Modified
BLACK SWAN-Class Sloop ordered from William Demy of Dumbarton under
1940 Build Program as Job No
1259 (Yard No.1359) on 13th April 1940 and laid down on 23 February 1941. The
ship was launched on 29th June 1942 by Mrs Greig. She
was the first RN warship to carry the name and had been adopted by the civil
community of Bushey, Hertfordshire
in February 1942 following a successful WARSHIP WEEK campaign for National
Savings. The target amount of £120,000 was raised, which for a population of 12,000
was a most creditable achievement. Initially HM
Corvette HELIOTROPE had been selected for adoption but when that ship was transferred
on loan to the US Navy as USS SURPRISE, this sloop
was nominated in her place. Build was completed on 14th December 1942 and her
armament included an Ahead Throwing Mortar mounting (HEDGEHOG) for attacks on
submarines. She was also fitted with Radar Type 272 for surface warning and
Type 285 for fire-control of the main armament which comprised three twin
4in mountings. Another radar outfit, Type 286P was also fitted and gave
limited warning of the approach of aircraft and ships. For details of the
development and use of radar by the RN, see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse. Close range defence against air attack was provided
by the fitting of twin and single 20mm Oerlikon gun mountings during build.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
BISCAY 1943
-
ATLANTIC 1943-44
H e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge: On a Field White, a woodpecker clinging to a stump of a tree
proper.
M o t t o
Inveniet
qui exquirit: 'He who seeks carefully shall
find'
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
December
Contractors sea trials and
commissioned for service in 7th Escort Group.
Ships' company were provided from Devonport Port Division.
14th Build
completion and commenced acceptance trials in Clyde area.
18th On
completion of trials and storing for sailed from build yard.
19th
Commenced work-up for operational
service at Tobermory.
1 9 4 3
January Completed
work-up and took passage to Londonderry.
Under repair in Londonderry before joining Escort Group.
Deployed for escort of outward Convoy ON164 to Newfoundland and inward
Convoy SC120
to
UK.
Both convoys arrived without major incident.
February NW
Approaches convoy defence in continuation.
March
Transferred for defence of UK-Gibraltar route convoys.
16th Joined
escort for joint military convoy KMF11 to Oran and WS28 for Middle East in Clyde
with HM Sloop WREN. HM Destroyers BADSWORTH, DOUGLAS, EGGESFORD,
GOATHLAND, WHADDON and Polish KRAKOWIAK.
19th
Detached as escort with Convoy KMF11 when the two convoys split for the separate
passage
to
their destinations
(Note: Convoys split in position 36.09N 09.46W.)
Part of escort for KMF11 to Oran with same ships.
(Note: HM Destroyers MALCOLM, QUADRANT, WITCH and WOLVERINE joined as
escort for WS28 when Joint convoy divided.)
April
Detached from KMF11 in
western Mediterranean and joined return Convoy MKF11 escort
during return passage to UK.
Transferred to 2nd Escort Group on formation for anti-submarine support during
passage of
Atlantic convoys.
(Note: Other Sloops in 2nd Support Group were HMS STARLING (Senior Officer),
HMS
WILD GOOSE, HMS KITE and HMS WREN.
This Group was commanded by Captain F J Walker CB, DSO**, DSC* RN who
achieved great fame during WW2 for his outstanding record in convoy defence
against
U-Boat attack and his contribution to development of the tactics used in Search
and
Destroy operations. His untimely death on 9th July 1944 after a stroke was
without
doubt caused by cumulative stress of three years of continuous active service at
sea.
See FIGHTING CAPTAIN by A Burns, ESCORT COMMANDER by T Robertson,
BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS by J Terraine and THE BATTLE OF THE
ATLANTIC by Donald Macintyre.)
Deployed with Group for support duties In Western Approaches.
May
Atlantic support duties in continuation.
Joined escort for Convoy ONS8 and Convoy HX240 which arrived without loss.
June
2nd During
passage from Iceland with HM Sloops KITE, .STARLING and WILD GOOSE of Group
deployed to reinforce escort of Convoy HX241.
Wireless transmissions from U202 enabled bearing of the submarine to be found by
direction
finding equipment available in ships of Group
(See above references and SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann).
Took part depth charge attacks for several hours during which U202 attempted to
escape by
changes of depth and course as well as discharge of decoy devices.
(Note: Submarine forced to surface and engaged by surface gunfire.
Crew abandoned and some rescued by ships of Group.)
U202 sank in position 56.12N 39-52W.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
After return from escort of HX241 transferred with HM Sloops STARLING, KITE.
WILD
GOOSE and WREN of Group for service in Plymouth Command.
Took passage to Plymouth to take part in series of anti-submarine Operations in
Bay of Biscay
with RAF Coastal Command aircraft covered by HM Cruiser SCYLLA.
(Operation MUSKETRY).
(Note: See CONFLICT OVER THE BAY by N Franks and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C
Blair for details.
The objective of this Operation was to attack U-Boats in transit to and from
French
bases.
Details of tactics and weapons used in anti-submarine operations are available
in SEEK
AND STRIKE by W. Hackmann and above references.)
24th During
anti-submarine search operation with ships of Group carried out attack on U119
with
HMS STARLING, which had made initial detection, and ships of Group.
Submarine forced to surface by depth charges from HMS STARLING.
After exchange
of surface gunfire HMS STARLING rammed submarine which capsized.
Made further depth charge attack and sank U449 in position 44.59N 12.24W, NW of
Cape
Ortegal.
(For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR.
(Note: U449 which had been detected by
HMS WREN and HMS WILD GOOSE of Group.
Ship executed "Creeping attacks" which lasted
several hours
Wreckage en surface and heavy oil discharge confirmed the
sinking.
There were no survivors
On
release from operations took passage to Plymouth with Group including the
damaged HMS
STARLING.
(Note: This Sloop had been
damaged during a ramming attempt which caused serious damage
to
underwater equipment. See U-BOATS DESTROYED.)
On
arrival ships' companies were acclaimed for sinking of two submarines in one
day.)
July
Resumed Operation MUSKETRY duties in Bay of Biscay
Offensive patrol with Group in Bay completed without success.
Returned to Plymouth to replenish and resumed MUSKETRY with Group.
30th Sank
U504 with HMS WILD GOOSE, HMS KITE and HMS WREN in position 45.53N
10.47W with no survivors.
Later rescued survivors from German FW200 aircraft which had been shot down on
29th July
by
an RAF Beaufighter of 248 Squadron.
Also rescued survivors from U462 sunk by SUNDERLAND aircraft of 461 Squadron
that
day.
August
2nd
On completion of MUSKETRY patrol returned to
Plymouth.
Took passage to Avonmouth.
Taken in hand for refit in commercial shipyard.
September Under refit
to
(Note: The refit period enabled a visit to be made to Bushey by members
October of the
ships' company .At a reception held in the Parish Hall a presentation of a
model of the ship and piece of a U-Boat recovered after one of the recent
sinkings
was made to the community. The model of HMS WOODPECKER had been made by
ship’s Cox’n. This provided a real opportunity to cement the bonds established
the
crew to show their appreciation of the gifts sent to them by the citizens of
Bushey
to
improve their welfare during the frequent long periods at sea.)
November On
completion of dockyard work carried out post refit trials.
Passage to Londonderry to resume Atlantic convoy escort and support duties with
the 2nd
Escort Group.
December Deployed
with Group as part of escort for military convoy MKF26 during its passage
to the
Mediterranean and return Convoy MKF 26 to UK.
1 9 4 4
January Deployed
with HM Sloops STARLING, WILD GOOSE, KITE and MAGPIE for anti
submarine operations in North Atlantic in Support role.
Air cover for these operations was
provided by HM Escort Aircraft Carriers ACTIVITY
and NAIRANA.
(For details of weapon improvements and tactical deployments of Support Groups
see SEEK
AND STRIKE by W. Hackmann, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C. Barnett
and RADAR AT
SEA by D Howse).
31st Took
part in search and anti-submarine operations with ships of Group based on
ENIGMA
decrypts and other Intelligence data.
These searches culminated in sinking of U592
by HM Sloops STARLING, WILD GOOSE
and MAGPIE in position 50.20N 17.29W.
None of the
submarine crew survived.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR.)
February Atlantic
convoy support duties with Group in continuation for defence of convoys
between
UK
and Gibraltar in SW Approaches.
7th
Supported merged Convoys SL147 and MKS38 under threat from IGEL group of
U-Boats.
(Note: HMS ACTIVITY and HMS NAIRANA took position within convoy and 2nd
Support Group ships were deployed independently for Search and Destroy duty.)
8th
Carried out A/S attacks on U762 with HMS STARLING after initial detection by HMS
WILD GOOSE.
Submarine was sunk in position 49.02N 16.58W with no survivors
9th Took
part in Group operations against U238 which was sunk by depth charge attacks
from
HMS KITE, HMS STARLING and HMS MAGPIE in position 49.44N 16.07W with none
of
the submarine crew surviving. References as above.
11th Sank
U424 with HMS WILD GOOSE in position 50.00N 18.14W.
None of crew survived.
(Note: During these operations ships of Group came under attack by T5 Acoustic
torpedoes (GNAT) - See U-BOATS DESTROYED and above
references.)
15th
Deployed with HM Destroyer HESPERUS with ships of Group to support passage of
Convoy HX278 under air attack and threat from U-Boat pack.
17th
Transferred with ships of 2nd Support Group to supplement escort of Convoy ON224
under
threat from HAI
group of U-Boats following sighting by enemy aircraft
19th During
defence of ONS224 passage sank U264 with HMS STARLING in position
48.31 N 22.05W after seven hours of A/S attack operations.
53
survivors were rescued by HM Sloops STARLING, WILD GOOSE and
WOODPECKER.)
(Note: This was first sinking of an operational SCHNORKEL fitted submarine.
See above
references.)
20th During
subsequent A/S operations against HAI group attacked by U764 and hit aft by T5
Acoustic (GNAT) torpedo in position 48.49N 22.11W. 500 miles W. of Cork.
Stem structure blown off.
(Note: There were no casualties but the submarine escaped.
U764 survived hostilities and was sunk on 2nd January 1946 when used as
target
during Operation DEADLIGHT).
21st Ship
taken in tow by HMS STARLING.
(Note: Tow was later transferred to Tug STORMCLOUD.)
26th
Weather worsened near Scillies during passage to Devonport.
27th Ship
capsized and sank in position 49.51N 06.46W.
Ship's company were rescued by HM Corvettes AZALEA and CHILLIWACK (RCN).
part of the convoy escort.
F i n a l
N o t e
HMS WOODPECKER was the only ship belonging to the 2nd Escort Group to be
lost during the extensive and intense deployments as a convoy escort or in support of passage of
convoys. Her last period of duty had been for 27 days during which the Group sank six submarines.
Her record of service was outstanding and but for the unfortunate
circumstances of her loss in bad weather, she would undoubtedly have to continued to play a major role with the 2nd
Support Group in the defence of Russian convoys and in operations to prevent U-Boat attacks on cross
Channel convoys during the allied landings Normandy later in 1944.
The customary exchange of a ships badge to be placed in Bushey Council Chamber and a Plaque from the community to be fitted in a prominent position on was carried out as
described in the 1992 Journal of Bushey Museum. The Bushey Plaque was accepted by Vice
Admiral C E B Simeon RN on behalf the Commanding Officer, HMS WOODPECKER. However, to the great regret of all concerned
the Armorial Badge carved by a local fireman, was never placed on board the Sloop
Some of ships'
company of HMS WOODPECKER joined the new
Sloop HMS LARK which was completed in April 1944 and
during deployment for defence of a Russian Convoy in February 1945 was also hit by a homing torpedo.
This newly completed ship was badly damage but was towed to Rosta
near Murmansk and later handed to the
Soviet Navy. Although many of the ship’ company were rescued there were some casualties and some
of these had served in HMS WOODPECKER.
During 1995 seven of the ships' company from HMS WOODPECKER attended a reunion at Bushey. They
took part in a special Presentation Evening at the Museum which was
attended by local dignitaries and Friends of the Museum. The occasion proved to be
to be most emotional and enabled
the earlier links with the civil
community to be renewed.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
WOODPECKER
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
01/02/43
|
02/02/43
|
ON 164
|
13/02/43
|
19/02/43
|
13/02/43
|
20/02/43
|
SC 120
|
05/03/43
|
05/03/43
|
15/03/43
|
15/03/43
|
KMF 011
|
23/03/43
|
23/03/43
|
25/03/43
|
26/03/43
|
MKF 011
|
05/04/43
|
05/04/43
|
24/04/43
|
01/05/43
|
HX 236
|
05/05/43
|
09/05/43
|
03/05/43
|
06/05/43
|
SL 128MK
|
14/05/43
|
14/05/43
|
17/05/43
|
22/05/43
|
ONS 008
|
25/05/43
|
01/06/43
|
19/05/43
|
27/05/43
|
HX 240
|
01/06/43
|
04/06/43
|
25/05/43
|
02/06/43
|
HX 241
|
06/06/43
|
10/06/43
|
15/11/43
|
15/11/43
|
KMF 026
|
26/11/43
|
30/11/43
|
17/11/43
|
30/11/43
|
MKF 026
|
07/12/43
|
09/12/43
|
06/01/44
|
11/01/44
|
SL 144MK
|
12/01/44
|
18/01/44
|
03/01/44
|
11/01/44
|
OS 064KM
|
12/01/44
|
15/01/44
|
06/01/44
|
18/01/44
|
HX 274
|
20/01/44
|
21/01/44
|
30/01/44
|
04/02/44
|
ON 222
|
05/02/44
|
16/02/44
|
02/02/44
|
07/02/44
|
SL 147MK
|
12/02/44
|
13/02/44
|
05/02/44
|
14/02/44
|
HX 278
|
19/02/44
|
20/02/44
|
14/02/44
|
18/02/44
|
ON 224
|
19/02/44
|
02/03/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)