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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 ANTELOPE (H 46) -  A-class Destroyer
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Achates, sister ship (Navy Photos/Mark Teadham, click to enlarge)

return to Contents List 
 

A-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered in November 1927 under the 1927 Programme from Hawthorn Leslie at Newcastle and laid down on 11th July 1928. The ship was launched on 27th July 1929 as the 12th R N warship to carry this name. She commissioned on 9th February 1930 and the build completion date was 20th March 1930 at a cost of £226,313. This price excluded items supplied by the Admiralty such as guns, ammunition and communications outfits. In February 1942, following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings Campaign, she was adopted by the civil community of Brentwood, Essex.

 

B a t t l e  H o n o u r s

 

ARMADA 1588 - LOWESTOFT 1665 - FOUR DAYS BATTLE 1666 - ORFORDNESS 1666 - SOLEBAY  1672 - MARBELLA  1705 - AQUILON action   1757 - ATLANTIC 1939-44 - BISMARCK Action - MALTA CONVOYS  1942 - NORTH AFRICA 1942

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Green, Head of an heraldic antelope, white with horns gold.

 

M o t t o

Audax et vigilans:  'Daring and watchful'

 

 

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             Joined 18th Destroyer Flotilla at Portsmouth for Anti-submarine convoy escort and

                                patrol duty in Channel and SW Approaches.

                6th          Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier HERMES with HM Destroyers KEMPENFELT, ACASTA,

                                ARDENT and AMAZON.

                8th          Escorted Convoy OA1 with HMS ACASTA AND HMS AMAZON.

                13th        Escorted Convoy OA4/MA with HMS ACASTA

 

October                  Channel and SW Approaches deployment in continuation.

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

December              Barnett and Naval Staff History.)

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Convoy escort duty in Channel and Western Approaches in continuation.

 

February

                5th          Sank U41 part of escort for Convoy OA84 in position 49.20N 10.04W, south of the Irish

                                Free State.

                                There were no survivors from the submarine.

 

March                    Atlantic convoy escort in Western Approaches in continuation.

 

April                       Transferred to Home Fleet

                8th          Deployed for defence of troop convoys and Fleet Units engaged in operations off Norway

                                following the German invasion.

                                (Operation WILFRED//R4)

                                (For details of Norwegian operations see NARVIK by D MacIntyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY

                                MORE CLOSELY, CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton and Naval Staff History

                                (HMSO-2001).

                19th        Escorted French cruiser EMILE BERTIN to Scapa Flow after damage during air attacks at

                                Namsos.

                30th        Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier GLORIOUS to Join Carrier Group off Norway with HM

                                Destroyers ACHERON and BEAGLE.

 

May                        Support of Norwegian operations and convoy defence in continuation.

 

June

                8th          Joined escort for Group I evacuation convoy from Norway (Operation ALPHABET).

                13th        Sustained structural damage in collision with HM Destroyer ELECTRA during escort

                                of H M Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL to carry out air attacks on Trondheim

                15th        Taken In hand for repair at Tyneside shipyard.

 

July                         Under repair

 

August                  Rejoined Home Fleet for A/S patrol and screening duties on completion of Post Repair trials.

                10th        Assisted in rescue of survivors from H M Armed Merchant Cruiser TRANSYLVANIA with

                                HM Destroyers ACHATES and FORTUNE.

                20th        Joined 16th Destroyer Flotilla at Harwich for East Coast convoy defence duties

                                (Note: Other ships in Flotilla were HM Destroyers MALCOLM, MONTROSE,

                                AMBUSCADE, WIVERN, WHITSHED, WORCESTER, VERITY, VETERAN,

                                WILD SWAN and VENOMOUS).

                30th        Detached for service with Home Fleet.

                                Joined escort of military convoy on passage to Freetown prior to landing of Free French 

                                troops at Dakar (Operation MENACE).

                                (For details of Dakar operation see THE RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W. Tute).

 

September

                1st           Detached from convoy for escort of HM Cruiser FIJI.

                                (Note:  HMS FIJI was hit by torpedo from U32 off Shetlands and had to return for repair.)

                                After release from escort of HMS FIJI transferred to 12th Destroyer Flotilla based at Greenock

                                for Atlantic convoy defence.

 

October                  Deployed on Atlantic convoy escort in NW Approaches.

 

November              Transferred to 4th Escort Group in continuation.

                2nd         During escort of Convoy OB237 with HM Destroyer ACHATES carried out depth charge

                                attacks on U31 which sank in position 56.26N 10.18H.18H.

                                43 survivors ware rescued when submarine scuttled.

                                Before U31 sank it collided with the ship causing serious structural damage.

                                For details see HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR, Volume 1 by C. Blair and U-BOATS DESTROYED

                                by P Kemp.

                                (Note: U 31 had the distinction of being the only German submarine to have been sunk twice

                                during WW2. She had been bombed and sunk in March 1940 by an RAF BLENHEIM

                                aircraft off Wilhelmshaven but later salvaged and re-commissioned.)

 

December              On completion of repair resumed Atlantic convoy defence with Group.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Part of escort for Convoy SC19.

                29th        Convoy under sustained attacks by U93, U94 and U106.

                                During anti-submarine operations carried out ramming attempt on life raft that had been

                                mistaken for a U-Boat. See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR, Volume 1.

 

February                Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.

 

March                    Transferred to 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet for screening of major units.

 

April                       Deployed with Hone Fleet for escort of major units in NW Approaches.

 

May

                15th        Detached for escort of ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron during a minelay in Northern

                                Barrage

                                (Operation SN9B - For details see Naval Staff History (Mining).

                23rd        Part of escort for HM Battlecruiser HOOD and HM Battleship PRINCE of WALES during

                                operation to intercept the German battleship BISMARCK and the cruiser PRINZ EUGEN on

                                passage to attack Atlantic convoys.

                24th        Took part in search for survivors from HMS HOOD.

                29th        Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS during return to Scapa Flow following the

                                sinking of BISMARCK.

                                (For details of BISMARCK search see BATTLESHIP BISMARCK by Mullenheim Rechberg

                                ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and PURSUIT by L Kennedy).

 

June                        Home Fleet screening and patrol duties in continuation.

                25th        Took part In towing operation with HM Destroyer ANTHONY after HM Destroyer ACHATES

                                had been badly damaged by a mine in British Northern Barrage off Iceland.

 

July                         Deployed in Iceland area.

                7th          Escorted damaged H M Destroyer ACHATES under tow by tug ASSURANCE from Iceland

                                to UK for repair.

                21st         Resumed Home Fleet duties with Flotilla after arrival at Scapa Flow.

                29th        Deployed as part of Force K for Commando raid on Spitzbergen.

 

August

                15th        Deployed with HM Destroyers CASTLETON, CHARLESTOWN, DOUGLAS,

                                GEORGETOWN, INTREPID, LEAMINGTON, SALADIN and Polish AA ship

                                POZARICA as escort for military convoy from Scapa Flow to Clyde after operation to occupy

                                Azores had been cancelled.

                18th        Resumed Home Fleet duties on arrival of convoy in Clyde.

                                Nominated for escort of ships during PLANNED LANDING AT Spitzbergen by Canadian

                                troops (Operation GAUNTLET).

                19th        Deployed with HM Destroyers TARTAR, ICARUS, ANTHONY and ECLIPSE as screen for

                                ss EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA, HM Cruisers AURORA and NIGERIA during passage to

                                Spitzbergen

                                (Note: Mines were destroyed with evacuation of Norwegian and Russian nationals .)

 

September             Home Fleet screening duties with Flotilla on completion.

                29th        Deployed in Iceland and Joined Russian Convoy PQ1 with HM Destroyer ANTHONY for

                                escort during passage to Archangel.

 

October

                4th          Detached from PQ1 and returned to Iceland.

                                (Note: This was the first normal convoy of the PQ series.

                                See CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg and ARCTIC CONVOYS by R

                                Woodman, CONVOY! and THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield)

 

November              Atlantic convoy defence in continuation

                                Nominated for refit.

 

December              Under refit

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Under refit.

 

February                On completion of post refit trials joined 23rd Escort Group based at Greenock for Atlantic

                                convoy defence.

 

March                    Deployment with Group in continuation.

                                Nominated for duty at Gibraltar or convoy defence.

                23rd        Joined HM Destroyers NEWPORT, BADSWORTH, BEVERLEY, KEPPEL,

                                LEAMINGTON, VOLUNTEER, BOADICEA and ROCKINGHAM as Local Escort for

                                military convoy WS17 in Clyde.

                                (Note: W317 was taking troops to Middle East and to India.)

                27th        Detached from WS17and took passage to Gibraltar.

 

April                       Deployed at Gibraltar with 13th Destroyer Flotilla for convoy escort and patrol.

                                (For details of Mediterranean operations see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY.

                                THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D. MacIntyre and Naval Staff History)

                19th        Joined HM Destroyers WISHART, WESTCOTT, WRESTLER and VIDETTE of Flotilla

                                as escort for US aircraft carrier USS WASP for aircraft ferrying operation to Malta.

                                (Operation CALENDAR - Cover was provided by HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM

                                Cruisers CAIRO and CHARYBDIS screened by Home Fleet and US Navy destroyers.)

                21st         On return of USS WASP to Gibraltar reamed Flotilla duties for convoy defence.

 

May

                8th          Deployed with HM Destroyers VIDETTE, GEORGETOWN, SALISBURY, PARTRIDGE,

                                ITHURIEL, WESTCOTT, WISHART, WRESTLER and VIDETTE as escort for USS WASP

                                and HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE during Malta aircraft delivery (Operation BOWERY).

                                (Note: Cover was provided by HMS RENOWN, HMS CHARYBDIS and HM Aircraft Carrier

                                EAGLE with Home Pleat and US Navy destroyer screen.)

                10th        Resumed Flotilla duties at Gibraltar on completion of BOWERY.

                17th        Joined H M Destroyers PARTRIDGE, ITHURIEL WISHART, WESTCOTT, WRESTLER and

                                VIDETTE as escort for USS WASP and HMS EAGLE for further aircraft delivery to Malta.

                                (Operation LB).

                                (Note: HMS CHARYBDIS provided Cover.)

                19th        Returned to Gibraltar with USS WASP and ships of escort

 

June

                2nd         Deployed with HM Destroyers WISHART, WESTCOTT, ITHURIEL WRESTLER and

                                PARTRIDGE as escort for HMS EAGLE and HMS CHARYBDIS during aircraft delivery to

                                Malta (Operation STYLE).

                4th          Returned to Gibraltar on completion of STYLE.

                8th          Deployed with HM Destroyers PARTRIDGE, ITHURIEL, WISHART, WRESTLER and

                                WESTCOTT as screen for HMS EAGLE, HM Cruisers CAIRO and CHARYBDIS during

                                aircraft delivery to Malta by HMS EAGLE.

                                (Operation SALIENT).

                10th        On return to Gibraltar with SALIENT ships retained for duty with Force H.

                11th        Joined HM Destroyers ONSLOW, ICARUS, ESCAPADE, WISHART, WESTCOTT,

                                WRESTLER and VIDETTE in Force W as screen for HM Battleship MALAYA. HM Aircraft

                                Carriers ARGUS, EAGLE HM Cruisers KENYA, CHARYBDIS and LIVERPOOL providing

                                cover for passage of Convoy WS19S to Sicilian Narrows prior to passage to Malta .

                                (Operation HARPOON).

                14th        Detached to tow HM Cruiser LIVERPOOL back to Gibraltar after damage during air attacks

                                off Bone, escorted by HM Destroyer WESTCOTT.

                                (Note: Escort was supplemented by HM Corvettes JONQUIL and SPIRAEA.

                                For details of HARPOON sea above references.)

                15th        After arrival at Gibraltar resumed Local Flotilla duties.

                20th        Passage from Gibraltar with HM Destroyers WISHART, BEAGLE, WOLVERINE and

                                VIDETTE to join Ocean Escort of military convoy WS20 on passage to Freetown.

                                Remained with WS20 as part of Ocean Escort.

 

July

                2nd         Detached from WS20 on arrival at Freetown and returned to Gibraltar.

                15th        Deployed with HM Destroyers WESTCOTT, WRESTLER, VANSITTART and ITHURIEL as

                                escort for HMS EAGLE, HMS CAIRO and HMS CHARYBDIS during Malta aircraft delivery

                                by HMS EAGLE

                                (Operation PINPOINT).

                16th        After return of PINPOINT ships retained in Force H for further Malta aircraft delivery.

                20th        Deployed with same ships as PINPOINT for repeat aircraft delivery.

                                (Operation INSECT)

                22nd       Resumed Flotilla convoy defence duties on release from INSECT.

 

August

                10th        Deployed with HM Destroyers VANSITTART, WISHART, LAFOREY, LIGHTNING,

                                ITHURIEL and LOOKOUT as screen for HM Aircraft Carriers VICTORIOUS,

                                INDOMITABLE, EAGLE, HM Cruisers CHARYBDIS, PHOEBE, SIRIUS in Force Z to

                                provide Cover for passage of Convoy WS12 to Sicilian Narrows.

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

                13th        Deployed with HM Destroyers AMAZON, WISHART, WITCH and ZETLAND as

                                escort for HMS NELSON, HMS INDOMITABLE and HMS ITHURIEL during

                                passage to Gibraltar after damage during air attacks on PEDESTAL CONVOY. See

                                MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman.

                14th        Released from Force H duty and resumed Local Flotilla convoy defence at Gibraltar.

                24th        Transferred to 18th Destroyer Flotilla at Freetown.

                                Passage from Gibraltar to Join Flotilla.

                30th        Arrived at Bathurst, Gambia for convoy escort duty.

 

September             Deployed at Freetown for South Atlantic and local coastal convoy defence.

                6th          Joined military convoy WS22 for Local Escort into Freetown.

                9th          Detached on arrival of WS22 at Freetown.

                13th        Joined WS22 with HM Destroyer BOREAS and Greek destroyer PINDOS on departure from

                                Freetown as Load Escort.

                15th        Detached from WS22 and returned to Freetown.

 

October

                13th        Joined military Convoy WS23 as Local Start during passage into Freetown.

                16th        Detached from WS23 with Local Escort on arrival at Freetown.

 

November              Nominated for duly at Gibraltar in support of planned landings in North Africa.

                                (Operation TORCH)

                                Passage from Freetown to join escort of convoy KMF1A on passage to Gibraltar from UK.

                8th          Deployed with escort for KMF1A on passage to landing beaches.

                                After initial landings escorted Follow-up convoys.

                                (For details of TORCH see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff

                                History.)

 

December              Deployment at Gibraltar in continuation.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Convoy escort in Mediterranean in continuation.

                30th        Sank Italian submarine TRITONE with HM Canadian Corvette PORT ARTHUR.

 

February                Deployed in western Mediterranean for anti-submarine patrol and convoy defence.

to

April

 

May                        Deployed with other destroyers to intercept craft evacuating enemy troops in Cape Bon area

                                (Operation RETRIBUTION – See above references.)

                                On completion resumed duties at Gibraltar.

                26th        Passage from Gibraltar with HM Destroyers CATTERICK end FOXHOUND to join escort

                                for joint military convoy WS30/KMF15 during Atlantic passage.

                                Remained with WS30 as part of Ocean Escort during passage to Freetown after ships for

                                Middle East detached from Gibraltar section KMF15.

                29th        Detached from WS30 on arrival at Freetown.

 

June                        Return passage to Gibraltar.

                                On arrival deployed in western and central Mediterranean for convoy defence.

 

July                         Deployed for escort of military convoys on passage to North African ports prior to planned

                                allied landings in Sicily (Operation HUSKY).

 

August                  Mediterranean convoy defence in continuation.

 

September

                6th          Carried out unsuccessful search for U617 off Europe Point following the sinking of HM

                                Escort Destroyer PUCKERIDGE.

                                (Note: HMS PUCKERIDGE was torpedoed by U617 and sank in six minutes in a position

                                40 miles east of Gibraltar.

                                129 survivors were rescued by a Spanish fishing trawler.

 

October                  Convoy escort based at Gibraltar in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Gibraltar deployment in continuation.

to

June

July                         Nominated for return to UK to reduce to Reserve status.

 

August                  Passage to UK.

 

September             Deployed at Portsmouth and prepared for paying-off.

 

October                  Passage to Tyne

                3rd          Paid-off in Tyne and laid-up.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS ANTELOPE was Paid-off because of poor operational availability due to defects and shortage of  personnel to man new construction ships with improved capabilities, The ship was laid-up until placed on the Disposal List in 1945. She was sold to BISCO for demolition by Hughes Bolcow and arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard in Blyth on 26th January 1946.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS ANTELOPE

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

13/09/39

13/09/39

OA 004

16/09/39

unknown

05/10/39

05/10/39

OA 015

08/10/39

08/10/39

15/10/39

17/10/39

OA 020G

18/10/39

17/10/39

17/10/39

18/10/39

OG 003

19/10/39

26/10/39

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

26/11/39

26/11/39

OA 042

27/11/39

30/11/39

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

10/12/39

10/12/39

OA 050G

11/12/39

unknown

11/12/39

11/12/39

OG 010

12/12/39

16/12/39

09/12/39

15/12/39

HG 010

16/12/39

16/12/39

29/12/39

09/01/40

HX 014

12/01/40

12/01/40

13/01/40

14/01/40

OA 072

15/01/40

17/01/40

12/01/40

21/01/40

HXF 016

24/01/40

24/01/40

25/01/40

25/01/40

OA 079

26/01/40

28/01/40

02/02/40

02/02/40

OA 084

05/02/40

05/02/40

28/01/40

06/02/40

HXF 018

08/02/40

08/02/40

13/03/40

14/03/40

OA 109

unknown

16/03/40

05/03/40

18/03/40

HX 025

20/03/40

20/03/40

21/03/40

21/03/40

OA 114

23/03/40

24/03/40

18/03/40

27/03/40

HX 028

02/04/40

02/04/40

02/04/40

02/04/40

OA 122

04/04/40

05/04/40

13/05/40

13/05/40

NP 003

17/05/40

17/05/40

31/08/40

31/08/40

MP

01/09/40

14/09/40

03/09/40

05/09/40

OG 042

08/09/40

16/09/40

13/09/40

23/09/40

HX 073

28/09/40

28/09/40

09/10/40

09/10/40

OB 226

12/10/40

12/10/40

27/09/40

13/10/40

SL 049

17/10/40

17/10/40

17/10/40

17/10/40

OB 230

20/10/40

20/10/40

09/10/40

21/10/40

HG 045

27/10/40

27/10/40

31/10/40

31/10/40

OB 237

02/11/40

02/11/40

10/12/40

11/12/40

OB 257

13/12/40

13/12/40

03/12/40

13/12/40

HX 093

18/12/40

18/12/40

24/12/40

24/12/40

OB 264

29/12/40

29/12/40

15/12/40

29/12/40

SC 016

30/12/40

31/12/40

07/01/41

08/01/41

OG 049

11/01/41

21/01/41

29/12/40

11/01/41

HG 049

15/01/41

15/01/41

19/01/41

19/01/41

OB 276

24/01/41

25/01/41

12/01/41

27/01/41

SC 019

31/01/41

02/02/41

03/02/41

04/02/41

OB 282

07/02/41

08/02/41

20/01/41

07/02/41

SL 063

09/02/41

09/02/41

18/02/41

19/02/41

OB 288

unknown

22/02/41

08/02/41

24/02/41

SC 022

28/02/41

28/02/41

21/06/41

26/06/41

TC 011

30/06/41

30/06/41

02/07/41

02/07/41

OB 341A

07/07/41

18/07/41

29/09/41

29/09/41

PQ 001

11/10/41

11/10/41

27/04/42

28/04/42

HG 082

01/05/42

08/05/42

12/06/42

12/06/42

HARPOON

16/06/42

16/06/42

30/06/42

04/07/42

HG 085

07/07/42

12/07/42

30/09/42

02/10/42

CF 005B

02/10/42

14/10/42

26/10/42

04/11/42

KMF 001

06/11/42

08/11/42

21/11/42

22/11/42

MKS 002

24/11/42

03/12/42

27/11/42

05/12/42

KMF 004

06/12/42

07/12/42

11/12/42

11/12/42

MKF 004Y

14/12/42

24/12/42

13/12/42

23/12/42

UGF 003

25/12/42

24/12/42

19/01/43

19/01/43

MKS 006

23/01/43

01/02/43

14/01/43

24/01/43

UGF 004

25/01/43

25/01/43

16/03/43

16/03/43

XK 003

19/03/43

28/03/43

14/03/43

19/03/43

KMS 011G

28/03/43

28/03/43

28/03/43

28/03/43

ET 016

01/04/43

01/04/43

02/04/43

11/04/43

UGF 007

13/04/43

12/04/43

18/04/43

18/04/43

GUF 007

20/04/43

30/04/43

03/05/43

03/05/43

RS 004F

13/05/43

13/05/43

09/06/43

09/06/43

SR 005/1

14/06/43

14/06/43

15/06/43

15/06/43

CG 037

16/06/43

16/06/43

01/07/43

09/07/43

KMF 019

11/07/43

11/07/43

25/08/43

25/08/43

MKS 022G

26/08/43

26/08/43

14/08/43

25/08/43

SL 135

26/08/43

27/08/43

04/10/43

04/10/43

MKS 026G

05/10/43

05/10/43

25/11/43

25/11/43

RS 012

02/12/43

02/12/43

05/03/44

16/03/44

GUS 033

17/03/44

04/04/44

09/08/44

12/08/44

SL 166MK

16/08/44

20/08/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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