F-Class Fleet Destroyer built by J S White at Cowes under
1932
Programme and laid down on 15th May1933. The ship was launched on 28th
June 1934 as the 10th RN warship to
carry the name, previously used
by a destroyer sold in 1921 and introduced in 1657, The ship was
completed on 19th April 1935. The Tender price for build which excludes
Admiralty
supplied equipment such the armament and signal equipment
was £284,898. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign
in March 1942 she was adopted by the civil
community of the Municipal Borough of Morley, then in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
LOWESTOFT
1665 - SOLEBAY
1672 - MARTINIQUE
1809 - GUADALOUPE 1810 - FATSHAN CREEK
1857 - PEI HO FORTS 1859 - ZULU WAR 1878 - HELIGOLAND 1914 - DOGGER BANK 1915 - ATLANTIC
1939-44 - NARVIK
1940 - NORWAY
1940 - SPARTIVENTO
1940 - MALTA
CONVOYS 1941 - ARCTIC 1942-43 - NORMANDY 1944 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1944
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Green crossed woodman’s axe
Proper
Motto
Audax potentes caedo:
'Boldly I cut down the mighty'
S u m m a r
y o f
P r e – W a r S e r v i c e
1 9 3 5
April
Contractors Trials and Commissioned for Service in 4th Destroyer
Flotilla, Home Fleet
19th Build completion and
commenced Acceptance Trials from Cowes.
May
On completion of Trials and storing deployed at Portland to work-up for
operational Service and
complete trials and calibration of anti-submarine equipment.
June
Deployed with Flotilla for Home Fleet duties
(Note: Other ships in Flotilla and Completion Dates in Chronological order were:
Ship
Completion
Builder
Notes
FEARLESS
19/12/34
Cammell
Laird, War
Loss 7/41
Birkenhead
Name
Carried Forward
FAME
26/
4/35
Vickers Armstrong
Contractor
Newcastle
Parsons Steam Turbine Co
Sold
Dominica 1949
FORTUNE
27/
4/35
John
Brown
Transferred to RCN 1943
Clydebank
HMCS SASKATCHEWAN
FORESIGHT 15/
5/35
Cammell Laird
War
Loss 8/42
Birkenhead
FURY
18/
5/35
J S White,
Cowes
Constructive Total Loss 6/44
FAULKNOR 24/
5/35
Yarrow,
Scotstoun
Flotilla Leader
FIREDRAKE 30/
5/35
Vickers
Armstrong
Contractor
Newcastle
Parsons Steam Turbine Co.
War
Loss 12/42
FOXHOUND 21/
6/35
John
Brown
Transferred to RCN 1944
Clydebank
HMCS QU’APPELLE
(Note: These dates establish the sequence of joining the Flotilla. For further details see
BRITISH DESTROYERS by E March.)
July
Flotilla deployment in Home waters. Nominated for detached service in
Mediterranean.
August Nominated for
detached service in the Mediterranean
September Deployed in
Mediterranean as reinforcement during Abyssinian crisis,
to
(Note: HMS FAME of Flotilla was also detached.)
December
1 9 3 6
January
Mediterranean Fleet deployment in continuation.
to
Took part in Joint Annual exercises with Home Fleet ships.
February
March Resumed
service with Flotilla in Home Fleet
(Note Ship may have returned to UK with Home Fleet ships after
Exercises completed
April
Deployed with Flotilla in Home waters for Home Fleet Exercise and
visits Programme.)
to December (Note: Ship will
almost certainly have had a docking and refit in this period.)
1 9 3 7
January Home Fleet
deployment with Flotilla.
to May (Note:
Flotilla will have taken part in Annual Joint exercises based at Gibraltar.)
June
Took part in Royal Review at Spithead.
July
Home waters deployment in continuation,
to August. Nominated for
detached service at Gibraltar
(Note: May have relieved HMS FAME.)
September Deployed at
Gibraltar.
October Resumed Home
Fleet duties with Flotilla
to December (Note: The ship
almost certainly re-commissioned during this period.)
1 9 3 8
January
Flotilla deployment in Home Fleet and took part in
Annual exercises at
Gibraltar.
to March
April
Deployed with Flotilla in Home waters including precautionary
deployment during
to December the Munich
crisis.
Special Note on Pre-War Service
Details of ship movements as recorded
in the Deck Log are held at the Public Record Office at Kew. Information is also
available in the Naval Historical Branch Library, the RN Museum at Portsmouth
and Chatham Historic Dockyard about warship deployments before WW2. Details are
also recorded in the TIMES Newspaper Indices held at Local Reference Libraries.
1 9 3 9
January Flotilla
duties in continuation including Annual exercises at Gibraltar
to March
April
Transferred with Flotilla to 8th Destroyer Flotilla as part of
re-numbering of RN Destroyer Flotillas
May
Home waters deployment in Exercise and Visits Programme.
to August Took up war
station at Scapa Flow for Home Fleet screening and convoy defence.
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)
September Serving with
8th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet.
3rd Deployed with
Flotilla for on fleet escort and convoy defence in NW Approaches and
North Sea.
14th Deployed with screen for
Home Fleet units in North Sea.
(HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL unsuccessfully attacked
by U-Boat)
.
20th Participated in sinking
of U27 with HM Destroyer FORTUNE in NW Approaches.
(For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by. P Kemp.)
25th Deployed with Flotilla
in North Sea as screen for Home Fleet major units covering
return of the damaged submarine HMS SPEARFISH from patrol.
October Deployment
with Home Fleet for patrol and screening in continuation.
(For details of naval activities in Home waters during 1939 see ENGAGE
THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Bamett and Naval Staff History)
November Fleet screening
duty with Flotilla during Home Fleet search for German battleships
SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU after sinking of HM Armed Merchant Cruiser
RAWALPINDI.
December Deployed in NW
Approaches for anti-submarine patrol and Fleet escort duties
1 9 4 0
January Home Fleet
screening and convoy defence duty in continuation.
February
11th Towed British tanker
IMPERIAL TRANSPORT with Tug BUCCANEER from position
150 miles off Butt
of Lewis.
Escorted military convoy including mv ORION and ss DUCHESS OF BEDFORD.
(Note: These ships were bringing RCAF personnel to UK.
March
Home Fleet screening and convoy defence in continuation.
April
Nominated for escort of Convoy NP1 taking troops for
planned landing in
Norway.
(Operation R4).
7th Joined HM
Cruiser AURORA with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FOXHOUND and
DELIGHT in Clyde
for escort of Convoy NP1 taking troops to
Norway.
9th After German
invasion of Norway diverted to join Fleet for operations off Norway.
(Operation RUPERT)
13th Participated in 2nd
Battle of Narvik.
(For details see NARVIK by D MacIntyre and Naval Staff History, 2001.) )
Escorted COSSACK to Skjelfjord for repair.
15th Deployed on fleet
protection, convoy escort and military support off Norway.
(For details of the disastrous naval operations off Norway see above
references, THE
DOOMED EXPEDITION by J Adams, CARRIER GLORIOUS by John Winton
and the Naval Staff History (2001) ).
May
Deployed for Fleet screening and patrol based at Scapa Flow with major
units of Home Fleet.
(Note: Heavy units were retained at Scapa Flow for interception of German ships on passage
to attack Atlantic shipping and because of the lack of air cover
available off Norway.)
June
Fleet deployment in support of Norwegian operations.
7th Part of
screen for HM Battlecruisers RENOWN and REPULSE, HM Cruisers NEWCASTLE
and SUSSEX with HM Destroyers FOXHOUND, KELVIN, MAORI and ZULU during
search for two unknown vessels reported on passage in Faeroes-Iceland
gap.
(Note: A possible German landing in Iceland was also considered a
possibility.)
8th Search
abandoned. Ships returned to Scapa Flow.
17th Embarked survivors from
HM Armed Merchant Cruiser ANDANIA who had been rescued by
Icelandic trawler SKALLAGRIMUR and landed them at Scapa Flow.
20th Transferred with ships
of Flotilla to Mediterranean for service with Force H.
Passage to Gibraltar.
28th Joined Force H on
formation with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FURY,
FORESIGHT and
FOXHOUND for escort of major units.
July
2nd Deployed with
destroyers of 8th and 13th Flotillas as screen for HM Battlecruiser
HOOD, HM Battleships VALIANT and RESOLUTION, HM Aircraft Carrier ARK
ROYAL, HM
Cruisers ARETHUSA and
ENTERPRISE for an attempt to negotiate
future deployment of Vichy French warships at Oran (Operation CATAPULT).
3rd Took part in
attack on French warships at Mers-el-Kebir when negotiations failed.
(For details see RELUCTANT ENEMIES and THE DEADLY STROKE by W Tute).
6th
Part of screen for HMS HOOD, HMS VALIANT, HMS ARK ROYAL, HM Cruisers
ARETHUSA and ENTERPRISE with destroyers during 2nd series of air
attacks on
French battleship DUNKERQUE (Operation LEVER).
8th Part of
screen for same ships and HM Cruiser DELHI with destroyers for planned
air
attack on Cagliari.
Under air attacks and operation abandoned.
11th Towed destroyer HMS
ESCORT after being hit by torpedo from the Italian submarine
MARCONI north of Algiers.
Towing operation failed when HMS ESCORT foundered.
22nd Deployed with Force H for a
planned air attack by HMS ARK ROYAL on Bordeaux.
25th Operation cancelled
because of weather conditions in Bay of Biscay.
31st Joined Group 1
with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT and FOXHOUND as
screen for HMS HOOD, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS ENTERPRISE to cover Malta
aircraft delivery by HMS ARGUS and attacks on Cagliari by HMS ARK ROYAL
in
Group 2 (Operations HURRY and CRUSH)
.
(For details of all Mediterranean operations see THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY)
August
4th Escorted HMS
VALIANT and HMS ARGUS to Liverpool with HMS FAULKNOR
.
20th Part of screen for HM
Battlecruiser RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and HM Cruiser
SHEFFIELD with
ships of 8th Flotilla for passage to
Gibraltar to rejoin Force "H".
30th Joined Force B as screen
for HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD
with H M Destroyers FAULKNOR, FURY, FORTUNE, FIREDRAKE, FORESIGHT and
ENCOUNTER covering passage of reinforcement warships (Force F) to join
Mediterranean
Fleet and an attack Cagliari by HMS ARK ROYAL.
(Operations HATS/MB and SMASH and GRAB)
(Note: Force F comprised H M Battleship VALIANT, H M Aircraft Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruisers COVENTRY and CALCUTTA
screened by eight
destroyers in Force A)
September
6th Detached with
HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FURY, FORTUNE, FORESIGHT and
GREYHOUND for escort of HM Battleship BARHAM on passage to join Force M
for
support of attack on Dakar by Free French military forces (Operation MENACE).
13th Joined Force M.
22nd Sailed from Freetown for
proposed landings.
24th Bombardment commenced
when negotiations failed.
25th Operation abandoned.
Took passage to Gibraltar with HMS FORTUNE and HMS GREYHOUND.
For details see MENACE by Arthur Marder.
(Note: Force F comprised HM Battleship VALIANT, HM Aircraft Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruisers COVENTRY and CALCUTTA
screened by eight
destroyers in Force A)
30th Escorted HMS ARK ROYAL
to Liverpool with
October
8th Arrived at
Liverpool.
20th Passage to Gibraltar to
rejoin Force H.
31st Escorted HMS
RENOWN with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FIREDRAKE, GALLANT
and GREYHOUND for
patrol off West Africa
for surveillance of Vichy French naval
activities.
November
7th Deployed in
Force B as screen for HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD with HM
Destroyers DUNCAN,
FAULKNOR, FORTUNE, FOXHOUND, FIREDRAKE, FURY
and ISIS to cover
passage of reinforcement warships to join Mediterranean Fleet (Force F)
and
air attack on
Cagliari (Operations COAT and CRACK).
(Note: Force F comprised HM Battleship BARHAM, HM Cruisers BERWICK and
GLASGOW)
15th Joined Force B with HM
Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORTUNE, FIREDRAKE and
FOXHOUND for
escort of HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD to
cover delivery of aircraft
to
Malta and diversionary attack on
Algerho airfield
(Operation WHITE) .
25th Joined Force B with HM
Destroyers FAULKNOR, FIREDRAKE, FURY, WISHART,
ENCOUNTER,
KELVIN and JAGUAR as screen for HMS RENOWN,
HMS ARK
ROYAL, HMS SHEFFIELD and HM
Cruiser DESPATCH to cover passage of
reinforcement warships to join Mediterranean
Fleet (Force F) and troop convoy
(Operation COLLAR - (Force F comprised HM Cruisers MANCHESTER and
SOUTHAMPTON with screen of 3 Fleet
Destroyers and 4 Corvettes).
27th After force of major
Italian warships sighted deployed with screen for HMS RENOWN
and HM Battleship RAMILLIES which had joined Force F from Mediterranean
Fleet
for passage to Gibraltar.
Present during brief engagement during which Italian ships withdrew in
haste.
(Battle of Cape Spartivento - For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by
C.
Barnett and THE
BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN).
(Note: The conduct of this battle was criticised by a later enquiry
exonerated the Admiral
who had considered his primary duty was the safety of the convoy. See
references.)
28th Passage to Gibraltar
with Force H ships, HMS RAMILLIES, HM Cruiser BERWICK and
HM
Cruiser
NEWCASTLE.
December
20th Deployed with HM
Destroyers FAULKNOR, FOXHOUND, FIREDRAKE and FORTUNE
as screen for HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD in Group 1
to cover passage of HM Battleship MALAYA and Convoy MG1 from Malta to
Gibraltar
(Operation HIDE).
1 9 4 1
January
7th Part of
screen for HMS RENOWN, HM Battleship MALAYA, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS
SHEFFIELD with HMS DUNCAN and destroyers of 8th
Flotilla to cover passage of supply
ships to
Sicilian
Narrows (Operation EXCESS).
(Note: HM Cruiser BONAVENTURE and HM Destroyers HASTY, HEREWARD, HERO
and JAGUAR were also taking
passage to join the Fleet at
Alexandria and formed
Force F).
11th Returned to Gibraltar
with ships of Force H
Nominated for service at Freetown.
Passage to Freetown for Atlantic convoy defence.
29th Joined military convoy
WS5B with HM Destroyer FAULKNOR, HM Sloop
MILFORD, HM Corvettes CLEMATIS and CYCLAMEN as escort for initial
stage of passage from Freetown to Cape of Good Hope..
February
1st
Detached from WS5B with other Freetown based escorts and took return
passage.
(Note: Ocean Escort was provided by HM Cruisers AUSTRALIA (RAN) and
EMERALD. WS5B comprised 20 troopships on passage to Middle East.
March
Freetown escort duty in continuation.
10th Escorted Convoy SL67
with HM Battleship MALAYA, HMS FAULKNOR and HM
Trawler CELIA.
(Note: Additional defence for convoy provided by Force H major units
because of a threat
from German battleships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU.
See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY for details of this encounter).
Took passage to Gibraltar with HMS MALAYA and HMS FORTUNE after HMS
RENOWN and HM
Aircraft Carrier ARK
ROYAL joined convoy.
30th Deployed with HM Cruiser
SHEFFIELD and destroyers of Flotilla to intercept a Vichy
French convoy.
Attack by Vichy French aircraft unsuccessful (Operation RATION).
April
Deployed at Gibraltar.
May
6th Joined Force
F with ships of Flotilla as screen for m Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM
Cruisers GLOUCESTER, FIJI and NAIAD on passage to join Fleet in the
eastern Mediterranean.
(Operation TIGER - This also included passage of military convoy taking
tanks from
UK for Middle East army).
9th On arrival of
reinforcement ships in Malta refuelled and returned to rejoin ships
of Force H for
return passage.
19th Part of screen for m
Aircraft Carriers ARK ROYAL and FURIOUS, HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK
ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD during Malta aircraft delivery (Operation
SPLICE).
24th Deployed with HM
Destroyers FORTUNE, FOXHOUND, FORESIGHT and FURY as screen for
HM
Battlecruiser RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD
to cover passage of
Atlantic
military convoy from possible attack by German battleship
BISMARCK.
25th Detached from Force H
major units ordered to join Home Fleet search
for
BISMARCK.
.
(Note: This was due heavy expenditure of fuel during high speeds
involved.)
30th Deployed with HM
Destroyer FURY, HM Corvette FLEUR-DE-LYS as escort for Atlantic
convoy.
31st Escort reinforced
because of increased U-Boat threat.
Carried out unsuccessful hunt for U-boat.
June
5th Joined Group
1 with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR and FORESIGHT as screen for HI Aircraft
Carrier FURIOUS and HMS RENOWN during Malta aircraft delivery
(Operation ROCKET).
8th Deployed with Flotilla as screen for Force H units escorting H M
Aircraft Carrier
VICTORIOUS
and HM Cruiser HERMIONE into Gibraltar after passage from UK.
13th Escorted HMS ARK ROYAL
and HMS VICTORIOUS with ships of Flotilla for further Malta
aircraft delivery (Operation TRACER).
15th Deployed with screen for
Force H major units during search for two German warships
reported
sailing from Brest.
17th Detached for
anti-submarine patrol west of Gibraltar with Flotilla.
18th Participated in sinking
of U138 during offensive A/S sweep West of Gibraltar with
HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FORESIGHT and FOXHOUND in position
36.04N 07.29W.
28 survivors from submarine were rescued.
22nd Deployed with HM Destroyers
FEARLESS, FOXHOUND and FURY to intercept German supply
ships reported by aircraft as being on passage to French coast.
23rd Intercepted German ss
ALSTERTOR in position 11.12N 13.10W.
Ship scuttled on approach and 78 British seamen held as POW from ships
sunk were
rescued.
28th Part of screen for HMS
RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS HERMIONE with HM
Destroyers
FAULKNOR, FURY, LANCE and LEGION during
Malta aircraft delivery.
(Operation RAILWAY I)
30th Joined Group B with HM
Destroyers FAULKNOR, FURY and LANCE as screen for HMS
RENOWN and HMS
ARK ROYAL during repeat
Malta
aircraft delivery (Operation RAILWAY II)
July
21st Escorted HMS
RENOWN, HM Battleship NELSON, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS HERMIONE
with HM Destroyers
FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT, FURY,
DUNCAN and LIGHTNING to cover
passage of a
Malta
supply convoy to Sicilian Narrows (Operation SUBSTANCE)
(Note: Force X which escorted convoy through to Malta included HM
Cruisers ARETHUSA
EDINBURGH,
MANCHESTER and MANXMAN with screen of 10 destroyers).
23rd Under attacks by torpedo
aircraft which damaged HMS MANCHESTER and HMS FEARLESS.
Rescued survivors from HMS FEARLESS and sank this ship which was set on
fire.
(Note: HMS MANCHESTER had to return to Gibraltar - See above references for details).
31st Joined screen for
HMS NELSON, HIS RENOWN and HMS ARK ROYAL with ships of Flotilla
and HM Destroyers MAORI, COSSACK, NESTOR, ENCOUNTER and BRIDGE to cover
passage
of
Force X taking troops to
Malta (Operation STYLE)
(Note: Troops were embarked in HM Cruisers HERMIONE, ARETHUSA and
MANXMAN).
August
4th Returned to
Gibraltar with HMS ARK ROYAL, HMS HERMIONE, HM Destroyers SIKH
ENCOUNTER and LIGHTNING as Group 1.
21st
Part of screen for HMS
NELSON, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS HERMIONE with HM
Destroyers NESTOR (RAN), FURY, FORESIGHT and ENCOUNTER during air
attacks on
Tempio, Sardinia and diversionary sweep off Valencia whilst HM
Minelayer MANXMAN laid
a minefield off Leghorn. (Operation MINCEMEAT).
September
8th Joined screen
for HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS HERMIONE with HM Destroyers GURKHA,
LIVELY and LANCE
(Operation STATUS I)
11th Part of screen for HM
Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS and HMS HERMIONE with HM Destroyers
LEGION and FORESIGHT in Force A for repeat Malta aircraft delivery.
(Operation STATUS II)
24th Joined Force X with HM
Destroyers COSSACK, ZULU, FORESIGHT, FARNDALE,
HEYTHROP, ORIBI,
LAFOREY and LIGHTNING as screen for HM Cruisers KENYA,
EDINBURGH, SHEFFIELD, HERMIONE and EURYALUS for escort of supply convoy
through to Malta
(Operation HALBERD).
27th Under air attacks during
which HMS NELSON was hit by a torpedo and had to return.
October Nominated
for conversion to Escort Destroyer after refit in UK.
16th Escorted HMS ARK ROYAL,
HMS RODNEY and HMS HERMIONE with HM Destroyers
COSSACK, FURY, FORESIGHT, LEGION, SIKH and ZULU during Malta aircraft
delivery
(Operation CALLBOY - Passage of two merchant ships and HM Cruiser
PENELOPE, HM
Destroyer LANCE and HM
Destroyer LIVELY to
Malta
were also covered by this operation).
21st Passage to UK.
26th Transferred to Freetown
Escort Force for Atlantic convoy defence.
November Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
16th Joined military convoy
WS12Z with HM Destroyers FORESIGHT, FURY, DULVERTON and
SOUTHWOLD during passage in Atlantic to Freetown as relief’s for Local
Escort by HM
Destroyers BADSWORTH, EXMOOR, VANQUISHER, WHITEHALL and WITCH.
(Note: Ocean Escort was provided by HM Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN.
19th Detached from WS12Z with
HMS FORESIGHT and HMS FURY and took return passage to
Clyde.
Released from Western Approaches Command and resumed Home Fleet duties.
Nominated for refit and modification for deployment as Anti-submarine
Escort.
Taken in hand for refit and conversion for use as an A/S Escort
Destroyer.
December Under refit
1 9 4 2
January Under refit.
February Post Refit
trials.
March
Worked-up for service in Home Fleet.
On
completion of work-up nominated for escort of Russian Convoys.
(For details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOY ! by P Kemp,
THE RUSSIAN
CONVOYS by B Schoefield, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R. Woodman and CONVOYS
TO RUSSIA by R A Ruegg and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY).
April
11th Escorted HM Cruiser
EDINBURGH with HM Destroyer FORESIGHT to provide Close Cover
during passage of Russian Convoy PQ14 to Murmansk.
(Note: HMS EDINBURGH was carrying steel plate for repair to damaged
cruiser HMS
TRINIDAD under repair in Murmansk.)
18th Detached from PQ14 to
intercept possible attack on convoy by German destroyers Z24,
Z25 and
HERMANN SCHOEMANN. Enemy ships did not approach.
28th Joined HM Destroyers
AMAZON, BEAGLE, BEVERLEY, BULLDOG and four corvettes with
HM
Destroyer FORESIGHT for escort of return convoy QP11
from Murmansk.
30th After HMS EDINBURGH was
torpedoed assisted in attempt to save cruiser.
Detached to carry out anti-submarine attacks and returned.
May
1st Salvage
and anti-submarine protection of HMS EDINBURGH in continuation.
In action with German destroyers Z24, Z25 and HERMANN SCHOEMANN
Disabled by 3 direct hits from Z25 whilst making torpedo attack.
Sustained serious damage in Boiler Room, Forward B Gun and After X Gun
mountings.
12 killed including Captain and 9 wounded.
2nd HMS EDINBURGH
abandoned and sunk by HMS FORESIGHT.
Took passage to Kola Inlet.
(For full details see ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman and Naval Staff
History.
4th Under
temporary repair at Murmansk to allow passage to UK.
13th Sailed as escort for HM
Cruiser TRINIDAD during return passage with HM Destroyers
SOMALI, FORESIGHT and MATCHLESS.
14th Under heavy air attack
and took off wounded and other survivors from HMS TRINIDAD.
(Note: HMS TRINIDAD was sunk by HM Destroyer MATCHLESS).
18th Arrived at Scapa and
immediately took passage to Tyne shipyard for repair.
June
Under repair
to
August
September Post refit
trials.
October
Rejoined Flotilla in Home Fleet for further deployment with Russian convoys.
November Escorted HM
Cruisers LONDON and SUFFOLK with HM Destroyers OBDURATE and
ONSLAUGHT to provide cover west of Bear Island for returning Convoy
QP15.
December
22nd Joined screen for HM
Battleship ANSON and HM Cruiser CUMBERLAND with HM
Destroyers BLANKNEY, ICARUS, IMPULSIVE and CHIDDINGFOLD to cover the
passage of Russian Convoy JW51B.
1 9 4 3
January
2nd Detached for
passage to Kola Inlet.
29th Joined HM Destroyers
BEAGLE, BULLDOG, ICARUS, MATCHLESS, MUSKETEER,
ONSLAUGHT, OFFA,
ONSLOW and Polish PIORUN as Ocean Escort of returning Russian
Convoy RA52.
February
4th Detached from
RA52 and resumed Home Fleet duties.
March
1st
Escorted HM Battleships KING GEORGE V and HOWE with HM Cruiser GLASGOW
and
Fleet
Destroyers ICARUS, MUSKETEER, OFFA, ONSLAUGHT and
Polish PIORUN to
provide Distant
Cover for returning Russian Convoy RA53.
April
Taken in hand for refit at Leith. Increased
close range AA armament added.
May
Under refit.
June
Joined 1st Canadian Escort Group for Atlantic convoy defence.
Part of escort for Convoy ONS219.
(Note: After the end of this year the ship claimed to be the first
destroyer to
complete 200,000 miles steaming since September 1939)
July
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
to
Searched for survivors from US Liberty Ship SUMNER J KIMBALL which had
December been hit by
torpedo from U960 after straggling from convoy
Stern section found but without any
survivors. See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair
(Note: After the end of this year the ship claimed to be the first
destroyer to
complete 200,000 miles steaming since September 1939).
1 9 4 4
January Atlantic
convoy defence in continuation.
to
February
March Deployed
as Leader of 1st Canadian Escort Group.
(Note: Other ships in Group: HM Canadian Destroyers ST LAURENT and
ASSINIBOINE, HM Canadian Frigates SWANSEA, VALLEYFIELD,
HM Canadian Corvette OWEN SOUND
and three other Canadian corvettes.)
10th Participated in the
sinking of U845 with HM Canadian Destroyer ST LAURENT, HM
HM Frigate OWEN SOUND (RCN) and HM Frigate SWANSEA (RCN) during
passage of Convoy SC154 in position 48.20N 20.33W.
45 survivors were rescued from submarine. See U-BOAT'S DESTROYED.)
April
Nominated for escort of convoys during Normandy landings (Operation
NEPTUNE)
(For details of naval activities before and during landings see
OPERATION NEPTUNE
by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY
JUNE 1944 (HMSO)).
May
Deployed on coastal convoy defence in English Channel.
June
Joined HM Sloop KITE, HM Destroyer QUORN, HM Frigate TYLER and HM
Frigate
SEYMOUR in 115th
Escort Group.
5th Deployed in
Nore.
6th Escorted
Convoy ETP1 with Group from Thames Estuary.
7th Arrived in
Eastern Task Force area with convoy.
(Note: Convoy ETP1 comprised 8 Personnel ships, 3 Troopships, an
Accommodation Ship
HMS
AMBITIOUS and two Hospital Carriers).
8th Deployed at
Portsmouth for planned NEPTUNE convoy escort.
27th On release from NEPTUNE
deployed on Channel coastal convoy defence and patrol.
July
23rd
In action against R-Boats with HM Frigate STAYNER off
Cap D'Antifer.
August Convoy
defence and patrol in Channel.
20th Participated in sinking
of U413 with HM Escort Destroyers WENSLEYDALE and VIDETTE
during convoy defence off Beachy Head (50.21N 00.01W). Only one officer
survived.
21st Engaged E-Boats in
defence of Channel coastal convoy with HM Destroyers MELBREAK
and WATCHMAN.
October Deployed
with Group for convoy defence based at Londonderry
to
Withdrawn for repair.
November
December
1st Taken
in hand for repair at Liverpool.
1 9 4 5
January Under
repair.
to
Nominated for service in Rosyth Escort Force for convoy defence in
North Sea
March (Note:
U-Boats included some fitted with SCHNORKEL apparatus
April
Carried out post refit trials were making attacks on North Sea convoys.)
May
Joined Rosyth Escort Force for convoy defence.
June
Deployed with Home Fleet for support of re-occupation operations
to
July
August Nominated for
reduction to Reserve status at Dartmouth
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS FORESTER paid off in
September 1945 and reduced to Reserve at Dartmouth on 2nd November. She was placed on the
Disposal List and sold for breaking up in January 1946. The ship arrived at
Rosyth for breaking-up on 26th
February that year.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS FORESTER
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
|
|
|
|
|
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01/03/41
|
03/03/41
|
SL 067
|
11/03/41
|
26/03/41
|
06/05/41
|
06/05/41
|
TIGER
|
12/05/41
|
12/05/41
|
24/06/41
|
03/07/41
|
OG 066
|
06/07/41
|
08/07/41
|
24/09/41
|
24/09/41
|
HALBERD
|
27/09/41
|
27/09/41
|
02/10/41
|
02/10/41
|
HG 074
|
06/10/41
|
18/10/41
|
27/09/41
|
09/10/41
|
OG 075
|
12/10/41
|
13/10/41
|
06/11/41
|
25/11/41
|
SL 092
|
25/11/41
|
01/12/41
|
26/03/42
|
12/04/42
|
PQ 014
|
19/04/42
|
19/04/42
|
28/04/42
|
28/04/42
|
QP 011
|
30/04/42
|
07/05/42
|
17/11/42
|
19/11/42
|
QP 015
|
25/11/42
|
30/11/42
|
22/12/42
|
26/12/42
|
JW 051B
|
30/12/42
|
04/01/43
|
29/01/43
|
29/01/43
|
RA 052
|
04/02/43
|
09/03/43
|
01/03/43
|
04/03/43
|
RA 053
|
05/03/43
|
14/03/43
|
31/07/43
|
01/08/43
|
ON 195
|
08/08/43
|
13/08/43
|
14/08/43
|
20/08/43
|
HX 252
|
27/08/43
|
28/08/43
|
08/09/43
|
10/09/43
|
ON 201
|
18/09/43
|
24/09/43
|
28/09/43
|
28/09/43
|
HX 259
|
05/10/43
|
13/10/43
|
18/10/43
|
19/10/43
|
ON 207
|
28/10/43
|
04/11/43
|
31/10/43
|
05/11/43
|
HX 264
|
16/11/43
|
17/11/43
|
26/11/43
|
27/11/43
|
ON 213
|
07/12/43
|
14/12/43
|
10/12/43
|
15/12/43
|
HX 270
|
25/12/43
|
26/12/43
|
08/01/44
|
09/01/44
|
ON 219
|
20/01/44
|
27/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
27/01/44
|
HX 276
|
06/02/44
|
07/02/44
|
14/02/44
|
15/02/44
|
ON 224
|
26/02/44
|
02/03/44
|
28/02/44
|
02/03/44
|
SC 154
|
15/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
28/03/44
|
29/03/44
|
ONS 032
|
13/04/44
|
18/04/44
|
06/06/44
|
06/06/44
|
ETP 001
|
07/06/44
|
07/06/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)