E-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered on 1st November 1932 from Denny at Dumbarton under the 1931 Build Programme. The ship was laid down on 22nd March 1932 and launched on 12th April 1934 as the tenth RN ship to carry the name introduced in 1715. It was last used for a Trawler during WW1. Build was completed on 29th November 1934 for a cost of £246,664, excluding items supplied by the Admiralty such as guns and communications equipment. Much of her service was in the Mediterranean until 1936 because of the Abyssinian crisis. In April 1936 after some months refitting she joined the Home Fleet with the 5th Destroyer Flotilla and  for some months was deployed again in the Mediterranean. This destroyer was held in Reserve in 1938 and re-commissioned in August 1939 manned by Reservists for the Royal Review of the Reserve Fleet at Weymouth. She remained in commission and after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 was adopted by the civil community of Elland, then in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

MAURITIUS 1810 - NEW ZEALAND 1863-64 - SUEZ 1882 - NEW ZEALAND 1889 - NORWAY 1940 - ARCTIC 1942-42  - SICILY 1943 - ATLANTIC 1943 - SALERNO 1943 - AEGEAN 1943 

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Blue, the Earth Black over a sun Gold.

 

M o t t o

Nunquan:  ‘Never eclipsed’

 

 

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

 

August                  Commissioned for Review of Reserve Fleet.

 

September             Joined 12th Destroyer Flotilla at Rosyth for anti-submarine defence of Fleet units

                                and North Sea convoy escort.

                5th          Part of escort for HM Battleship RAMILLIES with HM Destroyers EXMOUTH,

                                ENCOUNTER and ESCAPADE during provision of cover for troop convoy in Atlantic.

 

October                  Deployment in North Sea and NW Approaches in continuation.

 

November

                24th        Part of destroyer screen for HM Battlecruiser HOOD during Atlantic search for German

                                warships GNEISENAU and SCHARNHORST after the sinking of HM Armed Merchant

                                Cruiser RAWALPINDI with HM Destroyers ECHO and EXMOUTH.

 

December              Transferred to Western Approaches Command for Atlantic convoy defence and patrol.

                                For details of naval activities in Home waters during 1939 see ENGAGE THE ENEMY

                                MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett).

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Convoy defence and Fleet escort in NW Approaches continued.

 

February

                5th          Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayer PRINCESS VICTORIA mines along East Coast Barrier

                                off East coast of Scotland.

                                (Operation LD1: For details of all minelaying activities in WW2 see Naval Staff History

                                (Mining) .)

 

March                    Convoy defence and Fleet escort in NW Approaches in continuation.

 

April                       Deployed on convoy escort in NW Approaches.

                8th          Detached from escort of Convoy ON 25 (UK - Norway) to Norway for support of allied

                                military operations.

                                Deployed for screening duties and attached to 20th Destroyer Flotilla.

                11th        Damaged in air attack on Fleet units off Norwegian

                                Hit aft caused major flooding.

                                Towed to Lerwick by HM Destroyer ESCORT

                                (Note: HM Destroyer HYPERION was deployed as escort during passage.)

                                Taken in hand for repair in Clyde shipyard.

 

May                        Under repair

to

July

 

August                  Carried out post refit trials.

                10th        On completion joined 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet for screening duties.

                21st         Escorted ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron with HMS ECHO during lay in Northern

                                Barrage (Operation SN2).

                31st         Detached for escort of troop convoy to West Africa for Dakar landings.

                                (Operation MENACE).

 

September             Deployed with screen for Force M major ships for MENACE.

                                Returned to Freetown with defects before operation abandoned.

                                Under repair at Freetown.

 

October                  Repair could not be completed.

                                Took passage to Gibraltar to complete repair work.

 

November              Under repair at Gibraltar

                15th        On completion carried out post repair trials

                                Passage to UK to rejoin 3rd Destroyer Flotilla.

 

December              Deployed for anti-submarine protection duties with Home Fleet

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Flotilla duties with Home Fleet in continuation.

 

February

                15th        Deployed as screen for HM Battleship RODNEY with HM Destroyer ELECTRA during

                                Ocean Escort for military Convoy WS6A during passage from Clyde to Freetown

                17th        Detached from WS6A with HMS RODNEY and HMS ELECTRA.

 

March

                25th        Joined military Convoy WS7 with HM Destroyer FOXHOUND for anti-submarine

                                protection during passage in NW Approaches.

                28th        Detached from WS& with HMS FOXHOUND on arrival of Ocean Escort.

 

April                       Nominated for refit

                12th        Under refit by HM Dockyard, Devonport.

 

May                        Under refit.

 

June

                4th          Carried out post refit trials on completion of dockyard work.

                                Passage to rejoin Flotilla to resume Home Fleet duties.

                25th        Deployed to assist defence of ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron during lay in Northern

                                Barrage after HM Destroyer BRIGHTON had been damaged in collision with HM Cruiser

                                KENYA

                                (Operation SN70B – See above reference.)

 

July

                23rd        Deployed with escort for HM Aircraft Carriers FURIOUS and VICTORIOUS for air

                                attacks on shipping between Kirkenes and Petsamo (Operation EF).

 

August                  Home Fleet screening duties with Flotilla in continuation.

                19th        Deployed as screen for HM Cruisers AURORA and NIGERIA with HM Destroyers

                                ECLIPSE, ANTELOPE, ANTHONY, ICARUS and TARTAR as escort for ss EMPRESS

                                OF CANADA and Auxiliary Tanker OLIGARCH during passage to Spizbergen.

                                (Operation GAUNTLET – Landing of Canadian troops and collection of civilian

                                personnel.)

                                (Note: These included Norwegians for passage to UK and Russians miners to be taken

                                to Archangel. Coal Mining machines were destroyed and Norwegian national evacuated,

                                For details see COMBINED OPERATIONS (HMSO) ,THE WATERY MAZE

                                by B Fergusson and ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman.)

                25th        Deployed for escort of HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS, HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE

                                and H M Cruiser SUFFOLK to provide Distant Cover for passage of first Russian

                                Convoy.

                                (Operation DERVISH - For details of this and all other Russian convoys see CONVOYS

                                TO RUSSIA by R A Ruegg, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman, CONVOY ! by Paul

                                Kemp and THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B. Schoefield)

                30th        Deployed with same ships to cover HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS and Fleet Destroyers

                                during passage to Archangel with Hurricane aircraft and RAF personnel.

                                (Operation STRENGTH)

 

September

                2nd         Part of escort for EXPRESS OF CANADA and Prizes captured at Spitzbergen for return

                                passage to UK on completion of GAUNTLET.

 

October

                18th        Joined Russian Convoy PQ2 as escort with HM Cruiser NORFOLK for passage to

                                Archangel with HM Destroyer ICARUS, HM Minesweepers BRAMBLE, SEAGULL

                                and SPEEDY.

                                (Note: The minesweepers were to remain in North Russia for convoy escort and

                                minesweeping duties )

                30th        Detached from PQ2 en arrival after uninterrupted passage.

 

November

                3rd          Joined return Convoy Part (P2 as escort with same ships as P02.

                17th        Detached from QP2 with HMS ICARUS.

                                Resumed Hone Fleet duties with Flotilla.

 

December              Deployed with Hone Fleet for screening duty.

                6th          Taken in hand for repair in Hull shipyard.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Under repair.

 

February                Under repair

                21st         On completion of post refit trials resumed Flotilla duties with Home Fleet.

 

March                    Home screening duties in continuation.

                1st           Part of destroyer screen for HM Battleships KING GEORGE , DUKE OF YORK,

                                VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers BERWICK and KENYA with destroyers of Home Fleet to

                                give Distant Cover for Russian Convoy PQ12 and returning Convoy QP8.

                8th          Detached with HM Destroyers ONSLOW, PUNJABI, FURY, ASHANTI and ECHO to

                                search for German battleship TIRPITZ and destroyers attacking ships which had

                                scattered from convoy in gale.

                                Returned to Seidisfjord to refuel after fruitless search.

                9th          Rejoined Home Fleet units which been covering HMS VICTORIOUS during air strikes on

                                German battleship TIRPITZ which failed.

                10th        Returned to Scapa Flow with Fleet units.

                21st         Deployed with HM Destroyer FURY as screen for HM Cruiser TRINIDAD to provide

                                Close Cover for passage of Russian Convoy PQ13 to Murmansk.

                26th        Convoy dispersed due to exceptionally heavy weather conditions.

                27th        Deployed in search for scattered ships.

                29th        In action with HMS TRINIDAD against German Destroyers.

                                Pursued German destroyer Z26 with HMS FURY and engaged with main armament

                                hitting enemy with 6 rounds of 4.7in shell.

                                German ship later sank.

                                Sustained two hits from 5in shells causing fire and major damage with 23 killed and nine

                                wounded.

                                (Note: During this engagement HMS TRINIDAD was hit by one of her own torpedoes

                                which had a malfunction, probably due to icy conditions - for details see above

                                references).

                                Escorted HMS TRINIDAD to Kola Inlet with HMS FURY

                30th        Began temporary repair at Murmansk to allow passage back to UK.

 

April

                6th          On completion of repair prepared for passage.

                10th        Escorted returning Convoy QP10 with HM Cruiser LIVERPOOL, HM Destroyers ORIBI,

                                FURY, PUNJABI and MARNE.

                17th        Detached from QP10.

 

May                        Under repair of action damage in HM Dockyard Devonport.

                                (Note: This included ship's side plating, fuel tanks, shrapnel damage and gun

                                mountings.)

                6th          On completion rejoined Flotilla at Scapa Flow in continuation of screening duties.

                12th        Deployed as part of destroyer screen for HMS DUKE OF YORK, the US battleship USS

                                WASHINGTON, HMS VICTORIOUS, HM Cruiser LONDON and US cruiser USS

                                TUSCALOOSA with ten other Home Fleet destroyers to provide cover for return

                                passage of damaged HMS TRINIDAD from Murmansk.

                14th        Resumed Flotilla duties AFTER HMS TRINIDAD was sunk by air attacks.

                23rd        Deployed with Home Fleet and US Navy destroyers as screen for HMS DUKE OF YORK.

                                USS WASHINGTON, HMS VICTORIOUS, HMS LONDON and US cruiser USS

                                WICHITA covering the passage of Russian Convoy FQ16 and returning QP12.

                28th        Resumed Flotilla duties with Home Fleet

 

June                        Deployed with Flotilla for Home Fleet screening duty.

 

July                         Transferred to 8th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet as part of re-organisation.

to                            Screening duties in continuation. August

August

 

September             Deployed with HM Destroyers AMAZON, BULLDOG, ECHO and VENOMOUS as

                                screen for HM Cruisers CUMBERLAND and SHEFFIELD to establish re-fuelling facility

                                at Lowe Sound, Spitzbergen and re-supply of garrison (Operation GEARBOX).

                                (Note: This facility was required to refuel Russian Convoys PQ18 and QP14 escorts.)

                27th        Taken in hand for refit in Humber shipyard

 

October                  Under refit.

 

November              Under refit.

                20th        On completion of post refit trials rejoined Flotilla at Scapa Flow.

 

December              Deployed on screening duties with Flotilla.

                18th        Joined Russian Convoy JW51A with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, BOADICEA, ECHO,

                                FURY and INGLEFIELD as Fighting Destroyer Escort.

                                (Note: This convoy was first to proceed from Loch Ewe to Kola Inlet without first calling

                                in Iceland).

                25th        Detached on arrival at Kola Inlet without interception by enemy aircraft.

                30th        Joined Fighting Escort for return Convoy RA51 with same ships.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

                6th          Detached from RA51 which had an uninterrupted passage because of enemy attack on

                                JW51B by German cruiser HIPPER during which HM Destroyer ACHATES was sunk.

                23rd        Part of destroyer screen for HM Battleship ANSON and HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD with

                                HM Destroyers ECHO, FAULKNOR, INGLEFIELD, MONTROSE, QUEENBOROUGH,  

                                RAIDER and Polish ORP ORKAN providing Distant Cover for passage of Russian

                                Convoy JW52

 

February                Home Fleet screening duty with Flotilla in continuation.

                21st         Joined Ocean Escort for Russian Convoy JW53 with HM Cruiser SCYLLA and HM

                                Destroyers MILNE, FAULKNOR, BOADICEA, INGLEFIELD, ORWELL, OPPORTUNE,

                                OBEDIENT, OBDURATE, FURY, IMPULSIVE, INTREPID and Polish ORP ORKAN.

                27th        Detached after extreme weather conditions which restricted enemy activities.

 

March

                1st           Joined escort for return Convoy RA53 with same ships and HM Destroyer IMPULSIVE.

                12th        Detached from escort of RA 53 with HMS BOADICEA, IMPULSIVE, INGLEFIELD and

                                FAULKNOR.

 

April                       Nominated for anti-submarine duty in Atlantic for support of convoys.

                                (For details of weapons and tactics used in Battle of the Atlantic see U-BOAT WAR IN

                                THE ATLANTIC (HMSO), THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre, SEEK

                                AND STRIKE by W Hackmann and CONVOY ESCORT COMMANDER by P Gretton).

                6th          Detached for duty as 4th Support Group with HM Destroyers INGLEFIELD, ICARUS and

                                FURY to reinforce escort of Convoy HX231 in North Atlantic.

                                With air support drove off U-Boats maintaining contact with convoy.

                25th        Reinforced sea escort for HX231 and ONS5 with ships of Group.

 

May                        Atlantic convoy support with Group in continuation.

                23rd        Provided additional A/S protection for Convoy HX239 with Group and air support by

                                HM Escort Aircraft Carrier Carrier ARCHER.

 

June                        Resumed Home Fleet duties as 8th Destroyer Flotilla.

                                Nominated for transfer to Mediterranean with Flotilla for support of the planned allied

                                landings in Sicily.

                                (Operation HUSKY - For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY Naval

                                Staff History and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.).

                28th        Arrived Gibraltar

                                Passage to Alexandria.

 

July                         Deployed for escort of military convoys in eastern Mediterranean during passage to

                                Beachhead in Sicily

                8th          Detached from escort and took passage to join ships of Force H being deployed in

                                Ionian Sea to prevent any interference by Italian warships during landings

                10th        Part of destroyer screen for HM Battleships NELSON, RODNEY, WARSPITE,

                                VALIANT, HM Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE and FORMIDABLE during

                                deployment in Ionian Sea.

                23rd        Sank Italian submarine ASCIANGHI with HM Destroyer LAFOREY after it had

                                attacked a cruiser force.

 

August                  Mediterranean screening duties in continuation.

 

September             Nominated for support of landings at Salerno as screen for major units.

                7th          Part of destroyer screen for Covering Force with ships of 8th and 24th Destroyer

                                Flotillas during landings at Salerno

                                (Operation AVALANCHE - See above references).

                13th        Transferred with Flotilla to Alexandria for support of British military operations

                                to occupy Aegean islands after Italian surrender and to prevent German invasion.

                16th        Arrived at Alexandria with Flotilla for duty in Eastern Mediterranean.

                                Deployed in support of Aegean Islands landings and to prevent German reinforcement

                                of garrisons.

                17th        Carried out Offensive Sweep in Aegean to intercept Italian evacuation craft or any

                                ships carrying German troops to islands.

                23rd        Sank German destroyer TA10 (Ex French LA POMONE) and Italian merchant ship

                                DONEZITI carrying troops to Rhodes.

                                Intercepted and attacked Italian evacuation convoy.

 

October                  Detached for special escort duty.

                1st           Escorted HM Battleships KING GEORGE V and HOWE to Malta with BM Destroyers

                                ECHO, FAULKNOR and FURY.

                4th          Redeployed in Aegean and took passage from Malta as screen for HM Cruisers

                                AURORA and PENELOPE to reinforce naval support in Aegean.

                5th          Resumed support and convoy defence duties.

                17th        Deployed with HM Cruiser SIRIUS, HM Destroyer PATHFINDER and HM Destroyer

                                BEAUFORT to take stores and personnel to Leros.

                                Under air attacks during passage.

                18th        Laid up in Turkish waters during daylight.

                                Landed stores and personnel at Leros after dusk.

                                Carried out offensive sweep off Levitha before withdrawing.

                23rd        Embarked Troops of Royal East Kent Regiment for passage to Leros to reinforce the

                                garrison.

                                Captain P Todd, DSO, OBE (Commodore Levant Flotillas) was also embarked.

                24th        Hit mine laid in 48 fathoms (Position 37.01N 27.11E south of island.)

                                Ship broke in two and sank in 5 minutes after internal explosions and fires

                                119 of Ship's Company and 134 troops were killed.

                                (For details of the disastrous operations in the Aegean during 1943 see WAR IN THE

                                AEGEAN by P Smith and W Walker, FIGHTING DESTROYER by GC Connell

                                THE LAST DESTROYER by FA Mason and Official Histories of Mediterranean

                                War (HMSO)).

 

---

 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS ECLIPSE

by Don Kindell

 

This convoy list has not been cross-checked with the text above

(Note on Convoys)