HALCYON-Class
Minesweeper ordered from HM Dockyard
Devonport on 11 August
1937
with propulsion machinery to be
supplied by Barclay Curle.
The ship was laid down
on
22nd November 1937 and launched on
12th July 1938. She was the 9th RN
warship to
carry
this name which had been introduced
for a 14 gun Brig Sloop captured at
Ostend in 1656 and later expended in
the Medway against Dutch warships. The
last to carry the name
was
a Drifter hired during WW1. Build was
completed on 22nd June1939 and this
ship was adopted
by the civil community of Aireborough,
West Yorkshire after a WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign in March
1942.
B a
t t l
e H o n o u r s
ARCTIC 1941
- 42
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field White, a Bramble, slipped and
leaved Proper
M a n n i
n g D i
v i s i
o n
Devonport
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
June
Contractors trials. Commissioned for
service in 1st Minesweeping Flotilla.
22nd
Commenced Acceptance Trials.
July
On completion of trials and storing took
passage to
Portland to join HM
Fleet Minesweepers BRITOMART, HAZARD,
HEBE, SEAGULL
SHARPSHOOTER and SPEEDY in 1st
Minesweeping Flotilla.
August
Carried out minesweeping trial in Lyme
Bay with ships of Flotilla..
(Note: This field had been specially
laid to establish minesweeping
capabilities.
50 mines were swept.)
Took passage to War Station with
Flotilla at Scapa Flow.
September
Deployed with Flotilla for minesweeping
operations to ensure clear passage for
Home Fleet ships in and out of Fleet
anchorage.
October
Scapa Flow deployment in continuation.
14th
Transferred to Clyde and cleared British
deep anti-submarine mine field off
Gourock
(Note: Home Fleet units were moved to
Clyde area after the sinking of HM
Battleship ROYAL OAK at anchor in Scapa
Flow by a torpedo from U47
which penetrated the anchorage.)
November
Resumed North Sea Service to ensure
passages through East Coast Mine
Barrier were kept clear of mines.
(Note: Extensive enemy minelaying using
magnetic mines was being carried
out in North Sea. See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by C Barnett.
December
Transferred to Stornoway for Atlantic
convoy escort duties with Flotilla
1 9 4 0
January
Returned to Scapa Flow for Fleet duties.
February
Home Fleet mine clearance duties in
continuation.
to
March
April
Remained at Scapa Flow for Fleet duties with HMS HAZARD, HMS SPEEDY
HMS SEAGULL and HMS BRITOMART.
Nominated for refit at Leith with HMS
BRITOMART and took passage to Forth.
(Note: This ship did not take part in
operations to evacuate troops from
Dunkirk)
May
Under repair in commercial shipyard.
June
On completion of refit and trials took
passage to resume Flotilla duties at
Scapa
Flow.
July
Scapa Flow mine clearance in continuation with Flotilla.
to
December
1 9 4 1
January
Flotilla duties at Scapa Flow in continuation.
to
Nominated for minesweeping operations
based at Harwich.
February
Passage to Harwich.
March
Deployed with HM Fleet Minesweepers
HEBE, BRITOMART and
SHARPSHOOTER at Harwich for mine
clearance operations between
the Thames Estuary and Portsmouth
Hit by bomb during air raid at Harwich.
April
On completion of repair resumed mine
clearance operations with Flotilla
in English Channel.
Transferred to Western Approaches
Command for Atlantic convoy escort
and took passage with Flotilla to
Stornoway.
(Note: This change was required because
of the shortage of escorts caused
by the losses and damage during 1940
during evacuation operations
and the increase in threat of U-Boat
attacks on convoys after bases
in French ports became available. See
HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR
by C Blair and U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO).)
May
Attached to 3rd Escort Group and
deployed with HM Fleet Minesweepers
HAZARD, BRITOMART and HEBE.
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to J11 as part of
Total revision of these identities.)
June
Atlantic convoy defence with 3rd Escort
Group and Irish Sea Escort Force
to
in continuation.
September
(Note: During periods when not required
for escort these minesweeper
were deployed for minesweeping in
Western Approaches.)
October
Nominated for detached service in North
Russia.
(Note: Three HALCYON Class Fleet
Minesweepers had been transferred
to North Russia in August for
minesweeping and convoy escort
in the White Sea based at Archangel.). They were
relieved earlier
during October by three others of this
Class.
This ship had not be “articised” for
service in Polar areas.).
18th
Joined escort for outward Russian Convoy
PQ2 (Six ships) with HMS
SEAGULL and SPEEDY and took passage to
Archangel. HM Destroyers
ECLIPSE and ICARUS were also deployed as
escort for PQ2 cover provided
by HM Cruiser NORFOLK.
29th
HM Fleet Minesweepers GOSSAMER, HUSSAR
and LEDA joined PQ2
as Local Escort during final stage of
passage.
30th
Detached from PQ2 with escort on arrival
at Archangel.
November
3rd
Deployed with HMS LEDA and HMS SEAGULL
as Local Escort for
outward convoy QP2 (12 ships) during
initial stage of passage to UK from
Archangel. HMS ECLIPSE and HMS ICARUS formed Ocean Escort
with cover by HMS NORFOLK.
5th
Detached from QP2 with Local Escort and
took return passage to Archangel
For minesweeping and patrol duties.
20th
Joined inward Convoy PQ3 (8 ships) with
HMS SEAGULL and HMS
SPEEDY as Local Escort during final
stage of passage into Archangel.
Ocean Escort comprised HM Destroyers
BEDOUIN and INTREPID covered
by HM Cruiser KENYA.)
22nd
Detached from PQ3 with escort on arrival
and deployed for local minesweeping
and patrol duties.
December
7th
Joined inward Convoy PQ5 (7 ships) with
HMS SEAGULL as reliefs for the
Ocean Escort from Iceland, HM Fleet
Minesweepers SHARPSHOOTER,
HAZARD and HEBE
(Note: HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD had been
deployed as Cruiser cover since 1st
December and also detached on 7th.)
13th
Detached from PQ5 on arrival at
Archangel.
29th
Deployed with HMS HEBE as Local Escort
for outward Convoy QP4
(13 ships) on departure from Archangel.
(Note: Ocean Escort comprised HMS LEDA,
HMS SEAGULL, HMS
SPEEDY, HM Trawlers BUTE and STELLA
CAPELLA.)
1 9 4 2
January
5th
Detached from QP4 when HM Cruiser
EDINBURGH, HM Destroyers
ECHO and ESCAPADE joined Ocean Escort on 5th January during passage,)
10th
Deployed at Archangel for local duties.
Nominated for return to UK ton be
refitted and “Articised”.
25th
Joined HM Cruiser
TRINIDAD and HM Destroyer SOMALI
in Ocean Escort
for outward Convoy QP6 (6 ships) with
HMS HEBE when HMS HARRIER
and HMS SPEEDWELL of Local Escort
detached.)
27th
Russian destroyers GREMYASCHI and
SOKRUSHITELNY of Local
Escort detached.
28th
Took independent passage to Sunderland when QP6 dispersed.
February
Taken in hand by commercial shipyard in
Sunderland.
March
Under refit.
April
10th
Carried out post refit trials on
completion of dockyard work.
Nominated for further service in North
Russia.
(Note: Commanding Officer, Captain J H F
Crombie DSC, RN.)
Passage to Iceland to join Ocean Escort
for inward Convoy PQ15.
26th
Sailed from Reykjavik with HMS SEAGULL
and HMS LEDA as Senior
Officer for Ocean Escort with three
trawlers for inward Convoy PQ15
(26 ships) during the passage to
Murmansk.
(Note: HM Escort Destroyer also joined
as escort for the oiler GRAY
RANGER and three trawlers were deployed
for Local Escort)
28th
HM AA Ship ULSTER QUEEN, HM Destroyers
BADSWORTH,
BOADICEA, MATCHLESS, SOMALI, VENOMOUS
and Norwegian
ST ALBANS joined to supplement Ocean Escort during Arctic transit.
HM Submarine STURGEON was also deployed
with escort and HM Cruiser
NORFOLK provided cruiser cover.
30th
HM Cruiser LONDON deployed for
additional cover till 1st May.
May
2nd
HMS NIGERIA cover concluded.
(Note: Additional Distant Cover was
provided by ships of Home Fleet
which included US Navy ships. For full
details of all Russian
Convoy operations with names of warships
and mercantiles
See CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg, THE
RUSSIAN
CONVOYS by B Schoefield, CONVOY ! by P
Kemp and
ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman.
HM Destroyer PUNJABI was sunk after
collision with HM
Battleship KING GEORGE V whilst deployed
with the
Distant Covering force.)
Convoy under heavy and sustained attacks
by submarines and aircraft
after sighting by reconnaissance
aircraft. Three mercantiles were lost.
Submarine contact by HMS SEAGULL and
HMNorS ST ALBANS
was attacked and later it was
established that this was the Polish
JASTRZAB which had been out of her
allotted patrol area and had been sunk.
3rd
During further air attacks one
mercantiles was hit and damaged but
able to reach Murmansk.
(Note: 15 of the mercantiles in PQ15
were US flagged.)
5th
Detached from PQ15 with escort on
arrival at Murmansk.
6th
Deployed at Murmansk for local duties
including minesweeping, AA
Guardship, patrol and local escort.
21st
Joined outward Convoy QP12 with HM Fleet
Minesweepers LEDA,
GOSSAMER, SEAGULL, Soviet destroyers
GROZNI and
SOKRUSHITELNY as Local Escort during
initial phase of passage from
Kola Inlet.
(Note: Ocean Escort including HMS ULSTER
QUEEN and Home Fleet
ships from PQ15 together with HM Fleet
Minesweeper HARRIER
returning to UK for North Russian
service.)
23rd
Detached from QP12 with Local Escort and
returned to Kola Inlet.
30th
Joined inward Convoy PQ16 (29 ships)
during passage into Kola Inlet
with HM Fleet Minesweepers GOSSAMER and
SEAGULL.
Detached with Fleet Minesweepers, HM
Destroyer MARNE and HM AA
Ship ALYNBANK as escort for six ships of
PQ16 into Archangel.
Under air attacks without casualties.
June
1st
Detached from convoy with escort on
arrival in Archangel.
(Note: PQ16 was the largest convoy to
North Russia up to this
date and had sailed from Reykjavik with
26 ships.)
2nd
Resumed North Russia local duties.
10th
Deployed with HMS HAZARD, HMS LEDA, HM
Corvette DIANELLA
and two Russian destroyers after
despatched from Archangel to carry out
search for surviving ships and personnel
from inward Convoy PQ17 which
had been dispersed on orders from
Admiralty because of threat of attack by
German battleship TIRPITZ, armoured
ships ADMIRAL SHEER, LUTZOW
and cruiser ADMIRAL SCHEER. For details
see above references, Naval
Staff History and THE CONVOY IS TO
SCATTER by J Broome.
(Note: By 24th June five ships from PQ17
had been escorted into
Archangel.39 ships sailed with convoy
from
Reykjavik and 24 were
lost during passage.)
26th
Sailed from Archangel with HM Fleet
Minesweepers HAZARD, LEDA,
SEAGULL, Russian destroyers GROZNI,
GREMYASCHI and KUIBYSHEV
as Local Escort for ships during passage
to join outward Convoy QP13
(36 ships).
28th
Detached on merger of mercantiles with
ships from Murmansk.
Took return passage to Archangel with
same escort.
(Note: Ocean Escort included HM Fleet
Minesweepers NIGER and HUSSAR
returning from service in North Russia.
HMS NIGER was lost after
striking a mine in a British field off
Iceland, See references.)
July
Deployed for local duties in North
Russia.
to
(Note: No Russian convoys were sailed
during July and August after the
August
disastrous passage of PQ17. See
references.)
September
Nominated for return to UK with HMS LEDA
and SEAGULL.
13th
Joined Ocean Escort for outward Convoy
QP14 (20 ships) with HM
AA Ships ALYNBANK, POZARICA, PALOMARES,
HM Destroyers
BLANKNEY, MIDDLETON, HM Corvettes
DIANELLA, LA MALOUINE
(Free French), LOTUS, POPPY and four
trawlers.
(Note: Local Escort from Archangel
comprised HM Fleet Minesweepers
BRITOMART, HALCYON, HAZARD and
SALAMANDER.)
17th
Ocean Escort supplemented by HM Escort
Aircraft Carrier AVENGER,
HM Cruiser SCYLLA, 16 destroyer and two
submarines.
(Note: Ships in this convoy carried
survivors from PQ17 and Distant Cover
was provided by the Home Fleet.)
20th
Under submarine attacks during which HMS
LEDA was sunk by U435 and
the mercantile SILVER SWORD (a PQ17
survivor) sunk by U255
HM Destroyer SOMALI was damaged by a
torpedo from U703 and disabled.
24th
HMS SOMALI sank whilst under tow by HM
Destroyer ASHANTI.
See above references.
26th
Detached from QP14 with AA Ships and
trawlers on arrival at Loch Ewe.
Took independent passage..
27th
Involved in collision and sustained
significant structural damage to hull.
Repair arranged in Humber
October
Under repair in commercial shipyard in
Humber.
November
Under repair
30th
Carried out post repair trials on
completion of dockyard work.
December
Nominated for further service in North
Russia.
Prepared for service in Home waters.
22nd
Joined inward Convoy JW51B with HM
Corvettes HYDERABAD,
RHODODENDRON and two trawlers as Escort.
24th
First German sighting.
25th
HM Destroyers ACHATES, OBEDIENT,
OBDURATE, ONSLOW,
ORIBI and ORWELL joined as Fighting
Escort during passage to
Kola Inlet.
Passage delayed by weather conditions
and some ships straggled.
27th
Cruiser cover provided by HMS SHEFFIELD
and HMS JAMAICA
with Distant cover from Home Fleet ships
including HM Battleship
ANSON.
30th
Convoy under threat of attack by German
armoured ship LUTZOW.
Cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER and destroyers
which had been sailed from
Altenfjiord after sighting report from
U354.
31st
Detached from escort to search for
stragglers.
Returned toward JW51B after enemy report
made by HMS OBDURATE
after coming under fire from German
ships.
Encountered ADMIRAL HIPPER with 11in
main armament and
destroyers which carried out attack.
Sustained immediate fatal damage and
sank in position 73,18N 30,06E
with no survivors.
(Casualty
List -
note
on casualties)
(Note: HMS HYDERABAD had sighted enemy
ships beforehand but made
no enemy report as the ships were
believed to be Russian destroyers.
This delay may not have been significant
but at least would have
given earlier warning of the presence of
the enemy force.)
Addendum
Link
to
www.halcyon-class.co.uk
by
Bill Burn