Allied Warships

HMS Easton (L 09)

Escort destroyer of the Hunt (Type III) class

NavyThe Royal Navy
TypeEscort destroyer
ClassHunt (Type III) 
PennantL 09 
Built byJ.S. White & Co. (Cowes, U.K.) 
Ordered28 Jul 1940 
Laid down25 Mar 1941 
Launched11 Jul 1942 
Commissioned7 Dec 1942 
End service 
History

Scrapped at Rosyth in January 1953.

 

Commands listed for HMS Easton (L 09)

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. Charles Wickham Malins, RN28 Oct 19425 Oct 1943

2Lt. Cyril Dudgeon Newton, RNearly 1944Jun 1944
3Lt. Loftus Edward Peyton-Jones, DSO, DSC, RNJun 194426 Jun 1945
4Lt. Peter Sydney Wilson, RN26 Jun 194523 Dec 1945

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Notable events involving Easton include:


18 Dec 1942
Around 0900A/18, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) departed The Solent for Greenock. She was escorted by the escort destroyers HMS Tynedale (Lt. J.J.S. Yorke, DSC, RN) and ORP Slazak (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) B.W.M. Wronski).

Around 1520A/18, the escort destroyer HMS Easton (Lt. C.W. Malins, DSC, RN) joined.

Around 1840A/18, HMS Tynedale and ORP Slazak parted company.

Around 1000A/20, HMS Canton arrived at Greenock. HMS Easton continued on to Tobermory where she arrived later the same day.

(1)

7 Jan 1943
HrMs O 15 (Lt. A.J. Schouwenaar, RNN) conducted A/S exercises at / off Scapa Flow with HMS Forester (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Burnett, DSC, RN) and HMS Easton (Lt. C.W. Malins, DSC, RN). (2)

11 Jan 1943
HrMs O 15 (Lt. A.J. Schouwenaar, RNN) conducted A/S exercises at / off Scapa Flow with HMS Middleton (Lt. C.S. Battersby, RN), HMS Easton (Lt. C.W. Malins, DSC, RN) and HMS Brecon (Lt.Cdr. T.D. Herrick, DSC and Bar, RN). (2)

15 Jan 1943
HrMs O 15 (Lt. A.J. Schouwenaar, RNN) conducted A/S exercises at / off Scapa Flow with HMS Onslaught (Cdr. W.H. Selby, RN) and HMS Easton (Lt. C.W. Malins, DSC, RN). (2)

20 Jan 1943
HrMs O 15 (Lt. A.J. Schouwenaar, RNN) conducted A/S exercises at / off Scapa Flow with HMCS Iroquois (Cdr. W.B.L. Holms, RCN) and HMS Easton (Lt. C.W. Malins, DSC, RN). (2)

25 Jan 1943
HMS Kenya (Capt. D.P. Evans, RN) conducted a refueling at sea exercise with the escort destroyer HMS Easton (Lt. C.W. Malins, DSC, RN). (3)

17 Feb 1943
Around 2200 hours the Italian submarine Asteria was sunk off Bougie, Algeria by the British escort destroyers HMS Wheatland (Lt.Cdr. R. de L. Brooke, DSC, RN) and HMS Easton (Lt. C.W. Malins, RN).

10 Mar 1943

Convoys ME 19 and TX 3.

Convoy ME 19 departed Malta on 10 March 1943 and arrived at Alexandria on 15 March 1943 / Port Said on 16 March 1943.

It had merged as sea on 12 March with convoy TX 3 coming from Tripoli.

On departure from Malta convoy ME 19 was made up of the following ships; Dromus (British (tanker), 8036, built 1938), Erinna (Dutch (tanker), 6233 GRT, built 1936), Indochinois (British, 6966 GRT, built 1939), Kaikoura (British, 5852 GRT, built 1937), Orna (British, 6779 GRT, built 1938), Panama (British, 6650 GRT, built 1915) and Yorba Linda (Panamanian (tanker), 6900 GRT, built 1921).

On departure from Malta convoy ME 19 was escorted by the destroyer HMS Kelvin (Cdr. M.S. Townsend, OBE, DSC and Bar, RN), escort destroyers HMS Dulverton (Cdr. S.A. Buss, MVO, RN), HMS Easton (Lt. C.W. Malins, DSC, RN), Miaoulis.

Convoy TX 3 departed Tripoli on 11 March 1943 and merged with convoy ME 19 at sea on 12 March 1943.

It was made up of following ships; Benrinnes (British, 5410 GRT, built 1921), British Sovereign (British, 3657 GRT, built 1917), City of Evansville (British, 6528 GRT, built 1922), City of Florence (British, 6862 GRT, built 1918), City of Guildford (British, 5157 GRT, built 1919), Daltonhall (British, 7250 GRT, built 1941), Darien II (British, 459 GRT, built 1892), Fort Tadoussac (British, 7129 GRT, built 1941), Karoa (British, 7009 GRT, built 1915) and Neuralia (British, 9182 GRT, built 1912).

On departure from Tripoli convoy TX 3 was escorted by the destroyer HMS Javelin (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, DSC, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Belvoir (Lt. J.F.D. Bush, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Rockwood (Lt. S.R. Le H. Lombard-Hobson, RN), HMS Tetcott (Lt.Cdr. H.R. Rycroft, RN) and Pindos. HMS Tetcott apparently returned to Tripoli later on the 11th.

The following ships arrived at Alexandria on 15 March 1943; Benrinnes, British Sovereign, City of Evansville, City of Florence, City of Guildford, Darien II, Erinna, , Indochinois, Kaikoura, Karoa and Neuralia.

They were escorted by; HMS Kelvin, HMS Javelin, HMS Dulverton and HMS Rockwood.

The following ships arrived at Port Said on 16 March 1943; Daltonhall, Dromus, Orna, Panama and Yorba Linda. They were escorted by; HMS Belvoir, RHS Miaoulis and RHS Pindos.

29 Apr 1943

Convoy MW 27 (+ convoy XT 12)

This convoy departed Alexandria on 29 April 1943 and arrived at Malta on 4 May 1943.

Several ships of the convoy split off on 3 May 1943 forming convoy XT 12 destined for Tripoli where they arrived later on the same day.

On departure from Alexandria this combined convoy was made up of the following ships; Algorab (Dutch, 4938 GRT, built 1921), British Trust (British (tanker), 8466 GRT, built 1939), City of Rangoon (British, 6635 GRT, built 1914), Destro (British, 3553 GRT, built 1920), Ensis (British, 6207 GRT, built 1937), Erinpura (British, 5143 GRT, built 1911), Fort Cataraqui (British, 7130 GRT, built 1942), Fort Chambly (British, 7130 GRT, built 1942), Fort St.James (British, 7128 GRT, built 1942), Glaucus (British, 7596 GRT, built 1921), Karoa (British, 7009 GRT, built 1915), Macuba (Dutch (tanker), 8249 GRT, built 1931), Ocean Vesper (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942), Pronto (Norwegian, 2201 GRT, built 1920), Samuel Parker (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Saparoea (Dutch, 6668 GRT, built 1920), Safola (British, 1031 GRT, built 1937), Stirlingville (British, 1995 GRT, built 1937), Suiyang (British, 2590 GRT, built 1917) and Toronto (British, 5018 GRT, built 1928).

On departure from Alexandria the convoy was escorted by the destroyers HMS Isis (Cdr. B. Jones, DSC, RN), HMS Javelin (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, DSC, RN), HMS Kelvin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN), RHS Vasilissa Olga (Lt.Cdr. G. Blessas), escort destroyers HMS Easton (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Malins, DSC, RN), HMS Hurworth (Cdr. R.H. Wright, DSC, RN), HMS Rockwood (Lt. S.R. Le H. Lombard-Hobson, RN), RHS Adrias, RHS Kanaris, Corvette RHS Sakhtouris and the auxiliary MS whalers HMS Sahra (T/A/Skr.Lt. E.G. Gurney, RNR) and HMS Santa (T/A/Skr.Lt. G. Noble, RNR). [The last three ships apparently returned to Alexandria rather soon.]

On 1 May 1943 the British Trust and Erinpura were sunk by enemy aircraft in position 32°40'N, 19°53'E. On board the Erinpura 657 persons lost their lives.

On 3 May the convoy was split up, Convoy XT 12 proceeded to Tripoli and arrived there later the same day. It was made up of the; City of Rangoon, Destro, Ensis, Fort Chambly, Fort St.James, Karoa, Pronto, Samuel Parker, Saparoea, Sofala, Stirlingville, Suiyang and Toronto. They were escorted by HMS Javelin and HMS Kelvin.

Convoy MW 27 continued on to Malta with the; Algorab, Fort Cataraqui, Glaucus, Macuba and Ocean Vesper. They were escorted by HMS Isis, RHS Queen Olga, HMS Easton, HMS Hurworth, HMS Rockwood, RHS Adrias and RHS Kanaris.

15 May 1943

Convoy MW 28 (+ convoy XT 14)

This convoy departed Alexandria on 15 May 1943 and arrived at Malta on 21 May 1943.

Several ships of the convoy split off on 20 May 1943 forming convoy XT 14 destined for Tripoli where they arrived later on the same day.

On departure from Alexandria this combined convoy was made up of the following ships; Benreoch (British, 5818 GRT, built 1921), Benrinnes (British, 5410 GRT, built 1921), City of Keelung (British, 5186 GRT, built 1919), Darien II (British, 459 GRT, built 1892), David Stone (American, 7177 GRT, built 1942), Dunkeld (British, 4944 GRT, built 1937), Empire Conrad (British, 7009 GRT, built 1942), Empire Patrol (British, 3334 GRT, built 1928), Erinna (Dutch (tanker), 6233 GRT, built 1936), Fort Tadoussac (British, 7129 GRT, built 1941), Francis Drake (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Greystoke Castle (British, 5853 GRT, built 1928), Hermelin (Norwegian, 1683 GRT, built 1940), John Hart (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Neuralia (British, 9182 GRT, built 1912), Ovula (Dutch (tanker), GRT, built ), Ozarda (British, 9685 GRT, built 1940), Princess Kathleen (Canadian, 5875 GRT, built 1925), Romney (British, 5840 GRT, built 1929) and Vacport (British, 6774 GRT, built 1930). The Royal Fleet Auxiliary tanker Green Ranger (3313 GRT, built 1941) was also part of the convoy.

On departure from Alexandria the convoy was escorted by the destroyers HMS Javelin (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, DSC, RN), HMS Kelvin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN), FFS Leopard and the escort destroyers HMS Croome (Lt. H.D.M. Slater, RN), HMS Hurworth (Cdr. R.H. Wright, DSC, RN), HMS Rockwood (Lt. S.R. Le H. Lombard-Hobson, RN) and RHS Adrias.

The sloop HMS Shoreham (Cdr. E. Hewitt, RD, RNR) departed Tobruk on the 15th and joined the escort.

HMS Rockwood arrived back at Alexandria on 19 May 1943 having been detached from the escort earlier.

On the 16th, the escort destroyers HMS Aldenham (Lt.Cdr. H.A. Stuart-Menteth, RN) and HMS Hursley (Lt.Cdr. W.J.P. Church, DSC, RN) departed Tobruk to join the escort.

On the 18th, the escort destroyer HMS Easton (Lt. C.W. Malins, DSC and Bar, RN) departed Tripoli to join the convoy.

HMS Kelvin arrived at Tripoli on 19 May and departed again on the 20th to rejoin the convoy.

On 20 May 1943 the convoy split up and the following ships proceeded to Tripoli arriving later the same day; Benreoch, Benrinnes, City of Keelung, Darien II, Empire Patrol, Fort Tadoussac, Francis Drake, Hermelin, John Hart, Neuralia and Romney.

The remainder of the convoy continued on to Malta arriving on 21 May 1943.

10 Aug 1943
Around 1545B/10, HMS Uganda (Capt. W.G. Andrewes, RN) departed Augusta to bombard enemy positions to the north of Riposto, Sicily. She returned to Augusta around 1945B/10. While at sea she was escorted by HMS Easton (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Malins, DSC and Bar, RN). (4)

22 Aug 1943
German U-boat U-458 was sunk in the Mediterranean south-east of Pantelleria, Italy, in position 36°25'N, 12°39'E, by depth charges from the British escort destroyer HMS Easton and the Greek escort destroyer Pindos.

12 Sep 1944
At 1030 hours, HMS Vampire (Lt. C.W. Taylor, RNR), made rendez-vous with HMS Easton (Lt. L.E. Peyton-Jones, DSO, DSC, MBE, RN) in position 34°28'N, 21°30'E. They then proceeded in company until 1700/13 when Easton obtained an A/S contact and started depth charging it. (5)

13 Nov 1944
Around 0640B/13, the escort carrier HMS Emperor (A/Capt. T.J.N. Hilken, DSO, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Easton (Lt. L.E. Peyton-Jones, DSO, DSC, MBE, RN) departed Alaxandria.

Around 1045B/13, the battleship HMS King George V (Capt. T.E. Halsey, DSO, RN) and the destroyers Whirlwind (Cdr. W.A.F. Hawkins, DSO, DSC, OBE, RN) and Wrangler (Lt.Cdr. D.W. Austin, RN) also departed Alexandria. The battleship was to conduct a bombardment of the Greek (German occupied) island of Milos in the Aegean. All these ships formed ' Force 55 '.

At 1109B/14, HMS King George V commenced a bombardment from 30000 yards. Before she opened fire she was engaged herself by the Lakida C D battery from 26000 yards after which she opened the range and then engaged the battery. She fired 36 rounds of 14" and also the secondary 5.25" guns opened fire. One explosion was observed.

The enemy battery was still in action in the afternoon when HMS Easton landed two sections of Royal Marines at Psalis Point to occupy the radar station. The occupation was prevented by mining. About 11 casualties were inflicted on the enemy after which the Royal Marines withdrew having taken two POW's.

With HMS Easton being deployed supporting the Royal Marines, HMS Wrangler took over as escort for HMS Emperor.

Around 1100B/15, HMS King George V and HMS Whirlwind arrived back at Alexandria.

Around 1430B/15, HMS Emperor and HMS Wrangler arrived back at Alexandria. (6)

Sources

  1. ADM 53/115493
  2. File 2.12.03.6397 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
  3. ADM 53/117701
  4. ADM 53/118643 + ADM 199/640
  5. ADM 199/1815
  6. ADM 53/119350 + ADM 53/119674 + ADM 199/1429

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


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