1
9 4 3
August
Contractors
trials.
30th
- Commissioned for service.
September
17th
- Visited by Mr Vincent Massey, Canadian High
Commissioner in the
United Kingdom.
18th
- Build completion and commenced acceptance
trials.
On
completion of trials
took passage from Forth estuary to Scapa Flow
for work-up.
October
Worked-up
with Home Fleet based at Scapa Flow.
14th
- On completion deployed with HM Destroyers
JANUS, VIGILANT, HARDY,
IROQUOIS (RCN) and US destroyer USS CORRY to
provide cover for replenishment of
Spitzbergen garrison (Home Fleet Operation
FQ).
16th
- On completion of FQ
provided cover for passage of five
minesweepers and six motor launches to North
Russia (Home Fleet Operation FR. Note: HM
Cruiser LONDON and US Cruiser AUGUSTA were
also deployed in covering force. The convoy
comprised Lease Lend
warships destined for service with the Russian
Northern Fleet and were manned
by Russian crews. Close Escort was provided by
nine Home Fleet destroyers.)
23rd
- Detached from cover role and returned to
Scapa Flow.
25th
- Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE off
Cape Wrath for
passage to Scapa Flow
November
2nd
- Deployed with HM Destroyers ONSLOW, VENUS,
Norwegian destroyer
STORD, US destroyers CAPPS and HONSON as
screen for HM Battleship ANSON, HMS FORMIDABLE
and HM Cruiser JAMAICA to provide cover for
transit of Russian Convoy RA54A
which was returning from Kola Met (Home Fleet
Operation FT. Note. For details
of all Russian Convoy operations, see CONVOYS
TO RUSSIA by R.A Ruegg, THE
RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield, ARCTIC
CONVOYS by R. Woodman and CONVOY! by R
Woodman.)
8th
- Detached from RA54A with covering force and
returned to Scapa
Flow.
18th
- Deployed with HM Destroyers IMPULSIVE,
ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW, ORWELL,
OBDURATE, HMCS HURON and HMCS IROQUOIS as
Ocean Escort for Convoy JW54A during
passage to Kola Inlet.
19th
- HMS OBDURATE withdrawn from Close Escort due
to defect and
returned to Scapa Flow.
24th
- Detached from JW54A with Close Escort on
arrival.
26th
- Joined return Convoy RA54B with same ships
as Close Escort for
passage to UK.
December
5th
- Detached from RA54B and returned to Scapa
Flow with Close Escort.
22nd
- Deployed with HM Destroyers IMPULSIVE,
ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW, ORWELL,
SCOURGE, HMCS HURON and HMCS IROQUOIS as Close
Escort for Russian Convoy JW55
during passage to Kola Inlet.
25th
- Close Escort reinforced by HM Destroyers
MATCHLESS, MUSKETEER,
OPPORTUNE and VIRAGO in view of the threat of
attack by German Battleship
SCHARNHORST. (See above references. Note: The
German warship was engaged and
sunk by ships of Home Fleet providing cover
for the passage of this convoy and
two others in the Arctic.)
Under
sustained attacks by
aircraft and submarines.
29th
- Detached with ships of Close Escort on
arrival of JW55B at Kola
inlet.
31st
- Deployed as Close Escort for passage of
return Convoy RA55B to UK
with same ships.
1
9 4 4
January
3rd
- Under submarine attacks.
7th
- Detached from RA55B with Close Escort and
returned to Scapa Flow.
10th
- Transferred with HMCS IROQUOIS for detached
service and took
passage to Plymouth to join Plymouth Command
for duty in English Channel.
13th
- Deployed at Plymouth.
19th
- Carried out patrol off French coast for
interception of coastal
convoy traffic (Operation TUNNEL Series.)
20th
- Returned to Plymouth.
February
2nd
- Carried out further TUNNEL Operation.
3rd
- Returned to Plymouth.
4th
- Recalled for duty in Home Fleet and took
passage to Scapa Flow
with sister ships HMCS IROQUOIS and ATHABASKAN.
5th
- Arrived at Scapa Flow for Home Fleet
screening duties.
10th
- Deployed with HMCS IROQUOIS and ATHABASKAN
as part of destroyer
screen for HM Battleship ANSON and French
battleship RICHELIEU, HM Cruisers
BELFAST and HMS NIGERIA during
anti-shipping strike off Norwegian coast.
12th
- Returned to Scapa Flow after only secondary
shore targets had
been attacked by aircraft.
13th
- Released from Home Fleet duties and returned
to Plymouth.
15th
- On arrival at Plymouth joined HM Destroyers
TARTAR and HMCS
ASHANTI of 10th Destroyer Flotilla with HMCS
IROQUOIS and ATHABASKAN. (Note:
This Flotilla was deployed as Force 26.)
18th
- HMCS IROQUOIS withdrawn for Flotilla and
took passage to Canada
for refit Replaced by HMCS HURON.
20th
- Nominated for service with Flotilla
(Operation NEPTUNE.)
Took
part in preparatory
exercises for NEPTUNE.
March
NEPTUNE
exercises in continuation.
11th
- Took part in Exercise FOX in preparation for
NEPTUNE.
24th
- Took part in Exercise MUSKRAT 2 in
preparation for NEPTUNE. (Note:
For details of preparations and execution of
Operation NEPTUNE see OPERATION NEPTUNE
by K Edwards, LANDINGS IN NORMANDY (HMSO) and
BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de
Winser.)
30th
- Joined HM Destroyers BRISSENDEN and
TANATSIDE with HMCS HURON to
take part in preparatory exercise as screen
for HM Cruisers BLACK PRINCE and
GLASGOW which were deployed to provide naval
gunfire support during these
landings (Exercise BEAVER).
April
NEPTUNE
preparatory exercises in continuation.
12th
- Took part in large scale combined exercise
with HMCS HURON and
HMS TARTAR in sea area west of the Needles and
deployed as part of screen for
major warships deployed off assault area
(Exercise TROUSERS).
19th
- Deployed with HM Destroyers TANATSIDE,
WENSLEYDALE, MELBREAK and ASHANTI
to cover minelaying operation by 10th Motor
Launch Flotilla off lle de Bas (Operation
HOSTILE 26, part of Operation MAPLE.).
21st
- Deployed with HMS ASHANTI to provide cover
during further MAPLE
minelay off Ile de Vierge by HM Minelaying
Cruiser APOLLO (Operation HOSTILE
29).
22nd
- Deployed with HMS ASHANTI and HMCS
ATHABASKAN to cover further
minelay off Isle de Vierge by HMS APOLLO.
25th
- Deployed with HMS BLACK PRINCE, HMS ASHANTI,
HMCS ATHABASKAN and HURON
as Force 26 for an operation in Tunnel Series
to intercept coastal traffic in
Bay of Biscay.
26th
- Under fire from shore batteries during
patrol off French coast. Intercepted
three ELBING Class German destroyers, T24, T27
and T29 which were on passage
for minelay and for cover of coastal convoy.
Engaged enemy ships with surface
gunfire after initial radar detection. Force
26 attacked by torpedoes from
Germany destroyers which failed to hit any
ship of Force 26. During this engagement Force
26 ships fired torpedoes and engaged
with main armament. Although torpedo attack
failed, T29 was sunk by gunfire
north of Ile de Bas in position 48.53N 3.35W.
135 of the enemy ship's company
were killed. The other two ships withdrew.
Returned to Plymouth with Battle
Ensigns flying. This was the first destroyer
sunk by an RCN ship. (Note: During
entry into Plymouth HMS ASHANTI and HMCS HURON
were involved in collision and
both ships had to be taken out of service with
Force 26 for repair.).
Deployed
for support of
Operation TIGER and carried out patrol in
Channel to prevent approach by enemy
E-Boats. None were intercepted. (Note: During
following night E-Boats attacked
one of the TIGER convoys sand sank several
ships with heavy loss of life. See
LANDINGS IN NORMANDY)
Sailed
from Plymouth for
further TUNNEL Operation with HMCS ATHABASKAN.
27th
- No convoy attacks were made and ships
returned to Plymouth.
28th
- Sailed from Plymouth with HMS ATHABASKAN to
provide cover for
minelaying operation off Ile de Bas by two
motor torpedo boats and eight motor
launches (Operation HOSTILE 26. Note: This was
part of MAPLE IE, See Naval
Staff History (Mining).).
29th
- During patrol NE of minelayers, warned of
presence of enemy ships
on passage between St Malo and Roches Douvres.
Ordered to intercept with HMS
ATHABASKAN and obtained radar contact. Engaged
two ELBING Class destroyers with
main armament and enemy turned towards coast
under smoke and fired torpedoes.
Obtained hits on destroyer T24 and pursued T27
which after being hit was hit
and set on fire before running ashore at
Pontuasval, Brittany. During initial
stage of the engagement HMS ATHABASKAN was hit
by two torpedoes and sank in
position 48.43N 4.31W after a heavy explosion
on board. Minelay operation
cancelled and ship took part in rescue of
survivors from sister ship. (Note: 42
personnel were rescued and another 85 made
Prisoners of War. Six men
miraculously were able to return to UK in a
motor boat and were rescued by an
RAF launch late in the day. 127 of the ships
company of HMCS ATHABASKAN lost
their lives).
Return
passage was covered by HM Destroyers OFFA and
ORWELL. Arrived
at Plymouth with saddened ship's company after
loss of HMCS ATHABASKAN as well as
some of her own crew missing.
May
Deployed
with Flotilla for NEPTUNE exercises.
4th
- Took part in Exercise FABIUS east of the
Isle of Wight. (See
LANDINGS IN NORMANDY.)
6th
- On release from FABIUS returned to Plymouth
for duties in Plymouth
Command.
15th
- Deployed with HM Cruiser BELLONA, HM
Destroyer TARTAR to provide
cover for minelay by HMS APOLLO in area west
of Ushant. Opened fire on HMS
APOLLO during operation due to communications
error (Operation HOSTILE 32. See
Naval Staff History). Operation was abandoned.
16th
- Deployed for repeat of HOSTILE 32 west of
Ushant with same ships.
Possible interception by three ELBING Class
destroyers did not materialise.
20th
- Deployed with HMS BELLONA, HMS TARTAR and
HMS HURON to cover
minelay by HMS APOLLO north of Ushant
(Operation HOSTILE 33).
22nd
- Deployed with HMS TARTAR and HMS HURON to
cover minelay off Ile
de Vierge by HMS APOLLO (Operation HOSTILE
34).
25th
- Deployed with HMS TARTAR and HMS HURON to
cover minelay NW of
Ushant by HMS APOLLO (Operation HOSTILE 40.
Note: This was the last minelay in
the MAPLE III Series.).
June
Deployed
for support of Operation NEPTUNE based at
Plymouth. (Note: Not
attached to either Task Force and required for
interception of any enemy
warships attempting to approach transit routes
for Assault Convoys.)
4th
- Operation postponed 24 hours.
5th
- Sailed from Plymouth with Flotilla for
patrol north of Channel
Islands
6th to
8th - Interception duties in
continuation. Transferred to new patrol
line east-west from 49.30N 5.00W to 49.30N
6.00W on orders from CinC Plymouth
who anticipated a movement of enemy destroyers
in attempt to attack invasion
traffic. Reconstituted as Force 26. Change of
patrol line ordered and took
passage to 15 miles off Brittany coast.
Distance from coast altered by CinC to
20 miles offshore because of mine dangers.
Commenced sweep between Ile de Bas
and Ile de Vierge.
9th
- Radar contact made and Force 26 ships closed
to investigate. Four
ships were T24, an ELBING Class destroyer, Z32
and Z24, both NARVIK Class
destroyers and ZH1, the Ex Dutch destroyer
TJERK HEDDES captured after fall of Holland
in May 1940. Enemy ships altered
course and fired torpedoes which were avoided.
Engaged with HMS TARTAR, HMS
ASHANTI and HMCS HURON with main and secondary
armament at close range. During
the action Z32 was serious damaged and
eventually ran ashore on Ile de Bas.
ZH1 was sunk by gunfire and two torpedoes from
HMS ASHANTI. Z24 and T24 although
badly damaged were able to escape. HMS TARTAR
sustained some damage and had 17
casualties including four killed. Returned to
Plymouth with ships of Force 26
after a successful action which did much to
ensure safe passage of allied
convoys to the beachhead.
12th
- Sailed from Plymouth with HMCS HURON to
carry out diversionary
operation to the south of the Channel Island
and east of Roches Dourves. (Note:
This was to be in association with planned air
attacks.)
13th
- Special party which had been embarked
carried out W/T transmissions
to suggest possible landings on west coast of
the Cherbourg Peninsula. Returned
to Plymouth on release.
14th
- Deployed at Plymouth for patrol in English
Channel to intercept any
attempts to interfere with convoys to and from
beachheads.
24th
- Took passage with HMS ESKIMO to provide
cover for ant-submarine
operation by ships of 1st Escort Group and
Coastal Command aircraft in area
south of Lands End. Diverted to position NW of
Ushant where aircraft had
sighted a surfaced submarine. Carried out
depth charge attack on a submarine
which had dived after air attack. U971 forced
to surface after two hours and
engaged with both main armament and close
range weapons from both ships. Hits
on conning tower started fire and crew
abandoned the sinking submarine. (For
details see HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR Volume II by C
Blair and U-BOATS DESTROYED by P
Kemp.) 53 survivors were rescued.
Landed
prisoners at Falmouth and returned to
Plymouth. Taken in hand for
routine
docking and maintenance.
July
12th
- On completion resumed duties with Flotilla.
13th
- Deployed with HMS TARTAR and Polish
destroyer BLYSKAWICA for
offensive sweep off approaches to Lorient,
still in German hands and from which
evacuation by sea was expected.
14th
- Returned to Plymouth after unsuccessful
patrol. Sailed for
further interception patrol off Lorient with
same ships.
15th
- Carried out attack on convoy sinking one
mercantile and damaging
two others.
16th to
31st - Plymouth deployment for interception
patrols in continuation.
August
5th
- Deployed with HM Cruiser BELLONA, HMS
TARTAR, HMS ASHANTI, HMCS
HAIDA, HMCS IROQUOIS and ORP BLYSKAWICA for
interception patrol in Bay of
Biscay as Force 26.
6th
- Intercepted evacuation convoy with several
escorts near Ile d'Yeu.
During the engagement by ships of Force the
explosion of a shell being loaded
into Y Gun caused ten casualties, two of which
were fatal. Some damage was
sustained. (Note: In this action German
minesweepers M2286 and M486, Patrol
Boat V414 and a launch were sunk. Many
hundreds of soldiers being evacuated
lost their lives. Despite the accident, ship
remained with Force 26 and took part in an
attack on a second convoy between
Bellisle and Quiberon Bay the result of which
was inconclusive. Force 26
ordered to withdraw before daylight and return
to Plymouth.
7th
- Under repair by HM Dockyard, Devonport.
9th
- Funeral of the two members of ships company
killed in the
accident.
22nd
- On completion resumed duties with Flotilla.
30th
- Deployed with HMCS IROQUOIS for escort of
French cruiser JEANNE
D'ARC for passage in SW Approaches from
Algiers to Cherbourg.
31st
- Met JEANNE D'ARC which had members of the
French Provisional
Government on board and escorted ship to her
destination
September
Deployed
at Plymouth and nominated for refit in Canada
on release from
service in 10th Destroyer Flotilla.
6th
- Deployed with HM Destroyer KELVIN for
support of French Resistance
group to prevent escape of German military
personnel from Brest. Whilst off Les
Sables informed of approach of craft carrying
Germans attempting to get to La Rochelle.
Two vessels were captured by HMS KELVIN but
one sank under tow by ship. Valuable
documentation and other equipment were then
given to French group.
8th
- Returned to Plymouth to prepare for passage
to Canada.
22nd
- Sailed for Canada after an address by the
CinC Plymouth Command
to thank ship for her distinguished service
whilst serving under his
command.
29th
- Arrived at Halifax.
October
to December
Under
refit
1
9 4 5
January
Completed
post refit trials in Canadian waters and took
passage to
Plymouth.
11th
- Arrived at Plymouth.
12th
- Taken in had for installation of improved
radar and modifications
to existing fit by HM Dockyard, Devonport.
(Note: For details of development
and use of radar in the Royal Navy see RADAR
AT SEA by D Howse.)
February
Dockyard
work in continuation.
22nd
- On completion prepared to resume service in
17th Destroyer
Flotilla, Home Fleet.
24th
- Carried out trials on radar equipment and
took passage to Scapa
Flow for work-up.
28th
- Worked-up with Home Fleet based at Scapa
Flow.
March
On
completion joined Flotilla for Home Fleet
duties.
19th
- Joined HM Destroyers ONSLOW, SERAPIS, ZEST
and IROQUOIS (RCN) for
HM Escort Aircraft Carriers PREMIER, SEARCHER,
QUEEN and HM Cruiser BELLONA deployed
as Force 1 to cover air minelaying off the
coast of Norway. (Operation CUPOLA -
See Naval Staff History (Mining).)
21st
- Returned to Scapa Flow with ships of Force 1
on completion.
24th
- Joined HM Destroyers ONSLOW, SERAPIS,
CARYSFORT, ZEALOUS and
IROQUOIS (RCN) as screen for HM Escort
Aircraft Carriers SEARCHER, NAIRANA,
QUEEN and PUNCHER deployed as Force Two for
air strikes on shipping off the
coast of Norway (Operation PREFIX I).
26th
- In absence of shipping, aircraft carried out
attacks on shore
targets.
28th
- Attacks made on shipping by carrier aircraft
which destroyed two
Me109 for the loss of a BARRACUDA aircraft
from HMS PUNCHER (Operation PREFIX
II).
29th
- Returned to Scapa Flow with ships of Force
Two.
April
Home
Fleet deployment with Flotilla in
continuation.
7th
- Detached for special operation and took
passage to Greenock.
8th
- Joined seven submarine chasers at Greenock
for escort during their
passage in the NW Approaches to join Russian
Convoy JW66 forward passage to
Kola Inlet (Operation ROUNDEL).
15th
- Arrived at Skaalfjord, Faeroes after delay
by extreme weather
conditions which had forced ships to seek
shelter in both Loch Ewe and later at
Thurso. Took passage to join destroyers
ZEPHYR, ZODIAC, ZEALOUS, ZEST, OFFA,
HURON (RCN), IROQUOIS (RCN) and Norwegian
STORD as escort for JW66 with cruiser
BELLONA, and escort carriers VINDEX and
NAIRANA. Sloop CYGNET, and corvettes
ALNWICK CASTLE, BAMBOROUGH CASTLE, FARNHAM
CASTLE, HONEYSUCKLE, LOTUS and OXLIP
of 7th Escort Group were also part of the
close escort. Frigates of 19th
Support Group in support for anti-submarine
operations.
22nd
- Rescued pilot of aircraft from HMS VINDEX
which had crashed
during take-off.
25th
- Detached from JW66 with Close Escort on
arrival at Kola Inlet. (Note:
Ships of escort carried out anti-submarine
attacks in entrance to Kola Inlet to
ensure safe departure of convoy.)
29th
- Joined return convoy RA66 on departure from
Kola Inlet. (Note:
During anti-submarine operations outside Kola
Inlet before departure of RA66,
U307 and U286 were sunk by ships of 19th
Support Group, but frigate GOODALL was
torpedoed and sunk by U968. Some survivors
were rescued. See above references
for details.)
May
Nominated
for return to Canada on release from service
with RN.
8th
- Detached on arrival of RA66 at Greenock. VE
Day! Returned to
Scapa Flow with Home Fleet ships.
16th
- Deployed with HM Cruiser BERWICK and HMCS
HURON for visit to
Trondheim.
17th
- Arrived at Trondheim to a tumultuous
reception with subsequent
outstanding hospitality.
23rd
- Passage from Trondheim.
24th
- Arrived at Scapa Flow.
25th
- Sailed from Scapa Flow for passage to
Greenock with HMCS HURON.
26th
- At Greenock with HMCS HURON and IROQUOIS.
June
4th
- Took passage from Greenock for Halifax with
her two sister ships.
10th
- Arrived at Halifax to a resounding welcome.
July
Under
refit including tropicalisation to suit
service in the Pacific.
August
After
VJ Day ship was nominated for reduction to
Reserve status