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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 PYTCHLEY (L 92) - Type I, Hunt-class Escort Destroyer including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Whaddon, Type 1 sister-ship (Photo Ships, click to enlarge)

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Type I HUNT Class Escort Destroyer ordered from Scotts of Greenock on 11 April 1939 under the 1939 Build Programme and laid down as Job No J1111 on 26th July 1939. The ship was launched on 13th February 1940 as the the 2nd RN warship to carry the name, that of a fox-hunt in Northamptonshire. It had previously been used for minesweeper built in 1917 and sold in 1932. Build was completed on 23rd October 1940. In March 1942 she was appropriately adopted by the civil community of the Municipal Borough of Kettering following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ENGLISH CHANNEL 1942-44 - NORTH   SEA 1942-45 - ARCTIC 1943 - NORMANDY 1944

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

 Badge: On a Field Red two hunting  horns in saltire

and a mascle in fret, all 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

 

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

                23rd        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials

 

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

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

                                Escorted ss ADDA to Faeroes.

 

December              Joined Flotilla at Sheerness and deployed for convoy defence in North Sea.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  North sea convoy escort and patrol duty in continuation.

to                            (For details of North Sea convoy defence see THREE CORVETTES by N Monsarrat and

May                        THE BATTLE OF THE EAST COAST by J P Foynes.)

 

June                        Deployed with HM Destroyer VORTIGERN as escort for convoy northbound FN83.

                21st         Activated ground mine off Flamborough Head and sustained major structural damage below

                                Stabiliser Compartment.

                                Lost all power and totally disabled.

                                (Note: There were no casualties)

                                Taken in tow by HMS VORTIGERN

                                Repair arranged at Tyne commercial shipyard.

 

July                         Under repair.

to

November

 

December              Carried out post refit trials on completion of shipyard work.

                                Passage to resume Flotilla duties.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Deployed in North Sea and English Channel for patrol and convoy escort.

to                            For details of activities in coastal areas see HOLD THE NARROW SEA by Peter C.

December              Smith and THE BATTLE OF THE NARROW SEAS by Peter Scott).

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Channel and North Sea deployment in continuation

 

February                Detached for Russian convoy escort with Home Fleet ships.

                                Passage to Scapa Flow.

                15th        Joined Western Local Escort for initial stage of passage of Russian Convoy JW53 with sister

                                escort destroyers HMS MIDDLETON and HMS MENDIP.

                21st         Detached from JW53 after arrival of Ocean Escort for passage to North Russia.

 

March                    Home Fleet deployment in continuation.

                9th          Joined return convoy RA53 from Murmansk with HM Destroyer VIVACIOUS, HM Escort

                                Destroyers LEDBURY and MEYNELL as Western Local Escort.

                13th        Detached from RA 53 and returned to Scapa Flow.

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

                                CONVOY! by P Kemp, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield and ARCTIC CONVOYS

                                by R Woodman.)

 

April                       Resumed duty with Flotilla at Sheerness for coastal convoy escort

 

May                        North Sea and Channel escort and patrol in continuation.

to

September

 

October                  Deployed as escort for northbound Convoy FN160 with HM Destroyers WORCESTER,

                                CAMPBELL, MACKAY and HM Escort Destroyer EGLINTON.

                24th        In action against E-Boats from Ijmuiden with other escorts supported by MTBs and MGBs of

                to            Light Coastal Forces.

                25th        Two E-Boats were sunk.

                                (Note: This was a major German attempt to intercept East Coast shipping

                                For details see BATTLE OF THE NARROW SEAS by P Scott).

 

November              North Sea and Channel Flotilla duties in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Deployed for convoy defence and patrol in North Sea.

to

April

 

May                        Nominated for duty with Force G in Eastern Task Force during planned allied landings in

                                Normandy.

                                (Operation NEPTUNE – For details of naval activities before and during operation see

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

                                for  information relating to all ships involved D DAY SHIPS by J de Winser.)

                3rd          Final rehearsal by all assault Forces including assault landings at Hayling Island. by Force G.

                to            (Exercise FABIUS).

                6th

                18th        Took part in Defence exercise by Forces S, G and J off Brighton.

                20th        Deployed in Solent to prepare for NEPTUNE.

 

June                        Joined HM Destroyers JERVIS, GRENVILLE, URSA, ULSTER, UNDAUNTED, URCHIN,

                                UNDINE, URANIA and ULYSSES, HM Escort Destroyers CATTISTOCK, COTTESMORE and

                                Polish Escort Destroyer ORP KRAKOWIAK for support during assault on GOLD Beach.

                5th          Sailed from Solent through swept channel as escort for Convoy G2 with HM Escort Destroyer

                                COTTESMORE and Three Motor Launches.

                6th          Arrived at Lowering Position.

                7th          Deployed in Eastern Task Force area for patrol and escort duties.

                27th        On release from NEPTUNE resumed coastal convoy escort and patrol duty in North Sea with

                                Flotilla.

 

July                         Flotilla escort and patrol deployments in continuation..

to

December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Deployed with Flotilla for escort duties and interception of minelaying craft in Thames Estuary

to                            (Note: Extensive enemy minelaying was carried out against convoy traffic and attacks by

April                       Schnorkel-fitted submarines on coastal convoys

                                See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann

                                and HOLD THE NARROW SEA.)

 

May                        After VE Day deployed in Home Waters for support of reoccupation by the allied forces in

                                NW Europe.

 

June                        Home Waters duties in continuation.

to

August

  

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS PYTCHLEY remained in commission until August 1946 when she was Paid-off and reduced to Reserve status. Initially laid-up at Devonport she was later transferred to Cardiff where she was de-equipped after being placed on the Disposal List in 1956. Sold to BISCO for demolition by E Rees at Llanelli she arrived at the breaker’s yard on 1st December 1956.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS PYTCHLEY

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

 

 

 

 

 

22/12/40

22/12/40

FS 0368

25/12/40

25/12/40

29/01/41

30/01/41

FS 0399

31/01/41

31/01/41

02/02/41

02/02/41

FN 0398

04/02/41

04/02/41

17/10/42

17/10/42

CW 127

18/10/42

18/10/42

10/12/42

10/12/42

CW 140

11/12/42

11/12/42

15/02/43

15/02/43

JW 053

21/02/43

27/02/43

01/03/43

09/03/43

RA 053

13/03/43

14/03/43

31/03/43

31/03/43

CW 167

01/04/43

01/04/43

02/04/43

02/04/43

CE 165

03/04/43

03/04/43

26/05/43

26/05/43

CW 181

27/05/43

27/05/43

28/05/43

28/05/43

CE 179

29/05/43

29/05/43

12/06/43

12/06/43

CW 185

13/06/43

13/06/43

20/06/43

24/06/43

KMS 018A

29/06/43

29/06/43

27/06/43

27/06/43

WP 361

29/06/43

29/06/43

01/07/43

01/07/43

WP 363

03/07/43

03/07/43

11/07/43

11/07/43

WP 368

13/07/43

13/07/43

17/07/43

17/07/43

WP 371

19/07/43

19/07/43

29/07/43

29/07/43

WP 377

31/07/43

31/07/43

10/08/43

11/08/43

WP 383

11/08/43

12/08/43

18/08/43

18/08/43

CW 202

19/08/43

19/08/43

19/08/43

19/08/43

CE 200

20/08/43

20/08/43

15/10/43

15/10/43

CE 214

16/10/43

16/10/43

14/10/43

15/10/43

CW 216

15/10/43

15/10/43

14/11/43

14/11/43

CW 224

15/11/43

15/11/43

15/11/43

15/11/43

CE 222

16/11/43

16/11/43

12/12/42

12/12/43

CE 138

12/12/42

14/12/42

26/01/44

26/01/44

CW 242

27/01/44

27/01/44

19/02/44

19/02/44

CW 248

20/02/44

20/02/44

20/02/44

20/02/44

CE 246

21/02/44

21/02/44

31/03/44

31/03/44

CW 258

01/04/44

01/04/44

01/04/44

01/04/44

CE 256

02/04/44

02/04/44

21/07/44

21/07/44

FTM 044

21/07/44

22/07/44

16/12/44

16/12/44

TAM 020

17/12/44

17/12/44

17/12/44

17/12/44

ATM 016

18/12/44

18/12/44

21/12/44

21/12/44

ATM 018

22/12/44

22/12/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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revised 13/8/11
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