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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2 by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2002

HMS HURRICANE (H 06) -  ex-Brazilian H-type Destroyer including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Hesperus, sister ship (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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Variant of Royal Navy H-Class Destroyer ordered by the Brazilian Government in 1938 from Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow The ship was laid down as Yard No 742 on 3rd June 1938 and was intended  to be named  JAPARUA. A  sister ship to be named JURUA was also laid down at the same time. Both ships were requisitioned for Royal Navy service on 5th September 1939 and were launched on 29th September that year. This ship was then named HMS HURRICANE and was the first RN major warship to carry the name, although used by requisitioned Drifter in WW1 and by a Tug hired in 1939. Build was completed on 3rd May 1940 and she commissioned on 21st June that year for service in the 9th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in February 1942 she was adopted by the civil community of Hornchurch, Essex. This ship had a very successful record as a convoy escort.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC 1940-43 - BISCAY 1943

 

H e r a l d i c  D a t a

Badge:   On a Field  Party per band, dexter bendy wavy of four white

and Black sinister Blue issuant from storm clouds proper

in sinister canton three lightnings Or.

 

Special Note

 

Details are shown of convoys escorted by the Flotilla or Escort Group of which she was a member. The ship did not therefore take part on each occasion unless indicated in the text as she was under refit or for routine maintenance. Further research is required to ascertain the dates on which she was not deployed with the Group.

 

 

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 4 0

 

April                       Contractors Trials

 

May

                3rd          Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

 

June                        Prepared for operational service including storing, weapon testing and shakedown.

                21st         Commissioned for service in Home Fleet with 9th Destroyer Flotilla.

                                (Note: Delay in final commissioning may have been due to circumstances involved in

                                manning and administration due to the evacuation of allied troops and civilians

                                from Holland, Belgium and France in which RN ships and personnel were

                                extensively involved with many losses in ships and men.)

 

July                         Joined Flotilla and deployed in NW Approaches for convoy defence.

 

August

                5th          Joined military convoy WS2 with HM Destroyers HARVESTER, HAVELOCK and

                                HIGHLANDER of Flotilla for Local Escort from Liverpool during passage in Irish Sea

                                and NW Approaches.

                                (Note: HM Cruiser CORNWALL also joined as Ocean Escort for passage to Indian Ocean.

                                HM Cruisers EMERALD and SHROPSHIRE WITH four destroyers joined from

                                Clyde later with additional mercantiles

                7th          Detached from WS2 wit HMS EMERALD and destroyers of Local Escort and took

                                return passage to Clyde.

 

September             NW Approaches deployment in continuation.

                18th        Despatched from escort of convoy to carry out rescue of survivors from ss CITY OF

                                BENARES and ss MARINA.

                                (Note: This mercantile was on passage with Convoy OB213 and was torpedoed by U48

                                with heavy loss of life amongst the passengers who including children being

                                evacuated to Canada. For details see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)

 

October

                3rd          Joined military convoy WS2A(Slow) at Liverpool with HM Destroyers HARVESTER,

                                HIGHLANDER, HAVELOCK of Flotilla, HM Destroyers VERSATILE, VISCOUNT,

                                and WITHERINGTON for Local Escort in Irish Sea and NW Approaches.

                                (Note: HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD was deployed as Ocean Escort.)

                9th          Detached with Local Escort and returned to Clyde.

 

November              9th Destroyer Flotilla re-designated 9th Escort Group

                1st           Joined military convoy WS4 escorted by Polish destroyer ORP GARLAND with HMS

                                HARVESTER as Local Escort from Liverpool during passage in Irish Sea and NW Approaches.

                2nd         HM Destroyers BEAGLE, BULLDOG, OTTAWA (RCN), SAGUENAY (RCN), SKEENA

                                (RCN) and HESPERUS of Flotilla joined with HM Cruiser CAIRO and ships from Clyde.

                                (Note: HM Cruiser CORNWALL also joined from Clyde as Ocean Escort.)

                3rd          Detached from WS4 with HMS CAIRO, HM Destroyers BEAGLE, HESPERUS and

                                ORP GARLAND

                                (Note: HMS CAIRO had been deployed for AA protection during passage in NW Approaches.)

 

December              Convoy defence with Group in continuation.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.

 

February

                17th        Joined military convoy WS6B at Liverpool with HMS HESPERUS as Local Escort during

                                passage in Irish Sea and NW Approaches.

                18th        HM Destroyers LEGION, GARLAND and Polish destroyer ORP PIORUN joined WS6B

                                with mercantiles from Clyde and remained as part of Local Escort.

                                (Note: HM Cruiser MAURITIUS joined as Ocean Escort for WS6B.)

                20th        Detached from WS6B with destroyers of Local Escort and took return passage to Clyde.

                                (Note: One source records joining HM Corvette PERIWINKLE in anti-submarine operations

                                in defence of Convoy OB287 which is known to have been on passage in the area.

                                See ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM 1939-45 by A Hague.)

 

March                    Deployed with Group for convoy defence

 

April

                2nd         Despatched from escort of convoy to assist HM Armed Merchant Cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE

                                the sole escort of outbound Convoy SC26 and under attack by nine U-Boats.

                                (For details see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair. HMS WORCESTERSHIRE was hit and

                                damaged after being hit by torpedo from U74.

:                             HMS HAVELOCK and HMS HESPERUS of Flotilla also went to assist with HM Destroyers

                                VETERAN and WOLVERINE later deployed to round up scattered mercantiles.

                3rd          Deployed as escort for damaged HMS WORCESTERSHIRE during passage to Liverpool.

                29th        Despatched to assist in rescue of survivors from ss CITY OF NAGPUR which had been

                                sunk in mid-Atlantic.

                30th        Embarked over 400 personnel and took passage to land the passengers at Greenock.

                                (Note: No record can be traced of this ship being in convoy and it may be assumed she

                                was making an independent passage. See CHRONOLOGY OF THE WAR AT SEA

                                1939-45 by Rohwer and Hummelchen.)

 

May

                1st           Landed passengers and resumed Group deployment.

                7th          Whilst alongside Gladstone Dock, Liverpool during an air raid hit by bomb on port side

                                aft which passed through structure and exploded beneath ship. Extensive flooding and

                                structural damage with some minor casualties.

                                Ship moved to Biston Dock and damaged assessment made.

                15th        Under repair at Liverpool

 

June                        Under repair. Paid-off and ship’s company transferred to HM Destroyer LAMERTON building.

to                            (Note: During this period changes were made to improve capabilities as an anti -submarine

November              escort including fit of modified RAF air/surface radar, designated Type 286M when

                                used by RN vessels.

                                For details of development and use of radar by the Royal Navy see RADAR AT SEA

                                by D Howse.)

 

December              Re-commissioned from Chatham Depot.

                                Carried out post refit harbour and sea trials.

                                Nominated for service as Leader of 1st British Escort Group.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Joined Group for convoy escort and defence in Western Approaches Command.

                                (Note: Other ships in Group were HM Destroyers ROCKINGHAM, WATCHMAN, HM

                                Corvettes ANCHUSA, DAHLIA, WALLFLOWER and MEADOWSWEET.

                                Unless otherwise indicated convoys escorted arrived at destination without losses.

                                Number of ships in each convoy is shown in parenthesis.)

                27th        Ships of Group escorted outbound convoy ON61 (21) from Liverpool.

 

February                Ships of Group detached from ON61 and joined inward Convoy SC66 (29) in NW

                                Approaches.

                9th          Group detached from SC66 on arrival at Liverpool

 

March                    Deployed with Group for Atlantic convoy escort.

                                (Note: Ship may have been deployed with Group for training as no record of escort has

                                been traced for the Group. Some ships may have been under refit.)

 

April                       HM Corvette MONKSHOOD joined Group.

                                (Note: Group joined inward Convoy HX187 (24) at Ocean Meeting Point for escort to UK)

 

May

                8th          HX187 arrived at Liverpool.

                19th        Group escorted outward Convoy ON96 (41) from Liverpool.

 

June                        Detached from ON96 on relief by escort from St Johns, Newfoundland.

                                Ships of Group joined inward Convoy HX193 (31) at Meeting Point for escort to UK.

                19th        Detached from H 193 on arrival at Liverpool.

 

July

                3rd          Ships of Group joined outward Convoy ON108 (37) on departure from Liverpool.

                                Group detached from ON108 on relief.

                                Group joined inward Convoy SC92 (43) in NW Approaches for escort to UK

                31st         Ships of Group detached on arrival of SC92 at Liverpool.

 

August

                5th          Ships of Group escorted outbound Convoy ON119 (32) from Liverpool.

                                Detached from ON119 in NW Approaches.

                                Ships of Group joined inward Convoy HX201 (30) during passage in NW Approaches

                                and escorted to Liverpool.

                14th        Detached on arrival of HX201 at Liverpool.

                22nd       Ships of Group escorted outbound Convoy ON124 (31) from Liverpool.

                                Detached from ON124 and returned to Clyde.

 

September             Ships of Group joined inward Convoy HX206 (45) during passage in NW Approaches.

                18th        Detached from HX206 on arrival at Liverpool. without any losses.

                26th        Ships of Group escorted outbound Convoy ON134 (42) from Liverpool.

 

October                  Detached from ON134 and returned to Clyde during passage in NW Approaches.

                                Passage by ships of Group to join inward Convoy SC105 (50) during passage in NW

                                Approaches and escorted to Liverpool.

                31st         Detached from SC105 on arrival at Liverpool.

 

November              Passage by ships of Group to join inward Convoy HX215 (42) during passage n NW

                                Approaches to Liverpool.

                25th        Detached from HX215 on arrival at Liverpool.

 

December

                3rd          Ships of Group escorted outbound Convoy ON151 (38) from Liverpool.

                                Detached from ON151 during passage in NW Approaches and returned to Clyde.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Passage by ships of Group from Liverpool to join inward Convoy SC114 (31) as

                                escort to Liverpool.

                7th          Detached from SC114 on arrival at Liverpool.

                23rd        Ships of Group escorted outbound Convoy ON162 (58) from Liverpool.

                                Detached from ON162 during passage in NW Approaches and returned to Clyde.

                                (Note: HM Frigate KALE, HM Corvettes BORAGE, HONEYSUCKLE and OXLIP

                                had joined Group.)

 

February                Passage by ships of Group to join inward Convoy SC119 (39) as escort to Liverpool.

                22nd       Detached from SC119 on arrival at Liverpool.

 

March

                4th          Ships of Group escorted outward Convoy ON171 (38) from Liverpool.

                                Detached from ON171 took return passage to Clyde.

                                Deployed with HM Destroyers ROCKINGHAM, WATCHMAN, HMS KALE and

                                three corvettes and took passage to join inward Convoy HX230 (41) as escort for

                                passage to Liverpool

                27th        Sighted by U305 of SEEWOLF U-BOAT Group.

                                See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC

                                (HMSO)

                28th        Under attack in foul weather by U-Boats of SEEWOLF and SEETEUFEL Groups

                                Took part in anti-submarine search operations including us of Direction Finding

                                equipment to locate source of enemy wireless transmissions.

                                (Note: For details of tactics and weapons used in Battle of the Atlantic see SEEK

                                AND STRIKE by W Hackmann and THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by

                                D MacIntyre.)

                29th        Attacks called off by U- Boat Command. See references.

                                (Note: Only one ship was sunk during passage despite the fact that 34 U-Boats had

                                been used. No U-Boat was sunk.)

 

April

                2nd         Detached from HX230 on arrival at Liverpool.

                12th        Deployed with HM Destroyer ROCKINGHAM, HMS KALE and five corvettes of

                                Group and joined outward Convoy ON178 (58) as escort from Liverpool during

                                passage in NW Approaches.

                21st         Under attacks by U415 which sank two ships in convoy and U191 which sank a third.

                                Detached from ON178 and took return passage with ships of Group.

 

May                        Ships of Group deployed for escort of inward Convoy HX236 (46)

                                (Note: This Convoy together with Convoy SC128 (31) had been selected for special attention

                                by U-Boat Command which had deployed 58 U-Boats in the FINK and AMSEL

                                Groups to intercept these ships. See above references.)

                                9th          Detached on arrival of HX236 at Liverpool without loss

                                (Note: The two convoys had been re-routed to avoid the planned enemy dispositions.)

 

June                        Detached from Group for special joint anti-submarine operations with RAF Coastal

to July                    Command in Bay of Biscay to intercept submarines taking passage across this area or

                                using inshore waters to attack Atlantic shipping or return to French Bases.

                                (Note: Sloops of Western Approaches Support Groups were also deployed as well as

                                HM Escort Aircraft Carrier ARCHER and covered by HM Cruisers BERMUDA

                                and GLASGOW for defence against German destroyers.)

                                (See BATTLE OVER THE BAY by N Franks.)

                                Passage to Plymouth.

                                Deployed with HM Canadian Destroyers IROQUOIS, ATHABASKAN, Polish destroyer

                                ORP ORKAN to carry out attacks on submarines

                                (Operations SESLU and MUSKETRY)

 

August                  Resumed Atlantic convoy escort duties with 1st Escort Group

                                (Note: Ships had been transferred for escort of convoys to and from Gibraltar

                                including military convoys in support of allied operations in Italy.

                17th        Deployed with HMS WANDERER, HM Corvette WALLFLOWER as escort for joint

                                convoy OG92/KMS4 during passage to Gibraltar

                22nd       Received warning from Aircraft of presence of submarine in area,

                25th        Took part in rescue of survivors from U523 after sinking by HMS WANDERER and

                                HMS WALLFLOWER in position 42.03N 18.02W.

                                See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and HITLER’S U – BOAT WAR.).

                30th        Detached with escort on arrival at Gibraltar.

 

September             Gibraltar route convoy escort in continuation with Group.

to November

 

December

                15th        Deployed with HM Frigate GLENARM as part of escort for joint Convoy OS62/KMS36

                                during passage to Gibraltar from Liverpool

                22nd       Detached from escort to join US Escort Aircraft Carrier USS CARD which was being

                                deployed with other USN warships to intercept and sink two German Blockade Runners,

                                ORSONO and ALSTERUFER. For details see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR.

                23rd        Under attack by U415 and hit aft by GNAT Acoustic torpedo which destroyed stern structure

                                and disabled ship. Three of ship’s company lost their lives.

                                (Note: U415 was part of BORKUM U-Boat Group ordered to carry out attacks on USS CARD

                                and other ships of Support Group.)

                24th        Heavy gear jettisoned and ship remained afloat.

                25th        Ship’s company transferred to HMS GLENARM before ship was sunk by torpedo from

                                HMS WATCHMAN.

                                (Note: Western Approaches Command Standing Orders required sinking of any escort

                                after damage which prevented operational use, since convoys and their escorts

                                were vulnerable to submarine attacks whilst attempting salvage operations.

                                For details see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR.)

 

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS HURRICANE

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

 

 

 

 

 

21/06/40

02/07/40

HX 052

02/07/40

06/07/40

25/06/40

08/07/40

HX 053

09/07/40

10/07/40

05/08/40

05/08/40

WS 002

07/08/40

08/08/40

10/08/40

10/08/40

ZA

unknown

19/08/40

15/08/40

27/08/40

SC 001

29/08/40

29/08/40

10/09/40

10/09/40

AP 003/1

12/09/40

22/10/40

15/09/40

15/09/40

OB 214

17/09/40

18/09/40

20/09/40

21/09/40

OG 043

25/09/40

03/10/40

10/09/40

26/09/40

SL 047

28/09/40

28/09/40

03/10/40

03/10/40

WS 003A

unknown

27/10/40

13/10/40

13/10/40

OL 007

16/10/40

16/10/40

24/10/40

04/11/40

HX 083

07/11/40

07/11/40

09/11/40

09/11/40

OB 241

12/11/40

14/11/40

14/11/40

27/11/40

HX 087

29/11/40

29/11/40

14/02/41

20/02/41

SLG 001A

22/02/41

22/02/41

19/02/41

08/03/41

HX 110

10/03/41

11/03/41

16/03/41

18/03/41

OB 298

20/03/41

20/03/41

01/03/41

21/03/41

SL 067

26/03/41

26/03/41

31/03/41

31/03/41

OB 304

03/04/41

04/04/41

06/04/41

16/04/41

HX 119A

20/04/41

22/04/41

26/01/42

04/02/42

HX 172

07/02/42

07/02/42

19/02/42

20/02/42

ON 068

03/03/42

09/03/42

12/03/42

16/03/42

SC 074

26/03/42

28/03/42

02/04/42

03/04/42

ON 082

15/04/42

18/04/42

26/04/42

29/04/42

HX 187

07/05/42

08/05/42

19/05/42

22/05/42

ON 096

01/06/42

07/06/42

07/06/42

10/06/42

HX 193

18/06/42

19/06/42

30/06/42

01/07/42

ON 108

12/07/42

18/07/42

17/07/42

19/07/42

SC 092

30/07/42

31/07/42

06/08/42

06/08/42

ON 119

10/08/42

20/08/42

02/08/42

09/08/42

HX 201

13/08/42

14/08/42

22/08/42

25/08/42

ON 124

02/09/42

06/09/42

06/09/42

09/09/42

HX 206

17/09/42

18/09/42

26/09/42

29/09/42

ON 134

10/10/42

17/10/42

11/10/42

17/10/42

SC 105

31/10/42

31/10/42

11/11/42

17/11/42

HX 215

24/11/42

25/11/42

27/11/42

27/11/42

KMF 004

28/11/42

06/12/42

04/03/43

04/03/43

ON 171

18/03/43

23/03/43

18/03/43

24/03/43

HX 230

01/04/43

02/04/43

12/04/43

13/04/43

ON 178

25/04/43

02/05/43

24/04/43

30/04/43

HX 236

09/05/43

09/05/43

24/05/43

25/05/43

ON 186

02/06/43

07/06/43

07/06/43

12/06/43

HX 243

20/06/43

21/06/43

04/07/43

10/07/43

OS 051KM

11/07/43

13/07/43

10/07/43

12/07/43

SL 132MK

16/07/43

17/07/43

23/07/43

23/07/43

MKS 018G

26/07/43

26/07/43

26/07/43

26/07/43

SL 133MK

03/08/43

05/08/43

17/08/43

17/08/43

KMS 024G

30/08/43

30/08/43

04/09/43

04/09/43

MKS 023G

17/09/43

17/09/43

27/09/43

28/09/43

ON 204

08/10/43

15/10/43

11/10/43

15/10/43

SC 144

25/10/43

27/10/43

05/11/43

08/11/43

OS 058KM

18/11/43

18/11/43

18/11/43

18/11/43

KMS 032G

19/11/43

19/11/43

23/11/43

23/11/43

MKS 031G

24/11/43

24/11/43

24/11/43

24/11/43

SL 140MK

06/12/43

07/12/43

14/12/43

20/12/43

SL 142MK

21/12/43

28/12/43

10/12/43

22/12/43

HX 270

22/12/43

26/12/43

16/12/43

23/12/43

ON 216

23/12/43

03/01/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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