US
Coastguard Cutter TAHOE built by Bethelehem
Shipbuilders, Quincy, Mass. and launched on 12th
July 1928. Transferred to the Royal Navy in
April 1941 under US/UK Lease-Lend Agreement and
given the name of a British Coastguard Station
following the practice adopted for all transfers
of this type of ship, Renamed HMS FISHGUARD she
was the first RN ship to carry the name. This
record has been extensively improved by details
of movements provided by James A Byrne of
Shadwell, Leeds who served on board between
April 1942 and July 1945. This invaluable help
is acknowledged with thanks.
Original USCGC Tahoe
before the war (US Coast Guard)
B
a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC
1941-43 - SICILY 1943
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 1
April
30th
Commissioned as HMS FISHGUARD
at New
York.
(Note: Ship’s company included several from HM
Battleship MALAYA which was being
repaired in Brooklyn Navy Yard.)
May
7th
Took passage to UK as part of escort for Convoy
HX125 with HM Cutters BANFF and
CULVER
22nd Arrived
in Clyde.
June
Deployed in Hone waters pending modifications to
suit RN use.
July
12th
Took passage from Londonderry to Thames Estuary.
19th
Taken in hand for refit in commercial shipyard
at Poplar, London.
August
Nominated for service in Western Approaches
Command.
8th
Took passage from Sheerness after post refit
trials.
13th
Sailed from Greenock to Londonderry for service
with 44th Escort Group.
Deployed for defence of convoys to and from West
Africa.
15th
Part of escort for Convoy 0S3 to Bathurst.
29th
Arrived at Bathurst.
September
8th
Sailed from Bathurst as part of escort for
return Convoy SL86.
24th
Detached from Convoy SL86 and returned to
Londonderry.
October
13th
Joined escort for Convoy OS9 to Bathurst.
November
3rd
Arrived at Bathurst.
9th
Sailed from Bathurst with escort for return
Convoy SL92.
30th
Arrived at Belfast after detaching from SL92.
December
2nd
Talk in hand for repair at Belfast.
13th
Took passage to Londonderry on completion to
resume convoy defence duties.
14th
Joined escort for Convoy 0S14 to Bathurst with HMS
BANFF.
1
9 4 2
January
2nd
Arrived at Bathurst with OS14.
6th
Sailed from Bathurst with escort for return
Convoy SL97.
24th
Arrived at Belfast after detaching from SL97-
(Note: HF D/F Outfit FH3 was installed during
period.)
For details of function of Direction Finding
Outfits see SEEK AND STRIKE
by W Hackmann and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C
Blair.)
February
7th
On completion of shipyard work took passage to
Clyde for calibration of D/F equipment.
14th
Resumed convoy defence duties on completion of
calibration.
Joined HMS BANFF in escort for Convoy 0819 en
passage to Bathurst.
March
1st
Detached from OS19 on arrival at Bathurst.
6th
Joined escort for return Convoy SL102 and took
passage from Bathurst.
16th
Under repair In Azores for 24 hours.
17th
Passage to rejoin SL102.
25th
Returned to Londonderry after arrival of SL102
in Clyde.
April
3rd
Escorted outward Convoy OS24 to Freetown.
22nd
Detached from 0S24 on arrival.
26th
Sailed from Freetown in escort for return Convoy
SL108.
May
17th
At Liverpool after detaching from SL108.
30th
Resumed convoy defence duties and took passage
to Moville.
June
2nd
Joined escort for Convoy OS30 for passage to Freetown.
19th
Detached from OS30 on arrival at Freetown.
25th
Joined HMS BANFF for escort of return Convoy
SL114 to UK..
July
15th
Detached from SL114 on arrival and returned to
Londonderry.
August
1st
Joined Convoy OS36 at Moville as escort for
passage to Freetown with HMS BANFF.
18th
Detached from OS36 on arrival at Freetown.
24th
Joined return Convoy SL120 as escort for passage
to Clyde.
September
Nominated for refit at Falmouth on return to UK.
14th
Detached on arrival and returned to Londonderry.
17th
Passage to Plymouth.
19th
Taken in hand for refit at Falmouth.
October
Under refit
(Nominated for defence of military convoys to Gibraltar.
(Note: Type 271 Surface warning radar may have
been fitted.
See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse for details of
development and use of radar
in the Royal Navy.)
November
5th
On completion of Post Refit trials took passage
to Plymouth.
(Note: US 5in mounting
replaced by RN 4in type and improved AA
Weapons.)
7th
Passage to Londonderry.
9th
Deployed in NW Approaches after arrival at
Moville.
18th
At Londonderry.
December
28th
Joined military convoy KMF6 with HMS BANFF as
escort for passage to Algiers.
1
9 4 3
January
3rd
Detached from KMF6 on arrival at Algiers.
6th
Took passage from Algiers with HMS BANFF In
escort for returned Convoy MKF6.
.
14th
At Londonderry after detachment from MKF6.
26th
Joined Joint convey KMF8/US26 in Clyde with HMS
BANFF and HM Frigate TEST as
part of Ocean Escort.
(Note: WS26 was on passage to Indian Ocean and Ocean Escort included two Armed
Merchant Cruisers and Fleet Destroyers on
passage to Join Eastern Fleet.)
29th
Remained with HMS BANFF and HMS TEST as escort
for KMF8 when MS26 detached
from Joint convoy to take passage to Freetown.
February
1st
Arrived at Algiers with KMF6
2nd
Took passage, from Algiers as escort for return
military convoy MKF8
8th
Detached from MCF 6 on arrival in Clyde and
returned to Londonderry.
27th
Joined Joint convoy KNF10A/WB27 in Clyde with H
M Sloops EGRET, ERNE,
HMS TEST and HM Destroyer CLARE as Ocean Escort.
during Atlantic passage.
(Note: WS27 was on passage to Indian Ocean).
March
2nd
Remained with Convoy KMF10A when WS27 detached
for passage to Freetown.
4th
At Oran.
5th
Detached from MKF10A on arrival at Algiers.
6th
Took Passage to Gibraltar
8th
Joined escort for return convoy to UK at
Gibraltar.
14th
Returned to Londonderry.
Resumed escort duties with 44th Escort Group for
mercantile convoy defence.
27th
Part of escort for UK-Gibraltar convoy.
April
12th
Detached at Gibraltar on arrival.
14th
Part of escort for return convoy to UK.
24th
At Liverpool.
May
Nominated for defence of Atlantic convoy.
(Note: This was during a crucial stage of the
Battle of the Atlantic
when U-Boat
Groups were making
sustained attacks. For details see THE BATTLE
OF THE
ATLANTIC by D Macintyre. U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO)
and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
2nd
Joined escort for Convoy ON182 during passage to
Newfoundland.
(Note: In addition to main escort , the passage
of this convoy was supported by ships
of Support Group 4, comprising HM Escort Carrier
ARCHER and 4 destroyers.
The convoy arrived without loss. See above
reference.
17th
Detached from ONS182 and went to St Johns.
24th
Return passage from Newfoundland as part, of
escort to routine mercantile convoy.
June
Nominated service in Mediterranean for escort of
convoys in support of planned allied
landings in Sicily (Operation HUSKY).
4th
Returned to Londonderry
21st
Carried out exercises in NW Approaches and Irish
Sea.
26th
Joined military Convoy KMS19 in NW Approaches as
part of escort during passage
in Atlantic to Mediterranean.
(For details of HUSKY assault and support see
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE by Bamett,
Naval Staff History, and for information about
all mercantiles and warships involved
BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser,).
July
Nominated for service in Escort Group D during
HUSKY
9th
Arrived at Bone.
10th
Deployed for escort of HUSKY convoys between
Algiers, Bizerta and Bone during the
to
Build-up Phase of HUSKY.
25th
On release from HUSKY took passage from Algiers
to Gibraltar.
26th
Arrived at Gibraltar for escort of military
convoy to USA.
28th
Sailed from Gibraltar as part of escort for
Convoy GUS10X
August
14th
Arrived at Norfolk Navy Yard after release from
convoy escort.
21st
Took passage from Norfolk, Va for Argentia,
Newfoundland after boiler cleaning.
.
28th
Sailed from Argentia as part of escort for
Convoy UT1 during passage to UK.
(Note: First of a series of military convoys
taking US troops to UK as part of
build-up for planned allied landings in Europe.)
September
Nominated for foreign service in Indian Ocean.
4th
Returned to Londonderry on release from UT1.
6th
Took passage to Cardiff for refit.
8th
Arrived at Cardiff after call at Belfast and
taken in hand for refit.
October
Under refit.
(Note: AA armament was improved to suit needs of
future deployment.)
November
16th
Took passage to Milford Haven on completion of
post refit trials..
17th
Return passage to Londonderry from Milford Haven
after Awning fittings Installed
18th
At Londonderry.
December
2nd
Took passage from Moville to Barry.
(Note: It is assumed that this was a visit to
refitting port area prior to the
start
of foreign service.
6th
Return passage to Moville to refuel before
joining escort for convoy.
8th
Sailed from Moville as escort, for convoy to
Azores.
(Note: Allied aircraft were based in Azores after agreement with Portugal
and landings
to set up bases during October (Operation
ALACRITY).
19th
Passage from Azores Gibraltar
22nd Sailed
from Gibraltar for Alexandria
.
31st
At Alexandria.
1
9 4 4
January
10th
Sailed from Alexandria for Suez Canal transit.
16th
Took passage through Red Sea to Aden after
transit.
20th
Arrived at Aden to commence convoy defence in
Indian Ocean.
26th
Deployed off Aden for exercises prior to first
escort duty in Indian Ocean.
27th
At Berbera.
29th
Sailed from Aden as escort for Convoy AKD14 to
Kilindini.
February
Joined Kilindini Escort Force.
11th
Arrived at Kilindini and took passage to Aden.
22nd Arrived
at Aden.
26th
Joined Convoy AKD16 as escort to Kilindini.
March
6th
Arrived at Kilindini and detached from AKD16.
13th
Sailed from Kilindini as escort for Convoy DKA14
to Aden.
26th
Detached from DKA14 on arrival at Aden.
April
Deployed at Aden.
4th
At Berbera.
5th
Returned to Aden.
6th
Sailed from Aden as escort for Convoy AKD19 to
Kilindini.
12th
Detached from AKD 19 on arrival at Kilindini.
18th
Sailed from Kilindini as escort for Convoy
DKA16A to Aden.
24th
Detached from DKA16A on arrival at Aden.
28th
Sailed from Aden for Kilindini.
May
3rd
Arrived at Kilindini.
7th
Took passage to Somali coast for investigation
into salvage of U852.
(Note: U852 had been damaged in an air attack by
a WELLINGTON aircraft from
612 Squadron RAF 50 miles south of Cape
Guardafui.
The submarine had been grounded deliberately and
abandoned.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
11th
Called at Benda Beila on Scroll coast.
12th
Called at Danta, north of Benda Beila.
13th
At Benda Beila for investigation work.
22nd Took
passage to Aden.
24th
Arrived at Aden.
27th
Took passage to Hordio, north of Dante.
29th
At Hordio
30th
Returned to Benda Beila.
June
7th
Took passage from Benda Beila on completion of
work.
12th
Arrived at Kilindini.
13th
Took passage from Kilindini
(Note: One source records escort for Convoy KD 5
in this period.
In view of activities of German and Japanese
submarines in area may have
carried out an anti-submarine deployment.)
23rd
At Diego Suarez.
30th
Returned to Benda Beila.
June
7th
Took passage from Benda Beila on completion of
work.
12th
Arrived at Kilindini.
13th
Took passage from Kilindini
(Note: One source records escort for Convoy KD 5
in this period.
In view of activities of German and Japanese
submarines in area may have
carried out an anti-submarine deployment.)
23rd
At Diego Suarez.
July
15th
Took passage to escort convoy to Reunion,
Mauritius during Indian Ocean passage.
16th
At Reunion and arrived at Mauritius.
18th
Took passage to Kilindini from Mauritius as
escort for Convoy MK2.
24th
Arrived at Kilindini and detached from MK2.
30th
Took passage to Aden as escort for Convoy OM56
to Aden with HMS BANFF..
August
5th
Detached from OM56 on arrival at Aden.
6th
Deployed at Aden for ant-submarine patrol and
visited Perim.
to
17th
18th
Took passage from Aden in Kilindini.
25th
Arrived at Kilindini.
September
Deployed at Kilindini.
16th
Sailed from Kilindini as escort for Convoy KR12A
21st
Arrived at Seychelles with KR12A.
26th
Escorted Motor Minesweepers during passage from
Seychelles to
Addu Atoll.
October
1st
Arrived at Addu Atoll with MMS.
2nd
Took passage to return to Kilindini.
9th
Arrived at Kilindini and prepared for refit.
24th
Passage to Durban for refit.
31st
Arrived at Durban.
November
Under refit.
to
December
1
9 4 5
January
Under refit
to
March
April
Carried out post refit trials.
16th
Took passage from Durban to resume service.
25th
Arrived at Kilindini.
May
Deployed at Kilindini and visited Klsit Is.
12th
Took passage from Kilindini for convoy defence
in Arabian Sea.
17th
Arrived at Aden.
26th
Took passage from Aden for Bombay.
June
4th
Deployed at Bombay after arrival.
11th
Took passage to Colombo for escort of solitary
convoys.
July
Deployed at Bombay.
25th
Escorted military convoy to Rangoon with call at
Trincomalee
(Note: Planned landings in Malaya required build
up of military resources
in Burma (Operation ZIPPER).
This operation was delayed several times because
of US insistence and
implementation of the return of service
personnel from SEAC under the
PYTHONS Scheme.
See THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton, Final SEAC
Report (HMSO),
WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO)
and for information about all mercantiles and
warships involved BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J
de Winser.)
29th
Arrived at Rangoon. August
August
4th
Took passage from Rangoon for local escort.
6th
At Kyaukpui , Ramree Island and Akyab, Burma..
10th
Took passage to Rangoon with call at Akyab.
11th
Returned to Rangoon.
(Note: No Battle Honour BURMA 1945 was awarded.
No Japanese attacks ware made on convoys In
August.)
September
Deployed at Rangoon during delay of start of
ZIPPER.
2nd
Passage to Penang for ZIPPER deployment.
Passage to Malacca Straits.
5th
Passage to Singapore from Penang.
(Note: Japanese signed allied surrender document
on board HM Cruiser SUSSEX on
4th.September.)
7th
Deployed at Singapore for convoy escort and
shipping control.
See BRITISH INVASION FLEETS.
P
o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS
FISHGUARD continued deployment at Singapore
until 21st October 1945 when she took
passage to Colombo arriving on 27th of
that month. The ship sailed to Portsmouth on 3rd
November and arrived via the Mediterranean on
1st December 1945. After de-storing the ship
left Portsmouth to be returned to the US
Coastguard Service and arrived at Boston to pay
of on 4th February 1946. On 24th October 1947
this ship was sold for breaking.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS FISHGUARD
by
Don Kindell
These
convoy lists have not been cross-checked with
the text above
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date
convoy sailed
|
Joined convoy
as escort
|
Convoy No.
|
Left convoy
|
Date
convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
06/05/41
|
07/05/41
|
HX
125A
|
22/05/41
|
22/05/41
|
|
01/06/41
|
13/06/41
|
SC
033
|
18/06/41
|
21/06/41
|
|
01/06/41
|
15/06/41
|
HX
130
|
19/06/41
|
20/06/41
|
|
26/06/41
|
04/07/41
|
HX
135
|
11/07/41
|
12/07/41
|
|
13/08/41
|
16/08/41
|
OS
003
|
29/08/41
|
01/09/41
|
|
04/09/41
|
08/09/41
|
SL
086
|
24/09/41
|
26/09/41
|
|
13/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
OS
009
|
02/11/41
|
05/11/41
|
|
06/11/41
|
11/11/41
|
SL
092
|
01/12/41
|
01/12/41
|
|
13/12/41
|
15/12/41
|
OS
014
|
01/01/42
|
03/01/42
|
|
04/01/42
|
06/01/42
|
SL
097
|
24/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
|
11/02/42
|
14/02/42
|
OS
019
|
01/03/42
|
03/03/42
|
|
04/03/42
|
07/03/42
|
SL
102
|
26/03/42
|
26/03/42
|
|
02/04/42
|
03/04/42
|
OS
024
|
22/04/42
|
22/04/42
|
|
26/04/42
|
26/04/42
|
SL
108
|
19/05/42
|
19/05/42
|
|
01/06/42
|
02/06/42
|
OS
030
|
17/06/42
|
19/06/42
|
|
25/06/42
|
25/06/42
|
SL
114
|
17/07/42
|
17/07/42
|
|
31/07/42
|
01/08/42
|
OS
036
|
18/08/42
|
18/08/42
|
|
24/08/42
|
24/08/42
|
SL
120
|
14/09/42
|
15/09/42
|
|
26/12/42
|
26/12/42
|
KMF
006
|
03/01/43
|
03/01/43
|
|
06/01/43
|
06/01/43
|
MKF
006
|
14/01/43
|
14/01/43
|
|
24/01/43
|
24/01/43
|
KMF
008
|
01/02/43
|
01/02/43
|
|
02/02/43
|
02/02/43
|
MKF
008
|
09/02/43
|
09/02/43
|
|
25/02/43
|
02/03/43
|
KMF
010A
|
04/03/43
|
04/03/43
|
|
06/03/43
|
06/03/43
|
MKF
010A
|
14/03/43
|
14/03/42
|
|
31/03/43
|
01/04/43
|
KMS
012G
|
12/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
|
10/04/43
|
14/04/43
|
MKS
011
|
23/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
|
06/05/43
|
07/05/43
|
ON
182
|
16/05/43
|
22/05/43
|
|
19/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
HX
240
|
03/06/43
|
04/06/43
|
|
25/06/43
|
25/06/43
|
KMS
019G
|
05/07/43
|
06/07/43
|
|
14/07/43
|
14/07/43
|
KMS
019Y
|
16/07/43
|
unknown
|
|
17/07/43
|
17/07/43
|
MKS
018
|
22/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
|
27/06/43
|
22/07/43
|
UGS
011
|
23/07/43
|
unknown
|
|
22/07/43
|
25/07/43
|
GUS
010X
|
27/07/43
|
13/08/43
|
|
21/08/43
|
21/08/43
|
UT
001
|
21/08/43
|
04/09/43
|
|
08/12/43
|
08/12/43
|
OS
061KM
|
16/12/43
|
19/12/43
|
|
15/12/43
|
02/01/44
|
UGS
027
|
10/01/44
|
11/01/44
|
|
03/01/44
|
03/01/44
|
KMS
036
|
13/01/44
|
13/01/44
|
|
03/02/44
|
04/02/44
|
AKD
014
|
11/02/44
|
16/02/44
|
|
11/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
DKA
011
|
22/02/44
|
22/02/44
|
|
24/02/44
|
24/02/44
|
AKD
016
|
06/03/44
|
06/03/44
|
|
13/03/44
|
13/03/44
|
DKA
014
|
22/03/44
|
22/03/44
|
|
27/03/44
|
27/03/44
|
AKD
019
|
30/03/44
|
30/03/44
|
|
11/03/44
|
30/03/44
|
DKA
015
|
01/04/44
|
01/04/44
|
|
06/04/44
|
06/04/44
|
AKD
020
|
12/04/44
|
12/04/44
|
|
18/04/44
|
18/04/44
|
DKA
016A
|
24/04/44
|
24/04/44
|
|
15/06/44
|
15/06/44
|
KD
005
|
20/06/44
|
24/06/44
|
|
30/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
CM
056A
|
05/08/44
|
05/08/44
|
|
18/08/44
|
18/08/44
|
AK
012/2
|
25/08/44
|
25/08/44
|
|
16/09/44
|
16/09/44
|
KR
012A
|
01/10/44
|
01/10/44
|
|
24/10/44
|
24/10/44
|
MC
013A
|
31/10/44
|
31/10/44
|
|
16/04/45
|
16/04/45
|
CM
061
|
25/04/45
|
25/04/45
|
(Note
on Convoys)
