B-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from Swan Hunter, Newcastle on 22nd March 1929 under the 1928 Programme and laid down on 10th August 1929. She was launched on 6th December 1930 As the 7th RN ship to bear the name introduced in 1782 and last used by a destroyer sold in 1920. Build was completed on 8th April 1931 and the contract price was £221,408 which excluded items supplied by the Admiralty. In March 1942 after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National  Savings Campaign she was adopted by the civil community of the London Borough of Battersea.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

TOULON  1793 -  ST LUCIA  1796 - BALTIC  1854-55 - DARDANELLES 1915-16 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1915-16 - ATLANTIC 1941-45 - ARCTIC 1942-44

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Black, a bulldog White.

 

M o t t o

'Hold Fast'

 

 

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 in Mediterranean as Plane Guard for HM Aircraft Carrier GLORIOUS.

                3rd          At Alexandria and retained as Attendant Destroyer for HMS GLORIOUS.

                11th        Attendant Destroyer for HMS GLORIOUS during flying exercises.

 

October                  Nominated for duty with HMS GLORIOUS as part of Hunting Group in Indian Ocean.

                9th          Passage to Indian Ocean with HMS GLORIOUS.

                13th        Joined HM Battleship MALAYA and HM Destroyer DARING in Hunting Group

                                based at Socotra.

                                Took part in search operations with Group,

 

November              Indian Ocean deployment with Group in continuation.

 

December

                10th        Arrived at Colombo with HMS GLORIOUS.

                29th        Joined French troopships en passage to Red Sea with HM Cruiser KENT, French

                                cruiser SUFFREN and HMS GLORIOUS as escort for passage to Aden.

                                (See CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton.)

 

1 9 4 0

January

                7th          Detached with HMS GLORIOUS at Aden.

                                Passage to Malta with HMS GLORIOUS.

                17th        On arrival prepared for refit.

                18th        Taken in hand for refit in HM Dockyard.

 

February                Under refit.

                22nd       On completion of post refit trials resumed Attendant Destroyer duties.

 

March

                17th        Deployed with Convoy HG25 during passage to UK.

                31st         Carried out joint exercises with HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL

 

April

                4th          Arrived at Alexandria.

                8th          During further flying operations, exercises cancelled.

                9th          Passage from Alexandria to Gibraltar with HMS GLORIOUS and HMS ARK ROYAL.

                                (Note: Aircraft carriers were recalled to UK after German invasion of Norway).

                15th        Took passage to UK from Gibraltar with HMS ARK ROYAL.

                19th        Under repair and fitting of DG equipment at Devonport.

 

May                        Nominated for service in Home Fleet

                3rd          On completion took passage to join Home Fleet.

                9th          Sailed from Scapa Flow with HM Destroyers FURY, FORESIGHT, MOHAWK and GALLANT

                                to search near Little Fisher Bank for German warships. HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM and HM

                                Destroyers JANUS, HYPERION, HEREWARD, HAVOCK, KELLY, KANDAHAR, KIMBERLEY

                                and HOSTILE were also deployed. HMS KELLY and HMS KANDAHAR later detached and were in

                                action against E-Boats during which HMS KELLY was hit by torpedo and badly damaged.

                10th        Towed HM Destroyer KELLY to Tyne for repair after being damaged by torpedo in

                                engagement with E-Boat in North Sea (See THE KELLY by K Poolman).

                                Stern structure damaged by tow operation.

                13th        Under repair by Swan Hunter at Wallsend.

                19th        After completion resumed Fleet duties.

                21st         Escorted HM Battlecruiser RENOWN from Rosyth with HM Destroyers ASHANTI and

                                HIGHLANDER during passage to Scapa Flow.

                22nd       Redeployed in English Channel for support of evacuation operations.

                27th        Sustained damage to propellers..

                28th        Taken in for repair at Chatham.

 

June

                4th          On completion transferred to 1st Destroyer Flotilla,

                5th          Deployed with Flotilla for support of evacuations from French ports. (Operation CYCLE).

                10th        Under attack by six aircraft in English Channel whilst on patrol off Le Havre.

                                Three bombs hit ship and caused major damage to structure, Engine and Boiler

                                Rooms. Steering gear disabled and flooding caused ship

                11th        On arrival taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard.

 

July                         Under repair.

 

August                  Under repair

                24th        Damaged by splinters during air raid at Portsmouth.

                                (Note: Ship was lying alongside HM Destroyer ACHERON which received a direct

                                hit. The commanding officer of HMS BULLDOG was killed during this raid.

 

September

                8th          On completion of post repair trials rejoined Flotilla for Channel duties.

                10th        Deployed with HM Destroyer BEAGLE, HM Escort Destroyers BERKELEY and

                                ATHERSTONE for interception of German coastal convoy.

                                (For details of operations in English Channel see HOLD THE NARROW S£A by Peter

                                Smith and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett).

                13th        Participated in bombardment of Cherbourg with HM Destroyers BEAGLE, HIGHLANDER

                                and HARVESTER.

 

October                  Detached for duty with Clyde Escort Force for patrol and convoy defence.

 

November

                2nd         Joined Local escort for Military Convoy WS4 from Clyde with HM Cruiser CAIRO,

                                HM Destroyers BEAGLE, HESPERUS, HM Canadian Destroyers SAGUENAY, OTTAWA

                                and SKEENA.

                3rd          Detached from WS4 to assist rms WINDSOR CASTLE which had been damaged in

                                air attack in NW Approaches.

                4th          Provided protection and assistance during return of damaged rms WINDSOR CASTLE

                                to Clyde for repair.

                18th        Part of escort for ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron during minelay in Northern

                                Barrage (Operation SN3 - See Naval Staff History (Mining).

 

December              Home Fleet duties in continuation.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January

                2nd         Taken in hand for refit at Cammell Laird Shipyard in Birkenhead.

 

February                Under refit. Nominated for service in Western Approaches with 3rd Escort Group.

                18th        On completion of post refit trials worked up for convoy escort duties.

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

                                D. MacIntyre and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).

 

March                    Joined Group for convoy defence in NW Approaches based in Iceland.

 

April                       Convoy defence duties in continuation.

 

May                        Iceland patrol and convoy defence in continuation.

                7th          Anti-submarine attack on U94 south of Iceland with HM Destroyer AMAZON and HM Sloop

                                ROCHESTER. Submarine reported as damaged.

                9th          Whilst escorting Convoy OB318 off Iceland with HM Destroyer BROADWAY attacked U110 which

                                was forced to surface. Boarding Party put on submarine and ENIGMA Coding machine with some

                                documentation removed. (Operation PRIMROSE)

                                (Note: This was a most significant event and assisted work in hand at Bletchley Park. Later on 27th

                                August 1941 U570 surrendered after attack by an RAF aircraft and was towed to Iceland.

                                U570 was later commissioned as HM Submarine GRAPH. See BREAKING THE ENIGMA

                                by D. Kahn and U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)

 

June                        Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to

July

 

August                  Nominated for escort of Military Convoy WS8C.

                9th          Joined Convoy WS8C in Clyde for Local Escort to Scapa Flow with HM Destroyers

                                CASTLETON, CHARLESTOWN, ECHO, INTREPID, WHITEHALL WINCHELSEA and

                                WITCH.

                10th        Returned to Clyde on arrival of convoy at Scapa Flow to resumed Atlantic duty.

                                (Note: This convoy was taking British troops to occupy Portuguese islands in

                                the Atlantic which had initially been proposed in 1940 but cancelled.

                                (Operation PILGRIM - This too was cancelled and ships of WS8C convoy

                                returned to Clyde on 17th.)

 

September             Part of escort for Convoy SC44 with ships of Group.

 

October                  Nominated for refit including hull strengthening.

                24th        Taken in hand for refit at Fairfield shipyard in Govan, Glasgow.

 

November              Under refit.

to

December

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Under refit

 

February                Post refit trials.

                10th        Rejoined Group for Atlantic convoy defence.

 

March                    Detached for duty in Horne Fleet for Russian convoy escort.

                                (For details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R. A.

                                Ruegg, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R.

                                Woodman and CONVOY ! by P. Kemp).

                31st         Stood by HMS RICHMOND after she had been damaged in a collision with American

                                merchant ship FRANCIS SCOTT KEY.

 

April                       Deployed with Home Fleet for defence of Russian convoys.

                                (Note: Distant cover was to be provided for this convoy and returning QP10 by major units of

                                Home Fleet

                12th        Joined PQ14 as Senior Officer’s ship of Ocean Escort with HM Destroyers BEAGLE, BEVERLEY,

                                AMAZON. HM Corvettes CAMPANULA, OXLIP, SAXIFRAGE, SNOWFLAKE and three

                                trawlers.

                                (Note: HM Cruiser EDINBURGH was on passage to Murmansk to collect cargo of gold, bullion.)

                                Two of the trawlers did not complete passage to Kola.).

                17th        Eastern Local Escort joined.

                19th        Arrived at Murmansk with PQ14

                                For details of the eventful passage see above references.

                                (Note: German destroyers HERMANN SCHOEMANN, Z24 and Z25 failed to make contact

                28th        Sailed from Murmansk as Ocean Escort for QP11 with HM Destroyers FORESTER, FORESIGHT

                                and same ships as arrived with PQ14.

                29th        Under threat of submarine attacks.

                30th        HM Cruiser EDINBURGH joined convoy after embarking gold bullion at Murmansk.

                                Under attacks by U88 and U 456.

                                HMS EDINBURGH hit by torpedo from U456 and sustained serious damage.

                                with HMS BULLDOG, HMS BEAGLE and BEVERLEY

 

May

                1st           Under air attacks and later attacks by German destroyer HERMANN SCHOEMANN, Z24 and

                                Z25 sent to attack HMS EDINBURGH

                                Lead the action against German ships with HMS EDINBURGH and destroyers of Close Escort.

                                Sustained splinter damage.

                                (Note: HMS EDINBURGH sustained further significant damage from return fire from enemy

                                destroyers.

                                The successful repulsion of six attacks on the disabled cruiser reflect great credit on the

                                commanding officer Commander M Richmond.)

                                HMS EDINBURGH detached and took passage to Murmansk with HMS FORESTER and HMS

                                FORESIGHT.

                2nd         HMS EDINBURGH subjected to further attacks by the German destroyers and had to

                                be abandoned after being hit by torpedo from Z25 and sunk on 2nd May.

                                See ARCTIC CONVOYS for details.)

                3rd          HMS AMAZON and HMS BEVERLEY and HMS AMAZON detached took passage to Iceland

                                to land injured,

                7th          Detached from QP11 on arrival in Iceland.

 

June

                2nd         Taken in hand for repair in Clyde shipyard until 14.8.

 

July                         Under repair.

 

August                  Post refit trials.

                14th        Joined Greenock Escort Force.

                29th        Deployed with HM Destroyers BICESTER, KEPPEL and ZETLAND for Local Escort

                                of Military Convoy WS22 from Clyde.

 

September

                1st           Detached from WS22 with same ships and returned to Clyde.

                9th          Part of escort for tankers deployed to establish a fuelling base for replenishment of escorts for

                                Convoys PQ18 and returning QP14. and re-supply Norwegian meteorological station.

                                (Note: HM Destroyers AMAZON, ECLIPSE, ECHO and VENOMOUS were also involved.)

 

October                  Nominated for escort of military convoys to Gibraltar for allied landings in N.

                                Africa (Operation TORCH: See The Naval Staff History and ENGAGE THE ENEMY

                                MORE CLOSELY).

 

November              TORCH convoy escort in continuation.

                23rd        Taken in hand for repair at Greenock.

 

December

                15th        Rejoined Western Approaches Command.

                22nd       Joined HM Escort Destroyers BLANKNEY, CHIDDINGFOLD and LEDBURY during

                                passage of Russian Convoy JW51B to reinforce Local Escort

                23rd        Sustained weather damage and returned to Greenock for repair.

                28th        Taken in hand for repair at Greenock

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Under repair

                                Resumed convoy defence duties on completion.

                21st         Part of escort for Russian Convoy JW52 with HM Destroyers BEAGLE, MATCHLESS,

                                MUSKETEER, OFFA, ONSLAUGHT and Polish ORP PIORUN.

                27th        Detached on arrival at Kola Inlet.

                29th        Joined Ocean Escort for returning Convoy RA52 with HM Destroyers BEAGLE, ICARUS

                                FORESTER, MATCHLESS, MUSKETEER, OFFA, ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW and ORP

                                PIORUN

 

February

                5th          Detached from RA52 after arrival of Local Escort.

                                Deployed on defence of Iceland - UK convoys.

 

March                    Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

                23rd        Taken in hand for Repair in Clyde shipyard.

 

April                       Under repair.

                                Nominated for convoy defence based at Freetown.

                                Prepared for foreign service.

                22nd       On completion took passage to Freetown.

 

May                        Joined West African Command and deployed for defence of coastal and Atlantic

                                convoys

 

June                        Freetown convoy defence in continuation.

                                Part of escort for convoy from Freetown to Gibraltar.

                26th        Deployed with HM Destroyers AMAZON, BLACKMORE and FOXHOUND to join escort

                                for Military Convoy WS31 when Gibraltar element (KMF17) detached.

 

July

                4th          Detached from escort on arrival of WS31 at Freetown.

                6th          Deployed with HMS BLACKMORE for Local Escort of Convoy WS31 on departure from

                                Freetown.

                15th        Detached from WS31 and returned to Freetown.

 

August                  Freetown deployment in continuation.

                5th          Joined Military Convoy WS32 with HM Destroyers BEAGLE and DOUGLAS for Local

                                Escort from Freetown.

                12th        Detached from WS32 and returned to Freetown.

 

September             Freetown deployment in continuation.

                                Part of escort for convoy between Freetown to Gibraltar.

                4th          Joined escort for Military Convoy WS33 at Gibraltar with HM Frigates BANN and NESS

                                HM Sloop WESTON, HM Cutter TOTLAND and HM Corvette HYDRANGEA for passage

                                to Freetown.

                9th          Detached from WS33 on arrival at Freetown.

                14th        Joined escort for WS33 with HM Destroyers BEAGLE, BOADICEA, WOLVERINE and HM

                                Frigate BANN for Local Escort.

                19th        Detached from WS33 with same destroyers of Freetown Escort Force.

 

October                  Nominated for conversion into Anti-Submarine Escort.

                                Passage to Portsmouth.

 

November              Prepared for conversion.

                8th          Taken in hand for refit and conversion by HM Dockyard Portsmouth.

 

December              Under refit.

                                Main Armament reduced to two 4.7in mountings.

                                Radar Type 271 and HEDGEHOG Anti-Submarine Mortar fitted.

                                (For details of development and use of new weapons end revised tactics by both

                                allied warships and German submarines see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann, RADAR

                                AT SEA by D Howse and RELENTLESS PURSUIT by D E G Weymms).

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Under refit

to

April

 

May                        Post refit trials

                24th        On completion took passage to Tobermory for work-up.

                26th        Deployed with HM Frigate AWE to assist HM Canadian Corvette ST THOMAS after the

                                interception of radio signals from a U-Boat in NW Approaches.

                                Located and sank U719 in position 55.33N 11.02W, North of Bloody Foreland after

                                three HEDGEHOG attacks. There were no survivors from the submarine.

                                (See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P. Kemp.)

 

June                        On completion deployed on A/S protection of convoys to Iceland.

 

July                         Convoy defence in NW Approaches in continuation.

 

August

                12th        In collision with HM Frigate LOCH DUNVEGAN in Gourock Bay.

                                Major hull damage sustained.

                17th        Taken in hand for repair at Ardrossan

 

September

                4th          Resumed convoy defence duties.

                10th        Detached for Russian convoy escort.

                15th        Deployed with HM Sloop CYGNET, HM destroyers KEPPEL and WHITEHALL, HM Corvette

                                ALLINGTON CASTLE and HM Corvette BAMBOROUGH CASTLE as Close Escort for Russian

                                Convoy JW60 for passage from Loch Ewe.

                23rd        Detached from JW60 on arrival at Kola Inlet.

                28th        Joined return Convoy RA60 with same ships for Close Escort to Loch Ewe.

 

October

                4th          Detached from RA60 on arrival at Loch Ewe and resumed convoy defence duties in

                                NW Approaches with Group.

 

November              Convoy defence in continuation.

                30th        Detached for service with Home Fleet.

 

December

                1st           Joined HM Cruiser BELLONA, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers CAMPANIA and NAIRANA as

                                screen with Destroyers BEAGLE, CAESAR, CAMBRIAN, CAPRICE, CASSANDRA, KEPPEL,

                                OFFA, OBEDIENT, ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW, ORIBI and WESTCOTT for escort of Russian

                                Convoy JW62 during passage to Kola Inlet.

                7th          Detached from JW62 on arrival.

                10th        Joined return Convoy RA62 with same ships for escort during passage.

                18th        Detached from RA62 on arrival.

                                Under repair in Clyde shipyard.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Under repair. Bow Chaser 20mm gun fitted for use in defence of coastal convoys.

                30th        On completion deployed in Irish Sea and SW Approaches for defence of coastal convoys

 

February                Coastal convoy defence in continuation.

to                            (Note: During this period SCHNORKEL fitted U-Boats were being deployed in UK

April                       coastal waters at convoy focal points and anti-submarine defences ware

                                re-inforced to counter this threat).

 

May                        Channel deployment in continuation.

                9th          Accepted German surrender of Channel Islands Garrison with HM Destroyer BEAGLE.

                                Surrender document signed on board.

                27th        Reduced to Reserve at Dartmouth.

 

June                        Laid up at Dartmouth.

to

August

  

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS BULLDOG was placed on the Disposal List and sold on 22nd December 1945 to Metal Industries. She arrived in tow at Rosyth on 17th January 1946 for breaking-up. This destroyer  achieved the distinction of being in operational service for most of WW2 apart from the period when she was under refit or repair.

 

---

 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS BULLDOG

by Don Kindell

 

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

(Note on Convoys)