Modified BLACK SWAN-class Sloop ordered from Denny at Dumbarton under 1941 Build Programme on 19th December 1941. The ship was laid down on 25th March 1942 and launched on 27th May 1943 by Miss Grange as the 9th RN snip to carry the name. It had been introduced in 1793 for the Prize PERLE, and last  borne by a cruiser built in 1903 and sold in 1920. Build was completed on 2nd November 1943. An anti-submarine ahead throwing mortar (HEDGEHOG) and a centimetric surface warning radar (Type 273) as well as a standard fire control radar (Type 285) were fitted during build.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 SCHELDT 1809 - CHINA 1856-60 - CEREBERE Action 1800 - THETIS Action 1808 - NIEMEN Action 1809 - ASHANTEE 1873-74 - SHAH and  HUASCAR Actions 1877 - HELIGOLAND 1914 - DARDANELLES  1915  - KOREA  1951-52*

(* Awarded for UN service)

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge:  On a Field Blue, a winged anchor gold

 

 

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

 

October                  Commissioning and Contractors trials

 

November

                2nd         Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

                                Passage to Tobermory on completion of trials and storing.                        

                                Worked up at Tobermory for convoy defence.

 

December              Joined 47th Escort Group at Greenock for Atlantic convoy escort duty.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Part of escort for Convoy KMF38 to Gibraltar and returned with Convoy MKF28.

 

February                Nominated for duty in Mediterranean and took passage to Gibraltar.

                                Joined 37th Escort Group on arrival.

 

March                    Deployed for escort of convoys through Mediterranean to Port Said.

 

April                       Mediterranean convoy escort in continuation.

                30th        Joined US Task Force 64 to supplement escort for military convoy UGS36 with HM

                                Cruiser COLOMBO, Dutch Frigate JOHANN MARITS VAN NASSAU, HM Sloops

                                BLACK SWAN, DEPTFORD, Dutch Sloop FRISO and HM Corvette CAMPION.

                                Under submarine and air attack                        

 

May                        Mediterranean convoy defence in continuation.

to

October

 

November

                15th        Taken in hand for refit at Devonport.

 

December              Under refit at Devonport.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  On completion of post refit trials joined 22nd Escort Group based at Liverpool.

                                Deployed for escort and support of North Atlantic convoys.

                16th        Shared credit for the sinking of U482 with HM Sloops PEACOCK, HART, STARLING

                                and HM Frigate LOCH CRAGGIE in position 55.30N, 05.53W.

                                There were no survivors from the submarine.

                                (Note:  This submarine had torpedoed and damaged HM Escort Carrier THANE in North

                                Channel earlier. She was declared a total loss.

                                See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)

                                     (Update: The attacked target is now listed as a non-sub target. U.482 had been sunk on 25

                                     November 1944 in 60.18N, 04.52W by HM Frigate ASCENSION. HMS THANE's attacker

                                     was U.1172, not U.482 (thanks to Michael Pocock and Uboat.net).)

 

February                Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

                20th        Sank U1208 in position 51.43N 07.07W (SW Approaches - St Georges Channel) in defence

                                of Convoy HX337. There were no survivors.

                                (See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)

                                (Note:  Atlantic convoys had been diverted to Irish Sea and English Channel in early 1945

                                after threat of air attack had been removed - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE

                                CLOSELY by C Barnett and SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann).

                                     (Update: This attack sank U.1276 in 51.48N, 07.07W. U.1208 was sunk on the 27

                                     February in the English Channel in 49.52N, 06.07W by HM Frigates DUCKWORTH and

                                     ROWLEY (thanks to Michael Pocock and Uboat.net).)

 

March                    Convoy defence in SW Approaches and UK coastal convoys in continuation.

to

April

 

May                        Nominated for service in Far East.

                15th        Taken in hand for refit at Devonport.

 

June                        Under refit and prepared for service with British Pacific Fleet.

                                On completion took passage to join Fleet in Pacific.

 

July                         Joined BPF at Manus.

                                Deployed as escort for British Fleet Train with US 3rd Fleet.

 

August                  Fleet Train duties in continuation.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS AMETHYST reverted to RN control after VJ Day and joined 32nd Escort Group of BPF. She was deployed for patrol and support of repatriation and occupation operations. On 6th September 1945 she was present at Rabaul for the surrender of Japanese forces in the Bismarck Islands. The ship refitted in New Zealand in early 1946 and then rejoined the Fleet at Hong Kong. She remained in the Far East and achieved some renown when she escaped from Chinese detention and sailed down the Yangtse River to rejoin the Fleet. The ship returned to UK for refit in 1950.Re-commissioned for further service in the Far East until 1952 she was finally Paid-off and went in Reserve. She was placed on the Disposal List but before being broken up at Plymouth was used for the making of the film YANGTSE INCIDENT to record her famous escape. However during filming she was holed by an explosive charge and had to be withdrawn from use. The ship was sold to BISCO on 18th January 1957 for demolition at Plymouth by Demmelweek and Redding and arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard the next day.

 

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Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS AMETHYST

by Don Kindell

 

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above

(Note on Convoys)