Greyhound-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from Alex. Stephens, Govan under the 1933 Programme during March 1934. The ship  was laid down on 3rd October that year and launched on 12th November 1935 as the 2nd RN warship to carry the name, first used for a Paddle Steamer (Ex GRENADIER) hired during WW1. Her build was completed on 28th March 1936 at a cost of £252.560, excluding equipment supplied by Admiralty such as guns, ammunition and communications equipment. She served in the 1st Destroyer Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet before the outbreak of war.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC 1939 - NORWAY  1940 - DUNKIRK  1940

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Green,. a Grenade Black with flames issuant Gold.

 

M o t t o

Semper paratus:  'Always ready'.

 

 

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             Serving with 1st Destroyer Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria.

                                Deployed for patrol and contraband control duty in Mediterranean.

 

October                  Mediterranean Fleet duties in continuation.

                                Nominated for transfer to Home waters with Flotilla.

                25th        Passage to UK. November

 

November

                2nd         Deployed at Plymouth for convoy escort and anti-submarine patrol in SW Approaches

                                and English Channel.

                7th          Sustained damage In collision with HM Destroyer GRENVILLE at Plymouth.

                                Stem twisted and fore-peak flooded.

                8th          Taken in hand for repair at Falmouth.

 

December              Under repair.

                9th          Rejoined Flotilla now based at Harwich for convoy escort and contraband duty in Nore

                                Command.

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Deployed for contraband control.

                19th        Rescued 117 survivors from HM Destroyer GRENVILLE with HM Destroyer GRIFFIN.

                                (Note: HMS GRENVILLE, Leader of 1st Flotilla, was mined 23 miles east of Kentish

                                Knock LV).

                27th        Taken in hand for refitting in commercial shipyard.

 

February                Under refit.

                27th        Refit work completed and took passage for trials.

                                Damaged in collision with rms ORION at Tilbury.

                28th        Taken in hand for Temporary repair to allow passage to Harwich.

 

March                    Under temporary repair

                2nd         Passage to Harwich and permanent repair started.

 

April

                3rd          Passage to Scapa to rejoin Flotilla for duty with Home Fleet

.               10th        Escorted tanker BRITISH LADY with HM Destroyer ENCOUNTER to Skelfjord, Norway

                                to supply fuel ships deployed off Norway in support of allied landings

                                (Operation RUPERT/R4).

                14th        Deployed as escort for HM Battleship WARSPITE after 1st Battle of Narvik.

                19th        Carried out anti-submarine patrol duty off Lofotens.

                26th        Escorted HM Aircraft Carriers ARK ROYAL and GLORIOUS during Carrier Group flying

                                operations in support of Norwegian military operations and for Fleet protection.

                                (Operation DX).

                27th        Escorted HMS GLORIOUS for passage to Scapa to refuel and replenish aircraft.

                29th        Passage from Scapa Flow to Norwegian coast.

                30th        Deployed at Namsos during evacuation of allied troops.

 

May                        Norwegian support in continuation.

                3rd          Rescued crew of French destroyer BISON damaged during air attacks at Namsos with HM

                                Destroyer IMPERIAL.

                                (Note BISON later had to be scuttled.)

                5th          Returned to Scapa Flow for Fleet screening duty.

                13th        Detached for duty in English Channel based at Dover.

                14th        Sustained damaged above waterline in collision with trawler CLAYTON WYKE in the

                                Straits of Dover.

                15th        Taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard, Sheerness.

                25th        On completion resumed Channel deployment at Dover.

                26th        Deployed with HM Destroyers CODRINGTON, JAVELIN and JAGUAR for cover of

                                evacuation from Dunkirk (Operation DYNAMO)

                                See NINE DAYS OP DUNKIRK by AD Divine, BEF SHIPS by J de S Winser and Naval Staff

                                History (HMSO-2003)

                                Carried out patrol off beaches for Interception of enemy attacks by E-Boats and submarines.

                27th        Patrol duty and covering duties in continuation..

                28th        Rescued survivors of ss ABUKIR with HM Destroyers CODRINGTON, ANTHONY and

                                JAVELIN after this mercantile carrying troops had been torpedoed by an E-Boat.

                                Embarked 871 troops for passage to Dover

                29th        Return passage to beaches from Dover with HM Destroyers GALLANT and JAGUAR.

                                Under air attacks without damage.

                                During evacuation from East Pier, Dunkirk came under further air attacks and hit by three

                                bombs that caused significant damage and started fires.

                                Attempt to tow ship clear was unsuccessful and ship was abandoned as fires could not be

                                controlled.

                                When fire reached magazines later the ship blew up.

 

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Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS GRENADE

by Don Kindell

 

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

(Note on Convoys)