GREYHOUND-Class
Fleet Destroyer ordered from
John I Thornycroft at Woolston under the
1933 Build Programme on 5th March 1934 at a
tender
price of £248,785. The ship was laid down on
15th August that year as Yard No.
1125 and launched on 22nd July 1935.She was
the 3rcl RN warship to carry the
name dating from 1906 and previously used
for a River Gunboat sold in 1928.
Build completion date was 22nd January 1936
and this destroyer served in the
Mediterranean Fleet until
September 1939.
B
a t t l e H o n o u r s
WHITE SEA 1919 -
ATLANTIC 1939 - NORWAY
1940
H e
r a l d i c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Blue, a
lantern Black with rays issuing Silver
M
o t t o
Ex tenebris
lux: 'Out of darkness light'.
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
Deployed with 1st Destroyer Flotilla at
Alexandria.
3rd
Carried out patrol for interception of
mercantiles to reinforce blockade.
October
Transferred with Flotilla for duty in
Western Approaches Command.
19th
Passage to UK with HM Destroyers GALLANT,
GRAFTON and GREYHOUND of Flotilla for
escort and patrol duty.
22nd
Arrived at Plymouth and deployed in SW
Approaches.
November
Convoy escort and Anti-submarine patrol
based at Plymouth.
12th
Transferred to 22nd Destroyer Flotilla at
Harwich for North Sea patrol and escort
duty.
December
North Sea deployment in continuation.
1 9
4 0
January
North Sea deployment in continuation.
February
22nd Hit
by Swedish ship REX when at anchor in fog
off Outer Dowsing with significant
structural damage.
25th
Taken in hand for repair at commercial
shipyard in Hull
.March
Under repair.
Transferred back to 1st Destroyer Flotilla,
Home Fleet
20th
On completion took passage to rejoin
Flotilla at Scapa Flow.
22nd
Deployed for screening of major Fleet units
in North Sea and NW Approaches.
April
Home Fleet duties in continuation.
5th
Part of escort for HM Battlecruiser RENOWN
with HM Destroyers GREYHOUND, HERO
and HYPERION to provide cover for minelaying
operation off Norway.
(Operation WILFRED)
(For details of all minelaying operations
see the Naval Staff History (Mining) and for
movements prior to operations off Norway,
see NARVIK by D MacIntyre, CARRIER
GLORIOUS by J Winton and Naval Staff History
(HMSO, 2001).
6th
Detached to search for man lost overboard.
8th
In action with German cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER
and two destroyers.
Carried out torpedo attack and sustained
major damage from return fire.
Rammed HIPPER and sank soon afterwards in
position 64.27N 06.28E.
111 of the ships company were killed and 39
were taken prisoner.
Her captain, Lieutenant Commander B G Roope
was subsequently awarded the
Victoria
Cross.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS GLOWWORM
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
12/09/39
|
12/09/39
|
L
002
|
19/09/39
|
19/09/40
|
|
05/09/39
|
13/09/39
|
RED
1
|
16/09/39
|
27/09/39
|
|
20/09/39
|
20/09/39
|
BLUE
002
|
30/09/39
|
30/09/39
|
|
28/09/39
|
03/10/39
|
RED
2
|
09/10/39
|
09/10/39
|
|
04/10/39
|
25/10/39
|
KJ
003
|
26/10/39
|
28/10/39
|
|
25/10/39
|
06/11/39
|
HX
006
|
unknown
|
06/11/39
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
