Escort and patrol duties in the Mediterranean HMS Badsworth (L03)

badsworth after being hit mine near grand harbour.

on 29 may, badsworth chosen far escort duties of supply convoy malta, part of operation harpoon. after preparing mediterranean duties @ derry, on 6 june destroyer joined convoy ws-19s in north west approaches part of ocean escort passage gibraltar. on 12 june, badsworth joined cruiser cairo, covering destroyer flotilla made of destroyers bedouin, marne, matchless, partridge, ithuriel, blankney, middleton , orp kujawiak. part of force x charged leading convoy malta minesweepers hebe, speedy, hythe , rye. ships set out of gibraltar escorting convoy through sicilian narrows.

on 14 june, badsworth under heavy air attack, damaged liverpool forcing return gibraltar. day after found convoy in action italian warships in attempt intercept , sink convoy. on 16 june, badsworth suffered major structural damage after detonated mine whilst entering grand harbour, malta. destroyer entered harbour 2 merchantmen survived convoy. ships’ night time arrival, along errors in signals received mine-swept path caused convoy pass through minefield. orp kujawiak sunk after detonating mine, while matchless , minesweeper hebe , merchantman orari damaged.

badsworth had twelve fifteen foot gash torn in forward structure below waterline. among fourteen casualties survivors merchant ships sunk during passage malta. day after arrival, destroyer docked , taken repairs @ hm dockyard, malta. temporary repairs allow return great britain took until 11 august, when badsworth left malta, along matchless escorts 2 merchantmen gibraltar. ships tagged force y, part of operation ascendant. these ships remaining survivors of harpoon convoy. passage gibraltar deliberately planned coincide of next malta relief convoy, operation pedestal. during passage close north african coast, italian recognition marks painted on badsworth’s forecastle. ships arrived @ gibraltar on 15 august, badsworth leaving harbour 3 days later, heading united kingdom repairs. on 25 august, badsworth entered north shields commercial shipyard repairs.

badsworth on 14 april 1943 escorting liberty-ship en route north africa.

repairs continued until november, post refit trails , preparations operational service ending in december. badsworth rejoined londonderry escort force convoy defence in north atlantic. on 18 december, destroyer joined military convoy ws25 destroyers haydon , wolverine escort convoy’s route freetown. badsworth detached ws-25 along other destroyers , returned clyde on 24 december.

from january february 1943, badsworth continued provide defence atlantic convoys. however, transferred mediterranean escort , support duties 60th destroyer division. on 16 march, badsworth prepared foreign service, joined joint military convoy ws-28/kmf-11 in clyde polish destroyer krakowiak, , royal navy destroyers douglas, eggesford, goathland, whaddon , sloops woodpecker , wren escorts during convoy’s atlantic passage. badsworth detached joint convoy other ships bound gibraltar, part of kmf11.

badsworth thence deployed in western mediterranean convoy defence , patrol. on 22 april, mined @ bone, algeria, sustaining major structural damage in aft section. badsworth’s starboard engine immobilised, both shafts distorted. ship beached, , had refloated , towed harbour minesweeper clacton. temporary repairs made in malta during may, upon completion badsworth towed united kingdom tug frisky part of convoy mks-15. destroyer taken in hand extensive repairs @ commercial shipyard in liverpool in july. destroyer paid off royal navy service , transferred on loan royal norwegian navy on 8 august 1944. badsworth renamed hnoms arendal. ship decommissioned royal navy on 16 november 1944.