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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 AVON (K 97) - River-class Frigate
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Balinderry, sister-ship  (Navy Photos, click to enlarge)

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RIVER-Class Frigate ordered in the 1942 War Programme on 24th July 1942 from Charles Hill at Bristol. The ship was laid down on 8th January 1943 as Job Number 392 (Yard No. 294) and launched by Miss G Barker daughter of the Yard Manager The name was especially appropriate to the occasion and she was the 6th RN ship to be given this name. It had been introduced in 1805 for a Brig Sloop built at Falmouth and last used for a destroyer in 18% sold in 1920. Build completion date was 18th September 1944. Since the ship was not in build during 1941-42 she was not adopted by a civil community during the WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaigns held in UK. Her war service was however always of great interest to the citizens of Bristol.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC 1942 - OKINAWA 1945

(Note: One source records Battle Honour CRIMEA 1854-55

but this is not in Official Records)

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

None is recorded for this ship in Post War Records, but it was not

unusual for ships to have adopted an ‘unofficial’ Badge.

 

 

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

 

September             Post refit Trials.

                18th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

 

October                  On completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory

 

November              Passage from Tobermory to join Western Approaches command on completion of work-up/

                                Deployed in Western Approaches Command for Atlantic Convoy defence.

 

December              Nominated for service in Indian Ocean.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Prepared for foreign service and took passage to join Eastern Fleet,

 

February                Passage in Mediterranean and Red Sea.

 

March                    Commenced Indian Ocean convoy defence deployment.

                                (Note: One source records rescue of survivors from Norwegian freighter TARIFA who

                                were found in a lifeboat and three rafts after their ship had been sunk by submarine

                                attack. 96 survivors were taken on board.)

 

April                       Deployed in Indian Ocean,

                                For details of enemy submarine activities in Indian Ocean see WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO)

                                and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.

 

May                        Under refit at Colombo prior to future transfer for service in British Pacific Fleet.

 

June                        Resumed deployment in Indian Ocean on completion.

to

October

 

November              Joined Force 64 and took part in preparations for support of landings in Burma.

                22nd       Transferred to British Pacific Fleet on formation..

 

December              Allocated Anti-submarine escort duty with Replenishment Group of Task Force 112

                                (British Fleet Train)

                                Passage to Australia to join Task Force 112.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  On arrival prepared for service in SW Pacific to support ships of British Pacific Fleet.

to                            For details of composition and deployment of Fleet Train see THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by

February                J Winton and above references.

 

March                    Passage to British Pacific Fleet forward base at Manus, Admiralty Islands with ships of

                                Fleet Train.

                7th          Arrived at Manus

                17th        Passage to Replenishment Area adjacent to Sakishima Gunto Island Group with Fleet Train

                                (Note: BPF and Fleet Train deployment under US Navy overall command had been delayed

                                pending approval of US Chiefs of Staff. See references.)

 

April                       Deployed with Replenishment Group

                                Under air attacks (Operation ICEBERG I)

                                (Note: BPF Task Force 57) was taking part in air operations on Japanese airfields in the

                                Sakishima-Gunto Group.).

                                Withdrawn with Replenishment Group when Task Force 57 returned to .Leyte.

                                See references.

 

May                        Enlarged Replenishment Group resumed support of Task Force 57 during continuation

                                of air operations on Sakishima Gunto (Operation ICEBERG II).

                                Deployed with sister ship HMS FINDHORN as escort for HM Escort Carriers RULER,

                                STRIKER and FENCER with HM Australian Destroyers NAPIER, NEPAL, NIZAM

                                Under air attacks See references.

                                Returned to Australia with Task Force 112 ships on completion of ICEBERG II.

 

June                        Nominated for relit in Brisbane and took passage from Sydney.

                                Taken in hand for refit.

 

July                         Under refit.

 

August                  Resumed service in Task Force 112 and took passage to Manus prior to escort duties with

                                Replenishment Group

                15th        Part of British Pacific Fleet on VJ Day.

 

Po s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS AVON returned to UK on release from Pacific and was Paid-off and de-stored  on arrival. After reducing to Reserve status she was laid-up as part of the Reserve Fleet until 1948 when placed on the Sales List The ship was sold to Portugal in May 1949 and entered service in the Portuguese Navy as NRP NUNO TRIASTO. She remained on the active List until January 1970 when she was withdrawn. Sold for demolition in 1972 she was broken-up at Alhos Verdo, Lisbon.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS AVON

by Don Kindell

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

Date convoy sailed

Joined convoy as escort

Convoy No.

Left convoy

Date convoy arrived

 

 

 

 

 

25/11/43

27/11/43

OS 060KM

07/12/43

07/12/43

07/12/43

07/12/43

KMS 034G

09/12/43

09/12/43

13/12/43

13/12/43

MKS 033G

14/12/43

14/12/43

14/12/43

14/12/43

SL 142MK

15/12/43

28/12/43

03/01/44

09/01/44

OS 064KM

16/01/44

15/01/44

16/01/44

16/01/44

KMS 038G

17/01/44

17/01/44

17/01/44

17/01/44

KMS 038

18/01/44

27/01/44

05/01/44

24/01/44

UGS 029

26/01/44

31/01/44

24/02/44

24/02/44

AB 032

03/03/44

04/03/44

10/03/44

10/03/44

AP 064

unknown

18/03/44

02/04/44

02/04/44

AB 036

09/04/44

09/04/44

15/04/44

25/04/44

BA 066B

20/04/44

20/04/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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revised 30/5/11
further editing and formatting is required