HMS Diana (H49)

HMS "Diana" was a D class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She served briefly in the Second World War, operating in Home Waters and in the North Sea. She was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy in 1940 and renamed HMCS "Margaree". She served for just over a month with the Canadians before being sunk in a collision with a merchant vessel she was escorting.

Pre-World War II

"Diana" was ordered under the 1930 Naval Estimates on 2 February 1931 from the yards of Palmers Shipbuilding and Iron Company, Hebburn-on-Tyne. She was laid down on 20 June 1931, launched on 16 June 1932 and finally commissioned into the Navy on 21 December 1932. She cost a total of £229,502, excluding the weapons and the communications equipment which were supplied by the Admiralty.

On completion, "Diana" was assigned to serve in the Mediterranean. She was refitted at Sheerness in 1934 for service on the China Station with the 8th (later the 21st) Destroyer Flotilla. HMS "Duncan" was the leader of the Flotilla, and "Diana" the "half-leader". Early 1938 was spent around Singapore and Indonesia, as well as acting as plane guard for the aircraft carrier HMS "Eagle". From October of that year, with the steady progression of Japanese units southward through mainland China, she and the other destroyers of her flotilla spent much of their time scattered along the coast evacuating civilians. She served in the Far East until the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939.

Wartime career

With the outbreak of war "Diana" and her sisters HMS "Duncan", HMS "Daring" and HMS "Dainty" joined the Mediterranean Fleet at Alexandria, arriving there from China in October. After a period carrying out duties such as contraband control and fleet screening, she underwent repair at Malta for defects caused by corrosion, rejoining the fleet in December. She was then nominated to join the Home Fleet, sailing for Britain at the end of the year.

"Diana" arrived in Home waters in January 1940 and was assigned to the 3rd Destroyer Flotilla. Here her duties included screening units of the Home Fleet and carrying out patrols. On 15 February she escorted HMS "Duncan", after she had been damaged in a collision whilst escorting a convoy. "Duncan" was towed by tugs from Invergordon to the Forth for repairs. "Diana" then returned to her regular duties. On 21 February "Diana" rescued 35 of the crew from the SS "Loch Maddy", which had been torpedoed and damaged by "U-57".

With the German invasion of Norway, "Diana" was deployed on 8 April to escort troop convoys to Norway. On arrival off the coast, she screened major fleet units, carried out patrols and supported shore operations. On 1 May she screened the cruisers HMS "Manchester" and HMS "Birmingham" as they covered the evacuations from Åndalsnes and Molde. On 14 May she escorted the aircraft carrier HMS "Glorious" from the Clyde to Norway, to cover Operation Alphabet, the allied withdrawal from Norway. In June she and the destroyers HMS "Acheron" and HMS "Highlander" escorted HMS "Ark Royal" from Norway. It was about this time that discussions to transfer "Diana" to the Royal Canadian Navy to replace HMCS "Fraser" were held. "Fraser" had been sunk in a collision on 25 June 1940.

In July "Diana" was taken in hand for refit and repair in London. Whilst this was under way, her transfer to the Royal Canadian Navy was approved. After post refit trials in August, "Diana" was transferred and formally commissioned into the Royal Canadian Navy as HMCS "Margaree" on 6 September 1940.

inking

"Margaree" completed her final work-ups in early October and on 17 October she joined Convoy OL8 in the North Western Approaches as an escort for its passage to Canada. On 22 October she collided with MV "Port Fairy" [cite web|url=http://www.red-duster.co.uk/PORT6.htm|title=MNA Website - MV Port Fairy bio|accessdate=2008-06-09] and sank in position coord|53|24|N|22|50|W|cite web|url=http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5419.html|title=U-boat.net (HMCS Margaree)|accessdate=2008-05-14] cite web|url=http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-19D-Diana.htm|title=Naval History.net|accessdate=2008-05-14] , 450 miles off north west Ireland. 34 survivors were rescued by "Port Fairy", but 142 men were lost, including her captain, Lt Cdr Roy.

Commanding Officers

References

*Colledge
* [http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4372.html HMS Diana at Uboat.net]
* [http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-19D-Diana.htm HMS Diana's career]