F-Class Fleet Destroyer built by Cammell Laird at Liverpool under 1932 Programme and laid down on 21st July 1933. The ship was launched on 29th June 1934 as the 5th RN warship to carry this name which was previously used for a cruiser sold in 1921 and introduced in 1570. Build was completed on 15 May 1935. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in November 1941 she was adopted by the civil community of Penzance, Cornwall.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

ARMADA 1588 - PORTLAND 1653 - GABBARD 1653 - SCHEVENINGEN 1653 - PORTO FARINA 1655 - SANTA CRUZ 1657 - ORFORDNESS 1666 - SCHOONEVELD 1673 - TEXEL 1673  - BELGIAN COAST 1914 - DARDANELLES 1915-16 - ATLANTIC 1941 - MEDITERRANEAN  1941 - MALTA  CONVOYS 1941-42  - ARCTIC 1942

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Black,  a Crescent Silver

 

M o t t o

Aevos sequimur:  'We follow 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

 

August                  Passage to Scapa Flow to join 8th Destroyer Flotilla, Hone Fleet at assigned War Station.

 

September             Deployed with Flotilla at Scapa Flow for screening of Fleet major units and anti-

to                            submarine patrol

December              Carried out anti-submarine patrols in Western Approaches and North Sea with ships of Flotilla.

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

                                MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and Naval Staff History.

 

1 9 4 0

January

                4th          Joined HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FOXHOUND, FAME, ISIS and IMPULSIVE. for escort of HM

                                Battleship NELSON from Loch Ewe to Portsmouth for repair after mine damage,

                9th          Return passage to resume Home Fleet duty.

                10th        Resumed Home Fleet screening and patrol duties

                                (Note: Major Home Fleet units had moved to Loch Ewe following the sinking of HM Battleship

                                ROYAL OAK in Scapa Flow and during escort of military convoys were screened by Home

                                Fleet destroyers based in Clyde.)

 

February                Deployment with Home Fleet in NW Approaches in continuation.

to

April

 

May                        Transferred to Humber for duty convoy defence and patrol in North Sea.

                                (Note: Period under repair to be investigated)

                18th        Rescued survivors from HM Auxiliary Minelayer in Hunter estuary with HM Destroyers

                                GALLANT and GRAFTON.

                                Remained in area on completion to warn other ships of new mine danger.

                26th        North Sea deployment continued during Operation DYNAMO and did not include embarkation

                                of allied troops from beaches at Dunkirk or northern French ports.)

 

June                        Transferred to Force H for duty with 8th Destroyer Flotilla at Gibraltar.

                                Passage to Gibraltar to rejoin Flotilla.

                                Joined Force H with ships of Flotilla on formation at Gibraltar

                                (For details of all operations in Mediterranean see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY

                                and THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by Donald MacIntyre)

 

July

                3rd          Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL during attack on French Fleet at Oran.

                                (Operation CATAPULT - For details see THE RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute and

                                Naval Staff History).

                23rd        Deployed with HMS ARK ROYAL for planned air attacks on Bordeaux.

                25th        Returned to Gibraltar with HMS ARK ROYAL when operation cancelled due to weather.

                31st         Joined screen for HM Battlecruiser HOOD, HMS ARK ROYAL and HM Cruiser

                                ENTERPRISE with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER and FOXHOUND during

                                Malta aircraft delivery as Group 1 (Operation CRUSH).

                                (This operation was co-incident with an air attack on Cagliari (Operation HURRY).

 

August

                4th          Passage to UK

                11th        Arrived UK

                20th        Return passage to Gibraltar.

 

September

                1st           Joined Force B with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FURY, FORTUNE, FIREDRAKE,

                                FORESTER and ENCOUNTER as screen for HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HMS ARK

                                ROYAL and HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD to cover the passage of HM Aircraft Carrier

                                ILLUSTRIOUS, H M Battleship VALIANT, HM Cruiser COVENTRY and HM Cruiser

                                CALCUTTA to join Mediterranean Fleet in Eastern Mediterranean (Force F)

                                (Operation HATS/MB)

                                (Note: This operation was co-incident with an air attack on Cagliari.

                                Operation SMASH/GRAB).

                8th          Detached with H M Destroyers FAULKNOR, FURY, FORTUNE, FORESTER and

                                GREYHOUND for screening of HM Battleship RESOLUTION and HMS ARK ROYAL on

                                passage to Freetown.

                13th        Joined Force M for support of planned French landing at Dakar.

                                (Operation MENACE - For details see MENACE by Arthur Harder).

                21st         Sailed with Force M for Dakar from Freetown.

                23rd        Deployed off Dakar for landing operations.

                                Damaged by shore fire.

                24th        After failure of negotiations carried out Anti-submarine patrol and support duty.

                25th        Sank French submarine PERSEE which had attacked and hit HMS RESOLUTION

                                Operation abandoned and returned to Freetown with Force M.

 

October                  Deployment at Freetown in continuation of support for French operations.

                3rd          Provided cover for Free French landing in Cameroons.

                8th          After successful landings took passage to UK for refit.

 

November              Under refit at Liverpool.

 

December

                22nd       Damaged in air raid on Liverpool

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  On completion of post refit trials prepared to sail to Gibraltar..

                18th        Passage to Gibraltar to rejoin Flotilla in Force H.

                22nd       Arrived at Gibraltar.

                                (Note: Ship brought plans of Tirso Dam to be used in preparation for attacks by

                                aircraft from HMS ARK ROYAL. See Naval Staff History.)

                31st         Deployed in Group 2 with H M DESTROYERS, FEARLESS, FOXHOUND, FURY,

                                FIREDRAKE and JERSEY and detached from HMS RENOWN, HM Battleship

                                MALAYA, HMS ARK ROYAL and HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD (Group 1) at lower speed

                                during air attacks on Tirso Dam, Sardinia (Operation PICKET – See Naval Staff History).

                                (Note: Operation RESULT - Planned bombardment of Genoa co-incident with PICKET

                                was cancelled).

 

February

                2nd         Rejoined Group 1 during the return passage to Gibraltar afer attacks completed,

                4th          Arrived at Gibraltar with ships of Group II.

                6th          Sailed from Gibraltar with ships of Force H for bombardment of Genoa (Operation GROG)

                9th          Deployed with HM Destroyers FEARLESS, FOXHOUND, FURY, ENCOUNTER and

                                JERSEY as Group 2 for escort for HMS RENOWN, HMS MALAYA, HMS ARK ROYAL

                                and HMS SHEFFIELD during bombardment of Genoa

 

March                    Flotilla deployment in continuation

                                (Note: Some ships of Flotilla were detached for Atlantic convoy defence at Freetown.)

                30th        Joined HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD, HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FURY, FEARLESS, FORTUNE

                                FORESTER, FOXHOUND and FORESIGHT to Intercept Vichy French

                                convoy bound for France from West Africa in Mediterranean.

                                Attack by Vichy French aircraft during return passage was unsuccessful. (Operation RATION)

 

April

                2nd         Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FURY and FORTUNE as escort

                                for HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD during a Malta aircraft

                                delivery (Operation WINCH)

                4th          Deployed in Atlantic for search operation.

                24th        Joined HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FORTUNE and FURY as screen for HMS

                                RENOWN. HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD for cover of passage of HM Cruisers

                                DIDO, ABDIEL, HM Destroyers KELLY, KIPLING, KASHMIR, KELVIN, JERSEY and

                                JACKAL to join Fleet in Eastern Mediterranean (Operation SALIENT).

                                (Note: Malta aircraft deliver Operation DUNLOP was coincident with SALIENT).

 

May

                6th          Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY, FORTUNE and

                                FEARLESS as the escort for HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM Cruisers

                                GLOUCESTER, FIJI and NAIAD (Force F) during passage to join Fleet in Eastern

                                Mediterranean.

                                (Operation TIGER - This operation included escort of military convoy taking tanks to Middle

                                East by ships of Force H).

                9th          Sustained damage during air attacks.

                12th        Under repair in Malta

                19th        Sailed to rejoin Force H west of Malta during current aircraft delivery.

                                (Operation SPLICE).

                20th        Joined escort for HMS RENOWN, HMS SHEFFIELD, H M Aircraft Carriers ARK ROYAL

                                and FURIOUS, HMS RENOWN for returned to Gibraltar.

                24th        Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, HESPERUS, FOXHOUND and

                                FURY as the screen for HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD to

                                cover passage of an Atlantic convoy against threat from BISMARCK

                                Detached to return to Gibraltar because of lack of fuel with HM Destroyers FOXHOUND

                                and HMS FURY.

                                (Note: Major units of Force H Joined in search for BISMARCK - See PURSUIT by

                                L. Kennedy)

 

June

                5th          Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER and FOXHOUND as screen f or

                                HMS RENOWN and HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS for Malta aircraft delivery.

                                (Operation ROCKET)

                9th          Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS and HM Cruiser HERMIONE into Gibraltar at

                                end of passage from UK.

                13th        Escorted HMS ARK ROYAL AND HMS VICTORIOUS with HM Destroyers

                                FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FORESTER, FOXHOUND, HESPERUS and W1SHART

                                during aircraft delivery to Malta. (Operation TRACER).

                15th        Deployed in Atlantic with ships of 8th Flotilla for anti-submarine operations in Atlantic.

                18th        Shared credit for sinking U138 West of Gibraltar with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR,

                                FEARLESS, FORESTER and FOXHOUND.

                                Some survivors from U138 were rescued.

 

 July

                21st         Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY, DUNCAN and

                                LIGHTNING as the escort for HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS

                                HERMIONE during cover for the passage of supply convoy to Malta .

                                (Operation SUBSTANCE).

                23rd        Sank HM Destroyer FEARLESS of 8th Flotilla after damaged during air attacks.

                27th        Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FURY, FORESTER, FOXHOUND,

                                COSSACK, MAORI, NESTOR (RAN), ENCOUNTER and HM Escort Destroyer

                                ERIDGE as screen for HM Battleship NELSON, HMS RENOWN and HMS ARK ROYAL

                                during cover for passage of personnel convoy to Malta (Operation STYLE).

 

August

                2nd         Redeployed as part of Group H as escort for HMS NELSON and HM Cruisers ARETHUSA

                                and MANXMAN with HMS FAULKNOR, HMS FURY AND HMS FOXHOUND for

                                return passage.

21st         Deployed with HM Destroyers NESTOR, FORESTER, FURY and

                                FOXHOUND as escort for HMS NELSON, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS HERMIONE

                                during air attack on Teapio, Sardinia diversionary sweep off Valencia as cover for

                                minelaying operation. (Operation MINCEMEAT).

 

September

                8th          Joined Force A with HM Destroyers LEGION and FORESTER as escort for HMS

                                FURIOUS and HMS HERMIONE during Malta aircraft delivery (Operation STATUS).

                24th        Joined Force X with HM Destroyers COSSACK, ZULU, FORESTER, FARNDALE,

                                HEYTHROP, ORIBI, LAFOREY and LIGHTNING as escort for HM Cruisers

                                KENYA, EDINBURGH, SHEFFIELD, HERMIONE and EURYALUS for passage through

                                to Malta with supply convoy (Operation HALBERD).

                28th        On arrival of convoy in Malta took passage to rejoin units of Force H which had covered

                                HALBERD convoy as Force A.

 

October

                16th        Deployed with HM Destroyers COSSACK, FORESTER, FURY, LEGION, SIKH and

                                ZULU as screen for HMS RODNEY, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS HERMIONE in joint

                                operation to cover Malta aircraft delivery and passage of ships of Force K to Malta.

                                (Note: Force K comprised HM Cruisers AURORA and PENELOPE with an escort of

                                Fleet Destroyers HMS LANCE and LIVELY.

                                Two supply ships were also passed to Malta).

                                (Operation CALLBOY).

 

November              Nominated for return to UK for service with Home Fleet.

                16th        Joined military convoy WS12Z with HM Destroyers FORESTER, FURY, DULVERTON and

                                SOUTHWOLD during passage in Atlantic to Freetown as relief’s for Local Escort by HM

                                Destroyers BADSWORTH, EXMOOR, VANQUISHER, WHITEHALL and WITCH from Clyde,

                                (Note: Ocean Escort was provided by HM Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN.

                19th        Detached from WS12Z with HMS FORESIGHT and HMS FURY and took passage to

                                Clyde.

                                On arrival joined Home Fleet for Atlantic escort duty.

 

December              Nominated for special duty.

                13th        Joined escort for HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK taking Prime Minister to USA.

                17th        Detached from HMS DUKE OF YORK after weather damage during passage at high speed..

                18th        Under repair in Azores

                23rd        Took passage to Scapa Flow to rejoin 8th Destroyer Flotilla in Home Fleet

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Deployed with Flotilla in Home Fleet for escort of major units during interception patrols to

to                            prevent beak-out of German commerce raiders into Atlantic and for convoy defence.

February

 

March

                21st         Part of screen for HM Battleships KING GEORGE V and DUKE OF YORK, HM

                                Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS, HM Cruiser EDINBURGH

                                and HM Cruiser KENT with 15 other destroyers to cover passage of Russian Convoy PQ13

                                and the return convoy OP9.

                                (Note: This very powerful force was deployed because of the presence of several German

                                major units in Norway .For details of all Russian Convoy operations and Home Fleet

                                operations off Norway see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, CONVOYS

                                TO RUSSIA by R A Ruegg, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman and THE

                                RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield).

 

April

                13th        Part of Ocean Escort for Russian Convoy PQ14 with HM Cruiser EDINBURGH and HM

                                destroyers AMAZON, BEAGLE, BEVERLEY, BULLDOG and FORESTER with four

                                corvettes and three trawlers.

                                (Note: HMS EDINBURGH was carrying steel plate to Murmansk for repair of damaged

                                cruiser HMS TRINIDAD).

                                Two trawlers did not remain with PQ14.

                18th        Detached from PQ14 with HMS FORESTER as escort for HMS EDINBURGH when

                                German destroyers HERMANN SCHOEMANN, Z24 and Z25 approached convoy.

                                No attack was made.

                28th        Part of escort for return convoy OP 11 with same ships.

                30th        Detached from escort with HMS FORESTER and two Russian destroyers to assist HMS

                                EDINBURGH which had been torpedoed by U456 and sustained serious damage.

                                (Note: HMS EDINBURGH was carrying Russian bullion to UK and had was taking up a

                                station ahead of convoy after joining escort from Murmansk).

 

May

                1st           Remained with HMS FORESTER to assist in saving damaged cruiser.

                                In action against German destroyers HERMANN SCHOEMANN, Z24 and Z25 attacking

                                HMS EDINBURGH. Hit by four shells and disabled with several sustained casualties

.                               Eight of ship’s company were killed and 11 wounded.

                                (Note: German destroyer HERMANN SCHOEMANN was seriously damaged in thie

                                action and had to be scuttled. See above references.

                                Sank EDINBURGH with last available torpedo after survivors had been rescued.

                                (For full details of this action see above references and Naval Staff History.).

                4th          Under temporary repair at Murmansk.

                13th        Escorted HM Cruiser TRINIDAD with HM Destroyers FORESTER, SOMALI and

                                MATCHLESS.

                14th        Under heavy air attacks.

                15th        Closed damaged TRINIDAD and took off some of the survivors before the cruiser was

                                sunk by HMS MATCHLESS.

                16th        Passage to UK for permanent repair.

 

June                        Under repair

 

July                         On completion of post repair trials rejoined Flotilla in Home Fleet and prepared

                                for operational service.

August

                3rd          Deployed as escort for HM Battleships NELSON and RODNEY with 11 other Home Fleet

                                destroyers covering passage of Malta relief convoy WS21 (Operation PEDESTAL).

                                (Note: To be deployed in the minesweeping role in Skerki Channel approach to Malta.)

                10th        Deployed as part of Force Z (HMS NELSON, HMS RODNEY, HM Aircraft Carriers

                                EAGLE, INDOMITABLE and FURIOUS, HM Cruisers PHOEBE, SIRIUS and

                                CHARYBDIS on entry to Mediterranean.

                12th        Under heavy sustained air attacks during and sustained casualties.

                                One officer and three ratings were killed.

                                During passage through Sicilian Narrows hit aft by torpedo from aircraft.

                                Serious damage and flooding aft immobilised ship Ship north of Bizerta in position

                                37.40N 10.00E

                                Taken in tow by HM Destroyer TARTAR which later had to be slipped to carry out

                                anti-submarine operations when HMS EAGLE was sunk in an attack by U73.

                                On return of HMS TARTAR it was clear that further attempt to save ship in a

                                hazardous situation was not possible.

                13th        Sunk by torpedo from HMS TARTAR

                                For full details see PEDESTAL by R Woodman and above references.

                                (For details see PEDESTAL by Peter C Smith).

 

 

---

 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS FORESIGHT

by Don Kindell

 

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

(Note on Convoys)