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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2004

HMS VANQUISHER (D 54)  -  V & W-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Vanquisher with wartime modifications (Photo Ships, click  to enlarge)

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Admiralty V-Class destroyer ordered from John Brown, Clydebank with 9th Order of the 1916-17 Build  Programme in June 1916. The ship was laid down on 27th September 1916 end launched on 18th August 1917 as the 1st RN warship to carry the name. Between the wars she served in the Atlantic and Mediterranean Fleets and in 1938 was attached to the 1st Anti-Submarine Flotilla at Portland. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in November 1941 she was adopted by the civil community of Nuneaton in Warwickshire.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC 1939-45 - DUNKIRK 1940 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1943-44 - NORMANDY  1944

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

 

Badge : On a   Field White, a dexter arm the hand clenched Gold.

 

M o t t o

Pugna vinco pugno :   'I fight I conquer with my fist'

 

 

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             Deployed in Western Approaches with HM Destroyers MACKAY, VERSATILE, VIMY,

                                WALKER, WARWICK, WHIRLWIND and WINCHELSEA as 11th Destroyer Flotilla

 

October                  Under repair, by HM Dockyard, Devonport.

to

December

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  On completion of repair and trials resumed convoy defence with Flotilla.

to                            (For details of naval activities in Home waters in 1940 before German attacks on Norway

April                       See Naval Staff History and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett).

                                Deployed in Channel and SW Approaches..

May                        Transferred to Dover Command to assist with evacuation of allied troops from French and

                                Belgian coasts.

                28th        Deployed in evacuation from Dunkirk (Operation DYNAMO)

                29th        Embarked 241 troops and returned to Dover.

                30th        Embarked 582 troops and returned to Dover.

                                Returned for 3rd trip and embarked 622 troops

                                Disembarked troops at Dover

 

June

                1st           Embarked 640 troops and returned to Dover

                                Returned to Dunkirk and returned with 168 troops

                3rd          Embarked 37 troops and returned to Dover.

                                Returned for 7th trip and embarked to 414 troops

                                Disembarked troops at Dover,

                                (For details of DYNAMO operation see THE NINE DAYS OF DUNKIRK by A D Divine

                                Naval Staff History and BEF SHIPS by J de Winser.)

                12th        Escorted French battleship JEAN BART during passage to Casablanca

                19th        Re-deployed for evacuation work from Bay of Biscay ports (Operation AERIAL).

                                (See BEF ships)

                                Passage to St Nazaire to assist in evacuation .

                20th        Passage to La Pallice with demolition party but did not land.

                22nd       Returned to Plymouth. See BEF SHIPS.

 

July                         Resumed convoy defence duties. Convoy defence end patrol in continuation.

to                            (Note : Destroyers also carried out anti-invasion interception patrols.)

August

 

September             Joined 8th Escort Group based in Liverpool for escort of Atlantic convoys.

                                Escorted Convoy OB216 Atlantic convoy escort duty in continuation.

 

October                  Atlantic convoy deployment with Group in continuation.

 

November              Atlantic convoy defence and support duties with Group on UK - Gibraltar route.

to                            Deployed in Gibraltar area as Anti-submarine Hunting Group.

December

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Atlantic convoy escort duty in continuation with Group.

to                            Transferred to Freetown for Local Escort duties.

May                        Passage to Freetown.

                                Deployed at Freetown for Atlantic convoy

 

June

                13th        Joined military convoy WS9A during Atlantic passage to Middle East off coast of

                                West Africa with HM Destroyers VELOX and WILD SWAN. as Local Escort for

                                final stage of passage into Freetown.

                                (Note : HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM was providing Ocean Escort.)

                18th        Detached from WS9A on arrival at Freetown.

                20th        Deployed with HM Destroyers BOREAS, VELOX and WILD SWAN for Local

                                Escort of WS9A during initial part of passage to Cape of Good Hope.

                22nd       Detached from WS9A and returned to Freetown with Local Escort.

                                (Note : HMS BIRMINGHAM provided Ocean Escort).

 

July

                16th        Joined military convoy WS9B on departure from Freetown as Local Escort during initial

                                part of passage to Cape of Good Hope with HM Destroyers BOREAS, BRILLIANT and

                                VELOX.

                18th        Detached from WS9B with Local Escort and returned to Freetown.

                                (Note: HM Cruiser GALATEA provided Ocean Escort.)

 

August                  Local Escort duties at Freetown in continuation.

to                            Transferred to 10th Escort Group.

October                  Nominated for return to Home waters and took passage.

 

November              Deployed in NW Approaches for convoy defence.

                13th        Joined military convoy WS12Z in Clyde with HM Destroyers BADSWORTH, EXMOOR,

                                WITCH and WHITEHALL as Local Escort during passage in NW Approaches.

                16th        Detached from WS12Z with Local Escort and returned to Clyde.

 

December

                13th        Joined military convoy WS14 during passage to Freetown in NW Approaches as Local

                                Escort with HM Destroyers WITCH and VOLUNTEER.

                14th        Detached from Local Escort and returned to Clyde.

                                (Note : HM Battleship RAMILLIES and HM Armed Merchant Cruiser CILICIA provided

                                the Ocean Escort.)

 

1 9 4 2

 

January

                12th        Joined military convoy WS15 in Clyde with HM Destroyers VANOC, VOLUNTEER,

                                WALKER and WITHERINGTON as Local Escort during passage in NW Approaches

                17th        Detached from WS15 with HMS VOLUNTEER and HMS WITHERINGTON on relief by

                                Polish destroyer ORP GARLAND and HM Destroyer NORMAN.

                                Returned to Clyde.

                                (Note : Details of escorts for WS convoys were provided by D Kindell, Ohio USA and is

                                gratefully acknowledged.)

 

February                Detached for duty with 1st Minelaying Squadron.

                18th        Escorted ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron for minelay in Northern Barrage

                                (Operation SN84 - For details of all minelaying operations see Naval Staff History

                                (MINING) (HMSO).).

 

March                    Resumed convoy escort duties.

to                            Nominated for conversion to Long Range Escort.

August                  (For details of Atlantic convoy defence tactics see BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D

                                Maclntyre and CONVOY ESCORT COMMANDER by P Gretton).

 

September             Taken in hand fbr conversion at HM Dockyard Portsmouth.

 

November              Under conversion.

to                            (See BRITISH DESTROYERS by E. March and V AND W DESTROYERS by A Preston.)

December

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Under conversion

to

March

 

April                       Carried out post refit Harbour and sea Trials

                                Worked-up for operational service.

 

May                        On completion of work-up resumed escort duty in Western Approaches with 6th Escort Group.

.                               Joined HM Destroyer FAME, m Frigate DEVERON, HM Corvettes KINGCUP, Norwegian

                                Corvettes VERVAIN, ROSE, EGLANTINE, ACANTHUS and POTENTILLA for defence

                                of Atlantic convoys.

 

June                        Deployed with Group for Atlantic convoy defence.

to                            (For details of changes in convoy defence tactics and weapons see U-BOAT WAR IN

September             THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann)

 

October                  Deployed with ships of 6th and 7th Escort Groups for escort of Convoy ON206.

                                (See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair Volume 2. for details.)0

                                (Note : Ships of 7th Escort Group included HM Destroyers DUNCAN, VIDETTE, HM

                                Corvettes PINK and SUNFLOWER.

                15th        Under sustained U-Boat attacks with ships of escort.

                16th        Drove off determined attempts by U844 with HMS DUNCAN and HMS VIDETTE

                                (Note : This submarine was later sunk by an RAF aircraft which was itself shot down by

                                from U844.

                                See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and above reference)

 

November              Group deployment for Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Western Approaches convoy escort in continuation with Group.

 

February                Escorted ONS29 with Group.

 

March                    Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence.

to

April

 

May                        Nominated for duty in Escort Group 106 with HM Frigate STRULE, HM Corvettes

                                ABELIA, BALSAM and Motor Launches from Light Coastal Forces.

                                (Operation NEPTUNE - See OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and NORMANDY

                                LANDINGS, June 1944 (HMSO) for details of naval activities before and during landings).

 

June                        Commenced duty in Escort Group 106 at Milford Haven.

                4th          Joined Convoy EBM3 apprising 11 empty Motor Transport ships In Irish Sea with

                                Group supplemented by two additional Corvettes and HM Trawlers CALDY and GWEAL

                5th          Passage to Start Point delayed when D Day postponed for 24 hours.

                6th          Transports loaded at south coast ports.

                7th          Passage through swept channel to beachhead.

                8th          Convoy arrived in Western Task Force (US) area for discharge.

                10th        Escorted build-up convoys from Falmouth.

 

July                         After release from NEPTUNE resumed escort duty with 6th Escort Group for mercantile

                                convoys

 

August                  Atlantic convoy defence deployment with Group in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Atlantic and coastal convoy defence in continuation.

to                            (Note : During this period German Schnorkel-fitted submarines were concentrating

March                    their attacks in convoy focal points In SW Approaches. See ENGAGE THE

                                ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett and SEEK AND STRIKE by W

                                Hackmann).

 

April                       Part of escort for Convoy ONA265.

                10th        Participated in sinking of U878 with HM Corvettes TINTAGEL CASTLE west of St

                                Nazaire in position 47.35N 10.33W.

                                There were no survivors from the submarine.

 

May                        Withdrawn from operational service after VE Day.

 

June                        Paid-off and reduced to Reserve status.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS VANQUISHER was placed on the Disposal List In 1947 and sold to BISCO for demolition by  Metal Industries on  4th May 1947.  She arrived in tow at Charleston, Fife in October 1948.

 

 


 

Addenda

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS VANQUISHER

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

 

 

 

 

 

05/09/39

05/09/39

RED 1

06/09/39

27/09/39

09/09/39

09/09/39

OB 002

13/09/39

14/09/39

08/11/39

23/11/39

SL 008

24/11/39

24/11/39

06/01/40

18/01/40

HX 015

19/01/40

19/01/40

21/01/40

21/01/40

OB 077

24/01/40

24/01/40

09/02/40

16/02/40

HG 018

19/02/40

19/02/40

21/02/40

21/02/40

OB 096

24/02/40

24/02/40

14/02/40

25/02/40

SL 020F

28/02/40

28/02/40

29/02/40

29/02/40

OB 101

03/03/40

03/03/40

05/03/40

05/03/40

OB 104

08/03/40

08/03/40

15/03/40

15/03/40

OB 110

18/03/40

18/03/40

12/03/40

19/03/40

HG 022

21/03/40

22/03/40

24/03/40

24/03/40

OB 116

26/03/40

27/03/40

01/04/40

01/04/40

OB 121

04/04/40

04/04/40

22/03/40

05/04/40

SL 025

08/04/40

08/04/40

10/04/40

10/04/40

OB 127

13/04/40

14/04/40

02/04/40

13/04/40

HX 032

15/04/40

17/04/40

03/05/40

03/05/40

OB 141

06/05/40

06/05/40

11/05/40

11/05/40

OB 146

13/05/40

13/05/40

25/06/40

08/07/40

HX 053

09/07/40

10/07/40

13/07/40

13/07/40

OB 183

16/07/40

17/07/40

01/07/40

17/07/40

SL 038

20/07/40

20/07/40

23/07/40

29/07/40

TC 006

01/08/40

01/08/40

04/08/40

04/08/40

OB 193

07/08/40

07/08/40

27/07/40

08/08/40

HX 061

11/08/40

11/08/40

09/09/40

10/09/40

OB 211

12/09/40

13/09/40

01/09/40

13/09/40

HX 070

16/09/40

16/09/40

19/09/40

19/09/40

OB 216

23/09/40

23/09/40

10/09/40

23/09/40

SC 004

26/09/40

26/09/40

28/09/40

28/09/40

OL 005

30/09/40

30/09/40

19/09/40

30/09/40

SC 005

04/10/40

04/10/40

27/09/40

09/10/40

SC 006

12/10/40

12/10/40

02/11/40

02/11/40

OB 238

05/11/40

05/11/40

22/10/40

06/11/40

SL 052F

10/11/40

10/11/40

28/11/40

28/11/40

OB 251

01/12/40

01/12/40

21/11/40

unknown

HX 090

05/12/40

05/12/40

12/12/40

12/12/40

OB 258

15/12/40

15/12/40

28/11/40

15/12/40

SL 057

unknown

19/12/40

18/12/40

unknown

HX 097

unknown

03/01/41

26/12/40

29/12/40

OB 265

30/12/40

30/12/40

08/01/41

08/01/41

OB 271

12/01/41

12/01/41

01/01/41

13/01/41

HX 100

16/01/41

18/01/41

22/01/41

22/01/41

OB 277

27/01/41

27/01/41

15/01/41

27/01/41

HX 103

unknown

01/02/41

05/02/41

05/02/41

OG 052

09/02/41

21/02/41

23/02/41

23/02/41

OB 290

26/02/41

27/02/14

10/03/41

10/03/41

OB 296

15/03/41

15/03/41

28/02/41

15/03/41

SC 024

19/03/41

19/03/41

28/03/41

28/03/41

OB 303

02/04/41

03/04/41

21/03/41

04/04/41

HX 116

09/04/41

09/04/41

26/04/41

26/04/41

OG 060

30/04/41

10/05/41

09/04/41

30/04/41

SL 071

05/05/41

04/05/41

11/05/41

12/05/41

OB 321

17/05/41

17/05/41

06/05/41

16/05/41

HG 061

20/05/41

20/05/41

25/05/41

26/05/41

OG 063

27/05/41

07/06/41

10/05/41

30/05/41

SL 074

02/06/41

04/06/41

21/07/41

26/07/41

TC 012

29/07/41

29/07/41

05/10/41

23/10/41

SL 089

25/10/41

26/10/41

14/12/41

23/12/41

HG 076

29/12/41

30/12/41

25/02/42

28/02/42

CT 011

09/03/42

09/03/42

01/03/42

01/03/42

BB 144

02/03/42

02/03/42

15/03/42

15/03/42

HX 180

19/03/42

27/03/42

17/03/42

26/03/42

ON 077

28/03/42

28/03/42

08/04/42

08/04/42

HX 184

12/04/42

20/04/42

02/04/42

15/04/42

ON 082

18/04/42

18/04/42

30/04/42

30/04/42

SC 082

04/05/42

16/05/42

01/05/42

11/05/42

ON 091

15/05/42

15/05/42

31/05/42

31/05/42

HX 192

03/06/42

11/06/42

26/05/42

07/06/42

ON 098

unknown

12/06/42

21/06/42

21/06/42

HX 195

24/06/42

02/07/42

16/06/42

27/06/42

ON 104

unknown

02/07/42

29/06/42

29/06/42

HX 196

02/07/42

10/07/42

09/07/42

09/07/42

BX 028

11/07/42

11/07/42

12/07/42

12/07/42

HX 198

15/07/42

23/07/42

06/07/42

20/07/42

ON 110

unknown

26/07/42

02/08/42

02/08/42

HX 201

05/08/42

14/08/42

31/07/42

10/08/42

ON 117

unknown

15/08/42

16/08/42

16/08/42

BX 033C

18/08/42

18/08/42

23/08/42

23/08/42

HX 204

26/08/42

04/09/42

01/05/43

01/05/43

PW 332

03/05/43

03/05/43

16/06/43

17/06/43

ON 189

24/06/43

01/07/43

24/06/43

27/06/43

KMS 018B

03/07/43

10/07/43

30/06/43

06/07/43

HX 246

13/07/43

14/07/43

24/07/43

25/07/43

ON 194

02/08/43

07/08/43

08/08/43

13/08/43

HX 251

22/08/43

23/08/43

31/08/43

02/09/43

ONS 017

12/09/43

16/09/43

16/09/43

22/09/43

HX 257

29/09/43

30/09/43

11/10/43

12/10/43

ON 206

21/10/43

27/10/43

09/10/43

18/10/43

ONS 020

19/10/43

26/10/43

24/10/43

28/10/43

SC 145

06/11/43

07/11/43

19/11/43

20/11/43

ON 212

29/11/43

05/12/43

02/12/43

06/12/43

SC 148

15/12/43

16/12/43

31/12/43

02/01/44

ON 218

11/01/44

18/01/44

14/01/44

18/01/44

SC 151

30/01/44

31/01/44

14/03/44

14/03/44

KMF 029B

22/03/44

22/03/44

03/06/44

03/06/44

EBM 003

unknown

07/06/44

19/06/44

19/06/44

EBC 016

23/06/44

23/06/44

29/06/44

29/06/44

EBC 026

01/07/44

01/07/44

14/07/44

14/07/44

EBC 041

16/07/44

16/07/44

21/07/44

21/07/44

EBC 048

23/07/44

23/07/44

28/07/44

28/07/44

EBC 055

30/07/44

30/07/44

31/07/44

31/07/44

FBC 042

02/08/44

02/08/44

16/07/44

16/08/44

FBC 029

18/08/44

18/07/44

10/02/45

10/02/45

ON 284

13/02/45

01/03/45

02/02/45

14/02/45

HX 336

17/02/45

14/02/45

22/03/45

22/03/45

ON 292

26/03/45

08/04/45

14/03/45

26/03/45

HX 344

30/03/45

28/03/45

07/04/45

07/04/45

ON 295

11/04/45

26/04/45

29/03/45

13/04/45

HX 347

14/04/45

14/04/45

06/05/45

06/05/45

ON 301

11/05/45

22/05/45

29/04/45

11/05/45

HX 353

16/05/45

15/05/45

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 


 

link to

BALTIC CRUISE 1921

from the diary of Yeoman of Signals George Smith

 

 

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