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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2004

HMS ABERDEEN (L 97) - Grimsby-class Sloop
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Aberdeen (Photo Ships, click to enlarge) return to Contents List 
 

GRIMSBY-Class Sloop ordered from HM Dockyard Devonport under the 1934 Programme on 1st March 1935 and laid down on 12th June 1935. The ship was launched by the Lady Provost of the city, Mrs E Watt on 22nd January 1936 as the 2nd RN ship to carry the name previously used by a WW1 trawler. Build was completed on 17th September 1936- During build this ship was fitted for use as Despatch Vessel for the use of the CinC Mediterranean Fleet. After commissioning at Devonport she worked up at Portland before a visit to Aberdeen. All her pre-war service was in the Mediterranean and she was recalled to UK for convoy defence duties after the outbreak of WW2. This ship was adopted by the civil community of Ramsbottom, Lancashire after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC   1939-45 - NORTH AFRICA  1942

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Red, a triple towered castle surrounded

by a double treasure all Silver.

 

M o t t o

Bon accord: 'Good fellowship'

 

 

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 3 9

 

September             Deployed in Mediterranean as Despatch Vessel.

                3rd          Recalled to UK for convoy defence duties and took passage from Malta.

 

October                  Deployed with 1st Escort Division of Western Approaches Command for convoy escort duty

                                in English Channel and SW Approaches.

 

November              Convoy defence duties in SW Approaches in continuation.

to                            (Note: CinC Western Approaches was based at Plymouth and convoys were formed in SW

December              Approaches controlled from his headquarters.)

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Channel and SW Approaches convoy defence in continuation.

                9th          Joined inward Convoy HG14F of 15 mercantiles as escort during passage from Gibraltar

                                to Liverpool in SW Approaches

                                (Note: Other ships in escort were HM Sloops BIDEFORD, LEITH, HM Destroyers WITCH,

                                WANDERER and WARWICK.

                12th        HMS LEITH detached from escort.

                15th        Detached from HG 14 in Irish Sea and returned to Plymouth.

                18th        Joined outward Convoy OG15F of 50 ships on formation in SW Approaches for escort with

                                HM Destroyer DOUGLAS during passage to Gibraltar.

                22nd       Detached from OG15 before arrival at Gibraltar and joined HM Destroyer ACTIVE and

                                WHITEHALL as escort for inward Convoy HG16 of 42 ships during Atlantic passage to

                                Liverpool.

                27th        Detached from HG16 in Irish Sea on relief by HM Destroyer VANOC and took passage to

                                Plymouth.

 

February

                19th        Deployed as escort for outward convoy OG19F of 34 ships on formation in SW Approaches

                                for escort with HM Sloop DEPTFORD during initial stage of passage in Atlantic.

                25th        Detached on arrival of OG19F at Gibraltar.

                                (Note: Tanker BRITISH ENDEAVOUR in OG19F was sunk by U 50 on 22nd.).

                                Joined inward Convoy HG20 of 37 ships at Gibraltar and sailed from Gibraltar as escort with

                                HM Sloops DEPTFORD and HM Destroyer WISHART during Atlantic passage to Liverpool.

 

March

                3rd          Detached from HG20 on relief by HM Destroyers VENETIA and WILD SWAN and took

                                passage to Plymouth in SW Approaches.

                25th        Joined outward Convoy OG23 of 51 ships with HM Destroyers CAMPBELL, VOLUNTEER,

                                WALKER and WANDERER on formation in SW Approaches as escort during Atlantic

                                passage to Gibraltar

                27th        Detached from OG23 during passage and returned to Plymouth.

 

April

                6th          Joined outward Convoy OG25F of 57 ships with HM Sloops ROCHESTER, WELLINGTON

                                and HM Destroyer VIMY as escort during passage to Gibraltar on formation in SW

                                approaches.

                9th          HM Destroyer WISHART joined escort.

                16th        Detached from OG25F on arrival at Gibraltar without loss.

 

May                        Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

                                Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to U97.

 

June                        Transferred to Rosyth for escort of convoys in North Sea and NW Approaches.

                                (Note: This redeployment was made consequent on the re-routing of Atlantic convoy traffic

                                from Channel because of the German occupation of France).

 

July                         Deployed for convoy defence in North Sea and NW Approaches.

to

October

 

November              Transferred to Liverpool Sloop Division for Atlantic convoy escort.

                                (Note: Headquarters of CinC Western Approaches Command had transferred to Liverpool

                                from Plymouth.)

 

December              Atlantic deployment in continuation.

                22nd       Sustained slight structural damaged in collision with HM Corvette COLUMBINE but ship

                                remained operational.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to                            Nominated for refit.

February

 

March                    Under refit.

                                Carried out post refit trials and on completion of post refit trials resumed Atlantic convoy

                                escort duty.

 

April                       Deployed as part of escort for Convoy OG57 to Gibraltar.

                11th        Arrived at Gibraltar and took passage to Halifax.

 

May                        Deployed at Halifax.

                6th          Joined escort for Convoy HX125 to UK.

                22nd       Detached from HX 125.

 

June                        Transferred to 41st Escort Group based at Londonderry for defence of convoys between UK

                                and Freetown.

 

July                         Atlantic convoy defence on Freetown route in continuation

to                            (Note: Other ships in Group included HM Sloops IBIS, ENCHANTRESS, HM Cutters

December              WALNEY and HARTLAND (Ex US Navy) and HM Destroyer CLARE (Ex US Navy).)

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.

to                            (Note: During this period surface warning Radar Type 271 and HF D/F equipment was fitted

September             for detection of radio transmissions from surfaced submarines to locate their positions

                                in conjunction with other ships fitted with this equipment.

                                See RADAR AT SEA by D Hawse and SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann)

 

October                  Nominated for defence of military convoys to Gibraltar in support of the landings in North

                                Africa (Operation TORCH)

                26th        Deployed as part of escort for military convoy KMF1.

                                (Note: This was part of the preliminary build-up for TORCH landings)

 

November              Deployed at Gibraltar to prepare for support of planned landings.

                                Nominated for support of landings on Arzue Beach at Oran.

                8th          Deployed off Oran for support of landings.

                                For details of TORCH see Naval Staff History and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY

                                by C Barnett.

                                Deployed for escort of follow-up convoys.

                14th        Sailed from Gibraltar as part of escort for return military Convoy MKF1Y.

                20th        Detached from MKF1Y on arrival in Clyde.

                                Nominated for refit at Tyne commercial shipyard.

 

December              Passage to Tyne.

                4th          Taken in hand for refit at Tyne shipyard.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Under refit.

                                (Note: During this refit an ahead throwing mortar for attacks on submarines was fitted.

                                See SEEK AND STRIKE).

 

February                Post refit trials

                23rd        Took passage to Tobermory for work-up prior to resuming Atlantic convoy defence.

 

March                    Joined 40th Escort Group and took passage to St Johns, Newfoundland.

                                Part of escort for Convoy HX229A to UK.

                10th        Took part in four days of A/S action in defence of attacks on Convoy HX229 by U-Boats

                                of RAUBGRAF, STURMER and DRANGER Groups with other escorts including ships

                                of British 4th Escort Group.

                                (Note: Ships in 40th Escort Group included HM Sloop HASTINGS HM Cutters LULWORTH

                                and LANDGUARD (Ex US Navy), HM Frigates MOYOLA and WAVENEY).

                                This defence took place during the most crucial stage of the Atlantic war.

                                The mercantile losses during passage of this convoy as well as those in the coincident

                                Convoy SC122 were so extensive that the whole future of convoy escort policy was

                                threatened)

                9th          Whilst escorting Convoy HX229 ran aground on the ice-edge and sustained damage to hull

                                structure including loss of underwater fittings for the submarine detection equipment.

                                See SEEK AND STRIKE and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).

                                (Note: For details of U-Boat deployments during this period see U-BOAT WAR IN THE

                                ATLANTIC (HMSO) and THE BATTLE CF THE ATLANTIC by D Maclntyre).

                26th        Taken in hand for repair in Liverpool.

 

April                       Under repair.

                                (Note: During this period an additional radar for surface and aircraft detection (Type 291)

                                was fitted as well as VHF radio telephone equipment for communication with other

                                escorts and with aircraft).

                                Nominated for deployment at Freetown for Atlantic convoy defence.

 

May                        Post refit trials.

                30th        On completion went for work-up at Tobermory.

 

June                        Passage to join West African Command.

 

July                         Deployed at Freetown for coastal convoys and local escort for OS/SL convoys.

 

August                  Freetown deployment in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Freetown deployment in continuation.

to

February

 

March                    Nominated for return to UK to refit and give leave.

                                (Note: Living conditions were particularly adverse in all ships deployed in West Africa.)

 

April                       Joined escort for Convoy SL154 during passage to UK.

 

May                        Taken in hand for refit

                                Additional repair work required and return to service in West Africa postponed.

 

June                        On completion of shipyard work to allow ocean passage sailed to Bermuda for completion

                                of refit work by HM Dockyard.

 

July                         Under refit in Bermuda.

to

August

 

September             Carried out post refit trials and sailed to Freetown to resume convoy defence in West

                                African waters.

 

October                  Deployed for convoy defence based at Freetown.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Freetown convoy defence in continuation.

to

April

 

May                        After VE Day remained at Freetown for local patrol and air sea rescue duties.

to                            (Note: Extensive air traffic was being used for return of US service personnel from

July                         Europe.)

                                Nominated for reduction to Reserve status at Gibraltar

 

August                  Passage to Gibraltar to pay off into Reserve.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS ABERDEEN was kept in Reserve at Gibraltar until the end of 1946 when the ship was placed on the Disposal List.  After tow to Devonport she was sold to BISCO on 16th December 1948 for breaking-up by T W Ward at Hayle, Cornwall where she arrived on 19th January 1949.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS ABERDEEN

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

 

 

 

 

 

07/09/39

14/09/39

GREEN 1

16/09/39

18/09/39

20/09/39

21/09/39

BLUE 002

30/09/39

30/09/39

08/10/39

08/10/39

GREEN 4

17/10/39

17/10/39

04/12/39

04/12/39

OA 047

07/12/39

08/12/39

22/12/39

22/12/39

OA 058

25/12/39

25/12/39

31/12/39

31/12/39

OG 013F

07/01/40

07/01/40

05/01/40

09/01/40

HG 014F

15/01/40

15/01/40

18/01/40

18/01/40

OG 015F

22/01/40

23/01/40

21/01/40

22/01/40

HG 016F

27/01/40

28/01/40

09/02/40

09/02/40

AXS 012

11/02/40

11/02/40

19/02/40

19/02/40

OG 019F

25/02/40

25/02/40

25/02/40

25/02/40

HG 020

03/03/40

06/03/40

07/03/40

07/03/40

OA 105G

unknown

11/03/40

25/03/40

25/03/40

OG 023

27/03/40

31/03/40

06/04/40

06/04/40

OG 025F

12/04/40

12/04/40

29/04/40

29/04/40

HG 028

06/05/40

09/05/40

08/05/40

19/05/40

HX 041

23/05/40

23/05/40

24/05/40

26/05/40

OA 154

unknown

unknown

17/05/40

30/05/40

SL 032

03/06/40

03/06/40

03/06/40

04/06/40

OA 161G

05/06/40

05/06/40

05/06/40

05/06/40

OG 032

10/06/40

10/06/40

08/06/40

10/06/40

HG 033

17/06/40

18/06/40

19/06/40

19/06/40

OA 171G

21/06/40

21/06/40

25/06/40

27/06/40

OA 174

28/06/40

unknown

16/07/40

02/08/40

SL 040

08/08/40

08/08/40

24/09/40

24/09/40

OA 219

28/09/40

28/09/40

17/09/40

29/09/40

HX 074

21/09/40

02/10/40

08/10/40

08/10/40

OA 226

11/10/40

11/10/40

27/09/40

13/10/40

SL 049

17/10/40

17/10/40

22/10/40

22/10/40

OA 233

24/10/40

24/10/40

16/10/40

27/10/40

HX 081

01/11/40

02/11/40

08/11/40

08/11/40

OB 240

12/11/40

13/11/40

19/12/40

19/12/40

OB 261

22/12/40

22/12/40

10/12/40

24/12/40

HX 095

26/12/40

27/12/40

05/01/41

06/01/41

OB 270

08/01/41

08/01/41

22/12/40

09/01/41

SL 060

13/01/41

13/01/41

18/01/41

18/01/41

OB 275

22/01/41

23/01/41

11/01/41

23/01/41

HX 102

28/01/41

29/01/41

09/02/41

09/02/41

OB 284

12/02/41

14/02/41

31/01/41

15/02/41

SC 021

16/02/41

18/02/41

27/02/41

27/02/41

OB 292

06/03/41

06/03/41

18/02/41

06/03/41

SC 023

09/03/41

09/03/41

27/03/41

27/03/41

OG 057

11/04/41

11/04/41

06/05/41

06/05/41

HX 125B

22/05/41

22/05/41

08/06/41

11/06/41

OB 331

18/06/41

19/06/41

20/06/41

24/06/41

HX 134

08/07/41

09/07/41

20/06/41

24/06/41

SC 035

08/07/41

09/07/41

22/10/41

31/10/41

HG 075

03/11/41

03/11/41

07/11/41

08/11/41

OS 011

26/11/41

28/11/41

30/11/41

02/12/41

SL 094

20/12/41

30/12/41

05/01/42

06/01/42

OS 016

20/01/42

23/01/42

27/01/42

29/01/42

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

21/06/42

21/06/42

OS 032

08/07/42

08/07/42

15/07/42

15/07/42

SL 116

03/08/42

04/08/42

20/08/42

20/08/42

OS 038

07/09/42

07/09/42

14/09/42

14/09/42

SL 122

06/10/42

06/10/42

26/10/42

26/10/42

KMF 001

08/11/42

08/11/42

21/11/42

21/11/42

MKS 001Y

30/11/42

30/11/42

09/03/43

15/03/43

HX 229A

22/03/43

26/03/43

16/06/43

19/06/43

OS 050KM

27/06/43

27/06/43

27/06/43

27/06/43

KMS 017G

29/06/43

29/06/43

04/08/43

04/08/43

TS 049

10/08/43

10/08/43

18/08/43

18/08/43

ST 074

unknown

unknown

19/09/43

19/09/43

LTS 002

24/09/43

24/09/43

27/09/43

27/09/43

STL 002

02/10/43

02/10/43

05/10/43

07/10/43

LTS 003

10/10/43

10/10/43

15/10/43

15/10/43

STL 003

22/10/43

20/10/43

01/11/43

01/11/43

TS 053

05/11/43

05/11/43

12/11/43

12/11/43

SL 140

15/11/43

24/11/43

09/11/43

17/11/43

OS 057

18/11/43

19/11/43

25/12/43

25/12/43

TS 055

30/12/43

30/12/43

02/01/44

02/01/44

STL 009

07/01/44

07/01/44

30/01/44

30/01/44

LTS 009

05/02/44

05/02/44

11/02/44

11/02/44

LTS 010

19/02/44

19/02/44

09/03/44

09/03/44

STL 014

15/03/44

13/03/44

20/03/44

20/03/44

LTS 014

27/03/44

27/03/44

01/04/44

01/04/44

SL 154

11/04/44

11/04/44

11/04/44

11/04/44

SL 154MK

19/04/44

23/04/44

18/09/44

18/09/44

LTS 030

22/09/44

25/09/44

04/10/44

04/10/44

ST 087

08/10/44

08/10/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

 

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