RIVER-Class Frigate
ordered on 15th March 1941 from Smiths Dock, Middlesbrough in an Emergency War Programme and laid down on 8th October 1941. The ship was launched on 30th April
1942 and was the 4th RN warship to carry the name, last used for a trawler in 1920
which was later sold to Spain. Build was completed on 16th September 1942. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK
campaign for National Savings in February 1942 she had been adopted by the civil community of
Eye, Suffolk.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
DOVER PATROL 1916 - ATLANTIC 1942-43 - BISCAY 1943 - NORMANDY 1944
- BURMA 1945
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field pervfesse Red and Blac, a fess wavy a fess wavy White
charged
with a bar wavy Blue overall on two feathers in Saltire White
with a
leopard’s face Gold.
M o t to
Ab intus Jubeo: 'From within I command'
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 2
September Contractors
trials and commissioned for service in 40th Escort Group.
16th Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
Passage to Tobermory on completion of trials and storing to work-up for
operational service in 40th Escort Group.
October Took
passage on completion of work-up to join Western Approaches Command.
November
Deployed with Group for Atlantic convoy defence.
to
December
1 9 4 3
January Atlantic
convoy defence with Group in continuation.
to
(Note: For details of U-Boat deployments at this critical period in the war in
the Atlantic
February see U-BOAT
WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR
by
C Blair.)
March Part of
escort with ships of Group for Atlantic Convoy HX229A.
April Part
of escort with ships of Group for Atlantic Convoy ONS3.
May Part of
escort with ships of Group for Atlantic Convoy SC128.
(Note: For details of the development and use of new weapons by allied escorts
and by U-
Boats, see SEEK AND STRIKE by William Hackmann, BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS by
John Terraine and THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre.)
June
Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.
to
Nominated for deployment with Group for anti-submarine operations in the Bay of
July
Biscay in conjunction with aircraft of RAF Coastal Command and other RN Groups.
August Deployed
with HM Frigate EXE and four other ships of Group in Bay of Biscay
(Operation PERCUSSION – Interception of U-Boats attempting passage to and
from bases in France through Spanish coastal waters.)
(Note: HM Frigates NENE, TWEED, CALGARY (RCN) and SNOWBERRY (RCN) of 5th
Escort Group were also deployed and this operation was covered by HM Cruiser
BERMUDA.
During attacks by Hs 293 Glider Bombs against 1st Support Group sent as a relief
force, HM Sloop EGRET was sunk and two other ships damaged
See CONFLICT OVER THE BAY by N Franks.)
September Resumed
Atlantic convoy defence with Group.
to
Nominated for transfer to Force J as HQ Ship after conversion.
December
1 9 4 4
January Under
refit and conversion.
to
Carried out post refit trials.
March
Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Commander R H Bristowe DSC RN.
(Note: Ship fitted with a comprehensive outfit of radio equipment for morse and
voice communications with ships, aircraft, landing craft and shore authorities.
This installation was based on lessons learnt at great cost of lives and
material
in
other combined operations such as Dieppe and in the failure of landings in
the Mediterranean in 1941-42. See THE WATERY MAZE by Bernard Fergusson.)
April Joined
Assault Force J2 as Headquarters Ship.
(Note: Function of HQ Ship was to provided communication facilities for control
of
assault landings and to embark Senior Army officers for passage to beachheads.
Senior Officer Assault Group J2 was embarked during Combined Operations
to
ensure that deployments of HQ ship and the Assault Group landing craft were
in
accordance with the military requirements.
Types of support craft attached included Landing Craft (Gun) and Landing Craft
(Rocket).
Each Assault Group had a specially converted Landing Craft (HQ) which had
a
less extensive communications fit for use in the event of major damage or loss
of
the Landing Ship (HQ).)
Took part in exercises with Force J ships in Channel area.
May
Deployed in Channel for exercises.
2nd Took
part in Final Rehearsal for Forces O, S and J (Exercise FABIUS).
(Note: Berthing, Loading and Sailing procedures were exercised.)
3rd
Assault Landings made by Force J in Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex.
(Note: Cover for Exercise provided by Portsmouth and Plymouth Commands.)
4th
Programme curtailed due to deterioration of weather.
(For details of naval activities before and during NEPTUNE see OPERATION NEPTUNE
by
K Edwards, LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944 (HMSO) and for information
about all mercantiles and warships involved D-DAY SHIPS by J de Winser.)
20th On
completion of preparatory exercises returned to Solent area.
June
Deployed in Solent for briefings and preparation of NEPTUNE.
Allocated for passage to JUNO Beach Head in Convoy J10, escorted by HM
Destroyers
KEMPENFELT, BLEASDALE and Norwegian GLAISDALE.
(Note: Convoy comprised 8 Landing Ships (Infantry), 3 motor gunboats of Coastal
Forces and two US Navy Coastguard Cutters.
See above references.)
4th
Operation postponed for 24 hours.
5th
Sailed from Spithead with Convoy J10 to swept channel entrance.
6th
Arrived off JUNO Beach Head.
Controlled assault landings of 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade on NAN Red and NAN
White Beaches.
(Note: Military commander - Brigadier K G Blackader.)
Senior officer Assault Group J2 - Captain R J O Otway-Ruthven RN.
Remained in JUNO Area for Build-up Phase.
30th On
termination of NEPTUNE returned to Solent.
July
Deployed in Force J
to
Nominated for service in Eastern Fleet.
August
September Preparation
for foreign service
October Passage
to Trincomalee.
to
November Took part in
exercises in preparation for support duties as HQ Ship.
December Joined Force
W in Eastern Fleet.
1 9 4 5
January Deployed
in Bay of Bengal for military support duties.
to
Nominated for service as HQ Ship during allied landings in Burma.
March
(Operation DRACULA - Assault on Rangoon)
(Note: For details of operations on coast of Burma see THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J
Winton, OPERATION PACIFIC by Edwyn Gray and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)
April Took
part in preliminary exercises for Rangoon landings
27th Took
passage from Akyab as escort for Convoy BAKER to Kyuak Pyu, Ramree Island.
Senior Officer of W2 Group, Captain T Ian Scott-Bell DSC Royal Navy embarked,)
(Note: Convoy included HM Landing Ships (Infantry) LARGS, GLENROY, PERSIMMON,
SILVIO, PRINZ ALBERT screened by HM Frigates SHIEL, TAFF and WAVENEY
with cover from HM Cruiser PHOEBE (For Fighter Direction Ship duties).)
On
arrival off Rangoon anchored at Elephant Point. May
May
2nd
Assault craft sailed for landings.
3rd Took
passage to Monkey Point for control and support of landing operations.
5th On
completion returned to Akyab.
Passage to Colombo from Akyab prior to visit to Bombay.
June
Deployed with Force W and took part in exercises for planned landings in Malaya.
to
Passage to Akyab to await instructions relating to Malaysian coast operations.
July
(Note: Operation delayed by administration problems in London relating to PYTHON
Scheme for release of long service SEAC personnel and insistence of US
Government.
See above references and the Final Report by The Supreme Commander South East
Asia (HMSO).)
August
16th
Passage from Bombay to Madras.
to Took
part in preparatory exercise at Mandapam prior to ZIPPER execution.
27th Took
passage from Akyab as escort for Convoy BAKER to Kyuak Pyu, Ramree Island.
Senior Officer of W2 Group, Captain T Ian Scott-Bell, DSC, Royal Navy embarked,)
(Note: Convoy included H M Landing Ships (Infantry) LARGS, GLENROY, PERSIMMON,
SILVIO, PRINZ ALBERT screened by HM Frigates SHIEL. TAFF and WAVENEY
with cover from HM Cruiser PHOEBE (For Filter Direction Ship duties.)
On
arrival off Rangoon anchored at Elephant Point. May
May
2nd
Assault craft sailed for landings.
3rd Took
passage to Monkey Point for control and support of landing operations.
5th On
completion returned to Akyab.
Passage to Colombo from Akyab prior to visit to Bombay.
June
Deployed with Force W and took part in exercises for planned landings in Malaya.
to
Passage to Akyab to await instructions relating to Malaysian coast operations.
July
(Note: Operation delayed by administration problems in London relating to PYTHON
Scheme for release of long service SEAC personnel and insistence of US
Government.
See above references and the Final Report by The Supreme Commander South East
Asia (HMSO).)
August
16th
Passage from Bombay to Madras.
to Took
part in preparatory exercise at Mandapam prior to ZIPPER execution.
27th
September
3rd
Deployed with Force W as Senior Officer's ship Assault Group W2 and part of the
escort for a 12 ship convoy during passage to Nicobar Islands.
5th
Passage from Nicobar area with Assault Convoys to Beachheads.
(Note: Landings were planned between Port Swettenham and Port Dickson.
See above references.)
9th
Deployed off Beach Head at Morib during landings by 25th Division.
11th On
release from ZIPPER took passage to Rangoon.
Nominated for support of occupation of Index-China (Operation MASTERDOM).
20th
Passage from Rangoon to Singapore to take part in MASTERDOM.
26th On
completion of briefing for MASTERDOM took passage from Singapore for
Saigon with Support convoy.
(Note: Other ships in convoy included HM Survey Ship CHALLENGER, HM Repair Ship
CORBRAE, three Landing Craft Infantry (Large) and nine minesweepers.)
29th On
arrival of Saigon anchored off Cap St Jaques.
Briefed by RN representative.
30th
Berthed alongside at Saigon after river passage.
(Note: Naval units were deployed at Saigon to support 32nd, 80th and 100th Inf.
Brigades
and an RAF Squadron who were to establish control of the Region pending the
arrival of French forces.
Japanese surrender was accepted by Naval Officer in Charge, Saigon after
arrival.)
P o s t W a
r N o t e
HMS WAVENEY remained at Saigon for some weeks before returning to
Singapore. On release from East Indies Station she was nominated for Reduction
to Reserve status. After arrival in UK the ship Paid-off and laid-up in the Reserve Fleet until placed on the Disposal Lost.
She was sold during 1957 to BISCO for demolition by West of Scotland Shipbreaking Company and arrived in tow
at the breaker’s yard at Troon on 9th November 1957.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
WAVENEY
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
23/11/42
|
26/11/42
|
MKF 003
|
03/12/42
|
03/12/42 |
12/12/42
|
12/12/42
|
KMF 005
|
20/12/42
|
20/12/42 |
24/12/42
|
25/12/42
|
MKF 005
|
31/12/42
|
31/12/42 |
11/01/43
|
12/01/43
|
ON 160
|
27/01/43
|
04/02/43 |
30/01/43
|
05/02/43
|
HX 225
|
13/02/43
|
13/02/43 |
09/03/43
|
25/03/43
|
HX 229A
|
25/03/43
|
26/03/43 |
18/05/43
|
27/05/43
|
SC 131
|
28/05/43
|
31/05/43 |
28/05/43
|
02/06/43
|
ONS 009
|
04/06/43
|
09/06/43 |
26/05/43
|
04/06/43
|
SC 132
|
06/06/43
|
11/06/43 |
11/02/43
|
06/06/43
|
ON 166
|
09/06/43
|
03/03/43 |
16/06/43
|
20/06/43
|
ON 189
|
22/06/43
|
01/07/43 |
15/06/43
|
23/06/43
|
HX 244
|
26/06/43
|
30/06/43 |
09/07/43
|
11/07/43
|
ON 192
|
15/07/43
|
22/07/43 |
08/07/43
|
15/07/43
|
SC 136
|
19/07/43
|
23/07/43 |
12/06/44
|
12/06/44
|
FWM 005
|
13/06/44
|
13/06/44 |
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)