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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2004

 

HMS CLEVELAND (L 46) -  Type I, Hunt-class Escort Destroyer including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Cleveland (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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Type I HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Yarrow Shipbuilders at Glasgow as Job No 1835 under the 1939 Programme on 21st March 1939. She was laid down on 7th June 1939 and launched on 24th April 1940 as the 4th ship to carry this name, introduced in 1651. It had previously been used for the Royal Yacht sold in 1716 and for two hired vessels during the Napoleonic Wars. Build was completed on 18th September 1940. Later in March 1942 she was adopted by Middlesbrough in the North Riding of Yorkshire (now in Cleveland) after a successful WARSHIP WEEK campaign for National Savings.

 

B a t t l e      H o n o u rs

 

BASQUE ROADS 1809 - ATLANTIC 1942 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1942 - NORTH SEA 1943 - SICILY 1943 - SALERNO 1943 - SOUTH FRANCE  1944 - AEGEAN 1944 - ADRIATIC 1944

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field per fess wavy Red and Blue, upon a White roundel

a huntsman's cap Black in front of a stirrup Red.

 

 

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

 

September             Contractors trials and commissioned for service in.23rd Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet.

                18th        Build completion and commences Acceptance Trials.

                                On completion of trials and storing took passage to Scapa Flow

 

October                  Worked up for operational service with Home Fleet ships at Scapa Flow.

                                On completion deployed in NW Approaches and North Sea for patrol and convoy escort.

                20th        Rescued survivors from ss CONAKRIAN torpedoed in air attack off Girdleness.

 

November              Transferred to 1st Destroyer Flotilla and took passage to Portsmouth.

                                Deployed for defence of coastal convoys in English Channel.

 

December              Channel convoy defence and patrol in continuation.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Channel deployment in continuation.

to

February

 

March

                22nd       Escorted HM Destroyers INTREPID, ICARUS and IMPULSIVE with HM Escort Destroyers

                                FERNIE and TYNEDALE during minelaying operation between Le Havre and Cherbourg.

                                (Operation JN).

                                (For details of all minelaying activities see Naval Staff History (Mining).

 

April                       Channel deployment in continuation.

 

May                        Transferred to 15th Destroyer Flotilla based at Plymouth for convoy escort and patrol

                                in South West Approaches and English Channel.

                21st         Rescued 10 of crew of Armed Yacht VIVA which had been sunk in an air attack off

                                Trevose Head.

 

June                        Deployment in SW Approaches and Channel in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Convoy defence and patrol In continuation.

 

February

                12th        Deployed without success for interception patrol off Beachy Head during passage of

                                German battleships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU through English Channel.

                23rd        Deployed with HM Escort Destroyer BROCKLESBY to assist HM Escort Destroyers

                                ATHERSTONE and TYNEDALE for escort of Light Coastal Forces craft engaged in a

                                Commando Raid aid at St. Nazaire (Operation CHARIOT).

                                (For details see THE WATERY MAZE by B Fergusson).

                24th        Under air attack after making contact with returning Motor Launches.

 

April                       Channel deployment with Flotilla in continuation.

 

May                        Deployed with HM Escort Destroyer BROCKLESBY as escort for Convoy PW219.

                16th        Destroyed Me109 off Rame Head in defence of convoy.

 

June                        Channel deployment in continuation.

to

August

 

September

                17th        In action against E-Boats whilst escorting Channel convoy off Eddystone Light.

                                Missed by torpedo but sustained 3 casualties in exchange of gunfire. (See addenda)

 

October                  Channel convoy defence in continuation.

                                Nominated for detached service as escort military convoys to Gibraltar prior to planned allied

                                landings in North Africa.

                                (Operation TORCH – For details see Naval Staff History , BRITISH INVASION FLEETS BY

                                J de Winser and RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute)

 

November              Escorted Convoy KMS2 to Gibraltar and returned as escort for Convoy MKF1.

 

December              Resumed duties with Flotilla for coastal convoy escort.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Channel patrol and escort duties in continuation.

 

February

                10th        Damaged in collision and taken in hand for refit in Dundee commercial shipyard.

 

March                    Under refit

 

April                       Nominated for service in Mediterranean.

                26th        On completion of shipyard work carried out post refit trials.

 

May                        Prepared for foreign service.

                                Joined escort for military convoy KMF15/WS30 for passage to Gibraltar.

                                On arrival took passage to Algiers to Join 57 Destroyer Division.

 

June                        Deployed in Western Mediterranean for convoy escort and patrol..

                                Nominated for duty in Support Force East during allied landings in Sicily.

                                (Operation HUSKY – For details see Naval Staff History, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                                CLOSELY by C Barnett and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS.

 

July                         Joined Support Force East as part of Escort Group S

                5th          Deployed at Algiers for escort of military convoy KMS18

                                Rescued survivors from British troop transport DEVIS sunk by U593 in position 90 miles

                                east of Algiers.

                8th          Detached from convoy to refuel and rejoined escort on completion.

                10th        Present during landings and provided naval gunfire support.

                16th        Deployed in BARK WEST landing area

 

August                  Support of military operations and convoy defence in continuation.

                                Nominated for escort duties with Carrier Support Force (Task Force 88) during planned allied

                                landings at Salerno

                                (Operation AVALANCHE - For details see above references).

 

September             Joined Task Force 88.

                12th        Part of destroyer screen of for ships of TF 88 during Salerno landings.

                                Deployed for escort and support duties after assault phase.

                16th        Part of escort for HM Battleship WARSPITE during bombardment.

                                Transferred to 48th Escort Group.

 

October                  Joined Mediterranean HUNT Flotilla based- in Malta.

to                            Deployed for convoy escort and patrol in central Mediterranean.

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Deployment with HUNT Flotilla in continuation.

to

February

 

March                    Transferred to 18th Destroyer Flotilla based in Malta in continuation.

to                            Nominated for escort duty during allied landings in South of France under US Navy overall

July                         command (Operation DRAGOON).

 

August                  Prepared for support and escort during landings.

                9th          Joined HM Escort Destroyers CATTERICK, CALPE, US Minesweepers USS STAFF,

                                USS SWIFT and USS THREAT for escort of Convoy AM1 from Oran.

                10th        Sailed from Oran.

                15th        Detached on arrival of convoy at Lowering Position.

                18th        After release from DRAGOON returned to CinC Mediterranean administration and

                                deployed for defence of convoys.

                                Transferred to 5th Destroyer Flotilla for service with British Aegean Force.

                                Took passage to Alexandria for support of re-occupation of Aegean Islands.

 

September             Deployed as part of escort for aircraft carriers deployed for Aegean operations

 

 

October                  Support of allied Aegean operations in continuation.

                                Provided gunfire support and searched for evacuating craft.

                3rd          In action with HMS CALPE against assault craft off Piscopi, North of Rhodes.

                                Six enemy craft sunk.

                17th        Landed party at Scarpanto.

 

November              Deployed for support of allied operations in Greece (Operation MANNA)

to

December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Eastern Mediterranean support and convoy escort in continuation with Flotilla

to

March

 

April                       Transferred with Flotilla for support of military operation off west coast of Italy.

 

May

                1st           Bombarded shore installations at Genoa with HM Escort Destroyer CHIDDINGFOLD.

                8th          Retained in Mediterranean after VE Day.

 

June                        Support, Escort and patrol duties in continuation

to

August

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS CLEVELAND was nominated for reduction to Reserve after VJ Day and sailed from Gibraltar to Portsmouth on 25th September. After arrival ship Paid-off and reduced to Reserve status. Initially Laid-up in the Reserve Fleet at Portsmouth she later transferred to Cardiff and was placed on the Disposal List in 1956. The ship was sold to BISCO for demolition by E Rees at Llanelli but whilst on passage under tow she went ashore at Rhossilli Sands on the Gower Peninsula and was wrecked. As a result she had to broken up in situ. Her Demolition was not completed until December 1959 and the nett sum recovered from the insurers was £11,900 (see below).

 

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS CLEVELAND

by Don Kindell

 

(These convoys have not been cross-checked with the above text)

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

27/03/42

27/03/42

PW 132

29/03/42

29/03/42

01/04/42

01/04/42

WP 135

03/04/42

03/04/42

08/04/42

08/04/42

PW 137

09/04/42

09/04/42

10/04/42

10/04/42

WP 139

12/04/42

12/04/42

13/04/42

13/04/42

PW 140

14/04/42

15/04/42

17/04/42

18/04/42

PW 142

19/04/42

19/04/42

20/04/42

20/04/42

WP 144

22/04/42

22/04/42

23/04/42

23/04/42

PW 145

25/04/42

25/04/42

27/04/42

27/04/42

PW 147

29/04/42

29/04/42

30/04/42

30/04/42

WP 149

02/05/42

02/05/42

02/07/42

03/07/42

PW 180

04/07/42

04/07/42

05/07/42

05/07/42

WP 182

07/07/42

07/07/42

08/07/42

08/07/42

PW 183

09/07/42

10/07/42

12/07/42

12/07/42

PW 185

14/07/42

14/07/42

15/07/42

15/07/42

WP 187

17/07/42

17/07/42

18/07/42

18/07/42

PW 188

20/07/42

20/07/42

21/07/42

21/07/42

WP 190

23/07/42

23/07/42

26/07/42

26/07/42

PW 192

28/07/42

28/07/42

29/07/42

29/07/42

WP 194

31/07/42

31/07/42

02/10/42

02/10/42

WP 227

06/10/42

06/10/42

03/10/42

04/10/42

PW 227

05/10/42

07/10/42

24/10/42

24/10/42

WP 238

27/10/42

27/10/42

12/11/42

12/11/42

MKF 001X

16/11/42

19/11/42

21/11/42

21/11/42

WP 252

22/11/42

23/11/42

25/11/42

25/11/42

WP 254

27/11/42

27/11/42

28/11/42

28/11/42

PW 255

30/11/42

30/11/42

01/12/42

01/12/42

WP 257

03/12/42

03/12/42

22/12/42

23/12/42

PW 267

24/12/42

24/12/42

25/12/42

25/12/42

WP 269

27/12/42

27/12/42

31/12/42

01/01/43

WP 272

02/01/43

02/01/43

03/01/43

03/01/43

PW 273

05/01/43

05/01/43

07/01/43

07/01/43

PW 275

09/01/43

09/01/43

10/01/43

10/01/43

WP 277

11/01/43

12/01/43

14/01/43

14/01/43

PW 278

16/01/43

16/01/43

16/01/43

16/01/43

WP 280

17/01/43

18/01/43

18/01/43

19/01/43

WP 281

20/01/43

20/01/43

19/05/43

25/05/43

KMF 015

28/05/43

27/05/43

08/06/43

08/06/43

GTX 002

14/06/43

19/06/43

30/06/43

30/06/43

KMS 017

02/07/43

06/07/43

24/06/43

09/07/43

KMS 018B

10/07/43

10/07/43

10/07/43

10/07/43

MKF 018

17/07/43

23/07/43

14/07/43

14/07/43

KMF 019Y

unknown

unknown

20/07/43

20/07/43

MKF 019Y

23/07/43

23/07/43

14/07/43

21/07/43

MKF 019

23/07/43

30/07/43

12/07/43

07/08/43

UGS 012

09/08/43

10/08/43

29/07/43

07/08/43

KMS 021

09/08/43

10/08/43

15/08/43

16/08/43

MKS 022

25/08/43

25/08/43

07/10/43

07/10/43

NSF 005

10/10/43

10/10/43

16/10/43

25/10/43

KMF 025

29/10/43

30/10/43

02/11/43

03/11/43

XIF 003

06/11/43

06/11/43

31/10/43

12/11/43

MKF 025A

14/11/43

24/11/43

15/11/43

25/11/43

KMF 026

30/11/43

30/11/43

16/12/43

18/12/43

MKF 027

20/12/43

04/01/44

23/03/44

23/03/44

NSF 018

27/03/44

27/03/44

28/03/44

28/03/44

SNF 018

31/03/44

31/03/44

29/03/44

05/04/44

KMF 030

12/04/44

12/04/44

15/04/44

15/04/44

XIF 013

unknown

20/04/44

21/04/44

unknown

IXF 013

unknown

25/04/44

29/04/44

29/04/44

XIF 014

04/05/44

04/05/44

05/05/44

unknown

IXF 014

unknown

09/05/44

15/05/44

15/05/44

MKF 031

22/05/44

29/05/44

24/05/44

24/05/44

NSF 023

27/05/44

27/05/44

28/05/44

28/05/44

SNF 023

31/05/44

31/05/44

11/06/44

21/06/44

KMF 032

24/06/44

24/06/44

04/07/44

unknown

IXF 017

unknown

08/07/44

12/07/44

13/07/44

XIF 018

18/07/44

18/07/44

18/07/44

18/07/44

IXF 018

22/07/44

22/07/44

28/07/44

28/07/44

MKF 033

04/08/44

11/08/44

18/07/44

30/07/44

KMF 033

31/07/44

31/07/44

10/08/44

10/08/44

AM 001

15/08/44

15/08/44

24/08/44

01/09/44

KMF 034

07/09/44

07/09/44

10/09/44

11/09/44

XIF 021

15/09/44

15/09/44

16/09/44

16/09/44

IXF 021

20/09/44

20/09/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 


 

SERVICE ON HMS CLEVELAND, 1942-43

by Ronald Davies (rdavies@zid.com)

Ron served on HMS CLEVELAND 1942-1943, and would like to know if there are any other men still living that served on her at that time.  "I left her in April 1943 (after we escorted the DASHER and BITER from the Mediterranean - Note: believed in November 1942). I was a signalman and was one of the three men that was wounded on the night of the 17/18  September 1942. Hope to hear from you." (February 2008)

 


 

END OF HMS CLEVELAND

with thanks to Robert Ephgrave, National Coastwatch Institution, Rhossili Gower (31 Aug 2011)

1957 – The Cleveland was a (Type 1) Hunt Class Destroyer on her way to be broken up at the scrapyard in Llanelli.   On 28th June she parted her tow off Burry Holms and went ashore at Diles Lake where she stuck fast.   Efforts to refloat her failed and she remained on the beach for several months as a great tourist attraction.   Several members of Coastwatch  remember, as youngsters, being taken to see her. David Evans, then 13 years old, remembers going (illegally) on board. (Ref. 008)

20 November 2009: Many thanks to Roger Winser who has submitted this photo. "I thought you would like to share this photograph with your colleagues who remember seeing this ex-RN escort destroyer aground in 1957. I took this photograph with my Brownie camera in early July 1957."

This photo appeared in the South Wales Evening Post on the 1st July 1985.

 

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