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
|
|
|
|
|
Date convoy
sailed |
Joined convoy
as escort |
Convoy No. |
Left convoy |
Date convoy
arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
11/03/40
|
11/03/40
|
OA 108GF
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40 |
14/03/40
|
unknown
|
OG 022F
|
19/03/40
|
19/03/40 |
18/03/40
|
23/03/40
|
OG 022
|
24/03/40
|
24/03/40 |
25/03/40
|
25/03/40
|
HG 024F
|
unknown
|
03/04/40 |
13/04/40
|
13/04/40
|
HG 026
|
unknown
|
23/04/40 |
16/06/40
|
16/06/40
|
HG 034
|
18/06/40
|
26/06/40 |
13/06/40
|
18/06/40
|
OG 033
|
19/06/40
|
19/06/40 |
20/08/40
|
20/08/40
|
HG 042
|
22/08/40
|
03/09/40 |
11/10/40
|
22/10/40
|
OG 044
|
24/10/40
|
24/10/40 |
03/03/41
|
03/03/41
|
HG 055
|
06/03/41
|
22/03/41 |
24/03/41
|
24/03/41
|
HG 057
|
27/03/41
|
11/04/41 |
06/05/41
|
06/05/41
|
TIGER |
07/05/41
|
12/05/41 |
25/05/41
|
07/06/41
|
OG 063
|
07/06/41
|
07/06/41 |
04/06/41
|
17/06/41
|
OG 064
|
18/06/41
|
18/06/41 |
13/07/41
|
15/07/41
|
SL 081
|
23/07/41
|
08/08/41 |
14/07/41
|
31/07/41
|
OB 346
|
01/08/41
|
01/08/41 |
05/10/41
|
06/10/41
|
SL 089
|
06/10/41
|
26/10/41 |
27/10/41
|
27/10/41
|
SL 091
|
08/11/41
|
08/11/41 |
08/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
SL 091G1
|
12/11/41
|
12/11/41 |
12/11/41
|
12/11/41
|
SL 091GS
|
14/11/41
|
19/11/41 |
05/04/42
|
06/04/42
|
HG 081
|
unknown
|
15/04/42 |
21/05/42
|
22/05/42
|
HG 083
|
24/05/42
|
07/06/42 |
12/06/42
|
12/06/42
|
HARPOON
|
16/06/42
|
16/06/42 |
22/10/42
|
22/10/42
|
KX 004A
|
04/11/42
|
04/11/42 |
26/10/42
|
06/11/42
|
KMF 001
|
08/11/42
|
08/11/42 |
14/11/42
|
14/11/42
|
MKF 001Y
|
unknown
|
20/11/42 |
01/07/43
|
01/07/43
|
KMF 019
|
11/07/43
|
11/07/43 |
10/07/43
|
14/07/43
|
MKF 018
|
23/07/43
|
23/07/43 |
19/08/43
|
01/09/43
|
MKF 022
|
09/09/43
|
09/09/43 |
03/10/43
|
03/10/43
|
UA 003
|
09/10/43
|
09/10/43 |
24/10/43
|
30/10/43
|
SL 138MK
|
01/11/43
|
05/11/43 |
20/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
JW 055B
|
29/12/43
|
30/12/43 |
31/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
RA 055B
|
08/01/44
|
08/01/44 |
22/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
JW 056B
|
26/01/44
|
01/02/44 |
03/02/44
|
09/02/44
|
RA 056
|
11/02/44
|
11/02/44 |
03/03/44
|
09/03/44
|
SL 150MK
|
09/03/44
|
14/03/44 |
27/03/44
|
27/03/44
|
JW 058
|
04/04/44
|
04/04/44 |
07/04/44
|
07/04/44
|
RA 058
|
12/04/44
|
14/04/44 |
28/04/44
|
28/04/44
|
RA 059
|
06/05/44
|
06/05/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)