MEHTAR, Colliers WALDINGE and ARUBA

                                were sunk .Three E-Boats were also sunk,  See THE BATTLE OF THE EAST

                                COAST.)

 

December              North Sea deployment in continuation.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Flotilla re-designated 21st Destroyer Flotilla.

                                Deployed for North Sea convoy defence and patrol with HM Destroyers VIVACIOUS and

                                WORCESTER.

February                North Sea convoy defence and patrol in continuation.

                12th        Took part in Flotilla exercises with HM Destroyers VIVACIOUS and WORCESTER of 21st

                                Destroyer Flotilla and HM Destroyers MACKAY, WHITSHED and WALPOLE of 16th

                                Flotilla.

                                Diverted to intercept German warships SCHARNHORST, GNEISENAU and PRINZ EUGEN

                                on passage through English Channel from Brest to Wilhelmshaven.

                                Carried out unsuccessful torpedo attacks and under heavy fire from enemy ships and from

                                aircraft.

                                (For details see THE CHANNEL DASH by T Robertson .ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                                CLOSELY and The Naval Staff History).

                                Resumed East coast duties after return to Harwich.

 

March                    East Coast convoy escort and patrol in continuation.

to                            Modified RAF radar (Naval Type 286M fitted in this period.

July                         (For details of development and use of radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse) .

 

August                  Detached for duty in Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.

                2nd         Deployed as Local Escort from Loch Ewe for Russian Convoy PQ18 during passage to

                                Iceland with HM Destroyers ESKDALE, FARNDALE and MALCOLM.

                7th          Detached from PQ18 on arrival of Ocean Escort. and returned to Scapa Flow.

                                (For details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R A Ruegg,

                                CONVOY! by P Kemp and ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman.

 

September             Resumed duties at Harwich with 21st Flotilla.

to

October

 

November

                29th        In action against E-Boats in defence of North Sea convoy with HM Destroyer GARTH.

                                (Note: German S38 sunk in this engagement.

 

December              East coast duties in continuation.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Convoy defence and patrol In North Sea in continuation.

to                            (Radar Type 271) fitted for detection of submarines and E-Boats.

 September            See above reference and SEEK AND STRIKE By W Hackmam) .

 

October

                24th        During escort of Convoy FN1160 with H M Destroyers PYTCHLEY, WORCESTER,

                                EGLINGTON and MACKAY in action with E-Boats attacking convoy.

                                (For details see THE BATTLE OF THE NARROW SEAS).

 

November              East coast duties In continuation.

to                            (Note: By this date the ship had been converted for use as a Short Range Escort -

December              For details see V4W DESTROYERS 1917-45 by A Preston and BRITISH

                                DESTROYERS by E. March which outline the extent of the changes made) .

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  East coast duties in continuation.

to                            Detection equipment for intercepting enemy radio traffic fitted

April.

 

May                        Nominated for duty with Force S during planned allied landings in Normandy.

                                Allocated for convoy escort from Thames to beach head area as Escort Group 113 with

                                HM Destroyer VIVACIOUS. for continued escort of military convoys during duty Build-up

                                phase in a pre-planned cycle of convoys (Operation NEPTUNE)

                                (For details of naval activities prior to and during allied landings see OPERATION

                                NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY JUNE 1944 (HMSO)

 

June                        Passage to Sheerness to Join Group.

                3rd          Joined escort for Convoy S13 with HMS VIVACIOUS, HM Trawlers NORTHERN GEM

                                and HUGH WALPOLE.

                                (Note: Convoy comprised 4 Landing Ships and 4 RHINO craft.

                4th          Passage to Spithead.

                                Operation delayed 24 hours

                5th          Escort Convoy S13 through swept Channel.

                6th          After arrival in SWORD area returned to Sheerness

                7th          Continued NEPTUNE escort duties in pre-arranged cycle.

 

July                         After release from NEPTUNE resumed convoy escort and patrol in North Sea.

 

August                  East coast convoy escort and patrol on continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Convoy defence requirement extended to include English Channel traffic.

to                            (Note: Atlantic convoys were re-routed through Channel after threat of air attack

April                       had been removed by allied advance into Low countries. In this period there

                                was a significant increase in enemy activity by SCHNORKEL fitted submarines

                                which were concentrating attacks on convoy focal points in Channel and SW

                                Approaches. Increased surface minelaying in Thames Estuary also demanded

                                Increased patrol by destroyers and other escorts.

                                (See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith ).

                                Deployed in English Channel and North Sea for interception patrol and for convoy

                                escort duties.

 

May                        Patrol and support of military re-occupation operations.

to

August

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS CAMPBELL Paid-off and was reduced to Reserve after VJ Day. The ship never re-commissioned. and was placed on the Disposal List in 1946. Sold to BISCO on 18th February 1947 for demolition by Metal Industries she arrived in tow at the breakers’ yard in Rosyth during February 1947.

 

 


 

Addenda

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of  HMS CAMPBELL

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

 

 

 

 

 

02/03/40

03/03/40

OA 102

04/03/40

05/03/40

25/03/40

25/03/40

OG 023

27/03/40

31/03/40

20/03/40

27/03/40

HG 023

30/03/40

30/03/40

31/03/40

31/03/40

OA 120G

unknown

01/04/40

06/04/40

08/04/40

OA 124

09/04/40

09/04/40

29/03/40

10/04/40

HX 031

13/04/40

13/04/40

18/04/40

26/04/40

FS 002

01/05/40

01/05/40

02/09/42

20/09/42

PQ 018

08/09/42

21/09/42

12/11/42

12/11/42

CW 133

13/11/42

13/11/42

13/11/42

13/11/42

CE 131

14/11/42

14/11/42

27/01/43

27/01/43

CW 152

28/01/43

28/01/43

28/01/43

28/01/43

CE 150

29/01/43

29/01/43

30/05/43

30/05/43

CW 182

31/05/43

31/05/43

31/05/43

31/05/43

CE 180

01/06/43

01/06/43

19/06/43

19/06/43

CW 187

20/06/43

20/06/43

20/06/43

20/06/43

CE 185

21/06/43

21/06/43

02/08/43

02/08/43

CW 198

03/08/43

03/08/43

03/08/43

03/08/43

CE 196

04/08/43

04/08/43

02/01/44

02/01/44

CW 236

03/01/44

03/01/44

03/01/44

03/01/44

CE 234

04/01/44

04/01/44

11/02/44

11/02/44

CW 246

12/02/44

12/02/44

23/04/44

23/04/44

CW 264

24/04/44

24/04/44

25/04/44

25/04/44

CE 262

26/04/44

26/04/44

09/06/44

09/06/44

ETM 004

10/06/44

10/06/44

14/06/44

14/06/44

ETC 009

15/06/44

15/06/44

16/06/44

16/06/44

FTM 009

17/06/44

17/06/44

26/06/44

26/06/44

ETM 018

27/06/44

27/06/44

28/06/44

28/06/44

FTM 021

29/06/44

29/06/44

01/07/44

01/07/44

ETM 023

02/07/44

02/07/44

06/07/44

06/07/44

ETM 028

07/07/44

07/07/44

11/07/44

11/07/44

ETM 033

12/07/44

12/07/44

16/07/44

16/07/44

ETM 038

17/07/44

17/07/44

22/07/44

22/07/44

ETM 043

23/07/44

23/07/44

26/07/44

26/07/44

FTM 049

27/07/44

27/07/44

28/07/44

28/07/44

ETM 048

29/07/44

29/07/44

30/07/44

30/07/44

FTM 053

31/07/44

31/07/44

05/08/44

05/08/44

ETM 056

06/08/44

06/08/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 


 

JAMES 'DUTCHY' HOLLAND and HIS SERVICE on HMS CAMPBELL

by his son Patrick Holland, Perth, WA.

 

I have a web site of HMS CAMPBELL in memory of my dad which has some material on it which is not mentioned in the above service history list - see http://home.it.net.au/~lambeth/campbell.html. This includes a photo of the ship's Crest (now added above, with thanks to Patrick)  as well as details of her as one of the escort ships which  took Crown Prince Olaf back to Norway in May 1945.  I am  in touch with John Beeley who was a P.O. Telegraphist on CAMPBELL during her encounter with SCHARNHORST during the Channel Dash in February 1942.  John was i/c the Radar on the bridge during the battle and awarded the MID for his exemplary services. He has recently received  his Arctic Emblem badge for the time CAMPBELL was with the escort of Russian Convoy PQ 18.

 

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