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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, later HMCS NENE (K 270) - River-class Frigate including Convoy Escort Movements

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Lochy, sister-ship (Navy Photos, click to enlarge) return to Contents List   
 

RIVER-Class Frigate ordered on 24th January 1942  the 1941 War Programme from Smiths Dock at Middlesbrough and laid down on 20th June 1942 as Job Number 4534 (Yard Number 1110). The ship was launched on 9th December 1942 as the first RN Warship to carry the name. Build was completed on 8th April 1943 and this frigate had been adopted by the civil community of Oundle, Northamptonshire in March 1942 after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign.

 

B a t t l e    H o n o u r s

 

BISCAY 1943 - ARCTIC  1943-44 - ATLANTIC 1943-44  - NORTH  SEA  1945

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Many ships built during WW2 did not have an official Badge although

several did have a suitable unofficial emblem for display on ship's boats

 

 

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

 

March

 

Contractor's sea trials and commissioned for service in Western Approaches Command.

 

April

 

8th - Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

 

On completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory.

 

May

 

Passage from Tobermory to join 5th Support Group for Atlantic convoy defence after working-up for operational service.

 

June

 

Took part in combined RN/RAF Coastal Command offensive against U-Boats in Bay of Biscay to intercept submarines in transit on the surface to and from Atlantic. (Operations MUSKETRY and SEASLUG - See CONFLICT OVER THE BAY by N Franks).

 

12th to 30th - Carried out anti-submarine operations with ships of 1st, 2nd, 40th Support Groups west of Bay of Biscay with cover provided by HM Cruisers SCYLLA, GLASGOW and BERMUDA against attacks from German destroyers.

 

July

 

Bay of Biscay anti-submarine operations in continuation.

 

August

 

2nd - Resumed Atlantic convoy defence duties with Group

 

21st - Deployed in further ant-submarine operations west of Cape Finisterre to deny use of Spanish coastal waters by U-Boats. (Operation PERCUSSION).

 

Joined ships of 40th Escort Group with HM Frigate TWEED, HM Canadian Corvettes EDMUNSTON, CALGARY and SNOWBERRY in support of RAF Coastal Command operations and with cover from HM Cruiser BERMUDA.

 

25th - Under attack by German Hs293 Glider Bombs controlled by Do217 aircraft. (Note: This was first occasion that this weapon had been used against Support Groups.)

 

September

 

Resumed Atlantic convoy support role.

 

October

 

Provided support for passage of outward Convoy ON204 with ships of Group.

 

November

 

Provided support for inward Convoy HX261. Sent to assist escort for combined inward Convoy MKS30/SL139 from Gibraltar which was under attacks by SCHILL Group of U-Boats.

 

19th - Joined MKS30/SL169 with HMS TWEED and Canadian Corvettes CALGARY, SNOWBERRY and EDMUNDSTON.

 

20th - After attacks on escorts from U-Boats using acoustic (T5) torpedoes forced U536 to surface after two hours of depth charging. Engaged and sank submarine by gunfire with ships of Group. (See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp for details.)

 

December

 

Atlantic support duty in continuation.

 

 

1 9 4 4

 

January

 

Deployed with HMS TWEED, HMCS CALGARY, HMCS SNOWBERRY, HMCS EDMUNDSTON and HMCS CAMROSE in search for reported blockade runner in SW Approaches.

 

5th - Under attacks by BORKUM Group of U-Boats which are engaged in operation against outward bound joint convoy OS62/KMS36 to Gibraltar.

 

6th - T5 attacks from BORKUM Group continued.

 

7th - HM Frigate TWEED sunk by acoustic torpedo during further attack.

 

February

 

Atlantic convoy defence and support in continuation. Detached for duty with 6th Canadian Escort Group.

 

24th - Took part in sinking of U257 with HM Canadian Frigate WASKESIU whilst part of escort of inward Convoy SC153 with ships of 3rd Escort Group.

 

March

 

Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.

 

Nominated for transfer to Royal Canadian Navy after refit

 

April

 

Under refit

 

6th - Transferred to RCN during refit. (Note: Commissioned as HMCS NENE.)

 

 

S e r v i c e   a s   H M C S   N E N E

 

May to August

 

On completion of refit carried out post refit trials and took passage to Tobermory.

 

Joined 9th Canadian Escort Group on completion of work-up. Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence.

 

September

 

Transferred to 5th Canadian Escort Group for detached service in Home Fleet. Deployed with HM Frigate HELMSDALE, HM Corvette PORCHESTER CASTLE.

 

Part of escort for outward Convoy ON252 with HM Canadian Frigate DUNVER, HM Canadian Corvettes HESPELER and HUNTSVILLE.

 

9th - Took part in anti-submarine operations against U-Boats attempting to carry out attacks on convoy. (Note: The sinking of U484 is not confirmed in U-BOATS DESTROYED.)

 

October

 

Passage to Liverpool for escort of Russian Convoy.

 

31st - Escorted ss EMPRESS OF AUSTRALIA and ss SCYLLA from Liverpool for first part of passage to Murmansk with HM Destroyers BEAGLE, WESTCOTT, and HM Sloop CYGNET. (Note: Convoy JW61A - These ships were taking Russian nationals captured in Normandy back to Russia. For details of all Russian convoys see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg, CONVOY ! by P Kemp, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield and ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman.)

 

November

 

2nd - Detached from RA61A after arrival of main escort.

 

29th - Deployed with HM Canadian Frigates MONNOW, PORT COLBOURNE, ST JOHN, STORMONT and LOCH ALVIE of Group, HM Frigates TAVY, TORTOLA, BAHAMAS and SOMALILAND to provide anti-submarine support during passage of Convoy JW61 to Murmansk. Joined convoy on departure from Loch Ewe. (Note: HM Escort Carriers CAMPANIA and NAIRANA provided air cover.)

 

December

 

7th - Detached from JW62 on arrival at Kola Inlet.

 

10th - Carried out anti-submarine operations with other Escorts against an assembly of U-Boats outside Kola Inlet before convoy sailed.

 

On completion of anti-submarine operations joined escort for returning Convoy RA61 with same ships.

 

17th - Detached from RA62 before arrival at Loch Ewe and resumed Atlantic convoy duty.

 

 

1 9 4 5

 

January to April

 

Deployment for Atlantic convoy defence with 9th Escort Group in continuation. (Note: During this period Schnorkel-fitted U-Boats were concentrating attacks in UK coastal waters - See U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO), ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett, SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann and HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith).

 

May

 

30th - Deployed with ships of Group for support of last Russian Convoy JW67 and return Convoy RA67.

 

June

 

12th - Joined HM Escort Carrier QUEEN. HM Destroyers OBDURATE and ONSLOW and 4th British Escort Group Frigates. No attacks were made by U-Boats as required by surrender terms.

 

23rd - Sailed with same ships as escort for returning convoy. Navigation lights were burned during passage.

 

30th - Detached on arrival in Clyde.

 

July

 

Nominated for reduction to Reserve

 

11th - Returned to RN control.

 

Paid-off and de-stored at Sheerness.

  

On completion laid-up in Reserve at Sheerness.

 

 

P o s t   W a r    N o t e s

 

HMS NENE was later transferred to Harwich and when Harwich Division of Reserve Fleet closed, went to Barrow-in-Furness.  Placed on the Disposal List in 1955 the ship was sold to BISCO for demolition by T W Ward at Briton Ferry. The ship arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard on 21st July 1957.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS NENE

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

 

 

 

 

 

07/05/43

08/05/43

ONS 007

21/05/43

25/05/43

19/05/43

25/05/43

HX 240

30/05/43

04/06/43

05/06/43

10/06/43

SC 133

16/06/43

19/06/43

24/06/43

26/06/43

ON 190

01/07/43

09/07/43

23/06/43

01/07/43

HX 245

02/07/43

07/07/43

08/07/43

14/07/43

HX 247

19/07/43

22/07/43

16/07/43

19/07/43

ON 193

23/07/43

31/07/43

30/07/43

05/08/43

HX 250

06/08/43

12/08/43

15/09/43

24/09/43

SC 142

24/09/43

29/09/43

16/09/43

25/09/43

HX 257

28/09/43

30/09/43

27/09/43

02/10/43

ON 204

06/10/43

15/10/43

11/10/43

17/10/43

HX 261

21/10/43

26/10/43

22/10/43

27/10/43

ONS 021

31/10/43

05/11/43

06/11/43

11/11/43

HX 265

16/11/43

21/11/43

06/11/43

17/11/43

SC 146

17/11/43

22/11/43

16/11/43

19/11/43

SL 139MK

22/11/43

26/11/43

25/11/43

01/12/43

OS 060KM

03/12/43

07/12/43

17/11/43

05/12/43

MKF 026

06/12/43

09/12/43

02/12/43

06/12/43

ON 214

08/12/43

20/12/43

25/12/43

30/12/43

SL 143MK

03/01/44

06/01/44

29/12/43

02/01/44

ONS 026

03/01/44

18/01/44

31/12/43

04/01/44

ON 218

05/01/44

18/01/44

14/01/44

15/01/44

OS 065KM

19/01/44

26/01/44

12/01/44

19/01/44

SL 145MK

22/01/44

24/01/44

15/01/44

19/01/44

KMF 028

23/01/44

29/01/44

28/01/44

09/02/44

HX 277

10/02/44

13/02/44

12/02/44

15/02/44

ONS 029

19/02/44

29/02/44

14/02/44

19/02/44

ON 224

20/02/44

02/03/44

13/02/44

21/02/44

SC 153

25/02/44

02/03/44

08/03/44

09/03/44

ON 227

17/03/44

22/03/44

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and as HMCS NENE

 

 

 

 

 

25/08/44

30/08/44

HX 305

09/09/44

10/09/44

22/09/44

23/09/44

ON 255

04/10/44

09/10/44

05/10/44

10/10/44

HX 312

20/10/44

21/10/44

31/10/44

31/10/44

JW 061A

02/11/44

06/11/44

29/11/44

29/11/44

JW 062

07/12/44

07/12/44

10/12/44

10/12/44

RA 062

17/12/44

19/12/44

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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revised 5/7/11
further editing is required


 

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