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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2003

HMS TENEDOS (H 04) - Old S-class Destroyer

HMS Tenedos (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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S-Class destroyer ordered from Hawthorn Leslie, Newcastle on 9th April 1917 with Emergency 1917-18 Programme (12th Order). The ship was launched on 21st October 1918 as the 4th RN warship to carry the name It was introduced in 1812 for a 5th Rate broken up In 1875 and previously used for a Boy Artificer training establishment between 1906 and 1910. Build was completed in 1919 and she could be used as a minelayer. In 1939 this destroyer was deployed on the China Station and was at Hong Kong being converted for use as a minelayer.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ZULU WAR  1879

 

H e r a ld i c   D a t a

Badge: On a field Red a double headed axe proper.

 

 M o t t o

Alteri aut utrumque:   'With either or both'

 

 

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e

 

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

 

 

1 9 3 9

 

September             Nominated for minelaying duties.

3rd          On passage to Singapore from Hong Kong after conversion.

                4th          Commenced lay of defensive minefield at Singapore

17th        Completed minelay. Retained at Singapore as minelayer.

 

October                  Deployed for minelaying duties at Singapore.

 

November              Reverted to A/S role after conversion at Singapore.

 

December              Deployed at Singapore on local escort and patrol duty.

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Singapore duties in continuation

to                            (Note: RN ships on the China Station were used for surveillance of German ships

December              especially in Dutch East Indies ports. After commerce raider activities

                extended into the Indian Ocean additional trade defence deployment

                were carried out by cruisers and destroyers in the Malaya Force.

                (See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett)

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Trade defence duties with Malaya Force in continuation.

to

November

 

December              Nominated for service with Force Z.

                3rd          Part of escort for HM Battlecruiser REPULSE and HM Battleship PRINCE

                                OF WALES as Force Z with HM Destroyers EXPRESS, ELECTRA and

                                VAMPIRE (RAN).

                5th          Deployed as escort for HMS REPULSE with HMAS VAMPIRE for passage

                                to Darwin.

                6th          Returned to Singapore when Japanese invasion force reported in Gulf of Siam.

                8th          Sailed from Singapore with Force Z as part of escort.

                9th          Detached to transmit radio request for reinforcement

                10th        In action with Japanese aircraft looking for Force Z.

                                Avoided damage and returned to Singapore.

                                (Note: Ships of Force Z came under heavy high level and torpedo air attacks

                                and HMS PRINCE OF WALES and HMS REPULSE were both sunk.

                                See Naval Staff History and THE HUNTING OF FORCE Z by R Hough.

 

 1 9 4 2

 

January                  Joined Western Striking Force with HM Destroyer SCOUT and escorted convoys

                                from Australia.

 

February

                2nd         Rescued survivors from ss NORAH MULLER with HM Australian Cruiser HOBART

                                during escort of convoy to Tanjong Priok.

                26th        Escorted HM Cruisers HOBART (RAN), DRAGON and DANAE from Tanjong

                Priok for the interception of Japanese invasion force heading towards Java.

                Returned to base after failing to find the Japanese ships.

                (See OPERATION PACIFIC by E Grey).

 

March

                1st           Transferred to join Fleet in Ceylon and escorted HMAS HOBART.

 

April                       At Colombo.

                5th          Sunk in Colombo harbour during Japanese air attack.

                                33 of Ship's Company lost their lives.
 

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