H .  M .  S .  K E M P E N F E L T  (i)      (  D 1 8 )

 

Flotilla Leader for C-Class Destroyers ordered from J S White at Cowes, IoW under  the1929 Build Programme and laid down in October 1930. The ship was launched on 29th October  1931 as the 2nd RN ship to carry the name, previously used by a Flotilla Leader sold in  1921.  Build was completed on 30th May 1932 and the ship served continuously until the outbreak of war  in September 1939 when she began war service in the Plymouth Local Flotilla. Transferred to RCN in October 1939 and renamed HMCS ASSINIBOINE.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

JUTLAND 1916 - ATLANTIC 1939-45* - NORMANDY 1944*

(*As HMCS ASSINIBOINE.)

 

H e r a l d i c  D a t a

B a d g e : On a field Black a Sword proper between two wings green

over two wavelets Silver and Blue.

 

M o t t o

Fideliter : 'Faithfully'

 

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

 

1 9 3 9

 

September             Took up war station at Plymouth with 18th Destroyer Flotilla for convoy defence and 

                                anti-submarine patrol in Channel and SW Approaches

                3rd          Deployed with HM Destroyers ACASTA, ACHERON, ANTELOPE and ARDENT based at

                                Portland.

                9th          Escorted HM Aircraft Carrier COURAGEOUS with HMS ARDENT and HM Destroyer ECHO 

                                during anti-submarine operation (Operation AS2).

                14th        Returned to Plymouth to prepare for transfer to Royal Canadian Navy

 

October                 Transfer to RCN approved.

                19th        Formal transfer at Devonport and renamed HMCS ASSINIBOINE.

 

November              Passage to Canada from Plymouth

                17th        Arrived at Halifax and nominated for service in West Indies.

                18th        Sailed for convoy defence of east coast of Canada.

 

December              Convoy defence deployment in continuation.

                5th          Took passage to Bermuda from Halifax.

                                Deployed in Caribbean area for convoy defence and interception patrol to enforce blockade.

 

1 9 4 0

 

 

January                 West Indies deployment in continuation.

 to                           (Note : German ships in US ports were targeted for interception and capture

February                as part of the blockade.)

 

March

                8th          Assisted HM Cruiser DUNEDIN which had intercepted German freighter HANNOVER in Mona

                                Passage off Dominica.

                                Took burning enemy ship in tow to open sea and provided fire-fighting party whilst tow taken 

                                over by HMS DUNEDIN.

                9th          Passage to Kingston with captured ship.

                                (Note : This Prize was later converted for use as a prototype Escort Aircraft Carrier and renamed

                                HMS AUDACITY. She was sunk in defence of a convoy off Spain in December 1941.)

                13th        Arrived at Kingston and despite lack of assistance from tugs ship was taken

                                safely into harbour.

                                Released from Caribbean duty and took passage to Halifax.

                31st         Arrived at Halifax.

 

April                       Deployed for convoy defence at Halifax.

 

May                        Taken in hand for refit at Halifax.

to                             Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to I18.

June

 

July                         On completion of post refit trials resumed convoy defence duties off eastern

 to                            coast of North America including traffic to and from Bermuda.

November

 

December              Nominated for transfer to UK for convoy defence in NW Approaches

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                 Passage to join Western Approaches Command.

                31st        Arrived in UK.

 

February                Deployed in NW Approaches for convoy defence.

                28th        Rescued survivors from ss ANCHISES which had sunk after air attacks.

 

March                    Deployed at Greenock with 10th Escort Group for Atlantic convoy defence.

 

April

                5th          Involved in collision with ss LAIRDSWOOD.

                7th          Taken in hand for damage repair in Clyde shipyard.

 

May                        Under repair

                                (Note : Two 20mm Oerlikon guns fitted to improve AA defence.

                                Warning Radar Type 286 fitted .(Modified RAF Outfit

                                - See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)

                                Degaussing cables installed to provide protection against

                                magnetic mines.)

                22nd       Rejoined Group on completion of repair and deployed with HM Destroyers LEGION and

                                SAGUENAY (RCN) as screen for HM Battlecruiser REPULSE during passage from Clyde

                                to join Home Fleet ships prior to search for the German battleship BISMARCK.

                23rd        Joined screen for HM Battleship KING GEORGE V in Butt of Lewis.

                24th        Detached from Home Fleet screen to refuel in Iceland.

                                Transferred to Newfoundland Escort Force and took passage to join

                                RCN Group at St Johns.

 

June                        Deployed for convoy defence based in Newfoundland.

 to

July

 

August

                6th          Passage to join HM Battleship PRINCE OF WALES with HM Destroyer

                                RIPLEY.

                                (Note : HMS PRINCE OF WALES was taking Prime Minister to Argentia

                                Bay for meeting with US President.)

                7th          Relieved HM Destroyers HARVESTER, HESPERUS and HAVELOCK

                                as screen during passage to Newfoundland for Atlantic Charter Meeting.

                12th        Deployed with HMS RIPLEY, HM Destroyers RESTIGOUCHE (RCN)

                                and READING, US destroyers MAYRANT and RHIND as screen for

                                HMS PRINCE OF WALES during passage to Iceland after meeting.

 

September             Deployed with 14th Escort Group of Newfoundland Escort Force for

 to                           convoy defence.

December              (For details of Atlantic convoy defence and enemy tactics see HITLER’S

                                U-BOAT WAR by C Blair, THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D.

                                Macintyre and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                 Atlantic deployment with 1st Canadian Escort Group.

 to

April

 

May                        Deployed with HM Canadian Destroyer ST CROIX , HM Canadian

                                Corvettes CHAMBLY and BUCTOUCHE, HM Corvettes DIANTHUS

                                and NASTURTIUM, Free French Corvettes ACONIT and MIMOSE as

                                escort for Convoy HX189 during Atlantic passage.

                10th        Under sustained attacks by HECHT Group of U-Boats.

 

June                        Escorted Convoy ONS100 with HMCS BUCHTOUCHE , HMCS

                                CHAMBLY, FS ACONIT and FS MIMOSE.

                9th          Convoy under attack by HECHT Group during which FS MIMOSE

                                was sunk by torpedo from U124.

 

July                         Atlantic convoy defence with 1st Canadian Escort Group in continuation.

 

August                  Deployed with HM Corvettes CHILLIWACK (RCN), HMCS ORILLIA

                                (RCN), HMS DIANTHUS, HMS NASTURTIUM and HMS PRIMROSE

                                of Group for escort of Convoy SC94.

                5th          Under sustained attacks by STEINBRINK Group of U-Boats.

                6th          Took part in search with HMS DIANTHUS for submarine after radar contact in poor visibility.

                                After search lasting over five hours sighted surfaced U210 and engaged with 4.7in armament

                                before ramming the submarine.

                                Despite damage from return fire made second ramming and sank U210 by depth charge attacks

                                in position 40.15N 39.37W.

                                37 survivors from U210 were rescued.

                                (For details see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)

                                Withdrew from escort and took passage to Canada for repair.

                29th        Taken in hand for repair.

 

September             Under repair

 to

November

 

December              On completion of post repair trials prepared for work-up.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                 Worked-up for operational service.

 

February                Resumed convoy escort duty with Group.

                                Nominated for transfer to Western Approaches Command and took passage to UK as part of escort

                                for Atlantic convoy.

 

March

                3rd          Sustained serious damage to stern structure when carrying out depth charge attack during defence

                                of convoy.

                                (Note : This was caused by incorrect setting of depth charges which exploded near surface.)

                7th          Taken in hand for repair at Liverpool shipyard.

 

April                       Under repair.

 to

June

 

July                         Post repair trials.

                13th        Rejoined 1st Canadian Escort Group to resume Atlantic convoy escort duty.

                                (Note : Group comprised HM Destroyer SKEENA (RCN), HM Destroyer

                                BURNHAM and five FLOWER Class Corvettes.

 

August                 Atlantic convoy escort with Group in continuation.

to                           

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                 Atlantic deployment in continuation.

to                            (Note : For details of development of new tactics for attack and defence of

February                Atlantic convoys see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann and

                                above references.)

                                Nominated for refit in Canada.

 

March                    Deployed with HM Destroyers FORESTER, ST LAURENT (RCN), HM

                                Canadian Frigates SWANSEA, VALLEYFIELD and five RCN Corvettes

                                as escort for Convoy SC154.

                10th        Convoy under threat from U485 which was located after making radio

                                transmissions and attacked away from convoy by HMCS ST LAURENT.

                                (Note : Remained with convoy and did not take part in later sinking of

                                this submarine. See above references.)

 

April                       Deployed in Canadian waters and prepared for refit.

 

May                        Under refit at Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

to                            Nominated for service in 12th Escort Group deployed at Londonderry.

June

 

July                         Post refit trials and passage to Londonderry to join Group.

 

August

                1st           Arrived at Londonderry for service in SW Approaches and Channel. for

                                anti-submarine operations and interception of coastal convoys.

                8th          In action with trawlers in Audierne Bay south of Brest.                              

                12th        Damaged by return fire from shore battery.                    

 

September             Channel deployment with Group in continuation.

 

October                 Transferred to 11th Canadian Escort Group in continuation.

                                (Note : Increased activity by SCHNORKEL fitted U-Boats required the

                                reinforcement of convoy escorts and patrols in Channel and SW

                                Approaches. See references.)

 

November              Channel deployment in continuation.

 

December              Transferred to 14th Canadian Escort Group based at Liverpool for Atlantic

                                convoy  defence.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                 Deployed with Group in UK coastal waters for convoy defence against

                                increased use of SHNORKEL fitted submarines.

 

February

                14th        Involved in collision with ss EMPIRE BOND in English Channel.

                                Taken in hand for repair.

 

March                    Resumed duty with Group on completion of repair.

 

April                       Coastal convoy escort and patrol in continuation.

 

May

                8th          Nominated for duty as a troop transport.

 

June                        Deployed to carry returning Canadian service personnel back to Canada.

 to

July

 

August                 Nominated for disposal and to be Paid-off.

                8th          Paid-off and destored. Placed on the Disposal List

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t  e s

 

HMCS ASSINIBOINE was sold for demolition at Baltimore USA in November 1945 and taken in tow to breakers yard. The ship broke from tow during passage on 10th November and was driven ashore. She was wrecked near East Point, Prince Edward Island. The hulk was later sold to Guard Salvage Co of Halifax and broken up in situ during 1952.

 

---

 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS

by Don Kindell

 

 as HMS KEMPENFELT

 

Date convoy         Joined convoy          Convoy No.             Left convoy           Date convoy

sailed                     as escort                                                                                arrived

  

27/09/39                 27/09/39                      OA 011                 28/09/39                   30/09/39

 

as HMCS ASSINIBOINE

 

18/11/39                 18/11/39                     HX 009                  20/11/39                 02/12/39

26/11/39                 26/11/39                     HX 010                  28/11/39                 10/12/39

09/06/40                 09/06/40                     HX 049                  10/06/40                 24/06/40

11/06/40                 11/06/40                     TC 005                   13/06/40                 21/06/40

13/06/40                 13/06/40                     HX 050                  14/06/40                 30/06/40

25/06/40                 25/06/40                     HX 053                  26/06/40                 10/07/40

29/06/40                 29/06/40                     HX 054                  30/06/40                 14/07/40

03/07/40                 03/07/40                     HX 055                  04/07/40                 18/07/40

11/07/40                 11/07/40                     HX 057                  12/07/40                 26/07/40

15/07/40                 15/07/40                     HX 058                  16/07/40                 31/07/40

04/08/40                 04/08/40                     HX 063                  05/08/40                 19/08/40

08/08/40                 08/08/40                     HX 064                  09/08/40                 23/08/40

12/08/40                 12/08/40                     HX 065                  13/08/40                 27/08/40

16/08/40                 16/08/40                     HX 066                  17/08/40                 31/08/40

20/08/40                 20/08/40                     HX 067                  20/08/40                 04/09/40

24/08/40                 24/08/40                     HX 068                  25/08/40                 08/09/40

27/08/40                 27/08/40                     TC 007                   28/08/40                 04/09/40

28/08/40                 28/08/40                     HX 069                  29/08/40                 12/09/40

05/09/40                 05/09/40                     HX 071                  06/09/40                 20/09/40

01/09/40                 10/09/40                     HX 070                  02/09/40                 16/09/40

13/09/40                 13/09/40                     HX 073                  14/09/40                 28/09/40

17/09/40                 17/09/40                     HX 074                  18/09/40                 02/10/40

21/09/40                 21/09/40                     HX 075                  22/09/40                 07/10/40

30/09/40                 30/09/40                     HX 077                  01/10/40                 15/10/40

04/10/40                 04/10/40                     HX 078                  05/10/40                 18/10/40

24/10/40                 24/10/40                     HX 083                  25/10/40                 07/11/40

01/11/40                 01/11/40                     HX 085                  02/11/40                 06/11/40

11/11/40                 11/11/40                     HX 086                  11/11/40                 26/11/40

14/11/40                 14/11/40                     HX 088                  15/11/40                 30/11/40

21/11/40                 21/11/40                     HX 090                  22/11/40                 05/12/40

25/11/40                 25/11/40                     HX 091                  26/11/40                 11/12/40

06/12/40                 06/12/40                     HX 094                  07/12/40                 22/12/40

03/12/40                 13/12/40                     HX 093                  04/12/40                 18/12/40

16/12/40                 16/12/40                     TC 008                   21/12/40                 25/12/40

22/12/40                 22/12/40                     HX 098                  23/12/40                 29/12/40

17/02/41                 24/02/41                     TC 009                   26/02/41                 27/02/41

22/05/41                 23/05/41                     OB 326                   26/05/41                 29/05/41

08/06/41                 08/06/41                     OB 331                   18/06/41                 19/06/41

21/06/41                 21/06/41                     TC 011                   24/06/41                 30/06/41

27/06/41                 03/07/41                     OB 340                   13/07/41                 13/07/41

07/07/41                 15/07/41                     OB 344                   17/07/41                 16/07/41

21/07/41                 21/07/41                     TC 012                   23/07/41                 29/07/41

26/08/41                 27/08/41                     TC 012B                01/09/41                 01/09/41

08/09/41                 08/09/41                     CT 002                   14/09/41                 14/09/41

27/12/41                 30/12/41                     SC 062                   08/01/42                 12/01/42

10/02/42                 13/02/42                     SC 069                   23/02/42                 27/02/42

09/03/42                 10/03/42                     ON 074                  20/03/42                 25/03/42

30/03/42                 03/04/42                     SC 077                   12/04/42                 16/04/42

21/04/42                 22/04/42                     ON 088                  03/05/42                 08/05/42

10/05/42                 14/05/42                     HX 189                  20/05/42                 20/05/42

02/06/42                 03/06/42                     ON 100                  13/06/42                 19/06/42

21/06/42                 24/06/42                     HX 195                  01/07/42                 02/07/42

13/07/42                 14/07/42                     ON 112                  25/07/42                 30/07/42

31/07/42                 02/08/42                     SC 094                   06/08/42                 13/08/42

29/12/42                 05/01/43                     HX 221                  13/01/43                 14/01/43

24/01/43                 25/01/43                     ON 163                  08/02/43                 16/02/43

31/07/43                 01/08/43                     ON 195                  08/08/43                 13/08/43

14/08/43                 20/08/43                     HX 252                  27/08/43                 28/08/43

08/09/43                 10/09/43                     ON 201                  18/09/43                 24/09/43

22/09/43                 28/09/43                     HX 258                  05/10/43                 06/10/43

18/10/43                 19/10/43                     ON 207                  28/10/43                 04/11/43

31/10/43                 06/11/43                     HX 264                  16/11/43                 17/11/43

26/11/43                 28/11/43                     ON 213                  07/12/43                 14/12/43

10/12/43                 15/12/43                     HX 270                  25/12/43                 26/12/43

08/01/44                 09/01/44                     ON 219                  20/01/44                 27/01/44

22/01/44                 28/01/44                     HX 276                  06/02/44                 07/02/44

14/02/44                 15/02/44                     ON 224                  26/02/44                 02/03/44

28/02/44                 02/03/44                     SC 154                   15/03/44                 15/03/44

28/03/44                 29/03/44                     ONS 032                13/04/44                 18/04/44

10/09/44                 15/09/44                     SL 169MK             16/09/44                 17/09/44

08/01/45                 unknown                   HX 331                  unknown               22/01/45

23/01/45                 unknown                   HX 334                  unknown               06/02/45

(Note on Convoys)