Allied Warships

HMS Obdurate (G 39)

Destroyer of the O class

Navy	The Royal Navy
Type	Destroyer
Class	O
Pennant	G 39
Built by	William Denny & Brothers (Dumbarton, Scotland)
Ordered	3 Sep 1939
Laid down	25 Apr 1940
Launched	19 Feb 1942
Commissioned	3 Sep 1942
End service
History	Scrapped at Inverkeithing in November 1964. Hit by U-boat Damaged on 25 Jan 1944 by U-360 (Becker).
U-boat Attack	See our U-boat attack entry for the HMS Obdurate

Commands listed for HMS Obdurate (G 39)

Please note that we're still working on this section.

	Commander	From	To
1	Lt.Cdr. Claude Edward Lutley Sclater, RN	21 Jul 1942	13 Feb 1945
2	Lt.Cdr. Robert Denys Franks, DSO, OBE, RN	13 Feb 1945	ca mid 46

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Notable events involving Obdurate include:

17 Sep 1942
HMS H 34 (Lt. J.P.H. Oakley, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises at / off Scapa Flow with HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN), HMS Blean (Lt. N.J. Parker, RN) and HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO, RN). (1)

19 Sep 1942
HMS H 34 (Lt. J.P.H. Oakley, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises at / off Scapa Flow with HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO, RN), HMS Blean (Lt. N.J. Parker, RN), HMS Quality (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, DSO, RN) and HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN). (1)

24 Sep 1942
Around 0630/24, HMS Renown (Capt. C.S. Daniel, CBE, DSO, RN), departed Greenock for Scapa Flow. She was escorted by HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN), HMS Porcupine (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN) and HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO, RN).

They arrived at Scapa Flow around 0730/25. (2)

1 Oct 1942
HMS H 34 (Lt. J.P.H. Oakley, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises at / off Scapa Flow with HMS Holcombe (Lt.Cdr. S.H. Pinchin, DSC, RN), HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO, RN), HMS Martin (Cdr. C.R.P. Thomson, DSO, RN) and HMS Escapade (Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN). (3)

8 Oct 1942
HMS H 34 (Lt. J.P.H. Oakley, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises at / off Scapa Flow with HMS Meteor (Lt.Cdr. D.J.B. Jewitt, RN), HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO, RN), HMS Ashanti (Cdr. R.G. Onslow, DSO, RN) and HMS Eskimo (Capt. J.W.M. Eaton, DSO, DSC, RN). (3)

30 Dec 1942
On 30 December 1942 the German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper attacked convoy JW.51B and was held at bay by the British destroyers HMS Onslow, HMS Obedient, HMS Obdurate and HMS Orwell. When renewing her attack she was engaged by the British cruisers HMS Sheffield and HMS Jamaica and was badly damaged them. The only success of the operation was the sinking of the destroyer HMS Achates and the minesweeper HMS Bramble, the destroyers HMS Onslow, HMS Obedient, HMS Obdurate and HMS Orwell were damaged in the action.

22 Mar 1943
HMS Usurper (Lt. D.R.O. Mott, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Scapa Flow with HMCS Athabascan (Cdr. G.R. Miles, DSO, OBE, RCN), HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Rapid (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Brissenden (Lt. D.C. Beatty, RN). (4)

24 Mar 1943
HMS Usurper (Lt. D.R.O. Mott, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Scapa Flow with HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Eclipse (Lt.Cdr. E. Mack, DSO, DSC, RN), HMS Switha (T/Lt. L.H. Green, RNR) and HMS Bressay (T/Lt. J.E. Wilmot, RNVR). (4)

30 Mar 1943
HMS H 34 (Lt. J.P. Angell, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Opportune (Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO and Bar, RN). (5)

24 Jun 1943
During the morning, HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN), carries out A/S exercises with HMS Opportune (Cdr. J. Lee-Barber, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO and Bar, RN).

During the afternoon A/S exercises were carried out with HMS Roebuck (Cdr. J.T. Lean, DSO, RN) and HMS Onslaught (Cdr. W.H. Selby, DSC, RN). (6)

14 Sep 1943
Around 1530/14 HMS Renown (Capt. W.E. Parry, CB, RN) departed Halifax for the UK. On board were the Prime Minister (Churchill) and his entourage. At sea HMS Renown wass joined by an escort made up of the heavy cruiser HMS Kent (Capt. G.A.B. Hawkins, DSC, MVO, RN) and the destroyers HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Obedient (Lt.Cdr. H. Unwin, DSC and Bar, RN).

At 0730/16, the heavy cruiser HMS Norfolk (Capt. D.K. Bain, RN) joined coming from Hvalfiord, Iceland.

Around 1430/16, the destroyers HMS Matchless (Lt.Cdr. J. Mowlam, DSO, RN) and HMS Orwell (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN) joined coming from St. Johns. HMS Obdurate and HMS Obedient were then detached to Argentia.

Around 0300/18, the destroyers HMS Scorpion (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Clouston, RN) and HMS Scourge (Lt.Cdr. G.I.M. Balfour, RN) joined coming from Londonderry, Northern Ireland.

Around 1100/18, the aircraft carrier USS Ranger (Capt. G. Rowe, USN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral O.M. Hustvedt, USN) joined coming from Scapa Flow. She was escorted by the destroyers USS Forrest (T/Cdr. K.P. Letts, USN), USS Hobson (T/Lt.Cdr. K. Loveland, USN) and USS Corry (T/Cdr. L.B. Ensey, USN).

At 1405/18, HMS Kent parted company to proceed to Scapa Flow.

At 1900/18, USS Ranger and her escorting destroyers parted company to proceed to Scapa Flow.

At 0050/19, HMS Norfolk parted company to proceed to Scapa Flow.

Around 0900/19, HMS Renown, HMS Matchless, HMS Orwell, HMS Scorpion and HMS Scourge arrived in the Clyde.

The Prime Minister and his entourage then disembarked from HMS Renown. (7)

17 Nov 1943
HMS Spiteful (Lt.Cdr. F.H. Sherwood, DSC, RCNVR) conducted A/S exercises at Scapa Flow with HMS Urchin (Lt.Cdr. J.T.B. Birch, DSO, DSC, RN), HNoMS Stord (Lt.Cdr. S.V. Storheill, RNorN), HMIS Cauvery (A/Cdr. A.W. Beeton, RIN) and HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO and Bar, RN).

On completion of these exercises HMS Spiteful departed Scapa Flow for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HMS Cutty Sark (Cdr.(Retd.) R.H. Mack, RN). (8)

6 Dec 1943
HMS Telemachus (Cdr. W.D.A. King, DSO, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Kempenfelt (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Marjoribanks, RN), HMS Tenacious (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN) and HMS Speedwell (Lt.Cdr. T.E. Williams, RD, RNR). (9)

27 Dec 1943
HMS Vampire (Lt. C.W. Taylor, RNR) conducted A/S exercises at/off Scapa Flow with HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Venus (Cdr. J.S.M. Richardson DSO, RN) and HMCS Chaudiere (A/Lt.Cdr. C.P. Nixon, RCN). (10)

25 Jan 1944
At 18.33 hrs on 25 January 1944 while in position 73°28'N, 21°30'E, HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, DSO and Bar, RN) was damaged by a Gnat-torpedo from German U-boat U-360 while escorting convoy JW 56A to North Russia. The U-boat missed the damaged destroyer with a torpedo at 18.44 hrs.

14 Apr 1945
HMS Scorcher (Lt. K.S. Renshaw, DSC, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Scapa Flow with HMS Savage and HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. R.D. Franks, DSO, DSC, OBE, RN). (11)

18 Apr 1945
HMS Scorcher (Lt. K.S. Renshaw, DSC, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Scapa Flow with HMS Carysfort (Lt.Cdr. L. St.G. Rich, DSO and Bar, RN) and HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. R.D. Franks, DSO, DSC, OBE, RN). (11)

23 Apr 1945
HMS Trusty (Lt. W. St.G. Anderson, DSC, RNR) conducts exercises with HMS Carysfort (Lt.Cdr. L. St.G. Rich, DSO and Bar, RN), HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. R.D. Franks, DSO, DSC, OBE, RN) and ORP Garland (Lt. K. Hess). (12)

24 Apr 1945
HMS Trusty (Lt. W. St.G. Anderson, DSC, RNR) conducts exercises with HMS Savage (Lt.Cdr. C.W. Malins, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. R.D. Franks, DSO, DSC, OBE, RN) and ORP Garland (Lt. K. Hess). (12)

26 Apr 1945
HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. J.B.M.J. Maas, RNN) conducted A/S exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Cleopatra (Capt. B.I. Robertshaw, CBE, RN), HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. R.D. Franks, DSO, DSC, OBE, RN) and ORP Garland (Lt. K. Hess, ORP). (13)

30 Apr 1945
HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. J.B.M.J. Maas, RNN) conducted A/S exercises off Scapa Flow together with HMS Obdurate (Lt.Cdr. R.D. Franks, DSO, DSC, OBE, RN). (14)