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:

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]. (1)

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). (2)

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). (2)

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). (3)

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). (4)

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). (5)

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). (6)

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). (7)

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). (8)

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). (9)

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). (10)

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). (11)

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.

(12)

7 Jan 1943
HMS H 34 (Lt. G.M. Noll, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Wear, 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). (13)

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). (13)

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.

(14)

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). (15)

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). (15)

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. (15)

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. (16)

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). (17)

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). (17)

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. (18)

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). (19)