DESTROYER An anthology of first-hand accounts of the war at sea 1939-1945

Edited by Ian Hawkins

Foreword by Len Deighton

Introduction by Rear Admiral John Hervey, CB, OBE, RN, Retd.

CONWAY MARITIME PRESS DESTROYER

16 Introduction by Rear Admiral John Hervey, RN, Retd. fi§3§ 20 Prologue to 1939 by Rear Admiral John Hervey, RN, Retd.

21 Early Days • Iain Nethercott, DSM, Gunner, HMS Keith

35 The Sinking of the SS Huntsman and the Demise of the Admiral GrafSpee • Norman Watson 37 A Personal Reminiscence • Lieutenant Commander Derek House, RN, Retd., HMS Boadicea

39 HMS Boadicea -The Early Days • Lieutenant Commander Hubert C. Fox, RN, Retd., HMS Boadicea

41 The Sinking of HMS Blanche • Signalman Noel Thome, HMS Blanche

42 Magnetic Mine Menace • Excerpt from The Battle of the East Coast 1939-45 by Julian P. Foynes

46 Prologue to 1940 by Rear Admiral John Hervey, RN, Retd.

47 Channel Patrol • Lieutenant Commander Hubert C. Fox, RN, Retd., HMS Boadicea

49 Anthologist's Note: Invasion of the Low Countries

50 A Trip to Sea • Petty Officer Roland Butler, Engine Room Artificer, HMS Beagle

55 Anthologist's Note: A Rating's Experience of Narvik

57 Excerpt from Blood, Tears and Folly by Len Deighton

57 Anthologist's Note: Ramifications of Defeat

57 Anthologist's Note: Evacuation from France

58 'An Incredible Achievement' • Excerpt from Hold the Narrow Sea by Peter C. Smith

59 Events Leading to the Evacuation of Boulogne • Iain Nethercott, HMS Keith • Captain Sam Lombard-Hobson, RN, Retd., HMS Whitshed 67 Boulogne: First Full Story of Evacuation • From the Cambridge Evening News, Tuesday, 28 May 1940 71 Message to all Commanding Officers of Royal Navy Destroyers • Admiral Bertram Ramsay, RN

72 HMS Keith at Dunkirk • Iain Nethercott, HMS Keith

74 Events Leading to the Sinking of HMS Basilisk • By G. P. 'Phil' Merryweather

75 The Loss of HMS Keith • Telegraphist John Beeley, Stoker John Cranston, DSM, and Gunner Iain Nethercott, HMS Keith

90 A Prayer Answered • Able Seaman Ron Blacker, HMS Boadicea • Lieutenant F. J. G. Hewitt, RN, HMS Bulldog • Lieutenant Hubert C. Fox, RN, HMS Boadicea

97 Disaster at St. Nazaire: SS Lancastria • Corporal Sidney Gaze, British Army Contents

99 Anthologist's Note: 'The Battle of France is Over'

100 HMS Beagle on the West Coast of France • Petty Officer R. V. Butler, Engine Room Artificer, HMS Beagle

101 Mission to the River Gironde, 22-23 June 1940 • Able Seaman Michael Back, HMS Boadicea

103 Anthologist's Note: Action at Oran

103 Brazen Goes Down Fighting • Excerpt from Hold The Narrow Sea by Peter C. Smith

105 More British Destroyers • Article from the Daily Telegraph, 23 July 1940

105 Excerpt from British Destroyers by E. J. March

106 A View from the German Side

• Excerpt from Sea Warfare 1939-1945: A German Viewpoint by Admiral Friedrich Ruge

108 Anthologist's Note: On Patrol with Boreas and Brilliant

109 A View from the Merchant Navy 1939-41 • Sidney Davies

112 Excerpt from Blood, Tears and Folly by Len Deighton

113 Anthologist's Note: The Loss of the Arandora Star

114 Winter Diary of HMS Brilliant • By Stanley Jones, HMS Brilliant

118 Prologue to 1941 by Rear Admiral John Hervey, RN, Retd.

119 The Admiral of Tobermory • Iain Nethercott, ex-HMS Keith

119 The Hunters • Excerpt from Blood, Tears and Folly by Len Deighton

122 'A Brilliant Orange Flash...' • Excerpt from The Cruel Sea by Nicholas Monsarrat

123 The Sinking of the Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Comorin

• Iain Nethercott, HMS Keith, and Tristan Jones, HMS Comorin

127 OB 318 - The Exploits of a Second World War Convoy • By F. T. Grover

132 Gott Mit Whom? The Capture of U-l 10 • Lieutenant Commander David Balme, RN, Retd., as told to John McCormick, Military History Magazine (incorporating excerpts from 'Memories of the Boarding of U-l 10' by Lieutenant Commander David Balme, RN, Retd.) • Official Report by Commander A. J. Baker-Cresswell, RN, 10 May 1941 • Official Report by Sub-Lieutenant David Balme, RN, 11 May 1941 143 Excerpt from Ultra Goes to War by Ronald Lewin

144 'No Mean Accomplishment' • Poem by John Baker, Telegraphist, HMS Bulldog

147 Anthologist's Note: Breathing Space • Letter from Commander Baker-Cresswell, RN, Retd.

to Lieutenant Commander Balme, RN, Retd., Christmas 1998.

147 Before Pearl Harbor • Able Seaman Michael Back, HMS Boadicea

149 A Tribute to HM Submarines • Iain Nethercott, ex-HMS Keith

152 On Patrol with HMS Boreas • Able Seaman Albert Halls, Gunner, HMS Boreas

BliJUOTB'® 8 DESTROYER if 42 154 Prologue to 1942 by Rear Admiral John Hervey, RN, Retd.

155 Random Notes by an Anonymous Watchkeeper • On board HMS Boadicea

159 Home and Away • Ron Blacker, ex-HMS Boadicea 162 The History of U-581 • Via the HMS Westcott Association

166 Engaging Scharnhorst, Gneisenau & Prinz Eugen • John Beeley, Telegraphist, ex-HMS Keith

169 Destroyer Action in Defence of Russian Convoy QP 11 • Article from the Daily Express, 31 July 1942

171 The Tragedy of PQ 17 • By R. F. 'Dick' Fearnside, Chief Radio Operator, SS Hartlebury

174 Convoy PQ 17 • Excerpt from Convoys to Russia by Bob Ruegg and Arnold Hague

176 'Sheer Bloody Murder' • Excerpt from Arctic Convoys by Richard Woodman

178 Convoy Duty in the Med. • Ron Blacker, HMS Boadicea

• Article from The Gibraltar Chronicle, 9 July 1942

179 A View from a Signalman • Signalman David Walker, HMS Bulldog

182 Anthologist's Note: The Queen Mary

183 Anti-Submarine Patrols over the Gulf of Mexico

• Tommy Loftin, Pilot, USAAC/USAAF

185 HMS Petard and U-559 • Mark Baldwin

187 Don's Diary • Signalman J. D. 'Don' Gooch, HMS Boadicea

194 A 'Sort Out* in Gib. • Iain Nethercott, ex-HMS Keith

195 A Christmas Miracle • Lieutenant Jack Keir, RN, HMS Boadicea

197 Arctic Convoys • Excerpt from British Destroyers by E. J. March

198 A Wartime Battle Against the Elements • Alfred Carpenter, HMS Caldwell if 43 204 Prologue to 1943 by Rear Admiral John Hervey, RN, Retd. 205 A View from the Engine Room (Part I) • Angus Currie, Engine Room Artificer, HMS Brilliant 210 A'Happy Threesome' Go out Hunting Together • Gordon Holman, the Evening Standard, 12 March 1943

211 Closing the Gap Over the North Atlantic •Jack Adams, B-25 & B-24 Navigator, USN/USAAF

214 2,000 Mile Liberators Help Beat U-Boats in Mid-Atlantic •Article from Stars And Stripes, 10 June 1943

214 Excerpt from Convoy by Martin Middlebrook

216 Anthologist's Note: 'Who Was Right?' Contents

• Excerpts from a 1977 speech by Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir Arthur 'Bomber' Harris

217 Anthologist's Note: U-Boat Bunker

218 Crossing The Line

226 A View from the Merchant Navy 1941 -1943 (cont'd) • Sidney Davies, Merchant Navy

228 A Royal Salute • Iain Nethercott, ex-HMS Keith

232 'Underneath the Surface' • Poem

233 A Learning Process • Len Perry, HMS Beagle

234 Doctor at Sea • Surgeon Captain R. S. McDonald, RN, Retd., HMS Beagle

239 Anthologist's Note: Nadir

239 'The Burning Tanker' • Excerpt from The Cruel Sea by Nicholas Monsarrat

241 Anthologist's Note: American Gasoline to the Germans flfkM Ll I' u if 244 Prologue to 1944 by Rear Admiral John Hervey, RN, Retd.

246 All in a Day's Work • Lieutenant Deryk Wakem, RN Writer, HMS Verdun

250 Big Convoy to Russia Gets Through • From the East Anglian Daily Times, 20 May 1944

253 'U-boat Germans' • Excerpt from The Cruel Sea by Nicholas Monsarrat

255 A Spelling Problem • Len Perry, Stoker, HMS Beagle

256 A Kiss from Betty Hutton • Iain Nethercott, ex-HMS Keith

258 Exercise 'Tiger' - A View from the German Side • Arno Abendroth

260 Russian Convoy RA 59 - April/May 1944 • Able Seaman Michael Back, HMS Boadicea

260 Anthologist's Note: RA 59: Allied Success

262 Annals of War and Peace (Part I) • E. J. Kahn, Jr. (via 'Jack' Adams, USN/USAAF) 266 USS Guadalcanal Task Group and U-505: The events of 4 June 1944 and their significance • By Captain R. J. Schlaff, USN, Ret'd 269 Anthologist's Note: 'A Thousand Miles From Salt Water...' • Excerpt from We Captured A U-Boat by Rear Admiral David Gallery, USN, Ret'd

269 Overlord - Order of Battle • Excerpt from Chronology of the War At Sea 1939- 1945 by J. Rohwer and G. Hummelchen

275 Destroyer Diary of D-Day • Desmond Tighe (Reuters) on HMS Beagle

277 Men Who Got their Tanks Through • From the Yorkshire Post, 8 June 1944 by Desmond Tighe on HMS Beagle

278 A Vision of Hell • Len Perry, Stoker, HMS Beagle

280 Channel Convoy • Surgeon Captain R. S. McDonald, RN, Retd., HMS Beagle

282 'No Greater Heroism...' • William V. McDermott, USN, LST314 ]0 DESTROYER

285 'A Beam of Light...' • Albert Duncan, USN, LST376

288 Anthologist's Note: HMS Beagle: Commendation

288 Memories of HMS Beagle • George W. Miller, Gunner, HMS Beagle

290 The Sinking of HMS Boadicea, 13 June 1944 • Excerpt from Hold The Narrow Sea by Peter C. Smith • Lieutenant Harry Howting, Able Seaman John Randall, HMS Boadicea • Sidney Davies, SS Freeman Hatch; Jack Yeatman and George Hattesley, HMS Pearl 294 Glider Bomb is No 'Toy' • Article from the Milwaukee Sentinel, 24 January 1944

294 Anthologist's Note: Fritz-X and HS 293 Missiles

296 The Sinking of HMS Swift • Official report by Captain J. R. Gower, DSC, RN, Retd.

298 Returning Home • Iain Nethercott, ex-HMS Keith

301 Russian Convoy JW 61 • Len Perry, Stoker, HMS Beagle

305 Convoys JW 62/RA 62, November/December 1944 • Michael Back

307 A View from the Engine Room (Part II) • Angus Currie, Engine Room Artificer, HMS Brilliant

308 A Survivor's Story • Morton Wood, Jr., 66th Infantry Division, US Army

312 A View from an Infantryman • Richard L. Dutka, 66th Infantry Division, US Army !§4S 316 Prologue to 1945 by Rear Admiral John Hervey, RN, Retd.

317 A View from the Engine Room (Part III)

• Angus Currie, Engine Room Artificer, HMS Brilliant

319 Excerpt from Arctic Convoys by Richard Woodman

319 The Loss of HMS Lapwing • Commander Ian Leitch, RN, Retd.

322 Liberating a Piece of Occupied Britain

• Denis Abbott, Senior Telegraphist, HMS Bulldog

324 The Liberation of Sark • Lieutenant E. A. Cowell, RNVR, Retd., HMS Beagle

326 War's End • From the East Anglian Daily Times, Ipswich, 8 May 1945

329 Bulldog's Crew in Battersea • From the South Western Star, Battersea, 20 July 1945

330 Anthologist's Note: The USS Laffey off Okinawa

• US Navy Battle Report; excerpted from Bulletin Airwar 1939-1945

332 Victory in the Pacific • Chief Petty Officer Ron Blacker, ex-HMS Boadicea

333 Went the Day Well? • Excerpt from Blood, Tears and Folly by Len Deighton

334 Counting the Cost • Excerpt from British Destroyers, by E. J. March Contents ^ 11

EPILOGUE

336 Epilogue by Rear Admiral John Hervey, RN, Retd.

336 Annals of War and Peace (Part II) • E. J. Kahn, Jr. (Via 'Jack' Adams, USN/USAAF)

338 A View from the Engine Room (Part IV)

• Angus Currie, Engine Room Artificer, HMS Brilliant

340 A View from the Merchant Navy, 1944-2000 • Sidney Davies

342 Postscript • Ron Blacker, ex-HMS Boadicea

343 'Requiem for a Fleet' • Poem

347 Bringing Forgotten Stories Back to Life • Lisa Sabbage

349 Anthologist's Note: Pilgrimage to Portland

350 An Extraordinary Reunion • Chief Petty Officer Charles Savona, USN, 1ST 812 352 Save our Ship - HMS Cavalier, the Last of the Second World War British Destroyers • Preserving HMS Cavalier • Cavalier Opened Below Decks • HMS Cavalier - The Ship 355 The Naval Hymn • W. Whiting

APPENDICES

356 APPENDIX I • SECOND WORLD WAR STATISTICS

356 APPENDIX II • HISTORIES OF THE'B' CLASS DESTROYERS

373 APPENDIX III • DERIVATION OF'B' CLASS NAMES & SHIPS' BADGES

377 APPENDIX IV • DESTROYER SONGS

379 APPENDIX V • TERMS AND EXPRESSIONS USED BY THE ROYAL NAVY

384 APPENDIX VI • SOME CONVOY ESCORT TERMS AND PROCEDURES

385 APPENDIXVII* THE ENIGMA MACHINE

389 APPENDIX VIII • SHIPS STRUCK BY GERMAN AIR-TO-SURFACE MISSILES

391 APPENDIX IX • STANDARD OIL/ROYAL DUTCH SHELL EXPORTS TO I. G. FARBEN GROUP

392 APPENDIX X • NAVAL OBITUARIES

410 BIBLIOGRAPHY

412 INDEX