F-Class Fleet
Destroyer ordered on 17th March 1933 from
JS White at Cowes, IoW under 1932 Programme.
The ship was laid down on 19th May that year and
launched
on 10th September 1934 as the 11th RN ship to
bear this name,
introduced in 1779 for a Sloop broken up in
1789. The last warship with this
name was a destroyer built in 1911
and sold in 1921. Build of this destroyer was
completed on 18 May 1933. On completion of
trials and work-up
she served in the 6th Destroyer Flotilla Home
Fleet and deployed for
Non-Intervention patrols in Bay of Biscay and
Mediterranean during Spanish
civil war. On 11th December 1936 after his
abdication broadcast to the nation this
destroyer embarked HRH
The Duke of Windsor for passage to Boulogne.
When not detached from Flotilla took part in
Home Fleet
exercise and Visits programmes. .The Flotilla
was renumbered 8th in April 1941.
Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National
Savings campaign held
in January 1942 she was adopted by the civil
community of West Bridgeford, Nottinghamshire.
B
a t t l e H o n o u r s
ST
LUCIA 1796 - EGYPT 1801 - ALGIERS
1816 - KUA KAM 1649 - CRIMEA 1854 -
CHINA
1856-60 - DARDANELLES 1915-16 - SPARTIVENTO
1940 - MEDITERRANEAN. 1941 - MALTA CONVOYS
1941-42 - ATLANTIC 1941-43 - ARCTIC 1942-43 -
SICILY 1943 - SALERNO 1943 - AEGEAN 1943
-
NORMANDY 1944
H
e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a field Red,
a dragon’s
head White
langued White, armed
Gold.
M
o t t o
Sic ad hostem: 'Thus
(Fury) to
the enemy’
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 with 8th Destroyer Flotilla and took
–up war station
3rd
Fleet screening duties in continuation based
at Scapa Flow.
(Note: Other ships in 6th Destroyer Flotilla,
renamed 8th in March 1939 comprised HM
Destroyers FAULKNOR (Leader), FAME, FEARLESS,
FIREDRAKE, FORESTER,
FORTUNE, FOXHOUND.
Some ships of Flotilla were deployed as
anti-submarine screen for HM Aircraft Carrier
COURAGEOUS when sunk by U 29 in English
Channel. Two of them were detached
to assist a mercantile. One of these may have
been this destroyer. To be confirmed)
October
Home Fleet screening and anti-submarine patrol
duties in North Sea and NW Approaches.
to
(Note: Major units of Home Fleet with
destroyer screens were deployed in search
December
operations to intercept commerce raiders on
passage to and from the Atlantic.
After the loss of HM Battleship ROYAL OAK in
Scapa Flow, Home Fleet
ships transferred to Clyde and continued
interception duties as well as
escort of military convoys bring Canadian
personnel to UK. For details of
naval activities in Home waters see ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by C Barnett and Naval Staff History.
1
9 4 0
January
Deployed with Flotilla for Fleet screening and
patrol duties based at
Scapa Flow
to
March
April
Deployed at Scapa Flow for screening duties.
Nomination for escort of military convoy NP1
to be investigated.
(For details of Home Fleet deployments after
invasion of Norway see NAVAL
OPERATIONS OF THE CAMPAIGN IN
NORWAY,
April to June 1940 (HMSO,
NARVIK by D MacIntyre, THE DOOMED EXPEDITION
by J Adams, Naval Staff
History and CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton.)
17th
Deployed as part of escort for damaged cruiser
HMS SUFFOLK during passage
to Scapa Flow after damage during air attacks
at Stavanger (Operation DUCK).
23rd
Sailed from Scapa Flow with HM Destroyers
HYPERION, HEREWARD, HASTY,
FEARLESS and JUNO as escort for HM Aircraft
Carriers ARK ROYAL and GLORIOUS
during passage to southern Norway to provide
fighter protection to military operations,
land RAF aircraft for air support and carry
out air attacks on Trondheim (Operation DX)
(Note: This was the first RN operation with
deployment of two aircraft carriers for
dual operations. See above references.)
On release from DX returned to Scapa Flow.
May
7th
Nominated for transfer to Nore Command with HM
Destroyers FORTUNE and FORESIGHT
of 8th Flotilla for duty at Harwich in view of
threat imposed by German advance into the Low
Countries.
9th
Sailed from
Scapa Flow
with HM Destroyers FORESIGHT, MOHAWK, BULLDOG
and
GALLANT to intercept E-Boats on passage to
carry out minelaying in North Sea and later to
join HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM and destroyer
screen already deployed in sweep for
minelaying activities.
After an attack by E Boats on HM Destroyer
KELLY which was badly damaged joined escort
to ensure her safe passage to Tyne for repair
with cover by Home Fleet cruiser
(Note: HM Destroyers KELLY, KIMBERLEY and
KANDAHAR were on passage in North Sea
from Norway and had been directed to join HMS
BIRMINGHAM and her escorting
destroyers to assist in search.)
10th
Under air attacks during passage. For details
see THE KELLY by K Poolman.
12th
Took passage to Harwich after release from
escort of HMS KELLY.
20th
Deployed at Harwich for patrol and support of
military operations
(Note: Did not take direct part in evacuation
of troops from Dunkirk. (Operation DYNAMO.)
June
Repair to be confirmed
to
See Naval Staff History MEDITERRANEAN, Volume
1 (HMSO –2002)
July
Nominated for service with 8th Destroyer
Flotilla at Gibraltar.
(Note: 8th Destroyer Flotilla had joined Force
H in June 1940 and was based at Gibraltar.
The ships had returned to UK in July and were
to returning from Scapa Flow to
resume duty in the western Mediterranean. See
MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman))
August
On completion of post repair trials resumed
operational duties.
22nd
Deployed with escort for military convoy
during passage to Gibraltar.
29th
Rejoined Flotilla at Gibraltar.
(Note: Force H ships including Flotilla had
met convoy in Atlantic.)
30th
Sailed from Gibraltar with HM Destroyers
FAULKNOR, FIREDRAKE, FORESIGHT,
FORESTER, FORTUNE of Flotilla, HM Destroyers
ENCOUNTER, VELOX and WISHART
as escort for warships ships of Force H
providing cover for passage of mercantiles in
western Mediterranean to Sicilian Narrows
(Operation HATS)
(Note: Major ships in Force H were HM
Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Aircraft Carrier
ARK ROYAL and HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD.
In addition to mercantiles taking stores to
Egypt
reinforcement warships were taking
passage to join the Mediterranean Fleet based
at Alexandria. These were HM
Battleship VALIANT, HM Air craft Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruiser CALCUTTA
COVENTRY and four Fleet Destroyers.)
For details of operations in Mediterranean in
1940 see Naval Staff Histories,
MEDITERRANEAN, Volumes 1 and 2 (HMSO 2002.),
THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre and ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY.)
September
3rd
Returned to
Gibraltar
with ships of Force H
6th
Detached for duty with Dakar invasion Force
(Operation MENACE).
11th
Participated in defence of Fleet units engaged
in preparation for landing by Free
to
French troops at Dakar.
22nd (See
RELUCTANT OBOES by W Tute, ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY
and the Naval Staff History).
23rd
During operations off Dakar in action with HM
Australian Cruiser AUSTRALIA and
HM Destroyer GREYHOUND against French
destroyer L'AUDACIACE which was
set on fire and beached.
25th
Operation MENACE abandoned.
26th
Remained in West African waters for convoy
escort duty.
October
Deployed off West African coast in
continuation.
9th
Provided cover for French landings in
Cameroons
November
Returned to Gibraltar to rejoin Flotilla in
Force H.
7th
Escorted reinforcement convoy to Malta with
ships of Force H (Operation COAT).
11th
Returned to Gibraltar.
15th
Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL during
Malta aircraft delivery mission
(Operation WHITE)
19th
Returned to Gibraltar.
25th
Part of escort for ships of Force H covering
transit of convoy to Malta and Alexandria.
(Operation COLLAR).
27th
Escorted HM Battlecruiser RENOWN during action
with Italian Fleet units trying to
intercept the convoy off Spartivento
(Battle of Spartivento – See ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY end THE BATTLE
FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D. MacIntyre).
December
Deployed with Force H at Gibraltar.
1
9 4 1
January
6th
Part of Force H escort during provision of
cover for passage in western Mediterranean
of convoy to Malta and Piraeus (Operation
EXCESS).
11th
Returned to Gibraltar with Force H.
February
9th
Escorted Fleet units taking part in
bombardment of Genoa (Operation GROG)
March
Under refit at Gibraltar.
Rejoined Force H on completion.
April
2nd
Escorted HMS ARK ROYAL during delivery of
HURRICANE aircraft to Malta.
(Operation WINCH).
4th
Returned to
Gibraltar.
24th
Escorted HMS ARK ROYAL during repeat HURRICANE
delivery
(Operation DUNLOP)
(Note: This operation also included transfer
of reinforcement ships to Alexandria with
cover from ships of Force H - See above
references).
28th
Returned to Gibraltar.
May
6th
Part of Escort for Force H units providing
defence for military convoy taking tanks to
Egypt for Eighth Army (Operation TIGER).
12th
Returned to Gibraltar with ships of Force H.
24th
Deployed with Force H to cover passage of
Atlantic military convoy with ships of 8th
Destroyer Flotilla in view of possible attack
by German Battleship BISMARCK.
25th
Diverted to join in search for BISMARCK as
screen for Force H ships.
June
On release from BISMARCK operation deployed
with ships of 8th Flotilla and HM
Ocean Boarding Vessel MARSDALE in search for
German Supply ship in Atlantic.
(Note: This was part of an extensive operation
to intercept and sink ships that had
been deployed to support BISMARCK and was
based on decryption of German
radio traffic by GCHQ at Bletchley Park.
23rd
Intercepted the German mercantile ALSTERTOR
which scuttled on approach.
Rescued British seamen captured during
commerce raiders activities.
Took passage to Gibraltar with ships of
Flotilla
July
Resumed duties with Force H at Gibraltar.
21st
Escorted Force H ships providing cover for
passage of a convoy to reinforce Malta
garrison
(Operation SUBSTANCE – For details, see above
references.)
August
Force H deployment with Flotilla In
continuation.
September
24th
Escorted Force H ships during passage of Malta
supply convoy.
(Operation HALBERD – See above references)
October
Transferred to Home Fleet for Atlantic convoy
defence.
Passage to UK.
November
Joined Greenock Special Escort Division.
December
Rejoined 8th Destroyer Flotilla for Hone Fleet
for Fleet escort duties.
1
9 4 2
January
Refitted in Humber shipyard and AA armament
Increased.
February
15th
On completion worked-up before rejoining
Flotilla at Scapa Flow for service in defence
of
Russian convoys.
(For details of all Russian Convoys see
CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R A Ruegg, THE
RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield and CONVOY I
by P. Kemp).
March
Escorted Fleet units providing Distant Cover
for passage of returning Convoy QP6 and
outward PQ12.
23rd
Joined escort for Convoy PQ13 with HM Cruiser
TRINIDAD and HM Destroyer
ECLIPSE.
27th
Detached to search for stragglers and returned
with ss HARPALION.
28th
In action against German Destroyers attacking
PQ13 with HM Cruiser TRINIDAD and
HM Destroyer ECLIPSE. Escorted HMS TRINIDAD to
Kola Inlet after she had been
damaged after hit from one of her own
torpedoes which malfunctioned.
29th
Unsuccessful attack made on U378 on 29th which
was recorded as a sinking.
(Note: Post war analysis showed U378 was
escaped and that U585 had been mined
on 30th March. See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp
and HITLER’S
U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
April
10th
Joined Ocean Escort of returning Convoy QP10
on sailing from Murmansk.
12th
Escorted Home Fleet units providing cover for
return of damaged HMS TRINIDAD.
15th
Resumed Home Fleet escort after HMS TRINIDAD
sank.
22nd
Escorted Home Fleet units providing distant
cover for Convoy PQ16 and returning Convoy
QP12.
27th
Joined Ocean Escort for QP17 until dispersal
on 4/7.
July
2nd
Carried out unsatisfactory anti-submarine
operations with HMS WILTON, HMS
LOTUS and HM Corvette LOTUS against U456 after
torpedo attack on convoy.
4th
Detached when convoy was scattered (See above
references and ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY).
August
3rd
Detached for escort duty with military relief
convoy (WS21) from UK to Malta.
(Operation PEDESTAL - See PEDESTAL by C. Smith
and above references).
10th
Escorted Fleet units providing defence for
PEDESTAL convoy..
13th
Minesweeping duty in Skerki Channel approach
to Malta.
14th
Minesweeping gear carried away.
17th
Passage to UK to rejoin Flotilla in Home
Fleet.
September
9th
Joined Fighting Escort for Convoy PQ18.
17th
Detached from PQ18 and joined return convoy
QP14 with Fighting Escort.
18th
Detached from QP14 with HM Destroyer IMPULSIVE
and took passage to
Spitzbergen to collect RFA OLIGARCH on
completion of refuelling escorts.
19th
Rejoined QP14 with HMS IMPULSIVE and RFA
OLIGARCH.
20th
Detached from QP14 as escort for HM Cruiser
SCYLLA and HM Escort Aircraft
Carrier AVENGER with HM Escort Destroyers
WHEATLAND and WILTON
because of increasing threat of submarine
attack
(Note: Flag transferred to HM Destroyer
MILNE.)
Took passage to land survivors at Akureri ,
Iceland
October
Deployed with Home Fleet.
November
Home Fleet duty in continuation.
December
18th
Joined escort of Russian Convoy JW51A
25th
Detached from JW51A escort.
30th
Joined escort for returning RA51
1
9 4 3
January
6th
Detached from RA51 and rejoined Flotilla in
Home Fleet.
February Deployed
with Home Fleet.
21st
Escorted HM Cruiser SCYLLA to reinforce
defence for Convoy JW53
27th
Detached from escort of HMS SCYLLA.
March
1st
Joined escort for returning convoy RA53
11th
Detached from RA53 and rejoined Home Fleet.
Transferred to Home Fleet and deployed with
4th Escort Group for defence of Atlantic
convoys. For details of Atlantic convoy
defence in 1943-44 see ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
by D. MacIntyre,
CONVOY ESCORT COMMANDER by P Gretton and SEEK
AND STRIKE by W
Hackmann).
April
5th
Escorted Convoy HX329 and drove off attacking
U-Boat Group.
25th
Reinforced escort for Convoys HX234 and ONS5.
May
5th
Escorted 1st Minelaying Squadron for minelay
in Northern Barrage.
(Operation SN111A).
22nd
Escorted Convoy SC130
28th
Under repair in
Humber
shipyard.
June
Nominated for duty in support of Sicily
landings (Operation HUSKY).
17th
Escorted Home Fleet units to reinforce
Mediterranean Fleet for Sicily landings.
Joined escort for military convoys on arrival
in Mediterranean.
(See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval
Staff History).
July
Deployed with Fleet units covering landings
10th
Part of Covering Force during landings.
August
Deployed with Force H in Mediterranean.
September
10th
Escorted Italian Fleet units into Malta for
surrender.
12th
Joined Covering Force at Salerno for landing
support duty.
(Operation AVALANCHE - See above references).
October
Deployed in Aegean for interception of
invasion convoys.
7th
Intercepted convoy at Stampalia with HM
Cruiser PENELOPE and HM Destroyer
FAULKNOR
8th
Searched for landing craft with HM Escort
Destroyers EXMOOR and
BLENCATHRA.
15th
In action with aircraft during search for
Invasion convey and had abandoned
the operation in view of lack of air cover.
(For details of operations in the Aegean see
WAR IN THE AEGEAN by P. Smith
F E Walker, FIGHTING DESTROYER by G Cornell
and THE LAST DESTROYER
by F A Mason.)
November
Aegean defence operations in continuation.
15th
Bombarded Leros with HMS EXMOOR and the Polish
destroyer ORP
KRAKOWIAK.
16th
Further bombardment of Leros with HM
Destroyers ALDENHAM and PENN.
December
Refitted at Gibraltar and converted for duty
as a Convoy Escort.
One 4in mounting and the 3in AA gun removed
and replaced by Oerlikons.
Depth Charge facilities increased
1
9 4 4
January
Under refit.
to
February
March
On completion of post refit trials joined Home
Fleet at Scapa Flow.
April
Nominated for support of Atlantic convoy
escorts with HMS FAULKNOR,
.
HMS ISIS and HMS JERVIS of 8th Flotilla
Deployed with HM Destroyers ICARUS, INGLEFIELD
and ECLIPSE
as 4th Support Group.
See above references and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR
by C Blair.
6th
Took passage to join Convoy HX231.
7th
Joined HX231 after delay due to extreme
weather conditions.
Provided support against attacks by LOWENHERTZ
U-Boat Group
during whose passage six mercantiles were
sunk. See above reference.
May
Nominated for detached service in support of
planned allied landings in Normandy
(Operation NEPTUNE)
(Note: HMS FAULKNOR of 8th Flotilla was also
nominated for detached service
in Force J)
13th
Arrived at Scapa Flow for deployment with
Force J.
Passage to Portsmouth to join Force J.
Took part in final series of exercises with
ships of Force J
(Note: These included loading and departure
procedures with special convoy
defence exercise against E-Boat attacks. See
ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY, OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards
and
LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 194 (HMSO).
June
Joined Bombardment Force E to provide naval
Gunfire Support to military operations
in Eastern (British) Task Force area.
(Bombardment Force E also included HM Cruisers
BELFAST,
DIADEM, HM
Destroyers KEMPENFELT, FAULKNOR, VENUS,
VIGILANT, HM Canadian
Destroyers ALGONQUIN, SIOUX, HM Escort
Destroyers GLAISDALE,
STEVENSTONE and Free French Escort Destroyer
LA COMBATTANTE.)
Deployed in Solent with ships of Force J
(Note: Final briefings for NEPTUNE were
carried out.)
Target allocated for Preliminary Bombardment,.
4th
Operation delayed 24 hours
5th
Took passage from
Solent
with HMS FAULKNOR as escort for Convoy J1.
(Note Convoy J1 comprised 9th Fleet
Minesweeping Flotilla, four Danlayers,
3 Minesweeping Motor Launches, 1 Harbour
Defence Motor Launch
and a BYMS Minesweeping Flotilla.)
6th
Detached from J1 with BYMS and took passage
through Swept Channel to
meet Convoy J3 as escort during transit of
Swept Channel.
On arrival off Beachhead deployed with HMS
VENUS in Bombardment position.
Carried out preliminary support bombardment
west of Courseulles with HMS
VENUS.
Deployed with Eastern Task Force after initial
assault.
7th
Deployed for support duties and convoy escort
in Eastern Task Force Area
to
(Note returned to Portsmouth to refuel and
replenish as required)
20th
21st
Mined off beachhead and driven ashore by gale.
Salvaged and towed to UK
August
Declared Constructive Total Loss after survey.
September
Placed on Disposal List and sold to BISCO for
demolition by TW Ward
at Briton Ferry
18th
Arrived in tow at Breaker’s yard for
breaking-up.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS FURY
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
30/01/40
|
05/02/40
|
TC
003
|
07/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
18/04/40
|
21/04/40
|
FP
002
|
22/04/40
|
22/04/40
|
05/08/40
|
05/08/40
|
WS
002
|
07/08/40
|
08/08/40
|
06/02/41
|
20/02/41
|
HG
053
|
23/02/41
|
24/02/41
|
20/02/41
|
25/02/41
|
HG
054
|
25/02/41
|
12/03/41
|
06/05/41
|
06/05/41
|
TIGER
|
12/05/41
|
12/05/41
|
29/08/41
|
08/09/41
|
OG
073
|
13/09/41
|
13/09/41
|
24/09/41
|
25/09/41
|
HALBERD
|
27/09/41
|
27/09/41
|
27/09/41
|
09/10/41
|
OG
075
|
12/10/41
|
13/10/41
|
06/11/41
|
24/11/41
|
SL
092
|
25/11/41
|
01/12/41
|
01/03/42
|
06/03/42
|
PQ
012
|
11/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
10/03/42
|
23/03/42
|
PQ
013
|
30/03/42
|
31/03/42
|
10/04/42
|
10/04/42
|
QP
010
|
21/04/42
|
21/04/42
|
21/05/42
|
23/05/42
|
PQ
016
|
29/05/42
|
30/05/42
|
21/05/42
|
23/05/42
|
QP
012
|
29/05/42
|
29/05/42
|
27/06/42
|
30/06/42
|
PQ
017
|
04/07/42
|
04/07/42
|
02/09/42
|
09/09/42
|
PQ
018
|
18/09/42
|
21/09/42
|
13/09/42
|
17/09/42
|
QP
014
|
20/09/42
|
26/09/42
|
03/12/43
|
unknown
|
XIF
005
|
unknown
|
09/12/43
|
15/12/42
|
18/12/42
|
JW
051A
|
25/12/42
|
25/12/42
|
30/12/42
|
30/12/42
|
RA
051
|
06/01/43
|
11/01/43
|
15/02/43
|
21/02/43
|
JW
053
|
27/02/43
|
27/02/43
|
01/03/43
|
01/03/43
|
RA
053
|
11/03/43
|
14/03/43
|
25/03/43
|
06/04/43
|
HX
231
|
08/04/43
|
10/04/43
|
01/04/43
|
12/04/43
|
HX
232
|
15/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
04/11/43
|
29/11/43
|
UGS
023
|
30/11/43
|
01/12/43
|
16/12/43
|
26/12/43
|
KMF
027
|
29/12/43
|
30/12/43
|
29/04/44
|
29/04/44
|
XIF
014
|
04/05/44
|
04/05/44
|
13/06/44
|
13/06/44
|
FWC
006
|
14/06/44
|
14/06/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)