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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 20052005

HMIS NARBADA (U 40) - Modified Bittern-class Sloop including Convoy Escort Movements 

HMIS Narbada (Photo Ships, click to enlarge)

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Modified BITTERN-Class Sloop ordered from John I Thornycroft under the 1940 Build Programme for the Royal Indian Navy on 29th August 1940. The ship was laid down en 30th August 1941 as Yard No. 1385 and launched on 21st November 1942 by Mrs Amery. Build was completed on 29th April 1943.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

BURMA 1944-45

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge:  On a Field Blue, rising from a base barry wavy of four,

a trident gold, with a cobra proper entwined.

 

 

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

 

April

 

Contractors trials and commissioned for Royal Indian Navy service. Nominated for service in Eastern Fleet.

 

29th - Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

 

May

 

On completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory. Carried out work-up for operational service

 

June

 

Transferred to Scapa Flow for further work-up with ships of Home Fleet.

 

July

 

Under repair for defects discovered during work-up

 

August

 

Prepared for foreign service

 

12th - Sailed from Clyde as part of escort for Convoy KMF22 during passage to Algiers.

 

21st - Deployed as escort for convoy through Red Sea from Alexandria to Aden.

 

September

 

Passage in Red Sea. Deployed with escort of Convoy during passage from Aden to Bombay.

 

14th - On arrival detached from convoy and joined Eastern Fleet.

 

October to December

 

Deployed for escort of military convoys in Bay of Bengal in support of planned operations in Burma.

 

 

1 9 4 4

 

January to December

 

Bay of Bengal convoy defence in continuation. Nominated for support of military operations in Burma.

 

 

1 9 4 5

 

January

 

2nd - Deployed with HM Indian Sloop JUMNA to support landing of 74th Indian Brigade on Akyab Peninsular . (Operation LIGHTNING - For details see THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J. Winton, OPERATION PACIFIC by E Gray and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).).

 

7th - Engaged shore batteries up the Kaladan River near Ponnagyun with HMIS JUMNA, HM Motor launches 381 and 829. Bombarded retreating enemy troops. (See above references.)

 

12th - Embarked troops and joined Task Force 64 for support of landing by 3rd British Commando Brigade between Akyab and Ramree with HM Destroyer NAPIER (RAN), HMIS JUMNA and HM Cruiser PHOEBE which provided Fighter Direction facilities.

 

13th - Under attack by Japanese OSCAR aircraft and destroyed one.

 

February

 

16th - Provided naval gunfire support during landing of 53rd Brigade at Ryuwa with HM Sloop FLAMINGO and HMIS JUMNA.

 

Carried out further bombardment of enemy positions later.

 

22nd - Hit aft by return fire but depth charges were not detonated.

 

March

 

Military support duties in continuation.

 

16th - Taken in hand for refit in Bombay.

 

April

 

On completion of post refit trials resumed support duties.

 

27th - Escorted assault convoy for landings at Rangoon with HM Indian Sloops CAUVERY, GODAVARI, KISTNA, SUTLEJ and HINDUSTAN (Operation DRACULA – See above references.).

 

May

 

16th - Deployed with HM Indian Sloops CAUVERY, GODAVARI, KISTNA, SUTLEJ and HINDUSTAN supported initially by HMS PHOEBE and later by HM Cruiser CEYLON for patrol to intercept Japanese craft evacuating Japanese forces from Andamans.

 

No enemy ships were sighted during these patrols.

 

23rd - On completion resumed Flotilla duties.

 

June

 

15th - Deployed in rotation with HM Sloop LOSSIE, HM Indian Sloop CAUVERY GODAVARI and KISTNA for interception patrol between Andamans and coast and coast of Burma.

 

July

 

Nominated for escort and support of planned landings in Malaya. Took part in preparatory exercises for Operation ZIPPER. Deployed at Trincomalee for convoy defence.

 

August

 

Further postponement of Operation ZIPPER because of indecision by authorities in London on arrangements for the return of long serving service personnel in SEAC under the PYTHON Scheme and resistance by the US Government. (See above references and Final Report of Supreme Commander SEAC, Appendix E (HMSO).)

 

30th - Joined escort of assault convoy JMD1A during passage to beach head near Port Swettenham.

 

September

 

Passage in Malacca Straits

 

9th - Deployed off MORIB beach head to provide naval gunfire support in the event of resistance. No interference was encountered.

 

  

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMIS NARBADA was deployed in the Bay of Bengal after VJ Day and on 26th September was present at the formal Japanese surrender of the Andamans garrison at Port Blair by Vice Admiral Hara IJN. At partition in 1947 this Sloop was transferred from the Indian Navy to Pakistan and was renamed PS JHELUM. She recommissioned and remained in service until 1959 when put on the Disposal List. Sold on 17th July that year she was broken up in Pakistan.

 

 


 

Addendum

 

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMIS NARBADA

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21/05/43

22/05/43

PW 342

23/05/43

23/05/43

06/08/43

28/08/43

UGS 014

02/09/43

02/09/43

08/09/43

08/09/43

AB 010

14/09/43

14/09/43

24/09/43

24/09/43

BM 067

29/09/43

29/09/43

29/09/43

29/09/43

JC 023

02/10/43

02/10/43

04/10/43

05/10/43

MA 011/3

08/10/43

08/10/43

10/10/43

12/10/43

MA 013/3

15/10/43

15/10/43

16/10/43

16/10/43

MA 015/3

21/10/43

21/10/43

24/10/43

24/10/43

HC 001

26/10/43

26/10/43

07/11/43

07/11/43

HC 006

09/11/43

09/11/43

13/11/43

13/11/43

HC 008

15/11/43

15/11/43

19/11/43

19/11/43

HC 010

21/11/43

21/11/43

27/11/43

27/11/43

MA 018/3

30/11/43

30/11/43

17/12/43

17/12/43

HC 014

18/12/43

18/12/43

23/12/43

23/12/43

HC 016

26/12/43

26/12/43

28/12/43

28/12/43

HC 018

30/12/43

30/12/43

03/01/44

03/01/44

HC 020

05/01/44

05/01/44

09/01/44

09/01/44

HC 022

11/01/44

11/01/44

16/01/44

16/01/44

HC 024

17/01/44

17/01/44

21/01/44

21/01/44

HC 026

23/01/44

23/01/44

27/01/44

27/01/44

HC 028

29/01/44

29/01/44

08/02/44

08/02/44

HC 032

10/02/44

10/02/44

11/02/44

11/02/44

HC 033

13/02/44

13/02/44

25/03/44

26/03/44

BM 090B

08/04/44

08/04/44

23/04/44

23/04/44

HC 057

25/04/44

25/04/44

26/04/44

26/04/44

CH 027

27/04/44

27/04/44

29/04/44

29/04/44

HC 059

01/05/44

01/05/44

02/05/44

02/05/44

CH 029

03/05/44

03/05/44

05/05/44

05/05/44

HC 061

07/05/44

07/05/44

07/05/44

07/05/44

CH 031

10/05/44

10/05/44

11/05/44

11/05/44

HC 063

13/05/44

13/05/44

13/05/44

13/05/44

CH 033

15/05/44

15/05/44

10/06/44

10/06/44

CH 034

11/06/44

11/06/44

20/06/44

20/06/44

CJ 032A

26/06/44

26/06/44

27/11/44

27/11/44

CH 056A

02/12/44

02/12/44

 

 

 

 

 

(Note on Convoys)

 

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revised 10/6/11
further editing is required