I-Class
Fleet Destroyer Leader ordered from Cammell
Laird at Birkenhead under 1935 Programme and
laid down on 29th April 1936. The ship was
launched on 15th October the same year and was
the 1st RN warship to carry the name of the
19th century Admiral. She was completed an
25 June 1937 and had additional accommodation
for use as a Flotilla Leader. Later that year
the ship went to Malta and joined the Fleet in
the Mediterranean. Following a successful
WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in
October 1941 she was adopted by the civil
community of Argyllshire, Scotland.
HMS Inglefield in film, 1937 on YouTube
B
a t t l
e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1939-43 - NORTH SEA 1940
- NORWAY 1940-42 - BISMARCK
Action 1941 - MALTA
CONVOYS 1942 - ARCTIC 1942-43
- SICILY 1943
- SALERNO 1943 - MEDITERRANEAN 1944
- ANZIO 1944
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field White,
a double headed
eagle
displayed
per pale Blue and Red
(From
the crest of Admiral Inglefield).
M
o t t o
The
sun my compass.
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
Deployed as Leader of 3rd Destroyer
Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet.
3rd
Based in Malta
for interception of blockade runners.
5th
Transferred to Home Fleet for anti-submarine
patrol and convoy defence duty in
Western Approaches
16th
Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier COURAGEOUS
during anti-submarine patrol in SW
Approaches.
17th
Detached to rescued survivors of ss
KAFIRSTAN sunk by U83 and not with the
escort
when the aircraft carrier was sunk. Returned
to carry out hunt for submarine.
October
Deployment in SW Approaches in continuation.
14th
Participated in sinking of U45 in position
50.58N 12.07W, SW of Eire with sister
destroyers HMS IVANHOE and HMS INTREPID.
There were no survivors.
See U-BOATS
DESTROYED by P Kemp.
19th
Taken in hand for refit at Cammell Laird
shipyard, Liverpool.
November
Under refit
11th
On completion took passage to Scapa
Flow.
12th
Rejoined Flotilla for screening duty of Home
Fleet major units and convoy escort.
29th
Deployed with HM Destroyer MAORI to assist
damaged submarine TRIAD returning from
patrol in North
Sea.
30th
Towed HM Submarine TRIAD to Stavanger.
December
Home Fleet deployment with Flotilla In
continuation.
For details of naval activities during 1939
see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by
Corelli Bamett., HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C
Blair and Naval Staff History).
1
9 4 0
January
Home Fleet deployment in continuation.
February
Part of escort for Convoy HN14.
25th
Detached from convoy after submarine sighted
by HM Submarine NARWHAL.
Participated In search for U63 which had
submerged.
After two hour hunt with HM Destroyers
ESCAPADE, ESCORT and IMOGEN submarine was
forced to surface and abandoned by crew.
U63 was sunk by gunfire and 24 survivors
were rescued. See U-BOATS DESTROYED.)
March
Part of screen for Home Fleet major units
including HM Battlecruiser RENOWN in NW
Approaches with HM Destroyer FORTUNE, ILEX,
IMOGEN, ISIS and other destroyers of
Home Fleet.
Refuelled from HMS RENOWN.
31st
Nominated as Senior Officer for Force WS to
escort HM Auxiliary Minelayer TEVIOT BANK
during minelay off Stadtlandet, Norway as part
of Operation WILFRED.
April
5th
Sailed with HM Destroyers ISIS, ILEX and
IMOGEN for minelay from Scapa Flow.
(Operation WS).
7th
Operation cancelled when German warships
reported heading for the coast of Norway
from
Heligoland Bight.
Re-deployed with Home Fleet units for the
support of allied military operations and
convoys to
Norway
(Operation RUPERT/R4).
10th
In action with aircraft during attacks on
Fleet units and convoys.
11th
Escorted HM Cruiser BERWICK during search
for German warships off Norway.
19th
Returned to Scapa
Flow with Fleet units.
(For details of the disastrous naval
operations off Norway
see NARVIK by D MacIntyre,
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, CARRIER
GLORIOUS by John Winter,
BRITAIN
AND
NORWAY Ed by P Salmon , THE DOOMED
EXPEDITION by J Adams
and Naval Staff History (HMSO-2001).
May
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to I 02.
2nd
Assisted in evacuation from Andalsnes with
HM Cruisers MANCHESTER, BIRMINGHAM
HM Destroyers DELIGHT, DIANA, SOMALI and
MASHONA.
19th
Under refit at Devonport.
June
3rd
On completion
resumed operational deployment with Home
Fleet.
4th
Deployed as screen for Fleet units and for
patrol duties in North Sea and NW
Approaches
14th
Escorted HM Destroyers ELECTRA and ANTELOPE
which had collided whilst acting as
screen for HM Aircraft Carrier ARK
ROYAL during air attacks on Trondheim.
(Operation DX).
July
10th
Detached for
escort of ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron
for first minelay in the Northern
Barrage between Faeroes and Orkneys
(Operation SN1).
For details of all minelaying activities see
Naval Staff History (Mining).
20th
Part of destroyer screen with HM Destroyer
ZULU for HM Battlecruisers RENOWN and
REPULSE during search for German battleship
SCHARNHORST in North
Sea.
August
5th
Detached for escort of ships of 1st
Minelaying Squadron during minelay in the SW Approaches
(Operation SN32).
17th
Detached for escort minelayers during
minelay of East Coast Barrage across Moray
Firth
(Operation SN12).
21st
Detached for escort during further minelay
in Northern Barrage (Operation SN2).
September
Nominated for escort of military convoy for
proposed landing at Dakar.
(Operation MENACE - For details see MENACE
by A Harder).
Part of destroyer screen for HM Battleship
BARHAM during passage to Gibraltar.
20th
Intercepted French cruiser GLOIRE off Morocco
and escorted her to Casablanca.
23rd
Engaged French submarine PERSEE and under
fire from shore batteries off Dakar.
Hit by 7.5in shell which caused structural
damage and some casualties.
24th
Engaged French destroyer L'AUDACIEUSE off
Rufisque with two other destroyers and
inflicted damage which caused fires on enemy
ship.
October
After abandonment of MENACE deployed on
convoy escort duty based at Freetown.
November
Escorted convoy HG46 from Gibraltar to UK.
December
Under refit in commercial shipyard in London.
1
9 4 1
January
20th
On completion of post refit trials took
passage to Scapa Flow.
21st
Worked-up at Scapa
Flow with ships of Home Fleet.
On completion rejoined Flotilla for Home
Fleet screening and convoy escort duty.
February
6th
Escorted HM Battleship RODNEY during cover for
minelay by 1st Minelaying Squadron in
Northern Barrage between Faeroes and Iceland
(Operation SN7A).
March
Home Fleet duties with Flotilla in
continuation.
2nd
Supported Commando raid on Lofotens (See
WATERY MAZE by B. Fergusson).
19th
Part of screen for Home Fleet ships during
search for SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU.
April
Home Fleet duties with Flotilla in
continuation.
Escorted Convoy HX121 in NW Approaches.
Depth charge attacks on U552 with HM
Destroyer MAORI failed.
May
11th
Passage to Iceland
the HM Destroyers INTREPID, IMPULSIVE and
ESCAPADE for escort
of Convoy HX125.
22nd
Joined escort for HM Battleship KING GEORGE
V and HMS REPULSE during Fleet search
for German battleship BISMARCK known to be on passage into Atlantic.
(For details see PURSUIT by L Kennedy and
Naval Staff History).
24th
Detached to refuel.
June
Home Fleet duties in continuation
July
23rd
Joined screen for HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE,
SUFFOLK, HM Aircraft Carriers FURIOUS,
VICTORIOUS with six other destroyers of Hone
Fleet during air attacks on the Norwegian
coast
(Operation EF).
August
7th
Returned to Scapa
Flow with Fleet units.
8th
Present at Scapa
Flow for visit to Hone Fleet by HM King
George VI.
(Operation FC).
9th
Embarked His Majesty for review of anchorage
and then for return passage to mainland.
20th
Escorted Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker BLACK
RANGER to Spitzbergen to provide fuel for
ships deployed for operations in Arctic
area.
On arrival struck submerged pinnacle in Sassen
Bay and damaged underwater ASDIC
Dome.
24th
Joined destroyer screen for HM Aircraft
Carrier VICTORIOUS, HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE
and HM Cruiser SUFFOLK with HM Destroyers ECLIPSE and
ESCAPADE to cover passage
of first Russian convoy (Operation DERVISH).
31st
Deployed as screen for same ships in
continuation to cover passage of HM Aircraft Carrier
ARGUS and HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE taking aircraft and personnel to Murmansk
(Operation STRENGTH).
September
Home Fleet screening duty in continuation.
14th
On completion of STRENGTH docked at Scapa
Flow for inspection of underwater fittings.
22nd
Taken in hand for refit at Humber
shipyard.
October
Under refit.
Surface warning radar and Direction Finding
wireless equipment fitted.
(See RADAR AT SEA by D Hawse and SEEK AND
STRIKE by W Hackmann).
November
26th
On completion of post refit trials took
passage to Scapa Flow.
27th
Rejoined Flotilla for Home Fleet duties.
December
Nominated for support of Commando raid en
Norwegian coast.
Carried cut preparatory exercises with HM
Landing Ships, Assault PRINCE CHARLES and
and PRINCESS CHARLOTTE in Shetlands area,
based at Lerwick.
(Operation KITBAG - The initial objective
was to land men of 6 Commando at Floro,
south of Stadlandet and to carry cut a
bombardment of shipping and shore targets,
but the landing had to be cancelled after an
accident on board a Landing Ship.
See CAMERA IN CONVOY by I Saull).
1
9 4 2
January
Deployed with HMS INTREPID for bombardment
at Floro (Operation KITBAG)
Diversionary air attack on Sola airfield
carried cut by RAF aircraft.
Two mercantiles and three trawlers alongside
the quay were sunk and two factories damaged
(See CAMERA IN CONVOY).
On completion carried out Boiler Clean at
Rosyth.
February
Home Fleet duties in continuation with
Flotilla.
March
10th
Part of screen for HM Battleships KING
GEORGE V and DUKE OF YORK, HM Battlecruiser
RENOWN, HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS, HM
Cruisers EDINBURGH and KENT
with
15 other Home Fleet
destroyers to cover passage of Russian
convoy PQ13 to Murmansk
and
returning Convoy QP9.
(For details of all Russian Convoy
operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R A
Ruegg
and ARCTIC
CONVOYS by R Woodman).
April
Home Fleet screening duties in continuation.
19th
Detached for escort of US Aircraft Carrier
USS WASP for Malta
aircraft delivery.
(Operation CALENDAR - See THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN
by D
Maclntyre).
26th
Rejoined Home Fleet for screening duty
during cover for Russian convoys.
28th
Deployed as screen for HMS KING GEORGE V, US
Battleship WASHINGTON and US
cruiser USS WICHITA, US cruiser USS
TUSCALOOSA and HM Cruiser KENYA
with four
US Navy and
ten Royal Navy
destroyers to cover Convoy PQ15 and
returning QP11.
May
12th
Part of screen for HM Battleships KING
GEORGE V and DUKE OF YORK, HM Battlecruiser
RENOWN, HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS, HM
Cruisers EDINBURGH and KENT
with
15
other Home Fleet
destroyers to cover passage of Russian
convoy PQ13 to Murmansk
and
returning Convoy QP9.
(For details of all Russian Convoy
operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R A
Ruegg
and ARCTIC
CONVOYS by R Woodman).
April
Home Fleet screening duties in continuation.
19th
Detached for escort of US Aircraft Carrier
USS WASP for Malta
aircraft delivery.
(Operation CALENDAR - See THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN
by D Maclntyre).
26th
Rejoined Home Fleet for screening duty
during cover for Russian convoys.
28th
Deployed as screen for HMS KING GEORGE V, US
Battleship WASHINGTON and US
cruiser
USS WICHITA, US cruiser USS TUSCALOOSA and
HM Cruiser KENYA
with four US
Navy and
ten other Royal
Navy destroyers to cover Convoy PQ15 and
returning QP11.
May
1st
HM Destroyer SOMALI sank after collision
with HMS KING GEORGE V in fog.
(Note: HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK replaced HMS KING GEORGE V which was badly
damaged.
10th
Deployed as screen for Home Fleet ships
covering return of damaged cruiser HMS
TRINIDAD
from Murmansk to UK.
14th
Detached for passage to Kola Inlet.
21st
Joined escort of returning Russian convoy
QP12 at Kola Inlet as Senior Officer.
Deployed as Ocean Escort with HM Destroyers
ESCAPADE, VENOMOUS, BOADICEA, ST
ALBANS
(Nor) and HM
Escort Destroyer BADSWORTH.
29th
Detached from QP12 and resumed Flotilla
duties with Home Fleet.
June
Transferred to 8th Destroyer Flotilla as
part of reorganisation of Home Fleet.
10th
Embarked stores and ammunition for escorts
at Kola. Passage with HMS INTREPID.
26th
Joined
Ocean Escort of returning Russian convoy
QP13 as Senior Officer with HM
Destroyers
INTREPID, ACHATES, VOLUNTEER and Polish ORP
GARLAND.
Survivors from HM Cruiser EDINBURGH sunk on
2nd May were embarked for the return
passage to UK.
July
3rd
Detached on Admiralty instructions with HMS
INTREPID and Polish ORP GARLAND to carry
out
search for German
battleship TIRPITZ reported missing from
normal anchorage.
(Note: This was part of the confused policy
relating to defence of Convoy PQ17
See THE
CONVOY IS TO
SCATTER by J Broom and above references).
4th
Rejoined QP13.
7th
Detached to refuel in Iceland.
10th
Resumed Home Fleet duty with Flotilla at Scapa
Flow.
31st
Taken in hand for refit at Humber
shipyard.
August
Under refit.
to
October
November
Post refit trials
8th
Passage to Scapa
Flow.
9th
Rejoined Flotilla.
December
18th
Joined Fighting Escort. for Russia
convoy JW51A to Kola Inlet with HM
Destroyers FAULKNOR, BOADICEA, ECHO, ECLIPSE and FURY.
19th
HM Destroyer BEAGLE joined escort.
25th
Detached on arrival at Kola Inlet after
undetected passage.
30th
Part of escort for return Convoy RA51 with
same ships except HMS BOADICEA.
1
9 4 3
January
6th
Detached from RA51
23rd
Part of screen for HM Battleship ANSON and
HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD covering passage of
Russian convoy JW52 and returning convoy
RA52 with other Fleet destroyers.
February
Home Fleet screening duty in continuation.
19th
Joined
Ocean Escort for Russian convoy JW53 with
six other Fleet destroyers.
27th
Detached from JW53- Passage in extreme
weather which reduced enemy activities.
March
1st
Returned as part of escort for returning
convoy RA53 with HM Cruiser SCYLLA and same
destroyers.
12th
Detached from RA53 and nominated for
Atlantic convoy defence duty with 3rd Escort
Group as
Leader.
Group included HM Escort Carrier BITER.
Deployed with Group in NW Approaches.
April
3rd
Transferred to 4th Escort Group as Leader on
formation with HM Destroyers ECLIPSE FURY
and ICARUS,
6th
Deployed in support of escort for convoy
HX231 with HM Destroyers FURY, ECLIPSE and
ICARUS
Drove off contact keeping submarines.
May
Atlantic convoy defence duty in
continuation.
15th
Rejoined Flotilla in Home Fleet.
17th
Escorted HM Battleship HOWE to Gibraltar
for support of military operations in
Mediterranean.
Returned to UK
as escort for HM Battleship NELSON.
June
Home Fleet duty with Flotilla in
continuation.
July
Detached for duty in Mediterranean to reinforce Fleet for Sicily
landings.
Passage to Alexandria to join Mediterranean Fleet
7th
Sailed from Alexandria
for AVALANCHE.
9th
Deployed with screen for HM Cruisers AURORA
and PENELOPE.
10th
Deployed as part of screen for HM
Battleships NELSON, RODNEY, WARSPITE and
VALIANT, HM Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE
and FORMIDABLE with 4 cruisers and 17
other RN,
Greek and Polish
destroyers in Ionian Sea
during Sicily landings.
Bombarded Catania with HM Destroyer OFFA. HI Cruisers
PENELOPE, ARETHUSA.
(Operation ARSENAL)
(Operation HUSKY - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY and Naval Staff
History)..
11th
Provided gunfire support to military
operations ashore.
Carried out anti-submarine patrol off beach
head.
23rd
Attacked Italian submarine ASCIANGHI without
success.
(Note: This submarine was later sunk by HM
Destroyers LAFOREY and ECLIPSE).
August
Based in Malta
for patrol duty in Strait of Otranto and
support of operations in
Sicily.
September
Nominated as DESDRON8 for screening duties
during landings at Salerno.
(Operation AVALANCHE - See above
references).
7th
Part of screen for ships of Force H during
landings at Salerno.
25th
Part of screen for Home Fleet ships
returning to Scapa
Flow after service in the
Mediterranean
with Force H.
October
Deployed for Flotilla duties in Home Fleet
Nominated for further detached service in Mediterranean
for support of planned allied landings
in Italy.
During passage to Mediterranean carried cut anti-submarine patrol in Bay
of Biscay
and SW
Approaches.
November
Joined Fleet at Algiers.
Escorted HM Battlecruiser RENOWN during
passage to Alexandria
via Malta with Prime
Minister embarked
for meeting In Cairo.
December
Passage to Gibraltar
via Taranto and Malta.
14th
Taken in hand for repair in Gibraltar.
21st
On completion took passage to Malta.
1
9 4 4
January
Nominated for duty with Northern Attack
Force (Peter) for planned allied assault
operation at
Anzio
(Operation SHINGLE - See above references).
Passage to Naples to join support Force.
21st
Sailed from Naples
for SHINGLE.
22nd
Supported landings at Anzio
by diversionary bombardment of Civitavecchia
with HM Cruiser
DIDO and HM Destroyer KEMPENFELT.
23rd
Bombarded coast road at Formia until 24th.
28th
Provided gunfire support to military operation
at Anzio with HM Cruiser MAURITIUS.
Under shore return fire without damage.
30th
Carried out further bombardment in Formia
area.
February
Embarked General Alexander, Military
Commander for passage to beachhead at Anzio.
(Note: This visit was made to assess the
military situation which was considered
to be critical)
15th
Escorted ammunition ship from Naples to Anzio.
Deployed off beach head for patrol and
defence of anchorage, based at Naples.
25th
Under dusk attack by radio controlled Hs293
Glider Bombs off Anzio.
Sustained direct hit and sank in position
41.26N 12.38E with loss of 35 lives.
157 survivors were rescued and taken to Naples to await return to UK.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
INGLEFIELD
by
Don Kindell
These
convoy lists have not been cross-checked
with the text above
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date
convoy sailed
|
Joined
convoy as escort
|
Convoy
No.
|
Left
convoy
|
Date
convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
28/09/39
|
28/09/39
|
RED
2
|
03/10/39
|
09/10/39
|
|
19/01/40
|
19/01/40
|
HN
008
|
22/01/40
|
22/01/40
|
|
24/01/40
|
24/01/40
|
ON
009/1
|
27/01/40
|
27/01/40
|
|
27/01/40
|
27/01/40
|
HN
009A
|
31/01/40
|
31/01/40
|
|
13/02/40
|
13/02/40
|
ON
012/1
|
16/02/40
|
16/02/40
|
|
16/02/40
|
16/02/40
|
HN
012
|
17/02/40
|
19/02/40
|
|
22/02/40
|
24/02/40
|
HN
014
|
26/02/40
|
26/02/40
|
|
02/03/40
|
04/03/40
|
HN
016
|
05/03/40
|
05/03/40
|
|
23/07/40
|
29/07/40
|
TC
006
|
01/08/40
|
01/08/40
|
|
31/10/40
|
31/10/40
|
HG
046
|
06/11/40
|
19/11/40
|
|
17/02/41
|
25/02/41
|
TC
009
|
27/02/41
|
27/02/41
|
|
08/03/41
|
09/03/41
|
OB
295
|
14/03/41
|
14/03/41
|
|
18/04/41
|
unknown
|
OB
312
|
24/04/41
|
25/04/41
|
|
16/04/41
|
25/04/41
|
HX
121
|
28/04/41
|
03/05/41
|
|
06/05/41
|
20/05/41
|
HX
125A
|
21/05/41
|
22/05/41
|
|
21/06/41
|
26/06/41
|
TC
011
|
30/06/41
|
30/06/41
|
|
12/08/41
|
24/08/41
|
DERVISH
|
30/08/41
|
31/08/41
|
|
10/03/42
|
23/03/42
|
PQ
013
|
28/03/42
|
31/03/42
|
|
21/03/42
|
23/03/42
|
QP
009
|
28/03/42
|
03/04/42
|
|
10/04/42
|
28/04/42
|
PQ
015
|
05/05/42
|
05/05/42
|
|
28/04/42
|
28/04/42
|
QP
011
|
05/05/42
|
07/05/42
|
|
21/05/42
|
21/05/42
|
QP
012
|
29/05/42
|
29/05/42
|
|
26/06/42
|
26/06/42
|
QP
013
|
04/07/42
|
07/07/42
|
|
15/12/42
|
18/12/42
|
JW
051A
|
25/12/42
|
25/12/42
|
|
30/12/42
|
30/12/42
|
RA
051
|
06/01/43
|
11/01/43
|
|
17/01/43
|
23/01/43
|
JW
052
|
24/01/43
|
27/01/43
|
|
29/01/43
|
01/02/43
|
RA
052
|
02/02/43
|
09/03/43
|
|
15/02/43
|
19/02/43
|
JW
053
|
27/02/43
|
27/02/43
|
|
01/03/43
|
01/03/43
|
RA
053
|
12/03/43
|
14/03/43
|
|
25/03/43
|
06/04/43
|
HX
231
|
08/04/43
|
10/04/43
|
|
01/04/43
|
12/04/43
|
HX
232
|
16/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
|
12/04/43
|
25/04/43
|
HX
234
|
25/04/43
|
29/04/43
|
|
16/04/43
|
27/04/43
|
SC
127
|
30/04/43
|
03/05/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
