HMS Badsworth (L03)
Encyclopedia
HMS Badsworth (pennant number
L03) was an escort destroyer
of the Hunt Type II class. The Royal Navy
ordered Badsworth 's construction three months after the outbreak of the Second World War. Cammel Laird laid down her keel at their Birkenhead
yard on 15 May 1940, as Admiralty Job No. J3260 (Yard No. 1055). After a successful Warship Week
national savings campaign in March 1942, the Badsworth was adopted by the civil community of Batley
, then in the West Riding of Yorkshire
. The ship was named after a fox-hunt in Yorkshire
.
Badsworth began her career on convoy duty in the North Western Approaches
, however in June 1942, she took up the role of close escort in Convoy Harpoon
, aiming to deliver vital supplies to the beleaguered island of Malta
. The convoy met fierce attacks from the besieging Italian and German forces with only two out of the initial six merchant ships reaching Malta. Whilst entering the Grand Harbour
Badsworth struck a mine, sustaining heavy damage. She was towed back for temporary repairs, afterwards leaving the island and heading towards Tyne
for further repairs. In November 1942 Badsworth rejoined the Londonderry Escort Force by escorting a convoy headed to Murmansk
. In March 1943 she returned to the Mediterranean for another Malta convoy, striking another mine on 22 April 1943. Towed to Liverpool
for repairs, the Badsworth was then transferred to the exiled Royal Norwegian Navy
under the name HNoMS Arendal.
. Throughout September, the ship was readied for operational service, joining the Londonderry Escort Force. The Badsworth was deployed for close convoy defence in the north-west approaches. On 1 October the Badsworth joined convoy WS-12 in the Clyde
with the destroyers Bradford, Brighton, Lancaster and Newark as local escorts during the convoy's passage in the north-western approaches, detaching from WS-12 and returning to the Clyde on 3 October.
On 13 November the Badsworth joined military convoy WS-12Z in the Clyde, with Exmoor
, Vanquisher, Witch and Whitehall again as local escort in the approaches, detaching from the convoy on 16 November. On 13 December the Badsworth joined military convoy WS14 in its passage from the Clyde to the north west approaches for ocean escort duties with the battleship HMS Ramillies
and the destroyer Beaufort
. The Badsworth detached from WS-14 on 21 December with the armed merchant cruiser Cilicia, HMS Beaufort and the local escort on arrival to Freetown
.
to resume convoy defence at Derry
was completed in January 1942, with the Badsworth being deployed in continuation at Derry in February. On 23 March Badsworth joined military convoy WS-17 at the Clyde, with the destroyers Beverley, Keppel, Newport
, Leamington and Volunteer as escorts during the convoy’s passage in the north western approaches. On 25 March Newport retired to the Clyde after colliding with Beverley. The local escort, Badsworth included, detached from the convoy on 27 March.
During April, Badsworth was nominated for detached service in support of a planned combined services operation, named Operation Myrmidon. The destroyer escorted the infantry landing ships HMS Queen Emma
and her sister-ship HMS Princess Beatrix
with four other Hunt-class destroyers to attack shipping in Bayonne
, by Number One and Number Six Commando Units. The raid was unsuccessful both because of weather conditions and due to the enemy’s state of alert. Released early from Myrmidon, the Badsworth returned to Derry, joining military convoy WS-18 on 18 April with the destroyers Georgetown, Lauderdale and Lancaster. The escorting ships detached from VB-18 with same ships and returned to Clyde.
The Badsworth was then nominated for escort duties for the Russian convoy routes. On 28 April the destroyer took over ocean escort duties for the convoy PQ-15, with the cruiser Nigeria
, the AA-auxiliary Ship HMS Ulster Queen, and the destroyers Boadicea
, Matchless
, Somali
, Venomous and the St Albans. On 2 May the Badsworth found herself under sustained attacks by aircraft and submarines. SS Botavon was hit, and settled down by her bows. The merchantman sank slowly, and Badsworth was ordered to sink her by gunfire. During one of these sorties, Badsworth dropped depth charges, seeing a periscope shortly afterwards she counter attacked, dropping two Patterns. The destroyer reported that the submarine blew its tanks, but nothing appeared. Badsworth was unable to further the attack as the destroyer's asdic broke down.
The day after, the Badsworth assisted in the rescue of survivors from the British merchantmen SS Cape Corso and SS Jutland which were sunk by air attacks. On 5 May the destroyer was detached from PQ-15 upon arrival at Murmansk. Badsworth remained in North Russia until 21 May, when she joined the ocean escort for the return convoy QP-12, with HMS Ulster Queen, the destroyers Venomous, Boadicea, Escapade
, Inglefield
and St Albans. The convoy also included the minesweeper Harrier and three trawlers. On 27 May, the Badsworth detached herself from the convoy, along with the Venomous and the Ulster Queen.
, as part of Operation Harpoon
. After preparing for the Mediterranean duties at Derry, on 6 June the destroyer joined Convoy WS-19S in the north west approaches as part of Ocean Escort for passage to Gibraltar. On 12 June, Badsworth joined the cruiser HMS Cairo
, with a covering destroyer flotilla made up of the destroyers Bedouin
, Marne
, Matchless Partridge, Ithuriel
, Blankney , Middleton
and ORP Kujawiak
. Also part of Force X charged with leading the convoy to Malta were the minesweepers HMS Hebe
, HMS Speedy
, HMS Hythe
and HMS Rye
. The ships set out of Gibraltar
escorting the convoy through the Sicilian narrows.
On 14 June, the Badsworth was under heavy air attack, which damaged HMS Liverpool
forcing her return to Gibraltar. The day after found the convoy in action with Italian warships in their attempt to intercept and sink the convoy. On 16 June, the Badsworth suffered major structural damage after she detonated a mine whilst entering Grand Harbour, Malta. The destroyer entered the harbour with the two merchantmen that survived the convoy. The ships’ night time arrival, along with errors in the signals received for a mine-swept path caused the convoy to pass through a minefield. ORP Kujawiak was sunk after detonating a mine, while the Matchless , the minesweeper Hebe and the merchantman SS Orari were also damaged.
The Badsworth had twelve by fifteen foot gash torn in her forward structure below the waterline. Among the fourteen casualties were some survivors from the merchant ships sunk during the passage to Malta. The day after the arrival, the destroyer was docked and taken for repairs at HM Dockyard, Malta. Temporary repairs to allow a return to Great Britain took until 11 August, when the Badsworth left Malta, along with the Matchless as escorts for two merchantmen to Gibraltar. The ships were tagged as Force Y, as part of Operation Ascendant. These ships were the only remaining survivors of the Harpoon convoy. Their passage back to Gibraltar was deliberately planned to coincide with that of the next Malta relief convoy, Operation Pedestal
. During the passage close to the North African coast
, Italian recognition marks were painted on the Badsworth’s forecastle. The ships arrived at Gibraltar on 15 August, with the Badsworth leaving harbour three days later, heading for the United Kingdom for repairs. On 25 August, the Badsworth entered the North Shields commercial shipyard for repairs.
Repairs continued until November, with post refit trails and the preparations for operational service ending in December. Badsworth rejoined the Londonderry Escort Force for convoy defence in the North Atlantic. On 18 December, the destroyer joined the military convoy WS25 with the destroyers Haydon and Wolverine
as escort for the convoy’s route to Freetown. The Badsworth detached from WS-25 along with the other destroyers and returned to the Clyde on 24 December.
From January to February 1943, the Badsworth continued to provide defence for Atlantic convoys, however she was transferred to the Mediterranean for escort and support duties with the 60th Destroyer Division. On 16 March, as the Badsworth was prepared for foreign service, she joined the joint military convoy WS-28/KMF-11 in the Clyde with the Polish destroyer ORP Krakowiak
, and the Royal Navy destroyers Douglas, Eggesford, Goathland, Whaddon
and the sloops HMS Woodpecker and HMS Wren as escorts during the convoy’s Atlantic passage. The Badsworth then detached from the joint convoy with other ships bound for Gibraltar, as part of KMF11.
The Badsworth was thence deployed in the Western Mediterranean for convoy defence and patrol. On 22 April, she was mined at Bone
, Algeria, sustaining major structural damage in her aft section. The Badsworth’s starboard engine was immobilised, with both shafts distorted. The ship was beached, and had to be refloated and towed back into harbour by the minesweeper HMS Clacton
. Temporary repairs were made in Malta during May, upon completion the Badsworth was towed back to the United Kingdom by the tug Frisky as part of Convoy MKS-15. The destroyer was taken in hand for extensive repairs at a commercial shipyard in Liverpool in July. The destroyer was paid off from Royal Navy service and transferred on loan to the Royal Norwegian Navy on 8 August 1944. The Badsworth was renamed as HNoMS Arendal. The ship was decommissioned from the Royal Navy on 16 November 1944.
, after completing the shipyard work, carrying out the harbour trial, a post refit trial, the destroyer was ready again for operational service, joining the flotilla at Harwich for patrol and escort duties in the North Sea
and the Channel.
The destroyer saw action on 25 March 1945 against minelaying E-Boat
s in the Thames Estuary
with the Polish destroyer ORP Krakowiak. The continuation of the ship’s loan to the Royal Norwegian Navy was approved after VE Day, with the ship continuing to be deployed with the Royal Norwegian Navy on loan from the Royal Navy. The Arendal was a destroyer escort in Operation Kingdom, the embarkation of the Crown Prince of Norway
aboard HMS Ariadne
for his return to Oslo
. After her return to Norway Arendal made a return trip to the UK, when she sailed in September 1945 to Leith and retrieved 400 urns containing the ashes of Norwegians who had died in the UK during the war. The urns were placed 40 each in 10 crates on the aft deck, each of the crates decorated with a large flower bouquet. Before the ship left port with her cargo a Norwegian priest belonging to the Norwegian Church Abroad held a service on board. When the destroyer arrived in Oslo she was met by King Haakon VII
, Crown Prince Olav
, Prince Harald
and Bishop Eivind Berggrav
, as well as military units and a large crowd of people. Arendal also escorted landing vessels from the United Kingdom to Norway, the landing vessels having been bought by the Norwegian government for conversion to coastal ferries and cargo vessels. On several occasions Arendal sailed to Germany, escorting vessels carrying German soldiers being repatriated to Bremerhaven
in north-western Germany. HNoMS Arendal was bought by Norway after the end of hostilities, in 1946. The ship remained in operational use as an escort destroyer until 1956, when she was classified as a frigate. The Arendal was used as a training ship for cadets, before being removed from the active list in 1961. She was scrapped in 1965.
Pennant number
In the modern Royal Navy, and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth, ships are identified by pennant numbers...
L03) 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 Badsworth 's construction three months after the outbreak of the Second World War. Cammel Laird laid down her keel at their Birkenhead
Birkenhead
Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. It is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool...
yard on 15 May 1940, as Admiralty Job No. J3260 (Yard No. 1055). After a successful Warship Week
Warship Week
Warship Weeks were British National savings campaigns during the Second World War, with the adoption of a Royal Navy warship by a civil community. A level of savings would be set to raise enough money to provide the cost of building a particular naval ship...
national savings campaign in March 1942, the Badsworth was adopted by the civil community of Batley
Batley
Batley is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. It lies southeast of Bradford, southwest of Leeds and north of Dewsbury, near the M62 motorway. It has a population of 49,448 . Other nearby towns include Morley to the northeast, Ossett to the southeast...
, then in the West Riding of Yorkshire
West Riding of Yorkshire
The West Riding of Yorkshire is one of the three historic subdivisions of Yorkshire, England. From 1889 to 1974 the administrative county, County of York, West Riding , was based closely on the historic boundaries...
. The ship was named after a fox-hunt in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
.
Badsworth began her career on convoy duty in the North Western Approaches
Western Approaches
The Western Approaches is a rectangular area of the Atlantic ocean lying on the western coast of Great Britain. The rectangle is higher than it is wide, the north and south boundaries defined by the north and south ends of the British Isles, the eastern boundary lying on the western coast, and the...
, however in June 1942, she took up the role of close escort in Convoy Harpoon
Operation Harpoon (1942)
Not to be confused with Operation Harpoon Operation Harpoon was one of two simultaneous Allied convoys sent to supply Malta in the Axis-dominated Mediterranean Sea in mid-June 1942, during the Second World War. One convoy, Operation Vigorous, left Alexandria. The other, Operation Harpoon, travelled...
, aiming to deliver vital supplies to the beleaguered island of Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
. The convoy met fierce attacks from the besieging Italian and German forces with only two out of the initial six merchant ships reaching Malta. Whilst entering the Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour
Grand Harbour is a natural harbour on the island of Malta. It has been used as a harbour since at least Phoenician times...
Badsworth struck a mine, sustaining heavy damage. She was towed back for temporary repairs, afterwards leaving the island and heading towards 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...
for further repairs. In November 1942 Badsworth rejoined the Londonderry Escort Force by escorting a convoy headed to Murmansk
Arctic convoys of World War II
The Arctic convoys of World War II travelled from the United Kingdom and North America to the northern ports of the Soviet Union—Arkhangelsk and Murmansk. There were 78 convoys between August 1941 and May 1945...
. In March 1943 she returned to the Mediterranean for another Malta convoy, striking another mine on 22 April 1943. Towed to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
for repairs, the Badsworth was then transferred to the exiled Royal Norwegian Navy
Royal Norwegian Navy
The Royal Norwegian Navy is the branch of the Norwegian Defence Force responsible for naval operations. , the RNoN consists of approximately 3,700 personnel and 70 vessels, including 5 heavy frigates, 6 submarines, 14 patrol boats, 4 minesweepers, 4 minehunters, 1 mine detection vessel, 4 support...
under the name HNoMS Arendal.
Early operations
On 18 August 1941 upon build completion, and final trials the Badsworth proceeded to 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...
. Throughout September, the ship was readied for operational service, joining the Londonderry Escort Force. The Badsworth was deployed for close convoy defence in the north-west approaches. On 1 October the Badsworth joined convoy WS-12 in the Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
with the destroyers Bradford, Brighton, Lancaster and Newark as local escorts during the convoy's passage in the north-western approaches, detaching from WS-12 and returning to the Clyde on 3 October.
On 13 November the Badsworth joined military convoy WS-12Z in the Clyde, with Exmoor
HMS Exmoor (L61)
HMS Exmoor was a Hunt class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was a member of the first subgroup of the class, and saw service in the Second World War, before being sunk by German E-boats in 1941.-Construction and commissioning:...
, Vanquisher, Witch and Whitehall again as local escort in the approaches, detaching from the convoy on 16 November. On 13 December the Badsworth joined military convoy WS14 in its passage from the Clyde to the north west approaches for ocean escort duties with the battleship HMS Ramillies
HMS Ramillies (07)
HMS Ramillies was a Revenge-class battleship of the Royal Navy, named after the Battle of Ramillies. The ship is notable for having served in both the First and Second World Wars...
and the destroyer Beaufort
HMS Beaufort (L14)
HMS Beaufort was a Hunt class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was laid down on 17 July 1940 at Cammell Laird, Birkenhead. She was launched on 9 June 1941 and commissioned on 3 November 1941....
. The Badsworth detached from WS-14 on 21 December with the armed merchant cruiser Cilicia, HMS Beaufort and the local escort on arrival to Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
.
Service in the Arctic
The passage from West AfricaWest Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
to resume convoy defence at 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"...
was completed in January 1942, with the Badsworth being deployed in continuation at Derry in February. On 23 March Badsworth joined military convoy WS-17 at the Clyde, with the destroyers Beverley, Keppel, Newport
HMS Newport
Four ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Newport after the Welsh city of Newport: was a 24-gun sixth rate captured by the French in 1694....
, Leamington and Volunteer as escorts during the convoy’s passage in the north western approaches. On 25 March Newport retired to the Clyde after colliding with Beverley. The local escort, Badsworth included, detached from the convoy on 27 March.
During April, Badsworth was nominated for detached service in support of a planned combined services operation, named Operation Myrmidon. The destroyer escorted the infantry landing ships HMS Queen Emma
HMS Queen Emma
HMS Queen Emma was a commando troop ship of the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Built as a civilian passenger liner in 1939 by De Schelde at Vlissingen, she was named the MS Koningin Emma, after Queen Emma of the Netherlands, and operated by Stoomvaart Maatschappij Zeeland between...
and her sister-ship HMS Princess Beatrix
HMS Princess Beatrix
HMS Princess Beatrix was a commando troop ship of the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Built as a civilian passenger liner in 1939 by De Schelde at Vlissingen, she was named the MS Prinses Beatrix, after Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, and operated by Stoomvaart Maatschappij Zeeland ...
with four other Hunt-class destroyers to attack shipping in Bayonne
Bayonne
Bayonne is a city and commune in south-western France at the confluence of the Nive and Adour rivers, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department, of which it is a sub-prefecture...
, by Number One and Number Six Commando Units. The raid was unsuccessful both because of weather conditions and due to the enemy’s state of alert. Released early from Myrmidon, the Badsworth returned to Derry, joining military convoy WS-18 on 18 April with the destroyers Georgetown, Lauderdale and Lancaster. The escorting ships detached from VB-18 with same ships and returned to Clyde.
The Badsworth was then nominated for escort duties for the Russian convoy routes. On 28 April the destroyer took over ocean escort duties for the convoy PQ-15, with the cruiser 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:...
, the AA-auxiliary Ship HMS Ulster Queen, and the destroyers Boadicea
HMS Boadicea (H65)
HMS Boadicea was a built for the Royal Navy that saw service during World War II until sunk on 13 June 1944 while supporting the invasion of Normandy.-Construction:...
, Matchless
HMS Matchless (G52)
HMS Matchless was a M-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy during World War II.-External links:...
, Somali
HMS Somali (F33)
HMS Somali was a Tribal-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service in World War II.-History:She was built by Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson, in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear....
, Venomous and the St Albans. On 2 May the Badsworth found herself under sustained attacks by aircraft and submarines. SS Botavon was hit, and settled down by her bows. The merchantman sank slowly, and Badsworth was ordered to sink her by gunfire. During one of these sorties, Badsworth dropped depth charges, seeing a periscope shortly afterwards she counter attacked, dropping two Patterns. The destroyer reported that the submarine blew its tanks, but nothing appeared. Badsworth was unable to further the attack as the destroyer's asdic broke down.
The day after, the Badsworth assisted in the rescue of survivors from the British merchantmen SS Cape Corso and SS Jutland which were sunk by air attacks. On 5 May the destroyer was detached from PQ-15 upon arrival at Murmansk. Badsworth remained in North Russia until 21 May, when she joined the ocean escort for the return convoy QP-12, with HMS Ulster Queen, the destroyers Venomous, Boadicea, Escapade
HMS Escapade (H17)
HMS Escapade was an E class destroyer of the British Royal Navy in commission from 1934 until 1946, that saw service before and during World War II, seeing service on Russian, Malta and Atlantic convoys.-Construction:...
, Inglefield
HMS Inglefield (D02)
HMS Inglefield was an I-class destroyer leader built for the Royal Navy that served during World War II. She was the navy's last purpose-built flotilla leader. She was named after the 19th century Admiral Sir Edward Augustus Inglefield , and is so far the only warship to carry the name of that...
and St Albans. The convoy also included the minesweeper Harrier and three trawlers. On 27 May, the Badsworth detached herself from the convoy, along with the Venomous and the Ulster Queen.
Escort and patrol duties in the Mediterranean
On 29 May, the Badsworth was chosen for far escort duties of supply convoy to MaltaMalta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, as part of Operation Harpoon
Operation Harpoon (1942)
Not to be confused with Operation Harpoon Operation Harpoon was one of two simultaneous Allied convoys sent to supply Malta in the Axis-dominated Mediterranean Sea in mid-June 1942, during the Second World War. One convoy, Operation Vigorous, left Alexandria. The other, Operation Harpoon, travelled...
. After preparing for the Mediterranean duties at Derry, on 6 June the destroyer joined Convoy WS-19S in the north west approaches as part of Ocean Escort for passage to Gibraltar. On 12 June, Badsworth joined the cruiser HMS Cairo
HMS Cairo (D87)
HMS Cairo was a C-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy, named after the Egyptian capital, Cairo. So far she has been the only ship of the Royal Navy to bear the name...
, with a covering destroyer flotilla made up of the destroyers Bedouin
HMS Bedouin (F67)
HMS Bedouin was a Tribal-class destroyer of the British Royal Navy that saw service in World War II. She was launched on 21 December 1937 by William Denny and Brothers....
, Marne
HMS Marne (G35)
HMS Marne was an M-class destroyer of the Royal Navy commissioned on 2 December 1941. She was built by Vickers-Armstrongs at High Walker Yard, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, and saw service in the Atlantic theatre of World War II....
, Matchless Partridge, Ithuriel
HMS Ithuriel (H05)
HMS Ithuriel was an I-class destroyer laid down as Gayret for the Turkish Navy by Vickers Armstrong Naval Construction Works at Barrow-in-Furness on 24 May 1939, but taken over by the Royal Navy on the outbreak of the Second World War whilst still under construction.Launched on 15 December 1940 and...
, Blankney , Middleton
HMS Middleton (L74)
HMS Middleton was a Type 2 Hunt class destroyer of the Royal Navy and served in the Second World War. Her rôle was providing support for minelaying operations in the Atlantic and anti-aircraft protection for the North Russian convoys...
and ORP Kujawiak
ORP Kujawiak
The ORP Kujawiak was a British Hunt-class destroyer escort, formerly named the HMS Oakley. It was laid down on 22 November 1939 and launched on 30 October 1940. It was commissioned to the Polish Navy in June 1941. The destroyer was sunk on 16 June 1942 after running into a mine near Malta while...
. Also part of Force X charged with leading the convoy to Malta were the minesweepers HMS Hebe
HMS Hebe (J24)
HMS Hebe was a that saw service in the Royal Navy in the Second World War. She was built at the Devonport Dockyard and she was commissioned in 1936. Her pennant number was N 24, later J 24....
, HMS Speedy
HMS Speedy (J17)
HMS Speedy was a that saw service in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. She was built by William Hamilton & Co. at Port Glasgow, Scotland and completed at J. S. White & Co. at Cowes, Isle of Wight. She was commissioned in 1939...
, HMS Hythe
HMS Hythe (J194)
HMS Hythe was a Bangor class minesweeper of Royal Navy during the Second World War. She was built by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in Troon, Scotland and commissioned in 1941. Her pennant number was J 194...
and HMS Rye
HMS Rye (J76)
HMS Rye was a Bangor class minesweeper that saw service in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. She was built by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in Troon, Scotland and commissioned in 1941. Her pennant number was J 76....
. The ships set out 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...
escorting the convoy through the Sicilian narrows.
On 14 June, the Badsworth was under heavy air attack, which damaged HMS Liverpool
HMS Liverpool (C11)
HMS Liverpool , named after the port city of Liverpool in north-west England, was a Town-class light cruiser of the Royal Navy in service from 1938 to 1952....
forcing her return to Gibraltar. The day after found the convoy in action with Italian warships in their attempt to intercept and sink the convoy. On 16 June, the Badsworth suffered major structural damage after she detonated a mine whilst entering Grand Harbour, Malta. The destroyer entered the harbour with the two merchantmen that survived the convoy. The ships’ night time arrival, along with errors in the signals received for a mine-swept path caused the convoy to pass through a minefield. ORP Kujawiak was sunk after detonating a mine, while the Matchless , the minesweeper Hebe and the merchantman SS Orari were also damaged.
The Badsworth had twelve by fifteen foot gash torn in her forward structure below the waterline. Among the fourteen casualties were some survivors from the merchant ships sunk during the passage to Malta. The day after the arrival, the destroyer was docked and taken for repairs at HM Dockyard, Malta. Temporary repairs to allow a return to Great Britain took until 11 August, when the Badsworth left Malta, along with the Matchless as escorts for two merchantmen to Gibraltar. The ships were tagged as Force Y, as part of Operation Ascendant. These ships were the only remaining survivors of the Harpoon convoy. Their passage back to Gibraltar was deliberately planned to coincide with that of the next Malta relief convoy, 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...
. During the passage close to the North African coast
North 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...
, Italian recognition marks were painted on the Badsworth’s forecastle. The ships arrived at Gibraltar on 15 August, with the Badsworth leaving harbour three days later, heading for the United Kingdom for repairs. On 25 August, the Badsworth entered the North Shields commercial shipyard for repairs.
Repairs continued until November, with post refit trails and the preparations for operational service ending in December. Badsworth rejoined the Londonderry Escort Force for convoy defence in the North Atlantic. On 18 December, the destroyer joined the military convoy WS25 with the destroyers Haydon and Wolverine
HMS Wolverine (D78)
HMS Wolverine was a Royal Navy destroyer, which saw service during the Second World War. She was the seventh ship to bear that name.-Construction:...
as escort for the convoy’s route to Freetown. The Badsworth detached from WS-25 along with the other destroyers and returned to the Clyde on 24 December.
From January to February 1943, the Badsworth continued to provide defence for Atlantic convoys, however she was transferred to the Mediterranean for escort and support duties with the 60th Destroyer Division. On 16 March, as the Badsworth was prepared for foreign service, she joined the joint military convoy WS-28/KMF-11 in the Clyde with the Polish destroyer ORP Krakowiak
ORP Krakowiak
ORP Krakowiak was a British Hunt II-class destroyer escort, used by the Polish Navy during World War II. Initially built for the Royal Navy, it bore the name of HMS Silverton during British use..-History:...
, and the Royal Navy destroyers Douglas, Eggesford, Goathland, Whaddon
HMS Whaddon (L45)
HMS Whaddon was a Type I Hunt-class destroyer of the Royal Navy built by Alexander Stephen & Sons of Linthouse, Govan and launched on 16 July 1940. She was laid down on 27 July 1939 and commissioned 28 February 1941. Whaddon was scrapped at Faslane in April 1959.-References:...
and the sloops HMS Woodpecker and HMS Wren as escorts during the convoy’s Atlantic passage. The Badsworth then detached from the joint convoy with other ships bound for Gibraltar, as part of KMF11.
The Badsworth was thence deployed in the Western Mediterranean for convoy defence and patrol. On 22 April, she was mined at Bone
Annaba
Annaba is a city in the northeastern corner of Algeria near the river Seybouse. It is located in Annaba Province. With a population of 257,359 , it is the fourth largest city in Algeria. It is a leading industrial centre in eastern Algeria....
, Algeria, sustaining major structural damage in her aft section. The Badsworth’s starboard engine was immobilised, with both shafts distorted. The ship was beached, and had to be refloated and towed back into harbour by the minesweeper HMS Clacton
HMS Clacton (J151)
HMS Clacton was a turbine-engined Bangor class minesweeper of the Royal Navy. So far she has been only the second ship of the Royal Navy named after the Essex town of Clacton-on-Sea.She was built by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co...
. Temporary repairs were made in Malta during May, upon completion the Badsworth was towed back to the United Kingdom by the tug Frisky as part of Convoy MKS-15. The destroyer was taken in hand for extensive repairs at a commercial shipyard in Liverpool in July. The destroyer was paid off from Royal Navy service and transferred on loan to the Royal Norwegian Navy on 8 August 1944. The Badsworth was renamed as HNoMS Arendal. The ship was decommissioned from the Royal Navy on 16 November 1944.
Duties under Norwegian command, and later career
In September, the Arendal was nominated for duty with the 16th Destroyer Flotilla, based at HarwichHarwich
Harwich is a town in Essex, England and one of the Haven ports, located on the coast with the North Sea to the east. It is in the Tendring district. Nearby places include Felixstowe to the northeast, Ipswich to the northwest, Colchester to the southwest and Clacton-on-Sea to the south...
, after completing the shipyard work, carrying out the harbour trial, a post refit trial, the destroyer was ready again for operational service, joining the flotilla at Harwich for patrol and escort duties in the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
and the Channel.
The destroyer saw action on 25 March 1945 against minelaying E-Boat
E-boat
E-boats was the designation for Motor Torpedo Boats of the German Navy during World War II. It is commonly held that the E stood for Enemy....
s in the Thames Estuary
Thames Estuary
The Thames Mouth is the estuary in which the River Thames meets the waters of the North Sea.It is not easy to define the limits of the estuary, although physically the head of Sea Reach, near Canvey Island on the Essex shore is probably the western boundary...
with the Polish destroyer ORP Krakowiak. The continuation of the ship’s loan to the Royal Norwegian Navy was approved after VE Day, with the ship continuing to be deployed with the Royal Norwegian Navy on loan from the Royal Navy. The Arendal was a destroyer escort in Operation Kingdom, the embarkation of the Crown Prince of Norway
Olav V of Norway
Olav V was the king of Norway from 1957 until his death. A member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, Olav was born in the United Kingdom as the son of King Haakon VII of Norway and Queen Maud of Norway...
aboard HMS Ariadne
HMS Ariadne (M65)
HMS Ariadne was an Abdiel-class minelayer of the Royal Navy. She was built by Alexander Stephen and Sons of Glasgow, Scotland. She was laid down on 10 October 1941, launched on 5 April 1943 and commissioned on 12 February 1944....
for his return to Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
. After her return to Norway Arendal made a return trip to the UK, when she sailed in September 1945 to Leith and retrieved 400 urns containing the ashes of Norwegians who had died in the UK during the war. The urns were placed 40 each in 10 crates on the aft deck, each of the crates decorated with a large flower bouquet. Before the ship left port with her cargo a Norwegian priest belonging to the Norwegian Church Abroad held a service on board. When the destroyer arrived in Oslo she was met by King Haakon VII
Haakon VII of Norway
Haakon VII , known as Prince Carl of Denmark until 1905, was the first king of Norway after the 1905 dissolution of the personal union with Sweden. He was a member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg...
, Crown Prince Olav
Olav V of Norway
Olav V was the king of Norway from 1957 until his death. A member of the House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, Olav was born in the United Kingdom as the son of King Haakon VII of Norway and Queen Maud of Norway...
, Prince Harald
Harald V of Norway
Harald V is the king of Norway. He succeeded to the throne of Norway upon the death of his father Olav V on 17 January 1991...
and Bishop Eivind Berggrav
Eivind Berggrav
Eivind Josef Berggrav was a Norwegian Lutheran bishop, primarily known as Primate of the Church of Norway and remembered for his unyielding resistance against the Nazi occupation of Norway during World War II.-Background:Berggrav was born in Stavanger, Norway...
, as well as military units and a large crowd of people. Arendal also escorted landing vessels from the United Kingdom to Norway, the landing vessels having been bought by the Norwegian government for conversion to coastal ferries and cargo vessels. On several occasions Arendal sailed to Germany, escorting vessels carrying German soldiers being repatriated to Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven is a city at the seaport of the free city-state of Bremen, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany. It forms an enclave in the state of Lower Saxony and is located at the mouth of the River Weser on its eastern bank, opposite the town of Nordenham...
in north-western Germany. HNoMS Arendal was bought by Norway after the end of hostilities, in 1946. The ship remained in operational use as an escort destroyer until 1956, when she was classified as a frigate. The Arendal was used as a training ship for cadets, before being removed from the active list in 1961. She was scrapped in 1965.