SHOREHAM-Class
Sloop
ordered under the 1929 Programme from
HM. Dockyard Devonport and laid
down on 10th June 1930. The ship was
launched on 1st April 1931 as the 5th RN
warship to carry
the name which
was introduced in 1695 and last used
in 1756
for a 6th Rate. She was completed on
27th November 1931 and deployed as a
Sloop
on the East Indies Station until 1938
when she went to
the China Station. In December 1939
she returned to UK.
After a WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
campaign
in February 1942 was appropriately
adopted by the civil community of
Bideford,
Devonshire.
B a t
t l
e H o n o
u r s
ATLANTIC
1939-45
- DUNKIRK 1940 - NORTH
AFRICA 1942 - BISCAY 1943 -
ENGLISH CHANNEL
1945
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Blue,
a Bridge silver,
beneath it a ship silver
upon 2
wavelets gold and green.
M
o t t
o
'Bide
your time'
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 on contraband control and
patrol on China Station.
to
October
November
Nominated for return to UK for
deployment in Home Waters.
December
Passage to
UK for
deployment in Home Waters as an Escort.
1
9 4 0
January
Passage in Mediterranean.
5th
After arrival at Gibraltar joined HM
Sloop ABERDEEN and HM Destroyer VIDETTE
as
escort for inward Convoy HGF14 during
passage to UK.
15th
Detached and took passage to Plymouth.
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard
Devonport.
February
Passage to Liverpool to join 1st Escort
Division at Liverpool for
convoy defence
in Western
Approaches Command.
11th
Joined outward Convoy OG18F on formation
in WS Approaches with HM Sloop
LEITH
As Ocean Escort during passage to
Gibraltar
(Note: HM Destroyer VERSATILE was Local
Escort a detached same day.)
17th
Detached with HMS LEITH and joined
inward Convoy HG19 as Ocean Escort
during passage
to Liverpool.
24th
HM Destroyers MACKAY, WALPOLE and
WHITSHED joined HG19 as Local Escort in
SW
Approaches
27th
Detached from HG19 with escorts and
returned to Plymouth.
March
14th
Deployed with outward Convoy OG22F in SW
Approaches as escort during passage to
Gibraltar with HM Sloop FOWEY.
19th
Detached from OG22F on arrival at
Gibraltar
Joined HM Destroyers VELOX and VIDETTE
as escort for Outward Convoy OG23F
during
passage in Atlantic from Liverpool
28th
Detached from OG23F on arrival in
Gibraltar.
April
5th
Deployed with HM Sloop FOWEY and HM
Destroyer WATCHMAN as escort for inward
Convoy HG25 during passage from
Gibraltar to Liverpool
15th
Detached from HG25 on arrival at
Liverpool and returned to Plymouth.
22nd
Joined outward Convoy OG27F on formation
in SW Approaches with HM Sloop
LEITH
as escort during passage to Gibraltar.
24th
HMS LEITH detached during passage and
returned to Plymouth.
28th
Detached from OG27F on arrival at
Gibraltar.
May
Detached FROM Western Approaches Command
to assist in evacuation of troops from
Dunkirk (Operation DYNAMO).
(For details see TWELVE DAYS AT
DUNKIRK
by D Divine, Naval Staff History and
BEF SHIPS by J de Winser.)
29th
Sustained serious damaged in air attack
during evacuation operations.
June
Under repair.
to
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to U43.
December
Carried out post repair trials
1
9 4 1
January
Passage to resume convoy defence
February
March
On completion of post refit trials carried
out work-up for operational service at
Tobermory
April
Rejoined Sloop Division at Liverpool for
service as escort for OG series outward
convoys
to Gibraltar and HG series inward convoys
to Liverpool.
May
31st
Deployed from Gibraltar with HM Corvette
ALYSEE and HM Trawler IMPERIEUSE
in support of escort of convoy under
attack by group of Italian submarines.
(See CHRONOLOGY OF THE WAR AT SEA by
Jurgen Rhower (2005) for details.)
June
Deployed with EG40 for Atlantic convoy
defence
to
(For details of Atlantic convoy defence
and tactics see U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC
July
(HMSO), THE
BATTLE OF THE
ATLANTIC
by D Macintyre. SEEK AND STRIKE by
W
Hackmann and above reference.)
(Note: Other ships in EG40 included HM
Cutters LANDGUARD, WALNEY and HM
Destroyer STANLEY)
August
23rd
Deployed for escort of outward Convoy OS4
during passage from
Liverpool to
Freetown
Other ships deployed included HM
Destroyers VANOC, WALKER with another
Destroyer.
another Sloop and two Trawlers.
26th
Sighted by U557 of the CENTRE Group and
reported to U-Boat Headquarters at
Kerneval.
Seven other submarines were instructed to
join U557 for concerted attacks.
27th
Under attacks by U557 during which four
mercantiles were sunk
Took part in counter attacks in heavy
weather some of which were driven off.
(See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair, THE
REAL
CRUEL SEA by R Woodman
and ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM by A Hague.)
28th
After mercantiles on passage to
Panama
were detached, British mercantile OTAIO
was sunk
by U558.
September
11th
Detached from OS4 on arrival at
Freetown.
14th
Deployed as escort for inward convoy SL87
from
Freetown to
Liverpool
with HM Cutters
LULWORTH, GORLESTON, Free French Patrol
Vessel COMMANDANT DUBOC and
HM Corvette GARDENIA.
21st
Convoy sighted by U107 and other
submarines ordered to take part in attacks
on SL87.
22nd
Carried out A/S operations against U68,
U103 and U107 in defence of SL87.
(Note: Two mercantiles were sunk and
another damaged and abandoned
24th
Carried out further attacks against
reinforced U-Boat Group during which four
more
mercantiles were sunk.
(Note: For details see above references.
October
6th
Detached from SL87 on arrival in
Liverpool.
17th
Board of Enquiry held at
Londonderry
on board HM Sloop EGRET into the conduct
of defence
of this convoy. As a result the Senior of
The Escort Group in HMS GORLESTON was
disciplined.
Deployed as escort for outward convoy OS10
during passage from
Liverpool
to Freetown
with HM Cutters LULWORTH, GORLESTON, HM
Corvette GARDENIA and French
Patrol Vessel COMMANDANT DUBOC of Group.
(Note: One source records corvette was HMS
VERBENA)
31st
Convoy under attacks by U96 which were
driven off by surface gun and depth charge
attacks but one mercantile was sunk. See
above references.
November
Drove off further attacks by STOERTBECKKER
U-Boat Group formed to reinforce
U96. No other ship of OS10 was sunk. (See
ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM.)
December
EG40 deployment in continuation
1
9 4 2
January
15th
Deployed with HM Sloop LONDONDERRY, HM
Cutters LANDGUARD, LULWORTH
CULVER of Group and joined on sailing from
Freetown
as escort for SL98 during passage
to Liverpool.
25th
HMS CULVER detached to escort mercantile
ss NURTURETON to Funchal, Madeira for
repair to boiler that had developed defect
since joining SL98.
26th
HMS CULVER Rejoined SL98 escort from
Madeira.
31st
Convoy under attack by U105 during which
HMS CULVER was torpedoed and sunk by
U105. Submarine sustained damaged during
depth charge counter attacks
(Note: Magazine exploded after ship hit by
two torpedoes and sank in about one
minute.)
(See above reference and WARSHIPS LOSSES
OF WW2 by D Brown.)
HMS CULVER was one of the first Atlantic
escorts to be fitted with HF/DF
equipment for locating source of wireless
transmissions. (See SEEK
AND
STRIKE.)
Radar Type 271 was unserviceable at the
time
Rescued 12 of the ship’s company.
For details see above references.
February
5th
Detached from SL98 on arrival at Liverpool
(Note: None of the 26 ships in convoy was
lost.)
March
Under refit at Hartlepool. Involved in
minor collision with ss PETROPHALT but
completion not
delayed.
(Note: Radar Type 286M (Ex RAF equipment )
modified for ship installation fitted.
For details of the development and use of
radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA by
D Howse.)
April
On completion of work-up at Tobermory
resumed deployment for escort of UK – West
Africa route convoys.
Nominated for service with EG42.
May
Deployed for Convoy escort with 42nd Group
to
High Frequency Direction Finding Equipment
fitted, (See SEEK AND STRIKE by
June
W Hackmann.)
July
5th
Deployed with HM Sloops LONDONDERRY,
HASTINGS and HM Cutter LULWORTH
of Group as escort for inward Convoy SL115
during passage from Freetown to Liverpool.
15th
Under torpedo attack by Italian submarine
CALVI which failed.
(Note: HMS LULWORTH later sank CALVI in
surface gun duel.)
See CHRONOLOGY OF THE WAR AT SEA BY J
Rohwer.)
27th
Detached from SL115 on arrival at
Liverpool
(Note: No ship of the 27 in convoy was
lost during passage )
Nominated for support of joint
anti-submarine operations with RAF in Bay
of Biscay area.
August
Deployed with 38th Escort Group in support
role off Finisterre.
1st
Rescued crew of RAF CATALINA aircraft
September
Nominated for escort of military convoys
to Gibraltar for North African landings.
(Operation TORCH - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY and Naval Staff
History).
October
25th
Sailed from Clyde as part of escort for
follow-up military convoy KMS1
during passage to Gibraltar (Operation
TORCH).
November
Atlantic convoy duties in continuation.
December
In collision with HM Canadian Frigate
LOUISBERG.
1
9 4 3
January
Under refit and repair to collision
damage at Avonmouth.
to
Surface warning radar Type 271 fitted
and radar type 291 replaced Type 286M.
March
April
On completion of post refit trials
worked-up at Tobermory for Escort duty.
May
Rejoined Western Approaches Command for
Atlantic convoy escort and support.
June
Escort and support of Atlantic convoys
in continuation.
to
(For details of the development of new
weapons and anti-submarine tactics see
July
SEEK AND STRIKE.)
August
Deployed for Anti-submarine operations
in Bay of Biscay with 40th Escort Group.
(Operation MUSKETRY - see CONFLICT OVER
THE BAY by N Franks).
25th
During Bay of Biscay operations attacked
by Glider Bombs and damaged by three
near misses.
Casualties included one killed and 16
injured.
September
Under repair at Londonderry.
October
On completion joined 41st Escort Group
for convoys between UK and Freetown.
November
Convoy defence in continuation with
Group.
to
December
1
9 4 4
January
Transferred with Group to Gibraltar for
convoy escort.
to
March
April
Joined 44th Escort Group in continuation
of Mediterranean convoy escort duty.
to
Nominated to return to UK for refit and
to join 41st Escort Group.
December
1
9 4 5
January
Passage to Devonport and under refit.
to
March
April
Joined 41st Escort Group at Devonport
for convoy defence in SW Approaches
(Note: During this period SCHNORKEL
fitted U-Boats were concentrating their
attacks on
coastal convoys in focal points. Ocean
Convoys were also being routed via the
English
Channel because the enemy air threat
from French bases had been removed).
May
Part of escort of Convoy MKS100.
June
Nominated for transfer to Reserve.
Passage to Cardiff to Pay-of and
de-stored.
July
Reduced to Reserve.
August
Laid-up at Milford Haven.
P o s t W a
r
N o t e s
HMS BIDEFORD remained in
Reserve at Milford Haven and was placed
on the Disposal Lost. She was sold to BISCO
for demolition by T
W Ward
at Milford Haven. Later that month the
ship was towed to the breaker’s yard.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
BIDEFORD
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
05/01/40
|
05/01/40
|
HG
014F
|
15/01/40
|
15/01/40
|
|
26/12/39
|
10/01/40
|
SL
014
|
15/01/40
|
15/01/40
|
|
08/02/40
|
10/02/40
|
OA
088GF
|
11/02/40
|
11/02/40
|
|
11/02/40
|
11/02/40
|
OG
018F
|
17/02/40
|
17/02/40
|
|
17/02/40
|
17/02/40
|
HG
019
|
27/02/40
|
27/02/40
|
|
28/02/40
|
28/02/40
|
OA
100G
|
01/03/40
|
01/03/40
|
|
29/02/40
|
29/02/40
|
OA
101
|
01/03/40
|
03/03/40
|
|
14/03/40
|
14/03/40
|
OG
022F
|
19/03/40
|
19/03/40
|
|
21/03/40
|
unknown
|
OG
023F
|
28/03/40
|
28/03/40
|
|
05/04/40
|
05/04/40
|
HG
025
|
15/04/40
|
15/04/40
|
|
22/04/40
|
22/04/40
|
OG
027F
|
28/04/40
|
28/04/40
|
|
07/05/40
|
07/05/40
|
HG
029
|
10/05/40
|
17/05/40
|
|
20/05/40
|
20/05/40
|
OG
030
|
23/05/40
|
26/05/40
|
|
20/05/40
|
26/05/40
|
HG
031F
|
28/05/40
|
29/05/40
|
|
15/05/41
|
15/05/41
|
OG
062
|
29/05/41
|
29/05/41
|
|
04/06/41
|
04/06/41
|
HG
064
|
19/06/41
|
19/06/41
|
|
04/07/41
|
04/07/41
|
OG
067
|
20/07/41
|
20/07/41
|
|
28/07/41
|
28/07/41
|
HG
069
|
11/08/41
|
11/08/41
|
|
23/08/41
|
23/08/41
|
OS
004
|
09/09/41
|
11/09/41
|
|
14/09/41
|
16/09/41
|
SL
087
|
06/10/41
|
06/10/41
|
|
25/10/41
|
26/10/41
|
OS
010
|
15/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
|
18/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
SL
093
|
10/12/41
|
10/12/41
|
|
23/12/41
|
24/12/41
|
OS
015
|
11/01/42
|
13/01/42
|
|
15/01/42
|
18/01/42
|
SL
098
|
05/02/42
|
05/02/42
|
|
12/04/42
|
23/04/42
|
OS
025
|
29/04/42
|
29/04/42
|
|
04/05/42
|
04/05/42
|
SL
109
|
18/05/42
|
28/05/42
|
|
21/05/42
|
21/05/42
|
HG
083
|
07/06/42
|
07/06/42
|
|
11/06/42
|
11/06/42
|
OS
031
|
27/06/42
|
30/06/42
|
|
05/07/42
|
05/07/42
|
SL
115
|
25/07/42
|
26/07/42
|
|
10/08/42
|
11/08/42
|
OS
037
|
27/08/42
|
29/08/42
|
|
03/09/42
|
03/09/42
|
SL
121
|
21/09/42
|
21/09/42
|
|
26/09/42
|
09/10/42
|
SC
103
|
14/10/42
|
14/10/42
|
|
25/10/42
|
25/10/42
|
KMS
002G
|
12/11/42
|
12/11/42
|
|
15/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
MKS
001X
|
23/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
|
11/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
KMS
005G
|
24/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
|
22/12/42
|
26/12/42
|
MKS
004
|
06/01/43
|
06/01/43
|
|
25/04/43
|
09/05/43
|
SC
128
|
10/05/43
|
13/05/43
|
|
18/05/43
|
27/05/43
|
SC
131
|
28/05/43
|
31/05/43
|
|
28/05/43
|
02/06/43
|
ONS
009
|
04/06/43
|
09/06/43
|
|
26/05/43
|
04/06/43
|
SC
132
|
06/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
|
01/06/43
|
06/06/43
|
ON
187
|
09/06/43
|
15/06/43
|
|
16/06/43
|
20/06/43
|
ON
189
|
22/06/43
|
01/07/43
|
|
15/06/43
|
23/06/43
|
HX
244
|
26/06/43
|
30/06/43
|
|
07/10/43
|
07/10/43
|
OS
056KM
|
18/10/43
|
18/10/43
|
|
18/10/43
|
18/10/43
|
OS
056
|
29/10/43
|
29/10/43
|
|
02/11/43
|
02/11/43
|
SL
139
|
16/11/43
|
14/11/43
|
|
28/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
OS
059
|
08/12/43
|
08/12/43
|
|
12/12/43
|
12/12/43
|
SL
143
|
25/12/43
|
25/12/43
|
|
07/01/44
|
08/01/44
|
OS
063
|
17/01/44
|
17/01/44
|
|
22/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
SL
147
|
02/02/44
|
02/02/44
|
|
07/02/44
|
12/02/44
|
KMS
040
|
18/02/44
|
18/02/44
|
|
24/02/44
|
28/02/44
|
GUS
032
|
07/03/44
|
23/03/44
|
|
23/02/44
|
10/03/44
|
UGS
034
|
20/03/44
|
20/03/44
|
|
30/03/44
|
31/03/44
|
MKS
045
|
11/04/44
|
11/04/44
|
|
17/04/44
|
17/04/44
|
KMS
047
|
27/04/44
|
27/04/44
|
|
04/05/44
|
05/05/44
|
GUS
039
|
15/05/44
|
29/05/44
|
|
14/06/44
|
14/06/44
|
KMS
053
|
23/06/44
|
24/06/44
|
|
28/07/44
|
29/07/44
|
MKS
057
|
08/08/44
|
08/08/44
|
|
13/08/44
|
13/08/44
|
KMS
059
|
23/08/44
|
23/08/44
|
|
02/09/44
|
03/09/44
|
GUS
051
|
08/09/44
|
28/09/44
|
|
23/08/44
|
12/09/44
|
UGS
052
|
17/09/44
|
17/09/44
|
|
26/09/44
|
27/09/44
|
MKS
063
|
08/10/44
|
08/10/44
|
|
11/10/44
|
11/10/44
|
KMS
065
|
21/10/44
|
21/10/44
|
|
01/11/44
|
02/11/44
|
GUS
057
|
07/11/44
|
30/11/44
|
|
22/10/44
|
12/11/44
|
UGS
058
|
18/11/44
|
18/11/44
|
|
01/01/45
|
01/01/45
|
MKF
037
|
04/01/45
|
06/01/45
|
|
02/03/45
|
02/03/45
|
ON
288
|
07/03/45
|
19/03/45
|
|
23/02/45
|
07/03/45
|
HX
340
|
10/03/45
|
10/03/45
|
|
22/03/45
|
22/03/45
|
OS
118KM
|
25/03/45
|
29/03/45
|
|
21/03/45
|
25/03/45
|
MKS
090G
|
28/03/45
|
28/03/45
|
|
07/04/45
|
07/04/45
|
OS
121KM
|
10/04/45
|
14/04/45
|
|
05/04/45
|
10/04/45
|
MKS
093G
|
13/04/45
|
14/04/45
|
|
12/04/45
|
12/04/45
|
ON
296
|
14/04/45
|
30/04/45
|
|
17/04/45
|
19/04/45
|
OS
123KM
|
20/04/45
|
23/04/45
|
|
15/04/45
|
21/04/45
|
MKS
095G
|
23/04/45
|
23/04/45
|
|
11/05/45
|
12/05/45
|
OS
128KM
|
14/05/45
|
15/05/45
|
|
10/05/45
|
15/05/45
|
MKS
100G
|
17/05/45
|
17/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
