page_title: HMS Montrose (D01)
section_title: Second World War
hierarchical_section_title: HMS Montrose (D01) / Service history / Second World War
caption_attribution_description: Deutsch: HMS Montrose mit 6 pdr-Zwillingsturm als Buggeschütz
context_page_description: The first HMS Montrose was one of eight Admiralty-type destroyer leaders, sometimes known as the Scott class. They were named after figures from Scottish history; Montrose was named for the Graham Dukes of Montrose. She was built during the First World War, but was completed too late for service then. However, she had a long career in the inter-war years and saw extensive service during the Second World War.
context_section_description: On the outbreak of the Second World War in September 1939, Montrose was made leader of the 17th Destroyer Flotilla, based at Milford Haven and part of the Western Approaches Command, and for the first few months back in active service was tasked with anti-submarine patrols and convoy escort in the East Atlantic. On 30 September 1939, Montrose attacked a suspected German submarine south of Plymouth, and on 2 October 1939, Montrose and the destroyer Keith attacked another suspected submarine.
  On 26 May 1940, Operation Dynamo, the Evacuation of Dunkirk, began, with Montrose being ordered to take part. On 28 May she successfully evacuated 925 troops, landing them at Dover. She was heading out on another run to Dunkirk early in the morning of 29 May when she collided in a fog bank with the tug Sun V, breaking the destroyer's stem. Montrose had to be towed back to Dover stern-first by the tug Lady Brassey. Montrose was under repair at Harland and Wolff's North Woolwich yard from 31 May to 5 July 1940. After repair, Montrose joined the 18th Destroyer Flotilla, Nore Command, based at Harwich. In July 1940, in the first part of the Battle of Britain, German aircraft carried out a campaign of attacks against coastal shipping in the English Channel, and on 27 July, as part of this campaign, attacked Montrose and the destroyer Wren, which were escorting minesweepers off Aldeburgh, Suffolk. Montrose claimed two German bombers shot down during the engagement, but was badly damaged by near-misses which immobilised her, while Wren was sunk. Montrose had to be towed back to Sheerness.
  Montrose was under repair at Chatham Dockyard until October 1941, being reallocated to the 16th Destroyer Flotilla. She worked up at Scapa Flow until November 1941, In December 1941, the ship was detached from her flotilla to form part of the covering force for Operations Anklet and Archery, raids on Lofoten and Vågsøy in northern Norway. On 30 December, Montrose hit a rock off Herston, Orkney, damaging her port propeller shaft. She was under repair at Rosyth until the end of May 1942.
  On 1 August 1942, Montrose was detached to the Home Fleet to replace destroyers sent to the Mediterranean for the important Malta Convoy, Operation Pedestal. Montrose formed part of the distant covering force for the Arctic convoys PQ 18 and QP 14 in September 1942, while in December 1942 – January 1943 was part of the distant escort of convoys RA 51 and JW 52. On 1 February 1943, she left Scapa for the Nore Command, resuming coastal patrols and convoy escort duties off the east coast of Britain. On the night of 17/18 February 1943, Montrose and the Hunt-class destroyer Garth were on patrol when they encountered several German E-boats that were laying a minefield off Lowestoft. In the resulting engagement, one of the German torpedo boats, S71, was immobilised and then rammed and sunk by Garth. On 24 October 1943, Montrose collided with the Hunt-class destroyer Cotswold, badly damaging Cotswold, which was under repair for over 6 months.
  In June 1944, Montrose took part in supporting the Normandy Landings. She left Harwich on 5 June, and was escorting follow-on convoys to the Eastern (British) operating area from 6 June. She was awarded the ship's last battle honour during these operations. On 7 July, Montrose' stern was damaged when the ship was in collision with the cargo ship Empire Heywood off Harwich. Montrose suffered more serious damage on 19 July when she collided with the landing ship LST-430 and was docked at the Port of Immingham for repairs. Montrose did not re-enter service, and was instead placed into Category C Reserve on 2 November 1944. Montrose was allocated by BISCO to Hughes Bolckow Ltd for dispoal on 31 January 1946 and scrapped at Blyth in Northumberland.
caption: Montrose in 1944, with the twin 6-pounder mount in A-position
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