HMS Hunter

HMS Hunter after she had struck the mine in May 1937

During the Spanish Civil War, the H Class Destroyer HMS Hunter helped to enforce the arms blockade imposed on both sides by Britain and France, until she struck a mine on May 13th 1937 just off the coast south of Almeria, Spain. She suffered severe damage, with a heavy list, her radio wrecked and the bow flooded. Eight of her complement were killed and 24 wounded. She was under repair for the next year and a half, after which she rejoined the Mediterranean Fleet. During the first few months of World War II, Hunter searched for German commerce raiders in the Atlantic Ocean until she was transferred back to Britain in February 1940. Returning to action in the Norwegian Campaign.

During the first Battle of Narvik on April 10th 1940, Hunter and four other H-class ships of the 2nd Destroyer Flotilla attacked the German destroyers that had transported German troops to occupy Narvik the previous day. The flotilla leader Hardy led four of her half-sisters down Ofotfjord in a surprise dawn attack on Narvik harbour during a blinding snowstorm. Hotspur and Hostile were initially left at the entrance, but Hunter followed Hardy Into the harbour and fired all eight of her torpedoes into the mass of shipping. One torpedo hit the German destroyer Z22 Anton Schmitt in the forward engine room, followed by one of Hunter's 4.7-inch shells.

As the British ships were withdrawing, they encountered five German destroyers at close range. Two of the German Destroyers crossed the T of the British Destroyers and quickly set Hardy on fire and forced her to run aground. Hunter eventually took the lead but was severely damaged by the Germans, probably including one torpedo hit, and her speed dropped rapidly. Hotspur, immediately behind her, was temporarily out of control. and rammed her from behind. When the ships managed to disengage, Hunter capsized. 107 men of the crew were killed and another five died of their wounds. During the battle the Hotspur had been hit seven times by German shells which knocked out No. 2 boiler, all electrical circuits, her depth charges, her rangefinder and killed 18 of her crew.

The German destroyers rescued 46 of Hunters crewmen, who were released into Sweden on April 13th 1940