Naval History Homepage and Site Search

 

 

SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

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

HMS  SHIKARI (D 95) - Old S-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Shikari around 1929 as control ship for radio-controlled target 

(Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

return to Contents List 
 
 

S-Class Destroyer ordered in 1917 from William Doxford, Sunderland under the 1917 - 18 Programme with the 11th Order. The ship was laid down on 15th January 1918 but her build was delayed due to the restrictions on naval expenditure after WW1. Launched on 14th July 1919 she was taken in tow to Chatham for completion by HM Dockyard. This name had previously used by a trawler hired during 1915. Completion was subject to further delay until after September 1923. It was then decided to modify the ship for remote wireless control of the battleship HMS AGAMEMNON that was used as a target during gunnery firings. No armament was fitted and after modification to carry the control equipment she was deployed for this purpose during Fleet Gunnery exercises. Later HMS CENTURION became the Fleet Target and was controlled by this destroyer until September 1939. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 she was adopted by the civil community of Camborne, Cornwall.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

DUNKIRK 1940 - ATLANTIC 1939-44

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

B a d g e: On a Field  Green An Indian's head with turban all proper.

 

Motto

'Good Hunting'

 

 

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September             Withdrawn from control ship duty.

Nominated for use as an escort.

 

October                  Under modification

to                             Armament including depth charges fitted

December

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  On completion deployed for escort of coastal convoys.

to

April

 

May                       Transferred to Dover Command for evacuation of allied troops from Dunkirk.

                                (Operation DYNAMO - For details see NINE DAYS AT DUNKIRK by

                               AD Divine and the Naval Staff History)

                                Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to I85

                28th        Began evacuation duties.

 

June

                1st           Rescued French soldiers from ss PRAGUE sinking off Gravelines

                4th          Last RN warship to leave Dunkirk. Embarked French soldiers.

                                Engaged shore batteries.

                                On release from DYNAMO resumed coastal convoy escort duties.

 

July                         Convoy escort and patrol duties in continuation in Channel area.

 

August                  Deployed on anti-invasion patrols and convoy defence.

 

September             Nominated for service in Atlantic for convoy defence.

                                Modified to carry increased depth charge outfit.

 

October                  On completion joined Western Approaches Command.

Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence in NW Approaches.

 

November              Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.

to December

                               

1 9 4 1

 

 

January                  Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.

to

August

 

September             Deployed with 1st Escort Group in NW Approaches.

 

October                 Atlantic convoy escort in co

                24th        Sustained structural damage in heavy weather south of Iceland during the

                                escort of an Atlantic convoy. After funnel was lost overboard.

 

November              Under repair at Belfast.

 

December

                25th        On completion rejoined Group.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Resumed convoy escort in NW Approaches with Group

to                            (Note: Other ships in Group included HM Destroyers KEPPEL and ST ALBANS

December              (Ex US Navy), HM Corvettes ANCHUSA, WALLFLOWER,

                                DAHLIA and MEADOWSWEET)

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Deployment in NW Approaches and Irish Sea for convoy defence in continuation

to

March

 

April

                12th        Joined military convoy WS29 at Avonmouth for Local Escort during passage to

                                Clyde prior to Ocean passage.

                14th        Detached from WS29 and resumed service in NW Approaches.

 

May                        Transferred for service in Iceland with other destroyers of this type.

                                Passage to Iceland. ,

 

June                       Atlantic convoy defence based in Iceland in continuation.

to                            Took part in support operations with escorts of convoys under heavy

July                         submarine attacks (Operation ROSEGARDEN)

 

August                  Returned to Home waters

 

September

21st                         Deployed with HM Destroyers MATCHLESS and OBEDIENT in anti-

                                submarine operations in NW Approaches,

 

October                  Convoy defence deployment in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Convoy defence in continuation.

to

August

 

September             Withdrawn from Atlantic convoy defence duties.

                                (Note: The availability of new escorts including CAPTAIN Class Frigates built in

                                USA and transferred to RN under Lease-Lend enabled older destroyers of

                                this Class to be taken out of Atlantic service).

                                Paid off at Grangemouth and laid-up in Reserve

                                (Note: One source records deployment for training purposes. This is

                                included below but is to be confirmed.)

 

October                  Not deployed operationally

to

December

1 9 4 5

January                  Not deployed operationally

to

August

 

October                  Reverted to Training role.

 

November              Deployed for training duties in Home Waters.

to

December

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS SHIKARI was placed on the Sales List after VJ Day and sold to BISCO for demolition on 13 September by J Cashmore, She arrived at the breaker's yard in Newport, Glamorgan on 4th November 1945.

 

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS SHIKARI

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

 

 

 

 

 

09/01/40

09/01/40

SA 025

10/01/40

11/01/40

30/08/40

02/09/40

OB 206

04/09/40

05/09/40

18/08/40

04/09/40

SL 044

07/09/40

07/09/40

07/09/40

09/09/40

OB 210

10/09/40

10/09/40

17/09/40

17/09/40

OB 215

21/09/40

21/09/40

09/09/40

21/09/40

HX 072

unknown

21/09/40

07/10/40

07/10/40

OB 225

10/10/40

10/10/40

30/09/40

11/10/40

HX 077

unknown

15/10/40

25/10/40

25/10/40

OL 009

27/10/40

27/10/40

22/10/40

07/11/40

SL 052F

08/11/40

10/11/40

30/11/40

01/12/40

OB 252

04/12/40

04/12/40

22/11/40

05/12/40

SC 013

07/12/40

07/12/40

14/12/40

15/12/40

OB 259

16/12/40

17/12/40

20/12/40

21/12/40

OB 262

23/12/40

23/12/40

07/12/40

24/12/40

SL 058

28/12/40

28/12/40

03/01/41

04/01/41

OB 269

06/01/41

06/01/41

26/12/40

07/01/41

HX 099

10/01/41

11/01/41

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

21/01/41

05/02/41

BHX 104

08/02/41

09/02/41

25/02/41

26/02/41

OG 054

04/03/41

14/03/41

12/03/41

12/03/41

OB 297

17/03/41

17/03/41

05/03/41

18/03/41

HX 113

20/03/41

21/03/41

15/06/41

16/06/41

OB 336

22/06/41

23/06/41

10/06/41

24/06/41

SC 034

28/06/41

29/06/41

06/07/41

06/07/41

OB 343

12/07/41

21/07/41

30/06/41

13/07/41

HX 136

18/07/41

18/07/41

01/07/41

13/07/41

SC 036

18/07/41

19/07/41

16/07/41

26/07/41

HX 139

30/07/41

31/07/41

06/08/41

07/08/41

ON 005

11/08/41

14/08/41

01/08/41

12/08/41

HX 142

unknown

18/08/41

01/08/41

12/08/41

SC 039

17/08/41

19/08/41

27/08/41

29/08/41

ON 010

01/09/41

11/09/41

21/08/41

02/09/41

HX 146

06/09/41

06/09/41

11/09/41

11/09/41

ON 015

14/09/41

16/09/41

04/09/41

14/09/41

HX 148

17/09/41

17/09/41

28/09/41

09/10/41

HX 152

09/10/41

14/10/41

26/01/42

27/01/42

ON 060

02/02/42

15/02/42

08/02/42

09/02/42

ON 065

12/02/42

19/02/42

07/02/42

17/02/42

HX 174

21/02/42

21/02/42

19/02/42

26/02/42

AT 012

01/03/42

02/03/42

01/05/42

01/05/42

DS 026

03/05/42

03/05/42

03/05/42

03/05/42

SD 026

05/05/42

05/05/42

08/05/42

08/05/42

UR 023

12/05/42

12/05/42

15/05/42

15/05/42

RU 023

19/05/42

19/05/42

28/05/42

28/05/42

UR 026

31/05/42

31/05/42

04/06/42

04/06/42

RU 026

08/06/42

08/06/42

18/06/42

18/06/42

UR 029

22/06/42

22/06/42

25/06/42

25/06/42

RU 029

29/06/42

29/06/42

11/07/42

11/07/42

UR 032

16/07/42

16/07/42

16/07/42

16/07/42

RU 032

20/07/42

20/07/42

21/07/41

21/07/42

OB 349

26/07/41

01/08/41

24/07/42

24/07/42

RU 032A

27/07/42

27/07/42

16/08/42

16/08/42

DS 031

18/08/42

18/08/42

22/08/42

22/08/42

SD 031

24/08/42

24/08/42

04/12/42

21/12/42

SC 112

25/12/42

25/12/42

17/02/43

17/02/43

DS 037

19/02/43

19/02/43

12/05/43

12/05/43

DS 040

14/05/43

14/05/43

14/05/43

14/05/43

SD 040

17/05/43

17/05/43

08/06/43

08/06/43

DS 041

11/06/43

11/06/43

12/06/43

12/06/43

SD 041

14/06/43

14/06/43

24/06/43

24/06/43

UR 080

28/06/43

28/06/43

01/07/43

01/07/43

ON 191

unknown

15/07/43

01/08/43

01/08/43

DS 043

03/08/43

03/08/43

06/08/43

06/08/43

SD 043

08/08/43

08/08/43

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

back to Contents List
or Naval-History.Net

revised 1/7/11
further editing and formatting is required