Modified BLACK SWAN-Class Sloop ordered from Denny, Dumbarton on
11th February 1942 under the 1941 Build Programme. The ship was laid down on 8th September 1942 and
launched on 11th November 1943 by Miss Gordon. She was the 14th Royal Navy ship
to bear the name, introduced ion 1651 and last used
by a destroyer sold in 1919. Build was completed on 12th May 1944 and included
installation of a Head Throwing Mortar (HEDGEHOG) as well as the latest
surface warning radar Type 277. Following the loss of HM Sloop IBIS in November
1942 this ship replaced her as the warship adopted by the civil community of
Stoke Newington, now part of the Metropolitan
Borough of Hackney in Greater London.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
CADIZ 1596 - DOVER 1652 - GABBARD 1653
- PORTO FARINO 1655 - TEXEL 1672 - TOULON 1793
- BELGIAN COAST 1914-17 - ARCTIC
1944
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Blue, on a
water barry wavy in base White and Blue
a Mermaid Proper.
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 4 4
May Carried
out contractors trials and commissioned for service.
12th Build
completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
Retained in build yard for repair of defects found on trials.
On
completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory.
June
2nd
Commenced work-up for operational
service at Tobermory.
July
Under
work-up which had been extended.
17th Completed
work-up and taken in hand for further repair before operational service,
August Under
repair.
13th
Deployed with Home Fleet for convoy defence.
15th Joined
HM Sloops KITE and PEACOCK, HM Destroyers
WHITEHALL in escort
for Russian
Convoy JW59 to reinforce defence against
aircraft and submarine
attacks.
(Note: This convoy included battleship ARCHANGELSK (Ex HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN and
ten Ex USN PT boats being transferred to Russian Navy).
For details of all Russian convoy operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg,
CONVOY! by P Kemp, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield and ARCTIC CONVOYS !
by R Woodman.
20th JW59A
under U-Boat attack by T5 acoustic torpedoes
24th After
detection by SWORDF1SH aircraft of 825 Squadron from HM Escort Aircraft Carrier
VINDEX participated in sinking of U354 in position 72.49N 30.41e with HMS
KEPPEL, HMS
PEACOCK and HM Frigate LOCH DUNVEGAN.
There were no survivors from the submarine. (See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
Detached from convoy on arrival at Kola Inlet.
28th Joined
escort for returning convoy RA59A with same ships.
September
2nd Took
part on sinking of U394 in position 69.47N 04.41E, west of Lofotens, with HMS
KEPPEL,
HMS WHITEHALL and HMS PEACOCK after detection by SWORDFISH aircraft from HMS
VINDEX (825 Squadron).
6th
Detached on arrival at Loch Ewe with comparatively little interference.
12th Taken
in hand for repair of defects.
October On
completion of repair deployed on convoy defence in NW Approaches.
November Taken in hand
for refit at commercial shipyard in Leith. 1945
December Under refit
1 9 4 5
January Nominated
for service with 12th Escort Group for defence of Atlantic convoys.
February On
completion of shipyard work carried out post refit trials
Passage to Tobermory
March
23rd
Completed work-up at Tobermory.
Joined Group based at Liverpool.
April
Deployed for defence of coastal convoys and in SW
Approaches
May After
VJ Day nominated for service with British Pacific Fleet. on completion of refit
14th Taken
in for refit at Portsmouth to prepare for foreign service.
June Under
refit.
(Note: Work done included alterations to suit tropical service.)
July
17th On
completion took passage to Malta for work-up.
24th
Commenced work-up with ships of Mediterranean Fleet.
August Work-up in
continuation.
P o s t W a r
N o t e s
HMS MERMAID escorted a Floating Dock AFD22 to Aden during passage
to join British Pacific Fleet. However, on arrival at
Aden , she was recalled for service with the Mediterranean Fleet in the 33rd
Escort Flotilla. The ship remained in the Mediterranean Fleet and served in
various Flotillas in the period up to 1954 when she returned to UK to Pay-off
and reduce to Reserve status at Portsmouth. After three years in the Reserve
Fleet this Sloop was placed on the Sales List and sold to West Germany. Renamed SCHARNHORST
on 5th May 1959 following a refit in the Vickers-Armstrong shipyard in
Newcastle she joined the Bundesmarine During her
German naval service the ship was modernised between 196l-62 and later used for
gunnery training before being removed from the Active List during 1980.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
MERMAID
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
15/08/44
|
15/08/44
|
JW 059
|
25/08/44
|
25/08/44
|
28/08/44
|
28/08/44
|
RA 059A
|
04/09/44
|
05/09/44
|
10/04/45
|
10/04/45
|
DS 064
|
13/04/45
|
13/04/45
|
14/04/45
|
14/04/45
|
SD 064
|
17/04/45
|
17/04/45
|
11/05/45
|
12/05/45
|
ONS 050
|
12/05/45
|
29/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)