F-Class
Fleet Destroyer ordered from John Brown,
Clydebank, Glasgow in January 1933
under the 1932 Build
Programme and was laid down on 28th July
That year. She was launched on 29th
August 1934 as the 22nd R N
warship to
carry the name, dating from 1512
and previously used by a 1913 destroyer sunk
in the Battle of
Jutland. Build was completed on 27th April
1935 and cost £247,564, excluding
Admiralty supplied equipment
such as guns, ammunition and communications
equipment. She was serving in the
Home Fleet when war
was declared in September 1939. After a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National
Savings campaign in May
1942 the ship was adopted by the civil
community of Midlothian, Scotland.
This destroyer was transferred
to the Royal Canadian Navy on 15 June 1943
and renamed HMCS SASKATCHEWAN.
B
a t t l e H o n o
u r s
ARMADA 1588* -
PORTLAND 1653 - GABBARD 1653 -
ORFORDNESS 1666 - MINORCA 1756 - CHESAPEAKE
1781 - JUTLAND 1916 - ATLANTIC 1939 -
NORTH SEA 1940 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941-42
(*
Awarded to the mercantile FORTUNE OF
ALDBOROUGH)
H
e
r a l d i c D a t a
On
a Field Blue, a wheel gold with silver wing
D e
t a i l s o
f W a r S e r v i c
e a s H M
S F O R T U N E
(for more
ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and
type name in Site Search)
1
9 3 9
August
Took
up War
Station at Scapa Flow with ships of 8th
Destroyer Flotilla in Home Fleet.
September
3rd
- Deployed for anti-submarine patrol and
escort duty in NW Approaches.
20th
- Shared
credit for sinking of U27 with HM Destroyer
FORESTER in position 58.32N 09.02W.
There were some survivors from the
submarine.
October to December
Fleet
escort and patrol duties in continuation.
(For details of activities in Home waters
during 1939
see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli
Barnett and the Naval Staff
History.)
1
9 4 0
January to
February
Deployed
on
Fleet and convoy defence
duties in NW Approaches.
March
20th
- During
escort of Home Fleet units carrying out
search operation N W of Shetlands sank
U44 in position 63.27N 00.36W. There were no
survivors from the submarine.
April
Under
repair.
On completion
joined Fleet units off Norway for screening
of major units and for convoy defence.
23rd
- Formed
part of A/S screen for HM Aircraft Carriers
GLORIOUS and ARK ROYAL during joint
carrier air operations for protection of
allied troops at Andalsnes
and at Namsos
(Operation DX).
May
8th
- Escorted HM Cruisers BERWICK and GLASGOW
taking Royal Marines for occupation of
Iceland (Operation FORK).
10th
- On
completion took passage to resume Fleet
duties.
June
Fleet
screening duties in continuation.
July
Part
of screen for Fleet units during search
for submarine SHARK in North Sea.
August
Detached
for
Atlantic convoy escort duty with 4th
Destroyer Flotilla.
5th
- Joined
military convoy WS2 in Clyde with H M
Destroyers WATCHMAN, VORTIGERN and FURY
for Local Escort in NW Approaches.
7th
- Detached from WS2 and returned to Clyde.
10th
- Rescued
survivors after sinking of HM Armed Merchant
Cruiser TRANSYLVANIA NW of Malin
Head with HM Destroyers ACHATES and
ANTELOPE. Resumed
duties with 8th Destroyer Flotilla and
transferred to Force H based at
Gibraltar.
20th
- Sailed
for Gibraltar as part of screen for HMS ARK
ROYAL, HM Battlecruiser
RENOWN and HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD with HM
Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT,
FEARLESS, FURY, FIREDRAKE, FORESIGHT and
FOXHOUND.
29th
- Arrived
at Gibraltar and joined Force H.
30th
- Deployed
as screen for HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and
HMS SHEFFIELD in Force B with HM
Destroyers FAULKNOR, FURY, FIREDRAKE.
FORESTER and ENCOUNTER to cover passage
of HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM
Battleship VALIANT, HM Cruisers COVENTRY
and CALCUTTA to Sicilian Narrows to join
Fleet at Alexandria. (Operation
HATS/MB - This also covered air attacks on
Cagliari by HMS ARK ROYAL (Operation
SMASH/GRAB). For further details of
activities in Mediterranean 1940-42, see
ENGAGE
THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and THE BATTLE FOR
THE MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre)
September
3rd
- On return to Gibraltar with Force B
nominated for support of Free French
landing, at Dakar. (Operation
MENACE - For details see
MENACE by A Marder
and RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute.)
6th
- Deployed
with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FURY, FORESTER,
FORESIGHT and GREYHOUND as screen
for HMS ARK ROYAL and HM Battleship
RESOLUTION during passage to Freetown to
join ships of Force M.
22nd
- Sailed from Freetown as screen for major
units of Force M to carry out
landings at Dakar.
24th
- Deployed for anti-submarine patrol
during naval bombardment of Dakar.
Sank French submarine AJAX attempting
to attack fleet off Dakar and rescued crew
of 76.
25th
- Operation
abandoned because of risk of damage to major
units by shore fire. Took return
passage to Freetown as part of screen for
Force M ships.
October
Retained
in
West Africa for support planned landing by
Free French at Duala.
8th
- Supported French landings at Duala.
16th
- Passage to Gibraltar to resume duties
with Force H.
19th
- Deployed at Gibraltar for local
anti-submarine patrol with ships of
Flotilla.
31st
- Deployed
with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER,
FIREDRAKE, GALLANT, GRIFFIN and GALLANT
as screen for HMS RENOWN and HM Battleship
BARHAM during surveillance of a
reported movement of Vichy French naval
units.
November
9th
- Part of
screen for HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD
with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR,
FIREDRAKE, FOXHOUND, FORESTER, FURY, DUNCAN,
ISIS as Force B to provide cover
for passage of Force F in western
Mediterranean to join Fleet at Alexandria
(Note:
Force F comprised HMS BARHAM, HM Cruisers
BERWICK and GLASGOW (Operation COAT)
- also covering air attacks by HMS ARK ROYAL
on Cagliari. (Operation
CRACK).)
10th
- Transferred
with HMS FAULKNOR and HMS FURY to join
screen for Force F during the passage to
Malta through Sicilian Channel.
11th
- Passage
from Malta to rejoin Force B west of
Sicilian Narrows.
15th
- Joined
Force B with HM Destroyers FOXHOUND,
FORESTER, FAULKNOR and FIREDRAKE as screen
for HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS
SHEFFIELD providing cover during a Malta
aircraft delivery by HM Aircraft Carrier
ARGUS (Operation WHITE). (Note: This
operation also covered air strike by HMS ARK
ROYAL as a diversion.)
December
Deployed
with
Force H for patrol off Azores following
reports of a landing by German troops.
20th
- Joined
HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FOXHOUND
and FIREDRAKE as screen for HMS
RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD
providing cover of transit of HM
Battleship MALAYA and Convoy MG1 from
Sicilian Narrows to Gibraltar. (Operation
HIDE - Screen for HMS MALAYA from Malta
comprised HM Destroyers HERO, HASTY,
HEREWARD, HYPERION and ILEX, but HMS ILEX
was detached to assist when HMS
HYPERION was torpedoed.)
December
On
return from
HIDE deployed with screen for same ships of
Force H for convoy defence
west of Gibraltar after German cruiser
HIPPER had
attacked Convoy WS5A.
1
9 4 1
January
Deployed
with
HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY,
FOXHOUND, FIREDRAKE and DUNCAN as
screen for HMS RENOWN. HMS
MALAYA and HMS ARK ROYAL during
escort of military convoy through western
Mediterranean (Operation EXCESS).
(Note: This operation also included transit
of HM Cruiser BONAVENTURE with HM Destroyers
HASTY, HEREWARD, HERO and JAGUAR as Force
F.)
February
Deployed
for
Atlantic convoy defence.
March
30th
- Deployed
with HM Destroyers FURY, FEARLESS, FORESTER,
FOXHOUND, FORESIGHT, FAULKNOR and
HMS SHEFFIELD to intercept Vichy French
convoy on passage from west Africa to
France (Operation RATION). Under air attack
by Vichy French aircraft
which was unsuccessful.
April
2nd
- Joined
screen for HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS
SHEFFIELD with HM Destroyers
FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FORESIGHT and FURY to
cover Malta aircraft delivery (Operation
WINCH).
4th
- Returned to Gibraltar.
6th
- Deployed as screen for Force H ships
during search for German warships
reported in Atlantic.
10th
- Returned to Gibraltar with Force H.
24th
- Joined
screen for HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL, and
HMS SHEFFIELD with HM Destroyers
FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FORESIGHT and FURY to
cover Malta aircraft delivery. (Operation
DUNLOP –This operation also covered transit
of HM Cruisers DIDO and ABDIEL,
HM Destroyers KELLY, KIPLING, KASHMIR,
KELVIN, JERSEY and JACKAL deployed as
Force S to be used as Strike Force in Malta
(Operation SALIENT).)
28th
- Returned
to Malta with Force H after Force S detached
west of Sicilian Narrows.
May
6th
- Deployed
with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY,
FORESIGHT and FEARLESS as screen
for HM Battleship QUEEN ELIZABETH, HM
Cruisers GLOUCESTER, NAIAD and FIJI for
passage to Malta covered by units of Force H
(Operation TIGER – This
included passage of military convoy taking
tanks to Middle East.)
9th
- Took
passage from Malta to rejoin ships of Force
H after refuelling.
10th
- Under air attacks and sustained
structural damage by near miss off Bougaroni,
Algeria.
Extensive jettisoning of
upper deck
equipment required and control of
flooding. Resumed passage to
Gibraltar
at reduced speed.
15th
- Under survey and temporary repair by HM
Dockyard, Gibraltar.
June
Passage
to Chatham for permanent repair.
Taken in hand by HM Dockyard, Chatham.
July to
October
Under
repair.
November
Carried
out
post repair trials. Prepared for return to
operational duties.
December
Passage
to Gibraltar to rejoin Force H.
7th
- On
arrival joined 19th Destroyer Flotilla.
Taken
in hand
for repair of machinery by HM Dockyard,
Gibraltar.
1
9 4 2
January
On
completion
,deployment restricted to local
anti-submarine patrol due to need to work-up
and
machinery defects.
February
Transferred
to
12th Destroyer Flotilla, Eastern Fleet.
9th
- Embarked
aircraft engines and other spares for
delivery to Malta and took passage with
HM Cruiser CLEOPATRA. (Note: The stability
of the ship was compromised by
excessive top-weight caused by upper stowage
of this material.)
10th
- Damaged in air attacks and temporarily
disabled.
11th
- Arrived
in Malta and disembarked deck cargo.
13th
- Sailed
from Malta as part of escort for Convoy ME10
with HM Cruiser PENELOPE, HM Destroyers
DECOY, LEGION, LIVELY, SIKH and ZULU during
passage in western Mediterranean to
meet Force B from Alexandria for onward
escort (Operation MF5). (Note: ME10
comprised HM Supply Ship BRECONSHIRE, ss
CLAN
FERGUSON, ss
AJAX and ss
CITY OF CALCUTTA. For details of passage see
MALTA CONVOYS.)
14th
- Transferred to Force B with HMS DECOY
and remained with escort for passage to
Alexandria.
16th
- Detached from ME10 escort and made
independent passage to join Eastern Fleet
with call at Aden.
March
Passage
to Colombo to join Eastern Fleet.
(Note: Eastern Fleet was not formed until
26th and
comprised HM Battleships WARSPITE,
RAMILLIES, RESOLUTION, REVENGE and ROYAL
SOVEREIGN, HM Aircraft Carriers FORMIDABLE,
HERMES and ILLUSTRIOUS. HM Cruisers
DORSETSHIRE, CORNWALL, ENTERPRISE, EMERALD,
DRAGON and CALEDON, HM Destroyers
GRIFFIN, ARROW, DECOY, EXPRESS, FOXHOUND,
HOTSPUR, NAPIER (RAN), NIZAM (RAN),
NESTOR (RAN), NORMAN (RAN), VAMPIRE (RAN),
PALADIN, PANTHER, SCOUT and TENEDOS.
There were in addition two Dutch cruisers
and a destroyer. No operational
support base was available and many ships
had significant defects after service
at Singapore with others newly commissioned
and not fully worked up for Fleet
duties.)
24th
- Carried out search for Japanese warships
south of Ceylon.
April
2nd
- Detached from screen to search for
survivors from ss
GLENSHIEL sunk by Japanese submarine east
of Addu
Atoll.
3rd
- Rescued
survivors and took passage to Addu
Atoll.
6th
- Landed passengers and sailed to rejoin
Force B screen.
9th
- Joined
screen for HMS RAMILLIES, HMS RESOLUTION,
HMS REVENGE and HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN. (For
details of operations in Indian Ocean in
this period see WAR WITH JAPAN
(HMSO).)
10th
- Passage to Kilindini
with Force B.
12th
- Deployed in Indian Ocean for patrol and
convoy defence
based at Kilindini.
May
Indian
Ocean convoy defence
in continuation.
(Note: Did not take part in
occupation of Madagascar (Operation
IRONCLAD).)
June
Took
passage to Alexandria for detached service
in Mediterranean with HMS GRIFFIN and HMS
HOTSPUR.
11th
- Arrived
at Alexandria.
12th
- Deployed
as part of screen for HM Cruisers CLEOPATRA,
DIDO, NEWCASTLE, ARETHUSA,
COVENTRY and BIRMINGHAM providing cover for
Convoy MW11 during passage from
Egypt to Malta (Operation VIGOROUS).
13th
- Sustained
damage and some casualties by 'friendly
fire' (Note: Hit by shell from another
destroyer.)
14th
- Under
heavy and sustained air attacks.
15th
- Under night attack by E-Boats.
(Note: HMS NEWCASTLE was damaged and HM
Destroyer
HASTY had to be sunk after torpedo damage.)
16th
- Operation
abandoned after further damage and damage to
convoy and escort. (Note: For full
details of this all fated and disastrous
operation during which the conflicting
instructions from shore made a direct
contribution to its failure see THE
BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN, ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, MALTA CONVOYS by R
Woodman and Naval Staff History.)
17th
- Returned to Alexandria with escort.
27th
- Deployed for escort of HMS NEWCASTLE
during stern tow in Red Sea.
(Note: HMS NEWCASTLE was on passage
to Bombay for repair.)
30th
- Detached from escort after steering
defect and took independent passage to
Aden.
(Note: This
defect was consequent on earlier problems
during VIGOROUS.)
July
Passage
in Indian Ocean to Kilindini.
7th
- Arrived
at Kilindini.
19th
- Deployed as escort for rms
AQUITANIA during passage
to Diego Suarez with troops for planned
operation.
(Note: Steering at the high speed
during passage to prevent submarine attacks
was made very hazardous.)
20th
- Took
passage to Colombo for repair to steering
gear.
August
Under
major repair to serious rudder damage.
13th
- On
completion of repair took passage to rejoin
Flotilla at Kilindini.
Deployed
for convoy defence
and patrol in Indian
Ocean.
September
Indian
Ocean deployment in continuation.
(Note: For details of personnel problems see
THE
FIGUREHEAD by R Macdonald.)
10th
- Part of escort for military convoy on
passage for final stage of occupation
of Madagascar (Operation
STREAM - See Naval Staff History)
October
Indian
Ocean convoy defence
in continuation.
November
Transferred
to Simonstown
for convoy defence.
(Note:
Increase in sinkings
of mercantiles
due to extensive U-Boat activity off Cape of
Good Hope had made necessary an
increase in anti-submarine operations with
air search by shore based aircraft.)
December
Deployed
off
Cape of Good Hope. Carried out search for
survivors from US mercantile PIERCE
BUTLER. Found four survivors and took them
to Durban. Further search for
survivors from ss
JEREMIAH WADSWORTH was
unsuccessful.
1
9 4 3
January
Nominated
for
return to UK for refit. Passage to London
fort refit in commercial shipyard.
February
Future
deployment under consideration. Paid off from RN service after transfer to Royal
Canadian Navy agreed. Taken in hand for
refit.
March
to April
Under
refit.
May
Carried
out harbour
trials. RCN key personnel joined ship.
31st
- Commissioned for service in RCN as
Senior Officer's ship in 3rd Canadian
Escort Group.
Renamed HMCS
SASKATCHEWAN.
June
Post
refit
Trials in
Thames estuary and North Sea.
15th
- Formally transferred to RCN.
Passage to carry out work-up.
S
e r v i c
e a s H M C
S S
A S K A T C H E W A N
HMCS
Saskatchewan
at speed (thanks to Bob Somerville and RCN)
July
On
completion
of work-up joined Group for service as SO
EG3. Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence
in Mid Ocean Escort Force.
August to
December
Atlantic
convoy defence
in continuation.
1
9 4 4
January to April
Atlantic
convoy defence
in continuation.
Nominated for service in Plymouth
Command. Passage to
Plymouth.
May
Transferred
to
12th Escort Group based at Plymouth. Joined
HM Canadian Destroyers QU'APPELLE,
RESTIGOUCHE and SKEENA for anti-submarine
patrol in SW Approaches to prevent
interference by U-Boats during planned
allied landings in Normandy (Operation
NEPTUNE). (For details of naval activities
prior to and during landings, see
OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS
IN NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO).)
June
Deployment
in SW Approaches and English Channel in
continuation.
(Note: Although not used in support
of landings or for defence
of assault and back-up convoys
the ships of this Group made a significant
contribution to the success of this
operation. No U-Boat attacks were made
during execution of NEPTUNE.)
July
6th
- During
interception patrol in Bay of Biscay with
HMCS QU'APPELLE and HMCS SKEENA
engaged two trawlers acting as escort for
surfaced U-Boats during passage near
base ports. Sustained casualties from return
fire during engagement. One of
ship's company
was killed and four injured. Two
U-boats involved in this engagement escaped.
28th
- Released from Plymouth Command and
resumed Atlantic convoy defence.
August
Nominated
for
return to Canada for refit and took
independent passage.
September
Taken
In hand
far refit at Shelburne, Nova Scotia.
October
Under
refit.
November
Post
refit
trials.
December
Under
repair at St Johns, Newfoundland.
1
9 4 5
January
Passage
to UK to resume service in EG3 for convoy
defence.
February
Deployed
in UK
coastal waters for convoy defence.
(Note: SCHNORKEL
fitted U-Boats were concentrating attacks on
focal points used for assembly and
reformation in SW Approaches and NW
Approaches. Convoys were re-routed through
English Channel to east coast ports
following the removal of the air threat
from bases in France. See ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY and SEEK AND STRIKE.)
March to
April
Transferred
to
14th Canadian Escort Group and continued
convoy defence.
May
Nominated
for
trooping duties.
June to
August
Deployed
for
trooping duties between UK and Quebec.
P
o s t W a r N o t e
s
HMCS
SASKATCHEWAN was laid-up in Reserve on 23rd
September
1945 when she had completed her 5th trooping
trip. On 28th January 1946 she was
finally paid-off and placed on the Sales
List. Sold later that year she was
broken-up at Hamilton.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS as
HMS FORTUNE
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
30/01/40
|
05/02/40
|
TC 003
|
07/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
11/03/40
|
12/03/40
|
ON 019/1
|
14/03/40
|
14/03/40
|
14/03/40
|
14/03/40
|
HN 019
|
17/03/40
|
17/03/40
|
12/06/40
|
12/06/40
|
FN 0194
|
13/06/40
|
14/06/40
|
23/07/40
|
04/08/40
|
HX 060
|
05/08/40
|
07/08/40
|
05/08/40
|
05/08/40
|
WS 002
|
07/08/40
|
08/08/40
|
04/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
HG 043
|
05/09/40
|
18/09/40
|
14/02/41
|
14/02/41
|
SLG 001A
|
16/02/41
|
22/02/41
|
06/05/41
|
06/05/41
|
TIGER
|
12/05/41
|
12/05/41
|
11/06/42
|
13/06/42
|
MW 011
|
16/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
19/12/42
|
19/12/42
|
CF 010
|
22/12/42
|
31/12/42
|
09/01/43
|
09/01/43
|
CM 037A
|
11/01/43
|
24/01/43
|
10/01/43
|
20/01/43
|
MC 003
|
23/01/43
|
23/01/43
|
25/01/43
|
25/01/43
|
CF 011
|
27/01/43
|
27/01/43
|
30/01/43
|
30/01/43
|
CF 011A
|
11/02/43
|
11/02/43
|
14/02/43
|
14/02/43
|
CF 011B
|
24/02/43
|
25/02/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
as HMCS SASKATCHEWAN
|
|
|
|
|
|
09/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
ON 192
|
18/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
29/07/43
|
HX 249
|
05/08/43
|
06/08/43
|
20/08/43
|
21/08/43
|
ONS 016
|
29/08/43
|
01/09/43
|
02/09/43
|
08/09/43
|
HX 255
|
15/09/43
|
16/09/43
|
26/09/43
|
27/09/43
|
ONS 019
|
09/10/43
|
14/10/43
|
11/10/43
|
17/10/43
|
HX 261
|
25/10/43
|
26/10/43
|
06/11/43
|
07/11/43
|
ON 210
|
17/11/43
|
23/11/43
|
19/11/43
|
23/11/43
|
SC 147
|
03/12/43
|
04/12/43
|
16/12/43
|
17/12/43
|
ON 216
|
29/12/43
|
03/01/44
|
30/12/43
|
03/01/44
|
SC 150
|
14/01/44
|
14/01/44
|
28/01/44
|
29/01/44
|
ONS 028
|
11/02/44
|
15/02/44
|
13/02/44
|
17/02/44
|
HX 279
|
28/02/44
|
29/02/44
|
08/03/44
|
09/03/44
|
ON 227
|
17/03/44
|
22/03/44
|
21/03/44
|
26/03/44
|
HX 284
|
05/04/44
|
06/04/44
|
13/04/44
|
16/04/44
|
ON 232
|
17/04/44
|
29/04/44
|
10/04/45
|
10/04/45
|
DS 064
|
13/04/45
|
13/04/45
|
14/04/45
|
14/04/45
|
SD 064
|
17/04/45
|
17/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)