H .
.M . .S . D E C O Y
( H 7 5 )
D or
DEFENDER-Class Fleet
Destroyer ordered from John I Thornycroft at Woolston, Southampton on 2nd
February 1931 under the 1930 Programme. The ship was laid down on 25th June
1931 as Yard No 1108 and launched on 7th June 1932 as the 5th RN ship to carry
the name, introduced ion 1810. It had previously used by a destroyer lost in
collision in 1904. Build completed on 17th January 1933 at a cost
£225,236,excluding Admiralty supplied items such as guns, ammunition and communication
outfits. This destroyer initially served with the Mediterranean Fleet but in
early 1935 went to the Far East and later the Indian Ocean until the outbreak
of war in September 1939. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
campaign in January 1942 she was adopted by tine civil community of Shipley
then in the West Riding of Yorkshire.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ASHANTEE 1873-74 - ALEXANDRIA
1882 - MEDITERRANEAN
1940 - CALABRIA
1940 - GREECE 1941 - CRETE 1941 - LIBYA 1941-42 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941-42 - ATLANTIC 1942
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge
: On a Field Green, a Hawk's lure gold.
M o t t
o
Cave quod celo: 'Beware what
I hide’.
D e t a i l s o f
W a r S e r v i c e
1 9 3 9
September Transferred with 21st Destroyer Flotilla to Mediterranean.
Took passage to Malta with ships of Flotilla.
October
Deployed for Mediterranean contraband control and interception
duties.
November Taken in hand for refit at Malta.
(Note : Major corrosion of bulkheads between Engine and Boiler
Room required
attention to make ship seaworthy.
Extensive machinery defects dealt with.
December Under refit.
Hull survey carried out.
Nominated for transfer to Freetown for convoy defence and the
interception of
commerce raiders.
1 9 4 0
January
Detached for duty in Atlantic and took passage to Freetown.
(Note : CinC Mediterranean had represented his concern at this
transfer since state
of hull would require frequent dockyard attention).
February
Joined 21st Destroyer Flotilla for convoy escort and patrol
duties.
March
Atlantic duties in continuation.
April
Transferred to 10th Destroyer Flotilla and took passage to
Malta.
May
Joined Flotilla for convoy escort and Fleet duties.
12th Escorted military Convoy US2 carrying ANZAC troops to Middle East
with sister
destroyer HMS DEFENDER in Red Sea.
June
Resumed Flotilla duties in Mediterranean.
20th Deployed with HM Destroyers DAINTY, HASTY and STUART (RAN) and
screen for
French battleship LORRAINE, HM Cruisers ORION NEPTUNE and SYDNEY
(RAN)
during bombardment of Bardia.
27th Part of screen for HM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM Battleships
RAMILLIES and ROYAL
SOVEREIGN, HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL, NEPTUNE, ORION and
SYDNEY (RAN) with HM Destroyers DAINTY, DIAMOND, DEFENDER,
ILEX, JERVIS, JUNO and VOYAGER (RAN) covering passage of MF1 and
MS1 to
Alexandria (Operation MA3).
(For details of Mediterranean OPERATIONS see THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by
Corelli Bamett).and MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman.
30th Returned to Alexandria when MA3 aborted due to heavy expenditure of
ammunition by
cruisers during engagement with four Italian destroyers, one of
which was sunk.
July
7th Sailed from Alexandria with HM Destroyers MOHAWK, NUBIAN, HERO and
HEREWARD
as screen for HM Battleship WARSPITE in Force B to provide cover
for renewed passage of
Convoys MF1 and MSI from Malta.
(Operation MAS - a repeat of MA3.)
9th Took part in brief engagement with Italian battle fleet off
Calabria.
(Note : Italian ships included battleship CAVOUR and CAESAR, 14
cruisers and 30 destroyers
See above referernces
11th Under air attacks during return passage to Alexandria.
August
Flotilla deployment with Fleet in continuation.
23rd Deployed with HMAS SYDNEY, HM Destroyers STUART (RAN), WATERHEN
(RAN)
DIAMOND, JUNO and ILEX for support of bombardments in Gulf of
Bomba.
30th Part of screen for HMS EAGLE, HM Battleships MALAYA and WARSPITE, H
M Cruisers
GLOUCESTER, KENT, LIVERPOOL, ORION and SYDNEY (RAN) with HM
Destroyers
IMPERIAL, ILEX, JANUS, MOHAWK, NUBIAN, VAMPIRE (RAN), VENDETTA
(RAN)
and Polish destroyer ORP GARLAND to cover passage of Convoy MS2
to Malta
(Operation MB3).
September
2nd After arrival of MS2 in Malta deployed with Mediterranean Fleet
screen to meet HM Aircraft
Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Battleship VALIANT, HM Cruisers CALCUTTA
and COVENTRY
joining Fleet at Alexandria.
(Operation HATS).
3rd Deployed with HM Cruisers ORION and SYDNEY for bombardment of
Scarpanto
4th Engaged two Italian MAS craft with HMS ILEX sinking MAS 537.
October
8th Part of screen for HMS EAGLE, HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HMS MALAYA,
RAMILLIES,
VALIANT, WARSPITE, HM Cruisers AJAX, GLOUCESTER, LIVERPOOL,
ORION,
SYDNEY and YORK with HM Destroyers DAINTY, IMPERIAL, JANUS,
JERVIS, JUNO
MOHAWK, STUART (RAN) and VAMPIRE (RAN) to cover passage of
Convoy MF3 to
Malta and Convoy MF4 to Egypt.
(Operation MB6).
11th Detached to tow HM Destroyer IMPERIAL to Malta after mine damage.
November
6th Part of screen for HMS ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Battleships MALAYA,
RAMILLIES, VALIANT,
WARSPITE, HM Cruisers AJAX, GLOUCESTER, ORION, SYDNEY (RAN) and
YORK to
give Distant Cover for passage of Convoy MD3 to Malta (Operation
MBS).
10th Deployed with HMS RAMILLIES, HMS COVENTRY, HMS DEFENDER. HMAS
VAMPIRE
and HMAS WATERHEN as escort for return Convoy ME3 to Egypt from
Malta.
(Part of Operation COAT).
13th Hit by bomb during air raid on Alexandria and sustained major
structural damage.
14th Under temporary repair in Alexandria.
December Passage to Malta for permanent repair.
Taken in hand by HM Dockyard.
1 9 4 1
January
Under repair in Malta.
19th Sustained further damage from bomb splinters in Malta during
repair.
February
On completion of post refit trials rejoined Fleet at Alexandria.
21st Deployed with HM Destroyers HOTSPUR, HAVOCK, HEREWARD, HERO, HASTY,
ILEX,
JERVIS, JANUS and JAGUAR as screen for HM Battleship VALIANT, HM
Aircraft Carrier
EAGLE and HM Cruiser COVENTRY to provide cover for passage of HM
Cruisers ORION,
AJAX, COVENTRY, HM Destroyers NUBIAN and MOHAWK taking troops
and equipment to
Malta from Alexandria (Operation MC8).
(Note : HM Supply Ship BRECONSHIRE and ss CLAN MACAULAY returned
to Egypt
concurrently.)
25th Landed Commando unit on Castelorizo in Aegean Sea with HM Destroyer
HEREWARD.
(Operation ABSTENTION)
Italian garrison surrendered .
(Note : HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER and BONAVENTURE were also
deployed.)
26th Italian troops landed to recapture island.
27th Embarked troops at Alexandria to form British garrison at
Castellorizo.
(Note : HM Destroyer HERO also embarked troops)
Sailed from Alexandria with HMS BONAVENTURE, HMS PERTH, HMS
HASTY and
HMS JAGUAR.
28th Evacuation of Commando ordered and operation terminated. Provided
cover.
On arrival re-embarked Commando and sailed for Suda Bay with
army units and Commando,
March
Landed Commando and took passage to land Army units at
Alexandria.
Resumed Flotilla deployment in Eastern Mediterranean.
Escorted convoy to Greece (Operation LUSTRE)
20th Deployed with HM Destroyers DEFENDER, GRIFFIN, GREYHOUND, HASTY,
HERO,
HEREWARD, HOTSPUR HAVOCK, ILEX, JERVIS, JANUS, JAGUAR, MOHAWK
and
NUBIAN as screen for HM Battleships WARSPITE, VALIANT, BARHAM,
HM Aircraft
Carrier FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER, YORK, BONAVENTURE,
ORION,
AJAX and PERTH (RAN) to provide cover for passage of Convoy MW6
from Egypt to Malta
(Operation MC9).
26th Returned to Alexandria with Fleet units.
April
18th Part of screen for HM Aircraft Carrier FORMIDABLE, HMS BARHAM, HMS
WARSPITE, HM
Cruisers CALCUTTA, GLOUCESTER, ORION and PHOEBE with HM
Destroyers
ENCOUNTER, HAVOCK, HASTY, HEREWARD, HERO, JAGUAR, JUNO, DECOY,
DEFENDER, GREYHOUND and ILEX providing cover for passage of HM
Supply
BRECONSHIRE to Malta and return Convoy ME7 of empty ships from
Malta.
(Part of Operation MD3).
24th Participated in evacuation of allied troops from Greece (Operation
DEMON)
to (For details see Naval Staff History (HMSO –2002)
28th
May
Deployed with Fleet in Eastern Mediterranean.
Embarked HM King of the Hellenes for passage to Alexandria.
25th Carried troops to Suda Crete but transferred them to HMS ABDIEL
when unable to land them.
26th Assisted in support of defence of Crete after German invasion.
28th Took part in evacuation of Heraklion with HM Cruisers AJAX, DIDO
and ORION, HM
Destroyers JACKAL, IMPERIAL, HOTSPUR, KIMBERLEY and HEREWARD as
Force B.
Under heavy air attacks.
31st Sustained slight damage by near miss during evacuation operation at
Heraklion.
(For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff
History).
June
Deployed in support of military operations in Syria and carried
out patrols to intercept Vichy French
destroyers and submarines attempting to interfere with allied
landings and bombardments
(Operation EXPORTER)
( For details see RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute).
On release from EXPORTER transferred to Inshore Squadron for
support of Tobruk garrison;
Deployed for convoy defence and transfer of troops and stores.
Came under frequent attacks by aircraft
July
Tobruk support in continuation
9th Under air attack and had near miss during convoy escort.
August
Tobruk convoy defence and support in continuation.
to
October
November Tobruk support in continuation
17th Resumed Fleet screening duties.
24th Part of destroyer screen for HM Battleships QUEEN ELIZABETH, BARHAM
and VALIANT
with HM Destroyers JERVIS, JACKAL, NIZAM (RAN) and four others
during operation
in eastern Mediterranean in search of enemy supply convoys.
25th Deployed with HM Destroyer JERVIS as part of screen for HM
Battleship BARHAM when
this battleship was hit by torpedo from U331 and sank with heavy
loss of life.
Took part in anti-submarine search operations. (For details see
TUBAL CAINE by D Muspratt
and above references.)
December
15th Joined HM Cruisers CARLISLE, EURYALUS and NAIAD with HM Destroyer
HASTY,
HAVOCK, JERVIS, KIMBERLEY, KIPLING and NIZAM (RAN) as Force C to
escort
Supply Ship HMS BRECONSHIRE during passage to Malta to replenish
oil stocks .
(Operation MF1).
(For details see THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre
and ENGAGE
THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett.
17th Remained as escort for HMS BRECONSHIRE with HMS HAVOCK when other
ships
detached to attack Italian warships threatening passage of
BRECONSHIRE.
(First Battle of Sirte - See above references).
18th After Italian warships withdrew joined by H M Cruisers AURORA and
PENELOPE, HM
Destroyers LANCE and LIVELY (Force K) to complete passage.
1 9 4 2
January
Under repair to collision damage in Malta.
February
8th On completion resumed deployment with Force K in Malta and
rejoined HM Cruiser
PENELOPE.
12th Sailed from Malta with HMS PENELOPE, HM Destroyers ZULU, SIKH,
LEGION,
LIVELY and FORTUNE as escort for HMS BRECONSHIRE ss AJAX, ss
CITY OF
CALCUTTA and ss CLAN FERGUSON as Convoy ME 10 during passage to
meet
Convoy MW9 whose escort would take these ships to Egypt.
(Operation MF5)
14th On meeting ships from Alexandria remained with ME10 and transferred
to Force "B"
from Alexandra with HMS FORTUNE.
Sank hulk of ss CLAN CHATTAN which had been part of Convoy MW 9
and abandoned
after being set on fire during air attacks before convoys met.
(Note : Convoy MW9 had been subjected to heavy and sustained air
attacks.
None of the mercantiles arrived in Malta.
See above references for details.)
15th Convoy ME9 under attack by Italian submarine TOPAZIO which failed.
16th Detached from ME9 on arrival at Port Said and returned with Force
"B" ships to Alexandria.
March
Transferred to Eastern Fleet at Colombo and took passage.
31st Joined 2nd Destroyer Flotilla.
April
Allocated to Force B as destroyer screen for HM Battleships
RAMILLIES, REVENGE,
RESOLUTION and ROYAL SOVEREIGN with HM Destroyers FORTUNE,
GRIFFIN,
NORMAN (RAN), ARROW, VAMPIRE, SCOUT and Dutch destroyer ISAAC
SWEERS.
Took part in search operations for Japanese warships on passage
to Ceylon for a series of air
attacks.
(For details see OPERATION PACIFIC by E Grey and WAR WITH JAPAN
(HMSO)
6th At Addu Atoll with Force B and took passage to Kilindini with
Force B.
(Note : Force B was transferred to Kilindini because of the
Japanese air threat.
These battleships of WW1 vintage were only deployed in convoy
defence).
May
Deployed with Flotilla for screening of Force B units and convoy
defence in the Indian Ocean.
to
August
Nominated for return to UK for refit.
September Passage to Freetown via Cape of Good Hope.
October
Retained at Freetown for convoy defence in Atlantic.
On release from West African Command took passage to Greenock.
29th Arrived at Greenock.
(Note : First return to UK after continuous service abroad since
1934)
November
3rd Taken in hand for refit at Palmer's Tyneside shipyard at Jarrow.
December Under refit
1 9 4 3
January
Under refit.
to
(Note :Radar Type 271 fitted for surface warning and Direction
Finding Outfit for detection
February
of submarine wireless transmissions.
Radar Type 291 for air warning installed.
For details of development and use of radar in RN see RADAR AT
SEA by D Howse
and SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann).
March
Under refit.
Transfer to Royal Canadian Navy approved
April
Under refit.
12th Commissioned into RCN and renamed KOOTENAY.
__________
H . M . C . S. K O O T E N A Y ( H 7 5 )
S e r v i c e u n d e r C a n a d i a n C o m m a n d
April
(Cont.) On completion of post refit trials took passage to Tobermory
to work-up.
May
Allocated for service in 5th Canadian Escort Group for Atlantic
cornvoy defence.
Passage to join Group for mid-Atlantic service on completion of
work-up.
June
Deployed with Group for Atlantic convoy escort
15th Transfer to RCN made permanent.
July
Deployment with Group in continuation.
to
(See SHIPS OF CANADA'S NAVAL FORCES).
September
October
Under repair at Halifax.
to
December
1 9 4 4
January
On completion of repair rejoined Group in continuation.
February
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
to
April
May
Transferred to 11th Escort Group in Home waters
Joined HM Canadian Destroyers CHAUDIERE, GATINEAU, OTTAWA and ST
LAURENT
for duty in Plymouth Command to support planned allied landings
in Normandy.
(Operation NEPTUNE - For details of activities prior to and
during landings see LANDINGS
IN NORMANDY, June 1942 (HMSO) and OPERATION NEPTUNE by K
Edwards).
June
Deployed for anti-submarine operations in SW Approaches and
English Channel to intercept
U- Boats attempting to interfere with landings and cross-Channel
convoys.
18th Transferred to Portsmouth Command in continuation.
July
Channel deployment for support of military operations and convoy
defence in continuation.
6th Took part in sinking of U678 south of Brighton with HMCS OTTAWA
and HM Canadian
Corvette STATICE (Position 50.32N 00.23W). There were no
survivors from the submarine.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.
August
Deployed in SW Approaches for anti-submarine operations with
Group.
18th Took part in sinking of U621 off La Rochelle with HM Canadian
Destroyers OTTAWA and
HMCS CHAUDIERE (Position 45.52N 02.36W).There were no survivors
from U621.
20th Took part in sinking of U984 west of Brest with HM Canadian,
Destroyers OTTAWA and
CHAUDIERE (Position 48.16N 05.33W).
There were no survivors from U984. See U-BOATS DESTROYED.
September Resumed Atlantic convoy defence duties.
20th Passage to Canada for refit.
October
2nd Taken in hand for refit at Shelburne Naval Dockyard, Nova Scotia.
November Under refit
to
December
1 9 4 5
January
Under refit
February
Post refit trials.
27th Passage to UK for work-up.
March
Worked up for operational service at Tobermory.
April
Deployed in Plymouth Command for convoy defence in Channel.
(Note : German submarines fitted with SCHNORKELS were
concentrating attacks on convoys
that had been re-routed through English Channel and extensive
reinforcement of anti-
submarine escorts had been made in the Channel and SW
Approaches.).
May
Channel deployment in continuation.
Nominated for duty as transport for returning Canadian
servicemen after VE Day.
June
Deployed as transport between Newfoundland and Quebec
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMCS KOOTENAY was Paid off into Reserve at Sydney, NS on
26th October 1945. The ship was placed on the Disposal List and sold in 1946 for breaking-up at
Hamilton, NS.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
by Don Kindell
as
HMS DECOY
Date convoy
Joined
convoy
Convoy
No.
Left convoy Date
convoy
sailed as
escort
arrived
10/11/40 10/11/40 ME 003 13/11/40 13/11/40
18/03/41 18/03/41 AN 021 20/03/41 22/03/41
04/04/41 04/04/41 ASF 023 07/04/41 07/04/41
17/02/42 17/02/42 AT 028/M 18/02/42 18/02/42
07/09/42 07/09/42 CF 005 10/09/42 10/09/42
03/10/42 03/10/42 SL 124 05/10/42 22/10/42
as
HMCS KOOTENAY
19/05/43 30/05/43 HX 240 03/06/43 04/06/43
10/06/43 11/06/43 ON 188 20/06/43 26/06/43
23/06/43 29/06/43 HX 245 05/07/43 07/07/43
16/07/43 17/07/43 ON 193 25/07/43 31/07/43
30/07/43 05/08/43 HX 250 11/08/43 12/08/43
26/08/43 27/08/43 ON 199 04/09/43 09/09/43
09/09/43 15/09/43 HX 256 21/09/43 21/09/43
05/10/43 06/10/43 ON 205 16/10/43 23/10/43
26/11/43 01/12/43 HX 268 10/12/43 11/12/43
24/12/43 25/12/43 ON 217 05/01/44 10/01/44
06/01/44 11/01/44 HX 274 21/01/44 21/01/44
30/01/44 31/01/44 ON 222 10/02/44 16/02/44
13/02/44 18/02/44 SC 153 01/03/44 02/03/44
13/03/44 14/03/44 ONS 031 25/03/44 30/03/44
28/03/44 02/04/44 HX 285 11/04/44 12/04/44
16/09/44 17/09/44 ON 254 29/09/44 05/10/44
19/03/45 27/03/45 HX 345 02/04/45 02/04/45
07/05/45 07/05/45 OS 127KM 10/05/45 13/05/45
