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Type I HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Swan Hunter at Wallsend on 11th April 1939 under the 1939 War Programme. She was laid down as Job No 4117 on 10th August 1939. The ship was launched on 7th June 1940 as the 2nd RN warship to bear the name, that of a fox-hunt in Derbyshire and previously carried by a minesweeper in 1917. Build was completed on 30th December 1940 and she was later adopted by the civil community of Ashbourne, Derbyshire after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in February 1942.

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

ENGLISH CHANNEL 1941-43 - NORTH SEA 1941-45 - ARCTIC 1943 - NORMANDY 1944

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Red, an escallop Gold charged with a fox's mask Red.

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

1 9 4 0

December              (Note: Build completion may have been delayed by priority of repair work on ships damaged

                                during evacuation in Norway and at Dunkirk.)

                                Contractors trials and commissioned for service in 21st Destroyer Flotilla.

                30th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials

1 9 4 1

January                  Passage to Scapa Flow on completion of trials and storing.

                                Worked-up for operational service with ships of Home Fleet at Scapa Flow.

February                Passage to Sheerness to join Flotilla.

                3rd          Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayer TEVIOT BANK during lay of part of East Coast

                                Barrier (Operation BS50 - See Naval Staff History MINING).

                7th          Commenced convoy escort and interception patrol duties with Flotilla in North Sea.

March                    Convoy escort and patrol duties in continuation.

to                            (Note: During this period a 20mm Bofors Mounting was fitted in bow structure for defence

December              against E-Boat attacks on convoys. This was a common feature in ships deployed for

                                North Sea convoy defence.)

1 9 4 2

January                  North Sea Convoy escort and patrol in support of Light Coastal Forces craft.

to

December

1 9 4 3

January                  Deployed for North Sea convoy defence and interception patrols.

                                Nominated for duty with Home Fleet.

February                Detached for Home Fleet service.

                15th        Joined Western Local escort for Russian Convoy JW33 with HM Escort Destroyers

                                MIDDLETON and PYTCHLEY.

                                (For 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).

                21st         Detached from JW53 on arrival of Ocean Escort.

March                    Home Fleet service in continuation.

                9th          Joined return Convoy RA53 with HMS PYTCHLEY as Local Western escort.

                13th        Detached from RA53 on arrival at Loch Ewe.

                14th        Resumed North Sea convoy escort and patrol with Flotilla.

May                        Deployed in North Sea and Channel for convoy defence and patrol.

to                            (For details of East Coast operations see THE BATTLE OF THE NARROW SEAS by P.

December              Scott and THE BATTLE OF THE EAST COAST by J P Foynes.).

1 9 4 4

January                  Convoy defence and patrol in continuation.

February

                25th        In action against E-Boats off Great Yarmouth In defence of convoy.

March                    Convoy defence in continuation

April                       Nominated for escort of convoys for planned allied landings in Normandy as part

to                            of Force L (Operation NEPTUNE)

May                        Continued East Coast mercantile convoy escort and interception patrol

                                For details of naval activities prior to and during NEPTUNE see OPERATION

                                NEPTUNE by K Edwards, LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO)

                                and for full listing of all ships taking part D DAY SHIPS by J de Winser.).

June                        Joined HM Escort Destroyer GARTH, HM Corvettes CAMELLIA and CHARLOCK

                                in Nore Assembly area to form Escort Group 101.

                6th          Deployed as escort for Follow-up Convoy ETM1 with Escort Group.

                                (Note: Convoy comprised 9 Landing Craft Infantry (Large) and 12 MT Ships.)

                7th          Returned to Nore after arrival of convoy at Lowering position.

                8th          Escort duty to Beach Head from Nore in continuation during Build-up Phase.

July

                5th          Rejoined Flotilla when released from NEPTUNE.

                10th        Resumed North Sea convoy defence and patrol duties with Flotilla

August                  Convoy defence and patrol in continuation.

to

September

October

                31st         Grounded and sustained major damage to starboard shaft, propeller and A-Bracket.

November              Taken in hand for repair at commercial shipyard in London.

December              Under repair.

1 9 4 5

January                  Under repair.

to

February

March                    On completion of post refit trials rejoined Flotilla at Sheerness.

                                Deployed for convoy defence and interception patrol

                                (Note: In this period extensive minelaying was being carried out by surface craft and

                                and submarines. In addition Schnorkel-fitted U-Boats were concentrating attacks

                                on coastal convoys. See HOLD THE NARROW SEA. Atlantic convoys had been re-

                                routed through Channel.).

April                       Flotilla duties in continuation.

to                            Nominated for duty as an Air Target Ship.

May                        (Note: Ship may have Paid off after VE Day in view of the manning shortages

                                affecting provision of crews for new construction preparing for foreign

                                service.)

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

HMS MEYNELL was another of the ‘unsung’ heroines of the North Sea and her service received scant public recognition, Many convoys arrived without loss and at all times the dangers of weather and navigation in shallow coastal waters were faced, apart from surface attacks by E-Boats. The ship  was disarmed and converted for use as an Air Target Ship at Rosyth in September 1945. After conversion she served in the Mediterranean until 1947 when Paid-off and reduced to Reserve status at Sheerness. Later she was transferred to Harwich and later laid-up at Barrow. Placed on the Sales List the ship was sold to Ecuador in 1954. Re-named PRESIDENTS VELASCO IBARRA in 1955 following a refit by J S White at Cowes she served for 20 years in the Ecuadorian Navy until scrapped in 1978.

Addendum

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS MEYNELL

by Don Kindell

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

(Note on Convoys)