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ADMIRALTY WAR DIARIES of WORLD WAR 2 - ADM 199/632

 

HOME FLEET DESTROYER COMMAND - January to June 1943

 

Transcribed by Don Kindell

HMS Onslaught, destroyer (CyberHeritage, click to enlarge)

on to Home Fleet Destroyers, July-December 1943

 

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search)

 

Home Fleet Destroyer Operations September 1939 to April 1942

 

       
       
  Areas of Operations (click to enlarge). Only some locations in text are shown  

 

Click for Convoy Route Codes, Operation Code Names and Home Fleet Minelaying

 


 

HOME FLEET DESTROYER COMMAND WAR DIARY

 

JANUARY 1943

 

 

Friday, 1st January 1943

 

ONSLAUGHT left Rosyth at 1000, having completed a refit, and arrived at Scapa at 1900.

 

OPPORTUNE and MATCHLESS arrived at Scapa at 1300.

 

Vice Admiral Second in Command, Home Fleet in ANSON with FORESTER, IMPULSIVE, and ICARUS left Seidisfiord at 1700 for Scapa where they arrived at 1000 on 3rd January.

 

 

Saturday, 2nd January 1943

 

Convoy JW 51B arrived off the Kola Inlet in thick fog, escorted by OBEDIENT, OBDURATE, and ORWELL, corvettes, trawlers and completed entering the following day.  The White Sea section of the convoy continued to the White Sea with local escort.

 

The Fleet minesweeper BRAMBLE did not arrived in North Russia and is presumed sunk by enemy action on 31st December 1942.  She was known to have made contact an enemy sighting report by W/T at the time of the action with enemy surface forces in the vicinity of convoy JW 51B.  Nothing has since been heard or seen of her.

 

 

Sunday, 3rd January 1943

 

IMPULSIVE arrived at Scapa at 1500 for Hull to refit where she arrived the following forenoon.

 

MONTROSE having been detached from the Fleet screen by the Commander in Chief, arrived at Seidisfjord at 1600.

 

 

Monday, 4th January 1943

 

Senior Officer Force “R” in SHEFFIELD with JAMAICA in company, arrived Seidisfiord at 0840.

 

WINDSOR left Scapa at 1530 to rejoin the Nore Command and arrived at Harwich at noon on 6th December.

 

WORCESTER having been detached from the Fleet screen by the Commander in Chief, arrived at Seidisfiord at 1935.

 

 

Tuesday, 5th January 1943

 

The Commander in Chief, Home Fleet, in KING GEORGE V with HOWE and BERMUDA and destroyers QUEENBOROUGH, MUSKETEER, PIORUN, and RAIDER arrived at Scapa at 0930.

 

The Senior Officer Force “R” in SHEFFIELD with JAMAICA in company left Seidisfiord at 0930 for Scapa where they arrived at 1600 the next day.

 

OPPORTUNE left Scapa at 1600 for Immingham where she arrived at 1000 the next day for refit.

 

MUSKETEER left Scapa at 1700 for Rosyth to boiler clean, where she arrived at 0700 the following day.

 

METEOR arrived at Greenock at 2000 for boiler cleaning, heaving returned from Operations with NCXF.  She disembarked survivors rescued from four torpedoed merchant ships.

 

 

Wednesday, 6th January 1943

 

MONTROSE, BLANKNEY, and LEDBURY left Seidisfiord at 0400 to rendezvous with convoy RA 51 in approximate position 67-13N, 14-00W at 1400 and take over escort from Captain (D) Eighth Destroyer Division in FAULKNOR with FURY, ECHO, BEAGLE, INGLEFIELD, and ECLIPSE who on relief sailed to Seidisfiord and arrived at 1900 the same day.

 

RELENTLESS left Scapa at 1030 on completion of working up practices on first commissioning, for Liverpool where she arrived the following forenoon.

 

G.S. ADRIAS left Scapa at 1600 on completion of working up practices, for Greenock where she arrived at noon the following day.

 

 

Thursday, 7th February 1943

 

WORCESTER left Seidisfiord at 0530 to join the escort of Convoy RA 51.

 

Captain (D) Third Destroyer Flotilla in MILNE arrived at Scapa at 1000 having returned from operations with NCXF.  MILNE left Scapa at 1700 for the Tyne to refit, where she arrived the following day at 1000.

 

Captain (D) Eighth Destroyer Flotilla in FAULKNOR with FURY, ECHO, INGLEFIELD, and ECLIPSE left Seidisfjord at 1000 for Scapa where they arrived at 1000 the following day.

 

OFFA and MIDDLETON sailed from the Humber at 1300 on completion of refits and arrived at Scapa at 1100 the following day.

 

G.S MIAOULIS left Scapa at 1700 for Greenock, having completed working up practices, and arrived at 1300 the following day.

 

QUADRANT left Scapa at 1900 for Greenock, having completed working up practices, where she arrived 1100 the following day.

  

 

Friday, 8th January 1943

 

QUAIL arrive at Tobermory at 1300 for seven days A/S working up practices prior to proceeding to Scapa for working up practices on first commission.

 

FURY entered the floating dock at Scapa in order to change her defective asdic dome and for examination of rudder post.

 

 

Saturday, 9th January 1943

 

FORESTER and ICARUS left Scapa at 0900 for Seidisfiord where they arrived the next day.

 

FURY undocked at noon.

 

 

Sunday, 10th January 1943

 

FURY left Scapa at 0930 for Dundee to dock for repairs to her rudder post and for boiler cleaning.

 

OFFA and MATCHLESS left Scapa at 1800 for Seidisfjord where they arrived at 0700 on the 12th.

 

WORCESTER, escorting convoy RA 51 to Loch Ewe, developed serious condenser trouble and proceeded to Stornoway for temporary repairs, where she arrived at 2230.

 

FORESTER and ICARUS left Seidisfiord at 2100 for the Kola Inlet.

 

 

Monday, 11th January 1943

 

Captain (D) Eighth Destroyer Flotilla in FAULKNOR with INGLEFIELD, ONSLAUGHT, QUEENBOROUGH, PIORUN, ECHO, and VIVACIOUS left Scapa at 0600 for carry out Operation “FC” which has as its object to sweep for enemy units believed to be passing up the Norwegian coast.  Owing to a full Southerly gale, the operation had to be abandoned and Captain (D) Eighth Destroyer Flotilla turned back at 2300.  VIVACIOUS was turned back earlier owing to steering defects.

 

MONTROSE, LEDBURY, and GLEANER arrived at Scapa at 0900, heaving escorted convoy RA 51 from Iceland.

 

BLANKNEY arrived at Greenock at 1700 for boiler cleaning having been detached from escort of convoy RA 51 off Loch Ewe the previous night.

 

GLEANER sailed from Scapa to refit at Grimsby.

 

OBEDIENT and OBDURATE left the Kola Inlet at 1915 for Scapa.

 

 

Tuesday, 12th January 1943

 

Rear Admiral I.G. Glennie assumed command of Home Fleet Destroyers in succession to Rear Admiral R.L. Burnett, CB, OBE.

 

WORCESTER having completed temporary repairs, sailed from Stornoway at 0800 and arrived at Scapa at 1530.

 

At 1000 VIVACIOUS reported she was stopped owing to engine lubrication failure and was drifting in a position 30 miles east of Lerwick.  The Tug BUCCANEER was sent from Scapa to her assistance.  At 1145 VIVACIOUS reported she was under way and making for Lerwick at 3 knots.  She arrived there during the afternoon.  INGLEFIELD and ECHO who had been detached by Captain (D) Eighth Destroyer Flotilla to the assistance of VIVACIOUS were ordered to return to Scapa where they arrived at 0900 the next day.

 

MUSKETEER left Rosyth on completion of boiler cleaning and arrived at Scapa the following forenoon.

 

 

Wednesday, 13th January 1943

 

F.F.S. LA COMBATANTE left Greenock for Tobermory where she  arrived the following day for A/S working up practices prior to proceeding to Scapa for working up practices on first commissioning.

 

Captain (D) Eighth Destroyer Flotilla in FAULKNOR left Scapa at 17000 for Rosyth for boiler cleaning and arrived at 0700 the next day.

 

OFFA and MATCHLESS left Seidisfiord and proceeded to Akureyri where they arrived the next morning.

 

MIDDLETON left Scapa at 0700 the proceeded to Aberdeen where she arrived at 1700.

 

 

Thursday, 14th January 1943

 

The First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. A.V. Alexander, embarked in MIDDLETON at Aberdeen at 0900.  MIDDLETON then sailed for Scapa where she arrived at 1600.

 

WORCESTER left Scapa at 1000 for Harwich to rejoin the Nore Command.

 

FORESTER and ICARUS arrived at Kola Inlet at 1030.

 

OBDURATE parted company from OBEDIENT in position 68-30N, 6-00W and proceeded to Seidisfiord to fuel, subsequently leaving for Scapa.

 

From 0001 the following ships form the First Minesweeping Flotilla, administered by Rear Admiral (D) Home Fleet and the Sixth Minesweeping Flotilla ceases to form a unit: HARRIER (Senior Officer), JASON, BRITOMART, GLEANER, HALCYON, HAZARD, SALAMANDER, SEAGULL, and SHARPSHOOTER.

 

 

Friday, 15th January 1943

 

WALPOLE left Scapa t 1000 for Hvalfiord  where she arrived on 17th January.

 

OBEDIENT arrived at Scapa at 1230 with Captain Sherbrooke, VC, on board and berthed alongside hospital ship ISLE OF JERSEY.

 

OBEDIENT left Scapa at 1800 for Leith for repairs where she arrived the following day.

 

MIDDLETON left Scapa at 1900 to rendezvous with MTB 623 returning from rescue operations on the Norwegian coast.  She was met in position 59-31N, 1-41E at 1000 the next day.  The MTB reported her operation had been unsuccessful and she returned to Lerwick.  MIDDLETON returned to Scapa where she arrived at 1600 on 16 January.

 

OBDURATE arrived at Scapa at 1930, berthed alongside ISLE OF JERSEY and disembarked wounded from North Russia.

 

METEOR sailed from the Clyde at 2200 on completion of boiler cleaning, but was forced to return to the Clyde with condenser trouble.

 

 

Saturday, 16th January 1943

 

ONSLAUGHT, LEDBURY, and EASTON sailed fro Loch Ewe at 1000 and arrived there the same evening.

 

Early in the forenoon the following destroyers berthed alongside HMS TYNE:

 

INGLEFIELD, ECLIPSE, ECHO, OBDURATE, QUEENBOROUGH, RAIDER, IROQUOIS, and BRECON.

 

At 1125, the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. A.V. Alexander, visited HMS TYNE and after being introduced to officers spoke to the assembled ships’ companies.  He left the ship at 1300.

 

During the afternoon destroyers reberthed at buoys.

 

BRITOMART arrived at Scapa at 1600 from the Humber on completion of refit.  She left for Loch Ewe the same evening and arrived there the following morning at 1000.

 

BLANKNEY left Greenock at 2000, on completion of boiler cleaning, and arrived at Loch Ewe at 1030 the following day.

 

PIORUN and MUSKETEER left Scapa at 2200 for Seidisfiord where they arrived at 1300 on the 18th.

 

 

Sunday, 17th January 1943

 

MIDDLETON sailed for Loch Ewe at 0001 and arrived at 0930.

 

ECLIPSE left Scapa at 0500 with the First Lord of the Admiralty on board, for Rosyth where she arrived at 1700.  ECLIPSE returned to Scapa arriving at 0800 the next day.

 

ORIBI and ORWELL who had left the Kola Inlet on the 14th, arrived at Seidisfiord at noon and subsequently sailed for Scapa.

 

OFFA and MATCHLESS arrived at Seidisfiord at 1700 on the 18th.

 

Convoy JW 52 consisting of 16 ships sailed from Loch Ewe at 1500 escorted by BLANKNEY, MIDDLETON, and LEDBURY, fleet minesweeper BRITOMART, two corvettes, and two trawlers.

 

 

Monday, 18th January 1943

 

OBDURATE and BRECON left Scapa at 1715 for the Tyne.  OBDURATE arrived the following day and commenced refitting.  BRECON rendezvoused with the PORT QUEBEC at 1000 on the 19th and escorted her to Scapa where they arrived at 0830 on the 20th.

 

QUAIL arrived at Scapa from Tobermory at 1800.

 

WALPOLE left Hvalfiord at 2359 for Scapa where she arrived at 1115 on the 21st.

 

 

Tuesday, 19th January 1943

 

ORIBI and ORWELL arrived at Scapa at 0600.  ORWELL sailed for Rosyth to boiler clean and arrived there next morning.

 

OBEDIENT left Leith at 1400 for Scapa where she arrived the following day at 0030.

 

It was decided that METEOR, now on the Clyde, should commence a refit and boiler repairs.

 

 

Wednesday, 20th January 1943

 

ONSLAUGHT (Senior Officer) with OFFA, MATCHLESS, MUSKETEER, PIORUN, BEAGLE, and BULLDOG in company left Seidisfiord at 0700 to rendezvous with convoy JW 52.  The convoy was met at 1030 the following day.  After handing over the convoy to ONSLAUGHT, BLANKNEY with MIDDLETON and LEDBURY parted company and set course for Seidisfiord where they arrived on the 22nd.

 

QUEENBOROUGH, ORKAN, ECHO, and RAIDER left Scapa t 1600 for Seidisfiord where they arrived at 1100 on the 22nd.

 

OBEDIENT entered the floating dock at Scapa at 0900 to change a propeller.  She undocked the next day.

 

 

Thursday, 21st January 1943

 

Captain (D) VIII in FAULKNOR arrived at Scapa Flow at 1030 from Rosyth.

 

Vice Admiral, Second in Command, Home Fleet in ANSON with SHEFFIELD, Captain (D) VIII in FAULKNOR, ECLIPSE, INGLEFIELD, and MONTROSE left Scapa t 2200 on covering operations for convoy JW 52.

 

 

Friday, 22nd January 1943

 

BLANKNEY, MIDDLETON, and LEDBURY arrived at Seidisfiord at 0530 and left at 1030, BLANKNEY and MIDDLETON for Scapa and LEDBURY for the Clyde.

 

 

Saturday, 23rd January 1943

 

QUEENBOROUGH, ORKAN, RAIDER, and ECHO rendezvoused with Vice Admiral, Second in Command, Home Fleet, in ANSON at 0700 in approximate position 66N 12W.  Captain (D) VIII in FAULKNOR with ECLIPSE in company returned to Scapa where they arrived at 0945 the next day.  INGLEFIELD and MONTROSE proceeded to Akureyri where they arrived at 1500 the same day.

 

At 1215 a BV 138 ‘plane gained contact with and shadowed convoy JW 52, leaving at 1400.

 

At 1230, Vice Admiral, Second in Command, Home Fleet, reported having been sighted by a FW 200 ‘plane.

 

 

Sunday, 24th January 1943

 

BLANKNEY and LEDBURY arrived at Scapa at 0400.

 

The Admiralty reported that U-boats were in contact with convoy JW 52.  No attacks, however, developed.

 

At 1225, four HE 115 ‘planes approached the convoy and attempted to attack with torpedoes,  two of these ‘planes were shot down, one was damaged and the other sheered off.

 

LEDBURY arrived at the Clyde at 1530 for boiler cleaning.

 

 

Monday, 25th January 1943

 

ORIBI and OBEDIENT left Scapa at 1330 for Hvalfiord where they arrived on the 27th.

 

EGGESFORD on passage to Scapa, for working up practices on first commissioning, reported she was hove to in a gale off Barra Head at 1830.

 

 

Tuesday, 26th January 1943

 

Force “R”, the cruiser covering force for convoy JW 52 entered the Kola Inlet shortly after midnight.

 

ECLIPSE left Scapa at noon for Akureyri but was ordered to return and arrived at 2300.

 

EASTON left Scapa at 1330 for the Clyde, having completed working up practices.

 

EGGESFORD remained hove to off the west coast of Scotland.

 

 

Wednesday, 27th January 1943

 

ORWELL arrived at Scapa at 0830 from Rosyth.

 

INTREPID arrived at Scapa at 1130, having completed a refit.

 

Convoy JW 52 and escort arrived at Kola Inlet at 1330.

 

EGGESFORD arrived at Scapa during the forenoon.

 

JASON left Rosyth at 1400 for Scapa and arrived at 0930 the following day.

 

ORIBI and OBEDIENT left Hvalfiord at 1600 and arrived at Akureyri the following day.

 

IROQUOIS left Scapa at 1700 for the Tyne, having completed working up practices.

 

Vice Admiral, Second in Command, Home Fleet, in ANSON with SHEFFIELD, QUEENBOROUGH, RAIDER, ORKAN, and ECHO arrived at Akureyri at 1700.

 

QUEENBOROUGH, RAIDER, and ECHO sailed for Scapa at 2300.

 

 

Thursday, 28th January 1943

 

FURY left Dundee at 1800, on completion of repairs, and proceeded to Scapa where she arrived at 0400 the next day.

 

 

Friday, 29th January 1943

 

QUEENBOROUGH, RAIDER, and ECHO arrived at Scapa at 0800.

 

BRECON left Scapa at 0600 for Southampton for repairs to her torpedo tubes.

 

BLANKNEY docked in the floating dock at Scapa to change her defective asdic dome.

 

Convoy RA 52 of eleven merchant ships left the Kola Inlet at 1030 escorted by ONSLAUGHT (Senior Officer), OFFA, PIORUN, MUSKETEER, MATCHLESS, FORESTER, ICARUS, ONSLOW (temporarily repaired after action damage), BEAGLE, BULLDOG, two fleet minesweepers HARRIER (Senior Officer, First Minesweeping Flotilla) and SEAGULL, corvettes, and trawlers.

 

 

Saturday, 30th January 1943

 

Vice Admiral, Second in Command, Home Fleet in ANSON with SHEFFIELD, INGLEFIELD, ORIBI, OBEDIENT, and ORKAN left Akureyri at 0700 to cover the passage of convoy RA 52.

 

ECHO left Scapa at 1000 for Immingham to refit.

 

MONTROSE left Akureyri at 1100 for Scapa where she arrived at 0830 on the 1st.

 

BLANKNEY undocked.

 

 

Sunday, 31st January 1943

 

No events or movements of importance.

 

 


 

 

HOME FLEET DESTROYER COMMAND WAR DIARY

 

 

FEBRUARY 1943

 

 

Monday, 1st February 1943

 

HMS MONTROSE arrived at Scapa at 0900 from Akureyri.

 

HM Ships MONTROSE and WALPOLE left Scapa t 1230 to rejoin the Nore Command.

 

HM Ships BLANKNEY, MIDDLETON, and VIVACIOUS left Scapa at 1900 for Seidisfiord, where they arrived on the morning of the 3rd.

 

HMS LEDBURY left Greenock at 2000 for Scapa where she arrived at 1800 the following day.

 

U-boats gained contact with convoy RA 52 during the day, but no attacks developed.

 

 

Tuesday, 2nd February 1943

 

HMS ONSLOW was detached from convoy RA 52 at 0800, when in position 73-06N 10-23E, and proceeded to Scapa where she arrived at 0900 on the 4th.

 

 

Wednesday, 3rd February 1943

 

Two U-boats were apparently in contact with convoy RA 52 during the day and at 1400, when in position 70-52N, 00-21W, the GREYLOCK was sunk as a result of an explosion believed to have been a torpedo.  All the crew were rescued.  No asdic contact was obtained.

 

HMS OBEDIENT was detached from the Battlefleet screen at 0500 and proceeded to Scapa where she arrived at 0800 on the 5th.

 

 

Thursday, 4th February 1943

 

HMS FORESTER, having been detached from escort of RA 52 and sent on ahead, arrived at Seidisfiord at 1600.

 

HMS ONSLOW arrived at Scapa at 0900 and sailed at 1700 to the Humber for repairs and refit, where she arrived the following day at 1300.

 

Vice Admiral, Second in Command, Home Fleet, in HMS ANSON with HM ships SHEFFIELD, INGLEFIELD, ORIBI, and ORKAN arrived at Hvalfiord at 1800.

 

HM ships BLANKNEY, VIVACIOUS, and MIDDLETON left Seidisfjord at 2100 to rendezvous with convoy RA 52.

 

 

Friday, 5th February 1943

 

HM Ships BLANKNEY, VIVACIOUS, and MIDDLETON met convoy RA 52 at 1100.  HM Ships ONSLAUGHT, BULLDOG, PIORUN, OFFA, MUSKETEER, MATCHLESS, ICARUS, and BEAGLE proceeded to Seidisfiord where they arrived at 1700.

 

HMS RAIDER left Scapa at noon for Liverpool, having completed working up practices, and arrived the next day at 1400.

 

HMS QUEENBOROUGH left Scapa at noon for the Clyde, having completed working up practices, where she arrived the following day at 0900.

 

HMS OBEDIENT left Scapa at 1800 for Rosyth to boiler clean, where she arrived the next morning.

 

 

Saturday, 6th February 1943

 

HM Ships ONSLAUGHT, OFFA, MATCHLESS, MUSKETEER, FORESTER, and PIORUN left Seidisfiord at 1025 for Scapa where they arrived at 1500 the following day.

 

HM Ships HAZARD and SHARPSHOOTER left the Humber at 0930 on completion of refit and arrived at Scapa at 1300 the following day.

 

HMS EGGESFORD left Scapa at 2330 and proceeded to the Clyde.

 

 

Sunday, 7th February 1943

 

HMS ICARUS arrived at Scapa at 0200 and left at 1700 for the Clyde to boiler clean.

 

HMS EGGESFORD arrived off the Clyde entrance at 2100, rendezvoused with HMS DASHER and escorted her to Scapa where they arrived at noon on the 8th.

 

HMS OPPORTUNE left Immingham at 1300 on completion of refit and arrived at Scapa at 0800 the next day.

 

HMS IMPULSIVE left the Humber at 1700 on completion of refit and arrived at Scapa the following day at 1300.

 

Rear Admiral, Commanding First Cruiser Squadron, IN HMS KENT, HM Ships HOWE, BERWICK, and destroyers INTREPID, FURY, and ECLIPSE left Scapa at 1800 for Hvalfiord.

 

HMS FORESTER left Scapa at 1830 for Rosyth to boiler clean, where she arrived the following morning.

 

 

Monday, 8th February 1943

 

HMS VIVACIOUS arrived Hvalfiord at 1000 to join HMS ANSON’s screen.

 

HMS OFFA docked in the floating dock at Scapa for hull repairs.

 

Convoy RA 52 arrived at Loch Ewe shortly before midnight.   HMS MIDDLETON proceeded to Greenock where she arrived at noon the following day.

 

Captain (D) III in HMS MILNE left the Tyne at 1800, on completion of refit, and arrived at Scapa at 0800 next day.

 

Vice Admiral, Second in Command, Home Fleet, in HMS ANSON with HM ships SHIEFFIELD, ORIBI, INGLEFIELD, and VIVACIOUS left Hvalfiord for Scapa at 2350.

 

 

Tuesday, 9th February 1943

 

HMS BLANKNEY arrived at Scapa at 0800.  HM Ships SEAGULL and HARRIER arrived shortly afterwards.

 

HMS OBDURATE left Tyne at 1830, on completion of refit, and arrived at Scapa at 0900 the next day.

 

HMS ORWELL left Scapa at 1900 to rendezvous with HM Ships FURIOUS and MIDDLETON off the Cumbraes the following day.

 

 

Wednesday, 10th February 1943

 

HMS ORWELL met HM Ships FURIOUS and MIDDLETON off the Cumbraes at 1800 whence they proceeded to Scapa arriving at 1900 the next day.

 

 

Thursday, 11th February 1943

 

Vice Admiral, Second in Command, Home Fleet, in HMS ANSON with HM Ships SHEFFIELD, ORIBI, INGLEFIELD, and VIVACIOUS arrived Scapa at 1700 from Hvalfiord.

 

 

Friday 12th February 1943

 

HMS PYTCHLEY and HMS MEYNELL left their Nore Command patrol areas at 1100 and proceeded to Scapa to join the Home Fleet Destroyer Command temporarily; they arrived at 1300 the next day.

 

HMS ORIBI left Scapa at 1330 for Hull to refit, where she arrived the following morning.

 

FFS LA COMBATTANTE left Tobermory at 1400 and arrived at Scapa at 0900 next day for working up practices.

 

HMS QUAIL left Scapa at 1330 on completion of working up practices and arrived at Greenock at 1000 next day.

 

HMS HALCYON left Milford Haven at 1500 for Scapa, on completion of refit, arrived at 1830 on the 14th.

 

HM Ships BLANKNEY and LEDBURY left Scapa at 2300 for Loch Ewe, where they arrived the next morning, to carry out oiling trials with tanker BRITISH GOVERNOR.

 

 

Saturday, 13th February 1943

 

HMS OBEDIENT left Rosyth at 1000 and arrived at Scapa the same evening.

 

HMS ONSLAUGHT left Scapa at noon for Hvalfiord.  She was delayed by bad weather and arrived there at 1400 on the 16th.

 

Senior Officer, First Minesweeping Flotilla, in HMS HARRIER with HMS SEAGULL in company, left Scapa at 1300 and proceeded to Rosyth to de ammunition prior to refitting.

 

 

Sunday, 14th February 1943

 

HMS JASON left Scapa at 0800 and proceeded to Loch Ewe , where she arrived at 1730.

 

Captain (D) III in HMS MILNE left Scapa at 1600 and arrived at Loch Ewe at 1000 the next day.

 

HMS BLANKNEY returned from Loch Ewe Arriving at Scapa at 1700.

 

HMS LEDBURY arrived at Scapa 2000.

 

HMS OFFA undocked at 0900.

 

HM Ships PIORUN and OFFA left Scapa at 1130 for Akureyri where they arrived at 1130 on the 16th.

 

 

Monday, 15th February 1943

 

A full gale blowing at Scapa.

 

HMS HAZARD left Scapa at 0830 for Loch Ewe, but returned at 1600 owing to stress of weather.

 

PYTCHLEY, MEYNELL, and MIDDLETON left Scapa at 1000 to rendezvous with convoy JW 53 off Loch Ewe during the afternoon.

 

HOWE, INTREPID, ORKAN, and ECLIPSE left Hvalfiord at 1330 for Akureyri where they arrived the following afternoon.

 

Captain (D), Third Destroyer Flotilla, having attended the JW 53 convoy conference at Loch Ewe, left in MILNE during the afternoon for Seidisfiord.

 

FORESTER left Rosyth at 1830 for Scapa where she arrived at 0900 the next day.

 

FURY left Hvalfiord for Akureyri.

 

ATHABASKAN left Rosyth at 1930 for Scapa where she arrived at 0930 next day for working up practices on first commissioning.

 

Convoy JW 53 left Loch Ewe during the afternoon escorted by JASON (S.O. local escort), corvettes, and trawlers.  PYTCHLEY, MEYNELL, and MIDDLETON rendezvoused later during that night.

 

 

Tuesday, 16th February 1943

 

HALCYON left Scapa at 0200 and joined the escort of convoy JW 53.

 

Captain (D), Eighth Destroyer Flotilla in FAULKNOR with INGLEFIELD, OPPORTUNE, OBEDIENT, ORWELL, and OBDURATE in company left Scapa at 0730 for Seidisfiord where they arrived on the 18th and fuelled on 19 February.

 

DASHER escorted by BLANKNEY, IMPULSIVE, and LEDBURY left Scapa at 0800 for Seidisfiord.

 

ICARUS left the Clyde at 1600 and arrived at Scapa the next forenoon.

 

VIVACIOUS docked in the floating dock at Scapa to clear a wire from the screws and undocked the same evening.

 

METEOR left the Clyde at 2000 for Scapa on completion of refit where she arrived at 1100 next day.

 

MUSKETEER and MATCHLESS left Scapa at 2300 to rendezvous with three ships of convoy JW 53B.  Ships were met at 0700 next morning and course and speed set to overtake convoy JW 53.

 

 

Wednesday, 17th February 1943

 

FORESTER left Scapa at 0930 with R.A. (D) on board for Scrabster where she arrived at 1030 and then returned to Scapa, arriving at noon.

 

 

Thursday, 18th February 1943

 

MARNE arrived in the United Kingdom, having been towed back from Gibraltar, damaged as a result of a torpedo hit which blew off her stern.

 

ONSLAUGHT left Hvalfiord at 1700 for Akureyri where she arrived the following day.

 

BLANKNEY and LEDBURY arrived at Seidisfiord at 2359.

 

Commander in Chief, Home Fleet, in KING GEORGE V with NORFOLK, METEOR, FORESTER, and ICARUS in company left Scapa during the forenoon for Akureyri where they arrived on the night of 20 February.

 

 

Friday, 19th February 1943

 

VIVACIOUS left Scapa at 0600 to rendezvous with BITER off Rosyth at 1800 and escort her to the Clyde where they arrived at 1600 on 21st February.

 

NEWARK arrived at Scapa to carry out a short period of working up practices and assist in providing screens for Fleet units.

 

BLANKNEY and LEDBURY left Seidisfjord during the forenoon to rejoin DASHER, having fuelled.

 

Heavy gales continued.  Convoy JW 53 became badly scattered.  SCYLLA, DASHER, INTREPID, FURY, ECLIPSE, ORKAN, and IMPULSIVE hove to off Iceland waiting for the weather to moderate to allow them to enter and fuel.

 

During the forenoon, MATCHLESS reported she was standing by the S.S. JAMES BOWIE who was damaged by heavy weather and running before the gale in approximate position 64 degrees 32’N, 5 degrees 08’W.

 

 

Saturday, 20th February 1943

 

Captain (D), Third Destroyer Flotilla in MILNE With Captain (D) Eighth Destroyer Flotilla in FAULKNOR,  BOADICEA, OBEDIENT, OPPORTUNE, ORWELL, OBDURATE, and INGLEFIELD in company left Seidisfiord to rendezvous with convoy JW 53.  Contact as made with the convoy at 0805 on 21st February in position 67 degrees 59’  North 7 degrees 33’ W and the local escort were detached to Seidisfiord.

 

At 1100 MATCHLESS reported she was escorting damaged JAMES BOWIE to Loch Ewe and at noon the two remaining ships of JW 53B turned back to the UK due to weather damage. 

 

MUSKETEER arrived at Akureyri at 2000.

 

HAZARD and SHARPSHOOTER left Scapa at 1100 for Hvalfiord where they arrived on 23rd February.

 

SCYLLA, DASHER, ECLIPSE, FURY, IMPULSIVE, INTREPID, LEDBURY, and ORKAN arrived Akureyri at noon.  BLANKNEY arrived Hvalfiord noon.

 

IMPULSIVE reported having lost asdic dome due to bad weather.

 

SCYLLA with INTREPID, IMPULSIVE, FURY, ECLIPSE, and ORKAN having fuelled left Akureyri at 2000 to rendezvous with convoy JW 53 which was subsequently met at 0800 next day.

 

SALAMANDER left Aberdeen at 1800 on completion of refit and arrived at Scapa the following morning.

 

 

Sunday, 21st February 1943

 

PYTCHLEY, MIDDLETON, and MEYNELL arrived at Seidisfiord.

 

MIDDLETON subsequently proceed to Scapa where she arrived at noon on 23 February.

 

BLANKNEY left Hvalfiord at 1100 for Akureyri where she arrived at 1100 the next day.

 

 

Monday, 22nd February 1943

 

SALAMANDER left Scapa at 0800 for Aberdeen for engine defect repairs where she arrived at 1800.

 

MALAYA, escorted by ATHABASKAN, EGGESFORD, and F.S. LA COMBATTANTE left Scapa at 0730 for Clyde where they arrived at 0900 next day.  The destroyer escort returned to Scapa, arriving on 24th February.

 

RAPID left Liverpool at 1300 for Scapa where she arrived at 1600 the following day for working up practices on first commissioning.

 

HALCYON arrived at Seidisfiord at noon.

 

MATCHLESS arrived at Scapa at 1500.

 

VIVACIOUS arrived at Scapa at 1500 from the Clyde.

 

MEYNELL left Seidisfiord at 1600 for Scapa where she arrived at 1400 on 24th February.

 

DASHER, taking no further part in Operation due to weather damage, sailed from Akureyri at 1700 escorted by BLANKNEY and LEDBURY for Scapa where they arrived at noon on February 25th.

 

 

Tuesday, 23rd February

 

VIVACIOUS docked in the floating dock for repairs to her asdic dome.

 

Convoy JW 53 was sighted and reported by enemy aircraft in position 72 degrees 11’ N 8 degrees 40’ E.

  

MATCHLESS left Scapa at 1800 for Rosyth where she arrived at 0700 next day to boiler clean.

 

PYTCHLEY left Seidisfiord at 2100 for Scapa where she arrived at noon on 25th February.

 

 

Wednesday, 24th February 1943

 

Shadowing enemy aircraft sighted and reported convoy JW 53 during the forenoon and during the afternoon U-boat HF/DF signals were intercepted in the vicinity of the convoy.

 

BRISSENDEN left Portsmouth at 1700 for Scapa where she arrived at 1500 on 26th February for working up practices on first commissioning.

 

GLEANER sailed from the Humber at 1800 for Scapa where she arrived on the morning of 28 February.

 

 

Thursday, 25th February 1943

 

Enemy shadowing aircraft were detached in the vicinity of convoy JW 53 during the forenoon and at noon, when in position 73 degrees 41’N, 29 degrees 42’ E the convoy was attacked by 14 Junkers 88’s.  No damaged was caused to ships of the convoy or escort.

 

HALCYON left Seidisfiord at 0900 for Scapa where she arrived at noon on 27 February.

 

MARNE arrived at the Tyne, in tow, for repairs and refit.

 

ATHABASKAN left Scapa at 1100 for Scrabster where Rear Admiral (D) was embarked and returned to Scapa.

 

 

Friday, 26th February 1943

 

At about 1220 convoy JW 53 was attacked by 11 Junkers 88’s from above the cloud base.  No damaged was caused to any ships.

 

At 2345, White Sea section of convoy JW 53 was detached with escort of five destroyers and 1 corvette.

 

VIVACIOUS was undocked from the floating dock at Scapa.

 

Commander in Chief , Home Fleet, in KING GEORGE V with HOWE, ONSLAUGHT, OFFA, METEOR, MUSKETEER, ICARUS, and PIORUN arrived at Akureyri at 1730.

 

 

Saturday, 27th February 1943

(Note:  most of entry of ships’ names is illegible.  Information taken from Home Fleet War Diary, q.v.)

 

Russian pilots board ships of the convoy JW 53 in the early morning and they entered the Kola Inlet with their escorts, consisting of the Home Fleet Destroyers MILNE, FAULKNOR, INGLEFIELD, ORKAN, INTREPID, IMPULSIVE,  OBDURATE, ORWELL,  OPPORTUNE, OBEDIENT,  FURY, ECLIPSE,  BOADICEA, corvettes, minesweeper JASON, and trawlers

 

 

Sunday, 28th February 1943

 

NEWARK and WELLS left Scapa at 1700 escorting DASHER to Dundee where they arrived the following night.

 

 


 

 

HOME FLEET DESTROYER COMMAND WAR DIARY

 

 

MARCH 1943

 

 

Monday, 1st March 1943

 

HMS MIDDLETON docked in the floating dock at Scapa.

 

HMS VIVACIOUS left Scapa at noon for Hvalfiord where she arrived at noon on 3rd March.

 

HMS NEWARK and HMS WELLS met HMS MENESTHEUS off H 3 buoy at 1930 and escorted her to Scapa where they arrived at 0300 on March 3rd.

 

Convoy RA 53 sailed from the Kola Inlet at 1300, escorted by Captain (D) III in HMS MILNE, Captain (D) VIII in HMS FAULKNOR, and the destroyers OPPORTUNE, OBEDIENT, OBDURATE, ORWELL, FURY, ECLIPSE, INGLEFIELD, INTREPID, IMPULSIVE, ORKAN, and BOADICEA also corvettes and trawlers.

 

 

Tuesday, 2nd March 1943

 

HM Ships PYTCHLEY, MEYNELL, and LEDBURY left Scapa at 0700 for Akureyri where they arrived at 1000 on March 4th.

 

Commander in Chief, Home Fleet, in HMS KING GEORGE V with HM ships HOWE, GLASGOW, ONSLAUGHT, OFFA, ICARUS, MUSKETEER, PIORUN, and FORESTER left Akureyri at 0700 on covering operations for the passage of convoy RA 53.

 

 

Wednesday, 3rd March 1943

 

HMS MATCHLESS left Rosyth at 1000 for Rosyth on completion of boiler cleaning, where she arrived the same night.

 

HMS SALAMANDER left Aberdeen at 1900, on completion of her refit, and arrived at Scapa at 0730 the next day.

 

HMS ESSGESFORD left Scapa at 2000 for Greenock having completed working up practices on first commissioning.

 

 

Thursday, 4th March 1943

 

HMS MIDDLETON undocked from the floating dock at Scapa.

 

HMS HALCYON left Scapa for Aberdeen for repairs where she arrived at 1600 the following day.

 

HMS VIVACIOUS left Hvalfiord for Akureyri where she arrived at 1600 the following day.

 

 

Friday, 6th March 1943

 

HMS FURIOUS escorted by HM ships RAPID and MATCHLESS left Scapa at 0900 for the Clyde where she arrived at 1700 on March 6th.  The destroyers were detached at 1300 off the Clyde Light Vessel and returned to Scapa where they arrived at 0700 on 7 March.

 

Convoy RA 53 was located and shadowed by enemy aircraft from 0800 until dusk.  At 0942, two ships in the convoy were hit by torpedoes.  It is possible that these torpedoes were fired by a U-boat or were “circlers” dropped by aircraft.  One ship sank, but the other was able to continue with the convoy.

 

 

Saturday, 6th March 1943

 

HMS BLANKNEY docked in the floating dock at Scapa.

 

HMS GLEANER left Scapa at 0900 for Hvalfiord where she arrived at 0800 on 9th March.

 

HM Ships GLASGOW and FORESTER arrived at the Faroes at (illegible time) and HMS FORESTER left for Scapa at 1230.

 

The Commander in Chief, Home Fleet, in HMS KING GEORGE V with HM Ships    HOWE, ONSLAUGHT, OFFA, MUSKETEER, PIORUN, and ICARUS arrived at Scapa at 1700.

 

HM Ships VIVACIOUS, PYTCHLEY, MEYNELL, and LEDBURY left Akureyri at 2300 to supplement the escort of convoy RA 53 which they joined at daylight on March 9th.  With the exception of HMS LEDBURY, who encounters a straggler from the convoy at 1500 on the 9th  and escorted her to Seidisfiord where they arrived at 0900 on 10th March.

 

 

Sunday, 7th March 1943

 

HMS FORESTER arrived at Scapa t 0900.

 

The Vice Admiral, Second in Command, Home Fleet in HMS ANSON with HM Ships PIORUN, MATCHLESS, and ICARUS left Scapa at 1030 for Hvalfiord where they arrived at (illegible) on the 10th March.

 

HMS INTREPID and HM Ships OBEDIENT, OBDURATE, and BOADICEA left the escort of Convoy RA 53 and proceeded to Seidisfiord to fuel where they arrived at 0100 on March 9th.

 

 

Monday, 8th March 1943

 

HMS BLANKNEY undocked from the floating dock at Scapa.

 

 

Tuesday, 9th March 1943

 

HMS METEOR docked in the floating dock at Scapa.

 

HMS INTREPID, OBDURATE, and OBEDIENT left Seidisfiord at 1600 for Scapa where they arrived at (illegible) on the 11th.

 

Captain (D) VIII in FAULKNOR with HM ships OPPORTUNE, ECLIPSE, and IMPULSIVE left Seidisfiord at 1430 and rejoined convoy RA 53 at 1930.

 

 

Wednesday, 10th March 1943

 

HMS METEOR undocked from the floating dock at Scapa.

 

HMS ECHO left the Humber on completion of refit at 1000 and arrived at Scapa at 0800 the following day.

 

At about 0930 HM Ships VIVACIOUS, PYTCHLEY, and MEYNELL were detached from convoy RA 53 and sailed to Seidisfiord to fuel where they arrived at 1600.

 

Captain (D) III in HMS MILNE with HM ships ORWELL and ORKAN arrived off Akureyri at 1500 and refueled.  HM ships MILNE and ORKAN subsequently sailed at 2200 to rejoin the convoy.

 

HMS INGLEFIELD arrived at Seidisfiord at 2230 to fuel.

 

HM Ships HOWE, MUSKETEER, METEOR, and MIDDLETON left Scapa at 2200 for the Clyde where they arrived at 2300 the next day.  HM ships MUSKETEER and METEOR left the Clyde on arrival and proceeded to Plymouth to join the Plymouth Command temporarily, where they arrived at 1400 on 12 March.

 

 

Thursday, 11th March 1943

 

Captain (D) III in HMS MILNE with HMS ORKAN proceeded to search for stragglers of convoy RA 53.

 

HM Ships VIVACIOUS and PYTCHLEY left Seidisfiord and joined the escort of the convoy off Glettinganes.

 

HMS ORWELL left Akureyri at 0800 to rejoin the convoy.

 

HMS FURY was detached to Seidisfiord to fuel where she arrived at noon and left again at 1600 to rejoin.

 

HMS MEYNELL left Seidisfiord at 2000 to rejoin the convoy.

 

HMS OPPORTUNE arrived at Seidisfiord at 2100 towing the S.S. J.H. LATROBE who was disabled.

 

HMS ONSLAUGHT docked in the floating dock at Scapa.

 

HMS BRECON sailed from Plymouth at 1700 and arrived at Scapa at 0700 to join the Home Fleet.

 

HMS PATHFINDER left Plymouth at 1700 and arrived at Scapa at 0900 on 13th March.

 

 

Friday, 12th March 1943

 

HMS LEDBURY left Seidisfiord at 0200 to rejoin the convoy.

 

HMS OPPORTUNE left Seidisfiord at 0900 for Scapa where she arrived at 1600 the following day.

 

 

Saturday, 13th March 1943

 

HMS INGLEFIELD arrived at Scapa at 1000.

 

Captain (D) III in HMS MILNE arrived at Seidisfiord at 1300 and left at 1430 for Scapa where she arrived at 2200 the following day.

 

Captain (D) VIII in FAULKNOR with HM ships ECLIPSE, FURY, and ORWELL in company arrived at Scapa at 1330.

 

HMS IMPULSIVE arrived at Seidisfiord at 2000.  She then left for Scapa at 2300 where she arrived at 1000 on the 15th.

 

HM Ships INGLEFIELD, ECLIPSE, and ORWELL left Scapa at (illegible) to Rosyth for boiler cleaning where they arrived at 0700 the following day.

 

 

Sunday, 14th March 1943

 

HMS LEDBURY arrived at Scapa at 0500.

 

HM Ships, VIVACIOUS, PYTCHLEY, and MEYNELL arrived at Scapa  at 0800.

 

HM Ships FORESTER, BLANKNEY, and ECHO left Scapa at 0630, rendezvoused with HMS DUKE OF YORK off Inchkeith at 1900 and escorted her to Scapa where they arrived at 0600 the next day.

 

HM Ships PENN and PANTHER left Greenock at 1800 for Scapa and arrived  at 1400 the next day for working up practices.

 

Convoy RA 53 arrived in the United Kingdom.

 

 

Monday, 15th March 1943

 

HM Ships VIVACIOUS, PYTCHLEY, and MEYNELL left Scapa at 1100 to rejoin the Nore Command.

 

 ORP ORKAN arrived at Scapa 1500.

 

 

Tuesday, 16th March 1943

 

Captain (D) Eighth Destroyer Flotilla in HMS FAULKNOR left Scapa at 1400 for Hull to refit, where she arrived at 0800 the next day.

 

Captain (D) Seventeenth Destroyer Flotilla, in HMS OFFA with HM Ships ONSLAUGHT, OPPORTUNE, OBEDIENT, and BLANKNEY in company sailed from Scapa at 1700 to Rosyth to rendezvous with Rear Admiral Aircraft Carriers in HMS INDOMITABLE and HMS HOWE and escort them to Scapa.  The rendezvous was effected at 1530 the following day and Scapa was reached at 1100 on 18th March 1943.

 

 

Wednesday, 17th March 1943

 

HMS MIDDLETON escorting HMS ARCHER left the Clyde at noon for Scapa where they arrived at noon the following day.

 

 

Thursday, 18th March 1943

 

HMS HALCYON left Aberdeen on completion of refit at 0700 and arrived at Scapa at 1700 the same day.

 

Captain (D), Third Destroyer Flotilla in HMS MILNE with HM Ships INTREPID and FURY and ORP ORKAN in company left Scapa at 1100 for Scrabster.  His Majesty the King embarked in HMS MILNE at 1430 and proceeded to Scapa, escorted by the three destroyers, where they arrived at 1600.

 

FFS LA COMBATTANTE undocked from the floating dock at Scapa during the afternoon.

 

 

Friday, 19th March 1943

 

HMS ANTHONY left Harwich at 1030 for Scapa, she arrived at Rosyth at 0930 with defects.

 

HMS TROUBRIDGE left Greenock at 1230 for Scapa where she arrived at 0830 the next day for working up practices on first commissioning.

 

HMCS IROQUOIS sailed from St. Johns Newfoundland for Scapa to join the Home Fleet, where she arrived at 0800 on the 24th March 1943.  She is attached to the Third Destroyer Flotilla.

 

Captain (D) Seventeenth Destroyer Flotilla in HMS OFFA left Scapa at 1300 for Liverpool where she arrived the following forenoon, having been lent for operations with the Western Approaches Command.

 

HMS ORIBI left the Humber at 2000 on completion of refit, and arrived at Scapa at 1300 the following day.

 

 

Saturday, 20th March 1943

 

HMCS ATHABASKAN left Greenock at 0800 for Scapa where she arrived at 0700 next day to continue working up practices, after having been undergoing hull repairs at the Clyde since the 12th March 1943.

 

HMS HOWE with HM Ships BELFAST, GLASGOW, INTREPID, ECHO, and BRECON in company left Scapa at 0800 for Hvalfiord where they arrived at 0200 on the 22 March 1943.

 

The Vice Admiral, Second in Command, Home Fleet in HMS ANSON with HM ships KENT, BERMUDA, MATCHLESS, ORP PIORUN, and ICARUS left Hvalfiord for exercises and Scapa where they arrived on 22 March 1943.

 

 

(*********page missing**************)

 

HF Destroyer movements from Home Fleet War Diary (q.v.)

 

 

20 March

 

FORESTER left Scapa for Leith to refit, arriving 21 March

 

PANTHER and PATHFINDER left Scapa with screen of INDOMITABLE and ARCHER for the Clyde arriving on 21 March.

 

 

21 March

 

INGLEFIELD and ORWELL arrived at Scapa with DASHER

 

ORWELL, ONSLAUGHT, and OBEDIENT sailing pm from Scapa for Londonderry for temporary duty in Western Approaches.

 

ONSLAUGHT, OBEDIENT, and ORWELL left Scapa for Londonderry for temporary duty in Western Approaches.

 

OPPORTUNE and OBDURATE  escort for SCYLLA, with H.M. The King aboard, from Scapa to Scrabster and back.

 

LEDBURY left Scapa for Sheerness to refit.

 

PANTHER and PATHFINDER left the Clyde P.M. for Scapa arriving on 22 March

 

 

22 March

 

IMPULSIVE and ORIBI departed Scapa for Moville for temporary duty in Western Approaches Command

 

OFFA departed Liverpool for Moville for temporary duty in the Western Approaches.

 

BLANKNEY arrived Clyde with DASHER, returning PM to Scapa

 

 

 

Tuesday, 23rd March 1943

 

HMS ECLIPSE left Rosyth at 1900, con completion of boiler cleaning for Scapa where she arrived at 0700 next day.

 

 

Wednesday, 24th March 1943)

 

FFS LA COMBATTANTE left Scapa for Portsmouth at 1100 having completed working up exercises.

 

Captain (D) Third Destroyer Flotilla in HMS MILNE left Scapa at 0900 for Liverpool where she arrived at 0900 the following forenoon to join Western Approaches Command temporarily for support group operations.

 

 

Thursday, 25th March 1943

 

HMS INGLEFIELD undocked at Scapa.

 

HM Ships PENN and BLANKNEY left Scapa at 1630 to carry out an A/S sweep to the southward of Iceland.  Nothing was encountered during the patrol and HMS PENN returned to Scapa where she arrived at 1300 on the 30th March 1943.  BLANKNEY proceeded to Hvalfiord where she arrived on the 29th March 1943.

 

HM Ships INGLEFIELD and ICARUS left Scapa at 1700 for the Clyde.  HM Ships OPPORTUNE, OBDURATE, FURY, and ECLIPSE left at the same time for Londonderry.  HMAS MATCHLESS left at 2200 for Londonderry.  All these destroyers being temporarily lent to the West Approaches Command for convoy support group operations.

 

At Noon, the Commander in Chief, Home Fleet ordered the Rear Admiral Commanding Tenth Cruiser Squadron to establish Patrol “White” with one cruiser and one destroyer to intercept possible inward bound blockade runners attempting to pass North or South of Iceland.  HM Ships GLASGOW and ECHO left Hvalfiord at 1900 to establish patrol “White”.

 

HMS STEVENSTONE left Campbeltown at 1900 for Scapa for working up practices on first commissioning, where she arrived at 1400 the following day.

 

 

Friday, 26th March 1943

 

HMS ARROW left the Tees at 1700 for Scapa where she arrived at 0800 the following day for a short period of working up practices.

 

HM Ships HALCYON and SALAMANDER left Scapa t 1800 for Plymouth for convoy escort duties with Western Approaches.

 

HMS PANTHER docked in the floating dock at Scapa.

 

 

Saturday, 27th March 1943

 

No events or movements of importance today.

 

 

Sunday, 28th March 1943

 

HMS SEAGULL arrived at Scapa on completion of refit.

 

 

Monday, 29th March 1943

 

Captain (D), Third Destroyer Flotilla in HMS MILNE with HMS MATCHLESS in company left Londonderry at 0300 for Plymouth to join the Plymouth Command temporarily for convoy protection duties.

 

AT 2000 HMS BRECON left Hvalfiord and at 2200 HMS BERMUDA with HMCS ATHABASKAN in company left Scapa to rendezvous and carry out patrol “Black”

 

The Rear Admiral Commanding Tenth Cruiser Squadron in HMS BELFAST with HMS INTREPID in company left Hvalfiord at 2300 to relieve patrol “White”

 

HMS TUSCAN left Campbeltown at 1900 for Scapa where she arrived at 1300 the next day for working up practices on first commissioning.

 

 

Tuesday, 30th March 1943

 

ORP PIORUN left Greenock at 2100 on completion of boiler cleaning and proceeded to Plymouth where she arrived at 1600 on 31st March having been temporarily detached to the Plymouth Command for operations and protection of convoys in the Bay of Biscay area.

 

HMS ECHO arrived Hvalfiord at 2200 from Patrol “White”

 

 

Wednesday, 31st March 1943

 

HMCS ATHABASKAN having completed working up practices joined the Home Fleet Destroyer Command and is attached to the Third Destroyer Flotilla.

 

 


 

 

HOME FLEET DESTROYER COMMAND WAR DIARY

 

 

APRIL 1943

 

 

Thursday, 1st April 1943

 

HMS INTREPID arrived at Hvalfiord at 2100 from Patrol “White”

 

HMS BERMUDA and HMCS ATHABASKAN were ordered to return to Scapa from Patrol “Black”, where they arrived at 1200 the next day.

 

 

Friday, 2nd April 1943

 

HMS LAUDERDALE left the Humber at noon for Scapa where she arrived at 1400 the next day for a short period of working up practices.

 

HMCS ATHABASKAN arrived at Scapa on return from operations with her forward magazine and provision room flooded due to hull leaks caused by heavy weather.

 

HMS PANTHER undocked.  HMS BRECON arrived at Scapa and entered the floating dock.

 

HM Ships OBEDIENT and ORWELL arrived at Scapa, having returned from the Western Approaches Command.

 

 

Saturday, 3rd April 1943

 

HMS RAPID left Scapa at 0700 for the Tyne for boiler cleaning and minor repairs on completion of working up practices on first commissioning.

 

HMS BRISSENDEN having completed working up practices joined the Home Fleet Hunt Destroyer Flotilla.

 

 

Sunday, 4th April 1943

 

No events or movements of importance

 

 

Monday, 5th April 1943

 

HMS Ships PATHFINDER, PENN, and BRISSENDEN left Scapa at 0900 for the Clyde to rendezvous with HMS FURIOUS.  HMS FURIOUS was met at 1000 the following day off the Clyde Light Vessel and they arrived at Scapa at 1700 on the 7th April after having been hove to in heavy weather off Cape Wrath.

 

HMS MIDDLETON left Scapa at 1300 for Hvalfiord where she arrived on the 8th April 1943

 

HMS PANTHER left Scapa for Port H.H.X.

 

Captain (D) Third Destroyer Flotilla in HMS MILNE arrived at Scapa at 1700 rejoining the Home Fleet from the Plymouth Command.

 

HMS ECHO left Hvalfiord at 1800 for Scapa where she arrived at noon on the 7th April 1943.

 

 

Tuesday, 6th April 1943

 

HMS ORWELL left Scapa at 1600 for Hull to refit where she arrived the following forenoon.

 

HMS LEWES left Scapa at 1800 for Greenock on completion of a short period of working up practices where she arrived the following day.

 

 

Wednesday, 7th April 1943

 

HMS BRECON undocked from the floating dock at Scapa.

 

HMS INGLEFIELD, temporary detached and operating with Western Approaches Support groups, detected a U-boat on the surface about midnight, chased it, and delivered a promising attack with depth charges shortly after it had crash dived.

 

 

Thursday, 8th April 1943

 

HMCS ATHABASKAN left Scapa for the Tyne for repairs to hull damage, where she arrived the following day.

 

 

Friday, 9th April 1943

 

HMS ACTIVE arrived at Scapa for a period of short working up practices.

 

HMS ARROW docked in the floating dock for examination of hull damage.

 

 

Saturday, 10th April 1943

 

HMS ARROW undocked and proceeded to Sheerness for repairs where she arrived on the 12th April 1943

 

HMS PATHFINDER and HMS PENN left Scapa for Londonderry where they arrived the next day.

 

 

Sunday, 11th April 1943

 

HMS MAHRATTA arrived at Scapa for working up practices on first commissioning.

 

HMS ANTHONY docked in the floating dock at Scapa.

 

 

Monday, 12th April 1943

 

HMS ANTHONY undocked from the floating dock at Scapa.

 

HMS LAUDERDALE and ANTHONY left Scapa for the Clyde on completion of working up practices, where they arrived the following day.

 

 

Tuesday, 13th April 1943

 

HMS INTREPID proceeded from Hvalfiord to Patrol “White”

 

 

Wednesday, 14th April  1943

 

HMS OBEDIENT left Scapa at 1500 for Hull to refit where she arrived the next day.

 

HMAS HARRIER left Rosyth on completion of refit for Scapa where she arrived the following day.

 

 

Thursday, 15th April 1943

 

HMS ICARUS arrived at Scapa at noon, having rejoined the Home Fleet from the Western Approaches Command.

 

 

Friday, 16th April 1943

 

No events or movements of importance.

 

 

Saturday, 17th April 1943

 

HMS INTREPID arrived at Hvalfiord at 1600 from Patrol “White”

 

Captain (D) Eighth Destroyer Flotilla in HMS FAULKNOR arrived at Scapa at noon having completed refit.

 

HMS ICARUS left Scapa at 1800 for Immingham to refit.

 

HMS FURY arrived at Scapa having returned from the Western Approaches Command.

 

HMS CASTLETON arrived at Scapa to join the Home Fleet Destroyer Command temporarily.

 

 

Sunday, 18th April 1943

 

HM Ships CUMBERLAND and INTREPID left Hvalfiord at 0100 for Scapa where they arrived the following evening.

 

HMS BRECON left Scapa at 0200 for Hvalfiord where she arrived at 1100 on the 20th April.

 

HMS ST MARYS left Port Z A at 0700 for Scapa where she arrived at 1800 to join the Home Fleet Destroyer Command temporarily.

 

HMS BRISSENDEN left Scapa at 1300 for Milford Haven for convoy escort duty with Western Approaches Command.

 

HMS TUMULT left the Clyde at 1700 for Scapa where she arrived at 1400 the following day for working up practices on first commissioning.

 

HMS FURY docked in the floating dock at Scapa.

 

 

Monday, 19th April 1943

 

HMS HARRIER and HMS SEAGULL left Scapa at noon for Hvalfiord where they arrived on 22 April 1943.

 

Captain (D) Eighth Destroyer Flotilla in HMS FAULKNOR left Scapa at 1900 for Liverpool where arrived at 1700 the following day to join the Western Approaches Command temporarily for Convoy Support group operations.

 

 

Tuesday, 20th April 1943

 

HM Ships MAHRATTA and CHIDDINGFOLD left Scapa at 0130 to carry out an A/S search for a submarine which was reported by a coast watcher off the Butt of Lewis and later to carry out an A/S patrol west of the practice area.  HMCS IROQUOIS left Scapa at noon to relieve HMS CHIDDINGFOLD.  The A/S search and patrol produced negative results and HMS MAHRATTA and HMCS IROQUOIS returned to Scapa at 2300.

 

HMS TYRIAN left Rosyth at 0600 for Scapa where she arrived at 1400 for working up practices on first commissioning.

 

HMS FURY undocked from the floating dock at Scapa.

 

 

Wednesday, 21st April 1943

 

No events or movements of importance.

 

 

Thursday, 22 April 1943

 

HMS CASTLETON left Scapa to rejoin Rear Admiral Minelayers.

 

HMS HAZARD and HMS SHARPSHOOTER left Reykjavik at 1900 for Scapa where they arrived at 1600 on 25th April 1943.

 

 

Friday, 23rd April 1943

 

HM Ships ST MARYS, STEVENSTONE, and HMCS IROQUOIS left Scapa at 1500 to rendezvous with MALAYA in the Atlantic and escort to Scapa.

 

 

Saturday, 24th April 1943

 

No events or movements of importance.

 

 

Sunday, 25th April 1943

 

HMS ONSLOW left the Humber at 1600 on completion of refit and repairs and arrived at Scapa at 1000 the following day for working up practices.

 

HMS SHARPSHOOTER and HAZARD left Scapa at 2100 for the Clyde where they arrived on the morning of 27 April 1943.

 

 

Monday, 26th April 1943

 

HMS MALAYA escorted by HM Ships ST MARYS and STEVENSTONE and HMCS IROQUOIS arrived at Scapa at 0700.  HMCS IROQUOIS had sustained hull damage similar to that sustained by HMCS ATHABASKAN in bad weather.

 

 

Tuesday 27th April 1943

 

The Vice Admiral, Second in Command, Home Fleet in HMS ANSON with HM ships FURIOUS, SCYLLA, JAMAICA, Captain (D) Third Destroyer Flotilla in HMS MILNE, TROUBRIDGE, ECHO, ACTIVE, INTREPID, and FURY left Scapa at 2000 for exercise XCJ.

 

 

Wednesday 28th April 1943

 

HM Ships HOWE, BLANKNEY, BRECON, and MIDDLETON left Hvalfiord at noon for Scapa where they arrived at 0700 on the 30th April 1943.

 

 

Thursday, 29th April 1943

 

ORP SLAZAK left Liverpool at 1100 for Scapa where she arrived at 0900 the following day for a short period of working up practices.

 

Exercise XCJ was completed at noon.  The Vice Admiral, Second in Command, Home Fleet in HMAS ANSON with Captain (D) Third Destroyer Flotilla in HMS MILNE, INTREPID, and ECHO proceeded to Hvalfiord where they arrived at 1100 on the following day.

 

HM Ships MATCHLESS and METEOR left Londonderry at 2000 for Scapa where they arrived at 1100 the following day to rejoin the Home Fleet Destroyer Command.

 

 

Friday, 30th April 1943

 

HMS FURIOUS with HM ships FURY, ACTIVE, and TROUBRIDGE arrived at Scapa at 0700 from Exercise XCJ.

 

HM Ships MAHRATTA, STEVENSTONE, and ST MARYS left Scapa at 0700 to rendezvous with KING GEORGE V off Rosyth.  The rendezvous was effected at 2000 and the fleet unit was escorted to Scapa where, after carrying out exercises, they arrived at 1100 the following day.

 

HMS BRECON was docked in the floating dock at Scapa.

 

HMS ECLIPSE arrived at Scapa at 1800 having rejoined the Home Fleet from the Western Approaches Command.

 

 


 

 

HOME FLEET DESTROYER COMMAND WAR DIARY

 

 

MAY 1943

 

 

Saturday, 1st May 1943

 

CLEVELAND left Dundee at 1700 for Scapa where she arrived at 0800 the following day for a short period of working up practices.

 

BRECON undocked from the floating dock at Scapa.

 

MIDDLETON left Scapa at 2100 for Rosyth to boiler clean where she arrived the following morning.

 

FURY and ST MARYS left Scapa at 2200 for Port ZA to join Rear Admiral (M) to provide additional escorts for Operation SN 111.

 

KING GEORGE V escorted by METEOR, TROUBRIDGE, and TUSCAN left Scapa at 2300 for Gibraltar where they arrived on the 7th.

 

TROUBRIDGE and TUSCAN had completed working up practices at Scapa.

 

 

Sunday, 2nd May 1943

 

STEVENSTONE left Scapa at 0900 on completion of working up practices for Portsmouth where she arrived on the 4th.

 

 

Monday, 3rd May 1943

 

MATCHLESS, ECLIPSE, and MAHRATTA left Scapa at 2100 for Greenock where arrived the following afternoon for screening duties with INDOMITABLE.

 

 

Tuesday, 4th May 1943

 

FURIOUS, escorted by TUMULT, BRECON, and BLANKNEY left Scapa at 2000 for Greenock where they arrived at noon on the 6th.  The destroyer screen was transferred to VALIANT and they returned to Scapa arriving at 0600 on the 7th.

 

 

Wednesday, 5th May 1943

 

No events or movements of importance.

 

 

Thursday, 6th May 1943

 

HOWE with TYRIAN, ACTIVE, and SLAZAK left Scapa at 0900 and after practices proceeded to Rosyth where they arrived early the following morning.  The destroyer screen returned to Scapa where they arrived at 1300 the next day.

 

At 0300, ORIBI, supporting the escort of convoy ONS 5 rammed a U-boat at 22 knots.  The U-boat was sunk.  She sustained damaged to her stem and bow plating and proceeded to St Johns where she arrived on the 9th.

 

Admiral Sir John C. Tovey, Commander in Chief, Home Fleet, came on board TYNE at 1115 and addressed the Ship’s Company in a farewell speech on relinquishing his command.

 

FURY returned to Scapa arrived at 2200 on return from Operation SN 111.

 

 

Friday, 7th May 1943

 

BRISSENDEN arrived at Scapa at 0630 on return from the Western Approaches Command.

 

ONSLOW left Scapa during the afternoon for Scrabster where she embarked Admiral Sir Bruce A. Fraser and his personal staff for Scapa where they arrived at 2000.

 

 

Saturday, 8th May 1943

 

ONSLOW, flying the flag the flag of Admiral Sir John C. Tovey left Scapa at 0930 for Scrabster, escorted by FURY, BRECON, and BRISSENDEN where the Commander in Chief disembarked.  The destroyers then returned to Scapa.

 

Admiral Sir Bruce A. Fraser assumed command of the Home Fleet in succession to Admiral Sir John C. Tovey.

 

BLANKNEY left Scapa at noon for Hull to refit where she arrived the following morning.

 

ECLIPSE, detached from screening INDOMITABLE, arrived at Londonderry, fuelled and sailed for Scapa at 1700 where she arrived at 1700 the next day.

 

 MIDDLETON left Rosyth at 2000 on completion of boiler cleaning for Scapa, after being delayed on passage by bad weather she arrived at 1630 the following day.

 

 

Sunday, 9th May 1943

 

Strong northerly gale blowing.

 

MATCHLESS and MAHRATTA arrived at Scapa at 0700, returned from escorting INDOMITABLE.

 

METEOR left Gibraltar screening RODNEY on passed to the UK.

 

 

Monday, 10th May 1943

 

ACTIVE left Scapa for Greenock on completion of working up practices.

 

Captain (D) Third Destroyer Flotilla in MILNE left Hvalfiord at 0900 for Scapa at arrived the next day at 2000.

 

MIDDLETON left Scapa at 1000 for Hvalfiord where she arrived at 1700 on the 12th.

 

 

Tuesday, 11th May 1943

 

FURY left Scapa at 1300 for Hull to refit, where she arrived the following day.

 

ORWELL left the Humber at 2100 on completion of refit for Scapa where she arrived at 1700 the following day.

 

Senior Officer, First Minesweeping Flotilla, in HARRIER, SEAGULL, and GLEANER arrived at Scapa.

 

 

Wednesday, 12th May 1943

 

METEOR arrived at Plymouth and was taken in hand for boiler cleaning and defects.

 

 

Thursday, 13th May 1943

 

Dutch submarine O 10 broken down in position 63-26N, 000-33W.  HALCYON was ordered to her position, leaving Scapa at 1300.  CHIDDINGFOLD was ordered to proceed to the position to provide A/S protection pending the arrival of HALCYON.  BRECON and BRISSENDEN were ordered to proceed similarly to her assistance.  At 1300 the following day, BRECON reported that she had taken O 10 in tow.  HACLYON arrived later in the afternoon and took over the tow at 1800.  The three destroyers assumed screening dispositions.  HALCYON and O 10 arrived at Lerwick at 0730 on 16th May and the destroyers returned to Scapa where they arrived on the same morning.  HALCYON arrived at Scapa at 2100 on 16th.

 

 

Friday, 14th May 1943

 

No events or movements of importance.

 

 

Saturday, 15th May 1943

 

SALAMANDER arrived at Scapa from Milford Haven

 

Commodore, Second in Command, Home Fleet, in ANSON with INTREPID, ECHO, and MIDDLETON left Hvalfiord at noon for Scapa where they arrived on the 17th.

 

 

Sunday, 16th May 1943  

 

HMS INGLEFIELD left Greenock at 1600 for Scapa where she arrived the following afternoon having rejoined the Home Fleet from the Western Approaches Command.

 

HNMS FLORES arrived at Scapa for a period of gunnery practices.

 

 

Monday, 17th May 1943

 

HMS LEEDS left Liverpool at 1100 for Scapa for a short period of working up practices, where she arrived the following afternoon.

 

ORP SLAZAK and HMS CLEVELAND left Scapa at 1300 for Greenock, on completion of working up practices.

 

HMS OBEDIENT left the Humber at 1700 for Scapa, having completed a refit, and arrived the next afternoon.

 

 

Tuesday, 18th May 1943

 

HMS MUSKETEER arrived at Rosyth, having completed refit.

 

HMS SCORPION left Greenock at 1300 for Scapa for working up practices on first commissioning, where she arrived the following forenoon.

 

HMS ECLIPSE left Scapa at 1500 for Hvalfiord where she arrived at 2300 on the 20th, having been diverted en route to carry out an A/S patrol on a line 140 degrees/320 degrees through position 62 degrees 42’N, 12 degrees 48’W.

 

HMS CHANTICLEER arrived at Scapa during the afternoon for a short period of H.A. working up practices.

 

 

Wednesday, 19th May 1943

 

HMS INGLEFIELD and HMS BRISSENDEN left Scapa at 0700 to rendezvous with HM ships HOWE and MUSKETEER off Rosyth at 1900 the same night.  HMS HOWE and screening destroyers then proceeded to Scapa where they arrived early the following morning.

 

HMCS ATHABASKAN left the Tyne at 1600 for Scapa on completion of hull repairs, where she arrived the following day.

 

Captain (D) Third Destroyer Flotilla in HMS MILNE left Scapa at 2000 to Rosyth for boiler cleaning, where she arrived at 0600 the next day.

 

Task Force 92.4, consisting of United States battleships SOUTH DAKOTA and ALABAMA with destroyers ELLYSON, RODMAN, EMMONS, FITCH, and MACOMB arrived at Scapa at 2200 to join the Home Fleet.

 

 

Thursday, 20th May 1943

 

HMS LEEDS left Scapa at 1300 for Rosyth having completed a short period of practices.

 

Captain (D) Fourth Destroyer Flotilla in HMS QUILLIAM with HM Ships QUEENBOROUGH, QUALITY, and QUAIL left the Clyde at 1500 for Scapa where they arrived at 1800 the following day to join the Home Fleet.

 

 

Friday, 21st May 1943

 

HMS HOWE escorted by HM Ships INGLEFIELD, ONSLOW and ORWELL left Scapa practice area at 0300 for Gibraltar.

 

HM Ships BRECON and BRISSENDEN left Scapa at 1800 for the Tyne for boiler cleaning and to fit Type 271 radar.  They arrived early next day.

 

 

Saturday, 22 May 1943

 

HM Ships TYRIAN and TUMULT left Scapa for Rosyth to boiler clean having completed working up practices.  They arrived early the next day.

 

 

Sunday, 23rd May 1943

 

HMS TALYBONT left Portsmouth at 0700 for Scapa for working up practice on first commissioning.  She arrived at 0600 on the 26th.

 

HMS CHANTICLEER left Scapa having completed practices and arrived at Londonderry the following day.

 

 

Monday, 24th May 1943

 

HMS IMPULSIVE was detached from convoy escort duties and sailed to Scapa where she arrived at 0400 on the 27th May.

 

HMS INTREPID left Scapa at 1900 to Rosyth for boiler cleaning where she arrived the following morning.

 

HMS MALAYA escorted by HM Ships MUSKETEER, QUAIL, and ECHO left Scapa at 2200 for the Clyde where they arrived the following afternoon.

 

 

Tuesday, 25th May 1943

 

HMS NELSON escorted by HM Ships ONSLOW, ORWELL and INGLEFIELD left Gibraltar for the United Kingdom.

 

HMS QUEENBOROUGH entered the floating dock at Scapa.

 

HMS OPPORTUNE left Greenock at 1100 and arrived at Londonderry at 1600, embarked American depth charges for the US destroyers and sailed at 2000 for Scapa where she arrived the following forenoon.

 

HMS INDOMITABLE escorted by HM Ships MUSKETEER, QUAIL, and ECHO left the Clyde at 1700 for Scapa, arriving the next afternoon.

 

 

Wednesday, 26th May 1943

 

HM Ships ONSLAUGHT and OPPORTUNE arrived at Scapa having returned from Western Approaches Command.

 

HMS QUEENBOROUGH undocked.

 

Captain (D) Third Destroyer Flotilla in HMS MILNE left Rosyth at 2100 for Scapa where he arrived at 0600 next day.

 

 

Thursday, 27th May 1943

 

HMS ONSLAUGHT docked in the floating dock at Scapa.

 

HMS ANSON, escorted by HM Ships OPPORTUNE, OBEDIENT, and QUALITY left Scapa at 2000 for Rosyth where they arrived the following morning.  The destroyers returned to Scapa where they arrived at 1900 on the 28th.

 

HM Ships INDOMITABLE, CUMBERLAND, BERMUDA, ECHO, and MIDDLETON left Scapa practice area at 2000 for the Clyde where they arrived at 1700 next day.

 

HMS BLUE RANGER escorted by HM Ships MATCHLESS and GLEANER left Scapa at 1600 for Hvalfiord.  HMS MATCHLESS was forced to return to Scapa at 2000 with boiler defects.  HMS SEAGULL left Scapa at 2300 to join HMS GLEANER as escort.  The oiler and escorts arrived Hvalfiord at 2200 on the 30th.

 

 

Friday, 28th May 1943

 

HM Ships CRANE and LEDBURY arrived at Scapa at 0900 for working up practices.

 

HMS QUAIL left Scapa at 1500 for position 60 degrees North 1 degree east in order to act as air sea rescue ship for a special operation.  HMS QUAIL was recalled at 1900 and returned to Scapa arriving at 2300.

 

The Rear Admiral First Cruiser Squadron in HMS KENT with HM Ships JAMAICA and ECLIPSE left Hvalfiord at 1400 and returned about the 31st May.

 

 

Saturday, 29th May 1943

 

Captain (D) Seventeenth Destroyer Flotilla in HMS OFFA with HMS PENN arrived at Scapa at 0900 having rejoined the Home Fleet from Western Approaches Command.

 

HMIS NARBADA arrived Scapa for working up practices.

 

HM Ships FORESTER and ICARUS, undergoing refit, were transferred to the administration of Commander in Chief Western Approaches.

 

HNMS FLORES left Scapa on completion of practices.

 

HMS IMPULSIVE left Scapa at midnight for Hull for repairs necessitated by vibrating propeller shaft.

 

 

Sunday, 30th May 1943

 

HMS OBDURATE arrived at Scapa and rejoined the Home Fleet from Western Approaches Command.

 

HMS SCYLLA and HMCS ATHABASKAN left Scapa at 0700 for the Clyde where they arrived the following morning.

 

HMCS IROQUOIS completed repairs and joined the Plymouth Command temporarily.

 

 

Monday, 31 May 1943

 

HMS ONSLAUGHT undocked and HMS OFFA docked in the floating dock at Scapa.

 

HM Ships CUMBERLAND, SCYLLA, FURIOUS, BERMUDA, ECHO, MIDDLETON and HMCS ATHABASKAN left the Clyde at 1300 for Hvalfiord where they arrived at 1800 the following day.

 

HMS ORWELL left Plymouth at 1800 to rendezvous with HMS WARSPITE off the Clyde at 1800 the following day.

 

HM Ships SCORPION and QUAIL left Scapa at 2200 for the Clyde to escort HMS WARSPITE to Scapa.

 

The Senior Officer First Minesweeping Flotilla in HMS HARRIER with HM Ships HALCYON and SALAMANDER left Scapa at 1000 for Londonderry where they arrived at 1100 next day.

 

The Commander in Chief Home Fleet in HMS DUKE OF YORK with US Ships SOUTH DAKOTA and ALABAMA, HMS BERWICK, escorted by Captain (D) Third Destroyer Flotilla in HMS MILNE and HM Ships OPPORTUNE, OBDURATE, OBEDIENT, and US destroyers ELLYSON, RODMAN, EMMONS, MACOMB, and FITCH left Scapa at 1600 for Hvalfiord where they arrived at 0900 on 2 June.

 

HMS INTREPID boiler cleaning at Rosyth had a fire in No. 1 boiler room and sustained slight damage necessitating repairs.

 


 

 

HOME FLEET DESTROYER COMMAND WAR DIARY

 

 

JUNE 1943

 

 

Tuesday, 1st June 1943

 

HMS PHEASANT arrived at Scapa for working up practices.

 

HMS GRENVILLE arrived at Scapa for working up practices on first commissioning.

 

HMS WARSPITE escorted by HM Ships SCORPION, QUAIL, and ORWELL left the Clyde at 1500 for Scapa where they arrived the following day.

 

 

Wednesday, 2nd June 1943

 

HMS OFFA undocked at Scapa.

 

Captain (D), Eighth Destroyer Flotilla in HMS FAULKNOR left Greenock at noon for Scapa and arrived next morning.

 

HM Ships ONSLAUGHT, MUSKETEER, and MAHRATTA left Scapa at 1500 for Seidisfiord where they arrived at 0800 on the 4th.

 

HMS ECLIPSE left Hvalfiord at 1800 for Akureyri where she arrived the next day.

 

 

Thursday, 3rd June 1943

 

HMS ORWELL docked and undocked in the floating dock at Scapa.

 

HMS QUAIL docked in the floating dock at Scapa.

 

HMS ARROW arrived at Scapa for working up practices on completion of repairs.

 

HM Ships SCYLLA, FURIOUS, ECLIPSE, MIDDLETON and HMCS ATHABASKAN left Hvalfiord at 0800 for Akureyri where they arrived early the next day.

 

 

Friday, 4th June 1943

 

HMS ORIBI arrived at Boston for repairs to her stem.

 

HMS ORWELL left Scapa at 2000 for Akureyri where she arrived at 1600 on the 6th.

 

 

Saturday, 5th June 1943

 

HMCS ATHABASKAN and HMS ECLIPSE left Hvalfiord at 0100 for Akureyri where they arrived at 2200 the same day.

 

HMS TALYBONT left Scapa at 2300 for Aberdeen where she arrived at 0700 next day, embarked Vice Admiral Willis, Flag Officer Commanding Force H and his staff and sailed for Scapa where they arrived the same afternoon.

 

 

Sunday, 6th June 1943

 

HMS QUAIL undocked from the floating dock at Scapa.

 

HMS CRANE docked at Scapa.

 

HMS INTREPID left Rosyth at 1900 for Scapa where she arrived early the following day.

 

 

Monday, 7th June 1943

 

HMS CRANE undocked.  HMS QUILLIAM docked in the floating dock at Scapa.

 

HMS METEOR left Plymouth at 1000 escorting HMS NELSON to Scapa.

 

HMS MATCHLESS left Scapa t 1630 to rendezvous with HM Ships NELSON, METEOR, and PANTHER off the Clyde at 1300 on the 8th and escort to Scapa where they arrived at 1100 the next day.

 

The Commander in Chief, Home Fleet in HMS DUKE OF YORK with United States Ships SOUTH DAKOTA and ALABAMA, HM Ships FURIOUS, BERWICK, and SCYLLA escorted by Captain (D) Third Destroyer Flotilla in HMS MILNE with HM Ships OPPORTUNE, OBDURATE, OBEDIENT, ECHO, MIDDLETON, and US Destroyers ELLYSON, RODAMN, EMMONS, FITCH, and MACOMB left Hvalfiord at 0300 and arrived at Akureyri at 2300 the same day.

 

Force R consisting of HM Ships CUMBERLAND, BERMUDA, ECLIPSE, and HMCS ATHABASKAN left Akureyri at 1900 for operation “Gear Box Two” (a part of operation “F H”)

 

HM Ships WOOLSTON and WALLACE left Rosyth at 0900 and arrived at Scapa at 1900 for a short period of working up practices.

 

 

Tuesday, 8th June 1943

 

HM Ships ONSLAUGHT, MUSKETEER, and MAHRATTA left Seidisfiord at 1900 to carry out their part in Operation “F H”

 

HMS BLANKNEY left the Humber at 2200 on completion of refit and arrived at Scapa at 2300 the following day.

 

 

Wednesday, 9th June 1943

 

The Commander in Chief, Home Fleet in HMS DUKE OF YORK with Task Group 92.4, HM Ships FURIOUS, BERWICK, and SCYLLA, Captain (D) Third Destroyer Flotilla in HMS MILNE, HM Ships OPPORTUNE, ORWELL, OBDURATE, and OBEDIENT left Akureyri at 0800 for operations in connection with Operation “F H”

 

HMS ECHO left Akureyri at 1300 for Scapa where she arrived at 1000 on the 11th.

 

HMS BRISSENDEN left the Tyne at 2100 for Scapa where she arrived at 1100 the next day.

 

HMS MATCHLESS left Scapa at 2200 for Hull where she arrived at 1900 the following day to refit.

 

 

Thursday, 10th June 1943

 

ORP PIORUN, HM Ships OFFA and METEOR left Scapa at 1800 for the Clyde and rendezvoused with HMS INDOMITABLE off the Clyde Light Vessel at 1400 the next day in order to escort her to Scapa where they arrived at 1000 on the 12th.

 

HMS VICEROY left Rosyth at 1000 and arrived at Scapa at 2000 the same day for a short period of working up practices.

 

 

Friday, 11th June 1943

 

HMS ONSLAUGHT parted company with HMS Ships MUSKETEER and MAHRATTA in approximately 74 degrees N 21 degrees E and steered to intercept corvettes CARMELLIA and BLUEBELL who were returning from North Russia.  The corvettes were not met and HMS ONSLAUGHT returned to Seidisfiord at 2000 on the 13th June.

 

HMS SAVAGE arrived at Scapa at 0700 for working up practices on her first commissioning.

 

HMS PENN left Scapa at 1600 for Londonderry where she arrived the following morning.

 

Operation “Gear Box Two” was successfully completed and Force R left Spitzbergen for Seidisfiord where they arrived at 1100 on the 15th, fuelled and proceeded to Scapa where they arrived at 1800 next day.

 

 

Saturday, 12th June 1943

 

HM Ships MUSKETEER and MAHRATTA arrived at Kola Inlet at 0600 disembarked stores and mails and left for Seidisfiord at 2100 the same day.

 

HMS PATHFINDER left Londonderry at 1800 for Greenock where she arrived at 2200, embarked stores and left at 0100 next day for Scapa where she arrived at 1800 on the 13th.

 

Captain (D) Twenty First Destroyer Flotilla in HMS MENDIP with HM Ships BLENCATHRA and HAMBLEDON in company left Sheerness at 1500 for Scapa where they arrived at 1600 the next day for a short period of practices.

 

HMS BRECON left the Tyne at 1700 for Scapa where she arrived at 0600 next day.

 

HM Ships PHEASANT and CRANE left Scapa at 2000, on completion of working up practices, for Greenock where they arrived the following day.

 

HMS FURY left the Humber on completion of refit at 2359 and arrived at Scapa at 1600 the next day.

 

 

Sunday, 13th June 1943

 

HM Ships QUALITY and LEDBURY left Scapa at 1900 for Rosyth, HMS LEDBURY having completed working up practices, HMS QUALITY for refit and repairs to damage sustained in collision with a trawler in the fog, when screening a fleet unit.

 

HMS ROEBUCK arrived at Scapa at 1100 for working up practices on first commissioning.

 

HMS MIDDLETON left Akureyri at 1800 for Hvalfiord where she arrived at noon the following day and sailed for Scapa.

 

The Commander in Chief, Home Fleet, in HMS DUKE OF YORK with HM Ships FURIOUS and SCYLLA, Captain (D) Third Destroyer Flotilla in HMS MILNE, HM Ships OPPORTUNE, OBDURATE, ORWELL, and OBEDIENT arrived at Scapa at 2200 from “Operation F H.”

 

 

Monday, 14th June 1943

 

HMS OPPORTUNE docked in the floating dock at Scapa.

 

HMS ONSLAUGHT left Seidisfiord at 0900 for Scapa where she arrived at noon the following day.

 

Senior Officer Force R in HMS CUMBERLAND with HM Ships BERMUDA, ECLIPSE, and HMCS ATHABASKAN arrived at Scapa at 1600.

 

ORP PIORUN and HMS OFFA left Scapa at 1800 to rendezvous with HMS INDOMITABLE off the Clyde Light Vessel at 1400 the next day.  HMS PATHFINDER joined the screen at the same time and they proceeded to Scapa practice area where they arrived the next day.

 

 

Tuesday, 15th June 1943

 

No events or movements of importance.

 

 

Wednesday, 16th June 1943

 

ORWELL left Scapa at 0230 to rendezvous with HUNTER off Dundee and escort her to the Clyde, where they arrived early in the morning of 18th.  ORWELL returned to Scapa where she arrived the same night.

 

OPPORTUNE undocked from the floating dock at Scapa.

 

ECLIPSE docked in the floating dock at Scapa.

 

Captain (D) Twenty First Destroyer Flotilla in MENDIP with BLANKNEY, BRECON, BRISSENDEN, BLENCATHRA, HAMBLEDON,  VICEROY, WOOLSTON, WALLACE, and ARROW, forming A/S escort Group “V” left Scapa at 2359 for Londonderry where they arrived the following day at 1500.

 

 

Thursday, 17th June 1943

 

MIDDLETON arrived at Scapa from Hvalfiord.

 

GLEANER left Scapa at 1000 for Grimsby for repairs where she arrived at 1600 the following day.

 

F.O. (H) in NELSON with RODNEY, VALIANT, WARSPITE, and INDOMITABLE escorted by FAULKNOR (Captain (D) Eighth Destroyer Flotilla) with INTREPID, FURY, INGLEFIELD, ECHO, QUILLIAM (Captain (D) Fourth Destroyer Flotilla) QUEENBOROUGH, QUAIL, OFFA, PATHFINDER, PANTHER, and ORP PIORUN left Scapa at 1400 for operations.

 

 

Friday, 18th June 1943

 

Captain (D) Seventeenth Destroyer Flotilla in ONSLOW with OPPORTUNE and OBDURATE in company left Scapa at 0300 to rendezvous with ANSON at Rosyth.  ANSON was met at 1400 and escorted to Scapa where they arrived at 0800 next day.

 

 

Saturday, 19th June 1943

 

Task Group 92.4 consisting of US Ships SOUTH DAKOTA, ALABAMA, and destroyers  ELLYSON, RODMAN, FITCH, MACOMB, and EMMONS left Hvalfiord at 2000 for Scapa where they arrived on Monday, 21st.

 

ECLIPSE undocked from the floating dock at Scapa.

 

Captain (D) Third Destroyer Flotilla in MILNE with MUSKETEER and MAHRATTA left Scapa at 2200 to rendezvous with RAMILLIES off the Clyde Light vessel.  She was met at 1700 the following day and escorted to Scapa where they arrived at 1700 on the 21st.

 

 

Sunday, 20th June 1943

 

HAZARD and SHARPSHOOTER were transferred from the First to the Seventeenth Minesweeping Flotilla.

 

HUSSAR and SPEEDWELL joined the First Minesweeping Flotilla, administered by Rear Admiral (D) Home Fleet.

 

ONSLAUGHT, SCORPION, and OBEDIENT left Scapa at 1030 in order to rendezvous with RENOWN off Rosyth.  She was met at 2100 and escorted to Scapa where they arrived at 0800 the next day.

 

ECLIPSE left Scapa at 1130 for Plymouth where she arrived at 2000 en route to join Force H.

 

 

Monday, 21st June 1943

 

BEAGLE arrived at Scapa at 1100 for working up practices.

 

OBEDIENT left Scapa at 1300 and proceeded to Scrabster where the Commander in Chief Home Fleet embarked for passage to Scapa, where they arrived at 1600.

 

METEOR left Scapa at 1500 for Hvalfiord.  At 0800 the next day she was ordered to proceed to search for U-boats reported in approximate position 61N, 9 degrees 30’W.  After searching unsuccessfully for four hours she proceeded to Hvalfiord where she arrived the following evening.

 

 

Tuesday, 22nd June 1943

 

ATHABASKAN left Scapa at 1000 for Plymouth where she arrived at 1500 on 24th for repairs to hull damage sustained in a collision with Switha Gate Vessel on Friday 18th.

 

USS EMMONS left Scapa at noon for Invergordon where she arrived at 1600.

 

 

Wednesday, 22nd June 1943

 

USS EMMONS left Invergordon at noon and arrived at Scapa at 1600 with the following passengers who had embarked that morning:  Admiral Stark, USN, Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Blake, the First Lord of the Admiralty and others with their staffs.

 

MUSKETEER and MAHRATTA left Scapa at 2200 in order to patrol a line between 61 and 62N on the longitude of 1E in order to endeavour to intercept a reporting unidentified vessel believed to be steaming eastwards at high speed.  No contact was made and they left patrol at 2000 on the following day to return to Scapa where they arrived at 0600 on the 25th.

 

 

Thursday, 24th June 1943

 

No events or movements of importance.

 

 

Friday, 25th June 1943

 

The First Lord of the Admiralty embarked in OPPORTUNE at 0915 and proceeded to Scrabster where he disembarked and OPPORTUNE returned to Scapa.

 

 

Saturday, 26th June 1943

 

ORIBI, repairs to her stem having been completed, left Boston at 1400 for Bermuda to join a fast homeward convoy.

 

MIDDLETON left Scapa at 1900 to rendezvous with STALKER off Leith and escort her to Greenock where they arrived on the afternoon of the 28th.  MIDDLETON, having an engine defect, anchored south of Arran Island to effect repairs, until 1900 when she proceeded to Scapa where she arrived at noon on 29th.

 

Admiral Stark, USN, and Vice Admiral Sir Geoffrey Blake embarked in MAHRATTA at 0915 and proceeded to Scrabster where they disembarked and MAHRATTA returned to Scapa.

 

USS EMMONS docked in the floating dock at Scapa for repairs to asdic directing gear.

 

 

Sunday, 27th June 1943

 

GRENVILLE left Scapa at 2200 for Rosyth to have her Bofors gun mounting lifted out for repairs.

 

 

Monday, 28th June 1943

 

No events or movements of importance.

 

 

Tuesday, 29th June 1943

 

GRENVILLE left Rosyth at 1400 for Scapa where she arrived at midnight.

 

 

Wednesday, 30th June 1943

 

METEOR docked in the floating dock at Hvalfiord.

 

EMMONS undocked.

 

BRILLIANT arrived at Scapa at 1900 for working up practices.

 
 

on to Home Fleet Destroyers, July-December 1943
or back to Admiralty War Diaries

revised 14/7/11