HMS Active 1927-1945

[PaulR]

Hello all. I'm researching World War 2 HMS Active. My wife's grandfather served on this. Any information on HMS Active would be great. Thanks.

[AlZictorini]

U-Boat.net has some good potted history on Active, trace this link http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4343.html

Good hunting Paul

AlZictorini

[v366bbd]

Hi

I have a picture of Active picture taken from HMS Hero April 1938 if you private message me with your e-mail I will send you a copy

Regards

David

[jbryce1437]

A couple of Active, one of them following her encounter with Worcester

[stontamar]

Hi PaulR

Hope this helps. See http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-13A-Active.htm

Regards

stontamar

[Batstiger]

Hi Paul, another picture of the Active to go with the above and two pics revealing the damage inflicted on the Worcester.
Note the guy painting the cable. Also another bit of history, the Barracca lift in the first Worcester picture.
On the second picture of the Worcester, typical Pusser, hands fallen in for entering harbour.

Bob.

[v366bbd]

Transferring Doctor to HMS Active while on Spanish patrol April1938

[monarch]

Hi Paul,
My Dad was aboard Active from October 1939 until September 1941.
He was William Thomas King D/J107158 a Higher Submarine Detector (HSD) on the ASDIC (sonar) set.
He joined Active at Portsmouth and she sailed to Gibraltar as part of 13th Destroyer flotilla. Active was commanded by Captain Errol Turner known throughout the navy as 'Flash Alf'. 13th DF was made up of nine ships. They operated from Gib on all types of task including fleet operations with capital ships, escorting convoys in the Atlantic and Mediterranean, carrying out anti-submarine sweeps, independant operations involving 'stop and search' of neutral ships and enforcing blockade by intercepting German merchant ships returning to Germany and also in general patrol duties. The designated zone for escorting convoys was between Lisbon and Ushant where UK bound convoys were escorted northwards and southbound convoys were met. Active underwent a refit in Gibraltar dockyard during November 1939.
I'll email you with further details.
Monarch.

[PAULGLADSTONE18]

I am researching HMS Active from World War 2. Any information on this, the crew and history would be welcome. Thanks you
HI PAUL MY DAD WAS ON HMS ACTIVE BUT AT A LATER DATE TO YOUR DAD HAVE YOU HAD ANY LUCK WITH FINDING ANY REFERENCE POINTS OR WEB SITES ABOUT HMS ACTIVE THANKS
PAUL

[Hume Waring]

Hi Paul, another picture of the Active to go with the above and two pics revealing the damage inflicted on the Worcester.
Note the guy painting the cable. Also another bit of history, the Barracca lift in the first Worcester picture.
On the second picture of the Worcester, typical Pusser, hands fallen in for entering harbour.

Bob.
Dear Sir,

My father served as an electrical or radar officer on Worcester from May to June 43, Can anyone supply an history about her for that period? He was seconded from the RCN to the RN to serve.

Many Thanks

Hume Waring

[wullie mack`]

HI
my father was aboard HMS ACTIVE from march 1943 until 1946 i`d be grateful for any info or photos
wullie mack`

[alanbenn]

Wullie mack, welcome to the forum.

Here's a large version of the ship your father served on, you can download it if you wish.

Have a good browse through the forum you may find some info as I'm sure the ship has been mentioned before.

Regards
Alan

[astraltrader]

A great picture alan.

Welcome to the forum Wullie Mack.

[wullie mack`]

Wullie mack, welcome to the forum.

Here's a large version of the ship your father served on, you can download it if you wish.

Have a good browse through the forum you may find some info as I'm sure the ship has been mentioned before.

Regards
Alan

thanks for the photo alan i look forward to having a good look
wullie mack`

[BCRenown]

HMS Active fitted as a destroyer escort circa 1943;

Monty

[harry.gibbon]

pray tell was there something amiss with my posting of a link from u.boat.net? the thread opener asked for info or photos and the link had both:confused::confused:

Little h

[astraltrader]

Harry could you please see PM?

[wullie mack`]

HMS Active fitted as a destroyer escort circa 1943;

Monty

thanks for the photo ,unusual paint job was this normal ?

wullie mack`

[wullie mack`]

pray tell was there something amiss with my posting of a link from u.boat.net? the thread opener asked for info or photos and the link had both:confused::confused:

Little h

sorry i`m new to this ,keep hitting wrong keys
just finding my sea legs !


wullie mack`

[BCRenown]

thanks for the photo ,unusual paint job was this normal ?


You are quite welcome.

The Admiralty Disruptive camouflage scheme was quite common on Commonwealth warships during 1943-45.

Monty

[JULIETPARRISH]

Hi Guys

Great thread and website, I am in the process of writing a book about a U-boat sunk off the South African coast in October 1942. The U-boat in question is U179, she was sunk by HMS Active H14 on the evening of the 8th of October 1942.

Im in the process of finalising the artwork for the cover, and searching for more info on Active.

In particular, and I hope you can help, I need help with the following:

1) Active was fitted out for war in 1939, this involved the fitting of a crows nest, k guns and a shortening of the aft funnel, does anyone have a complete list or plan of the work done over this period. More specificaly does anyone have a photo from the period 1939 to 1943 prior to her 1943 refitting.
2) What colour scheme would Active have had in Oct 1942, would it be the same as the 1930's or would it be a shade of grey?
3) Active sunk U179 with a 10 pattern depth charge attack, exactly where would the K guns be placed on Active? How would this 10 pattern be delivered? How many depth charges from each K gun and rails?

Sorry for so many questions :D

Finally if anyone has any testimony from a crew member or family member concerning this evening in Oct 1942, this would be great.

Thank you so much, and if I can help with any information on Active or U179, please let me know.

Regards
Juliet

[jainso31]

I hope this attachment is of some use to you Juliet.:)

jainso31


http://www.uboat.net/boats/u179.htm
http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4343.html

[JULIETPARRISH]

Hi

Thanks for the reply, yes I know uboat.net very well, a great site! Anyone who can to my previous question?

Regards
Juliet

[marksco75]

Hi everyone, my first post so be gentle! :)

My Great Uncle John Barrett served aboard HMS Active as a gunner during WWII. He was HMS Raleigh Fly-Weight boxing champion in 1941.

He passed down lots of bits and pieces of his time aboard. I have his medals including the Atlantic & Africa Star, a miniature Honer mouth-organ which he said to family that a German Submariner gave to him when they rescued survivors from a U-Boat, a letter to him from his mother back home in Glasgow at Christmas 1943 and the small boxing trophy .

His sister's daughter has lots of photos of him and his comrades on board, of the ports they landed and of him cleaning the gun while he's sporting a huge beard! As a guy with bright red hair it really would have stood out! I shall try and get a loan of them to scan them in.

[astraltrader]

Welcome Mark - would love to see the photos. ;)

[JULIETPARRISH]

Hi everyone, my first post so be gentle! :)

My Great Uncle John Barrett served aboard HMS Active as a gunner during WWII. He was HMS Raleigh Fly-Weight boxing champion in 1941.

He passed down lots of bits and pieces of his time aboard. I have his medals including the Atlantic & Africa Star, a miniature Honer mouth-organ which he said to family that a German Submariner gave to him when they rescued survivors from a U-Boat, a letter to him from his mother back home in Glasgow at Christmas 1943 and the small boxing trophy .

His sister's daughter has lots of photos of him and his comrades on board, of the ports they landed and of him cleaning the gun while he's sporting a huge beard! As a guy with bright red hair it really would have stood out! I shall try and get a loan of them to scan them in.

Hi Mark

I have been off the site for a few months now, but when logging in noticed your post about your Great Uncle. I am writing a book about a U-boat that was sunk off South Africa's coast during 1942.
This U-boat was sunk by HMS Active. I would really apprciate any information you have, and not only on this event, but also life aboard the destroyer. If there is enough information and photos, I can also tell the story from your Great Uncle's point of view. Please give me your thoughts on this matter.

Even if your Great Uncle did not serve over the period when this U-boat was sunk (October 1942), I would love to include pictures of the ship itself, and naturally give you the necessary credit.

You can email me at julietparrish@vodamail.co.za

Kind Regards
Juliet Parrish