Modified W-Class Destroyer ordered from John I Thornycroft at Woolston, Southampton with the 13th order of the 1913-19 Programmes in January 1918. She was laid down on 18th May 1918 and launched on 18th July 1919 as the first ship to commemorate the name of a Royal Navy Captain serving at Vigo in 1702. Her completion was in June 1920 and she is easily distinguished from other ships of this type by having two funnels of almost equal height. During the inter-war years she served in the Atlantic Fleet and later in the Mediterranean was commanded by Lord Louis Mountbatten. Following a WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in February 1942 this ship was adopted by the civil community of Port Talbot, Glamorgan. In 1942 she was classed as a Close Range Escort and not converted to a Long Range Escort because the boiler room arrangements did not allow increase her fuel capacity.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Silver, a Pheon Red

 

M o t t o

Clementia victis:   'Mercy to the vanquished'

 

 

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 with 13th Destroyer Flotilla at Gibraltar for contraband control duty and trade defence

                                in Atlantic and Mediterranean.

 

October                  Gibraltar deployment for convoy defence in continuation.

to                            (For details of naval activities in 1939 see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C.

November              Barnett and Naval Staff History.).

 

December

                29th        Deployed as escort for outward Convoy HG 13F during passage from Gibraltar to Liverpool

                                with HM Destroyer ACTIVE.

 

1 9 4 0

 

January

                3rd          Detached from HG13F and returned to Gibraltar/

 

February

                1st           Escorted outward Convoy OG16F for passage from Gibraltar with HM Destroyer VELOX

                4th          Deployed as escort for outward Convoy OG18 during passage from Gibraltar.

                5th          Detached from OG18

                14th        Joined inward Convoy HG19F escorted by two French destroyers for passage into Gibraltar

                18th        Detached from HG19F on arrival at Gibraltar

                25th        Deployed as escort for outward Convoy OG19F for initial stage passage to Liverpool with HM

                                Sloops ABERDEEN and DEPTFORD.

                27th        Detached from HG20 and returned to Gibraltar.

 

March

                14th        Deployed with HM Destroyers WINCHELSEA and two French destroyers as escort for Convoy

                                OG21 during outward passage from Gibraltar to Liverpool/

                17th        Detached from OG21 and returned to Gibraltar.

                21st         Deployed with two French destroyers as escort for outward Convoy OG22 during initial stage of

                                passage to Liverpool

                24th        Detached from OG22 and returned to Gibraltar.

 

April

                2nd         Deployed with HM Destroyers VORTIGERN and WATCHMAN as escort for Convoy OG24

                                during initial stage of passage from Gibraltar.

                4th          Detached from OG24F and returned to Gibraltar.

                9th          Deployed with HM Destroyer VIMY and HM Sloop ABERDEEN as escort for Convoy OG25F

                                during

                12th        Detached from OG25F and returned to Gibraltar.

 

May                        Deployment at Gibraltar for convoy escort in continuation

                                Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to I 67 to conform with changes made for

                                all RN ships.

 

June                        On formation of Force H at Gibraltar remained under control of The Flag Officer,

                                North Atlantic (FONA) but available for escort with Force H major units

 

July                         Deployed with screen of major Force H units.

                31st         Part of escort for Force H units providing cover during Malta aircraft delivery by

                                HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS (Operation HURRY).

 

August

                2nd         Remained with Force H screen during air strike on Cagliari by HM Aircraft ARK ROYAL

                                (Operation CRUSH).

                30th        Part of destroyer screen for Force H ships covering the passage of HM Battleship VALIANT,

                                HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruisers CALCUTTA and COVENTRY to

                                reinforce Mediterranean Fleet based at Alexandria (Operation HATS).

                31st         Detached from Force H with HM Destroyer VELOX to make WIRELESS transmissions to

                                mislead Italian listening stations regarding heading of British units.

                                (Operation SQUAWK).

                                (For details of operations in Western Mediterranean see Naval Staff History).

 

September             Resumed convoy defence and anti-submarine patrol in Gibraltar area.

to

October

 

November

                7th          Detached for duty with Force H and Joined escort for units covering the

                                of HM Battleship BARHAM, HM Cruisers BERWICK, GLASGOW, HM Destroyers GALLANT,

                                GREYHOUND, GRIFFIN and ENCOUNTER to reinforce Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria.

                                (Operation COAT).

                15th        Detached for duty with Force H during cover of Malta aircraft delivery by HMS ARGUS.

                                (Operation WHITE).

                24th        Detached with HM Destroyers DUNCAN, ENCOUNTER and VIDETTE of 13th Flotilla for the escort of

                                Force H ships covering passage of Malta convoy and reinforcements to join Mediterranean Fleet at

                                Alexandria (Operation COLLAR).

                25th        Joined HM Battleship RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL, HM Cruiser DESPATCH, HM Destroyers FURY,

                                FAULKNOR, FIREDRAKE, FORESTER, DUNCAN, ENCOUNTER, VIDETTE, KELVIN and JAGUAR

                                providing cover for passage of Convoy.

                                (Note: HM Cruisers MANCHESTER, SOUTHAMPTON, HM Corvettes GLOXINIA, SALVIA,

                                HYACINTH and PEONY were included for passage to Eastern Mediterranean.)

                27th        After major Italian units were sighted by patrolling aircraft, ships of Force H were detached to engage

                                these ships

 .                              Remained with HMS VIDETTE as escort for the convoy during brief exchange of fire after which Italian

                                fleet withdrew.

                                (Battle of Spartivento - .See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History.)

 

December

                20th        Detached with ships of 13th Flotilla for escort of Force H major units to cover passage of Convoy MW5

                                comprising empty mercantiles from Malta and passage of HM Battleship MALAYA with HM Destroyers

                                HERO, HARDY and HEREWARD from Malta (Operation HIDE)

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Deployed for Atlantic convoy escort duty based at Gibraltar.

to

February

 

March                    Nominated for transfer to Freetown for Local Escort of Atlantic convoys.

 

April

                2nd         Joined military convoy WS7 with HM Destroyer VIDETTE as Local Escort for passage into Freetown.

                4th          Detached from WS7 on arrival at Freetown with Local Escort.

                7th          Rejoined WS7 on departure from Freetown with HM Destroyers FOXHOUND, DUNCAN and

                                VIDETTE as Local Escort.

                9th          Detached from WS7 with HMS DUNCAN and HMS VIDETTE and returned to Freetown.

                                (Note: Ocean escort was provided by HM Battleship NELSON.)

                               

May

                5th          Joined military convoy WS8A with HMS DUNCAN as Local Escort during passage into Freetown

                9th          Detached from WS8A with Local Escort on arrival at Freetown.

                14th        Rejoined WS8A with HM Destroyers BOREAS, HIGHLANDER and DUNCAN as Local Escort.

                15th        Detached from WS8A with HMS BOREAS and returned to Freetown.

                                (Note: Ocean Escort was provided by HM Cruiser MAURITIUS.)

 

June                        Passage to Gibraltar to resume convoy defence with Local Flotilla.

                13th        Detached for escort duty with Force H during aircraft delivery to Malta by HM Aircraft Carriers

                                VICTORIOUS and ARK ROYAL (Operation TRACER).

                26th        Nominated for duty with Force H for further Malta aircraft delivery cover but withdrawn and replaced

                                by HM Destroyer LANCE.

                27th        During anti-submarine operation off Gibraltar sank Italian submarine GLAUCO.

                                (See WAR AT SEA by SW Roskill (Appendix of Italian submarine losses and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR,

                                by C Blair.)

 

July                         Returned to UK for refit and conversion for use as Long Range Escort.

 

August                  Under refit and conversion.

to                            (Note: Radar equipment fitted for surface warning.

December              (See BRITISH DESTROYERS by E. March and RADAR AT SEA by D Howse)..

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Post refit trials and prepared for convoy escort duty.

 

February                Passage to Gibraltar to rejoin Flotilla.

 

March                    Deployed on convoy escort based at Gibraltar.

 

March

                20th        Detached for escort of Force H ships during cover of Malta aircraft delivery by HM Aircraft

                                Carriers ARGUS and EAGLE.

                                Joined HM Battleship MALAYA, HM Cruiser HERMIONE with HM Destroyers LAFOREY,

                                DUNCAN, ACTIVE, ANTHONY, WHITEHALL, BLANKNEY, EXMOOR and CROOME as

                                screen (Operation PICKET I).

                27th        Repeat escort duty for further aircraft delivery with same ships (Operation PICKET II).

 

April

                19th        Detached for escort of HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Cruisers CHARYBDIS and CAIRO for

                                Malta aircraft delivery by US aircraft Carrier USS WASP with RN 3rd and 13th Destroyer

                                Flotilla and two US Navy destroyers (Operation CALENDAR).

 

May                        Deployed for convoy defence duty with Flotilla.

                2nd         Took part in sinking of U74 with HM Destroyer WRESTLER and aircraft of 202 Sqdn. RAF in

                                position south of Cartagena.

                                There were no survivors. (See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and above reference.)

                8th          Detached for duty with Force H for escort of HMS RENOWN, HMS CHARYBDIS with

                                destroyers of 13th Flotilla covering Malta aircraft delivery by HMS EAGLE and USS WASP

                                (Operation BOWERY).

                18th        Detached for duty with Force H as part of escort for HM Aircraft Carriers EAGLE and ARGUS

                                for Malta aircraft delivery with HM Cruiser CHARYBDIS, HM Destroyers PARTRIDGE,

                                ITHURIEL, ANTELOPE, WESTCOTT, WRESTLER and VIDETTE (Operation LB).

 

June                        Force H screening duty in continuation.

                2nd         Detached for escort of HMS CHARYBDIS covering further Malta aircraft delivery by HMS

                                EAGLE with HM Destroyers WESTCOTT, ITHURIEL, ANTELOPE and PARTRIDGE

.                               (Operation STYLE).

                8th          Repeat escort duty for Malta aircraft delivery by HMS EAGLE with HM Cruisers CAIRO

                                CHARYBDIS, HM Destroyer WRESTLER and same ships as STYLE. (Operation SALIENT).

                11th        Joined Force W for escort of HMS MALAYA, HMS EAGLE. HMS ARGUS. HM Cruisers

                                KENYA, LIVERPOOL and CHARYBDIS with HM Destroyers ONSLOW, ICARUS,

                                ESCAPADE, WESTCOTT, WRESTLER, VIDETTE and ANTELOPE covering transit of Malta

                                convoy to the Sicilian Narrows (Operation HARPOON).

                                (For details see THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre, ENGAGE THE

                                ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History.).

                18th        On completion resumed Gibraltar Escort duties with Flotilla.

                26th        Joined military convoy WS20 off Gibraltar and detached to escort ss NARKUNDA into Gibraltar.

 

August                  Deployed with Gibraltar Escort Flotilla

                10th        Detached for duty with Force Z covering transit of Malta relief convoy.

                                Joined HM Destroyers ANTELOPE, ITHURIEL, LAFOREY, LIGHTNING and LOOKOUT as

                                screen for HM Battleships NELSON, RODNEY, HM Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE,

                                VICTORIOUS, EAGLE, HM Cruisers PHOEBE, SIRIUS and CHARYBDIS.

                                (Operation PEDESTAL. See PEDESTAL by P Smith and above reference for details)

                13th        Returned with Force Z to Gibraltar on arrival at Skerki Bank.

 

September             Deployed on convoy defence with Gibraltar Escort Force.

 

October                  Convoy defence duty in continuation.

                28th        Detached to escort HMS FURIOUS and HM Cruiser AURORA with HM Destroyers WESTCOTT,

                                COWDRAY, BRAMHAM, ACHATES, VANOC, VERITY and the Polish destroyer 0RP

                                BLYSKAWICA for final aircraft delivery to Malta (Operation TRAIN).

 

November              Deployed with Gibraltar Escort Force.

                                Escorted military convoys for North African landings in Atlantic and western Mediterranean

                                with HM Destroyer VENOMOUS, HM Corvettes COLTSFOOT, GERANIUM, SPIREA and

                                JONQUIL (Operation TORCH).

                7th          Deployed with HM Destroyer VELOX and HM Frigate SPEY for escort of assault convoy

                                and detached to stand by American troopship THOMAS STONE which had been torpedoed

                                during passage. (Operation TORCH)

                                After soldiers had been embarked in landing craft and in HMS SPEY remained with

                                THOMAS STONE during tow to Algiers by tug.

                                (Note: Identity of submarine involved has not been established.

                                See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR, Volume by C Blair.)

                21st         Assisted with rescue operations after troopship mv STRATHALLAN has been torpedoed

                                on passage to North Africa in western Mediterranean.

 

December              Convoy defence with Gibraltar Escort Force in continuation.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Convoy defence duty in Atlantic and western Mediterranean.

to                            Supported military operations in North Africa.

June                        Nominated for support of allied landings in Sicily (Operation HUSKY)

 

July                         Joined Support Force East

                10th        Present during landings SW of Syracuse.

                                (See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History.)

 

August                  Deployed for convoy defence in central and western Mediterranean.

to

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Deployed at Gibraltar with Gibraltar Escort Force for convoy defence.

 

February                Convoy defence duty in continuation.

                24th        Took part in sinking of U761 with HM Destroyer ANTHONY after detection by US

                                aircraft using Magnetic Anomaly Detection equipment.

                                49 of the submarine crew were rescued.

                                (Note: See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR.

                                For details of development and use of Anti-submarine weapons see SEEK AND STRIKE

                                by W Hackmann.)

 

March                    Convoy defence duty based at Gibraltar

to

December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Nominated for withdrawal from operational use.

                                Took passage to UK to pay-off and reduce to Reserve status.

 

February                On arrival Paid-off, reduced to Reserve status and placed on Disposal List

 

March

                20th        Sold for breaking-up by T W Ward at Inverkeithing, near Rosyth.

  

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS WISHART arrived at the breaker’s yard in tow after VJ Day.

 

---

 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS WISHART

by Don Kindell

 

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above

(Note on Convoys)