Allied Warships

HMS Scimitar (H 21)

Destroyer of the Admiralty S class

Navy	The Royal Navy
Type	Destroyer
Class	Admiralty S
Pennant	H 21
Built by	John Brown Shipbuilding & Engineering Company Ltd. (Clydebank, Scotland)
Ordered	Apr 1917
Laid down	30 May 1917
Launched	27 Feb 1918
Commissioned	29 Apr 1918
End service
History	HMS Scimitar is not listed as active unit in the April 1945 Navy List Scrapped on 30 June 1947.

Commands listed for HMS Scimitar (H 21)

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	Commander	From	To
1	Lt. Mark Thornton, RN	7 Jun 1938	26 Feb 1940
2	Lt. Robert Denys Franks, RN	26 Feb 1940	20 Jun 1942
3	Lt.Cdr. Charles George Cuthbertson, DSC, RNR	20 Jun 1942	Jul 1943
4	Lt. Gilbert Charles Potter, DSC, RN	1 Jul 1943	18 Dec 1943
5	Lt. Philip Archer-Shee, RNVR	18 Dec 1943	Oct 1944
6	T/A/Lt.Cdr. Allan Arthur Gotelee, DSC, RNVR	Oct 1944	Jan 1945

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Notable events involving Scimitar include:

7 Oct 1939
Around 0100 hours, HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. L.V. Morgan, CBE, MVO, DSC, RN) departed Spithead for Plymouth. She was escorted by the destoyers HMS Saladin (Lt.Cdr. L.J. Dover, RN) and HMS Scimitar (Lt.Cdr. M. Thornton, RN).

They arrived at Plymouth around 1245 hours. (1)

8 Jul 1940
HMS Scimitar (Lt. R.D. Franks, OBE, RN) and HMS Vanquisher (Cdr. C.B. Alers-Hankey, RN) together pick up 43 survivors from the British merchant Humber Arm that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-99 60 nautical miles south of Fastnet in position 50°36'N, 09°24'W.

29 Nov 1940
HMS H 32 (Lt. R.L. Alexander, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Scimitar (Lt. R.D. Franks, OBE, RN) and another vessel [unable to read the name in the log of HMS H 32]. (2)

13 Feb 1941
HMS H 44 (Lt. A.R. Hezlet, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Wanderer (Cdr. A.F.St G. Orpen, RN), HMS Sabre (Lt. P.W. Gretton, DSC, RN) and HMS Scimitar (Lt. R.D. Franks, OBE, RN). (3)

15 Feb 1941
HMS H 44 (Lt. A.R. Hezlet, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Scimitar (Lt. R.D. Franks, OBE, RN) and HMS Leamington (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Bowerman, RN). (3)

9 Apr 1941

Convoy SC 28.

This convoy departed Halifax on 9 April for Liverpool where it arrived on 28 April 1941.

Upon departure from Halifax the convoy was made up of the following merchant ships: Aeas (Greek, 4729 GRT, built 1915), Akabahra (Norwegian, 1524 GRT, built 1929), Aldington Court (British, 4891 GRT, built 1929), Almenara (British, 1851 GRT, built 1922), Anna Bulgaris (Greek, 4603 GRT, built 1912), Armathia (British, 4683 GRT, built 1919), Baron Inchcape (British, 7005 GRT, built 1917), Beckenham (British, 4636 GRT, built 1937), Bernhard (Norwegian, 3563 GRT, built 1924), Bosworth (British, 6672 GRT, built 1919), Bristol City (British, 2864 GRT, built 1920), Buccinum (British (tanker), 5237 GRT, built 1910), Cressdene (British, 4270 GRT, built 1936), Despina (Greek, 3016 GRT, built 1907), Embassage (British, 4954 GRT, built 1935), Euthalia (Greek, 3553 GRT, built 1918), Georgios P. (Greek, 4052 GRT, built 1903), Gezina (Norwegian, 1828 GRT, built 1917), Gullpool (British, 4868 GRT, built 1928), Katvaldis (British, 3163 GRT, built 1907), King Stephen (British, 5274 GRT, built 1928), Kisnop (British, 5874 GRT, built 1919), Manatee (British, 5948 GRT, built 1920), Matronna (Greek, 2846 GRT, built 1902), Navarino (British, 4841 GRT, built 1937), Niceto de Larrinaga (British, 5591 GRT, built 1916), Prins Willem van Oranje (Dutch, 1303 GRT, built 1918), Rossum (Dutch, 2118 GRT, built 1928), Runswick (British, 3970 GRT, built 1930), Sildra (Norwegian (tanker), 7313 GRT, built 1927), Trojan Star (British, 9037 GRT, built 1936), Wellfield (British (tanker), 6054 GRT, built 1924) and West Amargosa (British, 5462 GRT, built 1919).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Chitral (Capt.(Retd. G. Hamilton, RN). Submarine HMS Talisman (Lt. M. Willmott, RN) joined the escort on the 11th. Battleship HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. H.B. Jacomb, RN) joined the convoy on the 13th and was detached on the 20th as was HMS Talisman. HMS Chitral was detached on the 21st.

On 24 April 1941 the destroyer HMS Scimitar (Lt. R.D. Franks, OBE, RN), corvettes HMS Dianthus (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) C.E. Bridgman, RNR), HMS Mallow (Lt.Cdr. W.B. Piggott, RNR), HMS Marigold (T/Lt. J. Renwick, RNR), HMS Nasturtium (Lt.Cdr. J.F.C. Bartley, DSC, RNR), HMS Periwinkle (Lt.Cdr. P.G. MacIver, RNR)), HMS Primrose (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) A. Ayre, RNR) and the minesweepers HMS Bramble (Capt. M.H. Evelegh, RN), HMS Hazard (Lt.Cdr. J.R.A. Seymour, RN) and HMS Speedy (Lt. J.G. Brookes, RN) joined the convoy. The minesweepers departed later the same day. On the 26th, corvette HMS Mallow was detached. The destroyer HMS Wanderer (Cdr. A.F.St.G. Orpen, RN) joined on the 27th.

The convoy arrived at Liverpool on the 28th.

30 Apr 1941

Convoy HX 124.

This convoy departed Halifax on 30 April 1941 for Liverpool where it arrived on 20 May 1941.

Upon departure from Halifax the convoy was made up of the following merchant ships: Aalsum (Dutch, 5418 GRT, built 1922), Alchiba (British, 4427 GRT, built 1920), Algenib (British, 5483 GRT, built 1937), Asbjorn (British, 4387 GRT, built 1935), Athelviscount (British (tanker), 8882 GRT, built 1929), Atlantian (British, 6549 GRT, built 1928), Auditor (British, 5444 GRT, built 1924), Baron Ogilvy (British, 3391 GRT, built 1926), Barrington Court (British, 4910 GRT, built 1924), Beaconstreet (British (tanker), 7467 GRT, built 1927), Botavon (British, 5848 GRT, built 1912), British Faith (British (tanker), 6955 GRT, built 1928), British Fortune (British (tanker), 4696 GRT, built 1930), British Industry (British (tanker), 4297 GRT, built 1927), British Resolution (British (tanker), 8408 GRT, built 1937), Charlton Hall (British, 5200 GRT, built 1940), Daytonian (British, 6434 GRT, built 1922), Delphinula (British (tanker), 8120 GRT, built 1939), Echodale (British (tanker), 8150 GRT, built 1941), Empire Hawk (British, 5033 GRT, built 1919), Empire Steel (British (tanker), 8138 GRT, built 1941), Gitano (British, 3956 GRT, built 1921), Harmala (British, 5730 GRT, built 1935), King Lud (British, 5224 GRT, built 1928), Kingswood (British, 5080 GRT, built 1929), Korsholm (Swedish, 2647 GRT, built 1925), Madrono (Norwegian (tanker), 5894 GRT, built 1917), Morska Wola (Polish, 3208 GRT, built 1924), Pacific Enterprise (British, 6736 GRT, built 1927), Pomella (British (tanker), 6766 GRT, built 1937), Queen City (British, 4814 GRT, built 1924), Redgate (British, 4323 GRT, built 1929), Souliotis (Greek, 4299 GRT, built 1917), Varand (British (tanker), 6023 GRT, built 1927), Vera Radcliffe (British, 5587 GRT, built 1925), Vivi (Norwegian (tanker), 6546 GRT, built 1932) and Wearwood (British, 4597 GRT, built 1930).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Circassia (A/Capt. E.V. Lees, RN) and the corvettes HMCS Cobalt (T/A/Lt.Cdr. R.B. Campbell, RCNR) and HMCS Collingwood (T/Lt. W. Woods, RCNR). The corvettes were detached later the same day.

On 2 May the convoy was joined by the battleship HMS Royal Sovereign (Capt. H.B. Jacomb, RN). She detached from the convoy on 9 May.

On 11 May the destroyer HMS Broadway (Lt.Cdr. T. Taylor, RN) and corvettes HMS Aubretia (Lt.Cdr. V.F. Smith, RNR), HMS Hollyhock (Lt. T.E. Davies, OBE, RNR) and HMS Nigella (T/Lt. T.W. Coyne, RNR) joined the convoy

On 12 May the destroyers HMS Burwell (Lt.Cdr. S.R.J. Woods, RNR), HMS Scimitar (Lt. R.D. Franks, OBE, RN), HMS Malcolm (Cdr. C.D. Howard-Johnston, DSC, RN), HMS Watchman (Lt.Cdr. E.C.L. Day, RN), HMS Amazon (Lt.Cdr. N.E.G. Roper, RN), corvettes HMS Heliotrope (Lt.Cdr. J. Jackson, RNR), HMS Mallow (Lt.Cdr. W.B. Piggott, RNR), HMS Violet (Lt.Cdr. K.M. Nicholson, RNR), and A/S trawlers HMS Northern Gem (Skr.Lt. W.J.V. Mullender, DSC, RNR), HMS Northern Wave (T/Lt. W.G. Pardoe-Matthews, RNR), HMS Notts County (T/S.Lt. R.H. Hampton, RNR) and HMS Vizalma (T/Lt. M.M. Firth, RNVR) joined the convoy.

On 14 May the corvettes HMS Anemone (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Boys-Smith, DSO and Bar, RD, RNR), HMS Clarkia (Lt.Cdr. F.J.G. Jones, RNR), HMS Verbena (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Rayner, DSC, RNVR) and HMS Veronica (Lt.Cdr. (retired) D.F. White, RNR) joined the convoy.

The destroyers HMS Burwell, HMS Scimitar, HMS Malcolm, corvettes HMS Aubretia, HMS Heliotrope, HMS Hollyhock, HMS Mallow, HMS Nigella, HMS Vervena, HMS Veronica and all the A/S trawlers were detached on 14 May.

HMS Circassia and HMS Watchman were detached on 15 May while on the same day the destroyers HMS Burnham (Cdr. J. Bostock, DSC, RN), HMS Leamington (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Bowerman, RN), HMS Salisbury (Lt.Cdr. H.M.R. Crichton, RN), escort destroyer HMS Eridge (Lt.Cdr. W.F.N. Gregory-Smith, RN), minesweepers HMS Hussar ( Lt.Cdr. D.H.P. Gardiner, RN), HMS Niger ( Lt.Cdr. J.M. Bayley, DSC, RN), and catapult ship Ariguani joined the escort.

On 18 May the destroyer HMS Roxborough (Lt. V.A. Wight-Boycott, OBE, RN) joined the convoy. Also on this day HMS Leamington and HMS Anemone were detached.

On 19 May the destroyer Saladin joined the escort.

The convoy arrived at Liverpool on 20 May.

29 Jun 1941
German U-boat U-651 was sunk south of Iceland, in position 59°52'N, 18°36'W, by depth charges from the British destroyers HMS Malcolm (Cdr. C.D. Howard-Johnston, DSC, RN), HMS Scimitar (Lt. R.D. Franks, RN), the corvettes HMS Arabis (Lt.Cdr. J.P. Stewart, RNR) and HMS Violet (Lt.Cdr. K.M. Nicholson, RNR) and the minesweeper HMS Speedwell (Lt.Cdr. J.J. Youngs, OBE, RNR).

2 Jul 1941
HMS H 44 (Lt. A.C.G. Mars, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Scimitar (Lt. R.D. Franks, OBE, RN) and HMS Northern Wave (T/Lt. W.G. Pardoe-Matthews, RNR). (4)

11 Nov 1941
HrMs O 9 (Lt. H.A.W. Goossens, RNN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle together with HMS Scimitar (Lt. R.D. Franks, OBE, RN). Upon completion of these exercises she set course to proceed to Rothesay. She made the passage together with HMS H 33 (Lt. A.J.W. Pitt, RN). They were escorted by HrMs Z 5 (Lt. J.J. Steensma, RNN). (5)

12 Nov 1941
HMS H 50 (Lt. E.T. Stanley, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Badsworth (Lt.Cdr. M.S. Townsend, DSC and Bar, OBE, RN), HMS Scimitar (Lt. R.D. Franks, OBE, RN) and HMS Anemone (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Boys-Smith, DSO and Bar, RD, RNR). (6)

29 Nov 1941
HMS H 34 (Lt. W.A. Phillimore, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle together with HMS Scimitar (Lt.Cdr. R.D. Franks, OBE, RN). (7)

26 Feb 1942
HMS H 43 (Lt. R.B. Lakin, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Churchill (Cdr.(Retd.) G.R. Cousins, RN) and HMS Scimitar (Lt.Cdr. R.D. Franks, OBE, RN). (8)

27 Feb 1942
HrMs O 10 (Lt. Baron D.T. Mackay, RNN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle together with HMS Sardonyx (Lt.Cdr. R.B.S. Tennant, RN) and HMS Scimitar (Lt.Cdr. R.D. Franks, OBE, RN). (9)

27 Apr 1942
HMS H 43 (Lt. F.D.G. Challis, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Harvester (Cdr. H.P. Henderson, RN) and HMS Scimitar (Lt.Cdr. R.D. Franks, OBE, RN).

Upon completion of these exercises she set course for Rothesay escorted by HMS White Bear (Cdr.(Retd.) C.C. Flemming, RN). (10)

20 May 1942
HMS H 28 (Lt. J.S. Bridger, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Snowflake (Lt. H.G. Chesterman, RNR), HMS Stork (Cdr. F.J. Walker, DSO, RN), HMS Convolvulus (T/Lt. R.C. Connell, RNR), HMS Gardenia (T/Lt. C.J. Jackson, RNVR), HMS Sabre (Lt. R.L. Caple, DSC, RN) and HMS Scimitar (Lt.Cdr. C.G. Cuthbertson, DSC, RNR). (11)

11 Jun 1942
HMS P 615 (Lt. P.E. Newstead, RN) arrived at Loch Ewe where she joined convoy UR 28 bound for Reykyavik, Iceland.

This convoy was made up of the British merchants Andre Thome (2012 GRT, built 1921), Don (1037 GRT, built 1924), Lilian I (1271 GRT, built 1924), Skjold (1345 GRT, built 1904), Tomsk (1229 GRT, built 1911), Willodale (1777 GRT, built 1907) and the Polish merchant Lech (1568 GRT, built 1934). They were escorted by the British destroyers HMS Saladin (Lt.Cdr. G.V. Legassick, RNR) and HMS Scimitar (Lt.Cdr. R.D. Franks, OBE, RN). (12)

15 Nov 1942
HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede, RNN) departed Holy Loch for her 1st war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the Bay of Biscay. Passage south through the Irish Sea was made together with HMS Sealion (Lt. D. Lambert, DSC, RN). They were escorted by HMS Scimitar (Lt.Cdr. C.G. Cuthbertson, DSC, RNR) until 1900/17.

For the daily and attack positions of HrMs Dolfijn during this patrol see the map below.

(13)

7 Jan 1943
HMS H 34 (Lt. G.M. Noll, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Wear (Cdr. E. Wheeler, RD, RNR), HMS Sennen (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Abram, RN), HMS Scimitar (Lt.Cdr. C.G. Cuthbertson, DSC, RNR), HMS Geranium (T/A/Lt.Cdr. A. Foxall, RNR) and HMS Wellington (Lt. L.G. Toone, RN). (14)

8 Jan 1943
HMS H 34 (Lt. G.M. Noll, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Scimitar (Lt.Cdr. C.G. Cuthbertson, DSC, RNR), HMS Gorleston (Cdr.(Retd.) R.W. Keymer, RN), HMS Wellington (Lt. L.G. Toone, RN) and HMS Totland (Lt.Cdr. L.E. Woodhouse, RN). (14)

25 May 1943
HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departed from Holy Loch for Gibraltar.

During the passage south through the Irish Sea she was escorted by HMS Scimitar (Lt.Cdr. C.G. Cuthbertson, DSC, RNR) until 1340/27.

For the daily positions of HMS Templar during this passage see the map below.

(15)

1 Jun 1943
HMS Ursula (T/Lt. M.D. Tattersall, RNVR) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Scimitar (Lt.Cdr. C.G. Cuthbertson, DSC, RNR). (16)

2 Jun 1943
HMS Ursula (T/Lt. M.D. Tattersall, RNVR) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Scimitar (Lt.Cdr. C.G. Cuthbertson, DSC, RNR). (16)

3 Jun 1943
HMS Ursula (T/Lt. M.D. Tattersall, RNVR) departed Moville, Northern Ireland for Rothesay. She was escorted by HMS Scimitar (Lt.Cdr. C.G. Cuthbertson, DSC, RNR). Before departure exercises were carried out with HMS Scimitar. (16)

9 Jul 1943
HMS H 28 (Lt. E.C. Croswell, DSC, RN) departed Falmouth for Rothesay. At sea she made rendez-vous with her escort, the destroyer HMS Scimitar. (17)

21 Jul 1943
HMS P 511 (Lt. C.W. Taylor, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle together with HMS Snowflake (Lt. H.G. Chesterman, DSC, RNR), HMS Loosestrife (Lt. H.A. Stonehouse, DSC, RNR), HMS Shikari (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Rayner, DSC, VRD, RNVR), HMS Scimitar (Lt.Cdr. C.G. Cuthbertson, DSC, RNR or Lt. G.C. Potter, DSC, RN), HMS Duncan (Cdr. Sir P.W Gretton, DSO and Bar, DSC, OBE, RN) and HMS Vansittart (Lt.Cdr. T. Johnston, RN). (18)

22 Jul 1943
HMS P 511 (Lt. C.W. Taylor, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle together with HMS Wallflower (Lt. G.R. Greaves, RNR), HMS Fame (Cdr. R.A. Currie, RN), HMS Shikari (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Rayner, DSC, VRD, RNVR) and HMS Scimitar (Lt.Cdr. C.G. Cuthbertson, DSC, RNR or Lt. G.C. Potter, DSC, RN). (18)

23 Jul 1943
HMS Tuna (Lt. D.S.R. Martin, DSO, RN) ended her 20th war patrol at Holy Loch. Tuna, and HMS Truculent (Lt.Cdr. R.L. Alexander, RN) were escorted from 0800 hours by HMS Scimitar. (19)

16 Aug 1943
HMS Sealion (Lt. N.J. Coe, DSC, RNR) conducted special exercises in the Clyde area. During these exercises her boarding party boarded HMS Scimitar (Lt. G.C. Potter, DSC, RN). (20)

12 Sep 1943
HMS Tuna (Lt. D.S.R. Martin, DSO and Bar, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course) with HMS Breda (Capt.(Retd.) A.E. Johnston, RN), HMS Scimitar (Lt. G.C. Potter, DSC, RN), HMS Sardonyx (T/A/Lt.Cdr. E. Playne, RNVR) and HMS Blade (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S.T. Wenlock, RNR). (21)

4 Nov 1943
HMS Sirdar (Lt. J.A. Spender, RN) conducted night radar exercises in the Clyde area for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course) during which HMS Scimitar (Lt. G.C. Potter, DSC, RN) served as target. (22)

5 Nov 1943
HMS Sirdar (Lt. J.A. Spender, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course) during which HMS Scimitar (Lt. G.C. Potter, DSC, RN) served as target. (22)