HALCYON-Class
Minesweeper ordered from HM Dockyard
Devonport on 2nd March 1936 with sister
ship to be
named HMS HEBE. Turbine propulsion
machinery was to
be fitted. This ship was laid down on
8th June 1936 and was launched on 10th
December that year. She was
the 5th RN warship to carry this name
which had been introduced for a 16 gun
Gun Brig, built at Brightlingsea in
1802. The last was an S-Class Destroyer
built by Beardmore
in 1917 and sold in 1927.
Build was completed on 17th December
1937 and she commissioned for service
in the 1st Minesweeping Flotilla based
at Portland. During WW2 this ship was
adopted by the civil
community
of Penarth, Glamorgan after a successful
WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign in March 1942.
B a t t l
e H o n o u r s
BELGIAN
COAST 1917 - DUNKIRK 1940 - ARCTIC
1941-43 - ATLANTIC
1942-44 - SICILY
1943
H
e r a l d i c D a t a
On
a field Green a
silver bow and a golden arrow.
M o t t o
'Swift
and sure'
M a n n i n g
D i v i s i o n
Chatham
S u m m a r y o
f
P r e - W a r S e r v i c
e
1
9 3 7
December
Contractors trials and commissioning for
service in 1st Minesweeping Flotilla.
17th
Build completion and commenced
Acceptance
Trials.
1 9 3 8
January
On completion of trials and storing took
passage to join Flotilla at Portland
February
Deployed at Portland for minesweeping
training and support of Anti-Submarine
to
July
and mine clearance research and
development.
(Note: Deployment to meet Home Fleet
exercise and visits requirements would
have been carried out in accordance with
Home Fleet programme.
August
Prepared to take up war station during
international crisis/
to
September
October
Resumed normal service with Flotilla at
Portland.
to December
1 9 3 9
January
Portland deployment with Flotilla in
continuation.
to July
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
August
Carried out minesweeping trial in Lyme Bay with ships of Flotilla..
(Note: This field had been specially
laid to establish minesweeping
capabilities.)
Took up War Station with Flotilla at
Scapa Flow.
Other ships in Flotilla were HM
Minesweepers BRAMBLE, BRITOMART, HAZARD,
HEBE, SEAGULL and SPEEDY
September
Deployed at Scapa Flow with Flotilla
(Note: Ships were engaged in ensuring
clear passages from Scapa Flow for Fleet
units and
the gaps in East Coast Mine Barrier.)
October
14th
Transferred to Clyde and cleared British
deep anti-submarine mine field off
Gourock
(Note: Home Fleet units were moved to
Clyde area after the sinking of HM
Battleship
ROYAL OAK at anchor in Scapa Flow by a torpedo from U47 which penetrated
the anchorage.)
November
Resumed North Sea Service to ensure
passages through East Coast Mine Barrier
were kept
clear of mines.
(Note: Extensive enemy minelaying using
magnetic mines was being carried
out in North Sea. See above references.)
Transferred to Stornoway for Atlantic
convoy escort duties with Flotilla.
December
East coast minesweeping in continuation
5th
Sustained minor damage in collision with
tanker.
1 9 4 0
January
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation
based at Stornoway
Deployed for escort of convoys during
passage to and from Canada.
Returned to Scapa Flow after anchorage made safe
February
Deployed at Scapa Flow with Flotilla for mine clearance in entrances and in
North Sea.
to March
April
Transferred to 6th Minesweeping Flotilla
based at Dover and joined HM
Minesweepers
HALCYON, HUSSAR, HARRIER, SKIPJACK, HEBE
and SPEEDWELL for
minesweeping duties in Dover Command.
May
Channel area minesweeping with Flotilla
including coastal shipping routes off
Holland.
(Note: Ships of Flotilla came under air
attacks during these operations with HMS
HUSSAR and HMS HARRIER being badly
damaged by bomb hits on 15th
and 25th May.)
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to J68.)
28th
Joined HM Minesweepers NIGER, SALAMANDER, GOSSAMER, SKIPJACK, LEDA,
HALCYON, HEBE and SPEEDWELL. for support
of allied evacuation operations at
Dunkirk (Operation DYNAMO)
30th
During evacuation of troops from Dunkirk sustained major
structural damage in collision
with Cross-Channel steamer ST HELIOL
after nightfall. Ship badly damaged
forward
and taken in tow by tug FREMOST 22 to
position off Beaches.
June
1st
Towed from Dunkirk to Dover for
temporary repair
2nd
After temporary repair took passage to
Sheerness escorted by HMS SALAMANDER.
3rd
Taken in for repair by HM Dockyard,
Sheerness.
13th
Transferred to Leith for repair
continuation and took passage.
July
Under repair at Leith
August
17th
Transferred to Rosyth for completion of
repair.
September
14th
Post Repair trials on completion or work
by HM Dockyard, Rosyth.
20th
Resumed operational service with 1st
Minesweeping Flotilla. at Scapa Flow.
October
Fleet Minesweeping duties at Scapa Flow in continuation with HM Minesweepers
to
December
BRAMBLE, BRITOMART, SPEEDY, HAZARD,
SEAGULL and HEBE,
(Note: When not required for
minesweeping of passages used by major
warships
carried out routine minesweeping in
North Sea and north of Scotland convoy
routes. HMS HAZARD and HMS HEBE detached
for refit during this period
Some ships of Flotilla were under air
attack.)
1`9 4 1
January
Scapa Flow deployment in continuation
to February
March
Transferred with Flotilla to Harwich for
clearance of convoy routes between
southern North
Sea and Solent to ensure safe passage.
15th
Under air attack off Rye during which
HMS BRAMBLE was hit by a bomb whilst
recovering sweep gear and disabled. Bomb
hit forward structure and killed all
personnel
in Wardroom.
Escorted stricken ship to Portsmouth
when she was able to steam using one
engine.
April
Flotilla duties in Channel and North Sea in continuation.
to
July
(Note: Some ships of Flotilla were
transferred to Western Approaches
Command during
this period and deployed in NW
Approaches for Local Escort of Atlantic
convoys)
August
Nominated for refit and took passage to
Cardiff for repair in commercial
shipyard.
6th
Taken in hand for refit prior to service
in North Russia.
September
Under refit
to
October
(Note: It is most unlikely that the ship
was “Arcticised” for service in North
Russia
during this refit.)
November
10th
On completion of post refit trials and
shakedown took passage to Iceland to
join
Russian convoy PQ5 at Hvalfjord.
(Note: For details of all Russian Convoy
operations with names of the
mercantiles and the escorts see CONVOYS
TO RUSSIA by RA
Ruegg, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B
Schoefield, CONVOY !
by P Kemp and ARCTIC CONVOYS by R
Woodman.)
27th
Sailed from Hvalfjord as escort for PQ5
with HMS HAZARD and HMS HEBE
during passage to Archangel.
December
7th
Remained with PQ5 when HMS BRAMBLE and
HMS SEAGULL joined to
relieve HMS HAZARD and HMS HEBE.
(Note: HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD which had joined convoy on 1st December
also detached with the two minesweepers
and took independent passage
to Murmansk.)
13th
Detached from PQ5 on arrival at
Archangel without enemy interference.
14th
Deployed for service in North Russia to
provide Local Escort of convoys and for
minesweeping to ensure clear passage for
convoys on entry and departure.
1 9 4 2
January
North Russia deployment in continuation
16th
Provided Local Escort for Russian convoy
PQ8 into Murmansk with HMS HAZARD.
17th
Detached from PQ8 on arrival at
Murmansk.
(Note: HMS MATABELE, one of the Ocean
Escort was torpedoed and sunk
with heavy loss of life before arrival.
See references.)
February
13th
Joined return convoy QP7 with HMS
BRITOMART to relieve HMS HAZARD and
HMS SPEEDWELL as Local Escort during
part of initial stage of passage to
Seidisfjord, Iceland.
15th
Detached from QP8 with HMS BRITOMART and
returned to Murmansk.
(Note: Ocean Escort was provided by HM
Destroyers FAULKNOR and INTREPID
covered by HM Cruiser NIGERIA.)
March
1st
Deployed with HMS HARRIER, Russian
destroyers GREMYASCHI and GROMKI
as Local Escort for return convoy QP8
for passage from Murmansk.
3rd
Detached with HMS HARRIER and took
passage back to base.
(Note: Ocean Escort was provided by HMS
HAZARD and HMS SALAMANDER,
HM Corvettes OXLIP and SWEETBRIAR
covered by HMS NIGERIA and
units of Home Fleet deployed to counter
threat of attack by German battleship
TIRPITZ on this convoy and inward PQ12.
See references.)
21st
Deployed with HM Destroyer OFFA and HMS
BRITOMART as Ocean Escort for convoy
QP9 during passage to Iceland from Kola
Inlet covered by Home Fleet Fleet units.
(Note: HM Cruiser KENYA intended to join
on 22n February and carrying gold
bullion
from Russia to UK did not meet the
convoy as part of Ocean Escort.) Local
Escort
was provided by HM Minesweepers
GOSSAMER, HARRIER, HUSSAR,
NIGER,
SPEEDWELL and Russian destroyer
GREMYASCHI.)
24th
Sighted U655 on surfaced and carried out
ramming attack.
Submarine turned over and sank without
survivors. See HITLER’S U – BOAT WAR by
C Blair and above references. Sustained
serious damage to forward structure.
24th
Remained with QP9 as part of escort.
April
3rd
Detached from QP9 on arrival and
Reykjavik and took passage to UK
14th
Taken in hand for repair at Leith.
May
Under repair
June
11th
Resumed operational service on
completion of post refit trials and
work-up.
July
Deployed in Home waters
August
Nominated for escort of Russian convoy
PQ18 during passage to Murmansk and
further detached service in North
Russia.
(Note: See above references for details
of the arrangements made for this
transit
and provision of additional escorts.)
September
Joined HM Destroyers ACHATES, MALCOLM,
HM Auxiliary AA Ships ALYNBANK
and ULSTER QUEEN, HM Corvettes BERGAMOT,
BLUEBELL, BRYONY, CAMELLIA
and HM Minesweeper SHARPSHOOTER for
service as Close Escort for PQ18.
Passage to join PQ18.
7th
Joined convoy and commenced service as
Close Escort.
(Note: Air Cover was provided by HM
Escort Aircraft Carrier AVENGER screened
by
HM Destroyers WHEATLAND and WILTON with
a Fighting Escort comprising
HM Cruiser SCYLLA and 16 destroyers from
Home Fleet.
HM Destroyers MONTROSE and WALPOLE had
joined PQ18 escort on
6th September.
HM Submarines P614 and P615 were also
deployed for defence of this convoy and
cruiser cover by HM Cruisers LONDON,
NORFOLK and SUFFOLK.
Home Fleet major warships provided
Distant Cover.)
12th
Under submarine attacks during which two
mercantiles were sunk.
13th
Under air attacks during which six of
the mercantiles were sunk.
14th
Under submarine attacks by U457 which
hit a mercantile, later abandoned and
sunk..
Air attacks in continuation during which
another mercantile was sunk
(For details see references.)
21st
Detached from PQ18 on arrival at
Archangel and commenced local duties in
North Russia.
October
North Russia Local Minesweeping
operations in continuation with detached
minesweepers.
November
16th
Deployed with HMS HALCYON and HAZARD for
minesweeping operations to ensure safe
passage of local convoys.
(Note: The operation was completed
successfully despite gale conditions and
thick fog.)
17th
Deployed with HMS BRITOMART, HALCYON and
HAZARD as Eastern Local Escort
for return convoy QP15.
20th
Detached from QP15 and took independent
eastward passage.
(Note: This ship is not recorded as part
of Ocean Escort which did include HMS
SALAMANDER
and further research is required.)
27th
Sustained major structural damage in
collision south of Iceland.
December
Under temporary repair in Iceland (To be
confirmed)
Repair arranged at Hull in commercial
shipyard.
Passage to Hull
23rd
Taken in hand for repair in Hull
1 9 4 3
January
Under repair.
February
On completion of post repair trials
worked up for operational minesweeping
service
March
Deployed in Home waters for minesweeping
duties.
April
Nominated for foreign service with 12
Minesweeping Flotilla.
Passage to Mediterranean as part of
escort for military convoy KMS14.
May
Joined Flotilla in Mediterranean and
deployed for minesweeping off North
African
coast to ensure safe passage for convoys
between Gibraltar and ports in Algeria
and Tunisia.
June
North African coastal duties in
continuation.
Nominated for minesweeping support of
planned landings in Sicily (Operation
HUSKY).
July
Preparation for Sicily landings
9th
Passage to Sicily with Assault Convoys
10th
Deployed with HMS HEBE and HAZARD for
mine sweeping in BARK WEST
beach head area prior to landings,
11th
Remained in landings area for convoy
escort and patrol until 16th
17th
Took passage to Malta on release from
HUSKY
August
Deployed in central Mediterranean for
minesweeping operations and convoy
escort.
to
December
(Note: This period included defence of
convoys to Adriatic.)
1 9 4 4
January
Central Mediterranean deployment in
continuation.
5th
Sustained structural damage after
collision with HM Auxiliary LAURANA.
(Note: This vessel was a captured
Italian prize used as a patrol vessel..)
Remained in operational use.
February
Transferred to 49th Escort Group and
deployed in Eastern Mediterranean for
to
April
convoy defence based at Alexandria
April
5th
Damaged by explosion of GNAT torpedo.
(Note: No details of this incident can
be traced. It is not recorded in any
record
of U-Boat attacks. To be investigated.)
May
10th
Taken in hand for repair in Haifa.
June
16th
On completion of repair and refit
resumed duties with Group.
July
Convoy defence with Group in
continuation.
Nominated for return to UK.
August
Joined military convoy MKS42 and took passage from
Alexandria to UK
as part of escort.
September
Detached from MKS42 on arrival in UK and joined
1st Minesweeping Squadron
for minesweeping operations in English
Channel.
(Note: Flotilla also comprised HM
Minesweepers HARRIER, HALCYON,
SPEEDWELL, GLEANER, HAZARD, JASON and
SEAGULL.
HMS BRITOMART and HMS HUSSAR had been
tragically lost
on 27th August when attacked by RAF
aircraft. See FRIEND OR
FOE by P Kemp.)
October
Deployed off Belgian and French coasts.
Nominated for repair and took passage to
Chatham.
Taken in hand by HM Dockyard, Chatham
for refit.
November
Under repair at Lowestoft
to
December
On completion resumed operational
service with Flotilla and deployed for
minesweeping and convoy defence in Nore
Command.
1 9 4 5
January
Deployed with Flotilla for minesweeping
in North Sea to ensure safe passage of
to
March
to ports in re-occupied Europe and North
Sea.
(Note: During this period extensive
minelaying was being carried out by
aircraft, submersibles and coastal
warships, mainly to disrupt military
convoys to French and Belgian ports.)
April
Nominated for post war deployment as a
Survey Vessel.
On release from operations to be
Paid-off and de-stored prior to
conversion.
S
u m m a r y o f
P o s t W
a r S e r v i c e
May
Released from Flotilla and Paid-off at
Chatham. De-stored
15th
Taken in hand for conversion to Survey
Vessel by HM Dockyard, Chatham.
June
Under conversion
to December
1 9 4 6
January
Under conversion
to February
March
Acceptance Trials and re-commissioned
Prepared for Survey duties
April
Work-up for survey deployment.
3rd
Involved in collision with mv FEALTIE in
Woolwich Reach. holed above
waterline and subsequently collided with
moored barge.
4th
Taken in hand for repair locally.
May
Resumed work-up in Home waters
June
Nominated for survey in Far East and took passage to Singapore.
July
Deployed for Hydrographic duties based
at Singapore on arrival.
to December
1 9 4 7
January
Far East survey in continuation.
to
September
October
13th
Sustained damage in collision with mv
CELEBES during survey work,
Taken in hand for repair.
November
Resumed survey work.
to December
1 9 4 8
January
On release from duty took passage from
Singapore to re-commission.
to March
April
Paid off and under refit prior to
resuming survey duties.
to May
June
Re-commissioned for service in Homed
Waters for Hydrographic deployment
to
July
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to A310.
August
Deployed for survey duties in Home
waters
to December
1 9 4
9 t
o 1 9 5 2
Home Waters survey duties in
continuation
(Note: Based at Lowestoft during this period for North Sea
surveys.)
Re-commissioned for further Home waters
deployment
1 9 5 3
January
Under repair by HM Dockyard, Chatham
to February
March
Home Waters survey duty in continuation
to
May
(Note: Carried out surveys of west coast
of UK)
June
To be renamed HMS SHACKLETON
Attendance at Coronation Review to be
confirmed.
July
Re-commissioned as HMS SHACKLETON in
continuation
of Home Waters deployment.
August
Home waters deployment in continuation
to December
1 9 5
4 t o
1 9 5 7
Deployed for surveying duties in western
Home waters coastal areas
1 9 5 8
January
West coast UK deployment in
continuation.
to
September
October
28th
Grounded during survey in Bristol
Channel.
November
Resumed survey work in Bristol Channel
after replacement of
to
December
ASDIC Dome
1 9 5 9
January
West coast UK survey work in
continuation.
to July
August
Diverted from survey work to carry out
search for an RAF VICTOR Bomber
aircraft which crashed in the Bristol
Channel.
(Note: 25 square miles of the area were
search and when the wreckage was
located the site was combed by 11
trawlers charted by the Government
in order to recover parts. Over 70% were
found and sent to the Royal
Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough
for examination.)
September
Resumed survey work in Irish Sea.
to December
1 9 6 0
Completion of survey in Irish Sea and Bristol Channel.
Nominated for refit prior to reduction
to Reserve Status.
(Note: New Survey Ships had been built
with latest electronic
equipment designed for Hydrographic
work.)
1 9 6 1
January
Under refit by HM Dockyard, Devonport,
To August
September
Carried out post refit trials prior to
reduction to Reserve.
to October
November
Completed de-storing and removal of
special equipment.
9th
Accepted into Reserve Fleet and laid-up
at Devonport.
F
i n a l P h a s e
HMS
SHACKLETON laid-up at
Devonport until placed on the Disposal
List in 1965. The ship was sold to BISCO
on 3rd November 1965 for breaking-up at
Troon by the West of Scotland
Shipbreaking Co. Ltd. On 20th
November that year she arrived in tow at
the breakers yard to terminate her 28
years of naval service as a minesweeper
during WW2 and as Survey Ship in
peace-time.
Addendum
Link
to
www.halcyon-class.co.uk
by
Bill Burn
