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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 WALNEY  (Y 04) - ex-US Coast Guard Cutter including Convoy Escort Movements

USCG Cutter Tahoe prewar, later HMS Fishguard, sister-ship (US Coast Guard, click to enlarge) return to Contents List   
 
 

T y p e   I n f o r m a t i o n

 

Ships of this type were known in the RN as BANFF Class and were deployed on convoy defence in the Atlantic. They displaced 1,983 Tons and had dimensions of 256 feet, a beam of 42 feet and a draught of 16 feet. HMS WALNEY had a 5in gun for surface engagements and extra anti-aircraft armament was added after arrival in UK. Diesel-electric propulsion machinery with 3,200 shaft horsepower gave a speed of 16 knots and was different from that used in any RN warship at that time. The accommodation was better than that in other British escorts. There were 10 ships of this type of which one was lost in defence of Atlantic convoys. The other two, HMS HARTLAND and HMS WALNEY were both lost when used to force entry into harbour in November 1942 as part of the allied landings in North Africa (Operation TORCH)

 


 

  H .  M .  S .  W A L N E Y 

 

US Coastguard Cutter SEBAGO built by General Engineering and Dry Dock in 1930 and passed to the Royal Navy in 1940 under Lease Lend Agreement. Renamed HMS WALNEY when commissioned on delivery.

 

B a t t le   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC 1941-42 - NORTH AFRICA  1942

 

 

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

 

May

                12th        Commissioned into Royal Navy as HMS WALNEY.

 

June                        Joined Londonderry Sloop Division for escort of Atlantic convoys.

                                Took passage to UK

 

July                         Deployed in Western Approaches.

                24th        Deployed as part of escort for routine HX convoy from St. Johns, NF to UK.

 

August

                14th        Modification work for RN escort service in Liverpool shipyard.

 

September

                9th          Rejoined Western Approaches and transferred to 41st Escort Group for defence

                                of convoys between UK and West Africa.

                12th        Deployed as escort for Convoy OS6 during passage to Bathurst.

                                (Note: Convoy comprised 29 mercantiles)

                                Detached during Atlantic passage to join HM Cutter HARTLAND as escort

                                merged convoy SL88 from Freetown and Convoy HG74 from Gibraltar to

                                Liverpool.

                                (Note: Joint Convoy comprised 37 ships.)

 

October

                18th        Detached from HG74/SL88 and took passage to Belfast.

                20th        Under refit in Belfast.

                31st         On completion rejoined 41st Group.

 

November

                7th          Deployed with HM Cutter HARTLAND as escort for Convoy

                                OS11 during passage to Bathurst.

                                (Note: Convoy comprised 41 mercantiles.)

                                Detached on arrival and took passage to Freetown.

                30th        Escorted Convoy SL94 from Freetown to Liverpool.

                                (Note: Convoy comprised 29 mercantiles.)

 

December

                20th        Detached from SL94 on arrival and took passage to Belfast

 

                22nd       At Belfast for refit and HF D/F equipment fitted.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January

                4th          On completion rejoined West Approaches Command.

                5th          Deployed as escort for Convoy OS16 to Bathurst.

                                (Note: Convoy comprised 56 mercantiles)

                                On arrival detached from OS16 and took passage to Freetown.

                27th        Deployed with HM Cutter HARTLAND as escort for SL99 during passage

                                to UK from Freetown.

                                (Note: Convoy comprised 26 mercantiles)

 

February

16th        Detached from SL99 and took passage to Belfast.

                17th        Under repair in Belfast.

                26th        On completion resumed convoy defence with 41st Group.

 

March

                3rd          In minor collision with ss EMPIRE DOLPHIN and damaged above waterline

                                without becoming non-operational.

                4th          Deployed with HM Cutter HARTLAND as escort for Convoy OS21 during passage

                                to West Africa from Liverpool

                                (Note: Convoy comprised 54 mercantiles.)

                23rd        Detached from OS21 on arrival of Local Escort from Freetown.

                                Joined Convoy SL104 with HM Cutter HARTLAND as escort during passage to

                                Liverpool from Freetown.

                                (Note: Convoy comprised 30 mercantiles.)

 

April

                12th        Detached from SL104 and took passage to Chatham.

                20th        Under refit at Chatham.

 

May                        Under refit at Chatham

 

June

                10th        On completion of post refit trials took passage to Londonderry to

                                rejoin 41st Group.

                21st         Joined Escort for Convoy OS32 during passage to West Africa from

                                Liverpool.

                                (Note: Convoy comprised 40 mercantiles.)

 

July

                8th          Detached from OS32 at Freetown.

                15th        Joined Convoy SL116 with HM Cutter HARTLAND as escort for passage to

                                UK from Freetown.

                                (Note: Convoy comprised 33 mercantiles.)

August

                4th          Detached from SL116 and took passage to Londonderry

                20th        Deployed with HM Cutter HARTLAND as escort for Convoy OS38 to West Africa

                                from Liverpool.

                                (Note: Convoy comprised 33 mercantiles.)

 

September

                1st           Detached from OS38 on arrival at Freetown.

                14th        Joined Convoy SL122 to UK with HM Cutter HARTLAND as escort during

                                passage from Freetown to Liverpool..

                                (Note: Convoy comprised 34 mercantiles.

                                During deployment for Atlantic convoy defence no mercantiles

                                were lost during transit in Atlantic. For details of convoys

                                including losses see THE ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM 1939-45 by A Hague

                                and Official List of Losses (HMSO)

                                Battle Honour ATLANTIC 1941-42 was awarded for defence of

                                convoys on West African route which were subjected to sustained

                                U-Boat attacks. See HITLER’S U- BOAT WAR by C Blair and U-BOAT

                                WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).)

 

 October

                6th          Detached from SL122 and took passage to Londonderry.

                                Nominated for special duty during North African landings

                                (Operation TORCH).

                13th        Prepared for use in breaking into Oran harbour.

                26th        Sailed from Clyde with HM Cutter HARTLAND as part of escort for military

                                convoy MKF1 during passage to Gibraltar (Operation TORCH).

 

November              Embarked troops at Gibraltar for to carry out landing inside harbour

                                at Oran (Operation RESERVIST).

                8th          Came under heavy fire from shore defences when leading HMS HARTLAND

                                into the harbour and sank.

                                (For further details see THE RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W. Tute and Naval

                                Staff History.)

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS WALNEY

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

 

 

 

 

 

18/05/41

18/05/41

BHX 128

20/05/41

27/05/41

20/05/41

20/05/41

HX 128

06/06/41

06/06/41

07/07/41

07/07/41

OB 344

16/07/41

16/07/41

22/07/41

24/07/41

HX 140

25/07/41

06/08/41

22/07/41

28/07/41

SC 038

08/08/41

08/08/41

02/09/41

06/09/41

OS 005

17/09/41

21/09/41

24/09/41

27/09/41

SL 088

08/10/41

08/10/41

07/11/41

08/11/41

OS 011

25/11/41

28/11/41

30/11/41

02/12/41

SL 094

20/12/41

30/12/41

05/01/42

06/01/42

OS 016

20/01/42

23/01/42

27/01/42

29/01/42

SL 099

16/02/42

16/02/42

04/03/42

04/03/42

OS 021

21/03/42

24/03/42

24/03/42

26/03/42

SL 104

12/04/42

12/04/42

21/06/42

21/06/42

OS 032

08/07/42

08/07/42

15/07/42

15/07/42

SL 116

03/08/42

04/08/42

20/08/42

26/08/42

OS 038

07/09/42

07/09/42

14/09/42

14/09/42

SL 122

06/10/42

06/10/42

26/10/42

26/10/42

KMF 001

08/11/42

08/11/42

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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revised 30/5/11
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