|
Type
I HUNT Class Escort
Destroyer ordered from Yarrow Shipbuilders at
Glasgow as Job No 1835 under the
1939 Programme on 21st March 1939. She was
laid down on 7th June 1939 and
launched on 24th April 1940 as the 4th ship to
carry this name, introduced in
1651. It had previously been used for the
Royal Yacht sold in 1716 and for two
hired vessels during the Napoleonic Wars.
Build was completed on 18th September
1940. Later in March 1942 she was adopted by Middlesbrough
in the North Riding of Yorkshire (now in
Cleveland) after a successful WARSHIP
WEEK campaign for National Savings.
B
a t t
l e H o n o u
rs
BASQUE ROADS 1809 - ATLANTIC 1942 - ENGLISH CHANNEL
1942 - NORTH SEA 1943 - SICILY 1943 - SALERNO
1943 - SOUTH
FRANCE 1944 - AEGEAN 1944 - ADRIATIC
1944
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a
Field
per fess wavy
Red and Blue, upon a White roundel
a huntsman's cap Black in front of a stirrup Red.
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 0
September
Contractors trials and commissioned for
service in.23rd Destroyer Flotilla, Home
Fleet.
18th
Build completion and commences Acceptance
Trials.
On completion of trials and storing took
passage to Scapa Flow
October
Worked up for operational service with Home
Fleet ships at Scapa Flow.
On completion deployed in NW Approaches and
North Sea for patrol and convoy escort.
20th
Rescued survivors from ss CONAKRIAN torpedoed
in air attack off Girdleness.
November
Transferred to 1st Destroyer Flotilla and took
passage to Portsmouth.
Deployed for defence of coastal convoys in
English Channel.
December
Channel convoy defence and patrol in
continuation.
1
9 4 1
January
Channel deployment in continuation.
to
February
March
22nd
Escorted HM Destroyers INTREPID, ICARUS and
IMPULSIVE with HM Escort Destroyers
FERNIE and TYNEDALE during minelaying
operation between Le Havre and Cherbourg.
(Operation JN).
(For details of all minelaying activities see
Naval Staff History (Mining).
April
Channel deployment in continuation.
May
Transferred to 15th
Destroyer Flotilla based at
Plymouth
for convoy escort and
patrol
in South West Approaches and English Channel.
21st
Rescued 10 of crew of Armed Yacht VIVA which
had been sunk in an air attack
off
Trevose Head.
June
Deployment in SW Approaches and Channel in
continuation.
to
December
1
9 4 2
January
Convoy defence and patrol In continuation.
February
12th
Deployed without success for interception
patrol off Beachy Head during passage of
German battleships SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU
through English Channel.
23rd
Deployed with HM Escort Destroyer BROCKLESBY
to assist HM Escort Destroyers
ATHERSTONE and TYNEDALE for escort of Light
Coastal Forces craft engaged in a
Commando
Raid
aid at St. Nazaire (Operation CHARIOT).
(For details see THE WATERY MAZE by B
Fergusson).
24th
Under air attack after making contact with
returning Motor Launches.
April
Channel deployment with Flotilla in
continuation.
May
Deployed with HM Escort Destroyer BROCKLESBY
as escort for Convoy PW219.
16th
Destroyed Me109 off Rame Head in defence of
convoy.
June
Channel deployment in continuation.
to
August
September
17th
In action against E-Boats whilst escorting
Channel convoy off Eddystone Light.
Missed by torpedo but sustained 3 casualties
in exchange of gunfire. (See addenda)
October
Channel convoy defence in continuation.
Nominated for detached service as escort
military convoys to Gibraltar prior
to
planned allied
landings in North Africa.
(Operation TORCH – For details see Naval Staff
History , BRITISH INVASION FLEETS BY
J de Winser and RELUCTANT ENEMIES by
W Tute)
November
Escorted Convoy KMS2 to Gibraltar and returned
as escort for Convoy MKF1.
December
Resumed duties with Flotilla for coastal
convoy escort.
1
9 4 3
January
Channel patrol and escort duties in
continuation.
February
10th
Damaged in collision and taken in hand for
refit in Dundee commercial shipyard.
March
Under refit
April
Nominated for service in Mediterranean.
26th
On completion of shipyard work carried out
post refit trials.
May
Prepared for foreign service.
Joined escort for military convoy KMF15/WS30
for passage to Gibraltar.
On arrival took
passage to
Algiers
to Join 57 Destroyer Division.
June
Deployed in Western Mediterranean for convoy
escort and patrol..
Nominated for duty in Support Force East
during allied landings in Sicily.
(Operation HUSKY – For details see Naval Staff
History, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by C Barnett and BRITISH INVASION
FLEETS.
July
Joined Support Force East as part of Escort
Group S
5th
Deployed at Algiers for escort of military
convoy KMS18
Rescued survivors from British troop transport
DEVIS sunk by U593 in position 90 miles
east of Algiers.
8th
Detached from convoy to refuel and rejoined
escort on completion.
10th
Present during landings and provided naval
gunfire support.
16th
Deployed in BARK WEST landing area
August
Support of military operations and convoy
defence in continuation.
Nominated for escort duties with Carrier
Support Force (Task Force 88) during planned
allied
landings at Salerno
(Operation AVALANCHE - For details see above
references).
September
Joined Task Force 88.
12th
Part of destroyer screen of for ships of TF 88
during
Salerno landings.
Deployed for escort and support duties after
assault phase.
16th
Part of escort for HM Battleship WARSPITE
during bombardment.
Transferred to 48th Escort Group.
October
Joined Mediterranean HUNT Flotilla based- in
Malta.
to
Deployed for convoy escort and patrol in
central Mediterranean.
December
1
9 4 4
January
Deployment with HUNT Flotilla in continuation.
to
February
March
Transferred to 18th Destroyer Flotilla based
in Malta in continuation.
to
Nominated for escort duty during allied
landings in South of France under US Navy
overall
July
command (Operation DRAGOON).
August
Prepared for support and escort during
landings.
9th
Joined HM Escort Destroyers CATTERICK, CALPE,
US Minesweepers USS STAFF,
USS SWIFT and USS THREAT for escort of Convoy
AM1 from Oran.
10th Sailed
from Oran.
15th
Detached on arrival of convoy at Lowering
Position.
18th
After release from DRAGOON returned to CinC
Mediterranean administration and
deployed for defence
of
convoys.
Transferred to 5th Destroyer Flotilla for
service with British Aegean Force.
Took passage to Alexandria for support of re-occupation of
Aegean
Islands.
September
Deployed as part of escort for aircraft
carriers deployed for Aegean operations
October
Support of allied Aegean operations in
continuation.
Provided gunfire support and searched for
evacuating craft.
3rd
In action with HMS CALPE against assault craft
off Piscopi, North of
Rhodes.
Six enemy craft sunk.
17th
Landed party at Scarpanto.
November
Deployed for support of allied operations in
Greece (Operation MANNA)
to
December
1
9 4 5
January
Eastern Mediterranean support and convoy
escort in continuation with Flotilla
to
March
April
Transferred with Flotilla for support of
military operation off west coast of Italy.
May
1st
Bombarded shore installations at Genoa with HM
Escort Destroyer CHIDDINGFOLD.
8th
Retained in Mediterranean after VE Day.
June
Support, Escort and patrol duties in
continuation
to
August
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS
CLEVELAND was nominated
for reduction to Reserve after VJ Day and
sailed from Gibraltar to Portsmouth on 25th
September.
After arrival ship Paid-off and reduced to
Reserve status. Initially Laid-up in the
Reserve Fleet at
Portsmouth she later transferred to Cardiff
and was placed on the Disposal List
in 1956. The ship was sold to
BISCO for demolition by E Rees at Llanelli but
whilst on passage under tow she went ashore at
Rhossilli Sands on
the Gower Peninsula and was wrecked. As
a result she had to broken up in situ. Her
Demolition was not completed until December
1959 and the nett
sum recovered from the insurers was
£11,900 (see below).
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS CLEVELAND
by
Don Kindell
(These
convoys have not been cross-checked with the
above text)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date
convoy sailed
|
Joined
convoy as escort
|
Convoy No.
|
Left
convoy
|
Date
convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
27/03/42
|
27/03/42
|
PW
132
|
29/03/42
|
29/03/42
|
|
01/04/42
|
01/04/42
|
WP
135
|
03/04/42
|
03/04/42
|
|
08/04/42
|
08/04/42
|
PW
137
|
09/04/42
|
09/04/42
|
|
10/04/42
|
10/04/42
|
WP
139
|
12/04/42
|
12/04/42
|
|
13/04/42
|
13/04/42
|
PW
140
|
14/04/42
|
15/04/42
|
|
17/04/42
|
18/04/42
|
PW
142
|
19/04/42
|
19/04/42
|
|
20/04/42
|
20/04/42
|
WP
144
|
22/04/42
|
22/04/42
|
|
23/04/42
|
23/04/42
|
PW
145
|
25/04/42
|
25/04/42
|
|
27/04/42
|
27/04/42
|
PW
147
|
29/04/42
|
29/04/42
|
|
30/04/42
|
30/04/42
|
WP
149
|
02/05/42
|
02/05/42
|
|
02/07/42
|
03/07/42
|
PW
180
|
04/07/42
|
04/07/42
|
|
05/07/42
|
05/07/42
|
WP
182
|
07/07/42
|
07/07/42
|
|
08/07/42
|
08/07/42
|
PW
183
|
09/07/42
|
10/07/42
|
|
12/07/42
|
12/07/42
|
PW
185
|
14/07/42
|
14/07/42
|
|
15/07/42
|
15/07/42
|
WP
187
|
17/07/42
|
17/07/42
|
|
18/07/42
|
18/07/42
|
PW
188
|
20/07/42
|
20/07/42
|
|
21/07/42
|
21/07/42
|
WP
190
|
23/07/42
|
23/07/42
|
|
26/07/42
|
26/07/42
|
PW
192
|
28/07/42
|
28/07/42
|
|
29/07/42
|
29/07/42
|
WP
194
|
31/07/42
|
31/07/42
|
|
02/10/42
|
02/10/42
|
WP
227
|
06/10/42
|
06/10/42
|
|
03/10/42
|
04/10/42
|
PW
227
|
05/10/42
|
07/10/42
|
|
24/10/42
|
24/10/42
|
WP
238
|
27/10/42
|
27/10/42
|
|
12/11/42
|
12/11/42
|
MKF
001X
|
16/11/42
|
19/11/42
|
|
21/11/42
|
21/11/42
|
WP
252
|
22/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
|
25/11/42
|
25/11/42
|
WP
254
|
27/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
|
28/11/42
|
28/11/42
|
PW
255
|
30/11/42
|
30/11/42
|
|
01/12/42
|
01/12/42
|
WP
257
|
03/12/42
|
03/12/42
|
|
22/12/42
|
23/12/42
|
PW
267
|
24/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
|
25/12/42
|
25/12/42
|
WP
269
|
27/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
|
31/12/42
|
01/01/43
|
WP
272
|
02/01/43
|
02/01/43
|
|
03/01/43
|
03/01/43
|
PW
273
|
05/01/43
|
05/01/43
|
|
07/01/43
|
07/01/43
|
PW
275
|
09/01/43
|
09/01/43
|
|
10/01/43
|
10/01/43
|
WP
277
|
11/01/43
|
12/01/43
|
|
14/01/43
|
14/01/43
|
PW
278
|
16/01/43
|
16/01/43
|
|
16/01/43
|
16/01/43
|
WP
280
|
17/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
|
18/01/43
|
19/01/43
|
WP
281
|
20/01/43
|
20/01/43
|
|
19/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
KMF
015
|
28/05/43
|
27/05/43
|
|
08/06/43
|
08/06/43
|
GTX
002
|
14/06/43
|
19/06/43
|
|
30/06/43
|
30/06/43
|
KMS
017
|
02/07/43
|
06/07/43
|
|
24/06/43
|
09/07/43
|
KMS
018B
|
10/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
|
10/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
MKF
018
|
17/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
|
14/07/43
|
14/07/43
|
KMF
019Y
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
|
20/07/43
|
20/07/43
|
MKF
019Y
|
23/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
|
14/07/43
|
21/07/43
|
MKF
019
|
23/07/43
|
30/07/43
|
|
12/07/43
|
07/08/43
|
UGS
012
|
09/08/43
|
10/08/43
|
|
29/07/43
|
07/08/43
|
KMS
021
|
09/08/43
|
10/08/43
|
|
15/08/43
|
16/08/43
|
MKS
022
|
25/08/43
|
25/08/43
|
|
07/10/43
|
07/10/43
|
NSF
005
|
10/10/43
|
10/10/43
|
|
16/10/43
|
25/10/43
|
KMF
025
|
29/10/43
|
30/10/43
|
|
02/11/43
|
03/11/43
|
XIF
003
|
06/11/43
|
06/11/43
|
|
31/10/43
|
12/11/43
|
MKF
025A
|
14/11/43
|
24/11/43
|
|
15/11/43
|
25/11/43
|
KMF
026
|
30/11/43
|
30/11/43
|
|
16/12/43
|
18/12/43
|
MKF
027
|
20/12/43
|
04/01/44
|
|
23/03/44
|
23/03/44
|
NSF
018
|
27/03/44
|
27/03/44
|
|
28/03/44
|
28/03/44
|
SNF
018
|
31/03/44
|
31/03/44
|
|
29/03/44
|
05/04/44
|
KMF
030
|
12/04/44
|
12/04/44
|
|
15/04/44
|
15/04/44
|
XIF
013
|
unknown
|
20/04/44
|
|
21/04/44
|
unknown
|
IXF
013
|
unknown
|
25/04/44
|
|
29/04/44
|
29/04/44
|
XIF
014
|
04/05/44
|
04/05/44
|
|
05/05/44
|
unknown
|
IXF
014
|
unknown
|
09/05/44
|
|
15/05/44
|
15/05/44
|
MKF
031
|
22/05/44
|
29/05/44
|
|
24/05/44
|
24/05/44
|
NSF
023
|
27/05/44
|
27/05/44
|
|
28/05/44
|
28/05/44
|
SNF
023
|
31/05/44
|
31/05/44
|
|
11/06/44
|
21/06/44
|
KMF
032
|
24/06/44
|
24/06/44
|
|
04/07/44
|
unknown
|
IXF
017
|
unknown
|
08/07/44
|
|
12/07/44
|
13/07/44
|
XIF
018
|
18/07/44
|
18/07/44
|
|
18/07/44
|
18/07/44
|
IXF
018
|
22/07/44
|
22/07/44
|
|
28/07/44
|
28/07/44
|
MKF
033
|
04/08/44
|
11/08/44
|
|
18/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
KMF
033
|
31/07/44
|
31/07/44
|
|
10/08/44
|
10/08/44
|
AM
001
|
15/08/44
|
15/08/44
|
|
24/08/44
|
01/09/44
|
KMF
034
|
07/09/44
|
07/09/44
|
|
10/09/44
|
11/09/44
|
XIF
021
|
15/09/44
|
15/09/44
|
|
16/09/44
|
16/09/44
|
IXF
021
|
20/09/44
|
20/09/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
SERVICE
ON HMS CLEVELAND, 1942-43
by
Ronald Davies
(rdavies@zid.com)
Ron
served on HMS CLEVELAND 1942-1943, and
would like to know if there are any other
men still living that served on her at that
time. "I left her in April 1943 (after
we escorted the DASHER and BITER from the
Mediterranean -
Note: believed in November 1942). I
was a signalman and was one of the three men
that was wounded on the night of the
17/18 September 1942. Hope to hear
from you." (February 2008)
END OF HMS CLEVELAND
with
thanks to Robert Ephgrave,
National
Coastwatch Institution, Rhossili Gower
(31 Aug 2011)
1957 – The Cleveland was a (Type 1) Hunt
Class Destroyer on her way to be broken up at
the scrapyard in Llanelli. On 28th
June she parted her tow off Burry Holms and
went ashore at Diles Lake where she stuck
fast. Efforts to refloat her
failed and she remained on the beach for
several months as a great tourist
attraction. Several members of
Coastwatch remember, as youngsters,
being taken to see her. David Evans, then 13
years old, remembers going (illegally) on
board. (Ref. 008)
20 November 2009: Many thanks to Roger Winser
who has submitted this photo. "I
thought you would like to share this
photograph with your colleagues who remember
seeing this ex-RN escort destroyer aground
in 1957. I took this photograph with my
Brownie camera in early July 1957."
This photo appeared in the South Wales
Evening Post on the 1st July 1985.
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