Admiralty
Modified or Repeat W-Class destroyer ordered
from J S
White at Cowes IoW in
April
1918 with the 13th Order of the 1917-18 Build Programme. The ship was laid down on 19th. August 1918 and
launched on 16th April 1919 as the
2nd RN ship to
carry the name. It had been introduced in
1883 for an Ironclad Coastal Defence
Ship (EL MONASSIR) purchased from Turkey in
1893, reduced to harbour service in 1898 and
sold at Hong Kong in 1922. Build
completed on 23rd December 1919 and
after acceptance she served with the 3rd
Destroyer Flotilla in the Atlantic and
Mediterranean Fleets. This ship was placed
in Reserve as part of the post-war economic
measures. During her service this destroyer
was known with affection as Tiddly
Wiv. When
brought forward in 1939 she was allocated
for war service
in the
16th Destroyer Flotilla based at Portsmouth.
Following a successful WARSHIP
WEEK National
Savings campaign in March 1942 she was
adopted by the civil community of West
Hartlepool,
County Durham.
B a t t l
e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC
1939-43 - NORTH AFRICA 1942-43 - NORTH SEA
1944-45
H e r a
l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a field Green, a Wyvern Gold.
M o t t o
'Beware'
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
Re allocated for convoy defence in Western
Approaches.
5th
Escorted Convoy GC1 from Clyde with HM
Destroyers VANESSA,
VIVACIOUS and WAKEFUL.
9th
Escorted Convoy OB2 with HM Destroyers
WINCHELSEA and
WALKER.
October
Transferred to 16th Destroyer Flotilla, Nore
Command based at Harwich
for convoy defence and patrol in North Sea.
November
Flotilla escort and patrol duties in
continuation.
22nd
Carried high speed operations off Harwich
after sinking of HM
Destroyer GIPSY which detonated a magnetic
mine.
(Note: This operation was carried out in the
expectation that other
mines would be detonated.)
December
Harwich deployment in continuation.
(For details of naval activities in this
period see ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett and the
Naval Staff History.
U-Boat deployments in 1939 are recorded in
U-BOAT WAR IN
THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).)
1 9 4 0
January
North Sea deployment in continuation.
to
April
May
Deployed for support of planned operations
in Holland.
(Note: Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to I66.)
10th
Nominated for demolition work at Hook of
Holland with HM Destroyer
WILD SWAN (Operation XD).
11th
Passage to Hook of Holland with HMS WILD
SWAN.
Embarked British Mission for passage to
Flushing.
13th
Assisted in evacuation at Hook of Holland
(Operation ORDNANCE).
14th
Sustained damage during ORDNANCE
Taken in hand for repair.
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to I66 to conform with
new identities for all RN ships.
June
Under repair.
July
Rejoined Flotilla at Harwich and deployed
for convoy defence in North Sea.
11th
Under air attack whilst escorting Convoy
FN19 near Aldeburgh Light
but avoided damage by manoeuvring.
August
Deployed as required for anti-invasion
patrol and for convoy defence.
3rd
Carried out patrol duties with HM Cruiser
CARDIFF, HM Destroyers VENOMOUS,
VERITY and WILD SWAN, HM Corvettes PUFFIN,
SHEARWATER and
SHELDRAKE. (See BATTLE FOR THE EAST COAST 1939-45 by JP Foynes)
September
7th
Deployed with HM Destroyer WILD SWAN as
screen for HM Cruisers AURORA
and CARDIFF during patrol off Dutch coast
(Operation RIVAL)
After completion transferred to Western
Approaches Command with
HM Destroyers MALCOLM, VETERAN and WILD SWAN
for Atlantic
convoy escort duties in 5th Escort Group
based at Liverpool.
Passage to join Group.
October
Deployed with Group for Atlantic convoy
escort
to
(For details see THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
by Donald Macintyre.
December
Macintyre, HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair
and U-BOAT WAR IN
THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) ).
1 9 4 1
January
Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.
February
26th
Deployed for escort of ships of the 20th
Destroyer Flotilla during
minelay off Cap d’Antifer (Operation JH).
Resumed Atlantic duties on completion
March
Deployed for Atlantic convoy escort.
to
(See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY).
April
May
Deployed at Portsmouth with HMS VANSITTART
and HMS
WILD SWAN.
12th
Escorted HM Cruiser BERWICK to Rosyth via
Irish Sea with HM
Destroyers BERKELEY, BLENCATHRA and WILD
SWAN.
(Note: HMS BERWICK had been under refit at
Rosyth but completion
of work had been transferred to Rosyth
because of air raids at
Portsmouth.)
14th
Deployed with HMS WILD SWAN to escort Free
French Submarine
SURCOUF during Atlantic passage to 49.54N
4.27W.
17th
Nominated for transfer to Freetown for
Atlantic convoy defence and
escort of military convoy WS8X from Clyde
during passage.
24th
Retained in Western Approaches after sinking
of HM Battlecruiser
HOOD. and took passage to Plymouth with HMS
WILD SWAN
and HMS VANSITTART.
30th
After sinking of German battleship BISMARCK
took passage to Clyde.
31st
Deployed with HM Destroyers VANSITTART, WILD
SWAN, BRIGHTON, LEGION,
SAGUENAY, ST MARY’S and SHERWOOD for
Local Escort of Convoy WS8X during
passage in NW Approaches
(Note: Ocean Escort comprised HM Aircraft
Carrier VICTORIOUS,
HM Cruisers NORFOLK, NEPTUNE and HM Armed
Merchant Cruiser ESPERANCE BAY.)
June
3rd
Detached from WS8X and returned to Clyde.
18th
Nominated for deployment at Freetown for
Atlantic convoy escort. Took passage to
Freetown with HMS VANSITTART and HMS WILD
SWAN.
July
Deployed at Freetown.
10th
Joined military convoy WS9B with HM Corvette
ASPHODEL, HM Destroyers BRILLIANT
and WILD SWAN as Local Escort during passage
into Freetown.
(Note: Ocean Escort for WS9N was HM Cruiser
GALATEA and HM
HM Armed Merchant Cruiser MORETON BAY
13th
Detached from WS9B with Local Escort on
arrival.
August
3rd
Passage to Gibraltar with HM Destroyers WILD
SWAN and BOREAS for refit.
Taken in hand by HM Dockyard, Gibraltar.
September
On completion retained at Gibraltar for Atlantic convoy escort.
October
Convoy defence duties with Flotilla at
Gibraltar in continuation.
to
December.
1 9 4 2
January
Gibraltar deployment in continuation.
February
9th
Deployed with HM Destroyers BOREAS, VIDETTE,
WISHART,
WILD SWAN, BRADFORD, HM Sloops ROCHESTER,
WESTON.
FOLKESTONE, SCARBOROUGH and WELLINGTON as escort for
Convoy SL100 during Atlantic passage to
Freetown.
March
Deployed at Freetown for Atlantic convoy
escort.
to
April
May
3rd
Joined military convoy WS18 with HM Cruiser
FROBISHER, HM Destroyer BOREAS and
Dutch destroyer VAN GALEN on departure from
Freetown as Local Escort.
(Note: Ocean Escort included HM Cruiser
GAMBIA, HM Seaplane
Carrier ALBATROSS and HM Destroyer TETCOTT.)
4th
Detached from WS18 with HMS BOREAS and
returned to Freetown.
June
30th
Joined military convoy WS20 with HM
Destroyers BOREAS and
VELOX to reinforce HM Destroyers BLACKMORE,
BRILLIANT
and VIMY as Local Escort during inward
passage to Freetown off
West Africa.
(Note: For details of U-Boat deployments off
West Africa see
HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR and U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC).
July
2nd
Detached from WS20 with Local Escort on
arrival.
August
Freetown Atlantic and coastal convoy escort
in continuation.
to
September
October
Transferred to Gibraltar for escort of military convoys prior to
planned allied landings in North Africa.
November
Deployed for escort of military convoys in
Western Mediterranean.
10th
During escort of Convoy TE3 off Oran with HM
Destroyers VERITY
WESTCOTT, HM Corvettes STARWORT and LOTUS
took part in
in concentrated depth charge attacks on U660
which attacked convoy
(Note: Sinking credited to HMS LOTUS and HMS
STARWORT.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and HITLER’S
U-BOAT WAR.)
December
Gibraltar duties in continuation.
1 9 4 3
January
Deployment for Atlantic and western Mediterranean convoy
escort based at Gibraltar in continuation.
February
22nd
During rescue of survivors from Canadian
corvette HMCS
WEYBURN sustained major structural damage
either from a mine
or explosion of depth charges when the
stricken ship sank.
(Note: HMCS WEYBURN had detonated a mine
laid by U118
in the approach to Gibraltar on 1st
February. This minefield
had already claimed several victims.
See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR Volume 2.)
March
Passage under tow to UK for repair.
April
Paid-off at Plymouth and taken in hand by HM
Dockyard,
Devonport for repair and refit.
May
Under repair.
to
(Note: Work included extensive repair to her
propulsion
December
machinery which had been lifted from its
mountings
by the explosion.
Replacement of A gun by a twin 6pdr army gun
for
use against E-Boats
1 9 4 4
January
Under repair and refit.
to
August
September
Post refit trials and recommissioned for
service in Nore Command
with the Harwich Escort Force.
October
Deployed at Harwich for nightly anti-E-Boat
patrols for protection
of East Coast convoys
November
Transferred to Rosyth for service with
Rosyth Escort Force to
to
escort of East Coast convoys during North
December
Sea passage to and from Thames estuary.
(For details of this period see SEAGULLS IN
MY BELFRY by C C
Anderson, who was in command of the ship.)
1 9 4 5
January
Sustained structural damage during convoy
escort in Force 12
Gale conditions and taken in hand for repair
by HM Dockyard,
Rosyth.
February
Resumed convoy escort duties on completion
of repair.
March
Deployed as escort for Convoy FS56.
14th
During escort of south bound convoy off
Newcastle carried
out search for submarine which had carried
out an attack on the
ships under escort and hit a Norwegian
mercantile which later sank.
Joined by HM South African Frigate NATAL
which was on
passage from Newcastle to Scapa Flow after
her acceptance
from the builder. This new frigate then
carried out a SQUID
Anti-submarine mortar attack after detecting
a submarine and
some oil and wreckage came to the surface.
SANS
NATAL
the detached and continued passage.
(Note: In view of the inconclusive evidence
available the hunt was
continued for some hours with depth charge
attacks which
produced significant further quantities of
fuel oil. Left the area
when other warships arrived from Rosyth to
continue hunt.
This submarine was later identified as U714
and her sinking in
position 55.57N 01.57W was credited to SANS
NATAL. This
decision is at variance with contemporary
reports rendered by
HMS WIVERN and with signals exchanged with
shore authorities.
The position in which the sunken submarine
was found is different
from the original attack on FS56 which
suggests U714 was only
damaged by the SQUID Mortar bombs from SANS
NATAL.
There were no survivors from U714. See
SEAGULLS IN MY BELFRY
by C C Anderson.)
April
East Coast convoy escort in continuation.
May
After VE Day deployed for support of
re-occupation of Norway
to
and transport of allied personnel. See above
reference.
June
Nominated for reduction to Reserve status.
July
Paid-off and destored.
to
Laid-up at Rosyth.
August
P o s
t W a r
N o t e s
HMS
WIVERN
was placed on the Disposal List and sold to
Metal Industries for demolition on
18th
February
1947.
The ship was towed to the Breaker’s Yard at
Charlestown near Rosyth
during October 1948.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS
WIVERN
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
17/10/39
|
17/10/39
|
OA
021
|
22/10/39
|
22/10/39
|
|
07/10/39
|
25/10/39
|
SL
004
|
26/10/39
|
26/10/39
|
|
27/10/39
|
27/10/39
|
OA
026
|
02/11/39
|
02/11/39
|
|
08/11/39
|
08/11/39
|
OA
032G
|
10/11/39
|
11/11/39
|
|
03/12/39
|
04/12/39
|
OA
046
|
05/12/39
|
unknown
|
|
04/12/39
|
05/12/39
|
OA
047
|
07/12/39
|
08/12/39
|
|
11/12/39
|
13/12/39
|
OA
051
|
14/12/39
|
14/12/39
|
|
03/12/39
|
14/12/39
|
SL
011F
|
15/12/39
|
15/12/39
|
|
19/12/39
|
19/12/39
|
OA
056
|
21/12/39
|
unknown
|
|
28/12/39
|
28/12/39
|
OG
012
|
29/12/39
|
04/01/40
|
|
03/01/40
|
03/01/40
|
OA
065G
|
05/01/40
|
07/01/40
|
|
09/01/40
|
11/01/40
|
OA
069
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
|
17/01/40
|
17/01/40
|
OA
074
|
19/01/40
|
20/01/40
|
|
13/08/41
|
22/08/41
|
OG
071
|
23/08/41
|
23/08/41
|
|
26/01/42
|
30/01/42
|
CARNIVAL
|
04/02/42
|
04/02/42
|
|
14/03/42
|
14/03/42
|
SL
103
|
19/03/42
|
02/04/42
|
|
04/03/42
|
19/03/42
|
OS
021
|
24/03/42
|
24/03/42
|
|
03/05/42
|
05/05/42
|
LS
004
|
08/05/42
|
08/05/42
|
|
12/05/42
|
27/05/42
|
OS
028
|
31/05/42
|
30/05/42
|
|
25/06/42
|
25/06/42
|
SL
114
|
29/06/42
|
17/07/42
|
|
29/08/42
|
16/09/42
|
OS
039
|
18/09/42
|
18/09/42
|
|
18/09/42
|
27/09/42
|
CF
005A
|
29/09/42
|
29/09/42
|
|
30/09/42
|
30/09/42
|
CF
005B
|
unknown
|
14/10/42
|
|
09/10/42
|
09/10/42
|
ST
038
|
14/10/42
|
14/10/42
|
|
26/10/42
|
04/11/42
|
KMF
001
|
06/11/42
|
08/11/42
|
|
01/11/42
|
11/11/42
|
KMF
002
|
12/11/42
|
12/11/42
|
|
14/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
MKS
001A
|
16/11/42
|
16/11/42
|
|
08/11/42
|
22/11/42
|
KMS
003G
|
26/11/42
|
26/11/42
|
|
01/12/42
|
01/12/42
|
ET
003
|
04/12/42
|
04/12/42
|
|
11/12/42
|
23/12/42
|
KMS
005G
|
unknown
|
27/12/42
|
|
27/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
ET
007
|
28/12/42
|
31/12/42
|
|
10/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
TMF
002
|
24/01/43
|
24/01/43
|
|
06/02/43
|
16/02/43
|
KMS
009G
|
18/02/43
|
20/02/43
|
|
17/02/43
|
19/02/43
|
MKS
008
|
22/02/43
|
01/03/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
