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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2005

HMS WELLINGTON (L 65) - Grimsby-class Sloop including Convoy Escort Movements  

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

 HMS Wellington (CyberHeritage, click to enlarge) return to Contents List 
 

GRIMSBY-Class Sloop ordered from HM Dockyard Devonport on 1st May 1933 under the 1932 Programme and laid down on 25th September 1933. The ship was launched by Lady Fullerton on 29th toy 1934 as the 6th RN ship to carry the name which was first used for a Prize (ORESTE) taken in 1810. Build was completed on 24 January 1935 and she sailed for New Zealand Station the next month. She remained in the Pacific area until the outbreak of war in 1939. This sloop was named after the capital city of New Zealand, unlike her sister ships which carried the names of UK seaside towns. In March 1942 following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign this ship was adopted by the civil community of Wellington, Somerset.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC  1939-45

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field White, a Dolphin Blue and Gold over a Mural Crown Gold.

 

M o t t o

Suprema ut olim:   'Supreme as ever'

 

 

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

                3rd          Transferred from New Zealand Division for deployment at Singapore.

                19th        On arrival deployed for interception of German shipping in Malacca Straits.

 

October                  Patrol duties based at Penang in continuation.

                                Nominated for return to UK.

 

November              Took passage via Red Sea.

 

December

                9th          On arrival at Gibraltar to collect convoy at Freetown.

                                Passage to Freetown.

                                Deployed as escort for inward Convoy SL13 during passage to Liverpool

                                (Note: For details of dates of all convoy passages see ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM IN

                                WW2 by A Hague.)

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Nominated for refit on arrival in UK.

                9th          Taken in hand for refit at Cardiff to prepare for service in Western Approaches

 

February                On completion of post refit trials deployed with1st Escort Division based at Plymouth

                                for escort of UK - Gibraltar route convoys in Channel and SW Approaches.

 

 

March                    Local Escort of Atlantic convoys in continuation

to

April

 

May                        Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to U65

                                Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

 

June

                10th        Detached to assist with evacuation from Le Havre (Operation CYCLE).

                                Transferred to Liverpool after use of English Channel for Atlantic convoys

                                was discontinued.

 

July                         Resumed convoy defence duties on completion of CYCLE.

to                            (For details of convoy defence and enemy tactics see THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC

September             by D Macintyre and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).)

 

October                  Escorted outward Convoy CG44 with HM Armed Merchant Cruiser PRETORIA CASTLE.

                                Threat of attack by German destroyers covered by deployment of destroyers of 5th

                                Flotilla in SW Approaches.

                                (See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith)

 

November              Damaged in collision with ss SARASTONE during escort of Convoy HX43.

                                Under repair in commercial shipyard at Liverpool.

 

December              On completion resumed Atlantic convoy defence.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to

September

 

October                  Transferred to 42nd Escort Group based at Londonderry.

                                Deployed for escort of outward OS Series to West Africa and inward return convoys to

                                Liverpool.

                                Part of escort for return Convoy SL39 with ships of Group.

 

November              Deployed as part of escort for outward Convoy OS12 with ships of Group.

 

December              Freetown route convoy defence in continuation.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Freetown route convoy defence in continuation,

to                            Nominated for refit

February

 

March                    Taken in hand for refit at commercial shipyard in Belfast.

 

April                       Under refit.

to                            (Note: Surface warning radar Type 271 radar and HF D/F direction finding outfit fitted for

June                        of wireless signals from U-Boats.

                                For details of development and use of radar equipment in RN see RADAR AT SEA by

                                D Howse and for convoy defence details see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)

 

July                         On completion of post refit trials resumed Free route duties.

 

August                  Convoy defence in continuation.

to                            Nominated for defence of military convoys to Gibraltar prior to allied landings

October                  in North Africa.

                                (Operation TORCH - For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY

                                by Corelli Barnett, Naval Staff History and for information about all mercantiles and warships

                                involved BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.).

 

November              Detached for escort of troop convoys.

 

December              Deployed for escort of KMF/MKF series convoys in support of North African operations.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Gibraltar route convoy defence in continuation

to                            (For details of improved weapons and tactics see SEEK AND STRIKE).

March

 

April                       Deployed for Atlantic convoy escort with 44th Escort Group.

                16th        Joined joint military convoy KMF13 to Gibraltar and WS29 to Freetown with HM Destroyer

                                RAPID, VENOMOUS, LAUDERDALE, HM Sloop WESTON, HM Cutters GORLESTON ,

                                TOTLAND,, HM Frigates EXE and NESS as escort during passage in NW Approaches.

                20th        Detached from joint convoy when it divided into two sections for. onward passages and

                                continued convoy defence duties in NW Approaches.

                                (Note: HM Cruiser NEWCASTLE was deployed as Ocean Escort.)

                                Return passage to Clyde

 

May                        Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

                19th        Joined HM Destroyers ACTIVE, CLEVELAND, BOADICEA, Polish destroyer ORP SLAZAK,

                                HM Sloops LOWESTOFT, WESTON, HM Frigates EXE , NESS, HM Cutters GORLESTON and

                                TOTLAND as escort for joint military convoy KMF15 to Gibraltar and Convoy WS30 to

                                Freetown.

                                (Note: HM Cruiser SUFFOLK, HM Aircraft Carrier UNICORN and HM Armed Merchant

                                Cruiser ASTURIAS were deployed as Ocean Escort for this joint convoy.)

                25th        Detached from joint convoy when it divided into two sections for onward passage and

                                returned to Clyde.

 

June                        Atlantic convoy defence in continuation

 

July                         Transferred to Freetown for escort of local convoys

 

August                  Freetown local convoy defence in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Freetown local convoy defence in continuation.

to March

 

April                       Nominated for refit at Bermuda

 

May                        Passage to Bermuda for refit.

 

June                        Under refit in HM Dockyard, Bermuda.

to July

 

August                  Took passage to UK for completion of refit work.

                                Refit work at Commercial shipyard in Clyde

 

September             On completion of refit carried out post refit trials.

                                Resumed operational service and took passage to Freetown.

 

October                  Joined 55th Escort Group at Freetown.

 

November              Deployed on escort of West African coastal convoys.

to December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Transferred with Group to Gibraltar for escort of Gibraltar-UK route convoys.

 

February                Atlantic convoy defence based at Gibraltar in continuation.

to                            (Note: Atlantic convoys were re-routed via English Channel.).

April

 

May                        After VE Day nominated for reduction to Reserve.

12th        Accepted surrender of U541 at Gibraltar.

                                Nominated for return to UK to Pay-off.

 

June                        Passage to UK to pay off.

 

July                         Paid off, de-stored and reduced to Reserve status

 

August                  Laid up at Milford Haven.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS WELLINGTON was placed on the Disposal List after VJ Day and sold to The Honourable Company of Master Mariners for use as a floating Livery Hall. After conversion involving removal of machinery the ship was moored in London on the Thames Embankment .

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS WELLINGTON

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

 

 

 

 

 

18/12/39

18/12/39

SL 013

04/01/40

06/01/40

16/01/40

16/01/40

HG 015

25/01/40

25/01/40

07/02/40

08/02/40

OA 087

09/02/40

09/02/40

27/02/40

27/02/40

OG 020F

02/03/40

02/03/40

20/03/40

20/03/40

HG 023

30/03/40

30/03/40

01/04/40

02/04/40

OA 121

04/04/40

04/04/40

06/04/40

06/04/40

OG 025F

12/04/40

12/04/40

29/04/40

29/04/40

HG 028

06/05/40

09/05/40

19/05/40

19/05/40

OA 151

21/05/40

unknown

26/05/40

26/05/40

OB 155

28/05/40

29/05/40

29/05/40

29/05/40

OG 031

02/06/40

04/06/40

31/05/40

02/06/40

HG 032

10/06/40

unknown

21/06/40

21/06/40

OG 034

03/07/40

03/07/40

28/06/40

28/06/40

HG 036

07/07/40

08/07/40

17/07/40

17/07/40

OG 038

29/07/40

29/07/40

30/07/40

30/07/40

HG 040

14/08/40

14/08/40

19/08/40

19/08/40

OG 041

02/09/40

02/09/40

04/09/40

04/09/40

HG 043

18/09/40

18/09/40

27/09/40

27/09/40

OB 220

01/10/40

01/10/40

11/10/40

11/10/40

OG 044

24/10/40

24/10/40

31/10/40

31/10/40

HG 046

19/11/40

19/11/40

30/11/40

30/11/40

OB 252

04/12/40

04/12/40

22/11/40

05/12/40

SC 013

07/12/40

07/12/40

07/12/40

29/12/40

SL 058S

31/12/40

02/01/41

10/01/41

10/01/41

OB 272

14/01/41

14/01/41

02/01/41

15/01/41

SC 018

18/01/41

19/01/41

24/03/41

24/03/41

OB 302

unknown

30/03/41

17/03/41

29/03/41

HX 115

03/04/41

03/04/41

06/04/41

06/04/41

OG 058

21/04/41

21/04/41

24/04/41

24/04/41

HG 060

12/05/41

12/05/41

25/05/41

26/05/41

OG 063

07/06/41

07/06/41

14/06/41

14/06/41

HG 065

29/06/41

29/06/41

14/07/41

14/07/41

OB 346

01/08/41

01/08/41

05/08/41

08/08/41

SL 083

28/08/41

28/08/41

12/09/41

13/09/41

OS 006

29/09/41

03/10/41

05/10/41

08/10/41

SL 089

25/10/41

26/10/41

18/11/41

19/11/41

OS 012

08/12/41

11/12/41

12/12/41

15/12/41

SL 095

31/12/41

31/12/41

18/01/42

20/01/42

OS 017

07/02/42

07/02/42

09/02/42

11/02/42

SL 100

19/02/42

04/03/42

19/02/42

19/02/42

SL 100F

28/02/42

28/02/42

12/05/42

12/05/42

OS 028

30/05/42

30/05/42

04/06/42

04/06/42

SL 112

23/06/42

23/06/42

11/07/42

12/07/42

OS 034

30/07/42

30/07/42

04/08/42

04/08/42

SL 118

23/08/42

26/08/42

29/08/42

31/08/42

OS 039

16/09/42

18/09/42

02/10/42

10/10/42

XK 001

13/10/42

14/10/42

14/11/42

14/11/42

KMF 003

22/11/42

23/11/42

23/11/42

26/11/42

MKF 003

03/12/42

03/12/42

12/12/42

12/12/42

KMF 005

13/12/42

20/12/42

24/12/42

27/12/42

MKF 005

31/12/42

31/12/42

08/01/43

08/01/43

KMF 007

17/01/43

17/01/43

18/01/43

18/01/43

MKF 007

25/01/43

25/01/43

16/04/43

20/04/43

KMF 013

23/04/43

23/04/43

24/04/43

24/04/43

MKF 013

02/05/43

02/05/43

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

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 003

22/10/43

20/10/43

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

02/02/44

02/02/44

ST 078

07/02/44

07/02/44

11/02/44

11/02/44

LTS 010

19/02/44

19/02/44

03/03/44

03/03/44

STL 013

10/03/44

07/03/44

12/03/44

12/03/44

LTS 013

20/03/44

20/03/44

28/03/44

28/03/44

STL 016

02/04/44

02/04/44

11/04/44

11/04/44

LTS 016

18/04/44

18/04/44

21/04/44

21/04/44

SL 156

03/05/44

03/05/44

04/09/44

04/09/44

OS 088KM

10/09/44

10/09/44

10/09/44

10/09/44

OS 088

20/09/44

20/09/44

24/09/44

24/09/44

STL 031

30/09/44

30/09/44

05/02/45

05/02/45

MKS 081G

07/02/45

13/02/45

05/02/45

07/02/45

KMS 082G

09/02/45

09/02/45

19/02/45

19/02/45

MKS 084G

21/02/45

27/02/45

21/02/45

22/02/45

KMS 085G

25/02/45

25/02/45

06/03/45

06/03/45

MKS 087G

09/03/45

14/03/45

07/03/45

09/03/45

KMS 088G

11/03/45

11/03/45

26/03/45

26/03/45

MKS 091G

28/03/45

03/04/45

29/03/45

29/03/45

KMS 092G

01/04/45

01/04/45

05/04/45

05/04/45

MKS 093G

08/04/45

14/04/45

07/04/45

08/04/45

KMS 094G

11/04/45

11/04/45

20/04/45

20/04/45

MKS 096G

23/04/45

28/04/45

05/05/45

05/05/45

MKS 099G

08/05/45

12/05/45

02/05/45

08/05/45

OS 126KM

08/05/45

08/05/45

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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