EGRET-Class
Sloop ordered on 19th March 1937 from
John
I Thornycroft
at Woolston
under the 1937 Build Programme. The
ship was laid down on 7th September
1937 as
Yard No 1177 and launched by Mrs. W
Rogers on 12th September 1938. She was
the
19th RN ship to carry the name, and
last used for a WW1
destroyer sold in 1921. After a series
of charges to future deployment, which
included use as a Survey Ship, the
final build requirement decided was
that the
ship should be completed as an Escort
Sloop. She was to be fully armed to
specification. The build was finally
completed on 2nd March 1939. Intended
for
deployment in the West Indies but,
owing to the deteriorating political
situation she was retained at Home in
the Fishery Protection Squadron.
Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign in February
1942
she was adopted by the civil community
of Welton,
Lincolnshire.
B
a t t l
e H o n o
u r s
KENTISH KNOCK 1652 - PORTLAND 1653 - GABBARD
1653 - SCHEVENINGEN
1653 - QUEBEC 1759 - ST
LUCIA 1796 - ST LUCIA 1796 - DESIRADE
1808 - CHINA 1839-40 -
JUTLAND 1916 - NORWAY 1940 -
ATLANTIC
1942-44 - NORTH AFRICA 1942 -
NORMANDY 1944
-
ENGLISH
CHANNEL 1944
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Green, upon water in base barry
wavy White
and Blue a Pelican Proper.
M
o t t o
'What
I have I hold'
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
Nominated for service with Rosyth Escort Force
3rd
Commenced convoy defence duties in North Sea.
5th
In
collision with British freighter
STARLING.
October
North
Sea deployment in continuation.
10th
Collided
with wreckage.
November
North
Sea convoy defence in continuation.
to
December
1
9 4 0
January
North Sea convoy defence in
continuation.
to
March
April
9th
Transferred for AA defence duty with
Hans Fleet during Norwegian campaign.
Deployed for escort of military convoy
to Norway.
Provided
AA defence
of anchorage off Narvik
21st
Embarked naval party for passage to
Molde.
22nd
Hit on quarterdeck during air attack
during passage to Romdalsfjord.
Sustained
major damage including total loss of
main electrical supplies.
Withdrawn from operational duties.
24th
Taken in tow by HM Sloop Fleetwood for
repair.
Passage to Chatham in tow.
(For details of disastrous naval
operations off Norway see CARRIER
GLORIOUS by J Winton,
NARVIK by D Macintyre, THE DOOMED
EXPEDITION by J Adams and Naval Staff
History).
May
Under repair by HM Dockyard Chatham.
to
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to U86.
October
November
Carried out post refit trials and
prepared for operational service.
December
On completion resumed convoy defence
duties.
5th
Damaged in collision with trawler CAPE
PORTLAND and taken in hand for repair
in
commercial shipyard in London.
1
9 4 1
January
Under repair.
February
9th
Returned to operational service on
completion.
19th
Damaged by mine on passage.
Taken in hand for further repair in
London commercial shipyard..
March
Under repair.
to
(Note: Work done included installation
of Type 285 Fire Control Radar.
October
For details of development and use of
radar in RN see RADAR AT Sea by D
House).
November
On completion of port repair trials
took passage to Tobermory to work-up
for operational
service.
December
Under air attack whilst on passage and
sustained slight damage.
Carried out work-up at Tobermory.
1
9 4 2
January
On completion of work-up took passage
to Londonderry
Joined 45th Escort Group for defence
of
OS Series of convoys
to
Freetown
and return SL
Series convoys to Liverpool.
February
Deployed for escort for Atlantic
convoys
to
(For details of U-Boat deployments
against convoys in Atlantic see U-BOAT
WAR IN THE
June
ATLANTIC (HMSO), HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR
by c Blair.).
July
Part of escort for Convoy OS33 to
Freetown.
11th
Took part in sinking of U136 in
position 33-30N 22.52W (N W of
Madeira) with HM
Frigate SPEY
and French destroyer LEOPARD.
There were no survivors. See U-BOATS
DESTROYED by P Kemp.
August
Freetown route convoy defence in
continuation.
to
Nominated for defence of military
convoys to Gibraltar in preparation
for planned allied
September
landings in North Africa (Operation
TORCH)
(Note: OS series envoys were to be
suspended.
October
Transferred to UK for escort of
military conveys to Gibraltar
26th
Sailed from Clyde with HM Sloops
LEITH, LONDONDERRY, ROCHESTER,
SANDWICH
and SCARBOROUGH as part of escort for
follow-up military convoy KMS2 during
passage
to Gibraltar.
(Operation TORCH- See ENGAGE THE
ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett,
Naval Staff History and for
information about all mercantiles and
warships involved BRITISH
INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser for
details).
November
Under repair in
Belfast.
to
(Note: During this period at least two
sabotage incidents were
reported
including damage to
December
gun-sights.
Surface warning radar Type 271 was
probably fitted. See above reference).
1
9 4 3
January
On completion of post repair trials
resumed convoy defence and took
passage to Gibraltar.
(Note: Further sabotage to gyro
compass was discovered after arrival )
February
Transferred to 1st Escort Group for
convoy defence on Freetown route
(Note: OS series had recommenced.)
March
Transferred with Group for deployment
as a Support Group in defence of North
Atlantic
convoys.
(For details of Support Group
deployment using improved tactics and
with improved weapons
see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann and
THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D
Macintyre).
April
North Atlantic convoy support with
Group in continuation
May
Despatched from St John's Newfoundland
to reinforce escort of Convoy SC128
which was
under series of sustained attacks by
U-Boats of FINK and AMSEL Groups.
6th
Joined SC128 with HM Cutter SENNEN, HM
Frigates WEAR, SPEY and soon after
arrival
detected submarine by radar.
Sank U438 in position of Cape Farewell
in position 52.00N 45.20W
There were no survivors from the
submarine. See U-BOATS DESTROYED.
(Note: 12 ships ware lost from this
convoy with 9 U-Boats sunk and five
badly damaged.)
June
Atlantic convoy support with Group in
continuation.
14th
Located and sank U334 in position
56.13N 28.20W with HMS JED during
support and
cover
operations for passage of Convoy
ONS10, SW of Iceland.
There ware no survivors from the
submarine.( See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P
Kemp.)
July
Deployed with Group in escort role for
military convoys to Mediterranean
prior to planned
landings in Sicily (Operation HUSKY).-
See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C
Barnett, Naval Staff History and for
information about all mercantiles and
warships involved
BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser
for details).
20th
Joined combined military convoys
WS32/KMF20 with HM Sloop EGRET, HM
Frigates JED,
ROTHER and WEAR for escort during
Atlantic passage.
25th
Detached when WS32 ships for Indian
Ocean divided from joint convoy and
deployed as
escort for ships of KMF20 for passage
to Gibraltar.
Returned to UK on arrival of KMF20
ships at destination.
August
Group transferred to Plymouth for
escort military convoys
to
Mediterranean.
September
Part of escort for Convoy KMF24 to
Gibraltar.
October
Deployed with Group for convoys on UK-
Gibraltar route.
to
Nominated for refit
November
December
Taken in hand for refit at Milford
Haven.
1
9 4 4
January
Under refit
February
Carried out post refit trials.
Nominated for service with 27th Escort
Group for convoy defence in SW
Approaches.
March
On completion worked-up at Tobermory.
Joined 7th Escort Group for convoy
escort and support in SW Approaches.
Deployed for anti-submarine operations
in Bay of Biscay to deny use of
Spanish coastal
waters by U-Boats on passage to and
from Atlantic convoy routes.
April
Deployed with 7th Escort Group in
support role for Atlantic convoy
defence.
9th
Sailed for anti-submarine support
operations north of Azores with the
9th Escort Group
(Note: Other ships in Group were HM
Canadian Frigates MONNOW, SWANSEA,
STORMONT and HM Canadian Corvette OWEN
SOUND.
14th
Took part in sinking of U448 with HM
Canadian Frigate SWANSEA in position
46.22N
19.35 W, NW of Cape Ortegal during
support operations.
(Note: Submarine located after
detection of wireless transmissions
and additional support from
HM Escort Carrier BITER aircraft and
ships of 7th Escort Group in the
vicinity.
Attacks made by ships of Group
initially unsuccessful but creeping
operation damaged
submarine which was forced to surface.
Crew abandoned and 42 were rescued.(
See U-BOATS DESTROYED.)
May
Nominated for support of planned
allied landings in Normandy and
detached for service in SW
Approaches to carry out anti-submarine
operations to prevent passage of
U-Boats through
Bay of Biscay to attack assault
convoys.
(Operation NEPTUNE - For details of
naval activities prior to the
landings, see OPERATION
NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN
NORMANDY, June 1944. (HMSO).)
June
Passage to Milford Haven to join HM
Sloop LAPWING, HM Frigates NARBROUGH.
RUPERT and HM Escort Destroyer MENDIP
as Escort Group 111.
4th
Joined Convoy EBP1 with Group as
escort for passage to beach head.
(Note: This convoy comprised four
personnel ships and two other
mercantiles carrying
pre-loaded US Build-up Division and
depot ships to the Western Task Force
area
as part of the Build-up Phase)
5th
Operation delayed 24 hours.
6th
Passage through swept channel to
beachhead.
7th
Detached from convoy on arrival and
resumed anti-submarine operations.
Based at Plymouth.
(Note: Several Escort Groups were
deployed to deny access to Channel for
attacks by U-
Boats on invasion traffic.
Area of operations was changed during
the month to suit the tactical
requirements).
July
Anti-submarine patrol and convoy
defence in continuation.
31st
Withdrawn from NEPTUNE support and
took passage to Clyde for refit.
August
Under refit in commercial shipyard.
Nominated for service in Eastern
Fleet.
Carried out post refit trials and
prepared for foreign service.
Took passage to join Eastern Fleet
September
2nd
Grounded at Aden on entry and
sustained damage to hull structure
under water.
Repair arranged at Bombay.
Passage to Bombay
October
17th
Arrived at Bombay and taken in hand
for
repair by HM Indian Navy Dockyard.
November
Repair work in continuation.
17th
Extent of structural hull damage found
beyond local resources.
Further repair work arranged at
Taranto.
December
Passage to Taranto.
1
9 4 5
January
Under repair at Taranto.
to
Further repair to be carried cut in
Malta.
July
August
3rd
Took
passage to
Malta.
7th
Under repair in HM Dockyard Malta.
S
y n o p s i s o
f P o s t
W a r S
e r v i c e
September
Nominated for service with 33rd Escort
Group based in Malta.
Joined Group on completion of post
refit-trials.
October
Worked-up with Group for Fleet
service.
November
Deployed with Group for Fleet and
other exercises in Mediterranean.
to
December
1
9 4 6
January
Deployed in Mediterranean for Fleet
duties, visits and exercises.
to
May
June
Transferred to 4th Escort Flotilla,
Destroyer Command, Mediterranean
Fleet.
July
Mediterranean deployment with Flotilla
in continuation
to
(Note: During this period Destroyer
Command ships were deployed on patrols
to intercept
December
ships carrying illegal immigrants into
Palestine.
Guardships were also provided in the
Adriatic for support of military units.)
1
9 4 7
January
Flotilla and Fleet duties, visits and
exercise programme in continuation.
to
September
October
Transferred to aid Frigate Flotilla,
Mediterranean Fleet.
November
Flotilla deployment in continuation.
to
Immigration Patrols and Guardship
duties at Trieste and Aqaba were being
carried
out
ships
December
of Destroyer Command.
1
9 4 8 t
o 1 9 5 0
Flotilla duties including patrols,
visits and Fleet AD Flotilla Exercise
Programmes
in continuation.
(Note: Palestine Patrol duties
terminated after establishment of
Israel as an independent
State
.
During the patrols 40 ships were
intercepted and only 4 reached their
destination
Guardship ware provided at Alexandria,
Aqaba and Trieste.
1
9 5 1
January
Mediterranean duties in continuation.
to
Nominated for return to UK to Pay-off
and reduce to Reserve status.
April
May
Passage to Chatham to pay-off
June
Paid-Off at Chatham and de-stored.
July
Accepted into Reserve Fleet, Chatham
Division.
August
Laid-up at Chatham.
to
December
1
9 5 2
to 1 9 5 5
Laid-up at Chatham.
1
9 5 4
January
Laid-up at Chatham
to
Nominated for re-commissioning after
refit.
March
April
Taken in hand for refit.
May
Under refit.
June
Re-commissioned for service in South
Atlantic.
July
On completion of post refit trials
worked up for operational service.
August
On completion of work-up prepared for
foreign service.
September
Passage to Simonstown to join
Squadron.
October
Deployed in South Atlantic and Indian
Ocean.
(Note: RN ships carried out extensive
visits programmes and exercised with
ships of the
South African Navy.
1
9 5 5
t
o 1 9 5 6
South Atlantic and Indian Ocean
Deployment in continuation.
(Note: During this period HM Dockyard
at Simonstown was handed over to the
South
African Navy. Visits and exercises
involved passages as far north as West
Africa
and Mozambique. A threat of
interference the Falklands by
Argentina required
special precautions during 1955.
RN Frigates and Sloops
were transferred to 7th Frigate
Squadron and were under
command of CinC South Atlantic baaed
at Simonstown.)
1
9 5 7
January
Nominated for return to UK to Pay-off
and reduce to Reserve.
Took passage to Chatham.
February
Arrived at Chatham
13th
Paid-Off and destored.
March
Accepted into Reserve at Chatham.
F
i n a
l P h a s e
HMS
PELICAN was placed on
the Disposal List as part of the
Defence Review In 1957. She was sold
to
BISCO in 1956 for demolition by T
Ward at Preston, Lancs. The ship
arrived in tow at the Breaker's yard
on 29th November 1958.
Addendum
Convoy
Escort
Movements of HMS
PELICAN
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
19/11/39
|
19/11/39
|
FS
0039
|
21/11/39
|
21/11/39
|
11/12/39
|
11/12/39
|
FS
0053
|
12/12/39
|
12/12/39
|
20/12/39
|
20/12/39
|
FN
0057
|
22/12/39
|
22/12/39
|
30/12/39
|
30/12/39
|
FS
0061
|
31/12/39
|
31/12/39
|
04/01/40
|
04/01/40
|
FS
0064
|
06/01/40
|
06/01/40
|
15/01/40
|
15/01/40
|
FS
0073
|
17/01/40
|
17/01/40
|
28/01/40
|
28/01/40
|
FS
0083
|
30/01/40
|
30/01/40
|
07/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
MT
005
|
07/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
08/02/40
|
08/02/40
|
FS
0091
|
10/02/40
|
10/02/40
|
15/02/40
|
15/02/40
|
FS
0097
|
17/02/40
|
17/02/40
|
15/02/40
|
15/02/40
|
MT
011
|
15/02/40
|
15/02/40
|
19/02/40
|
19/02/40
|
FN
0098
|
21/02/40
|
21/02/40
|
28/02/40
|
28/02/40
|
FS
0108
|
01/03/40
|
01/03/40
|
07/03/40
|
07/03/40
|
FS
0115
|
09/03/40
|
09/03/40
|
07/03/40
|
07/03/40
|
MT
025
|
07/03/40
|
07/03/40
|
10/03/40
|
10/03/40
|
FN
0117
|
12/03/40
|
12/03/40
|
14/03/40
|
14/03/40
|
MT
030
|
14/03/40
|
14/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
FN
0123
|
20/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
27/03/40
|
27/03/40
|
FS
0131
|
29/03/40
|
29/03/40
|
03/04/40
|
03/04/40
|
FS
0137
|
05/04/40
|
05/04/40
|
03/04/40
|
03/04/40
|
MT
043
|
03/04/40
|
03/04/40
|
07/04/40
|
07/04/40
|
TM
040
|
08/04/40
|
08/04/40
|
11/04/40
|
11/04/40
|
MT
049
|
12/04/40
|
12/04/40
|
12/04/40
|
12/04/40
|
FS
0144
|
14/04/40
|
14/04/40
|
24/12/40
|
24/12/40
|
FS
0369
|
26/12/40
|
26/12/40
|
10/01/42
|
10/01/42
|
OG
078
|
24/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
23/02/42
|
23/02/42
|
OG
080
|
08/03/42
|
08/03/42
|
14/03/42
|
14/03/42
|
HG
080
|
17/03/42
|
26/03/42
|
03/04/42
|
03/04/42
|
SL
105
|
22/04/42
|
22/04/42
|
02/05/42
|
03/05/42
|
OS
027
|
19/05/42
|
19/05/42
|
24/05/42
|
24/05/42
|
SL
111
|
16/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
01/07/42
|
02/07/42
|
OS
033
|
20/07/42
|
20/07/42
|
25/07/42
|
25/07/42
|
SL
117
|
15/08/42
|
15/08/42
|
29/08/42
|
31/08/42
|
OS
039
|
16/09/42
|
18/09/42
|
23/09/42
|
23/09/42
|
SL
123
|
14/10/42
|
14/10/42
|
01/11/42
|
01/11/42
|
KMF
002
|
12/11/42
|
12/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
MKF
002
|
22/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
07/01/43
|
07/01/43
|
KMS
007G
|
18/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
19/01/43
|
23/01/43
|
MKS
006
|
01/02/43
|
01/02/43
|
14/02/43
|
15/02/43
|
OS
043
|
04/03/43
|
04/03/43
|
12/03/43
|
12/03/43
|
SL
126
|
02/04/43
|
01/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
24/04/43
|
SC
127
|
25/04/43
|
03/05/43
|
13/04/43
|
26/04/43
|
ONS
004
|
28/04/43
|
05/05/43
|
21/04/43
|
06/05/43
|
ONS
005
|
08/05/43
|
12/05/43
|
29/04/43
|
09/05/43
|
ONS
006
|
10/05/43
|
17/05/43
|
13/05/43
|
21/05/43
|
HX
239
|
24/05/43
|
28/05/43
|
31/05/43
|
09/06/43
|
HX
242
|
12/06/43
|
15/06/43
|
08/06/43
|
12/06/43
|
ONS
010
|
18/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
27/06/43
|
01/07/43
|
SC
135
|
03/07/43
|
11/07/43
|
19/07/43
|
19/07/43
|
KMF
020
|
28/07/43
|
28/07/43
|
31/07/43
|
03/08/43
|
MKF
020
|
09/08/43
|
11/08/43
|
15/09/43
|
15/09/43
|
KMF
024
|
22/09/43
|
29/09/43
|
17/09/43
|
28/09/43
|
MKF
024
|
06/10/43
|
07/10/43
|
16/10/43
|
16/10/43
|
KMF
025
|
25/10/43
|
30/10/43
|
17/10/43
|
27/10/43
|
MKF
025
|
04/11/43
|
04/11/43
|
15/11/43
|
15/11/43
|
KMF
026
|
26/11/43
|
30/11/43
|
17/11/43
|
30/11/43
|
MKF
026
|
09/12/43
|
09/12/43
|
15/03/44
|
16/03/44
|
ON
228
|
unknown
|
01/04/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)