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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2003

HMS MALCOLM (D 19)  - Scott-class Flotilla Leader
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Bruce, sister-ship, expended as target November 1939 

(Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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Emergency War Programme Admiralty design SCOTT-Class Flotilla Leader ordered from Cammell Laird of Birkenhead in April 1917 under the 1916-17 Programme. The ship was laid down on 27th March 1918 and launched on 29th May 1919 as the first RN warship to carry the name. Build was completed on 14th December 1919. In 1921 she was serving with the 5th Destroyer Flotilla, Atlantic Fleet and later was placed in Reserve  See General Information. .Following a WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 this destroyer was adopted by the civil community of Dunfermline, Fife which has a long association with this name.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

NORTH SEA 1940 - DUNKIRK 1940 - ATLANTIC 1940-45 - ARCTIC 1942 - MALTA CONVOYS 1942 - NORTH AFRICA 1942 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1943

H e r a l d i c  D a t a

 Badge: On a field Red., a tower silver on a mount green.

 

M o t t o

In ardua Tendit: 'He strives in difficulties’

 

 

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 3 9

 

September             Deployed as Leader of 16th Destroyer Flotilla based at Portsmouth of convoys and anti­submarine

                                patrol in English Channel and SW Approaches

                                (Note: 18th Flotilla comprised HM Destroyers AMAZON, AMBUSCADE, ACHATES,

                                ANTELOPE, ARROW and ANTHONY)

 

October                  Channel escort and patrol duties in continuation.

to                            (For details of naval activities in Home Waters in 1939-40 see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

December              CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett).

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Channel escort and patrol duties in continuation.

to

April

 

May                        Transferred to Dover Command to assist in evacuation from Dutch ports..

                15th        Deployed at Hook of Holland during evacuation (Operation ORDNANCE)..

                26th        Assisted in evacuation of allied troops from Dunkirk until 4th June,

                                Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to I19.

                                (For details see THE NINE DAYS OF DUNKIRK by AD Divine. BEF SHIPS by J de

                                Windsor and Naval Staff History (HMSO – 2002).

 

June                        Rejoined Flotilla at Harwich on release from DYNAMO.

                                Deployed on North Sea convoy escort and anti-invasion patrol duties.

                                (For details see HMS WILD SWAN by P Smith and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                                CLOSELY and above references.).

 

July                         Deployed with HM Cruiser CARDIFF, HM Destroyers ANTHONY, VETERAN, WILD SWAN

                                WIVERN, HM Corvettes MALLARD, PINTAIL, PUFFIN and SHELDRAKE on anti-invasion

                                patrols in Group 3 and convoy defence in North Sea with ships of 18th Flotilla.

 

August                  Anti-invasion patrol and convoy defence in continuation.

                1st           On completion of patrol with HMS WILD SWAN and HMS AMBUSCADE reinforced escort

                                for Convoy FS38 southbound from Forth.

                4th          Anti-invasion patrol with Group 3.

 

September

                10th        Attacked invasion barges off Ostend with HMS WILD SWAN and HMS VETERAN.

                12th        Searched for invasion barges off Boulogne with HMS WILD SWAN and HMS VETERAN.

                22nd       Nominated for transfer with HMS VETERAN, HMS WILD SWAN and HMS WYVERN to

                                Western Approaches Command for Atlantic convoy escort duty.

                30th        Deployed at Liverpool

 

October                  Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence.

to                            (For details of Atlantic convoy operations see U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO),

 December             THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                                CLOSELY).

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.

to                            Joined HM Destroyers WATCHMAN, SARDONYX, SCIMITAR, ROCKINGHAM,

May                        HM Corvettes ARABIS, VERBENA, VIOLET, MONKSHOOD, PETUNIA and DAHLIA in

                                8th Escort Group.

 

June                        Deployed with escort for Convoy HX133,

                29th        Shared credit for sinking of U651 in position 59.32N 18.36W with HMS VIOLET, HMS

                                SCIMITAR, HMS ARABIS and HM Minesweeper SPEEDWELL during defence of HX133-

                                See U-0BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.

 

July                         Atlantic convoy defence with Group In continuation.

to                            (For details of development of new weapons and tactics see SEEK AND STRIKE by

December              W. HACKMANN and RADAR AT SEA by D Howse).

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

 

February                Converted for use as Short Range Escort (See V AND W DESTROYERS by A Preston).

                3rd          In collision with BURNHAM during defence of Atlantic convoy.

 

March                    Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to                            (Note: 8th Escort Group identity discontinued in re organisation of Groups)

July

 

August                  Detached for duty in support of Malta relief operations based at Gibraltar

                11th        Deployed with HM Destroyers KEPPEL, VENOMOUS, WOLVERINE and WRESTLER to

                                escort HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS for return passage to Gibraltar after SPITFIRE Malta

                                aircraft delivery (Operation BELLOWS).

                                (Note: This was part of Operation PEDESTAL, passage of relief convoyWS21S.

                                HMS FURIOUS had been part of relief convoy prior to arrival at flying off position.

                                For details see PEDESTAL by P. Smith, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by

                                C Barnett, MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman and me Naval Staff History.)

                12th        Under attack by Italian submarine DAGABUR which was rammed and sunk in a position NW of

                                Algiers by HMS WOLVERINE.

                                See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.

                16th        Part of screen for HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS and HM Cruiser CHARYBDIS with HM

                                Destroyers LAFOREY, LOOKOUT, LIGHTNING, ANTELOPE, WISHART, DERWENT

.                               KEPPEL, BICESTER, ESKIMO, SOMALI and VENOMOUS for Malta aircraft delivery

                                (Operation BARITONE).

 

September             Deployed with Horns Fleet for escort of Russian Convoy.

                2nd         Escorted Convoy PQ18 from Loch Ewe until arrival of Ocean Escort off Iceland, with HM

                                Destroyers CAMPBELL, ESKDALE and FARNDALE

                                (See CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg)

                7th          Detached from PQ18 and resumed Atlantic convoy escort duty.

 

October                  Atlantic escort duty In continuation.

                                Nominated for support of allied landings in North Africa.

                                Part of escort for military convoys to Gibraltar prior to landings.

 

November              Deployed with British Task Force for cover of landings hi Algeria and damaged by shore

                                batteries

                                (Operation TORCH – For details see Naval Staff History and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS

                                by J de Winser.)

 

December              On release from TORCH returned to UK for repair.

                                Under repair.

1 9 4 3

 

January                  After repair deployed for Atlantic convoy defence.

to                            (Note: Fitted with Surface warning radar Type 271.HEDGEHOG weapon and H/F DF outfit.

February.               See SEEK and STRIKE by W Hackmann for details of weapons developed in WW2.)

 

March                    Passage to Gibraltar.

                21st         Joined military convoy WS28 with HM Destroyers QUADRANT, WITCH and WOLVERINE

                                for escort to Freetown after WS28 had detached from convoy KMF 11 in 36.09N 09 .00W.

                27th        Detached from WS28 on arrival at Freetown.

 

April                       Deployed at Freetown for Atlantic convoy defence.

 

May

                6th          Joined military convoy WS29 on departure from Freetown with H M Destroyers RAPID and

                                WOLVERINE for escort during passage to Capetown from Freetown.

                17th        Detached from WS29 for return passage to Freetown with same escorts.

 

June                        Deployed at Freetown for convoy defence.

to

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Convoy defence in continuation,

to                            Returned to UK for coastal convoy defence.

December              (Note: Did not take part in support or convoy escort during Normandy landings in

                                June 1944 (Operation NEPTUNE.) )

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Coastal Convoy defence in continuation.

to                            (Note: Some sources suggest deployment in a training role)

April

 

May                        Withdrawn from operational use after VE Day.

to                            Paid-off Placed in Reserve.

June                        Placed on Disposal List

 

July                         Sold to BISCO for demolition at Barrow by T W Ward

                27th        Arrived in tow at Breaker's Yard.

 

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of  HMS MALCOLM

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

 

 

 

 

 

26/09/39

15/10/39

KJ 002

18/10/39

18/10/39

31/07/40

02/08/40

FS 0238

02/08/40

02/08/40

29/10/40

30/10/40

OB 236

01/11/40

02/11/40

20/10/40

01/11/40

HX 082

03/11/40

06/11/40

04/11/40

11/11/40

OB 239

13/11/40

14/11/40

18/11/40

19/11/40

OB 245

22/11/40

22/11/40

11/11/40

22/11/40

HX 085/1

25/11/40

25/11/40

19/01/41

19/01/41

OG 050

20/01/41

31/01/41

08/01/41

21/01/41

HG 050

26/01/41

26/01/41

08/02/41

08/02/41

OB 283

12/02/41

12/02/41

30/01/41

12/02/41

HX 106

15/02/41

18/02/41

20/02/41

20/02/41

OB 289

24/02/41

24/02/41

13/02/41

26/02/41

HX 109

03/03/41

04/03/41

06/04/41

09/04/41

OG 058

12/04/41

21/04/41

16/04/41

19/04/41

OB 311

25/04/41

25/04/41

16/04/41

25/04/41

HX 121

28/04/41

03/05/41

19/04/41

01/05/41

SC 029

04/05/41

08/05/41

30/04/41

12/05/41

HX 124

14/05/41

20/05/41

10/05/41

20/05/41

HX 126

22/05/41

28/05/41

20/05/41

02/06/41

HX 128

05/06/41

06/06/41

21/06/41

22/06/41

OB 338

26/06/41

03/07/41

16/06/41

27/06/41

HX 133

30/06/41

03/07/41

07/07/41

07/07/41

OB 344

11/07/41

16/07/41

26/07/41

27/07/41

ON 001

31/07/41

09/08/41

22/07/41

02/08/41

HX 140

05/08/41

06/08/41

11/08/41

13/08/41

ON 006

15/08/41

24/08/41

05/08/41

17/08/41

HX 143

20/08/41

20/08/41

30/08/41

01/09/41

ON 011

04/09/41

11/09/41

24/08/41

07/09/41

SC 041

11/09/41

11/09/41

13/09/41

13/09/41

ON 016

19/09/41

27/09/41

10/09/41

20/09/41

HX 149

23/09/41

25/09/41

04/10/41

05/10/41

ON 023

10/10/41

19/10/41

05/10/41

13/10/41

HX 153

17/10/41

19/10/41

26/10/41

29/10/41

ON 030

02/11/41

09/11/41

23/10/41

04/11/41

SC 051

05/11/41

09/11/41

02/09/42

07/09/42

PQ 018

21/09/42

21/09/42

22/10/42

22/10/42

KX 004A

04/11/42

04/11/42

26/10/42

06/11/42

KMF 001

08/11/42

08/11/42

17/05/43

17/05/43

TS 040F

21/05/43

21/05/43

09/06/43

09/06/43

SR 005/1

14/06/43

14/06/43

15/06/43

15/06/43

CG 037

16/06/43

16/06/43

15/09/43

18/09/43

KMF 024

unknown

29/09/43

17/09/43

30/09/43

MKF 024

01/10/43

07/10/43

01/10/43

01/10/43

RS 010

07/10/43

07/10/43

14/10/43

14/10/43

SR 006/1

21/10/43

21/10/43

25/10/43

25/10/43

RS 011

31/10/43

31/10/43

05/11/43

05/11/43

SR 007/1

12/11/43

12/11/43

25/11/43

25/11/43

RS 012

02/12/43

02/12/43

14/12/43

14/12/43

SR 008

21/12/43

21/12/43

14/01/44

14/01/44

SR 009

22/01/44

22/01/44

25/01/44

25/01/44

RS 014

01/02/44

01/02/44

19/02/44

19/02/44

SR 010

27/02/44

27/02/44

01/03/44

01/03/44

RS 015

08/03/44

14/03/44

26/03/44

26/03/44

SR 012

03/04/44

03/04/44

06/04/44

06/04/44

RS 016

14/04/44

14/04/44

04/05/44

07/05/44

SR 013

11/05/44

11/05/44

14/05/44

14/05/44

RS 017

17/05/44

21/05/44

22/05/44

22/05/44

STL 023

26/05/44

27/05/44

29/06/44

29/06/44

STL 026

03/07/44

03/07/44

10/07/44

10/07/44

LTS 027

14/07/44

14/07/44

25/03/45

25/03/45

MKF 041

26/03/45

30/03/45

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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