|
Ex-USS
TILLMAN (Type B -
CALDWELL-Class) built by Bath Iron Works.
The ship was laid down on
29th
July 1918 and launched on 7th July 1919. Commissioned on 30th
April 1921 for service in the US Navy
and was held in Reserve in 1939. The ship
transferred to the RN under the 1940
UK/US Land-Lease Agreement on 5th December
1940 and commissioned as HMS
WELLS on that date at Halifax,
Nova Scotia, Canada. This name was cannon
to
towns in Somerset and Nevada,
USA and previously had been used
for an RN Cutter in 1764. There is no
record of an adoption by any UK
civil community following a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
campaign during 1941-42.
B a t
t l
e H o n o
u r s
ATLANTIC 1940-42
- ARCTIC 1942
-
NORTH
SEA 1943-44
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:On
a Field Blue,
issuant
from
the base a well White,
thereon a hurt
charged with 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
November
Prepared for transfer to RN control.
Passage to Halifax manned by US Navy
personnel.
December
5th
Commissioned into RN as HMS WELLS at
Halifax.
9th
Sustained damage when lying alongside
jetty in Halifax with two other destroyers
(Note: One
of these other
ships moved under power whilst still
secured, thus causing a
collision with sister ship HMS
NEWMARKET and the dockside wall.
Taken in hand for repair at St .John New
Brunswick in dry dock.
27th
Returned to Halifax.
(Note: Local community provided generous
local hospitality to ship’s company.).
1
9 4 1
January
Prepared for passage to UK and
sailed for Newfoundland.
During passage sustained structural damage
in Hurricane force winds and significant
icing of
equipment on foc'sle which affected
stability.
Ship manoeuvred with skill and returned to
Halifax for repair.
February
Under repair at Halifax.
4th
Took passage from Halifax after completion
of repair to storm damage repair.
(Note: One source states that ship broke
down on passage and returned under tow by
HMS
NEWARK to Halifax for further repair
work).
Sailed on completion for St. Johns, Newfoundland
for repair of defects found during
March
On completion took passage from St. Johns
to Plymouth.
(Note: During passage 500 miles west of
Ireland ship broke down and was disabled
for some
time but resumed
passage after repair work.)
9th
Arrived at Plymouth and taken in hand for
modifications to suit RN requirements by
for use
as a convoy escort.
Allocated for service with 1st Minelaying
Squadron based at Kyle of Lochalsh.
April
Under refit by HM Dockyard, Devonport.
13th
Joined Squadron at Kyle of Lochalsh.
(Note: Although primarily required for
escort of Auxiliary Minelayers during
mining operations
in Atlantic Northern Barrage ship was
detached when available for escort of
convoys in
NW Approaches).
May
Deployed at Kyle of Lochalsh and detached
for escort of convoys between UK and
Iceland.
June
16th
Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayers AGAMEMNON
and MENESTHEUS with HM Destroyers
BRIGHTON, CASTLETON and ST MARY'S during
Northern Barrage minelay.
(Operation SN66)
(Note: HM Cruiser KENYA provided
cover)
25th
Escorted HMS AGAMEMNON and HMS MENESTHEUS
with same destroyers during further
minelay in Northern Barrage (Operation
SN70B).
Stood by HMS BRIGHTON after she had
collided with HM Cruiser KENYA which was
providing
cover for the operation.
29th
Joined HM Cruiser CAIRO, HM Destroyers
CASTLETON,
ST FRANCIS,
VANQUISHER,
WINCHELSEA, WOLVERINE, READING, Polish destroyers ORP GARLAND and ORP
PIORUN for Local Escort of military convoy
WS9B during passage in NW Approaches.
July
1st
Detached from WS9B and returned to Clyde
with Local Escort.
(Note HM Cruiser EDINBURGH was deployed as
Ocean Escort for WS9B)
9th
Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayers PORT
QUEBEC, AGAMEMNON, MENESTHEUS and
SOUTHERN PRINCE with HM Destroyer
CASTLETON for further minelay in Northern
Barrage.
.
(Operation SN67A).
August
Squadron deployment and detached service
for Atlantic convoy escort.
September
3rd
Taken in hand for repair and refit at
Humber shipyard.
October
Under repair.
November
Under refit and post refit trials.
25th
On completion took passage to Tobermory
before resuming Squadron duties at Kyle
of Lochalsh.
December
Deployed at Tobermory for work-up
Resumed Squadron duty.
1
9 4 2
January
Squadron deployment in continuation.
9th
Escorted HM Minelaying Cruiser ADVENTURE
for Northern Barrage minelay off
Cape Wrath with
HM Destroyer NEWARK (Operation SN15A).
February
Squadron duties in continuation.
16th
Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayers
MENESTHEUS, AGAMEMNON and PORT QUEBEC
during
Northern Barrage minelay with HM
Destroyers LANCASTER, SOMALI and
VANQUISHER.
(Operation SN84)
28th
Escorted sane ships and HM Auxiliary
Minelayer SOUTHERN PRINCE for minelay in
Northern
Barrage with HM Destroyers LANCASTER and
SKATE
(Operation SN85).
(Note: HMS SKATE detached because of
weather conditions).
March
Detached for duty with Home Fleet
providing cover for Russian convoy.
1st
Deployed with HMS LANCASTER of Squadron
and Joined Hone Fleet destroyers for
screening
of HM Battleships. DUKE OF YORK and KING GEORGE V, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN,
HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS and HM
Cruisers BERWICK and KENYA.
(For details of other ships involved in
cover of passage of Convoy PQ12 during
passage to
Murmansk and return Convoy OPS see CONVOYS
to RUSSIA by A Ruegg. The strong Home
Fleet cover was made necessary by the
threat from the German battleship TIRPITZ
known to
be in Norwegian waters)
.
Resumed Squadron duties at Kyle of
Lochalsh on release from Home Fleet.
15th
Deployed with m Destroyers LANCASTER and
ST MARY'S as escort for m Auxiliary
Minelayers MENESTHEUS, AGAMEMNON,
PORT QUEBEC and SOUTHERN PRINCE
during minelay in Northern Barrage
(Operation SN8D).
31st
Deployed with HM Destroyers SCOTT,
CHARLESTON and LANCASTER for escort of the
same four minelayers as SN81 for further
Northern Barrage minelay. (Operation
SN87).
April
18th
Escorted same ships as SN87 for
continuation of Northern Barrage minelay
with HM Destroyers
SARDONYX, SALADIN, SCOTT and
CHARLESTON
(Operation SN88).
May
8th
Escorted HM Cruiser ADVENTURE, HMS
AGAMEMNON, HMS SOUTHERN PRINCE and
HMS PORT QUEBEC for Northern Barrage
minelay with HM Destroyers BRIGHTON,
CASTLETON and SCOTT (Operation SN3A).
(Note: US Navy observers were embarked in
HMS ADVENTURE during this period).
June
Nominated for refit.
1st
Deployed with HM Destroyers KEPPEL,
LEAMINGTON, BEAGLE and DOUGLAS as Local
Escort for military convoy WS19P during
passage in NW Approaches from Clyde.
4th
Detached from WS19P with HMS KEPPEL and
HMS LEAMINGTON and took return passage
to Clyde.
(Note: HM
Battleship NELSON was deployed to
provide Ocean Escort for WS19P)
6th
Resumed duties with 1st Minelaying
Squadron at Kyle of Lochalsh.
11th
Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayers
MENESTHEUS, AGAMEMNON, PORT QUEBEC and
SOUTHERN PRINCE with HM Destroyer
CASTLETON for further minelay in Northern
Barrage (Operation SN67A)
July
Under refit
August
Carried out post refit trials.
September
Resumed service with Squadron on
completion of work-up at Tobermory
October
18th
Escorted HM Cruiser ADVENTURE, HM
Auxiliary Minelayers AGAMEMNON,
MENESTHEUS,
PORT QUEBEC and SOUTHERN PRINCE for
minelay in Northern Barrage with Squadron
Destroyers HMS CASTLETON, CHARLESTON and HM Destroyer LEDBURY from tome Fleet.
(Operation SN3E).
November
1st
Escorted same ships as SN3E for further
Northern Barrage minelay with Squadron
destroyers HMS
BRIGHTON, CASTLETON and LANCASTER
(Operation SN3F)
December
Detached for convoy defence in NW
Approaches.
(Note: During this period the ship
escorted rms QUEEN MARY, Iceland convoys and a military
convoy during part of passage to
Gibraltar after allied landing
in
North Africa.
(Operation TORCH).
1
9 4 3
January
Under refit and repair in Clyde shipyard.
February
Resumed Squadron duties.
March
21st
Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayers
AGAMEMNON, MENESTHEUS and
PORT QUEBEC
during Northern Barrage minelay with HM
Destroyers NEWARK and ST MARY'S
(Operation SN90A)
April
6th
Under repair at Newport.
May
Under repair.
to
June
July
Resumed Squadron duties after work-up
August
16th
Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayers
AGAMEMNON, MENESTHEUS and
PORT QUEBEC
during Northern Barrage minelay in
Denmark Strait with HM Destroyers ST
MARY'S,
SABRE,
SALADIN and IMPULSIVE covered by HM
Cruiser NORFOLK (Operation SN7M).
September
1st
Transferred to Home Fleet after 1st
Minelaying Squadron disbanded.
Allocated for convoy defence in
North Sea based at Rosyth.
Taken in hand for repair and modification
for East Coast convoy defence.
(Note: The modifications for this duty
included Radar Type 286P for aircraft
and surface
warning and VHF radio telephone equipment
for inter-ship and aircraft communication
use.
August
On completion deployed with Rosyth Escort
Force for North Sea convoy defence.
September
Deployed in North Sea.
to
December
1
9 4 4
January
North Sea convoy defence in continuation.
to
Nominated for withdrawal from operational
service and conversion for use as an
Air Target
September
Ship.
October
Converted for new duty at Rosyth.
Specialist equipment removed.
November
Under conversion.
26th
Completed conversion.
December
Passage to Clyde to take up training
station.
1
9 4 5
January
Deployment
delayed by defects and taken in hand for
repair in Clyde.
February
Under repair.
to
March
April
15th
Deployed in Irish Sea for training of
aircrew in attacks on ships.
May
Aircrew training deployment ceased after
VE Day.
Paid off in Clyde and placed on Disposal
List.
24th
Placed on Disposal List
June
Sold to BISCO for demolition by West of
Scotland Shipbreakers at Troon
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS
WELLS did not arrive in
tow at the breaker’s yard until February
1946. In comparison with other TOWN
Class destroyers this ship saw extensive
service in the intended role, but was
frequently under repair.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
WELLS
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
23/04/41
|
23/04/41
|
DS
002
|
27/04/41
|
27/04/41
|
|
28/04/41
|
28/04/41
|
SD
002
|
01/05/42
|
01/05/41
|
|
10/05/41
|
10/05/41
|
DS
003
|
13/05/41
|
13/05/41
|
|
15/05/41
|
15/05/41
|
SD
003
|
17/05/41
|
17/05/41
|
|
21/05/41
|
21/05/41
|
DS
004
|
24/05/41
|
24/05/41
|
|
27/05/41
|
27/05/41
|
SD
004
|
29/05/41
|
29/05/41
|
|
05/06/41
|
05/06/41
|
DS
005
|
09/06/41
|
09/06/41
|
|
10/06/41
|
10/06/41
|
SD
005
|
12/06/41
|
12/06/41
|
|
20/06/41
|
20/06/41
|
DS
006
|
22/06/41
|
22/06/41
|
|
25/06/41
|
25/06/41
|
SD
006
|
27/06/41
|
27/06/41
|
|
21/07/41
|
21/07/41
|
DS
008
|
24/07/41
|
24/07/41
|
|
26/07/41
|
26/07/41
|
SD
008
|
28/07/41
|
28/07/41
|
|
10/08/41
|
10/08/41
|
DS
009
|
12/08/41
|
12/08/41
|
|
13/08/41
|
13/08/41
|
SD
009
|
15/08/41
|
15/08/41
|
|
13/12/41
|
13/12/41
|
DS
018
|
16/12/41
|
16/12/41
|
|
20/12/41
|
20/12/41
|
SD
018
|
23/12/41
|
23/12/41
|
|
17/01/42
|
17/01/42
|
DS
020
|
20/01/42
|
20/01/42
|
|
21/01/42
|
21/01/42
|
SD
020
|
23/01/42
|
23/01/42
|
|
01/03/42
|
unknown
|
PQ
012
|
unknown
|
12/03/42
|
|
01/04/42
|
01/04/42
|
DS
025
|
04/04/42
|
04/04/42
|
|
08/04/42
|
08/04/42
|
SD
025
|
11/04/42
|
11/04/42
|
|
01/05/42
|
01/05/42
|
DS
026
|
03/05/42
|
03/05/42
|
|
13/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
SD
026A
|
14/05/42
|
14/05/42
|
|
30/08/42
|
05/09/42
|
AT
021
|
05/09/42
|
05/09/42
|
|
08/09/42
|
08/09/42
|
TA
021
|
09/09/42
|
14/09/42
|
|
05/09/42
|
10/09/42
|
AT
022
|
11/09/42
|
11/09/42
|
|
14/09/42
|
14/09/42
|
TA
022
|
15/09/42
|
19/09/42
|
|
16/09/42
|
16/09/42
|
DS
032
|
19/09/42
|
19/09/42
|
|
20/09/42
|
20/09/42
|
SD
032
|
23/09/42
|
23/09/42
|
|
08/11/42
|
08/11/42
|
KX
006
|
17/11/42
|
17/11/42
|
|
23/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
MKF
003
|
01/12/42
|
03/12/42
|
|
12/12/42
|
12/12/42
|
DS
035
|
16/12/42
|
16/12/42
|
|
16/12/42
|
16/12/42
|
SD
035
|
22/12/42
|
22/12/42
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
|
