HMS Avon Vale (L06): British Escort Destroyer

HMS Avon Vale (pennant number L06) was an escort destroyer of the Hunt Type II class. The Royal Navy ordered Avon Vale '​s construction three months after the outbreak of the Second World War. John Brown Shipbuilding & Engineering Company Ltd laid down her keel at their Clydebank yard on 12 February 1940, as Admiralty Job Number J1569. After a successful Warship Week national savings campaign in February 1942, Avon Vale was adopted by the civil community of Trowbridge, Wiltshire.

Avon Vale began her career on convoy duty in the North Western Approaches with the Irish sea force. The destroyer was worked up at Scapa Flow with ships of the Home Fleet in March, being redeployed with the Irish Sea Force for convoy defense in Irish Sea in April. In May 1941, the Avon Vale was nominated for service in Gibraltar, where she was deployed for convoy defense with the destroyers HMS Eridge and HMS Farndale.

In July, Avon Vale was deployed for escort duties in a Malta convoy GM1, which consisted a passage through the Western Mediterranean as part of Operation Substance. On 17 July the destroyer joined another convoy, WS9C, with the destroyers Eridge, Farndale and HMAS Nestor. Together the destroyers escorted the troopship Pasteur, forming Convoy GM1, carried servicemen to Gibraltar before taking passage to Malta.

On 20 July the destroyer sailed from Gibraltar to join Force X as escort through the Sicilian Narrows to Malta with HMS Edinburgh, Manchester, Arethusa, the cruiser HMS Manxman, the destroyers HMS Cossack, Maori, Sikh, the destroyers forming Force H at Gibraltar, as well as Nestor, Eridge and Farndale. On 23 July the convoy found itself under close air attacks from Sardinian airfields, during which Manchester and Fearless were damaged and withdrawn from the operation.

Avon Vale was detached from the convoy to escort the damaged Manchester on her return passage to Gibraltar. During August, Avon Vale was deployed in convoy defense at Gibraltar, from where she escorted Convoy HG72 on 2 September on its passage from Gibraltar to Liverpool, along with the destroyers Nestor, Broke and the sloop Deptford. Avon Vale was then nominated for service in the eastern Mediterranean, taking passage through Cape of Good Hope and the Indian Ocean, joining the flotilla at Alexandria in November. The destroyer was then deployed for support of the Tobruk garrison.

On 27 November Avon Vale was deployed with the sloop HMAS Parramatta as escorts for the merchantman SS Hanne taking supplies of munitions to Tobruk. The ships were attacked by the German submarine U-559, which torpedoed and sank Parramatta. Avon Vale rescued the only twenty survivors from the sloop. On 30 November Avon Vale escorted another convoy, AT1, to Tobruk with the escort destroyer Heythrop. The convoy was made up of the armed boarding vessels and the merchantman SS Kirkland which carried petrol. On 2 December the destroyer arrived at Tobruk with AT1, sailing back from Tobruk with Farndale on 5 December as convoy TA1. The convoy found itself under air attacks, during which SS Chakdina was sunk. Chakdina was carrying prisoners of war, amongst them General Ravenstein, who was rescued by Farndale.

In January 1942, Avon Vale continued in her operations in support of Tobruk. In February, the destroyer was deployed with Southwold, Beaufort, Dulverton, Hurworth, Eridge and Heythrop of the flotilla in convoy defense duties in the eastern Mediterranean. On 12 February Avon Vale formed part of the escort for Convoy MW9A, with the cruiser HMS Carlisle, destroyers Lance, Heythrop and Eridge, which found itself under heavy and sustained air attacks on 13 February.

On 20 March the destroyer joined the escort for Convoy MW10 to Malta, with Carlisle and ships of the Fifth Destroyer Flotilla, which was covered by cruisers and destroyers of Mediterranean Fleet. On 22 March the convoy sustained dive bombing attacks, the whole movement done under threat of surface action with Italian heavy units including the battleship Littorio and three cruisers. Avon Vale sustained damage during these air attacks, and further damage was done after she was involved in a collision. The engagement by the covering force was able to prevent a full attack on the convoy.

On 29 March Avon Vale was nominated for return to the United Kingdom for repairs. The destroyer met escort duties for the damaged cruiser HMS Aurora during the patched cruiser's passage from Malta to Gibraltar. In April the destroyer left Gibraltar for Falmouth, where she was taken in hand at a commercial shipyard.

From May to June the destroyer was under repair, carrying post repair trials in July; during this period Avon Vale was nominated for service by the Western Approaches Command for the defense of convoys to and from Western Africa. After completing her work-up process, the destroyer joined Western Approaches Command for convoy defense. From August to September the Avon Vale was transferred to Freetown in continuation of her services.

In October, Avon Vale began Atlantic convoy defense duties in continuation from Freetown. On 20 October she joined military convoy WS23, departing from Freetown with the cruiser HMS Durban, HMS Carthage and the Greek destroyer Kanaris as escort during part of the passage to the Cape of Good Hope.

On 23 October the destroyer detached from WS23 upon being relieved by the sloop HMS Milford and the cruiser HMS Despatch, returning to Freetown. Avon Vale then passed to Gibraltar to escort military convoys before the allied landings in North Africa. On 8 November Avon Vale joined the Central Naval Task Force to support the landings at Oran. The destroyer was then released for convoy escort duties, a role which was carried out all through December in support of military operations in North Africa.

In January 1943, Avon Vale was transferred to the 59th Destroyer Division, joining the escort destroyers Calpe, Farndale and Puckeridge at Gibraltar for convoy defense duties in the western Mediterranean. On 29 January Avon Vale suffered major damage after she was hit by an aerial torpedo, which destroyed the whole of the bow structure of the destroyer. The aft section was towed back to Gibraltar by the escort destroyer Bicester. Temporary repairs were carried out in February to ensure Avon Vale could be towed back safely for permanent repairs. In February the passage had to be deferred until a suitable convoy was available. From March to May the destroyer was deployed at Gibraltar awaiting tow, until she was towed back to the United Kingdom on 25 June as part of convoy MKS15.

Avon Vale arrived in the UK on 7 July and was taken in hand for repair at HM Dockyard Chatham on 22 July. The forward structure was rebuilt, the whole repairs taking from August to December. The destroyer was under refit between January and March 1944, when she was nominated for transfer to the Royal Hellenic Navy, to be renamed the HHMS Aegaion. However, this transfer was not carried out because of the mutinous conduct of Greek mariners which manned Royal Navy units at Alexandria.

In April Avon Vale carried out her post repair harbor trials, which were completed on 14 April with the commencement of the destroyer's sea trials. In May, upon completing the trials, and achieving worked-up service, the destroyer was nominated for convoy escort duties during the allied landings in Normandy.

On 6 June Avon Vale was deployed at Portsmouth as part of Force L. The destroyer sailed from Solent with the escort of the Follow-up Convoy L1 from Nore. This escort was made up of the trawler HMS Damsay and the 143rd MMS Flotilla.

In July the destroyer was deployed for convoy defense. In August she was taken again under repairs in a Tyne commercial shipyard, from where she was nominated for service with the 22nd Destroyer Flotilla in the Mediterranean. Upon completing these repairs, Avon Vale took passage to join the flotilla at Alexandria. In September she was deployed with the flotilla in the Eastern Mediterranean, taking part in a number of operations to occupy several islands after the surrender of Italy. Avon Vale was then transferred to the Adriatic for convoy defense, patrols and in support of shore operations. While being deployed with HMS Wheatland, on 1 November, Avon Vale engaged German surface craft south of the island of Lussino, sinking the torpedo boat TA-20, and the corvettes UJ202 (Heinz Trautwein) and UJ208 (Klaus Wenke), and rescuing some of the survivors in Action of 1 November 1944. In December the destroyer was nominated for service in the East Indies after a refit in the United Kingdom.

In January 1945 the Avon Vale joined the 16th Destroyer Flotilla, based at Harwich, pending her refit prior to service in the Indies. The refit was arranged at the port of Taranto, Italy. The destroyer was taken in hand for refit in March, which was completed in May. Upon completing the refit, the destroyer returned to the United Kingdom, for pay off and the recommissioning for her service overseas. The recommissioning occurred in June, while a work-up for operational service in the Mediterranean was carried out in July. In August the deployment was cancelled, and Avon Vale returned to the United Kingdom for pay off and a reduction to reserve.

Avon Vale paid-off at Devonport, and was laid up in reserve at Plymouth on 10 December 1945. The destroyer was transferred to the Sheerness Reserve Fleet after a refit at HM Dockyard Sheerness in 1949. When Sheerness Division was closed, Avon Vale was transferred to Hartlepool and laid up there until placed on the Disposal List. The destroyer was sold to BISCO in 1958 for demolition by TA Young at Sunderland. Avon Vale arrived in tow at the breaker's yard on 15 May of that year.

Ship Commanders

Lt.Cdr. Peter Alison Ross Withers, RN: 14 Jan 1941 - Jul/Aug 43

Lt.Cdr. Arthur Denis White, RD, RNR: 4 May 1944 - 7 Sep 1944

Lt. Ivan Hall, RN: 7 Sep 1944 - late 1945

Details of War Service

1941

February: Contractors trials and commissioned for service.

17th: Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials. On completion of trials and storing took passage to Scapa Flow. Nominated for service in Western Approaches Command with Irish Sea Force.

March: Worked-up at Scapa Flow with ships of Home Fleet.

April: Deployed with Irish Sea Force for convoy defense in Irish Sea and NW Approaches.

May: Nominated for service at Gibraltar. Passage to Gibraltar.

June: Deployed at Gibraltar for convoy defense with HM Escort Destroyers ERIDGE and FARNDALE

July: Nominated for deployment as part of escort for Malta relief convoy GM1 during passage in western Mediterranean (Operation SUBSTANCE)

17th: Joined military convoy WS9C with HM Destroyer NESTOR , HMS ERIDGE and HMS FARNDALE for escort of troopship PASTEUR carrying troops for service at Gibraltar. (Note: These ships were designated as Convoy GM1 and had troops embarked for landing at Gibraltar before taking passage to Malta. WS9C also included troopship LEINSTER which detached later with separate escort. The other six ships of WS9C did not enter Gibraltar and were escorted into the western Mediterranean by other Home Fleet ships supplemented by ships of Force H from Gibraltar ss LEINSTER did not rejoin as she ran aground on departure from Gibraltar.

20th: Sailed from Gibraltar to join GM 1 and joined HMS EDINBURGH, HMS MANCHESTER, HMS ARETHUSA. HM Cruiser MANXMAN, HM Destroyers COSSACK, MAORI, SIKH, NESTOR (RAN), Destroyers of Force H based at Gibraltar and HMS ERIDGE and HMS FARNDALE as Force X for escort during passage through Sicilian Narrows to Malta. Escort for passage of convoy through Sicilian Narrows to Malta.

23rd: Under air attacks from Sardinia during which both HMS MANCHESTER and HM Destroyer FEARLESS were damaged and withdrawn from operation. Detached from GM1 for escort of damaged cruiser during return passage to Gibraltar

August: Deployed for convoy defense at Gibraltar.

September:

2nd: Deployed with escort for Convoy HG72 During initial stage of passage from Gibraltar to Liverpool with HM Destroyers NESTOR (RAN), BROKE and HM Sloop DEPTFORD). Nominated for service in eastern Mediterranean and took passage to Alexandria via Cape of Good Hope.

Detached from HG72 and returned to Gibraltar. Sailed from Gibraltar to join 5th Destroyer Flotilla at Alexandria.

October: On passage in Indian Ocean.

November: Joined Flotilla at Alexandria. Deployed for support of Tobruk garrison.

27th: Deployed with HM Sloop PARRAMATTA (RAN) as escort for mercantile HANNE taking ammunition to Tobruk Under attack by U559 which torpedoed and sank HMAS PARRAMATTA. Rescued the only 20 survivors.

30th: Escorted Convoy AT1 to Tobruk with HM Escort Destroyer HEYTHROP (Note: Convoy comprised HM Armed Boarding Vessel CHAKDINA and mercantile KIRKLAND a petrol carrying petrol

December:

2nd: Arrived at Tobruk with AT1.

5th: Sailed from Tobruk with HM Escort Destroyer FARNDALE and HM Whaler THORNGRIM (SAN) as convoy TA1. Under air attacks during which CHAKDINA sunk. (Note: CHAKDINA was carrying Prisoners of War . Those rescued by HMS FARNDALE included General Ravenstein of the Afrika Korps.)

1942

January: Tobruk support duty in continuation..

February: Deployed with HM Destroyers SOUTHWOLD, BEAUFORT, DULVERTON, HURWORTH, ERIDGE and HEYTHROP of Flotilla for convoy defense in eastern Mediterranean.

12th: Part of escort for Convoy MW9A with HM Cruiser CARLISLE, HM Destroyers LANCE, HEYTHROP and ERIDGE.

13th: Under heavy and sustained air attacks. For details see above references.

March:

20th: Joined escort for Convoy MW10 to Malta with HMS CARLISLE and ships of 5th Destroyer Flotilla covered by cruisers and destroyers of Mediterranean Fleet.

22nd: Under dive bombing attacks and threat of surface action with Italian heavy units including battleship LITTORIO and three cruisers. Sustained damage during air attacks and further damage after being involved in collision. (Note: The subsequent engagement by the covering force was able to prevent an attack on the convoy – 2nd Battle of Sirte.)

29th: Nominated for return to UK for repair.

Deployed as escort for damaged cruiser HMS AURORA during passage from Malta to Gibraltar.

April: Passage from Gibraltar to Falmouth for repair. Taken in hand in commercial shipyard.

May to June: Under repair.

July: Carried out post repair trials and took passage to work-up for operational service. Nominated for service Western Approaches Command for defense of convoys to and from West Africa.

August to September: On completion of work-up joined Western Approaches Command for convoy defense. Transferred to Freetown in continuation Passage to Freetown

October: Atlantic convoy defense in continuation based at Freetown.

20th: Joined military convoy WS23 on departure from Freetown with HM Cruiser DURBAN, HM Armed Merchant Cruiser CARTHAGE and Greek destroyer KANARIS as escort during part of passage to Cape of Good Hope.

23rd: Detached from WS23 when relieved by HM Sloop MILFORD and HM Cruiser DESPATCH.

Returned to Freetown. Passage to Gibraltar for escort of military convoys during passage prior to allied landings in North Africa (Operation TORCH).

November: Joined Central Naval Task Force for support of landings at Oran. (Operation TORCH.)

8th: Deployed with Task Force for support of landings.

On release transferred for convoy escort duties.

December: Deployed for convoy defense and support of military operations in North Africa.

1943

January: Transferred to 59th Destroyer Division and joined HM Escort Destroyers CALPE, FARNDALE and PUCKERIDGE based at Gibraltar for convoy defense in western Mediterranean.

29th: Sustained major damage by torpedo in air attack. Whole of bow structure destroyed. After section towed to Gibraltar by HM Escort Destroyer BICESTER.

February: Temporary repair carried out to ensure safe passage under tow for permanent repair. Passage deferred till suitable convoy available and tow arranged.

March to May: Deployed at Gibraltar awaiting tow.

June:

25th: Passage to UK under tow as part of Convoy MKS15.

July:

7th: Arrived in UK.

22nd: Taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard Chatham.

August to December: Under repair. Forward structure rebuilt.

1944

January to March: Under refit. Ship nominated for transfer to Royal Hellenic Navy and to be renamed HHelMS AEGAION (Note: This was never implemented due to the mutinous conduct of Greek personnel manning units at Alexandria under RN overall command.)

April: Carried out post repair harbor trials

14th: Dockyard work completed and commenced sea trials.

May: On completion of trials and storing worked-up for operational service. Nominated for convoy escort during planned allied landings in Normandy. (Operation NEPTUNE.)

June: Deployed at Portsmouth as part of Force L.

6th: Sailed from Solent with escort of Follow-up Convoy L1 from Nore with HM Trawler DAMSAY and 143rd MMS Flotilla

Detached from L1 and deployed for convoy defense.

(Note: As no Battle Honour NORMANDY 1944 was awarded it is assumed that the ship was never deployed off the beachhead.)

July: Deployed for convoy defense (Note: It is presumed this was in Home waters based either at Portsmouth or Harwich.)

August: Under repair in Tyne commercial shipyard. Nominated for service with 22nd Destroyer Flotilla in Mediterranean. On completion of repair took passage to join Flotilla at Alexandria. (Note: It is assumed passage was made through Mediterranean and not via Indian Ocean.).

September to October: Deployed with Flotilla in eastern Mediterranean (Note: Did not participate in operations in defense of Cos and Leros. Several other operations to occupy islands when Italy surrendered and escort of convoys to Greece was necessary.) Transferred to Adriatic for convoy defense, patrol and support of shore operations.

November:

1st: During deployment with HM Escort Destroyer WHEATLAND engaged German surface craft south of Lussino.

Torpedo Boat TA20, Corvettes UJ202 and UJ208 were sunk in position 44.36.5N, 14.32E. Some survivors were rescued. (Note: Operation EXTERMINATE to carry out landings on Pag Island. All these ships may have been involved.)

December: Nominated for service in East Indies after refit. Took passage to UK

1945

January to February: Joined 16th Destroyer Flotilla based at Harwich pending refit prior to foreign service. Refit arranged at Taranto, Italy. Passage to Taranto.

March: Taken in hand for refit.

April: Under refit.

May: On completion returned to UK to Pay-off and re-commission for foreign service.

June: Re-commissioned and prepared for foreign service.

July: Carried out work-up for operational service in Mediterranean

August: Deployment cancelled and returned to UK to Pay-off and reduce to Reserve status.

Convoy Escort Movements of HMS Avon Vale

Date convoy sailed	Joined convoy as escort	Convoy No.	Left convoy	Date convoy arrived
10/06/41	11/06/41	OB 333	13/06/41	21/06/41
04/06/41	17/06/41	OG 064	18/06/41	18/06/41
08/07/41	08/07/41	HG 067	unknown	24/07/41
09/08/41	09/08/41	HG 070	14/08/41	23/08/41
06/01/42	06/01/42	AT 014/M	08/01/42	08/01/42
10/01/42	10/01/42	TA 010/M	13/01/42	13/01/42
14/01/42	14/01/42	AT 017/M	16/01/42	16/01/42
17/01/42	17/01/42	TA 017/M	18/01/42	18/01/42
24/01/42	24/01/42	AT 019/M	unknown	unknown
02/02/42	02/02/42	AT 023/M	05/02/42	05/02/42
16/03/42	16/03/42	AT 034/M	18/02/43	18/03/42
18/03/42	18/03/42	TA 029/M	20/03/42	unknown
07/09/42	08/09/42	ST 033	11/09/42	13/09/42
23/09/42	23/09/42	SL 123	25/09/42	14/10/42
09/09/42	25/09/42	OS 040	27/09/42	27/09/42
29/09/42	03/10/42	ST 037	03/10/42	03/10/42
14/11/42	20/11/42	KMF 003	21/11/42	23/11/42
27/11/42	03/12/42	KMF 004	06/12/42	06/12/42
12/12/42	31/12/42	UGS 003	01/01/43	01/01/43
05/01/43	05/01/43	MKF 006	06/01/43	14/01/43
11/01/43	11/01/43	ET 009	13/01/43	16/01/43
19/01/43	20/01/43	MKS 006	21/01/43	01/02/43
26/01/43	29/01/43	TE 014	29/01/43	30/01/43
23/06/43	23/06/43	MKS 015G	24/06/43	24/06/43
24/06/43	25/06/43	SL 131MK	04/07/43	04/07/43
06/07/43	06/07/43	CE 189	07/07/43	07/07/43
29/05/44	29/05/44	CW 272A	30/05/44	30/05/44
10/06/44	10/06/44	ETM 005	11/06/44	11/06/44
26/06/44	26/06/44	ETC 019	27/06/44	27/06/44
28/06/44	28/06/44	FTC 020	29/06/44	29/06/44
01/10/44	07/10/44	KMF 035	11/10/44	11/10/44
18/10/44	unknown	XIF 023	unknown	23/10/44

HMS Avon Vale.

 

HMS Avon Vale.

HMS Avon Vale, Malta, 1941.

HMS Avon Vale (L06) ships badge.

Crew of HMS Avon Vale.

HMS Avon Vale coming alongside HMS Manchester to transfer a man requiring an urgent operation, July 1941.

HMS Avon Vale alongside HMS Manchester during the transfer of the injured man. Imperial War Museum A 4907.

HMS Avon Vale alongside HMS Manchester during the transfer of the injured man. Imperial War Muse-um A 4941.

Avon Vale was torpedoed by Italian bombers in January 1943 and extensively damaged. She was eventually towed back to UK and rebuilt by May 1944 to take part in D-Day and then return to the Mediterranean.

HMS Avon Vale (L06) at a buoy on the east coast on 19 May 1944. Imperial War Museum FL 1281.

HMS Avon Vale (L06), 19 May 1944.