| February
|
Contractors trials and commissioning, |
| March |
|
| 1st |
Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials. |
|
On
completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory. |
|
Carried
out work-up for operational service at Tobermory |
| April |
|
|
6th |
Joined
2nd Support Group based at Liverpool on completion of work-up. |
|
Deployed
with Group in Support for for defence of Atlantic convoys |
|
15th |
Supported
passage of Convoy HX233 under threat from SPECHT group of
U-Boats. (Note : This may have prevented significant losses as only one
ship was lost) |
| May |
|
| 22nd
|
Deployed
with Group in support of passage of Convoys ONS8 and HX240. |
|
(Note :
By this time the U-Boat offensive had slackened due to the
availability of more escorts, better weapons and increased air
cover. For details of improved weapons and tactics used in
defence of convoys see THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D
Macintyre, U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO), CONVOY ESCORT
COMMANDER by P Gretton, SEEK AND STRIKE by
W Hackmann). |
| June
|
Transferred with Group for offensive Anti-Submarine patrols in Bay
of Biscay to intercept U-Boats on passage to bases or for convoy
attack operations .The ships were subjected to heavy air attacks but
these operations greatly influenced the enemy policy for U-Boat
transit across Bay of Biscay and in Spanish coastal waters,
(Operation MUSKETRY and Operation SEASLUG - For details see CONFLICT OVER
THE
BAY by N Franks and WILD SWAN by Peter C Smith.) |
| 20th |
Further
deployment with EG2 in Bay of Biscay supported by RAF aircraft and
with cover by HM Cruiser SCYLLA to prevent interference by
German destroyers. This series of patrols was particularly
successful but were subject to attacks by air attacks including
Glider bombs in later stages. |
| 24th |
Participated in
sinking of U449 in position 45.00N 11.59W with Sloops WREN,
WOODPECKER and WILD GOOSE.
There were no survivors from U 449, (See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
|
| July |
Under
repair at Devonport. |
| 23rd
|
Rejoined
SG2 for further Anti-Submarine operations in Bay of Biscay. |
| 30th |
Engaged U462 and U504
by surface gunfire after the submarines had been damaged in air
attacks by Coastal Command aircraft. (Note : U462 had been abandoned
and sank. See above reference.) Participated in sinking of U504 with HM Sloops WOODPECKER, WREN and
WILD GOOSE. Submarine had dived in position 45.33N 10.47W.
There were no survivors. See reference.)
|
| August |
Bay of
Biscay and SW Approaches patrols in continuation. |
| 1st |
Rescued
some survivors from U545 which had been sunk by Sunderland aircraft
of 10 Squadron RAAF which had been shot down after attacking the submarine |
| September
|
Returned
with Group to North Atlantic convoy defence. |
| 30th |
Deployed
in support of passage of Convoy HX238 with aircraft cover. |
| October |
|
| 13th |
Damaged
in collision with tug ALLEGIANCE at Londonderry. |
| 23rd |
On
completion of repair resumed to convoy support role with Group. |
| 24th |
Escorted
Convoy ONS207 with HM Sloops STARLING, MAGPIE, WOODCOCK and WILD
GOOSE |
| 25th |
Transferred to assist 7th Escort Group in defence of Convoy HX262
under threat of attacks by SIEGFRIED Group of U-Boats. Air
cover was available from HM Escort Carrier TRACKER. |
| November |
|
| 5th
|
Transferred with ships of Group to support of passage of Convoy
HX264 with air cover from HMS TRACKER. Convoy was under threat
from TIRPITZ group of U-Boats. |
| 6th |
Participated in
sinking of U226 in position 44.49N 41.13W with HMS STARLING and HMS
WOODCOCK.
There were no survivors and convoy passed through area without
interception.
See reference.
|
| 8th |
During
passage to Argentia to refuel came under U-Boat attack. |
| 27th |
Reinforced escort of Convoy MCS31/SL1UO with ships of 2nd and 4th
Escort Groups with air cover to counter threat from WEDDIGEN group of U-Boats.. |
| 28th
|
Drove off
attacks by U843 on convoy with other escorts. |
| December
|
On return
from Atlantic support duties taken in hand for repair at Liverpool. |
| |
1944 |
| January |
|
| 28th |
Resumed
convoy defence duty with Group. (Note: HM Escort Aircraft Carriers
ACTIVITY and NAIRANA were also deployed with this Group in support
of anti-submarine operations.) |
| February |
|
| 6th |
Deployed
in support of passage of Convoy MKS38/SL1H7(?) under threat from the IGEL
group of U-Boats. Came under attack by T5 (Acoustic torpedoes) from U734
and U238. Followed HF D/F bearing and sighted U238 at 800 yards on surface 10 miles
from convoy. Joined in hunt with HM Sloop MAGPIE after submarine
submerged. |
|
When HMS
STARLING and HMS WILD GOOSE arrived later carried out HEDGEHOG and
'Creeping' attacks lasting 8 hours made. Over 266 depth
charges were used. U238 was sunk in position 49N 16.07W with no
survivors. See reference. |
|
Depth
charge stocks were then replenished from merchant ship in Convoy
HX277. |
| 17th |
Deployed
with 2nd Support Group and 7th Escort Group in defence of Convoy ON224 under
threat from HAI Group of U-Boats. |
| 19th |
Convoy
avoided an ambush by diversion. Joined in series of attacks on U264.
(Note : The first SCHNORKEL fitted U-Boat and later sunk by HMS STARLING
and HMS
WOODPECKER, but HMS WOODPECKER was sunk by a T5 torpedo in a
counter-attack.) |
| March
|
Transferred to 7th Escort Group based at Greenock for convoy defence
in the NW Approaches. |
| 30th |
Damaged
in collision with freighter ANNAGMORE. |
| April |
|
| 1st |
Taken in
hand for repair at Clyde shipyard |
| 11th |
On
completion of repair detached for escort duty in eastern Channel and
North Sea based at Sheerness. |
| May |
Deployed
in Channel and North Sea. Nominated for escort duty of military
convoys during Normandy landings. Allocated to 115th Escort Group
(Operation NEPTUNE). (For further details of naval activities before
and during this Operation see LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944
(HMSO), OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards. and for information about
all mercantiles and warships taking part D –DAY SHIPS by
J de Winser.) |
| June |
Joined HM
Destroyer FORESTER, HM Escort Destroyer QUORN, HM Frigates TYLER
and SEYMOUR in Escort Group 115 on formation.
(Note : Convoy comprised eight Personnel Ships, three Troopships,
Accommodation Ship
HMS AMBITIOUS and two Hospital Carriers.
Personnel Carriers were taking Pre-Loaded British Build-Up Division to
landing area.) |
| 5th
|
Escorted
Convoy ETP1 with ships of Group from More to Eastern Task Force
Area. |
| 6th |
Waited at
Portsmouth with convoy prior to passage to beach head. Sailed as
escort for re-designated Convoy EWP1. |
| 7th |
Passage
to Portsmouth for escort of convoys during Build-Up Phase of
operation. |
| 8th |
Continued
NEPTUNE escort duty in Channel based at Portsmouth. |
| 27th |
Retained
in Channel after NEPTUNE terminated. |
| July |
Escort
and support duty in continuation. |
| August
|
Released
from Portsmouth Command |
| 3rd |
Passage
to Scapa Flow for escort of convoy to Kola Inlet with 8th Support
Group.
For details of all Russian Convoy operations including names of ships
involved see
CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield,
CONVOY ! by P Kemp and ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman.) |
| 15th |
Joined
escort for Russian Convoy JW59 with HM Destroyer KEPPEL, HM Sloops
MERMAID and PEACOCK .(Note : This convoy also included the Russian
battleship ARCHANGELSK (Ex HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN, eight TOWN Class
destroyers (Ex USN Lease Lend) and
and 12 Ex USN PT Boats being transferred to Russian Navy. |
| 20th |
Convoy
sighted by aircraft which alerts TRUTZ group of U-boats. |
| 21st |
During
deployment astern of convoy hit by two torpedoes fired from U344 and
sunk within one minute in position 220 miles SW of Bear Island. Only
nine of ship's company were rescued by HMS KEPPEL. |
|
|
