Greyhound
or
G-Class
Fleet
Destroyer ordered from Vickers Armstrong,
Newcastle under 1933 Programme in
March 1934. The ship was laid down on 30th
September that year as Yard No 700.
The ship was launched on 15th August 1935.
She was the 6th RN warship to carry
the name which dates from 1656 and had been
used by 2 merchant ships which
fought against the Spanish Armada in 1588.
Build was completed on 6 March 1936
at a cost of £248,528 (excluding Admiralty
supplied equipment such as guns,
ammunition and communications equipment.
Before beginning Fleet service with
the 1st Destroyer Flotilla in the
Mediterranean she was used to carry out
comparative trials using Admiralty design
and commercial design propellers.
After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National
Savings campaign in March
1942 this ship was adopted by the civil
community of Oldbury,
then in Worcestershire. Yard No on build was
700.
B
a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ARMADA
1588 - BEACHY HEAD 1690 - BARFLEUR
1692 - VIGO 1702 -
VELEZ
MALAGA
1704 - CAPE
PASSARO 1718 - NORWAY 1940 - MEDITERRANEAN
1940-41 - MATAPAN
1941 - GREECE 1941 - CRETE
1941 - LIBYA 1942 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941-42
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Blue, a
Griffin Gold
M
o t t
o
Dentibus
ac rostro:
'With teeth and beak’
D e t a i
l s o f W a
r S e r v i
c e a s H M S
G R I F F I N
(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 (D1) for patrol and
contraband control In the Mediterranean.
October
Transferred
with
Flotilla for duty in Home Waters.
22nd
- Took
passage to Plymouth from Gibraltar with HM
Destroyers GRENADE, GRENVILLE and GIPSY.
November
Joined
Western
Approaches Command and transferred to
Harwich with Flotilla.
16th
- Commenced convoy defence
and contraband control
duties.
17th
- Damaged at Harwich.
19th
- Taken in hand for repair in London
commercial shipyard.
21st
- Took
part in rescue of survivors from HM
Destroyer GIPSY which sank in the entrance
to
Harwich
after detonating a magnetic
mine.
(Note:
HM Destroyers KEITH and
BOADICEA also assisted in the rescue
operations.)
December
7th
- Resumed
duties at Harwich.
1
9 4 0
January
Deployed
on
North Sea patrol and contraband duties.
19th
- Took
part in search and rescue operation with HMS
GRENADE for survivors from HM Destroyer
GRENVILLE that had been mined and sunk 23
miles east of Kentish Knock Light
Vessel (Note: 113
men were picked up by these two ships.)
February
Patrol
and
convoy defence
duty based at Harwich in continuation.
2nd
- During
escort of East Coast southbound Convoy FS 84
with HMS GALLANT, stood by tanker BRITISH
COUNCILLOR that had been torpedoed by
submarine.
Rejoined
convoy. (Note: HMS
GALLANT detached from escort and took
survivors to Rosyth.)
March
North
Sea convoy defence,
patrol and contraband duties in
continuation.
(For
details of North Sea activities
in 1940 see THREE CORVETTES by M Monsarrat
and THE BATTLE
OF THE EAST COAST by J P Foynes.)
April
Transferred
to
Home Fleet at Scapa Flow prior to planned
landings in Norway (Operation
RUPERT/R4).
4th
- Deployed in NW Approaches and North Sea.
14th
- Part of
screen for HM Battleship VALIANT and HM
Repair Ship VINDICTIVE with HM Destroyers
CODRINGTON, ACASTA, ARDENT, FEARLESS and
BRAZEN, to cover
passage
of military convoy taking
troops for landing at Narvik.
Convoy
destination changed to Namsos. (For
details of the disastrous naval operations
off
Norway see CARRIER GLORIOUS by J Winton,
NARVIK
by D MacIntyre
THE DOOMED EXPEDITION by Adams.)
16th
- Deployed with Fleet units off Norway.
24th
- Intercepted
and captured trawler POLARIS believed to be
supporting U-Boats in North Sea.
May
Deployment
off Norway In continuation.
2nd
- Took part
in evacuation at Namsos
with HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE,
YORK, CARLISLE and
French
cruiser MONTCALM, HM
Destroyers AFRIDI, NUBIAN, MAORI, KELLY,
HASTY,
IMPERIAL,
GRENADE, French destroyer BISON and three
troopships.
Home
Fleet duties in support of evacuation
operations
in continuation.
June
Transferred
to
English Channel in support of evacuation
from French ports and for convoy defence
duty.
July
Channel
deployment
in continuation.
19th
- In action with aircraft off Dover.
24th
- Transferred to 13th Destroyer Flotilla
at Gibraltar.
Passage
to Gibraltar.
August
Deployed
for
convoy defence
and patrol duties.
30th
- Joined HM Destroyers NUBIAN, MOHAWK,
JANUS, HERO, GALLANT, HOTSPUR and GREYHOUND
in Force A.
31st
- Screened
Force F which comprised HM Aircraft Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Battleship VALIANT, HM
Cruisers COVENTRY and CALCUTTA. (Note:
These ships were on passage to Malta and
were
to reinforce Mediterranean Fleet in Alexandria
(Operation HATS).
September
4th
- Returned to Gibraltar with HM Destroyers
GALLANT, GREYHOUND and HOTSPUR.
October
Gibraltar
Flotilla duties in continuation.
22nd
- Participated
in the sinking of Italian submarine LAFOLE
off Gibraltar with HMS GALLANT and HMS
HOTSPUR.
31st
- Shadowed movements of Vichy French
destroyers off Moroccan coast.
November
Transferred
to
14th Destroyer Flotilla at Alexandria for
duty with Fleet In the Eastern Mediterranean.
7th
- Joined HM
Battleship BARHAM, HM Cruisers BERWICK and
GLASGOW with HM Destroyers
GALLANT, GREYHOUND and ENCOUNTER in Force F
for passage to Malta
to
reinforce Mediterranean Fleet. (Note:
Cover for the transit
to
Malta was provided by Force H (Operation
COAT).)
December
Deployed
with
Fleet in Eastern Mediterranean.
1
9 4 1
January
3rd
- Screened HM Battleships WARSPITE,
VALIANT and BARHAM during bombardment of Bardia
with HM Destroyers HEX, GREYHOUND,
JUNO and JANUS.
7th
- Joined HM
Destroyers JERVIS, JUNO, JANUS,.
NUBIAN,
MOHAWK, GREYHOUND, GALLANT and DAINTY as screen for HM
Battleships WARSPITE and VALIANT as Force
A.
Covered passage of
military convoy to Piraeus in Eastern
Mediterranean after transfer from
Force H (Operation EXCESS/ MC4).
(Note:
Passage of convoys MW5(F),
MW5(S) and ME6 between
Malta and Egypt was also covered
by this
Operation).
10th
- Rescued
survivors from HMS GALLANT which was mined
25 miles SE of Pantellaria. (Note: Stem
portion of HMS GALLANT was later towed to
Malta.)
15th
- Re-deployed in Red Sea for convoy escort
duty.
February
Provided
support
for military offensive in Italian Somaliland
(Operation CANVAS).
March
Rejoined
Mediterranean for Fleet duties. Part
of escort for HMS WARSPITE, HMS VALIANT, HMS
BARHAM and HM Aircraft Carrier
FORMIDABLE, during offensive sweep in
Eastern
Mediterranean.
19th
- Deployed with HM Cruiser BONAVENTURE, HM
Destroyers GRIFFIN, HAVOCK and HOTSPUR as
escort for Convoy MW6 for passage to
Malta. Under
sustained air attacks during
transit.
20th
- Mercantile
ss CLAN FERGUSON
joined MW6 with HM Cruisers
COVEN1RY, CALCUTTA
and
COVENTRY. On arrival
of MW6 in Malta took passage to rejoin
Fleet at Alexandria.
28th
- Present at Battle of Matapan
as part of screen for
Fleet units.
Sank
Italian destroyers VITTORIO
ALFIERI and GIOSUE CARDUCCI with HM
Destroyers
GREYHOUND
and HAVOCK.
(See
Naval Staff History and MATAPAN
by SW Pack.)
29th
- Part of screen for Fleet units covering
passage of military convoys to
Piraeus
(Operation
LUSTRE).
April
Mediterranean
Fleet deployment for support of military
convoys to Greece in continuation.
15th
- Bombarded
Sollum with HM
Destroyer STUART (RAN) and HM River
Gunboat GNAT
24th
- Escorted
Convoy AN29 with HM Destroyers DECOY, HASTY,
WATERHEN (RAN) and VENDETTA
(RAN).
Detached
to join HM Cruiser COVENTRY and three other
destroyers as escort for ss PENLAND
and ss THIRLAND
CASTLE to evacuate troops from Megara near
Corinth
(Operation
DEMON). Under
air attacks during which ss
PENLAND was sunk.
Rescued
survivors from PENLAND and detached to Suda
Bay. (For
details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
and
Naval Staff History).
29th
- Towed HM Store Carrier GLENEARN from Suda
Bay. (Note: Tow
was later transferred to HM Sloop GRIMSBY). Returned to
Greek coast to assist in rescue of
survivors.
30th
- Escorted
HM Netlayer
PROTECTOR towing damaged submarine HMS
ROVER from Suda
Bay
to Alexandria
May
18th
- Deployed with Fleet units in support of
evacuation from Crete. Embarked
allied troops for passage from Suda
Bay and Sphakia. (For
details of Crete Campaign see THE BATTLE FOR
THE
MEDITERRANEAN,
ENGAGE
THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and
Naval Staff History.)
June to July
On
completion
of Crete evacuation deployed in support of
military operations in Syria against Vichy
French, based at Haifa (Operation EXPORTER). Bombarded
vehicles on road between
Haifa and Beirut.
Part
of escort for cruisers during bombardment
near Beirut. (For
details see RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute).
August to September
Transferred
to
Alexandria for support of Tobruk
garrison. Deployed
for escort of convoys and transport of mail,
troops and supplies.
Under
air
attacks during passages. Took
part in
relief of Australian garrison and
replacement by Polish and British troops. (See ENGAGE
THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff
History)
October
Tobruk
support in continuation.
21st
- Took
part in rescue of personnel from HM River
Gunboat GNAT north of Bardia
with HM Destroyer
JAGUAR.
(Note:
HMS GNAT had been torpedoed
by U99 and badly damaged).
Towed
HMS GNAT
until arrival of tugs off Mersa
Matruh.
November
Deployed
with
2nd Destroyer Flotilla for screening of
major Fleet units.
24th
- Part of
screen for HM Battleships QUEEN ELIZABETH,
VALIANT and BARHAM with other Fleet
destroyers during search for enemy supply
convoys reported on passage to Benghazi.
25th
- Took
part in anti-submarine operation after HMS
BARHAM had been sunk by U331. (Note: HMS
BARHAM sank in less than 5 minutes with loss
of 862 lives. )
December
Deployed
with
2nd Destroyer Flotilla for interception of
enemy convoys and the bombardment of enemy
shore positions at Dena in support of 8th
Army advance.
14th
- Took
part in rescue of 144 survivors from HM
Cruiser GALATEA after she had been
torpedoed
by
U557.
(Note:
This cruiser sank almost immediately.)
18th
- Carried
out operations against human torpedoes at
Alexandria after HMS VALIANT and HMS QUEEN
ELIZABETH were badly damaged by limpet mines
in harbour.
(See above references.)
1
9 4 2
January
16th
- Joined HM Cruiser CARLISLE, HM
Destroyers ARROW, HASTY and HERO as escort
for Convoy MW8A
from Alexandria to Malta (Operation MF3). (Note: This
convoy comprised supply ships AJAX and
THERMOPYLAE).
18th
- After
escort for joint Convoy MW8A/B transferred
to Force K.
Returned
to Alexandria. Taken in
hand for refit.
February
On
completion
resumed Flotilla duties.
13th
- Joined
Force B as screen for HM Cruisers DIDO,
EURYALUS and NAIAD with HM Destroyers
HASTY, ARROW, HAVOC, JAGUAR, JERVIS, KELVIN
and KIPLING for
cover
of Convoy MW9 during passage
to Malta and Convoy ME10 from Malta to Egypt
(Operation
MF5).
14th
- After
Convoy MW9A/B had been overwhelmed and sunk
in air attacks, returned with Force
B to
Alexandria
as escort for Convoy
ME10.
(For
details of this disastrous
attempt to pass a relief convoy to Malta see
above references).
20th
- Transferred with HM Destroyers DECOY,
HAVOCK, HASTY, HOTSPUR and HERO of Flotilla to
Eastern Fleet based in Ceylon.
Took
passage to Trincomalee
with call at Bombay.
Under
repair at
Bombay before joining Eastern Fleet at
Colombo.
March
Joined
Fleet
for screening duties and convoy defence.
28th
- Allocated
to Force B with HM Destroyers ARROW, DECOY,
NORMAN, FORTUNE, VAMPIRE
(RAN) and SCOUT for screening of HM Aircraft
Carrier HERMES, HM
Battleships
RESOLUTION, REVENGE,
ROYAL SOVEREIGN and RAMILLIES, HM Cruisers
CALEDON
and DRAGON.
30th
- Sailed
with Force B ships to intercept Japanese
warships in the event of an attack on
Ceylon
by
carrier aircraft operating in
Indian Ocean.
31st
- Took
part in unsuccessful search operation with
ships of Force B in conjunction with
Force A.
April
2nd
to 8th - Resumed search operation with Force
B after
refuelling at Addu
Atoll. (For
details see OPERATION PACIFIC by E Gray and
WAR
WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)
10th - Passage to Killindini
with Force B.
(Note:
Force B ships were dispersed
to East Africa as it was recognised
that RN strength
in the
Indian
Ocean was insufficient to
prevent Japanese attack on Ceylon.)
May
Deployed
on
convoy defence
in Indian Ocean.
Detached
with HMS FORTUNE and HMS HOTSPUR to
reinforce
defence for
Malta relief
convoy
from Alexandria.
Took
passage to Bombay. Escorted
HM Battleship CENTURION to
Alexandria.
(Note:
HMS CENTURION, launched in
1911, had been disguised to resemble a modem
KING
GEORGE V Class battleship and was to be
deployed during Malta relief convoy
operation as a decoy. See ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE
CLOSELY)
June
Called
at Massawa on
passage to Mediterranean with HMS CENTURION.
12th
- Joined
HM Cruisers CLEOPATRA, DIDO, HERMIONE,
EURYALUS, ARETHUSA., COVENTRY,
NEWCASTLE and BIRMINGHAM for defence
of Convoy MW11 to Malta
(Operation
VIGOROUS).
HMS
CENTURION was deployed with
convoy.
(See
above references and MALTA
CONVOYS by R Woodman.
Note:
Other
destroyers in screen were HM Australian
Destroyers NAPIER, NESTOR, NORMAN,
NIZAM, HM Destroyers JERVIS, KELVIN,
JAVELIN,
PAKENHAM,
PALADIN,
INCONSTANT, SIKH, ZULU,
HASTY and HERO, HM Destroyers DULVERTON,
EXMOOR,
CROOME, ERIDGE, AIREDALE, BEAUFORT,
HURWORTH,
TETCOTT, ALDENHAM, FORTUNE and HOTSPUR).
14th
- Under
series of air attacks
which continued after nightfall.
15th
- Threat
from superior force of Italian warships was
anticipated and convoy was ordered
to
reverse
course. As a result
of temporary confusion ships became a
sitting target for waiting E-Boats which
resulted
in sinking of HMS HASTY and damage to HMS
NEWCASTLE.
Ships
again ordered to reverse course towards
Malta.
After
dawn sustained
air attacks were renewed which
seriously depleted stocks of ammunition
and
damaged escort destroyer HMS AIREDALE had to
be sunk.
Operation
was then abandoned.
During
return to Alexandria HMS
HERMIONE was sunk by U205 and HM Destroyer
NESTOR
(RAN), previously damaged in the air
attacks, had to be scuttled. (For
details of this ill directed and ill
conceived operation see THE BATTLE
FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY,
MALTA
CONVOYS
and Naval Staff History.)
July
Passage
to
rejoin Eastern Fleet at Kilindini. Resumed
convoy escort duty in Indian Ocean.
August
Deployed
in
Indian Ocean for convoy defence
and interception. Nominated
for refit and conversion for use as an A/S
Escort Destroyer.
September
Took
part in Eastern
Fleet amphibious exercise at Zanzibar.
Passage
to Freetown.
October
Joined
escort
for convoy to Bermuda at Freetown. On
release from escort took passage to
Southampton.
November
2nd
- Taken in hand at Southampton for refit
and conversion for anti-submarine
escort duties. (Note:
Work
done included:
Two
of the 4.7in gun mountings
removed.
The
forward
mounting was replaced by HEDGEHOG Ahead
Throwing A/S
mounting
and additional Depth Charge facilities
were fitted in place of the after gun. Warning
radar
sets Type 286 and 271 were also added as
well as additional 20mm Oerlikon
guns for close range AA defence. For
details of
development of A/S weapons and radar see
SEEK AND STRIKE by W. Hackmann
and RADAR AT SEA
by D Howse).
December
Under
refit.
1
9 4 3
January to
February
Under
refit.
March
1st
- Transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy.
20th
- Commissioned for service as HMCS
GRIFFIN.
24th
- Refit work completed.
S
e r v i c
e a s H
M C
S O
T T A W
A (i i)
April
10th
- Renamed HM Canadian Destroyer OTTAWA,
despite the objection of the captain. (Note: This
name had been previously carried by a
Canadian destroyer sunk in the Atlantic
by a
U-Boat in September 1942.)
May
Worked
up at Tobermory
for service as Senior Officer's ship in the
5th
Canadian
Escort
Group based at St. John's. Passage
to Canada to join Group for
Mid-Ocean Escort duty.
27th
- Part of escort for Convoy HX240.
June
Mid-Atlantic
escort duty in continuation.
10th
- Formally handed over to Royal Canadian
Navy as a gift.
July to
December
Mid-Atlantic
convoy escort in continuation.
1
9 4 4
January
Mid-Atlantic
convoy escort in continuation.
February
24th
- Escorted
Convoy SC153.
March to April
Mid-Atlantic
convoy escort in continuation.
Nominated
for duty in support of allied landings in
Normandy
(Operation
NEPTUNE).
May
Transferred
to
11th Canadian Escort Group as Senior
Officer's ship.
Passage
to Plymouth.
Joined
HM Canadian Destroyers CHAUDIERE, GATINEAU,
KOOTENAY and ST LAURENT.
June
Deployed
at
Plymouth.
4th
- Carried out anti-submarine operations
with Group to prevent any entry of
U-Boats into
English
Channel.
11th
- Transferred to Portsmouth Command to
improve protection available for convoys
to beachheads.
(For
details of naval activities
prior to and during the invasion see
OPERATION NEPTUNE
by
K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY June
1944 (HMSO).)
July
Channel
anti-submarine
deployment in continuation.
6th
- Participated
in sinking of U678 with HMCS KOOTENAY and
HMS STATICE in position 50.32N
00.23W. There were no survivors. (See
U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
August
Re-deployed
in
SW Approaches and Bay of Biscay for U-Boat
interception.
18th
- Participated
in sinking of U621 with HMS KOOTENAY and
HMCS CHAUDIERE in Bay of Biscay in
position 45.52N 0.26W. There were no
survivors. (See above reference.)
20th
- Participated
in sinking of U984 with HMCS KOOTENAY and
HMCS CHAUDIERE in English
Channel in position 48.16N 05.53W. There
were
no survivors. (See above reference.)
September
Deployment
in English Channel in continuation.
October
On
release from
RN control took passage to Canada.
12th
- Taken in hand for refit at St. John's.
November to
December
Under
refit.
1
9 4 5
January
Under
refit.
February
Rejoined
11th
Escort Group at St. John's for convoy defence
off
Canadian coast.
March
Convoy
defence and
support in continuation.
11th
- Sustained structural damage in collision
with HMCS STRATFORD during A/S sweep
off
Halifax.
13th
- Taken in hand for repair.
April
Carried
out harbour
trials.
30th
- Resumed
convey defence
duties.
May
After
VE Day
nominated for trooping duties.
June
Deployed
to
carry Canadian servicemen back to Canada
from UK.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMCS
OTTAWA (ii) was paid off
on 31st October 1945 at Sydney, NS on
completion of trooping duties and placed
on the Disposal List. She was sold in August
1946 to the International Iron and
Metal Co. for breaking up after a
particularly extensive and distinguished
record of operational service in WW2.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS as
HMS GRIFFIN
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
|
13/09/39
|
GREEN 1
|
16/09/39
|
18/09/39
|
28/09/39
|
28/09/39
|
GREEN 3
|
03/10/39
|
07/10/39
|
30/09/39
|
05/10/39
|
BLUE 003
|
08/10/39
|
11/10/39
|
23/10/39
|
08/11/39
|
SL 006
|
10/11/39
|
10/11/39
|
11/04/40
|
13/04/40
|
NP 001
|
15/04/40
|
15/04/40
|
10/08/40
|
11/08/40
|
ZA
|
unknown
|
19/08/40
|
29/03/41
|
29/03/41
|
GA 008
|
31/03/41
|
31/03/41
|
29/12/41
|
29/12/41
|
TA 007/M
|
31/12/41
|
31/12/41
|
03/01/42
|
03/01/42
|
AT 011/M
|
07/01/42
|
07/01/42
|
11/01/42
|
11/01/42
|
AT 016/M
|
14/01/42
|
14/01/42
|
07/09/42
|
07/09/42
|
CF 005
|
10/09/42
|
10/09/42
|
30/09/42
|
02/10/42
|
CF 005B
|
03/10/42
|
14/10/42
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
as HMCS OTTAWA (ii)
|
|
|
|
|
|
06/05/43
|
07/05/43
|
ON 182
|
10/05/43
|
22/05/43
|
19/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
HX 240
|
03/06/43
|
04/06/43
|
10/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
ON 188
|
20/06/43
|
26/06/43
|
23/06/43
|
29/06/43
|
HX 245
|
05/07/43
|
07/07/43
|
16/07/43
|
17/07/43
|
ON 193
|
25/07/43
|
31/07/43
|
30/07/43
|
05/08/43
|
HX 250
|
11/08/43
|
12/08/43
|
26/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
ON 199
|
04/09/43
|
09/09/43
|
18/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
HX 262
|
02/11/43
|
02/11/43
|
13/11/43
|
14/11/43
|
ON 211
|
24/11/43
|
29/11/43
|
06/01/44
|
11/01/44
|
HX 274
|
21/01/44
|
21/01/44
|
30/01/44
|
31/01/44
|
ON 222
|
10/02/44
|
16/02/44
|
13/02/44
|
20/02/44
|
SC 153
|
01/03/44
|
02/03/44
|
13/03/44
|
14/03/44
|
ONS 031
|
25/03/44
|
30/03/44
|
28/03/44
|
02/04/44
|
HX 285
|
11/04/44
|
12/04/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)