HMS Escapade (H17)

HMS Escapade (H17) was an E-class destroyer built for the Royal Navy in the early 1930s. She served extensively during the Second World War, participating in major operations such as the Norwegian Campaign, the Battle of the Atlantic, and the Normandy landings. The ship was primarily employed as a convoy escort, protecting vital Arctic convoys and North Atlantic convoys from German U-boats and Luftwaffe attacks. After a long and arduous war service, she was decommissioned and scrapped in the late 1940s.

Construction and design

HMS Escapade was ordered from Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company of Greenock under the 1932 Naval Programme. Her design was based on the preceding D-class destroyer, but incorporated improvements such as an enlarged bridge structure and enhanced anti-aircraft armament. She was laid down on 30 March 1933, launched on 30 January 1934, and completed on 30 August 1934, joining the 5th Destroyer Flotilla of the Home Fleet. As built, her main armament consisted of four 4.7-inch guns in single mounts and eight 21-inch torpedo tubes in two quadruple mounts, a configuration typical for fleet destroyers of the era. Her propulsion was provided by Parsons geared steam turbines, fed by three Admiralty 3-drum boilers, giving her a top speed of 36 knots.

Service history

At the outbreak of the Second World War, Escapade was assigned to convoy defence duties in the Western Approaches. In April 1940, she participated in the Norwegian Campaign, supporting landings at Namsos and later evacuating Allied troops. Following the Fall of France, she was deployed to the South West Approaches and was damaged by near misses from Junkers Ju 88 aircraft in August 1940. After repairs, her most significant role began as an escort for the vital Arctic convoys to the Soviet Union, including the infamous Convoy PQ 17 in June 1942. She also served on the busy North Atlantic convoy routes, defending merchant ships from U-boat wolfpacks alongside groups like the B-7 Escort Group.

In 1943, she underwent a major refit at HMNB Devonport, which saw the removal of one set of torpedo tubes and the addition of enhanced anti-aircraft weaponry, including Oerlikon 20 mm cannon and a Hedgehog anti-submarine mortar. Returning to service, she supported Operation Neptune, the naval component of the Normandy landings, in June 1944, bombarding German positions off Sword Beach. For the remainder of the war in Europe, she continued escort duties and was present at the Liberation of Copenhagen in May 1945. After Victory over Japan Day, she was transferred to the Rosyth Command for subsidiary duties.

Disposal

With the massive post-war reduction of the Royal Navy, Escapade was declared surplus to requirements. She was placed in reserve at Rosyth Dockyard in 1946. After being used for a brief period as an accommodation ship, she was sold to Metal Industries for scrapping. The vessel arrived at the breaker's yard in Charlestown, Fife on 17 May 1947, where she was subsequently dismantled.