V-Class destroyer  HMS VIXEN, ordered from JS White of Cowes, IoW with the 8th Emergency Flotilla on 1st September 1941. She was laid down on 31st October 1942 and launched on 14th September 1943 as the 6th RN warship to carry the name introduced in 1799 and previously used for a WW1 destroyer sold in 1921. She had been adopted by the civil community of Kirkcaldy, Fife after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in January 1942. Before completion on 5th March 1944 the ship was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy and commissioned on 21st February 1944 as HMCS SIOUX.

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s  a s   H M S  V I X E N

CHINA  1842

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

      No details of the Crest for ships bearing this name are given in the Official Record of Heraldic

      Crests for the Royal Navy. It is assumed that the Royal Canadian Navy will have a similar Record.

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e   a s   H M C S   S I O U X

(for more ship information,  go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search)

1 9 4 4

February

Contractor's sea trials. Allocated for duty with Home Fleet.

21st - Commissioned as HMCS SIOUX.

March

Worked up with Home Fleet and joined 26th Destroyer Flotilla.

April

Deployed with Flotilla for Home Fleer screening and patrol duties.

May

Nominated for support of allied landings in Normandy with Force J in Eastern Task Force (Operation NEPTUNE). Target selected in Fire Plan - beach defences at St. Aubin-sur-Mer.

Transferred to English Channel with ships of 26th Destroyer Flotilla. (For more details of naval activities prior to and during Normandy landings see OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and NORMANDY LANDINGS June 1944 (HMSO).)

2nd to 3rd - Final rehearsal for berthing, loading and sailing of invasion craft belonging to Forces O, S, J and G.

4th - Took part in Assault landing exercises for Force J at Bracklesham, West Sussex.

18th - Took part in Defence exercise off Brighton for Forces S, G and J.

On completion took passage to Solent to prepare for assault landings in France.

June

4th - Joined HM Destroyer VIGILANT as escort for Convoy J2 through swept channel. Operation delayed when D Day postponed for 24 hours. (Note: J2 Convoy comprised 7th Fleet Minesweeping Flotilla, four Danlayers, four Motor Launches and 2nd Division of BYMS Flotilla.)

5th - Passage to beach head in JUNO area.

6th - During passage reversed course to join Convoy J4. Took up bombardment station and bombarded beach in accordance with fire-plan.

7th - Deployed off beachhead for gunfire support, patrol and escort as required by the Assault Force Commander, Eastern Task Force during post-assault phase.

10th - Interception of German minelaying west of Le Havre with Polish Escort Destroyer ORP KRAKOWIAK, HM Frigate DUFF and Light Coastal Forces MTB's failed.

Resumed Home Fleet duties with Flotilla at Scapa Flow on release from NEPTUNE.

July

Deployed with Flotilla in Home Fleet based at Scapa Flow.

August

8th - Participated in rehearsal for planned minelaying operation.

10th - Deployed with HM Destroyers MYNGS, VERULAM, VIGILANT, VIRAGO, VOLAGE, SCOURGE and ALGONQUIN (RCN) as screen for HM Aircraft Carriers INDEFATIGABLE, TRUMPETER and NABOB, HM Cruisers KENT and DEVONSHIRE during minelay off Norway (Operation OFFSPRING - For details see Naval Staff History (MINING).

September

17th - Joined escort for Russian Convoy JW60 with HM Destroyers MARNE, METEOR, MILNE, MUSKETEER, SAUMAREZ, SCORPION, VENUS, VERULAM and ALGONQUIN (RCN) as screen for HM Battleship RODNEY, HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Escort Carriers CAMPANIA and STRIKER. (For full details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R A Ruegg, CONVOY ! by P Kemp and THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B. Schoefield).

23rd - Detached from JW60 on arrival at Kola Inlet.

28th - Joined escort for return Convoy RA60 with same ships.

October

3rd - Detached from convoy with Home Fleet ship before its arrival at Loch Ewe.

14th - Deployed with HM Destroyers MYNGS, ALGONQUIN (RCN), SCORPION and SERAPIS as screen for HM Cruiser EURYALUS, HM Escort Carriers TRUMPETER and FENCER during an air minelay and shipping strike (Operation LYCIDAS - See above references).

26th - Deployed with HM Destroyers MYNGS, VENUS, VERULAM, VOLAGE and ALGONQUIN (RCN) as screen for HM Aircraft Carrier IMPLACABLE and HM Cruiser MAURITIUS during air attacks on shipping off Norway. (Note: A depot ship (KARL MEYER) and an auxiliary (V5722) were sunk at Rorvik, and three minesweepers sunk and U1060 damaged at Kristiansund North.)

November

Home Fleet deployment with Flotilla in continuation.

27th - Deployed with HM Destroyers MYNGS, SCOURGE, ZEPHYR, SCORPION, ALGONQUIN (RCN) and two frigates as screen for HM Aircraft Carrier IMPLACABLE and HM Cruiser DIDO during air strikes on shipping off Norway. (Note: Two of the ships sunk, Norwegian mercantiles RIGEL and KORNES were carrying a large number of Russian POW. Only 415 out of the 2,721 men were rescued.).

December

7th - Deployed with HM Destroyers ZEALOUS, ZAMBESI, VIGILANT, SAVAGE, SERAPIS, Norwegian destroyer STORD and HM Canadian Destroyer ALGONQUIN as screen for HM Aircraft Carriers IMPLACABLE, TRUMPETER and FENCER. (Operation URBANE - References as above).

14th - Deployed with HM Destroyers ZEALOUS, ZEPHYR, ALGONQUIN (RCN), SAVAGE and SERAPIS as screen for HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE, HM Escort Carriers TRUMPETER and PREMIER during dual minelay and shipping strikes (Operation LACERATE - References as above).

1 9 4 5

January

1st - Joined escort for Russian Convoy JW63 with HM Cruiser DIADEM and HM Destroyers MYNGS, SAVAGE, SCOURGE, SERAPIS, ZAMBESI, ZEBRA and ALGONQUIN (RCN). Deployed as Outer Screen with these destroyers.

8th - Detached from JW63 on arrival at Kola Inlet.

11th - Joined escort for return Convoy RA63 with same ships and HM Destroyer SCORPION.

21st - Detached from RA63 after stormy passage uninterrupted by the enemy.

February

6th - Joined escort for Russian Convoy JW64 with HM Cruiser BELLONA. HM Escort Carrier CAMPANIA, HM Escort Carrier NAIRANA, HM Sloop LAPWING and nine Home Fleet destroyers.

15th - Detached on arrival at Kola Inlet.

17th - Joined escort for return Convoy RA64 with same ships.

19th - Extreme weather conditions dispersed convoy.

20th - Convoy reformed and came under air attacks which were repelled.

27th - Detached from RA64 with Home Fleet ships.

March

12th - Joined escort for Russian Convoy JW65 with HMS DIADEM, HMS CAMPANIA, six Home Fleet destroyers and HM corvette FARNHAM CASTLE.

21st - Detached from JW65 on arrival at Kola Inlet.

23rd - Joined escort for return Convoy RA65.

30th - Detached from RA65 with Home Fleet ships before convoy arrived at Scapa Flow.

April

Nominated for passage to Canada for refit prior to further operational service.

6th - Took passage to Halifax.

May to August

Under repair at Halifax.

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

HMCS SIOUX was transferred to Esquimalt on the west coast of Canada on completion of refit. She was Paid-off and placed in Reserve on 27th February 1946. The ship re-commissioned after further refit and modernisation in 1950. From 1951 to 1955 she was deployed on United Nations service in Korea and the Pacific following which she was used for training purposes. The ship Paid-off again on 30th October 1963 and was sold in 1965 to an Italian shipbreaker. Towed to La Spezia by the Portuguese tug PRAIA GRANDE this destroyer arrived at the breaker's yard on 28th August for demolition.

Addendum

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMCS SIOUX

by Don Kindell

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above

(Note on Convoys)