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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2005

HMCS RIBBLE (ii) (K 525), ex-HMS RIBBLE - River-class Frigate including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Meon, sister-ship (Navy Photos/Bob Hanley, click to enlarge) return to Contents List   
 

RIVER-Class Frigate ordered on 14th June 1942 under the 1941 War Programme from Blyth Shipbuilders, Blyth and laid down 31st December 1942 as Job Number J4642 (Yard Number 291) to be named DUDDON. The name was changed to RIBBLE in June 1943 before launch on 10th November 1943. She was the second ship to carry the name of the Lancashire river which was previously used for a destroyer built in 1901 and sold in 1920.  In July 1944 she was transferred to the Royal Canadian Navy before build completion on 4th August 1944. (Note: HMS RIBBLE (i) (K.251) was transferred to the Dutch Navy in 1943 as HNethMS JOHAN MAURITS VAN NASSAU)

 

B a t t l e    H o n o u r s

 

TSINGTAO 1914  - DARDANELLES  1915-16

 

 

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e   a s   H M C S   R I B B L E

 

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search

 

 

1 9 4 4

 

July

 

Contractors trials

 

24th - Commissioned for service with Royal Canadian Navy as HMCS RIBBLE

 

August

 

4th - Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

 

Passage to Tobermory on completion of trials and storing.

 

September

 

Passage to join 26th (Canadian) Escort Group for convoy defence in Atlantic on completion of work-up for operational service. (See THE LOWEST BATTLE by Harbron)

 

October

 

Part of escort for Convoy ONS33 with ships of Group.

 

4th - Convoy escort under attack by T5 acoustic torpedo fired by U1227 which hit and seriously damaged HM Canadian Corvette CHEBOGUE. Detached from escort with HM Canadian Corvettes ARNPRIOR and CHAMBLY to escort damaged ship to Bristol Channel in company (Note: HMCS CHEBOGUE was towed to Port Talbot, South Wales but repair found to be uneconomic. See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)

 

November to December

 

Atlantic convoy escort in continuation. (For details of Atlantic convoy defence and support see U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO), THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre, SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann, CONVOY ESCORT COMMANDER by P Gretton, RELENTLESS PURSUIT by D Wemyss and above reference.)

 

 

1 9 4 5

 

January to February

 

Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.

 

March

 

Transferred to UK coastal waters for anti-submarine operations with HM Canadian Frigates NEW GLASGOW, BEACON HILL, JONQUIERE and SUSSEXVALE. (Note: This deployment was made to counter increasing attacks by SCHNORKEL fitted U-Boats at focal points for convoys assembly and division. See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett.)

 

21st - Deployed in Hebrides area.

 

April

 

Coastal operations in continuation.

 

  

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMCS RIBBLE went to Canada after the end of hostilities in Europe and remained in Royal Canadian Navy service until 1946 when she was returned to RN control. The ship was Paid-off and reduced to Reserve status and laid-up. The ship was placed on the Disposal List  and sold to BISCO in 1957 for demolition by Hughes Bolcow at Blyth where she arrived in tow on 9th July that year.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMCS RIBBLE

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

 

 

 

 

 

13/11/44

14/11/44

ONS 036

15/11/44

03/12/44

07/02/45

unknown

HX 337

unknown

21/02/45

09/02/45

14/02/45

MKS 082G

16/02/45

17/02/45

14/02/45

21/02/45

MKS 083G

21/02/45

22/02/45

21/02/45

22/02/45

ON 286

23/02/45

09/03/45

19/03/45

unknown

HX 345

unknown

02/04/45

28/03/45

28/03/45

TBC 111

31/03/45

31/03/45

24/03/45

06/04/45

HX 346

07/04/45

07/04/45

23/04/45

unknown

HX 352

unknown

08/05/45

03/05/45

unknown

HX 354

unknown

18/05/45

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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revised 5/7/11
further editing is required