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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 CRANE (U 23) - Modified Black Swan-class Sloop including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Crane (Navy Photos/Gerry Wright, click to enlarge)

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Modified BLACK SWAN-Class Sloop ordered from Denny at Dumbarton under 1940 Build Programme on 9th January 1941.The ship was laid down on 13th June 1941 and was launched on 9th November 1942 by Mrs Roberts on the same day as HM Sloop CHANTICLEER of this Class. She was the 7th RN ship to carry the name, introduced in 1590. Fitting Out was completed at Clydebank in John Brown's yard on 10th May 1943. Fire control and surface warning radar were installed on build. In March 1942 after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign this ship had been adopted by the civil community of Bethnal Green in Greater London.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

CADIZ 1596 - DOVER  PATROL 1915-18 - BISCAY 1943 - SICILY 1943 - ATLANTIC 1943-44 - NORMANDY 1944 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1944 - OKINAWA 1945 - KOREA 1952-53*

(* Award made for service during Korean War with United Nations naval  forces)

H e r a l d i c  D a t a

Badge: On a  Field Blue. in water barry wavy. in base proper

a crane also proper.

 

 

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

 

May                        Commissioned for service and Contractor's sea trials.

                10th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

                                (For details of development and use of radar and anti-submarine weapons used in Escorts

                                see RADAR AT SEA by D Hawse and SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann).

                                On completion of trials and storing too passage to Tobermory for work-up.

 

June                        Carried out work-up for operational service.

 

July                         On completion joined HM Sloops CHANTICLEER and PHEASANT in 7th Escort Group at

                                Greenock for escort and support of Atlantic convoys.

                                Nominated for defence of military convoys on passage in Atlantic to Gibraltar.

                                Escorted military convoys to Mediterranean for allied Landings in Sicily with other ships of Group.

                                (Operation HUSKY - For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C. Barnett ,

                                Naval Staff History and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser for information about

                                all warships and mercantiles involved.)

                10th        Joined Support Force East with ships of Group for Sicily landings.

 

August                  On release from HUSKY resumed Atlantic escort duties with Group.

 

September             Deployed with 1st Support Group for joint anti-submarine operations with RAF Coastal

                                Command in Bay of Biscay against U-Boats on passage to and from bases in France.

                                (Operations MUSKETRY and SEASLUG - See CONFLICT OVER THE BAY by N Franks

                                and Naval Staff History.)

 

October                  Convoy defence and support duties with Group. November

                13th        Part of escort for Convoy MKS30 from Gibraltar to UK with Group.

                14th        Convoy SL139 from Sierra Leone joined.

                15th        Convoy position reported by Aircraft and SCHILL1 Group of U- Boats began attack operations.

                18th        Under attack by SCHILL1 Group of U-Boats.

                                After HM Sloop CHANTICLEER was sunk by T5 acoustic torpedo carried out hunt for ten

                                hours for U515 without success.

 

November

                21st         Sank U538 in position 45.50N 19.35W with HM Frigate FOLEY during defence of convoy

                                SL139.

                                (Note: There were no survivors. See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)

 

December              Convoy escort and support with Group in continuation.

                                (For details of development and use of weapons during Battle of the Atlantic by escorts and

                                submarines, see U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO), SEEK and STRIKE and THE

                                BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre.)

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence in continuation with Group.

to

March

 

April

                6th          Provided support to escort of Convoy SC156 with HM Sloop CYGNET of Group.

                                Convoy and escort under attacks by LANDWIRT U-Boat Group.

                                Shared credit with HMS CYGNET for sinking U962 in position 45.43N 19.57W.

                                (Note: There were no survivors from submarine. See above reference.)

                                On completion of support duty transferred to English Channel for support of planned allied

                                landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE)

                                (Note: For details of activities before and during landings see OPERATION NEPTUNE by K

                                Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO).)

 

May                        Deployed in Channel and Bay of Biscay en interception patrol to prevent U-Boats entering

                                Channel area.

                                Allocated to 114th Escort Group with HM Sloop LARK. HM Escort Destroyer BLANKNEY,

                                HM Frigates CHELMER and TORRINGTON.

 

June                        Passage to More to Join Convoy ETP1 in Thames Estuary.

                4th          Operation delayed for 24 hours.

                6th          Escorted ETP1 which comprised eight Personnel Ships, three Troopships, Fuel Carrier HMS

                                AMBITIOUS and two Hospital Carriers taking Pre-loaded British Division to the Assault Area.

                7th          Passage to Solent with HMS LARK and ships of 115th Escort Group.

                                Passage from Solent through Swept Channel.

                                On arrival in assault area returned to Portsmouth for support deployment

                                Deployed for anti-submarine operations in English Channel.

 

July                         Channel deployment with Group in continuation.

                                Nominated for refit in Hull

 

August                  Took passage via Irish Sea to refit in Hull.

                                Called in Clyde.

                7th          Involved in collision with mercantile ss TILAPA on passage and sustained structural damage.

                                Taken in hand for refit and repair at commercial shipyard in Hull.

 

September             Under refit and repair.

to                            Nominated for duty with British Pacific Fleet on completion.

October

 

November              On completion prepared for foreign service and stored at Greenock.

                                Carried out work-up in SW Approaches based at Falmouth for operational service.

                26th        Took passage to Brest for visit prior to leaving Home waters to join Fleet in Australia.

 

December              Called at Malta and Aden.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Passage to Fremantle with call at Colombo.

 

February                Deployed as escort for HM Repair Ship ART1FEX and HM Depot Ship TYNE from Freemantle

                                to Sydney.

                                Took passage to British Forward Base at Manus in Admiralty Islands.

 

March

                4th          Joined Task Force 112 (British Fleet Train) on arrival at Manus.

                14th        Allocated to Task Unit 112.2.1 in Fleet Train with HM Escort Carrier STRIKER, HM Destroyer

                                WHIRLWIND and HM Frigate FINDHORN as escort for tankers CEDARDALE, SAN

                                AMBROSIO and SAN ADOLPHO.

                17th        Passage to operational area with HM Destroyer WHIRLWIND and HM Frigate FINDHORN as

                                escort for HM Escort Carrier STRIKER during passage to join Task Force 57.

                20th        Deployed as escort for Fleet Train tankers with HM Escort Carriers STRIKER and SPEAKER,

                                HM Sloop PHEASANT and HM Frigate FINDHORN.

                28th        Deployed in Area MIDGE to provide AA defence of ships of Fleet Train.

 

April                       Fleet Train deployment for support of ICEBERG ONE in continuation.

                                (For details of naval activities in the Pacific see OPERATION PACIFIC by E Grey, ENGAGE

                                THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett, THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by John Winton, TF57

                                by P Smith and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)

                30th        Passage to US Forward Base at Leyte with HMS STRIKER and HM Destroyer WHIRLWIND.

                                (Note: Flag Officer (Destroyers) embarked from HM Cruiser EURYALUS for passage.)

 

May                        Passage from Leyte with ships of Fleet Train to resume support during further operations

                                against airfields in Sakishima Gunto (Operation ICEBERG TWO.)

                6th          Deployed in Replenishment Area COOTIE with HM Sloops WHIMBREL, PHEASANT, and

                                HM Frigate AVON as escort for Supply Tamers WAVERING, WAVE MONARCH,

                                AMBROSIO, SAN ADOLPHO and CEDAR LAKE as refuelling group.

                                (Note: HM Escort Carriers STRIKER and RULER escorted by HM Australian Destroyers

                                NAPIER, NORMAN and NEPAL were also deployed with this Group for support of air

                                operations by Task Force 57 carriers in Sakishima Gunto area.

                14th        Deployed with Fleet Train in Area COOTIE during replenishment of BPF ships with HM

                                Frigates WOODCOCK, PHEASANT, HM Destroyer NIZAM (RAN), HM Escort Carriers

                                RULER and STRIKER for defence of Fleet Train tankers ARNDALE, DINGLEDALE, WAVE

                                KING and WAVE MONARCH (Operation ICEBERG TWO).

                18th        Provided AA defence for Tankers SAN AMBROSIA, .SAN ADOLPHO, CEDARDALE and

                                Armament Stores Ship ROBERT MAERSK of Fleet Train during replenishment of BPF ships

                                with HM Escort Carriers RULER, CHASER, HM Sloop WHIMBREL, HM Destroyers

                                GRENVILLE, NORMAN, HM Frigate PARRET and HM Australian Minesweeper BENDIGO.

                23rd        Provided AA defence for HM Escort Carriers RULER, CHASER, SPEAKER, tankers SAN

                                AMADO, WAVE KING and WAVE MONARCH, and Ammunition Supply Ship AASE

                                MAERSK during the replenishment of BPF ships.

                25th        On completion of support for ICEBERG TWO returned to Manus.

 

June                        Fleet Train deployment in continuation.

                                (Note: Ships of BPF had a repair and maintenance period in Australia.).

 

July                         Deployed with Fleet Train during Joint RN/USN operations off Japan.

                31st         Provided AA defence for tankers WAVE GOVERNOR, CARELIA, OLNA. WAVE KING,

                                Stores Supply Ship GLENARTNEY, ROBERT MAERSK and CORINDA and Radar

                                Maintenance Ship HMNZS ARBUTUS with HM Escort Carriers CHASER, SPEAKER, RULER,

                                HM Destroyers NORMAN (RAN), QUEENBOROUGH (RAN), HM Sloops PHEASANT,

                                WOODCOCK, REDPOLE, HM Frigates ODZANI, DERG and HM Australian Minesweeper

                                PIRIE during replenishment of BPF ships.

 

August

                6th          Provided AA defence for HMS ARBITER,. HMS CHASER, HMS RULER. tankers

                                DINGLEDALE, WAVE KING and SAN AMADO, .Stores Supply Ships GLENARTNEY, FORT

                                WRANGELL during BPF replenishment with HM Destroyers NORMAN (RAN), NIZAM, HM ,

                                Frigate BARLE, HM Sloop PHEASANT, HM Australian Minesweepers BALLARAT and    

                                BURNIE

                13th        Provided AA defence for Fleet Train auxiliaries WAVE EMPEROR, OLNA, SAN ADOLPHO,

                                SAN AMADO, SAN AMBROSIO, FORT WRANGELL and HMS RULER with HMS

                                PHEASANT, HMS FINDHORN, HM Frigates USK, BARLE HM Australian Minesweepers

                                BURNIE, BALLARAT, GERALDTON, IPSWICH and Hospital Ship TJITJALENGKA.

                                (Note This was the last replenishment of BPF during war operations).

                15th        On cessation of hostilities transferred to 1st Escort Group BPF.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS CRANE remained with the British Pacific Fleet after VJ-Day and was deployed on patrol duty based in Hang Kong until refitting In Brisbane at the end of 1945. On completion the ship became part of the 3rd Frigate Flotilla until July 1946 when she took passage to return to UK. On arrival after Paying-off, de0-stored and reduced to Reserve status at Harwich. Later transferred to Chatham Reserve Fleet and in July 1951 brought forward for service with the 3rd Frigate Flotilla ,Far East. She re-commissioned after refit during which HEDGEHOG anti-submarine mortar outfit equipment was fitted and the 20mm Oerlikon weapons replaced by 40mm Bofors. Apart from detachment to the Mediterranean during the Suez crisis in 1956 she stayed in the Far East until 1962. During the Suez operation the ship was damaged by Israeli aircraft. This ship was finally Paid off in late 1962 and laid up at Portsmouth. When placed on the Disposal List in 1965 she was sold to BISCO for breaking-up by Lacmots at Queenborough, Kent where she arrived tow during  March that year.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS CRANE

by Don Kindell

 

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above 

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escorted

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

18/07/43

18/07/43

GUS 010

22/07/43

09/08/43

18/07/43

18/07/43

MKS 018

22/07/43

23/07/43

14/07/43

24/07/43

MKF 019

28/07/43

30/07/43

28/06/43

26/08/43

KMF 018

07/07/43

11/07/43

05/10/43

10/10/43

ON 205

13/10/43

23/10/43

05/10/43

14/10/43

HX 260

16/10/43

20/10/43

18/10/43

20/10/43

ON 207

27/10/43

04/11/43

06/11/43

09/11/43

SC 146

13/11/43

22/11/43

06/11/43

15/11/43

HX 265

16/11/43

21/11/43

16/11/43

18/11/43

SL 139MK

25/11/43

26/11/43

07/02/44

10/02/44

ON 223

11/02/44

24/02/44

05/02/44

16/02/44

HX 278

17/02/44

20/02/44

14/02/44

18/02/44

ON 224

20/02/44

02/03/44

02/03/44

09/03/44

MKF 029

16/03/44

16/03/44

15/03/44

16/03/44

ON 228

unknown

01/04/44

20/05/44

21/05/44

WP 525

22/05/44

22/05/44

24/05/44

25/05/44

WP 527

26/05/44

26/05/44

29/05/44

29/05/44

CE 270A

30/05/44

30/05/44

06/06/44

06/06/44

ETP 001

07/06/44

07/06/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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revised 31/5/11
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