RIVER-Class Frigate
ordered from Fleming and Ferguson of Paisley on 30th September 1941
under the
1941 Build Programme and laid down on 12th June 1942 as Job Number 1507
(Yard
Number 597), The ship was launched on 22nd April 1943 as the
first RN ship to bear this name and she had been adopted by the civil
community of Doncaster Rural District after a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings
campaign in February 1942. Build was
completed on 28th July 1943. As shown in in the
record below she never received particular mention for convoy defence
during
her service in the Atlantic. However this is by no means unusual since,
as recorded in post war
records, only two out of every twenty allied convoys were successfully
attacked.
Much publicity was given to the losses by U-Boat attacks but little was
reported about those Atlantic convoys which arrived without incident.
Over 90%
of Atlantic convoys had uneventful crossings and their escorts had
little opportunities
to demonstrate the extent of the rigorous training and their defence
capabilities.
The contribution made by these unsung ship's companies to the safe and
timely arrival
of convoys was still one of the factors which enabled the allied navies
to win
the Battle of the Atlantic. After the end of hostilities in Europe she
was
deployed in the Far East but having survived the war she was wrecked in
the
South China Sea. whilst on passage to return to UK.
B
a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC
1943-45
H
e r
a l d i c D a
t a
No
mention is made of an Official Crest in the Admiralty Heraldic
Crest
Record, but this is by no means unusual for ships entering
service
during WW2, except those carrying a name previously used
and
for larger warships.
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 3
July Contractor's Sea Trials and commissioned
for service
28th Build completion and commenced Acceptance
Trials.
August On completion of trials and storing took passage
to Tobermory.
September Passage from Tobermory to join Western Approaches
Command for Atlantic convoy
defence on completion of work-up for
operational service..
October Deployed for Atlantic convoy escort in
continuation
to
December
1 9 4 4
January Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
to (Note: Not detached for support of allied
landings in Normandy)
December
1 9 4 5
January Joined 8th Escort Group and prepared for
service in Arctic with Russian convoys.
February Deployed in NW Approaches with Group but not
deployed for escort or support
of convoys to and from Kola Inlet.
March Deployed for convoy defence NW Approaches and
for coastal convoy defence
to
April
May Nominated for service in East Indies Fleet
after end of hostilities in Europe.
June Under Refit for convoy defence in Eastern
Fleet.
July Passage to
Ceylon.
August Joined East Indies Escort Force after VJ Day and
not deployed operationally
P
o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS
AIRE was transferred to
British Pacific Fleet in late 1945. and after arrival
in Hong Kong she was used as an Accommodation Ship. Renamed
HMS TAMAR in March 1946 she carried out this role until shore
accommodation became available
in December that year and then reverted to her original name. Whilst on
passage
to UK to Pay off she ran aground on Bombay Reef, south of Hainan, on
20th
December 1946. The ship's company was saved by
HM Depot Ship BONAVENTURE but the ship became a total loss.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
AIRE
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
27/08/43
|
28/08/43
|
OS 054KM
|
08/09/43
|
08/09/43 |
08/09/43
|
08/09/43
|
KMS 025G
|
10/09/43
|
10/09/43 |
10/09/43
|
11/09/43
|
KMS 025
|
13/09/43
|
21/09/43 |
15/10/43
|
31/10/43
|
UGS 021
|
11/11/43
|
11/11/43 |
13/11/43
|
13/11/43
|
MKS 031
|
23/11/43
|
23/11/43 |
29/11/43
|
29/11/43
|
KMS 033
|
09/12/43
|
09/12/43 |
16/12/43
|
16/12/43
|
GUS 025
|
28/12/43
|
17/01/44 |
03/01/44
|
03/01/44
|
KMS 036
|
13/01/44
|
13/01/44 |
20/01/44
|
21/01/44
|
MKS 038
|
01/02/44
|
01/02/44 |
15/02/44
|
15/02/44
|
OS 067
|
26/02/44
|
26/02/44 |
02/03/44
|
02/03/44
|
SL 151
|
14/03/44
|
14/03/44 |
25/03/44
|
25/03/44
|
OS 071
|
04/04/44
|
04/04/44 |
11/04/44
|
11/04/44
|
SL 155
|
23/04/44
|
23/04/44 |
04/05/44
|
04/05/44
|
OS 075
|
14/05/44
|
14/05/44 |
17/05/44
|
17/05/44
|
SL 159
|
30/05/44
|
31/05/44 |
11/06/44
|
11/06/44
|
OS 079
|
21/06/44
|
21/06/44 |
01/07/44
|
01/07/44
|
SL 163
|
11/07/44
|
11/07/44 |
23/07/44
|
23/07/44
|
OS 083
|
03/08/44
|
03/08/44 |
09/08/44
|
09/08/44
|
SL 167
|
19/08/44
|
19/08/44 |
03/09/44
|
03/09/44
|
OS 087
|
13/09/44
|
13/09/44 |
18/09/44
|
18/09/44
|
SL 171
|
30/09/44
|
30/09/44 |
10/10/44
|
10/10/44
|
OS 091
|
19/10/44
|
19/10/44 |
28/10/44
|
28/10/44
|
SL 175
|
08/11/44
|
08/11/44 |
10/01/45
|
13/01/45
|
MKS 076G
|
18/01/45
|
21/01/45 |
(Note on Convoys)