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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 1998

HMS ENCOUNTER (H 10) -  E-class Destroyer including Convoy Escort Movements

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

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

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E-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered on 1st November 1932 from Hawthorn Leslie, Newcastle under the 1931 Build Programme. The ship was laid down on 15th March 1933, the same day as her sister ship HMS ELECTRA also built in this shipyard. She was launched on 29th March 1934 as the fifth RN ship to carry the name introduced for a Gun Brig in 1805 and last used for 1902 Cruiser transferred to the RAN and hulked in 1929. Build was completed on  2nd November 1934 for a cost of £252,250 excluding the items supplied by the Admiralty such as guns and communications equipment. Her peace time service including no less than 3 collisions and foreign service in the Mediterranean. This destroyer carried out Non-intervention patrol during 'the Spanish civil war. Although intended to transfer to Reserve in 1939 she remained in commission with a crew of Reservists.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

CAPE OF GOOD HOPE 1806 - BASQUE ROADS 1809 - CHINA 1856-60 - PEI-HO FORTS 1859  - ASHANTEE 1873-74  - ATLANTIC 1939 - NORWAY 1940 - SPARTIVENTO 1940 - LIBYA 1941 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941 - MEDITERRANEAN 1941

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Green, two rapiers crossed Silver

 

M o t t o

Acta non verba: ‘Deeds not words’

 

 

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

 

August                  Retained in service instead of refitting.

                                Reservists joined.

                                War Station allocated as 12th Destroyer Flotilla based at Portland.

                28th        Attended Review of Reserve Fleet by HM King George VI in Weymouth Bay.

 

September             Deployed for escort and patrol in SW Approaches and took up War Station.

                                Based at Milford Haven for convoy defence.

 

October                  SW Approaches deployment in continuation.

                                (For details of naval activities in Home waters between Sept. 1939 and early in 1940

                                see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett and Naval Staff History).

                                Sustained weather damage and taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard Devonport.

 

November              On completion of dockyard work took passage to Scapa Flow for duties with Home Fleet.

 

December              Deployed at Scapa Flow for convoy defence and anti-submarine duties in North Sea and NW

                                Approaches.

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Scapa Flow deployment in continuation.

 

February

                18th        Joined escort of Convoy HN2 with HM Destroyer BRAZEN in place of HM Destroyer

                                DARING which had been torpedoed and sunk by U23.

 

March                    Transferred to Rosyth for North Sea convoy defence.

                                Nominated for support of minelaying operation off Norway.

 

April

                4th          Escorted tanker BRITISH LADY with HM Destroyer GRENADE to Skaelfjord, Norway

                                to support ships deployed for minelaying

                                (Operation WILFRED - See NARVIK by D Macintyre and Naval Staff History (HMSO-2001)

                12th        On completion deployed with Home Fleet units for support of allied landings in Norway.

                24th        Took part in bombardment of Narvik with HM Battleship WARSPITE and cruisers.

                                Escorted Carrier Group engaged in provision of air support for Norwegian military campaign

                                (Operation DX).

 

May                        Home Fleet duties off Norway including escort of HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL.

                                For details of the disastrous operations in Norway see CARRIER GLORIOUS by John Winton,

                                NARVIK by D Macintyre, THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by Adams and Naval; Staff History.

                                (HMSO-2001)

                                Passage to Rosyth for routine docking.

 

June

                                Provided anti-submarine defence with HM Destroyer MASHONA for ships recovering

                                equipment from the wreck of HM Boom Carrier ASTRONOMER lost off Kinnaird Head.

                                On completion deployed with HM Destroyer ESCORT in an unsuccessful search for a

                                U-Boat reported by an RAF aircraft.

                                Sustained damage by grounding and took passage to Sheerness.

                20th        Taken in hand for repair and refit at Sheerness.

                                (Note: Degaussing equipment was fitted.)

 

July                         Under refit

                                Nominated for service with 13th Destroyer Flotilla at Gibraltar.

                19th        Carried out post refit trials.

                20th        Escorted troopships ss REINA DEL PACIFICO and ss CLAN FERGUSON to Gibraltar.

                21st         Detached to assist Norwegian KOLLSKEGG which was on fire.

                24th        Met HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS and joined escort for passage o Gibraltar

                30th        Joined Flotilla at Gibraltar and detached for duty with Force H

                31st         Escorted HMS ARGUS during Malta aircraft delivery (Operation HURRY).

                                (Note: Deployed as part of ARGUS Group with HM Destroyers GALLANT GREYHOUND

                                and HOTSPUR.

                                See THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre and Naval Staff

                                History (HMSO-2001) for details of naval operations in the Mediterranean in n1940.)

                                Other ships in screen were HM Destroyers GREYHOUND, GALLANT and VELOX.

                                Joined ships of Force H which were providing cover.

 

August

                1st           Detached as screen for HM Battleship VALIANT and HMS ARGUS during aircraft delivery

                                with HM Destroyers HOTSPUR, GREYHOUND, GALLANT, ESCAPADE and VELOX.

                2nd         After launch of aircraft from HMS ARGUS rejoined by ships of Force H which were covering

                                air attack on Cagliari, Sardinia by aircraft from HMS ARK ROYAL (Operation CRUSH)

                4th          Returned to Gibraltar with Force H ships.

                8th          Returned to Gibraltar with HMS ARGUS on completion of HURRY

                30th        Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FURY, FORTUNE, FIREDRAKE, FORESIGHT

                                and FORESTER as screen for HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and HM

                                Cruiser SHEFFIELD providing cover for passage of reinforcement warships for service at

                                Alexandria (Operation HATS –See above references.

 

September

                3rd          Returned to Gibraltar with Force H ships.

                5th          Deployed with screen for HMS RENOWN during unsuccessful search for Vichy French

                                warships on passage from Toulon to enter the Atlantic.

 

October                  Deployment at Gibraltar for anti-submarine patrol and convoy escort in continuation.

                                During this deployment rammed HM Submarine UTMOST off Cape St Vincent in error for

                                a U-Boat.

                                (Note: HMS UTMOST was able to reach Gibraltar and was taken in hand for repair.

                                It may be assumed that damage to this ship was incurred but this was completed

                                before transfer to Force H.)

 

November              Detached for duty with Force H.

                7th          Joined Force F with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORTUNE and GRIFFIN for screening of

                                HM Battleship BARHAM, HM Cruisers BERWICK and GLASGOW during transit in western

                                Mediterranean to the Sicilian narrows (Operation COAT)

                                (Note: These ships and HM Destroyers GALLANT, GREYHOUND and GRIFFIN were on

                                passage to join the Mediterranean Fleet based at Alexandria as reinforcements.

                                Detached from Force F are returned to Gibraltar for repair.

                                (Note: One source records the damage was caused by ramming HM Submarine UTMOST

                                during screening duty with Force H covering that was providing cover for COAT.

                9th          Under repair to structural damage.

                                Rejoined Flotilla on completion for duty with Force H.

                25th        Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FIREDRAKE, FORESTER, FURY, KELVIN,

                                JAGUAR and WISHART in Force B as screen for HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HMS ARK

                                ROYAL, HM Cruisers SHEFFIELD and DESPATCH to cover passage of convoy taking

                                troops and stores to Malta

                                (Operation COLLAR - This was a major operation and covered transfer of HM Cruisers

                                MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON to join the Fleet at Alexandria.)

                27th        Present at the brief engagement between Force H ships and an Italian force of two battleships,

                                seven cruisers and 16 destroyers which withdrew after an exchange of fire.

                                (Battle of Cape Spartivento).

                                (Note: For details see THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN, DESTROYER

                                LEADER by P Smith and Naval Staff History)

                29th        Returned to Gibraltar with Force H ships.

 

December              Deployed for convoy defence duties at Gibraltar.

                19th        Detached for duty with Force H.

                20th        Joined Group H with HM Destroyers DUNCAN, ISIS, WISHART and JAGUAR and took

                                passage to Sicilian Narrows to relieve Mediterranean Fleet escort for passage of HM Battleship

                                MALAYA and Convoy MG1 in western Mediterranean. (Operation HIDE).

                21st         Relieved HM Destroyers HYPERION, ILEX and JERVIS.

                                (Note: HM Destroyer HYPERION, one of the escorts from Alexandria later struck a mine

                                whilst on return passage and had to be sunk).

                24th        Arrived at Gibraltar with HMS MALAYA and MG1.

                                (Note: Passage was covered by ships of Force H.)

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Deployed with Flotilla for convoy defence.

                                Joined escort for HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS during passage to Freetown and to Takoradi

                                for delivery of aircraft destined for Middle East.

 

February                Detached for duty with Force H

                6th          Joined Group 2 with HM Destroyers FEARLESS, FOXHOUND, FORESIGHT, FURY and

                                JERSEY for screening of HMS RENOWN, HMS MALAYA, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS

                                SHEFFIELD during bombardment of Genoa (Operation GROG).

                                (Note This operation had been planned as RESULT but cancelled in January).

                9th          Returned to Gibraltar with Force H.

                                Nominated for transfer to Mediterranean Fleet in Alexandria.

                24th        Took passage with HM Destroyer ISIS to Aden via Cape of Good Hope.

                                (Note: During this period deployed as part of convoy escort)

 

March                    On arrival at Aden deployed temporarily for convoy defence at Aden.

 

April                       Passage from Aden to Suez on release.

                12th        Joined Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria.

                18th        Deployed with H M Destroyers HASTY, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HERO, JAGUAR and

                                JUNO for screening of HM Battleships WARSPITE, BARHAM and VALIANT. HM

                                Cruisers AJAX, ORION, CALCUTTA, GLOUCESTER, PHOEBE and HM Aircraft Carrier

                                ILLUSTRIOUS.

                                (Operation MD3 - Bombardment of Tripoli and cover for transit of HM Supply Ship

                                BRECONSHIRE to Malta.)

                19th        Refuelled in Suda Bay, Crete with destroyers of screen.

                20th        Detached to join HMS BRECONSHIRE as escort for passage to Malta.

                                (Note: Did not remain with Fleet for Tobruk bombardment).

                21st         Arrived in Malta with HMS BRECONSHIRE.

                                Taken in hand for repairs and docking by HM Dockyard Malta.

                29th        Damaged by near miss during air raid whilst in No 2 Dock.

                30th        Hit by bomb during another air raid and sustained major structural damage.

 

May                        Under refit and repair.

                16th        Second direct hit with internal explosion caused further major damage.

                                (Note: All three Boiler Rooms and cruising turbines required extensive repair).

 

June                        Refit and repair in continuation.

 

July                         Completion of repair arranged to be carried out at Gibraltar.

                                Prepared for passage as part of escort for Convoy MG1

                24th        Passage through Sicilian Narrows.

                25th        Joined Convoy M31 as escort for transit to Gibraltar.

                                (Note: Passage of this westward convoy from Malta was part of the major Operation

                                SUBSTANCE to pass a relief convoy eastwards to Malta.)

                                Under air attack SW of Sardinia when one mercantile was damaged.

                26th        Arrived at Gibraltar with five of the ships of Convoy MG1.

                31st         Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FIREDRAKE, FORESIGHT, FORESTER,

                                FURY, FOXHOUND, COSSACK, MAORI, NESTOR (RAN) and ERIDGE as screen for

                                HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Battleship NELSON and HM Aircraft Carrier ARK

                                ROYAL to provide cover for passage of HM Cruisers ARETHUSA, HERMIONE and

                                MANXMAN taking personnel and stores to Malta. (Operation STYLE)

 

August

                3rd          Remained with Force H off Bone till cruisers and escorts returned from Malta.

                                Allocated with H M Destroyers LIGHTNING, SIKH and FORESTER to Group I

                                as screen for HMS ARK ROYAL and HM Cruiser HERMIONE during return passage

                                to Gibraltar.

                4th          Returned to Gibraltar with Group I

                                Nominated for service at Singapore.

                10th        Resumed convoy defence and joined escort for Convoy HG70 during passage from

                                Gibraltar to UK with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, AVON VALE, NESTOR (RAN)

                                and HM Sloop DEPTFORD.

.               13th        Took part in anti submarine operations with escort.

                                Returned to Gibraltar to resume Force H duties.

                21st         Deployed with HM Destroyers NESTOR (RAN), FURY, FORESIGHT, and

                                FORESTER as screen for HM Battleship NELSON, HMS ARK ROYAL and HM

                                Cruiser HERMIONE to provide cover for minelay by HMS MANXMAN off Livorno,

                                passage of the mercantiles ss DURHAM and ss DEUCALION to Malta without close

                                escort and to take part in demonstration off Valencia (Operation MINCEMEAT).

                26th        On return to Gibraltar with ships of Force H detached and took passage to UK to join

                                escort for military convoy

                31st         Joined military convoy WS11 as Ocean Escort with HM Battlecruiser REPULSE and HM

                                Destroyer NESTOR in Clyde for passage to Freetown.

 

September

                4th          Joined WS11 FAST Section when convoy divided as Ocean Escort to Freetown.

                13th        Detached from WS11 FAST on arrival.

                18th        Joined military convoy WS11 SLOW on departure from Freetown.

                21st         Detached from WS11 SLOW

                25th        Took independent passage to Aden.

 

October                  Passage in Indian Ocean and Red Sea.

                16th        On arrival at Alexandria joined Inshore Squadron for defence of Tobruk convoys.

                25th        Rescued survivors from HM Minelaying Cruiser LATONA off Tobruk.

                                (Note: HMS LATONA had been set on fire during air attacks and blew up when

                                flames reached the after magazine. See Naval Staff History (Mining)

                                One source records that this destroyer sank hulk of HMS LATONA.)

November              Inshore Squadron convoy defence in continuation.

                14th        Transferred to Eastern Fleet.

                15th        Took passage with HM Destroyer JUPITER to join HM Battlecruiser REPULSE and HM

                                Battleship PRINCE OF WALES at Colombo.

                28th        Arrived at Colombo.

                29th        Deployed with HM Destroyers ELECTRA, EXPRESS and JUPITER as screen for HMS

                                PRINCE OF WALES during passage to Singapore as Force Z.

                30th        HM Battlecruiser REPULSE joined Force Z from Trincomalee

 

December

                3rd          After arrival at Singapore taken in hand for docking to renew propeller bush.

                13th        Undocked and deployed for Local-convoy defence.

                                (Note: Did not sail on 8th December with Force Z ships for attack on Japanese

                                invasion ships off Malaya during which HMS PRINCE OF WALES and

                                HMS REPULSE were sunk.

                                For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C. Bamett,

                                OPERATION PACIFIC by E. Gray, THE HUNTING OF FORCE Z by R

                                Hough, and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Deployed for convoy defence with HM Destroyers JUPITER and VAMPIRE (RAN).

                10th        Joined Convoy DM1 on passage from Addu Atoll to reinforce escort during passage

                                to Singapore.

                                (Note: Escort comprised HM Cruisers DURBAN. EXETER and HM Sloop JUMNA

                                (RIN)

                13th        Detached from DM1 on arrival at Singapore.

                                Passage to Batavia as escort for convoy.

                                Taken in hand for for boiler clean at Batavia.

                                On completion resumed convoy defence and returned to Singapore.

                20th        Joined 7th Destroyer Flotilla in Western Striking Force based at Tangjong Priok for

                                defence of western approaches to East Indies.

 

February

                6th          Deployed for tow of HMS ISIS to Java but tow wire fouled in propeller and taken over

                                by HM Destroyer ELECTRA during passage.

                                When both engines were available resumed service with Western Striking Force for

                                interception of invasion craft cover of convoys to and for evacuation from

                                Singapore.

                                (Note: Garrison surrendered on 11th.)

                25th        Transferred to ABDA Force based at Sourabaya for defence of eastern approaches.

                                to Java.

                                Joined in search for invasion convoys.

                                (Note: This deployment included escort of rms ORCADES carrying Australian troops,

                                RAF personnel, stores and refugees from Padang to Batavia.)

                26th        At Tanjong Prior during air raid and sailed wih HM Cruisers EXETER and PERTH

                                (RAN) with HMS ELECTRA AND HMS JUPITER.

                27th        Part of escort for Dutch cruisers DE RUYTER and JAVA, H M Cruisers HOBART

                                (RAN), EXETER, PERTH and US cruiser USS HOUSTON with HM Destroyers

                                ELECTRA, JUPITER, and both Dutch and US Navy destroyers.

                                Engaged UN cruiser JINTSU with other ships but target out of effective range.

                                Withdrew under fire with HM Destroyer ELECTRA to make further attack.

                                Returned to rejoin allied Fleet after HMS ELECTRA had been sunk whilst making an

                                attack using torpedoes.

                                (Note: For details see OPERATION PACIFIC, BATTLE OF THE JAVA SEA by

                                D. Thomas and HMS ELECTRA by T J Cain.)

                28th        Returned to Sourabaya with survivors from HMS JUPITER and Dutch Destroyer

                                KORTENAER ,

 

March

                1st           Escorted damaged cruiser HMS EXETER on passage to Colombo with US Destroyer

                                POPE and ambushed by four Japanese cruisers and three destroyers.

                                Laid smoke screen after HMS EXETER was hit by shellfire from Japanese cruisers

                                MYOKO and ASHIGARA (Battle of Java Sea).

                                (Note: HMS EXETER sank after being hit by torpedo.)

                                Came under attack and sustained major damage which ruptured fuel supply system.

                                Ship disabled without electric power needed to control main armament.

                                Scuttled by crew in position 04.30S 111.00E.

                                Many of ship' company were killed and the remainder became prisoners of war, 37 of

                                whom died in captivity.

                                (See above references and Naval Staff History)

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS ENCOUNTER

by Don Kindell

 

This convoy list has not been cross-checked with the text above

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

05/09/39

06/09/39

RED 1

11/09/39

27/09/39

09/10/39

09/10/39

BC 010F

11/10/39

11/10/39

11/10/39

11/10/39

BC 010FR

12/10/39

12/10/39

14/11/39

14/11/39

OA 035

15/11/39

19/11/39

29/12/39

29/12/39

ON 006/1

01/01/40

01/01/40

01/01/40

01/01/40

HN 006

04/01/40

04/01/40

06/01/40

07/01/40

ON 007/1

09/01/40

09/01/40

09/02/40

09/02/40

ON 011/1

12/02/40

12/02/40

28/02/40

28/02/40

ON 016/1

02/03/40

02/03/40

02/03/40

02/03/40

HN 016

05/03/40

05/03/40

07/03/40

07/03/40

ON 018/1

10/03/40

10/03/40

10/03/40

10/03/40

HN 018

13/03/40

13/03/40

15/03/40

15/03/40

ON 020/1

18/03/40

18/03/40

18/03/40

18/03/40

HN 020

21/03/40

22/03/40

12/06/40

12/06/40

HEBREW

12/06/40

14/06/40

16/06/40

16/06/40

MT 089

17/06/40

17/06/40

30/07/41

08/08/41

OG 070

10/08/41

12/08/41

09/08/41

11/08/41

HG 070

unknown

23/08/41

12/12/41

13/12/41

SM 001

15/12/41

16/12/41

21/12/41

02/01/42

BM 009A

03/01/42

03/01/42

02/01/42

10/01/42

DM 001

13/01/42

13/01/42

19/01/42

26/01/42

BM 011

28/01/42

29/01/42

23/01/42

31/01/42

BM 012

03/02/42

04/02/42

10/02/42

14/02/42

JS 002

15/02/42

15/02/42

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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