H-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from Parsons
Marine: Turbine Company with the hull ruction
sub-contracted to Vickers Armstrong at
Newcastle under the 1934
Programme en on 28th February 1935 at the same
time as sister ship HMS HERO. She was
1st Royal Navy warship to carry this name
and was launched on 19th March 1936
on the same date as HMS HERO. Build
was completed on 9th December 1936 at a tender
price of £249,591, excluding cost of Admiralty
supplied items such as guns and signalling
outfits. This destroyer was fitted with a
prototype twin 4.7in gun mounting in
B position,
with no gun fitted in A position. During
trials the new mounting was found
unsatisfactory and the twin mounting was
replaced by the normal single 4.7in
mounting with a second single mounting fit of
two single in B position. This destroyer
served with the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla in
the Mediterranean until the outbreak of WW2,
apart from a refit at Portsmouth in mid 1939.
B
a t t l e
H o n o
u r s
ATLANTIC
1940 - CALABRIA 1940 - SPARTIVENTO 1940 -
LIBYA
1940 - MATAPAN 1941 GREECE 1941 - CRETE
1941 - MEDITERRANEAN
1940-41 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Red , the "Wake" knot Gold
Motto
Vigila
et ora :
'Watch and pray'.
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
3rd
Deployed in Mediterranean with 2nd Destroyer
Flotilla for Contraband Control duty
and screening of major Fleet units.
October
Transferred to Freetown for convoy escort
duty.
Intercepted German mercantile UHENFELS 300
miles SW Freetown and took her to
Freetown as Prize.
Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL during
search for raiders in South Atlantic.
November
Deployed for convoy defence based at Trinidad.
December
South Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
17th
At Plate Estuary after GRAF SPEE action.
On release from duty in South Atlantic resumed
duty in Caribbean area.
Maintained blockade on Port Everglades,
Florida to prevent German mercantile ARAUCA
leaving harbour to return to Germany.
1 9 4
0
January
Deployed for special escort duty.
23rd
Sailed from Bermuda for Halifax with HM
Destroyer HUNTER as escorted for HM Battleship
VALIANT and HM Cruiser ENTERPRISE with HM
Destroyer HUNTER.
(Note: HMS VALIANT had been working-up in the
West Indies).
27th
Taken in hand for weather damage repair on
arrival at Halifax
February
Under repair.
16th
Repair work completed.
28th
Escorted HM Cruiser ORION, carrying ashes of
Governor General of Canada to UK.
March
On passage to UK.
11th
Taken in hand for repair and installation of
Degaussing at Portsmouth.
April
12th
On completion of repair and worked-up for
service with Home Fleet.
(Note: The repair work prevented the ship
being with her Flotilla during the 1st Battle
of Narvik).
17th
Escorted HM Cruiser SUFFOLK for bombardment of
Sola airfield, Stavanger.
(Operation DUCK – To support landings at
Andalsnes (Operation PRIMROSE)).
19th
Deployed with Fleet units in convoy escort and
support of military operations off Norway.
23rd
Escorted HI Aircraft Carriers ARK ROYAL and
GLORIOUS with HM Destroyers HASTY.
FURY, FEARLESS and JUNO from Scapa Flow to
carry cut flying operation and protection
of Fleet units off Norway (Operation DX).
Deployed as escort for HMS ARK ROYAL with HM
Destroyers HYPERION, FEARLESS
and JUNO.
(Note: HMS GLORIOUS returned to Scapa Flow to
refuel).
May
Norwegian deployment in continuation
(For details of the disastrous Norwegian
operations see NARVIK by D Macintyre, THE
DOOMED EXPEDITION by Adams and Naval Staff
History (HMSO – 2001) ).
7th
Nominated for transfer to Harwich with HM
Destroyers JANUS, HYPERION, HAVOCK,
KELLY, KIMBERLEY, KANDAHAR and HOSTILE for
support of military operations
in Nore Command.
8th
Passage to Rosyth.
9th
During passage from Rosyth to Harwich with HM
Cruiser BIRMINGHAM, HM Destroyers
JANUS, HYPERION and HAVOCK detached with
destroyers to take part in search by other
Home Fleet destroyers for enemy minelayers
reported in North Sea.
Deployed with Flotilla at Harwich to assist
with operations off Dutch coast.
(Note: HMS BIRMINGHAM was later joined by
destroyers of 5th Destroyer Flotilla
commanded by Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten.
These destroyers later engaged enemy torpedo
boats and HMS KELLY was hit
by a torpedo and sustained major damage,
On release from search resumed passage to
Harwich.
11th
Escorted trawlers to Scheveningen to evacuate
British nationals from Holland.
13th
Embarked HM Queen Wilhelmina of Netherlands
for passage to Harwich.
16th
Transferred with Flotilla to Mediterranean for
Fleet screening and patrol duties.
17th
Took passage to Alexandria.
24th
On arrival at Alexandria deployed with
Mediterranean Fleet.
June
Deployed with Fleet units in eastern
Mediterranean.
(Note: Extensive exercises were carried out by
Fleet units in anticipation of was with Italy.
See Naval Staff History (HMSO- 2001).)
28th
Sailed from Alexandria as part of Force B to
provide cover for convoys on passage in
eastern Mediterranean (Operation MA3)
Deployed with ships of Flotilla as screen for
HM Battleships RAMILLIES, ROYAL
SOVEREIGN and HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE.
(Note: During this operation ships of Force A
comprising HM Cruisers ORION,
NEPTUNE, SYDNEY (RAN), LIVERPOOL and
GLOUCESTER OF 7th Cruiser
Squadron engaged three enemy destroyers, one
of which ESPERO was sunk.
This engagement was not considered
satisfactory in view of the very significant
expenditure of ammunition. See Naval Staff
History (HMSO-2001).)
July
9th
Escorted HM Battleship WARSPITE during
covering operation for transit of convoys in
eastern Mediterranean (Operation MA5 for
Convoys MF1/MS1))
Took part in action against Italian Fleet off
Calabria.
(See Naval Staff History and THE BATTLE FOR
THE MEDITERRANEAN.)
18th
Detached from Fleet units with HM Destroyer
IMPERIAL and took passage to Port Said to
escort mercantiles on passage to join Convoy
AN2. See Naval Staff History
August
Deployed in Eastern Mediterranean.
30th
Part of screen for HMS EAGLE., HM Battleships
MALAYA and WARSPITE, HM Cruisers
KENT, GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, ORION and SYDNEY
(RAN) covering passage of
Convoy ME2 from Alexandria to Malta (Operation
MB3).
September
2nd
Deployed with screen during meeting near
Pantellaria with reinforcement ships on
passage to
join the Fleet from Gibraltar (Operation
HATS).
(Note: HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM
Battleship VALIANT, HM Cruisers
CALCUTTA and Cruiser COVENTRY).
5th
Arrived back in Alexandria with Fleet units.
25th
Carried out bombardment of military target at
Sidi Baranni with HM Destroyers HYPERION,
JANUS and MOHAWK.
October
Eastern Mediterranean deployment fir convoy
defence in continuation.
(Note: Convoy MF3 was passed to Malta and
Convoy ME4 to Egypt with destroyer escort
from Alexandria (0peration MB6).
This ship was not deployed with Fleet screen
for cover of these convoys).
November
6th
Joined HM Destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER, HASTY,
HAVOCK, HERO, HYPERION,
ILEX, JANUS, JERVIS, JUNO, MOHAWK and NUBIAN
(Operation MB8).
as screen for Fleet units providing cover for
passage of Convoy MW3 to Malta.
(Note: This was part of a joint major
deployment with Force H to pass further
reinforcements
to join the Fleet at Alexandria (Operation
COAT).
Ships being transferred were HM Battleship
BARHAM, HM Cruisers BERWICK and
GLASGOW screened by HM Destroyers GALLANT,
GRIFFIN and GREYHOUND.
from Gibraltar.)
10th
Detached as escort for HM Aircraft Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS during air attack on Italian Fleet
at Taranto (Operation JUDGEMENT)
11th
Returned to rejoin Fleet with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.
14th
Arrived at Alexandria.
25th
Deployed with HM Destroyers DEFENDER, DIAMOND,
GALLANT and GREYHOUND as
screen for HMS RAMILLIES, HM Cruisers BERWICK,
NEWCASTLE and COVENTRY to
provide cover for the passage of Convoy MW4 to
Malta and return of Convoy ME4 to Egypt
as Force D.
(Operation MB9 - Part of Operation COLLAR -
The transfer of HM Cruisers
MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON with HM Destroyer
HOTSPUR (Force F) from UK
to Alexandria.
27th
Force D met reinforcement ships and convoy
from Gibraltar.
Present during brief engagement with Italian
warships which attempted to attack a convoy
from Gibraltar (Battle of Cape Spartivento)
(See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval
Staff History for details)
29th
Return passage to Alexandria as escort for
Convoy ME4 with ships of Mediterranean Fleet.
December
10th
Deployed in support of military operations
after Italian provided naval gunfire support
against
road traffic.
13th
Sank Italian submarine NAIADE with HM
Destroyer HYPERION.
Submarine crew were rescued.
14th
Returned to Alexandria).
21st
Detached from Fleet screen to join HMS MALAYA
and HM Destroyers HERO and HASTY as
escort for two mercantiles to Gibraltar
(Convoy MG1 ).
25th
Despatched from Gibraltar to support Atlantic
convoy under attack by German cruiser HIPPER.
(See above references).
29th
Returned to Gibraltar with three ships
dispersed from attacked convoy
1 9 4
1
January
7th
Deployed as part of Force F with HM Destroyers
HASTY. HERO and JAGUAR to escort HM
Cruiser BONAVENTURE during passage to
reinforce Fleet in eastern Mediterranean.
Cover was provided by Ships of Force H.
(Part of Operation EXCESS - passage of
military convoy to Malta and Piraeus).
10th
In action against Italian E-Boats CIRCE and
VEGA in Sicilian Channel.
Torpedoed and sank VEGA which had been damaged
by gunfire from HMS BONAVENTURE.
Force F met ships of Mediterranean Fleet later
that morning.
(Note: Mediterranean Fleet had been under
heavy and sustained dive-bombing attacks by
German Fliegerkorps X during which HMS
ILLUSTRIOUS was badly damaged.
See above references).
11th
Detached from Force F on arrival In Malta and
rejoined Fleet.
Under further heavy and sustained air attacks
during which HMS SOUTHAMPTON was hit and
on fire.
Later this cruiser was sunk by HM Cruiser
ORION).
15th
Returned to Alexandria.
February
Detached for special duties.
13th
Escorted HM Armed Boarding Vessel CHAKLA into
Benghazi.
22nd
Participated in Commando raid on Castellorizio
in Aegean with HM Destroyer DECOY.
(Operation ABSTENTION)
March
Deployed for escort of military convoys to
Greece (Operation LUSTRE)
See BATTLE OF THE WINE DARK SEA by L Lind and
Military History)
4th
Escorted Convoy AN17 to Piraeus with HM
Cruiser Coventry, HM Destroyer STUART (RAN)
and HM Corvette HYACINTH.
20th
Deployed with H M Destroyers HASTY, ILEX,
JERVIS, STUART (RAN), and VENDETTA
(RAN) as screen for HM Aircraft Carrier
FORMIDABLE, HM Battleships BARHAM,
VALIANT, WARSPITE. HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER and
YORK to cover passage of Convoy
MW6 to Malta. (Operation MD9).
26th
Escorted HM Cruisers AJAX, GLOUCESTER, ORION
and PERTH for offensive sweep in the
eastern Mediterranean to lure Italian Fleet
into surface action.
28th
Deployed with Fleet screen during Battle of
Matapan.
For details see MATAPAN by SW Pack and Naval
Staff History).
29th
Detached from Fleet screen and deployed with
HM Destroyer GRIFFIN and HMAS STUART
to escort Convey GA8 from Piraeus.
April
18th
Joined screen for HMS FORMIDABLE, HM
Battleships BARHAM, VALIANT and
WARSPITE, HM Cruisers AJAX, CALCUTTA,
GLOUCESTER, ORION and PHOEBE with
HM Destroyers ENCOUNTER, HASTY, HAVOCK. HERO,
JAGUAR and JUNO to cover
passage of HM Supply Ship BRECONSHIRE to Malta
and return passage of Convoy ME7.
Operation MD2)
19th
Refuelled at Suda Bay, Crete and sailed to
resume cover operation.
20th
Detached from Fleet units and deployed as
screen for HM Battleships WARSPITE,, BARHAM,
VALIANT and HM Cruiser GLOUCESTER with HM
Destroyers HASTY, HAVOCK, HERO,
HOTSPUR, JAGUAR, JANUS, JERVIS and JUNO in
Force B.
(Note: Other ships were deployed as Force C
for planned bombardment.
21st
Deployed as screen for Force B during inshore
bombardment close inshore (Operation MD2).
Passage to Tripoli. to carry out Bombardment
(Operation MD3)
On completion took passage with to Alexandria
with Forces B and C.
23rd
Arrived at Alexandria.
26th
Deployed at Kalamata, Greece with HM Cruisers
PHOEBE, HM Destroyers DEFENDER, HERO,
HM Sloop FLAMINGO and two mercantiles for
evacuation of British troops from Crete.
(Note: For details se Naval Staff History.
7,000 troops were left.)
27th
Under air attack during return passage to
Alexandria,
(Note: One mercantile was sunk without
casualties.)
28th
Deployed at Kalamata, Greece for evacuation
with HM Destroyers HERO, KANDAHAR,
KIMBERLEY, KINGSTON, NUBIAN, DEFENDER, DECOY
and HASTY
(Note: Troops were embarked from wharves and
taken to HM Cruisers PHOEBE and PERTH
(RAN) lying off-shore.)
29th
Returned to Alexandria.
May
6th
Deployed as screen for HMS FORMIDABLE, HMS
BARHAM, HMS VALIANT, HMS
WARSPITE, HM Cruisers ORION, PERTH (RAN),
ABDIEL and HMS BRECONSHIRE with
HM Destroyers HOTSPUR, HAVOCK, GRIFFIN, HERO,
JERVIS, JUNO, KANDAHAR,
KIMBERLEY, KINGSTON, NIZAM and NUBIAN
(Operation MD4)
(Part of Operation TIGER - Clover for passage
of Convoy MW7 to Malta and that of a military
convoy in eastern Mediterranean bringing tanks
to 8th Army in Egypt.
8th
Detached with Fleet units and took passage to
meet TIGER Convoy
9th
Met TIGER Convoy.
12th
Arrived at Alexandria with TIGER convoy.
20th
Participated in defence of Crete against
German occupation.
Under air attacks
21st
Deployed as Force D in position SW of Kithera
with HM Cruisers DIDO, ORION and AJAX with
HM Destroyers JANUS, KIMBERLEY and HASTY.
Moved westward into Aegean to intercept any
invasion craft.
In action against invasion craft NW of Suda
Bay and sank caiques.
22nd
Ordered to return to Alexandria because of
shortage of AA ammunition.
Supported military operations and provided
defence for Fleet units off Crete.
28th
Escorted HM Cruisers ORION, AJAX and DIDO with
HM Destroyers DECOY, JACKAL,
HOTSPUR, IMPERIAL and KIMBERLEY to evacuate
allied troops from Heraklion.
(Note: Under air attacks on passage and HMS
AJAX detached after sustaining damage by near
miss.)
29th
Under sustained aerial attacks after
completing evacuation and hit by bomb during
passage to
Alexandria which reduced speed.
(Note: Air cover had been expected but arrival
was delayed.
See Naval Staff History for details.)
Became isolated from other ships and subjected
to further air attacks 5 miles south of Crete.
Ship sank in position 35.20N 26.20E after
another bomb hit.
76 members of ship's company were killed and
89 were taken prisoner.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS HEREWARD
by
Don Kindell
This convoy list has not been cross-checked
with the text above
|
|
|
|
|
Date
convoy sailed
|
Joined
convoy as escort
|
Convoy
No.
|
Left
convoy
|
Date
convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
09/09/39
|
09/09/39
|
BLUE
001
|
19/09/39
|
19/09/39
|
22/09/39
|
22/09/39
|
GREEN
2
|
27/09/39
|
unknown
|
26/02/40
|
unknown
|
HX
023
|
unknown
|
12/03/40
|
08/03/41
|
08/03/41
|
AS
017/1
|
12/03/41
|
12/03/41
|
22/03/41
|
24/03/41
|
AN
022
|
25/03/41
|
25/03/41
|
29/03/41
|
29/03/41
|
GA
008
|
31/03/41
|
31/03/41
|
13/04/41
|
13/04/41
|
ASF
025
|
15/04/41
|
15/04/41
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)