Type
II HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered from
Alex
Stephen at Govan under 1939 War Emergency
Programme on 4th September 1939. She
was laid down as Job No 1478 on 16th July
1940 and launched on 1st April 1941
as the lst RN
ship to carry this name, that of two
fox-hunts in Somerset. Build completion date
was 27th September 1941. In March
1942 after a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign she
was 'adopted' by the civil community of Dulverton,
Somerset.
B
a t t l
e H o n o u r s
LIBYA
1942 - SIRTE 1942 -
MEDITERRANEAN 1942
- MALTA
CONVOYS 1942 -
SICILY
1943 - SALERNO
1943 - AEGEAN 1943
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field barry
wavy of
six White and Blue within
an annulet
per fess
Red
and Green, a Griffin's claw
erased Red grasping
a
riding whip and an axe in saltire
Gold.
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
September
Contractors trials and commissioned for
service.
27th
Build completion and commenced Acceptance
Trials.
October,
Passage to Scapa Flow on completion of
trials and storing.
Worked-up for service with Home Fleet ships
at
Scapa Flow.
November
Nominated for service in Mediterranean Fleet
and prepared for foreign service.
19th
Joined military convoy WS12Z with HM
Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN and HM Destroyer
SOUTHWOLD as Ocean Escort for passage in
Atlantic.
22nd
Detached from WS12Z with HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN
and HMS SOUTHWOLD and took
passage
to
Freetown.
28th
Rejoined WS12Z with HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN and
HMS SOUTHWOLD as Ocean Escort
during
passage to Durban.
December
Passage to Durban.
18th
Detached from WS12 with Ocean Escort on
arrival at
Durban.
Took independent passage to Alexandria from Durban.
1 9
4 2
January
Passage in Red Sea.
4th
Joined 5th Destroyer Flotilla at Alexandria
for Fleet escort, convoy defence, anti
submarine
patrol and support of Tobruk garrison.
February
Deployed for escort of Malta
relief convoy.
12th
Joined HM Escort Destroyers BEAUFORT,
HURWORTH and SOUTHWOLD to escort
Convoy MW
9A (Operation MF5)
(Note: Cover was provided by HM Cruisers
DIDO, NAIAD and EURYALUS screened by
HM
Destroyers ARROW,
GRIFFIN,
HASTY, HAVOCK, JAGUAR, JERVIS,
13th
Convoys MW9A and B merged and continued
passage under air attacks.
14th
Detached with escort from Alexandria and
returned as escort for Convoy ME10.
(Note: ROWALLAN CASTLE was later hit during
air attacks and had to be sunk.
For details see THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre,
MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman and Naval Staff
History.)
15th
Returned to Alexandria with covering ships
of Force B.
March
20th
Deployed with HM Escort Destroyers AVON
VALE, BEAUFORT, ERIDGE, HEYTHROP,
HURWORTH
and SOUTHWOLD to
carry out anti-submarine sweep along the
path of
planned Malta relief convoy (Operation MG1).
(Note: HMS HEYTHROP was torpedoed and sunk
off Sollum during this operation.. See
above references.)
21st
Joined escort for Convoy MW10 after
refuelling at Tobruk.
22nd
Convoy under threat of attack by Italian
battle Squadron, including battleship
LITTORIO,
cruisers GORIZIA, TRENTO and BANDE NERE
screened by ten destroyers.
Cruiser PENELOPE and HM Destroyer LEGION
joined Convoy from Malta
before Italian
ships were sighted.
MW10 detached escorted by HM Cruiser
CARLISLE and destroyers from Tobruk.
Under air attack and fire from Italian
ships.
HM Cruisers CLEOPATRA, DIDO, EURYALUS and
PENELOPE and destroyer screen
positioned
between convoy and engaged enemy squadron
in heavy weather.
Italian ships lacking radar were at a
disadvantage and retired when attacked by
torpedoes
from destroyers of Fleet screen.
(2nd Battle of Sirte - See above reference
and Naval Staff History for details
of this tactical
and moral victory.)
23rd
Detached with HMS AVON VALE to escort
mercantiles ss PAMPAS and ss TALABOT when
ships
of convoy
scattered.
(Note: Despite sustained air attacks ships
reached Grand Harbour.)
25th
Sailed from Malta with HMS CARLISLE, HM
Destroyers BEAUFORT, ERIDGE and
HURWORTH,
28th
Arrived at Alexandria.
April
Deployed in support of Tobruk garrison with
ships of 5th Destroyer Flotilla.
to
May
June
Nominated for Malta relief operation.
(Note: This was a joint operation (JULIUS)
with Force H at Gibraltar (Operation
HARPOON)
11th
Sailed from Port Said with HM Cruiser
COVENTRY with HM Escort Destroyers
AIREDALE, ALDENHAM, BEAUFORT, CROOME,
ERIDGE,
EXMOOR and
HURWORTH as escort for Convoy MW11C
(Operation REMBRANDT)
.
(Note: MW11C comprised four mercantiles each
of which was towing an MTB.)
This convoy was intended as a diversion to
distract enemy attention from passage of
the HARPOON Convoy to Malta
from Gibraltar
Mediterranean element of JULIUS was
Operation VIGOROUS).
12th
Under air attacks during which ss CITY OF
COVENTRY was damaged and unable to
maintain convoy speed
(Note: CITY OF COVENTRY was detached for
passage to Tobruk escorted by HMS
CROOME and HMS EXMOOR.)
13th
MW11C and escort reversed course and took
passage to
Alexandria.
Detached from MW11C with escort to refuel
and rejoin MW11B from Alexandria.
(Note: Mediterranean Fleet units deployed as
escort included HM Battleship CENTURION
which had been disguised to resemble an
battleship of the KING GEORGE V Class.
For full details of warships and mercantiles
in VIGOROUS see above references.)
Joined escort for Convoy MW11C from Haifa
and Convoy MW11B from Alexandria which
had merged for passage to Malta.
14th
Merged convoy and escorts under heavy and
sustained air attacks with additional threat
of
surface attack from an Italian battle
squadron.
(Note: Italian warships included battleships
LITTORIO, VITTORIA VENETO, Heavy cruisers
GORIZIA, TRENTO, light cruisers GUISEPPE
GARIBALDI., DUCA D'AOSTA with
destroyer screen.)
Reversed course with ships and escort as
ordered by CinC ashore in Alexandria..
(Note: This involved difficult manoeuvring
under German E-Boat attacks during which HM
Cruiser NEWCASTLE and HM Destroyer HASTY
were torpedoed.
HMS HASTY which had been disabled in air
attacks had to be sunk by own ships.
15th
Convoy ordered to resume course to Malta and
under further extensive air attacks and an
interception by Italian warships still
judged to be viable .
Further instruction from shore required
convoy to turn eastward.
(Note: This order was ignored by Admiral
Vian in command of British ships since even
though
Italian Fleet had returned to the west he
considered a further attempt to make passage
to Malta was impracticable because of heavy
expenditure of ammunition and the
operation was abandoned.
The order was later rescinded.
HMS AIREDALE of Flotilla had been sunk in
the current air attacks.)
16th
During return passage HM Australian
Destroyer NESTOR, damaged in earlier air
attacks
also had to be sunk and HM Cruiser HERMIONE
was sunk by U205.
Arrived at Alexandria with Fleet units.
(Note: This disastrous operation during
which the conflicting instructions from
shore
authorities were at variance with the more
realistic assessments being made by the
Admiral at sea charged with ensuring the
safe passage of the vital convoy.
See above references.
July
Eastern Mediterranean Flotilla duties in
continuation.
12th
Carried out bombardment of Mersa Matruh with
other Fleet units.
19th
Provided defensive screen for cruisers
during bombardment of Mersa Matruh.
August
Deployed with Fleet units in patrol and
support of military operations.
12th
Joined HM Destroyers JERVIS, KELVIN,
PAKENHAM, PALADIN, ALDENHAM,
BEAUFORT, ERIDGE, HURSLEY, HURWORTH, HM
Corvette HYACINTH and HM
Auxiliary ANTWERP to escort three ships as
Convoy MW12 covered by HM Cruisers
ARETHUSA and EURYALUS. (Operation MG3)
(Note: This was a Dummy Convoy to act as a
diversion during the passage of Malta relief
convoy from Gibraltar (Operation PEDESTAL).
For details see PEDESTAL by Peter C Smith
and above references).
13th
Returned to Port Said with Dummy Convoy.
September
Nominated for support of planned assault
landings at Tobruk (Operation AGREEMENT).
12th
Deployed with HM Escort Destroyers BELVOIR,
CROOME and HURSLEY as screen for HM
Cruiser COVENTRY and took passage to Tobruk
for landings by Royal Marines.
13th
Deployed off Tobruk and provided gunfire
support during assault.
Under fire from shore batteries.
14th
Under heavy and sustained attack by Ju87
aircraft.
After HMS COVENTRY was set on fire during
air attacks and had to be abandoned by
ship's
company, rescued the survivors swimming in
the water.
(Note: HMS BEAUFORT went alongside the
cruiser to take off the men still on board.
HMS COVENTRY then torpedoed by HM Destroyer
ZULU and sank.
Took return passage to Alexandria with HMS BEAUFORT and HMS HURWORTH.
(Note: HMS ZULU was herself sunk following
further attacks by Italian aircraft.
AGREEMENT proved a very costly failure due
to poor planning and execution during
which many lives were lost.
See MASSACRE AT TOBRUK by G. C. Cornell and
Naval Staff History).
October
Deployed with Flotilla for convoy escort and
patrol in eastern Mediterranean.
30th
After U559 had been reported by aircraft 70
miles north of Nile Delta. despatched from
Alexandria with HM Destroyers PETARD,
PAKENHAM and HURWORTH to relieve HMS
ECHO who was carrying out search for
submarine.
Deployed to carry out an anti-submarine
operations with these ships for ten hours.
The prolonged depth charge attacks by the
three destroyers forced submarine to surface
after
nightfall and it was then engaged by gunfire
from all ships.
HM Destroyer PETARD sent a boarding party to
recover the ENIGMA coding machine and its
associated documentation.
During search the submarine was sinking and
two of the Party were trapped and drowned
when
U559 sank.
(Note: Their gallant conduct was recognised
by award of a George Cross to each and a
George
Medal to a young NAAFI Canteen assistant who
escaped whilst assisting in recovery
of invaluable material.
The ENIGMA machine was not recovered. but
the documentation played an important
part in decryption by GCHQ of German signal
traffic in Atlantic.
Many ships and lives were saved as a direct
result.
For further details see GCHQ by Nigel West,
BREAKING THE ENIGMA by D Kahn
and SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)
31st
Escorted HMS PETARD to Haifa to land the
items obtained from U559.
November
Eastern
Mediterranean
deployment with Flotilla in continuation..
17th
Joined HM Escort Destroyers ALDENHAM,
BEAUFORT, BELVOIR, CROOME,
EXMOOR,
HURSLEY, HURWORTH, TETCOTT and Greek PINDOS
as escort for Convoy MW13 to
Malta. (Operation MG9/STONEAGE.)
(Note: This was the first relief convoy from
Alexandria since June and effectively lifted
the
siege. It was covered by HM Cruisers
ARETHUSA, ORION, CLEOPATRA and
DIDO.)
18th
Under air attacks during which HM Cruiser
ARETHUSA was torpedoed and badly damaged.
20th
Arrived in Malta with Convoy MW13 and took
passage back to Alexandria with other
escorts.
December
Passage to
Malta for
escort of empty supply ships to Alexandria.
7th
Part of escort for Convoy ME 11 of nine
ships with HM Cruiser ORION, HM destroyers
PAKENHAM, PETARD, ALDENHAM, BELVOIR, CROOME,
EXMOOR, HURSLEY,
TETCOTT and Greek VASILISSA OLGA and PINDOS
(Operation MH2).
9th
Detached from ME11 with HM Cruiser ORION, HM
Escort Destroyers ALDENHAM,
CROOME, EXMOOR and HURSLEY for passage to
Malta to meet Convoy MW15 during
transit from Egypt.
(Operation QUADRANGLE A - This was the last
Malta relief convoy from Port Said).
1 9 4 3
January
Continued deployment with Flotilla in
eastern
Mediterranean for patrol and support of
to
military operations as well as convoy
escort.
April
Transferred to Malta for service with 21st
Flotilla.
May
Deployed with other destroyers to establish
a blockade between Cape Bon and Sicily.
(Operation RETRIBUTION - to prevent enemy
personnel attempting to leave North Africa
after collapse of German army resistance.
(Note: The blockade prevented the escape of
Axis troops from North Africa and proved
very
effective. Only a few hundred men were able
to make a successful crossing.)
Carried out bombardment of enemy positions
at Kelebia.
June
Based in
Malta with
Flotilla for anti-submarine patrol and
convoy defence.
Nominated for service in support of planned
allied landings in Sicily (Operation HUSKY)
(Note: To be deployed as Escort Group Q with
HM Escort Destroyer BELVOIR.)
July
Passage to Alexandria for convoy escort.
3rd
Sailed from Alexandria as part of escort for
military Convoy MWS36 during passage to in
eastern Mediterranean.
7th
Detached from MWS36 and took passage to
Benghazi.
Joined escort for military Convoy MWF36
during passage to Beach Head.
10th
On arrival at BARK WEST area and detached
for support during landings.
For details of HUSKY see ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY, Naval Staff
History and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de
Winser.
Provided AA defence and A/S protection off
beach head. with naval gunfire support.
August
HUSKY convoy escort and support in
continuation
Nominated with ships of Flotilla for convoy
defence and support of planned allied
landings in Italy
(Operation AVALANCHE).
September
Passage to Tripoli to join military convoy.
6th
Sailed from Tripoli as part of escort for
military convoy TSF1
9th
Detached from TSF1 and joined Task Force 85
with ships of the 21st Destroyer Flotilla
for naval gunfire support and defence of
landing area.
On release from AVALANCHE too passage to
Alexandria for operations in defence of
Aegean Islands.
(Note: After Italian surrender German forces
were attempting replace Italian garrisons,)
Rejoined 5th Destroyer Flotilla and deployed
as Senior Officers’ ship.
October
Deployed at Alexandria.
10th
Carried out unsuccessful search with HM
Destroyers ECHO and BELVOIR for craft taking
German troops to Leros..
22nd
Bombarded shore targets at Levitha.
27th
Deployed for transport of stores and troops
to Leros.
Subjected to sustained air attacks and by
threat of E-Boat attacks.
November
Deployment in defence of Leros in
continuation.
13th
In action with Do217 aircraft off Leros and
hit by Hs293 Glider Bomb.
Forward structure demolished.
109 of ships’ company rescued by HMS
BELVOIR.
When recovery of ship was clearly
impracticable ship was scuttled
(Note: 77 of the ship's company were lost
including her captain.
The calamitous operations in defence of
Aegean islands are described in WAR IN THE
AEGEAN by P. Smith and E. Walker, and
Military and Naval Staff Histories).
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS DULVERTON
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
31/01/42
|
31/01/42
|
AT 022/M
|
03/02/42
|
unknown
|
23/02/42
|
23/02/42
|
AT 030/M
|
25/02/42
|
25/02/42
|
25/02/42
|
25/02/42
|
TA 023/M
|
27/02/42
|
27/02/42
|
02/03/42
|
02/03/42
|
AT 032/M
|
04/03/42
|
04/03/42
|
04/03/42
|
04/03/42
|
TA 025/M
|
06/03/42
|
06/03/42
|
10/03/42
|
10/03/42
|
AT 033/M
|
12/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
TA 027/M
|
14/03/42
|
24/03/42
|
27/03/42
|
27/03/42
|
TA 030/M
|
29/03/42
|
29/03/42
|
16/04/42
|
16/04/42
|
AT 039/M
|
18/04/42
|
18/04/42
|
18/04/42
|
18/04/42
|
TA 035/M
|
19/04/42
|
19/04/42
|
27/04/42
|
27/04/42
|
AT 042/M
|
28/04/42
|
28/04/42
|
28/04/42
|
29/04/42
|
TA 038/M
|
30/04/42
|
30/04/42
|
30/04/42
|
30/04/42
|
TA 039/M
|
02/05/42
|
02/05/42
|
05/05/42
|
07/05/42
|
TA 040/M
|
07/05/42
|
07/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
AT 045/M
|
15/05/42
|
15/05/42
|
15/05/42
|
15/05/42
|
TA 041/M
|
17/05/42
|
unknown
|
18/05/42
|
18/05/42
|
AT 046/M
|
21/05/42
|
21/05/42
|
03/06/42
|
03/06/42
|
AT 048/M
|
05/06/42
|
05/06/42
|
11/06/42
|
11/06/42
|
MW 011
|
16/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
07/12/42
|
07/12/42
|
ME 011
|
09/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
06/12/42
|
09/12/42
|
MW 015
|
10/12/42
|
09/12/42
|
17/12/42
|
17/12/42
|
MW 017
|
20/12/42
|
20/12/42
|
28/12/42
|
28/12/42
|
ME 014
|
01/01/43
|
01/01/43
|
07/01/43
|
07/01/43
|
MW 019
|
11/01/43
|
11/01/43
|
13/01/43
|
13/01/43
|
ME 015
|
18/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
MH 003/M
|
26/01/43
|
26/01/43
|
27/01/43
|
27/01/43
|
ME 016
|
01/02/43
|
01/02/43
|
01/03/43
|
01/03/43
|
MW 022
|
06/03/43
|
06/03/43
|
01/04/43
|
01/04/43
|
ME 022
|
06/04/43
|
06/04/43
|
24/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
GTX 001
|
unknown
|
04/06/43
|
16/06/43
|
23/06/43
|
KMS 016
|
28/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
20/07/43
|
20/07/43
|
MES 037
|
26/07/43
|
26/07/43
|
03/08/43
|
03/08/43
|
MWF 039
|
03/08/43
|
unknown
|
06/09/43
|
06/09/43
|
TSF 001
|
09/09/43
|
09/09/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)