Type III
HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Fairfields,
Govan on 27th August 1940 in the 1940 War
Emergency Programme. The ship was laid down as
Admiralty Job No J1694 on 30th
January 1941 but was not launched until 3rd
February 1942 because of damage to
the shipyard during air raids on the Clyde area
in March 1941 .She was the 1st
RN warship to carry the name which is that of a
foxhunt In the North Riding of
Yorkshire. Build was completed on 6th November
1942. This ship was adopted by
the civil community of Axbridge,
Somerset following a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
campaign in March 1942.
B
a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1943 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1943 - NORTH
SEA 1944 -
NORMANDY
1944
H
e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge:
On a
Field
Red,.three
pikes White,two
in saltire
and
one
erect, interlaced by an annulet
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
2
November
Contractor's trials and commissioned for
service in 15th Destroyer Flotilla.
6th
Build completion and commenced Acceptance
Trials.
Took passage to Scapa Flow on completion of
trials and storing.
December
Worked up for operational service with ships
of Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
1 9 4
3
January
Joined 15th
Destroyer Flotilla at
Plymouth
for convoy defence and interception
patrol
in English Channel and SW Approaches.
Deployed with in search and attack on German
coastal convoy including Blockade
Runner
TOGO.
This attack was unsuccessful.
(For details of naval activities in
English Channel and SW Approaches see HOLD
THE
NARROW SEA by P Smith) .
February
Flotilla deployment at Plymouth in continuation.
March
Detached for escort duty in Western Approaches
Command
16th
Joined HM Escort Destroyers BADSWORTH,
EGGESFORD, WHADDON, Polish
ORP KRAKOWIAK, HM Destroyers ASHANTI, DOUGLAS,
HM Sloops WOODPECKER,
and WREN as Ocean Escort for joint convoy WS28
for Indian Ocean and KMF11 for Gibraltar.
21st
Detached from joint convoy with KMF11 ships
destined for Gibraltar and took passage as
escort to Mediterranean with HM Escort
Destroyers BADSWORTH, EGGESFORD,
WHADDON, ORP KRAKOWIAK, HMS DOUGLAS, HMS WREN
and HMS WOODPECKER.
Detached on arrival at Gibraltar and took
return passage
April
Resumed Flotilla duties at Plymouth.
Deployed for operation to intercept enemy
coastal convoy.
27th
Took part in attack on convoy off Sept Ile
with HM Escort Destroyer ALBRIGHTON
(Note: Italian Blockade Runner BUTTERFLY and
one of the three escorts an Anti-
submarine vessel UJ1402.
Sustained some damage from return fire.
May
29th
In action with E-Boats attacking coastal
convoy off
Portland.
June
Channel deployment
in continuation.
to
Nominated for detached service in support of
planned allied landings in Normandy.
August
(Operation NEPTUNE).
Withdrawn from Flotilla duties for conversion
for use as HQ ship.
September
3rd
In action with HM Escort Destroyer LIMBOURNE
against E-Boats attacking coastal convoy.
Passage to Liverpool for conversion in
commercial shipyard.
29th
Transferred to Rosyth Command for duration of
refit.
Taken in hand for conversion to suit
deployment as Headquarters ship for Assault
Group.
(Note: The principal changes made were:
a.
Installation of
additional radio facilities to provide radio
telephone and telegraph
communications with assault craft and Force
Commanders.
b. Provision of additional accommodation for
combined operations signals and
administration personnel.
Complement including both Army and RAF
personnel increased by over 100
c. Replacement of single 20mm mountings by
twin mountings to improve defence
against aircraft.
d. Addition of 2pdr Pom-Pom type mounting in
bows to provide defence against attacks by
E-Boats approaching from ahead bearings. This
addition had proved successful when
fitted in North Sea convoy escorts.)
October
Under conversion.
to
Nominated for duty with Assault Force S of
Eastern Task Force.
December
1 9 4
4
January
Carried out harbour trials when work
completed.
February
Post refit sea trials.
Passage to Invergordon to prepare for duty in
headquarters role.
Joined in landing exercises at Burghead in
Moray Firth by 3rd British Infantry
Division
with ships and landing craft of Force S.
(Note: Allocated as Headquarters Ship for
Assault Group S3).
March
Took part in final assault exercise at
Burghead.
Deployed for convoy defence in
North Sea.
April
Passage to Portsmouth with ships of Force S.
May
Deployed at Portsmouth for final exercises
prior to Normandy landings when Force S
transferred to Portsmouth.
(Operation NEPTUNE - For details of naval
activities before and during assault see
OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards, LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO)
and D DAY SHIPS by J de Winser for details of
all ships involved.)
2nd
Took part in Final Rehearsal for Normandy
landings (Operation FABIUS).
3rd
Deployed with Force S for Berthing, loading
and sailing requirements exercise
4th
Deployed for Assault landings exercise with by
Force S west of Littlehampton.
18th
Took part in joint Defence Exercises with
Forces G and J off Brighton.
(Note: During these ships came under simulated
attacks by air,
surface and midget
submarines,
On completion
deployed at
Portsmouth
to prepare for duties off SWORD area
(Note: Senior Officer Assault Group S3 -
Captain E W Bush, DSO, DSC Royal Navy)
June
3rd
Joined Convoy S2 at Spithead for passage
through swept channel to beachhead areas.
(Note: Convoy S5 comprised:
Special Service Ship HMS ST ADRIAN, one
Landing Craft (Headquarters) to be used
as replacement for HMS GOATHLAND in event of
damage or loss, ten Landing Craft
(AVRE); four Landing Craft (Flak), five
Landing Craft (Rocket); 18 Landing Craft (SP)
.
and nine Landing Craft Assault (HR).
4th
Operation NEPTUNE postponed for 24 hours.
5th
Took passage from
Spithead to SWORD Beach in Convoy S5 also
escorted by tow
Motor Launches. Commanding Officer Lieut. Cdr
B G B Bordes, RN.
6th
Deployed off QUEEN White and Red Beaches to control initial
landings by 8th
Infantry Brigade
(Note: Captain E W Bush, DSO RN, Senior
Officer 3rd Assault Group Force S and
Brigadier E S Cass, Brigadier 8th Infantry
Brigade were responsible for the
landings using the facilities provided by the
HQ Ship.)
7th
Embarked Captain R Gotto, RN from HM Frigate
DACRES to assume duty as
Captain, Northbound Sailings including
allocation of escorts. See LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY.
10th
Shipping control duties in continuation.
Provided party to assist in clearance of
debris from Beach.
11th
Shipping control duties in continuation.
Further assistance provided for beach
clearance.
(Note: Opportunity was given for all ship’s company who could be spared to land.
17th
Shipping control duties transferred to newly
established shore authority.
Took passage to Spithead to replenish. Anchored in Spithead on arrival.
18th
Remained at anchor in Spithead and embarked stores.
19th
Took passage from
Spithead to return to Assault
area.
Encountered increasing severe weather
conditions.
20th
Dragged anchor overnight. Second anchor laid.
Deployed for patrol at nightfall for
interception of any enemy attempt to enter
area.
21st
Detonated two mines without damage or
casualties on board.
22nd
Deployed to collect mail from ships in
anticipation of return to UK .
Embarked Captain C H Petrie, DSO, RN from HM
Cruiser DESPATCH in
MULBERRY B off Arromanches for passage to UK.
(Note: Captain Petrie had been acting as NOIC
Arromanches and was relieved by
Captain H Hickling DSO RN when shore
facilities for the NOIC were
available in the port. See LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY)
.
Took passage to Spithead to land passenger.
23rd
HQ Ship role terminated and transferred to
control by Captain (D), Portsmouth for
Interception patrol duties in Eastern Assault
Area.
27th
Took passage to Assault Area for interception
patrol duties
28th
Last of HQ Ship staff left ship.
29th
Night Patrol deployment in continuation
to
30th
July
1st
Defensive Station deployment and interception
patrol every other night..
3rd
Rescued German airman during patrol with HM
Destroyer BLEASDALE.
German prisoner collected by US Navy craft.
4th
Return passage to
Spithead
9th
Took passage to Eastern Assault Area after
R&R at Portsmouth.
Carried out search for survivors NE of Le
Havre during patrol on return but
only wreckage and life rafts sighted.
10th
Nightly interception patrol in continuation
to
23rd
24th
Activated ground mine during patrol and
sustained major structural damage with
some flooding. Propulsion turbines and
generators damaged with shafts bent.
25th
Tow to be arranged to UK
August
After arrival survey carried out to assess
extent of damage and extent of repair
required.
No Repair other that needed to enable ship to
move under own steam was carried
out. Ship paid off and remained at Portsmouth
pending a decision on future use.
(Note: Availability of ship’s company for
transfer to other ships being completed
may have been a contributing factor to this
decision.
September
Laid-up at Portsmouth,
October
Passage to Clyde
(Note: One reliable source suggests that the
ship was steamed to Clyde.)
On arrival taken to Inverary and laid
unmaintained at Moorings.
November
Laid-up at Inverary
to
December
1 9 4 5
January
At Inverary
February
Towed to Gareloch and placed in Care and
Maintenance.
March
Deployed at Gareloch in Reserve.
to
April
May
28th
Reduced to Category C Reserve after VE Day.
P o s t W a
r
N o t e s
HMS GOATHLAND
was placed on the Disposal List after the end
of hostilities with Japan and
sold to BISCO for
demolition by West of Scotland at Troon.
The ship arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard
in Troon,
Ayrshire February 1946.
Acknowledgement
A copy of the
Daily Bulletin “Tally Ho!, Tally Ho!, Tally
Ho! produced on board by the
Chaplain during the period June 6 to July 24
was kindly lent to me by Mr G Boxall
of Dymchurch,
Kent who
served on board during during
Operation
NEPTUNE. The information provided in this
record has been invaluable as it shed
more light on the ship’s
deployment during and after Operation NEPTUNE.
The loan of the booklet is
acknowledged with thanks.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS GOATHLAND
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
09/01/43
|
09/01/43
|
PW
276
|
11/01/43
|
11/01/43
|
12/01/43
|
12/01/43
|
WP
278
|
14/01/43
|
14/01/43
|
15/01/43
|
16/01/43
|
PW
279
|
17/01/43
|
17/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
WP
281
|
19/01/43
|
20/01/43
|
24/02/43
|
25/02/43
|
PW
299
|
26/02/43
|
26/02/43
|
28/02/43
|
28/02/43
|
PW
301
|
02/03/43
|
02/03/43
|
08/03/43
|
08/03/43
|
PW
305
|
10/03/43
|
10/03/43
|
15/03/43
|
15/03/43
|
KMF
011
|
23/03/43
|
23/03/43
|
25/03/43
|
26/03/43
|
MKF
011
|
01/04/43
|
05/04/43
|
05/04/43
|
05/04/43
|
MKF
011A
|
12/04/43
|
12/04/43
|
22/05/43
|
22/05/43
|
WP
343
|
24/05/43
|
24/05/43
|
31/05/43
|
31/05/43
|
PW
347
|
02/06/43
|
02/06/43
|
01/06/43
|
02/06/43
|
WP
348
|
03/06/43
|
03/06/43
|
04/06/43
|
04/06/43
|
PW
349
|
06/06/43
|
06/06/43
|
08/06/43
|
08/06/43
|
PW
351
|
10/06/43
|
10/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
WP
361
|
29/06/43
|
29/06/43
|
05/07/43
|
05/07/43
|
WP
365
|
06/07/43
|
07/07/43
|
07/07/43
|
07/07/43
|
WP
366
|
09/07/43
|
09/07/43
|
25/07/43
|
25/07/43
|
WP
375
|
27/07/43
|
27/07/43
|
10/08/43
|
10/08/43
|
WP
383
|
11/08/43
|
12/08/43
|
13/09/43
|
13/09/43
|
WP
400
|
15/09/43
|
14/09/43
|
17/09/43
|
17/09/43
|
CE
207
|
18/09/43
|
18/09/43
|
18/06/44
|
19/06/44
|
ETM
013
|
19/06/44
|
19/06/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
|