Modified
BLACK SWAN-Class Sloop ordered from
William Demy of Dumbarton under
1940 Build Program as Job No
1259 (Yard No.1359) on 13th April 1940
and laid down on 23 February 1941. The
ship was launched on 29th June 1942 by
Mrs Greig.
She
was the first RN warship to carry the
name and had been adopted by the civil
community of Bushey,
Hertfordshire
in February 1942 following a successful
WARSHIP WEEK campaign for National
Savings. The target amount of £120,000
was raised, which for a population of
12,000
was a most creditable achievement.
Initially HM
Corvette HELIOTROPE had been selected
for adoption but when that ship was
transferred
on loan to the US Navy as USS SURPRISE,
this sloop
was nominated in her place. Build was
completed on 14th December 1942 and her
armament included an Ahead Throwing
Mortar mounting (HEDGEHOG) for attacks
on
submarines. She was also fitted with
Radar Type 272 for surface warning and
Type 285 for fire-control of the main
armament which comprised three twin
4in mountings. Another radar outfit,
Type 286P was also fitted and gave
limited warning of the approach of
aircraft and ships. For details of the
development and use of radar by the RN,
see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.
Close range defence against air attack
was provided by the fitting of twin and
single 20mm Oerlikon gun mountings
during build.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
BISCAY 1943
-
ATLANTIC
1943-44
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field
White,
a woodpecker clinging to a stump of a
tree
proper.
M o t t
o
Inveniet
qui exquirit:
'He who seeks carefully shall
find'
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 2
December
Contractors
sea trials and commissioned for service in
7th Escort Group.
Ships' company were provided from
Devonport Port Division.
14th
Build completion and commenced acceptance
trials in Clyde area.
18th
On completion of trials and storing for
sailed from build yard.
19th
Commenced
work-up for operational service at
Tobermory.
1
9 4 3
January
Completed work-up and took passage to
Londonderry.
Under repair in Londonderry before joining
Escort Group.
Deployed for escort of outward Convoy
ON164 to Newfoundland and inward
Convoy
SC120
to UK.
Both convoys arrived without major
incident.
February
NW Approaches convoy defence in
continuation.
March
Transferred for defence of UK-Gibraltar
route convoys.
16th
Joined escort for joint military convoy
KMF11 to Oran and WS28 for Middle East in
Clyde
with HM Sloop WREN. HM Destroyers
BADSWORTH, DOUGLAS, EGGESFORD,
GOATHLAND, WHADDON and Polish KRAKOWIAK.
19th
Detached as escort with Convoy KMF11 when
the two convoys split for the separate
passage
to their destinations
(Note: Convoys split in position 36.09N
09.46W.)
Part of escort for KMF11 to Oran with same
ships.
(Note: HM Destroyers MALCOLM, QUADRANT,
WITCH and WOLVERINE joined as
escort for WS28 when Joint convoy
divided.)
April
Detached
from KMF11 in western Mediterranean and
joined return Convoy MKF11 escort
during return passage to UK.
Transferred to 2nd Escort Group on
formation for anti-submarine support
during passage of
Atlantic
convoys.
(Note: Other Sloops in 2nd Support Group
were HMS STARLING (Senior Officer), HMS
WILD GOOSE, HMS KITE and HMS WREN.
This Group was commanded by Captain F J
Walker CB, DSO**, DSC* RN who
achieved great fame during WW2 for his
outstanding record in convoy defence
against
U-Boat attack and his contribution to
development of the tactics used in Search
and
Destroy operations. His untimely death on
9th July 1944 after a stroke was without
doubt caused by cumulative stress of three
years of continuous active service at sea.
See FIGHTING CAPTAIN by A Burns, ESCORT
COMMANDER by T Robertson,
BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS by J Terraine and
THE BATTLE OF THE
ATLANTIC by Donald Macintyre.)
Deployed with Group for support duties In
Western Approaches.
May
Atlantic support duties in continuation.
Joined escort for Convoy ONS8 and Convoy
HX240 which arrived without loss.
June
2nd
During passage from Iceland with HM Sloops
KITE, .STARLING and WILD GOOSE of Group
deployed to reinforce escort of Convoy
HX241.
Wireless transmissions from U202 enabled
bearing of the submarine to be found by
direction
finding equipment available in ships of
Group
(See above references and SEEK AND STRIKE
by W Hackmann).
Took part depth charge attacks for several
hours during which U202 attempted to
escape by
changes of depth and course as well as
discharge of decoy devices.
(Note: Submarine forced to surface and
engaged by surface gunfire.
Crew abandoned and some rescued by ships
of Group.)
U202 sank in position 56.12N 39-52W.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
After return from escort of HX241
transferred with HM Sloops STARLING, KITE.
WILD
GOOSE and WREN of Group for service in
Plymouth Command.
Took passage to Plymouth to take part in
series of anti-submarine Operations in
Bay
of Biscay
with RAF Coastal Command aircraft covered
by HM Cruiser SCYLLA.
(Operation MUSKETRY).
(Note: See CONFLICT OVER THE BAY by N
Franks and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C
Blair for details.
The objective of this Operation was to
attack U-Boats in transit to and from
French
bases.
Details of tactics and weapons used in
anti-submarine operations are available in
SEEK
AND STRIKE by W. Hackmann and above
references.)
24th
During anti-submarine search operation
with ships of Group carried out attack on
U119 with
HMS STARLING, which had made initial
detection, and ships of Group.
Submarine forced to surface by depth
charges from HMS STARLING.
After exchange
of surface gunfire HMS STARLING rammed
submarine which capsized.
Made further depth charge attack and sank
U449 in position 44.59N 12.24W, NW of
Cape
Ortegal.
(For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED and
HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR.
(Note: U449 which had been detected by
HMS WREN and HMS
WILD GOOSE of Group.
Ship executed "Creeping attacks" which
lasted
several hours
Wreckage en surface and heavy oil
discharge confirmed the
sinking.
There were no survivors
On release from operations took passage to
Plymouth with Group including the damaged
HMS
STARLING.
(Note:
This Sloop had been damaged during a
ramming attempt which caused serious
damage
to underwater equipment. See U-BOATS
DESTROYED.)
On arrival ships' companies were acclaimed
for sinking of two submarines in one day.)
July
Resumed Operation MUSKETRY duties in Bay
of Biscay
Offensive patrol with Group in Bay
completed without success.
Returned to Plymouth to replenish and
resumed MUSKETRY with Group.
30th
Sank U504 with HMS WILD GOOSE, HMS KITE
and HMS WREN in position 45.53N
10.47W with no survivors.
Later rescued survivors from German FW200
aircraft which had been shot down on 29th
July
by an RAF Beaufighter of 248 Squadron.
Also rescued survivors from U462 sunk by
SUNDERLAND aircraft of 461 Squadron that
day.
August
2nd
On completion of
MUSKETRY patrol returned to
Plymouth.
Took passage to Avonmouth.
Taken in hand for refit in commercial
shipyard.
September
Under refit
to
(Note: The refit period enabled a visit to
be made to Bushey by members
October
of the ships' company .At a reception held
in the Parish Hall a presentation of a
model of the ship and piece of a U-Boat
recovered after one of the recent sinkings
was made to the community. The model of
HMS WOODPECKER had been made by
ship’s Cox’n. This provided a real
opportunity to cement the bonds
established the
crew to show their appreciation of the
gifts sent to them by the citizens of
Bushey
to improve their welfare during the
frequent long periods at sea.)
November
On completion of dockyard work carried out
post refit trials.
Passage to Londonderry to resume Atlantic
convoy escort and support duties with
the 2nd
Escort Group.
December
Deployed with Group as part of escort for
military convoy MKF26 during its passage
to the
Mediterranean and return Convoy MKF 26 to
UK.
1
9 4 4
January
Deployed with HM Sloops STARLING, WILD
GOOSE, KITE and MAGPIE for anti
submarine operations in North Atlantic in
Support role.
Air cover for these operations was
provided by HM
Escort Aircraft Carriers ACTIVITY
and NAIRANA.
(For details of weapon improvements and
tactical deployments of Support Groups
see SEEK
AND STRIKE by W. Hackmann, ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C. Barnett
and RADAR AT
SEA
by D Howse).
31st
Took part in search and anti-submarine
operations with ships of Group based on
ENIGMA
decrypts and other Intelligence data.
These searches culminated in sinking of
U592
by HM Sloops
STARLING, WILD GOOSE
and MAGPIE in position 50.20N 17.29W.
None of
the submarine
crew survived.
See U-BOATS
DESTROYED and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR.)
February
Atlantic convoy support duties with Group
in continuation for defence of convoys
between
UK and Gibraltar in SW Approaches.
7th
Supported merged Convoys SL147 and MKS38
under threat from IGEL group of U-Boats.
(Note: HMS ACTIVITY and HMS NAIRANA took
position within convoy and 2nd
Support Group ships were deployed
independently for Search and Destroy
duty.)
8th
Carried out A/S attacks on U762 with HMS
STARLING after initial detection by HMS
WILD GOOSE.
Submarine was sunk in position 49.02N
16.58W with no survivors
9th
Took part in Group operations against U238
which was sunk by depth charge attacks
from
HMS KITE, HMS STARLING and HMS MAGPIE in
position 49.44N 16.07W with none
of the submarine crew surviving.
References as above.
11th
Sank U424 with HMS WILD GOOSE in position
50.00N 18.14W.
None of crew survived.
(Note: During these operations ships of
Group came under attack by T5 Acoustic
torpedoes (GNAT)
- See U-BOATS DESTROYED and above
references.)
15th
Deployed with HM Destroyer HESPERUS with
ships of Group to support passage of
Convoy HX278 under air attack and threat
from U-Boat pack.
17th
Transferred with ships of 2nd Support
Group to supplement escort of Convoy ON224
under threat
from HAI
group of U-Boats following sighting by
enemy aircraft
19th
During defence of ONS224 passage sank U264
with HMS STARLING in position
48.31 N 22.05W after seven hours of A/S
attack operations.
53 survivors were rescued by HM Sloops
STARLING, WILD GOOSE and
WOODPECKER.)
(Note: This was first sinking of an
operational SCHNORKEL fitted submarine.
See
above
references.)
20th
During subsequent A/S operations against
HAI group attacked by U764 and hit aft by
T5
Acoustic (GNAT) torpedo in position 48.49N
22.11W. 500 miles W. of Cork.
Stem structure blown off.
(Note: There were no casualties but the
submarine escaped.
U764 survived hostilities and was sunk on
2nd January 1946 when used as
target
during Operation DEADLIGHT).
21st
Ship taken in tow by HMS STARLING.
(Note: Tow was later transferred to Tug
STORMCLOUD.)
26th
Weather worsened near Scillies during
passage to Devonport.
27th
Ship capsized and sank in position 49.51N
06.46W.
Ship's company were rescued by HM
Corvettes AZALEA and CHILLIWACK (RCN).
part of the convoy escort.
F
i n a
l
N o t e
HMS WOODPECKER was the only ship
belonging to the 2nd Escort Group to be
lost during the extensive
and intense deployments as a convoy
escort or in support of passage of
convoys. Her last period of duty had
been for 27 days during which the Group
sank six submarines. Her
record of service was outstanding and
but for the unfortunate
circumstances of her loss in bad
weather, she would undoubtedly have to
continued to play a major role with the
2nd
Support Group in the defence of Russian
convoys and in operations to prevent
U-Boat attacks on cross
Channel convoys during the allied
landings Normandy later in 1944.
The customary exchange of a
ships badge to be placed in Bushey
Council Chamber and a Plaque from the
community to be fitted in a prominent
position on was carried out as
described in the 1992 Journal of
Bushey
Museum. The Bushey
Plaque was accepted by Vice
Admiral C E B
Simeon RN on behalf the Commanding
Officer, HMS WOODPECKER. However, to the
great regret of all concerned
the Armorial Badge carved by a
local fireman, was never placed on board
the Sloop
Some
of ships'
company of HMS WOODPECKER joined the
new
Sloop HMS LARK which was completed in
April 1944 and
during deployment for defence of a
Russian Convoy in February 1945
was also hit by a homing torpedo.
This newly completed ship was badly
damage but was towed to Rosta
near Murmansk
and later handed to the
Soviet Navy. Although many of the ship’
company were rescued there were some
casualties and some
of these had served in HMS WOODPECKER.
During 1995 seven of the ships'
company from HMS WOODPECKER attended a reunion at
Bushey.
They
took part in a special
Presentation Evening at the Museum which
was
attended by local dignitaries and
Friends of the Museum. The occasion proved to be
to be most emotional and
enabled
the earlier links with the civil
community to be renewed.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
WOODPECKER
by
Don Kindell
This
convoy list has not been cross-checked
with the text above
|
|
|
|
|
Date
convoy sailed
|
Joined
convoy as escort
|
Convoy
No.
|
Left
convoy
|
Date
convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
01/02/43
|
02/02/43
|
ON
164
|
13/02/43
|
19/02/43
|
13/02/43
|
20/02/43
|
SC
120
|
05/03/43
|
05/03/43
|
15/03/43
|
15/03/43
|
KMF
011
|
23/03/43
|
23/03/43
|
25/03/43
|
26/03/43
|
MKF
011
|
05/04/43
|
05/04/43
|
24/04/43
|
01/05/43
|
HX
236
|
05/05/43
|
09/05/43
|
03/05/43
|
06/05/43
|
SL
128MK
|
14/05/43
|
14/05/43
|
17/05/43
|
22/05/43
|
ONS
008
|
25/05/43
|
01/06/43
|
19/05/43
|
27/05/43
|
HX
240
|
01/06/43
|
04/06/43
|
25/05/43
|
02/06/43
|
HX
241
|
06/06/43
|
10/06/43
|
15/11/43
|
15/11/43
|
KMF
026
|
26/11/43
|
30/11/43
|
17/11/43
|
30/11/43
|
MKF
026
|
07/12/43
|
09/12/43
|
06/01/44
|
11/01/44
|
SL
144MK
|
12/01/44
|
18/01/44
|
03/01/44
|
11/01/44
|
OS
064KM
|
12/01/44
|
15/01/44
|
06/01/44
|
18/01/44
|
HX
274
|
20/01/44
|
21/01/44
|
30/01/44
|
04/02/44
|
ON
222
|
05/02/44
|
16/02/44
|
02/02/44
|
07/02/44
|
SL
147MK
|
12/02/44
|
13/02/44
|
05/02/44
|
14/02/44
|
HX
278
|
19/02/44
|
20/02/44
|
14/02/44
|
18/02/44
|
ON
224
|
19/02/44
|
02/03/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)