Site archived by http://www.patriotfiles.com

To have your military website archived contact The Patriot Files

HMS Garland, destroyer
 

 

SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2004

HMS GARLAND, later ORP GARLAND -  G-class Destroyer

return to Contents List 
or back to Naval-History.Net

 

above left  - sister-ship HMS Glowworm

(NavyPhotos, click photographs for enlargements)

 
 

H .   M .  S .   G A R L A N D   ( H 3 7 )

 

GREYHOUND-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered from Fairfield's, Govan under the 1933 Programme in March 1934. The ship was laid down on 22nd August that year and launched on 24th October 1933 as the 16th RN warship to carry the name which dates from 1242 and was last used for a 1913 destroyer sold in 1921. Build was completed on 3rd March 1936 at a cost of £250,664 (excluding equipment supplied by Admiralty such as guns, ammunition and radio communication equipment. She served within the 1st Destroyer Flotilla in Mediterranean Fleet before the outbreak of war. This ship was transferred to Poland in 1940 but retained her RN name. In view of this transfer she was not adopted by a civil community in UK following any WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign during 1941-42.

 

B a t t l e  H o n o u r s

 

DOVER 1652 - KENTISH KNOCK 1652 - LOWESTOFT 1665 - BUGIA 1671 - VELEZ MALAGA 1704 - CAPE PASSARO 17187 -  JUTLAND 1916 - ATLANTIC 1940-43 - ARCTIC  1942 - MEDITERRANEAN 1944

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge : On a Field White, a laurel wreath Green with Gold berries.

 

M o t t o

Dui meruit ferat  :   ‘Let him bear it who has deserved it '.

 

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

 

1 9 3 9

 

September             On return passage from Aden to Suez after service in Red Sea.

                6th          Deployed for contraband control and escort in eastern Mediterranean.

                17th        Sustained structural and machinery damage by premature explosion of depth charges.

                                Towed to Alexandria for temporary repair.

 

October                  Under survey to assess extent of damage.

                                Repaired to allow passage to Malta under tow.

                10th        Arrived in Malta for repair by HM Dockyard.

 

November              Under repair.

to

December

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Repair in continuation.

to                            Possible loan service to Polish Navy under consideration.

March

 

April                       Carried out Post refit trials.

                                Transfer to Poland as ORP GARLAND approved.

 

May

                3rd          Transferred to Polish Navy.

                                (Note : This was carried out on the Anniversary of Poland's Constitution).

 

___________________

 

S e r v i c e   u n d e r   P o l i s h   C o m m a n d   as   O R P   G A R L A N D

 

May

                8th          Deployed on convoy escort duty in Eastern Mediterranean.

                                (Note : Unattached to a Mediterranean Fleet Flotilla.)

 

June                        Convoy defence deployment in continuation.

to

July

 

August                  Nominated for return to UK for service in Western Approaches.

                30th        Deployed with H M Destroyers DECOY, ILEX, IMPERIAL, JANUS, NUBIAN, VAMPIRE

                                (RAN) and VENDETTA (RAN) as screen for BM Aircraft Carrier EAGLE, HM Battleships

                                MALAYA and WARSPITE, HM Cruisers GLOUCESTER, KENT, LIVERPOOL, ORION

                                and SYDNEY (RAN) to provide Distant Cover for passage of Convoy MS to from

                                Alexandria to Malta.

                                (Operation MB3 -Part of Operation HATS to pass reinforcements to Mediterranean Fleet

                                based at Alexandria See THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre for

                                details of warships which included HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS and HM Battleship

                                VALIANT.)

                31st         Sustained damage during Italian air attacks.

 

September             Passage from Malta to Gibraltar

                14th        Took passage to UK from Gibraltar to join 10th Escort Group for Atlantic convoy defence.

 

October                  Deployed with Group for Atlantic convoy escort.

 

November              Detached for duty with 13th destroyer Flotilla.

                13th        During escort of HM Battleship REVENGE in Atlantic sustained major structural damage in

                                storm and lost two men overboard.

                                Returned to Clyde.

                17th        Taken in hand for repair of storm damage at Govan shipyard

 

December              Under repair by Harland and Wolff.

                26th        On completion of post repair trials nominated for fit of ASDIC equipment.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January

                4th          Taken in hand for refit by Barclay Curie shipyard in Clyde.

 

February

                14th        On completion of post refit trials rejoined Group for Atlantic convoy defence.

 

March                    Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

 

April                       Nominated for transfer to 14th Escort Group at Greenock.

                14th        Joined Group In continuation of convoy defence duty.

 

May                        Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence.

to

June

 

July                         Detached for escort duty with Home Fleet.

 

August                  Deployed for escort and screening duties with Home Fleet in NW Approaches.

                                Escorted tanker for support of Spitzbergen landing operations.

 

September             On release from Home Fleet joined 3rd Escort Group for Atlantic convoy defence.

                17th        Detached for escort of Malta convoy WS11X (Operation HALBERD).

                                Joined HM Destroyers LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, ORIBI, HEYTHROP, Dutch ISAAC

                                SWEERS and Polish ORP PIORUN as screen for H M Battleships PRINCE OF WALES

                                and RODNEY, HM Cruisers EDINBURGH, EURYALUS, KENYA and SHEFFIELD for

                                escort of WS11X from Clyde to Gibraltar.

                24th        Joined Force A with HM Destroyers DUNCAN, GURKHA, LEGION, LANCE, LIVELY,

                                FURY, ISAAC SWEERS and ORP PIORUN as screen for HM Battleships NELSON,

                                PRINCE OF WALES and HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL to provide cover in western

                                Mediterranean for passage of WS11X to Sicilian Narrows.

                27th        Under air attacks during which HMS NELSON vas torpedoed but remained with Force

                                until relief convoy ships were detached to complete passage with escort.

                28th        Escorted damaged HMS RODNEY back to Gibraltar.

                30th        Arrived at Gibraltar

 

October                  Returned to UK with Horns Fleet ships detached for HALBERD and rejoined Group.

 

November              Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.

to                            (Note : During this period the Group escorted Convoys ON45, HX164 and ONS53.

December

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Deployed with Group for Atlantic convoy defence.

 

February                Nominated for refit.

                28th        Taken in hand for refit by Smiths Dock Middlesbrough.

 

March                    Under refit.

to April

 

May                        Post refit trials and prepared for work-up.

                                Nominated for detached service with Home Fleet.

                6th          Worked up fbr operational service.

                22nd       Joined Home Fleet on completion for work-up.

                23rd        Deployed with HM Destroyers ACHATES, ASHANTI, MARTIN and VOLUNTEER, HM

                                Corvettes HONEYSUCKLE, HYDERABAD, STARWORT and French ROSELYS as Ocean

                                Escort for Convoy PQ16 to North Russia.

                                HM AA Ship ALYNBANK provided defence against air attack and ships of Home Fleet

                                gave cover with a cruiser force and battleships including the US battleship USS

                                WASHINGTON.

                27th        Under air attack by Ju88 dive bombers and sustained serious damage from near miss which

                                exploded on starboard bow forward.

                                25 of ship's company ware killed and one missing with 43 wounded.

                                Forward armament and fire control director wrecked.

                                Ship detached to proceed independently to Murmansk.

                                (Note : This was the largest Russian convoy since start of the Arctic convoys to Murmansk

                                and Archangel. For details of this and all other Russian convoys see CONVOYS TO

                                RUSSIA by RA Ruegg, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman,, CONVOY 1 by

                                P Kemp and THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield.)

                29th        Taken In hand for repair on arrival at Murmansk.

 

June                        Under repair.

                26th        On completion joined Ocean Escort for returning Convoy QP13 with HMS ACHATES and

                                HMS VOLUNTEER.

                                (Note : Others ships in escort included the four corvettes and HMS ALYNBANK)

 

July

                7th          Detached from QP13 and took passage to Troon for repair in commercial shipyard.

 

August                  Under repair.

 

September             Post refit trials and prepared for. work-up prior to resuming Atlantic duties..

                21st         Worked-up.

 

October                  Rejoined 3rd British Escort Group on completion of work-up.

to                            (Note : During this period convoys escorted by the Group included ONS136, SC106, HX215

December              and ON157).

                                For details of weapons and tactics used in the Battle of the Atlantic see SEEK AND

                                STRIKE by W Hackmann and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).)

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.

                16th        Part of escort for Convoy SC117 with HM Frigate SWALE, HM Corvettes NARCISSUS.

                                ORCHIS, French corvettes ROSELYS, LOBELIA and ACONIT.

                22nd       Under attack by U413 which sank mercantile.

 

 February

                1st           Under repair at Greenock.

                26th        On completion rejoined Group

 

March

                6th          Joined inward Convoy HX228 with HM Destroyers HARVESTER and ESCAPADE, Polish

                                destroyer BURZA, HM Corvette NARCISSUS, Free French corvettes ACONIT,

                                RENONCULE and ROSELYS of Group.

                10th        Under attack by U-Boats of NEULAND Group.

                11th        Submarine attacks in continuation during which HMS HARVESTER sank U444 by

                                ramming and later was torpedoed and sunk by U432 whilst carrying out rescue of

                                survivors from a mercantile sunk during the onslaught. (For details of this battle see THE

                                BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D. MacIntyre THE ECHO OF A FIGHTING FLOWER

                                by Peter Coy and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)

 

April                       Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.

 

May                        Taken in hand for refit at Clyde shipyard.

 

June                        Under refit.

to                            (Note : HEDGEHOG anti-submarine mortar fitted . See SEEK AND STRIKE.

August                  Nominated for service with 8th Escort Group on completion.

 

September             Carried out Post refit trials.

                8th          On completion worked-up for operational service.

                                Joined Group on completion.

 

October                  Deployed with HM Escort Aircraft Carrier FENCER, HM Destroyers VISCOUNT,

                                WHITEHALL, WRESTLER and Polish BURZA of Group for escort of Escort Carriers

                                supporting the passage of military convoy to the Azores.

                                (Operation ALACRITY - To establish allied base for defence of Atlantic convoys.)

                28th        Deployed in support role with Group for defence of Convoy SC145.

 

November

                5th          Taken in hand for repair in Clyde shipyard.

 

December              Nominated for convoy defence based at Freetown.

                2nd         On completion took passage to West Africa for escort of convoys to Gibraltar.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Deployment at Freetown in continuation.

to                            Nominated for service in Eastern Mediterranean.

March

 

April                       Passage to Alexandria to Join 14th Destroyer Flotilla.

 

May                        Joined Flotilla for convoy defence and anti-submarine patrol duties.

 

June                        Eastern Mediterranean duties with Flotilla in continuation.

to                            (Note : During this period destroyers based at Alexandria were deployed in support of the

August                  re-occupation of islands in the Aegean which were being evacuated by German

                                troops.

 

September

                18th        During patrol south of Milos sighted U-Boat SCHNORKEL and attacked with

                                HEDGEHOG.

                                Lost contact and carried out anti-submarine search operations with HM Destroyers

                                TROUBRIDGE, TERPSICHORE, BRECON and ZETLAND.

                19th        U407 forced to surface after depth charge attacks lasting several hours.

                                Crew abandoned submarine after setting scuttling charges.

                                47 survivors were rescued.

                21st         At Alexandria for repair of damage caused by depth charge explosions.

 

October                  Rejoined Flotilla in support of the reoccupation of Aegean Islands.

                                Provided naval gunfire support at Kassandra and in Cyclades.

 

November              Nominated for return to UK.

                20th        Took passage to Plymouth for refit.

 

December              Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Devonport.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Under refit.

to February

 

March                    Harbour trials

                                Nominated for service with 8th Destroyer Flotilla at Plymouth on completion.

                31st         Refit work completed.

 

April                       Carried out Post refit trials and worked-up for operational service.

                15th        Escorted HM Battlecruiser RENOWN to Rosyth with HM Destroyer SCOURGE.

 

May                        After VE Day embarked relied stores for delivery to ports in Holland and Belgium.

 

June                        Joined 23rd Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet.

to                            Deployed for Flotilla duties including support of military re-occupation in German ports.

August

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

ORP GARLAND transferred to the 17th Destroyer Flotilla after VJ Day. She was deployed as escort for U-Boats being scuttled in NW Approaches (Operation DEADLIGHT) and later joined the Polish Squadron based at Rosyth. In July 1946 the loan to Poland was terminated and the ship returned to the RN. Placed on the Disposal  List she was first de-equipped and sold on 14th November 1947 to the Dutch Navy for use as a training tender. In 1950 she was conversion for use as an A/S Frigate and renamed MARNIX in 1950 Until 1961 she was deployed mainly for training and the removed from the active list and demolished after 28 years service.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS GARLAND

by Don Kindell

 

Date convoy         Joined convoy            Convoy No.          Left convoy           Date convoy

sailed                     as escort                                                                                arrived

 

07/09/39                       13/09/39                 GREEN 1               16/09/39                 18/09/39

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

28/06/40                       28/06/40                 AS 001/1               02/07/40                 02/07/40

03/09/40                       19/09/40                 SL 046                    23/09/40                 23/09/40

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

04/12/40                       04/12/40                 OB 254                   07/12/40                 08/12/40

14/02/41                       20/02/41                 SLG 001A              22/02/41                 22/02/41

10/03/41                       26/03/41                 SC 025                   29/03/41                 29/03/41

10/04/41                       16/04/41                 TC 010                   19/04/41                 19/04/41

24/06/41                       04/07/41                 HG 066                   09/07/41                 09/07/41

24/09/41                       25/09/41                 HALBERD            27/09/41                 27/09/41

17/10/41                       17/10/41                 CT 004                   23/10/41                 23/10/41

04/11/41                       04/11/41                 TC 014A                12/11/41                 12/11/41

22/11/41                       22/11/41                 CT 007                   02/12/41                 02/12/41

11/02/42                       11/02/42                 NA 003                  19/02/42                 19/02/42

25/02/42                       25/02/42                 CT 011                   01/03/42                 09/03/42

03/05/42                       12/05/42                 HX 188                  13/05/42                 16/05/42

21/05/42                       23/05/42                 PQ 016                   27/05/42                 30/05/42

26/06/42                       26/06/42                 QP 013                   07/07/42                 07/07/42

03/10/42                       09/10/42                 ON 136                  16/10/42                 26/10/42

16/10/42                       23/10/42                 SC 106                   03/11/42                 05/11/42

15/11/42                       18/11/42                 ON 146                  29/11/42                 08/12/42

05/12/42                       11/12/42                 HX 218                  19/12/42                 21/12/42

27/12/42                       29/12/42                 ON 157                  08/01/43                 15/01/43

12/01/43                       20/01/43                 SC 117                   30/01/43                 03/02/43

14/02/43                       16/02/43                 ON 167                  28/02/43                 08/03/43

28/02/43                       06/03/43                 HX 228                  14/03/43                 15/03/43

20/03/43                       22/03/43                 ON 174                  02/04/43                 08/04/43

01/04/43                       08/04/43                 HX 232                  15/04/43                 16/04/43

30/04/43                       01/05/43                 ON 181                  12/05/43                 18/05/43

13/05/43                       19/05/43                 HX 239                  27/05/43                 28/05/43

03/10/43                       03/10/43                 UA 003                  09/10/43                 09/10/43

24/10/43                       29/10/43                 SC 145                   02/11/43                 07/11/43

16/12/43                       17/12/43                 KMF 027               24/12/43                 30/12/43

26/12/43                       26/12/43                 RS 013                   02/01/44                 02/01/44

03/02/44                       03/02/44                 ST 079                   05/02/44                 06/02/44

19/02/44                       19/02/44                 SR 010                   27/02/44                 27/02/44

01/03/44                       01/03/44                 RS 015                   08/03/44                 14/03/44

19/03/44                       19/03/44                 TS 058                   22/03/44                 22/03/44

26/03/44                       26/03/44                 SR 012                   03/04/44                 03/04/44

29/03/44                       06/04/44                 KMF 030               09/04/44                 12/04/44

03/09/44                       06/09/44                 MKF 034               unknown               14/09/44

16/11/44                       25/11/44                 MKF 036               30/11/44                 30/11/44

15/05/45                       21/05/45                 MKS 101G            22/05/45                 22/05/45

31/05/45                       01/06/45                 TA 208A               01/06/45                 06/06/45

 

Note on Convoys)

 

 

revised 31/7/08

 

further editing and formatting is needed, but the data is being made available without delay

 

return to Contents List
 
or back to Naval-History.Net

 

Site archived by http://www.patriotfiles.com

To have your military website archived contact The Patriot Files