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Type I HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Parsons Marine Steam Turbines Company under 1939 Programme. The hull build was sub-contracted to Vickers-Armstrong's Tyne shipyard. She was laid down as Job No J4099 on 8th June 1939 and launched on 25th January 1940 as the 2nd RN ship to carry this name. It had previously been used for a WW1 minesweeper sold in 1920. Build was completed on 1st November 1940. This ship had a short period in service culminating in her tragic loss 4 months later. Another Escort Destroyer to be named HMS BURTON was renamed in June 1941 and carried the name forward. This name is that used by a Somerset fox- hunt.

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

NORTH SEA 1941

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Red., two foxes brushes in Saltire

 between two mullets Gold.

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e

1 9 4 0

October                  Contractors trials and commissioned for service in 16th Destroyer Flotilla after work-up.

November              Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

                                Took passage to Scapa Flow on completion of trials and storing.

                5th          Worked-up for operational service with ships of Home Fleet.

                6th          Detached during work-up for escort duties.

                                Deployed with HM Destroyer PYTCHLEY for escort of ss ADDA to Faeroe Islands.

                11th        Resumed work-up with Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.

December              Escorted HM Armed Merchant Cruisers CHITRAL and SALOPIAN for passage in NW

                                for Northern Patrol duty.

                                When detached took passage to Portsmouth.

1 9 4 1

January                  Part of destroyer screen for HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH whilst on passage from

                                Portsmouth to Rosyth to prepare for service after completion of modernisation by HM Dockyard.

                                When detached took passage to Harwich for coastal convoy escort and patrol duty

                                in North Sea.

                                Joined 16th Destroyer Flotilla.

February                Flotilla duties in continuation.

                23rd        Deployed with HM Corvette SHEARWATER and other escorts for Convoy FN417 from the

                                Thames estuary to Methil, Fife.

                                (Note Convoy No to be confirmed)

                25th        During E-Boat attack off Lowestoft sustained major structural damage aft after an explosion.

                                This caused rupture of fuel supply pipe-work which ignited.

                                Fire spread rapidly forward from after compartments and ship capsized.

                                Ship sank within ten minutes.

                                Survivors rescued by HM Corvette SHEARWATER and HM Trawler COMMANDER EVANS

                                were landed at Yarmouth

                                (Note: Despite German claims that the explosion was due was due to torpedo from E-Boat S30.

                                It also recorded that her loss was more likely to have been due to hitting a British mine in

                                the East Coast Barrier) .

                                HMS EXMOOR was the first of the 19 ships of this Class to be lost during WW2.

                                The name was carried forward to another HUNT Class Destroyer then being built

                                See Chronology for HMS EXMOOR (ii).

Addendum

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS EXMOOR (i)

by Don Kindell

This convoy list has not been cross-checked with the text above

(Note on Convoys)