View source for HMS Icarus (D03)

{{short description|Destroyer of the Royal Navy}}

{{other ships|HMS Icarus}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= HMS Icarus (D03).jpg
|Ship caption=
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship name=''Icarus''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship owner=
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[John Brown and Company]], [[Clydebank]], [[Scotland]]
|Ship original cost=
|Ship laid down= 9 March 1936
|Ship launched= 26 November 1936
|Ship sponsor=
|Ship christened=
|Ship completed= 
|Ship acquired=
|Ship commissioned= 1 May 1937
|Ship recommissioned=
|Ship decommissioned= 29 August 1946
|Ship identification=[[Pennant number]]: D03
|Ship motto=*''Bene est tentare''
*("It is as well to try")
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=
|Ship fate= Scrapped, 1946
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=On a Field Blue, a sun in splendour Proper above two wings White
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=(as built)
|Ship class={{Sclass2|I|destroyer}}
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|1370|LT|t|lk=on}} ([[Standard displacement|standard]])
*{{convert|1888|LT|t}} ([[deep load]])
|Ship length={{convert|323|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship beam={{convert|33|ft|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught={{convert|12|ft|6|in|m|1|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=*3 [[Admiralty 3-drum boiler]]s
*{{cvt|34000|shp|lk=on}}
|Ship propulsion=2 shafts, 2 geared [[steam turbine]]s
|Ship speed={{convert|35.5|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range={{convert|5500|nmi|lk=in|abbr=on}} at {{convert|15|kn}}
|Ship complement=145
|Ship sensors=[[ASDIC]]
|Ship armament=*4 × single [[4.7 inch QF Mark IX|4.7 in (120&nbsp;mm) guns]]
*2 × quadruple [[Vickers .50 machine gun|{{convert|0.5|in|mm|adj=on|1}} machine guns]]
*2 × quintuple [[British 21-inch torpedo|21 in (533&nbsp;mm)]] [[torpedo tubes]]
*1 × rack and 2 throwers for 16 [[depth charge]]s
*60 [[naval mine|mines]]
}}
{{Infobox service record
|is_ship=yes
|label= 
|partof=
|codes=
|commanders=[[Colin Maud]]
|operations=*North Sea 1939
*Atlantic 1939–44
*Narvik 1940
*Norway 1940–41
*Dunkirk 1940
*Bismarck Action 1941
*Arctic 1941–43
*Malta Convoys 1942
*Normandy 1944
*English Channel 1945
|victories=Sank [[German submarine U-45 (1938)|''U-45'']], [[German submarine U-35 (1936)|''U-35'']] (1939), [[German submarine U-744|''U-744'']] (1944), [[German submarine U-1199|''U-1199'']] (1945)
|awards=
}}
|}

'''HMS ''Icarus''''' was one of nine {{sclass2|I|destroyer}}s built for the [[Royal Navy]] during the 1930s.

==Description==
The I-class ships were improved versions of the preceding [[G and H-class destroyer|H-class]]. They displaced {{convert|1370|LT|t|lk=on}} at [[Displacement (ship)|standard]] load and {{convert|1888|LT|t}} at [[deep load]]. The ships had an [[length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|323|ft|m|1}}, a [[beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|33|ft|m|1}} and a [[draft (hull)|draught]] of {{convert|12|ft|6|in|m|1}}. They were powered by two [[Parsons Marine Steam Turbine Company|Parsons]] geared [[steam turbine]]s, each driving one [[propeller shaft]], using steam provided by three [[Admiralty three-drum boiler]]s. The turbines developed a total of {{convert|34000|shp|lk=on}} and were intended to give a maximum speed of {{convert|35.5|kn|lk=in}}.<ref name=l6/> ''Icarus'' only reached a speed of {{convert|35.1|kn}} from {{cvt|33380|shp}} during her [[sea trial]]s.<ref>March, p. 315</ref> The ships carried enough [[fuel oil]] to give them a range of {{convert|5500|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|15|kn}}. Their crew numbered 145 officers and [[Naval rating|ratings]].<ref name=l6>Lenton, p. 161</ref>

The ships mounted four [[4.7 inch QF Mark XII|4.7-inch (120&nbsp;mm) Mark IX guns]] in single mounts, designated 'A', 'B', 'X' and 'Y' from [[bow (ship)|bow]] to [[stern]]. For [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] (AA) defence, they had two quadruple mounts for the [[Vickers .50 machine gun|0.5&nbsp;inch Vickers Mark III]] [[machine gun]]. The I class was fitted with two above-water quintuple torpedo tube mounts for [[British 21 inch torpedo|{{convert|21|in|adj=on|0}}]] torpedoes.<ref>Whitley, p. 111</ref> One [[depth charge]] rack and two throwers were fitted; 16 depth charges were originally carried,<ref name=l6/> but this increased to 35 shortly after the war began.<ref>English, p. 141</ref> ''Icarus'' was one of the four I-class destroyers fitted with minelaying equipment in late 1938 – January 1939 at [[Malta]]. This consisted of mounts for rails on the deck on which to carry the mines and an electric winch to move the mines down the rails. A pair of [[sponson]]s were added to the stern to allow the mines to clear the propellers when dropped into the sea. 'A' and 'Y' guns and both sets of torpedo tubes were modified to allow them to be removed to compensate for the weight of the mines.<ref>Smith, pp. 112–113</ref> The ships could carry a maximum of 72 mines.<ref>Friedman, p. 230</ref> The I-class ships were fitted with the [[ASDIC]] sound detection system to locate submarines underwater.<ref>Hodges & Friedman, p. 16</ref>

==Construction and career==
===Service 1939-40===
On 29 November 1939, ''Icarus'' sighted the {{GS|U-35|1936|6}} 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|2}} and {{HMS|Kashmir|F12|2}} were called to the scene, and ''Icarus'' departed. ''Kingston'' was able to launch a successful depth charge attack, forcing the [[U-boat]] to surface and scuttle itself.

''Icarus'' participated in the [[Norwegian campaign]] in 1940, first capturing the 8,514 ton German supply ship {{SS|Alster|1928|2}} (brought to the United Kingdom and renamed ''Empire Endurance'') on 11 April and then taking part in the [[Second Battle of Narvik]] on 13 April 1940.

She participated in [[Dunkirk_evacuation|Operation Dynamo]], the evacuation from Dunkirk in late May and early June 1940.<ref>{{cite web |title=OPERATION DYNAMO - THE EVACUATION FROM DUNKIRK [Allocated Title] |url=https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1060020101 |website=Imperial War Museums |access-date=21 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

===Bismarck breakout===
In early May 1941, the [[British Admiralty]] was on the alert that the [[German battleship Bismarck|''Bismarck'']] might 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|2}}, {{HMS|Antelope|H36|2}}, {{HMS|Anthony|H40|2}}, {{HMS|Echo|H23|2}}, and {{HMS|Electra|H27|2}}, escorting the battlecruiser {{HMS|Hood|51|2}} and the battleship {{HMS|Prince of Wales|53|2}} 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 20:55 hrs., Admiral [[Lancelot Holland]] aboard ''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 02:15 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 05:35, the German forces were sighted by ''Hood'', and shortly after, the Germans sighted the British ships.  Firing commenced at 05:52. At 06:01, ''Hood'' suffered a direct hit from a {{convert|38|cm|in|0}} shell from ''Bismarck'', possibly striking one of the aft magazines. The ship was wracked by a colossal explosion, sinking the ship within 2&nbsp;minutes. ''Electra'' and the other destroyers were about {{convert|60|mi|km|0}} away at the time.

Upon hearing that ''Hood'' had sunk, ''Electra'' raced to the area, arriving about two hours after ''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 1,321 ratings aboard ''Hood'', just three survivors were found. ''Electra'' rescued them, and continued searching.  Shortly thereafter, ''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.

===Later service===
She participated in [[Operation Pedestal]], escorting a [[convoy]] to [[Malta]] in August 1942.

''Icarus'' was involved in many important events of the Second World War, [[Operation Dynamo|Dunkirk]], [[Operation Gauntlet|Spitzbergen]], and numerous Atlantic and Russian convoys.

''Icarus'' sank four German [[U-boat]]s:
* On 14 October 1939 she participated in sinking of {{GS|U-45|1938|2}} in the Western Approaches with destroyers {{HMS|Inglefield|D02|2}}, {{HMS|Ivanhoe|D16|2}} and {{HMS|Intrepid|D10|2}}.
* On 29 November 1939 {{GS|U-35|1936|2}} was scuttled by its crew in the [[North Sea]], after a [[depth charge]] attack from ''Icarus'', {{HMS|Kingston|F64|2}} and {{HMS|Kashmir|F12|2}}. All 43 hands on board survived.
* On 6 March 1944 she sank {{GS|U-744||2}} while in company with the [[corvette]] {{HMS|Kenilworth Castle|K420|2}}, the Canadian [[frigate]] {{HMCS|St. Catharines|K325|2}}, corvettes {{HMCS|Fennel|K194|2}} and {{HMCS|Chilliwack|K131|2}} and destroyers [[HMS Hero (H99)|''Chaudiere'']] and {{HMCS|Gatineau|H61|2}} in the [[North Atlantic]].
* On 21 January 1945 she sank {{GS|U-1199||2}} while in company with the corvette {{HMS|Mignonette|K38|2}} in the [[English Channel]] near the [[Isles of Scilly]].

A long-time captain of ''Icarus'', [[Colin Maud]], was the [[Juno Beach|Juno beach]] master at the D-day landings; in the film ''[[The Longest Day (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 (1957 film)|Yangtse Incident]]'', also served in ''Icarus'' as "[[Executive officer|number one]]".

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

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{Cite Colledge2006}}
* {{cite book|last=English|first=John|title=Amazon to Ivanhoe: British Standard Destroyers of the 1930s|year=1993|publisher=World Ship Society|location=Kendal, England|isbn=0-905617-64-9}}
* {{cite book|last=Friedman|first=Norman|title=British Destroyers & Frigates: The Second World War and After|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|date=2006|isbn=1-86176-137-6|author-link=Norman Friedman}}
* {{cite book|last=Haarr|first=Geirr H.|title=The Battle for Norway: April–June 1940|year=2010|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|location=Barnsley, UK|isbn=978-1-84832-057-4}}
* {{cite book|last=Haarr|first=Geirr H.|title=The German Invasion of Norway, April 1940|url=https://archive.org/details/germaninvasionof00geir|url-access=registration|year=2009|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|isbn=978-1-59114-323-9}}
* {{cite book |last=Hodges |first=Peter |author2=Friedman, Norman |title=Destroyer Weapons of World War 2 |year=1979 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=Greenwich |isbn=978-0-85177-137-3|name-list-style=amp }}
* {{cite book|last=Lenton|first=H. T.|author-link=Henry Trevor Lenton|title=British & Empire Warships of the Second World War|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=1998|isbn=1-55750-048-7}}
* {{cite book|last=March|first=Edgar J.|title=British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892-1953; Drawn by Admiralty Permission From Official Records & Returns, Ships' Covers & Building Plans|year=1966|publisher=Seeley Service|location=London |oclc=164893555}}
* {{cite book|last=Rohwer|first=Jürgen|title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two|publisher=Naval Institute Press|location=Annapolis, Maryland|year=2005|edition=Third Revised|isbn=1-59114-119-2|author-link=Jürgen Rohwer}}
* {{cite book|last=Smith|first=Peter C.|title=Into the Minefields: British Destroyer Minelaying 1918–1980|publisher=Pen & Sword Books|location=Barnsley, UK|year=2005|isbn=1-84415-271-5}}
* {{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M. J.|title=Destroyers of World War Two: An International Encyclopedia|publisher=Naval Institute Press|year=1988|isbn=0-87021-326-1|location=Annapolis, Maryland|author-link=Michael J. Whitley}}
* {{cite book|last=Winser|first=John de S.|title=B.E.F. Ships Before, At and After Dunkirk|publisher=World Ship Society|location=Gravesend, Kent|date=1999|isbn=0-905617-91-6}}

==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]

{{I class destroyer}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Icarus (D03)}}
[[Category:I-class destroyers of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built on the River Clyde]]
[[Category:1936 ships]]
[[Category:World War II destroyers of the United Kingdom]]