US
Coastguard Cutter CAYUGA built by United Dry
Dock, Staten Island New York and launched on 7th
October 1931. Build
was completed on 26th
March 1932 and the ship served with the US
Coastguard service until transferred to the
RN under the UK/US
Lend-Lease Agreement in 1940. This Cutter, in
common with other transferred was named after a
Coastguard Station in
UK. None of these ten
Cutters was adopted by a UK civil community
following a WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
campaign in 1941-42.
B
a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC
1941-44
H
e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge:
None is recorded in the Official List of
Heraldic Crests.
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
May
12th
Commissioned for RN service as HMS TOTLAND,
manned with ratings from HM
Battleship
MALAYA.
20th
Passage to UK with call at St Johns,
Newfoundland.
June
Arrived in Clyde
Nominated for service in Western Approaches
Command for Atlantic convoy defence.
10th
Under repair in Clyde shipyard.
July
On completion took passage to Londonderry for operational service.
8th
Sailed from Londonderry to join escort for
Convoy HX139.
Detached from HX 139 and returned to Londonderry.
August
Passage to Thames for modifications in
commercial shipyard to suit RN service.
4th
Taken in hand for refit.
21st
On completion took passage to Londonderry to
resume Atlantic convoy defence.
Nominated for escort of military convoy.
31st
Joined HM Battlecruiser REPULSE, HM Destroyers
ENCOUNTER, NESTOR (RAN), HM
Armed
Merchant Cruiser CHESHIRE, HM Sloop SUTLEJ
(RIN), HM Cutter SENNEN and HM
Cruiser
SHEFFIELD as Ocean Escort for military convoy
WS1 1 during Atlantic passage.
September
4th
Detached from WS11 when convoy divided into Slow
and Fast Sections.
Joined WS11 Slow Section as A/S escort during
passage 3to Freetown with HMS SENNEN
and
HMIS SUTLEJ.
15th
Detached from WS11 Slow and took passage to
Gibraltar for escort of two tankers to UK.
October
Returned to Londonderry after arrival of
tankers.
28th
At Belfast for further modifications.
November
14th
On completion took passage to Londonderry to
resumed Atlantic convoy defence and joined
the
42nd Escort Group. November (Cont.)
Part of escort for Convoy OS12 to Bathurst with
HMS SENNEN.
December
On arrival deployed with return Convoy SL95 as
escort with HMS SENNEN.
(Note: HM Cutter GORLESTON joined escort for
SL95 later.)
1
9 4 2
January
On arrival in UK took passage to Belfast for
repair.
14th
Resumed duties with Group at Londonderry on
completion.
19th
Joined escort for Convoy OS17 with HM Cutters
GORLESTON and HARTLAND .
February
On arrival in West Africa returned to UK as
escort for Convoy SL100 with HMS SENNEN
and HMS GORLESTON.
March
Part of escort for outward Convoy OS22 with H M
Cutters GORLESTON, HARTLAND
and SENNEN.
19th
Joined escort for Convoy OS17 with HM Cutters
GORLESTON and HARTLAND and
SENNEN.
April
Escorted return Convoy SL106 with HMS GORLESTON
and HMS SENNEN.
May
On detachment from SL106 took passage to Hull
for repair.
2nd
Under repair in commercial shipyard.
10th
On completion took passage to resume duty with
Group at Londonderry.
Deployed as escort for Convoy SL28 to Freetown
with HMS GORLESTON.
June
Escorted return Convoy SL112 to UK from
Freetown.
On arrival detached for refit and took passage
to Grimsby.
July
2nd
Taken in hand for refit in Commercial shipyard.
August
Under refit.
September
Completed out post refit trials.
2nd
On completion took passage to rejoin Group at
Londonderry.
Joined escort for outward Convoy OS40 for
passage to Freetown.
October
Returned to UK as escort for Convoy SL124
Nominated for escort of military convoys to
North Africa in support of allied landings
(Operation TORCH - See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett
Naval Staff History, and for information about
all mercantiles and warships involved
BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.)
November
Part of escort for military convoy KMF3 and
returned with escort for Convoy
MKF3,
both with HMS GORLESTON.
December
Part of escort for military convoy KMF5 and
returned with escort for Convoy MKF5, also
with HMS GORLESTON.
1
9 4 3
January
Part of escort for military convoy MKF7 and
returned with escort for Convoy MKF7
with HMS GORLESTON.
February
Resumed Atlantic convoy defence and nominated
for escort of special Tanker
Convoy
during passage from UK to Curacoa.
16th
Deployed with HM Frigate NESS, HM Sloop
FOLKESTONE and three Corvettes as escort
for Convoy CU1 with support from US Navy Support
Group.
(Note: USN ships involved were USS MADISON. USS
LANSDALE, USS HILARY P
JONES and USS CHARLES F HIGHES.)
One source states the RN ships were part of 42nd
Support Group but others
indicate
they belonged to the 44th Support Group. See
HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.
Convoy comprised 32 ships of which 1 7 were
tankers.).
22nd CU1
Convoy sighted by U552 which summoned
assistance.
23rd
Under attacks by U-Boats of ROCHEN and ROBBE
Groups.
Sank U522 by depth charges in position 31.27N
26.22 during defence of UC1.
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and HITLER'
U-BOAT WAR.
(Note: Eleven submarines took part in the
attacks sinking three ships..)
March
Atlantic convoy defence with Group in
continuation
28th
Joined escort of return Convoy CUl during
passage from West Indies with a US Navy
escort.
30th
Detached from CU1 on arrival in UK without loss.
April
Nominated for escort of military convoy during
Atlantic passage.
16th
Joined HM Destroyers LAUDERDALE and VENOMOUS, HM
Sloops WELLINGTON,
WESTON, HM Cutter GORLESTON, HM Frigates EXE and
NESS in Clyde as the escort
for joint Convoy WS29/KMF13 during Atlantic
passage.
(Note: Ocean Escort also included HM Cruiser
NEWCASTLE and HM Destroyer
RAPID.)
20th
Remained with ships of KMF13 when WS29 ships
detached for passage to Freetown.
(Note: HM Destroyers MALCOLM, WITCH and
WOLVERINE escorted WS26 Section
for onward passage.)
Deployed as part of escort for KMF13 during
passage to Algiers.
Joined HM Frigates NESS and EXE for escort of
joint military convoy KMF15/WS30
during Atlantic passage
(Note: Ocean Escort included HM Aircraft Carrier
UNICORN and HM Cruiser SUFFOLK.)
May
Returned to UK as part of
escort for military convoy MKF13
13th
Involved in collision with HMS EXE and sustained
structural damage on starboard side.
19th
Joined HM Destroyers ACTIVE, CLEVELAND,
BOADICEA, Polish ORP SLAZAK,
HM Sloops LOWESTOFT, WELLINGTON and WESTON, HM
Cutter GORLESTON..
22nd
Detached from joint convoy with KMF13 ships and
took passage to Algiers
as part of
escort.
(Note: HM Destroyers ANTELOPE, CATTERICK and
FOXHOUND had joined for WS30
Section as escort during passage to Freetown.
Detached on arrival at Algiers.
June
Returned with HMS GORLESTON in escort for Convoy
KMF 15 from Algiers.
Nominated for convoy defence based at Freetown
on completion of
refit.
15th
Under refit at Belfast
July
27th
On completion of post refit trials worked-up for
operational duties.
August
Nominated for escort of military convoy from Clyde on completion of work-up
17th
Joined HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE, HM Destroyer
WRESTLER, HM Sloops
CHANTICLEER, NARBADA (RIN) and WESTON, HM
Frigates BARLE, ETTRICK
and USK for escort of joint convoy WS33/KMF33
during Atlantic passage.
20th
HM Cruiser CHARYBDIS joined Ocean Escort.
24th
Detached from joint convoy on arrival at
Gibraltar.
September
3rd
At Casablanca.
4th
Joined HM Destroyer BULLDOG, HM Frigates BANN,
NESS and HM Sloop WESTON
for escort of convoy WS33 for passage to
Freetown.
10th
Deployed at Freetown for Local Convoy escort.
October
Freetown convoy defence in continuation
to
November
December
18th
Involved in collision with ss INVELLA during
escort of convoy.
Sustained slight structural damage on port side.
1
9 4 4
January
Local escort duties at Freetown in continuation.
to
Nominated for transfer to East Indies Station.
February
March
16th Took
passage to Gibraltar
prior to sailing for Kilindini via
Mediterranean.
24th
Hit jetty at Gibraltar and sustained serious
structural damage.
April
Under repair by HM Dockyard Gibraltar.
May
On completion took passage to Indian Ocean via Red Sea.
June
3rd
At Aden.
Escorted Convoy OM54 with HMS SENNEN.
July
Deployed for Indian Ocean convoy defence based
at Kilindini.
to
September
October
Passage to Durban for refit.
Taken in hand for refit
November
Under refit.
to
December
1
9 4 5
January
Under refit.
to
March
April
Post refit trials.
21st
Prepared for operational service.
May
Resumed Indian
Ocean convoy defence.
Nominated for return to UK.
June
Passage to Colombo.
24th
Sailed from Colombo for UK with calls at Aden
and in Mediterranean.
July
Arrived in UK and selected
for reduction to Reserve Status.
August
Passage to Sunderland to Pay Off.
4th
Arrived at Sunderland.
Paid Off and reduced to Reserve.
September
Laid-up at Sunderland.
P
o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS
TOTLAND remained at
Sunderland until arrangements were made for her
return to the US Coastguard Service. Manned by a
steaming crew she sailed for Boston, Mass, on
26th March 1946 and was handed back on 2nd May
that year. She was renamed USS MOCOMA
and remained in use as a Coastguard Patrol
Vessel until 15th July 1955 when sold for
breaking-up.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS TOTLAND
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
20/05/41
|
20/05/41
|
HX
128
|
06/06/41
|
06/06/41
|
07/07/41
|
07/07/41
|
OB
344
|
16/07/41
|
16/07/41
|
16/07/41
|
18/07/41
|
HX
139
|
29/07/41
|
31/07/41
|
23/08/41
|
31/08/41
|
OS
004
|
09/09/41
|
11/09/41
|
05/10/41
|
21/10/41
|
SL
089
|
unknown
|
26/10/41
|
18/11/41
|
19/11/41
|
OS
012
|
08/12/41
|
11/12/41
|
12/12/41
|
15/12/41
|
SL
095
|
31/12/41
|
31/12/41
|
18/01/42
|
23/01/42
|
OS
017
|
05/02/42
|
07/02/42
|
09/02/42
|
11/02/42
|
SL
100
|
04/03/42
|
04/03/42
|
13/03/42
|
19/03/42
|
OS
022
|
01/04/42
|
01/04/42
|
09/04/42
|
09/04/42
|
SL
106
|
02/05/42
|
02/05/42
|
12/05/42
|
12/05/42
|
OS
028
|
30/05/42
|
30/05/42
|
04/06/42
|
04/06/42
|
SL
112
|
23/06/42
|
23/06/42
|
09/09/42
|
10/09/42
|
OS
040
|
27/09/42
|
27/09/42
|
03/10/42
|
03/10/42
|
SL
124
|
22/10/42
|
22/10/42
|
14/11/42
|
14/11/42
|
KMF
003
|
22/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
26/11/42
|
MKF
003
|
03/12/42
|
03/12/42
|
12/12/42
|
12/12/42
|
KMF
005
|
20/12/42
|
20/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
MKF
005
|
31/12/42
|
31/12/42
|
08/01/43
|
08/01/43
|
KMF
007
|
17/01/43
|
17/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
MKF
007
|
25/01/43
|
25/01/43
|
15/02/43
|
15/02/43
|
UC
001
|
06/03/43
|
06/03/43
|
20/03/43
|
29/03/43
|
CU
001
|
01/04/43
|
01/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
20/04/43
|
KMF
013
|
23/04/43
|
23/04/43
|
24/04/43
|
24/04/43
|
MKF
013
|
02/05/43
|
02/05/43
|
19/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
KMF
015
|
28/05/43
|
27/05/43
|
28/05/43
|
28/05/43
|
MKF
015
|
30/05/43
|
05/06/43
|
01/06/43
|
02/06/43
|
XK
008
|
10/06/43
|
10/06/43
|
19/09/43
|
22/09/43
|
LTS
002
|
24/09/43
|
24/09/43
|
27/09/43
|
27/09/43
|
STL
002
|
02/10/43
|
02/10/43
|
05/10/43
|
07/10/43
|
LTS
003
|
10/10/43
|
10/10/43
|
15/10/43
|
15/10/43
|
STL
003
|
22/10/43
|
20/10/43
|
01/11/43
|
01/11/43
|
TS
053
|
05/11/43
|
05/11/43
|
09/11/43
|
09/11/43
|
LTS
005
|
14/11/43
|
14/11/43
|
23/11/43
|
23/11/43
|
STL
007
|
29/11/43
|
29/11/43
|
01/12/43
|
01/12/43
|
LTS
007
|
07/12/43
|
07/12/43
|
25/12/43
|
25/12/43
|
TS
055
|
30/12/43
|
30/12/43
|
02/01/44
|
02/01/44
|
STL
009
|
07/01/44
|
07/01/44
|
30/01/44
|
30/01/44
|
LTS
009
|
05/02/44
|
05/02/44
|
09/02/44
|
09/02/44
|
STL
011
|
14/02/44
|
14/02/44
|
18/02/44
|
18/02/44
|
LTS
011
|
25/02/44
|
26/02/44
|
13/03/44
|
13/03/44
|
SL
152
|
23/03/44
|
23/03/44
|
15/05/44
|
15/05/44
|
KMS
050
|
25/05/44
|
25/05/44
|
05/06/44
|
09/06/44
|
CM
054
|
11/06/44
|
11/06/44
|
14/06/44
|
14/06/44
|
AK
010/2
|
27/06/44
|
27/06/44
|
25/07/44
|
25/07/44
|
CM
057
|
01/08/44
|
01/08/44
|
14/10/44
|
14/10/44
|
MC
013
|
21/10/44
|
21/10/44
|
24/10/44
|
24/10/44
|
MC
013A
|
31/10/44
|
31/10/44
|
(Note
on Convoys)