Type II HUNT-Class Escort Destroyer ordered on 20th December 1939 from Alex. Stevens, Govan in the 1939 War  Emergency Programme. The ship was laid down on 7th April 1941 as Job No J1480.She was launched on 29th January 1942 as the first RN ship to carry this name, that of a fox-hunt in North Yorkshire. Her build was completed on 16th June 1942 and after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 this ship had been adopted by the civil community of Beverley, then in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

ARCTIC 1942 - NORTH AFRICA 1942 - MALTA CONVOYS 1942

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Barry wavy of six White and Blue,

a fox sejant Red.

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

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June                        Contractor's Sea Trials and commissioned for service in Western Approaches.

                16th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

                                On completion of trials and storing took passage to begin work-up

July                         Worked-up for operational service in NW Approaches.

                                On completion of work-up joined Londonderry Special Escort Division.

.                               Nominated for detached service with Home Fleet ships as escort for Malta relief convoy

                29th        Joined military convoy WS21 for Indian Ocean in Clyde with sister destroyer HMS

                                WILTON as Local Escort during passage in NW Approaches.

August

                2nd         Detached from WS21 to join Home Fleet ships for escort of ships destined for Malta.

                9th          Deployed with HM Destroyers ASHANTI, LEDBURY, FURY, ICARUS, INTREPID,

                                PATHFINDER, PENN, WESTCOTT, WRESTLER and VIDETTE as screen for HM 

                                cruisers NIGERIA, KENYA, MANCHESTER and CAIRO as Force X for WS21S Close

                                Escort during through passage to Malta (Operation PEDESTAL).

                                (For full details of this dramatic operation see PEDESTAL by P Smith, THE BATTLE FOR

                                THE MEDITERRANEAN by D Macintyre, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C

                                Barnett, MALTA CONVOYS by R Woodman and Naval Staff History..

                12th        Under heavy and sustained air attacks during which ss DEUCALIAN in was sunk hit and

                                immobilised.

                                Detached from Force X as escort for this mercantile which had been able to get under

                                way.

                13th        Rescued survivors from ss DEUCALIAN after it had been sunk by torpedo aircraft.

                                During passage to rejoin WS21S diverted to stand by ss DORSET damaged by dive

                                bombing and immobilised.

                                (Note : This ship later sank.)

                14th        Deployed with HM Destroyer PENN to assist damaged tanker OHIO to enter harbour.

                                See above references and FLEET SWEEPERS AT WAR by J Williams).

                19th        Return passage to Gibraltar with HMS PENN and HMS LEDBURY.

                21st         Arrived at Gibraltar.

                24th        Passage from Gibraltar to Scapa Flow.

                                (Note : One source states that this destroyer was part of escort for damaged aircraft

                                carrier HMS INDOMITABLE during passage to UK prior to repair in US Navy dockyard.)

 September            Detached service with Home Fleet in continuation.

                                Deployed for escort of Fleet Auxiliaries required for replenishment of escorts used for

                                defence of Russian convoy PQ18 and returning QP14.

                                On release from Home Fleet detachment rejoined Londonderry Escort Division.

October                  Deployed for convoy defame in NW Approaches.

                                Nominated for escort of military convoys during passage to Gibraltar prior to allied

                                landings in North Africa (Operation TORCH).

                20th        Sailed with HM Destroyer COWDRAY and Polish destroyer ORP BLYSKAWICA for

                                escort of convoy to Gibraltar.

September

                26th        Retained at Gibraltar for escort and support duties during landings.

November              Joined Eastern Task Force for support of landing* at Oran.

                8th          Part of escort for assault convoys.

                12th        Deployed for escort of coastal convoys in support of military operations.

                20th        Under air attack during escort of convoy between Phillippeville and Bone.

                                Hit aft abreast 4in mounting and sustained damage when bomb exploded in sea after

                                passing through structure.

                                An After compartment was flooded and ship taken under tow to Algiers for temporary

                                repair.

                25th        Under repair at Algiers.

December              Repair at Algiers in continuation.

                20th        Passage from Algiers to Gibraltar for further repair to allow return passage to UK.

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January                  Under repair by m Dockyard, Gibraltar.

                24th        Passage to UK as part of escort for Military convoy.

February                Detached from convoy on arrival in UK waters.

                                Repair arranged at Tyneside commercial shipyard.

                                Future deployment with Royal Hellenic Navy under consideration.

                9th          Taken in hand for repair prior to transfer

March                    Under repair.

                                Paid off from RN service and transferred to Royal Hellenic Navy.

April                       Repair in continuation.

to                            Greek naval crew joined.

June

S e r v i c e    u n d e r     G r e e k     N a v a l    C o m m a n d

H.  H . M . S .   T H E M I S T O C L E S

July                         Post refit trials and commissioned as HHMS THEMISTOCLES

                10th        Dockyard work completed and ship prepared for work-up.

August                  Worked up for operation service.

                                Transferred to Mediterranean Fleet.

September             Passage to Algiers on completion of work-up.

                30th        Joined HM Destroyers CROOME, EXMOOR and Greek destroyer KRITI (Ex HMS

                                TETCOTT )in 22nd Destroyer Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet.

                                Nominated for support of military operations in Aegean,.

                                Passage to operational area.

October

                1st           Deployed with HM Destroyer ALDENHAM and sister HUNT Class Greek destroyer

                                HHMS MIAOULIS (Ex HMS MODBURY) for patrol to intercept invasion convoy.

                2nd         Interception unsuccessful but patrol maintained in Kasos Strait after nightfall.

                                (Note : See WAR IN THE AEGEAN by P Smith and E Walker.)

                3rd          Passage to Alexandria to refuel and replenish.

                4th          Sailed from Alexandria with HM Destroyers ALDENHAM, ROCKWOOD and Greek

                                MIAOULIS for Limassol to provide support of military operations in Aegean.

                7th          Passage with HMS ALDENHAM from Limassol to meet HM Cruiser CARLISLE; HM

                                Destroyers PETARD end PANTHER in position south of Scarpanto Straits.

                8th          Detached and returned to Alexandria after unsuccessful search through Straits.

November              Aegean support and cover for evacuation of troops from Leros.

December              Deployed in eastern Mediterranean for convoy defence end patrol.

                                Nominated for support of planned landings at Anzio and took passage to Malta.

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January                  Deployed for defence of military convoys assembling for assault at Anzio.

                                (Operation ANVIL: For details see Naval Staff History and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                                CLOSELY.)

                                Sailed from Naples with Task Unit 81.6

                21st         Part of escort for assault convoys and carried out defensive patrols and support

                                during planned landings

                                Deployed as part of Attack Force X

February                Mediterranean convoy defence and ANVIL support in continuation.                      

to

June

July                         Nominated for escort of military convoys during Assault Phase of planned allied

                                landings in South France (Operation DRAGOON - Formerly ANVIL)

                                Passage to Naples for service under US Navy operational command for DRAGON.

August                  Deployed at Naples.

                11th        Sailed from Naples with US Navy destroyers USS TATNALL, USS BARRY, USS ROPER,

                                USS GREENE and USS OSMOND INGRAM as escort for Convoy SY1 for passage to

                                Propriano.

                                (Note : Convoy SY1 was designated as a Commando Convoy and comprised five British

                                Landing Ships (Infantry) with Commando troops embarked.

                14th        Sailed from Propriano for STIKA area with SY1.

                15th        Detached after arrival In SITKA area and deployed for escort of Follow-up convoys to

                                beach head heads.

                                Resumed RN control on release from DRAGOON.

September             Transferred to British Aegean Force based at Alexandria and took passage to join units in

                                eastern Mediterranean.

                                Joined British Aegean Force and deployed in support of re-occupation of islands in the

                                Aegean and the interception of evacuation craft.

October                  Deployed in Aegean with sister HUNT Class destroyers named by Greek personnel

                                (Note : These were HMS KRITI, PINDOS, KANARIS and MIAOULIS)

                15th        Supported landings at Piraeus (Operation MANNA).

November              Deployed in support of military operations on Greek mainland.

                                Transferred to 12th (Greek) Destroyer Flotilla with Greek manned HUNT Class.

December              Support of military operations in Greek waters with Flotilla.

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January                  Support deployment and convoy defence in continuation.

to

May

June                        Deployed as part of Royal Hellenic Navy.

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

HMS BRAMHAM continued service as HHMS THEMISTOCLES until 12th December 1959 when she was returned to the Royal Navy and placed on the Disposal List. This ship was sold to a Greek shipbreaker on 30th June 1960 and broken up in Greece.