HMS Harvester (H19)

Coordinates: 51°23′N 28°40′W / 51.383°N 28.667°W / 51.383; -28.667
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For other ships with the same name, see HMS Harvester and HMS Handy.

HMS Harvester after 1942 conversion to escort destroyer
History
Brazil
NameJurua
Ordered6 December 1937
BuilderVickers-Armstrongs, Barrow-in-Furness
Laid down3 June 1938
FatePurchased by the United Kingdom, 5 September 1939
United Kingdom
NameHMS Handy
Launched29 September 1939
Acquired5 September 1939
Commissioned23 May 1940
RenamedHMS Harvester, January 1940
IdentificationPennant number: H19[1]
FateSunk by U-432, 11 March 1943
General characteristics (as built)
Class and typeBrazilian H-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 1,350 long tons (1,370 t) (
    standard
    )
  • 1,883 long tons (1,913 t) (
    deep load
    )
Length323 ft (98.5 m)
Beam33 ft (10.1 m)
Draught12 ft 5 in (3.8 m)
Installed power34,000 shp (25,000 kW)
Propulsion
Speed36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph)
Range5,530 nmi (10,240 km; 6,360 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement145
Sensors and
processing systems
ASDIC
Armament

HMS Harvester was an

Western Approaches Command for convoy escort duties. Harvester and another destroyer sank a German submarine in October. She was briefly assigned to Force H in May 1941, but her anti-aircraft armament was deemed too weak and she was transferred to the Newfoundland Escort Force in June 1941 for escort duties in the North Atlantic. The ship was returned to the Western Approaches Command in October 1941 and was converted to an escort destroyer in early 1942. Harvester was torpedoed and sunk in March 1943 by a German submarine after having rammed and sunk another submarine the previous day while escorting Convoy HX 228
.

Description

Harvester displaced 1,350 long tons (1,370 t) at

deep load. The ship had an overall length of 323 feet (98.5 m), a beam of 33 feet (10.1 m) and a draught of 12 feet 5 inches (3.8 m). She was powered by Parsons geared steam turbines, driving two shafts, which developed a total of 34,000 shaft horsepower (25,000 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 36 knots (67 km/h; 41 mph). Steam for the turbines was provided by three Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers. Harvester carried a maximum of 470 long tons (480 t) of fuel oil, giving her a range of 5,530 nautical miles (10,240 km; 6,360 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[2] The ship's complement was 152 officers and men.[3]

The vessel was designed for four 45-

fitting-out. The ship's load of depth charges was also increased, from 20 to 110.[4][5]

Wartime modifications

Harvester had her rear torpedo tubes replaced by a

mainmast.[3]

Service

Jurua was ordered by Brazil on 6 December 1937 from

worked up at Portland Harbour before she was assigned to the 9th Destroyer Flotilla.[6]

The ship joined the Dunkirk evacuation on 29 May and returned 272 men to Dover during the day. However, the situation at Dunkirk soon became too dangerous to risk the larger and more modern destroyers, so Harvester made no attempt to evacuate any troops during daylight hours on 30 May. This decision was rescinded during the day on 30 May and the ship sailed for Dunkirk on the night of 30/31 May. En route she was narrowly missed by two torpedoes, but she rescued 1341 men in two trips on 31 May and an additional 576 on 1 June.

St. Jean de Luz (Operation Aerial).[8]

From July to September, Harvester was assigned to convoy escort duties with the

Plymouth Command for anti-invasion duties between 8 and 18 September before returning to her role as an escort vessel. On 30 October, with help from her sister Highlander, she sank the German submarine U-32. Harvester rescued 19 survivors from the merchant vessel Silverpine on 5 December and 131 survivors from the ocean boarding vessel HMS Crispin on 3 February 1941. She rescued four survivors from a Royal Air Force Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bomber four days later.[9]

The ship was refitted at Barrow between 18 March and 18 April and then was assigned to

Mid-Ocean Escort Force Escort Group B-3.[12]

The ship was refitted at Liverpool between 12 December and 11 February 1943. Whilst defending Convoy HX 228 on 3 March, Harvester forced U-444 to the surface and then rammed it. She was badly damaged by the ramming, but she rescued five survivors after the submarine sank.[12] The next day, Harvester was torpedoed by U-432 and broke in half.[12] Nine officers and 136 ratings were lost, but the French corvette Aconit rammed and sank U-432 herself and then rescued Harvester's few survivors.[12]

Notes

  1. ^ Whitley, p. 112
  2. ^ a b Whitley, p. 109
  3. ^ a b Lenton, p. 163
  4. ^ English, p. 141
  5. ^ Friedman, p. 226
  6. ^ English, p. 127
  7. ^ Wisner, pp. 20, 25, 87
  8. ^ Wisner, pp. 38, 48, 128, 146
  9. ^ English, pp. 127, 132
  10. ^ English, pp. 127–28
  11. ^ Rohwer, p. 104
  12. ^ a b c d English, p. 128

References

51°23′N 28°40′W / 51.383°N 28.667°W / 51.383; -28.667

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