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HMS Hambledon was a Hunt Class Destroyer completed and commissioned in 1939. There were many types of Hunt Class destroyers 鈥� they were smaller than the Fleet Class. Nevertheless, some were well armed having size 4鈥� guns in twin turrets, also multi-barrel pompoms, 20mm cannon and well supplied with depth charges and small arms.

Hambledon operated in home waters at the onset of the war. During this time she was struck by a mine and a large part of her stern was blown off. Sometime after her repairs she went into the Mediterranean and operated there until a few weeks before the 鈥楧鈥�-Day landing in France. She returned to this country and anchored off the Isle of Wight, near to Fishbourne, where she waited until she took part in the 鈥楧鈥�-Day landing in France.

Hambledon was used for all purposes whilst in the Mediterranean 鈥� convoys, landings and submarine attack. She took part in all the landings 鈥� North Africa, Pantelleria, Sicily, Salerno and guarded the mine-sweepers clearing the waters for the Anzio landings.

This photograph was taken during the war in Alexandria (note the radar has been scratched off). Admiral Cunningham came aboard the Hambledon and sailed it along the line of the Italian fleet as it surrendered to the British. The fleet was then taken to Malta. After the collapse of the Italians and their surrender, Hambledon anchored in Naples Bay. At this time Vesuvius erupted and covered our decks with a yellowish dust. Typhus was rampant in Naples and many Italians lost their lives. The water had been poisoned and Hambledon escorted the water tanker to Palermo in Sicily for fresh water and was heavily attacked by German 鈥楨鈥� boats on each crossing. German submarine crewmen, who were picked up by the Hambledon and subsequently died, were buried at sea off our quarterdeck, others were treated by our doctor for wounds. All were well treated, but were blindfolded as they were taken off the Hambledon.

When the German Merchant Fleet was shared out between the Allies after the war, the German Merchant seamen would not take the Russian鈥檚 share to Murmansk for fear of being interned and sent to labour camps. Hambledon was one of the ships detailed to go with them and guarantee their safe return to Germany.

After the war was over, President Truman visited Europe. H.M.S. Hambledon, along with two other Hunt Class Destroyers, was chosen to escort the battleship Ohio up the Keil Canal. When we reached our destination I went ashore and walked into Keil. I was upset at the destruction and the smell, and yet the barracks had not been hit and German sailors were watching the British ships from the windows. Out of fifty Hunt Class Destroyers, twenty were lost during the war. Hambledon survived and along with H.M.S. Cotswold, their Hulls were used as an artificial harbour at Harwich.

John Barrett
Chief Petty Officer, E.R.A.
1942-1946

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