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Notable events involving Tjerk Hiddes (ii) include:

The page of HrMs Tjerk Hiddes was last updated in December 2022.

6 May 1942
At 1330B/6, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) is commissioned at Dumbarton. She is not yet taken over from the shipyard until completion of her trials programme. (1)

7 May 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) proceeded from her builders yard at Dumbarton to Tail of Bank, Greenock. (1)

8 May 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted trials off Greenock. (1)

10 May 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) loaded ammunition while anchored off Greenock. (1)

11 May 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) loaded oil at Greenock from the tanker San Ubaldo (British, 5999 GRT, built 1921). (1)

12 May 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted trials in the Clyde area. (1)

14 May 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted compass swing trials off Greenock. (1)

15 May 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted depth charge firing and gunnery trials in the Clyde area. (1)

16 May 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted full power trials in the Clyde area. (1)

18 May 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted trials in the Clyde area. (1)

19 May 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) is towed up river and docked in No.2 dock at Govan. (1)

20 May 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) is undocked and towed back to Tail of Bank. While in dock the Asdic dome had been replaced. (1)

27 May 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted full power trials on the Arran measured mile. Following these trials she returned to Tail of Bank and was then officially taken over from the shipyard. (1)

28 May 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) loaded oil at Greenock from the tanker San Ubaldo (British, 5999 GRT, built 1921). She then conducted D/G trials in Loch Long. (1)

30 May 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted D/G trials off Helensburgh. Around 1430B/30, she departed the Clyde for Scapa Flow. (1)

31 May 1942
Around 0940B/31, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) arrived at Scapa Flow from the Clyde. on arrival she loaded oil from the tanker RFA tanker War Pindari (5548 GRT, built 1920). (1)

5 Jun 1942
In the evening, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN), conducted gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. These were continued in the early hours of the following day. (1)

5 Jun 1942
HMS P 45 (Lt. H.B. Turner, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow. During the morning with HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) and in the afternoon with and in the afternoon with HMS Oakley (Lt.Cdr. T.A. Pack-Beresford, RN) and ORP Slazak (Kmdr ppor. (Lt.Cdr.) R. Nalecz-Tyminski, ORP). (2)

6 Jun 1942
HMS P 45 (Lt. H.B. Turner, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow with HMS Speedwell (Lt.Cdr. J.J. Youngs, OBE, RD, RNR), HMS Ledbury (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Hill, RN), HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN). (2)

9 Jun 1942
In the afternoon HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted gunnery exercises in the Pentland Firth. (1)

9 Jun 1942
In the morning and afternoon, HMS P 45 (Lt. H.B. Turner, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow with HMS Nigeria (Capt. J.G.L. Dundas, CBE, RN), HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) and two A/S trawlers. (2)

10 Jun 1942
In the morning, HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN), conducted torpedo firing exercises at Scapa Flow. (1)

11 Jun 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted speed trials on the measured mile at Scapa Flow. (1)

12 Jun 1942
In the late afternoon and early evening, HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN), conducted torpedo firing exercises at Scapa Flow. (1)

13 Jun 1942
In the afternoon and early evening, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) and HMS Ledbury (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Hill, RN) conducted gunnery exercises in the Pentland Firth.

13 Jun 1942
In the morning and early afternoon, HMS P 45 (Lt. H.B. Turner, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow with HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN). (2)

15 Jun 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted dummy torpedo attacks at Scapa Flow. (1)

16 Jun 1942
In the late afternoon and early evening, HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN), conducted torpedo firing exercises at Scapa Flow. (1)

16 Jun 1942
HMS P 45 (Lt. H.B. Turner, RN) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow with HMS Salamander (Lt. W.R. Muttram, RN), HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN), HMS Offa (Cdr. R.A. Ewing, DSC, RN) and HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN). (2)

17 Jun 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted AA gunnery exercises at Scapa Flow. (1)

19 Jun 1942
HMS Phoebe (Capt. C.P. Frend, RN), HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN), HMS Martin (Cdr. C.R.P. Thomson, RN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys. RNethN) conducted exercises in the Pentland Firth. (3)

22 Jun 1942
In the afternoon HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow with HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN). (1)

24 Jun 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys. RNethN) and, most likely, three other destroyers conducted exercises in the Pentland Firth. (1)

25 Jun 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys. RNethN) conduced TSDS (high speed minesweeping) and night gunnery exercises in the Pentland Firth. These night gunnery exercises were completed in the early hours of the 26th. (1)

26 Jun 1942
In the afternoon HNoMS Uredd (Lt. Røren) participated in A/S exercises off Scapa Flow with HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN). (1)

26 Jun 1942
On completion of the A/S exercises HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted underway refuelling exercises at Scapa Flow. These were followed by gunnery exercises. (1)

27 Jun 1942
The aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (Capt. H.C. Bovell, CBE, RN) conducted exercises off Scapa Flow. She was escorted by the destroyers HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN), HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) and HMS Marne (Lt.Cdr. H.N.A. Richardson, DSC, RN). (4)

27 Jun 1942

Convoy operations PQ 17 / QP 13

Convoys to and from Northern Russia

On 27 June 1942 Convoy PQ 17 departed Reykjavik Iceland bound for northern Russia. This convoy was made up of the following merchant ships;

American
Alcoa Ranger (5116 GRT, built 1919), Bellingham (5345 GRT, built 1920), Benjamin Harrison (7191 GRT, built 1942), Carlton (5127 GRT, built 1920), Christopher Newport (7191 GRT, built 1942), Daniel Morgan (7177 GRT, built 1942), Exford (4969 GRT, built 1919), Fairfield City (5686 GRT, built 1920), Honomu (6977 GRT, built 1919), Hoosier (5060 GRT, built 1920), Ironclad (5685 GRT, built 1919), John Witherspoon (7191 GRT, built 1942), Olopana (6069 GRT, built 1920), Pan Atlantic (5411 GRT, built 1919), Pan Kraft (5644 GRT, built 1919), Peter Kerr (6476 GRT, built 1920), Richard Bland (7191 GRT, built 1942), Washington (5564 GRT, built 1919), West Gotomska (5728 GRT, built 1919), William Hooper (7177 GRT, built 1942), Winston-Salem (6223 GRT, built 1920),

British
Bolton Castle (5203 GRT, built 1939), Earlston (7195 GRT, built 1941), Empire Byron (6645 GRT, built 1941), Empire Tide (6978 GRT, built 1941), Hartlebury (5082 GRT, built 1934), Navarino (4841 GRT, built 1937), Ocean Freedom (7173 GRT, built 1942), River Afton (5479 GRT, built 1935), Samuel Chase (7191 GRT, built 1942), Silver Sword (4937 GRT, built 1920),

Dutch
Paulus Potter (7168 GRT, built 1942),

Panamanian
El Capitan (5255 GRT, built 1917), Troubadour (6428 GRT, built 1920),

The Russian tankers Azerbaidjan (6114 GRT, built 1932), Donbass (7925 GRT, built 1935),

The British (Royal Fleet Auxiliary) tanker Grey Ranger (3313 GRT, built 1941).

Also with the convoy was a British rescue ship
Zaafaran (1559 GRT, built 1921).

The US merchants Exford and West Gotomska had to return both arrived back damaged at Reykjavik on 30 June. The first one due to ice damage and the second one due to damaged engines.

Escort was provided by the minesweepers HMS Britomart (Lt.Cdr. S.S. Stammwitz, RN), HMS Halcyon (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Corbet-Singleton, DSC, RN), HMS Salamander (Lt. W.R. Muttram, RN), A/S trawlers HMS Ayrshire (T/Lt. L.J.A. Gradwell, RNVR), HMS Lord Austin (T/Lt. O.B. Egjar, RNR), HMS Lord Middleton (T/Lt. R.H. Jameson, RNR) and HMS Northern Gem (Skr.Lt. W.J.V. Mullender, DSC, RD, RNR) and the submarine HMS P 615 (Lt. P.E. Newstead, RN).

The convoy was joined at sea by a close escort force made up of the following warships; destroyers HMS Keppel (Cdr. J.E. Broome, RN / in command of the close escort of the convoy) , HMS Offa (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Ewing, RN), HMS Fury (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Campbell, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Leamington (Lt. B.M.D. L’Anson, RN), escort destroyers HMS Ledbury (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Hill, RN), HMS Wilton (Lt. A.P. Northey, DSC, RN), corvettes HMS Lotus (Lt. H.J. Hall, RNR), HMS Poppy (Lt. N.K. Boyd, RNR), HMS Dianella (T/Lt. J.G. Rankin, RNR), HMS La Malouine (T/Lt. V.D.H. Bidwell, RNR), Auxiliary AA ships HMS Palomares (A/Capt.(rtd.) J.H. Jauncey, RN) and HMS Pozarica (A/Capt.(rtd.) E.D.W. Lawford, RN) and submarine HMS P 614 (Lt. D.J. Beckley, RN). Also two more British rescue ships sailed with this force to join the convoy at sea; Rathlin (1600 GRT, built 1936) and Zamalek (1567 GRT, built 1921).

The RFA tanker Grey Ranger, which was to fuel the escorts, was now sailing independent from the convoy, she was escorted by the destroyer HMS Douglas (Lt.Cdr. R.B.S. Tennant, RN). Another RFA tanker, the Aldersdale, had now joined the convoy. It had originally been intended that the Aldersdale would take the role the Grey Ranger was now performing but Grey Ranger had been damaged by ice to the north of Iceland so both tankers swapped roles.

Meanwhile on June 26th the Archangel section of the return convoy QP 13 had departed that port. This section was made up of 22 merchant ships;

American
American Press (5131 GRT, built 1920), American Robin (5172 GRT, built 1919), Hegira (7588 GRT, built 1919), Lancaster (7516 GRT, built 1918), Massmar (5828 GRT, built 1920), Mormacrey (5946 GRT, built 1919), Yaka (5432 GRT, built 1920),

British
Chulmleigh (5445 GRT, built 1938), Empire Mavis (5704 GRT, built 1919), Empire Meteor (7457 GRT, built 1940), Empire Stevenson (6209 GRT, built 1941), St. Clears (4312 GRT, built 1936),

Dutch
Pieter de Hoogh (7168 GRT, built 1941),

Panamanian
Capira (5625 GRT, built 1920), Mount Evans (5598 GRT, built 1919),

Russian
Alma Ata (3611 GRT, built 1920), Archangel (2480 GRT, built 1929), Budenni (2482 GRT, built 1923), Komiles (3962 GRT, built 1932), Kuzbass (3109 GRT, built 1914), Petrovski (3771 GRT, built 1921), Rodina (4441 GRT, built 1922), Stary Bolshevik (3794 GRT, built 1933)

They were escorted by the destroyers HMS Intrepid (Cdr. C.A. de W. Kitcat, RN), ORP Garland (Kmdr.por. (Cdr.) H. Eibel), the corvettes HMS Starwort (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Duck, RD, RNR), HMS Honeysuckle (Lt. H.H.D. MacKillican, DSC, RNR), the auxiliary AA ship HMS Alynbank (A/Capt.(rtd.) H.F. Nash, RN) and a local escort of four minesweepers; HMS Bramble (Capt. J.H.F. Crombie, DSO, RN), HMS Seagull (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Pollock, RN), HMS Leda (A/Cdr.(rtd.) A.H. Wynne-Edwards, RN) and HMS Hazard (Lt.Cdr. J.R.A. Seymour, RN).

the next day (27th) the Murmask section of convoy QP 13 also went to sea. This was made up of 12 merchant ships;

American
City of Omaha (6124 GRT, built 1920), Heffron (7611 GRT, built 1919), Hybert (6120 GRT, built 1920), John Randolph (7191 GRT, built 1941), Mauna Kea (6064 GRT, built 1919), Nemaha (6501 GRT, built 1920), Richard Henry Lee (7191 GRT, built 1941),

British
Atlantic (5414 GRT, built 1939), Empire Baffin (6978 GRT, built 1941), Empire Selwyn (7167 GRT, built 1941),

Panamanian
Exterminator (6115 GRT, built 1924), Michigan (6419 GRT, built 1920),

They were escorted by the destroyers HMS Inglefield (Cdr. A.G. West, RN), HMS Achates (Lt.Cdr. A.A. Tait, DSO, RN), HMS Volunteer (Lt. A.S. Pomeroy, RN), the minesweepers HMS Niger (Cdr.ret.) A.J. Cubison, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Hussar (Lt. R.C. Biggs, DSC, RN), the corvettes HMS Hyderabad (Lt. S.C.B. Hickman, RN), FFS Roselys and the A/S trawlers Lady Madeleine (T/Lt. W.G.Ogden, RNVR) and St. Elstan (Lt. R.M. Roberts, RNR). Also three Russian destroyers (Grozniy, Gremyashchiy and Valerian Kyubishev) joined the escort of convoy QP 13 as far as 30 degrees East.

To cover these convoy operations a close cover force departed Seidisfjord, Iceland around midnight during the night of 30 June / 1 July to take up a position to the north of convoy PQ 17. This force was made up of the British heavy cruisers HMS London (Capt. R.M. Servaes, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral L.H.K. Hamilton, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Norfolk (Capt. E.G.H. Bellars, RN), as well as the American heavy cruisers USS Tuscaloosa (Capt. L.P. Johnson, USN) and USS Wichita (Capt. H.W. Hill, USN). They were escorted by the British destroyer HMS Somali (Capt. J.W.M. Eaton, DSO, DSC, RN) and the American destroyers USS Rowan (Lt.Cdr. B.R. Harrison, Jr., USN) and USS Wainwright (Lt.Cdr. R.H. Gibbs, USN).

A distant cover force had meanwhile sailed from Scapa Flow late on the 29th to take up a cover position north-east of Jan Mayen Island. This force was made up of battleships HMS Duke of York (Capt. C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN, with the Commander-in-Chief Home Fleet, Admiral Sir J. Tovey, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN on board), USS Washington (Capt. H.H.J. Benson, USN, with Rear-Admiral R.C. Griffen, USN on board), aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (Capt. H.C. Bovell, CBE, RN, with Vice-Admiral Sir B. Fraser, CB, KBE, RN, second in command Home Fleet on board), heavy cruiser HMS Cumberland (Capt. A.H. Maxwell-Hyslop, AM, RN), light cruiser HMS Nigeria (Capt. S.H. Paton, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.M. Burrough, CB, RN). They were escorted by the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Capt. A.K. Scott-Moncrieff, RN, Capt. 8th Destroyer Flotilla), HMS Escapade (Lt.Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN), HMS Martin (Cdr. C.R.P. Thomson, RN), HMS Marne (Lt.Cdr. H.N.A. Richardson, DSC, RN), HMS Onslaught (Cdr. W.H. Selby, RN), HMS Middleton (Lt.Cdr. D.C. Kinloch, RN), HMS Blankney (Lt.Cdr. P.F. Powlett, RN) and HMS Wheatland (Lt.Cdr. R.de.L Brooke, RN). The destroyers HMS Onslow (Capt. H.T. Armstong, DSC and Bar, RN, Capt. 17th Destroyer Flotilla), HMS Ashanti (Cdr. R.G. Onslow, RN), USS Mayrant (Cdr. C.C. Hartman, USN) and USS Rhind (Lt.Cdr. H.T. Read, USN) meanwhile arrived at Seidisfiord, Iceland from Scapa Flow to fuel before joining the Battlefleet at sea later.

Earlier on the 29th Force X, which was to act as a decoy convoy to fool the Germans (Operation ES), had departed Scapa Flow. This force was made up of; the auxiliary minelayers HMS Southern Prince (A/Capt. J. Cresswell, RN), HMS Agamemnon (Capt.(rtd.) F. Ratsey, RN) , HMS Port Quebec (A/Capt.(rtd.) V. Hammersley-Heenan, RN) , HMS Menestheus (Capt.(rtd.) R.H.F. de Salis, DSC and Bar, OBE, RN) and four merchant vessels (colliers ?). They were escorted by the light cruisers HMS Sirius (Capt. P.W.B. Brooking, RN), HMS Curacoa (Capt. J.W. Boutwood, RN), minelayer HMS Adventure (Capt. N.V. Grace, RN), destroyers HMS Brighton (Cdr.(rtd). C.W.V.T.S. Lepper, RN), HMS St. Marys (Lt.Cdr. K.H.J.L. Phibbs, RN), HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN), HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys. RNethN), the escort destroyers Oakley (Lt.Cdr. T.A. Pack-Beresford, RN), Catterick (Lt. A. Tyson, RN), and 4 A/S trawlers.

On 1 July 'Force X' was divided into two parts. One part was made up of the four auxiliary minelayers, HMS Sirius, HMS Adventure, HMS Brighton, HMS St. Marys, HMAS Nepal and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes. The other part was made up of the remaining ships of 'Force X'.

'Force X' sailed eastward twice, on 30 June and 2 July, to about position 61°30’N, 01°30’E but was not spotted by the Germans. On 2 July 1942, HMAS Nepal and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes were detached from 'Force X' to proceed to Portsmouth and Liverpool respectively. There they were to undergo post work up repairs before they would join the Eastern Fleet.

First contact with the enemy occurred on 1 July 1942 when escorts from convoy PQ 17 twice attacked German submarines that were spotted on the surface several miles from the convoy. These were U-456 that was depth charged by HMS Ledbury and sustained light damage and U-657 that was depth charged by HMS Ledbury and HMS Leamington, she sustained no damage. That evening convoy PQ 17 also suffered its first attack from the air. Nine torpedo aircraft approached the convoy at about 1800 hours in position 73°30’N, 04°00’E. Some dropped torpedoes but they exploded wide of the convoy. One aircraft was shot down, most likely by the destroyer USS Rowan which was en-route from the cruiser force to the convoy to fuel from the Aldersdale.

The next night the convoy ran into for which persisted until the forenoon of the 3rd. In the afternoon of 2 July, U-255 made a torpedo attack on one of the escorts, HMS Fury, two torpedoes were fire but both missed. Fury then counter attacked with depth charges but U-255 sustained no damage. At more or less the same time U-376 was also depth charged by two or three escorts, she was not damaged. Shortly afterwards U-334 was also depth charged but she also escaped without damage.

On the 3rd several U-Boats were in contact for short periods but three were driven off by the escorts in the afternoon. When the mist cleared shadowing aircraft soon regained contact on the convoy.

By the early morning of the 4th convoy PQ 17 was about 60 nautical miles north of Bear Island where it sustained its first loss. Just before 0500 hours the new American merchant vessel Christopher Newport was torpedoed by a single aircraft. Damage was serious and the ship was finished off by the British submarine HMS P 614 which was part of the convoys escort while the rescue ship Zamalek took off the crew. The ship however remained afloat and was finally finished off by U-457.

In the evening of the 4th German aircraft made a successful attack on the convoy hitting the British merchant vessel Navarino, the American merchant William Hooper and the Russian tanker Azerbaidjan. The Azerbaidjan was able to proceed at 9 knots and in the end reached port. The other two ships had to be sunk, most of their crews were picked up by the rescue vessels. William Hooper in fact remained afloat and was finally finished off by U-334.

The situation was now as follows. Convoy PQ 17 was now about 130 nautical miles north-east of Bear Island and had just come through the heavy air attack remarkably well. The convoy discipline and shooting had been admirable and a substantial toll had been taken on the enemy. Rear-Admiral Hamilton was still covering the convoy with his cruiser force some ten miles to the north-eastward, with orders by the Admiralty to do so until ordered otherwise. Some 350 miles to the westward the main cover force was cruising in the area south-west of Spitzbergen.

Now turning to the Germans. The approval of the Führer to sail the heavy ships to attack the convoy had still not been obtained. The Tirpitz and Admiral Hipper meanwhile had joined the Admiral Scheer at the Alternfjord but noting further could be done without the Führer’s approval.

Meanwhile at the Admiralty it was known that German heavy surface units had gone to sea from Trondheim (battleships Tirpitz and heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper) and Narvik (pocket battleships Lützow and Admiral Scheer) but they had not been detected at sea. Fearing an attack on the convoy by these ships was imminent the convoy was ordered to scatter at 2123/4. Shortly before that the close cover force had been ordered to withdraw to the west as it was obviously no match for the German heavy ships.

The Admiralty decision was conveyed to Rear-Admiral Hamilton in the following three signals;
Most immediate. Cruiser force withdraw to the west at high speed. (2111B/4)
Most immediate. Owning to threat of surface ships, convoy is to disperse and to proceed to Russian ports. (2123B/4)
Most immediate. My 2323B/4. Convoy is to scatter. (2136B/4)
To Rear-Admiral Hamilton these signals could only mean that further information the admiralty had been hoping for had indeed come in and was of such a nature as to render imperative the drastic measures now ordered. Actually the reason for use of high speed by the cruisers was due to the massing of enemy submarines between 11°E and 20°E and the order to scatter was intended merely as a technical amendment of the term disperse that was used in the previous signal. This could not be known by the recipients, and the cumulative effect of these three signals – especially as the last one had a more important marking as the middle one – was to imply that pressing danger was actually upon them. As Commander Broome put it he expected to see the cruisers open fire and the enemy’s mast appear on the horizon at any moment. In this belief he decided to take the destroyers of his escort group to reinforce the cruiser force, and ordered the two submarines to stay near the convoy when it scattered and to try to attack the enemy, while the rest of the escorting ships were to proceed independently to Archangel.

At 2215/4 Commander Broome passed the signal to scatter to Commodore Dowding. The convoy was then in position 75°55’N, 27°52’E. Commander Broome then departed with the destroyers of the close screen to join the cruiser force of Rear-Admiral Hamilton.

Rear-Admiral Hamilton received the Admiralty orders at 2200/4. HMS Norfolk had just flown off her aircraft on an ice patrol. He therefore stood to the eastward for half an hour while attemps were made to recall it but these were without success and at 2230 hours the force turned to a westerly course at 25 knots steering to pass to the southward of the convoy so as to be between it and the probable direction of the enemy. An hour later they passed the merchant vessels which were now on widely divergent courses.

Rear-Admiral Hamilton was much concerned at the effect of the apparent desertion of the merchant ships had on morale. Had he been aware that the Admiralty had no further information of the enemy heavy units then he himself possessed he would have remained in a covering position until the convoy was widely dispersed.

As time went on without further developments Rear-Admiral Hamilton became more and more puzzled as to what have led to the sudden scattering of the convoy. But whatever the reason, the orders for his own force were clear, so he remained his westerly course at 25 knots. Thick fog was encountered soon after midnight, which persisted with brief intervals till 0630/5. Commander Broome, equally mystified by the course of events, soon began to feel that his place was with the merchant ships but he thought Rear-Admiral Hamilton was acting on fuller information then himself. As soon as the fog lifted sufficiently for visual signalling he informed the Rear-Admiral of his last hurried instructions to PQ 17 and requested that they should be amplified or amended as nessesary.

Actually Rear-Admiral Hamilton, who was still under the impression that enemy surface forces were in close proximity, argued that once the convoy had been scattered the enemy would leave it to their air forces and submarines to deal with it (and this was exactly what the Germans did). He feared the enemy surface forces would be ordered to deal with his force and reinforced by Commander Broome’s destroyers he felt that he could fight a delaying action, and had a good chance of leading the enemy within reach of the aircraft of HMS Victorious and possibly the heavy ships of the force of the Commander-in-Chief.

At 0700/5, while in position 75°40’N, 16°00’E, Rear-Admiral Hamilton reduced to 20 knots and at 0930 hours set course for Jan Mayen Island. It was not until that forenoon that the situation as regards the enemy heavy ships was made clear to him. Meanwhile he had to decide what to do with Commander Broome’s destroyers. Accordingly he ordered them to fuel from HMS London and HMS Norfolk. By 1630 hours the fueling of HMS Ledbury, HMS Wilton, USS Rowan and HMS Keppel had been completed. At 1740 hours a German Focke Wulf aircraft made contact and correctly reported the force in position 74°30’N, 07°40’E. Having been located, Rear-Admiral Hamilton broke wireless silence and at 1830/5 informed the Commander-in-Chief of his position, course, speed and the composition of his force. This was the first time the Commander-in-Chief was informed of the fact the Commander Broome’s destroyers with with the force of Rear-Admiral Hamilton, a fact which he regretted.

The Commander-in-Chief, having spent 4 July cruising about 150 nautical miles north-west of Bear Island, had turned to the south-westward in the early morning of the 5th, and was then on his way back to Scapa Flow some 120 nautical miles south-west of the force of Rear-Admiral Hamilton. Shortly afterwards there came news at last of the German heavy ships. The Russian submarine K-21 reported at 1700/5 the Tirpitz, Admiral Scheer and eight destroyers in position 71°25’N, 23°40’E, steering course 045°. She claimed to have hit the Tirpitz with two torpedoes. An hour or so later, at 1816 hours, a reconnoitring aircraft reported eleven strange ships in position 71°31’N, 27°10’E steering 065°, speed 10 knots. And finally HMS P 54 (Lt. C.E. Oxborrow, DSC, RN), at 2029/5 reported the Tirpitz and Admiral Hipper escorted by at least six destroyers and eight aircraft in position 71°30’N, 28°40’E steering a course of 060° at a speed of 22 knots.

Actually the cruise of the German ships was of short duration. Hitler’s permission to lauch the operation had only been obtained in the forenoon of the 5th and the executive order was given at 1137 hours. Rear-Admiral Hamilton’s cruisers were then known to be moving to the westward and Admiral Tovey’s covering force was some 450 miles away from the convoy. It seemed there would be no immediate danger for the German heavy ships provided they could approach the merchant ships unseen and engage them for a time as short as possible. But the Allied sighting reports were intercepted and the Naval Staff calculated that Admiral Tovey would be able to close sufficiently to launch an air attack before they would be able to return to port I they continued operations against the merchant ships after 0100/6. Air and U-boat attacks were meanwhile taking a heavy toll on the convoy and it did not seem that it was worth the risk. At 2132/5 orders were given to abandon the operation. At 2152 hours, while in position 71°38’N, 31°05’E the German ships reversed course and returned to Altafjord.

During the night of 5/6 July the Admiralty made three signals to the Commander-in-Chief, Home Fleet suggesting that the Tirpitz might be ‘reluctant to go as far as the convoy’ if the battlefleet was sighted steering to the eastward, and that aircraft from HMS Victorious might be able to attack her if she had ben damaged by the Russian submarines. The latter appeared to Admiral Tovey unlikely, for as it seemed certain that the Tirpitz, especially if damaged, would not be sailed down the Norwegian coast until adequate fighter cover and seaward reconnaissance were available. However, arrangements were made for the fleet to reverse its course if the approach of enemy aircraft was detected and at 0645/6 course was altered back to the north-eastward. An hour later an enemy aircraft passed over the fleet above the clouds but endeavours to attract its attention by gunfire and fighters were unsuccessful. That forenoon Rear-Admiral Hamilton’s force joined the fleet at 1040/6. Weather was unsuitable for air reconnaissance and Admiral Tovey felt that nothing was to be gained by continuing to the north-eastward. Rear-Admiral Hamilton’s cruisers and eight destroyers were detached to Seidisfjord at 1230 hours and the battlefleet turned to the southward again shortly afterwards. All ships reached harbour on the 8th.

The last news of the enemy ships came on 7 July, when a British aircraft working from Vaenga, near Murmansk, reported the Tirpitz, Admiral Scheer and Admiral Hipper and some destroyers followed by an oiler from a neighbouring fjord turning out of Lang Fjord in Arnoy (70°N, 20°30’E). By this time the Allied ships were well on their way home but an attempt to attack the enemy was once again made by submarines. Anticipating their return to Narvik, HMS Sturgeon (Lt. M.R.G. Wingfield, RN) and FFS Minerve (Lt. P.M. Sonneville) had been ordered on 6 July to leave the main patrol line and to patrol to the mouth of the Vest Fjord on the 7th and the 8th, one at a time, in case the Tirpitz should pass on the outside of the Lofoten Islands, owning to her heavy draught due to possible damage. Nothing came of this, however, nor of a further patrol carried out by HMS Sturgeon on the night of 9/10 July close inshore some 70 nautical miles north of Trondheim in case of any German ships going to that port.

Now back to the ships of convoy PQ 17. The sudden order to scatter came to Commodore Dowding as an unpleasant surprise. Like Rear-Admiral Hamilton and Commander Broome he did not doubt that it heralded the immediate appearance of enemy heavy ships, and as the escorting destroyers parted company to join the cruisers, he signalled to HMS Keppel ‘Many thanks, goodbye and good hunting’ to which Commander Broome replied ‘It’s a grim business leaving you here’. It was indeed a grim business and the gravity of the situation was clear to all. Weather attack by surface craft developed in a few minutes or by aircraft and submarines during the next few days, the plight of the individual merchant ships – deprived of mutual support of their escort - was parlous in the extreme.

The convoy scattered as laid down in the instructions, in perfect order, though it must have been apparent to the ships that had to turn to the south-west that they were heading towards where the most trouble might be expected. The merchant ships proceeded mostly alone, or in groups of two or three. The anti-aircraft ships HMS Palomares and HMS Pozarica each took charge of a group, each collecting also two or three minesweepers or corvettes to act as a screen. They joined company the next day and proceeded towards Novaya Zemlya. HMS Salamander accompanied two merchantmen and a rescue ship. HMS Daniella was escorting the submarines, HMS P 614 and HMS P 615. She stood them clear of the convoy, when they separated to patrol in its wake, while the corvette went on by itself. At first the different groups spread on courses ranging from north to east, a few steering afterwards for Archangel, most seeking shelter in Novaya Zemlya. But less than half the merchant ships reached even ‘horrid Zembla’s frozen realms’, for 17 in addition to the oiler Aldersdale and the rescue ship Zaafaran were sunk during the next three days by bombing aircraft and U-boats. The bulk of the losses took place on the 5th while the ships were still far to the north, six being sunk by bombs and six were torpedoed by submarines. One ship was bombed on the 6th. Four were torpedoed by U-boats off the south-west coast of Novaya Zemlya between the evening of the 6th and the early morning of the 8th.

By the 7th of July, most of the escort, the rescue ship Zamalek and five merchant ships, the Ocean Freedom, Hoosier, Benjamin Harrison, El Capitan and Samual Chase, had reached Matochkin Strait. Commodore Dowding, whose ship the River Afton had been sunk by a U-boat on the 5th, arrived in HMS Lotus, which had rescued him and 36 survivors, including the Master after 3.5 hours on rafts and floats. After a conference on board HMS Palomares, these merchantmen were formed into a convoy into a convoy and sailed that evening, escorted by the two AA ships, HMS Halcyon, HMS Salamander, HMS Britomart, HMS Poppy, HMS Lotus and HMS La Malouine and three A/S trawlers. The Benjamin Harrison soon got separated in fog and returned to the Matochkin Strait but the remainder were still in company when the fog temporarily cleared during the forenoon of the 8th, and course was shaped to pass east and south of Kolguyev Island. It was an anxious passage, much fog and ice was encountered and U-boats were known to be about. From time to time boatloads of survivors from other ships already sunk were encountered and picked up. A remainder of the fate that might be in store for any of them. During the night of 9-10 July some 40 bombers carried out high level attacks on this small convoy. The attacks lasted for four hours, the Hoosier and El Capitan were sunk by near misses some 60 nautical miles north of Cape Kanin. Four aircraft are believed to have been shot down. The attacks ended at 0230/10 and half an hour later two Russian flying boats appeared. The surviving ships arrived at Archangel the next day, 11 July. Three ships out of thirty-seven were now in port, not a very successful convoy so far. Things were however not that bad as Commodore Dowding thought at that moment. The rescue ship Rathlin with two merchant ships, the Donbass and the Bellingham had arrived on the 9th, having shot down an aircraft the day before, and before long the news of other ships sheltering in Novaya Zemlya came in.

At his special request, Commodore Dowding, despite all he had been through, left Archangel in HMS Poppy on 16 July, in company with HMS Lotus and HMS La Malouine, to form these merchant ships into a convoy and bring them to Archangel. After a stormy passage they arrived at Byelushya Bay on the 19th. There 12 survivors from the merchant Olopana were found. During the day the coast was searched and in the evening the Winston Salem was found agound and later the Empire Tide was found at anchor. The next morning Motochkin Strait was entered and five merchant ships were found at anchor, the Benjamin Harrison, Silver Sword, Troubadour, Ironclad and the Azerbaidjan. A Russian icebreaker (the Murman) was also there as was a Russian trawler (the Kerov). Also, one of the escorts of convoy PQ 17 was found there, the British A/S trawler Ayrshire.

Commodore Dowding wasted no time. A conference was held that forenoon and in the evening all ships sailed, the Commodore leading in the Russian icebreaker Murman. The Empire Tide, which had a lot of survivors from sunken ships aboard joined the convoy early the next day. The Winston Salem was however still aground with two Russian tugs standing by. Much fog was encountered during the passage which was uneventful except for two U-boat alarms. The escort was reinforced by HMS Pozarica, HMS Bramble, HMS Hazard, HMS Leda, HMS Dianella and two Russian destroyers on the 22th. The convoy arrived safe at Archangel on the 24th.

Four days later (on the 28th) the Winston Salem was finally refloated. She managed reached harbour as the last ship of the ill-fated PQ 17 convoy making a total of 11 survivors out of a total of 35 ships. It was realised afterwards by the Admiralty that the decision to scatter the convoy had been premature.

The disastrous passage of convoy PQ 17 tended to throw into the background the fortunes of the westbound convoy, QP 13. This convoy of 35 ships sailed in two parts from Archangel and Murmansk and joined at sea on 28 June under Commodore N.H. Gale. Thick weather prevailed during most of the passage, but the convoy was reported by enemy aircraft on 30 June while still east of Bear Island and again on 2 July. No attacks developed, the enemy focus was on the eastbound convoy. That afternoon the ill-fated convoy PQ 17 was passed.

After an uneventful passage, convoy QP 13 divided off the north-east coast of Iceland on 4 July. Commodore Gale with 16 merchant ships turned south for Loch Ewe while the remaining 9 merchant ships continued round the north coast of Iceland for Reykjavik. At 1900/5 these ships formed into a five column convoy. They were escorted by HMS Niger (SO), HMS Hussar, FFL Roselys, HMS Lady Madeleine and HMS St. Elstan. They were now approaching the north-west corner of Iceland. The weather was overcast, visibility about one mile, wind north-east, force 8, sea rough. No sights had been obtained since 1800/2 and the convoys position was considerably in doubt. At 1910/5 Commander Cubison (C.O. HMS Niger) suggested that the front of the convoy should be reduced to two columns in order to pass between Straumnes and the minefield off the north-west coast of Iceland. This was the first the convoy Commodore had heard of the existence of this minefield. Soon afterwards, Commander Cubison gave his estimated position at 2000/5 as 66°45’N, 22°22’W and suggested altering course 222° for Straumnes Point at that time. This was done. About two hours later, at 2200 hours, HMS Niger which had gone ahead to try to make landfall leaving HMS Hussar as a visual link with the convoy, sighted what she took to be North Cape bearing 150° at a range of one mile and ordered the course of the convoy to be altered to 270°. Actually what HMS Niger sighted was a large iceberg but this was not realised for some time. At 2240/5 HMS Niger blew up and sank with heavy loss of life, including Commander Cubison. Five minutes later a last signal from her, explaining her mistaken landfall and recommending a return to course 222° was handed to the convoy Commodore. But it was too late, already explosions were occurring amongst the merchant ships. The westerly course had led the convoy straight into the minefield. Considerable confusion prevailed, some thinking that a U-boat attack was in progress, other imagining a surface raider. Four ships were sunk, the Heffron, Hybert, Massmar and the Rodina and two were seriously damaged, the John Randolph and the Exterminator. Good rescue work was carried out by the escorts, especially the FFL Roselys which picked up 179 survivors from various ships. Meanwhile HMS Hussar had obtained a shore fix, led out the remaining merchant ships, which reformed on a southerly course for Reykjavik where they arrived without further misadventure.

29 Jun 1942
The auxiliary minelayers Southern Prince (A/Capt. J. Cresswell, RN), Agamemnon (Capt.(rtd.) F. Ratsey, RN) , Port Quebec (A/Capt.(rtd.) V. Hammersley-Heenan, RN) , Menestheus (Capt.(rtd.) R.H.F. de Salis, DSC and Bar, OBE, RN) and four merchant vessels (colliers ?) departed Scapa Flow to serve as a dummy convoy to fool the Germans. They were escorted by the light cruisers Sirius (Capt. P.W.B. Brooking, RN), Curacoa (Capt. J.W. Boutwood, RN), minelayer Adventure (Capt. N.V. Grace, RN), destroyers Brighton (Cdr.(rtd). C.W.V.T.S. Lepper, RN), St. Marys (Lt.Cdr. K.H.J.L. Phibbs, RN), HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN), HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys. RNethN), the escort destroyers Oakley (Lt.Cdr. T.A. Pack-Beresford, RN), Catterick (Lt. A. Tyson, RN), and 4 A/S trawlers.

[For more info on this operation see the event ' Convoy operations PQ 17 / QP 13 ' for 27 June 1942.]

3 Jul 1942
Around 0800B/13, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys. RNethN) arrived at Liverpool from operations. She had parted company with ' Force X ' around 1500B/2. (1)

5 Jul 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys. RNethN) is docked in the Clarence dry dock no.1 at Liverpool. (1)

10 Jul 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys. RNethN) is undocked. (1)

17 Jul 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Liverpool for Moville where she is to fuel before joining convoy WS 21P.

In the evening, Lt. C. Hos, RNethN, the ships 1st officer is heavily wounded during an accident and he died of his wounds shortly afterwards. His corpse his landed at Moville the following day. (1)

18 Jul 1942

Convoy WS 21P.

This convoy was assembled off Oversay on 18 July 1942.

The convoy was made up of the following troop transports;
Duchess of Atholl (British, 20119 GRT, built 1928), Duchess of York (British, 20021 GRT, built 1929), Empress of Japan (British, 26032 GRT, built 1930), Oronsay (British, 20043 GRT, built 1925) and Windsor Castle (British, 19141 GRT, built 1922).

On assembly of Oversay the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HMS Orion (Capt. G.C.P. Menzies, RN) and the destroyers HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN), HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN), HMS Buxton (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) W.A. Moens, RN) and HMS Georgetown (Lt.Cdr. P.G. MacIver, RNR).

Around 0800O/20, HMS Buxton parted company with the convoy.

Around 2300O/20, HMAS Nepal parted company to proceed to Ponta Delgada, Azores, to fuel. She rejoined the convoy around 0150O/22.

Around 0800O/22, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes parted company with the convoy to proceed to Ponta Delgada, Azores, to fuel. She rejoined the convoy around 0800O/23.

Around 0730Z/25, the destroyer HMS Vimy (Lt.Cdr. H.G.D. de Chair, RN) joined the convoy.

The convoy arrived at Freetown on 27 July 1942.

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The convoy departed Freetown in the same composition on 1 August 1942. It was now escorted by the light cruiser HMS Orion, destroyers HMAS Nepal, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes, HMS Boreas (Lt.Cdr. E.L. Jones, DSC, RN) and the minesweeper / sloop Commandant Duboc.

In the morning of 5 August 1942, the American convoy AS 4 joined the convoy. This convoy was made up of the following transports;
American Manufacturer (American, 6678 GRT, built 1941), Empire Oriole (British, 6535 GRT, built 1941), Exhibitor (American, 6736 GRT, built 1940), Hawaiian Shipper (American, 7775 GRT, built 1941), Mormacdale (American, 6976 GRT, built 1942), Santa Cruz (American, 6925 GRT, built 1941), Seatrain Texas (American, 8108 GRT, built 1940), Tarn (Norwegian, 6850 GRT, built 1933) and Zaandam (Dutch, 19141 GRT, built 1922).

On this convoy joining the American escort, made up of the light cruiser Omaha (Capt. T.E. Chandler, USN), AA cruiser Juneau (Capt. L.K. Swenson, USN) and the destroyers USS Somers (T/Cdr. A.C. Wood, USN) and USS Davis (T/Cdr. M.R. Peterson, USN) then parted company.

At 0900Z/6, HMAS Nepal and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes parted company with the convoy and joined the RFA tanker Rapidol (2648 GRT, built 1917) and her escort, the corvette HMS Snowdrop (Lt. P.A. Tinne, RNVR). The destroyers fuelled from the Rapidol in the early hours of 7 August 1942 when off St. Helena. They rejoined the convoy around 1900A/10.

HMS Boreas also parted company on 6 August 1942. She was also to fuel from the Rapidol.

The convoy arrived at Capetown on 12 August 1942.

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The convoy, now made up of the Duchess of Atholl, Duchess of York, Empire Oriole, Empress of Japan, Exhibitor, Hawaiian Shipper, Oronsay, Tarn, Windsor Castle and Zaandam departed Capetown on 16 August 1942.

The convoy was now escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS Shropshire (Capt. J.T. Borrett, OBE, RN) and the destroyer HMS Duncan (Capt. H.St.L. Nicolson, DSO, RN).

Around 1700BC/19, the light cruiser HMS Orion and the destroyers HMAS Nepal and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes joined the convoy. HMS Shropshire then parted company. HMS Duncan had already parted company with the convoy earlier in the day.

Around 1645C/24, HMAS Nepal and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes parted company with the convoy to proceed to Kilindini.

The convoy was dispersed off Aden on 29 August 1942. (5)

15 Aug 1942
Around 0900B/15, HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Capetown for Durban where they arrived around 1000C/17. (1)

19 Aug 1942
Around 0730C/19, the light cruiser HMS Orion (Capt. G.C.P. Menzies, RN) and the destroyers HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Durban to join convoy WS 21P at sea.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 21P ' for 18 July 1942.] (1)

25 Aug 1942
Around 1000C/25, HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN), HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) arrived at Kilindini from convoy escort duty. (1)

27 Aug 1942
The destroyers HMAS Napier (Capt. S.H.T. Arliss, DSO, RN), HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN), HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN), HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN), HMS Inconstant (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN), HMS Fortune (Lt.Cdr. R.D.H.S. Pankhurst, RN), i>HMS Arrow (Cdr. A.M. McKillop, RN), HMS Active (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, RN) and the escort destroyer HMS Blackmore (Lt. H.T. Harrel, RN) conducted exercises off Kilindini. (6)

29 Aug 1942

Operation Touchstone.

From 29 August to 1 September 1942 a large exercise was carried out with landings at Tanga, Dar es Salaam, and Zanzibar by Royal Marines and at Kilindini by the 29th Brigade.

Participating in the exercises were the battleships HMS Resolution (Capt. A.R. Halfhide, CBE, RN , flying the flag of A/Vice-Admiral A.U. Willis, DSO, RN, Second in Command, Eastern Fleet), HMS Warspite (Capt. F.E.P. Hutton, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral J.F. Somerville, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, CinC Eastern Fleet), HMS Valiant (Capt. L.H. Ashmore, RN), aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (Rear-Admiral A.W.LaT. Bisset, RN), light cruisers HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN), HMS Enterprise (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN), AA cruiser HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. E.J. van Holte, RNethN) and the destroyers HMAS Napier (Capt. S.H.T. Arliss, DSO, RN), HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN), HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN), HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN), HMS Inconstant (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN), HMS Fortune (Lt.Cdr. R.D.H.S. Pankhurst, RN), HMS Foxhound (Cdr. C.J. Wynne-Edwards, DSC, RN), HMS Griffin (Lt.Cdr. A.N. Rowell, RN) and HMS Decoy (Lt.Cdr. G.I.M. Balfour, RN).

A/Vice-Admiral Willis was in command of the operation.

3 Sep 1942
During 3/4 September 1942, the battleship HMS Warspite (Capt. F.E.P. Hutton, RN, flying the flag of Vice-Admiral J.F. Somerville, KCB, KBE, DSO, RN, CinC Eastern Fleet) conducted exercises off Kilindini. She was escorted by the destroyers HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) and HMS Foxhound (Cdr. C.J. Wynne-Edwards, DSC, RN). [The logbook of HMS Warspite gives the name of HrMs Van Galen instead of HrMs Tjerk Hiddes but this is incorrect.] (7)

6 Sep 1942
' Force M ' made up of the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (Rear-Admiral A.W.laT. Bisset, RN), light cruiser HMS Birmingham (Capt. H.B. Crane, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN, Senior Officer Force M), AA cruiser HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. E.J. van Holte, RNethN) and the destroyers HMAS Napier (Capt. S.H.T. Arliss, DSO, RN), HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) sailed for the rendezvous position where all forces involved in the sheduled landings at Majunga on 10 September 1942 (Operation Stream) were to assemble.

[No further infomation available on Operation Stream for the moment, further research is required.] (8)

11 Sep 1942
Around 0915C/11, HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. E.J. van Holte, RNethN), HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) arrived at Majunga to fuel. (9)

12 Sep 1942
HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) both conducted an A/S patrol off Majunga. (10)

15 Sep 1942
Around 1600C/15, HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) arrived at Diego Suarez from Majunga which they had departed on the 13th being part of the escort of a convoy.

[More details to follow at a later date, further research is needed.] (10)

16 Sep 1942
In the afternoon of 16 September 1942, HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Diego Suarez to participate in operation ' Jane ', the landings at Tamatave.

[Further research is required and will be done in the future.] (10)

18 Sep 1942
In the afternoon of 18 September 1942, HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) anchored off Tamatave.

[Further research is required and will be done in the future.] (10)

19 Sep 1942
Around 0700D/19, HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Tamatave for A/S patrol in the area.

Around 1700D/19, HMS Birmingham (Capt. H.B. Crane, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN, Senior Officer Force M), also departed Tamatave and joined the two Dutch destroyers at sea following course was set for Diego Suarez where they arrived around 1730D/20. (10)

28 Sep 1942
HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. H.A.V. Haggard, DSO, DSC, RN) carries out A/S exercises off Diego Suarez with HMS Shapinsay (A/Skr.Lt. W.S. Flowers, RNR) and HMS Hildasay (T/Lt. H.C. Doman, RNVR). Later on the day attack exercises were carried out during which HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN), HMS Dauntless (A/Capt. J.G. Hewitt, DSO, RN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) acted as targets.

After the exercises were completed HMS Truant sets course for East London, South Africa while HMS Gambia, HMS Dauntless and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes remained out for night encounter exercises during the night of 28/29 September. On completion of these exercises HMS Dauntless and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes returned to Diego Suarez. (11)

1 Oct 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted torpedo firing exercises at Diego Suarez. Two practice torpedoes were fired but these could not be recovered. Searches for these torpedoes continued until 3 October 1942 but they were not found. (1)

3 Oct 1942
Around 0915D/3, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Diego Suarez for Kilindini. (1)

4 Oct 1942
Around 1730C/4, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) arrived at Kilindini from Diego Suarez. (1)

5 Oct 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) commenced boiler cleaning at Kilindini. (1)

10 Oct 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) completed boiler cleaning. (1)

11 Oct 1942
Around 1200C/11, the AA cruiser HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. E.J. van Holte, RNethN) and the destroyers HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Kilindini / Mombasa for Fremantle, Australia. They were to proceed via the Seychelles and Diego Garcia.

On their departure from Kilindini / Mombasa they were in company with the light cruiser HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN) which was escorting the (troop) transports Eastern Prince (British, 10926 GRT, built 1929) and Empire Pride (British, 9248 GRT, built 1941) to Diego Suarez. The Dutch ships parted company around 1900C/11.

Before their departure to Australia all three ships had first cleaned boilers at Kilindini in the week before departure. (12)

13 Oct 1942
HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. E.J. van Holte, RNethN), HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) arrived at Port Victoria, Seychelles to fuel from the RFA tanker Cedardale (8132 GRT, built 1939). (9)

14 Oct 1942
HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. E.J. van Holte, RNethN), HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Port Victoria, Seychelles for Diego Garcia. (9)

16 Oct 1942
HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. E.J. van Holte, RNethN), HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) arrived at Diego Garcia from Port Victoria. After fuelling from the RFA tanker Appleleaf (5891 GRT, built 1917) they departed for Fremantle later the same day. RFA Appleleaf was with them. The two destroyers topped off from the tanker on the 17th and 18th after which the tanker parted company shortly after noon on the 18th. (9)

25 Oct 1942
Around 1200H/25, HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. E.J. van Holte, RNethN), HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) arrived at Fremantle from Kilindini, via the Seychelles and Diego Garcia. (9)

27 Oct 1942
Around 1800H/27, the submarine tender USS Holland (T/Capt. P.E. Pendelton, USN) departed Fremantle for Melbourne. She was escorted by the destroyers HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) until reaching longitude 125°E.

The destroyers parted company around 1215H/30 and arrived back at Fremantle around 0930H/1. (13)

1 Nov 1942
Around 1430H/1, the AA cruiser HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. E.J. van Holte, RNethN) and the destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Fremantle to make rendezvous with the troop transport Dominion Monarch (British, 27155 GRT, built 1939) coming from the Bombay.

Rendezvous was affected around 1415H/2.

They all arrived at Fremantle around 1030H/3. (14)

3 Nov 1942
Around 1800H/3, the troop transport Dominion Monarch (British, 27155 GRT, built 1939) departed Fremantle. She was escorted until 2100H/4, by the destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN). (1)

5 Nov 1942
Around 1415H/5, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) returned to Fremantle from escort duty. (1)

12 Nov 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. She returned very early on the 13th. (1)

13 Nov 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. (1)

15 Nov 1942
Around 1630H/15, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Fremantle to make rendezvous with the USN Cargo ship USS Gold Star (4871 GRT, built 1920, Lt.Cdr. T.J. Schultz, USN).

Rendezvous was affected around 0955H/16.

They arrived at Fremantle around 0800H/17. (1)

20 Nov 1942
Around 1800H/20, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Fremantle escorting the USN Cargo ship USS Gold Star (4871 GRT, built 1920, Lt.Cdr. T.J. Schultz, USN) part of her way to Melbourne.

They parted company around 2100H/22. HrMS Tjerk Hiddes then set course to return to Fremantle where she arrived around 1800H/23. (1)

27 Nov 1942
HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. (10)

30 Nov 1942
During 30 November / 1 December 1942, HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. These included night exercises. (10)

1 Dec 1942
Around 1420H/1, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Fremantle to make rendezvous with HMS Devonshire (Capt. D. Young-Jamieson, RN) and the troopship Mauretania (British, 35739 GRT, built 1939). (1)

3 Dec 1942
Around 0945H/3, HMS Devonshire (Capt. D. Young-Jamieson, RN) and the troopship Mauretania (British, 35739 GRT, built 1939) arrived at Fremantle from Colombo.

They had been joined around by the destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) around 1400I/2 as A/S escort. (15)

5 Dec 1942
Around 0730H/5, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Fremantle for Darwin. (1)

8 Dec 1942
Off Northern Australia, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN), which is en-route from Fremantle to Darwin, is attacked by Japanese aircraft.

A lone Japanese aircraft was spotted at 1203 hours and fire was opened on this aircraft three minutes later. At 1225 the aircraft attacked and dropped four bombs. All missed. At 1240 hours two bombers and two fighters attacked. They made several attack runs and dropped some bombs which also all missed. The final attack came at 1510 hours when two bombers attacked but yet again all bombs missed. (1)

9 Dec 1942
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) arrived at Darwin from Fremantle. (1)

Around 0730I/9, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Darwin for Betano, Timor to evacuate troops and natives.

She arrived off Betano around 0230I/10 and anchored around 800 meters from the shore.

She departed Betano around 0430I/10 to return to Darwin where she arrived around 1900I/10. On board were around 400 evacuees. (1)

14 Dec 1942
Around 0230I/14, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Darwin for an area about 8 miles to the east of Betano, Timor to evacuate troops and natives.

She arrived in the assigned area around 0135I/15 and anchored.

She departed around 0320I/15 to return to Darwin where she arrived around 2000I/15. On board were around 270 evacuees, mostly Australian commando troops. During the evacuation supplies had been landed for commando troops which remained on the island. (1)

16 Dec 1942
Around 0135I/16, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Darwin for Aliambata, Timor.

She arrived off Aliambata around 0140I/17 and anchored.

She departed around 0315I/17 to return to Darwin where she arrived around 1545I/17. On board were around 310, mostly civilian evacuees, mostly Portugese. Also four tons of rubber had been embarked. During the evacuation supplies, mostly for the civilian population, had been also been landed.

During the three round trips to Timor not a single Japanese aircraft had been sighted. This was due to the fact that Japanese flight plans had fallen into Allied hands and their air reconnaissance schedule was thus known so air patrols could be evaded. (1)

20 Dec 1942
Around 0830I/20, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Darwin for Fremantle. (1)

24 Dec 1942
Around 1815I/24, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) arrived at Fremantle from Darwin.

She had made a short stop at Geraldton in the morning to take on board some fuel. (1)

1 Jan 1943
Around 0035I/1, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys. RNethN) departed Fremantle to make rendezvous with the troop transport Ile de France (British, 43548 GRT, built 1927, former French).

Rendezvous was affected around 1410I/2 and course was set for Fremantle where they arrived around 0800I/3. (1)

8 Jan 1943
In the afternoon, on board, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN), which is undergoing maintenance at Fremantle, a torpedo air vessel exploded. Six men were injured, four civilian workers from the State Engineering Works from the from the and two of the crew. The ship itself also sustained damage.

Work has been ongoing on the torpedoes for a few days trying to reduce the pressure in the air vessels due to the extreme hot temperatures. (1)

25 Jan 1943
HrMs Tromp (Capt. J.B. de Meester, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted A/S exercises off Fremantle with USS Thresher (T/Cdr. W.J. Millican, USN). (16)

27 Jan 1943
Around 1500I/27, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Fremantle to escort the transport Chungking (British, 2171 GRT, built 1914) to Geraldton where they arrived around 1700I/28.

Around 2045I/28, HrMS Tjerk Hiddes departed again to return to Fremantle where she arrived around 1415I/29. (1)

30 Jan 1943
Around 1615I/30, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Fremantle to proceed towards Onslow to make rendezvous with the transport Koolinda (Australian, 4372 GRT, built 1926) and then escort this ship to Fremantle.

On 1 February 1943, the orders were changed and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes was ordered to proceed to Geraldton where she arrived around 1145I/2. (1)

1 Feb 1943

'Pamphlet' convoy, Suez - Sydney, 1 February to 27 February 1943.

This convoy, made up of the troop transports Queen Mary (British, 81235 GRT, built 1936), Aquitania (British, 45647 GRT, built 1914), Ile de France (British, 43548 GRT, built 1927, former French), Nieuw Amsterdam (Dutch, 36287 GRT, built 1938) and the armed merchant cruiser HMS Queen of Bermuda (A/Capt.(Retd.) A.D. Cochrane, DSO, RN) (22575 GRT, built 1933) were transporting 30000 men of the Australian 9th Division from Suez to Melbourne and Sydney. [HMS Queen of Bermuda also served in the role of troopship.]

This convoy had departed Suez on 1 February 1943 and were escorted during their passage through the Red Sea by the destroyers HMS Pakenham (Capt. E.B.K. Stevens, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Petard (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Egan, RN), HMS Isis (Cdr. B. Jones, DSC, RN), HMS Hero (Lt.Cdr. W. Scott, DSC and Bar, RN), RHS Vasilissa Olga (Lt.Cdr. G. Blessas, DSO, RHN) and the escort destroyer Derwent (Cdr. R.H. Wright, DSC, RN).

The convoy was joined around 1545C/4 by the heavy cruiser HMS Devonshire (Capt. D. Young-Jamieson, RN).

Around 1800E/6, HMS Hero and HMS Derwent parted company with the convoy to proceed to Aden.

Around 2000E/6, HMS Pakenham, HMS Petard, HMS Isis and RHS Vasilissa Olga parted company with the convoy to proceed to Aden.

Around 1230FG/9, the destroyers HMS Quilliam (Capt. S.H. Carlill, DSO, RN) and HMS Foxhound (Cdr. C.J. Wynne-Edwards, DSC and Bar, RN) joined the convoy.

The convoy entered Addu Atoll late in the afternoon / early in the evening of the 9th where all warships fuelled.

The convoy departed Addu Atoll to continue its passage to Australia in the afternoon of the 10th. The light cruiser HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN) had joined the convoy escort.

Around 0030FG/11, HMS Quilliam and HMS Foxhound parted company to proceed to Addu Atoll.

Around 0840H/16, the light cruiser HrMs Tromp (Capt. J.B. de Meester, RNethN) and the destroyer HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) joined the convoy in approximate postion 26°06'S, 101°09'E.

Around 2000H/16, the AA cruiser HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. E.J. van Holthe, RNethN) joined the convoy in approximate position 27°41'S, 104°35'E.

Around 2000H/17, the destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) joined the convoy in approximate position 30°30'S, 112°52'E.

In the afternoon of the 18th the convoy arrived off Fremantle.

Around 1800I/20, the convoy, minus HMS Queen of Bermuda departed Fremantle now escorted by the light cruiser HMAS Adelaide (A/Capt. J.C.D. Esdaile, OBE, RAN), AA cruiser HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck and the destroyers HrMs Van Galen and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes.

Around 2300I/21, HrMs Van Galen parted company to return to Fremantle.

Around 1645KL/24, the convoy was joined by the heavy cruiser Australia (Capt. H.B. Farncomb, MVO, DSO, RAN) and the destroyers USS Henley (Lt.Cdr. E.K. van Swearingen, USN) and USS Bagley (Lt.Cdr. T.E. Chambers, USN). The New Amsterdam escorted by HMAS Adelaide, HrMs Heemskerk and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes then departed the convoy and proceeded to Port Phillip where they arrived arrived around 1000L/25. The other ships continued to Sydney.

In the afternoon of the 26th the HrMs Heemskerck rejoined the convoy. Later in the afternoon the destroyer Le Triomphant (Cdr. P.M.J.R. Auboyneau) also joined.

The convoy arrived at Sydney on the 27th.

4 Feb 1943
Around 1845I/4, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Geraldton for Fremantle where she arrived around 0930I/5. (1)

8 Feb 1943
Around 0745I/8, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Fremantle to conduct an A/S search for a reported enemy submarine. If contact was not made before dark on the 9th she is to proceed to Geraldton to arrive there on the 10th.

An enemy submarine had indeed been operating off Western Australia. This was the Japanese I-165 (offsite link). (1)

10 Feb 1943
Around 1100I/10, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) arrived at Geraldton from patrol. No enemy submarine had been encountered. (1)

11 Feb 1943
Around 1330I/11, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Geraldton to make rendezvous with the buoy / lighthouse tender Cape Otway (Australian, 996 GRT, built 1931) and then escort this ship to Fremantle.

Rendezvous was affected around 2230I/12. It had been intended to make rendezvous during daylight but the ship had not been sighted.

They arrived at Fremantle around 1500I/14. (1)

15 Feb 1943
Around 0800I/15, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Fremantle to make rendezvous with the US troopship USS Monticello (Cdr. B.B. Lanier, USNR) (25661 GRT, built 1928, former Italian liner Conte Grande).

Rendezvous was affected around 0930I/16 and course was set for Fremantle where they arrived around 0900I/18.

HrMs Tjerk Hiddes did not enter the harbour but immediately set course to make rendezvous with the Pamphlet convoy.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Pamphlet' convoy, Suez - Sydney, 1 February to 27 February 1943 ' for 1 February 1943.] (1)

18 Feb 1943
Around mid-afternoon, HMS Devonshire (Capt. D. Young-Jamieson, RN), HMS Gambia (Capt. M.J. Mansergh, CBE, RN, flying the flag of Rear Admiral W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN), HrMs Tromp (Capt. J.B. de Meester, RNethN), HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. E.J. van Holthe, RNethN), HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) en HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) arrived at Fremantle with the Pamphlet convoy. (17)

20 Feb 1943
Around 1800I/20, the Pamphlet convoy departed Fremantle escorted by the light cruiser HMAS Adelaide (A/Capt. J.C.D. Esdaile, OBE, RAN), AA cruiser HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. E.J. van Holthe, RNethN) and the destroyers HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN).

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' 'Pamphlet' convoy, Suez - Sydney, 1 February to 27 February 1943 ' for 1 February 1943.] (18)

25 Feb 1943
Around 1000L/25, HMAS Adelaide (A/Capt. J.C.D. Esdaile, OBE, RAN), HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. E.J. van Holthe, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) arrived in Port Phillip together with the troopship Nieuw Amsterdam (Dutch, 36287 GRT, built 1938). (18)

26 Feb 1943
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) proceeded to the Williamstown naval base where she is taken in hand for a short refit. (1)

2 Mar 1943
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) is docked at Williamstown. (1)

19 Mar 1943
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) is undocked. (1)

25 Mar 1943
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) underwent a tilt test in the dry dock at Williamstown. (1)

27 Mar 1943
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises in Port Phillip.

She departed for Fremantle later the same day. (1)

31 Mar 1943
Around 1500H/31, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) arrived at Fremantle from Williamstown. (1)

6 Apr 1943
Around 1300H/6, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Fremantle harbour. She then first conducted several runs over the degaussing range before she departed around 1515H/6 to make rendezvous with the transport Port Jackson (British, 9687 GRT, built 1937).

Rendezvous was however not affected the following day and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes then set course to return to Fremantle. (1)

8 Apr 1943
HMAS Adelaide (A/Capt. J.C.D. Esdaile, OBE, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle.

HrMs Tjerk Hiddes was returning from escort duties and joined HMAS Adelaide for some exercises before entering harbour. (1)

13 Apr 1943
HMAS Adelaide (A/Capt. J.C.D. Esdaile, OBE, RAN), HrMs Tromp (Capt. J.B. de Meester, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. (19)

20 Apr 1943
HrMs Tromp (Capt. J.B. de Meester, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted A/S exercises off Fremantle with USS Gar (T/Cdr. P.D. Quirk, USN, USN). (19)

23 Apr 1943
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. These included exercises with USS Gar (T/Cdr. P.D. Quirk, USN, USN). (1)

24 Apr 1943
Around 1230H/24, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Fremantle escorting the transport Alcoa Patriot (American, 6759 GRT, built 1941) to longitude 110°00'E.

They parted company around 2100H/25.

HrMs Tjerk Hiddes then set course to return to Fremantle.

On 26 April she was however ordered to make rendezvous with the transport USS Gold Star (4871 GRT, built 1920, T/Cdr. T.J. Schultz, USN).

Rendezvous was affected around 1005H/27.

They arrived at Fremantle around 1600H/28. (20)

1 May 1943
Around 1830H/1, the submarine tender USS Pelias (T/Capt. W. Wakefield, USN), destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN), minesweeper USS Whippoorwill (T/Lt. C.L. Knopp, USN) and the auxiliary patrol vessel USS Isabel (T/Lt. F.D. Buckley, USN) departed Fremantle to establish an advanced base at Exmouth Gulf. (21)

3 May 1943
Around 2300H/3, the submarine tender USS Pelias (T/Capt. W. Wakefield, USN), destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN), minesweeper USS Whippoorwill (T/Lt. C.L. Knopp, USN) and the auxiliary patrol vessel USS Isabel (T/Lt. F.D. Buckley, USN) arrived at Exmouth Gulf from Fremantle. (21)

13 May 1943
Around 1445H/13, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Exmouth Gulf for Fremantle. (22)

14 May 1943
Around 1800H/14, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) arrived at Fremantle from Exmouth Gulf. (22)

18 May 1943
HrMs Tromp (Capt. J.B. de Meester, RNethN), HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. W. Harmsen, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle with USS Grayling (T/Cdr. J.E. Lee, USN). (23)

19 May 1943
HrMs Tromp (Capt. J.B. de Meester, RNethN), HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. W. Harmsen, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. (23)

20 May 1943
HrMs Tromp (Capt. J.B. de Meester, RNethN), HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle.

HrMs Van Galen only participated in the exercises briefly as she soon joined the outgoing transport Alcoa Prospector (American, 6796 GRT, built 1941) and escorted her until 2300H/20. HrMs Van Galen returned to Fremantle around 0900H/21. (24)

25 May 1943
HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. (25)

26 May 1943

Convoy US 19.

This convoy departed Fremantle on 26 May 1943.

It was made up of the troop transports;
Dominion Monarch (British, 27155 GRT, built 1939) and Nieuw Amsterdam (Dutch, 36287 GRT, built 1938).

On departure from Fremantle the convoy was escorted by the light cruiser HrMs Tromp (Capt. J.B. de Meester, RNethN) and the destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN).

Around 0700H/27, when near longitude 110°00'E, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes parted company to return to Fremantle.

Around 1630FG/29, near position 25°19'S, 91°00'E, the heavy cruiser HMS Sussex (Capt. W.Y.La R. Beverley, RN) took over the escort duties from HrMs Tromp which then set course to return to Fremantle.

Around 1500FG/2, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) joined and the convoy split up. the armed merchant cruiser and the Dominion Monarch (British, 27155 GRT, built 1939) set course for Aden. HMS Canton parted company with the Dominion Monarch near Socotra around 0640D/6. The Dominion Monarch arrived at Aden on 7 May 1943. HMS Canton proceeded to Kilindini / Mombasa where she arrived around 1215C/10.

HMS Sussex and the Nieuw Amsterdam continued on towards Colombo where they arrived around 0930FG/4. (26)

28 May 1943
Around 0300H/28, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) anchored in Gage Roads. She entered Fremantle harbour around 0730H/28. (22)

14 Jun 1943
USS Thresher (T/Cdr. H. Hull) and USS Gar (T/Cdr. P.D. Quirk, USN, USN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. The destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) served as target ship during these exercises. (22)

15 Jun 1943
Around 2200H/15, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Fremantle to make rendezvous with the USN Cargo ship USS Gold Star (4871 GRT, built 1920, Lt.Cdr. T.J. Schultz, USN).

Rendezvous was affected around 1400H/16.

They arrived at Fremantle around 2200H/17. (22)

23 Jun 1943
Around 1700H/23, the submarine tender USS Otus (Cdr. J. Newsom, USN) departed Fremantle for Sydney. She was escorted by the destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN). (27)

1 Jul 1943
Around 1500K/1, the submarine tender USS Otus (Cdr. J. Newsom, USN) and her escort, the destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN), arrived at Sydney from Fremantle. (28)

5 Jul 1943
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted D/G and compass swing trials at Sydney.

Around 1730K/5, she departed Sydney for Port Melbourne. (22)

7 Jul 1943
Around 1010K/7, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) arrived at Port Melbourne from Sydney. (22)

9 Jul 1943
Around 1030K/9, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Port Melbourne for Fremantle. (22)

13 Jul 1943
Around 2350H/13, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) anchored in Gage Roads.

She entered Fremantle harbour around 0800H/14. (22)

22 Jul 1943

Convoy US 21.

This convoy departed Wellington on 22 July 1943.

It was made up of the troopship Nieuw Amsterdam (Dutch, 36287 GRT, built 1938).

On departure from Wellington the convoy was escorted by the AA cruiser HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. W. Harmsen, RNethN).

In the late morning and afternoon of 27 July 1943, HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck fuelled at Hobart following which passage towards Fremantle was resumed.

Around 1220H/1, the destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) joined in approximate position 35°09'S, 113°30'E.

The convoy arrived at Fremantle around 0730H/2.

The convoy departed Fremantle around 1100H/4. Escort was again HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes.

Around 2100H/4, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes parted company to return to Fremantle.

Around 1500FG/7, the light cruiser HMS Newcastle (Capt. P.B.R.W. William-Powlett, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral W.G. Tennant, CB, MVO, RN) made rendezvous in approximate position 19°00'S, 94°40'E and took over the escort duties from HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck.

Around 1530F/10, in approximate position 05°50'S, 75°00'E HMS Newcastle turned over the escort of convoy US 21 to the armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN). HMS Newcastle then proceeded to Addu Atoll.

HMS Canton parted company with the Nieuw Amsterdam around 2000D/13 in position 07°40'N, 55°14'E. HMS Canton then proceeded to Kilidini. The troopship then continued on unescorted towards Suez.

22 Jul 1943
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. T. Brunsting, RNethN) conducted A/S exercises off Fremantle with HrMs Tromp (Capt. J.B. de Meester, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN). (23)

23 Jul 1943
USS Gar (T/Cdr. P.D. Quirk, USN, USN) ended her 8th war patrol at Fremantle. She was escorted in by HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN). (22)

26 Jul 1943
USS Grayling (T/Lt.Cdr. R.M. Brinker, USN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. During these exercises, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN), served as target. (22)

30 Jul 1943
HrMs Tromp (Capt. J.B. de Meester, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. (29)

31 Jul 1943
Around 1800H/31, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Fremantle to make rendezvous with convoy US 21.

Rendezvous was affected around 1220H/1.

They arrived at Fremantle around 0730H/2.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy US 21 ' for 22 July 1943.] (22)

4 Aug 1943
Around 1100H/4, HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. W. Harmsen, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Fremantle escorting convoy US 21.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy US 21 ' for 22 July 1943.] (30)

5 Aug 1943
Around 0800H/5, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) returned to Fremantle from escort duty. (22)

6 Aug 1943
USS Gar (T/Lt.Cdr. G.W. Lautrup, Jr., USN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. The destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) served as target ship during these exercises. Also A/S exercises were carried out. (22)

11 Aug 1943
HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. (31)

12 Aug 1943
USS Trout (T/Lt.Cdr. A.H. Clark, USN) departed from Fremantle for her 10th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol the Surigao and San Bernardino straits in the Philippines.

Before proceeding on patrol exercises were carried out with HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN). (32)

18 Aug 1943
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. T. Brunsting, RNethN) conducted A/S exercises off Fremantle with HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN). (33)

20 Aug 1943
HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. (31)

23 Aug 1943
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. T. Brunsting, RNethN) conducted A/S exercises off Fremantle with HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN). (33)

24 Aug 1943
Around 0830H/24, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Fremantle to make rendezvous with the troop transport Hermitage (American, 23254 GRT, built 1925). Before proceeding to the rendezvous exercises were carried out with HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN).

Rendezvous was affected around 1315H/25.

They arrived at Fremantle around 0930H/26. (31)

27 Aug 1943
Around 1145H/27, HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Fremantle to make rendezvous with (troop)transports; Brazil (American, 20614 GRT, built 1929) and Uruguay (American, 20183 GRT, built 1928).

Rendezvous was affected around 1030H/28.

They arrived at Fremantle around 1245H/29. (31)

30 Aug 1943

Convoy US 22.

This convoy departed Fremantle on 30 August 1943.

The convoy was made up of the troop transports; Brazil (American, 20614 GRT, built 1929), Hermitage (American, 23254 GRT, built 1925) and Uruguay (American, 20183 GRT, built 1928).

The convoy was escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS Suffolk (Capt. R. Shelley, CBE, RN) and the destroyers HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN).

The destroyers parted company around 1830H/31 to return to Fremantle.

The convoy arrived at Bombay on 10 September 1943.

1 Sep 1943
Around 1700H/1, HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) returned to Fremantle from escort duty. (31)

8 Sep 1943
HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. T. Brunsting, RNethN) conducted A/S exercises off Fremantle with HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN). (33)

10 Sep 1943
HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. (31)

19 Sep 1943
Around 0920H/19, the transport Sambridge (British, 7176 GRT, built 1943) departed Fremantle for Trincomalee.

On departure from Fremantle she is escorted by the light cruiser HMAS Adelaide (A/Capt. J.C.D. Esdaile, OBE, RAN) and the destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN).

Around 0800H/20, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes is detached to return to Fremantle where she arrived around 1650H/20.

Around 1145G/25, in position 20°15'S, 91°55'E, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton (A/Capt. G.N. Loriston-Clarke, RN) takes over the escort duties from HMAS Adelaide which then set course to return to Fremantle where she arrived on 29 September 1943.

Around 0740FG/2, in position 05°26'N, 81°56'E, HMS Canton parted company with the Sambridge after the destroyer HMS Scout (Lt. R.G. Woodward, RN) had joined.

The Sambridge and HMS Scout then proceeded to Colombo arriving on 3 October. HMS Canton also arrived at Trincomalee on 3 October, around 1115FG. (34)

21 Sep 1943
USS Kingfish (T/Cdr. V.L. Lawrence, USN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. The destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) served as target ship during these exercises. Also A/S exercises were carried out. (22)

22 Sep 1943
Around 0530H/22, HrMs Tromp (Capt. J.B. de Meester, RNethN) departed Fremantle to escort the troop transport Nieuw Amsterdam (Dutch, 36287 GRT, built 1938) to Melbourne.

HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) was with them until 1600H/22 when she parted company. (35)

23 Sep 1943
Around 1400H/23, the destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) joined the heavy cruiser HMAS Shropshire (Capt. J.A. Collins, CB, RAN) coming from Capetown, South Africa. (36)

24 Sep 1943
Around 0830H/24, HMAS Shropshire (Capt. J.A. Collins, CB, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) arrived at Fremantle. (36)

27 Sep 1943
Around 0600H/27, HMAS Shropshire (Capt. J.A. Collins, CB, RAN) departed Fremantle for Sydney where she arrived around 0730K/2. She was escorted until 1200H/27 by HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) which then detached to return to Fremantle where she arrived around 1730H/27. (37)

30 Sep 1943
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted torpedo firing and gunnery exercises off Fremantle. (22)

1 Oct 1943
HrMs O 21 (Lt.Cdr. J.F. van Dulm, RNethN) and HrMs K XII (Lt.Cdr. T. Brunsting, RNethN) conducted attack and A/S exercises off Fremantle with HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) (38)

4 Oct 1943
Around 1100H/4, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Fremantle to make rendezvous with the troop transport George Washington (American, 25570 GRT, built 1909).

Rendezvous was affected around 1600H/5.

They arrived off Fremantle in the evening of the 6th. HMS Tjerk Hiddes only entered harbour around 1115H/7 after having conducted an A/S patrol off Fremantle. (22)

24 Oct 1943
At 1315H/24, on board HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN), which is undergoing repairs and maintenance at Fremantle, a small fire is discovered which could quickly be extinguished. (22)

30 Oct 1943
USS Puffer (T/Cdr. M.J. Jensen, USN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. The destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) served as target ship during these exercises. Also A/S exercises were carried out. (1)

1 Nov 1943
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. (22)

2 Nov 1943
During 2/3 November 1943, HMAS Adelaide (A/Capt. J.C.D. Esdaile, OBE, RAN), HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. (39)

3 Nov 1943

Convoy OW 7.

This convoy departed Fremantle on 3 November 1943.

It was made up of the transports;
Colina (American, 10198 GRT, built 1943) and Samarovsk (British, 7219 GRt, built 1943).

On departure from Fremantle the convoy was escorted by the destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN).

On the 4th, when near Geralton the destroyer HMAS Nizam (Cdr. C.H. Brooks, RAN) took over from HrMs Tjerk Hiddes which then proceeded to Geraldton.

The convoy arrived at Colombo on 17 November 1943. (40)

4 Nov 1943
Around 1415H/4, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) arrived at Geraldton from convoy escort duty. (22)

5 Nov 1943
Around 0800H/5, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) departed Geraldton for Fremantle where she arrived around 1815H/5. (22)

9 Nov 1943
HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. (31)

12 Nov 1943
HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Capt. W. Harmsen, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. (30)

17 Nov 1943
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. (22)

18 Nov 1943
USS Bonefish (T/Cdr. T.W. Hogan, USN) and USS Puffer (T/Lt.Cdr. F.G. Selby, USN) both conducted exercises off Fremantle. The destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) served as target ship during these exercises. Also A/S exercises were carried out. (22)

19 Nov 1943
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted gunnery exercises off Fremantle. (22)

20 Nov 1943
USS Bonefish (T/Cdr. T.W. Hogan, USN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. The destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) served as target ship during these exercises. (22)

24 Nov 1943
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted A/S exercises off Fremantle with USS Puffer (T/Lt.Cdr. F.G. Selby, USN). (22)

26 Nov 1943
USS Cabrilla (T/Cdr. D.T. Hammond, USN) both conducted exercises off Fremantle. The destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) served as target ship during these exercises. Also A/S exercises were carried out. (22)

27 Nov 1943
USS Cabrilla (T/Cdr. D.T. Hammond, USN) both conducted exercises off Fremantle. The destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) served as target ship during these exercises. (22)

3 Dec 1943
In the afternoon HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle.

Around 1730H/3, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes departed Fremantle with the transport Koolinda (Australian, 4372 GRT, built 1926). They were to proceed to Broome via Carnarvon, Exmouth Gulf, Point Samson and Port Hedland. (31)

5 Dec 1943
Around noon on the 5th, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) and the transport Koolinda (Australian, 4372 GRT, built 1926) anchored off Carnarvon. They departed again around 2030H/5. (22)

6 Dec 1943
Around 1500H/6, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) and the transport Koolinda (Australian, 4372 GRT, built 1926) arrived at Exmouth Gulf. Here HrMs Tjerk Hiddes fuelled. (22)

9 Dec 1943
Around 0515H/9, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) and the transport Koolinda (Australian, 4372 GRT, built 1926) departed Exmouth Gulf for Point Samson where they arrived around 1900H/9. (22)

10 Dec 1943
Around 0640H/10, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) and the transport Koolinda (Australian, 4372 GRT, built 1926) departed Point Samson for Port Hedland where they arrived around 1420H/10. (22)

11 Dec 1943
Around 2230H/11, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) and the transport Koolinda (Australian, 4372 GRT, built 1926) departed Port Hedland for Exmouth Gulf. (22)

12 Dec 1943
Around 1400H/12, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) and the transport Koolinda (Australian, 4372 GRT, built 1926) arrived at Exmouth Gulf from Port Hedland.

Around 1800H/12, they departed for Broome. (22)

14 Dec 1943
Around 1040H/14, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) and the transport Koolinda (Australian, 4372 GRT, built 1926) arrived at Broome. (22)

17 Dec 1943
Around 0045H/17, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) and the transport Koolinda (Australian, 4372 GRT, built 1926) departed Broome for Fremantle via Exmouth Gulf. (22)

18 Dec 1943
Around 1730H/18, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) and the transport Koolinda (Australian, 4372 GRT, built 1926) arrived at Exmouth Gulf from Broome. (22)

19 Dec 1943
Around 0515H/19, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) and the transport Koolinda (Australian, 4372 GRT, built 1926) departed Exmouth Gulf for Fremantle. (22)

22 Dec 1943
Around 1000H/22, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) and the transport Koolinda (Australian, 4372 GRT, built 1926) arrived at Fremantle from Exmouth Gulf. (22)

7 Jan 1944
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) is put on the slipway at Fremantle. (22)

10 Jan 1944
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) is put back in the water, however a leak is discovered, and she is immediately put on the slipway again. (22)

11 Jan 1944
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Kruys, RNethN) is put back in the water. (22)

31 Jan 1944
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. J.W. Caspers, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle. (22)

1 Feb 1944
HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. J.W. Caspers, RNethN) conducted exercises off Fremantle.

Later the same day they departed Fremantle for Geraldton. (41)

2 Feb 1944
Around 0900H/2, HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. J.W. Caspers, RNethN) arrived at Geraldton.

Around 1615H/2, they departed again on completion of fuelling. (41)

10 Feb 1944
HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. J.W. Caspers, RNethN) made rendezvous with the RFA tanker Eaglesdale (8032 GRT, built 1942). Both destroyers then fuelled from the tanker. On completion of fuelling they then set course for Trincomalee.

Around 2100FG/12, HrMs Van Galen parted company to join convoy KR 8 and then proceed with it to Colombo. She joined the convoy early the following day.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy KR 8 ' for 5 February 1944, on the page of HrMs Van Galen, only.] (41)

14 Feb 1944
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. J.W. Caspers, RNethN) and the RFA tanker Eaglesdale (8032 GRT, built 1942) arrived at Trincomalee. (22)

16 Feb 1944
HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN), HMS Roebuck (Cdr. J.T. Lean, DSO, RN), HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN), HMS Pathfinder (Lt.Cdr. T.F. Hallifax, RN), HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Cox, RNethN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. (42)

17 Feb 1944
During 17/18 August 1944, the battleships HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN), HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN), HMS Pathfinder (Lt.Cdr. T.F. Hallifax, RN), HMS Penn (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, DSO, RN), HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN), HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Cox, RNethN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. (43)

18 Feb 1944
HMS Unicorn (Capt. H.L.St.J. Fancourt, DSO, RN) conducted flying exercises off Trincomalee during which she was escorted by HMS Penn (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Swain, DSO, RN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Cox, RNethN). (44)

22 Feb 1944

Operation Sleuth.

Operation to intercept suspected German blockade runners to the south-west of Cocos Island.

On 22 February 1944 the aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN), light cruiser HMNZS Gambia (Capt. N.J.W. William-Powlett, DSC, RN) and the destroyers HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Cox, NethN) departed Trincomalee to proceed to an area to the south-west of Cocos Island to search for suspected German blockade runners.

At 1153FG/24, in position 02°57'S, 88°19'E, HMS Rotherham and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes parted company to proceed to Addu Atoll.

On 25 February 1944 the heavy cruiser HMS Sussex (A/Capt. M. Everard, RN) departed Fremantle to join these ships. She joined in the afternoon of 28 February 1944. HMNZS Gambia then proceeded to Fremantle arriving there on 2 March 1944.

HMS Illustrious arrived back at Trincomalee on 3 March 1944. She had been joined by the destroyers HMAS Nizam (Cdr. C.H. Brooks, RAN), and HMS Quality (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, DSO, RN) around 1500FG/1. These destroyers had departed Trincomalee on 28 February. Shortly before arrival on 3 March 1944 the destroyers HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN) and HMAS Quickmatch (Lt.Cdr. O.H. Becher, DSC, RAN) had also joined.

HMS Sussex returned to Fremantle on 9 March 1944.

No enemy ships had been encountered. (45)

24 Feb 1944

Convoy KR 9.

This convoy departed Kilindini on 24 February 1944.

It was made up of the following transports; Banfora (British, 9472 GRT, built 1914), City of London (British, 8956 GRT, built 1907), Egra (British, 5108 GRT, built 1911), Pulaski (Polish, 6345 GRT, built 1912) and Rajula (British, 8478 GRT, built 1926).

On departure from Kilindini the convoy was escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN), destroyer HMS Relentless (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Fell, RN), sloops HMS Landguard (Lt. B.M. Skinner, RN), HMS Lulworth (Lt.Cdr. R.C.S. Woolley, RNR) and the corvettes HMS Freesia (T/Lt.Cdr. G.M. Berlyn, SANF(V)) and HMS Snowflake (Lt. E.J. Powell, RNR).

Around 1700C/26, HMS Relentless parted company to fuel at Port Victoria, Seychelles.

Around 1730D/27, HMS Relentless rejoined.

Around 0930D/1, the destroyers HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN), HMS Petard (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Egan, RN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Cox, NethN) joined the convoy coming from Addu Atoll. HrMs Tjerk Hiddes then received some fuel HMS Frobisher. HMS Landguard, HMS Lulworth and HMS Freesia were then detached to Port Victoria, Seychelles.

Around 0715FG/5, the destroyers HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN) and HMS Pathfinder (Lt.Cdr. T.F. Hallifax, RN) joined coming from Colombo.

The convoy was then split into two sections;
The Colombo section was made up of the City of London, Egra and Pulaski, escorted by HMS Frobisher, HMS Petard, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes and HMS Snowflake. It arrived at Colombo on 5 March 1944.

The Trincomalee section was made up of the Banfora and Rajula and was escorted by HMS Rotherham, HMS Relentless, HMS Pathfinder and HMAS Norman. It arrived at Trincomalee on 6 March 1944.

26 Feb 1944
Around 1600FG/26, HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Cox, NethN) arrived at Addu Atoll. (22)

28 Feb 1944
Around 1130FG/28, HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Cox, NethN) departed Addu Atoll. They were joined around 1700FG/28 by HMS Petard (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Egan, RN) which had also departed Addu Atoll on the 28th but apparently earlier than the other two destroyers.

They joined convoy KR 9 around 0930/1.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy KR 9 ' for 24 February 1944.] (46)

5 Mar 1944
HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN), HMS Petard (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Egan, RN), HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Cox, NethN) and HMS Snowflake (Lt. E.J. Powell, RNR) arrived at Colombo with the 'Colombo section' of Convoy KR 9. (45)

6 Mar 1944
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Cox, NethN) is taken in hand at Colombo for the fitting of new radar equipment. (22)

13 Mar 1944
HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN) departed Colombo for Trincomalee. She was escorted by the destroyers HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN), HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Cox, RNethN). (47)

14 Mar 1944
HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN), HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN), HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Cox, RNethN) arrived at Trincomalee from Colombo. (47)

15 Mar 1944
During 15/16 March 1944, HrMs Tromp (A/Capt. F. Stam, RNethN), HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN), HMS Quality (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, DSO, RN), HMAS Quickmatch (Lt.Cdr. O.H. Becher, DSC, RAN), HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN), HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN), HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN), HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Cox, RNethN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. These included night exercises. (48)

19 Mar 1944

Operation Diplomat

On 19 March the light cruiser HrMs Tromp (A/Capt. F. Stam, RNethN) departed Trincomalee to escort the Royal Fleet Auxiliary tankers Arndale (8296 GRT, built 1937), Eaglesdale (8032 GRT, built 1942) and Easedale (8032 GRT, built 1942).

These tankers were to refuel the ships from the Eastern Fleet that were to participate in operation Diplomat. During operation Diplomat the Eastern Fleet proceeded to the south-west of Cocos Island where the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (T/Commodore. J.H. Cassady, USN) and the destroyers USS Cummings (T/Cdr. P.D. Williams, USN), USS Dunlap (T/Cdr. C. Iverson, USN) and USS Fanning (T/Cdr. R.M. MacKinnon, USN).

Ships from the Eastern Fleet departed Trincomalee on 21 March, these were the battleship HMS Queen Elizabeth (Capt. H.G. Norman, CBE, RN), battlecruiser HMS Renown (Capt. B.C.B. Brooke, RN, flying the flag of Vice Admiral A.J. Power, KCB, CVO, RN and second in command of the Eastern Fleet), aircraft carrier HMS Illustrious (Capt. R.L.B. Cunliffe, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C. Moody, CB, RN), heavy cruisers HMS London (Capt. R.V. Symonds-Tayler, DSC, RN), HMS Cumberland (Capt. W.Y.La R. Beverley, RN), light cruisers HMS Ceylon (Capt. G.B. Amery-Parkes, RN), HMNZS Gambia (Capt. N.J.W. William-Powlett, DSC, RN), destroyers HMS Quilliam (Capt. R.G. Onslow, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), HMS Pathfinder (Lt.Cdr. T.F. Hallifax, RN), HMAS Napier (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Green, DSC, RAN), HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN), HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN), HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Cox, RNethN).

The battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Quality (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, DSO, RN), HMS Queenborough (Cdr. E.P. Hinton, DSO and Bar, MVO, RN), HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN) departed Colombo on the same day. They made rendezvous with the other ships the following day.

On 24 March 1944, the Eastern Fleet met HrMs Tromp and the tankers at 0930 hours in position 07°57'S, 82°14'E and during the next three days they experienced good weather. Ships were fuelled as follows;

24 March 1944
Easedale - HMS Renown
Arndale - HMS Valiant and HMS Ceylon
Eaglesdale - HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMNZS Gambia

25 March 1944
Easedale - HMS Quilliam, HMS Queenborough, HMAS Quiberon, HMS Quality and HMS Pathfinder
Arndale - HMS Illustrious and HrMs Tromp
Eaglesdale - HMS London, HMS Cumberland, HMAS Napier, HMAS Nepal and HMAS Norman

26 March 1944
Easedale - HMS Pathfinder, HrMs Van Galen, HMAS Quiberon and HMAS Norman
Eaglesdale - HMAS Napier, HMS Quilliam, HMS Queensborough, HMS Quality and HMAS Nepal

Tanker Arndale had been detached after fuelling on the 25th escorted by HrMS Tjerk Hiddes which was suffering from defects. The other two oilers were detached after fuelling on the 26th still escorted by HrMs Tromp.

HrMs Ceylon and HMS Napier arrived at Colombo on 31 March. All the other ships arrived at Trincomalee on the same day except HrMs Tromp which arrived at Trincomalee with the tankers on 2 April. (49)

31 Mar 1944
Around 1400FG/31, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Cox, RNethN) arrived at Trincomalee with the RFA tanker Arndale (8296 GRT, built 1937). (22)

4 Apr 1944
HMAS Nepal (Lt.Cdr. J. Plunkett-Cole, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Cox, RNethN) conducted gunnery exercises off Trincomalee. These were followed by A/S exercises with HMS Surf (Lt. D. Lambert, DSC, RN).

On completion of the exercises they were to proceed to Colombo but only HMAS Nepal eventually did so as HrMs Tjerk Hiddes returned to Trincomalee with defects. (22)

24 Apr 1944
During 24/25 April 1944, HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Cox, RNethN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee. These included night exercises. (22)

1 May 1944
Around 1725FG/1, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) departed Trincomalee for Bombay. One of her boilers was damaged and could not be used. She made the passage on one engine only. (22)

3 May 1944
Around 1030FG/3, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) arrived off Bombay from Trincomalee. She first anchored off the harbour and she entered the harbour around 1800FG/3. At Bombay she is taken in hand for repairs by the Royal Dockyard. (22)

7 Jul 1944
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) is docked at the Bombay Dockyard. (50)

12 Jul 1944
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) is undocked. (50)

2 Aug 1944
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) is docked in the Duncan dry dock at the Bombay Dockyard. (50)

8 Aug 1944
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) is undocked. (50)

12 Aug 1944
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) conducted post-repair trials off Bombay. (50)

18 Aug 1944
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) conducted D/G and radar calibration trials off Bombay. Also gunnery exercises were carried out. (50)

19 Aug 1944
Around 1700FG/19, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) departed Bombay for Trincomalee. (50)

23 Aug 1944
Around 1130FG/23, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) arrived at Trincomalee from Bombay. (50)

26 Aug 1944
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) conducted gunnery exercises off Trincomalee. (50)

30 Aug 1944
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) conducted gunnery exercises off Trincomalee. Also radar calibration trails were carried out. (50)

1 Sep 1944
Around 0800FG/1, the destroyers HMS Quilliam (Capt. R.G. Onslow, DSO and 2 Bars, RN), HMAS Quickmatch (Lt.Cdr. O.H. Becher, DSC, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) departed Trincomalee for exercises. In the afternoon and evening they conducted A/S exercises with the submarine HMS Trenchant (Lt.Cdr. A.R. Hezlet, DSC, RN).

Around 1145FG/1, the light cruiser HrMs Tromp (A/Capt. F. Stam, RNethN) departed the harbour for exercises.

Around 1345FG/1, the destroyer HMS Redoubt (Lt.Cdr. N.E.G. Ropner, DSO, RN) departed the harbour for exercises.

Around 1815FG/1, the destroyer HMS Rotherham (Capt. H.W. Biggs, DSO, RN) departed the harbour for exercises.

HrMs Tromp returned to harbour around 0850FG/2.

HMS Quilliam and HMAS Quickmatch returned to harbour around 1030FG/2.

HMS Rotherham, HMS Redoubt and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes were joined by the battleship Richelieu (Capt. G.M.J. Merveilleux du Vignaux) around 1000FG/2. They entered harbour around 1630FG/2. (51)

7 Sep 1944
Around 1100FG/2, the battleship Richelieu (Capt. G.M.J. Merveilleux du Vignaux) departed Trincomalee for Aden.

On departure from Aden she was escorted by the destroyers HMAS Quickmatch (Lt.Cdr. O.H. Becher, DSC and Bar, RAN), HMS Pathfinder (Lt.Cdr. T.F. Hallifax, RN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN).

Around 1230FG/8, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes parted company and arrived at Colombo around 1630FG/8. The destroyer HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN) had just joined having departed Colombo around 0700FG/8.

Around 0800C/14, Richelieu, HMAS Norman, HMS Pathfinder and HMAS Quickmatch arrived at Aden. The destroyers had fuelled from the battleship on the 10th. (52)

11 Sep 1944
Around 1115FG/11, the aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (Capt. M.M. Denny, CB, CBE, RN) departed Colombo for Trincomalee. She is escorted by the destroyers HMS Whelp (Cdr. G.A.F. Norfolk, RN), HMS Wager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Watkin, RN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN). (53)

12 Sep 1944
Around 1330FG/12, HMS Victorious (Capt. M.M. Denny, CB, CBE, RN), HMS Whelp (Cdr. G.A.F. Norfolk, RN), HMS Wager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Watkin, RN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) arrived at Trincomalee from Colombo. (53)

13 Sep 1944
During 13 and 14 September 1944, HMS Stratagem (Lt. A.R. Profit, DSC, RN), conducted exercises off Trincomalee. Gunnery exercises were carried out on a target that was being towed by HMIS Pansy (Lt. R.G. Main, RINR). Then A/S exercises were carried out with HMIS Pansy, HMS Quilliam (Capt. R.G. Onslow, DSO and 2 Bars, RN) and HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. W.H. Harrington, DSO, RAN). These included night exercises. Early on the 14th an A/S exercise was carried out with HMIS Pansy, HMAS Nizam (Cdr. C.H. Brooks, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN). (54)

15 Sep 1944
Around 0815FG/15, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) departed Trincomalee for Colombo. (50)

16 Sep 1944
Around 0830FG/16, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) arrived at Colombo from Trincomalee.

Around 1700FG/16, she departed again together with HMS Paladin (Lt.Cdr. M.C. Morris, RN). They were escorting the transport Aronda (British, 9031 GRT, built 1941) part of the way to Calcutta.

Around 1700FG/17, the destroyers HMS Quilliam (Capt. R.G. Onslow, DSO and 2 Bars, RN) and HMS Quadrant (Lt.Cdr. P.C. Hopkins, RN) joined, having departed Trincomalee around 1445FG/17 and HMS Paladin parted company to proceed to Trincomalee where she arrived later the same day.

HrMs Tjerk Hiddes set course to return to Colombo where she arrived around 1315FG/18

The Aronda, HMS Quilliam and HMS Quiberon arrived at Calcutta on 20 September 1944. (55)

19 Sep 1944

Convoy MB 78B.

This convoy departed Colombo on 19 September 1944.

It was only made up of the troopship Strathnaver (British, 22283 GRT, built 1931).

Escort was provided by the destroyers HMAS Nizam (Cdr. C.H. Brooks, RAN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN).

The convoy arrived at Bombay on 22 September 1944. (45)

25 Sep 1944

Convoy BM 101.

This convoy departed Bombay on 25 September 1944.

It was made up of the transports; Clan Campbell (British, 9545 GRT, built 1943) and Nevasa (British, 9213 GRT, built 1913).

Escort was provided by the destroyers HMAS Nizam (Cdr. C.H. Brooks, RAN), HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN), HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) and HMS Pathfinder (Lt.Cdr. T.F. Hallifax, RN).

The convoy arrived at Colombo on 28 September 1944.

HMAS Nizam, HMAS Norman and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes continued on to Trincomalee arriving there on 29 September 1944. (45)

3 Oct 1944
The damaged battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN) departed Trincomalee for Aden. She is to proceed to the U.K. for full repairs. She is being escorted by the destroyers HMS Quadrant (Lt.Cdr. P.C. Hopkins, RN), HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN), sloop HMIS Jumna ( A/Cdr. K.R.U. Todd, RIN) and the frigate HMS Awe (Lt.Cdr. H.P. Carse, DSC, RNVR). The RFA tanker Arndale (8296 GRT, built 1937) is also with them to refuel the escorts as is the tug HMS Aimwell in case HMS Valiant breaks down or need assistance in steering as she is not able to steer a steady course due to the damage she had sustained. (56)

13 Oct 1944
HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN), HMS Quadrant (Lt.Cdr. P.C. Hopkins, RN), HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN), HMIS Jumna ( A/Cdr. K.R.U. Todd, RIN), HMS Awe (Lt.Cdr. H.P. Carse, DSC, RNVR) and HMS Aimwell arrived at Aden.

The tanker Arndale had been detached on the 8th after having fuelled the escorts. (56)

14 Oct 1944
Around 1130C/14, HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN) departed Aden for Suez. On departed from Aden she was being escorted by the destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) until 0615C/15. The frigate HMS Trent (T/A/Lt.Cdr. J.G. Rankin, DSC, RNR) was also present, unknown when she parted company. The tugs HMS Aimwell and HMS Bolt were also in company until 1545C/15. (56)

18 Oct 1944
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) arrived off Suez and commenced to transit the Suez Canal northbound. She arrived at Port Said on the 19th. (50)

20 Oct 1944
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) departed Port Said for Gibraltar. (50)

25 Oct 1944
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) arrived at Gibraltar from Port Said.

She departed again for Portsmouth later the same day. (50)

28 Oct 1944
Around 1330A/28, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) arrived at Portsmouth from Gibraltar. (50)

9 Nov 1944
Around 0715A/9, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) departed Portsmouth for Plymouth where she arrived around 1500A/9.

At Plymouth she is taken in hand for repairs as she can't be taken in hand for a major refit yet due to congestion in British shipyards. (50)

15 Nov 1944
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) is fumigated at Plymouth. (50)

7 Dec 1944
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) conducted D/G trials off Plymouth. (50)

10 Dec 1944

Convoy AT 173.

This convoy departed New York City on 10 December 1944.

It was made up of the troop transport Queen Mary (British, 81235 GRT, built 1936, 12060 troops).

On approaching the U.K, an escort made up of the destroyers HrMs Van Galen (Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) joined around 1350A/15 in approximate position 49°00'N, 11°30'W.

Around 0730A/15, the destroyers parted company at the entrance to the Clyde. The Queen Mary then proceeded to Greenock and the destroyers set course to proceed to Milford Haven.

11 Dec 1944
Around 0800A/11, HrMs Van Galen (Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) departed Plymouth for Milford Haven where they arrived around 1800A/11. (57)

12 Dec 1944

Convoy TA 171.

This convoy departed Liverpool on 12 December 1944.

It was made up of the troop transport Pasteur (British, 29253 GRT, built 1938, 560 troops).

The escort joined around 1425A/12 in the vicinity of Bardsey Island and was made up of the destroyers HrMs Van Galen (Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) which had departed Milford Haven around 0745A/12.

The destroyers parted company with the troop transport around 0520A/13 and set course to return to Milford Haven.

The convoy arrived at Halifax on 18 December 1944. (58)

12 Dec 1944

Convoy AT 172A.

This convoy departed Boston on 12 December 1944.

It was made up of the troop transport USS Wakefield (24289 GRT, built 1931, 6941 troops).

Around 2045Z/18, the destroyers HrMs Van Galen (Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) joined as escort.

Around 2000A/19, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes parted company to proceed to Milford Haven.

The convoy arrived at Liverpool around 2345A/19.

13 Dec 1944
Around 1600A/13, HrMs Van Galen (Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) returned to Milford Haven from escort duty. (58)

14 Dec 1944
Around 1600A/14, HrMs Van Galen (Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) departed Milford Haven to make rendezvous with convoy AT 173.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy AT 173 ' for 10 December 1944.] (58)

17 Dec 1944
Around 0900A/17, HrMs Van Galen (Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) returned to Milford Haven from convoy escort duty.

Around 1700A/17, they departed again to make rendezvous with convoy AT 172A.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy AT 172A ' for 12 December 1944.]

HrMS Tjerk Hiddes parted company around 2000A/19. The troopship and HrMs Van Galen continued on towards Liverpool, arriving there around 0045A/20.

HrMs Tjerk Hiddes arrived off Milford Haven around 0200A/20. She anchored near the boom. (58)

20 Dec 1944
Around 0830A/20, the destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) and the escort destroyer HMS Albrighton (A/Lt.Cdr. J.J.S. Hooker, RN) departed Milford Haven to make rendezvous with the battleship HMS Ramillies (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN) and the landing ship HMS Keren (A/Cdr. S.E. Crewe-Read, RN) and their current escort of the escort destroyer HMS Avon Vale (Lt. I. Hall, RN) and frigates HMS Gardiner (A/Lt.Cdr. W.G.H. Bolton, DSC, RD, RNR) and HMS Perim (T/A/Lt.Cdr. N.J.T. Mosarrat, RNVR). The battleship was en-route from Greenock to Portsmouth and the landing ship to Southampton. She had departed Greenock around 1000A/19.

When HrMs Tjerk Hiddes and HMS Albrighton joined around 1000A/20, HMS Gardiner and HMS Perim parted company.

HrMS Tjerk Hiddes, HMS Avon Vale and HMS Albrighton arrived at Plymouth around 1300A/21. They had been relieved at 0855A/21, off Start Point, by an escort coming from Portsmouth. [No further details available for the moment.]

HMS Ramillies and HMS Keren entered the Solent around 1515A/21. (59)

24 Dec 1944

Convoy MKF 36A.

This convoy departed Gibraltar on 24 December 1944.

It was made up of the troop transport Johan de Witt (Dutch, 10474 GRT, built 1920) and the dock landing ship Eastway (T/A/Lt.Cdr. W.A. Fletcher, RNR).

On departure from Gibraltar the convoy was escorted by the sloop HMS Stork (Lt.Cdr. D.E. Mansfield, RN) and the frigates HMS Dart (Cdr. J.T. Jones, RD, RNR) and HMS Evenlode (Cdr. V.F. Smith, DSO, RD, RNR).

Around 0310A/28, the destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) joined coming from Plymouth.

HrMs Tjerk Hiddes parted company around 2305A/28 when the convoy was to the south of the Isle of Wight.

The convoy arrived at Portsmouth early on the 29th.

27 Dec 1944
Around 1800A/27, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) departed Plymouth to join the escort of convoy MKF 36A.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy MKF 36A ' for 24 December 1944.]

HrMs Tjerk Hiddes returned to Plymouth around 1000A/29. HMS Impulsive (Lt.Cdr. C.S. Battersby, RN) was now in company. (50)

29 Dec 1944
Around 1740A/29, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) and HMS Impulsive (Lt.Cdr. C.S. Battersby, RN) departed Plymouth to provide cover for convoy BTC 21 when it passed through the area to the south of Lyme Bay.

They returned to Plymouth around 0915A/30. (60)

31 Dec 1944
Around 1330A/31, the destroyers ORP Blyskawica (Cdr. K.F. Namiesniowski), HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) and HMS Impulsive (Lt.Cdr. C.S. Battersby, RN) departed Plymouth to escort the escort carrier HMS Empress (Capt. H.A. Traill, OBE, RN) and dock landing ship Eastway (T/A/Lt.Cdr. W.A. Fletcher, RNR) part of the way from Plymouth to Belfast.

Around 0150A/1, the frigate HMS Loch Fyne (Lt.Cdr. H.H.D. MacKillican, DSC, RD, RNR) joined and ORP Blyskawica and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes parted company to return to Plymouth. Shortly afterwards HMS Impulsive also parted company to proceed to Cardiff.

ORP Blyskawica and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes returned to Plymouth around 0730A/1. HMS Impulsive proceeded to Cardiff where she also arrived on 1 January 1945.

HMS Empress, HMS Eastway and HMS Loch Fyne arrived at Belfast around 2000A/1. (50)

1 Jan 1945
Around 1500A/1, HMS Faulknor (Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) departed Plymouth to provide cover for an incoming convoy. They returned around 2200A/2. (50)

6 Jan 1945
Around 0015A/6, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) departed Plymouth to escort a transport towards the Helwick lightship at the entrance to the Bristol Channel.

[The name of this transport is given as Clan MacLean but as there was no such a ship this must be incorrect. The transport in question might have been the Clan Macaulay (British, 10492 GRT, built 1936) which was on passage from Southend (dep. 4 January) to Liverpool (arr. 7 January).]

She returned to Plymouth around 1930A/6. (50)

10 Jan 1945
Around 0600A/10, the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), HrMs Van Galen (Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) en HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) departed Plymouth to make rendezvous with the transports Durham (British, 10893 GRT, built 1934), Javanese Prince (British, 8879 GRT, built 1944) and Telemachus (British, 8262 GRT, built 1943). These ships were en-route to the Downs and came direct from the Panama Canal Zone.

Rendezvous was affected around 1430A/10 and course was set to proceed up the English Channel.

Around 0625A/11, the destroyers were relieved by other escorts [no details available for the moment but most likely it were destroyers from the 14th Escort Group] and course was set to return to Plymouth where they arrived around 1315A/11. (57)

12 Jan 1945
Around 1200A/12, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) departed Plymouth to make rendezvous with a convoy [no further details available] that was to proceed westwards up the English Channel.

Rendezvous was affected around 1820A/12.

HrMS Tjerk Hiddes parted company with the convoy around 1830A/13 and set course to return to Plymouth where she arrived around 2245A/13. (50)

15 Jan 1945
Around 1645A/15, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) departed Plymouth for Falmouth where she arrived around 1800A/15. (50)

16 Jan 1945
Around 1430A/16, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) departed Falmouth escorting the transports Eros (British, 5888 GRT, built 1936) and Indochinois (British, 6966 GRT, built 1939).

Later the frigate HMCS Royal Mount (T/Lt.Cdr. J.S. Davis, RCNVR) and the corvettes HMCS Arnprior (T/Lt. S.D. Thom, DSC, RCNVR) and HMS Fennel (Lt.Cdr. K.L. Johnson, RCNVR) also joined.

The transports arrived at Liverpool on 18 January 1945.

HrMs Tjerk Hiddes continued on to the Clyde arriving there around 1130A/18.

The Canadian ships arrived at Londonderry on the 18th. (50)

17 Jan 1945
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN), which was overdue for a major refit, was taken in hand for repairs at Greenock being apparently unfit for further operations. The major refit could still not be started due to congestion in British shipyards. (50)

17 Mar 1945
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) proceeded from Greenock to Lamlash. (50)

19 Mar 1945
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) conducted some post repair trials in the Clyde area. (50)

21 Mar 1945
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) returned to Greenock. (50)

22 Mar 1945
Around 0900A/22, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) departed Greenock for Rosyth. (50)

23 Mar 1945
Around 1500A/23, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) arrived at Rosyth from Greenock. (50)

4 Apr 1945
Around 0900A/4, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) departed Rosyth for Dundee where she arrived around 1300A/4.

De-ammunitioning and de-storing then commenced.

On the 6th she was finally taken in hand for a major refit by the Caledon Shipbuilding & Engineering Co. Ltd. (50)

29 Jun 1945
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN), which is undergoing a refit at Dundee, is docked in the East Graving Dock. (50)

10 Aug 1945
HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt. J.A. Feith, RNethN) is undocked. She then continued her major refit at Dundee. This refit was only completed in January 1946. (50)

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