C-Class
Destroyer
ordered from Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow under
the revised 1930 Build Programme
On 9th July 1930. This ship was laid down as
Yard No 667 on 1st December 1930 and named HMS
CYGNET on 29th September 1930 when launched on
the same date as her sister ship HMS CRESCENT,
also laid down on the same date
in 1930. She was the 19th RN ship to carry
this name, introduced for a Pinnace
built in 1585 and which served in the
engagement with the Spanish Armada in
1588- Build was completed on 1st April
1932 and the ship was used for a series of
propeller trials to compare the
performance of an Aerofoil design propellers
with that of the standard
Admiralty design. The results showed that the
Admiralty propellers gave a 2
knot advantage in speed during the six hour
trial. The ship then joined the 2nd
Destroyer Flotilla, Hone Fleet and visited the
West Indies. Later in 1935 she was detached
for duty in the Red Sea for six months after
the Italian invasion of Abyssinia. The ship
carried
out Non-intervention patrol duty in the Bay of
Biscay after return to UK and later was
replaced in the
Flotilla by the new destroyer HMS HUNTER. She
was put in Reserve at the Nore on 30th
September 1936. This destroyer was transferred
to the Royal Canadian Navy and commissioned as
HMCS ST LAURENT on 17th February 1937 at
Chatham after a refit. She arrived at Halifax
on April 8th and remained there
for a year until transferred to Esquimalt for
service in the Pacific. In September 1939 she
took up her war station at Halifax.
B a t t l
e H o n o u r s a
s H M S C Y G N E T
CADIZ
1587 - ARMADA 1588 - PORTLAND 1653
- HAVANA 1762 - GUADALOUPE
1810 - ALEXANDRIA 1882 -
SUAKIN 1884 - SICILY 1943+ -
ATLANTIC 1943-44+ - ARCTIC 1944-45+
(+ Awarded to HM Sloop CYGNET)
H e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Black a
Cygnet Silver on wavelets Gold and blue.
D
e t a i l s o f
W a r S e r v i c e a
s H M C S
S T L A U R E N T
(for more ship
information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and
type name in Site Search)
1
9 3 9
August
During
deployment at Esquimalt nominated for war
service at Halifax.
September
Passage to Halifax.
3rd - In transit of Panama Canal.
15th - Deployed at Halifax for convoy defence.
October
Local
escort duties based at Halifax in
continuation. Joined HM
Battleship REVENGE, HM Cruisers EMERALD,
ENTERPRISE and CARADOC during Atlantic
passage for escort to Halifax. (Note: These
British ships were carrying gold
bullion to Canada for custody.)
November to
December
Halifax deployment for Atlantic convoy defence
in continuation.
1
9 4 0
January to
April
Deployed
at Halifax for Atlantic convoy defence.
May
Nominated
for transfer to UK for service in Western
Approaches.
24th
- Took passage from Halifax to Plymouth.
31st - Joined Western Approaches Command at Plymouth.
June
Deployed
for support of evacuation of British and
allied troops and
civilians from Bay of Biscay ports (Operation
AERIAL). On release from AERIAL
transferred to Clyde for Atlantic convoy defence
in
the NW Approaches and joined screen for HM
Battleship NELSON.
July
Detached
in response to SOS from mercantile.
2nd
- Took part in rescue of 860 survivors from ss
ARANDORA STAR torpedoed and sunk earlier by
U47. (Note: U47 was commanded by
Otto Prien who
had sunk HM Battleship ROYAL OAK in a
daring attack inside Scapa Flow on 14th
October 1939.)
August
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
September
4th - Rescued survivors from ss
TITAN torpedoed in NW Approaches.
October
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
6th
- Deployed as Local Escort for military convoy
WS3B (Fast) off
Liverpool with HM Destroyer DOUGLAS for
passage to assembly point in Clyde
area.
18th
- Part of Local Escort for military convoy
WS4B with H M Destroyers
HIGHLANDER, OTTAWA (RCN), SAGUENAY (RCN) and
SKEENA (RCN) for passage in NW Approaches.
20th - Detached from WS4B with Local Escort and
returned to Clyde.
November
Atlantic
convoy
defence in
continuation.
December
2nd
- Rescued survivors from tanker CONCH (on
charter to the Admiralty)
and HM Armed Merchant Cruiser FORFAR both of
which had been torpedoed by
submarine attacks. (Note: Tanker had been with
Convoy HX90. HM Destroyer
VISCOUNT also took part in rescue work.)
19th - Joined HM Destroyers KELVIN, KIPLING, OTTAWA
(RCN), Polish ORP PIORUN and Free French LE
TRIOMPHANTE as Local Escort in
during passage in N W Approaches for
military convoy WS5A.
22nd - Detached from WS5A with Local Escort and
returned to Clyde. (Note: This convoy came under attack on 25th by
German commerce raider and had to disperse.)
1
9 4 1
January
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
February
Joined
HM Destroyers ATHERSTONE, COTTESMORE and
KEPPEL in Local Escort
for WS6A military convoy with HM Destroyer
RESTIGOUCHE (RCN). Detached from
WS6A with Polish Destroyer, ORP PIORUN and
above Local Escort. Returned to
Clyde.
March
Taken
in hand for refit at Halifax.
April to June
Under refit.
Nominated for transfer to
Newfoundland Escort Force on completion of
refit.
July
Post
refit trials and passage to St Johns.
14th
- Joined 14th Escort Group for escort of
convoys to and from
Mid-Ocean Meeting Point.
August to November
Atlantic
convoy defence
based at St Johns. (For
details of U-Boat deployments, weapons and
tactics used in the Battle of the
Atlantic see BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D MacIntyre,
SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann,
U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO) and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C
Blair.)
December
Transferred
to 2nd Canadian Escort Group in continuation.
1
9 4 2
January to
March
Deployed
with Group for Atlantic convoy defence.
April
to July
Under refit at Halifax.
(Note: Surface warning radar
Type 271 was fitted. See RADAR AT SEA by D.
Hawse for details of development
and use of radar in RN. Fire-control Radar
Type285 fitted for main armament.)
Transferred
to 1st Canadian
Escort Group.
August
9th
- On completion of Post Refit Trials joined
Group at St Johns,
Newfoundland for defence
of Atlantic convoys.
September to October
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation with Group. (Note: Convoys SC99, CN133 and HX211 were escorted by
Group.)
November
Passage from Iceland with ships of Group tin convoy
ONSS3 for escort from mid-Atlantic to
Newfoundland.
Sustained structural
damage in heavy weather south of Iceland.
11th
- Took over escort duty from British 4th
Escort Group. (Note: Group
escorted Convoys SC110 without loss and ON143
with 1 ship sunk.)
December
Part
of escort for Convoy ONS154 from Mid Ocean
Meeting Point with HM
Canadian Corvettes BATTLEFORD, CHILLIWACK,
KENOGAMI, NAPANEE and SHEDIAC. (Note:
HM Special Service Ship FIDELITY (Ex French ss
LE
RHIN) was deployed as part of this convoy to
act as a Decoy. See HITLER'S
U-BOAT WAR Volume 2 by C Blair.)
26th - Convoy under attacks by U-Boats of SPITZ Group.
Three mercantiles
sunk and one damaged
28th
- Further sustained U-Boat attacks by SPITZ
and UNGSTEM Groups. Intercepted
U356 on surface and attacked with depth
charges.
Submarine was sunk in position 45.30N 25.40W
after two attacks. There were no
survivors. (See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.
Note: Sinking
of U356 was not firmly established until after
May 1945. It was the only
submarine sunk in defence
of this convoy.)
29th
- Escort reinforced by HM Destroyers MILNE and
METEOR. U-Boat
attacks continued.
30th
- HM Destroyer FAME joined and took over
command of the Escort. HMS
FIDELITY sunk by U435 during the continued
onslaught of the attacking U-Boat
Groups. (Note: Commander G. Windmeyer,
RCN had
collapsed from exhaustion.)
31st
- U-Boat Groups withdrew. (Note: 14 mercantiles
were sunk during passage of ONS154. Following
this disastrous episode three of
the RCN Escort Groups were
given training at Tobermory
used for working-up all RN escorts.)
1
9 4 3
January to March
Deployment with Group for Atlantic convoy defence
in continuation.
Group escorted Convoy HX222
with loss of 1 ship.
April
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation including escort of Convoy
SC127.
May
Deployed
with HMCS ST CROIX, HM Frigate ITCHEN and
three RCN corvettes
for the escort of Convoy ON184.
21st - Convoy under attacks by MOSEL Group of U-Boats.
Support for convoy was
being provided by US aircraft carrier USS
BOGUE and US Navy destroyers of 6th Support
Group. Forced two submarines
to submerge with USS OSMOND INGRAM.
22nd
- Detached from ON184 after U569
had been
attacked by US Navy aircraft. Found
submarine sinking
and rescued 24 German survivors. (See
U-BOATS DESTROYED and HITLER'S
U-BOAT WAR for details. Note: U569 was the
first submarine to be sunk by
aircraft from a USN Support Group CVE deployed
in North Atlantic for convoy defence.)
June to
July
Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.
August
Passage to Dartmouth, Nova
Scotia for refit.
17th - Taken in hand for refit.
September to November
Under refit.
December
Passage to Londonderry after post refit
trials.
Resumed service with Group for Atlantic convoy
defence.
1
9 4 4
January to
February
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
March
Part
of escort for Convoy SC154 with HM Destroyer
FORESTER, HM Canadian
Frigate SWANSEA, HM Canadian Corvette OWEN
SOUND and three other RCN corvettes
of 1st Canadian Escort Group.
10th - Detached from SC154 to assist mercantile and
sighted U845 on surface. Carried out attacks on submerged submarine using
depth charges and HEDGEHOG. Remained in
immediate area
as these were unsuccessful. When U845 finally
surfaced, engaged with main and
secondary armament. Submarine abandoned and
sank before boarding possible. 34
of submarine crew were rescued by escorts.
(Note: 119
rounds of 4in and over 2,000 rounds of smaller
calibre
were fired. Radar Type 285 outfit
was used for main
armament fire-control. See RADAR AT SEA and
above references for details.)
April
to May
Atlantic
convoy defence
deployment with Group
in continuation. Nominated for transfer to
11th Escort Group for support of
planned allied landings in Normandy. Joined
Group based at Plymouth. (Operation
NEPTUNE - See OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards
for details.)
June
Deployed
with HM Canadian Destroyers CHAUDIERE,
GATINEAU, KOOTENAY and OTTAWA
in SW Approaches to prevent U-Boat attacks on
Assault convoys to beachhead. (Note:
Ten Support Groups with aircraft from RAF
Coastal Command took part in this
extensive deployment. See LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, JUNE 1944 (HMSO).)
July
Deployed
with Group in Bay of Biscay for anti-submarine
operations to
support passage of convoys and prevent transit
of U-Boats.
August
Bay of Biscay operations in continuation.
8th
- Under attack by glider bomb
which was
unsuccessful.
13th
- Rescued some of the 71 survivors from U270
sunk earlier in attack
by depth charges from SUNDERLAND aircraft.
(Note: Submarine was evacuating
German personnel from Lorient. The survivors
were rescued by this ship and HMCS
OTTAWA. See above
references.)
September to October
Western
Approaches convoy support in continuation with
Group. Incidence
of defects increased and nominated for return
to Canada for refit.
November
Took
passage to Halifax for repair and refit. Taken
in hand for repair
at Shelburne, Nova Scotia.
December
Under repair.
1
9 4 5
January to February
Under repair.
Nominated for Local Escort duty
at Halifax on completion.
March
20th - Post Refit Trials.
April
Deployed
with Halifax Escort Force for convoy defence
off American East coast. Nominated for duty to
carry returning Canadian
servicemen from UK to Canada.
May
6th
- Deployed as troop transport Trooping duties
in continuation.
P o s t W a
r N o t e s
HMCS ST LAURENT continued trooping duties until October
1945. She was paid off on 15th October 1945 at
Sydney, NS and reduced to Reserve status.
After being
placed on the Disposal List in 1946 this ship
was sold to International Iron and Metal. She
was broken up at Levis,
NS IN 1947. This name was carried forward in
1942 when given to the sloop HMS CYGNET sold
in 1956 and later
in 1976, it was again used for a Patrol Vessel
deployed at Hong Kong.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMCS ST
LAURENT
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
16/09/39
|
16/09/39
|
HX 001
|
17/09/39
|
30/09/39
|
23/09/39
|
23/09/39
|
HX 002
|
25/09/39
|
10/10/39
|
30/09/39
|
30/09/39
|
HX 003
|
02/10/39
|
14/10/39
|
08/10/39
|
08/10/39
|
HX 004
|
08/10/39
|
22/10/39
|
17/10/39
|
17/10/39
|
HX 005
|
19/10/39
|
29/10/39
|
25/10/39
|
25/10/39
|
HX 006
|
27/10/39
|
06/11/39
|
31/10/39
|
31/10/39
|
HXF 007
|
01/11/39
|
12/11/39
|
02/11/39
|
02/11/39
|
HX 007
|
03/11/39
|
17/11/39
|
08/11/39
|
08/11/39
|
HXF 008
|
10/11/39
|
21/11/39
|
10/11/39
|
10/11/39
|
HX 008
|
11/11/39
|
25/11/39
|
17/11/39
|
17/11/39
|
HXF 009
|
18/11/39
|
29/11/39
|
18/11/39
|
18/11/39
|
HX 009
|
20/11/39
|
02/12/39
|
02/12/39
|
02/12/39
|
HXF 011
|
03/12/39
|
15/12/39
|
04/12/39
|
04/12/39
|
HX 011
|
05/12/39
|
18/12/39
|
10/12/39
|
10/12/39
|
TC 001
|
12/12/39
|
17/12/39
|
22/12/39
|
22/12/39
|
TC 002
|
24/12/39
|
30/12/39
|
30/01/40
|
30/01/40
|
TC 003
|
01/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
12/02/40
|
12/02/40
|
HXF 020
|
13/02/40
|
25/02/40
|
16/02/40
|
16/02/40
|
HX 020
|
17/02/40
|
04/03/40
|
26/02/40
|
26/02/40
|
HX 023
|
27/02/40
|
12/03/40
|
05/03/40
|
05/03/40
|
HX 025
|
06/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
HX 027
|
14/03/40
|
28/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
HX 029
|
22/03/40
|
04/04/40
|
29/03/40
|
29/03/40
|
HX 031
|
30/03/40
|
13/04/40
|
02/04/40
|
02/04/40
|
HX 032
|
03/04/40
|
17/04/40
|
14/04/40
|
14/04/40
|
HX 035
|
15/04/40
|
29/04/40
|
22/04/40
|
22/04/40
|
HX 037
|
23/04/40
|
07/05/40
|
30/04/40
|
30/04/40
|
HX 039
|
10/05/40
|
15/05/40
|
08/05/40
|
08/05/40
|
HX 041
|
09/05/40
|
23/05/40
|
12/05/40
|
12/05/40
|
HX 042
|
13/05/40
|
28/05/40
|
12/05/40
|
12/05/40
|
TC 004
|
14/05/40
|
21/05/40
|
24/05/40
|
24/05/40
|
HX 045
|
unknown
|
08/06/40
|
08/07/40
|
08/07/40
|
OA 179
|
13/07/40
|
13/07/40
|
06/07/40
|
15/07/40
|
BC A
|
16/07/40
|
16/07/40
|
30/07/40
|
30/07/40
|
OA 192
|
03/08/40
|
03/08/40
|
23/07/40
|
04/08/40
|
HX 060
|
07/08/40
|
07/08/40
|
31/08/40
|
31/08/40
|
OA 207
|
06/09/40
|
unknown
|
24/08/40
|
07/09/40
|
HX 068
|
08/09/40
|
08/09/40
|
12/09/40
|
12/09/40
|
OA 213
|
13/09/40
|
unknown
|
02/09/40
|
17/09/40
|
SC 003
|
18/09/40
|
18/09/40
|
07/10/40
|
07/10/40
|
WS 003B
|
12/10/40
|
28/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
05/11/40
|
SC 009
|
09/11/40
|
09/11/40
|
09/11/40
|
21/11/40
|
SC 011
|
24/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
21/06/41
|
21/06/41
|
TC 011
|
24/06/41
|
30/06/41
|
11/07/41
|
15/07/41
|
HX 138
|
23/07/41
|
27/07/41
|
21/07/41
|
26/07/41
|
OB 349
|
01/08/41
|
01/08/41
|
26/08/41
|
27/08/41
|
TC 012B
|
01/09/41
|
01/09/41
|
08/09/41
|
08/09/41
|
CT 002
|
14/09/41
|
14/09/41
|
18/09/41
|
22/09/41
|
SC 045
|
29/09/41
|
04/10/41
|
28/09/41
|
05/10/41
|
ON 021
|
14/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
23/10/41
|
02/11/41
|
SC 051
|
04/11/41
|
09/11/41
|
03/11/41
|
10/11/41
|
ON 033
|
13/11/41
|
23/11/41
|
04/12/41
|
06/12/41
|
SC 058
|
15/12/41
|
21/12/41
|
19/12/41
|
26/12/41
|
ON 048
|
unknown
|
31/12/41
|
13/01/42
|
13/01/42
|
HX 170
|
16/01/42
|
28/01/42
|
17/01/42
|
20/01/42
|
SC 065
|
29/01/42
|
04/02/42
|
01/02/42
|
06/02/42
|
ON 062
|
15/02/42
|
15/02/42
|
28/02/42
|
07/03/42
|
SC 072
|
16/03/42
|
17/03/42
|
29/03/42
|
30/03/42
|
ON 081
|
09/04/42
|
09/04/42
|
06/08/42
|
15/08/42
|
ON 119
|
20/08/42
|
20/08/42
|
12/08/42
|
20/08/42
|
ON 121
|
22/08/42
|
27/08/42
|
16/08/42
|
26/08/42
|
ON 122
|
29/08/42
|
03/09/42
|
29/08/42
|
30/08/42
|
ON 126
|
13/09/42
|
18/09/42
|
25/09/42
|
26/09/42
|
ON 133
|
06/10/42
|
11/10/42
|
01/11/42
|
09/11/42
|
ON 143
|
13/11/42
|
16/11/42
|
17/11/42
|
24/11/42
|
SC 110
|
06/12/42
|
06/12/42
|
18/12/42
|
19/12/42
|
ON 154
|
unknown
|
12/01/43
|
18/02/43
|
24/02/43
|
HX 227
|
05/03/43
|
06/03/43
|
28/03/43
|
05/04/43
|
ONS 002
|
14/04/43
|
19/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
20/04/43
|
SC 127
|
02/05/43
|
03/05/43
|
15/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
ON 184
|
25/05/43
|
31/05/43
|
31/05/43
|
06/06/43
|
HX 242
|
14/06/43
|
15/06/43
|
24/06/43
|
25/06/43
|
ON 190
|
03/07/43
|
09/07/43
|
08/07/43
|
14/07/43
|
HX 247
|
21/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
31/07/43
|
03/08/43
|
ON 195
|
08/08/43
|
13/08/43
|
22/01/44
|
27/01/44
|
HX 276
|
06/02/44
|
07/02/44
|
14/02/44
|
15/02/44
|
ON 224
|
26/02/44
|
02/03/44
|
28/02/44
|
02/03/44
|
SC 154
|
15/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
28/03/44
|
29/03/44
|
ONS 032
|
13/04/44
|
18/04/44
|
12/04/44
|
22/04/44
|
HX 287
|
25/04/44
|
26/04/44
|
18/11/44
|
19/11/44
|
ON 267
|
24/11/44
|
05/12/44
|
13/03/45
|
13/03/45
|
TA 193
|
14/03/45
|
19/03/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)