BANFF-Class
US Coastguard Cutter (Ex PONTCHARTRAIN) build
by Bethlehem Shipbuilders at Quincy, Mass. and
transferred under the US/UK Lend-Lease Programme
on 3rd April 1941. The ship was laid down on
29th November 1927 and launched on 16th June
1928. Build was completed on 13th October that
year and in common with other ships of this type
her name during RN service was that of a British
Coastguard Station, this one being in Devon. The ship
was fitted with RN Radar Type 271 after arrival
in UK and she was primarily deployed
for convoy defence between UK and West Africa.
B
a t t l
e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC
1941-42
- ENGLISH CHANNEL 1942
- NORTH AFRICA 1942
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
None
is recorded in the Official List of Heraldic
Crests
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
3rd
Transferred to RN
30th
Commissioned as HMS HARTLAND at New York manned
by personnel from HM
Battleship MALAYA.
May
Passage
to Clyde.
29th
Joined Western Approaches Command at
Londonderry.
June
2nd
Sustained structural damaged when involved in
collision with mv WELSH
COAST.
Deployed for local convoy escort in NW
Approaches and joined escort for inward
Convoy HX130.
July
19th
Modified in Thames commercial shipyard to suit
RN escort duties.
(Note: Surface warning Radar Type 271 fitted.
See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse. for details of
development and use of radar
in Royal Navy.)
August
21st
On completion took passage to rejoin Western
Approaches at Londonderry.
Deployed for escort of outward convoys in OS
Series to West African and return inward
convoys of SL Series to Liverpool.
Joined escort for
Convoy OS4 to Bathurst
with HM Cutters GORLESTON, LULWORTH
and SENNEN.
September
Deployed for escorted of return Convoy SL88 to
UK with HMS WALNEY.
October
20th
At Belfast for fit of additional equipment.
31st
Resumed convoy escort duty.
November
5th
Passage to join HMS WALNEY in escort for Convoy
OS10.
8th
Slightly damaged by grounding.
December
22th
At Belfast for installation of High Frequency
Direction Finding outfit.
(Note: This equipment was used to determine the
bearing of wireless signals and hen used
in conjunction with bearings from another escort
or from shore stations fitted with
similar equipment could identify the position of
transmitting ships or submarine.
See SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)
1 9 4 2
January
12th
Returned to Londonderry to resume convoy escort
duty.
Part of escort for outward Convoy OS 17 with HM
Cutters GORLESTON, SENNEN and
TOTLAND.
February
Deployed as escort for returning Convoy SL99
with HMS WALNEY.
March
Part of escort for inward Convoy SL102 with HMS
WALNEY.
Joined escorted for outward Convoy OS22 with HM
Cutters GORLESTON, SENNEN and
TOTLAND.
April
Deployed with HMS WALNEY seas escort for return
Convoy SL104 rom Freetown.
May
Escorted outward Convoy OS26 and return Convoy
SL110.
June
8th
Taken in hand for refit at Falmouth.
July
31st
On completion resumed escort of West African
convoys.
August
Deployed with HMS WALNEY as escort for outward
Convoy OS 38.
September
Deployed with HMS WALNEY as escort for return
Convoy SL122.
October
Nominated for special duties during at Oran
during planned allied landings in North Africa.
(Operation TORCH).
13th
Under repair and prepared for special duties at
Belfast commercial shipyard,.
20th
On completion returned to Londonderry.
26th
Sailed from Clyde with HMS WALNEY to join TORCH
operation at Gibraltar.
November
Embarked specialist personnel and landing
parties at Gibraltar.
8th
Followed HMS WALNEY
into Oran harbour under cover of smoke-screen.
Sustained serious damage when under fire from
French destroyer TYPHON and shore
batteries,
Manny casualties incurred including guns crews.
Ship abandoned and sank when magazine exploded.
(Note: For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by C Barnett, Naval Staff
History and RELUCTANT ENEMIES by N Tute.)
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS HARTLAND
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
|
19/06/41
|
20/06/41
|
26/06/41
|
01/07/41
|
HX
135
|
11/07/41
|
12/07/41
|
02/09/41
|
03/09/41
|
OS
005
|
17/09/41
|
21/09/41
|
24/09/41
|
27/09/41
|
SL
088
|
08/10/41
|
08/10/41
|
02/10/41
|
08/10/41
|
HG
074
|
18/10/41
|
18/10/41
|
07/11/41
|
10/11/41
|
OS
011
|
25/11/41
|
28/11/41
|
30/11/41
|
02/12/41
|
SL
094
|
20/12/41
|
30/12/41
|
18/01/42
|
25/01/42
|
OS
017
|
02/02/42
|
07/02/42
|
27/01/42
|
03/02/42
|
SL
099
|
16/02/42
|
16/02/42
|
04/03/42
|
04/03/42
|
OS
021
|
21/03/42
|
24/03/42
|
24/03/42
|
26/03/42
|
SL
104
|
12/04/42
|
12/04/42
|
22/04/42
|
23/04/42
|
OS
026
|
09/05/42
|
09/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
SL
110
|
04/06/42
|
04/06/42
|
20/08/42
|
20/08/42
|
OS
038
|
07/09/42
|
07/09/42
|
14/09/42
|
15/09/42
|
SL
122
|
06/10/42
|
06/10/42
|
26/10/42
|
26/10/42
|
KMF
001
|
08/11/42
|
08/11/42
|
(Note
on Convoys)