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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 ISIS (D 87) -  I-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

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

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I-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from Yarrow & Co, Scotstoun Glasgow in October 1935 with the 1935 Build Programme. The ship was laid down on 5th February 1936 and launched on 12th November 1936 as the 7th RN warship to carry the name, introduced in 1743. It was previously used for a cruiser built in 1896 and sold in 1920. Build was completed on 2nd June 1937 at a cost of £259,377 excluding Admiralty supplied item such as weapons and communications equipment. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 she was adopted by the civil community of Edmonton, then in the county of Middlesex and now part of the Borough of Enfield.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

ST LUCIA 1778 - SADRAS 1782  - NEGAPATAM 1782 - ROVID1EN 1782 - TRINCOMALEE 1782 - CAMPERDOWN 1797 - COPENHAGEN 1801 - ATLANTIC 1939-43 - NORWAY 1940 - GREECE 1941 - CRETE 1941 - MEDITERRANEAN 1941-43 - SICILY 1943 - NORMANDY 1944

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Purple,  the head of an Egyptian goddess gold.

 

M o t t o

Quod est manet :  'That which is remains'.

 

 

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             Serving with 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet.

                5th          Transferred with Flotilla to Western Approaches for convoy defence.

                7th          Took passage from Gibraltar to Plymouth.

                11th        Deployed on convoy defence in SW Approaches.

 

October                  Western Approaches anti-submarine patrol and convoy defence in continuation.

                19th        Routine docking and maintenance at Falmouth.

                25th        Resumed convoy defence in Western Approaches.

 

November              Atlantic convoy defence and interception in continuation.

                9th          Intercepted and captured German mercantile LEANDER disguised as Russian flagged

                                METALLIST.

                                Prize crew placed on board to take ship to Falmouth.

                15th        Tow of derelict tanker ARNE KJODE from position off Hebrides failed and mercantile

                                sunk.

                                12 survivors rescued.

                                (Note: This ship had been torpedoed by U41 on 11th November.).

 

December

                31st         Completed 102 days under steam since outbreak of hostilities.

                                For details of naval activities in Home waters during 1939 see ENGAGE THE ENEMY

                                MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett and Naval Staff History.

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Western Approaches deployment in continuation.

                4th          Deployed with HM Destroyer FAULKNOR as escort for damaged battleship HMS

                                NELSON during passage under tow from Clyde to Portsmouth for repair.

                                (Note: HMS NELSON had detonated a magnetic mine in Loch Ewe.)

 

February

                8th          Taken in had for refit at commercial shipyard in Falmouth.

 

March                    Under refit

                12th        Carried out post refit trials and took passage to rejoin Flotilla at Scapa Flow on

                                completion.

                13th        Deployed for Home Fleet duties with Flotilla.

 

                31st         Nominated for escort of m Auxiliary Minelayer TEVIOT BANK for minelay off

                                Norwegian coast near Stadtlandet.

                                (Operation WILFRED/R4 - See above reference and Naval Staff Watery (Mining)

 

April                       Joined Force US for escort duty.

                5th          Sailed for Norway with Force MS.

                7th          Operation cancelled when German warships sighted In Heligoland Bight on passage to Norway.

                                Rejoined Flotilla for Home Fleet screening duties, military support and convoy defence.

                                In action with aircraft.

                16th        First RN warship at Tromso.

                21at         Engaged shore battery in Trondheim Fjord. No damage or casualties.

 

May                        Support and convoy defence off Norway in continuation.

                8th          Sustained damage to both propellers by striking wreck in Balangan Fjord.

                                Towed to Skelfjord by HM Destroyer ILEX to await passage to UK

                                (For details of the disastrous naval operations off Norway see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                                CLOSELY, NARVIK by D MacIntyre and THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by Adams.)

                15th        Passage to UK in tow.

                17th        Arrived at Greenock..

                22nd       Passage to Falmouth under tow by tug BUCCANEER escorted by HM Destroyed WITCH.

                                Pennant Number for visual Signalling purposes changed to I87

                23rd        Taken in hand for temporary repair at Falmouth.

                                (Note: During repair several officers were sent on detached service for duties to support

                                evacuations in French ports.)

 

June                        Under temporary repair.

                14th        Prepared for passage to Devonport.

                15th        Taken in hand by HM Dockyard for completion of repair.

 

July                         Under repair

to

August

 

September             Carried out post refit trials.

                20th        Passage to Scapa Flow for work-up prior to rejoining Flotilla for Fleet duties.

 

October                  On completion of work-up deployed on convoy defence in NW Approaches.

                                Nominated for service at Gibraltar with 13th Destroyer Flotilla.

                31st         Took passage to Mediterranean to join Flotilla.

 

November

                6th          Joined Flotilla for convoy defence based at Gibraltar.
                7th          Detached for escort duties with Force H.

                                Deployed with HM Destroyers DUNCAN, FOXHOUND, FORESTER,, FIREDRAKE,

                                FAULKNOR, FURY and FORTUNE as screen for HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL and

                                HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD to provide cover for passage of military convoy and transfer of

                                reinforcement ships to Eastern Mediterranean (Operations COAT/CRACK).

                                (For details of naval activities in Mediterranean during 1940 to 1942 see ENGAGE THE

                                ENEMY MORE CLOSELY. THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre.).

                12th        Resumed convoy defence duties with Flotilla based at Gibraltar.

 

December              Flotilla duties in continuation.

                                Deployed for defence of Atlantic convoys between Gibraltar and Freetown.

                20th        Detached for duty with Force H and joined HM Destroyers DUNCAN, ENCOUNTER,

                                WISHART and JAGUAR as Group II for escort duty during cover of passage of HM Battleship

                                MALAYA and Convoy MG1 from Malta to Gibraltar (Operation HIDE).

                25th        Resumed Atlantic convoy defence duties with Flotilla.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence duties in continuation for UK-Freetown route.

 

February                Nominated for duty with Force H.

                6th          Joined HM Destroyers DUNCAN, FIREDRAKE and JUPITER in Group III as screen for HMS

                                ARK ROYAL during air operations off Livorno as a diversion during bombardment by ships of

                                Force H (Operation GROG).

                10th        Resumed convoy defence duties with Flotilla.

                20th        Rescued crew of RAF Flying Beat off Cape Spartel, Morocco.

 

March                    Nominated for transfer to Mediterranean Fleet based in Alexandria.

                                Joined escort of military convoy for passage to Alexandria via Cape and Red Sea

                6th          Crossed the Equator.

                                Called at St Helena with m Destroyer ENCOUNTER.

                                Detached for support of military operations in Italian Somaliland.

                                Bombardment of Dante not carried out as harbour found empty.

 

April                       Passage to Alexandria in continuation.

                9th          Joined 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet for Fleet screening duties.

                15th        Part of escort for military convoy to Greece (Operation LUSTRE).

                17th        Under air attacks.

                18th        Under further air attacks.

                20th        Escorted return convoy from Piraeus.

                21st         Under air attack.

                24th        Escorted RFA Tanker BRAMBLELEAF to Suda Bay.

                27th        Deployed with Fleet during evacuation of allied troops from Greece,

                to            (For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY).

                30th

 

May

                1st           Disembarked evacuated troops at Port Said.

                6th          Part of escort for Fleet units covering passage of military convoy to Egypt and Malta

                                relief convoy MW7 (Operation TIGER/MD4)

                                (See above references).

                9th          Part of escort for return convoy to Alexandria.

                10th        Under air attacks.

                12th        Part of escort for convoy to Suda Bay, Crete.

                15th        Escorted ss LOSSIEBANK and NIEUW ZEELAND from Suda Bay to Alexandria.

                20th        Deployed In support of military operations in Crete and assisted In evacuation.

                                (See above references and Naval Staff History (HMSO-2002).)

                23rd        Part of escort for Fleet its returning to Alexandria.

                24th        Embarked troops for passage to Crete but unable land them.

                25th        Returned to Alexandria.

 

June

                5th          Deployed in support of military operations in Syria (Operation EXPORTER).

                7th          Passage to Syrian coast with Fleet units.

                8th          Carried out patrols off coast during landing operations.

                9th          Provided gunfire support to shore operations.

                                In action with HM Destroyers JANUS, JACKAL and HOTSPUR against French destroyers

                                GUEPARD and VARMY.

                                (Note: HMS JANUS was damaged by five direct hits)

                                Enemy ships were forced to withdraw.

                10th        Bombardment duties In continuation.

                to

                14th

                15th        In action with aircraft off Syria whilst screening H M Cruiser PHOEBE with HM Destroyer

                                DEFENDER.

                                Sustained major structural damage by two near misses.

                                (Note: Vessel lifted causing fracture and buckling with flooding of compartments.)

                20th        Under temporary repair at Haifa

                26th        Took passage to Alexandria under tow.

                29th        In hand for repair in Alexandria dry-dock.

 

July                         Under temporary repair August

 

August

                6th          Took passage to Singapore with HM Destroyer NUBIAN

                                (Note: HMS NUBIAN was under tow).

                14th        At Aden.

 

September

                20th        Took passage to Bombay with HMS NUBIAN.

                27th        Arrived in Bombay.

 

October

                2nd         Took passage to Penang via Colombo.

                12th        Arrived at Singapore for completion of repair.

                                (Note: It is not clear from sources available whether ship was under tow for part of passage).

                13th        Taken in hand by HM Dockyard Singapore.

 

November              Under repair.

to                            Estimated completion date March 1942.

December              (See OPERATION PACIFIC by E Gray and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO) for details of

                                Malayan events).

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Under repair.

                17th        Damaged during Japanese air raid.

 

February                Completion of repair arranged at Batavia.

                6th          Passage under tow to Batavia.

                7th          Arrived at Batavia.

                                Repair work impossible because of Japanese air attacks and threat of invasion.

                10th        Tow arranged to Trincomalee.

                                Passage to Trincomalee and completion of repair arranged at HM Dockyard, Bombay.

 

March                    Passage to Bombay under tow.

                4th          Taken in hand for repair.

                                (Note: Ship Paid-off into Dockyard control).

 

April                       Under intermittent repair due to other work priorities.

to

November

 

December              Carried out post refit trials.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Completed poet refit trials.

                17th        Re-commissioned for service with 12th Destroyer Flotilla in Mediterranean.

                                Passage to Alexandria.

 

February                Joined Flotilla for convoy escort and Fleet screening duty.

                19th        Participated in sinking of U562 in defence of Convoy XT3 NE of Benghazi with HM

                                Escort Destroyer HURSLEY and aircraft of 38 Squadron RAF.

                                There were no survivors See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp

 

March                    Escorted military convoy carrying returning ANZAC troops from Egypt to Australia for part of

                                passage (Operation PAMPHLET).

 

April                       Transferred to 14th Destroyer Flotilla for convoy escort and Fleet screening in Mediterranean.

 

May                        Deployed in blockade of Cape Bon area to intercept craft evacuating Axis forces from North

                                Africa (Operation RETRIBUTION).

 

June                        Bombarded Pantellaria with HM Destroyer ILEX prior to occupation.

                                (Operation CORKSCREW).

 

July                         Nominated for screening duty during allied landings in Sicily.

                                (Operation HUSKY - See above references and Naval Staff History).

                                Sailed from Bone as part of screen for HM Cruisers DIDO and EURYALUS as Force Z

                10th        Deployed in Ionian sea with HM Destroyers QUILLIAM, QUEENBOROUGH, QUAIL,

                                FAULKNOR, ECHO, INTREPID, RAIDER, ECLIPSE, FURY, INGLEFIELD, ILEX

                                TROUBRIDGE, TUMULT, OFFA, Polish destroyer PIORUN and Greek VASILISSA OLGA

                                as screen for HM Battleships NELSON, RODNEY, WARSPITE and VALIANT, HM Fleet

                                Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE and FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers AURORA,

                                PENELOPE, CLEOPATRA and EURYALUS.

                                (Note: This covering force was intended to prevent any interference to assault landings by

                                Italian surface warships).

 

August                  Deployed for convoy defence with Gibraltar Escort Force.

 

September             Escort deployment in continuation.

                15th        Escorted surrendered Italian submarines to Malta from Bone.

 

October                  Re-deployed in western Mediterranean as part of Gibraltar Escort Force.

 

November              Convoy escort and patrol duties with 13th Destroyer Flotilla in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Deployment with 13th Destroyer Flotilla at Gibraltar in continuation.

                                Escort of military convoys for allied landings at Anzio

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

 

February                Military convoy escort in continuation.

                                Transferred to 8th Destroyer Flotilla.

 

March                    Deployed with Flotilla for convoy defence and patrol in western Mediterranean.

to                            Visited Naples

April                       Nominated for duty with Flotilla in Home Fleet for support of planned allied landings in

                                Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE).

 

May                        Pumps to Rosyth to give leave and Boiler Clean.

                                (For details of naval activities during and prior to NEPTUNE see LANDINGS IN

                                NORMANDY, June 1944.0

                12th        Joined Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.

                                Nominated for service in Eastern Task Force as part of Force S with HM Destroyer

                                FAULKNOR..

                13th        Present at Scapa Flow during visit to Horns Fleet by HM King George VI.

                                Took part in Horns Fleet exercises in preparation for NEPTUNE support.

                                On completion took passage to join Force S in Channel.

 

June                        Deployed on patrol in Channel area.

                5th          Embarked troops of Durham Light Infantry for attack on gun battery.

                6th          Commando operation cancelled and took up Bombardment Position.

                                Provided gunfire support during assault and after nightfall deployed for patrol to intercept

                                attacks by E-Boats.

                7th          Deployed with HM Destroyers SAUMAREZ, VIRAGO and Norwegian STORD for

                                interception of surface craft or submarines attempting to enter Assault area.

                10th        Returned to Portsmouth to replenish.

                13th        In action against E-Boats off Le Havre with HM Escort Destroyers GLAISDALE and

                                STEVENSTONE.

                14th        Resumed support and patrol duties off beach head.

                19th        Returned to Portsmouth to replenish.

                27th        On completion of NEPTUNE retained in Channel area for interception patrol and

                                convoy defence in English Channel.

 

July                         Channel patrol and convoy defence in continuation.

                12th        Boiler Clean and leave at Portsmouth.

                17th        Sailed from Portsmouth for interception patrol off French coast..

                20th        Sunk whilst on patrol off Normandy..

                                (Note: Contrary to WARSHIP LOSSES IN WW2 by D Brown.

                                Admiralty correspondence in July 1944 records ship was not at anchor.

                                Loss was likely to have been due to a mine or torpedo.

                                Another source records that it was a German NEGER midget submarine, but U-Boat

                                Archivist Klaus Mattes indicates that NEGER craft had ceased operations

                                on 17th July).

                                15 of ship's company ware killed. and survivors spent several hours in the water.

                21st         21 survivors rescued by HM Fleet Minesweeper HOUND but one later died.

                                The Admiralty List of survivors contains 45 names. Some were rescued by

                                US Navy Rescue Cutter and taken to the US Headquarters Ship PRESIDENT

                                WARFIELD before going to a US Field Hospital.

                                For details see MEMORIES OF HMS ISIS – 50 YEARS ON prepared by Tony D Jupe for

                                The ISIS Survivors Association and held at Enfield Public Library Local History Unit).

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS ISIS

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

 

 

 

 

 

29/09/39

29/09/39

OA 012G

02/10/39

02/10/39

02/10/39

02/10/39

OG 001

03/10/39

08/10/39

26/09/39

03/10/39

HG 001

05/10/39

06/10/39

06/11/39

12/11/39

HG 006

14/11/39

14/11/39

30/11/39

02/12/39

HN 003

04/12/39

04/12/39

08/12/39

11/12/39

HN 004

12/12/39

12/12/39

15/01/40

15/01/40

ON 008/1

19/01/40

19/01/40

19/01/40

19/01/40

HN 008

22/01/40

22/01/40

24/01/40

24/01/40

ON 009/1

27/01/40

27/01/40

27/01/40

27/01/40

HN 009A

31/01/40

31/01/40

01/05/40

01/05/40

HK 001

09/05/40

09/05/40

05/02/41

20/02/41

OG 052

21/02/41

21/02/41

11/05/41

12/05/41

ANF 030

14/05/41

14/05/41

14/05/41

14/05/41

AS 031/1

16/05/41

16/05/41

25/01/43

25/01/43

PAMPHLET

04/02/43

27/02/43

29/04/43

29/04/43

MW 027

unknown

04/05/43

17/05/43

19/05/43

KMS 014X

21/05/43

26/05/43

08/06/43

14/06/43

GTX 002

unknown

19/06/43

18/07/43

22/07/43

GUS 010

23/07/43

09/08/43

28/07/43

28/07/43

KMS 021G

29/07/43

29/07/43

17/08/43

17/08/43

KMS 023G

18/08/43

18/08/43

25/10/43

25/10/43

RS 011

31/10/43

31/10/43

02/11/43

02/11/43

SL 139

03/11/43

14/11/43

05/11/43

05/11/43

SR 007/1

12/11/43

12/11/43

21/02/44

27/02/44

KMF 029

02/03/44

05/03/44

18/02/44

01/03/44

UGS 033A

03/03/44

29/02/44

29/03/44

05/04/44

KMF 030

12/04/44

12/04/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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