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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 MIGNONETTE (M 38) - Flower-class Corvette including Convoy Escort Movements

 

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMCS Snowberry, sister-ship (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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FLOWER-Class Corvette ordered on 31 Aug 1939 from Hall Russell of Aberdeen and laid down on 15 July 1940. The ship was launched on 28th January 1941 as the 2nd RN major warship to bear the name introduced in 1916 for a Sloop lost in 1917. Build was completed on 7th May 1941 and she was adopted by the civil community of Bramhall, Cheshire after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in February 1942.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC 1941-45 - NORMANDY 1944

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

 No Badge is recorded in the official List of Crests.

This is not unusual for ships of this Class built during

WW2  but many had an unofficial Badge.

 

 

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 1

 

May                        Contractors Trials

                                Nominated for service in Western Approaches.

                7th          Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials in Clyde.

                                Passage to Tobermory on completion of trials and storing.

                14th        Worked up for operational service at Tobermory

                                Western Approaches deployment cancelled and ship allocated for convoy defence based at

                                Freetown.

                30th        On completion of work-up prepared for foreign service.

 

June                        Prepared for foreign service at Greenock.

                                Sailed independently to Freetown with refuelling in Azores

                8th          During passage failed to receive Admiralty instruction to assist ss ENSIS which had been

                                torpedoed.

                19th        Made unsuccessful depth charge attack after sighting surfaced U-Boat.

                                Joined Freetown Escort Force on arrival.

 

July                         Deployed at Freetown for Local convoy defence.

                13th        Escorted inward convoy SL81

                27th        Detached from SL81 and returned to Freetown

 

August

                15th        Escorted inward Convoy SL84 until 19.8.41

                19th        Detached from SL84 and returned to Freetown

 

September

                1st           Joined HM Corvettes ARMERIA and WOODRUFF in escort for military Convoy WS10X

                3rd          Detached from WS10X and returned to Freetown with same ships.

                                On arrival at Freetown deployed on local coastal convoy escort between Freetown, Lagos, Bathurst

                                and Takoradi

 

October                  Developed leaking stem gland and other mechanical defects.

                                To be withdrawn for repair in UK as beyond local resources.

                8th          Part of escort for inward convoy OS7 until 14.10.

                20th        Deployed with HM Destroyers VELOX, WRESTLER, HM Corvettes ANCHUSA and

                                CALENDULA for Local Escort of military convoy WS12 during initial stage of passage to Cape

                                Town.

                27th        Deployed with escort for inward convoy SL91 to UK.

 

November

                8th          Detached with ships destined for Clyde and designated SL91G.

                19th        Detached from SL91G on arrival

                20th        Taken in hand for repair by Harland Wolff at Govan

 

December              Under repair.

                                (Note: Radar Type 271 fitted.

                                For details of development and sue of radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Nominated for duty in Western Approaches on completion.

                15th        Carried out harbour and sea trials on completion of shipyard work.

                18th        Deployed as escort for outward Convoy OS57.

                                Temporary transferred for convoy defence based in Iceland

                                Passage to Iceland with HM Corvette GENISTA.

 

February                Deployed in Iceland for convoy defence.
                25th        Arrived in Londonderry
for boiler clean.

                26th        Sustained major damage after being struck by ss GLENWOOD when berthed alongside.

                                Taken in hand for repair,

 

March                    Nominated for transfer to 3rd British Escort Group on completion.

                30th        Carried out harbour and sea trials

 

April                       Resumed operational service.

                9th          Deployed as escort for outward Convoy ON84 with Group.

                22nd       Returned to Londonderry.

 

May

                6th          Deployed with escort for inward convoy HX188 until 15.5.42.

                15th        Detached from HX188.

                18th        Transferred to 2nd British Escort Group.

                22nd       Part of escort for outward Convoy ON97 during Atlantic passage to Mid-Ocean Meeting Point.

 

June                        Joined inward Convoy SC86 for escort during Atlantic passage.

                20th        Detached from SC86 and returned to base.

                26th        Deployed with escort for outward Convoy ON107 during Atlantic passage.

 

July                         Deployed as escort for inward Convoy HX198.

                23rd        Detached from HX198 and returned to base,

 

August

                1st           Deployed with escort for outward Convoy ON118

                                Deployed with escort for inward Convoy HX203

                27th        Detached from HX203 and returned to base.

                29th        Taken in hand for refit at Dowsons, South Shields.

                                (Note: During refit HEDGEHOG anti-submarine Forward firing Mortar fitted.)

 

September             Under refit

 

October                  Damage sustained by collision with ss LEWIS CROSSTHWAITE repaired during refit.

                31st         Carried out post refit trials on completion of shipyard work.

 

November              Rejoined B2 Group.

                24th        Deployed with escort for outward Convoy ON148.

 

December              Joined escort for inward HX219 during passage to Liverpool.

                29th        Detached from ON159 and returned to base.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January

                4th          Joined outward Convoy ON160 as part of escort during Atlantic passage.

 

February                Joined outward Convoy SC118 as part of escort during Atlantic passage.

                7th          Under heavy and sustained U-Boat attacks during which mercantiles ROBERT E

                                HOPKINS and TOWARD were sunk by U403

                                (Note: For details of passage of SC118 see HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair

                                and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO)

                10th        Detached from SC118 and returned to base.

 

March                    Transferred to EG39 on formation with COLTSFOOT, SPIRAEA and BALSAM.

                7th          Deployed for escort of outward OS44 with Group.

                13th        Under attack by U107 during which four mercantiles were sunk and another after a

                                collision.

                                See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Bamett, BATTLE

                                OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre)and above references.).

                31st         Escorted return convoy SL127 with Group during passage to Liverpool.

                                (Note: Cover against threat of attack by German destroyers in Bay of Biscay

                                was provided by HM Cruiser BIRMINGHAM

 

 April                      Detached from SL127 on arrival

                                Taken in hand for repair at Belfast

                                Resumed operational service with Group.

 

May

                6th          Deployed with ships of Group for escort of joint convoys OS47/KMS14 during Atlantic

                                passage

 

June                        Joined joint Convoy SL130/KMS14 as part of escort during passage to Liverpool

                21st         Detached from SL130/KMS14 and returned to base,

 

July

                5th          Joined joint outward convoy OS51/KMS20 as escort during Atlantic passage from Liverpool.

                                with HM Corvettes COLTSFOOT, AZALEA, GERANIUM and BALSAM.

                13th        Remained as escort of Convoy OS51 when ships of Convoy KMS20 detached and took

                                passage to Gibraltar.

                15th        During attack on OS51 by U135 one mercantile was damaged.

                                Carried out depth charge attacks with HM Sloop ROCHESTER, BALSAM and MIGNONETTE

                                which forced submarine to surface.

                                (Note: U135 was then rammed by HMS MIGNONETTE and sunk by this attack and 41 of the

                                crew were taken prisoner.

                                For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR

                                by C Blair.

                                *Most sources credit the ramming to ROCHESTER, but the sinking report by the Naval

                                Intelligence  Division confirms MIGNONETTE)

                23rd        Detached from OS51 on arrival at Freetown.

                28th        Sailed from Freetown with ships of Group as part of escort for inward Convoy SL134.

 

August

                14th        Remain with escort for joint convoy when Convoy MKS22 merged with SL134.

                25th        Taken in hand for repair at West Hartlepool.

 

September             Under repair.

 

October

                30th        Carried out sea trials on completion of shipyard work.

 

November

                5th          Deployed to rejoin Group during escort of outward Convoy OS59/KMS33.

 

December

                4th.         Deployed as part of escort for merged inward Convoy SL141/KMS37 with Group and HM

                                Escort Aircraft Carrier FENCER.

                26th        Part of escort for outward Convoy OS63/KMS37 with Group

 

1 9 4 4

 

January

                1st           Escort joined by HM Escort Aircraft Carrier STRIKER.

                7th          HMS STRIKER detached.

                9th.         Detached from KMS37 on arrival at Gibraltar.

                12th        Deployed with escort for inward joint convoy SL145/MKS36 with Group reinforced by

                                HM Canadian Corvettes EDMUNDSTON and LUNENBURG of 6th Escort Group.

                20th        Additional support from 15th Escort Group provided during passage in NW Approaches.

 

February

                6th          Escorted outward OS67/KMS41 with Group including HM Corvette GERANIUM and

                                air cover provided by HM Escort Aircraft Carrier PURSUER.

                10th        Under air attack repelled by PURSUER aircraft.

                24th        Joined inward Convoy SL149/MKS40 with Group and HM Destroyer ROCKWOOD.

                                Detached with LONDONDERRY to meet FENCER to provide air cover.

                                Rejoined merged convoy

 

March

                7th          Detached on arrival of joint convoy in Liverpool.

                15th.       Escorted joint outward convoy OS71/KMS45 with Group reinforced by HM Corvettes

                                SWEETBRIAR, WALLFLOWER and HM Trawler LADY MADELEINE.

                                Returned with joint inward convoy SL153/MKS44.

 

April                       Detached from joint convoy.

                12th        On arrival at Londonderry EG39 was disbanded because of redeployments for planned

                                allied landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE.)

                                Allocated to Force L as escort for Convoy L2 from Harwich with HM Frigate CHELMER,

                                HM Destroyer VIVACIOUS and HM ML491.

 

May

                3rd          Passage to Harwich.

                6th          Arrived at Harwich.

                                Took part in preparatory exercises

                                (For details of naval activities before and during NEPTUNE see LANDINGS IN NORMANDY,

                                June 1944 (HMSO), OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards and for information about all

                                mercantiles and warships involved D-DAY SHIPS by J de Winser.)

 

June

                5th          Assembled with Convoy L2 at Harwich and sailed for Eastern Task Force Area

                                (Note: Convoy comprised seven Landing Ships ,Tank.).

                6th.         Detached from L2 after arrival. (See above references and Battle Summary 39 for details).

                                Returned to Harwich after arrival at Beach Head

                                Remained in Force L for escort of follow up convoys.

                8th          Deployed for escort of Convoy ETM4 to Beach Head.

                27th        On termination of NEPTUNE remained in Channel area for convoy escort

 

July                         Channel deployment in continuation.

                25th        Escorted Convoy FWL39-

 

August                  Continued escort duty for convoys in support of military operations.

 

September             Transferred to Portsmouth Command for defence of Atlantic convoy traffic in coastal

                                waters.

                                Deployed with escort for inward Convoy HX308 and outward Convoy ON255.

 

October                  Channel convoy defence in continuation

                                Part of escort for outward Convoy inward Convoys ONA257 and inward Convoy HX310.

                                (Note: This was the first use of Channel by Atlantic convoys since 1940 because of

                                removal of threat of air attacks from French bases.

 

November.             Transferred to 41st Escort Group based at Plymouth for Channel convoy defence.

                                Part of escort for inward joint Convoy SL175/MKS66 outward Convoy ONA267

 

December              Channel deployment with Group in continuation

                                Part of escort for inward joint Convoy MKS69/SL178, outward Convoy ONA273 , inward

                                Convoy HX325 and outward Convoy ONA275

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Channel deployment with Group in continuation.

                                Part of escort for inward Convoys HX327 and HX329

                21st         During Channel deployment sank U1199 with HM Destroyer ICARUS off Longships LV.

                                For details see above references.

                                Part of escort for outward Convoys ONA277 and ONA278

                                Nominated for refit in commercial shipyard.

                                (Note: For details of dates for all convoys see ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM IN WW2

                                by A Hague.)

 

February                Deployed for escort of inward Convoy HX334

                4th          Took passage from Devonport for refit

                9th          Taken in hand for refit at Leith.        

 

March                    Under refit

to

April

 

May                        Resumed operational service in SW Approaches

                21st         Escorted convoy MKS101.

                28th        Escorted HM Monitor ROBERTS from Plymouth to Liverpool.

                                Nominated for reduction to Reserve status.

 

June

                11th        Escorted ten MFV and ss EMPIRE HEATHLAND from Falmouth to Gibraltar

                22nd       Returned to Plymouth.

 

July

                6th          Passage to Liverpool to destore.

                20th        Paid-off reduced to Reserve status at Londonderry.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS MIGNONETTE was laid-up in Reserve at Londonderry was placed on the Disposal List. In 1946 the ship was sold to a Greek shipping company for use as a mercantile. Renamed ALEXANDROUPLIS she was wrecked off Lemnos on 30th November 1948.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS MIGNONETTE

by Don Kindell

 

(these convoy movements have not been cross-checked with the main text.) 

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

13/07/41

15/07/41

SL 081

24/07/41

08/08/41

15/08/41

15/08/41

SL 084

19/08/41

08/09/41

26/08/41

08/09/41

CF 002A

13/09/41

13/09/41

23/09/41

unknown

OS 007

14/10/41

14/10/41

27/10/41

27/10/41

SL 091

08/11/41

08/11/41

08/11/41

08/11/41

SL 091G1

12/11/41

12/11/41

12/11/41

12/11/41

SL 091GS

19/11/41

19/11/41

13/01/42

18/01/42

ON 057

24/01/42

07/02/42

08/04/42

09/04/42

ON 084

22/04/42

25/04/42

03/05/42

06/05/42

HX 188

15/05/42

16/05/42

22/05/42

23/05/42

ON 097

02/06/42

05/06/42

05/06/42

08/06/42

SC 086

18/06/42

20/06/42

26/06/42

27/06/42

ON 107

03/07/42

09/07/42

12/07/42

15/07/42

HX 198

23/07/42

23/07/42

02/08/42

03/08/42

ON 118

14/08/42

20/08/42

16/08/42

19/08/42

HX 203

27/08/42

28/08/42

23/11/42

24/11/42

ON 148

06/12/42

13/12/42

13/12/42

19/12/42

HX 219

28/12/42

29/12/42

04/01/43

05/01/43

ON 159

14/01/43

20/01/43

11/01/43

26/01/43

ON 160

27/01/43

04/02/43

24/01/43

31/01/43

SC 118

10/02/43

12/02/43

06/03/43

07/03/43

OS 044

24/03/43

24/03/43

31/03/43

31/03/43

SL 127

21/04/43

15/04/43

05/05/43

06/05/43

OS 047KM

16/05/43

16/05/43

16/05/43

16/05/43

OS 047

25/05/43

25/05/43

30/05/43

30/05/43

SL 130

11/06/43

11/06/43

11/06/43

11/06/43

SL 130MK

21/06/43

21/06/43

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

16/11/43

22/11/43

OS 059KM

28/11/43

28/11/43

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

08/01/44

07/01/44

08/01/44

08/01/44

KMS 037G

09/01/44

09/01/44

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

09/06/44

09/06/44

ETM 004

10/06/44

10/06/44

30/06/44

30/06/44

ETC 023

01/07/44

01/07/44

13/08/44

13/08/44

FTM 067

13/08/44

14/08/44

02/10/44

02/10/44

ON 257

03/10/44

18/10/44

21/09/44

03/10/44

HX 310

06/10/44

05/10/44

08/11/44

14/11/44

SL 175MK

15/11/44

15/11/44

18/11/44

18/11/44

ON 267

21/11/44

05/12/44

09/11/44

23/11/44

HX 319

25/11/44

25/11/44

06/12/44

10/12/44

SL 178MK

15/12/44

15/12/44

18/12/44

18/12/44

ON 273

21/12/44

04/01/45

09/12/44

21/12/44

HX 325

24/12/44

23/12/44

28/12/44

28/12/44

ON 275

31/12/44

13/01/45

19/12/44

30/12/44

HX 327

03/01/45

02/01/45

07/01/45

07/01/45

ON 277

10/01/45

23/01/45

29/12/44

11/01/45

HX 329

14/01/45

12/01/45

12/01/45

12/01/45

ON 278

15/01/45

31/01/45

16/01/45

16/01/45

TBC 040

19/01/45

19/01/45

03/02/45

03/02/45

BTC 058

06/02/45

06/02/45

17/05/45

17/05/45

OS 129KM

20/05/45

21/05/45

15/05/45

20/05/45

MKS 101G

22/05/45

22/05/45

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 


 

* ADDITIONS AND CORRECTIONS

With thanks to David Bennett whose father was an Able Seaman on board her during the sinking of U.135 in July 1943.

 

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