RIVER-Class Frigate ordered on 19th May 1941 under
the 1940 War Programme from A
J Inglis of
Pointhouse,
Glasgow and was laid down on 31st December 1941.
The ship was launched en 24th
November 1942 as the 5th RN Warship to carry the
name dating from 1759. Build
was completed on 9th April 1943 and had been
adopted by the civil community
of
Hatfield, Hertfordshire
in March 1942 after a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National
Savings campaign. This Frigate was fitted with
Turbine propulsion machinery.
B a t
t l e H
o n o
u r s
BISCAY 1943 - ATLANTIC 1942-44
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
No
details are given in the official Record of
Heraldic
Crests, but as this
name
had been used
previously
this may have been an
oversight.
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
March
Contractor's sea trials and commissioned for
service in
Western Approaches
Command.
April
5th
Build completion and commenced Acceptance
Trials.
On completion of trials and storing took passage
to Tobermory to work-up for operational
service.
May
Joined Western Approaches Command for Atlantic
convoy defence on completion of work-up
June
Deployed for convoy escort.
to
(For details of Atlantic convoy defence
operations see THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
July
by D Macintyre, U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC
(HMSO) and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR
by C Blair.)
August
Joined 5th Escort Group with HM Frigate NENE, HM
Canadian Corvettes CALGARY,
EDMUNDSTON and SNOWBERRY.
Nominated for duty in Support role for
Anti-Submarine operations in Bay of Biscay.
Deployed with ships of 5th and 40th Escort
Groups off NW coast of Spain to prevent use of
coastal waters by U-Boats on passage to and from
French bases (Operation PERCUSSION).
(Note: This was carried out in conjunction with
aircraft of RAF Coastal Command and with
cover against surface destroyer attacks by HM
Cruiser BERMUDA.
For more details see CONFLICT OVER THE BAY by N
Franks, ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and above
references.)
23rd
Commenced operations off Spanish coast
25th
Under attack by Hs293 Glider Bombs controlled by
Do217 aircraft.
HM Cutter LANDGUARD (Ex US Navy) damaged by near
misses.
28th
Further attacks by Hs293 Glider Bombs against
ships of newly arrived 1st Support Group
HM Sloop EGRET sunk and HM Canadian Destroyer
ATHABASKAN damaged.
Support Groups withdrew farther west.
September
Resumed convoy defence and support duties in
Atlantic.
October
Part of escort for Convoy HX261 with ships of
Group.
November
Deployed in support role for convoys between UK
and Gibraltar.
19th
Deployed with 5th Escort Group and destroyers
from Gibraltar in support of escort for
combined Convoy MKS30 and SL139 during passage
from Gibraltar to UK which was under
attacks by SCHILL Groups of U-Boats,
20th
Convoy and escorts under sustained U-Boat
attacks during which U356 was sunk by HM
Frigate NENE, HM Canadian Corvettes CALGARY and
SNOWBERRY.
(See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and HITLER’S
U-BOAT WAR for details.)
(Note: 17 survivors were rescued including the
submarine captain)
21st
Defences reinforced by 4th British Support
Group.
December
Convoy escort and support for Gibraltar convoys
in continuation with Group.
Deployed with HM Destroyer WATCHMAN as screen
for HM Escort Carrier STRIKER for
support of passage of joint Convoy MKS34/SL143.
(Note: An extensive operation by RAF Coastal
Command to intercept of two blockade runners
in Bay of Biscay was concurrent with this
deployment.
See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY.)
1 9 4 4
January
Deployed in SW Approaches with Group in search
for reported blockade runners and support
of passage of outward Convoy KMS38/OS64 .
7th
Sunk by Acoustic (T5) torpedo by U305, SW 600
miles west of Cape Ortegal in position
44.18N, 21.19W) and foundered within a few
minutes.
52 of crew were rescued by HM Frigate NENE.
(Note: U305 was part of the BORKUM Group of
U-Boats engaged in attacking joint Convoy
MKS34/ SL143 on passage from Gibraltar.
See above references.)
(For details of tactical and weapon development
see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann
and RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS TWEED
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
10/06/43
|
12/06/43
|
ON
188
|
15/06/43
|
26/06/43
|
05/06/43
|
14/06/43
|
SC
133
|
16/06/43
|
19/06/43
|
24/06/43
|
26/06/43
|
ON
190
|
01/07/43
|
09/07/43
|
23/06/43
|
01/07/43
|
HX
245
|
02/07/43
|
07/07/43
|
08/07/43
|
14/07/43
|
HX
247
|
19/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
16/07/43
|
19/07/43
|
ON
193
|
23/07/43
|
31/07/43
|
30/07/43
|
03/08/43
|
SC
138
|
08/08/43
|
12/08/43
|
15/09/43
|
24/09/43
|
SC
142
|
24/09/43
|
29/09/43
|
16/09/43
|
25/09/43
|
HX
257
|
28/09/43
|
30/09/43
|
22/10/43
|
27/10/43
|
ONS
021
|
31/10/43
|
05/11/43
|
06/11/43
|
11/11/43
|
HX
265
|
16/11/43
|
21/11/43
|
06/11/43
|
17/11/43
|
SC
146
|
17/11/43
|
22/11/43
|
16/11/43
|
19/11/43
|
SL
139MK
|
22/11/43
|
26/11/43
|
25/11/43
|
01/12/43
|
OS
060KM
|
03/12/43
|
07/12/43
|
17/11/43
|
05/12/43
|
MKF
026
|
06/12/43
|
09/12/43
|
02/12/43
|
06/12/43
|
ON
214
|
08/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
25/12/43
|
30/12/43
|
SL
143MK
|
03/01/44
|
06/01/44
|
29/12/43
|
02/01/44
|
ONS
026
|
03/01/44
|
18/01/44
|
31/12/43
|
04/01/44
|
ON
218
|
05/01/44
|
18/01/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)