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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 LAMERTON (L 88) - Type II, Hunt-class Escort Destroyer including Convoy Escort Movements

ORP Kujawiak, Type II sister-ship  (Navy Photos , click to enlarge)

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Type II HUNT-Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Swan Hunter at Wallsend on Tyne under 1939 War Emergency Programme on 3rd September 1939. The ship was laid down as Job No J4142 on 10th April 1940 and launched on 14th December 1940 as the 1st RN warship to carry the name. Build was completed on 16th August 1941 and she was adopted by the civil community of Tavistock, Devonshire 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 1941-42  - ARCTIC 1942 - NORTH AFRICA 1942–43 - SICILY 1943 - SALERNO 1943 - MEDITERRANEAN 1944 - AEGEAN 1943 - ADRIATIC 1944

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field per fess wavy Red and Green three arrows White,

flighted Gold, two in saltire and one in fess interlaced with

a horseshoe inverted Blue.

 

 

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 1

 

August                  Contractor's trial and commissioned for service.

                16th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

                                Passage to Scapa Flow to work-up with ships of Home Fleet for operational service on

                                completion of trials and storing.

 

September             Joined 12th Escort Group in Western Approaches Command for Atlantic convoy defence.

 

October                  Deployment for defence of Atlantic convoys in continuation..

                25th        Part of escort for Convoy HG74 to Gibraltar.

                                Sank Italian Submarine GALILEO FERRARIS after gunfire duel.

                                (For details of Atlantic convoy defence and U-Boat deployments see THE BATTLE OF THE

                                ATLANTIC by D Macintyre and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).)

 

December              Detached for duty with Home Fleet.

                22nd       Joined HM Cruiser ARETHUSA, HM Destroyers SOMALI, ESKIMO, ASHANTI and

                                BEDOUIN with HM Escort Destroyers WHEATLAND, Polish Escort Destroyers ORP

                                KUJAWIAK and ORP KRAKOWIAK to cover a raid by 12 Cdo on Lofoten Islands.

                                (Operation ARCHERY - For details see THE WATERY MAZE by B Fergusson).

                                Returned to Scapa Flow with defects.

                27th        HM Landing Ships (Infantry) PRINS ALBERT, PRINSES JOSEPHINE CHARLOTTE landed

                                Commandos after RAF air attacks and naval bombardment.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Home Fleet Flotilla duties in continuation

to                            (Note: Deployment for anti-shipping operations off Norway to be confirmed.)

February

 

March                    Attached to 6th Destroyer Flotilla.

                10th        Joined escort of Russian Convoy PQ13 during initial stage of passage to Iceland with HM

                                Destroyer SABRE, SALADIN and Polish ORP BLYSKAWICA.

                16th        Detached from PQ13 to join Fleet Auxiliary Tanker OLIGARCH as Force Q for refuelling of

                                destroyers during passage to Murmansk.

                20th        Sailed with PQ13 as escort or RFA OLIGARCH.

                23rd        Detached for refuelling of destroyers in Home Fleet covering force.

                                Rejoined PQ13 on completion.

                                (For details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOY! by P. Kemp, THE RUSSIAN

                                CONVOYS by B. Schofield and ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman).

                25th        Left escort after the convoy was dispersed by gales.

 

April

                27th        Deployed as part of destroyer screen for the Battleships HMS KING GEORGE V and US

                                Battleship USS WASHINGTON, HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers KENYA

                                US Navy cruisers USS WICHITA and USS TUSCALOOSA.

                                (Note: The destroyers screen comprised HM Destroyers ESCAPADE, FAULKNOR, MARNE,

                                MARTIN, ORIBI, PUNJABI and INGLEFIELD, HM Escort Destroyers BELVOIR,

                                MIDDLETON and HURSLEY with four US Navy destroyers USS MADISON,

                                USS PLUNKETT, USS WAINWRIGHT and USS WILSON.

May                        Provided cover for passage of Russian Convoy PQ15 and the returning Convoy QP11.

                1st           HMS PUNJABI sunk in collision with HMS KING GEORGE V east of Iceland.

                                HMS KING GEORGE V detached from convoy for damage repair and returned to Iceland.

                                (Note: Relieved in covering force by HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK.)

                13th        Deployed with escort for Home Fleet units covering return passage of damaged cruiser

                                HMS TRINIDAD following her temporary repair in Murmansk.

                14th        Took passage to Scapa Flow with Home Fleet after HMS TRINIDAD sank.

                                (For details see above references).

                21st         Deployed with destroyer screen for HMS DUKE OF YORK, US battleship USS

                                WASHINGTON, HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS, HM Cruiser LONDON and US Navy

                                cruiser WICHITA to cover passage of Russian Convoy PQ16 and returning Convoy QP12.

                                (Note: Screen comprised HM Destroyers ECLIPSE, FAULKNOR, FURY, ICARUS and

                                INTREPID, HM Escort Destroyers BLANKNEY, MIDDLETON and WHEATLAND

                                with US Navy destroyers USS MAYRANT, USS RHIND, USS ROWAN and USS

                                WAINWRIGHT).

 

June                        Nominated for service in Mediterranean and detached for refit.

                                Taken in hand for refit.

 

July                         Under refit and on completion of dockyard work carried out post refit harbour and sea trials.

                28th        Passage to Clyde to join escort of Convoy WS2IS for passage to Mediterranean

                                (Operation PEDESTAL)

 

August

                1st           Damaged in collision with mercantile ss ALMENARA and sustained serious damage during

                                assembly of convoy in Clyde. See MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodhead.)

                                Detached and returned to Liverpool for repair in commercial shipyard.

 

September             Under repair.

                26th        Carried out post repair trials before rejoining Home Fleet

 

October                  Deployed in Home waters

                                Nominated for service in support of planned allied landings in North Africa.

                                Passage to join military convoy for passage to Gibraltar to join 57th Destroyer Division..

                                Part of escort for convoy

 

November              Deployed at Gibraltar and prepared for TORCH duties with Eastern Task Force,

                                (For details of TORCH see Naval Staff History. ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and

                                for information about all ships involved see BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser).

                5th          Sailed from Gibraltar to supplement escort for military convoy KMF1 during passage to Algiers

                6th          Joined KMF1

                8th          Arrived off Algiers BAKER Beach Head and deployed for support duties.

                9th          Assisted HM Auxiliary AA Cruiser PALOMARES which had been damaged in air attacks.

                10th        Provided gunfire support during landings at Bougie.

                11th        Embarked troops for passage to Bone for planned landings.

                12th        Landed troops at Bone.

 

December              Deployed for convoy escort and support for military operations in Algeria.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Provided anti-submarine defence for inshore convoys and patrol duty in western

to                            Mediterranean. (For details of development and use of new anti-submarine weapons see SEEK

February                AND STRIKE by W Hackmann).

 

March                    Deployed off Tunisian coast in support of operations and convoy defence.

                20th        Searched for U443 with HM Destroyers WHEATLAND and B1CESTER in conjunction with

                                aircraft for 63 hours.

                                (Note: U443 had been detected by shore radar off Algiers.)

                23rd        Carried extensive depth charge attacks and sank U443 in position 36.55N, 0.22.25E, NW of

                                Algiers with same ships

                                There were no survivors. For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)

 

April                       Escort and patrol deployment in central Mediterranean.

 

May                        Took part in Blockade of Cap Bon area to prevent evacuation of enemy troops from

                                North Africa

                                (Operation RETRIBUTION - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff

                                History.)

                                Carried cut bombardment of Kelebia.

 

June                        Deployed in central Mediterranean for anti-submarine patrol and escort duty

                                Nominated for support of planned allied landings in Sicily with Support Force East’

                                (Operation HUSKY)

                                Prepared for HUSKY support.

 

July

                6th          Sailed from Algiers as part of escort for assault Convoy KMS18

                7th          Detached from KMS18 to refuel at Sousse

                9th          Part of escort for assault Convoy SBF1

                10th        Detached from SBF1 in arrival at BARK SOUTH Beach Head

                                Deployed for support of landings by British 1st Airborne Division SW of of Syracuse

                                Provided naval gunfire support (Operation HUSKY).

                                (For details see above references.)

 

August                  Deployed on patrol and escort duty in central Mediterranean.

                                Nominated for support of planned allied landings at Salerno (Operation AVALANCHE)

 

September             Deployed at Malta

                9th          Part of escort for Follow-up Convoy NSS1

                11th        Deployed for naval gunfire support at Salerno and defensive patrols to intercept interference

                                to landings by E-Boats

 

October                  Transferred to Alexandria for support of operations in Aegean after surrender of Italy.

                                (Note: British troops were landed to prevent German forces replacing the Italian garrison.)

                                Carried out offensive sweeps to intercept invasion craft.

                                Embarked troops and supplies for Leros.

                                (Note: No specific details of actions are given in Admiralty Battle Summary No 36 - BR1736

                                (40) or in WAR IN THE AEGEAN by Peter Smith and E. Walker but award of a Battle Honour

                                was made).

 

November              Returned to Central Mediterranean and deployed for convoy escort and support of allied

to                            military operations on West coast of Italy and in Adriatic.

December              (See THE LAST DESTROYER by FA Mason for details of Adriatic naval activities)

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Deployed in Adriatic for convoy escort and support of military operations in the Adriatic 

to                            including assistance and supply of guerrilla forces.

August

 

September             Supported allied re-occupation of Aegean Islands. Landed troops and stores.

to                            Carried out patrols to intercept craft taking enemy personnel to mainland.

November              Transferred to 5th Destroyer Flotilla at Alexandria.

 

December              Deployed on patrol and support in Greek coastal waters during the landings of allied forces on

                                Greek mainland. See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Provided support to military operation in Greece and Albania.

to                            Convoy escort and anti-submarine duty in Eastern Mediterranean.

February                Nominated for return to UK.

 

March                    Passage to UK to join 16th Destroyer Flotilla based at Harwich.

                                (Note: This deployment was needed to increase A/S defence of UK coastal convoys against

                                attacks by Schnorkel-fitted submarines which were concentrating at focal points

                                of convoy assembly and dispersal.

                                See SEEK AND STRIKE, and BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS by J Terraine).

 

April                       Deployed for convoy defence and patrol in North Sea.

                                (See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith).

 

May                        Harwich deployment in continuation.

 

June                        Nominated for duty with 18th Destroyer Flotilla, East Indies Fleet based at Trincomalee after

                                 refit.

 

July                         Passage to Simonstown.

 

August                  Taken in hand for refit at Simonstown.

  

P o s t   W a r   N o t e

 

On completion of refit HMS LAMERTON returned to UK in December 1945 to pay off and reduce to Reserve status at Harwich.. In 1953 she was transferred on loan to the Indian Navy and renamed INS GOMATI. Five years later the ship was purchased outright and she continued to be used as a training ship for another 17 years. This destroyer was taken out of service and sold for breaking-up in 1975.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS LAMERTON

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

 

 

 

 

 

13/09/41

17/09/41

ON 016

18/09/41

27/09/41

27/09/41

04/10/41

OG 075

12/10/41

13/10/41

22/10/41

22/10/41

HG 075

27/10/41

03/11/41

19/02/42

26/02/42

AT 012

02/03/42

02/03/42

10/03/42

10/03/42

PQ 013

16/03/42

31/03/42

10/04/42

28/04/42

PQ 015

04/05/42

05/05/42

28/04/42

28/04/42

QP 011

04/05/42

07/05/42

21/05/42

23/05/42

PQ 016

29/05/42

30/05/42

21/05/42

23/05/42

QP 012

29/05/42

29/05/42

21/07/42

21/07/42

HG 086

27/07/42

01/08/42

26/10/42

06/11/42

KMF 001

08/11/42

08/11/42

27/11/42

06/12/42

KMF 004

07/12/42

07/12/42

11/12/42

11/12/42

MKF 004Y

12/12/42

24/12/42

20/12/42

21/12/42

KMF 005A

22/12/42

22/12/42

08/01/43

16/01/43

KMF 007

17/01/43

17/01/43

03/03/43

03/03/43

TE 017

05/03/43

05/03/43

06/03/43

06/03/43

ET 013

08/03/43

09/03/43

11/03/43

11/03/43

ET 013X

13/03/43

13/03/43

24/03/43

24/03/43

KMF 011X

25/03/43

25/03/43

25/03/43

26/03/43

MKF 011

unknown

05/04/43

05/04/43

05/04/43

TE 020A

unknown

08/04/43

07/04/43

07/04/43

TE 020B

08/04/43

08/04/43

10/04/43

10/04/43

MKS 011

14/04/43

16/04/43

15/04/43

17/04/43

ET 018

20/04/43

20/04/43

24/04/43

24/04/43

KMS 013G

26/04/43

26/04/43

26/04/43

26/04/43

KMS 013

29/04/43

29/04/43

24/05/43

24/05/43

GTX 001

28/05/43

04/06/43

21/06/43

25/06/43

GTX 003

unknown

04/07/43

29/06/43

29/06/43

MKS 016A

06/07/43

09/07/43

17/10/43

17/10/43

MKF 025

21/10/43

04/11/43

25/11/43

25/11/43

VN 010

27/11/43

27/11/43

05/12/43

05/12/43

VN 011

07/12/43

07/12/43

24/01/44

24/01/44

VN 017

25/01/44

25/01/44

04/02/44

04/02/44

VN 019

06/02/44

06/02/44

18/03/44

18/03/44

VN 028

19/03/44

19/03/44

28/03/44

28/03/44

VN 030

29/03/44

29/03/44

07/04/44

07/04/44

VN 032

08/04/44

08/04/44

17/04/44

17/04/44

VN 034

18/04/44

18/04/44

17/05/44

17/05/44

VN 040

18/05/44

18/05/44

04/06/44

04/06/44

VN 044

05/06/44

05/06/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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