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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2
by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2002

 

HMS ALLINGTON CASTLE (K 689)  - Castle-class Corvette including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Allington Castle (Navy Photos/Bob Hanley, click to enlarge)

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CASTLE-Class Corvette ordered on 9th December from Fleming and Ferguson of Paisley, Glasgow under the 1942 Emergency Programme and to be built as a FLOWER Class Frigate and named AMARILIS. Later the contract  was changed for build of the new design CASTLE Class Corvette bearing the name ALLINGTON CASTLE. The ship was laid down on 27th July 1943 and launched on 29th February 1944 as H.M.S. ALLINGTON CASTLE. The error recognised June 1944 and she was formally renamed ALLINGTON CASTLE, a castle near Maidstone in Kant. No previous RN warship had carried this name. Build was completed on 19th June 1944.The ship was adopted by the civil community of Alsager, Cheshire, but not as part of the National Savings WARSHIP WEEK campaigns held during 1941 - 42.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC 1944-45 - ARCTIC 1944-45

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field White, on a cross couped Red, a pheon Gold

(Note: Based on the Arms of the Wyatt family who owned the land at one time.)

 

 

S u m m a r y   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

 

June                Contractors trials and commissioned for service.

                        Allocated for service in 8th Escort Group.

          19th       Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

          21st       Taken in hand for repair of defects.

          30th       On completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory.

 

July                 Carried out work-up at for operational service.

          17th       Joined Group and deployed for convoy escort in NW Approaches and Irish Sea.

          23rd      Deployed in Clyde.

 

August

            1st       Passage to Londonderry to join escort for Gibraltar route convoy.

          18th       Arrived at Gibraltar.

                        Return passage to Clyde as escort to inward convoy..

                        Detached from convoy on arrival and returned to Londonderry.

                        (Note: Slight damage by fire reported on 16th August.)

 

September       Nominated for detached service with Home Fleet for escort of Russian convoy.

          12th       Passage to Loch Ewe to join convoy.

          15th       Deployed with HM Destroyers KEPPEL, BULLDOG, WHITEHALL HM Corvette BAMBOROUGH

                        CASTLE as close Escort for Russian Convoy JW60 from Loch

                        (Note: Home Fleet ships providing cover and support included HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Escort

                                    Aircraft Carrier CAMPANIA,  HM Destroyers MARNE, METEOR, MILNE, MUSKETEER,

                                    SAUMAREZ, SAVAGE, VOLAGE, ALGONQUIN (RCN) and SIOUX (RCN).

                                    (For details of all Russian convoy operations including names of mercantiles being escorted, see

                                    ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY, by C Barnett, RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B

                                    Schoefield, CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by R A Ruegg, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman

                                    and CONVOY! by P Kemp.)

          23rd      Detached from JW60 on arrival at Kola Inlet after an uninterrupted passage, despite attempts by

                        GRIMM U-BOAT Group and aircraft to locate the convoy.

          29th       Joined dose Escort fbr return convoy RA 60 from Kola

          29th       Interception by U-Boat Groups GRIMM and ZORN failed.

                        During independent attack by U310 two mercantiles were sunk.

                        (Note: Sinking of U921 by aircraft from HMS CAMPANIA after an earlier attack by SWORDFISH

                                    aircraft Is not confirmed by post war analysis.

                                    See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair and U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.).

 

October

           4th        Detached from RA60 with close Escort during passage to Loch Ewe.

           5th        Arrived in Clyde.

          13th       Deployed with escort of UK-Gibraltar convoy.

          23rd       At Gibraltar.

          30th        Passage to UK with return convoy.

 

November

            8th        Arrived in Clyde.

                         Transferred to 20th Escort Grew with H M Destroyers KEPPEL, BEAGLE, BULLDOG and

                         WESTCOTT, HM Sloops CYGNET, LAPWING and HM Corvette BAMBOROUGH CASTLE.

          28th        Passage to Aultbea to join escort for Russian Convoy.

          29th        Joined Russian Convoy JW62 with HM Frigates BAHAMAS, LOCH ALVIE, SOMALILAND,

                         TAVY, TORTOLA, HM Canadian Frigates MONNOW, NESS, PORT COLBOURNE, ST JOHN,

                         STORMONT, HM Corvettes BAMBOROUGH CASTLE, TUNGSTEN (Norwegian) and

                         EGLANTINE.

 

December

            1st        HM Cruiser BELLONA, HM Escort Aircraft Carriers CAMPANIA, NAIRANA, HM Destroyers

                         BEAGLE, BULLDOG, CAESAR, CAMBRIAN, CAPRICE, CASSANDRA, KEPPEL,

                         OBEDIENT, ONSLAUGHT, ONSLOW, ORIBI, ORWELL and WESTCOTT joined RW62 to

                         supplement escort.

                         (Note: Although threat by German Battleship TIRPITZ had been removed after attack by the RAF

                                     additional escorts from Home Fleet were provided by Hone Fleet because of the threat

                                     to Russian convoys by aircraft and submarines.

            7th        Detached from RW 62 at Kola Inlet after uninterrupted passage.

                         (Note: U-Boats of STOCK Group failed to make contact.

                                     Attempts by single U-Boats were unsuccessful. See above references.)

            9th         Sailed from Kola Inlet with other escorts to carry out anti-submarine  operation against U-Boats

                          assembled to carry out concerted attacks on departing ships.

                          (Note: U367 was sunk by HMS BAMBOROUGH CASTLE during anti-submarine operation.)

                                      See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)

           10th        Joined escort for return Convoy RA62 after departure from Kola Inlet.

           11th        HMS CASSANDRA hit by torpedo from U365 and returned to Kola Inlet for repair.

           12th        HM Norwegian Corvette TUNSBERG CASTLE sank after striking mine 110 miles NW Kola.

                          (See above references.)

                          Air attacks on convoy failed and two enemy aircraft destroyed.

           13th        U365 sunk by two SWORDFISH aircraft from 813 Squadron embarked in HMS CAMPANIA.

                          (See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)

           17th        RCN escorts and HMS LOCH ALVIE detached from RA62.

           20th        Arrived in Clyde after RA62 reached Loch Ewe.

           30th        Joined Convoy JW63 as escort during passage to Kola Inlet with HM Destroyers KEPPEL.

                          WALKER and WESTCOTT, HM Sloops CYGNET, LAPWING, LARK, H M Corvettes

                          BAMBOROUGH CASTLE and ALNWICK CASTLE.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January

             1st        HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Escort Aircraft Carrier VINDEX, HM Destroyers MYNGS, SAVAGE,

                          SCOURGE, SERAPIS,  ZAMBESI, ZEBRA, ALGONQUIN (RCN), SIOUX joined JW63 to

                          supplement escort.

             8th        Detached from JW63 on arrival at Kola Inlet after uninterrupted passage.

            11th       Joined return convoy RA63 en departure from Kola Inlet as escort with same snipe as deployed with

                          JW63

                          (Note: Convoy forced to shelter due to severe weather NE of Faroes.)

            24th       Sailed from Faroes with re-assembled Convoy RA63.

            26th       Detached from RA63 after arrival at Loch Ewe.

            27th       Arrived In Clyde.

            28th       Deployed as escort for Escort Aircraft Carrier during Deck Landing Training

            29th       Taken in hand for repair by Henderson shipyard, Glasgow.

 

March

              9th       Resumed convoy defence duties and deployed for Local Escort.

            12th       Joined Convoy JW65 at Loch Ewe as Close Escort during passage to Kola Inlet with HM Corvettes

                          ALNWICK CASTLE, BAMBOROUGH CASTLE, LANCASTER CASTLE, CAMELLIA,

                          HONEYSUCKLE, OXLIP, HM Destroyers MYNGS, STORD (Norwegian) and HM Sloop

                          LAPWING.

                          (Note: HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Escort Aircraft Carrier CAMPANIA, HM Destroyers

                                      ONSLAUGHT, OPPORTUNE, ORWELL, SCORPION, ZAMBESI, SIOUX (RCN) and

                                      HM Corvette FARNHAM CASTLE were also deployed to reinforce escort.

            15th       HM Escort Aircraft Carrier TRUMPETER escorted by HM Destroyers SAVAGE and SCOURGE

                          joined to provide increased air cover.

            17th       Patrol line of U-Boats of HAGEN Croup off Bear Island failed to sight convoy due to poor

                          visibility.

            20th       Convoy under U-Boat attacks during snow storms which prevented air operations from the two

                          carriers.

                          HMS LAPWING hit by torpedo from U968.

                          (Note: This Sloop later sank.

                                      See above references and WARSHIP LOSSES IN WW2 by D. Brawn.)

                          Two mercantiles were also torpedoed, one being sunk and the other beached later

            21st       Detached from JW65 after arrival at Kola Inlet.

            23rd       Deployed with other escorts to carry cut attacks on known assembly of U-Boats.

                          (Note: Convoy re-routed through swept passage in Russian minefield which avoided the awaiting

                                      submarines.

                                      Anti-submarine operations were carried out by escorts in the assembly area before joining

                                      return convoy RA65.)

                          On completion of operations joined RA65 as escort for return passage with same escorts as for

                          JW65

            30th       Remained with RA65 when Home Fleet ships detached.

 

April

              1st       Detached from RA65 with Corvettes en arrival at Scapa Flow.

                          Deployed for convoy defence and anti-submarine operations In NW Approaches.
            18th       Passage to Clyde from Scapa Flow.

            20th       Deployed in Irish Sea in continuation.

                          (Note: SCHNORKEL fitted U-Boats were extensively deployed in coastal waters.

                                      See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair, SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackman and HOLD

                                      THE NARROW SEA by P Smith.)

 

May

            12th       Passage to Scapa Flew from Clyde.

            14th       Returned to Clyde.

                          (Note: After VE Day, Western Approaches escorts were depleted to meet surrendering U-Boats at

                                      sea and also in ports in Norway.

                                      See HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO)  for

                                      details on U-Boat operations in 1945.)

            17th      Nominated for reduction to Reserve status

            21st      Took passage from Clyde to Sheerness for transfer to Reserve.

 

P o s t   W a r    N o t e s

 

HMS ALLINGTON CASTLE was nominated for further service in June 19t5 but could not  be brought out of Reserve for deployment in the Fishery Protection Squadron until the manning situation allowed. The ship was recommissioned at Sheerness in January 1946 and was based at Fleetwood. She was deployed in Home Waters for patrol duties until 1948 and laid-up in Reserve at Harwich. After that Division closed, this ship, reclassified as a Frigate, was transferred to West Hartlepool where she remained until 1958. Placed on the Disposal List as part of Defence Review in 1957 she was sold to BISCO for demolition by by T Young at Sunderland where she arrived in tow on 20th December 1958.

 

Special   Acknowledgement

 

This revised issue has been made possible by receipt of details of Ship Movements supplied by the Archivist of THE CASTLE CLASS CORVETTES ASSOCIATION and also information from THE NAVAL HISTORICAL COLLECTORS AND RESEARCH ASSOCIATION.  The information kindly forwarded has confirmed many of the dates in the former issue and filled in many gaps. This assistance is greatly acknowledged. 

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS ALLINGTON CASTLE

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

 

 

 

 

 

01/08/44

02/08/44

OS 085KM

11/08/44

11/08/44

12/08/44

12/08/44

KMS 059G

13/08/44

13/08/44

18/08/44

18/08/44

MKS 058G

19/08/44

19/08/44

19/08/44

19/08/44

SL 167MK

27/08/44

29/08/44

25/08/44

27/08/44

OS 087KM

30/08/44

03/09/44

15/09/44

15/09/44

JW 060

23/09/44

23/09/44

28/09/44

28/09/44

RA 060

04/10/44

05/10/44

15/10/44

15/10/44

OS 092KM

25/10/44

25/10/44

25/10/44

25/10/44

KMS 066G

26/10/44

26/10/44

29/10/44

29/10/44

MKS 065G

30/10/44

30/10/44

30/10/44

30/10/44

SL 174MK

07/11/44

07/11/44

29/11/44

29/11/44

JW 062

07/12/44

07/12/44

10/12/44

10/12/44

RA 062

19/12/44

19/12/44

30/12/44

30/12/44

JW 063

08/01/45

08/01/45

11/01/45

11/01/45

RA 063

19/01/45

21/01/45

11/03/45

11/03/45

JW 065

21/03/45

21/03/45

23/03/45

23/03/45

RA 065

01/04/45

01/04/45

02/05/45

02/05/45

OS 126KM

05/05/45

08/05/45

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

 

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revised 31/5/11
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