Ex USS
SATTERLEE (Type A - BELMONT Class) built by
Newport
News Shipbuilding. This ship was laid down on
10th July 1918 and launched on 21st December
1918. Commissioned on 22nd December 1919 for
service in
the US Navy she was held in Reserve in 1939.
The ship transferred to the RN
under the Lend Lease Agreement on 8th
October 1940 and commissioned at Halifax,
NS Canada.
Like other Ex US Navy destroyers that were
transferred in 1940, her name was
common to two towns in the USA
and to one in County Durham.
It had previously been used for a Trawler
hired during WW1.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r
ATLANTIC
1941
H e r a
l d i c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Blue, a bell
White charged with a hurt,
thereon a
mullet also White.
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
8th
Commissioned as HMS BELMONT at Halifax.
Prepared for Atlantic passage.
15th
Took passage for Devonport with call at St
Johns,
Newfoundland.
28th
Taken in hand for Stage 1 modifications to
suit RN deployment.
(Note: These included removal of mainmast and
shortening of foremast.
The three after funnels were also shortened
and the after 3in and 4in guns were replaced
by a 12pdr British HA gun in X position.
Two of the torpedo tube mountings aft were
also removed and British type Depth
Charge Throwers were installed.
November
Nominated for Atlantic convoy defence after
work-up.
25th
During post refit trials further defects
delayed planned start of work-up.
December
Repair work in continuation.
1
9 4 1
January
Post repair sea trials and prepared for
work-up.
During passage to Scapa Flow defects were
repaired at Milford Haven.
5th
Arrived at Scapa Flow for work-up with Home Fleet.
February
Completion of Work-up delayed by defects
March
Joined Western Approaches for service
22nd
Damaged in collision in Irish Sea.
Taken in hand for repair in Liverpool
shipyard.
April
Under repair.
to
(Note: Radar Type 286M with fixed aerial was
fitted during this period.
July
This was an RAF equipment modified for naval
use and this Type was first to be fitted
in small warships.
For details of its use and limitations see
RADAR AT SEA by D Howse which details
development and use of radar by the Royal
Navy.)
August
On completion of repair carried out post
repair trials.
20th
Joined 3rd Escort Group based in Liverpool for Atlantic convoy defence.
September
Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence with
Group.
(Note: For details of the deployment of U-
Boats see U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC
(HMSO) and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blaire.
For details of weapons and tactics see SEEK
AND STRIKE by W. Hackmann and
THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre.)
October
Part of escort for Convoy ON24 with ships of
Group.
November
Nominated for transfer to St. Johns for Local
Escort duty.
30th
Took passage to join Newfoundland Escort
Force.
December
Deployed at St Johns and escorted Halifax -UK
convoy with Polish destroyer ORP GARLAND
in western Atlantic.
1 9 4 2
January
Newfoundland Escort Force service in
continuation.
31st
During escort of return troop convoy NA2 hit
by torpedo from U82 off Halifax.
Sank with the loss of entire ship's company in
position 42.02N 57-18W.
See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR.
(Note: The Casualty List was published on 1st
August 1942.)
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS BELMONT
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
05/02/41
|
05/02/41
|
OG
052
|
09/02/41
|
21/02/41
|
10/08/41
|
22/08/41
|
HX
144
|
27/08/41
|
30/08/41
|
01/09/41
|
04/09/41
|
ON
012
|
07/09/41
|
14/09/41
|
29/08/41
|
08/09/41
|
HX
147
|
11/09/41
|
12/09/41
|
30/08/41
|
12/09/41
|
SC
042
|
unknown
|
20/09/41
|
17/09/41
|
18/09/41
|
ON
017
|
21/09/41
|
29/09/41
|
11/09/41
|
22/09/41
|
SC
044
|
28/09/41
|
30/09/41
|
09/10/41
|
15/10/41
|
TC
014
|
17/10/41
|
17/10/41
|
28/10/41
|
08/11/41
|
HX
157
|
11/11/41
|
13/11/41
|
21/12/41
|
02/01/42
|
HX
166
|
03/01/42
|
05/01/42
|
08/01/42
|
08/01/42
|
CT
009
|
09/01/42
|
15/01/42
|
30/01/42
|
30/01/42
|
NA
002
|
31/01/42
|
08/02/42
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
|