September
Deployed at Portland with 18th
Destroyer Flotilla for
Anti-submarine patrol and convoy
defence duties.
(See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by C. Barnett).
October
Convoy defence in continuation.
24th
Taken in hand for repair of
turbine defects in HM Dockyard,
Devonport.
November
Under repair.
to
December
1 9 4
0
January
Nominated for duty at Portsmouth
with 16th Destroyer Flotilla.
10th
Completed post refit trials and
joined Flotilla.
11th
Detached to escort HM Battleship
ROYAL SOVEREIGN with HM Destroyers
ACHATES
and ANTHONY for part of passage to
Halifax for Atlantic convoy
defence.
30th
Returned to Devonport for
machinery repair
February
Under repair.
March
10th
On completion continued convoy
defence in Channel and Western
Approaches.
April
Transferred to 12th Destroyer Home
Fleet for support of military
operations after landings
of allied troops in Norway following German invasion (Operation RUPERT/R4)
Took passage to Rosyth to embark
reinforcement troops and stores to
Norway (Operation SICKLE)
16th
Embarked troops and stores for
passage to Namsos.
17th
Sailed from Rosyth with HM
Destroyer ACHERON.
19th
Landed troops and stores at
Andalsnes.
(Note: Planned disembarkation was
altered.)
Returned to Rosyth on completion.
24th
Sailed from Rosyth with HM
Cruisers BIRMINGHAM, YORK, HM
Destroyers ACHERON and
GRIFFIN with troops and stores for
passage to Andalsnes
25th
Landed troops and stores.
26th
Sailed from Molde with HM Cruisers
BIRMINGHAM, MANCHESTER and HMS ACHERON
engaged enemy trawlers disguised
as Dutch and believed deployed in
advance of transports
bringing reinforcements.
Engaged German trawler SCHELSWIG
(SCHIFF 37) off Andalsnes.
During this action ship was rammed
by HMS BIRMINGHAM and sustained
serious structural
damage.
(See Addenda)
Withdrawn from operational service
and took passage to UK for repair
escorted by HMS
ACHERON.
(For details of the disastrous
Norwegian campaign see NARVIK by
D. MacIntyre,
CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton,
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by C Barnett and THE DOOMED
EXPEDITION by Adams.)
27th
Passage to UK for repair escorted
by HM Destroyer ACHERON.
29th
Taken in hand for repair by
commercial shipyard at
Middlesbrough
May
13th
On completion of post repair
trials took passage to resume Home
Fleet duties
14th
Joined Norwegian operations.
Rescued 80 survivors from
Norwegian ships sunk by air
attacks whilst on passage
to Faeroes with refugees.
29th
Deployed with HM Destroyers ECHO, FIREDRAKE, HAVELOCK and VANOC
for evacuation of troops from Mo
and Bodo areas.
Troops taken to Harstad for final
evacuation from Norway
June
Deployed in Norway for support of
evacuation.
7th
Escorted Slow Convoy of storeships
from Harstad with HM Sloop STORK
and ten trawlers
for passage to UK
(Operation ALPHABET - For details
of ships in convoy see Naval Staff
History.)
On return released from Home Fleet
detachment and resumed Flotilla
duties.
Nominated for refit and took
passage to Nore.
26th
Taken in hand for refit at
Sheerness
(Note: Changes in armament were
made to improve AA defence
capability)
July
4th
Rejoined 16th Destroyer Flotilla
at Harwich for anti-invasion
patrol and convoy defence off
East coast.
24th
Transferred to Western Approaches
Defence Force based at Greenock.
August
Deployed for convoy defence in NW
Approaches
See THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by
D MacIntyre).
16th
Attacked U-Boat sighted by HM
Armed Merchant Cruiser CHESHIRE
with HMS ACHATES.
27th
Rescued survivors from Greek
steamer.
September
13th
Rescued survivors from Greek ss
POSEIDON).
October
Western Approaches convoy duties
in continuation.
8th
Joined military convoy WS3 (FAST) in Clyde as escort for HM
Cruiser KENYA with HM
Destroyers ACHATES, SABRE and VIMY
d0uring passage in NW Approaches.
12th
Detached from HMS KENYA with same
destroyers and returned to Clyde.
Resumed convoy defence in NW
Approaches for Iceland convoys.
(Note: HMS KENYA remained with WS3
(FAST) as Ocean Escort to
Freetown.
November
13th
Rescued survivors from ss EMPIRE
HIND sunk by air attack in North
Atlantic in position
53N 15W.
14th
Stood by British tanker SAN DEMETRIO off Achill Head and escorted her to
Clyde.
(Note: This ship had been attacked
by German battleship ADMIRAL
HIPPER on 5th November
and the crew had remained on board
to ensure salvage of her valuable
cargo.)
(For details of German raider
operations see ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY).
16th
Arrived in Clyde with ss SAN
DEMETRIO.
17th
Under repair to machinery at
Barclay Curle shipyard on Clyde.
December
Under repair.
1 9 4
1
January
14th
On completion of repair rejoined
Home Fleet
15th
Attached to 3rd Destroyer Flotilla
for anti-submarine defence of
convoys.
February
Deployed In NW Approaches and in
North Sea for escort of Icelandic
convoys from
Aberdeen, Scapa Flow and Clyde.
March
Nominated for escort of military
convoy.
24th
Joined military convoy WS7 in
Clyde with HI Battleship NELSON to
provide escort during
Atlantic passage to Freetown.
April
4th
Detached from WS7 with HMS NELSON
on arrival at Freetown.
Passage to return to Scapa Flow.
(Note: Boiler problems required
attention and refit at Chatham
arranged.
Withdrawn from operational
service.
May
Passage to Sheerness
2nd
Under repair by HM Dockyard,
Chatham.
Boilers re-tubed
June
On completion rejoined Home Fleet.
21st
During passage to Scapa Flow detonated mine off Flamborough Head.
Steamed to Middlesbrough on one
boiler for repair of damage.
22nd
Taken in hand for repair by Smiths
Dock, Middlesbrough.
July
Under repair.
to
Nominated for foreign service.
October
(Note: Extensive repair required
to repair machinery mountings and
replace bulkheads.) required
November
20th
Carried out post repair trials
prepared for service in Eastern
Mediterranean.
December
18th
Took passage to Gibraltar with HM Destroyers GURKHA, ZULU, NESTOR and FOXHOUND
as screen for HM Cruiser DIDO
during passage to Gibraltar.
21st
Arrived at Gibraltar.
22nd
Sailed for Malta with same ships.
24th
Arrived at Malta.
26th
Joined HM Cruiser AJAX, HM
Destroyers LIVELY and LANCE with
same ships as escort for
Convoy ME8 during passage to
Alexandria (Operation MF1)
29th
Arrived at Alexandria and joined
Mediterranean Fleet with HMS DIDO,
HM Destroyers
GURKHA, ZULU, NESTOR and FOXHOUND.
(Note: For details see MALTA
CONVOYS by Richard Woodman)
1 9 4
2
January
Deployed at Alexandria
12th
Torpedo attack by submarine
failed.
Unsuccessful search with HERO.
24th
Part of escort for Malta convoy
MF4.
(See THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre, MALTA
CONVOYS by R Woodman and Naval
Staff History (HMSO-2001) for
details of
operations in Eastern
Mediterranean during 1941-42.).
26th
Returned to Alexandria after
BRECONSHIRE escort was transferred
to HM Cruiser PENELOPE,
HM Destroyers LIVELY, LEGION,
MAORI and ZULU of Force K for
passage to Malta.
(Note: HMS KINGSTON joined Force K
for passage to Malta and HMS LANCE
joined Force B.
27th
Return passage to Alexandria with
Force B escorting Convoy ME9 which
had come from Malta
with Force K.
28th
Arrived at Alexandria with ME9
(For details see MALTA CONVOYS by
R Woodman and THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre.)
February
12th
Joined screen for HM Cruisers
NAIAD, DIDO and EURYALUS with HM
Destroyers
GRIFFIN, HASTY, HAVOCK, JAGUAR,
JERVIS, KELVIN and KIPLING to
provide cover
for passage of Convoys MW9 and
MW9A during passage in Eastern
Mediterranean, (Operation
MF5)
13th
Under heavy and sustained air
attacks during which ss CLAN
CAMPBELL was badly damaged
and had to be sent under escort to
Tobruk.
14th
Air attacks continued and ss CLAN
CHATTAN had to be abandoned after
catching fire.
Transferred escort of MW9 to ships
of Force K for onward passage to
Malta.
Took over escort of HMS
BRECONSHIRE and three mercantiles
of Convoy ME10 from
Force K and took passage to
Alexandria.
15th
Arrived at Alexandria with ME10
(Note: HM Destroyers LIVELY, SIKH
and ZULU also returned with escort
for ME10.
For details see references.
This deployment is subject to
confirmation as source references
are at variation.)
March
Transferred to Indian Ocean to
reinforce Eastern Fleet.
Passage to Indian Ocean.
April
4th
Joined Eastern Fleet at Gan and
deployed as screen for HM
Battleships RAMILLIES,
ROYAL SOVEREIGN, RESOLUTION and
REVENGE, H M Aircraft Carrier
HERMES,
HM Cruisers CALEDON, DRAGON and
the Netherlands cruiser JAN VAN
HEEMSKERK
with HM Destroyers FORTUNE,
GRIFFIN, NORMAN, VAMPIRE, DECOY,
SCOUT
and Netherlands destroyer ISAAC
SWEERS as Force B.
6th
Transferred with Force B to
Kilindini after loss of HMS HERMES
and Japanese air attacks
on Ceylon.
(For details of 1942 Indian Ocean
operations see OPERATION PACIFIC
by E Gray, THE
RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute and
WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).).
15th
Deployed for A/S protection of
convoys between Madagascar and
Cape of Good Hope.
May
Indian Ocean convoy defence in
continuation.
20th
Withdrawn from service for refit
following series of defects
affecting availability.
21st
Taken in hand for refit at Durban.
June
Under refit
July
2nd
On completion resumed convoy
defence duty in Indian Ocean.
August
Deployed for convoy escort between
Cape of Good Hope and Madagascar.
September
Nominated for support of final
occupation of Madagascar
(Operation STREAM).
Joined 3rd Destroyer Division of
Force M with HM Destroyers ACTIVE,
BLACKMORE
and INCONSTANT.
9th
Provided escort for Force M ships
and protection during landings at
Majunga.
(See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO), Volume
III).
30th
On release from STREAM transferred
to Freetown, West Africa for
convoy defence in
South Atlantic.
Passage to Freetown.
October
Convoy escort duty based at
Freetown.
8th
Deployed off Capetown with HM
Destroyers ACTIVE and FOXHOUND for
ant-submarine
search operations and rescue of
survivors from sunken mercantiles.
(Note: Deployment made following
significant increase in U-Boat
activities of South Africa.
HMS ACTIVE sank U179 during A/S
operations See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR
by C Blair
and U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp,)
November
Withdrawn from service due to
recurrence of machinery defects.
Passage to UK for refit.
18th
Taken in hand for repair in
commercial shipyard at
Middlesbrough.
December
Under repair.
1 9 4
3
January
Under repair
to
February
March
Carried out post refit trials.
26th
On completion took passage to
Scapa Flow for working up.
April
Worked-up for service with ships
of Home Fleet.
10th
Sustained damage after striking
Boom Defences at Scapa Flow.
11th
Passage to London for repair.
13th
Taken in hand by Green and Silley
Weir at Blackwall.
May
Under repair.
Nominated for duty in
Mediterranean.
30th
On completion took passage to
Scapa Flow to resume work-up
June
3rd
Commenced work-up for service with
13th Destroyer Flotilla at
Gibraltar.
14th
On completion prepared for foreign
service.
21st
Joined HM Destroyers BLANKNEY,
BLENCATHRA, BRECON, BRISSENDEN,
HAMBLEDON, LEDBURY, MENDIP,
VICEROY, WALLACE, WITHERINGTON
and WOOLSTON in Clyde as escort
for joint convoy KMF17 to
Gibraltar and military
convoy WS31 to Middle East and
India.
26th
Detached with ships of KMF 17 when
destroyer escort for WS31 to
Freetown arrived
from Gibraltar.
Escorted ships of KMF17 to
Gibraltar with same destroyers and
joined Flotilla on arrival.
July
Nominated for duty with Support
Force East during planned landings
in Sicily.
(Operation HUSKY - Sea ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval
Staff History).
10th
Participated in Sicily landings
with Support Force.
Deployed for escort of Follow-up
convoys.
August
4th
Whilst at Algiers sat on fire by
explosion in merchant ship ss FORT
LE MONTÉE.
Sustained major damage caused with
many casualties and disabled.
September
Towed to Gibraltar for repair.
18th
Arrived at Gibraltar.
October
Under temporary repair by HM
Dockyard Gibraltar
November
Permanent repair arranged at
Taranto.
19th
Taken under tow to Taranto for
completion of repair.
27th
Arrived at Taranto
December
Under survey to assess extent of
work required.
1 9 4
4
January
Under repair
to.
State of ship found unsatisfactory
and future use under consideration
September
October
17th
Repair work suspended and ship to
be de-equipped
November
Ship being de-equipped.
to
Decenber
1 9 4
5
January
De-equipment completed and ship
left as hulk at Taranto.
to
August
P o
s t W a r
N o t e s
HMS
ARROW retained at Taranto as
a hulk until May 1949 when she was
broken up there.
Addenda
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS
ARROW
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
21/09/39
|
21/09/39
|
MB
006/1
|
23/09/39
|
23/09/39
|
|
27/09/39
|
27/09/39
|
MB
008/1
|
28/09/39
|
28/09/39
|
|
01/10/39
|
01/10/39
|
DB
010
|
02/10/39
|
02/10/39
|
|
11/08/40
|
12/08/40
|
OB
196
|
12/08/40
|
15/08/40
|
|
16/08/40
|
18/08/40
|
OB
199
|
20/08/40
|
20/08/40
|
|
18/08/40
|
21/08/40
|
OB
200
|
22/08/40
|
22/08/40
|
|
26/08/40
|
27/08/40
|
OB
204
|
28/08/40
|
29/08/40
|
|
20/08/40
|
01/09/40
|
HG
042
|
01/09/40
|
03/09/40
|
|
30/08/40
|
02/09/40
|
OB
206
|
04/09/40
|
05/09/40
|
|
04/09/40
|
06/09/40
|
OB
209
|
08/09/40
|
09/09/40
|
|
28/08/40
|
09/09/40
|
HX
069
|
11/09/40
|
12/09/40
|
|
12/09/40
|
13/09/40
|
LG
001
|
15/09/40
|
15/09/40
|
|
28/09/40
|
28/09/40
|
OL
005
|
30/09/40
|
30/09/40
|
|
19/09/40
|
30/09/40
|
SC
005
|
03/10/40
|
04/10/40
|
|
07/10/40
|
08/10/40
|
WS
003B
|
12/10/40
|
28/10/40
|
|
11/10/40
|
12/10/40
|
OB
227
|
15/10/40
|
15/10/40
|
|
04/10/40
|
15/10/40
|
HX
078
|
18/10/40
|
18/10/40
|
|
24/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
OB
234
|
30/10/40
|
30/10/40
|
|
12/10/40
|
30/10/40
|
SL
051
|
31/10/40
|
31/10/40
|
|
08/11/40
|
08/11/40
|
OB
240
|
13/11/40
|
13/11/40
|
|
28/01/41
|
28/01/41
|
OB
279
|
01/02/41
|
02/02/41
|
|
21/01/41
|
03/02/41
|
HX
104
|
08/02/41
|
08/02/41
|
|
11/02/41
|
11/02/41
|
OB
285
|
unknown
|
17/02/41
|
|
03/02/41
|
20/02/41
|
HX
107
|
20/02/41
|
20/02/41
|
|
10/01/42
|
10/01/42
|
AT
015/M
|
12/01/42
|
12/01/42
|
|
20/10/42
|
20/10/42
|
CF
007
|
02/11/42
|
02/11/42
|
|
04/11/42
|
04/11/42
|
CF
007A
|
unknown
|
17/11/42
|
|
18/06/43
|
26/06/43
|
KMF
017
|
27/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
Engagement with German trawler
SCHELSWIG (SCHIFF 37) off
Andalsnes 26 April
1940
by
Cyril Kelley, Able Seaman, RNVR (at
the time)
I
was serving on the ARROW and would
like to correct the account. She was
rammed by the German trawler and not
the BIRMINGHAM. We were struck
midships at the torpedo davit thereby
causing relatively little damage. What
makes the engagement most unusual was
that on being rammed "repel boarders"
was piped - that must have been
the only time the pipe was given by
any UK warship during the war. It is
more reminiscent of 1800 battles. The
pipe was followed by action stations
and the trawler was sunk. Destroyer
GRIFFIN did a search and found another
trawler but this one surrendered. This
is the bare bones of events of that
day, and yes, we did go into dry-dock
at Middlesborough. (Note: A fuller
account can be found at
http://www.royalnavy-history.net/xDKWW2-4004-13APR04.htm)
