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HMS Vidette, destroyer
 

 

SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2003

HMS VIDETTE -  V & W-class Destroyer
 including Convoy Escort Movements

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above left  - HMS Vidette

(NavyPhotos, click photographs for enlargements)

  
 

H .  M .   S .   V I D E T T E           ( D 4 8 )

 

V-Class destroyer ordered from Stephen's, Govan, Glasgow in the 9th Order, 1916-17 Programme and laid down on 1st February 1917. She was launched on 28th February 1918 and was tine 2nd RN ship to carry the name first used for a hired mercantile in 1800. Her build was completed on 27th April 1918 and she served with the Fleet during WW1 and remained in use after the Armistice. In 1921 this destroyer was deployed in the 6th Destroyer Flotilla Atlantic Fleet and was one of the first to be fitted with submarine detection equipment in 1923.She was later placed in Reserve until 1939 when recommissioned for convoy defence duties. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 this ship was adopted by the civil community of Todmorden, West Riding of Yorkshire.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

ATLANTIC  1940-44  - SPARTIVENTO 1940 - MALTA  CONVOYS 1942 - NORMANDY 1944 - ENGLISH  CHANNEL 1944

H e r a l d i c    D a t a

Badge : On a Field Black. a mounted knight, Gold.

 

M o t t o

Vigilante:  'Watch'

 

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e

 

1 9 3 9

 

September             Passage to Gibraltar for Atlantic convoy defence

                                Deployed at Gibraltar with 13th Destroyer Flotilla for convoy escort duty in the

                                Atlantic and Western Mediterranean.

 

October                  Gibraltar based convoy defence in continuation.

to                            Carried out interception patrols to maintain blockade.

December              (Note : Flotilla comprised HM Destroyers DOUGLAS, VELOX, WISHART and

                                WRESTLER).

 

1 9 4 0

 

January

                4th          Joined outward Convoy OG12 during passage to Gibraltar from Liverpool

                                escorted by two French warships to supplement defence during final stage

                                of passage.

                                Detached from OG12 on arrival at Gibraltar.

                5th          Deployed with HM Sloop BIDEFORD as escort for inward Convoy HG14F

                                during passage in Atlantic to Liverpool.

                8th          Detached from HG14F and took return passage to Gibraltar leaving HMS

                                BIDEFORD as sole escort until arrival in Home waters.

 

February

                1st           Deployed with two French warships as escort for inward Convoy HG17 during

                                initial stage of passage from Gibraltar to Liverpool.

                                Detached and took return passage to Gibraltar with the French warships.

                                (Note : Convoy escort in Home waters was provided by HM Destroyer VIMY

                                from 11th until arrival in Liverpool on 15th.)

 

March

                4th          Deployed with HM Destroyers ACTIVE, VELOX and VIMY as escort for inward

                                convoy HFG21 during passage in Atlantic to Liverpool.

                8th          HMS ACTIVE detached and took passage to Gibraltar.

                10th        HMS VIMY detached and took passage to Gibraltar.

                11th        Detached from HGF21 on arrival of HM Destroyers WINCHELSEA and

                                WINDSOR for onward escort in Home waters arriving in Liverpool on 13th.

                                Took passage with HMS VELOX to Gibraltar.

                21st         Passage to meet outward Convoy OG23 as escort during Atlantic passage from

                                Liverpool to Gibraltar.

                22nd       Deployed with HM Sloop LEITH, HM Destroyer VELOX and HM Yacht

                                SAGITA as escort for OG23F to Gibraltar.

                23rd        HMS LEITH detached.

                25th        HMS SAGITA detached.

                28th        HM Sloop BIDEFORD joined escort from Gibraltar for final stage of passage.

                                Detached with HMS BIDEFORD and HMS VELOX on arrival at Gibraltar

 

April                       Gibraltar based duties in continuation.

to                            Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to I48.

June

 

July                         Detached for service in Force H with Flotilla

                2nd         Joined H M Destroyers FAULKNOR, FOXHOUND, FEARLESS, FORESTER,

                                FORESIGHT, ESCORT of (8th Destroyer Flotilla) with HM Destroyers KEPPEL,

                                ACTIVE, WRESTLER and VORTIGERN for duty as screen for H M Battlecruiser

                                HOOD, H M Battleships VALIANT and RESOLUTION, H M Aircraft Carrier

                                ARK ROYAL, HM Cruisers ARETHUSA and ENTERPRISE for passage to

                                Oran for negotiations relating to use of French warships after the collapse of France

                                (Operation CATAPULT).

                                (For details see RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute, ENGAGE THE ENEMY

                                MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett) and Naval Staff History (HMSO 2002)

                3rd          Part of screen during attacks by ships of Force H on Mers-el-Kebir.

                6th          Part of screen for HMS HOOD, HMS VALIANT, HMS ARK ROYAL, HMS ARETHUSA,

                                and HM Cruiser ENTERPRISE during air operations against French battleship DUNKERQUE.

                                (Operation LEVER - See above references).

                                (Note :: HM Destroyers FEARLESS, FOXHOUND, FORESTER, ESCORT, WISHART

                                VORTIGERN, ACTIVE and WRESTLER also part of screen).

                8th          Part of screen for HMS HOOD, HMS VALIANT, HM Battleship RESOLUTION, HMS

                                ARK ROYAL, HMS ARETHUSA and HM Cruiser DELHI with ships of 8th and 13th

                                Destroyer Flotilla during planned air attacks on Cagliari (Operation MA5).

                                (Note : These were abandoned after air attacks during passage).

                                On release from Force H detachment resumed convoy defence duties with Flotilla.

 

August                  Deployed for convoy defence with Flotilla.

 

September             Gibraltar deployment for Atlantic convoy defence in continuation

                11th        Sailed from Gibraltar with HM Destroyer GRIFFIN, VELOX, HOTSPUR, WISHART

                                and ENCOUNTER as escort for HM Battlecruiser RENOWN to intercept Vichy French

                                cruisers GEORGES LEYGUES, GLOIRE, LE MATIN, LE FANTASQUE and L’AUDACIEUX.

                                (Note : See Naval Staff History (HMSO 2002) for details of this movement which had

                                been advised to Admiralty which delayed action.)

                                Operation later abandoned when the French ships arrived at Casablanca having passed

                                through Straits of Gibraltar without challenge.

 

October                  Gibraltar convoy defence in continuation.

 

November              Nominated for screening duty with Flotilla in Force H,

                25th        Joined escort for HM Cruisers MANCHESTER and SOUTHAMPTON with HMS DUNCAN and

                                HMS HOTSPUR of Flotilla for passage to Sicilian Narrows to join Fleet in the Eastern

                                Mediterranean. HM Corvettes PEONY, SALVIA, GLOXINIA AND HYACINTH were also in the

                                escort (Operation COLLAR)

                                (Note : The two cruisers and the corvettes were being transferred to Alexandria

                                and formed part of Force F with the destroyers. Before sailing troops had

                                embarked in HMS SOUTHAMPTON and HMS MANCHESTER for passage to Malta.

                                For details of Mediterranean operations see THE BATTLE FOR THE

                                MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY

                                by Corelli Barnett and Naval Staff History (HMSO 2002).

                27th        Following threat of attack on mercantiles by Italian Battle Group detached from Force F

                                and joined by HMS WISHART and HM Cruiser DESPATCH from Force H which was

                                providing cover for the passage of the convoy to Malta and Alexandria.

                                (Note : Battle Group included two battleships, 6 cruisers and 14 destroyers).

                                Part of escort for mercantiles during the engagement by cruisers of Force H and Italian

                                warships, which withdrew in view of the proximity of additional major ships of the

                                Mediterranean Fleet. Exchange of fire was limited.

                                (Battle of Spartivento - For details see above references and FLOTILLA LEADER by

                                Peter C Smith,)

                28th        Rejoined ships of Force H for return passage to Gibraltar.

 

 

October                  Resumed convoy defence duties with Flotilla.

 

November              Deployed for convoy defence based at Gibraltar with Flotilla.

to

December

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Passage to Freetown from Gibraltar for convoy defence.

                8th          Joined military convoy WS5A with H M Destroyer VELOX, H M Sloops BRIDGEWATER and

                                MILFORD, H M Corvettes ASPHODEL and CALENDULA as Local Escort.

                                (Note : Ocean Escort was provided by HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers

                                HAWKINS and NORFOLK.

                9th          Detached from WS5A with Local Escort and returned to Freetown.

                24th        Joined military convoy WS5B with HMS VELOX off West Africa for Local Escort.

                25th        Detached from WS5B with HMS VELOX on arrival of WS5B at Freetown.

 

February                Atlantic convoy defence at Freetown in continuation

to

March

 

April

                2nd         Joined HM Destroyers DUNCAN and FOXHOUND providing Local Escort for military

                                convoy WS7 off West Africa with HM Destroyer WISHART.

                4th          Detached from WS7 with Local Escort on arrival at Freetown.

                7th          Rejoined WS7 on departure from Freetown with HM Destroyers FOXHOUND, DUNCAN

                                and WISHART as Local Escort.

                9th          Detached from WS7 with HMS DUNCAN and HMS WISHART for return to Freetown.

 

May                        Atlantic convoy defence based at Freetown and Gibraltar.

to                            (Note : During period before September an RAF ASV radar outfit modified for ship

September             use was fitted. See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse for details of development

                                and use of radar by the RN

 

October                  Deployed at Gibraltar in continuation.

                                (Note : During this period the new Type 286M Radar detected a surfaced U-Boat at

                                a range of over 3 miles thus demonstrating the value of the equipment.)

24th        Assisted in rescue of crew of HM Destroyer COSSACK which had been torpedoed by

                                U563 whilst escorting Convoy HG75 west of Portugal.

                                (Note : Despite efforts to save the destroyer she sank on 27th October.)

 

November              Gibraltar Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to

April

 

May                        Detached with Flotilla for duty in Force H.

                8th          Escorted US aircraft carrier USS WASP for aircraft delivery to Malta.

                                (Operation BOWERY).

                                (Note : HM Battlecruiser RENOWN, HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM Cruiser CHARYBDIS,

                                HM Destroyers ECHO, INTREPID, GEORGETOWN, SALISBURY, PARTRIDGE,

                                ITHURIEL, WESTCOTT, WISHART, WRESTLER and ANTELOPE, US destroyers

                                USS LANG and USS STERETT also took part).

                17th        Part of escort for HM Aircraft Carriers ARGUS and EAGLE with HMS CHARYBDIS, HM

                                Destroyers PARTRIDGE, ITHURIEL, ANTELOPE, WISHART, WESTCOTT and WRESTLER]

                                for an aircraft delivery to Malta (Operation LB).

                20th        On release from LB resumed convoy defence duties

 

June                        Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

                10th        Detached for service in Force H.

                11th        Joined escort for HM Battleship MALAYA, HMS ARGUS, HMS EAGLE, HM Cruisers

                                CHARYBDIS, KENYA and LIVERPOOL with HM Destroyers ONSLOW, ICARUS.

                                ESCAPADE, WISHART, WRESTLER and ANTELOPE in Force W to cover passage of

                                Malta relief convoy to the Sicilian Channel (Operation HARPOON - See above references).

                16th        Returned to Gibraltar as screen for HMS ARGUS and HMS MALAYA with HM Destroyers

                                ESCAPADE, WISHART and WRESTLER.

                18th        At Gibraltar. (See details below of HMS Vidette's movements, 18th-30th June 1942)

                                (Note : One source suggests this ship was part of escort for military convoy WS20

                                during Atlantic passage from UK to Freetown and that she detached on 26th

                                June with HMS BEAGLE and HMS WOLVERINE to escort ss NARKUNDA from

                                WS20 to Gibraltar with HMS WISHART which had sailed to meet WS20 from

                                Gibraltar.

                                In view of the time scale involved and since HMS VIDETTE was part of the

                                Gibraltar Local Flotilla it is more likely that she took passage with HMS

                                WISHART from Gibraltar and returned with ss NARKUNDA.HM Destroyers

                                BEAGLE and WOLVERINE, both from WS20 escort, to Gibraltar.

                                This needs further investigation as the ship could not have reached UK to

                                escort WS20 when it sailed from Clyde on 20th June.)

 

July                         Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

 

August                  Nominated for conversion to Long Range Escort Destroyer.

                                (For details see General Information and V&W Destroyers by A. Preston).

                9th          Detached for service with Force H.

                10th        Deployed for escort of Convoy WS21 Malta Relief convoy in Western Mediterranean.

                                with HM Destroyers KEPPEL, WESTCOTT, VENOMOUS, MALCOLM, WOLVERINE

                                and AMAZON.

                                (Operation PEDESTAL - For details see PEDESTAL by Peter C Smith and as above).

                15th        On release from PEDESTAL resumed Flotilla duties and prepare for conversion.

 

September             Passage to Sheerness.

                                Taken in hand by HM Dockyard for conversion.

 

October                  Under refit.

to

December

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Post refit trials and work-up prior to service with 7th British Escort Group.

 

February                Deployed in Western Approaches for Atlantic convoy defence with Group.

to

March.

 

April

                5th          Part of escort for Convoy HX231 with HM Frigate TAY, HM Corvettes ALISMA, PINK,

                                SNOWFLAKE and LOOSESTRIFE of Group.

                                (Note : Convoy was under threat from LOWENHERZ U- Boat Group that sank 6 ships).

                21st         Part of escort for Convoy ONS5 with ships of Group

                22nd       Detached in North Channel for independent passage to Iceland to collect three more

                                ships and escort them to join ONS5 during N. Atlantic passage.

                26th        Rejoined convoy with ships from Iceland.

 

 May

                4th          During escort of Convoy ONS5 with HMS TAY, HM Corvettes PINK, SUNFLOWER

                                SNOWFLAKE, LOOSESTRIFE, HM Destroyers ORIBI and OFFA under heavy series of

                                attacks by U-Boats of AMSEL Group.

                6th          Detected U125 on surface and attacked by HEDGEHOG mortar forcing it to submerge.

                                (Note : This submarine was later sunk by depth charges from HMS SNOWFLAKE after

                                it had been again caught on the surface and rammed by HMS ORIBI).

                17th        Part of escort for Convoy SC130 with HM Destroyer DUNCAN, HMS TAY, HMS

                                SUNFLOWER, HMS SNOWFLAKE, HMS PINK, HMS LOOSESTRIFE and Canadian

                                HM corvette KITCHENER (RCN).

                19th        Took part in attacks on submarines of ODER Group with other escorts of SC130.

                                (For details of the convoy defence operations at this critical stage see U-BOAT

                                WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by

                                D MacIntyre).

                                (Note : Details of weapons and tactics used in the Battle by escorts and U-Boats

                                see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann and BUSINESS IN GREAT

                                WATERS by John Terraine).

 

June                        Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.

to

July

 

August                  Under maintenance.

 

September             Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.

 

October                  Deployed with HMS DUNCAN, HM Corvettes SUNFLOWER, LOOSESTRIFE (RCN).

                                and PINK in support of 6th British Escort Group escorting Convoy ON206.

                15th        Took part in defence of Convoy ONS206 against U-Boat attacks

                16th        Detached with ships of 7th Escort Group to support escort of Convoy ONS206 under attack.

                                (Note : U631 is sunk later by depth charge attacks from HMS SUNFLOWER during the

                                passage to join ONS20).

                17th        Deployed with HM Destroyer DUNCAN and Frigates BENTINCT, DRURY, BAZELY and

                                US Destroyer BARRY in defence of ONS206 driving off U-boats.

                23rd        Deployed in search for U274 with HMS DUNCAN.

                                (Note : This submarine had been reported by RAF Liberator aircraft whilst taking

                                radar spare to HMS SUNFLOWER).

                                Took part in destruction of U274 by HEDGEHOG attacks with HMS DUNCAN and depth

                                charge attack from Liberator "Z" (224 Squadron in position 57.14N 27.SOW.

                                There were no survivors from the U-Boat.

                28th        Deployed with Group in support of passage of Convoy ON208.

                29th        Detached to support Convoy HX263

                                During passage located U282 by radar and took part in attacks on submarine with

                                HMS DUNCAN and SUNFLOWER using HEDGEHOG mortar.

                                Shared credit for sinking U282 in position 55.28N 31.57W with these ships.

 

November              Atlantic deployment with Group in continuation.

to                           

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.

to

April

 

May                        Nominated for detachment from Western Approaches Command for escort and support

                                of allied landings in Normandy.

                                (Operation NEPTUNE - For details of activities prior to and during the landings

                                See OPERATION NEPTUNE By K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY,

                                JUNE 1944 (HMSO)

                                Passage to join Force 0 for service in Western Task Force Area.

 

June                        Deployed in Channel for escort of Landing Ships and Landing Craft of Force 0 to

                                beachhead with HM Destroyer VESPER.

                4th          Operation delayed 24 hours.

                5th          Escorted Group 2 of Assault Force O convoys through swept channel.

                6th          Detached on arrival off beached and took passage to Milford Haven.

                7th          Deployed for the escort of Build-up Phase convoys to Western Task Force area and

                                based at Milford Haven

                12th        in action with E-Boats in Channel.

                13th        Escort of Build-up convoys in continuation.

                27th        After termination of NEPTUNE retained in Channel area for convoy defence and for

                                anti-submarine patrol duties

 

July                         Believed Channel deployment in continuation

 

August

                20th        During Channel deployment with HM Destroyers FORESTER and WENSLEYDALE detected

                                a submerged U-Boat.

                                Shared credit for sinking U413 in position 50.21N 00.01W with these ships.

 

September             Channel deployment in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Channel coastal convoy defence and patrol in continuation.

to                            (Note: During this period German SCHNORKEL fitted submarines were concentrating

May                        attacks in convoy focal points and there was an increase in minelaying.

                                As a result Western Approaches Escorts were retained in coastal waters.

 

June                        Withdrawn from service and paid off.

to

August

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS VIDETTE was placed on the Disposal List 1947 and sold to BISCO on 3rd April 1947 for demolition by G W Brunton at Avonmouth where she arrived at the breaker’s yard in tow later that year.

 

Special Note

 

Details of escorts for WS series of military convoys was provided by Donald Kindell  of Ohio, USA from an unpublished source. This is gratefully acknowledged.

 

 

 

Addenda

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS VIDETTE

by Don Kindell

 

Date convoy         Joined convoy      Convoy No.            Left convoy           Date convoy

sailed                     as escort                                                                            arrived

 

 02/09/39                 02/09/39                  AB 001/1              unknown               unknown

07/09/39                 07/09/39                 GREEN 1                10/09/39                 18/09/39

22/10/39                 22/10/39                 HG 004                   23/10/39                 29/10/39

03/11/39                 14/11/39                 HG 007                   unknown               22/11/39

11/11/39                 22/11/39                 HG 008                   unknown               30/11/39

28/12/39                 unknown               OG 012                   04/01/40                 04/01/40

05/01/40                 05/01/40                 HG 014F                 08/01/40                 15/01/40

01/02/40                 01/02/40                 HG 017                   unknown               11/02/40

04/03/40                 04/03/40                 HG 021                   11/03/40                 13/03/40

21/03/40                 21/03/40                 OG 023F                 21/03/40                 28/03/40

08/06/40                 08/06/40                 HG 033                   10/06/40                 18/06/40

05/06/40                 10/06/40                 OG 032                   10/06/40                 10/06/40

16/06/40                 16/06/40                 HG 034                   18/06/40                 26/06/40

21/06/40                 21/06/40                 HG 035                   25/06/40                 01/07/40

07/07/40                 07/07/40                 HG 037                   08/07/40                 16/07/40

10/07/40                 10/07/40                 HG 038                   10/07/40                 27/07/40

27/07/40                 27/07/40                 HG 040F                 31/07/40                 03/08/40

04/09/40                 06/09/40                 HG 043                   unknown               18/09/40

20/09/40                 30/09/40                 OG 043                   03/10/40                 03/10/40

31/10/40                 31/10/40                 HG 046                   03/11/40                 19/11/40

29/10/40                 09/11/40                 OG 045                   11/11/40                 13/11/40

25/11/40                 25/11/40                 COLLAR               28/11/40                 28/11/40

09/12/40                 10/12/40                 HG 048                   13/12/40                 23/12/40

26/01/41                 26/01/41                 SLG 001                 05/02/41                 05/02/41

14/02/41                 14/02/41                 SLG 001A              15/02/41                 22/02/41

17/04/41                 17/04/41                 SL 072                    unknown               13/05/41

13/08/41                 21/08/41                 OG 071                   23/08/41                 23/08/41

02/09/41                 02/09/41                 HG 072                   unknown               17/09/41

29/08/41                 08/09/41                 OG 073                   13/09/41                 13/09/41

27/09/41                 13/10/41                 OG 075                   13/10/41                 13/10/41

22/10/41                 22/10/41                 HG 075                   27/10/41                 03/11/41

01/11/41                 01/11/41                 SL 091G                 05/11/41                 08/11/41

28/10/41                 09/11/41                 OG 076                   11/11/41                 11/11/41

31/12/41                 31/12/41                 HG 077                   03/01/42                 12/01/42

11/01/42                 11/01/42                 SL 097G                 20/01/42                 24/01/42

10/01/42                 23/01/42                 OG 078                   24/01/42                 24/01/42

26/01/42                 05/02/42                 OG 079                   07/02/42                 07/02/42

17/03/42                 27/03/42                 OG 081                   29/03/42                 29/03/42

21/05/42                 21/05/42                 HG 083                   24/05/42                 07/06/42

12/06/42                 12/06/42                 HARPOON           16/06/42                 16/06/42

30/06/42                 30/06/42                 HG 085                   unknown               12/07/42

21/07/42                 23/07/42                 HG 086                   25/07/42                 01/08/42

17/02/43                 17/02/43                 DS 037                   19/02/43                 19/02/43

23/02/43                 23/02/43                 SD 037                   26/02/43                 26/02/43

13/03/43                 14/03/43                 ON 173                   24/03/43                 29/03/43

25/03/43                 31/03/43                 HX 231                   09/04/43                 10/04/43

21/04/43                 26/04/43                 ONS 005                03/05/43                 12/05/43

11/05/43                 15/05/43                 SC 130                    25/05/43                 26/05/43

08/06/43                 09/06/43                 ONS 010                23/06/43                 27/06/43

27/06/43                 01/07/43                 SC 135                    10/07/43                 11/07/43

26/07/43                 27/07/43                 ONS 014                05/08/43                 09/08/43

09/08/43                 13/08/43                 SC 139                    24/08/43                 24/08/43

01/09/43                 03/09/43                 EN 200                   12/09/43                 18/09/43

15/09/43                 19/09/43                 SC 142                    28/09/43                 29/09/43

11/10/43                 13/10/43                 ON 206                   17/10/43                 27/10/43

09/10/43                 17/10/43                 ONS 020                20/10/43                 26/10/43

18/10/43                 22/10/43                 ON 207                   25/10/43                 04/11/43

24/10/43                 27/10/43                 ON 208                   28/10/43                 07/11/43

24/10/43                 30/10/43                 HX 263                   02/11/43                 08/11/43

17/11/43                 18/11/43                 ONS 023                28/11/43                 02/12/43

02/12/43                 07/12/43                 HX 269                   15/12/43                 16/12/43

29/12/43                 30/12/43                 ONS 026                13/01/44                 18/01/44

13/01/44                 18/01/44                 HX 275                   27/01/44                 28/01/44

15/03/44                 16/03/44                 ON 228                   26/03/44                 01/04/44

29/03/44                 01/04/44                 SC 156                    12/04/44                 13/04/44

27/06/44                 27/06/44                 EBC 024                 29/06/44                 29/06/44

11/07/44                 11/07/44                 EBC 038                 13/07/44                 13/07/44

13/07/44                 13/07/44                 FBC 026                 15/07/44                 15/07/44

18/07/44                 18/07/44                 EBC 045                 20/07/44                 20/07/44

16/03/45                 16/03/45                 VWP 106               17/03/45                 17/03/45

25/03/45                 25/03/45                 VWP 105               26/03/45                 26/03/45

28/03/45                 28/03/45                 VWP 108               29/03/45                 29/03/45

12/04/45                 12/04/45                 VWP 123               13/04/45                 13/04/45

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

 

HMS VIDETTE'S MOVEMENTS 18th-30th JUNE 1942

by Geoff Morgan

I have read with great interest and gratitude, the information on HMS VIDETTE. I note that there is some doubt about her activities in the period June 1942.

 

My father was a member of the crew of VIDETTE at that time and kept a daily diary of events. I have confirmed most of what he recorded from other sources, and have every confidence that his observations and notes are accurate. Briefly his entries for the end of June 1942 include the following observations. I have included some irrelevant observations only to support those that matter.

Thursday 18th - In Gibraltar. Ship left at 2124 for U Patrol. Saw LIVERPOOL (damaged), KENYA, CHARYBDIS and WELSHMAN coming in to port. Also Italian ships VULCANIA and SATURNIA back in the Bay with Italian people from Somaliland and Eritrea.

 

Friday 19th - Returned to Gibraltar at 0800, tied up to WRESTLER in No1 dock.

 

Saturday 20th - Went on CARADOC and met townies. Left Gibraltar at 2118 for U Patrol.

 

Sunday 21st - Returned to No1 dock alongside WRESTLER at 0758. Eleven of LIVERPOOL's dead were put on trawler LAUREL at 1930 for burial at sea.

 

Monday 22nd - In port.

 

Tuesday 23rd - In port

 

Wednesday 24th - Ship left Gibraltar at 0140, proceeded west with WISHART and ANTELOPE escorting MALAYA.

 

Thursday 25th - At sea. Well west, as it was still dusk at midnight.

 

Friday 26th - At 0845 sighted convoy and by 1000 was on the way back to Gibraltar with one big boat, NARKUNDA, leaving MALAYA with convoy which was a big one. About fifteen liners and five big cargo boats.

 

Saturday 27th - At sea. At 1330 dropped three depth charges on suspect. No result.

 

Sunday 28th - Ship tied into pens at 1825, in Gibraltar.

 

Monday 29th - In port. Air raid at 0130. No damage.

 

Tuesday 30th - Ship left at 1754. The only destroyer with convoy of 20 ships, with two sloops and some corvettes.

  
 

 

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