Modified
I-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from
Vickers Armstrong Barrow in 1939 by the Turkish
Government and laid down on
24th May 1939 as Yard No 747 and to be named
MUAVENET. After being
requisitioned by the Admiralty in September 1939
she was renamed INCONSTANT
when launched on 15th December 1940. and the 6th
RN ship to carry this name
introduced in 1778 for a French Prize (Frigate
PALLAS). It was last used for a
Light Cruiser sold in 1922. Her build was
completed on 24th January 1942. but
the ship is not included in the List of
Adoptions by UK civil communities
following WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
campaigns during 1941 and 1942.
B
a t t l
e H o n o u r s
TOULON 1793 - GENOA
1795 - EGYPT 1901 - ALEXANDRIA 1882 -
JUTLAND 1916 - DIEGO SUAREZ 1942 -
ARCTIC 1942-44 - SICILY
1943 - ATLANTIC 1943-33 - NORMANDY 1944 -
ENGLISH CHANNEL 1944
H
e
r a l d i c
D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Blue,
a
butterfly gold.
M
o t t o
'In
Constancy constant'
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 4 2
January
Contractors trials.
24th
Build completed and commenced Acceptance
Trials
Commissioned for service.
On completion of trials and storing took
passage to Scapa Flow.
February
Worked-up for operational service with Home
Fleet based at Scapa Flow.
On completion deployed at Scapa Flow in NW
Approaches.
March
Part of screen for Home Fleet ships covering
passage of Russian convoy PQ12
and returning QP8.
(Note: For full details of ships deployed for
Russian Convoy cover and escort
see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg, CONVOY ! by
P Kemp, ARCTIC
CONVOYS by
R Woodman and THE
RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield.
Nominated for service in Eastern Fleet.
Prepared for foreign service.
23rd
Joined escort for military convoy WS17 with HM
Destroyers JAVELIN and PAKENHAM.
Deployed as screen for HM Aircraft Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS to provide anti-submarine
protection during ocean passage.
26th
Took part in anti-submarine hunt with HMS
JAVELIN.
(Note: Attack by U587 on convoy was prevented.
This submarine was sunk by other escorts when
making further attack the
next day.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp).
31st
Detached from WS17 with HMS ILLUSTRIOUS for
independent passage to Freetown.
April
9th
Joined escort for Convoy WS17 at Freetown for
passage to Cape of Good Hope.
18th
Detached from WS 17 before arrival at Cape
Town.
Passage to Durban to Mombasa .
Joined 12th Destroyer Flotilla and took pert
in preparations for Madagascar landings
May
5th
Part of covering force with Flotilla at Diego
Suarez (Operation IRONCLAD).
12th
Detached for duty in Eastern Mediterranean.
Took passage to Alexandria. Deployed with
Mediterranean Fleet.
June
Joined HM Destroyers HASTY, HERO, JAVELIN,
JERVIS, KELVIN, NAPIER (RAN),
NESTOR (RAN), NIZAM (RAN), NORMAN (RAN),
PAKENHAM, PALADIN, SIKH
and ZULU as screen for HM Cruisers ARETHUSA,
BIRMINGHAM, CLEOPATRA,
DIDO and NEWCASTLE
as escort for Malta
relief convoy from Egypt
(Operation VIGOROUS).
(Editor's Note: check
The
Supply of Malta by Arnold
Hague for details.)
12th
Sailed from Alexandria with Fleet units.
14th
Joined ships of MW11 convoy.
15th
Under air attacks and threat by superior force
of Italian warships.
Under attack by E-Boats during which HMS
NEWCASTLE was torpedoed.
Convoy ordered to reverse course to East and
later to resume passage to Malta.
After Italian threat still evident course
again reversed.
Air attacks persisted and HMS Cruisers
ARETHUSA and BIRMINGHAM damaged.
(Note: HMS AIREDALE and HMS NESTOR were sunk.)
Operation abandoned and returned to Alexandria
with Fleet units and remaining
mercantiles.
(Note: For full details of this ill-conceived
and disastrous operation and its conflicting
instructions see THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN by Donald MacIntyre,
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett. and
MALTA CONVOYS
by R Woodman..
16th
At Alexandria.
Released from VIGOROUS duty and took passage
to Kilindini to resume convoy defence.
July
Deployed with Flotilla for convoy defence in
Indian Ocean.
to
Nominated for duty in support of final
occupation of Madagascar.
August
September
Deployed with H M
Destroyers HOTSPUR, EXPRESS and FORTUNE as
destroyer screen
for
HM Battleship WARSPITE, HM Aircraft Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS and H M Seaplane
Carrier
ALBATROSS during provision of air cover for
landings
10th
Participated in final occupation of Madagascar
(Operation STREAM).
23rd
After release from STREAM resumed Flotilla
duties for convoy escort and patrol
duty in
Indian Ocean.
October
Indian Ocean deployment with Flotilla in
continuation.
to
November
December
During Indian Ocean convoy defence duties
escorted military convoy WS24.
1 9 4 3
January
Indian Ocean deployment in continuation.
Nominated for refit in UK to convert to
Anti-submarine Escort Destroyer.
February
Passage to UK.
25th
Taken in hand for refit and conversion by HM
Dockyard Devonport.
March
Under refit
(Note: See SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann and
THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
by D. MacIntyre for details of development of
new anti-submarine weapons and
defence tactics.).
April
Post refit harbour trials.
Allocated for duty with 8th Escort Group,
Western Approaches on completion.
May
Post refit trials.
1st
On completion of refit carried out sea trails
and prepared for operations.
Worked-up for anti-submarine escort duties.
Joined HM Destroyers WESTCOTT, WHITEHALL,
WRESTLER and Polish ORP
GARLAND and ORP BURZA in 8th Escort Group for
Atlantic convoy defence.
June
Atlantic convoy escort with Group in
continuation.
July
Detached for duty with Escort Group C for
support Force East during allied landings in
Sicily.
(Operation HUSKY) - See Naval Staff History
and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY.).
1st
Sailed from Clyde with HUSKY Follow-up
military convoy.
9th
Detached from KMF19 during passage
10th
Deployed with Escort Group C for convoy escort
in Mediterranean during landings.
12th
During escort of Convoy MKF19A off Algerian
coast sank U409 between Algiers and Bougie
In position 32.12N 04.00E. 35 survivors were
rescued after depth charge and surface gun
action.
August
Mediterranean deployment in continuation.
Nominated for return to Atlantic convoy
defence and took passage to UK
September
Rejoined 6th Escort Group.
(Note: 8th Escort, Group was being deployed in
the Support Role and joined
by HM Escort
Carrier FENCER to supplement escorts of
Atlantic convoys by providing air cover..
See SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann and BUSINESS
IN GREAT WATERS
by John
Terraine for details
of the role of Support Groups.)
30th
Detached with Group for escort and
anti-submarine support of military convoy to
Azores.
(Operation ALACRITY).
(Note: This operation had been agreed with the
Portuguese Government and was made
to
establish air bases on Fayal and Terceira.
Other ships of Group involved were HMS FENCER,
HM Destroyers VISCOUNT,
Polish ORP BURZA, Polish ORP GARLAND, HM
Destroyers WRESTLER and
WHITEHALL
October
8th
On completion of ALACRITY Support reamed
Atlantic convoy support duties with
Group
20th
Part of escort for Convoy SC145 with HMS
FENCER, HM Destroyer FAME, Polish ORP
GARLAND and Polish ORP
BURZA
28th
Convoy re-routed after threat from SEIGFRIED
Group of U-Boats.
November
Deployed with Group for detached service with
Home Fleet.
19th
Joined Ocean Escort for Russian Convoy JW54A
with HM Destroyer WHITEHALL, HM
Corvette HEATHER and HM Minesweeper HUSSAR.
24th
Detached from JW54A on arrival at Kola Inlet.
(See above references).
27th
Joined Ocean Escort for returning RA5B with
HMS WHITEHALL, HMS HEATHER and
HM Minesweeper HARRIER.
December
9th
Detached from RA54B on arrival at Loch Ewe.
See above references.
Took passage to Clyde for repair.
10th
Under repair in Clyde shipyard
1 9 4 4
January
Under repair.
12th
On completion resumed detached duty with Home
Fleet.
18th
Passage to Iceland for Russian Convoy escort.
21st
Joined HM Destroyers HARDY, OBDURATE, OFFA,
SAVAGE, VENUS, VIGILANT,
VIRAGO and Norwegian STORD as escort for
Russian convoy JW56B from Iceland..
(See above references.)
26th
Detached from JW56B at Kola Inlet.
Despatched to join following Convoy JW56B with
above ships of JW56A escort.
(Note: This convoy was under attack by
U-Boats.)
29th
Joined escort of Russian Convoy JW56B.
February
February
1st
Detached from JW56B on arrival at Kola Inlet.
(Note: HMS HARDY was hit by torpedo from U276
during defence of JW56B and had to be
sunk by HMS VENUS.)
3rd
Joined escort of returning Convoy RA56 on
departure from Kola Inlet with same ships
except HMS HARDY.
9th
Detached from RA56 with HM Destroyers
MAHRATTA, METEOR, MILNE,
MUSKETEER, SCOURGE,
HURON (RCN), Norwegian
STORD and resumed Home Fleet
duties.
10th
Deployed in NW Approaches for Convoy and Fleet
escort duty.
March
Home Fleet deployment in continuation in NW
Approaches.
27th
Joined escort for Russian Convoy JW58 with HM
Destroyer IMPULSIVE.
29th
Deployed with screen for HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM
Escort Carriers ACTIVITY and
TRACKER as main escort
for JW58. See above references.
April
4th
Detached from JW58 on arrival at Kola Inlet.
7th
Deployed with HM Destroyers BEAGLE, BOADICEA,
KEPPEL, VENUS, WALKER,
WHITEHALL,
WESTCOTT, WRESTLER and
HMS ACTIVITY as Ocean Escort for
returning Convoy RA58.
12th
Detached with same ships before arrival of
RA58 at Loch Ewe.
18th
Independent, passage to Kola Inlet for escort
of returning convoy from Russia.
(Note: HMS DIADEM, HMS ACTIVITY and HM Escort
Carrier FENCER were deployed
with 16 Home Fleet destroyers and 4 Canadian
Frigates to ensure safe passage of
empty mercantiles from Russia as Convoy RA59
See above references.
23rd
Arrived at Kola Inlet with Hone Fleet snips.
25th
Joined Ocean Escort for convoy RA59 with same
ships.
May
6th
Detached from RA59 with HM Destroyers BEAGLE,
KEPPEL, WESTCOTT and
WRESTLER, HM
Corvette LOTUS and
Canadian Frigates.
7th
Resumed Home Fleet duties.
29th
Transferred to 14th Escort Group for
anti-submarine operations in Channel.
(Note: This deployment was to prevent entry of
U-Boats into English Channel to
attack
allied convoys during assault operations.
(Operation NEPTUNE - For details of naval
activities before and during
landings see
OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, June
1944 (HMSO).
Based at Plymouth for patrol duties in SW
Approaches with Group.
(Note: 14th Escort Group comprised HM
Destroyers FAME, HAVELOCK,
INCONSTANT, HOTSPUR and ICARUS.)
June
Deployment as part of Escort Group 14 in
SW Approaches
anti-submarine patrol duties based
at Plymouth in continuation.
18th
Participated in sinking of U767 SW of Guernsey
with HM Destroyers HAVELOCK
HOTSPUR, ICARUS and FAME in position 49.03N
03.13W.
One survivor from the U-Boat was rescued.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.
July
Channel deployment with Group in continuation.
August
Under refit at Liverpool.
September
Rejoined Group in English Channel for escort
and anti-submarine patrol duty.
October
Withdrawn for further refit and took passage
to Thames
Under refit in London at Green and Silley Weir
shipyard.
November
Passage to Davenport to complete repair.
Note: Group then included HM Destroyers
DUNCAN, HAVELOCK, FAME and ICARUS.
1 9 4 5
January
Rejoined Group at Liverpool on completion of
refit.
Deployed for convoy defence and A/S patrol in
Irish Sea and SU Approaches.
(Note: Other ships in Group ships included HM
Destroyers HAVELOCK, DUNCAN,
ICARUS, HESPERUS, FAME and ASSINIBOINE (RCN).)
February
Coastal convoy defence in continuation.
to
(Note: During this period German submarines
ware concentrating attacks on the
assembly
April
points of Channel convoys which included
Atlantic traffic.
See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith and above
references.
Escorts for convoys and patrols were
strengthened to meet this new threat.)
May
Under repair in Liverpool shipyard..
Rejoined Group on completion and transferred
to Plymouth.
June
Plymouth deployment In continuation.
to
August
P
o s
t W a r N o t e s
HMS
INCONSTANT was taken in hand for refit by HM
Dockyard,
Devonport on 13th September 1945 prior to
return to Turkey. Formal Admiralty approval
for this
transfer was given on 3rd October 1945 and
refit work completed on 27th January
1946. The ship was
formally handed over to the Turkish Navy at
Istanbul on 9th March that year and renamed
MUAVANET. She served on the Active
List until 1960 when placed on the Disposal
List.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS INCONSTANT
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
01/03/42
|
10/03/42
|
PQ
012
|
10/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
11/06/42
|
12/06/42
|
MW
011
|
16/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
17/12/42
|
28/12/42
|
MC
002
|
01/01/43
|
01/01/43
|
09/01/43
|
09/01/43
|
CM
037A
|
11/01/43
|
24/01/43
|
10/01/43
|
20/01/43
|
MC
003
|
23/01/43
|
23/01/43
|
30/01/43
|
30/01/43
|
CF
011A
|
11/02/43
|
11/02/43
|
01/07/43
|
01/07/43
|
KMF
019
|
11/07/43
|
11/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
14/07/43
|
MKF
018
|
23/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
19/08/43
|
01/09/43
|
MKF
022
|
09/09/43
|
09/09/43
|
02/10/43
|
02/10/43
|
UA
003
|
09/10/43
|
09/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
29/10/43
|
SC
145
|
02/11/43
|
07/11/43
|
15/11/43
|
15/11/43
|
JW
054A
|
24/11/43
|
24/11/43
|
26/11/43
|
27/11/43
|
RA
054B
|
09/12/43
|
09/12/43
|
12/01/44
|
12/01/44
|
JW
056A
|
27/01/44
|
28/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
29/01/44
|
JW
056B
|
01/02/44
|
01/02/44
|
03/02/44
|
03/02/44
|
RA
056
|
09/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
02/03/44
|
02/03/44
|
DS
050
|
04/03/44
|
04/03/44
|
05/03/44
|
05/03/44
|
SD
050
|
08/03/44
|
08/03/44
|
27/03/44
|
27/03/44
|
JW
058
|
04/04/44
|
04/04/44
|
07/04/44
|
07/04/44
|
RA
058
|
12/04/44
|
14/04/44
|
28/04/44
|
28/04/44
|
RA
059
|
06/05/44
|
06/05/44
|
08/01/45
|
unknown
|
HX
331
|
unknown
|
22/01/45
|
23/01/45
|
unknown
|
HX
334
|
unknown
|
06/02/45
|
10/03/45
|
10/03/45
|
KMF
041
|
10/03/45
|
17/03/45
|
22/03/45
|
22/03/45
|
VWP
102
|
23/03/45
|
23/03/45
|
05/04/45
|
12/04/45
|
AT
202
|
13/04/45
|
13/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)