The ship served from 1943 to 1944 in the Mediterranean (where she shared in the sinking of U-boatU-453 and also several E-boats), and the Aegean and Greek islands. The destroyer also took part in the liberation of France as support bombardment for the invasion of the South of France in July–August, 1944.
HMS Tenacious was seconded to serve in East Indies Fleet, as part of the escort force of the 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron in 1944–5, against the Japanese, then came under the command of the 3rd US Pacific fleet (Admiral Bull Halsey), and given a temporary pennant number D46 to enable identification by US naval forces. The R45 took part in bombardment of Truk in the Caroline Islands and bombardment of Japan. HMS Tenacious was part of the fleet assembled to witness surrender of Japanese in Tokyo harbour, then took part in the repatriation of POWs from Hammamatsu. The ship continued to serve in Australian waters and South China Sea, and rescued six RAAF personnel in S. China Sea, who had ditched their C-47 aircraft after both engines failed, on 4 January 1946.[1]
She returned to Devonport in 1946 and was mothballed for future use.
Postwar service
Between 1946 and 1949 Tenacious was held in reserve at Devonport. On 23 January 1949 she arrived in Mersey for a refit and in November of that year was commissioned as a target ship for the 3rd Submarine Flotilla at Rothesay.[2]
In 1954 Tenacious was placed in reserve at Rosyth, then in 1956 into reserve at Barrow. In September 1963 she was towed to Plymouth. Tenacious was subsequently sold for scrapping in 1965 and arrived at Troon for breaking up on 29 June in that year.