F-Class
Fleet Destroyer ordered on 17th March 1933 from Parsons Marine Turbine Company
under the 1932 Programme. The ship was built by Vickers-Armstrong at Newcastle
and laid down on 5th July 1933 at The same time, as sister ship HMS FIREDRAKE in
the same shipyard. She was launched on 28th July
1934 with HMS FIREDRAKE.
She was the13th RN ship to carry this name, introduced in 1655 and
previously
carried by a destroyer launched in 1896 and sold in 1921. Build was
completed on 30th May 1935
at
a cost of £244,216 excluding Admiralty supplied equipment. She was serving in
the Home Fleet in August 1939. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
campaign held in February 1942
she
was adopted by the civil community of Stratford-on-Avon.
B a t t 1 e H o n o u r s
LOWESTOFT
1663 - BREST 1778 - GRENADA 1779 - THE SAINTES 1782 -
CHINA 1900 - NORWAY 1940
-
ATLANTIC 1942-44 - NORMANDY 1944
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field
Black, crossed trumpets Silver,
in the centre a torch
Gold
M o t t o
Fama si merita:
'Fame comes if deserved'
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
Part of 8th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet.
3rd Deployed for fleet
screening and anti-submarine duties in Western Approaches.
(Note: Ships of Flotilla sank U39 which attacked HM Aircraft Carrier
ARK ROYAL
on 14th.)
October
Home Fleet duties in continuation with Flotilla based at
Scapa Flow.
to
(For details of naval activities in Home waters see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY
December
Corelli Barnett and Naval Staff History).
1 9 4 0
January
4th Part of escort for HM
Battleship NELSON on passage to Portsmouth from Loch Ewe.
(Note: HMS NELSON was damaged by a magnetic mine.)
Returned to rejoin Flotilla for Home Fleet duties after arrival at
Portsmouth.
February
Home Fleet duties based at
Scapa Flow with Flotilla duties in continuation.
(Note: Home Fleet ships were deployed for escort or cover of convoys to and from
Norway
and for interception of German warships in
North Sea and
in the NW Approaches.)
March
Under repair at
Grimsby
April
10th On completion of repairs and
trials took passage to Scapa Flow to resume Home Fleet
Flotilla duties.
13th Damaged by return fire from shore
at Narvik.
18th Escorted French troopships taking
Chasseurs to Namsos.
May
Deployed for convoy defence and Fleet support off Norway.
12th Deployed with HM Destroyer
HAVELOCK in support of landings by French troops
at Bjerkvik.
21st Landed 150 French troops at
Lilleberg near Narvik supported by HM Cruiser CAIRO and
French destroyer MILAN.
27th Deployed with HM Destroyers
BEAGLE, HAVELOCK and WALKER in support of crossing
of Rombaksfjord by French troops.
30th Evacuated Irish Guards,
Independent Companies
and military police units from Bodo with HM Destroyer FIREDRAKE.
(Note: Main engines had been at continuous notice for steam since 10th May.)
June
Deployed for cover of allied evacuation operations from
Norway.
(Operation ALPHABET - For details of the disastrous operations off
Norway see the
above references and THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by J
Adams. )
Resumed Flotilla duties in Home Fleet on release from escort of returning ships.
4th Escorted Group II of
evacuation convoys with HM Cruisers COVENTRY,
SOUTHAMPTON, HM Destroyers HAVELOCK, BEAGLE, FIREDRAKE and DELIGHT.
10th Deployed with Flotilla with Home
Fleet.
July
Home Fleet Flotilla duties in continuation
6th Deployed for screening
of Home Fleet major units during search for H M Submarine
SHARK in
North Sea.
Under air attack and sustained splinter damage.
(Note: HMS SHARK had been sunk in air attack off
Skudesnes,
Norway on 6th.)
After return of Home Fleet took passage to Robb's shipyard,
Leith for
repair.
August
Under repair at
Leith.
September
Completion of repair work arranged at Rosyth.
Passage to Rosyth.
October
Under repair by HM Dockyard.
11th Rejoined Home Fleet on completion
of post repair trials.
16th Deployed with HM Destroyer
ASHANTI for escort of HM Battleship KING GEORGE V from
mouth of River Tyne to Rosyth after build completion.
Sustained major damage in collision with HMS ASHANTI and caught fire.
Ship subsequently ran aground
(Note: Some reports state that the ships were carrying out high speed operations
intended to
actuate mines known to have been laid in area.)
19th Salvage of ship arranged.
November
Salvage work in hand to lighten vessel prior to tow for repair.
1st Ship refloated
and taken to
Sunderland.
3rd Taken in hand for
temporary repair at commercial shipyard.
December
Under temporary repair
1 9 4 1
January
Temporary repair in continuation.
February
Towed to
Chatham for permanent repair and conversion
for use as escort.
Paid off into Dockyard Control.
March
Under repair and conversion by HM Dockyard, Chatham.
to
December
1 9 4 2
January
Repair and conversion in continuation.
to
Note: Radar Type 271 for surface warning and Oerlikons for close range defence
fitted.
August
For details of weapons and radar used in
Battle
of the Atlantic
see RADAR AT
SEA
by D Howse, SEEK
AND STRIKE by
W Hackmann and U-BOAT WAR
IN THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO).
Nominated for service in 6th British Escort Group.
September
Recommissioned and carried out post refit trials.
Worked-up for Atlantic convoy defence at Tobermory
October
On completion joined Group.
11th Escorted Convoy SC104 with HM
Destroyer VISCOUNT, HM Norwegian Corvettes
ACANTHUS, MONTBRETIA, POLYANTHUS and EGLANTINE
Under threat of attacks by WOTAN Group of U-Boats.
15th During sustained attacks by WOTAN
Group took part in anti-submarine operations.
(Note: U661 was rammed and sunk by HM Destroyer VISCOUNT.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P. Kemp
and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR,
Volume 2 by C Blair.)
16th After radar detection carried out
depth charge attack on U353 which was forced to surface.
During further attack and ramming manoeuvre hit submarine which caused major
structural
damage.
Boarding party unable to recover any significant material as scuttling
procedures had been
initiated. See above references.
Submarine sank in position 53-54N 29-30W. Some survivors were rescued by escort
ships.
(Note: Eight ships of SC104 were sunk during transit.)
17th Detached from convoy and made
passage to UK
for repair
Taken in hand for repair on arrival.
November
Under repair.
December
On completion rejoined Group and resumed Atlantic convoy escort duties.
8th
Escorted Convoy HX127 which came under attacks by DRAUFGANGER U-Boat Group.
(See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR Volume 2.)
(Note: Group included Polish destroyer ORP BURZA.)
28th Part of escort for Convoy ONS155
with Group.
30th Detached from ONS155 to reinforce
Canadian 1st Escort Group in defence of Convoy
ONS154 which was under heavy attacks by SPITZ U-Boat Group.
(Note: On arrival relieved HM Destroyer ST LAURENT as Senior Officer.
14 ships were lost from this Convoy. See above reference.)
1 9 4 3
January
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
(Note: Group escorted Convoy SC1l6 without loss).
February
Joined Convoy ONS165 as escort with ships of Group.
17th Under heavy and sustained attacks
by group of U-boats which located ONS165.
Carried cut attacks on U69 with HMS VISCOUNT after wireless signals intercepted.
(Note: U69 was sunk by HMS VISCOUNT in position 50.50N 40.50W.
There were no survivors.)
Sank U201 by depth charge attacks in position 50.36N 40.50W with no survivors.
(See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR Volume 2.)
26th Part of escort for Convoy HX227
with ships of Group.
27th Carried out attacks on submarines
of NEPTUN Group which had located convoy.
(Note: One ship of convoy was sunk in the attacks. See above reference.
March
Deployment with 6th British Escort Group in continuation.
18th Joined Convoy ONS1 as escort with
ships of Group.
(Note: Convoy arrived without loss. It was first of redesignated ONS series.)
31st Joined Convoy SC125 at
Halifax with
ships of Group as escort for eastward passage to UK.
April
Detached from Convoy SC125 on arrival without loss.
May
Group escorted Convoy
ONSS6 and Convoy SC131 without loss in either.
(Note: For details of this significant phase of the
Battle of the
Atlantic see
above references.
June
Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.
to
(Note: Information about weapons and tactics in the
Battle are
available in SEEK
September
and STRIKE by
W Hackmann.)
October
Part of escort for Convoy ON206 with HM Destroyer VANQUISHER and HM Nor.
Corvettes
POTENTILLA and ROSE.
Passage of this convoy was supported by 7th Escort Group.
(Note: HM Destroyers VANQUISHER, DUNCAN, VIDETTE, HM Frigate DEVERON and
seven
corvettes were also involved in defence of this
convoy. See references.)
15th ONS206 sighted by U844.
16th Under attacks by U-boats during
which U844, U663 and U84l were sunk by escorts of other
to Groups. See
HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR and U-BOATS DESTROYED.)
20th
28th Part of
escort for Convoy SC145 with HM Escort Carrier FENCER, Polish destroyers
ORP BURZA, ORP
GARLAND and HM Destroyer INCONSTANT of 8th
Support Group.
Attempted attacks by SIEGFRIED U- Boat Group were driven off.
November
Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 4
January
Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.
February
Part of escort to Convoy ON29 with HM Destroyers VANQUISHER and VESPER, HM
Frigate
DEVERON, HM Corvettes KINGCUP, VERVAIN, EGLANTINE, ROSE and ACANTHUS.
14th Convoy sighted by aircraft.
16th HM
Escort Carrier STRIKER, HM Frigates SPEY, ROTHER, FINDHORN and LOSSIE
provided additional support in view of threat of attacks by
HAI U-Boat
Group.
18th Attacks avoided by diversion of
route.
March
Part of escort for Convoy HX281 with H M Frigates DEVERON,
ANTIGUA, HM
Corvettes
KINGCUP, VERVAIN, EGLANTINA, ROSE and ACANTHUS.
10th Convoy avoided known U-Boat
assemblies.
April
Transferred to 14th Escort Group and joined HM Destroyers
HAVELOCK,
HOTSPUR,
ICARUS and INCONSTANT for Atlantic convoy defence in Western Approaches.
May
Western Approaches convoy defence in continuation.
Nominated for detached service in support of planned allied landings in
Normandy.
(Operation
NEPTUNE. - For
details of naval activities prior to and during landings see
OPERATION
NEPTUNE by K
Edwards and LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, JUNE1944
(HMSO).)
June
Deployed in Plymouth Command for anti-submarine operations in Western Approaches.
(Note: These operations were made to prevent access by submarines into Channel.)
4th Carried out patrols in
SW Approaches.
18th After detection of wireless
transmissions carried out search for submarine. Made ASDIC
contact and attacked U767 with HEDGEHOG and depth charges.
Came under shore fire and continued attacks with ships of Group during which one
survivor
from U767 was rescued.
(Note: U767 was sunk in position 49.03N 03-13 W, SW of
Guernsey.)
July
On release from detached service in Plymouth Command resumed Atlantic duties
with 14th
Escort Group.
August
Deployed for convoy defence.
1 9 4 5.
January
Convoy defence in continuation
(Note: SCHNORKEL fitted submarines were concentrating their attacks focal points
for
convoy assembly in SW and NW Approaches as well as on convoys in the coastal
waters. Escorts were transferred to those areas to reinforce the existing convoy
escort
ships. Atlantic convoys were also routed through the English Channel and
Irish Sea
after air threat from French bases was removed by allied advance.
May
Withdrawn from service for refit at
Leith.
June
Under refit
to
Nominated for service in Training Flotilla.
August
P o s t W a r
N o t e s
HMS FAME joined 3rd Training Flotilla at Londonderry as Senior Officer's ship on
completion of refit and trials she carried out duties at Portland, Rosyth and
Londonderry until 1947 when nominated for reduction to Reserve status. After
entering Reserve she was placed on the Disposal List and in February 1949 after
refit FAME transferred to the
Dominican Republic Navy and renamed GENERALISIMO. Later in 1962 the ship was
again renamed as SANCHEZ and served until 1968 when scrapped.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS FAME
by Don Kindell
This convoy list has not been cross-checked with the text above
|
|
|
|
|
Date convoy sailed
|
Joined convoy as escort
|
Convoy No.
|
Left convoy
|
Date convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
26/10/39
|
26/10/39
|
NARVIK 1
|
31/10/39
|
31/10/39
|
04/11/39
|
04/11/39
|
ON 001/1
|
05/11/39
|
07/11/39
|
30/01/40
|
05/02/40
|
TC 003
|
07/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
10/03/40
|
11/03/40
|
HN 018
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
24/04/40
|
24/04/40
|
FP 002
|
27/04/40
|
27/04/40
|
19/09/42
|
20/09/42
|
ON 132
|
03/10/42
|
08/10/42
|
03/10/42
|
10/10/42
|
SC 104
|
16/10/42
|
21/10/42
|
27/11/42
|
04/12/42
|
HX 217
|
13/12/42
|
14/12/42
|
19/12/42
|
20/12/42
|
ON 155
|
29/12/42
|
06/01/43
|
18/12/42
|
31/12/42
|
ON 154
|
02/01/43
|
12/01/43
|
04/01/43
|
12/01/43
|
SC 116
|
27/01/43
|
29/01/43
|
02/02/43
|
08/02/43
|
ON 165
|
20/02/43
|
01/03/43
|
18/02/43
|
24/02/43
|
HX 227
|
05/03/43
|
06/03/43
|
15/03/43
|
22/03/43
|
ONS 001
|
31/03/43
|
04/04/43
|
31/03/43
|
04/04/43
|
SC 125
|
15/04/43
|
15/04/43
|
24/07/43
|
25/07/43
|
ON 194
|
02/08/43
|
07/08/43
|
08/08/43
|
13/08/43
|
HX 251
|
22/08/43
|
23/08/43
|
31/08/43
|
02/09/43
|
ONS 017
|
12/09/43
|
16/09/43
|
16/09/43
|
22/09/43
|
HX 257
|
29/09/43
|
30/09/43
|
11/10/43
|
12/10/43
|
ON 206
|
21/10/43
|
27/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
28/10/43
|
SC 145
|
06/11/43
|
07/11/43
|
19/11/43
|
20/11/43
|
ON 212
|
29/11/43
|
05/12/43
|
02/12/43
|
06/12/43
|
SC 148
|
15/12/43
|
16/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
01/01/44
|
ON 218
|
11/01/44
|
18/01/44
|
14/01/44
|
18/01/44
|
SC 151
|
30/01/44
|
31/01/44
|
12/02/44
|
13/02/44
|
ONS 029
|
25/02/44
|
29/02/44
|
27/02/44
|
05/03/44
|
HX 281
|
14/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
23/03/44
|
24/03/44
|
ON 229
|
01/04/44
|
07/04/44
|
05/04/44
|
09/04/44
|
HX 286
|
21/04/44
|
20/04/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)