HMS Icarus (Navy Photos,  click to enlarge)

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I-Class Fleet destroyer ordered on 30th October 1935 from John Brown at Clydebank under 1935 Programme and laid down on 9th March 1936. She was launched on 26th November 1936 as the 5th RN ship to carry this name, introduced for a Brig-Sloop in  1814 and last used by a trawler requisitioned  in 1914. Build was completed on 1st May 1937. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1912 she was adopted by Mansfield, Nottinghamshire.

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

NORTH SEA 1939 - ATLANTIC 1939-44  - NARVIK 1940 - NORWAY 1940-41 - DUNKIRK 1940 - BISMARCK  Action 1941 - ARCTIC 1941-43 - MALTA CONVOYS 1942 - NORMANDY 1944 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1945

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Blue, a sun in splendour Proper

above two wings White.

M o t t o

Bene eat tentare - 'It is as well to try’

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

                1st           Damaged in collision off Alexandria with Greek mercantile MICHALIS.

                3rd          Under temporary repair.

                11th        Arrived Malta for permanent repair.

October                  Transferred to Hone Fleet

                7th          On completion of repair took passage to UK.

                11th        Diverted for Anti-submarine duties in SW Approaches.

                14th        Participated in sinking of U45 in W Approaches with HM Destroyers INGLEFIELD,

                                IVANHOE and INTREPID. (See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)

November

                9th          Joined 3rd Destroyer Flotilla at Scapa Flow and deployed on anti-submarine duties.

                29th        Participated in sinking of U35 east of Shetlands with HM Destroyers KINGSTON and

                                KASHMIR.

December              Transferred to 20th Destroyer Flotilla based at Immingham.

                12th        Joined 20the Destroyer Flotilla based in Humber.

                                Deployed on North Sea convoy escort

                16th        Rescued survivors from Norwegian mercantile GLITREFJELL in North Sea.

1 9 4 0

January

                24th        Converted for use in minelaying role at Portsmouth.

February

                26th        Worked-up for minelaying duties and rejoined Flotilla on completion.

March

                3rd          Carried out first minelaying operation with HM Destroyers IVANHOE, ESK and

                                IMPULSIVE.

                                (Note: Minefield was laid in Heligoland Bight (Operation IE1).

                11th        Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayer TEVIOT BANK during minelay in Moray Firth for East

                                Coast Barrier (Operation PA3)

                21st         Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayers TEVIOT BANK and PRINCESS VICTORIA with

                                Escorted other ships of 20th Flotilla in continuation of minelay in Moray Firth

                                (Operation PA4.)

                                On completion detached for escort duties.

                27th        Diverted during A/S duty in Moray Firth to load mines at Immingham.

April

                3rd          Joined Force WV at Scapa Flow for minelay with ships of Flotilla off the coast of

                                Norway (Operation WILFRED/R4).

                8th          Laid minefield in Vest Fjord with HM Destroyers ESK, IMPULSIVE and IVANHOE.

                                Joined HM Battlecruiser RENOWN and Home Fleet units off Narvik.

                9th          Carried out patrol and A/S search duty off Narvik.

                                Sank iron ore carrier EUROPA.

                11th        Intercepted German stores ship ALSTER on passage to Norway which scuttled.

                13th        Provided minesweeping protection for HM Battleship WARSPITE during Second Battle o

                                Narvik..

                14th        Deployed on patrol off Norwegian coast and defence of shipping during landings of allied

                                troops in Norway

                23rd        Present at landings at Andalsnes

                24th        Detached for minelaying duties.
                25th        Loaded mines at Immingham.

                28th        Deployed for minelay off Norway with HMS IMPULSIVE and HMS IVANHOE.

                                (Operation ZMA).

May                        Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to I03

                7th          Boiler clean at Immingham.

                21st         Rejoined Flotilla for series of East Coast Barrier minelaying operations,
                to            Operations BS6 (21/5); BS7 (23/5)); BS8 (25/5) and BS9 (27/5)

                27th

                28th        Diverted to take part in evacuation of BEF from Dunkirk (Operation DYNAMO)

                29th        Made two trips to Dunkirk and carried 1,142 to Dover.

                31st         Embarked 1,463 troops for passage to Dover on two trips

                                Under air attacks bur remained operational service.

June

                1st           Carried 1,114 troops from Dunkirk and returned to Dover.

                2nd         Final trip to Dunkirk and embarked 677 troops for return to Dover.

                                Withdrawn from DYNAMO for repair of accumulated defects

                                (Note: Ship carried 4,396 troops on six trips. See BEF SHIPS by J S Winser.)

                3rd          Under repair at Portsmouth..

                19th        Rejoined Flotilla for further minelaying on East Coast Barrier (Operation BS)

                to            BS17 (22/6 with HMS TEVIOT BANK, HM Minelayer PLOVER and HMS INTREPID);

                30th        BS18 (25/6 with same ships); BS19 (29/6 with sane ships as B18)

July                         Continuation of BS Series minelays.

                2nd         BS20 with HMS TEVIOT BANK, HMS PLOVER and HMS EXPRESS.

                21st         BS26 with Destroyers of 20th Flotilla.

                24th        BS27 Escorted H4S TEVIOT BANK with HMS INTREPID and HMS IMPULSIVE).

                27th        BS28 With Flotilla except HMS IVANHOE)

August                  Continuation of BS Series

                2nd         BS30 with HMS PLOVER, Dutch minelayer VAN DER ZAAN and all Flotilla.

                6th          Minelay off Dutch coast with Flotilla escorted by MTBs (Operations CBX4).

                9th          Minelay in Dover Straits with Flotilla as an anti-invasion measure (Operations MP1A)

                11th        Dover Straits lay continued (Operation MP1B).

                20th        Resumed East Coast Barrier minelay operations in BS Series.

                                Escorted HMS TEVIOT BANK, HMS PLOVER and Dutch minelayer VAN DER ZAAN

                                with HMS IMPULSIVE (Operation BS33)

.               25th        Repeat escort duty for same minelayers with HMS IMPULSIVE, HMS EXPRESS and

                                HMS ESK (Operation BS34).

                27th        Escorted HMS TEVIOT BANK with HMS ESK and HMS EXPRESS (Operation BS35)

                28th        Escorted HMS PLOVER and Dutch VAN DEB ZAAN with HMS INTREPID

                                (Operation BS36)

.               31st         Deployed for minelay in Heligoland Bight with Flotilla covered by destroyers of the 5th Flotilla

                                including HMS KELLY (Operation CBX5).

                                (Note: When HMS ESK was sunk and HMS EXPRESS was mined, ship kept dear of danger

                                area and returned to Humber.

September

                3rd          Transferred with HMS INTREPID and HMS IMPULSIVE to Dover Command for lay of

                                several of mine fields to increase anti-invasion protection in Dover Straits. (Operation MS1A)

                5th          Continuation of Dover Strait lay (Operation M51B)

.               6th          Deployed on anti-invasion patrol.

October

                11th        Resumed minelaying duties with Flotilla in continuation of Operation BS series

                                Escorted HMS TEVIOT BANK with HMS IMPULSIVE (Operation BS40).

                                Detached to land sick rating).

                25th        Escorted HMS TEVIOT BANK and HMS PLOVER with HMS IMPULSIVE

                                (Operation BS42)

                28th        Repeated escort duty of same ships with HMS INTREPID (Operation BS43).

November

                2nd         Repeated escort of HMS TEVIOT BANK and HMS PLOVER with HMS INTREPID.

                                (Operation BS44). In action with aircraft.

                6th          Escorted HMS TEVIOT BANK with HMS IMPULSIVE (Operation BS45).

                14th        Escorted HMS TEVIOT BANK and HMS PLOVER alone (Operation BS46).

                26th        Transferred to Portsmouth Command for minelaying operations off French coast.

                29th        Laid minefield on the Cherbourg - Le Havre coastal shipping route, escorted by

                                HM Destroyers VANOC, VOLUNTEER and WITCH (Operation JH).

                30th        Passage to Dartmouth after reloading mines for lay off Ile de Bas (Operation GR).

December

                3rd          Operation GR cancelled due to defect in Taut Wire Measuring Gear during passage.

                4th          Returned to IMMINGHAM for continuation of Operation BS on East Coast Barrier.

                17th        Escorted HMS TEVIOT BANK for Operation BS47.

                                In action with single torpedo carrying aircraft.

1 9 4 1

January

                11th        Refitted in Humber commercial shipyard.

February               

                7th          On completion resumed Flotilla duties.

                15th        Transferred to Plymouth for Flotilla minelaying operations off the French coast.

                20th        Laid Minefield off Brest with HM Destroyers INTREPID and IMPULSIVE ,

                                escorted by ships of 5th Destroyer Flotilla (Operation GS).

                22nd       Laid minefield between Le Havre and Cherbourg escorted by HM Destroyers

                                BERKELEY, TYNEDALE and VANSITTART (Operation JK).

                26th        Laid first ,Magnetic Mine (M Mk,1) off Cap d'Antifer covered by HM Destroyers

                                WIVERN and VANSITTART (Operation JL).

March                    Deployed in Plymouth Command and transferred to Dartmouth.

                20th        Laid minefield off Ile de Bas covered by ships of 5th Destroyer Flotilla and Motor Launches

                                from Dartmouth (Operation GU).

                22nd       Laid minefield on La Havre-Cherbourg route escorted by HM Destroyers TYNEDALE,

                                FERNIE and CLEVELAND (Operation JN).

                28th        Laid minefield off Brest covered by 5th Destroyer Flotilla (Operation GX).

                31st         Laid minefield off Brest covered by 5th Destroyer Flotilla (Operation GZ).

April                       At Portsmouth for investigation of excessive vibration at speeds between 15 and 25 knots

                                (Note: Did not take part in Flotilla minelay (Operation JO on 8th). )

                20th        Nominated for minelay with Flotilla west of Ushant but this was cancelled. (Operation HA)

                21st         Deployed with HM Destroyers INTREPID and IMPULSIVE to lay minefield off

                                Les Triagoz. (Operation HB).

                                For details of all RN minelaying operations see Navel Staff History (Mining).

                22nd       On completion reverted to destroyer role.

                23rd        Taken in hand for refit at Immingham including fit of torpedo tubes.

May

                14th        On completion resumed Home Fleet duties.

                15th        Worked-up for anti-submarine deployment with 3rd Destroyer Flotilla at Scapa Flow.

                23rd        Escorted HM Battlecruiser HOOD during search for BISMARCK.,

                24th        Detached to carry out search and not present when HMS HOOD sank.

                                Rescued 3 survivors from HOOD.

                29th        Deployed with escorted for HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS.

                                For details of BISMARCK search and sinking see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                                CLOSELY by C. Barnett, BATTLESHIP BISMARCK by Mullerheim-Rechberg,

                                BISMARCK and HOOD by P J Keep).

June                        Deployed with Home Fleet

July

                2nd         Under repair to damaged propeller.

                11th        On completion rejoined Home Fleet.

                28th        Escorted Fleet Tanker during air attacks on Kirkenes.

August

                18th        Escorted HM Cruisers AURORA and NIGERIA for Commando raid on Spitzbergen

                                (Operation GAUNTLET).

September             Deployed with 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet on A/S defence duties,

                11th        Under refit in Hull commercial shipyard.

October

                14th        On completion rejoined Home Fleet.

                                Nominated for Russian Convoy escort.

                18th        Escorted Russian Convoy PQ2 with HM Destroyer ECLIPSE, HM Minesweepers BRAMBLE,

                                SEAGULL and SPEEDY .

                30th        Detached from PQ2.

                                For details of all Russian Convoy operations see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY,

                                CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg , CONVOY ! by P. Kemp and ARCTIC CONVOYS

                                by R Woodhead.)

November

                3rd          Escorted returning Russian Convoy QP2.

                17th        Detached from QP2 and resumed Flotilla duties in Home Fleet.

                20th        Escorted HM Battleship NELSON to Rosyth from Gibraltar.

                                (Note: After completion of temporary repair of damage during Operation HALBERD) in

                                September.)

                                For details of all Malta convoy operations see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and

                                THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D. MacIntyre).

December              Home Fleet Flotilla deployment in continuation.

1 9 4 2

January                  Detached far Russian Convoy defence

                1st           Joined escort for Russian Convoy PQ7.

                11th        Detached from PQ7

                13th        Escorted returning Russian Convoy QP5 with HM Destroyer TARTAR.

                16th        Detached from QP5

February                Escorted Home Fleet units during search off Norwegian coast.

March                    Part of screen for Home Fleet ships providing cover for passage of Russian convoys PQ12,

                                PQ13 to Murmansk and returning convoy QP9.

                                (Note: This was first occasion of that strong cover was made available because of the

                                threat of an attack by German battleship TIRPITZ.)

April

                12th        Under refit in Rosyth.

May                        Resumed Home Fleet duties with Flotilla on completion of refit.

                                Part of screen for Home Fleet ships providing distant cover of Russian Convoy PQ16

                                and the returning convoy QP12.

                13th        With Home Fleet screening force providing cover for return passage of damaged Cruiser

                                HMS TRINIDAD before her

                19th        Took return passage to Scapa Flow after loss of HMS TRINIDAD. See above references .

June                        Transferred to 6th Flotilla when Home Fleet Destroyer Flotillas were reorganised.

                                Detached for Malta Convoy defence (Operation HARPOON).

                5th          Joined Ocean Escort for military convoy WS19 in Clyde

                                (For details see above references and MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodhead,)

                14th        In action with aircraft during attacks.

                17th        On completion of HARPOON detached to escort HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS from Gibraltar

                                to UK

July                         Resumed Home Fleet duties based at Scapa Flow.

                                (Note: Distant Cover for Russian Convoy PQ17 was provided by major Home Fleet units

                                destroyer screen. Participation to be confirmed.)

August                  Nominated for support of Malta relief operation (Operation PEDESTAL)

                5th          Deployed with HM Destroyers FORESIGHT, FURY, INTREPID, LAFOREY, LIGHTNING,

                                LOOKOUT, VANSITTART, WESTCOTT and WRESTLER as screen for HM Aircraft

                                Carriers ARGUS, EAGLE, INDOMITABLE, VICTORIOUS. HM Cruisers CHARYBDIS,

                                PHOEBE and SIRIUS during exercises in Atlantic, west of Gibraltar.

                                (Exercise BERSERK – Preparation for support of PEDESTAL convoy including joint aircraft

                                carrier working, and fighter direction)

                8th          Joined military convoy WS21 for further exercises with Ocean Escort.

                10th        Refuelled at Gibraltar.

                11th        Joined PEDESTAL convoy escort.

                                Under attacks submarine attacks during which HMS EAGLE was sunk.

                                Rescued 22 survivors from HMS EAGLE.

                12th        Under air attacks.

                                Remained with covering Force X when mercantiles detached with Force Z for passage

                                through Sicilian Narrows.

                14th        Returned to Gibraltar with ships of Forces Z and X .

                                For full details of PEDESTAL see above references, MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman,

                                PEDESTAL by P Smith and Naval Staff History.)

                15th        Arrived at Gibraltar.

                                Passage to K.

September             Resumed Flotilla duties with Home Fleet

                11th        Taken in hand for refit at Humber commercial shipyard.

October

                16th        On completion of post refit trials carried out work-up before resuming Fleet duties.

November              Rejoined Flotilla at Scapa Flow.

                20th        Deployed for escort of returning Russian Convoy QP15 with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR,

                                INTREPID and IMPULSIVE.

                26th        Detached from QP15 and resumed Hone Fleet deployment.

December              Home Fleet deployment in continuation.

                23rd        Deployed with Home Fleet screen during distant cover of Russian Convoy JW51B.

1 9 4 3

January                  Returned to Scapa Flow with Fleet after passage of JW51B.

                29th        Joined Ocean Escort for returning Russian Convoy RA52

February

                2nd         Detached from RA52 and returned to Scapa Flow.

                24th        Deployed with Home Fleet screen during distant cover for Russian Convoy JW53

                                Remained with Fleet when cower no longer required.

March

                2nd         Deployed with Home Fleet screen during distant cover for returning Russian Convoy RA53.

                9th          On completion returned with Home Fleet units to Scapa Flow.

                                Transferred to 4th Support Group, Western Approaches to increase defence for Atlantic

                                convoys which were being subjected to increased attacks from U-Boat Groups.

                27th        Provided support for Convoy HX230 with HM Destroyers OFFA, ONSLAUGHT,

                                OBEDIENT, ORWELL and ORIBI to reinforce defence against which attacks by the

                                SEEWOLF and SEETEUFEL Groups of U- Boats.

.                               (Note: Only one of the 41 ships in convoy was sunk.)

April

                3rd          Detached from Iceland to assist defence of Convoy HX231 with HM Destroyers

                                INGLEFIELD, FURY and ECLIPSE.

                6th          Joined Group in defence of Convoy HX231 under threat from LOW0KERZ Group.

                                Attacks driven off by escorts and air support.

                10th        Deployed in support of transit of Convoys HX232 and ONS2 threatened by ADLER Group.

                                (For details of defence of Atlantic convoys between 1941-43 see ENGAGE THE ENEMY

                                MORE CLOSELY, The Battle of the Atlantic by D MacIntyre, U-BOAT WAR IN THE

                                ATLANTIC (HMSO) and CONVOY ESCORT COMMANDER by P Gretton).

                18th        Taken in hand for refit and conversion for use as A/S Escort Destroyer Instead of escort of

                                Fleet units.

May                        Under refit in Humber commercial shipyard.

June                        Transferred to Canadian 2nd Escort Group based at Londonderry.

                30th        On completion of post refit trials Joined Group at Londonderry.                               

July                         Deployed with Group in NW Approaches for convoy defence.

to

August

September             German U-Boat Command resumed anti-submarine operations in Atlantic.

                                (Note: New Groups of U- Boats had increased AA armament and used Acoustic

                                ZAUNKONIG (T5) torpedoes.

                                For details of German submarine weapons see SEEK AND STRIKE by W

                                Hackmann.)

                20th        Under sustained U-Boat attacks by LEUTHEN Group during defence of Convoy ON202

                                with HM Canadian Destroyer GATINEAU, HM Frigate LAGAN and corvettes.

                                Convoys ON202 and ONS18 merged.

                21st         Avoided GNAT (T5) torpedo fired by U229 but as a result collided with HM Canadian

                                Corvette DRUMHELLER.

                                Taken in hand for repair at commercial shipyard in Cardiff.

October                  Under damage repair.

                                On completion resumed Atlantic convoy defence with Group.

                6th          Deployed with HM Frigate DUCKWORTH, five corvettes and Merchant Aircraft Carrier

                                RAPANA as escort for Convoy SC143 supported by ships of 10th Support Group

                                See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.

November              Rejoined Group on completion.

December              Deployed in NW Approaches for convoy defence with Group;

1 9 4 4

January                  Convoy defence role with 2nd Canadian Escort Group in continuation.

to                            References as above.

February

March

                5th          During defence of Convoy HX280 detected U744.

                                Carried out anti-submarine operations for 30 hours with HM Corvette KENILWORTH

                                CASTLE and ships of Group.

                6th          Submarine forced to surfaced and then scuttled in position 450 miles W of Valentia.

                                28 survivors were rescued.

                                See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)

April                       Convoy defence with Group in continuation.

May                        Transferred to 14th Escort Group and joined H M Destroyers HAVELOCK, HOTSPUR,

                                FAME and INCONSTANT for duty based at Plymouth in support of Normandy landings.

                                (Operation NEPTUNE - See Naval Staff History NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMS0) and

                                OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards).

June                        Deployed in SW Approaches with Group for escort of military convoys , Patrol and

                                anti-submarine operations to prevent interference to NEPTUNE convoys.

July                         Returned to escort of mercantile convoys with Group.

                28th        Taken in hand for refit at Wallsend

August                  Under refit

to                            Work included fit of Anti-submarine Ahead Throwing Mortar outfit (HEDGEHOG)

September             (See SEE AND STRIKE.)

October

                16th        On completion worked-up at Tobermory before rejoining 14th Escort Group

November              Deployed for defence of coastal convoys to counter attacks by U-Boats fitted with

to December          SCHNORKEL breathing apparatus. See above references.

1 9 4 5

January                  Coastal convoy defence in continuation.

                21st         Attacked and sank U1199 during defence of west bound convoy off Falmouth with HM

                                Corvette MIGNONETTE.

February                Coastal convoy defence in continuation.

to May

June                        Transferred to 3rd Submarine Flotilla in place of HM Sloop BRIDGEWATER.

to August              Deployed for training of submarine crews in Clyde area.

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

HMS ICARUS continued submarine training role until November 1945 when she was detached to take part in Operation DEADLIGHT (destruction of surrendered U-Boats). In January 1946 the ship escorted U3515 to Libau in Baltic for handing over to USSR. After return to Clyde she resumed submarine training duties until July 1946 when she Paid-off and was  reduced in Reserve. This ship was placed on the Disposal List and sold to BISCO for demolition by South of Scotland Shipbreakers. She arrived in tow at the shipbreaker’s yard in Troon on 29th October 1946.

Addendum

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS ICARUS

by Don Kindell

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

(Note on Convoys)