1 9 3 9
August
Commissioned with Reservists for
attendance at the
Review of the Reserve Fleet by HM King
George VI at Weymouth.
9th
Attended
the Review and deployed as escort for HM
Royal Yacht VICTORIA and ALBERT
a visit to
Dartmouth,
Remained in commission on dispersal
of Fleet units following the Review and
took passage to
Gibraltar
to take up war station as Leader of
the 13th
Destroyer Flotilla.
September
Deployed at Gibraltar with Flotilla for convoy defence and enforcement of Blockade to
prevent
transit of
goods to Germany by sea.
October
Convoy defence duties in
continuation.
24th
Carried out unsuccessful attack on
submarine during convoy
escort west of Gibraltar.
November
Gibraltar deployment in continuation.
(Note:
Regular
convoys were established between
Gibraltar and UK with escorts by
French warships as well as those from
Gibraltar and UK..)
December
24th
Deployed
as escort with two French destroyers for
Convoy HG 12 on departure from Gibraltar
for passage
to UK and detached later to return to
Gibraltar
1
9 4 0
January
8th
Escorted
Homeward convoy HG14F with HM Sloop
Enchantress on departure from Gibraltar
13th
Joined
Homeward Convoy HG15F with HMS
ENCHANTRESS, HM Destroyers AMAZON,
BROKE, WALKER and
WALPOLE as escort during passage to UK.
17th
Detached
from HG15F and took return passage to Gibraltar.
(Note: HMS AMAZON and HMS ENCHANTRESS
remained with convoy.)
Involved in collision with French
Cruiser JAGUAR and sustained serious
structural damage.
Escorted to Lisbon
by French destroyer LA RAILLEUSE for
repair.
20th
On
completion of temporary repair took
passage from Lisbon to Gibraltar.
25th
Under repair by HM Dockyard, Gibraltar.
February
On completion of repair resumed
Flotilla duties at Gibraltar for convoy
escort and patrol.
March
Flotilla duties at Gibraltar in continuation.
to
May
June
Nominated for evacuation of British
civilian
personnel from southern France after
French
capitulation
20th
Passage from Gibraltar
to Gulf of Lions.
22nd
Embarked British civilians, Czech and
Polish troops at Port Vendres
and Seta.
23rd
Took
passage to Gibraltar with embarked
personnel
July
1st
Deployed
as escort for HM Battlecruiser HOOD, HM
Battleships VALIANT, RESOLUTION,
HM Aircraft Carrier ARK ROYAL, HM
Cruisers ARETHUSA and ENTERPRISE with HM
Destroyers FAULKNOR, FOXHOUND,
FEARLESS, FORESTER, FORESIGHT, ESCORT,
ACTIVE, WRESTLER, VIDETTE and
VORTIGERN during passage to Oran to
ensure
French warships at Mers-el-Kebir
were not taken over by Germany for
future use.
(Operation CATAPULT – For details see
Naval Staff History, RELUCTANT ENEMIES
by
W Tute and
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C
Barnett.)
2nd
Took
part in CATAPULT operation.
6th
Returned
to Gibraltar with ships of Force H not
remaining off Mers-el-Kebir
for further
attack on
French battleship DUNKERQUE.
8th
Sailed
from Gibraltar with HM Destroyers
FAULKNOR, FOXHOUND, FEARLESS,
`
FORESTER, ESCORT, DOUGLAS, ACTIVE, VELOX, VORTIGERN and WRESTLER
as screen
for HMS HOOD, HMS VALIANT, HMS
RESOLUTION, HMS ARK ROYAL,
HM Cruisers ARETHUSA, DELHI and
ENTERPRISE to carry out air attacks on Cagliari,
Sardinia.
(Operation MA5)
(Note: This
was in support of concurrent operations
by the Mediterranean Fleet in the
eastern
Mediterranean. See above references,
MALTA CONVOYS by R. Woodman
and THE
BATTLE FOR THE MEDITERRANEAN by D MacIntyre.)
Under attacks by
Italian Savoia
Marchetti
aircraft.
9th
Under
further air attacks and operation
abandoned in view of possible further
damage
to HMS
ARK ROYAL during likely continuation.
Returned to Gibraltar
with Force H screen.
11th
Under attack by Italian submarine
MARCONI which torpedoed HMS
ESCORT.
(Note:
Towing attempt failed and ship sank
later. See references and THE NAVAL WAR
IN
THE MEDITERRANEAN by J Greene and A
Massignani.).
On return to Gibraltar deployed with HMS FOXHOUND and HMS FORESIGHT to carry
out search
for Italian submarine and came under air
attacks without damage.
12th
Returned to Gibraltar
after unsuccessful search.
13th
Nominated
for return to UK and took passage to Portsmouth.
18th
Arrived
at Portsmouth and prepared for Home
Fleet service.
26th
Took
passage from Portsmouth to Scapa
Flow for Home Fleet duties
in 12th Destroyer
Flotilla.
(Note: One
source records that she was to replace a
HUNT Class Escort Destroyer.
This Class of ship was unsuitable for
Fleet duties because of Fuel capacity
and
it may be
assumed that planned deployment at Scapa Flow for a
HUNT Class
was not
implemented.)
August
After arrival at Scapa Flow nominated for transfer to Western Approaches Command and
took passage
to Greenock.
7th
Arrived
at Greenock
for deployment in NW Approaches for
convoy defence.
September
Atlantic convoy escort in
continuation
(Note:
Until 1941 outward bound convoys were
escorted to a pre-determined dispersal
point
between 12 W
and 15W from which the ships proceeded
either to Canada or Gibraltar
as
independents. Inward bound ships were
provided with escort or cover from an
Armed
Merchant Cruiser or other warship as
defence against surface attacks, but
required
anti-submarine
protection during their passage in NW
Approaches. Escorts for this
period were
provided by Western Approaches Command
which usually had been
deployed for
escort of an outward convoy from UK. See
THE ALLIED CONVOY
SYSTEM 1939-45 by A
Hague.)
October
Atlantic deployment in
continuation.
16th
Rescued
survivors from ss
TREVISA which had been torpedoed by
U124 whilst proceeding
independently.
See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
Transferred for service with Home
Fleet and took passage to Scapa
Flow.
November
Deployed for Home Fleet screening
and patrol duties
10th
Despatched
from Faeroes with HM Destroyer BEAGLE to
join screen of Home Fleet major
warships
carrying out search in North
Atlantic for German armoured
cruiser ADMIRAL
SCHEER after
sinking of HM Armed
Merchant Cruiser JERVIS BAY.
Returned to Scapa
Flow after unsuccessful search.
26th
Deployed
as escort with HM Destroyer ST ALBANS
for ships of 1st Minelaying Squadron
during
minelay in Northern Barrage covered by
HMS HOOD and screen of Home Fleet
destroyers.
(Operation SN11 – For details see
Naval Staff History
(Mining))
December
Home Fleet deployment in
continuation.
8th
Deployed
with HM Destroyers BATH, ST
ALBANS and DOUGLAS as escort for ships of
1st Minelaying Squadron during
minelay south east of Iceland in
Northern Barrage covered
by HM
Battlecruiser REPULSE, HM Cruiser
ARETHUSA and screen of Home Fleet
destroyers
(Operation SN 10A – See above
reference.)
1
9 4 1
January
Home Fleet deployment in
continuation.
3rd
Deployed
with HM Destroyers BEAGLE, DOUGLAS and
Free French destroyer
OURAGON as escort for ships of 1st
Minelaying Squadron during minelays
in
Northern Barrage, north and south of
Faeroes (Operations SN6 and SN65 – See
above
reference.)
26th
Deployed
as part of screen for HM Battleship
NELSON during search by ships of
Home Fleet in Atlantic for German battlecruisers SCHARNHORST and
GNEISENAU
reported on
passage to attack convoys.
Returned to Scapa
Flow with Home Fleet ships after
unsuccessful operation.
February
Transferred to Western
Approaches Command for service with 12th
Escort Group based
at
Londonderry.
(Note: This
was a Canadian Escort Group.)
Deployed for
Atlantic Convoy escort in NW
Approaches.
March
NW Approaches Convoy defence
with Group in continuation.)
to
April
May
11th
Rescued
survivors from ss
SOMERSET which had been sunk after
bombing attack
in position
54.54N
16.20W.
June
Atlantic convoy escort duties with Group
in
continuation.
July
1st
Rescued
survivors from Norwegian freighter
VIGRID which had been sunk on 26th June
by U371.
(Note: This
ship had been a straggler from Convoy
HX133.)
August
Transferred to 1st British Escort Group
also based
at Londonderry
(Note:
Other ships in this Group were:
HM Destroyers
ROCKINGHAM, SABRE, VENOMOUS, LINCOLN,
SHIKARI.
HM Corvettes
ALISMA, KINGCUP, SUNFLOWER, DIANELLA.
September
Deployed as Leader of Group for
Atlantic convoy defence with Group.
October
25th
Joined
outward convoy ON28 on departure from Liverpool as escort
28th
Arrived at Liverpool
as escort for inward convoy SC50.
November
Atlantic escort duties in
continuation.
11th
Involved
in collision with HMS VENOMOUS and
sustained serious structural damage
with
flooding in some compartments.
Detached from escort and returned to
Greenock.
12th
Arrived at Greenock
for survey of damage.
Took passage to Bristol
Channel for repair in commercial
shipyard
at Newport.
Taken in hand for repair
December
Under repair including fit of
HEDGEHOG anti-submarine mortar equipment
and HF D/F
radio
receiver outfit for detection of
wireless transmissions.
For details of HEDGEHOG and use of HF
D/F see SEEK and STRIKE by W Hackmann.
(Note: This
newly developed anti-submarine weapon
was found to have
several
inherent defects during initial stages
of use. See reference.
It is not believed that Radar Type
286M was fitted. See entry for 11th
April 1942.)
1
9 4 2
January
Completion of repair and refit
resumed service with 1st Escort Group,
later
re-identified
as EG B1
(Note: Ship
may have carried out work-up at
Tobermory before operational use.)
Other ships in Group included:
HM Destroyers ST ALBANS, SHIKARI
HM Corvettes
ANCHUSA, DAHLIA, WALLFLOWER,
MEADOWSWEET.
February
3rd
Deployed
with Group as escort for outward Convoy
ON61 during passage in NW
Approaches
9th
Joined
military convoy WS6A in Clyde with HM
Escort Destroyers ATHERSTONE
and
COTTESMORE as Local Escort during
passage in Western Approaches.
12th
Detached
from WS6A with Local Escort and returned
to Clyde.
16th
Deployed
as escort for inward Convoy HX174
March
18th
Carried
out anti-submarine operations against
submarine whose radio transmissions had
been
detected.
HEDGEHOG mortar misfired and one
missile landed on forward structure.
(Note:
During the second operational firing,
and exemplifies the type of problem
encountered
with the
weapon during its first use.
Modifications were carried out as a
result of
operational experience. See reference.
This date may be incorrect and source
reference could be to escort of WS17 see
later record
unless this is a separate incident.. To
be further investigated.)
23rd
Joined
military convoy WS17 with HM Destroyers
BADSWORTH, BEVERLEY,
LEAMINGTON and VOLUNTEER as Local Escort during passage in Western
Approaches.
25th
Convoy being shadowed by U-Boats.
26th
Carried
out attacks on U587 whose radio
transmissions had been intercepted and
position
determined. See reference.
27th
Anti-submarine
operations continued. See entry for 18th
March.)
(Note: U587
was attacked by other destroyers of
Ocean and Local Escort and assessed
as probably
damaged. However
later post war analysis revealed her
loss.
Ship did not take part in final
series of depth charge attacks. See
U-BOATS
DESTROYED by P
Kemp.)
Detached from WS17 with Local Escort
and took passage to return to Clyde.
April
Atlantic convoy escort deployment with
Group
in continuation.
11th
Sustained
structural damage in extreme weather.
(Note: As
Top mast including radar was carried
away it is likely that earlier modified
RAF air-surface (ASR) Naval Type 286 was fitted. Later Type 271 was not
fitted to
mast structure. See earlier entry for
December 1941 and RADAR
AT SEA by D Howse for details of development and
use of radar in RN in May)
May
On completion of repair resumed Atlantic
convoy defence duties with Group.
(Note: Type
271 radar may have been fitted during
this period. See reference.)
10th
Joined
military convoy WS19 in Clyde with HM
Destroyers LEAMINGTON and
VOLUNTEER as Local Escort during
passage in Western Approaches.
13th
Detached
from WS19 with Local Escort and returned
to Clyde.
23rd
Deployed
with HM Cruiser CAIRO, HM Destroyers
BEAGLE, DOUGLAS and
SARDONYX as Local Escort during
passage of rms
QUEEN MARY during passage
in Western
Approaches to Middle East as Convoy
WS19W
24th
Detached
from WS19W with Local Escort and
returned to Clyde.
June
1st
Joined
military convoy WS19P with HM Destroyers
LEAMINGTON and
WELLS as Local
Escort for passage in Western
Approaches.
4th
Detached
from WS19P with Local Escort and
returned to Clyde.
23rd
Deployed
with HM Cruiser DELHI, HM Destroyers
BOADICEA, ST ALBANS,
LEAMINGTON and SALISBURY as Local Escort
for rms
QUEEN ELIZABETH
during
initial part of passage to Middle
East in Western Approaches.
Identified as
military convoy WS19Y.
24th
Detached
from WS19Y and returned to Clyde with
ships of Local Escort.
25th
Passage
to Iceland for duty as Senior Officer of
Ocean Escort for
Russian Convoy
PQ17 during Arctic
passage from Reykjavik
to North Russia.
30th
Joined
PQ17 with HM Destroyers FURY,
LEAMINGTON, LEDBURY, OFFA
and WILTON,
HM Corvettes DIANELLA, LOTUS, POPPY and
Free French
LA MALOUINE
(Note:
Ocean Escort also included HM
Minesweepers HALCYON, BRITOMART,
SALAMANDER, HM Trawlers AYRSHIRE,
LORD AUSTIN, NORTHERN
GEM, LORD MIDDLETON, HM Auxiliary AA Ships POZARICA and
PALOMARES.)
July
1st
Close
cover provided by HM Cruisers LONDON,
NORFOLK, US cruisers USS
WICHITA and USS TUSCALOOSA with
screen of US destroyers USS ROWAN
and USS
WAINWRIGHT.
(Note:
Distant Cover was provided by HM
Battleship DUKE OF YORK, US
battleship
USS WASHINGTON, HM Aircraft Carrier
VICTORIOUS,
HM Cruisers CUMBERLAND and NIGERIA with
screen of ten Home
Fleet destroyers
and two US
destroyers.
Home Fleet capital ships were
restricted by deployment to west of Bear
Island
because of
threat of air attacks.
3rd
PQ17
under observation from enemy aircraft
but not sighted previously by submarines
due to fog.
4th
Under
air attacks during which three ships
were sunk with three aircraft destroyed.
Detached from PQ17 after convoy had
been ordered by Admiralty to scatter
because
of perceived
threat from German battleship TIRPITZ,
armoured ships ADMIRAL
SCHEER, LUTZOW and
cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER.
Joined Close Cover screen until
ordered to return to Atlantic convoy
defence
deployment
with Group.
(Note: For
details of the disastrous result of the
Admiralty decision see THE CONVOY
IS TO SCATTER by J Broome (Commanding
Officer of this ship), ENGAGE
THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett,
CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by
RA Ruegg, CONVOY
! by
P Kemp and THE RUSSIAN
CONVOYS by
D MacIntyre.)
Passage to Londonderry
to resume Atlantic convoy escort.
29th
Joined
military convoy WS21 in Clyde with HM
Destroyers BICESTER and
SALISBURY
as Local Escort during initial
passage in NW Approaches.
August
4th
Detached
from WS21 with Local Escort.
(Note: This
was on passage to Middle East and NOT
WS21S that had sailed
from Clyde
on 2nd August for passage to Malta
(Operation PEDESTAL)
Passage to Gibraltar
11th
Deployed
with HM Destroyers VENOMOUS, WOLVERINE
and WRESTLER
to provide
cover for HM Aircraft Carrier FURIOUS
during return passage to
Gibraltar
after launch of replenishment aircraft
for delivery
to Malta.
(Operation BELLOWS.)
12th
Returned to Gibraltar
on release from bellows.
16th
Deployed
as part of screen for HMS FURIOUS and HM
Cruiser CHARYBDIS
with HM
Destroyers LAFOREY, LOOKOUT, LIGHTNING,
ANTELOPE,
WISHART, MALCOLM, BICESTER, ESKIMO,
SOMALI, VENOMOUS
and DERWENT
during Malta aircraft delivery
(Operation BARITONE)
18th
Returned to Gibraltar
with HMS FURIOUS and screen.
Took passage to Londonderry
to resume convoy defence with
Group.
29th
Joined
military convoy WS22 with HM Destroyers
BICESTER, BULLDOG
and ZETLAND
as Local Escort in Western Approaches.
September
Nominated for service as part of
screen Home Fleet ships providing cover
for
passage of
Russian Convoys.
(Note: For
details of all Russian Convoys see above
references.)
1st
Detached
from WS22 and returned to Clyde with
Local Escort.
Passage to join Home Fleet ships
providing cover for Convoy PQ18 to Archangel,
return
Convoy QP14 and an operation to
establish a fuelling base at Spitzbergen.
8th
Arrived
at Akureri.
Iceland
for Home Fleet screening duties.
10th
Deployed
with HM Destroyers BRAMHAM, MACKAY and
MONTROSE as screen
for HM
Battleships ANSON, DUKE of YORK and HM
Cruiser JAMAICA.
25th
Resumed
convoy defence duties with Group
October
Deployed with Group for
Atlantic convoy escort.
Nominated for refit and took passage
to Thames.
November
Under refit at commercial shipyard
in London.
to
December
1
9 4 3
January
Under refit
to
March
Nominated
for service with 3rd Escort Group on
completion.
Carried out harbour
trials.
(Note: By
completion this ship had been fully
converted for use as a Short Range
Escort. The
work involved may have started in
earlier refit periods.
Equipment fit on completion of
conversion included 2 x 4.7in as main
armament, 1
x 3in, 2 x 20mm Oerlikon for close range
AA defence,
two rails,
and four throwers for depth charges,
HEDGEHOG Mortar
and radar
Types 271 and 286M, HF
D/F and MF D/F. No torpedoes.
April
Passage to Greenock to join EGB3 as Leader/
Other ships in Group included:
HM Destroyer ESCAPADE and Polish
Destroyer ORP BURZA
HM Frigate TOWY
HM Corvettes ORCHIS, NARCISSUS,
LOBELIA, Free French ROSELYS,
Free French ACONIT
and Free French LOBELIA.
4th
Arrived
at Greenock and took passage for
work-up.
(Note: It
is assumed that in view of extensive
time under refit the ship will
have gone to
Tobermory to work-up for operational
service. To be confirmed.)
May
On completion of work-up commenced
service at Green as Leader of FG B3.)
18th
Joined
inward Convoy HX239 as escort with ships
of Group.
19th
Under
threat of attacks by MOSEL U-Boat
Group and diverted
from planned track.
22nd
Escort
reinforced by ships of 4th Support Group
and aircraft from HM Escort
Aircraft Carrier ARCHER because of
threats of attacks by DONAU U-Boat
Group.
23rd
Sent
to assist aircraft from HMS ARCHER which
had attacked U572 by rockets
and
inflicted sufficient damage to prevent
it from submerging. U572 scuttled on
approach in
position 51.48N 29.32W. Only 13 of the
crew survived
(Note: This
was the first sinking of a submarine by
naval aircraft using rockets..
28th
Detached from HX239 on arrival at Liverpool.
June
Nominated with Group for escort of
convoy to Freetown.
4th
Joined
outward joint Convoy OS49 and KMS116
as escort for passage in Atlantic.
with ORP
BURZA and six corvettes of Group.
9th
Additional
cover against surface attack provided by
HM Cruiser GAMBIA and
air cover by
HM Escort Aircraft Carrier ARCHER
screened by HM Destroyers
TYRIAN and TUMULT.
8th
Refuelled
from ss
OLIGARCH.
13th
Ships
of KMS16 detached and ship remained as
escort to Freetown for OS49
with ORP
BURZA
19th
Refuelled
at Dakar and returned to escort of OS49.
23rd
Detached from OS49 on arrival at Freetown.
28th
Sailed from Freetown
as escort for inward Convoy SL132
to Liverpool.
Carried out
anti-submarine operations against
detected target on departure.
July
6th
Detached
from SL132 to carry out search for
submarine reported by aircraft.
Rejoined escort without any contact.
9th
Detached
from SL132 to refuel at Casablanca
as RFA Tanker FORTOL unable to
replenish
satisfactorily.
11th
Rejoined
convoy and HM Destroyer HURRICANE with
four corvettes of
Escort Group B1 joined to reinforce
escort.
Ships of inward Convoy MKS16 from Gibraltar to UK merged
with SL132..
14th
HM
Destroyer IROQUOIS (RCN) joined to
supplement escort during passage
in Bay of
Biscay.
15th
HMS
IROQUOIS, HMS HURRICANE and four
corvettes of B1 Group detached.
21st
Detached from joint convoy on arrival
at Liverpool.
August
Resumed escort duties for convoys to and
from Newfoundland
6th
Joined
outward Convoy ONS16 with HMS TOWY, HMS
NARCISSUS,
HMS ORCHIS, French
FS RENONCULE, ACONIT and LOBELIA.
of Group as
escort for Atlantic passage to
Newfoundland.
18th
Detached
from ONS15 on arrival and took passage
to US Base at Argentia,
Newfoundland.
22nd
Passage to St
Johns to resume convoy escort.
24th
Sailed
from St John with ships of Group except
ACONIT which was
to
refit in USA
and took passage to join return Convoy
HX253 as
escort
during
Atlantic
passage to Clyde.
September
4th
Detached
from HX253 on arrival at Liverpool
without loss.
12th
Deployed
with HM Destroyer ESCAPADE, HMS TOWY,
HMS NARCISSUS,
HMS ORCHIS, Free French corvettes
ROSELYS, LOBELIA and RENONCULE
as escort
for outward Convoy ONS18 during Atlantic
passage from Liverpool.
19th
Under threat of attack by LEUTHEN
Group of U-Boats.
(Note:
These were armed with acoustic (T5)
torpedoes and fitted with search
radio
receiver for detection of radar signals.
See HITLER'S U-BOAT
WAR and SEEK AND STRIKE.)
20th
Under
attacks by LEUTHEN Group U-Boats and
carried out anti-submarine
operations
(Note: HM
Frigate LAGAN was damaged beyond repair
by T5 from U270 and
HM Corvette POLYANTHUS by T5 from
U952. Both ships of ON202
escort. HM
Destroyer ST CROIX of 9th Canadian
Escort Group is also
sunk by T5
from U305 in defence of LEUTHEN
attacks..
21st
Convoy
merged with outward ON202 which was
escorted by 2nd Canadian
Escort Group.
Carried out attack on U286 with FS
ROSELYS
and submarine had to withdraw.
22nd
Intercepted
radio signals from U229 which was
located and sunk by ramming
in position
54.36N 36.25W with no survivors. See
U-BOATS DESTROYED.
(Note: HM
Frigate ITCHEN was sunk by T5 from U666
during this unrelenting
series of
attacks.)
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and
HITLER’S U –BOAT WAR
by C Blair
for details.)
26th
Detached with escorts on arrival in Newfoundland.
October
4th
Joined
escort for inward convoy HX259 with
ships of Group.
(Note:
Senior Officer B3 Group transferred to
HMS TOWY which suggests
ships
efficiency had been affected by damage
due to ramming.)
13th
Detached from HX259 with ships of
Group on arrival at Liverpool
without loss.
Passage to Thames
for refit and taken in hand by London
commercial shipyard.
November
Under refit
to
December
Nominated
for service with 8th Escort Group based
at Greenock on completion of refit.
1
9 4 4
January
On completion of post refit
trials took passage to Tobermory to
work-up.
February
Joined Group for service in
defence of Russian convoys.
Other ships in Group included:
HM Destroyers BEAGLE, WESTCOTT,
WHITEHALL,
WRESTLER,
BOADICEA.
HM Frigate LOTUS
20th
Joined
Close Escort for Russian Convoy JW57
with HM Destroyers BEAGLE,
BOADICEA and WALKER
HM Corvettes BLUEBELL, CAMELLIA,
LOTUS and RHODODENDRON
22nd
HM
Cruiser BLACK PRINCE with Home Fleet
destroyer screen and HM Escort
Aircraft Carrier CHASER escorted by
two Home Fleet destroyers and two
frigates
joined
convoy as fighting escort.
23rd
Under
threat by submarines of MOSEL and
WEREWOLF Groups which were
attacked by
aircraft from HMS CHASER.
24th
Carried out attacks on U-Boats which
were repelled.
Sank U713 in position 69.27N 04.34E
without survivors.
For details see
above references for details.)
25th
HM
Destroyer MAHRATTA sunk by U990.
(Note:
There were only two survivors from
ship’s company.)
28th
Detached from JW57 on arrival at Kola
Inlet.
For details of all warships and mercantiles
involved in Russian convoys see
CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg,
THE RUSSIAN
CONVOYS by
B Schoefield,
CONVOY ! by
P Kemp and ARCTIC
CONVOYS by R Woodman..
March
2nd
Part
of Close Escort for return Convoy RA57
from Kola Inlet to UK with same ships
and
HM Minesweepers GLEANER and SEAGULL
which were returning from service
4th
Under
U-Boats during which U472 was sunk by
HMS ONSLAUGHT for loss of
ss
EMPIRE TOURIST.
(Note: 27
survivors were rescued.)
5th
U366
was sunk by aircraft. See reference
above.
6th
U973
sunk by aircraft,
(Note: The
only two survivors were rescued by HMS
BOADICEA.)
10th
Detached from RA57 on arrival at Loch
Ewe.
28th
Deployed with 2nd Escort Group for
defence of Russian Convoy
JW58.
(Note:
Other ships deployed were:
HM Sloops STARLING (SO), MAGPIE, WILD
GOOSE, WREN,
and WHIMBREL
of 1st Escort Group, commanded by the
renowned
Captain FJ Walker, RN
HM Destroyers
BEAGLE, BOADICEA and WALKER of 8th
Escort Group.
(Note: The
passage of JW58 was concurrent with
Operation TUNGSTEN by
Home Fleet which was to carry out air
attacks by Fleet Air Arm on the German
battleship
TIRPITZ in Altenfjord,
Norway.
29th
Provide
support for transit of JW58 with cover
against surface attack from
Home Fleet ships
carrying out TUNGSTEN.
U961 was sunk by HMS STARLING. See
reference.
(Note: Home
Fleet ships including HM Cruiser DIADEM,
HM Escort Aircraft
Carriers ACTIVITY and TRACKER with
screen of 13 Home Fleet
destroyers
joined JW58.)
April
1st
Under
attacks by submarines of THOR, BLITZ and
HAMMER U-Boat Groups
U335 which had been damaged by air
attacks from HM Escort Aircraft Carrier
TRACKER
2nd
Sank
U360 in defence of JW58 after sonar contact
. There
were no survivors
See above references
4th
Detached
from JW58 on arrival at Kola Inlet.
7th
Joined
Close Escort for return Convoy RA58 with
HM Destroyers BEAGLE,
BOADICEA,
INCONSTANT. VENUS, WALKER,
WESTCOTT, WHITEHALL,
and WRESTLER
(Note: Home
Fleet destroyers from JW58 escort
provided additional Ocean Escort.
with HMS
DIADEM, HMS ACTIVITY and HMS TRACKER.
See references.)
9th
Interception
attempt by U-Boats of DONNER and KIEL
Groups using
acoustic
torpedoes failed. See HITLER’S U-BOAT
WAR by C Blair..
14th
Detached from RA58 on arrival at Loch
Ewe.
21st
Deployed
with HM Destroyers WALKER, WESTCOTT,
WHITEHALL and WRESTLER
of Group as
well as Home Fleet destroyers and took
passage to Kola Inlet to provide
escort for
return of ships held in North
Russia and to embark Soviet
naval personnel
for manning
warships being provided on Lease Lend.
See above references.)
23rd
Arrived
at Kola Inlet for escort of convoy RA59
28th
Joined
return convoy with HM Destroyer BEAGLE,
INCONSTANT, WESTCOTT and
WRESTLER, HM Corvette LOTUS, Canadian
Frigates HMCS CAPE BRETON,
HMCS GROU, HMCS OUTREMONT and
WASKESIU in Kola Inlet as escort
during
passage to UK.
(Note:
Other groups including HMS DIADEM, HM
Escort Aircraft Carrier s FENCER
and ACTIVITY
also sailed with Home Fleet destroyers.)
29th
Under
attacks by DONNER and KIEL U-Boat
Groups using
acoustic torpedoes.
(Attacks using acoustic torpedoes
concentrated on escorts. See HITLER’S
U-BOAT
WAR.)
May
1st
U277
sunk in attack by aircraft from HMS
FENCER
2nd
U674
and U959 sunk by aircraft from HMS
FENCER. See U-BOATS DESTROYED.
7th
Detached
from RA59 on arrival at Loch Ewe after
experiencing atrocious weather and
took passage
to rejoin 8th Escort Group for Atlantic
convoy defence.
Nominated for detaches service in
support of planned allied landings in
Normandy
(Operation NEPTUNE.)
25th
Passage to Portland
to join ships of Eastern Task
Force.
Deployed for escort
of Convoy WP528 on passage from
Milford Haven to Solent.
27th
Carried out anti-submarine operations
off Start Point in
defence of WP528. without
success.
29th
Nominated
for service at Milford Haven with Escort
Group 136 for escort of convoys
to Normandy.
Took passage to
Milford Haven.
June
Deployed at Milford Haven and joined
French
Corvette ROSELYS, HM Trawler
GRIMSBY TOWN and CAMBRIDGESHIRE to form
EG136
3rd
Provided
escort with Group and HM Trawlers
GRASSHOLM and NEAVE for
Convoy EBC1 from Milford Haven to Solent.
(Note: EBC1
comprised 23 coasters and an Ammunition
Supply Ship.)
4th
NEPTUNE delayed by 24 hours.
5th
Arrived
in Solent
with EBC1.
6th
Sailed
from Solent as escort for Convoy EWC1A
and took passage through
swept
channel to Western Task Force Area.
7th
Detached
from EWC1A on arrival and took passage
to Milford Haven.
Deployed as escort
with Group for convoys to beachhead
from Milford Haven.
24th
NEPTUNE terminated and on release from service at Milford Haven took passage
to resume
service with 8th Escort Group in Western
Approaches Command.
July
Passage from Milford Haven to Clyde.
Taken in hand for
repair in Clyde shipyard.
On completion rejoined 8th Escort
Group at Greenock.
August
Nominated for detached service with HMS
WHITEHALL
and took passage to join
Home Fleet at Scapa
Flow for escort for Russian Convoy.
15th
Joined
HM Sloops KITE, MERMAID and PEACOCK with
HMS WHITEHALL
to provide
anti-submarine defence ahead of Convoy
JW59 during passage
from Loch
Ewe.
(Note: This
convoy included Soviet manned Ex RN
warships being loaned to
USSR under Lend/Lease.)
17th
Home
Fleet ships including HM Cruiser
JAMAICA, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers
STRIKER and VINDEX with five
destroyers as screen joined JW59 escort.
20th
Convoy under attacks by submarines of
TRUTZ Group using
acoustic torpedoes.
21st
HMS
KITE hit by torpedo from U344 and sank
almost immediately with only nine
survivors.
22nd
U344
sunk in attack by SWORDFISH aircraft
from HMS VINDEX with no
survivors.
See reference.
24th
Took
part in sinking of U354 with HMS LOCH
DUNVEGAN, HMS PEACOCK
HMS MERMAID in
position 72.49N 30.41E north of Murmansk
with no survivors.
(Note: This
submarine was searching for Home Fleet
ships carrying out air
strikes on
TIRPITZ and had sunk HM Frigate
BICKERTON and damaged
HM Escort Aircraft Carrier NABOB when
sighted by aircraft from HMS
NABOB. For
details see references.)
Detached on arrival
of convoy in Kola Inlet.
28th
Sailed
from Kola Inlet as escort for return
Convoy RA59A with same ships during
passage to
Loch Ewe
(Note:
During period at Kola Inlet RN ships
companies took part in a Regatta and
were
entertained by a Soviet Navy concert
party.
September
2nd
Detached
from escort of RA59A to carry out
anti-submarine operations against
U394 with HMS WHITEHALL, HMS MERMAID
and HMS PEACOCK after
submarine
had been sighted by aircraft from
carriers and dive position marked.
Took part in sinking of U394 west of Lofoten
Islands in position 69.47N 04.41E.
For details see references.
4th
Detached
from RA59A with Home Fleet ships before
arrival in Loch Ewe.
Remained on detached
service with Home Fleet for escort of
planned Russian convoys.
15th
Deployed
with HM Sloop CYGNET, HM Destroyers
BULLDOG and KEPPEL,
HM Corvettes ALLINGTON CASTLE and
BAMBOROUGH CASTLE as Close
Escort for Russian Convoy JW60 during
passage from LOCH Ewe to Kola Inlet.
17th
Home
Fleet ships including HM Battleship
RODNEY, HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM
Escort Aircraft Carriers CAMPANIA and
STRIKER joined escort with screen of
12
destroyers
23rd
Detached from JW60 with escort on
arrival unscathed at Kola
Inlet.
(Note:
GRIMM U-Boat Group failed to make
contact with JW60)
28th
Sailed
with same escorts to join RA60 as part
of Close Escort during passage from
Kola Inlet to Loch
Ewe.
29th
Convoy under attack by U310 which sank
one mercantile.
October
3rd
Home
Fleet ships detached.
5th
Detached
from RA60 with Close Escort on arrival
at Loch Ewe
Resumed service for Atlantic convoy
defence and joined 20th Escort Group.
(Note:
Other ships in Group included HM
Destroyers BEAGLE, BULLDOG,
WESTCOTT, HM Sloops
CYGNET, LAPWING and LARK.)
November
Atlantic convoy defence with Group
in continuation.
December
Deployed with Home Fleet for
Russian Convoy escort.
1st
Joined
escort for Russian Convoy JW62 with HMS
BEAGLE, BULLDOG and
WESTCOTT with ten Home Fleet as
screen for HM Cruiser BELLONA, HM Escort
Aircraft Carriers
CAMPANIA and NAIRANA during passage
from Loch Ewe.
(Note:
Other ships had joined JW62 as escort on
departure from Loch Ewe.)
Despite the removal of any threat by
TIRPITZ a strong escort was provided
because of
the known reinforcement of German air
strength and the
continued
extensive U-Boat deployments off
Norway.)
5th
Attacks
by submarines of STOCK Group failed.
7th
Detached
from JW62 with escort on arrival at
Kola Inlet without loss.
10th
Sailed
from Kola Inlet with other ships of
escort from JW62 supported by four
Soviet destroyers to carry out anti
-submarine operations against known
assembly
of U-Boats
awaiting departure of return convoy
RA62.
(Note:
During the offensive sweep U387 was sunk
by HMS BAMBOROUGH
CASTLE although also claimed by
Soviet destroyer. See U-BOATS
DESTROYED.)
On completion of offensive operations
joined RA62 as escort for return passage
to Loch
Ewe.
11th
Convoy
under submarine attacks during which HM
Destroyer CASSANDRA was
hit by a
torpedo from U365 and badly damaged. See
references.
12th
Convoy
under unsuccessful torpedo attacks by
aircraft.
13th
U365
sunk by aircraft from HMS VINDEX.
(Note:
Norwegian corvette TUNSBERG CASTLE one of the
escort sank after
detonating a
mine in a separate incident.)
19th
Detached
from RA62 with escort
30th
Deployed
with HMS WALKER, HMS WESTCOTT, HMS
CYGNET, HMS LARK,
HMS LAPWING, HM Corvettes ALLINGTON,
CASTLE, ALNWICK CASTLE
and HMS
BAMBOROUGH
CASTLE as escort for Russian Convoy JW63
during
passage to
Kola Inlet from Loch Ewe.
1
9 4 5
January
1st
Home
Fleet ships including HMS DIADEM and HMS
VINDEX with screen of nine
destroyers
joined convoy as additional escort.
8th
Detached
from JW62 on arrival at Kola Inlet
without detection.
11th
Sailed from Kola Inlet as escort for
return Convoy RA63 with
same warships.
21st
Remained
with convoy after arrival at Loch Ewe
having had a stormy passage
forcing it
to shelter in Faeroes.
22nd
Deployed
with HMS WALKER and HMS WESTCOTT as
escort for ships of
RA63 destined for Clyde.
23rd
Detached
from convoy on arrival in Clyde and took
passage to commercial shipyard
for repairs.
February
Under repair in Glasgow.
to
March
Nominated
for service in Greenock Local Escort
Force on completion.
April
On completion of harbour and sea trials
in Clyde
carried out work-up for
operational
service at Tobermory.
May
15th
Joined
Greenock Local Escort Force
Deployed at Greenock
(Note:
Operation
DEADLIGHT the assembly of U-Boats which
had surrendered
at sea or in
Norwegian ports was in progress and
participation may be
reasonably
assumed. Western Approaches escorts were
deployed for the
escort of
submarines to Lisahally
and Stranraer
prior to destruction or
transfer to
allied navies.)
June
Greenock deployment in continuation.
Nominated for reduction to Reserve
status and took passage to Barrow.
24th
Paid-off
and de-stored prior to reduction
procedures.
