Modified BLACK SWAN-Class Sloop ordered from Denny,
Dumbarton on
11th February 1942 under the 1941 Build
Programme. The ship was laid down on 8th
September 1942 and
launched on 11th November 1943 by Miss
Gordon. She was
the 14th Royal Navy ship
to bear the name, introduced ion 1651
and last
used
by a destroyer sold in 1919. Build was
completed on 12th May 1944 and included
installation of a Head Throwing Mortar
(HEDGEHOG) as well as the latest
surface warning radar Type 277.
Following the loss of HM Sloop IBIS in
November
1942 this ship replaced her as the
warship adopted by the civil community
of
Stoke Newington,
now part of the Metropolitan
Borough of
Hackney in Greater London.
B
a t t
l e H o n o u r s
CADIZ 1596 - DOVER 1652 - GABBARD
1653 - PORTO FARINO
1655 - TEXEL
1672 - TOULON 1793 - BELGIAN
COAST 1914-17 - ARCTIC
1944
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Blue, on a
water barry
wavy in base White and Blue
a Mermaid Proper.
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 4
May
Carried out contractors trials and
commissioned for service.
12th
Build completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials.
Retained in build yard for repair of
defects found on trials.
On completion of trials and storing took
passage to Tobermory.
June
2nd
Commenced
work-up for operational service at
Tobermory.
July
Under work-up which had been extended.
17th
Completed work-up and taken in hand for
further repair before operational
service,
August
Under repair.
13th
Deployed with Home Fleet for convoy
defence.
15th
Joined HM Sloops KITE and PEACOCK, HM
Destroyers
WHITEHALL
in escort
for Russian
Convoy JW59 to reinforce defence against
aircraft and submarine
attacks.
(Note: This convoy included battleship
ARCHANGELSK (Ex HMS ROYAL SOVEREIGN and
ten Ex USN PT boats being transferred to
Russian Navy).
For details of all Russian convoy
operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA
Ruegg,
CONVOY! by P Kemp, THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS
by B Schoefield and ARCTIC CONVOYS !
by R Woodman.
20th
JW59A under U-Boat attack by T5 acoustic
torpedoes
24th
After detection by SWORDF1SH aircraft of
825 Squadron from HM Escort Aircraft
Carrier
VINDEX participated in sinking of U354
in position 72.49N 30.41e with HMS
KEPPEL, HMS
PEACOCK and HM Frigate LOCH DUNVEGAN.
There were no survivors from the
submarine. (See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P
Kemp.)
Detached from convoy on arrival at Kola
Inlet.
28th
Joined escort for returning convoy RA59A
with same ships.
September
2nd
Took part on sinking of U394 in position
69.47N 04.41E, west of Lofotens, with
HMS KEPPEL,
HMS WHITEHALL and HMS PEACOCK after
detection by SWORDFISH aircraft from HMS
VINDEX (825 Squadron).
6th
Detached on arrival at Loch Ewe with
comparatively little interference.
12th
Taken in hand for repair of defects.
October
On completion of repair deployed on
convoy defence in NW Approaches.
November
Taken in hand for refit at commercial
shipyard in Leith. 1945
December
Under refit
1
9 4 5
January
Nominated for service with 12th Escort
Group for defence of Atlantic convoys.
February
On completion of shipyard work carried
out post refit trials
Passage to Tobermory
March
23rd
Completed work-up at Tobermory.
Joined Group based at Liverpool.
April
Deployed for defence of coastal convoys
and in SW
Approaches
May
After VJ Day nominated for service with
British Pacific Fleet. on completion of
refit
14th
Taken in for refit at Portsmouth to
prepare for foreign service.
June
Under refit.
(Note: Work done included alterations to
suit tropical service.)
July
17th
On completion took passage to Malta for
work-up.
24th
Commenced work-up with ships of
Mediterranean Fleet.
August
Work-up in continuation.
P o s t W a r
N o t e s
HMS
MERMAID escorted a Floating Dock AFD22
to Aden during passage
to join British Pacific
Fleet. However, on arrival at
Aden , she was recalled for service with
the Mediterranean Fleet in the 33rd
Escort Flotilla. The ship remained in
the Mediterranean Fleet and served in
various Flotillas in the period up to
1954 when she returned to UK to Pay-off
and reduce to Reserve status at
Portsmouth. After three years in the
Reserve
Fleet this Sloop was placed on the Sales
List and sold to West Germany. Renamed SCHARNHORST
on 5th May 1959 following a refit in the
Vickers-Armstrong shipyard in
Newcastle she joined the Bundesmarine
During her
German naval service the ship was
modernised between 196l-62 and later
used for
gunnery training before being removed
from the Active List during 1980.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
MERMAID
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
15/08/44
|
15/08/44
|
JW
059
|
25/08/44
|
25/08/44
|
28/08/44
|
28/08/44
|
RA
059A
|
04/09/44
|
05/09/44
|
10/04/45
|
10/04/45
|
DS
064
|
13/04/45
|
13/04/45
|
14/04/45
|
14/04/45
|
SD
064
|
17/04/45
|
17/04/45
|
11/05/45
|
12/05/45
|
ONS
050
|
12/05/45
|
29/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)