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
|
|
|
|
|
Date
convoy sailed
|
Joined
convoy as escort
|
Convoy
No.
|
Left
convoy
|
Date
convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
24/01/43
|
24/01/43
|
KMF
008
|
01/02/43
|
01/02/43
|
29/04/43
|
29/04/43
|
MW
027
|
unknown
|
04/05/43
|
08/06/43
|
14/06/43
|
GTX
002
|
unknown
|
19/06/43
|
24/06/43
|
24/06/43
|
MKS
016
|
29/06/43
|
29/06/43
|
05/07/43
|
05/07/43
|
MWF
036
|
10/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
MWF
037
|
13/07/43
|
13/07/43
|
21/07/43
|
21/07/43
|
KMS
019A
|
22/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
03/08/43
|
07/08/43
|
MWF
039
|
10/08/43
|
10/08/43
|
04/09/43
|
05/09/43
|
MKS
024
|
unknown
|
13/09/43
|
20/09/43
|
21/09/43
|
XIF
001
|
24/09/43
|
24/09/43
|
17/09/43
|
25/09/43
|
MKF
024
|
27/09/43
|
07/10/43
|
06/10/43
|
06/10/43
|
XIF
002
|
09/10/43
|
09/10/43
|
16/11/44
|
16/11/44
|
MKF
036
|
23/11/44
|
30/11/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(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)