Talk:HMS Matchless (G52)

Web Link
http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-43M-Matchless.htm — Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.178.176.249 (talk) 06:19, 28 August 2011 (UTC)

History
1942 Contractor's sea trials and commissioning. Accepted into service with 17th Destroyer Flotilla.

On completion of trials, storing and calibration of weapon equipment took passage to work-up with ships of Home Fleet.

Deployed in NW Approaches for Home Fleet screening duties. Part of screen for HM Battleships KING GEORGE V and DUKE OF YORK, HM Aircraft Carrier VICTORIOUS, HM Cruisers KENT and NIGERIA providing cover for the passage of Russian Convoys PQ14 and QP10 with HM Destroyers BEDOUIN, BELVOIR, ESCAPADE, ESKIMO, FAULKNOR, LEDBURY, MIDDLETON, OFFA, ONSLOW, SOMALI and WHEATLAND.

Joined escort for Russian Convoy PQ15 with HM Anti-Aircraft Ship ULSTER QUEEN, HM Destroyers BADSWORTH, BOADICEA, SOMALI, VENOMOUS and Norwegian destroyer ST ALBANS for passage to Murmansk.

Detached from PQ15 on arrival. Retained in North Russia Escorted damaged cruiser HMS TRINIDAD from Murmansk for return passage to UK with HM Destroyers FORESIGHT, FORESTER and SOMALI.

Under air attacks. Sank HMS TRINIDAD by torpedo after ship had been abandoned.

Joined Home Fleet screen during cover of passage of return convoy PQ12.

Nominated for detached duty as part of escort for Malta Relief Convoy WS19Z.

Joined Convoy WS19Z in Clyde with H M Cruisers KENYA and LIVERPOOL, H M Destroyers BADSWORTH, BEDOUIN, MARNE, ITHURIEL, PARTRIDGE, BLANKNEY, MIDDLETON and Polish destroyer KUJAWIAK.

Joined H M Cruiser CAIRO, with HM Destroyers BEDOUIN, MARNE, ITHURIEL, PARTRIDGE, BADSWORTH, BLANKNEY, MIDDLETON and Polish destroyer KUJAWIAK as Force X for Close Escort of convoy to Malta screened by ships of Force H from Gibraltar.

Under air attacks. HMS LIVERPOOL damaged and returned in tow to Gibraltar.

Carried out attack with HMS MARNE on Italian destroyers VIVALDI and MAROCELLO. Disabled VIVALDI.

Mined on entry to Grand Harbour whilst escorting ORARI and TROILUS which were sole surviving mercantiles from HARPOON convoy.

Taken in hand for repair in HM Dockyard, Malta. On completion prepared for return passage to UK for permanent repair.

Escorted ss ORARI and ss TROILUS with HMS BADSWORTH for passage to Gibraltar.

Arrived at Newcastle for repair by commercial shipyard. Dockyard repair work completed and carried out post repair sea trials. Carried out post refit trials on completion of dockyard work. On completion took passage to Scapa Flow to join new Flotilla. Worked-up for operational service at Scapa Flow.

Sailed from Scapa Flow with HM Cruiser JAMAICA and HM Destroyer OPPORTUNE to join HM Cruiser SHEFFIELD for passage to Iceland to join Convoy JW51A. Fuelling delayed by fog off Iceland. Joined escort for Russian Convoy JW51A with HM Destroyers BEAGLE and OPPORTUNE as screen for HM Cruisers JAMAICA and SHEFFIELD (Force R). Arrived at Kola Inlet ahead of convoy after providing cover to south of track. Deployed with HM Destroyer OPPORTUNE as screen for HMS SHEFFIELD and HMS JAMAICA to provide cruiser cover for Russian Convoy JW51B on passage to Kola Inlet. Detached to refuel at Kola Inlet before return passage to UK with HMS JAMAICA and HMS SHEFFIELD providing Distant Cover for transit of Convoy RA51A.

1943

Passage to Scapa Flow. Part of Ocean Escort for Russian Convoys JW52 with HM Destroyers BEAGLE, BULLDOG, MUSKETEER, OFFA, ONSLAUGHT and Polish destroyer ORP PIORUN.

Detached from convoy on arrival at Kola Inlet. Joined Ocean Escort for return convoy RA52 with HM Destroyers BEAGLE, BULLDOG, OFFA, FORESTER, ICARUS, MUSKETEER, ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW and Polish ORP PIORUN.

Detached from convoy after arrival in Home waters. Resumed Hone Fleet duties with Flotilla. Deployed with Flotilla on Home Fleet screening and patrol duties.

Transferred to Western Approaches for convoy defence in support role. Deployed with HM Escort Aircraft Carrier ARCHER, HM Destroyers MILNE, ECLIPSE and FURY as 4th Support Group.

Atlantic convoy defence in continuation with air support from HM Escort Carrier ARCHER. Deployed with Group in support of escort for inward Convoy SC130 and HX239 under threat of attacks by DONAU and MOSEL U-Boat Groups.

Deployed with Group in Western Approaches for support of Atlantic convoys.

Deployed with Flotilla in NW Approaches based at Scapa Flow for screening and patrol.

Released from 4th Support Group and nominated for refit in Humber by Brigham and Cowan at Hull. Carried out post refit trials and took passage to Scapa Flow with 3rd Destroyer Flotilla

Deployed with Flotilla at Scapa Flow. Present during visit by King George VI to Home Fleet. Took part in demonstration exercises for Royal visit.

Carried out anti-submarine search in NW Approaches with HM Destroyer ULSTER (Operation SF) Passage to North Russia with HM Destroyers MAHRATTA, MILNE MUSKETEER of Flotilla, HM Destroyers SAUMAREZ, SAVAGE, SCOURGE and SCORPION of 23rd Destroyer Flotilla, HM Destroyer WESTCOTT, HM Corvette EGLANTINE, HM Minesweepers HARRIER and SEAGULL (Operation FR).

At Kola Inlet awaiting first convoy of winter season. Joined Ocean Escort for returning Russian Convoy RA54A with same destroyers, HMS Corvette EGLANTINE, HM Minesweepers JASON and BRITOMART (returning from North Russia).

Detached from RA54A with HMS MUSKETEER during passage and resumed Home Fleet duty. Part of screen for HM Battleship ANSON and HM Cruiser BELFAST with HM Destroyers ASHANTI, MUSKETEER and OBDURATE to cover passage of Russian Convoy JW54B and return convoy RA54B.

Repairs.

Joined Russian Convoy JW55A as Ocean Escort with HM Destroyers ASHANTI ,MUSKETEER, METEOR, MILNE, OPPORTUNE, VIRAGO and Canadian ATHABASKAN. Detached from JW55A with same ships to Join Ocean Escort for return Convoy RA55A.

Joined return Convoy RA55A as Ocean Escort Detached with HM Destroyers MUSKETEER, OPPORTUNE and VIRAGO to reinforce escort of Convoy JW55B which was under threat of attack by the German battleship SCHARNHORST and a destroyer screen.

On orders from CinC detached from JW55B with HMS MUSKETEER, HMS OPPORTUNE and HMS VIRAGO to join HM Cruisers BELFAST, NORFOLK and SHEFFIELD to increase strength of covering force against SCHARNHORST and German destroyers.

Deployed with HM Destroyers MUSKETEER, VIRAGO and OPPORTUNE to carry out torpedo attack on the sinking battleship, but owing to extensive weather damage due to operations at high speed in the appalling was unable to discharge her weapons. Rescued six of the 36 survivors from the German warship.

1944

Passage to UK with screen for Home Fleet major units.

Deployed with Flotilla for screening duties based at Scapa Flow. Joined escort for Russian Convoy JW57 with HM Cruiser BLACK PRINCE, HM Destroyers MAHRATTA, METEOR, MILNE, OBEDIENT, OFFA, ONSLAUGHT, ORIBI, SAVAGE, SERAPIS, SWIFT, VERULAM and VIGILANT. Detached from JW57 on arrival at Kola Inlet

Joined escort for returning Convoy RA57 with HMS BLACK PRINCE, HM Escort Carrier CHASER, HM Destroyer IMPULSIVE and destroyers from Convoy JW57, except HMS MAHRATTA

Detached from RA57 With HMS MILNE, HMS OFFA, HMS ONSLAUGHT, ORIBI, HMS SAVAGE, HMS SERAPIS and HMS VIGILANT before arrival of convoy at Loch Ewe.

Home Fleet screening duties with Flotilla in continuation. Independent passage with other escorts to Kola Inlet for escort of return convoy of empty ships with USN and Soviet Navy personnel taking passage;

Joined escort of return Convoy RA59 with HM Escort Carrier ACTIVITY, HM Destroyers MARNE, METEOR, MUSKETEER and MILNE of Flotilla.

Detached from RA59 with same ships before arrival of convoy at Loch Ewe. Resumed Flotilla duties with Home Fleet. Deployed as screen for major units of Home Fleet to provide Distant Cover for the allied landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE).

Independent passage with H M Destroyers METEOR and MUSKETEER carrying stores and mail to ships in North Russia (Operation DC). Arrived at Kola Inlet. Passage to rejoin Fleet. Deployed for Flotilla duties at Scapa Flow.

Nominated for refit in commercial shipyard and took passage to Humber for refit on release from Flotilla duties. Taken in hand for refit at Brigham and Cowan shipyard in Hull. On completion of Post Refit Trials worked up for service at Scapa Flow. On completion took passage to Mediterranean to rejoin Flotilla. Resumed screening duties with Flotilla at Scapa Flow.

1945

Sailed from Gibraltar. Deployed with Flotilla in western Mediterranean for support of military operations, patrol and screening duties.

Carried out bombardment of shore positions in Gulf of Genoa.

Deployed with HM Destroyer METEOR and Free French destroyer SIMOON for patrol north of Corsica. After radar detection gave chase to enemy ships minelaying and gave chase but failed to make direct contact.

Flotilla deployment for patrol and support duties in continuation.

Take in hand for repair by HM Dockyard, Malta. Carried out harbour trials. Carried out post repair trials on completion of dockyard work. On completion resumed Flotilla duties

Post War

HMS MATCHLESS remained in the Mediterranean after VJ Day and was deployed with the Flotilla for Mediterranean Fleet exercises and visits to port in the area and support of military units in southern Europe. She was nominated for reduction to reserve status in 1946 and sailed from Gibraltar to Pay-off at Portsmouth on 4th April. Reduced to Reserve status after de-storing on 25th June 1946 this ship was refitted in 1951-2 and transferred to Penarth in 1953. Placed on the Sales List in 1956 this destroyer was sold to Turkey in 1957 with three others the same Class. Before formal transfer to Turkey she was refitted by Harland and Wolf at Govan and renamed KILIC ALI PASHA. In 1971 she was stricken from the Active List in 1971 and later sold for demolition. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.178.176.249 (talk) 06:59, 28 August 2011 (UTC)
 * What makes this reliable? Plus you can't just copy this as you're violating the original author's copyright. See WP:RS and WP:Copyvio.--Sturmvogel 66 (talk) 05:52, 29 August 2011 (UTC)