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Type
I HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered
from Swan Hunter, Newcastle
under 1939 Programme
on 21st March 1939 The ship was laid down on
8th June that year and
launched on 12th December 1939. She was the
2nd RN warship to carry the name, that of a
Fox-hunt in Hampshire
and previously carried by a minesweeper sold
in 1922. She was completed 0on 8th
June 1940. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign in March 1942 this
Escort Destroyer was, very appropriately
'adopted’ by the
civil community of Hambledon,
Hampshire.
B
a t t l
e Ho n o u r s
NORTH SEA 1941-44 -
ENGLISH
CHANNEL 1943 -
SICILY
1943 - SALERNO 1943 - AEGEAN
1944 - MEDITERRANEAN
1944
- NORMANDY
1944
H e r a l
d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Red, a fox's mask and in base two
foxes
brushes
in saltire
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
May
Contractors trials.
June
Commissioned for service in 21st Destroyer
Flotilla.
8th
Build completion and commenced Acceptance
Trials
(Note: Sister ship HMS HOLDERNESS built in
same shipyard completed 2 days later).
Took passage to Portland for work-up on
completion of trials and storing.
July
Deployed for work-up at Portland.
10th
Deployed with HM Destroyers INGLEFIELD,
IMOGEN, ATHERSTONE and FERNIE for
escort of
HM Auxiliary Minelayers
SOUTHERN PRINCE., PORT NAPIER, PORT QUEBEC
and MENESTHEUS
of 1st Minelaying
Squadron during lay of first section of
Northern Barrage
north
of
North
Rona (Operation SN1)
For details see Naval Staff History (Mining)
12th
Work-up transferred to Scapa because of
increased Channel activity.
On completion of working-up joined flotilla at
Sheerness for convoy defence and
patrol in English
Channel and East Coast.
August
31st
Deployed with HM Escort Destroyer GARTH to
join ships of 5th Destroyer Flotilla
for rescue
operations off Dutch coast after ships
carrying out minelay had run into
an enemy minefield.
(Note: HM Destroyer ESK had sunk after
striking a mine and HM Destroyer EXPRESS had
been very badly damaged losing her bow
structure).
Remained in area to
provide protection until arrival of tug.
September
Flotilla deployment in North Sea and Channel
in continuation.
October
Nominated for duty in Force B for operation to
place fire-ships in Channel
ports.
(Operation LUCID).
(Note: This operation was later aborted.)
7th
Activated acoustic mine off South Foreland.
Sustained major damage to after structure.
A-Brackets for both shafts were broken and
stem compartments flooded.
1 rating was killed and two others injured.
Towed to Sheerness by HM Destroyer VESPER.
8th
Taken in hand for repair at Chatham
November
Under repair
to
December
1 9 4
1
January
Under repair
to
Nominated for transfer to 16th Destroyer
Flotilla based at Harwich.
April
(Note: Fire control radar for main armament
was fitted (Type 285) .
For details of development and use of radar in
RN see RADAR AT SEA by D
Howse).
May
Post refit trials and prepared for operational
service.
14th
Joined new Flotilla at Harwich for East coast
convoy defence and patrol.
June
Flotilla duties in continuation.
to
Carried out anti-invasion patrols.
December
For details of East Coast convoy defence see
THREE CORVETTES by N Monsarrat. BATTLE
OF THE
NARROW
SEAS by P Scott and THE BATTLE OF THE EAST
COAST by J P Foynes.)
1 9 4
2
January
Deployed with Flotilla for convoy defence and
patrol in North Sea.
to
(Note: During this period Radar Type 271 was
fitted for the detection of surface
September
craft. .It was particularly useful for use
against E-Boats and for the safe
navigation of the
ship in the dangerous waters off the east
coast during bad
weather).
October
Nominated for detached service.
(Note: Reduction of East coast convoy traffic
was made to provide convoy escorts for use
elsewhere).
November
Deployed for escort of Atlantic military
convoys to Gibraltar before the planned allied
landings
in North Africa (Operation TORCH)
For details of this operation see ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett, Naval
Staff History and for details of all ships
involved BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de
Winser.)
12th
Sustained slight damage due to torpedo
explosion.
December
On release from TORCH convoy escort duty
resumed service with Flotilla based at Harwich
for
service in Home waters.
1 9 4
3
January
Deployed with Flotilla for East Coast and
Channel convoy escort.
to
Carried out patrols for interception of
E-Boats attempting to attack convoys and enemy
coastal
May
traffic.
For details of naval activities in Channel
area see HOLD THE NARROW SEA by Peter C Smith.
June
Nominated for detached service in support of
planned allied landings in
Sicily and transferred to 58th Destroyer
Division.
Passage to Clyde from Harwich.
21st
Joined HM Cruiser UGANDA, HM Escort Destroyers
ARROW, BLANKNEY,
BLENCATHRA, BRECON, BRISSENDEN, LEDBURY,
MENDIP, HM Destroyers VICEROY,
WALLACE, WITHERINGTON and WOOLSTON as escort
for joint military convoy WS31/KMF17
during Atlantic passage.
26th
On relief by HM Destroyer AMAZON, BULLDOG,
FOXHOUND and HM Escort Destroyer
BLACKMORE detached with same ships as escort
for
Passage to Gibraltar with KMF17.
28th
Deployed at Gibraltar and nominated for
service with Escort Group V for escort and
support of
landings in Sicily.
(Operation HUSKY – For details see Naval Staff
History and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by
J de Winser.)
July
7th
Deployed as escort for military convoy KMF18
during passage in western Mediterranean with
HM Escort Destroyers BLANKNEY, BRECON,
BLENCATHRA and BRISSENDEN of Escort
Group V.
9th
Detached from KMF18 to refuel and rejoined on
completion.
10th
Detached from KMF18 on arrival in BARK WEST
Assault area and deployed for escort and
patrol in support of HUSKY.
See above references for details.
31st
Released from HUSKY support and deployed with
58th Division based in Malta for convoy
defence and patrol.
August
Nominated for to embark Admiral Cunningham
during planned landings on
Italian mainland at Salerno (Operation AVALANCHE).
(Note: Admiral Cunningham was Commander
Designate for Western Task Force)
September
9th
Embarked Admiral Cunningham and General
Eisenhower at Bizerta for passage to witness
surrender of Italian Fleet.
10th
Present at entry into Malta of surrendered
Italian warships
Passage to Salerno for support of landings
(For details of AVALANCHE see ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY, Naval Staff
History and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS.)
October
On release from AVALANCHE duties deployed in
Eastern Mediterranean for support of
military operations in defence of Leros and
Cos after the Italian surrender.
(Note: German troops were landed to hold these
islands which had been garrisoned by
Italians..
See WAR IN THE AEGEAN by P Smith and E Gray.
Battle Honour was awarded but no trace of
specific mention of action with invasion
craft.
has been found.
RN ships were extensively used to land troops
and stores).
November
Aegean islands defence in continuation.
Resumed convoy defence and patrol in central
Mediterranean based in
Malta when operations
off Cos and Leros ended.
December
Deployed in central Mediterranean.
(For details of naval activities in
Mediterranean see Official War History WAR IN THE
MEDITERRANEAN (HMSO) and Naval Staff
History.).
1 9 4
4
January
Deployment in central Mediterranean with 58th
Division in continuation.
to
Transferred to Naples.
February
Supported military operations on west coast of
Italy and carried cut patrols.
March
29th
Despatched from Naples with HM Escort
Destroyer BLENCATHRA to assist in hunt for
U-Boat
in position NE of Palermo.
Joined hunt near Filicudi island 135 miles
south of Naples.
Ceased depth charge firings as ordered by HMS
LAFOREY
Continued surveillance of target whose
position was known.
Illuminated submarine when it surfaced after
several hours of surveillance.
Took part in destruction of U223 by surface
gunfire of with other ships but before its
sinking
the submarine fired a torpedo which hit and
sank HMS LAFOREY.
After rescue of survivors from HMS LAFOREY
picked up German sailors.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp for details.
Carried out funerals of British and German
dead before return to Naples.
(Note: Only 69 of the ship's company survived
the loss of HMS LAFOREY.
182 lives were lost.
14 Germans were rescued of whom two died
during return passage.
April
Central Mediterranean deployment in
continuation.
Nominated with HM Escort Destroyers BLENCATHRA
and MENDIP of 58th Division
to return to UK for support
of planned landings in Normandy (Operation
NEPTUNE).
For details of naval activities before and
during landings see OPERATION NEPTUNE
by K Edwards, LANDINGS IN NORMANDY
JUNE 1944 (HMSO) and Naval Staff History).
May
Passage to
UK to join 21st
Destroyer Flotilla at Sheerness.
Allocated for escort of assault Convoy G16 for
passage to beach head head and for duty
in Eastern Task Force area after assault
phase.
June
Joined Force G escorts in West Solent.
4th
Operation delayed 24 hours because of weather
conditions.
5th
Escorted m Escort Destroyer ALBRIGHTON, nine
Landing Craft (Infantry) and two Rescue
Craft through swept channel to GOLD Beach Head
as Convoy G16.
(Note: HMS
ALBRIGHTON was HQ Ship for control of
landings on GOLD
Beach).
6th
On arrival at Beach Head bombarded beach
defences.
On release returned to Solent area for
Build-up convoy escort.
In action with E-Boats attempting to attack
convoys in swept Channel south of Isle of
Wight.
7th
Joined HM Sloops MAGPIE, HM Frigates SPRAGGE
and STOCKHAM in 112 Escort
Group
for escort of Convoy EBP2 to Beach Head..
(Note: Convoy comprised five Personnel Ships,
MULBERRY A HQ Ship and three
miscellaneous
craft taking pre-loaded US Build-up Division
to the Western
Task Force area)
8th
On release from escort duties deployed for
defensive patrol and interception off Beach
Heads and
in English Channel.
July
Nominated for service with 16th Destroyer
Flotilla at Harwich.
Passage to Harwich to joined Flotilla.
Deployed for North Sea and Channel convoy
defence.
August
Flotilla duties in continuation.
8th
Escorted south coast convoy with HM Destroyer-
WALPOLE
September
Deployed with Flotilla for convoy defence.
to
December
1 9 4
5
January
Harwich deployment with Flotilla in
continuation.
to
(Note: An increase in enemy submarine
activities concentrating attacks on focal
points of convoy
February
by SCHNORKEL fitted submarines and minelay by
surface minelayers and submarines
made necessary additional patrols in Thames
Estuary area.
The existing East Coast and Channel Flotillas
were reinforced by Escort Groups from
Western Approaches Command.
See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by
P. Smith and SEEK and STRIKE by W Hackmann).
March
Deployed for defence of military conveys to
Belgian and Dutch ports and patrol in Nore and
Dover Command areas.
April
Deployed for patrol
and convoy defence in southern
North
Sea and Channel.
12th
In action against minelaying E-Boats off
Flushing with HM Frigate EKINS..
May
After VE Day transferred to Nore Local
Flotilla.
June
Deployed in Nore Command for support of
re-occupation forces and training.
to
August
P
o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS
HAMBLEDON remained in Nore Command until
Paid-off and
reduced to Reserve status in December 1945.
She was laid-up in the Harwich Division of
Reserve Fleet
from 1946 until 1953 when transferred to
Barrow. During 1955 she was de-equipped and
placed on the Disposal
list. In August 1957 the ship was sold to
BISCO for
demolition
by Clayton and Davie at Dunston
on Tyne. She arrived in tow at the breaker’s
yard in September 1957.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS HAMBLEDON
by
Don Kindell
These
convoy lists have not been cross-checked with
the text above
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Date
convoy sailed
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Joined
convoy as escort
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Convoy No.
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Left
convoy
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Date
convoy arrived
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16/05/41
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unknown
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HX
127
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unknown
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02/06/41
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06/12/42
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06/12/42
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CW
139
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07/12/42
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07/12/42
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07/12/42
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07/12/42
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CE
137
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08/12/42
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08/12/42
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15/01/43
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15/01/43
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CW
149
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16/01/43
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16/01/43
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16/01/43
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16/01/43
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CE
147
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17/01/43
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17/01/43
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14/02/43
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14/02/43
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CW
156
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15/02/43
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15/02/43
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16/02/43
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16/02/43
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CE
154
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17/02/43
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17/02/43
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10/03/43
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10/03/43
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CW
162
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11/03/43
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11/03/43
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11/03/43
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11/03/43
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CE
160
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12/03/43
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12/03/43
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18/06/43
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26/06/43
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KMF
017
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27/06/43
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27/06/43
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28/06/43
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28/06/43
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MKF
017
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30/06/43
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30/06/43
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13/06/43
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02/07/43
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UGS
010
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06/07/43
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10/07/43
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28/06/43
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07/07/43
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KMF
018
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10/07/43
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11/07/43
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17/07/43
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17/07/43
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KMS
019M
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18/07/43
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18/07/43
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22/07/43
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22/07/43
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GUS
010X
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25/07/43
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13/08/43
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12/07/43
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29/07/43
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UGS
012
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07/08/43
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10/08/43
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29/07/43
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29/07/43
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KMS
021
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07/08/43
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10/08/43
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16/10/43
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25/10/43
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KMF
025
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29/10/43
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30/10/43
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02/11/43
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03/11/43
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XIF
003
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06/11/43
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06/11/43
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31/10/43
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12/11/43
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MKF
025A
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14/11/43
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24/11/43
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03/12/43
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unknown
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XIF
005
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unknown
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09/12/43
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05/12/43
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21/12/43
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UGS
026
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25/12/43
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30/12/43
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12/01/44
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12/01/44
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SNF
012
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16/01/44
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16/01/44
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20/01/44
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20/01/44
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SNF
013
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22/01/44
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22/01/44
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10/08/44
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10/08/44
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ETM
059
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11/08/44
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11/08/44
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(Note
on Convoys)
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