One of
two Prototypes intended to determine the design of post 1918 RN destroyers.
Designed and and built by John
I Thornycroft at Woolston,
Southampton under the 1924-25 Programme and commissioned on 5 May 1927. This
ship had been under Dockyard Control since August 1936 and was re-commissioned
in February 1939 for
duty with the Torpedo School HMS VERNON. She was adopted by the Hinckley,
Leicestershire after a
successful WARSHIP WEEK in February 1942
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
MARTINIQUE 1762 - DROITS DE
L'HOMME action 1797* - COPENHAGEN
1801 - BELLE POULE action 1806* - BELGIAN COAST 1914-16 - ATLANTIC 1939–43 - NORWAY 1940 - ARCTIC 1942 - MALTA
CONVOYS 1942 - NORTH AFRICA 1942-43
(* Single Ship Actions)
H e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Red, an Amazon’s head Gold.
M o t t
o
Audaciter: 'Boldly'
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
18th Destroyer Flotilla on Convoy escort and A/S patrol duties in
English
Channel and SW Approaches based at Plymouth.
October
Convoy defence and A/S duties in continuation.
to
(For details of anti-submarine and escort policy between September 1939
and March 1940
December see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and Naval Staff History.)
1 9 4 0
January Deployed in SW
Approaches
17th Joined inward Convoy
HG15F during passage from Gibraltar as escort.
22nd Detached from HG15F on arrival
at Liverpool.
February Deployed for convoy
defence in Channel and SW Approaches in continuation.
to
March
April
8th Transferred
to Home Fleet for A/S defence of convoys during operations off Norway.
27th Deployed with HM
Destroyers AFRIDI and AMAZON for escort of supply convoy to Norway
and under air attacks on arrival at destination landing from only two
mercantiles was possible.
28th Under further air
attacks during escort of return convoy.
See Naval Staff History –2000)
29th Carried out attacks on
submarine.
(Note: This was not successful. See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
May
Norwegian support and escort in continuation.
(For details of naval operations in Norway see above references, NARVIK
by D. Macintyre,
CARRIER GLORIOUS by J. Winton and THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by Adams.)
27th Escorted damaged
destroyer HMS ESKIMO from Harstad to Home waters with HM Destroyer
VOLUNTEER and HM Sloop FLEETWOOD.
Pennant Number changed to I39 to conform with changes to identities for
all Fleet units.
June
Norwegian evacuation convoys escort (Operation ALPHABET)
10th Transferred to D16 based
at Harwich.
Deployed for East Coast convoy defence and anti-invasion patrol.
July
Harwich deployment in continuation.
August
Transferred to 12th Destroyer Flotilla at Belfast for convoy escort
duty in Western Approaches
Command.
September Atlantic escort duty in
continuation with Flotilla.
to
October
November Transferred to 3rd Escort
Group for Atlantic convoy defence. Deployed with Group in Atlantic.
December Deployment with Group for
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
1 9 4 1
January
Deployed for defence of
UK - Iceland convoys.
Escorted Armed Merchant Cruiser on passage to Northern Patrol station.
Taken in hand for refit in Glasgow commercial shipyard.
February Under refit.
March
Rejoined Group on completion and deployed in Atlantic convoy defence
based in Iceland.
(For details of Atlantic Convoy defence see BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D
Maclntyre,
THE U BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and ESCORT COMMANDER by P Gretton)
April
Iceland deployment with Group for escort of convoys in North Atlantic
continued
(Note: Group included HM Destroyers BULLDOG and AMAZON, three FLOWER
Class corvettes
and three Trawlers to resume convoy defence deployment in 3rd Escort
Group.
May
Took passage with Group from Iceland as escort for HM Armed Merchant
Cruiser RANPURA and
four freighters to join Convoy OB 318 and relieve ships of 7th Escort
Group as escort during mid
Atlantic passage.
7th Relief of 7th
Escort Group delayed to improve defence of OB381 from known threat of
U-Boat
attacks.
Both Groups formed escort for OB318.
Under torpedo attack by U94 during which two mercantiles were sunk.
Carried out attacks on U94 with HM Destroyer BULLDOG and HM Sloop
ROCHESTER of 7th
Escort Group.
(Note: The four hour attacks damaged U94 which had to abort planned
second attack.)
Sustained damage to steering gear and rigged sail until defect repaired.
See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.
8th Rejoined
Group in escort for OB318.
9th Further
U-Boat attacks on convoy by U110 and U201. Two mercantiles were sunk.
Remained with convoy during anti-submarine operations by HM Destroyers
BULLDOG and
BROADWAY during which Ul10 was taken in tow but sank later.
See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp for
details.
Embarked rescued survivors and U110 prisoners from HM Corvette AUBRETIA,
Resumed OB318 escort with two other corvettes and two trawlers.
Taken in hand for repair on return to Iceland.
June
Rejoined EG3 on completion.
July
NW Approaches convoy defence in continuation
to
August
September Escorted Convoy SCW(?).
October
Escorted Convoys ON24 and SCA8 (?).
November Escorted Convoy ON31.
December Atlantic convoy defence
duty in continuation.
Nominated for refit
1 9 4 2
January
Under refit in Liverpool commercial shipyard.
to
March
April
On completion deployed with Home Fleet for defence of Russian convoys.
(For full details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO
RUSSIA by R. Ruegg,
CONVOY ! by P. Kemp, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman and RUSSIAN CONVOYS
by B. Schoefield).
Nominated for Ocean Escort of Russian Convoy PQ14 and returning QP11
(Note: Distant cover was to be provided for this convoy and returning
QP10 by major units of Home Fleet )
12th Joined PQ14 as Ocean
Escort with HM Destroyers BEAGLE, BEVERLEY, BULLDOG.
HM Corvettes CAMPANULA, OXLIP, SAXIFRAGE, SNOWFLAKE and three trawlers.
(Note: HM Cruiser EDINBURGH was on passage to Murmansk to collect
cargo of gold, bullion.)
(Note two of the trawlers did not complete passage to Kola.).
17th Eastern Local Escort
joined.
19th Arrived at Murmansk with
PQ14
For details of the eventful passage see above references.
(Note: German destroyers HERMANN SCHOEMANN, Z24 and Z25 failed to make
contact
28th Sailed from Murmansk as
Ocean Escort for QP11 with HM Destroyers FORESTER and FORESIGHT and
same ships as arrived with PQ14.
29th Under threat of
submarine attacks.
30th HM Cruiser EDINBURGH
joined convoy after embarking gold bullion at Murmansk.
Under attacks by U88 and U 456.
HMS EDINBURGH hit by torpedo from U456 and sustained serious damage.
with HMS BULLDOG, HMS BEAGLE and BEVERLEY
May
1st Under
air attacks and later attacks by German destroyer HERMANN SCHOEMANN,
Z24 and Z2 sent to
attack HMS EDINBURGH
In action against German ships with HMS EDINBURGH and destroyers of
Close Escort.
(Note: HMS EDINBURGH sustained further significant damage from return
fire from enemy destroyers.
Ship sustained damage to steering gear with several casualties
including her Captain who was subsequently
awarded the DSC.
HMS EDINBURGH detached and took passage to Murmansk with HMS FORESTER
and HMS
FORESIGHT.
(Note: HMS EDINBURGH was subjected to further attacks by the German
destroyers and had to be
abandoned and sunk on 2nd May. See references for details.)
3rd Detached from
QP11 with HMS BEVERLEY and took passage to land wounded in Iceland.
Passage to Clyde for repair.
June
Under repair in Clyde shipyard.
July
On completion Joined Greenock Escort Force for Atlantic convoy defence.
Escorted convoy to Halifax.
August
Detached for duty with Home Fleet for Malta Convoy WS21 (Operation
PEDESTAL).
For details see PEDESTAL by P. Smith, Naval Staff History, ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY, THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D. Macintyre and
MALTA
CONVOYS by R Woodman.
10th Escorted HM Aircraft
Carrier FURIOUS during aircraft delivery to Malta concurrent with
PEDESTAL (Operation BELLOWS).
11th Escorted HM Tug JAUNTY
to join Refuelling Group (Force R) which was with PEDESTAL ships.
(Note: HMS JAUNTY had rescued some of survivors from HMS EAGLE on
board.)
13th Deployed with HM
Destroyers ANTELOPE, WISHART, WESTCOTT and ZETLAND for
escort of HMS INDOMITABLE and HM Destroyer ITHURIEL during passage to
Gibraltar.
(Note: These two ships were returning to Gibraltar for repair after damage
during air attacks
on PEDESTAL convoy.)
16th Passage to Scapa Flow.
September
9th Part of
escort for tankers deployed to establish a fuelling base for
replenishment of escorts for
Convoys PQ18 and returning QP14. and re-supply Norwegian meteorological
station.
(Note: HM Destroyers ECLIPSE, BULLDOG, ECHO and VENOMOUS were also involved.)
Passage from Lowe Sound to joined escort for return Convoy QP 14 on
completion.
October
Deployed for escort of convoys to Gibraltar for North African landings.
(Operation TORCH)
November Deployed at Gibraltar for
support of TORCH convoy defence.
8th Deployed for
escort of assault convoy to Oran.
Returned to UK on release from TORCH duties.
For details of allied operations in TORCH see Naval Staff History,
ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY and RELUCTANT ENEMIES by N. Tute).
December Nominated for refit and
took passage to UK
Under refit in commercial shipyard at Troon.
1 9 4 3
January Under refit
to
March.
April
Joined Western Approaches Command on completion and deployed on
Atlantic convoy defence.
Nominated for convoy defence based at Freetown
May
Passage to Gibraltar,
June
Deployed at Gibraltar
Nominated for escort of military Convoy WS31 during passage to Freetown.
26th Joined WS31 with HM
Destroyers BLACKMORE, BULLDOG and FOXHOUND as relief for
Home Fleet ships which had formed escort from Clyde.
July
4th Detached from
WD31 on arrival at Freetown and commenced duties with Freetown Escort
Force
for convoy escort and patrol.
August
Freetown deployment in continuation.
to
September
October
Passage to UK for refit.
November Under refit at Rosyth.
Hull condition found unsatisfactory for ocean escort duty
Allocated for use as air target ship.
December Deployed as Target Ship.
(Note: Air Target ships were stationed at specific sites in coastal
waters, clear of convoy routes
and used for training of aircrew in warships recognition and procedures
for attacks on
shipping. They were used for Fleet Air arm and RAF training.)
1 9 4 4
Target Ship duty in continuation.
Withdrawn from duty in December.
1 9 4 5
January
Used for structural tests by Naval Constructive Research Establishment
at Rosyth
to April
May
Placed on Disposal List.
P o s
t W a r N o t e s
HMS
AMAZON remained in use for underwater explosion trials until 1948 when placed on Sales List. She was sold to BISCO
for demolition by West of Scotland Shipbuilder and arrived at the Breaker’s
yard at Troon, Ayrshire on 6th October
that year. This name was carried forward in April 1971 when given to a Type 21
Frigate built at Woolston Southampton
as First of Class for a new design warship. This Class had been designed by
Vosper-Thornycroft in conjunction
with Yarrow Shipbuilders and has a direct relationship with the arrangements
made for the previous HMS
AMAZON in 1924.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS AMAZON
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
07/09/39
|
07/09/39
|
OA 001
|
09/09/39
|
unknown
|
11/09/39
|
11/09/39
|
OA 003
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
17/09/39
|
17/09/39
|
OA 006
|
20/09/39
|
unknown
|
23/09/39
|
23/09/39
|
OA 009
|
26/09/39
|
26/09/39
|
19/09/39
|
27/09/39
|
HXF 001
|
29/09/39
|
29/09/39
|
15/10/39
|
17/10/39
|
OA 020G
|
18/10/39
|
17/10/39
|
17/10/39
|
18/10/39
|
OG 003
|
18/10/39
|
26/10/39
|
02/12/39
|
04/12/39
|
OA 045G
|
05/12/39
|
05/12/39
|
05/12/39
|
05/12/39
|
OG 009
|
06/12/39
|
11/12/39
|
18/12/39
|
21/12/39
|
OA 055G
|
21/12/39
|
21/12/39
|
26/12/39
|
26/12/39
|
OA 060G
|
28/12/39
|
28/12/39
|
04/01/40
|
06/01/40
|
OA 066
|
08/01/40
|
08/01/40
|
13/01/40
|
17/01/40
|
HG 015F
|
22/01/40
|
22/01/40
|
23/01/40
|
23/01/40
|
OA 078GF
|
25/01/40
|
26/01/40
|
03/02/40
|
03/02/40
|
OA 085G
|
06/02/40
|
06/02/40
|
01/03/40
|
12/03/40
|
SL 022F
|
15/03/40
|
15/03/40
|
16/03/40
|
16/03/40
|
OA 111
|
18/03/40
|
19/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
22/03/40
|
OA 114
|
23/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
25/03/40
|
HX 027
|
27/03/40
|
28/03/40
|
11/04/40
|
11/04/40
|
NP 001
|
15/04/40
|
15/04/40
|
24/04/40
|
24/04/40
|
TM 001/1
|
27/04/40
|
27/04/40
|
26/06/40
|
26/06/40
|
FS 0205
|
28/06/40
|
28/06/40
|
23/07/40
|
29/07/40
|
TC 006
|
01/08/40
|
01/08/40
|
03/09/40
|
05/09/40
|
OG 042
|
08/09/40
|
16/09/40
|
21/09/40
|
03/10/40
|
HX 075
|
07/10/40
|
07/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
26/10/40
|
OB 234
|
28/10/40
|
30/10/40
|
12/10/40
|
31/10/40
|
SL 051
|
31/10/40
|
31/10/40
|
08/11/40
|
08/11/40
|
OB 240
|
11/11/40
|
13/11/40
|
28/11/40
|
18/12/40
|
SL 057S
|
22/12/40
|
22/12/40
|
30/12/40
|
30/12/40
|
OB 267
|
02/01/41
|
02/01/41
|
15/12/40
|
05/01/41
|
SL 059S
|
07/01/41
|
07/01/41
|
13/04/41
|
14/04/41
|
OB 310
|
18/04/41
|
18/04/41
|
23/04/41
|
27/04/41
|
OB 314
|
29/04/41
|
30/04/41
|
20/04/41
|
02/05/41
|
HX 122
|
04/05/41
|
08/05/41
|
02/05/41
|
07/05/41
|
OB 318
|
10/05/41
|
10/05/41
|
30/04/41
|
12/05/41
|
HX 124
|
14/05/41
|
20/05/41
|
09/05/41
|
21/05/41
|
SC 031
|
24/05/41
|
30/05/41
|
11/07/41
|
11/07/41
|
OB 345
|
16/07/41
|
26/07/41
|
06/07/41
|
17/07/41
|
HX 137
|
17/07/41
|
22/07/41
|
27/07/41
|
30/07/41
|
ON 002
|
02/08/41
|
08/08/41
|
22/07/41
|
03/08/41
|
HX 140
|
unknown
|
06/08/41
|
22/07/41
|
03/08/41
|
SC 038
|
07/08/41
|
08/08/41
|
15/08/41
|
16/08/41
|
ON 007
|
18/08/41
|
25/08/41
|
10/08/41
|
22/08/41
|
HX 144
|
28/08/41
|
30/08/41
|
01/09/41
|
04/09/41
|
ON 012
|
07/09/41
|
14/09/41
|
29/08/41
|
08/09/41
|
HX 147
|
11/09/41
|
12/09/41
|
17/09/41
|
19/09/41
|
ON 017
|
21/09/41
|
29/09/41
|
11/09/41
|
22/09/41
|
SC 044
|
27/09/41
|
30/09/41
|
08/10/41
|
08/10/41
|
ON 024
|
13/10/41
|
15/10/41
|
05/10/41
|
17/10/41
|
SC 048
|
21/10/41
|
22/10/41
|
28/10/41
|
30/10/41
|
ON 031
|
04/11/41
|
15/11/41
|
28/10/41
|
06/11/41
|
HX 157
|
12/11/41
|
13/11/41
|
19/11/41
|
21/11/41
|
ON 038
|
26/11/41
|
30/11/41
|
16/11/41
|
28/11/41
|
SC 055
|
03/12/41
|
05/12/41
|
26/03/42
|
12/04/42
|
PQ 014
|
19/04/42
|
19/04/42
|
28/04/42
|
28/04/42
|
QP 011
|
07/05/42
|
07/05/42
|
21/07/42
|
23/07/42
|
NA 013
|
28/07/42
|
28/07/42
|
02/09/42
|
unknown
|
PQ 018
|
unknown
|
21/09/42
|
13/09/42
|
unknown
|
QP 014
|
unknown
|
26/09/42
|
26/10/42
|
04/11/42
|
KMF 001
|
06/11/42
|
08/11/42
|
14/11/42
|
14/11/42
|
MKF 001Y
|
20/11/42
|
20/11/42
|
18/06/43
|
26/06/43
|
KMF 017
|
27/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
13/07/43
|
13/07/43
|
SL 133
|
25/07/43
|
26/07/43
|
31/07/43
|
04/08/43
|
MKF 020
|
09/08/43
|
11/08/43
|
01/09/43
|
01/09/43
|
DS 044
|
03/09/43
|
03/09/43
|
04/09/43
|
04/09/43
|
SD 044
|
07/09/43
|
07/09/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)