Type III
HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered from
Yarrow's at Scotstoun,
Glasgow under the War Emergency Programme on
23rd August 1940.
The ship was laid down en 23rd June 1941 as
Job No
1869 and launched on 30th April 1942 as the
first RN ship to carry the name,
that of a fox-hunt in North Wales. Build was
completed on 4th September 1942 and the ship had been adopted by the
civil
community of the Welsh county
of Cardiganshire,
now Dyfed, after a WARSHIP
WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942.
B
a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1943 -
ENGLISH
CHANNEL 1943 -
NORMANDY 1944
- BISCAY
1944
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On
a Field
per
fess wavy White and Blue, an oak tree
eradicated proper
enfiled
with a mural crown
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 2
August
Contractors trials and commissioned for
service in 15th Destroyer Flotilla.
September
4th
Build completion and commenced Acceptance
Trials.
Passage to Scapa Flow on completion of trials
and storing.
Worked-up for operational service with ships
of Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
26th
Sustained structural damaged in collision with
HM Minesweeper BRAMBLE in the NW
Approaches
(position 58.13N, 03.18E).
28th
Taken in hand for repair in Tyne shipyard.
October
Under repair.
28th
On completion of shipyard work took passage to
Scapa Flow to resume work-up.
November
Completed work-up and took passage to Join
Flotilla at Plymouth for
interception of
enemy
coastal
traffic
and convoy defence in SW Approaches and English Channel.
December
Deployed with HM Sloop EGRET for interception
of German tanker
(Operation TUNNEL Series - See HOLD THE NARROW
SEA by P Smith).
12th
Intercepted German tanker GERMANIA which
scuttled on approach.
1
9 4 3
January
Channel convoy defence and patrol deployment
with Flotilla in continuation.
to
September
October
23rd
Sustained damage to forward structure in
collision with ss NORMANV1LLE.
25th
Taken in hand for repair in HM Dockyard
Devonport.
November
Under repair.
1 9 4
4
January
On completion of post refit trials prior
rejoined Flotilla for continuation of convoy
defence and
offensive
patrol duties.
February
In action against enemy forces off Brittany
with HM Escort Destroyers TALYBONT,
BRISSENDEN
and WENSLEYDALE.
Sustained slight damage in exchange of fire
with a German torpedo boat.
March
Flotilla duties in continuation.
April
17th
Deployed with HM Escort Destroyer MELBREAK and
Motor Torpedo Boats of Light Coastal
Forces in support of HM Cruiser
APOLLO during
minelay in preparation for
Normandy assault
landings.
(Operation MAPLE - HOSTILE 23 - See Naval
Staff History (Mining).)..
19th
Deployed with HM Destroyers MELBREAK,
WENSLEYDALE, HAIDA (RCN) and ASHANTI
to cover minelay by 10th Motor Launch Flotilla
and the escorting MTB's off the French coast
(Operation MAPLE - HOSTILE 24).
25th
Deployed to provide cover further minelay by
10th Motor Launch Flotilla with HMS
WENSLEYDALE.
(Operation MAPLE - HOSTILE 25).
Under fire from shore batteries without
damage.
May
Flotilla convoy escort and support duties in
continuation.
4th
Nominated with HM Destroyers TALYBONT and
MELBREAK of Flotilla for duty with
Western
Task
Force under overall US Navy Command in Force O
during planned allied
landings
in Normandy
5th
Took part in preparatory exercises prior to
assault operations.
(Operation NEPTUNE - For details of activities
prior to and during landings see
LANDINGS
IN
NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO), OPERATION NEPTUNE
by K Edwards and for details of
involvement of all ships deployed D
DAY SHIPS by J de Winser.).
June
Joined US HQ Ship USS ANCON AND US destroyers at
Portland
prior to passage with
Group
I
of
Force O.
4th
Operation delayed for 24 hours.
5th
Sailed from Portland with Group I for passage
through Swept Channel to Beach Head.
6th
Arrived off OMAHA beach and deployed for
defence of anchorage and support of the
assault
phase
of NEPTUNE.
7th
Deployment for support in OMAHA Beaches area
in continuation.
to
Deployed with HM Destroyers BRISSENDEN,
WENSLEYDALE, BEAGLE, HM Sloop
16th
LONDONDERRY, HM Fighter Direction Tender 13,
HM Frigate ROWLEY, Free French Frigates
L'AVENTURE and L'ESCARMOUCHE for interception
patrols in defence of cross Channel
routes
against attack by E-Boats.
27th
On release from NEPTUNE resumed Flotilla
duties.
July
Nominated for refit and took passage to
Bristol
12th
Taken in hand for refit in commercial
shipyard.
August
Under refit.
22nd On
completion of post refit trials rejoined
Flotilla at
Plymouth.
September
Deployed for patrol and convoy defence in
Channel area.
to
Nominated for transfer to 21st Destroyer
Flotilla at Sheerness.
November
(Note: A significant increase in attacks on
convoys and minelaying in the Nore Command had
made
necessary a reinforcement of destroyers for
interception patrol and convoy defence.
December
Deployed with 21st Flotilla in North Sea area.
16th
Sustained major structural damage forward
after collision with HM Frigate BYRON.
Repair arranged in HM Dockyard Devonport.
1
9 4 5
January
Under repair at Devonport.
22nd On
completion of post refit trials rejoined
Flotilla at Sheerness.
February
Deployed with Flotilla for interception
patrols and convoy defence in Nore Command.
to
April
May
Nominated for service in Eastern Fleet after
refit in Taranto.
June
Passage to Taranto and taken in hand for
refit.
July
Under refit
to
August
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS
TANATSIDE
did not complete refit and was kept under care
and maintenance at Taranto. In
1946 she was transferred on
loan to the Royal Hellenic Navy to replace
sister ship ADRIAS (Ex BORDER) which
had been transferred to
the Royal Hellenic Navy during WW2 and taken out
of service in 1943 after losing her bow
structure. This destroyer served in the Royal
Hellenic Navy as HHMS ADRIAS
(ii) until August 1962 when returned to the RN
and placed on
the Disposal List. The ship was sold to BISCO
for demolition. The ship arrived
at a breaker’s yard in Greece
during January 1964.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
TANATSIDE
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
27/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
KMF
004
|
06/12/42
|
06/12/42
|
10/12/42
|
10/12/42
|
MKF
004
|
18/12/42
|
18/12/42
|
03/01/43
|
03/01/43
|
KX
008
|
13/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
14/01/43
|
15/01/43
|
MKS
005X
|
17/01/43
|
25/01/43
|
09/02/43
|
09/02/43
|
WP
292
|
11/02/43
|
11/02/43
|
14/02/43
|
19/02/43
|
OS
043
|
21/02/43
|
04/03/43
|
01/03/43
|
01/03/43
|
WP
302
|
01/03/43
|
03/03/43
|
05/03/43
|
06/03/43
|
WP
304
|
07/03/43
|
07/03/43
|
11/03/43
|
11/03/43
|
WP
307
|
13/03/43
|
13/03/43
|
19/03/43
|
19/03/43
|
WP
311
|
21/03/43
|
21/03/43
|
23/03/43
|
23/03/43
|
WP
313
|
24/03/43
|
25/03/43
|
26/03/43
|
26/03/43
|
PW
314
|
28/03/43
|
28/03/43
|
25/02/43
|
27/03/43
|
WP
300
|
27/03/43
|
27/02/43
|
27/03/43
|
27/03/43
|
WP
315
|
29/03/43
|
29/03/43
|
30/03/43
|
30/03/43
|
PW
316
|
01/04/43
|
01/04/43
|
04/04/43
|
04/04/43
|
WP
319
|
06/04/43
|
06/04/43
|
07/04/43
|
07/04/43
|
PW
320
|
09/04/43
|
09/04/43
|
08/04/43
|
08/04/43
|
WP
321
|
10/04/43
|
10/04/43
|
07/05/43
|
08/05/43
|
PW
335
|
09/05/43
|
09/05/43
|
11/05/43
|
12/05/43
|
WP
337
|
13/05/43
|
13/05/43
|
15/05/43
|
15/05/43
|
PW
339
|
16/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
WP
340
|
18/05/43
|
18/05/43
|
20/05/43
|
20/05/43
|
WP
342
|
22/05/43
|
22/05/43
|
23/05/43
|
23/05/43
|
PW
343
|
25/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
29/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
PW
346
|
31/05/43
|
31/05/43
|
01/06/43
|
01/06/43
|
WP
348
|
02/06/43
|
03/06/43
|
03/06/43
|
03/06/43
|
WP
349
|
05/06/43
|
05/06/43
|
08/08/43
|
08/08/43
|
WP
382
|
09/08/43
|
10/08/43
|
03/09/43
|
03/09/43
|
WP
395
|
05/09/43
|
05/09/43
|
23/09/43
|
23/09/43
|
WP
405
|
25/09/43
|
25/09/43
|
15/10/43
|
15/10/43
|
WP
416
|
16/10/43
|
17/10/43
|
08/11/43
|
08/11/43
|
WP
428
|
10/11/43
|
10/11/43
|
12/11/43
|
12/11/43
|
WP
430
|
14/11/43
|
14/11/43
|
20/11/43
|
20/11/43
|
WP
434
|
21/11/43
|
22/11/43
|
08/12/43
|
08/12/43
|
WP
443
|
10/12/43
|
10/12/43
|
16/12/43
|
16/12/43
|
WP
447
|
18/12/43
|
18/12/43
|
07/01/44
|
07/01/44
|
WP
458
|
08/01/44
|
09/01/44
|
09/01/44
|
09/01/44
|
WP
459
|
10/01/44
|
11/01/44
|
15/01/44
|
15/01/44
|
WP
462
|
16/01/44
|
17/01/44
|
02/02/44
|
02/02/44
|
WP
471
|
05/02/44
|
05/02/44
|
08/02/44
|
08/02/44
|
WP
474
|
09/02/44
|
10/02/44
|
10/02/44
|
10/02/44
|
WP
475
|
12/02/44
|
12/02/44
|
14/02/44
|
15/02/44
|
WP
477
|
16/02/44
|
16/02/44
|
16/02/44
|
17/02/44
|
WP
478
|
18/02/44
|
18/02/44
|
28/02/44
|
28/02/44
|
WP
484
|
29/02/44
|
01/03/44
|
01/03/44
|
01/03/44
|
WP
485
|
02/03/44
|
03/03/44
|
07/03/44
|
07/03/44
|
WP
488
|
09/03/44
|
09/03/44
|
31/03/44
|
31/03/44
|
WP
SP 26
|
02/04/44
|
02/04/44
|
06/04/44
|
06/04/44
|
WP
503
|
07/04/44
|
08/04/44
|
08/04/44
|
08/04/44
|
WP
504
|
09/04/44
|
10/04/44
|
29/10/44
|
29/10/44
|
ON
263
|
01/11/44
|
15/11/44
|
24/02/45
|
24/02/45
|
BTC
079
|
27/02/45
|
27/02/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
|