Allied Warships

HMS Richmond (G 88)

Destroyer of the Town class

NavyThe Royal Navy
TypeDestroyer
ClassTown 
PennantG 88 
Built byMare Island Navy Yard (Vallejo, California, U.S.A.) 
Ordered 
Laid down10 Jul 1917 
Launched15 Dec 1917 
Commissioned26 Nov 1940 
End service16 Jul 1944 
History

Commissioned in the Royal Navy as HMS Richmond 5 December 1940. She arrived at Plymouth, England, 31 December 1940 to join the escorts sailing out of Liverpool in the Western Approaches Command. These ships guarded the movement of vital convoys through the most dangerous waters of their passage across the Atlantic. Between June and October 1941, she performed similar duty in the Newfoundland force, and from February 1942 through March, made the dangerous run to Murmansk. Her base for Atlantic escort duty between December 1942 and August 1943 was Greenock, Scotland. From august 1943 Richmond served in the Royal Canadian Navy, based at St. John's, Newfoundland, until December 1943, when with newer escorts available, she was placed in reserve in the Tyne. On 16 July 1944 she was transferred to the Russian Navy.

She was scrapped in 1949.

 
Former nameUSS Fairfax (DD 93)
Career notesto Soviet Union as USSR Zivuchij

Commands listed for HMS Richmond (G 88)

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
1Lt.Cdr. Alfred Francis Llewellyn Evans, RNJan 1941Aug 1941
2Lt.Cdr. (retired) William Anthony Moens, RNAug 194115 Jan 1942
3Lt.Cdr. John Malcolm Rodgers, RN15 Jan 1942mid 1942

4Lt.Cdr. Reginald Cyril Stevens Woolley, RNR10 Dec 1942early 1943

5Lt.Cdr. Alfred Thomas Morgan, RNVR20 Mar 1943early 1944

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Notable events involving Richmond include:


6 Mar 1941
HMS Unbeaten (Lt. E.A. Woodward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Dartmouth with HMS Richmond (Lt.Cdr. A.F.L. Evans, RN) and HMCS Niagara (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) E.L. Armstrong, RCN). (1)

22 Mar 1941
HrMs O 9 (Lt. H.A.W. Goossens, RNN) departed Londonderry for Falmouth. She was escorted by HMS Richmond (Lt.Cdr. A.F.L. Evans, RN) until 1445/23 when a British trawler took over the escort until 1945/23 hours when the Dutch trawler HrMs Ymuiden (Lt. H. van Zwanenburg, RNN) took over the escort. (2)

4 Jun 1941

Convoy WS 9A.

This convoy was assembled off Oversay on 4 June 1941.

On assembly the convoy was made up of the transports; Aagtekerk (Dutch, 6811 GRT, built 1934), Capetown Castle (British, 27000 GRT, built 1938), Durban Castle (British, 17388 GRT, built 1938), Eastern Prince (British, 10926 GRT, built 1929), Empire Condor (British, 7773 GRT, built 1940), Empire Curlew (British, 7101 GRT, built 1941), Empire Egret (British, 7169 GRT, built 1939), Empire Widgeon (British, 6737 GRT, built 1940), Empress of Japan (British, 26032 GRT, built 1930), Franconia (British, 20175 GRT, built 1923), Highland Brigade (British, 14134 GRT, built 1929), Llangibby Castle (British, 11951 GRT, built 1929), Mendoza (British, 8233 GRT, built 1919), Mooltan (British, 20952 GRT, built 1923), Orbita (British, 15495 GRT, built 1915) and Samaria (British, 19597 GRT, built 1921).

On assembly of the convoy it was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Birmingham (Capt. A.C.G. Madden, RN), AA cruiser HMS Cairo (A/Capt. I.R.H. Black, RN), armed merchant cruisers HMS Ausonia (Capt.(Retd.) G.H. Freyberg, OBE, RN), HMS Dunnottar Castle (Capt.(Retd.) C.T.A. Bunbury, RN) and the destroyers HMS Cossack (Capt. P.L. Vian, DSO, RN), HMS Maori (Cdr. R.E. Courage, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Sikh (Cdr. G.H. Stokes, RN), HMS Zulu (Cdr. H.R. Graham, DSO, RN), HMCS Ottawa (Cdr. E.R. Mainguy, RCN), HMCS Restigouche (Cdr. H.N. Lay, RCN), HMS Vanquisher (Cdr. N.V. Dickinson, DSC, RN), HMS Winchelsea (Lt.Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, OBE, DSC, RN), HMS Ramsey (Lt.Cdr. R.B. Stannard, VC, RNR) and HMS Richmond (Lt.Cdr. A.F.L. Evans, RN).

At 0130Z/7, HMS Vanquisher and HMS Winchelsea parted company with the convoy.

At 0700Z/7, HMS Ausonia, HMS Cairo and all remaining destroyer parted company with the convoy.

In the afternoon of the 14th the destroyers HMS Highlander (Cdr. S. Boucher, RN), HMS Boreas (Lt.Cdr. D.H. Maitland-Makgill Crichton, DSC, RN) and HMS Velox (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Roper, DSC, RN) joined the convoy escort.

HMS Highland was however soon detached for other duties.

In the morning of the 15th the destroyer HMS Brilliant (Lt.Cdr. F.C. Brodrick, RN) joined the convoy escort.

The convoy arrived at Freetown on 16 June 1941.

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The convoy departed Freetown for South Africa on 20 June 1941.

The composition of the convoy was the same in which it had arrived with the addition of the transports Bergensfjord (Norwegian, 11015 GRT, built 1913) and Christiaan Huygens (Dutch, 16287 GRT, built 1927).

On departure from Freetown the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Birmingham and the destroyers HMS Boreas, HMS Vansittart (Lt.Cdr. R.L.S. Gaisford, RN), HMS Velox and HMS Wild Swan (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, RN).

At 0700ZA(-0.5)/23, the destroyers parted company with the convoy.

In the morning of July 1st, the transports Capetown Castle, Durban Castle, Eastern Prince, Empire Widgeon, Empress of Japan and Llangibby Castle parted company with the convoy and proceeded to Capetown.

At 1400AB(-1.5)/2, HMS Birmingham parted company with the convoy after the escort had been taken over by the heavy cruiser HMS Hawkins (Capt. H.P.K. Oram, RN) which came from Mauritius. HMS Birmingham then proceeded to Simonstown.

The Eastern Prince departed Capetown on 2 July to proceeded independently to Durban.

The remainder of the convoy arrived at Durban on 4 July 1941.

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On 5 July 1941, the ships of the Capetown section (minus Eastern Prince, see above) departed there escorted by HMS Birmingham which had come from Simonstown.

On 8 July 1941, the transports Aagtekerk, Aronda (British, 9031 GRT, built 1941), Empire Condor, Empire Curlew, Empire Egret and Thysville (Belgian, 8351 GRT, built 1922) and their escort HMS Hawkins departed Durban to make rendezvous with the Capetown section the following day.

On making rendezvous, HMS Birmingham was detached to return to Simonstown.

At 1415D, the transports Capetown Castle, Durban Castle and Empress of Japan parted company with the convoy to proceed to Bombay. This was known as Convoy WS 9AX. They were escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Hector (Capt.(Retd.) F. Howard, DSC, RN) which had just made rendezvous with the convoy. They arrived at Bombay at 24 July.

The remainder of the ships continued on to the vicinity of Aden escorted by HMS Hawkins. The convoy was dispersed on 21 July 1941. (3)

10 Jun 1941

Convoy HX 132.

This convoy departed Halifax on 10 June 1941.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Ashby (British, 4868 GRT, built 1927), Avra (Greek, 4652 GRT, built 1912), Bayano (British, 6815 GRT, built 1917), Belita (British (tanker), 6323 GRT, built 1933), British Industry (British (tanker), 4297 GRT, built 1927), Circe Shell (British (tanker), 8207 GRT, built 1931), Dalfram (British, 4558 GRT, built 1930), Daphnella (British (tanker), 8078 GRT, built 1938), Duke of Sparta (British, 5397 GRT, built 1940), Empire Falcon (British, 4970 GRT, built 1918), James Hawson (British (tanker), 6074 GRT, built 1930), Lekhaven (Dutch, 4802 GRT, built 1921), Marchant Prince (British, 5229 GRT, built 1939), Ornefjell (Norwegian (tanker), 1334 GRT, built 1937), Sama (Norwegian, 1799 GRT, built 1937), San Ernesto (British (tanker), 8078 GRT, built 1939), Schuylkill (British (tanker), 8965 GRT, built 1928), Strategist (British, 6255 GRT, built 1937), Tore Jarl (Norwegian, 1514 GRT, built 1920) and Trekieve (British, 5244 GRT, built 1919).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the destroyer HMCS Annapolis (A/Lt.Cdr. F.C. Smith, RCNR).

The battleships HMS Revenge (Capt. L.V. Morgan, CBE, MVO, DSC, RN) also departed Halifax late on the 10th and joined the convoy at sea early on the 11th after which HMCS Annapolis parted company to return to Halifax.

On the morning of 13 June 1941, Convoy BHX 132 joined, which had departed Bermuda on 8 June 1941 and was made up of the following merchant vessels; Belinda (British (tanker), 8325 GRT, built 1939), Cape Hawke (British, 5081 GRT, built 1941), Cistula (British (tanker), 8097 GRT, built 1939), Corilla (Dutch (tanker), 8096 GRT, built 1939), Cortona (British, 7093 GRT, built 1921), Eclipse (British (tanker), 9767 GRT, built 1931), Eknaren (Swedish, 5243 GRT, built 1922), El Mirlo (British (tanker), 8092 GRT, built 1930), Elona (British (tanker), 6192 GRT, built 1936), Hopemount (British (tanker), 7434 GRT, built 1929), Merchant (British, 4615 GRT, built 1934), Oilreliance (British (tanker), 5666 GRT, built 1929), Otina (British (tanker), 6217 GRT, built 1938) and Vimeira (British, 5728 GRT, built 1927).

They had been escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Maloja (A/Capt. V. Hammersley-Heenan, RN) which then parted company.

Around 0800O/16, the convoy was joined by the destroyers HMCS Saguenay (Lt. P.E. Haddon, RCN), HMCS Columbia (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) S.W. Davis, RN), Niagara (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) E.L. Armstrong, RCN), HMS Ramsey (Lt.Cdr. R.B. Stannard, VC, RNR), HMS Richmond (Lt.Cdr. A.F.L. Evans, RN) and the corvettes HMS Candytuft (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) F.B. Collinson, RD, RNR) and HMCS Cobalt ( T/Lt. C.J. Angus, RCNR).

Around 1530O/16, the destroyer HMCS Restigouche (Cdr. H.N. Lay, RCN) also joined. she had first directed convoy SC 34 towards convoy HX 132.

Around 2100O/16, Convoy SC 34 and it's escort, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Ranpura (A/Capt.(Retd.) H.T.W. Pawsey, OBE, RN), took station astern of convoy HX 132.

Around 1200O/18, HMCS Restigouche and HMCS Columbia parted company with the convoy.

Around 2000O/18, HMS Revenge parted company with the convoy to join westbound convoy OB 334.

HMS Ranpura, HMCS Saguenay, HMS Ramsay, HMS Richmond, HMS Candytuft and HMCS Cobalt parted company with the combined convoy around 1020Z/23 to proceed to Reykjavik.

Other A/S vessels had joined by that time but sources vary on their composition and the time they were with the convoy.

The relief A/S escorts most likely involved in escorting HX 132 and / or SC 34 were; destroyers HMS Broke (Cdr. B.G. Scurfield, RN), HMS Venomous (Cdr. H.P. Henderson, RN), HMS Sabre (Lt. P.W. Gretton, DSC, RN), HMS Saladin (Lt.Cdr. L.J. Dover, RN), HMS Shikari (Lt.Cdr. H.N.A. Richardson, RN), HMS Lincoln (Lt. R.J. Hanson, RN), corvettes HMS Abelia (T/Lt. F. Ardern, RNR), HMS Alisma (A/Lt.Cdr. M.G. Rose, RANVR), HMS Anemone (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Boys-Smith, DSO, RNR), HMS Sunflower (Lt.Cdr. J.T. Jones, RNR), HMS Veronica (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) D.F. White, RNR), mineweeepers HMS Gossamer (Lt.Cdr. A.D.H. Jay, RN), HMS Hazard (Lt.Cdr. J.R.A. Seymour, RN), HMS Hebe (Lt.Cdr. J.B.G. Temple, DSC, RN), HMS Hussar ( Lt.Cdr. D.H.P. Gardiner, RN), A/S trawlers HMS St. Elstan (T/Lt. G. Butcher, RNVR), HMS St. Kenan (T/Lt. R.R. Simpson, RNR) and HMS St. Zeno (T/Lt. J.K. Craig, RNVR). The catapult ship Pegasus apparently also joined the convoys.

[This will have to be further researched in the future.]

The convoys at a certain point apparently separated again. Convoy HX 132 arrived in U.K. waters on 28 June 1941. Convoy SC 34 arrived in U.K. waters on 29 June 1941.

10 Jun 1941

Convoy SC 34.

This convoy departed Halifax on 10 June 1941.

It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Aaro (British (former Danish), 1426 GRT, built 1925), Baron Ruthven (British, 3178 GRT, built 1925), Baron Vernon (British, 3642 GRT, built 1929), Berkel (Dutch, 2130 GRT, built 1930), Bjorkhaug (Norwegian, 2094 GRT, built 1919), Bonde (Norwegian, 1570 GRT, built 1936), Borgfred (Norwegian, 2183 GRT, built 1920), Clunepark (British, 3491 GRT, built 1928), Cordelia (British (tanker), 8190 GRT, built 1932), Dinaric (British, 2555 GRT, built 1919), Eastmoor (British, 5812 GRT, built 1922), Einvik (Norwegian, 2000 GRT, built 1918), Empire Buffalo (British, 6404 GRT, built 1919), Fido (Norwegian, 1857 GRT, built 1919), Filleigh (British, 4856 GRT, built 1928), Geddington Court (British, 6903 GRT, built 1928), Gunvor Maersk (British, 1977 GRT, built 1931), Hartbridge (British, 5080 GRT, built 1927), Hindsholm (British, 1512 GRT, built 1922), Iron Baron (British, 3231 GRT, built 1911), Keila (British, 3621 GRT, built 1905), Lagarto (British, 5072 GRT, built 1917), Leighton (British, 7412 GRT, built 1921), Margit (British, 1735 GRT, built 1924), Mariston (British, 4557 GRT, built 1924), Michalios (Greek, 3742 GRT, built 1908), Milcrest (British, 5283 GRT, built 1919), Nicolaos Piangos (Greek, 4499 GRT, built 1912), Nicolas (Greek, 4540 GRT, built 1910), Pennington Court (British, 6098 GRT, built 1924), Redpool (British, 4848 GRT, built 1924), Scorton (British, 4813 GRT, built 1939), Snar (Norwegian, 3176 GRT, built 1920), Solhavn (Norwegian, 1630 GRT, built 1918) and Vestland (Norwegian, 1934 GRT, built 1916).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Ranpura (A/Capt.(Retd.) H.T.W. Pawsey, OBE, RN) and auxiliary patrol boats HMCS Raccoon (T/Lt. N.G. Bennett, RCNR) and HMCS Reindeer (Lt. L.G. Cumming, RCNVR). Both patrol vessels returned to Halifax on the 11th.

In the morning of the 15th the destroyer HMCS Restigouche (Cdr. H.N. Lay, RCN) joined to guide the convoy towards convoy HX 132.

Around 2100O/16, Convoy SC 34 took station astern of convoy HX 132.

The combined convoy was then escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Ranpura, destroyers HMCS Restigouche, HMCS Saguenay (Lt. P.E. Haddon, RCN), HMCS Columbia (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) S.W. Davis, RN), Niagara (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) E.L. Armstrong, RCN), HMS Ramsey (Lt.Cdr. R.B. Stannard, VC, RNR), HMS Richmond (Lt.Cdr. A.F.L. Evans, RN) and the corvettes HMS Candytuft (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) F.B. Collinson, RD, RNR) and HMCS Cobalt ( T/Lt. C.J. Angus, RCNR).

HMS Ranpura, HMCS Saguenay, HMS Ramsay, HMS Richmond, HMS Candytuft and HMCS Cobalt parted company with the combined convoy around 1020Z/23 to proceed to Reykjavik.

Other A/S vessels had joined by that time but sources vary on their composition and the time they were with the convoy.

The relief A/S escorts most likely involved in escorting HX 132 and / or SC 34 were; destroyers HMS Broke (Cdr. B.G. Scurfield, RN), HMS Venomous (Cdr. H.P. Henderson, RN), HMS Sabre (Lt. P.W. Gretton, DSC, RN), HMS Saladin (Lt.Cdr. L.J. Dover, RN), HMS Shikari (Lt.Cdr. H.N.A. Richardson, RN), HMS Lincoln (Lt. R.J. Hanson, RN), corvettes HMS Abelia (T/Lt. F. Ardern, RNR), HMS Alisma (A/Lt.Cdr. M.G. Rose, RANVR), HMS Anemone (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Boys-Smith, DSO, RNR), HMS Sunflower (Lt.Cdr. J.T. Jones, RNR), HMS Veronica (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) D.F. White, RNR), mineweeepers HMS Gossamer (Lt.Cdr. A.D.H. Jay, RN), HMS Hazard (Lt.Cdr. J.R.A. Seymour, RN), HMS Hebe (Lt.Cdr. J.B.G. Temple, DSC, RN), HMS Hussar ( Lt.Cdr. D.H.P. Gardiner, RN), A/S trawlers HMS St. Elstan (T/Lt. G. Butcher, RNVR), HMS St. Kenan (T/Lt. R.R. Simpson, RNR) and HMS St. Zeno (T/Lt. J.K. Craig, RNVR). The catapult ship HMS Pegasus (Capt.(Retd.) P.G. Wodehouse, DSO, RN) apparently also joined the convoys.

[This will have to be further researched in the future.]

The convoys at a certain point apparently separated again. Convoy HX 132 arrived in U.K. waters on 28 June 1941. Convoy SC 34 arrived in U.K. waters on 29 June 1941.

4 Sep 1941

Convoy HX 148.

This convoy departed Halifax on 4 September 1941.

On departure from Halifax the convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Acavus (British (tanker), 8010 GRT, built 1935), Anglo-Indian (British, 5609 GRT, built 1938), Ardenvohr (British, 5025 GRT, built 1940), Argos Hill (British, 7178 GRT, built 1939), Atlantian (British, 6549 GRT, built 1928), Beaverhill (British, 10041 GRT, built 1928), British Confidence (British (tanker), 8494 GRT, built 1936), British Faith (British (tanker), 6955 GRT, built 1928), Brittany (British, 4772 GRT, built 192), Celtic Star (British, 5575 GRT, built 1918), City of Barcelona (British, 5787 GRT, built 1930), Clan Alpine (British, 5442 GRT, built 1918), Corilla (Dutch (tanker), 8096 GRT, built 1939), Cornish City (British, 4952 GRT, built 1936), Diloma (British (tanker), 8146 GRT, built 1939), Edward F. Johnson (British (tanker), 10452 GRT, built 1937), Egda (Norwegian (tanker), 10050 GRT, built 1939), Empire Day (British, 7242 GRT, built 1941), Empire Hawk (British, 5033 GRT, built 1919), Empire Silver (British, 8602 GRT, built 1941), Gefion (Norwegian (tanker), 9475 GRT, built 1938), Grey County (Norwegian, 5194 GRT, built 1918), Harpasa (British, 5082 GRT, built 1934), Idefjord (Norwegian, 4287 GRT, built 1921), James Hawson (British (tanker), 6074 GRT, built 1930), Kaipaki (British, 7660 GRT, built 1939), Kars (British (tanker), 8888 GRT, built 1939), Laurelwood (British, 7347 GRT, built 1929), Leerdam (Dutch, 8815 GRT, built 1921), Lochkatrine (British, 9419 GRT, built 1922), Manchester Merchant (British, 7264 GRT, built 1940), Mirlo (Norwegian (tanker), 7455 GRT, built 1922), New Zealand Star (British, 10740 GRT, built 1935), Nicoya (British, 5364 GRT, built 1929), Norvinn (Panamanian (tanker), 6322 GRT, built 1930), Ornefjell (British, 1334 GRT, built 1937), Pomella (British (tanker), 6766 GRT, built 1937), San Demetrio (British (tanker), 8073 GRT, built 1938), Socony (British (tanker), 4404 GRT, built 1936), Stigstad (Norwegian (tanker), 5964 GRT, built 1927), Talthybius (British, 10254 GRT, built 1912), Tongariro (British, 8729 GRT, built 1925), Tornus (British (tanker), 8054 GRT, built 1936), Vancouver (British (tanker), 5729 GRT, built 1928), Vivi (Norwegian (tanker), 6546 GRT, built 1932) and Wayfarer (British, 5068 GRT, built 1925).

On departure from Halifax the convoy was escorted by HMS Alaunia (Capt.(Retd.) H.J. Woodward, DSO and Bar, RN) and the corvettes HMCS Lethbridge (T/Lt. R. Hocken, RCNR), HMCS Shediac (Lt. J.O. Every-Clayton, RCNR) and HMCS Sherbrooke (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) E.G.M. Donald, RN).

Around 0800P/5, the merchant vessel Tuscan Star (British, 11449 GRT, built 1930), which had sailed late from Halifax, joined the convoy.

Around 1000P/5, the merchant vessel Herbrand (Norwegian (tanker), 9108 GRT, built 1935), which had sailed late from Halifax, joined the convoy.

Around 0545P/7, the destroyer HMS Richmond (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) W.A. Moens, RN) and corvettes HMS Candytuft (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) F.B. Collinson, RD, RNR), HMCS Bittersweet (A/Lt.Cdr. J.A. Woods, RCNR) and HMCS Fennel (Lt. J.N. Smith, RCNR) joined company coming from St. Johns, Newfoundland. HMCS Lethbridge, HMCS Shediac and HMCS Sherbrooke then parted company.

Around 1000O/9, the convoy ran into thick for. By that time HMS Richmond and HMCS Fennel had already lost contact with the convoy.

Around 1040O/9, in position 51°06'N, 41°10'W, the Socony and Tongariro collided in the thick fog. HMCS Bittersweet was ordered to stand by them but the Socony soon foundered and sank. HMS Bittersweet picked up 18 survivors and the Tongariro 25. The Tongariro was holed beneath the waterline but was able to continue. She and HMCS Bittersweet rejoined the convoy around 1800O/9.

Around 1925Z/9, HMS Candytuft suffered a boiler explosion and dropped astern of the convoy. HMCS Bittersweet was ordered to stand by. Later HMS Candytuft reported that she could not steam and had many casualties and thus asked for medical aid. HMCS Bittersweet was then ordered to tow the stricken vessel to Newfoundland where they arrived on 14 September 1941.

Around this time the Mirlo also lost contact with the convoy. She arrived independently at Loch Ewe on 16 September.

HMS Richmond and HMCS Fennel did not manage to find the convoy due to the thick fog which lasted until 11 September.

Around 1215N/12, the destroyer HMS Montgomery (Lt.Cdr.(Emgy.) W.L. Puxley, RN) joined the convoy despite the thick fog the convoy again encountered.

Around 1830N/12, the corvette HMS Anemone (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Boys-Smith, DSO and Bar, RD, RNR) also joined.

At dawn the following morning, the destroyers HMS Whitehall (Lt.Cdr. A.B. Russell, RN), HMS Winchelsea (Lt.Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, OBE, DSC, RN), HMS Witch (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Holmes, RN), corvettes HMS Abelia (T/Lt. F. Ardern, RNR), HMS Veronica (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) D.F. White, RNR) and A/S trawler HMS St. Zeno (T/Lt. J.K. Craig, RNVR) were also seen to have joined the convoy during the evening / night. It was now also seen that the Argos Hill (arrived independently at Liverpool on 16 September), Celtic Star (arrived independently at Loch Ewe on 15 September), Grey County (arrived independently in Belfast Lough on 15 September) and Tuscan Star (arrived independently at Liverpool on 16 September) were not in company.

Around 1430N/13, in position 57°55'N, 18°20'W, the destroyers HMS Boadicea (Cdr. H.P. Henderson, RN) and HMS Beagle (Lt.Cdr. R.T. White, DSO and Bar, RN) joined the convoy. HMS Alaunia, HMS Montgomery, HMS Winchelsea, HMS Witch and HMS Whitehall parted company with the convoy to proceed direct to the U.K. These four destroyers all arrived at Londonderry on 15 September. HMS Alaunia coninued to Greenock where she also arrived on 15 September. During the passage, at 1300A/1, HMS Winchelsea and HMS Witch were detached to hunt a reported enemy submarine. At 1226B/14, the German submarine U-98 was attacked in approximate position 55°57'N, 11°45'W [German grid AM 4365] by a Hudson aircraft which dropped three bombs causing no damage. This was an RAF Hudson from 224 Sq. (aircraft R) which reported attacking an enemy submarine at 1129A/14 in position 56°08'N, 11°50'W. Then at 1515A/14, an RAF Catalina from 210 Sq. (aircraft J) reported attacking an enemy submarine in position 56°39'N, 12°22'W. This attack was on the German submarine U-95 which was attacked at 1551B/14 in approximate position 56°27'N, 012°48'W [German grid AM 0189]. She sustained heavy damage and was forced to abandon her war patrol. The British operational command of the Western Approaches thought that the two aircraft sightings referred to the same enemy submarine but this was not the case.

In the morning of the 14th, the destroyers HMS Sabre (Lt. P.W. Gretton, OBE, DSC, RN) and HMS Shikari (Lt.Cdr. H.N.A. Richardson, RN) also joined the convoy.

Around 1500A/15, the Loch Ewe section of the convoy parted company while the convoy was passing through the Minches. This section arrived at Loch Ewe on 15 September 1941 and was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Acavus, British Confidence, British Faith, Clan Alpine, Corilla, Empire Hawk, Empire Silver, Kars, Laurelwood, Nicoya, Pomella and Vancouver.

On 16 September 1941, the following merchant vessels arrived in the Clyde;
Cornish City, Edward F. Johnson, Norvinn and Talthybius.

On 16 September 1941, the following merchant vessels arrived in Belfast Lough;
Ardenvohr, Gefion, Herbrand, Idefjord, James Hawson, Leerdam, San Demetrio, Tongariro, Tornus and Vivi.

On 17 September 1941, the following merchant vessels arrived at Holyhead;
Beaverhill, Kaipaki and Manchester Merchant

On 17 September 1941, the following merchant vessels arrived at Liverpool;
Anglo-Indian, Atlantian, Brittany, City of Barcelone, Diloma, Egda, Empire Day, Harpasa, Lochkatrine, New Zealand Star, Ornefjell, Stigstad and Wayfarer.

The remaining escorts all arrived at Londonderry on 16 September 1941 except HMS Boadicea which arrived there on the 15th and HMS Shikari which arrived there on the 17th. (4)

20 Mar 1942
HrMs O 10 (Lt. Baron D.T. Mackay, RNN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle together with HMS Bulldog (Cdr. M. Richmond, OBE, RN) and HMS Richmond (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Rodgers, RN). (5)

22 Mar 1942
HrMs O 10 (Lt. J.H. Geijs, RNN) participated in A/S exercises off Lough Foyle together with HMS Reading (Lt.Cdr. D.V. Clift, RN), HMS Richmond (Lt.Cdr. A.F.L. Evans, RN), HMCS Bittersweet (A/Lt.Cdr. J.A. Woods, RCNR) and HMCS Chilliwack (T/Lt. L.L. Foxall, RCNR). (5)

27 Mar 1942
HMS H 50 (Lt. M.L.C. Crawford, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Richmond (Lt.Cdr. A.F.L. Evans, RN), HMS Corinthian (A/Cdr. E.J.R. Pollitt, RNR), HMS Viscount (Lt.Cdr. J.V. Waterhouse, RN) and HMS Sabre (Lt. R.L. Caple, DSC, RN). (6)

Media links


British destroyers & frigates

Norman Friedman


Destroyers of World War Two

Whitley, M. J.

Sources

  1. ADM 199/655
  2. File 2.12.03.6367 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
  3. ADM 199/1138
  4. ADM 53/113545 + ADM 199/718 + ADM 199/1145 + ADM 199/2099
  5. File 2.12.03.6379 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
  6. ADM 173/17271

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


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