GRIMSBY-Class
Sloop ordered from HM Dockyard
Devonport on 1st March 1934 under
the 1932
Programme and laid down on 11th June
1934. The ship was launched by Mrs
Noble on 16th January 1935 as the
1st RN ship to carry the
name. Build was completed on 20
September 1935 and she sailed for
service in the Red Sea
on 30th of that month. The ship
remained in the Red Sea
until 1938 when she transferred to
the South African Station. In
February 1939
she refitted at Simonstown and was
re-armed with new design twin 4in
mountings.
On completion she remained in the
South Atlantic until
being transferred to Freetown after
the outbreak of war. Following a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National
Savings
campaign in February 1942 this Sloop
was adopted by the civil community
of Londonderry,
Ulster.
B
a t t l e H o n o
u r s
ATLANTIC 1939-45 - NORTH
SEA 1940
- NORTH AFRICA 1942-43 -
NORMANDY 1944 -
ENGLISH CHANNEL 1944-45
H
e r a l d i c D a
t a
Badge:
On a Field
White,.on a
cross red, a castle gold
M
o t t o
Non
recedam: 'No retreat'
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 3
9
September
On completion of post refit trials
deployed in South
(Note: Particular attention was
paid to enemy merchant attempting
shipping back to
Germany and commerce raider became
active
October
11th
Transferred to Freetown and took
passage from Simonstown.
On arrival deployed for local
convoy escort and minesweeping.
(Note: The minesweeping task was
later taken over by trawlers sent
from UK) .
November
Nominated for transfer to Home
waters for convoy defence.
24th
Joined escort for Convoy SL10 on
passage to Liverpool from Freetown.
December
Detached from convoy on arrival
and took passage to Devonport for
refit.
(Note: This was the first visit to
UK since going to Red Sea in
1935.)
12th
Taken in hand for refit by HM
Dockyard Devonport and prepared
for convoy defence
with Rosyth Escort Force.
1 9 4
0
January
Carried out Post refit trials.
to
On completion took passage to
Rosyth.
February
Joined Rosyth Escort Force1
(Note: The twin 4in HA armament
made this type of sloop invaluable
on this convoy
route which had been subject to
air attacks since September 1939).
March
Deployed for East Coast convoy
defence..
to
Not detached for support of
evacuation operations in Channel
area. Pennant Number for April
May
Pennant Number for visual
signalling purposes changed to U76
.
(Note: This ship did not take part
in the evacuation of allied troops
and civilians
from Dunkirk and French Channel
ports (Operation DYNAMO).)
East Coast convoy defence in
continuation.
June
Rosyth deployment in continuation.
to
November
December
Nominated for transfer to Western
Approaches Command for Atlantic
convoy defence.
Passage to Liverpool
Joined 1st AA Division based at
Liverpool.
1 9 4
1
January
Deployed in NW Approaches for
Atlantic convoy defence
to
Newfoundland Command for service
in western Atlantic.
April
May
Passage to St Johns and deployed
for convoy defence.
June
Convoy defend based at St Johns in
continuation.
Nominated for return to Home
waters
July
Passage to Londonderry to join Sloop Division.
Deployed for escort of convoys to
and from Freetown in Western
Approaches.
August
Freetown route convoy defence in
continuation.
to
Deployed with 42nd Escort Group
October
(Note: Other ships in Group were
HM Sloops WESTON, FOLKESTONE,
WELLINGTON
and HM Cutters (Ex US Navy) SENNEN
and TOTLAND.)
November
Part of escort for Convoy OS12
with ships of Group.
December
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
(Note: A modified RAF Air-Surface
Vessel (ASV) radar was fitted by
this period.
This early design save warning of
aircraft and surface ships but was
far from reliable.
See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse).
1 9 4
2
January
Atlantic deployment in
continuation as Senior Officer of
Group
Joined Convoy SL93 as escort.
31st
Under attack by U-Boats in defence
of convoy during which HMS CULVER
was sunk by
U105 west of Ireland.
February
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
to
(For details of Atlantic convoy
defence and tactical enemy
deployments see THE BATTLE
March
OF THE ATLANTIC by D. Macintyre, U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO),
HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair,
and SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)
Nominated for refit
April
Under refit in commercial shipyard
at Avonmouth.
to
June
July
On completion of post refit trials
rejoined Group for Atlantic convoy
defence.
Deployed with Group for escort of
Convoy SL115 to Freetown.
August
Atlantic convoy defence with Group
in continuation.
to
Nominated for detached service in
support of military convoys for
allied landings
September
in North Africa (Operation TORCH -
For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE
CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett, Naval
Staff History, RELUCTANT ENEMIES
by W Tute
and for information about
involvement of all mercantiles and
warships BRITISH
INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.)
(Note: Surface warning radar Type
271 had been fitted by this period
and a new RN design
radar Type 291 replaced the
earlier Type 286M)
For details of development and use
of radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA.
A direction finding equipment for
detection of wireless
transmissions from
submarines was also fitted . See
BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS by J
Terraine and
SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann).
October
Detached for escort of convoys to
Gibraltar
to
December
1 9 4
3
January
Detached service based at
Gibraltar in continuation.
25th
Searched in Atlantic for missing
HM Minelayer CORNCRAKE.
(Note: HMS CORNCRAKE (Ex HMS
MACKEREL was a converted trawler
and foundered
in rough weather conditions.)
29th
Rejoined Escort Group to resume
Atlantic convoy defence.
30th
Sailed to join escort of Convoy
HX224.
February
Deployed with escort for Convoy
HX224.
4th
Sustained major structural damage
to stem due to the premature
detonation of depth charges
during anti-submarine operations.
Towed to Londonderry for temporary repair depth
March
12th
On completion of temporary repair
towed to Devonport by tug HUDSON
14th
Taken in hand for repair by HM
Dockyard Devonport.
April
Under repair
to
An ahead throwing anti-submarine
mortar (HEDGEHOG) was fitted.
October
(See SEEK AND STRIKE).
Close range defence against air
attack was increased to six 20mm
Oerlikon guns.
Nominated for service in 39th
Escort Croup.
17th
Prepared for work-up.
Passage to Tobermory.
December
On completion of work-up joined
Group at Londonderry.
1 9 4
4
January
Deployed with Group for defence of
UK-Gibraltar route convoys.
February
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
5th
In collision with HM Trawler CAPE
ARGONA without major damage.
March
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation with Group.
to
Nominated for transfer to 41st
Escort Group at
Plymouth
April
May
Joined Group based at Plymouth for
convoy defence in
Nominated for detached service in
support of planned allied landings
in Normandy.
(For details of activities prior
to and during landings see
OPERATION NEPTUNE
by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO).)
June
Passage to Portsmouth for escort
of Trinity House Vessels with HM
Sloops ROCHESTER
and SCARBOROUGH
4th
Operation delayed 24 hours.
5th
Deployed as escort for Trinity
House Vessels.
8th
On completion of Assault Phase
deployed as Coastal Forces Control
Ship off the beach
heads
(Note: These ships were
responsible for direction of MTB’s off the beachheads to
intercept enemy craft attempting
to carry out attacks on ships in
the Task Force
areas. In addition also deployed
for patrol and interception
22nd
Under air attack by Ju88 without
damage.
(Note: Enemy air activities had
been reduced between 19th and 21st
but had increased.
See LANDINGS IN NORMANDY.)
27th
After termination of NEPTUNE rejoined Escort Group for deployment in Channel and
SW Approaches.
July
Channel and SW Approaches
deployment in continuation.
August
Channel and SW Approaches convoy
defence in continuation
to
(Note: Enemy SCHNORKEL submarine
attacks increased.
December
See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by Peter Smith and BUSINESS
IN GREAT
WATERS by J Terraine.)
1 9 4
5
January
Deployed in Channel with Group.
to
(Note: Atlantic convoys were
re-routed through Channel after
air threat from the French
April
coast had been removed.
Mining threat by E- Boats and
U-Boats was more heavily carried
out
Additional escorts were deployed
in Channel to counter these.
Heavy U-Boat presence still
existed in coastal waters. See
above references).
May
Withdrawn from operational service
after VE Day.
25th
Arrived At Milford Haven to
Pay-off into Reserve.
June
After reduction to Reserve status
and de-storing laid up in Milford
July
Laid-up in Reserve at Milford
Haven.
to
August
P
o s t W a r
N o t e s
HMS
LONDONDERRY was placed on the
Disposal List after VJ-Day
and sold in to BISCO in March 1948
for demolition by E Rees
at Llanelly where she arrived in tow
on 8th
June 1948. In 1958 this name was
carried forward for the second
time when given to a ROTHESAY Class
Frigate.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
LONDONDERRY
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
24/11/39
|
24/11/39
|
SL
010
|
10/12/39
|
10/12/39
|
|
17/01/40
|
17/01/40
|
FS
0075
|
19/01/40
|
19/01/40
|
|
20/01/40
|
20/01/40
|
FN
0076
|
22/01/40
|
22/01/40
|
|
24/01/40
|
24/01/40
|
FS
0079
|
25/01/40
|
25/01/40
|
|
26/01/40
|
26/01/40
|
FN
0080
|
27/01/40
|
27/01/40
|
|
07/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
FS
0090
|
09/02/40
|
09/02/40
|
|
14/02/40
|
14/02/40
|
FS
0096
|
16/02/40
|
16/02/40
|
|
23/02/40
|
23/02/40
|
FS
0103
|
25/02/40
|
25/02/40
|
|
27/02/40
|
27/02/40
|
FN
0104
|
29/02/40
|
29/02/40
|
|
06/03/40
|
06/03/40
|
FS
0114
|
08/03/40
|
08/03/40
|
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
FS
0120
|
15/03/40
|
15/03/40
|
|
20/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
FS
0125
|
22/03/40
|
22/03/40
|
|
20/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
MT
034
|
20/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
|
22/02/40
|
22/03/40
|
MT
016
|
23/02/40
|
23/02/40
|
|
31/03/40
|
31/03/40
|
FS
0134
|
02/04/40
|
02/04/40
|
|
31/03/40
|
31/03/40
|
MT
041
|
31/03/40
|
31/03/40
|
|
10/04/40
|
10/04/40
|
FS
0142
|
12/04/40
|
12/04/40
|
|
10/04/40
|
10/04/40
|
MT
048
|
10/04/40
|
10/04/40
|
|
15/04/40
|
15/04/40
|
FS
0147
|
17/04/40
|
17/04/40
|
|
22/04/40
|
22/04/40
|
MT
057
|
22/04/40
|
22/04/40
|
|
29/04/40
|
29/04/40
|
MT
061
|
30/04/40
|
30/04/40
|
|
05/02/40
|
05/05/40
|
MT
004
|
05/05/40
|
05/02/40
|
|
06/05/40
|
06/05/40
|
FS
0164
|
08/05/40
|
08/05/40
|
|
17/05/40
|
17/05/40
|
FS
0173
|
19/05/40
|
19/05/40
|
|
17/05/40
|
17/05/40
|
MT
068
|
17/05/40
|
17/05/40
|
|
25/05/40
|
25/05/40
|
FS
0179
|
27/05/40
|
27/05/40
|
|
25/05/40
|
25/05/40
|
MT
073
|
25/05/40
|
25/05/40
|
|
01/06/40
|
01/06/40
|
FS
0185
|
03/06/40
|
03/06/40
|
|
01/06/40
|
01/06/40
|
MT
079
|
01/06/40
|
01/06/40
|
|
04/06/40
|
04/06/40
|
FN
0188
|
06/06/40
|
06/06/40
|
|
12/06/40
|
12/06/40
|
FS
0193
|
14/06/40
|
14/06/40
|
|
19/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
MT
091
|
20/06/40
|
20/06/40
|
|
20/06/40
|
20/06/40
|
FS
0200
|
22/06/40
|
22/06/40
|
|
23/06/40
|
23/06/40
|
FN
0203
|
25/06/40
|
25/06/40
|
|
26/06/40
|
26/06/40
|
MT
096
|
27/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
|
27/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
FS
0206
|
29/06/40
|
29/06/40
|
|
30/06/40
|
30/06/40
|
FN
0209
|
02/07/40
|
02/07/40
|
|
09/07/40
|
09/07/40
|
FS
0217
|
10/07/40
|
10/07/40
|
|
12/07/40
|
12/07/40
|
FN
0220
|
15/07/40
|
14/07/40
|
|
19/07/40
|
19/07/40
|
FN
0226
|
21/07/40
|
21/07/40
|
|
11/08/40
|
11/08/40
|
FS
0249
|
14/08/40
|
14/08/40
|
|
31/08/40
|
31/08/40
|
FN
0268
|
02/09/40
|
02/09/40
|
|
04/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
FS
0272
|
06/09/40
|
06/09/40
|
|
09/09/40
|
09/09/40
|
FN
0277A
|
11/09/40
|
11/09/40
|
|
16/09/40
|
16/09/40
|
FS
0283
|
19/09/40
|
19/09/40
|
|
19/09/40
|
19/09/40
|
FN
0285
|
21/09/40
|
21/09/40
|
|
27/09/40
|
27/09/40
|
FS
0293
|
29/09/40
|
29/09/40
|
|
30/09/40
|
30/09/40
|
FN
0295
|
02/10/40
|
02/10/40
|
|
04/10/40
|
04/10/40
|
FS
0300
|
06/10/40
|
06/10/40
|
|
07/10/40
|
07/10/40
|
FN
0302
|
08/10/40
|
09/10/40
|
|
12/10/40
|
12/10/40
|
FS
0307
|
14/10/40
|
14/10/40
|
|
15/10/40
|
15/10/40
|
FN
0309
|
18/10/40
|
18/10/40
|
|
24/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
FS
0319
|
27/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
|
27/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
FN
0321
|
29/10/40
|
29/10/40
|
|
31/10/40
|
31/10/40
|
FS
0324
|
02/11/40
|
02/11/40
|
|
03/11/40
|
03/11/40
|
FN
0326
|
05/11/40
|
05/11/40
|
|
08/11/40
|
08/11/40
|
FS
0331
|
10/11/40
|
10/11/40
|
|
11/11/40
|
11/11/40
|
FN
0332
|
14/11/40
|
14/11/40
|
|
22/11/40
|
22/11/40
|
FS
0342
|
24/11/40
|
24/11/40
|
|
26/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
FN
0344
|
28/11/40
|
28/11/40
|
|
30/11/40
|
30/11/40
|
FS
0349
|
02/12/40
|
02/12/40
|
|
04/12/40
|
04/12/40
|
FN
0350
|
06/12/40
|
06/12/40
|
|
08/12/40
|
08/12/40
|
FS
0357
|
11/12/40
|
11/12/40
|
|
12/12/40
|
12/12/40
|
FN
0358
|
14/12/40
|
14/12/40
|
|
29/12/40
|
29/12/40
|
FS
0375
|
01/01/41
|
01/01/41
|
|
07/01/41
|
07/01/41
|
FS
0383
|
10/01/41
|
10/01/41
|
|
25/01/41
|
25/01/41
|
FN
0391
|
27/01/41
|
27/01/41
|
|
17/01/41
|
31/01/41
|
HG
051
|
03/02/41
|
03/02/41
|
|
06/02/41
|
18/02/41
|
HG
053
|
24/02/41
|
24/02/41
|
|
26/04/41
|
27/04/41
|
OG
060
|
30/04/41
|
10/05/41
|
|
09/04/41
|
30/04/41
|
SL
071
|
05/05/41
|
04/05/41
|
|
11/05/41
|
12/05/41
|
OB
321
|
16/05/41
|
17/05/41
|
|
06/05/41
|
16/05/41
|
HG
061
|
20/05/41
|
20/05/41
|
|
08/06/41
|
11/06/41
|
OB
331
|
13/06/41
|
19/06/41
|
|
08/06/41
|
13/06/41
|
OB
332
|
20/06/41
|
23/06/41
|
|
26/06/41
|
26/06/41
|
HX
135
|
11/07/41
|
12/07/41
|
|
24/07/41
|
26/07/41
|
OS
001
|
09/08/41
|
10/08/41
|
|
15/08/41
|
18/08/41
|
SL
084
|
08/09/41
|
08/09/41
|
|
23/09/41
|
26/09/41
|
OS
007
|
12/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
|
15/10/41
|
18/10/41
|
SL
090
|
29/10/41
|
06/11/41
|
|
22/10/41
|
30/10/41
|
HG
075
|
03/11/41
|
03/11/41
|
|
18/11/41
|
19/11/41
|
OS
012
|
02/12/41
|
11/12/41
|
|
18/11/41
|
02/12/41
|
SL
093
|
10/12/41
|
10/12/41
|
|
23/12/41
|
24/12/41
|
OS
015
|
11/01/42
|
13/01/42
|
|
15/01/42
|
18/01/42
|
SL
098
|
05/02/42
|
05/02/42
|
|
22/02/42
|
23/02/42
|
OS
020
|
10/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
|
14/03/42
|
16/03/42
|
SL
103
|
02/04/42
|
02/04/42
|
|
11/06/42
|
11/06/42
|
OS
031
|
28/06/42
|
30/06/42
|
|
05/07/42
|
05/07/42
|
SL
115
|
25/07/42
|
26/07/42
|
|
10/08/42
|
11/08/42
|
OS
037
|
27/08/42
|
29/08/42
|
|
03/09/42
|
03/09/42
|
SL
121
|
20/09/42
|
21/09/42
|
|
26/09/42
|
09/10/42
|
SC
103
|
14/10/42
|
14/10/42
|
|
25/10/42
|
26/10/42
|
KMS
002G
|
10/11/42
|
12/11/42
|
|
15/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
MKS
001X
|
23/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
|
11/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
KMS
005G
|
24/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
|
22/12/42
|
26/12/42
|
MKS
004
|
06/01/43
|
06/01/43
|
|
21/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
KMS
008G
|
25/01/43
|
10/02/43
|
|
22/01/43
|
02/02/43
|
HX
224
|
03/02/43
|
05/02/43
|
|
25/12/43
|
26/12/43
|
OS
063KM
|
08/01/44
|
07/01/44
|
|
08/01/44
|
08/01/44
|
KMS
037G
|
09/01/44
|
09/01/44
|
|
12/01/44
|
12/01/44
|
SL
145MK
|
22/01/44
|
24/01/44
|
|
06/02/44
|
06/02/44
|
OS
067KM
|
15/02/44
|
15/02/44
|
|
16/02/44
|
16/02/44
|
KMS
041G
|
17/02/44
|
17/02/44
|
|
21/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
MKS
040G
|
22/02/44
|
22/02/44
|
|
22/02/44
|
22/02/44
|
SL
149MK
|
07/03/44
|
07/03/44
|
|
14/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
OS
071KM
|
25/03/44
|
25/03/44
|
|
26/03/44
|
26/03/44
|
KMS
045G
|
27/03/44
|
27/03/44
|
|
01/04/44
|
01/04/44
|
MKS
044G
|
02/04/44
|
02/04/44
|
|
02/04/44
|
02/04/44
|
SL
153MK
|
13/04/44
|
13/04/44
|
|
24/05/44
|
25/05/44
|
WP
527
|
26/05/44
|
26/05/44
|
|
26/05/44
|
27/05/44
|
WP
528
|
28/05/44
|
28/05/44
|
|
14/07/44
|
14/07/44
|
EPM
004
|
14/07/44
|
14/07/44
|
|
14/07/44
|
14/07/44
|
FPM
005
|
15/07/44
|
15/07/44
|
|
17/07/44
|
17/07/44
|
EPM
007
|
17/07/44
|
17/07/44
|
|
20/07/44
|
20/07/44
|
EPM
010
|
20/07/44
|
20/07/44
|
|
26/07/44
|
26/07/44
|
EPM
016
|
26/07/44
|
26/07/44
|
|
29/07/44
|
29/07/44
|
EPM
019
|
29/07/44
|
29/07/44
|
|
11/08/44
|
11/08/44
|
FBC
051
|
14/08/44
|
14/08/44
|
|
30/08/44
|
07/09/44
|
SL
168MK
|
09/09/44
|
07/09/44
|
|
24/10/44
|
24/10/44
|
ON
262
|
27/10/44
|
10/11/44
|
|
15/10/44
|
27/10/44
|
HX
314
|
30/10/44
|
29/10/44
|
|
10/02/45
|
10/02/45
|
OS
110KM
|
13/02/45
|
15/02/45
|
|
02/02/45
|
14/02/45
|
HX
336
|
17/02/45
|
14/02/45
|
|
21/02/45
|
21/02/45
|
OS
112KM
|
24/02/45
|
24/02/45
|
|
19/02/45
|
24/02/45
|
MKS
084G
|
27/02/45
|
27/02/45
|
|
12/03/45
|
12/03/45
|
OS
116KM
|
15/03/45
|
17/03/45
|
|
11/03/45
|
15/03/45
|
MKS
088G
|
19/03/45
|
19/03/45
|
|
12/04/45
|
12/04/45
|
ON
296
|
14/04/45
|
30/04/45
|
|
10/04/45
|
15/04/45
|
MKS
094G
|
18/04/45
|
18/04/45
|
|
21/04/45
|
21/04/45
|
ON
298
|
24/04/45
|
07/05/45
|
|
13/04/45
|
26/04/45
|
HX
350
|
28/04/45
|
28/04/45
|
|
07/05/45
|
07/05/45
|
BTC
151
|
10/05/45
|
10/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
