GRIMSBY-Class Sloop
ordered from HM Dockyard Devonport under
the 1932 Programme on 1st May 1933
with HM Sloop WELLINGTON. She was
laid down on 21st August 1933 and
launched by Mrs Henderson on
11th April 1934 as the 5th RN ship to
carry the name introduced in 1697 for a
5th Rate. It was previously used for a
cruiser built in 1913 and
sold in 1921. Her build was completed on
22nd
November 1934
and she served exclusively on the
China Station until December 1939 when
recalled to
UK
for war service. She had not returned
to
refit or re-commission since build. In
October 1941 the ship was
adopted by the civil community of Lowestoft
and Lothingland after a successful
WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
campaign.
B
a t t l e H o n o u r s
QUEBEC
1759 - GENOA
1795 -
MINERVE Action
- HELIGOLAND 1914 -
DOGGER BANK 1915 -
ATLANTIC
1940-45
H
e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field
Black a Lowestoft
plate proper, surmounted by
an
oriental
crown Gold.
M
o t t o
Pont
de
Jour: 'Turn out early'
M
a n n i n g
P o r t
Devonport
S
u m m a r y o
f
S e r v i c e b e f
o r e S e p t e m b e
r 1 9 3 9
1 9 3 4
October
Dockyard trials
November
Commissioned for Acceptance trials
20th
Commissioned for service on China
Station.
December
On completion of Acceptance Trials
Carried out Shakedown and prepared for
foreign service.
Visited Lowestoft before return to Devonport.
12th
Sailed from Plymouth for service at
Hong Kong.
1 9 3 5
January
Passage to Hong Kong via Mediterranean.
During passage developed defects in
boilers
February
15th
Arrived at Hong Kong with serious
defects to boilers.
Taken in hand for repair by HM
Dockyard, Hong Kong.
March
Under repair
to
April
May
On completion carried out post-repair
trials before commencing operation
service
June
Deployed for patrol including support
of mercantile traffic in China Sea and visits
to
to ports in China and French Indo
China.
December
(Note: RN ships were deployed at
Wei-hai Wei during summer months for
Fleet
harbour and sea exercises with Fleet
units including submarines.)
1 9 3 6
Patrol and visits programme in
continuation
(Note: Visits were paid to Borneo,
Sarawak and Hainan in January.
and Japanese ports in August)
1 9 3 7
January
China Station patrol, visits and
exercise programme in continuation
to
(Note: Re-commissioning arranged on
Station with new crew arriving
March
by sea.)
April
4th
Re-commissioned at Singapore.
May
Resumed duties and rejoined Fleet
programme
June
China Station deployment in
continuation based at Hong Kong
to
(Note: Routine dockings were carried
out at Hong Kong.)
December
1 9 3 8
January
Deployed on China station for patrol,
visits and exercises with Fleet units.
to
Nominated for refit in Singapore.
August
September
Taken in hand for refit by HM
Dockyard.
October
Under refit
November
On completion of dockyard work carried
out post refit trials
Passage to Hong Kong to resume operational service.
December
Deployed at Hong Kong for patrol and defence of British Flagged mercantiles.
1 9 3 9
January
Hong Kong deployment in continuation
to
Nominated for refit and modification
of main armament by HM Dockyard,
June
Hong Kong.
July
Taken in hand for fit of twin 4in HA
weapons in place of original single
4in
LA mountings
August
Under refit
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
Under refit in Hong Kong.
to
Nominated for return to UK for convoy
defence on completion
November
December
8th
Carried out post refit trials off Hong
Kong
On completion took passage from Hong
Kong to Gibraltar.
1 9 4 0
January
Arrived at Gibraltar
13th
Joined escort for Convoy HG15F at
Gibraltar for passage to UK.
21st
Detached from HG15F and took passage
to Devonport.
February
5th
Docked at Devonport prior to
deployment with Rosyth Escort Force.
March
3rd
Deployed at Rosyth for convoy escort
from Forth area through NW Approaches.
(Note: Enemy air attacks were
frequently made on these convoys.)
April
Convoy Escort based at Rosyth in
continuation.
May
Rosyth deployment in continuation.
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to U59 (May).
June
Deployed in North Sea for coastal convoy defence and patrol.
to
August
Transferred to Western Approaches
Command for Atlantic convoy defence
September
2nd
Joined escort for Convoy SC2 in NW
Approaches for the final stage of
passage from
Halifax. Lost 5 ships in U-Boat
attacks.
(For details of Atlantic convoy
defence see BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by
D. MacIntyre, U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO) and HITLER’S
U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
20th
Deployed with HM Destroyers SCIMITAR
and SKATE to regroup ships of Convoy
HX75
on passage from Halifax which had
dispersed during bad weather and
U-Boat attacks.
11 ships were sunk during passage.
Engaged U32 by gun action in defence
of convoy. See above references.
October
Resumed escort of North Sea convoys to and from Thames.
to
December
1 9 4 1
January
5th
Mined during defence of East Coast
convoy and sustained major damage.
February
Under repair at HM Dockyard Chatham.
to
Radar Type 286M (Modified RAF ASV Mk
III) and 20mm Oerlikon guns
fitted.
September
(See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse for details of development and use of radar in RN).
October
On completion (3rd October)
rejoined Rosyth Escort Force for East
Coast convoy defence.
to
December
1 9 4 2
January
Continued convoy defence in North Sea.
to
(Note: Despite extensive service on
this duty the award of Battle Honour NORTH SEA
March
1940-45 was not made.)
April
Transferred to Western Approaches
Command and joined 45th Escort Group
based
in Londonderry.
May
Deployed on escort of convoys to and
from Freetown.
to
June
July
12th
Damaged in collision with Free French
destroyer LEOPARD.
August
Under repair at Gibraltar.
to
Four 20mm Oerlikon guns fitted to
increase close range defence.
October
November
Completion delayed by lack of
materials and work load in Gibraltar
by TORCH
landings in North Africa.
(See Naval Staff History and ENGAGE
THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett).
Transferred to UK for completion.
December
Under repair at Falmouth.
1 9 4 3
January
Under repair and refit at Falmouth.
to
Surface warning radar Type 271,
surface and aircraft warning radar and
HF D/F
March
outfit fitted to improve
anti-submarine efficiency (See SEEK
AND STRIKE).
April
On completion went to Tobermory for
work-up prior to convoy defence duty.
May
Joined 42nd Escort Group at
Londonderry for Freetown route convoy
escort.
19th
Deployed with HM Aircraft Carrier
UNICORN, HM Destroyers ACTIVE,
CLEVELAND and Polish ORP SLAZAK, HM
Sloops WELLINGTON and WESTON,
HM Frigates EXE and NESS, HM Cutters
GORLESTON and TOTLAND as Ocean
Escort for the joint military convoy
WS30 to Middle East and Convoy KMF15
to North
Africa during passage from Clyde.
25th
Detached from joint convoy with Ocean
Escort and resumed Freetown route
duties.
June
Deployed on convoy defence on Freetown
route.
to
(Note: Award of Battle Honour ATLANTIC
1940-45 reflects contribution made in
July
actions against U-Boats and aircraft
in defence of Atlantic convoys).
For details of weapons and tactics
used in the Atlantic battle see SEEK
AND STRIKE
by W Hackmann, THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D
MacIntyre and U-BOAT
WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO)).
August
Transferred to West African Command at
Freetown for coastal convoy escort.
(Note: HEDGEHOG Anti-Submarine mortar
was fitted during this period.
See above references).
September
Escort of local convoys off West
Africa.
October
Detached to join ships of British 5th
Escort Group and 8th Escort Group
as
escort for convoy taking personnel and
stores to
Azores for establishment
of air bases (Operation ALACRITY).
November
Returned to Freetown and resumed
escort duties.
December
Local convoy escort duty in
continuation at Freetown.
1 9 4 4
January
Deployment as escort for West African
coastal convoys continued.
to
May
June
11th
Returned to UK as part of escort for
Convoy SL161.
20th
Remained with escort for joint convoy
MKS52 on merger with SL161.
July
2nd
Detached from joint convoy SL161/MKS52 and took passage to refit.
Taken in hand for refit at
Dunstaffnage, near Oban, Argyll.
August
Under refit
to
October
November
On completion worked-up at Tobermory.
December
Passage to Freetown to join 57the
Escort Group for local convoy escort.
1 9 4 5
January
Transferred to Gibraltar with Group.
to
Deployed on escort of Atlantic
convoys.
May
(Note: No significant threat of
submarine attack off West Africa.)
June
Returned to UK to reduce to Reserve at
Devonport.
Paid off and de-stored prior to being
laid up.
July
Laid up at Milford Haven.
P o s t W a
r
N o t e s
HMS LOWESTOFT was sold
for use as a mercantile in October
1946, renamed MIRAFLORES and
was
used
commercially until August 1955 when
she was sold for breaking up at
Zeebrugge.
This name was
given to a Type 12
Anti-Submarine Frigate when
launched by Alex, Stephens at Govan on
23 June 1960.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
LOWESTOFT
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
29/01/40
|
29/01/40
|
HG
017F
|
07/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
04/03/40
|
04/03/40
|
FN
0111
|
06/03/40
|
06/03/40
|
11/03/40
|
11/03/40
|
FS
0119
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
MT
033
|
19/03/40
|
19/03/40
|
19/03/40
|
19/03/40
|
FS
0124
|
21/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
23/03/40
|
23/03/40
|
FN
0127
|
24/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
TM
032
|
24/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
26/03/40
|
26/03/40
|
MT
038
|
26/03/40
|
26/03/40
|
29/03/40
|
29/03/40
|
FN
0132
|
31/03/40
|
31/03/40
|
05/04/40
|
05/04/40
|
MT
045
|
06/04/40
|
06/04/40
|
09/04/40
|
09/04/40
|
FN
0141
|
11/04/40
|
11/04/40
|
07/06/40
|
07/06/40
|
FS
0190
|
09/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
07/06/40
|
07/06/40
|
MT
084
|
07/06/40
|
07/06/40
|
15/06/40
|
15/06/40
|
FS
0196
|
17/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
18/06/40
|
18/06/40
|
FN
0199
|
19/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
29/06/40
|
29/06/40
|
FN
0208
|
01/07/40
|
01/07/40
|
03/07/40
|
03/07/40
|
FS
0211
|
04/07/40
|
04/07/40
|
06/07/40
|
06/07/40
|
FN
0215
|
08/07/40
|
08/07/40
|
10/07/40
|
10/07/40
|
FS
0218
|
11/07/40
|
11/07/40
|
13/07/40
|
13/07/40
|
FN
0221
|
15/07/40
|
15/07/40
|
21/07/40
|
21/07/40
|
FS
0227
|
22/07/40
|
22/07/40
|
23/07/40
|
23/07/40
|
FN
0230
|
25/07/40
|
25/07/40
|
27/07/40
|
27/07/40
|
FS
0234
|
29/07/40
|
29/07/40
|
30/07/40
|
30/07/40
|
FN
0237
|
01/08/40
|
01/08/40
|
03/08/40
|
03/08/40
|
FS
0241
|
05/08/40
|
05/08/40
|
06/08/40
|
06/08/40
|
FN
0244
|
08/08/40
|
08/08/40
|
12/08/40
|
26/08/40
|
HX
065
|
27/08/40
|
27/08/40
|
02/09/40
|
02/09/40
|
OA
208
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
25/08/40
|
07/09/40
|
SC
002
|
10/09/40
|
10/09/40
|
17/09/40
|
17/09/40
|
OB
215
|
21/09/40
|
21/09/40
|
09/09/40
|
21/09/40
|
HX
072
|
21/09/40
|
21/09/40
|
10/09/40
|
23/09/40
|
SC
004
|
26/09/40
|
26/09/40
|
03/10/40
|
03/10/40
|
FS
0299
|
04/10/40
|
04/10/40
|
06/10/40
|
06/10/40
|
FN
0301
|
08/10/40
|
09/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
FS
0306
|
14/10/40
|
14/10/40
|
14/10/40
|
14/10/40
|
FN
0308
|
16/10/40
|
16/10/40
|
19/10/40
|
19/10/40
|
FS
0314
|
22/10/40
|
22/10/40
|
23/10/40
|
23/10/40
|
FN
0317
|
25/10/40
|
25/10/40
|
10/11/40
|
10/11/40
|
FN
0331
|
12/11/40
|
12/11/40
|
14/11/40
|
14/11/40
|
FS
0335
|
16/11/40
|
16/11/40
|
17/11/40
|
17/11/40
|
FN
0336
|
19/11/40
|
19/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
FS
0346
|
28/11/40
|
28/11/40
|
30/11/40
|
30/11/40
|
FN
0347
|
02/12/40
|
02/12/40
|
04/12/40
|
04/12/40
|
FS
0353
|
08/12/40
|
08/12/40
|
09/12/40
|
09/12/40
|
FN
0355
|
11/12/40
|
11/12/40
|
13/12/40
|
13/12/40
|
FS
0360
|
15/12/40
|
15/12/40
|
25/12/40
|
25/12/40
|
FS
0371
|
28/12/40
|
28/12/40
|
03/01/41
|
03/01/41
|
FS
0378
|
05/01/41
|
05/01/41
|
05/11/41
|
07/11/41
|
WN
202
|
08/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
23/03/42
|
24/03/42
|
WN
261
|
25/03/42
|
25/03/42
|
22/04/42
|
24/04/42
|
WN
273
|
24/04/42
|
24/04/42
|
24/04/42
|
25/04/42
|
WN
274
|
26/04/42
|
26/04/42
|
02/05/42
|
04/05/42
|
OS
027
|
19/05/42
|
19/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
LS
005
|
20/05/42
|
20/05/42
|
24/05/42
|
24/05/42
|
SL
111
|
16/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
01/07/42
|
02/07/42
|
OS
033
|
12/07/42
|
20/07/42
|
27/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
MKS
002A
|
03/12/42
|
07/12/42
|
19/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
KMF
015
|
28/05/43
|
27/05/43
|
28/05/43
|
28/05/43
|
MKF
015
|
05/06/43
|
05/06/43
|
20/06/43
|
20/06/43
|
KMS
018A
|
29/06/43
|
29/06/43
|
06/07/43
|
06/07/43
|
RS
008
|
12/07/43
|
12/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
TS
048
|
28/07/43
|
28/07/43
|
07/08/43
|
07/08/43
|
OSS
052
|
14/08/43
|
12/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
TS
051
|
01/09/43
|
01/09/43
|
10/09/43
|
10/09/43
|
STL
001
|
15/09/43
|
15/09/43
|
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
|
05/10/43
|
LTS
003
|
10/10/43
|
10/10/43
|
15/10/43
|
15/10/43
|
STL
004
|
21/10/43
|
21/10/43
|
03/11/43
|
03/11/43
|
LTS
004
|
10/11/43
|
10/11/43
|
13/11/43
|
13/11/43
|
STL
006
|
18/11/43
|
18/11/43
|
21/11/43
|
21/11/43
|
LTS
006
|
28/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
10/12/43
|
10/12/43
|
TS
054
|
16/12/43
|
16/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
STL
008
|
28/12/43
|
28/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
LTS
008
|
04/01/44
|
04/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
SL
147
|
25/01/44
|
02/02/44
|
22/02/44
|
22/02/44
|
STL
012
|
01/03/44
|
29/02/44
|
04/03/44
|
04/03/44
|
LTS
012
|
11/03/44
|
11/03/44
|
19/03/44
|
19/03/44
|
STL
015
|
25/03/44
|
25/03/44
|
30/03/44
|
30/03/44
|
LTS
015
|
06/04/44
|
06/04/44
|
18/04/44
|
18/04/44
|
STL
020
|
23/04/44
|
23/04/44
|
01/05/44
|
01/05/44
|
LTS
019
|
09/05/44
|
09/05/44
|
26/05/44
|
26/05/44
|
ST
082
|
31/05/44
|
31/05/44
|
31/05/44
|
31/05/44
|
TS
059
|
02/06/44
|
07/06/44
|
02/06/44
|
02/06/44
|
LTS
022
|
06/06/44
|
06/06/44
|
11/06/44
|
11/06/44
|
SL
161
|
22/06/44
|
21/06/44
|
22/06/44
|
22/06/44
|
SL
161MK
|
02/07/44
|
02/07/44
|
22/11/44
|
22/11/44
|
OS
095
|
26/11/44
|
26/11/44
|
21/01/45
|
21/01/45
|
MKS
078G
|
23/01/45
|
29/01/45
|
30/01/45
|
03/02/45
|
KMS
081G
|
05/02/45
|
05/02/45
|
01/03/45
|
01/03/45
|
MKS
086G
|
03/03/45
|
09/03/45
|
01/03/45
|
03/03/45
|
KMS
087G
|
06/03/45
|
06/03/45
|
25/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
KMS
091G
|
26/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
MKS
091G
|
27/03/45
|
03/04/45
|
20/04/45
|
20/04/45
|
MKS
096G
|
23/04/45
|
28/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)