H .  M .  S .   C Y G N E T   ( H 8 3 )

 

C-Class Destroyer ordered from Vickers-Armstrong, Barrow under the revised 1930 Build Programme en 9th July 1930. This ship was laid down as Yard No 667 on 1st December 1930 and named HMS CYGNET on 29th September 1930 when launched on the same date as her sister ship HMS CRESCENT also laid down on the same date in 1930. She was the 19th RN ship to carry this name, introduced for a Pinnace built in 1585 and which served in the engagement with the Spanish Armada  in 1588- Build was completed on 1st April 1932 and the ship was used for a series of propeller trials to compare the performance of an 'Aerofoil' design propellers with that of the standard Admiralty design. The results showed that the Admiralty propellers gave a 2 knot advantage in speed during the six hour trial. The ship then joined the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, Hone Fleet and visited the West Indies. Later in 1935 she was detached for duty in the Red Sea for six months after the Italian invasion of Abyssinia. The ship carried out Non-intervention patrol duty in the Bay of Biscay after return to UK and later was replaced in the Flotilla by the new destroyer HMS HUNTER. She was put in Reserve at the Nore on 30th September 1936. This destroyer was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy and commissioned as HMCS ST LAURENT on 17th February 1937 at Chatham after a refit. She arrived at Halifax on April 8th and remained there for a year until transferred to Esquimalt for service in the Pacific. In September 1939 she took up her war station at Halifax.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

CADIZ  1587 - ARMADA 1588 - PORTLAND 1653 - HAVANA   1762 - GUADALOUPE 1810 - ALEXANDRIA   1882 - SUAKIN 1884 -  SICILY 1943+ - ATLANTIC 1943-44+ - ARCTIC  1944-45+
(+ Awarded to HM Sloop CYGNET)

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge : On a Field Black a Cygnet Silver on wavelets Gold and blue.

 

 

H .  M .  C .  S .    S T . L A U R E N T    ( H 8 3 )

 

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

 

1 9 3 9

 

August                   During deployment at Esquimalt nominated for war service at Halifax.

 

September              Passage to Halifax.

                3rd           In transit of Panama Canal

                15th         Deployed at Halifax for convoy defence.

 

October                  Local escort duties based at Halifax in continuation.

                                Joined HM Battleship REVENGE, HM Cruisers EMERALD, ENTERPRISE and CARADOC

                                during Atlantic passage for escort to Halifax.

                                (Note : These British ships were carrying gold bullion to Canada for custody.

 

November               Halifax deployment for Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                   Deployed at Halifax for Atlantic convoy defence.

to

April

 

May                        Nominated for transfer to UK for service in Western Approaches.

                24th         Took passage from Halifax to Plymouth.

                31st         Joined Western Approaches Command at Plymouth.

 

June                        Deployed for support of evacuation of British and allied troops and civilians from Bay of

                                Biscay ports (Operation AERIAL).

                                On release from AERIAL transferred to Clyde for Atlantic convoy defence in the NW

                                Approaches and joined screen for HM Battleship NELSON.

July                         Detached in response to SOS from mercantile.

                2nd          Took part in rescue of 860 survivors from ss ARANDORA STAR torpedoed and sunk

                                earlier by U47.

                                (Note : U47 was commanded by Otto Prien who had sunk H M Battleship ROYAL OAK

                                in a daring attack inside Scapa Flow on 14th October 1939.)

 

August                    Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

 

September

                4th           Rescued survivors from ss TITAN torpedoed in NW Approaches.

 

October                  Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

                6th           Deployed as Local Escort for military convoy WS3B (Fast) off Liverpool with HM Destroyer

                                DOUGLAS for passage to assembly point in Clyde area.

                18th         Part of Local Escort for military convoy WS4B with H M Destroyers HIGHLANDER,

                                OTTAWA (RCN), SAGUENAY (RCN) and SKEENA (RCN) for passage in NW Appproaches.

                20th         Detached from WS4B with Local Escort and returned to Clyde.

 

November

                                Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

 

December

                2nd          Rescued survivors from tanker CONCH (on charter to the Admiralty) and HM Armed Merchant

                                Cruiser FORFAR both of which had been torpedoed by submarine attacks.

                                (Note : Tanker had been with Convoy HX90. HM Destroyer VISCOUNT also took part in

                                rescue work.)

                19th         Joined HM Destroyers KELVIN, KIPLING, OTTAWA (RCN), Polish ORP PIORUN and Free

                                French LE TRIOMPHANTE as Local Escort in during passage in N W Approaches for military

                                convoy WS5A.

                22nd        Detached from WS5A with Local Escort and returned to Clyde.

                                (Note : This convoy came under attack on 25th by German commerce raider and had to disperse.)

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

 

February                Joined HM Destroyers ATHERSTONE, COTTESMORE and KEPPEL in Local Escort for WS6A

                                military convoy with HM Destroyer RESTIGOUCHE (RCN). Detached from WS6A with Polish

                                Destroyer, ORP PIORUN and above Local Escort. Returned to Clyde.

 

March                     Taken in hand for refit at Halifax.

 

April                       Under refit

to                             Nominated for transfer to Newfoundland Escort Force on completion of refit.

June

 

July                         Post refit trials and passage to St Johns.

                14th         Joined 14th Escort Group for escort of convoys to and from Mid-Ocean Meeting Point.

 

August                   Atlantic convoy defence based at St Johns.

to                             (For details of U-Boat deployments, weapons and tactics used in the Battle of the Atlantic see

November               BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D MacIntyre, SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann,

                                U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HM30) and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)

 

December                Transferred to 2nd Canadian Escort Group in continuation.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                   Deployed with Group for Atlantic convoy defence.

to

March

 

April                       Under refit at Halifax.

to                             (Note: Surface warning radar Type 271 was fitted. See RADAR AT SEA by D. Hawse for details

July                         of development and use of radar in RN.)

                                Fire-control Radar Type285 fitted for main armament.)

                                Transferred to 1st Canadian Escort Group.

 

August

                9th           On completion of Post Refit Trials joined Group at St Johns, Newfoundland for defence of

                                Atlantic convoys.

 

September              Atlantic convoy defence in continuation with Group.

to                             (Note : Convoys SC99, CN133 and HX211 were escorted by Group.)

October

 

November              Passage from Iceland with ships of Group tin convoy ONSS3 for escort from mid-Atlantic

                                to Newfoundland.

                                Sustained structural damage in heavy weather south of Iceland.

                11th         Took over escort duty from British 4th Escort Group.

                                (Note : Group escorted Convoys SC110 without loss and ON143 with 1 ship sunk.)

 

December               Part of escort for Convoy ONS154 from Mid Ocean Meeting Point with HM Canadian Corvettes

                                BATTLEFORD, CHILLIWACK, KENOGAMI, NAPANEE and SHEDIAC.

                                (Note : HM Special Service Ship FIDELITY (Ex French ss LE RHIN) was deployed as part of

                                this convoy to act as a Decoy. See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR Volume 2 by C Blair.)

                26th         Convoy under attacks by U-Boats of SPITZ Group.

                                Three mercantiles sunk and one damaged

                28th         Further sustained U-Boat attacks by SPITZ and UNGSTEM Groups.

                                Intercepted U356 on surface and attacked with depth charges.

                                Submarine was sunk in position 45.30N 25.40W after two attacks.

                                There were no survivors from the submarine. See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.

                                (Note : Sinking of U356 was not firmly established under after May 1945.

                                It was the only submarine sunk in defence of this convoy.

                29th         Escort reinforced by HI Destroyers MILNE and METEOR.

                                U-Boat attacks continued.

                30th         HM Destroyer FAME joined and took over command of the Escort.

                                HMS FIDELITY sunk by U435 during the continued onslaught of the attacking U-Boat Groups.

                                (Note : Commander G. Windmeyer, RCN had collapsed from exhaustion.)

                31st         U-Boat Groups withdrew.

                                (Note : 14 mercantiles were sunk during passage of ONS154.

                                Following this disastrous episode three of the RCN Escort Groups were given training at

                                Tobermory used for working-up all RN escorts.)

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                   Deployment with Group for Atlantic convoy defence in continuation. Group escorted Convoy

to                             HX222 with loss of 1 ship.

March

 

April                       Atlantic convoy defence in continuation including escort of Convoy SC12?.

 

May                        Deployed with HMCS ST CROIX, HM Frigate ITCHEN and three RCN corvettes for the escort of

                                Convoy ON184.

                21st         Convoy under attacks by M3SEL Group of U-Boats.

                                Support for convoy was being provided by US aircraft carrier USS BOGUE and U S Navy

                                destroyers of 6th Support Group.

                                Forced two submarines to submerge with USS OSMOND INHAM.

                22nd        Detached from ON184 after U569 had been attacked by US Navy aircraft.

                                Found submarine sinking and rescued 24 German survivors.

                                (See U-BOATS DESTROYED and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR for details.)

                                (Note : U569 was the first submarine to be sunk by aircraft from a USN Support Group CVE

                                deployed in North Atlantic for convoy defence.)

 

June                         Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.

to

July

 

August                   Passage to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia for refit.

                17th         Taken in hand for refit.

 

September               Under refit

to

November

 

December               Passage to Londonderry after post refit trials. Resumed service with Group for Atlantic

                                convoy defence

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                   Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to

February

 

March                    Part of escort for Convoy SC154 with HM Destroyer FORESTER, HM Canadian Frigate

                                SWANSEA, HM Canadian Corvette OWEN SOUND and three other RCN corvettes of 1st

                                Canadian Escort Group.

                10th         Detached from SC154 to assist mercantile and sighted U845 on surface.

                                Carried out attacks on submerged submarine using Depth Charges and HEDGEHOG.

                                Remained in immediate area as these were unsuccessful.

                                When U845 finally surfaced, engaged with main and secondary armament.

                                Submarine abandoned and sank before boarding possible.

                                34 of submarine crew were rescued by escorts.

                                (Note : 119 rounds of 4in and over 2,000 rounds of smaller calibre were fired.)

                                Radar Type 285 outfit was used for main armament fire-control.

                                See RADAR AT SEA and above references for details.)

 

April                       Atlantic convoy defence deployment with Group in continuation.

to                             Nominated for transfer to 11th Escort Group for support of planned allied landings in

May                        Normandy.

                                Joined Group based at Plymouth.

                                (Operation NEPTUNE - See OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards for details)

 

June.                       Deployed with H M Canadian Destroyers CHAUDIERE, GATINEAU, KOOTENAY and

                                OTTAWA in SW Approaches to prevent U-Boat attacks on Assault convoys to beach head.

                                (Note : Ten Support Groups with aircraft from RAF Coastal Command took part in this extensive

                                deployment. See LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944 (HMSO).)

 

July                         Deployed with Group in Bay of Biscay for anti-submarine operations to support passage of

                                convoys and prevent transit of U-Boats

 

August.                  Bay of Biscay operations in continuation

                8th           Under attack by Glider bomb which was unsuccessful.

                13th         Rescued some of the 71 survivors from U270 sunk earlier in attack by depth charges from

                                SUNDERLAND aircraft.

                                (Note : Submarine was evacuating German personnel from Lorient.

                                The survivors were rescued by this ship and HMCS OTTAWA.. See above references.)

 

September              Western Approaches convoy support in continuation with Group

to                             Incidence of defects increased and nominated for return to Canada for refit..

October

 

November              Took passage to Halifax for repair and refit.

                                Taken in hand for repair at Shelburne, Nova Scotia.

 

December               Under repair.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                   Under repair.

to                             Nominated for Local Escort duty at Halifax on completion.

February

March

                20th         Post Refit Trials.

 

April                       Deployed with Halifax Escort Force for convoy defence off American East coast.

                                Nominated for duty to carry returning Canadian servicemen from UK to Canada.

 

May

                6th           Deployed as troop transport Trooping duties in continuation.

  

P o s t    W a r   N o t e s

 

HMCS ST LAURENT continued trooping duties until October 1945. She was paid off on 15th October 1945 at Sydney, NS and reduced to Reserve status. After being placed on the Disposal List in 1946 this ship was sold to International Iron and Metal. She was broken up at Levis, NS IN 1947. This name was carried forward in 1942 when given to the Sloop HMS CYGNET sold in 1956 and later in 1976, it was again used for a Patrol Vessel deployed at Hong Kong.

 

---

 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMCS ST LAURENT

by Don Kindell

 

Date convoy         Joined convoy              Convoy No.             Left convoy           Date convoy

sailed                     as escort                                                                                    arrived

 

16/09/39                 16/09/39                     HX 001                  17/09/39                 30/09/39

23/09/39                 23/09/39                     HX 002                  25/09/39                 10/10/39

30/09/39                 30/09/39                     HX 003                  02/10/39                 14/10/39

08/10/39                 08/10/39                     HX 004                  08/10/39                 22/10/39

17/10/39                 17/10/39                     HX 005                  19/10/39                 29/10/39

25/10/39                 25/10/39                     HX 006                  27/10/39                 06/11/39

31/10/39                 31/10/39                     HXF 007                01/11/39                 12/11/39

02/11/39                 02/11/39                     HX 007                  03/11/39                 17/11/39

08/11/39                 08/11/39                     HXF 008                10/11/39                 21/11/39

10/11/39                 10/11/39                     HX 008                  11/11/39                 25/11/39

17/11/39                 17/11/39                     HXF 009                18/11/39                 29/11/39

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

02/12/39                 02/12/39                     HXF 011                03/12/39                 15/12/39

04/12/39                 04/12/39                     HX 011                  05/12/39                 18/12/39

10/12/39                 10/12/39                     TC 001                   12/12/39                 17/12/39

22/12/39                 22/12/39                     TC 002                   24/12/39                 30/12/39

30/01/40                 30/01/40                     TC 003                   01/02/40                 07/02/40

12/02/40                 12/02/40                     HXF 020                13/02/40                 25/02/40

16/02/40                 16/02/40                     HX 020                  17/02/40                 04/03/40

26/02/40                 26/02/40                     HX 023                  27/02/40                 12/03/40

05/03/40                 05/03/40                     HX 025                  06/03/40                 20/03/40

13/03/40                 13/03/40                     HX 027                  14/03/40                 28/03/40

21/03/40                 21/03/40                     HX 029                  22/03/40                 04/04/40

29/03/40                 29/03/40                     HX 031                  30/03/40                 13/04/40

02/04/40                 02/04/40                     HX 032                  03/04/40                 17/04/40

14/04/40                 14/04/40                     HX 035                  15/04/40                 29/04/40

22/04/40                 22/04/40                     HX 037                  23/04/40                 07/05/40

30/04/40                 30/04/40                     HX 039                  10/05/40                 15/05/40

08/05/40                 08/05/40                     HX 041                  09/05/40                 23/05/40

12/05/40                 12/05/40                     HX 042                  13/05/40                 28/05/40

12/05/40                 12/05/40                     TC 004                   14/05/40                 21/05/40

24/05/40                 24/05/40                     HX 045                  unknown               08/06/40

08/07/40                 08/07/40                     OA 179                  13/07/40                 13/07/40

06/07/40                 15/07/40                     BC A                      16/07/40                 16/07/40

30/07/40                 30/07/40                     OA 192                  03/08/40                 03/08/40

23/07/40                 04/08/40                     HX 060                  07/08/40                 07/08/40

 31/08/40                 31/08/40                     OA 207                  06/09/40                 unknown

24/08/40                 07/09/40                     HX 068                  08/09/40                 08/09/40

 12/09/40                 12/09/40                     OA 213                  13/09/40                 unknown

02/09/40                 17/09/40                     SC 003                   18/09/40                 18/09/40

07/10/40                 07/10/40                     WS 003B               12/10/40                 28/10/40

24/10/40                 05/11/40                     SC 009                   09/11/40                 09/11/40

09/11/40                 21/11/40                     SC 011                   24/11/40                 26/11/40

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

11/07/41                 15/07/41                     HX 138                  23/07/41                 27/07/41

21/07/41                 26/07/41                     OB 349                   01/08/41                 01/08/41

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

18/09/41                 22/09/41                     SC 045                   29/09/41                 04/10/41

28/09/41                 05/10/41                     ON 021                  14/10/41                 14/10/41

23/10/41                 02/11/41                     SC 051                   04/11/41                 09/11/41

03/11/41                 10/11/41                     ON 033                  13/11/41                 23/11/41

04/12/41                 06/12/41                     SC 058                   15/12/41                 21/12/41

19/12/41                 26/12/41                     ON 048                  unknown               31/12/41

13/01/42                 13/01/42                     HX 170                  16/01/42                 28/01/42

17/01/42                 20/01/42                     SC 065                   29/01/42                 04/02/42

01/02/42                 06/02/42                     ON 062                  15/02/42                 15/02/42

28/02/42                 07/03/42                     SC 072                   16/03/42                 17/03/42

29/03/42                 30/03/42                     ON 081                  09/04/42                 09/04/42

06/08/42                 15/08/42                     ON 119                  20/08/42                 20/08/42

12/08/42                 20/08/42                     ON 121                  22/08/42                 27/08/42

16/08/42                 26/08/42                     ON 122                  29/08/42                 03/09/42

29/08/42                 30/08/42                     ON 126                  13/09/42                 18/09/42

25/09/42                 26/09/42                     ON 133                  06/10/42                 11/10/42

01/11/42                 09/11/42                     ON 143                  13/11/42                 16/11/42

17/11/42                 24/11/42                     SC 110                   06/12/42                 06/12/42

18/12/42                 19/12/42                     ON 154                  unknown               12/01/43

18/02/43                 24/02/43                     HX 227                  05/03/43                 06/03/43

28/03/43                 05/04/43                     ONS 002                14/04/43                 19/04/43

16/04/43                 20/04/43                     SC 127                   02/05/43                 03/05/43

15/05/43                 16/05/43                     ON 184                  25/05/43                 31/05/43

31/05/43                 06/06/43                     HX 242                  14/06/43                 15/06/43

24/06/43                 25/06/43                     ON 190                  03/07/43                 09/07/43

08/07/43                 14/07/43                     HX 247                  21/07/43                 22/07/43

31/07/43                 03/08/43                     ON 195                  08/08/43                 13/08/43

22/01/44                 27/01/44                     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

12/04/44                 22/04/44                     HX 287                  25/04/44                 26/04/44

18/11/44                 19/11/44                     ON 267                  24/11/44                 05/12/44

13/03/45                 13/03/45                     TA 193                  14/03/45                 19/03/45