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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 WHITLEY (L 23) -  V&W-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Whitley (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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W-Class destroyer included in the 10th Order of the 1916-17 Programme for build by Doxford and laid down in June 1917. This ship was intended to be named HMS WHITBY but, as the name was incorrectly written when selected, she was given the name WHITLEY when launched on 13th April 1918. She was the first RN ship to carry the name and build was completed on 11th October that year. During 1919-20 she served in the Baltic for operations against the Bolsheviks. The ship was placed in the Reserve Fleet by 1921 as part of the 9th Destroyer Flotilla at Rosyth and did not serve with the Fleet in the inter-war years. As pert of the rearmament programme in 1938 she was the first of this Class to be selected for conversion to an AA Escort (WAIR) by HM Dockyard Chatham. Her conversion began in August 1938 and on completion in 1939 she commissioned for service.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

None are recorded.

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Red, the Mace of the Speaker of the House of Commons.

 

M o t t o

 'Silence is golden'

 

 

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             Deployed for defence of East Coast convoys with Rosyth Escort Force.

to                            (Note: Her conversion which included installation of dual purpose twin 4in guns ideally suited to

December              defence of convoys from air attack or by E-Boats).

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  East Coast convoy defence in continuation.

                12th        During escort of Convoy FN12 from the Thanes estuary to the Forth came under air attacks which

                                which were driven off.

 

February                East coast convoy defence in continuation.

to

April

 

May                        Transferred to Dover Command.

                                Deployed under French naval control for support to French shore operations. (Operation FA).

                19th        Damaged in dive bombing attacks 2 miles off Nieuport.

                                Beached and later destroyed by gunfire from HM Destroyer KEITH.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS WHITLEY

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

 

 

 

 

 

14/10/39

14/10/39

FS 0021

16/10/39

16/10/39

26/10/39

26/10/39

FS 0027

28/10/39

28/10/39

01/11/39

01/11/39

FS 0030

03/11/39

03/11/39

11/11/39

11/11/39

FS 0035

13/11/39

13/11/39

17/11/39

17/11/39

FS 0038

19/11/39

19/11/39

09/12/39

09/12/39

FS 0052

10/12/39

10/12/39

20/12/39

20/12/39

FS 0057

22/12/39

22/12/39

24/01/40

24/01/40

FS 0079

25/01/40

25/01/40

26/01/40

26/01/40

FN 0080

27/01/40

27/01/40

01/02/40

01/02/40

FS 0084

03/02/40

03/02/40

06/02/40

06/02/40

FN 0086

09/02/40

09/02/40

10/02/40

10/02/40

FS 0092

12/02/40

12/02/40

13/02/40

13/02/40

FN 0093

15/02/40

15/02/40

20/02/40

20/02/40

FS 0101

22/02/40

22/02/40

20/02/40

20/02/40

MT 015

20/02/40

20/02/40

02/03/40

02/03/40

FS 0110

04/03/40

04/03/40

07/03/40

07/03/40

TM 021

08/03/40

08/03/40

09/03/40

09/03/40

FS 0117

11/03/40

11/03/40

23/03/40

23/03/40

FS 0127

25/03/40

25/03/40

23/03/40

23/03/40

MT 036

23/03/40

23/03/40

30/03/40

30/03/40

FS 0133

01/04/40

01/04/40

10/04/40

10/04/40

FS 0142

12/04/40

12/04/40

10/04/40

10/04/40

MT 048

10/04/40

10/04/40

22/04/40

22/04/40

FS 0153

24/04/40

24/04/40

22/04/40

22/04/40

MT 057

22/04/40

22/04/40

04/05/40

04/05/40

FS 0162

06/05/40

06/05/40

         

(Note on Convoys)

 

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revised 12/7/11
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