HMS Icarus (D03)

HMS "Icarus" (D03) was an I-class destroyer that served with the Royal Navy in World War II.

On 29 November 1939, "Icarus" sighted the German U-boat "U-35" between the Shetland Islands and Bergen (Norway), but was unable to launch an effective attack because her ASDIC (sonar) was out of commission. Fellow destroyers HMS|Kingston|F64|6 and HMS|Kashmir|F12|6 were called to the scene, and "Icarus" departed. HMS "Kingston" was able to launch a successful depth charge attack, forcing the U-boat to surface and scuttle.

"Icarus" participated in the Norwegian campaign in 1940, first capturing the 8,514 ton German supply ship "Alster" (brought to the UK and renamed "Empire Endurance") on 11 April and then taking part in the Second Battle of Narvik on 13 April 1940.

In early May 1941, the British Admiralty was on the alert that the "Bismarck" may attempt to break out into the North Atlantic; so "Icarus" was ordered to Scapa Flow for possible deployment against the Germans. On 22 May, just after midnight, "Icarus" sailed along with the destroyers HMS|Achates|H12|6, HMS|Antelope|H36|6, HMS|Anthony|H40|6, HMS|Echo|H23|6, and HMS|Electra|H27|6, escorting the HMS|Hood|51|6 and HMS|Prince of Wales|1939|6 to cover the northern approaches. The intention was that the force would refuel in Hvalfjord, Iceland, and then sail again to watch the Denmark Strait.

On the evening of 23 May, the weather deteriorated. At 2055 hrs., Admiral Lancelot Holland aboard the "Hood" signalled the destroyers "If you are unable to maintain this speed I will have to go on without you. You should follow at your best speed." At 0215 on the morning of 24 May, the destroyers were ordered to spread out at convert|15|mi|km|0 intervals to search to the north. At about 0535, the German forces were sighted by the "Hood", and shortly after, the Germans sighted the British ships. Firing commenced at 0552. At 0601, "Hood" took a convert|38|cm|in|0 shell from "Bismarck" in the after magazine, which caused a massive explosion, sinking the ship within 2 minutes. "Electra" and the other destroyers were about convert|60|mi|km|0 away at the time.

Upon hearing that the "Hood" had sunk, "Electra" raced to the area, arriving about 2 hours after the "Hood" went down. They were expecting to find many survivors, and rigged scrambling nets and heaving lines, and placed life belts on the deck where they could be quickly thrown in. From the 94 officers and 1321 ratings aboard the "Hood", just three survivors were found. "Electra" rescued them, and continued searching. Shortly thereafeter, "Icarus" and "Anthony" joined in the search, and the three ships searched the area for more survivors. No more were found, only driftwood, debris, and a desk drawer filled with documents. After several hours searching, they left the area.

She participated and in Operation Pedestal, escorting a convoy to Malta in August 1942.

"Icarus" was involved in many important events of World War II, Dunkirk, Spitsbergen, and numerous Atlantic and Russian convoys.

"Icarus" sank four German U-boats:
* On 14 October 1939 she participated in sinking of "U-45" in the Western Approaches with destroyers HMS|Inglefield|D02|6, HMS|Ivanhoe|D16|6 and HMS|Intrepid|D10|6.
* On November 29 1939 "U-35" was scuttled by its crew in the North Sea, after a depth charge attack from "Icarus", HMS|Kingston|F64|6 and HMS|Kashmir|F12|6. All 43 hands on board survived.
* On 6 March 1944 she sank "U-744" while in company with the corvette HMS|Kenilworth Castle|K42|6, the Canadian frigate HMCS "St. Catharines", corvettes HMCS "Fennel" and HMCS "Chilliwack" and destroyers HMCS "Chaudiere" and HMCS "Gatineau" in the North Atlantic.
* On 21 January 1945 she sank "U-1199" while in company with the corvette HMS|Mignonette|K38|6 in the English Channel near the Isles of Scilly.

A long-time captain of "Icarus", Colin Maud, was the Juno beach master at the D-day landings, in the film 'The Longest Day' he was played by Kenneth More, complete with bulldog.

Lieutenant-Commander John Simon Kerans, famous for his part in sailing HMS|Amethyst|U16|6, down the Yangtze River, a feat made famous in the film "Yangtse Incident", also served on "Icarus" as "number one".

"Icarus" was paid off on 29 August 1946, handed over to the British Iron and Steel Corporation on 29 October 1946 and broken up at Troon in Scotland.

External links

* [http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4412.html "Icarus" at Uboat net]
* [http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-29I-Icarus.htm "Icarus" service history at naval-history.net]