GRIMSBY-Class Sloop
ordered from HM Dockyard Devonport under the 1932 Programme on 1st May 1933
with HM Sloop WELLINGTON. She was
laid down on 21st August 1933 and launched by Mrs Henderson on
11th April 1934 as the 5th RN ship to carry the name introduced in 1697 for a
5th Rate. It was previously used for a cruiser built in 1913 and
sold in 1921. Her build was completed on 22nd
November 1934
and she served exclusively on the China Station until December 1939 when
recalled to
UK for war service. She had not returned to
refit or re-commission since build. In October 1941 the ship was
adopted by the civil community of Lowestoft
and Lothingland after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
campaign.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
QUEBEC 1759 - GENOA 1795 -
MINERVE Action - HELIGOLAND 1914 - DOGGER BANK
1915 -
ATLANTIC
1940-45
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field
Black a Lowestoft plate proper, surmounted by
an
oriental crown Gold.
M o t t o
Pont
de Jour: 'Turn out early'
M a n n i n g P o r t
Devonport
S u m m a r y o f
S e r v i c e b e f o r e S e p t e m b e r 1 9 3 9
1 9 3 4
October
Dockyard trials
November
Commissioned for Acceptance trials
20th Commissioned for service on China Station.
December On
completion of Acceptance Trials
Carried out Shakedown and prepared for foreign
service.
Visited Lowestoft before return to Devonport.
12th Sailed from Plymouth for service at Hong Kong.
1 9 3 5
January
Passage to Hong Kong via Mediterranean.
During passage developed defects in boilers
February
15th Arrived at Hong Kong with serious defects to boilers.
Taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard, Hong
Kong.
March
Under repair
to
April
May On completion carried out post-repair trials before
commencing operation service
June Deployed for patrol including support of mercantile
traffic in China Sea and visits
to to ports in China and French Indo China.
December
(Note: RN ships were deployed at Wei-hai Wei during summer months for Fleet
harbour and sea exercises with Fleet units
including submarines.)
1 9 3 6
Patrol and visits programme in continuation
(Note: Visits were paid to Borneo, Sarawak and
Hainan in January.
and Japanese ports in August)
1 9 3 7
January
China Station patrol, visits and exercise programme in continuation
to (Note: Re-commissioning arranged on Station with
new crew arriving
March
by sea.)
April
4th Re-commissioned at Singapore.
May Resumed duties and rejoined Fleet programme
June China Station deployment in continuation based at
Hong Kong
to (Note: Routine dockings were carried out at Hong
Kong.)
December
1 9 3 8
January
Deployed on China station for patrol, visits and exercises with Fleet units.
to Nominated for refit in Singapore.
August
September
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard.
October
Under refit
November On
completion of dockyard work carried out post refit trials
Passage to Hong Kong to resume operational service.
December
Deployed at Hong Kong for patrol and defence of British Flagged mercantiles.
1 9 3 9
January
Hong Kong deployment in continuation
to Nominated for refit and modification of main
armament by HM Dockyard,
June Hong Kong.
July Taken in hand for fit of twin 4in HA weapons in
place of original single 4in
LA mountings
August
Under refit
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
Under refit in Hong Kong.
to Nominated for return to UK for convoy defence on
completion
November
December
8th Carried out post refit trials off Hong Kong
On completion took passage from Hong Kong to
Gibraltar.
1 9 4 0
January
Arrived at Gibraltar
13th Joined escort for Convoy HG15F at Gibraltar for passage to UK.
21st Detached from HG15F and took passage to Devonport.
February
5th Docked at Devonport prior to deployment with Rosyth Escort Force.
March
3rd Deployed at Rosyth for convoy escort from Forth area through NW
Approaches.
(Note: Enemy air attacks were frequently made
on these convoys.)
April Convoy Escort based at Rosyth in continuation.
May Rosyth deployment in continuation.
Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes
changed to U59 (May).
June Deployed in North Sea for coastal convoy defence and patrol.
to August
Transferred to Western Approaches Command for Atlantic convoy defence
September
2nd Joined escort for Convoy SC2 in NW Approaches for the final stage of
passage from
Halifax. Lost 5 ships in U-Boat attacks.
(For details of Atlantic convoy defence see
BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by
D. MacIntyre, U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO)
and HITLER’S
U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
20th Deployed with HM Destroyers SCIMITAR and SKATE to regroup ships of
Convoy HX75
on passage from Halifax which had dispersed
during bad weather and U-Boat attacks.
11 ships were sunk during passage.
Engaged U32 by gun action in defence of convoy.
See above references.
October
Resumed escort of North Sea convoys to and from Thames.
to
December
1 9 4 1
January
5th Mined during defence of East Coast convoy and sustained major
damage.
February
Under repair at HM Dockyard Chatham.
to Radar Type 286M (Modified RAF ASV Mk
III) and 20mm Oerlikon guns
fitted.
September
(See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse for details of development and use of radar in RN).
October
On completion (3rd October) rejoined Rosyth Escort Force for East Coast convoy
defence.
to
December
1 9 4 2
January
Continued convoy defence in North Sea.
to (Note: Despite extensive service on this duty the
award of Battle Honour NORTH SEA
March
1940-45 was not made.)
April Transferred to Western Approaches Command and joined
45th Escort Group based
in Londonderry.
May Deployed on escort of convoys to and from Freetown.
to
June
July
12th Damaged in collision with Free French destroyer LEOPARD.
August
Under repair at Gibraltar.
to Four 20mm Oerlikon guns fitted to increase close
range defence.
October
November
Completion delayed by lack of materials and work load in Gibraltar by TORCH
landings in North Africa.
(See Naval Staff History and ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett).
Transferred to UK for completion.
December
Under repair at Falmouth.
1 9 4 3
January
Under repair and refit at Falmouth.
to Surface warning radar Type 271, surface and
aircraft warning radar and HF D/F
March
outfit fitted to improve anti-submarine efficiency (See SEEK AND STRIKE).
April On completion went to Tobermory for work-up prior to
convoy defence duty.
May Joined 42nd Escort Group at Londonderry for Freetown
route convoy escort.
19th Deployed with HM Aircraft Carrier UNICORN, HM Destroyers ACTIVE,
CLEVELAND and Polish ORP SLAZAK, HM Sloops
WELLINGTON and WESTON,
HM Frigates EXE and NESS, HM Cutters GORLESTON
and TOTLAND as Ocean
Escort for the joint military convoy WS30 to
Middle East and Convoy KMF15 to North
Africa during passage from Clyde.
25th Detached from joint convoy with Ocean Escort and resumed Freetown
route duties.
June Deployed on convoy defence on Freetown route.
to (Note: Award of Battle Honour ATLANTIC 1940-45
reflects contribution made in
July actions against U-Boats and aircraft in defence of
Atlantic convoys).
For details of weapons and tactics used in the
Atlantic battle see SEEK AND STRIKE
by W Hackmann, THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D
MacIntyre and U-BOAT
WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO)).
August
Transferred to West African Command at Freetown for coastal convoy escort.
(Note: HEDGEHOG Anti-Submarine mortar was
fitted during this period.
See above references).
September
Escort of local convoys off West Africa.
October
Detached to join ships of British 5th Escort Group and 8th Escort Group
as
escort for convoy taking personnel and stores to
Azores for establishment
of air bases (Operation ALACRITY).
November
Returned to Freetown and resumed escort duties.
December
Local convoy escort duty in continuation at Freetown.
1 9 4 4
January
Deployment as escort for West African coastal convoys continued.
to
May
June 11th
Returned to UK as part of escort for Convoy SL161.
20th Remained with escort for joint convoy MKS52 on merger with SL161.
July
2nd Detached from joint convoy SL161/MKS52 and took passage to refit.
Taken in hand for refit at Dunstaffnage, near
Oban, Argyll.
August
Under refit
to
October
November On
completion worked-up at Tobermory.
December
Passage to Freetown to join 57the Escort Group for local convoy escort.
1 9 4 5
January
Transferred to Gibraltar with Group.
to Deployed on escort of Atlantic convoys.
May (Note: No significant threat of submarine attack off
West Africa.)
June Returned to UK to reduce to Reserve at Devonport.
Paid off and de-stored prior to being laid up.
July Laid up at Milford Haven.
P o s t W a r
N o t e s
HMS LOWESTOFT was sold for use as a mercantile in October 1946, renamed MIRAFLORES and
was
used
commercially until August 1955 when she was sold for breaking up at Zeebrugge.
This name was
given to a Type 12 Anti-Submarine Frigate when
launched by Alex, Stephens at Govan on 23 June 1960.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
LOWESTOFT
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
29/01/40
|
29/01/40
|
HG 017F
|
07/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
04/03/40
|
04/03/40
|
FN 0111
|
06/03/40
|
06/03/40
|
11/03/40
|
11/03/40
|
FS 0119
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
MT 033
|
19/03/40
|
19/03/40
|
19/03/40
|
19/03/40
|
FS 0124
|
21/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
23/03/40
|
23/03/40
|
FN 0127
|
24/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
TM 032
|
24/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
26/03/40
|
26/03/40
|
MT 038
|
26/03/40
|
26/03/40
|
29/03/40
|
29/03/40
|
FN 0132
|
31/03/40
|
31/03/40
|
05/04/40
|
05/04/40
|
MT 045
|
06/04/40
|
06/04/40
|
09/04/40
|
09/04/40
|
FN 0141
|
11/04/40
|
11/04/40
|
07/06/40
|
07/06/40
|
FS 0190
|
09/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
07/06/40
|
07/06/40
|
MT 084
|
07/06/40
|
07/06/40
|
15/06/40
|
15/06/40
|
FS 0196
|
17/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
18/06/40
|
18/06/40
|
FN 0199
|
19/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
29/06/40
|
29/06/40
|
FN 0208
|
01/07/40
|
01/07/40
|
03/07/40
|
03/07/40
|
FS 0211
|
04/07/40
|
04/07/40
|
06/07/40
|
06/07/40
|
FN 0215
|
08/07/40
|
08/07/40
|
10/07/40
|
10/07/40
|
FS 0218
|
11/07/40
|
11/07/40
|
13/07/40
|
13/07/40
|
FN 0221
|
15/07/40
|
15/07/40
|
21/07/40
|
21/07/40
|
FS 0227
|
22/07/40
|
22/07/40
|
23/07/40
|
23/07/40
|
FN 0230
|
25/07/40
|
25/07/40
|
27/07/40
|
27/07/40
|
FS 0234
|
29/07/40
|
29/07/40
|
30/07/40
|
30/07/40
|
FN 0237
|
01/08/40
|
01/08/40
|
03/08/40
|
03/08/40
|
FS 0241
|
05/08/40
|
05/08/40
|
06/08/40
|
06/08/40
|
FN 0244
|
08/08/40
|
08/08/40
|
12/08/40
|
26/08/40
|
HX 065
|
27/08/40
|
27/08/40
|
02/09/40
|
02/09/40
|
OA 208
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
25/08/40
|
07/09/40
|
SC 002
|
10/09/40
|
10/09/40
|
17/09/40
|
17/09/40
|
OB 215
|
21/09/40
|
21/09/40
|
09/09/40
|
21/09/40
|
HX 072
|
21/09/40
|
21/09/40
|
10/09/40
|
23/09/40
|
SC 004
|
26/09/40
|
26/09/40
|
03/10/40
|
03/10/40
|
FS 0299
|
04/10/40
|
04/10/40
|
06/10/40
|
06/10/40
|
FN 0301
|
08/10/40
|
09/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
FS 0306
|
14/10/40
|
14/10/40
|
14/10/40
|
14/10/40
|
FN 0308
|
16/10/40
|
16/10/40
|
19/10/40
|
19/10/40
|
FS 0314
|
22/10/40
|
22/10/40
|
23/10/40
|
23/10/40
|
FN 0317
|
25/10/40
|
25/10/40
|
10/11/40
|
10/11/40
|
FN 0331
|
12/11/40
|
12/11/40
|
14/11/40
|
14/11/40
|
FS 0335
|
16/11/40
|
16/11/40
|
17/11/40
|
17/11/40
|
FN 0336
|
19/11/40
|
19/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
FS 0346
|
28/11/40
|
28/11/40
|
30/11/40
|
30/11/40
|
FN 0347
|
02/12/40
|
02/12/40
|
04/12/40
|
04/12/40
|
FS 0353
|
08/12/40
|
08/12/40
|
09/12/40
|
09/12/40
|
FN 0355
|
11/12/40
|
11/12/40
|
13/12/40
|
13/12/40
|
FS 0360
|
15/12/40
|
15/12/40
|
25/12/40
|
25/12/40
|
FS 0371
|
28/12/40
|
28/12/40
|
03/01/41
|
03/01/41
|
FS 0378
|
05/01/41
|
05/01/41
|
05/11/41
|
07/11/41
|
WN 202
|
08/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
23/03/42
|
24/03/42
|
WN 261
|
25/03/42
|
25/03/42
|
22/04/42
|
24/04/42
|
WN 273
|
24/04/42
|
24/04/42
|
24/04/42
|
25/04/42
|
WN 274
|
26/04/42
|
26/04/42
|
02/05/42
|
04/05/42
|
OS 027
|
19/05/42
|
19/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
LS 005
|
20/05/42
|
20/05/42
|
24/05/42
|
24/05/42
|
SL 111
|
16/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
01/07/42
|
02/07/42
|
OS 033
|
12/07/42
|
20/07/42
|
27/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
MKS 002A
|
03/12/42
|
07/12/42
|
19/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
KMF 015
|
28/05/43
|
27/05/43
|
28/05/43
|
28/05/43
|
MKF 015
|
05/06/43
|
05/06/43
|
20/06/43
|
20/06/43
|
KMS 018A
|
29/06/43
|
29/06/43
|
06/07/43
|
06/07/43
|
RS 008
|
12/07/43
|
12/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
TS 048
|
28/07/43
|
28/07/43
|
07/08/43
|
07/08/43
|
OSS 052
|
14/08/43
|
12/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
TS 051
|
01/09/43
|
01/09/43
|
10/09/43
|
10/09/43
|
STL 001
|
15/09/43
|
15/09/43
|
19/09/43
|
19/09/43
|
LTS 002
|
24/09/43
|
24/09/43
|
27/09/43
|
27/09/43
|
STL 002
|
02/10/43
|
02/10/43
|
05/10/43
|
05/10/43
|
LTS 003
|
10/10/43
|
10/10/43
|
15/10/43
|
15/10/43
|
STL 004
|
21/10/43
|
21/10/43
|
03/11/43
|
03/11/43
|
LTS 004
|
10/11/43
|
10/11/43
|
13/11/43
|
13/11/43
|
STL 006
|
18/11/43
|
18/11/43
|
21/11/43
|
21/11/43
|
LTS 006
|
28/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
10/12/43
|
10/12/43
|
TS 054
|
16/12/43
|
16/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
STL 008
|
28/12/43
|
28/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
LTS 008
|
04/01/44
|
04/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
SL 147
|
25/01/44
|
02/02/44
|
22/02/44
|
22/02/44
|
STL 012
|
01/03/44
|
29/02/44
|
04/03/44
|
04/03/44
|
LTS 012
|
11/03/44
|
11/03/44
|
19/03/44
|
19/03/44
|
STL 015
|
25/03/44
|
25/03/44
|
30/03/44
|
30/03/44
|
LTS 015
|
06/04/44
|
06/04/44
|
18/04/44
|
18/04/44
|
STL 020
|
23/04/44
|
23/04/44
|
01/05/44
|
01/05/44
|
LTS 019
|
09/05/44
|
09/05/44
|
26/05/44
|
26/05/44
|
ST 082
|
31/05/44
|
31/05/44
|
31/05/44
|
31/05/44
|
TS 059
|
02/06/44
|
07/06/44
|
02/06/44
|
02/06/44
|
LTS 022
|
06/06/44
|
06/06/44
|
11/06/44
|
11/06/44
|
SL 161
|
22/06/44
|
21/06/44
|
22/06/44
|
22/06/44
|
SL 161MK
|
02/07/44
|
02/07/44
|
22/11/44
|
22/11/44
|
OS 095
|
26/11/44
|
26/11/44
|
21/01/45
|
21/01/45
|
MKS 078G
|
23/01/45
|
29/01/45
|
30/01/45
|
03/02/45
|
KMS 081G
|
05/02/45
|
05/02/45
|
01/03/45
|
01/03/45
|
MKS 086G
|
03/03/45
|
09/03/45
|
01/03/45
|
03/03/45
|
KMS 087G
|
06/03/45
|
06/03/45
|
25/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
KMS 091G
|
26/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
MKS 091G
|
27/03/45
|
03/04/45
|
20/04/45
|
20/04/45
|
MKS 096G
|
23/04/45
|
28/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)