F-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from Cammell Laird at Birkenhead under 1932 Programme and laid down on 17th July 1933. The ship was launched on 12th May 1934 as the 7th RN warship to carry this name which was introduced in 1794 and previously used by a cruiser sold in 1921. Build was completed on 22nd December 1934.

 

B a t t l e  H o n o u r s

 

SOUTH AFRICA 1899-1900 - JUTLAND 1916 - NORWAY 1940 - ATLANTIC 1911 - MALTA CONVOYS  1941 - MEDITERRANEAN 1941

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

On a Field Blue. a Lion's head Gold

 

M o t t o

Explicit nomen: The name explains itself

 

 

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                  Took-up War Station as Scapa Flow with 8th Destroyer Flotilla Home Fleet for screening

                                and anti-submarine patrol duties.

 

September             Deployed with Flotilla for anti-submarine operations

                7th          Embarked Polish Mission at Hagesund, Norway for passage to UK.

                26th        Participated in sinking of U27 with HM Destroyers FORTUNE and FORESTER off the Hebrides.

 

October                  Deployed as A/S screen for Home Fleet units on patrol and interception duties.

to                            (For details of naval activities in Home Waters in 1939 see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

December              CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett).

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Home Fleet screening, patrol duties and convoy defence in continuation.

to

March

 

April

                7th          Escorted HM Battleship VALIANT during Home Fleet search for German major units reported to be

                                breaking out into the Atlantic.

                8th          After German invasion of Norway joined military Convoy NP1 to reinforce escort during passage to

                                Norway. (Operation R4/RUPERT)

                14th        Sank U49 with HM Destroyer BRAZEN after A/S search in Vaagsfjord.

                23rd        Escorted HM Aircraft Carriers ARK ROYAL and GLORIOUS from Scapa Flow to provide air cover

                                for support operations off Norwegian coast.

                25th        Escorted HMS GLORIOUS from Norway to Scapa to refuel and replenish.

                                (For details of the disastrous naval operations off Norway see NARVIK by Donald MacIntyre,

                                CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton, THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by T Adams and Naval Staff

                                History (2001).).

May

                15th        Taken in hand for repair at Middlesbrough.

 

June                        Under repair

                                Transferred to Force H at Gibraltar with Flotilla.

                                Carried out post repair trials and took passage to join Flotilla for escort duties.

17th        Joined H M Destroyers FAULKNOR, FOXHOUND and ESCAPADE for screening of HM 

                                Battlecruiser HOOD and HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL during passage to Gibraltar.

                23rd        Arrived at Gibraltar.

                28th        Joined Force H on formation with Flotilla

                                (Note: Other ships in Flotilla were H M Destroyers FAULKNOR. FORESIGHT, FORESTER and

                                FOXHOUND - For details of naval operation in Mediterranean see THE BATTLE FOR THE

                                MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre and Naval Staff History .)

July

                3rd          Took part in attacks on French Fleet at Mers-el-Kebir (Operation CATAPULT).

                                For details see RELUCTANT ENEMIES and THE DEADLY STROKE by W Tute,

                                ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and The Naval Staff History).

                6th          Part of -screen for HMS HOOD, HMS VALIANT, HMS ARK ROYAL, HMS ARETHUSA

                                and HMS ENTERPRISE during air attacks on French battleship DUNKERQUE.

                8th          Deployed as destroyer screen for HM Battlecruiser HOOD, HM Battleships VALIANT

                                and RESOLUTION, HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL, HM Cruisers ARETHUSA, ENTERPRISE

                                and DELHI with HM Destroyers FOXHOUND, FAULKNOR and FORESTER of Flotilla and

                                destroyers of Local Flotilla (HMS ESCORT, HMS DOUGLAS, HMS ACTIVE, HMS WRESTLER

                                VELOX and VORTIGERN ) (Operation MA5).

                                Planned attack on Cagliari abandoned after Italian air attacks.

                23rd        Deployed with Force H for attack on Bay of Biscay shipping.

                25th        Operation cancelled and returned to Gibraltar.

 

August

                2nd         Escorted Force H for FAA attack on Cagliari (Operation CRUSH).

                4th          During passage to UK in collision with trawler FLYING WING.

                10th        Taken in hand for repair at Barclay Curie shipyard in Clyde.

 

September             Under repair.

 

October                  Under repair

                11th        On completion of post repair trials prepared for operational duty with Flotilla.

                30th        In collision at Greenock with ss LANARK and damaged stem.

 

November

                10th        Taken in hand for repair at Troon Under repair.

 

December              Under repair.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January

                8th          On completion worked-up for service with Flotilla and took passage to Gibraltar.

                31st         Joined HM Destroyers FOXHOUND, FORESIGHT, FURY, FIREDRAKE AND JERSEY in Group

                                2 as screen for HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Battleship MALAYA, HM Aircraft Carrier ARK

                                ROYAL and HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD (Group 1) for air attack on Tirso Dam on the Island of

                                Sardinia (Operation PICKET).

                                (Note: Planned bombardment of Genoa (Operation RESULT) was cancelled.)

 

February

                6th          Joined Group 2 with HM Destroyers FOXHOUND, FORESIGHT. FURY, ENCOUNTER and

                                JERSEY as screen for HMS RENOWN, HMS MALAYA, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS

                                SHEFFIELD for the re-scheduled bombardment of Genoa (Operation GROG).

 

March                    Deployed with Flotilla in Force H.

                30th        Joined screen for HMS SHEFFIELD with HM Destroyers FURY, FORTUNE and FORESTER

                                to intercept Vichy convoy.

                                Later attempt to capture French merchant ship BANGKOK off the port of Gazouet, Algeria foiled

                                by shore battery fire (Operation RATION).

 

April

                3rd          Part of screen for HMS ARK ROYAL, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN and HMS SHEFFIELD for

                                Malta aircraft delivery with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORTUNE, FURY and FORESIGHT

                                (Operation WINCH).

                25th        Part of screen for HMS ARK ROYAL, HMS RENOWN and HMS SHEFFIELD with HMS

                                FURY, HMS FAULKNOR, FORTUNE and FORESIGHT for escort of reinforcement ships to the

                                Fleet in Alexandria (Operation SALIENT).

                                (Note: HM Cruisers DIDO and ABDIEL, HM Destroyers KELLY, KIPLING, KASHMIR, KELVIN

                                JERSEY and JUPITER , deployed as Force S, were on passage to Malta.

                                Operation DUNLOP for a Malta aircraft delivery was concurrent with SALIENT).

 

May

                6th          Part of destroyer screen for HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM Cruisers NAIAD, FIJI and

                                GLOUCESTER during passage to join Fleet in Eastern Mediterranean deployed as Force F with

                                HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY, FORESIGHT and FORTUNE.

                                (Note This was part of Operation TIGER which included passage of supply convoy taking tanks to

                                Middle East and transfer of warships)

                12th        After arrival of convoy in Malta carried out minesweeping operation to enable

                                ships of 5th Destroyer Flotilla to safely leave harbour for offensive operation

                                against Italian convoys.

                19th        Deployed with HM Destroyers HARVESTER. HAVELOCK and WRESTLER as

                                escort for HM Cruiser LONDON for cover of Malta aircraft delivery by HM

                                Aircraft carriers ARK ROYAL and FURIOUS during initial passage.

                21st         Escort of HMS LONDON during Atlantic search for blockade runner in continuation

 

June                        Deployed in Atlantic on anti-submarine operations with Flotilla.

                16th        Shared credit for sinking U138 in position 36.00N 7.29W off Gibraltar with H M

                                Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FORESIGHT and FOXHOUND. 28 survivors

                                rescued.

                22nd       Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FOXHOUND, FORESTER and FURY

                                to intercept German supply ships reported on passage towards French coast by aircraft.

                23rd        Intercepted ss ALSTERTOR which scuttled on approach in position 41.12N 13.10W.

                                Rescued 78 British seamen held as PoW from ships sunk by German raiders and the

                                German crew.

 

July                         Resumed duty with Force H in Mediterranean.

                20th        Joined Force X as screen for HM Cruisers EDINBURGH, MANCHESTER,

                                ARETHUSA and HM Minelaying Cruiser MANXMAN with HM Destroyers COSSACK,

                                MAORI, SIKH, NESTOR (RAN), FOXHOUND and FIREDRAKE during passage to

                                Sicilian Narrows. (Operation SUBSTANCE)

                23rd        Whilst deployed as screen for HMS ARK ROYAL and under air attack, hit by torpedo

                                off Bone and set on fire aft.

                                Sunk by torpedo from HMS FORESTER after rescue of ships company.

  

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

In December 1963 the eighth RN warship to carry the name was launched at Belfast and completed as an Assault Ship in 1965. She is still in service but will be replaced before 1998 by a new ship HMS OCEAN. This type of warship is designed for use in Amphibious operations. Accommodation for Commando units is available and communications equipment for command and control.

 

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Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS FEARLESS

by Don Kindell

 

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

(Note on Convoys)