GRIMSBY-Class Sloop ordered from HM Dockyard Chatham
under the 1933 Build Programme on 1st May 1933 and laid down on 30th April 1934. The ship was launched by
Mrs Pearson, Mayor of Chatham on 5th February 1935 as the
9th RN ship to carry the name, introduced in 1652. It had last been used for a
Transport Brig that was broken up at Chatham in 1862 and commemorated the long association of the Borough with the
Royal Navy. The adoption of the
ship by the civil community of Deptford following a successful WARSHIP WEEK for
National Savings in March 1939 was therefore especially appropriate. After
completion the ship was deployed in the Persian Gulf and returned to UK after
the outbreak of WW2.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
BEACHY HEAD 1690 - BARFLEUR
1692 - CARTAGENA 1741 - MAURITIUS 1748 - MINORCA 1756 - HAVANA 1762 - ATLANTIC 1939-43
- NORTH AFRICA 1942 -
MEDITERRANEAN 1944
- ENGLISH
CHANNEL 1945
H e
r a l d i c D
a t a
Badge: On a Field White. a
Martlet Black under a mural crown Gold.
M o t t o
Sicut clim: 'Carry on as formerly'
D e t a i l s o f
W ar S e r v i c e
(for more ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and type name in Site Search
1 9 3 9
August On passage to
Singapore from
Persian Gulf.
September Redeployed for
convoy defence and took passage to UK.
October On passage
to Portsmouth.
November
16th Arrived
at Portsmouth and prepared for Atlantic convoy defence duties
December Allocated to
2nd Escort Division based at Liverpool
1 9 4 0
January Deployed for
defence of Atlantic convoys in Western Approaches
14th Part of
escort for outward Convoy from assembly in SW Approaches
Detached when convoy dispersed,
February
3rd Involved
in collision with ss ANTIGUA during escort of Convoy OB28 without major damage.
19th Deployed
with HM Sloop ABERDARE and HM Destroyer WISHART as escort for
outward Convoy OG19F during passage to
Gibraltar from assembly in SW Approaches
25th Detached
from OG19F and joined escort for inward Convoy HG20 during passage from
Gibraltar to
Liverpool.
March
6th Detached
from HG20 and took passage to Plymouth.
(Note: For details of dates of convoys see ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM IN WW2 by A
Hague.)
April
5th Deployed
for escort of inward Convoy HG23 during passage to
Liverpool.
15th Detached
from HG23.
18th Joined
escort for inward Convoy HG26F during passage to Liverpool in SW Approaches.
19th Detached
from HG23.
26th Deployed
with escort for outward Convoy OG27 on assembly in SW Approaches.
27th Detached
from OG27 with Local Escort.
(Note: This ship was not deployed during Norwegian operations.)
May Deployed
for convoy defence in SW Approaches.
Pennant Umber for visual signalling changed to U53-
June Convoy
defence in continuation.
to
July
August
Transferred to Rosyth for escort of convoys in North Sea and NW Approaches
September Coastal convoy
defence in continuation.
to Nominated for service at Liverpool.
October
November Joined Sloop
Division in Western Approaches Command baaed at Liverpool.
Resumed Atlantic convoy defence duties.
December Ocean convoy
escort in continuation.
1 9 4 1
January Atlantic
convoy escort in NW Approaches.
February Under refit
at commercial shipyard in Liverpool.
to (Note:
RAF aircraft warning radar modified for ship use (Naval Type 286M) fitted.
March For details
of development and use of radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse).
April On
completion of post refit trials resumed Atlantic convoy defence.
Deployed for escort of OG and HG convoys between UK and Gibraltar.
May Part of
escort for Convoy HG69,
(Note: An unsuccessful attack was made on this convoy by the Italian submarine
MARCONI.
For
details of enemy submarine activities see HITLER’S U- BOAT WAR by C Blair
U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC and THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by
D
Macintyre.)
June Gibraltar
convoy escort in continuation.
to
July
August Part of
escort for Convoy HG71 with ships of 36th Escort Group.
11th Carried
out anti-submarine operations after U-Boat detection by radar at 1.5 miles.
September
13th Part of
escort for Convoy HG72 with HM Destroyers FAULKNOR, ENCOUNTER, AVONVALE
and
NESTOR (RAN) and drove off attacks by Italian submarines.
15th Joined
FLOWER Class Corvettes of 36th Escort Group escorting Convoy OG74.
(Note: Air cover from an Escort Carrier was provided for the first time by HMS
AUDACITY
which
was also deployed with OG74)
20th Under
attacks by U-Boats and Focke-Wolfe KONDOR aircraft.
Carried out unsuccessful anti-submarine operations with HM Corvettes PENTSTEMON
and
MARIGOLD.
(For
details of the unsatisfactory defence of this convoy of which nine merchant
ships were
sunk see
BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D. Macintyre and U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC
(HMSO).)
(Note: Serious weaknesses in the defence were revealed and tactical measures
improved as a
result of
experiences during 1941.See CAPTAIN GILBERT ROBERTS,
RN by M Williams).
October Atlantic
convoy deployment in continuation.
November Took part in
diversionary convoy deployment in Mediterranean during the 8th Army
advance
from
El Alamein (Operation CHIEFTAIN – Naval Cover for military Operation CRUSADER).
December
14th Joined
escort for Convoy HG76 with HMS AUDACITY, ships of 36th Escort Group, seven
FLOWER Class Corvettes and three destroyers from Gibraltar.
(Note: The Senior Officer of the escort in HM Sloop STORK was Cdr. F. J. Walker
who was
particularly renowned for his successes in Anti-Submarine warfare – See
RELENTLESS
PURSUIT by D E G Weymss. This convoy had been selected for sustained
U-Boat attacks
by
German Naval Staff. See above references and BUSINESS IN GREAT
WATERS by
J
Terraine)..
18th Convoy
shadowed by U434 which was sunk by HM Destroyers BLANKNEY and STANLEY.
21st HM
Escort Carrier AUDACITY sunk by U741.
Sank
U567 with HM Corvette SAMPHIRE in position 44.02N 25.32W off Finisterre.
(See
U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.).
22nd Sustained
serious damaged in collision with HMS STORK.
(Note: Two German prisoners rescued from U574 by HMS STORK were killed.)
28th On
arrival in Liverpool taken in hand for repair.
1 9 4 2
January Under
repair.
to
February
March On
completion of post refit trials joined 36th Escort Group.
Deployed for escort of Freetown route convoys.
April Atlantic
convoy escort with Group in continuation.
to
Nominated for convoy defence in support of planned Allied landings in Normandy
September (Operation
TORCH).
October
26th Sailed from Clyde as part of escort for military convoy KMF1 during
passage to Gibraltar
November
Deployed at Gibraltar and prepared for TORCH.
8th Passage to Arzue, Oran as escort for assault convoy. and led
assault ships to selected area
for disembarkation.
On
release deployed for North African coastal convoy defence in support of military
operations.
December
7th
Redeployed for escort of coastal convoys off
Algeria.
9th Ran
aground at Algiers and sustained major structural damage
1 9 4 3
January Passage
to UK in Convoy MKS8.
February Taken in hand
for repair and refit at Liverpool.
March Under refit
to
August
September Carried out
post refit trials and prepared for work-up.
October Worked-up at
Tobermory for operational service.
Nominated for convoy defence in
Mediterranean with 37th Escort Group.
November Joined escort
for Gibraltar convoy during passage to Mediterranean.
11th Arrived
at Gibraltar and took passage to Alexandria.
December Deployed in
Eastern Mediterranean for convoy defence.
1 9 4 4
January Eastern
Mediterranean deployment in continuation.
to
February
March
30th Joined
escort for Convoy UGS 36 including 37 merchantmen and 18 LST's on passage
from
USA to Eastern Mediterranean.
Deployed to reinforce ships of US Task Force 64 with HM Cruiser
COLOMBO,
HM Sloops
BLACK
SWAN, AMETHYST and HM Corvette CAMPION.
31st Under
attack by U-Boats.
April
Mediterranean convoy defence in continuation based at Alexandria.
to
July
August Transferred
to Taranto in continuation of convoy escort duty.
September Central
Mediterranean convoy defence in continuation.
to
Nominated far transfer to UK for deployment in defence of coastal convoys.
November
December Passage to
UK.
1 9 4 5
January Under refit.
February Deployed at
Portsmouth for convoy escort in SW Approaches and English Channel.
March Channel
convoy defence in continuation.
16th Escorted
HM Coastal Minelayer PLOVER during minelay of A/S defensive field D1 in
English Channel (Operation BUTTERMILK).
(For
details of all minelaying operations see the Naval Staff History (MINING).)
April Channel
coastal convoy escort In continuation.
May Nominated
for reduction to Reserve after VE-Day.
June Paid off
and reduced to Reserve status at Cardiff.
July Laid up
at Milford Haven.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS
DEPTFORD remained laid-up in Reserve at Milford Haven until being placed on the
Disposal List in 1948. Sold to BISCO on 8th March
1948 for breaking-up by T W Ward the ship arrived at
the Breaker’s yard locally on 11th May
that year.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
DEPTFORD
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
28/09/39
|
03/10/39
|
GREEN 3
|
07/10/39
|
07/10/39
|
03/12/39
|
03/12/39
|
OB 045
|
unknown
|
05/12/39
|
05/12/39
|
05/12/39
|
OG 009
|
05/12/39
|
11/12/39
|
11/12/39
|
11/12/39
|
OB 051
|
unknown
|
14/12/39
|
22/12/39
|
22/12/39
|
OB 058
|
25/12/39
|
26/12/39
|
01/01/40
|
01/01/40
|
OB 064
|
04/01/40
|
05/01/40
|
27/12/39
|
05/01/40
|
HXF 014
|
08/01/40
|
08/01/40
|
11/01/40
|
11/01/40
|
OB 070
|
14/01/40
|
14/01/40
|
14/01/40
|
14/01/40
|
OG 014
|
14/01/40
|
19/01/40
|
20/01/40
|
20/01/40
|
OB 076
|
23/01/40
|
23/01/40
|
08/01/40
|
26/01/40
|
SL 016
|
27/01/40
|
27/01/40
|
02/02/40
|
02/02/40
|
OB 084
|
03/02/40
|
05/02/40
|
28/01/40
|
06/02/40
|
HXF 018
|
08/02/40
|
08/02/40
|
19/02/40
|
19/02/40
|
OG 019F
|
25/02/40
|
25/02/40
|
25/02/40
|
25/02/40
|
HG 020
|
06/03/40
|
06/03/40
|
10/04/40
|
16/04/40
|
HG 026F
|
19/04/40
|
19/04/40
|
21/04/40
|
28/04/40
|
HG 027
|
01/05/40
|
unknown
|
06/05/40
|
06/05/40
|
OB 143
|
09/05/40
|
09/05/40
|
09/05/40
|
09/05/40
|
OG 029F
|
14/05/40
|
14/05/40
|
15/05/40
|
15/05/40
|
HG 030
|
22/05/40
|
25/05/40
|
09/05/40
|
23/05/40
|
SL 031
|
26/05/40
|
26/05/40
|
30/05/40
|
30/05/40
|
OB 158
|
02/06/40
|
02/06/40
|
02/06/40
|
02/06/40
|
OG 032F
|
unknown
|
07/06/40
|
05/06/40
|
05/06/40
|
HG 033F
|
14/06/40
|
14/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
OG 034F
|
22/06/40
|
24/06/40
|
21/06/40
|
22/06/40
|
HG 035
|
01/07/40
|
01/07/40
|
05/07/40
|
05/07/40
|
OB 179
|
08/07/40
|
09/07/40
|
25/06/40
|
09/07/40
|
SL 037
|
12/07/40
|
12/07/40
|
17/07/40
|
17/07/40
|
OA 186
|
21/07/40
|
21/07/40
|
11/07/40
|
23/07/40
|
HX 057
|
26/07/40
|
26/07/40
|
03/08/40
|
03/08/40
|
OA 193
|
07/08/40
|
07/08/40
|
27/07/40
|
08/08/40
|
HX 061
|
11/08/40
|
11/08/40
|
13/08/40
|
13/08/40
|
OA 198
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
26/08/40
|
26/08/40
|
OB 204
|
unknown
|
29/08/40
|
10/09/40
|
10/09/40
|
SC 004
|
26/09/40
|
26/09/40
|
05/10/40
|
05/10/40
|
OB 224
|
12/10/40
|
12/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
SC 009
|
09/11/40
|
09/11/40
|
18/11/40
|
19/11/40
|
OG 046
|
05/12/40
|
05/12/40
|
09/12/40
|
10/12/40
|
HG 048
|
23/12/40
|
23/12/40
|
01/01/41
|
02/01/41
|
OB 268
|
04/01/41
|
04/01/41
|
23/12/40
|
07/01/41
|
SC 017
|
08/01/41
|
08/01/41
|
19/01/41
|
19/01/41
|
OG 050
|
31/01/41
|
31/01/41
|
06/02/41
|
06/02/41
|
HG 053
|
24/02/41
|
24/02/41
|
12/04/41
|
12/04/41
|
OB 309
|
16/04/41
|
19/04/41
|
26/04/41
|
26/04/41
|
OG 060
|
10/05/41
|
10/05/41
|
14/05/41
|
14/05/41
|
HG 062
|
02/06/41
|
02/06/41
|
14/06/41
|
14/06/41
|
OG 065
|
28/06/41
|
28/06/41
|
08/07/41
|
08/07/41
|
HG 067
|
24/07/41
|
24/07/41
|
30/07/41
|
31/07/41
|
OG 070
|
10/08/41
|
12/08/41
|
09/08/41
|
11/08/41
|
HG 070
|
unknown
|
23/08/41
|
18/08/41
|
18/08/41
|
HG 071
|
01/09/41
|
02/09/41
|
02/09/41
|
10/09/41
|
HG 072
|
15/09/41
|
17/09/41
|
12/09/41
|
12/09/41
|
OG 074
|
26/09/41
|
26/09/41
|
02/10/41
|
02/10/41
|
HG 074
|
18/10/41
|
18/10/41
|
28/10/41
|
28/10/41
|
OG 076
|
11/11/41
|
11/11/41
|
25/11/41
|
unknown
|
OG 077
|
13/12/41
|
13/12/41
|
14/12/41
|
14/12/41
|
HG 076
|
22/12/41
|
30/12/41
|
13/03/42
|
14/03/42
|
OS 022
|
01/04/42
|
01/04/42
|
03/04/42
|
03/04/42
|
SL 105
|
21/04/42
|
22/04/42
|
02/05/42
|
03/05/42
|
OS 027
|
19/05/42
|
19/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
LS 005
|
20/05/42
|
20/05/42
|
24/05/42
|
24/05/42
|
SL 111
|
16/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
21/07/42
|
21/07/42
|
HG 086
|
01/08/42
|
01/08/42
|
11/08/42
|
11/08/42
|
OG 088
|
24/08/42
|
24/08/42
|
29/08/42
|
29/08/42
|
HG 088
|
07/09/42
|
09/09/42
|
19/09/42
|
22/09/42
|
ON 132
|
24/09/42
|
08/10/42
|
12/09/42
|
25/09/42
|
SC 100
|
25/09/42
|
28/09/42
|
19/09/42
|
01/10/42
|
SC 102
|
03/10/42
|
06/10/42
|
22/10/42
|
22/10/42
|
KMS 001G
|
07/11/42
|
07/11/42
|
21/11/42
|
22/11/42
|
MKS 002
|
24/11/42
|
03/12/42
|
26/11/42
|
26/11/42
|
TE 006
|
30/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
06/12/42
|
06/12/42
|
MKS 003Y
|
07/12/42
|
23/12/42
|
17/02/43
|
19/02/43
|
MKS 008
|
01/03/43
|
01/03/43
|
27/10/43
|
28/10/43
|
OS 057KM
|
07/11/43
|
09/11/43
|
01/12/43
|
02/12/43
|
MKS 033
|
13/12/43
|
13/12/43
|
05/12/43
|
21/12/43
|
UGS 026
|
31/12/43
|
30/12/43
|
05/01/44
|
05/01/44
|
GUS 027
|
16/01/44
|
04/02/44
|
05/01/44
|
21/01/44
|
UGS 029
|
30/01/44
|
31/01/44
|
09/02/44
|
10/02/44
|
MKS 040
|
21/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
25/02/44
|
25/02/44
|
KMS 042
|
06/03/44
|
06/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
GUS 034
|
26/03/44
|
14/04/44
|
14/03/44
|
30/03/44
|
UGS 036
|
09/04/44
|
09/04/44
|
19/04/44
|
20/04/44
|
MKS 047
|
01/05/44
|
01/05/44
|
01/05/44
|
01/05/44
|
MKS 047G
|
03/05/44
|
03/05/44
|
06/05/44
|
06/05/44
|
KMS 049
|
16/05/44
|
16/05/44
|
24/05/44
|
24/05/44
|
GUS 041
|
01/06/44
|
19/06/44
|
13/05/44
|
02/06/44
|
UGS 042
|
07/06/44
|
09/06/44
|
28/05/44
|
03/06/44
|
KMS 051
|
08/06/44
|
09/06/44
|
18/06/44
|
19/06/44
|
MKS 053
|
29/06/44
|
29/06/44
|
04/07/44
|
04/07/44
|
KMS 055
|
14/07/44
|
14/07/44
|
24/07/44
|
25/07/44
|
GUS 047
|
31/07/44
|
18/08/44
|
14/07/44
|
02/08/44
|
UGS 048
|
07/08/44
|
08/08/44
|
17/08/44
|
18/08/44
|
MKS 059
|
28/08/44
|
28/08/44
|
04/09/44
|
04/09/44
|
KMS 061
|
14/09/44
|
14/09/44
|
06/02/45
|
06/02/45
|
TBC 061
|
09/02/45
|
09/02/45
|
25/02/45
|
25/02/45
|
BTC 080
|
28/02/45
|
28/02/45
|
25/02/45
|
25/02/45
|
TBC 080
|
28/02/45
|
28/02/45
|
26/02/45
|
26/02/45
|
BTC 081
|
28/02/45
|
01/03/45
|
27/02/45
|
27/02/45
|
TBC 082
|
02/03/45
|
02/03/45
|
27/02/45
|
01/03/45
|
BTC 082
|
02/03/45
|
02/03/45
|
01/03/45
|
01/03/45
|
TBC 084
|
04/03/45
|
04/03/45
|
16/03/45
|
16/03/45
|
WVL 105
|
17/03/45
|
17/03/45
|
20/03/45
|
20/03/45
|
WVL 109
|
21/03/45
|
21/03/45
|
28/03/45
|
28/03/45
|
WVC 107
|
29/03/45
|
28/03/45
|
05/05/45
|
05/05/45
|
WVC 143
|
06/05/45
|
06/05/45
|
09/05/45
|
09/05/45
|
BTC 153
|
12/05/45
|
12/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)