View source for HMS Sardonyx (1919)

{{Short description|Royal Navy S class destroyer}}
{{good article}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}}
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{{Infobox ship image
|Ship image= HMS Sardonyx WWII IWM FL 18692.jpg
|Ship caption= ''Sardonyx'' in 1944
}}
{{Infobox ship career
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|Ship country= United Kingdom
|Ship flag= {{Shipboxflag|United Kingdom|naval}}
|Ship name= ''Sardonyx''
|Ship namesake=[[Onyx|Sardonyx]]
|Ship ordered= June 1917
|Ship builder= [[Alexander Stephen and Sons|Stephen]], [[Linthouse]]
|Ship yard number= 
|Ship laid down= 25 March 1918
|Ship launched= 27 May 1919
|Ship acquired=
|Ship completed= 12 July 1919
|Ship decommissioned= 
|Ship in service=
|Ship out of service= 23 June 1945
|Ship struck= 
|Ship reinstated=
|Ship homeport=
|Ship motto= 
|Ship nickname=
|Ship honours=
|Ship fate= Sold to be [[Ship breaking|broken up]]
|Ship notes=
}}
{{Infobox ship characteristics
|Hide header=
|Header caption=
|Ship class={{sclass2|S|destroyer (1917)|0}} [[destroyer]]
|Ship displacement=*{{convert|1075|LT|t|lk=in}} [[Normal displacement|normal]]
*{{convert|1221|LT|t}} [[deep load]]
|Ship length={{convert|265|ft|m|abbr=on|1}} [[Length between perpendiculars|p.p.]]
|Ship beam={{convert|26|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}}
|Ship height= 
|Ship draught={{convert|9|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}} mean
|Ship power=3 [[Yarrow boiler]]s, {{convert|27000|shp|lk=on|abbr=on}}
|Ship propulsion=2 geared [[John Brown & Company|Brown]]-Curtis [[steam turbine]]s, 2 [[Propeller|shafts]]
|Ship speed={{convert|36|kn|mph km/h|lk=in|1}}
|Ship range={{convert|2750|nmi|km|abbr=on|lk=in}} at {{convert|15|kn|km/h|abbr=on}}
|Ship complement=90
|Ship sensors=
|Ship EW=
|Ship armament=*3 × single [[QF 4 inch naval gun Mk IV, XII, XXII|QF {{convert|4|in|mm|abbr=on|0}}]] guns
*1 × single [[QF 2 pounder naval gun|2-pdr {{convert|40|mm|in|abbr=on|1}}]] [[Anti-aircraft warfare|AA]] gun
*2 × twin [[British 21 inch torpedo|{{convert|21|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}]] [[torpedo tube]]s
*4 × [[depth charge]] chutes
|Ship armour=
|Ship notes=
}}
|}
'''HMS ''Sardonyx''''' was an Admiralty {{sclass2|S|destroyer (1917)|0}} [[destroyer]] that served with the [[Royal Navy]] in the [[World War II|Second World War]]. The S class were a development of the {{sclass2|R|destroyer (1916)|4}} created during the [[World War I|First World War]] as a cheaper alternative to the {{sclass2|V and W|destroyer|4}}. The ships shared a main armament of three [[QF 4 inch naval gun Mk IV, XII, XXII|{{convert|4|in|mm|0|abbr=on|adj=on}}]] guns and four [[British 21 inch torpedo|{{convert|21|in|mm|0|abbr=on|adj=on}}]] [[torpedo tube]]s. [[Ceremonial ship launching|Launched]] in 1919 soon after the [[Armistice of 11 November 1918|armistice]], the ship was initially [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] into the [[Reserve Fleet (United Kingdom)|Reserve Fleet]]. Later that year, the destroyer was sent to Latvia, arriving just after the cessation of that country's [[Latvian War of Independence|war of independence]], returning to reserve soon after. The vessel was back in service searching for the missing [[submarine]]s {{HMS|M1|1917|2}} in 1925 and {{HMS|M2|1918|2}} in 1932 and, in 1935, helped to rescue the [[Steamship|steamer]] ''Brompton Manor'' in stormy weather near [[Selsey Bill]].

''Sardonyx'' took part in [[radar]] trials in 1939, and was updated shortly after the start of the Second World War with greater [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] and [[Anti-submarine warfare|anti-submarine]] capabilities. [[Depth charge thrower]]s replaced the torpedo tubes and all the main armament but the [[forecastle]] gun was removed. A [[Radar Type 286|Type 286M]] radar was also fitted, although successive antennas proved vulnerable to storms and were lost. Throughout 1940, ''Sardonyx'' provided escort to convoys in the [[western approaches]]. The vessel was also called upon to support single ships, like the damaged [[Ocean liner|liner]] {{RMS|Empress of Britain|1930|6}}, although in this case the destroyer's presence was insufficient to deter the German submarine {{GS|U-32|1937|2}} from sinking the liner.

In 1941, the ship joined the [[5th Escort Group (Royal Navy)|Fifth Escort Group]], which destroyed the German submarines {{GS|U-99|1940|2}} and {{GS|U-100|1940|2}}, although ''Sardonyx'' did not claim any hits. Increasingly, the destroyer was able to escort convoys without losing a merchant ship to submarine attack, a distinction that continued into the following year. At the same time, increasing availability of more modern escorts meant that there was less need for older vessels and ''Sardonyx'' dropped from covering twenty convoys in 1942 to nine in 1943. At the same time, the harsh conditions of service meant that the destroyer was increasingly spending time in repair rather than operations. After being involved in escorting the landing parties for the [[Normandy landings]] in 1944, the vessel was briefly allocated to training before being retired and sold to be [[Ship breaking|broken up]] in 1945.

==Design and development==
{{Main|S-class destroyer (1917)|l1=S-class destroyer}}
''Sardonyx'' was one of thirty-three Admiralty {{sclass2|S|destroyer (1917)|4}} destroyers ordered by the [[Admiralty (United Kingdom)|British Admiralty]] during the [[World War I|First World War]] in June 1917 as part of the Twelfth War Construction Programme. The design was a development of the {{sclass2|R|destroyer (1916)|4}} introduced at the same time as, and as a cheaper and faster alternative to, the {{sclass2|V and W|destroyer|4}}.{{sfn|Preston|1985|page=85}} They were to serve as general purpose ships in the [[Harwich Force]] while the more powerful V and W class would be deployed to support the [[Grand Fleet]] at [[Scapa Flow]].{{sfn|March|1966|page=223}} Differences with the R class were minor, such as having the searchlight moved aft and the ability to mount an additional pair of [[torpedo tube]]s.{{sfn|March|1966|page=221}} The destroyers were known as the Modified ''Trenchard'' or S class, as the majority were named starting with the letter S.{{sfn|March|1966|page=222}}

''Sardonyx'' had a [[Length overall|overall length]] of {{convert|276|ft|m|abbr=on}} and a length of {{convert|265|ft|m|abbr=on}} [[Length between perpendiculars|between perpendiculars]]. [[Beam (nautical)|Beam]] was {{convert|26|ft|8|in|m|abbr=on}} and mean [[Draft (hull)|draught]] {{convert|9|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}}. [[Displacement (ship)|Displacement]] was {{convert|1075|LT|t|lk=in}} [[Normal displacement|normal]] and {{convert|1221|LT|t}} [[deep load]]. Three [[Yarrow boiler]]s fed steam to two sets of [[John Brown & Company|Brown]]-Curtis geared [[steam turbine]]s rated at {{convert|27000|shp|kW|lk=on}} and driving two [[Propeller|shafts]], giving a design speed of {{convert|36|kn|lk=on}} at normal loading and {{convert|32.5|kn}} at deep load. Two [[Funnel (ship)|funnels]] were fitted. A full load of {{convert|301|LT}} of [[fuel oil]] was carried, which gave a design range of {{convert|2750|nmi|lk=in}} at {{convert|15|kn}}.{{sfn|Friedman|2009|page=297}}  The ship had a [[Ship's company|complement]] of 90 officers and [[Naval rating|ratings]].{{sfn|Parkes|Prendergast|1969|page=107}}

Armament as constructed consisted of three single [[QF 4 inch naval gun Mk IV, XII, XXII|QF {{convert|4|in|mm|0|abbr=on|adj=on}} Mk IV]] guns on the ship's [[Centerline (nautical)|centreline]].{{sfn|Preston|1985|page=84}}  One was mounted raised on the [[forecastle]], one on a platform between the funnels and one aft.{{sfn|Friedman|2009|page=163}} The ship also mounted a single [[QF 2-pounder naval gun|2-pounder {{convert|40|mm|in|1|adj=on|abbr=on}}]] "pom-pom" [[Anti-aircraft warfare|anti-aircraft]] gun for air defence. Four [[British 21 inch torpedo|{{convert|21|in|mm|0|abbr=on|adj=on}}]] torpedo tubes were carried in two twin rotating mounts aft.{{sfn|Preston|1985|page=84}} Four [[depth charge]] chutes were also fitted aft. Typically ten depth charges were carried.{{sfn|Friedman|2009|page=236}} The ship was designed to mount two additional [[British 18-inch torpedo|{{convert|18|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}]] torpedo tubes either side of the [[superstructure]] but this required the forecastle plating to be cut away, making the vessel very wet, so they were removed before the vessel entered service.{{sfn|March|1966|page=221}} The weight saved enabled the heavier [[British 21-inch torpedo#Mark V|Mark V 21-inch torpedo]] to be carried.{{sfn|Preston|1985|page=85}} [[Fire-control system|Fire control]] included a training-only [[Director (military)|director]], single [[Dumaresq]] [[analog computer]] and a [[Vickers range clock]].{{sfn|Friedman|2009|page=146}}

==Construction and career==
[[Keel laying|Laid down]] on 25 March 1918 shortly before the end of the First World War by [[Alexander Stephen and Sons]] at their dockyard in [[Linthouse]], [[Glasgow]], ''Sardonyx'' was [[Ceremonial ship launching|launched]] on 27 May the following year and completed on 12 July.{{sfn|Parkes|Prendergast|1969|page=107}} The vessel was the first that served in the [[Royal Navy]] to bear the name of the [[Onyx|semi-precious stone]].{{sfn|Manning|Walker|1959|page=394}} With the end of the war, the Royal Navy returned to a peacetime level of strength and both the number of ships and personnel needed to be reduced to save money.{{sfn|Moretz|2002|page=79}} Even after withdrawing all its pre-war destroyers, the Royal Navy still found there were more ships available than it needed for active service.{{sfn|Manning|1961|page=28}} ''Sardonyx'' was [[Ship commissioning|commissioned]] into the [[Reserve Fleet (United Kingdom)|Reserve Fleet]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=V Vessels in Reserve at Home Ports and Other Bases |journal=The Navy List|date=October 1919|page=708|url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/92552966|via=National Library of Scotland|access-date=16 June 2022}}</ref>

===Interwar service===
Although the war on the [[Western Front (World War I)|western front]] had finished with the signing of the [[Armistice of 11 November 1918|Armistice]], the escalating [[Russian Civil War|civil war]] in Russia continued and there was unrest in the [[Baltic Sea]]. This reached a peak when the people of Latvia declared independence which, after a [[Latvian War of Independence|war of independence]], they achieved on 14 November 1919.{{sfn|Head|2009|page=147}} ''Sardonyx'' was one of the Royal Navy vessels sent to monitor the situation during the following month.{{sfn|Dunn|2020|page=235}} The ship returned to the United Kingdom and was reduced to Reserve on 3 March 1920.<ref>{{cite journal|title=787 Sardonyx|journal=The Navy List|date=January 1921|page=861|url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/94480752|via=National Library of Scotland|access-date=16 June 2022}}</ref> In November 1925, ''Sardonyx'' was briefly taken out of reserve to took part in search operations to find the missing submarine {{HMS|M1|1917|2}}.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Lost Submarine|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=21 November 1925 |issue=44125|page=14|via=The Times Digital Archive|url=http://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS236919157/TTDA}}</ref> ''M1'' had been sunk with all hands in a collision on 12 November, but the submarine's wreck was not found until 1967.{{sfn|Kemp|1999|pp=89–90}}

On 6 August 1931, ''Sardonyx'' was recommissioned at [[HMNB Portsmouth|Portsmouth]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=Sardonyx|journal=The Navy List|date=September 1939|page=328|url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/92719282|via=National Library of Scotland|access-date=16 June 2022}}</ref> On 27 January 1932, ''Sardonyx'' and [[sister ship]] {{HMS|Sabre|H18|2}} took part in the search for the missing submarine {{HMS|M2|1918|2}}.<ref>{{cite news|title=Little Hope for M2: Officers and Crew|newspaper=The Times|date=28 January 1932|issue=46042|page=10|via=The Times Digital Archive|url=http://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS167978556/TTDA}}</ref> ''M2'' had sunk the day before.{{sfn|Kemp|1999|p=93}} On 17 September 1935, as severe gales struck British waters, the [[Steamship|steamer]] ''Brompton Manor'' sent out a distress signal while off the Owers [[lightvessel]], near [[Selsey Bill]]. ''Sardonyx'' was ordered from Portsmouth to search for the steamer, which was successfully found later that day. ''Brompton Manor''{{'}}s captain had been washed overboard by heavy seas, and the ship{{'}}s cargo shifted, giving a 30 degree list. ''Sardonyx'' stood by ''Brompton Manor'' until a tug could tow the steamer into [[Southampton]].<ref>{{cite news |title=The Great Gale |newspaper=The Times |date=18 September 1935 |issue=47172 |page=10 |via=The Times Digital Archive|url=http://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS168897842/TTDA}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Stories Of The Gale|newspaper=The Times|date=19 September 1935|issue=47173|page=12|via=The Times Digital Archive|url=http://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS203107635/TTDA}}</ref> ''Sardonyx'' ran aground off [[Southsea]] on 31 January 1938, but was soon refloated, and sustained no damage.<ref>{{cite news|title=News in Brief: Destroyer Aground|newspaper=The Times|date=1 February 1938|issue=47907|page=14|via=The Times Digital Archive|url=http://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CS238105153/TTDA}}</ref>

In 1939, ''Sardonyx'' joined a project to use radar to detect ships. In the initial trials, the destroyer was chosen as one of the targets.{{sfn|Burns|1988|page=59}} These were sufficiently successful for ''Sardonyx'' to be equipped with an experimental radar set, a {{convert|50|cm|adj=on|abbr=on}} [[L band (NATO)|L band]] radar named the Combined Wireless Rangefinder and Lookout Set, in June 1939.{{sfn|Howse|1993|page=40}} The trials were also a success, with ships identified at {{convert|5|mi}} and low-flying aircraft at {{convert|25|mi}}.{{sfn|Howse|1993|page=43}} After the trial, it was envisaged that the destroyer would join sister ships {{HMS|Saladin|1919|2}} {{HMS|Scout|1918|2}}, {{HMS|Stronghold|1919|2}}, {{HMS|Sturdy|1919|2}}, {{HMS|Thanet|1918|2}} and {{HMS|Thracian|1920|2}} at the China Station to form the Singapore and Hong Kong Local Defence Flotilla. However, by the end of the trial, the [[World War II|Second World War]] had started and the Royal Navy decided to retain the destroyer in British waters.{{sfn|Brady|1986|page=15}} ''Sardonyx'' joined the Local Defence Flotilla at Portsmouth.<ref>{{cite journal|title=II. Local Defence and Training Establishments, Patrol Flotillas, etc.|journal=The Navy List|date=September 1939|page=242|url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/92718250|via=National Library of Scotland|access-date=16 June 2022}}</ref>

===Second World War===
At the start of the war, the Royal Navy had an immediate requirement for escorts to combat the [[U-boat|German submarine]] threat.{{sfn|Brady|1986|page=17}} This required a rethink of the role of the destroyer, which hitherto had been envisaged by the navy as a member of a [[flotilla]] supporting the [[battleship]]s of the fleet. Along with others, the destroyer was taken out of service and refitted for the [[Anti-submarine warfare|anti-submarine]] escort role.{{sfn|Friedman|2008|pages=10, 11}} The torpedo tubes were removed, the space allowing for additional depth charges, and two [[depth charge thrower]]s were fitted alongside new racks aft. Initially 30 charges were now carried, although this increased as the war progressed.{{sfn|Friedman|2009|page=236}}  The [[Midships|midship]] and aft gun were removed and anti-aircraft defence improved with a high-angle [[QF 12-pounder 12 cwt naval gun|QF 12-pounder]] gun fitted on a bandstand abaft the middle funnel and two quadruple [[Vickers .50 machine gun]]s mounted on the superstructure for close-in defence.{{sfn|Whitley|2002|page=83}} The destroyer reentered service but, on 31 May 1940, hit and sank the trawler ''St Apollo'' off the [[Hebrides]].{{sfn|Jackson|1997|page=171}} Soon afterwards, in June, a [[Radar Type 286|Type 286M]] radar was fitted in [[Derry|Londonderry]]. The antenna proved too heavy for the mast and was lost in a gale, as was the replacement within two months.{{sfn|Howse|1993|page=79}}

For the majority of the war, ''Sardonyx'' acted as a convoy escort. When [[Convoy HX 79]] was attacked by the {{Ship|German submarine|U-47|1938|2}}, which subsequently called a [[Wolfpack (naval tactic)|wolfpack]] of four other boats on 19 October 1940, ''Sardonyx'' was one of those sent to protect the convoy.{{sfn|Bruning|2013|pages=100}}<ref>{{cite web | first=Don| last=Kindell | title=Convoy HX.79 | url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hx/index.html?hx.php?convoy=79!~hxmain | work=HX Convoy Series: Arnold Hague Convoy Database | access-date=26 June 2022}}</ref> Despite ten Royal Navy warships rushing to the scene, 12 ships in the convoy were sunk. This was the first success for the wolfpacks.{{sfn|Bruning|2013|pages=100–103}} On 27 October, the destroyer was sent to escort the stricken [[Ocean liner|liner]] {{RMS|Empress of Britain|1930|6}}, which had been attacked by a [[Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor]] [[maritime patrol]] aircraft. Despite taking evasive manoeuvres, the liner was torpedoed and sunk by the German [[U-boat|submarine]] {{GS|U-32|1937|2}}.{{sfn|Howse|1993|page=80}} During the next five months, the destroyer was busy helping 16 convoys in the Atlantic Ocean, OB 236, HX 82, OB 239, HX 86, OB 245, HX 99, OB 256, SL/MKS 58, OB 262, HX 106, OB 269, SC 19, OB 278, SL/MKS 62, OB 283 and SC 69, rarely staying more than one or two days covering the [[western approaches]].<ref name=cw>{{cite web | first=Don| last=Kindell | title=Convoy Web | url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/hague/index.html | work=Arnold Hague Convoy Database | access-date=26 June 2022}}</ref>

The long-term solution was to form [[Escort Group]]s with multiple warships. ''Sardonyx'' joined the [[5th Escort Group (Royal Navy)|Fifth Escort Group]] which was formed in March 1941. On 15 March, the Group, led by [[Commander (Royal Navy)|Commander]] [[Donald Macintyre (Royal Navy officer)|Donald Macintyre]], joined [[Convoy HX 112]] as an escort. The convoy had been travelling from [[Halifax, Nova Scotia]], since 1 March.{{sfn|Owen|2007|page=60}} As evening fell, the convoy was attacked by a wolfpack including the submarines {{GS|U-99|1940|2}}, {{GS|U-100|1940|2}} and {{GS|U-110|1940|2}}.{{sfn|Rohwer|2005|page=63}} Despite losing six merchant ships, the Group successfully destroyed ''U-99'' and ''U-100'' although ''Sardonyx'' did not claim any hits.{{sfn|Owen|2007|pages=61–62}} Subsequent operations were more successful. On 16 August, ''Sardonyx'' was part of the 8th Escort Group that formed the eastern ocean escort for convoy HX 143.{{sfn|Rohwer|2005|page=90}} On 4 October, the Group again safely accompanied ON(S) 23 safely across to rendezvous with escorts from the [[Royal Canadian Navy]].{{sfn|Rohwer|2005|page=104}} On 1 November the Group escorted the 42 ships of [[ON convoys|ON 30]] until handing them to destroyers from the [[US Navy]].{{sfn|Rohwer|2005|page=111}} The role was reciprocated on 15 November when the Group received HX 160 from a US Navy escort. No merchant ship was lost in any of these operations.{{sfn|Rohwer|2005|page=115}} In all, the destroyer escorted 21 convoys during 1941.<ref name=cw/>

The following year saw a similar pattern. Between 14 and 16 February, ''Sardonyx'' formed part of the [[2nd Escort Group (Royal Navy)|Second Escort Group]] that accompanied [[ON convoys|Convoy ON 66]] on the first stage of its journey. Once again, no ships were lost.<ref>{{cite web | first=Don| last=Kindell | title=Convoy ON.66 | url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/on/index.html?onz.php?convoy=66!~onzmain | work=ON Convoy Series: Arnold Hague Convoy Database | access-date=26 June 2022}}</ref> The destroyer subsequently escorted five UR convoys travelling between [[Loch Ewe]] and [[Reykjavík]], six RU convoys travelling back, WS 19W, WS 21S, WS 24, and MKS 3Y sailing from the south, and TA 21, AT 22, TA 22 and HX 206 crossing between Britain and North America.<ref name=cw/> During this time, the destroyer was upgraded again with four single [[Oerlikon 20 mm cannon]] replacing the Vickers machine guns and allocated, along with five remaining sister ships, to the 21st Escort Group. It was hoped that keeping the warships together would help them operationally.{{sfn|Friedman|2009|page=243}}{{sfn|Brady|1986|page=19}}

Like all the remaining S class, ''Sardonyx'' was beginning to show the strains of age, exacerbated by the demands of service in the North Atlantic and the impact of a relatively large armament on a small hull. After each deployment, when the ship returned to harbour, it was rare that there was not some damage from bad weather which meant that the destroyer spent an increasingly large amount of time in repair rather than service. As a consequence, the vessel was one of the popular with serving sailors as they were able to spend more time off-duty ashore.{{sfn|Brady|1986|page=19}}{{sfn|March|1966|page=230}} Amongst the crew at the time was the future [[Admiral of the Fleet (Royal Navy)|Admiral of the Fleet]] [[Henry Leach]], who served as a [[midshipman]] before being promoted to [[sub-lieutenant]] on 1 October 1942.{{sfn|Heathcote|2002|page=151}} Another crew member was an American volunteer, Derek Lee, who served as a deck officer with the collateral job of security officer. His role included censoring photographs, for example of the survivors of the merchant ship SS ''Yorktown'' that had been sunk by {{GS|U-619||2}} on 28 September 1942, taken as they climbed aboard the destroyer.{{sfn|Dietrich-Berryman|Hammond|2013|pages=54–55}}{{sfn|Shaum|2015|page=41}}

The start of 1943 saw more dedicated escorts enter service and older vessels like ''Sardonyx'' were able to be moved to less demanding roles.{{sfn|Friedman|2008|page=133}} Between 21 and 23 January, the vessel, along with sister ship {{HMS|Scimitar|H21|2}} took the merchant ship ''Leinster'' to Iceland, returning two days later.<ref>{{cite web | first=Don| last=Kindell | title=Convoy DS.36 | url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/ds/index.html?ds.php?convoy=36!~dsmain | work=DS Convoy Series: Arnold Hague Convoy Database | access-date=26 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | first=Don| last=Kindell | title=Convoy SD.36 | url=http://www.convoyweb.org.uk/sd/index.html?sd.php?convoy=36!~sdmain | work=SD Convoy Series: Arnold Hague Convoy Database | access-date=26 June 2022}}</ref> The same pattern repeated three more times over the next seven months. The last convoy of more than one merchant ship that ''Sardonyx'' supported was WS 30, which saw the destroyer for only the first two days of its journey to Freetown on 19 and 20 May.<ref name=cw/> Alongside ''Sabre'', ''Saladin'' and ''Scimitar'', the destroyer took part in Operation Rosegarden in June 1943, an attempt to strike at German submarines transiting the gap between Iceland and Scotland.{{sfn|Rayner|1955|page=143}} The operation was unsuccessful as the aging destroyers were unable to sustain speed in the severe weather, and a similar deployment the following summer was cancelled.{{sfn|Brady|1986|page=19}} On 8 June 1944, the destroyer escorted ships carrying the troops that participated in the [[Normandy landings]], but took no part in the landings themselves.{{sfn|Rohwer|2005|page=331}} In October, the ship was withdrawn from operational service and allocated to training at [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]].{{sfn|Willmott|2010|page=585}} The destroyer joined sister ship {{HMS|Shikari|D85|2}}, attached to the Third Submarine Flotilla to train submarine crews.{{sfn|Brady|1986|page=19}} Following the [[End of World War II in Europe|end of the war in Europe]], ''Sardonyx'' was retired and, on 23 June 1945, handed over to be [[Ship breaking|broken up]] by [[Thos. W. Ward]] at [[Inverkeithing]].{{sfn|Colledge|Warlow|2006|page=310}}

==Pennant numbers==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:left"
!scope="col" |[[Pennant number]]
!Date
|-
|scope="row" |F34||June 1919{{sfn|Bush|Warlow|2021|page=47}}
|-
|scope="row" |D95||November 1919{{sfn|Bush|Warlow|2021|page=42}}
|-
|scope="row" |F53||December 1920{{sfn|Bush|Warlow|2021|page=49}}
|-
|scope="row" |H26||January 1922{{sfn|Bush|Warlow|2021|page=71}}
|-
|}

==References==
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
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* {{cite book | last=Dunn | first=Steve | title=Battle in the Baltic: The Royal Navy and the Fight to Save Estonia & Latvia 1918-20 | location=Barnsley | publisher=Seaforth Publishing | year=2020 |isbn=978-1-52674-273-5}}
* {{cite book | last=Friedman | first=Norman | title=British Destroyers & Frigates: The Second World War and After | year=2008 | publisher=Seaforth Publishing | location=Barnsley |isbn=978-1-84832-015-4 | author-link=Norman Friedman}}
* {{cite book | last=Friedman | first=Norman | title=British Destroyers: From Earliest Days to the First World War | year=2009 | publisher=Seaforth Publishing | location=Barnsley |isbn=978-1-84832-049-9}}
* {{cite journal | last=Head | first=Michael | title=The Baltic Campaign, 1918-1920: Part I | journal=Warship International | year=2009 | volume=46 | number=2| pages=134–150 | jstor=44894332 | url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/44894332}}
* {{cite book | last=Heathcote | first=Thomas Anthony | title=British Admirals of the Fleet 1734-1995: A Biographical Dictionary | location=Barnsley | publisher=Leo Cooper | year=2002 | isbn=978-0-85052-835-0 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xtCXAwAAQBAJ}}
* {{cite book | last=Howse | first=Derek | title=Radar at Sea: The Royal Navy in World War 2 | location=Basingstoke | publisher=Macmillan | year=1993 | isbn=978-1-34913-060-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fX2wCwAAQBAJ}}
* {{cite book | last=Jackson | first=Robert | title=The Royal Navy in World War II | location=Shrewsbury | publisher=Airlife | year=1997 | isbn=978-1-85310-714-6}}
* {{cite book | last=Kemp | first=Paul | title=The Admiralty Regrets: British Warship Losses of the 20th Century | year=1999 | location=Stroud, UK | publisher=Sutton Publishing Limited | isbn=0-7509-1567-6}}
* {{cite book | last=Manning | first=Thomas Davys | title=The British Destroyer | location=London | publisher=Putnam | date=1961 | oclc=6470051}}
* {{cite book | last1=Manning | first1=Thomas Davys | last2=Walker | first2=Charles Frederick |title=British Warship Names | location=London | publisher=Putnam | year=1959 | oclc=780274698}}
* {{cite book | last=March | first=Edgar J. | title=British Destroyers: A History of Development, 1892–1953 | location=London | publisher=Seeley Service | year=1966 | oclc=164893555}}
* {{cite book | last=Moretz | first=Joseph | title=The Royal Navy and the Capital Ship in the Interwar Period | location=London | publisher=Routledge| year=2002 | isbn=978-0-71465-196-5}}
* {{cite book | last=Owen | first=David | title=Anti-Submarine Warfare: An Illustrated History | location=Barnsley | publisher=Pen & Sword | year=2007 | isbn=978-1-84415-703-7 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CF6CAwAAQBAJ}}
* {{cite book | last1=Parkes | first1=Oscar | last2=Prendergast | first2=Maurice | title=Jane's Fighting Ships 1919 | publisher=David & Charles | location=Newton Abbott | year=1969 | oclc=907574860 | author-link1=Oscar Parkes}}
* {{cite book | last=Preston | first=Antony | chapter=Great Britain and Empire Forces | pages=1–104 | editor1-last=Gardiner | editor1-first=Robert | editor2-last=Gray | editor2-first=Randal | title=Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1906–1921 | publisher=Conway Maritime Press | location=London | year=1985 | isbn=978-0-85177-245-5 | author-link=Antony Preston}}
* {{cite book | last=Rayner | first=Denys Arthur | editor-last=Roskill | editor-first=Stephen Wentworth | title=Escort: The Battle of the Atlantic | location=London | publisher=William Kimber | year=1955 | oclc=504605037 | editor-link=Stephen Roskill}}
* {{cite book | last=Rohwer | first=Jürgen | title=Chronology of the War at Sea 1939–1945: The Naval History of World War Two | location=Annapolis | publisher=Naval Institute Press | year=2005 | isbn=978-1-59114-119-8 | url=https://archive.org/details/chronologyofwara0000rohw_v7p9 | author-link=Jürgen Rohwer}}
* {{cite journal | last=Shaum | first=Jack |year=2015 | title=The Steamboats that Went to War | journal=Sea Classics | issue=48 | pages=36–42, 64 | url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1728370299| id={{ProQuest|1728370299}} }}
* {{cite book | last=Whitley | first=M. J. | title=Destroyers of World War Two: An Illustrated Encyclopedia | location=London | publisher=Cassell | year=2002 | isbn=978-0-30435-675-1}}
* {{cite book | last=Willmott | first=H.P. | title=The Last Century of Sea Power, Volume 2: From Washington to Tokyo, 1922–1945 | location=Bloomington | publisher=Indiana University Press | year=2010 | isbn= 978-0-25400-409-2 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2AiIL5icXqMC}}
{{refend}}

{{S class destroyers (1917)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sardonyx}}
[[Category:1919 ships]]
[[Category:S-class destroyers (1917) of the Royal Navy]]
[[Category:Ships built on the River Clyde]]
[[Category:World War II destroyers of the United Kingdom]]