Type
I HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered from
John
Brown, Clydebank under 1939. Programme on 21st
March 1939. The ship was laid down on 8th June
that year and
launched on 14th February 1940 as the 2nd RN
warship to carry the name, that of a fox-hunt
in Wales. She was
completed on the 1st July 1940. In February
1942 after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National
Savings campaign this
Escort Destroyer was adopted by the
civil
community of Wokingham
in
Berkshire.
B
a t t l e H
o n o u r s
NORTH
SEA 1941-45 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1942-44 - DIEPPE
1942 - NORMANDY
1944
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field
Red. a
Pendant
from
a cross-crosslet
fitchy
White
a bugle horn stringed 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
0
June
Contractor's sea trials and commissioned for
service in 21st Destroyer Flotilla.
July
1st
Build completion and commenced Acceptance
Trials
On completion of trials and storing took
passage to work-up at Scapa Flow.
August
5th
Deployed with HM Cruiser CALCUTTA, HM Escort
Destroyer BERKELEY and two Home
Fleet destroyers as escort for ships of 1st
Minelaying Squadron during lay of minefield in
SW
Approaches to Irish Sea (Operation SN32).
8th
Joined 21st Destroyer Flotilla at Sheerness
for convoy defence in
North Sea and
English
Channel.
Nominated to join Force A for an attack by
fireships on Channel ports.
(Operation LUCID)
(Note: This was later aborted).
During later escort of convoy in Straits of
Dover laid smoke screen for its protection
against
bombardment by shore batteries in France.
Carried out anti-invasion patrols in Channel
area.
31st
Deployed with ships
of 5th Destroyer Flotilla after loss of HM
Destroyer E3C during a
disastrous
attempt to lay minefield off Dutch (Operation
CBX5).
Sighted HM Destroyer IVANHOE which was damaged
and adrift.
Provided anti-submarine protection for HM
Destroyer KELVIN which was towing HM Destroyer
EXPRESS, also damaged by mine.
Remained in company with HMS KELLY until tug
ST CYRUS
arrived.
For details of the losses and damage see Naval
Staff History (Mining).
September
Resumed Flotilla duties for East Coast convoy
defence.
30th
Detached for escort of HM Monitor EREBUS
during bombardment of
Calais.
October
Convoy defence and patrol duties with Flotilla
in continuation.
15th
Detached for escort of HMS EREBUS during
bombardment of
Dunkirk.
November
Resumed convoy defence and patrol on
completion.
During defence of East Coast convoy with HM
Destroyer CAMPBELL sank E-Boat S38
off
Southwold.
(Note: This was the first E-Boat sunk during
an attack on a UK coastal convoy.)
December
1st
Damaged after
detonating ground mine in Thames Estuary
Taken in hand for repair.
1 9 4
1
January
On completion of repair rejoined Flotilla for
convoy defence duty.
February
East coast convoy defence in continuation.
March
Sustained considerable structural underwater
damage by running aground
Taken in hand for repair in London commercial
shipyard.
April
Under repair.
May
On completion transferred to Rosyth Escort
Force for escort of East Coast convoys.
June
Rosyth escort duties in continuation.
to
July
August
Returned to Sheerness and deployed with
Flotilla for convoy defence.
September
Convoy defence in North Sea in continuation.
to
(For details of North Sea convoy defence see
NORTH
SEA CORVETTE by N Monsarrat
October
THE BATTLE FOR THE NARROW SEAS by P Scott and
THE BATTLE OF THE EAST
COAST by J P Foynes.).
November
Damaged in Boiler Boom by 40mm shell fired
from a British destroyer.
(Note: This may have been in defence of a
convoy during an engagement with E-Boats.)
Taken in hand for repair.
December
On completion of repair rejoined Flotilla and
resumed convoy defence duties.
1 9 4
2
January
Convoy escort and patrol in North Sea in continuation.
to
March
April
Detached for duty at Harwich with 21st
Destroyer Flotilla for convoy defence in
North
Sea.
May
East coast convoy escort in continuation.
June
Nominated for support of allied raid at Dieppe
(Operation JUBILEE).
to
Remained at Harwich for convoy escort duty.
July
August
Rejoined 21st Destroyer Flotilla a Sheerness
for convoy escort until detached
to take part in Dieppe raid
Passage to Portsmouth to take part in
preparatory exercises for JUBILEE.
18th
Part of escort for landing craft during
passage to
Dieppe.
19th
Provided naval gunfire support during landings
on BLUE Beach.
20th
Deployed to cover passage of surviving craft
from
Dieppe.
(Note: This operation proved disastrous with
many lives lost and much equipment.
It had been expected by the German garrison.
The only gain was the exposure
of the many weaknesses. It therefore enabled
improvements to be made in the
planning of the later NEPTUNE operation in
June 1944.
For details see Naval Staff History and THE
WATERY MAZE by B Ferguson).
September
Resumed convey defence duties with Flotilla at
Harwich.
October
Deployed for escort of North Sea convoys.
to
December
1 9 4
3
January
Convoy defence duty In continuation.
February
During escort of North Sea convoy with HM
Destroyer MONTROSE
17th
In action against
E-Boats attacking a
convoy off
Yarmouth.
Sank E-Boat S71 by ramming after gun
engagement.
March
North Sea convoy defence in continuation.
to
April
May
Detached to provide cover for minelaying
operation off Sark by Motor Launches of Light
Coastal Forces
(Note: This was part of the HOSTILE series of
operations prior to Normandy landings.)
June
Channel and North See convoy escort and patrol
duties (See HOLD THE NARROW SEA
to
by P Smith).
December
(Note: Manning's Listing of Battle Hours gives
ARCTIC 1943 but this is not included
in later records stated to be from official
sources.)
1 9 4
4
January
Convoy escort and patrol with Flotilla in
continuation.
February
5th
Towed damaged Escort Carrier HMS SLINGER back
to Sheerness after she was mined on
passage from Sheerness to Clyde.
22nd
During defence of East Coast convoy, in action
against E-Boats with HM Escort Destroyer
SOUTHDOWN and two Motor Torpedo Boats off
Smith's Knoll
(Note: In this engagement E-Boats S94 and S128
collided and sank.)
March
East Coast convoy escort in continuation.
April
Nominated for support of planned allied
landings in Normandy
(Operation NEPTUNE – For details of naval
activities before and during assault see
LANDINGS
IN NORMANDY June 1944 (HMSO), OPERATION
NEPTUNE by K Edwards and D DAY
SHIPS by J de Winser for details of all ships
involved.)
Allocated for duty in Escort Group 101 based
at the Nore after initial assault phase.
May
East Coast convoy defence in continuation.
June
Passage to Thames.
6th
Detached for escort of Convoy ETM1 and Joined
HM Destroyer MEYNELL, HM Corvettes
CAMELLIA and CHARLOCK in Thames Estuary.
Sailed with 12 Motor Transport Slips and five
Landing Ship (Tank) as Convoy ETM1 to
Solent.
Two MULBERRY Control Ships joined off Selsea
Bill and 12 Landing Craft,
Infantry (Large)
on arrival off Isle of Wight.
7th
Arrived in Eastern Task Force Area and
detached to return to Nore.
9th
Deployed with Escort Group for Follow-up
convoys.
Resumed East Coast Convoy escort duty after
release from NEPTUNE.
July
Convoy defence and patrol duty in
continuation.
August
Flotilla deployment in continuation.
to
Nominated for support of allied landing
operation on Walcheren.
September
October
1st
Provided Naval
Gunfire Support for
Walcheren landings with HM Escort Destroyer
COTTESMORE
(Operation INFATUATE).
16th
Embarked HM King George VI for passage from
Ostend to Dover.
November
Flotilla deployment on convoy defence and
patrol in continuation.
December
Under repair.
1 9 4
5
January
On completion resumed convoy escort and patrol
duty in North Sea with Flotilla.
February
21st
In action against
E-Boats which successfully attacked East
Coast convoy
(Note: Two mercantiles in convoy were sunk.).
March
North Sea deployment in continuation.
14th
Sank midget
submarine off Orfordness and captured of
crew.
April
Flotilla deployment in Nore Command for convoy
defence and interception patrol.
May
Deployed in Nore Command in support of
re-occupation operations.
25th
Embarked British Ambassador to Netherlands for
passage to Rotterdam.
June
Nore Local Flotilla deployment in
continuation.
to
August
P
o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS
GARTH
remained in Nore
Command until Paid off and reduced to
Reserve status at Sheerness in December 1945
for use as an Accommodation Ship.
When Sheerness Division, Reserve Fleet closed
the ship was transferred to
Harwich and later to Barrow. Placed on the
Disposal List in 1958 she was sold
to BISCO for demolition by T W Ward at Barrow
and arrived in tow at the
breakers’ yard on 15th August that year. Her
scrap value was £19,000 after
deduction of break-up costs, compared with
build cost of about £150,000.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS GARTH
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
25/08/40
|
25/08/40
|
FN
0262
|
27/08/40
|
27/08/40
|
13/11/40
|
13/11/40
|
FN
0333
|
15/11/40
|
15/11/40
|
28/12/40
|
28/12/40
|
FN
0370
|
30/12/40
|
30/12/40
|
07/01/41
|
07/01/41
|
FS
0381
|
09/01/41
|
09/01/41
|
15/01/41
|
15/01/41
|
FS
0388
|
17/01/41
|
17/01/41
|
11/10/42
|
11/10/42
|
CW
126
|
12/10/42
|
12/10/42
|
24/11/42
|
24/11/42
|
CW
136
|
25/11/42
|
25/11/42
|
25/11/42
|
25/11/42
|
CE
134
|
26/11/42
|
26/11/42
|
18/12/42
|
18/12/42
|
CW
142
|
19/12/42
|
19/12/42
|
19/12/42
|
19/12/42
|
CE
140
|
20/12/42
|
20/12/42
|
02/02/43
|
02/02/43
|
CW
153
|
03/02/43
|
03/02/43
|
03/02/43
|
03/02/43
|
CE
151
|
04/02/43
|
04/02/43
|
08/04/43
|
08/04/43
|
CW
169
|
09/04/43
|
09/04/43
|
09/04/43
|
09/04/43
|
CE
167
|
10/04/43
|
10/04/43
|
18/05/43
|
18/05/43
|
CW
179
|
19/05/43
|
19/05/43
|
19/05/43
|
19/05/43
|
CE
177
|
20/05/43
|
20/05/43
|
22/05/43
|
22/05/43
|
CW
180
|
23/05/43
|
23/06/43
|
25/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
PW
344
|
27/05/43
|
27/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
WP
347
|
01/06/43
|
01/06/43
|
02/06/43
|
02/06/43
|
PW
348
|
04/06/43
|
04/06/43
|
05/06/43
|
05/06/43
|
WP
350
|
07/06/43
|
07/06/43
|
08/06/43
|
08/06/43
|
CE
182
|
09/06/43
|
09/06/43
|
23/06/43
|
23/06/43
|
CW
188
|
24/06/43
|
24/06/43
|
24/06/43
|
24/06/43
|
CE
186
|
25/06/43
|
25/06/43
|
09/07/43
|
09/07/43
|
CW
192
|
10/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
CE
190
|
11/07/43
|
11/07/43
|
06/08/43
|
06/08/43
|
CW
199
|
07/08/43
|
07/08/43
|
07/08/43
|
07/08/43
|
CE
197
|
08/08/43
|
08/08/43
|
26/08/43
|
26/08/43
|
CW
204
|
27/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
CE
202
|
28/08/43
|
28/08/43
|
03/09/43
|
03/09/43
|
CW
206
|
05/09/43
|
05/09/43
|
09/09/43
|
09/09/43
|
CE
205
|
10/09/43
|
10/09/43
|
10/01/44
|
10/01/44
|
CW
238
|
11/01/44
|
11/01/44
|
11/01/44
|
11/01/44
|
CE
236
|
12/01/44
|
12/01/44
|
06/06/44
|
06/06/44
|
ETM
001
|
07/06/44
|
07/06/44
|
11/06/44
|
11/06/44
|
ETM
006
|
12/06/44
|
12/06/44
|
12/06/44
|
12/06/44
|
FTM
005
|
13/06/44
|
13/06/44
|
15/06/44
|
15/06/44
|
ETM
010
|
16/06/44
|
16/06/44
|
17/06/44
|
17/06/44
|
FTM
010
|
18/06/44
|
18/06/44
|
23/06/44
|
23/06/44
|
ETM
015
|
24/06/44
|
24/06/44
|
28/06/44
|
28/06/44
|
ETM
020
|
29/06/44
|
29/06/44
|
30/06/44
|
30/06/44
|
FTM
023
|
01/07/44
|
01/07/44
|
05/07/44
|
05/07/44
|
FTM
028
|
06/07/44
|
06/07/44
|
08/07/44
|
08/07/44
|
ETM
030
|
09/07/44
|
09/07/44
|
13/07/44
|
13/07/44
|
ETM
035
|
14/07/44
|
14/07/44
|
15/07/44
|
15/07/44
|
FTM
038
|
16/07/44
|
16/07/44
|
04/12/44
|
04/12/44
|
TAM
008
|
05/12/44
|
05/12/44
|
10/12/44
|
10/12/44
|
TAM
014
|
13/12/44
|
13/12/44
|
11/12/44
|
11/12/44
|
ATM
010
|
12/12/44
|
12/12/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
|