RIVER-Class Frigate ordered on
29th October 1940 from G. Brown of Greenock and to be named CHELMER. However
this was changed and build was to be for a FLOWER-Class Corvette. The ship was laid
down as Job No 1453 (Yard No 224) on 16th April.1941 and intended to be named CHELMER. The ship was launched as HMS BALSAM on 30th May
1942. Build was completed on 28th November 1942 , and
she had been adopted by the civil community of Biggleswade,
Bedfordshire after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in
January 1942. Radar and an anti-submarine Ahead Throwing Mortar (HEDGEHOG) were
both fitted during build
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1943-45 - NORMANDY 1944 -
ENGLISH CHANNEL 1944-45
H e r a l d i c D a t a
No Badge is recorded in the official List of Crests.
This is
not unusual for ships of this Class built during WW2
but many had an unofficial Badge.
S u m m a r y 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
November Contractors trials.
28th Build completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials.
December Carried out trials in Clyde.
2nd Sailed
to Tobermory from Clyde
(Note: Nominated initially for service at Gibraltar )
17th Retained
in Western Approaches.
(Note: This may
have been due to work-up requirements.)
24th. Joined 37the Escort Group on completion of work-up
for operational service.
Deployed as part of escort for outward Convoy KMS6
during passage to Gibraltar.
1 9 4 3
January
3rd Detached
from KMS6 with ‘condenseritis', and took independent
passage to Gibraltar.
11th On
completion of repair deployed as part of escort for inward Convoy MKS5 to Liverpool.
25th Arrived at Liverpool
February
6th Deployed as part of escort of Convoy KMS9 during passage to Gibraltar.
Returned to Liverpool with escort
for inward Convoy MKF9.
24th Transferred to 39th Escort Group and
joined HM Corvettes COLTSFOOT, MIGNONETTE,
and
SPIRAEA.
(Note: See ALLIED
CONVOY SYSTEM IN WW2 by A Hague for details of dates.)
March
6th Deployed as part of escort for outward
Convoy OS44 during passage from Liverpool to West
Africa.
12th Under heavy
U-Boat attacks.
(See U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and HITLER’S U –BOAT WAR by
C Blair.)
24th Arrived at Freetown with OS44.
31st Sailed
from Freetown a part of escort for inward Convoy SL127 during passage to
Liverpool.
April
23rd Arrived at Liverpool with SL127.
May
5th Deployed with ships of Group for escort
of outward joint Convoy OS47/KMS14 during
Atlantic passage from Liverpool.
16th
Remained with Convoy OS47 with ships of Group as escort during passage
to Freetown
when Convoy KMS14 detached to proceed to
Gibraltar.
25th Detached from
OS47 on arrival at Freetown.
30th Sailed Freetown
SL130 As escort during passage to Liverpool.
June
11th Remained as escort for joint convoy
when Convoy MKS14 merged with SL130
21st Detached on arrival of joint convoy at
Liverpool.
July
5th Joined joint convoy OS51/KMS20 as escort
during Atlantic passage from Liverpool with
HM Corvettes COLTSFOOT, AZALEA, GERANIUM and
MIGNONETTE.
13th Remained
as escort of Convoy OS51 when ships of Convoy KMS20 detached and took
passage to Gibraltar.
15th During
attack on OS51 by U135 one mercantile was damaged.
Carried out depth charge attacks with HM Sloop
ROCHESTER and MIGNONETTE which
forced submarine to
surface.
(Note: U135 was then rammed and sunk by this
attack and 41 of the crew were taken prisoner.
For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by
P Kemp and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR
by C Blair.)
23rd Detached
from OS51 on arrival at Freetown
28th. Deployed
as escort with ships of Group for inward Convoy SL134 during passage from
Freetown. to
Liverpool.
August
12th Under air attacks
by FW aircraft.
19th Detached from SL134 on arrival.
28th Deployed with HM Corvettes SPIRAEA, ALISMA, GERANIUM, and AZALEA as escort for
joint convoy OS54/KMS25 during Atlantic passage.
September
4th Convoy sighted by U515 which then was
shadowed
5th Under attempted night surface torpedo
attacks by U515 which forced to submerge after being
sighted.
(Note: HM Frigate TAVY carried out depth charge
attacks after sonar contact and seriously
damaged U515 which the had to return to base. See above references.)
8th Remained with escort for OS54 when
ships of KMS25 detached and took passage to Gibraltar.
17th Detached from OS54 on arrival at
Freetown
Nominated for
Local Escort of convoy from Gibraltar
October
1st Took passage to
join Convoy RS10 during passage to Sierra Leone from Gibraltar.
10th Rejoined ships of Group at Freetown.
13th Sailed from Freetown with ships of Group
as escort for inward Convoy SL138during passage
to
Liverpool
24th Remained with escort when Convoy KMS25
from Gibraltar merged with SL138.
27th Convoy sighted by German aircraft
29th Convoy sighted by U262 which summoned
support for a major attack on joint convoy.
31st Under attack by
U262, U333 and U306.
(Note: Escort for joint convoy included HM Destroyers WHITEHALL and
WRESTLER. HM
Frigate TAVY, HM Sloops ROCHESTER, HASTINGS
and SCARBOROUGH and
Corvettes of 39th Escort Groups. HM Auxiliary AA Ship ALYNBANK was also
deployed to provide additional AA defence.
U306
was sunk by. HMS WHITEHALL and HM Corvette GERANIUM in defence of
the convoy. See above references for details.)
November
5th Detached from joint convoy on arrival at
Liverpool
16th Deployed with ships of Group as escort
for joint Convoy OS59/KMS33 during Atlantic
passage from Liverpool
28th Remained with escort for OS59 when KMS33
detached and took passage to Gibraltar.
29th Detached from OS59 during passage to
Freetown.
(Note: It is
presumed ship went to Gibraltar.)
December
3rd Sailed from Gibraltar as part of escort
for Convoy MKS32 during passage to join Convoy
SL141 on passage from Freetown.
4th Joined joint escort for merged convoy SL141/MKS32
during passage to Liverpool.
(Note: HM Escort
Aircraft Carrier FENCER was deployed to provide air cover for this
passage.)
8th Under air attacks, driven off by HMS FENCER
aircraft
10th Further air attacks
repelled by aircraft from HMS FENCER.
15th Detached from S141/KMS32 before arrival at Liverpool.
Passage to
Manchester for refit
1 9 4 4
January Under
refit in commercial shipyard.
7th On
completion of post refit trials took passage to Tobemory for work-up.
19th Sustained damage by grounding during
work-up
February Under repair.
to
March
April Carried out post refit trials and resumed work-up
28th On
completion rejoined Western Approaches Command.
May Detached
for support of planned allied landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE)
Allocated for service in Escort Group 106 with HM Corvette
ABELIA.
Took part in preparatory exercise
for NEPTUNE
(For details of
naval activities before and during NEPTUNE, see LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO). OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards
and
for information
about all mercantiles and warships involved D-DAY
SHIPS
by J de Winser.).
June Passage to Milford Haven
to join HM Destroyer VANQUISHER, HM Frigate STRULE,
HMS
ABELIA and two Motor Launches on formation of EG106.
Nominated
for escort of Build-up Convoy EBM3.
4th
Operation delayed 24 hours.
Passage
to join EBM3 in Bristol Channel. as escort
during passage to Isle of Wight.
(Note: Convoy
comprised 111empty supply ships to be loaded at designated south coast
port.).
5th Joined by HM Trawlers CALDY and GWEAL during
passage off Start Point,
Joined later by HM
Canadian Corvettes MOOSEJAW and ARTHUR.
6th Detached from EBM3 during embarkation of
vehicles.
7th
Rejoined EBM3 for escort during passage through Swept Channel.
Detached
from EBM3 on arrival at US Beach Head in Western Task Force area.
Passage
to Falmouth from Beach Head.
8th Deployed for escort of Build-up convoys.
July Transferred to Portsmouth
after release from NEPTUNE.
Deployed
for escort and anti-submarine patrol in English Channel.
August Channel convoy escort in continuation.
September Joined 41st Escort Group for escort of
Atlantic convoys in SW Approaches and
Channel based at Devonport.
Escorted for inward Convoy HX308 in SW
Approaches during passage to Liverpool
Escorted outward convoy ON255 during passage
from Southend in Channel.
October Escorted outward Convoy ON259 during passage
in Channel from Southend.
Escorted
inward Convoy HX312 during passage to Liverpool
November Escorted
joint Convoy SL176/MKS67 during passage to Liverpool
December Escort
outward Convoy ON270 during passage in Channel from Southend
Escorted inward Convoy HX322 during passage
to Liverpool.
Escorted inward Convoy
MKS71 during passage to Liverpool.
Escorted inward Convoy MKS72 during passage to Liverpool.
1 9 4 5
January Escorted outward Convoy ON278
in Channel during passage from Southend
Escorted inward Convoy HX330 during
passage to Liverpool
Escorted outward Convoy ON279 in
Channel during passage from Southend
Escorted inward
Convoy HX331 during passage to Liverpool
Escorted outward Convoy ON280 in
Channel during passage from Southend
Escorted inward
Convoy HX332 during passage to Liverpool
February Escorted inward Convoy KMS84 during
passage to Liverpool
Escorted inward Convoy KMS82 during passage to Liverpool.
Escorted outward Convoy ON287
in Channel during passage from Southend.
March Escorted inward Convoy HX339
during passage to Liverpool
Escorted outward
Convoy ON289 in Channel during passage from Southend
Escorted inward Convoy HX341 during
passage to Liverpool
Nominated for refit at Cardiff
24th Taken in hand for refit
in commercial shipyard.
April Under refit
to
May
June Nominated for Paying-of
and to be reduced to Reserve status
13th On completion of post refit trials took
passage to Milford Haven.
Paid-off and
de-stored
July On completion of reduction, laid-up at
Milford Haven.
P o s t R e f i t N o t e
s
HMS BALSAM was placed on the Disposal List
in 1947 and sold to BISCO for demolition by J Cashmore at
Newport, Glamorgan. The ship arrived
in tow at the breaker’s yard on 20th April 1947
Addenda
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of
HMS
BALSAM
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
KMS 006G
|
05/01/43
|
09/01/43
|
|
05/01/43
|
11/01/43
|
MKS 005
|
22/01/43
|
22/01/43
|
|
06/02/43
|
06/02/43
|
KMS 009G
|
16/02/43
|
20/02/43
|
|
17/02/43
|
19/02/43
|
MKF 009
|
24/02/43
|
24/02/43
|
|
06/03/43
|
07/03/43
|
OS 044
|
24/03/43
|
24/03/43
|
|
31/03/43
|
31/03/43
|
SL 127
|
21/04/43
|
15/04/43
|
|
05/05/43
|
06/05/43
|
OS 047KM
|
16/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
|
16/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
OS 047
|
25/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
|
30/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
SL 130
|
11/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
|
11/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
SL 130MK
|
21/06/43
|
21/06/43
|
|
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
|
28/08/43
|
OS 054KM
|
08/09/43
|
08/09/43
|
|
01/10/43
|
01/10/43
|
RS 010
|
07/10/43
|
07/10/43
|
|
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
|
16/11/43
|
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
|
13/12/43
|
17/12/43
|
|
03/06/44
|
03/06/44
|
EBM 003
|
unknown
|
07/06/44
|
|
12/07/44
|
12/07/44
|
EPM 002
|
12/07/44
|
12/07/44
|
|
17/08/44
|
17/08/44
|
EBC 075
|
19/08/44
|
19/08/44
|
|
27/08/44
|
27/08/44
|
ETM 067
|
28/08/44
|
28/08/44
|
|
08/09/43
|
08/09/44
|
OS 054
|
17/09/44
|
17/09/43
|
|
13/09/44
|
26/09/44
|
HX 308
|
29/09/44
|
28/09/44
|
|
12/10/44
|
12/10/44
|
ON 259
|
unknown
|
29/10/44
|
|
05/10/44
|
19/10/44
|
HX 312
|
21/10/44
|
21/10/44
|
|
10/10/44
|
23/10/44
|
HX 313
|
25/10/44
|
24/10/44
|
|
18/11/44
|
23/11/44
|
SL 176MK
|
24/11/44
|
24/11/44
|
|
03/12/44
|
03/12/44
|
ON 270
|
06/12/44
|
22/12/44
|
|
24/11/44
|
06/12/44
|
HX 322
|
09/12/44
|
08/12/44
|
|
16/12/44
|
22/12/44
|
MKS 071G
|
23/12/44
|
24/12/44
|
|
21/12/44
|
28/12/44
|
MKS 072G
|
30/12/44
|
30/12/44
|
|
26/12/44
|
02/01/45
|
MKS 073G
|
04/01/45
|
04/01/45
|
|
07/01/45
|
07/01/45
|
ON 277
|
10/01/45
|
23/01/45
|
|
29/12/44
|
11/01/45
|
HX 329
|
14/01/45
|
12/01/45
|
|
12/01/45
|
12/01/45
|
ON 278
|
15/01/45
|
31/01/45
|
|
03/01/45
|
16/01/45
|
HX 330
|
17/01/45
|
17/01/45
|
|
17/01/45
|
17/01/45
|
ON 279
|
20/01/45
|
05/02/45
|
|
08/01/45
|
20/01/45
|
HX 331
|
23/01/45
|
22/01/45
|
|
22/01/45
|
22/01/45
|
ON 280
|
25/01/45
|
09/02/45
|
|
10/02/45
|
10/02/45
|
OS 110KM
|
14/02/45
|
15/02/45
|
|
09/02/45
|
14/02/45
|
MKS 082G
|
17/02/45
|
17/02/45
|
|
07/02/45
|
19/02/45
|
HX 337
|
21/02/45
|
21/02/45
|
|
25/02/45
|
25/02/45
|
ON 287
|
28/02/45
|
14/03/45
|
|
18/02/45
|
01/03/45
|
HX 339
|
03/03/45
|
03/03/45
|
|
07/03/45
|
07/03/45
|
ON 289
|
12/03/45
|
25/03/45
|
|
28/02/45
|
12/03/45
|
HX 341
|
15/03/45
|
15/03/45
|
|
18/03/45
|
18/03/45
|
TBC 101
|
21/03/45
|
21/03/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)
