I-Class Fleet Destroyer
ordered from Yarrow
& Co, Scotstoun
Glasgow in October 1935 with the
1935 Build Programme. The ship was laid down on
5th February 1936 and launched
on 12th November 1936 as the 7th RN warship to
carry the name, introduced in
1743. It was previously used for a cruiser built
in 1896 and sold in 1920.
Build was completed on 2nd June 1937 at a cost
of £259,377 excluding Admiralty
supplied item such as weapons and communications
equipment. After a successful
WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March
1942 she was adopted by the civil community of
Edmonton, then in the county of Middlesex and
now part of the Borough of
Enfield.
B
a t t l
e H o n o u r s
ST LUCIA 1778 - SADRAS
1782 - NEGAPATAM 1782 - ROVID1EN 1782 -
TRINCOMALEE 1782 - CAMPERDOWN 1797 -
COPENHAGEN 1801
- ATLANTIC
1939-43 - NORWAY 1940 - GREECE 1941 - CRETE
1941 - MEDITERRANEAN 1941-43 - SICILY 1943 -
NORMANDY 1944
H
e
r a l d i
c D
a t a
Badge:
On a Field Purple,
the head of an Egyptian goddess gold.
M
o t t o
Quod
est manet :
'That
which is remains'.
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
Serving with 3rd Destroyer Flotilla,
Mediterranean Fleet.
5th
Transferred with Flotilla to Western Approaches
for convoy defence.
7th
Took passage from
Gibraltar
to Plymouth.
11th
Deployed on convoy defence in SW Approaches.
October
Western Approaches anti-submarine patrol and
convoy defence in continuation.
19th
Routine docking and maintenance at Falmouth.
25th
Resumed convoy defence in Western Approaches.
November
Atlantic convoy defence and interception in
continuation.
9th
Intercepted and captured German mercantile
LEANDER disguised as Russian flagged
METALLIST.
Prize crew placed on board to take ship to
Falmouth.
15th
Tow of derelict tanker ARNE KJODE from position
off Hebrides failed and mercantile
sunk.
12 survivors rescued.
(Note: This ship had been torpedoed by U41 on
11th November.).
December
31st
Completed 102 days under steam since outbreak of
hostilities.
For details of naval activities in Home waters
during 1939 see ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett and Naval Staff
History.
1
9 4 0
January
Western Approaches deployment in continuation.
4th
Deployed with HM Destroyer FAULKNOR as escort
for damaged battleship HMS
NELSON during passage under tow from Clyde to
Portsmouth for repair.
(Note: HMS NELSON had detonated a magnetic mine
in Loch Ewe.)
February
8th
Taken in had for refit at commercial shipyard in
Falmouth.
March
Under refit
12th
Carried out post refit trials and took passage
to rejoin Flotilla at Scapa Flow on
completion.
13th
Deployed for Home Fleet duties with Flotilla.
31st
Nominated for escort of m Auxiliary Minelayer
TEVIOT BANK for minelay off
Norwegian coast near Stadtlandet.
(Operation WILFRED/R4 - See above reference and
Naval Staff Watery (Mining)
April
Joined Force US for escort duty.
5th
Sailed for Norway with Force MS.
7th
Operation cancelled when German warships sighted
In Heligoland Bight on passage to Norway.
Rejoined Flotilla for Home Fleet screening
duties, military support and convoy defence.
In action with aircraft.
16th
First RN warship at Tromso.
21at
Engaged shore battery in Trondheim Fjord. No
damage or casualties.
May
Support and convoy defence off Norway in
continuation.
8th
Sustained damage to both propellers by striking
wreck in Balangan Fjord.
Towed to Skelfjord by HM Destroyer ILEX to await
passage to UK
(For details of the disastrous naval operations
off Norway see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY, NARVIK by D MacIntyre and THE DOOMED
EXPEDITION by Adams.)
15th
Passage to UK in tow.
17th
Arrived at Greenock..
22nd Passage
to Falmouth
under tow by tug BUCCANEER escorted by HM
Destroyed WITCH.
Pennant Number for visual Signalling purposes
changed to I87
23rd
Taken in hand for temporary repair at Falmouth.
(Note: During repair several officers were sent
on detached service for duties to support
evacuations in French ports.)
June
Under temporary repair.
14th
Prepared for passage to Devonport.
15th
Taken in hand by HM Dockyard for completion of
repair.
July
Under repair
to
August
September
Carried out post refit trials.
20th
Passage to Scapa Flow for work-up prior to
rejoining Flotilla for Fleet duties.
October
On completion of work-up deployed on convoy
defence in NW Approaches.
Nominated for service at Gibraltar with 13th
Destroyer Flotilla.
31st
Took passage to
Mediterranean to join Flotilla.
November
6th
Joined Flotilla for convoy defence based at
Gibraltar.
7th
Detached for escort duties with Force H.
Deployed with HM Destroyers DUNCAN, FOXHOUND,
FORESTER,, FIREDRAKE,
FAULKNOR, FURY and FORTUNE as screen for HM
Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL and
HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD to provide cover for
passage of military convoy and transfer of
reinforcement ships to Eastern Mediterranean
(Operations COAT/CRACK).
(For details of naval activities in
Mediterranean during 1940 to 1942 see ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY. THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre.).
12th
Resumed convoy defence duties with Flotilla
based at Gibraltar.
December
Flotilla duties in continuation.
Deployed for defence of Atlantic convoys between
Gibraltar and Freetown.
20th
Detached for duty with Force H and joined HM
Destroyers DUNCAN, ENCOUNTER,
WISHART and JAGUAR as Group II for escort duty
during cover of passage of HM Battleship
MALAYA and Convoy MG1 from Malta to Gibraltar
(Operation HIDE).
25th
Resumed Atlantic convoy defence duties with
Flotilla.
1
9 4 1
January
Atlantic convoy defence duties in continuation
for UK-Freetown route.
February
Nominated for duty with Force H.
6th
Joined HM Destroyers DUNCAN, FIREDRAKE and
JUPITER in Group III as screen for HMS
ARK ROYAL during air operations off Livorno as a
diversion during bombardment by ships of
Force H (Operation GROG).
10th
Resumed convoy defence duties with Flotilla.
20th
Rescued crew of RAF Flying Beat off Cape
Spartel, Morocco.
March
Nominated for transfer to Mediterranean Fleet
based in Alexandria.
Joined escort of military convoy for passage to
Alexandria via Cape and Red Sea
6th
Crossed the Equator.
Called at St Helena with m Destroyer ENCOUNTER.
Detached for support of military operations in
Italian Somaliland.
Bombardment of Dante not carried out as harbour
found empty.
April
Passage to Alexandria in continuation.
9th
Joined 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, Mediterranean
Fleet for Fleet screening duties.
15th
Part of escort for military convoy to Greece
(Operation LUSTRE).
17th
Under air attacks.
18th
Under further air attacks.
20th
Escorted return convoy from Piraeus.
21st
Under air attack.
24th
Escorted RFA Tanker BRAMBLELEAF to Suda Bay.
27th
Deployed with Fleet during evacuation of allied
troops from Greece,
to
(For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY).
30th
May
1st
Disembarked evacuated troops at Port Said.
6th
Part of escort for Fleet units covering passage
of military convoy to Egypt and Malta
relief convoy MW7 (Operation TIGER/MD4)
(See above references).
9th
Part of escort for return convoy to Alexandria.
10th
Under air attacks.
12th
Part of escort for convoy to Suda Bay, Crete.
15th
Escorted ss LOSSIEBANK and NIEUW ZEELAND from
Suda Bay to Alexandria.
20th
Deployed In support of military operations in
Crete and assisted In evacuation.
(See above references and Naval Staff History
(HMSO-2002).)
23rd
Part of escort for Fleet its returning to
Alexandria.
24th
Embarked troops for passage to Crete but unable
land them.
25th
Returned to Alexandria.
June
5th
Deployed in support of military operations in
Syria (Operation EXPORTER).
7th
Passage to Syrian coast with Fleet units.
8th
Carried out patrols off coast during landing
operations.
9th
Provided gunfire support to shore operations.
In action with HM Destroyers JANUS, JACKAL and
HOTSPUR against French destroyers
GUEPARD and VARMY.
(Note: HMS JANUS was damaged by five direct
hits)
Enemy ships were forced to withdraw.
10th
Bombardment duties In continuation.
to
14th
15th
In action with aircraft off Syria whilst
screening H M Cruiser PHOEBE with HM Destroyer
DEFENDER.
Sustained major structural damage by two near
misses.
(Note: Vessel lifted causing fracture and
buckling with flooding of compartments.)
20th
Under temporary repair at Haifa
26th
Took passage to Alexandria under tow.
29th
In hand for repair in Alexandria dry-dock.
July
Under temporary repair August
August
6th
Took passage to Singapore with HM Destroyer
NUBIAN
(Note: HMS NUBIAN was under tow).
14th
At Aden.
September
20th
Took passage to Bombay with HMS NUBIAN.
27th
Arrived in Bombay.
October
2nd
Took passage to
Penang
via Colombo.
12th
Arrived at Singapore for completion of repair.
(Note: It is not clear from sources available
whether ship was under tow for part of passage).
13th
Taken in hand by HM Dockyard Singapore.
November
Under repair.
to
Estimated completion date March 1942.
December
(See OPERATION PACIFIC by E Gray and WAR WITH
JAPAN (HMSO) for details of
Malayan events).
1
9 4 2
January
Under repair.
17th
Damaged during Japanese air raid.
February
Completion of repair arranged at Batavia.
6th
Passage under tow to Batavia.
7th
Arrived at Batavia.
Repair work impossible because of Japanese air
attacks and threat of invasion.
10th
Tow arranged to Trincomalee.
Passage to Trincomalee and completion of repair
arranged at HM Dockyard, Bombay.
March
Passage to Bombay under tow.
4th
Taken in hand for repair.
(Note: Ship Paid-off into Dockyard control).
April
Under intermittent repair due to other work
priorities.
to
November
December
Carried out post refit trials.
1
9 4 3
January
Completed poet refit trials.
17th
Re-commissioned for service with 12th Destroyer
Flotilla in Mediterranean.
Passage to Alexandria.
February
Joined Flotilla for convoy escort and Fleet
screening duty.
19th
Participated in sinking of U562 in defence of
Convoy XT3 NE of Benghazi with HM
Escort Destroyer HURSLEY and aircraft of 38
Squadron RAF.
There were no survivors See U-BOATS DESTROYED by
P Kemp
March
Escorted military convoy carrying returning
ANZAC troops from Egypt to Australia for part of
passage (Operation PAMPHLET).
April
Transferred to 14th Destroyer Flotilla for
convoy escort and Fleet screening in
Mediterranean.
May
Deployed in blockade of Cape Bon area to
intercept craft evacuating Axis forces from
North
Africa (Operation RETRIBUTION).
June
Bombarded Pantellaria with HM Destroyer ILEX
prior to occupation.
(Operation CORKSCREW).
July
Nominated for screening duty during allied
landings in Sicily.
(Operation HUSKY - See above references and
Naval Staff History).
Sailed from Bone as part of screen for HM
Cruisers DIDO and EURYALUS as Force Z
10th
Deployed in Ionian sea with HM Destroyers
QUILLIAM, QUEENBOROUGH, QUAIL,
FAULKNOR, ECHO, INTREPID, RAIDER, ECLIPSE, FURY,
INGLEFIELD, ILEX
TROUBRIDGE, TUMULT, OFFA, Polish destroyer
PIORUN and Greek VASILISSA OLGA
as screen for HM Battleships NELSON, RODNEY,
WARSPITE and VALIANT, HM Fleet
Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE and FORMIDABLE, HM
Cruisers AURORA,
PENELOPE, CLEOPATRA and EURYALUS.
(Note: This covering force was intended to
prevent any interference to assault landings by
Italian surface warships).
August
Deployed for convoy defence with Gibraltar
Escort Force.
September
Escort deployment in continuation.
15th
Escorted surrendered Italian submarines to Malta
from Bone.
October
Re-deployed in western Mediterranean as part of
Gibraltar Escort Force.
November
Convoy escort and patrol duties with 13th
Destroyer Flotilla in continuation.
to
December
1
9 4 4
January
Deployment with 13th Destroyer Flotilla at
Gibraltar in continuation.
Escort of military convoys for allied landings
at Anzio
(Operation SHINGLE - For details see Naval Staff
History and above references).
February
Military convoy escort in continuation.
Transferred to 8th Destroyer Flotilla.
March
Deployed with Flotilla for convoy defence and
patrol in western Mediterranean.
to
Visited Naples
April
Nominated for duty with Flotilla in Home Fleet
for support of planned allied landings in
Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE).
May
Pumps to Rosyth to give leave and Boiler Clean.
(For details of naval activities during and
prior to NEPTUNE see LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, June 1944.0
12th
Joined Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.
Nominated for service in Eastern Task Force as
part of Force S with HM Destroyer
FAULKNOR..
13th
Present at Scapa Flow during visit to Horns
Fleet by HM King George VI.
Took part in Horns Fleet exercises in
preparation for NEPTUNE
support.
On completion took passage to join Force S in
Channel.
June
Deployed on patrol in Channel area.
5th
Embarked troops of Durham Light Infantry for
attack on gun battery.
6th
Commando operation cancelled and took up
Bombardment Position.
Provided gunfire support during assault and
after nightfall deployed for patrol to intercept
attacks by E-Boats.
7th
Deployed with HM Destroyers SAUMAREZ, VIRAGO and
Norwegian STORD for
interception of surface craft or submarines
attempting to enter Assault area.
10th
Returned to Portsmouth to replenish.
13th
In action against E-Boats off Le Havre with HM
Escort Destroyers GLAISDALE and
STEVENSTONE.
14th
Resumed support and patrol duties off beach
head.
19th
Returned to Portsmouth to replenish.
27th
On completion of
NEPTUNE
retained in Channel area for interception patrol
and
convoy defence in English Channel.
July
Channel patrol and convoy defence in
continuation.
12th
Boiler Clean and leave at Portsmouth.
17th
Sailed from Portsmouth for interception patrol
off French coast..
20th
Sunk whilst on patrol off Normandy..
(Note: Contrary to WARSHIP LOSSES IN WW2 by D
Brown.
Admiralty correspondence in July 1944 records
ship was not at anchor.
Loss was likely to have been due to a mine or
torpedo.
Another source records that it was a German
NEGER midget submarine, but U-Boat
Archivist Klaus Mattes indicates that NEGER
craft had ceased operations
on 17th July).
15 of ship's company ware killed. and survivors
spent several hours in the water.
21st
21 survivors rescued by HM Fleet Minesweeper
HOUND but one later died.
The Admiralty List of survivors contains 45
names. Some were rescued by
US Navy Rescue Cutter and taken to the US
Headquarters Ship PRESIDENT
WARFIELD before going to a US Field Hospital.
For details see MEMORIES OF HMS ISIS – 50 YEARS
ON prepared by Tony D Jupe for
The ISIS Survivors Association and held at
Enfield Public Library Local History Unit).
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS ISIS
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
29/09/39
|
29/09/39
|
OA
012G
|
02/10/39
|
02/10/39
|
02/10/39
|
02/10/39
|
OG
001
|
03/10/39
|
08/10/39
|
26/09/39
|
03/10/39
|
HG
001
|
05/10/39
|
06/10/39
|
06/11/39
|
12/11/39
|
HG
006
|
14/11/39
|
14/11/39
|
30/11/39
|
02/12/39
|
HN
003
|
04/12/39
|
04/12/39
|
08/12/39
|
11/12/39
|
HN
004
|
12/12/39
|
12/12/39
|
15/01/40
|
15/01/40
|
ON
008/1
|
19/01/40
|
19/01/40
|
19/01/40
|
19/01/40
|
HN
008
|
22/01/40
|
22/01/40
|
24/01/40
|
24/01/40
|
ON
009/1
|
27/01/40
|
27/01/40
|
27/01/40
|
27/01/40
|
HN
009A
|
31/01/40
|
31/01/40
|
01/05/40
|
01/05/40
|
HK
001
|
09/05/40
|
09/05/40
|
05/02/41
|
20/02/41
|
OG
052
|
21/02/41
|
21/02/41
|
11/05/41
|
12/05/41
|
ANF
030
|
14/05/41
|
14/05/41
|
14/05/41
|
14/05/41
|
AS
031/1
|
16/05/41
|
16/05/41
|
25/01/43
|
25/01/43
|
PAMPHLET
|
04/02/43
|
27/02/43
|
29/04/43
|
29/04/43
|
MW
027
|
unknown
|
04/05/43
|
17/05/43
|
19/05/43
|
KMS
014X
|
21/05/43
|
26/05/43
|
08/06/43
|
14/06/43
|
GTX
002
|
unknown
|
19/06/43
|
18/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
GUS
010
|
23/07/43
|
09/08/43
|
28/07/43
|
28/07/43
|
KMS
021G
|
29/07/43
|
29/07/43
|
17/08/43
|
17/08/43
|
KMS
023G
|
18/08/43
|
18/08/43
|
25/10/43
|
25/10/43
|
RS
011
|
31/10/43
|
31/10/43
|
02/11/43
|
02/11/43
|
SL
139
|
03/11/43
|
14/11/43
|
05/11/43
|
05/11/43
|
SR
007/1
|
12/11/43
|
12/11/43
|
21/02/44
|
27/02/44
|
KMF
029
|
02/03/44
|
05/03/44
|
18/02/44
|
01/03/44
|
UGS
033A
|
03/03/44
|
29/02/44
|
29/03/44
|
05/04/44
|
KMF
030
|
12/04/44
|
12/04/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
|