The destroyer HMS Kingston and the Second Battle of Sirte

Discussion in 'The War at Sea' started by Peter Clare, Jan 24, 2012.

  1. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    The second battle of Sirte of 22 March 1942 saw a British force of light cruisers and destroyers prevent a powerful Italian fleet led by the battleship Littorio from attacking a convoy heading for Malta with vitally important supplies. Operation MG1 was mounted in an attempt to get Convoy MW10 to Malta. The convoy of four ships was to be guarded by a total of four light cruisers, eleven fleet destroyers and six “Hunt” class destroyers, under the command of Admiral Philip Vian. Most of the warships came from Alexandria, but the cruiser Penelope and a destroyer joined the fleet on the morning of 22 March from Malta.
    Admiral Vian believed that there was a real danger that the Italian fleet would attack the convoy on 22 March, as it sailed to the north of Libya, across that part of the Mediterranean that was easily approached from the Italian naval base at Taranto. Just as expected, early on 22 March Vian news reached Vian that an Italian fleet had left harbour that morning (the news came from an Ultra decrypt of an Italian message and from a British submarine posted off Taranto). This Italian fleet contained the battleship Littorio, the two 8-inch heavy cruisers Gorizia and Trento, the 6-inch cruiser Giovanni Delle Bande Nere and ten destroyers, under the command of Admiral Iachino.
    To oppose this powerful fleet Vian had four light cruisers, eleven fleet destroyers and six “Hunt” class destroyers, and a carefully worked out plan. If the Italian fleet appeared then the convoy with five of the “Hunt” class destroyers would be sent back, while the rest of his ships would form into six divisions and turn on the Italians. One of these divisions would be used to produce smoke, and the other five would use the cover of that smoke to harass the Italians.
    At 14.10 the cruiser Euryalus reported seeing funnel smoke to the north, and fifteen minutes later she sighted four Italian warships, while the destroyer Legion reported sighting a single ship. At this point Vian put his plan in place. The convoy turned away to the south, while the remaining sixteen British ships turned towards the Italians. At 14.33 the British began to produce smoke. Over the next hour Vian’s ships fought a long range gunnery duel with the Italian ships, repeated coming in and out of the smoke. The Italian ships, which at this point did not include the Littorio, refused to close with Vian’s ships, and this first phase of the fighting was over by 15.35.
    The second stage of the battle began soon after Vian rejoined the convoy. This time the Littorio and all three of the Italian cruisers were in the attacking force, but once again they were unable to close with the convoy. Vian credited this failure to Iachino’s determination to work his way around the western edge of the British smoke cloud, in an attempt to get between the convoy and Malta. As the smoke cloud was itself being blown to the west the Italians were never able to get into range. Once again Vian’s ships were able to fight from the edge of the smoke, using their torpedoes when the Italians came too close. The Littorio came under attack from 17.00. Vian’s cruisers were not really powerful enough to threaten the Italian battleship at any distance, but did manage to cause a fire behind her aft 15in turret.
    After two and a half hours of this Iachino finally gave up, and his fleet withdrew to the north west. Vian’s cruisers had fired between 1,600 and 1,700 rounds, his destroyers 1,300, in three and a half hours of fighting. Most of the British ships suffered some damage – Vian’s flagship Cleopatra suffered a hit on the bridge, killing 15 and knocking the radio out for some time, while the destroyers Havock and Kingston were each hit by a 15-inch shell. The Kingston suffered the most serious damage, while the Havock had her speed reduced to 16 knots.
    After the battle Vian continued to escort the convoy west until 19.40 on the evening of 22 March. At that point he turned back for Alexandria, while the Penelope and the Hunt class destroyers continued to escort the convoy. Although Vian’s actions had seen off the Italian fleet, the battle had fatally delayed the convoy. At dawn on 23 March all four merchant ships were still at sea. Only two of the ships reached Malta, where they came under heavy German air attack. Only 5,000 of the 26,000 tons of supplies intended for Malta actually reached the beleaguered island.



    Second battle of Sirte, 22 March 1942
     
  2. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    H.M.S "KINGSTON" - REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS 22nd - 23rd 1942.

    H.M.S. KINGSTON

    25th MARCH 1942

    Sir

    I have the honour to submit the following report of my proceedings during and after the action between the convoy escort and enemy surface forces during the passage of convoy M.W.10 from Alexandria to Malta.

    2. During the action I was acting with other ships of the Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla under your orders. At 1838/22 a divisional torpedo attack was launched at an enemy battleship accompanied by three cruisers. These forces engaged the division with main and secondary armaments.

    3. At 1846 approx. "KINGSTON" was hit by a 15" H.E. projectile which passed. through the whaler at the starboard foremost davits, through No.2 boiler room intake and the S.R.E. room, and exploded under the port Oerlikon platform..

    4. At 1848 approx. the signal to turn and fire torpedoes was dipped in "JERVIS". The tubes were "Ready Port" and the wheel was put to starboard. Owing to the damage the port engine had stopped and the starboard one was rapidly losing speed, so that it seemed that the ship would never come round. At last she began to swing slowly and the torpedoes were fired, Soon after completing the turn to fire the ship stopped. Fortunately no further salvos were fired at her and before long the 22nd Flotilla had placed a smoke screen between us and the enemy. Before the enemy battleship passed out of view, she was seen to be on fire forward and the explosion of one torpedo was observed.

    5. The shell had evidently detonated on passing through the boiler room intake and had exploded a few feet above the upper deck underneath the port Oerlikon platform. This was removed bodily. Large splinters penetrated the deck above the Engine room and Gearing room and riddled the searchlight platform and 4" gun deck. The lip ends of two of the torpedo tubes were torn so that one torpedo failed to leave the tube and one damaged its tail as it left. A fire started in the S.R.E. room underneath the pom-pom ready use locker and the pom-pom platform itself was distorted by the passage of the shell below it.

    6. A splinter which entered the Gearing Room damaged the main switchboard so that the lights in No.2 boiler room, the Engine room and the after part of the ship went out. In No.2 boiler room the flames from the fire on the upper deck were being drawn down the fan intakes, so that the fans had to be stopped and the boiler shut down. Various small fires broke out in ready use lockers on the 4" gun deck, one of which might have become serious being extinguished by the prompt action of a rating from "X" gun.

    7. In the engine room the ring main on the port side had been cut and an electrical fire had broken out, The eduction pipe between the port H.P, and L.P. turbines was holed and the whole compartment was filled with steam,

    8. With the shutting down No.2 boiler and the escape of steam from the port turbines, the steam pressure dropped rapidly to 100 lbs. per square inch. The auxiliary machinery slowed up and the vacuum in the starboard condenser dropped to 10 inches. Eventually the starboard engine also stopped.

    9. A heavy sea was running and as the ship lay stopped, seas washing over the upper deck were entering the Engine Room through the splinter holes in the deck.

    10. This widespread damage was quickly got under control by prompt and resourceful action by all hands. As the ship was not still being engaged it was possible to re-enforce the damage control parties from other quarters, and excellent leadership was shown by officers and petty officers in organising the resources available,

    11. The fire in the S,R,E,Room was extinguished
    remarkably quickly. Owing to the failure of electric power in No.2 boiler room the fire main system which was connected to the 10 ton electric pump was not in action, However two chains of buckets were organised and by this means and the use of chemical extinguishers serious consequences were avoided,

    12. A party under the First Lieutenant set to work to plug the holes in the deck with hammocks, duffel coats, etc., a difficult operation with green seas continually coming. over.The torpedo party were immediately on the job of running emergency leads
    and restoring communications

    13. In the engine room the greatest courage and resource were shown by the Engineer Officer, the Q.E,R.A. and a wireman. The latter located the break in the ring main and then made his way to the gearing room and opened the switches necessary to isolate that section thereby checking the fire. At that time the engine room was almost untenable owing to the escape of steam and both compartments were in darkness. The Engineer Officer and the C.E.R.A. remained below after the engine room had been evacuated by the remainder of the crew, Together they isolated the damage on the port side and got the starboard engine going. Subsequently they took it in turn to man the throttle until the compartment cooled off sufficiently for men to remain in it for any length of time,

    14. Meanwhile, the Medical Officer and his party had been rendering prompt attention to the wounded. Nearly all the tubes crew were killed or wounded and on the 4" gun deck no one escaped without injury. The same state of affairs obtained on the Oerlikon and searchlight platforms. Casualties were also incurred at "X" gun. In all one officer and fourteen ratings were killed or died of wounds and one officer and twenty ratings were wounded. A list of their names is appended.

    15. By 1905 the ship was able to proceed on the starboard engine at 16 knots, which was later increased to .20 knots. Course was shaped to the southward to join the convoy. However darkness fell before contact could be made and in accordance with your instructions I proceeded independently to Malta.

    16. As there was a heavy sea running, quantities of water were Continually entering the engine room through the splinter holes in the upper deck. The main suction line had been cut, one ejector was damaged and the other one choked. The water level was kept down by using both circular bilge suction valves. This made it possible to maintain a speed of 20 knots throughout the night and to make Malta shortly after daylight.

    17. At dawn the first object to be seen was a Ju88 the sight of which reassured us as to our position, and about five minutes later Delimara Point appeared through the mist. Two Ju88's circled round the ship dung her passage up the swept channel. One, which appeared to be making an attack, was driven off by close range and barrage fire. I entered Malta harbour at 0838 on 23rd March.

    18. A list of officers and ratings for whom it is intended to submit recommendations for their good services on this occasion is appended.
    I have the honour to be,

    Sir,

    Your obedient servant,

    (Sgd) P. SOMERVILLE. COMMANDER, R. N.

    Captain(D), 14th Destroyer Flotilla, H.M.S."JERVIS".

    (Copy to:- The Vice-Admiral, Malta.)
     
  3. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    [​IMG]

    HMS Kingston at a rate of knots, probably the Mediterranean
     
    sol likes this.
  4. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    [​IMG]

    HMS Kingston in dock Malta, shortly after the Second Battle of Sirte
     
  5. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    The Wireman mentioned in paragraph 13 of the "Report of Proceedings" was my uncle, Kenneth Mark Perry, for his actions he was awarded the DSM

    Regards
    Peter
     
  6. sol

    sol Very Senior Member

    The Second Battle of Sirte


    Bill Baker, HMS Kingston

    I was eventually assigned to the destroyer H.M.S. Kingston. On March 22, 1942 we left Alexandria without much trouble and were within about a day's journey of Malta when Italian war ships came up. We chased them, and they ran away. But they were only lagging back leading us towards the Italian battleship Littorio, with it's sixteen inch guns. Our ships had only 4 and 8 inch guns. This battleship was picking off the whole convoy from a vast distance. They ordered the destroyers to make a torpedo attack, cruise right up to the thing and launch torpedos, which hadn't been attempted since World War I. We closed within torpedo range, and let one go. The next minute we had a shell come in high up from the Littorio. If it had hit the hull it would have blown us to smithereens, but it exploded above the upper deck and killed and blew the arms and legs of nearly everybody on the upper deck. I was on the upper deck, but fortunately I was on B gun on the bow of the ship. It and the bridge protected me from the explosion. The shells where popping on each side of us like someone trying to hit double top on the dart board. Luckily there were tremendous waves. We hit the Littorio with one torpedo and she turned and fled. We isolated one boiler and continued on to Malta.'
    Bill Baker


    William Davidson, HMS Kingston

    Battle of Sirte 22nd March 42 - we were sent to attack the battleship LITTORIO but were hit by a shell which went through the whaler under the searchlight platform and exploded above the torpedo tubes making a big hole in the deck. I was a gun layer gun and shrapnel ender under my legs killing two of my crew and injured the other two, I was the only gun crewmember unharmed. All our engines were stopped; the cruisers went between us and the battleship laying a thick smoke screen. We managed to get one engine going and managed to crawl into Malta under our own steam. We were tied up and the dockyard maties put a big plate over the hole. With the next attack the Germans managed to drop a bomb right through the plate and out the bottom without exploding. We were put into dry dock but continually bombed, volunteers manned the guns but it was futile. She was badly damaged.
    The Wartime Memories Project - HMS Kingston


    It was her last voyage. 20 days after the battle, on the 11th April 1942, HMS Kingston was hit by bomb in No.4 dock in Malta, rolled over on her port side and sank in the dock. The ship was declared a constructive total loss.

    [​IMG]

    HMS Kingston (F64) | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

    [​IMG]

    HMS Kingston | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
     
    Peter Clare likes this.
  7. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Peter, Sol, superb accounts thanks for posting.

    Peter, brave and rescourceful man your Uncle.

    Malta has always interested me, the pounding the island took and the desperate attempts to re-supply. I must read a bit more about it. The story of the tanker Ohio is amazing. I enjoyed Monsarrat's 'The Kappillan of Malta', although a fictional novel I felt it gives something of the atmosphere that must have existed during the seige.
     
  8. cally

    cally Picture Prince.

    The bridge of HMS Kingston in happier days!
     

    Attached Files:

    sol likes this.
  9. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Thanks for the bridge photo Cally, not seen that before

    Regards
    Peter
     
  10. webbtrek

    webbtrek Junior Member

    H.M.S "KINGSTON" - REPORT OF PROCEEDINGS 22nd - 23rd 1942.

    H.M.S. KINGSTON

    25th MARCH 1942

    Sir

    I have the honour to submit the following report of my proceedings during and after the action between the convoy escort and enemy surface forces during the passage of convoy M.W.10 from Alexandria to Malta.

    2. During the action I was acting with other ships of the Fourteenth Destroyer Flotilla under your orders. At 1838/22 a divisional torpedo attack was launched at an enemy battleship accompanied by three cruisers. These forces engaged the division with main and secondary armaments.

    3. At 1846 approx. "KINGSTON" was hit by a 15" H.E. projectile which passed. through the whaler at the starboard foremost davits, through No.2 boiler room intake and the S.R.E. room, and exploded under the port Oerlikon platform..

    4. At 1848 approx. the signal to turn and fire torpedoes was dipped in "JERVIS". The tubes were°Ready Port" and the wheel was put to starboard. Owing to the damage the port engine had stopped and the starboard one was rapidly losing speed, so that it seemed that the ship would never come round. At last she began to swing slowly and the torpedoes were fired, Soon after completrg the turn to fire the ship stopped. Fortunately no further salvos were fired at her and before long the 22nd Flotilla had placed a smoke screen between us and the enemy. Before the enemy battleship passed out of view, she was seen to be on fire forward and the explosion of one torpedo was observed.

    5. The shell had evidently detonated on passing through the boiler room intake and had exploded a few feet above the upper deck underneath the port Oerlikon platform. This was removed bodily. Large splinters penetrated the deck above the Engine room and Gearing room and riddled the searchlight platform and 4" gun deck. The lip ends of two of the torpedo tubes were torn so that one torpedo failed to leave the tube and one damaged its tail as it left. A fire started in the S.R.E. room underneath the pom-pom ready use locker and the pom-pom platform itself was distorted by the passage of the shell below it.

    6. A splinter which entered the Gearing Room damaged the main switchboard so that the lights in No.2 boiler room, the Engine room and the after part of the ship went out. In No.2 boiler room the flames from the fire on the upper deck were being drawn down the fan intakes, so that the fans had to be stopped and the boiler shut down. Various small fires broke out in ready use lockers on the 4" gun deck, one of which might have become serious being extinguished by the prompt action of a rating from "X" gun.

    7. In the engine room the ring main on the port side had been cut and an electrical fire had broken out, The eduction pipe between the port H.P, and L.P. turbines was holed and the whole compartment was filled with steam,

    8. With the shutting down 140.2 boiler a.. ,d the escape of steam from the port turbines, the steam pressure dropped rapidly to 100 lbs. per square inch. The auxiliary machinery slowed up and the vacuum in the starboard condenser dropped to 10 inches. Eventually the starboard engine also stopped.

    9. A heavy sea was running and as the ship lay stopped, seas washing over the upper deck were entering the Engine Room through the splinter holes in the deck.

    10. This widespread damage was quickly got under control by prompt and resourceful action by all hands. As the ship was not still being engaged it was possible to re-inforce the damage control parties from other quarters, and excellent leadership was shown by officers and petty officers in organising the resources available,

    11. The fire in the S,R,E,Room was extinguished
    remarkably quickly. Owing to the failure of electric power in No.2 boiler room the fire main system which was connected to the 10 ton electric pump was not in action, However two chains of buckets were organised and by this means and the use of chemical extinguishers serious consequences were avoided,

    12. A party under the First Lieutenant set to work to plug the holes in the deck with hammocks, duffle coats, etc., a difficult operation with green seas continually coming. over.The torpedo party were immediately on the job of running emergency leads
    and restoring communications

    13. In the engine room the greatest courage and resource were shown by the Engineer Officer, the Q.E,R.A. and a wireman. The latter located the break in the ring main and then made his way to the gearing room and opened the switches necessary to isolate that section thereby checking the fire. At that time the engine room was almost untenable owing to the escape of steam and both compartments were in darkness. The Engineer Officer and the C.E.R.A. remained below after the engine room had been evacuated by the remainder of the crew, Together they isolated the damage on the port side and got the starboard engine going. Subsequently they took it in turn to man the throttle until the compartment cooled off sufficiently for men to remain in it for any length of time,

    14. Meanwhile, the Medical Officer and his party had been rendering prompt attention to the wounded. Nearly all the tubes grew were killed or wounded and on the 4" gun deck no one escaped without injury. The same state of affairs obtained on the Oerlikon and searchlight platforms. Casualties were also incurred at "X" gun. In all one officer and fourteen ratings were killed or died of wounds and one officer and twenty ratings were wounded. A list of their names is appended.

    15. By 1905 the ship was able to proceed on the starboard engine at 16 knots, which was later increased to .20 knots. Course was shaped to the southward to join the convoy. However darkness Xfell before contact could be made and in accordance with your instructions I proceeded independently to Malta.

    16. As there was a heavy sea running, quantities of water were Continually entering the engine room through the splinter holes in the upper deck. The main suction line had been cut, one ejector was damaged and the other one choked. The water level was kept down by using both circular bilge suction valves. This made it possible to maintain a speed of 20 knots throughout the night and to make Malta shortly after daylight.

    17. At dawn the first object to be seen was a Ju88 the sight of which reassured us as to our position, and about five minutes later Delimara Point appeared through the mist. Two Ju88's circled round the ship dung her passage up the swept channel. One, which appeared to be making an attack, was driven off by close range and barrage fire. I entered Malta harbour at 0838 on 23rd March.

    18. A list of officers and ratings for whom it is intended to submit recommendations for their good services on this occasion is appended.
    I have the honour to be,

    Sir,

    Your obedient servant,

    (Sgd) P. SOMERVILLE. COMMANDER, R. N.

    Captain(D), 14th Destroyer Flotilla, H.M.S."JERVIS".

    (Copy to:- The Vice-Admiral, Malta.)
    Hi Peter, Do you have the list Ref item 18 for officer and ratings recomended for recomendations as my partners grandfather served on HMS Kingston and was awarded the DSC but we do not know what it was awarded for?

    Kevin
     
  11. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Hi Peter, Do you have the list Ref item 18 for officer and ratings recomended for recomendations as my partners grandfather served on HMS Kingston and was awarded the DSC but we do not know what it was awarded for?

    Kevin

    Hello Kevin, welcome to the forum.

    I do have the item 18 'Officers and men recommended for good service'

    I'll post it later today, although it does not state awards given of for what reason.

    Regards
    Peter
     
  12. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Hi Kevin

    The list of offices and men put forward for awards re HMS Kingston - Second Battle Of Sirte.

    Is your partners grandfather on the list?
     

    Attached Files:

  13. webbtrek

    webbtrek Junior Member

    Hi Peter,
    Yes he is listed Lt P B Hague - Lieutenant Peter Birkett Hague. My patners Mother believes his DSC may have been awarded during the evacuation of Crete, but we would like to confirm. I have contacted the Naval honours and awards office, but they could only confirm he was awarded the DSC, found his entry in the London Gazette, do you have any other information on HMS Kingston?
    Best regards,
    Kevin
     
  14. Orwell1984

    Orwell1984 Senior Member

  15. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Attached Files:

  16. webbtrek

    webbtrek Junior Member

    Thanks Peter I should have a copy by friday, are there any veterans who may have served on HMS Kingston and known my partners grandfather?
     
  17. Trhine4853

    Trhine4853 New Member

    Peter,
    What is the archival reference for this document?
     
  18. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    I've had this document for a number of years, I believe I obtained it from NHB (Naval Historical Branch) but I couldn't swear to it.

    Regards

    Peter.
     
  19. Andreas

    Andreas Working on two books

    Great thread Peter, many thanks.

    Here is the butcher's bill:

    Kingston, 2nd Battle of Sirte
    ADAWAY, Arthur W, Able Seaman, C/JX 227258, DOW
    BROWN, Hugh, Able Seaman, RNVR, P/CD/X 2905, killed
    DYER, William A, Able Seaman, C/JX 258426, killed
    FERRIS, Daniel, Able Seaman, P/SSX 28002, killed
    JENKINSON, Albert E, Able Seaman, C/JX 277531, killed
    JORDAN, John W, Able Seaman, D/SSX 23971, killed
    NEUSCHAFFER, Henry F J, Ty/Act/Leading Stoker, C/KX 91120, killed
    PETERS, John J, Stoker 1c, C/KX 104630, killed
    QUERSTRET, George H, Able Seaman, P/JX 143251, DOW
    REES, Reginald, Able Seaman, C/JX 253486, killed
    REYLAND, George A, Able Seaman, RFR, C/J 91062, killed
    SHAW, Donald, Engine Room Artificer 4c, P/MX 72084, killed
    STRANGE, Joseph S, Leading Stoker, P/K 65637, DOW
    TUTTLEBURY, Norman A, Able Seaman, D/JX 240019, killed

    From: http://www.naval-history.net/xDKCas1942-03MAR2.htm

    All the best

    Andreas
     
  20. sydney wisdom

    sydney wisdom New Member

    Hi, I have an interested party; my father. 98 next month Lt. Commander AFT Wisdom. He manned the X gun and also survived the Corradino Tunnel bombing. He tells me that he stayed behind to tie up the lighter which transported the crew to the shelter. As he was approaching the shelter he looked up to see the Stuka drop its bombs. being very Quick on his feet he warned the officers and dived sideways under the fire engine. Covered in dust he emerged uninjured. Unfortunately the crew were behind some large spools of minesweeping cable and were crushed by the force of the bombs, which also claimed the officers. My fathers 98th birthday in August 2020, he has many stories of his adventures in the Royal Navy.
     
    Peter Clare and Chris C like this.

Share This Page