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Withdrawn from operational duties.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)