Type II HUNT-Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Cammell Laird at Birkenhead on 20th December 1939 under the 1939 War Emergency Programme with 15 other ships of this Class. She was laid down on 17th July 1940 as Job Number 3560 and launched on 9th June 1941 as the second RN ship to bear this name. It had previously been used for a surveying vessel built in 1919 and sold in 1938.The build completion date was 3rd November 1941. She was later adopted by the civil community of the Rural District of Bathavon, Somerset after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942.

 

B a t t l e    H o n o u r s

 

SIRTE 1942 - LIBYA 1942 - MALTA  CONVOYS 1942 - MEDITERRANEAN 1942 - SICILY 1943 - SALERNO 1943 - AEGEAN 1942-43 - ANZIO 1944 - SOUTH FRANCE 1944

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Blue, within a horseshoe inverted White

a Portcullis chained gold.

 

 

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 1

 

October                  Contractor’s trials and commissioning.

 

November              Commissioned for service

                3rd          Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials

                                On completion of trials and storing took passage to Scapa Flow.

                                Nominated for foreign service with 5th Destroyer Flotilla based at Alexandria.

 

December              On completion of work-up prepared for foreign service.

                13th        Joined military convoy WS14 during passage in NW Approaches with HM Battleship

                                RAMILLIES and HM Destroyer BADSWORTH as Ocean Escort during Atlantic passage

                                to Freetown.

                21st         Detached from WS14 on arrival at Freetown.

                25th        Rejoined WS14 with HMS RAMILLIES, HM Destroyer HURWORTH and HM Sloop

                                BRIDGEWATER as Ocean Escort for passage to Cape of Good Hope.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January

                4th          Detached from WS14 on arrival at Capetown and made independent passage to join

                                Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria.

 

February                Passage in Red Sea.

                                Joined Mediterranean Fleet for escort duty in Eastern Mediterranean.

                12th        Deployed with HM Cruiser CARLISLE and HM Destroyers AVON VALE, SOUTHWOLD,

                                ERIDGE, DULVERTON, HURWORTH and HEYTHROP as Close Escort for Malta Convoy

                                MW9 consisting of three fast merchant ships.

                13th        Subjected to heavy air attacks during which one ship was damaged and had to go to Tobruk.

                                All escorts had expended much of their anti-aircraft ammunition.

                14th        Second merchant ship sunk in further air attacks.

                                Escort returned to Egypt with four empty ships returning from Malta to Egypt.

                                (Note: The remaining ship of MW9 was sunk before arrival in Malta and so the operation

                                failed

                                (See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C. Barnett) and Naval Staff

                                History (HMSO, 2002).

 

March

                20th        Deployed with HM Cruiser CARLISLE and HM Destroyers SOUTHWOLD, DULVERTON,

                                ERIDGE, HURWORTH, AVONVALE and HEYTHROP as Close Escort for Convoy MW10

                                to Malta

                                (Note: Convoy passage was covered by HM Cruisers DIDO, EURYALUS and CLEOPATRA

                                escorted by Fleet destroyers (Operation MG1).

                22nd       In action against enemy air and surface attacks (Second Battle of Sirte0

                                (See BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D. Macintyre and above references.)

                23rd        Convoy and escort came under further sustained air attacks during which one of the

                                mercantiles (ss CLAN CAMPBELL) was sunk.

                                Returned to Alexandria.

 

April                       Deployed on support of garrison and defence of convoys to Tobruk.

to                            (For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY)

May

 

June                        Prepared for major Fleet operation.

                                (Note: Passage of relief convoys to Malta from Gibraltar and Alexandria.

                                Operation JULIUS which comprised Operation HARPOON from Gibraltar and

                                Operation VIGOROUS from Alexandria).

                11th        Deployed for escort of Convoy MW11C as part of Malta relief operation with HM Cruiser

                                COVENTRY, HM Destroyers AIREDALE, ALDENHAM, CROOME, DULVERTON,

                                ERIDGE, EXMOOR and HURWORTH (Operation VIGOROUS).

                                (Note: This convoy of 3 (or 4) mercantiles was intended to act as decoy to attract Italian

                                intervention in advance of departure of main convoy.

                                Each of the merchant ships towed a Motor Torpedo Boat and this diversion was known

                                as Operation REMBRANDT).

                12th        Under air attacks during which ss CITY OF CALCUTTA was damaged and detached and was

                                escorted to Tobruk.

                13th        Convoy MW11C returned to east after main convoy had taken passage to Malta.

                                (Note: The Italians were not tempted by the bait and escorts later joined the escort of the main

                                Convoy MW11 which was made up of two parts MW11A and MW11B.

                                Escort was provided by cruisers and destroyers of Mediterranean Fleet)

                14th        Under heavy and sustained air attacks without shore air cover.

                                Convoy threatened by Italian surface force and reversed course to the East.

                                Took part in defence of convoy during night torpedo attacks by E-Boats.

                                (Note: HM Cruiser Newcastle was hit but remained with convoy.

                                HM Destroyer HASTY was also hit and was sunk by HM Destroyer HOTSPUR).

                15th        Air attacks in continuation.

                                HM Battleship CENTURION of WW1 vintage and disguised as a KING GEORGE V Class

                                damaged but remained with convoy.

                                HM Cruisers ARETHUSA and BIRMINGHAM were also damaged but remained.

                                HM Destroyers AIREDALE and NESTOR sustained major damaged and had to be sunk.

                                (Note: A series of conflicting orders from shore and the heavy expenditure of ammunition made

                                it necessary to abandon VIGOROUS and ships returned to Alexandria).

 

June

                16th        Remained with returning Convoy MW11 which came under attack by U205.

                                HMS HERMIONE was torpedoed and sunk by U205.

                                (For details of this disastrous operation and the serious effects of the losses and damage to

                                warships see above references.)

 

July                         Flotilla deployment in continuation based at Alexandria.

                11th        Carried out bombardment of Mersa Matruh with HM Escort Destroyers DULVERTON,

                                ERIDGE and HURWORTH.

 

August                  Fleet Escort, patrol duty and support of military operations in continuation.

                10th        Deployed with HM Cruisers ARETHUSA and EURYALUS, HM Destroyers JERVIS,

                                KELVIN, PAKENHAM, PALADIN, ALDENHAM, DULVERTON, BRIDGE, HURSLEY,

                                HURWORTH, HM Corvette HYACINTH and HM Auxiliary ANTWERP as escort for

                                Convoy MW12.

                13th        Returned to Port Said with W12.

                                (Note: This convoy of three mercantiles from Port Said and one from Haifa was part of a

                                diversionary operation during Operation PEDESTAL to pass a relief convoy to

                                Malta from Gibraltar.)

 

September

                3rd          Preparation for support of military operation at Tobruk (Operation AGREEMENT).

                12th        Embarked Royal Marines for assault landings at Tobruk.

                13th        Supported landings with HM Destroyers ALDENHAM, EXMOOR, HURWORTH, SIKH and

                                ZULU.

                14th        Returned to Alexandria with HMS DULVERTON, EXMOOR and HURWORTH after loss of

                                HM Cruiser COVENTRY.

                                (For details of this poorly planned and questionable operation see MASSACRE AT TOBRUK

                                by P. Smith and above references.).

 

October                  Deployed in Eastern Mediterranean with Flotilla for convoy defence, patrol and bombardment

                                support of military operations.

                                Nominated for escort duty in Indian Ocean and took passage to Aden with sister HUNT

                                Class destroyer HMS TETCOTT.

                14th        Joined HM Armed Merchant Cruiser RANCHI with HMS TETCOTT as Ocean Escort for

                                military convoy WS22

                16th        Detached from WS22 on arrival at Aden and returned to Alexandria to rejoin the Flotilla in

                                Mediterranean Fleet

 

November              Eastern Mediterranean Fleet duties with Flotilla in continuation.

                17th        Joined Malta Relief Convoy MW13 with HM Destroyers ALDENHAM, BELVOIR, CROOME,

                                DULVERTON, EXMOOR, HURSLEY, HURWORTH, TETCOTT and Greek PINDOS as

                                Close Escort. (Operation STONEAGE).

                18th        Under air attack during which HM Cruiser ARETHUSA was torpedoed and returned to

                                Alexandria.

                20th        Detached from MW13 on arrival in Malta and returned to Alexandria with ships of dose Escort

 

December              Deployed at Alexandria

                                (Note: Not included with escort for Convoy MW14 (Operation PORTCULLIS or MW12

                                (Operation QUADRANGLE

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Deployment on convoy defence, patrol and support of Eighth Array operations.

to

April

 

May                        Imposed a blockade on Cape Bon area with destroyers of Mediterranean Fleet to prevent passage

                                of craft evacuating enemy troops. (Operation RETRIBUTION).

 

June                        Transferred to Malta for escort of military convoys in preparation for allied landings in Sicily.

                                (Operation HUSKY)

 

July                         Passage to Alexandria for escort of assault convoy to Sicily

                                Joined Support Force East for landings in Sicily by 1st British Airborne Divn SW of Syracuse.

                                Allocated for service in Escort Group P.

                5th          Deployed at Port Said for escort of military convoy MWF36.

                8th          Detached to refuel.

                9th          Rejoined KMF36 escort.

                10th        On arrival off beachhead detached from MWF36 and deployed off Sicily during landings

                                Provided naval gunfire support, carried out defensive patrol against E-Boat and air attacks on

                                shipping off beach heads.

                                (For details see Naval Staff History, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and BRITISH

                                INVASION fleets by J de Winser.).

 

August                  On release from HUSKY nominated for support of planned allied landings at Salerno, Italy with

                                Northern Attack Force (TF85).

                                Deployed for escort of military convoys.

 

September

                6th          Deployed at Tripoli for escort of military convoy TSF1 during passage to Salerno.

                9th          On arrival at beach head deployed with Flotilla for support of landings.

                to            Provided naval gunfire support and carried out defensive patrols.

                15th        (For details see above references)

 

October                  Transferred to Alexandria with ships of Flotilla for support of operations in Aegean after Italian

                                surrender.

                                (Note: British troops were to be landed on Islands to prevent any attempt to land German

                                troops)

                10th        Deployed on interception patrols to prevent landings.

                                Under heavy air attacks.

                12th        Deployed with HM Cruiser PHOEBE and HM Destroyer BELVOIR to locate a convoy but

                                withdrew after coming under air attacks.

                15th        Carried cut unsuccessful search with HM Destroyer BELVOIR for two merchant ships and a

                                landing craft taking enemy reinforcements to Cos.

                17th        Escorted HM Cruiser SIRIUS with HM Destroyers PATHFINDER and ECLIPSE to Leros

                                taking reinforcement to garrison.

                                After joining HM Cruiser AURORA came under a further series of air attacks during which HMS

                                SIRIUS was hit.

                19th        Bombarded Cos with HM Destroyers FURY and HURWORTH.

                20th        After laying in Turkish waters in daylight to avoid air attacks carried out an interception patrol.

                21st         Landed troops at Alinda Bay with HMS FURY.

                                Bombarded Cos harbour being used by German invasion craft.

                                Under air attacks.

                22nd       Formed NETTLE Force with HM Cruiser AURORA, HMS FURY and HMS HURWORTH to

                                carry out an interception sweep with air cover.

                26th        Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR and BELVOIR on patrol in Rhodes Channel.

                                Laid up during daylight in Gulf of Cos.

                29th        Embarked 60 soldiers and Jeep for passage to Casteloriso and sailed with HM Destroyers

                                PETARD and BELVOIR.

                                Met HM Cruiser AURORA in Turkish waters.

                                Under heavy air attacks during which HMS AURORA was hit and set on fire.

                30th        Returned to Alexandria as escort for the damaged HMS AURORA.

 

November              Deployment in support of Aegean operations in continuation..

                10th        Under air attacks on passage to bombard Cos harbour with Greek destroyer PINDOS and

                                HMS FAULKNOR.

                11th        Bombarded Cos Harbour before taking shelter in Turkish waters.

                12th        Remained in Turkish waters because of domination of German aircraft.

                13th        Bombarded German positions en Mount Clidi, Leros in support of army units.

                14th        Returned to Alexandria

                                (Note on Aegean Islands operations in 1943.

                                The arrival of German reinforcements ended the defence of Leros and all naval support

                                operations ended when the island fell on 16th November.

                                For details of these ill-fated and desperately conducted events see ENGAGE THE ENEMY

                                MORE CLOSELY and WAR IN THE AEGEAN by P Smith and E Walker.)

 

December              Transferred for duty in central Mediterranean for convoy escort and support.

                                Based at Algiers with HM Destroyers ALDENHAM, BELVOIR and the Greek KANARIS.

                                Deployed for escort of convoys between North African ports and Naples.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Nominated to join Northern Attack Force P for escort and support during planned allied

                                landings at Anzio (Operation SHINGLE).

                21st         Sailed from Naples with Attack Force P.

                22nd       Present during assault phase and carried cut defensive patrol and AA defence.

                                (See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History.

 

February                Deployed for escort, patrol and support duty for military land operations.

to                            Nominated for support of planned allied landings in South France under overall US Navy

July                         Navy command (Operation DRAGOON – formerly ANVIL)

 

August                  Prepared for support duties.

                13th        Escorted troop convoys SM2 from Naples for landings in South France.

                15th        Deployed with allied destroyers for escort of follow-up convoys to beachheads.

                                (For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and LANDINGS IN SOUTH

                                FRANCE (HMSO).

                                Released from US Navy command and reverted to CinC Mediterranean command.

 

September             Deployed at Alexandria for support of the reoccupation of Aegean Islands and for interception

to                            of evacuation craft taking German forces back to mainland.

October                  Provided naval gunfire support.

 

November              Deployed in continuation for support of military during reoccupation of Greek mainland.

to                            (Operation MANNA - See Military History (HMSO)).

December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Deployed in central Mediterranean in support of military operations and for the defence of

to                            convoys.

April                       (Note: U-Boats were still active in Mediterranean..

                                Future deployment with Eastern Fleet under consideration.

 

May                        Passage to UK for refit in commercial shipyard at Cardiff.

 

June                        Prepared for refit.

                10th        Taken in hand for refit.

 

July                         Under refit.

to

August

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS BEAUFORT completed refit en 24th September 1945 and carried out post refit trials. The ship did not remain operational for many weeks as she was Paid off and reduced to Reserve status at Devonport. After being laid up there for five years, in 1951 she was lent to the Royal Norwegian Navy and renamed HAUGESAND on completion of refit on the Tyne. Later the ship, re-designated as a Frigate was purchased outright. Modifications were made to fit a Lattice Mast and two SQUID A/S Mortars were fitted in lieu of "X" Gun. Her new Pennant Number was F312 for her Norwegian service and she remained .operational until 1965 when she was taken out of service.

 

Special    Note

 

Details of escorts for WS series convoys were provided by Donald Kindell, Ohio USA from an unpublished source. This is gratefully acknowledged.

---

 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS BEAUFORT

by Don Kindell

 

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above

(Note on Convoys)