F-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered on 15th March 1933 from Parsons Marine Turbine Company under the 1932 Programme. The ship was built by Vickers-Armstrong at Newcastle and laid down on 5th July 1933 at the same time as sister ship HMS FAME in the same shipyard. She was launched on 26th July 1934, also the same day as HMS FAME, and was the 7th RN ship to carry this name. It had been introduced in 1648 and previously carried by a 1912 destroyer scrapped in 1921. Build completed on 30th May 1936 and she served mainly in the Mediterranean until 1939 including patrols for the protection of British shipping during the Spanish civil war. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign held in February 1942 she was adopted by the civil community of Tynemouth. then in the county of Northumberland, now in Tyne and Wear.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

BANTRY BAY 1680 - GOREE 1758 - BELLEISLE 1761 -  HELIGOLAND 1914 - ATLANTIC 1939-42 - NORWAY 1940 - SPARTIVENTO 194-0 - MEDITERRANEAN 1940-41 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941

 H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On s Field Black, a Firedrake green with red wings

and flames issuing from his mouth.

 

M o t t o

Vitute ardeo: '1 burn with valour'

 

 

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             Part of 8th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet.

                3rd          Deployed on fleet protection and escort in Home waters.

                14th        Part of screen for HM Aircraft Carrier COURAGEOUS in SW Approaches.

                                Participated in sinking of U39 with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR and FOXHOUND.

                                (Note: Attacking submarine had made an unsuccessful attack on HMS COURAGEOUS

                                and disabled in a series of depth charge attacks. After surfacing the submarine

                                was abandoned in position 58.32N 11.39W.

                                The first U- Boat 'kill' of WW2.)

                29th        Deployed with screen for Home Fleet during operation in North Sea to ensure the

                                safe return of damaged submarine SPEARFISH.

 

October

                4th          Rescued survivors of as GLEN FAHG 25 miles East of Orkneys.

 

November              Home Fleet screening and convoy defence in continuation.

to                            (For details of naval activities In Horns waters see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY

December              by C. Barnett and Naval Staff History).

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Home Fleet duties with Flotilla in continuation.

to

February.

 

March

                28th        Damaged when going alongside HM Destroyer ICARUS at Invergordon.

 

April                       Passage to Cardiff for repair in commercial shipyard.

                2nd         Taken in hand for repair.

 

May                        Convoy defence and bombardment duties in continuation.

                23rd        In action with aircraft and received some splinter damage.

                27th        Provided naval gunfire support with HM Cruisers CAIRO and COVENTRY during allied

                                Military operations to retake Narvik.

                28th        Deployed with HM Cruiser SOUTHAMPTON in Ofotfjord.

                29th        Took part In Bodo evacuation with m Destroyers ARROW, ECHO, HAVELOCK and

                                VANOC.

                                (For details of the disastrous operations off Norway see CARRIER GLORIOUS by John

                                Winton, NARVIK by D Maclntyre. THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by Jack Adams and

                                the Naval Staff History (2001) )

                                Rescued pilot of crashed Hurricane off Narvik.

                30th        Evacuated Irish Guards, Independent Companies and Military Police from Bodo with

                                HM Destroyer FAME.

 

June                        Norwegian evacuation support in continuation.

                8th          Escorted troopships from Norway.

                12th        Evacuated troops from Harstad (Operation ALPHABET)

                                Under air attacks during which A-Gun and steering motor were damaged.

                                Returned to UK on completion of repair.

                16th        Under repair in Clyde shipyard

                20th        Detached for escort duty in Atlantic with 4th Destroyer Flotilla.

 

July                         Home Fleet duties in continuation.

                2nd         Searched for survivors from ARANDORA STAR sunk by U47 in NW Approaches 350

                                miles west of Malin Head in position 55.20N 10.33W).

 

August                  Home Fleet duties in continuation.

                17th        Escorted ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron with HM Destroyers INGLEFIELD, JAVELIN

                                and JAGUAR during extension of East Coast Mine Barrier across Moray Firth.

                                (Operation SN12 - See Naval Staff History (MINING) for details.)

                22nd       Part of screen for HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruisers SHEFFIELD and

                                YORK for passage to Gibraltar to Join Force H.

                29th        Rejoined 8th Destroyer Flotilla for service with Force H on arrival.

                30th        Deployed as screen for HMS ARK ROYAL, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN and HMS

                                SHEFFIELD with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FURY, FORTUNE, FORESIGHT,

                                FORESTER and ENCOUNTER as Force B to cover passage of reinforcements to

                                Mediterranean Fleet in Alexandria.

                                (Operation HATS - HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Battleship VALIANT, HM Cruisers

                                CALCUTTA and COVENTRY, were to be met by ships Iron Alexandria after passing

                                through the Sicilian Narrows.

                                (For details of operations in Mediterranean see THE BATTLE FOR THE

                                MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and

                                Naval Staff History).

 

September

                2nd         Return passage to Gibraltar after transit of reinforcements.

 

October                  Deployed at Gibraltar.

                18th        Sank Italian submarine DURBO with HM Destroyer WRESTLER and two aircraft.

                                Retrieved documents before submarine sank.

                31st         Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, GALLANT, GREYHOUND

                                and GRIFFIN as screen for HMS RENOWN during patrol off coast of West Africa.

 

November

                7th          Deployed with HM Destroyers DUNCAN, ISIS, FOXHOUND, FORESTER, FAULKNOR,

                                FURY and FORTUNE as screen for HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS 3HEPFILED as Force B

                                providing cover for passage of HM Battleship BARHAM, HM Cruiser BERWICK and HM

                                Cruiser GLASGOW to reinforce the Fleet in the eastern Mediterranean.

                                (Operation COAT - See above references).

                14th        Returned to Gibraltar with Force B after an air attack on Cagliari. (Operation CRACK).

                15th        Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORTUNE, FORESTER and FOXHOUND

                                as screen for HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD in Force B to

                                provide cover for Malta aircraft delivery by HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS.

                                (Operation WHITE).

                                (Note: Only five aircraft arrived and diversionary air attack on Alghero was not carried

                                out because of adverse weather).

                25th        Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY, WISHART,

                                ENCOUNTER, KELVIN and JAGUAR to screen HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL,

                                HM Cruisers SHEFFIELD and DESPATCH during escort of Military convoy during

                                passage through western Mediterranean.

                                (Operation COLLAR - This also included the transit of HM Cruisers MANCHESTER and

                                SOUTHAMPTON to reinforce Fleet based at Alexandria).

                27th        Took part in brief engagement with Italian warships (Battle of Spartivento).

                                For details see above references).

 

December              Force H screen in duties with Flotilla in continuation.

                                (Note: During this period an offensive sweep was carried out off the Azores by HMS

                                SHEFFIELD and HMS ARK ROYAL)

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Intercepted convoy of Vichy French ships and escorted them to Gibraltar with HM

                                Destroyers FOXHOUND, DUNCAN and JAGUAR.

                                Exchanged fire with shore batteries.

                7th          Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY, FOXHOUND,

                                FORTUNE

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

                                SHEFFIELD to provide cover for passage of military convoy in western Mediterranean.

                                (Operation EXCESS - See above references).

                13th        Returned to Gibraltar with Force H ships.

                31st         Escorted HMS RENOWN, HMS MALAYA, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD with

                                HM Destroyers FEARLESS, FOXHOUND, FORESIGHT, FURY and JERSEY as Group 2 to

                                provide cover for an aircraft attack from HMS ARK ROYAL on Tirso Dam in Sardinia.

 

February

                4th          Returned to Gibraltar with Force H ships.

                7th          Joined HM Destroyers DUNCAN, ISIS and JUPITER to form Group 3 as escort for HMS

                                ARK ROYAL to carry out air operations against Livorno as a diversion during naval

                                bombardment of Genoa

                                (Operation GROG - replacing Operation RESULT which had been cancelled.

                                See above references).

 

March

                1st           Ran aground off Malaga in fog with damage to A/S Dome and propellers.

                2nd         Taken in hand for temporary repair in Gibraltar.

                21st         On completion took passage to Chatham for permanent repair.

 

April                       Repair in continuation.

to

May

 

June

                19th        Carried out post repair trials.

                20th        Passage to Gibraltar as escort for 9th Motor Launch Flotilla with HM Destroyer BEVERLEY.

                28th        Resumed Flotilla duties at Gibraltar.

 

July                         Flotilla deployment with Force H in continuation.

                20th        Joined escort for military convoy WS9C during passage in Atlantic to Gibraltar

                                (Note: This was a Malta relief convoy and part of Operation SUBSTANCE).

                21st         Joined screen for HM Cruisers EDINBURGH, MANCHESTER, ARETHUSA and

                                MANXMAN with HM Destroyers COSSACK, MAORI, SIKH, NESTOR, FEARLESS,

                                FOXHOUND, ERIDGE, AVONVALE and FARNDALE in Force X for escort of relief

                                convoy WS9C to Malta.

                23rd        Under air attacks south of Sardinia.

                                (Note: HMS MANCHESTER and HMS FEARLESS were torpedoed and the latter had to be

                                sunk after these attacks).

                                Sustained serious structural damage by near miss from 100Kg bomb. Passage to Gibraltar     

                                under tow by HMS ERIDGE and escorted by HMS AVONVALE and HMS SIKH.

                30th        After arrival at Gibraltar taken in hand for temporary repair.

 

August                  Under temporary repair and permanent repair arranged in US shipyard.

 

September             Prepared for ocean passage.

                13th        Passage to Boston USA with HM Cruiser MANCHESTER for completion of repair.

                23rd        Taken in hand for repair in US Navy Yard, Boston.

 

October                  Under repair and conversion for deployment as Anti-submarine destroyer.

to                            (Note: Conversion included removal of A gun and replacement by HEDGEHOG weapon as

December              well as installation of Radar Type 271 for surface detection.

                                For details and tactics used for convoy warfare see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann)

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Post refit trials.

                12th        Passage to UK as escort for Convoy NA2

 

February                Nominated for Atlantic convoy defence with 7th British Escort Group.

                                (Note: Other ships in Group included HM Destroyer CHESTERFIELD and HM Corvettes

                                SUNFLOWER, LOOSESTRIFE, ALISMA, PINK, JONQUIL and COREOPSIS.)

                17th        Joined military convoy WS16 in Clyde for Local Escort in NW Approaches with HM

                                Destroyers ACTIVE, ANTHONY, BLANKNEY, CROOME, DUNCAN, LAFOREY,

                                LIGHTNING, VERITY, WALKER and WITHERINGTON.

                                Damaged ASDIC Dome.

                21st         Detached from WS16 and returned to Clyde.

                                Taken in hand for repair in Clyde shipyard.

 

March                    During escort of convoy WS16 damaged ASDIC Dome.

                                Taken in hand for repair in Clyde shipyard.

 

April                       Under repair.

 

May                        Resumed Atlantic convoy defence with Group

 

June                        Deployed in NW Approaches for convoy defence.

to

July

 

August                  Under repair in Belfast.

 

September             Rejoined Group and deployed for Atlantic convoy defence.

                26th        Rescued survivors from Swedish OLAF FOSTENES which had been sunk on 18th Sept.

 

October                  Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.

 

November

                19th        Despatched with US destroyer USS BADGER to reinforce defence of Convoy ONS144 by 6th

                                British Escort Group under sustained attacks by four U-Boats.

                                (Note: HM Corvette MONTBRETIA of this Group and manned by the Royal Norwegian 

                                Navy had been sunk by U262 on 18th in defence of this convoy.)

                                Joined HM Corvettes VERVAIN, POTENTILLA, ROSE and EGLANTINE in escort of

                                ONS144.

                20th        Detached from ONS144 on arrival of RCN Local Escort.

                                (Note: U184 was sunk but five of the thirty three mercantiles in this convoy were lost.

                                See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)

 

December              Deployed with ships of Group including HMS CHESTERFIELD, HM Corvette SUNFLOWER

                                and four other corvettes for escort of the thirty-eight mercantiles in Convoy ONS153.

                15th        Under attack by U-Boats of RAUFBOLD Group in extreme weather conditions.

                17th        Torpedoed by U211 on starboard side and broke In two in position 50.50N 5.50W 600 miles

                                south of Iceland.

                                Stern portion remained afloat for some hours. Only 26 of the 148 personnel on

                                board survived and were rescued by HM Corvette SUNFLOWER.

                                (See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and WARSHIP LOSSES OF WW2 by D Brown.)

                                (Note: Three mercantiles in this convoy were also sunk.)

 

 

---

 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS FIREDRAKE

by Don Kindell

 

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

(Note on Convoys)