GRIMSBY-Class Sloop ordered from HM Dockyard Devonport on 1st March 1934 under the 1932
Programme and laid down on 11th June
1934. The ship was launched by Mrs Noble on 16th January 1935 as the 1st RN ship to carry the
name. Build was completed on 20
September 1935 and she sailed for service in the Red Sea
on 30th of that month. The ship remained in the Red Sea
until 1938 when she transferred to the South African Station. In February 1939
she refitted at Simonstown and was re-armed with new design twin 4in mountings.
On completion she remained in the South Atlantic until
being transferred to Freetown after
the outbreak of war. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
campaign in February 1942 this Sloop was adopted by the civil community of Londonderry,
Ulster.
B a t t l e H o n o
u r s
ATLANTIC 1939-45 -
NORTH SEA 1940
- NORTH AFRICA 1942-43 -
NORMANDY 1944 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1944-45
H e r a l d i c D a
t a
Badge: On a Field White,.on a
cross red, a castle gold
M o t t o
Non recedam: 'No retreat'
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 On
completion of post refit trials deployed in South
(Note: Particular attention was paid to enemy
merchant attempting shipping back to
Germany and commerce raider became active
October
11th Transferred to Freetown and took passage from Simonstown.
On arrival deployed for local convoy escort and
minesweeping.
(Note: The minesweeping task was later taken
over by trawlers sent from UK) .
November
Nominated for transfer to Home waters for convoy defence.
24th Joined escort for Convoy SL10 on passage to Liverpool from Freetown.
December
Detached from convoy on arrival and took passage to Devonport for refit.
(Note: This was the first visit to UK since
going to Red Sea in 1935.)
12th Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard Devonport and prepared for
convoy defence
with Rosyth Escort Force.
1 9 4 0
January
Carried out Post refit trials.
to On completion took passage to Rosyth.
February
Joined Rosyth Escort Force1
(Note: The twin 4in HA armament made this type
of sloop invaluable on this convoy
route which had been subject to air attacks
since September 1939).
March
Deployed for East Coast convoy defence..
to Not detached for support of evacuation operations
in Channel area. Pennant Number for April
May Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed
to U76 .
(Note: This ship did not take part in the
evacuation of allied troops and civilians
from Dunkirk and French Channel ports (Operation
DYNAMO).)
East Coast convoy defence in continuation.
June Rosyth deployment in continuation.
to
November
December
Nominated for transfer to Western Approaches Command for Atlantic convoy
defence.
Passage to Liverpool
Joined 1st AA Division based at Liverpool.
1 9 4 1
January
Deployed in NW Approaches for Atlantic convoy defence
to Newfoundland Command for service in western
Atlantic.
April
May
Passage to St Johns and deployed for convoy defence.
June Convoy defend based at St Johns in continuation.
Nominated for return to Home waters
July Passage to Londonderry to join Sloop Division.
Deployed for escort of convoys to and from
Freetown in Western Approaches.
August
Freetown route convoy defence in continuation.
to Deployed with 42nd Escort Group
October
(Note: Other ships in Group were HM Sloops WESTON, FOLKESTONE, WELLINGTON
and HM Cutters (Ex US Navy) SENNEN and TOTLAND.)
November
Part of escort for Convoy OS12 with ships of Group.
December
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
(Note: A modified RAF Air-Surface Vessel (ASV)
radar was fitted by this period.
This early design save warning of aircraft and
surface ships but was far from reliable.
See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse).
1 9 4 2
January
Atlantic deployment in continuation as Senior Officer of Group
Joined Convoy SL93 as escort.
31st Under attack by U-Boats in defence of convoy during which HMS
CULVER was sunk by
U105 west of Ireland.
February
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
to (For details of Atlantic convoy defence and
tactical enemy deployments see THE BATTLE
March
OF THE ATLANTIC by D. Macintyre, U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO),
HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair, and SEEK AND
STRIKE by W Hackmann.)
Nominated for refit
April Under refit in commercial shipyard at Avonmouth.
to
June
July On completion of post refit trials rejoined Group
for Atlantic convoy defence.
Deployed with Group for escort of Convoy SL115
to Freetown.
August
Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.
to Nominated for detached service in support of
military convoys for allied landings
September in
North Africa (Operation TORCH - For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett, Naval Staff History,
RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute
and for information about involvement of all
mercantiles and warships BRITISH
INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.)
(Note: Surface warning radar Type 271 had been
fitted by this period and a new RN design
radar Type 291 replaced the earlier Type 286M)
For details of development and use of radar in
RN see RADAR AT SEA.
A direction finding equipment for detection of
wireless transmissions from
submarines was also fitted . See BUSINESS IN
GREAT WATERS by J Terraine and
SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann).
October
Detached for escort of convoys to Gibraltar
to
December
1 9 4 3
January
Detached service based at Gibraltar in continuation.
25th Searched in Atlantic for missing HM Minelayer CORNCRAKE.
(Note: HMS CORNCRAKE (Ex HMS MACKEREL was a
converted trawler and foundered
in rough weather conditions.)
29th Rejoined Escort Group to resume Atlantic convoy defence.
30th Sailed to join escort of Convoy HX224.
February
Deployed with escort for Convoy HX224.
4th Sustained major structural damage to stem due to the premature
detonation of depth charges
during anti-submarine operations.
Towed to Londonderry for temporary repair depth
March
12th On completion of temporary repair towed to Devonport by tug HUDSON
14th Taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard Devonport.
April Under repair
to An ahead throwing anti-submarine mortar (HEDGEHOG)
was fitted.
October
(See SEEK AND STRIKE).
Close range defence against air attack was
increased to six 20mm Oerlikon guns.
Nominated for service in 39th Escort Croup.
17th Prepared for work-up.
Passage to Tobermory.
December On
completion of work-up joined Group at Londonderry.
1 9 4 4
January
Deployed with Group for defence of UK-Gibraltar route convoys.
February
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
5th In collision with HM Trawler CAPE ARGONA without major damage.
March
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation with Group.
to Nominated for transfer to 41st Escort Group at
Plymouth
April
May Joined Group based at Plymouth for convoy defence in
Nominated for detached service in support of
planned allied landings in Normandy.
(For details of activities prior to and during
landings see OPERATION NEPTUNE
by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944
(HMSO).)
June Passage to Portsmouth for escort of Trinity House
Vessels with HM Sloops ROCHESTER
and SCARBOROUGH
4th Operation delayed 24 hours.
5th Deployed as escort for Trinity House Vessels.
8th On completion of Assault Phase deployed as Coastal Forces Control
Ship off the beach
heads
(Note: These ships were responsible for
direction of MTB’s off the beachheads to
intercept enemy craft attempting to carry out
attacks on ships in the Task Force
areas. In addition also deployed for patrol and
interception
22nd Under air attack by Ju88 without damage.
(Note: Enemy air activities had been reduced
between 19th and 21st but had increased.
See LANDINGS IN NORMANDY.)
27th After termination of NEPTUNE rejoined Escort Group for deployment in Channel and
SW Approaches.
July Channel and SW Approaches deployment in
continuation.
August
Channel and SW Approaches convoy defence in continuation
to (Note: Enemy SCHNORKEL submarine attacks
increased.
December
See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by Peter Smith and BUSINESS
IN GREAT
WATERS by J Terraine.)
1 9 4 5
January
Deployed in Channel with Group.
to (Note: Atlantic convoys were re-routed through
Channel after air threat from the French
April coast had been removed.
Mining threat by E- Boats and U-Boats was more
heavily carried out
Additional escorts were deployed in Channel to
counter these.
Heavy U-Boat presence still existed in coastal
waters. See above references).
May Withdrawn from operational service after VE Day.
25th Arrived At Milford Haven to Pay-off into Reserve.
June After reduction to Reserve status and de-storing
laid up in Milford
July Laid-up in Reserve at Milford Haven.
to
August
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS LONDONDERRY was placed on the Disposal List after VJ-Day
and sold in to BISCO in March 1948 for demolition by E Rees
at Llanelly where she arrived in tow on 8th
June 1948. In 1958 this name was carried forward for the second
time when given to a ROTHESAY Class Frigate.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
LONDONDERRY
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
24/11/39
|
24/11/39
|
SL 010
|
10/12/39
|
10/12/39
|
17/01/40
|
17/01/40
|
FS 0075
|
19/01/40
|
19/01/40
|
20/01/40
|
20/01/40
|
FN 0076
|
22/01/40
|
22/01/40
|
24/01/40
|
24/01/40
|
FS 0079
|
25/01/40
|
25/01/40
|
26/01/40
|
26/01/40
|
FN 0080
|
27/01/40
|
27/01/40
|
07/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
FS 0090
|
09/02/40
|
09/02/40
|
14/02/40
|
14/02/40
|
FS 0096
|
16/02/40
|
16/02/40
|
23/02/40
|
23/02/40
|
FS 0103
|
25/02/40
|
25/02/40
|
27/02/40
|
27/02/40
|
FN 0104
|
29/02/40
|
29/02/40
|
06/03/40
|
06/03/40
|
FS 0114
|
08/03/40
|
08/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
FS 0120
|
15/03/40
|
15/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
FS 0125
|
22/03/40
|
22/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
MT 034
|
20/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
22/02/40
|
22/03/40
|
MT 016
|
23/02/40
|
23/02/40
|
31/03/40
|
31/03/40
|
FS 0134
|
02/04/40
|
02/04/40
|
31/03/40
|
31/03/40
|
MT 041
|
31/03/40
|
31/03/40
|
10/04/40
|
10/04/40
|
FS 0142
|
12/04/40
|
12/04/40
|
10/04/40
|
10/04/40
|
MT 048
|
10/04/40
|
10/04/40
|
15/04/40
|
15/04/40
|
FS 0147
|
17/04/40
|
17/04/40
|
22/04/40
|
22/04/40
|
MT 057
|
22/04/40
|
22/04/40
|
29/04/40
|
29/04/40
|
MT 061
|
30/04/40
|
30/04/40
|
05/02/40
|
05/05/40
|
MT 004
|
05/05/40
|
05/02/40
|
06/05/40
|
06/05/40
|
FS 0164
|
08/05/40
|
08/05/40
|
17/05/40
|
17/05/40
|
FS 0173
|
19/05/40
|
19/05/40
|
17/05/40
|
17/05/40
|
MT 068
|
17/05/40
|
17/05/40
|
25/05/40
|
25/05/40
|
FS 0179
|
27/05/40
|
27/05/40
|
25/05/40
|
25/05/40
|
MT 073
|
25/05/40
|
25/05/40
|
01/06/40
|
01/06/40
|
FS 0185
|
03/06/40
|
03/06/40
|
01/06/40
|
01/06/40
|
MT 079
|
01/06/40
|
01/06/40
|
04/06/40
|
04/06/40
|
FN 0188
|
06/06/40
|
06/06/40
|
12/06/40
|
12/06/40
|
FS 0193
|
14/06/40
|
14/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
MT 091
|
20/06/40
|
20/06/40
|
20/06/40
|
20/06/40
|
FS 0200
|
22/06/40
|
22/06/40
|
23/06/40
|
23/06/40
|
FN 0203
|
25/06/40
|
25/06/40
|
26/06/40
|
26/06/40
|
MT 096
|
27/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
FS 0206
|
29/06/40
|
29/06/40
|
30/06/40
|
30/06/40
|
FN 0209
|
02/07/40
|
02/07/40
|
09/07/40
|
09/07/40
|
FS 0217
|
10/07/40
|
10/07/40
|
12/07/40
|
12/07/40
|
FN 0220
|
15/07/40
|
14/07/40
|
19/07/40
|
19/07/40
|
FN 0226
|
21/07/40
|
21/07/40
|
11/08/40
|
11/08/40
|
FS 0249
|
14/08/40
|
14/08/40
|
31/08/40
|
31/08/40
|
FN 0268
|
02/09/40
|
02/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
FS 0272
|
06/09/40
|
06/09/40
|
09/09/40
|
09/09/40
|
FN 0277A
|
11/09/40
|
11/09/40
|
16/09/40
|
16/09/40
|
FS 0283
|
19/09/40
|
19/09/40
|
19/09/40
|
19/09/40
|
FN 0285
|
21/09/40
|
21/09/40
|
27/09/40
|
27/09/40
|
FS 0293
|
29/09/40
|
29/09/40
|
30/09/40
|
30/09/40
|
FN 0295
|
02/10/40
|
02/10/40
|
04/10/40
|
04/10/40
|
FS 0300
|
06/10/40
|
06/10/40
|
07/10/40
|
07/10/40
|
FN 0302
|
08/10/40
|
09/10/40
|
12/10/40
|
12/10/40
|
FS 0307
|
14/10/40
|
14/10/40
|
15/10/40
|
15/10/40
|
FN 0309
|
18/10/40
|
18/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
FS 0319
|
27/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
FN 0321
|
29/10/40
|
29/10/40
|
31/10/40
|
31/10/40
|
FS 0324
|
02/11/40
|
02/11/40
|
03/11/40
|
03/11/40
|
FN 0326
|
05/11/40
|
05/11/40
|
08/11/40
|
08/11/40
|
FS 0331
|
10/11/40
|
10/11/40
|
11/11/40
|
11/11/40
|
FN 0332
|
14/11/40
|
14/11/40
|
22/11/40
|
22/11/40
|
FS 0342
|
24/11/40
|
24/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
FN 0344
|
28/11/40
|
28/11/40
|
30/11/40
|
30/11/40
|
FS 0349
|
02/12/40
|
02/12/40
|
04/12/40
|
04/12/40
|
FN 0350
|
06/12/40
|
06/12/40
|
08/12/40
|
08/12/40
|
FS 0357
|
11/12/40
|
11/12/40
|
12/12/40
|
12/12/40
|
FN 0358
|
14/12/40
|
14/12/40
|
29/12/40
|
29/12/40
|
FS 0375
|
01/01/41
|
01/01/41
|
07/01/41
|
07/01/41
|
FS 0383
|
10/01/41
|
10/01/41
|
25/01/41
|
25/01/41
|
FN 0391
|
27/01/41
|
27/01/41
|
17/01/41
|
31/01/41
|
HG 051
|
03/02/41
|
03/02/41
|
06/02/41
|
18/02/41
|
HG 053
|
24/02/41
|
24/02/41
|
26/04/41
|
27/04/41
|
OG 060
|
30/04/41
|
10/05/41
|
09/04/41
|
30/04/41
|
SL 071
|
05/05/41
|
04/05/41
|
11/05/41
|
12/05/41
|
OB 321
|
16/05/41
|
17/05/41
|
06/05/41
|
16/05/41
|
HG 061
|
20/05/41
|
20/05/41
|
08/06/41
|
11/06/41
|
OB 331
|
13/06/41
|
19/06/41
|
08/06/41
|
13/06/41
|
OB 332
|
20/06/41
|
23/06/41
|
26/06/41
|
26/06/41
|
HX 135
|
11/07/41
|
12/07/41
|
24/07/41
|
26/07/41
|
OS 001
|
09/08/41
|
10/08/41
|
15/08/41
|
18/08/41
|
SL 084
|
08/09/41
|
08/09/41
|
23/09/41
|
26/09/41
|
OS 007
|
12/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
15/10/41
|
18/10/41
|
SL 090
|
29/10/41
|
06/11/41
|
22/10/41
|
30/10/41
|
HG 075
|
03/11/41
|
03/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
19/11/41
|
OS 012
|
02/12/41
|
11/12/41
|
18/11/41
|
02/12/41
|
SL 093
|
10/12/41
|
10/12/41
|
23/12/41
|
24/12/41
|
OS 015
|
11/01/42
|
13/01/42
|
15/01/42
|
18/01/42
|
SL 098
|
05/02/42
|
05/02/42
|
22/02/42
|
23/02/42
|
OS 020
|
10/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
14/03/42
|
16/03/42
|
SL 103
|
02/04/42
|
02/04/42
|
11/06/42
|
11/06/42
|
OS 031
|
28/06/42
|
30/06/42
|
05/07/42
|
05/07/42
|
SL 115
|
25/07/42
|
26/07/42
|
10/08/42
|
11/08/42
|
OS 037
|
27/08/42
|
29/08/42
|
03/09/42
|
03/09/42
|
SL 121
|
20/09/42
|
21/09/42
|
26/09/42
|
09/10/42
|
SC 103
|
14/10/42
|
14/10/42
|
25/10/42
|
26/10/42
|
KMS 002G
|
10/11/42
|
12/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
MKS 001X
|
23/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
11/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
KMS 005G
|
24/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
22/12/42
|
26/12/42
|
MKS 004
|
06/01/43
|
06/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
KMS 008G
|
25/01/43
|
10/02/43
|
22/01/43
|
02/02/43
|
HX 224
|
03/02/43
|
05/02/43
|
25/12/43
|
26/12/43
|
OS 063KM
|
08/01/44
|
07/01/44
|
08/01/44
|
08/01/44
|
KMS 037G
|
09/01/44
|
09/01/44
|
12/01/44
|
12/01/44
|
SL 145MK
|
22/01/44
|
24/01/44
|
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
|
24/05/44
|
25/05/44
|
WP 527
|
26/05/44
|
26/05/44
|
26/05/44
|
27/05/44
|
WP 528
|
28/05/44
|
28/05/44
|
14/07/44
|
14/07/44
|
EPM 004
|
14/07/44
|
14/07/44
|
14/07/44
|
14/07/44
|
FPM 005
|
15/07/44
|
15/07/44
|
17/07/44
|
17/07/44
|
EPM 007
|
17/07/44
|
17/07/44
|
20/07/44
|
20/07/44
|
EPM 010
|
20/07/44
|
20/07/44
|
26/07/44
|
26/07/44
|
EPM 016
|
26/07/44
|
26/07/44
|
29/07/44
|
29/07/44
|
EPM 019
|
29/07/44
|
29/07/44
|
11/08/44
|
11/08/44
|
FBC 051
|
14/08/44
|
14/08/44
|
30/08/44
|
07/09/44
|
SL 168MK
|
09/09/44
|
07/09/44
|
24/10/44
|
24/10/44
|
ON 262
|
27/10/44
|
10/11/44
|
15/10/44
|
27/10/44
|
HX 314
|
30/10/44
|
29/10/44
|
10/02/45
|
10/02/45
|
OS 110KM
|
13/02/45
|
15/02/45
|
02/02/45
|
14/02/45
|
HX 336
|
17/02/45
|
14/02/45
|
21/02/45
|
21/02/45
|
OS 112KM
|
24/02/45
|
24/02/45
|
19/02/45
|
24/02/45
|
MKS 084G
|
27/02/45
|
27/02/45
|
12/03/45
|
12/03/45
|
OS 116KM
|
15/03/45
|
17/03/45
|
11/03/45
|
15/03/45
|
MKS 088G
|
19/03/45
|
19/03/45
|
12/04/45
|
12/04/45
|
ON 296
|
14/04/45
|
30/04/45
|
10/04/45
|
15/04/45
|
MKS 094G
|
18/04/45
|
18/04/45
|
21/04/45
|
21/04/45
|
ON 298
|
24/04/45
|
07/05/45
|
13/04/45
|
26/04/45
|
HX 350
|
28/04/45
|
28/04/45
|
07/05/45
|
07/05/45
|
BTC 151
|
10/05/45
|
10/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)