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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 MELBREAK (L 73) - Type III, Hunt-class Escort Destroyer including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Melbreak (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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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)

 

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revised 13/8/11
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