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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2005

HMS, also Norwegian HNorMS NEWPORT (G 54) - ex-US Destroyer including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Newport (CyberHeritage, click to enlarge)

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Ex USS SIGOURNEY (Type C - NEWPORT-Class) built by Bethlehem Steel at Fore River and launched on 16 December 1917. Build was completed on 14th May 1918 and the ship was held in Reserve in 1939. She was transferred under the UK/US Lease Lend agreement in 1939 and was taken over at Halifax on 26th September 1940, pending the arrival of RN personnel. Commissioned on 5th November 1940 as HMS NEWPORT the ship was adopted by the civil community of Newport, Monmouth following a WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

VELEZ MALAGA 1704 - ATLANTIC 1941 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1942 - ARCTIC 1942

 

 

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 0

 

October

 

Prepared for transfer

 

November

 

26th - Delivered to Royal Canadian Navy at Halifax pending arrival of RN personnel.

 

December

 

Prepared by RN personnel for commissioning and Atlantic passage.

 

5th - Commissioned into RN service at Halifax and named HMS NEWPORT.

 

20th - Arrived at Belfast on passage to Plymouth.

 

 

1 9 4 1

 

January

 

Slightly damaged in air raid at Belfast. After machinery defect on passage in Irish Sea diverted to Milford Haven for repair. Transferred to commercial shipyard at Cardiff for completion of repair work.

 

16th - Taken in hand for refit at HM Dockyard Devonport.

 

February

 

Under refit and modification to suit deployment for Atlantic escort duty.

 

March

 

Under refit.

 

Transferred to Royal Norwegian Navy during refit. Nominated for service in Western Approaches Command based at Londonderry with 43rd Escort Group.

 

 

W a r    S e r v i c e   a s   H  N o r  M S   N E W P O R T

 

April to August

 

On completion of refit took passage to join Group.

 

September

 

Deployment with 43rd Escort Group at Londonderry to be confirmed.

 

October

 

23rd - Commenced repair in commercial shipyard at Liverpool.

 

Transferred to 7th Escort Group based in Liverpool. (Note: This Group included other Norwegian manned ships).

 

November

 

Under repair. On completion of post repair trials joined Group.

 

December

 

Deployed with Group for convoy defence in North Atlantic.

 

 

1 9 4 2

 

January to February

 

Convoy defence in continuation. (Note: As Battle Honours ARCTIC 1942 and ENGLISH CHANNEL 1942 were awarded, this period requires further research.)

 

March

 

Atlantic convoy escort duty with 7th Escort Group in continuation

 

25th - Sustained major damaged in collision with HM Destroyer BEVERLEY whilst on escort duty. Withdrawn from service for repair at Liverpool.

 

April

 

Under repair at Liverpool.

 

13th - Repair work transferred to HM Dockyard Devonport for completion.

 

May to June

 

Under repair in HM Dockyard Devonport. Paid-off and Royal Norwegian Navy personnel left ship. Reverted to RN total administration

 

 

S e r v i c e    b a c k    u n d e r    R o y a l    N a v y    C o m m a n d

 

July to August

 

Under repair

 

September

 

Repair completion transferred to commercial shipyard at Southampton.

 

October to December

 

Under repair at Southampton. (Note: Work included re-tubing of boilers.)

 

Ship to be fully surveyed ship to determine operational viability. Declared unsuitable for further deployment as a convoy escort. Nominated for use as Air Target Ship.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January to April

 

Repair essential for deployment in new role continued with conversion required for new role. Main armament and weapon equipment no longer needed removed. Re-commissioned and manned by RN personnel.

 

May

 

On completion of sea trials joined Western Approaches Command for duty in new role.

 

June to December

 

Deployed in Irish Sea Station as Air Target Ship duty for training of air crews in shipping attacks by torpedo.

 

 

1 9 4 4

 

January to February

 

Air Target Ship duties in continuation in Irish Sea.

 

March to December

 

Transferred to Rosyth and deployed as Air Target Ship at Station in North Sea.

 

 

1 9 4 5

 

January to June

 

North Sea Air Target Ship duty in continuation. Nominated for withdrawal from service. Passage to Rosyth

 

July

 

4th - Paid-off and de-stored. Reduced to Reserve status and Laid-up at Rosyth

 

August

 

Placed on Disposal List.

 

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e

 

HMS NEWPORT was sold to BISCO for demolition by M. Brechin, Shipbreakers at Granton after VJ Day and arrived in tow at the Shipbreaker’s yard near Edinburgh on 18th February 1947.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HNorMS NEWPORT

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

 

 

 

 

 

03/12/41

05/12/41

ON 043

07/12/41

15/12/41

13/12/41

13/12/41

DS 018

16/12/41

16/12/41

20/12/41

20/12/41

SD 018

23/12/41

23/12/41

15/12/41

22/12/41

TC 016

unknown

25/12/41

20/01/42

21/01/42

ON 058

21/01/42

21/01/42

20/01/42

30/01/42

HX 171

31/01/42

01/02/42

19/02/42

26/02/42

AT 012

02/03/42

02/03/42

11/03/42

11/03/42

DS 024

15/03/42

15/03/42

16/03/42

16/03/42

SD 024

19/03/42

19/03/42

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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revised 6/6/11
further editing is required