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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 WREN (D 88) -  V & W-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Witherington, modified W-class sister ship

(James Witherington, click to enlarge)

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Modified W-Class destroyer ordered from Yarrow, at Scotstoun with 13th Order of the 1918-19 Programme in April 1918. The ship was laid down in June 1918 and launched on 11 November 1919. She was the 3rd RN warship to carry this name which was introduced in 1653. After launch she was towed to HM Dockyard, Pembroke Dock for completion which was delayed until 23rd January 1923. This ship was deployed as rescue ship for Home Fleet aircraft carriers in 1938.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC 1939-40 - NORWAY   1940 - ATLANTIC 1943-45* - BISCAY   1943-44* - NORMANDY 1944* - ARCTIC   1944*

(* Awarded to HM Sloop WREN)

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field  Blue, a Wren on a branch, all Gold.

 

M o t t o

Ex parvalis magna: 'from small things  (come) great'

 

 

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             Transferred to 16th Destroyer Flotilla at Portsmouth for convoy defence and anti- submarine

                                patrol in English Channel and SW Approaches.

                7th          Deployed for escort of troop convoy from Portsmouth to Cherbourg

                13th        Deployed with HM Destroyer VENOMOUS for escort of military convoy MB2 during passage

                                in English Channel.

                14th        Deployed with HMS VENOMOUS for escort of military convoy DB2 in English Channel.

 

October                  Channel deployment in continuation.

 

November              Transferred to More Command for convoy defence in North Sea.

 

December              North Sea convoy defence in continuation.

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Deployed with 18th Destroyer Flotilla, Western Approaches Command

                                for convoy defence in SW Approaches.

 

February                Deployed in SW Approaches.

                20th        Passage to meet inward Convoy HG19F from Gibraltar as relief for two French warships

                21st         Joined HG19F as escort during passage to Liverpool.

                23rd        Detached from HG19F on arrival at Liverpool.

 

April

                8th          Transferred to Home Fleet for after German invasion of Norway to escort military convoys

                                to Norway.

 

May                        Convoy defence in support of allied operations in Norway in continuation.

                12th        Deployed with HM Battleship RESOLUTION, HM Cruisers AURORA, EFFINGHAM.

                                VINDICTIVE, HM Destroyers FAME, BASILISK HAVELOCK, SOMALI and HM

                                Netlayer PROTECTOR for support of planned military operation to capture Narvik.

                13th        Provided naval gunfire support during landings at Bjerkvik.

                                On release from landing operations resumed convoy defence duties

                                (Note: This ship did not take part in the later evacuation operations.

                                See Naval Staff History (HMSO-2002)

 

June

                25th        Resumed convoy escort and patrol duties in with 16th Destroyer Flotilla based at

                                Harwich in Nore Command.

July

                27th        Deployed with HM Destroyer MONTROSE to provide AA protection during

                                minesweeping operations by six trawlers off Aldeburgh Suffolk.

                                Under heavy and sustained dive bombing attacks by fifteen aircraft.

                                Damaged by several near misses which holed her below the waterline causing

                                extensive flooding due to collapse of bulkheads.

                                Ship sank quickly in position 52. 10N 02.06E although stern structure was exposed,

                                37 of the ship's company lost their lives.

                                Survivors were rescued by trawlers.

                                (Note: HMS MONTROSE was badly damaged in this and later attacks but remained

                                afloat and was towed to Harwich.)

 

Special Note

 

HM Sloop WREN was the fourth ship to carry the name and was completed in February 1943. She was one of the BLACK SWAN Class and built on the Clyde by Denny of Dumbarton. This ship served with an Escort Group in the Atlantic and took part in the sinking of five U-Boats.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS WREN

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

 

 

 

 

 

15/09/39

15/09/39

DB 002

16/09/39

16/09/39

13/10/39

19/10/39

HG 003

21/10/39

21/10/39

02/11/39

02/11/39

OB 029

unknown

07/11/39

11/11/39

11/11/39

OG 006

11/11/39

14/11/39

10/11/39

11/11/39

OA 033

12/11/39

15/11/39

31/10/39

16/11/39

SL 007

16/11/39

16/11/39

20/11/39

20/11/39

OA 038

unknown

23/11/39

26/11/39

28/11/39

OA 042

unknown

30/11/39

04/12/39

04/12/39

OA 047

07/12/39

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

19/12/39

28/12/39

HXF 013

29/12/39

30/12/39

01/01/40

01/01/40

OA 064

03/01/40

04/01/40

06/01/40

18/01/40

HX 015

19/01/40

19/01/40

21/01/40

21/01/40

OA 077

22/01/40

24/01/40

28/01/40

28/01/40

OA 081

30/01/40

31/01/40

16/01/40

02/02/40

SL 017

04/02/40

04/02/40

07/02/40

07/02/40

OA 087

09/02/40

09/02/40

16/02/40

18/02/40

OA 093GF

19/02/40

19/02/40

14/02/40

21/02/40

HG 019F

23/02/40

23/02/40

24/02/40

24/02/40

OA 098GF

26/02/40

27/02/40

22/02/40

06/03/40

HX 022

09/03/40

09/03/40

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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revised 12/7/11
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