H .   M .   S .    N  O N P A R E I L   ( G 1 6 )

 

“N” Class destroyer ordered from Denny at Dumbarton with the 1939 Programme on 15th April 1939 with HMS NOBLE of the same Class. Laid down on 22nd May 1940 the ship was sold to the Netherlands on 18th March 1941with her sister ship built in the same shipyard. Tender price wasŁ400,684 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 25th June 1941. It is not known whether she was named TJERK HIDDES instead of NONPAREIL but at launch she may have given the Dutch name. She was commissioned into service as HM Neth. Ship TJERK HIDDES on 27th May 1942 after completion on 6th May.. The RN name was introduced in 1558 to replace the name PHILLIP AND MARY for a Galleon after rebuild.. It was previously used for a WW1 destroyer built in 1916  and sold in 1921.TJERK HIDDES was not adopted by any civil community in UK after a successful  “WARSHIP WEEK” National Savings campaign during  1941-42.   She was the 4th RN ship to bear the name which has not be used again since this ship was sold.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s  

HMS NONPAREIL

 

ARMADA 1588 - CADIZ 1596

 

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 .   T J E R K   H I D D E S

 

1 9 4 2

 

May                      Contractors Trials

            6th             Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials

                              (Special Note : The date of completion in some sources in October 1942 is

                                                        incorrect. If, as recorded in another reliable source, this ship

                                                        escorted military convoy WS21P from UK to Middle East

                                                        in July and  August 1942 which suggests build completion

                                                        in June.

           27th            Commissioned into Royal Netherlands Navy service as HM Neth. S. TJERK HIDDES.

                              Nominated for deployment in Eastern Fleet with 7th RN Destroyer Flotilla.

                              On completion of storing took passage to Scapa Flow

 

June

             4th            Commenced work-up with Home Fleet ships at Scapa Flow.

                              Nominated for escort of military convoy during passage from Clyde to Indian Ocean.

 

July                       Completed work-up and prepared for foreign service

            16th           Passage to Clyde.

            17th           Joined HM Cruiser ORION and HM Destroyer NEPAL as Ocean Escort for military

                              convoy  WS21Pon formation in Clyde.

                              (Note : This convoy comprised five troops ships.)

            27th          Detached from WS21P on arrival at Freetown.

            28th          Rejoined WS21P as Ocean Escort with same ships on departure from Freetown.

 

August

              5th          Eight ships of Convoy AS4, which was taking equipment for the 8th Army in Egypt, joined WS21P.

                             (Note : AS4 had been escorted to rendezvous position 9.05S  11.07W by US Navy warships.)

            13th          Detached from WS21P on arrival at Capetown.

            18th          Rejoined WS21P Ocean Escort with same ships during passage from Capetown to Durban.

            20 th         Detached from WS21P with HMS NEPAL and took passage to Kilindini.

                             (Note : HM Destroyer DUNCAN and HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE remained as Ocean Escort.)

             27th         Deployed at Kilindini for Indian Ocean convoy escort.

                             (Note : Ships of Flotilla were returning from detached service in Mediterranean.)

 

September           Nominated for support of planned landings to complete occupation of Madagascar.

                             (Operations STREAM, LINE and JANE.)

                            Took part in preparatory exercises.

               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.

                            (Note : Ships of Force M providing  cover and control of  landings also included

                                        HM Battleship WARSPITE,  HM Aircraft Carrier ILLUSTRIOUS, HM Cruisers GAMBIA

                                        DAUNTLESS  and MANXMAN, HM Monitor EREBUS,  HM Seaplane Carrier

                                        ALBATROSS, HM Destroyers NAPIER, NORMAN, FOXHOUND, HOTSPUR,

                                        ARROW, ACTIVE,  BLACKMORE,  INCONSTANT, FORTUNE, NEPAL, Dutch VAN

                                        GALEN and Dutch TJERK  HlDDES.

              10th          Deployed with VAN GALEN as screen for HMS ILLUSTRIOUS.

             26th        On release from Fleet duties resumed Indian Ocean convoy escort with ships of Flotilla.

 

October               Flotilla duties in continuation.

                            Nominated for service in SW Pacific for convoy defence under overall control of US Navy.

                            Passage to Fremantle

 

November           Joined US 7th Fleet Command and deployed for defence of convoys between Sydney and

to  December      Fremantle

 

1 9 4 3

 

January               Australian convoy defence in continuation.

 

February

              18th      Deployed with sister destroyer VAN GALEN (Ex  HMS NOBLE), 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 of 9th Australian Division 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 with 19th Destroyer Division (RAN)

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

December                       confirm that ship was taken in hand for this work before resuming operations with Eastern

                                        Fleet based at Trincomalee.)

 

1 9 4 4

 

January               SW Pacific deployment in continuation with Flotilla.

                           Nominated for transfer to Eastern Fleet and took passage to Trincomalee to join 7th Destroyer

                           Flotilla with VAN GALEN and TROMP.

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

 

February            On arrival at Trincomalee joined Flotilla and deployed Fleet screening and convoy defence in

                           Indian Ocean.

               22nd    Deployed with HM Destroyer ROTHERHAM as screen for HM Cruiser GAMBIA during search

                           for German blockade runner on passage from Japan to Germany in area SW of Cocos.

               24th      Took return passage to Trincomalee when search was unsuccessful.

 

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  VAN GALEN 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.

           25th         Withdrawn from operation after mechanical defects and escorted one of Fleet oilers during

                           return passage to Trincomalee.

 

April                  Under repair,

to May

 

June                   Resumed Flotilla duties and deployed for convoy escort in Indian Ocean.

to September     Nominated for return to UK

 

October             Passage to UK

 

November         Deployed in SW Approaches for convoy defence with 8th Destroyer Flotilla at Plymouth

 

1 9 4 5

 

January              Deployed at Plymouth

to                       Operational availability to be confirmed

April                 Nominated for refit in commercial shipyard at Dundee.

 

May                  Under refit.

to                       (Note : To join Royal Netherlands Navy on completion

August                           Modern radar outfits fitted.)

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HM Neth. Ship TJERK HIDDES resumed peace time service with the Royal Netherlands Navy after completion of refit at Dundee. She was deployed in the Dutch East Indies until transferred to Indonesia in March 1951. Renamed GADJAH MADA she became Flagship of the Indonesian Navy until 1961 when removed from the Active List.  Sold for demolition in 1956 this destroyer was broken up the next year in Hendrik-Ibo-Anbachht by Rijsdijk.