including Escort Destroyers
& ex-US Flushdeckers
LOSSES
BY YEAR and AREA
(in date order within each
year ctl - constructive total loss)
|
Year
|
Atlantic
|
Europe
|
Mediterranean
|
Far
East
|
|
1939
|
-
|
Blanche, Gipsy, Duchess
|
-
|
-
|
|
1940
|
Whirlwind, Margaree (RCN)
|
Grenville, Exmouth, Daring,
Glowworm, Gurkha, Hardy, Hunter, Afridi,
Valentine, Whitley, Wessex, Grafton, Grenade,
Wakeful, Keith, Basilisk, Havant, Acasta,
Ardent, Fraser (RCN), Imogen, Brazen,
Codrington, Wren, Delight, Esk, Ivanhoe,
Venetia, Sturdy, Cameron (ctl), Acheron (total
31)
|
Khartoum, Escort, Hostile,
Hyperion
|
-
|
|
1941
|
Mashona, Broadwater, Cossack,
Stanley
|
Exmoor
|
Gallant (ctl), Dainty, Mohawk,
Diamond, Wryneck, Jersey, Juno, Greyhound,
Kashmir, Kelly, Hereward, Imperial, Waterhen
(RAN), Defender, Fearless, Kandahar (16)
|
Thracian
|
|
1942
|
Matabele, Belmont, Punjabi, Wild
Swan, Ottawa (RCN), Somali, Veteran, Saguenay
(RCN), Firedrake, Achates (10)
|
Vimiera, Vortigern, Campbeltown,
Berkeley, Penylan (5)
|
Gurkha (2), Maori, Southwold,
Legion, Jaguar, Havock, Lance (ctl), Kingston,
Heythrop, Lively, Kipling, Jackal, Grove,
Bedouin, Airedale, Hasty, Nestor (RAN),
Foresight, Eridge (ctl), Sikh, Zulu, Broke,
Martin, Ithuriel (ctl), Quentin, Porcupine
(ctl), Blean, Partridge (28)
|
Thanet, Jupiter, Electra,
Encounter, Stronghold, Tenedos,
Vampire (RAN), Yoyager (RAN) (8)
|
|
1943
|
Harvester, Beverley, St Croix
(RCN), Hurricane
|
Limbourne
|
Lightning, Derwent (ctl),
Pakenham, Arrow (ctl), Intrepid, Panther,
Hurworth, Eclipse, Rockwood (ctl), Dulverton,
Holcombe, Tynedale (12)
|
-
|
|
1944
|
Hardy (2), Mahratta, Skeena (RCN)
|
Warwick, Athabaskan (RCN),
Wrestler (ctl), Boadicea, Fury (ctl), Swift,
Isis, Goathland (ctl), Quorn, Rockingham,
Wensleydale (ctl) (12)
|
Janus, Inglefield, Laforey,
Quail, Loyal (ctl), Aldenham
|
-
|
|
1945
|
-
|
Walpole (ctl)
|
-
|
Pathfinder (ctl)
|
WORLD WAR 1
CLASSES
46. 'R' and 'S' classes,
12 ships - 900 tons, 36 knots, 1-4in, 90 crew, 1918-24,
5 lost:
STRONGHOLD
(Lt
Cdr G R Pretor-Pinney+), 2nd March 1942, Indian Ocean,
south of Java - by gunfire of Japanese 8in cruiser
'Maya' and destroyers. Sailing from Java to Australia;
70 crew lost, 51 taken prisoner, 5 died in captivity
(Japanese Invasion of Java)
STURDY
(Lt Cdr G T Cooper), 30th October 1940, Western
Europe, west coast of Scotland, on Tiree Island
(c56.30N, 07.00W) - ran aground in fog and wrecked.
Local Western Approaches with Halifax/UK convoy SC.8;
five crew lost (Battle of the Atlantic)
TENEDOS
(Lt Cdr R Dyer), 5th April 1942, Indian Ocean, Colombo
harbour, Ceylon - by Japanese carrier bombers.
‘Tenedos’ was in harbour; 17 crew lost including two
Chinese stewards (Japanese Carrier Attacks on Ceylon)
THANET
(Lt
Cdr B S Davies), 27th January 1942, South East Asia
off Endau, south east Malaya in South China Sea - by
gunfire of Japanese 5.5in cruiser 'Sendai' and
destroyers. ‘Thanet’ and Australian destroyer
'Vampire' were attacking Japanese troop transports; 37
of ‘Thanet’s’ crew were lost in the sinking, some
survivors escaped, others became POWs (Japanese
Invasion of Malaya)
THRACIAN
(Cdr
A L Pears), 17th December 1941, Far East at Hong Kong
- ran aground, dry-docked but damaged by Japanese
bombing, later beached. ‘Thracian’ was in action
during the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong. She was
alvaged and served in Japanese Navy (Japanese Invasion
of Hong Kong)
Surviving
ships -
SABRE,
SALADIN,
SARDONYX,
SCIMITAR,
SCOUT,
SHIKARI,
SKATE
HMS Shikari pre-war
47. 'V' and 'W' classes,
58 ships - 1,100 tons, 34 knots, 2 to 4-4in, 125 crew,
1917-24. Many converted to escorts, 16 lost, 2 not
repaired:
VALENTINE
(Cdr
H J Buchanan RAN), 15th May 1940, Western Europe off
Terneuzen, Holland in the Scheldt Estuary - damaged by
German Ju.88 bombers and beached. Protecting Scheldt
ferry; 31 crew lost (German invasion of Holland and
Belgium)
VAMPIRE
(RAN)
(Cdr W T Moran RAN), 9th April 1942, Indian Ocean off
south east coast of Ceylon (07.35N, 82.05E) - by
Japanese carrier divebombers. Returning to Trincomalee
with carrier 'Hermes', also sunk; eight crew lost
(Japanese Carrier Attacks on Ceylon)
VENETIA
(Lt
Cdr D L C Craig+), 19th October 1940, Western Europe
15 miles off North Foreland in Thames Estuary, south
east England (51.33N, 01.10E) - by German mine. On
patrol with destroyers 'Garth' and 'Walpole'; 35 crew
lost (Defence of British Waters)
VETERAN,
26th September 1942, Mid Atlantic, far west of Ireland
(54.34N, 25.44W) – torpedoed by German ‘U.404’
(Bülow). Escorting convoy RB.1 of Great Lakes steamers
from Newfoundland to UK; all 160 crew lost (Battle of
the Atlantic)
VIMIERA
(Lt
Cdr A A Mackenzie RNR), 9th January 1942, Western
Europe in Thames Estuary, SE England (c51.30N, 01.00E)
- by German mine. Escorting southbound East Coast
convoy; 92 crew lost (British Coastal Convoys)
VORTIGERN
(Lt
Cdr R S Howlett+), 15th March 1942, Western Europe,
off Cromer, East Coast of England in North Sea
(c53.00N, 01.15E) – torpedoed by German E-boat
‘S.104’. Escorting Firth of Forth/Thames coastal
convoy FS.749; 146 crew lost (British Coastal Convoys)
VOYAGER
(RAN), 23rd September 1942, East Indies, south coast
of Timor (09.11S, 125.43E) - ran aground, attacked by
Japanese aircraft and destroyed by own forces. Landing
reinforcements for Dutch and Australian 'Sparrow'
guerrilla force on Timor; no crew lost, all rescued by
minesweepers ‘Warrnambool’ and ‘Kalgoorlie’ (In
Support of Land Forces)
WAKEFUL
(Cdr R L Fisher), 29th May 1940, Western Europe off
Nieuport, Belgium (51.20N, 02.45E) – torpedoed by
German E-boat ‘S.30’. Evacuating approximately 650
troops from Dunkirk to Dover during Operation
'Dynamo'; 98 crew and all but one of the soldiers
lost, 25 crew and the one soldier rescued (Dunkirk
Evacuation)
WALPOLE
(Lt
Cdr G C Crawley), damaged 6th January 1945, Western
Europe off the Scheldt Estuary, Holland (51.33N,
03.06E) - by German mine. Escorting cross-Channel
convoy; two crew lost. Not repaired (Defence of
British Waters)
WARWICK
(Cdr
D A Rayner), 20th February 1944, Western Europe off
Trevose Head, north Cornwall, south west England
(50.27N, 05.23W) – torpedoed by German ‘U.413’ (Poel).
On patrol in support of coastal convoys; 66 crew lost,
93 saved (British Coastal Convoys)
WATERHEN
(RAN), 30th June 1941, Eastern Mediterranean off
Bardia, east Libya (32.15N, 25.20E) - by German
divebombers on the 29th June. With Inshore Squadron
carrying supplies on the 'Tobruk Run' to the besieged
town. Damaged evening of the 29th, capsized early on
the 30th; there were no casualties (North African
Campaign).
WESSEX
(Lt Cdr W A R Cartwright), 24th May 1940, Western
Europe off Calais, northern France in English Channel
- by German bombers. Supporting British land forces in
the defence of Calais; 6 crew lost (German invasion of
France).
WHIRLWIND
(Lt Cdr J M Rodgers), 5th July 1940, North Atlantic
120 miles west of Lands End, south west England
(50.17N, 08.48W) – torpedoed by German ‘U.34’
(Rollmann). Detached from UK outward OB convoy to
search for reported U-boat with destroyer 'Westcott';
57 crew lost (Battle of the Atlantic)
WHITLEY
(Lt
Cdr G N Rolfe), 19th May 1940, Western Europe, between
Nieuport and Ostend, Belgium - damaged by German
bombers and beached. Supporting Allied land forces
including blocking ports and lifting off refugees; 4
crew lost (German invasion of Holland and Belgium).
WILD SWAN
(Lt
Cdr C E L Sclater), 17th June 1942, North Atlantic off
south west Ireland (49.52N, 10.44W) - by German Ju.88
bombers. With support group for Gibraltar/UK convoy
HG.84; 31 crew lost (Battle of the Atlantic)
WREN
(Cdr
F W G Harker+), 27th July 1940, Western Europe, 10
miles of Aldeburgh, eastern England in North Sea
(52.10N, 02.06E) - by German bombers. With destroyer
'Montrose' providing AA defence for minesweeping
trawlers; 35 crew lost (Defence of British Waters)
WRESTLER
(Lt
Cdr R W Lacon), damaged 6th June 1944, Western Europe
off Normandy beaches, northern France in English
Channel (49.36N, 00.27W) - by German mine. Escorting
convoy to British sector as part of operation Neptune;
2 crew lost. Not repaired (Normandy Invasion)
WRYNECK
(Lt
Cdr R H D Lane+), 27th April 1941, Eastern
Mediterranean, east of Cape Malea, south east Greece
(c36.30N, 23.30E) - by German bombers. Evacuating
British & Dominion troops from Greece with
destroyer 'Diamond', also sunk; 114 of ‘Wryneck’s’
crew were lost, 42 saved (Evacuation of Greece)
Surviving
ships -
VALOROUS,
VANESSA,
VANITY,
VANOC,
VANQUISHER,
VANSITTART,
VEGA,
VELOX,
VENDETTA
(RAN),
VENOMOUS,
VERDUN,
VERITY,
VERSATILE,
VESPER,
VICEROY,
VIDETTE,
VIMY,
VISCOUNT,
VIVACIOUS,
VIVIEN,
VOLUNTEER,
WALKER,
WANDERER,
WATCHMAN,
WESTCOTT,
WESTMINSTER,
WHITEHALL,
WHITSHED,
WINCHELSEA,
WINCHESTER,
WINDSOR,
WISHART,
WITCH,
WITHERINGTON,
WIVERN,
WOLFHOUND,
WOLSEY,
WOLVERINE,
WOOLSTON,
WORCESTER
HMS
Westcott
48. Shakespeare class,
3 ships - 1,480 tons, 36 knots, 2-4.7in, 160 crew,
1919-22, 1 lost:
BROKE
(Lt
Cdr A F C Layard), foundered 9th November 1942,
Western Mediterranean off Algiers, Algeria - hit by
French shore batteries on the 8th November in 36.50N,
03.00E. With destroyer 'Malcolm', under command of
Capt H St J Fancourt in ‘Broke’, landing troops at
Algiers during Operation 'Torch', the Allied invasion
of French North Africa. Sank in tow of escort
destroyer ‘Zetland’; 9 crew lost (French North African
Campaign)
Surviving
ships -
KEPPEL,
WALLACE
HMS
Shakespeare - broken up 1936
49. Scott class,
7 ships - 1,530 tons, 36 knots, 2 to 5 -4.7in, 160 crew,
1918-19
Surviving
ships -
CAMPBELL,
DOUGLAS,
MACKAY,
MALCOLM,
MONTROSE,
STUART
(RAN). Also BRUCE, disarmed and expended in 1939
HMS Douglas
FLEET
DESTROYERS AFTER 1918
50.
Amazon &
Ambuscade,
2 prototypes, both survived - 1,350 and 1,170 tons, 37
knots, 4-4.7in/6tt, 140 crew, 1926
51. 'A' and 'B' classes,
20 ships including leaders - 1,350 tons, 35 knots,
4-4.7in/8tt, 140 crew, 1930-31, 11 lost and 2 not
repaired:
CODRINGTON
('A' leader) (Capt G F Stevens-Guille), 27th July
1940, Western Europe at Dover, SE England - by German
bombers. In harbour refitting and boiler cleaning
after evacuating Allied forces from Dunkirk and Le
Havre, run aground with broken back but beyond
salvage. No lives lost (Dunkirk Evacuation)
ACASTA
(Cdr
C E Glasfurd+) and
ARDENT
(Lt Cdr J E Barker+), both 8th June 1940, Western
Europe, west of Lofoten Islands in Norwegian Sea
(68.45N, 04.30E) - by gunfire of 11in German
battlecruisers 'Scharnhorst' and 'Gneisenau'.
Escorting carrier 'Glorious'
from northern Norway at end of Allied evacuation.
'Glorious' also sunk and 'Scharnhorst' damaged by
torpedo from 'Acasta', which lost 161 crew with one
survivor. ‘Ardent’ lost 151 with two survivors, one of
whom died in captivity (Norwegian Campaign)
ACHATES
(Lt Cdr A H T Johns+), 31st December 1942, Arctic
Ocean, north east of North Cape in Barents Sea
(73.18N, 30.06E) - by 8in gunfire of German cruiser
'Admiral Hipper'. Escorting UK/Russian convoy JW.51B;
113 crew lost, 81 saved (Battle of the Barents Sea -
Russian Convoys)
ACHERON
(Lt
J R Wilson+), 17th December 1940, Western Europe, off
Isle of Wight, southern England in English Channel
(50.31N, 01.31W) - by German mine. Running trials
after refit and repairs to bomb damage; 153 crew and
22 dockyard workers lost. Just 13 crew and 3 dockyard
workers were saved
ARROW
(Lt
Cdr W W Fitzroy), damaged 4th August 1943, Western
Mediterranean, off Algiers Harbour, Algeria - by
explosion of SS 'Fort Le Montée' and resulting fire.
'Arrow' alongside at time to assist with firefighting;
36 crew lost. Partially repaired for limited duties
(French North African Campaign)
SAGUENAY
(RCN) (Lt Cdr D C Wallace RCNR), damaged 15th November
1942, North Atlantic, 12 miles off Cape Race, SE
Newfoundland - collision with SS 'Azara'. Escorting
iron ore convoy WB.13, Wabans to Sydney, Cape Breton
Island, lost her stern when depth charges exploded;
one crew lost. Not repaired (Battle of the Atlantic)
SKEENA
11US-HMS_
(Lt Cdr P F X Russell RCN), 25th October 1944, North
Atlantic at Reykjavik, Iceland - driven ashore in
heavy gale and wrecked. With Canadian 11th Escort
Group operating in the Iceland/Shetland passage
against U-boats; 15 crew lost, 123 saved (Battle of
the Atlantic)
KEITH
('B'
leader) (Capt E L Berthon) and
BASILISK
(Cdr M Richardson), both 1st June 1940, Western
Europe off Dunkirk, northern France in English Channel
- by German Ju.87 divebombers. Evacuating Allied
forces from Dunkirk during Operation 'Dynamo'. ‘Keith’
lost 36 crew in the sinking with 130 saved, ‘Basilisk’
lost nine (Dunkirk Evacuation)
BLANCHE
(Lt
Cdr R M Aubrey), 13th November 1939, Western Europe in
Thames Estuary, SE England - by German destroyer-laid
mines. Escorting minelayer 'Adventure' (also mined)
from Grimsby to Portsmouth. Mined one mile 80° from NE
Spit Buoy, sank two hours later; two crew lost.
BOADICEA
(Lt
Cdr F W Hawkins), 13th June 1944, Western Europe off
Portland Bill, southern England in English Channel
(50.26N, 02.34W) – torpedoed by German Ju.88 torpedo
bombers. Escorting follow-up convoy to Normandy
beachhead; 175 crew lost, 12 saved (Normandy Invasion)
BRAZEN
(Lt
Cdr Sir Michael Culme-Seymour), 20th July 1940,
Western Europe off Dover, SE England in English
Channel - by German bombers. Escorting English Channel
convoy CW.7, Thames to Isle of Wight, sank in tow next
day; one rating lost (British Coastal Convoys)
Surviving
ships -
ACTIVE,
ANTELOPE,
ANTHONY,
BEAGLE,
BOREAS
(Greek 'Salamis' from 1944)
BRILLIANT,
BULLDOG
HMS Beagle
52. 'C' and 'D' classes,
14 ships including leaders - 1,370 tons, 36 knots,
4-4.7in/8tt, 145 crew, 1932-33, 9 lost:
FRASER
(RCN, ex-'Crescent) (Cdr W B Creery RCN), 25th June
1940, Western Europe, off Gironde Estuary, western
France (45.44N, 01.31W) - by collision with British
cruiser 'Calcutta'.
Returning with 'Calcutta' from supporting Allied
evacuation of south west France, operation 'Aerial';
59 crew lost (German Invasion of France)
OTTAWA
(RCN,
ex-'Crusader') (Lt Cdr C A Rutherford RCN), 14th
September 1942, North Atlantic, east of Newfoundland
(47.55N, 43.27W) – torpedoed by German ‘U.91’
(Walkerling). With Canadian C4 Group supporting
UK/North American convoy ON.127; 116 crew lost, 76
saved (Battle of the Atlantic)
DAINTY
(Cdr
M S Thomas), 24th February 1941, Eastern
Mediterranean, off Tobruk, eastern Libya - by German
Ju.87 divebombers. With 'Inshore Squadron' escorting
supplies on 'Tobruk Run', leaving Tobruk with
destroyer ‘Hasty’; 15 crew lost, 140 survivors but one
died of wounds (North African Campaign)
DARING
(Cdr
S A Cooper+), 18th February 1940, Western Europe, off
Pentland Firth, northern Scotland (58.40N, 01.35W) –
torpedoed by German ‘U.23’ (Kretschmer). Escorting
Norway/UK convoy HN.12; 154 crew lost, 5 survivors
(Defence of Trade)
DEFENDER,
11th July 1941, Eastern Mediterranean, off Sidi
Barrani, Egypt (c31.45N, 25.30E) - by German or
Italian bombers. With 'Inshore Squadron' carrying
supplies on 'Tobruk Run', bombed at 31.45N, 25.51E,
sank in tow seven miles N of Sidi Barrani; there was
no loss of life (North African Campaign)
DELIGHT
(Cdr
M Fogg-Elliot), 29th July 1940, Western Europe, 20
miles south of Portland Bill, southern England in
English Channel - by German bombers. Escorting English
Channel convoy; 18 crew lost (British Coastal Convoys)
DIAMOND
(Lt Cdr P A Cartwright+), 27th April 1941, Eastern
Mediterranean, east of Cape Malea, SE Greece (c36.30N,
23.30E) - by German bombers. Evacuating British and
Dominion troops from Greece with destroyer 'Wryneck',
also sunk. ‘Diamond’s’ entire crew was lost – 149 men
(Evacuation of Greece)
DUCHESS
(Lt
Cdr R C M White+), 12th December 1939, Western Europe,
9 miles W of Mull of Kintyre in North Channel between
Scotland and Northern Ireland - in collision with
British battleship 'Barham'.
Escorting 'Barham' from Gibraltar to join Home Fleet
in the Clyde; 130 crew lost, 23 survivors (Home Fleet
Operations)
MARGAREE
(RCN, ex-'Diana') (Cdr J W R Roy RCN+), 22nd October
1940, North Atlantic, west of Ireland (53.24N, 22.50W)
- by collision with SS 'Port Fairy' (8,337grt).
Escorting Liverpool-out convoy OL.8; 144 crew lost, 32
were saved (Battle of the Atlantic)
Surviving
ships -
ASSINIBOINE
(RCN leader, ex-'Kempenfelt'),
RESTIGOUCHE
(RCN, ex-'Comet'),
ST LAURENT
(RCN, ex-'Cygnet'),
DUNCAN
(leader),
DECOY
(RCN
KOOTENAY
from 1943)
HMS Daring
53. 'E' and 'F' classes,
18 ships including leaders - 1,370 tons, 36 knots,
4-4.7in/8tt, 145 crew, 1934-35, 9 lost and 1 not
repaired:
EXMOUTH
(leader) (Capt R S Benson+), 21st January 1940,
Western Europe, SE of Wick, NE Scotland in North Sea
(c58.15N, 02.30W) - torpedoed by German ‘U.22’
(Jenisch). Hunting for reported U-boat in the Moray
Firth; lost with all hands – 189 men (Defence of
British Waters)
ECLIPSE
(Cdr
E Mack), 24th October 1943, Eastern Mediterranean,
north of Kos Island in the Dodecanese (37.01N, 27.11E)
- by mines laid by German minelayer 'Drache'
(ex-Yugoslavian). Carrying troops to Leros; 118 crew
including Cdre Todd, Levant Destroyer Flotilla and 142
troops lost (British Aegean Campaign)
ELECTRA
(Cdr
C W May+), 27th February 1942, East Indies, NW of
Surabaya, Java in the Java Sea (c06.30S, 112.00E) - by
gunfire of Japanese cruiser force and destroyers. With
Allied cruiser force in action; 108 crew lost, five
taken prisoner, 45 rescued by US submarine ‘S.38’
(Battles of the Java Sea - Japanese Invasion of Java)
ENCOUNTER
(Lt
Cdr E V St J Morgan), 1st March 1942, East Indies, NW
of Surabaya in Java Sea (c04.30S, 111.00E) - by
Japanese 8in cruisers ‘Myoko’, ‘Ashigara’ and
destroyers. Sailing from Surabaya with British cruiser
'Exeter'
for the Sunda Strait after the main Java Sea action;
seven crew lost, 151 captured, of whom 38 died as POWs
(Battles of the Java Sea - Japanese Invasion of Java)
ESCORT
(Lt
Cdr J Bostock), 11th July 1940, Western Mediterranean,
east of Gibraltar (36.11N, 03.37W) – torpedoed by
Italian submarine 'Marconi' (Chialamberto). Returning
to Gibraltar with Force H at the time of the 'Action
off Calabria', torpedoed in 36.20N, 03.46W, foundered
in tow later that day; two ratings lost (Mediterranean
Operations)
ESK
(Lt
Cdr R J H Couch+), 1st September 1940, Western Europe,
off Frisian Islands, Holland in North Sea (c53.30N,
03.45E) - German mines late on the 31st/early on the
1st. Minelaying mission off Dutch coast during threat
of German invasion of Britain. Destroyers 'Express'
damaged and 'Ivanhoe' sunk. ‘Esk’ lost 135 crew; there
were only two survivors (Battle of Britain)
FEARLESS
(Cdr
A F Pugsley), 23rd July 1941, Western Mediterranean,
50 miles NNE of Bone, Algeria (37.40N, 08.20E) –
torpedoed by Italian torpedo aircraft. With
Gibraltar-based Force H covering Gibraltar/Malta
convoy 'Substance'; 27 crew lost (Malta Convoys)
FIREDRAKE
(Cdr
E H Tilden+), night of 16th/17th December 1942, Mid
North Atlantic (50.50N, 25.15W) – torpedoed by German
‘U.211’ (Hause). Escorting UK/North America convoy
ON.153; 170 crew lost, 26 saved by corvette
‘Sunflower’ (Battle of the Atlantic)
FORESIGHT
(Lt
Cdr R A Fell), scuttled 13th August 1942, Western
Mediterranean, NE of Bone, Algeria off Galita Island
(37.40N, 10.00E) - torpedoed on 12th by Italian
torpedo aircraft. Close escort Gibraltar/Malta convoy
'Pedestal'; five crew lost, 140 saved (Malta Convoys)
FURY
(Cdr
C H Campbell), damaged 21st June 1944, Western Europe,
Sword Beach area, Normandy beaches, northern France -
by German mine and driven ashore in gale. Convoy
escort to Normandy beachhead during Allied invasion;
no loss of life. Not repaired (Normandy Invasion)
Surviving
ships -
ECHO
(Greek ‘Navarinon' from 1944),
ESCAPADE,
EXPRESS
(RCN
GATINEAU
from 1943),
FAME,
FAULKNOR
(leader),
FORESTER,
FORTUNE
(RCN
SASKATCHEWAN
from 1943),
FOXHOUND
(RCN
QU’APPELLE
from 1944)
54. 'G' and 'H' classes,
18 ships including leaders - 1,330 tons, 36 knots,
4-4.7in/8tt, 145 crew, 1936-37, 14 lost:
GRENVILLE
(leader) (Capt G E Creasy), 19th January 1940, Western
Europe, off Kentish Knock, Thames Estuary, SE England
(51.39N, 02.17E) - by German destroyer-laid mines.
Returning to Harwich from contraband control
operations off Dutch coast; 76 crew lost (Contraband
Control)
GALLANT
(Lt
Cdr C P F Brown), damaged 10th January 1941, Central
Mediterranean, 25 miles SE of Pantelleria island
(36.27N, 12.11E) - by Italian mines laid by cruiser
force in August 1940. With Mediterranean Fleet
covering Gibraltar/Malta convoy 'Excess'. Towed to
Malta and finally wrecked by bombing on 5th April
1942. The mining killed 58 crew (Malta Convoys)
GIPSY
(Cdr
N J Crossley+), 21st November 1939, Western Europe off
Harwich, east coast of England in North Sea - by
German destroyer-laid mines. Leaving Harwich with a
destroyer force. She was beached in shallow water with
only her hull submerged, and according to one source
salvaged, but not re-commissioned; 31 crew lost. Some
sources record her loss as due to mines laid by ‘U.19’
(Defence of British Waters)
GLOWWORM
(Lt Cdr G B Roope+, awarded VC), 8th April 1940,
Western Europe, NW of Trondheim in Norwegian Sea
(64.13N, 06.28E) - by German 8in-gunned heavy cruiser
'Admiral Hipper'. Detached from screen for British
minelaying operations to search for man overboard at
time of German invasion of Norway. 'Hipper' damaged
when rammed by 'Glowworm'; 118 crew lost, 38 taken
prisoner of whom six died in captivity (Norwegian
Campaign)
GRAFTON
(Cdr
G E C Robinson+), 29th May 1940, Western Europe, off
Nieuport, Belgium in southern North Sea (51.22N,
02.45E) – torpedoed by German ‘U.62’ (Michalowski).
Rescuing survivors from destroyer 'Wakeful', scuttled
by ‘Intrepid’s’ gunfire; 16 crew lost (Dunkirk
Evacuation)
GRENADE
(Cdr
R C Boyle), 29th May 1940, Western Europe in Dunkirk
Harbour, northern France - by German bombers.
Evacuating Allied forces from Dunkirk, alongside the
Mole; 18 crew lost (Dunkirk Evacuation)
GREYHOUND
(Cdr
W R Marshall A’Deane, lost after rescue), 22nd May
1941, Eastern Mediterranean, NW of Crete (c36.00N,
23.15E) - by German Ju.87 divebombers. In action with
Mediterranean Fleet against German sea-borne invasion
of Crete; 76 crew lost in sinking, at least three
killed in the water before rescue (Battle for Crete)
HARDY
(leader) (Capt B A W Warburton-Lee+, awarded
posthumous VC) and
HUNTER
(Lt Cdr L de Villers+), both 10th April 1940,
Western Europe, off Narvik, northern Norway in
Ofotfiord - by German destroyer gunfire and torpedoes.
Attacking troop transports and destroyers during the
German invasion of Norway. ‘Hardy’ lost 19 crew killed
in action including the CO and ‘Hunter’ lost 103
(First Battle of Narvik - Norwegian Campaign).
HASTY
(Lt
Cdr N H Austen), 15th June 1942, Eastern
Mediterranean, SW of Crete (34.10N, 22.00E) –
torpedoed by German E-boat S.55. Cover force for
Alexandria/Malta convoy 'Vigorous' (Malta Convoys)
HAVOCK
(Lt
Cdr R Watkins), 6th April 1942, Central Mediterranean,
near Cape Bon, Tunisia, off Kelibia in Strait of
Sicily (36.48N, 11.08E) - ran aground, finished off by
torpedo from Italian submarine 'Aradam' (Gran). On
passage from Malta to Gibraltar after being damaged in
the Second Battle of Sirte; one crew lost, crew and
passengers interned by Vichy French (Malta Convoys)
HEREWARD
(Lt
Cdr W J Munn), 29th May 1941, Eastern Mediterranean,
off eastern Crete in Kaso Strait - by German
divebombers. With Mediterranean Fleet evacuating
British and Dominion from Crete; 75 crew lost, 91
taken prisoner, of whom two died in captivity
(Battle for Crete)
HOSTILE
(Lt
Cdr A F Burnell-Nugent), 23rd August 1940, Central
Mediterranean, 18 miles SE of Cape Bon, Tunisia in
Strait of Sicily (36.53N, 11.19E) - by Italian
destroyer-laid mines. On passage from Malta to
Gibraltar, damaged and scuttle by ‘Hero’; four crew
and Cdr A P Gibson on passage lost (Mediterranean
Operations)
HYPERION
(Cdr
H St L Nicolson), 22nd December 1940, Central
Mediterranean, 24 miles east of Cape Bon in Strait of
Sicily (c37.00N, 11.30E) - by Italian destroyer-laid
mine. Escorting battleship 'Malaya' on passage through
from Alexandria to Gibraltar. Damaged by mine, taken
in tow, scuttled by ‘Jason’; two rating lost
(Mediterranean Operations)
Surviving
ships -
GARLAND
(Polish from 1940),
GRIFFIN (RCN OTTAWA (2) from 1943),
HERO
(RCN CHAUDIERE from 1943),
HOTSPUR
HMCS
Chaudiere
55. 'I' class,
9 ships including leader - 1,370 tons, 36 knots,
4-4.7in/10tt, 145 crew, 1937-38, 6 lost:
INGLEFIELD
(leader) (Cdr C F H Churchill), 25th February 1944,
Central Mediterranean, off Anzio beachhead, western
Italy (41.26N, 12.36E) - by German aircraft-launched,
Hs.293 glider bomb. With cover force; 35 crew lost,
157 saved (Battle for Anzio - Italian Campaign).
IMOGEN
(Cdr
C L Firth), 16th July 1940, Western Europe, off
Pentland Firth, north Scotland (58.34N, 02.54W) - in
collision with British light cruiser 'Glasgow'.
On passage to Scapa Flow, Orkney Islands with
'Glasgow' in heavy fog; 18 crew lost, 132 saved (Home
Fleet Operations)
IMPERIAL
(Lt
Cdr C A De W Kitcat), scuttled 29th May 1941, Eastern
Mediterranean, off north coast of Crete (35.23N,
25.38E) – damaged by German bombers on 28th. With
Mediterranean fleet evacuating British forces from
Crete, lifted off troops, steering gear failed and
scuttled by ‘Hotspur’; no crew lost. (Battle for
Crete)
INTREPID
(Cdr
C A de W Kitcat), capsized 27th September 1943,
Eastern Mediterranean, Leros Island in the Aegean Sea
- by German Ju.88 bombers on 26th. In harbour after
anti-shipping sweep; 15 crew lost, CO wounded (British
Aegean campaign)
ISIS
(Lt
H D Durrell), 20th July 1944, Western Europe, off
Normandy beaches, northern France - by German mine or
possibly 'Neger' human torpedo. On anti-submarine
patrol off the Western Sector; 154 crew lost, 20 saved
(Normandy Invasion)
IVANHOE
(Cdr
P H Hadow), 1st September 1940, Western Europe, off
Frisian Islands, Holland in North Sea (c53.30N,
03.30E) - by German mines on 31st August. Minelaying
mission off Dutch coast during the threatened German
invasion of Britain. Damaged and finished off by
torpedo from ‘Kelvin’; eight crew lost. 'Express' also
damaged and 'Esk' sunk (Battle of Britain)
Surviving
ships -
ICARUS,
ILEX,
IMPULSIVE
56. Brazilian and Turkish ships
building in Britain, 8 ships - 1,370 tons, 35 knots,
3/4-4.7in/8tt, 145 crew, 1940-41, 3 lost and 1 not
repaired:
HARVESTER
(Cdr
A A Tait+), 11th March 1943, mid-North Atlantic
(51.23N, 28.40W) – torpedoed by German U.432
(Eckhardt). With British B3 Group escorting Halifax/UK
convoy HX.228; 145 crew lost, the few survivors
rescued by French corvette ‘Aconit’ (Battle of the
Atlantic)
HAVANT
(Lt
Cdr A F Burnell-Nugent), 1st June 1940, Western
Europe, off Dunkirk, northern France in English
Channel - by German bombers. Evacuating Allied forces.
Badly damaged, taken in tow, sank 5 miles from West
Buoy; eight crew lost (Dunkirk Evacuation)
HURRICANE
(Cdr
C E E Paterson), scuttled 25th December 1943, North
Atlantic, NE of Azores (45.10N, 22.05W) - by Gnat
torpedo from German ‘U.415’ (Neide). With 1st Escort
Group supporting UK/African convoys OS.62 and KMS.36,
and also US escort carrier 'Card' task force; five
crew lost (Battle of the Atlantic)
ITHURIEL
(Lt
Cdr D H Maitland-Makgill-Crichton), damaged 28th
November 1942, Western Mediterranean, at Bone, Algeria
– near-missed by German bombers. In harbour as part of
Force H cover force for Allied invasion of French
North Africa; no crew killed. Not repaired (French
North African Campaign)
Surviving
ships -
HAVELOCK,
HESPERUS,
HIGHLANDER,
INCONSTANT
57. Tribal classes,
16 ships - 1,870 tons, 36 knots, 8-4.7in/4tt, 190 crew,
1938/39, 12 lost:
AFRIDI
(Capt
P L Vian), 3rd May 1940, Western Europe, NW of Namsos,
Norway in Norwegian Sea (66.14N, 05.45E) - by German
Ju.87 divebombers. Withdrawing after Allied evacuation
of Namsos; 52 crew and around 50 rescued troops and
survivors from French destroyer 'Bison' were lost
(Norwegian Campaign)
BEDOUIN
(Cdr B G Scurfield), 15th June 1942, Central
Mediterranean, off Pantelleria island in Strait of
Sicily (36.12N, 11.38E) - by 6in-gunfire of Italian
cruiser 'di Savoia' and torpedo aircraft. Close
escort, Gibraltar/Malta convoy 'Harpoon'; 28 crew
lost, 213 taken prisoner (Malta Convoys)
COSSACK
(Capt
E L Berthon+), foundered 27th October 1941, North
Atlantic, west of Strait of Gibraltar (c35.15N,
08.15W) – torpedoed by German U.563 (Bargsten) in
35.56N, 10.04W late on 23rd. Escorting Gibraltar/UK
convoy HG.75, taken in tow but sank; 159 crew lost
(Battle of the Atlantic)
GURKHA
(Cdr
A W Buzzard), 9th April 1940, Western Europe, 100
miles SW of Bergen, Norway in North Sea - by German
Ju.88 and He.111 bombers. Withdrawing with cruiser
force from planned attack on Bergen during German
invasion of Norway; 15 crew lost (Norwegian Campaign)
MAORI
(Cdr R E Courage), 12th February 1942, Central
Mediterranean, Malta Grand Harbour - by one bomb from
German bombers. In harbour as part of Malta-based
destroyer strike force. Many of the crew ashore in
shelters, sank at moorings with 2 man killed (North
African Campaign)
MASHONA
(Cdr
W H Selby), 28th May 1941, North Atlantic, off Galway,
western Ireland (c53.00N, 12.00W) - by German Ju.88
bombers. Returning from successful hunt for German
battleship 'Bismarck'; 36 crew lost in the attack
(Battle of the Atlantic)
MATABELE
(Cdr
A C Stanford+), 17th January 1942, Arctic Ocean, off
Murmansk, Russia in Barents Sea (69.21N, 35.34E) –
torpedoed by German ‘U.454’ (Hackländer). Escort,
Iceland/Russian convoy PQ.8; 233 crew lost in the
sinking, three survivors picked up but all died
(Russian Convoys)
MOHAWK
(Cdr
John Eaton), 16th April 1941, Central Mediterranean,
off Kerkennah Island, eastern Tunisia – torpedoed by
Italian destroyer 'Tarigo'. With three other
destroyers in attack on five ship Italian convoy. All
five ships and three escorts, including 'Tarigo' sunk.
Finally scuttled by gunfire from ‘Janus’; 41 crew
lost, 161 survivors (Action off Sfax - North African
Campaign).
PUNJABI
(Cdr
J M G Waldegrave), 1st May 1942, North Atlantic, east
of Iceland (66N, 8W) - in collision with battleship
'King George V'. Escort to 'King George V' as cover
force for Iceland/Russian convoy PQ.15; 50 crew lost,
206 saved (Russian Convoys)
SIKH
(Capt
St J A Micklethwaite), 14th September 1942, Eastern
Mediterranean, off Tobruk, eastern Libya (32.65N,
24.00E) - by German shore batteries. Landing Royal
Marines for British combined operations raid on
Tobruk; 21 crew lost, 5 died as POW’s (North African
Campaign)
SOMALI
(Lt
Cdr C D Maud), foundered 24th September 1942, North
Atlantic, north of Iceland (69.11N, 15.32W) –
torpedoed by German ‘U.703’ (Bielfeld) in the
Greenland Sea in 75.40N, 02.00W on the 20th. Close
escort, Russia/UK convoy QP.14. Being towed by
'Ashanti', went down in bad weather; 82 crew lost
(Russian Convoys)
ZULU
(Cdr
R T White), 14th September 1942, Eastern
Mediterranean, NW of Alexandria, Egypt (32.00N,
28.56E) - by Italian/German force of Ju.87 and Ju.88
bombers. Returning to Alexandria after combined
operations raid on Tobruk (see 'Sikh' above); 39 crew
lost, survivors rescued by escort destroyers ‘Croome’
and ‘Hursley’. Cruiser 'Coventry'
also lost (North African Campaign)
Surviving
ships -
ASHANTI,
ESKIMO,
NUBIAN,
TARTAR
HMS Tartar
Second
Group,
7 ships completed by war's end - 1,930 tons, 36 knots,
6-4.7in/4tt, 250 crew, 1942-45, 1 lost:
ATHABASKAN
(RCN)
(Lt Cdr J H Stubbs RCN), 29th April 1944, Western
Europe, off north coast of Brittany, France in English
Channel, 10 miles north of Ile de Vierge (49.48N,
04.32W) – torpedoed by German torpedo boat ‘T.24’.
Covering minelaying operation of Brittany with
Canadian destroyer 'Haida'; 129 crew lost, 44 rescued
by ‘Haida’, 84 taken prisoner with one rating dying of
wounds. German ‘T.27’ driven ashore by 'Haida' in the
action (English Channel Operations)
Surviving
ships -
ARUNTA,
BATAAN,
WARRAMUNGA
(all RAN),
HAIDA
(preserved),
HURON,
IROQUOIS
(all RCN)
HMAS Arunta
58. 'J' and 'K' classes,
16 ships - 1,690 tons, 36 knots, 6-4.7in/10tt, 185 crew,
1939, 12 lost:
JACKAL
(Cdr
R Mc P Jonas), scuttled 12th May 1942, Eastern
Mediterranean, north of Sidi Barrani, Egypt (32.23N,
26.25E) - by German Ju.88 bombers on 11th. Returning
to Alexandria from planned hunt for Axis convoy to
Benghazi; nine crew lost. 'Kipling' (below) and
'Lively' also lost. Only 'Jervis' escaped with 630
survivors from the three destroyers (North African
Campaign)
JAGUAR
(Lt
Cdr L R K Tyrwhitt+), 26th March 1942, Eastern
Mediterranean, off Sidi Barrani (31.53N, 26.18E) –
torpedoed by German ‘U.652’ (Fraatz). Escorting tanker
‘Slavol’, sunk by ‘U.205’, to Tobruk; 194 crew lost;
53 survivors (North African Campaign)
JANUS
(Lt
Cdr W B Morrison+), 23rd January 1944, Central
Mediterranean, off Anzio beachhead, western Italy
(41.26N, 12.38E) – torpedoed by German He.111 torpedo
bomber. On patrol off Anzio during Allied landings;
160 crew lost (Battle for Anzio - Italian Campaign)
JERSEY
(Lt
Cdr A F Burnell-Nugent), 2nd May 1941, Central
Mediterranean, off Malta Grand Harbour - by mine,
assumed Italian. Returning to Malta with cruiser
'Gloucester' after hunt for Axis convoy to Libya.
Entering Grand Harbour; 35 crew lost (North African
Campaign)
JUNO
(Cdr
St J R J Tyrwhitt), 21st May 1941, Eastern
Mediterranean, off SE Crete (34.35N, 26.34E) - by
German bombers. In action with Mediterranean Fleet
against the German sea-borne invasion of Crete. Hit by
three bombs, sank in two minutes; 128 crew lost, 97
survivors (Battle for Crete).
JUPITER
(Lt
Cdr N V J T Thew), 27th February 1942, East Indies,
off north Java coast in Java Sea (c06.45S, 112.00E) -
by mines, probably Dutch. With
Australian/British/Dutch/American (ABDA) cruiser force
in action; 96 crew lost, 47 taken prisoner of whom 27
died in captivity (Battle of the Java Sea - Japanese
Invasion of Java).
KANDAHAR
(Cdr
W G A Robson), scuttled 20th December 1941, Central
Mediterranean, off Tripoli, western Libya (c33.15N,
13.15E) - by Italian cruiser-laid mines on 19th. With
cruiser Force 'K' in search for Italian convoy to
Tripoli. Cruiser 'Neptune' also sunk. ‘Kandahar’ lost
72 crew, 165 were saved by ‘Jaguar’ (North African
Campaign)
KELLY
(leader)
(Capt Lord Louis Mountbatten) and
KASHMIR
(Cdr H A King), both 23rd May 1941, Eastern
Mediterranean, off south Crete (c34.30N, 23.15E) - by
German Ju.87 or Ju.88 divebombers. In action with
Mediterranean Fleet against German sea-borne invasion
of Crete; 'Kelly' lost 188 crew and ‘Kashmir’ 83
(Battle for Crete)
KHARTOUM
(Cdr
D T Dowler), 23rd June 1940, southern Red Sea, off
island of Perim - by internal explosion from burst
torpedo air vessel followed by fire. During gun action
with other destroyers against Italian submarine
'Torricelli', also sunk. One rating was killed
(Defence of Trade)
KINGSTON
(Cdr
P Somerville), 11th April 1942, Central Mediterranean,
at Malta - by German or Italian bombers. In Grand
Harbour, after being damaged during the Second Battle
of Sirte, bombed and damaged again on 4th April with
14 crew killed. No crew lost on 11th (Malta Convoys)
KIPLING
(Cdr
A St Clair Ford), 11th May 1942, Eastern
Mediterranean, north of Sidi Barrani, Egypt (32.28N,
26.20E) - by German Ju.88 bombers; 25 crew lost. See
'Jackal' above (North African Campaign)
Surviving
ships -
JERVIS
(leader),
JAVELIN,
KELVIN,
KIMBERLEY
HMS Javelin
59. 'L' and 'M' classes,
16 ships - 1,930 tons, 36 knots, 6-4.7in/8tt, 190 crew,
1940/42, 7 lost and 2 not repaired:
LAFOREY
(leader)
(Capt H T Armstrong+), 30th March 1944, Central
Mediterranean, 60 miles NE of Palermo, northern Sicily
(38.54N, 14.18E) – torpedoed by German ‘U.223’
(Gerlach). Sunk in hunt for 'U.223' with three other
destroyers; 182 crew lost, 69 saved by destroyers
‘Tumult’ and ‘Tuscan’. U-boat sunk by the other
destroyers (Italian Campaign)
GURKHA
(2) (ex-'Larne') (Cdr C N Lentaigne), 17th January
1942, Eastern Mediterranean, off Sidi Barrani, Egypt
(31.50N, 26.15E) – torpedoed by German ‘U.133’
(Hesse). Close escort, Alexandria/Malta convoy MW.8;
10 crew lost (Malta Convoys)
LANCE
(Lt
Cdr R W Northcott), damaged 9th April 1942, Central
Mediterranean, at Malta - by German or Italian
bombers. In dry-dock at Grand Harbour undergoing
repairs to earlier bomb damage; no crew killed at this
time. Not repaired (Malta Convoys)
LEGION
(Cdr
R F Jessel), 26th March 1942, Central Mediterranean,
in Grand Harbour, Malta - by German bombers. Back at
Malta with cruiser Force 'K' after Second Battle of
Sirte. Sunk with the loss of 11 men (Malta Convoys)
LIGHTNING
(Cdr
H G Walters), 12th March 1943, Central Mediterranean,
north of Bizerta, Tunisia (37.53N, 9.50E) – torpedoed
by German E-boat S.55. Sortie with Bone-based cruiser
force 'Q' against Axis supply routes to Tunisia; 25
crew lost, 170 saved (French North African Campaign)
LIVELY
(Lt
Cdr W F Hussey+), 11th May 1942, Eastern
Mediterranean, south of Crete (33.24N, 25.38E) - by
German Ju.88 bombers. Returning to Alexandria from
hunt for Axis convoy; 59 crew killed. Destroyers
'Jackal' and 'Kipling' also lost (North African
Campaign)
LOYAL
(Cdr
G Ransome, Cdr D.14), damaged 12th October 1944,
Central Mediterranean, in the Adriatic Sea - by mine,
presumed German. Returning from bombarding shore
targets on NE coast of Italy; no crew lost. Not
repaired (Italian Campaign)
MAHRATTA
(Lt
Cdr E A F Drought+), 25th February 1944, Arctic Ocean,
NW of Norway (71.17N, 13.30E) - by Gnat homing torpedo
from German ‘U.990’ (Nordheimer) or ‘U.956’, both
present (now listed as ‘U.990’). Escort to
UK/Russian convoy JW.57; 220 crew lost, as few as two
survivors (Russian Convoys)
MARTIN
(Cdr
C P R Thomson+), 10th November 1942, Western
Mediterranean, NE of Algiers, Algeria (37.53N, 03.57E)
– torpedoed by German ‘U.431’ (Dommes). With Force H
covering Allied landings at Algiers and Oran during
invasion of French North Africa; 159 crew lost, 63
saved (French North African Campaign)
Lost while
manned by an Allied Navy -
ORKAN,
Polish Navy on 8th October 1943, North Atlantic
Surviving
ships -
LOOKOUT,
MARNE,
MATCHLESS,
METEOR,
MILNE
(leader),
MUSKETEER
HMS Meteor
60. 'N' class,
8 ships - 1,690 tons, 36 knots, 6-4.7in/10tt, 185 crew,
1940-42, 1 lost:
NESTOR
(RAN) (Cdr A S Rosenthal RAN), scuttled 16th June
1942, Eastern Mediterranean, south of Crete (33.36N,
24.27E) – hit by German Ju.87 divebombers on 15th.
With cover force for Alexandria/Malta convoy
'Vigorous'; four crew lost (Malta Convoys).
Surviving
ships -
NAPIER
(leader, RAN),
NEPAL
(RAN),
NERISSA
(Polish 'Piorun'),
NIZAM
(RAN),
NOBLE
(Dutch 'Van Galen'),
NONPAREIL
(Dutch 'Tjerk Hiddes'),
NORMAN
(RAN)
HMS
Offa, 4in-armed "O" and "P" class destroyer,
typical of wartime construction programmes
61. 'O' and 'P' classes,
16 ships - 1,540 tons, 36 knots, 4-4in or 4.7in/8tt, 175
crew, 1941-42, 3 lost and 2 not repaired:
PAKENHAM
(leader)
(Cdr B Jones), 16th April 1943, Central Mediterranean,
north of Pantelleria island in the Strait of Sicily
(37.26N, 12.30E) - by 3.9in gunfire of Italian torpedo
boats 'Cassiopea' and 'Cigno'. Attacking Italian
convoy to Tunisia with destroyer 'Paladin'; 10 crew
lost. 'Cigno' sunk (French North African Campaign)
PANTHER
(Lt
Cdr Viscount Jocelyn), 9th October 1943, Eastern
Mediterranean, SW of Rhodes island in Scarpanto Strait
(35.48N, 27.38E) - by German Ju.87 divebombers.
Returning from sweep against German supply traffic
west of Kos island; 36 crew lost (British Aegean
Campaign)
PARTRIDGE
(Lt
Cdr W A F Hawkins), 18th December 1942, Western
Mediterranean, west of Oran, Algeria (35.50N, 01.35W)
– torpedoed by German ‘U.565’ (Franken). With Force H
on anti-submarine sweep; 38 crew lost, 173 crew saved
(French North African campaign)
PATHFINDER
(Lt
Cdr T F Hallifax), damaged 11th February 1945, South
East Asia, off Ramree Island, NW Burma - by Japanese
bombers. Supporting British and Dominion landings on
Ramree Island, Burmese Arakan campaign; no crew lost.
To reserve (Burma Campaign)
PORCUPINE
(Cdr
G S Stewart RAN), damaged 9th December 1942, Western
Mediterranean, NE of Oran, Algeria (36.40N, 00.04W) –
torpedoed by German ‘U.602’ (Schüler). Escorting depot
ship 'Maidstone' from Gibraltar to Algiers; seven crew
lost. Reached Gibraltar, but not repaired (French
North African Campaign)
Surviving
ships -
ONSLOW
(leader),
OBDURATE,
OBEDIENT,
OFFA,
ONSLAUGHT,
OPPORTUNE,
ORIBI,
ORWELL,
PALADIN,
PENN,
PETARD
HMS Onslaught - main
guns trained to starboard
62. 'Q' and 'R' classes,
16 ships - 1,700 tons, 37 knots, 4-4.7in/8tt, 175 crew,
1942-43, 2 lost:
QUAIL,
foundered 18th June 1944, Central Mediterranean, in
Gulf of Taranto, southern Italy (40.05N, 17.52E) -
previously damaged by mine off Bari in southern
Adriatic Sea on 15th November 1943; Lt Cdr R F Jenks
in command and 21 crew lost at the time. Now on tow
from Bari to Taranto with steaming party; one rating
missing (Italian Campaign)
QUENTIN
(Lt
Cdr A H P Noble), 2nd December 1942, Central
Mediterranean, off Galita Islands, off north Tunisia
(37.40N, 08.55E) – torpedoed by Italian torpedo
aircraft. Returning with cruiser Force 'Q' to Bone,
Algeria after attack on Italian convoy to Tunisia; 10
crew lost (French North African Campaign)
Surviving
ships -
QUILLIAM (leader),
QUADRANT
(RAN from 1945),
QUALITY
(RAN from 1945),
QUEENBOROUGH
(RAN from 1945),
QUIBERON
(RAN),
QUICKMATCH
(RAN),
ROTHERHAM
(leader),
RACEHORSE,
RAIDER,
RAPID,
REDOUBT,
RELENTLESS,
ROCKET,
ROEBUCK
63. 'S', 'T', 'U', 'V' and 'W' classes, 40 ships - 1,700 tons, 37 knots, 4-4.7in/8tt, 180 crew,
1943/44, 2 lost:
HARDY
(2)
('V' leader) (Capt W G Robson), 30th January 1944,
Arctic Ocean, 60 miles south of Bear island in Barents
Sea (73.37N, 18.06E) - by Gnat homing torpedoes from
German ‘U.278’ (Franze). Escort to UK/Russian convoy
JW.56B. Scuttled with second torpedo; 35 crew lost
(Russian Convoys)
SWIFT
(Lt
Cdr J R Gower), 24th June 1944, Western Europe, off
Sword Beach, Normandy, France, 5 miles north of
Ouistreham - by German mine. Support duties off
beachhead; 17 crew lost (Normandy Invasion)
Lost while
manned by an Allied Navy -
SVENNER,
Norwegian Navy, 6th June 1944, off Normandy
Surviving
ships -
SAUMAREZ
(leader),
SAVAGE,
SCORPION,
SCOURGE,
SERAPIS,
SUCCESS
(Norwegian 'Stord' from 1943),
TROUBRIDGE
(leader),
TEAZER,
TENACIOUS,
TERMAGANT,
TERPISCHORE,
TUMULT,
TUSCAN,
TYRIAN,
GRENVILLE
(2) ('U' leader),
ULSTER,
ULYSSES,
UNDAUNTED,
UNDINE,
URANIA,
URCHIN,
URSA,
VALENTINE
(RCN
ALGONQUIN),
VENUS,
VERULAM,
VIGILANT,
VIRAGO,
VIXEN
(RCN
SIOUX),
VOLAGE,
KEMPENFELT
('W' leader),
WAGER,
WAKEFUL
(2),
WESSEX
(2),
WHELP,
WHIRLWIND
(2),
WIZARD,
WRANGLER
HMCS Sioux (ex-Vixen)
64. 'Z' and 'Ca' classes,
16 ships - 1,700 tons, 37 knots, 4-4.5in/8tt, 185 crew,
1944-45
Surviving
ships -
MYNGS
(leader),
ZAMBESI,
ZEALOUS,
ZEBRA,
ZENITH,
ZEPHYR,
ZEST,
ZODIAC,
CAVENDISH
(leader),
CAESAR,
CAMBRIAN,
CAPRICE,
CARRON,
CARYSFORT,
CASSANDRA,
CAVALIER
(preserved)
HMS Cavendish
65. Battle class,
5 ships completed by war's end - 2,310 tons, 36 knots,
4-4.5in/8tt, 250 crew, 1944/45
Surviving
ships -
ARMADA,
(leader),
BARFLEUR
(leader), CAMPERDOWN,
HOGUE,
TRAFALGAR (leader)
HMS
Barfleur
ESCORT
DESTROYERS
66. Hunt classes
Type
1, 23 ships - 1,000 tons, 28 knots, 4-4in, 145
crew, 1940-41, 4 lost:
BERKELEY
(Lt
J J S Yorke), 19th August 1942, Western Europe, off
Dieppe, northern France in English Channel (49.57N,
01.04E) - by German fighter-bombers. Covering
British/Canadian combined operations raid on Dieppe,
operation 'Jubilee'; 15 crew lost (Dieppe Raid)
EXMOOR
(Lt
Cdr R T Lampard+), 25th February 1941, Western Europe,
off Lowestoft, eastern England in North Sea (c52.30N,
01.45E) – torpedoed by German E-boat ‘S.30’. Escorting
Thames/Forth coastal convoy FN.417; 105 crew lost, 32
survivors (British Coastal Convoys)
QUORN
(Lt
I Hall), 3rd August 1944, Western Europe, off Normandy
beaches, northern France in English Channel - by
German 'Linsen' explosive motor boat or 'Marder' human
torpedo. On patrol off British beachhead; 130 crew
lost (Normandy Invasion)
TYNEDALE
(Lt
Cdr J J S Yorke), 12th December 1943, Western
Mediterranean, NE of Bougie, Algeria (37.10N, 06.05E)
– torpedoed by German ‘U.593’ (Kelbling). Escorting
UK/North African convoy KMS.34; 73 crew lost.
'Holcombe' (below) also sunk (Mediterranean Convoys)
Surviving
ships -
ATHERSTONE,
BLENCATHRA,
BROCKLESBY,
CATTISTOCK,
CLEVELAND,
COTSWOLD,
COTTESMORE,
EGLINTON,
FERNIE,
GARTH,
HAMBLEDON,
HOLDERNESS,
LIDDESDALE,
MENDIP,
MEYNELL,
PYTCHLEY,
QUANTOCK,
SOUTHDOWN,
WHADDON
HMS Brocklesby
Type 2,
33 ships, - 1,050 tons, 27 knots, 6-4in, 170 crew,
1941-42, 6 lost and 1 not repaired:
DULVERTON
(Cdr
S A Buss+), 13th November 1943, Eastern Mediterranean,
5 miles off Kos island in the Aegean Sea (36.50N,
27.30E) - by German Hs.293 glider bomb launched from
Do.217 aircraft. With two other destroyers in search
for German transports heading for Leros; 78 crew lost,
109 saved by destroyer ‘Echo’ and escort destroyer
‘Belvoir’ (British Aegean Campaign)
ERIDGE
(Lt
Cdr W F N Gregory-Smith), damaged 29th August 1942,
Eastern Mediterranean, near El Alamein, Egypt (31.07N,
28.26E) – presumed torpedoed by German E-boat.
Returning from bombardment of Daba, west of El
Alamein; five crew lost. Not repaired (North African
Campaign)
GROVE
(Cdr
W J Rylands), 12th June 1942, Eastern Mediterranean,
off Sidi Barrani, Egypt (32.05N, 25.30E) – torpedoed
by German ‘U.77’ (Schonder). Returning to Alexandria
after escorting supply ships to Tobruk; 112 crew lost,
80 saved (North African Campaign)
HEYTHROP
(Lt
Cdr R S Stafford), 20th March 1942, Eastern
Mediterranean, off Sidi Barrani, Egypt (32.22N,
25.28E) – torpedoed by German ‘U.652’ (Fraatz).
Carrying out anti-submarine sweep ahead of
Alexandria/Malta convoy (believed MW.10), prior to
Second Battle of Sirte, finished off by sister ship
‘Eridge’; 16 crew lost (Malta Convoys)
HURWORTH
(Cdr
R H Wright), 22nd October 1943, Eastern Mediterranean,
north of Kos Island in the Aegean Sea (36.59N, 27.06E)
- by mine laid by German minelayer 'Drache'. Carrying
supplies to Leros and assisting mined Greek sister
ship 'Adrias'; 133 crew lost (British Aegean Campaign)
PUCKERIDGE
(Lt
J C Cartwright), 6th September 1943, Western
Mediterranean, 40 miles east of Gibraltar (36.06N,
04.44W) - torpedoed by German ‘U.617’ (Brandi).
On passage from Gibraltar to Oran; 62 crew lost
(Mediterranean Operations)
SOUTHWOLD
(Cdr
C T Jellicoe), 24th March 1942, Central Mediterranean,
off Malta - by Italian mine. Close escort,
Alexandria/Malta convoy (believed MW.10), after Second
Battle of Sirte; 5 crew lost (Malta Convoys)
Lost while
manned by an Allied Navy -
KUJAWIAK
(ex-OAKLEY
(1)), Polish Navy, 16th June 1942, off Malta
Surviving
ships -
AVON VALE,
BADSWORTH,
BEAUFORT,
BEDALE
(Polish 'Slazak' from 1942),
BICESTER,
BLACKMORE,
BLANKNEY,
BRAMHAM
(Greek 'Themistocles' from 1943),
CALPE,
CHIDDINGFOLD,
COWDRAY,
CROOME,
EXMOOR
(2),
FARNDALE,
HURSLEY
(Greek 'Kriti' from 1943),
LAMERTON,
LAUDERDALE,
LEDBURY,
MIDDLETON,
OAKLEY
(2),
SILVERTON
(Polish 'Krakowiak' from 1941),
TETCOTT,
WHEATLAND,
WILTON,
ZETLAND
Polish Navy ORP
Kujawiak (ex-HMS Oakley)
Type 3,
28 ships - 1,050 tons, 27 knots, 4-4in/2tt, 170 crew,
1942/43, 6 lost and 4 not repaired:
AIREDALE
(Lt
Cdr A G Forman), 15th June 1942, Eastern
Mediterranean, south of Crete (33.50N, 23.50E) - by
German Ju.87 divebombers. Close escort,
Alexandria/Malta convoy 'Vigorous'; 48 crew lost
(Malta Convoys)
ALDENHAM
(Cdr
J S Farrant), 14th December 1944, Central
Mediterranean, 30 miles NW of Zara in northern
Adriatic Sea (44.30N, 14.50E) - by German mines.
Believed returning from bombarding German held islands
in approaches to Fiume; 121 crew lost, 63 saved
(Italian Campaign)
BLEAN
(Lt
M J Parker), 11th December 1942, Western
Mediterranean, 60 miles west of Oran, Algeria (35.55N,
01.50W) – torpedoed by German ‘U.443’ (Puttkamer).
Escorting North Africa/UK convoy MKF.4; 89 crew lost,
94 saved (French North African Campaign)
DERWENT
(Lt
P R C Higham), damaged 19th March 1943, Central
Mediterranean, Tripoli harbour, western Libya -
torpedoed by German Ju.88 torpedo bomber. At anchor in
harbour; four crew lost. To limited duties (North
African campaign)
GOATHLAND
(Lt
Cdr E N Pumphrey), damaged 24th July 1944, Western
Europe, 15 miles north of Normandy beaches, France in
English Channel - by German mine. On patrol off
beachhead; no lives lost. Not repaired (Normandy
Invasion)
HOLCOMBE
(Lt
F M Graves), 12th December 1943, Western
Mediterranean, NE of Bougie, Algeria (37.20N, 05.30E)
– torpedoed by German ‘U.593’ (Kelbling). Escorting
UK/North African convoy KMS.34, and hunting for
‘U.593’ after sinking of sister-ship 'Tynedale'
(above); 84 crew lost. ‘U.593’ sunk next day
(Mediterranean Convoys)
LIMBOURNE
(Cdr W J Phipps), 23rd October 1943, Western Europe,
off north coast of Brittany, northern France in
English Channel (48.59N, 03.39W) – torpedoed by German
torpedo boat ‘T.22’. Sortie with cruiser 'Charybdis'
(also lost) and other destroyers to intercept German
blockade runner; 42 men lost, 103 saved (English
Channel Operations)
PENYLAN
(Lt
Cdr J H Wallace), 3rd December 1942, Western Europe, 5
miles south of Start Point, SW England in English
Channel (50.08N, 03.39W) – torpedoed by German E-boat
‘S.115’. Escorting Portsmouth/Bristol Channel coastal
convoy PW.257; 36 crew lost, 117 saved (British
Coastal Convoys)
ROCKWOOD
(Lt
S R Le H L Hobson), damaged 11th November 1943,
Eastern Mediterranean, off Kos island in Aegean Sea
(36.50N, 27.30E) - by German Hs.293 glider bomb from
Do.217 aircraft. Bombed after shore bombardment in
Kalymnos island area; one crew lost. To reserve
(British Aegean Campaign)
WENSLEYDALE
(Lt
Cdr W P Goodfellow RNVR), damaged 21st November 1944,
Western Europe, Thames Estuary, SE England - in
collision with LST.367. On patrol off the Nore; no
lives lost. To reserve (Defence of British Waters)
Lost while
manned by Allied navies -
ADRIAS,
Greek Navy, damaged 22nd October 1943 and not
repaired;
ESKDALE,
Norwegian Navy, 14th April 1943, off SW England;
LA
COMBATTANTE,
French Navy, 23rd February 1945, North Sea
Surviving
ships -
ALBRIGHTON,
BELVOIR,
BLEASDALE,
BOLEBROKE
(Greek 'Pindos' from 1942),
CATTERICK,
EASTON,
EGGESFORD,
GLAISDALE,
HATHERLEIGH
(Greek 'Kanaris' from 1942),
HAYDON,
MELBREAK,
MODBURY
(Greek 'Miaoulis' from 1942),
STEVENSTONE,
TALYBONT,
TANATSIDE
HMS
Limbourne
Type 4,
2 ships - 1,175 tons, 26 knots, 6-4in/3tt, 170 crew,
1942-43
Surviving
ships -
BRECON,
BRISSENDEN
HMS Brecon
ex-U.S.
DESTROYERS
67. Town classes,
50 ships transferred in 1940 - 1,050 tons, 35 knots, 1
to 3-4in/3tt, 145 crew, c 1918, 7 lost and 1 not
repaired:
BELMONT
(Lt
Cdr G B O’B Harding+), 31st January 1942, North
Atlantic, SE of Halifax, Nova Scotia (42.02N, 57.18W)
– torpedoed by German ‘U.82’ (Rollmann). Escorting
Canadian troop convoy NA.2 to UK; 138 men lost (Battle
of the Atlantic)
BEVERLEY
(Lt
Cdr R A Price+), 11th April 1943, North Atlantic,
south of Greenland (52.19N, 40.28W) – torpedoed by
German ‘U.188’ (Lüdden). With British B6 group
escorting UK/North American convoy ON.176; 148 crew
lost, only four rescued (Battle of the Atlantic)
BROADWATER
(Lt
Cdr W M L Astwood), 18th October 1941, North Atlantic,
west of Ireland (57.01N, 19.08W) – torpedoed by German
‘U.101’ (Mengersen). With US Escort Group escorting
Halifax/UK convoy SC.48; 44 crew plus rescued merchant
seamen lost (Battle of the Atlantic)
CAMERON,
damaged 5th December 1940, Western Europe, at
Portsmouth, southern England - by German bombers. In
dry-dock for refit; 14 crew killed. Reduced to
experimental ship for hull stress testing.
CAMPBELTOWN
(Lt
Cdr S H Beattie, awarded VC), 28th March 1942, Western
Europe, at St Nazaire, French Biscay coast - expended
as explosive blockship. British combined operations
raid on St Nazaire to destroy the Normandie lock gates
and prevent their use by battleship 'Tirpitz'; 32 crew
lost, 16 taken prisoner (St Nazaire Raid)
ROCKINGHAM
(Lt
Cdr J C Cooper RNVR), 27th September 1944, Western
Europe, 30 miles SE of Aberdeen, Scotland in North Sea
(56.29N, 00.57W) – believed British mine. Target ship
for aircraft training, mined in 56.47N, 01.30W, taken
in tow and sank; one rating killed.
ST CROIX
(RCN) (Lt Cdr A H Dobson RCN+), 20th September 1943,
North Atlantic, SE of Greenland (57.30N, 31.10W) –
torpedoed by German ‘U.305’ (Bahr). With Canadian 9th
Escort Group supporting UK/North American convoys
ONS.18 and ON.202. Hit once by ‘U.305’, finished off
an hour later by the same U-boat; 147 crew lost
(Battle of the Atlantic)
STANLEY
(Lt
Cdr D B Shaw+), 19th December 1941, North Atlantic,
west of Portugal (38.12N, 17.23W) – torpedoed by
German ‘U.574’ (Gengelbach). Escort, Gibraltar/UK
convoy HG.76; 134 lost including four officers on
passage. Escort carrier 'Audacity' also sunk (Battle
of the Atlantic)
Lost while
manned by Allied Navies -
BATH,
Norwegian Navy, 19th August 1941, North Atlantic;
DEYATELNYI
(ex-CHURCHILL),
Russian Navy, 16th January 1945, Arctic
Surviving
ships -
ANNAPOLIS
(RCN),
BRADFORD,
BRIGHTON,
(Russian from 1944),
BROADWAY,
BURNHAM,
BURWELL,
BUXTON
(RCN 1943-44),
CALDWELL
(RCN 1942-44),
CASTLETON,
CHARLESTOWN,
CHELSEA
(RCN 1942-43, Russian from 1944),
CHESTERFIELD,
CLARE,
COLUMBIA
(RCN),
GEORGETOWN
(RCN 1942-43, Russian from 1944), HAMILTON
(RCN),
LANCASTER,
LEAMINGTON (RCN
1942-43, Russian from 1944),
LEEDS,
LEWES,
LINCOLN
(Norwegian 1942-43, Russian from 1944),
LUDLOW,
MANSFIELD
(Norwegian 1940-42, RCN 1942-43),
MONTGOMERY
(RCN 1942-43),
NEWARK,
NEWMARKET,
NEWPORT
(Norwegian 1941-42),
NIAGARA
(RCN),
RAMSEY,
READING,
RICHMOND
(RCN 1942-43, Russian from 1944),
RIPLEY,
ROXBURGH
(Russian from 1944),
ST ALBANS
(Norwegian 1941-44, Russian from 1944),
ST
CLAIR
(RCN),
ST FRANCIS
(RCN),
ST MARY'S,
SALISBURY
(RCN 1942-43),
SHERWOOD,
WELLS
HMS Clare
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