H . .M .
.S . H E S P E R U S ( H 5 7 )
Variant of H-Class Fleet Destroyer ordered on 16th December 1937 from John I Thornycroft, Woolston by Brazil.
The ship was laid down on 6th July 1938 and when launched on 1st August 1939
was given the name JURUENA. During fitting out en 5th September she was
requisitioned by the Admiralty and renamed HMS HEARTY, and the first RN ship to
carry this name (See below). Basic design was similar to the RN H-Class but cabin accommodation was much improved. Before RN use the after
4.7" gun was removed to enable more depth charges to be carried. This ship
was commissioned for RN service on 15th January 1940 and adopted by the civil
community of Yeovil, Somerset in March 1942 following a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
NORWAY 1940 - ATLANTIC 1940-45
- ENGLISH CHANNEL 1945
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge : On a Field per fess wavy Blue and barry wavy of
eight White and Blue, an estoile White.
D e t a i
l s o f W a r
S e r v i c e
1 9 3 9
September Fitting out at Woolston after launch.
5th Requisitioned by British Government.
October (Note : To be commissioned HMS HEARTY on
completion.
to December Build completion and contractors harbour
trials
1 9 4 0
January Contractors trials.
15th Commissioned for RN service in 9th
Destroyer Flotilla as HMS HEARTY.
22nd Completion of build and Acceptance
Trials.
29th Worked-up for operational service at
Portland.
February
27th Name changed to HMS HESPERUS.
(Note : This was to ensure no
confusion with HMS HARDY in signals or correspondence.)
On completion of work-up joined
Flotilla in Western Approaches.
March Deployed for convoy escort in NW
Approaches.
April NW Approaches deployment in
continuation.
9th Transferred for duty with Home Fleet
after German invasion of
Norway.
11th Deployed with sister destroyer HMS
HAVANT to investigate situation at Thorshvn, Faeroes.
12th Carried out anti-submarine search prior
to arrival of Royal Marines to take over island after
German occupation of
Denmark.
13th Deployed with HMS HAVANT as escort for
HM Cruiser
SUFFOLK during passage to Faeroes
with Royal Marines for initial
occupation.
14th On release from Thorshvn detachment
escorted m Battleship RESOLUTION with HM Destroyers
BASILISK and WREN for during
passage to Narvik.
May Norwegian support in continuation.
(For details of the disastrous
operations off
Norway see
NARVIK by D Macintyre,
CARRIER
GLORIOUS by J Winton. THE DOOMED
EXPEDITION by
Adams and Naval Staff History
(HMSO-2001).
11th Embarked guns and army personnel. Took
passage to Mo with HM Cruiser
ENTERPRISE,
HM
Sloop FLEETWOOD and
mercantile ss MARGOT.
(Note : HMS CAIRO was deployed
during passage to provide AA defence support and air cover
by HM
Aircraft Carrier
ARK ROYAL.
12th Used to ferry Scots Guards ashore to Mo
and Bodo from HMS ENTERPRISE after landing troops
embarked in ship at Rosyth.
Taken in hand for
repair at
Dundee on
release from Norwegian support operations
. (Note : Ship had been damaged by
near misses).
June On completion resumed Atlantic convoy
defence duties with Flotilla .in NW Approaches.
July Atlantic convoy escort in
continuation.
to
October
November Flotilla
re-designated 9th Escort Group.
Western Approaches duties in
continuation.
4th Rescued survivors from HM Armed
Merchant Cruisers PATROCLUS and LAURENTIC.
(Note : These two ships were
torpedoed and sunk NW of Ireland by U99 on 3rd Nov).
Escorted Convoy HX83.
December Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
1 9 4 1
January Sustained storm damage and taken in hand
for repair.
February On completion rejoined Group.
to Resumed Atlantic convoy defence duty.
March
April Nominated for transfer to
Gibraltar for service with Force H.
4th Deployed with HMS HARVESTER and HMS
HAVELOCK in search for survivors
from six
mercantiles sunk in U-Boat attacks
on Convoy SC26.
26th Deployed with HMS HARVESTER and HMS
HAVELOCK as part of Ocean Escort for military
convoy WS8A during Atlantic passage.
(For details of Force H operations
in 1941 see THE BATTLE FOR THE
MEDITERRANEAN
by D MacIntyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett) and Naval Staff
History (HMSO-2002)
May
2nd Detached from military Convoy WS8A with HMS
HARVESTER and HMS HAVELOCK with
mercantiles destined for Gibraltar.
Joined Force H on arrival.
6th Part of screen for HM Battlecruiser
RENOWN, HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL and HM
Cruiser
SHEFFIELD with
HM Destroyers HAVELOCK, HARVESTER, KASHMIR and
KELLY which were covering passage
of
Malta relief convoy and reinforcement cruisers to
join Fleet in eastern
Mediterranean (Operation TIGER).
12th Remained with Force H on return to
Gibraltar.
19th Joined HM Destroyers FAULKNOR,
FORESTER, FOXHOUND, FURY and BRILLIANT
as screen for HMS RENOWN, HMS ARK
ROYAL and HMS SHEFFIELD during
provision of cover for the delivery
of aircraft to
Malta by HMS
ARK ROYAL
(Operation SPLICE).
24th Deployed as screen for HMS RENOWN and
HMS ARK ROYAL during search for German
battleship
BISMARCK.
27th Detached and returned to
Gibraltar.
June Force H service in continuation.
13th Part of screen for HMS RENOWN, HM
Aircraft Carriers
ARK ROYAL and VICTORIOUS
with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR,
FEARLESS, FORESIGHT, FORESTER, FOXHOUND
and WISHART during cover of
Malta aircraft
delivery by HMS VICTORIOUS.
(Operation TRACER).
15th After return to
Gibraltar
withdrawn from service in Force H.
(Note : This was deemed necessary
for ships of this Class because of their lack of anti-aircraft
armament for
duty in the
Mediterranean).
18th Returned to
UK as part of
escort for HMS VICTORIOUS.
21st Taken in hand for refit at
Liverpool
(Note : One source records that
Wireless Direction Finding equipment (HF D/F) and a radio
telephone outfit were fitted. See
SEEK
AND
STRIKE by W Hackmann
This requires confirmation.)
July Under refit.
Nominated for transfer to
Newfoundland Escort Force.
7th Passage to join new Escort Group for
convoy defence in
Eastern Atlantic.
On arrival deployed with Group
based at
St. Johns.
August
6th Joined HMS HARVESTER and HMS HAVELOCK
in escort for HM Battleship PRINCE
OF
WALES
during Atlantic passage to Newfoundland.
(Note: HMS PRINCE OF WALES was
taking Prime Minister to
Placentia Bay
for Atlantic
Charter conference with
US
President HM Destroyers RIPLEY and RESTIGOUCHE
(RCN)
joined escort later,.)
15th Sustained storm damage during return
passage to
Iceland
with HMS PRINCE CF WALES.
16th Under temporary repair in
Iceland.
On completion took passage to
UK.
September Under permanent repair in commercial shipyard
at Immingham.
(Note : Fit of radar fire control
director for main armament s recorded.)
October Re-deployed with 9th Escort Group for
convoy defence in NW Approaches.
Escorted military convoy TC14.
November Atlantic
convoy defence in continuation.
December
Transferred to Gibraltar with Group for convoy defence.
7th Took part in sinking of U208 with HMS
HARVESTER in position 35.51N 07.45 W west of
Gibraltar.
There were no survivors from the
submarine. See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.
1 9 4 2
January Deployed at Gibraltar with HM Destroyers LAFOREY,
CROOME and WESTCOTT as an
experimental Anti-submarine Striking Force.
Joined convoy SL97 to support escort during
initial part of passage from Gibraltar.
15th Sank U93 in position 36.40N 15 52W off
Cape St
Vincent by depth charge attack and
gun action
followed by ramming during defence
of convoy.
(Note: 36 survivors were rescued
FROM THE SUBMARINE.
See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair,
U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp,
U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO).
Sustained major structural damage
forward and also to starboard propeller.
Forward compartments flooded.
10th Under temporary repair at
Gibraltar.
24th Escorted troopship ALMANZORA from
Gibraltar to Falmouth.
February
9th Taken in hand for repair at commercial
shipyard in
Falmouth.
(Note :Surface warning Radar Type
271 and 20cm Oerlikon guns fitted.
For details of
development and use of radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse).
March Under repair.
April Post refit trials.
On completion resumed duties with
2nd Escort Group
Deployed as escort for convoy SC81.
May Atlantic convoy defence with Group in
continuation.
Escorted Convoys ONS97 and SC86
without loss.
June Atlantic convoy escort in continuation
including Convoys ON107, ONI18, HX203, ONS128
to andHX208.
September
October
11th Joined Convoy ONS138 with HM Destroyers WHITEHALL, VANESSA and three
corvettes of Group at Liverpool for escort
during Atlantic passage
23rd
Carried out unsuccessful search for submarine after detection of radio
transmissions.
(Note : Several other similar
searches were made later. See HITLER'S U-BOAT
WAR.)
November Convoys escorted by Group included HX213 and
ONS148
December Deployed with Group for escort of Convoy
HX219.
26th Participated in depth charge attacks on
U357 with HM Destroyer VANESSA in defence
of
convoy.
Sank U357 in position 57.10N 15.40W
by ramming.
Again sustained major damage to bow
structure and hull.
Some survivors from submarine were
rescued.,
Able to steam under reduced power.
For details see above references.
1 9 4 3
January Under repair in
Liverpool at commercial shipyard.
to HEDGEHOG Anti-submarine mortar ahead
throwing weapon fitted.
February For details of development of new weapons
and tactics see SEEK
AND STRIKE by
W Hackmann
March Post refit trials.
On completion prepared for Atlantic
convoy defence.
April Rejoined Group in continuation.
23rd Sank U191 in position 56.45N 43.25W by
Hedgehog after first detection with use
of HF D/F
during escort of Convoy ONS4. See
above references.
May Part of escort with Group for Convoy
SC129 and threat of attack from ELBE 2 Group
of U- Boats (For details of this
crucial stage of the
Battle of the
Atlantic.
See
U-BOAT WAR 3N THE
ATLANTIC
(HMSO), WAR BENEATH THE SEA by P Padfield
and THE BATTLE
OF THE ATLANTIC by D MacIntyre, in command of HMS
HESPERUS).
11th Drove U223 to surface in defence of
convoy but failed to sink her.
12th Sank U186 in position 41.54N 31.49W
without survivors.
(Note : This submarine had been the
contact keeper for the ELBE Group and first found after
HF D/F detection). Atlantic Convoy
escort with Group in continuation.
See above references.
1 9 4 4
January Under refit.
to Nominated for service with 19th
Escort Group.
February
March Post refit trials and joined Group for
escort and support of convoys between
UK,
to
Gibraltar and
West Africa.
November Deployed in NW approaches with Group to
intercept U-Boats on passage.
December
6th Rescued 97 survivors from HM Frigate
BULLEN 7 miles NE of Cape Wrath.
(Notes: HMS BULLEN was torpedoed in
position 58.42N 04.12W by U774 with a homing
torpedo.
During this period SCHNORKEL fitted
U-Boats were concentrating
attacks on convoy
focal points around
UK.
See references.
1 9 4 5
January Transferred to 14th Escort Group based at
Portsmouth and deployed for defence of
coastal
convoys.
(Note : Atlantic convoys were re-routed through
English Channel because the threat of air attack
from French bases had been removed and
additional escorts were available for support
and escort of convoys See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY, SEEK AND
STRIKE and HOLD THE
NARROW
SEA by P Smith).
February Coastal convoy defence in continuation in
Channel and
Irish Sea.
to
March
April
30th Took
part in sinking of U242 with sister destroyer HMS HAVELOCK and RAF Sunderland
aircraft R of 201 Squadron.
There were no survivors from submarine which was sunk in Irish Sea (Position
53.42N 04.53W)
(Note : This sinking of U242 was
not confirmed by post war analysis as it was sunk earlier by
a mine.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED.)
May
7th Deployed for interception of
surrendered U-Boats in NW Approaches.
13th Escorted surrendered U-Boats from
Lochalsh to Loch Foyle for disposal.
(Operation DEADLIGHT).
29th Escorted rms
ANDES carrying
Norwegian Government officials back to
Oslo with HMS
HAVELOCK.
June
11th Nominated for service as an air target
vessel for aircrew training.
Converted for this use at Rosyth.
July Deployed in
North Sea as
Air Target Ship.
to
August
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS HESPERUS remained in use
for aircrew training until May 1946 when she was reduced to Reserve at Rosyth. She had already been nominated for sale and after
removal of equipment and stores laid up at Grangemouth
awaiting demolition. She was broken up there in May 1947 by G W Brunton.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS HESPERUS
by Don Kindell
Date convoy
Joined
convoy
Convoy
No.
Left convoy Date
convoy
sailed as
escort
arrived
19/04/40 19/04/40 AP 001/3 19/04/40 22/04/40
07/07/40 09/07/40 OB 180 10/07/40 10/07/40
20/07/40 20/07/40 OA 187 25/07/40 unknown
08/07/40 25/07/40 SL 039 29/07/40 29/07/40
05/08/40 05/08/40 OA 194 unknown unknown
28/07/40 10/08/40 SL 041F 14/08/40 14/08/40
15/08/40 15/08/40 OB 198 17/08/40 18/08/40
01/09/40 01/09/40 OB 207 unknown 06/09/40
19/10/40 19/10/40 OL 008 21/10/40 22/10/40
09/10/40 22/10/40 HG 045 27/10/40 27/10/40
14/11/40 27/11/40 HX 087 29/11/40 29/11/40
08/01/41 21/01/41 HG 050 26/01/41 26/01/41
30/01/41 31/01/41 OBA 03/02/41 03/02/41
14/02/41 20/02/41 SLG 001A 22/02/41 22/02/41
19/02/41 06/03/41 HX 110 10/03/41 11/03/41
16/03/41 18/03/41 OB 298 20/03/41 20/03/41
01/03/41 21/03/41 SL 067 26/03/41 26/03/41
31/03/41 31/03/41 OB 304 03/04/41 04/04/41
10/04/41 15/04/41 TC 010 19/04/41 19/04/41
06/05/41 06/05/41 TIGER 12/05/41 12/05/41
07/07/41 07/07/41 OB 344 16/07/41 16/07/41
21/07/41 21/07/41 TC 012 26/07/41 29/07/41
22/10/41 31/10/41 HG 075 03/11/41 03/11/41
15/11/41 15/11/41 CT 006 18/11/41 24/11/41
13/11/41 18/11/41 TC 015 21/11/41 21/11/41
25/11/41 09/12/41 OG 077 13/12/41 13/12/41
14/12/41 16/12/41 HG 076 16/12/41 30/12/41
04/04/42 05/04/42 ON 083 15/04/42 17/04/42
23/04/42 27/04/42 SC 081 09/05/42 09/05/42
22/05/42 23/05/42 ON 097 02/06/42 05/06/42
05/06/42 08/06/42 SC 086 18/06/42 20/06/42
26/06/42 27/06/42 ON 107 05/07/42 09/07/42
12/07/42 15/07/42 HX 198 22/07/42 23/07/42
02/08/42 03/08/42 ON 118 14/08/42 20/08/42
16/08/42 19/08/42 HX 203 27/08/42 28/08/42
05/09/42 08/09/42 ON 128 18/09/42 24/09/42
17/09/42 23/09/42 HX 208 01/10/42 02/10/42
11/10/42 13/10/42 ON 138 28/10/42 03/11/42
26/10/42 31/10/42 HX 213 08/11/42 10/11/42
23/11/42 25/11/42 ON 148 06/12/42 13/12/42
13/12/42 19/12/42 HX 219 28/12/42 29/12/42
13/04/43 14/04/43 ONS 004 29/04/43 05/05/43
02/05/43 06/05/43 SC 129 21/05/43 21/05/43
28/05/43 29/05/43 ONS 009 07/06/43 09/06/43
16/06/43 20/06/43 SC 134 30/06/43 01/07/43
14/07/43 15/07/43 ONS 013 25/07/43 29/07/43
30/07/43 03/08/43 SC 138 12/08/43 12/08/43
21/08/43 22/08/43 ON 198 29/08/43 04/09/43
03/09/43 07/09/43 SC 141 15/09/43 17/09/43
26/09/43 26/09/43 KMS 028G 07/10/43 07/10/43
14/10/43 14/10/43 MKS 027G 28/10/43 28/10/43
04/11/43 05/11/43 ONS 022 17/11/43 22/11/43
19/11/43 25/11/43 HX 267 02/12/43 03/12/43
15/12/43 17/12/43 ONS 025 30/12/43 03/01/44
29/12/43 03/01/44 HX 273 12/01/44 14/01/44
23/04/44 23/04/44 OS 075KM 04/05/44 04/05/44
05/05/44 05/05/44 KMS 049G 06/05/44 06/05/44
10/05/44 10/05/44 MKS 048G 11/05/44 11/05/44
11/05/44 11/05/44 SL 157MK 22/05/44 22/05/44
02/06/44 03/06/44 OS 079KM 11/06/44 11/06/44
12/06/44 12/06/44 KMS 053G 13/06/44 13/06/44
20/06/44 20/06/44 MKS 052G 22/06/44 22/06/44
22/06/44 22/06/44 SL 161MK 02/07/44 02/07/44
12/07/44 12/07/44 OS 083KM 23/07/44 23/07/44
24/07/44 24/07/44 KMS 057G 25/07/44 25/07/44
29/07/44 29/07/44 MKS 056G 30/07/44 30/07/44
30/07/44 30/07/44 SL 165MK 10/08/44 10/08/44
25/08/44 25/08/44 OS 087KM 02/09/44 03/09/44
03/09/44 03/09/44 KMS 061G 04/09/44 04/09/44
09/09/44 09/09/44 MKS 060G 10/09/44 10/09/44
10/09/44 10/09/44 SL 169MK 17/09/44 17/09/44
12/04/45 15/04/45 MKF 042 17/04/45 17/04/45
23/01/45 unknown HX
334 unknown 06/02/45