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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2005

HMS, later HMCS ETTRICK (F 254) - River-class Frigate including Convoy Escort Movements

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMCS Ettrick (Navy Photos/Bob Hanley, click to enlarge)

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RIVER-Class frigate ordered from J Crown of Sunderland on 1st June 1941 and laid down on 31st December that year. The ship was launched on 5th February 1943 as the second RN ship to carry the name of the Scottish river which was first used for a destroyer built in 1903 and sold in 1919. Build was completed on 11th July 1943. Following a WARSHIP WEEK National Savings Campaign in March 1942 the ship had been adopted by the civil community of Hope Valley, Castleton in Derbyshire. She was one of the only six frigates of this Class to be fitted with steam turbine main propulsion engines instead of reciprocating machinery. 

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC 1944-45

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

None is recorded in the Official List of Heraldic Crests.

(Note: Many ships built during WW2 had an

unofficial crest but these were never given

formal approval.)

 

 

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e

 

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search

 

 

1 9 4 3

 

June

 

Contractors trials and commissioned for service.

 

July

 

11th - Build completion and commenced acceptance trials.

 

 On completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory to work-up for operational service.

 

August

 

Work-up and weapon calibrations completed. (Note: For details of the development and use of radar, direction finding outfit and HEDGEHOG Anti-Submarine Mortar, see RADAR AT SEA by Howse and SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)

 

September

 

Joined Western Approaches Command for Atlantic convoy defence.

 

October to December

 

Deployed in Western Approaches for convoy escort.

 

Nominated for transfer on loan to the Royal Canadian Navy.

 

 

S e r v i c e   a s   H M C S    E T T R I C K

 

1 9 4 4

 

January

 

Transferred to RCN and took passage to Halifax for escort duties.

 

February to December

 

Deployed for escort of convoys between US and Canadian ports to Newfoundland and Mid Atlantic Meeting Point where convoys were transferred to Escorts based in UK (Note: The majority of ships sailing in convoy after June arrived without any major attacks and for that reason the work of the escorts received little public attention. The contribution of the RCN has also had scant record in the many publications about the Battle of the Atlantic. Canadian publications giving more details include: 50 DEGREES NORTH by A H Easton, U-BOATS AGAINST CANADA by M L Hadley, THE U-BOAT HUNTERS by M Milner. UK publications giving further details are: HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair, CONVOY ESCORT COMMANDER by P Gretton, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett.)

 

This ship was not deployed with the RCN Escort Groups deployed in support of the Allied landings in Normandy in June 1944 (Operation NEPTUNE).

 

 

1 9 4 5

 

January

 

Deployed for escort of convoys between Boston and Halifax in Halifax.

 

14th - During defence of Convoy BX141 carried out attacks on U1232 and rammed submarine which sustained damage to conning tower but was able to escape. (Note: This convoy comprised 19 ships including two British oil tankers both of which were sunk. For details see HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)

 

February to April

 

Convoy defence off North American coast in continuation.

 

May

 

30th - Loan service with RCN terminated.

 

June

 

Passage to UK and reverted to RN control.

 

July

 

Nominated for reduction to Reserve status at Harwich.

 

August

 

Paid off and laid-up in Reserve Fleet at Harwich.

  

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS ETTRICK remained in the Reserve Fleet at Harwich until placed on the Disposal List in 1953. Sold to BISCO for demolition by TW Ward, the ship arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard in Grays, Essex for demolition during June 1953.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS ETTRICK

by Don Kindell

This convoy list has not been cross-checked with the text above

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

19/08/43

01/09/43

MKF 022

09/09/43

09/09/43

22/09/43

30/09/43

HX 258

05/10/43

06/10/43

18/10/43

19/10/43

ON 207

28/10/43

04/11/43

31/10/43

05/11/43

HX 264

16/11/43

17/11/43

26/11/43

27/11/43

ON 213

07/12/43

14/12/43

10/12/43

15/12/43

HX 270

25/12/43

26/12/43

08/01/44

09/01/44

ON 219

20/01/44

27/01/44

       
         

and as HMCS ETTRICK

 

 

 

 

 

11/07/44

16/07/44

HX 299

23/07/44

24/07/44

02/08/44

03/08/44

ON 247

10/08/44

15/08/44

17/08/44

23/08/44

HX 304

01/09/44

01/09/44

13/09/44

14/09/44

ON 253

25/09/44

28/09/44

12/11/44

29/11/44

ON 266

30/11/44

03/12/44

02/12/44

02/12/44

SC 162

06/12/44

17/12/44

17/12/44

17/12/44

SC 163

20/12/44

31/12/44

08/12/44

21/12/44

ON 271

24/12/44

28/12/44

29/01/45

15/02/45

ONS 041

unknown

20/02/45

20/02/45

20/02/45

XB 146

22/02/45

22/02/45

10/02/45

25/02/45

ON 284

26/02/45

01/03/45

16/02/45

02/03/45

ON 285

02/03/45

05/03/45

29/03/45

unknown

HX 347

unknown

14/04/45

08/04/45

unknown

HX 349

unknown

23/04/45

18/04/45

unknown

HX 351

unknown

03/05/45

23/04/45

unknown

HX 352

unknown

08/05/45

29/04/45

unknown

HX 353

unknown

15/05/45

(Note on Convoys)

 

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revised 5/7/11
further editing is required


 

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