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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 1998

HMS WAVENEY (K 248) - River-class Frigate including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Waveney (Navy Photos/Bob Hanley, click to enlarge)

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RIVER-Class  Frigate ordered on 15th March 1941 from Smiths Dock, Middlesbrough in an Emergency War Programme and laid down on 8th October 1941. The ship was launched on 30th April 1942 and was the 4th RN warship to carry the name, last used for a trawler in 1920 which was later sold to Spain. Build was completed on 16th September 1942. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK campaign for National Savings in February 1942 she had been adopted by the civil community of Eye, Suffolk.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

DOVER  PATROL 1916 - ATLANTIC 1942-43 - BISCAY 1943 - NORMANDY 1944 - BURMA 1945

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field pervfesse Red and Blac, a fess wavy  a fess wavy White

charged with a bar wavy Blue overall on two feathers in Saltire White

with a leopard’s face Gold.

 

M o t to

Ab intus Jubeo:  'From within I command'

 

 

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

 

September             Contractors trials and commissioned for service in 40th Escort Group.

                16th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

                                Passage to Tobermory on completion of trials and storing to work-up for

                                operational service in 40th Escort Group.

 

October                  Took passage on completion of work-up to join Western Approaches Command.

 

November              Deployed with Group for Atlantic convoy defence.

to

December

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.

to                            (Note: For details of U-Boat deployments at this critical period in the war in the Atlantic

February                see U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR

                                by C Blair.)

 

March                    Part of escort with ships of Group for Atlantic Convoy HX229A.

 

April                       Part of escort with ships of Group for Atlantic Convoy ONS3.

 

May                        Part of escort with ships of Group for Atlantic Convoy SC128.

                                (Note: For details of the development and use of new weapons by allied escorts and by U-

                                Boats, see SEEK AND STRIKE by William Hackmann, BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS by

                                John Terraine and THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre.)

 

June                        Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.

to                            Nominated for deployment with Group for anti-submarine operations in the Bay of

July                         Biscay in conjunction with aircraft of RAF Coastal Command and other RN Groups.

 

August                  Deployed with HM Frigate EXE and four other ships of Group in Bay of Biscay

                                (Operation PERCUSSION – Interception of U-Boats attempting passage to and

                                from bases in France through Spanish coastal waters.)

                                (Note: HM Frigates NENE, TWEED, CALGARY (RCN) and SNOWBERRY (RCN) of 5th

                                Escort Group were also deployed and this operation was covered by HM Cruiser

                                BERMUDA.

                                During attacks by Hs 293 Glider Bombs against 1st Support Group sent as a relief

                                force, HM Sloop EGRET was sunk and two other ships damaged

                                See CONFLICT OVER THE BAY by N Franks.)

 

September             Resumed Atlantic convoy defence with Group.

to                            Nominated for transfer to Force J as HQ Ship after conversion.

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Under refit and conversion.

to                            Carried out post refit trials.

March                    Commanding Officer: Lieutenant Commander R H Bristowe DSC RN.

                                (Note: Ship fitted with a comprehensive outfit of radio equipment for morse and

                                voice communications with ships, aircraft, landing craft and shore authorities.

                                This installation was based on lessons learnt at great cost of lives and material

                                in other combined operations such as Dieppe and in the failure of landings in

                                the Mediterranean in 1941-42. See THE WATERY MAZE by Bernard Fergusson.)

 

April                       Joined Assault Force J2 as Headquarters Ship.

                                (Note: Function of HQ Ship was to provided communication facilities for control of

                                assault landings and to embark Senior Army officers for passage to beachheads.

                                Senior Officer Assault Group J2 was embarked during Combined Operations

                                to ensure that deployments of HQ ship and the Assault Group landing craft were

                                in accordance with the military requirements.

                                Types of support craft attached included Landing Craft (Gun) and Landing Craft

                                (Rocket).

                                Each Assault Group had a specially converted Landing Craft (HQ) which had

                                a less extensive communications fit for use in the event of major damage or loss

                                of the Landing Ship (HQ).)

                                Took part in exercises with Force J ships in Channel area.

 

May                        Deployed in Channel for exercises.

                2nd         Took part in Final Rehearsal for Forces O, S and J (Exercise FABIUS).

                                (Note: Berthing, Loading and Sailing procedures were exercised.)

                3rd          Assault Landings made by Force J in Bracklesham Bay, West Sussex.

                                (Note: Cover for Exercise provided by Portsmouth and Plymouth Commands.)

                4th          Programme curtailed due to deterioration of weather.

                                (For details of naval activities before and during NEPTUNE see OPERATION NEPTUNE

                                by K Edwards, LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, JUNE 1944 (HMSO) and for information

                                about all mercantiles and warships involved D-DAY SHIPS by J de Winser.)

                20th        On completion of preparatory exercises returned to Solent area.

 

June                        Deployed in Solent for briefings and preparation of NEPTUNE.

                                Allocated for passage to JUNO Beach Head in Convoy J10, escorted by HM Destroyers

                                KEMPENFELT, BLEASDALE and Norwegian GLAISDALE.

                                (Note: Convoy comprised 8 Landing Ships (Infantry), 3 motor gunboats of Coastal

                                Forces and two US Navy Coastguard Cutters.

                                See above references.)

                4th          Operation postponed for 24 hours.

                5th          Sailed from Spithead with Convoy J10 to swept channel entrance.

                6th          Arrived off JUNO Beach Head.

                                Controlled assault landings of 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade on NAN Red and NAN

                                White Beaches.

                                (Note: Military commander - Brigadier K G Blackader.)

                                Senior officer Assault Group J2 - Captain R J O Otway-Ruthven RN.

                                Remained in JUNO Area for Build-up Phase.

                30th        On termination of NEPTUNE returned to Solent.

 

July                         Deployed in Force J

to                            Nominated for service in Eastern Fleet.

August

 

September             Preparation for foreign service

 

October                  Passage to Trincomalee.

to

November              Took part in exercises in preparation for support duties as HQ Ship.

 

December              Joined Force W in Eastern Fleet.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Deployed in Bay of Bengal for military support duties.

to                            Nominated for service as HQ Ship during allied landings in Burma.

March                    (Operation DRACULA - Assault on Rangoon)

                                (Note: For details of operations on coast of Burma see THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J

                                Winton, OPERATION PACIFIC by Edwyn Gray and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)

 

April                       Took part in preliminary exercises for Rangoon landings

                27th        Took passage from Akyab as escort for Convoy BAKER to Kyuak Pyu, Ramree Island.

                                Senior Officer of W2 Group, Captain T Ian Scott-Bell DSC Royal Navy embarked,)

                                (Note: Convoy included HM Landing Ships (Infantry) LARGS, GLENROY, PERSIMMON,

                                SILVIO, PRINZ ALBERT screened by HM Frigates SHIEL, TAFF and WAVENEY

                                with cover from HM Cruiser PHOEBE (For Fighter Direction Ship duties).)

                                On arrival off Rangoon anchored at Elephant Point. May

 

May

                2nd         Assault craft sailed for landings.

                3rd          Took passage to Monkey Point for control and support of landing operations.

                5th          On completion returned to Akyab.

                                Passage to Colombo from Akyab prior to visit to Bombay.

 

June                        Deployed with Force W and took part in exercises for planned landings in Malaya.

to                            Passage to Akyab to await instructions relating to Malaysian coast operations.

July                         (Note: Operation delayed by administration problems in London relating to PYTHON

                                Scheme for release of long service SEAC personnel and insistence of US Government.

                                See above references and the Final Report by The Supreme Commander South East

                                Asia (HMSO).)

 

August

                16th        Passage from Bombay to Madras.

                to            Took part in preparatory exercise at Mandapam prior to ZIPPER execution.

                27th        Took passage from Akyab as escort for Convoy BAKER to Kyuak Pyu, Ramree Island.

                                Senior Officer of W2 Group, Captain T Ian Scott-Bell, DSC, Royal Navy embarked,)

                                (Note: Convoy included H M Landing Ships (Infantry) LARGS, GLENROY, PERSIMMON,

                                SILVIO, PRINZ ALBERT screened by HM Frigates SHIEL. TAFF and WAVENEY

                                with cover from HM Cruiser PHOEBE (For Filter Direction Ship duties.)

                                On arrival off Rangoon anchored at Elephant Point. May

 

May

                2nd         Assault craft sailed for landings.

                3rd          Took passage to Monkey Point for control and support of landing operations.

                5th          On completion returned to Akyab.

                                Passage to Colombo from Akyab prior to visit to Bombay.

 

June                        Deployed with Force W and took part in exercises for planned landings in Malaya.

to                            Passage to Akyab to await instructions relating to Malaysian coast operations.

July                         (Note: Operation delayed by administration problems in London relating to PYTHON

                                Scheme for release of long service SEAC personnel and insistence of US Government.

                                See above references and the Final Report by The Supreme Commander South East

                                Asia (HMSO).)

 

August

                16th        Passage from Bombay to Madras.

                to            Took part in preparatory exercise at Mandapam prior to ZIPPER execution.

                27th

 

September

                3rd          Deployed with Force W as Senior Officer's ship Assault Group W2 and part of the

                                escort for a 12 ship convoy during passage to Nicobar Islands.

                5th          Passage from Nicobar area with Assault Convoys to Beachheads.

                                (Note: Landings were planned between Port Swettenham and Port Dickson.

                                See above references.)

                9th          Deployed off Beach Head at Morib during landings by 25th Division.

                11th        On release from ZIPPER took passage to Rangoon.

                                Nominated for support of occupation of Index-China (Operation MASTERDOM).

                20th        Passage from Rangoon to Singapore to take part in MASTERDOM.

                26th        On completion of briefing for MASTERDOM took passage from Singapore for

                                Saigon with Support convoy.

                                (Note: Other ships in convoy included HM Survey Ship CHALLENGER, HM Repair Ship

                                CORBRAE, three Landing Craft Infantry (Large) and nine minesweepers.)

                29th        On arrival of Saigon anchored off Cap St Jaques.

                                Briefed by RN representative.

                30th        Berthed alongside at Saigon after river passage.

                                (Note: Naval units were deployed at Saigon to support 32nd, 80th and 100th Inf. Brigades

                                and an RAF Squadron who were to establish control of the Region pending the

                                arrival of French forces.

                                Japanese surrender was accepted by Naval Officer in Charge, Saigon after arrival.)

  

P o s t   W a r   N o t e

 

HMS WAVENEY remained at Saigon for some weeks before returning to Singapore. On release from East Indies Station she was nominated for Reduction to Reserve status. After arrival in UK the ship Paid-off and laid-up in the Reserve Fleet until placed on the Disposal Lost. She was sold during 1957 to BISCO for demolition by West of Scotland Shipbreaking Company and arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard at Troon on 9th November 1957.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS WAVENEY

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

 

 

 

 

 

23/11/42

26/11/42

MKF 003

03/12/42

03/12/42

12/12/42

12/12/42

KMF 005

20/12/42

20/12/42

24/12/42

25/12/42

MKF 005

31/12/42

31/12/42

11/01/43

12/01/43

ON 160

27/01/43

04/02/43

30/01/43

05/02/43

HX 225

13/02/43

13/02/43

09/03/43

25/03/43

HX 229A

25/03/43

26/03/43

18/05/43

27/05/43

SC 131

28/05/43

31/05/43

28/05/43

02/06/43

ONS 009

04/06/43

09/06/43

26/05/43

04/06/43

SC 132

06/06/43

11/06/43

11/02/43

06/06/43

ON 166

09/06/43

03/03/43

16/06/43

20/06/43

ON 189

22/06/43

01/07/43

15/06/43

23/06/43

HX 244

26/06/43

30/06/43

09/07/43

11/07/43

ON 192

15/07/43

22/07/43

08/07/43

15/07/43

SC 136

19/07/43

23/07/43

12/06/44

12/06/44

FWM 005

13/06/44

13/06/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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