SHOREHAM-Class Sloop ordered under the 1929 Programme from HM Dockyard,
Chatham on 4th December 1929 and laid down on 24th November 1930. The ship
was launched by the Mayor of Rochester, Mrs G. Jenner on 16th July 1931 as the 6th RN
ship to carry the name that was introduced in 1693 for a 4th Rate and last used for a
trawler hired for minesweeping during WW1. She was commissioned on 24th March 1932 for service on
the South Africa Station and accepted into service a week later on the completion of
build. This ship remained in South Africa based at Simonstown until 1939 and after being
re-armed there late in 1938 returned to UK. She re-commissioned at Sheerness
in June 1939 for service en the East Indies Station and arrived at Aden in
September 1939. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 she was adopted by the
civil community of Crompton, Lancashire.
B a t t l
e H o n o u r s
CAPE
PASSARO 1718 -
QUIBERON 1759 - MARTINIQUE
1762 - ATLANTIC 1939-45 -
NORTH AFRICA
1942
- NORMANDY
1944
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On
a Field Gold a cross Red, thereon the letter ‘R;
Black outlined Red.
M o t t o
Urbis
Fortuna Fortunma Navls:
'The city's fortune is the ship's fortune'
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
1st Arrived
at Aden for East Indies Station service.
3rd Deployed
in Persian Gulf for patrol and contraband control duties.
October East Indies
Station deployment in continuation.
Recalled for convoy defence duty in Home waters
November Passage to
UK.
Diverted during passage to escort
Freetown
- UK convoy
December Joined escort
of Convoy SL42 from Freetown.
On
arrival nominated for refit in
Humber shipyard and taken in hand.
1940
January Under refit
in Humber shipyard.
Nominated for service with 2nd Escort Division, Western Approaches
Command
February On completion of post refit
trials took passage to
Liverpool to join Division.
March Deployed for
convoy defence in Western Approaches.
27th Sustained
damaged to under water fittings in collision with ss LONGFORD.
April Remained
in service pending refit.
6th Deployed
with HM Sloops ABERDEEN, WELLINGTON and HM Destroyer
VIMY
as escort for Convoy OG25F during outward passage to Gibraltar in SW
Approaches.
7th Detached
from OG25F .
8th Joined
inward Convoy HG25F in SW Approaches with HM Destroyers VIMY,
VISCOUNT and WITCH for escort during passage to Liverpool.
(Note: The escort also included a French destroyer.)
11th Detached
from HG25F with escort after arrival in Liverpool
May Western
Approaches Convoy defence duties in continuation.
(Note: Western Approaches Command had been transferred to Liverpool)
5th Joined
Outward Convoy OG28 on formation in SW Approaches with HM Destroyer
WHITEHALL as escort during initial Stage of passage to Gibraltar.
Detached after arrival of two French destroyers.
(Note: The French warships remained as escort
until arrival in Gibraltar ion 10th.)
June Taken in
hand for refit and repair in
Liverpool.
to Pennant
Number for visual signalling purposes changed to U50.
July
August On completion of post refit
trials resumed convoy defence duties at
Liverpool
September Convoy defence
in SW Approaches in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 1
January
Deployed for convoy defence in Western Approaches.
to
April
May
Part of escort for Convoy OB218 with HM
Destroyers AMAZON and BULLDOG.
7th Took part in attacks on U94 during defence of OB218 with these
ships near Iceland.
June Taken in hand for refit in Liverpool.
(Note: New Radar Type 271 fitted during this
period.
See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
July 0n completion transferred to Londonderry and joined
37th Escort Group for convoy
defence in NW Approaches.
August
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
September
Deployed with Group for defence of convoys on UK-Freetown route.
October
Part of escort for Convoy HG74 with HM Corvette MALLOW, HM Destroyers
COSSACK and LAMERTON.
19th Participated in sinking of U2O4 with HMS MALLOW off Cape Spartel in position
35.46N 06.02W during defence of HG74 by ships of 37th Escort
Group.
(Note: There were no survivors from the
submarine which was part of BRESLAU
Group.)
November
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
to Transferred to 43rd Escort Group
December
1 9 4 2
January
Freetown convoy defence based at Londonderry.
February
Joined escort for Convoy OS18.
6th Participated in sinking of U82 with HM Corvette TAMARISK in defence
of OS18.
Submarine sunk off the Azores in position 44.10N
23.52 following depth charge
attacks during passage to Biscay port after
operating off US East coast. There were
no survivors.
March
Freetown convoy defence in continuation.
to
April
May Under refit in Tyne shipyard
to (Note: Radar Type 291Air warning) and HF D/F
Outfit FH3 fitted.
June For details of the development and use of radar in
the RN see RADAR AT
Sea by D Howse and for details of weapons and
tactics during the Battle of
the Atlantic see U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO), SEEK
AND
STRIKE by W Hackmann and HITLER’S U- BOAT WAR BY c BLAIR.).
July On completion of post refit trials returned to
Freetown route convoy defence
with 43rd Escort Group.
Provided support for passage of Convoy OS35 with
HM Sloops ERNE and SANDWICH
31st Participated in sinking of 0213 with same ships.
Submarine was sunk in position 36.45N .22,50W SE
of the Azores.
There were no survivors.
August
Freetown route convoy defence with Group in continuation
to Nominated for defence of military convoys to
Gibraltar prior to allied landings in
September
North Africa (Operation TORCH)
(Note: See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C
Barnett and Naval
Staff History.)
October
Escorted convoys on passage to Gibraltar prior to landings.
November
Transferred with Group for convoy escort in western Mediterranean.
December
Escort of support convoys to North African ports
1 9 4 3
January
Western Mediterranean convoy defence in continuation.
Nominated for return to Western Approaches and
took passage to Liverpool.
February
Joined 39th Escort Group at Liverpool for service in NW Approaches.
March
Escorted Convoy OS44 with ships of Group.
April Atlantic
convoy defence with Group in continuation
May Under
refit in Humber shipyard.
to
June
July On
completion rejoined Western Approaches Command for service on Freetown route.
Joined 39th Escort Group for escort of Convoy OS51.
15th
Participated in sinking of U135 with HM Corvettes MIGNONETTE, BALSAM and
US
VP-92 aircraft
during defence of convoy. 41 of submarine crew were rescued.
(Note: The submarine had torpedoed and damaged mercantile as TWICKENHAM
which
was in convoy and the attack was against German U-Boat Command
standing instructions. She was forced to the surface by depth charge attacks
and
abandoned by crew - See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
August Escorted
Convoys OS54/KMS25 with Group.
September Escorted
outward Convoy MKS28 to Gibraltar
with ships of Group.
October Gibraltar
route convoy defence in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 4
January Atlantic
convoy defence in continuation.
to
Nominated with Group for transfer to
Portsmouth
for support of allied landings
April in
Normandy
(Operation NEPTUNE - For details of naval activities prior to and
during operation
see OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS
IN
NORMANDY JUNE 1944 (HMSO).)
(Note: Intended for escort of Trinity House vessels during Assault Phase and to
be used for
control of Coastal Forces craft on completion)
May
Transferred as Senior Officer's ship to
Portsmouth
Deployed in SW Approaches for anti-submarine operations.
31st In
collision with HM Sloop HART during A/S operations in SW Approaches
June Under
repair by HM Dockyard, Devonport.
(Note: This defect prevented full participated in Assault Phase.)
On
completion deployed for convoy defence in Channel.
27th During
deployment as convoy escort carried out attack on submarine in position NE Cap
Barfleur
which
was inconclusive.
(Note: HM Corvette PINK was torpedoed but later towed to Portsmouth.
July
Transferred to EG41 based at
Plymouth for convoy defence.
Deployed in Channel and SW Approaches.
August Transferred
to Force 29 as Senior Officer.
(Note: Force 29
comprised HKML292 and HM Trawler KINGSTON ANDALUSITE.)
Deployed with Force 29 off
Brest in support of operations by 6
MTB's.
September Channel
deployment with 41st Group in continuation.
to
Nominated for long refit in
Newcastle.
October
November Passage to
Newcastle and taken in hand for refit.
December Under refit in
Tyne shipyard.
(Note: This refit was intended to prepare ship for service as the Navigation Training
ship attached
to
the Navigation School, HMS DRYAD at Portsmouth and included removal of
main
armament and Installation of a new design centimetric radar, Type 277).
1 9 4 5
January Under refit.
to
February
March On
completion of poet refit trials Joined Navigation School for training duties.
April Training
duties in continuation
to (Note:
Introduction of new navigational aids and development of radar equipment
August including
that for merchant ships made necessary frequent changes to the
internal fit of radio outfits).
P o s t W a
r N o t e s
HMS ROCHESTER continued
duty as Navigation School Training Ship until September 1949 when she was placed on the
Disposal List. The ship was sold to Clayton and Davie for breaking up at Dunston on Tyne on 16th January
1951.She arrived there under tow for demolition on 10th February after a most
distinguished record of
service in peace and war.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS
ROCHESTER
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
10/12/39
|
10/12/39
|
SL 012
|
26/12/39
|
26/12/39
|
13/01/40
|
24/01/40
|
SL 016F
|
27/01/40
|
27/01/40
|
28/01/40
|
28/01/40
|
OA 081
|
30/01/40
|
31/01/40
|
16/01/40
|
02/02/40
|
SL 017
|
04/02/40
|
04/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
07/02/40
|
OB 087
|
10/02/40
|
10/02/40
|
31/01/40
|
13/02/40
|
HX 018
|
16/02/40
|
16/02/40
|
23/02/40
|
23/02/40
|
OB 097
|
26/02/40
|
27/02/40
|
16/02/40
|
29/02/40
|
HX 020
|
04/03/40
|
04/03/40
|
08/03/40
|
08/03/40
|
OB 106
|
11/03/40
|
11/03/40
|
01/03/40
|
12/03/40
|
SL 022F
|
15/03/40
|
15/03/40
|
16/03/40
|
16/03/40
|
OB 111
|
19/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
06/04/40
|
06/04/40
|
OG 025F
|
07/04/40
|
12/04/40
|
02/04/40
|
08/04/40
|
HG 025F
|
11/04/40
|
11/04/40
|
14/04/40
|
14/04/40
|
OB 129
|
17/04/40
|
18/04/40
|
06/04/40
|
18/04/40
|
HX 033
|
20/04/40
|
20/04/40
|
21/04/40
|
21/04/40
|
OB 134
|
25/04/40
|
26/04/40
|
02/05/40
|
02/05/40
|
OB 140
|
05/05/40
|
05/05/40
|
05/05/40
|
05/05/40
|
OG 028
|
05/05/40
|
10/05/40
|
29/04/40
|
06/05/40
|
HG 028
|
09/05/40
|
09/05/40
|
18/05/40
|
18/05/40
|
OB 150
|
20/05/40
|
20/05/40
|
21/05/40
|
21/05/40
|
OB 152
|
23/05/40
|
24/05/40
|
12/05/40
|
24/05/40
|
HX 042
|
27/05/40
|
28/05/40
|
28/05/40
|
28/05/40
|
OB 157
|
31/05/40
|
31/05/40
|
20/05/40
|
31/05/40
|
HX 044
|
03/06/40
|
03/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
OB 175
|
30/06/40
|
30/06/40
|
14/07/40
|
14/07/40
|
OA 184
|
19/07/40
|
unknown
|
07/07/40
|
19/07/40
|
HX 056
|
22/07/40
|
22/07/40
|
09/08/40
|
09/08/40
|
OA 196
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
20/08/40
|
31/08/40
|
HX 067
|
04/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
09/09/40
|
09/09/40
|
OA 212
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
04/09/40
|
unknown
|
HG 043
|
18/09/40
|
18/09/40
|
26/09/40
|
26/09/40
|
OA 220
|
28/09/40
|
28/09/40
|
19/09/40
|
01/10/40
|
SC 005
|
02/10/40
|
04/10/40
|
10/10/40
|
10/10/40
|
OA 227
|
14/10/40
|
14/10/40
|
04/10/40
|
15/10/40
|
HX 078
|
19/10/40
|
20/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
OA 234
|
26/10/40
|
26/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
26/10/40
|
OB 234
|
30/10/40
|
30/10/40
|
09/10/40
|
30/10/40
|
SL 051S
|
31/10/40
|
31/10/40
|
12/10/40
|
30/10/40
|
SL 051
|
31/10/40
|
31/10/40
|
08/11/40
|
08/11/40
|
OB 240
|
unknown
|
13/11/40
|
20/11/40
|
20/11/40
|
HG 047
|
04/12/40
|
04/12/40
|
23/12/40
|
23/12/40
|
OB 263
|
26/12/40
|
27/12/40
|
14/12/40
|
27/12/40
|
HX 096
|
29/12/40
|
30/12/40
|
07/01/41
|
07/01/41
|
OG 049
|
21/01/41
|
21/01/41
|
25/02/41
|
26/02/41
|
OG 054
|
14/03/41
|
14/03/41
|
24/03/41
|
24/03/41
|
HG 057
|
11/04/41
|
11/04/41
|
02/05/41
|
02/05/41
|
OB 318
|
08/05/41
|
10/05/41
|
25/04/41
|
09/05/41
|
HX 123
|
12/05/41
|
13/05/41
|
18/05/41
|
19/05/41
|
OB 324
|
24/05/41
|
27/05/41
|
09/05/41
|
24/05/41
|
SC 031
|
27/05/41
|
30/05/41
|
19/08/41
|
20/08/41
|
OG 072
|
01/09/41
|
01/09/41
|
02/09/41
|
08/09/41
|
HG 072
|
17/09/41
|
17/09/41
|
27/09/41
|
27/09/41
|
OG 075
|
13/10/41
|
13/10/41
|
22/10/41
|
22/10/41
|
HG 075
|
27/10/41
|
03/11/41
|
30/11/41
|
01/12/41
|
OS 013
|
18/12/41
|
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
|
12/03/42
|
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
|
07/05/42
|
07/05/42
|
21/07/42
|
22/07/42
|
OS 035
|
10/08/42
|
10/08/42
|
14/08/42
|
14/08/42
|
SL 119
|
05/09/42
|
04/09/42
|
19/09/42
|
20/09/42
|
OS 041
|
01/10/42
|
01/10/42
|
23/09/42
|
04/10/42
|
SL 123
|
10/10/42
|
14/10/42
|
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
|
01/01/43
|
13/01/43
|
24/12/42
|
04/01/43
|
KMS 006G
|
09/01/43
|
09/01/43
|
05/01/43
|
08/01/43
|
MKS 005
|
11/01/43
|
22/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
GUS 003
|
21/01/43
|
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
|
31/03/43
|
SL 127
|
24/04/43
|
15/04/43
|
04/07/43
|
05/07/43
|
OS 051KM
|
13/07/43
|
13/07/43
|
13/07/43
|
13/07/43
|
OS 051
|
23/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
28/07/43
|
28/07/43
|
SL 134
|
19/08/43
|
19/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
01/09/43
|
OS 054KM
|
08/09/43
|
08/09/43
|
08/09/43
|
08/09/43
|
OS 054
|
17/09/43
|
17/09/43
|
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
|
16/11/95
|
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
|
25/12/43
|
26/12/43
|
OS 063KM
|
08/10/44
|
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
|
23/07/44
|
23/07/44
|
EBC 050
|
25/07/44
|
25/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
EBC 057
|
01/08/44
|
01/08/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)