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

 

French FS LA COMBATTANTE (L 19), ex-HMS HALDON - Type II, Hunt-class Escort Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Easton, Type III sister-ship  (Navy Photos/Mark Teadham, click to enlarge)

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Type II HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Fairfields at Govan Glasgow on 28th July 1940 under the 1940 War Emergency Programme and laid down as Job No 1695 on 16th January 1941. In the following March when still on the slipway this vessel was damaged during an air raid on Glasgow. As a result her launch was delayed until 27th April 1942. She was the 2nd RN warship to carry the name, first used for a WW1 minesweeper sold in 1922. This Escort Destroyer was adopted after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 by the civil community of Dartmouth, Devon. In December 1942 this ship was transferred to the Free French Navy and renamed LA COMBATTANTE before completion on 30th December 1942.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

None were awarded as the ship was not in RN service

(Note: Investigation may reveal an equivalent French record of service.)

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

(For HMS HALDON)

Badge:  On a Field  per pale Red and Green, a wild cat sejant gardant white

resting the dexter fore-paw upon a sun in splendour Gold

 

 

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e   a s   F F S   L A   C O M B A T T A N T E

 

(for more ship information,  go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search)

 

 

1 9 4 1

 

March

 

13th - Damaged on slipway during air raid on Glasgow. Build and launch delayed.

 

 

1 9 4 2

 

April

 

Launched as HMS HALDON.

 

May to November

 

Fitting out in continuation.

 

December

 

Contractors trials.

 

1st - Transferred to Free French Naval Force and renamed after launch.

 

15th - Commissioned as FS LA COMBATTANTE.

 

30th - Build completion.

 

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

 

Carried out Acceptance Trials.

 

Passage to Tobermory.

 

13th - Commenced Shakedown and training at Tobermory.

 

February

 

12th - Took passage to Scapa Flow on completion of Tobermory training.

 

13th - Began work-up with RA(D), Home Fleet at Scapa Flow

 

March

 

Work-up with Home Fleet in continuation.

 

23rd - On completion of work-up took passage to Portsmouth via Irish Sea.

 

26th - Joined escort coastal convoy from Milford Haven.

 

Detached from convoy and took passage to Portsmouth to join 1st Destroyer Flotilla.

 

April to September

 

Deployed with Flotilla for coastal convoy defence and patrol in English Channel.

 

October

 

7th - Under fire from shore batteries in Le Havre/Cap Barfleur area during patrol.

 

November to December

 

Flotilla duties in Channel in continuation.

 

 

1 9 4 4

 

January to March

 

Convoy escort and patrol in Channel area with Flotilla in continuation.

 

April

 

26th - Engaged E-Boats attacking shipping and assembled MULBERRY Harbour units off Selsea Bill. Sank E-Boat S147

 

May

 

Nominated for support of planned allied landings with Force J of Eastern Task Force. See D Day SHIPS for full details of all ships involved in Operation NEPTUNE. (Note: Part of Bombardment Group E and allocated target Beach Defences at Beny-sur-Mer with HM Escort Destroyer STEVENSTONE of Flotilla.)

 

12th - Deployed with HM Frigate STAYNER for patrol in Channel to intercept E-Boats from Boulogne carrying out reconnaissance and shipping attacks.

 

13th - Illuminated and engaged at close range a group of E-Boats in position 18 miles south of Selsey Bill. E-Boat S141 was sunk and another damaged. Subsequently took part in running action against retreating E-Boats with HMS STAYNER. (Note: It was later determined from survivors that Lt Klaus Donitz, son of the German naval commander Admiral Donitz was one of the crew of this E-Boat and had been lost when the vessel was sunk).

 

27th - Deployed in Channel off coast of Sussex to cover landing exercise prior to allied landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE). (For details of activities prior to and during landings see OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards, LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO).)

 

28th - Opened fire on radar contact with main armament and obtained several hits (Note: The target was later found to be HM MTB 732 which had been sunk with 16 of ship's company killed or missing and 15 wounded. For details see FRIEND OR FOE by P Kemp. The numbers involved suggest that this MTB must have been on special duty since normal number on board would have been less than 31.)

 

June

 

Deployed in Solent for briefing as part of Force J for Normandy landings (Operation NEPTUNE). Served with Support Force E for JUNO Beach landings.

 

4th - Operation delayed for 24 hours.

 

5th - Sailed from Solent with HMS STEVENSTONE, HM Destroyer VENUS as escort for Assault Convoy J9 during passage to JUNO Beach through Swept Channel.) (Note: Convoy comprised: HM Frigate LAWFORD, ten Landing Ships (Tank), five Motor Gunboats and three US Navy Coastguard Cutters.)

 

6th - Carried out bombardment of shore defences during initial landings.

 

On completion deployed on for support and escort duties. Passage to Portsmouth.

 

12th - Embarked General de Gaulle for visit to Beachhead.

 

25th - Rescued crew of USAAF LIBERATOR aircraft in Channel.

 

24th - Continued of support role off Normandy beaches when NEPTUNE terminated.

 

July

 

8th - In action against E-Boats from Le Havre attacking patrols off coast of Normandy. (Note: HM Escort Destroyer CATTISTOCK and HM Frigate THORNBOROUGH also took part.)

 

August

 

7th - During interception patrol involved in collision and sustained damage. Taken in hand for repair.

 

26th - In action against convoy off Fecamp sinking three ships and setting two on fire.

 

28th - Attacked German vessels evacuating Le Havre off Cap d'Antifer. (Note: This Operation was carried out with Light Coastal Forces MTB. Two merchant ships damaged.)

 

September

 

Channel deployment in continuation.

 

Nominated for transfer to 21st Destroyer Flotilla based at Sheerness.

 

21st - Joined Flotilla at Sheerness and deployed for English Channel and East Coast convoy defence and interception patrol duties.

 

October to November

 

Flotilla duties for convoy defence in continuation.

 

December

 

Convoy defence included military convoys on passage to Antwerp.

 

19th - Rescued survivors from ss STEEL TRAVELLER which had been mined.

 

 

1 9 4 5

 

January

 

Deployment for defence of convoys in Nore Command in continuation (Note: Atlantic convoys had been re-routed through English Channel.)

 

February

 

23rd - Detonated mine near East Dudgeon Buoy off Humber estuary and sank quickly. 118 survivors were rescued by HM MTB 76 and 770 but 67 of ships company lost their lives, including two RN personnel. (Note: Mines had been laid in the area earlier in the month.)

 

Cause of sinking is in some contention but the latest record in WARSHIP LOSSES IN WW2 by D Brown is substantiated by survivors who doubt that ship was sunk by torpedo from midget submarine as recorded.. See THE BATTLE OF THE NARROW SEAS by P Scott, HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett for more details of enemy operations in Nore Command during 1945.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of  FFS LA COMBATTANTE

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

 

 

 

 

 

23/03/43

24/03/43

WP 313

25/03/43

25/03/43

02/05/43

02/05/43

WP 333

04/05/43

04/05/43

03/05/43

03/05/43

PW 333

04/05/43

05/05/43

05/05/43

05/05/43

PW 334

06/05/43

07/05/43

17/05/43

17/05/43

PW 340

18/05/43

19/05/43

27/05/43

28/05/43

PW 345

29/05/43

29/05/43

07/06/43

07/06/43

WP 351

09/06/43

09/06/43

14/06/43

14/06/43

PW 354

16/06/43

16/06/43

18/06/43

18/06/43

PW 356

20/06/43

20/06/43

19/06/43

19/06/43

WP 357

21/06/43

21/06/43

27/06/43

27/06/43

WP 361

29/06/43

29/06/43

03/07/43

03/07/43

WP 364

05/07/43

05/07/43

09/07/43

10/07/43

WP 367

11/07/43

11/07/43

13/07/43

13/07/43

WP 369

15/07/43

15/07/43

21/07/43

21/07/43

WP 373

23/07/43

23/07/43

27/07/43

27/07/43

WP 376

29/07/43

29/07/43

14/08/43

14/08/43

WP 385

16/08/43

16/08/43

09/09/43

09/09/43

CE 205

10/09/43

10/09/43

15/09/43

15/09/43

WP 401

17/09/43

17/09/43

19/09/43

19/09/43

WP 403

21/09/43

21/09/43

29/09/43

29/09/43

WP 408

02/10/43

02/10/43

15/10/43

16/10/43

WP 416

17/10/43

17/10/43

10/11/43

10/11/43

WP 429

12/11/43

12/11/43

15/11/43

15/11/43

CE 222

16/11/43

16/11/43

20/11/43

21/11/43

WP 434

22/11/43

22/11/43

28/11/43

28/11/43

CE 225

29/11/43

29/11/43

01/12/43

01/12/43

CE 226

02/12/43

02/12/43

04/12/43

04/12/43

CW 229

05/12/43

05/12/43

18/12/43

18/12/43

CE 230

19/12/43

19/12/43

30/12/43

30/12/43

WP 454

01/01/44

01/01/44

03/01/44

03/01/44

WP 456

05/01/44

05/01/44

07/01/44

08/01/44

WP 458

09/01/44

09/01/44

20/02/44

20/02/44

CE 246

21/02/44

21/02/44

03/03/44

03/03/44

CE 249

04/03/44

04/03/44

09/03/44

09/03/44

WP 489

12/03/44

12/03/44

19/03/44

20/03/44

WP 494

21/03/44

21/03/44

06/04/44

07/04/44

WP 503

08/04/44

08/04/44

20/04/44

21/04/44

WP 510

22/04/44

22/04/44

03/07/44

03/07/44

EMM 001W

03/07/44

03/07/44

06/09/44

06/09/44

ETM 072

06/09/44

07/09/44

28/09/44

28/09/44

ON 256

unknown

12/10/44

12/11/44

12/11/44

ON 266

16/11/44

03/12/44

04/11/44

17/11/44

HX 318

19/11/44

19/11/44

03/12/44

03/12/44

TAM 007

04/12/44

04/12/44

17/12/44

17/12/44

ATM 016

18/12/44

18/12/44

17/12/44

17/12/44

TAM 021

18/12/44

18/12/44

23/12/44

23/12/44

ATM 019

24/12/44

24/12/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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revised 10/6/11
further editing is required