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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 1995

HMCS ALGONQUIN (R 17), ex-HMS VALENTINE -  V-class Destroyer

HMS Volage, sister-ship  (Navy Photos/George Knight, click to enlarge) return to Contents List 
 

V (VALENTINE)-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered with the 8th Emergency Flotilla on 1st September 1942 from John Brown of Clydebank, Glasgow. The ship was laid down on 8th September 1942 and intended to be named HMS KEMPENFELT but this was changed to HMS VALENTINE before launch on 2nd September 1943. She would have been the 4th RN warship to carry the name that had last been used for a destroyer built in 1917 and taken out of service in 1940. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 this ship was to have been adopted by the civil community of Dorchester, Dorset. However during build this new destroyer was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy and re-named HMCS ALGONQUIN when commissioned on 28th February 1944.

 

 

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e   a s   H M C S    A L G O N Q U I N  

 

(for more ship information,  go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search)

 

 

1 9 4 4

 

February

 

Contractors trials.

 

28th - Commissioned for service in 26th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet.

 

Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

 

March

 

On completion of trials and storing took passage to Scapa Flow to work-up for operational service with ships of Home Fleet. Worked-up at Scapa Flow.

 

April

 

On completion deployed with Flotilla for Home Fleet duties in NW Approaches. Nominated for support of planned allied landings in Normandy and allocated for for service in Force J of Eastern Task Force (Operation NEPTUNE). (For details see LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO), OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and D-DAY SHIPS by J de Winser.)

 

6th - Deployed with Home Fleet as screen for HM Aircraft Carriers FURIOUS and SEARCHER with HM Cruiser BERWICK, HM Destroyers SAVAGE, WIZARD, WAKEFUL, Polish destroyers ORP PIORUN and ORP BLYSKAWICA during air attacks on coastal shipping off Kristiansund, Norway. (Note: Two mercantiles were sunk in these attacks.)

 

 On release from Home Fleet transferred to Channel with ships of 26th Flotilla for duty with Force J.

 

May

 

Deployed with Force J for preparatory exercises and later with rehearsals by all ships of Eastern Task Force prior to assault landings.

 

June

 

Deployed in Solent for briefing. Allocated for escort of Convoy J11 with Coastal Motor Boat and two MTBs during passage through swept channel to Assault Beach.

 

4th - Operation delayed 24 hours. 

 

5th - Sailed from Solent with J11 which included HM Landing Ship HILARY (Flagship of Force J), US Coastguard Cutter and three Landing Ships Support (Large).

 

6th - Arrived off JUNO Beach and provided naval gunfire support with HM Canadian Destroyer SIOUX during assault on NAN Beaches.

 

7th - Deployed in Eastern Task Force area for gunfire support and interception patrol duties.

 

27th - Released from NEPTUNE and resumed Home Fleet duties with Flotilla.

 

July

 

Deployed with Flotilla at Scapa Flow for Home Fleet duties.

 

August

 

10th - Deployed with HM Destroyers MYNGS, VIGILANT, VERULAM, VOLAGE, VIRAGO, SCOURGE and SIOUX (RCN) as escort for HM Aircraft Carriers INDEFATIGABLE, TRUMPETER and NABOB, HM Cruisers KENT and DEVONSHIRE for screening duties during air attacks on German airfield at Gossen, near Kristiansund North and attacks on coastal shipping. (For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History.)

 

17th - Deployed with Home Fleet to provide cover for passage to Kola Inlet of outward Convoy JW59 and during air attacks on German battleship TIRPITZ in Kaafjord. Part of escort for HM Aircraft Carriers INDEFATIGABLE, FORMIDABLE, FURIOUS, HM Cruisers BERWICK and DEVONSHIRE with HM Destroyers MYNGS, VIGILANT, SIOUX (RCN), KEMPENFELT, ZAMBESI and Norwegian STORD. (For details see CONVOY by P Kemp and Naval Staff History.)

 

September

 

Home Fleet Flotilla duties in continuation.

 

17th - Deployed as screen for HM Battleship RODNEY, HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers CAMPANIA and STRIKER with HM Destroyers MARNE, METEOR, MILNE, MUSKETEER, SAUMAREZ, SCORPION, VENUS, VERULAM, VOLAGE, and SIOUX (RCN) for defence of Convoy JW60 to Kola Inlet and return Convoy RA60 to UK.

 

October

 

Passage to Home waters with escort for RA60.

 

3rd - Detached with HMS RODNEY and other escorts and returned to Scapa Flow.

 

14th - Part of escort for HM Aircraft. Carriers TRUMPETER and FENCER, with HM Cruiser EURYALUS as Force 9 for air minelaying operation and coastal shipping strikes off Norway with HM Destroyers VOLAGE, SIOUX (RCN), SCORPION and SERAPIS (Operation LYCIDAS - See Naval Staff History (MINING).

 

26th - Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier IMPLACABLE for air attacks on Sandnessjoen, Bodo and Rorvik, Norway with HM Cruiser MAURITIUS, HM Destroyers MYNGS, VENUS, VERULAM, VOLAGE and SIOUX (RCN). German Depot Ship KARL MEYER was sunk at Rorvik.

 

November

 

12th - Took part in attack on coastal convoy KS357 at Listerfjord, SE of Egersund with HM Cruisers KENT, BELLONA, HM Destroyers MYNGS, VERULAM and ZAMBESI. Two ships and 5 escorting vessels were sunk.

 

27th - Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier IMPLACABLE with HM Cruiser DIDO and HM Destroyers MYNGS, SCOURGE, ZEPHYR, SCORPION and SIOUX (RCN) during air attacks on shipping off Mosjoen, north of Namsos during which three ships were sunk. (Note: Two of these were carrying Russian prisoners of war many of whom died.)

 

December

 

Deployed with Home Fleet for covering duty of Russian Convoys. (For full details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg and above references.)

 

8th - Part of escort for HM Aircraft Carriers IMPLACABLE, TRUMPETER and PREMIER with HM Cruiser DIADEM and HM Destroyers ZAMBESI, SAVAGE, VIGILANT, ZEALOUS, SERAPIS, SIOUX (RCN) and Norwegian destroyer STORD during air attacks on Haugesund.

 

 

1 9 4 5

 

January

 

1st - Formed outer escort for Russian Convoy JW63 with HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Escort Carrier VINDEX as screen with HM Destroyers MYNGS, SAVAGE, SCOURGE, SERAPIS, ZAMBESI and ZEBRA.

 

8th - Arrived at Kola Inlet without detection by enemy.

 

11th - Returned as escort for Convoy RA63.

 

21st - Detached on arrival after an undetected but stormy passage during which convoy had to shelter in the Faeroes.

 

February

 

Deployed with Home Fleet.**

 

March

 

Return to Canada.**

 

April

 

Nominated for service with British Pacific Fleet.**

 

May to August

 

Under repair at Halifax.

 

Prepared for service in Pacific.** (Note: Intended deployment with British Pacific Fleet may have been influenced by change in Canadian policy restricting use of volunteers only to man ships allocated to join operations against Japan. For this reason the ship did not serve in the BPF before VJ Day.)

 

 ** No record was available at time of research to give details of the date on which HMCS ALGONQUIN left 26th Destroyer Flotilla in Home Fleet.

 

 

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMCS ALGONQUIN was deployed in the RCN as a Fleet destroyer until 1954 when she was selected for conversion into an anti-submarine Frigate. On completion she was used in this role until the late 1960's when she was reduced to Reserve.  This ship was sold for breaking-up in Taiwan and left Canada in tow to the breaker's yard at Kaoshiang on 21st April 1971.

 


 

No Convoy Escort Movements Reported

 

 

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revised 5/7/11
further editing is required