Ex
USS BRANCH (Type A - BELMONT-Class) built by
Newport News Shipbuilding. The ship was laid
down on 25th October 1918 and launched on
19th April 1919. Commissioned
on 3rd April 1920 for service in 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, Nova Scotia,
Canada. Like other Ex US Navy
destroyers that were transferred in 1940,
her name was common to a town in
Massachusetts, USA and in Yorkshire. It had
not previously been
used for an RN ship. After a WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign in February
1942 this destroyer was adopted by the civil
community of Merthyr Tydfil, Glamorgan, Wales.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC
1940-43 -
MALTA CONVOYS
1941 -
ARCTIC
1942
H e r a
l d i c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field White, a beaver proper charged
on the body with
a
hurt, thereon a mullet 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
Transferred to RN at Halifax and commissioned
as HMS BEVERLEY.
Took passage from Halifax to Devonport with
call at St Johns, Newfoundland.
25th
Taken in hand for refit and modifications by
HM Dockyard, Devonport to suit RN service
as an escort after arrival.:
November
19th
On completion of post refit trials deployed
for: local convoy defence in
English Channel
December.
Convoy defence in continuation.
Transferred to 6th Escort Group
1 9 4 1
January
Deployed for Local Escort of convoys in NW
Approaches.
to
February
March
Under refit in Tyneside shipyard.
to
(Note: Machinery defects had been experienced
during Atlantic service.)
April
May
31st
On completion of post refit trials resumed
Atlantic convoy defence duties.
June
Deployed for convoy defence based in Iceland.
July
Transferred for escort of convoys between UK
and Gibraltar.
Escorted 9th Motor Launch Flotilla for passage
to Gibraltar.
Returned as part of escort for routine
mercantile convoy from Gibraltar to UK.
August
Under refit at Belfast. Radar Type 286 was
fitted.
(Note: For details of use of radar in RN see
RADAR AT SEA by D Howse. )
September
On completion resumed convoy defence duties
with 8th Escort Group.
Based in Londonderry and part of escort for UK
- West Africa convoy.
October
2nd
Joined military convoy WS12 in NW Approaches
to supplement Local Escort.
3rd
Detached from W312 and returned to Clyde.
November
Deployed as part of escort for Convoy HX160
with ships of Group.
December
6th
Joined Military convoy WS14 in Clyde for Local
Escort in NW Approaches with HM
Destroyers CROOME, LANCASTER, NEWARK,
SHERWOOD, WESTCOTT,
WITHERINGTON, FOXHOUND, GURKHA, NESTOR and HM
Anti-aircraft
Ship ULSTER QUEEN.
12th
Detached from WS14 with HM Destroyers CROOME,
LANCASTER, NEWARK,
SHERWOOD, WESTCOTT, WITHERINGTON and HMS
ULSTER QUEEN
1 9 4 2
January
Transferred to 1st British Escort Group in
continuation of Atlantic duties.
February
Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence with
Group.,
March
23rd
Joined military convoy WS14 in Clyde for Local
Escort in NW Approaches with HM
Destroyers BADSWORTH, KEPPEL. LEAMINGTON and
VOLUNTEER.
25th
Sustained damage in collision with HM
Destroyer NEWPORT.
27th
Detached with above destroyers except HMS
NEWPORT and returned to Clyde.
April
Nominated for detached service with Home Fleet
for Russian convoy defence.
12th
Deployed with HM Destroyers AMAZON, BEAGLE AND
BULLDOG, HM Corvettes
CAMPANULA, OXLIP, SAXIFRAGE and SNOWFLAKE as
Ocean Escort for Russian
Convoy PQ14 during passage from Iceland to
Murmansk.
(Note: Cruiser Cover was provided by HM
Cruiser NORFOLK.
For details of all Russian Convoy operations
including names of escorts see CONVOYS
TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R
Woodman ,CONVOY !
by P Kemp and THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B
Schoefield.).
An attempt was made by German destroyers
HERMANN SCHOEMANN, Z24 and Z26 to carry
out
attacks on this convoy but this was frustrated
by weather.
19th
Detached from PQ14 on arrival in Russian
waters.
28th
Joined return Convoy OP11 with HMS FORESTER,
FORESIGHT and same ships as PQ14 on
departure from Murmansk.
29th
Under threat of submarine attacks.
30th
HM Cruiser EDINBURGH joined convoy after
embarking gold bullion at
Murmansk.
Under attacks by U88 and U 456.
HMS EDINBURGH hit by torpedo from U456 and
sustained serious damage.
with HMS BULLDOG, HMS BEAGLE and BEVERLEY
May
1st
Under air attack and later attacks by German
destroyer HERMANN SCHOEMANN, Z24 and
Z25 sent to attack HMS EDINBURGH
Carried out determined defence against German
ships with HMS EDINBURGH and destroyers
of Close Escort.
Sustained splinter damage.
(Note: HMS EDINBURGH sustained further
significant damage from return fire from enemy
destroyers.
The successful repulsion of six attacks on the
disabled cruiser reflect great credit on the
commanding officer Commander M Richmond.)
HMS EDINBURGH detached and took passage to
Murmansk with HMS FORESTER and
HMS FORESIGHT.
2nd
HMS EDINBURGH subjected to further attacks by
the German destroyers and had to
be abandoned after being hit by torpedo from
Z25and sunk on 2nd May.
See ARCTIC CONVOYS for details.)
3rd
Detached with HMS AMAZON and HMS BEVERLEY and
took passage to Iceland to land
injured
Passage to Clyde for repair and refit.
June
Under repair at Belfast.
to
(Note: Radar Type 271 was fitted for surface
warning in place of Type 286.
July
See above reference for limitations of Type
286.
HEDGEHOG Anti-submarine mortar was also fitted
and Bridge structure was
replaced.
For details of weapons used in Atlantic convoy
defence see SEEK AND STRIKE by
W Hackmann.)
Nominated for transfer to 4th Escort Group on
completion.
August
Joined 4th Escort Group after completing post
refit trials
.
29th
Deployed as Local Escort for military convoy
WS22 during passage from Clyde in NW
Approaches with HM Destroyers BICESTER,
BULLDOG, KEPPEL, ZETLAND,
CHESTERFIELD and Polish ORP BLYSKAWICA.
September
2nd
Detached from WS22 with HMS CHESTERFIELD and
returned to Clyde.
Escorted HM Battleship RAMILLIES during part
of return passage to UK for repair
after service in Indian Ocean.
October
Deployed with Group for Atlantic convoy
defence.
November
Part of escort for Convoy ONS140 with ships of
GROUP
See ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM IN WW2 by A Hague for
dates.
December
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
1 9 4 3
January
Atlantic convoy defence with Group in
continuation.
February
Part of escort for Convoy SC118 with HM
Destroyers VIMY and VANESSA.
4th
Took part in attacks on U187 with HMS VIMY
after its wireless transmissions had
been intercepted.
(Note: Submarine was sunk by depth charges
after a surface engagement
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.
Sustained minor damage after collision with
mercantile ADAMAS.
March
Part of escort for Convoy ONS169 with Group.
7th
Convoy under threat of attack from RAUBGRAF
U-Boat Group which failed to find
this convoy.
See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.
16th
Transferred with escort to Convoy HX229 which
had been attacked by the RAUBGRAF
Group on 11th and was under threat from
STURMER and DRANGER U-Boat Groups.
Under night attack by STURMER, DRANGER and
RAUBGRAF Groups.
(Note: Other escorts were HM Destroyer
VOLUNTEER and HM Corvette PENNYWORT.
Attacks on this convoy, SC118, HX228 and SC122
were very costly.
For details of their significance see above
reference, WAR AT SEA by W Roskill,
THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by Donald
Macintyre.)
April
Deployed with 6th Escort Group and part of
escort for Convoy ONS176.
9th
During passage involved in collision with ss
CAIRNAVALONA.
(Note: Other ships of Group included H M
Destroyers HIGHLANDER, VIMY and five
corvettes.
11th
Hit by torpedo from U188 during night attack
on ON176 in position 52.28N 40.32W and sank
very quickly.
Only four of the ships’ complement of 152
survived.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS BEVERLEY
by
Don Kindell
These
convoy lists have not been cross-checked
with the text above
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Date
convoy sailed
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Joined
convoy as escort
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Convoy No.
|
Left
convoy
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Date
convoy arrived
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14/01/41
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15/01/41
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OB
274
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16/01/41
|
19/01/41
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31/01/41
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31/01/41
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OB
280
|
04/02/41
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03/02/41
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02/03/41
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04/03/41
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OB
293
|
08/03/41
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08/03/41
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23/02/41
|
08/03/41
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HX
111
|
08/03/41
|
12/03/41
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18/02/41
|
08/03/41
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SC
023
|
09/03/41
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09/03/41
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18/07/41
|
18/07/41
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HG
068
|
19/07/41
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02/08/41
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28/07/41
|
28/07/41
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HG
069
|
09/08/41
|
11/08/41
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17/10/41
|
17/10/41
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CT
004
|
20/10/41
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23/10/41
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05/10/41
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22/10/41
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SL
089
|
24/10/41
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26/10/41
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30/10/41
|
30/10/41
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CT
005
|
02/11/41
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08/11/41
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25/10/41
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02/11/41
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CARGO
|
04/11/41
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04/11/41
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15/11/41
|
16/11/41
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ON
037
|
20/11/41
|
30/11/41
|
|
23/12/41
|
24/12/41
|
CT
008
|
30/12/41
|
01/01/42
|
|
09/01/42
|
10/01/42
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NA
001
|
19/01/42
|
19/01/42
|
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03/02/42
|
03/02/42
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CT
010
|
12/02/42
|
12/02/42
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|
01/03/42
|
03/03/42
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NA
004
|
08/03/42
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08/03/42
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14/03/42
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29/03/42
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SL
103
|
unknown
|
02/04/42
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02/04/42
|
03/04/42
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ON
082
|
15/04/42
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18/04/42
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26/03/42
|
12/04/42
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PQ
014
|
19/04/42
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19/04/42
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28/04/42
|
28/04/42
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QP
011
|
07/05/42
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07/05/42
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12/09/42
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16/09/42
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ON
130
|
24/09/42
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30/09/42
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24/09/42
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29/09/42
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HX
209
|
07/10/42
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09/10/42
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18/10/42
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19/10/42
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ON
140
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28/10/42
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07/11/42
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03/11/42
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08/11/42
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HX
214
|
17/11/42
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18/11/42
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01/12/42
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05/12/42
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ON
150
|
15/12/42
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25/12/42
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21/12/42
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26/12/42
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HX
220
|
08/01/43
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09/01/43
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12/01/43
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13/01/43
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ON
161
|
24/01/43
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31/01/43
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24/01/43
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31/01/43
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SC
118
|
12/02/43
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12/02/43
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22/02/43
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23/02/43
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ON
169
|
06/03/43
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21/03/43
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|
08/03/43
|
14/03/43
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HX
229
|
22/03/43
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23/03/43
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31/03/43
|
01/04/43
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ON
176
|
11/04/43
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20/04/43
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(Note
on Convoys)
1942
WARSHIP WEEK ADOPTION
by
Andrew Grant
HMS BEVERLEY was officially adopted by the town
of Beverley in Yorkshire, and provided the ship
with many comforts. However, BEVERLEY was
awarded to Merthyr Tydfil after £57,000 was
raised during Warship Week. Beverley
continued to support the ship until she was
sunk, and a few years ago the town installed a
memorial to the ship’s company.
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