HMS Grenville (R97)
Encyclopedia
HMS Grenville, pennant number R97, was the second ship of this name to serve with the Royal Navy in World War II. HMS Grenville and seven other U class destroyer
s were ordered as part of the Emergency Programme. She was launched at Swan Hunter
and Wigham Richardson Ltd., Wallsend-on-Tyne on 12 October 1942 and commissioned on 27 May 1943.
The Royal Navy's practice had been to name all destroyers of a class with names starting with the class letter, in this "U". However, the Royal Navy had reverted to an earlier practice of naming the flotilla leader after a promoninent historical seaman, in this case after Vice Admiral Sir Richard Grenville
, an Elizabethan
soldier and sailor.
formed the force covering anti-submarine sweeps by the Canadian 5th Support group, off north-west Spain. These ships were attacked by eighteen Dornier Do 217
s using Henschel Hs293 A-1
glider bombs. Athabaskan was heavily damaged and HMS Egret was sunk with the loss of 194 of her crew. After this, the u-boat hunt was abandoned.
Later on, in September and October, Grenville was involved in a series of blockade runner sweeps along the French coast (Operation Tunnel). On 4 October, she joined in an action with enemy destroyers in which she was hit and suffered a small number of casualties. Later in October, during another of these sweeps, Grenville was with the cruiser HMS Charybdis
and other destroyers in another, more disastrous, Operation Tunnel action against a blockade runner off the north coast of Brittany. In this operation, the cruiser HMS Charybdis and destroyer HMS Limbourne were sunk by German Elbing-class torpedo boat
s.
In November, Grenville joined the 24th Destroyer Flotilla and the Mediterranean Fleet
. In the Mediterranean, she supported the Anzio landings
, sunk an E-boat
and destroyed a train near San Giorgio
on the Adriatic Sea
.
In May 1944, Grenville returned to Britain and in June took part in the landings in Normandy
.
At the end of 1944, after a refit on the Humber
, she left for the Indian Ocean where she joined operations against the Japanese. In January, 1945, Grenville and three other "U" class destroyers forming the 26th Destroyer Flotilla, escorted the British carrier force (Task Force 63) that became the British Pacific Fleet
. After raids against Japanese installations on Sumatra
, TF63 left for Okinawa
, via Sydney
, where there were air strikes on Japanese airfields in support of Operation Iceberg
. Later, Grenville participated in the final raids on the Japanese home islands.
HMS Grenville was used as an air training target vessel in October 1951. She collided with the Italian ship Alceo, off Start Point
, Devon. Three crewman on the Grenville died and another four were listed as missing.
In 1953 - 54, she was extensively converted and re-armed into a Type 15 frigate
. She was subsequently fitted with a third mast carrying experimental air-search radar
, prior to its operational use in Invincible class aircraft carriers.
Grenville was scrapped in 1983.
U and V class destroyer
The U and V class was a class of sixteen destroyers of the Royal Navy launched in 1942–1943. They were constructed in two flotillas, each with names beginning with "U-" or "V-"...
s were ordered as part of the Emergency Programme. She was launched at Swan Hunter
Swan Hunter
Swan Hunter, formerly known as "Swan Hunter & Wigham Richardson", was one of the best known shipbuilding companies in the world. Based in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear, the company was responsible for some of the greatest ships of the early 20th century — most famously, the RMS Mauretania which...
and Wigham Richardson Ltd., Wallsend-on-Tyne on 12 October 1942 and commissioned on 27 May 1943.
The Royal Navy's practice had been to name all destroyers of a class with names starting with the class letter, in this "U". However, the Royal Navy had reverted to an earlier practice of naming the flotilla leader after a promoninent historical seaman, in this case after Vice Admiral Sir Richard Grenville
Richard Grenville
Sir Richard Grenville was an English sailor, sea captain and explorer. He took part in the early English attempts to settle the New World, and also participated in the fight against the Spanish Armada...
, an Elizabethan
Elizabethan era
The Elizabethan era was the epoch in English history of Queen Elizabeth I's reign . Historians often depict it as the golden age in English history...
soldier and sailor.
Active service
In late August, 1943, Grenville and the Canadian destroyer HMCS AthabaskanHMCS Athabaskan (G07)
HMCS Athabaskan was the first of three destroyers of the Royal Canadian Navy to bear this name. It was a destroyer of the Tribal-class, built in 1940-1941 in the United Kingdom by Vickers Armstrong of Newcastle upon Tyne with Parsons engine works....
formed the force covering anti-submarine sweeps by the Canadian 5th Support group, off north-west Spain. These ships were attacked by eighteen Dornier Do 217
Dornier Do 217
The Dornier Do 217 was a bomber used by German Luftwaffe during World War II as a more powerful version of the Dornier Do 17, known as the Fliegender Bleistift . Designed in 1937 and 1938 as a heavy bomber, its design was refined during 1939 and production began in late 1940...
s using Henschel Hs293 A-1
Henschel Hs 293
The Henschel Hs 293 was a World War II German anti-ship guided missile: a radio-controlled glide bomb with a rocket engine slung underneath it. It was designed by Herbert A. Wagner.- History :...
glider bombs. Athabaskan was heavily damaged and HMS Egret was sunk with the loss of 194 of her crew. After this, the u-boat hunt was abandoned.
Later on, in September and October, Grenville was involved in a series of blockade runner sweeps along the French coast (Operation Tunnel). On 4 October, she joined in an action with enemy destroyers in which she was hit and suffered a small number of casualties. Later in October, during another of these sweeps, Grenville was with the cruiser HMS Charybdis
HMS Charybdis (88)
HMS Charybdis was a Dido-class cruiser of the Royal Navy. She was built by Cammell Laird Shipyard , with the keel being laid down on 9 November 1939...
and other destroyers in another, more disastrous, Operation Tunnel action against a blockade runner off the north coast of Brittany. In this operation, the cruiser HMS Charybdis and destroyer HMS Limbourne were sunk by German Elbing-class torpedo boat
Elbing class torpedo boat
The Elbing class torpedo boats were a class of 15 small warships that served in the German Kriegsmarine during World War II. Although classed as Flottentorpedoboot by the Germans, in most respects—displacement, weaponry, usage—they were comparable to contemporary medium-size destroyers...
s.
In November, Grenville joined the 24th Destroyer Flotilla and the Mediterranean Fleet
Mediterranean Fleet (Royal Navy)
The British Mediterranean Fleet was part of the Royal Navy. The Fleet was one of the most prestigious commands in the navy for the majority of its history, defending the vital sea link between the United Kingdom and the majority of the British Empire in the Eastern Hemisphere...
. In the Mediterranean, she supported the Anzio landings
Operation Shingle
Operation Shingle , during the Italian Campaign of World War II, was an Allied amphibious landing against Axis forces in the area of Anzio and Nettuno, Italy. The operation was commanded by Major General John P. Lucas and was intended to outflank German forces of the Winter Line and enable an...
, sunk an 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....
and destroyed a train near San Giorgio
San Giorgio di Nogaro
San Giorgio di Nogaro is a comune in the Province of Udine in the Italian region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, located about 50 km northwest of Trieste and about 25 km south of Udine...
on the Adriatic Sea
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
.
In May 1944, Grenville returned to Britain and in June took part in the landings in Normandy
Operation Neptune
The Normandy landings, codenamed Operation Neptune, were the landing operations of the Allied invasion of Normandy, in Operation Overlord, during World War II. The landings commenced on Tuesday, 6 June 1944 , beginning at 6:30 AM British Double Summer Time...
.
At the end of 1944, after a refit on the Humber
Humber
The Humber is a large tidal estuary on the east coast of Northern England. It is formed at Trent Falls, Faxfleet, by the confluence of the tidal River Ouse and the tidal River Trent. From here to the North Sea, it forms part of the boundary between the East Riding of Yorkshire on the north bank...
, she left for the Indian Ocean where she joined operations against the Japanese. In January, 1945, Grenville and three other "U" class destroyers forming the 26th Destroyer Flotilla, escorted the British carrier force (Task Force 63) that became the British Pacific Fleet
British Pacific Fleet
The British Pacific Fleet was a British Commonwealth naval force which saw action against Japan during World War II. The fleet was composed of British Commonwealth naval vessels. The BPF formally came into being on 22 November 1944...
. After raids against Japanese installations on Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
, TF63 left for Okinawa
Okinawa Prefecture
is one of Japan's southern prefectures. It consists of hundreds of the Ryukyu Islands in a chain over long, which extends southwest from Kyūshū to Taiwan. Okinawa's capital, Naha, is located in the southern part of Okinawa Island...
, via Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, where there were air strikes on Japanese airfields in support of Operation Iceberg
Battle of Okinawa
The Battle of Okinawa, codenamed Operation Iceberg, was fought on the Ryukyu Islands of Okinawa and was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. The 82-day-long battle lasted from early April until mid-June 1945...
. Later, Grenville participated in the final raids on the Japanese home islands.
Post-war
Near the end of the Pacific war, several allied warships began to relay Australian programmes to surrounding areas on shortwave. Grenville was one of these heard relaying the commercial programmes from 2KY Sydney in January 1946.HMS Grenville was used as an air training target vessel in October 1951. She collided with the Italian ship Alceo, off Start Point
Start Point
Start Point may refer to:*Start Point, Devon, in England*Start Point, Cornwall in Cornwall, England*Start Point, Livingston Island on Livingston Island*Start Point, Sanday, in the Orkney Islands, Scotland...
, Devon. Three crewman on the Grenville died and another four were listed as missing.
In 1953 - 54, she was extensively converted and re-armed into a Type 15 frigate
Type 15 frigate
The Type 15 frigate was a class of British anti-submarine frigates of the Royal Navy. They were conversions based on the hulls of World War II-era destroyers built to the standard War Emergency Programme "utility" design.-History:...
. She was subsequently fitted with a third mast carrying experimental air-search radar
Radar
Radar is an object-detection system which uses radio waves to determine the range, altitude, direction, or speed of objects. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, weather formations, and terrain. The radar dish or antenna transmits pulses of radio...
, prior to its operational use in Invincible class aircraft carriers.
Grenville was scrapped in 1983.
External links
- http://www.offshore-radio.de/fleet/grenville.htm