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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2004

HMS  VISCOUNT (D 92) -  V & W-class Destroyer including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Viscount (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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Thornycroft V-Type Destroyer ordered from John I Thornycroft at Woolston, Southampton with the 9th Order of the 1916-17 Programme. The ship was laid down on 20th December 1916 and launched on 29th December 1917 as the 1st RN warship to carry this name. She was completed on 4th March 1918. After the Armistice she served in the Atlantic and Mediterranean Fleets before being deployed for local duties in Home waters. She was attached to the 6th Submarine Flotilla at Portland in 1938. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 she was adopted by the civil community of Chislehurst and Sidcup in Kent.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC  1939-44 - BISCAY   1943

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field White, a Viscount's Coronet Proper.

 

M o t t o

Nobile qui nobilis: ‘Handsome is as handsome does ‘

 

 

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

                3rd          Deployed with 19th Destroyer Flotilla at Plymouth for convoy escort duties and anti

                                submarine operations in Channel and SW Approaches.

 

October                  Channel and SW Approaches convoy defence in continuation.

to

December

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Deployed for convoy defence in Western Approaches Command based at Plymouth.

                7th          Deployed with HM Destroyer VANOC and joined inward Convoy HG13

                                as relief for two French warships as escort during passage in SW Approaches to Liverpool.

                8th          HM Destroyers VENETIA, VOLUNTEER and HM Trawler ARCTIC RANGER joined escort.

                10th        Detached from HG13 and took passage to Plymouth.

 

February

                18th        Deployed with HM Destroyer VANQUISHER and joined inward Convoy HG18 to relieve

                                French warship as escort for remainder of passage to Liverpool from Gibraltar.

                19th        Detached from HG18 on arrival at Liverpool and took passage to Plymouth.

 

March                    Western Approaches convoy defence based at Plymouth in continuation.

 

April

                8th          Deployed with HM Sloop ROCHESTER, HM Destroyers VIMY and WITCH to join inward

                                Convoy HG25F as escort for passage into Liverpool from Gibraltar.

                                Relieved French warship.

                9th          HMS VIMY and HMS WITCH detached.

                11th        Detached from HG25F with HMS ROCHESTER on arrival at Liverpool

                                Based at Liverpool for Western Approaches convoy defence.

                                (Note: Headquarters of Western Approaches Command had been transferred to Liverpool and

                                some escorts had been transferred for detached service with Home Fleet after German

                                invasion of Norway.).

 

May                        Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to I92 to conform with changes

                                introduced for all RN warships.

                15th        Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier GLORIOUS with HM Destroyers DIANA and VETERAN

                                during passage from Clyde to Norwegian coast.

 

June

                7th          Passage to join troopships returning from Norway delayed by fog.

                                (Note: HM Destroyers ATHERSTONE, ANTELOPE, WITHERINGTON and WOLVERINE

                                were also deployed.)

                                Joined troopships and HM Cruiser VINDICTIVE in position 61N 6W and took passage to

                                Clyde as part of escort.

                8th          Under air attack which was repelled.

                                See Naval Staff History (HMSO, 2002) for details.

 

July                         Resumed Atlantic convoy defence in NW Approaches.

 

August                  Atlantic convoy escort in continuation

 

September             Detached for escort of HM Auxiliary Minelayers MENESTHEUS, PORT NAPIER,

                                SOUTHERN PRINCE and PORT QUEBEC during minelay in Northern Barrage with HM

                                Destroyers VANSITTART, WHITEHALL and WITHERINGTON. (Operation SN42).

 

October                  Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.

 

November              Part of escort of Convoy HG47 with HM Sloop FOLKESTONE and HM Corvette GENTIAN.

                                Detached to Join HM Canadian Destroyer ST LAURENT in escort for Convoy HX90.

 

December

                1st           In action with U-Boats attacking HX90.

                                (Note: This convoy was subjected to a series of attacks and had scattered.

                                Six U-Boats were involved and in all sank 10 merchant ships.

                                Many weaknesses in defence tactics used were exposed and corrected.

                                See THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by Donald MacIntyre, Naval Staff History

                                and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO)).

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Atlantic convoy escort duty in continuation.

to

May

 

June                        Taken in hand at Liverpool for conversion to Long Range Escort.

                                (For details see BRITISH DESTROYERS by Edgar J March)

 

July .                       Under conversion

to

November

 

December              On completion of Post Refit trials worked-up for operational duties.

                                Resumed convoy defence duties in NW Approaches.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.

to

March

 

April                       Joined Norwegian Corvettes ACANTHUS (Ex HMS, later ANDENES ), EGLANTINE (Ex-HMS, later SOROY ),

                                HM Corvettes ROSE and POTENTILLA as 6th British Escort Group for Atlantic convoy escort.

 

May                        Escorted Convoy SC83 with corvettes of Group.

 

June                        Atlantic convoy escort with Group in continuation

to                            (Note: Surface warning radar Type 271 and HEDGEHOG Ahead Throwing Mortar fitted

July                         by this period. See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse, SEEK AND STRIKE by W.

                                Hackmann and THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre).

 

August                  HM Norwegian Corvette MONTBRETIA Joined Group.

                                Escorted Convoy ONS122 with Group.

                13th        Under series of sustained attacks from LOHS Group of U-Boats.

                23rd        Intercepted radio transmissions from U- Boat and obtained 'fix' on position with cross bearing on

                                fitted direction finding set in another escort.

                                Carried out attacks on submarine after detection by ASDIC (Sonar).

                                Two submarines damaged but four ships in convoy lost.

                                (Note: For details of improved capabilities using new radio equipments see SEEK AND

                                STRIKE, BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS by J Terraine and RADAR AT SEA

                                by D Howse.).

 

September             Atlantic convoy escort in continuation with Group.

                                HM Destroyer FAME Joined Group.

 

October                  Part of escort for Convoy SC1CW with ships of Group.

                                Under attack by ten U-Boats of WOTAN group.

                15th        Carried out attacks on U607 after radar detection.

                                Rammed and sank U661 in position 53.42N 35.56H.

                                For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp

                                There were no survivors.

                                Sustained major structural damage and had to leave escort.

 

December              Under repair

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Under repair.

                                HM Corvettes VERVAIN and KINGCUP joined Group.

 

February                On completion of repair rejoined Group.

                                Escorted Convoy ONS165 with ships of Group.

                17th        Under attack by U-Boats of TAIFUN Group.

                                Sank U69 in position 50.50N 40.50W, again by ramming.

                                There were no survivors.

                                (Note: HMS FAME sank U201 during defence of this convoy.

                                See above references. for details of new tactics and weapons used in

                                the crucial 1943 convoy battles.

 

March                    Under repair.

to

April

 

May                        Resumed North Atlantic convoy escort.

to                            Detached during this period for offensive operations in Bay of Biscay.

July

 

August                  Attacks were made in conjunction with aircraft against U-Boats in transit across

                                the Bay of Biscay to and from Atlantic convoy routes.

                                (Operation DERANGE - See CONFLICT OVER THE BAY by N Franks).

 

September             Deployed with HM Escort Carrier FENCER, HM Destroyers INCONSTANT, WHITEHALL and

                                WRESTLER, Polish ORP GARLAND and Polish ORP BURZA as 8th Support Group to escort

                                military convoy to Azores (Operation ALACRITY)

                                (Note: This operation was to establish air bases in the Azores).

 

October                  Deployment with 8th Support Group for ALACRITY in continuation.

                                On completion resumed Atlantic convoy defence.

 

November              Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence without significant engagements.

to                            (Note: Not deployed for support or escort during Normandy landings).

December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Atlantic and Home coastal waters convoy defence

to                            Withdrawn from operational service and placed on the Disposal List.

February                (Note: Other new escort ships were available and crew released could be used to man these

                                vessels. This ship had already made a valuable contribution to the winning of The Battle

                                of the Atlantic and like her sisters of WW1 vintage could be retired with honour).

 

March                    Paid-off and reduced to Reserve status.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS VISCOUNT was placed on the Disposal List in 1947 and sold to BISCO for demolition by Clayton and Davie at Dunston, The ship arrived in tow at Breaker's yard on 27th May 1947 for demolition.

 

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS VISCOUNT

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

 

 

 

 

 

18/09/39

18/09/39

BC 003/1

20/09/39

20/09/39

20/09/39

20/09/39

BC 002R

22/09/39

22/09/39

24/09/39

24/09/39

BC 005/1

26/09/39

26/09/39

30/09/39

30/09/39

BC 007/1

02/10/39

02/10/39

02/10/39

02/10/39

BC 006R

03/10/39

03/10/39

06/10/39

06/10/39

BC 009/1

08/10/39

08/10/39

08/10/39

08/10/39

BC 008R

10/10/39

10/10/39

25/10/39

25/10/39

OA 025

28/10/39

unknown

06/11/39

06/11/39

OA 031

10/11/39

10/11/39

31/10/39

10/11/39

HXF 007

12/11/39

12/11/39

10/12/39

10/12/39

OA 050G

11/12/39

unknown

11/12/39

11/12/39

OG 010

13/12/39

16/12/39

09/12/39

15/12/39

HG 010

16/12/39

16/12/39

27/12/39

27/12/39

OA 061

29/12/39

30/12/39

03/01/40

05/01/40

OA 065G

07/01/40

07/01/40

31/12/39

08/01/40

HG 013

10/01/40

10/01/40

11/01/40

12/01/40

OA 070G

13/01/40

14/01/40

13/01/40

24/01/40

SL 016F

27/01/40

27/01/40

28/01/40

28/01/40

OB 081

31/01/40

31/01/40

16/01/40

02/02/40

SL 017

04/02/40

04/02/40

09/02/40

16/02/40

HG 018

19/02/40

19/02/40

25/03/40

06/04/40

HX 030

09/04/40

09/04/40

02/04/40

08/04/40

HG 025F

11/04/40

11/04/40

01/05/40

01/05/40

HK 001

09/05/40

09/05/40

12/06/40

12/06/40

HEBREW

14/06/40

14/06/40

02/07/40

02/07/40

HGY

04/07/40

14/07/40

23/07/40

29/07/40

TC 006

01/08/40

01/08/40

04/08/40

04/08/40

OB 193

07/08/40

07/08/40

27/07/40

08/08/40

HX 061

11/08/40

11/08/40

15/08/40

15/08/40

OB 198

17/08/40

18/08/40

02/08/40

19/08/40

SL 042

21/08/40

21/08/40

26/08/40

26/08/40

OB 204

29/08/40

29/08/40

20/08/40

30/08/40

HG 042

01/09/40

03/09/40

03/10/40

03/10/40

WS 003A

unknown

27/10/40

25/10/40

25/10/40

OL 009

27/10/40

27/10/40

02/11/40

02/11/40

OB 238

05/11/40

05/11/40

22/10/40

06/11/40

SL 052F

10/11/40

10/11/40

17/11/40

17/11/40

OB 244

21/11/40

22/11/40

11/11/40

22/11/40

HX 086

26/11/40

26/11/40

28/11/40

28/11/40

OB 251

01/12/40

01/12/40

21/11/40

01/12/40

HX 090

05/12/40

05/12/40

12/12/40

12/12/40

OB 258

15/12/40

15/12/40

28/11/40

15/12/40

SL 057

unknown

19/12/40

18/12/40

unknown

HX 097

unknown

03/01/41

26/12/40

26/12/40

OB 265

28/12/40

30/12/40

08/01/41

08/01/41

OB 271

12/01/41

12/01/41

01/01/41

13/01/41

HX 100

17/01/41

18/01/41

22/01/41

22/01/41

OB 277

27/01/41

27/01/41

15/01/41

28/01/41

HX 103

31/01/41

01/02/41

06/04/41

17/04/41

HX 119A

21/04/41

22/04/41

26/04/41

26/04/41

OG 060

30/04/41

10/05/41

09/04/41

30/04/41

SL 071

02/05/41

04/05/41

07/05/42

12/05/42

SC 083

23/05/42

23/05/42

05/06/42

06/06/42

ON 101

14/06/42

18/06/42

19/06/42

21/06/42

SC 088

01/07/42

04/07/42

10/07/42

11/07/42

ON 111

19/07/42

24/07/42

27/07/42

30/07/42

HX 200

06/08/42

07/08/42

16/08/42

17/08/42

ON 122

28/08/42

03/09/42

30/08/42

02/09/42

HX 205

10/09/42

11/09/42

19/09/42

25/09/42

ON 132

04/10/42

08/10/42

03/10/42

10/10/42

SC 104

15/10/42

21/10/42

02/02/43

08/02/43

ON 165

20/02/43

01/03/43

18/02/43

24/02/43

HX 227

05/03/43

06/03/43

15/03/43

21/03/43

ONS 001

26/03/43

04/04/43

31/03/43

04/04/43

SC 125

15/04/43

15/04/43

29/04/43

01/05/43

ONS 006

14/05/43

17/05/43

18/05/43

22/05/43

SC 131

30/05/43

31/05/43

24/07/43

25/07/43

ON 194

02/08/43

07/08/43

08/08/43

13/08/43

HX 251

22/08/43

23/08/43

03/10/43

03/10/43

UA 003

09/10/43

09/10/43

25/11/43

25/11/43

RS 012

02/12/43

02/12/43

14/01/44

14/01/44

SR 009

22/01/44

22/01/44

21/02/44

21/02/44

SL 150

24/02/44

03/03/44

03/03/44

03/03/44

SR 011

14/03/44

14/03/44

01/04/44

01/04/44

MKS 044G

02/04/44

02/04/44

02/04/44

02/04/44

SL 153MK

05/04/44

13/04/44

08/04/44

15/04/44

MKF 029B

17/04/44

17/04/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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