BITTERN-Class Sloop ordered from John Brown of Clydebank
under 1933 Programme as First of Class. The ship was laid down on 9th March
1934 end launched on 21st October 1934. Her name was
originally intended to be BITTERN but this was changed before launch after it
had been decided that she would replace HMS ENCHANTRESS as
the Admiralty Yacht. This name had been carried by two previous ships carrying
out the duty and by also by three other warships. Completed on 4th April 1935
she was fitted out a Sloop and mounted three single 4.7in guns.. She also
had extensive additional accommodation built aft for
the use of the Board of Admiralty when embarked.
Following her commissioning on 8th April 1935 she attended the Silver Jubilee
Review of the Fleet with the Board, embarked. When not in use by the Board of
Admiralty she took part in local exercises, especially those involving
submarines.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1939-45
- MEDITERRANEAN
1942 - NORTH
AFRICA 1942-43
H e r
a l d i c Data
Badge: On a Field White, an anchor and cabling gold on a red flag.
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 Allocated War
Station at Rosyth
Passage to Rosyth Deployed for East convoy escort duty
October Transferred
to Plymouth for convoy defence in SW App
to Ran
aground on Drake's Island when entering Devonport.
November Sustained
structural damage.
Taken
in hand for structural repair.
(Note: Opportunity was taken During: this period opportunity was taken to remove
additional fittings previously used for her duty as the Admiralty Yacht.
A 3in
HA gun and two quadruple 0.5in machine guns were fitted for defence.
against air attack..
December On completion
of dockyard work deployed with 1st Escort Division baaed at Plymouth
1 9 4 0
January Western
Approaches convoy defence in continuation.
Met
inward Convoy HG14 in SW Approaches with HM Destroyer Keppel as escort during
passage into Liverpool from Gibraltar.
(For
details of naval activities prior between 1939 and May 1940 see ENGAGE THE
ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and Naval Staff History).
Details of convoys are available in ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM IN WW2 by A Hague.)
10th Joined
outward Convoy OG14F on assembly in SW Approaches with HM Destroyers
VORTIGERN, VELOX, WANDERER and
WARWICK for escort during initial passage
to
Gibraltar.
Detached from OG14F on arrival at
Gibraltar,
13th Joined
inward Convoy HG15F with HM Destroyers AMAZON, BROKE, KEPPEL
WALKER and WALPOLE for escort during passage to Liverpool.
20th Detached
from OG15F and took passage to Plymouth,
February
3rd Joined
outward Convoy OG17F with HM Destroyers BROKE, HERO, VELOX,
VERSATILE, and WINCHELSEA as escort during passage to Gibraltar,
7th Detached
from OG17F.
8th Joined
inward Convoy HG18F with HM Sloops FOLKESTONE, HM Minesweeper
GOSSAMER, HM Destroyers VERSATILE and VORTIGERN and HM Submarine
OTWAY
as escort during passage to
Liverpool.
13th Detached
from HG17F and returned to Plymouth.
March
5th Joined
outward Convoy OG21F on formation in SW Approaches with HM Destroyers
DOUGLAS, VOLUNTEER, WHIRLWIND and HM Sloop SANDWICH as escort
for
passage to Gibraltar.
11th Detached
from OG21F.
28th Joined
inward Convoy HG24 with HM Sloop SANDWICH, HM Destroyers VENETIA
and
WAKEFUL as escort for passage to
Liverpool.
April
7th Detached
from HG24.
(Note: Transferred to Liverpool with Group after Headquarters of CinC Western
Approaches moved from Plymouth, See reference.)
14th Deployed
with HM Sloop SANDWICH as escort for outward Convoy OG28.
(Note: Many ships from Plymouth were transferred to Home Fleet to support military
operations in Norway after
the German invasion,)
May Atlantic
convoy escort duty in continuation.
to Pennant
Number for visual signalling purposes changed to U56.
August
September
2nd Part of escort for first
convoy to Sydney, Cape
Breton.
(Note: An RAF radar outfit modified for shipborne use (Type 286) was fitted
during
the latter half of
1940 and provided some warning of the approach of aircraft,
ships
and the proximity of land.
For
details of the development and use of radar in the RN see RADAR AT SEA
by D
Howse).
October Part of
escort for Convoy SC6 and under heavy U-Boat attacks.
November
Part of escort for
Convoy SC11 in during which seven ships ware sunk by U100 in
one
night.
(For
details of convoy defence and weapons used see THE BATTLE OF THE
ATLANTIC by Donald Macintyre, U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO).
SEEK
AND STRIKE by W Hackmann and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
December Under refit in
London shipyard.
1 9 4 1
January
Under refit.
February
20th On completion of post refit trials resumed convoy
defence in Western Approaches.
March Deployment
in Western Approaches in continuation.
to
April
May Under
refit and repair at Liverpool.
to (Note:
During this period a prototype anti-submarine mortar weapon was fitted.
July See SEEK
AND STRIKE.)
Carried out sea trials on the new weapon Codename HEDGEHOG.
(Note: Firing circuits ware found to need modification before a further trial
could
be carried out in HM Destroyer WESTCOTT.
In
later service these were the cause of failures in other ships)
For
details see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann and THE TORPEDOMEN by
E
POLAND.)
August On completion
of trials joined 41st Escort Group based in Londonderry for defence of
convoys to and from Freetown.
September Deployment for
defence of Freetown convoys in continuation
to
December
1 9 4 2
January West African
route convoy defence in continuation.
to Radio
Direction Finding equipment fitted to intercept radio transmissions from
U-Boats.
June See SEEK
AND STRIKE.
July First
'Split' variant of HEDGEHOG A/S Mortar fitted which allowed all the
forward main
armament to be retained. (See references.).
August Resumed
convoy defence on Freetown route.
September Nominated for
escort of military convoys to
Gibraltar in support of planned allied landings
in
North Africa
(Operation TORCH - See ENGAGE THE ENGAGE MORE CLOSELY, Naval Staff History
and
for information about all warships and mercantiles involved BRITISH INVASION
FLEETS by J de Winser.).
October Detached for
escort of Convoy KMF1 to Gibraltar prior to assault phase of TORCH.
November Joined 61st
Escort Group at Gibraltar for escort of convoys along Algerian coast
in support
of
military operations.
December
13th Rammed
and sank Italian submarine CORALLO off Bougie.
(Note: Sustained structural damage forward.)
1 9 4 3
January Under
temporary repair at Gibraltar.
Permanent repair arranged at commercial shipyard
in Grimsby.
February Passage to
UK for repair.
March
On
arrival at Grimsby sustained further damage to bow by striking jetty.
Taken
in hand for repair.
April Under
repair.
to Modern
RN design centimetric radar Type 271 fitted.
May (See RADAR
AT SEA by D. Howse).
June On
completion of post repair trials took passage to Tobermory to work-up for
operational
service.
Nominated for service with 38th Escort Group based in Freetown.
July On
completion of work-up took passage to Freetown to Join Group.
August Deployed at
Freetown for convoy defence..
September Part of escort
for Convoys SL137/MKS26 with ships of Group.
October Freetown
escort duty in continuation.
to
November
December Transferred to
Gibraltar with ships of Group in continuation of defence of
Freetown
route
convoys during passage south of
Gibraltar.
1 9 4 4
January Convoy
defence based at Gibraltar in continuation.
to October
November Transferred to
39th Escort Group at Gibraltar in continuation.
December Freetown convoy
defence in continuation based at Gibraltar
1 9 4 5
January Under refit
at Gibraltar.
to
March
April On
completion of post refit trials deployed for defence of military convoys In
Gibraltar
area.
May Selected
for service with British Pacific Fleet after conversion for use as an HQ
Ship with
special communications equipment
See
OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards for details of function of LSI HQ (Small).
June Passage
to Portsmouth for conversion.
July Under
conversion for service as a Landing Ship HQ (Small).
All
armament except four 20mm AA weapons removed.
Additional communications equipment installed.
On
completion of post refit trials took passage to join BPF in Sydney.
August
15th Diverted
on arrival at Colombo to join Fleet at Hong Kong.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS ENCHANTRESS
was deployed with the British Pacific Fleet in the China Sea and in the Pacific until December 1945.
The ship sailed for UK on 27th December and arrived at Portsmouth in March 1946
when she Paid-off and
de-stored. Immediately placed on the Disposal List this ship was later
sold to The Three Star Slipping Co. Ltd. on 22nd
October 1946. Renamed ss LADY ENCHANTRESS she
remained in trade until 1952 when she was sold for demolition and arrived at Dunston on the Tyne for breaking up in February that year.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
ENCHANTRESS
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
20/10/39
|
20/10/39
|
FS 0024
|
22/10/39
|
22/10/39
|
02/11/39
|
14/11/39
|
HX 007
|
17/11/39
|
17/11/39
|
18/11/39
|
18/11/39
|
OA 037
|
20/11/39
|
21/11/39
|
26/11/39
|
26/11/39
|
OG 008
|
27/11/39
|
03/12/39
|
24/11/39
|
26/11/39
|
OB 040
|
26/11/39
|
28/11/39
|
02/12/39
|
02/12/39
|
OA 045G
|
04/12/39
|
05/12/39
|
06/12/39
|
07/12/39
|
OA 048
|
09/12/39
|
09/12/39
|
24/11/39
|
10/12/39
|
SL 010
|
10/12/39
|
10/12/39
|
14/12/39
|
14/12/39
|
OA 053
|
16/12/39
|
16/12/39
|
28/12/39
|
28/12/39
|
OA 062
|
30/12/39
|
31/12/39
|
18/12/39
|
04/01/40
|
SL 013
|
06/01/40
|
06/01/40
|
08/01/40
|
unknown
|
HG 014
|
unknown
|
17/01/40
|
10/01/40
|
10/01/40
|
OG 014F
|
13/01/40
|
15/01/40
|
13/01/40
|
13/01/40
|
HG 015F
|
20/01/40
|
22/01/40
|
30/01/40
|
02/02/40
|
OA 083GF
|
03/02/40
|
03/02/40
|
03/02/40
|
03/02/40
|
OG 017F
|
07/02/40
|
09/02/40
|
06/02/40
|
08/02/40
|
HG 018F
|
15/02/40
|
15/02/40
|
03/03/40
|
04/03/40
|
OA 103GF
|
05/03/40
|
03/03/40
|
05/03/40
|
05/03/40
|
OG 021F
|
11/03/40
|
11/03/40
|
28/03/40
|
28/03/40
|
HG 024
|
07/04/40
|
07/04/40
|
14/04/40
|
14/04/40
|
OG 026F
|
14/04/40
|
20/04/40
|
14/04/40
|
26/04/40
|
HX 035
|
29/04/40
|
29/04/40
|
01/05/40
|
01/05/40
|
OA 139
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
30/04/40
|
12/05/40
|
HX 039
|
15/05/40
|
15/05/40
|
04/05/40
|
16/05/40
|
HX 040
|
18/05/40
|
19/05/40
|
16/05/40
|
16/05/40
|
OG 030F
|
18/05/40
|
21/05/40
|
12/05/40
|
18/05/40
|
HG 030F
|
21/05/40
|
unknown
|
22/05/40
|
22/05/40
|
OB 153
|
25/05/40
|
25/05/40
|
22/05/40
|
24/05/40
|
OA 153GF
|
25/05/40
|
25/05/40
|
25/05/40
|
25/05/40
|
OG 031F
|
25/05/40
|
30/05/40
|
20/05/40
|
01/06/40
|
HX 044
|
03/06/40
|
03/06/40
|
05/06/40
|
05/06/40
|
OA 162
|
07/06/40
|
unknown
|
11/06/40
|
12/06/40
|
OA 166G
|
13/06/40
|
13/06/40
|
11/06/40
|
12/06/40
|
OB 166
|
13/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
13/06/40
|
13/06/40
|
OG 033
|
18/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
03/07/40
|
03/07/40
|
OG 036
|
08/07/40
|
09/07/40
|
01/07/40
|
03/07/40
|
OA 177G
|
03/07/40
|
03/07/40
|
07/07/40
|
08/07/40
|
HG 037
|
16/07/40
|
16/07/40
|
23/07/40
|
23/07/40
|
OB 188
|
27/07/40
|
27/07/40
|
15/07/40
|
27/07/40
|
HX 058
|
30/07/40
|
31/07/40
|
02/08/40
|
02/08/40
|
OG 040
|
14/08/40
|
14/08/40
|
20/08/40
|
20/08/40
|
HG 042
|
03/09/40
|
03/09/40
|
11/09/40
|
11/09/40
|
OB 212
|
16/09/40
|
16/09/40
|
27/09/40
|
27/09/40
|
SC 006
|
12/10/40
|
12/10/40
|
21/10/40
|
21/10/40
|
OB 232
|
26/10/40
|
26/10/40
|
09/11/40
|
09/11/40
|
SC 011
|
26/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
23/02/41
|
23/02/41
|
OB 290
|
26/02/41
|
27/02/14
|
17/03/41
|
17/03/41
|
OG 056
|
02/04/41
|
02/04/41
|
15/04/41
|
15/04/41
|
HG 059
|
01/05/41
|
01/05/41
|
12/05/41
|
13/05/41
|
OB 322
|
18/05/41
|
20/05/41
|
06/05/41
|
18/05/41
|
HX 125A
|
22/05/41
|
22/05/41
|
02/09/41
|
03/09/41
|
OS 005
|
17/09/41
|
21/09/41
|
24/09/41
|
24/09/41
|
SL 088
|
08/10/41
|
08/10/41
|
02/10/41
|
08/10/41
|
HG 074
|
17/10/41
|
18/10/41
|
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
|
22/04/42
|
23/04/42
|
OS 026
|
09/05/42
|
09/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
23/05/42
|
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
|
12/11/42
|
12/11/42
|
MKS 001X
|
15/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
08/11/42
|
22/11/42
|
KMS 003G
|
26/11/42
|
26/11/42
|
01/12/42
|
01/12/42
|
ET 003
|
04/12/42
|
04/12/42
|
26/11/42
|
07/12/42
|
KMS 004G
|
13/12/42
|
13/12/42
|
05/12/42
|
12/12/42
|
ET 005
|
13/12/42
|
16/12/42
|
18/12/42
|
20/12/42
|
ET 006
|
unknown
|
22/12/42
|
18/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
GUS 003
|
19/01/43
|
07/02/43
|
24/01/43
|
31/01/43
|
KMF 008
|
01/02/43
|
01/02/43
|
02/02/43
|
02/02/43
|
MKF 008
|
09/02/43
|
09/02/43
|
16/06/43
|
19/06/43
|
OS 050KM
|
27/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
OS 050
|
08/07/43
|
08/07/43
|
13/07/43
|
13/07/43
|
SL 133
|
26/07/43
|
26/07/43
|
26/07/43
|
26/07/43
|
SL 133MK
|
05/08/43
|
05/08/43
|
31/08/43
|
31/08/43
|
ST 075
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
08/09/43
|
08/09/43
|
LTS 001
|
15/09/43
|
15/09/43
|
10/09/43
|
10/09/43
|
STL 001
|
15/09/43
|
15/09/43
|
23/09/43
|
23/09/43
|
SL 137
|
05/10/43
|
05/10/43
|
05/10/43
|
05/10/43
|
SL 137MK
|
17/10/43
|
17/10/43
|
18/11/43
|
18/11/43
|
OS 058
|
28/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
02/12/43
|
02/12/43
|
SL 142
|
14/12/43
|
14/12/43
|
02/01/44
|
02/01/44
|
OS 062
|
07/01/44
|
11/01/44
|
12/01/44
|
12/01/44
|
SL 146
|
24/01/44
|
23/01/44
|
05/02/44
|
05/02/44
|
OS 066
|
15/02/44
|
15/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
SL 150
|
03/03/44
|
03/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
OS 070
|
25/03/44
|
25/03/44
|
01/04/44
|
01/04/44
|
SL 154
|
11/04/44
|
11/04/44
|
23/04/44
|
23/04/44
|
OS 074
|
03/05/44
|
03/05/44
|
11/05/44
|
11/05/44
|
SL 158
|
21/05/44
|
21/05/44
|
04/06/44
|
04/06/44
|
OS 078
|
14/06/44
|
14/06/44
|
20/06/44
|
20/06/44
|
SL 162
|
30/06/44
|
30/06/44
|
11/07/44
|
11/07/44
|
OS 082
|
21/07/44
|
21/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
SL 166
|
09/08/44
|
09/08/44
|
22/09/44
|
22/09/44
|
OS 089
|
30/09/44
|
30/09/44
|
09/10/44
|
09/10/44
|
SL 173
|
19/10/44
|
19/10/44
|
01/11/44
|
01/11/44
|
OS 093
|
02/11/44
|
02/11/44
|
15/11/44
|
15/11/44
|
SL 177
|
26/11/44
|
26/11/44
|
26/12/44
|
26/12/44
|
MKS 073G
|
28/12/44
|
04/01/45
|
23/12/44
|
29/12/44
|
OS 100KM
|
31/12/44
|
26/12/44
|
26/12/44
|
29/12/44
|
KMS 074G
|
31/12/44
|
31/12/44
|
12/04/45
|
12/04/45
|
MKF 042
|
15/04/45
|
17/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)