B-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered in early 1929 under the 1928 Programme from John Brown, Glasgow and laid down on 11th October 1929. The ship was launched on 26th September 1930 as the 8th Royal Navy warship to carry the name introduced in 1804 and last used by a destroyer sold in 1922. She completed on 9th April 1941 at a cost of £220,342 that excluded items supplied by the Admiralty. In 1938 she was serving in the Home Fleet as the Attendant Destroyer for HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings Campaign in December 1941 this ship was adopted by the civil community of Newton Abbot in the county of Devonshire.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

BASQUE ROADS 1809 - SAN  SEBASTIAN 1813 - CHINA 1856-60 - BLACK SEA 1854-55 - DARDANELLES 1915-16 - NORWAY 1940 - ATLANTIC 1940-45 - NORTH  AFRICA 1942 - ARCTIC 1942-44 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1943 - NORMANDY 1944

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field: Green, a Beagle proper

 

M o t t o

'To a finish'

 

 

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             On completion of docking at Devonport joined 19th Destroyer Flotilla at Dover

                                for Anti-submarine patrol and convoy defence in English Channel and the southern

                                North Sea.

 

October                  Channel and North Sea duties in continuation.

to                            (For details of naval activities in Hone Waters during 1939 see ENGAGE THE

November              ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett).

 

December

                18th        Under refit at Falmouth.

 

1 9 4 0

 

January

                22nd       Resumed Flotilla duties in Channel.

 

February                Deployed with Flotilla in continuation.

to

March

 

April                       Detached for duty with Home Fleet for escort and anti-submarine patrol duties in

                                support of allied landings in Norway (Operation WILFRED/R4).

                25th        Part of destroyer screen HM Destroyers GRENADE, FORTUNE, VOLUNTEER,

                                ENCOUNTER and ESCORT for A/S defence of HM Aircraft Carriers GLORIOUS and

                                ARK ROYAL during air operations off Norway in support of military and fleet defence.

                                (See CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton).

                27th        Carried out depth charge attack on submarine target without success.

                                Escorted HMS GLORIOUS with HM Destroyers HASTY, GRENADE, FURY, ESCORT,

                                ENCOUNTER and VOLUNTEER for passage to Scapa Flow for replacement aircraft.

                30th        Returned to Norway with HM Destroyers ACHERON and ANTHONY as escort for HMS

                                GLORIOUS for air defence duties.

 

May

                27th        Norwegian convoy escort, patrol and support in continuation.

                28th        Provided naval gunfire support to military at Roribaksfjord.

                                (For details of the disastrous naval operations off Norway see NARVIK by Donald

                                MacIntyre, THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by J Adams, The Naval Staff History

                                (HMSO-2001) and above references).

June                        Deployed with HM Cruiser VINDICTIVE as Escort for Group II of troopships

                                returning to UK after Norwegian evacuation

                                Redeployed in English Channel on evacuation operations.

                16th        Covered evacuation of St. Nazaire  (Operation AERIAL).

                                Landed demolition parties and embarked British nationals at Bordeaux for passage

                                to UK. (See Naval Staff History).

 

July                         Joined 1st Destroyer Flotilla at Dover for patrol and convoy defence in Channel.

                19th        In action against dive bombers off Dover during patrol off Dover.

                                Near misses caused damage to gyro compass and boiler room.

                20th        Taken in hand for repair at Devonport.

 

August                  Under repair.

                16th        On completion transferred to 22nd Destroyer Flotilla based at Devonport.

                                Deployed in SW Approaches and English Channel for convoy defence and patrol.

 

September             SW Approaches and Channel duty with Flotilla in continuation.

                13th        Carried out bombardment of Cherbourg with HM Destroyers HARVESTER and

                                HIGHLANDER.

                                (See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith).

 

October                  Detached for duty with Home Fleet.

                14th        Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS carrying aircraft to Iceland.

                18th        Transferred to Western Approaches for convoy defence.

 

November              Part of escort for Atlantic Convoy HX 83 to Halifax.

                2nd         Joined military convoy WS4 in Clyde with HM Destroyers BULLDOG, HESPERUS,

                                HM Canadian Destroyers OTTAWA, SAGUENAY and SKEENA as Local Escort during

                                passage in NW Approaches.

                3rd          Detached from WS4 with H M Cruiser CAIRO, H M Destroyers GARLAND, HESPERUS

                                and HURRICANE to escort inward mercantile Convoy HX83 to Clyde.

                8th          After detaching from HX83 continued Atlantic convoy escort duties.

                18th        Detached for escort of ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron during minelay in the Northern

                                Barrage (Operation SN3).

                                (For details of all minelaying operations see Naval Staff History (MINING).

 

December              Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January

                3rd          Escorted minelayers during minelay in the Northern Barrage (Operation SN6).

                4th          Continued escort for minelayers (Operation SN65).

                12th        Joined military convoy WS5B with HM Destroyers FEARLESS, HARVESTER,

                                HIGHLANDER, JACKAL, LEAMINGTON, LINCOLN, VANSITTART and

                                WATCHMAN as Local Escort from Clyde during passage in NW Approaches.

                16th        Detached from WS5B with Local Escort and returned to Clyde.

 

February                Transferred to 4th Escort Group for A/S defence of convoys in NW Approaches.

to                            For details of convoy defence and U-Boat operations in Atlantic see THE BATTLE

March                    OF THE ATLANTIC by D MacIntyre and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO)).

                                (Note: Sister ship HMS BOADICEA was also in this Group.)

 

April

                26th        Joined military Convoy WS8A in Clyde with H M Destroyers HARVESTER,

                                HAVELOCK, HESPERUS and BRIDGE for escort during Atlantic passage to Gibraltar.

                                (Note: The mercantiles included five ships destined for Egypt as part of Operation

                                TIGER. See BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre and

                                ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett.)

                29th        Detached from WS8A with HMS BRIDGE and took passage to join inward Convoy SL71

                                from West Africa as escort.

 

May                        Detached from SL71 on arrival and continued service in NW Approaches.

 

June                        Atlantic convoy defence in continuation with Group.

to

August

 

September             Part of escort for Convoy ONS19 to Mid-Ocean Meeting Point (MOMP) with Group.

 

October                  Returned to Clyde as escort for Convoy HX151 with ships of Group.

                24th        Sustained structural damage in heavy weather. Foremast broken.

 

November              Rejoined Group on completion of repair at Greenwich during which radar outfit was fitted.

                                Part of escort for Convoy ON40 to MOMP.

                                Experienced heavy weather and took passage to Iceland when detached.

 

December              Joined Convoy SC156 as escort to Clyde.

                                Sustained further more extensive structural damage.

                                Withdrawn from service and took passage to Tyne for repair.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Taken in hand for repair and conversion for use as an A/S Escort Destroyer.

                                Prototype Ahead Throwing Weapon (HEDGEHOG) fitted and torpedo tubes modified for

                                discharge of 1 Ton Depth Charge.

                                Improved radar was installed.

 

February                Under conversion at Tyne shipyard.

to                            For details of the development of new weapons and anti-submarine tactics in use

March                    after 1942 see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann and RADAR AT SEA by

                                D Howse).

 

April                       On completion of trials and work-up joined Hone Fleet.

                12th        Part of Ocean Escort for Russian Convoy PQ14 with H M Destroyers AMAZON,

                                BEVERLEY and BULLDOG, HM Corvettes CAMPANULA, OXLIP, SAXIFRAGE

                                and SNOWFLAKE from position SSW of Jan Mayen.

                                Distant cover was provided by major units of Hone Fleet which included HM Battleships

                                KING GEORGE V and DUKE OF YORK, HM Cruiser KENYA screened by ten

                                Fleet destroyers.

                19th        Detached on arrival at Kola Inlet after dreadful passage due to weather and many attacks

                                from aircraft as well as by submarines.

                                For details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg,

                                ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield and

                                CONVOY ! by P Kemp).

                28th        Deployed as Ocean escort for returning Convoy QP11 with same snips.

                30th        HM Cruiser EDINBURGH joined convoy after embarking gold bullion at Murmansk.

                                Whilst taking position at head of convoy HMS EDINBURGH was torpedoed by U456

                                and her stem structure was completely demolished.

 

May

                1st           In action with German Destroyers which had been searching for HMS EDINBURGH and

                                had found QP11 which was promptly attacked.

                                During the engagement this ship was damaged by splinters.

                                HMS BULLDOG, HMS AMAZON and HMS BEVERLEY also took part in torpedo attacks

                                on the enemy destroyers Z24, Z25 and Z26 which turned away.

                                For details see above references.

                7th          Detached from QP11 on arrival in Iceland.

                10th        Rejoined Greenock Escort Force for Atlantic convoy defence.

                                Deployed for escort of UK-Iceland convoys.

                23rd        Deployed with HM Cruiser CAIRO, HM Destroyers DOUGLAS, KEPPEL and

                                SARDONYX as escort for rms QUEEN MARY during passage in NW Approaches as

                                Convoy WS19W.

                24th        Return passage to Clyde after detaching from rms QUEEN MARY.

 

June

                1st           Joined military convoy WS19P with H M Destroyers KEPPEL. LEAMINGTON, WELLS

                                and DOUGLAS as escort during passage in NW Approaches.

                6th          Detached from WS19P with HMS DOUGLAS and returned to Clyde.

                                (Note: HMS NELSON provided Ocean Escort during passage to Freetown.)

                16th        Deployed with HM Destroyer WILD SWAN. Polish Destroyer KRAKOWIAK, HM Frigate

                                SPEY to reinforce escort of Convoy HG84 which had been under heavy attacks in the SW

                                Approaches.

                                (Note: HMS WILD SWAN was sunk in air attacks during this deployment.).

                21st         Joined military convoy WS20 in Clyde with H M Destroyers GEORGETOWN,

                                SALISBURY, BOADICEA, RIPLEY, ST ALBANS, VIDETTE, WOLVERINE and

                                VANSITTART for escort during Atlantic passage.

                                (Note: HM Battleship MALAYA provided Ocean Escort.)

                26th        Detached from WS20 with HMS VIDETTE and HMS WOLVERINE and joined destroyer

                                which had come from Gibraltar for escort of ss NARKUNDA from WS20.

 

July                         Deployed at Gibraltar for Local; escort and patrol duties in defence of Atlantic

to

September

 

October                  Passage to UK to join military convoy.

                4th          Joined military convoy WS23 with HM Destroyers BICESTER, WRESTLER and

                                ZETLAND

                                as escort during passage in NW Approaches.

                                (Note: HM Cruisers DESPATCH and DURBAN with HM Armed Merchant Cruiser

                                QUEEN OF BERMUDA provided Ocean Escort.

                8th          Detached from WS23 and returned to Clyde.

                                Deployed for escort of military convoys on passage to Gibraltar for the allied landings in

                                North Africa (Operation TORCH).

 

November              Deployed for support of landings and escort of follow-up convoys.

 

December              Transferred to Home Fleet for escort of Russian convoys.

                19th        Deployed with HM Destroyers MATCHLESS and OPPORTUNE as destroyer screen for

                                HM Cruisers JAMAICA and SHEFFIELD as cover for passage of Convoy JW51A as

                                Force R.

                24th        Detached from JW51 with Force R before arrival of convoy at Kola Inlet. Deployed with

                                HM Destroyers ECHO, ECLIPSE, FAULKNOR, FURY and INGLEFIELD as escort for

                                returning Convoy RA51.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

                7th          Detached from RA51 before arrival at Loch Ewe.

                21st         Joined Russian Convoy JW52 as Ocean Escort with HM Destroyers BULLDOG

                                MATCHLESS, OFFA, MUSKETEER, ONSLAUGHT and the Polish destroyer ORP

                                PIORUN.

                27th        Detached from JW52 on arrival at Kola Inlet.

                29th        Joined Ocean Escort of returning convoy RA52 with same ships supplemented by HM

                                Destroyers FORESTER, ICARUS and the damaged ONSLOW.

 

February

                5th          Detached from RA52 on arrival of Local Escort.

                                (Note: Deployment in English Channel temporarily - to be confirmed).

                                Battle Honour ENGLISH CHANNEL 1943 was awarded).

                                Transferred to West Africa Command at Freetown for escort of local convoys.

 

March                    Passage to Freetown.

 

April                       Deployed at Freetown for Local Escort duties

to

June

 

July

                20th        Joined military convoy WS32 with HM Frigates DERG, KALE and TAY during passage

                                off West Africa as escort.

                28th        Detached from WS32 with same ships and Local Escort HM Destroyer DOUGLAS and

                                HM Frigate NESS.

 

August                  Freetown Local Escort duties in continuation.

 

September

                14th        Joined military convoy WS33 on departure from Freetown with HM Frigate BANN, HM

                                Destroyers BULLDOG, HMS BOADICEA and WOLVERINE as escort during passage

                                off West African coast to Lagos and Takoradi.

                19th        Detached from WS33 at Takoradi and returned to Freetown with destroyers.

                                Nominated for transfer to UK for Home Fleet duties.

 

October                  Passage to Scapa Flow to resume escort of Russian Convoy with Hone Fleet ships.

 

November              Deployed in Home waters based at Scapa Flow.

                22nd       Joined Russian Convoy JW54B with HM Corvettes DIANELLA, RHODODENDRON and

                                POPPY.

 

December

                3rd          Detached from Murmansk section on arrival of convoy without loss.

                23rd        Joined Ocean Escort for return Convoy RA55A with HM Destroyers WESTCOTT,

                                METEOR, MILNE, MATCHLESS, MUSKETEER, OPPORTUNE, VIRAGO,

                                ASHANTI, ATHABASKAN (RCN), HM Corvettes DIANELLA, POPPY and Norwegian

                                ACANTHUS.

                25th        HM Destroyers MATCHLESS, MUSKETEER, OPPORTUNE and VIRAGO detached to

                                reinforce escort of Convoy JW55B because of threat by the German battleship

                                SCHARNHORST.

                                (Note: This was a preliminary move prior to engagement of SCHARNHORST by ships

                                of the Home Fleet (Battle of the Barents Sea) - See above references.

                31st         HMS METEOR and HMS MILNE detached from escort and returned to Scapa

                                Flow

1 9 4 4

 

January

                1st           Detached from RA55A on arrival at Loch Ewe without loss.

                                Retained in Home Fleet for service in NW Approaches.

 

February

                19th        Joined dose Escort for Russian Convoy JW57 with HM Destroyers BOADICEA,

                                KEPPEL, WALKER, HM Corvettes BLUEBELL, CAMELLIA, LOTUS and

                                RHODODENDRON.

                28th        Detached on arrival of JW57 without loss at Kola Inlet despite attacks by U-Boat Groups

                                which were successfully repelled by air cover and operations by escorts deployed in the

                                Support Role.

                                (Note: HM Destroyer MAHRATTA one of the screen for cruiser escort was sunk by

                                U990)

 

March

                2nd         Part of Close escort for returning RA57 with same ships.

                9th          Detached from RA57 before arrival at Loch Ewe.

                                Weather had been stormy.

                                (Note: The escorts of this convoy came under several attacks by Acoustic (GNAT)

                                torpedoes and one mercantile was sunk.

                                Two submarines were sunk by aircraft from HM Escort Aircraft Carrier

                                CHASER and one by HMS ONSLAUGHT).

                29th        Deployed in the Support Role with HM Destroyers KEPPEL, BOADICEA WALKER,

                                HM Sloops STARLING, MAGPIE. WILD GOOSE, WHIMBREL and WREN, during

                                passage of Russian Convoy JW58.

 

April

                1st           Participated in sinking of U355 with an AVENGER aircraft from HM Escort Aircraft

                                Carrier TRACKER.

                2nd         Convoy under attack by THOR, HAMMER and BLITZ U-Boat Groups which were

                                repelled.

                3rd          U228 sunk, the fourth during this operation.

                4th          Detached on safe arrival of JW58 at Kola Inlet.                               

                7th          Part of escort for returning Convoy RA58.

                9th          Unsuccessful attacks by DONNER and KELL U-Boat Groups including the use of GNAT

                                torpedo weapons against escorts.

                12th        Detached from RA58 before arrival of convoy at Loch Ewe.

                19th        Nominated for escort of empty merchant ships from Russian ports.

                21st         Passage to Kola Inlet with H M Cruiser DIADEM, H M Destroyers KEPPEL,

                                BOADICEA, WALKER, WESTCOTT, INCONSTANT, WHITEHALL, WRESTLER,

                                Fleet destroyers of the 3rd Flotilla and frigates of 6th Canadian Support Group escorting

                                the transport NEA HELLAS. For details see ARCTIC CONVOYS.

                23rd        Arrived Kola inlet and embarked 14 men for return to UK.

                28th        Joined escorted for returning Convoy RA59 with destroyers of Group.

                29th        Under attack by DONNER and KELL U-Boat Groups. May

 

May

                3rd          Detached from RA59 before arrival in Loch Ewe.

                                (Note: Passage was particularly stormy but enemy attacks were maintained.

                                In all four U-Boats were sunk by aircraft by from HM Escort Aircraft Carrier

                                FENCE and one mercantile was lost).

                10th        Nominated for support of allied landings in Normandy with Force J.

                                (Operation NEPTUNE: For details of naval activities prior to and during landings see

                                OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY June 1944

                                (HMSO)).

 

June                        Passage to Join Force J.

                4th          Deployed with two Motor Launches as escort for Convoy J8 that included 16 Landing

                                Craft (Tank), four Landing Craft Tank (Rocket) and two Landing Craft Support (Large).

                                Operation delayed for 24 Hours.

                5th          Sailed through swept channel escorting Convoy J8.

 

June

                6th          After arrival at Lowering Position returned to UK to embark the GCC 30 Corps for

                                passage to Assault area.

                                Took passage to Portland to form 122nd Escort Group.

                                Joined HM Corvette CLARKIA and 1 Motor Launch for defence of convoys to beach head

                                during the Build Up Phase.

                8th          Rescued 250 survivors from two US Navy Landing Ships (Tank) sunk 18 miles NE of

                                Barfleur during passage of Convoy ECM1P after E-Boat attack.

                19th        Deployed with HM Escort Destroyers BRISSENDEN, WENSLEYDALE, TANATSIDE,

                to            HM Sloop LONDONDERRY and HM Frigate ROWLEY in anti-E-Boat patrols.

                22nd       Under attack by JU 88 aircraft, two of which were destroyed.

                                Retained in Channel when NEPTUNE terminated.

 

July                         Channel deployment in continuation

                                Nominated for repair on release from detached service.

                19th        Taken in hand for repair at Sheerness.

 

August                  Under repair.

                                Deployed on defence of coastal convoys.

 

October                  Channel deployment in continuation

                                (Note: During this period SCHNORKEL fitted submarines were concentrating their

                                attacks at convoy focal points in coastal waters).

                31st         Transferred to Horns Fleet with HM Destroyer WESTCOTT , HM Sloop CYGNET, HM

                                Canadian Frigate NENE for local escort of Russian Convoy JW61A.

                                (Note: This was a Special convoy comprising ss EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA and ss

                                SCYTHIA for passage from Liverpool to Murmansk. These ships were returning

                                Russian nationals captured by allied forces in France.

 

November

                2nd         Detached with local escort on arrival of HM Cruiser BERWICK, HM Escort Aircraft

                                Carrier CAMPANIA with Fleet Destroyers for Ocean Escort.

                                Resumed duty with 8th Support Group.

 

December

                1st           Joined Russian Convoy JW62 with HM Destroyers KEPPEL, BULLDOG and

                                WESTCOTT of 8th Support Group.

                                (Note: Sloops of 20th Escort Group were deployed in Support role.

                7th          Detached en arrival at Kola Inlet without loss.

                10th        Joined return Convoy RA62 in support role.

                11th        HM Destroyer CASSANDRA hit by torpedo from U365 and badly damaged.

                                (Note: U365 was the only U-Boat to maintain contact with RA62 and was sunk by

                                an aircraft from HMS CAMPANIA on 13th December).

                19th        Detached from RA62 on arrival at Loch Ewe.

                21st         Under repair.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Under repair.

 

February                On completion resumed duty with Group in Western Approaches.

 

March                    Transferred to Plymouth Command for duty in SW Approaches and Channel.

                                (Note: During this period Atlantic convoys to London were re-routed through the

                                English Channel as the air threat from airfields in France had been removed.

                                The increased U-Boat activity continued and anti-submarine forces were

                                redeployed in the area - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and

                                SEEK AND STRIKE).

                11th        Deployed in Plymouth Command for convoy protection..

 

April                       Participated in blockade of ports in Bay of Biscay.

 

May                        Embarked troop for re-occupation of Channel Islands (Operation NEST EGG).

                9th          Attended surrender ceremony of German Garrison in Channel Islands with HMS

                                BULLDOG.

                24th        Reduced to Reserve at Devonport.

 

June                        On completion accepted in Reserve Fleet, Devonport.

  

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS BEAGLE was placed on the Disposal List after VJ Day and sold to BISCO on 22nd December 1945 for demolition by Metal Industries.  The ship arrived in tow at the breaker's yard in Charlestown, Rosyth on 15th January 1946.

 

---

 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS BEAGLE

by Don Kindell

 

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

(Note on Convoys)