W-Class
Destroyer ordered from Palmers
at
Jarrow on 9th December 1916
under the 1916-17 Build
Programme with the 10th order
for this type of
warship. The ship was laid down
in July 1917and launched on 26th
March 1918 as the first RN
warship to carry this
name. Build was completed on
17th April
1918 and this ship served in the
Atlantic and Mediterranean
Fleets
before her transfer to the Royal
Australian Navy in 1933. She was
commissioned as HMAS
WATERHEN
on 11th October 1933 and
remained in the RAN
for the rest of her service.
B
a t t
l e H o n o u r s
LIBYA
1940-41 - GREECE 1941 - CRETE
1941
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field White a Waterhen
proper.
M
o t
t o
Domus
in indus:
‘My home is in the waves’
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
August
Laid-up
in
reserve at Sydney.
(Note: Ship had
been brought forward in 1938 and
returned to Reserve
in
April
1939.)
War
Station nominated at Singapore
with
ships of China Station..
September
1st
- Commissioned
for service.
9th
- On
completion of storing and
preparation for operational
service deployed
with HM Australian
Destroyers STUART and
VAMPIRE in search for a
submarine
reported off Broke Bay. No
sighting was made.
October
14th
- Took
passage from Sydney with HM
Australian Destroyers VENDETTA,
VOYAGER, VAMPIRE and
STUART to join China
Station under RN
command.
November
Nominated
for
transfer to Mediterranean Fleet
during passage to Singapore.
13th
- Took
passage from Singapore to
Mediterranean with call at
Colombo
16th
- Detached
to join HM Aircraft Carrier
EAGLE, HM Cruisers CORNWALL and DORSETSHIRE in Hunting Group formed to intercept commerce
raiders
in Indian Ocean. Took
passage to Colombo to join
Group.
(Note:
HMS VENDETTA was also intended
to join the Hunting Group but
had detached to land sick
officer at
Penang.)
18th
- Arrived
at Colombo.
20th
- Joined
Hunting Group I.
December
Deployed
with
Hunting Group.
14th
- Detached
from Hunting Group and resumed
passage to Mediterranean with
HMAS VENDETTA.
17th
- Arrived
at Malta.
1
9 4 0
January to April
Deployed
with HMAS VENDETTA, VOYAGER,
VAMPIRE and
STUART with ships of
Destroyer Command in
Mediterranean for
Fleet and Flotilla exercises
and enforcement of blockade.
May
Took
part in
preparatory exercises with
Mediterranean Fleet in the anticipation of Italian entry into war against Britain and the
Dominions.
27th
- Joined
newly formed 10th Destroyer
Flotilla with the other
destroyers
of the RAN.
Pennant
Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to I22 to
conform with changes
made for all RN
ships.
June
Deployed
in
Mediterranean, based at
Alexandria as 10th Destroyer
Flotilla.
(Note: During this period
the
Mediterranean Fleet was deployed
to cover
passage
of convoys evacuating personnel
from Malta
(Operation
MA3). This was abandoned after
an action with Italian destroyers during which heavy expenditure of ammunition gave rise
for concern. See THE
BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN
by D Macintyre and
Naval Staff History.)
11th - Deployed with screen for HMS EAGLE, HM Australian
Cruiser SYDNEY,
HM
Battleships
MALAYA and WARSPITE during sweep
in the eastern
Mediterranean.
12th - Returned to Alexandria with major units.
13th - Deployed with HMAS STUART, VAMPIRE and VOYAGER to
carry out
anti-submarine
search
off Alexandria. (During search Italian submarine FOCA was
sighted on
surface and engaged by the other destroyers without success. This submarine had
been
carrying out minelaying operation. See THE NAVAL WAR IN THE MEDITERRANEAN by
J Greene and
A
Massignani.)
26th - Sailed from Alexandria with HMAS VAMPIRE and VENDETTA
to
join
HM
Cruiser ORION for support of
commando raid on Castellorizo.
27th - Carried out bombardment of Castellorizo.
July
Deployed off North African coast for support of military
operations
August
16th - Sailed with HMAS STUART, VENDETTA and HM Destroyer
DIAMOND
as
screen for HM Cruiser KENT, HM
Battleships MALAYA,
RAMILLIES
and WARSPITE for
support duties.
17th - Took part in bombardment of Fort Capuzzo.
Under
air attacks.
23rd - Sailed from Alexandria with HM Cruiser SYDNEY (RAN),
HM
Destroyers
STUART (RAN), DIAMOND,
JUNO and ILEX for
bombardment of
shore targets in support of
military advance in Libya. Detached to
join HM River Gunboat LADYBIRD
for bombardment at Bardia.
24th - Took part in operation to enter Bardia harbour for
bombardment.
Carried
out
bombardment of seaplane base in
Gulf of Bomba and escorted
HM
River
Gunboat LADYBIRD during
bombardment.
September
Military support duties with Flotilla in continuation.
October
16th - Taken in hand for self refit at Alexandria.
29th - Resumed duties with Flotilla at Alexandria.
30th - Deployed with HM Netlayer PROTECTOR, HMAS VAMPIRE and
VOYAGER
as
escort for convoy to Suda Bay.
November
1st - Passage to Alexandria from Suda Bay.
4th - Deployed with HM Cruisers CALCUTTA and COVENTRY, HM
Destroyers
DAINTY,
DIAMOND, VAMPIRE (RAN) and
VOYAGER
(RAN)
as escort for Convoy MW3
during passage to Malta covered
by ships
of Mediterranean Fleet.
(Operation
MB8
- Part of Operation COAT with
ships of Force H from
Gibraltar
to pass reinforcement
warships for service with the
Fleet based
at
Alexandria. See THE BATTLE
FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre and above reference.)
9th - Convoy MW3 arrived in Malta.
10th - Escorted Convoy ME3 from Malta with HMS RAMILLIES,
HMS
COVENTRY,
HM
Destroyers DECOY, DEFENDER and
VAMPIRE during
passage from Malta to
Port Said. (Note: Operation JUDGEMENT to attack Italian Fleet ships in
Taranto,
was
carried
out covered by Mediterranean
Fleet as part of the
execution
of Operations COAT and
MB8. See references and The Naval Staff History.)
14th - Detached from ME3 and returned to Alexandria from
Port Said.
December
Joined Force B with HM Destroyers VAMPIRE (RAN), VENDETTA
(RAN)
and VOYAGER for service in
Inshore Squadron to provide
support
for military operations by
Western Desert Force. (See THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre, THE
NAVAL WAR IN THE
MEDITERRANEAN by J
Greene and A.
Massignani and Naval
Staff History.
Note: Force A
comprising HM monitor TERROR, HM
River Gunboats LADYBIRD, APHIS and GNAT was also part of Inshore Squadron
which was similarly
deployed. Cover was
provided by HM Battleships
BARHAM
and MALAYA. HMS EAGLE was
deployed as Force D to give air cover as required.)
11th - Deployed with HMAS VAMPIRE and VENDETTA to carry
out
bombardment
of Bardia which was subsequently
cancelled by weather
conditions.
12th - Return passage to Alexandria.
15th - Deployed with HMS TERROR, HMAS VAMPIRE and HMAS
VOYAGER
for
bombardment
of Bardia.
24th - Deployed for patrol off Sollum during which Italian
schooner was
captured and those on board made Prisoners of War.
1 9 4 1
January
Deployed with Inshore Squadron at Alexandria for support
duties.
30th - Involved in collision off Sollum with HM Trawler
BANDELERO and
seriously
damaged.
BANDELERO was sunk
February
On
return to
Alexandria taken in hand for
repair and refit at Port Tewfiq.
March
Under
refit on
completion of docking for
repair.
5th
- Rejoined
Inshore Squadron and deployed
for escort of convoys to Greece
taking reinforcements to
allied forces
following German attacks.
(Operation
LUSTRE).
7th
- Escorted
convoy to Piraeus.
14th
- Part of
escort for Convoy AS19 from
Piraeus to Alexandria.
18th
- Part of
escort for Convoy AN21 to
Piraeus from Egypt.
21st
- Under
air attacks and rescued crew of
tanker on fire after bomb hit
(Note: HM Trawler AMBER
later escorted
damaged tanker to Suda Bay.)
26th
- Return
passage to Alexandria. .
April
Resumed
Inshore
Squadron duties for support of
retreating army units.
4th
- Deployed
at Tobruk with HMAS VENDETTA for
patrol and support duties.
14th
- Took
part with HMAS VENDETTA in
rescue of survivors from
Hospital
Ship VITA which had been
bombed off
Tobruk.
470 wounded and nursing
staff were taken to Alexandria.
19th
- Deployed
with HM Cruiser COVENTRY, HMAS
STUART and VOYAGER as escort for
HM Supply ship GLENGYLE taking
Commando
troops for raid Bardia.
20th
- Returned
to Alexandria.
21st
- During escort of Convoy AN29
assisted in salvage of
mercantile damaged
by
air attacks and ensured passage
to Suda Bay.
(Note: This was the last
convoy of Operation LUSTRE.)
23rd
- Detached to assist in
evacuation
of allied troops from Megara,
Greece.
On
passage assisted in defence of
Convoy ANF29 under air attacks.
(Operation DEMON)
26th
- Deployed at Megara, Greece
with HMS COVENTRY, HM Destroyers
DECOY,
HASTY, VENDETTA (RAN) and
WRYNECK (RAN)
27th
- Passage to Suda Bay to
discharge troops.
28th
- Part of
escort for evacuation convoy
GA14 from Nauphlia, Greece with
HMS CALCUTTA, HMS
COVENTRY, HMAS STUART,
VAMPIRE and
VENDETTA.
29th
- Deployed
with HMAS STUART, VAMPIRE,
VENDETTA and HM Destroyer GREYHOUND as part of screen for HM Aircraft
Carrier, FORMIDABLE and
other
Mediterranean Fleet major units
which
providing
cover for evacuation convoy
GA15.
May
Convoy
escort
and support duties in
continuation.
3rd
- Returned
to Alexandria.
5th
- Deployed
with HMAS VOYAGER for first
relief journey to isolated
Tobruk
garrison with stores and
personnel.
6th
- Deployed
with HMAS STUART to join HM
Sloops AUCKLAND,
GRIMSBY and FLAMINGO for
escort of Convoy AN30 to Suda
Bay.
Escorted HMS
GRIMSBY towing mercantile
damaged by torpedo in an
air attack.
10th
- Return
passage to Alexandria.
16th
- Deployed
with HMS COVENTRY, HMS AUCKLAND
and HMAS
VOYAGER
to take 700 troops of the Argyll
and Sutherland Highlanders
to Timbakion, Crete to
reinforce defence
of the island.
18th
- On
return to Alexandria resumed
Inshore Squadron duties for
relief of the
Tobruk garrison.
June
Inshore
Squadron Tobruk relief
duties in continuation.
16th
- Deployed with HM Destroyers
VENDETTA (RAN), VOYAGER (RAN),
VAMPIRE
(RAN), DEFENDER, DECOY. DAINTY,
HM Sloops
FLAMINGO,
AUCKLAND and PARRAMATTA (RAN)
for supply of
stores and personnel to
Tobruk garrison.
24th
- Diverted from relief duty at
Mersa Matruh to assist HMS
AUCKLAND
which
was under heavy air attacks ENE
of Tobruk.
25th
- Arrived
on scene after sinking of HMS
AUCKLAND and assisted HM Australian Sloop PARRAMATTA in rescue operations.
Towed Petrol Carrier
which had been under
escort to Alexandria.
28th
- Sailed from Alexandria with
relief stores for Tobruk.
29th
- Under heavy and sustained air
attacks off Sollum and disabled.
Abandoned
and taken in tow by HM Destroyer
DEFENDER.
30th
- Capsized
and sank in position 32.15N
25.20E during tow. Survivors
were
rescued by HMS DEFENDER.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMAS
WATERHEN
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
10/12/39
|
24/12/39
|
K 6
|
26/12/39
|
26/12/39
|
03/01/40
|
03/01/40
|
K 6A
|
05/01/40
|
09/01/40
|
08/10/40
|
08/10/40
|
MF 003
|
11/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
MF 004
|
13/10/40
|
13/10/40
|
04/11/40
|
04/11/40
|
MW 003
|
unknown
|
10/11/40
|
20/02/41
|
20/02/41
|
AS
015/1
|
24/02/41
|
24/02/41
|
14/03/41
|
14/03/41
|
AS
019/1
|
19/03/41
|
19/03/41
|
18/03/41
|
18/03/41
|
AN 021
|
20/03/41
|
22/03/41
|
06/05/41
|
06/05/41
|
AN 030
|
09/05/41
|
09/05/41
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)