1 9 4 3
July
Commissioned
for service as HMCS HURON.
28th
- Build completion and commenced Acceptance
Trials.
August
On
completion of trials took passage to Scapa
Flow to work-up.
12th
- Deployed as escort to HM Destroyer ONSLOW
with HM King George VI
embarked during passage to Scapa Flow from
Scrabster for visit to Home Fleet.
26th
- Rescued pilot of SKUA aircraft which had
ditched off Orkneys.
September
Working-up
with Home Fleet at Scapa Flow in
continuation.
6th
- Joined 3rd Destroyer Flotilla in Home
Fleet on completion of
work-up.
October
1st
- Took passage to Murmansk with HM
Destroyers ONSLAUGHT and IROQUOIS
carrying supplies to RN warships based in
North Russia. Cover was provided by HM
Cruiser
LONDON and HM Destroyer IMPULSIVE.
6th
- After arrival in Murmansk embarked Russian
diplomats and took
return passage to Scapa Flow.
11th
- After arrival at Scapa Flow sustained
damage during collision
with oiler. Repair arranged at Leith
commercial shipyard.
12th
- Passage to Leith for repair.
November
14th
- Resumed Flotilla duties on completion of
repair.
18th
- Deployed with HM Destroyers IMPULSIVE,
ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW, ORWELL,
OBDURATE, HMCS HAIDA and IROQUOIS as Ocean
Escort for Convoy JW54A during
passage to Kola Inlet. (Note: For details of
all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO
RUSSIA by R. A. Ruegg, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS
by B Schoefield, ARCTIC CONVOYS by
R. Woodman and CONVOY ! by R Woodman.)
19th
- HMS OBDURATE withdrawn from Close Escort
due to defect and
returned to Scapa Flow.
24th
- Detached from JW54A with Close Escort on
arrival.
26th
- Joined return Convoy RA54B with same ships
as Close Escort for
passage to UK.
December
5th
- Detached from RA54B and returned to Scapa
Flow with Close Escort.
22nd
- Deployed with HM Destroyers IMPULSIVE,
ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW, ORWELL,
SCOURGE, HMCS HAIDA and IROQUOIS as
Close Escort for Russian Convoy JW55
during passage to Kola Inlet
25th
- Close Escort reinforced by HM Destroyers
MATCHLESS, MUSKETEER,
OPPORTUNE and VIRAGO in view of the threat
of attack by German Battleship SCHARNHORST.
See
above references. (Note: German warship was
engaged and sunk by ships of Home Fleet
providing cover for passage of this convoy
and two others in the Arctic.)
Under
sustained
attacks by aircraft and submarines.
29th
- Detached with ships of Close Escort on
arrival of JW55B at Kola
inlet.
31st
- Deployed as Close Escort for passage of
return Convoy RA55B to UK
with same Ships.
1 9 4 4
January
3rd
- Under submarine attacks.
7th
- Detached from RA55B with Close Escort and
returned to Scapa Flow.
10th
- Retained with Home Fleet when HMCS HAIDA
and HMCS IROQUOIS
transferred to Plymouth.
26th
- Joined HM Destroyers MAHRATTA, MILNE,
MUSKETEER, OPPORTUNE and
SCOURGE for escort
for Russian Convoy JW56B during passage to
Kola Inlet. (Note: Close
Escort comprised HM Destroyers WHITEHALL,
WESTCOTT, HM Sloop CYGNET, HM Corvette
OXLIP and HM Minesweeper SEAGULL. Cruiser
cover was provided by HM Cruisers
BERMUDA, BERWICK and KENT.)
29th
- Additional destroyers joined convoy to
supplement anti-submarine
defence which was under attack by Group of
U-Boats.
30th
- HM Destroyer HARDY, one of the additional
escorts was hit by a
torpedo from U278 and had to be sunk by HM
Destroyer VENUS, another of the later
arrivals. (Note: U314 was sunk by HM
Destroyers WHITEHALL and METEOR.)
February
1st
- Detached from JW56A on arrival at Kola
Inlet.
3rd
- Joined HM Destroyers OFFA, OPPORTUNE,
SAVAGE, VENUS, VIGILANT,
INCONSTANT, MAHRATTA, METEOR, MILNE,
MUSKETEER, SCOURGE, WESTCOTT, WHITEHALL,
SWIFT, Norwegian
destroyer STORD, HM Sloop CYGNET, four
corvettes and three minesweepers for the
escort of
return Convoy RA56 on departure from Kola
Inlet.
6th
- HM Destroyers SWIFT, OBEDIENT and VERULAM
joined escort as
reinforcements.
9th
- Detached from RA56 after an uninterrupted
passage.
10th
- Nominated for service at Plymouth with
10th Destroyer Flotilla in
place of HMCS IROQUOIS..
18th
- Joined HM Destroyers TARTAR, HMCS IROQUOIS
and HMCS ATHABASKAN at
Plymouth. (Note: This Flotilla was deployed
as Force 26. HMCS IROQUOIS took passage to
Canada for refit.)
20th
- Nominated for service with Flotilla in
planned allied assault
landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE.)
Took part in preparatory exercises for NEPTUNE.
March
Deployed
at Plymouth for NEPTUNE exercises and
interception patrols off
French coast. (Note: For details of
preparations and execution of Operation
NEPTUNE
see OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards, LANDINGS
IN NORMANDY (HMSO) and Naval Staff
History.
30th
- Joined HM Destroyers BRISSENDEN and
TANATSIDE with HMCS HAIDA to
take part in preparatory exercise as screen
for HM Cruisers BLACK PRINCE and GLASGOW
which were providing Gunfire support during
landings (Exercise BEAVER).
April
NEPTUNE
preparatory exercises and interception
duties in continuation. (Note:
Interception operations in the TUNNEL series
were carried out against coastal
traffic off the French coast. See HOLD THE
NARROW SEA by P Smith. These were by no
means invariably successful.)
12th
- Took part in large scale combined exercise
with HMCS HAIDA and
HMS TARTAR in sea area west of Needles and
deployed as part of screen for
major warships deployed off assault area
(Exercise TROUSERS).
25th
- Deployed with HMS BLACK PRINCE, HMS
ASHANTI, HMCS ATHABASKAN and
HMCS HAIDA as Force 26 for an operation in
Tunnel Series to intercept coastal
traffic in Bay of Biscay.
26th
- Under fire from shore batteries during
patrol off French coast. Intercepted
three ELBING Class German destroyers, T24,
T27 and T29 which were on passage
for minelay and for cover of coastal convoy.
Engaged enemy ships with
surface gunfire after initial radar
detection. Force 26 attacked by torpedoes
from
Germany destroyers that failed to hit any of
ship. During this engagement
Force 26 ships fired torpedoes and engaged
with main armament. Although
torpedo attack failed T29 was sunk by
gunfire north of Ile de Bas in position
48.53N 3.35W. 135 of her ships company were
killed.. The other two enemy ships
withdrew. Returned to Plymouth with Battle
Ensigns flying. This was the first
destroyer sunk by an RCN ship. (Note: During
entry into Plymouth involved in
collision with HMS ASHANTI and taken in hand
for repair.)
May
7th
- Resumed Flotilla duties on completion of
repair.
20th
- Deployed with HMS BELLONA, HMS TARTAR and
HMCS HAIDA to cover
minelay by HMS APOLLO north of Ushant
(Operation HOSTILE 33).
22nd
- Deployed with HMS TARTAR and HMCS HAIDA to
cover minelay off Ile
de Vierge by HMS APOLLO (Operation HOSTILE
34).
25th
- Deployed with HMS TARTAR and HMCS HAIDA to
cover minelay NW of
Ushant by HMS APOLLO (Operation HOSTILE 40)
(Note: This was the last minelay
in the MAPLE III Series.)
June
Deployed
for support of Operation NEPTUNE based at
Plymouth. (Note: Not
attached to either Task Force and required
for interception of any enemy
warships attempting to approach transit
routes for Assault Convoys.)
4th
- Operation postponed 24 hours.
5th
- Sailed from Plymouth with Flotilla for
patrol north of Channel
Islands.
6th to
7th - Interception duties in continuation.
8th
- Transferred to new patrol line east-west
from 49.30N 5.00W to
49.30N 6.00W on orders from CinC Plymouth
who anticipated a movement of enemy
destroyers in attempt to attack invasion
traffic. Reconstituted as Force 26. Change
of
patrol line ordered and took passage to 15
miles off Brittany coast. Distance from
coast altered by CinC Plymouth to 20 miles
from coast because of mine dangers.
Commenced
sweep between Ile de Bas and Ile de Vierge.
9th
- Radar
contact made and Force 26 ships closed to
investigate. Four ships were T24, an ELBING
Class destroyer, Z32 and Z24, both NARVIK
Class destroyers and ZH1, the
Ex Dutch destroyer TJERK HIDDES captured
after fall of Holland in May 1940.
Enemy ships altered course and fired
torpedoes which were avoided. Engaged enemy
ships with HMS TARTAR, HMS ASHANTI and HMCS
HAIDA by main and secondary
armament at close range. During the action
Z32 was serious damaged and
eventually ran ashore on Ile de Bas. ZH1 was
sunk by gunfire and two torpedoes from
HMS ASHANTI. Z24 and T24 although badly
damaged were able to escape. HMS TARTAR
sustained
some damage and had 17 casualties including
four killed. Returned to Plymouth with ships
of Force 26 after a successful action which
did much to ensure safe passage
of allied convoys to the beachhead.
12th
- Sailed from Plymouth with HMCS HAIDA to
carry out diversionary
operation to the south of the Channel Island
and east of Roches Dourves. (Note: This
was to be in association with planned air
attacks.)
13th
- Special party which had been embarked
carried out W/T
transmissions to suggest possible landings
on west coast of the Cherbourg
Peninsula. Returned to Plymouth on release.
14th
- Deployed at Plymouth for patrol in English
Channel to intercept
any attempts to interfere with convoys to
and from beachheads.
July
Plymouth
deployment for interception patrols in
continuation,.
2nd
- Deployed for tow of HM Destroyer ESKIMO to
Plymouth. (Note: HMS
ESKIMO had been seriously damaged in
collision with HM Destroyer JAVELIN during
return from
interception patrol in SW Approaches.)
8th
- In action with HMS TARTAR against convoy
escorted by E-Boats and
minesweepers two of which were reported as
being sunk.
August
Nominated
for refit in Canada.
13th
- Took passage to Halifax for refit.
27th
- Under refit at Halifax.
September
to October
Refit
in continuation
November
12th
- Carried out Post Refit trials and prepared
for return to UK for
further refit
28th
- Arrived at Cardiff for fit of new radar in
commercial
shipyard.
December
Fit
of Type 276 Radar and Plan Position Displays
for surface and
aircraft warning with Target Indication in
continuation.
1 9 4 5
January
20th
- Carried out trials on new radar equipment
and on completion
worked-up for operational service.
February
Work-up
in continuation.
10th
- On completion resumed operational service
in SW Approaches and
Channel based at Plymouth.
March
Nominated
for transfer to Home Fleet for screening
duties.
31st
- Took passage to Scapa Flow.
April
15th
- Deployed with HM Destroyers ZEPHYR,
ZODIAC, ZEALOUS, ZEST, OFFA,
HAIDA (RCN), IROQUOIS (RCN) and Norwegian
destroyer STORD as escort for Russian
convoy JW66 with HM Cruiser BELLONA, HM
Escort Aircraft Carriers VINDEX and NAIRANA.
In addition, HM
Sloop CYGNET, HM Corvettes ALNWICK CASTLE,
BAMBOROUGH CASTLE, FARNHAM CASTLE,
HONEYSUCKLE,
LOTUS and OXLIP of 7th Escort Group were
also part of Close escort with Frigates of
19th Support Group deployed for support for
anti-submarine operations.
25th
- Detached from JW66 with Close Escort on
arrival at Kola Inlet. (Note: Ships
of escort carried out anti-submarine attacks
in entrance to Kola Inlet to
ensure safety of convoy.)
29th
- Joined return convoy RA66 on departure
from Kola Inlet. (Note: During
anti-submarine operations outside Kola Inlet
before departure of RA66 U 307 and U286 were
sunk by ships of 19th Support Group but HM
Frigate GOODALL was torpedoed
and sunk by U968 although some survivors
were rescued. See above references for
details.)
May
Nominated
for return to Canada on release from service
with RN.
8th
- Detached on arrival of RA66 at Greenock.
VE Day!! Returned to
Scapa Flow with Home Fleet ships.
16th
- Deployed with HM Cruiser BERWICK and HMCS
HAIDA for visit to
Trondheim.
17th
- Arrived at Trondheim to a tumultuous
reception with subsequent
outstanding hospitality.
23rd
- Passage from Trondheim.
24th
- Arrived at Scapa Flow.
25th
- Sailed from Scapa Flow for passage to
Greenock with HMCS HAIDA.
26th
- At Greenock with HMCS HAIDA and HMCS
IROQUOIS.
June
Nominated
for service with British Pacific Fleet after
return to Canada.
4th
- Took passage from Greenock for Halifax
with her two sister ships.
10th
- Arrived at Halifax to a resounding
welcome.
July
Under
refit including tropicalisation to suit
service in the Pacific.
August
14th
- Refit suspended.
