GRIMSBY-Class Sloop ordered under the 1934 Programme from HM Dockyard Devonport on 1st
March 1935 with HM Sloop ABERDEEN. The ship was laid down on 14th August
1935 and was launched on 24th March 1936
by Lady Plunkett Ernle-Ernle-Drax. This name was used by a Royalist Ship,
captured in 1653 and renamed HMS WEXFORD. The last ship to use the name was a
WW1 minesweeper which was renamed HMS FORD in 1918. Build was completed on 19th
November 1936 and manned by the Portsmouth manning depot. This Sloop was
selected as trials ship for the new dual-purpose 4in mounting to be used for
future builds of this type of escort. On
completion of trials in November 1937 she refitted before being deployed for
foreign service in the Red Sea. The ship returned to UK after the outbreak of
WW2 so that her improved AA armament could be used for convoy defence in Home
Waters. Following a successful
WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign during March 1942 she was
adopted by the civil community of
Wells, Somerset.
B a t t le H o n o
u r s
NORWAY 1940
- ATLANTIC 1940-44 - NORTH AFRICA 1942-43 -MEDITERRANEAN 1944 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1945
H e
r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Blue a martlet Gold.
M o t t o
' Onward'
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 3
9
September Deployed in Red
Sea based at Aden.
3rd Passage
to Port Said for contraband control duties in Mediterranean.
October
Mediterranean deployment in continuation.
Recalled to Hone waters for convoy defence and took passage to Portland.
11th Arrived
at Portland and transferred for convoy escort duty in North Sea.
November Under refit in
Dundee.
December
21st On
completion resumed escort of East Coast convoys between Methil and Southend.
1 9 4 0
January North Sea
convoy defence duties in continuation.
to
March
April
21st
Transferred to Home Fleet for AA defence duties in Norwegian waters with units
deployed
in
support of allied military operations. To be deployed as AA Guardship at Namsos
and
Andalsnes. Passage with HM Sloop PELICAN.
22nd Detached
from HMS PELICAN and took passage to Andalsnes. Rejoined damaged HMS
PELICAN and established tow. (Note: HMS PELICAN was hit aft by a bomb whilst on
passage to Namsos
and stern structure demolished.)
23rd Towed
damaged Sloop HMS PELICAN to Lerwick.
28th Return
passage to Andalsnes for AA Guardship duties in place of HMS
BLACK SWAN.
29th Under
aitr attacks at Andalsnes.
30th Relieved
as Guardship by HM Sloop AUCKLAND,
Embarked 340 personnel for evacuation and took passage to UK
May
1st
Passengers disembarked on arrival.
Replenished ammunition.
2nd Passage
to resume AA Guardship duties.
11th Deployed with HM Cruisers
ENTERPRISE,
CAIRO, HM Destroyer
HESPERUS and ss MARGOT taking Scots Guards and
equipment
to
Mo, south of Narvik. Heavy expenditure of ammunition,
12th Under air
attacks during disembarkation lasting several hours.
(Note: Air cover was provided during passage but none was available during period at
Mo.)
25th Deployed
with HM Destroyers AMAZON and VOLUNTEER as escort for damaged HM
Destroyer ESKIMO during passage in tow to UK.
June Norwegian
coast and North Sea deployment in continuation.
1st Passage
to UK after evacuation from Harstad.
July East
coast convoy defence in continuation
to
Deployed as escort for Convoys MT26 and FS38 in North Sea (August).
December
1 9 4 1
January Nominated
for convoy defence duty in Western Approaches.
Passage to Londonderry.
February Deployed for
Atlantic convoy defence based at
Londonderry..
to
March
April Joined
1st AA Division of Western Approaches Command for AA defence of convoys in
NW
and SW Approaches.
May Atlantic
convoy escort in continuation.
June
Transferred to Newfoundland Escort Force for convoy escort in the eastern
Canadian
seaboard area.
Took
passage to Newfoundland
and joined Escort Force.
July
Deployment with Newfoundland Escort Force in continuation.
August Passage to
UK for refit.
Taken
in hand for refit in commercial shipyard at Middlesbrough.
(Note: Three 20mm Oerlikon guns fitted for Close Range defence against aircraft.
Modified RAF radar (Type 286M) fitted.
See
RADAR AT SEA By D Howse for details of development and use of radar in
the
Royal Navy.)
September On completion
joined Sloop Division of Western Approaches Command for escort of
Atlantic convoys between UK and
Freetown.
October Freetown
route convoy defence in continuation.
November Sloop Division
re-designated 44th Escort Group.
Remained with new Group in continuation.
December Freetown route
convoy defence in continuation.
1 9 4 2
January Deployment
for Atlantic convoy defence with Group in continuation.
to (For
details of U- Boat deployments see U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMS0).
May
June
2nd Damaged
in collision with tanker OIL RELIANCE during escort of Convoy OS30.
Passage to Liverpool for repair and refit.
Taken
in hand for refit.
(Note: Type 286M radar replaced by Type 286P.
Three
additional 20mm Oerlikon weapons fitted.
H/F DF outfit fitted. See SEEK
AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)
July Under
refit and carried out harbour trials on completion of shipyard work.
August Post refit
harbour and sea trials.
September Rejoined Group
for escort of Freetown route convoys.
October Atlantic
convoy defence in continuation.
Nominated for escort of military convoys
to and from
Gibraltar.
(Note: Radar Type 271 for surface warning fitted.
See
RADAR AT SEA.)
November Escorted
build-up convoys for North African military operations after landings.
(Operation TORCH - See above references and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by
J de
Winser for information about all mercantiles and warships involved.)
December Transferred to
Western Mediterranean for service with 43rd Escort Group based at
Gibraltar for convoy defence.
1 9 4 3
January
Mediterranean convoy defence in continuation.
to
February
March Passage to
UK for service
at Londonderry with 39th Escort Group for convoy defence
of
convoys to and from Freetown
April Deployed
in Atlantic for convoy defence with Group including Convoy OS44.
For
details of this crucial period see THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre).
May Deployed
with escort for Convoy OS47
11th Sank U
528 in position 46.55N, 14.44W (Bay of Biscay) with 58 Squadron RAF during
defence of Convoy OS47.
June Atlantic
convoy defence in continuation.
July Under
refit in commercial shipyard at
Dundee.
(Note: Radar Type 291 and H/F DF fitted.
HEDGEHOG Anti submarine Mortar fitted. See SEEK AND STRIKE by
W
Hackmann).
August On completion
of post refit trials worked-up at Tobermory.
September Rejoined Group
after working-up.
26th Escorted
HM Auxiliary Minelayers MENESTHEUS, AGAMEMNON and
PORT QUEBEC
of
1st Minelaying
Squadron with HM Destroyers HARDY, ROCKET and SALADIN
during minelay in
Northern Barrage.
(Operation SN222C - See Naval Staff History (MINING).)
October Transferred
to 41st Escort Group and escorted convoy to Gibraltar.
On
arrival deployed on A/S patrol in
Gibraltar area.
November
1st Sank U340 in position
35.49N 05.14 W (East of Ceuta inside
Mediterranean) with
Destroyers WITHERINGTON and ACTIVE and aircraft of 179 Squadron RAF).
Captured survivors who had been rescued by Spanish trawler.
For
details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.
17th Sustained
serious structural damage in collision with US Navy PC473 and later by
striking jetty on berthing in
Gibraltar.
Taken in hand for repair by HM Dockyard
Gibraltar.
December Under repair by
HM Dockyard, Gibraltar.
1 9 4 4
January Under
repair.
to
March
April On
completion of post refit trials deployed with 41st Escort Group for defence
of convoys
in
Mediterranean during passage to Port Said.
May
Mediterranean convoy defence in continuation.
to
August
September Under repair in
Haifa.
October Transferred
to 50th Escort Group at Alexandria
for convoy escort and patrol in eastern
Mediterranean.
November Eastern
Mediterranean deployment in continuation.
Nominated for return to UK.
December Passage to
UK
(Note: Anti-submarine defences in Home waters were being supplemented due to increase
in
SCHNORKEL fitted submarine attacks on convoys in Western Approaches and
English Channel. See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by Peter C Smith).
1 9 4 5
January Deployed for
convoy escort in SW Approaches and English Channel at Portsmouth.
February Channel
deployment in continuation.
20th Escorted
HM Coastal Minelayer PLOVER during lay of defensive A/S minefield A2 in
English Channel (Operation BUTTERMILK – See above reference.).
March
29th Escorted
Netherlands minelayer VAN DAMM during continuation of A2 minefield lay
(Operation BUTTERMILK).
April
6th Escorted
HMS PLOVER for lay of Deep A/S minefield V2 in SW Approaches.
(Operation ARTIZAN – See above reference)
May Deployed
at Portsmouth for local duties.
to
Paid-off at and reduced to Reserve status
July Laid-up
at Portsmouth
August Nominated for
reduction to Reserve at Hartlepool.
4th Arrived at Hartlepool and laid-up in Reserve.
P o s
t W a r N o t e s
HMS FLEETWOOD was brought forward from Reserve in February
1946 for use as the Radar Training Ship attached to HMS DRYAD at Portsmouth.
After conversion for her new role commenced training duties .Amongst her
earliest tasks was to carry out demonstration of first British commercially
produced radar set for use in merchant ships. She continued use as a training
ship until 1959 when placed on the Disposal List. After sale to BISCO for
demolition by C W Dorkin she arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard in Gateshead
on 10th October that year.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
FLEETWOOD
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
20/09/39
|
20/09/39
|
BLUE 002
|
30/09/39
|
30/09/39
|
30/10/39
|
30/10/39
|
FS 0029
|
01/11/39
|
01/11/39
|
05/11/39
|
05/11/39
|
FS 0032
|
07/11/39
|
07/11/39
|
23/12/39
|
23/12/39
|
FS 0058
|
24/12/39
|
24/12/39
|
26/12/39
|
26/12/39
|
FN 0059
|
28/12/39
|
28/12/39
|
11/01/40
|
11/01/40
|
FS 0069
|
12/01/40
|
12/01/40
|
15/01/40
|
15/01/40
|
FN 0072
|
18/01/40
|
18/01/40
|
18/01/40
|
18/01/40
|
FS 0076
|
20/01/40
|
20/01/40
|
21/01/40
|
21/01/40
|
FN 0077
|
23/01/40
|
23/01/40
|
24/01/40
|
24/01/40
|
FS 0080
|
26/01/40
|
26/01/40
|
27/01/40
|
27/01/40
|
FN 0081
|
28/01/40
|
28/01/40
|
29/01/40
|
29/01/40
|
FS 0083A
|
31/01/40
|
31/01/40
|
08/02/40
|
08/02/40
|
FN 0089
|
11/02/40
|
11/02/40
|
12/02/40
|
12/02/40
|
FS 0094
|
14/02/40
|
14/02/40
|
12/02/40
|
12/02/40
|
MT 009
|
12/02/40
|
12/02/40
|
15/02/40
|
15/02/40
|
FN 0095
|
17/02/40
|
17/02/40
|
19/02/40
|
19/02/40
|
FS 0100
|
21/02/40
|
21/02/40
|
06/03/40
|
06/03/40
|
FS 0114
|
08/03/40
|
08/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
FS 0120
|
15/03/40
|
15/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
MT 029
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
FS 0126
|
23/03/40
|
23/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
MT 035
|
21/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
FN 0128
|
26/03/40
|
26/03/40
|
04/04/40
|
04/04/40
|
FS 0138
|
06/04/40
|
06/04/40
|
07/04/40
|
07/04/40
|
FN 0140
|
09/04/40
|
09/04/40
|
09/04/40
|
09/04/40
|
FS 0141
|
11/04/40
|
11/04/40
|
09/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
FS 0191
|
11/06/40
|
11/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
MT 085
|
09/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
16/06/40
|
16/06/40
|
MT 089
|
17/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
FS 0197
|
19/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
20/06/40
|
20/06/40
|
FN 0200
|
22/06/40
|
22/06/40
|
23/06/40
|
23/06/40
|
FS 0203
|
26/06/40
|
26/06/40
|
23/06/40
|
23/06/40
|
MT 094
|
25/06/40
|
25/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
FN 0206
|
29/06/40
|
29/06/40
|
05/07/40
|
05/07/40
|
FS 0215
|
07/07/40
|
07/07/40
|
09/07/40
|
09/07/40
|
FN 0218
|
11/07/40
|
11/07/40
|
12/07/40
|
12/07/40
|
FS 0221
|
14/07/40
|
14/07/40
|
16/07/40
|
16/07/40
|
FN 0224
|
17/07/40
|
18/07/40
|
19/07/40
|
19/07/40
|
FS 0226
|
21/07/40
|
21/07/40
|
22/07/40
|
22/07/40
|
FN 0229
|
24/07/40
|
24/07/40
|
31/07/40
|
31/07/40
|
FS 0238
|
02/08/40
|
02/08/40
|
03/08/40
|
03/08/40
|
FN 0241
|
05/08/40
|
05/08/40
|
07/08/40
|
07/08/40
|
FS 0245
|
09/08/40
|
09/08/40
|
10/08/40
|
10/08/40
|
FN 0248
|
12/08/40
|
12/08/40
|
13/08/40
|
13/08/40
|
FS 0251
|
15/08/40
|
15/08/40
|
14/08/40
|
14/08/40
|
FS 0252
|
16/08/40
|
16/08/40
|
28/08/40
|
28/08/40
|
FN 0265
|
30/08/40
|
30/08/40
|
01/09/40
|
01/09/40
|
FS 0269
|
03/09/40
|
03/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
FN 0272
|
06/09/40
|
06/09/40
|
12/09/40
|
12/09/40
|
OA 213
|
16/09/40
|
unknown
|
05/09/40
|
16/09/40
|
HX 071
|
20/09/40
|
20/09/40
|
30/09/40
|
30/09/40
|
OA 222
|
05/10/40
|
03/10/40
|
19/09/40
|
05/10/40
|
SL 048
|
10/10/40
|
09/10/40
|
16/10/40
|
16/10/40
|
OA 230
|
20/10/40
|
20/10/40
|
09/10/40
|
20/10/40
|
HG 045
|
27/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
05/01/41
|
05/01/41
|
EN 052/1
|
07/01/41
|
07/01/41
|
15/01/41
|
15/01/41
|
FS 0388
|
17/01/41
|
17/01/41
|
23/01/41
|
23/01/41
|
FS 0395
|
26/01/41
|
26/01/41
|
28/01/41
|
28/01/41
|
FN 0394
|
30/01/41
|
30/01/41
|
03/02/41
|
04/02/41
|
OB 282
|
07/02/41
|
08/02/41
|
20/01/41
|
09/02/41
|
SL 063
|
09/02/41
|
09/02/41
|
13/02/41
|
13/02/41
|
OB 286
|
17/02/41
|
17/02/41
|
30/01/41
|
17/02/41
|
SL 064
|
20/02/41
|
22/02/41
|
26/02/41
|
27/02/41
|
OB 291
|
03/03/41
|
03/03/41
|
10/02/41
|
04/03/41
|
SL 065
|
08/03/41
|
08/03/41
|
23/03/41
|
23/03/41
|
OB 301
|
27/03/41
|
27/03/41
|
15/03/41
|
27/03/41
|
HG 056
|
02/04/41
|
02/04/41
|
06/04/41
|
06/04/41
|
OG 058
|
12/04/41
|
21/04/41
|
22/04/41
|
23/04/41
|
OB 313
|
27/04/41
|
28/04/41
|
05/05/41
|
07/05/41
|
OG 061
|
09/05/41
|
19/05/41
|
17/04/41
|
10/05/41
|
SL 072
|
13/05/41
|
13/05/41
|
18/05/41
|
19/05/41
|
OB 324
|
24/05/41
|
27/05/41
|
09/05/41
|
24/05/41
|
SC 031
|
29/05/41
|
30/05/41
|
16/06/41
|
16/06/41
|
OB 335
|
24/06/41
|
02/07/41
|
16/06/41
|
27/06/41
|
HX 133
|
27/06/41
|
03/07/41
|
27/06/41
|
03/07/41
|
OB 340
|
13/07/41
|
13/07/41
|
16/07/41
|
19/07/41
|
HX 139
|
30/07/41
|
31/07/41
|
03/10/41
|
03/10/41
|
OS 008
|
25/10/41
|
26/10/41
|
27/10/41
|
28/10/41
|
SL 091
|
08/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
SL 091G1
|
12/11/41
|
12/11/41
|
12/11/41
|
12/11/41
|
SL 091GS
|
19/11/41
|
19/11/41
|
13/12/41
|
15/12/41
|
OS 014
|
01/01/42
|
03/01/42
|
04/01/42
|
07/01/42
|
SL 097
|
14/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
11/01/42
|
17/01/42
|
SL 097G
|
24/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
11/02/42
|
12/02/42
|
OS 019
|
01/03/42
|
03/03/42
|
04/03/42
|
07/03/42
|
SL 102
|
26/03/42
|
26/03/42
|
02/04/42
|
03/04/42
|
OS 024
|
22/04/42
|
22/04/42
|
26/04/42
|
26/04/42
|
SL 108
|
19/05/42
|
19/05/42
|
01/06/42
|
02/06/42
|
OS 030
|
04/06/42
|
19/06/42
|
29/09/42
|
29/09/42
|
OS 042
|
09/10/42
|
09/10/42
|
01/11/42
|
01/11/42
|
KMF 002
|
12/11/42
|
12/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
MKF 002
|
18/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
08/11/42
|
22/11/42
|
KMS 003G
|
26/11/42
|
26/11/42
|
01/12/42
|
01/12/42
|
ET 003
|
04/12/42
|
04/12/42
|
26/11/42
|
07/12/42
|
KMS 004G
|
13/12/42
|
13/12/42
|
05/12/42
|
14/12/42
|
ET 005
|
16/12/42
|
16/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
23/12/42
|
KMS 005G
|
unknown
|
27/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
ET 007
|
31/12/42
|
31/12/42
|
07/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
KMS 007G
|
23/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
23/01/43
|
24/01/43
|
ET 009X
|
27/01/43
|
27/01/43
|
07/02/43
|
07/02/43
|
MKS 007
|
17/02/43
|
17/02/43
|
06/03/43
|
07/03/43
|
OS 044
|
24/03/43
|
24/03/43
|
31/03/43
|
31/03/43
|
SL 127
|
24/04/43
|
15/04/43
|
05/05/43
|
06/05/43
|
OS 047KM
|
15/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
19/05/43
|
OS 047
|
25/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
SL 130
|
11/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
SL 130MK
|
18/06/43
|
21/06/43
|
07/10/43
|
07/10/43
|
OS 056KM
|
18/10/43
|
18/10/43
|
18/10/43
|
18/10/43
|
KMS 029G
|
20/10/43
|
20/10/43
|
27/03/44
|
27/03/44
|
KMS 045
|
06/04/44
|
06/04/44
|
09/04/44
|
10/04/44
|
MKS 046
|
21/04/44
|
21/04/44
|
25/04/44
|
26/04/44
|
KMS 048
|
04/05/44
|
05/05/44
|
14/05/44
|
14/05/44
|
GUS 040
|
22/05/44
|
09/06/44
|
03/05/44
|
25/05/44
|
UGS 041
|
30/05/44
|
30/05/44
|
08/06/44
|
09/06/44
|
MKS 052
|
20/06/44
|
20/06/44
|
23/06/44
|
23/06/44
|
KMS 054
|
02/07/44
|
03/07/44
|
14/07/44
|
15/07/44
|
GUS 046
|
20/07/44
|
08/08/44
|
04/07/44
|
23/07/44
|
UGS 047
|
29/07/44
|
29/07/44
|
07/08/44
|
07/08/44
|
MKS 058
|
17/08/44
|
17/08/44
|
23/08/44
|
23/08/44
|
KMS 060
|
02/09/44
|
02/09/44
|
16/10/44
|
16/10/44
|
MKS 065
|
28/10/44
|
28/10/44
|
02/11/44
|
06/11/44
|
KMS 067
|
12/11/44
|
12/11/44
|
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
|
20/03/45
|
20/03/45
|
WVL 109
|
21/03/45
|
21/03/45
|
03/04/45
|
03/04/45
|
WVC 113
|
04/04/45
|
04/04/45
|
12/04/45
|
12/04/45
|
BTC 126
|
15/04/45
|
15/04/45
|
12/04/45
|
12/04/45
|
TBC 126
|
15/04/45
|
15/04/45
|
30/04/45
|
30/04/45
|
WVC 138
|
01/05/45
|
01/05/45
|
01/05/45
|
01/05/45
|
BTC 145
|
04/05/45
|
04/05/45
|
01/05/45
|
01/05/45
|
VWC 143
|
02/05/45
|
02/05/45
|
02/05/45
|
02/05/45
|
TBC 146
|
05/05/45
|
05/05/45
|
03/05/45
|
05/05/45
|
BTC 147
|
06/05/45
|
06/05/45
|
13/05/45
|
13/05/45
|
VWL 170
|
14/05/45
|
14/05/45
|
15/05/45
|
15/05/45
|
BTC 159
|
18/05/45
|
18/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)