B-Class
Fleet
Destroyer ordered from Swan
Hunter at Wallsend on 22nd
March 1929 under the 1928 Build
Programme and laid down on 8th
July that year as
Yard No 1409. Launched on 9th
October 1930 she was the 8th RN
ship to
carry the name. It was first
used for a Prize taken in 1696
and lastly for an
1891 cruiser expended as a
blockship at Ostend in April
1918. The build was
completed on 21st February 1931
at a cost of £221,638, which
excluded items supplied by the
Admiralty, such as guns and
communications
equipment. For the following
five years she served in the
Mediterranean and then was
transferred to the
Home Fleet. When this Class of
destroyer was replaced by the
new TRIBAL Class
between 1938 and 1939 she was
deployed for local port duties.
Following a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National
Savings Campaign in March 1942
she was adopted by the civil
community of Tunbridge Wells,
Kent.
B
a t t l e H o n o u
r s
ELLIOTS ACTION 1760 - ZEEBRUGGE AND OSTEND 1918 - ATLANTIC 1941-43 - NORTH
AFRICA
1942 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1940-45 -
FALKLAND ISLANDS 1982*
(* See Post War Notes)
H
e r a l d i c D a t
a
Badge:
On a Field Black, a twelve
pointed star gold
M
o t t o
Ea
nostra vocamus: 'We claim the
deeds of our ancestors'
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
Deployed with 19th Destroyer
Flotilla at Dover for
Anti-submarine convoy escort
in English Channel and North
Sea. Escorted BEF Convoys to
French ports.
12th
Damaged in collision with
harbour wall at Dover.
13th
Taken in hand for repair.
October
Under repair.
November
On completion of post repair
trials rejoined Flotilla in
continuation.
December
Convoy escort and patrol in
English Channel and North Sea.
(For details of 1939 naval
activities in Hone waters see
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by Corelli Bamett).
1 9
4 0
January
English Channel and North Sea
deployment in continuation. (See
HOLD THE NARROW
to
SEA by P Smith).
April
May
5th
Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayer
HAMPTON with HM Destroyers
KEITH, BOREAS
and VERITY during minelay in
Thames Estuary (Operation DML9).
10th
Deployed for demolition of port
facilities in Dutch ports and
the evacuation of allied
personnel (Operation XD - See
above references).
12th
Returned to Dover with over 200
refugees embarked.
15th
Collided with HM Destroyer
BOREAS when on passage to Hook
of Holland.
16th
Taken on hand for repair at HM
Dockyard, Sheerness.
June
Under repair
17th
Joined 1st Destroyer Flotilla
based at Dover.
Deployed for Channel convoy
defence and interception patrol
in English Channel.
(Note: Destroyer Flotillas had
been re-organised because of
heavy losses during
evacuation operations -
references as above).
July
Channel deployment in
continuation.
25th
In action with E-Boats attacking
convoy in Straits of Dover.
Came under air attack by Ju87
aircraft off South Foreland
after being ordered to
withdraw. Near missed in initial
attacks but then hit aft by two
bombs which did
not explode.
Ship settled by the stern and
lost way.
Vessel lightened by jettison of
X and Y guns as well as Depth
Charges.
No casualties on board and two
aircraft were destroyed.
Initially towed into Dover.
27th
Towed to HM Dockyard Chatham.
August
Under repair.
to
Nominated for duty with Home
Fleet. September
October
Post repair trials and prepared
for operational service.
15th
On completion took passage to
join Home Fleet.
16th
Escorted newly completed
battleship, HMS KING GEORGE V
from the Tyne to
Rosyth.
18th
Joined Home Fleet for screening
of major units and patrol in NW
Approaches.
November
Home Fleet duties in
continuation.
18th
Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayers
AGAMEMNON, PORT QUEBEC,
MENESTHEUS, PORT NAPIER and PORT QUEBEC of 1st Minelaying
Squadron with HM Destroyers
BEAGLE and BULLDOG during
minelay in
Northern Barrage (Operation
SN3).
(For details of all minelaying
activities see Naval Staff
History (Mining).
December
Home Fleet deployment in
continuation.
1 9
4 1
January
Home Fleet deployment in
continuation.
(Note: Deployment in Irish Sea
as escort for military convoy
WS5B on 12th
to be confirmed.).
February
6th
Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayers
AGAMEMNON, PORT QUEBEC.,
MENESTHEUS and SOUTHERN PRINCE
during minelay in Northern
Barrage
with HM Destroyers ECHO, ELECTRA
and INGLEFIELD (Operation SN7A).
March
Under refit at Southampton.
(Work done included:
3in mounting fitted for defence
against aircraft in place of one
set of torpedo
tubes.
Depth Charge outfit increased to
60 and two Oerlikons fitted.
Radar Type 286M (Modified RAF
Air-Surface Vessel equipment)
installed.
(These were interim
modifications for use of a Fleet
Destroyer as an anti
submarine escort
April
Under refit
Nominated for Atlantic convoy
escort duty based at Freetown.
May
On completion of post refit
trials rejoined Home Fleet at
Scapa Flow.
12th
Part of escort for HM Aircraft
Carrier FURIOUS and HM Cruiser
LONDON for
passage to Gibraltar.
19th
Deployed with HM Destroyers
FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FOXHOUND,
FURY
and HESPERUS as screen for HM
Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM
Aircraft
Carriers ARK ROYAL and FURIOUS
during cover for Malta aircraft
delivery.
(Operation SPLICE).
(For details of Malta aircraft
deliveries see THE BATTLE FOR
THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre,
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by C Barnett and MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman.).
23rd
On completion of Operation
SPLICE deployed with HM Cruiser
LONDON in
search for German supply ships
in Atlantic.
(Note: This operation was based
on ULTRA information. See
BRITISH
INTELLIGENCE IN WW2 (HMSO) and
BREAKING THE ENIGMA by
D Kahn).
June
4th
Intercepted ESSO HAMBURG in
South Atlantic which was
scuttled.
5th
Intercepted EGERLAND in same
area which was also scuttled by
ner crew.
10th
Joined 18th Destroyer Flotilla
at Freetown for Atlantic convoy
defence and
interception patrol.
16th
Joined military convoy WS9A with
HM Destroyers BOREAS and
HIGHLANDER off
African coast for Local Escort
into Freetown.
18th
Detached from WS9A on arrival.
July
Freetown deployment in
continuation.
10th
Joined military convoy WS9B with
HM Destroyers WILD SWAN and
WIVERN, HM
Corvette ASPHODEL off African
coast for Local Escort into
Freetown.
13th
Detached on arrival at Freetown.
August
Deployment as Senior Officer's
ship of 18th Flotilla in
continuation.
27th
Joined military convoy WS10X
with HM Destroyers VELOX and
WRESTLER, HM
Corvettes CLEMATIS and CROCUS
off African coast for Local
Escort into Freetown.
28th
Detached from WS10X on arrival
at Freetown.
September
Freetown deployment in
continuation.
to
November
December
18th
Joined military convoy WS14 with
HM Destroyer HURWORTH off
African coast as
Local Escort into Freetown.
21st
Detached from WS14 on arrival at
Freetown.
25th
Sailed with WS14 for Local
Escort from Freetown.
26th
Detached from WE14 with mv
ABOSSO for escort to Takoradi.
1 9
4 2
January
Deployment at Freetown with
Flotilla in continuation
February
26th
Joined military convoy WS16 with
HM Destroyers BOREAS AND WILD
SWAN off
African coast for Local Escort
into Freetown.
March
1st
Detached from WS16 on arrival at
Freetown.
6th
Sailed with WS16 from Freetown
with HM Destroyer WILD SWAN, HM
Corvettes
JASMINE, NIGELLA and HM Sloop
Bridgewater as Local Escort.
8th
Detached from WS16 with HMS WILD
SWAN and returned to Freetown.
April
Under refit.
to
(Note: Work included:
May
After 4.7in gun in Y position
landed an two additional 20mm
guns fitted.
June
On completion of post refit
trials took passage to Freetown
to resume Atlantic convoy
escort duties.
26th
Joined military convoy WS20 with
HM Destroyer BLACKMORE off W.
African coast
for Local Escort to Freetown.
Part of Ocean Escort of Military
WS Convoy to Durban.
July
2nd
Detached from W520 on arrival at
Freetown.
6th
Sailed with WS20 with HM
Destroyers BLACKMORE and WIVERN
as escort for
passage to Durban. Ocean.
(Note: Escort for passage was
provided also by HM Battleship
MALAYA.)
17th
Remained with VJS20 when HMS
MALAYA and HMS BLACKMORE
detached for
escort of part of convoy into
Capetown.
HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE joined
escort.
20th
Detached from W320 on arrival at
Durban.
August
Passage to Freetown to resume
Atlantic convoy escort
deployment
September
Convoy defence duties in
continuation.
Nominated for support of allied
landings in North Africa.
October
Passage to join Force H for
Operation TORCH.
For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY
CLOSELY, RELUCTANT ENEMIES by A
Tute and Naval Staff History).
November
Deployed at Gibraltar and
prepared for support duties.
8th
Part of escort for Assault
Convoy.
Provided naval gunfire fire
support during landings on Beach
Y at Oran.
Sank Vichy French Sloop LA
SURPRISE that attempted to
interfere with
TORCH landings.
Rescued 21 survivors from French
WARSHIP. See above references).
14th
Transferred to 61st Escort Group
at Gibraltar for anti-submarine defence of the
Follow-up convoys and patrol in
Western Mediterranean.
December
Convoy defence with Group in
continuation.
Nominated for full conversion to
A/S Escort Destroyer.
1 9
4 3
January
Passage to Portsmouth.
February
Taken in hand for Full
Conversion by HM Dockyard,
Portsmouth.
March
Under conversion.
to
Work done included
May
Ahead Throwing Anti-Submarine
Mortar (HEDGEHOG) fitted in
place
of forward 4.7in gun mounting
(A).
Centimetric surface warning
radar (Type 271) installed.
Depth Charge allowance increased
to 125.
3in AA gun removed and after set
of torpedo tubes replaced.
(For details of development of
anti-submarine tactics and new
weapons
see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann).
June
Post refit trials and prepared
for operational service.
July
Nominated for service with 13th
Destroyer- Flotilla based at
Gibraltar.
Carried out Work-up in Clyde
area.
August
Passage to Mediterranean to join
Flotilla.
September
Deployed with Flotilla for Local
Escort and anti-submarine search
duties.
to
(Note: During this period
increased A/S patrols in
conjunction with RAF aircraft
November
were carried out in Gibraltar
Command area. See U-BOAT WAR IN
THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO) and HITLERS
U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
December
12th
Took part in search with US
Destroyers EDISON, TRIPPE and
WOOLSEY for
U73 which had torpedoed a ship
in Convoy GUS24 off the coast of
Algeria.
(Note: U73 was sunk later by US
Destroyers by surface gunfire
after attacks by
Depth Charges forced the
submarine to surface.)
1 9
4 4
January
Convoy defence and A/S duties at
Gibraltar in continuation.
to
August
September
Passage to UK for refit
October
Under refit at Portsmouth.
Nominated for service with 1st
Destroyer Flotilla.
November
Joined Flotilla at Portsmouth
and deployed in English Channel
and SW
Approaches for convoy defence.
December
Convoy defence duty with
Flotilla in continuation.
24th
Deployed as escort for troopship
LEOPOLDVILLE during passage to
Cherbourg
with HM Destroyer ANTHONY and
two other escorts.
After troopship was hit by
acoustic torpedo fired by U486
took part in rescue of
survivors with other escorts.
Embarked 20 soldiers before ship
sank.
(Note: Ship was carrying 2,237
men of US 66th Division and crew
of 237.
1,673 men were rescued and 821
lost their lives.
For details see HITLERS U-BOAT
WAR by C Blair.)
1 9
4 5
January
Channel deployment in
continuation
Sustained major structural
damage in collision with HM
Canadian Corvette
LINDSAY during fog in English
Channel.
February
Under temporary repair at
Portsmouth.
to
Transferred to Antwerp for
completion.
March
April
Nominated for service as an Air
Target Ship.
23rd
On completion of repair at
Antwerp took passage to
Portsmouth for conversion.
May
Under conversion.
June
Deployed at Portsmouth.
7th
Escorted HM Cruiser JAMAICA
during passage to Jersey with HM
King George
VI for visit to Channel Islands.
13th
Passage to Clyde for Air Target
duty.
July
Nominated for detached duty as
required for collection of
surrendered U-Boats.
(Operation DEADLIGHT).
(Note: No evidence has been
found for use as an Air Target
ship for aircrew
training during WW2).
P o s t W a r N
o t e s
HMS
BRILLIANT was deployed for
escort of surrendered U-Boats to
Lisahally and Loch Ryan but did
not take part in their
destruction later.
During November 1945 she
Paid-off and was placed in
Reserve. After she had been
de-equipped the ship was used
for target trials and placed
on the Disposal List in 1947.
Sold for to BISCO for demolition
by West of Scotland Shipbreakers
on 21st
February 1948 the ship arrived
in tow at the breakers yard at
Troon in April
1948.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS
BRILLIANT
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
05/08/41
|
05/08/41
|
SL
083
|
11/08/41
|
28/08/41
|
15/08/41
|
15/08/41
|
SL
084
|
19/08/41
|
08/09/41
|
03/08/41
|
19/08/41
|
OS
002
|
22/08/41
|
22/08/41
|
14/09/41
|
14/09/41
|
SL
087
|
16/09/41
|
06/10/41
|
02/09/41
|
17/09/41
|
OS
005
|
18/09/41
|
21/09/41
|
12/09/41
|
03/10/41
|
OS
006
|
03/10/41
|
03/10/41
|
05/10/41
|
05/10/41
|
SL
089
|
08/10/41
|
26/10/41
|
23/09/41
|
10/10/41
|
OS
007
|
14/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
15/10/41
|
15/10/41
|
SL
090
|
18/10/41
|
06/11/41
|
27/10/41
|
27/10/41
|
SL
091
|
31/10/41
|
08/11/41
|
13/10/41
|
01/11/41
|
OS
009
|
05/11/41
|
05/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
SL
093
|
23/11/41
|
10/12/41
|
07/11/41
|
24/11/41
|
OS
011
|
28/11/41
|
28/11/41
|
04/01/42
|
04/01/42
|
SL
097
|
06/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
23/12/41
|
09/01/42
|
OS
015
|
13/01/42
|
13/01/42
|
27/01/42
|
27/01/42
|
SL
099
|
30/01/42
|
16/02/42
|
18/01/42
|
05/02/42
|
OS
017
|
07/02/42
|
07/02/42
|
14/03/42
|
14/03/42
|
SL
103
|
02/04/42
|
02/04/42
|
18/09/42
|
18/09/42
|
TS
019
|
23/09/42
|
23/09/42
|
09/10/42
|
09/10/42
|
ST
038
|
09/10/42
|
14/10/42
|
01/12/42
|
01/12/42
|
ET
003
|
04/12/42
|
04/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
16/12/42
|
MKF
004Y
|
19/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
22/12/42
|
26/12/42
|
MKS
004
|
27/12/42
|
06/01/43
|
12/12/42
|
31/12/42
|
UGS
003
|
31/12/42
|
01/01/43
|
19/01/43
|
19/01/43
|
MKS
006
|
23/01/43
|
01/02/43
|
14/01/43
|
24/01/43
|
UGF
004
|
27/01/43
|
25/01/43
|
03/02/43
|
03/02/43
|
WP
289
|
05/02/43
|
05/02/43
|
25/08/43
|
26/08/43
|
CF
013B
|
31/08/43
|
31/08/43
|
28/09/43
|
28/09/43
|
KMS
027G
|
29/09/43
|
29/09/43
|
17/10/43
|
27/10/43
|
KMS
030G
|
01/11/43
|
01/11/43
|
16/12/43
|
25/12/43
|
KMF
027
|
25/12/43
|
30/12/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)