View source for HMS Wrestler

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

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=April 2017}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=[[File:HMSWrestler.JPG|300px|HMS Wrestler]]
|Ship caption=HMS ''Wrestler'' underway
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=[[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]]
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship name=''Wrestler''
|Ship namesake=
|Ship ordered=9 December 1916
|Ship builder=[[Swan Hunter]], [[Wallsend]]
|Ship laid down=July 1917
|Ship launched=25 February 1918
|Ship commissioned=15 May 1918
|Ship decommissioned=
|Ship motto=*"Nitendo vincimus"<ref name="navhist"/>
* ("By doing our utmost we win")
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service=6 June 1944
|Ship struck=
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship honours=
|Ship fate=*Mined off [[Juno Beach]], 6 June 1944
* Sold for scrap, 20 July 1944
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class={{sclass2|V and W|destroyer}}
|Ship displacement={{convert|1100|LT|t|0|abbr=on}}
|Ship length=*{{convert|300|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[Length overall|o/a]]
* {{convert|312|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[Length between perpendiculars|p/p]]
|Ship beam={{convert|26|ft|6|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship draught= {{convert|11|ft|11+1/2|in|m|2|abbr=on}} deep
|Ship propulsion=
* Parsons steam turbines
* 2 shafts
|Ship speed={{convert|34|kn|lk=in}}
|Ship range=*{{convert|3500|nmi|km|abbr=on}} at {{convert|15|kn|abbr=on}}
|Ship power=*3 × [[Yarrow boiler]]s
* {{convert|27000|shp|lk=on|abbr=on}}
|Ship complement= 110
|Ship armament=*4 × [[QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun|QF 4&nbsp;in (102&nbsp;mm) gun]]
* 1 × QF 12 pdr (76 mm)
* 2 × triple [[British 21 inch torpedo|21 inch (533 mm)]] [[torpedo tube]]s
}}
|}
'''HMS ''Wrestler'' (D35)''' was a {{sclass2|V and W|destroyer}} built by the [[Royal Navy during the First World War]] and active from 1939 to 1944 during the [[Second World War]]. She was the first Royal Navy ship to bear that name, and the only one to do so to date.

==Construction and design==
On 9 December 1916, the [[British Admiralty]] placed an order for 21 large destroyers based on the [[V and W-class destroyer#Admiralty V class|V class]] as part of the 10th War Construction Programme, which became the Admiralty W class.<ref name="Fried p164-5">{{harvnb|Friedman|2009|pp=164–165}}</ref> This order included two destroyers, {{HMS|Whirlwind|D30|2}} and ''Wrestler'', to be built by [[Swan Hunter]].<ref name="Fried p313-3">{{harvnb|Friedman|2009|pp=312–313}}</ref>

''Wrestler'' was {{convert|312|ft|m|1}} [[length overall|long overall]] and {{convert|300|ft|m|1}} [[length between perpendiculars|between perpendiculars]], with a [[Beam (nautical)|beam]] of {{convert|26|ft|6|in|m}} and a [[Draft (ship)|draught]] of between {{convert|10|ft|9|in|m}} and {{convert|11|ft|11+1/2|in|m|2}} depending on load. [[Displacement (ship)|Displacement]] was {{convert|1100|LT|t|lk=in}} standard,<ref name="preston p102,5,7">{{harvnb|Preston|1971|pp=102, 105, 107}}</ref> and up to {{convert|1490|LT|t}} deep load.<ref name="conways06 p83-4">{{harvnb|Gardiner|Gray|1985|pp=83–84}}</ref> Three oil-fed [[Yarrow boiler]]s raising steam at {{convert|250|psi}} fed Brown-Curtis geared [[steam turbines]] which developed {{convert|27,000|shp|kW}}, driving two screws for a maximum designed speed of {{convert|34|kn|lk=in}}.<ref name="preston p102,5,7"/><ref name="LentV1 p23">{{harvnb|Lenton|1970|p=23}}</ref> The ship carried {{convert|368|LT|t}} of oil giving a range of {{convert|3500|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|15|kn}}.<ref name="preston p102,5,7"/>

The ship had a main gun armament of four [[QF 4 inch Mk V naval gun|4-inch Mk V QF guns]] in single mounts on the ship's centreline.  These were disposed as two forward and two aft in superimposed firing positions.  A single [[QF 3-inch 20 cwt|QF 3-inch (76 mm) 20 cwt]]{{#tag:ref|"Cwt" is the abbreviation for [[hundredweight]], 20 cwt referring to the weight of the gun.<ref>{{harvnb|Campbell|1985|pp=2, 61–62}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}} anti-aircraft gun was mounted aft of the second funnel.  Aft of the 3-inch gun, six 21-inch torpedo tubes were carried, mounted in two triple mounts on the centreline.<ref name="preston p102,5,7"/><ref name="conways06 p83-4"/> As built, the W-class had a complement of 134 officers and other ranks.<ref name="prestonp102">{{harvnb|Preston|1971|p=102}}</ref>

''Wrestler'', the first ship of that name to serve with the Royal Navy,<ref>{{harvnb|Colledge|Warlow|2006|p=391}}</ref> was [[Keel laying|laid down]] at Swan Hunter's [[Wallsend]] shipyard during July 1917, and was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 25 February 1918.<ref name="Fried p313-3"/><ref name="engp83">{{harvnb|English|2019|p=83}}</ref> She was commissioned on 1 May 1918,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=952: Wrestler. (Ch.) |magazine=The Navy List |date=December 1920 |page=902-945<!-- this is the page number printed on the page - not a page range: don't change this --> |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/94470344 |access-date=22 July 2023 |via=National Library of Scotland}}</ref> and was completed on 15 May that year.<ref name="Fried p313-3"/><ref name="engp83"/>

===Modifications===
By 1931, ''Wrestler'' was recorded as having her 3-inch anti aircraft gun replaced by two [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|2-pounder (40 mm) pom-pom]] autocannon,<ref>{{harvnb|Parkes|1973|p=63}}</ref> although one of these had been removed by 1939.<ref name="Fried p242">{{harvnb|Friedman|2009|p=242}}</ref> While most of the class had one bank of torpedo tubes removed in 1940 to accommodate a 3-inch anti-aircraft gun, ''Wrestler'' was, at least initially, not modified.<ref>{{harvnb|Friedman|2009|pp=238, 285}}</ref> Close-range anti-aircraft armament was improved by adding a second pom-pom and two [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon]].<ref>{{harvnb|Friedman|2009|pp=242–243}}</ref>

Conversion to long-range escort involved removal of a boiler, which was replaced by fuel tanks and an additional mess deck (the elderly V & Ws were overcrowded so additional accommodation was welcome). Power dropped to {{convert|18000|shp|kW|abbr=on}} and speed to {{convert|24.5|kn|mph km/h|abbr=on}}. The forward "A"-mount 4-inch gun was replaced by a [[Hedgehog (weapon)|Hedgehog]] anti-submarine mortar, while the aft-most ("Y"-mount) 4-inch guns and the torpedo tubes were removed to allow a heavier depth-charge armament to be carried.<ref>{{harvnb|Friedman|2009|pp=247–248}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Preston|1971|pp=120–121}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Brown|2007|pp=19, 21}}</ref> ''Wrestler'' was also converted for arctic use, with additional ballast to counter the buildup of topweight owing to icing, and improved insulation and heating.<ref>{{harvnb|Friedman|2009|pp=235, 285}}</ref>

==Service history==
''Wrestler'' joined the [[12th Destroyer Flotilla]] of the [[Grand Fleet]] on commissioning.<ref name="engp108">{{harvnb|English|2019|p=108}}</ref> During May 1918, the battleship {{HMS|Hindustan|1903|2}} was in collision with ''Wrestler'', badly damaging the destroyer.<ref>{{harvnb|Burt|1988|p=256}}</ref> ''Wrestler'' remained part of the 12th Flotilla on 11 November 1918, when the [[Armistice of 11 November 1918|Armistice with Germany]] ended the fighting of the First World War.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ships of the Royal Navy - Location/Action Data, 1914–1918: Admiralty "Pink Lists", 11 November 1918 |work=World War 1 at Sea |publisher=Naval-history.net |date=24 March 2015 |url=http://www.naval-history.net/WW1NavyBritishShips-Locations2PL1811.htm |access-date=22 July 2023}}</ref>

In March 1919, in a reorganisation of the Royal Navy, ''Wrestler'' transferred to the [[3rd Destroyer Flotilla]] of what became the [[Atlantic Fleet (United Kingdom)|Atlantic Fleet]], based at [[Rosyth]].<ref name="engp108"/><ref name="preston p35">{{harvnb|Preston|1971|p=35}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |title=Supplement to the Navy List Showing Organisation of the Fleet, Flag Officers' Commands, &c.: I.—The Grand Fleet: Destroyers |magazine=The Navy List |date=March 1919 |page=11 |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/92419754 |access-date=22 July 2023 |via=National Library of Scotland}}</ref> In 1919, ''Wrestler'' took part in the [[British campaign in the Baltic (1918–19)|British campaign in the Baltic]], part of the [[Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War]]. On 15 July 1919, the minesweepers {{HMS|Gentian|1915|2}} and {{HMS|Myrtle|1915|2}} struck [[Naval mine|mines]] while clearing a minefield east of [[Saaremaa]]. While ''Myrtle'' sank quickly, ''Gentian'' remained afloat, and on 16 July, ''Wrestler'' arrived at the scene with the Estonian tug ''Ebba'', but the weather was too bad for towing the sloop to safety, and ''Gentian'' sank on 17 July.<ref>{{harvnb|Dunn|2020|pp=133–134}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Hepper|2006|p=150}}</ref>

In March 1920, ''Wrestler'' transferred to the [[1st Destroyer Flotilla]].<ref name="engp108"/><ref>{{cite magazine |title=I.—The Atlantic Fleet: Destroyers |magazine=The Navy List |date=April 1920 |pages=702–3 |url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/94381484 |access-date=22 July 2023 |via=National Library of Scotland}}</ref> The ship was [[Ship commissioning#Ship decommissioning|paid off]] at [[Chatham Dockyard|Chatham]] on 1 December 1920 and recommissioned with a new crew on the same day for further service with the 1st Flotilla.<ref name="engp108"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Naval And Military Intelligence |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=2 December 1920 |issue=42583 |page=8}}</ref> In 1921, the Royal Navy's destroyer forces were again reorganised into smaller flotillas of eight destroyers and one [[destroyer leader]], compared with the  larger flotillas (of 16 destroyers) previously used, with ''Wrestler'' moving to the [[5th Destroyer Flotilla]].<ref>{{harvnb|Preston|1971|pp=35–36}}</ref> On 8 October 1921, the American [[Steamship|steamer]] {{SS|West Camak||2}} rammed the British [[passenger ship]] {{SS|Rowan||2}} from astern in [[fog]] in the [[North Channel (Great Britain and Ireland)|North Channel]]. ''Rowan''{{'}}s passengers were mustered on deck. The British steamer {{SS|Clan Malcolm|1916|2}} then rammed ''Rowan'' from [[Port and starboard|starboard]] and cut her in two. ''Rowan'' sank with the loss of 22 of the 97 people on board. ''Wrestler'' joined ''Clan Malcolm'' and ''West Camak'' in rescuing survivors from ''Rowan''.<ref>{{harvnb|Patton|2007|pp=180–181}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|newspaper= The Times |title=Disaster at Sea |date=10 October 1921 |page=10 |issue=42847 }}</ref><ref name="t2">{{cite news |title=Destroyer's Timely Aid |newspaper=The Times |date=10 October 1921 |pages=10, 12 |issue=42847}}</ref><ref name="engp108"/>{{#tag:ref|''Wrestler'' rescued 17 survivors and two dead bodies according to English,<ref name="engp108"/> and 26 people according to ''The Times''.<ref name="t2"/>|group=lower-alpha}}

''Wrestler'' was reduced to reserve at the [[Nore]] in January 1922, but in May that year was recommissioned to serve as [[ship's tender|tender]] to {{HMS|Vernon|shore establishment|6}} the torpedo school at [[Portsmouth]].<ref name="engp108"/> On 27 June 1927, ''Wrestler'' formed part of the escort for the battlecruiser {{HMS|Renown|1916|2}}, carrying the [[George VI of the United Kingdom|Duke and Duchess of York]] into Portsmouth at the end of their tour of Australia and New Zealand.<ref>{{cite news |title=First Greetings |newspaper=The Times |date=27 June 1927 |issue=44618 |page=14}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=End of Royal Tour |newspaper=The Times |date=28 June 1927 |issue=44619 |page=16}}</ref> On 24 January 1928, ''Wrestler'', together with the destroyer {{HMS|Vanoc|H33|2}}, escorted the minesweeper {{HMS|Caterham|1919|2}} as she carried the body of [[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]] [[John de Robeck]] from Portsmouth to the [[Isle of Wight]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Funeral: Sir John de Robeck |newspaper=The Times |date=25 January 1928 |issue= 44799 |page=17}}</ref> ''Wrestler'' was refitted at Chatham from 30 April to 2 December 1930, with her boiler tubes being replaced.<ref name="engp108"/> On 15–17 July 1935, ''Wrestler'' took part in [[Fleet review#George V|King George V's Silver Jubilee Fleet Review]], escorting the [[Royal yacht]] {{ship|HMY|Victoria and Albert|1899|2}}.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jubilee Naval Review |newspaper=The Times |date=15 July 1935 |issue=47116 |page=8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Fleet at Exercise |newspaper=The Times |date=18 July 1935 |issue= 47119 |page=16}}</ref> In September 1935, ''Wrestler'' joined the [[21st Destroyer Flotilla]], which had been formed from ships in reserve and second line duties as temporary replacement for [[Home Fleet#Inter-war period|Home Fleet]] destroyer flotillas sent to the [[Mediterranean Sea]] because of the [[Abyssinia Crisis]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Watson |first=Graham |title=Between the Wars: Royal Navy Organisation and Ship Deployments 1919–1939 |publisher=Naval-history.net |date=2 September 2015 |url=http://www.naval-history.net/xGW-RNOrganisation1919-39.htm |access-date=22 July 2023}}</ref> On 13 October 1935, ''Wrestler'' went to the aid of the Norwegian tanker ''Barfonn'', which had been damaged by an explosion in one of her oil tanks, which killed three, when off [[Portland Bill]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Explosion in Oil Tanker |newspaper=The Times |date=15 October 1935 |issue=47195 |page=11}}</ref> ''Wrestler'' was returned to reserve in February 1936 before being refitted at Portsmouth and rejoining ''Vernon'' in November that year.<ref name="engp108"/> She continued to serve at ''Vernon'' until March 1939.<ref name="engp108"/>

''Wrestler'' was one of 36 V and W-class destroyers that were listed as being earmarked for conversion to [[V and W-class destroyer#WAIR|WAIR-type]] anti-aircraft escort destroyers in 1938,<ref>{{harvnb|Friedman|2009|pp=230, 284 note 2}}</ref> and in May 1939, was sent to [[Malta]] for survey prior to conversion. On 15 August 1938, the unconverted ''Wrestler'' was reduced to reserve at Gibraltar.<ref name="engp108"/>

===Second World War===
''Wrestler'' was recommissioned at Gibraltar on 28 August 1939,<ref name="engp108"/> joining the [[13th Destroyer Flotilla]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Kindell |first=Don |title=Royal Navy Ships, September 1939 |work=British and Other Navies in World War 2 Day-by-Day |publisher=naval-history.net |date=9 April 2012 |url=http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-3909-04RN.htm |access-date=22 July 2023}}</ref> with duties including convoy escort in the Atlantic in the early stages of the [[Battle of the Atlantic]].<ref name="navhist">{{cite web |last=Mason |first=Geoffrey B. |title=HMS Wrestler (D35), V & W-class destroyer including Convoy Escort Movements |work=Service Histories of Royal Navy Warships in World War 2 |publisher=naval-history.net |date=12 July 2011 |url=http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-09VW-Wrestler.htm |access-date=22 July 2023}}</ref> In December 1939, ''Wrestler'' entered a refit at Malta, which continued until March, having her boiler tubes replaced. In April 1940, ''Wrestler'' returned to Britain, where she was fitted with a [[Degaussing|Degaussing coil]] and at the start of May 1940, returned to Gibraltar as escort to the battleship {{HMS|Warspite|03|2}}.<ref name="engp108"/>

On 3 July 1940 ''Wrestler'' she was present at the British [[Attack on Mers-el-Kébir|attack on the Vichy French fleet]] at [[Mers-el-Kébir]], [[Algeria]], where she was assigned to watch the nearby port of [[Oran]]. The British bombardment sank the battleship {{ship|French battleship|Bretagne||2}} and damaged the battleships {{ship|French battleship|Provence||2}} and {{ship|French battleship|Dunkerque||2}}, but the {{ship|French battleship|Strasbourg}} managed to avoid damage and escaped the harbour, firing on ''Wrestler'' as the battleship left Mers-el-Kébir, forcing ''Wrestler'' to withdraw behind a smokescreen. ''Wrestler'' later picked up the crews of two British aircraft that were shot down while unsuccessfully attacking ''Strasbourg''.<ref>{{harvnb|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|1992|pp=26–27}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Greene|Massignani|2011|pp=59–60}}</ref>

On 8 July, ''Wrestler''<ref name="navhist"/><ref>{{cite web |last=Kindell |first=Don |title=Naval Events, July 1940 (Part 1 of 2) |work=British and Other Navies in World War 2 Day-by-Day |publisher=naval-history.net |date=7 April 2012 |url=http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-4007-20JUL01.htm |access-date=23 July 2023}}</ref><ref name="uboat">{{cite web |last=Helgason |first=Guðmundur |title= HMS Wrestler (D 35) |website=uboat.net |url=https://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4271.html |access-date=23 July 2023}}</ref>{{#tag:ref|Rohwer and Hümmelchen do not list ''Wrestler'' as taking part in the operation, however.<ref name="rohp27-8">{{harvnb|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|1992|pp=27–28}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}} sailed with [[Force H]] on a diversion for operations of the [[Mediterranean Fleet]] to cover the passage from Malta to [[Alexandria]] of two convoys. As part of this diversion, aircraft from the carrier {{HMS|Ark Royal|91|2}} would attack [[Cagliari]] in [[Sicily]]. The attack on Cagliari was abandoned after Force H came under heavy air attack on 9 July, while the Mediterranean Fleet operations resulted in the [[Battle of Calabria]].<ref>{{harvnb|Greene|Massignani|2011|pp=66–67, 72–78}}</ref><ref name="rohp27-8"/> On 31 July, ''Wrestler'' left Gibraltar as part of Force H for [[Operation Hurry]], in which ''Ark Royal'', escorted by most of Force H, including ''Wrestler'' would launch an air attack against Cagliari, while the carrier {{HMS|Argus|I49|2}} would fly off 12 [[Hawker Hurricane]] fighters to Malta. This time ''Ark Royal''{{'}}s [[Fairey Swordfish|Swordfish]] bombers successfully attacked Cagliari, while ''Argus''{{'}}s Hurricanes reached Malta safely and Force H returned to Gibraltar unharmed.<ref>{{harvnb|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|1992|p=30}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Barnett|2000|pp=227–228}}</ref> On 18 October 1940, ''Wrestler'', together with the destroyer {{HMS|Firedrake|H79|2}} and two [[Saro London]] [[flying boat]]s of [[No. 202 Squadron RAF|202 Squadron RAF]] attacked and sank the Italian {{sclass|Adua|submarine}} {{ship|Italian submarine|Durbo||2}} east of Gibraltar. Before ''Durbo'' sank, a boarding party from the two destroyers seized code books and documents that led to the {{ship|Italian submarine|Lafolè}} being sunk by the destroyers {{HMS|Gallant|H59|2}}, {{HMS|Griffin|H31|2}} and {{HMS|Hotspur|H01|2}} on 20 October.<ref name="engp108"/><ref>{{harvnb|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|1992|p=39}}</ref>

From 5–8 May 1941, ''Wrestler'' took part in [[Malta convoys#May 1941|Operation Tiger]], in which a convoy carrying much needed tanks and aircraft for the [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|Eighth Army]] in the [[Western Desert (Egypt)|Western Desert]] was run through the Mediterranean from Gibraltar to Alexandria, with Force H escorting the convoy to near Malta.<ref>{{harvnb|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|1992|pp=61–62}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Barnett|2000|pp=367–368}}</ref> ''Wrestler'' remained based at Gibraltar until June 1941, when she transferred to [[Freetown]], joining the [[18th Destroyer Flotilla]] for convoy operations off West Africa.<ref name="engp108"/><ref>{{cite web |last=Kindell |first=Don |title=Royal, Dominion and Indian Navy Ships, 1 July 1941 (Part 2 of 2) |work=British and Other Navies in World War 2 Day-by-Day |publisher=naval-history.net |date=8 April 2012 |url=http://www.naval-history.net/xDKWW2-4107-34aRNOverseas-Dominion.htm |access-date=23 July 2023}}</ref> In November 1941, ''Wrestler'' returned to Gibraltar for refit and repair to her [[Surface condenser|condensers]], with the works continuing until March 1942.<ref name="engp108"/> ''Wrestler'' was adopted by [[Hyde, Greater Manchester|Hyde]] in December 1941 after a successful "[[Warship Week]]" [[National Savings]] campaign.<ref name="navhist"/>

''Wrestler'' returned to Force H based at Gibraltar, with duties including escorting so called [[Club Run]]s, aircraft delivery operations to Malta, and [[Malta Convoy]]s.<ref name="engp108"/><ref name="navhist"/> On 2 May 1942, a flying boat of 202 Squadron RAF{{#tag:ref|The flying boat was a [[Short Sunderland]] according to Blair<ref name="blairv1p647"/> but a [[Consolidated Catalina]] according to Kemp<ref name="kempp812"/> and Rohwer and Hümmelchen.<ref>{{harvnb|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|1992|p=136}}</ref> 202 Squadron operated both types of flying boat at the time.<ref>{{harvnb|Halley|1973|p=54}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}} attacked a surfaced German submarine near [[Cartagena, Spain|Cartagena]]. The flying boat remained above the site of the attack and summoned ''Wrestler'' and the destroyer {{HMS|Wishart|D67|2}}, which made contact with the German submarine {{GS|U-74|1940|2}} and sank the submarine in a series of depth-charge attacks.<ref name="blairv1p647">{{harvnb|Blair ''The Hunters''|2000|p=647}}</ref><ref name="kempp812">{{harvnb|Kemp|1997|pp=81–82}}</ref> From 7 to 10 May 1942, ''Wrestler'' took part on [[Operation Bowery]], forming part of the escort for the carriers {{HMS|Eagle|1918|2}} and {{USS|Wasp|CV-7|2}} as they flew off 64 [[Supermarine Spitfire|Spitfire]] fighters to Malta (61 arrived).<ref name="engp109">{{harvnb|English|2019|p=109}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|1992|p=138}}</ref> From 17 to 20 May, ''Wrestler'' took part in another Club Run, when ''Eagle'' and ''Argus'' flew off 17 Spitfires,<ref name="engp109"/><ref>{{harvnb|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|1992|p=140}}</ref> on 2–4 June 1942, when ''Eagle'' despatched 31 Spitfires,<ref name="engp109"/><ref>{{harvnb|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|1992|p=143}}</ref> and on 7–9 June, when ''Eagle'' flew off 32 Spitfires.<ref name="engp109"/><ref>{{harvnb|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|1992|p=144}}</ref> From 12 June 1942, ''Wrestler'' took part in [[Operation Harpoon (1942)|Operation Harpoon]], an attempt to run a convoy from Gibraltar to Malta, at the same time as another convoy ([[Operation Vigorous]]) would be run from Egypt to Malta, in order to divide opposing forces. ''Wrestler'' formed part of the covering force (Force W) that escorted the convoy as far as the [[Sicilian Narrows]] on 15 June.<ref>{{harvnb|Barnett|2000|pp=505–507}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|1992|pp=145–146}}</ref> On 10–15 August 1942, ''Wrestler'' helped to escort the carrier {{HMS|Furious|47|2}} as she carried out a Club Run, despatching 37 Spitfires to Malta at the same time as the [[Operation Pedestal]] convoy to Malta took place.<ref name="engp109"/><ref>{{harvnb|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|1992|p=155}}</ref>

In November 1942, the British and Americans launched [[Operation Torch]], the invasion of French North Africa.<ref>{{harvnb|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|1992|pp=174–175}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Winser|2002|p=12}}</ref> On 21 October 1942, ''Wrestler'' left Britain as part of the escort to Convoy KX4A to Gibraltar, carrying troops and equipment for the invasion, and then formed part of the Eastern Naval Task Force bound for Algiers, left Gibraltar escorting Convoy KMS1 on 5 November  with the landings taking place on 8 November.<ref>{{harvnb|Battle Summary No. 38|1948|p=15}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Winser|2002|pp=19–20, 71}}</ref> She then took part in the landings at Bougie (now [[Béjaïa]]), Algeria, on 11 November.<ref>{{harvnb|Winser|2002|pp=21, 71}}</ref> On 15 November 1942 ''Wrestler'' was escorting the convoy MKF1, returning from the Mediterranean to the United Kingdom, and was about {{convert|80|nmi|mi km|abbr=on}} west of Gibraltar, when her radar  detected a surfaced submarine and ran ahead of the convoy to engage the submarine. The submarine dived as ''Wrestler'' approached, and ''Wrestler'' dropped a pattern of depth charges that sank {{GS|U-98|1940|2}}. The encounter caused the convoy to change course, however, which took in into the path of {{GS|U-155|1941|2}}, which sank the escort carrier {{HMS|Avenger|D14|2}} and the troop transport ''Ettrick''.<ref>{{harvnb|Blair ''The Hunted''|2000|p=112}}</ref>

[[File:HMS Wrestler FL21809.jpg|thumb|''Wrestler'' after conversion to a Long Range Escort]]
From December 1942 to May 1943, ''Wrestler'' was refitted and modified to a Long Range Escort at [[Sheerness Dockyard]], joining [[Western Approaches Command]] after completion of her reconstruction.<ref name="engp109"/> In July 1943, ''Wrestler'' took part in [[Operation Husky]], the Allied invasion of Sicily, escorting a convoy from Britain to the invasion area.<ref>{{harvnb|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|1992|p=222}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Winser|2002|p=94}}</ref> She then returned to Atlantic and Russian convoy duties,<ref name="navhist"/> forming part of the 3rd Escort Group in September 1943.<ref>{{harvnb|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|1992|p=228}}</ref> From late September to early August 1943, ''Wrestler'', now part of the 8th Support Group, escorted convoys to the [[Azores]] to help set up airbases for use by the RAF under the [[Anglo-Portuguese Alliance]].<ref>{{harvnb|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|1992|p=238}}</ref>

On 20 December 1943, the [[Arctic convoy]] [[Convoy JW 55B|JW 55B]] left [[Loch Ewe]] in Scotland, with ''Wrestler'' part of the convoy's close ocean escort, which consisted of 10 destroyers, two corvettes and a minesweeper, with a covering force of three cruisers and distant cover provided by the battleship {{HMS|Duke of York|17|2}}, another cruiser and four destroyers. The escort was reinforced with four destroyers detached from [[Convoy RA 55A]] on 25 December. When the convoy was threatened by German surface forces led by the {{ship|German battleship|Scharnhorst||6}}, ''Wrestler'' remained with the convoy, while the four destroyers from RA 55 were detached to join the cruiser force. On 26 December, the covering forces clashed with ''Scharnhorst'' in the [[Battle of the North Cape]], which ended with the German battleship being sunk. The convoy reached the [[Kola Inlet]] on 30 December, unharmed.<ref>{{harvnb|Ruegg|Hague|1993|pp=57–58}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|1992|p=250}}</ref> ''Wrestler'' sailed with the return convoy [[Convoy RA 55B|RA 55B]], which left the Kola Inlet on 31 December 1943 and arrived, unharmed, back at Loch Ewe, on 8 January 1944.<ref>{{harvnb|Ruegg|Hague|1993|p=59}}</ref> On 22 January 1944, ''Wrestler'' sailed as part of the local escort for [[Convoy JW 56B]], which was relieved by the ocean escort on 26 January.<ref>{{harvnb|Ruegg|Hague|1993|p=60}}</ref><ref name="Rohwer 1992 256">{{harvnb|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|1992|p=256}}</ref> On 27 March 1944, ''Wrestler'' joined the ocean escort of [[Convoy JW 58]], continuing with the convoy until it arrived in Russia on 4 April. While the convoy came under heavy U-boat attack, the attacking submarines were driven off, with the convoy unscathed and three U-boats sunk.<ref>{{harvnb|Ruegg|Hague|1993|p=63}}</ref><ref name="Rohwer 1992 256"/> ''Wrestler'' escorted the return convoy, RA 58, which arrived in Scotland unharmed on 14 April.<ref>{{harvnb|Ruegg|Hague|1993|p=64}}</ref> There was a large number of Allied merchant ships remaining at Russian arctic ports after the convoys of early 1944, and while the upcoming invasion of France meant that convoys to Russia would be suspended for several month, it was decided to run a convoy to escort these ships back to Britain, and ''Wrestler'' was part of an escort force that arrived at the Kola Inlet on 23 April 1944. As well as the 43 merchant ships that made up Convoy RA 59 when it left Kola on 28 April, the US Navy crew of the cruiser {{USS|Milwaukee |CL-5|2}}, which had been transferred to the Soviet Navy under [[Lend-Lease]], and Soviet crews for British ships that were to be transferred to the Soviets also needed to be transported by Britain, and they were spread between the ships of the convoy and its escort, with ''Wrestler'' carrying 14 US Navy personnel. The convoy experienced extremely poor weather, and came under U-boat attack, which resulted in one merchant ship, the {{SS|William S. Thayer||2}} being sunk, while the convoy's escorts sank three U-boats.<ref>{{harvnb|Ruegg|Hague|1993|pp=64–65}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Rohwer|Hümmelchen|1992|pp=272–273}}</ref>

June 1944 bought [[Operation Neptune]] (the naval side of [[Normandy Landings|D-Day]]). ''Wrestler'' left the [[Solent]] on 5 June 1944, escorting (together with two [[Motor launch (naval)|Motor Launch]]es) Assault Convoy J7 (consisting of 15 [[Landing craft tank#Mark 4|LCT(4)]] landing craft carrying [[self-propelled artillery]], 4 rocket-equipped [[Landing Craft Tank (Rocket)|LCT(R)]] to provide fire support for the landings and two [[Landing Craft Support|LCS]] support landing craft, to [[Juno Beach]].<ref name="wddp109">{{harvnb|Winser|1994|p=109}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|''Battle Summary - No. 39'' Volume II 1947|p=100}}</ref> ''Wrestler'' spent much of the night of 5/6 June shepherding stray craft back into the swept channels, but at 06:37 hr on the morning of 6 June 1944, struck a mine while about a [[Cable length]] (approx 185 m) east of the swept channel.<ref name="wddp109"/><ref>{{harvnb|''Battle Summary - No. 39'' Volume I 1947|p=83}}</ref> The explosion killed two men and wounded several more, with a fire breaking out and flooding occurring. The fire was extinguished and the flooding controlled, with the ship being taken under tow at 08:45 hr, arriving at Portsmouth at 23:50 hr. On examination, the damage was found to be severe and not worth repairing, and ''Wrestler'' was declared a [[constructive total loss]].<ref>{{harvnb|Hepper|2022|p=290}}</ref> She was allocated to the [[Ship breaking|ship breaker]] [[John Cashmore Ltd]] on 20 July 1944 and was scrapped at their [[Newport, Wales]] yard from 9 August 1944.<ref name="engp110">{{harvnb|English|2019|p=1109}}</ref>

==Battle honours==
References:<ref>{{harvnb|Manning|Walker|1959|p=493}}</ref><ref name="navhist"/>
* Mediterranean 1940–42
* Atlantic 1940–43
* Malta Convoys 1942
* North Africa 1943
* Sicily 1943
* Arctic 1943–44
* Normandy 1944
* English Channel 1944

==See also==
* [[Gerard Mansfield|Vice-Admiral Sir Gerard "Ged" Mansfield]] who served on the ship during the Second World War.

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=Barnett |first=Correlli |title=Engage The Enemy More Closely |year=2000 |publisher=Penguin |location=London |isbn=0-141-39008-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Blair |first=Clay |author-link=Clay Blair |title=Hitler's U-Boat War: The Hunters 1939–1942 |year=2000 |location=London |publisher=Cassell & Co. |isbn=0-304-35260-8 |ref={{harvid|Blair ''The Hunters''|2000}} }}
* {{cite book |last=Blair |first=Clay |title=Hitler's U-Boat War: The Hunted 1942–1945 |year=2000 |location=New York |publisher=Modern Library |isbn=0-679-64033-9 |ref={{harvid|Blair ''The Hunted''|2000}} }}
* {{cite book |ref={{harvid|Battle Summary No. 38|1948}} |title=B.R. 1736 (31): Battle Summary No. 38: Operation "Torch": Invasion of North Africa November 1942 to February 1943 |year=1948 |publisher=Historical Section, Admiralty Naval Staff |url=http://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Battle_Summary_38_Part1.pdf |via=Royal Australian Navy |access-date=25 July 2023}}
* {{cite book |title=B.R. 1736 (42): Battle Summary No. 39: Operation "Neptune" Landings in Normandy: June, 1944: Volume I |url=https://www.navy.gov.au/media-room/publications/wwii-naval-staff-histories |year=1947 |publisher=Tactical and Staff Duties Division, Admiralty |at=[http://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Battle_Summary_39_Vol_1_Part1.pdf Part I: Preparation], [http://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Battle_Summary_39_Vol_1_Part2.pdf Part II: Execution], [http://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Battle_Summary_39_Vol_1_Part3.pdf Index] |access-date=29 July 2023 |ref={{harvid|''Battle Summary - No. 39'' Volume I 1947}}}}
* {{cite book |title=B.R. 1736 (42): Battle Summary No. 39: Operation "Neptune" Landings in Normandy: June, 1944: Volume II: Appendices |url=https://www.navy.gov.au/media-room/publications/wwii-naval-staff-histories |year=1947 |publisher=Tactical and Staff Duties Division, Admiralty |at=[http://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Battle_Summary_39_Vol_2_Part1.pdf part 1 of 2: Appendix A to G], [https://www.navy.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/Battle_Summary_39_Vol_2_Part2.pdf part 2 of 2: Appendix H to Q] |access-date=29 July 2023 |ref={{harvid|''Battle Summary - No. 39'' Volume II 1947}}}}
* {{cite book|last=Brown|first=D. K.|title=Atlantic Escorts: Ships, Weapons & Tactics in World War II|year=2007|publisher=Seaforth Publishing|location=Barnsley, UK|isbn=978-1-84415-702-0}}
* {{cite book |last=Burt |first=R. A. |title=British Battleships 1889–1904 |year=1988 |location=London |publisher=Arms and Armour Press |isbn=0-85368-914-8}}
* {{cite book |last=Campbell |first=John |title=Naval Weapons of World War II |year=1985 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=Annapolis, Maryland |isbn=0-87021-459-4}}
* {{Cite Colledge2006}}
* {{cite book |last=Dunn |first=Steve R. |title=Battle in the Baltic: The Royal Navy and the Fight to Save Estonia & Latvia 1918–20 |year=2020 |location=Barnsley, UK |publisher=Seaforth Publishing |isbn=978-1-5267-4273-5}}
* {{cite book |last=English |first=John |title=Grand Fleet Destroyers: Part I: Flotilla Leaders and 'V/W' Class Destroyers |year=2019 |location=Windsor, UK |publisher=World Ship Society |isbn=((978-0-9650769-8-4)) }}
* {{cite book |last=Friedman |first=Norman |title=British Destroyers From Earliest Days to the Second World War |year=2009 |publisher=Seaforth Publishing |location=Barnsley, UK |isbn=978-1-84832-049-9 |name-list-style=amp}}
* {{cite book |editor-last1=Gardiner |editor-first1=Robert |editor-last2=Gray |editor-first2=Randal |year=1985 |title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921 |publisher=Conway Maritime Press |location=London |isbn=0-85177-245-5 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Greene |first1=Jack |last2=Massignani |first2=Alessandro |title=The Navy in the Mediterranean 1940–1943 |year=2011 |location=London |publisher=Frontline Books |isbn=978-1-84832-618-7}}
* {{cite book |last=Halley |first=James J. |title=Famous Maritime Squadrons of the RAF: Volume 1 |year=1973 |location=Windsor, UK |publisher=Hylton Lacy |isbn=0-85064-101-2}}
* {{cite book |last=Hepper |first=David |title=British Warship Losses in the Ironclad Era 1860–1919 |year=2006 |location=London |publisher=Chatham Publishing |isbn=9781861762733}}
* {{cite book |last=Hepper |first=David |title=British Warship Losses in the Modern Era 1920–1982 |year=2022 |location=Barnsley, UK |publisher=Seaforth Publishing |isbn=978-1-3990-9766-6}}
* {{cite book |last=Kemp |first=Paul |title=U-Boats Destroyed: German Submarine Losses in the World Wars |year=1997 |location=London |publisher=Arms & Armour Press |isbn=1-85409-321-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Lenton |first=H. T. |title=British Fleet and Escort Destroyers: Volume One |year=1970 |publisher=Macdonald & Co. |location=London |isbn=0-356-02950-6}}
* {{cite book | first = Brian| last = Patton| year = 2007| title = Irish Sea Shipping | publisher = Silver Link Publications| location = Kettering|isbn= 978-1-85794-271-2}}
* {{cite book |last1=Manning |first1=T. D. |last2=Walker |first2=C. F. |title=British Warship Names |year=1959 |location=London |publisher=Putnam}}
* {{cite book |last=Parkes |first=Oscar |title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1931 |orig-year=First published 1931 by Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd., London |year=1973 |location=Newton Abbot, UK |publisher=Davis & Charles (Publishers) Limited |isbn=0-7153-5849-9}}
* {{cite book |last=Preston |first=Antony |title='V & W' Class Destroyers 1917–1945 |publisher=Macdonald |location=London |year=1971 |oclc=464542895}}
* {{cite book |last1=Rohwer |first1=Jürgen |last2=Hümmelchen |first2=Gerhard |title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945 |year=1992 |publisher=Greenhill Books |location=London |isbn=1-85367-117-7 }}
* {{cite book |last1=Ruegg |first1=Bob |last2=Hague |first2=Arnold |title=Convoys to Russia 1941–1945 |year=1993 |location=Kendal, UK |isbn=0-905617-66-5}}
* {{cite book |last=Winser |first=John de S. |title=British Invasion Fleets: The Mediterranean and beyond 1942–1945 |year=2002 |location=Gravesend, UK |publisher=World Ship Society |isbn=0-9543310-0-1}}
* {{cite book |last=Winser |first=John de S. |title=The D-Day Ships: Neptune: the Greatest Amphibious Operation in History |year=1994 |location=Kendal, UK |publisher=World Ship Society |isbn=0-905617-75-4}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946|editor1-last=Chesneau|editor1-first=Roger|publisher=Conway Maritime Press|location=Greenwich, UK|year=1980|isbn=0-85177-146-7}}
* {{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 |last1=Raven |first1=Alan |last2=Roberts|first2=John |title='V' and 'W' Class Destroyers |publisher=Arms & Armour |location=London |year=1979 |series=Man o'War |volume=2 |isbn=0-85368-233-X|name-list-style=amp }}
* {{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}}
* {{cite book |last=Whinney |first=Bob |title=The U-boat Peril: A Fight for Survival |publisher=Cassell |year=2000 |isbn=0-304-35132-6 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/uboatperilfightf0000whin }}
* {{cite book|last=Whitley|first=M. J.|title=Destroyers of World War 2|publisher=Naval Institute Press|date=1988|isbn=0-87021-326-1|location=Annapolis, Maryland}}

==External links==
* [http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-09VW-Wrestler.htm  Service Histories of Royal Navy warships in World War II : HMS ''Wrestler'']
* [http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4271.html uboat.net: HMS ''Wrestler'' (D35)]

{{V and W class destroyer}}
{{June 1944 shipwrecks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wrestler}}
[[Category:V and W-class destroyers of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:1918 ships]]
[[Category:World War II destroyers of the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Maritime incidents in June 1944]]
[[Category:Ships built by Swan Hunter]]