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H . M . S . H
U R S L E Y ( L 8 4 )
Type II HUNT Class
Escort Destroyer ordered with 15 others of this Type on 20th December 1939 in
the War Emergency Programme. The ship was laid down by Swan Hunter at Wallsend
on 21st December 1940 as Job No J4139 and launched on 25th July 1941 as the
first RN ship to carry this name, that of a Fox-hunt in Hampshire. Build was
completed on 2nd April 1942. After a WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in
March 1942 this destroyer was adopted
by the civil community of Ringwood, Hampshire. She was transferred to the Greek
Navy in 1943 and renamed KRITI as shown in the Chronology.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
MEDITERRANEAN 1942-43 - SICILY 1943 -
AEGEAN 1943
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge
: On a Field Red in front of a hunting horn erect
the sails of a windmill White.
D e t a i l s o f
W a r S e r v i c e
1 9 4 2
March Contractors
trials and commissioned for service in 2nd Destroyer Flotilla, Eastern Fleet.
April
2nd Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials
Passage to Scapa Flow on completion of trials and storing,
Deployed at Scapa Flow to work-up for operational service.
Part of escort for HM Battleship KING GEORGE V,
US Battleship USS WASHINGTON, HM
Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS, HM Cruiser KENYA and US Cruiser WICHITA to provide
cover
for transit of Russian Convoys PQ15 to Murmansk and QP11 to Iceland.
(Note: Party of screen with HM Destroyers, ESCAPADE, FAULKNOR, INGLEFIELD,
MARNE, MARTIN, ORIBI, PUNJABI. HM Escort Destroyers BELVOIR, LAMERTON,
MIDDLETON, US Navy destroyers USS MADISON, USS PLUNKETT, USS WILSON
AND
WAINWRIGHT.
The
US Navy ships had been lent to the Home Fleet following RN losses earlier in
1942)
May Home Fleet
escort duties in continuation.
(Note: HMS KING GEORGE V was replaced by HMS DUKE OF YORK after being damaged in
a
collision with HMS PUNJABI which was sunk).
For
details of all Russian Convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R A Ruegg,
THE
RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield, CONVOY ! by P Kemp and ARCTIC
CONVOYS by R. Woodman).
On
completion of work-up took passage to
Clyde to join escort for military Convoy WS 19
11th
Joined HM Cruiser MAURITIUS, HM Armed Merchant Cruiser CARNARVON CASTLE and
HM Destroyer
BELVOIR in NW Approaches as Ocean Escort during Atlantic passage for
military convoy
WS19.
22nd Detached from WS19 on
arrival at Freetown.
25th Deployed with m Cruiser MAURITIUS, HM Sloop MILFORD
and HM Destroyer HURSLEY
for escort of WS19 during passage from Freetown
to Cape of Good Hope.
26th Sailed from Freetown
with WS19 as part of Ocean Escort.
June
5th Remained with ships
of WS19 for passage to Durban when others detached to enter
Capetown.
14th Passage from Durban
with HMS BELVOIR to rejoin WS19 during passage to Durban.
23rd Detached from WS19
and took passage to Mombasa to refuel.
Transferred on
loan to 5th Destroyer Flotilla in Mediterranean and took passage to
Alexandria
Note : This
change in deployment was made following heavy losses and damage to ships of
Mediterranean
Fleet in defence VIGOROUS convoy, defence of Greece and Crete.)
29th Joined Flotilla at
Alexandria.
July Deployed
for flotilla duties in eastern
Mediterranean
25th Escorted
damaged HM Submarine PORPOISE to Port Said with HMS BELVOIR
August
29th Took part
in bombardment of Abu Dabba and received some damage in air attack.
September
Deployed with Flotilla for Tobruk convoy defence
and support of military operation
14th Escorted Tug BRIGAND
from Alexandria with HM Escort Destroyer ALDENHAM to meet
damaged cruiser
HMS COVENTRY and damaged destroyer ZULU on passage from Tobruk.
Established tow
of HMS ZULU.
Came under air
attacks during which HMS ZULU was hit and sunk
Took
disabled ship in tow but this failed during passage to Alexandria
HMS
ZULU sank in position 32.00N 28.56E.
For
details of this ill-planned operation which met with determined opposition
see
MASSACRE AT TOBRUK by P Smith and above references).
October Carried out two
diversionary operations in support of Army advance.
(Operations
LIGHTFOOT and SUPERCHARGE - See OFFICIAL MILITARY
HISTORY,
MEDITERRANEAN (HMSO)
November Deployed for defence of
convoys between Alexandria and Tobruk
17th Deployed with HM
Destroyers ALDENHAM, BEAUFORT, CROOME. DULVERTON,
EXMOOR, BELVOIR,
HURWORTH, TETCOTT and Greek PINDOS as Close Escort for Malta
relief Convoy
MW13 (Operation STONEAGE).
18th Under air attack
during which HM Cruiser ARETHUSA was torpedoed and returned in tow to
Alexandria.
19th Detached from MW13 on
arrival in Malta and returned to Alexandria with the other ships of
Close Escort.
21st Arrived
at Port Said after series of unsuccessful air attacks on passage.
December Coastal convoy
defence in continuation.
25th At
Alexandria for Xmas period.
1 9 4 3
January Deployed at
Alexandria with Flotilla in support of Army operations and defence of coastal
convoys.
14th Took part
in sinking of Italian submarine NARVALO with HM Destroyer PAKENHAM.
Submarine was carrying ammunition and fuel to Tripoli.
February Part of
escort for Convoy XT3 (Alexandria
- Tripoli).
19th Took part
in the sinking of U562 with HI Destroyer ISIS and aircraft in position
32.57N 20.5E,
NW of
Benghazi).
There
were no survivors. See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp
Transferred to 22nd Destroyer Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet.
March Convoy
defence and support duties in
Eastern Mediterranean in continuation.
to
April
May
8th Deployed
with HM Escort Destroyers ALDENHAM, DULVERTON, LAMERTON,
WILTON, ZETLAND, Greek KANARIS and Fleet destroyers to blockade Cape Bon
area
in order to intercept craft evacuating enemy troops from North Africa.
Operation RETRIBUTION - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett).
12th Took part
in landing operation on island of Zembra off Tunisia with HMS ALDENHAM and
Greek Escort Destroyer KANARIS (Ex HMS
HATHERLEIGH).
Returned to Malta with
personnel captured on Zembra.
(See
THE LAST DESTROYER by F A Mason).
June Escort
and support duties based in Malta.
Nominated for support of allied landings in Sicily (Operation HUSKY).
(For
details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, Naval Staff History) and BRITISH
INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser
July .
Joined Support Force East for escort for assault
convoys and support of landings.
Deployed as part of Escort Group R
Passage to Alexandria.
6th Sailed
from Alexandria as part of escort for military convoy MWF36
7th Detached
from MWF36 and returned to Alexandria.
9th Sailed
from Alexandria as part of escort for military follow-up convoy MWS36.
Detached from MWS36 and took passage to Syracuse
Deployed for HUSKY support duties and convoy defence.
August Flotilla
duties in continuation for HUSKY support.
September Detached for
duty in LEVANT HUNT Flotilla for support of military operations in
Aegean
to
occupy islands after surrender of Italian forces.
(Note
: Italian troops formed the garrison of Leros, Cos and other islands. The
German theatre
commander was determined to hold these islands by sending German troops by sea to take
over
their defence)
Deployed for defence of convoys taking troops to Aegean islands and for patrol
to intercept
invasion craft.
Based
at Alexandria.
October Aegean
support in continuation.
16th Sailed
from Alexandria as screen for HI Cruiser AURORA with HM Destroyers PENN,
JERVIS, and Greek Escort Destroyer MIAOULIS (Ex HMS MODBURY).
Carried out interception patrol off east coast of Kalymnos and Leros with Greek
MIAOULIS.
Engaged Italian E-Boats and Sloop off Port Akti, Kalymnos sinking UJ2109 (Ex HM
Minesweeper WIDNES) used for escort duties.
Came
under air attack and escaped without damage.
Landed stores at Leros.
17th Laid up
in Turkish waters till nightfall.
Deployed with HM Destroyers JERVIS,
PENN and Greek MIAOULIS for support of
shore
operations.
18th Laid up
in Turkish waters during daylight to avoid air attacks.
After
nightfall carried cut reconnaissance of Pserimos Island.
During subsequent bombardment of
Cos hit by
return fire and damaged forward.
Withdrew to meet HMS AURORA.
19th Passage
to Alexandria from Scarpanto with HMS AURORA, HMS PENN, HMS JERVIS and
Greek
MIAOULIS.
20th Under
repair.
23rd Sailed
from Alexandria with HMS AURORA and HMS ALDENHAM.
24th Embarked
troops from HMS PHOEBE whilst laid up in Turkish waters during daylight.
25th Landed
troops in Leros with HMS ALDENHAM.
After
relief by HMS AURORA, HM Destroyers PATHFINDER, EXMOOR and
BLENCATHRA returned to Alexandria.
November
2nd
Transferred to Royal Hellenic Navy and renamed KRITI.
Remained in 22nd Destroyer Flotilla.
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 . K R I T I
December On completion
of work-up for service at Alexandria took passage to Algiers.
1 9 4 4
January Deployed for
convoy escort from ports in
North Africa to Naples in preparation
for planned
allied landings at Anzio.
(Operation SHINGLE - see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, Naval Staff History
and
BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser for details of all ships involved.).
Nominated for service with Southern Attack Force (X-ray) under US Navy command
for
support
of landings by US VI Corps.
20th Sailed
from Naples and deployed with US Cruiser USS BROOKLYN, HM Cruiser PENELOPE,
US
destroyers USS CLEAVES, USS
PLUNKETT, USS NIBLACK, USS WOOLSEY, USS
MAYO,
USS TRIP, USS LUDLOW, USS EDISON, HM
Escort Destroyer CROOME and Greek
Escort Destroyer THEMISTOCLES for escort of assault convoy.
22nd Provided
support with ships of Southern Attack Force.
Under
air attacks including minelaying (See above references).
February Deployed for
defence of military convoys and gunfire support of SHINGLE landings
March Resumed
Flotilla duties based at Algiers
for convoy defence and patrol in central
and eastern
Mediterranean.
April Flotilla
duties In continuation.
to
June
July
Nominated for support of planned allied landings in South France under US
Command.
Prepared for support operations.
(Operation DRAGOON - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, INVASION OF
THE
SOUTH OF FRANCE
(HMSO) and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS.).
August Passage to
Naples for escort of "S" Assault convoys
12th Sailed
from Naples as escort of Convoy SF2 (DELTA) with US Escort Destroyer USS
CURRIER, HM
Fleet Minesweepers ANTARES, ARCTURUS, BRAVE, RINALDO, SPANKER
and
five US Navy
Patrol Craft.
(Note
: This convoy comprised 38 Landing Craft (INFANTRY)).
14th Arrived
in Assembly position AN off DELTA Sector.
22nd Released
from US Command and resumed Flotilla duties.
September Convoy defence
and patrol in continuation.
October Transferred
to British Aegean Force based at Alexandria for support of military
operations to
re-occupy Aegean islands and Greek mainland.
(Operation MANNA - see above references and MEDITERRANEAN AND MIDDLE EAST
MILITARY HISTORY
Vol VI (Part D) (HMSO).
Deployed for interception of German evacuation craft.
Deployed at Athens after allied entry.
November Transferred to
Greek 12th Flotilla at Pireaus.
Deployed for support of military operations and convoy defence.
December Military
support operations deployment in continuation.
1 9 4 5
January Deployed in
Aegean and Greek coastal areas for convoy defence and support of military
to
operations.
March
April
1st Carried
out bombardment of Rhodes with HM Destroyer KIMBERLEY and sister ship HMS
CATTERICK.
May After VE
Day transferred on loan to Royal Hellenic Navy.
June Under
Greek naval control.
to
August
P o s
t W a r N o t e s
HMS HURSLEY remained with the Royal Hellenic Navy as HHMS
KRITI until 12th December 1959 when she reverted to RN control and was placed
on the Disposal List. The ship was sold for breaking-up in Greece on 27th April
1960 and towed to ship-breakers later that year.
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