HMS Achates (H12)

HMS "Achates" (Lt.Cdr. A.H.T. Johns, R.N., DSO+) was an A-class destroyer of the Royal Navy launched on 4 October 1929 and commissioned on 27 March 1930. She was sunk on 31 December 1942 in the Battle of the Barents Sea.

The Hood Episode

In early May 1941, the British Admiralty was on the alert that the German battleship Bismarck may attempt to break out into the North Atlantic, so "Achates" was ordered to Scapa Flow for possible deployment against the Germans. On 22 May, just after midnight, "Achates" sailed along with the destroyers "Electra", "Antelope", "Anthony", "Echo", and "Icarus", escorting the "Hood" and "Prince Of Wales" to cover the northern approaches. The intention was that the force would refuel in Hvalfjord, Iceland, and then sail again to watch the Denmark Strait.

On the evening of 23 May, weather started getting bad. At 2055 hrs., Admiral Lancelot Holland aboard the "Hood" signaled the destroyers "If you are unable to maintain this speed I will have to go on without you. You should follow at your best speed." At 0215 on the morning of 24 May, the destroyers were ordered to spread out at 15 mile intervals to search to the north. At about 0535, the German forces were sighted by the "Hood", and shortly after, the Germans sighted the British ships. Firing commenced at 0552. At 0601, "Hood" took a 38 cm (15 inch) shell from "Bismarck" in the after magazine, which caused a massive explosion, sinking the ship within two minutes.

"Electra" and other destroyers were about 60 miles away at the time. Upon hearing that the "Hood" had sunk, "Electra" raced to the area, arriving about two hours after the "Hood" went down. They were expecting to find many survivors, and rigged scrambling nets and heaving lines, and placed life belts on the deck where they could be quickly thrown in. From the 94 officers and 1321 enlisted men who were aboard the "Hood", only three survivors were found. "Electra" rescued these survivors, and continued searching. Shortly thereafter, "Icarus" and "Anthony" joined in and the three ships searched the area for more survivors. No more were found, only driftwood, debris, and a desk drawer filled with documents. After several hours searching, they left the area.

Kirkenes and Torch

In July 1941, while taking position in the screen of carriers preparing for the disastrous [http://www.fleetairarmarchive.net/RollofHonour/Battlehonour_crewlists/Petsamo_Kirkenes_1941.html air strike] against Kirkenes/Petsamo, "Achates" was mined and severely damaged, but managed to make port for repairs.

On 8 November 1942, while deployed off Oran, Algeria for operation "Torch", "Achates" and "Westcott" detected, attacked and sank the Vichy French submarine "Argonaute", which had sortied to contest the Allied landings in the area.

Battle of the Barents Sea

On 31 December 1942, "Achates" was on escort duty protecting the Russian convoy JW 51B en route from Loch Ewe to Murmansk when she was sunk in the Barents Sea

The German heavy cruiser "Admiral Hipper", pocket battleship "Lützow" and six large destroyers had been ordered to attack and destroy the convoy. Despite being heavily outgunned the escort, under the command of Captain R. St. Vincent Sherbrooke, beat off the attack and not one merchant vessel was lost.

At 11:15, "Achates" was laying smoke to protect the convoy when she was hit by gunfire from the "Hipper", killing the commanding officer, Lt Cdr Johns, and forty crew. The First Lieutenant, Lt L. E. Peyton-Jones, took over command and, despite having sustained severe damage in the shelling, "Achates" continued her smoke screen operation. At 13:30 she went down 135nm ESE of Bear Island (Norway). 113 seamen were lost and 80 were rescued.

Awards

Following the battle, the following awards for gallantry were made to men on "Achates":

"D.S.O.": Lt L. E. Peyton-Jones D.S.C.

"Conspicuous Gallantry Medal": ERA H. Hawksworth.

"D.S.C.": Gunner (T) G. W. Davies.

"D.S.M.": Stoker J. Colley; Able Seaman C. Brightmore; Able Seaman H. Platt; CPO D. Hall; Stoker E. Drummond; Stoker L. Meacock; Yeoman of Signals A. W. Taylor.

"Mentioned in Despatches": Chief Stoker W. Brown, D.S.M.; Leading Seaman R. C. Wells; PO F. Batchelor; Telegraphist E. J. Dickinson; Stoker W. Wilkinson.

"Posthumously Mentioned in Despatches": Lt Cdr A. H. T. Johns; Lt (E) P. A. Wright, R.N.R.; Surgeon-Lt J. L. MacFarlane; Stoker PO R. Bell; Supply PO R. Bell; Supply PO J. R. Cole; Able Seaman K. MacIver; Able Seaman C. W. Coe; PO Telegraphist W. Bartripp; Officers Steward A. Jones; Canteen Manager G. Drummond; PO B.C. Carpenter.

Seaman Kenneth MacIver RNR was posthumously mentioned in despatches. He put himself at risk to rescue comrades in a rapidly flooding cabin, then made trips across the deck while under heavy fire to take over the ships wheel. With the aid of just a ships compass he continued to steer the stricken ship and maintain the laying down of smoke screen. Unfortunately, as the survivors were being picked up the wheelhouse was totally destroyed by further shelling and Seaman MacIver lost his life.

References

* "73 North" by Dudley Pope; a full account of the Battle of the Barents Sea

External links

* [http://www.naval-history.net/WW2Memoir-RussianConvoyCoxswain.htm "Coxswain in the Northern Convoys"] by S.A. Kerslake; an ex-fisherman's account of [http://www.naval-history.net/WW2Memoir-RussianConvoyCoxswain07.htm convoy JW51B] and the sinking of the "Achates"
* [http://www.rjerrard.co.uk/royalnavy/achates/achates.htm "Royal Navy and Maritime Book Reviews: HMS Achates"] by Rob Jerrard
* [http://www.bbc.co.uk/ww2peopleswar/stories/38/a1090838.shtml "The Last Commission of HMS Achates"] by H.J.Scott-Douglas; on the BBC "WW2 People's War" Archive
* [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2001/01/09/db03.xml Obituary: Commander Loftus Peyton-Jones] , Daily Telegraph 9 January 2001