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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 LULWORTH (Y 60) - ex-US Coast Guard Cutter
including Convoy Escort Movements

HMS Gorlestone, sister-ship (Photo Ships, click to enlarge) return to Contents List
 

US Coastguard Cutter CHELAN built by Bethlehem Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, Mass and laid down on 14th November 1927. The ship was launched on 19th May 1928 and build was completed on 5th Sept. 1928.   She was transferred to the Royal Navy on 3rd April 1941 as part of the Lease/Lend  Agreement in 1940 and renamed HMS LULWORTH when commissioned. This ship was the first RN ship to carry the name, which like those given to other US Coastguard Cutters transferred, was that of a British Coastguard Station. The Official List of adoptions by a UK civil community after a National Savings WARSHIP WEEK campaign in 1941-42 does not include this Cutter

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC  1941-43 - NORTH AFRICA 1942 - BURMA 1945

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: No record of an officially approved Crest is included in the

Admiralty List of Heraldic Crests

(Note: It may be assumed that any US Badge such for ship’s

boats may have remained in use.)

 

 

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 1

 

April                       Prepared for transfer to RN.

 

May

                12th        Formally transferred to RN from US Coastguard Service.

                                (Note: Royal Navy ship's company included personnel from HM Battleship RESOLUTION.

                                Commissioned for service as HMS LULWORTH.

                                Took passage for UK with call at Newfoundland.

                22nd       Arrived in Clyde.

                                Repair arranged in Cardiff.

 

June                        Passage to Cardiff.

                6th          Taken in hand for repair at commercial shipyard.

                                (Note: Work carried out included modifications to suit RN service for convoy defence.

 

July                         Transferred to commercial shipyard at Newport for completion of work.

                12th        Allocated for service in Western Approaches Command, based at Londonderry and to

                                be deployed for escort of OS Series convoys to Freetown and return convoys in SL Series

                                to Liverpool.

                                On completion carried out post refit trials and worked-up for operational service.

                                Deployed for convoy defence on UK - West Africa route.

                23rd        Joined escort for Convoy OS4 to Bathurst, Gambia.

 

September

                                Detached from OS4 on arrival at Bathurst.

                                (Note: This convoy was subject to U-Boat attacks during which five ships were sunk.)

                                Passage to Freetown.

                24th        Returned to Liverpool as part of escort fro Convoy SL88 from West Africa.

                                (Note: To be confirmed)

 

October                  West African route deployment in continuation.

                8th          Remained with SL88 on merger with inward Convoy HG74 for passage to Liverpool

                18th        Detached on arrival at Liverpool

                                (Note: To be confirmed)

                25th        Joined escort for outward Convoy OS10 for passage to West Africa,

 

November

                18th        Detached from OS10 on arrival at Freetown

                19th        Joined escort for inward Convoy SL93 for passage from Freetown to Liverpool.

 

December

                10th        Detached from SL93 on arrival at Liverpool.

                                Took passage to Belfast for installation of direction finding outfit.

                13th        Taken in hand at commercial shipyard for installation.

                                (Note: For details of equipment used for detection and destruction of U-Boats in

                                defence of Atlantic convoys see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)

                23rd        Resumed convoy defence duty at Londonderry and joined escort for Convoy OS15

                                to West Africa.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January

                13th        Detached from OS15 at Bathurst.

                15th        Returned with HM Cutters CULVER and LANDGUARD AS escort for Convoy SL98

                                during passage to Liverpool.

                31st         HMS CULVER sunk by torpedo from U105 in position 48.34N 20.14W during defence of

 

February

                5th          Detached from SL98 on arrival at Liverpool..

                22nd       Joined HM Cutter LANDGUARD for escort for outward Convoy OS20 during passage

                                to Freetown.

 

March

                14th        Joined inward Convoy SL103 with HM Cutter LANDGUARD on departure from Freetown

                                as escort for passage to Liverpool.

 

April

                2nd         Detached from SL103 on arrival at Liverpool.

                12th        Joined outward Convoy OS25 with HM Cutter LANDGUARD as escort during passage

                                to Freetown

                29th        Detached from OS25 on arrival at Freetown

 

May

                4th          Joined inward Convoy SL109 with HM Sloop HASTINGS and HM Cutter LANDGUARD

                                as escort during passage to Liverpool.

                11th        Under attack by U128 whose presence had been detected by radio signals.

                                During depth charge attacks with HMS HASTINGS sustained damage by explosions.

                12th        Under attack by U126, U161 and U128, took part in depth charge attacks with other escorts

                                which drove off the attacking submarines.

                                See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair for details.)

                28th        Detached from SL109 on arrival at Liverpool.

                                (Note: Some ships from SL109 detached on 19th May as SL109F and arrived on 25th.)

                                During defence of convoy sank the Italian submarine PIETRO CALVI off the

                                Azores, and sustained major damage to forward structure.

May                        Escorted Convoy SL105 with HM Sloop HASTINGS and HM Cutter LANDGUARD

                                On arrival in UK refit and repair arranged in commercial shipyard.

 

June                        Under repair in Belfast. On completion resumed service with Group.

                11th        Deployed with HM Sloops BIDEFORD and LONDONDERRY as escort for outward

                                Convoy SL31 during passage to Freetown.

                30th        Detached from OS31 with escort on arrival at Freetown.

 

July

                5th          Deployed as escort for inward Convoy SL115 with HM Sloops BIDEFORD and

                                LONDONDERRY during passage to Liverpool.

                14th        Sighted by U130 which was joined by U407 and the Italian submarine PIETRO CALVI.

                                Following interception of wireless transmissions using Direction Finding outfit carried

                                out search on relevant bearing.

                                Sighted U130 with PIETRO CALVI on surface off the Azores.

                                See SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann for use of D/F equipment)

                                Carried out depth charge attacks which forced PIETRO CALVI to surface.

                                Engaged Italian with surface gunfire causing extensive damage.

                                Carried out two unsuccessful attempts to ram submarine.

                                Hit submarine amidships which caused structural damage to ship.

                                Boarding party hampered by fire, flooding and Italian crew abandoning the submarine.

                                Submarine capsized and leader of Boarding Party was unable to escape and lost his life.

                                (Note: No significant documentation was recovered when submarine capsized.

                                35 of the 78 crew of PIETRO CALVI were rescued by the other two escorts.

                                An attack by U130 during this incident was driven off by depth charges.

                                For details see HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR BY C Blair.)

                26th        Detached from SL115 on arrival.

                                Took passage to Belfast for repair at commercial shipyard.

 

August                  Under repair

 

September             Nominated for defence of convoys to Gibraltar in support of planned allied landings in

                                North Africa (Operation TORCH).

                30th        On completion of repair and refit work resumed convoy defence duties.

 

October                  Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence.

                                Deployed for defence of military in support of planned allied landings in

                                North Africa (Operation TORCH).

                                (For details of TORCH see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett,

                                RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute, Naval Staff History and BRITISH

                                INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser for information about all mercantiles and warships

                                Involved.)

 

November              Deployed at Gibraltar for support of allied landings and convoy defence.

                                On release from TORCH deployed for convoy defence in Western Mediterranean.

 

December              Gibraltar deployment in continuation.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                  Deployed for military convoy defence with 40th Escort Group,

                                Escorted KMS8 to Gibraltar.

 

February                Returned with Convoy MKS7.

                                Transferred with Group for defence of North Atlantic convoys.

                                Joined HM Sloops ABERDEEN and HASTINGS, HM Frigate MOYOLA, HM Cutter

                                LANDGUARD.

 

March                    Passage to St Johns, Newfoundland for escort of Convoy HX223 during Atlantic passage

                                with ships of Group.

                                (Note: This convoy of 39 ships from New York and was re-routed to avoid attacks by

                                RAUBGRAF Group of U-Boats, but German code-breakers ordered change of

                                U-Boat dispositions.

                15th        Convoy sighted by U91 of RAUBGRAF Group and summoned assistance.

                                Eleven U-Boats directed to carry out attacks, during which ten ships were sunk.

                                (Note: Despite weather conditions and in the absence of a Rescue Ship many of the

                                ships in convoy attempted rescue operations which increased chances of torpedo

                                attacks by the submarines.

                17th        Some air cover provided from Iceland and Northern Ireland but during continued attacks

                                three more mercantiles were sunk.

                19th        Air cover increased and further losses avoided.

                                (Note: See CONVOY by Martin Middlebrook, U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO),

                                THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC, Naval Staff Histories and HITLER’S

                                U-BOAT WAR by C Blair for details of defence of HX229 which had one of the

                                heaviest losses in the Atlantic war.

                                U384 was the only submarine to be sunk. See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.

 

April                       Part of escort for Convoys ONS3 and SC128 with ships of Group.

                                (For details of this crucial stage see the above references.)

 

May                        Atlantic convoy defence in continuation including convoy to and from Iceland..

 

June                        Nominated for transfer to Eastern Fleet after refit.

 

July

                6th          Taken in hand for refit at Cardiff.

 

August                  On completion of refit worked up and prepared for foreign service.

 

September             Took passage to join Eastern fleet for convoy defence

                24th        Passage to Gibraltar.

                29th        At Gibraltar.

 

October                  Part of escort for Convoy UCSS8 from Gibraltar to Alexandria

                                Passage to Kilindini with call at Aden.

 

November

                5th          Arrived at Kilindini.

                                Escorted Convoy DKA5 to Aden and returned as escort for Convoy AKD7.

 

December              Indian Ocean convoy defence between Kilindini and Aden including Convoy DKA7

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Deployment for defence of Indian Ocean convoys in continuation.

to                            (Note: These included Convoys KB8 and KR9 to Red Sea, DKA9 to Aden, Convoys KD1

February                and AKD1 to Kilindini and Durban.)

 

March                    Indian Ocean convoy defence deployment in continuation

                16th        Carried out unsuccessful depth charge attack on Japanese submarine I37 which had sunk

                                three mercantiles off African coast on 16th February

 

April                       Deployment based at Kilindini in continuation.

to                            Escorted convoys between Kilindini and Durban and return convoys.

July

 

August                  Transferred to South Atlantic for escort of convoys from Cape of Good Hope.

                                Nominated for refit.

 

September

                4th          Taken in hand for refit at Durban.

 

October                  Under refit

to

November

 

December              Post refit trials and prepared for operational service.

                9th          Resumed Indian Ocean convoy defence.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Transferred to Trincomalee for convoy defence in Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal.

to                            Deployed for defence of convoys supporting military operations in Burma.

March                    Nominated for escort of assault convoy during planned landings at Rangoon

                                (Operation DRACULA)

 

April                       Passage to Kyaukpyu for escort of Convoy CHARLIE.

                29th        Sailed for Rangoon as part of escort for Convoy CHARLIE.

                                For details of DRACULA see WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO, THE FORGOTTEN FLEET

                                by J Winton and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS bv J de Winser for information about all

                                mercantiles and warships involved.)

 

May

                2nd         Deployed at Rangoon during DRACULA landings

                                On release from DRACULA deployed in Bay of Bengal.

 

June                        Convoy defence in continuation

                24th        Sustained damage to underwater fittings by grounding.

 

August                  Nominated for escort of assault convoys to Malayan coast (Operation ZIPPER)

                                (Note: This operation had been planned for an earlier date but was postponed because of

                                difficulties in implementing the PYTHON Scheme for release of long serving

                                personnel from SEAC and US insistence. See Final Report of Supreme

                                Commander SEAC and above references.)

 

September             Deployed at Rangoon.

                3rd          Sailed from Rangoon as part of escort for Assault Convoy JME1F.

                                Detached from JME1F for escort of mercantile CITY OF CALCUTTA to landing area.

  

P o s t    W a r    N o t e s

 

HMS LULWORTH returned to UK from Colombo on 11th November 1945 and arrived at Chatham on 4th November.  The ship was de-stored and RN equipment removed before taking passage to USA with a Steaming Crew. She was handed back to US Coastguard Service at Boston on 5th January 1946 and sold for demolition in 1947, the next year.

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS LULWORTH

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

 

 

 

 

 

09/05/41

11/05/41

SC 031

25/05/41

30/05/41

23/08/41

23/08/41

OS 004

09/09/41

11/09/41

14/09/41

16/09/41

SL 087

06/10/41

06/10/41

25/10/41

26/10/41

OS 010

15/11/41

18/11/41

18/11/41

18/11/41

SL 093

10/12/41

10/12/41

23/12/41

24/12/41

OS 015

11/01/42

13/01/42

15/01/42

18/01/42

SL 098

05/02/42

05/02/42

22/02/42

23/02/42

OS 020

10/03/42

12/03/42

14/03/42

16/03/42

SL 103

02/04/42

02/04/42

12/04/42

13/04/42

OS 025

29/04/42

29/04/42

04/05/42

04/05/42

SL 109

18/05/42

28/05/42

21/05/42

21/05/42

HG 083

07/06/42

07/06/42

11/06/42

11/06/42

OS 031

28/06/42

30/06/42

05/07/42

05/07/42

SL 115

25/07/42

26/07/42

25/10/42

26/10/42

KMS 002G

12/11/42

12/11/42

15/11/42

15/11/42

MKS 001X

23/11/42

23/11/42

11/12/42

11/12/42

KMS 005G

24/12/42

27/12/42

22/12/42

26/12/42

MKS 004

06/01/43

06/01/43

21/01/43

22/01/43

KMS 008G

04/02/43

10/02/43

07/02/43

08/02/43

MKS 007

17/02/43

17/02/43

09/03/43

15/03/43

HX 229A

25/03/43

26/03/43

05/04/43

08/04/43

ONS 003

24/04/43

28/04/43

25/04/43

29/04/43

SC 128

11/05/43

13/05/43

18/05/43

27/05/43

SC 131

28/05/43

31/05/43

28/05/43

02/06/43

ONS 009

04/06/43

09/06/43

26/05/43

04/06/43

SC 132

06/06/43

11/06/43

01/06/43

06/06/43

ON 187

09/06/43

15/06/43

16/06/43

20/06/43

ON 189

22/06/43

01/07/43

15/06/43

23/06/43

HX 244

26/06/43

30/06/43

17/09/43

17/09/43

OS 055KM

27/09/43

28/09/43

15/09/43

05/10/43

UGS 018

13/10/43

13/10/43

21/10/43

21/10/43

AKD 004

31/10/43

09/11/43

21/11/43

21/11/43

AKD 007

01/12/43

01/12/43

27/11/43

09/12/43

DKA 008

19/12/43

19/12/43

24/01/44

24/01/44

AKD 013A

31/01/44

09/02/44

05/02/44

05/02/44

KR 008

11/02/44

14/02/44

24/02/44

24/02/44

KR 009

04/03/44

06/03/44

11/03/44

23/03/44

DKA 015

01/04/44

01/04/44

06/04/44

06/04/44

AKD 020

12/04/44

12/04/44

27/04/44

27/04/44

KD 001/2

07/05/44

07/05/44

04/06/44

04/06/44

KD 004

14/06/44

14/06/44

30/07/44

30/07/44

CM 056A

05/08/44

05/08/44

27/08/44

27/08/44

MC 012

03/09/44

03/09/44

23/01/45

23/01/45

MC 014C

30/01/45

30/01/45

09/05/45

09/05/45

KRF 002/

11/05/45

11/05/45

08/07/45

08/07/45

RK 010/1

11/07/45

11/07/45

13/07/45

13/07/45

KR 018/1

16/07/45

16/07/45

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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