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H . M . S
. B L A N K N E Y ( L 3 0 )
Type II 'HUNT'
Class Escort Destroyer built by John Brown at Clydebank, Glasgow under the 1939
War Emergency Programme and ordered as Job No J1570 on 4 September 1939. The
ship was laid down on 17th May 1940 and was the first RN warship to bear the
Name. She was launched on 19th December 1940 and completed on 11th April 1941.
After a successful 'WARSHIP WEEK' National Savings campaign in February 1942
this Escort Destroyer was ‘adopted’ by the civil community of Nantwich in Cheshire
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1941-43
- MALTA CONVOYS 1942
- ARCTIC 1942-43 - SICILY
1943 - SALERNO
1943 - NORMANDY 1944
-
MEDITERRANEAN 1944
H
e r a l d i c
D a t a
Badge : On a Field Red,
a griffin's head erased Gold
in front of two hunting horns in saltire
White.
D e t a i l s o f
W a r S e r v i c e
1 9 4 1
April Contractors trials and commissioned for service
11th Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
On completion of trials and storing took passage
to work-up for operational service.
May On completion of work-up joined Irish Sea Escort
Force
June
Deployed for Atlantic convoy escort duty in NW
Approaches.
to Nominated for escort of military convoy to
Gibraltar
August
September
17th Joined military convoy WS11X as part of escort with ships detached
from the Home Fleet
including HM Battleship PRINCE OF WALES, HM
Cruisers EURYALUS and KENYA. HM
Destroyers GALLANT, LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, ORIBI
and Polish ORP GARLAND and
PIORUN.
(Operation HALBERD - Malta Relief Convoy .See
Naval Staff History (HMSO-2002) and
THE BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by
D Macintyre.)
24th Detached from WS11X on relief off Gibraltar by ships of Force H.
Passage to resume duties In NW Approaches.
October
1st Joined military convoy WS12 in Clyde with HM Destroyer STANLEY as
part of escort during
Atlantic passage.
4th Remained with WS12 after Local Escort including HM Cruiser CAIRO
detached.
7th Detached from WS12 with HMS STANLEY and returned to Clyde.
November
Transferred to 11th Escort Group in continuation of Atlantic convoy defence.
Nominated for transfer to Mediterranean.
December
Joined 20th Escort Group at Londonderry.
Part of escort for Convoy HG76 for passage to
Gibraltar.
(Note : Carried stores for RAF at Gibraltar with
HM Destroyer ARROW.
Transferred to 13th Destroyer on arrival at
Gibraltar.
17th Part of escort for Convoy HG76 during initial stage of passage from
Gibraltar to Liverpool..
During support operations in defence of convoy
participated in sinking of U131 with HM
Destroyer EXMOOR and ships of 36th Escort Group
commanded by Commander F J Walker a
renowned U-Boat 'killer'.
(For details of this operation and other
sinkings in the Atlantic see U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO), THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D
Macintyre, ENGAGE
THE ENEMY MDRE CLOSELY BY Corelli Barnett,
RELENTLESS PURSUIT by D
Wemyss and U- BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.).
18th Continued A/S defence of HG76.
Deployed with HM Destroyer STANLEY and located,
rammed and sank U434.
Sustained consequential structural damage.
21st Taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard Gibraltar
1 9 4 2
January
Under repair at Gibraltar.
February
On completion joined 37 Destroyer Division at Gibraltar for Local defence of
convoys.
(For details of operations in Mediterranean
during 1942 see above references and Naval Staff
History,
Passage from Gibraltar to Clyde for escort of
military convoy.
16th Joined HM Destroyers ACTIVE, ANTHONY, CROOME, DUNCAN, FIREDRAKE,
LIGHTNING and
LAFOREY as part of escort for Convoy WS16 during Atlantic passage.
21st Detached from WS12 as escort for HM Aircraft Carrier ARGUS carrying
aircraft for transfer
to Malta as part of Operation SPOTTER.
27th Joined escort for HM Aircraft Carriers ARGUS and EAGLE ferrying
reinforcement aircraft to
Malta covered by HM Battleship MALAYA, HM
Cruiser HERMIONE, HM Destroyers
LAFOREY, LIGHTNING, ACTIVE, ANTHONY,
WHITEHALL, WISHART, EXMOOR
and CROOME. (Operation SPOTTER).
28th Operation aborted and returned to Gibraltar.
March
6th Joined same ships for escort of carriers (Operation SPOTTER)
(Note : Repeat of previous operation)
20th Joined escort for HMS ARGUS and HMS EAGLE with HMS MALAYA, HMS
HERMIONE,
HM Destroyers LAFOREY, DUNCAN, ACTIVE, ANTHONY,
WHITEHALL, WISHART,
EXMOOR and CROOME for repeat Malta aircraft
delivery (Operation PICKET I).
27th Deployed with same ships for further aircraft delivery (Operation
PICKET II).
April Transferred to 6th Destroyer Flotilla, Home Fleet
and took passage to UK
. Deployed with Home Fleet in NW Approaches.
May
2nd Escorted HM Battleship KING GEORGE V to UK from Iceland after her
collision in
low visibility with HM Destroyer PUNJABI during
cover for passage of the Russian
Convoy PQ15.
23rd Part of Escort for Home Fleet ships covering Russian Convoy PQ16 and
returning Convoy
QP12 from the Kola Inlet
(For details of all Russian Convoy operations
see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R Ruegg.
THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B. Schoefield and CONVOY
! by P Kemp).
June Detached for defence of Malta relief convoy from UK
5th Joined Malta relief convoy in Clyde as escort during passage to
Gibraltar with HM Cruisers
KENYA and LIVERPOOL, HM Destroyers BEDOUIN,
ESCAPADE, ICARUS, MARNE,
MATCHLESS, ONSLOW, HM Escort Destroyers
BADSWORTH and MIDDLETON.
(Operation HARPOON)
(See above references for Mediterranean
service.).
11th On arrival off Gibraltar deployed as part of Force X for Close
Escort of Malta Convoy through
to Malta with H M Cruiser CAIRO, HM
Destroyers BEDOUIN, MARNE, MATCHLESS,
ITHURIEL, PARTRIDGE, HM Escort Destroyers
MIDDLETON, BADSWORTH and Polish
destroyer ORP KUJAWIAK.
(Note : Force X also included HM Minesweepers
HEBE, SPEEDY, HYTHE and RYE on passage
for minesweeping duties based in Malta.)
Cover for passage to Sicilian Narrows was
provided by HM Aircraft Carriers EAGLE, ARGUS,
HM Battleship MALAYA, HM Cruiser CHARYBDIS, and
destroyers from Gibraltar Local
Flotilla deployed as Force W.
For full details of HARPOON see MALTA CONVOYS by
R Woodman.
15th In action with Italian cruiser Squadron in defence of convoy after
covering force from Gibraltar
had detached from Force X.
16th Took passage to Gibraltar on arrival of remaining two mercantiles in
Malta with surviving ships
of Force X.
(Note : ORP KUJAWIAK was sunk on arrival with
HMS BADSWORTH and HMS
MATCHLESS SERIOUSLY damaged by mines.)
19th Returned to Gibraltar with Force X and ships of covering Force
22nd Passage to UK to rejoin Flotilla with other ships detached from Home
Fleet.
July Deployed with HM
Destroyers ASHANTI, ESCAPADE, FAULKNOR, MARNE, MARTIN,
ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW,
HM Escort Destroyer MIDDLETON, US destroyers USS
MAYRANT and RHIND
as screen for HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK, US battleship USS
WASHINGTON,
HM Aircraft Carrier
VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers CUMBERLAND and NIGERIA to provide
Distant Cover for
passage of Russian Convoy PQ17 and return Convoy QP13 from Murmansk to
Iceland.
3rd Took passage to return to Scapa Flow with Distant Cover ships when
PQ17 scattered by order
from Admiralty.
See above references and THE CONVOY IS TO
SCATTER by J Broome.
20th Carried replenishment stocks of ammunition to Murmansk with HM
Destroyers MARNE,
MARTIN and MIDDLETON.
24th Arrived at Murmansk.
30th Damaged in collision at Murmansk and taken in hand for repair.
August
Under repair.
September On
completion of repair remained in North Russia to join escort for next return
convoy to UK.
13th Sailed from Archangel
as part of Local Escort for return Convoy QP14 and transferred Home
Fleet ships which
transferred from inward Convoy PQ18 for defence of QP14 during transit to
Loch Ewe.
(Note : This
deployment for return after repair is to be confirmed)
Detached from QP18 and returned to Scapa Flow
for Home Fleet duties.
(Note : Further repair may have been require
before resuming operational service in Home Fleet)
October
Deployment with Home Fleet in NW Approaches to be confirmed.
to
November
December
15th Provided Western Local Escort from Loch Ewe for outward Russian
Convoy JW51A with
HM Escort Destroyers
CHIDDINGFOLD and LEDBURY.
18th Detached from JW51B and returned to Scapa Flow.
22nd Provided Local Western Escort for Russian Convoy JW51B with same
ships.
25th Detached from JW51B.
1 9 4 3
January
6th Joined returning Russian Convoy RA51 as Local Western Escort with
HMS LEDBURY.
10th Detached from RA51.
17th Provided Local Western Escort from Loch Ewe for Russian Convoy JW52
with HMS
LEDBURY and HMS
MIDDLETON.
21st Detached from JW52.
February
5th Joined returning Russian Convoy RA52 with HMS MIDDLETON for local
escort.
8th Detached on arrival at Loch Ewe.
10th Resumed Home Fleet duties at Scapa Flow.
March
Deployed in NW Approaches for escort and patrol duties.
to
May
June Nominated for duty in support of Mediterranean
operations.
21st Detached from joint convoy with ships destined for Mediterranean
(Convoy KMF17)
with Home Fleet escorts after relief by HM
Destroyers AMAZON, BLACKMORE, BULLDOG
and FOXHOUND which escorted ships destined for
Freetown (WS31).
On arrival at Gibraltar joined 58 Destroyer
Division, Mediterranean Fleet
July Deployed with Support Force East for Sicily
landings (Operation HUSKY).
(For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
and Naval Staff History)
Deployed as Escort Group V with HM Escort
Destroyers BLENCATHRA, BRECON and
BRISSENDEN.
(For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
and Naval Staff History.)
Passage to Bone for convoy escort.
7th Sailed from Bone as part of escort for military Convoy KMF18
9th Detached from KMF18 to refuel,
10th Rejoined KMF18 escort for passage to BARK WEST beach head,
Detached from escort on arrival and deployed for
patrol and support during ;landings
(For details see BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de
Winser.)
Bombarded shore batteries in BARK EAST Landing
area with HM Escort Destroyer
PUCKERIDGE.
13th Involved in collision with HM Destroyer BRISSENDEN during
anti-submarine operation.
(Note : Remained operational but HMS PUCKERIDGE
sustained extensive damage to port
bow structure.
August
Deployed in central Mediterranean for support of landing operations.
September
Nominated for escort and support of planned allied landing as at Salerno.
Passage to Bizerta
4th Deployed for escort of military convoy FSS1 from Bizerta to beach
head
(Operation AVALANCHE)
9th Joined Northern Task Force with 21st Destroyer Flotilla gunfire
support and patrol off Salerno..
See above references and Naval Staff History).
October
Deployed for escort and patrol duty with 58 Destroyer Division in Western
Mediterranean.
to
December
1 9 4 4
January
Deployment for convoy defence and patrol in central and western in continuation.
to
February
March
8th Participated in sinking of U50 SW of Anzio in position 41.11N
12.27E with HM Destroyers
BLENCATHRA, BRECON and US destroyer USS MADISON.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.
April Convoy defence and anti-submarine patrol in
continuation.
May Nominated for support of allied landings in Normandy
(Operation NEPTUNE)
(LANDINGS IN NORMANDY (HMSO). D-DAY SHIPS by J
de Winser and ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett).
3rd Deployed in support of US warships escorting Convoy GUS38.
4th Participated in sinking of U371 off Bougie in position 37.M9N 5.39E
with with US ships and
Free French SENEGALAIS.
Passage to UK to join 1st Destroyer Flotilla
based at Portsmouth
Allocated to Force G for support of British
landings in Normandy..
18th Took part with ships of Forces J and S in joint defence exercise off
Brighton.
June Joined Escort Group 115 with HM Sloops LARK, CRANE,
HM Frigates CHELMER and
TORRINGTON.
5th Escorted ten Infantry Landing Craft and two Rescue Craft (Convoy
G15) from Solent to GOLD
beachhead.
6th Detached from G15 on arrival and deployed in Eastern Task Force
until Build-up Phase.
7th Returned to Portsmouth for escort and patrol duty in support of
landings.
On termination of NEPTUNE deployed for Support
duty in continuation off beach heads
July Channel support duties
in continuation.
to
August
September
Deployed for Channel convoy escort and patrol duty with Flotilla.
to Escort of convoys in eastern Channel area.
October
Nominated for refit in commercial shipyard.
November
Under refit at Liverpool.
to
December
1 9 4 5
January
Nominated for duty with 21st Destroyer Flotilla based at Sheerness.
Carried out Post refit trials in Irish Sea..
6th Passage to Join Flotilla.
15th Deployed for North Sea convoy escort, for interception of E-Boats
and other craft including
submersibles attempting minelaying and other
operations in the Thames estuary.
February
North Sea duties in continuation.
to (Note: 'Schnorkel' fitted submarines were being
deployed at convoy assembly
May areas for Atlantic convoy traffic which had been
re-routed via Channel when air threat
from French bases had been removed by the allied
advance.
This increased the load on all escorts for
anti-submarine defence.).
June Nominated for transfer to Eastern Fleet and prepared
for foreign service.
(Note : To be refitted at Simonstown before
operation deployment.)
July Passage to South Africa
Taken in hand for refit.
August
Under refit.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS BLANKNEY completed refit after VJ Day and the ship returned to
UK. In May 1946 she was Paid off and entered Reserve at Devonport
. The ship had a refit in 1948 and was then laid up in Reserve Fleet at Sheerness . Later during 1952 she was transferred to moved to Hartlepool
.Approval was given for her to be placed on the Disposal List on 22nd October
1958. Placed on the Sales list the next year she was sold to BISCO for
demolition by Hughes Bolcow at Blyth
and arrived at the breaker’s yard in tow on 9th March that year. |
