H .  M .  S .  N O B L E   ( G 84 )

 

“N” Class destroyer ordered from Denny at Dumbarton with the 1939 Programme on 15th April 1939 with HMS NONPAREIL of the same Class  Laid down on 27th July 1939 she was sold to the Netherlands on 18th March 1941 with her sister ship NONPAREIL built in the same shipyard. Tender price was£400,684 excluding cost of Admiralty supplied equipment such as guns, ammunition and communications outfits. These two ships were allocated to replace HMS NORMAN and HMS NORSEMAN whose build at Woolston, Southampton had been delayed by bomb damage in the Thornycroft shipyard.. This ship was launched on 17th April 1941. It is not known whether she was named VAN GALEN instead of NOBLE but as the sale had been she may have given the Dutch name on launch. Commissioned into service as HM Neth. Ship VAN GALEN on 11th February 1942 before build completion on 21st of that month. The RN name was introduced in 1915 to replace the name NISUS for a WW1 destroyer changed before launch in November that year. VAN GALEN was not adopted by any civil community in UK after a successful  “WARSHIP WEEK” National Savings campaign during  1941-42.. After WW2 sister destroyer HMS NERISSA which had been transferred to the Polish Navy as ORP PIORUN was renamed HMS NOBLE (ii) on return from loan service to Poland.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s  

HMS NOBLE

 

JUTLAND 1916

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a  

HMS NOBLE

Badge   : On a Field Blue on water barry wavy White and Blue in base, the

lymphad with armed figure from the reverse of the coin Noble, Gold.

(Note : “lymphad” – a highland galley.).

 

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

H .  M .  N e t h..  S .   V A N   G A L E N

 

1 9 4 2

 

February        Contractors trials

           11th     Commissioned into service as HM Neth Ship VAL GALEN.

                       Nominated for service in 7th Destroyer Flotilla comprising sister ships of this Class.

           21st      Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

 

March            On completion of trials and storing took passage to Scapa Flow for working-up with

                       ships of Home Fleet.

 

April               Deployed at Scapa Flow to work-up for operational  service.

                        Nominated for escort of military convoy during passage to join Flotilla in Indian Ocean.

           15th      Joined military convoy WS18 with HM Escort Destroyer TETCOTT as part of Ocean

                        Escort during Atlantic passage to Freetown.

                        (Note : Ocean Escort also included HM Cruisers FROBISHER and GAMBIA.)

                                    WS18 comprising 21 troopships and HM Destroyer Depot Ship HECLA was taking

                                    troops and equipment to Middle East and India.

           20th      Detached from WS15 to refuel in the Azores and rejoined convoy.

           29th      Detached from WS18 on arrival at Freetown.

 

May

            3rd      Rejoined Ocean Escort for WS18 with HMS FROBISHER, HMS GAMBIA, HM Seaplane

                        Carrier ALBATROSS, HMS TETCOTT and Local Escort.

            6th      Detached from WS18 and took independent passage to join Flotilla at Kilindini.

 

June                Arrived at Kilindini after calls at Simonstown and Durban.

                        Commenced Indian Ocean convoy escort deployment

 

July                 Deployed for convoy defence in Indian Ocean

                        Nominated for detached duty with Eastern Fleet for planned operation.

           21st      Sailed from Kilindini for Colombo with HM Destroyers NIZAM, NORMAN and

                        INCONSTANT as screen for HM Battleship WARSPITE, HM Aircraft Carriers ILLUSTRIOUS

                        FORMIDABLE, HM Cruisers BIRMINGHAM and MAURITIUS during passage to Colombo

                        for operation.

           22nd     HMS NAPIER (Cdre D) joined for passage to Colombo

           28th      At Colombo after call at Seychelles to refuel and joined by Dutch cruiser HEEMSKERK.

           30th      Deployed with HM Destroyer NAPIER (Cdre D) and same destroyers as  screen for HM

                        Battleship WARSPITE, HM Aircraft Carriers  ILLUSTRIOUS and FORMIDABLE, HM

                        Cruisers EFFINGHAM, MAURITIUS and Dutch cruisers HEEMSKERK as Force A to

                        provide cover for  passage of three Dumny Convoys on  passage from Vizagapatam, Madras

                        and Trincomalee towards Andaman Islands. See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).

                        (Operation STAB : A diversionary operation to  suggest landing operations.)

 

August

            1st       Deception convoys sailed for STAB.

                        Force “A” sighted by Japanese aircraft and information broadcast by enemy.

            2nd      Enemy flying boat shot down by MARTLET aircraft from HMS FORMIDABLE.

                        Operation terminated as Eastern Fleet ships required for planned operation in

                        Madagascar. Returned to Trincomalee with Eastern Fleet units

                        (For details of Operation STAB See WAR WITH JAPAN, Volume III (HMSO).

                        Returned to  Trincomalee  before taking  passage  to Kilindini to prepare for planned

                        landings on  Madagascar.

                        (Note :  See  above  reference for explanation of early return by Force A ships.)

 

September       Prepared for operations to complete occupation of Madagascar (Exercise TOUCHSTONE)

            9th       Sailed from  Kilindini to make rendezvous 60 miles  south  of Mayotta Island with HM

                        Cruiser BIRMINGHAM, HM Aircraft Carrier  ILLUSTRIOUS,  Dutch cruiser HEEMSKERK

                        and ships of assault convoy  on passage  to  Majunga  for  landings of troops to complete

                        occupation of Madagascar (Operation STREAM)

          10th       Deployed with Dutch cruiser HEEMSKERK, HM Destroyers NAPIER and INCONSTANT

                        to land Commando unit at Morondava on west coast of Madagascar (Operation TAMPER).

                        (Note : This attack on a radio station and airfield was a diversion for the main

                                     landings at Majunga (Operation STREAM)

                        On release from Madagascar Fleet deployment resumed Indian Ocean convoy defence.

 

October           Nominated for service in Australian waters under overall command of US CinC SW Pacific.

                        Passage to Fremantle with VAN GALEN and Dutch cruiser TROMP.

 

November       Deployed for special duty with RAN warships to evacuate personnel who had been trapped

                        in Timor island and able to avoid capture by Japanese. See WAR IN THE PACIFIC (HMSO)

                        (Note : Ship made three trips to Darwin and carried some 950 people during this operation.)

 

December       Deployed for convoy defence including coastal traffic between Sydney and Fremantle.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January            Australian deployment in continuation for convoy defence

 

February

           18th      Deployed with sister destroyer TJERK HIDDES (Ex  HMS NONPAREIL), HM

                        Australian Cruiser ADELAIDE and Dutch cruiser TROMP for escort of troop convoy

                        during passage from Fremantle to Melbourne.

                        (Operation  PAMPHLET)

                        (Note : This military convoy was carrying ANZAC personnel recalled from Middle East

                                     after Japanese threat to Australia, and had been escorted by Eastern Fleet ships

                                     during passage from Aden. See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).

          24th       Detached from PAMPHLET convoy escort on arrival at Melbourne.

 

March             SW Pacific convoy defence in continuation.

to                    (Note : As the ship required docking and refit during this period further research is

December                   required to confirm that ship was taken in hand for this work before

                                   resuming operations with Eastern Fleet based at Trincomalee.)

 

1 9 4 4

 

January            Nominated for return to Eastern Fleet.

 

February          Passage from Fremantle with TJERK HIDDES and TROMP to resume Eastern Fleet

                         service with 7th Flotilla.

                         (Note : One source also records ship returned with cruiser HEEMSKERK.)

 

March               Deployed for Flotilla duties based at Trincomalee.

           22nd      Deployed with HM Australian Destroyers NORMAN, NEPAL, NAPIER (Cdre D)

                         HM Destroyers QUILLIAM, PATHFINDER,  QUIBERON, QUEENBOROUGH,

                         QUALITY and Dutch TJERK HIDDES as screen for HM Battlecruiser RENOWN,

                         HM Battleships QUEEN ELIZABETH, VALIANT, HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS,

                         HM Cruisers LONDON, CEYLON, CUMBERLAND and GAMBIA for sweep in

                         Indian Ocean.

                         (Operation DIPLOMAT – The prime reason for this was to meet the US Aircraft

                         Carrier USS SARATOGA on passage for detached service with Eastern Fleet for air

                         attacks in Indian Ocean).

           24th      Refuelled from Fleet oilers.

           26th      Detached from Fleet units to escort two Fleet oilers to Trincomalee.

 

April                Nominated for Fleet screening duties in planned operation.

           16th      Sailed from Trincomalee as part of Force 69 with HM Destroyers NAPIER (Cdre D),

                         NEPAL, NIZAM, ROTHERHAM, RACEHORSE, PETARD, QUIBERON and Dutch

                         as screen for HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH, HMS VALIANT, French battleship0

                         RICHELIEU, HM Cruisers NEWCASTLE, NIGERIA, CEYLON, GAMBIA and

                         Dutch cruiser TROMP to provide cover for Force 70 during air operations at Sabang

                         (Operation COCKPIT – For details see WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)

           19th       Deployed with screen of Force 69 during air operations by Force 70.

                         (Note : Force 70 included USS SARATOGA and HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.)

           24th       Resumed Flotilla duties on return to Trincomalee with Force 69 ships.

 

May                  Nominated for further Fleet screening duties during planned air operations.

             6th        Joined HM Destroyers NAPIER (Cdre D), NEPAL, ROTHERHAM, RACEHORSE,

                         QUIBERON, QUALITY, QUICKMATCH as screen for HMS QUEEN ELIZABETH,

                         VALIANT, RENOWN, French RICHELIEU AND Dutch TROMP deployed as Force

                         65 to provide cover during air operations at Sourabaya, Java by Force 66.

                         (Operation TRANSOM – For details see WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)

                         (Note : Force 66 included USS SARATOGA and HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.)

             10th      Destroyers refuelled from battleships and cruisers.

             16th     Arrived at Exmouth Gulf, Australia to refuel from Fleet oilers deployed as Force 67.

             17th     Deployed with Force 65 during air operations.

             18th     USS SARATOGA detached with USN destroyers and took passage to rejoin US

                         Pacific Fleet.

             27th      Returned to Trincomalee with ships of Force 65.

 

June                  Resumed Flotilla duties for convoy defence in Indian Ocean.

to September    (Note : Ship did not take part in Operations PEDAL, CRIMSON and LIGHT B as

                                    part of Eastern Fleet screen during attacks on Japanese bases.)

 

October            Nominated for Fleet screening duties during diversion operation carried out by

                         Eastern Fleet during US landings at Leyte.

             15th     Deployed with HM Destroyers RAIDER and NORMAN as screen for HM Cruiser

                         LONDON as Group 2 of Force 63 (Operation MILLET).

                         (Note : Group 1 of Force 63 included HMS RENOWN and three destroyers.

                                     Group 3 of Force 63 included HM Aircraft Carriers INDOMITABLE and

                                      VICTORIOUS. HM Cruiser PHOEBE with four destroyers.)

              16th    Destroyers refuelled from HMS RENOWN and cruisers.

              17th    Deployed with screen during air attacks at Nancowry.

                         Carried out bombardment at Malacca with ships of Group 2.

                         Detached with HMS LONDON and HMS NORMAN and carried out bombardment

                         at Car Nicobar.

                         On completion took return passage to Trincomalee.

              18th     Refuelled from  HMS LONDON.

                         (Note : Ships in Operation MILLET came under air attack, this ship may not have

                                      been involved.  This operation revealed several weaknesses. See reference.

 

November        Nominated for return to Home waters and took passage to UK.

                         (Note : This may have been because of need for refit and because of future plans

                                      by Netherlands authorities to meet future requirements in Dutch East

                                      Indies.)

 

December        Deployed in SW Approaches for convoy defence based at Plymouth.

                         (Note : Increased activity by SCHNORKEL fitted submarines for attacks on

                                     coastal traffic had required suitable counter measures including the

                                     provision of additional convoy escorts and support Groups.)

 

1 9 4 5

 

January              Coastal Convoy defence in continuation.

 

February            Nominated for refit prior to service in Dutch East Indies.

 

March                Under refit at Southampton in commercial shipyard.

to July                Carried out harbour trials.

 

August               Passage to Amsterdam on completion of work-up for operational service.

             28th       At Amsterdam after release from RN service.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HM Neth S VAN GALEN was deployed in the Dutch East Indies until 1948 and returned to the Netherlands for refit . She was deployed with the UN naval  force off Korea between 1951 and 1952 after which she served for training duties in European waters. The ship was placed in Reserve in 1953 and three years later placed on the Disposal List.  Sold for demolition she arrived at a Dutch shipbreaker’s yard in February 1957.