RIVER-Class Frigate ordered on 19th May 1941 under the 1940 War Programme from A J Inglis of Pointhouse,
Glasgow and was laid down on 31st December 1941. The ship was launched en 24th
November 1942 as the 5th RN Warship to carry the name dating from 1759. Build
was completed on 9th April 1943 and had been adopted by the civil community of
Hatfield, Hertfordshire in March 1942 after a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National
Savings campaign. This Frigate was fitted with Turbine propulsion machinery.
B a t
t l e H o n o
u r s
BISCAY 1943 - ATLANTIC 1942-44
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge:
No details are given in the official Record of Heraldic
Crests, but as this
name
had been used previously this may have been an
oversight.
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
March
Contractor's sea trials and commissioned for service in
Western Approaches Command.
April
5th Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
On
completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory to work-up for
operational
service.
May Joined
Western Approaches Command for Atlantic convoy defence on completion of work-up
June
Deployed for convoy escort.
to (For
details of Atlantic convoy defence operations see THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
July by D
Macintyre, U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR
by
C Blair.)
August Joined 5th
Escort Group with HM Frigate NENE, HM Canadian Corvettes CALGARY,
EDMUNDSTON and SNOWBERRY.
Nominated for duty in Support role for Anti-Submarine operations in Bay of
Biscay.
Deployed with ships of 5th and 40th Escort Groups off NW coast of Spain to
prevent use of
coastal waters by U-Boats on passage to and from French bases (Operation
PERCUSSION).
(Note: This was carried out in conjunction with aircraft of RAF Coastal Command
and with
cover against surface destroyer attacks by HM Cruiser BERMUDA.
For more details see CONFLICT OVER THE BAY by N Franks, ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and above references.)
23rd
Commenced operations off Spanish coast
25th Under
attack by Hs293 Glider Bombs controlled by Do217 aircraft.
HM
Cutter LANDGUARD (Ex US Navy) damaged by near misses.
28th
Further attacks by Hs293 Glider Bombs against ships of newly arrived 1st Support
Group
HM Sloop EGRET sunk and HM Canadian Destroyer ATHABASKAN damaged.
Support Groups withdrew farther west.
September Resumed
convoy defence and support duties in Atlantic.
October Part of
escort for Convoy HX261 with ships of Group.
November Deployed in
support role for convoys between UK and Gibraltar.
19th
Deployed with 5th Escort Group and destroyers from Gibraltar in support of
escort for
combined Convoy MKS30 and SL139 during passage from Gibraltar to UK which was
under
attacks by SCHILL Groups of U-Boats,
20th Convoy
and escorts under sustained U-Boat attacks during which U356 was sunk by HM
Frigate NENE, HM Canadian Corvettes CALGARY and SNOWBERRY.
(See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR for details.)
(Note: 17 survivors were rescued including the submarine captain)
21st
Defences reinforced by 4th British Support Group.
December Convoy
escort and support for Gibraltar convoys in continuation with Group.
Deployed with HM Destroyer WATCHMAN as screen for HM Escort Carrier STRIKER for
support of passage of joint Convoy MKS34/SL143.
(Note: An extensive operation by RAF Coastal Command to intercept of two
blockade runners
in
Bay of Biscay was concurrent with this deployment.
See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY.)
1 9 4 4
January Deployed
in SW Approaches with Group in search for reported blockade runners and support
of
passage of outward Convoy KMS38/OS64 .
7th Sunk
by Acoustic (T5) torpedo by U305, SW 600 miles west of Cape Ortegal in position
44.18N, 21.19W) and foundered within a few minutes.
52
of crew were rescued by HM Frigate NENE.
(Note: U305 was part of the BORKUM Group of U-Boats engaged in attacking joint
Convoy
MKS34/ SL143 on passage from Gibraltar.
See above references.)
(For details of tactical and weapon development see SEEK AND STRIKE by W
Hackmann
and RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
TWEED
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 |
|
|
|
|
|
10/06/43
|
12/06/43
|
ON 188
|
15/06/43
|
26/06/43 |
05/06/43
|
14/06/43
|
SC 133
|
16/06/43
|
19/06/43 |
24/06/43
|
26/06/43
|
ON 190
|
01/07/43
|
09/07/43 |
23/06/43
|
01/07/43
|
HX 245
|
02/07/43
|
07/07/43 |
08/07/43
|
14/07/43
|
HX 247
|
19/07/43
|
22/07/43 |
16/07/43
|
19/07/43
|
ON 193
|
23/07/43
|
31/07/43 |
30/07/43
|
03/08/43
|
SC 138
|
08/08/43
|
12/08/43 |
15/09/43
|
24/09/43
|
SC 142
|
24/09/43
|
29/09/43 |
16/09/43
|
25/09/43
|
HX 257
|
28/09/43
|
30/09/43 |
22/10/43
|
27/10/43
|
ONS 021
|
31/10/43
|
05/11/43 |
06/11/43
|
11/11/43
|
HX 265
|
16/11/43
|
21/11/43 |
06/11/43
|
17/11/43
|
SC 146
|
17/11/43
|
22/11/43 |
16/11/43
|
19/11/43
|
SL 139MK
|
22/11/43
|
26/11/43 |
25/11/43
|
01/12/43
|
OS 060KM
|
03/12/43
|
07/12/43 |
17/11/43
|
05/12/43
|
MKF 026
|
06/12/43
|
09/12/43 |
02/12/43
|
06/12/43
|
ON 214
|
08/12/43
|
20/12/43 |
25/12/43
|
30/12/43
|
SL 143MK
|
03/01/44
|
06/01/44 |
29/12/43
|
02/01/44
|
ONS 026
|
03/01/44
|
18/01/44 |
31/12/43
|
04/01/44
|
ON 218
|
05/01/44
|
18/01/44 |
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)