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

HMS TOTLAND (Y 88) - ex-US Coast Guard Cutter
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Totland after return in 1946 (US Coast Guard, click to enlarge) return to Contents List
 

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)

 

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