HMS DERWENT (L 83) - Type III, Hunt-class Escort Destroyer, ordered from Vickers Armstrong, Barrow under the 1940 Emergency Programme on 4th July 1940 with 7 others of this Type. The ship was laid down as Yard No 793, Admiralty Job No J3988 on 29th December 1940. She was launched on 22nd August 1941 as the 5th RN ship to carry this name, that of a fox-hunt in Yorkshire. It was introduced in 1807 for a Brig Sloop and last used by a Trawler in 1920 which was sold in 1913. Build was completed on 24th April 1942 and she had been adopted by the civil community of Easthampstead, Berkshire after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in February 1942.
D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e
1 9 4 2: April Contractors trials and commissioned for service. 24th Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials Took passage to Scapa Flow on completion of trials and storing.
May Worked-up with ships of Home Fleet at Scapa Flow. Deployed in Western Approaches Command for Atlantic convoy defence. Nominated for transfer to 5th Destroyer Flotilla at Alexandria.
June 1st Joined military convoy WS19P in Clyde with HM Battleship NELSON and HM Destroyer BLACKMORE as Ocean Escort for Atlantic passage. (Note: HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS was also with this convoy until detaching on 5th June for an aircraft delivery to Malta.)
15th Detached from WS19P on arrival at Freetown.
19th Sailed from Freetown with HM Battleships NELSON, RODNEY, HM Destroyers PENN, PATHFINDER and QUENTIN as Ocean Escort for passage to Capetown.
July 1st Detached from WS198P escort on arrival at Capetown. Took passage to Home waters.
August Joined escort for Malta relief convoy WS21S on passage from Clyde to Gibraltar.
(Operation PEDESTAL - See PEDESTAL by Peter C Smith, MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C. Barnett, THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D .Macintyre and Naval Staff History.
(Note: Other HUNT Class Escort Destroyers from Home Fleet also deployed with escort for this convoy were HM Destroyers BRAMHAM, BICESTER, LEDBURY and WILTON.
10th Deployed with destroyer screen for HM Cruisers NIGERIA, KENYA, MANCHESTER and CAIRO with HM Destroyers ASHANTI, INTREPID, ICARUS, FORESIGHT, FURY, PATHFINDER, PENN and above named HUNT Class as Force X. (Note: Force X was the Close Escort for WS21S and was to remain with the convoy during passage through the Sicilian Narrows to Grand Harbour).
13th Detached from convoy with HM Destroyers BICESTER and WILTON as escort for HMS NIGERIA to Gibraltar after being hit by torpedoes from Italian submarine AXUM on 12th August (See above references).
15th On arrival at Gibraltar detached for service in South Atlantic and Indian Ocean. Took passage to South Atlantic Station with calls at Freetown and Simonstown.
September 13th Joined military convoy WS22 during passage to Cape of Good Hope from Freetown.
18th Detached from WS22 with Greek destroyer PINDOS. Took passage to Kilindini with call at Durban.
October Deployed for Indian Ocean convoy defence based at Kilindini in continuation. to December
1 9 4 3 January Deployed on envoy escort and patrol in Indian Ocean. Passage to Red Sea for escort of military convoy taking ANZAC 9th Division back to Australia from Middle East after recall for defence of Australia. (Operation PAMPHLET).
February Escorted convoy in Red Sea and Gulf of Aden with HM Destroyers PAKENHAM, PETARD, ISIS, HERO and Greek VASILISSA OLGA. Detached after arrival of Ocean Escort. Passage to Alexandria to join Mediterranean Fleet.
March Joined 22nd Destroyer Flotilla Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria. Deployed for convoy defence, patrol and support of military operations.
19th Under heavy air attack by Ju88 aircraft whilst at anchor in Tripoli harbour. Hit by circling torpedo whilst getting under way. Sustained major damage with flooding in midships compartments including Boiler Room. Holed on port side and ship completely immobilised with 6 fatal casualties. Ship beached to await repair.
April Under temporary repair to allow ship to be moved.
May-June Passage to UK under tow by ALLEGIANCE as part of convoy MKS18 from Gibraltar.
July At Devonport awaiting repair in HM Dockyard.
August 11th Taken in hand for repair work.
September Under repair at low priority because of Operation NEPTUNE commitments,
to December
1 9 4 4
Repair work in HM Dockyard continued as labour allowed.
1 9 4 5
January Decision made to stop repair and reduce ship to Reserve status
February Awaiting de-equipping at Devonport to July August
Reduced to Reserve status. Laid-up in Reserve Fleet at Devonport to await de-equipping.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS DERWENT remained at Devonport and in September 1946 her machinery was transferred to RNEC at Manadon for use in training of Marine Engineer officers. The ship was sold to BISCO on 8th November that year for demolition by T W Ward at Penryn where she arrived in tow on 21st February 1947.
(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search)
Source: http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono ... erwent.htm
Information supplied by Mr P Crichton.
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