HNoMS Glaisdale (L44) was a Type III escort destroyer in service with the Royal Norwegian Navy during the Second World War. Originally constructed by the United Kingdom as HMS Glaisdale, she was transferred to Norway before being launched in 1942 and commissioned as HNoMS Glaisdale, operating with the Royal Navy but crewed by Norwegian sailors. The ship was badly damaged by a naval mine during the Normandy landings on 23 June 1944 and was returned to the United Kingdom on 2 August, remaining laid up at Hartlepool. Post-war, the vessel was repaired and sold to Norway, re-entering service as HNoMS Narvik. She was reclassified as a frigate in 1956 and broken up in 1962.
Glaisdale was ordered on 23 August 1940 from Cammell Laird of Birkenhead under the 1940 Emergency Programme. Her keel was laid down on 4 February 1941. Like all escort destroyers, she was named after a British fox hunt or hunting region, in this case, Glaisdale, near Scarborough, North Yorkshire. She was the only Royal Navy warship to bear the name.
The ship was transferred to the Norwegian government-in-exile on 23 December 1941, prior to her launch on 5 January 1942, and was commissioned into the Royal Norwegian Navy as HNoMS Glaisdale. Construction was completed on 12 June 1942.
After completing sea trials, Glaisdale proceeded to Scapa Flow in Juneà1942 to join the Home Fleet for final fittingâÂÂout. Upon completion she transferred to Portsmouth to join the 1st Destroyer Flotilla, undertaking convoy escort and patrol duties in the English Channel and Western Approaches.
On 13àOctoberà1942, Glaisdale took part in an operation to intercept the German auxiliary cruiser in the Channel, operating alongside destroyers , , and , in coâÂÂordination with motor torpedo boats (MTBs). Komet was sunk by gunfire from Eskdale and torpedoes from MTBà236 at , with no survivors.
From late October until 26ÃÂ November, she escorted convoys to the Mediterranean in support of Operation Torch, the Allied landings in North Africa, before returning to Portsmouth for further operations in home waters.
Throughout 1943, Glaisdale continued escort duties in the Channel and Western Approaches. On 14àApril, while escorting Convoy PWà232 with Eskdale and five armed trawlers, the group was attacked by German E-boats eastâÂÂnortheast of The Lizard; Eskdale was torpedoed by Sà90, immobilised and subsequently sunk by a second torpedo from Sà112 at .
On 9àOctober, Glaisdale, together with and , intercepted an enemy convoy off Ushant, sinking the German minesweeper Mà135. During the action Glaisdale sustained light damage from EâÂÂboat gunfire.
In Mayà1944, Glaisdale was assigned to ForceàJ for Operation Neptune, the naval component of the Normandy landings. After joint training and final rehearsals with ForcesàG and S at Spithead, she formed part of the fireâÂÂsupport group in June alongside , , , , Canadian destroyers and , , and Free French destroyer , providing naval gunfire support off beaches Nan, White and Red.
On 5àJune she escorted Convoy J10 through cleared channels to Juno Beach alongside Kempenfelt and Bleasdale. On DâÂÂDay (6àJuneà1944), she delivered naval gunfire support at Nan beach, thereafter maintaining patrol and support operations off Juno. On 10àJune she engaged enemy EâÂÂboats attempting to lay mines offshore.
On 23ÃÂ June she struck an acoustic mine, severely damaging her starboard engine, and returned to Portsmouth on 24ÃÂ June for assessment. On 2ÃÂ AugustÃÂ 1944 she was decommissioned from Royal Norwegian Navy service and returned to the UK, remaining laid up in reserve at Hartlepool until the end of the war.
In Augustà1946, Glaisdale was sold outright to Norway and renamed HNoMS Narvik on 23àOctober. Following a refit at Chatham, she reâÂÂentered service with the Royal Norwegian Navy as an escort destroyer in Februaryà1947. Reclassified as a frigate in 1956, she served until decommissioning on 9àMayà1962, after which she was sold for scrap.