Modified BLACK SWAN-Class Sloop ordered from Fairfield at Govan under the 1940 Build Programme  on 18th July 1941. The ship was laid down as Job No 11702 (Yard Number 702) on 21st October 1941 and launched on 26th November 1942 by Lady Way as the 4th RN ship to carry the name. It vas introduced in 1806 had previously been used by a Tug renamed JACKAL in 1886. Build was completed on 29th May 1943 and design included radar for surface warning (Type 272), aircraft warning (Type 291) and for fire-control (Type 285). An anti­submarine mortar (HEDGEHOG) and 40mm Twin Oerlikon weapons were also fitted during build. After a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in February 1942 this ship was adopted by the civil community of Cuckfield, West Sussex.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

CHINA 1856-6  - ATLANTIC 1943-45 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1944  - OKINAWA 1945

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a field White, a woodcock 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 3

 

May                        Contractor's trials and commissioning.

                29th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance trials.

 

June.

                4th          Accepted into service with 2nd Escort Group.

                                Passage to Tobermory to work-up for operational duty.

 

July                         Joined Group at Liverpool after completion of work-up.

                                Deployed for escort and support of Atlantic convoys.

 

August                  Atlantic convoy defence deployment with Group in continuation.

                                (For details of defence of Atlantic convoys see THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D

                                Maclntyre and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).)

                                (Note: The 2nd Escort Group was commanded by Captain F J Walker who was the most

                                successful of all commanders of the Atlantic Groups. See THE FIGHTING CAPTAIN by Alan

                                Burns and RELENTLESS PURSUIT by D E C Weymss).

 

September             Atlantic convoy escort and support with HM Sloops STARLING, KITE, WILD GOOSE and

                                MAGPIE of Group.

 

October                  Supported passage of Convoy HX258 with Group.

                21st         Deployed with ships of Group and HM Escort Carrier TRACKER in support «f passage

                                of Convoy ON207 under threat from SIEGFRIED group of U-Boats.

                23rd        Transferred to Convoy HX262 which had been diverted to avoid waiting submarines.

 

November

                5th          Supported passage of Convoy HX264 with ships of Group and HMS TRACKER.

                                Took part in anti-submarine search operations.

                                (For details of development of new weapons and tactics used by escorts and also by U-Boats,

                                see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann).

                6th          Shared credit for sinking U226 of TIRPITZ U-Boat Group in position 44.49N 41.13W

                                with H M Sloops STARLING and KITE. There were no survivors from the submarine.

                8th          During passage to Argentia to refuel with ships of Group and TRACKER came under

                                attack by U648 which failed.

 

December              Atlantic convoy defence-in continuation. Taken in hand for repair at Dundee.

                6th          Taken in hand for repair at Dundee.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January

                21st         On completion joined 7th Escort Group based at Belfast.

 

February                Deployed with new Group for Atlantic convoy escort duty in NW Approaches.

 

March                    Transferred with ships of Group for convoy escort between UK and Gibraltar.

 

April                       Gibraltar route convoy defence in continuation.

                                Under repair at Belfast.

 

May                        On completion deployed for local convoy escort in North Channel, Clyde and Irish Sea.

                                Nominated for service in support of Normandy landings (Operation NEPTUNE).

                                Took passage for anti-submarine operations in Channel.

                                (For details of activities prior to and during Normandy landings see LANDINGS IN

                                NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO) and OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards).

                27th        Sustained serious damage in collision with HM Destroyer VENUS.

                                Taken in hand for temporary repair and not available for NEPTUNE deployment.

 

June                        Permanent repair arranged at Hull.

                6th          Passage to Hull under own power for repair.

 

July                         Under repair.

 

August

                7th          On completion resumed Atlantic convoy escort duty.

                                (Note: The availability of the ship was poor and further repair was required.)

                                Nominated for service with British Pacific Fleet).

 

September             Convoy defence duties restricted by availability.

                16th        Taken in hand for further repair in Liverpool.

                                Modified for service with BPF.

 

October                  Under repair and modification.

to

November

 

December              Post refit trials and prepared for foreign service. Took passage for Pacific

                22nd       Took passage to Pacific

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  In collision with HM Corvette BERGAMOT at Gibraltar without major damage.

                                Passage through Mediterranean.

 

February

                                Passage to Darwin with call at Colombo.

 

March                    Passage from Darwin to British Fleet Base at Manus, Admiralty Islands.

                5th          Arrived at Manus for service with Fleet Train. Prepared for operations with Task Force 112.

 

April                       Joined HM Sloops CRANE, PHEASANT and WHIMBREL for AA defence of British

                                Pacific Fleet Replenishment Group.

                                (Note: This Group included HM Escort Carriers RULER and SPEAKER with tankers. RAN

                                Fleet destroyers were also used for escort.)

 

May                        Deployed with Tanker Group of Fleet Train for AA defence during replenishment of British

                                Task Force 57 off the Sakishima Group during a series of air operations against Japanese

                                airfields during US landings on Okinawa (Operation ICEBERG II).

                                (Note: For details of Fleet Train ships and their deployment in support of BPF see Naval

                                Staff History and THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton.)

                12th        Provided air defence for HMS SPEAKER, HMS RULER, tankers ARNDALE, AASE

                                MARSK, SAN AMADO and DINGLEDALE, with HM Destroyer NEPAL, HM Sloop

                                PHEASANT and Royal Australian Navy minesweepers.

 

June                        Fleet Train defence deployment in continuation. based at Manus

                                Prepared for support of BPF Ships during operations off Japanese mainland.

                                (Note: Ships of the British Pacific Fleet which were serving as Task Force 57 of 5th US

                                Fleet were transferred to 3rd US Fleet on 26th May and designated Task Force 37

                                Fleet Train under British command remained Task Force 112 and were deployed as

                                a Tanker Support Group and a Logistics Support Group. AA defence was provided

                                by destroyers and sloops detached for duty with Fleet Train.)

 

July                         Deployed with Logistics Support Group in support of Task Force 37 ships off Japanese

                                mainland.

 

August                  AA defence duties with Logistics Support Group in continuation.

                15th        After VJ-Day remained in operational area with HMS RULER, HM Sloops PHEASANT,

                                CRANE, HM Frigate DERG, HM Australian Minesweepers BALLARAT, CESSNOCK

                                PIRIE and IPSWICH for support of BPF ships retained under US Command as Task Group

                                38.5.

                                Logistics Support Group comprised tankers WAVE KING, CARELIA, DINGLEDALE and

                                HM Victualling Supply Ship FORT WRANGELL.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS WOODCOCK remained in the Far East after release from support of TG38.5.She joined the Pacific Fleet Escort Force based in Hong Kong and took part in protection of mercantiles during passage to and from Chinese ports. During 1946 the ship returned to UK to pay off into Reserve. After reduction to Reserve status in December 1946 she was laid up at Harwich but transferred to Chatham in 1948. Her Reserve Category was reduced after 1953 and she was towed to Hartlepool the next year. Placed on the Disposal List in 1955 she was sold to BISCO for demolition by Shipbreaking Industries at Rosyth where she arrived on 28th November 1955.

 

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Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS WOODCOCK

by Don Kindell

 

This convoy list has not been cross-checked with the text above

(Note on Convoys)