ORIBI-Class
Fleet Destroyer ordered from
John I Thornycroft, Woolston on 3rd September
1939 with the 1st Emergency
Flotilla. She was laid down on 28th March 1940
and launched on 21st January
1942 as the 2nd RN ship to carry this name,
previously used for a destroyer
sold in 1923. Her build was completed on 14th
August 1942 after delay in
deliveries of equipment by manufacturers due to
enemy bombing and damage to
shipyard in an air raid during December 1940.
She was one of the four of the
Class designed for use as a minelayer if
required. In March 1942 after a successful
WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
campaign the ship was adopted by the civil
community of Brentford, Middlesex,
new in the Greater London Borough of Hounslow.
B a t t l
e H o n o u r s
ARCTIC 1942-45 -
NORTH
AFRICA 1942 - ATLANTIC 1943 - NORTH
CAPE 1943 - NORMANDY 1944
H e r a
l d i c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Blue, an hour glass Gold.
M o t t o
Felix oportunitate pugnae: 'Happy at the chance of a fight'
or
'Fortunate in the timeliness of her fight.
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
August Contractor's
trials and commissioned for service with 17th
Destroyer
Flotilla in Home Fleet
15th
Carried out acceptance trials
during passage to Scapa Flow as part of the
escort for Convoy PW202
to
Bristol.
17th
Independent passage to Scapa Flow
after landing trials party at Plymouth.
18th
Commenced Work-up with Home Fleet
at Scapa Flow.
September
Minelaying trials delayed by requirement to
join escort for Russian
Convoy PQ18.
9th
Deployed with HM Destroyers
ASHANTI, ESKIMO, FAULKNOR, FURY, IMPULSIVE,
INTREPID,
MARNE, MARTIN, METEOR, MILNE, OFFA, ONSLAUGHT,
ONSLOW,
OBEDIENT,
SOMALI and TARTAR as part of screen for HM
Escort Carrier
AVENGER
and
HM Cruiser SCYLLA for passage of PQ18 to North
Russia. (See Naval
Staff
History
(Mining).)
17th
Detached from PQ18 and joined
returning Convoy QP14 with HMS SCYLLA, HMS
AVENGER
and Home Fleet
destroyers.
20th
Detached with HM Destroyers ESKIMO,
INTREPID and HM Trawler LORD MIDDLETON to
escort
damaged destroyer HMS SOMALI under tow by HMS
ASHANTI.
(For
details of all Russian
Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA
Ruegg,
THE
RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield, ARCTIC
CONVOYS by R Woodman and
CONVOY
! by P Kemp).
24th
Rejoined
Fleet units after sinking of
HMS SOMALI in gale conditions.
25th
Landed survivors from HMS SOMALI at
Scapa Flow.
Passage
to Immingham for conversion as minelayer.
October Under
conversion.
13th
Carried out first of Class
minelaying trials.
14th
On completion of detached for
minelay in East Coast Barrier (Operation
BS86).
(For
details of all minelaying in WW2 see the Naval
Staff History
(Mining).
30th
Escorted HMS SCYLLA with Admiral
A. B. Cunningham embarked for passage to
Gibraltar
to
take up appointment as Allied Naval Commander
for North African
landings.
(Operation
TORCH - For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by C
Barnett).
November
1st
Arrived at Gibraltar and joined
exercises for landings with other ships.
5th
Deployed on anti-submarine patrols
off landing areas.
8th
Deployed with screen for Force H
ships during cover of landings at Algiers.
18th
Escorted HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK
and HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS for passage
back
to rejoin Home Fleet at Scapa Flow after
supporting allied
landings.
21st
Rescued survivors from U517 which
had been forced to surface by SWORDFISH
aircraft
from
HMS VICTORIOUS and had scuttled. See U-BOATS
DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
24th
Landed German prisoners at
Greenock.
Passage
to Scapa Flow to rejoin Home Fleet.
December
Deployed with Flotilla for screening and
patrol in NW Approaches.
14th
Escorted HM Cruisers SHEFFIELD and
JAMAICA with HM Destroyer MATCHLESS and
BEAGLE
as Force R to cover passage of Russian Convoy
JW51A.
19th
Joined escort for JW51A with above
ships.
20th
Deployed with Force R south of
convoy.
24th
Arrived at Kola Inlet with Force
R.
27th
Sailed from Kola Inlet with HMS
JAMAICA, HMS SHEFFIELD and HMS MATCHLESS to
provide
Cruiser Cover for Russian Convoy JW51B.
29th
Detached from JW51B with HMS
MATCHLESS and returned to Iceland.
(Note:
Took no direct part in the Battle of the
Barents Sea on 31st.
Battle
Honour NOT awarded . See above references and
73 NORTH by D Pope).
1 9 4 3
January
Return
passage to Scapa Flow to resume Home Fleet
duties.
February
19th
Joined HM Destroyers
BOADICEA, FAULKNOR,
INGLEFIELD, MILNE, OBDURATE,
OBEDIENT
and ORWELL as destroyer Escort for Russian
Convoy JW53-
(Note:
HM Cruiser SCYLLA provided Distant Cover.)
27th
Detached
from JW53 after local escort
arrived.
March
1st
Joined escort for returning RA53-
6th
Detached with HM Destroyers
FAULKNOR, ECLIPSE and IMPULSIVE to carry cut
an anti-
submarine
operation ahead of convoy before taking
passage to
Seidisfjord.
10th
Rejoined convoy in storm conditions
with same ships after refuelling. Deployed to
assist
mercantile
J H LATROBE which had drifted into a minefield
after machinery
defects.
Took
stranded ship in tow.
(Note:
Salvage money was later paid for this
retrieval from a minefield
!)
11th
Detached from RA53 with HM Destroyer
FURY and resumed Hone Fleet duties.
20th
Nominated for Atlantic convoy defence
and deployed as 5th Support Group with HM
Destroyers
OBDURATE,
PATHFINDER and HM Escort Carrier BITER
Deployed
in support of passage of Atlantic convoys.
(For
details of development of tactics used in the
Battle of the
Atlantic see SEEK AND STRIKE
by
W Hackmann and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC
(HMSO), ).
April
Atlantic
convoy defence in continuation.
23rd Deployed
with Group to support
Convoy ONS4 escort which was under threat of
attack by MEISE
U-Boat Group.
25th
Participated in sinking of U203 with
HMS PATHFINDER and aircraft from HMS BITER.
See
U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
May
5th
Sailed from St Johns with ships of
Group to support defence of Convoy HX237 after
refuelling.
7th
Joined convoy with Group after
delay due to fog off Newfoundland.
12th
Carried cut unsuccessful search for
missing aircraft from HMS BITER.
Deployed
for anti-submarine search with HMS PATHFINDER
after sighting by
LIBERATOR
aircraft.
Depth charge attack on submarine was later
assessed as damaged.
13th
Transferred with Group to support
passage of SC129.
June
Resumed
Home Fleet duties with Flotilla.
Deployed
for support of replenishment of garrison at
Spitzbergen.
(Operation
FH in GEARBOX Series.)
July
Deployed
in NW Approaches for convoy defence and Fleet
duties.
Took
part in Flotilla exercises in NW Approaches.
August
Nominated
for support of planned operations in
Mediterranean.
3rd
Escorted HM Aircraft Carriers
ILLUSTRIOUS and UNICORN with M
Destroyers
OBEDIENT
and OBDURATE for anti-submarine flying
operations in NW
Approaches.
13th
Escorted HMS UNICORN to Gibraltar
for support of Salerno landings.
17th
Detached on arrival at Gibraltar.
20th
Escorted damaged aircraft carrier
HMS INDOMITABLE from Gibraltar to Norfolk, Va
for
repair with HM Destroyers OBEDIENT and
OBDURATE.
31st
Arrived at Norfolk.
September
1st
Took passage to Halifax, Nova
Scotia.
14th
Escorted HM Battlecruiser RENOWN
carrying Prime Minister back to UK after
meeting
with
US President (QUADRANT
Conference).
(Note:
HM Cruiser KENT, HM Destroyers OBEDIENT,
OBDURATE and ORWELL were
part of
screen for this passage.
17th
Rejoined Flotilla at Scapa Flow for Home
Fleet
duties.
October
4th
Took part in air attack on shipping
at Bodo, Norway of Norway as part of screen.
(Note:
Ships involved included US aircraft carrier
USS RANGER as well
Home Fleet.
(Operation
LEADER).
November
Home Fleet duties in continuation.
(Note:
Radar Type 272 had been installed by this
period.
For
details of development and use of
radar see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
December
15th
Joined Ocean Escort for Russian
Convoy JW55A with HM Destroyers ASHANTI,
MATCHLESS,
METEOR,
MILNE, MUSKETEER, VIRAGO and Canadian
ATHABASKAN.
21st
Detached to reinforce escort of
returning Convoy RA55A.
22nd
Joined RA55A with HM Destroyers
MATCHLESS, MUSKETEER and VIRAGO.
25th
Detached to reinforce escort of
Convoy JW55B under threat of attack by the
German
battleship
SCHARNHORST.
26th
Directed by CinC Home Fleet in HM
Cruiser BELFAST to join H M Cruisers SHEFFIELD
and
NORFOLK with HM Destroyers MATCHLESS,
MUSKETEER and VIRAGO.
After
SCHARNHORST had been crippled these ships
delivered the coup de gras by a
series
of torpedo attacks.
(Note:
Six hits were registered before SCHARNHORST
sank.)
(For
details see KOLA RUN by D MacIntyre, ARCTIC
DESTROYERS by P Kemp
and
Naval Staff History)
28th
Passage to Scapa Flow after
refuelling at Kola Inlet.
1 9 4 4
January
1st
Resumed Fleet duties with Flotilla
on arrival.
26th
Joined escort for Russian Convoy
JW56B with HM Destroyers MAHRATTA, MILNE,
SCOURGE
and Canadian HURON.
February
1st
Detached from JW56B on arrival at
Kola Inlet.
3rd
Joined escort for returning Convoy
RA56, HM
Destroyers OFFA, SAVAGE, VENUS, VIGILANT,
INCONSTANT,
MAHRATTA, METEOR, MILNE ,MUSKETEER,
SCOURGE, Canadian
HURON
and Norwegian STORD.
7th
Detached from RA56 with HM
Destroyers
OFFA, SAVAGE, VENUS and VIGILANT before
convoy
arrival at Loch Ewe.
March Took
part in anti-E-Boat exercises with Home Fleet
ships to prepare for
support of Normandy
Normandy
landings.
29th
Joined escort for Russian Convoy
JW58 with HM Destroyers OBEDIENT, ORWELL,
ONSLOW,
ORWELL,
SAUMAREZ, SERAPIS, SCORPION, VENUS and
Norwegian STORD.
April
4th
Detached from JW58 on arrival at
Kola Inlet after unscathed passage.
7th
Joined escort for return convoy
RA588 with HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Destroyers
ONSLOW,
OFFA,
ORWELL, SAUMAREZ, SERAPIS and Norwegian STORD.
12th
Detached and took passage to Hull
for boiler clean.
23rd
On completion deployed with ships of
Flotilla In English Channel as Task Force 27
for
exercises
and patrol prior to allied landings In
Normandy.
28th
In action with E-Boats which had
attacked convoy of US landing craft on passage
to Slapton
Sands
for Exercise TIGER.
E-Boats
escaped through smoke screen.
(For
details see E-BOAT ALERT by Trent and LANDINGS
IN NORMANDY, June
1944
(HMSO).).
May
Nominated
for duty in Dover Command in support of
Normandy landings.
(Operation
NEPTUNE: For
details of naval activities prior to and
during assault
see
OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY JUNE 1944
(HMSO).
Deployed
in English Channel
based at Dover.
Under
air attack during Channel patrol.
June Deployed
en interception patrol with HM Destroyers
OBEDIENT, ORWELL and
SAVAGE.
(Note:
These ships carried out patrols to intercept
any German warships
trying to enter
Channel
from the east to attack assault or build-up
convoys.)
4th
Operation delayed for 24 hours.
5th
Maintained patrol in eastern
English Channel
6th
Deployed between Dungeness and
Worthing to the south of gun zone and to
seaward of coastal
channel.
See above reference.
July
Retained
in channel based at Dover after NEPTUNE
build-up phase
completed.
27th
Engaged E-boats off Dungeness with
Motor Torpedo Boats of Light Coastal Forces
and HM
Destroyers
OBEDIENT and SAVAGE in defence of convoy.
August Channel
deployment in continuation.
17th
Engaged E-Boats off Dover with HM
Destroyer WALPOLE and MTB's.
September On
release from Channel patrol duties completed
boiler clean in London.
Resumed Home Fleet duties with Flotilla at
Scapa Flow.
October
Deployed
with Flotilla in NW Approaches.
November
22nd
Part of escort for Russian Convoy
JW61 with HM Cruiser DIDO, HM Destroyers OFFA,
OBEDIENT,
ONSLOW, ORIBI and ORWELL.
24th
Carried out anti-submarine attacks
which were unsuccessful.
28th
Detached on arrival of JW61 at Kola
Inlet.
November
2nd
Part of escort for returning Convoy
RA61 with HMS DUX) and destroyers and frigates
of
Western Approaches Command.
7th
Detached from RA61 before arrival
of convoy in Loch Ewe.
11th
Deployed with HM Destroyers
CAVENDISH, ZEST and ZODIAC as Force 3 to
escort cruiser
HMS
DIDO, HM Escort Carriers PREMIER and TRUMPETER
for air strikes on
shipping off
Egersund,
Norway (Operation GRATIS).
December
Home Fleet deployment with Flotilla in NW
Approaches and North Sea
continued.
1 9 4 5
January
10th
Joined HM Destroyers CAVENDISH,
ZEST and ZODIAC as screen for H M Cruiser
DIDO,
HM
Escort Carriers PREMIER and TRUMPETER in Force
3 for combined air
minelay and
shipping
strike off Norway (Operation SPELLBINDER).
11th
Part of screen during air
minelaying operations in Karm Sound.
(Operation GRATIS).
(Note:
HM Cruiser APOLLO carried cut minelay off
Utsira with Force 2.)
13th
Returned to Scapa Flow with Force
3.
February
6th
Joined escort for Russian Convoy
JW64 with HM Destroyers ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW,
ORWELL,
SERAPIS, ZAMBESI, ZEALOUS, ZEST and Canadian
SIOUX.
15th
Detached from JW64 on arrival at
Kola Inlet.
(Note:
HM Destroyers ZAMBESI, ZEALOUS, ZEST and SIOUX
(RCN) had
detached
earlier
to evacuate Russian nationals from the island
of Soroy).
17th
Joined escort for return Convoy RA64
with same ships as JW64.
Rescued
several aircrew after ditching.
23rd
Detached with HMS ORWELL to search for US
mercantile HENRY BACON
Rescued
survivors from HENRY BACON which had
which had failed to keep with convoy.
(Note:
Many of these were Norwegians rescued from
Soroy..
26th
Landed survivors in Faeroes.
March
Nominated for minelaying
operation.
8th
Converted for minelaying role at
Immingham after boiler cleaning in Hull.
(Note:
ARCTIC DESTROYERS by GC
Cornell gives this data and also that a
minelay
T3 was carried out on 10/3/45.This is at
variance with the
Naval
Staff History which shows T3 was done in
April.
It is
assumed only one lay was actually carried out
and that as shown below.
This
second lay is also quoted in the first
reference, so something is wrong.
Another
source suggests a minelay was carried out in
East Coast Barrier.
This may
have been immediately after conversion to
confirm serviceability.)
12th
Joined escort for Russian Convoy
JW65 with HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Escort Carrier
CAMPANIA, HM
Destroyers ONSLAUGHT, ORWELL, SCORPION,
ZAMBESI and
Canadian SIOUX.
21st
Detached from JW65 on arrival at
Kola Inlet.
23rd
Part of escort for return Convoy RA65
with HM Destroyers MYNGS, SAVAGE, SCOURGE
and destroyers from
JW65.
30th
Detached from RA65 with Home Fleet
units leaving frigates and corvettes for
escort during
final stage of
passage.
April
Nominated for minelaying
operation in Kola Inlet.
4th
Detached for minelaying operation
and took passage to load mines at Rosyth.
8th
Carried out minelay in NW
Approaches with HM Cruiser APOLLO, HMS
OBEDIENT
and HMS and HMS
ORWELL.
(Operation CH -
Field T3) was carried out when Russian
agreement for Kola lay was
not obtained in time
to meet planned date)
.
(Note: See March 6th
Note above.).
13th
Loaded mines at Milford Haven for
minelay off Kola Inlet when Russian approval
given.
17th
Joined HMS APOLLO with HMS OBEDIENT
and HMS ORWELL as Force 5 for minelay
in Kola Inlet
(Operation TRAMMEL -
See Naval Staff History).).
21st
After delayed fuelling at Kola Inlet
embarked Russian observers.
22nd
Laid Anti-Submarine Trap minefield
with Force 5 ships and returned to Kola Inlet
to refuel.
23rd
Sailed for Rosyth with Force 5.
Passage speed
reduced to 15 knots when HMS ORWELL reported
fracture in Hull structure.
25th
Joined Hone Fleet Task Force with
HMS OBEDIENT to screen HM Cruisers NORFOLK and
DIADEM, HM Escort
Carriers SEARCHER, QUEEN and TRUMPETER with
Hone Fleet
destroyers for
snipping strike off Narvik (Operation
JUDGEMENT).
May
4th
Acted as Carrier Plane Guard during
successful air attacks shipping west of
Narvik.
5th
Carried cut anti-submarine patrol
in
Skaggerak entrance prior to arrival of two
cruisers,
HMS BIRMINGHAM and
HMS DIDO on passage to Copenhagen to accept
surrender of German
warships (Operation
CLEAVER).
24th
Deployed with OBEDIENT and OFFA for
Guardship duties.
25th
Arrived at Cuxhaven
27th
Guardship duty at Flensburg with HMS
OPPORTUNE.
June
1st
Returned to Kiel with HMS OFFA
(Note: German
Training Ship HORST WESSEL also brought as
Prize.)
9th
Returned to Chatham to land sick captain
and took passage to rejoined Flotilla in Scapa
Flow.
July
Deployed with Hone Fleet.
(Note: Fleet duties
included service in support of military
operations in and visits programme
to
UK ports.)
P
o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS
OPPORTUNE remained in service after VJ Day and
deployed at Portsmouth for submarine training
and Local Flotilla duties until
1950. She then refitted and joined the
Nore Local Flotilla. The ship was placed in
Reserve at
Chatham
during November 1952. Transferred to
Portsmouth in July 1953 she went en the
Disposal List the next year.
After sale to BISCO in November 1955 she
arrived in tow at Milford Haven on
25th November to be broken-up by TW Ward.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS OPPORTUNE
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
09/09/42
|
17/09/42
|
PQ
018
|
02/09/42
|
21/09/42
|
17/09/42
|
21/09/42
|
QP
014
|
13/09/42
|
26/09/42
|
19/12/42
|
25/12/42
|
JW
051A
|
15/12/42
|
25/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
29/12/42
|
JW
051B
|
22/12/42
|
04/01/43
|
19/02/43
|
27/02/43
|
JW
053
|
15/02/43
|
27/02/43
|
01/03/43
|
11/03/43
|
RA
053
|
01/03/43
|
14/03/43
|
13/04/43
|
15/04/43
|
ON
178
|
12/04/43
|
02/05/43
|
23/04/43
|
26/04/43
|
ONS
004
|
13/04/43
|
05/05/43
|
09/05/43
|
13/05/43
|
HX
237
|
01/05/43
|
17/05/43
|
14/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
SC
129
|
02/05/43
|
21/05/43
|
15/12/43
|
21/12/43
|
JW
055A
|
12/12/43
|
22/12/43
|
23/12/43
|
25/12/43
|
RA
055A
|
22/12/43
|
01/01/44
|
25/12/43
|
26/12/43
|
JW
055B
|
20/12/43
|
30/12/43
|
26/01/44
|
01/02/44
|
JW
056B
|
22/01/44
|
01/02/44
|
03/02/44
|
05/02/44
|
RA
056
|
03/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
29/03/44
|
04/04/44
|
JW
058
|
27/03/44
|
04/04/44
|
07/04/44
|
13/04/44
|
RA
058
|
07/04/44
|
14/04/44
|
08/06/44
|
10/06/44
|
FTC
001
|
08/06/44
|
10/06/44
|
22/10/44
|
28/10/44
|
JW
061
|
20/10/44
|
28/10/44
|
02/11/44
|
07/11/44
|
RA
061
|
02/11/44
|
09/11/44
|
06/02/45
|
13/02/45
|
JW
064
|
03/02/45
|
15/02/45
|
17/02/45
|
27/02/45
|
RA
064
|
17/02/45
|
28/02/45
|
14/03/45
|
21/03/45
|
JW
065
|
11/03/45
|
21/03/45
|
23/03/45
|
30/03/45
|
RA
065
|
23/03/45
|
01/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)