Type III HUNT-Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Swan Hunter at Newcastle  on  28th July 1940 and laid down on 1st May 1941 as Job Number J4287. The ship was launched on 3rd February 1942 as the first RN ship to carry the name HMS BORDER, that of a fox-hunt on the border between England and Scotland. Before completion she was transferred  to  the Royal Hellenic Navy on loan and renamed HHelMS ADRIAS. Commissioned in July 1942, her Build was completed on 5th August and after her Acceptance Trials she was prepared for service with the 22nd Destroyer Flotilla based at Alexandria.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

No British Battle Honours were awarded as

the ship served in an allied Navy

 

Ship Badge

None is included in the Official List of Heraldic

Crests for RN warships as she was never

in commission with the Royal Navy.

 

 

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e   a s   H  H e l  M  S   A D R I A S

 

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

 

  

1 9 4 2

 

July

 

Commissioned under Greek Navy command as HHelMS ADRIAS.

 

August

 

Contractors Trials.

 

5th - Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

 

On completion of trials and storing took passage to Scapa Flow to work-up for service with ships of the Home Fleet. During work-up she sustained damage and returned to her build yard for repair.

 

September to November

 

Under repair at Wallsend.

 

December

 

Resumed work-up at Scapa Flow.

 

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

 

Completed work-up and nominated for escort of military convoy during Atlantic passage to Indian Ocean.

 

23rd - Joined HM Cutters BANFF and FISHGUARD, HM Armed Merchant Cruisers CANTON and CILICIA, HM Destroyer QUADRANT, the Greek Destroyer MIAOULIS (Ex HMS MODBURY), French Sloop SAVORGNAN DE BRAZZA and HM Destroyer RELENTLESS in Clyde for escort of joint Convoy WS26 to Middle East and KMF8 to the Mediterranean.

 

29th - Convoy KMF8 detached for separate passage to the Mediterranean.

 

31st - HM Destroyers QUALITY, QUICKMATCH, QUIBERON, RACEHORSE, and REDOUBT joined escort

 

February

 

3rd - Detached from WS26 for independent passage before arrival of WS26 at Freetown

 

March

 

Joined 22nd Destroyer Flotilla at Alexandria after passage via the Cape of Hope and Red Sea. Deployed in eastern Mediterranean for convoy defence and patrol.

 

April

 

Transferred to Algiers with Flotilla for convoy defence and support of military operations.

 

May

 

Algiers deployment in continuation. Took part in blockade of Cape Bon area for interception of craft which were evacuating German personnel from North Africa. (Operation RETRIBUTION – See Naval Staff History, THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett.)

 

June

 

Deployed in central Mediterranean with Flotilla.

 

July

 

10th - Took part in allied invasion of Sicily as part of Support Force East with other allied ships including Greek destroyers KANARIS, MIAOULIS, THEMISTOCLES and SAKHTOURIS (Operation HUSKY).

 

August

 

Convoy defence and support of military operations in Sicily and Italian mainland in continuation.

 

September

 

Transferred with Flotilla to Alexandria after Italian surrender. (Note: Increase in naval activity was anticipated in support of the planned allied operations to occupy Dodecanese islands in the Aegean Sea  (Operation ACCOLADE) – See IMPROVISE AND DARE by JS Guard, WAR IN THE AEGEAN by E. Walker and P Smith and the above references.)

 

October

 

Support of Aegean operations in continuation.

 

21st - Deployed with HM Destroyers JERVIS, PATHFINDER and HURWORTH for transport of stores for Leros.

 

22nd - Laid-up in Gulf of Cos overnight. Carried out search with HMS HURWORTH for invasion barges at Port Lathi and Port Arki without success. Diverted to carry out further search south of Leros. Both ships ran into a newly laid minefield east of Kalymos and this ship detonated a mine which completely destroyed the bow structure as far as the forward gun mounting. Although the main propulsion machinery was undamaged other services including her compass and other essential items were rendered useless. Parts of the forward mounting were lying across the bridge. 21 of the ships company lost their lives. HMS HURWORTH then struck another mine and broke in two, sinking after 15 minutes with heavy loss of life. Since the ship was able to steam it was decided to beach her in Turkish waters and attempt to restore some services to enable return to Alexandria. (For full details see WAR IN THE AEGEAN.)

 

23rd - After rescue of survivors from HMS HURWORTH ship arrived in Turkish waters and beached in Gurvergenik Bay.

 

November

 

Under repair by ship's company at Gumusluk in Gurgervenik Bay. (Note: During this period air cover was provided in daylight and some Motor Launches sent to assist. Wounded were landed and taken to Izmir. Dead were buried locally although reburied in Greece after the end of WW2.)

 

December

 

1st - Ship repair to allow passage completed and sailed under own power from Gumusluk after nightfall, escorted by Motor Gunboats.

 

2nd - Laid-up during daylight in Turkish waters.

 

3rd - Met HMS JERVIS and HMS PENN off Castelorizo and laid in Kavavia Bay until HM Tug BRIGAND arrived. Taken in tow to Limasssol, Cyprus.

 

4th - Sailed for Alexandria escorted by HMS JERVIS and HMS PENN. (Note: Tow attempt proved difficult and passage was completed under own power.)

 

6th - Arrived at Alexandria to tumultuous welcome from ships in harbour. (Note: Message was sent to Builders to pay tribute to the construction which had allowed an ahead passage for 600 miles under such a damaged condition. Commander Toumbas, Royal Hellenic Navy was awarded the Greek equivalent of the Victoria Cross for his heroic performance and his determination to return to Alexandria with the ship.)

 

 

1 9 4 4

 

 Laid-up at Alexandria until return to UK where she arrived in December.

 

 

1 9 4 5

 

 Laid-up at Newcastle and declared a Constructive Total Loss.

 

 

P o s t  W a r  N o t e s

 

HMS BORDER was placed on the Disposal List on 10th October 1945 and sold to Messrs King & Co of Gateshead. She arrived at the breakers for demolition on 20th November that year.

---

 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of  HM Hellenic Ship ADRIAS

by Don Kindell

 

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

(Note on Convoys)

An ACCOUNT OF THE SAGA of  ADRIAS

through the eyes of one of her young officers, Christos E Papasifakis

link to site

with thanks to George V Krestas (9 Aug 2014)