H . M . S . F
O R T U N E ( H 7 0 )
F-Class
Fleet Destroyer ordered from John Brown, Clydebank, Glasgow in January 1933
under the 1932 Build
Programme and was laid down on 28th July That year. She was launched on 29th
August 1934 as the 22nd R N
warship to carry the name, dating from 1512
and previously used by a 1913 destroyer sunk in the Battle of
Jutland. Build was completed on 27th April 1935 and cost £247,564, excluding
Admiralty supplied equipment
such as guns, ammunition and communications equipment. She was serving in the
Home Fleet when war
was declared in September 1939. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National
Savings campaign in May
1942 the ship was adopted by the civil community of Midlothian, Scotland.
This destroyer was transferred
to the Royal Canadian Navy on 15 June 1943 and renamed HMCS SASKATCHEWAN.
B a t t l e H o n o
u r s
ARMADA 1588* - PORTLAND 1653 - GABBARD 1653
-
ORFORDNESS 1666 - MINORCA 1756 - CHESAPEAKE 1781 - JUTLAND 1916 - ATLANTIC 1939 - NORTH SEA 1940 - MALTA CONVOYS 1941-42
(* Awarded to the mercantile FORTUNE OF ALDBOROUGH)
H e
r a l d i c D a t a
On a Field Blue, a wheel gold with silver wing
D e t a i l s o
f W a r S e r v i c e
1 9 3 9
August
Took up War Station at Scapa Flow with ships of 8th Destroyer Flotilla in Home
Fleet
September
3rd Deployed for anti-submarine patrol and escort duty in NW
Approaches.
20th Shared credit for sinking of U27 with HM Destroyer FORESTER in
position 58.32N 09.02W.
There were some survivors from the submarine.
October
Fleet escort and patrol duties in continuation.
to (For details of activities in Home waters during
1939 see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
December
CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and the Naval Staff History.)
1 9 4 0
January
Deployed on Fleet and convoy defence duties in NW Approaches.
to
February
March
20th During escort of Home Fleet units carrying out search operation N W
of Shetlands sank U44
in position 63.27N 00.36W. There were no
survivors from the submarine.
April Under repair
On completion joined Fleet units off
Norway
for screening of major units and for convoy
defence.
23rd Formed part of A/S screen for HM Aircraft Carriers GLORIOUS and ARK
ROYAL during joint
carrier air operations for protection of allied
troops at Andalsnes and at Namsos
(Operation DX).
May
8th Escorted HM Cruisers BERWICK and GLASGOW taking Royal Marines for
occupation
of Iceland (Operation FORK).
10th On completion took passage to resume Fleet duties.
June Fleet screening duties in continuation.
July Part of screen for Fleet units during search for
submarine SHARK in North Sea.
August
Detached for Atlantic convoy escort duty with 4th Destroyer Flotilla
5th Joined military convoy WS2 in Clyde with H M Destroyers WATCHMAN,
VORTIGERN and
FURY for Local Escort in NW Approaches.
7th Detached from WS2 and returned to Clyde.
10th Rescued survivors after sinking of HM Armed Merchant Cruiser
TRANSYLVANIA
NW of Malin Head with HM Destroyers ACHATES and
ANTELOPE.
Resumed duties with 8th Destroyer Flotilla and
transferred to Force H based at Gibraltar.
20th Sailed for Gibraltar as part of screen for HMS ARK ROYAL, HM
Battlecruiser RENOWN
and HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD with HM Destroyers
FAULKNOR, FORESIGHT, FEARLESS,
FURY, FIREDRAKE, FORESIGHT and FOXHOUND.
29th Arrived at Gibraltar and joined Force H
30th Deployed as screen for HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS SHEFF3ED in
Force
B with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FURY, FIREDRAKE.
FORESTER and ENCOUNTER
to cover passage of HM Aircraft Carrier
ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Battleship VALIANT, HM
Cruisers COVENTRY and CALCUTTA to Sicilian
Narrows to join Fleet at Alexandria.
(Operation HATS/MB -This also covered air
attacks on Cagliari by HMS ARK ROYAL
Operation SMASH/GRAB For further details of
activities in Mediterranean 1940-42 see
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and THE BATTLE FOR
THE
MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre)
September
3rd On return to
Gibraltar
with Force B nominated for support of Free French landing, at Dakar..
(Operation MENACE - For details see MENACE by A
Marder and RELUCTANT ENEMIES
by W Tute.)
6th Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FURY, FORESTER, FORESIGHT and
GREYHOUND as screen for HMS ARK ROYAL and HM
Battleship RESOLUTION during
passage to Freetown to join ships of Force M.
22nd
Sailed from Freetown as screen for major units of Force M to carry out landings
at Dakar.
24th Deployed for anti-submarine patrol during naval bombardment of
Dakar.
Sank French submarine AJAX attempting to attack
fleet off Dakar and rescued crew of 76.
25th Operation abandoned because of risk of damage to major units by
shore fire.
Took return passage to Freetown as part of
screen for Force M ships.
October
Retained in West Africa for support planned landing by Free French at Duala.
8th Supported French landings at Duala.
16th Passage to Gibraltar to resume duties with Force H.
19th Deployed at Gibraltar for local anti-submarine patrol with ships of
Flotilla.
31st Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FIREDRAKE, GALLANT,
GRIFFIN and GALLANT as screen for HMS RENOWN and
HM Battleship BARHAM
during surveillance of a reported movement of
Vichy French naval units.
November
9th Part of screen for HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD with HM
Destroyers
FAULKNOR, FIREDRAKE, FOXHOUND, FORESTER, FURY,
DU9CAN, ISIS
as Force B to provide cover for passage of Force
F in western Mediterranean to join Fleet
at Alexandria
(Note : Force F comprised HMS BARHAM. HM
Cruisers BERWICK and GLASGOW)
Operation COAT - also covering air attacks by
HMS ARK ROYAL on Cagliari.
(Operation CRACK).).
10th Transferred with HMS FAULKNOR and HMS FURY to Join screen for Force
F during the
passage to Malta through Sicilian Channel.
11th Passage from Malta to rejoin Force B west of Sicilian Narrows..
15th Joined Force B with HM Destroyers FOXHOUND, FORESTER, FAULKNOR and
FIREDRAKE
as screen for HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS
SHEFFIELD providing cover
during a Malta aircraft delivery by HM Aircraft
Carrier ARGUS (Operation WHITE).
(Note : This operation also covered air strike
by HMS ARK ROYAL as a diversion)
December
Deployed with Force H for patrol off Azores following reports of a landing by
German troops.
20th Joined HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FOXHOUND and FIREDRAKE as
screen
or HMS RENOWN, HIS ARK ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD
providing cover of transit
of HM Battleship MALAYA and Convoy MG1 from
Sicilian Narrows to Gibraltar.
(Operation HIDE - Screen for HMS MALAYA from
Malta comprised HM Destroyers HERO,
HASTY, HEREWARD, HYPERION and ILEX but HMS ILEX
was detached to assist when
HMS HYPERION was torpedoed)
December On
return from HIDE deployed with screen for same ships of Force H for convoy
defence
west of Gibraltar after German cruiser HIPPER
had attacked Convoy WS5A.
1 9 4 1
January
Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY, FOXHOUND,
FIREDRAKE and DUNCAN as screen for HMS RENOWN.
HMS MALAYA and HMS ARK
ROYAL during escort of military convoy through
western Mediterranean (Operation EXCESS)
(Note : This operation also included transit of
HM Cruiser BONAVENTURE with HM
Destroyers HASTY, HEREWARD, HERO and JAGUAR as
Force F.)
February
Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence.
March
30th Deployed with HM Destroyers FURY, FEARLESS, FORESTER, FOXHOUND,
FORESIGHT, FAULKNOR and HMS SHEFFIELD to
intercept Vichy French convoy on
passage from west Africa to France (Operation
RATION)
Under air attack by Vichy French aircraft which
was unsuccessful.
April
2nd Joined screen for HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD with
HM
Destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FORESIGHT and
FURY to cover Malta aircraft
delivery. (Operation WINCH).
4th Returned to
Gibraltar
6th Deployed as screen for Force H ships during search for German
warships reported in Atlantic.
10th Returned to Gibraltar with Force H
24th Joined screen for HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK ROYAL, and HMS SHEFFIELD with
HM
Destroyers FAULKNOR, FEARLESS, FORESIGHT and
FURY to cover Malta aircraft
delivery.
(Operation DUNLOP –This operation also covered
transit of HM Cruisers DIDO and
ABDIEL, HM Destroyers KELLY, KIPLING, KASHMIR,
KELVIN, JERSEY and JACKAL
deployed as Force S to be used as Strike Force
in Malta (Operation SALIENT).
28th Returned to Malta with Force H after Force S detached west of
Sicilian Narrows.
May
6th Deployed with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, FORESTER, FURY, FORESIGHT and
FEARLESS as screen for HM Battleship QUEEN
ELIZABETH,
HM Cruisers
GLOUCESTER, NAIAD and FIJI for passage to Malta
covered by units of Force H
(Operation TIGER – This included passage of
military convoy taking tanks to Middle East.)
9th Took passage from Malta to rejoin ships of Force H after
refuellin4.
10th Under air attacks and sustained structural damage by near miss off
Bougaroni, Algeria.
Extensive jettisoning of upper deck equipment
required and control of flooding.
Resumed passage to Gibraltar at reduced speed,
15th Under survey and temporary repair by HM Dockyard, Gibraltar
June Passage to Chatham for permanent repair.
Taken in hand by HM Dockyard, Chatham.
July Under repair
to
October
November
Carried out post repair trials
Prepared for return to operational duties.
December
Passage to Gibraltar to rejoin Force H.
7th On arrival joined 19th Destroyer Flotilla.
Taken in hand for repair of machinery by HM
Dockyard, Gibraltar
1 9 4 2
January
On completion deployment restricted to Local anti-submarine patrol due to need
to work-up
and machinery defects.
February
Transferred to 12th Destroyer Flotilla, Eastern Fleet.
9th Embarked aircraft engines and other spares for delivery to Malta
and took passage with HM
Cruiser CLEOPATRA
(Note : The stability of the ship was
compromised by excessive top-weight caused by upper
stowage of this material.)
10th Damaged in air attacks and temporarily disabled.
11th Arrived in Malta and disembarked deck cargo
13th Sailed from Malta as part of escort for Convoy ME10 with HM Cruiser
PENELOPE, HM
Destroyers DECOY, LEGION, LIVELY, SIKH and ZULU
during passage in western
Mediterranean to meet Force B from Alexandria
for onward escort (Operation MF5).
(Note : ME10 comprised HM Supply Ship
BRECONSHIRE, ss CLAN FERGUSON, ss AJAX and
ss CITY OF CALCUTTA. For details of passage see
MALTA CONVOYS.)
14th Transferred to Force B with HMS DECOY and remained with escort for
passage to Alexandria.
16th Detached from ME10 escort and made independent passage to join
Eastern Fleet with call at
Aden.
March
Passage to Colombo to join Eastern Fleet.
(Note : Eastern Fleet was not formed until 26th
and comprised HM Battleships WARSPITE,
RAMILLIES, RESOLUTION, REVENGE and ROYAL
SOVEREIGN, HM Aircraft Carriers
FORMIDABLE, HERMES and ILLUSTRIOUS. HM Cruisers
DORSETSHIRE, CORNWALL,
ENTERPRISE, EMERALD, DRAGON and CALEDON, HM
Destroyers GRIFFIN, ARROW,
DECOY, EXPRESS, FOXHOUND, HOTSPUR, NAPIER (RAN),
NIZAM (RAN), NESTOR
(RAN), NORMAN (RAN), VAMPIRE (RAN), PALADIN,
PANTHER, SCOUT and TENEDOS.
There were in addition two Dutch cruisers and a
destroyer. No operational support base was
available and many ships had significant defects
after service at Singapore with others newly
commissioned and not fully worked up for Fleet
duties.)
24th Carried out search for Japanese warships south of Ceylon
April
2nd Detached from screen to search for survivors from ss GLENSHIEL sunk
by Japanese
submarine east of Addu Atoll.
3rd Rescued survivors and took passage to Addu Atoll.
6th Landed passengers and sailed to rejoin Force B screen.
9th Joined screen for HMS RAMILLIES, HMS RESOLUTION, HMS REVENGE and
HMS
ROYAL SOVEREIGN.
(For details of operations in Indian Ocean in
this period see WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO)
10th Passage to Kilindini with Force B
12th Deployed in Indian Ocean for patrol and convoy defence based at
Kilindini.
May
Indian Ocean convoy defence in continuation
(Note : Did not take part in occupation of
Madagascar (Operation IRONCLAD)
June Took passage to Alexandria for detached service in
Mediterranean with HMS GRIFFIN
and HMS HOTSPUR following disastrous losses and
damage to destroyers in Crete
defence and evacuations,
11th Arrived at Alexandria.
12th Deployed as part of screen for HM Cruisers CLEOPATRA, DIDO,
NEWCASTLE,
ARETHUSA, COVENTRY and BIRMINGHAM providing
cover for Convoy MW11 during
passage from Egypt to Malta (Operation VIGOROUS)
13th Sustained damage and some casualties by ‘friendly fire’
(Note : Hit by shell from another destroyer.
14th Under heavy and sustained air attacks.
15th Under night attack by E-Boats.
(Note : HMS NEWCASTLE was damaged and HM
Destroyer HASTY had to be sunk after
torpedo damage.)
16th Operation abandoned after further damage and damage to convoy and
escort.
(Note : For full details of this all fated and
disastrous operation during which the
conflicting instructions from shore made a
direct contribution to its failure
see THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN, ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY, MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman and Naval
Staff History.)
17th Returned to Alexandria with escort
27th Deployed for escort of HMS NEWCASTLE during stern tow in Red Sea.
(Note : HMS NEWCASTLE was on passage to Bombay
for repair.
30th Detached from escort after steering defect and took independent
passage to Aden.
(Note : This defect was consequent on earlier
problems during VIGOROUS.)
July Passage in Indian Ocean to Kilindini.
7th Arrived at Kilindini.
19th Deployed as escort for rms AQUITANIA during passage to Diego Suraez
with troops for
planned operation.
(Note : Steering at the high speed during
passage to prevent submarine attacks was made
very hazardous.)
20th Took passage to Colombo for repair to steering gear.
August
Under major repair to serious rudder damage.
13th On completion of repair took passage to rejoin Flotilla at Kilindini.
Deployed for convoy defence and patrol in Indian
Ocean.
September
Indian Ocean deployment in continuation
(Note : For details of personnel problems see
THE FIGUREHEAD by R Macdonald.)
10th Part of escort for military convoy on passage for final stage of
occupation of Madagascar.
(Operation STREAM- See Naval Staff History)
October
Indian Ocean convoy defence in continuation
November
Transferred to Simonstown for convoy defence.
(Note : Increase in sinkings of mercantiles due
to extensive U-Boat activity off Cape of Good
Hope had made necessary an increase in
anti-submarine operations with air search
by shore based aircraft.)
December
Deployed off Cape of Good Hope.
Carried out search for survivors from US
mercantile PIERCE BUTLER. Found four survivors
and took them to Durban,
Further search for survivors from ss JEREMIAH
WADSWORTH was unsuccessful.
1 9 4 3
January
Nominated for return to UK for refit
Passage to London fort refit in commercial
shipyard.
February
Future deployment under consideration.
Paid off from RN service after transfer to Royal
Canadian Navy agreed.
Taken in hand for refit.
March
Under refit.
to
April
May
Carried out harbour trials.
RCN key personnel joined ship
31st Commissioned for service in RCN as Senior Officer’s ship in 3rd
Canadian Escort Group.
Renamed HMCS SASKATCHEWAN
June Post refit Trials in Thames estuary and North Sea.
15th Formally transferred to RCN.
Passage carry out work-up.
________________________
Service under Royal
Canadian Navy command as
H . M . C . S . S A S K
A T C H E W A N
July On completion of work-up joined Group for service
as SO EG3.
Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence in Mid
Ocean Escort Force
August
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 4
January
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
to Nominated for service in Plymouth Command.
April Passage to Plymouth.
May
Transferred to 12th Escort Group based at Plymouth.
Joined HM Canadian Destroyers QU’APPELLE,
RESTIGOUCHE and SKEENA for
anti-submarine patrol in SW Approaches to
prevent interference by U-Boats during
planned allied landings in Normandy (Operation
NEPTUNE)
(For details of naval activities prior to and
during landings see OPERATION NEPTUNE
by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944
(HMSO).
June Deployment in SW Approaches and English Channel in
continuation.
(Note : Although not used in support of landings
or for defence of Assault and Back-up
convoys the ships of this Group made a
significant contribution to the success
of this Operation. No U-Boat attacks were made
during execution of NEPTUNE.)
July
6th During interception patrol in Bay of Biscay with HMCS QU’APPELLE
and HMCS
SKEENA engaged two trawlers acting as escort for
surfaced U-Boats during passage
near base ports.
Sustained casualties from return fire during
engagement. One of ship’s company was
killed and four injured.)
Two U-boats involved in this engagement escaped.
28th Released from Plymouth Command and resumed Atlantic convoy defence.
August
Nominated for return to Canada for refit and took independent passage.
September
Taken In hand far refit at Shelburne, Nova Scotia.
October
Under refit.
November Post
refit trials
December
Under repair at St Johns, Newfoundland.
1 9 4 5
January
Passage to UK to resume service in EG3 for convoy defence.
February
Deployed in UK coastal waters for convoy defence.
(Note : SCHNORKEL fitted U-Boats were
concentrating attacks on focal points used for
assembly and reformation in SW Approaches and NW
Approaches.
Convoys were re-routed through English Channel
to east coast ports
following the removal of the air threat from
bases in France.
See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY and SEEK AND
STRIKE.)
March
Transferred to 14th Canadian Escort Group and continued convoy defence.
to
April
May
Nominated for trooping duties.
June Deployed for trooping duties between UK and Quebec.
to
August
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMCS SASKATCHEWAN was laid-up in Reserve on 23rd September
1945 when she had completed her 5th trooping trip. On 28th January 1946 she was
finally paid-off and placed on the Sales List. Sold later that year she was
broken-up at Hamilton.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
by Don Kindell
as
HMS FORTUNE
Date convoy
Joined
convoy
Convoy
No.
Left convoy Date
convoy
sailed as
escort
arrived
30/01/40 05/02/40 TC 003 07/02/40 07/02/40
11/03/40 12/03/40 ON 019/1 14/03/40 14/03/40
14/03/40 14/03/40 HN 019 17/03/40 17/03/40
12/06/40 12/06/40 FN 0194 13/06/40 14/06/40
23/07/40 04/08/40 HX 060 05/08/40 07/08/40
05/08/40 05/08/40 WS 002 07/08/40 08/08/40
04/09/40 04/09/40 HG 043 05/09/40 18/09/40
14/02/41 14/02/41 SLG 001A 16/02/41 22/02/41
06/05/41 06/05/41 TIGER 12/05/41 12/05/41
11/06/42 13/06/42 MW 011 16/06/42 16/06/42
19/12/42 19/12/42 CF 010 22/12/42 31/12/42
09/01/43 09/01/43 CM 037A 11/01/43 24/01/43
10/01/43 20/01/43 MC 003 23/01/43 23/01/43
25/01/43 25/01/43 CF 011 27/01/43 27/01/43
30/01/43 30/01/43 CF 011A 11/02/43 11/02/43
14/02/43 14/02/43 CF 011B 24/02/43 25/02/43
as
HMCS SASKATCHEWAN
to follow
(Note on Convoys)
