SHOREHAM-Class
Sloop ordered under the 1929 Programme
from HM Dockyard,
Chatham on 4th December 1929 and laid
down on 24th November 1930. The ship
was launched by the Mayor of
Rochester, Mrs G. Jenner on 16th July
1931 as the 6th RN
ship to carry the name that was
introduced in 1693 for a 4th Rate and
last used for a
trawler hired for minesweeping during
WW1. She was commissioned on 24th
March 1932 for service on
the South Africa Station and accepted
into service a week later on the
completion of
build. This ship remained in South
Africa based at Simonstown until 1939
and after being
re-armed there late in 1938 returned
to UK. She re-commissioned at Sheerness
in June 1939 for service en the East
Indies Station and arrived at Aden in
September 1939. Following a successful
WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign
in March 1942 she was adopted by the
civil community of Crompton,
Lancashire.
B
a t t l
e H o n o u r s
CAPE
PASSARO
1718 -
QUIBERON
1759 - MARTINIQUE 1762 -
ATLANTIC 1939-45 -
NORTH
AFRICA
1942
- NORMANDY
1944
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On
a Field Gold a cross Red, thereon the
letter ‘R;
Black
outlined Red.
M
o t t o
Urbis
Fortuna Fortunma
Navls:
'The
city's fortune is the ship's fortune'
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
1st
Arrived at Aden for East Indies
Station service.
3rd
Deployed in Persian Gulf for patrol
and contraband control duties.
October
East Indies Station deployment in
continuation.
Recalled for convoy defence duty in
Home waters
November
Passage to
UK.
Diverted during passage to escort
Freetown
- UK convoy
December
Joined escort of Convoy SL42 from Freetown.
On arrival nominated for refit in
Humber shipyard and taken in hand.
1940
January
Under refit in Humber shipyard.
Nominated for service with 2nd Escort
Division, Western Approaches
Command
February
On
completion of post refit trials took
passage to
Liverpool to join Division.
March
Deployed for convoy defence in Western
Approaches.
27th
Sustained damaged to under water
fittings in collision with ss
LONGFORD.
April
Remained in service pending refit.
6th
Deployed with HM Sloops ABERDEEN,
WELLINGTON and HM Destroyer
VIMY as escort for Convoy OG25F during
outward passage to Gibraltar in SW
Approaches.
7th
Detached from OG25F .
8th
Joined inward Convoy HG25F in SW
Approaches with HM Destroyers VIMY,
VISCOUNT and WITCH for escort during
passage to Liverpool.
(Note: The escort also included a
French destroyer.)
11th
Detached from HG25F with escort after
arrival in Liverpool
May
Western Approaches Convoy defence
duties in continuation.
(Note: Western Approaches Command had
been transferred to Liverpool)
5th
Joined Outward Convoy OG28 on
formation in SW Approaches with HM
Destroyer
WHITEHALL as escort during initial
Stage of passage to Gibraltar.
Detached after arrival of two French
destroyers.
(Note: The French warships remained as
escort until arrival in Gibraltar ion 10th.)
June
Taken in hand for refit and repair in
Liverpool.
to
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to U50.
July
August
On
completion of post refit trials
resumed convoy defence duties at
Liverpool
September
Convoy defence in SW Approaches in
continuation.
to
December
1
9 4 1
January
Deployed for convoy defence in Western
Approaches.
to
April
May
Part of escort for Convoy OB218 with
HM Destroyers AMAZON and BULLDOG.
7th
Took part in attacks on U94 during
defence of OB218 with these ships near
Iceland.
June
Taken in hand for refit in Liverpool.
(Note: New Radar Type 271 fitted
during this period.
See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
July
0n completion transferred to
Londonderry and joined 37th Escort
Group for convoy
defence in NW Approaches.
August
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
September
Deployed with Group for defence of
convoys on UK-Freetown route.
October
Part of escort for Convoy HG74 with HM
Corvette MALLOW, HM Destroyers
COSSACK and LAMERTON.
19th
Participated in sinking of U2O4 with
HMS MALLOW off Cape Spartel in position
35.46N 06.02W during defence of HG74
by ships of 37th Escort Group.
(Note: There were no survivors from
the submarine which was part of
BRESLAU
Group.)
November
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
to
Transferred to 43rd Escort Group
December
1 9 4 2
January
Freetown convoy defence based at
Londonderry.
February
Joined escort for Convoy OS18.
6th
Participated in sinking of U82 with HM
Corvette TAMARISK in defence of OS18.
Submarine sunk off the Azores in
position 44.10N 23.52 following depth
charge
attacks during passage to Biscay port
after operating off US East coast.
There were
no survivors.
March
Freetown convoy defence in
continuation.
to
April
May
Under refit in Tyne shipyard
to
(Note: Radar Type 291Air warning) and
HF D/F Outfit FH3 fitted.
June
For details of the development and use
of radar in the RN see RADAR AT
Sea by D Howse and for details of
weapons and tactics during the Battle
of
the Atlantic see U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO), SEEK
AND
STRIKE by W Hackmann and HITLER’S U- BOAT WAR BY c BLAIR.).
July
On completion of post refit trials
returned to Freetown route convoy
defence
with 43rd Escort Group.
Provided support for passage of Convoy
OS35 with HM Sloops ERNE and SANDWICH
31st
Participated in sinking of 0213 with
same ships.
Submarine was sunk in position 36.45N
.22,50W SE of the Azores.
There were no survivors.
August
Freetown route convoy defence with
Group in continuation
to
Nominated for defence of military
convoys to Gibraltar prior to allied
landings in
September
North Africa (Operation TORCH)
(Note: See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by C Barnett and Naval
Staff History.)
October
Escorted convoys on passage to
Gibraltar prior to landings.
November
Transferred with Group for convoy
escort in western Mediterranean.
December
Escort of support convoys to North
African ports
1 9 4 3
January
Western Mediterranean convoy defence
in continuation.
Nominated for return to Western
Approaches and took passage to
Liverpool.
February
Joined 39th Escort Group at Liverpool for service in NW Approaches.
March
Escorted Convoy OS44 with ships of
Group.
April
Atlantic convoy defence with Group in
continuation
May
Under refit in Humber shipyard.
to
June
July
On completion rejoined Western
Approaches Command for service on
Freetown route.
Joined 39th Escort Group for escort of
Convoy OS51.
15th
Participated in sinking of U135 with
HM Corvettes MIGNONETTE, BALSAM and
US VP-92
aircraft
during defence of convoy. 41 of
submarine crew were rescued.
(Note: The submarine had torpedoed and
damaged mercantile as TWICKENHAM
which was in convoy and the attack was
against German U-Boat Command
standing instructions. She was forced
to the surface by depth charge attacks
and abandoned by crew - See U-BOATS
DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
August
Escorted Convoys OS54/KMS25 with
Group.
September
Escorted outward Convoy MKS28 to Gibraltar
with ships of Group.
October
Gibraltar route convoy defence in
continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 4
January
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
to
Nominated with Group for transfer to
Portsmouth
for support of allied landings
April
in
Normandy
(Operation NEPTUNE - For details of
naval activities prior to and
during
operation
see OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards
and LANDINGS
IN NORMANDY JUNE 1944 (HMSO).)
(Note: Intended for escort of Trinity
House vessels during Assault Phase and
to
be
used for control of Coastal Forces
craft on completion)
May
Transferred as Senior Officer's ship
to
Portsmouth
Deployed in SW Approaches for
anti-submarine operations.
31st
In collision with HM Sloop HART during
A/S operations in SW Approaches
June
Under repair by HM Dockyard,
Devonport.
(Note: This defect prevented full
participated in Assault Phase.)
On completion deployed for convoy
defence in Channel.
27th
During deployment as convoy escort
carried out attack on submarine in
position NE Cap Barfleur
which was inconclusive.
(Note: HM Corvette PINK was torpedoed
but later towed to Portsmouth.
July
Transferred to EG41 based at
Plymouth for convoy defence.
Deployed in Channel and SW Approaches.
August
Transferred to Force 29 as Senior
Officer.
(Note: Force
29 comprised HKML292 and HM Trawler
KINGSTON ANDALUSITE.)
Deployed with Force 29 off
Brest in support of operations by 6
MTB's.
September
Channel deployment with 41st Group in
continuation.
to
Nominated for long refit in
Newcastle.
October
November
Passage to Newcastle and taken in hand
for refit.
December
Under refit in Tyne shipyard.
(Note: This refit was intended to
prepare ship for service as the
Navigation Training ship attached
to the Navigation School, HMS DRYAD at
Portsmouth and included removal of
main armament and Installation of a
new design centimetric radar, Type
277).
1
9 4 5
January
Under refit.
to
February
March
On completion of poet refit trials
Joined Navigation School for training
duties.
April
Training duties in continuation
to
(Note: Introduction of new
navigational aids and development of
radar equipment
August
including that for merchant ships made
necessary frequent changes to the
internal fit of radio outfits).
P o
s t W a
r N o t e s
HMS
ROCHESTER continued
duty as Navigation School Training
Ship until September 1949 when she was
placed on the
Disposal List. The ship was sold to
Clayton and Davie for breaking up at Dunston
on Tyne on 16th January
1951.She arrived there under tow for
demolition on 10th February after a
most
distinguished
record of
service in peace and war.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS
ROCHESTER
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
10/12/39
|
10/12/39
|
SL
012
|
26/12/39
|
26/12/39
|
|
13/01/40
|
24/01/40
|
SL
016F
|
27/01/40
|
27/01/40
|
|
28/01/40
|
28/01/40
|
OA
081
|
30/01/40
|
31/01/40
|
|
16/01/40
|
02/02/40
|
SL
017
|
04/02/40
|
04/02/40
|
|
07/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
OB
087
|
10/02/40
|
10/02/40
|
|
31/01/40
|
13/02/40
|
HX
018
|
16/02/40
|
16/02/40
|
|
23/02/40
|
23/02/40
|
OB
097
|
26/02/40
|
27/02/40
|
|
16/02/40
|
29/02/40
|
HX
020
|
04/03/40
|
04/03/40
|
|
08/03/40
|
08/03/40
|
OB
106
|
11/03/40
|
11/03/40
|
|
01/03/40
|
12/03/40
|
SL
022F
|
15/03/40
|
15/03/40
|
|
16/03/40
|
16/03/40
|
OB
111
|
19/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
|
06/04/40
|
06/04/40
|
OG
025F
|
07/04/40
|
12/04/40
|
|
02/04/40
|
08/04/40
|
HG
025F
|
11/04/40
|
11/04/40
|
|
14/04/40
|
14/04/40
|
OB
129
|
17/04/40
|
18/04/40
|
|
06/04/40
|
18/04/40
|
HX
033
|
20/04/40
|
20/04/40
|
|
21/04/40
|
21/04/40
|
OB
134
|
25/04/40
|
26/04/40
|
|
02/05/40
|
02/05/40
|
OB
140
|
05/05/40
|
05/05/40
|
|
05/05/40
|
05/05/40
|
OG
028
|
05/05/40
|
10/05/40
|
|
29/04/40
|
06/05/40
|
HG
028
|
09/05/40
|
09/05/40
|
|
18/05/40
|
18/05/40
|
OB
150
|
20/05/40
|
20/05/40
|
|
21/05/40
|
21/05/40
|
OB
152
|
23/05/40
|
24/05/40
|
|
12/05/40
|
24/05/40
|
HX
042
|
27/05/40
|
28/05/40
|
|
28/05/40
|
28/05/40
|
OB
157
|
31/05/40
|
31/05/40
|
|
20/05/40
|
31/05/40
|
HX
044
|
03/06/40
|
03/06/40
|
|
27/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
OB
175
|
30/06/40
|
30/06/40
|
|
14/07/40
|
14/07/40
|
OA
184
|
19/07/40
|
unknown
|
|
07/07/40
|
19/07/40
|
HX
056
|
22/07/40
|
22/07/40
|
|
09/08/40
|
09/08/40
|
OA
196
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
|
20/08/40
|
31/08/40
|
HX
067
|
04/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
|
09/09/40
|
09/09/40
|
OA
212
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
|
04/09/40
|
unknown
|
HG
043
|
18/09/40
|
18/09/40
|
|
26/09/40
|
26/09/40
|
OA
220
|
28/09/40
|
28/09/40
|
|
19/09/40
|
01/10/40
|
SC
005
|
02/10/40
|
04/10/40
|
|
10/10/40
|
10/10/40
|
OA
227
|
14/10/40
|
14/10/40
|
|
04/10/40
|
15/10/40
|
HX
078
|
19/10/40
|
20/10/40
|
|
24/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
OA
234
|
26/10/40
|
26/10/40
|
|
24/10/40
|
26/10/40
|
OB
234
|
30/10/40
|
30/10/40
|
|
09/10/40
|
30/10/40
|
SL
051S
|
31/10/40
|
31/10/40
|
|
12/10/40
|
30/10/40
|
SL
051
|
31/10/40
|
31/10/40
|
|
08/11/40
|
08/11/40
|
OB
240
|
unknown
|
13/11/40
|
|
20/11/40
|
20/11/40
|
HG
047
|
04/12/40
|
04/12/40
|
|
23/12/40
|
23/12/40
|
OB
263
|
26/12/40
|
27/12/40
|
|
14/12/40
|
27/12/40
|
HX
096
|
29/12/40
|
30/12/40
|
|
07/01/41
|
07/01/41
|
OG
049
|
21/01/41
|
21/01/41
|
|
25/02/41
|
26/02/41
|
OG
054
|
14/03/41
|
14/03/41
|
|
24/03/41
|
24/03/41
|
HG
057
|
11/04/41
|
11/04/41
|
|
02/05/41
|
02/05/41
|
OB
318
|
08/05/41
|
10/05/41
|
|
25/04/41
|
09/05/41
|
HX
123
|
12/05/41
|
13/05/41
|
|
18/05/41
|
19/05/41
|
OB
324
|
24/05/41
|
27/05/41
|
|
09/05/41
|
24/05/41
|
SC
031
|
27/05/41
|
30/05/41
|
|
19/08/41
|
20/08/41
|
OG
072
|
01/09/41
|
01/09/41
|
|
02/09/41
|
08/09/41
|
HG
072
|
17/09/41
|
17/09/41
|
|
27/09/41
|
27/09/41
|
OG
075
|
13/10/41
|
13/10/41
|
|
22/10/41
|
22/10/41
|
HG
075
|
27/10/41
|
03/11/41
|
|
30/11/41
|
01/12/41
|
OS
013
|
18/12/41
|
20/12/41
|
|
26/12/41
|
28/12/41
|
SL
096
|
13/01/42
|
13/01/42
|
|
30/01/42
|
31/01/42
|
OS
018
|
15/02/42
|
20/02/42
|
|
21/02/42
|
23/02/42
|
SL
101
|
12/03/42
|
15/03/42
|
|
24/03/42
|
25/03/42
|
OS
023
|
11/04/42
|
11/04/42
|
|
16/04/42
|
16/04/42
|
SL
107
|
07/05/42
|
07/05/42
|
|
21/07/42
|
22/07/42
|
OS
035
|
10/08/42
|
10/08/42
|
|
14/08/42
|
14/08/42
|
SL
119
|
05/09/42
|
04/09/42
|
|
19/09/42
|
20/09/42
|
OS
041
|
01/10/42
|
01/10/42
|
|
23/09/42
|
04/10/42
|
SL
123
|
10/10/42
|
14/10/42
|
|
25/10/42
|
26/10/42
|
KMS
002G
|
12/11/42
|
12/11/42
|
|
21/11/42
|
21/11/42
|
MKS
002
|
24/11/42
|
03/12/42
|
|
28/11/42
|
28/11/42
|
TE
007
|
unknown
|
03/12/42
|
|
03/12/42
|
05/12/42
|
MKS
003X
|
08/12/42
|
19/12/42
|
|
30/12/42
|
30/12/42
|
GUF
003
|
01/01/43
|
13/01/43
|
|
24/12/42
|
04/01/43
|
KMS
006G
|
09/01/43
|
09/01/43
|
|
05/01/43
|
08/01/43
|
MKS
005
|
11/01/43
|
22/01/43
|
|
18/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
GUS
003
|
21/01/43
|
07/02/43
|
|
07/02/43
|
08/02/43
|
MKS
007
|
17/02/43
|
17/02/43
|
|
06/03/43
|
07/03/43
|
OS
044
|
24/03/43
|
24/03/43
|
|
31/03/43
|
31/03/43
|
SL
127
|
24/04/43
|
15/04/43
|
|
04/07/43
|
05/07/43
|
OS
051KM
|
13/07/43
|
13/07/43
|
|
13/07/43
|
13/07/43
|
OS
051
|
23/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
|
28/07/43
|
28/07/43
|
SL
134
|
19/08/43
|
19/08/43
|
|
27/08/43
|
01/09/43
|
OS
054KM
|
08/09/43
|
08/09/43
|
|
08/09/43
|
08/09/43
|
OS
054
|
17/09/43
|
17/09/43
|
|
13/10/43
|
13/10/43
|
SL
138
|
24/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
|
24/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
SL
138MK
|
05/11/43
|
05/11/43
|
|
16/11/43
|
16/11/95
|
OS
059KM
|
28/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
|
28/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
KMS
033G
|
29/11/43
|
29/11/43
|
|
03/12/43
|
03/12/43
|
MKS
032G
|
04/12/43
|
04/12/43
|
|
04/12/43
|
04/12/43
|
SL
141MK
|
17/12/43
|
17/12/43
|
|
25/12/43
|
26/12/43
|
OS
063KM
|
08/10/44
|
07/01/44
|
|
08/01/44
|
08/01/44
|
KMS
037G
|
09/01/44
|
09/01/44
|
|
12/01/44
|
12/01/44
|
SL
145MK
|
22/01/44
|
24/01/44
|
|
06/02/44
|
06/02/44
|
OS
067KM
|
15/02/44
|
15/02/44
|
|
16/02/44
|
16/02/44
|
KMS
041G
|
17/02/44
|
17/02/44
|
|
21/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
MKS
040G
|
22/02/44
|
22/02/44
|
|
22/02/44
|
22/02/44
|
SL
149MK
|
07/03/44
|
07/03/44
|
|
14/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
OS
071KM
|
25/03/44
|
25/03/44
|
|
26/03/44
|
26/03/44
|
KMS
045G
|
27/03/44
|
27/03/44
|
|
01/04/44
|
01/04/44
|
MKS
044G
|
02/04/44
|
02/04/44
|
|
02/04/44
|
02/04/44
|
SL
153MK
|
13/04/44
|
13/04/44
|
|
23/07/44
|
23/07/44
|
EBC
050
|
25/07/44
|
25/07/44
|
|
30/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
EBC
057
|
01/08/44
|
01/08/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
