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HMS Firedrake (H79)
Encyclopedia
HMS Firedrake was an F-class destroyer
of the Royal Navy
built in 1934. She took part in the Battle of the Atlantic and was torpedoed in 1942.
, Wallsend
, although her hull was sub-contracted to Vickers Armstrongs, Walker
. She was launched on 28 June 1934.
.
In the first month of hostilities she was in action as part of a hunting group centred on carrier Ark Royal
. On 14 September 1939 the group was attacked by U-39 which fired on the "Ark" but failed to hit.
Firedrake, in company with Faulknor
and Foxhound
counter-attacked and sank U-39. north-west of Ireland
.
In spring 1940 Firedrake was involved in the Norwegian campaign
assisting in the landings at Narvik
. She later assisted in the evacuation at Bodo
.
In summer she was part of with Home Fleet during invasion crisis but in August moved station to Gibraltar
where she became part of Force H
. For the next 12 months Firedrake took part in all major operations in the western Mediterranean.
On 18 October 1940 she sank Italian submarine Durbo
east of Gibraltar
in company with HMS Wrestler and 2 London flying boats
of 202 Sqn RAF
.
In November she was part of the force involved in the Battle of Spartivento. During January 1941 she was involved in Operation Excess
, and in July in Operation Substance
.
In the winter of 1941 Firedrake was transferred to Boston for repair and conversion for Anti-submarine warfare
as a convoy escort.
Firedrake served as leader of B-7 Escort Group
of the Mid-Ocean Escort Force
, her captain, Cdr WE Banks being Senior Officer Escort (SOE). In this role Firedrake was engaged in all the duties performed by escort ships; protecting convoys, searching for and attacking U-boats which attacked ships in convoy, and rescuing survivors. In nine months service Firedrake escorted 14 Atlantic convoys, of which 5 were attacked, and 2 in the Caribbean. She was involved in two major convoy battles, ON 144, where she was sent as reinforcement when it came under attack, and ON 153.
E and F class destroyer
The E and F class was a class of 18 destroyers of the Royal Navy that served during the Second World War. Three ships were later transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy, one to the Royal Hellenic Navy and one to the Dominican Navy. Launched in 1934, they served in the Second World War. Nine were lost...
of 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...
built in 1934. She took part in the Battle of the Atlantic and was torpedoed in 1942.
Construction
She was built by Parsons Marine Steam Turbine CompanyParsons Marine Steam Turbine Company
Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company was a British engineering company based in Wallsend, North England, on the River Tyne.-History:The company was founded by Charles Algernon Parsons in 1897 with £500,000 of capital, and specialised in building the steam turbine engines that he had invented for...
, Wallsend
Wallsend
Wallsend is an area in North Tyneside, Tyne and Wear, England. Wallsend derives its name as the location of the end of Hadrian's Wall. It has a population of 42,842.-Romans:...
, although her hull was sub-contracted to Vickers Armstrongs, Walker
Walker, Newcastle upon Tyne
Walker is a residential suburb and electoral ward just east of the centre of Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Walker's name is a hybrid of Old English and Viking Norse, "Wall-kjerr", where "kjerr" is Norse for "marshy woodland"...
. She was launched on 28 June 1934.
World War Two
In September 1939 Firedrake was deployed as part of 8 Destroyer flotilla attached to the Home Fleet and based at Scapa FlowScapa Flow
right|thumb|Scapa Flow viewed from its eastern endScapa Flow is a body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, United Kingdom, sheltered by the islands of Mainland, Graemsay, Burray, South Ronaldsay and Hoy. It is about...
.
In the first month of hostilities she was in action as part of a hunting group centred on carrier Ark Royal
HMS Ark Royal (91)
HMS Ark Royal was an aircraft carrier of the Royal Navy that served during the Second World War.Designed in 1934 to fit the restrictions of the Washington Naval Treaty, Ark Royal was built by Cammell Laird and Company, Ltd. at Birkenhead, England, and completed in November 1938. Her design...
. On 14 September 1939 the group was attacked by U-39 which fired on the "Ark" but failed to hit.
Firedrake, in company with Faulknor
HMS Faulknor (H62)
HMS Faulknor was a F class destroyer flotilla leader of the British Royal Navy in commission from 1934. The ship had a particularly active operational role during World War II, being awarded 11 battle honours, and was known as "The hardest worked destroyer in the Fleet"...
and Foxhound
HMS Foxhound (H69)
HMS Foxhound was an Interwar standard that served the Royal Navy from 1935 to 1944.She was laid down on 21 August 1933 at John Brown Shipbuilding & Engineering Company Ltd. Clydebank and launched on 12 October 1934...
counter-attacked and sank U-39. north-west of Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
In spring 1940 Firedrake was involved in the Norwegian campaign
Norwegian Campaign
The Norwegian Campaign was a military campaign that was fought in Norway during the Second World War between the Allies and Germany, after the latter's invasion of the country. In April 1940, the United Kingdom and France came to Norway's aid with an expeditionary force...
assisting in the landings at Narvik
Narvik
is the third largest city and municipality in Nordland county, Norway by population. Narvik is located on the shores of the Narvik Fjord . The municipality is part of the Ofoten traditional region of North Norway, inside the arctic circle...
. She later assisted in the evacuation at Bodo
Bodo
- Locations :* Bodø, A city in Norway*Bodo, Alberta, a hamlet in Central Alberta, Canada, close to the Saskatchewan border.*Bodo , a town and commune in Côte d'Ivoire*BoDo, a district of Boise, ID; the name of which stems from Boise Downtown....
.
In summer she was part of with Home Fleet during invasion crisis but in August moved station 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...
where she became part of Force H
Force H
Force H was a British naval formation during the Second World War. It was formed in 1940 to replace French naval power in the western Mediterranean that had been removed by the French armistice with Nazi Germany....
. For the next 12 months Firedrake took part in all major operations in the western Mediterranean.
On 18 October 1940 she sank Italian submarine Durbo
Italian submarine Durbo
The Italian submarine Durbo was an Italian Adua-class submarine serving in the Regia Marina during World War II.She was named after Durbo in Ethiopia and was built in OTO's shipyard. She was laid down on 6 March 1938 and commissioned on 1 July of the same year...
east of 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...
in company with HMS Wrestler and 2 London flying boats
Saro London
|-See also:-Bibliography:* Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Five: Flying Boats. London: Macdonald & Co. Ltd., 1962 . ISBN 0-356-01449-5....
of 202 Sqn RAF
No. 202 Squadron RAF
No. 202 Squadron of the Royal Air Force presently operates the Sea King HAR.3 in the Search and rescue role at three stations in the northern half of the United Kingdom. It was originally formed as one of the first aeroplane squadrons of the RNAS before it became part of the RAF.-Formation and...
.
In November she was part of the force involved in the Battle of Spartivento. During January 1941 she was involved in Operation Excess
Operation Excess
Operation Excess was a series of supply convoys to Malta, Alexandria and Greece in January 1941.On 6 January, convoy Excess left Gibraltar for Malta and Greece, covered by the Gibraltar based Force H. Simultaneously, the Mediterranean Fleet from Alexandria covered more supply ships from...
, and in July in Operation Substance
Operation Substance
Operation Substance was a British naval operation in July 1941 during the Second World War to escort a convoy from Gibraltar to Malta.The convoy was escorted by six destroyers and covered by aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, the battlecruiser HMS Renown and the battleship HMS Nelson along with...
.
In the winter of 1941 Firedrake was transferred to Boston for repair and conversion for Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare
Anti-submarine warfare is a branch of naval warfare that uses surface warships, aircraft, or other submarines to find, track and deter, damage or destroy enemy submarines....
as a convoy escort.
Firedrake served as leader of B-7 Escort Group
B-7 Escort Group (Royal Navy)
.B-7 Escort Group was a British formation of the Royal Navy which saw action during the Second World War, principally in the Battle of the Atlantic.-Formation:...
of the Mid-Ocean Escort Force
Mid-Ocean Escort Force
Mid-Ocean Escort Force referred to the organization of anti-submarine escorts for World War II trade convoys between Canada and the British Isles...
, her captain, Cdr WE Banks being Senior Officer Escort (SOE). In this role Firedrake was engaged in all the duties performed by escort ships; protecting convoys, searching for and attacking U-boats which attacked ships in convoy, and rescuing survivors. In nine months service Firedrake escorted 14 Atlantic convoys, of which 5 were attacked, and 2 in the Caribbean. She was involved in two major convoy battles, ON 144, where she was sent as reinforcement when it came under attack, and ON 153.
Fate
On 17 December 1942, while escorting convoy ON-153, Firedrake was torpedoed by U-211 and sunk. The corvette HMS Sunflower picked up 27 survivors.U-boats destroyed
- U-39 was depth-charged and sunk by Firedrake and other ships of 8 Flotilla on 14 September 1939.
- DurboItalian submarine DurboThe Italian submarine Durbo was an Italian Adua-class submarine serving in the Regia Marina during World War II.She was named after Durbo in Ethiopia and was built in OTO's shipyard. She was laid down on 6 March 1938 and commissioned on 1 July of the same year...
was sunk by Firedrake in company with Wrestler and 2 aircraft of 202 Sqn RAF on 18 October 1940.
Convoys escorted
| Homebound | Outbound |
|---|---|
| . | ON 71 |
| HX 181 | ON 84 |
| HX 186 | ON 94 |
| HX 192 | ON 106 |
| SC 91 | ON 117 |
| AH 3 | HA 4 |
| SC 102 | ON 142, ON 144 |
| HX 216 | ON 153 |
Commanding Officers
| From | To | |Captain |
|---|---|---|
| 4 April 1938 | 4 May 1942 | Lt Cdr Stephen Hugh Norris DSO Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September... DSC Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is... RN |
| 4 May 1942 | 1 September 1942 | |Cdr William Eric Banks DSC Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is... RN |
| 1 September 1942 | 17 December 1942 | |Cdr Eric Henry Tilden DSC Distinguished Service Cross (United Kingdom) The Distinguished Service Cross is the third level military decoration awarded to officers, and other ranks, of the British Armed Forces, Royal Fleet Auxiliary and British Merchant Navy and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries.The DSC, which may be awarded posthumously, is... RN |