The War Illustrated, Volume 10, No. 247, Page 522, December 6, 1946.

Motto: “Vi et Armis.”

A destroyer of 1,760 tons, H.M.S. Javelin was completed shortly before the outbreak of war in 1939. In the early hours of November 29, 1940, she was the leader of a small force of destroyers under the command of Lord Louis Mountbatten which intercepted some three or four German destroyers in the chops of the Channel.

Scattering to avoid action the enemy retreated towards Brest, several of them being hit by gunfire before they made good their escape. Unfortunately the Javelin was hit by a torpedo and completely disabled. In spite of repeated attacks by enemy bombers she was towed into port before she sank, and in due course was refitted.

The Javelin was included in the British squadron which covered the occupation of the naval base at Diego Suarez, Madagascar, by a force of Royal Marines in May 1942. Two French submarines had to be sunk in the course of these operations. Later the Javelin did good service in the Mediterranean, intercepting Italian convoys bound for North Africa; on one occasion she was credited with having sunk 11 vessels in three hours. During the invasion of Normandy, on June 9, 1944, the Javelin was concerned in the sinking of the German destroyers Z 32 and ZH 1 off Ushant.

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