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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2004

HMS BLANKNEY (L 30) -  Type II, Hunt-class Escort Destroyer including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Blankney (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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Type II 'HUNT' Class Escort Destroyer built by John Brown at Clydebank, Glasgow under the 1939 War Emergency Programme and ordered as Job No J1570 on 4 September 1939. The ship was laid down on 17th May 1940 and was the first RN warship to bear the Name. She was launched on 19th December 1940 and completed on 11th April 1941. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in February 1942 this Escort Destroyer was adopted by the civil community of Nantwich in Cheshire

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

ATLANTIC 1941-43 - MALTA CONVOYS 1942 - ARCTIC 1942-43 - SICILY  1943 - SALERNO 1943 - NORMANDY   1944 - MEDITERRANEAN   1944

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Red, a griffin's head erased Gold

in front of two hunting horns in saltire White.

 

 

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 4 1

 

April                       Contractors trials and commissioned for service

                11th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

                                On completion of trials and storing took passage to work-up for operational service.

 

May                        On completion of work-up joined Irish Sea Escort Force

                16th         (see addenda)

 

June                        Deployed for Atlantic convoy escort duty in NW Approaches.

to                            Nominated for escort of military convoy to Gibraltar

August

 

September

                17th        Joined military convoy WS11X as part of escort with ships detached from the Home Fleet

                                including HM Battleship PRINCE OF WALES, HM Cruisers EURYALUS and KENYA. HM

                                Destroyers GALLANT, LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, ORIBI and Polish ORP GARLAND and

                                PIORUN.

                                (Operation HALBERD - Malta Relief Convoy .See Naval Staff History (HMSO-2002) and

                                THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre.)

                24th        Detached from WS11X on relief off Gibraltar by ships of Force H.

                                Passage to resume duties In NW Approaches.

 

October

                1st           Joined military convoy WS12 in Clyde with HM Destroyer STANLEY as part of escort during

                                Atlantic passage.

                4th          Remained with WS12 after Local Escort including HM Cruiser CAIRO detached.

                7th          Detached from WS12 with HMS STANLEY and returned to Clyde.

 

November              Transferred to 11th Escort Group in continuation of Atlantic convoy defence.

                                Nominated for transfer to Mediterranean.

 

December              Joined 20th Escort Group at Londonderry.

                                Part of escort for Convoy HG76 for passage to Gibraltar.

                                (Note: Carried stores for RAF at Gibraltar with HM Destroyer ARROW.

                                Transferred to 13th Destroyer on arrival at Gibraltar.

                17th        Part of escort for Convoy HG76 during initial stage of passage from Gibraltar to Liverpool..

                                During support operations in defence of convoy participated in sinking of U131 with HM

                                Destroyer EXMOOR and ships of 36th Escort Group commanded by Commander F J Walker a

                                renowned U-Boat killer.

                                (For details of this operation and other sinkings in the Atlantic see U-BOAT WAR IN THE

                                ATLANTIC (HMSO), THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre, ENGAGE

                                THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY BY Corelli Barnett, RELENTLESS PURSUIT by D

                                Wemyss and U- BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.).

                18th        Continued A/S defence of HG76.

                                Deployed with HM Destroyer STANLEY and located, rammed and sank U434.

                                Sustained consequential structural damage.

                21st         Taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard Gibraltar

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Under repair at Gibraltar.

 

February                On completion joined 37 Destroyer Division at Gibraltar for Local defence of convoys.

                                (For details of operations in Mediterranean during 1942 see above references and Naval Staff

                                History,

                                Passage from Gibraltar to Clyde for escort of military convoy.

                16th        Joined HM Destroyers ACTIVE, ANTHONY, CROOME, DUNCAN, FIREDRAKE,

                                LIGHTNING and LAFOREY as part of escort for Convoy WS16 during Atlantic passage.

                21st         Detached from WS12 as escort for HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS carrying aircraft for transfer

                                to Malta as part of Operation SPOTTER.

                27th        Joined escort for HM Aircraft Carriers ARGUS and EAGLE ferrying reinforcement aircraft to

                                Malta covered by HM Battleship MALAYA, HM Cruiser HERMIONE, HM Destroyers

                                LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, ACTIVE, ANTHONY, WHITEHALL, WISHART, EXMOOR

                                and CROOME. (Operation SPOTTER).

                28th        Operation aborted and returned to Gibraltar.

 

March

                6th          Joined same ships for escort of carriers (Operation SPOTTER)

                                (Note: Repeat of previous operation)

                20th        Joined escort for HMS ARGUS and HMS EAGLE with HMS MALAYA, HMS HERMIONE,

                                HM Destroyers LAFOREY, DUNCAN, ACTIVE, ANTHONY, WHITEHALL, WISHART,

                                EXMOOR and CROOME for repeat Malta aircraft delivery (Operation PICKET I).

                27th        Deployed with same ships for further aircraft delivery (Operation PICKET II).

 

April                       Transferred to 6th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet and took passage to UK.

                                Deployed with Home Fleet in NW Approaches.

 

May

                2nd         Escorted HM Battleship KING GEORGE V to UK from Iceland after her collision in

                                low visibility with HM Destroyer PUNJABI during cover for passage of the Russian

                                Convoy PQ15.

                23rd        Part of Escort for Home Fleet ships covering Russian Convoy PQ16 and returning Convoy

                                QP12 from the Kola Inlet

                                (For details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R Ruegg.

                                THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B. Schoefield and CONVOY! by P Kemp).

 

June                        Detached for defence of Malta relief convoy from UK

                5th          Joined Malta relief convoy in Clyde as escort during passage to Gibraltar with HM Cruisers

                                KENYA and LIVERPOOL, HM Destroyers BEDOUIN, ESCAPADE, ICARUS, MARNE,

                                MATCHLESS, ONSLOW, HM Escort Destroyers BADSWORTH and MIDDLETON.

                                (Operation HARPOON)

                                (See above references for Mediterranean service.).

                11th        On arrival off Gibraltar deployed as part of Force X for Close Escort of Malta Convoy through

                                to Malta with HM Cruiser CAIRO, HM Destroyers BEDOUIN, MARNE, MATCHLESS,

                                ITHURIEL, PARTRIDGE, HM Escort Destroyers MIDDLETON, BADSWORTH and Polish

                                destroyer ORP KUJAWIAK.

                                (Note: Force X also included HM Minesweepers HEBE, SPEEDY, HYTHE and RYE on passage

                                for minesweeping duties based in Malta.)

                                Cover for passage to Sicilian Narrows was provided by HM Aircraft Carriers EAGLE, ARGUS,

                                HM Battleship MALAYA, HM Cruiser CHARYBDIS, and destroyers from Gibraltar Local

                                Flotilla deployed as Force W.

                                For full details of HARPOON see MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman.

                15th        In action with Italian cruiser Squadron in defence of convoy after covering force from Gibraltar

                                had detached from Force X.

                16th        Took passage to Gibraltar on arrival of remaining two mercantiles in Malta with surviving ships

                                of Force X.

                                (Note: ORP KUJAWIAK was sunk on arrival with HMS BADSWORTH and HMS

                                MATCHLESS SERIOUSLY damaged by mines.)

                19th        Returned to Gibraltar with Force X and ships of covering Force

                22nd       Passage to UK to rejoin Flotilla with other ships detached from Home Fleet.

 

July                         Deployed with HM Destroyers ASHANTI, ESCAPADE, FAULKNOR, MARNE, MARTIN,

                                ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW, HM Escort Destroyer MIDDLETON, US destroyers USS

                                MAYRANT and RHIND as screen for HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK, US battleship USS

                                WASHINGTON,

                                HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers CUMBERLAND and NIGERIA to provide

                                Distant Cover for passage of Russian Convoy PQ17 and return Convoy QP13 from Murmansk to

                                Iceland.

                3rd          Took passage to return to Scapa Flow with Distant Cover ships when PQ17 scattered by order

                                from Admiralty.

                                See above references and THE CONVOY IS TO SCATTER by J Broome.

                20th        Carried replenishment stocks of ammunition to Murmansk with HM Destroyers MARNE,

                                MARTIN and MIDDLETON.

                24th        Arrived at Murmansk.

                30th        Damaged in collision at Murmansk and taken in hand for repair.

 

August                  Under repair.

 

September             On completion of repair remained in North Russia to join escort for next return convoy to UK.

                13th        Sailed from Archangel as part of Local Escort for return Convoy QP14 and transferred Home

                                Fleet ships which transferred from inward Convoy PQ18 for defence of QP14 during transit to

                                Loch Ewe.

                                (Note: This deployment for return after repair is to be confirmed)

                                Detached from QP18 and returned to Scapa Flow for Home Fleet duties.

                                (Note: Further repair may have been require before resuming operational service in Home Fleet)

 

October                  Deployment with Home Fleet in NW Approaches to be confirmed.

to

November

 

December

                15th        Provided Western Local Escort from Loch Ewe for outward Russian Convoy JW51A with

                                HM Escort Destroyers CHIDDINGFOLD and LEDBURY.

                18th        Detached from JW51B and returned to Scapa Flow.

                22nd       Provided Local Western Escort for Russian Convoy JW51B with same ships.

                25th        Detached from JW51B.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

                6th          Joined returning Russian Convoy RA51 as Local Western Escort with HMS LEDBURY.

                10th        Detached from RA51.

                17th        Provided Local Western Escort from Loch Ewe for Russian Convoy JW52 with HMS

                                LEDBURY and HMS MIDDLETON.

                21st         Detached from JW52.

 

February

                5th          Joined returning Russian Convoy RA52 with HMS MIDDLETON for local escort.

                8th          Detached on arrival at Loch Ewe.

                10th        Resumed Home Fleet duties at Scapa Flow.

 

March                    Deployed in NW Approaches for escort and patrol duties.

to

May

 

June                        Nominated for duty in support of Mediterranean operations.

                21st         Detached from joint convoy with ships destined for Mediterranean (Convoy KMF17)

                                with Home Fleet escorts after relief by HM Destroyers AMAZON, BLACKMORE, BULLDOG

                                and FOXHOUND which escorted ships destined for Freetown (WS31).

                                On arrival at Gibraltar joined 58 Destroyer Division, Mediterranean Fleet

 

July                         Deployed with Support Force East for Sicily landings (Operation HUSKY).

                                (For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History)

                                Deployed as Escort Group V with HM Escort Destroyers BLENCATHRA, BRECON and

                                BRISSENDEN.

                                (For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff History.)

                                Passage to Bone for convoy escort.

                7th          Sailed from Bone as part of escort for military Convoy KMF18

                9th          Detached from KMF18 to refuel,

 

                10th        Rejoined KMF18 escort for passage to BARK WEST beach head,

                                Detached from escort on arrival and deployed for patrol and support during ;landings

                                (For details see BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.)

                                Bombarded shore batteries in BARK EAST Landing area with HM Escort Destroyer

                                PUCKERIDGE.

                13th        Involved in collision with HM Destroyer BRISSENDEN during anti-submarine operation.

                                (Note: Remained operational but HMS PUCKERIDGE sustained extensive damage to port

                                bow structure.

 

August                  Deployed in central Mediterranean for support of landing operations.

 

September             Nominated for escort and support of planned allied landing as at Salerno.

                                Passage to Bizerta

                4th          Deployed for escort of military convoy FSS1 from Bizerta to beach head

                                (Operation AVALANCHE)

                9th          Joined Northern Task Force with 21st Destroyer Flotilla gunfire support and patrol off Salerno..

                                See above references and Naval Staff History).

 

October                  Deployed for escort and patrol duty with 58 Destroyer Division in Western Mediterranean.

to

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Deployment for convoy defence and patrol in central and western in continuation.

to

February

 

March

                8th          Participated in sinking of U50 SW of Anzio in position 41.11N 12.27E with HM Destroyers

                                BLENCATHRA, BRECON and US destroyer USS MADISON.

                                See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.

 

April                       Convoy defence and anti-submarine patrol in continuation.

 

May                        Nominated for support of allied landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE)

                                (LANDINGS IN NORMANDY (HMSO). D-DAY SHIPS by J de Winser and ENGAGE THE

                                ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett).

                3rd          Deployed in support of US warships escorting Convoy GUS38.

                4th          Participated in sinking of U371 off Bougie in position 37.M9N 5.39E with with US ships and

                                Free French SENEGALAIS.

                                Passage to UK to join 1st Destroyer Flotilla based at Portsmouth

                                Allocated to Force G for support of British landings in Normandy..

                18th        Took part with ships of Forces J and S in joint defence exercise off Brighton.

 

June                        Joined Escort Group 115 with HM Sloops LARK, CRANE, HM Frigates CHELMER and

                                TORRINGTON.

                5th          Escorted ten Infantry Landing Craft and two Rescue Craft (Convoy G15) from Solent to GOLD

                                beachhead.

                6th          Detached from G15 on arrival and deployed in Eastern Task Force until Build-up Phase.

                7th          Returned to Portsmouth for escort and patrol duty in support of landings.

                                On termination of NEPTUNE deployed for Support duty in continuation off beach heads

 

July                         Channel support duties in continuation.

to

August

 

September             Deployed for Channel convoy escort and patrol duty with Flotilla.

to                            Escort of convoys in eastern Channel area.

October                  Nominated for refit in commercial shipyard.

 

November              Under refit at Liverpool.

to

December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Nominated for duty with 21st Destroyer Flotilla based at Sheerness.

                                Carried out Post refit trials in Irish Sea..

                6th          Passage to Join Flotilla.

                15th        Deployed for North Sea convoy escort, for interception of E-Boats and other craft including

                                submersibles attempting minelaying and other operations in the Thames estuary.

 

February                North Sea duties in continuation.

to                            (Note: Schnorkel-fitted submarines were being deployed at convoy assembly

May                        areas for Atlantic convoy traffic which had been re-routed via Channel when air threat

                                from French bases had been removed by the allied advance.

                                This increased the load on all escorts for anti-submarine defence.).

 

June                        Nominated for transfer to Eastern Fleet and prepared for foreign service.

                                (Note: To be refitted at Simonstown before operation deployment.)

 

July                         Passage to South Africa

                                Taken in hand for refit.

 

August                  Under refit.

  

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS BLANKNEY completed refit after VJ Day and the ship returned to UK. In May 1946 she was Paid off and entered Reserve at Devonport . The ship had a refit in 1948 and was then laid up in Reserve Fleet at Sheerness . Later during 1952 she was transferred to moved to Hartlepool .Approval was given for her to be placed on the Disposal List on 22nd October 1958. Placed on the Sales list the next year she was sold to BISCO for demolition by Hughes Bolcow at Blyth and arrived at the breaker’s yard in tow on 9th March that year.

 


 

Addenda

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS BLANKNEY

by Don Kindell

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

16/09/41

25/09/41

HX 150

27/09/41

30/09/41

02/10/41

09/10/41

HG 074

11/10/41

18/10/41

15/11/41

15/11/41

CT 006

18/11/41

24/11/41

13/11/41

18/11/41

TC 015

21/11/41

21/11/41

14/12/41

14/12/41

HG 076

18/12/41

30/12/41

27/04/42

27/04/42

PW 147

29/04/42

29/04/42

21/05/42

23/05/42

PQ 016

29/05/42

30/05/42

21/05/42

23/05/42

QP 012

29/05/42

29/05/42

12/06/42

12/06/42

HARPOON

16/06/42

16/06/42

27/06/42

29/06/42

PQ 017

04/07/42

04/07/42

26/06/42

29/06/42

QP 013

04/07/42

07/07/42

13/09/42

13/09/42

QP 014

25/09/42

26/09/42

15/12/42

15/12/42

JW 051A

18/12/42

25/12/42

22/12/42

22/12/42

JW 051B

30/12/42

04/01/43

30/12/42

06/01/43

RA 051

09/01/43

11/01/43

17/01/43

17/01/43

JW 052

17/01/43

27/01/43

29/01/43

05/02/43

RA 052

08/02/43

09/03/43

28/06/43

28/06/43

MKF 017

30/06/43

30/06/43

13/06/43

02/07/43

UGS 010

06/07/43

10/07/43

28/06/43

07/07/43

KMF 018

10/07/43

11/07/43

27/07/43

12/08/43

UGS 013

unknown

24/08/43

25/10/43

13/11/43

UGS 022

16/11/43

22/11/43

18/12/43

18/12/43

VN 012A

19/12/43

19/12/43

07/02/44

07/02/44

SNF 014

11/02/44

11/02/44

03/02/44

13/02/44

MKF 028A

16/02/44

20/02/44

21/02/44

21/02/44

SNF 015

24/02/44

24/02/44

21/02/44

27/02/44

KMF 029

02/03/44

05/03/44

18/02/44

01/03/44

UGS 033A

02/03/44

29/02/44

15/10/44

15/10/44

ON 260

18/10/44

30/10/44

05/10/44

17/10/44

HX 312

18/10/44

21/10/44

15/10/44

19/10/44

OS 092KM

unknown

25/10/44

17/03/45

17/03/45

TAM 110

18/03/45

unknown

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 


 

SINKING OF SS ARCHANGEL on 16 MAY 1941

with thanks to Peter Houston ((a) 7 Feb 2011 and (b) 7 Feb 2012)

(a) "During research into my Father's war experiences, I came across this information regarding HMS BLANKNEY. At the time, my late father was aboard the ARCHANGEL and I recall him describing the action as outlined below.

196 and 182 Batteries (65th Reg HAA, RA) were ordered to redeploy to Birmingham and, on 16 May 1941, embarked on SS ARCHANGEL at Kirkwall for Aberdeen. The destroyer HMS BLANKNEY was assigned as escort. Around midnight ARCHANGEL was attacked off Aberdeen by three German aircraft believed to be operating out of Norway. The following is the direct word-for-word account as recorded in the regimental war diary [1]:

'16 May, 2359 hr approximately. Three Heinkel III approached ARCHANGEL and one of them flying at approximately fifty feet dropped two HE bombs on the ship, one aft and one in the engine room, causing boiler explosion and disabling damage to the ship. Enemy aircraft engaged by escorting destroyer HMS BLANKNEY (Lt Comdr Powlett R.N.) as it returned to machine gun damaged ARCHANGEL and destroyer’s boats and after three runs it was damaged and fell into the sea. Evacuation of all personnel on board ARCHANGEL not killed by explosion continued. Remaining enemy aircraft made off. Evacuation of personnel completed by putting BLANKNEY alongside ARCHANGEL.

17 May, ARCHANGEL taken in tow by tug and beached approximately 30 miles north of Aberdeen.

0800 (approx) Personnel evacuated from ARCHANGEL reached Aberdeen in BLANKNEY. Total deaths (including those who died in hospital up to 29 May) 41 ORs, 38 of them of 182 Hy AA Bty and 3 of 196 Hy AA Bty. Injured and admitted to hospital and still living on 31 May, of 182 Hy AA Bty 18 ORs (including BSM Bee J.C., No 3511578) and 24 ORs of 196 Hy AA Bty (including W/BSM Flitcroft W., No 3522907). No officer casualties. All injured suffered from burns." (NOTE: HMS Blankney was misspelt twice in the above report)'"

Peter's father was not injured but he described the terrible burns of those who were. The uninjured men were assigned to look after the injured personnel on a one-to-one basis. He spoke very highly of the BLANKNEY - described how she put up a tremendous AA barrage whilst circling the stricken ARCHANGEL at high speed. I am struck by the matter of fact reporting in the 65th HAA war diaries of the shooting down of one of the He111s "after three runs it was damaged and fell into the sea"!

He subsequently went overseas and survived 31/2 years as a POW in the Far East after taking part in the defence of Singapore, Sumatra and Java.

[1] 65th Reg. HAA, RA War diaries, Royal Artillery Museum Library, Woolwich

and by Don Kindell

British steamer ARCHANGEL (2448grt) was sunk by German bombing 57-55N, 2-03W, ten miles northeast of Aberdeen. Forty crew of a crew of seventy five and twelve troops (note: different number from official 65th Reg HAA account) of four hundred on board were lost. The survivors were rescued by destroyer BLANKNEY which landed them at Aberdeen. The destroyer attempted to take the steamer in tow, but she beached off Black Dog, five miles south of Newburgh, and broke in four pieces.

(b)  I recently found some more accounts (summarised below) on a web site which was advertising the sale of medals belonging to the captain of Archangel, A. P. Sutton. http://www.dnw.co.uk/medals/auctionarchive/searchcataloguearchive/itemdetail.lasso?itemid=59658.

The following report of the incident was recorded by the Ministry of War Transport:

‘I am sorry to inform you that the Archangel was attacked by enemy aircraft about midnight on 16 May 1941, while conveying troops from Kirkwall to Aberdeen. She was struck heavily amidships, the engine and boiler rooms being put out of action and the upper decks so badly damaged that there was no communication between the fore and aft of the ship. The Master, Captain A. P. Sutton, was seriously injured, and out of a crew of 75, 17 are dead or missing and 15 injured ... Casualties among the troops were very heavy but the discipline throughout of both troops and crew was excellent. The destroyer escort sent a Surgeon to assist the ship’s Medical Officer. While they were attending the wounded there were two further attacks from the air, but these were beaten off by the Archangel’s own guns. At 4 o’clock in the morning tugs arrived and both the wounded and uninjured troops, with part of the crew, were transferred to a destroyer. The Archangel was beached but unfortunately is a total wreck.’

Since Captain Sutton was seriously wounded, Chief Officer A. W. Greenham submitted his report of the action as follows:

‘The enemy aircraft released three bombs simultaneously which struck the ship amidships between the funnels ... They wrecked the whole of the upper decks and blew out the private cabins; wrecked the engine and boiler rooms and there was hell let loose with escaping steam. I noted that the engine room skylights still remained in position but there was nothing left of the after funnel except a great chunk of iron ... the Second Officer came back and said he had found the Captain on the deck injured, and the O.C. Troops and I decided there was nothing to do but collect the wounded. Just at this time we heard the destroyer [H.M.S. Blankney; her Captain’s report included], which was ahead of us at the time of the attack, firing at an aircraft and our guns joined him. The starboard forward gun was very busy, and I think he got off two or three belts, but I am unable to say whether the after guns were used. The aircraft flew over us twice, using his machine-guns, and I saw tracer bullets flying directly at me. Although I did not actually see the aircraft I got the impression it was flying about 500 feet high, as I saw bursts of shells in the half-light about 1000 yards away at low altitude. I believe the destroyer shot down the aircraft. Some of the crew thought that tracer bullets from our guns struck the aircraft, but it was not seen approaching or overhead. The first thing we heard was the bombs and later there were machine-gun attacks ... ’

 

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