E-Class
Fleet Destroyer ordered on 1st November 1932
from Hawthorn Leslie, Newcastle under the
1931 Build Programme. The ship was
laid down on 15th March 1933, the same day
as her sister ship HMS ELECTRA also
built in this shipyard. She was launched on
29th March 1934 as the fifth RN
ship to carry the name introduced for a Gun
Brig in 1805 and last used for 1902
Cruiser transferred to the RAN and hulked in
1929. Build was completed on 2nd
November 1934 for a cost of
£252,250
excluding the items supplied by the
Admiralty such as guns
and communications equipment. Her peace time
service including no less than 3
collisions and foreign service in the
Mediterranean. This destroyer carried out
Non-intervention patrol during 'the Spanish
civil war. Although intended to
transfer to Reserve in 1939 she remained in
commission with a crew of
Reservists.
B
a t t l e
H o n o u r s
CAPE OF GOOD
HOPE 1806 - BASQUE ROADS 1809 - CHINA
1856-60 - PEI-HO FORTS 1859 - ASHANTEE
1873-74 - ATLANTIC 1939 - NORWAY
1940 - SPARTIVENTO
1940 - LIBYA 1941 - MALTA
CONVOYS 1941 - MEDITERRANEAN 1941
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Green,
two
rapiers crossed Silver
M
o t t
o
Acta
non verba:
‘Deeds not words’
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 3 9
August
Retained in service instead of refitting.
Reservists joined.
War Station allocated as 12th Destroyer
Flotilla based at Portland.
28th
Attended Review of Reserve Fleet by HM King
George VI in Weymouth Bay.
September
Deployed for escort and patrol in SW
Approaches and took up War Station.
Based at Milford Haven for convoy defence.
October
SW Approaches deployment in continuation.
(For details of naval activities in Home
waters between Sept. 1939 and early in 1940
see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C
Barnett and Naval Staff History).
Sustained weather damage and taken in hand
for repair by HM Dockyard Devonport.
November
On completion of dockyard work took passage
to Scapa Flow for duties with Home Fleet.
December
Deployed at Scapa Flow for convoy defence and anti-submarine duties in
North Sea and NW
Approaches.
1 9 4 0
January
Scapa Flow deployment in continuation.
February
18th
Joined escort of Convoy HN2 with HM
Destroyer BRAZEN in place of HM Destroyer
DARING which had been torpedoed and sunk by
U23.
March
Transferred to Rosyth for North Sea convoy defence.
Nominated for support of minelaying
operation off Norway.
April
4th
Escorted tanker BRITISH LADY with HM
Destroyer GRENADE to Skaelfjord, Norway
to support ships deployed for minelaying
(Operation WILFRED - See NARVIK by D
Macintyre and Naval Staff History
(HMSO-2001)
12th
On completion deployed with Home Fleet units
for support of allied landings in Norway.
24th
Took part in bombardment of Narvik with HM
Battleship WARSPITE and cruisers.
Escorted Carrier Group engaged in provision
of air support for Norwegian military
campaign
(Operation DX).
May
Home Fleet duties off Norway including
escort of HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL.
For details of the disastrous operations in
Norway see CARRIER GLORIOUS by John Winton,
NARVIK by D Macintyre, THE DOOMED EXPEDITION
by Adams and Naval; Staff History.
(HMSO-2001)
Passage to Rosyth for routine docking.
June
Provided anti-submarine defence with HM
Destroyer MASHONA for ships recovering
equipment from the wreck of HM Boom Carrier
ASTRONOMER lost off Kinnaird Head.
On completion deployed with HM Destroyer
ESCORT in an unsuccessful search for a
U-Boat reported by an RAF aircraft.
Sustained damage by grounding and took
passage to Sheerness.
20th
Taken in hand for repair and refit at
Sheerness.
(Note: Degaussing equipment was fitted.)
July
Under refit
Nominated for service with 13th Destroyer
Flotilla at Gibraltar.
19th
Carried out post refit trials.
20th
Escorted troopships ss REINA DEL PACIFICO
and ss CLAN FERGUSON to Gibraltar.
21st
Detached to assist Norwegian KOLLSKEGG which
was on fire.
24th
Met HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS and joined
escort for passage o Gibraltar
30th
Joined Flotilla at Gibraltar and detached
for duty with Force H
31st
Escorted HMS ARGUS during
Malta aircraft delivery (Operation HURRY).
(Note: Deployed as part of ARGUS Group with
HM Destroyers GALLANT GREYHOUND
and HOTSPUR.
See THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre and
Naval Staff
History (HMSO-2001) for details of naval
operations in the Mediterranean in n1940.)
Other ships in screen were HM Destroyers
GREYHOUND, GALLANT and VELOX.
Joined ships of Force H which were providing
cover.
August
1st
Detached as screen for HM Battleship VALIANT
and HMS ARGUS during aircraft delivery
with HM Destroyers HOTSPUR, GREYHOUND,
GALLANT, ESCAPADE and VELOX.
2nd
After launch of aircraft from HMS ARGUS
rejoined by ships of Force H which were
covering
air attack on Cagliari, Sardinia by aircraft
from HMS ARK ROYAL (Operation CRUSH)
4th
Returned to Gibraltar with Force H ships.
8th
Returned to Gibraltar with HMS ARGUS on
completion of HURRY
30th
Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FURY,
FORTUNE, FIREDRAKE, FORESIGHT
and FORESTER as screen for HM Battlecruiser
RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and HM
Cruiser SHEFFIELD providing cover for passage of reinforcement warships for service at
Alexandria (Operation HATS –See above
references.
September
3rd
Returned to Gibraltar with Force H ships.
5th
Deployed with screen for HMS RENOWN during
unsuccessful search for Vichy French
warships on passage from Toulon to enter the
Atlantic.
October
Deployment at Gibraltar for anti-submarine patrol and convoy escort in continuation.
During this deployment rammed HM Submarine
UTMOST off Cape St Vincent in error for
a U-Boat.
(Note: HMS UTMOST was able to reach
Gibraltar and was taken in hand for repair.
It may be assumed that damage to this ship
was incurred but this was completed
before transfer to Force H.)
November
Detached for duty with Force H.
7th
Joined Force F with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR,
FORTUNE and GRIFFIN for screening of
HM Battleship BARHAM, HM Cruisers BERWICK
and GLASGOW during transit in western
Mediterranean to the Sicilian narrows
(Operation COAT)
(Note: These ships and HM Destroyers
GALLANT, GREYHOUND and GRIFFIN were on
passage to join the Mediterranean Fleet
based at Alexandria as reinforcements.
Detached from Force F are returned to
Gibraltar for repair.
(Note: One source records the damage was
caused by ramming HM Submarine UTMOST
during screening duty with Force H covering
that was providing cover for COAT.
9th
Under repair to structural damage.
Rejoined Flotilla on completion for duty
with Force H.
25th
Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR,
FIREDRAKE, FORESTER, FURY, KELVIN,
JAGUAR and WISHART in Force B as screen for
HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HMS ARK
ROYAL, HM Cruisers SHEFFIELD and DESPATCH to
cover passage of convoy taking
troops and stores to Malta
(Operation COLLAR - This was a major
operation and covered transfer of HM
Cruisers
MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON to join the Fleet
at Alexandria.)
27th
Present at the brief engagement between
Force H ships and an Italian force of two
battleships,
seven cruisers and 16 destroyers which
withdrew after an exchange of fire.
(Battle of Cape Spartivento).
(Note: For details see THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN, DESTROYER
LEADER by P Smith and Naval Staff History)
29th
Returned to Gibraltar with Force H ships.
December
Deployed for convoy defence duties at
Gibraltar.
19th
Detached for duty with Force H.
20th
Joined Group H with HM Destroyers DUNCAN,
ISIS, WISHART and JAGUAR and took
passage to Sicilian Narrows to relieve
Mediterranean Fleet escort for passage of HM
Battleship
MALAYA and Convoy MG1 in western
Mediterranean. (Operation HIDE).
21st
Relieved HM Destroyers HYPERION, ILEX and
JERVIS.
(Note: HM Destroyer HYPERION, one of the
escorts from Alexandria later struck a mine
whilst on return passage and had to be
sunk).
24th
Arrived at Gibraltar with HMS MALAYA and
MG1.
(Note: Passage was covered by ships of Force
H.)
1 9 4 1
January
Deployed with Flotilla for convoy defence.
Joined escort for HM Aircraft Carrier
FURIOUS during passage to Freetown and to Takoradi
for delivery of aircraft destined for Middle
East.
February
Detached for duty with Force H
6th
Joined Group 2 with HM Destroyers FEARLESS,
FOXHOUND, FORESIGHT, FURY and
JERSEY for screening of HMS RENOWN, HMS
MALAYA, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS
SHEFFIELD during bombardment of Genoa
(Operation GROG).
(Note This operation had been planned as
RESULT but cancelled in January).
9th
Returned to Gibraltar with Force H.
Nominated for transfer to Mediterranean
Fleet in Alexandria.
24th
Took passage with HM Destroyer ISIS to Aden
via Cape of Good Hope.
(Note: During this period deployed as part
of convoy escort)
March
On arrival at Aden deployed temporarily for
convoy defence at Aden.
April
Passage from Aden to Suez on release.
12th
Joined Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria.
18th
Deployed with H M Destroyers HASTY, HAVOCK,
HEREWARD, HERO, JAGUAR and
JUNO for screening of HM Battleships WARSPITE, BARHAM and VALIANT. HM
Cruisers AJAX, ORION, CALCUTTA,
GLOUCESTER, PHOEBE and HM
Aircraft Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS.
(Operation MD3 - Bombardment of Tripoli and
cover for transit of HM Supply Ship
BRECONSHIRE to Malta.)
19th
Refuelled in Suda Bay, Crete with destroyers
of screen.
20th
Detached to join HMS BRECONSHIRE as escort
for passage to Malta.
(Note: Did not remain with Fleet for Tobruk
bombardment).
21st
Arrived in Malta with HMS BRECONSHIRE.
Taken in hand for repairs and docking by HM
Dockyard Malta.
29th
Damaged by near miss during air raid whilst
in No 2 Dock.
30th
Hit by bomb during another air raid and
sustained major structural damage.
May
Under refit and repair.
16th
Second direct hit with internal explosion
caused further major damage.
(Note: All three Boiler Rooms and cruising
turbines required extensive repair).
June
Refit and repair in continuation.
July
Completion of repair arranged to be carried
out at Gibraltar.
Prepared for passage as part of escort for
Convoy MG1
24th
Passage through Sicilian Narrows.
25th
Joined Convoy M31 as escort for transit to
Gibraltar.
(Note: Passage of this westward convoy from
Malta was part of the major Operation
SUBSTANCE to pass a relief convoy eastwards
to Malta.)
Under air attack SW of Sardinia when one
mercantile was damaged.
26th
Arrived at Gibraltar with five of the ships
of Convoy MG1.
31st
Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR,
FIREDRAKE, FORESIGHT, FORESTER,
FURY, FOXHOUND, COSSACK, MAORI, NESTOR (RAN)
and ERIDGE as screen for
HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Battleship
NELSON and HM Aircraft Carrier ARK
ROYAL to provide cover for passage of HM
Cruisers ARETHUSA, HERMIONE and
MANXMAN taking personnel and stores to
Malta. (Operation STYLE)
August
3rd
Remained with Force H off Bone till cruisers
and escorts returned from Malta.
Allocated with H M Destroyers LIGHTNING,
SIKH and FORESTER to Group I
as screen for HMS ARK ROYAL and HM Cruiser
HERMIONE during return passage
to Gibraltar.
4th
Returned to Gibraltar with Group I
Nominated for service at Singapore.
10th
Resumed convoy defence and joined escort for
Convoy HG70 during passage from
Gibraltar to UK with HM Destroyers
FAULKNOR, AVON VALE, NESTOR (RAN)
and HM Sloop DEPTFORD.
.
13th
Took part in anti submarine operations with
escort.
Returned to Gibraltar to resume Force H duties.
21st
Deployed with HM Destroyers NESTOR (RAN),
FURY, FORESIGHT, and
FORESTER as screen for HM Battleship NELSON,
HMS ARK ROYAL and HM
Cruiser HERMIONE to provide cover for
minelay by HMS MANXMAN off Livorno,
passage of the mercantiles ss DURHAM and ss
DEUCALION to Malta without close
escort and to take part in demonstration off
Valencia (Operation MINCEMEAT).
26th
On return to Gibraltar with ships of Force H
detached and took passage to UK to join
escort for military convoy
31st
Joined military convoy WS11 as Ocean Escort
with HM Battlecruiser REPULSE and HM
Destroyer NESTOR in Clyde for passage to
Freetown.
September
4th
Joined WS11 FAST Section when convoy divided
as Ocean Escort to Freetown.
13th
Detached from WS11 FAST on arrival.
18th
Joined military convoy WS11 SLOW on
departure from Freetown.
21st
Detached from WS11 SLOW
25th
Took independent passage to Aden.
October
Passage in Indian Ocean and Red Sea.
16th
On arrival at Alexandria joined Inshore
Squadron for defence of Tobruk convoys.
25th
Rescued survivors from HM Minelaying Cruiser
LATONA off Tobruk.
(Note: HMS LATONA had been set on fire
during air attacks and blew up when
flames reached the after magazine. See Naval
Staff History (Mining)
One source records that this destroyer sank
hulk of HMS LATONA.)
November
Inshore Squadron convoy defence in
continuation.
14th
Transferred to Eastern Fleet.
15th
Took passage with HM Destroyer JUPITER to
join HM Battlecruiser REPULSE and HM
Battleship PRINCE OF WALES at Colombo.
28th
Arrived at Colombo.
29th
Deployed with HM Destroyers ELECTRA, EXPRESS
and JUPITER as screen for HMS
PRINCE OF WALES during passage to Singapore
as Force Z.
30th
HM Battlecruiser REPULSE joined Force Z from
Trincomalee
December
3rd
After arrival at Singapore taken in hand for
docking to renew propeller bush.
13th
Undocked and deployed for Local-convoy
defence.
(Note: Did not sail on 8th December with
Force Z ships for attack on Japanese
invasion ships off Malaya during which HMS
PRINCE OF WALES and
HMS REPULSE were sunk.
For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by C. Bamett,
OPERATION PACIFIC by E. Gray, THE HUNTING OF
FORCE Z by R
Hough, and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).
1 9 4 2
January
Deployed for convoy defence with HM
Destroyers JUPITER and VAMPIRE (RAN).
10th
Joined Convoy DM1 on passage from Addu Atoll
to reinforce escort during passage
to Singapore.
(Note: Escort comprised HM Cruisers DURBAN.
EXETER and HM Sloop JUMNA
(RIN)
13th
Detached from DM1 on arrival at Singapore.
Passage to Batavia as escort for convoy.
Taken in hand for for boiler clean at
Batavia.
On completion resumed convoy defence and
returned to Singapore.
20th
Joined 7th Destroyer Flotilla in Western
Striking Force based at Tangjong Priok for
defence of western approaches to East Indies.
February
6th
Deployed for tow of HMS ISIS to Java but tow
wire fouled in propeller and taken over
by HM Destroyer ELECTRA during passage.
When both engines were available resumed
service with Western Striking Force for
interception of invasion craft cover of
convoys to and for evacuation from
Singapore.
(Note: Garrison surrendered on 11th.)
25th
Transferred to ABDA Force based at Sourabaya
for defence of eastern approaches.
to Java.
Joined in search for invasion convoys.
(Note: This deployment included escort of
rms ORCADES carrying Australian troops,
RAF personnel, stores and refugees from
Padang to Batavia.)
26th
At Tanjong Prior during air raid and sailed
wih HM Cruisers EXETER and PERTH
(RAN) with HMS ELECTRA AND HMS JUPITER.
27th
Part of escort for Dutch cruisers DE RUYTER
and JAVA, H M Cruisers HOBART
(RAN), EXETER,
PERTH and US cruiser USS HOUSTON
with HM Destroyers
ELECTRA, JUPITER, and both Dutch and US Navy
destroyers.
Engaged UN cruiser JINTSU with other ships
but target out of effective range.
Withdrew under fire with HM Destroyer
ELECTRA to make further attack.
Returned to rejoin allied Fleet after HMS
ELECTRA had been sunk whilst making an
attack using torpedoes.
(Note: For details see OPERATION PACIFIC,
BATTLE OF THE JAVA SEA by
D. Thomas and HMS ELECTRA by T J Cain.)
28th
Returned to Sourabaya with survivors from
HMS JUPITER and Dutch Destroyer
KORTENAER ,
March
1st
Escorted damaged cruiser HMS EXETER on
passage to Colombo with US Destroyer
POPE and ambushed by four Japanese cruisers
and three destroyers.
Laid smoke screen after HMS EXETER was hit
by shellfire from Japanese cruisers
MYOKO and ASHIGARA (Battle of Java Sea).
(Note: HMS EXETER sank after being hit by
torpedo.)
Came under attack and sustained major damage
which ruptured fuel supply system.
Ship disabled without electric power needed
to control main armament.
Scuttled by crew in position 04.30S 111.00E.
Many of ship' company were killed and the
remainder became prisoners of war, 37 of
whom died in captivity.
(See above references and Naval Staff
History)
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS ENCOUNTER
by
Don Kindell
This convoy list has not been cross-checked
with the text above
|
|
|
|
|
Date
convoy sailed
|
Joined
convoy as escort
|
Convoy No.
|
Left
convoy
|
Date
convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
05/09/39
|
06/09/39
|
RED
1
|
11/09/39
|
27/09/39
|
09/10/39
|
09/10/39
|
BC
010F
|
11/10/39
|
11/10/39
|
11/10/39
|
11/10/39
|
BC
010FR
|
12/10/39
|
12/10/39
|
14/11/39
|
14/11/39
|
OA
035
|
15/11/39
|
19/11/39
|
29/12/39
|
29/12/39
|
ON
006/1
|
01/01/40
|
01/01/40
|
01/01/40
|
01/01/40
|
HN
006
|
04/01/40
|
04/01/40
|
06/01/40
|
07/01/40
|
ON
007/1
|
09/01/40
|
09/01/40
|
09/02/40
|
09/02/40
|
ON
011/1
|
12/02/40
|
12/02/40
|
28/02/40
|
28/02/40
|
ON
016/1
|
02/03/40
|
02/03/40
|
02/03/40
|
02/03/40
|
HN
016
|
05/03/40
|
05/03/40
|
07/03/40
|
07/03/40
|
ON
018/1
|
10/03/40
|
10/03/40
|
10/03/40
|
10/03/40
|
HN
018
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
15/03/40
|
15/03/40
|
ON
020/1
|
18/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
HN
020
|
21/03/40
|
22/03/40
|
12/06/40
|
12/06/40
|
HEBREW
|
12/06/40
|
14/06/40
|
16/06/40
|
16/06/40
|
MT
089
|
17/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
30/07/41
|
08/08/41
|
OG
070
|
10/08/41
|
12/08/41
|
09/08/41
|
11/08/41
|
HG
070
|
unknown
|
23/08/41
|
12/12/41
|
13/12/41
|
SM
001
|
15/12/41
|
16/12/41
|
21/12/41
|
02/01/42
|
BM
009A
|
03/01/42
|
03/01/42
|
02/01/42
|
10/01/42
|
DM
001
|
13/01/42
|
13/01/42
|
19/01/42
|
26/01/42
|
BM
011
|
28/01/42
|
29/01/42
|
23/01/42
|
31/01/42
|
BM
012
|
03/02/42
|
04/02/42
|
10/02/42
|
14/02/42
|
JS
002
|
15/02/42
|
15/02/42
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)