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)