HMS Hecla

Type:
Destroyer Depot
Class:
Hecla
Builder:
John Brown & Company
Clydebank, Scotland
Pennant Number:
F-20
Ordered:
November 28, 1938
Launched:
March 14, 1940
Keel Laid:
January 23, 1939
Commissioned:


January 6, 1941
Fate:

Sunk Nov. 12, 1942 by U-515 (KpLt. Werner Henke)

Location: North Atlantic, 256 miles west of Gibraltar.
(35.43N - 09.54W)

283 crewmen killed, 568 survivors picked up by HMS Marne G-35 and HMS Venomous D-75.
(Roll of Honour)
(Note HMS Marne was hit by a torpedo from U-515 while removing the men on Hecla,
13 crewmen on Marne were killed in the attack.)



Timeline
May 15, 1942:
Struck a mine laid by the German aux. minelayer Doggerbank (Schiff 53) off Cape Agulhas,
South Africa. 24 crewmen were killed. The ship was towed to Simonstown by HMS Gambia
and two South African navy minesweepers, Southern Barrier and Terje. Out of action until
late Sept. 1942.


Class Overview
Builder's Data
Page published Nov. 30, 2008