BRIDGEWATER-Class
Escort Sloop ordered from Hawthorne
Leslie, Newcastle
on 19th September
1927
under the
1927 Build Programme with sister
ship HMS SANDWICH as replacements for
the FLOWER Class built during WW1. The
ship was laid down on 6th February 1928
and launched without
ceremony
on 14th September that year. She was the
5th RN ship
to bear this name, introduced in 1654
for
a 52 gun ship, to commemorate the
capture of the Somerset
town, actually named BRIDGWATER,
by
the Parliamentary army in 1645. This
ship was renamed
ANN in 1660 and the name last used in
1754
for
a 6th Rate built at Southampton which was run ashore at Cuddalore
in April 1758 to avoid capture by
the French
and deliberately
set on fire. Build of this Sloop was
completed on 14th March 1929 and before
the outbreak of war in 1939
had been deployed on the China Station
for six years followed by service based
at Simonstown. In March 1942
she was adopted by the civil community
of Westhoughton,
Lancs. after a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings campaign.
B
a t t l
e H o n o u r s
PORTO
FARINA 1653 - SANTA CRUZ 1657 -
CALCUTTA 1757 - NORTH SEA 1942 -
ATLANTIC 1942-43
H
e r a l d i c
D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Gold, three castles on a
bridge.
all Silver, below
a star and a
fleur-de-lys
Gold.
M
o t t o
Stet
fortuna
nostra: 'May
our fortune stand'
M
a n n i n g P o r t
Devonport
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
August
Arrived at Simonstown after passage from
UK with calls in West African ports
after
recommissioning at Devonport for further
period of foreign service.
Took passage to Freetown to take up war
station.
September
Deployed at Freetown for trade defence
and patrol.
Nominated for return to Simonstown.
October
Passage to Simonstown for trade defence.
to
December
Deployed in South Atlantic.
1 9 4 0
January
Took passage to Freetown for convoy
defence duties.
Deployed at Freetown
February
Convoy escort and patrol based at
Freetown in continuation
to
April
(Note: Extensive fouling of underwater
structure required attention
Docking arranged at Simonstown.)
May
Passage to Simonstown for routine
docking and refit
Taken in hand for refit and docking by
HM Dockyard.
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to U01.
June
Under refit
to
August
Nominated for escort duty in support of
planned Free French landings at Dakar.
September
23rd
On completion of post refit trials took
passage to resume convoy defence duty
at Freetown.
Deployed for escort of military convoy
on passage for planned Free French
landings in West Africa supported by Royal Navy warships (Operation MENACE).
(Note: To be confirmed and possibly
associated with later landings at
Libreville.
Further research is needed.)
October
Deployed at Freetown for local convoy
escort and patrol.
to
December.
1 9 4 1
January
Freetown deployment in continuation.
8th
Deployed with HM Sloop MILFORD, HM
Destroyers VELOX and VIDETTE,
HM Corvettes ASPHODEL and CALENDULA to
provide Local anti-submarine
escort for military convoy during
initial stage of passage from Freetown
to Cape
of Good Hope.
(Note: This convoy had been attacked by
German cruiser ADMIRAL HIPPER
during passage to Freetown from UK. See
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by C Barnett and the Naval Staff
History.)
February
Passage to Simonstown for refit and
docking.
March
Under refit and docking.
Passage to Freetown to resume convoy
escort duties.
April
Freetown deployment in continuation.
to
August
September
26th
Deployed as escort for HM Aircraft
Carrier EAGLE during passage to
Gibraltar.
(Note: HMS EAGLE had been carrying out
anti-submarine operations in Atlantic.)
October
Freetown deployment in continuation.
to
November
December
Part of escort for Convoy SL10 during
passage to Freetown.
25th
Deployed with HM Destroyer BEAUFORT and
HM Battleship RAMILLIES as
escort for military convoy WS14 during
passage from Freetown to Cape of Good
Hope.
1 9 4 2
January
4th
Detached from WS14 on arrival off
Simonstown.
Taken in hand for docking.
February
Took passage to Freetown to resume
convoy escort duties.
March
Deployed at Freetown.
6th
Joined HM Destroyers BRILLIANT and WILD
SWAN, HM Corvettes JASMINE
and NIGELLA as escort for military
convoy WS16 during passage from Freetown
to Cape of Good Hope
18th
Detached from WS16 on arrival off Cape
of Good Hope.
Return passage to Freetown.
April
Deployed at Freetown.
Nominated for return to UK.
May
Deployed as part of escort for Convoy
SL114 from Freetown during passage
to UK.
June
Taken in hand for refit in Tyne
commercial shipyard during which Radar
Type
271 was fitted to provide surface
warning cover and Close Range defence improved
by installation of 20mm Oerlikon weapons
(Note: For details of development and
use of radar by Royal Navy see RADAR
AT SEA by D Howse and SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)
July
Under refit
to
August
September
On completion of post refit trials took
passage to Clyde for return to Convoy
defence
deployment at Freetown.
(Note: The award of Battle Honour NORTH
SEA 1942 suggests that this ship
was deployed as a convoy escort on
passage to or from Tyne refit and
was involved in defence of a convoy
against air or E-Boat attack.)
Joined Convoy OS42 as part of escort in
Atlantic during passage to Freetown.
October
9th
Resumed convoy defence and patrol duties
based at Freetown on arrival of OS42.
November
Freetown Escort Force deployment in
continuation.
December
Nominated for detached service from
Freetown Escort Force.
2nd
Joined HM Cruiser PHOEBE as escort
during passage from Freetown to Trinidad
(Note: HMS PHOEBE had been seriously
damaged by a U-Boat attack in South
Atlantic on 23rd October and was taking
passage to USA for repair.)
Took return passage from Trinidad as
part of escort for Convoy TF1.
1 9 4 3
January
Resumed convoy defence duties at
Freetown on arrival of TF1.
February
Freetown deployment in continuation.
to
August
(Note: This ship was frequently deployed
for escort for coastal convoys between
West African ports and for passage to
and from Gibraltar in SR and RS
Series.)
September
Nominated for return to UK
(Note: Increase in defect rate due to
age of this ship made deployment away
from
base dockyard support and was a factor
in withdrawal from foreign
service. Other new escorts were becoming
available.)
Passage to Liverpool as part of escort for Convoy SL136 which was joined by
Convoy MKS24 at Gibraltar.
25th
Detached from SL136/KMS24 on arrival at
Liverpool.
October
Deployed in Western Approaches for
escort of convoys between UK and
Gibraltar
to
November
pending refit.
(Note: These included Convoy OS56 to
Freetown combined with military convoy
KMS29 to Gibraltar.)
Nominated for refit at commercial ship
yard at Southampton.
Taken in hand for refit.
December
Under refit at Southampton.
1 9 4 4
January
Under refit and nominated for service in
40th Escort Group, Western Approaches.
February
Planned deployment cancelled and to be
withdrawn from operational duties
(Note: By this date ship had been fitted
with HEDGEHOG Anti-submarine
Mortar, Radar Type 291 for
surface/aircraft warning and a High
Frequency Direction Finding outfit for
use in convoy defence.
See above references.)
Allocated for service in 3rd Submarine
Flotilla based in Clyde
(Note: This decision was made in view of
poor condition of hull structure.)
March
Joined 3rd Submarine Flotilla for duty
as Target Vessel during submarine
training and escort for submarines
during surface passage in NW Approaches.
April
Clyde deployment with 3rd Submarine
Flotilla in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 5
January
Submarine Training and escort duties in
continuation based in Clyde.
to
Nominated for reduction to Reserve
status after end of hostilities.
June
July
Paid off and reduced to Reserve in
Category C.
August
Laid-up at Ardrossan.
P o s t
W a
r Notes
HMS
BRIDGEWATER was used for
static bomb trials during 1946-47 before
being placed on the Disposal List. The
ship was
sold to BISCO on 22nd May 1947 and
broken-up by Howells for demolition at Gellesick
Bay. She
arrived at the breaker’s yard in tow on
25th May 1947.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
BRIDGEWATER
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
01/03/40
|
12/03/40
|
SL
022F
|
15/03/40
|
15/03/40
|
21/11/40
|
21/11/40
|
SL
056
|
22/11/40
|
12/12/40
|
12/11/40
|
25/11/40
|
SL
055
|
04/12/40
|
02/12/40
|
28/11/40
|
28/11/40
|
SL
057
|
30/11/40
|
19/12/40
|
07/12/40
|
07/12/40
|
SL
058
|
08/12/40
|
28/12/40
|
22/12/40
|
22/12/40
|
SL
060
|
24/12/40
|
13/01/41
|
22/12/40
|
24/12/40
|
SL
060S
|
24/12/40
|
15/01/41
|
29/12/40
|
03/01/41
|
HG
049
|
03/01/41
|
15/01/41
|
18/06/41
|
18/06/41
|
SL
078
|
21/06/41
|
12/07/41
|
14/07/41
|
31/07/41
|
OB
346
|
01/08/41
|
01/08/41
|
23/09/41
|
23/09/41
|
ST
004
|
28/09/41
|
28/09/41
|
17/10/41
|
17/10/41
|
ST
006
|
22/10/41
|
22/10/41
|
11/11/41
|
11/11/41
|
ST
008
|
16/11/41
|
16/11/41
|
04/12/41
|
04/12/41
|
ST
010
|
09/12/41
|
09/12/41
|
25/04/42
|
25/04/42
|
LS
003
|
26/04/42
|
30/04/42
|
13/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
LS
005
|
20/05/42
|
20/05/42
|
25/06/42
|
01/07/42
|
SL
114
|
17/07/42
|
17/07/42
|
29/09/42
|
29/09/42
|
OS
042
|
09/10/42
|
09/10/42
|
16/10/42
|
19/10/42
|
SL
125
|
21/10/42
|
09/11/42
|
04/11/42
|
04/11/42
|
CF
007A
|
12/11/42
|
17/11/42
|
26/11/42
|
26/11/42
|
FTT
003
|
30/11/42
|
01/12/42
|
15/01/43
|
15/01/43
|
TF
001/2
|
16/01/43
|
16/01/43
|
10/02/43
|
10/02/43
|
SR
001/1
|
16/02/43
|
23/02/43
|
11/02/43
|
16/02/43
|
RS
001
|
19/02/43
|
19/02/43
|
24/02/43
|
24/02/43
|
SR
002/1
|
03/03/43
|
08/03/43
|
26/02/43
|
03/03/43
|
RS
002
|
08/03/43
|
08/03/43
|
21/03/43
|
21/03/43
|
SR
003/1
|
02/04/43
|
02/04/43
|
22/03/43
|
28/03/43
|
RS
003
|
31/03/43
|
31/03/43
|
03/05/43
|
03/05/43
|
ST
063A
|
07/05/43
|
06/05/43
|
05/05/43
|
05/05/43
|
TS
038
|
10/05/43
|
10/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
TS
042
|
02/06/43
|
02/06/43
|
23/06/43
|
23/06/43
|
ST
070
|
29/06/43
|
29/06/43
|
03/07/43
|
03/07/43
|
TS
046
|
08/07/43
|
08/07/43
|
11/07/43
|
11/07/43
|
ST
072
|
20/07/43
|
20/07/43
|
07/08/43
|
07/08/43
|
OSS
052
|
14/08/43
|
12/08/43
|
03/09/43
|
03/09/43
|
SL
136
|
25/09/43
|
14/09/43
|
14/09/43
|
14/09/43
|
SL
136MK
|
25/09/43
|
25/09/43
|
18/09/44
|
25/09/44
|
SL
170MK
|
26/09/44
|
26/09/44
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)