H .  M .  S .   G R E N V I L L E   (i)   ( H 0 3 )

 

GREYHOUND-Class Flotilla Leader ordered from Yarrow's of Scotstoun under the 1933 Programme on 15th torch 1934. The ship was laid down on 29th September that year and launched on 15th August 1935 as the 3rd RN warship to carry the name which dates from 1763 and last used for a Flotilla Leader sold in 1931. The name commemorates the name of the Admiral, Sir Richard Grenville (1541 - 1591) and his famous action off the Azores in 1591 in HMS REVENGE. Build was completed on 1st July 1936 at a cost of £275,412, excluding Admiralty supplied equipment such as guns, ammunition and radio communications equipment. She served in the Mediterranean before the outbreak of war.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

ATLANTIC  1939 - ENGLISH CHANNEL  1943* - NORMANDY 1944* - ADRIATIC  1944* - OKINAWA   1945*

(*Awarded to HM Destroyer GRENVILLE (ii) - See Below)

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge : On a Field Black, a Griffin Gold upon a Cap of Maintenance Proper,

 

M o t t o

Deo Patriae Amicis:   'For God Country and Friends'.

 

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

 

1 9 3 9

 

September             Deployed with 1st Destroyer Flotilla for patrol and contraband control In the

                                Mediterranean.

 

October                  Nominated for transfer with Flotilla for anti-submarine duty in Home Waters.

                22nd       Took passage with HM Destroyers GIPSY, GRENADE and GRIFFIN.

 

November              Deployed on anti-submarine patrol in SW Approaches.

                2nd         Carried out unsuccessful search for U-Boat of Start Point.

                5th          Carried out unsuccessful search for U-Boat off Ushant.

                7th          Sustained structural damage in collision with HMS GRENADE at Plymouth.

                                Flooding in one of the Boiler Rooms

                8th          Taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard, Devonport.

 

December              Transferred with Flotilla to Harwich.

                1st           Post repair trials on completion.

                3rd          Passage to Harwich to rejoin Flotilla for patrol and convoy defence.

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Patrol and convoy defence in continuation.

                15th        Carried out patrol to intercept coastal shipping between Holland and Germany.

                                (Operation ST1).

                                (Note : Severe weather conditions had prevented use of inland waterways).

                18th        Carried out further interception patrol 19th. During return passage detonated mine in

                                position 51.39N 02.17E (23 miles east of Kentish Knock LV).

                                77 of the ship's company were killed.

 

Special  Note

 

The fourth ship to carry the name was HM Destroyer GRENVILLE (ii) built by Swan Hunter in Newcastle and completed in 1943.This ship served with distinction in Home Waters and in the Mediterranean before joining the British Pacific Fleet in 1945 .

 

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Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS GRENVILLE

by Don Kindell

 

Date convoy         Joined convoy            Convoy No.          Left convoy           Date convoy

sailed                     as escort                                                                                arrived

 

05/09/39                       13/09/39                 RED 1                    16/09/39                 27/09/39

28/09/39                       28/09/39                 GREEN 3               03/10/39                 07/10/39

22/10/39                       22/10/39                 HG 004                   29/10/39                 29/10/39

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

 

(Note on Convoys)