HMS FAULKNOR was a destroyer of the 'FEARLESS' class completed in 1935. At
the outbreak of the Second World War she was the leader of the 8th Destroyer flotilla, operating in Home Waters. On the 14th September 1939, while screening ARK ROYAL she, in company ofFOXHOUND and FIREDRAKE carried out depth charge attacks on an enemy submarine Which was forced to surface
and subsequently sunk.
During the next six months she carried out a number of attacks on enemy submarines and for a time formed part of the WARSP1TE and HOOD destroyer screen. On 13th April 1940 she entered Narvik harbour and opened fire on a German merchant ship and gun emplacement. Two days later she bombarded a destroyer and the pier at Heyang Fiord setting both on fire. Later that same year she joined Force H and took part in an operation to fly aircraft from the carrier 'ARGUS' to Malta. The operation was not very successful as only one Skua and four Hurricanes out of two Skuas and twelve Hurricanes which took off from the carrier succeeded in reaching Malta. On the 22nd November 1940 FAULKNOR and FORESTER intercepted the French MV CHARLES PLUMIER about 100 miles east of Gibraltar. The French ship was boarded and brought to Gibraltar.
The FAULKNOR was later transferred to duties in Northern waters and while acting as an escort to a North Russia convoy on the 12th September 1942 obtained a contact on a submarine. She carried out two depth charge attacks which resulted in the sinking of the U 589. In July 1943 FAULKNOR returned to the Mediterranean and took part in operations leading up to the capture of Sicily. She continued operating in the Mediterranean and the Aegean until May 1944 when she returned to the United Kingdom. In July 1944 FAULKNOR shot down an enemy aircraft which was operating over the Normandy landing area. A year later she was accepted into the Reserve fleet.
Gibraltar Philatelic, card from D Mabbs.
Gibraltar SG493