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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 WITCH (D 89) -  V & W-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Woolston, original Thornycroft W-class and close sister ship

(Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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Modified Thornycroft W-Class destroyer included in the 13th Order of the 1918-19 Programme for build by Thornycroft at Woolston and ordered in January 1918. She was laid down on 13th June 1918 and launched on 11th November 1919 as the first RN ship to carry this name. Completion was delayed by the end of hostilities and the ship was towed to HM Dockyard Devonport after launch. Build was completed in March 1924. She saw little Fleet service and was placed in Reserve with other ships of the Class. She remained in and Care and Maintenance at Rosyth. In 1939 she was brought forward for the Royal Review of the Reserve Fleet and remained in. commission  after the outbreak of war. She was adopted by the civil community of Northwich, Cheshire following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC  1941-43 - NORWAY  1940 - NORTH SEA  1944

 

H e r a l d ic   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Blue, a cat  affronte cantant Black,

before a crescent moon silver.

 

M o t t o

'I'll do and I'll do'

 

 

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             Remained in service.

                                Completed to war complement and embarked war stores.

                3rd          Joined 15th Destroyer Flotilla based at Rosyth for East coast convoy defence with Rosyth

                                Escort Force.

 

October                  Transferred to Western Approaches Command for Atlantic convoy escort.

 

November              Atlantic deployment in continuation.

to                           

December               

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

                11th        Joined HM Sloops ABERDEEN, BIDEFORD and LEITH in escort for inward

                                Convoy HG14F with HM Destroyers WARWICK and WANDERER to supplement escort during

                                passage in SW Approaches to Liverpool from Gibraltar.

                12th        HMS LEITH detached.

                13th        Detached with escort on arrival of HG14F in Liverpool.

 

February                Western Approaches convoy defence and patrol in continuation.

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

 

March

                7th          Joined inward Convoy HG21F in SW Approaches with HM Destroyer WHIRLWIND as relief for

                                escort during final stage of passage to Liverpool from Gibraltar.

                10th        Detached from HG21F with HMS WHIRLWIND on arrival at Liverpool.

                                (Note: All escorts for convoys in Western Approaches Command were based at Liverpool after

                                headquarters transferred from Plymouth.)

                19th        Joined inward Convoy HG22 during passage to Liverpool in SW approaches with HM Destroyers

                                WATCHMAN and VORTIGERN in place of HM Destroyer VANQUISHER as escort for final

                                stage of passage from Gibraltar.

                21st         Detached from HG22 and returned to base.

 

April

                8th          Joined inward Convoy HG25F in SW Approaches with HM Sloop ROCHESTER,

                                HM Destroyers VIMY and VISCOUNT as escort for passage into Liverpool

                                from Gibraltar.

                9th          Detached from HG25F with HMS VIMY and took passage to Scapa Flow for service with Home

                                Fleet for escort of military convoys to Norway after German invasion.

                                (Operation RUPERT/R4)

                22nd       Deployed with HM Destroyers VANSITTART, CAMPBELL, IVANHOE, ICARUS and

                                IMPULSIVE as screen for HM Cruisers GALATEA, SHEFFIELD and GLASGOW during

                                passage from Rosyth for reinforcement of troops at Andalsnes (Operation SICKLE)

                                (Note: Destroyers embarked 60 troops each. See Naval Staff History (HMSO-2001)

                23rd        Arrived at Molde.

 

May                        Escort and support of military operations in Norway in continuation.

                11th        Joined H M Cruisers COVENTRY and CALCUTTA with H M Destroyers ISIS, CAMPBELL

                                and ZULU as escort for the damaged cruiser HMS PENELOPE for passage to Greenock.

                                On release from detached Home Fleet service rejoined Flotilla for coastal convoy escort.

                                (Note: Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to I89 to conform

                                with new identities introduced for RN warships.)

 

June                        East coast convoy escort, and North Sea patrol duties in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Deployed on coastal convoy escort, in North Sea.

to                            Transferred to Western Approaches for convoy defence with 10th Escort Group.

July                         Deployed in NW Approaches. August

                5th          Deployed as Local Escort for military convoy WS10 for passage in NW Approaches

                                with HM Cruiser CAIRO, HM Destroyers WHITEHALL, WINCHESTER, BROADWAY,

                                GURKHA, LANCE, LEGION, Dutch ISAAC SWEERS and Polish ORP PIORUN.

                                (Note: HM Cruiser LONDON was the Ocean Escort for this convoy to Freetown.)

                7th          Detached from WS10 and returned to Clyde with Local Escort.

                9th          Deployed as Escort for military convoy WS8C for passage from Clyde to Scapa Flow

                                (Note: Part of planned occupation of Azores which was later cancelled.)

                10th        Return passage to Clyde.

                15th        Deployed as Escort for military convoy WS10X for passage from Liverpool to Clyde with

                                Dutch cruiser HEEMSKERCK and HM Destroyers WHITEHALL

                17th        Detached from WS10X on arrival in Clyde.

 

September

                17th        Deployed as Escort for military convoy WS11X for passage from Clyde to Gibraltar with HM

                                Destroyers BLANKNEY, LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, ORIBI, WHITEHALL, Dutch ISAAC

                                SWEERS, Polish ORP GARLAND and PIORUN.

                                (Note: Operation HALBERD - Malta relief convoy with cover by HM Battleship PRINCE OF

                                WALES, HM Cruisers EURYALUS and KENYA.)

                26th        Passage to UK on release from HALBERD.

 

October

                1st           Deployed as Local Escort for military convoy WS12 for passage in NW Approaches with HM

                                Cruiser CAIRO, HM Destroyers VERITY, WHITEHALL, BLANKNEY, STANLEY,

                                ASSINIBOINE (RCN), SAGUENAY (RCN), BADSWORTH, BRADFORD, BRIGHTON,

                                LANCASTER and NEWARK.

                                (Note: HM Cruiser DORSETSHIRE was deployed as Ocean Escort.

                4th          Return passage to Clyde with Local Escort.

 

November

                13th        Deployed as Local Escort for military convoy WS12Z for passage in NW Approaches with HM

                                Destroyers VERITY, BADSWORTH, EXMOOR, VANQUISHER, WHITEHALL and

                                MAORI.

                16th        Return passage to Clyde with Local Escort

 

December

                13th        Deployed as Local Escort for military convoy WS14 for passage in NW Approaches with HM

                                Destroyers VANQUISHER, VOLUNTEER, BADSWORTH and BEAUFORT.

                                (Note: HM Battleship RAMILLIES was deployed as Ocean Escort)

                15th        Return passage to Clyde with Local Escort

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to                            Nominated for conversion to Short Range Escort.

August                  Taken in hand for refit and conversion.

                                (For details of conversion see V&W DESTROYERS 1917-45 by A Preston).

 

September             On completion of trials and work-up resumed Atlantic convoy escort duties.

                                Part of escort for Convoy ON127.

 

October                  Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

 to                           (See above references and THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by Donald Macintyre).

November

 

December              Deployed with 5th British Escort Group for convoy defence in Caribbean.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Part of escort for Tanker Convoy TM1 from West Indies to Gibraltar with Group.

                                Under U-Boat attacks

                                See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO)

 

February                Part of escort for outward Convoy ON168 from UK to Halifax, NS.

                                (For details of development of new weapons and tactics used by both sides in the struggle for

                                dominance of the Atlantic sea routes see above references and WAR BENEATH THE SEA

                                by P Padfield).

                                Deployed with 2nd Escort Group for escort for inward Convoy SC118 during Atlantic passage

                                to Clyde and threat of attack by PFEIL U-Boat Group.

                4th          Carried out anti-submarine operations against PFEIL Group with HM Destroyers VANESSA, VIMY,

                                BEVERLEY, HM Corvettes ABELIA (Free French), LOBELIA and MIGNONETTE.

                                (Note: During these operations U187 was sunk by HMS VIMY after detection of wireless traffic

                                which enabled escorts to locate by using HF D/F.

                                For details see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and SEEK AND STRIKE by W

                                Hackmann.)

                5th          Deployed for defence of SC118 but no attacks were made due to weather conditions.

                                Detached to refuel.

                                Resumed duties with Group on completion.

                                Nominated for convoy defence at Freetown.

 

March

                16th        Deployed as escort for military convoy WS28 during passage to Freetown with HM Destroyers

                                MALCOLM, QUADRANT and WOLVERINE.

                27th        Detached from WS28 on arrival at Freetown with Escort.

 

April

                26th        Deployed as Local Escort for military convoy WS29 during passage into Freetown with HM

                                Destroyers MALCOLM and WOLVERINE.

                28th        Detached from WS29 on arrival at Freetown.

 

May

                6th          Deployed as Local Escort, for military convoy WS29 on departure from Freetown with HM

                                Destroyers BOREAS, MALCOLM, RAPID and WOLVERINE.

                8th          Detached from WS29 and returned to Freetown with Local Escort.

 

June

                3rd          Deployed as Local Escort for military convoy WS30 on departure from Freetown with HM

                                Destroyers BOADICEA, RAPID and WOLVERINE.

                9th          Detached from WS29 on. relief by HM Destroyers NORMAN, QUADRANT and REDOUBT.

                                Took passage to Freetown with Local Escort

 

July

                10th        Joined military convoy WS31 during passage from Freetown to Cape of Good Hope with HM

                                Corvette ARMERIA.

                12th        Detached from WS31 escort on arrival of HM Destroyer RAPID and returned to Freetown.

 

August                  Freetown deployment in continuation.

to                            Nominated for return to UK. December

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Withdrawn from Ocean escort duties and took passage to Home waters for escort of

to                            coastal convoys in the North Sea.

April                       (Note: This change was made because of the availability of new escorts which had improved

                                accommodation and better weapons for this type of work than those fitted in a ship

                                built in 1917.

                                See V&W DESTROYERS by A Preston)

 

May                        Deployed for North Sea convoy defence.

 

June                        Remained in North Sea for coastal convoy defence and not deployed for support of the allied

                                invasion of Normandy (Operation. NEPTUNE).

                                (See OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944

                                (HMSO).

 

July                         North Sea convoy defence and patrol in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  North sea convoy escort and patrol in continuation.

to                            (Note: During this period German minelaying operations and attacks by SCHNORKEL

May                        fitted submarines and submersibles were extensively carried cut.

                                Additional patrols in the Thames estuary were necessary

                                (See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                                CLOSELY).

 

June                        Deployed for local port duties and support of re-occupation.

to                            Nominated for reduction to Reserve status.

August

  

S p e c i a l    N o t e

 

This destroyer although deployed for much of her service in the Atlantic, was another of the ships which received little publicity. Her contribution to the safe passage of convoys can be measured by the knowledge that German records establish that only 10% of all convoys were attacked by the U-Boat and of the 75,000 ships escorted less than 1% were sunk - another of the ‘unsung’ heroines.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS WITCH was Paid-off and placed In Reserve after VJ Day. She was put on the Disposal List and sold to BISCO on 12th July 1946 for demolition by G Brunton. Later the ship arrived in tow at the breakers yard in Granton on the Forth.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS WITCH

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

 

 

 

 

 

14/10/39

14/10/39

FS 0021

16/10/39

16/10/39

27/10/39

27/10/39

OA 026

02/11/39

02/11/39

10/11/39

11/11/39

OA 033

12/11/39

15/11/39

20/11/39

20/11/39

OA 038

unknown

23/11/39

04/12/39

04/12/39

OA 047

05/12/39

08/12/39

08/12/39

08/12/39

OA 049

09/12/39

11/12/39

16/12/39

16/12/39

OA 054

unknown

19/12/39

01/01/40

01/01/40

OA 064

03/01/40

04/01/40

05/01/40

11/01/40

HG 014F

15/01/40

15/01/40

10/02/40

11/02/40

OA 089

12/02/40

13/02/40

04/02/40

14/02/40

HXF 019

17/02/40

17/02/40

02/02/40

18/02/40

OA 084

unknown

05/02/40

16/02/40

29/02/40

HX 020

04/03/40

04/03/40

01/03/40

07/03/40

HG 021F

10/03/40

10/03/40

11/03/40

11/03/40

OA 108GF

13/03/40

13/03/40

12/03/40

19/03/40

HG 022

21/03/40

22/03/40

25/03/40

06/04/40

HX 030

09/04/40

09/04/40

02/04/40

08/04/40

HG 025F

09/04/40

11/04/40

18/04/40

26/04/40

FS 002

01/05/40

01/05/40

02/07/40

02/07/40

HGY

10/07/40

14/07/40

22/08/40

23/08/40

OB 202

25/08/40

26/08/40

01/09/40

02/09/40

OB 207

unknown

06/09/40

02/09/40

15/09/40

SC 003

18/09/40

18/09/40

05/01/41

05/01/41

OB 270

08/01/41

08/01/41

22/12/40

09/01/41

SL 060

13/01/41

13/01/41

18/01/41

18/01/41

OB 275

22/01/41

23/01/41

11/01/41

23/01/41

HX 102

25/01/41

29/01/41

01/02/41

01/02/41

OB 281

05/02/41

05/02/41

25/01/41

06/02/41

HX 105

09/02/41

09/02/41

16/02/41

17/02/41

OB 287

unknown

21/02/41

09/02/41

24/02/41

HX 108

27/02/41

27/02/41

05/03/41

05/03/41

OB 294

09/03/41

09/03/41

18/02/41

10/03/41

SL 066

14/03/41

14/03/41

10/08/41

22/08/41

HX 144

22/08/41

30/08/41

16/08/41

29/08/41

HX 145

unknown

31/08/41

04/09/41

12/09/41

HX 148

13/09/41

17/09/41

16/09/41

25/09/41

HX 150

28/09/41

30/09/41

05/10/41

23/10/41

SL 089

25/10/41

26/10/41

14/12/41

23/12/41

HG 076

29/12/41

30/12/41

02/02/42

02/02/42

ON 063

07/02/42

13/02/42

25/02/42

28/02/42

CT 011

09/03/42

09/03/42

12/03/42

12/03/42

SC 074

18/03/42

28/03/42

09/03/42

20/03/42

ON 074

25/03/42

25/03/42

02/04/42

02/04/42

HX 183

06/04/42

15/04/42

27/03/42

10/04/42

ON 080

14/04/42

15/04/42

23/04/42

23/04/42

SC 081

27/04/42

09/05/42

23/04/42

02/05/42

ON 089

unknown

05/05/42

17/05/42

17/05/42

HX 190

20/05/42

28/05/42

15/05/42

25/05/42

ON 095

27/05/42

29/05/42

02/06/42

02/06/42

BX 022

04/06/42

04/06/42

12/06/42

12/06/42

SC 087

15/06/42

27/06/42

12/06/42

21/06/42

ON 103

27/06/42

26/06/42

27/06/42

27/06/42

BX 026B

29/06/42

29/06/42

03/07/42

03/07/42

SC 090

06/07/42

16/07/42

03/07/42

11/07/42

ON 109

16/07/42

18/07/42

19/07/42

19/07/42

BX 029B

21/07/42

21/07/42

24/07/42

24/07/42

SC 093

26/07/42

07/08/42

24/07/42

02/08/42

ON 115

unknown

08/08/42

11/08/42

11/08/42

SC 096

15/08/42

27/08/42

12/08/42

20/08/42

ON 121

unknown

27/08/42

28/08/42

28/08/42

BX 035B

30/08/42

30/08/42

05/09/42

05/09/42

SC 099

09/09/42

20/09/42

04/09/42

13/09/42

ON 127

18/09/42

20/09/42

01/10/42

04/10/42

HX 210

07/10/42

16/10/42

26/09/42

10/10/42

ON 134

14/10/42

17/10/42

26/10/42

26/10/42

HX 213

29/10/42

10/11/42

07/11/42

12/11/42

TA 026

13/11/42

13/11/42

12/01/43

12/01/43

SC 117

16/01/43

03/02/43

24/01/43

01/02/43

SC 118

04/02/43

12/02/43

26/05/43

26/05/43

ST 067

02/06/43

02/06/43

14/07/43

14/07/43

TS 047

20/07/43

20/07/43

25/08/43

26/08/43

CF 013B

31/08/43

31/08/43

13/09/43

13/09/43

MKS 024G

14/09/43

14/09/43

25/09/43

25/09/43

MKS 025G

04/10/43

08/10/43

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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