US Coastguard Cutter USS SARANAC built by General
Engineering and Dry Dock, Oakland, California,
launched on 12th April 1930. Transferred to
Royal Navy in 1941 under Lease-Lend Agreement
and renamed HMS BANFF when commissioned on
delivery in 1941.
B
a t t l
e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC
1941-43 - NORTH AFRICA 1942-43
- SICILY
1943
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
No
record of a Badge is included in the official
List.
This is not unusual for ships with names not
previously used
in the RN.
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 1
April
30th
Commissioned for RN Service at New York with
crew from HMS MALAYA.
May
7th
Passage to UK as part of escort for Convoy
HX125
22nd
Arrived in Clyde
June
Preparations for refit prior to RN duty
July
19th
Under modification in Thames commercial
shipyard.
August
3rd
Refit work completed and commenced post refit
trials.
4th
Damaged in collision with Thames lighter.
10th
On completion of trials and storing took
passage to Londonderry to join Western
Approaches Command for escort of convoys
between West Africa and UK.
14th
Part of escort for outward Convoy OS3 to
Bathhurst.
September
Returned with inward Convoy SL8(?) to UK.
(Note: For details of dates of convoys see
ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM IN WW2
by A Hague)
October
4th
Part of escort for outward Convoy OS9 to
Bathurst with HM Cutter FISHGUARD.
November
Returned as escort for inward Convoy SL93 with
HM Cutters CULVER, GORLESTON,
LANDGUARD
and LULWORTH.
December
Under refit for modifications at Belfast.
15th
Part of escort with HM Cutter FISHGUARD for
outward Convoy OS14 to Bathurst.
1
9 4 2
January
24th
Returned as escort for inward Convoy SL97 with
FISHGUARD.
26th
At Belfast commercial shipyard for fitting of
HF D/F Outfit.
(Note: For details of use of this equipment
see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.
HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and THE BATTLE
OF THE ATLANTIC
by D Macintyre.)
February
6th
Rejoined West Approaches Command at
Londonderry.
12th
Part of escort for outward Convoy OS19 to
Bathurst with HM Cutter FISHGUARD.
March
25th
Returned as escort for Convoy SL102 with HM
Cutter FISHGUARD.
April
2nd
Under refit in Thames shipyard.
May
9th
On completion rejoined Western Approaches
Command at Londonderry.
June
2nd
Part of escort for outward Convoy OS30 to
Freetown with HM Cutter FISHGUARD.
6th
Sustained slight damage in collision with
SACKVILLE (RCN) during passage.
July
Returned with HM Cutter FISHGUARD as escort
for inward Convoy SL114.
August
1st
Part of escort for outward Convoy OS36 to
Freetown with HMS FISHGUARD.
September
14th
Returned with inward Convoy SL120.
30th
Part of escort for outward Convoy OS42 to
Freetown with HM Cutter FISHGUARD.
October
9th
Detached when convoy dispersed and took
passage to Londonderry.
16th
On arrival nominated for escort of military
convoys to North Africa.
November
1st
Part of escort for KMF2 to Algiers with HM
Cutter SENNEN
10th
Deployed in escort of convoys during allied
landings in North Africa.
(Operation TORCH).
27th
Returned with HM Cutter SENNEN in escort for
inward military Convoy MKF2.
December
16th
Part of escort for outward military Convoy
KMF6 to Algiers with HMS FISHGUARD.
1
9 4 3
January
14th
Returned
with HMS FISHGUARD as
escort for inward Convoy M3F5
23rd
Part of escort for joint outward Convoy
KMF8/WS26 to Algiers (Frigate TEST?).
29th
Detached from WS26/KMF8 and returned to Clyde.
February
Passage to Gibraltar for escort of convoy to
UK.
9th
Returned with same ships as escort for
military Convoy MKF8
14th
Damaged in collision with jetty at Immingham
on arrival for refit.
16th
Under refit including installation of HEDGEHOG
A/S mortar
March
Under refit.
April
12th
On completion rejoined Western Approaches
Command.
Resumed escort of convoys to Freetown..
May
6th
Part of escort for outward convoy ON182
June
Returned to UK- Gibraltar route convoy-escort.
14th
Joined escort for military Convoy KMS18B.
Retained at Gibraltar for defence of convoys
for planned allied landings in Sicily
(Operation HUSKY).
July
9th
Deployed as part of escort for military convoy
KMS19.
(Note: Award of Battle Honour SICILY suggests
presence during landings.)
26th
After release from HUSKY Support returned to
UK with escort for joint inward
Convoy MKF18./SL133.
August
Transferred to Atlantic convoy escort duty.
5th
Resumed service in Western Approaches on
arrival of MKF18/ SL133
21st
Escorted outward Tanker Convoy UT1 to
Argentia, Newfoundland.
September
3rd
Returned with escort for inward Convoy GUS10
from Argentia to UK.
Nominated for transfer after refit for service
in Eastern Fleet for convoy defence in
Indian Ocean.
Passage to Devonport for refit.
October
On completion of post refit trials returned to
Londonderry.
8th
Joined escort with ships of 41st Escort Group
for Convoy OS56/KKS29
to Gibraltar.
18th
Detached on arrival to take independent
passage in Mediterranean.
November
Passage in Red Sea.
13th
Escorted Convoy AKD8 to Kilindini from Aden.
Joined Kilindini Escort Force on arrival
December
Deployed at Kilindini
17th
Escorted Convoy DKA9 to Aden.
26th
Returned to Kilindini with HMS SENNEN and HMS
LANDGUARD as escort for Convoy
AKD11A.
1
9 4 4
January
Passage to Aden..
February
4th
Escorted Convoy AKD14 to Kilindini with HMS
FISHGUARD.
11th
Arrived at Kilindini and returned to Aden.
26th
Escorted Convoy AKD16 to Kilindini with HMS
FISHGUARD.
March
6th
Arrived at Kilindini.
8th
Passage to Port Elizabeth
12th
Called at Durban
20th
Under refit at Port Elizabeth. Under refit.
April
Under refit .
May
29th
On completion of post refit trials took
passage to Durban arriving on 2/6.
June
Passage to Kilindini.
24th
Arrived at Kilindini.
Returned to Durban for docking and defect
repairs.
30th
Under repair at Durban.
July
On completion of repair and docking joined
escort for Convoy OM6.
29th
Remained with Convoy OM56 and escorted to
Aden.
(Note: Under attack by U198 which failed.
See HITLER' 'S
U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
August
5th
Arrived at Aden.
Deployed at Aden for Local convoy defence.
September
Escorted HM Submarines SHALIMAR and SURF in
Gulf of Aden during passage to join
Eastern Fleet in Ceylon.
October
Deployed at Aden area for escort and patrol
duty.
November
Passage to Kilindini.
(Note: Eastern Fleet re-designated East Indies
Fleet on formation of British Pacific Fleet.)
December
24th
Joined escort for Convoy CM59B to Aden.
1
9 4 5
January
1st
Arrived at Aden and deployed in Aden area.
February
15th
Under repair at Massawa, Eritrea.
March
24th
On completion of post repair trials took
return passage to Aden.
April
Deployed at Aden.
Nominated
for service based at Trincomalee with East
Indies Fleet.
Passage to Trincomalee.
May
Deployed in Bay of Bengal
(Note: Occupation of Rangoon was carried out
early in May (Operation BISHOP)
with extensive escort requirements.)
Battle Honour BURMA is not recorded.)
8th
At Rangoon.
Nominated for refit at Port Elizabeth.
June
Passage to Port Elizabeth.
9th
Taken in hand for refit.
July
Under refit.
August
Carried out post refit Trials
Resumed East Indies Fleet duties.
15th
At Durban for VJ Day celebrations.
Deployed for escort of two new Motor Launches
during passage to Colombo with
calls at Tulear, Majunga and Diego Suarez in
Madagascar.
September
Passage in Indian Ocean with calls in
Seychelles and Addu Atoll.
October
Passage from Addu Atoll to Colombo.
24th
Arrived at Colombo.
November
Nominated for return to UK for termination of
loan.
Took passage from Colombo to Portsmouth.
December
On passage
16th
Arrived at Portsmouth.
P o s t W a r N
o t e s
HMS BANFF de-stored prior to return to the US
Coastguard service and sailed from Portsmouth
on 24th January 1946. The ship was Paid-Off at
Boston on 27th February and resumed Coastguard
service as USS TAMPA.
A c k n o w l e d g e m e n t
The
details
of ship movements after July 1945 were
provided by Maurice Hubbard of Ely. This
help is most gratefully acknowledged.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS BANFF
by
Don Kindell
These
convoy lists have not been cross-checked with
the text above
|
|
|
|
|
Date
convoy sailed
|
Joined convoy
as escort
|
Convoy No.
|
Left convoy
|
Date
convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
06/05/41
|
07/05/41
|
HX
125A
|
22/05/41
|
22/05/41
|
01/06/41
|
15/06/41
|
HX
130
|
18/06/41
|
20/06/41
|
01/06/41
|
15/06/41
|
SC
033
|
18/06/41
|
21/06/41
|
26/06/41
|
04/07/41
|
HX
135
|
11/07/41
|
12/07/41
|
13/08/41
|
15/08/41
|
OS
003
|
29/08/41
|
01/09/41
|
04/09/41
|
07/09/41
|
SL
086
|
24/09/41
|
26/09/41
|
13/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
OS
009
|
01/11/41
|
05/11/41
|
06/11/41
|
11/11/41
|
SL
092
|
01/12/41
|
01/12/41
|
13/12/41
|
15/12/41
|
OS
014
|
01/01/42
|
03/01/42
|
04/01/42
|
06/01/42
|
SL
097
|
24/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
11/02/42
|
12/02/42
|
OS
019
|
01/03/42
|
03/03/42
|
04/03/42
|
07/03/42
|
SL
102
|
26/03/42
|
26/03/42
|
01/06/42
|
02/06/42
|
OS
030
|
17/06/42
|
19/06/42
|
25/06/42
|
25/06/42
|
SL
114
|
17/07/42
|
17/07/42
|
31/07/42
|
01/08/42
|
OS
036
|
18/08/42
|
18/08/42
|
24/08/42
|
24/08/42
|
SL
120
|
24/09/42
|
15/09/42
|
29/09/42
|
29/09/42
|
OS
042
|
09/10/42
|
09/10/42
|
01/11/42
|
01/11/42
|
KMF
002
|
12/11/42
|
12/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
MKF
002
|
22/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
KMF
004
|
06/12/42
|
06/12/42
|
10/12/42
|
10/12/42
|
MKF
004
|
18/12/42
|
18/12/42
|
26/12/42
|
26/12/42
|
KMF
006
|
03/01/43
|
03/01/43
|
06/01/43
|
06/01/43
|
MKF
006
|
13/01/43
|
14/01/43
|
24/01/43
|
24/01/43
|
KMF
008
|
01/02/43
|
01/02/43
|
02/02/43
|
02/02/43
|
MKF
008
|
09/02/43
|
09/02/43
|
06/05/43
|
07/05/43
|
ON
182
|
16/05/43
|
22/05/43
|
19/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
HX
240
|
03/06/43
|
04/06/43
|
24/06/43
|
26/06/43
|
KMS
018B
|
06/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
13/06/43
|
07/07/43
|
UGS
010
|
09/07/43
|
10/07/43
|
18/07/43
|
18/07/43
|
KMS
020
|
20/07/43
|
20/07/43
|
27/06/43
|
20/07/43
|
UGS
011
|
21/07/43
|
unknown
|
22/07/43
|
25/07/43
|
GUS
010X
|
27/07/43
|
13/08/43
|
21/08/43
|
21/08/43
|
UT
001
|
04/09/43
|
04/09/43
|
07/10/43
|
11/10/43
|
OS
056KM
|
18/10/43
|
18/10/43
|
18/10/43
|
18/10/43
|
KMS
029G
|
20/10/43
|
20/10/43
|
05/10/43
|
21/10/43
|
UGS
020
|
02/11/43
|
01/11/43
|
06/11/43
|
26/11/43
|
DKA
006
|
28/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
03/12/43
|
03/12/43
|
AKD
008
|
12/12/43
|
23/12/43
|
17/12/43
|
17/12/43
|
KA
009
|
26/12/43
|
26/12/43
|
09/01/44
|
09/01/44
|
AKD
011A
|
unknown
|
23/01/44
|
26/01/44
|
26/01/44
|
AB
028C
|
unknown
|
01/02/44
|
03/02/44
|
04/02/44
|
AKD
014
|
11/02/44
|
16/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
DKA
011
|
22/02/44
|
22/02/44
|
24/02/44
|
24/02/44
|
AKD
016
|
06/03/44
|
06/03/44
|
13/06/44
|
14/06/44
|
DKA
020
|
24/06/44
|
24/06/44
|
19/07/44
|
19/07/44
|
CM
056
|
26/07/44
|
26/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
CM
056A
|
05/08/44
|
05/08/44
|
14/10/44
|
14/10/44
|
MC
013
|
21/10/44
|
21/10/44
|
24/10/44
|
24/10/44
|
MC
013A
|
31/10/44
|
31/10/44
|
08/11/44
|
08/11/44
|
CM
059
|
15/11/44
|
15/11/44
|
24/12/44
|
24/12/44
|
CM
059B
|
31/12/44
|
31/12/44
|
18/01/45
|
20/01/45
|
MC
014B
|
24/01/45
|
25/01/45
|
24/01/45
|
24/01/45
|
CM
059C
|
30/01/45
|
30/01/45
|
06/05/45
|
06/05/45
|
KRS
001/
|
08/05/45
|
08/05/45
|
(Note
on Convoys)