HMS Hambledon, Type 1 sister-ship (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

Type I HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered from J S White of Cowes on 11 April 1939 under the 1939 Build Programme and laid down as Job No J6633 on 26th July 1939. The ship was launched on 27th March 1940 as the 2nd RN warship to carry the name, that of a fox-hunt in Leicestershire. It had first been used for a Minesweeper built in 1917 and sold in 1932. During build there were mechanical problems including wear on gearing and leaks in stern glands. Build was completed on 21st September 1940. In February 1942 the ship was adopted by the civil community of Rushden, Northamptonshire after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign.

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

NORTH SEA 1941-45 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1942-44 - ADRIATIC 1944

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Red,. a lion's gamb erased holding a hunting horn Gold.

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e

1 9 4 0

September             Contractors trials and commissioned for service in 21st Destroyer Flotilla

                21st         Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials

October                  Passage to Scapa Flow on completion of trials and storing

                                Worked-up for operational service at Scapa Flow with ships of Home Fleet

November              Passage to Sheerness to join Flotilla for convoy defence and patrol duties North Sea

                                and English Channel.

December              Transferred to 16th Destroyer Flotilla at Harwich for convoy defence and patrol in North Sea.

                                (For details of naval activity in 1939 see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY

                                by Corelli Barrett).

1 9 4 1

January                  North Sea deployment including offensive operations against enemy coastal convoy traffic in

to                            continuation.

February

March                    Detached for escort of HM Auxiliary Minelayer TEVIOT BANK during an unsuccessful

                               attempt to lay section of East Coast Mine Barrier (Operation BS50).

                                See Naval Staff History (Mining).

                                Resumed Flotilla duties on release

April

                1st           Damaged by near misses from 2 Delayed Action bombs which exploded falling astern off port

                                quarter.

                                Under repair

May                        On completion of dockyard work and trials resumed convoy escort and patrol duties.

to June

July

                26th        Detached for bombardment of Dieppe with HM Escort Destroyers CATTISTOCK and MENDIP

August                  Resumed convoy escort and patrol duty with Flotilla.

                18th        Activated ground mine on passage from Harwich to Chatham

                                Sustained minor damage to hull plating and to machinery.

                                Taken in hand for repair at HM Dockyard Chatham

September

                13th        Resumed Flotilla duties at Harwich on completion of repair and trials.

October                  Convoy defence, patrol and offensive sweep operations in continuation with Flotilla.

to                            (For details of naval activities in North Sea see THREE CORVETTES by N Monsarrat and THE

December              BATTLE OF THE EAST COAST by J P Foynes.)

1 9 4 2

January                  Flotilla duties in North Sea in continuation.

to

March

April

                20th        Activated mine in position 1.5 miles east of Aldeburgh Buoy.

                                Two of ship’s company were killed and one injured.

                                No 1 Boiler Room flooded and major structural damage sustained.

May                        Under repair by HM Dockyard, Chatham

to

July

August                  Carried out post repair trials on completion of dockyard work..

                19th        Rejoined 16th Flotilla at Harwich.

October                  Deployment for convoy defence and patrol with Flotilla in continuation.

                13th        Detached to Join other escorts and Light Coastal Forces for interception of an enemy convoy

                                off Cherbourg.

                                (Note: This convoy included raider KOMET attempting a westward passage into Atlantic.

                                (For details see BATTLE OF THE NARROW SEAS by Peter Scott).

November              Resumed North Sea Flotilla duties.

December              Deployed in North Sea for convoy defence and patrol.

1 9 4 3

January                  Convoy defence and patrol in North Sea with Flotilla in continuation.

to

April

May

                15th        In action with E-Boats laying mines off Hearty Knoll

June                        North Sea duties in continuation with Flotilla.

to

December

1 9 4 4

January                  North Sea Flotilla duties in continuation.

to

April

May                        Nominated with other ships of Flotilla for convoy defence during planned allied landings

                                in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE).

                                For full details see LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944, OPERATION NEPTUNE

                                by K Edwards and for information about all ships involved D DAY SHIPS by J de Winser..

                30th        Detached for duty with Escort Group 115.

                                Sailed with HM Destroyer WALPOLE and HM Escort Destroyer SOUTHDOWN from

                                Harwich to Sheerness.

                                Carried out preparatory exercised on passage.

June                        Joined HM Destroyer FORESTER, HM Sloop KITE, HM Frigates TYLER and SEYMOUR

                                at Sheerness to form Escort Group 115 on arrival..

                6th          Escorted Convoy ETP1 with ships of Escort Groups 114 and 115.

                7th          Arrived in Eastern Task Area with convoy.

                8th          Deployed at Portsmouth during Build-up and escorted convoys.

                                On release from NEPTUNE when operation terminated deployed in English Channel for

                                convoy escort and interception patrol

July                         Channel deployment in continuation.

August

                3rd          Hit amidships by Explosive Motor Boat (LINSEN) off Le Havre.

                                Ship broke in two with heavy loss of life.

                                Both sections sank very quickly.

                                130 of ship’s company including 4 officers lost their lives.

                                (Note: Some were trapped within the structure and could not escape due to the inadequate

                                facilities. This deficiency was corrected later in other ships of this Class.)

Addendum

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS QUORN

by Don Kindell

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above

(Note on Convoys)