Variant
of H-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered on 16th
December 1937 from John I Thornycroft,
Woolston by
Brazil.
The ship was laid down on 6th July 1938 and
when launched on 1st August 1939
was given the name JURUENA. During fitting out
en 5th September she was
requisitioned by the Admiralty and renamed HMS
HEARTY, and the first RN ship to
carry this name (See below). Basic design was
similar to the RN H-Class but cabin
accommodation was much improved. Before RN use
the after
4.7in gun was removed to enable more depth
charges to be carried. This ship
was commissioned for RN service on 15th
January 1940 and adopted by the civil
community of Yeovil, Somerset in March 1942
following a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign.
B
a t t l e H o n o u r s
NORWAY
1940 - ATLANTIC 1940-45
- ENGLISH CHANNEL 1945
H
e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field per fess
wavy Blue and barry
wavy of
eight White and Blue, an estoile
White.
D
e t a i
l s o f W a
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S e r v i c e
(for more ship
information,
go
to
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and
type name in Site Search)
1
9 3 9
September
Fitting out at Woolston after launch.
5th
Requisitioned by British Government.
October
(Note: To be commissioned HMS HEARTY on
completion.
to December
Build completion and contractors harbour
trials
1
9 4 0
January
Contractors trials.
15th
Commissioned for RN service in 9th Destroyer
Flotilla as HMS HEARTY.
22nd
Completion of build and Acceptance Trials.
29th
Worked-up for operational service at
Portland.
February
27th
Name changed to HMS HESPERUS.
(Note: This was to ensure no confusion with
HMS HARDY in signals or correspondence.)
On completion of work-up joined Flotilla in
Western Approaches.
March
Deployed for convoy escort in NW Approaches.
April
NW Approaches deployment in continuation.
9th
Transferred for duty with Home Fleet after
German invasion of
Norway.
11th
Deployed with sister destroyer HMS HAVANT to
investigate situation at Thorshvn, Faeroes.
12th
Carried out anti-submarine search prior to
arrival of Royal Marines to take over island
after
German occupation of
Denmark.
13th
Deployed with HMS HAVANT as escort for HM
Cruiser
SUFFOLK during passage to Faeroes
with Royal Marines for initial occupation.
14th
On release from Thorshvn detachment escorted m
Battleship RESOLUTION with HM Destroyers
BASILISK and WREN for during
passage to Narvik.
May
Norwegian support in continuation.
(For details of the disastrous operations off
Norway
see NARVIK by D Macintyre,
CARRIER
GLORIOUS by J Winton. THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by
Adams and Naval Staff History
(HMSO-2001).
11th
Embarked guns and army personnel. Took passage
to Mo with HM Cruiser
ENTERPRISE,
HM
Sloop FLEETWOOD and
mercantile ss MARGOT.
(Note: HMS CAIRO was deployed during passage
to provide AA defence support and air cover
by HM
Aircraft Carrier
ARK ROYAL.
12th
Used to ferry Scots Guards ashore to Mo and
Bodo from HMS ENTERPRISE after landing troops
embarked in ship at Rosyth.
Taken in hand for
repair at
Dundee
on release from Norwegian support operations
.
(Note: Ship had been damaged by near misses).
June
On completion resumed Atlantic convoy defence
duties with Flotilla .in NW Approaches.
July
Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.
to
October
November
Flotilla
re-designated 9th
Escort Group.
Western Approaches duties in continuation.
4th
Rescued survivors from HM Armed Merchant
Cruisers PATROCLUS and LAURENTIC.
(Note: These two ships were torpedoed and sunk
NW of Ireland by U99 on 3rd Nov).
Escorted Convoy HX83.
December
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
1
9 4 1
January
Sustained storm damage and taken in hand for
repair.
February
On completion rejoined Group.
to
Resumed Atlantic convoy defence duty.
March
April
Nominated for transfer to
Gibraltar for service with Force H.
4th
Deployed with HMS HARVESTER and HMS HAVELOCK
in search for survivors
from six
mercantiles sunk in U-Boat attacks on Convoy
SC26.
26th
Deployed with HMS HARVESTER and HMS HAVELOCK
as part of Ocean Escort for military
convoy WS8A during Atlantic passage.
(For details of Force H operations in 1941 see
THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN
by D MacIntyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by C Barnett) and Naval Staff
History (HMSO-2002)
May
2nd
Detached from military Convoy WS8A with HMS
HARVESTER and HMS HAVELOCK with
mercantiles destined for Gibraltar.
Joined Force H on arrival.
6th
Part of screen for HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM
Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL and HM
Cruiser
SHEFFIELD
with HM Destroyers HAVELOCK, HARVESTER,
KASHMIR and
KELLY which were covering passage of
Malta relief convoy and reinforcement cruisers
to
join Fleet in eastern
Mediterranean (Operation TIGER).
12th
Remained with Force H on return to
Gibraltar.
19th
Joined HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER,
FOXHOUND, FURY and BRILLIANT
as screen for HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and
HMS SHEFFIELD during
provision of cover for the delivery of
aircraft to
Malta
by HMS ARK ROYAL
(Operation SPLICE).
24th
Deployed as screen for HMS RENOWN and HMS ARK
ROYAL during search for German
battleship
BISMARCK.
27th
Detached and returned to
Gibraltar.
June
Force H service in continuation.
13th
Part of screen for HMS RENOWN, HM Aircraft
Carriers
ARK ROYAL and VICTORIOUS
with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS,
FORESIGHT, FORESTER, FOXHOUND
and WISHART during cover of
Malta
aircraft delivery by HMS VICTORIOUS.
(Operation TRACER).
15th
After return to
Gibraltar
withdrawn from service in Force H.
(Note: This was deemed necessary for ships of
this Class because of their lack of
anti-aircraft
armament for
duty in the
Mediterranean).
18th
Returned to
UK
as part of escort for HMS VICTORIOUS.
21st
Taken in hand for refit at
Liverpool
(Note: One source records that Wireless
Direction Finding equipment (HF D/F) and a
radio
telephone outfit were fitted. See SEEK
AND
STRIKE by W Hackmann
This requires confirmation.)
July
Under refit.
Nominated for transfer to Newfoundland Escort
Force.
7th
Passage to join new Escort Group for convoy
defence in
Eastern Atlantic.
On arrival deployed with Group based at
St.
Johns.
August
6th
Joined HMS HARVESTER and HMS HAVELOCK in
escort for HM Battleship PRINCE
OF
WALES
during Atlantic passage to Newfoundland.
(Note: HMS PRINCE OF WALES was taking Prime
Minister to
Placentia
Bay for Atlantic
Charter conference with
US
President HM Destroyers RIPLEY and RESTIGOUCHE
(RCN)
joined escort later,.)
15th
Sustained storm damage during return passage
to
Iceland
with HMS PRINCE CF WALES.
16th
Under temporary repair in
Iceland.
On completion took passage to
UK.
September
Under permanent repair in commercial shipyard
at Immingham.
(Note: Fit of radar fire control director for
main armament s recorded.)
October
Re-deployed with 9th Escort Group for convoy
defence in NW Approaches.
Escorted military convoy TC14.
November
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
December
Transferred to Gibraltar with Group for convoy
defence.
7th
Took part in sinking of U208 with HMS
HARVESTER in position 35.51N 07.45 W west of
Gibraltar.
There were no survivors from the submarine.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.
1
9 4 2
January
Deployed at Gibraltar with HM Destroyers
LAFOREY, CROOME and WESTCOTT as an
experimental Anti-submarine Striking Force.
Joined convoy SL97 to support escort during
initial part of passage from Gibraltar.
15th
Sank U93 in position 36.40N 15 52W off
Cape
St Vincent by depth charge attack and
gun action
followed by ramming during defence of convoy.
(Note: 36 survivors were rescued FROM THE
SUBMARINE.
See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair, U-BOATS
DESTROYED by P Kemp,
U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO).
Sustained major structural damage forward and
also to starboard propeller.
Forward compartments flooded.
10th
Under temporary repair at
Gibraltar.
24th
Escorted troopship ALMANZORA from
Gibraltar to Falmouth.
February
9th
Taken in hand for repair at commercial
shipyard in
Falmouth.
(Note: Surface warning Radar Type 271 and 20cm
Oerlikon guns fitted.
For details of
development and use of radar in RN see RADAR
AT SEA by D Howse).
March
Under repair.
April
Post refit trials.
On completion resumed duties with 2nd Escort
Group
Deployed as escort for convoy SC81.
May
Atlantic convoy defence with Group in
continuation.
Escorted Convoys ONS97 and SC86 without loss.
June
Atlantic convoy escort in continuation
including Convoys ON107, ONI18, HX203, ONS128
to
and HX208.
September
October
11th
Joined Convoy ONS138 with HM Destroyers
WHITEHALL, VANESSA and three
corvettes of Group at Liverpool for escort
during Atlantic passage
23rd
Carried out unsuccessful search for
submarine after detection of radio
transmissions.
(Note: Several other similar searches were
made later. See HITLER'S U-BOAT
WAR.)
November
Convoys escorted by Group included HX213 and
ONS148
December
Deployed with Group for escort of Convoy
HX219.
26th
Participated in depth charge attacks on U357
with HM Destroyer VANESSA in defence
of
convoy.
Sank U357 in position 57.10N 15.40W by
ramming.
Again sustained major damage to bow structure
and hull.
Some survivors from submarine were rescued.,
Able to steam under reduced power.
For details see above references.
1
9 4 3
January
Under repair in
Liverpool at commercial shipyard.
to
HEDGEHOG Anti-submarine mortar ahead throwing
weapon fitted.
February
For details of development of new weapons and
tactics see SEEK
AND
STRIKE by
W
Hackmann
March
Post refit trials.
On completion prepared for Atlantic convoy
defence.
April
Rejoined Group in continuation.
23rd
Sank U191 in position 56.45N 43.25W by
Hedgehog after first detection with use
of HF D/F
during escort of Convoy ONS4. See above
references.
May
Part of escort with Group for Convoy SC129 and
threat of attack from ELBE 2 Group
of U- Boats (For details of this crucial stage
of the
Battle
of the Atlantic.
See
U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC
(HMSO), WAR BENEATH THE SEA by P Padfield
and THE BATTLE
OF THE ATLANTIC by D
MacIntyre, in command of HMS HESPERUS).
11th
Drove U223 to surface in defence of convoy but
failed to sink her.
12th
Sank U186 in position 41.54N 31.49W without
survivors.
(Note: This submarine had been the contact
keeper for the ELBE Group and first found
after
HF D/F detection). Atlantic Convoy escort with
Group in continuation.
See above references.
1
9 4 4
January
Under refit.
to
Nominated for service with 19th Escort Group.
February
March
Post refit trials and joined Group for escort
and support of convoys between
UK,
to
Gibraltar
and West Africa.
November
Deployed in NW approaches with Group to
intercept U-Boats on passage.
December
6th
Rescued 97 survivors from HM Frigate BULLEN 7
miles NE of Cape Wrath.
(Notes: HMS BULLEN was torpedoed in position
58.42N 04.12W by U774 with a homing
torpedo.
During this period SCHNORKEL fitted U-Boats
were concentrating
attacks on convoy
focal points around
UK.
See references.
1
9 4 5
January
Transferred to 14th Escort Group based at
Portsmouth and deployed for defence of
coastal
convoys.
(Note: Atlantic convoys were re-routed through
English Channel because the threat of air attack
from French bases had been removed and
additional escorts were available for support
and escort of convoys See ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY, SEEK AND
STRIKE and HOLD THE
NARROW
SEA by P Smith).
February
Coastal convoy defence in continuation in
Channel and
Irish
Sea.
to
March
April
30th
Took part in sinking of U242 with sister
destroyer HMS HAVELOCK and RAF Sunderland
aircraft R of 201 Squadron.
There were no survivors from submarine which was
sunk in Irish Sea (Position 53.42N 04.53W)
(Note: This sinking of U242 was not confirmed
by post war analysis as it was sunk earlier by
a mine.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED.)
May
7th
Deployed for interception of surrendered
U-Boats in NW Approaches.
13th
Escorted surrendered U-Boats from Lochalsh to
Loch Foyle for disposal.
(Operation DEADLIGHT).
29th
Escorted rms
ANDES
carrying Norwegian Government officials back
to
Oslo with HMS
HAVELOCK.
June
11th
Nominated for service as an air target vessel
for aircrew training.
Converted for this use at Rosyth.
July
Deployed in
North
Sea as Air Target Ship.
to
August
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS
HESPERUS remained in use
for aircrew training until May 1946 when she
was reduced to Reserve at Rosyth.
She had already been nominated for sale and
after
removal of equipment and stores laid up at Grangemouth
awaiting demolition. She was broken up there
in May 1947 by G W Brunton.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS HESPERUS
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
19/04/40
|
19/04/40
|
AP
001/3
|
19/04/40
|
22/04/40
|
|
07/07/40
|
09/07/40
|
OB
180
|
10/07/40
|
10/07/40
|
|
20/07/40
|
20/07/40
|
OA
187
|
25/07/40
|
unknown
|
|
08/07/40
|
25/07/40
|
SL
039
|
29/07/40
|
29/07/40
|
|
05/08/40
|
05/08/40
|
OA
194
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
|
28/07/40
|
10/08/40
|
SL
041F
|
14/08/40
|
14/08/40
|
|
15/08/40
|
15/08/40
|
OB
198
|
17/08/40
|
18/08/40
|
|
01/09/40
|
01/09/40
|
OB
207
|
unknown
|
06/09/40
|
|
19/10/40
|
19/10/40
|
OL
008
|
21/10/40
|
22/10/40
|
|
09/10/40
|
22/10/40
|
HG
045
|
27/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
|
14/11/40
|
27/11/40
|
HX
087
|
29/11/40
|
29/11/40
|
|
08/01/41
|
21/01/41
|
HG
050
|
26/01/41
|
26/01/41
|
|
30/01/41
|
31/01/41
|
OBA
|
03/02/41
|
03/02/41
|
|
21/01/41
|
05/02/41
|
BHX
104
|
08/02/41
|
09/02/41
|
|
14/02/41
|
20/02/41
|
SLG
001A
|
22/02/41
|
22/02/41
|
|
19/02/41
|
06/03/41
|
HX
110
|
10/03/41
|
11/03/41
|
|
16/03/41
|
18/03/41
|
OB
298
|
20/03/41
|
20/03/41
|
|
01/03/41
|
21/03/41
|
SL
067
|
26/03/41
|
26/03/41
|
|
31/03/41
|
31/03/41
|
OB
304
|
03/04/41
|
04/04/41
|
|
10/04/41
|
15/04/41
|
TC
010
|
19/04/41
|
19/04/41
|
|
06/05/41
|
06/05/41
|
TIGER
|
12/05/41
|
12/05/41
|
|
07/07/41
|
07/07/41
|
OB
344
|
16/07/41
|
16/07/41
|
|
21/07/41
|
21/07/41
|
TC
012
|
26/07/41
|
29/07/41
|
|
22/10/41
|
31/10/41
|
HG
075
|
03/11/41
|
03/11/41
|
|
15/11/41
|
15/11/41
|
CT
006
|
18/11/41
|
24/11/41
|
|
13/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
TC
015
|
21/11/41
|
21/11/41
|
|
25/11/41
|
09/12/41
|
OG
077
|
13/12/41
|
13/12/41
|
|
14/12/41
|
16/12/41
|
HG
076
|
16/12/41
|
30/12/41
|
|
04/04/42
|
05/04/42
|
ON
083
|
15/04/42
|
17/04/42
|
|
23/04/42
|
27/04/42
|
SC
081
|
09/05/42
|
09/05/42
|
|
22/05/42
|
23/05/42
|
ON
097
|
02/06/42
|
05/06/42
|
|
05/06/42
|
08/06/42
|
SC
086
|
18/06/42
|
20/06/42
|
|
26/06/42
|
27/06/42
|
ON
107
|
05/07/42
|
09/07/42
|
|
12/07/42
|
15/07/42
|
HX
198
|
22/07/42
|
23/07/42
|
|
02/08/42
|
03/08/42
|
ON
118
|
14/08/42
|
20/08/42
|
|
16/08/42
|
19/08/42
|
HX
203
|
27/08/42
|
28/08/42
|
|
05/09/42
|
08/09/42
|
ON
128
|
18/09/42
|
24/09/42
|
|
17/09/42
|
23/09/42
|
HX
208
|
01/10/42
|
02/10/42
|
|
11/10/42
|
13/10/42
|
ON
138
|
28/10/42
|
03/11/42
|
|
26/10/42
|
31/10/42
|
HX
213
|
08/11/42
|
10/11/42
|
|
23/11/42
|
25/11/42
|
ON
148
|
06/12/42
|
13/12/42
|
|
13/12/42
|
19/12/42
|
HX
219
|
28/12/42
|
29/12/42
|
|
13/04/43
|
14/04/43
|
ONS
004
|
29/04/43
|
05/05/43
|
|
02/05/43
|
06/05/43
|
SC
129
|
21/05/43
|
21/05/43
|
|
28/05/43
|
29/05/43
|
ONS
009
|
07/06/43
|
09/06/43
|
|
16/06/43
|
20/06/43
|
SC
134
|
30/06/43
|
01/07/43
|
|
14/07/43
|
15/07/43
|
ONS
013
|
25/07/43
|
29/07/43
|
|
30/07/43
|
03/08/43
|
SC
138
|
12/08/43
|
12/08/43
|
|
21/08/43
|
22/08/43
|
ON
198
|
29/08/43
|
04/09/43
|
|
03/09/43
|
07/09/43
|
SC
141
|
15/09/43
|
17/09/43
|
|
26/09/43
|
26/09/43
|
KMS
028G
|
07/10/43
|
07/10/43
|
|
14/10/43
|
14/10/43
|
MKS
027G
|
28/10/43
|
28/10/43
|
|
04/11/43
|
05/11/43
|
ONS
022
|
17/11/43
|
22/11/43
|
|
19/11/43
|
25/11/43
|
HX
267
|
02/12/43
|
03/12/43
|
|
15/12/43
|
17/12/43
|
ONS
025
|
30/12/43
|
03/01/44
|
|
29/12/43
|
03/01/44
|
HX
273
|
12/01/44
|
14/01/44
|
|
23/04/44
|
23/04/44
|
OS
075KM
|
04/05/44
|
04/05/44
|
|
05/05/44
|
05/05/44
|
KMS
049G
|
06/05/44
|
06/05/44
|
|
10/05/44
|
10/05/44
|
MKS
048G
|
11/05/44
|
11/05/44
|
|
11/05/44
|
11/05/44
|
SL
157MK
|
22/05/44
|
22/05/44
|
|
02/06/44
|
03/06/44
|
OS
079KM
|
11/06/44
|
11/06/44
|
|
12/06/44
|
12/06/44
|
KMS
053G
|
13/06/44
|
13/06/44
|
|
20/06/44
|
20/06/44
|
MKS
052G
|
22/06/44
|
22/06/44
|
|
22/06/44
|
22/06/44
|
SL
161MK
|
02/07/44
|
02/07/44
|
|
12/07/44
|
12/07/44
|
OS
083KM
|
23/07/44
|
23/07/44
|
|
24/07/44
|
24/07/44
|
KMS
057G
|
25/07/44
|
25/07/44
|
|
29/07/44
|
29/07/44
|
MKS
056G
|
30/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
|
30/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
SL
165MK
|
10/08/44
|
10/08/44
|
|
25/08/44
|
25/08/44
|
OS
087KM
|
02/09/44
|
03/09/44
|
|
03/09/44
|
03/09/44
|
KMS
061G
|
04/09/44
|
04/09/44
|
|
09/09/44
|
09/09/44
|
MKS
060G
|
10/09/44
|
10/09/44
|
|
10/09/44
|
10/09/44
|
SL
169MK
|
17/09/44
|
17/09/44
|
|
23/01/45
|
unknown
|
HX
334
|
unknown
|
06/02/45
|
|
12/04/45
|
15/04/45
|
MKF
042
|
17/04/45
|
17/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
