Allied Warships

HMCS Prince David (F 89)

Armed Merchant Cruiser of the Prince class

NavyThe Royal Canadian Navy
TypeArmed Merchant Cruiser
ClassPrince 
PennantF 89 
Built byCammell Laird Shipyard (Birkenhead, U.K.) 
Ordered 
Laid down12 Feb 1930 
Launched 
Commissioned28 Dec 1940 
End service11 Jun 1945 
History

Conversion to armed merchant cruiser completed on 28 December 1940.
Rebuilt as Landing Ship Infantry LSI(M) from 1 March 1943 and recommissioned as such on 6 January 1944.
As LSI(M) she was armed with 2 4" AA guns (1x2), 1 40mm AA, 6 20mm AA (6x1).
She carried 2 LCM's, 1 LCS(M) and 5 LCA's or LCP(L)'s and 444 troops.

Decommissioned 11 June 1945.
Sold into mercantile service in 1946 as Charlton Monarch.
Scrapped at Swansea, Wales in 1951.

 

Commands listed for HMCS Prince David (F 89)

Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.

CommanderFromTo
1T/Cdr. William Barclay Armit, RCNR28 Dec 194024 Mar 1941
2Cdr. Kenneth Frederick Adams, RCN25 Mar 19411 Dec 1941
3A/Capt. Valentine Stuart Godfrey, RCN2 Dec 194118 Mar 1942
4T/Lt. Thomas Douglas Kelly, RCNR19 Mar 194216 Apr 1942
5A/Capt. Valentine Stuart Godfrey, RCN17 Apr 194217 Apr 1943
6T/Lt.Cdr. Thomas Douglas Kelly, RCNR18 Apr 194311 Jun 1945

You can help improve our commands section
Click here to Submit events/comments/updates for this vessel.
Please use this if you spot mistakes or want to improve this ships page.

Notable events involving Prince David include:


16 Apr 1941
HMS Caradoc (Capt. J.S. Bethell, RN) arrived at Barbedos.

She departed to patrol east of Martinue later the same day to relieve HMCS Prince David (Cdr. K.F. Adams, RCN) which she did around 0545Q/17. (1)

11 May 1941
HMS Caradoc (Capt. J.S. Bethell, RN) and HMCS Prince David (Cdr. K.F. Adams, RCN) both departed Port of Spain, Trinidad to establish a patrol about 200 nautical miles to the east of Martinique. The object of the patrol was to intercept an enemy raider or a laden Vichy-French merchant vessel proceeding from the French West Indies to France of French North Africa. (2)

21 May 1941
HMS Diomede (Capt. J.W. Farquhar, RN) intercepted the Vichy-French tanker Shéhérazade (13467 GRT, built 1935) about 800 nautical miles east-south-east of Bermuda in position 29°37'N, 49°16'W.

The Canadian armed merchant cruiser HMCS Prince David (Cdr. K.F. Adams, RCN) which had also been ordered to search for the tanker arrived at the spot about two hours later. (3)

8 Jul 1941
HMS Despatch (Commodore 2nd cl. C.E. Douglas-Pennant, DSC, RN) and HMCS Prince David (Cdr. K.F. Adams, RCN) both arrived at St. Lucia from patrol. (4)

27 Aug 1941
HMS Rodney (Capt. J.W. Rivett-Carnac, DSC, RN) departed Bermuda as a possible German warship (thought to be a Hipper-class cruiser) was reported in the North Atlantic, in position 34°30'N, 51°47'W, steering 140° at 25 knots, by the Canadian armed merchant cruiser HMCS Prince David (Cdr. K.F. Adams, RCN). HMS Rodney was ordered to proceed to position 25°00'N, 40°00'W to try to intercept. (5)

15 Sep 1941
Around 1430P/10, HMS Newcastle (Capt. E.A. Aylmer, DSC, RN), parted company in position 34°58'N, 46°30'W, with the troopship Durban Castle (17388 GRT, built 1938) and the armed merchant cruisers Queen of Bermuda (Capt. A.T.G.C. Peachey, RN) and HMCS Prince David (Cdr. K.F. Adams, RCN).

HMCS Prince David had joined them at 1100P/10.

HMS Newcastle then set course for Bermuda while the other ships continued their passage towards the U.K. (6)

16 Sep 1941
The troopship Durban Castle (British, 17388 GRT, built 1938), with the Greek Royal family on board, and escorted by the armed merchant cruisers Queen of Bermuda (Capt. A.T.G.C. Peachey, RN) and HMCS Prince David (Cdr. K.F. Adams, RCN) encountered heavy weather. Around 2005O/16, HMCS Prince David sustained weather damage. By 2110O/16, she dropped astern and then hove to in position 45°30'N, 35°00'W.

The Durban Castle and HMS Queen of Bermuda were able to continue on towards the U.K. (7)

9 Sep 1944
Between 0730C/9 and 0830C/9, ' Force A ' of the ' British Aegean Force' departed Alexandria to operate of Crete and the Dodecanese Islands to attack the (retiring) German forces in the area.

The Force was made up of the light cruiser HMS Royalist (Capt. J.G. Hewitt, DSO, RN, flying the flag of R.Adm. T.H. Troubridge, DSO and Bar, RN), escort carriers HMS Hunter (Capt. H.H. McWilliam, RN), HMS Pursuer (A/Capt. H.R. Graham, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Searcher (Capt. G.O.C. Davies, RN), HMS Khedive (Capt.(Retd.) H.J. Haynes, DSO, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Troubridge (Capt. C.L. Firth, DSO, MVO, RN, Capt. D.24), HMS Teazer (Lt.Cdr. A.A.F. Talbot, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN), HMS Termagant (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Scatchard, DSC, RN) and HMS Terpsichore (Cdr. A.C. Behague, DSC, OBE, RN), HMS Tumult (Lt.Cdr. N. Lanyon, DSC, RN), HMS Tuscan (Lt.Cdr. E.N. Wood, DSC, RNVR), HMS Tyrian (Cdr. R.H. Mills, RN), ORP Garland (Kmdr.ppor.(Cdr.) B.J. Biskupski) and RHS Navarinon.

On 10 September 1944, ' Force A ' operated south of Crete during the entire day.

On 11 September 1944, ' Force A ' remained to the south of Crete.

On 12 September 1944, ' Force A ' remained to the south of Crete and starting around 0700C/12, some ships were fuelled,HMS Royalist and RHS Navarinon were fuelled by HMS Hunter and HMS Tuscan by HMS Searcher.

At 1445C/12, HMS Tenacious and HMS Tumult were detached to Malta.

During the night of 12/13 September 1944, (Group 1) HMS Royalist with RHS Navarinon, (Group 2) HMS Troubridge and HMS Tuscan and (Group 3) HMS Tyrian and HMS Teaser conducted anti-shipping sweeps in the Aegean.

Group 1, drew blank.

Group 2, encountered a convoy of one cargo ship, two escorts and three caiques between Santorin and Candia. The entire convoy was destroyed. Among these ships were the transport Toni (638 BRT, built 1911) and the caiques Specht / PI 17 and Agios Demitrios / PI 687. HMS Tuscan sustained some minor damage in the action.

Group 3, conducted a sweep from Pigadia Bay on Karpathos and then along the east side of Rhodes. They sighted nothing.

At 0630C/13, Groups 1 and 2 made rendezvous in position 35°30'N, 25°36'E and then set course to rejoin the remainer of ' Force A '. Fighter cover was provided by aircraft from HMS Pursuer.

Around 0930C/13, HMS Tuscan parted company with ' Force A ' to return to Alexandria where she arrived around 0700C/14.

Around 1330C/13, HMS Termagant, HMS Terpsichore and ORP Garland commenced fuelling from HMS Searcher, HMS Pursuer and HMS Khedive respectively.

Around 1830C/13, HMS Khedive was detached to proceed to the vicinity of position 37°30'N, 19°30'E. She was escorted by ORP Garland. They were then to make rendezvous on the 15th with the landing ship HMCS Prince David (T/Cdr. T.D. Kelly, RCNR) and the destroyers HMS Tenacious and HMS Tumult and provide air cover for these ships. HMCS Prince David was to land a force which were to establish a coastal forces base on Kythira Island.

During the night of 13/14 September 1944, (Group 1) HMS Tyrian with HMS Teazer and (Group 2) HMS Termagant and HMS Terpsichore conducted anti-shipping sweeps in the Aegean. Both groups sighted nothing.

Around 0730C/14, Groups 1 and 2 rejoined ' Force A '.

Around 0930C/14, a small caique was sighted in the vicinity of position 35°25'N, 26°15'E. HMS Termagant boarded and remover 1 German officer and 23 German naval ratings as well as 2 Greeks. The caique was then sunk. The prisoners stated that they were evacuating from Scarpanto to Crete.

Around 1445C/14, the escort carriers HMS Attacker (Capt. H.B. Farncomb, DSO, MVO, RAN), HMS Emperor (A/Capt. T.J.N. Hilken, DSO, RN), light cruiser HMS Black Prince (Capt. D.M. Lees, DSO, RN) and the destroyer HMS Tuscan departed Alexandria to join ' Force A '.

Around 1730C/14, HMS Searcher, escorted by HMS Tyrian and RHS Navarinon were detached to proceed to the vicinity of position 35°40'N, 22°20'E.

Around 2000C/14, HMS Hunter and HMS Troubridge were detached to Alexandria where they arrived around 1400C/15.

During the night of 14/15 September 1944, HMS Royalist and HMS Teazer conducted an anti-shipping sweep in the Aegean. HMS Royalist also directed night fighters. These two ships sank two German transports around 20 miles north-east of Suda Bay around 0400C/15. These were the transport Erpel (834 GRT, built 1944, former KT 26) and the auxiliary submarine chaser UJ 2171 / Heidelberg (former transport KT 4).

On 15 September 1944, HMS Searcher and HMS Khedive provided air cover over the Kythira area.

Around 0900C/15, a number of dinghies were sighted near position 35°37'N, 25°52'E. HMS Teazer then was sent to this location and picked up 10 Germans. These were survivors from the action during the night of 12/13 September.

Around 1200C/15, HMS Attacker, HMS Emperor, HMS Black Prince and HMS Tuscan joined ' Force A ' in position 35°02'N, 26°28'E. But 15 minutes later, HMS Black Prince, which had refridgerator trouble was ordered to return to Alexandria where she arrived around 0700C/16.

Around 1300C/15, HMS Termagant and HMS Terpsichore commenced fuelling from HMS Emperor and HMS Attacker.

Around 1800C/15, HMS Teazer and HMS Tuscan commenced fuelling from HMS Emperor and HMS Attacker.

At the same time HMS Termagant and HMS Terpsichore were detached for an anti-shipping sweep in the Aegean.

Around 1900C/16, the light cruiser HMS Aurora (Capt. G. Bernard, CBE, DSO, RN) and the destroyer HMS Troubridge departed Alexandria to join ' Force A '.

Around 0630C/16, HMS Termagant and HMS Terpsichore rejoined ' Force A '. They had sighted nothing.

Around 1215C/16, HMS Aurora and HMS Terpsichore joined from Alexandria.

Around 1230C/16, HMS Aurora and HMS Terpsichore parted company to bombard Milos around 1600C/16. Fighter protection and air spotting would be provided by aircraft from HMS Pursuer.

Around 1700C/16, HMS Teazer was detached to Alexandria where she arrived around 0730C/17.

Around 1820C/16, HMS Aurora and HMS Terpsichore were ordered to remain in the Aegean to patrol off Milos.

Around 2000C/16, HMS Royalist, HMS Troubridge and HMS Termagant were detached to the Aegean. HMS Royalist was to direct night fighters, HMS Troubridge was to patrol off Candia and HMS Termagent was to patrol off Suda Bay.

Around 0700C/17, HMS Troubridge and HMS Termagant rejoined. They had sighted nothing.

Around 0950C/17, HMS Royalist, which had now also rejoined ' Force A ' commenced fuelling from HMS Attacker.

Aircraft reported the the German minelayer Drache had arrived at Milos. HMS Aurora then opened fire on the harbour with HMS Terpsichore blockading the harbour entrance. The target however proved to be elusive but shore istallations, including the radar station, were hit.

HMS Troubridge bombarded caiques seen in Santorin harbour.

Around 1500C/17, the escort destroyers HMS Zetland (Lt. C.R. Bax, RN) and HMS Brecon (Lt. N.R.H. Rodney, RN) departed Alexandria to join ' Force A '.

Around 2030C/17, HMS Khedive and ORP Garland rejoined.

During the night of 17/18 September 1944, HMS Troubridge and HMS Tuscan blockaded Suda Bay and Standia respectively.

On 18 September, HMS Aurora and HMS Terpsichore carried out a harassing bombardment of W/T and radar stations on Milos with the assistance of air spotting.

HMS Troubridge, HMS Termagant, HMS Terpsichore, HMS Tuscan and ORP Garland fuelled from HMS Attacker and HMS Khedive.

15 Enemy flying boats were seen in Suda Bay and an air strike of 16 dive bombers attacked them but the results are unknown due to the weather conditions did not made it possible to conduct a photographic reconnaissance after the attack.

At 1730A/18, ORP Garland sighted a schnorkel from a submerged U-boat. She was joined by HMS Troubridge, HMS Terpsichore and the escort destroyers HMS Zetland and HMS Brecon. These last two ships had just joined ' Force A '. This U-Boat was subsequently destroyed after a long hunt and 48 prisoners were taken.

During the night of 18/19 September 1944, HMS Aurora bombarded Candia harbour and Heraklion airfield.

On 19 September, HMS Terpsichore, HMS Teazer and HMS Zetland fuelled from HMS Attacker, HMS Emperor and HMS Khedive respectively.

Around 0815C/19, the escort destroyers HMS Farndale (Cdr. E.G. Roper, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Haydon (Lt. R.G.R. Clay, RN) departed Alexandria to join ' Force A '. At sea they joined the AA cruiser HMS Colombo (Capt. C.T. Jellicoe, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) which had already departed around 0630C/19 and had first conducted exercises.

Around 1020C/19, an air strike force of 45 fighter bombers was sent to Rhodes. They destroyed several enemy ships and caused damage to the harbour facilities.

Around 0500C/20, HMS Colombo, HMS Farndale and HMS Haydon joined.

HMS Terpsichore, HMS Termagant, HMS Zetland and HMS Brecon then fuelled from HMS Attacker and HMS Emperor.

Around 1340C/20, HMS Colombo and HMS Termagant were detached to blockade Candia, HMS Teazer and HMS Farndale to blockade Suda Bay and HMS Zetland to blockade Santorin.

Around 1910C/20, the remainder of ' Force A ' set course for Alexandria.

Around 1400C/21, HMS Attacker, HMS Pursuer, HMS Emperor, HMS Khedive, HMS Royalist, HMS Troubridge, HMS Terpsichore, HMS Tuscan, HMS Brecon arrived at Alexandria.

Around 1815C/21, HMS Searcher, HMS Tyrian and RHS Navarinon arrived at Alexandria.

Around 1930C/21, HMS Colombo, HMS Teazer, HMS Termagant, HMS Farndale, HMS Haydon and HMS Zetland arrived at Alexandria.

During the entire time ' Force A ' had been off Crete aircraft from the escort carriers had attacked numerous enemy targets. (8)

Sources

  1. ADM 53/113818 + ADM 199/402
  2. ADM 53/113819 + ADM 199/402
  3. ADM 53/114121
  4. ADM 53/114076 + ADM 199/402
  5. ADM 53/115030 + ADM 199/402
  6. ADM 53/114789 + ADM 53/114922 + ADM 199/402
  7. ADM 53/114922
  8. ADM 199/297 + ADM 199/1429 + ADM 199/1434

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


Return to the Allied Warships section