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North-East Diary
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Warships Launched
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BLYTH SB & DD - BLYTH ... Built ...
the boom defence vessels 'Barnehurst' - 'Bownet' - 'Burgonet' - 'Dragonet' - 'Falconet' - 'Signet' - 'Sonnet'.
'Bayonet' boom defence vessel (530t) - Mined in the Firth of Forth. 21st December 1939.
SWAN HUNTER & WIGHAM RICHARDSON - WALLSEND ... Built ...
'HMS Edinburgh' cruiser (10,260t) - Torpedoed , but not sunk by 'U 456' and the German destroyers 'Z 24' and 'Z 25' in Barents Sea. Sunk by Royal Navy ships two days later. 2nd May 1942. At the time of her sinking the 'Edinburgh' was carrying a cargo of Russian bullion worth several million pounds sterling which was the object of an epic and successful salvage operation in the 1980s.
'HMS Janus' destroyer (1,760t) - Attacked by German aircraft and hit in the magazine, she blew up, off Anzio. 23rd January 1944.
'HMS Khartoum' destroyer (1,760t) - Beached off Perim Harbour. In a gun battle, with the Italian submarine 'Torricelli' (which was sunk) shell splinters caused a torpedo to explode on the 'Khartoum', setting her on fire. 23rd June 1940.
'HMS Tartar' destroyer (1,870t) - Was in company with the cruiser 'HMS Nigeria' and two other destroyers on 25th June 1941, when they intercepted the German weather ship 'Lauenburg' off Jan Mayen Island. Men from the crew of the 'Tartar' seized vital equipment and codebooks before the scuttled ship sank. - On 9th June 1944, off Ushant, the 'Tartar' was in a destroyer flotilla that intercepted a force of three German destroyers and a torpedo boat bound for the invasion fleet off Normandy. One of the German destroyers was sunk, another was damaged, beached and completely wrecked the following day by the RAF The remaining vessels were damaged.
HAWTHORN LESLIE - HEBBURN ... Built ...
'HMS Jervis' destroyer (1,760t) - Fought in the Battle of Cape Matapan in which she helped sink the Italian cruiser 'Pola' after she had been crippled by aircraft from the carrier 'HMS Formidable' . 29th March 1941 - On 16th April 1941 in a night action in company with three other destroyers the British flotilla sank an entire Italian convoy consisting of five cargo ships and 3 destroyers. One of the British ships was sunk - On 19th December 1941 the 'Jervis' was damaged by mines placed on her hull by Italian frogmen - Back in action on 2nd June 1943, off Cape Spartivento, and in company with a Greek destroyer the 'Jervis' sank the Italian torpedo boat ''Castore' - Still in 1943, after 'HMS Aldenham' grounded off the Gulf of Sollum about 160 miles east of Tobruk, the 'Jervis' was instrumental in securing the stranded vessel, pulling her free and towing her 300 miles back to Alexandria harbour. A feat of exceptional seamanship - Finally on 23rd January 1944 the 'Jervis' had her bows blown off in an attack by German aircraft off the Anzio beach-head. She was broken up at Troon in 1949.
'HMS Kelly' destroyer (1,760t) - Sunk by German aircraft off Crete. 23rd May 1941. The full story of the 'Kelly' is to be found in the text for 9th May 1940.
VICKERS ARMSTRONG NAVAL YARD - TYNE ... Built ...
'HMS Mashona' destroyer (1,870t) - Damaged by German aircraft off the west coast of Ireland. Sunk by the Royal Navy. 28th May 1941.
J.L. THOMPSON & SONS - SUNDERLAND ... Built ...
'HMS Deer Sound' aircraft component repair vessel (6,294t) - Fitted out originally as a minelayer, converted to a repair ship in 1943.
SMITH'S DOCK COMPANY - MIDDLESBROUGH ... Built ...
the trawlers 'Buttermere' - 'Wastwater' - 'Windermere' - the boom defence vessels 'Magnet' - 'Martinet'.
'Ellesmere' trawler (560t) - Sunk by 'U 1203' in the English Channel. 24th February 1945.
'Ullswater' trawler (560t) - Sunk by E Boats in the English Channel. 19th November 1942.
BLYTH SB & DD - BLYTH ... Built ...
the minesweeper 'Blyth' - the boom defence vessels 'Barbain' - 'Barcote' - 'Barlake' - 'Barnstone'.
'HMS Anemone' corvette (925t) - On 7th January 1941 as part of a sea convoy escort, the 'Anemone' sank the Italian submarine 'Nani', south of Ireland.
'HMS Arbutus' corvette (925t) - On 7th March 1941 as part of a convoy escort, helped sink 'U 70' and the following day as part of the same escort, helped sink 'U 47' . These actions took place south of Iceland. 'Arbutus' was herself torpedoed and sunk by 'U 136' in the North Atlantic. 5th February 1942.
SWAN HUNTER & WIGHAM RICHARDSON - WALLSEND ... Built ...
the cruiser 'HMS Mauritius'. - the cable ship 'Bullfinch' - the destroyers 'Hambledon' - 'Holderness' - 'Mendip' - 'Meynell' .
HAWTHORN LESLIE - HEBBURN ... Built ...
'HMS Naiad' cruiser (5450t) - Torpedoed and sunk by U 565 between Mersa Matruh and Sollum, returning to Alexandria, after a sortie, with other ships, along the North African coast. 11th March 1942.
'HMS Legion' destroyer (1920t) - On 30th September 1941 helped sink the Italian submarine 'Adua' as they returned to Gibraltar from Malta. On 13th December 1941 as one of a four destroyer group helped sink the Italian cruisers 'Di Guissano' and 'Da Barbiano' off Cape Bon. The 'Legion' was irreparably damaged by German aircraft at Malta. 26th March 1942.
VICKERS ARMSTRONG NAVAL YARD - TYNE ... Built ...
the cruiser 'HMS Nigeria' - the destroyer 'Eglinton' .
'HMS King George V' battleship (35,000t) - In May 1941, took part in the hunt for, and sinking of, the 'Bismarck'. On 1st May 1942, acting as distant cover for two Russian convoys, she collided with the destroyer 'Punjabi', as the destroyer sank, her depth charges exploded and damaged the battleship putting her out of action for many months..
'HMS Liddesdale' destroyer (1,000t) - In company with two other destroyers, helped to sink 'U 453', north of Sardinia. 21st May 1944.
'HMS Exmoor' destroyer (1,000t) - Sunk by a German E Boat off Lowestoft. 25th February 1941.
JOHN CROWN & SONS - SUNDERLAND ... Built ...
'HMS Godetia' corvette (925t) - The second ship of this name, to replace the one lost on 6th September 1940, which was originally built by Smith's Dock Company.
'HMS Heliotrope' corvette (925t) - Transferred to US Navy in 1942 and renamed 'Surprise', returned to RN in 1945 and name reverted to 'Heliotrope' once more.
'HMS Hollyhock' corvette (925t) - Sunk by Japanese aircraft, south of Ceylon. 9th April 1942.
SMITHS DOCK COMPANY - MIDDLESBROUGH ... Built ...
the corvettes 'Tulip' - 'Verbena' - the trawlers 'Rowan' - 'Walnut' - 'Whitethorn' - 'Wistaria'..
'HMS Fleur De Lys' corvette ((925t) - Whilst part of a convoy escort was sunk by 'U 206' off Gibraltar. 14th October 1941.
'HMS Gladiolus' corvette (925t) - On 1st July 1940 the 'Gladiolus' forced 'U 26' to the surface and was, in company with another ship and a Sunderland flying boat, instrumental in forcing the U boat's crew to scuttle their vessel. Sunk by a U Boat in the Western Approaches. 16th October 1941.
'HMS Godetia' corvette (925t) - Lost in a collision off Northern Ireland. 6th September 1940.
'HMS La Malouine'. corvette (925t) - Transferred from the French Navy in 1940.
'HMS Nasturtium' corvette (925t) - Acting as part of a convoy escort group, helped to sink 'U 556'. North Atlantic. 27th June 1941. One of the other ships in the group was the corvette 'Gladiolus' (see above).
'HMS Stonecrop' - corvette (925t) - 'Stonecrop' in company with a sloop, sank 'U 634' off the Azores. 30th August 1943.
COOK, WELTON & GEMMELL - BEVERLEY ... Built ...
the trawlers 'Birch' - 'Blackthorn' - 'Gavotte' - 'Hornpipe' - 'Hamlet' .
'Horatio' trawler (545t) - Sunk by an Italian MTB in the Western Mediterranean. 7th January 1943.
COCHRANE & SONS - SELBY ... Built ...
the trawlers 'Bay' - 'Fandango' - 'Foxtrot' - 'Celia' - the tugs 'Prudent' - 'Restive' - 'Tenacity'.
'Ash' trawler (530t) - Mined in the Thames Estuary. 5th June 1941.
GOOLE SB & REPAIRING COMPANY - GOOLE ... Built ...
the trawlers 'Deodar' - 'Morris Dance' - 'Pirouette' - 'Ophelia'.
'Chestnut' trawler (530t) - Sunk by a mine off North Foreland. 30th November 1940.
BLYTH SB & DD - BLYTH ... Built ...
the minesweepers 'Ardrossan' - 'Dunbar' - the boom defence vessels 'Barbour' - 'Barclose' - 'Barmill'.
'Cromarty' minesweeper (656t) - In company with three other minesweepers off Syracuse, the 'Cromarty' helped capture the Italian submarine 'Bronzo' - Mined in the Strait of Bonifacio on 23rd October 1943.
'Peterhead' minesweeper (672t) - Irreparably damaged by a mine off Normandy 8th June 1944.
SWAN HUNTER & WIGHAM RICHARDSON - WALLSEND ... Built ...
the gantry landing ship 'Ennerdale'.
'HMS Calpe' destroyer (1,050t) - Together with an American destroyer sank 'U 593' on 13th December 1943 near Bougie.
'HMS Eridge' destroyer (1,050t) - As part of a hunter group in the Mediterranean, helped to sink 'U 568' on 28th May 1942 - Just before dawn on the 26th August 1942 after bombarding the El Daba airfield area with three other destroyers they spotted an E Boat and set fire to it using close range weapons. Seconds before this happened the E Boat loosed off a torpedo which hit 'Eridge' in the gearing room, just abaft the engine room, she also had a bad list to port, but was in no danger of sinking. Casualties were light.
'HMS Aldenham' was ordered to take her in tow and the other two destroyers were to act as a screen. While the towing hawser was being secured, dawn broke to reveal a hostile beach, 500 yards away, with a number of enemy tanks and gun personnel looking at the smoking wreck of the E Boat. On the realisation of the destroyers presence and what it meant, the tanks and guns opened up scoring a few hits, but the ships under the cover of a smoke screen, gradually steamed out of range.
The Luftwaffe put in an appearance at this stage and mounted air attacks that lasted all day. Fortunately for the ships there were no hits, just near misses by the dozen. The 'Eridge' never went to sea again, she was taken to Alexandria and used as an accommodation ship. The 'Eridge' was able to repay her debt to 'HMS Aldenham' (the ship that towed her to Alexandria) which was damaged after she ran aground, spares were taken from 'Eridge' (now classed as a hulk) to repair the 'Aldenham'. 'HMS Eridge' was broken up in Alexandria in 1947.
'HMS Exmoor' destroyer (1,050t) - The second 'Exmoor' to be built on the Tyne, this one to replace the one lost in February of this year. - In company with three other destroyers off Anzio, this 'Exmoor' helped sink 'U 450' on 10th March 1944.
'HMS Farndale' destroyer (1,050t) - Sank the Italian submarine 'Caracciolo' off Bardia on 11th December 1941.
'HMS Grove' destroyer (1,050t) - As part of a convoy escort, helped to sink 'U 587' on 27th March 1942. Sunk by 'U 77' in the Central Mediterranean on 12th June 1942.
'HMS Heythrop' destroyer (1,050t) - Sunk by 'U 652', north-east of Sollum on 20th March 1942.
'HMS Hursley' destroyer (1,050t) - Co-operating with another destroyer and aircraft, the 'Hursley' helped sink the Italian submarine 'Narvalo' on 14th January 1943 - On 19th February 1943 as part of a convoy escort and with the help of air escort aircraft, the 'Hursley' helped to sink 'U 562' - Transferred to the Greek Navy later in 1943 and renamed 'Kriti'.
'HMS Lamerton' destroyer (1,050t) - With the co-operation of an RAF Catalina, sank the Italian submarine 'Ferraris', west of Gibraltar. - As part of a convoy escort helped sink 'U 443' west of Algiers on 23rd February 1943.
HAWTHORN LESLIE - HEBBURN ... Built ...
the cruiser 'HMS Cleopatra' - the fleet oiler 'Echodale' (17,000t).
'HMS Welshman' minelaying cruiser (4,000t) - Sunk by 'U 617' off Tobruk while on passage from Malta to Alexandria on 1st February 1943. She sank in position 30°12'00" N by 12°52'00" E. Nine officers and 139 ratings were lost.
'HMS Bedale' destroyer (1,050t) - transferred to the Polish Navy and renamed 'Slazak'.
'HMS Lightning' destroyer (1,920t) - torpedoed by German 'E' Boats off Bizerta on 12th March 1943.
'HMS Pakenham' destroyer (1,540t) - Took part in the action that captured the 'U 559' on 30th October 1942 (see the entry for that date in the diary) - After being damaged during battle with Italian destroyers, she was finally sunk by enemy aircraft off Sicily on 16th April 1943.
VICKERS ARMSTRONG NAVAL YARD - TYNE. ... Built ...
the aircraft carrier 'HMS Victorious'. - the destroyers 'Bleasdale' - 'Middleton' - 'Penn'.- 'Marne'.
'HMS Hurworth' destroyer (1,050t) - On the night of 24th October 1943, 'HMS Hurworth' and 'HHMS Adrias' set off for a position south of Leros to create a diversion to protect ships landing stores on Leros for the British troops occupying the island. On their way there they ran into a newly laid minefield, both ships were struck by mines, the 'Adrias' was first to be hit, on seeing how badly the 'Adrias' was damaged the 'Hurworth's' commanding officer, Commander Wright immediately lowered her motor boat to look for survivors, no sooner had this been done when the 'Hurworth' too struck a mine and broke in half. The fore part sank in three minutes and the after part in fifteen. Only the captain and 85 men survived. For the 'Adrias' story see entry for Swan Hunters - 1942.
'HMS Oakley' destroyer (1,050t) - Transferred to the Polish Navy in 1941 and renamed 'Kujawiak', mined off Malta. 16th June 1942.
'HMS Martin' destroyer (1,920t) - Sunk by 'U 431' off Algeria. 10th November 1942.
JOHN CROWN & SONS - SUNDERLAND ... Built ...
the corvettes 'Burdock' - 'Campion' .
SMITH'S DOCK COMPANY - MIDDLESBROUGH ... Built ...
the corvettes 'Snowdrop' - 'Snowflake' - 'Sunflower' - 'Sweet Briar' - 'Thyme' - 'Vetch' - 'Wallflower' - the trawlers 'Islay' - 'Tango' - 'Valse' - 'Veleta'.
'HMS Samphire' corvette (925t) - Torpedoed and sunk by the Italian submarine 'Platino' off Bougie on 30th January 1943.
'HMS Veronica' corvette (925t) - Transferred to USN in 1942 and renamed 'Temptress', returned to the RN in 1945.
'HMS Zinnia' corvette (925t) - Torpedoed and sunk by 'U 564' in the Eastern Atlantic on 23rd August 1941.
'Tarantella' trawler (530t) - Renamed 'Two Step' in 1943.
COOK, WELTON & GEMMELL - BEVERLEY ... Built ...
the corvette 'Azalia' - the trawler 'Arran' - 'Balta' - 'Butser' - 'Hoxa' - 'Hoy' - 'Inchcolm' - 'Juliet' - 'Mull' - 'Pladda'.
'HMS Begonia' corvette (925t) - Transferred to USN in 1942 and renamed 'Impulse', returned to RN in 1946 and reverted to her old name.
'Birdlip' trawler (750t) - Sunk by 'U 547' off West Africa - 13th June 1944.
'Brora' trawler (560t) Wrecked off the Hebrides - 6th September 1941.
'Hildasay' trawler (560t) - Wrecked near Kilindini - 21st June 1945.
'Killegray' trawler (560t) - Transferred to the RNZN in 1942
'Laertes' trawler (545t) - Sunk by 'U 201' off Freetown - 25th July 1942.
'Scarbe' trawler(560t) - Transferred to the RNZN.
COCHRANE & SONS - SELBY ... Built ...
the tugs - 'Frisky' - 'Jaunty' - the trawlers 'Copinsay' - 'Cumbrae' - 'Fara' - 'Fetlar' - 'Fluellen' - 'Foula' - 'Ronaldsay' - 'Shapinsay' - 'Sluna' .
'Adherant' tug (1,045t) - Foundered in the North Atlantic - 14th January 1944.
'Adept' tug (1,045t) - Wrecked off the Hebrides - 17th March 1942.
'Assurance' tug (1,045t) - Wrecked in Lough Foyle - 18th October 1941.
'Canna' trawler (560t) - In Lagos Harbour an accidental spillage of petrol swamped the harbour and exploded, destroying 'Canna' and other ships nearby - 5th December 1942.
'Coriolanus' trawler (545t) - Mined in the Adriatic Sea - 5th May 1945.
'Eday' trawler (560t) - Transferred to the Norwegian Navy and renamed 'Tromoy' in 1944, returned to the RN in the same year and reverted to her old name.
'Flotta' trawler (560t) - Grounded off Buchan Ness 29th October 1941 and foundered 6th November 1941.
'Rysa' trawler (560t) - Mined off Maddalena, Sicily - 8th December 1943.
GOOLE SB & REPAIRING COMPANY - GOOLE ... Built ...
the trawlers 'Borra' - 'Bute' - 'Macbeth' - 'Tiree'.
'Sanda' trawler (560t) - Transferred to the RNZN in 1942.
'Shiant' trawler (560t) - Transferred to the Norwegian Navy and renamed 'Jeloy'. 1944.
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Brian Pears
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