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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 KINGSTON (G 64) -  K-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Kingston (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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K-Class Destroyer ordered from JS White at Cowes Isle of Wight under the 1937 Programme and laid down on 6th October 1937. She was launched on 9th January 1939 as the 6th RN ship to carry the name, introduced for a 4th Rate in 1697 and previously used by a hired trawler during WW1. Her Build was completed on 14th September 1939. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK campaign for National Savings in December 1941 this ship was adopted by the civil community of the Borough of Kingston-upon-Thames. Surrey.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

GIBRALTAR 1704 - VELEZ MALAGA 1704  - GASPE 1711 - TOULON 1744 - MINORCA 1756 -  LOUISBERG 1758 - QUIBERON 1759 - ATLANTIC 1939 - NORTH SEA 1939 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941-42  -  SIRTE 1942

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge :  On a Field barry wavy of 6 Blue and White, in pale 3 salmon naiant Proper.

 

 

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             Contractors trials and commissioned for service in 5th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet.

                14th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

                                On completion took passage to Portland to work-up for operational service.

                                Commenced work-up

October

                3rd          Took passage to join Flotilla on completion of work-up

                                Deployed for convoy defence in Channel and off East coast.

                29th        Arrived at Scapa Flow and taken in hand for repair by HM Depot Ship GREENWICH,

                                (Note: In common with other ships of the Class defects were associated with leaks in

                                Reserve Feed Water tanks, due to stresses whilst steaming at speed.

November

                5th          Repair work at Scapa Flow terminated and arranged for attention at commercial shipyard.

                7th          Passage to Leith.

                9th          Under repair.

                19th        Resumed operational service and returned to Scapa Flow for screening of Home Fleet major

                                warships and for anti-submarine patrol.

                29th        Took part in sinking of U35 off Shetlands in position 60.55N 02.47E with HM Destroyers

                                KASHMIR and ICARUS.

 

December              Home Fleet deployment in continuation.

                                (Note: For details of naval activities in Home waters during 1939 see ENGAGE THE

                                ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett and the Naval Staff History.)

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Home Waters convoy defence and patrol with Home Fleet screening in continuation.

to                            (Note: During this period ship continued to experience leaking in water systems and further

February                was arranged at commercial shipyard in Falmouth.)

 

March                    Passage to Falmouth.

                3rd          Taken in hand for repair by Silley Cox & Co.

 

April                       Under repair

                (Note: De-gaussing equipment was fitted and strengthening structure was carried out

                On completion resumed Flotilla duties for convoy defence and patrol in Channel and

                southern North Sea.)

 

May                        Nominated for service in Mediterranean with 14th Destroyer Flotilla based at Alexandria.

                16th        Sailed from Plymouth for Gibraltar.

                                Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to G64

                24th        Arrived at Alexandria

                25th        Transferred to Red Sea for convoy defence with sister destroyers HMS KANDAHAR, HMS

                KHARTOUM and HMS KIMBERLEY.

                (Note: This was part of precautionary moves by CinC Mediterranean in anticipation of the

                entry of Italy into the war with Germany. Italian surface ships and submarines were

                based at Massawa and were a threat to convoys in the Red Sea.)

 

June                        Based at Aden for interception patrol and surveillance.

                10th        After outbreak of war against Italy deployed for convoy defence in Red Sea and Indian Ocean.

                23rd        Took part in sinking of Italian submarine TORRICELLI off Perim Island with HMS

                KANDAHAR, HMS KHARTOUM and HM Sloop SHOREHAM.

                (Note: During this surface gun engagement HMS KHARTOUM was hit by return fire and

                in a subsequent explosion sustained serious damage and major fire which caused

                a magazine to explode and ship sank.)

                28th        Carried out unsuccessful attack on Italian submarine PERLA.

 

July                         Convoy defence and patrol duties based at Aden in continuation.

to August

 

September

                12th        Joined military convoy WS2A off Perim with HMS KANDAHAR, Cruisers HOBART (RAN)

                and COVENTRY as escort during passage in Red Sea.

                (Note: Convoy comprised troopships ANDES, EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA and EMPRESS

                OF CANADA taking troops for service in Middle East.)

                14th        Detached from WS2A in Red Sea when Italian threat became unlikely.

                (Note: WS2A SLOW section was escorted by HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE, HMS KIMBERLEY,

                HMS Sloops AUCKLAND and FLAMINGO which made separate passage in Red Sea.)

 

October                  Aden deployment in continuation.

to November

 

December

                18th        Joined military convoy WS4 off Aden with HM Cruisers CARLISLE and PERTH (RAN),

                HM Sloops INDUS (RIN) and YARRA (RAN) as escort during passage in Red Sea,

                (Note: This was FAST Section of WS4 and comprised troops DUNEDIN STAR,

                MELBOURNE STAR and STIRLING CASTLE.)

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Red Sea deployment in continuation for convoy defence and. interception patrol

to February

 

March

                2nd         Located Italian destroyers PANTERA and TIGRE which were aground inshore to the south

                                of Jeddah. These ships were then scuttled and later destroyed by gunfire and air attacks.

                16th        Deployed with HM Destroyer KANDAHAR, HM Cruisers GLASGOW and CALEDON as

                                escort for HM Armed Boarding Vessels CHAKDINA and CHANTALA during passage to

                                Berbera for landings in British Somaliland. (Operation APPEARANCE).

                17th        Took part in support of landings at Berbera.

 

April                       Nominated for further support of planned military operations in Somali.

                8th          Took part in occupation of Italian Somaliland at Massawa with Force G.

                (Note: Details of ships in Force G to be investigated and date confirmed.)

                Passage to rejoin Flotilla at Alexandria after release from East Indies Station service.

                Deployed with Flotilla for Fleet screening and convoy defence.

                (Note: Service as part of screen during bombardment of positions in Libya to be confirmed)

                25th        Deployed for defence of military convoys to Greece.

                                Diverted for support of evacuation of troops from Greece.

                26th        Took part in evacuation from Raphti and embarked 650 troops for passage to Suda Bay, Crete.

                27th        Returned to Raphti and embarked 640 troops for passage to Suda Bay.

                29th        Assisted in evacuation at Kalamata and embarked 39 troops.

                                Returned to Alexandria for Flotilla duties.

 

May

                4th          Deployed with HM Destroyers GRIFFIN, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HERO, HOTSPUR,

                JERVIS, JUNO, KANDAHAR, KIMBERLEY, NIZAM and NUBIAN as screen for HM

                Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE, HM Battleships BARHAM, VALIANT and WARSPITE,

                HM Cruisers AJAX, ORION, PERTH (RAN), HM Cruiser ABDIEL and HM Supply

                Ship BRECONSHIRE to provide Distant Cover for passage of Convoys MW7A/B during

                passage to Malta in eastern Mediterranean.

                9th          Remained with Mediterranean Fleet units off Malta before providing Distant Cover for

                                military convoy from Gibraltar to Egypt bringing tanks for 8th Army (Operation TIGER).

                12th        Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units after arrival of TIGER convoy in Alexandria.

                20th        Deployed with HM Cruisers NAIAD, PERTH (RAN), CALCUTTA and CARLISLE with

                                HM Destroyers NUBIAN, JUNO and KANDAHAR

                                as Force C for interception of invasion craft on passage to land German troops in Crete.

                21st         In action with Italian Torpedo Boat LUPO which was escorting an invasion convoy.

                Enemy vessel damaged by cruiser 6in shells but hit by return fire causing minor damage

                (Note: Two torpedoes were fired by LUPO without success.

                Ten of caiques under escort by LUPO were sunk. See THE NAVAL WAR IN

                THE MEDITERRANEAN by J Greene and A Massignini.)

                Under unsuccessful night attack by six Italian torpedo boats.

                22nd       Under constant air attacks after dawn

                Force C search for another convoy of 30 caiques was hampered by low speed of HMS CARLISLE

                and planned attack was called off because of heavy expenditure of AA ammunition by cruisers.

                See above reference for details.

                Later with HMS KANDAHAR rescued of survivors from HM Destroyer GREYHOUND

                sunk in air attacks.

                23rd        Deployed with HMS KANDAHAR in search for survivors from HM Cruisers FIJI and

                GLOUCESTER which had been sunk on 22nd in air attacks.

                (Note: 523 survivors from both cruisers were rescued by the destroyers.

                Continuing threat of air attacks had prevented any search after this tragic event. This

                failure has been the subject of much criticism since 1945. See THE BATTLE

                FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre ,CRETE by SW Pack and above

                references for details of operations in defence of Crete.)

                24th        On return to Alexandria taken in hand for repair of action damage

 

June

                16th        Passage to join Mediterranean Fleet ships off Syria.

                17th        Deployed for patrol and naval gunfire support of British military operations against Vichy

                                French in Syria.

                                (Operation EXPORTER.- See RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute for details.)

                23rd        Engaged Vichy French destroyer GUEPARD with HM Cruisers LEANDER and NAIAD,

                HM Destroyers NIZAM (RAN) and JAGUAR.

                (Note: French vessel was able to escape due to her high speed.)

 

July

                2nd         Took part in bombardment of Damour area, Syria with HMAS PERTH.

                                Open release from EXPORTER resumed Flotilla duties at Alexandria and deployed for

                                escort of convoys during passage to and from Cyprus.

                22nd       Deployed with HM Destroyers HASTY, HAVOCK, JACKAL, JAGUAR, JERVIS, KANDAHAR

                KIMBERLEY, NIZAM (RAN) and NUBIAN as screen for HM Battleships VALIANT and

                QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM Cruisers AJAX, NAIAD, CARLISLE, HOBART (RAN), LEANDER,

                NEPTUNE, PHOEBE, ABDIEL and LATONA during cruise by ships of Mediterranean Fleet

                in eastern Mediterranean as a diversion during passage of convoy to Malta from Gibraltar

                (Operation MD5 –part of Operation SUBSTANCE.)

 

August                  Flotilla duties based at Alexandria including support of Tobruk garrison.

 

September             (Note: Ships of Mediterranean Fleet carried out a diversionary cruise in eastern Mediterranean

                between 25th and 27th. Deployment with Flotilla as screen to be confirmed.

                (Operation MD6: Co-incident with Operation HALBERD, Passage of Malta relief

                convoy from Gibraltar.)

 

October                  Flotilla duties based at Alexandria including escort of convoys and transport of troops and

                                stores to Tobruk,

                30th        Aircraft crashed into sea after hitting mast during exercises. All aircrew were killed

 

November

                27th        Passage to Malta with HM Cruisers AJAX and NEPTUNE and HMS KIMBERLEY to

                reinforce Force K. HM Cruisers EURYALUS and NAIAD screened by HM Destroyers

                GRIFFIN and HOTSPUR provided cover for this transit.

                29th        Arrived in Malta for reinforcement of Force K with HMS KIMBERLEY.

                30th        Deployed with HMS AURORA, HMS PENELOPE, HMS AJAX, HMS NEPTUNE and

                                HMS KIMBERLEY for interception of a supply convoy.

 

December

                1st           Took part in attack on convoy off Benghazi with ships of Force K sinking ammunition

                                Ship ADRIATICO.

                2nd         Took part in attack on convoy off Kerkenah Bank with Force K during which Italian

                                destroyer ALVISE DA MOSTA and mercantile MANTOVANI were sunk.

                5th          Sailed from Malta with HM Destroyers KINGSTON and LIVELY, HM Cruisers AJAX and

                                NEPTUNE as escort for HM Supply Ship BRECONSHIRE during passage to meet ships

                                from Alexandria.

                6th          HMS AJAX, HMS NEPTUNE and HMS LIVELY detached and took passage to Malta

                                Remained with HMS KIMBERLEY as escort for HMS BRECONSHIRE to Alexandria.

                7th          HM Cruiser HOBART (RAN) joined but detached later to assist damaged Sloop HMS

                                FLAMINGO off Tobruk.

                8th          Arrived at Alexandria with HMS BRECONSHIRE and HMS KIMBERLEY.

                15th        Joined HM Cruisers CARLISLE, EURYALUS and NAIAD with HM Destroyers DECOY,

                HASTY, HAVOCK, JERVIS, KINGSTON, KIPLING and NIZAM as Force C for escort

                of HMS BRECONSHIRE during passage from Alexandria to meet Force K for escort into

                Malta (Operation MF1)

                17th        Remained with Force C when Italian battle fleet was sighted and HMS BRECONSHIRE

                                detached escorted by HMS DECOY and HMS HAVOCK.

                Took part in brief engagement with Italian warships which withdrew when British destroyers

                approached to deliver torpedo attacks.

                (1st Battle of Sirte. See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, THE BATTLE FOR

                THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre and Naval Staff History.)

                18th        Deployed with Force C during continued search for Italian convoy.

                19th        Returned to Alexandria with Force B.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January

                5th          Deployed with HM Destroyers FOXHOUND, GURKHA, KIPLING and SIKH as screen

                                for HM Cruisers DIDO, EURYALUS and NAIAD as Force B for escort of HM Supply

                                Ship GLENGYLE during passage from Alexandria to Malta and as escort from Malta

                                of the returning HMS BRECONSHIRE (Operation MF2)

                7th          Passage to Alexandria with Force B as escort for HMS BRECONSHIRE.

                (Note: Escort of HMS GLENGYLE was transferred to ships of Force C from Malta.

                HMS HAVOCK joined Force C and HMS SIKH transferred to Force B at meeting

                west of Derna.)

                9th          Detached on arrival of Force B at Alexandria.

                24th        Deployed with HM Destroyers GRIFFIN, KELVIN, KIPLING, JAGUAR, HASTY, ARROW

                and Dutch destroyer ISAAC SWEERS as screen for HM Cruisers CARLISLE, DIDO,

                EURYALUS and NAIAD as Force B to escort supply convoy to Malta and return Convoy

                ME10 from Malta (Operation MF4).

                Took passage from Alexandria with Force B having embarked a company of infantry.

                (Note: HMS BRECONSHIRE was part of this convoy.)

                For details of this and other convoys to Malta in 1942 see above references.)

                26th        Detached from Force B when convoy escorts were exchanged and took passage to Malta

                                as relief for HM destroyer LANCE in Force K.

                27th        Arrived in Malta and nominated for routine docking.

 

February                Deployed at Malta with Force K ships on completion of docking.

                (Note: No record of participation in defence of relief convoy MW9 to Malta which

                failed to arrive and return Convoy ME10 to Egypt which arrived has been found

                (Operation MF5) Ship may have been in dock and not available for Force K

                service as work in HM Dockyard Malta was delayed by the heavy air attacks on Malta. .

                For details of failed passage of convoy MW10 see above references and THE

                NAVAL WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN by J Greene and A Massignani.)

 

March

                10th        Sailed from Malta with HM Cruiser CLEOPATRA to join HM Cruisers NAIAD and

                EURYALUS screened by eight Mediterranean Fleet destroyers which were returning

                to Alexandria after search for Italian cruiser damaged in air attack. See references.

                (Note: Under sustained air attacks which were repelled.

                11th        HMS NAIAD sunk by torpedo from U655

                15th        Returned to Alexandria after cruiser bombardment of Rhodes.

                20th        Joined HM Destroyers JERVIS, KELVIN and KIPLING as screen for HMS CLEOPATRA

                HMS DIDO and HMS EURYALUS as Force B to reinforce escort of Convoy MW10 during

                passage from Alexandria to Malta (Operation MG1)

                (Note This convoy included HMS BRECONSHIRE and three mercantiles.)

                22nd       Convoy joined by ships of Force K from Malta

                Force B ships ordered to remain with MW10 in view of threat of attack by an Italian force

                including battleship LITTORIO, two heavy cruisers and a light cruiser squadron with

                destroyer screens.

                Took part in engagement with Italian ships and whilst turning to take part in torpedo attack

                with the other destroyers hit by 15”shell which pass through ship and then exploded causing

                serious damage with 15 fatalities and 20 others of ships company injured. Three torpedoes

                were fired before ship came to a stop. Withdrew from scene when able to get under way and

                took passage to Malta for repair escorted by HM Destroyer HAVOCK.

                27th        Following survey which established that repair would be lengthy ship was taken in hand by

                                HM Dockyard, Malta

April                       Under repair which was interrupted on a daily basis due to extent of air attacks on dockyard

                                area

                5th          Hit by bomb and sustained additional damage with flooding.

                7th          Sustained further air raid damage.

                11th        Sank in No 4 Dock

                (Note: Further casualties were caused during period under repair with 14 killed and four

                others injured.

                Ship declared a Total Constructive Loss

 

F i n a l   N o t e

 

The hulk of HMS KINGSTON was later towed to St Pauls Bay and sunk at the entrance as a blockship where she remained until 1947 when the wreck was raised and broken-up in Malta. The civil community of Kingston-upon-Thames retained their association with the Royal Navy when they adopted HM Destroyer CHEQUERS in place of this destroyer.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS KINGSTON

by Don Kindell

 

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above 

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

03/10/39

03/10/39

OA 014

06/10/39

06/10/39

15/10/39

15/10/39

OA 020G

17/10/39

17/10/39

05/12/39

08/12/39

ON 004/1

08/12/39

08/12/39

10/12/39

unknown

TC 001

17/12/39

17/12/39

22/12/39

28/12/39

TC 002

30/12/39

30/12/39

30/01/40

05/02/40

TC 003

07/02/40

07/02/40

08/02/40

11/02/40

HN 010

11/02/40

11/02/40

23/06/40

05/07/40

BN 001

10/07/40

12/07/40

10/08/40

17/08/40

BN 003

21/08/40

23/08/40

05/09/40

08/09/40

BS 004

13/09/40

13/09/40

30/08/40

12/09/40

WS 002A

14/09/40

14/09/40

15/09/40

15/09/40

BS 004C

18/09/40

19/09/40

22/08/40

21/09/40

AP 002/1

23/09/40

26/09/40

24/09/40

26/09/40

SW 001

29/09/40

08/10/40

23/09/40

04/10/40

BN 006

09/10/40

11/10/40

11/10/40

13/10/40

BS 006A

15/10/40

15/10/40

10/09/40

20/10/40

AP 003/1

22/10/40

22/10/40

20/10/40

20/10/40

BS 006B

21/10/40

24/10/40

20/10/40

24/10/40

BS 007

27/10/40

28/10/40

25/10/40

03/11/40

BN 008

06/11/40

11/11/40

04/11/40

unknown

BS 008

12/11/40

12/11/40

18/11/40

18/11/40

BN 009

20/11/40

25/11/40

19/11/40

23/11/40

BS 009

26/11/40

26/11/40

30/11/40

30/11/40

BN 009B

02/12/40

04/12/40

30/11/40

unknown

BS 009A

05/12/40

05/12/40

12/12/40

14/12/40

BS 010B

17/12/40

17/12/40

25/12/40

25/12/40

BS 011A

29/12/40

29/12/40

26/01/41

31/01/41

BNF 001

unknown

06/02/41

17/02/41

17/02/41

BN 016

20/02/41

20/02/41

20/02/41

21/02/41

BS 016

unknown

25/02/41

04/03/41

08/03/41

BS 018

unknown

unknown

05/03/41

08/03/41

BN 018

08/03/41

11/03/41

17/03/41

18/03/41

BN 020

21/03/41

25/03/41

20/03/41

02/04/41

BN 022

03/04/41

07/04/41

01/04/41

05/04/41

BS 022

07/04/41

09/04/41

01/02/41

01/02/42

BN 014

03/02/41

03/02/41

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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