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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 VANOC (H 33) - V & W-class Destroyer 
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Vanoc (Photo Ships, click to enlarge)

return to Contents List 
 

V-Class destroyer ordered from John Brown, Clydebank on 30th June 1916 with the 9th Order of the 1916-17 Build Programme. The ship was laid down on 20th September 1916 and launched on 14th June 1917 as the first RN ship to carry the name, that of one of the knights of King Arthur. She was the Lead Ship for this Class of destroyer. Build was completed on 15th August 1918.  She was damaged before the end of hostilities and after repair was placed in  Reserve at Devonport. In February 1942 this ship was adopted by the civil community of Gainsborough, Lincs. after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign.

 

 B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC 1939-45 - NORWAY 1940 - NORTH AFRICA 1942 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1943-45

 

 

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

 

August                  Commissioned for attendance at Royal Review of Reserve Fleet at Weymouth

                                Manned by Reservists.

                                Attended Review in Weymouth Bay

                                Remained in commission and allocated for service in 11th Destroyer Flotilla based at

                                Plymouth in Western Approaches Command.

                                (Note : CinC Western Approaches headquarters were at Plymouth.)

 

September             Deployed for convoy escort and anti-submarine patrol in Channel

 

October                  English Channel and SW Approaches deployment in continuation.

to                            (Note : For details of naval activities in 1939-40 see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

November              CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and the Naval Staff History.

 

December

                28th        Joined outward Convoy OG12 on formation in SW Approaches with HM Destroyers

                                WHIRLWIND, WHITEHALL and WIVERN as escort for initial stage of passage to Gibraltar

                29th        Detached from OG12 with escort and returned to Plymouth

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Convoy defence and patrol in SW Approaches in continuation.

                                Passage to join inward Convoy HG13 on passage to Liverpool from Gibraltar.

                7th          Joined HG13 with HM Destroyers VENETIA, VISCOUNT and VOLUNTEER as

                                escort during passage in SW Approaches.

                10th        Detached from HG13 and took passage to Plymouth.

 

February

                27th        Joined outward Convoy OG20F with HM Sloops SCARBOROUGH, WELLINGTON and

                                HM Destroyer WHIRLWIND on formation in SW Approaches and deployed as

                                escort during initial stage of passage to Gibraltar.

                28th        Detached from OG20F and took passage to join inward Convoy HG20F from Gibraltar

                                as escort during passage in SW Approaches to Liverpool.

 

March

                                Deployed as escort for inward Convoy HG20F during passage to Liverpool.

                3rd          Detached from HG20F on arrival and returned to Plymouth.

                15th        Deployed with escort for inward Convoy HG22F during passage to Liverpool in

                                SW Approaches

                18th        Passage to Plymouth after arrival of HG22F.

 

April                       Transferred with Flotilla for service with Home Fleet in support of military operations

                                in Norway and took passage to Scapa Flow.

                9th          Deployed for escort of military convoys to Narvik (Operation RUPERT/R4)

                                (Note : For details of the disastrous operations off Norway see above reference,

                                NARVIK by D Macintyre, THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by J Adams and

                                Naval Staff History.)

 

May                        Norwegian coast support and escort duties in continuation.

                29th        Assisted in evacuation from Bodo with HM Destroyers HAVELOCK, ECHO,

                                ARROW and FIREDRAKE.

 

June                        On release from Norwegian evacuation operations transferred to English Channel.

                                Passage to Plymouth for support of evacuation of troops and civilians from St Nazaire.

                                Despatched to St Nazaire.

                16th        Deployed with HM Escort Destroyer BERKELEY, HM Destroyers BEAGLE and

                                HAVELOCK at St Nazaire.

                                (Operation AERIAL – See Naval Staff History and BEF SHIPS BEFORE AND AFTER

                                DUNKIRK by deWinser.)

                18th        Took passage from St Nazaire as part of escort for mercantiles carrying 24,000 troop

                                evacuated from St Nazaire.

                                (Note : These ships included the liners GEORGIC, DUCHESS OF YORK, Polish BATORY,

                                Polish SOBIESKI and six smaller vessels, The liner LANCASTRIA which

                                has also been sent for the operation was sunk with heavy loss of life in air attacks

                                whilst at St Nazaire.)

 

July                         Transferred to Liverpool for Atlantic convoy escort duties

                                (Note : CinC Western Approaches was transferred to Liverpool.)

 

August                  Atlantic convoy escort and patrol duties in continuation.

to                            (For details of Atlantic convoy defence and U-Boat deployments see THE BATTLE

October                  OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).

 

November              Detached for duty in English Channel.

                29th        Escorted HM Destroyer ICARUS with HM Destroyers WITCH and VOLUNTEER

                                during minelay off French coast (Operation JH - See Naval Staff History (Mining).)

 

December              Resumed Atlantic convoy defence duties in Western Approaches.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to                            Radar Type 286M fitted.

February                (Note : This was an RAF aircraft Air-Sea detection equipment modified for naval use

                                and had a fixed aerial which necessitated ship movement to determine the position

                                of any ship or other object. For details of the development and use of radar by RN

                                see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)

March                    Deployed with 5th Escort Group in NW Approaches for the escort of Convoy HX112.

                                (Note : Ships in this Group were HM Destroyers WALKER, VANOC,

                                VOLUNTEER, SARDONYX and SCIMITAR, HM Corvettes BLUEBELL and

                                HYDRANGEA.)

16th        Convoy under attack by U100 during which the tanker ERODANA was badly damaged

                                (Note : It was initially feared the ship had been sunk but she was later towed to Iceland.)

                                Counter-attacks by HMS WALKER.

                                Following further unsuccessful attacks by U100 other U-Boats were ordered to join U100

                                Attacks made by U37, U99 and U100 were carried out after dark and five mercantiles

                                were sunk and another badly damaged by fires which were brought under control.

                17th        Took part in a series of depth charge attacks on U100 with HMS WALKER which ha had

                                made firm contact with submarine using her ASDIC equipment. These attacks caused major

                                damage and forced U100 to surface. The submarine was detected by HMS VANOC using

                                Type 286M Radar and then rammed and sank it immediately in position 61.04N 11.30W.

                                Six of the 38 Survivors were rescued by this ship.

                                (Note : This was the first U-Boat to be sunk after radar detection.)

                                Despite the serious damage caused by ramming at high speed took part in attack on U99

                                which surfaced after attempt to leave the area submerged.

                                (For full details see HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR Volume I by C Blair and U-BOATS

                                DESTROYED by P.Kemp.)

                                (Note : Loss of two successful submarine commanders was heralded with acclaim by the

                                Prime Minister in the House of Common)

 

April                       Under repair

 

May                        On completion resumed Atlantic convoy defence with Group.

 

June                        Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.

                                (Note : For details of weapons and tactic used see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)

 

July

                12th        Deployed with HM Destroyer GURKHA and Polish destroyer ORP GARLAND to provide

                                anti-submarine defence to military convoy WS9C during passage in NW Approaches.

                15th        Detached from WS9C and returned to Clyde.

 

August                  Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to September

 

October                  Part of escort for Convoy HX155 with Group.

 

November              Part of escort for Convoy ONS34 with ships of Group

 

December              Atlantic convoy escort with Group in continuation.

                                (Note : 5th Escort Group disbanded.)

 

1 9 4 2

 

January

                12th        Deployed with HMS WALKER, HMS VOLUNTEER and HMS WITHERINGTON as

                                Local Escort for military convoy WS15 during passage in NW Approaches.

                15th        Detached from WS15 and returned to Clyde.

 

February                Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to                            (Note : See U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC for details of changes in U-Boat

June

 

July

to August              Deployed for convoy escort off east coast of Canada and USA.

 

September             Nominated for escort of special convoy identified as RB1 during passage to UK.

                                (Note : This identity as given in HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR, Vol 2 by C Blair is an acronym

                                for ‘Rivers to Britain’ and was special convoy comprising Great Lakes River Steamers

                                which had been sold to Great Britain. They included ss BOSTON, ss

                                NEW YORK, both of about 5.000grt and ss YORKTOWN of 1,547 grt

                17th        Deployed with HM Destroyer VETERAN as escort for RB1 during

                                Atlantic passage from the Gulf of Sat Lawrence to Clyde.

                20th        RB1 Sighted by U380 and reported to U-Boat headquarters which ordered the formation of a new

                                U-Boat Group BLITZ specifically for co-ordinated attacks on RB1.

                                (Note : BLITZ Group included U380, U211, U607, U216, U96, U618, U91, U410, U536 and

                                U404

                23rd        U-Boat attacks commenced.

                25th        ss NEW YORK and ss BOSTON sunk.

                                Carried out anti-submarine operations against BLITZ Group.

                26th        ss YORKTOWN sunk

                                HMS VETERAN which had been despatch to search for survivors came under attack by U404

                                and was hit by two torpedoes. This destroyer sank almost immediately after an explosion and

                                all on board lost their lives including some survivors.

                                (Note : German sources record that these ships were carrying troops but this is not confirmed

                                in other sources. The ships lost in RB1 are recorded in BRITISH VESSELS LOST AT

                                SEA 1939-45 (HMSO)

                27th        Three US Navy destroyers joined as further reinforcement of escort joined RB1

 

October                  Nominated for escort of military convoys to Gibraltar in preparation for allied landing

                                in North Africa (Operation TORCH).

 

November

                4th          Sailed from Gibraltar to supplement escort of military convoy KMS1

                                during passage to Algiers (Operation TORCH)

                6th          Joined convoy.

                7th          Rescued pilot from crashed SEAFIRE aircraft belonging to HM

                                Aircraft Carrier ARGUS during passage to Algiers.

                8th          Deployed in support of landings after arrival of KMS1.

                10th        On release from support at Algiers took passage to Bougie for

                                support of landings.

                11th        Deployed at Bougie (Operation PERPETUAL)

 

December              Gibraltar deployment in continuation for convoy defence and patrol

 

 1 9 4 3

 

January                  Passage to UK to resumed Atlantic convoy escort duties in Western Approaches.

 

February                Deployed with HM Corvettes COREOPSIS, COLUMBINE, ANCHUSA and JONQUIL

                                as 38th Escort Group for Atlantic convoy escort.

 

March                    Atlantic duties in continuation.

                                Nominated for conversion to Long Range Escort. See General Information.)

 

April                       Taken in hand for conversion and refit. For details see V& W DESTROYERS by A Preston..

 

May                        Under refit.

to October

 

November              Post Refit Trials and work-up for operational service.

 

December              Deployed for escort of Atlantic and coastal convoys

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence in continuation

to February

 

March                    Deployed for escort of military convoy to Gibraltar.

                16th        Took part in sinking of U392 with HM Frigate AFFLECK off Gibraltar in

                                position 35.54N 05.45W, There were no survivors.

                                (Note : Submarine had been attempting to pass through the Straits of Gibraltar when

                                detected by a US CATALINA aircraft using magnetic anomaly equipment.

                                These two ships were asked to assist and attacked with HEDGEHOG,

                                See U-BOATS DESTROYED and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR.)

 

April                       Atlantic and coastal convoy escort in continuation.

 to                           (Note : Not deployed for escort or support duties during Normandy landings.

December              Operation NEPTUNE – See Naval Staff History)

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Convoy defence duties in continuation.

 to                           (Note : During this period U-Boat attacks were being concentrated on focal points

 May                       for convoys some of which were using English Channel instead of the NW

                                Approaches. Additional escorts were deployed to counter this threat.

                                See above references.)

 

June                        Nominated for withdrawal from service after convoy escort and support of re-occupation

to August              requirements had been met.

 

P o s t  W a r  N o t e s

 

HMS VANOC was paid off and reduced to Reserve status after VE Day and placed on the Disposal List. She was sold to T W Ward for breaking-up on 26th July 1945 but did not leave for the breakers until June 1946. Whilst under tow for demolition she ran aground at Penrhyn and was wrecked. The hulk was later salved and broken up at Falmouth.

 

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS VANOC

by Don Kindell

 

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

23/09/39

23/09/39

OB 009

26/09/39

26/09/39

03/10/39

04/10/39

OB 014

unknown

06/10/39

13/10/39

14/10/39

OB 019

16/10/39

18/10/39

26/09/39

15/10/39

KJ 002

17/10/39

18/10/39

23/10/39

23/10/39

OB 024

26/10/39

26/10/39

04/11/39

05/11/39

OB 030

07/11/39

09/11/39

23/10/39

08/11/39

SL 006

10/11/39

10/11/39

16/11/39

16/11/39

OB 036

19/11/39

17/11/39

17/11/39

17/11/39

OG 007

19/11/39

24/11/39

27/11/39

27/11/39

OB 042

29/11/39

01/12/39

04/12/39

04/12/39

OB 047

07/12/39

08/12/39

14/12/39

14/12/39

OB 053

17/12/39

19/12/39

26/12/39

26/12/39

OB 060

28/12/39

28/12/39

28/12/39

28/12/39

OG 012

29/12/39

04/01/40

04/01/40

04/01/40

OB 066

06/01/40

06/01/40

31/12/39

08/01/40

HG 013

10/01/40

10/01/40

01/01/40

16/01/40

SL 015

19/01/40

19/01/40

21/01/40

27/01/40

HG 016F

28/01/40

28/01/40

02/02/40

02/02/40

OB 084

03/02/40

05/02/40

15/02/40

15/02/40

OB 092

18/02/40

18/02/40

07/02/40

19/02/40

HX 019

22/02/40

22/02/40

24/02/40

24/02/40

OB 098

27/02/40

27/02/40

27/02/40

27/02/40

OG 020F

27/02/40

02/03/40

22/02/40

28/02/40

HG 020F

28/02/40

03/03/40

02/03/40

02/03/40

OB 102

05/03/40

06/03/40

22/02/40

06/03/40

HX 022

09/03/40

09/03/40

09/03/40

unknown

HG 022F

unknown

18/03/40

21/03/40

21/03/40

OB 114

24/03/40

25/03/40

13/03/40

25/03/40

HX 027

28/03/40

28/03/40

11/04/40

11/04/40

NP 001

15/04/40

15/04/40

18/04/40

21/04/40

FP 002

22/04/40

22/04/40

12/06/40

12/06/40

HEBREW

14/06/40

14/06/40

18/06/40

18/06/40

FF 002A

19/06/40

19/06/40

18/06/40

18/06/40

OLIVE

19/06/40

19/06/40

29/06/40

30/06/40

OB 176

30/06/40

02/07/40

01/07/40

01/07/40

OB 177

unknown

03/07/40

03/07/40

03/07/40

OG 036

unknown

09/07/40

10/07/40

10/07/40

OB 181

12/07/40

12/07/40

12/07/40

12/07/40

OG 037

12/07/40

16/07/40

31/07/40

31/07/40

OB 192

04/08/40

04/08/40

23/07/40

04/08/40

HX 060

06/08/40

07/08/40

07/08/40

08/08/40

OB 195

12/08/40

12/08/40

11/08/40

22/08/40

HG 041

24/08/40

26/08/40

30/08/40

30/08/40

OB 206

04/09/40

05/09/40

18/08/40

04/09/40

SL 044

07/09/40

07/09/40

31/01/41

14/02/41

SC 021

18/02/41

18/02/41

16/02/41

16/02/41

OB 287

unknown

21/02/41

26/02/41

27/02/41

OB 291

03/03/41

03/03/41

10/02/41

04/03/41

SL 065

08/03/41

08/03/41

01/03/41

15/03/41

HX 112

20/03/41

20/03/41

24/06/41

25/06/41

OG 066

29/06/41

08/07/41

08/06/41

29/06/41

SL 077

03/07/41

03/07/41

24/07/41

25/07/41

OS 001

28/07/41

10/08/41

18/07/41

28/07/41

HG 068

02/08/41

02/08/41

24/07/41

11/08/41

SL 082

15/08/41

15/08/41

23/08/41

23/08/41

OS 004

28/08/41

11/09/41

25/08/41

11/09/41

SL 085

17/09/41

17/09/41

02/09/41

12/09/41

HG 072

17/09/41

17/09/41

25/09/41

25/09/41

ON 020

30/09/41

09/10/41

24/09/41

04/10/41

SC 046

10/10/41

10/10/41

16/10/41

17/10/41

ON 027

23/10/41

02/11/41

07/11/41

07/11/41

ON 034

12/11/41

21/11/41

04/11/41

20/11/41

SC 053

24/11/41

24/11/41

27/11/41

29/11/41

ON 041

04/12/41

11/12/41

27/11/41

07/12/41

HX 162

10/12/41

11/12/41

14/12/41

23/12/41

HG 076

29/12/41

30/12/41

01/01/42

01/01/42

RU 003

06/01/42

06/01/42

17/01/42

29/01/42

SC 065

01/02/42

04/02/42

03/03/42

16/03/42

ON 072

19/03/42

19/03/42

23/06/42

05/07/42

ON 106

11/07/42

08/07/42

21/07/42

21/07/42

NA 013

23/07/42

28/07/42

13/07/42

25/07/42

ON 112

30/07/42

30/07/42

31/07/42

31/07/42

BX 031B

unknown

02/08/42

04/08/42

04/08/42

SC 095

07/08/42

19/08/42

06/08/42

15/08/42

ON 119

20/08/42

20/08/42

21/08/42

21/08/42

BX 034B

23/08/42

23/08/42

30/08/42

30/08/42

HX 205

02/09/42

11/09/42

22/08/42

02/09/42

ON 124

06/09/42

06/09/42

08/09/42

08/09/42

BX 037B

10/09/42

10/09/42

16/09/42

16/09/42

RB 001

18/09/42

18/09/42

21/09/42

21/09/42

RB 001/1

28/09/42

28/09/42

19/10/42

19/10/42

KX 003

25/10/42

25/10/42

26/10/42

06/11/42

KMF 001

08/11/42

08/11/42

12/12/42

31/12/42

UGS 003

01/01/43

01/01/43

26/12/42

02/01/43

KMF 006

03/01/43

03/01/43

24/12/42

04/01/43

KMS 006G

09/01/43

09/01/43

05/01/43

08/01/43

MKS 005

11/01/43

22/01/43

19/01/43

21/01/43

MKS 006

22/01/43

01/02/43

23/01/43

23/01/43

ET 009X

27/01/43

27/01/43

07/02/43

25/02/43

UGS 005

26/02/43

26/02/43

28/02/43

28/02/43

XK 002

03/03/43

12/03/43

26/02/43

08/03/43

KMS 010G

11/03/43

11/03/43

15/12/43

16/12/43

OS 062KM

17/12/43

02/01/44

24/01/44

25/01/44

OS 066KM

05/02/44

05/02/44

06/02/44

06/02/44

KMS 040G

07/02/44

07/02/44

13/05/44

13/05/44

KMS 050G

15/05/44

15/05/44

29/12/44

29/12/44

BTC 022

01/01/45

01/01/45

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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