Admiralty W Class destroyer ordered from Swan Hunter of Wallsend, Newcastle with the 10th order of the 1916-17 Programme on 9th December 1916 and laid down in July 1917. The ship was launched on 25th February 1918 as the 1st RN ship to carry the name. Build was completed on 15th May 1918. She was deployed with the 5th Destroyer Flotilla in the Atlantic Fleet in 1921 The Flotilla roved to the Mediterranean in 1925 but returned to UK when new destroyers were commissioned in the early 1930's. Placed in Reserve the ship was brought forward for service at Portsmouth as tender to HMS VERNON, the Torpedo School, where she served between 1938 and 1939. She took up her war station at Gibraltar in August 1939 and was deployed for convoy defence with the 13th Destroyer Flotilla. In December 1941, following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign this destroyer was adopted by the civil community of Hyde, then in Cheshire, but now part of Tameside Metropolitan Borough, Greater Manchester.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

MEDITERRANEAN 1940-42 - ATLANTIC 1940-43 - MALTA CONVOYS 1942 - NORTH AFRICA 1943 - SICILY   1943 - ARCTIC 1943-44 - NORMANDY  1944 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1944

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Black, Hercules wrestling with a lion, Gold.

 

M o t t o

Nitendo vincimus:  'By doing our utmost we win'

 

 

De 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 at Gibraltar with 13th Destroyer Flotilla.

                3rd          Escorted Convoy AB1 as Local Escort with H M Destroyers WATCHMAN, DOUGLAS and

                                WISHART.

                                (Note: Ocean Escort was by HM Cruisers DESPATCH and DAUNTLESS.)

 

October                  Atlantic convoy escort duty based at Gibraltar with 13th Destroyer Flotilla.

to

December

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Gibraltar deployment in continuation.

 

to

May

 

June                        After outbreak of war with Italy and formation of Force H at Gibraltar. Flotilla was detached

                                for service with Force H for screening duties as required.

                                (For details of operations in Mediterranean after June 1940 see THE BATTLE FOR THE

                                MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre).

                                Atlantic Convoy defence, Local Escort and Straits patrol in continuation.

 

July

                3rd          Part, of Force H for attack on French Fleet at Mers-el-Kebir. (Operation CATAPULT).

                                Detached to the east of port to intercept any ship which escaped from Oran.

                                Under fire from French battleship STRASBOURG and shore batteries.

                8th          Deployed with H M Destroyers FAULKNOR, FOXHOUND, FEARLESS, FORESTER,

                                ESCORT, ACTIVE, VELOX and VORTIGERN as screen for HM Battlecruiser HOOD,

                                HM Battleships VALIANT, RESOLUTION, HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL, HM Cruisers

                                ARETHUSA and DELHI for air attacks on Cagliari (Operation MA5).

                                (Note: This operation was abandoned after detection by aircraft)

 

August                  Resumed local convoy defence and patrol duties at Gibraltar on release from CATAPULT.

to

September

 

October                  Gibraltar deployment with Flotilla in continuation.

                18th        Took part in sinking of Italian submarine DURBO off Gibraltar with HM Destroyer

                                FIREDRAKE

                                Boarding party retrieved cypher documentation before submarine sank.

 

November              Gibraltar deployment for convoy defence and patrol in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Gibraltar deployment in continuation.

to

April

 

May

                5th          Joined Force B with HM Destroyer VELOX of Flotilla as part of screen for HMS ARK ROYAL,

                                HMS RENOWN and HMS SHEFFIELD to provide cover for passage of military convoy taking

                                tanks to Middle East (Operation TIGER).

                                (Note: Cover was provided to the Sicilian Channel.

                                See above reference and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C. Bamett.)

                12th        Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS for part of passage from Gibraltar to UK.

                19th        Attached to Force H as screen for HM Cruiser LONDON with HM Destroyers FEARLESS,

                                HAVELOCK and HARVESTER during initial stage of aircraft delivery to Malta by HMS ARK

                                ROYAL and HMS FURIOUS (Operation SPLICE).

                22nd       Resumed Flotilla duties on release from SPLICE.

                30th        Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY and HM Corvette FLEUR-

                                DE-LYS for Local Escort of convoy.

 

June                        Local convoy defence and patrol at Gibraltar in continuation.

 

July                         Transferred to Freetown for convoy defence duties

 

August                  Deployed at Freetown.

                14th        Joined military convoy WS10 during passage in Atlantic with H M Destroyer VELOX and

                                HM Corvette BERGAMOT for Local Escort.

                17th        Detached from V610 with HM Destroyer VELOX, HM Corvettes BERGAMOT and

                                CYCLAMEN on arrival at Freetown.

                27th        Joined military convoy WS10X on passage to Freetown with HM Destroyer BRILLIANT,

                                HM Corvettes CLEMATIS and CROCUS for Local Escort.

                28th        Detached from WS10X with same ships and HM Destroyer BRILLIANT which had joined

                                later.

                                (Note: WS10X sailed from Freetown on 1st September escorted by 4 Corvettes.

 

September

                13th        Deployed as Local Escort for Fast Section of military convoy WS11 «with HMS VELOX and

                                HM Corvette STARWORT, arriving at Freetown same day.

                18th        Joined re-assembled full Convoy WS11X for Local Escort on sailing from Freetown with

                                HM Destroyers VELOX, ENCOUNTER and HM Sloop SUTLEJ (RIN)

                                (Note: HM Battlecruiser REPULSE and HM Armed Merchant Cruiser DERBYSHIRE were

                                deployed as Ocean Escort for WS11 during passage to Cape Town.

                20th        Detached from WS11 with HMS WRESTLER and returned to Freetown.

 

October                  Freetown convoy defence duties in continuation.

                11th        Joined military convoy WS12 with HM Destroyer VELOX on passage to Freetown for

                                Local Escort

                14th        Detached from WS12 with HMS VELOX on arrival at Freetown.

                19th        Provided Local Escort for WS12 with HMS VELOX and 3 Corvettes.

                                (Note: Ocean Escort was provided by HM Cruisers DORSETSHIRE and DEVONSHIRE.)

                22nd       Detached from WS12 with Local Escort and returned to Freetown.

 

November              Freetown deployment in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Freetown deployment in continuation.

to                            Transferred for service in Mediterranean and took passage to Gibraltar.

March

 

April                       Returned to Gibraltar for Flotilla duties.

                                Attached to Force H.

                19th        Deployed with HM Destroyers WISHART, WESTCOTT, VIDETTE and ANTELOPE of

                                Flotilla to supplement screen for HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Cruisers CAIRO and

                                CHARYBDIS during Malta aircraft delivery by US Aircraft Carrier WASP

                                (Operation CALENDAR - Other escorts were US destroyers USS LANG and USS MADISON,

                                with HM Destroyers INGLEFIELD, ITHURIEL, ECHO and PARTRIDGE from Home Fleet).

                                Resumed Flotilla duties on release from CALENDAR.

 

May                        Local Flotilla duties in continuation.

                2nd         After aircraft of 202 Squadron sighted U?4 on surface took part in depth charge attacks with

                                HM Destroyer WISHART and sank the submarine in position south of Cartagena in position

                                37-16N 01.00W.

                                There were no survivors from U74.

                8th          Deployed with Force H and joined Force W.

                                Part of screen for HMS RENOWN, HMS EAGLE and US aircraft carrier WASP with HM

                                Destroyers VIDETTE, PARTRIDGE, ITHURIEL, WESTCOTT, WISHART and ANTELOPE

                                for Malta aircraft delivery (Operation BOWERY).

                                (Note: Home Fleet destroyers also deployed were HM Destroyers GEORGETOWN, ECHO,

                                INTREPID, SALISBURY, US destroyers USS LANG and STERETT).

                10th        Resumed Local duties on release from BOWERY

                17th        Attached to Force H with H M Destroyers PARTRIDGE, ITHURIEL, ANTELOPE,

                                WISHART, WESTCOTT and VIDETTE as screen for HMS CHARYBDIS, HM Aircraft

                                Carriers EAGLE and ARGUS for Malta aircraft delivery (Operation LB)

.               21st         Resumed Local duties with Flotilla.

 

June                        Local duties at Gibraltar In continuation.

                8th          Deployed with Force H.

                                Deployed with HM Destroyers PARTRIDGE, ITHURIEL, ANTELOPE, WISHART and

                                WESTCOTT of Flotilla as escort for HMS EAGLE, HM Cruisers CAIRO and CHARYBDIS

                                for delivery to Malta of SPITFIRE aircraft (Operation SALIENT).

                10th        On return remained with Force H.

                                Joined Force W as screen for HM Battleship MALAYA, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS

                                FURIOUS, HM Cruisers KENYA, LIVERPOOL and CHARYBDIS with HM Destroyers

                                VIDETTE, WISHART, ANTELOPE, ICARUS, ESCAPADE and ONSLOW, providing

                                cover and escort for passage of Malta relief convoy (Operation HARPOON).

                                (See above references and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett).

                18th        On release from HARPOON resumed Local duties with Flotilla.

 

July                         Local duties with Flotilla In continuation.

                14th        Attached to Force H.

                15th        Joined HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM Cruisers CHARYBDIS and CAIRO as screen with HM

                                Destroyers WESTCOTT, ANTELOPE, VANSITTART and ITHURIEL during Malta aircraft

                                delivery (Operation PINPOINT).

                19th        Resumed Local duties with Flotilla.

 

August                  Local Flotilla duties in continuation.

                9th          Attached to Force H.

                10th        Deployed with HMS WESTCOTT and HMS VIDETTE as escort for HM Cruiser CAIRO to

                                provide cover for passage of Malta convoy (Operational PEDESTAL).

                                (See above references, MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman and PEDESTAL by P. Smith).

                11th        Detached to cover return passage of HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS to Gibraltar after Malta

                                aircraft delivery with HM Destroyers KEPPEL. WOLVERINE and VENOMOUS.

                                (Operation BELLOWS).

                18th        Resumed Local duties with Flotilla after release from PEDESTAL

 

September             Deployed at Gibraltar for convoy defence.

 

October                  Deployed at Gibraltar for escort of military convoys from UK prior to the allied landings in North

                                Africa

                                (Operation TORCH – For details see Naval Staff History and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by

                                J de Winser.)

 

November              TORCH convoy escort In continuation.

                15th        Sank U98 by depth charge attack west of Gibraltar in position 36.09N 07.42 W.

                                There were no survivors from the submarine.

                                (Note: Participation in sinking of U411 is not supported by details in U BOATS DESTROYED

                                by P Kemp which is now said to be result of an air attack).

 

December              Nominated for refit in UK and took passage to Sheerness.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Taken in hand by HM Dockyard, Sheerness for conversion to Long Range Escort.

to                            See General Information and V&W DESTROYERS by A Preston).

April                       (Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to L10).

 

May                        Carried out post refit harbour and sea trials.

                                Nominated for support of allied landings in Sicily (Operation HUSKY).

 

June                        Worked-up for operational service.

                                Passage to Mediterranean with escort to military convoy for HUSKY.

 

July                         Deployed with Support Force East for escort duty.

                                (For details of HUSKY operation see Naval Staff History and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS

                                by J de Winser.).

                8th          Passage to beachhead area as part of escort for assault convoy.

                                On release from HUSKY resumed Gibraltar deployment

 

August                  Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence.

                17th        Joined Ocean Escort for Joint Convoy KMF22 and military convoy WS33 for passage to

                                Gibraltar with H M Escort Carrier HUNTER, HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE, HM Sloops

                                WESTON, CHANTICLEER, NARBADA (RIN), HM Cutter TOTLAND, HM Frigates

                                BARLE, ETTRICK and USK.

 

August

                24th        Detached with other ships of Escort on arrival at Gibraltar of joint convoy.

                                (Note: This was the last WS series convoy.)

                                Nominated for return to UK for service in Western Approaches Command with 8th Escort Group.

 

September             Joined HM Escort Aircraft Carrier FENCER, HM Destroyers INCONSTANT, WESTCOTT and

                                WHITEHALL in Group for Atlantic convoy escort and support.

                                (For details of Atlantic convoy defence see THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by Donald

                                Maclntyre, SEEK and STRIKE by William Hackmam and BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS

                                by J Terraine).

                                (Note: This Group also provided support for convoys under threat of submarine attacks.

                                Nominated for escort of military convoy to Azores

                                (Operation ALACRITY - Establishment of allied aircraft base for convoy defence).

                30th        Deployed as escort for ALACRITY convoy.

 

October

                8th          On release of Group from ALACRITY resumed deployment for defence of commercial

                                traffic.

 

November              Atlantic deployment with Group in continuation.

 

December              Nominated with HMS WHITEHALL for detached duty with HM Destroyer WHITEHALL,

                                HM Minesweeper GLEANER, HM Corvettes HONEYSUCKLE and OXLIP.

                22nd       Joined Russian Convoy JW55B as Ocean Escort with HM GLEANER, HM Corvettes

                                HONEYSUCKLE and OXLIP

                                (Note: This convoy came under threat from the German was brought to action by ships of the

                                Home Fleet, resulting in the Battle of North Cape during which the German ship

                                was sunk.,

                                For details of defence of all Russian convoys see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by A Ruegg,,

                                ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman, CONVOY ! by P Kemp. CONVOYS TO RUSSIA

                                by B Schoefield).

                31st         Detached from JW55B and joined Ocean Escort for returning Convoy RA55B from

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Escort of Convoy RA59B in continuation.

                7th          Detached from RA55B on transfer to Local Escort for passage to Loch Ewe.

                22nd       Deployed for Local Escort of outward Convoy JW56B with HMS HONEYSUCKLE and

                                HM Minesweepers HYDRA and ONYX.

                26th        Detached on arrival of Ocean Escort and returned to Scapa Flow.

 

February

                9th          Joined returning Russian Convoy RA56 with HM Corvettes BORAGE, HONEYSUCKLE,

                                WALLFLOWER, HM Minesweepers COCKATRICE, .LOYALTY, .RATTLER and

                                READY as Western Local Escort to Loch Ewe.

                11th        Detached on arrival of RA56 at Loch Ewe.

 

March                    Home Fleet deployment in continuation.

                27th        Joined Russian Convoy JW58 as Close A/S Escort with H M Destroyers WESTCOTT,

                                WHITEHALL, HM Corvettes BLUEBELL, HONEYSUCKLE and LOTUS.

 

April

                4th          Detached from JW58 on arrival at Kola Inlet

 .              7th          Joined HM Destroyers BEAGLE, BOADICEA, INCONSTANT, WHITEHALL and HM

                                Escort Aircraft Carrier ACTIVITY as Ocean Escort for return Convoy RA58 from Kola

                                Inlet.

                12th        Detached from RA58 with same ships.

                20th        Independent passage to Kola Inlet to collect personnel and escort mercantiles.

                                (Note: Other Hems Fleet ships deployed were: -HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Escort

                                Carriers ACTIVITY and BOADICEA, INCONSTANT, KEPPEL, MARNE,

                                MATCHLESS, METEOR, MILNE, MUSKETEER, ULYSSES, VERULAM,

                                VIRAGO, WESTCOTT and WHITEHALL).

                28th        Embarked 14 USN personnel and escorted returning Convoy RA59 from Kola Inlet.

 

May

                6th          Detached from RA59 on arrival.

                                Transferred to Channel for escort duty in Force J during planned allied landings in

                                Normandy

                                (Operation NEPTUNE - For details of naval activities prior to and during NEPTUNE

                                See OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards, LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944

                                (HMSO) and D DAY SHIPS by J de Winser.)

                                Took part in Force J preparatory exercises prior to assault.

 

June                        Deployed in Solent

                                Allocated to Escort Group 123 with HM Corvette PINK and a Motor Launch..

                4th          Operation postponed 24 hours.

                5th          Joined Convoy J7 with HMS PINK.

                                (Note: Convoy comprised 15 Landing Ships (Tank) taking Self Propelled artillery

                6th          During passage through swept channel deployed in rounding-up stragglers and also to

                                ensure ships kept within safe water.

                                (Note: This risk was accepted in view of the importance of safe arrival of assault

                                convoys.

                                However this hazard resulted in ship being mined a cable to the west of Channel No 7

                                in position 49.36N 00.15W, 20 miles NW of Le Havre.

                                Sustained major damage.

                                Taken in tow to Portsmouth.

 

July                         Survey of ship carried out ship was judged to be beyond economic repair.

 

August                  Placed on the Disposal List and sold to J Cashmore at Newport, Glamorgan for

                                demolition

                15th        Arrived at breaker’s yard under tow.

 

---

 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS WRESTLER

by Don Kindell

 

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

(Note on Convoys)