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British C and D-classdestroyers

ContentsArticlesOverview 1

C and D class destroyer 1

C-class destroyers 9

HMS Kempenfelt 9HMS Comet 16HMS Crescent 22HMS Crusader 26HMS Cygnet 31

D-class destroyers 37

HMS Duncan 37HMS Dainty 42HMS Daring 46HMS Decoy 49HMS Defender 54HMS Delight 59HMS Diamond 62HMS Diana 66HMS Duchess 70

ReferencesArticle Sources and Contributors 73Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors 74

Article LicensesLicense 75

1

Overview

C and D class destroyer

Duncan with wartime modifications Class overview

Name: C and D

Operators:  Royal Navy Royal Canadian Navy

Preceded by: B class

Succeeded by: E and F class

Subclasses: C, D

Built: 1930–33

In commission: 1932–45

Planned: 14

Completed: 14

Lost: 10

General characteristics (HMS Dainty as built)

Type: Destroyer

Displacement: 1375 long tons (1397 t) (standard)1890 long tons (1920 t) (deep)

Length: 329 ft (100.3 m) o/a

Beam: 33 ft (10.1 m)

Draught: 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m)

Installed power: 36000 shp (27000 kW)

Propulsion: 2 × shafts2 × Parsons geared steam turbines3 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)

C and D class destroyer 2

Range: 5870 nmi (10870 km; 6760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)

Complement: 145

Sensors andprocessing systems:

ASDIC

Armament: 4 × 1 – QF 4.7-inch Mk IX guns1 × 1 – QF 3-inch anti-aircraft gun2 × 4 – QF .5-inchVickers Mk III anti-aircraft machine guns2 × 4 – 21-inch torpedo tubes20 × depth charges, 1 rail and 2 throwers

The C and D class was a group of 14 destroyers built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. As in previous years, itwas originally intended to order a complete flotilla comprising eight destroyers—plus a flotilla leader as the ninthunit—in each year. However, only four ships—plus a leader—were ordered under the 1929–30 Programme as the Cclass. The other four ships planned for the C class were never ordered as an economy measure and disarmamentgesture by the Labour government of Ramsay Macdonald. A complete flotilla—the 'D' class—was ordered under the1930–31 Programme.The five ships of the C class were assigned to Home Fleet upon their completion, although they reinforced theMediterranean Fleet during the Italian invasion of Abyssinia of 1935–36 and enforced the Non-InterventionAgreement during the Spanish Civil War of 1936–39. They were transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in1937–39 and spent most of their time during World War II on convoy escort duties in the Atlantic Ocean. One shipwas sunk when she was accidentally rammed by a British cruiser in 1940 and another was sunk by a Germansubmarine in 1942. That ship, however, sank an Italian submarine in 1940. The other ships of the class sank threeGerman submarines during the war. They were all worn out by the end of the war and were scrapped in 1946–47.The D-class destroyers were initially assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet upon commissioning, but were transferredto the China Station in 1935. Like the C class, most were temporarily deployed in the Red Sea when the Italiansinvaded Abyssinia, but returned to the China Station when that was over. They were still there when the war began,but reinforced the Mediterranean Fleet shortly afterwards. Five ships were transferred to Home Fleet in December1939, but one was sunk en route when she was accidentally rammed by the battleship that she was escorting.Another was badly damaged when she collided with a merchant ship, requiring lengthy repairs, and another wassunk by a German submarine in February 1940. The other two participated in the Norwegian Campaign ofApril–June. One of these was sunk by German aircraft in July and the other was transferred to the RCN as areplacement for the C-class ship sunk by the British cruiser. However, that ship was rammed and sunk severalmonths later by a freighter that she was escorting.The four ships that remained with the Mediterranean Fleet sank three Italian submarines in 1940 whilst escortingMalta convoys and larger warships of the fleet. Several participated in the Battles of Calabria and Cape Spartiventothat year. Duncan, the ship that had been damaged in a collision earlier joined Force H at Gibraltar in October andescorted those ships. One ship was sunk by German bombers in February 1941 and another in April whilstevacuating Allied personnel from Greece. A third had to be scuttled in July when she was crippled by a Germanbomber whilst returning from escorting a convoy to Tobruk. The two survivors remained on escort duties for the restof the year before being transferred to the Eastern Fleet in early 1942. They returned to the UK late in the year tobegin conversions to escort destroyers. One was transferred to the RCN in early 1943, but both became convoyescorts in the Atlantic. They sank two German submarines before being assigned to the UK to protect Alliedshipping during Operation Overlord. They sank three more submarines before the end of the war and were paid offin 1945. One was scrapped 1945–49 and the other during 1946.

C and D class destroyer 3

Design and descriptionThese ships were based on the preceding B class, but were enlarged to increase their endurance and to allow for theinclusion of a QF 3-inch 20 cwt anti-aircraft gun.[1] This class introduced a director control tower for Britishdestroyers. The 'C' class were unique in having a split bridge, with the compass platform and wheelhouse separatedfrom the chartroom and director tower. This unusual layout was not repeated. As per Admiralty policy in alternatingTwo-Speed Destroyer Sweep (TSDS) minesweeping gear and ASDIC (sonar) capability between destroyer flotillas,the C class lacked ASDIC and were designed to carry only six depth charges. The D class were repeats of the C's,except that the TSDS was replaced by storage for up to 30 depth charges and ASDIC.[2]

The C and D class destroyers displaced 1375 long tons (1397 t) at standard load and 1865 long tons (1895 t) at deepload. The ships had an overall length of 329 feet (100.3 m), a beam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet6 inches (3.8 m). They were powered by Parsons geared steam turbines, driving two shafts, which developed a totalof 36000 shaft horsepower (27000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph).[3] Steam for theturbines was provided by three Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers that operated at a pressure of 300 psi (2068 kPa;21 kgf/cm2) and a temperature of 600 °F (316 °C). The destroyers carried a maximum of 473 long tons (481 t) offuel oil that gave them a range of 5500 nautical miles (10200 km; 6300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). Theircomplement was 145 officers and men.[1]

Kempenfelt, leader of the C class, displaced 15 long tons (15 t) more than her destroyers and carried an extra 30personnel who formed the staff of the Captain (D), commanding officer of the flotilla.[4] Unique among the C andD-class ships, she had three Yarrow water-tube boilers that operated at a pressure of 310 psi (2137 kPa;22 kgf/cm2).[1] Duncan, leader of the 'D' class, displaced 25 long tons (25 t) more than her destroyers and alsocarried an extra 30 personnel.[5]

All of the ships of the class mounted four 45-calibre 4.7-inch Mk IX guns in single mounts, designated 'A', 'B', 'X',and 'Y' from front to rear. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, they had a single QF 3-inch 20 cwt[6] AA gun between herfunnels. The C-class ships carried two 40-millimetre (1.6 in) QF 2-pounder Mk II AA guns mounted on the aft endof their forecastle deck. The D-class destroyers had been intended to carry the new QF 0.5-inch Vickers Mk IIImachine gun in quadruple mountings on the bridge wings, but these were not initially available, so the old 2-pounderguns were retained in Daring, Diana, Diamond and Defender. The 3-inch AA gun was removed in 1936–37, and the2-pounders were relocated between the funnels on platforms.[7]

The main guns were controlled by an Admiralty Fire Control Clock Mk I that used data derived from the directorand the rangefinder. They had no capability for anti-aircraft fire and the anti-aircraft guns were aimed solely byeye.[8]

When purchased by Canada in 1937–38, the four C-class destroyers were refitted to meet Canadian specifications,[9]

including the installation of Type 124 ASDIC.[10] It is not clear how much Kempenfelt had been modified when shewas turned over in October 1939, other than steam heating had yet been fitted.[11]

Wartime modificationsBeginning in May 1940, the after bank of torpedo tubes was removed and replaced with a QF 12-pounder Mk Vanti-aircraft gun, the after mast and funnel being cut down to improve the gun's field of fire. Four to six QF 20 mmOerlikon cannons were added to the surviving ship, usually replacing the 2-pounder or .50-calibre machine gunmounts between the funnels. One pair of these was added to the bridge wings and the other pair was mounted on thesearchlight platform.[12] Early in the war, depth charge stowage increased to 33 in the C class, while the D classcarried 38.[13] 'Y' gun on the quarterdeck was removed on many ships to allow for additional depth charge stowageas was the 12-pounder. On at least one ship, this latter gun replaced 'X' gun. Most ships had either 'A' or 'B' gunreplaced by a Hedgehog anti-submarine spigot mortar, although Duncan retained both and received a split Hedgehogthat was mounted on either side of 'A' gun. Some ships that received the Hedgehog in 'B' position also mounted twoold QF 6-pounder Hotchkiss guns for use against U-boats at very close range.[12]

C and D class destroyer 4

Most ships had their director-control tower and rangefinder above the bridge removed in exchange for a Type 271target-indication radar. A Type 286 short-range surface search radar, adapted from the Royal Air Force's ASV radar,was also added. The early models, however, could only scan directly forward and had to be aimed by turning theentire ship. Some ships also received a Huff-Duff radio direction finder on a short mainmast.[12]

Ships

Pennantnumber

Name Builder Laid down Launched Completed Fate

C class

D18(changed in1940 toI18)

Kempenfelt J. Samuel White,Cowes[14]

18 October1930[14]

29 October1931[14]

30 May1932[14]

To Canada as HMCS Assiniboine1939, wrecked on Prince EdwardIsland, 10 November 1945,scrapped 1952[4]

H00 Comet HM Dockyard,Portsmouth[14]

12September1930[14]

30September1931[14]

2 June1932[14]

To Canada asHMCS Restigouche 1938,scrapped 1946[15]

H60 Crusader HM Dockyard,Portsmouth[14]

12September1930[14]

30September1930[14]

2 May1932[14]

To Canada as HMCS Ottawa1938, torpedoed by Germansubmarine U-91, 13 September1942[16]

H83 Cygnet VickersArmstrongs,Barrow

1 December1930[14]

29September1931[14]

15 April1932[14]

To Canada as HMCS St. Laurent1937, scrapped 1947[17]

H48 Crescent VickersArmstrongs,Barrow

1 December1930[14]

29September1931[14]

1 April1934[14]

To Canada as HMCS Fraser1937, sunk in collision withHMS Calcutta in Girondeestuary, 25 June 1940[18]

D class

D99(changed in1940 toI99)

Duncan HM Dockyard,Portsmouth[19]

25September1931[19]

7 July1932[19]

31 March1933[19]

Scrapped 1945–49[20]

H53 Dainty Fairfield,Govan[19]

20 April1931[19]

3 May1932[19]

22December1932[19]

Bombed and sunk off Tobruk, 24February 1941[21]

H16 Daring Thornycroft,Woolston[19]

18 June1931[19]

7 April1932[19]

25November1932[19]

Torpedoed by U-23, 18 February1940[21]

H75 Decoy Thornycroft[19] 25 June1931[19]

7 June1932[19]

17 January1933[19]

To Canada as HMCS Kootenay1943, sold for scrapping 1946[22]

H07 Defender VickersArmstrongs[19]

22 June1931[19]

7 April1932[19]

31 October1932[19]

Bombed and sunk, 11 July1941[23]

H38 Delight Fairfield[19] 22 April1931[19]

2 June1932[19]

31 January1933[19]

Bombed and sunk, 29 July1940[24]

C and D class destroyer 5

H22 Diamond VickersArmstrongs[19]

29September1931[19]

8 April1932[19]

3 November1932[19]

Bombed and sunk, 27 April1941[25]

H49 Diana Palmers,Jarrow[19]

12 June1931[19]

16 June1932[19]

21December1932[19]

To Canada as HMCS Margaree1940, sunk in collision withMV Port Fairy, 22 October1940[26]

H64 Duchess Palmers[19] 12 June1931[19]

19 July1932[19]

27 January1933[19]

Sunk in collision withHMS Barham, 12 December1939[26]

Service

HMCS Restigouche about 1942–43

All five of the C class were assigned to the 2ndDestroyer Flotilla of the Home Fleet uponcommissioning during 1932. Following the Italianinvasion of Abyssinia, the entire flotilla was sent to theRed Sea in August 1935 to monitor Italian warshipmovements until April 1936. Refitted upon their return,they were deployed to Spanish waters during theSpanish Civil War in 1936–37 to intercept shippingcarrying contraband goods to Spain and to protectBritish-flagged ships. Crescent and Cygnet were sold tothe Royal Canadian Navy in 1937 and Comet andCrusader in 1938. Kempenfelt was bought in 1939, butthe Royal Navy did not turn her over until enough

auxiliary anti-submarine ships had been commissioned to replace her after World War II had started. All four'C'-class ships were stationed at Esquimalt in British Columbia when the war began, but only Fraser and St. Laurentwere immediately recalled to begin convoy escort duties on the Atlantic Coast, the other two following in November.Assiniboine was sent to the Caribbean for local escort duties in December where she assisted in the capture of theblockade runner MV Hannover in March 1940. Fraser, St. Laurent, and Restigouche were transferred to the UK inlate May and helped to evacuate refugees from France. Fraser was sunk on 25 June 1940 in a collision with theanti-aircraft cruiser HMS Calcutta in the Gironde estuary while the other two were assigned to the WesternApproaches Command for escort duties.[27]

The remaining ships spent most of the rest of the war escorting convoys in the North Atlantic, based in either Canada or the UK. Ottawa assisted the British destroyer Harvester in sinking the Italian submarine Comandante Faà di Bruno on 7 November 1940. She was sunk by the German submarine U-91 on 14 September 1942 whilst escorting Convoy ON 127. St. Laurent had her first victory on 27 December 1942 when she was credited with sinking U-356 whilst defending Convoy ON 154.[28] Together with the destroyer HMS Forester, and the frigates HMCS Owen Sound and HMCS Swansea, she sank U-845. Whilst escorting Convoy SC 94 on 3 August 1942, Assiniboine rammed and sank U-210. Restigouche never sank a submarine, but she and St. Laurent were transferred to the UK to protect the shipping mustering for Operation Overlord in May 1944 and Assiniboine followed in July. They saw some action against German patrol boats in the Bay of Biscay, but Restigouche and St. Laurent were in poor shape by this time and were sent back to Canada for lengthy refits in late 1944. They remained in Canada after the completion of their refits in early 1945, whilst Assiniboine remained in the UK until June. All three ships transported Canadian troops home after VE Day until they were decommissioned in late 1945. All three were broken up in

C and D class destroyer 6

1946–47.[27]

Upon commissioning in 1932–33, the D class formed the 1st Destroyer Flotilla assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet.The flotilla toured the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea in September–November 1933. After refitting in the UK during1934, the flotilla was transferred to the China Station, arriving at Hong Kong in January 1935 and renumbered as the8th Destroyer Flotilla. Most of the flotilla was sent to the Red Sea during the Italian invasion of Abyssinia in1935–36. They returned to the Hong Kong in mid-1936 and remained there until World War II began. Diamond wasin the midst of a refit that lasted until November, but the rest of the flotilla was immediately transferred to theMediterranean Fleet. Daring was kept in the Red Sea for escort duties until November, but the rest of the flotilla wasused on contraband patrol duties upon arrival. They all needed repairs which were made before the end of theyear.[29]

Duncan, Diana, Duchess, Delight and Daring were transferred to the Home Fleet in December 1939, althoughDuchess was rammed and sunk on 10 December by the battleship Barham that she was escorting. Duncan was sobadly damaged in a collision with a merchant ship in January 1940 that her repairs required six months to complete.Daring was sunk by the German submarine U-23 on 18 February whilst escorting a convoy from Norway. Diana andDelight were assigned to convoy escort duties in early 1940, before participating in the Norwegian Campaign inApril–June. Whilst attempting to sail through the English Channel in daylight, contrary to orders, Delight was sunkby German aircraft on 29 July. After a brief refit in July–August, Diana was transferred to the RCN to replaceHMCS Fraser which had been sunk in a collision by a Royal Navy cruiser. Recommissioned on 6 September andrenamed HMCS Margaree, the ship was assigned to convoy escort duties in the North Atlantic. On 22 October, shewas sunk in a collision with the freighter MV Port Fairy.[29]

The remaining four ships of the flotilla were briefly assigned to Freetown, West Africa in early 1940 to escortconvoys passing through the area and to search for German commerce raiders. They were all recalled to theMediterranean in April–May in anticipation of Italian entry into the war. Decoy, Defender, and Dainty sank twoItalian submarines, Dainty sinking one more with the destroyer Ilex in June, before they participated in the Battle ofCalabria early the following month.[29] Diamond joined her sisters in late July and all four ships escorted convoysand the ships of the Mediterranean Fleet for the rest of the year. Duncan joined Force H at Gibraltar in October andparticipated in the inconclusive Battle of Cape Spartivento together with Diamond and Defender in November.Decoy had been damaged by aircraft earlier that month and was under repair until February 1941.[29]

Whilst patrolling the North African coast on 24 February with the destroyer Hasty, Dainty was sunk by Germanbombers. Duncan, Diamond and Defender continued to provide escorts as needed in early 1941, although Duncanwas transferred to Freetown in March. Decoy, Defender and Diamond evacuated Allied troops from Greece andCrete in April–May, although Diamond was sunk by German aircraft on 27 April while doing so. After Defenderparticipated in the invasion of Vichy French-controlled Syria and Lebanon in June, she joined Decoy in escortingconvoys to Tobruk and was badly damaged when returning from one of these missions. The ship was attacked by asingle German Junkers Ju 88 bomber on 11 July and had to be scuttled by her consort, the Australian destroyerVendetta. Duncan rejoined Force H that same month and she escorted several major convoys to Malta beforereturning to the UK in October for a lengthy refit. Decoy was damaged in a collision in December and was repairedat Malta until February 1942.[29]

Decoy was transferred to the Eastern Fleet in March and was escorting Force B when the Japanese carriers attackedCeylon. The Japanese never spotted Force B, and the ship remained with the fleet until ordered home in Septemberto convert to an escort destroyer. After Duncan's refit was completed in January 1942, she rejoined Force H andescorted several missions to fly off Royal Air Force fighters from aircraft carriers to Malta before she was transferredto the Eastern Fleet in April to support Operation Ironclad, the invasion of Diego Suarez, in early May. She, too, wasrecalled to the UK to be modified as an escort destroyer.[29]

C and D class destroyer 7

HMCS Ottawa about 1942–43

Decoy was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy on1 March 1943 during her conversion and wasrecommissioned on 12 April with the new name ofHMCS Kootenay (the ship was gifted to the Canadianson 15 June). After working up, she was assigned toEscort Group C5 for convoy escort duties in the NorthAtlantic. In April, Duncan joined Escort Group B-7.[30]

Whilst defending Convoy ON-207 on 23 October,Duncan, together with the destroyer Vidette and aConsolidated B-24 Liberator of No. 224 SquadronRAF, sank U-274.[31] Later the same month, on 29October, Duncan shared the sinking of U-282 withVidette and the corvette Sunflower whilst protectingConvoy ON-208. Both ships remained on escort dutyuntil May 1944 when they were transferred to the UK in preparation for Operation Overlord. Duncan was assignedto the Western Approaches Command, conducting anti-submarine operations, for the rest of the war. Kootenay wastasked to protect Allied shipping in the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay and, together with other ships, shesank U-678 in the English Channel on 7 July 1944, U-621 in the Bay of Biscay on 18 August, and, two days later,U-984 west of Brest.[30]

After a lengthy refit in Canada from October 1944 to February 1945, Kootenay returned to the UK and was assignedto the Western Approaches Command until the end of the war. She then transported returning troops in Canada untilpaid off in October. She was sold for scrap in 1946. Duncan was paid off in May and sold in July although she wasnot completely broken up until 1949.[30]

Notes[1] Lenton, p. 154[2] Friedman, pp. 205–15, 298–99[3] Whitley, pp. 26, 102[4] Whitley, p. 27[5] Whitley, p. 101[6] "cwt" is the abbreviation for hundredweight, 30 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.[7] Lenton, pp. 154–55[8] Hodges and Friedman, p. 17[9] Douglas, p. 52[10] Brown, p. 164[11] Douglas, p. 65[12] Lenton, pp. 154–56[13] Friedman, pp. 236–37[14] English, p. 45[15] English, p. 47[16] English, p. 49[17] English, p. 50[18] English, p. 48[19] English, p. 51[20] English, p. 53[21] English, p. 54[22] English, p. 56[23] English, p. 57[24] English, p. 58[25] English, p. 59[26] English, p. 60

C and D class destroyer 8

[27] English, pp. 45–50[28] Douglas, pp. 568–70[29] English, pp. 51–60[30] English, pp. 53, 56[31] Rohwer, p. 283

Footnotes

References• Brown, David K. (2007). Atlantic Escorts: Ships, Weapons & Tactics in World War II. Annapolis, Maryland:

Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-012-2.• Douglas, W. A. B.; Sarty, Roger; Michael Whitby, Robert H. Caldwell, William Johnston, William G. P. Rawling

(2002). No Higher Purpose. The Official Operational History of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second WorldWar, 1939–1943. 2, pt. 1. St. Catharines, Ontario: Vanwell. ISBN 1-551250-061-6.

• English, John (1993). Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s. Kendal, England: WorldShip Society. ISBN 0-905617-64-9.

• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Annapolis,Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-59114-081-8.

• Hodges, Peter; Friedman, Norman (1979). Destroyer Weapons of World War 2. London: Conway Maritime Press.ISBN 0-87021-929-4.

• Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Commonwealth Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: NavalInstitute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.

• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (ThirdRevised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.

• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN 0-87021-326-1.

9

C-class destroyers

HMS Kempenfelt

HMS Kempenfelt in August 1933

Career (United Kingdom)

Class and type: C-class destroyer

Name: HMS Kempenfelt

Namesake: Rear Admiral Richard Kempenfelt

Awarded: 15 July 1930

Builder: J. Samuel White, Cowes

Laid down: 18 October 1930

Launched: 29 October 1931

Completed: 30 May 1932

Fate: Transferred to Royal Canadian Navy, 19 October 1939

Career (Canada)

Class and type: River-class destroyer

Name: HMCS Assiniboine

Namesake: Assiniboine River

Commissioned: 19 October 1939

Decommissioned: 8 August 1945

Motto: Fideliter : “Faithfully”

Nickname: Bones

Fate: Sold for scrapping but wrecked en route to breakers on 10 November 1945Wreck broken up in situ in 1952

Badge: Badge: On a field Black a Sword proper between two wings greenover two wavelets Silver and Blue.

General characteristics

HMS Kempenfelt 10

Displacement: 1390 long tons (1410 t) (standard)1901 long tons (1932 t) (deep)

Length: 329 ft (100.3 m) o/a

Beam: 33 ft (10.1 m)

Draught: 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m)

Installed power: 36000 shp (27000 kW)

Propulsion: 2 × shafts2 × Parsons geared steam turbines3 × Yarrow water-tube boilers

Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)

Range: 5500 nmi (10200 km; 6300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)

Complement: 145

Armament: 4 × 1 - QF 4.7-inch Mark IX guns1 × 1 - QF 3-inch 20 cwt anti-aircraft gun2 × 1 - QF 2-pounder Mk II AA guns2 × 4 - 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes6 × depth charges, 3 chutes

HMS Kempenfelt was a C-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. A flotilla leader, she sawservice in the Home Fleet before World War II and the ship made several deployments to Spanish waters during theSpanish Civil War, enforcing the arms blockade imposed by Britain and France on both sides of the conflict.Kempenfelt was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in 1939 and renamed HMCS Assiniboine. DuringWorld War II, she served as a convoy escort in the battle of the Atlantic, sinking one German submarine byramming, on anti-submarine patrols during the invasion of Normandy, and was employed as a troop transport afterVE Day for returning Canadian servicemen, before being decommissioned in mid-1945. Assiniboine was sold forscrap in 1945, but she ran aground while being towed to the breakers and was not broken up until 1952.

Design and constructionKempenfelt displaced 1390 long tons (1410 t) at standard load and 1901 long tons (1932 t) at deep load. The ship hadan overall length of 329 feet (100.3 m), a beam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 m). She waspowered by Parsons geared steam turbines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 36000 shaft horsepower(27000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Steam for the turbines was provided bythree Yarrow water-tube boilers. Kempenfelt carried a maximum of 473 long tons (481 t) of fuel oil that gave her arange of 5500 nautical miles (10200 km; 6300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ship's complement was 175officers and men.[1]

The ship mounted four 45-calibre 4.7-inch Mark IX guns in single mounts, designated 'A', 'B', 'X', and 'Y' from frontto rear. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Kempenfelt had a single QF 3-inch 20 cwt[2] AA gun between her funnels,and two 40-millimetre (1.6 in) QF 2-pounder Mk II AA guns mounted on the aft end of her forecastle deck. The3-inch (76 mm) AA gun was removed in 1936 and the 2-pounders were relocated to between the funnels. She wasfitted with two above-water quadruple torpedo tube mounts for 21-inch torpedoes.[3] Three depth-charge chutes werefitted, each with a capacity of two depth charges. After World War II began this was increased to 33 depth charges,delivered by one or two rails and two throwers.[4]

HMS Kempenfelt 11

Late-war picture of Assiniboine. Note the Type271 radar above the bridge, the Hedgehog mortarshells to the right of 'A' gun and the 20 Oerlikon

mount on the bridge wing.

The changes made to Assiniboine's armament during the war (dates canonly be roughly assigned) were first the replacement of the ship's reartorpedo tube mount by a 12-pounder AA gun and the 2-pounders wereexchanged for quadruple Mark I mounts for the QF 0.5-inch VickersMk III machine gun. Later, 'Y' gun was also removed to allow herdepth charge stowage to be increased to at least 60 depth charges. 'X'gun was later removed and the 12-pounder was resited in its place tofurther increased her depth charge capacity. Later changes includedfitting a split Hedgehog anti-submarine spigot mortar on each side of'A' gun, exchanging her two quadruple .50-calibre Vickers machineguns mounted between her funnels for two Oerlikon 20 mm AA guns,and the addition of two Oerlikon guns to her searchlight platform. The

ship's director-control tower and rangefinder above the bridge were removed in exchange for a Type 271 targetindication radar. A Type 286 short-range surface search radar was also added as was a HF/DF radio direction finderon a short mainmast.[5]

The ship was ordered on 15 July 1930 from J. Samuel White at Cowes under the 1929 Programme. Kempenfelt waslaid down on 18 October 1930, launched on 30 September 1931,[6] as the 2nd ship to carry the name,[7] andcompleted on 30 May 1932.[6] Built as a flotilla leader, she displaced 15 long tons more than the rest of her class andcarried an extra 30 personnel. These personnel formed the staff of the Captain (D) of the flotilla.[1]

ServiceKempenfelt was assigned to the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, of the Home Fleet, after her commissioning.[6] The shipbriefly mounted an experimental 5.1-inch (130 mm) gun on 'B' mount for evaluation purposes during this time; itwas replaced by the standard 4.7-inch gun.[8] She was based at Rosyth for most of the rest of 1932, but visited theMediterranean between January and March 1933 before returning home. The ship was given a refit at Devonport thatended in January 1934. Shortly afterwards, Kempenfelt participated in the Home Fleet's tour of the West Indies thatended in March. The ship visited various Scandinavian ports during the remainder of the year.[6] She participated inKing George V's Silver Jubilee Fleet Review at Spithead on 16 July 1935.[9] Following the Italian invasion ofAbyssinia, Kempenfelt was sent in August to the Red Sea with the other ships of the 2nd Flotilla to monitor Italianwarship movements until April 1936. She was given a brief refit at Devonport that lasted until June upon her returnto the UK. During the first stages of the Spanish Civil War in late 1936, the ship evacuated British nationals fromseveral different Spanish ports.[10]

In December, Kempenfelt began a more thorough refit at Devonport that lasted until 10 April 1937 and returned toSpanish waters afterwards to intercept shipping carrying contraband goods to Spain and to protect British-flaggedships.[10] On 6 March, the ship and the destroyer Boreas, rescued survivors from the Nationalist light cruiserBaleares after she had been sunk by Republican destroyers during the Battle of Cape Palos.[11] She was refitted atChatham in May–June 1938 and made a number of port visits in Scandinavia the following month. Kempenfelt wastransferred to the Portsmouth Local Flotilla and remained there until the war began in September 1939.[10]

Wartime service and transferThe ship was transferred to the 18th Destroyer Flotilla, based at the Isle of Portland, where she escorted shipping and conducted anti-submarine patrols.[10] Kempenfelt had been purchased before the war began by the Canadian government, but it agreed to allow the British to retain her until the Royal Navy could compensate for her loss by requisitioning enough auxiliary anti-submarine vessels. By the time that the British were ready to turn her over to the RCN, the ship was under repair after a collision and the hand over was delayed until 19 October. She was renamed

HMS Kempenfelt 12

Assiniboine and arrived at Halifax, Nova Scotia on 17 November. The ship had not yet been fitting with the steamheating necessary to operate in a Canadian winter and she was transferred to the Caribbean in exchange for thedestroyer HMCS Saguenay. Assiniboine arrived at Kingston, Jamaica on 8 December.[12]

Assigned to the North America and West Indies Station, the highlight of the ship's service in the Caribbean was thecapture of the German blockade runner MV Hannover in the Mona Passage between the islands of Hispaniola andPuerto Rico on the night of 8/9 March 1940. Initially intercepted by the light cruiser Dunedin, the crew of Hannoverdisabled their steering gear and set the ship on fire. Assiniboine took the burning ship under tow to prevent her fromentering the waters of the neutral Dominican Republic while the cruiser sprayed water on the fire. The two shipsswapped roles in the morning and the destroyer put some of her crew aboard Hannover to help Dunedin's boardingparty fight the fire while the cruiser towed the freighter to Kingston. Assiniboine arrived in Halifax on 31 March fora refit.[13]

After the completion of her refit, the ship escorted local convoys in and around Halifax until 15 January 1941 whenshe was transferred to Greenock and assigned to the 10th Escort Group of the Mid-Ocean Escort Force that wasbased there. Assiniboine rescued survivors from SS Anchises on 28 February and was damaged in a collision withMV Lairdswood on 5 April. Her repairs were not completed until 22 May and she was transferred to St. John's,Newfoundland in June to reinforce escort forces in the Western Atlantic.[10] In early August, Assiniboine, her sisterRestigouche and the ex-American destroyer HMS Ripley, escorted the battleship Prince of Wales to Placentia Baywhere Prime Minister Winston Churchill met President Franklin Roosevelt for the first time.[14]

U-210 photographed from Assiniboine's deck, 6August 1942

Whilst escorting Convoy SC 94 in early August 1942 as part of EscortGroup C1, Assiniboine's Type 286 radar spotted U-210 in a heavy fogon 6 August. The destroyer closed on the contact and briefly spottedthe submarine twice before losing her in the fog. The submarinereappeared crossing the destroyer's bow at a range of 50 yards (46 m),and both ships opened fire. The range was too close for Assiniboine's4.7-inch guns to engage, but her .50-calibre machine guns shot up thesubmarine's deck and conning tower. This kept the Germans frommanning their 88-millimetre (3.5 in) deck gun, but the 20-millimetre(0.79 in) flak gun was already manned and firing. It punched holesthrough the destroyer's plating that set some petrol tanks on the deckafire and disabled 'A' gun. The destroyer was unable to ram U-210until the rear 4.7-inch gun hit the conning tower, killing the entirebridge crew and the .50-caliber machine guns were able to silence theflak gun. This caused Lieutenant Sorber, the senior surviving officer, toorder the submarine to dive, but this meant that she had to hold astraight course while doing so. Assiniboine was able to take advantageof this and rammed U-210 abaft the conning tower whilst she wasdiving. This caused the electric motors to fail, damaged her propellersand led to water entering the submarine, as a result of which Sorber ordered the ballast tanks to be blown and thesubmarine abandoned. The destroyer rammed her again when U-210 resurfaced, dropped a pattern of depth chargesset to detonate at shallow depth and hit her one more time with a 4.7-inch shell before the submarine finally sank.[15]

A number of survivors were rescued by Assiniboine and the British corvette Dianthus, before the former ship had tohead home for repairs as she was taking on water below the waterline.[15] She required nearly two months of repairsat Halifax and was assigned to Escort Group C3 when they were completed on 20 December.[10] [16]

Whilst en route to Londonderry, Assiniboine dropped a shallow pattern of depth charges on a submarine contact and badly damaged her stern on 2 March 1943. The ship was repaired at Liverpool between 7 March and 13 July and then assigned to Escort Group C1. She continued her escort work until April 1944 when she began a refit at

HMS Kempenfelt 13

Shelburne, Nova Scotia. Upon its completion in July, Assiniboine was assigned to the Western ApproachesCommand.[10] The following month, the 12th Support Group, including Assiniboine, engaged three Germanminesweepers on 12 August, without sinking any.[17] She remained in British waters for the rest of the war; the shipwas damaged in a collision with SS Empire Bond on 14 February 1945 and was under repair until early March.[10]

Assiniboine returned to Canada in June and was briefly used as a troop transport before a boiler room fire on 4 Julyeffectively ended her career. She was paid off on 8 August and placed on the disposal list. Whilst on tow to thebreakers in Baltimore, she ran aground near East Point, Prince Edward Island. Attempts to get her off failed, and shewas left to rust until eventually being broken up in place in 1952.[10]

Trans-Atlantic convoys escorted

Convoy Escort Group Dates Notes

SC 62 30 Dec 1941-8 Jan 42[18] Newfoundland to Iceland

SC 69 13-23 Feb 1942[18] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 74 10-20 March 1942[19] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

SC 77 3-12 April 1942[18] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 88 22 April-3 May 1942[19] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

HX 189 MOEF group C1 14-20 May 1942[20] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 100 MOEF group C1 3-13 June 1942[19] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

HX 195 MOEF group C1 24 June-1 July 1942[20] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 112 MOEF group C1 14-25 July 1942[19] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

Convoy SC 94 MOEF group C1 2-6 Aug 1942[18] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

HX 221 MOEF group C3 5-13 Jan 1943[20] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 163 MOEF group C3 25 Jan-8 Feb 1943[19] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

ON 195 1-8 Aug 1943[19] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

HX 252 20-27 Aug 1943[20] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 201 10-18 Sept 1943[19] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

HX 258 28 Sept-5 Oct 1943[20] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 207 19-28 Oct 1943[19] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

HX 264 6-16 Nov 1943[20] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 213 28 Nov-7 Dec 1943[19] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

HX 270 15-25 Dec 1943[20] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 219 9-20 Jan 1944[19] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

HX 276 28 Jan-6 Feb 1944[20] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 224 15-26 Feb 1944[19] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

SC 154 2-15 March 1944[18] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

HMS Kempenfelt 14

ONS 32 29 March-13 April 1944[19] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

Notes[1] Whitley, p. 27[2] "cwt" is the abbreviation for hundredweight, 30 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.[3] Lenton, p. 154[4] Friedman, pp. 209, 236, 298–99[5] Lenton, pp. 154–55[6] English, p. 45[7] Colledge, p. 184[8] Friedman, p. 215[9] "Spithead Review" (http:/ / paperspast. natlib. govt. nz/ cgi-bin/ paperspast?a=d& cl=search& d=EP19350516. 2. 60& srpos=8&

e=-------10--1----0Kempenfelt--). Wellington Evening Post. 16 May 1935. . Retrieved 29 August 2011.[10] English, p. 46[11] "Reported Sunk" (http:/ / paperspast. natlib. govt. nz/ cgi-bin/ paperspast?a=d& cl=search& d=EP19380307. 2. 63& srpos=4&

e=-------10--1----0Kempenfelt--). Wellington Evening Post. 7 March 1936. . Retrieved 29 August 2011.[12] Douglas, p. 65[13] Douglas, pp. 70–71[14] Rohwer, p. 90[15] Douglas, pp. 505–07[16] Rohwer, p. 222[17] Rohwer, p. 347[18] "SC convoys" (http:/ / www. convoyweb. org. uk/ sc/ index. html). Andrew Hague Convoy Database. . Retrieved 2011-06-19.[19] "ON convoys" (http:/ / www. convoyweb. org. uk/ on/ index. html). Andrew Hague Convoy Database. . Retrieved 2011-06-19.[20] "HX convoys" (http:/ / www. convoyweb. org. uk/ hx/ index. html). Andrew Hague Convoy Database. . Retrieved 2011-06-19.

Footnotes

References• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships

of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475.• Douglas, W. A. B.; Sarty, Roger; Michael Whitby, Robert H. Caldwell, William Johnston, William G. P. Rawling

(2002). No Higher Purpose. The Official Operational History of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second WorldWar, 1939–1943. 2, pt. 1. St. Catharines, Ontario: Vanwell. ISBN 1-551250-061-6.

• English, John (1993). Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s. Kendal, England: WorldShip Society. ISBN 0-905617-64-9.

• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Annapolis,Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-59114-081-8.

• Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Commonwealth Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: NavalInstitute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.

• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939-1945: The Naval History of World War Two (ThirdRevised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.

• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN 0-87021-326-1.

HMS Kempenfelt 15

External links• HMCS Assiniboine at The Canadian Navy Heritage Project (http:/ / www. navy. gc. ca/ project_pride/ ships/

ship_e. asp?shipNumber=212)• HMS Kempenfelt's career at NavalHistory.net (http:/ / www. naval-history. net/

xGM-Chrono-10DD-16C-Kempenfelt1AssiniboineRCN. htm)• HMS Kempenfelt at Uboat.net (http:/ / uboat. net/ allies/ warships/ ship/ 6206. html)

HMS Comet 16

HMS Comet

Restigouche in original configuration with four 4.7-inch guns, tall second funnel and AA gun between the funnels

Career

Name: HMS Comet (H00)

Ordered: 15 July 1930

Builder: Portsmouth Dockyard

Laid down: 12 September 1930

Launched: 30 September 1931

Completed: 2 June 1932

Identification: Pennant number: H00

Motto: Follow the Light

Fate: Transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy and renamed Restigouche, 15 June1938

Badge: On a Field Black, a Comet Silver

Career (Canada)

Name: HMCS Restigouche

Namesake: Restigouche River

Commissioned: 11 June 1938

Decommissioned: 6 October 1945

Identification: Pennant number: H00

Honours andawards:

Atlantic 1939–45, North Sea 1940, Mediterranean 1943, Normandy 1944,Biscay 1944

Fate: Scrapped, 1946

General characteristics as built

Class and type: C-class destroyer

Displacement: 1375 long tons (1397 t) (standard)1865 long tons (1895 t) (deep)

Length: 329 ft (100.3 m) o/a

Beam: 33 ft (10.1 m)

Draught: 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m)

Installed power: 36000 shp (27000 kW)

HMS Comet 17

Propulsion: 2 × shafts2 × Parsons geared steam turbines3 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)

Range: 5500 nmi (10200 km; 6300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)

Complement: 145

Armament: 4 × 1 – QF 4.7-inch Mk IX guns1 × 1 – QF 3-inch 20 cwt anti-aircraft gun2 × 1 – QF 2-pounder Mk II AA guns2 × 4 – 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes6 × depth charges, 3 chutes

HMS Comet was a C-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. She saw service in the Home andMediterranean Fleets and the ship spent six months during the Spanish Civil War in late 1936 in Spanish waters,enforcing the arms blockade imposed by Britain and France on both sides of the conflict. Comet transferred to theRoyal Canadian Navy (RCN) in 1938 and renamed HMCS Restigouche. During World War II, she served as aconvoy escort in the battle of the Atlantic, on anti-submarine patrols during the invasion of Normandy, and wasemployed as a troop transport after VE Day for returning Canadian servicemen, before being decommissioned in late1945. Restigouche was sold for scrap in 1946.

Design and constructionComet displaced 1375 long tons (1397 t) at standard load and 1865 long tons (1895 t) at deep load. The ship had anoverall length of 329 feet (100.3 m), a beam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 m). She waspowered by Parsons geared steam turbines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 36000 shaft horsepower(27000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Steam for the turbines was provided bythree Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers. Comet carried a maximum of 473 long tons (481 t) of fuel oil that gaveher a range of 5500 nautical miles (10200 km; 6300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ship's complement was145 officers and men.[1]

The ship mounted four 45-calibre 4.7-inch Mk IX guns in single mounts, designated 'A', 'B', 'X', and 'Y' from front torear. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Comet had a single QF 3-inch 20 cwt[2] AA gun between her funnels, and two40-millimetre (1.6 in) QF 2-pounder Mk II AA guns mounted on the aft end of her forecastle deck. The 3-inch(76 mm) AA gun was removed in 1936 and the 2-pounders were relocated to between the funnels. She was fittedwith two above-water quadruple torpedo tube mounts for 21-inch torpedoes.[3] Three depth-charge chutes werefitted, each with a capacity of two depth charges. After World War II began this was increased to 33 depth charges,delivered by one or two rails and two throwers.[4]

The ship was ordered on 15 July 1930 from Portsmouth Dockyard under the 1929 Programme. Comet was laid downon 12 September 1930, launched on 30 September 1931,[5] as the 14th ship to carry the name,[6] and completed on 2June 1932.[5]

Service historyAfter sea trials in May 1932, Comet was commissioned for service in the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet, inearly June. On 21 July, she was damaged in a collision with her sister Crescent at Chatham and repaired at ChathamDockyard between 28 July and 20 August. The ship was refitted at Chatham from 20 July to 3 September 1934.Following the Italian invasion of Abyssinia, Comet was sent in August 1935 to the Red Sea with the other ships ofthe 2nd Flotilla to monitor Italian warship movements until March 1936.[7]

HMS Comet 18

Comet returned to the UK in April 1936 and refitted at Sheerness between 23 April and 29 June before resumingduty with the Home Fleet. In July she was deployed for patrol duties off the Spanish coast in the Bay of Biscay tointercept shipping carrying contraband goods to Spain and to protect British flagged shipping during the first stagesof the Spanish Civil War.[7] On 9 August she assisted the crew of the crippled British yacht Blue Shadow off Gijon,after the small vessel was shelled by mistake by the Nationalist cruiser Almirante Cervera.[8] The ship was brieflyplaced in reserve in late 1936 while discussions were held about transferring her to the Royal Canadian Navy. Twoof her sisters were chosen instead and Comet was recommissioned for service with the Mediterranean Fleet as planeguard for the aircraft carrier Glorious on 29 December.[7]

In April 1937 she returned to Portsmouth with Glorious, and on 20 May the ship participated in the CoronationReview of the fleet at Spithead by King George VI. Four days later, Comet began a refit at Portsmouth that lasteduntil 18 June. The ship resumed plane guard duties for Glorious in the Mediterranean. She began a major refit atChatham on 26 May 1938[7] to bring her up to Canadian specifications that included the installation of Type 124ASDIC.[9]

Transfer to the Royal Canadian Navy

Restigouche showing her early war modifications,including shortened aft funnel, 12-pounder AA

gun in lieu of the rear torpedo mount, and 'Y' gunreplaced by additional depth charge storage.

On 11 June she was commissioned by the RCN and renamedRestigouche, although her refit was not completed until 20 August.Restigouche was assigned to the Canadian Pacific Coast and arrived atEsquimalt on 7 November 1938.[7] She remained there until she wasordered to Halifax, Nova Scotia on 15 November 1939 where sheescorted local convoys, including the convoy carrying half of the 1stCanadian Infantry Division to the UK on 10 December.[10]

Restigouche was ordered to Plymouth on 24 May 1940 and arrivedthere on 31 May. Upon arrival, the ship's rear torpedo tube mount wasremoved and replaced by a 12-pounder AA gun and the 2-pounderswere exchanged for quadruple Mark I mounts for the QF 0.5-inchVickers Mark III machine gun.[11]

On 9 June, Restigouche was ordered to Le Havre, France to evacuate British troops, but none were to be found andthe ship investigated the small port of Saint-Valery-en-Caux some 40 miles (64 km) northeast of Le Havre on 11June. They found some elements of the 51st Infantry Division, but had not received any orders to evacuate andrefused to do so. Whilst recovering her landing party, the ship was taken under fire by a German artillery battery, butshe was not hit and returned fire. After returning to England, Restigouche escorted several troop convoys on the lastlegs of their journeys from Canada, Australia and New Zealand in mid-June. On 23 June, the ship escorted the oceanliner SS Arandora Star to St. Jean de Luz to evacuate Polish troops and British refugees trapped by the GermanArmy in south-western France (Operation Ariel). On 25 June 1940, Restigouche, her sister HMCS Fraser, and thelight cruiser HMS Calcutta were returning from St. Jean de Luz when Fraser was rammed by Calcutta in theGironde estuary at night. Struck forward of the bridge by the cruiser's bow, Fraser was cut in half, although the rearpart of the ship did not immediately sink. All but 47 of the ship's crew and evacuees were rescued by Restigoucheand other nearby ships.[12] The rear portion had to be sunk by Restigouche.[13]

The ship was transferred to the Western Approaches Command afterwards for convoy escort duties. She sailed for Halifax at the end of August for a refit that lasted until October.[14] Upon its completion, Restigouche remained at Halifax for local escort duties until January 1941 when she sailed for the UK where she was reassigned to the Western Approaches Command. The ship was ordered to St. John's, Newfoundland on 30 May to reinforce escort forces in the Western Atlantic.[15] Whilst guarding the battleship Prince of Wales at Placentia Bay on 8 August, Restigouche damaged her propellers when she struck bottom and required repairs that lasted until October. She was not out of dockyard hands for very long before she was badly damaged by a storm while en route to join Convoy

HMS Comet 19

ON-44 on 12 December. Repairs at Greenock lasted until 9 March 1942[14] and her director-control tower andrangefinder above the bridge had been removed by this time in exchange for a Type 271 target indication radar.[16]

Other changes made during the war (exactly when these occurred is unknown) included the replacement of 'A' gunby a Hedgehog anti-submarine spigot mortar, exchanging her two quadruple .50-calibre Vickers machine gunsmounted between her funnels for two Oerlikon 20 mm AA guns, the addition of two Oerlikon guns to her searchlightplatform, and the removal of her 12-pounder AA gun. Type 286 short-range surface search radar was also added.Two QF 6 pounder Hotchkiss guns were fitted on the wings of her bridge to deal with U-boats at short ranges.[17] 'Y'gun was also removed to allow her depth charge stowage to be increased to at least 60 depth charges.[18]

Restigouche picking up U-boat survivors,September 1944.

Restigouche was assigned to the Mid-Ocean Escort Force when herrefit was finished and served with a variety of escort groups. The shipwas permanently assigned to Escort Group C4 in April 1943 andreceived a refit between August and December. She rejoined the escortgroup upon completion of the refit until she was transferred to EscortGroup 12 in early 1944 for anti-submarine operations in the WesternApproaches. In June–July 1944, Restigouche patrolled in the EnglishChannel and the Bay of Biscay hunting for German submarines tryingto sink Allied shipping.[14] On the night of 5/6 July, the ship and therest of the 12th Escort Group sank three small German patrol boats offBrest. The following month, the 12th Support Group, includingRestigouche, engaged three minesweepers on 12 August, withoutsinking any.[19] The ship is sent to Canada for a lengthy refit later in the month. After working up in Bermuda, shearrived at Halifax on 14 February 1945 and began escorting local convoys. This lasted until the end of the war inMay, after which the ship was used to transfer returning troops from Newfoundland to mainland Canada until shewas paid off on 5 October. Restigouche was sold for scrap in 1946.[14]

Ship's bellThe Christening Bells Project at Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum includes informationabout the baptism of babies in the ship's bell. The bell is currently held by the Royal Canadian Legion, Lantzville,British Columbia.[20]

Trans-Atlantic convoys escorted

Convoy Escort Group Dates From To

SC 34 15–18 June 1941[21] Newfoundland Iceland

SC 50 25–31 Oct 1941[21] Newfoundland Iceland

ON 32 6–13 Nov 1941[22] Iceland Newfoundland

SC 56 24 Nov-12 Dec 1941[21] Newfoundland Iceland

ON 44 12–14 Dec 1941[22] Iceland Newfoundland

ON 76 16–28 March 1942[22] Northern Ireland Newfoundland

SC 78 9–21 April 1942[21] Newfoundland Northern Ireland

ON 102 MOEF group A3 12–21 June 1942[22] Northern Ireland Newfoundland

SC 101 MOEF group C4 23 Sept-3 Oct 1942[21] Newfoundland Northern Ireland

HMS Comet 20

ON 137 MOEF group C4 12–22 Oct 1942[22] Northern Ireland Newfoundland

Convoy SC 107 MOEF group C4 30 Oct-10 Nov 1942[21] Newfoundland Northern Ireland

ON 147 MOEF group C4 18–28 Nov 1942[22] Northern Ireland Newfoundland

SC 112 MOEF group C4 11–25 Dec 1942[21] Newfoundland Northern Ireland

ON 158 MOEF group C4 5–17 Jan 1943[22] Northern Ireland Newfoundland

HX 224 MOEF group C4 27 Jan-4 Feb 1943[23] Newfoundland Northern Ireland

KMF 10B MOEF group C4 2–9 March 1943[22] Firth of Clyde Mediterranean Sea

MKF 10B MOEF group C4 10–17 March 1943[22] Mediterranean Sea Firth of Clyde

ON 177 MOEF group C4 7–17 April 1943[22] Northern Ireland Newfoundland

HX 235 MOEF group C4 24 April-3 May 1943[23] Newfoundland Northern Ireland

ONS 8 MOEF group C4 18–29 May 1943[22] Northern Ireland Newfoundland

SC 133 MOEF group C4 8–19 June 1943[21] Newfoundland Northern Ireland

ONS 12 4–15 July 1943[22] Northern Ireland Newfoundland

SC 137 23 July-3 Aug 1943[21] Newfoundland Northern Ireland

ON 220 16–28 Jan 1944[22] Northern Ireland Newfoundland

HX 279 17–28 Feb 1944[23] Newfoundland Northern Ireland

ONS 30 2–10 March 1944[22] Northern Ireland Newfoundland

HX 283 19–28 March 1944[23] Newfoundland Northern Ireland

Notes[1] Whitley, p. 26[2] "cwt" is the abbreviation for hundredweight, 30 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.[3] Lenton, p. 154[4] Friedman, pp. 209, 236, 298–99[5] English, p. 45[6] Colledge, p. 75[7] English, p. 46[8] "Evening Post" (http:/ / paperspast. natlib. govt. nz/ cgi-bin/ paperspast?a=d& d=EP19360811. 2. 71. 1). 11 August 1936. . Retrieved 28

August 2011.[9] Brown, p. 164[10] Douglas, p. 68[11] English, pp. 46–47[12] Douglas, pp. 97–101[13] Winser, p. 51[14] English, p. 47[15] Douglas, pp. 195–97[16] Douglas, p. 617[17] Lenton, pp. 154–55[18] Friedman, p. 237[19] Rohwer, pp. 340, 347[20] "The Christening Bells Project" (http:/ / www. navalandmilitarymuseum. org/ resource_pages/ bells/ bell_details.

asp?Shipname=Restigouche). Canadian Forces Base Esquimalt Naval and Military Museum. . Retrieved 29 August 2011.

HMS Comet 21

[21] "SC convoys" (http:/ / www. convoyweb. org. uk/ sc/ index. html). Andrew Hague Convoy Database. . Retrieved 2011-06-19.[22] "ON convoys" (http:/ / www. convoyweb. org. uk/ on/ index. html). Andrew Hague Convoy Database. . Retrieved 2011-06-19.[23] "HX convoys" (http:/ / www. convoyweb. org. uk/ hx/ index. html). Andrew Hague Convoy Database. . Retrieved 2011-06-19.

Footnotes

References• Brown, David K. (2007). Atlantic Escorts: Ships, Weapons & Tactics in World War II. Annapolis, Maryland:

Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-012-2.• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships

of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475.• Douglas, W. A. B.; Sarty, Roger; Michael Whitby, Robert H. Caldwell, William Johnston, William G. P. Rawling

(2002). No Higher Purpose. The Official Operational History of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second WorldWar, 1939–1943. 2, pt. 1. St. Catharines, Ontario: Vanwell. ISBN 1-551250-061-6.

• English, John (1993). Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s. Kendal, England: WorldShip Society. ISBN 0-905617-64-9.

• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Annapolis,Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-59114-081-8.

• Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Commonwealth Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: NavalInstitute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.

• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (ThirdRevised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.

• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN 0-87021-326-1.

• Winser, John de D. (1999). B.E.F. Ships Before, At and After Dunkirk. Gravesend, Kent: World Ship Society.ISBN 0-905617-91-6.

External links• Restigouche on the Canadian Navy Heritage Project (http:/ / www. navy. gc. ca/ project_pride/ ships/ ship_e.

asp?shipNumber=5)• Restigouche on Naval-History.net (http:/ / www. naval-history. net/

xGM-Chrono-10DD-17C-Comet-RestigoucheRCN2. htm)

HMS Crescent 22

HMS Crescent

Career (United Kingdom)

Class and type: C-class destroyer

Name: HMS Crescent

Ordered: 30 January 1930

Builder: Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness

Laid down: 1 December 1930

Launched: 29 September 1931

Completed: 15 April 1932

Commissioned: 21 April 1932

Fate: Sold to Royal Canadian Navy, 20 October 1936

Career (Canada)

Name: HMCS Fraser

Namesake: Fraser River

Acquired: 20 October 1936

Commissioned: 17 February 1937

Identification: Pennant number H48

Honours andawards:

Atlantic 1939-40

Fate: Sunk in a collision with HMS Calcutta, 25 June 1940

General characteristics as built

Class and type: C-class destroyer

Displacement: 1375 long tons (1397 t) (standard)1865 long tons (1895 t) (deep)

Length: 329 ft (100.3 m) o/a

Beam: 33 ft (10.1 m)

Draught: 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m)

Installed power: 36000 shp (27000 kW)

HMS Crescent 23

Propulsion: 2 × shafts2 × Parsons geared steam turbines3 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)

Range: 5500 nmi (10200 km; 6300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)

Complement: 145

Armament: 4 × 1 - QF 4.7-inch Mk IX guns1 × 1 - QF 3-inch 20 cwt anti-aircraft gun2 × 1 - QF 2-pounder Mk II AA guns2 × 4 - 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes6 × depth charges, 3 chutes

HMS Crescent was a C-class destroyer which was built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. The ship was initiallyassigned to the Home Fleet, although she was temporarily deployed in the Red Sea and Indian Ocean during theAbyssinia Crisis of 1935–36. Crescent was sold to the Royal Canadian Navy in late 1936 and renamed HMCSFraser. She was stationed on the west coast of Canada until the beginning of World War II when she was transferredto the Atlantic coast for convoy escort duties. The ship was transferred to the United Kingdom (UK) in May 1940and helped to evacuate refugees from France upon her arrival in early June. Fraser was sunk on 25 June 1940 in acollision with the anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Calcutta while returning from one such mission.

Design and constructionCrescent displaced 1375 long tons (1397 t) at standard load and 1865 long tons (1895 t) at deep load. The ship hadan overall length of 329 feet (100.3 m), a beam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 m). She waspowered by Parsons geared steam turbines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 36000 shaft horsepower(27000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Steam for the turbines was provided bythree Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers. Crescent carried a maximum of 473 long tons (481 t) of fuel oil that gaveher a range of 5500 nautical miles (10200 km; 6300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ship's complement was145 officers and men.[1]

The ship mounted four 45-calibre 4.7-inch Mk IX guns in single mounts, designated 'A', 'B', 'X', and 'Y' from front torear. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Crescent had a single QF 3-inch 20 cwt[2] AA gun between her funnels, and two40-millimetre (1.6 in) QF 2-pounder Mk II AA guns mounted on the aft end of her forecastle deck. The 3-inch(76 mm) AA gun was removed in 1936 and the 2-pounders were relocated to between the funnels. She was fittedwith two above-water quadruple torpedo tube mounts for 21-inch torpedoes.[3] Three depth-charge chutes werefitted, each with a capacity of two depth charges. After World War II began this was increased to 33 depth charges,delivered by one or two rails and two throwers.[4]

Crescent was ordered on 30 January 1930 as part of the 1929 Naval Programme and laid down on 1 December 1930at Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness. She was launched on 29 September 1931 and completed on 15 April1932.[5]

Operational historyAfter the ship commissioned on 21 April 1932, she was assigned to the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla of the of the Home Fleet. Crescent collided with her sister HMS Comet at Chatham on 21 July and was under repair until 27 August. Crescent was refitted at Chatham between 30 March and 6 May 1933, before deploying to the West Indies between January and March 1934. She was given another refit at Chatham from 27 July to 3 September 1934. Crescent was detached from the Home Fleet during the Abyssinian Crisis, and deployed in the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea from September 1935 to April 1936. When the ship returned, she was refitted at Sheerness between 23 April to 13 June

HMS Crescent 24

and placed briefly in reserve.[6]

Transfer to the Royal Canadian NavyTogether with her sister HMS Cygnet, Crescent was sold to Canada on 20 October 1936 for a total price of£400,000. She was refitted again to meet Canadian standards, including the installation of ASDIC (sonar), and takenover by them on 1 February 1937. The ship was renamed as HMCS Fraser and commissioned into the RCN atChatham on 17 February. Fraser was assigned to the Canadian Pacific Coast and arrived at Esquimalt on 3 May1937. She remained there until she was ordered to the East Coast on 31 August 1939.[7]

When World War II began on 3 September, Fraser was transiting the Panama Canal and arrived at Halifax on 15September. She and her sisters were employed as local escorts to ocean convoys sailing from Halifax. In Novemberthe Royal Navy's North America and West Indies Station took operational control of the Canadian destroyers.[7] Theship escorted the convoy bringing most of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division to Britain part way across the NorthAtlantic in mid-December.[8] In March 1940 she was ordered to join the Jamaica Force for Caribbean patrols[7]

before being re-assigned to Western Approaches Command two months later.[1] On 26 May she left Bermuda forBritain and arrived at Plymouth on 3 June where she was pressed into service evacuating Allied troops from variousFrench ports on the Atlantic coast.[7] Sometime in 1940, the ship's aft set of torpedo tubes was removed and replacedby a 4-inch (102 mm) AA gun.[1]

HMCS Fraser on 25 June 1940, three days beforeher loss

Loss

On 25 June 1940, Fraser, her sister HMCS Restigouche, and thecruiser Calcutta were returning from St. Jean de Luz after rescuingrefugees trapped by the German Army (Operation Ariel), when Fraserwas rammed by Calcutta in the Gironde estuary. Struck forward of thebridge by the cruiser's bow, Fraser was cut in half and sankimmediately. All but 45 of the ship's crew were rescued byRestigouche and other nearby ships. Many of the survivors fromFraser transferred that later summer to HMCS Margaree, and werelost when that vessel sank on 22 October 1940 as a result of a collision

with the freighter MV Port Fairy.[9]

Notes[1] Whitley, p. 26[2] "cwt" is the abbreviation for hundredweight, 30 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.[3] Lenton, p. 154[4] Friedman, pp. 209, 236, 298–99[5] English, p. 45[6] English, pp. 45, 48[7] English, p. 48[8] Rohwer, p. 11[9] English, pp. 47–48, 60

HMS Crescent 25

Footnotes

References• Douglas, W. A. B.; Sarty, Roger; Michael Whitby, Robert H. Caldwell, William Johnston, William G. P. Rawling

(2002). No Higher Purpose. The Official Operational History of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second WorldWar, 1939–1943. 2, pt. 1. St. Catharines, Ontario: Vanwell. ISBN 1-551250-061-6.

• English, John (1993). Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s. Kendal, England: WorldShip Society. ISBN 0-905617-64-9.

• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Annapolis,Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-59114-081-8.

• Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Commonwealth Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: NavalInstitute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.

• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939-1945: The Naval History of World War Two (ThirdRevised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.

• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN 0-87021-326-1.

External links• Canadian Navy Heritage Project: HMCS Fraser (http:/ / www. navy. gc. ca/ project_pride/ ships/ ship_e.

asp?shipNumber=2)

HMS Crusader 26

HMS Crusader

HMCS Ottawa before 1942

Career (United Kingdom)

Name: HMS Crusader

Ordered: 15 July 1930

Builder: Portsmouth Dockyard

Laid down: 12 September 1930

Launched: 30 September 1931

Completed: 2 May 1932

Identification: Pennant number: H60

Motto: Non nobis Domine("Not under us, Lord")

Fate: Transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy, 15 June 1938

Badge: On a Field Black, a Shield silver, thereon a cross Red

Career (Canada)

Name: HMCS Ottawa

Namesake: Ottawa River

Commissioned: 15 June 1938

Honours andawards:

Atlantic, 1939–45

Fate: Sunk by U-91, 14 September 1942

General characteristics

Class and type: C-class destroyer

Displacement: 1375 long tons (1397 t) (standard)1865 long tons (1895 t) (deep)

Length: 329 ft (100.3 m) o/a

Beam: 33 ft (10.1 m)

Draught: 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m)

HMS Crusader 27

Installed power: 36000 shp (27000 kW)

Propulsion: 2 × shafts2 × Parsons geared steam turbines3 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)

Range: 5500 nmi (10200 km; 6300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)

Complement: 145

Armament: 4 × 1 - QF 4.7-inch Mk IX guns1 × 1 - QF 3-inch 20 cwt anti-aircraft gun2 × 1 – QF 2-pounder Mk II AA guns2 × 4 – 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes6 × depth charges, 3 chutes

HMS Crusader was a C-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. She saw service in the Homeand Mediterranean Fleets and spent six months during the Spanish Civil War in late 1936 in Spanish waters,enforcing the arms blockade imposed by Britain and France on both sides of the conflict. Crusader was sold to theRoyal Canadian Navy (RCN) in 1938 and renamed HMCS Ottawa. She was initially deployed on the CanadianPacific Coast before World War II, but was transferred to the Atlantic three months after the war began. She servedas a convoy escort during the battle of the Atlantic until sunk by the German submarine U-91 on 14 September1942.Together with a British destroyer, she sank an Italian submarine in the North Atlantic in November 1941.

Design and constructionCrusader displaced 1375 long tons (1397 t) at standard load and 1865 long tons (1895 t) at deep load. The ship hadan overall length of 329 feet (100.3 m), a beam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 m). She waspowered by Parsons geared steam turbines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 36000 shaft horsepower(27000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Steam for the turbines was provided bythree Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers. Crusader carried a maximum of 473 long tons (481 t) of fuel oil thatgave her a range of 5500 nautical miles (10200 km; 6300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ship's complementwas 145 officers and men.[1]

The ship mounted four 45-calibre 4.7-inch Mk IX guns in single mounts, designated 'A', 'B', 'X', and 'Y' from front torear. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Crusader had a single QF 3-inch 20 cwt[2] AA gun between her funnels, andtwo 40-millimetre (1.6 in) QF 2-pounder Mk II AA guns mounted on the aft end of her forecastle deck. The 3-inch(76 mm) AA gun was removed in 1936 and the 2-pounders were relocated to between the funnels. She was fittedwith two above-water quadruple torpedo tube mounts for 21-inch torpedoes.[3] Three depth-charge chutes werefitted, each with a capacity of two depth charges. After World War II began this was increased to 33 depth charges,delivered by one or two rails and two throwers.[4]

The ship was ordered on 15 July 1930 from Portsmouth Dockyard under the 1929 Naval Programme. Crusader waslaid down on 12 September 1930, launched on 30 September 1931,[5] as the second ship to carry the name,[6] andcompleted on 2 May 1932.[5]

Service historyCrusader was initially assigned to the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla of Home Fleet and remained with this flotilla for the next four years. She received her first refit at Portsmouth from 30 July to 4 September 1934. Following the Italian invasion of Abyssinia in August 1935, Crusader was sent with the rest of her flotilla to reinforce the Mediterranean Fleet the following month. From October to March 1936 she was deployed in the Red Sea to monitor Italian warship movements. Upon her return in April, the ship was refitted at Portsmouth from 27 April to 30 May. During the

HMS Crusader 28

beginning of the Spanish Civil War in August–September 1936, the ship evacuated British nationals from Spanishports on the Bay of Biscay. Crusader was assigned as the plane guard for the aircraft carrier Courageous fromJanuary 1937 to March 1938, aside from a brief refit between 30 March and 27 April 1937. The ship began a majorrefit at Sheerness on 28 April 1938[7] to bring her up to Canadian specifications that included the installation of Type124 ASDIC.[8]

Transfer to the Royal Canadian NavyThe ship was purchased for C$817,500 by the Royal Canadian Navy and she was commissioned on 15 June asHMCS Ottawa.[9] The ship was assigned to the Canadian Pacific Coast and arrived at Esquimalt on 7 November1938.[10] She remained there until she was ordered to Halifax, Nova Scotia on 15 November 1939 where sheescorted local convoys, including the convoy carrying half of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division to the UK on 10December.[11] Ottawa's stern was damaged in a collision with the tugboat Bansurf in April 1940 and repairs took twomonths to complete.[10]

On 27 August 1940, Ottawa was sailed to Greenock, Scotland, and assigned to the 10th Escort Group[10] of theWestern Approaches Command upon her arrival on 4 September for convoy escort duties.[12] In October, the ship'srear torpedo tube mount was exchanged for a 12-pounder AA gun.[10] On September 24–26, she rescued survivors oftwo British merchant ships; 55 from SS Sulairia that had been sunk by German submarine U-43 and 60 fromSS Eurymedon that had been sunk by U-29. Ottawa assisted the British destroyer Harvester in sinking the Italiansubmarine Comandante Faà di Bruno on 7 November. By mid-November, Ottawa had been fitted with a Type 286Mshort-range surface-search radar, adapted from the Royal Air Force's ASV radar. This early model, however, couldonly scan directly forward and had to be aimed by turning the entire ship. On November 23, she rescued 29 survivorsof the grain carrier SS Bussum which had been sunk by U-100.[13]

HMCS Ottawa with a 12-pounder AA gun in lieuof her rear torpedo tubes and 'Y' gun removed

Ottawa returned to Canada in June 1941 and was assigned to theRCN's Newfoundland Escort Force which covered convoys in theMid-Atlantic. She was transferred to Escort Group C4 in May 1942.[10]

In early September, the ship's captain refused to allow herdirector-control tower and rangefinder to be removed in exchange for aType 271 target indication radar. On 14 September, while escortingConvoy ON 127 500 nautical miles (930 km) east of St. John's,Newfoundland, Ottawa was torpedoed by U-91. Ten minutes later,

unable to maneuver, she was hit by a second torpedo. She sank ten minutes later; 114 crewmen lost their lives,including the commanding officer, while nearby vessels rescued 69 survivors.[14]

The armament changes undergone by the ship during the war are not entirely clear. Photographic evidence showsthat four Oerlikon 20 mm AA guns were added, one pair to her searchlight platform and the other pair on the bridgewings, although Ottawa retained her 2-pounder guns even after the Oerlikons were added.[15] 'Y' gun was alsoremoved to allow her depth charge stowage to be increased to at least 60 depth charges.[16]

Trans-Atlantic convoys escorted

HMS Crusader 29

Convoy Escort Group Dates Notes

HX 133 20–27 June 1941[17] Newfoundland to Iceland

SC 46 27 Sept – 5 Oct 1941[18] Newfoundland to Iceland

ON 25 19–24 Oct 1941[19] Iceland to Newfoundland

SC 57 1–9 Dec 1941[18] Newfoundland to Iceland

ON 46 17–20 Dec 1941[19] Iceland to Newfoundland

SC 64 12–20 Jan 1942[18] Newfoundland to Iceland

SC 85 MOEF group C4 31 May – 12 June 1942[18] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 105 MOEF group C4 20–28 June 1942[19] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

HX 197 MOEF group C4 9–16 July 1942[17] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 116 MOEF group C4 26 July – 5 Aug 1942[19] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

SC 96 MOEF group C4 15–26 Aug 1942[18] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

Convoy ON 127 MOEF group C4 5–14 Sept 1942[19] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

Notes[1] Whitley, p. 26[2] "cwt" is the abbreviation for hundredweight, 30 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.[3] Lenton, p. 154[4] Friedman, pp. 209, 236, 298–99[5] English, p. 45[6] Colledge, p. 75[7] English, pp. 48–49[8] Brown, p. 164[9] "Ship Technical Information" (http:/ / www. navy. gc. ca/ project_pride/ ships/ ship_e. asp?shipNumber=4). Canadian Navy Heritage Project.

. Retrieved 2 September 2011.[10] English, p. 49[11] Douglas, p. 68[12] Douglas, p. 108[13] Douglas, pp. 110–11, 114–15, 118, 122[14] Douglas, pp. 515, 522, 524[15] "High resolution pictures of HMCS Ottawa" (http:/ / www. navy. gc. ca/ project_pride/ includes/ downloadAll_e. asp?file=/ project_pride/

all_zip_files/ 0HMCS OTTAWA. zip). Canadian Navy Heritage Project. . Retrieved 2 September 2011.[16] Friedman, p. 237[17] "HX convoys" (http:/ / www. convoyweb. org. uk/ hx/ index. html). Andrew Hague Convoy Database. . Retrieved 19 June 2011.[18] "SC convoys" (http:/ / www. convoyweb. org. uk/ sc/ index. html). Andrew Hague Convoy Database. . Retrieved 19 June 2011.[19] "ON convoys" (http:/ / www. convoyweb. org. uk/ on/ index. html). Andrew Hague Convoy Database. . Retrieved 19 June 2011.

HMS Crusader 30

Footnotes

References• Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships

of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8. OCLC 67375475.• Douglas, W. A. B.; Sarty, Roger; Michael Whitby, Robert H. Caldwell, William Johnston, William G. P. Rawling

(2002). No Higher Purpose. The Official Operational History of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second WorldWar, 1939–1943. 2, pt. 1. St. Catharines, Ontario: Vanwell. ISBN 1-551250-061-6.

• English, John (1993). Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s. Kendal, England: WorldShip Society. ISBN 0-905617-64-9.

• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Annapolis,Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-59114-081-8.

• Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Commonwealth Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: NavalInstitute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.

• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (ThirdRevised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.

• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN 0-87021-326-1.

External links• Ottawa on Canadian Navy Heritage Project (http:/ / www. navy. gc. ca/ project_pride/ ships/ ship_e.

asp?shipNumber=4)• Ottawa on Naval-history.net (http:/ / www. naval-history. net/ xGM-Chrono-10DD-17C-Crusader-Ottawa1RCN.

htm)

HMS Cygnet 31

HMS Cygnet

St Laurent, 20 August 1941

Career (United Kingdom)

Name: HMS Cygnet

Namesake: Cygnet

Ordered: 9 July 1930

Builder: Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow

Yard number: 667

Laid down: 1 December 1930

Launched: 29 September 1931

Completed: 1 April 1932

Decommissioned: 30 September 1936

Identification: Pennant number: H83

Fate: Sold to the Royal Canadian Navy, 1 February 1937

Career (Canada)

Name: HMCS St. Laurent

Namesake: St. Lawrence River

Acquired: 1 February 1937

Commissioned: 17 February 1937

Decommissioned: 10 October 1945

Identification: Pennant number: H83

Honours andawards:

Atlantic 1939-45Normandy 1944

Fate: Scrapped in 1947

General characteristics

Class and type: C-class destroyer

Displacement: 1375 long tons (1397 t) (standard)1865 long tons (1895 t) (deep)

Length: 329 ft (100.3 m) o/a

Beam: 33 ft (10.1 m)

Draught: 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m)

Installed power: 36000 shp (27000 kW)

HMS Cygnet 32

Propulsion: 2 × shafts2 × Parsons geared steam turbines3 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)

Range: 5500 nmi (10200 km; 6300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)

Complement: 145

Armament: 4 × 1 - QF 4.7-inch Mk IX guns1 × 1 - QF 3-inch 20 cwt anti-aircraft gun2 × 1 - QF 2-pounder Mk II AA guns2 × 4 - 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes6 × depth charges, 3 chutes

HMS Cygnet (H83) was a C class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. The ship was initiallyassigned to the Home Fleet, although she was temporarily deployed in the Red Sea during the Abyssinia Crisis of1935–36. Cygnet was sold to the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) in late 1937 and renamed HMCS St. Laurent. Shewas stationed on the west coast of Canada when World War II began in September 1939, and had to be transferred tothe Atlantic coast for convoy escort duties. She served as a convoy escort in the Battle of the Atlantic andparticipated in the sinking of two German submarines. The ship was on anti-submarine patrols during the invasion ofNormandy, and was employed as a troop transport after VE Day for returning Canadian servicemen. St. Laurent wasdecommissioned in late 1945 and scrapped in 1947.

Design and constructionCygnet displaced 1375 long tons (1397 t) at standard load and 1865 long tons (1895 t) at deep load. The ship had anoverall length of 329 feet (100.3 m), a beam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 m). She waspowered by Parsons geared steam turbines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 36000 shaft horsepower(27000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Steam for the turbines was provided bythree Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers. Cygnet carried a maximum of 473 long tons (481 t) of fuel oil that gaveher a range of 5500 nautical miles (10200 km; 6300 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ship's complement was145 officers and men.[1]

The ship mounted four 45-calibre 4.7-inch Mk IX guns in single mounts, designated 'A', 'B', 'X', and 'Y' from front torear. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Cygnet had a single QF 3-inch 20 cwt[2] AA gun between her funnels, and two40-millimetre (1.6 in) QF 2-pounder Mk II AA guns mounted on the aft end of her forecastle deck. The 3-inch(76 mm) AA gun was removed in 1936 and the 2-pounders were relocated to between the funnels. She was fittedwith two above-water quadruple torpedo tube mounts for 21-inch torpedoes.[3] Three depth-charge chutes werefitted, each with a capacity of two depth charges. After World War II began this was increased to 33 depth charges,delivered by one or two rails and two throwers.[4]

The ship was ordered on 15 July 1930 from Vickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness under the 1929 Programme.Cygnet was laid down on 1 December 1930, launched on 29 September 1931,[5] as the 14th ship to carry the name,[6]

and completed on 1 April 1932.[5]

Service historyAfter the ship commissioned on 9 April 1932, she was assigned to the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla of the Home Fleet. Cygnet spent a lot of time in dockyard hands during her first two years of service. She was repaired at Devonport in November 1932 – January 1933, March–May, July–August and November 1933 – January 1934 before deploying to the West Indies with the Home Fleet between January and March 1934. The ship required more repairs upon her return in April–May and then a refit from 25 July to 31 August 1934. Cygnet was detached from the Home Fleet

HMS Cygnet 33

during the Abyssinian Crisis, and deployed in the Red Sea from September 1935 to April 1936. The ship returned tothe UK in April 1936 and refitted at Devonport between 20 April and 18 June before resuming duty with the HomeFleet. In July–August she was deployed for patrol duties off the Spanish coast in the Bay of Biscay to interceptshipping carrying contraband goods to Spain and to protect British-flagged shipping during the first stages of theSpanish Civil War.[7]

Transfer to the Royal Canadian NavyTogether with her sister HMS Crescent, Cygnet was sold to Canada on 20 October 1936 for a total price of£400,000. She was refitted again to meet Canadian standards,[7] including the installation of Type 124 ASDIC,[8] andhanded over on 1 February 1937. The ship was renamed as HMCS St. Laurent and commissioned into the RCN on17 February. St. Laurent was assigned to Halifax, Nova Scotia and arrived there in May. She remained there for ayear before she was transferred to Esquimalt in 1938.[7] The ship remained there until she was ordered to the EastCoast on 31 August 1939, arriving at Halifax on 18 September. St. Laurent escorted local convoys while based there,including the convoy carrying half of the 1st Canadian Infantry Division to the UK on 10 December. The ship wasordered to Plymouth on 24 May 1940 and arrived there on 31 May. Upon arrival, the ship's rear torpedo tube mountwas removed and replaced by a 12-pounder AA gun and the 2-pounders were exchanged for quadruple Mark Imounts for the QF 0.5-inch Vickers Mark III machine gun.[9]

On 9 June, St. Laurent was ordered to Le Havre, France to evacuate British troops, but none were to be found andthe ship evacuated a small group of French soldiers further up the coast on 11 June. The ship was taken under fire bya German artillery battery near Saint-Valery-en-Caux, but she was not hit and Lieutenant Commander H.G. DeWolf,the ship's captain, ordered her to return fire although no results were noted. After returning to England, St. Laurentescorted several troop convoys on the last legs of their journeys from Canada, Australia and New Zealand inmid-June and was assigned to escort duties with Western Approaches Command afterwards.[10]

On 2 July, whilst escorting the British battleship Nelson, St. Laurent received word that the unescorted Britishpassenger ship SS Arandora Star had been torpedoed by U-47, about 125 nautical miles (232 km; 144 mi) northeastof Malin Head, Ireland. Arriving some four and a half hours after the ocean liner sank, the ship rescued 857survivors, including German and Italian prisoners of war. Together with the British sloop Sandwich, she badlydamaged the German submarine U-52 whilst defending Convoy HX 60 on 4 August. On 2 December, St. Laurentrescued survivors from the armed merchant cruiser HMS Forfar that had been torpedoed and sunk by U-99 as wellsurvivors from the British oil tanker Conch.[11]

After refitting at Halifax from 3 March to 11 July 1941, St. Laurent was assigned to the 14th Escort Group of theRCN's Newfoundland Escort Force which covered convoys in the Mid-Atlantic.[7] Whilst escorting Convoy ON 33in November in a gale, the ship was damaged severely enough by the weather that she was forced to return toHalifax for repairs.[12] St. Laurent was transferred to the Mid-Ocean Escort Force in December and remained untilMarch 1943. She was given a lengthy refit at Halifax in April–August 1942.[7] In early December 1942, the ship'sdirector-control tower and rangefinder were exchanged for a Type 271 target indication radar mounted above thebridge. By this time, she had been fitted with a high-frequency direction finding system as well. Whilst assigned toEscort Group C1 defending Convoy ON 154 in late December 1942, St. Laurent had her first victory on 27December 1942 when she was credited with sinking U-356 while north of the Azores.[13]

The ship was refitted in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia between 17 August and December 1943. On 10 March 1944, St.Laurent was credited with sinking U-845 in the North Atlantic, along with the destroyer HMS Forester, and frigatesHMCS Owen Sound and HMCS Swansea.[7]

HMS Cygnet 34

Late-war photo of St. Laurent

The other changes made to the ship's armament during the war (exactlywhen these occurred is unknown) included the replacement of 'B' gunby a Hedgehog anti-submarine spigot mortar, exchanging the twoquadruple .50-calibre Vickers machine guns mounted between herfunnels for two Oerlikon 20 mm AA guns, the addition of twoOerlikon guns to her searchlight platform and another pair were fitted

on the wings of her bridge, and the removal of her 12-pounder AA gun. Type 286 short-range surface search radarwas also added.[14] 'Y' gun was also removed to allow her depth charge stowage to be increased to at least 60 depthcharges.[15]

In May 1944 she was transferred to the 11th Escort Group to support the Allied landings in Normandy. On D-Dayitself – 6 June 1944 – she was deployed with the Canadian destroyers Chaudière, Gatineau, Kootenay and Ottawastationed in the entrance to the English Channel to prevent U-boat attacks on the invasion convoys. Later she wasdeployed with her group in the Bay of Biscay for anti-submarine operations. On 8 August she was unsuccessfullyattacked by a glide bomb, and on the 13th she and Ottawa rescued survivors from U-270 which had been sunk withdepth charges by a Sunderland aircraft. These duties continued into October, when she returned to Canada to refit.Conducted at Shelburne, Nova Scotia, the refit lasted from November 1944 to 20 March 1945. St. Laurent returnedto service in April 1945, and was attached to the Halifax Escort Force for convoy defence off the east coast. After theGerman surrender on 6 May, she was employed as a troop transport, until paid off on 10 October 1945. The ship wassold for scrap and broken up in 1947.[7]

Trans-Atlantic convoys escorted

Convoy Escort Group Dates Notes

HX 138 15-23 July 1941[16] Newfoundland to Iceland

SC 45 22-29 Sept 1941[17] Newfoundland to Iceland

ON 21 5-14 Oct 1941[18] Iceland to Newfoundland

SC 51 2-4 Nov 1941[17] Newfoundland to Iceland

ON 33 10-13 Nov 1941[18] Iceland to Newfoundland

SC 58 6-15 Dec 1941[17] Newfoundland to Iceland

ON 48 26-late Dec 1941[18] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

HX 170 13-16 Jan 1942[16] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

SC 65 20-29 Jan 1942[17] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 62 6-15 Feb 1942[18] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

SC 72 7-16 March 1942[17] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 81 30 March-9 April 1942[18] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

ON 119 MOEF group C2 15-20 Aug 1942[18] Iceland to Newfoundland

ON 121 MOEF group C3 20-22 Aug 1942[18] Iceland to Newfoundland

ON 126 MOEF group B3 30 Aug-13 Sept 1942[18] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

ON 133 MOEF group C1 26 Sept-6 Oct 1942[18] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

HMS Cygnet 35

ON 143 MOEF group C1 9-13 Nov 1942[18] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

SC 110 MOEF group C1 24 Nov-6 Dec 1942[17] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

Convoy ON 154 MOEF group C1 19-31 Dec 1942[18] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

HX 227 MOEF group B6 24 Feb-5 March 1943[16] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ONS 2 MOEF group C1 5-14 April 1943[18] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

SC 127 MOEF group C1 20 April-2 May 1943[17] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 184 MOEF group C1 16-25 May 1943[18] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

HX 242 6-14 June 1943[16] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 190 25 June-3 July 1943[18] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

HX 247 14-21 July 1943[16] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 195 3-8 Aug 1943[18] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

HX 276 27 Jan-6 Feb 1944[16] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 224 15-26 Feb 1944[18] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

SC 154 2-15 March 1944[17] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ONS 32 29 March-13 April 1944[18] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

HX 287 22-25 April 1944[16] Newfoundland to Northern Ireland

ON 267 19-24 Nov 1944[18] Northern Ireland to Newfoundland

Notes[1] Whitley, p. 26[2] "cwt" is the abbreviation for hundredweight, 30 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.[3] Lenton, p. 154[4] Friedman, pp. 209, 236, 298–99[5] English, p. 45[6] Colledge, p. 87[7] English, p. 50[8] Brown, p. 164[9] Douglas, pp. 52, 68, 96–97[10] Douglas, pp. 97–98[11] Douglas, pp. 101–04, 127–28[12] Douglas, p. 298[13] Douglas, pp. 568–70[14] Lenton, pp. 154–55[15] Friedman, p. 237[16] "HX convoys" (http:/ / www. convoyweb. org. uk/ hx/ index. html). Andrew Hague Convoy Database. . Retrieved 2011-06-19.[17] "SC convoys" (http:/ / www. convoyweb. org. uk/ sc/ index. html). Andrew Hague Convoy Database. . Retrieved 2011-06-19.[18] "ON convoys" (http:/ / www. convoyweb. org. uk/ on/ index. html). Andrew Hague Convoy Database. . Retrieved 2011-06-19.

HMS Cygnet 36

Footnotes

References• Douglas, W. A. B.; Sarty, Roger; Michael Whitby, Robert H. Caldwell, William Johnston, William G. P. Rawling

(2002). No Higher Purpose. The Official Operational History of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second WorldWar, 1939–1943. 2, pt. 1. St. Catharines, Ontario: Vanwell. ISBN 1-551250-061-6.

• English, John (1993). Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s. Kendal, England: WorldShip Society. ISBN 0-905617-64-9.

• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Annapolis,Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-59114-081-8.

• Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Commonwealth Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: NavalInstitute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.

• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939-1945: The Naval History of World War Two (ThirdRevised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.

• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN 0-87021-326-1.

External links• St. Laurent on Canadian Navy History Project (http:/ / www. navy. gc. ca/ project_pride/ ships/ ship_e.

asp?shipNumber=3)• St. Laurent on Naval-history.org (http:/ / www. naval-history. net/

xGM-Chrono-10DD-17C-Cygnet-StLaurentRCN. htm)

37

D-class destroyers

HMS Duncan

Duncan in March 1943

Career (UK)

Class and type: D-class flotilla leader

Name: HMS Duncan

Namesake: Admiral Adam Duncan

Ordered: 2 February 1931

Builder: Portsmouth Dockyard

Laid down: 3 September 1931

Launched: 7 July 1932

Commissioned: 5 April 1933

Decommissioned: May 1945

Motto: Secundis dubusque rectus("Upright in prosperity and peril")

Honours andawards:

Spartivento (1940), Malta Convoys (1941), Mediterranean (1941), Atlantic (1941–45), Diego Suarez (1942)

Fate: Sold for scrap in September 1945

Badge: On a Field Red, a hunting horn Silver

General characteristics

Displacement: 1400 long tons (1400 t)

HMS Duncan 38

Length: 329 ft (100 m)

Beam: 33 ft (10 m)

Draught: 12 ft 6 in (3.81 m)

Installed power: 36000 shp (27000 kW)

Propulsion: 2 × shafts2 × Parsons geared steam turbines3 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)

Range: 5870 nmi (10870 km; 6760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)

Complement: 175

Sensors andprocessing systems:

ASDIC

Armament: 4 × QF 4.7-inch Mark IX guns1 × 12-pounder (3 in (76.2 mm)) anti-aircraft (AA) gun2 × 1 – QF 2-pounder Mk II AA guns2 × 4 – 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes20 × depth charges, 1 rail and 2 throwers

HMS Duncan was a D-class destroyer leader built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. The ship was initiallyassigned to the Mediterranean Fleet before she was transferred to the China Station in early 1935 where sheremained until mid-1939. Duncan returned to the Mediterranean Fleet just after World War II began in September1939. She was transferred to the Home Fleet in December 1939, although she was badly damaged in a collision thefollowing month, and required repairs that lasted until July 1940. The ship joined Force H at Gibraltar in October,escorting the larger ships and various convoys until March 1941 when she was transferred to West Africa for convoyescort duties for a few months. Duncan rejoined the 13th Destroyer Flotilla at Gibraltar in July and escorted severalconvoys to Malta during the rest of the year. After a refit, she briefly returned to the 13th Destroyer Flotilla beforejoining the Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean to participate in Operation Ironclad in May 1942. The ship was recalledhome to be converted into an escort destroyer in late 1942.Duncan was assigned to Escort Group B-7 in the North Atlantic after her conversion was complete in May 1943. Sheescorted a number of convoys before she required a lengthy refit from November to May 1944. She helped to sinktwo German submarines in October 1943. The ship was assigned to anti-submarine duties in the WesternApproaches after her refit was finished in May 1944, and Duncan remained there until April 1945. At that time shewas transferred to coastal anti-submarine patrols to counter any last-gasp effort by the Kriegsmarine to interfere withthe Allied supply lines to the Continent. Placed in reserve the following month, Duncan was in bad shape and wassold for scrap later that year. The demolition, however, was not completed until 1949.

Design and constructionDuncan displaced 1400 long tons (1400 t) at standard load. The ship had an overall length of 329 feet (100.3 m), abeam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 m). She was powered by Parsons geared steamturbines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 36000 shaft horsepower (27000 kW) and gave a maximumspeed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Steam for the turbines was provided by three Admiralty 3-drum water-tubeboilers. Duncan carried a maximum of 390 long tons (400 t) of fuel oil that gave her a range of 5870 nautical miles(10870 km; 6760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ship's complement was 175 officers and men.[1]

The ship mounted four 45-calibre 4.7-inch Mk IX guns in single mounts designated 'A', 'B', 'X' and 'Y' from front to rear. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Duncan had a single 12-pounder AA gun between her funnels and two quadruple Mark I mounts for the QF 0.5-inch Vickers Mark III machine guns mounted on the sides of her bridge.

HMS Duncan 39

She was fitted with two above-water quadruple torpedo tube mounts for 21-inch torpedoes.[1] One depth charge railand two throwers were fitted; 20 depth charges were originally carried, but this increased to 35 shortly after the warbegan.[2] In 1936, the 12-pounder was replaced by two QF 2-pounder Mk II AA guns. Sometime after the Dunkirkevacuation, the ship's rear torpedo tube mount was removed and replaced by a 12-pounder AA gun and the quadruple0.5-inch machine guns were replaced by 20-millimetre (0.79 in) Oerlikon AA guns.[3]

Duncan was ordered under the 1930 Naval Estimates on 2 February 1931 from Portsmouth Dockyard. She was laiddown on 25 September 1931, launched on 7 July 1932 and finally commissioned into the Navy on 31 March 1933.Built as a flotilla leader, she displaced 25 long tons more than the rest of her class and carried an extra 30 personnel.These personnel formed the staff of the Captain (D) of the flotilla.[4]

Career

Pre-World War IIThe ship was initially assigned as the leader of the 1st Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean and made a briefdeployment to the Persian Gulf and Red Sea in September–November 1933. After refitting at Portsmouth between 3September and 23 October, Duncan led most of her flotilla to the China Station, arriving at Hong Kong on 3 January1935. The next few years were spent "showing the flag" around the Far East, and visiting Japan, the Philippines, theDutch East Indies, Singapore, Thailand and Malaya. The ship was under repairs between 14 December 1936 and 4January 1937 from damage sustained when testing refuelling at sea techniques. She was in Shanghai during theJapanese invasion of 1937 and evacuated British civilians to Woosung, together with the sloop HMS Falmouth. On28 October 1938, Duncan was struck by the Greek steamer Pipina whilst lying at anchor at Foo Chow, China. Theship was repaired and given a refit at Hong Kong between 31 October and 14 January 1939. She was lightlydamaged when struck by a high-speed target at Wei Hai Wei, China, in July 1939.[5]

World War IIWith the outbreak of war, Duncan and her sisters Diana, Daring, and Dainty, were transferred to the MediterraneanFleet, arriving at Alexandria on 30 September. All the ships were in poor condition, and, after repair, they conductedcontraband control duties. In December Duncan, along with her sister Duchess, was assigned to escort the battleshipBarham back to the UK, and they departed Gibraltar on 6 December. During the morning of 10 December, Barhamcollided with Duchess off the Mull of Kintyre in heavy fog, sinking the destroyer with the loss of 124 lives. Duncanwas assigned to the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla of the Home Fleet on 12 December.[6]

She was damaged in a collision with a merchant vessel on 17 January whilst escorting Convoy ON18, and had to betaken under tow. After temporary repairs at Invergordon, she was towed to Grangemouth for repairs that were notcompleted until 22 July. She carried out post-refit trials and returned to Scapa Flow to rejoin the 3rd DestroyerFlotilla. She transferred to the 13th Destroyer Flotilla based at Gibraltar in October, escorting the aircraft carrier ArkRoyal, Barham, the heavy cruiser Berwick, and the light cruisers Glasgow and Sheffield from the Firth of Clyde toGibraltar. Joining Force H, she escorted Barham during Operation Coat, the carrier Argus when she flew off HawkerHurricane fighters to Malta during Operation White and escorted Force F to Malta during Collar during November.During the Battle of Cape Spartivento in late November, Duncan was detailed to escort the convoy away from theItalians.[7]

On 1 January 1941, she led four ships of the 13th Destroyer Flotilla as they intercepted a Vichy French convoy near Mellila and seized all four merchant ships of the convoy.[8] A few days later she took part in Operation Excess, a military convoy taking stores to Piraeus and Alexandria.[5] During Operation Grog in early February, the ship escorted the larger ships of Force H as they bombarded Genoa.[9] She then escorted the battlecruiser Repulse and the carrier Furious from Gibraltar to West Africa in early March and remained there afterwards. Based at Freetown, the ship escorted convoys through West African waters until July when she was recalled to the Mediterranean to escort

HMS Duncan 40

the Operation Substance convoy from Gibraltar to Malta in July 1941[5] Reassigned to the 13th Destroyer Flotilla,Duncan remained at Gibraltar and was part of the close escort for the Operation Halberd convoy in lateSeptember.[10]

In October she was assigned as part of the escort for Convoy HG 75, from Gibraltar to Liverpool,[11] because shewas scheduled for a refit in the Sheerness Dockyard. It began on 16 November and lasted until 23 January 1942,after which Duncan rejoined the 13th Destroyer Flotilla at Gibraltar.[12] In late February and March, the shipescorted the carriers Eagle and Argus as they flew off fighters for Malta.[13] The following month, Duncan wastransferred to the 22nd Destroyer Flotilla of the Eastern Fleet to support Operation Ironclad, the invasion of DiegoSuarez.[14] After four months of operations in the Indian Ocean, the Admiralty decided to convert her to an escortdestroyer, and accordingly she returned to the United Kingdom via the Cape of Good Hope as an escort for thebattleship Royal Sovereign. The ship arrived in Greenock on 16 November, but did not begin her conversion atTilbury until 24 November.[12]

This involved the replacement of 'A' gun by a Hedgehog anti-submarine spigot mortar, the removal of herdirector-control tower and rangefinder above the bridge in exchange for a Type 271 target indication radar,exchanging her two 2-pounder AA guns mounted between her funnels for two Oerlikon 20 mm AA guns, theaddition of two Oerlikon guns to her searchlight platform, and the removal of her 12-pounder AA gun.[15] 'Y' gunwas also removed to allow her depth charge stowage to be increased to 98 depth charges.[16]

In March 1943, Duncan carried out sea trials and went to Tobermory to work up. In April she joined Escort GroupB-7 as the Senior Officer's ship, with Commander Peter Gretton[17] in command at the height of the Battle of theAtlantic. She escorted Convoy ONS-5 in early May, a major convoy battle which saw the destruction of six U boatsfor the loss of thirteen ships, although Duncan was forced to withdraw for lack of fuel before the battle was over.Later that month, she escorted Convoy SC-130, in which three U-boats were destroyed for the loss of no ships.[18]

Duncan continued on North Atlantic escort duty until October 1943; on 16 October the ship rescued 15 survivorsfrom U-470 which had been sunk earlier by an Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber of the Royal Air Force.[12]

Whilst defending Convoy ON-207 on 23 October, Duncan, together with the destroyer Vidette and a Liberator ofNo. 224 Squadron RAF, sank U-274.[19] Later the same month, on 29 October, Duncan shared the sinking of U-282with Vidette and the corvette Sunflower whilst protecting Convoy ON-208.[12]

By this time the ship was in poor shape and required an extensive refit; the work last from 12 November to 17 May1944 at the North Woolwich, London shipyard of Harland and Wolff. After working up, she was assigned to the 14thEscort Group for anti-submarine operations in the Western Approaches. Duncan conducted convoy escort andanti-submarine operations with the group through April 1945 when she was assigned to the Greenock Coastal EscortPool. The ship was placed in reserve on 13 May and was transferred to Barrow on 9 June. She approved forimmediate disposal on 8 July as she was leaking five tons of water a day. Duncan was turned over to BISCO forscrapping immediately afterwards, but demolition was not completed until 1949.[12]

Notes[1] Whitley, p. 101[2] English, p. 141[3] Lenton, pp. 155–56[4] English, p. 51[5] English, p. 52[6] English, pp. 52, 60[7] Rohwer, pp. 47, 49–50[8] Osborne, p. 26[9] Rohwer, p. 58[10] Rohwer, p. 103[11] Rohwer, p. 109[12] English, p. 53[13] Rohwer, pp. 149, 153

HMS Duncan 41

[14] Rohwer, p. 161[15] Lenton, p. 156[16] Friedman, p. 237[17] "Peter Gretton at unithistories.com" (http:/ / www. unithistories. com/ officers/ RN_officersG4. html#Gretton). World War II unit histories

and officers. . Retrieved 27 August 2011.[18] Rohwer, pp. 247, 250–51[19] Rohwer, p. 283

References• English, John (1993). Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s. Kendal, England: World

Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-64-9.• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Annapolis,

Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-59114-081-8.• Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Commonwealth Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval

Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.• Osborne, Richard, Dr. (February 2011). "Ration: Royal Navy Operations Against the Vichy French Merchant

Fleet 1940–1942 Part One". Warships (London: World Ship Society) (165): 21–34. ISSN 0966-6958.• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third

Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.

ISBN 0-87021-326-1.

External links• C- & D-class destroyers at Battleships-cruisers.co.uk (http:/ / www. battleships-cruisers. co. uk/ c+ d_class. htm)• HMS Duncan on Naval-History.net (http:/ / www. naval-history. net/ xGM-Chrono-10DD-18D-Duncan. htm)

HMS Dainty 42

HMS Dainty

Career (United Kingdom)

Name: HMS Dainty

Ordered: 2 February 1931

Builder: Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan, Scotstoun

Cost: £229,378

Laid down: 20 April 1931

Launched: 3 May 1932

Completed: 22 December 1932

Motto: Dulce quod utile: 'It is pleasant if it is useful’.

Fate: Sunk by air attack, 24 February 1941

Badge: On a Field Blue, a Fan White and Gold.

General characteristics

Class and type: D-class destroyer

Displacement: 1375 long tons (1397 t) (standard)1890 long tons (1920 t) (deep)

Length: 329 ft (100.3 m) o/a

Beam: 33 ft (10.1 m)

Draught: 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m)

Installed power: 36000 shp (27000 kW)

Propulsion: 2 × shafts, 2 × Parsons geared steam turbines3 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)

Range: 5870 nmi (10870 km; 6760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)

Complement: 145

Sensors andprocessing systems:

ASDIC

Armament: 4 × QF 4.7-inch Mark IX guns1 × 12-pounder (3 in (76.2 mm)) anti-aircraft (AA) gun2 × 4 - QF .5-inch Vickers Mark III AA machine guns2 × 4 - 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes20 × depth charges, 1 rail and 2 throwers

HMS Dainty 43

HMS Dainty was a D-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. The ship was initially assigned tothe Mediterranean Fleet before she was transferred to the China Station in early 1935. She was temporarily deployedin the Red Sea during late 1935 during the Abyssinia Crisis, before returning to her assigned station where sheremained until mid-1939. Dainty was transferred back to the Mediterranean Fleet just before World War II began inSeptember 1939. She briefly was assigned to West Africa for convoy escort duties in 1940 before returning to theMediterranean. The ship participated in the Battle of Calabria in July 1940 and was assigned to convoy escort andpatrol duties until she was sunk by German bombers off Tobruk on 24 February 1941.

DescriptionDainty displaced 1375 long tons (1397 t) at standard load and 1890 long tons (1920 t) at deep load. The ship had anoverall length of 329 feet (100.3 m), a beam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 m). She waspowered by Parsons geared steam turbines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 36000 shaft horsepower(27000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Steam for the turbines was provided bythree Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers. Dainty carried a maximum of 473 long tons (481 t) of fuel oil that gaveher a range of 5870 nautical miles (10870 km; 6760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ship's complement was145 officers and men.[1]

The ship mounted four 45-calibre QF 4.7-inch Mark IX guns in single mounts. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence,Dainty had a single 12-pounder (3-inch (76.2 mm)) gun and two quadruple Mark I mounts for the QF 0.5-inchVickers Mark III machine gun. She was fitted with two above-water quadruple torpedo tube mounts for 21-inchtorpedoes.[2] One depth charge rail and two throwers were fitted; 20 depth charges were originally carried, but thisincreased to 35 shortly after the war began.[3]

CareerDainty was ordered on 2 February 1931 under the 1930 Naval Estimates and was laid down at the yards of theFairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan, Scotstoun on 20 April 1931. She was launched on 3 May1932 and completed on 22 December 1932, at a total cost of £229,378, excluding equipment supplied by theAdmiralty, such as weapons, ammunition and wireless equipment.[4]

The ship was initially assigned to the 1st Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean and made a brief deployment to thePersian Gulf and Red Sea in October–November 1933. Dainty was refitted at Portsmouth between 3 September and23 October 1934 for service on the China Station with the 8th (later the 21st) Destroyer Flotilla and arrived there on3 January 1935. She was attached to the Mediterranean Fleet in the Red Sea from 30 September 1935 to June 1936during the Abyssinian Crisis. The ship was refitted afterwards in Hong Kong between 21 September and 15 Octoberand conducted anti-piracy patrols after her refit was complete. On 21 January 1937, the merchant ship SS Hsin Pekingrounded on the Nemesis Rock off Ningbo and Dainty posted a guard aboard her until she was refloated. The shipmade a number of port visits in Sarawak, Singapore and the Philippines in January–March 1938. As war loomed, shewas transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet, arriving at Alexandria with her sister HMS Duncan on 30 September1939, after the outbreak of World War II.[5]

Dainty was assigned to search for contraband being shipped across the Mediterranean throughout October andNovember, before undergoing a refit at Malta from 8–30 December. On its completion she was transferred to the2nd Destroyer Division, based in Freetown, Sierra Leone to search for German commerce raiders operating in theSouth Atlantic. The ship was transferred back to the Mediterranean Fleet in April and was given another refit atMalta from 21 April to 2 June 1940. On its completion, Dainty was assigned to the 10th Destroyer Flotilla.[6]

On 12 June, she rescued over 400 survivors from the light cruiser HMS Calypso, which had been sunk off Crete.[7]

Eight days later, the ship, and three other destroyers, escorted the French battleship Lorraine and three British cruisers as they bombarded Bardia during the night of 20/21 June.[8] On 27 June, Dainty, her sister HMS Defender

HMS Dainty 44

and the destroyer HMS Ilex attacked the Italian submarine Console Generale Liuzzi and damaged her so badly thatshe was forced to scuttle herself.[9] Two days later, Dainty and Ilex attacked the submarines Uebi Scebeli and Salpa,sinking the Uebi Scebeli, although Salpa was able to escape. The British ships were able to salvage importantencryption material, including the latest codebook. They may also have been responsible for the sinking of the Italiansubmarine Argonauta on 29 June as she returned from Tobruk.[10]

Dainty participated in the Battle of Calabria on 9 July as an escort for the heavy ships of Force C and unsuccessfullyengaged Italian destroyers and suffered no damage. Together with her sisters Defender and Diamond, the Australiandestroyer Stuart, and the light cruisers Capetown and Liverpool, she escorted Convoy AN.2 from Egypt to variousports in the Aegean Sea in late July. On 29 August Dainty, Diamond and the destroyers Jervis, Juno escorted theRoyal Fleet Auxiliary tanker Plumleaf and two merchant ships, SS Cornwall and SS Volo, from Egypt to Malta withrelief supplies. Dainty and Ilex escorted the light cruiser HMAS Sydney as she bombarded the Italian airfield onScarpanto on 4 September.[11]

Together with three Australian destroyers and two British anti-aircraft cruisers, the ship escorted a convoy fromEgypt to Suda Bay, Crete and then to Malta in early November.[12] In December she was assigned to intercept enemysupply convoys along the North African coast and captured two schooners off Bardia on 31 December.[7] In earlyJanuary 1941, Dainty escorted the capital ships of Force A during Operation Excess.[13] She towed the disabledtanker Desmoulea to Suda Bay after the latter had been torpedoed by the Italian torpedo boat Lupo off Crete on 31January.[14]

SinkingShortly afterwards, Dainty returned to patrol the North African coast. In the late afternoon of 24 February she leftTobruk on a patrol, accompanied by the destroyer HMS Hasty.[7] The ships were attacked by 13 Junkers Ju 88bombers of III./Lehrgeschwader 1 and Dainty was hit by a 1000 lb (450 kg) bomb which passed through theCaptain's cabin and detonated in the fuel tanks.[15] This started a major fire which caused her after magazine toexplode and the ship to sink. 16 of Dainty’s crew were killed in the attack and 18 were wounded.[7]

Notes[1] Whitley, p. 102[2] Friedman, pp. 215, 299[3] English, p. 141[4] English, p. 51[5] English, pp. 53–54[6] English, pp. 52, 54[7] English, p. 54[8] Rohwer, p. 29[9] English, pp. 54, 57[10] Rohwer, p. 30[11] Rohwer, pp. 32, 34, 38–39[12] Rohwer, p. 47[13] Rowher, p. 54[14] O'Hara, p. 80[15] Taghon, p. 190

HMS Dainty 45

References• English, John (1993). Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s. Kendal, England: World

Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-64-9.• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Annapolis,

Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-59114-081-8.• Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Commonwealth Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval

Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.• O'Hara, Vincent P. (2009). Struggle for the Middle Sea: The Great Navies at War in the Mediterranean Theater,

1940-1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-648-3.• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939-1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third

Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.• Taghon, Peter (2004) (in German). Die Geschichte des Lehrgeschwaders 1. Band 1: 1936-1942. Zweibrücken,

Germany: VDM Heinz Nickel. ISBN 3-925480-85-4.• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.

ISBN 0-87021-326-1.

External links• HMS Dainty at Uboat.net (http:/ / uboat. net/ allies/ warships/ ship/ 4366. html)• HMS Dainty on naval-history.net (http:/ / www. naval-history. net/ xGM-Chrono-10DD-19D-Dainty. htm)

HMS Daring 46

HMS Daring

HMS Daring in pre-war China Station white paint

Career (UK)

Name: HMS Daring

Ordered: 2 February 1931

Builder: John I Thornycroft, Southampton

Cost: £225,536

Laid down: 18 June 1931

Launched: 7 April 1932

Commissioned: 25 November 1932

Motto: Splendide audax("Finely Daring")

Fate: Torpedoed and sunk, 18 February 1940

Notes: Pennant number H16

Badge: On a Field Black, an arm and a hand in a cresset of fire allProper

General characteristics as built

Class and type: D-class destroyer

Displacement: 1375 long tons (1397 t) (standard)1890 long tons (1920 t) (deep load)

Length: 329 ft (100.3 m) o/a

Beam: 33 ft (10.1 m)

Draught: 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m)

Installed power: 36000 shp (27000 kW)

HMS Daring 47

Propulsion: 2 × shafts2 × Parsons geared steam turbines3 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)

Range: 5870 nmi (10870 km; 6760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)

Complement: 145

Sensors andprocessing systems:

ASDIC

Armament: 4 × 1 - 4.7-inch Mk IX guns1 × 12-pounder anti-aircraft gun2 × 1 - QF 2-pounder Mk II guns2 × 4 - 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes20 × depth charges, 1 rail and 2 throwers

HMS Daring was a D-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. The ship spent the bulk of hercareer on the China Station. She was briefly commanded by Louis Mountbatten before World War II. Daringescorted convoys in the Red Sea in October–November 1939 and then returned to the UK in January 1940 for thefirst time in five years. While escorting a convoy from Norway, she was sunk by the German submarine U-23 inFebruary 1940.

DescriptionDaring displaced 1375 long tons (1397 t) at standard load and 1890 long tons (1920 t) at deep load. The ship had anoverall length of 329 feet (100.3 m), a beam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 m). She waspowered by Parsons geared steam turbines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 36000 shaft horsepower(27000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Steam for the turbines was provided bythree Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers. Daring carried a maximum of 473 long tons (481 t) of fuel oil that gaveher a range of 5870 nautical miles (10870 km; 6760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ship's complement was145 officers and men.[1]

The ship mounted four 45-calibre 4.7-inch Mk IX guns in single mounts. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Daring hada single 12-pounder (3-inch (76.2 mm)) gun between her funnels and two 40-millimetre (1.6 in) QF 2-pounder Mk IIguns mounted on the side of her bridge. She was fitted with two above-water quadruple torpedo tube mounts for21-inch torpedoes.[2] One depth charge rail and two throwers were fitted; 20 depth charges were originally carried,but this increased to 35 shortly after the war began.[3]

CareerDaring was ordered on 2 February 1931 under the 1930 Naval Estimates, and was laid down at John I Thornycroft'syard at Woolston, Southampton on 18 June 1931. She was launched on 7 April 1932 and completed on 25 November1932, at a total cost of £225,536, excluding equipment supplied by the Admiralty, such as weapons, ammunition andwireless equipment. The ship was initially assigned to the 1st Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean and made abrief deployment to the Persian Gulf and Red Sea in September–October 1933.[4] Lord Louis Mountbatten assumedcommand on 29 April 1934,[5] and Daring was given a refit at Sheerness Dockyard from 3 September to 24 Octoberto prepare the ship for service on the China Station.[6]

In December 1934 she sailed to join the 8th Destroyer Flotilla in the Far East and served there until the outbreak ofwar. Upon the ship's arrival at Singapore, Lord Mountbatten was transferred to command HMS Wishart andCommander Geoffrey Barnard assumed command.[6] [7]

HMS Daring 48

The ship and her sisters Duncan, Diana, and Dainty were transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet shortly beforeWorld War II began in September 1939. Daring was kept in the Red Sea for escort and patrol work until November1939. She was overhauled in Malta from 25 November to 20 December. The ship escorted the Union-Castle Lineocean liner SS Dunnottar Castle to Belfast in early 1940 and under repair at Portsmouth until 25 January. Daringjoined the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla in Scapa Flow on 10 February 1940 for escort duties. While escorting ConvoyHN12 from Norway, she was torpedoed on 18 February in position 58°39′N 01°40′W by U-23, under the commandof Otto Kretschmer. Daring capsized and sank very quickly after having her stern blown off, and 157 of the ship'scompany were lost. The five survivors were rescued by the submarine HMS Thistle, which had witnessed theattack.[8]

Notes[1] Whitley, p. 102[2] Friedman, pp. 215, 299[3] English, p. 141[4] English, pp. 51, 54[5] "Destroyer Design — HMS Kelly" (http:/ / www. navyhistory. org. au/ destroyer-design-hms-kelly/ ). Naval Historical Society of Australia. .

Retrieved 7 April 2011.[6] English, p. 54[7] "Survey of the Papers of Senior UK Defence Personnel, 1900-1975" (http:/ / www. kcl. ac. uk/ lhcma/ locreg/ BARNARD. shtml). King's

College London: Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives. . Retrieved 7 April 2011.[8] English, pp. 52, 54

References• English, John (1993). Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s. Kendal, England: World

Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-64-9.• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Annapolis,

Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-59114-081-8.• Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Commonwealth Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval

Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.

ISBN 0-87021-326-1.

HMS Decoy 49

HMS Decoy

Decoy in pre-war paint

Career (UK)

Name: HMS Decoy

Ordered: 2 February 1931

Builder: John I. Thornycroft & Company, Southampton

Laid down: 25 June 1931

Launched: 7 June 1932

Commissioned: 4 April 1933

Motto: Cave quod celo(Beware what I hide)

Honours andawards:

• Mediterranean 1940 • Calabria 1940 • Greece 1941 • Crete 1941 • Libya 1941-42 • Malta Convoys 1941-42 • Atlantic 1942

Fate: Transferred to RCN, 1 March 1943

Badge: On a Field Green, a Hawk's lure gold

Career (Canada)

Class and type: Canadian River-class destroyer

Name: HMCS Kootenay

Acquired: 1 March 1943

Commissioned: 12 April 1943

Decommissioned: 26 October 1945

Fate: Scrapped 1946

General characteristics

Class and type: D-class destroyer

Displacement: 1375 long tons (1397 t) (standard)1890 long tons (1920 t) (deep)

HMS Decoy 50

Length: 329 ft (100.3 m) o/a

Beam: 33 ft (10.1 m)

Draught: 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m)

Installed power: 36000 shp (27000 kW)

Propulsion: 2 × shafts2 × Parsons geared steam turbines3 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)

Range: 5870 nmi (10870 km; 6760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)

Complement: 145

Sensors andprocessing systems:

ASDIC

Armament: 4 × 1 - 4.7-inch Mk IX guns1 × 1 - QF 3-inch 20 cwt anti-aircraft gun2 × 4 - QF .5 in (12.7 mm) Vickers Mk III AA machine guns2 × 4 - 21 in (530 mm) torpedo tubes20 × depth charges, 1 rail and 2 throwers

HMS Decoy was a D-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. Ordered in 1931, the ship was constructed by PalmersShipbuilding and Iron Company, and entered naval service in 1933. Decoy was initially assigned to theMediterranean Fleet before she was transferred to the China Station in early 1935. She was temporarily deployed inthe Red Sea during late 1935 during the Abyssinia Crisis, before returning to her duty station where she remaineduntil mid-1939. Decoy was transferred back to the Mediterranean Fleet just before the Second World War began inSeptember 1939. She briefly was assigned to West Africa for convoy escort duties in 1940 before returning to theMediterranean. The ship participated in the Battles of Calabria without significant damage and escorted ships of theMediterranean Fleet for most of the rest of the year.Decoy assisted in the evacuations from Greece and Crete in April–May 1941. She began escorting supply convoys inJune to Tobruk, Libya until the ship was badly damaged in a collision in November. Repairs were not completeduntil February 1942 and Decoy was transferred to the Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean the following month. Sheremained there until September when she was ordered to return to Britain. The ship was refitted as an escortdestroyer from November to April 1943 and transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy that same month as HMCSKootenay. The ship was assigned to convoy escort duties in the mid-Atlantic for the rest of 1943 and early 1944.Kootenay was transferred back to British coastal waters in May to protect the build up for Operation Overlord.Together with other ships, she sank three German submarines between July and September. The ship was given alengthy refit in Canada from October to February 1945 and returned to the English Channel in April to protectagainst any last-gasp efforts by the Kriegsmarine to interfere with Allied supply lines to the Continent. After the endof the war in May, Kootenay served as a troop transport in Canadian waters. She was placed in reserve in Octoberand broken up in 1946.

DescriptionDecoy displaced 1375 long tons (1397 t) at standard load and 1890 long tons (1920 t) at deep load. The ship had an overall length of 329 feet (100.3 m), a beam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 m). She was powered by Parsons geared steam turbines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 36000 shaft horsepower (27000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Steam for the turbines was provided by three Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers. Decoy carried a maximum of 473 long tons (481 t) of fuel oil that gave her a range of 5870 nautical miles (10870 km; 6760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ship's complement was

HMS Decoy 51

145 officers and men.[1]

The ship mounted four 45-calibre QF 4.7-inch Mk IX guns in single mounts, designated 'A', 'B', 'X', and 'Y' fromfront to rear. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Decoy had a single QF 3-inch 20 cwt[2] AA gun between her funnels,and two quadruple Mark I mounts for the 0.5-inch Vickers Mark III machine gun. She was fitted with twoabove-water quadruple torpedo tube mounts for 21-inch (533 mm) torpedoes.[3] One depth charge rail and twothrowers were fitted; 20 depth charges were originally carried, but this increased to 35 shortly after the war began.[4]

CareerDecoy was ordered on 2 February 1931 under the 1930 Naval Estimates, and was laid down at John I Thornycroft'syard at Woolston, Southampton on 25 June 1931. She was launched on 7 June 1932 and completed on 17 January1933, at a total cost of £225,236, excluding equipment supplied by the Admiralty, such as weapons, ammunition andwireless equipment. The ship was initially assigned to the 1st Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean and made abrief deployment to the Persian Gulf and Red Sea in September–October 1933. New torpedo tubes were fitted atMalta after her return.[5]

The ship was refitted at Devonport Dockyard between 3 September and 20 October 1934 for service on the ChinaStation with the 8th (later the 21st) Destroyer Flotilla and arrived there in January 1935. She was attached to theMediterranean Fleet in the Red Sea from September 1935 to May 1936 during the Abyssinian Crisis and made portvisits in Mombasa and other East African ports before returning to Hong Kong. The ship was refitted there inOctober and toured Southeast Asia in the first quarter of 1937. Decoy required further repairs and fumigation inApril–May after her return. In August 1938 she sailed for Tsingtao, carrying representatives to apologise forincidents where drunken sailors had insulted the Japanese flag. She remained in the Far East until the rise in tensionsbefore World War II began prompted her recall in August 1939.[6]

World War IIWith the outbreak of war, Decoy was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet and assigned to contraband control duties.In December the ship began an extensive refit to repair corrosion problems, fix her boiler feedwater pumps, andreplace her funnels. After completing her repairs in January 1940, she was transferred to Freetown, joining the 20thDestroyer Flotilla, to escort convoys off the West African coast. Decoy returned to the Mediterranean Fleet in Mayand was assigned to the 10th Destroyer Flotilla.[6] Together with her sister Defender, she escorted Convoy US-2carrying Australian and New Zealand troops to the Middle East through the Red Sea from 12 to 17 May.[7]

The ship and three other destroyers, escorted the French battleship Lorraine and three British cruisers as theybombarded Bardia during the night of 20/21 June.[8] On 27 June 1940, Decoy participated in the sinking of theItalian submarine Console Generale Liuzzi . Together with her sisters Dainty and Defender, the destroyer Ilex, andthe Australian destroyer Voyager, the ship depth charged Console Generale Liuzzi, which was then scuttled by herown crew south-east off Crete.[9] [10]

On 29 June 1940 Decoy participated, together with the same squadron, in the sinking of the Italiansubmarine Argonauta. The squadron patrolled the area between Alexandria, the Aegean Sea and the centralMediterranean from 27 to 30 June 1940 as part of Operation MA3 in support of British convoys from the Greekports to Port Said and from Alexandria to Malta. Argonauta was probably sunk near Cape Ras el Hilal, Libya [11] , ataround 0615 hours by the British destroyers; though it is also possible the Argonauta was depth charged and sunkaround 1450 hours that same day by Short Sunderland L5804 of the RAF.[12] The Historical Bureau of the ItalianNavy believes the first theory to be more believable, but doubt still persists.[13] On 9 July 1940, she took part of theBattle of Calabria, where she was hit by splinters from a near-miss from the Italian battleship Giulio Cesare.[14]

While returning from Operation Hats, Decoy, Ilex and the light cruisers HMS Orion and HMAS Sydney bombarded Scarpanto during the night of 3/4 September. On 6 November, Decoy, together with the destroyers Defender, Hasty,

HMS Decoy 52

Havock, Hereward, Hero, Hyperion, Ilex, Janus, Jervis, Mohawk, and Nubian screened the capital ships of theMediterranean Fleet, which provided distant cover for the passage of Convoy MW3 from Egypt to Malta andConvoy ME3 from Malta as part of Operation MB8.[15] While in Alexandria, the ship was struck by a bomb thatpenetrated completely through the ship on 13 November. After temporary repairs were made, she was sent to Maltafor permanent repairs which lasted until 1 February 1941, after she was further damaged on 19 January.[16] On 25February, she participated in Operation Abstention; together with Hereward and the gunboat Ladybird, Decoylanded commandos on the island of Kastelorizo, but they were overwhelmed by an Italian counter-attack. Only a fewsurvivors were taken off two days later.[17]

The ship participated in Operation Demon, the evacuation of Allied troops from Greece in April, and assisted in theevacuation of troops from Crete to Egypt after the Germans invaded Crete on 22 May (Operation Merkur). She spentmost of the rest of the year escorting convoys to Tobruk.[16] On 25 November, she was escorting the battleshipHMS Barham when that ship was torpedoed by the German submarine U-331.[18] Decoy was damaged in a collisionthe following month and was under repair at Malta from 20 December to 8 February 1942. After returning toAlexandria, she was transferred to the Eastern Fleet in the Indian Ocean where she escorted the slow ships of ForceB when the Japanese carriers attacked in March–April 1942. The ship remained with the Eastern Fleet until she wasordered home to refit in September. En route, Decoy briefly operated from Freetown, but arrived at Greenock on 29October, her first visit home since 1934.[16]

The ship was refitted at the Palmers shipyard at Hebburn-on-Tyne between 3 November and 12 April 1943. Herarmament was modified to accommodate additional depth charges by removing 'Y' gun and her light AA armamentwas increased by the addition of six 20-millimetre (0.79 in) Oerlikon guns and two Parachute and Cable projectors.A Type 286 surface-search radar were probably also fitted at this time, but 1944 this had been replaced by a Type290 system. Before the war's end this was supplemented when her director-control tower and rangefinder above thebridge was replaced by a Type 271 target indication radar. Decoy was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy duringthe refit on 1 March and was recommissioned on 12 April with the new name of HMCS Kootenay (the ship wasgifted to the Canadians on 15 June). After working up, she was assigned to Escort Group C5 for convoy escort dutiesin the North Atlantic.[19]

On 22 May 1943 Kootenay picked up 19 survivors from the Norwegian tanker Sandanger, which had been torpedoedand sunk on 12 May by U-221 in the North Atlantic.[20] She remained with the escort group until October when shebegan a refit in Halifax that lasted until December, Kootenay rejoined the group upon completion of the refit. Theship was reassigned to the 11th Escort Group in May 1944 in preparation for Operation Overlord. The group wastasked to protect Allied shipping in the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay and Kootenay, together with thedestroyer Ottawa and the corvette HMS Statice, sank U-678 in the English Channel south of Brighton on 7 July1944. Together with Ottawa and the destroyer Chaudière, the ship sank U-621 in the Bay of Biscay near La Rochelleon 18 August. Two days later, the same ships sank U-984 in the Bay of Biscay west of Brest.[16]

Kootenay was extensively refitted between 2 October 1944 and 27 February 1945 at Shelburne Naval Dockyard andresumed anti-submarine patrols in the Channel in April after working up. After V-E day, she was used as a trooptransport between Newfoundland and Quebec City until she was placed in reserve at Sydney, Nova Scotia on 26October. She was broken up for scrap in 1946.[16]

HMS Decoy 53

Notes[1] Whitley, p. 102[2] "cwt" is the abbreviation for hundredweight, 30 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.[3] Friedman, pp. 215, 299[4] English, p. 141[5] English, pp. 51, 54–55[6] English, p. 55[7] Rohwer, p. 20[8] Rohwer, p. 29[9] 33°36′N 27°27′E Uboat.net[10] Italian Submarines Lost in World War II (http:/ / www. regiamarina. net/ subs/ lost/ sub_lost_all_us. asp)[11] 35°16′N 20°20′E Uboat.net[12] 37°29′N 19°51′E Uboat.net

Italian Submarines Lost in World War II (http:/ / www. regiamarina. net/ subs/ lost/ sub_lost_all_us. asp)[13] R.Smg. Argonauta, by Admiral (ret) Attilio Duilio Ranieri, Italian Navy (http:/ / www. regiamarina. net/ subs/ submarines/ argonauta/

argonauta_us. htm)[14] O'Hara, p. 35[15] Rohwer, pp. 38, 47[16] English, p. 56[17] Rohwer, p. 61[18] Rohwer, p. 118[19] English, pp. 56, 141–42[20] 46°00′N 21°00′W. HMCS Kootenay on Uboat.net

Footnotes

References• English, John (1993). Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s. Kendal, England: World

Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-64-9.• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Annapolis,

Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-59114-081-8.• O'Hara, Vincent (2008). "The Action off Calabria and the Myth of Moral Ascendancy". In Jordan, John. Warship

2008. London: Conway. ISBN 978-1-84486-062-3.• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939-1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third

Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.

ISBN 0-87021-326-1.

External links• HMS Decoy on Uboat.net (http:/ / uboat. net/ allies/ warships/ ship/ 5629. html)• HMCS Kootenay on Uboat.net (http:/ / uboat. net/ allies/ warships/ ship/ 5623. html)• HMS Decoy/HMCS Kootenay on Naval-History.net (http:/ / www. naval-history. net/

xGM-Chrono-10DD-19D-Decoy. htm)• R.Smg. Argonauta, by Admiral (ret) Attilio Duilio Ranieri, Italian Navy (http:/ / www. regiamarina. net/ subs/

submarines/ argonauta/ argonauta_us. htm)• Italian Submarines Lost in World War II (http:/ / www. regiamarina. net/ subs/ lost/ sub_lost_all_us. asp)

HMS Defender 54

HMS Defender

Career(United Kingdom)

Name: HMS Defender

Ordered: 2 February 1931

Builder: Vickers Armstrong, Barrow in Furness

Yard number: 674

Laid down: 22 June 1931

Launched: 7 April 1932

Completed: 31 October 1932

Motto: Fendendo vince("By defence I conquer")

Honours andawards:

Calabria 1940, Spartivento 1940, Matapan 1941, Malta Convoys 1941, Greece 1941, Crete 1941,Libya 1941

Fate: Sunk on 11 July 1941

Notes: Badge:

General characteristics as built

Class and type: D-class destroyer

Displacement: 1375 long tons (1397 t) (standard)1890 long tons (1920 t) (deep)

Length: 329 ft (100.3 m) o/a

Beam: 33 ft (10.1 m)

Draught: 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m)

Installed power: 36000 shp (27000 kW)

Propulsion: 2 × shafts, 2 × Parsons geared steam turbines3 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)

HMS Defender 55

Range: 5870 nmi (10870 km; 6760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)

Complement: 145

Sensors andprocessing systems:

ASDIC

Armament: 4 × 4.7 in (120 mm) Mark IX guns1 × 12-pounder (3 in (76.2 mm)) anti-aircraft (AA) gun2 × 1 - QF 2 pdr (40 mm) AA guns2 × 4 - 21-inch (533mm) torpedo tubes20 × depth charges, 1 rail and 2 throwers

HMS Defender was a D-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. The ship was initially assignedto the Mediterranean Fleet before she was transferred to the China Station in early 1935. She was temporarilydeployed in the Red Sea during late 1935 during the Abyssinia Crisis, before returning to her assigned station whereshe remained until mid-1939. Defender was transferred back to the Mediterranean Fleet just before World War IIbegan in September 1939. She briefly was assigned to West Africa for convoy escort duties in 1940 before returningto the Mediterranean. The ship participated in the Battles of Calabria, Cape Spartivento, and Cape Matapan over thenext year without damage. Defender assisted in the evacuations from Greece and Crete in April–May 1941, beforeshe began running supply missions to Tobruk, Libya in June. The ship was badly damaged by a German bomber onone of those missions and had to be scuttled by her consort on 11 July 1941.

DescriptionDefender displaced 1375 long tons (1397 t) at standard load and 1890 long tons (1920 t) at deep load. The ship hadan overall length of 329 feet (100.3 m), a beam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 m). She waspowered by Parsons geared steam turbines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 36000 shaft horsepower(27000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Steam for the turbines was provided bythree Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers. Defender carried a maximum of 473 long tons (481 t) of fuel oil thatgave her a range of 5870 nautical miles (10870 km; 6760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ship's complementwas 145 officers and men.[1]

The ship mounted four 45-calibre 4.7-inch Mark IX guns in single mounts. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Diamondhad a single 12-pounder (3-inch (76.2 mm)) gun between her funnels and two 40-millimetre (1.6 in) QF 2-pounderMark II guns mounted on the side of her bridge. She was fitted with two above-water quadruple torpedo tube mountsfor 21-inch torpedoes.[2] One depth charge rail and two throwers were fitted; 20 depth charges were originallycarried, but this increased to 35 shortly after the war began.[3]

Career

Defender under construction at Barrow

Ordered on 2 February 1932 under the 1930 Naval Programme,Defender was laid down at the Vickers Armstrongs yard in Barrow asYard Number 674 on 22 June 1931, and launched on 7 April 1932. Shewas completed on 31 October 1932 having cost a total of £223,979,excluding the Admiralty supplied equipment such as guns, ammunitionand wireless outfits. The ship was initially assigned to the 1stDestroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean and made a brief deployment tothe Persian Gulf and Red Sea in September–November 1933.[4]

Defender was refitted at Devonport Dockyard between 3 September and 23 October 1934 for service on the China Station with the 8th (later the 21st) Destroyer Flotilla and arrived at Hong Kong in January 1935. The ship was

HMS Defender 56

attached to the Mediterranean Fleet in the Red Sea from November 1935 to June 1936 during the Abyssinian Crisisand then visited ports in East Africa for a month before returning to the China Station. Her boilers had to be retubedat Singapore between 5 November 1938 and 26 January 1939 and her superheaters were repaired at Hong Kong from31 January to 14 March.[5]

With the outbreak of war, Defender was assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet and arrived in Alexandria on 19September. She was assigned to contraband control duties until she was transferred to Gibraltar in January 1940. Theship patrolled the Portuguese coast until she was transferred to Freetown in mid-February to escort convoys off theWest African coast. Defender was transferred back to Gibraltar in April, escorting the light cruiser Neptune en route,and arrived there on 23 April 1940. The next month, she joined the 10th Destroyer Flotilla of the MediterraneanFleet[5] and escorted Convoy US-2 carrying Australian and New Zealand troops to the Middle East through the RedSea from 12 to 17 May.[6]

On 27 June, together with the destroyers Dainty and Ilex, she sank the Italian submarine Console Generale Liuzzisouth east of Crete. Defender participated in the Battle of Calabria on 9 July as an escort for the heavy ships of ForceC and unsuccessfully engaged Italian destroyers without suffering any damage. Together with her sisters Dainty andDiamond, the Australian destroyer Stuart, and the light cruisers Capetown and Liverpool, she escorted Convoy AN.2from Egypt to various ports in the Aegean Sea in late July.[7]

On 6 November, Defender, together with the destroyers Decoy, Hasty, Havock, Hereward, Hero, Hyperion, Ilex,Janus, Jervis, Mohawk, and Nubian screened the capital ships of the Mediterranean Fleet, which provided distantcover for the passage of Convoy MW3 from Egypt to Malta and Convoy ME3 from Malta as part of OperationMB8.[8] During Operation Collar in late November, Defender, the anti-aircraft cruiser Coventry and four otherdestroyers sailed from Alexandria to rendezvous with a convoy coming from Gibraltar. After reaching Malta on 26November, the destroyers joined the battleship Ramillies, and the light cruisers Berwick and Newcastle of Force Dand sailed to rendezvous with Force H, also coming from Gibraltar. The next day, after the British forces hadcombined, they were spotted by the Italians and the inconclusive Battle of Cape Spartivento was fought.[9]

On 7 January 1941, Defender escorted Convoy MW.5 with her sister Diamond and the anti-aircraft cruiser Calcuttafrom Alexandria to Malta during Operation Excess.[10] The ship was refitted in Malta from 4 February to 19 Marchand participated in the Battle of Cape Matapan on 27–29 March.[5] During Operation Demon, the evacuation ofAllied troops from Greece, she escorted Convoy GA15 on 29–30 April from Souda Bay, Crete, to Alexandria. AnItalian destroyer and two torpedo boats attacked the convoy at night as it was transiting Kaso Strait east of Crete, butwere rebuffed by the defenders without inflicting any damage.[11] The following month Defender assisted in theevacuation of troops from Crete to Egypt after the Germans invaded on 22 May (Operation Merkur).[5]

On 10 June, Defender, and the other three ships of the 10th Destroyer Flotilla, arrived off the Lebanese coast toreinforce Royal Navy forces supporting Operation Exporter, the invasion of Vichy French-controlled Syria andLebanon, but the ship was not engaged during her time off Lebanon and Syria.[12] Later that month, she beganescorting convoys to and from Tobruk and on 29 June the Australian destroyer Waterhen was badly damaged byItalian Junkers Ju 87 "Stuka" dive bombers off Tobruk. Defender took Waterhen in tow, but the next day shecapsized and sank.[13]

HMS Defender 57

Defender sinking, 11 July 1941

Loss

On 11 July 1941, Defender was returning from Tobruk in companywith the Australian destroyer Vendetta.[14] They were attacked by asingle Junkers Ju 88 bomber of I./Lehrgeschwader 1 piloted byGerhard Stamp on a reconnaissance flight along the coast beforedawn.[15] The bomber scored a near-miss on Defender which detonatedunder the ship, just forward of the engine room. The shock broke theship's back and flooded the engine room, although there were nocasualties among her crew or passengers. Vendetta took Defender intow, leaving a skeleton crew aboard the damaged ship,[5] but she started to break up and Vendetta was forced toscuttle her with a torpedo and gunfire[14] off Sidi Barrani about five hours later.[5]

Notes[1] Whitley, p. 102[2] Friedman, pp. 215, 299.[3] English, p. 141.[4] English, pp. 51, 57[5] English, p. 57[6] Rohwer, p. 20[7] Rohwer, pp. 30, 32, 34[8] Rohwer, p. 47[9] O'Hara, pp. 65–73[10] Rohwer, p. 55[11] O'Hara, pp. 115–16[12] O'Hara, p. 130[13] Rohwer, p. 82[14] Rhoades, Commodore Rodney. "The Tobruk Run" (http:/ / www. navyhistory. org. au/ the-tobruk-run/ ). Naval Historical Society of

Australia. . Retrieved 22 April 2011.[15] Taghon, p. 261

References• English, John (1993). Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s. Kendal, England: World

Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-64-9.• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Annapolis,

Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-59114-081-8.• Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Commonwealth Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval

Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.• O'Hara, Vincent P. (2009). Struggle for the Middle Sea: The Great Navies at War in the Mediterranean Theater,

1940-1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-648-3.• Rohwer, Jürgen (2005). Chronology of the War at Sea 1939-1945: The Naval History of World War Two (Third

Revised ed.). Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-59114-119-2.• Taghon, Peter (2004) (in German). Die Geschichte des Lehrgeschwaders 1. Band 1: 1936-1942. Zweibrücken,

Germany: VDM Heinz Nickel. ISBN 3-925480-85-4.• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.

ISBN 0-87021-326-1.

HMS Defender 58

External links• Defender on U-Boat.net (http:/ / uboat. net/ allies/ warships/ ship/ 4369. html)• Defender on Naval History.net (http:/ / www. naval-history. net/ xGM-Chrono-10DD-19D-Defender. htm)• First hand account of Defender’s loss by the commanding officer of HMAS Vendetta (http:/ / www. navyhistory.

org. au/ the-tobruk-run/ )

HMS Delight 59

HMS Delight

Career

Name: HMS Delight

Ordered: 2 February 1931

Builder: Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan, Scotstoun

Cost: £229,378

Laid down: 22 April 1931

Launched: 2 June 1932 [1]

Completed: 31 January 1933

Motto: Duris delectat virtus("Valour delighteth in difficulties")

Fate: Sunk by air attack, 29 July 1940

Badge: On a Field Green, Pan's Pipe Gold and Silver

General characteristics

Class and type: D-class destroyer

Displacement: 1375 long tons (1397 t) (standard)1890 long tons (1920 t) (deep)

Length: 329 ft (100.3 m) o/a

Beam: 33 ft (10.1 m)

Draught: 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m)

Installed power: 36000 shp (27000 kW)

Propulsion: 2 × shafts2 × Parsons geared steam turbines3 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers

HMS Delight 60

Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)

Range: 5870 nmi (10870 km; 6760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)

Complement: 145

Sensors andprocessing systems:

ASDIC

Armament: 4 × 4.7 in (120 mm) Mark IX guns1 × 12-pounder (3 in (76.2 mm)) anti-aircraft gun2 × 4 - QF .5 in (12.7 mm) Vickers Mark III AA machine guns2 × 4 - 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes20 × depth charges, 1 rail and 2 throwers

HMS Delight was a D-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. Delight was initially assigned tothe Mediterranean Fleet before she was transferred to the China Station in early 1935. She was temporarily deployedin the Red Sea during late 1935 during the Abyssinia Crisis, before returning to her duty station where she remaineduntil mid-1939. Delight was transferred back to the Mediterranean Fleet just before the Second World War began inSeptember 1939. She served with the Home Fleet during the Norwegian Campaign. The ship was sunk by Germanbombers on 29 July 1940 while attempting to transit the English Channel in daylight.

DescriptionDelight displaced 1375 long tons (1397 t) at standard load and 1890 long tons (1920 t) at deep load. The ship had anoverall length of 329 feet (100.3 m), a beam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 m). She waspowered by Parsons geared steam turbines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 36000 shaft horsepower(27000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Steam for the turbines was provided bythree Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers. Delight carried a maximum of 473 long tons (481 t) of fuel oil that gaveher a range of 5870 nautical miles (10870 km; 6760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ship's complement was145 officers and men.[2]

The ship mounted four 45-calibre 4.7-inch Mark IX guns in single mounts. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Diamondhad a single 12-pounder (3-inch (76.2 mm)) gun between her funnels and two quadruple Mark I mounts for the0.5-inch Vickers Mark III machine gun. She was fitted with two above-water quadruple torpedo tube mounts for21-inch torpedoes.[3] One depth charge rail and two throwers were fitted; 20 depth charges were originally carried,but this increased to 35 shortly after the war began.[4]

CareerDelight was ordered on 2 February 1931 under the 1930 Naval Estimates and was laid down at the yards of theFairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Govan, Scotstoun on 22 April 1931. She was launched on 2 June1932 and completed on 31 January 1933, at a total cost of £229,378, excluding equipment supplied by theAdmiralty, such as weapons, ammunition and wireless equipment.[5]

The ship was used to carry out sea trials on the Mark IX torpedo after working up until 24 April 1933. Delight thenjoined the 1st Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean and made a brief deployment to the Persian Gulf inSeptember–November 1933. The ship was refitted at Portsmouth between 3 September and 25 October 1934 forservice on the China Station with the 8th (later the 21st) Destroyer Flotilla and arrived there in January 1935. Shewas attached to the Mediterranean Fleet in the Red Sea from September to November 1935 during the AbyssinianCrisis. As war with Germany loomed, Delight was assigned to the Mediterranean and departed 29 August 1939 incompany with several of her sisters. She arrived at Aden on 19 September and later at Alexandria where she operatedwith the Mediterranean Fleet for the next three months. The ship was transferred to the Home Fleet in December andarrived at Portsmouth on 30 December.[6]

HMS Delight 61

She was refitted until 27 January 1940 before she joined the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla. Delight was damaged in heavyweather on 8 April and forced to return to port for repairs.[6] During the Norwegian Campaign, Delight escorted theaircraft carrier HMS Furious as she returned to Scapa Flow on 25 April to replenish her aircraft. On 1 May, sheferried troops to the light cruisers HMS Manchester and HMS Birmingham of the 18th Cruiser Squadron during theevacuation from Åndalsnes. Delight supported the Allied troops on 27–28 May as they recaptured Narvik before shewas sent to Bodø the next day to investigate reports of a German amphibious landing. Over the next two nights, theship and seven other destroyers evacuated British troops from Bodø. On 7–8 June, Delight escorted a troop convoyevacuating Allied troops from Narvik (Operation Alphabet).[7]

A 1941 aerial photograph of the two Freyas atAuderville

The ship went to the assistance of the armed merchant cruiserHMS Scotstoun after she had been torpedoed by U-25 on 13 June.Delight had her superheater tubes replaced at Rosyth from 21 June to24 July. After departing Portland Harbour in daylight on 29 July,contrary to orders, the ship was detected by a Freya radar at Cherbourgand the Luftwaffe was alerted. 16 German aircraft attacked Delight,which was by now some 20 miles (32 km) off Portland Bill. She washit by a bomb on her fo'c'sle, which caused a major fire and asubsequent explosion. The ship sank later that evening having lost sixof her company in the attack.[6]

Delight currently lies at a maximum depth of 62 metres (203 ft), broken into several sections. Her centre is upsidedown, her bow is broken off, and the stern is upright.[8] As the wreck is designated as a protected place under theProtection of Military Remains Act 1986 it is illegal to enter the wreck without a license or to interfere with thewreck or debris field in any way.[9]

Notes[1] The Times (London), Thursday, 2 June 1932, p. 9[2] Whitley, p. 102[3] Friedman, pp. 215, 299.[4] English, p. 141.[5] English, p. 51[6] English, p. 58[7] Haarr, pp. 141, 166, 269, 271, 300, 312[8] "Deep Wreck Diving Sites in Weymouth and Portland" (http:/ / www. visitweymouth. co. uk/ index. php?resource=113). Weymouth and

Portland Borough Council. . Retrieved 23 April 2011.[9] "The Protection of Military Remains Act 1986 (Designation of Vessels and Controlled Sites) Order 2008" (http:/ / www. legislation. gov. uk/

uksi/ 2008/ 950/ article/ 2/ made). Queen's Printer of Acts of Parliament. . Retrieved 22 April 2011.

References• English, John (1993). Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s. Kendal, England: World

Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-64-9.• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Annapolis,

Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-59114-081-8.• Haarr, Geirr H. (2010). The Battle for Norway: April–June 1940. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press.

ISBN 978-1-59114-051-1.• Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Commonwealth Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval

Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.

ISBN 0-87021-326-1.

HMS Delight 62

External links• HMS Delight at Uboat.net (http:/ / uboat. net/ allies/ warships/ ship/ 4370. html)• HMS Delight on naval-history.net (http:/ / www. naval-history. net/ xGM-Chrono-10DD-19D-Delight. htm)

HMS Diamond

HMS Diamond, at Hong Kong pre-World War II

Career (United Kingdom)

Name: HMS Diamond

Ordered: 2 February 1931

Builder: Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow-in-Furness

Cost: £223,509

Laid down: 29 September 1931

Launched: 8 April 1932

Completed: 3 November 1932

Motto: Honor clarissima gemma("Honour is the brightest jewel")

Honours andawards:

Spartivento 1940, Mediterranean 1941, Malta Convoys 1941, Greece 1941

Fate: Sunk by air attack, 27 April 1941

Badge:

General characteristics as built

Class and type: D-class destroyer

Displacement: 1375 long tons (1397 t) (standard)1890 long tons (1920 t) (deep)

Length: 329 ft (100.3 m) o/a

Beam: 33 ft (10.1 m)

Draught: 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m)

HMS Diamond 63

Installed power: 36000 shp (27000 kW)

Propulsion: 2 × shafts2 × Parsons geared steam turbines3 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)

Range: 5870 nmi (10870 km; 6760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)

Complement: 145

Sensors andprocessing systems:

ASDIC

Armament: 4 × 4.7 in (120 mm) Mark IX guns1 × 12-pounder (3 in (76.2 mm)) anti-aircraft gun2 × 1 - QF 2 pdr (40 mm) Mk II guns2 × 4 - 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes20 (later 35) × depth charges, 1 rail and 2 throwers

HMS Diamond was a D-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. The ship spent the bulk of hercareer on the China Station. She was briefly assigned to the Mediterranean Fleet in 1939 before she was transferredto West Africa for convoy escort duties. Diamond returned to the Mediterranean Fleet in early 1940 where shegenerally escorted convoys to and from Malta. The ship participated in the Battle of Cape Spartivento in November.Diamond was sunk by German aircraft on 27 April 1941 whilst evacuating Allied troops from Greece.

DescriptionDiamond displaced 1375 long tons (1397 t) at standard load and 1890 long tons (1920 t) at deep load. The ship hadan overall length of 329 feet (100.3 m), a beam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 m). She waspowered by Parsons geared steam turbines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 36000 shaft horsepower(27000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Steam for the turbines was provided bythree Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers. Diamond carried a maximum of 473 long tons (481 t) of fuel oil thatgave her a range of 5870 nautical miles (10870 km; 6760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ship's complementwas 145 officers and men.[1]

The ship mounted four 45-calibre 4.7-inch Mark IX guns in single mounts. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Diamondhad a single 12-pounder (3-inch (76.2 mm)) gun between her funnels and two 40-millimetre (1.6 in) QF 2-pounderMark II guns mounted on the side of her bridge. She was fitted with two above-water quadruple torpedo tube mountsfor 21-inch torpedoes.[2] One depth charge rail and two throwers were fitted; 20 depth charges were originallycarried, but this increased to 35 shortly after the war began.[3]

CareerDiamond was ordered on 2 February 1931 under the 1930 Naval Estimates, and was laid down atVickers-Armstrong's yard at Barrow-in-Furness on 29 September 1931. She was launched on 8 April 1932 andcompleted on 3 November 1933, at a total cost of £223,509, excluding equipment supplied by the Admiralty, such asweapons, ammunition and wireless equipment. The ship was initially assigned to the 1st Destroyer Flotilla in theMediterranean and made a brief deployment to the Persian Gulf and Red Sea in September–November 1933.Diamond was refitted at Devonport Dockyard between 3 September and 27 October 1934 for service on the ChinaStation with the 8th (later the 21st) Destroyer Flotilla and arrived there in January 1935, where she remained for thenext four years.[4]

The ship began a refit at Singapore on 7 August 1939 and she was transferred to the Mediterranean Fleet after it was completed in November. Diamond arrived at Malta on 19 December, but she was transferred to the South Atlantic

HMS Diamond 64

Station the following month. She departed Malta on 8 January 1940, bound for Freetown where she joined the 20thDestroyer Division for escort duties. In April the ship returned to the Mediterranean where Diamond was assigned tothe newly formed 10th Destroyer Flotilla after a short refit at Malta.[5]

She was slightly damaged by air attacks on 11 and 17 June near Malta after the Italians declared war on the Allies on10 June.[6] Together with her sisters Dainty, Defender, the Australian destroyer Stuart, and the light cruisersCapetown and Liverpool, she escorted Convoy AN.2 from Egypt to various ports in the Aegean Sea in late July.[7]

Diamond bombarded the Italian seaplane base at Bomba, Libya on 23 August.[6] A week later she escorted fourtransports to Malta with Dainty and the destroyers Jervis and Juno as part of Operation Hats.[8] The ship escortedConvoy MB.8 during Operation Collar.[6] After reaching Malta on 26 November, Diamond joined Force D andsailed to rendezvous with Force H, coming from Gibraltar. The next day, after the British forces had combined, theywere spotted by the Italians and the inconclusive Battle of Cape Spartivento was fought.[9]

During Operation Excess, Diamond and Defender escorted Convoy MW.5 to Malta in January 1941. The shipescorted a convoy of four freighters from Malta to Alexandria in mid-April. Shortly afterwards, she beganevacuating Allied troops from Greece.[10] On 27 April 1941, Diamond and another destroyer, Wryneck, rescued over500 troops from the sinking Dutch troopship, Slamat, and set out for Crete. However, both ships were attacked andsunk about four hours later by German Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters and Junkers Ju 88 bombers.[11] Only oneofficer, 41 enlisted men and eight soldiers from all three ships were rescued.[6]

Notes[1] Whitley, p. 102.[2] Friedman, pp. 215, 299.[3] English, p. 141.[4] English, pp. 51, 58.[5] English, pp. 58–59.[6] English, p. 59.[7] Rohwer, p. 35.[8] Rohwer, p. 38.[9] O'Hara, pp. 65–73.[10] Rohwer, pp. 56, 69, 70.[11] Shores, Cull and Malizi, pp. 295, 299.

References• English, John (1993). Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s. Kendal, England: World

Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-64-9.• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Annapolis,

Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-59114-081-8.• Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Commonwealth Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval

Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.• O'Hara, Vincent P. (2009). Struggle for the Middle Sea: The Great Navies at War in the Mediterranean Theater,

1940-1945. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-1-59114-648-3.• Shores, Christopher; Cull, Brian and Malizia, Nicola (1987). Air War for Yugoslavia, Greece, and Crete. London:

Grub Street. ISBN 0-948817-07-0.• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.

ISBN 0-87021-326-1.

HMS Diamond 65

External links• HMS Diamond on Naval History.net (http:/ / www. naval-history. net/ xGM-Chrono-10DD-19D-Diamond. htm)• The sinking of the Slamat, 27 April 1941 (http:/ / members. ziggo. nl/ haddock2/ slamat/ bron/ sinkingofslamat.

htm)

HMS Diana 66

HMS Diana

HMS Diana at a buoy

Career (United Kingdom)

Name: HMS Diana

Ordered: 2 February 1931

Builder: Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Hebburn-on-Tyne

Laid down: 12 June 1931

Launched: 16 June 1932 [1]

Completed: 21 December 1932

Motto: Certo Dirigo ictu("I aim with sure blow")

Fate: Transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy on 6 September 1940

Badge: On a Field Blue, a crescent Moon Silver

Career (Canada)

Name: HMCS Margaree

Namesake: Margaree River

Commissioned: 6 September 1940

Honours andawards:

Atlantic 1940

Fate: Sunk following collision, 22 October 1940

General characteristics as built

Class and type: D-class destroyer

HMS Diana 67

Displacement: 1375 long tons (1397 t) (standard)1890 long tons (1920 t) (deep)

Length: 329 ft (100.3 m) o/a

Beam: 33 ft (10.1 m)

Draught: 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m)

Installed power: 36000 shp (27000 kW)

Propulsion: 2 × shafts2 × Parsons geared steam turbines3 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)

Range: 5870 nmi (10870 km; 6760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)

Complement: 145

Sensors andprocessing systems:

ASDIC

Armament: 4 × QF 4.7-inch Mark IX guns1 × 12-pounder (3 in (76.2 mm)) anti-aircraft (AA) gun2 × 1 - QF 2-pounder Mk II AA guns2 × 4 - 21-inch (533 mm) torpedo tubes20 × depth charges, 1 rail and 2 throwers

HMS Diana was a D-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. Ordered in 1931, the ship was constructed by PalmersShipbuilding and Iron Company, and entered naval service in 1932. Diana was initially assigned to theMediterranean Fleet before she was transferred to the China Station in early 1935. She was temporarily deployed inthe Red Sea during late 1935 during the Abyssinia Crisis, before returning to her duty station where she remaineduntil mid-1939. Diana was transferred back to the Mediterranean Fleet just before the Second World War began inSeptember 1939. She served with the Home Fleet during the Norwegian Campaign. The ship was transferred to theRoyal Canadian Navy in 1940 and renamed HMCS Margaree. She served for just over a month with the Canadiansbefore being sunk in a collision with a large freighter she was escorting on 22 October 1940.

Design and constructionDiana displaced 1375 long tons (1397 t) at standard load and 1890 long tons (1920 t) at deep load. The ship had anoverall length of 329 feet (100.3 m), a beam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 m). She waspowered by Parsons geared steam turbines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 36000 shaft horsepower(27000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Steam for the turbines was provided bythree Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers. Diana carried a maximum of 473 long tons (481 t) of fuel oil that gaveher a range of 5870 nautical miles (10870 km; 6760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ship's complement was145 officers and men.[2]

The ship mounted four 45-calibre 4.7-inch Mark IX guns in single mounts. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Dianahad a single 12-pounder AA gun between her funnels and two QF 2-pounder Mk II AA guns mounted on the side ofher bridge. She was fitted with two above-water quadruple torpedo tube mounts for 21-inch torpedoes.[3] One depthcharge rail and two throwers were fitted; 20 depth charges were originally carried, but this increased to 35 shortlyafter the war began.[4]

Diana was ordered under the 1930 Naval Estimates on 2 February 1931 from the yards of Palmers Shipbuilding andIron Company, Hebburn-on-Tyne. She was laid down on 12 June 1931, launched on 16 June 1932 and finallycommissioned into the Navy on 21 December 1932. She cost a total of £229,502, excluding the weapons and thecommunications equipment which were supplied by the Admiralty.[5]

HMS Diana 68

Operational history

With the Royal NavyThe ship was initially assigned to the 1st Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean and made a brief deployment to thePersian Gulf and Red Sea in September–November 1933.[6] While in the Mediterranean, Diana was commanded byGeoffrey Oliver for a time.[7] The ship was refitted at Sheerness Dockyard between 3 September and 23 October1934 for service on the China Station with the 8th (later the 21st) Destroyer Flotilla and arrived there in January1935. She was attached to the Mediterranean Fleet in the Red Sea from September 1935 to May 1936 during theAbyssinian Crisis and made port visits in Bombay and East Africa before returning to Hong Kong on 7 August. Onone occasion in 1937 Diana investigated why a lighthouse near Amoy was not lit and discovered that it had beenattacked by pirates. She remained in the Far East until the rise in tensions before World War II began prompted herrecall in August 1939.[8]

With the outbreak of war, Diana and her sisters Duncan, Daring, and Dainty, were assigned to the MediterraneanFleet, arriving there in October. She was repaired at Malta during November and rejoining the fleet in Decemberwhere she was briefly placed on contraband control duties before she was transferred to the Home Fleet's 3rdDestroyer Flotilla. Diana arrived in Home waters in January 1940, and was assigned to the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla.Here her duties included screening units of the Home Fleet and carrying out patrols. On 15 February, the shipescorted HMS Duncan as she towed by tugs from Invergordon to the Forth for permanent repairs, after the latter hadbeen damaged in a collision whilst escorting a convoy.[9]

During the Norwegian Campaign, Diana escorted the aircraft carrier HMS Furious as she returned to Scapa Flow on25 April to replenish her aircraft. On 1 May, she screened the light cruisers HMS Manchester and HMS Birminghamof the 18th Cruiser Squadron as they covered the evacuations from Åndalsnes and the ship transported theNorwegian Commander-in-chief Major General Otto Ruge from Molde to Tromsø. The ship escorted the carriersHMS Glorious and Furious as the latter flew off RAF Gloster Gladiators fighters to Bardufoss airfield on 21 May.Ten days later Diana escorted the carriers HMS Ark Royal and Furious during Operation Alphabet, the Alliedwithdrawal from Norway.[10]

Transfer to CanadaThe ship was taken in hand for refit and repair in London in July. After their completion, Diana was transferred tothe Royal Canadian Navy to replace HMCS Fraser which had been sunk in a collision on 25 June 1940 with theBritish anti-aircraft cruiser HMS Calcutta. The ship was formally commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy asHMCS Margaree on 6 September 1940. On 17 October, she escorted Convoy OL8 bound for Canada,[11] but theship was sunk five days later when she collided with the freighter MV Port Fairy.[12] Of the 176 men aboardMargaree at the time, six officers and 28 ratings were rescued by Port Fairy, but the other 142 were lost.[13]

Notes[1] The Times (London), Thursday, 16 June 1932, p. 4[2] Whitley, p. 102[3] Friedman, pp. 215, 299[4] English, p. 141[5] English, p. 51[6] English, pp. 51, 59[7] "Survey of the Papers of Senior UK Defence Personnel, 1900-1975" (http:/ / www. kcl. ac. uk/ lhcma/ locreg/ OLIVER1. shtml). King's

College London: Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives. . Retrieved 7 April 2011.[8] English, pp. 59-60[9] English, pp. 52, 60[10] Haarr, pp. 141, 166, 261, 308, 312[11] English, pp. 48, 60

HMS Diana 69

[12] Rohwer, p. 46[13] English, p. 60

References• Douglas, W. A. B.; Sarty, Roger; Michael Whitby, Robert H. Caldwell, William Johnston, William G. P. Rawling

(2002). No Higher Purpose. The Official Operational History of the Royal Canadian Navy in the Second WorldWar, 1939–1943. 2, pt. 1. St. Catharines, Ontario: Vanwell. ISBN 1-551250-061-6.

• English, John (1993). Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s. Kendal, England: WorldShip Society. ISBN 0-905617-64-9.

• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Annapolis,Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-59114-081-8.

• Haarr, Geirr H. (2010). The Battle for Norway: April–June 1940. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press.ISBN 978-1-59114-051-1.

• Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Commonwealth Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: NavalInstitute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.

• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.ISBN 0-87021-326-1.

External links• HMS Diana at Uboat.net (http:/ / uboat. net/ allies/ warships/ ship/ 4372. html)• HMS Diana's career (http:/ / www. naval-history. net/ xGM-Chrono-10DD-19D-Diana. htm)

HMS Duchess 70

HMS Duchess

Career

Name: HMS Duchess

Ordered: 2 February 1931

Builder: Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Jarrow [1]

Cost: £229,367

Laid down: 12 June 1931

Launched: 19 July 1932 [1]

Completed: 27 January 1933

Commissioned: 24 January 1933

Motto: Duchi non trahi("To be led but not dragged")

Fate: Sunk in a collision with HMS Barham, 10 December 1939

Notes: Badge: On a Field Blue, a Duchess's coronet Proper over a terrestrial globe Silver.

General characteristics

Class and type: D-class destroyer

Displacement: 1375 long tons (1397 t) (standard)1890 long tons (1920 t) (deep)

Length: 329 ft (100.3 m) o/a

Beam: 33 ft (10.1 m)

Draught: 12 ft 6 in (3.8 m)

Installed power: 36000 shp (27000 kW)

Propulsion: 2 × shafts, 2 × Parsons geared steam turbines3 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers

Speed: 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)

Range: 5870 nmi (10870 km; 6760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)

Complement: 145

HMS Duchess 71

Sensors andprocessing systems:

ASDIC

Armament: 4 × QF 4.7-inch Mark IX guns1 × 12-pounder (3 in (76.2 mm)) anti-aircraft (AA) gun2 × 4 - QF .5-inch Vickers Mark III AA machine guns2 × 4 - 21 in (533 mm) torpedo tubes20 × depth charges, 1 rail and 2 throwers

HMS Duchess was a D-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. The ship was initially assignedto the Mediterranean Fleet before she was transferred to the China Station in early 1935. She was temporarilydeployed in the Red Sea during late 1935 during the Abyssinia Crisis, before returning to her duty station where sheremained until mid-1939. Duchess was transferred back to the Mediterranean Fleet just before the Second WorldWar began in September 1939. Whilst escorting the battleship HMS Barham back to the British Isles, she wasrammed by the battleship in thick fog and sank with heavy loss of life on 10 December 1939.

DescriptionDuchess displaced 1375 long tons (1397 t) at standard load and 1890 long tons (1920 t) at deep load. The ship had anoverall length of 329 feet (100.3 m), a beam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet 6 inches (3.8 m). She waspowered by Parsons geared steam turbines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 36000 shaft horsepower(27000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Steam for the turbines was provided bythree Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers. Duchess carried a maximum of 473 long tons (481 t) of fuel oil that gaveher a range of 5870 nautical miles (10870 km; 6760 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph). The ship's complement was145 officers and men.[2]

The ship mounted four 45-calibre QF 4.7-inch Mk IX guns in single mounts. For anti-aircraft (AA) defence, Duchesshad a single 12-pounder (3-inch (76.2 mm)) gun and two quadruple Mk I mounts for the 0.5-inch Vickers Mk IIImachine gun. She was fitted with two above-water quadruple torpedo tube mounts for 21-inch (533 mm)torpedoes.[3] One depth charge rail and two throwers were fitted; 20 depth charges were originally carried, but thisincreased to 35 shortly after the war began.[4]

ServiceDuchess was ordered on 2 February 1931 under the 1930 Naval Estimates and was laid down at the yards of thePalmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Jarrow on 12 June 1931. She was launched on 19 July 1932 andcommissioned on 24 January 1933, at a total cost of £229,367, excluding equipment supplied by the Admiralty, suchas weapons, ammunition and wireless equipment. The ship was initially assigned to the 1st Destroyer Flotilla in theMediterranean and made a brief deployment to the Persian Gulf and Red Sea in September–November 1933. Uponher return, her superheaters were repaired at Malta between 18 December and 6 January 1934. She was given a refitat Chatham Dockyard from 3 September to 23 October to prepare the ship for service on the China Station.[5]

Duchess arrived in Hong Kong in January 1935 where she joined the 8th Destroyer Flotilla. The ship was attached tothe Mediterranean Fleet in the Red Sea from September to November during the Abyssinian Crisis. She made anumber of good-will visits during her time on the station as well as conducted anti-piracy patrols. During a typhoonat Hong Kong on 2 September 1937, a merchant ship crushed Duchess's stern when it dragged its anchors. Herrepairs were not completed until 14 October.[5]

The ship remained on the station until late August 1939, when the imminent start of the Second World War caused the Admiralty to order her to take up her war station with the Mediterranean Fleet at Malta. Duchess arrived there on 12 October and remained in the Mediterranean for the next two months. In December the ship, along with her sisters HMS Delight and HMS Dainty, was assigned to escort the battleship HMS Barham back to the UK, and they departed Gibraltar on 6 December. During the morning of 10 December, Barham collided with Duchess off the Mull

HMS Duchess 72

of Kintyre in heavy fog.[5] The destroyer capsized and blew up, killing 124 of her crew.[2]

Notes[1] The Times (London), Tuesday, 19 July 1932, p. 5[2] Whitley, p. 102[3] Friedman, pp. 215, 299[4] English, p. 141[5] English, pp. 51, 60

References• English, John (1993). Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s. Kendal, England: World

Ship Society. ISBN 0-905617-64-9.• Friedman, Norman (2009). British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War. Annapolis,

Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-59114-081-8.• Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Commonwealth Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval

Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.• Whitley, M. J. (1988). Destroyers of World War 2. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press.

ISBN 0-87021-326-1.

External links• HMS Duchess at Uboat.net (http:/ / uboat. net/ allies/ warships/ ship/ 4373. html)• HMS Duchess's wartime service on naval-history.net (http:/ / www. naval-history. net/

xGM-Chrono-10DD-19D-Duchess. htm)

Article Sources and Contributors 73

Article Sources and ContributorsC and D class destroyer  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=459939380  Contributors: Alexf, Bellhalla, Benea, Colonies Chris, Daemonic Kangaroo, DagosNavy, Dan100,December21st2012Freak, Duncharris, Dysprosia, Eddy.boi, Emoscopes, Fat pig73, Fæ, Gdr, GraemeLeggett, Haus, Headbomb, Jim Sweeney, Kenzin Hilgapond, LeadSongDog, Lightmouse,Magus732, Manxruler, Maxim, Oberiko, Ohconfucius, P. S. Burton, Plasma east, Rcbutcher, Rif Winfield, Rjwilmsi, Shem1805, Sturmvogel 66, Thebigdixie, Toddy1, TomTheHand, Ulric1313,Waggers, Wengero, Wise ghost, 12 anonymous edits

HMS Kempenfelt  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=464406874  Contributors: Ambross07, Benea, Brad101, Haus, Jim Sweeney, Lightmouse, LindsayH, Rcbutcher,Shem1805, Sturmvogel 66, Takashi kurita, 2 anonymous edits

HMS Comet  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=458709010  Contributors: Anotherclown, Bellhalla, Cobatfor, DagosNavy, Dawkeye, Hohum, LindsayH, Shem1805,Sturmvogel 66, Thewellman

HMS Crescent  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=458216596  Contributors: Bellhalla, Bonewah, DagosNavy, Dormskirk, Ealdgyth, Manxruler, McMuff, PKT, Saberwyn,Shem1805, Sturmvogel 66

HMS Crusader  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=457446981  Contributors: Anotherclown, Bellhalla, Dawkeye, LindsayH, Shem1805, Sturmvogel 66, Thewellman

HMS Cygnet  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=457646990  Contributors: Bellhalla, Dawkeye, Djmaschek, Jim Sweeney, LindsayH, Michael Devore, Sturmvogel 66,Thewellman

HMS Duncan  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=458938173  Contributors: Anotherclown, Bellhalla, Benea, Benscripps, Bluemask, Bobblewik, Brighterorange, Bryan Derksen,ChicXulub, D6, David Newton, Dormskirk, Duncharris, Emoscopes, Gdr, Henning M, Joshbaumgartner, Kate, Lightmouse, Maximus Rex, N328KF, Rcbutcher, Reuv, Rif Winfield, Rjwilmsi,Shem1805, Sturmvogel 66, Thewellman, TomTheHand, Ulric1313, WereSpielChequers, WikHead, Xyl 54, 1 anonymous edits

HMS Dainty  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=452917579  Contributors: Benea, DagosNavy, Haus, Henning M, Lightmouse, Manxruler, Shem1805, Sturmvogel 66, Welsh

HMS Daring  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=461809784  Contributors: Bellhalla, Benea, D6, DagosNavy, Dormskirk, Fluteflute, Ian Rose, Lightmouse,MarkusHagenlocher, Miyagawa, Rjwilmsi, Saberwyn, Shem1805, Shimgray, Sturmvogel 66, Waggers, 1 anonymous edits

HMS Decoy  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=458652121  Contributors: Bellhalla, Benea, DagosNavy, Docu, Emoscopes, Gaius Cornelius, Haus, Henning M, John Moore309, Kisholi, Kralizec!, KrzysM99, LeadSongDog, Lightmouse, M-le-mot-dit, Maralia, Mukkakukaku, Plasma east, Rjwilmsi, Scartboy, Shem1805, Sturmvogel 66, The Land, Toddy1,Victoriaedwards, Woohookitty

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HMS Delight  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=453551646  Contributors: Benea, Camerong, DagosNavy, Haus, Henning M, Lightmouse, Manxruler, Shem1805, Sturmvogel66, Viv Hamilton

HMS Diamond  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=446183732  Contributors: Aeonx, Agamemnon2, BarroColorado, Benea, Bonewah, Catcher1, DagosNavy, Emoscopes,Ericoides, Evil Monkey, HandsomeFella, Haus, Henning M, Jaraalbe, Lightmouse, Maralia, Raul654, Scotwood72, Shem1805, Sturmvogel 66, TomTheHand, Welsh, 4 anonymous edits

HMS Diana  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=448610128  Contributors: Aeonx, Bellhalla, Benea, Bonewah, Camerong, D6, DagosNavy, Dawkeye, Folks at 137, Haus,Henning M, Iridescent, Kralizec!, Lightmouse, Ptelea, R'n'B, Saberwyn, Shem1805, Siałababamak, Sturmvogel 66, Tufaceous

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Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors 74

Image Sources, Licenses and ContributorsImage:HMS Duncan.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Duncan.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Royal Navy official photographer Post-Work:User:W.wolnyFile:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Naval_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors:User:Pumbaa80Image:Canadian Blue Ensign 1921.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Canadian_Blue_Ensign_1921.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User:Denelson83File:HMCS Restigouche (H00) CT-284.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMCS_Restigouche_(H00)_CT-284.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors:Photographer not identified. Credit National DefenceFile:HMS Ottawa (H60).jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Ottawa_(H60).jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Bonewah, RcbutcherImage:HMS Kempenfelt (I18).jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Kempenfelt_(I18).jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Royal Navy official photographerImage:Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Naval_Ensign_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors:User:Pumbaa80File:HMCS Assiniboine IKMD-03388.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMCS_Assiniboine_IKMD-03388.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: UnknownCredit Ken Macpherson / Naval Museum of AlbertaFile:U-210 PA-037443.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:U-210_PA-037443.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Salter, G.E. (Part of the Canadian Departmentof National Defence collection)File:HMCS Restigouche (H00) IKMD-03977.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMCS_Restigouche_(H00)_IKMD-03977.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors:Photographer not identified. Credit Ken Macpherson / Naval Museum of AlbertaFile:HMCS Restigouche (H00) picking up U-boat survivors 1944.jpg  Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMCS_Restigouche_(H00)_picking_up_U-boat_survivors_1944.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Australian armed forcesFile:HMS Crescent (1932).jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Crescent_(1932).jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Royal NavyFile:Canadian Blue Ensign 1921.svg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Canadian_Blue_Ensign_1921.svg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: User:Denelson83File:HMCS Fraser (H48).jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMCS_Fraser_(H48).jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Unknown.Image:HMS Ottawa (H60).jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Ottawa_(H60).jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Bonewah, RcbutcherFile:HMCS Ottawa IKMD-03896.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMCS_Ottawa_IKMD-03896.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Unknown Credit KenMacpherson / Naval Museum of AlbertaFile:HMCS St Laurent 20 August 1941 IKMD-04199.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMCS_St_Laurent_20_August_1941_IKMD-04199.jpg  License: PublicDomain  Contributors: Photographer not identifiedFile:HMCS St. Laurent IKMD-04188.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMCS_St._Laurent_IKMD-04188.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: UnknownCredit Ken Macpherson / Naval Museum of AlbertaImage:HMS Duncan (D99) Badge.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Duncan_(D99)_Badge.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Shem1805Image:HMS Dainty.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Dainty.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Royal Navy official photographerImage:DARING (H16).jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:DARING_(H16).jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Jusjih, Shem1805Image:Daring Crest.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Daring_Crest.jpg  License: unknown  Contributors: Shem1805, WoodyImage:HMS Decoy (H75).jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Decoy_(H75).jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Royal NavyImage:Hms Defender (H07).jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Hms_Defender_(H07).jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Shem1805Image:HMS Defender Crest.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Defender_Crest.JPG  License: unknown  Contributors: Shem1805Image:HMS Defender in build.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Defender_in_build.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Shem1805Image:HMS Defender Sinking.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Defender_Sinking.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Shem1805Image:HMS Delight.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Delight.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Royal Navy official photographerImage:HMS Delight badge.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Delight_badge.jpg  License: unknown  Contributors: Shem1805Image:Auderville Freyas.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Auderville_Freyas.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Flying Officer W.K. Manifould, No 1Photographic Reconnaissance Unit, RAFImage:HMS Diamond (H22).jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Diamond_(H22).jpg  License: Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 3.0  Contributors:Taken by a Warrant Officer Class 2 in The Royal Scots (British Army) who died in world war II. Submitted by his son and daughter-in-law, Aileen & Bernard TrinderImage:Diamond Crest.JPG  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Diamond_Crest.JPG  License: unknown  Contributors: Shem1805File:HMS Diana (H49).jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Diana_(H49).jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Royal Navy official photographerFile:HMS Diana Crest.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Diana_Crest.jpg  License: unknown  Contributors: AdmiraltyImage:HMS Duchess.jpg  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:HMS_Duchess.jpg  License: Public Domain  Contributors: Royal Navy official photographer

License 75

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