H . M . S . V
I M I E R A ( L 2 9 )
V-Class destroyer ordered with the 1917-18 Program (9th
Order) V from Swan Hunter at Wallsend on
30th Jura 1916. The ship was laid down in October
that year and launched on 22nd June 1917 as the 2nd RN warship to carry this
name, first used for a Prize captured in 1808. Build was completed on 19th
September and after service during WW1 remained in commission after November
1918. She was placed in Reserve as indicated in the General Information page.
This destroyer was selected for conversion to an Escort Destroyer
(WAIR) with an increased anti-aircraft and anti-submarine armament as
part of the naval rearmament programme before outbreak of war in September 1939. Following a successful WARSHIP
WEEK National Saving campaign in December 1941 She was adopted by the civil
community of Sandbach, Cheshire. Her association was
short lived owing to her loss a few weeks later. In 1945 the name was to have
been given to a new ship but build was cancelled.
B a t t l e H o n
o u r s
GUADALOUPE 1810 - NORTH SEA 1941-42
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge : On a
Field Black a lion's head Red,
rising out of an Eastern crown, Gold.
M o t t o
Sicut clin :
‘Victory as formerly’
D e t a i l s
o f W a r S e r v I c e
1 9 3 9
September Under conversion.
to (Note
: Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to L29 to conform with
identity
December used
for convoy escort destroyers.
Carried
out post refit trials and commissioned for service.
(Note : For details of conversion see BRITISH DESTROYERS by
E. March)
1 9 4 0
January Joined
Nore Command for convoy escort duty:
February Deployed
on coastal convoy escort in North Sea and English Channel.
to
March
April Transferred
to Dover Command for duty in support of military operations.
10th Deployed at Dunkirk to provide additional AA
defence (Operation FA).
May
12th Assisted in
evacuation of allied personnel from Flushing.
16th Provided naval gunfire support to
military at Escault with HM Destroyer WOLSEY
19th Rescued survivors from HK Destroyer
WHITLEY.
. 22nd Escorted ships taking two Guards
Battalions to Boulogne.
23rd Assisted in
evacuation from Boulogne.
Carried
out bombardment of Calais with HM Destroyer WESSEX and Polish destroyer ORP
BURZA.
Sustained
alight damage in air attacks.
22nd Deployed with HM Destroyer WHITSHED to
support defence of Boulo
Sailed
from Dover as escort for mercantiles BIARRITZ and QUEEN OF THE CHANNEL
taking troops of Guards Brigade and stores to Boulogne.
(Note : The two mercantiles
embarked wounded soldiers and medical staff before return.)
Remained at Boulogne to assist in
evacuation.
24th Embarked troops and returned to Dover with HMS WHITSHED.
Despatched
from Dover to assist in defence and evacuation operations at Calais with HM
Destroyer WOLFHOUND, WESSEX and Polish
ORP BURZA.
Under
fire from shore battery which was returned by the other destroyers
Came
under heavy air attacks during which HMS WESSEX was sunk and ship shaken by six
near misses.
Embarked
survivors from HMS WESSEX and returned to Dover with ORP BURZA.
Speed
limited by effects of air attacks.
25th Taken in hand for repair
(Note : Ship was not therefore deployed for evacuation of
allied troops from Dunkirk
(Operation
DYNAMO - See Naval Staff History (HMSO-2002.)and BEF
SHIPS by J de Winser.)
June On
completion of repair resumed convoy defence in North Sea.
July Deployed
for convoy defence and patrol in North Sea.
August Carried
out anti-invasion patrols in North Sea.
to (See
THE BATTLE FOR THE EAST COAST by J P Foynes)
September
October Resumed
east coast convoy defence duties
November Deployed
in North
Sea
to
December
1 9 4 1
January Deployed
in North
Sea in
defence of East Coast convoys.
to
December
1 9 4 2
January
9th Sank after
striking a mine in the Thames estuary.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS VIMIERA
by Don Kindell
Date convoy
Joined convoy
Convoy
No. Left convoy Date convoy
sailed as escort arrived
13/03/40 13/03/40 FS 0120 15/03/40 15/03/40
20/03/40 20/03/40 FS 0125 22/03/40 22/03/40
31/03/40 31/03/40 FS 0134 02/04/40 02/04/40
07/04/40 07/04/40 FS 0140 09/04/40 09/04/40
15/04/40 15/04/40 FS 0147 17/04/40 17/04/40
25/04/40 25/04/40 FS 0155 27/04/40 27/04/40
03/05/40 03/05/40 FS 0161 05/05/40 05/05/40
05/06/40 05/06/40 FN 0189 07/06/40 07/06/40
12/06/40 12/06/40 FS 0193 14/06/40 14/06/40
20/06/40 20/06/40 FS 0200 22/06/40 22/06/40
23/06/40 23/06/40 FN 0203 25/06/40 25/06/40
27/06/40 27/06/40 FS 0206 29/06/40 29/06/40
30/06/40 30/06/40 FN 0209 02/07/40 02/07/40
09/07/40 09/07/40 FS 0217 10/07/40 10/07/40
12/07/40 12/07/40 FN 0220 14/07/40 14/07/40
19/07/40 19/07/40 FN 0226 21/07/40 21/07/40
22/07/40 22/07/40 FS 0229 24/07/40 24/07/40
25/07/40 25/07/40 FN 0232 27/07/40 27/07/40
04/08/40 04/08/40 FS 0242 06/08/40 06/08/40
11/08/40 11/08/40 FS 0249 14/08/40 14/08/40
18/08/40 18/08/40 FS 0256 20/08/40 20/08/40
25/08/40 25/08/40 FN 0262 27/08/40 27/08/40
03/09/40 03/09/40 FN 0271 05/09/40 05/09/40
05/09/40 05/09/40 FN 0273 07/09/40 07/09/40
14/09/40 14/09/40 FS 0281 16/09/40 16/09/40
17/09/40 17/09/40 FN 0283 19/09/40 19/09/40
24/09/40 24/09/40 FS 0289 25/09/40 25/09/40
26/09/40 26/09/40 FN 0291 28/09/40 28/09/40
05/10/40 05/10/40 FS 0301 07/10/40 07/10/40
08/10/40 08/10/40 FN 0303 10/10/40 10/10/40
13/10/40 13/10/40 FS 0308 17/10/40 17/10/40
16/10/40 16/10/40 FN 0310 18/10/40 18/10/40
23/10/40 23/10/40 FN 0316 25/10/40 25/10/40
01/11/40 01/11/40 FS 0325 03/11/40 03/11/40
04/11/40 04/11/40 FN 0327 06/11/40 06/11/40
09/11/40 09/11/40 FS 0332 11/11/40 11/11/40
13/11/40 13/11/40 FN 0333 15/11/40 15/11/40
18/11/40 18/11/40 FS 0338 20/11/40 20/11/40
21/11/40 21/11/40 FN 0339 23/11/40 23/11/40
30/11/40 30/11/40 FS 0348 02/12/40 02/12/40
03/12/40 03/12/40 FN 0349 05/12/40 05/12/40
08/12/40 08/12/40 FS 0356 10/12/40 10/12/40
11/12/40 11/12/40 FN 0357 13/12/40 13/12/40
17/12/40 17/12/40 FS 0363 19/12/40 19/12/40
29/12/40 29/12/40 FS 0374 01/01/41 01/01/41
01/01/41 01/01/41 FN 0373 03/01/41 03/01/41
07/01/41 07/01/41 FS 0382 09/01/41 09/01/41
13/01/41 13/01/41 FS 0387 16/01/41 16/01/41
31/01/41 31/01/41 FN 0396 02/02/41 02/02/41
(Note
on Convoys)
