ATLANTIC 1939-45 - NORMANDY 1944
November
Passage to Canada from Plymouth.
17th - Arrived at Halifax and nominated
for service in
West Indies.
18th - Sailed for convoy defence
of east coast of Canada.
December
Convoy defence deployment in
continuation.
5th - Took passage to Bermuda from Halifax.
Deployed
in Caribbean area for
convoy defence
and interception patrol to enforce
blockade.
1 9 4 0
January to February
West Indies deployment in continuation.
(Note:
German
ships in US ports were targeted for
interception and capture
as
part of the
blockade.)
March
8th - Assisted HM Cruiser DUNEDIN which
had
intercepted German freighter HANNOVER in
Mona
Passage
off Dominica.
Took
burning
enemy ship in tow to open sea and provided
fire-fighting party whilst tow taken
over by HMS DUNEDIN.
9th - Passage to Kingston with captured
ship.
(Note:
This
Prize was later converted for use as a
prototype Escort Aircraft Carrier and
renamed HMS AUDACITY. She was sunk in defence
of a
convoy off Spain in December 1941.)
13th - Arrived at Kingston and despite lack of assistance
from tugs ship
was taken safely into harbour.
Released
from Caribbean duty and
took passage to Halifax.
31st - Arrived at Halifax.
April
Deployed for convoy defence at
Halifax.
May to June
Taken in hand for refit at Halifax.
Pennant
Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to I18.
July to November
On completion of post refit trials resumed convoy defence
duties off eastern coast of North America including traffic to and from
Bermuda.
December
Nominated for transfer to UK for convoy defence
in NW Approaches.
1 9 4 1
January
Passage to join Western Approaches Command.
31st - Arrived in UK.
February
Deployed in NW Approaches for convoy defence.
28th - Rescued survivors from ss
ANCHISES
which had sunk after air attacks.
March
Deployed at Greenock with 10th Escort Group for Atlantic
convoy defence.
April
5th - Involved in collision with ss
LAIRDSWOOD.
7th - Taken in hand for damage repair in
Clyde
shipyard.
May
Under repair.
(Note:
Two 20mm Oerlikon
guns fitted to improve AA defence.
Warning
Radar
Type 286 fitted (Modified RAF Outfit) -
See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse. Degaussing
cables installed to provide
protection against magnetic mines.)
22nd - Rejoined Group on completion of repair and deployed
with HM
Destroyers LEGION and SAGUENAY (RCN) as screen for HM Battlecruiser
REPULSE during passage from Clyde to join Home Fleet ships prior to search
for the
German battleship BISMARCK.
23rd - Joined screen for HM Battleship KING GEORGE V in Butt
of Lewis.
24th - Detached from Home Fleet screen to
refuel in
Iceland. Transferred to Newfoundland Escort Force and took passage to
join
RCN
Group at
St Johns.
June to July
Deployed for convoy defence
based in
Newfoundland.
August
6th - Passage to join HM Battleship PRINCE
OF WALES
with HM Destroyer RIPLEY. (Note: HMS PRINCE OF WALES was taking
Prime Minister
to Argentia Bay
for meeting with US
President.)
7th - Relieved HM Destroyers HARVESTER,
HESPERUS and
HAVELOCK as screen during passage to Newfoundland for Atlantic
Charter Meeting.
12th - Deployed with HMS RIPLEY, HM Destroyers RESTIGOUCHE
(RCN)
and
READING,
US destroyers MAYRANT and RHIND as screen
for
HMS
PRINCE OF WALES during
passage to Iceland after meeting.
September to December
Deployed with 14th Escort Group of Newfoundland Escort Force
for
convoy
defence. (For details of Atlantic convoy defence
and enemy tactics see HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair, THE BATTLE OF THE
ATLANTIC by
D. Macintyre and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).)
1 9 4 2
January to April
Atlantic deployment with 1st Canadian
Escort Group.
May
Deployed with HM Canadian Destroyer ST CROIX
,
HM Canadian Corvettes CHAMBLY and BUCTOUCHE, HM Corvettes DIANTHUS
and
NASTURTIUM,
Free French Corvettes ACONIT and MIMOSE as
escort
for Convoy HX189 during
Atlantic passage.
10th - Under sustained attacks by HECHT
Group of
U-Boats.
June
Escorted Convoy ONS100 with HMCS BUCHTOUCHE
,
HMCS CHAMBLY, FS ACONIT and FS MIMOSE.
9th - Convoy under attack by HECHT Group
during which
FS MIMOSE was sunk by torpedo from U124.
July
Atlantic convoy defence
with
1st Canadian Escort Group in
continuation.
August
Deployed with HM Corvettes CHILLIWACK (RCN), HMCS ORILLIA,
HMS
DIANTHUS,
HMS NASTURTIUM and HMS PRIMROSE of Group for escort of Convoy SC94.
5th - Under sustained attacks by
STEINBRINK Group of
U-Boats.
6th - Took part in search with HMS DIANTHUS for submarine
after radar
contact in poor visibility. After search lasting over five hours
sighted surfaced
U210 and engaged with 4.7in armament before
ramming the submarine.
Despite
damage
from return fire made second ramming and
sank U210 by depth charge attacks
in
position
40.15N 39.37W. 37 survivors from U210 were rescued.
(For
details see HITLER'S U-BOAT
WAR by C Blair and U-BOATS DESTROYED by P
Kemp.)
Withdrew
from escort and took
passage to Canada for repair.
29th - Taken in hand for repair.
September to November
Under repair.
December
On completion of post repair trials
prepared for
work-up.
1 9 4 3
January
Worked-up for operational service.
February
Resumed convoy escort duty with Group.
Nominated
for transfer to
Western Approaches Command and took
passage to UK as part of escort
for
Atlantic
convoy.
March
3rd - Sustained serious damage to stern
structure when
carrying out depth charge attack during
defence
of
convoy.
(Note:
This
was caused by incorrect setting of depth charges
which
exploded near surface.)
7th - Taken in hand for repair at
Liverpool shipyard.
April to June
Under repair.
July
Post repair trials.
13th - Rejoined 1st Canadian Escort Group to resume Atlantic
convoy
escort duty. (Note: Group comprised HM Destroyer SKEENA (RCN), HM
Destroyer
BURNHAM
and
five FLOWER Class Corvettes.)
August to December
Atlantic convoy escort with Group in
continuation.
1 9 4 4
January to February
Atlantic deployment in continuation.
(Note:
For
details of development of new tactics for
attack and defence
of Atlantic convoys see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann
and above references.)
Nominated
for refit in Canada.
March
Deployed with HM Destroyers FORESTER, ST LAURENT (RCN), HM
Canadian
Frigates
SWANSEA, VALLEYFIELD and five RCN
Corvettes
as
escort for Convoy SC154.
10th - Convoy under threat from U485 which was located after
making
radio transmissions and attacked away from convoy by HMCS ST
LAURENT.
(Note:
Remained
with convoy and did not take part in later
sinking of
this
submarine.
See above references.)
April
Deployed in Canadian waters and prepared for refit.
May to June
Under refit at Shelburne, Nova Scotia.
Nominated
for
service in 12th Escort Group deployed at
Londonderry.
July
Post refit
trials and passage to
Londonderry to join Group.
August
1st - Arrived at Londonderry for service in SW Approaches
and Channel. for anti-submarine operations and interception
of coastal
convoys.
8th - In action with trawlers in Audierne
Bay south of Brest.
12th - Damaged by return fire from shore
battery.
September
Channel deployment with Group in continuation.
October
Transferred to 11th Canadian Escort Group in continuation.
(Note:
Increased
activity by SCHNORKEL fitted U-Boats
required the
reinforcement
of convoy escorts
and patrols in Channel and SW Approaches. See references.)
November
Channel deployment in continuation.
December
Transferred to 14th Canadian Escort Group based at Liverpool
for
Atlantic convoy defence.
1 9 4 5
January
Deployed with Group in UK coastal waters for convoy defence
against increased use of SCHNORKEL-fitted submarines.
February
14th - Involved in collision with ss
EMPIRE BOND in English Channel. Taken
in hand for repair.
March
Resumed duty with Group on completion of repair.
April
Coastal convoy escort and patrol in continuation.
May
8th - Nominated for duty as a troop
transport.
June to July
Deployed to carry returning Canadian service personnel back
to Canada.
August
Nominated for disposal and to be paid-off.
8th - Paid-off and destored.
Placed on the
Disposal List
P
o s t W
a
r N o t
e s
HMCS
ASSINIBOINE
was sold for
demolition at Baltimore USA in November
1945 and taken in tow to breakers yard.
The ship broke from tow
during passage on 10th November and was
driven ashore. She was wrecked near East
Point, Prince Edward Island. The hulk was
later sold to Guard Salvage Co of Halifax
and
broken up in situ during 1952.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS
KEMPENFELT
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
27/09/39
|
27/09/39
|
OA
011
|
28/09/39
|
30/09/39
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
as
HMCS
ASSINIBOINE
|
|
|
|
|
|
18/11/39
|
18/11/39
|
HX
009
|
20/11/39
|
02/12/39
|
26/11/39
|
26/11/39
|
HX
010
|
28/11/39
|
10/12/39
|
09/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
HX
049
|
10/06/40
|
24/06/40
|
11/06/40
|
11/06/40
|
TC
005
|
13/06/40
|
21/06/40
|
13/06/40
|
13/06/40
|
HX
050
|
14/06/40
|
30/06/40
|
25/06/40
|
25/06/40
|
HX
053
|
26/06/40
|
10/07/40
|
29/06/40
|
29/06/40
|
HX
054
|
30/06/40
|
14/07/40
|
03/07/40
|
03/07/40
|
HX
055
|
04/07/40
|
18/07/40
|
11/07/40
|
11/07/40
|
HX
057
|
12/07/40
|
26/07/40
|
15/07/40
|
15/07/40
|
HX
058
|
16/07/40
|
31/07/40
|
04/08/40
|
04/08/40
|
HX
063
|
05/08/40
|
19/08/40
|
08/08/40
|
08/08/40
|
HX
064
|
09/08/40
|
23/08/40
|
12/08/40
|
12/08/40
|
HX
065
|
13/08/40
|
27/08/40
|
16/08/40
|
16/08/40
|
HX
066
|
17/08/40
|
31/08/40
|
20/08/40
|
20/08/40
|
HX
067
|
20/08/40
|
04/09/40
|
24/08/40
|
24/08/40
|
HX
068
|
25/08/40
|
08/09/40
|
27/08/40
|
27/08/40
|
TC
007
|
28/08/40
|
04/09/40
|
28/08/40
|
28/08/40
|
HX
069
|
29/08/40
|
12/09/40
|
05/09/40
|
05/09/40
|
HX
071
|
06/09/40
|
20/09/40
|
01/09/40
|
10/09/40
|
HX
070
|
02/09/40
|
16/09/40
|
13/09/40
|
13/09/40
|
HX
073
|
14/09/40
|
28/09/40
|
17/09/40
|
17/09/40
|
HX
074
|
18/09/40
|
02/10/40
|
21/09/40
|
21/09/40
|
HX
075
|
22/09/40
|
07/10/40
|
30/09/40
|
30/09/40
|
HX
077
|
01/10/40
|
15/10/40
|
04/10/40
|
04/10/40
|
HX
078
|
05/10/40
|
18/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
HX
083
|
25/10/40
|
07/11/40
|
01/11/40
|
01/11/40
|
HX
085
|
02/11/40
|
06/11/40
|
11/11/40
|
11/11/40
|
HX
086
|
11/11/40
|
26/11/40
|
14/11/40
|
14/11/40
|
HX
088
|
15/11/40
|
30/11/40
|
21/11/40
|
21/11/40
|
HX
090
|
22/11/40
|
05/12/40
|
25/11/40
|
25/11/40
|
HX
091
|
26/11/40
|
11/12/40
|
06/12/40
|
06/12/40
|
HX
094
|
07/12/40
|
22/12/40
|
03/12/40
|
13/12/40
|
HX
093
|
04/12/40
|
18/12/40
|
16/12/40
|
16/12/40
|
TC
008
|
21/12/40
|
25/12/40
|
22/12/40
|
22/12/40
|
HX
098
|
23/12/40
|
29/12/40
|
17/02/41
|
24/02/41
|
TC
009
|
26/02/41
|
27/02/41
|
22/05/41
|
23/05/41
|
OB
326
|
26/05/41
|
29/05/41
|
08/06/41
|
08/06/41
|
OB
331
|
18/06/41
|
19/06/41
|
21/06/41
|
21/06/41
|
TC
011
|
24/06/41
|
30/06/41
|
27/06/41
|
03/07/41
|
OB
340
|
13/07/41
|
13/07/41
|
07/07/41
|
15/07/41
|
OB
344
|
17/07/41
|
16/07/41
|
21/07/41
|
21/07/41
|
TC
012
|
23/07/41
|
29/07/41
|
26/08/41
|
27/08/41
|
TC
012B
|
01/09/41
|
01/09/41
|
08/09/41
|
08/09/41
|
CT
002
|
14/09/41
|
14/09/41
|
27/12/41
|
30/12/41
|
SC
062
|
08/01/42
|
12/01/42
|
10/02/42
|
13/02/42
|
SC
069
|
23/02/42
|
27/02/42
|
09/03/42
|
10/03/42
|
ON
074
|
20/03/42
|
25/03/42
|
30/03/42
|
03/04/42
|
SC
077
|
12/04/42
|
16/04/42
|
21/04/42
|
22/04/42
|
ON
088
|
03/05/42
|
08/05/42
|
10/05/42
|
14/05/42
|
HX
189
|
20/05/42
|
20/05/42
|
02/06/42
|
03/06/42
|
ON
100
|
13/06/42
|
19/06/42
|
21/06/42
|
24/06/42
|
HX
195
|
01/07/42
|
02/07/42
|
13/07/42
|
14/07/42
|
ON
112
|
25/07/42
|
30/07/42
|
31/07/42
|
02/08/42
|
SC
094
|
06/08/42
|
13/08/42
|
29/12/42
|
05/01/43
|
HX
221
|
13/01/43
|
14/01/43
|
24/01/43
|
25/01/43
|
ON
163
|
08/02/43
|
16/02/43
|
31/07/43
|
01/08/43
|
ON
195
|
08/08/43
|
13/08/43
|
14/08/43
|
20/08/43
|
HX
252
|
27/08/43
|
28/08/43
|
08/09/43
|
10/09/43
|
ON
201
|
18/09/43
|
24/09/43
|
22/09/43
|
28/09/43
|
HX
258
|
05/10/43
|
06/10/43
|
18/10/43
|
19/10/43
|
ON
207
|
28/10/43
|
04/11/43
|
31/10/43
|
06/11/43
|
HX
264
|
16/11/43
|
17/11/43
|
26/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
ON
213
|
07/12/43
|
14/12/43
|
10/12/43
|
15/12/43
|
HX
270
|
25/12/43
|
26/12/43
|
08/01/44
|
09/01/44
|
ON
219
|
20/01/44
|
27/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
28/01/44
|
HX
276
|
06/02/44
|
07/02/44
|
14/02/44
|
15/02/44
|
ON
224
|
26/02/44
|
02/03/44
|
28/02/44
|
02/03/44
|
SC
154
|
15/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
28/03/44
|
29/03/44
|
ONS
032
|
13/04/44
|
18/04/44
|
10/09/44
|
15/09/44
|
SL
169MK
|
16/09/44
|
17/09/44
|
08/01/45
|
unknown
|
HX
331
|
unknown
|
22/01/45
|
23/01/45
|
unknown
|
HX
334
|
unknown
|
06/02/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)