TRIBAL-Class Fleet
Destroyer ordered from John I Thornycroft at Woolston under the 1935 Build Programme
on 10th March 1936. She was laid down on 10th August that year. and launched on 21st December 1937 as the 2nd
RN ship to
carry the name which that of a native of the Sudan. It was introduced for a destroyer built in 1906. This
first ship was seriously damaged in 1916 and the stern
section was joined to the forward part of HM Destroyer ZULU
which also had been damaged. These then formed a new ship
which was renamed HMS ZUBIAN later sold in 1919. The build contract cost was
£339,265, excluding items supplied by the Admiralty such as weapons, ammunition
and wireless equipment. After build completion and Trials in December
1938 the ship went to the Mediterranean and joined
the 1st Tribal Destroyer Flotilla. In January 1942 she
was adopted by the civil community of the county of Pembrokeshire, Wales following a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign. This destroyer
was one of the only four of the sixteen ship
in the Class which survived WW2.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
DOVER PATROL 1914-17 - NORWAY 1940 - CALABRIA 1940 - LIBYA 1940 - MEDITERRANEAN 1941 - SFAX 1941 - MATAPAN 1941 -
GREECE 1941 - CRETE 1941 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941 - SICILY 1943 - SALERNO 1943 - ARCTIC
1944 - BURMA 1944-45
H e r
a l d i c D e t a i l s
Badge: On a Field barry
wavy of six White and Blue the head
of a Nubian in profile.
D e t a i l s o f
P r e - W a r S e r v i c e
1 9 3 8
December
Contractors trials. Commissioned for service in
1st TRIBAL Destroyer Flotilla, Mediterranean
Fleet.
(Note: Flotilla comprised HM Destroyers AFRIDI, COSSACK,
GURKHA, MAORI,
MOHAWK, NUBIAN, SIKH and ZULU.
(Note: Completion of build had been delayed by late delivery
of gunnery equipment.)
7th Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
On completion of
trials and storing took passage to Portland to work-up for operational service.
1 9 3 9
January
14th Took passage
to Gibraltar.
29th Arrived at Gibraltar to take part in Fleet exercises
February
2nd Deployed with
Flotilla and took part in exercises based at Gibraltar.
(Note: These were an annual event with ships of the Home
Fleet.
March Deployed in western Mediterranean with ships of Flotilla after exercises with Home
Fleet ships.
(Note: This may have included Non-intervention patrols to
prevent support of
by sea of Spanish civil war military forces.)
29th Embarked Italian
Prisoners of War being exchanged.
30th Disembarked
passengers at Marseilles.
April Passage to Malta after
an independent visit to St Maxime, French Riviera.
Rejoined
Flotilla in Malta.
May Deployed with Flotilla
and took part in Fleet and Flotilla exercises with visits.
to July
August Passage to Alexandria to
take-up war station with ships of Flotilla.
(Note: Some ships
of Flotilla were visiting Istanbul, Turkey.)
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 Carried out contraband control
duties in eastern Mediterranean to enforce the blockade of
cargoes in
transit by sea to German y.
Nominated for return
to Home waters with ships of Flotilla.
October Passage to Portsmouth.
On arrival
withdrawn from Flotilla duties for repair of machinery defects.
20th Passage in tow to Southampton for
replacement of turbine blades by builders.
November
(Note: Machinery defects of this type were common to TRIBAL Class
destroyers
and caused by excess stresses when steaming at high speed.)
27th Carried out post
repair trials in Channel after completion of repairs.
28th Deployed in
Solent to carry out trials with towed captive balloon.
(Note: This
was to establish value of the use of balloons a deterrent against low
level air attacks and was later adopted for use by minesweepers.
Successful
use ian practice during convoy defence has not
been widely reported.)
On completion
took passage to Rosyth top rejoin Flotilla for Home Fleet duties.
December Deployed in North Sea and NW
Approaches for screening of major warships,
convoy defence
and patrol to intercept ships engaged in minelaying or for
attacks
on convoys
(Note: For
details of naval activities in Home waters see ]Naval Staff History,
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett and THE BATTLE
OF THE EAST
COAST by JP Foynes.)
28th Part of escort
for damaged HM Battleship BARHAM during passage to Liverpool after
being hit by
torpedo from U30 during patrol in NW Approaches.
1 9 4 0
January Flotilla duties in
continuation.
7th Sustained damage
in collision with mercantile at Greenock.
24th Resumed
Flotilla duties in Home Fleet on completion of repairs.
February Took part in Home Fleet
search for German tanker ALTMARK with ships of Flotilla.
(Note:
ALTMARK was known to be on passage to German after deployment
in support of commerce raiding by German
pocket battleship GRAF SPEE
and was believed to be carrying British merchant seaman who had been
captured when their ships were sunk by GRAF SPEE.
HM Destroyers COSSACK, SIKH and ZULU were also deployed and
a
boarding party from HMS COSSACK released the
prisoners in Josing Fjord.
See above references.)
March
2nd Taken in hand
for refit and repair by Hawthorn Leslie shipyard at
Newcastle.
(Note: Work
carried out included repair to structural damage in recent service
during heavy weather which also caused leaks to ships systems.)
April
11th Passage to
Scapa Flow to resume Home Fleet service on completion of pos refit trials.
(Note: Ships
of Homer Fleet were engaged in operations off Norway in support of
planned allied landings. For details see NAVAL OPERATIONS OF THE
CAMPAIGN
IN NORWAY April-June 1940.)
14th Escorted Fleet
Tanker RFA WAR PINDARI from Scapa Flow to Lillijona
15th Embarked troops
from troopships for passage to Namsos.
(Note: See
reference. HM Destroyers AFRIDI and SIKH of Flotilla also ferried troops.)
17th Refuelled from cruiser in Namsen Fjord.
20th Provided anti-aircraft defence at
Namsos
21st Relieved as AA Guardship by HM
Sloop AUCKLAND.
22nd Deployed for patrol in Norwegian
coastal waters to intercept shipping.
(Note: HMS
SIKH of Flotilla was also deployed for this duty.)
Sailed for
Scapa Flow on completion.
24th Returned to Scapa and landed
survivors from HM Trawler RUTLANDSHIRE which had
been lost during
air attacks at Namsos.
25th Passage from Scapa Flow to
resume Home Fleet duties off Norway.
27th Under air attacks.
May
3rd Deployed at Namsos with HM Destroyers KELLY, MAORI, HASTY
and IMPERIAL
to provide
cover during evacuation of allied troops.
Embarked
troops and took passage to UK with HM Cruiser YORK.
(Note: For
details of the disastrous operations off Norway see
THE DOOMED EXPEDITION
by J Adams, NARVIK by D Macintyre, CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton and
above reference.
Under heavy
and sustained air attacks on return passage.
(Note: HMS
AFRIDI of Flotilla and French destroyer BISON were lost.
4th Arrived at Scapa Flow with
evacuation force.
9th Escorted HM Landing Ship
(Infantry) ROYAL SCOTSMAN to Bodo to land
commando
unit.
On return
deployed at Scapa Flow for Home Fleet duties including screening of major
warships.
Pennant
Number for visual signalling changed to G36 .
Nominated for
duty in 14th Destroyer Flotilla in eastern Mediterranean.
(Note: Flotilla comprised HM Destroyers JERVIS, JANUS, JUNO, MOHAWK and
NUBIAN.)
16th Took passage
from Devonport to Alexandria for screening and patrol duties in Mediterranean
23rd Arrived at
Alexandria for Flotilla duties.
(Note: For
details of operations in the Mediterranean see Naval Staff History and THE
BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre.)
June Deployed at
Alexandria with Flotilla.
21st Part of
screen for combined British and French force during bombardment
of shore
installation
at Bardia.
23rd Returned to Alexandria with
bombardment force.
July Flotilla duties in continuation at
Alexandria.
7th Deployed with HM Destroyers
MOHAWK, HERO, HEREWARD and DECOY as screen
for HM
Battleship WARSPITE to provide cover for passage of convoys from Malta to
Egypt
carrying personnel being evacuated from the island/
: 9th Present at Battle of Punta Stilo (Battle of Calabria) with H M Destroyers JUNO, JANUS
and MOHAWK as screen for HMS WARSPITE during brief engagement with Italian
force.
(Note: For
details see Naval Staff History, THE NAVAL WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
by J Greene and A Massignani
and above reference.)
August Nominated with HM
Destroyers MOHAWK, HERO and JANUS for
detached service in
Force H at
Gibraltar to reinforce escort during the transit of HM Aircraft Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS
HM
Battleship VALIANT, HM Cruisers COVENTRY
and CALCUTTA to join the Fleet at
at
Alexandria (Operation HATS).
20th Took passage from Malta to
Gibraltar with HM Destroyers HOSTILE, MOHAWK and HERO.
Detached on
passage and returned to Malta for repair of machinery defect.
(Note: HMS HOSTILE sank after
hitting a mine on 23rd whilst in the Sicilian Narrows.
The survivors were
rescued by the other two ships which returned to Malta..)
26th Passage from
Malta with HM Destroyers MOHAWK, HERO and JANUS to join Force F as
escort for
reinforcement ships .
30th Sailed from
Gibraltar as part of Force F with HM Destroyers GALLANT, GREYHOUND,
GRIFFIN,
HOTSPUR, MOHAWK, HERO and JANUS.
September
2nd Met ships of
Mediterranean Fleet off Pantalleria with ships
detached for HATS and resumed
Flotilla
duties.
Detached
with HMS MOHAWK for patrol in Gulf of Nauphlia during
passage of main fleet
from Malta
to Alexandria.
On release
from patrol escorted convoy MD7 with HMS MOHAWK as screen for HM Cruisers
GLOUCESTER and
LIVERPOOL during passage from Athens to Alexandria
15th Part of screen for Mediterranean Fleet ships covering air attacks
on Benghazi by HM Aircraft
Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS.
17th Detached with
HMS MOHAWK to escort HM Cruiser KENT during bombardment of Bardia.
Came under
air attacks during approach to Bardia.
Took HMS
KENT in tow after that ship was disabled by aircraft torpedo hit.
Speed
restricted to 8 knots.
(Note: 33 casualties in HMS
KENT. Tow was later transferred to HM Netlayer
PROTECTOR
until tug arrived from Alexandria.)
October
8th Deployed with HM Destroyers
DAINTY, DECOY, IMPERIAL, JANUS, JUNO, MOHAWK,
STUART
(RAN), VAMPIRE (RAN), VENDETTA (RAN) as screen for HM Aircraft Carriers
8th ILLUSTRIOUS and EAGLE, HM
Battleships MALAYA, VALIANT, RAMILLIES and
WARSPITE, HM
Cruisers AJAX, LIVERPOOL, GLOUCESTER, ORION, SYDNEY
(RAN) and
YORK as Distant Escort during passage of Convoys MF3 (MW2) to Malta and
MF4 (ME2) to
Egypt from Malta (Operation MB6
12th Under attack
by Italian torpedo boats during escort of convoy to Egypt.
For details
see MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman).
14th Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.
November
6th Deployed with
HM Destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER, HASTY, HAVOCK, HERO,
HEREWARD,
HYPERION, ILEX, JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO and MOHAWK as screen for
HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS MALAYA, HMS RAMILLIES, HMS VALIANT, HMS
WARSPITE,
HMS AJAX, HMS GLOUCESTER, HMS ORION. HMAS SYDNEY
and HMS YORK
to provide Distant Cover for passage of Convoys AN6 to Suda Bay
and Malta
Convoy MW3 (Operation MB6).
9th Remained with
Fleet units to meet HM Battleship BARHAM, HM Cruisers BERWICK
and GLASGOW on passage to join Fleet
at Alexandria as reinforcements
(Operation
COAT).
(Note:
These ships were designated Force F and their passage from Gibraltar had been
covered
by ships of Force H from Gibraltar to the Sicilian Narrows.
See above references for details.
10th With Fleet
units when Force F joined Mediterranean Fleet.
11th Detached with
HMS MOHAWK as destroyer screen for HMS ORION, HMAS SYDNEY
and HMS AJAX
as Force X to carry out attacks on Italian troop convoys in the Straits of
Otranto.
(Note: This
was intended as diversion during the attacks on the Italian Fleet at Taranto
by aircraft from HMS ILLUSTRIOUS (Operation JUDGEMENT)
12th Intercepted convoy of four
mercantiles escorted by the torpedo boat NICOLA FABRIZI
and an
auxiliary cruiser RAMB II. During a brief engagement three of the mercantiles
were sunk
with the other and RAMB II damaged.
14th Returned to Alexandria with
Fleet units.
Deployed for
escort of convoys to and from Greece.
December Flotilla duties with Fleet in
continuation.
(Note:
These included defence of military convoys to Greece (Operation LUSTRE) and
screening of ships carrying out naval gunfire support of military
operations.)
1 9 4 1
January
3rd Escorted HM Cruiser CALCUTTA
with H M Destroyers MOHAWK, DAINTY and
VOYAGER
(RAN) during bombardment of Bardia.
7th Deployed with HM Destroyers
DAINTY, GALLANT, GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN, JERVIS,
JUNO and
MOHAWK as screen for HMS ILLUSTRIOUS., HMS WARSPITE and HMS
VALIANT of
Force A to provide cover for passage of Malta Convoys MW5 ½ ,
ME5½ and ME6
(Operation MC4)
10th On arrival off Malta remained
with Fleet and took passage to meet military convoy taking
tanks and stores from
Gibraltar to the 8th Army in Egypt (Operation EXCESS).
11th Part of screen for Fleet
units during escort of Convoy ME6 and
EXCESS Convoy to
Alexandria.
(Note:
Before arrival of EXCESS convoy off Malta, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS had been
seriously damaged in air attacks by Fliegerkorps
X aircraft and disabled.
For details see
references.)
Under heavy
and sustained air attacks on Fleet units during which HMS
HM Cruiser
SOUTHAMPTON was hit and had to be sunk when fires became out of
control.
HMS GLOUCESTER was damaged by two near misses.
15th Arrived at Alexandria with
Fleet units.
(Note: Loss
of HMS SOUTHAMPTON and the damage to HMS ILLUSTRIOUS which
had been withdrawn from operational use pending repair, the Fleet
operations in
support of Malta convoys were suspended unit HM Aircraft Carrier
FORMIDABLE
arrived as replacement.)
February
21st Deployed with HM Destroyer
MOHAWK as screen for HMS GLOUCESTER and HMS
ORION
during passage to Malta with troops.
22nd Detached from cruisers and
returned to Alexandria.
24th Sailed from Alexandria with HM
Australian Cruiser PERTH and HMS MOHAWK to assist defence
of HM
Monitor TERROR which had been seriously damaged in air attacks and was under
tow.
(Note:
HMS TERROR sank in tow before arrival and ship
returned to Alexandria.)
March Flotilla deployed for
screening and convoy defence in continuation.
(Note:
During this period military convoys taking reinforcement troops and supplies
to Greece were in continuation (Operation LUSTRE)
20th Sailed from Alexandria with HM
Destroyers DEFENDER, DECOY, GREYHOUND,
GRIFFIN, HASTY, HERO,
HEREWARD, HOTSPUR, HAVOCK, ILEX, JERVIS,
JANUS,
JAGUAR and MOHAWK as screen for HMS FORMIDABLE, HMS VALIANT,
HMS
WARSPITE, HMS BARHAM, HMS Cruisers YORK, BONAVENTURE,
GLOUCESTER,
ORION, AJAX and PERTH (RAN) to provide cover for passage of
Convoy MW6
to Malta (Operation MC9)
24th Returned to Alexandria with
Fleet units.
27th Sailed from Alexandria with
destroyers of Mediterranean Fleet Flotillas not already
engaged in
escort of cruisers as Force C for screening of Fleet major units designated
Force A.
(Note:
This deployment followed report of passage of Italian warships in Aegean for
attacks on LUSTRE convoys. Force A included HMS WARSPITE, HMS
VALIANT, HMS BARHAM, HMS FORMIDABLE.)
28th Detached with HMS MOHAWK to
provide visual signalling between cruiser force and
main Fleet units.
Took part
in night engagement with Italian ships (Battle of Cape Matapan).
(Note:
Italian warships included battleship VITTORIO VENETO, nine cruisers
screened
by three destroyer flotillas totalling 17 ships.
For details of this action see above
references and MATAPAN by SW Pack.)
Sank disabled cruiser POLA by torpedoes
with HMS JERVIS.
30th Returned to Alexandria with
Fleet units.
April Nominated with
Flotilla for detached service based at Suda Bay, Crete for attacks
on supply convoys
off North African coast
Passage to
Suda Bay with HMS JERVIS, JANUS, and MOHAWK.
10th Transferred to Malta to form
Malta Strike Force, later designated as Force K
11th Passage to Malta from Suda
Bay.
15th Sailed from Malta with HM
Destroyers JERVIS, JANUS and MOHAWK to intercept
supply
convoy of five mercantiles escorted by three destroyers and reported off Cape
Bon during
air reconnaissance.
16th Took part in night action
against convoy during which all ships in convoy and two of
the escorting destroyers
were sunk. HMS MOHAWK was sunk by a torpedo ,
Rescued
survivors from HMS MOHAWK,
(Note: For
full details see MALTA CONVOYS and Naval Staff History.
The third Italian destroyer was badly damaged but later towed to Italy
for repair.
An Italian hospital ship later rescued over 1,200 survivors from the
Italian convoy
and escorts. Over 3,00 troops had been embarked on the mercantiles.)
17th Returned to Malta for further
service as Malta Strike Force.
19th Deployed with HM Destroyers DIAMOND,
JANUS and JERVIS as escort for Convoy ME7
during
initial stage of passage from Malta to Alexandria.
20th Met Fleet units and took
passage to Alexandria to land MOHAWK survivors.
26th Passage from Alexandria taking
troops to Suda Bay and deployed for patrol on arrival.
27th Joined HM Destroyers HASTY,
Decoy and HM Stores Ship GLENGYLE and took passage to
Rafina. Greece and evacuated 3,500 British and Commonwealth
troops (Operation DEMON).
(Note:
This was the codename for the evacuation of allied troops from Greece during
28th Landed passengers at Suda Bay.
29th Part of escort of Convoy GA14
during passage to Alexandria (Operation DEMON)
Sustained
slight damage in air attacks.
30th Passage to Kalamata,
Greece to evacuate allied troops which was unsuccessful.
May On arrival under
repair and boiler cleaning at Alexandria.
7th Deployed with HM Destroyers
GRIFFIN, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HERO, HOTSPUR,
JERVIS,
JUNO, KANDAHAR, KIMBERLEY, KINGSTON and NIZAM as screen for
HM Aircraft Carrier
FORMIDABLE, HM Battleships BARHAM, VALIANT and WARSPITE
HM Cruisers
ORION, PERTH (RAN) and ABDIEL during provision of Distant Cover for
passage of
Convoys MW7A and MW 7B to Malta (Operation MD4)
(Note: HM
Stores Ship BRECONSHIRE and six mercantiles formed these convoys which
merged on 6th. See above references.)
9th Screen deployment for Fleet
units in continuation during provision of Distant Cover for
passage of
TIGER military convoy in eastern Mediterranean.
(Operation
TIGER – Military convoy taking urgently needed tanks to 8th Army in Egypt.
See
references.)
12th Returned to Alexandria with
Fleet units.
20th Deployed for support of defence
of Crete and part of screen for cruisers.
Part of
destroyer screen for HMS NAIAD and came under failed attack by torpedo boats
21st Deployed for patrols to
intercept invasion craft.
Under air
attacks. Rescued some survivors from HMS JUNO which had been sunk by
Italian
aircraft during interception patrol.
(Note: HMS
JUNO sank very quickly with loss of over 100 of her complement.)
22nd Deployed as part of screen for HM
Cruisers NAIAD and CARLISLE.
Carried out
night attacks on invasion craft on passage south of Milos
to land troops
in Crete.
Under heavy
and sustained air attacks during which the two cruisers were damaged.
26th Deployed with eight other Fleet
destroyers as screen for HMS FORMIDABLE and
HMS BARHAM
and under air attacks.
Hit aft by
bomb and sustained serious structural damage including loss of part of
stern above the waterline. Rudder was
destroyed but propellers undamaged.
Withdrawn
from operations and escorted to Alexandria by HMS JACKAL.
(Note:
Damage prevented normal steering which had to be achieved using main engines
but speed of 22 knots was possible.)
On arrival
taken in hand for temporary repair at Port Tewfik
June Awaiting temporary repair,
July Permanent repair
arranged with HM Dockyard, Bombay.
23rd Temporary repair work commenced.
(Note:
Temporary bulkheads and jury rudder fitted to enable safe passage.)
August Prepared for passage.
10th On completion sailed for Aden
with HM Destroyer ISIS.
(Note: HMS
ISIS was on passage to Singapore for repair)
14th Delayed at Aden to wait for
suitable weather during ocean passage.
September
20th Took passage to Bombay from
Aden.
27th Arrived at Bombay for repair and
refit.
October Paid-off into Dockyard
control and commenced repair work.
to December Work included replacement of
twin 4.7in mounting in Y position by Twin 4in
HA mounting
to improve AA defence. Radar Type 286M was fitted to
provide
warning of approach of land, shipping and limited air warning.
(Note: For
details of development and use of radar by the RN see RADAR
AT SEA by D Howse. Type 286 was a modified RAF
air-surface outfit
but use of fixed aerial units attached to foremast limited its value for
use
on
board ships.)
After funnel and mainmast were modified to improve arcs of fire against
air attacks
Depth charge
throwers were re-positioned.
Four 20mm single Oerlikon mountings were fitted to improve close range
AA defence.
1 9 4 2
January Repair at Bombay in
continuation
to September
October Recommissioned for
service.
Carried
out post repair harbour and sea trials.
Sailed
from Bombay to rejoin 14th Destroyer Flotilla Mediterranean Fleet at
Alexandria.
November
11th Arrived at Port Said and
resumed Flotilla duties with HMS JERVIS, HMS JAVELIN
and HMS
KELVIN.
Nominated for service in Malta for interception of supply convoys.
16th Deployed with HMS JAVELIN, HMS
JERVIS, HMS KELVIN, HMS PALADIN,
HMS
PETARD and HMS PAKENHAM as screen for HM Cruisers EURYALUS
CLEOPATRA, ARETHUSA, DIDO and ORION for escort of Malta Convoy MW13
during passage from
Alexandria.
(Operation STONEAGE – First westbound convoy after siege of Malta was
lifted.
17th Detached with escort from
MW13 on relief by HUNT Class Escort Destroyers and
returned
to Alexandria to refuel.
18th Rejoined MW13 with same Fleet
units and screen.
Under
air attacks during which HMS ARETHUSA was hit by an aircraft torpedo and
sustained major damage with 155 men killed.
(Note:
HMS ARETHUSA returned to Alexandria under tow by HMS PETARD and
escorted
by HMS JERVIS and HMS JAVELIN.)
19th Detached from MW13 when air
cover available from Malta and took passage to
Alexandria with Fleet units.
21st Arrived at Alexandria
28th Passage to Malta with HMS
DIDO, HMS EURYALUS, HMS CLEOPATRA, HMS
JERVIS,
HMS JAVELIN and HMS KELVIN for service as reformed Force K.
December
1st Deployed at Malta with Force
K
4th Joined Malta relief convoy
MW13 from Alexandria with ships of Force K.
as
reinforced escort during passage from Crete area into Malta.
(Operation PORTCULLIS/ MH1)
5th Detached from MW13 with
ships of Force K on arrival in Malta
21st During interception
operation sank mercantile on passage to Tripoli.
1 9 4 3
January Force K Deployment
at Malta in continuation.
6th Carried out interception
patrol between Lampedusa and Kerkenah Bank.
8th Took part in attack on three
schooners off Kuriat with HMS KELVIN.
16th In action with HMS KELVIN
against ss D’ANNUNCIO escorted by Italian
torpedo
boast PERSEO during which the mercantile was sunk and escort damaged.
19th Sank Italian transport
STROMBOLI with HM Destroyer PAKENHAM
and
Greek destroyer VASILISSA OLGA. Ten survivors were rescued.
22nd Carried out bombardment of
withdrawal routes in use by enemy troops
near Zuara, west of Tripoli with HMS CLEOPATRA, HMS EURYALUS,
HMS JERVIS, HMS JAVELIN and HMS
KELVIN.
23rd Took part in further
bombardment with ships of Force K.
29th Embarked 600 RAF personnel
at Benghazi for passage to Malta.
February Deployed with Force K for
escort and patrol duties in central Mediterranean
to March with interception
sweeps off Pantellaria and in Gulf of Hammamet.
April
30th During interception
operation with HMS PALADIN attacked and sank
Italian
transport FAUNA under escort by torpedo boats south of Sicily.
May
3rd Deployed with HMS PALADIN
and HMS PETARD for interception patrol.
4th Attacked and sank Italian
mercantile CAMPOBASS0 which was escorted by
Italian
torpedo boat PERSEO which was also sunk
(Note:
The mercantile was believed to be on passage to Tunis with explosives.).
5th During gunnery exercises hit
by 4in shell the upper deck, killing three ratings.
7th Took part in blockade of Cape
Bon area for interception of craft attempted
passage
during evacuation of enemy forces from North Africa.
(Operation RETRIBUTION with HM Destroyers PALADIN, PETARD and JERVIS.)
8th Carried out bombardment of Keliba with HMS PALADIN and HMS PETARD.
9th Resumed bombardment of Keliba.
25th Nominated for duties in
support of planned attack on Pantellaria with ships of
19th
Destroyer Flotilla comprising HM Destroyers LAFOREY, LOOKOUT,
LOYAL and TARTAR.)
June Deployed with
19th Flotilla in support of CORKSCREW.
10th Escorted HM Cruisers AURORA,
NEWFOUNDLAND, ORION and
PENELOPE with HM Destroyers LAFOREY,
LOOKOUT, LOYAL, JERVIS,
to
cover British landings on Pantellaria.
11th Present at formal surrender
of Pantellaria.
Carried out bombardment of
Lampedusa with other ships.
12th Present at surrender of
Lampedusa
13th Arrived at Linosa with HMS NEWFOUNDLAND and HM Destroyer
TROUBRIDGE and found
island ready to surrender.
Landed
shore party and accepted surrender. Sailed after destruction of AA guns
and
taking 169 of garrison prisoner.
14th Accepted surrender of Lampione.
20th Joined HMS LOOKOUT, JERVIS
and ESKIMO for escort of HM Cruiser AURORA
during
passage from Tripoli to Malta with HM King George VI embarked for visit to
the
island.
July Nominated for
support of planned allied landings in Sicily and preparations
for this service (Operation HUSKY)
10th Deployed with Support
Force East during landings.
For
details see Naval Staff History and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by C Barnett.)
(Note:
British XXX Corps were landed SW of Syracuse.)
Deployed off beach head and later for patrols to provide defence against
any Italian
attempts to
interfere with landings by follow-up convoys.
Carried
out bombardment of Lentini and Carlentini.
On
release from HUSKY support returned to Malta.
17th During air raid on Malta
sustained slight damage but there were seven casualties, four fatal.
August Deployed at
Augusta, Sicily for support of military operations with HMS TARTAR
and HM
Cruiser MAURITIUS.
10th Sustained slight damage
from near misses during air raid.
14th During patrol off Cape
Spartivento with HMS TARTAR
Nominated for support of planned landings at Salerno with ships of
Flotilla.
(Operation AVALANCHE)
Joined
Support Group of Northern Attack Force (Task Force 85).
September
9th Deployed off Salerno with
support Force and provided naval gunfire support during landings.
10th Bombarded shore positions
in support of military advance.
13th Provided naval gunfire
support with HM Cruisers MAURITIUS during enemy
to UGANDA, ORION, AURORA,
US cruisers PHILADELPHIA, and BOISE,
18th Destroyers LOYAL, LOOKOUT,
TARTAR, BRECON, QUANTOCK and
EGGESFORD during counter attack.
Under
air attacks including use of radio-controlled glider-bombs.
See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
and Naval Staff History.
27th Returned to Malta with HMS
LOYAL.
October Deployed at Naples
to augment local AA defence and for support of military operations
November Military support, patrol
and convoy defence off west coast of Italy in continuation.
23rd Carried out bombardment at Minturno.
Nominated for refit in UK and took passage.
December Passage to Tyne.
8th Taken in hand for refit at
Jarrow.
1 9 4 4
January Under refit.
to April (Note: Work included
replacement of foremast by Lattice type to suit installation
of new design warning surface radar to replace Type 286M fitted in
Bombay.
H/F Direction Finding outfit was installed and Fire-Control Radar Type
285
for main armament. Additional Close Range 20mm weapons were fitted
For details of
new weapons see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)
May Nominated for service
with 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet on completion of
work-up at
Scapa Flow
Carried out
harbour trials
10th On completion of dockyard work
carried out post refit sea trials and took passage
join Home Fleet at Scapa
Flow to work-up for operational service
June Based at Scapa Flow
for duties with 10th Flotilla after work-up.
Deployed for
screening and patrol duties but remained at Scapa Flow during the
allied
landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE)
July Home Fleet duties
with Flotilla at Scapa Flow.
to August Deployed with screen for Home
Fleet major warships during provision of cover
for passage of
Russian Convoy JW59 and for air operations against German
battleship
TIRPITZ in Altenfjord and against convoys off
Norwegian coast.
September Home Fleet screening in
continuation
to October (Note: During this period Home
Fleet ships provided cover during passage of
Russian convoy JW61)
November Home Fleet screening duties in
continuation.
14th Deployed with HM Destroyers
CAESAR, VENUS and ZEPHYR as screen for
HM Escort
Aircraft Carrier PURSUER and HM Cruiser EURYALUS during
air operations against targets
at Trondheim.
(Note: German
Patrol Vessel V6413 was sunk in these attacks.
See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY.)
December Transferred to 10th Destroyer Flotilla
and took passage to Plymouth to join
HM Destroyers
ASHANTI. ESKIMO and TARTAR for service in SW
Approaches and
Channel.
Deployed for interception of coastal
traffic and blockade runners as well as
for convoy
defence and anti-submarine patrol.
1 9 4 5
January Plymouth deployment with
Flotilla in continuation.
Nominated for
service with Flotilla in the East Indies and prepared for foreign service.
(Note: HMS
ASHANTI had left the Flotilla.)
Took passage
to Mediterranean with Flotilla.
February Deployed in Mediterranean to
work-up for operations in Indian Ocean.
March Passage to join East Indies Fleet
23rd Arrived at Trincomalee for Fleet
duties and joined by HM Destroyers
PENN and
PALADIN.
April Deployed with Fleet
units in Bay of Bengal for support of military operations.
4th Carried out bombardment of shore
batteries in Arakan during Japanese retreat.
27th Joined Force 63 to provide cover
for landings at Rangoon (Operation BISHOP).
(Note: Force
63 also comprised HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH, French
battleship RICHELIEU,
HM Cruisers CUMBERLAND, SUFFOLK,
CEYLON, Dutch cruiser TROMP, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers SHAH
and EMPRESS, screened by HM Destroyers ROTHERHAM, TARTAR,
VERULAM and PENN.)
May On release from
BISHOP deployed with screen for Force 63 major ships for
offensive
operations in Indian Ocean.
5th Deployed as screen for HM Escort
Carriers HUNTER, STALKER, EMPEROR
and KHEDIVE of
21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron with HM Destroyers VIRAGO
and TARTAR
during a series of air attacks on Japanese bases between Merhui
and Port
Victoria.
9th Returned to Trincomalee with ships
of Force 63.
10th Joined Task Force 61 and 21st
Aircraft Carrier Squadron during sweep in Indian
Ocean for
interception of Japanese naval units sent to evacuate Nicobars
and Andamans,
Deployed as
escort for HM Cruiser ROYALIST with HM Destroyers PENN,
TARTAR and
VERULAM.
For details of
naval operations in the Indian Ocean see WAR WITH JAPAN
(HMSO) and THE
FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton.
14th Remained with Fleet units when 26th
Destroyer Flotilla were detached to
intercept
Japanese warships on passage in Malacca Straits.
(Note: This Flotilla carried out
a brilliantly executed night torpedo attack on
the enemy ships during which the IJN cruiser HAGURO was sunk on
May 16th. See SINK THE HAGURO by J Winton and above references.)
June
5th Deployed with HM Destroyers
TARTAR, ESKIMO, PENN and PALADIN as
Force 65 to
intercept shipping between Nicobars and Sabang.
(Operation
IRREGULAR – see references.)
12th Following report by HM Submarine
trident, intercepted landing ship KUROSHIO
MARU No 2 and submarine chaser
No 57 off Rondo Island 20miles north of
Sabang Island, Sumatra.
Engaged SC57
by surface gunfire which was sunk. Some of the survivors refused
to be
rescued.
(Note:
KUROSHIO MARU was hit by torpedoes from HMS ESKIMO and exploded.)
After leaving the scene came under intermittent air attacks which caused
neither
damage nor casualties.
This was the last surface action by the RN against shipping during WW2.)
July Indian Ocean deployment in Indian Ocean for
Fleet duties in continuation.
Prepared
for planned British landings in Malaya (Operation ZIPPER.)
(Note: This
operation was delayed by American pressure and problems related
to the return of British service personnel from SEAC under the PYTHON
Scheme. Landings were not made until after VJ Day. See references and
the
Final Report by the Supreme Commander SEAC (HMSO).
August
15th Passage with Fleet units
including HM Battleship NELSON to execute ZIPPER.
20th Laid-off Great Nicobar Islands to
await final approval. See THE FORGOTTEN
FLEET.
27th Sailed for Penang.
28th Arrived off Penang
September
2nd At Penang for formal surrender
with HMS NELSON, HM Cruiser CEYLON and
and ships
of East Indies Fleet
8th Sailed from Penang as part of
screen for HMS NELSON and ships of East Indies
Fleet to
beach head area and present during landings.
(Note: For
details of ZIPPER landings see Naval Staff History,)
9th Arrived at Singapore.
12th Present at Formal surrender of
Japanese all Japanese forces in SE Asia.
P
o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS
NUBIAN returned to Trincomalee later in September and was nominated for return
to UK. The ship sailed from
Ceylon the next month and arrived at Portsmouth on 18th November to Pay-off and
reduce to Reserve status. Placed
on the Disposal List in 1948 she was first used for Ship Target trials in Loch
Striven before being sold to BISCO
on 11th June 1949 for demolition by TW Ward. She arrived in tow at the breakers
yard in Briton Ferry on 25th
June to be broken-up. This ship made a distinguished contribution to the war at
sea during WW2. and was awarded
13 Battle Honours, a number equalled by only two other ships, HM Destroyer
JERVIS and HM Cruiser ORION.
On 6th September 1960 the name was reintroduced for an RN warship when given to
a Type 81 General Purpose
Frigate of the new TRIBAL Class when launched at HM Dockyard Portsmouth. This
later ship joined the
Fleet in 1963 and remained on the Active List until 1981. Before her sale in
1983 she was used for harbour
training of Royal Marines at Portsmouth.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS NUBIAN
by Don Kindell
This convoy list has not been cross-checked with the text above
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Date convoy sailed
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Joined convoy as escort
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Convoy No.
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Left convoy
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Date convoy arrived
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07/09/39
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10/09/39
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GREEN 1
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13/09/39
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18/09/39
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22/09/39
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27/09/39
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GREEN 2
|
02/10/39
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02/10/39
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08/12/39
|
10/12/39
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HN 004
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12/12/39
|
12/12/39
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16/12/39
|
16/12/39
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ON 005/1
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19/12/39
|
19/12/39
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21/12/39
|
21/12/39
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HN 005
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24/12/39
|
24/12/39
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29/12/39
|
29/12/39
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ON 006/1
|
01/01/40
|
01/01/40
|
08/02/40
|
10/02/40
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HN 010
|
11/02/40
|
11/02/40
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23/02/40
|
23/02/40
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ON 015/1
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27/02/40
|
27/02/40
|
28/02/40
|
28/02/40
|
HN 015
|
01/03/40
|
01/03/40
|
03/03/40
|
03/03/40
|
ON 017/1
|
07/03/40
|
07/03/40
|
07/03/40
|
07/03/40
|
HN 017
|
10/03/40
|
10/03/40
|
11/03/40
|
11/03/40
|
ON 019/1
|
14/03/40
|
14/03/40
|
14/03/40
|
14/03/40
|
HN 019
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17/03/40
|
17/03/40
|
28/06/40
|
28/06/40
|
AS 001/1
|
02/07/40
|
02/07/40
|
16/11/42
|
16/11/42
|
MW 013
|
20/11/42
|
20/11/42
|
01/12/42
|
04/12/42
|
MW 014
|
05/12/42
|
05/12/42
|
28/12/42
|
01/01/43
|
MW 018
|
02/01/43
|
02/01/43
|
13/01/43
|
13/01/43
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ME 015
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14/01/43
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18/01/43
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06/02/43
|
09/02/43
|
MW 020A
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09/02/43
|
10/02/43
|
17/11/43
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27/11/43
|
MKF 026
|
09/12/43
|
09/12/43
|
15/11/44
|
21/11/44
|
AT 167
|
22/11/44
|
22/11/44
|
22/11/44
|
22/11/44
|
TA 166
|
23/11/44
|
30/11/44
|
02/12/44
|
02/12/44
|
TA 169
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03/12/44
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08/12/44
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(Note on Convoys)
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