US Coastguard Cutter CHELAN built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, Mass and laid down on 14th November 1927. The ship was launched on 19th May 1928 and build was completed on 5th Sept. 1928. She was transferred to the Royal Navy on 3rd April 1941 as part of the Lease/Lend Agreement in 1940 and renamed HMS LULWORTH when commissioned. This ship was the first RN ship to carry the name, which like those given to other US Coastguard Cutters transferred, was that of a British Coastguard Station. The Official List of adoptions by a UK civil community after a National Savings WARSHIP WEEK campaign in 1941-42 does not include this Cutter
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1941-43 - NORTH AFRICA 1942 - BURMA 1945
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: No record of an officially approved Crest is included in the
Admiralty List of Heraldic Crests
(Note: It may be assumed that any US Badge such for ship’s
boats may have remained in use.)
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 Prepared for transfer to RN.
May
12th Formally transferred to RN from US Coastguard Service.
(Note: Royal Navy ship's company included personnel from HM Battleship RESOLUTION.
Commissioned for service as HMS LULWORTH.
Took passage for UK with call at Newfoundland.
22nd Arrived in Clyde.
Repair arranged in Cardiff.
June Passage to Cardiff.
6th Taken in hand for repair at commercial shipyard.
(Note: Work carried out included modifications to suit RN service for convoy defence.
July Transferred to commercial shipyard at Newport for completion of work.
12th Allocated for service in Western Approaches Command, based at Londonderry and to
be deployed for escort of OS Series convoys to Freetown and return convoys in SL Series
to Liverpool.
On completion carried out post refit trials and worked-up for operational service.
Deployed for convoy defence on UK - West Africa route.
23rd Joined escort for Convoy OS4 to Bathurst, Gambia.
September
Detached from OS4 on arrival at Bathurst.
(Note: This convoy was subject to U-Boat attacks during which five ships were sunk.)
Passage to Freetown.
24th Returned to Liverpool as part of escort fro Convoy SL88 from West Africa.
(Note: To be confirmed)
October West African route deployment in continuation.
8th Remained with SL88 on merger with inward Convoy HG74 for passage to Liverpool
18th Detached on arrival at Liverpool
(Note: To be confirmed)
25th Joined escort for outward Convoy OS10 for passage to West Africa,
November
18th Detached from OS10 on arrival at Freetown
19th Joined escort for inward Convoy SL93 for passage from Freetown to Liverpool.
December
10th Detached from SL93 on arrival at Liverpool.
Took passage to Belfast for installation of direction finding outfit.
13th Taken in hand at commercial shipyard for installation.
(Note: For details of equipment used for detection and destruction of U-Boats in
defence of Atlantic convoys see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)
23rd Resumed convoy defence duty at Londonderry and joined escort for Convoy OS15
to West Africa.
1 9 4 2
January
13th Detached from OS15 at Bathurst.
15th Returned with HM Cutters CULVER and LANDGUARD AS escort for Convoy SL98
during passage to Liverpool.
31st HMS CULVER sunk by torpedo from U105 in position 48.34N 20.14W during defence of
February
5th Detached from SL98 on arrival at Liverpool..
22nd Joined HM Cutter LANDGUARD for escort for outward Convoy OS20 during passage
to Freetown.
March
14th Joined inward Convoy SL103 with HM Cutter LANDGUARD on departure from Freetown
as escort for passage to Liverpool.
April
2nd Detached from SL103 on arrival at Liverpool.
12th Joined outward Convoy OS25 with HM Cutter LANDGUARD as escort during passage
to Freetown
29th Detached from OS25 on arrival at Freetown
May
4th Joined inward Convoy SL109 with HM Sloop HASTINGS and HM Cutter LANDGUARD
as escort during passage to Liverpool.
11th Under attack by U128 whose presence had been detected by radio signals.
During depth charge attacks with HMS HASTINGS sustained damage by explosions.
12th Under attack by U126, U161 and U128,
took part in depth charge attacks with other escorts
which drove off the attacking submarines.
See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair for details.)
28th Detached from SL109 on arrival at Liverpool.
(Note: Some ships from SL109 detached on 19th May as SL109F and arrived on 25th.)
During defence of convoy sank the Italian submarine PIETRO CALVI off the
Azores, and sustained major damage to forward structure.
May Escorted Convoy SL105 with HM Sloop HASTINGS and HM Cutter LANDGUARD
On arrival in UK refit and repair arranged in commercial shipyard.
June Under repair in Belfast. On completion resumed service with Group.
11th Deployed with HM Sloops BIDEFORD and LONDONDERRY as escort for outward
Convoy SL31 during passage to Freetown.
30th Detached from OS31 with escort on arrival at Freetown.
July
5th Deployed as escort for inward Convoy SL115 with HM Sloops BIDEFORD and
LONDONDERRY during passage to Liverpool.
14th Sighted by U130 which was joined by U407 and the Italian submarine PIETRO CALVI.
Following interception of wireless transmissions using Direction Finding outfit carried
out search on relevant bearing.
Sighted U130 with PIETRO CALVI on surface off the Azores.
See SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann for use of D/F equipment)
Carried out depth charge attacks which forced PIETRO CALVI to surface.
Engaged Italian with surface gunfire causing extensive damage.
Carried out two unsuccessful attempts to ram submarine.
Hit submarine amidships which caused structural damage to ship.
Boarding party hampered by fire, flooding and Italian crew abandoning the submarine.
Submarine capsized and leader of Boarding Party was unable to escape and lost his life.
(Note: No significant documentation was recovered when submarine capsized.
35 of the 78 crew of PIETRO CALVI were rescued by the other two escorts.
An attack by U130 during this incident was driven off by depth charges.
For details see HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR BY C Blair.)
26th Detached from SL115 on arrival.
Took passage to Belfast for repair at commercial shipyard.
August Under repair
September Nominated for defence of convoys to Gibraltar in support of planned allied landings in
North Africa (Operation TORCH).
30th On completion of repair and refit work resumed convoy defence duties.
October Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence.
Deployed for defence of military in support of planned allied landings in
North Africa (Operation TORCH).
(For details of TORCH see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett,
RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute, Naval Staff History and BRITISH
INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser for information about all mercantiles and warships
Involved.)
November Deployed at Gibraltar for support of allied landings and convoy defence.
On release from TORCH deployed for convoy defence in Western Mediterranean.
December Gibraltar deployment in continuation.
1 9 4 3
January Deployed for military convoy defence with 40th Escort Group,
Escorted KMS8 to Gibraltar.
February Returned with Convoy MKS7.
Transferred with Group for defence of North Atlantic convoys.
Joined HM Sloops ABERDEEN and HASTINGS, HM Frigate MOYOLA, HM Cutter
LANDGUARD.
March Passage to St Johns, Newfoundland for escort of Convoy HX223 during Atlantic passage
with ships of Group.
(Note: This convoy of 39 ships from New York and was re-routed to avoid attacks by
RAUBGRAF Group of U-Boats, but German code-breakers ordered change of
U-Boat dispositions.
15th Convoy sighted by U91 of RAUBGRAF Group and summoned assistance.
Eleven U-Boats directed to carry out attacks, during which ten ships were sunk.
(Note: Despite weather conditions and in the absence of a Rescue Ship many of the
ships in convoy attempted rescue operations which increased chances of torpedo
attacks by the submarines.
17th Some air cover provided from Iceland and Northern Ireland but during continued attacks
three more mercantiles were sunk.
19th Air cover increased and further losses avoided.
(Note: See CONVOY by Martin Middlebrook, U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO),
THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC, Naval Staff Histories and HITLER’S
U-BOAT WAR by C Blair for details of defence of HX229 which had one of the
heaviest losses in the Atlantic war.
U384 was the only submarine to be sunk. See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.
April Part of escort for Convoys ONS3 and SC128 with ships of Group.
(For details of this crucial stage see the above references.)
May Atlantic convoy defence in continuation including convoy to and from Iceland..
June Nominated for transfer to Eastern Fleet after refit.
July
6th Taken in hand for refit at Cardiff.
August On completion of refit worked up and prepared for foreign service.
September Took passage to join Eastern fleet for convoy defence
24th Passage to Gibraltar.
29th At Gibraltar.
October Part of escort for Convoy UCSS8 from Gibraltar to Alexandria
Passage to Kilindini with call at Aden.
November
5th Arrived at Kilindini.
Escorted Convoy DKA5 to Aden and returned as escort for Convoy AKD7.
December Indian Ocean convoy defence between Kilindini and Aden including Convoy DKA7
1 9 4 4
January Deployment for defence of Indian Ocean convoys in continuation.
to (Note: These included Convoys KB8 and KR9 to Red Sea, DKA9 to Aden, Convoys KD1
February and AKD1 to Kilindini and Durban.)
March Indian Ocean convoy defence deployment in continuation
16th Carried out unsuccessful depth charge attack on Japanese submarine I37 which had sunk
three mercantiles off African coast on 16th February
April Deployment based at Kilindini in continuation.
to Escorted convoys between Kilindini and Durban and return convoys.
July
August Transferred to South Atlantic for escort of convoys from Cape of Good Hope.
Nominated for refit.
September
4th Taken in hand for refit at Durban.
October Under refit
to
November
December Post refit trials and prepared for operational service.
9th Resumed Indian Ocean convoy defence.
1 9 4 5
January Transferred to Trincomalee for convoy defence in Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal.
to Deployed for defence of convoys supporting military operations in Burma.
March Nominated for escort of assault convoy during planned landings at Rangoon
(Operation DRACULA)
April Passage to Kyaukpyu for escort of Convoy CHARLIE.
29th Sailed for Rangoon as part of escort for Convoy CHARLIE.
For details of DRACULA see WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO, THE FORGOTTEN FLEET
by J Winton and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS bv J de Winser for information about all
mercantiles and warships involved.)
May
2nd Deployed at Rangoon during DRACULA landings
On release from DRACULA deployed in Bay of Bengal.
June Convoy defence in continuation
24th Sustained damage to underwater fittings by grounding.
August Nominated for escort of assault convoys to Malayan coast (Operation ZIPPER)
(Note: This operation had been planned for an earlier date but was postponed because of
difficulties in implementing the PYTHON Scheme for release of long serving
personnel from SEAC and US insistence. See Final Report of Supreme
Commander SEAC and above references.)
September Deployed at Rangoon.
3rd Sailed from Rangoon as part of escort for Assault Convoy JME1F.
Detached from JME1F for escort of mercantile CITY OF CALCUTTA to landing area.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS LULWORTH returned to UK from Colombo on 11th November 1945 and arrived at Chatham on 4th November. The ship was de-stored and RN equipment removed before taking passage to USA with a Steaming Crew. She was handed back to US Coastguard Service at Boston on 5th January 1946 and sold for demolition in 1947, the next year.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS LULWORTH
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
09/05/41
|
11/05/41
|
SC 031
|
25/05/41
|
30/05/41
|
23/08/41
|
23/08/41
|
OS 004
|
09/09/41
|
11/09/41
|
14/09/41
|
16/09/41
|
SL 087
|
06/10/41
|
06/10/41
|
25/10/41
|
26/10/41
|
OS 010
|
15/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
SL 093
|
10/12/41
|
10/12/41
|
23/12/41
|
24/12/41
|
OS 015
|
11/01/42
|
13/01/42
|
15/01/42
|
18/01/42
|
SL 098
|
05/02/42
|
05/02/42
|
22/02/42
|
23/02/42
|
OS 020
|
10/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
14/03/42
|
16/03/42
|
SL 103
|
02/04/42
|
02/04/42
|
12/04/42
|
13/04/42
|
OS 025
|
29/04/42
|
29/04/42
|
04/05/42
|
04/05/42
|
SL 109
|
18/05/42
|
28/05/42
|
21/05/42
|
21/05/42
|
HG 083
|
07/06/42
|
07/06/42
|
11/06/42
|
11/06/42
|
OS 031
|
28/06/42
|
30/06/42
|
05/07/42
|
05/07/42
|
SL 115
|
25/07/42
|
26/07/42
|
25/10/42
|
26/10/42
|
KMS 002G
|
12/11/42
|
12/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
MKS 001X
|
23/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
11/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
KMS 005G
|
24/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
22/12/42
|
26/12/42
|
MKS 004
|
06/01/43
|
06/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
22/01/43
|
KMS 008G
|
04/02/43
|
10/02/43
|
07/02/43
|
08/02/43
|
MKS 007
|
17/02/43
|
17/02/43
|
09/03/43
|
15/03/43
|
HX 229A
|
25/03/43
|
26/03/43
|
05/04/43
|
08/04/43
|
ONS 003
|
24/04/43
|
28/04/43
|
25/04/43
|
29/04/43
|
SC 128
|
11/05/43
|
13/05/43
|
18/05/43
|
27/05/43
|
SC 131
|
28/05/43
|
31/05/43
|
28/05/43
|
02/06/43
|
ONS 009
|
04/06/43
|
09/06/43
|
26/05/43
|
04/06/43
|
SC 132
|
06/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
01/06/43
|
06/06/43
|
ON 187
|
09/06/43
|
15/06/43
|
16/06/43
|
20/06/43
|
ON 189
|
22/06/43
|
01/07/43
|
15/06/43
|
23/06/43
|
HX 244
|
26/06/43
|
30/06/43
|
17/09/43
|
17/09/43
|
OS 055KM
|
27/09/43
|
28/09/43
|
15/09/43
|
05/10/43
|
UGS 018
|
13/10/43
|
13/10/43
|
21/10/43
|
21/10/43
|
AKD 004
|
31/10/43
|
09/11/43
|
21/11/43
|
21/11/43
|
AKD 007
|
01/12/43
|
01/12/43
|
27/11/43
|
09/12/43
|
DKA 008
|
19/12/43
|
19/12/43
|
24/01/44
|
24/01/44
|
AKD 013A
|
31/01/44
|
09/02/44
|
05/02/44
|
05/02/44
|
KR 008
|
11/02/44
|
14/02/44
|
24/02/44
|
24/02/44
|
KR 009
|
04/03/44
|
06/03/44
|
11/03/44
|
23/03/44
|
DKA 015
|
01/04/44
|
01/04/44
|
06/04/44
|
06/04/44
|
AKD 020
|
12/04/44
|
12/04/44
|
27/04/44
|
27/04/44
|
KD 001/2
|
07/05/44
|
07/05/44
|
04/06/44
|
04/06/44
|
KD 004
|
14/06/44
|
14/06/44
|
30/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
CM 056A
|
05/08/44
|
05/08/44
|
27/08/44
|
27/08/44
|
MC 012
|
03/09/44
|
03/09/44
|
23/01/45
|
23/01/45
|
MC 014C
|
30/01/45
|
30/01/45
|
09/05/45
|
09/05/45
|
KRF 002/
|
11/05/45
|
11/05/45
|
08/07/45
|
08/07/45
|
RK 010/1
|
11/07/45
|
11/07/45
|
13/07/45
|
13/07/45
|
KR 018/1
|
16/07/45
|
16/07/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)