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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2004

 

HMS EGLINTON (L 87) -  Type I, Hunt-class Escort Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Eglinton post-war (Photo Ships, click to enlarge)

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Type I HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Vickers Armstrong, Newcastle on 21st March 1939 with 10 others of this type under the 1939 Estimates. She was laid down on 8th June 1939 as Job No J4091 and launched on 28th December 1939. She was the 2nd RN warship to carry the name, which had been previously used by a WW1 minesweeper sold in 1921 and that of a Foxhunt in Ayrshire. Her build was completed on 28th August 1940 and following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 was adopted by the civil community of Alton, Hampshire.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC 1940 - ENGLISH  CHANNEL 1940-44 - NORTH SEA 1941-44 - NORMANDY   1944

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Red, two hunting horns in saltire

and three annulets interlaced 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 0

 

August                  Contractor's sea trials and commission for service in 16th Destroyer Flotilla.

                28th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

 

September             Took passage to Scapa Flow on completion of trials and storing,

                                Worked-up for operational service with Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.

                                Deployed for convoy defence in NW Approaches.

 

October                  Joined Flotilla at Harwich for convoy defence and patrol in English Channel and North Sea.

                4th          Carried cut search for German Destroyer reported minelaying off South Foreland.

 

November              Flotilla duties based at Harwich in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Convoy defence and patrol in continuation.

to

May

 

June

                21st         Escorted HM Coastal Minelayer PLOVER during lay of section of East Coast Barrier.

                                (Operation BS60 – See Naval Staff History (Mining) for details).

 

July                         Convoy defence in North Sea in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  North Sea convoy defence and patrol duties in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  North Sea duties in continuation.

 

 

February                East Coast convoy escort with HM Destroyers WALPOLE and MONTROSE.

 

March                    North Sea duties in continuation.

to

June

 

July                         North Sea convoy defence in continuation.

                28th        In collision with HM Corvette SHELDRAKE.

                                Sustained damage to forward structure.

 

August                  Under repair to collision damage.

 

September

                12th        Resumed Flotilla duties on completion of post repair trials.

 

October                  Detached for duty with Home Fleet ships.

                6th          Took part in exercises with Horns Fleet cruisers off Harwich.

                                Resumed Flotilla convoy defence duty on release from exercises.

                24th        In action against E-Boats attacking Convoy FN 1160 off Cromer with H M Destroyers

                                PYTCHLEY, WORCESTER, CAMPBELL, MACKAY and Light Coastal Force craft

 

November              North Sea convoy defence and patrol duties in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Flotilla duties in continuation.

 

February

                24th        In action against E-Boats attacking East Coast Convoy FS 1371 off Great Yarmouth with HM

                                Destroyer VIVIEN.

 

March                    North Sea duties in continuation.

to

April

 

May                        Nominated for detached service in support of allied landings in Normandy.

                                (Operation NEPTUNE)

                                Prepared for escort and support duty with Force S.

                3rd          Took part in Defence exercise off Brighton by Forces S, G and J.

                                (Note: Exercise FABIUS the final rehearsal for the landings took place in the English Channel

                                between 2nd and 4th May).

                18th        Took part in Landing exercise at Bracklesham Bay, Sussex by Force S ships.

                                Allocated target in Pre-Arranged Fire Plan: Petit Enfer with HM Destroyer KELVIN

                                (For details of naval activities before and during NEPTUNE see OPERATION NEPTUNE by

                                K Edwards, LANDINGS NORMANDY June 1944 (HMSO) and D DAY SHIPS by J de

                                Winser.)

 

June                        Joined HM Destroyers SAUMAREZ, KELVIN, SCOURGE, VIRAGO, SCORPION,

                                VERULAM, SWIFT, SERAPIS, Norwegian destroyers SVENNER and STORD, HM Escort

                                Destroyers MIDDLETON and Polish Destroyer ORP SLAZAK in Solent for Force S support

                                Deployed with HM Destroyer VIRAGO, VERULAM, KELVIN and 5 Motor Torpedo Boats

                                for escort of Convoy S7 to beachhead area.

                                (Note: Convoy S7 comprised HM Landing Ship (Large) LARGS HQ Ship Force S, six

                                Landing Ships (Tank), 1 Landing Craft (Support), 1 High Speed Launch and three

                                US Navy Coastguard Cutters).

                4th          Operation delayed for 24 hours.

                5th          Passage to SWORD Beach through swept channel as escort for Convoy S7.

                6th          Took up bombarding position on arrival and provided naval gunfire support during landings

                               on SWORD Beach.

                7th          Passage to Portsmouth on completion of Assault Phase support duties.

                8th          Deployed with HM Sloops STORK, REDPOLE, HM Frigates DUFF and HOTHAM as Escort

                                Group 116.

                                Escorted Convoy EWP1 from St Helens Roads to Eastern Task Force Area.

                                (Note: Convoy EWP1 included HM Cruiser DESPATCH and 6 Personnel Ships).

                27th        After termination of NEPTUNE retained in English Channel for patrol and escort of Channel

                                convoys.

 

July                         Channel deployment for interception patrol in continuation.

to                            (Note: German midget submarines and explosive motor boats were active in area

August                  as well as minelaying.

                                Sister ship HMS QUORN was sunk by a LINSEN explosive motor boat on August 3rd).

 

September             Resumed duties at Harwich with Flotilla and deployed for convoy defence in North Sea and

                                Channel based at Harwich.

                                (Note: An increase in minelaying by E-Boats and submarines in Thames estuary had made

                                necessary an increase in number of escorts deployed in Nore Command. These were

                                provided from Western Approaches Command.

                                SCHNORKEL fitted submarines were also being deployed to attack convoys at focal

                                points of assembly and dispersal. Atlantic convoys had been re-routed through Channel

                                when threat of air attack from French bases had been removed.

                                (See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                                CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett)).

 

October                  Nore Command deployment for patrol and convoy defence in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Convoy defence and patrol duties in North Sea based at Harwich in continuation.

to                            (Note: Minelaying and attacks on convoys in the Thames Estuary and North Sea by

April                       submarines and E-Boats continued. Extensive patrols were still needed.

 

May                        Transferred to More Local Flotilla after VE Day.

 

June                        Deployed in support of military occupation of Germany and for duties in the Nore Command..

                                Carried out Guardship in German ports.

  

S p e c i a l     N o t e

 

This Escort Destroyer, in common with many East Coast convoy escorts, received little publicity. Many convoys were escorted without loss but the dangers of the sea were always present and many unusual events commonplace due to the exigencies of war. Her service was none the less valuable.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS EGLINTON was Paid off after VJ Day and reduced to Reserve status at Harwich. In 1950 she was transferred to Portsmouth and later went to Hartlepool. During her period in Reserve in mid-1955 the ship was selected for re-activation and as part of Exercise SLEEPING BEAUTY. After completion she reverted to Reserve until placed on the Sales List the next year. Sold to BISCO for demolition by Hughes Bolcow  at Blyth, she arrived there in tow on 28th May 1956.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS EGLINTON

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

 

 

 

 

 

25/08/40

26/08/40

OA 204

26/08/40

29/08/40

08/11/40

08/11/40

FN 0329

10/11/40

10/11/40

11/11/40

11/11/40

FS 0333

13/11/40

13/11/40

28/10/42

28/10/42

CE 127

29/10/42

29/10/42

28/11/42

28/11/42

CW 137

29/11/42

29/11/42

29/11/42

29/11/42

CE 135

30/11/42

30/11/42

23/01/43

23/01/43

CW 151

24/01/43

24/01/43

24/01/43

24/01/43

CE 149

25/01/43

25/01/43

04/04/43

04/04/43

CW 168

05/04/43

05/04/43

06/04/43

06/04/43

CE 166

07/04/43

07/04/43

06/05/43

06/05/43

CW 176

07/05/43

07/05/43

07/05/43

07/05/43

CE 174

08/05/43

08/05/43

15/06/43

15/06/43

CW 186

16/06/43

16/06/43

05/07/43

05/07/43

CW 191

06/07/43

06/07/43

06/07/43

06/07/43

CE 189

07/07/43

07/07/43

21/07/43

21/07/43

CW 195

22/07/43

22/07/43

22/07/43

22/07/43

CE 193

23/07/43

23/07/43

23/09/43

23/09/43

CW 211

24/09/43

24/09/43

24/09/43

24/09/43

CE 209

25/09/43

25/09/43

17/10/43

17/10/43

CW 217

18/10/43

18/10/43

21/10/43

21/10/43

CE 215

22/10/43

22/10/43

10/11/43

10/11/43

CW 223

11/11/43

11/11/43

11/11/43

11/11/43

CE 221

13/11/43

13/11/43

14/01/44

14/01/44

CW 239

15/01/44

15/01/44

15/01/44

15/01/44

CE 237

16/01/44

16/01/44

26/03/44

26/03/44

CW 257

27/03/44

27/03/44

28/03/44

28/03/44

CE 255

29/03/44

29/03/44

30/06/44

30/06/44

EMM 001

03/07/44

03/07/44

01/08/44

01/08/44

ETM 052

01/08/44

02/08/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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revised 12/8/11
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