Ex
USS PHILIP (Type B -
MONTGOMERY-Class) built by Bath Iron Works and
launched 25th July 1919. Build
was completed
on 25th August 1918 for US
naval service. In 1939 the ship
was held in Reserve and the ship was
was
transferred on loan to the
Royal Navy under the 1940 USAK Lease/Lend
Agreement. She commissioned at Halifax into
RN-service on 23 October 1940 as HMS
LANCASTER. Names for the Ex US Navy destroyer
had
been decided and this ship was the sixth RN
warship to bear this name which was
introduced in 1694 for a 2nd Rate. The
last ship to carry the name was an armoured
cruiser launched in 1902 and sold
in 1920. All Ex USN destroyers transferred in
1940 were given names of towns
common to towns in the USA and in the UK or
British Commonwealth. In this case the name of
several towns in the USA and the city of
Lancaster. Following a successful
WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in
March 1942 she was adopted by the
civil community of Lancaster, Lancashire.
B a t t l
e H o n o u r s
MINORCA
1756 - LOUISBURG
1758
-
CAMPERDOWN 1797 -
BUENOS AIRES
1807 - ATLANTIC 1941 - ARCTIC 1942
-
NORTH SEA
1942-43
H e r a l
d i c D a t a
Badge: On
a Field Red, a rose red barbed proper
thereon a lion's face
ducally crowned gold, the crown
charged with a hurt thereon a mullet 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 0
September
Prepared for transfer to RN
10th
Ex US Navy destroyers on loan to be named
after towns common to USA and UK or British
Commonwealth communities
October
Passage to Halifax Nova Scotia,
23rd
Commissioned into RN service as HMS LANCASTER.
November
Passage to UK with call at St Johns Newfoundland.
(Note: Ship was to refit at Portsmouth.)
26th
Arrived at Portsmouth and taken in hand for
refit and modification at Portsmouth.
(Note: Changes made to suit RN deployment as a
convoy escort.)
December
Under refit by HM Dockyard.
(Note: only a limited number of changes
required were completed.)
Nominated for duty with 1st Minelaying
Squadron at Kyle of Lochalsh on completion.
(Note: To be deployed as escort for minelaying
operations and detached when required for
for escort of mercantile convoys in NW
Approaches to and from Iceland.
1 9 4 1
January
11th
Passage to Scapa Flow on completion of post refit trials.
Worked -up at Scapa Flow with ships of Home
Fleet before Joining Squadron as part of 17th
Destroyer Division.
19th
Escorted HM Cruiser Minelayer ADVENTURE and
Auxiliary minelayers for minelay in
Northern Barrage off Cape Wrath covered by
Home Fleet ships (Operation SN15B).
February
5th
Escorted ships of ML1 for minelaying
Operations in Northern Barrage.
(Operation SN7A).
6th
Detached after weather damage and returned to
harbour.
17th
Escorted Auxiliary Minelayers for Northern
Barrage lays in Faeroes Gap covered by Home
Fleet
ships. (Operations SN7B and 68A).
March
19th
Escorted Auxiliary minelayers for further
minelay in Northern Barrage. (Operation SN69).
26th
Escorted Auxiliary Minelayers for continuation
of Northern Barrage minelay covered ships of
Home Fleet (Operation SN4).
April
6th
Escorted Auxiliary Minelayers for continuation
minelay as SN4. (Operation SN8).
May
Detached for Iceland convoy escort.
June
Taken in hand for completion of changes needed
to meet RN requirements
(Note: Stage 2 of refit including fit of radar
and close range AA guns.
For details of development and use of radar by
RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
July
Under refit in commercial shipyards in Humber
shipyard.
August
28th
On completion of post refit trials worked-up
at Scapa Flow.
September
Detached from Squadron after work-up and
deployed for Iceland route convoy escort.
27th
Nominated for escort of military convoy and
took passage to Clyde.:
October
1st
Joined HM Destroyers BADSWORTH, BRADFORD, BRIGHTON and NEWARK in Clyde as
Local Escort for military convoy WS12 during
passage in NW Approaches.
(Note: HM Destroyers ASSINIBOINE (RCN), SIKH,
SAGUENAY (RCN), VERITY,
WHITEHALL, BLANKNEY and STANLEY, HM Cruiser
CAIRO, HM Armed Merchant
Cruiser CATHAY, HM Auxiliary Minelayer
AGAMEMNON also sailed as escorts
from Clyde.
3rd
Detached from WS12 and resumed convoy defence
in NW Approaches.
Resumed Squadron escort duty during Northern
Barrage minelays.
13th
Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayer PORT QUEBEC
for minelay in Butt of Lewis.
(Operation SN24B),
November
28th
Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayer MENESTHEU5
during minelay in NW Approaches.
(Operation SN25B).
December
Deployed with Squadron at Kyle of Lochalsh
Detached for escort of military convoy in NW
Approaches.
:
9th
Joined military convoy WS14 in Clyde with H M
Destroyers BEVERLEY, CROOME, NEWARK,
SHERWOOD, WESTCOTT, WITHERINGTON and HM
Auxiliary AA Ship ULSTER QUEEN
as Local Escort during passage in NW
Approaches.
(Note: HM Destroyers FOXHOUND, GURKHA and
NESTOR also sailed as part of escort)
12th
Detached from WS14 and resumed Squadron
duties.
1 9 4 2
January
Detached for Iceland convoy escort. Resumed
Squadron duties.
February
9th
Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayers MENESTHEUS
and AGAMEMNON during Northern
Barrage minelay in Faeroes area (Operation
SN56).
16th
Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayers MENESTHEUS,
HMS AGAMEMNON and PORT
QUEBEC for minelay in Faeroes-Iceland Gap with
HM Destroyer SOMALI from Home Fleet
(Operation SN85).
28th
Escorted same ships as SN84 in continuation
with HM Destroyers MIDDLETON, WELLS and
SKATE (Operation SN85).
March
15th
Escorted same ships as SN84 in continuation
with HM Destroyers WELLS, ST MARY'S and
LEDBURY covered by Home Fleet ships (Operation
SN 81).
30th
Deployed in continuation of SN81 with HM
Destroyers WELLS and CHARLESTOWN covered
by Home Fleet ships.
Detached on passage to land injured officer
but rejoined escort (Operation SN87).
April
Nominated for escort of military convoy and
took passage to Clyde.
15th
Joined Convoy WS18 with HM Destroyers
BADWORTH, GEORGETOWN, LAUDERDALE
and ST MARYS as Local Escort during passage in
NW Approaches.
19th
Detached from WS18 and took passage to Newport, Man. for refit.
May
Under refit.
June
On completion of post refit trials deployed
for convoy escort.
July
29th
Rejoined Squadron for Northern Barrage minelay
escort.
31st
Escorted auxiliary minelayers for continuation
of minelay in Faeroes - Iceland Gap with HM
Destroyers BRIGHTON, CASTLETON and NEWARK
covered by Home Fleet ships.
.
(Operation SN82).
August
3rd
Detached for convoy defence in NW Approaches.
September
Resumed Squadron escort duty.
2nd
Escorted auxiliary minelayers for minelay in
Denmark Straits with HM Destroyers
BRIGHTON,
NEWARK and CHARLESTOWN covered by Home Fleet
ships (Operation SN89).
15th
Escorted auxiliary minelayers for minelay
south of Faeroes with HM Destroyers
CHARLESTOWN
NEWARK and PUCKERIDGE (Operation SN65A).
(Note: Operation had been delay due to
submarine threat.)
18th
On completion detached for escort of
UK-Gibraltar convoys prior to planned allied
invasion of
North Africa (Operation TORCH).
October
Deployment for Gibraltar convoy escort in
continuation.
30th
Rejoined Squadron for minelaying escort.
November
Escorted all auxiliary minelayers and HMS
ADVENTURE for minelay off Faeroes Bank with HM
Destroyers BRIGHTON, WELLS and CASTLETON
(Operation SN3F).
On completion detached for Atlantic convoy
escort duty
December
Convoy defence in continuation.
1 9 4 3
January
Taken in hand for refit in Belfast.
February
Under refit
to
April
May
Post refit trials and work-up at Tobermory.
23rd
On completion of work-up rejoined Squadron for
minelaying duties.
26th
Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayers PORT QUEBEC,
MENESTHEUS and AGAMEMNON with
HM Destroyers CASTLETON, ST MARY'S and NEWARK
for minelaying operations in Faeroes
Iceland Gap.
(Note: Home Fleet additional escort provided
by HMS BELFAST (Operation SN111B).
June
5th
Deployed in continuation of Faeroes-Iceland
minelay as escort for same ships as SN111B.
(Operation SN111C).
29th
Deployed for escort of Squadron minelayers
during further minelay in NW Approaches with
Squadron destroyers during minelayers in NW
Approaches
(Note: Additional cruiser escort provided by
HMS GLASGOW (Operation SN222A).)
July
Deployed with Squadron at Kyle of Lochalsh.
to
August
September
Transferred to Rosyth Command in anticipation
of disbandment of Squadron.
4th
Provided escort for HM Auxiliary Minelayers
AGAMEMNON, MENESTHEUS and PORT QUEBEC
during final Northern Barrage minelay in
Faeroes-Iceland Gap with HM Destroyers
SARDONYX,
METEOR and SCIMITAR (Operation SN222B).
8th
Transferred to East Coast convoy defence.
October
Deployment for East Coast convoy defence in
continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 4
January
East coast convoy defence in continuation.
25th
Involved in collision with Swedish merchant
ship HEDERA.
February
East Coast convoy defence in continuation
to
August
September
27th
Rescued survivors from sister destroyer HMS
ROCKINGHAM which sank after being mined
off Aberdeen.
October
East coast convoy defence in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 5
January
East coast convoy defence in continuation.
February
Deployed for East Coast convoy defence
Nominated for duty as Air Target Ship after
refit.
March
Remained deployed for convoy defence in North
Sea pending conversion for new role.
to
April
May
Requirement for conversion cancelled.
Paid-off and de-stored
June
Reduced to Reserve status and laid-up
(Note: Laying-up in Forth to be confirmed.)
P o s t W a r N
o t e s
HMS LANCASTER was placed on the Disposal
List after VJ Day
and later placed on the Disposal List
Sold to BISCO for demolition by Hughes Bolcow
at Blyth the ship
arrived at the breaker’s yard in tow on 20th
May 1947.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
LANCASTER
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
10/04/41
|
10/04/41
|
DS
001
|
11/04/41
|
11/04/41
|
14/04/41
|
14/04/41
|
SD
001
|
16/04/41
|
16/04/41
|
23/04/41
|
23/04/41
|
DS
002
|
27/04/41
|
27/04/41
|
28/04/41
|
28/04/41
|
SD
002
|
01/05/41
|
01/05/41
|
10/05/41
|
10/05/41
|
DS
003
|
13/05/41
|
13/05/41
|
15/05/41
|
15/05/41
|
SD
003
|
17/05/41
|
17/05/41
|
21/05/41
|
21/05/41
|
DS
004
|
24/05/41
|
24/05/41
|
27/05/41
|
27/05/41
|
SD
004
|
29/05/41
|
29/05/41
|
05/06/41
|
05/06/41
|
DS
005
|
09/06/41
|
09/06/41
|
16/10/41
|
16/10/41
|
DS
014
|
18/10/41
|
18/10/41
|
19/10/41
|
20/10/41
|
SD
014
|
21/10/41
|
21/10/41
|
30/10/41
|
30/10/41
|
DS
015
|
02/11/41
|
02/11/41
|
03/11/41
|
03/11/41
|
SD
015
|
05/11/41
|
05/11/41
|
12/11/41
|
12/11/41
|
DS
016
|
15/11/41
|
14/11/41
|
17/11/41
|
17/11/41
|
SD
016
|
20/11/41
|
20/11/41
|
28/12/41
|
28/12/41
|
DS
019
|
30/12/41
|
30/12/41
|
01/01/42
|
01/01/42
|
SD
019
|
04/01/42
|
04/01/42
|
01/03/42
|
unknown
|
PQ
012
|
unknown
|
12/03/42
|
02/08/42
|
06/08/42
|
AT
019
|
07/08/42
|
07/08/42
|
16/08/42
|
16/08/42
|
DS
031
|
18/08/42
|
18/08/42
|
22/08/42
|
22/08/42
|
SD
031
|
24/08/42
|
24/08/42
|
16/10/42
|
16/10/42
|
DS
033
|
21/10/42
|
21/10/42
|
25/10/42
|
25/10/42
|
SD
033
|
27/10/42
|
27/10/42
|
08/11/42
|
08/11/42
|
KX
006
|
17/11/42
|
17/11/42
|
18/11/42
|
19/11/42
|
TE
005
|
21/11/42
|
20/11/42
|
21/11/42
|
21/11/42
|
MKS
002
|
22/11/42
|
03/12/42
|
23/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
MKF
003
|
01/12/42
|
03/12/42
|
12/12/42
|
12/12/42
|
DS
035
|
16/12/42
|
16/12/42
|
16/12/42
|
16/12/42
|
SD
035
|
22/12/42
|
22/12/42
|
03/01/43
|
03/01/43
|
KX
008
|
13/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
14/01/43
|
15/01/43
|
MKS
005X
|
17/01/43
|
25/01/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
|