HMS Bicester (L34)
Encyclopedia
HMS Bicester (pennant number
L34) was an escort destroyer
of the Hunt Type II class. The Royal Navy
ordered Bicesters construction three months after the outbreak of the Second World War. Hawthorn Leslie & Co.
laid down her keel at their Tyne
yard on 29 May 1940, as Admiralty Job Number J4210. The ship was named after a fox hunt in Oxfordshire
.
and the Queen
back to England after their visit to a naval base at Larne
, Northern Ireland
. In July, the destroyer completed her work-up, and joined the Londonderry Special Escort Force. On 29 July the Bicester joined military convoy WS21 in the Clyde with the destroyers HMS Bramham
, HMS Wilton, HMS Keppel and HMS Salisbury as the local escort for the convoy during its passage in the North-western Approaches.
In August, Bicester was nominated for detached escort service for a convoy aimed to relieve Malta
. On 4 August the Bicester detached from WS21, and joined the Malta relief convoy WS21S, which had set off from the Clyde to Gibraltar
on 2 August as part of Operation Pedestal
. The destroyer passed through the Strait of Gibraltar
, and joined the escort for ships on 11 August while on passage through the Sicilian Narrows to Malta.
On 12 August the convoy came under heavy submarine and air attack, during which the aircraft carrier Eagle
was sunk. Further attacks by submarines sank and severely damaged both escorts and ships, with the result that Bicester had to be detached from the convoy along with HMS Derwent and HMS Wilton to escort the damaged HMS Nigeria
back to Gibraltar. On 18 August the Bicester was released from Operation Pedestal, and the destroyer took passage back to Derry
to resume her escort duties, joining as local escort of military convoy WS22 on 28 August.
for allied landings
on 8 October. Bicester was deployed escorting the convoys to Gibraltar throughout November and December.
In January 1943, the Bicester was based at Algiers
in continuation of her duties. In February, the destroyer was deployed with other Hunt-class destroyers for patrol and convoy escorting duties. On 17 February she took part in the search for the Italian submarine Asteria whilst defending a convoy. On 20 February the Bicester was deployed with the destroyers HMS Lamerton and HMS Wheatland on their search for U-443. The Bicester took part in attacks on the German submarine, along with the other two destroyers and on 23 February, after a three-day search and destroy operation, the submarine was sunk by sustained depth charge attacks, with no survivors.
Between March and April, the Bicester continued her convoy defence and patrol duties at Algiers. In May the destroyer took part in the blockade of the Cape Bon area in order to prevent the escape of Axis craft
. On 9 May, during deployment with HMS Oakley, the destroyers found themselves under air attack by Spitfire aircraft; the Bicester sustained major damage from a near miss, with the bomb exploding alongside causing major flooding and extensive damage. The Bicester was taken in tow to Malta for temporary repairs, which were carried out in June. In July, the destroyer made a passage through to the United Kingdom for permanent repairs, which were carried out between August and September.
when an ammunition ship was hit and exploded. The destroyer HMS Zetland
was also damaged, but less seriously. HMS Zetland towed the Bicester to Taranto
for repairs.
In January 1944, the destroyer was under repair. These were completed on 15 January with a post repair trial and the resumption of convoy defence duty. The Bicester was deployed for convoy escort duties in the central Mediterranean, and for support of military operations in the Adriatic between February and April. On 5 May the Bicester bombarded the town of Ardea
in support of shore operations. Between June and July, the destroyer was back in the Adriatic in the support and defence of convoys.
The Bicester joined US Navy ships on their passage to Naples
in August 1944, forming part of the escort for Assault Convoy SM1 which was made up of three Royal Navy trawlers, and six US Navy minor warships. The destroyer detached from SM1 on 15 August upon arriving off the landing beachhead. After being released from Operation Dragoon
, the Bicester returned to Royal Navy control in September, and was deployed in the Adriatic in the support of convoys, guerilla attacks and other shore operations. Between October and November, the Bicester formed close support of the reoccupation of a number of Aegean islands
, as well as convoy defence duties. During December and January, the destroyer was a Piraeus
guardship, supporting and defending convoys, until she was rebased at Malta from where she was nominated for refit in Alexandria
.
The refit of the Bicester began in March, and the destroyer was nominated for service in the Eighteenth Destroyer Flotilla of the Eastern Fleet. The destroyer made a passage to the United Kingdom, where she was taken in had for refit in order to improve habitability in June 1945. Upon completion of these works in July, the ship was recommissioned and the destroyer took to the Indian Ocean to join the flotilla of the Eastern Fleet. In August the Bicester arrived at Trincomalee
before VJ Day, and joined the flotilla. On 28 August the destroyer sailed from Trincomalee as part of escort for Convoy JMA2BS during her passage to assault a beachhead near Port Dickson
.
After her arrival at Sheerness
on 12 December 1945 the Bicester was deployed in the More Local Flotilla. In 1947, the destroyer became the Leader of Flotilla, and was deployed for training and local duties until January 1950 when she paid-off and was put in Reserve at Chatham
.
Although brought forward to attend the Coronation Review in 1953, this ship was not recommissioned for operational service before being placed on the Disposal List in 1955. She was sold to T. W. Ward in 1956, and arrived in tow at the breakers yard in Grays, Essex on 23 August 1956 for demolition.
Pennant number
In the modern Royal Navy, and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth, ships are identified by pennant numbers...
L34) was an escort destroyer
Destroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
of the Hunt Type II class. The Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
ordered Bicesters construction three months after the outbreak of the Second World War. Hawthorn Leslie & Co.
Hawthorn Leslie and Company
R. & W. Hawthorn Leslie and Company, Limited, usually referred to as Hawthorn Leslie, was a shipbuilding and locomotive manufacturer. The Company was founded on Tyneside in 1886 and ceased building ships in 1982.-History:...
laid down her keel at their Tyne
River Tyne
The River Tyne is a river in North East England in Great Britain. It is formed by the confluence of two rivers: the North Tyne and the South Tyne. These two rivers converge at Warden Rock near Hexham in Northumberland at a place dubbed 'The Meeting of the Waters'.The North Tyne rises on the...
yard on 29 May 1940, as Admiralty Job Number J4210. The ship was named after a fox hunt in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
.
Early operations
The Bicester began her contractor trials and commissioning in June, passing her acceptance trials on 16 June and beginning work-up procedures. On 26 June the Bicester escorted King George VIGeorge VI of the United Kingdom
George VI was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Commonwealth from 11 December 1936 until his death...
and the Queen
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
Elizabeth Angela Marguerite Bowes-Lyon was the queen consort of King George VI from 1936 until her husband's death in 1952, after which she was known as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, to avoid confusion with her daughter, Queen Elizabeth II...
back to England after their visit to a naval base at Larne
Larne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. In July, the destroyer completed her work-up, and joined the Londonderry Special Escort Force. On 29 July the Bicester joined military convoy WS21 in the Clyde with the destroyers HMS Bramham
HMS Bramham (L51)
HMS Bramham was a Hunt class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down in Alexander Stephen and Sons shipyards Govan, Scotland on 7 April 1941. She was launched on 29 January 1942 and commissioned into the Royal Navy on 16 June 1942. In the following August she served in Operation Pedestal, a mission...
, HMS Wilton, HMS Keppel and HMS Salisbury as the local escort for the convoy during its passage in the North-western Approaches.
In August, Bicester was nominated for detached escort service for a convoy aimed to relieve Malta
Malta Convoys
The Malta Convoys were a series of Allied supply convoys that sustained the besieged island of Malta during the Mediterranean Theatre of the Second World War...
. On 4 August the Bicester detached from WS21, and joined the Malta relief convoy WS21S, which had set off from the Clyde to Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
on 2 August as part of Operation Pedestal
Operation Pedestal
Operation Pedestal was a British operation to get desperately needed supplies to the island of Malta in August 1942, during the Second World War. Malta was the base from which surface ships, submarines and aircraft attacked Axis convoys carrying essential supplies to the Italian and German armies...
. The destroyer passed through the Strait of Gibraltar
Strait of Gibraltar
The Strait of Gibraltar is a narrow strait that connects the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea and separates Spain in Europe from Morocco in Africa. The name comes from Gibraltar, which in turn originates from the Arabic Jebel Tariq , albeit the Arab name for the Strait is Bab el-Zakat or...
, and joined the escort for ships on 11 August while on passage through the Sicilian Narrows to Malta.
On 12 August the convoy came under heavy submarine and air attack, during which the aircraft carrier Eagle
HMS Eagle (1918)
HMS Eagle was an early aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy. Ordered by Chile as the Almirante Cochrane, she was laid down before World War I. In early 1918 she was purchased by Britain for conversion to an aircraft carrier; this work was finished in 1924...
was sunk. Further attacks by submarines sank and severely damaged both escorts and ships, with the result that Bicester had to be detached from the convoy along with HMS Derwent and HMS Wilton to escort the damaged HMS Nigeria
HMS Nigeria (60)
HMS Nigeria was a Crown Colony-class light cruiser of the British Royal Navy completed early in World War II and served throughout that conflict. She was named for the British territory of Nigeria.-Home waters:...
back to Gibraltar. On 18 August the Bicester was released from Operation Pedestal, and the destroyer took passage back to Derry
Derry
Derry or Londonderry is the second-biggest city in Northern Ireland and the fourth-biggest city on the island of Ireland. The name Derry is an anglicisation of the Irish name Doire or Doire Cholmcille meaning "oak-wood of Colmcille"...
to resume her escort duties, joining as local escort of military convoy WS22 on 28 August.
Back to Gibraltar
The Bicester detached from WS22 on 1 September, returning to Derry for further convoy escort duties, which included joining military convoy WS23 in the Clyde on 4 October. After detaching from WS23, the Bicester returned for escort duties in Derry, and was nominated for the escort of military convoys to North AfricaNorth Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
for allied landings
Operation Torch
Operation Torch was the British-American invasion of French North Africa in World War II during the North African Campaign, started on 8 November 1942....
on 8 October. Bicester was deployed escorting the convoys to Gibraltar throughout November and December.
In January 1943, the Bicester was based at Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
in continuation of her duties. In February, the destroyer was deployed with other Hunt-class destroyers for patrol and convoy escorting duties. On 17 February she took part in the search for the Italian submarine Asteria whilst defending a convoy. On 20 February the Bicester was deployed with the destroyers HMS Lamerton and HMS Wheatland on their search for U-443. The Bicester took part in attacks on the German submarine, along with the other two destroyers and on 23 February, after a three-day search and destroy operation, the submarine was sunk by sustained depth charge attacks, with no survivors.
Between March and April, the Bicester continued her convoy defence and patrol duties at Algiers. In May the destroyer took part in the blockade of the Cape Bon area in order to prevent the escape of Axis craft
Operation Retribution
During the Second World War, Operation Retribution was the air and naval blockade designed to prevent the seaborne evacuation of Axis forces from Tunisia to Sicily...
. On 9 May, during deployment with HMS Oakley, the destroyers found themselves under air attack by Spitfire aircraft; the Bicester sustained major damage from a near miss, with the bomb exploding alongside causing major flooding and extensive damage. The Bicester was taken in tow to Malta for temporary repairs, which were carried out in June. In July, the destroyer made a passage through to the United Kingdom for permanent repairs, which were carried out between August and September.
Malta, Adriatic and Indian Ocean
In October, the Bicester was nominated for service in the 59th Destroyer Division, which was based in Malta, with the destroyer continuing her post repair trials. The destroyer made a passage to Malta in November, where she was deployed in the Adriatic and the central Mediterranean. On 2 December the Bicester was damaged during an air raid at BariBari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
when an ammunition ship was hit and exploded. The destroyer HMS Zetland
HMS Zetland (L59)
HMS Zetland was a Type II Royal Navy , named after the Zetland Hunt.Built by Yarrow Shipbuilders, Glasgow and launched on 7 March 1942. She was commissioned on 27 June 1942. HMS Zetland was gifted to the Royal Norwegian Navy and commissioned as HNoMS Tromsø...
was also damaged, but less seriously. HMS Zetland towed the Bicester to Taranto
Taranto
Taranto is a coastal city in Apulia, Southern Italy. It is the capital of the Province of Taranto and is an important commercial port as well as the main Italian naval base....
for repairs.
In January 1944, the destroyer was under repair. These were completed on 15 January with a post repair trial and the resumption of convoy defence duty. The Bicester was deployed for convoy escort duties in the central Mediterranean, and for support of military operations in the Adriatic between February and April. On 5 May the Bicester bombarded the town of Ardea
Ardea (RM)
Ardea is an ancient town and comune in the province of Rome, 35 km south of Rome and about 4 km from today's Mediterranean coast....
in support of shore operations. Between June and July, the destroyer was back in the Adriatic in the support and defence of convoys.
The Bicester joined US Navy ships on their passage to Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
in August 1944, forming part of the escort for Assault Convoy SM1 which was made up of three Royal Navy trawlers, and six US Navy minor warships. The destroyer detached from SM1 on 15 August upon arriving off the landing beachhead. After being released from Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon
Operation Dragoon was the Allied invasion of southern France on August 15, 1944, during World War II. The invasion was initiated via a parachute drop by the 1st Airborne Task Force, followed by an amphibious assault by elements of the U.S. Seventh Army, followed a day later by a force made up...
, the Bicester returned to Royal Navy control in September, and was deployed in the Adriatic in the support of convoys, guerilla attacks and other shore operations. Between October and November, the Bicester formed close support of the reoccupation of a number of Aegean islands
Aegean Islands
The Aegean Islands are the group of islands in the Aegean Sea, with mainland Greece to the west and north and Turkey to the east; the island of Crete delimits the sea to the south, those of Rhodes, Karpathos and Kasos to the southeast...
, as well as convoy defence duties. During December and January, the destroyer was a Piraeus
Piraeus
Piraeus is a city in the region of Attica, Greece. Piraeus is located within the Athens Urban Area, 12 km southwest from its city center , and lies along the east coast of the Saronic Gulf....
guardship, supporting and defending convoys, until she was rebased at Malta from where she was nominated for refit in Alexandria
Alexandria
Alexandria is the second-largest city of Egypt, with a population of 4.1 million, extending about along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea in the north central part of the country; it is also the largest city lying directly on the Mediterranean coast. It is Egypt's largest seaport, serving...
.
The refit of the Bicester began in March, and the destroyer was nominated for service in the Eighteenth Destroyer Flotilla of the Eastern Fleet. The destroyer made a passage to the United Kingdom, where she was taken in had for refit in order to improve habitability in June 1945. Upon completion of these works in July, the ship was recommissioned and the destroyer took to the Indian Ocean to join the flotilla of the Eastern Fleet. In August the Bicester arrived at Trincomalee
Trincomalee
Trincomalee is a port city in Eastern Province, Sri Lanka and lies on the east coast of the island, about 113 miles south of Jaffna. It has a population of approximately 100,000 . The city is built on a peninsula, which divides the inner and outer harbours. Overlooking the Kottiyar Bay,...
before VJ Day, and joined the flotilla. On 28 August the destroyer sailed from Trincomalee as part of escort for Convoy JMA2BS during her passage to assault a beachhead near Port Dickson
Port Dickson
Port Dickson or PD to locals is a beach and holiday destination situated about 32 km from Seremban and 90 km from Kuala Lumpur. It is located in the state of Negeri Sembilan in Peninsular Malaysia...
.
Post War Service
The Bicester remained in the Eastern Fleet and became the Leader of 29th Destroyer Flotilla, based at Bombay. She was deployed for fleet duties until her return to the United Kingdom in November.After her arrival at Sheerness
Sheerness
Sheerness is a town located beside the mouth of the River Medway on the northwest corner of the Isle of Sheppey in north Kent, England. With a population of 12,000 it is the largest town on the island....
on 12 December 1945 the Bicester was deployed in the More Local Flotilla. In 1947, the destroyer became the Leader of Flotilla, and was deployed for training and local duties until January 1950 when she paid-off and was put in Reserve at Chatham
Chatham Dockyard
Chatham Dockyard, located on the River Medway and of which two-thirds is in Gillingham and one third in Chatham, Kent, England, came into existence at the time when, following the Reformation, relations with the Catholic countries of Europe had worsened, leading to a requirement for additional...
.
Although brought forward to attend the Coronation Review in 1953, this ship was not recommissioned for operational service before being placed on the Disposal List in 1955. She was sold to T. W. Ward in 1956, and arrived in tow at the breakers yard in Grays, Essex on 23 August 1956 for demolition.