1 9 4 3
July Commissioned for service as HMCS HURON.
28th Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
August On completion of trials took passage to Scapa Flow to work-up.
12th Deployed
as escort to HM Destroyer ONSLOW with HM King George VI embarked during passage
to
Scapa Flow from Scrabster
for visit to Home Fleet.
26th Rescued
pilot of SKUA aircraft from which he had ditched off Orkneys.
September Working-up with Home Fleet at Scapa Flow in continuation.
6th Joined
3rd Destroyer Flotilla in Home Fleet on completion of work-up.
October
1st Took
passage to Murmansk with HM Destroyers ONSLAUGHT and IROQUOIS carrying supplies
to
RN warships based in North Russia. Cover was provided by HM Cruiser LONDON and HM Destroyer
IMPULSIVE.
6th After
arrival in Murmansk embarked Russian diplomats and took
return passage to Scapa Flow.
11th After
arrival at Scapa Flow sustained damage during collision with oiler.
Repair arranged at Leith
commercial shipyard.
12th Passage to Leith for repair.
November
14th Resumed Flotilla duties on completion of repair.
18th Deployed
with HM Destroyers IMPULSIVE, ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW, ORWELL, OBDURATE,
HMCS HAIDA and HMCS IROQUOIS as Ocean
Escort for Convoy JW54A during passage to Kola
Inlet.
(Note : For details
of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R. A. Ruegg,
THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R. Woodman and
CONVOY ! by R Woodman.)
19th HMS OBDURATE withdrawn from Close Escort due to defect and returned
to Scapa
Flow.
24th Detached from JW54A with Close Escort on arrival.
26th Joined
return Convoy RA54B with same ships as Close Escort for passage to UK.
December
5th Detached
from RA54B and returned to Scapa
Flow with Close Escort.
22nd Deployed
with HM Destroyers IMPULSIVE, ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW, ORWELL, SCOURGE,
HMCS HAIDA and HMCS IROQUOIS as Close
Escort for Russian Convoy JW55 during passage
to Kola Inlet
25th Close
Escort reinforced by HM Destroyers MATCHLESS, MUSKETEER, OPPORTUNE and VIRAGO
in view
of the threat of attack by German Battleship SCHARNHORST. See above references.
(Note :
German warship was engaged and sunk by ships of Home Fleet providing cover for passage
of
this convoy
and two others in the Arctic.)
Under sustained
attacks by aircraft and submarines.
29th Detached with ships of Close Escort on arrival of JW55B at Kola
inlet.
31st Deployed as Close Escort for passage of return Convoy RA55B to
UK with same Ships.
1 9 4 4
January
3rd Under
submarine attacks.
7th Detached
from RA55B with Close Escort and returned to Scapa Flow.
10th Retained with Home Fleet when HMCS HAIDA and HMCS IROQUOIS transferred
to Plymouth.
26th Joined
HM Destroyers MAHRATTA, MILNE, MUSKETEER, OPPORTUNE and SCOURGE for
Escort for Russian Convoy JW56B during
passage to Kola Inlet.
(Note :
Close Escort comprised HM Destroyers WHITEHALL, WESTCOTT, HM Sloop CYGNET,
HM Corvette OXLIP
and HM Minesweeper SEAGULL. Cruiser cover was provided by HM
Cruisers BERMUDA, BERWICK and KENT )
29th Additional
destroyers joined convoy to supplement anti-submarine defence which was under attack
by Group
of U-Boats.
30th HM Destroyer
HARDY, one of the additional escorts was hit by a torpedo from U278 and had to be
sunk by
HM Destroyer VENUS another of the later arrivals.
(Note :
U314 was sunk by HM Destroyers WHITEHALL and METEOR.)
February
1st Detached
from JW56A on arrival at Kola Inlet.
3rd Joined
HM Destroyers OFFA, OPPORTUNE, SAVAGE, VENUS, VIGILANT, INCONSTANT,
MAHRATTA, METEOR, MILNE, MUSKETEER,
SCOURGE, WESTCOTT, WHITEHALL, SWIFT,
Norwegian destroyer STORD, HM Sloop
CYGNET, four corvettes and three minesweepers for the
escort of
return Convoy RA56 on departure from Kola Inlet.
6th HM Destroyers
SWIFT OBEDIENT and VERULAM joined escort as reinforcements.
9th Detached
from RA56 after an uninterrupted passage.
10th Nominated
for service at Plymouth with 10th Destroyer Flotilla in place of HMCS IROQUOIS..
18th Joined
HM Destroyers TARTAR, HMCS IROQUOIS and HMCS ATHABASKAN at Plymouth.
(Note :This Flotilla
was deployed as Force 26.)
HMCS IROQUOIS took passage to Canada for refit).
20th Nominated
for service with Flotilla in planned allied assault landings in Normandy
(Operation NEPTUNE.)
Took part in preparatory
exercises for NEPTUNE.
March Deployed at Plymouth for NEPTUNE exercises and interception patrols off French coast.
(Note : For details
of preparations and execution of Operation NEPTUNE see OPERATION
NEPTUNE by K Edwards, LANDINGS IN NORMANDY (HMSO) and Naval Staff History.
30th Joined
HM Destroyers BRISSENDEN and TANATSIDE with HMCS HAIDA to take part
preparatory exercise
as screen for HM Cruisers BLACK PRINCE and GLASGOW which were
providing Gunfire
support during landings (Exercise BEAVER).
April NEPTUNE preparatory exercises and interception
duties in continuation.
(Note :
Interception operations in the TUNNEL series were carried out against coastal traffic
off
the French
coast. See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith. These were by no means
invariably
successful.)
12th Took
part in large scale combined exercise with HMCS HAIDA and HMS TARTAR in sea area
west of
Needles and deployed as part of screen for major warships deployed off assault area.
(Exercise TROUSERS).
25th Deployed
with HMS BLACK PRINCE, HMS ASHANTI, HMCS ATHABASKAN and HMCS
HAIDA as Force 26 for
an operation in Tunnel Series to intercept coastal traffic in Bay of Biscay.
26th Under fire from shore batteries during patrol off French coast.
Intercepted three ELBING Class German
destroyers, T24, T27 and T29 which were on passage for
minelay
and for cover of coastal convoy. Engaged enemy ships with surface gunfire after
initial
radar detection,.
Force 26 attacked by torpedoes from Germany destroyers that failed to hit any of
ship. During
this engagement Force 26 ships fired torpedoes and engaged with main armament.
Although torpedo attack failed T29
was sunk by gunfire north of Ile de Bas in position 48.53N
3 .35W.
135 of her ships company were killed.. The other two enemy ships withdrew.
Returned to Plymouth with Battle Ensigns flying. This was the first destroyer sunk by an RCN ship.
(Note: During entry into Plymouth involved in collision with HMS ASHANTI and taken in hand
for repair.
May
7th Resumed
Flotilla duties on completion of repair.
20th Deployed
with HMS BELLONA, HMS TARTAR and HMCS HAIDA to cover minelay by HMS
APOLLO north of Ushant (Operation HOSTILE 33)
22nd Deployed
with HMS TARTAR and HMCS HAIDA to cover minelay off Ile
de Vierge by HMS
APOLLO (Operation HOSTILE 34)
25th Deployed
with HMS TARTAR and HMCS HAIDA to cover minelay NW of Ushant
by HMS
APOLLO (Operation HOSTILE 40)
(Note : This
was the last minelay in the MAPLE III Series.)
June Deployed for support of Operation NEPTUNE based
at Plymouth.
(Note : Not attached
to either Task Force and required for interception of any enemy warships
attempting to
approach transit routes for Assault Convoys.
4th Operation
postponed 24 hours.
5th Sailed
from Plymouth with Flotilla for patrol north of Channel Islands.
6th Interception
duties in continuation.
to 7th
8th Transferred
to new patrol line east –west from 49.30N 5.00W to 49.30N 6.00W on orders
from CinC Plymouth who anticipated a movement of enemy destroyers
in attempt to attack
invasion
traffic
Reconstituted as
Force 26.
Change of patrol line ordered and
took passage to 15 miles off Brittany coast.
Distance from coast altered by CinC Plymouth to 20 miles from coast
because of mine dangers.
Commenced sweep between Ile de Bas and Ile de Vierge.
9th Radar
contact made and Force 26 ships closed to investigate.
Four ships were T24, an ELBING Class
destroyer, Z32 and Z24, both NARVIK Class destroyers
and ZH1,
the Ex Dutch destroyer TJERK HIDDES captured after fall of Holland in May 1940.
Enemy ships altered course and fired
torpedoes which were avoided.
Engaged enemy ships with HMS TARTAR,
HMS ASHANTI and HMCS HAIDA by main and
secondary
armament at close range. During the action Z32 was serious damaged and eventually
ran ashore
on Ile de Bas. ZH1 was sunk by gunfire and two torpedoes
from HMS ASHANTI. Z24
and T24
although badly damaged were able to escape. HMS TARTAR sustained some damage and
had 17 casualties
including four killed.
Returned to Plymouth with ships of Force 76 after a successful action which
did much to ensure
safe passage
of allied convoys to the beachhead.
12th Sailed
from Plymouth with HMCS HAIDA to carry out diversionary operation to
the south of
the Channel Island and east of Roches Dourves.
(Note : This
was to be in association with planned air attacks.)
13th Special
party which had been embarked carried out W/T transmissions to suggest possible
landings
on west coast
of the Cherbourg Peninsula. Returned to Plymouth on release.
14th Deployed
at Plymouth for patrol in English Channel to intercept any attempts to interfere with
convoys to and
from beachheads.
July Plymouth deployment for interception patrols in continuation,.
2nd Deployed
for tow of HM Destroyer ESKIMO to Plymouth.
(Note HMS ESKIMO had been seriously damaged
in collision with HM Destroyer JAVELIN during
return from interception
patrol in SW Approaches.)
8th In action
with HMS TARTAR against convoy escorted by E-Boats and minesweepers two of which
were reported
as being sunk.
August Nominated for refit in Canada.
13th Took passage to Halifax for refit.
27th Under refit at Halifax.
September Refit in continuation
to October
November
12th Carried
out Post Refit trials and prepared for return to UK for further refit
28th Arrived
at Cardiff for fit of fit of new radar in commercial shipyard.
December Fit of Type 276 Radar and Plan Position
Displays for surface and aircraft warning with Target
Indication in continuation.
1 9 4 5
January
20th Carried
out trials on new radar equipment and on completion worked-up for operational
service.
February Work-up in continuation.
10th On completion resumed operational service in SW Approaches and
Channel based at Plymouth.
March Nominated for transfer to Home Fleet for screening
duties.
31st Took passage to Scapa Flow.
April
15th Deployed
with HM Destroyers ZEPHYR, ZODIAC, ZEALOUS, ZEST, OFFA, HAIDA (RCN),
IROQUOIS (RCN) and Norwegian destroyer STORD as escort for Russian convoy JW66 with HM
Cruiser BELLONA,
HM Escort Aircraft Carriers VINDEX and NAIRANA. HM Sloop CYGNET,
HM Corvettes ALNWICK CASTLE, BAMBOROUGH CASTLE, FARNHAM CASTLE,
HONEYSUCKLE, LOTUS and OXLIP of 7th
Escort Group were also part of Close escort with
Frigates of 19th Support Group deployed
for support for anti--submarine operations.
25th Detached
from JW66 with Close Escort on arrival at Kola Inlet/
(Note : Ships
of escort carried out anti-submarine attacks in entrance to Kola Inlet to ensure
safety of convoy.)
29th Joined
return convoy RA66 on departure from Kola Inlet.
(Note :
During anti-submarine operations outside Kola Inlet before departure of RA66 U 307
and U286
were sunk by ships of 19th Support Group but HM Frigate GOODALL
was torpedoed
and sunk by U968 although some survivors were rescued. See above
references
for details.)
May Nominated for return to Canada on release from service with RN.
8th Detached
on arrival of RA66 at Greenock. VE Day !!
Returned to Scope Flow
with Home Fleet ships.
16th Deployed
with HM Cruiser BERWICK and HMCS HAIDA for visit to Trondheim.
17th Arrived at Trondheim to a tumultuous reception with subsequent
outstanding hospitality.
23rd Passage
from Trondheim
24th Arrived
at Scapa Flow.
25th Sailed from Scapa Flow for passage to Greenock with HMCS HAIDA.
26th At Greenock with HMCS HAIDA and HMCS IROQUOIS.
June Nominated for service with British Pacific Fleet
after return to Canada.
4th Took
passage from Greenock for Halifax with her two sister ships
10th Arrived at Halifax to a resounding welcome.
July Under refit including tropicalisation to suit service in the Pacific.
August
14th Refit
suspended.
