Editing HMS Ilex

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

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2017}}
{|{{Infobox ship begin}}
{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image=HMS Ilex (D61).jpg
|Ship caption=''Ilex'' in port
}}
{{Infobox ship career
|Hide header=
|Ship country=United Kingdom
|Ship flag={{shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship name=''Ilex''
|Ship namesake=[[Ilex]]
|Ship ordered=
|Ship builder=[[John Brown and Company]], [[Clydebank]], [[Scotland]]
|Ship original cost=£255,072<ref name=NH/>
|Ship laid down= 10 March 1936
|Ship launched= 28 January 1937
|Ship sponsor=
|Ship christened=
|Ship completed=
|Ship commissioned= 7 July 1937
|Ship identification=[[Pennant number]]: D61
|Ship motto=
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=
|Ship fate= Sold 1946, scrapped 1948
|Ship notes=
|Ship badge=
}}
{{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
}}
{{Infobox service record
|is_ship=yes
|label=
|partof=
|codes=
|commanders=
|operations=*[[Battle of Calabria]] (1940)
* [[Battle of Cape Spada]] (1940)
* [[Battle of Taranto]] (1940)
* [[Battle of Cape Matapan]] (1941)
* [[Allied invasion of Sicily]] (1943)
* [[Allied invasion of Italy#Salerno landings|Salerno landings]] (1943)
|victories=*Sank {{GS|U-42|1939|2}} (1939)
* Sank {{Ship|Italian submarine|Console Generale Liuzzi}} (1940)
* Sank {{Ship|Italian submarine|Argonauta|1931|6}} (1940)
* Sank {{Ship|Italian submarine|Uebi Scebeli}} (1940)
|awards=
}}
|}
'''HMS ''Ilex''''' was one of nine {{sclass2|I|destroyer}}s built for the [[Royal Navy]] during the 1930s. She is the only ship of the Royal Navy ever to have been named after ''[[Ilex]]'', the [[genus]] of flowering plants commonly known as holly.

==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/> ''Ilex'' only reached a speed of {{convert|33.6|kn}} from {{cvt|34487|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]] (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 [[amidships]] 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> 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==
===1939===
On the outbreak of war ''Ilex'' was deployed in the [[Mediterranean]] with the [[Third Destroyer Flotilla]]. She was immediately transferred to the [[Western Approaches]] for convoy escort duty with her [[flotilla]]. On 13 October under the command of Lieutenant Commander Philip Lionel Saumarez<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unithistories.com/officers/RN_officersS.html|title=Captain P L Saumarez at unithistories.com|access-date=2008-12-11}}</ref> she attacked and sank {{GS|U-42|1939|2}} south-west of [[Ireland]] in company with the destroyer {{HMS|Imogen|D44|2}}.

===1940===
[[File:Italian submarine Uebi Scebeli sinking.jpg|thumb|left|The Italian submarine ''Uebi Scebeli'' sinking after attacks by ''Ilex'' and ''Dainty'']]
The first half of 1940 saw ''Ilex'' conducting Fleet screening duties in and around the North Sea. In May she transferred to the [[Second Destroyer Flotilla]] for service in the Mediterranean.  On 27 June 1940, in company with {{HMS|Dainty|H53|2}}, {{HMS|Defender|H07|2}}, {{HMS|Decoy|H75|2}} and the Australian destroyer {{HMAS|Voyager|D31|2}} she depth-charged the {{Ship|Italian submarine|Console Generale Liuzzi}} off [[Crete]].<ref name=NH/> The submarine was forced to the surface and scuttled by her crew. Two days later, on 29 June, the ships attacked and probably sank the {{Ship|Italian submarine|Argonauta|1931|6}} at around 0615, although submarine might have been sunk by an [[Short Sunderland|RAF Sunderland]] later that day.<ref name=NH>{{cite web|url=http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-10DD-29I-Ilex.htm|title=HMS ''Ilex'' at Naval-History.net|access-date=2008-09-28}}</ref> Also on 29 June ''Dainty'' and ''Ilex'' shared in the sinking of the {{Ship|Italian submarine|Uebi Scebeli}} south-west of Crete.<ref name=UB>{{cite web|url=http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/4413.html|title=HMS ''Ilex'' at U-Boat.net|access-date=2008-09-28}}</ref> ''Ilex'' participated in the [[Battle of Calabria]] and on 19 June escorted {{HMAS|Sydney|1934|2}} during the sinking of the {{Ship|Italian cruiser|Bartolomeo Colleoni}} off Cape Spada, rescuing 230 survivors. Service with the [[Mediterranean Fleet]] continued through 1940 and on 11 November she was deployed as a screening destroyer for {{HMS|Illustrious|87|2}} during the [[Battle of Taranto]] the air attack on the Italian Fleet.

===1941===
On 20 March she formed part of the destroyer screen for the fleet at the [[Battle of Cape Matapan]]. On 14 June she suffered major structural damage from dive-bombing near misses during an operation to prevent interference by [[Vichy French]] warships.  She was towed to [[Haifa]] and underwent a series of temporary repairs there, and at [[Suez]], [[Aden]], [[Mombassa]] and [[Durban]], in order to reach the [[United States of America]] for a [[refit]] and full repair.

===1942===
[[File:HMS Ilex (D61) in the USA.jpg|thumb|right|''Ilex'' at [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston]] on 7 September 1942]]It was not until September 1942 that ''Ilex'' was re-commissioned. She spent the rest of the year at [[Freetown]], [[Sierra Leone]], conducting convoy duties.

===1943===
In February 1943 ''Ilex'' returned to the Mediterranean, and in July and August she participated in the [[Allied invasion of Sicily|Sicily]] and [[Allied invasion of Italy#Salerno landings|Salerno landings]]. On 13 July, she sank, with assistance from {{HMS|Echo|H23|2}}, the {{ship|Italian submarine|Nereide|1933|6}} south east of the [[Straits of Messina]]. In December she was withdrawn from operational service because of a high defect load and poor availability.<ref name=NH/>

===1944===
''Ilex'' was laid up at [[Bizerte]] in [[Tunisia]], then transferred to [[Menzel Bourguiba|Ferryville]] in June, and laid up there.

===1945===
In March 1945 the destroyer was towed to [[Malta]] for repair, and in April reduced to "reserve category C", the survey declaring her "not required for further operational service".  She was placed on the disposal list in August.

==Disposal==
''Ilex'' was sold for scrap at [[Malta]] on 22 January 1946 and broken up in [[Sicily]] in 1948.

==Sea Cadet Corps==
Salford Sea Cadets are affiliated with the ship and are named TS ''Ilex''. Salford sea cadets are located in Worsley and provide youth services to young people aged 10–18 across the City of Salford.

The unit was incorporated in 1936 during Eccles warship week and is one of the oldest continuously operating youth groups in the city. The current City of Salford Sea Cadets is an amalgamation of Eccles and District Sea Cadets (TS Ilex) and Salford Sea Cadets (TS Irwell). The unit moved to its present home in Worsley in the late 1980s.

City of Salford Sea Cadets while an independent charity in its own right is also part of the larger [[Sea Cadet Corps]]

==Notes==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite journal |last1=Caruana|first1=Joseph|title=Question 21/48: Fate of I Class Destroyer Ilex|journal=Warship International|date=2012|volume=XLIX|issue=3|page=211|issn=0043-0374}}
* {{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=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=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}}

{{I class destroyer}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ilex (D61)}}
[[Category:I-class destroyers of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built on the River Clyde]]
[[Category:1937 ships]]
[[Category:World War II destroyers of the United Kingdom]]