GRIMSBY-Class Sloop ordered from HM Dockyard Devonport under the 1934 Programme on 1st March 1935 and laid down on 12th June 1935. The ship was launched
by the Lady Provost of the city, Mrs E Watt on 22nd January 1936 as the 2nd RN ship to carry
the name previously used by a WW1 trawler. Build was completed on
17th September
1936- During build this ship was fitted for use as Despatch Vessel
for the use of the CinC
Mediterranean Fleet. After
commissioning at Devonport she worked up at Portland
before a visit to Aberdeen. All
her pre-war service was in the Mediterranean
and she was recalled to UK
for convoy defence duties after the outbreak of WW2. This ship was
adopted by the civil community of Ramsbottom, Lancashire
after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1939-45
- NORTH
AFRICA 1942
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Red, a triple
towered castle surrounded
by a double treasure all Silver.
M o t t o
Bon accord: 'Good fellowship'
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 3 9
September
Deployed in Mediterranean as Despatch Vessel.
3rd Recalled to UK for convoy defence duties and took passage from
Malta.
October
Deployed with 1st Escort Division of Western Approaches Command for convoy
escort duty
in English Channel and SW Approaches.
November
Convoy defence duties in SW Approaches in continuation.
to (Note: CinC Western Approaches was based at
Plymouth and convoys were formed
in SW
December
Approaches controlled from his headquarters.)
1 9 4 0
January
Channel and SW Approaches convoy defence in continuation.
9th Joined inward Convoy HG14F of 15 mercantiles as escort during
passage from Gibraltar
to Liverpool in SW Approaches
(Note: Other ships in escort were HM Sloops
BIDEFORD, LEITH, HM Destroyers WITCH,
WANDERER and WARWICK.
12th HMS LEITH detached from escort.
15th Detached from HG 14 in Irish Sea and returned to Plymouth.
18th Joined outward Convoy OG15F of 50 ships on formation in SW
Approaches for escort with
HM Destroyer DOUGLAS during passage to
Gibraltar.
22nd Detached from OG15 before arrival at Gibraltar and joined HM Destroyer ACTIVE and
WHITEHALL as escort for inward Convoy HG16 of 42
ships during Atlantic passage to
Liverpool.
27th Detached from HG16 in Irish Sea on relief by HM Destroyer VANOC and took passage to
Plymouth.
February
19th Deployed as escort for outward convoy OG19F of 34 ships on formation
in SW Approaches
for escort with HM Sloop DEPTFORD during initial
stage of passage in Atlantic.
25th Detached on arrival of OG19F at Gibraltar.
(Note: Tanker BRITISH ENDEAVOUR in OG19F was
sunk by U 50 on 22nd.).
Joined inward Convoy HG20 of 37 ships at
Gibraltar and sailed from Gibraltar as escort with
HM Sloops DEPTFORD and HM Destroyer WISHART
during Atlantic passage to Liverpool.
March
3rd Detached from HG20 on relief by HM Destroyers VENETIA and WILD SWAN
and took
passage to Plymouth in SW Approaches.
25th Joined outward Convoy OG23 of 51 ships with HM Destroyers CAMPBELL,
VOLUNTEER,
WALKER and WANDERER on formation in SW
Approaches as escort during Atlantic
passage
to Gibraltar
27th Detached from OG23 during passage and returned to Plymouth.
April
6th Joined outward Convoy OG25F of 57 ships with HM Sloops ROCHESTER,
WELLINGTON
and HM Destroyer VIMY as escort during passage
to Gibraltar on formation in SW
approaches.
9th HM Destroyer WISHART joined escort.
16th Detached from OG25F on arrival at Gibraltar without loss.
May Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes
changed to U97.
June Transferred to Rosyth for escort of convoys in North
Sea and NW Approaches.
(Note: This redeployment was made consequent on
the re-routing of Atlantic convoy traffic
from
Channel because of the German occupation
of France).
July Deployed for convoy defence in North Sea and NW
Approaches.
to
October
November
Transferred to Liverpool Sloop Division for Atlantic convoy escort.
(Note: Headquarters of CinC Western Approaches
Command had transferred to Liverpool
from
Plymouth.)
December
Atlantic deployment in continuation.
22nd Sustained slight structural damaged in collision with HM Corvette
COLUMBINE but ship
remained operational.
1 9 4 1
January
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
to Nominated for refit.
February
March
Under refit.
Carried out post refit trials and on completion
of post refit trials resumed Atlantic convoy
escort
duty.
April Deployed as part of escort for Convoy OG57 to
Gibraltar.
11th Arrived at Gibraltar and took passage to Halifax.
May Deployed at Halifax.
6th Joined escort for Convoy HX125 to UK.
22nd Detached from HX 125.
June Transferred to 41st Escort Group based at
Londonderry for defence of convoys between UK
and Freetown.
July Atlantic convoy defence on Freetown route in
continuation
to (Note: Other ships in Group included HM Sloops
IBIS, ENCHANTRESS, HM Cutters
December
WALNEY and HARTLAND (Ex US Navy) and HM Destroyer CLARE (Ex US Navy).)
1 9 4 2
January
Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.
to (Note: During this period surface warning Radar
Type 271 and HF D/F equipment was fitted
September
for detection of radio transmissions from surfaced submarines to locate their
positions
in conjunction with other ships fitted with this
equipment.
See RADAR AT SEA by D Hawse and SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann)
October
Nominated for defence of military convoys to Gibraltar in support of the
landings in North
Africa (Operation TORCH)
26th Deployed as part of escort for military convoy KMF1.
(Note: This was part of the preliminary build-up
for TORCH landings)
November
Deployed at Gibraltar to prepare for support of planned landings.
Nominated for support of landings on Arzue Beach
at Oran.
8th Deployed off Oran for support of landings.
For details of TORCH see Naval Staff History and
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by C Barnett.
Deployed for escort of follow-up convoys.
14th Sailed from Gibraltar as part of escort for return military Convoy
MKF1Y.
20th Detached from MKF1Y on arrival in Clyde.
Nominated for refit at Tyne commercial shipyard.
December
Passage to Tyne.
4th Taken in hand for refit at Tyne shipyard.
1 9 4 3
January
Under refit.
(Note: During this refit an ahead throwing
mortar for attacks on submarines was fitted.
See SEEK AND STRIKE).
February
Post refit trials
23rd Took passage to Tobermory for work-up prior to resuming Atlantic
convoy defence.
March
Joined 40th Escort Group and took passage to St Johns, Newfoundland.
Part of escort for Convoy HX229A to
UK.
10th Took part in four days of A/S action in defence of attacks on Convoy
HX229 by U-Boats
of RAUBGRAF, STURMER and DRANGER Groups with
other escorts including ships
of British 4th Escort Group.
(Note: Ships in 40th Escort Group included HM
Sloop HASTINGS HM Cutters LULWORTH
and LANDGUARD (Ex US Navy), HM Frigates MOYOLA
and WAVENEY).
This defence took place during the most crucial
stage of the Atlantic war.
The mercantile losses during passage of this
convoy as well as those in the coincident
Convoy SC122 were so extensive that the whole
future of convoy escort policy was
threatened)
9th Whilst escorting Convoy HX229 ran aground on the ice-edge and
sustained damage to hull
structure including loss of underwater fittings
for the submarine detection equipment.
See SEEK AND STRIKE and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).
(Note: For details of U-Boat deployments during
this period see U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO) and THE BATTLE CF THE ATLANTIC
by D Maclntyre).
26th Taken in hand for repair in Liverpool.
April Under repair.
(Note: During this period an additional radar
for surface and aircraft detection (Type 291)
was fitted as well as VHF radio telephone
equipment for communication with other
escorts and with aircraft).
Nominated for deployment at Freetown for
Atlantic convoy defence.
May Post refit trials.
30th On completion went for work-up at Tobermory.
June Passage to join West African Command.
July Deployed at Freetown for coastal convoys and local
escort for OS/SL convoys.
August
Freetown deployment in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 4
January
Freetown deployment in continuation.
to
February
March
Nominated for return to UK to refit and give leave.
(Note: Living conditions were particularly
adverse in all ships deployed in West Africa.)
April Joined escort for Convoy SL154 during passage to
UK.
May Taken in hand for refit
Additional repair work required and return to
service in West Africa postponed.
June On completion of shipyard work to allow ocean
passage sailed to Bermuda for completion
of refit work by HM Dockyard.
July Under refit in Bermuda.
to
August
September
Carried out post refit trials and sailed to Freetown to resume convoy defence in
West
African waters.
October
Deployed for convoy defence based at Freetown.
1 9 4 5
January
Freetown convoy defence in continuation.
to
April
May After VE Day remained at Freetown for local patrol
and air sea rescue duties.
to (Note: Extensive air traffic was being used for
return of US service personnel from
July Europe.)
Nominated for reduction to Reserve status at
Gibraltar
August
Passage to Gibraltar to pay off into Reserve.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS ABERDEEN was kept in Reserve at Gibraltar
until the end of 1946 when the ship was placed on the Disposal List. After tow to Devonport she was sold to BISCO
on 16th December 1948 for
breaking-up by T W Ward at Hayle,
Cornwall where she arrived on 19th January 1949.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS
ABERDEEN
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
07/09/39
|
14/09/39
|
GREEN 1
|
16/09/39
|
18/09/39
|
20/09/39
|
21/09/39
|
BLUE 002
|
30/09/39
|
30/09/39
|
08/10/39
|
08/10/39
|
GREEN 4
|
17/10/39
|
17/10/39
|
04/12/39
|
04/12/39
|
OA 047
|
07/12/39
|
08/12/39
|
22/12/39
|
22/12/39
|
OA 058
|
25/12/39
|
25/12/39
|
31/12/39
|
31/12/39
|
OG 013F
|
07/01/40
|
07/01/40
|
05/01/40
|
09/01/40
|
HG 014F
|
15/01/40
|
15/01/40
|
18/01/40
|
18/01/40
|
OG 015F
|
22/01/40
|
23/01/40
|
21/01/40
|
22/01/40
|
HG 016F
|
27/01/40
|
28/01/40
|
09/02/40
|
09/02/40
|
AXS 012
|
11/02/40
|
11/02/40
|
19/02/40
|
19/02/40
|
OG 019F
|
25/02/40
|
25/02/40
|
25/02/40
|
25/02/40
|
HG 020
|
03/03/40
|
06/03/40
|
07/03/40
|
07/03/40
|
OA 105G
|
unknown
|
11/03/40
|
25/03/40
|
25/03/40
|
OG 023
|
27/03/40
|
31/03/40
|
06/04/40
|
06/04/40
|
OG 025F
|
12/04/40
|
12/04/40
|
29/04/40
|
29/04/40
|
HG 028
|
06/05/40
|
09/05/40
|
08/05/40
|
19/05/40
|
HX 041
|
23/05/40
|
23/05/40
|
24/05/40
|
26/05/40
|
OA 154
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
17/05/40
|
30/05/40
|
SL 032
|
03/06/40
|
03/06/40
|
03/06/40
|
04/06/40
|
OA 161G
|
05/06/40
|
05/06/40
|
05/06/40
|
05/06/40
|
OG 032
|
10/06/40
|
10/06/40
|
08/06/40
|
10/06/40
|
HG 033
|
17/06/40
|
18/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
OA 171G
|
21/06/40
|
21/06/40
|
25/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
OA 174
|
28/06/40
|
unknown
|
16/07/40
|
02/08/40
|
SL 040
|
08/08/40
|
08/08/40
|
24/09/40
|
24/09/40
|
OA 219
|
28/09/40
|
28/09/40
|
17/09/40
|
29/09/40
|
HX 074
|
21/09/40
|
02/10/40
|
08/10/40
|
08/10/40
|
OA 226
|
11/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
27/09/40
|
13/10/40
|
SL 049
|
17/10/40
|
17/10/40
|
22/10/40
|
22/10/40
|
OA 233
|
24/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
16/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
HX 081
|
01/11/40
|
02/11/40
|
08/11/40
|
08/11/40
|
OB 240
|
12/11/40
|
13/11/40
|
19/12/40
|
19/12/40
|
OB 261
|
22/12/40
|
22/12/40
|
10/12/40
|
24/12/40
|
HX 095
|
26/12/40
|
27/12/40
|
05/01/41
|
06/01/41
|
OB 270
|
08/01/41
|
08/01/41
|
22/12/40
|
09/01/41
|
SL 060
|
13/01/41
|
13/01/41
|
18/01/41
|
18/01/41
|
OB 275
|
22/01/41
|
23/01/41
|
11/01/41
|
23/01/41
|
HX 102
|
28/01/41
|
29/01/41
|
09/02/41
|
09/02/41
|
OB 284
|
12/02/41
|
14/02/41
|
31/01/41
|
15/02/41
|
SC 021
|
16/02/41
|
18/02/41
|
27/02/41
|
27/02/41
|
OB 292
|
06/03/41
|
06/03/41
|
18/02/41
|
06/03/41
|
SC 023
|
09/03/41
|
09/03/41
|
27/03/41
|
27/03/41
|
OG 057
|
11/04/41
|
11/04/41
|
06/05/41
|
06/05/41
|
HX 125B
|
22/05/41
|
22/05/41
|
08/06/41
|
11/06/41
|
OB 331
|
18/06/41
|
19/06/41
|
20/06/41
|
24/06/41
|
HX 134
|
08/07/41
|
09/07/41
|
20/06/41
|
24/06/41
|
SC 035
|
08/07/41
|
09/07/41
|
22/10/41
|
31/10/41
|
HG 075
|
03/11/41
|
03/11/41
|
07/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
OS 011
|
26/11/41
|
28/11/41
|
30/11/41
|
02/12/41
|
SL 094
|
20/12/41
|
30/12/41
|
05/01/42
|
06/01/42
|
OS 016
|
20/01/42
|
23/01/42
|
27/01/42
|
29/01/42
|
SL 099
|
16/02/42
|
16/02/42
|
04/03/42
|
04/03/42
|
OS 021
|
21/03/42
|
24/03/42
|
24/03/42
|
26/03/42
|
SL 104
|
12/04/42
|
12/04/42
|
22/04/42
|
23/04/42
|
OS 026
|
09/05/42
|
09/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
SL 110
|
04/06/42
|
04/06/42
|
21/06/42
|
21/06/42
|
OS 032
|
08/07/42
|
08/07/42
|
15/07/42
|
15/07/42
|
SL 116
|
03/08/42
|
04/08/42
|
20/08/42
|
20/08/42
|
OS 038
|
07/09/42
|
07/09/42
|
14/09/42
|
14/09/42
|
SL 122
|
06/10/42
|
06/10/42
|
26/10/42
|
26/10/42
|
KMF 001
|
08/11/42
|
08/11/42
|
21/11/42
|
21/11/42
|
MKS 001Y
|
30/11/42
|
30/11/42
|
09/03/43
|
15/03/43
|
HX 229A
|
22/03/43
|
26/03/43
|
16/06/43
|
19/06/43
|
OS 050KM
|
27/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
KMS 017G
|
29/06/43
|
29/06/43
|
04/08/43
|
04/08/43
|
TS 049
|
10/08/43
|
10/08/43
|
18/08/43
|
18/08/43
|
ST 074
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
19/09/43
|
19/09/43
|
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
|
12/11/43
|
12/11/43
|
SL 140
|
15/11/43
|
24/11/43
|
09/11/43
|
17/11/43
|
OS 057
|
18/11/43
|
19/11/43
|
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
|
11/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
LTS 010
|
19/02/44
|
19/02/44
|
09/03/44
|
09/03/44
|
STL 014
|
15/03/44
|
13/03/44
|
20/03/44
|
20/03/44
|
LTS 014
|
27/03/44
|
27/03/44
|
01/04/44
|
01/04/44
|
SL 154
|
11/04/44
|
11/04/44
|
11/04/44
|
11/04/44
|
SL 154MK
|
19/04/44
|
23/04/44
|
18/09/44
|
18/09/44
|
LTS 030
|
22/09/44
|
25/09/44
|
04/10/44
|
04/10/44
|
ST 087
|
08/10/44
|
08/10/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)