H . M . S
. W A T C H M A N ( D 2 6 )
Admiralty W-Class destroyers ordered from John Brown of Clyde bank under the
1916-17 Programme in the 10th Order on 9 December 1916. The ship was laid down
on 17th January 1917 and launched on 2 December 1917. She was the 1st RN warships to carry the name. After completion
on 26th January 1918 she served in the Grand Fleet. This ship was deployed in
the Baltic during 1919 and was in action against Russian warships. In 1921 she
was in the 1st Destroyer Flotilla and later placed in Reserve (See General
Information). Brought forward for service in 1939 the ship was deployed at
Gibraltar for contraband control and convoy defence duty. Following a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign during November 1941 she was
adopted by the civil community of Erlerley Hill then part of Staffordshire.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1940-41 - NORMANDY 1944
- ARCTIC
1944 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1944-45
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge : On a Field Black, a
Lanthorn Gold, with panes Red.
M o t t o
Securitas: '
Safety '
D e t a i l s o f
W a r S e r v i c e
1 9 3 9
September Deployed
at Gibraltar with 13th Destroyer Flotilla
for contraband control patrol duties.
October Patrol
and convoy defence in continuation with Flotilla.
1 9 4 0
January Gibraltar patrol and convoy escort in
continuation
8th Deployed as escort for inward Convoy
HG12 during initial stage of passage to Liverpool
10th Detached from escort and returned to Gibraltar.
February Deployment with Flotilla at Gibraltar in
continuation.
March
12th Deployed with HM Destroyer VORTIGERN as
escort for inward convoy HG22 during passage from
Gibraltar to Liverpool.
18th Detached from HG22
on relief by Local Escort from Plymouth in SW
Approaches.
(Note : HM Destroyers VORTIGERN and WISHART were also part of
escort.)
29th Deployed as escort for outward Convoy OG24F during passage to Gibraltar from formation in SW
Approaches.
April
4th Detached from escort of OG24F on
arrival at Gibraltar
5th Deployed with HM Sloops BIDEFORD and
FOWEY as escort for inward convoy HG25 during
initial stage of passage from Gibraltar.
7th Detached from HG25 and returned to Gibraltar.
May Pennant
Number for visual signalling purposes changed to I26 in conformity with
changes made to all RN ships.
Gibraltar deployment in
continuation.
June
12th Attacked Italian submarine CAPALLANI off
Gibraltar.
(Note : Result was later assessed as ‘severe damage’.)
26th Flotilla placed at disposal of Force H
on formation, as required.
(For
details of Force H operation in 1940 see ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C
Barnett and Naval Staff History HMSO (2002). ).
July Gibraltar duties in
continuation.
Nominated for return to UK.
August Passage to UK for convoy
escort duty in Western Approaches.
5th Joined military convoy WS2 with HM
Destroyers HARVESTER, HAVELOCK, HIGHLANDER,
HURRICANE,
FORTUNE, FURY and VORTIGERN for Local Escort during passage in the NW
Approaches.
7th Detached from WS2 with Local Escort
and returned to Clyde.
September Joined
6th Escort Group based at Liverpool.
October Atlantic
convoy escort duty in continuation.
Deployed with Rosyth Escort Force.
November
1st Under air attack during escort of North Sea convoy with H M Corvette
PINTAIL and HM
Destroyer
VERDUN
December Deployed
with Group in Western Approaches.
1 9 4 1
January
12th Joined military convoy WS5b in Clyde with HM Destroyers
WITHERINGTON,
HARVESTER,
BEAGLE, FEARLESS, HIGHLANDER, JACKAL, LEAMINGTON,
LINCOLN, VANSITTART and Free French destroyer LEOPARD.
16th Detached from WS5B with Local Escort and
returned to Clyde.
February Deployment
with Group for Atlantic convoy defence In
continuation.
to (For
details of U-Boat deployments in 1941 see U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO))
June and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
July Transferred
to 8th Escort Group for Atlantic convoy escort.
August Part of escort for outward Convoy HX143 with Group.
September Atlantic escort with Group in continuation.
October Part
of escort for outward Convoys ONS23 and ON30 with Group.
November Part
of escort for outward convoy HX160 with Group.
December Part
of escort for outward convoy ON51 with Group.
1 9 4 2
January Deployment with 8th Escort Group in continuation.
to
March
April Transferred
to 1st British Escort Group and joined H M Destroyers HURRICANE and
ROCKINGHAM,
HM Corvettes BORAGE, DAHLIA, MEADOWSWEET, MONKSHOOD,
WALLFLOWER and ANCHUSA.
May Deployed with Group for convoy defence in Atlantic.
to (For
details of development and use of new weapons by both escorts and U-Boats
July see
SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann and THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
by D
MacIntyre)
August Carried
out trial of prototype Radar Plan Display (PPI) - Later Outfit JE.
(For
details of development and use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse).
September Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 3
January Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.
to Nominated
for conversion to Long Range Escort.
March (For
details o this crucial stage of the Atlantic war see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY and above references.)
April Taken
in hand for refit and conversion by commercial shipyard at Liverpool.
May Under refit and conversion.
to See
BRITISH DESTROYERS by E March and V AND W DESTROYERS by A Preston).
July (Note : Ahead Throwing Anti-submarine weapon (HEDGEHOG) was
fitted
See
SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)
August Post
refit harbour and trials.
Passage
to work-up
On
completion of work-up rejoined EGB1 for escort of Gibraltar convoys.
September Deployed
for escort of UK-Gibraltar convoys with Group.
to
October
November Transferred
to Gibraltar Escort Force.
18th Despatched from Gibraltar to reinforce escort of merged
Convoys MKS30 and SL139 with
HM
Destroyer WINCHELSEA.
19th Joined convoy which was under sustained
U-Boat attacks by SCHILL Group.
21st Under attack by Hs293 Glider bombs from
He117 aircraft which were repulsed by the
AA fire from the escort although one mercantile was sunk and
another damaged.
December Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.
1 9 4 4
January Nominated
for Russian Convoy escort duty with Home Fleet.
February Escorted
MM Escort Carrier CHASER with HM Destroyer WANDERER, HM Frigates
BYRON
and STRULE during passage to join Russian Convoy JW57
22nd Joined JW57 escort.
26th Detached from JW57 and resumed Atlantic
convoy defence duty.
March Atlantic
convoy defence in continuation.
to
April
May Nominated for escort of assault convoys to Normandy beach head
(Operation NEFTUNE).
Transferred
to join HM Canadian Corvette LINDSAY, HM Trawlers SCALPAY and
GANILLY as Escort Group 138.
(For
details of naval activities prior to and during Normandy assault landings see OPERATION
NEPTUNE by K Edwards, LANDINGS IN NORMANDY June 1944 (HMSO) and D DAY
SHIPS
by J de Winser ).
June Passage to Milford Haven for escort of Convoy
EBC3 with Group.
5th Departure of
convoy delayed by 24 hours when 'D' Day postponed.
6th Escorted 11
Stores Coasters, three Empty MT Ships. two 2
Armament Stores Carriers and a
Water Tanker to Solent.
8th Passage through swept channel to
Western Task Force area as escort for MT Ships, Armament
Carriers
and Water Carrier
Attack
by E-Boats during passage driven off.
11th After arrival detached from convoy and
returned to Milford Haven.
13th Commenced escort of Build -Up convoys to
beachhead.
On release from NEPTUNE deployed in English
Channel for coastal convoy defence and patrol.
July Channel
deployment in continuation.
August
21st During escort of convoy off Beachy Head with HM Destroyers MELBREAK and
FORESTER
drove off attacks by E-Boats of 8th German MTB Flotilla.
September Channel
deployment in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 5
January Convoy
defence in English Channel and SW Approaches in continuation.
to (Note
: Atlantic convoys were re-routed via Channel in this period and “Schnorkel”
March fitted
U-Boats were concentrating attacks in focal points. See above references)
April Part of escort for military convoy VWP16 in Channel.
6th Sank U1195 by HEDGEHOG after attack on
convoy.
(Note : This submarine had sunk the troop transport CUBA in the convoy
For
full details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
May Withdrawn
from operational service after VE-Day and paid off into Reserve.
June Placed
on the Disposal List.
July
23rd Sold to T W Ward
for breaking-up.
August Awaiting
demolition.
P o s t W a r
N o t e s
HMS
WATCHMAN was towed to Inverkeithing after VJ Day. Her long service as an escort
well deserves the Battle Honours awarded and her sinking of a submarine just
before the end of the war in Europe was a fitting end to her service.
Special Note
Details
of escorts for WS series military convoys were provided by Donald Kindell,
Ohio USA from an unpublished source. This is gratefully acknowledged.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS
WATCHMAN
by Don Kindell
Date convoy
Joined
convoy
Convoy
No.
Left convoy Date
convoy
sailed as
escort
arrived
06/11/39 06/11/39 HG 006 unknown 14/11/39
08/12/39 08/12/39 HG 010 10/12/39 16/12/39
05/12/39 10/12/39 OG 009 11/12/39 11/12/39
12/03/40 12/03/40 HG 022 19/03/40 22/03/40
28/03/40 29/03/40 OG 024F 04/04/40 04/04/40
05/04/40 05/04/40 HG 025 07/04/40 15/04/40
20/05/40 20/05/40 HG 031F 23/05/40 29/05/40
20/05/40 23/05/40 OG 030 26/05/40 26/05/40
28/05/40 28/05/40 HG 032F 29/05/40 06/06/40
25/05/40 28/05/40 OG 031F 30/05/40 30/05/40
31/05/40 01/06/40 HG 032 02/06/40 unknown
29/05/40 02/06/40 OG 031 03/06/40 04/06/40
21/06/40 21/06/40 HG 035 22/06/40 01/07/40
05/08/40 05/08/40 WS 002 07/08/40 08/08/40
10/08/40 11/08/40 ZA unknown 19/08/40
25/09/40 25/09/40 FS 0291 27/09/40 27/09/40
28/09/40 28/09/40 FN 0293 30/09/40 30/09/40
02/10/40 02/10/40 FS 0298 04/10/40 04/10/40
05/10/40 05/10/40 FN 0300 07/10/40 07/10/40
14/10/40 14/10/40 FS 0309 16/10/40 16/10/40
17/10/40 17/10/40 FN 0311 19/10/40 19/10/40
25/10/40 25/10/40 FN 0319 27/10/40 27/10/40
30/10/40 30/10/40 FS 0323 02/11/40 02/11/40
02/11/40 02/11/40 FN 0324 04/11/40 04/11/40
11/11/40 11/11/40 FS 0333 13/11/40 13/11/40
14/11/40 14/11/40 FN 0334 16/11/40 16/11/40
20/11/40 20/11/40 FS 0340 22/11/40 22/11/40
24/11/40 24/11/40 FN 0341 26/11/40 26/11/40
23/03/41 23/03/41 OB 301 27/03/41 27/03/41
15/03/41 27/03/41 HG 056 02/04/41 02/04/41
06/04/41 06/04/41 OG 058 12/04/41 21/04/41
16/04/41 19/04/41 OB 311 unknown 25/04/41
16/04/41 25/04/41 HX 121 unknown 03/05/41
19/04/41 01/05/41 SC 029 04/05/41 08/05/41
30/04/41 12/05/41 HX 124 15/05/41 20/05/41
29/04/41 12/05/41 SC 030 15/05/41 20/05/41
06/05/41 18/05/41 HX 125A 22/05/41 22/05/41
01/06/41 15/06/41 HX 130 18/06/41 20/06/41
21/06/41 22/06/41 OB 338 26/06/41 03/07/41
16/06/41 27/06/41 HX 133 30/06/41 03/07/41
07/07/41 07/07/41 OB 344 11/07/41 16/07/41
26/07/41 27/07/41 ON 001 31/07/41 09/08/41
22/07/41 02/08/41 HX 140 05/08/41 06/08/41
11/08/41 13/08/41 ON 006 15/08/41 24/08/41
05/08/41 18/08/41 HX 143 20/08/41 20/08/41
30/08/41 01/09/41 ON 011 04/09/41 11/09/41
24/08/41 07/09/41 SC 041 11/09/41 11/09/41
13/09/41 13/09/41 ON 016 19/09/41 27/09/41
10/09/41 20/09/41 HX 149 25/09/41 25/09/41
04/10/41 05/10/41 ON 023 11/10/41 19/10/41
05/10/41 13/10/41 HX 153 17/10/41 19/10/41
26/10/41 29/10/41 ON 030 02/11/41 09/11/41
23/10/41 04/11/41 SC 051 09/11/41 09/11/41
15/11/41 18/11/41 ON 037 22/11/41 30/11/41
15/11/41 25/11/41 HX 160 28/11/41 30/11/41
07/12/41 09/12/41 ON 044 12/12/41 15/12/41
04/12/41 15/12/41 SC 058 19/12/41 21/12/41
03/12/41 16/12/41 HX 163 19/12/41 19/12/41
27/12/41 28/12/41 ON 051 02/01/42 11/01/42
27/12/41 07/01/42 HX 167 10/01/42 11/01/42
01/02/42 02/02/42 ON 062 06/02/42 15/02/42
01/02/42 09/02/42 HX 173 13/02/42 14/02/42
19/02/42 26/02/42 AT 012 01/03/42 02/03/42
06/08/42 06/08/42 ON 119 10/08/42 20/08/42
02/08/42 09/08/42 HX 201 13/08/42 14/08/42
22/08/42 25/08/42 ON 124 03/09/42 06/09/42
06/09/42 09/09/42 HX 206 17/09/42 18/09/42
26/09/42 29/09/42 ON 134 10/10/42 17/10/42
11/10/42 17/10/42 SC 105 29/10/42 31/10/42
11/11/42 17/11/42 HX 215 24/11/42 25/11/42
03/12/42 05/12/42 ON 151 14/12/42 23/12/42
19/12/42 26/12/42 SC 114 06/01/43 07/01/43
23/01/43 23/01/43 ON 162 03/02/43 11/02/43
03/02/43 10/02/43 SC 119 21/02/43 22/02/43
04/03/43 09/03/43 ON 171 19/03/43 23/03/43
18/03/43 24/03/43 HX 230 01/04/43 02/04/43
16/11/43 19/11/43 SL 139MK 22/11/43 26/11/43
14/12/43 20/12/43 SL 142MK 21/12/43 28/12/43
10/12/43 22/12/43 HX 270 22/12/43 26/12/43
15/12/43 24/12/43 OS 062KM 28/12/43 02/01/44
25/12/43 01/01/44 SL 143MK 03/01/44 06/01/44
06/01/44 11/01/44 SL 144MK 12/01/44 18/01/44
03/01/44 11/01/44 OS 064KM 12/01/44 15/01/44
06/01/44 18/01/44 HX 274 20/01/44 21/01/44
28/01/44 08/02/44 HX 277 10/02/44 13/02/44
29/01/44 11/02/44 SC 152 12/02/44 15/02/44
20/02/44 22/02/44 JW 057 26/02/44 28/02/44
30/03/44 30/03/44 DS 051 01/04/44 01/04/44
01/04/44 01/04/44 SD 051 03/04/44 03/04/44
25/06/44 25/06/44 EBC 022 27/06/44 27/06/44
27/06/44 27/06/44 FCM 016 28/06/44 28/06/44
10/07/44 10/07/44 EBC 037 12/07/44 12/07/44
14/08/44 14/08/44 EBC 072 16/08/44 16/08/44
15/08/44 15/08/44 EBC 073 16/08/44 17/08/44
29/12/44 29/12/44 BTC 022 01/01/45 01/01/45
23/03/45 23/03/45 VWP 103 24/03/45 24/03/45
12/04/45 12/04/45 VWP 123 13/04/45 13/04/45
16/05/45 16/05/45 VWL 173 17/05/45 17/05/45
31/05/45 31/05/45 TA 208A 01/06/45 06/06/45
