RIVER-Class Frigate ordered in the 1942 War Programme on 24th July 1942 from Charles
Hill at Bristol. The ship was laid down on 8th January 1943 as Job Number 392 (Yard
No. 294) and launched by Miss G Barker daughter of the Yard Manager The name
was especially appropriate to the occasion and she was the 6th RN ship to be
given this name. It had been introduced in 1805 for a Brig Sloop built at
Falmouth and last used for a destroyer in 18% sold in 1920. Build completion
date was 18th September 1944. Since the ship was not in build during 1941-42 she
was not adopted by a civil community during the WARSHIP WEEK National
Savings campaigns held in UK. Her war service was however always of great
interest to the citizens of Bristol.
B a t t l e H o n o
u r s
ATLANTIC 1942 - OKINAWA
1945
(Note: One source records Battle Honour CRIMEA
1854-55
but this is not in
Official Records)
H e r a l d i c D a t a
None is recorded for this ship in Post War Records, but it
was not
unusual for ships to have adopted an ‘unofficial’
Badge.
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
September Post refit
Trials.
18th Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
October On
completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory
November Passage from
Tobermory to join Western Approaches command on completion of work-up/
Deployed in Western Approaches Command for Atlantic Convoy defence.
December Nominated for
service in Indian Ocean.
1 9 4 4
January Prepared for foreign service
and took passage to join Eastern Fleet,
February Passage in
Mediterranean and Red Sea.
March Commenced
Indian Ocean convoy defence deployment.
(Note: One source records rescue of survivors from Norwegian freighter TARIFA who
were
found in a lifeboat and three rafts after their ship
had been sunk by submarine
attack. 96 survivors were taken on board.)
April Deployed
in Indian Ocean,
For
details of enemy submarine activities in Indian Ocean see WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO)
and
HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.
May Under
refit at Colombo prior to future transfer for service in British Pacific Fleet.
June Resumed
deployment in Indian Ocean on completion.
to
October
November Joined Force 64
and took part in preparations for support of landings in Burma.
22nd
Transferred to British Pacific Fleet on formation..
December Allocated
Anti-submarine escort duty with Replenishment Group of Task Force
112
(British Fleet Train)
Passage to Australia to
join Task Force 112.
1 9 4 5
January On arrival
prepared for service in SW Pacific to support ships of British Pacific Fleet.
to For
details of composition and deployment of Fleet Train see THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by
February J Winton and
above references.
March Passage to
British Pacific Fleet forward base at Manus, Admiralty Islands with ships of
Fleet
Train.
7th Arrived
at Manus
17th Passage
to Replenishment Area adjacent to Sakishima Gunto Island Group with Fleet Train
(Note: BPF and Fleet Train deployment under US Navy overall command had been delayed
pending approval of US Chiefs of Staff. See references.)
April Deployed
with Replenishment Group
Under
air attacks (Operation ICEBERG I)
(Note: BPF Task Force 57) was taking part in air operations on Japanese
airfields in the
Sakishima-Gunto Group.).
Withdrawn with Replenishment Group when Task Force 57 returned to .Leyte.
See
references.
May Enlarged
Replenishment Group resumed support of Task Force 57 during continuation
of
air operations
on Sakishima Gunto (Operation ICEBERG II).
Deployed with sister ship HMS FINDHORN as escort for HM Escort Carriers RULER,
STRIKER and FENCER with HM Australian Destroyers NAPIER, NEPAL, NIZAM
Under
air attacks See references.
Returned to Australia with
Task Force 112 ships on completion of ICEBERG II.
June Nominated
for relit in Brisbane and took passage from
Sydney.
Taken
in hand for refit.
July Under
refit.
August Resumed
service in Task Force 112 and took passage to Manus prior to escort duties with
Replenishment Group
15th Part of
British Pacific Fleet on VJ Day.
Po s
t W a r N o t e s
HMS AVON
returned to UK on release from Pacific and was Paid-off and de-stored on arrival. After
reducing to
Reserve
status she was laid-up as part of the Reserve Fleet until 1948 when placed on the
Sales List The ship was sold to Portugal in May 1949 and entered service in the
Portuguese Navy as NRP NUNO TRIASTO. She remained on the active List until
January 1970 when she was withdrawn. Sold for demolition in 1972 she was
broken-up at Alhos Verdo,
Lisbon.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
AVON
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
25/11/43
|
27/11/43
|
OS 060KM
|
07/12/43
|
07/12/43 |
07/12/43
|
07/12/43
|
KMS 034G
|
09/12/43
|
09/12/43 |
13/12/43
|
13/12/43
|
MKS 033G
|
14/12/43
|
14/12/43 |
14/12/43
|
14/12/43
|
SL 142MK
|
15/12/43
|
28/12/43 |
03/01/44
|
09/01/44
|
OS 064KM
|
16/01/44
|
15/01/44 |
16/01/44
|
16/01/44
|
KMS 038G
|
17/01/44
|
17/01/44 |
17/01/44
|
17/01/44
|
KMS 038
|
18/01/44
|
27/01/44 |
05/01/44
|
24/01/44
|
UGS 029
|
26/01/44
|
31/01/44 |
24/02/44
|
24/02/44
|
AB 032
|
03/03/44
|
04/03/44 |
10/03/44
|
10/03/44
|
AP 064
|
unknown |
18/03/44 |
02/04/44
|
02/04/44
|
AB 036
|
09/04/44
|
09/04/44 |
15/04/44
|
25/04/44
|
BA 066B
|
20/04/44
|
20/04/44 |
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)