HMS Zephyr, sister-ship (Navy Photos/Mark Teadham, click to enlarge)

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ZAMBESI or Z-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from Denny of Dumbarton on 12th February 1942 with the 10th Emergency Flotilla and to be named WAKEFUL. This name was changed as part of a policy change by the Admiralty and she was laid down on 14th May 1942. When launched on 8th March 1943 as HMS ZEBRA she was the sixth RN warship to bear this name, introduced in 1777 and had previously been used by a destroyer sold in 1914. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in February 1942 she had been adopted by the civil community of Urmston, then in the county of Lancashire. Build was completed on 13th October 1944.

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

THE SAINTES 1782  - MARTINIQUE 1794 - TRINIDAD 1797 - COPENHAGEN 1801 - SYRIA 1840 - ARCTIC 1945

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: A Zebra.

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e

1 9 4 4

October             Contractors Trials and commissioned for service with 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet

           13th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials

                          On completion of trials and storing took passage to Scapa Flow.

November        Worked-up with ships of Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.

                           On completion joined 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet for screening duty and patrol in

                           NW Approaches

December          Home Fleet duties in continuation.

1 9 4 5

January

            1st          Joined HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Escort Aircraft Carrier VINDEX with H M Destroyers MYNGS,

                           SAVAGE, SCOURGE, SERAPIS, ZAMBESI, HM Canadian Destroyer ALGONQUIN and

                           Norwegian Destroyer STORD for escort of Russian Convoy JW63 to Kola Inlet.

                           (For details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg, THE

                           RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield, ARCTIC CONVOYS BY R Woodman and CONVOY !

                           by P Kemp.

            8th          Detached on arrival after uninterrupted passage.

           11th         Escorted return Convoy RA63 with same escorts.

           21st         Detached on arrival at Loch Ewe after stormy passage without detection.

February            Deployed with Flotilla in NW Approaches.

             3rd         Sailed with Home Fleet destroyers to join Russian Convoy JW64 but withdrawn due to

                            machinery defects

              5th        Under repair.

            11th        Deployed as screen for HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers PREMIER

                           and PUNCHER with HM Destroyers CAVENDISH, CAVALIER and SCOURGE as Force 2

                           for joint air minelay and shipping strike off Norway (Operation SELENIUM).

            26th       Deployed with HM Destroyers SAVAGE and SCOURGE to reinforce escort for the return Convoy

                           RA64 from Kola Inlet during passage after losses of HM Sloop LARK and HM Corvette BLUEBELL.

                           See above references.

            27th        Detached from RA64 with HM Cruiser BELLONA and Home Fleet destroyers after convoy had been

                           re-assembled due to dispersal owing to severe weather conditions.

March                Home Fleet screening and patrol duties with Flotilla in NW Approaches.

to

April

May                   Deployed with Home Fleet major units during support of operations in North Sea to to  re-occupy

to                       countries previously under German occupation and included Guardship duties.

August

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

HMS ZEBRA joined the 4th Destroyer Flotilla, Home after the end of hostilities in which she served until 1947. The ship then Paid-off and was reduced to Reserve status in the Plymouth Reserve Fleet. During 1952 she went to at Harwich Reserve Fleet and returned to Plymouth a year later. The ship was nominated for conversion to an Anti-Submarine Frigate and her main armament was to be removed. However in 1955 this work was cancelled and the ship was placed on the Sale List. After inspection by West German officials the proposed transfer was rejected because of her poor condition and she was sold to BISCO in 1958 for breaking-up at Newport, Monmouth by Cashmore.. On 12th February 1959-this ship arrived in tow at the breakers yard.

Addendum

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS ZEBRA

by Don Kindell

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

(Note on Convoys)