HASTINGS-Class
Escort Sloop
ordered from Swan Hunter & Wigham
Richardson, Newcastle on 26th February
1929 under the 1929
Build Programme with sister ship HMS
FOLKESTONE. The ship was laid down
on 28th May that year and launched
without ceremony on 14th March 1930.
She was
the 9th RN ship to
bear this name, introduced in 1691 for
a Ketch built at Scarborough and
captured by the French in January
1693.
She was probably named after Richard
Lumley, 2nd Earl of Scarborough who
was a
supporter of William III.
Build of this Sloop was completed on
31st July 1930 and deployed as a Sloop
in
the West Indies before being
refitted in 1938 for use as an unarmed
Survey Ship destined for use on the
East
Indies Station where she arrived
in May 1939. In March 1942 she was
adopted by the civil community
of Seaton, Devonshire after a
successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign.
B
a t t l e H
o n o u r s
LA
GUARA 1743 - LOUISBERG 1758 - QUEBEC
1759 - ATLANTIC 1939-44 - NORTH AFRICA
1942 - NORTH
SEA 1943 - NORMANDY 1944 - CHANNEL
1944
H
e r a l d i c
D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Red, an ancient ship with
tower
Gold on wavelets
Silver and
Blue.
M
o t t o
Tutus est
fortis:
'In strength lies our safety'
M
a n n i n g P o r t
Chatham
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
Deployment for survey duties based at
Colombo ceased and nominated for
future use
as an anti-submarine convoy escort
Taken in hand for modification to suit
new role
October
Under conversion at Colombo
Nominated for return to Home waters on
completion.
November
8th
Conversion completed.
Took passage to UK after trials and
preparation for passage.
December
Passage in Red Sea and Mediterranean.
1 9 4 0
January
Arrived at Plymouth and taken in hand
fort refit prior to operational
service in
Western Approaches Command.
February
Joined 1st Escort Division at
Liverpool for convoy escort in Western Approaches.
27th
Deployed with HM Destroyers VANOC,
WHIRLWIND and HM Sloop WELLINGTON
and joined outward Convoy OG20F at sea
for escort during passage to Gibraltar
(Note: For details of convoy
organisation see THE ALLIED CONVOY
SYSTEM
1939-1945 by A Hague.)
HMS VANOC and HMS WHIRLWIND detached.
March
2nd
Detached from OG20F with HMS
WELLINGTON and took passage to
Gibraltar
23rd
Deployed with HM Destroyers CAMPBELL,
VOLUNTEER, WALKER and HM Sloop
WELLINGTON as escort for inward Convoy
HG23 during passage from Gibraltar to
Liverpool
30th
Detached from HG23 with escort on
arrival at Liverpool.
April
22nd
Deployed with HM Sloops BIDEFORD and
LEITH for escort of outward Convoy
OG27F.
Joined convoy in Irish Sea.
24th
Detached with other ships of escort
and returned to Liverpool.
May
1st
Joined HM Sloop FOLKESTONE as escort
for outward Convoy OG28F on passage in
Irish
Sea from Liverpool.
Detached on release from local escort
requirement.
(Note HMS FOLKESTONE remained with
OG28F.)
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to U25.
June
Convoy defence duties based at
Liverpool with Division in
continuation.
to
August
Transferred for convoy escort in NW
Approaches, based at
Liverpool.
September
Joined inward Convoy SC2 on passage to
Liverpool from Sydney, CB as part of
escort during final stage of passage
in NW Approaches.
10th
Detached from SC2 with escort on
arrival at Liverpool.
19th
Joined escort for outward Convoy OB216
for passage in NW Approaches to Canada
23rd
Detached from OB216 when convoy
dispersed.
October
Passage to join inward Convoy SC7 from
Canada during passage in NW
Approaches.
Initially to be deployed as sole
escort.
16th
SC7 sighted by U124 before arrival of
additional escorts.
HM Sloop FOWEY and HM Corvette
BLUEBELL joined SC7.
17th
Under attack by U48 during which two
mercantiles were sunk and another
damaged.
18th
Under attack by U38 which damaged
another mercantile.
HM Sloop LEITH and HM Corvette
HEARTSEASE joined escort.
Attacks by U38, U46, U47, U48 and U100
during which total number of
mercantiles
sunk, as determined by post war
analysis, was 21 of the 236 in
convoy..
(For details see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR
by C Blair, NIGHT OF THE U-BOATS
by Lund and Ludlam, U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO)
November
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 1
January
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
to
February
March
13th
Intercepted German supply ship
SPICHERN which scuttled on approach.
(Note: This ship was previously the
Norwegian mercantile KROSSSFON
taken as Prize by the commerce raider
WIDDER in 1940.)
April
Deployed as escort with HM Destroyer
WOLVERINE,
HAVELOCK and HM
Corvette ARBUTUS for inward Convoy
SC26 from
Halifax during passage in NW
Approaches.
Took part in search for convoy which
had become dispersed.
5th
Carried out depth charge attacks on
U76 with HMS WOLVERINE and HMS
ARBUTUS after submarine was sighted on
surface and had dived
Following firm sonar contact attack
carried out concentrated depth charge
attack
causing extensive damage. U76 then
surfaced and scuttled in position
58.35N 20.20W.
40 of submarine crew were rescued by
the escorts.
For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P
Kemp and HITLER’S U-BOAT
WAR by C Blair.
8th
Detached from SC26 on arrival at
Liverpool.
May
Atlantic convoy escort duties in
continuation.
to
July
August
Taken in hand for refit at commercial
shipyard in Liverpool.
September
On completion carried out post refit
trials and took passage to Tobermory
to
work-up for operational service.
October
Joined 43rd Escort Group and deployed
for escort of convoys on UK –
Freetown
route.
November
Freetown route convoy escort duties in
continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 2
January
Freetown route duties in continuation.
30th
Joined escort for outward Convoy OS18
on departure from Liverpool.
February
Detached from OS18
For details of U-Boat deployments in
1942 see U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO) and above reference.)
March
Freetown route duties in continuation.
April
16th
Involved in collision with HM
Destroyer BRADFORD.
May
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
to
June
July
Taken in hand for refit at commercial
shipyard in Liverpool.
August
Under refit.
to
September
(Note: Work included installation of
Radar Type 271 for surface warning.
For details of development and use of
radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA
by D Howse.)
October
Carried out post refit trials and
work-up.
Nominated for escort and support of
planned landings in North Africa.
Deployed for convoy escort between UK
and Gibraltar
November
Gibraltar route deployment in continuation including military convoys to
Gibraltar
prior to and after allied landings
(Operation TORCH)
Deployed at Gibraltar for local escort duties.
December
Gibraltar deployment in continuation.
1 9 4 3
January
Deployed in western Mediterranean,
31st
Part of escort for military Convoy
GUF4 during passage from Algiers.
February
Detached from GUF4 during westward
passage and returned to Gibraltar.
Transferred to 39th Escort Group and
took passage to Londonderry..
(Note: For details of development of
new tactics and weapons for convoy
defence and attack see SEEK and STRIKE
by W Hackmann.
March
Deployed with 39th Escort Group.
6th
Part of escort for outward Convoy OS44
with ships of Group. during passage
in Atlantic.
April
Atlantic convoy escort with Group on
UK-Gibraltar route in continuation,
to
July
August
27th
Part of escort for outward joint
Convoy OS54//KMS25 during passage from
Liverpool
29th
Detached from OS54/KMS25.
September
Atlantic convoy escort with Group in
continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 4
January
Transferred to 15th Escort Group and
deployed in NW Approaches.
(Note: Based at Belfast, this Group
was to be joined by new US Built
CAPTAIN Class Frigates.)
February
Deployed with Group for escort of
inward Convoy MKF28 from
Port Said during Atlantic passage
7th
Detached from MKF28 on arrival at
Liverpool.
March
Atlantic deployment for escort and
anti-submarine patrol duties.
to
April
May
Nominated for special escort duties
during planned allied landings in
Normandy (Operation
NEPTUNE)
(Note: Intended for escort of Trinity
House Vessels in support of
landings by provision of navigational
markers.)
Passage to Portsmouth to prepare for
NEPTUNE.
June
Deployed at Portsmouth with HM Sloops
ROCHESTER and
LONDONDERRY.
For details of naval activities prior
to and during NEPTUNE see
LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944
(HMSO), OPERATION
NEPTUNE by K Edwards and Naval Staff History.)
6th
Passage to beach head areas with
Trinity House vessels.
7th
Re-deployed for duty as Control Ships
for Coastal Forces craft.
(Note: Coastal Forces craft were
deployed for interception of any
attempt
to carry out attacks or minelaying by
submarines or E-Boats..
July
On release from Channel duties
returned to Portsmouth
Nominated for withdrawal from
operational use.
Passage to Hartlepool to Pay-off and reduce to Reserve status.
August
Reduced to Reserve status prior to
lay-up at Hartlepool.
(Note: Ship condition did not allow
economic refit.)
September
Laid-up at Hartlepool.
to
December
1 9 4 5
January
Laid-up at Hartlepool.
to
August
P
o s t W a r N
o t e s
HMS
SCARBOROUGH was placed on the Disposal
List after VJ Day and sold to BISCO on
3rd
June 1949. The ship was towed to
Thornaby-on-Tees for demolition by
Stockton
Ship and Salvage
Co. and arrived at the breakers yard
on 3rd July that year.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS
SCARBOROUGH
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
27/02/40
|
27/02/40
|
OG
020F
|
02/03/40
|
02/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
HG
023
|
30/03/40
|
30/03/40
|
22/04/40
|
22/04/40
|
OG
027F
|
24/04/40
|
28/04/40
|
18/04/40
|
24/04/40
|
HG
027F
|
27/04/40
|
27/04/40
|
28/04/40
|
28/04/40
|
OA
138GF
|
01/05/40
|
unknown
|
01/05/40
|
01/05/40
|
OG
028F
|
01/05/40
|
06/05/40
|
26/04/40
|
02/05/40
|
HG
028F
|
05/05/40
|
05/05/40
|
14/05/40
|
unknown
|
OA
148GF
|
unknown
|
16/05/40
|
16/05/40
|
16/05/40
|
OG
030F
|
22/05/40
|
21/05/40
|
23/05/40
|
23/05/40
|
HG
031
|
02/06/40
|
02/06/40
|
02/06/40
|
02/06/40
|
OB
160
|
04/06/40
|
05/06/40
|
08/06/40
|
08/06/40
|
OB
163
|
13/06/40
|
13/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
OG
033F
|
13/06/40
|
14/06/40
|
13/06/40
|
13/06/40
|
HG
034F
|
19/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
29/06/40
|
29/06/40
|
OB
176
|
02/07/40
|
02/07/40
|
21/06/40
|
02/07/40
|
HX
052
|
06/07/40
|
06/07/40
|
10/07/40
|
10/07/40
|
OB
181
|
12/07/40
|
12/07/40
|
12/07/40
|
12/07/40
|
OG
037
|
17/07/40
|
16/07/40
|
21/07/40
|
21/07/40
|
HG
039
|
05/08/40
|
05/08/40
|
11/08/40
|
11/08/40
|
OB
196
|
15/08/40
|
15/08/40
|
25/08/40
|
25/08/40
|
SC
002
|
09/09/40
|
10/09/40
|
19/09/40
|
19/09/40
|
OB
216
|
23/09/40
|
23/09/40
|
05/10/40
|
05/10/40
|
SC
007
|
21/10/40
|
21/10/40
|
16/12/40
|
16/12/40
|
OB
260
|
19/12/40
|
19/12/40
|
09/12/40
|
20/12/40
|
HG
048
|
23/12/40
|
23/12/40
|
28/12/40
|
29/12/40
|
OG
048
|
09/01/41
|
09/01/41
|
08/01/41
|
12/01/41
|
HG
050
|
26/01/41
|
26/01/41
|
05/02/41
|
09/02/41
|
OG
052
|
21/02/41
|
21/02/41
|
03/03/41
|
03/03/41
|
HG
055
|
unknown
|
22/03/41
|
31/03/41
|
31/03/41
|
OB
304
|
04/04/41
|
04/04/41
|
20/03/41
|
05/04/41
|
SC
026
|
08/04/41
|
08/04/41
|
06/04/41
|
17/04/41
|
HX
119A
|
22/04/41
|
22/04/41
|
05/05/41
|
05/05/41
|
OG
061
|
19/05/41
|
19/05/41
|
25/05/41
|
25/05/41
|
HG
063
|
09/06/41
|
09/06/41
|
24/06/41
|
24/06/41
|
OG
066
|
08/07/41
|
08/07/41
|
18/07/41
|
18/07/41
|
HG
068
|
02/08/41
|
02/08/41
|
03/10/41
|
05/10/41
|
OS
008
|
21/10/41
|
26/10/41
|
27/10/41
|
28/10/41
|
SL
091
|
08/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
SL
091G1
|
12/11/41
|
12/11/41
|
12/11/41
|
12/11/41
|
SL
091GS
|
19/11/41
|
19/11/41
|
30/11/41
|
01/12/41
|
OS
013
|
03/12/41
|
20/12/41
|
26/12/41
|
28/12/41
|
SL
096
|
13/01/42
|
13/01/42
|
30/01/42
|
31/01/42
|
OS
018
|
15/02/42
|
20/02/42
|
21/02/42
|
23/02/42
|
SL
101
|
15/03/42
|
15/03/42
|
24/03/42
|
25/03/42
|
OS
023
|
11/04/42
|
11/04/42
|
16/04/42
|
16/04/42
|
SL
107
|
05/05/42
|
07/05/42
|
22/05/42
|
22/05/42
|
OS
029
|
10/06/42
|
11/06/42
|
15/06/42
|
15/06/42
|
SL
113
|
04/07/42
|
05/07/42
|
25/10/42
|
26/10/42
|
KMS
002G
|
12/11/42
|
12/11/42
|
21/11/42
|
21/11/42
|
MKS
002
|
24/11/42
|
03/12/42
|
28/11/42
|
28/11/42
|
TE
007
|
unknown
|
03/12/42
|
03/12/42
|
05/12/42
|
MKS
003X
|
08/12/42
|
19/12/42
|
30/12/42
|
30/12/42
|
GUF
003
|
unknown
|
13/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
GUS
003
|
22/01/43
|
07/02/43
|
07/02/43
|
08/02/43
|
MKS
007
|
17/02/43
|
17/02/43
|
06/03/43
|
07/03/43
|
OS
044
|
24/03/43
|
24/03/43
|
31/03/43
|
02/04/43
|
SL
127
|
24/04/43
|
15/04/43
|
05/05/43
|
06/05/43
|
OS
047KM
|
16/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
OS
047
|
25/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
SL
130
|
11/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
SL
130MK
|
21/06/43
|
21/06/43
|
08/09/43
|
08/09/43
|
LTS
001
|
15/09/43
|
15/09/43
|
17/08/43
|
08/09/43
|
KMS
025G
|
10/09/43
|
30/08/43
|
13/10/43
|
13/10/43
|
SL
138
|
24/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
SL
138MK
|
05/11/43
|
05/11/43
|
16/11/43
|
16/11/43
|
OS
059KM
|
28/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
KMS
033G
|
29/11/43
|
29/11/43
|
03/12/43
|
03/12/43
|
MKS
032G
|
04/12/43
|
04/12/43
|
04/12/43
|
04/12/43
|
SL
141MK
|
17/12/43
|
17/12/43
|
24/01/44
|
25/01/44
|
ON
221
|
25/01/44
|
11/02/44
|
24/01/44
|
27/01/44
|
OS
066KM
|
29/01/44
|
05/02/44
|
06/02/44
|
06/02/44
|
OS
067KM
|
15/02/44
|
15/02/44
|
16/02/44
|
16/02/44
|
KMS
041G
|
17/02/44
|
17/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
MKS
040G
|
22/02/44
|
22/02/44
|
22/02/44
|
22/02/44
|
SL
149MK
|
07/03/44
|
07/03/44
|
14/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
OS
071KM
|
25/03/44
|
25/03/44
|
26/03/44
|
26/03/44
|
KMS
045G
|
27/03/44
|
27/03/44
|
01/04/44
|
01/04/44
|
MKS
044G
|
02/04/44
|
02/04/44
|
02/04/44
|
02/04/44
|
SL
153MK
|
13/04/44
|
13/04/44
|
26/05/44
|
27/05/44
|
WP
528
|
28/05/44
|
28/05/44
|
13/06/44
|
13/06/44
|
FCM
002
|
13/06/44
|
unknown
|
14/06/44
|
14/06/44
|
FCM
005
|
15/06/44
|
15/06/44
|
28/06/44
|
28/06/44
|
FCM
017
|
29/06/44
|
29/06/44
|
08/09/43
|
08/09/44
|
OS
054
|
17/09/44
|
17/09/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)