Modified BLACK SWAN-Class Sloop ordered from Denny at Dumbarton under 1940 Build Programme on 9th January 1941. This ship was laid down on 13th June 1941 and was launched on 24th September in that year by Lady Denny as the 4th RN ship to carry the name, introduced in 1808. It had last been used by a WW1 trawler. Build was completed on 29th March 1943 and the ship had been adopted by Gravesend, Kent after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942. A new design anti-submarine ahead throwing mortar (HEDGEHOG) as well as surface and fire control radar were fitted during build.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

SICILY 1943 - ATLANTIC 1943

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge:  On a Field White, a cock crowing proper.

 

M o t t o

Vigil antibus Non Dormientibus:  'To watchers not to sleepers'

 

 

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

 

March                    Commissioned for service and carried out Contractor's sea trials.

                9th          Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

                                For details of radar and anti-submarine weapons and their development see RADAR AT

                                SEA by D Howse, THE TORPEDOMEN by A Poland, and SEEK AND STRIKE by W

                                Hackmann.)

 

April                       On completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory.

                                Worked-up for operational service at Tobermory.

 

May                        Joined 7th Escort Group based at Greenock for Atlantic convoy escort duty.

                                Escorted Floating Dock under tow from Oban to Malta for passage to Gibraltar

                                (Note: This operation took place in very adverse weather and two men fell overboard

                                when the tow parted.)

                                Detached after 11 days to refuel in Lisbon.

 

June                        Deployed for escort of convoys between Gibraltar and UK.

                28th        Part of escort for Convoy KMF18

 

July

                7th          Detached from KMF18 and took passage to Bone.

                9th          Joined escort for Convoy KMF19 during passage to Beach Head in Sicily

                10th        Detached from KMF19 and joined Support Force East for support of allied landings.

                                (Operation HUSKY - For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C.

                                Barnett, Naval Staff History and for details of all mercantiles and warships involved

                                BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.).

 

August                  On release from HUSKY support resumed Atlantic convoy escort and support duty.

 

September

                1st           Part of escort for Convoy MKF22 from Gibraltar to UK with ships of Group.

                                Nominated for refit in Clyde commercial, shipyard.

 

October                  On completion of refit resumed Atlantic convoy defence.

                                (See SEEK AND STRIKE and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY).

 

November

                2nd         Sailed from Freetown with ships of Group as escort for inward Convoy SL139 during

                                passage to Liverpool.

                16th        Remained with escort when SL139 merged with Convoy MKS for passage to Liverpool.

                                (Note: MKS130 was routine convoy from Gibraltar to Liverpool)

                18th        During defence of convoy from attacks by SCHILL U-Boat Group hit by acoustic torpedo

                                (T5 - GNAT) fired from U515 in position 39.47N 20 12W (250 miles ENE of San Miguel

                                Island, Azores,

                                Stern blown off and taken in tow to Ponta Delgado, Azores.

                                28 of ship's company were lost.

                22nd       De-equipped and Paid off.

 

December              Towed to Horta, Azores by Salvage Vessel SALVEDA.

 

S p e c i a l   N o t e

 

The hulk was used as Base Ship for RN personnel serving at Horta and was renamed HESPERIDES. On 31st December 1943 this identity was changed to LUSITANIA II but the ship continued to be used as the Base Ship for the remainder of the European war when she was again Paid Off. The hulk was sold for breaking up in Lisbon in 1946.

 

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Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS CHANTICLEER

by Don Kindell

 

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

(Note on Convoys)