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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 VOLUNTEER (D 71) -  V & W-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Wolverine, Modified W-class sister ship (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

return to Contents List 

 

Modified W-Class Destroyer ordered from William Denny of Dunbarton with the 13th Order of the 1918-19 Programme in. January 1918. The ship was laid down on 16th April of that year and she was launched on 17th April 1919. She was the fourth RN warship to carry the name first used for the Prize VOLUNTAIRE taken in 1806. Completion date was 7th November 1919 and she joined the Fleet. During 1921 she was part of the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, Atlantic and In 1925 was transferred to the Mediterranean with the Flotilla. During the early 1930's she reduced to Reserve in the Nore and later laid up in the Maintenance Reserve at Rosyth until 1939 when brought forward to attend the Royal Review of the Reserve Fleet at Weymouth manned by Reservists. She remained in commission. and after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign In December 1941 was adopted by the city of Hereford.

 

B a t t 1 e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC 1939-45 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1940-45 - ARCTIC 1942 - BISCAY 1943 - NORMANDY 1944 - NORTH SEA 1945.

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

 Badge: On  a Field: Blue, barry of three Silver. a Shield

thereon a lion's mask, all Gold.

 

M o t t o

 Pro aris et focis :   ‘ For Hearths and Homes ’

 

 

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                  Commissioned with Reservists for Royal Review at. Weymouth.

 

September             Remained in commission, and nominated for service with 15th Destroyer Flotilla.

                5th          Deployed with HM Destroyers WITHERINGTON, WOLVERINE and VIMY as escort,

                                for Convoy GC1 from Milford Haven.

 

October                  Transferred to 17th Destroyer Flotilla in Western Approaches Command for convoy

                                defence in Atlantic.

 

November              Atlantic convoy duty in continuation based at Plymouth.

to

December

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence in SW Approaches

                8th          Deployed with HM Destroyers VANOC , VENETIA and VISCOUNT for escort of inward

                                Convoy HG13 during passage to Liverpool from Gibraltar in SW Approaches.

                10th        Detached from HG13 in Irish Sea and returned to Plymouth.

                                (For details of naval activities in Hone waters before April 1940 see ENGAGE THE

                                ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett.).

 

February                Atlantic convoy defence in continuation in SW Approaches.

 

March

                5th          Joined outward Convoy OG21F with HM Destroyer WHIRLWIND, HM Sloops

                                ENCHANTRESS and SANDWICH on formation in SW Approaches for escort during

                                initial stage of passage to Gibraltar

                8th          Detached from OG21F and returned to Plymouth.

                                Joined HM Sloop LEITH, HM Destroyers VENETIA and WILD SWAN with HM

                                Destroyers VETERAN and WHIRLWIND in unsuccessful search for submarine reported by

                                aircraft in SW Approaches,

                25th        Joined outward Convoy OG23 with HM Destroyers CAMPBELL, WALKER, WANDERER

                                and HM Sloop ABERDEEN on formation in SW Approaches as escort for initial part of passage

                                to Gibraltar in SW Approaches.

                26th        Detached from OG23 and took passage to meet inward Convoy HG23 from Gibraltar with HMS

                                CAMPBELL and HMS WALKER.

                27th        Joined HM Sloops SCARBOROUGH and WELLINGTON as part of escort for HG23 during

                                passage to Liverpool in SW Approaches.

                30th        Detached from HG23 and returned to Plymouth.

 

April                       Detached for duty with Home Fleet for escort of military convoys to Norway.

                                (Operation RUPERT/R4).

                11th        Escorted first troop convoy (NP1) from Clyde with HM Cruisers MANCHESTER,

                                BIRMINGHAM, HM Destroyers WITHERINGTON, VANOC, WHIRLWIND,

                                HIGHLANDER and HM Netlayer PROTECTOR.

                15th        After arrival continued convoy escort role in support of landings.

                26th        Joined HM Aircraft Carriers ARK ROYAL and GLORIOUS as escort with HM Destroyers

                                GRENADE, BEAGLE, FORTUNE, ENCOUNTER and ESCORT during air operations in

                                defence of Fleet, units at Namsos and Andalsnes.

                27th        Made unsuccessful attack on submarine during escort of aircraft, carriers.

                                Escorted HMS GLORIOUS to Scapa Flow for refuelling and aircraft, replenishment.

                                (For details of the disastrous naval operations off Norway see CARRIER GLORIOUS

                                by J. Winton, NARVIK by D MacIntyre and the Naval Staff History 9HMSO-2002).)

 

May                        Deployment in support of military operations off Norway in continuation.

                                Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to I71 to conform with changes

                                made to all RN warships.

                27th        Deployed with HM Destroyer AMAZON and HM Sloop FLEETWOOD as escort for

                                damaged destroyer ESKIMO during passage under tow from Skelfjord to UK for repair.

 

June                        Resumed duty in Western Approaches.

 

June                        Western Approaches convoy defence in continuation.

                7th          Rescued survivors from HM Armed Merchant Cruiser CARINTHIA with HM Destroyer

                                WREN and HM Minesweeper GLEANER.

                8th          Joined HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE as escort for passage to Clyde.)

                                (Note: Cruisers had Norwegian Royal Family embarked

                29th        Joined military convoy WS1 at Liverpool as Local Escort- during passage in NW

                                Approaches with HM Destroyers HARVESTER, HIGHLANDER and WHIRLWIND.

                30th        Detached from WS1 with Local Escort and returned to Clyde.

 

July                         Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

 

August                  Transferred to English Channel for anti-invasion patrol duties and convoy defence..

 

September             Channel duties in continuation.

to                            (Note: In addition to Anti-invasion patrol various operations were carried out in the

October                  area including bombardment of Cherbourg was HM Battleship REVENGE, HM

                                Cruisers EMERALD and NEWCASTLE on. 10th October

.                               Ship was not part of screen during bombardment.)

 

November              Resumed Atlantic convoy duties in Western Approaches Command.

to

December

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Joined HM Destroyers VANOC, CALDWELL, WALKER and nine FLOWER Class

                                Corvettes in 5th Escort Group based at Londonderry for Atlantic convoy defence.

 

February                Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

 

March                    Part of escort, for Convoy HX112 with HM Destroyers WALKER, VANOC, SARDONYX

                                and SCIMITAR, HM Corvettes BLUEBELL and HYDRANGEA of Group.

                                (Note: 5th Escort. Group was commanded by Donald MacIntyre author of THE BATTLE

                                OF THE ATLANTIC which gives details of this operation.

                                See also HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and U-BOAT WAR IN THE

                                ATLANTIC (HMSO)

                16th        HX110 Sighted by U110 which was detected by Radar Type 2S8M in HMS VANOC and was

                                forced to submerge by depth charge attacks of escorts.

                17th        Took part in continued anti-submarine operations in defence of HX112 with other escorts.

                                (Note: U99 was commanded by Otto Kretchmer, a leading U-Boat ace of WW2.

                                U99 and U100 were both sunk. For details see HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR and

                                U- BOATS destroyed by P Kemp.)

 

April                       Deployed at Devonport.

                10th        During local exercise rammed by HM Destroyer NEWARK.

                                Six of ship's company were killed and forward structure was badly damaged.

                                Remained at Devonport pending arrangements for repair at Belfast commercial shipyard.

                                Passage to Belfast.

 

May                        Under repair.

to

September

 

October                  Rejoined Group and resumed Atlantic convoy defence duties.

                                (For details of convoy defence and tactics see above references .)

                                Part of escort for Convoy HX155 with Group.

                                (See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR Vol. 1 for details of turn-over from US warships at Mid-

                                Atlantic Meeting Point.)

 

November              Atlantic duty in continuation with Group.

 

December

                13th        Joined military convoy WS14 with HM Destroyer WITCH during its passage in NW

                                Approaches as part, of Local Escort.

                15th        Detached from WS1J45 with HMS WITCH and returned to Clyde.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Local Escort duties in NW Approaches an continuation.

                12th        Joined military convoy WS15 in Clyde as Local Escort during passage in the NW

                                Approaches with HM Destroyers VANOC, VANQUISHER, WALKER and

                                WITHERINGTON.

                15th        Detached from WS15 with Local Escort, and returned to Clyde.

 

February                Local Escort duties in continuation.

 

March                    Nominated for escort of military convoy bound for Middle East during Atlantic

                                passage.

                23rd        Joined military convoy WS17 in Clyde as Local Escort in NW Approaches with HM

                                Destroyers NEWPORT, BADSWORTH, BEVERLEY, KEPPEL, LEAMINGTON,

                                ANTELOPE, BOADICEA and ROCKINGHAM.)

                27th        Shared credit for the sinking of U587 with HM Destroyers GROVE, LEAMINGTON and

                                ALDENHAM in position 47.21N 21.39W, west of Ushant during defence of WS17X

                                None of U587 crew survived.

                                See HITLER'S U -BOAT WAR and U- BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.

                                (Note: This sinking was a result of detection of wireless transmissions from U-Boats by

                                new Direction finding Outfit FH3 in HMS KEPPEL.

                                See SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)

                                Detached from WS17 with part of Local Escort and returned to Clyde.

 

April                       Atlantic escort duty in continuation.

                18th        Joined military convoy WS18 in Clyde as Local Escort in NW Approaches with HM

                                Destroyers BADSWORTH, GEORGETOWN, LANCASTER, LAUDERDALE,

                                ST MARY'S, BOADICEA and SALISBURY.

                20th        Detached from WS18 with HMS BOADICEA and returned to Clyde.

 

May

                10th        Joined military convoy WS19 in Clyde as Local Escort in NW Approaches with HM

                                Destroyers KEPPEL, LEAMINGTON, ST MARYS and CASTLETON.

                13th        Detached from WS19 with Local Escort and returned to Clyde.

                                Nominated for duty with Home Fleet for convoy escort in Arctic and took passage

                                to Scapa Flow.

                23rd        Joined Ocean Escort for Russian Convoy PQ16 with HM Destroyers ACHATES, ASHANTI,

                                MARTIN, Polish destroyer ORP GARLAND, HM AA Ship ALYNBANK, HM Corvettes

                                STARWORT, HONEYSUCKLE, HYDERABAD and French ROSELYS.

                25th        Rescued pilot of HURRICANE aircraft from escorting CAM Ship who had been shot

                                down in error by US mercantile CARLTON.

                                (See FRIEND OR FOE by P Kemp).

                30th        Detached from convoy after arrival of Eastern Local Escort.

                                (For details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg

                                CONVOY ! by P Kemp, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield and ARCTIC

                                CONVOYS by R Woodman.)

 

June                        Deployed in North Russia.

                26th        Joined Ocean Escort at Kola Inlet with same ships as Convoy PQ16 for Convoy QP16.

 

July

                5th          Detached from QP16.

                                Nominated for refit.

 

August                  Taken in hand for refit and conversion for use as Long Range Escort at Rosyth.

                                (For details of conversion see V AND W DESTROYERS by A Preston). Under refit

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Post refit trials.

                                On completion took passage to Tobermory for work-up

 

February                On completion of work-up joined H M Destroyer HIGHLANDER, BEVERLEY,

                                WINCHELSEA and six FLOWER Class Corvettes in 4th Escort Group based at Greenock

                                for Atlantic convoy defence.

 

March                    Part of escort for Convoy HX229 with HM Destroyer BEVERLEY, HM Corvettes

                                ANEMONE and PENNYWORT.

                16th        Convoy under threat from RAUBGRAF and DRANGER Groups of U-Boats.

                17th        Under sustained U-Boat attacks.

                                Torpedo attack by U616 was unsuccessful.

                                Several ships in convoy were sunk.

                18th        Convoy escort reinforced

                                (For details of this critical convoy action see THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D

                                MacIntyre and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HM30).

 

April                       Convoy defence in continuation.

                                (For details of the development of new weapons and improvements in defence of Atlantic

                                convoys see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann).

 

May                        Re-deployed with 5th Escort Group and joined escort for Convoy ONS7

                11th        Under series of U-Boat attacks until 13th May.

                17th        Attacks resumed by DONAU 1 Group of U-Boats and although evasive action taken

                                one ship is sunk.

 

June                        Atlantic convoy escort in continuation Including convoys to Gibraltar for support of

to                            planned allied military operations

September

 

October                  Deployed with 5th and 4th Escort Groups for escort of convoys to the Azores.

                                (Operation ALACRITY to establish allied air bases on Fayal and Terceira).

 

November              Deployed in anti-submarine operations in Bay of Biscay to intercept U-Boats on passage

                                to and from Atlantic.

 

 December             Atlantic Convoy defence in continuation with Group.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Atlantic convoy escort in continuation with Group.

to

March

 

April                       Deployed in English Channel for coastal convoy escort.

                                Nominated for duty in Force B of Western Task Force for escort of convoys to

                                Normandy beach head (Operation NEPTUNE).

                21st         In action against E-Boats of 9th German MTB Flotilla with HM Destroyer HALDON

                                and French destroyer LA COMBATTANTE off Hastings.

                                (For details of Channel operations see HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Staith).

 

May                        Channel deployment in continuation.

 

June                        Joined HM Canadian Corvette SUMMERSIDE, HM Trawlers RUBY, KINGSTON

                                ANDALUSITE and ELLESMERE to form Escort Group 144 of Force B at Milford Haven.

                4th          Escorted Convoy EBC2 (32 Motor Transport, coasters and 5 oil tankers) from the Bristol

                                Channel to Solent.

                5th          Passage delayed when D-Day postponed for 24 hours.

                6th          Arrived in Solent.

                7th          Passage through swept channel to Western Task Force area (US) with Convoy.

                8th          Detached on arrival off beach head and returned to Milford Haven for escort of Build-Up

                                phase convoys.

                10th        Deployed on escort of Build-up convoys from Bristol Channel.

                                (For details of naval activities prior to and during of Normandy assault see OPERATION

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

 

July                         On release from NEPTUNE resumed Channel convoy escort and patrol duty.

 

August                  Channel deployment in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Transferred to Nore Command for convoy defence and patrol in North Sea and in English

to                            Channel

April                       (Note: During this period there was an increase in minelaying by E-Boats and submersibles

                                which required the deployment of additional ships for anti-submarine patrol and

                                interception. - See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith and ENGAGE THE

                                ENEMY MORE CLOSELY BY C Barnett).

 

May                        After VE Day reduced to Reserve status.

 

P o s t   W a r  N o t e s

 

HMS VOLUNTEER remained in Reserve until 1947 when she was placed on the Disposal List. The ship was sold to BISCO for demolition by Granton Shipbreaking on 3rd March. She was towed to the breakers yard near Edinburgh in April 1948.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS VOLUNTEER

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

 

 

 

 

 

05/09/39

05/09/39

RED 1

08/09/39

27/09/39

21/10/39

21/10/39

OB 023

24/10/39

26/10/39

04/10/39

25/10/39

KJ 003

28/10/39

28/10/39

01/11/39

01/11/39

OB 028

03/11/39

03/11/39

03/11/39

03/11/39

OG 005

07/11/39

09/11/39

10/11/39

10/11/39

OB 033

13/11/39

15/11/39

22/11/39

22/11/39

OB 039

25/11/39

25/11/39

03/12/39

03/12/39

OB 045

05/12/39

05/12/39

05/12/39

05/12/39

OG 009

09/12/39

11/12/39

11/12/39

11/12/39

OB 051

unknown

14/12/39

24/12/39

24/12/39

OB 059

27/12/39

28/12/39

04/01/40

04/01/40

OB 066

06/01/40

06/01/40

31/12/39

08/01/40

HG 013

10/01/40

10/01/40

25/01/40

25/01/40

OB 079

28/01/40

28/01/40

20/01/40

29/01/40

HXF 017

31/01/40

01/02/40

23/02/40

23/02/40

OB 097

25/02/40

27/02/40

16/02/40

29/02/40

HX 020

04/03/40

04/03/40

03/03/40

03/03/40

OB 103

05/03/40

05/03/40

05/03/40

05/03/40

OG 021F

06/03/40

11/03/40

13/03/40

13/03/40

OB 109

16/03/40

16/03/40

05/03/40

18/03/40

HX 025

20/03/40

20/03/40

23/03/40

23/03/40

OB 115

unknown

25/03/40

25/03/40

25/03/40

OG 023

26/03/40

31/03/40

20/03/40

27/03/40

HG 023

30/03/40

30/03/40

11/04/40

11/04/40

NP 001

15/04/40

15/04/40

13/06/40

13/06/40

OB 167

16/06/40

17/06/40

05/06/40

16/06/40

HX 048

19/06/40

20/06/40

21/06/40

21/06/40

OB 172

24/06/40

16/06/40

13/06/40

25/06/40

HX 050

27/06/40

30/06/40

29/06/40

29/06/40

WS 001

30/06/40

29/07/40

03/07/40

03/07/40

OG 036

unknown

09/07/40

10/07/40

10/07/40

HG 038

18/07/40

27/07/40

31/08/40

31/08/40

MP

01/09/40

14/09/40

10/09/40

10/09/40

AP 003/1

12/09/40

22/10/40

26/01/41

29/01/41

OG 051

30/01/41

08/02/41

17/01/41

30/01/41

HG 051

03/02/41

03/02/41

08/01/41

30/01/41

SL 062S

04/02/41

unknown

09/02/41

09/02/41

OB 284

13/02/41

14/02/41

31/01/41

14/02/41

SC 021

18/02/41

18/02/41

26/02/41

27/02/41

OB 291

03/03/41

03/03/41

10/02/41

04/03/41

SL 065

08/03/41

08/03/41

02/03/41

16/03/41

HX 112

20/03/41

20/03/41

27/03/41

27/03/41

OG 057

01/04/41

11/04/41

06/04/41

06/04/41

OB 308

11/04/41

13/04/41

31/03/41

13/04/41

HX 118

18/04/41

18/04/41

23/08/41

23/08/41

OS 004

28/08/41

11/09/41

25/08/41

11/09/41

SL 085

17/09/41

17/09/41

02/09/41

12/09/41

HG 072

17/09/41

17/09/41

14/09/41

19/09/41

CF 002B

20/09/41

20/09/41

25/09/41

25/09/41

ON 020

30/09/41

09/10/41

24/09/41

04/10/41

SC 046

09/10/41

10/10/41

16/10/41

17/10/41

ON 027

23/10/41

02/11/41

16/10/41

25/10/41

HX 155

30/10/41

31/10/41

07/11/41

07/11/41

ON 034

12/11/41

21/11/41

04/11/41

20/11/41

SC 053

24/11/41

24/11/41

14/12/41

25/12/41

HG 076

29/12/41

30/12/41

14/03/42

14/03/42

TA 012

unknown

25/03/42

14/03/42

29/03/42

SL 103

30/03/42

02/04/42

02/04/42

06/04/42

OS 024

08/04/42

22/04/42

21/05/42

23/05/42

PQ 016

30/05/42

30/05/42

26/06/42

26/06/42

QP 013

07/07/42

07/07/42

21/02/43

22/02/43

ON 168

07/03/43

12/03/43

08/03/43

14/03/43

HX 229

21/03/43

23/03/43

28/05/43

01/06/43

ONS 009

04/06/43

09/06/43

26/05/43

04/06/43

SC 132

06/06/43

11/06/43

24/06/43

27/06/43

KMS 018B

03/07/43

10/07/43

28/09/43

28/09/43

UA 001

09/10/43

09/10/43

02/12/43

03/12/43

ON 214

13/12/43

20/12/43

15/12/43

19/12/43

SC 149

29/12/43

30/12/43

13/01/44

14/01/44

ONS 027

21/01/44

31/01/44

22/02/44

22/02/44

ON 225

02/03/44

08/03/44

06/03/44

11/03/44

HX 282

21/03/44

22/03/44

28/04/44

28/04/44

WP 514

30/04/44

30/04/44

18/05/44

18/05/44

WP 524

20/05/44

20/05/44

11/06/44

11/06/44

EBC 009

15/06/44

15/06/44

20/06/44

20/06/44

EBC 017

24/06/44

24/06/44

18/07/44

18/07/44

FBC 030

20/07/44

20/07/44

31/07/44

31/07/44

EBC 058

02/08/44

02/08/44

07/01/45

07/01/45

ON 277

10/01/45

23/01/45

29/12/44

11/01/45

HX 329

14/01/45

12/01/45

26/01/45

26/01/45

ON 281

29/01/45

12/02/45

18/01/45

29/01/45

HX 333

03/02/45

01/02/45

16/02/45

16/02/45

ON 285

18/02/45

05/03/45

07/02/45

19/02/45

HX 337

21/02/45

21/02/45

17/03/45

17/03/45

ON 291

20/03/45

06/04/45

09/03/45

21/03/45

HX 343

25/03/45

24/03/45

29/03/45

29/03/45

BTC 112

01/04/45

01/04/45

21/04/45

21/04/45

ON 298

24/04/45

07/05/45

13/04/45

24/04/45

HX 350

29/04/45

28/04/45

03/05/45

17/05/45

HX 354

19/05/45

18/05/45

26/05/45

26/05/45

ON 305

30/05/45

10/06/45

19/05/45

30/05/45

HX 357

03/06/45

03/06/45

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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