A or ACASTA-Class Fleet Destroyer built by Scotts at Greenock under 1927 Programme and ordered on 6th March 1928. She was laid down on 30th July that year and launched on 24th April 1929 as the second ship to carry the name which dates from 1417. This ship commissioned on 14 February 1930. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in February 1942 she was adopted by the civil community of Matlock, Derbyshire.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s 

ARMADA  1588 - DUNKIRK 1940  - BISMARCK action 1941 - DIEGO SUAREZ 1942 - ATLANTIC 1940-44 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1944-45

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Black, the head of St Anthony Proper

with a White owl and halo Gold.

 

M o t t o

Portia in Arduia:   'Brave under difficulties'

 

 

D e t a i ls    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 Portland with 18th Destroyer Flotilla for anti-submarine patrol and convoy defence

                                in English Channel and SW Approaches.

                                (For details of measures taken in defence of convoys after outbreak of war see ENGAGE THE

                                ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C. Barnett and SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.).

 

October                  Channel deployment in continuation.

 

November              Transferred to 23rd Destroyer Flotilla for defence of east coast convoys

 

December              Convoy defence duty in continuation.

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Escorted HM Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN for part of passage to Halifax with HM Destroyers

                                ACHATES and ARROW.

 

February                Deployed on convoy defence in Western Approaches.

 

March                    Transferred to 16th Destroyer Flotilla at Portsmouth.

                                Convoy escort duty in continuation.

 

April

                15th        Under repair at Portsmouth.

 

May

                20th        Rejoined Flotilla on completion of post refit trials.

                26th        Participated in evacuation of troops from Dunkirk (Operation DYNAMO).

                                Carried over 3.000 soldiers during this task.

                30th        Under air attack and sustained damage from near miss.

                31st         Taken in hand for repair at Portsmouth.

 

June

                18th        On completion took passage to Harwich rejoin 16th Flotilla.

                19th        Deployed on convoy defence and patrol duties in North Sea.

 

July                         Carried out anti-invasion patrol until detached for duty with Home Fleet.

 

August                  Deployed with Hone Fleet for anti-submarine defence of major units.

 

September             Transferred to 12th Destroyer Flotilla based at Greenock for convoy defence in NW Approaches.

                27th        Rescued some survivors from ss CITY OF BENARES who had been adrift in an open boat

                                since ship was sunk by a submarine torpedo on 17th September

 

October                  Convoy defence in continuation.

 

November

                18th        Transferred to 4th Escort Group, Western Approaches Command for Atlantic convoy defence

                                based at Greenock.

 

December              Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Atlantic convoy escort with Group In continuation.

 

February                Sustained carnage during air raid on Clyde area.

                13th        Under refit and damage repair in Glasgow.

 

March                    Nominated for duty with Home Fleet.

                                Joined 3rd Destroyer Flotilla on completion of refit.

                                Deployed for anti-submarine defame of Float units.

 

April                       Detached for escort and cover of Northern Barrage minelaying operations in the Denmark Strait

                                and Faeroes-Iceland Gap by ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron.

                                (For details see Naval Staff History (Mining).)

                6th          Covered minelay in Northern Barrage with HM Destroyer COSSACK (Operation SN8).

                24th        Escorted HM Cruisers KENYA and EDINBURGH with HM Destroyer ACHATES for minelay.

                                (Operation SM 71).
 

May                        Home Fleet duties in continuation.

                15th        Deployed with HM Cruisers HERMIONE and KENYA for Ocean Escort of minelayers during

                                minelay in Faeroes Iceland Gap with HM Destroyers ELECTRA and ANTELOPE.

                                (Operation SN9B)

                23rd        Part of escort for HM Battlecruiser HOOD and HM Battleship PRINCE OF WALES during

                                search for German battleship BISMARCK.

                24th        Detached to refuel in Iceland before HMS HOOD was sunk in action.

                                (For details of the search and sinking of BISMARCK see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                                CLOSELY and BATTLESHIP BISMARCK by Mullenheim Rechbeg)

                26th        Escorted HMS PRINCE OF WALES to Iceland after action with BISMARCK.

 

June                        Nominated for further minelaying escort duties.

                10th        Escorted HM Cruiser NIGERIA during cover during minelay in Northern Barrage.

                                (Operation SN64A and SN64B)

 

July                         Deployed with Home Fleet in W Approaches.

                23rd        Part of screen for HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE, SUFFOLK with five other destroyers to cover air

                                attacks on Petsamo and Kirkenes by HM Aircraft Carriers VICTORIOUS and FURIOUS and.

                                passage of HM Minelaying Cruiser ADVENTURE to Murmansk with mines (Operation EF).

                25th        Detached for tow of HM Destroyer ACHATES to Seidisfjord after mine damage.

                                See CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R Woodman.

 

August                  Home Fleet deployment in continuation.

                                Nominated for escort of ships during PLANNED LANDING AT Spitzbergen by Canadian troops..

                3rd          Part of Force K for raid on Spitzbergen (Operation GAUNTLET).

                19th        Deployed with HM Destroyers TARTAR, ICARUS, ANTHONY and ECLIPSE as screen for

                                ss EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA, HM Cruisers AURORA and NIGERIA during passage to

                                Spitzbergen

                                (Note: Mines were destroyed with evacuation of Norwegian and Russian nationals .)

                29th        Joined escort of Russian Convoy PQ1 with HM Destroyer ANTELOPE.

                                (For details of all Russian Convoy operation see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg.

                                CONVOY ! by P Kemp, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield and ARCTIC CONVOYS.

                                by R Woodman.)

 

October

                2nd         Detached from Convoy PQ1 with Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker BLACK RANGER to join

                                returning Convoy QP1 during passage from Archangel.

                4th          Joined Convoy QP1 with RFA BLACK RANGER.

                                Detached from QP1 for special duty to embark Trades Union Congress delegation for

                                passage to Archangel with HM Destroyer NORMAN.

                6th          Embarked passengers and took passage with HMS NORMAN.

                12th        Landed passengers and remained to await return of delegates.

                27th        Took independent passage with passengers from Archangel

 

November

                2nd         Landed passengers at Scapa Flow

                                Passage to Humber for refit.

 

December              Under refit

                                Nominated for duty with 38th Destroyer Division at Gibraltar on completion.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  On completion of post refit trials took passage to join Flotilla at Gibraltar

                                Deployed for Flotilla duties at Gibraltar.

                17th        Joined military convoy WS 15 with HM Destroyer NORMAN.

                18th        Detached from WS 15 and returned to Clyde.

                21st         Deployed for Flotilla duties.

 

February                Deployed for convoy defence based at Gibraltar.

                                Took passage to Clyde

                                (Note: Ship may have been part of escort for routine Gibraltar-UK convoy)

                17th        Joined military Convoy WS16 as screen for HM Battleship MALAYA, HM Aircraft Carrier

                                EAGLE and HM Cruiser HERMIONE with HM Destroyers ACTIVE, BLANKNEY, CROOME,

                                DUNCAN, FIREDRAKE, LAFOREY and LIGHTNING during Atlantic passage from Clyde.

                21st         HM Cruiser NEWCASTLE and HM Destroyer PALADIN joined WS16.

                22nd       Detached from WS 16 with ships nominated for Operation SPOTTER and took passage to

                                Gibraltar.

                24th        At Gibraltar whilst aircraft prepared for flight.

                27th        Sailed for aircraft delivery with HM Destroyers

                                ACTIVE, BLANKNEY, CROOME, DUNCAN, FIREDRAKE, LAFOREY and LIGHTNING as

                                screen for HMS MALAYA and HMS HERMIONE, during aircraft delivery.

                28th        Operation SPOTTER I abandoned after incorrect

                                Long Range Fuel Tanks had been provided for aircraft.

                                (See THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D. MacIntyre and ENGAGE THE

                                ENEMY MORE CLOSELY)

 

March

                6th          Deployed with HM Destroyers LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, ACTIVE, WHITEHALL,

                                WISHART, CROOME, BLANKNEY and EXMOOR as screen for HM Battleship

                                MALAYA and HM Cruiser HERMIONE to provide cover for HM Aircraft Carriers

                                EAGLE and ARGUS during repeat Malta aircraft delivery (Operation SPOTTER II)

                8th          Returned to Gibraltar on completion of SPOTTER II

                20th        Deployed as screen for HMS EAGLE and HMS ARGUS with same ships as SPOTTER

                                and HM Destroyer DUNCAN to cover Malta aircraft deliveries (Operation PICKET I).

                22nd       PICKET I aborted for same reason as SPOTTER I

                27th        Deployed with same ships as PICKET I for repeat Malta aircraft delivery (Operation PICKET II)

                                (Note: PICKET I was cancelled because of incorrect fit of fuel tanks to aircraft.)

                30th        Returned to Gibraltar on completion of PICKET II

                                Nominated for detached duty with Force H ships to support the planned landings at Diego

                                Suarez, Madagascar as Force 121 (Operation IRONCLAD).

                                (For details see RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                                CLOSELY and Naval Staff History).

                                Took passage from Gibraltar with HM Destroyers ACTIVE, WILD SWAN, HM Corvette

                                HYDRANGEA and Free French COMMANDANTE DETROYAT to join escort for military

                                Convoy WS17 on passage in Atlantic from Clyde to Freetown.

 

April

                1st           Joined WS17.

                6th          Detached from WS17 with escort on arrival at Freetown

                9th          Sailed from Freetown as part of Ocean Escort for WS17A during passage to Durban.

                                (Note: Other ships in Ocean Escort included HM Battleship MALAYA. HM Cruiser

                                HERMIONE, HM Destroyers ACTIVE, INCONSTANT, JAVELIN, LAFOREY,

                                LOOKOUT, LIGHTNING and PAKENHAM.)

 

May                        Prepared for landing operations at Diego Suarez and embarked Royal Marines.

                4th          Passage to Diego Suarez with HM Cruiser DAUNTLESS

                5th          Landed Royal Marines for successful diversionary landing at Antsirane.

                                (Note: Cheered by assembled ships on return.)

                                For details see above references and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).).

                                On completion of operation IRONCLAD remained in Indian Ocean for escort and patrol

                                duty with 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, Eastern Fleet).

 

June                        Indian Ocean trade defence and patrol in continuation.

to

August

 

September

                17th        Escorted damaged battleship HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN with HM Destroyer DUNCAN

                                during passage for repair at Philadelphia.

 

October                  Diverted to New York during passage.

                22nd       Arrived New York and deployed as part of escort for US troop convoy UGF2 during passage

                                to take part in planned allied landings in North Africa (Operation TORCH)

 

November              Detached from UGF2 to refuel in Azores at Punta Delgado.

                                Joined escort for routine Cape - UK convoy CP7.

                                Diverted to escort HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE to Clyde.

                15th        Arrived at Greenock.

                21st         Taken in hand for refit in Thames commercial shipyard.

 

December              Under refit.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Under refit

to                            Nominated for service with 13th Destroyer Flotilla at Gibraltar.

February

 

March                    Carried out Post Refit trials.

                4th          On completion worked up for service in Home waters.

                                Deployed for convoy defence in Western Approaches

 

April                       Nominated for escort of military convoy during passage to Freetown in NW Approaches.

                20th        Joined escort for military Convoy WS29A in Clyde with HM Destroyer LEWES.

                26th        Detached from WS29A and took independent passage to Gibraltar to join Flotilla.

 

May                        Deployed with Flotilla for escort and patrol duties in western Mediterranean and Atlantic.

to June

 

July                         Deployed as part of Escort Group 5 for escort of military convoys on passage in Mediterranean

                                for planned allied landing in Sicily.

                                (Operation HUSKY - See Naval Staff History).

                7th          Passage from Bone to join escort for military Convoy KMF18 during passage to landing area.

                9th          Detached from KMF18

                10th        Deployed for anti-submarine patrol off beach head,

 

August                  On release from HUSKY deployed at Gibraltar for convoy escort and patrol.

to

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Gibraltar deployment in continuation.

 

February

                24th        Took part in sinking of U761 with HMS WISHART, aircraft from 202 Squadron RAF, and US

                                Navy CATALINA aircraft west of Straits of Gibraltar at position 35.55N 5.45W.

                                (Note: Aircraft had detected submarine using Magnetic Anomaly Detection equipment and made

                                rocket attacks which caused a fuel leak. See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and

                                U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.

                                49 survivors were rescued one of whom died later in hospital at Gibraltar.)

 

March                    Convoy defence in western Mediterranean in continuation

to

August

 

September             Transferred to Homer waters for defence of convoys in English Channel and SW Approaches.

                                (Note: The increased threat of SCHNORKEL fitted U-Boats had made necessary an increase

                                in number of escorts required.

                                Enemy submarines were concentrating their attacks in focal assembly points and on coastal

                                shipping. See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, SEEK AND STRIKE and HOLD

                                THE NARROW SEAS by P Smith.)

 

October                  Deployed for defence of coastal convoys.

to

November

 

December

                24th        During escort duty with HM Destroyer BRILLIANT came under attack by U86 which sank the

                                Belgian troopship LEOPOLDVILLE.

                                819 personnel lost their lives.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Coastal convoy escort and patrol in Channel area in continuation.

to                            Nominated for service as an Air Target Ship after modification to suit new role.

February

 

March                    Withdrawn from operational service.

                13th        Taken In hand for conversion to Air Target

 

April                       Under Conversion

to                            Allocated for Target Ship duties in NW Approaches and Irish Sea

May                        (Note: Air Target Ships were used for training of aircrew in warship recognition and to

                                exercise procedures needed for attacks.

 

June

                6th          Took up station for duty on completion of conversion.

 

July                         Air Target Ship duties in continuation.

to

August

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS ANTHONY continued these duties for training of aircrew until January 1946. She was placed in Reserve on 27th March 1946 and put on the Disposal List. However in September that year sale was deferred and she was used  for Damage Control trials until February 1948. Sold to BISCO for breaking up by West of Scotland Shipbreakers on 21st February she arrived at the breaker’s yard at Troon, Ayrshire during May.

 

---

 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS ANTHONY

by Don Kindell

 

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

(Note on Convoys)