CASTLE-Class Frigate ordered on 19th December 1942 from Lewis SB, Aberdeen and laid down on 1st July 1943 as Job Number 1851 (Yard Number 177) and to be named PETROLIA. This name was changed and the ship was launched on 11th January 1944 as BAMBOROUGH CASTLE, the first RN ship to bear this name. Build was completed on 30th May 1944.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC 1944 - ARCTIC  1945

 

 

S u m m a r y   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 4

 

May                   Contractors trials

                           Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials

                           On completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory.

 

July                    Passage to join 5th Escort Group on completion of work-up and calibrations of weapon and

                           communications equipment

                           Deployed for convoy defence in NW Approaches.

 

August                Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

                             Nominated for detached service in Home Flkeet as escort for Russian convoy.

 

September           Passage to join outward convoy JW60 during passage to Kola Inlet.

            15th         Joined Close Escort for Convoy JW60 with HM Destroyers BULLDOG, KEPPEL, WHITEHALL,

                             HM Sloop CYGNET and HM Corvette ALLINGTON CASTLE.

                             For details of all Russian convoys including names of all warships and mercantiles involved, see

                             CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman, THE RUSSIAN

                            CONVOYS by B Schoefield and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)

            23rd         Detached on arrival at Kola Inlet after an uninterrupted passage.

            28th         Joined escort for returning Convoy RA60 with same ships

            29th         Under attack by U310 which sank one merchant ship.

 

October

              5th         Detached from RA60 on arrival of convoy at Loch Ewe.

 

November           Transferred to 20th Escort Group and continued Atlantic convoy defence duty

            29th.        Detached for Russian Convoy escort duty.

                            Joined escort of Russian Convoy JW62 with HM Sloops CYGNET, LAPWING, LARK,

                            HM Frigates BAHAMAS, LOCH ALVIE, SOMALILAND, TAVY, TORTOLA, MONNO (RCN),

                            COLBOURNE (RCN), ST JOHN (RCN), STORMONT (RCN), HM Corvettes ALLINGTON

                            CASTLE, TUNSBERG (Norwegian) and EGLANTINE.

 

December

              7th          Arrived at Kola Inlet without detection by enemy aircraft which  had  recently been reinforced

              9th          Carried out A/S operation with other escorts prior to departure of Convoy and sank U387 in position

                             69 41N, 33.42E from which there were no survivors.

                             See U-Boats destroyed by P Kemp and above references.

                             On completion of operations joined escort for RA62 on departure..

            11th          Under attack by U-Boats during which HM Destroyer CASSANDRA was hit.

            12th          Sister CASTLE corvette, manned by Royal Norwegian Navy personnel, HNorMS TUNSBERG

                             CASTLE, detonated mine and sank.

                             Under attacks by torpedo aircraft which were repelled. See references.

            13th          Under threat of submarine attack.

                             (Note: U365 was sunk by aircraft from HM Escort Carrier CAMPANIA before reaching convoy.)

            19th          Detached on arrival at Loch Ewe and resumed duty with 20th Escort Group.

            30th          Joined HM Destroyers KEPPEL, WALKER, WESTCOTT, HM Sloops LAPWING, CYGNET,

                             and LARK, with HM Corvettes ALLINGTON CASTLE and ALNWICK CASTLE as the escort

                             during passage to Kola Inlet of Russian Convoy JW63. Sailed from Loch Ewe with convoy.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January

              9th          Arrived at Kola Inlet after undetected passage.

            11th          Joined escort for returning Convoy RA63 with same ships.

            21st           Detached at Loch Ewe on relief by local escort after rough passage which forced convoy to shelter.

                              No enemy interference was encountered.

 

February

              3rd          Part of Close Escort for Russian Convoy JW64 with HM Destroyer WHITEHALL, H.M. Sloop

                              CYGNET, HM Sloop LARK, HM Corvettes RHODODENDRON, ALNWICK CASTLE, and

                              BLUEBELL.

              6th           After sighting by enemy air reconnaissance came under sustained torpedo attacks by aircraft lasting

                              until 10th.

            10th.          Under air attacks during which poor fire-discipline amongst escorts hazarded aircraft from HM

                              Escort Carriers HMS CAMPANIA and NAIRANA. See above references.

             13th          Under attack by group of U-boats during which HM Corvette DENBIGH CASTLE was hit by

                              torpedo from U992.

                              (Note: Damaged ship was towed to Kola Inlet but grounded and then sank after capsizing.)..

             15th          Arrived at Kola Inlet with JW64.

             16th          Carried out A/S search outside Kola Inlet before return  convoy RA64 sailed.

                              During this operation attacked and sank U425 with HMS LARK.

                               See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.

              17th          Deployed as part of Close Escort for RA64 with the same escort ships and HM Sloop LAPWING.

                               During the assembly of the convoy outside Kola Inlet its ships were attacked by two U-Boats.

                               HMS LARK was hit by a torpedo from U968 and had to be beached.

                               U711 sank HMS BLUEBELL

              20th          Convoy under air attack after experiencing extreme weather conditions

                               (Note: No ship was hit and enemy aircraft driven off by ship’s AA fire and aircraft from HMS

                                          NAIRANA.

              23rd          Convoy had to be rounded up after further hurricane strength winds.

                               (Note: An extensive air search failed to locate convoy.)

              27th          Detached from RA64 on arrival in Home waters.

 

March                     Transferred to 8th Escort Group and deployed for Atlantic convoy defence.

              11th          Detached for further Russian Convoy escort duty.

                                Joined Close Escort for Russian Convoy JW65 with HM Destroyers MYNGS, Norwegian

                               destroyer STORD, HM Sloop LAPWING, HM Corvettes CAMELLIA, HONEYSUCKLE,

                               OXLIP, ALNWICK CASTLE, ALLINGTON CASTLE and LANCASTER CASTLE.

              20th          Under U-Boat attack during which HMS LAPWING was sunk by U716.

              21st           Detached from JW65 on arrival at Kola Inlet.

              23rd          Carried out A/S operation with same ships as Close Escort for JW6t5 supplemented  by HM

                                Corvette FARNHAM CASTLE.

                                On completion of operations joined returning Convoy RAS65.

 

April

           1st            Detached from convoy on arrival after an uninterrupted passage.

                            Resumed Atlantic convoy defence duty with 8th Escort Group.

         16th            Detached for Russian Convoy escort.

                            Joined Close Escort for Russian Convoy JW66 with HM Corvettes ALNWICK CASTLE,

                            HONEYSUCKLE, LOTUS, OXLIP, RHODODENDRON and FARNHAM CASTLE supported

                            by ships of 19th Escort Group.

          25th           Carried out A/S operation prior to arrival at Kola Inlet.

                            Detached from JW66 on arrival without enemy interference.

          29th           Joined escort for returning Convoy RA66 after extensive A/S operation by 19th Escort Group to

                            prevent attacks from group of U-Boats known to be assembled at entrance to Kola Inlet.

          30th           Under U-Boat attacks during which U307 and U286 were sunk by 19th Escort Group ships.

                            See U-BOATS DESTROYED.

 

May

            7th           Detached on arrival in Home waters with no further enemy attacks.

          12th           Resumed duty with 20th Escort Group and deployed in Home Waters.

 

June                     Deployed with Escort Group on Home Fleet duties.

to

August.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e

 

HMS BAMBOROUGH CASTLE was Paid off after VJ-Day and reduced to Reserve status. The ship remained in Reserve until placed on the Disposal List in 1958. She was sold in 1959 to BISCO for demolition by E Rees at Llanelly and arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard on 22nd May 1959.

 

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Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS BAMBOROUGH CASTLE

by Don Kindell

 

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

(Note on Convoys)