Type I HUNT-Class Escort Destroyer
(but see Addendum)
ordered from Cammell
Laird at Birkenhead under the 1939 War Emergency Programs on 4th September
1939. She was laid down as Job 3561on 18th November 1939 and launched on 30th
September 1940 as the first RN warship to bear the
Name Build was completed on 9th April 1941. After a successful WARSHIP
WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 this destroyer was
adopted by the civil community of Belper, Derbyshire.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ENGLISH CHANNEL 1942-43 - DIEPPE 1942 - SICILY 1943 - SALERNO 1943
- ATLANTIC 1943 - ADRIATIC
1944
H e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge: On a Field
Red, a buckle Gold.
(Navy Photos)
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 1
March
Contractors trials
April Commissioned for service in 15th Destroyer Flotilla.
9th Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials
On completion of trials and storing took passage
to Scapa Flow.
May Work-up with ships of Home Fleet in continuation.
June Joined 15th Destroyer Flotilla at Portsmouth for
escort of coastal convoys.
July Channel coastal convoy escort and patrol in
continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 2
January
Convoy defence and patrol based at Portsmouth in continuation.
to
February
March
20th In action with aircraft attacking convoy off Trevose Head.
28th Deployed with HM Escort Destroyer CLEVELAND to reinforce escort of
craft engaged
in St. Nazaire raid (Operation CHARIOT).
(For details see BATTLE OF THE NARROW SEAS by
Peter Scott, THE WATERY MAZE
by B Fergusson and Naval Staff History.).
29th Under air attack with HM Escort Destroyers ATHERSTONE and TYNEDALE
whilst assisting
the return of HM Motor Torpedo Boat 314, HM
Motor Launches 270 and 446 from St. Nazaire.
April Resumed Flotilla duties at Portsmouth for Channel
coastal convoy escort and patrol..
May Convoy escort and patrol duty in continuation.
to July
August
Nominated for support of Dieppe raid as escort for Group 4 of Raiding Force and
took part in
preparatory exercises. (Operation JUBILEE)
18th Passage to Dieppe with Polish destroyer as escort for Group 4 with
Polish Destroyer SLAZAK.
19th
Under fire from shore batteries whilst supporting
landings on GREEK Beach at
Pourville and
sustained damage.
Rescued 23 survivors from German Trawler UJ1404.
For details above references Naval Staff
History).
20th Passage to Portsmouth covering return of curving craft.
21st Taken In hand for repair to action damage by HM Dockyard,
Portsmouth.
September
Under repair.
October
On completion resumed duties with Flotilla.
11th Formed part of Force B deployed in Channel Islands area to prevent
passage of German
raider
KOMET into the Atlantic.
Joined MTB's which had intercepted and sunk this
ship.
Engaged escort of
KOMET but came under
shore battery fire and forced to retire.
Resumed coastal convoy and offensive patrol duty
on release from interception operation
November
1st In action with escort of coastal convoy in Channel.
December
12th In action with HM Escort Destroyer ESKDALE against coastal convoy
off
Dieppe.
Sustained slight damage.
(For details of Channel operations see HOLD THE
NARROW 3SA by P Smith).
14th Under repair to action damage.
20th Deployed on coastal convoy escort and patrol duty in Channel.
1 9 4 3
January
Channel duties in continuation.
Nominated for transfer to Mediterranean.
February
Passage to Gibraltar to join Destroyer Division 57 in Mediterranean for convoy
defence.
March
Deployed in western Mediterranean and Gibraltar area for convoy escort.
to
May
June Part of escort for troop convoy KMF15.duringpassage
into Gibraltar.
July Nominated for support duty during Sicily landings
in Escort Group U with Support Force East for
British Assault Area (Operation HUSKY.
Passage to Algiers for HUSKY
7th Sailed from Algiers as escort for assault convoy.
8th Detached from escort and took passage to Malta
Transferred to Escort Group U.
(Note: Other ships in Group included HM Escort
Destroyers BLANKNEY, BLENCATHRA,
BRECON and BRISSENDEN.
9th Deployed with escort for Convoy SBF2 to BARK SOUTH area
12th Embarked Admiral Sir Bertram Ramsay (Naval Commander of British
Group) .General
Dwight Eisenhower (Supreme Commander of Allied
Forces) and General Bernard L.
Montgomery (Commander of British Land Forces) to
visit beach heads.
.
(For details see
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett, Naval Staff
History and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de
Winser).
16th Deployed for gunfire support and patrol off beaches.
August
HUSKY support in continuation.
11th Deployed as escort for HM Monitor ROBERTS during bombardment of
railway and road targets
at
Taormina.
22nd In action against B- Boats attacking shipping off Ancona.
25th Nominated for support of planned landings at Salerno with ships of
21at Flotilla.
Prepared for Salerno
Landing with Flotilla (Operation AVALANCHE)
(Note: Other ships deployed for AVALANCHE
included HM Escort Destroyers MENDIP
TETCOTT,
DULVERTON, BELVOIR., QUANTOCK, BLACKMORE, BRECON,
BEAUFORT, EXMOOR, BLANKNEY and
Greek destroyer PINDOS of
21st Destroyer
Flotilla.
September
Passage to Tripoli from Malta for convoy escort.
5th Deployed with escort for assault convoy TSM1 during passage to
Salerno.
(For details of AVALANCHE see above references).
9th Detached from TSM1 on arrival and deployed for gunfire support and
patrol in area.
10th Deployed on convoy escort and patrol during build-up phase.
October
Transferred to Adriatic for convoy escort and patrol duties.
(Note: Deployment also included support of
partisan operations, landing covert missions and
providing gunfire
support against shore
targets.
For details of Adriatic operations see THE LAST
DESTROYER by FA Mason).
November
Adriatic support, patrol end convoy escort in continuation.
14th Bombarded
harbour installations at
Bar, south of Dubrovnik in Adriatic with HM Escort
Destroyer WHEATLAND.
December
Adriatic deployment In continuation.
3rd Bombarded
E-Boat Base on
Lussinpicolo Island with HMS QUANTOCK and HMS WILTON
1 9 4 4
January Adriatic deployment in
continuation
to (Note: This included
supported of
Partisan operations. landing of agents and supply of weapons.
December as
well as convoy escort interception patrols against E-Boats.
1 9 4 5
January
Adriatic deployments in continuation.
Nominated for transfer to 16th Destroyer
Flotilla based at Harwich.
February
5th Sailed for UK with HMS WILTON and HMS QUANTOCK.
12th Joined Flotilla for defence of coastal convoys against increased
threat of new
Schnorkel-fitted
submarines.
(For details of U-Boat activities in 1945 see
SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann,
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and HOLD THE
NARROW SEA).
April Deployed in North Sea and Channel for escort and
patrol against minelaying by E-Boats
and submarines.
May Channel and North Sea deployment in continuation.
6th Deployed in support of re-occupation operations.
14th Passage to Cuxhaven with HMS SOUTHDOWN.
(Note: Later visited Wilhelmshaven)
June Nominated for duty as Air Target Ship and converted
by HM Dockyard Portsmouth.
to On completion based at Rosyth and stationed in
North Sea for training of air crew in
August
procedures for attacks on shipping.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS BROCKLESBY was Paid-off
and reduced to Reserve at Portsmouth on 1st May 1946. She was the laid-up there until 1951 when brought
forward for refit and conversion for use a Sonar trials ship at Portland. After completion the ship
joined the 2nd Training Squadron and served for research and development trials attached to the Underwater
Weapons Establishment. This ship again Paid-off in June 1963 and was the last
of the HUNT Class to be scrapped. Sold to BISCO for demolition
by Shipbreaking Industries on 21st October 1968 she
arrived in tow at Faslane for breaking up on 28th
October 1968.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS BROCKLESBY
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
15/03/42
|
15/03/42
|
PW 126
|
17/03/42
|
17/03/42
|
19/03/42
|
19/03/42
|
PW 128
|
21/03/42
|
21/03/42
|
22/03/42
|
22/03/42
|
WP 130
|
24/03/42
|
24/03/42
|
25/03/42
|
25/03/42
|
PW 131
|
27/03/42
|
27/03/42
|
08/04/42
|
08/04/42
|
PW 138
|
10/04/42
|
10/04/42
|
12/04/42
|
12/04/42
|
WP 140
|
14/04/42
|
14/04/42
|
15/04/42
|
15/04/42
|
PW 141
|
17/04/42
|
17/04/42
|
22/04/42
|
22/04/42
|
WP 145
|
24/04/42
|
24/04/42
|
25/04/42
|
25/04/42
|
PW 146
|
27/04/42
|
27/04/42
|
17/05/42
|
17/05/42
|
PW 157
|
19/05/42
|
19/05/42
|
22/05/42
|
22/05/42
|
WP 160
|
24/05/42
|
24/05/42
|
27/05/42
|
27/05/42
|
PW 162
|
29/05/42
|
29/05/42
|
30/05/42
|
30/05/42
|
WP 164
|
01/06/42
|
01/06/42
|
06/06/42
|
06/06/42
|
PW 167
|
08/06/42
|
08/06/42
|
12/06/42
|
12/06/42
|
PW 170
|
14/06/42
|
14/06/42
|
24/06/42
|
24/06/42
|
PW 176
|
26/06/42
|
26/06/42
|
27/06/42
|
27/06/42
|
WP 178
|
29/06/42
|
29/06/42
|
30/06/42
|
30/06/42
|
PW 179
|
01/07/42
|
02/07/42
|
04/07/42
|
04/07/42
|
PW 181
|
06/07/42
|
06/07/42
|
07/07/42
|
07/07/42
|
WP 183
|
09/07/42
|
09/07/42
|
14/07/42
|
14/07/42
|
PW 186
|
16/07/42
|
16/07/42
|
17/07/42
|
17/07/42
|
WP 188
|
19/07/42
|
19/07/42
|
27/07/42
|
27/07/42
|
WP 193
|
29/07/42
|
29/07/42
|
17/10/42
|
17/10/42
|
PW 234
|
20/10/42
|
20/10/42
|
22/10/42
|
22/10/42
|
WP 237
|
24/10/42
|
24/10/42
|
28/10/42
|
28/10/42
|
WP 240
|
31/10/42
|
31/10/42
|
02/11/42
|
02/11/42
|
PW 242
|
05/11/42
|
05/11/42
|
07/11/42
|
07/11/42
|
WP 245
|
10/11/42
|
10/11/42
|
13/11/42
|
13/11/42
|
WP 248
|
15/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
30/11/42
|
01/12/42
|
PW 256
|
02/12/42
|
02/12/42
|
03/12/42
|
03/12/42
|
WP 258
|
05/12/42
|
05/12/42
|
06/12/42
|
06/12/42
|
PW 259
|
07/12/42
|
08/12/42
|
31/12/42
|
01/01/43
|
WP 272
|
02/01/43
|
02/01/43
|
14/02/43
|
22/02/43
|
OS 043
|
23/02/43
|
04/03/43
|
26/02/43
|
26/02/43
|
TE 016
|
01/03/43
|
01/03/43
|
04/03/43
|
04/03/43
|
MKS 009
|
08/03/43
|
18/03/43
|
16/03/43
|
16/03/43
|
TE 019
|
20/03/43
|
20/03/43
|
23/03/43
|
23/03/43
|
MKS 010
|
27/03/43
|
05/04/43
|
31/03/43
|
12/04/43
|
KMS 012G
|
15/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
19/03/43
|
13/04/43
|
UGS 006A
|
13/04/43
|
13/04/43
|
15/04/43
|
17/04/43
|
ET 018
|
20/04/43
|
20/04/43
|
19/04/42
|
19/04/43
|
PW 143
|
21/04/42
|
21/04/42
|
24/04/43
|
24/04/43
|
KMS 013G
|
26/04/43
|
26/04/43
|
26/04/43
|
26/04/43
|
KMS 013
|
29/04/43
|
29/04/43
|
09/05/43
|
09/05/43
|
GUS 007
|
11/05/43
|
26/05/43
|
22/05/43
|
22/05/43
|
GUS 007A
|
23/05/43
|
08/06/43
|
29/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
KMS 015G
|
30/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
31/05/43
|
31/05/43
|
KMS 015
|
08/06/43
|
14/06/43
|
14/05/43
|
01/06/43
|
UGS 008A
|
08/06/43
|
08/06/43
|
03/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
XTG 001
|
17/06/43
|
17/06/43
|
21/06/43
|
25/06/43
|
GTX 003
|
unknown
|
04/07/43
|
29/06/43
|
29/06/43
|
MKS 016A
|
06/07/43
|
09/07/43
|
28/06/43
|
07/07/43
|
KMF 018
|
unknown
|
11/07/43
|
25/11/43
|
25/11/43
|
VN 010
|
27/11/43
|
27/11/43
|
03/01/44
|
03/01/44
|
VN 014A
|
04/01/44
|
04/01/44
|
10/01/44
|
10/01/44
|
VN 015
|
11/01/44
|
11/01/44
|
24/01/44
|
24/01/44
|
VN 017
|
25/01/44
|
25/01/44
|
04/02/44
|
04/02/44
|
VN 019
|
06/02/44
|
06/02/44
|
09/03/44
|
09/03/44
|
VN 026
|
10/03/44
|
10/03/44
|
18/03/44
|
18/03/44
|
VN 028
|
19/03/44
|
19/03/44
|
28/03/44
|
28/03/44
|
VN 030
|
29/03/44
|
29/03/44
|
07/04/44
|
07/04/44
|
VN 032
|
08/04/44
|
08/04/44
|
07/05/44
|
07/05/44
|
VN 038
|
08/05/44
|
08/05/44
|
17/05/44
|
17/05/44
|
VN 040
|
18/05/44
|
18/05/44
|
31/05/44
|
31/05/44
|
VN 043
|
01/06/44
|
01/06/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)
(Editors Notes:
1. HMS BLENCATHRA, BROCKLESBY and LIDDESDALE are usually
found grouped together. BLENCATHRA was listed as a Type I by Lt Cdr Mason,
and the other two as Type II's, but have since been changed to Type I's.
2. "Conways All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-46" lists the
three as Type I; Lenton's "British and Empire Warships of the Second World
War" includes them in the Type I section but prefaces their names with Type
II, and then lists their details under Type II!)
HMS BLENCATHRA,
BROCKLESBY and LIDDESDALE
- "ONE-OFF" TYPE II HUNTs?
by Jon Summers
Blencathra (Cammel Laird),
Brocklesby (Cammel Laird) and Liddesdale (VA, Tyne) were all Type II Hunts, and
were among the earlier builds, so the "two mount" layout in these ships is
possibly either a "left over" from the Type I layout or the result of supply
problems - one of the three mounts intended to be fitted on the Type I in the
original Admiralty design was removed by the time the Type I's entered service,
due to stability problems. The "beamier" hull of the Type II was no doubt part
of the response to this problem. After the bulk of the Type II's had been
completed with three 4in mounts, the Type III Hunts then returned to a "two
mount" layout, but this is rather later, so is presumably a separate development
(to enable them to carry a pair of torpedo tubes, not fitted in the earlier
Types).
As for BLENCATHRA:
Hull dimensions were those of the slightly beamier Type
II:
(Type I, 264.25 (pp), 280 (oa) x 29 x 7.75')
(Type II, 264.25 (pp), 282.5 (oa) x 31.5 x 7.75')
However, she is listed as having the Type I main
armament:
(Type I, 2 x twin 4"; Type II, 3 x twin 4").
The lack of a third turret reduced her standard
displacement to 1,000 tons
(Type I, 907 tons; Type II, 1,050 tons)
and also reduced standard complement to 146
(Type I, 146; Type II, 168)
(above data from Lenton & Colledge, "Warships of World
War II")
The evolution of the Hunt class:
1939 Estimates (ordered circa Mar/Apr 1939) - All Type
I Hunts
1939 War Programme (ordered circa Sep 1939) - All Type
II Hunts
1940 War Programme - All Type III Hunts
The two Type IV Hunts (to the Thornycroft design)
The date ordered in your records fits in with the above
scheme, and your records also state she was built under the "1939 War Emergency
Programme", all this again making her a Type II.