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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 GREYHOUND (H 05) -  G-class Destroyer including Convoy Escort Movements

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Glowworm, sister-ship (Navy Photos,  click to enlarge)

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Greyhound or G-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from Vickers Armstrong, Newcastle under the 1933 Programme on 5th March 1934. The ship was laid down as Yard Number 699 on 20th September that year with sister ship HMS GRIFFIN in the same shipyard. Both ships were launched on 15th August 1935. This destroyer was the 22nd RN warship to carry the name that dates firm 1545 when used for a 15 gun ship. Build was completed on lst February 1936 at a cost of £248,788,excluding Admiralty supplied equipment, such as guns, ammunition and communications equipment. Before beginning service with the 1st Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean she was deployed briefly in Home waters. Her Mediterranean service included escort duty during the Munich crisis.

 

B a t t l e  H o n o u r s

 

ARMADA 1588 - DOVER  1652 - KENTISH KNOCK 1652 - FOUR DAY'S BATTLE 1666 - BARFLEUR  1692 - MARTINIQUE 1762 - OFF MARTINIQUE 1780 - EGYPT 1801 - DOVER PATROL 1915-16 - ATLANTIC 1939 - NORWAY 1940 - DUNKIRK 1940 - SPARTIVENTO 1940 - MATAPAN 1941 - CRETE 1941 - LIBYA 1941-42 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941 - MEDITERRANEAN 1941

 

H e r l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Blue, on a mount Green a Greyhound Silver.

 

M o t t o

Carte ac celeriter: 'Surely and swiftly'.

 

 

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 6

 

January                  Contractors trials

 

February

                1st           Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials

                                Commissioned for service in 1st Destroyer Flotilla Mediterranean Fleet based in Malta.

                                On completion of trials and storing took passage to Portland.

                                Worked up for operational service.

 

March                    On completion deployed briefly in Home waters with 20th Destroyer Flotilla

 

April                       Deployed in Home waters

to

July

 

August                  Passage to Malta to join Flotilla.

 

September             Deployed with Flotilla in Mediterranean.

to                            (Note: Ships will have carried out Flotilla and Fleet exercises in accordance with 

December              the Exercises and visits Programme for ships of Destroyer Command.

 

1 9 3 7

 

                                Mediterranean Fleet service with Flotilla.

 

1 9 3 8

 

January                  Flotilla duties in Mediterranean in continuation.

to                            (Note: During this period ships of the Mediterranean Fleet were deployed for

April                       protection of British shipping during the Spanish Civil War and some destroyers

                               carried out Non-Intervention patrols under an international agreement. They also

                               evacuated British nationals to French ports.

                                Nominated for return to UK for routine docking and short refit.

May                        Passage to Portsmouth

June

                7th          Taken in hand for docking and refit at HM Dockyard, Portsmouth.

 

July

                23rd        On completion of dockyard work carried out sea trials before sailing to resume

                                Flotilla duties in Malta

 

August                  Deployed with Flotilla based in Malta

 

September             During Munich crisis prepared for war service and deployed for escort duties

                                Escorted rms STRATHNAVER from Alexandria to Malta.

 

October                  Deployed in Red Sea s part of escort for HM Cruiser ARETHUSA during passage

                                to Aden

 

November              Reverted to Fleet Programme of visits and exercises.

to

December

 

1 9 3 9

 

January                  Fleet and Flotilla duties in continuation.

to

July

 

August                  War station allocated and took part in Fleet exercises arranged in preparation for

                                anticipated hostilities with Italy

                                (Note: These had been arranged by CinC Mediterranean.)

                                Took up war station.

 

 

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             Deployed with lst Destroyer Flotilla for Fleet screening, patrol and Contraband

                                Control in the Mediterranean.

 

October                  Transferred with Flotilla for duty in Home waters.

                19th        Passage from Gibraltar for deployment in Western Approaches.

                23rd        Deployed for anti-submarine patrol and escort based at Plymouth.

 

November             Transferred to 22nd Destroyer Flotilla based at Harwich.

                12th        Collided in fog with HM Destroyer GIPSY during their passage to Harwich.

                13th        Under repair by HM Dockyard, Sheerness.

                16th        Joined Flotilla and deployed for Contraband Control and escort duties in North

                                Sea and English Channel.

                18th        Rescued survivors from ss SIMON BOLIVAR in Thames Estuary.

                19th        Rescued survivors from ss TORCHBEARER near Shipwash LV.

 

December

                5th          Rejoined reformed lst Destroyer Flotilla at Harwich and deployed for convoy

                               defence.

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  North Sea and Channel deployment for convoy defence and Contraband Control

                                in continuation.

 

February

                11th        Midshipman and six ratings lost when sea boat capsized during boarding of

                                mercantile for inspection.

                16th        Taken in hand for refit commercial shipyard at Hull.

 

March                    Under refit.

                18th        Rejoined Flotilla in continuation.

 

April

                4th          Transferred with Flotilla for Home Fleet screening and took passage to Scapa

                                Flow.

                5th          Escorted HM Battlecruiser RENOWN with HM Destroyers GLOWWORM, HERO

                                to provide cover for minelay off Norway (Operation WILFRED).

                9th          Took part in brief engagement with HMS RENOWN against German battleships

                               GNEISENAU and SCHARNHORST off Vestfjord, Norway.

                                (See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and the Naval

                                Staff History).

                10th        Deployed with Flotilla in defence of fleet units after the Battle of Narvik.

                                Remained in Norwegian waters for support of military operations and escort

                               duties.

                17th        Returned to Scapa Flow.

                16th        Sustained damage in air attack.

                22nd       Taken in hand for repair by Green and Silley Weir at Gravesend

 

May                        Under repair.

                19th        On completion of repair took passage to rejoin Flotilla at Dover.

                20th        Deployed at Dover for Flotilla duties in Channel and southern North Sea.

                25th        Provided naval gunfire support with HM Destroyer GRAFTON against German

                                forces which were attacking Calais.

                27th        Transferred to Dover command to assist in evacuation of troops from Dunkirk

                                (Operation DYNAMO).

                                Passage to Dover.

                28th        Embarked 123 troops for passage to Dover.

                29th        Embarked 720 troops for passage to Dover.

                30th        Embarked 506 troops for passage to Dover.

                                (For details see Naval Staff History (HMSO –2003 and NINE DAYS AT

                                DUNKIRK by A Divine)

                                Damaged in air attack whilst returning to Dover with several casualties to ship’s

                                company and troops.

                                Taken in tow by Polish destroyer BLYSKAWICA and tugs.

 

June                        Passage to Chatham for repair by HM Dockyard.

                17th        On completion of repair rejoined Flotilla at Dover.

                                (Note: Evacuation of troops and allied civil personnel from French ports in

                                Channel and Bay of Biscay were almost complete by this time (Operations

                                AERIAL and CYCLE)

                                Deployed in Channel and southern North Sea.

 

July                         Deployed at Dover

                                Nominated for service at Gibraltar in 13th Destroyer Flotilla.

                                Passage to Clyde.

                24th        Deployed with HM Destroyers ENCOUNTER, GALLANT and HOTSPUR as

                                escort for HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS, mercantiles REINA DEL PACIFICO and

                                CLAN FERGUSON during passage in Atlantic.

                                (Note: HMS ARGUS was on passage to Gibraltar with aircraft for delivery to

                                Malta in Operation HURRY.)

                                The mercantiles were on passage to Middle East.

                                All the destroyers were on passage to Gibraltar to join 13th Flotilla.)

                30th        Joined Flotilla at Gibraltar.

                31st         Deployed with HM Destroyers ENCOUNTER, GALLANT and HOTSPUR as

                                escort for HMS ARGUS during Malta aircraft delivery (Operation HURRY).

                                (For details of operations in western Mediterranean see Naval Staff History 

                                (HMSO –2002) and THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D

                                MacIntyre).

 

August

                4th          Deployed for convoy defence at Gibraltar on completion of HURRY.

                31st         Joined Force A with HM Destroyers GALLANT, GRIFFIN and HOTSPUR for

                                screening duty during passage of HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM

                                Battleship VALIANT, HM Cruisers COVENTRY and CALCUTTA during passage

                                to Malta (Operation HATS).

                                (Notes: These ships were in transit to Alexandria to join the Fleet at Alexandria)

 

September             On arrival in Malta took return passage to Gibraltar.

                6th.         Escorted Fleet units to Dakar for attack on French Fleet (Operation MENACE).

                                (For details see Naval Staff History and MENACE by A Marder).

                23rd        In action against French destroyer L'AUDACIEUSE with HM Cruiser

                                AUSTRALIA (RAN) and HM Destroyer FURY.

                                (Note: The French warship beached after being set on fire but was later

                                refloated.)

                                Return passage to Gibraltar on release from MENACE.

                30th        Joined HM Destroyers FORTUNE and FORESTER for escort of HM Aircraft

                                Carrier ARK ROYAL during passage to Liverpool for routine docking.

 

October

                8th          Arrived in UK.

                                Return passage to Gibraltar.

                31at         Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, GALLANT and

                                GRIFFIN for screening of HMS RENOWN during patrol off West African coast.

                                Shadowed Vichy French destroyers off coast of Morocco.

 

November

                4th          Attacked and damaged Italian submarine BIANCA off the Azores.

                                Return passage from patrol to Gibraltar.

                                Nominated for duty with 14th Destroyer Flotilla at Alexandria.

                7th          Joined Force F with HM Destroyers GALLANT, GRIFFIN and ENCOUNTER as

                                screen for HM Battleship BARHAM, HM Cruisers BERWICK and GLASGOW

                                during passage to Alexandria

                                (Operation COAT - Transit of reinforcements for Mediterranean Fleet at

                                Alexandria).

                10th        Joined Mediterranean Fleet units west of Pantalleria.

                                (Note: These included HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Battleships MALAYA,

                                RAMILLIES, VALIANT and WARSPITE with HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER,

                                ORION and SYDNEY screened by destroyers. HMS ILLUSTRIOUS was later

                               detached to carry out the attack on Italian Fleet at Taranto).

                14th        Joined Flotilla in Alexandria after passage with Fleet units covering Convoy ME3.

                24th        Deployed with HM Destroyers DEFENDER, DIAMOND, GALLANT and

                                HEREWARD as screen  for HM Battleship RAMILLIES, HM Cruisers BERWICK,

                                COVENTRY and NEWCASTLE in Force D to cover passage of Convoy MW4 to

                                Malta as Force D. (Operation MB9).

                26th        Force D ships joined HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HMS BARHAM, HMS

                                MALAYA (Force C) to meet military convoy and HM Cruisers SOUTHAMPTON

                                and MANCHESTER joining Fleet in the east Mediterranean (Operation COLLAR)

                27th        Remained as escort for military convoy with HMS COVENTRY, HM Destroyers

                                DEFENDER, DIAMOND, GALLANT and HEREWARD when Italian units were

                                sighted and later engaged in brief action with major units of Mediterranean

                                (Battle of Cape Spartivento).

                                (For details see Naval Staff History and above references).

 

December

                1st           Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units after covering passage of Convoy ME4.

                                Deployed for convoy defence based at Alexandria with Flotilla.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Mediterranean Fleet deployment in continuation.

                7th          Joined HM Destroyers DAINTY, GALLANT, GRIFFIN, JERVIS, JUNO,

                                MOHAWK, NUBIAN as screen for HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS WARSPITE and

                                HMS VALIANT in Force A to provide Distant Cover for passage of Convoys

                                MW5 from Alexandria to Malta and ME6 from Malta

                                (Operation MC4)

                10th        Part of screen for Fleet units during passage to join military convoy on passage  

                                from Gibraltar to Malta and Piraeus (Operation EXCESS).

                                Met convoy south of Pantellaria.

                                Came under heavy and sustained attacks by German Fliegerkorps 10, west of

                                Malta.

                                (Note: During these attacks HMS ILLUSTRIOUS was badly damaged..

                                See above references).

                11th        Came under further air attacks HMS SOUTHAMPTON badly damaged and later

                                sunk by HMS ORION.

                15th        Returned with Fleet to Alexandria.

                18th        Joined HMS JANUS, HMS JERVIS and HMS JUNO for passage to Malta to

                                escort damaged HMS  ILLUSTRIOUS.

                19th        Sank Italian submarine NEGHELLI in Aegean Sea.

                23rd        Sailed with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS to Alexandria.

                25th        Arrived at Alexandria.

 

February                Deployed for screening of Fleet units covering passage of military convoy to

                                Malta

                22nd       Escort duty south of Crete (Operation MC8)

                24th        Returned to Alexandria.

 

March

                6th          During escort of Convoy AS16 in Aegean sank Italian submarine ANTIFRITE.

                                Rescued crew of 43.

                28th        Escorted Fleet units during Battle of Matapan and illuminated an enemy cruiser at

                                beginning of this night action.

                                Engaged and sank Italian destroyers VITTORIO ALFIERI and GIOUSUE

                                CARDUCCI with HM Destroyers GRIFFIN, HAVOCK and STUART (RAN).

 

April

                                Escorted Convoy AN15 to Pireaus from Alexandria.

                                Carried out offensive sweeps against shipping off North Africa with HM

                                Australian Destroyer VENDETTA.

                17th        Sank Italian sailing ship ROMAGNA off Appollonia.

 

May

                6th          Joined Convoy MW7A from Alexandria for passage to Malta as escort with HM Cruisers

                                PHOEBE, DIDO and CALCUTTA, HM Destroyers DEFENDER and HASTY

                                (Operation MD4).

                8th          Detached from MW7 merged convoy and Joined Fleet units for escort and cover of the

                                passage of  military convoy bringing tanks for 8th Army from UK

                                (Operation TIGER).

                12th        On release from TIGER convoy deployed for support of operations in defence of

                                Crete.

                22nd       During search for invasion craft off Crete sank Caique in Anti Kithera Channel.

                                Came under heavy dive bombing attack off Crete.

                                Sank in position 30.00N 24.40E after three direct hits.

                                Captain and 79 of ship's company killed.

                                Four were taken prisoner.

                                Other survivors picked up by HM Destroyers KANDAHAR and KINGSTON.

                                (Note: Casualty List was published on 7th March 1942.)

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS GREYHOUND

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

 

 

 

 

 

12/09/39

12/09/39

L 002

19/09/39

19/09/40

05/09/39

13/09/39

RED 1

16/09/39

27/09/39

20/09/39

20/09/39

BLUE 002

30/09/39

30/09/39

28/09/39

03/10/39

RED 2

09/10/39

09/10/39

18/10/39

18/10/39

002 P 1

23/10/39

23/10/39

04/10/39

25/10/39

KJ 003

26/10/39

28/10/39

04/11/39

04/11/39

OA 030

06/11/39

07/11/39

08/02/40

09/02/40

FS 0091

09/02/40

10/02/40

20/02/41

20/02/41

AS 015/1

24/02/41

24/02/41

07/03/41

07/03/41

AN 018

11/03/41

11/03/41

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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