Variant of
Royal Navy H-Class Destroyer ordered by
the Brazilian Government in 1938 from
Vickers-Armstrong at Barrow The ship was
laid down as Yard No 742 on 3rd
June 1938 and was intended to be
named JAPARUA. A sister ship to
be named JURUA was also laid down at
the same time. Both ships were requisitioned
for Royal Navy service on 5th September 1939
and were launched on
29th September that year. This ship was then
named HMS HURRICANE and was the first RN
major warship to carry
the name, although used by requisitioned
Drifter in WW1 and by a Tug hired in 1939.
Build was completed on 3rd
May 1940 and she commissioned on 21st June
that year for service in the 9th Destroyer
Flotilla, Home Fleet.
After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National
Savings campaign in February 1942 she was
adopted by the civil
community of Hornchurch, Essex. This ship
had a very successful record as a convoy
escort.
B
a t t l
e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC
1940-43 - BISCAY 1943
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field
Party per band, dexter bendy wavy of four
white
and Black
sinister Blue issuant from storm clouds
proper
in sinister
canton three lightnings Or.
Special
Note
Details
are shown of convoys escorted by the
Flotilla
or Escort Group of which she was a member.
The ship did not therefore take part on each
occasion unless
indicated in the text as she was under refit
or for routine maintenance. Further research
is required to ascertain
the dates on which she was not deployed with
the Group.
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
April
Contractors Trials
May
3rd
Build completion and commenced Acceptance
Trials.
June
Prepared for operational service including
storing, weapon testing and shakedown.
21st
Commissioned for service in Home Fleet
with 9th Destroyer Flotilla.
(Note: Delay in final commissioning may
have been due to circumstances involved in
manning and administration due to the
evacuation of allied troops and civilians
from Holland, Belgium and France in which
RN ships and personnel were
extensively involved with many losses in
ships and men.)
July
Joined Flotilla and deployed in NW
Approaches for convoy defence.
August
5th
Joined military convoy WS2 with HM
Destroyers HARVESTER, HAVELOCK and
HIGHLANDER of Flotilla for Local Escort
from Liverpool during passage in Irish Sea
and NW Approaches.
(Note: HM Cruiser CORNWALL also joined as
Ocean Escort for passage to Indian Ocean.
HM Cruisers EMERALD and SHROPSHIRE WITH
four destroyers joined from
Clyde later with additional mercantiles
7th
Detached from WS2 wit HMS EMERALD and
destroyers of Local Escort and took
return passage to Clyde.
September
NW Approaches deployment in continuation.
18th
Despatched from escort of convoy to carry
out rescue of survivors from ss CITY OF
BENARES and ss MARINA.
(Note: This mercantile was on passage with
Convoy OB213 and was torpedoed by U48
with heavy loss of life amongst the
passengers who including children being
evacuated to Canada. For details see
HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
October
3rd
Joined military convoy WS2A(Slow) at
Liverpool with HM Destroyers HARVESTER,
HIGHLANDER, HAVELOCK of Flotilla, HM
Destroyers VERSATILE, VISCOUNT,
and WITHERINGTON for Local Escort in Irish
Sea and NW Approaches.
(Note: HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD was deployed
as Ocean Escort.)
9th
Detached with Local Escort and returned to
Clyde.
November
9th Destroyer Flotilla re-designated 9th
Escort Group
1st
Joined military convoy WS4 escorted by
Polish destroyer ORP GARLAND with HMS
HARVESTER as Local Escort from Liverpool
during passage in Irish Sea and NW
Approaches.
2nd
HM Destroyers BEAGLE, BULLDOG, OTTAWA
(RCN), SAGUENAY (RCN), SKEENA
(RCN) and HESPERUS of Flotilla joined with
HM Cruiser CAIRO and ships from Clyde.
(Note: HM Cruiser CORNWALL also joined
from Clyde as Ocean Escort.)
3rd
Detached from WS4 with HMS CAIRO, HM
Destroyers BEAGLE, HESPERUS and
ORP GARLAND
(Note: HMS CAIRO had been deployed for AA
protection during passage in NW
Approaches.)
December
Convoy defence with Group in continuation.
1
9 4 1
January
Atlantic convoy defence with Group in
continuation.
February
17th
Joined military convoy WS6B at Liverpool
with HMS HESPERUS as Local Escort during
passage in Irish Sea and NW Approaches.
18th
HM Destroyers LEGION, GARLAND and Polish
destroyer ORP PIORUN joined WS6B
with mercantiles from Clyde and remained
as part of Local Escort.
(Note: HM Cruiser MAURITIUS joined as
Ocean Escort for WS6B.)
20th
Detached from WS6B with destroyers of
Local Escort and took return passage to
Clyde.
(Note: One source records joining HM
Corvette PERIWINKLE in anti-submarine
operations
in defence of Convoy OB287 which is known
to have been on passage in the area.
See ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM 1939-45 by A
Hague.)
March
Deployed with Group for convoy defence
April
2nd
Despatched from escort of convoy to assist
HM Armed Merchant Cruiser WORCESTERSHIRE
the sole escort of outbound Convoy SC26
and under attack by nine U-Boats.
(For details see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C
Blair. HMS WORCESTERSHIRE was hit and
damaged after being hit by torpedo from
U74.
:
HMS HAVELOCK and HMS HESPERUS of Flotilla
also went to assist with HM Destroyers
VETERAN and WOLVERINE later deployed to
round up scattered mercantiles.
3rd
Deployed as escort for damaged HMS
WORCESTERSHIRE during passage to
Liverpool.
29th
Despatched to assist in rescue of
survivors from ss CITY OF NAGPUR which had
been
sunk in mid-Atlantic.
30th
Embarked over 400 personnel and took
passage to land the passengers at
Greenock.
(Note: No record can be traced of this
ship being in convoy and it may be assumed
she
was making an independent passage. See
CHRONOLOGY OF THE WAR AT SEA
1939-45 by Rohwer and Hummelchen.)
May
1st
Landed passengers and resumed Group
deployment.
7th
Whilst alongside Gladstone Dock, Liverpool
during an air raid hit by bomb on port
side
aft which passed through structure and
exploded beneath ship. Extensive flooding
and
structural damage with some minor
casualties.
Ship moved to Biston Dock and damaged
assessment made.
15th
Under repair at
Liverpool
June
Under repair. Paid-off and ship’s company
transferred to HM Destroyer LAMERTON
building.
to
(Note: During this period changes were
made to improve capabilities as an anti
-submarine
November
escort including fit of modified RAF
air/surface radar, designated Type 286M
when
used by RN vessels.
For details of development and use of
radar by the Royal Navy see RADAR AT SEA
by D Howse.)
December
Re-commissioned from Chatham Depot.
Carried out post refit harbour and sea
trials.
Nominated for service as Leader of 1st
British Escort Group.
1
9 4 2
January
Joined Group for convoy escort and defence
in Western Approaches Command.
(Note: Other ships in Group were HM
Destroyers ROCKINGHAM, WATCHMAN, HM
Corvettes ANCHUSA, DAHLIA, WALLFLOWER and
MEADOWSWEET.
Unless otherwise indicated convoys
escorted arrived at destination without
losses.
Number of ships in each convoy is shown in
parenthesis.)
27th
Ships of Group escorted outbound convoy
ON61 (21) from Liverpool.
February
Ships of Group detached from ON61 and
joined inward Convoy SC66 (29) in NW
Approaches.
9th
Group detached from SC66 on arrival at
Liverpool
March
Deployed with Group for Atlantic convoy
escort.
(Note: Ship may have been deployed with
Group for training as no record of escort
has
been traced for the Group. Some ships may
have been under refit.)
April
HM Corvette MONKSHOOD joined Group.
(Note: Group joined inward Convoy HX187
(24) at Ocean Meeting Point for escort to
UK)
May
8th
HX187 arrived at
Liverpool.
19th
Group escorted outward Convoy ON96 (41)
from Liverpool.
June
Detached from ON96 on relief by escort
from St Johns, Newfoundland.
Ships of Group joined inward Convoy HX193
(31) at Meeting Point for escort to UK.
19th
Detached from H 193 on arrival at
Liverpool.
July
3rd
Ships of Group joined outward Convoy ON108
(37) on departure from Liverpool.
Group detached from ON108 on relief.
Group joined inward Convoy SC92 (43) in NW
Approaches for escort to UK
31st
Ships of Group detached on arrival of SC92
at Liverpool.
August
5th
Ships of Group escorted outbound Convoy
ON119 (32) from Liverpool.
Detached from ON119 in NW Approaches.
Ships of Group joined inward Convoy HX201
(30) during passage in NW Approaches
and escorted to Liverpool.
14th
Detached on arrival of HX201 at Liverpool.
22nd
Ships of Group escorted outbound Convoy
ON124 (31) from Liverpool.
Detached from ON124 and returned to Clyde.
September
Ships of Group joined inward Convoy HX206
(45) during passage in NW Approaches.
18th
Detached from HX206 on arrival at
Liverpool. without any losses.
26th
Ships of Group escorted outbound Convoy
ON134 (42) from Liverpool.
October
Detached from ON134 and returned to Clyde
during passage in NW Approaches.
Passage by ships of Group to join inward
Convoy SC105 (50) during passage in NW
Approaches and escorted to Liverpool.
31st
Detached from SC105 on arrival at
Liverpool.
November
Passage by ships of Group to join inward
Convoy HX215 (42) during passage n NW
Approaches to Liverpool.
25th
Detached from HX215 on arrival at
Liverpool.
December
3rd
Ships of Group escorted outbound Convoy
ON151 (38) from Liverpool.
Detached from ON151 during passage in NW
Approaches and returned to Clyde.
1
9 4 3
January
Passage by ships of Group from Liverpool
to join inward Convoy SC114 (31) as
escort to Liverpool.
7th
Detached from SC114 on arrival at
Liverpool.
23rd
Ships of Group escorted outbound Convoy
ON162 (58) from Liverpool.
Detached from ON162 during passage in NW
Approaches and returned to Clyde.
(Note: HM Frigate KALE, HM Corvettes
BORAGE, HONEYSUCKLE and OXLIP
had joined Group.)
February
Passage by ships of Group to join inward
Convoy SC119 (39) as escort to
Liverpool.
22nd
Detached from SC119 on arrival at
Liverpool.
March
4th
Ships of Group escorted outward Convoy
ON171 (38) from Liverpool.
Detached from ON171 took return passage to
Clyde.
Deployed with HM Destroyers ROCKINGHAM,
WATCHMAN, HMS KALE and
three corvettes and took passage to join
inward Convoy HX230 (41) as escort for
passage to Liverpool
27th
Sighted by U305 of SEEWOLF U-BOAT Group.
See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and
U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC
(HMSO)
28th
Under attack in foul weather by U-Boats of
SEEWOLF and SEETEUFEL Groups
Took part in anti-submarine search
operations including us of Direction
Finding
equipment to locate source of enemy
wireless transmissions.
(Note: For details of tactics and weapons
used in Battle of the Atlantic see SEEK
AND STRIKE by W Hackmann and THE BATTLE OF
THE ATLANTIC by
D MacIntyre.)
29th
Attacks called off by U- Boat Command. See
references.
(Note: Only one ship was sunk during
passage despite the fact that 34 U-Boats
had
been used. No U-Boat was sunk.)
April
2nd
Detached from HX230 on arrival at
Liverpool.
12th
Deployed with HM Destroyer ROCKINGHAM, HMS
KALE and five corvettes of
Group and joined outward Convoy ON178 (58)
as escort from Liverpool during
passage in NW Approaches.
21st
Under attacks by U415 which sank two ships
in convoy and U191 which sank a third.
Detached from ON178 and took return
passage with ships of Group.
May
Ships of Group deployed for escort of
inward Convoy HX236 (46)
(Note: This Convoy together with Convoy
SC128 (31) had been selected for special
attention
by U-Boat Command which had deployed 58
U-Boats in the FINK and AMSEL
Groups to intercept these ships. See above
references.)
9th
Detached on arrival of HX236 at Liverpool
without loss
(Note: The two convoys had been re-routed
to avoid the planned enemy dispositions.)
June
Detached from Group for special joint
anti-submarine operations with RAF Coastal
to
July
Command in Bay of Biscay to intercept
submarines taking passage across this area
or
using inshore waters to attack Atlantic
shipping or return to French Bases.
(Note: Sloops of Western Approaches
Support Groups were also deployed as well
as
HM Escort Aircraft Carrier ARCHER and
covered by HM Cruisers BERMUDA
and GLASGOW for defence against German
destroyers.)
(See BATTLE OVER THE BAY by N Franks.)
Passage to Plymouth.
Deployed with HM Canadian Destroyers
IROQUOIS, ATHABASKAN, Polish destroyer
ORP ORKAN to carry out attacks on
submarines
(Operations SESLU and MUSKETRY)
August
Resumed Atlantic convoy escort duties with
1st Escort Group
(Note: Ships had been transferred for
escort of convoys to and from Gibraltar
including military convoys in support of
allied operations in Italy.
17th
Deployed with HMS WANDERER, HM Corvette
WALLFLOWER as escort for joint
convoy OG92/KMS4 during passage to
Gibraltar
22nd
Received warning from Aircraft of presence
of submarine in area,
25th
Took part in rescue of survivors from U523
after sinking by HMS WANDERER and
HMS WALLFLOWER in position 42.03N 18.02W.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and
HITLER’S U – BOAT WAR.).
30th
Detached with escort on arrival at
Gibraltar.
September
Gibraltar route convoy escort in
continuation with Group.
to
November
December
15th
Deployed with HM Frigate GLENARM as part
of escort for joint Convoy OS62/KMS36
during passage to Gibraltar from Liverpool
22nd
Detached from escort to join US Escort
Aircraft Carrier USS CARD which was being
deployed with other USN warships to
intercept and sink two German Blockade
Runners,
ORSONO and ALSTERUFER. For details see
HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR.
23rd
Under attack by U415 and hit aft by GNAT
Acoustic torpedo which destroyed stern
structure
and disabled ship. Three of ship’s company
lost their lives.
(Note: U415 was part of BORKUM U-Boat
Group ordered to carry out attacks on USS
CARD
and other ships of Support Group.)
24th
Heavy gear jettisoned and ship remained
afloat.
25th
Ship’s company transferred to HMS GLENARM
before ship was sunk by torpedo from
HMS WATCHMAN.
(Note: Western Approaches Command Standing
Orders required sinking of any escort
after damage which prevented operational
use, since convoys and their escorts
were vulnerable to submarine attacks
whilst attempting salvage operations.
For details see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR.)
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS HURRICANE
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
21/06/40
|
02/07/40
|
HX
052
|
02/07/40
|
06/07/40
|
25/06/40
|
08/07/40
|
HX
053
|
09/07/40
|
10/07/40
|
05/08/40
|
05/08/40
|
WS
002
|
07/08/40
|
08/08/40
|
10/08/40
|
10/08/40
|
ZA
|
unknown
|
19/08/40
|
15/08/40
|
27/08/40
|
SC
001
|
29/08/40
|
29/08/40
|
10/09/40
|
10/09/40
|
AP
003/1
|
12/09/40
|
22/10/40
|
15/09/40
|
15/09/40
|
OB
214
|
17/09/40
|
18/09/40
|
20/09/40
|
21/09/40
|
OG
043
|
25/09/40
|
03/10/40
|
10/09/40
|
26/09/40
|
SL
047
|
28/09/40
|
28/09/40
|
03/10/40
|
03/10/40
|
WS
003A
|
unknown
|
27/10/40
|
13/10/40
|
13/10/40
|
OL
007
|
16/10/40
|
16/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
04/11/40
|
HX
083
|
07/11/40
|
07/11/40
|
09/11/40
|
09/11/40
|
OB
241
|
12/11/40
|
14/11/40
|
14/11/40
|
27/11/40
|
HX
087
|
29/11/40
|
29/11/40
|
14/02/41
|
20/02/41
|
SLG
001A
|
22/02/41
|
22/02/41
|
19/02/41
|
08/03/41
|
HX
110
|
10/03/41
|
11/03/41
|
16/03/41
|
18/03/41
|
OB
298
|
20/03/41
|
20/03/41
|
01/03/41
|
21/03/41
|
SL
067
|
26/03/41
|
26/03/41
|
31/03/41
|
31/03/41
|
OB
304
|
03/04/41
|
04/04/41
|
06/04/41
|
16/04/41
|
HX
119A
|
20/04/41
|
22/04/41
|
26/01/42
|
04/02/42
|
HX
172
|
07/02/42
|
07/02/42
|
19/02/42
|
20/02/42
|
ON
068
|
03/03/42
|
09/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
16/03/42
|
SC
074
|
26/03/42
|
28/03/42
|
02/04/42
|
03/04/42
|
ON
082
|
15/04/42
|
18/04/42
|
26/04/42
|
29/04/42
|
HX
187
|
07/05/42
|
08/05/42
|
19/05/42
|
22/05/42
|
ON
096
|
01/06/42
|
07/06/42
|
07/06/42
|
10/06/42
|
HX
193
|
18/06/42
|
19/06/42
|
30/06/42
|
01/07/42
|
ON
108
|
12/07/42
|
18/07/42
|
17/07/42
|
19/07/42
|
SC
092
|
30/07/42
|
31/07/42
|
06/08/42
|
06/08/42
|
ON
119
|
10/08/42
|
20/08/42
|
02/08/42
|
09/08/42
|
HX
201
|
13/08/42
|
14/08/42
|
22/08/42
|
25/08/42
|
ON
124
|
02/09/42
|
06/09/42
|
06/09/42
|
09/09/42
|
HX
206
|
17/09/42
|
18/09/42
|
26/09/42
|
29/09/42
|
ON
134
|
10/10/42
|
17/10/42
|
11/10/42
|
17/10/42
|
SC
105
|
31/10/42
|
31/10/42
|
11/11/42
|
17/11/42
|
HX
215
|
24/11/42
|
25/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
KMF
004
|
28/11/42
|
06/12/42
|
04/03/43
|
04/03/43
|
ON
171
|
18/03/43
|
23/03/43
|
18/03/43
|
24/03/43
|
HX
230
|
01/04/43
|
02/04/43
|
12/04/43
|
13/04/43
|
ON
178
|
25/04/43
|
02/05/43
|
24/04/43
|
30/04/43
|
HX
236
|
09/05/43
|
09/05/43
|
24/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
ON
186
|
02/06/43
|
07/06/43
|
07/06/43
|
12/06/43
|
HX
243
|
20/06/43
|
21/06/43
|
04/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
OS
051KM
|
11/07/43
|
13/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
12/07/43
|
SL
132MK
|
16/07/43
|
17/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
MKS
018G
|
26/07/43
|
26/07/43
|
26/07/43
|
26/07/43
|
SL
133MK
|
03/08/43
|
05/08/43
|
17/08/43
|
17/08/43
|
KMS
024G
|
30/08/43
|
30/08/43
|
04/09/43
|
04/09/43
|
MKS
023G
|
17/09/43
|
17/09/43
|
27/09/43
|
28/09/43
|
ON
204
|
08/10/43
|
15/10/43
|
11/10/43
|
15/10/43
|
SC
144
|
25/10/43
|
27/10/43
|
05/11/43
|
08/11/43
|
OS
058KM
|
18/11/43
|
18/11/43
|
18/11/43
|
18/11/43
|
KMS
032G
|
19/11/43
|
19/11/43
|
23/11/43
|
23/11/43
|
MKS
031G
|
24/11/43
|
24/11/43
|
24/11/43
|
24/11/43
|
SL
140MK
|
06/12/43
|
07/12/43
|
14/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
SL
142MK
|
21/12/43
|
28/12/43
|
10/12/43
|
22/12/43
|
HX
270
|
22/12/43
|
26/12/43
|
16/12/43
|
23/12/43
|
ON
216
|
23/12/43
|
03/01/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)