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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 ECHO (H 23), later Greek HHelMS NAVARINON -  E-class Destroyer

HMS Electra, sister ship (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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E-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered on 1st November 1932 from Denny at Dumbarton under the 1931 Build Programme. The ship was laid down on 20th March 1932 and launched on 16th February January 1934 as the ninth RN ship to carry the name introduced for a Prize taken in 1756. It was last used for a Sloop sold about 1828. Build  was completed on 22nd October 1934 far a cost of £247,009, excluding items supplied by the Admiralty such as guns and communications equipment. Much of her service was in the Mediterranean until 1937 because of the Abyssinian crisis. In January she rejoined the Home Fleet with the 5th Destroyer Flotilla but a fire en board in 1938 kept her in dock for some months. After a further period of refit she was deployed again in the Mediterranean for a few months before serving in Home waters. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 this ship was adopted by the civil community of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

QUEBEC 1759 - MARTINIQUE 1762 - HAVANA 1762 - CAPE OF GOOD HOPE 1795 - ATLANTIC 1939  - NORWAY 1940 - BISMARCK Action 1941 - ARCTIC  1941-43 - MALTA CONVOYS 1942 - SICILY  1943 - SALERNO 1943 - AEGEAN  1943

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Party per pale Green and Blue.

   Two horns counterchanged Gold and Silver.

 

M o t t o

Marte et Arts : ‘By Mars and by Art’

 

 

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

 

Under boiler repair at Sheerness.

 

September

 

On completion of post refit trials transferred to 12th Destroyer Flotilla for anti- submarine patrol and convoy defence in Channel and SW Approaches.

 

17th - Took part in rescue operations after sinking of HM Aircraft Carrier COURAGEOUS by U29 in position 50.10N 14.45W SW of Irish coast.

 

October

 

Channel and SW Approaches deployment in continuation.

 

13th - Grounded whilst entering Plymouth In fog.

 

14th - Taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard Devonport.

 

November

 

Under repair.

 

13th - On completion rejoined Flotilla in continuation of duty.

 

December

 

Channel and SW Approaches patrol and convoy defence in continuation.

 

 

1 9 4 0

 

January

 

Re-deployed with Flotilla at Scapa Flow for Home Fleet escort and patrol.

 

February

 

5th - Detached with HM Destroyer ECLIPSE for escort of H M Auxiliary Minelayer PRINCESS VICTORIA during lay of Dummy mines along East Coast Barrier off Scottish coast. (Operation LD1 - For details of all minelaying activities in WW2 see Naval Staff History (MINING)).

 

Resumed Flotilla duties in Home Fleet on completion.

 

20th - Taken in hand for refit at Leith.

 

March

 

Under refit.

 

April

 

Under refit.

 

30th - On completion rejoined Home Fleet.

 

May

 

Deployed in support of military operations in Norway for convoy defence and escort of major Fleet units.

 

18th - Took part in rescue of troops and ship's company from HM Cruiser EFFINGHAM which had run aground off Norway. (Note: This cruiser later became a total wreck in position 16.17N 13.55E.).

 

29th - Assisted in evacuation of Bodo with HM Destroyers ARROW, FIREDRAKE, HAVELOCK and VANOC.

 

June

 

Transferred to 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet Deployed for escort of final evacuation convoys from Norway. (For details of the disastrous naval operations off Norway see NARVIK by Donald MacIntyre, CARRIER GLORIOUS by John Winton, THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by Adams and The Naval Staff History).

 

Home Fleet deployment with Flotilla in continuation.

 

13th - Detached to assist in rescue operations after HM Armed Merchant Cruiser SCOTSTOUN torpedoed by U25 in position 00.09N 09-57W.

 

July

 

2nd - Detached to assist in rescue operations after mv ARANDORA Star had been torpedoed in position 56.20N 10.40W.

 

9th - Escorted ss ULSTER PRINCE carrying troops to Iceland.

 

19th - Resumed Home Fleet duties with Flotilla after escorting ULSTER PRINCE back to UK.

 

August

 

Home Fleet duties with Flotilla in continuation.

 

5th - Detached and joined HM Cruiser CALCUTTA, HM destroyers INGLEFIELD, BERKELEY and GARTH for escort of ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron for minelay in SW Approaches. (Operation SN32)

 

21st - Detached with HM Destroyer ECLIPSE for escort of ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron for minelay in Northern Barrage (Operation SN2).

 

28th - Detached for duty in support of French expedition to Dakar (Operation MENACE). (For full details of this ill-fated and poorly planned operation see MENACE by A. Marder.)

 

Escorted HM Battleship BARHAM with HM Destroyers ECLIPSE, ESCAPADE and INGLEFIELD for passage to Gibraltar.

 

September

 

2nd - Arrived at Gibraltar with HMS BARHAM.

 

6th - Sailed to join Force M during its passage from UK to Freetown for MENACE.

 

13th - Met Force M.

 

20th - Deployed with HMS BARHAM to cover HM Cruisers CORNWALL and DELHI during operation to intercept Vichy French warships off African coast.

 

22nd - Sailed from Freetown as screen for Force M ships.

 

23rd - Laid off Dakar during negotiations.

 

24th - Deployed as screen for HMS BARHAM during bombardment.

 

25th - MENACE abandoned because of risk of damage from shore-fire. Escorted damaged HMS BARHAM towed by HM Battleship RESOLUTION to Freetown

 

29th - On release from MENACE retained at Freetown for local convoy defence.

 

October

 

Convoy defence off West Africa in continuation. Recalled to rejoin Flotilla in Home Fleet and took passage to UK as part of escort for Freetown-UK convoy.

 

26th - Detached from escort to assist in rescue work after ss EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA had been set on fire by air attacks NW of Donegal Bay.

 

27th - Landed survivors at Greenock.

 

30th - Under repair to boilers at Greenock.

 

31st - Rejoined Flotilla in Home Fleet.

 

November to December

 

Deployed with Flotilla for Fleet duties in NW Approaches.

 

 

1 9 4 1

 

January

 

Home Fleet duty with Flotilla in continuation.

 

5th - Resumed Home Fleet duties in Flotilla on completion of second minelay.

 

23rd - Part of screen for Home Fleet major units providing cover for the passage in North Sea of Norwegian ships which had broken out of Baltic from Sweden. (Operation RUBBLE).

 

February

 

6th - Joined screen of Home Fleet destroyers escorting HM Battleship RODNEY to cover a minelay in Northern Barrage by ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron. (Operation SN7A).

 

March

 

Part of screen for Horns Fleet major units covering raid by Commando units on the Lofoten Islands (See COMBINED OPERATIONS (HMSO) and WATERY MAZE by B Fergusson).

 

16th - Resumed Home Fleet Flotilla duties.

 

19th - Rescued survivors from Norwegian ss LEO in NW Approaches.

 

April

 

Home Fleet duties with Flotilla in continuation.

 

13th - Detached with HM Destroyer LEGION to assist in rescue of survivors from H M Armed Merchant Cruiser RAJPUTANA which had been sunk by U108 in position 64.50N 27.25W.

 

May

 

Home Fleet duties with Flotilla in continuation.

 

21st  to 24th - Deployed as escort for cruisers on passage to Northern Patrol in Denmark Strait.

 

25th - After sinking of HM Battle cruiser HOOD joined Fleet units off Iceland for escort of damaged battleship HMS PRINCE OF WALES to Iceland. (For details of the BISMARCK action and search operations see PURSUIT by L Kennedy and BATTLESHIP BISMARCK by Baron von Mullenheim Rechberg).

 

June

 

Home Fleet duties in continuation with Flotilla.

 

July

 

23rd - Deployed with destroyer screen for HM Aircraft Carriers FURIOUS and VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE and SUFFOLK as Force P.

 

30th - Screen deployment during air attacks on Petsamo and Kirkenes.

 

31st - Screen deployment during air attacks on Tromso. (See ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman).

 

August

 

Home Fleet duties in continuation.

 

9th - Joined escort for military convoy WS8C in Clyde for passage to Scapa Flow. (Note: This convoy comprised eight Landing Ships (Infantry), two Landing Ships (Tank), six Motor Transport Ships, four Troopships and two tankers. These ships were to take part in an operation to occupy the Azores (Operation GRAY).)

 

10th - Arrived at Scapa Flow with WS8C.

 

15th - Sailed from Scapa Flow with escort for WS8C when operation was cancelled.

 

17th - Resumed escort duties on arrival in Clyde with WS8C.

 

Nominated for refit Passage to Thames. Taken in hand for refit at Harland and Wolff shipyard, North Woolwich.

 

September to October

 

Under refit.

 

November

 

Post refit trials.

 

4th - On completion of trials rejoined Flotilla in Home Fleet.

 

December

 

Home Fleet screening duties in continuation.

 

8th - Escorted Russian Convoy PQ6 as screen for HM Cruiser EDINBURGH with HM Destroyer ESCAPADE during passage to Kola Inlet.

 

19th - Detached with HMS EDINBURGH and HMS ESCAPADE on arrival off Kola Inlet to escort two Russian mercantiles to Murmansk. Detached from HMS EDINBURGH to escort one of the mercantiles into Murmansk. Came under air attack from 2 Ju88 and during avoiding action at high speed two men were swept overboard from the foc'sle. Enemy driven off by Russian Hurricanes and the arrival of HMS EDINBURGH in area. See ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman. (For details of all Russian Convoy operations including names of warships involved see ARCTIC CONVOYS, CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg, CONVOY! by P Kemp and THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield).

 

 

1 9 4 2

 

January

 

4th - Sailed from Kola Inlet with same ships to join return Convoy QP4 as Ocean Escort.

 

5th - Joined convoy.

 

8th - Detached when convoy dispersed.

 

9th - Deployed on patrol south of convoy route with HMS EDINBURGH and HMS ESCAPADE.

 

10th - Rejoined Flotilla on arrival at Scapa Flow.

 

February

 

Deployed with screen for Home Fleet ships in search for German warships TIRPITZ, PRINZ EUGEN and ADMIRAL SCHEER reported at sea off Norway.

 

March

 

Part of destroyer screen for HM Battleships KING GEORGE V and DUKE OF YORK, HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS and Home Fleet cruisers to cover passage of Russian Convoys PQ12 and PQ13 as well as returning QP8 and QP9.

 

April

 

Deployed with Hone Fleet in continuation. Nominated for detached duty as escort for aircraft carriers during Malta aircraft deliveries.

 

13th - Joined HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Cruisers CAIRO and CHARYBDIS as destroyer screen for passage to Gibraltar with HM Destroyers INGLEFIELD, ITHURIEL, PARTRIDGE and US destroyers USS LANG and USS MADISON.

 

19th - Joined Force W with same ships and destroyers of 13th Destroyer Flotilla for the delivery of Spitfire aircraft to Malta (Operation CALENDAR).

 

21st - Passage to Scapa Flow to rejoin Home Fleet.

 

20th - Aircraft launched despite known problems with long range fuel tanks and defective radio equipment (Note: The aircraft arrived safely but were all destroyed on the ground by air attacks.)

 

May

 

Detached for further aircraft delivery operation. Joined HMS RENOWN and USS WASP as destroyer screen for passage to Gibraltar with HM Destroyers INTREPID, GEORGETOWN and SALISBURY, US Destroyers USS LANG and USS STERRET.

 

8th - Joined Force W - HMS RENOWN, HMS CHARYBDIS, USS WASP, HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, as screen with same ships and destroyers of 13th Flotilla for delivery to Malta of Spitfire aircraft (Operation BOWERY). (Note: The safe arrival of the 61 aircraft of the 64 launched and their immediate availability for the defence of Malta turned the tide of the air war over the island.)

 

11th - Passage to Scapa Flow as escort for USS WASP with same ships of Home Fleet.

 

15th - Deployed in NW Approaches for anti-submarine defence of UK-Iceland convoys.

 

June

 

Home Fleet duties in continuation. Nominated for refit.

 

18th - Taken in hand for refit in Humber shipyard.

 

July

 

Under refit.

 

August

 

Under refit.

 

22nd - On completion of post refit trials took passage to join 8th Destroyer, Home Fleet at Scapa Flow for escort duty in NW Approaches.

 

September

 

Deployed for support of Russian Convoy PQ18 and return Convoy QP14.

 

8th - Escorted HM Cruisers CUMBERLAND and SHEFFIELD with H M Destroyers AMAZON, ECLIPSE, BULLDOG and VENOMOUS to establish fuelling base at Lowe Sound, Spitzbergen and to take stores to Norwegian meteorological station at Barentsberg.

 

Returned to Scapa Flow after completion of refuelling of escort destroyers. Resumed Flotilla duties in NW Approaches.

 

October

 

Home Fleet Flotilla duties in continuation.

 

November

 

Home Fleet Flotilla duties in continuation.

 

20th - Joined escort for returning Convoy OP15 during passage from Kola Inlet.

 

22nd - Detached from QP15 and resumed duties in NW Approaches.

 

December

 

18th - Joined Russian Convoy JW51A with HM Destroyers BOADICEA, ECLIPSE, FAULKNOR, FURY and INGLEFIELD as Ocean Escort.

 

25th - Detached on arrival at Kola Inlet. (Note: German warships failed to intercept this convoy - see references)

 

30th - Joined return Convoy RA51 as Ocean Escort with same ships, except HMS BOADICEA.

 

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

 

6th - Detached with same ships from RA51 after uninterrupted passage due to the German operation against JW51B during which battleship SCHARNHORST was sunk. (See above references).

 

23rd - Deployed with screen for HM Battleship ANSON and H M Cruiser SHEFFIELD providing Distant Cover for passage of Russian Convoy JW52 with 6 RN destroyers and Polish destroyer ORP ORKAN.

 

February

 

Taken in hand for refit in Humber shipyard.

 

March to May

 

Under refit.

 

Flotilla nominated for duty in Mediterranean in support of future operations.

 

June

 

Joined Flotilla in Home Fleet on completion of post refit trials.

 

17th - Passage to Gibraltar with 8th Destroyer Flotilla

 

July

 

Nominated for escort of major Fleet unit during allied landings in Sicily. (Operation HUSKY - For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval History). Passage to Alexandria with Call at Gibraltar.

 

7th - At Alexandria

 

10th - Part of screen for Covering Force during assault landings.

 

11th - Deployed with HM Destroyer ILEX as screen for HM Cruisers AURORA and PENELOPE for interception patrol.

 

13th - Sank Italian submarine NEREIDE in Straits of Messina with HM Destroyer ILEX.

 

August

 

Deployed in support of operations in Sicily with Fleet units.

 

September

 

Deployment with Mediterranean Fleet in continuation.

 

8th - Deployed with Flotilla as screen for HM Battleships NELSON, RODNEY, WARSPITE and VALIANT, HM Aircraft Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS and FORMIDABLE in Covering Force during allied landings at Salerno (Operation AVALANCHE).

 

9th - Under air attack by German torpedo bombers which were unsuccessful.

 

10th - Part of screen for HM Battleships WARSPITE and VALIANT with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FURY, INTREPID, RAIDER, Greek destroyer VASILISSA OLGA and French LE TERRIBLE which met Italian Fleet on passage off Malta to surrender.

 

12th - Nominated for support of military operations to occupy islands in Aegean which were garrisoned by Italian troops.

 

14th - Deployed with five other destroyers as screen for HM Battleships KING GEORGE V and HOWE during passage to Alexandria as escort for surrendered Italian battleships VITTORIO VENETO and ITALIA, four cruisers for demilitarisation.

 

16th - Arrived in Alexandria with Italian warships. Re-deployed for support of operations in Eastern Mediterranean to occupy islands in Aegean.

 

17th - During interception patrol with HM Destroyer INTREPID sank Submarine Chaser UJ2104 off Stampalia.

 

19th - With HM Destroyer INTREPID embarked troops of Durham Light Infantry and four Bofor guns at Haifa for passage to Leros.

 

October

 

Detached from Aegean operations.

 

1st - Escorted HM Battleships KING GEORGE V and HOWE from Alexandria to Malta.

 

5th - Resumed support of Aegean operations.

 

25th - Deployed with HM Destroyer ROCKWOOD and Polish destroyer KRAKOWIAK for offensive patrol. Under air attack SE of Casteloriso.

 

29th - Carried out further offensive patrol.

 

November

 

Aegean deployments in continuation.

 

3rd - Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, PENN and PATHFINDER to take troops of 1st Battalion Kings Own Royal Rifles from Alexandria to Leros.

 

12th - Embarked troops for passage to Leros.

 

13th - Rescued 109 survivors from HM Destroyer DULVERTON sunk by air attack off Kos.

 

14th - Bombarded German positions on Mount Appetica, Leros in support of British troops. Evacuated troops from Samos and took them to Leros.

 

15th - Engaged and sank F-Lighters attempting to reinforce Cos. (For details of the disastrous naval operations in defence of the Aegean Islands See WAR IN THE AEGEAN by P Smith and E Walker, FIGHTING DESTROYER by G C Cornell and THE LAST DESTROYER by FA Mason).

 

After surrender of Leros resumed Fleet duties in Eastern Mediterranean.

 

December

 

Transferred to Central Mediterranean, based at Malta for support of the military operations in Italy. Nominated for refit.

 

12th - Deployed in Gulf of Gaeta.

 

22nd - Taken in hand for refit in Malta.

 

 

1 9 4 4

 

January to March

 

Under refit. Arrangements made for transfer to Royal Hellenic Navy.

 

April

 

5th - Paid off from RN service as HMS ECHO. Transferred to Greece and renamed NAVARINON

 

 

W a r   S e r v i c e   a s   H  H e l  M  S   N A V A R I N O N

 

May to October

 

On completion of post refit trials and work-up deployed for support of military in Adriatic and central Mediterranean, convoy escort and patrol. Based in Malta.

 

November

 

Transferred to Piraeus after assisting in re-occupation of Greek islands in the Aegean and support of allied landings in Greece

 

December

 

Support duty in continuation.

 

 

1 9 4 5

 

January to May

 

Deployed in Greek coastal waters for support against Communist insurgents.

 

 

 P o s t   W a r  N o t e s

 

This ship was retained in the Royal Hellenic Navy after the end of hostilities in Europe and in 1953 represented Greece at Spithead during the Coronation Review. Before return to the RN in 1956 she was used for training duties. On 8th March 1956 she was handed back to the RN in Malta and was placed on the Disposal List. Sold to BISCO for demolition by Clayton and Davie she arrived in tow at the breakers’ yard in Dunston on Tyne during April 1956 and breaking-up had been completed by April 1957.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS ECHO

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

 

 

 

 

 

27/09/39

27/09/39

OA 011

30/09/39

30/09/39

26/09/39

05/10/39

HG 001

06/10/39

06/10/39

07/10/39

07/10/39

OA 016G

09/10/39

11/10/39

09/02/40

09/02/40

ON 011/1

12/02/40

12/02/40

17/02/41

25/02/41

TC 009

27/02/41

27/02/41

08/03/41

09/03/41

OB 295

14/03/41

14/03/41

10/04/41

16/04/41

TC 010

19/04/41

19/04/41

08/12/41

11/12/41

PQ 006

20/12/41

20/12/41

26/12/41

05/01/42

QP 004

09/01/42

09/01/42

01/03/42

06/03/42

PQ 012

10/03/42

12/03/42

10/03/42

23/03/42

PQ 013

23/03/42

31/03/42

21/03/42

23/03/42

QP 009

23/03/42

03/04/42

02/09/42

14/09/42

PQ 018

22/09/42

21/09/42

13/09/42

14/09/42

QP 014

22/09/42

26/09/42

17/11/42

20/11/42

QP 015

22/11/42

30/11/42

15/12/42

18/12/42

JW 051A

25/12/42

25/12/42

30/12/42

30/12/42

RA 051

06/01/43

11/01/43

17/01/43

23/01/43

JW 052

24/01/43

27/01/43

21/12/43

21/12/43

NV 012B

22/12/43

22/12/43

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and as HMHS NAVARINON 

 

 

 

 

 

30/05/44

07/06/44

MKS 051

09/06/44

09/06/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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revised 10/6/11
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