Type I
HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Swan
Hunter at Wallsend
on Tyne on 17th April 1939 under
the1939 Programme with nine others of This
Type. The ship was laid down as Job No.
J4111 on 10th August 1939 and
launched on 9th April
1940 as the 1st RN ship to carry the name of
the Fox-Hunt in Somerset.. Build
was completed on 16th October 1941. Following
a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign in March 1942 she
was adopted by the civil community
of Shepton
Mallet, Somerset. Her career was most
unusual as she served in the navies of three
other nations after her use by the
Royal Navy during WW2.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
NORTH
SEA 1941-45 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1942-43 -
SICILY 1943 - SALERNO 1943 - MEDITERRANEAN
1943 - NORMANDY 1944
H e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge: On
a field Red, on a White roundel, a bugle horn
stringed
Black
within the strings a blue rose.
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
October
Contractor’s trials and commissioning.
14th
Acceptance trials and took passage to Scapa
Flow for work-up with ships of Home Fleet
after completion of storing.
28th
Sustained damage to stern structure abaft 4in
mounting after early explosion of own depth
charges during work-up exercises.
November
At Scapa Flow awaiting repair.
11th
Passage under tow by tug CHAMPION to
Middlesbrough for repair by Smith’s Dock.
December
Under repair.
1 9 4 1
January
Under repair at Middlesbrough.
February
Post repair trials.
18th
Resumed work-up at
Scapa Flow.
March
Joined 21st Destroyer Flotilla at Sheerness
for convoy escort and patrol duties in North
Sea and
English Channel.
30th
Under air attack during escort of Convoy FS449
in North Sea.
April
Flotilla duties in continuation.
to
May
June
(Note: 21st Destroyer Flotilla comprised:
HM Destroyers CAMPBELL, CATTISTOCK,
COTTESMORE, GARTH,
HAMBLEDON, HOLDERNESS, MENDIP, VANESSA, VESPER
and
VIVACIOUS.)
20th
Detached to escort HM Auxiliary Minelayer
TEVIOTBANK during minelay in East
Coast Barrage (Operation BS64 – For details of
all minelaying operations see Naval
Staff History (Mining).)
On completion resumed Flotilla duties.
21st
Rescued survivors from Dutch ss SCHIELAND
which had been sunk during air attack on
North Sea convoy.
July
Nominated for planned operation in English
Channel.
Bombarded Dieppe with HM Destroyers CATTISTOCK
and QUORN.
August
North Sea and Channel escort and patrol duties in continuation.
September
17th
In action with aircraft attacking North Sea convoy FS605.
October
3rd
Drove off E-Boats attack during escort of
Convoy FS615
November
Convoy escort and patrol with Flotilla in
continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 2
January
Flotilla duties in continuation.
February
19th
Under E-Boat attacks during escort of
southbound East Coast convoy.
Avoided hit by torpedo, which could have
caused major damage.
March
Flotilla escort and patrol deployment in
continuation.
to
August
September
Nominated for service as Senior Officer’s ship
in Flotilla.
16th
Captain C R L Parry, RN joined with Flotilla
staff from HMS MEYNELL.
October
Convoy defence and patrol duties with Flotilla
in continuation.
November
9th
Deployed with HM Destroyer WINDSOR as escort
for North Sea convoy.
In action in defence of convoy off Great
Yarmouth under E-Boat attacks.
(Note: Two mercantiles were sunk.)
December
12th
Deployed with HMS MEYNELL as escort for north
bound North Sea Convoy.
In action in defence of convoy against E-Boat
attacks.
(Note: Four mercantiles were sunk.)
1 9 4 3
January
Convoy defence duties in continuation.
25th
In action against E Boats with HMS WINDSOR in
defence of coastal convoy off
Great Yarmouth.
February
Flotilla duties in continuation.
to
April
Nominated for service in Mediterranean after
refit
May
Passage to Chatham for refit.
19th
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard,
Chatham.
June
Prepared for foreign service.
9th
Post refit trials commenced.
15th
Deployed at Scapa Flow for exercises in
preparation for escort of military
convoy to Gibraltar
20th
Joined escort for Convoy KMF17 at Moville.
Ulster .
21st
Deployed with HM Cruiser UGANDA, HM Destroyers
ARROW, BLANKNEY,
BLENCATHRA, BRECON, BRISSENDEN, HAMBLEDON,
LEDBURY, VICEROY,
WALLACE, WITHERINGTON and WOOLSTON as Ocean
Escort for joint Convoy
WS31 to Middle East and KMF17 to Mediterranean.
(Note: Joint convoy comprised 15 ships of
which eight formed KMF17 and
included mv BRITANNIC. This convoy was taking
troops to take part
in planned allied landings in Sicily.)
26th
Detached from joint convoy when it divided
into two sections and deployed
as escort for KMF17 during passage to
Gibraltar.
27th
After refuelling rejoined KMF17 as part of
escort.
28th
Detached from KMF17 with HMS BLENCATHRA and
took passage to Algiers
(Note: Still nominally part of 21st Flotilla
on detached service)
Prepared for support of landings in
Sicily as well as for Local
Escort of convoys
in western Mediterranean.
July
Local escort and took passage to Malta to join
Support Force East prior to taking
part in Sicily landings (Operation HUSKY)
9th
Arrived in Malta and joined escort for assault
convoy during passage to BARK
WEST beaches.
10th
Deployed to provide AA defence during landings
and for patrols in defence
against submarine or E-Boat attacks.
20th
On release from HUSKY took passage to Algiers
to resume convoy defence in
western Mediterranean.
21st
Deployed for escort of convoys between ports
in North Africa and Gibraltar.
August
6th
Boiler clean at Bizerta with Local Leave
granted.
13th
On completion deployed with HM Destroyer
PUCKERIDGE as escort for convoy
of three troopships on passage to Gibraltar.
September
Convoy defence and patrol in continuation.
Nominated for support of planned allied
landings at Salerno as part of the
Northern Attack Force (Task Force 85).
6th
Deployed for patrol off Bizerta before joining
convoy of Landing Ships (Tank)
during passage to Salerno
7th
Joined HMS BRECON and HMS BLANKNEY as escort
for convoy
(Operation AVALANCHE).
11th
Under air attack on approach to Salerno and
sustained damage from near miss.
(Note: Machinery including port shaft was
affected but ship remained operational.)
Provided naval gunfire support during landings
despite reduction of speed.)
12th
Released from AVALANCHE and took passage to
Malta for repair.
15th
Under repair by HM Dockyard Malta.
October
Transfer for completion of repair at Gibraltar
approved.
3rd
Passage to Gibraltar as part of escort for
convoy.
(Note: Speed restriction still required.)
13th
Under repair by HM Dockyard, Gibraltar,.
15th
Captain D21 left ship. New Commanding Officer:
Lieutenant P Davey, RN.
Transferred to 58th Destroyer Division based
at Malta.
22nd Post
Repair Sea Trials on completion .Speed
restrictions lifted.
November
1st
Deployed with HMS BRECON, HMS BLANKNEY and HM
Destroyer HAYDON
as escort for HM Battleship WARSPITE during
passage under tow from Malta to
Gibraltar.
(Note: HMS WARSPITE had been badly damaged by
an air attack off Salerno
and was returning to UK for repair.)
8th
Detached from escort and resumed convoy
defence duties
9th
Deployed for escort of convoys to Naples.
22nd
Nominated for bombardment operation in support
of military.
24th
Deployed with HM Destroyers ILEX and NUBIAN
for bombardment of shore
positions near mouth of Garigliano River.
25th
On release resumed convoy escort in western
Mediterranean.
December
Convoy defence and patrol in continuation.
(Note: Significant increase in U-Boat attacks
during which HM Destroyers
HOLCOMBE and TYNEDALE were sunk in defence of
convoys.)
Deployed to increase escorts available for
convoy defence.
25th
At Malta.
26th
Resumed convoy escort with HMS CATTERICK for
passage of French troopship
VILLE D’ORAN during passage to Algiers.)
(Note: During extreme weather conditions in
late December two ratings
were injured by falls in these adverse
conditions.)
1 9 4 4
January
Return passage as escort for convoy to Malta.
Routine docking in Malta.
Resumed convoy escort duties on completion.
February
Convoy escort and patrol in Mediterranean in
continuation.
March
Deployed as escort for Convoy SNF17 during
passage from Naples.
17th
In action in defence of SNF17 from attacks by
U371 off Bougie, during which
Dutch troopship DEMPO and American freighter
MAIDEN CREEK were
sunk. See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR Volume II by C
Blair for details.
Took part in attacks on submarine with HMS
CATTERICK. without success.
20th
Boiler clean at Algiers.
25th
Deployed for convoy escort between Algiers and
Naples.
(Note: HM Destroyer LAFOREY was sunk by U-Boat
attack north of
Sicily during search for U223 which was later
also sunk. See
above reference and U-BOATS DESTROYED by P
Kemp.)
April
Nominated for return to UK on release from
Mediterranean convoy escort
and patrol duties.
May
4th
Deployed with HMS BLANKNEY as escort for
convoy from Algiers to Gibraltar.
5th
Under U-Boat attack off Alboran and took part
in anti-submarine operations
which were later joined by HMS HAMBLEDON and
HMS BLENCATHRA.
8th
Released from Mediterranean duties and took
passage to Sheerness
Gibraltar to rejoin 21st Destroyer Flotilla.
13th
Arrived at Sheerness and took passage to
Chatham
Nominated for escort duties during planned
allied landings in Normandy
(Operation NEPTUNE)
26th
Sailed from Chatham to rejoin 21st Flotilla.
Took passage to Milford Haven with HMS
BLENCATHRA of Flotilla to join
111th Escort Group for convoy escort.
30th
At Milford Haven.
June
Deployed with HM Sloops PELICAN and LAPWING,
HM Frigates
NARBROUGH and RUPERT as 111th Escort Group.
4th
NEPTUNE delayed by 24 hours and carried out
Anti-Submarine patrol in
Bristol Channel.
(Note: For details of naval activities prior
to and during NEPTUNE see
OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO).)
5th
Joined Assault Convoy EBP1 with ships of Group
in Bristol Channel as escort
during passage to Solent.
(Note: Pre-Loaded Convoy EBP1 comprised four
personnel ships and two
other Depot ships taking US personnel of
Build-Up Division to
Western Task Force area for landing on June
7th.
6th
Passage from Solent through Swept Channel.
7th
After arrival off Port en Besin in OMAHA Beach area took part in rescue
of
US troops from Commodore of Convoy ship which
detonated an OYSTER
mine began to sink. 400 men, some of whom were
wounded were embarked,
and later all were transferred to shore by
landing craft
(Note: One source records that the ship was
named SUSAN B ANTHONY,
but no ship of this name is included in list
of damaged merchant
ships in the Naval Staff History. FRANCIS C
HARRINGTON
is included as being damaged on this date.)
8th
Return passage from OMAHA to Plymouth to take
up escort duty with Build-up
convoys to landing beaches.
24th
Released from escort duty based at Plymouth
and took passage to Liverpool
26th
Taken in hand for refit in commercial
shipyard.
July
Under refit.
to
September
October
Post refit trials.
29th
On completion of sea trials took passage to
Clyde are for calibration of D/F
equipment and prepare for work-up.
November
Passage to Scapa Flow to work-up with ships of Home Fleet.
15th
Over ran mooring buoy at Scapa Flow during work-up with damage to both
screws and underwater detection equipment
Dome.
16th
Docking delayed by weather conditions.
18th
Repair in Floating Dock commenced.
24th
On completion of replacement of both screws
undocked and took passage to
Sheerness to resume Flotilla duties.
26th
Rejoined 21st Destroyer Flotilla at Sheerness.
Nominated for escort of military convoys to
Antwerp as part of Nore Local Escort Force.
(Note: Port was not opened until 28th after
the Scheldt Estuary had been
cleared of mines (Operation CALENDAR)
28th
Deployed with HMS GARTH for escort of military
convoys and patrol in Nore area.
December
Nore Local Escort Force deployment in
continuation.
Escorted military convoys to and from Antwerp
and carried out patrols
in Thames Estuary and southern North Sea.
1 9 4 5
January
Military convoys to and from Antwerp and
commercial North Sea
convoy escort in continuation.
(Note: Patrols for interception of SCHNORKEL
fitted submarines enemy
minelaying craft were increased, In addition
Atlantic convoys to
London were being routed through English
Channel after the
allied advance in NW Europe.)
21st
Sustained underwater damage when ship ran
aground
23rd
Under repair to underwater fittings by HM
Dockyard Chatham
February
13th
Resumed duties in Nore Local Flotilla on
completion of repair work.
21st
In action with HMS GARTH and Motor Gunboats of
Coastal Forces
against E-Boats attacking North Sera convoy
near Hearty Knoll LV.
(Note: Free French Destroyer LA COMBATTANTE
(Ex HM Destroyer
HALDON, a Type II HUNT Class) was lost in an
adjacent area on
23rd, either by mine or E-Boat attack.)
March
Nore Local Flotilla duties for escort and
patrol in continuation.
April
Military and commercial convoy escort in
continuation.
12th
New Commanding Officer, Lieutenant L E
Blackmore joined ship.
May
Escort deployment continued after VE Day for
military convoys and Nore Command
to
June
requirements with Local Flotilla.
July
Nominated for duty in Clyde for destruction of
surrendered U-Boats
(Operation DEADLIGHT)
Took passage to Greenock for DEADLIGHT duties.
August
Deployed in Clyde area.
P o s
t W a r N o t e s
HMS MENDIP
was deployed for tow
of U-Boats during DEADLIGHT until January 1946
when the ship returned to Sheerness to prepare
for
Paying off. The ship’s company transferred to
HMS BLEASDALE on 25th January
when the ship formally transferred to
Reserve Fleet administration. On completion of
de-storing and reduction to Reserve
status she was laid-up at Harwich. Placed on
the Disposal List this escort
destroyer was sold to China and recommissioned
for passage on 21st January 1948.
Formally transferred and renamed LIN FU the
ship remained as part of the
Chinese Navy until returned to RN
control
on 29th May 1949 after the
Nationalist Government fell. By
June that year she had been transferred to the
Far East
Fleet and deployed as replacement for HM
Destroyer CONSORT which was under
refit. On 12th September 1949 the ship was
Paid-off and had been the only HUNT
Class Destroyer to be deployed in the Far
East. Whilst on return passage to UK
this destroyer was sold to Egypt on 9th
November whilst at Alexandria. and was renamed
MOHAMMED ALI. In 1951 she was
again renamed as IBRAHIM AWAL and took part in
the war against Israel. She was
captured off Haifa on 31st October 1956 and
became part of the Israeli Navy as
HAIFA. She was deployed for training duties
until 1970 when relegated to the
role of Accommodation Ship before being
scrapped in 1972.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS MENDIP
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
23/10/42
|
23/10/42
|
CW
128
|
24/10/42
|
24/10/42
|
04/04/43
|
04/04/43
|
CW
168
|
05/04/43
|
05/04/43
|
06/04/43
|
06/04/43
|
CE
166
|
07/04/43
|
07/04/43
|
13/06/43
|
02/07/43
|
UGS
010
|
06/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
28/06/43
|
07/07/43
|
KMF
018
|
10/07/43
|
11/07/43
|
05/07/43
|
unknown
|
MKF
017A
|
unknown
|
17/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
GUS
010X
|
25/07/43
|
13/08/43
|
12/07/43
|
29/07/43
|
UGS
012
|
07/08/43
|
10/08/43
|
29/07/43
|
29/07/43
|
KMS
021
|
07/08/43
|
10/08/43
|
07/09/43
|
07/09/43
|
FSS
002
|
09/09/43
|
09/09/43
|
29/09/43
|
03/10/43
|
GUS
017
|
09/10/43
|
27/10/43
|
16/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
KMF
025
|
26/10/43
|
30/10/43
|
15/01/44
|
26/01/44
|
KMF
028
|
29/01/44
|
29/01/44
|
03/02/44
|
04/02/44
|
XIF
009
|
07/02/44
|
08/02/44
|
09/02/44
|
09/02/44
|
IXF
009
|
13/02/44
|
13/02/44
|
23/02/44
|
unknown
|
IXF
010
|
unknown
|
26/02/44
|
02/03/44
|
02/03/44
|
MKF
029
|
09/03/44
|
16/03/44
|
11/03/44
|
13/03/44
|
NSF
017
|
14/03/44
|
14/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
SNF
017
|
18/03/44
|
18/03/44
|
28/03/44
|
28/03/44
|
SNF
018
|
31/03/44
|
31/03/44
|
05/12/44
|
05/12/44
|
TAM
009
|
06/12/44
|
06/12/44
|
09/12/44
|
09/12/44
|
ATM
009
|
10/12/44
|
10/12/44
|
09/12/44
|
09/12/44
|
TAM
012
|
10/12/44
|
10/12/44
|
15/12/44
|
15/12/44
|
ATM
013
|
16/12/44
|
16/12/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
|