Type III
HUNT-Class Escort
Destroyer ordered from Swan Hunter at Wallsend
on
Tyne on 28th July 1940 under the 1940 War
Emergency Programme. The ship was
laid down as Job No J4293 on 23rd June 1941
and launched on 5th March 194.1 as
the first RN ship to bear the name, that of a
fox-hunt in Cumberland. Build was
completed on 10th October 1942. After a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National
Savings campaign this ship was adopted by the
civil community of Cockermouth
in the county of Cumberland.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
NORMANDY
1944 - ATLANTIC 1944-45 - ENGLISH
CHANNEL 1943-44 - NORTH SEA 1945
H e r a l
d i
c D a t a
Badge: On
a Field Red a sun in
splendour Gold, pierced by
a broken spear erect Block.
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 2
October
Contractors trials. and commissioned for
service in 15th Destroyer Flotilla.
10th
Build completion and commenced Acceptance
Trials
Passage to Scapa Flow on completion of trials
and storing.
November
Deployed at Scapa Flow with ships of Home
Fleet to work-up for operational service.
Passage to Plymouth to join Flotilla.
December
Deployed at Plymouth with Flotilla for convoy
defence and patrol in Channel and SW
Approaches.
(Note: Local Escort for initial stage of
passage to Gibraltar and Freetown was provided by
ships based a Plymouth
1 9 4 3
January
Atlantic and coastal convoy escort in SW
Approaches in continuation.
30th
Passage to Clyde with escort for HM Battleship
RENOWN, HM Aircraft carriers FURIOUS
and ILLUSTRIOUS.
February
4th
Arrived in Clyde and took passage to resumed
coastal convoy escort in Channel. and SW
Approaches.
March
Deployed at Plymouth for convoy defence and
patrol.
to
May
June
Embarked stores and equipment for planned
operations in Mediterranean.
Passage from UK to Gibraltar, Casablanca and Malta.
Joined escort for routine Convoy XK9 on return
passage from Gibraltar.
July
Resumed Flotilla duties at Plymouth.
9th
Detached for interception operation with HM
Escort Destroyer WENSLEYDALE and
HM Norwegian Escort Destroyer GLAISDALE
against enemy coastal convoy
10th
In action 45 miles NE of Ushant against escort
of convoy and significant damage.
(Note: Escort comprised minesweepers M9, M10,
M12, M84 and M153.
M153 was sunk by surface gunfire from the
three destroyers.)
Repair arranged at London commercial shipyard
on return to Plymouth.
August
Under repair in London.
(Note: Refit work was also undertaken.)
September
2nd
Carried out post repair trials on completion
of dockyard work.
Passage to Plymouth to resume Flotilla duties.
October
Channel and SW Approaches coastal convoy
escort and patrol in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 4
January
Channel and SW Approaches duties in
continuation.
to
February
March
15th
In action with HM Escort Destroyer BRISSENDEN
against E-Boats attacking Convoy WP492
off Lands End.
(Note: German E-Boat S143 was damaged in this
engagement.)
April
16th
Detached for special duties.
17th
Deployed with HM Escort Destroyer TANATSIDE
and Light Coastal Forces MTB's in support
of minelaying operation by HM Minelaying
Cruiser APOLLO in preparation for the planned
allied landings in Normandy landings
(Operation MAPLE-HOSTILE 23).
19th
Joined HM Escort Destroyers TANATSIDE,
WENSLEYDALE, HM Destroyers HAIDA (RCN),
ASHANTI and
MTB's to cover minelay by HM
Motor Launch ML10 in HOSTILE Series.
(Operation MAPLE - HOSTILE 24).
Detached for support of planned allied
landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE)
(Note: Allocated for duty in Force O of
Western Task Force under overall
US Navy command with HM Escort Destroyers
TANATSIDE and TALYBONT.)
Preparatory exercises were carried out in
Portsmouth and Plymouth command areas
during this period.)
May
Resumed convoy defence and patrol duties.
Detached for support of Normandy landings with
HM Destroyers TANATSIDE
and TALYBONT (Operation NEPTUNE).
For details of naval activities before and
during NEPTUNE see LANDINGS IN NORMANDY.
June 1944, OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and
for information about all ships
taking part D-DAY SHIPS by J de Winser.).
(Note: Allocated for duty with Bombardment
Force C in Force O in Western Task Force under
overall US Navy command..
Force O included US Battleships USS TEXAS and
USS ARKANSAS, HM Cruiser
GLASGOW, two Free French cruisers and US
destroyers.
Bombardment exercises were carried out in NW
Approaches in May but ship may not
then have been attached to Force C.)
June
Deployed with Force O
(Note: Ships of Bombardment Force C
sailed from Belfast after assembly on
completion of
bombardment exercises
4th
Operation delayed 24 hours
Passage to Solent with Bombardment Force C.
5th
Passage to OMAHA Beach Head
6th
Provided naval gunfire support close to
Assault Beach Heads in Western Task Force
Assault
area.
Deployed for defensive patrols to prevent
interference with landings by surface craft or
submarines.
11th
Intercepted E-Boats and which were engaged in
a brief unresolved action off Cap d'Antifer.
27th
Remained in Channel area after termination of
NEPTUNE.
July
Channel deployment in continuation.
7th
In action with HM Escort Destroyer CATTISTOCK,
HM Frigate THORNBOROUGH and Free
French HUNT Class LA COMBATTANTE against
E-Boats attacking ships off Beach Heads.
22nd
Engaged E-Boats S90, S132, S135 and Torpedo
Boat T28 between
Boulogne and Le Havre.
August
Deployed with Flotilla at Plymouth for convoy
defence and patrol in Channel.
21st
In action with HM Destroyers WATCHMAN and
FORESTER in defence of E-Boat attack on
convoy off Beachy Head..
24th
Deployed with HM Frigate RETALICK and Light
Coastal Forces MTB’'s against enemy craft
evacuating French Channel ports.
Sustained slight damage when attacking
evacuation ships between Cap d'Antifer and
Fecamp.
28th
Under attack by unidentified aircraft during
Channel patrol,
20 casualties including 5 killed.
Structural damage forward with some flooding
of compartments.
September
Repair arranged in commercial shipyard at
Barry.
Passage to Bristol Channel.
Taken in hand for repair at Barry.
October
Under repair
Nominated for transferred to 21st Destroyer
Flotilla at Sheerness on completion
November
11th
Carried out post repair trials on completion
and took passage to Sheerness for convoy
defence
and patrol in North Sea
(Note: This deployment was made after increase
enemy activity by minelayers and attacks on
convoys by Schnorkel-fitted U-Boats in Nore
Command.)
December
Deployed for Flotilla duties at Sheerness.
1 9 4 5
January
North Sea convoy defence and interception patrol in continuation.
to
April
May
5th
Grounded and received structural damage to
Keel plates and Asdic Dome.
6th
Taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard
Sheerness.
June
Under repair.
to
August
P
o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS
MELBREAK Paid-off and was reduced to Reserve
status on completion of repair.
Laid up in Reserve at Chatham this ship was
not brought forward for further
service. After attendance at the Coronation
Review in 1953
she was placed on the Disposal List. Sold to
BISCO in 1956 for demolition by T W
Ward at Grays, Essex she
arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard on 22nd
November 1956.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
MELBREAK
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
30/11/42
|
30/11/42
|
KX
007
|
08/12/42
|
08/12/42
|
06/12/42
|
13/12/42
|
MKS
003Y
|
23/12/42
|
23/12/42
|
05/01/43
|
05/01/43
|
PW
274
|
07/01/43
|
07/01/43
|
11/01/43
|
12/01/43
|
PW
277
|
14/01/43
|
14/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
22/01/43
|
WP
283
|
24/01/43
|
24/01/43
|
07/02/43
|
07/02/43
|
WP
291
|
09/02/43
|
09/02/43
|
12/02/43
|
12/02/43
|
PW
293
|
14/02/43
|
14/02/43
|
18/02/43
|
18/02/43
|
PW
296
|
20/02/43
|
20/02/43
|
22/02/43
|
23/02/43
|
PW
298
|
24/02/43
|
24/02/43
|
25/02/43
|
25/02/43
|
WP
300
|
25/02/43
|
27/02/43
|
28/02/43
|
28/02/43
|
PW
301
|
02/03/43
|
02/03/43
|
03/03/43
|
03/03/43
|
WP
303
|
04/03/43
|
05/03/43
|
11/03/43
|
11/03/43
|
WP
307
|
13/03/43
|
13/03/43
|
15/03/43
|
15/03/43
|
WP
309
|
17/03/43
|
17/03/43
|
18/03/43
|
18/03/43
|
PW
310
|
20/03/43
|
20/03/43
|
23/03/43
|
23/03/43
|
WP
313
|
24/03/43
|
25/03/43
|
26/03/43
|
26/03/43
|
PW
314
|
28/03/43
|
28/03/43
|
01/04/43
|
01/04/43
|
WP
317
|
03/04/43
|
03/04/43
|
01/04/43
|
01/04/43
|
PW
317
|
03/04/43
|
03/04/43
|
04/04/43
|
04/04/43
|
WP
319
|
06/04/43
|
06/04/43
|
17/05/43
|
18/05/43
|
PW
340
|
19/05/43
|
19/05/43
|
21/05/43
|
21/05/43
|
PW
342
|
22/05/43
|
23/05/43
|
23/05/43
|
23/05/43
|
PW
343
|
25/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
24/05/43
|
24/05/43
|
WP
344
|
25/05/43
|
26/05/43
|
04/06/43
|
12/06/43
|
OS
049KM
|
13/06/43
|
13/06/43
|
13/06/43
|
13/06/43
|
KMS
016G
|
15/06/43
|
15/06/43
|
22/06/43
|
22/06/43
|
XK
009
|
28/06/43
|
28/06/43
|
05/07/43
|
06/07/43
|
WP
365
|
07/07/43
|
07/07/43
|
17/07/43
|
17/07/43
|
WP
371
|
19/07/43
|
19/07/43
|
27/09/43
|
27/09/43
|
WP
407
|
29/09/43
|
29/09/43
|
08/01/43
|
08/10/43
|
WP
276
|
10/01/43
|
10/01/43
|
26/11/43
|
26/11/43
|
WP
437
|
28/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
06/12/43
|
06/12/43
|
WP
442
|
08/12/43
|
08/12/43
|
14/12/43
|
14/12/43
|
WP
446
|
16/12/43
|
16/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
WP
449
|
22/12/43
|
22/12/43
|
07/01/44
|
07/01/44
|
WP
458
|
08/01/44
|
09/01/44
|
11/01/44
|
11/01/44
|
WP
460
|
13/01/44
|
13/01/44
|
15/01/44
|
15/01/44
|
WP
462
|
16/01/44
|
17/01/44
|
19/01/44
|
19/01/44
|
WP
464
|
21/01/44
|
21/01/44
|
21/01/44
|
21/01/44
|
WP
465
|
22/01/44
|
24/01/44
|
05/02/44
|
05/02/44
|
WP
472
|
07/02/44
|
07/02/44
|
08/02/44
|
09/02/44
|
WP
474
|
10/02/44
|
10/02/44
|
07/03/44
|
07/03/44
|
WP
488
|
08/03/44
|
09/03/44
|
09/03/44
|
09/03/44
|
WP
489
|
10/03/44
|
12/03/44
|
23/03/44
|
24/03/44
|
WP
496
|
25/03/44
|
25/03/44
|
31/03/44
|
31/03/44
|
WP
500
|
02/04/44
|
02/04/44
|
07/04/44
|
07/04/44
|
WP
SP 27
|
09/04/44
|
09/04/44
|
08/05/44
|
08/05/44
|
WP
519
|
10/05/44
|
10/05/44
|
12/01/45
|
12/01/45
|
ON
278
|
15/01/45
|
31/01/45
|
03/01/45
|
15/01/45
|
HX
330
|
17/01/45
|
17/01/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
|