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)