EGRET-Class Sloop ordered from JS White of Cowes
under the 1936 Programme on
5th March 1937. The ship
was
laid down on 21st July
1937 and launched by
Lady Michelson as
the
3rd RN
warship to bear this name
which had been
introduced in 1813 for a 6th
Rate and last borne by a
destroyer built in 1903
and wrecked in 1915. After
commissioning on 11th November 1938 this ship she
was deployed in
the Red Sea.. In February 1942
following a WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign she
was adopted by the
civil community of Grantham
and West Kesteven,
Lincolnshire.
B
a t t l e H o n o
u r s
ATLANTIC 1939-42 - NORTH AFRICA 1942-43 - BISCAY
1943
H e r
a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field
Blue, over
water in base barry wavy
White
and Blue, an egret in flight White.
Motto
Noli mea levitate decipi: 'Don't be deceived
by my lightness'
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 on patrol duty off
Laurenco Marques to intercept
German shipping in
the
Indian Ocean.
October
Indian Ocean patrol in
continuation.
November
Transferred for escort duty in
Home Waters.
Took passage via the
Mediterranean.
On arrival at Gibraltar
diverted to Freetown, West
Africa.
December
Deployed as escort for inward
Convoy SLF13 from Freetown to
UK.
1
9 4 0
January
Detached from convoy on
arrival.
3rd
Sustained damaged in collision
with SEA VALOUR on arrival.
10th
Under repair at Cardiff in
commercial shipyard.
February
Nominated for duty with Rosyth
Escort Force on completion of
repair.
Deployed for defence of North
Sea convoys.
March
East coast convoy defence in
continuation
to
(Note: This ship,
surprisingly, did not take
part in the Norwegian
operations,
May
nor was she involved in the
evacuations at Dunkirk.)
June
Pennant Number changed to U75.
to
East coast convoy defence in
continuation
November
December
Transferred to Western
Approaches for convoy escort
based at Londonderry.
1
9 4 1
January
Deployed in NW Approaches for
convoy escort.
to
May
June
Taken in hand for refit in
commercial shipyard in London.
(Note: Radar Type 285 for main
armament fire-control and Type
286 for aircraft warning were
fitted during this refit. For
details of the development and
use of radar in RN, see
RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
July
Resumed escort duty in NW
Approaches on completion.
August
Transferred to 44th Escort
Group and joined HM Sloop
SCARBOROUGH, HM Cutter BANFF
HM
Cutter FISHGUARD and HM
Destroyer BRADFORD for
escort of convoys on
Freetown-
UK route.
September
Atlantic convoy escort in
continuation.
to
(For details of convoy defence
see THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
by D Macintyre and
December
U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC.)
1
9 4 2
January
Freetown convoy escort in
continuation.
2nd
Grounded at Bathurst without
damage
February
Freetown deployment in
continuation.
to
Nominated for refit in UK
April
May
Passage to UK
22nd
Taken in hand for refit in
Tyne shipyard.
June
Under refit.
(Note: Improved design 10
centimetre surface warning
radar Type 271 and H/F
Direction
Finding equipment for
interception of enemy radio
transmissions fitted.
See SEEK AND STRIKE by W
Hackmann).
July
24th
Carried out post refit trials
and on completion rejoined
Group in continuation of
Freetown
convoy escort duty.
August
Freetown convoy escort duty in
continuation..
to
(Note: For details of weapon
development and tactics by
escorts and submarines during
September
this period of the Battle of
the Atlantic, see SEEK AND
STRIKE by W Hackmann).
October
Transferred to escort troop
convoys to Gibraltar for North
African landings.
(Operation TORCH)
(Note: Freetown route convoys
were suspended during TORCH.)
November
1st
Escorted military convoy to
Mediterranean for planned
allied landings.
(Note: For details of North
African landings see ENGAGE
THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by C.
Barnett,
Naval Staff History and for
information about all
warships and
mercantiles involved BRITISH
INVASION FLEETS by J de
Winser.).
December
Deployed for convoy defence in
support of Military operations
in North Africa.
1
9 4 3
January
Atlantic convoy escort on UK -
Gibraltar route.
February
27th
Part of escort for joint
military convoy WS27 to
Freetown and KMF10A to
Gibraltar with
HM Sloop ERNE, HM Cutter
FISHGUARD, HM Frigate TEST, HM
Destroyers CLARE.
QUAIL, QUEENBOROUGH. RAIDER
and WOLVERINE
(Note: HM Battleship MALAYA
was also deployed as Ocean
Escort).
March
4th
Detached with WS27 ships when
convoy divided and deployed as
escort
during passage
to
Gibraltar.
6th
Passage to UK with escort for
military convoy.
On arrival in Clyde detached
and took passage to Humber for
refit.
April
Under refit at Humber
commercial shipyard.
to
(Note: Anti-Submarine Ahead
Throwing Mortar weapon
(HEDGEHOG) and 20mm AA guns
June
fitted.
See
SEEK AND
STRIKE.)
July
6th
Post refit trials and passage
to Londonderry to prepare for
operational service in 10th
Escort
Group.
20th
Deployed with HM Sloop
PELICAN, HM Frigates JED,
ROTHER and
WEAR
as escort for
joint military convoy WS32 to
Freetown and KMF20 to
Gibraltar.
(Note: HM Cruiser CHARYBDIS
provided cover from 22nd.)
25th
Detached from joint convoy as
escort for ships of KMF20 when
convoys divided
August
Deployed as part of escort for
return Convoy MKF20 during
passage from Gibraltar to UK.
Detached for duty in Bay of
Biscay with ships of 1st and
2nd Escort Groups for
anti-submarine operations to
prevent passage of German
submarines to and from
ports in Bay of Biscay using
coastal waters (Operation
PERCUSSION).
(Note: Aircraft patrols had
not proved totally successful
in stopping the passage of
submarines to and from
Atlantic. Operation DERANGE -
See CONFLICT
OVER THE BAY by N Franks).
27th
During deployment for A/S
operations with HM Canadian
Destroyer ATHABASKAN and
HM
Destroyer
GRENVILLE came under attack
by Glider Bombs controlled
by Do 217
aircraft in position 30 miles
west of Vigo.
(Note: This was second such
attack. HM Sloop BIDEFORD had
been badly damaged by
on 25th August.)
Received a direct hit and sank
quickly with only 35 survivors
who were rescued
by
HMCS
ATHABASKAN despite having been
damaged by another bomb at the
same time.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
EGRET
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
05/09/39
|
18/09/39
|
RED
1
|
unknown
|
27/09/39
|
|
19/12/39
|
19/12/39
|
SL
013F
|
02/01/40
|
03/01/40
|
|
27/01/40
|
28/01/40
|
FN
0081
|
28/01/40
|
28/01/40
|
|
01/02/40
|
01/02/40
|
FS
0084
|
03/02/40
|
03/02/40
|
|
10/02/40
|
10/02/40
|
FS
0092
|
12/02/40
|
12/02/40
|
|
13/02/40
|
13/02/40
|
FN
0093
|
15/02/40
|
15/02/40
|
|
20/02/40
|
20/02/40
|
FS
0101
|
22/02/40
|
22/02/40
|
|
20/02/40
|
20/02/40
|
MT
015
|
20/02/40
|
20/02/40
|
|
02/03/40
|
02/03/40
|
FS
0110
|
04/03/40
|
04/03/40
|
|
07/03/40
|
07/03/40
|
TM
021
|
08/03/40
|
08/03/40
|
|
09/03/40
|
09/03/40
|
FS
0117
|
11/03/40
|
11/03/40
|
|
01/05/40
|
01/05/40
|
MT
062
|
01/05/40
|
01/05/40
|
|
04/05/40
|
04/05/40
|
FS
0162
|
06/05/40
|
06/05/40
|
|
10/05/40
|
10/05/40
|
FS
0167
|
12/05/40
|
12/05/40
|
|
04/06/40
|
04/06/40
|
FN
0188
|
05/06/40
|
06/06/40
|
|
20/06/40
|
20/06/40
|
MT
092
|
21/06/40
|
21/06/40
|
|
21/06/40
|
21/06/40
|
FS
0201
|
23/06/40
|
23/06/40
|
|
24/06/40
|
24/06/40
|
FN
0204
|
26/06/40
|
26/06/40
|
|
28/06/40
|
28/06/40
|
FS
0207
|
29/06/40
|
30/06/40
|
|
27/06/40
|
28/06/40
|
MT
097
|
28/06/40
|
28/06/40
|
|
01/07/40
|
01/07/40
|
FN
0210
|
03/07/40
|
03/07/40
|
|
05/07/40
|
05/07/40
|
FS
0214
|
06/07/40
|
06/07/40
|
|
08/07/40
|
08/07/40
|
FN
0217
|
10/07/40
|
10/07/40
|
|
17/07/40
|
17/07/40
|
FS
0224
|
18/07/40
|
18/07/40
|
|
20/07/40
|
20/07/40
|
FN
0227
|
22/07/40
|
22/07/40
|
|
23/07/40
|
23/07/40
|
FS
0230
|
25/07/40
|
25/07/40
|
|
10/08/40
|
10/08/40
|
FS
0248
|
12/08/40
|
12/08/40
|
|
31/08/40
|
31/08/40
|
FS
0268
|
01/09/40
|
02/09/40
|
|
03/09/40
|
03/09/40
|
FN
0271
|
05/09/40
|
05/09/40
|
|
13/09/40
|
13/09/40
|
FS
0280
|
15/09/40
|
15/09/40
|
|
16/09/40
|
16/09/40
|
FN
0282
|
18/09/40
|
18/09/40
|
|
20/09/40
|
20/09/40
|
FS
0287
|
22/09/40
|
22/09/40
|
|
23/09/40
|
23/09/40
|
FN
0289
|
25/09/40
|
25/09/40
|
|
29/09/40
|
29/09/40
|
FS
0294
|
30/09/40
|
30/09/40
|
|
01/10/40
|
01/10/40
|
FN
0296
|
03/10/40
|
03/10/40
|
|
07/10/40
|
07/10/40
|
FS
0303
|
09/10/40
|
09/10/40
|
|
10/10/40
|
10/10/40
|
FN
0305
|
12/10/40
|
12/10/40
|
|
15/10/40
|
15/10/40
|
FS
0310
|
18/10/40
|
18/10/40
|
|
19/10/40
|
19/10/40
|
FN
0312
|
21/10/40
|
21/10/40
|
|
26/10/40
|
26/10/40
|
FN
0320
|
28/10/40
|
28/10/40
|
|
05/11/40
|
05/11/40
|
FS
0328
|
07/11/40
|
07/11/40
|
|
14/11/40
|
14/11/40
|
FN
0334
|
16/11/40
|
16/11/40
|
|
20/11/40
|
20/11/40
|
FS
0340
|
22/11/40
|
22/11/40
|
|
24/11/40
|
24/11/40
|
FN
0341
|
26/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
|
03/12/40
|
03/12/40
|
FS
0351
|
07/12/40
|
07/12/40
|
|
07/12/40
|
07/12/40
|
FN
0353
|
09/12/40
|
09/12/40
|
|
11/12/40
|
11/12/40
|
FS
0359
|
14/12/40
|
14/12/40
|
|
16/12/40
|
16/12/40
|
FN
0360
|
18/12/40
|
18/12/40
|
|
21/12/40
|
21/12/40
|
FS
0366
|
23/12/40
|
23/12/40
|
|
01/01/41
|
01/01/41
|
FS
0377
|
03/01/41
|
03/01/41
|
|
05/01/41
|
05/01/41
|
FN
0376
|
07/01/41
|
07/01/41
|
|
09/01/41
|
09/01/41
|
FS
0384
|
11/01/41
|
11/01/41
|
|
17/01/41
|
17/01/41
|
FS
0390
|
19/01/41
|
19/01/41
|
|
17/01/41
|
31/01/41
|
HG
051
|
03/02/41
|
03/02/41
|
|
05/02/41
|
05/02/41
|
OG
052
|
09/02/41
|
21/02/41
|
|
15/02/41
|
15/02/41
|
OG
053
|
22/02/41
|
01/03/41
|
|
07/03/41
|
07/03/41
|
OG
055
|
21/03/41
|
20/03/41
|
|
03/04/41
|
03/04/41
|
HG
058
|
20/04/41
|
21/04/41
|
|
30/04/41
|
02/05/41
|
OB
317
|
07/05/41
|
06/05/41
|
|
24/04/41
|
07/05/41
|
HG
060
|
12/05/41
|
12/05/41
|
|
15/05/41
|
16/05/41
|
OG
062
|
20/05/41
|
29/05/41
|
|
27/04/41
|
20/05/41
|
SL
073
|
25/05/41
|
25/05/41
|
|
29/05/41
|
30/05/41
|
OB
328
|
02/06/41
|
02/06/41
|
|
19/05/41
|
03/06/41
|
SC
032
|
07/06/41
|
07/06/41
|
|
13/08/41
|
14/08/41
|
OS
003
|
29/08/41
|
01/09/41
|
|
04/09/41
|
07/09/41
|
SL
086
|
24/09/41
|
26/09/41
|
|
13/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
OS
009
|
02/11/42
|
05/11/41
|
|
06/11/41
|
11/11/41
|
SL
092
|
29/11/41
|
01/12/41
|
|
13/12/41
|
15/12/41
|
OS
014
|
01/01/42
|
03/01/42
|
|
04/01/42
|
07/01/42
|
SL
097
|
14/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
|
11/01/42
|
17/01/42
|
SL
097G
|
24/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
|
11/02/42
|
12/02/42
|
OS
019
|
01/03/42
|
03/03/42
|
|
04/03/42
|
07/03/42
|
SL
102
|
26/03/42
|
26/03/42
|
|
02/04/42
|
03/04/42
|
OS
024
|
22/04/42
|
22/04/42
|
|
26/04/42
|
26/04/42
|
SL
108
|
19/05/42
|
19/05/42
|
|
31/07/42
|
01/08/42
|
OS
036
|
18/08/42
|
18/08/42
|
|
24/08/42
|
24/08/42
|
SL
120
|
14/09/42
|
15/09/42
|
|
29/09/42
|
29/09/42
|
OS
042
|
09/10/42
|
09/10/42
|
|
01/11/42
|
01/11/42
|
KMF
002
|
12/11/42
|
12/11/42
|
|
13/11/42
|
13/11/42
|
MKF
001A
|
14/11/42
|
14/11/42
|
|
15/11/42
|
17/11/42
|
MKF
002
|
22/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
|
27/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
KMF
004
|
06/12/42
|
06/12/42
|
|
10/12/42
|
10/12/42
|
MKF
004
|
18/12/42
|
18/12/42
|
|
26/12/42
|
26/12/42
|
KMF
006
|
03/01/43
|
03/01/43
|
|
06/01/43
|
06/01/43
|
MKF
006
|
13/01/43
|
14/01/43
|
|
02/02/43
|
02/02/43
|
MKF
008
|
09/02/43
|
09/02/43
|
|
25/02/43
|
02/03/43
|
KMF
010A
|
04/03/43
|
04/03/43
|
|
06/03/43
|
06/03/43
|
MKF
010A
|
14/03/43
|
14/03/42
|
|
31/03/43
|
31/03/43
|
KMS
012G
|
12/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
|
10/04/43
|
14/04/43
|
MKS
011
|
23/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
|
19/07/43
|
19/07/43
|
KMF
020
|
28/07/43
|
28/07/43
|
|
28/07/43
|
28/07/43
|
KMF
020A
|
30/07/43
|
unknown
|
|
31/07/43
|
01/08/43
|
MKF
020
|
11/08/43
|
11/08/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)
