HMS Bedouin (G67)
Navy: | Royal Navy |
Type: | Destroyer |
Class: | Tribal |
Pennant: | F67 / G67 |
Built by: | William Denny & Brothers (Dumbarton, Scotland) |
Laid down: | 13 Jan, 1937 |
Launched: | 21 Dec, 1937 |
Commissioned: | 15 Mar, 1939 |
Complement: | 190 |
Lost: | 15 Jun, 1942 (Cdr. B. G. Scurfield, RN. DSO,OBE) (36-15'N, 11-30'E) Central Mediterranean, off Pantelleria island with loss of 33 crew |
Battle Honours NARVIK 1940 - NORWAY 1940-41 - ATLANTIC 1940-41 - NORWAY 1941-41 - MALTA CONVOYS 1942 |
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History 1 9 3 9
March Contractors trials 15th Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials
April On completion of trials and storing took passage to Portland to work-up for service with the 6th Destroyer Flotilla in Home Fleet. Worked up in Channel area with units based at Portland.
May Deployment at Portland in continuation.
June 1st Despatched from Portland to assist in search for HMS THETIS which had failed to surface after diving trials in Liverpool Bay. 2nd Arrived in search area and joined ships taking part in rescue operations. On release from HMS THETIS rescue requirements resumed Home Fleet Summer Programme.
July Deployed with Flotilla in Home Fleet for exercises and visits.
August Passage to Scapa Flow to take-up war station.
September Deployed for screening ,anti-submarine patrol duties and interception of mercantiles attempting to return to Germany in NE Approaches based at Scapa Flow.
October Took part in unsuccessful search for SS CITY OF FLINT which had been captured by German cruiser DEUTSCHLAND. This ship was later interned in Norway. Deployed as part of screen for HMS RENOWN and HMS ARK ROYAL during their passage to Freetown prior to their joining Hunting Group X in search for German battleship ADMIRAL GRAF SPEE Returned escort and patrol duties with Flotilla.
November/December Flotilla duties in continuation including escort of Canadian Troop convoys in NW Approaches
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January Withdrawn from operational use because of high incidence of defects. Passage to Tyne for repair and refit in commercial shipyard. 23rd Taken in hand for repair.
February Under repair and refit Work included installation of Degaussing. Defect repair of propulsion machinery turbines to be confirmed.)
March 16th Post refit trials and passage to resume Flotilla duties at Scapa Flow. Rejoined Flotilla on arrival. Other ships in 6th Flotilla were HMS SOMALI (Leader),HMS ASHANTI, HMS MATABELE, HMS MASHONA, HMS PUNJABI, HMS ESKIMO and HMS TARTAR. During the operations off Norway in April 1940 she was patrolling off Baroy when she was attacked by the German submarine U-25, the torpedoes exploded some distance from target. April Deployed at Scapa Flow for screening of major Home Fleet units 7th Deployed with HMS CODRINGTON, HMS GRIFFIN, HMS JUPITER,HMS ELECTRA,ESCAPADE HMS BRAZEN, HMS PUNJABI, HMS ESKIMO and HMS KIMBERLEY as screen for HMS RODNEY and HMS VALIANT, HMS REPULSE.HMS SHEFFIELD,HMS PENELOPE and FFL EMIL BERTIN in search for German warships reported by aircraft as onpassage in North Sea. 8th Detached to carry out patrol off Skomvaer Light with HMS REPULSE, HMS PENELOPE, HMS ESKIMO, HMS PUNJABI and HMS KIMBERLEY. Rejoined Home Fleet units after German occupation of Narvik confirmed. 9th Deployed as screen for Home Fleet ships. 10th Deployed for Patrol in Ofot Fjord area. 12th Joined screen for HMS WARSPITE, HMS RENOWN and HMS FURIOUS with HMS PUNJABI, HMS KIMBERLEY and HMS ICARUS during passage into Vest Fjord. 13th Took part in engagement with German destroyers with HMS WARSPITE, HMS ICARUS, HMS HERO, HMS FOXHOUND, HMS KIMBERLEY, HMS FORESTER, HMS PUNJABI, HMS ESKIMO and HMS COSSACK during which she sank the German destroyer ERICH KOELLER (Second Battle of Narvik.)
15th Escorted damaged HMS ESKIMO to Skelfjord for repair with HMS HOSTILE and HMS IVANHOE. Resumed support of military operations and patrol duties off Narvik. May 4th Rescued survivors from Polish destroyer ORP GROM sunk by air attacks in Ofotfjord. Passage to UK on release from Norwegian support duties. Taken in hand for repair in Glasgow commercial shipyard. On completion resumed Flotilla duties at Scapa Flow. Pennant Number changed to G67. June 7th Deployed with HMS TARTAR, HMS MASHONA and HMS ASHANTI as screen for HMS VALIANT to provide cover against attack on Group 1 Evacuation convoy from Norway during passage. 8th Met Group 1 ships off Faeroes. July Home Fleet deployment in continuation.
August Deployed in North Sea for anti-invasion patrol and screening duties. 29th Deployed with HMS TARTAR as escort for ships of 1st Mine-laying Squadron during mine-laying in Northern Barrage (Operation SN14)
September Rescued crew of Norwegian fishing boat in North Sea. Nominated for refit.
October Passage to Southampton for refit. 10th Taken in hand for refit during which Twin 4” mounting was fitted in place of 4.7” mounting in “X” position.
November 17th On completion of post refit trials took passage to resume Flotilla duties at Scapa Flow with Flotilla.
December Flotilla duties for screen of Home Fleet ships and patrol in NW Approaches.
1 9 4 1
January 3rd Escorted HMS ICARUS and HMS INTREPID with HMS MASHONA, HMS MATABELE and HMS TARTAR during lay of minefield in coastal shipping route off Norwegian coast. During passage accidentally discharged torpedo which ships in company were able to avoid. On return to Scapa Flow resumed Home Fleet duties.
February Deployed at Scapa Flow with Flotilla.
March Sailed for support of planned commando raid on Lofoten Islands. by 3 & 4 Cdo as escort for HMS Queen EMMA and HMS PRINCESS BEATRIX during passage. (Operation CLAYMORE). 4th Provided support during landings. Sank Norwegian coastal steamer MIRA. 6th Return passage to Scapa Flow as escort and resumed Home Fleet duties.
April Scapa Flow deployment with Flotilla in continuation.
May Nominated for special operation to intercept German weather ship in a reporting station east of Iceland. This operation was intended to capture a German ENIGMA Coding machine and its associated documentation. 6th Escorted HMS EDINBURGH, HMS MANCHESTER and HMS BIRMINGHAM with HMAS NESTOR (RAN), HMS SOMALI and HMS ESKIMO during search for weather ship. 7th Took part in capture of German MUNCHEN during which the machine was thrown overboard and only the documentation was obtained. On release from EB resumed Flotilla duties.
June Nominated for further special operation to intercept another German weather ship stationed off Jan Mayen Island in Arctic Sea. 25th Deployed with HMS NIGERIA and HMS TARTAR during search. 28th Intercepted and enemy vessel which scuttled. Boarding Party were able to recover associated documentation.
July Nominated for refit and took passage to Immingham from Scapa Flow. 19th Taken in hand at Commercial shipyard in Immingham during which Radar Type 286M was fitted, with fixed type aerial. This equipment was later replaced by a naval design using a rotating aerial.
August 31st On completion carried out post refit trials before resuming Flotilla duties in Home Fleet.
September/October Home Fleet Flotilla deployment in continuation.
November 14th Joined Russian convoy PQ3 with HM Cruiser KENYA and HM Destroyer INTREPID as Ocean Escort during passage to North Russia. 20th Detached from PQ3 on arrival of Local Escort for final stage of passage. 25th Deployed with HMS KENYA, HMS INTREPID and two Soviet destroyers for bombardment of enemy batteries at Vardo. 28th Joined return convoy QP3 with same ships as Ocean Escort for return passage to Iceland.
December 3rd Detached from QP3 with HMS KENYA and HMS INTREPID and resumed Flotilla duties in Home Fleet. 22nd Escorted HMS ARETHUSA, HMS PRINZ ALBERT and HMS PRINCESS CHARLOTTE with HMS SOMALI and HMS ESKIMO,HMS WHEATLAND, HMS LAMERTON , Polish destroyers ORP KRAKOWIAK and ORP KUJAWIAK, HNoMS ACANTHUS and HNoMS EGLANTINE during passage to the Lofoten Islands for Commando raid This operation also included another landing from a separate force including HMSKENYA and Home Fleet destroyers with two Landing Ships. Two submarines were also deployed as markers to assist in passage off Norway.) 26th During landing operations destroyers carried out search of Vestfijord. 28th Under air attacks during which HMS ARETHUSA was damaged by a near miss.
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January Resumed Flotilla duties on return to Scapa Flow from ARCHERY.
February Home Fleet deployment with Flotilla in continuation.
March 1st Deployed as part of screen for HMS KING GEORGE V and HMS DUKE OF YORK, HMS VICTORIOUS, HMS BERWICK and HMS KENYA with HMS ASHANTI, HMS ECHO, HMS ECLIPSE, HMS FAULKNOR,HMS FURY,HMS GROVE, HMS ICARUS, HMS INCONSTANT, HMS INTREPID, HMS JAVELIN ,HMS LANCASTER, HMS LEDBURY, HMS LOOKOUT, HMS ONSLOW, HMS PUNJABI, HMS TARTAR,HMS VERDUN, HMS WELLS and HMS WOOLSTON to provide cover for passage of Russian convoys PQ12, PQ12 and return convoy QP9. These convoys were under the perceived threat of attack by the German battleship TIRPITZ with destroyer escort. 9th Detached from covering force. 11th Took part in search operation to intercept enemy ships. 13th Search discontinued and resumed Fleet duties on return to Scapa Flow.
April 10th Deployed with HMS BELVOIR,HMS ESCAPADE,HMS ESKIMO,HMS FAULKNOR,HMS LEDBURY,HMS MATCHLESS,HMS MIDDLETON,HMS OFFA,HMS ONSLOW,HMS SOMALI and HMS WHEATLAND as screen for HMS KING GEORGE V and HMS DUKE OF YORK, HMS VICTORIOUS, HMS NIGERIA and HMS KENT to provide Distant Cover for passage of Russian convoy PQ14 and return convoy QP10. Returned to Scapa Flow with Fleet units after arrival of QP10 in Iceland. 20th Passage to Humber for refit. 21st Taken in hand by Amos & Smith shipyard in Immingham.
May Under refit. 31st On completion carried out post refit trials before resuming Home Fleet duties with Flotilla.
June Nominated for escort of military convoy to Malta. (Operation HARPOON) 5th Sailed from Clyde as Ocean Escort for Convoy WS19Z during passage to Gibraltar with HMS KENYA, HMS LIVERPOOL.HMS ONSLOW,HMS ICARUS,HMS MARNE, HMS MATCHLESS,HMS ESCAPADE,HMS BLANKNEY, HMS MIDDLETON, HMS BADSWORTH and ORP KUJAWIAK deployed as Force T. 10th Detached with HMS KENYA and ORP KUJAWIAK to refuel in Gibraltar. 11th Joined HMS HEBE, HMS SPEEDY,HMS HYTHE and HMS RYE with HMS MARNE, HMS MATCHLESS, HMS BADSWORTH, HMS ITHURIEL,HMS PARTRIDGE, HMS BLANKNEY and HMS MIDDLETON to form Force X for Close Escort of convoy from Sicilian Channel into Malta Deployed with escort of WS19Z during passage in western Mediterranean, 14th Under air attacks during which HMS LIVERPOOL was hit by a torpedo and sustained serious damage. HMS CAIRO joined Force X and detached from WS19Z. Deployed with HMS CAIRO and ships of Force X as Close escort during passage in Sicilian Narrows to Malta. 15th Under attack by Italian force comprising cruisers MONTECUCCOLI and DI SAVOIA with destroyers ORIANA, ASCARI, VIVALDI, MALOCELLIO and Ex-Yugoslav PREMULA. Led by HMS CAIRO took part in attack on Italian ships with HMS MARNE, HMS MATCHLESS, HMS ITHURIEL and HMS PARTRIDGE. Came under 6” gunfire and hit by 12 shells causing severe damage and fire in gearing room. with structural damage forward. Ship disabled. Taken in tow by HMS PARTRIDGE which had also been damaged. Came under torpedo attack by aircraft during which two were shot down after having dropped their weapon one of which hit the ship. Sank quickly in position (36.12N 111,37E) SW of Pantellaria. 33 of ships company lost their lives and the remaining 157 were rescued by an Italian hospital ship and became prisoner of war. |