Modified
BLACK.
SWAN-Class
Sloop ordered from
Yarrow SB at Scotstoun
under 1940 Build Programme on
13th April 1940. The ship was laid down
as Job No 1862 (Yard No 1762) on 28th
January 1942 and launched on 14th
October 1942 by Mrs Yarrow as the 1st RN
ship
to carry the name. Build was completed
on 11th March 1943 and an anti-submarine
ahead throwing mortar (HEDGEHOG) was
fitted as well as radar equipment for
surface warning radar
,Type 272, and fire control
radar, Type 285. Following a successful
WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
campaign in February 1942 the ship had
been adopted by the civil community of
Worsley,
Lancashire. This Sloop was part of the
2nd
Escort Group commanded by Captain F J
Walker, RN the most renowned of all
anti-submarine specialists who died
during his service in sister ship HMS
STARLING as Senior Officer of the Group
in July 1944. See RELENTLESS PURSUIT by
Captain D E G Weymss
who succeeded him in command of
the Group and was in command of this
ship
B
a t t
l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1943-44 - BISCAY
1943 -
NORMANDY
1944
- ARCTIC 1944
-
ENGLISH
CHANNEL
1945
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field White, a wild
goose in flight
proper
M
o t t
o
'Alert
to evil'
D
e t a i l s
o f
W a r S e r v i
c e
(for
more ship information,
go
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and
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1
9 4 3
March
Contractor's trials and commissioned for
service in 2nd Escort Group.
11th
Build completion and commenced Acceptance
Trials.
On completion of trials and storing took
passage to work-up.
April
Joined Group at Liverpool on completion of
work-up
(Note: For
details of improved weapons and
tactics used for convoy defence see
SEEK
AND
STRIKE by W Hackmann, THE TORPEDOMEN by A
Poland and RELENTLESS
PURSUIT).
May
22nd
Deployed with HM Sloops WREN,
WOODPECKER, CYGNET, STARLING and KITE of
Group for anti-submarine operations in
support of passage of Convoy ONS8 during
outward
passage in North Atlantic.
(Note: For details of operations by Group
see FIGHTING CAPTAIN by Burns).
June
Passage from
Iceland to
support passage of inward Convoy HX241.
1st
After interception of wireless
transmissions from U-boat by HMS STARLING
took part in
search operation by ships of Group which
followed bearing indicated by HF D/F
signals.
(Note: Submarine located by sonar and
carried out depth charge attacks with
ships of Group.)
2nd
After an 18 hour operation U202 forced to
surface and sunk by HMS STARLING in
position
56.12N, 39.52W.
(30 of submarine crew were rescued. For
details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp
and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
16th
Transferred
with ships of Group to Plymouth Command
for joint operations with RAF Coastal
Command n the Bay of Biscay to intercept
U-Boats on passage to and from French
bases
(Operation MUSKETRY - For details see
CONFLICT OVER THE BAY by N Franks.)
24th
Following sonar detection by HMS STARLING
took part in attacks with HM Sloops
STARLING, WOODPECKER, WREN and KITE
U119 was sunk in position 44.59N 12.24W
with no survivors.
(Note: Ramming attack by HMS STARLING was
made and fatally damaged submarine which
was finally destroyed by depth charges
from HMS WOODPECKER.
HMS STARLING sustained serious damage to
underwater fittings and took no part in
later operations.)
See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and
HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair
Following sinking of U119 took part in
attacks on another submarine detected by
sonar and
carried out directing operations by HMS
WOODPECKER and HMS KITE which sank U449 in
position 45.00N 11.59W with no survivors
(Note: Captain Walker joined ship from HMS
STARLING and took charge of the operations
which sank U449. See references for
details.)
July
Bay
of Biscay operations in continuation.
30th
Detected wireless transmissions from
submarine and joined in search by ships of
Group and
aircraft
Carried surface gunfire attacks on three
submarines under air attacks.
Took part in sinking of U504 with HM
Sloops WOODPECKER, KITE and WREN in
position
45.33N 10.56W
There were no survivors from the
submarine.
(Note: See references. U451 and U462 were
also sunk.)
August
Bay
of Biscay operations in continuation
with significant support from aircraft
9th
Directed
by Catalina aircraft to dinghy with
survivors from crew of RAF Liberator of
224
Squadron RAF shot down by Ju 88's over Bay
of Biscay on 2nd Aug.
(Note: Two of the six airmen rescued died
during passage to Liverpool.
September
Deployed with Group for Bay of Biscay and
Atlantic convoy support.
Subjected to air attacks
Supported passage of HX258.
October
Deployed with escort for Convoy ON207 with
ships of 1st (Canadian) Escort Group
21st
Joined escort for Convoy HX262 with HM
Sloops STARLING, MAGPIE, KITE and
WOODCOCK
of Group
supported by HM Escort Aircraft
Carrier TRACKER.
25th
Convoy diverted because of known threat by
SIEGFRIED group of U-boats and passage
safeguarded.
(For details of U-Boat operations In the
Atlantic see U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC
(HMSO) and THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D
Macintyre).
November
1st
Detached to support escort of HX264 with
same ships of EG2 and HMS TRACKER.
Convoy is threatened by attacks from
TIRPITZ group of U-Boats.
6th
Deployed with Group for anti-submarine
operations SE of Newfoundland and took
part in
that which U226 was sunk by HMS WOODCOCK
Located U842 and carried out A/S attacks
directed by HMS STARLING.
(Note: Air support was provided by HM
Escort Carrier TRACKER.)
Submarine sunk
in position 43.42N 42.08W without
survivors.
8th
During passage to refuel in Argentia under
acoustic torpedo attack by U648.
This failed.
27th
Reinforced escort for military Convoy
MKS31/SL140 with snips of 4th Escort
Group.
(Note: Convoy on passage to Gibraltar was
under threat from WEDDIGEN group of
U-Boats.)
28th
Took part in anti-submarine hunt with
Group during which U843 driven off.
December
Atlantic convoy support in continuation.
18th
Taken in hand for repair in Liverpool.
1
9 4 4
January
Under repair.
28th
On completion of post refit trials
deployed with HM Sloops STARLING,
WOODPECKER,
KITE and MAGPIE supported by aircraft from
HM Escort Carriers NAIRANA and ACTIVITY
to safeguard passage of convoys west of
Ireland from threat by IGEL group of
U-Boats.
31st
Sank U592 in position 50.20N, 17.29W with
HMS STARLING and HMS MAGPIE.
There were no survivors from the
submarine. (See references for details.)
February
7th
Redeployed to support passage of merged
Convoy SL147/MKS38 under threat from IGEL
Group with HM Sloops STARLING, MAGPIE,
KITE, WOODPECKER and carrier aircraft.
8th
Carried out hunting operations against
IGEL group.
Located U762 and sank it in position
49.02N 16.58W with WOODPECKER.
There were no survivors from the
submarine.
9th
After unsuccessful attacks by acoustic
torpedoes from U238 and U734 carried out
extensive
hunt
operations
with HM Sloops STARLING, KITE and MAGPIE.
Initial contact was made with U734, 10
miles from SL147 followed by a series of
'Creeping'
attacks. See SEEK AND STRIKE.).
Submarine sunk after attacks lasting 3
hours and 25 minutes in position 45.44 N
16.20W
without any survivors.
(Note: U238 was later sunk by HM Sloops
KITE, STARLING and HMS MAGPIE after series
of attacks lasting 8 hours in position
49-44N, 16.07W).
11th
Carried out attacks with HMS WOODPECKER on
U424 of IGEL group.
Submarine sunk in position 50.00N 18.14W
with no survivors.
17th
Deployed with 7th British Escort Group
and own ships to support passage of
Convoy
ON224
against attacks by HAI group of U-Boats.
Convoy is diverted.
19th
Took part in search operations after sonar
detection of submarine by HMS
WOODPECKER.
(Note: U264 forced to surface and placed
scuttling
charges
before
abandoning ship.
Some of 41 survivors were rescued by this
ship.)
March
7th
Carried out support operations with ships
of Group and HM Escort Carrier VINDEX in
NW
Approaches.
15th
Sank U653 in position 53.46N 24.35W with
HMS STARLING and SWORDFISH aircraft of
825 Squadron from HMS VINDEX.
26th
Returned to Liverpool with Group.
Group transferred for duty with Home Fleet
for convoy defence in Arctic.
29th
Joined Russian Convoy JW58 with HM Sloops
STARLING, MAGPIE, WREN and
WHIMBREL to supplement anti-submarine
defence for passage to Kola Inlet.
(Note: This convoy included USS MILWAUKEE
being handed over to Russian Navy.
U961 was sunk by HMS STARLING . See
references.)
April
2nd
Under unsuccessful U-boat attacks by THOR,
BLITZ and HAMMER groups for two days.
7th
Provided A/S support for returning
Convoy RA58 with Group, four Fleet
destroyers
and two
corvettes.
14th
Detached on arrival of convoy at Loch Ewe
without interruption.
28th
Deployed with Group and ships of 5th
Support Group supported by aircraft from
HMS
VINDEX in series
of A/S operations based on interception
of U-Boat radio
signals
(For details of all Russian convoy
operations see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA
Ruegg,
ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman, THE RUSSIAN
CONVOYS BY B Schoefield,
CONVOY! by P.
Kemp and
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by
Corelli Barnett).
May
Resumed Atlantic
anti-submarine operations.
5th
Carried out sustained anti-submarine
operations lasting 18 hours with HMS
STARLING and
HMS WREN.
Forced U473 to surface and sank it in
position 46.29N 09-20W by gunfire despite
acoustic
torpedo attack. Some survivors were
rescued from submarine which had been
acting as
weather station.
29th
Deployed in A/S support of convoys in
Western Approaches.
31st
Taken in hand for repair in Liverpool.
Nominated for support of planned allied
landings in Normandy (Operation NEPTUNE).
(For details of naval activities prior to
and during NEPTUNE see the Naval Staff
History LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944
(HMSO), OPERATION NEPTUNE by K
Edwards and D-DAY SHIPS for information
about all mercantiles involved.)
June
Under repair.
On completion rejoined Group in Bay of
Biscay and west Channel area for
operation
to
prevent U-Boats attacks against Invasion
convoys.
Remained in Channel area for A/S
operations and escort duty
July
1st
On release from NEPTUNE Returned to
Liverpool.
5th
Taken in hand for refit in Belfast.
9th
Commander D E C Wemyss succeeded Captain F
J Walker Royal Navy as Senior Officer of
2nd Escort Group (See above references.).
August
Under refit.
September
On completion of post refit trials worked
up for service.
October
Deployed in SW Approaches with Group for
support and escort of convoys against a
series
to
of attacks by SCHNORKEL fitted U-Boats
especially in coastal waters.
December
(See BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS by J
Terraine).
1
9 4 5
January
Coastal convoy defence with Group in
continuation.
February
Deployed in English Channel.
27th
After sighting report by aircraft took
part in attacks on U327 with ships of
Group.
(Note: Submarine was sunk in position
49.46N 05.47W by HM Frigate LABUAN.
There were no survivors from the
submarine. See references.)
March
Channel deployment in continuation.
12th
Sank U683 off Lands End in position 49.52N
06.31W with HM Frigate LOCH RUTHVEN
There were no survivors. See references,)
April
Coastal convoy defence with Group in
continuation.
May
6th
After VE Day nominated for service with
British Pacific Fleet after refit
June
12th
Taken in hand for refit at Leith.
July
Under refit
to
August
P o s t W a
r
N o t e s
HMS
WILD GOOSE was not required for
deployment in the Far East
after VJ-Day and the ship Paid-off and
reduced to Reserve on completion of
refit in September. However in 1946 she
was brought forward for service in
the Persian Gulf. Apart from refit and
re-commissioning periods the ship was
deployed in the Middle East until 1955
when she returned to UK to finally
Pay-off. Placed on the Disposal List the
ship was sold to BISCO for demolition
by P and W Maclellan
in February 1956. This Sloop
arrived at the breakers at Bo'ness,
on the Firth of
Forth near Edinburgh on 26th February
1956.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
WILD
GOOSE
by
Don Kindell
This
convoy list has not been cross-checked
with the text above
|
|
|
|
|
Date
convoy sailed
|
Joined
convoy as escort
|
Convoy No.
|
Left
convoy
|
Date
convoy arrived
|
|
|
|
|
|
24/04/43
|
01/05/43
|
HX
236
|
05/05/43
|
09/05/43
|
03/05/43
|
06/05/43
|
SL
128MK
|
14/05/43
|
14/05/43
|
17/05/43
|
22/05/43
|
ONS
008
|
25/05/43
|
01/06/43
|
19/05/43
|
27/05/43
|
HX
240
|
01/06/43
|
04/06/43
|
25/05/43
|
02/06/43
|
HX
241
|
06/06/43
|
10/06/43
|
22/09/43
|
30/09/43
|
HX
258
|
02/10/43
|
06/10/43
|
18/10/43
|
23/10/43
|
ON
207
|
25/10/43
|
04/11/43
|
18/10/43
|
28/10/43
|
HX
262
|
29/10/43
|
02/11/43
|
31/10/43
|
05/11/43
|
HX
264
|
08/11/43
|
17/11/43
|
24/11/43
|
27/11/43
|
SL
140MK
|
02/12/43
|
07/12/43
|
02/12/43
|
12/12/43
|
SC
148
|
12/12/43
|
16/12/43
|
02/12/43
|
12/12/43
|
HX
269
|
12/12/43
|
16/12/43
|
30/01/44
|
04/02/44
|
ON
222
|
05/02/44
|
16/02/44
|
02/02/44
|
07/02/44
|
SL
147MK
|
12/02/44
|
13/02/44
|
05/02/44
|
14/02/44
|
HX
278
|
17/02/44
|
20/02/44
|
14/02/44
|
18/02/44
|
ON
224
|
19/02/44
|
02/03/44
|
13/03/44
|
17/03/44
|
ONS
031
|
19/03/44
|
30/03/44
|
27/03/44
|
29/03/44
|
JW
058
|
04/04/44
|
04/04/44
|
07/04/44
|
07/04/44
|
RA
058
|
07/04/44
|
14/04/44
|
29/09/44
|
30/09/44
|
ONS
033
|
02/10/44
|
14/10/44
|
14/10/44
|
15/10/44
|
ONS
034
|
17/10/44
|
01/11/44
|
29/10/44
|
30/10/44
|
ONS
035
|
01/11/44
|
15/11/44
|
28/11/44
|
30/11/44
|
ONS
037
|
01/12/44
|
21/12/44
|
15/01/45
|
22/01/45
|
MKS
077G
|
23/01/45
|
23/01/45
|
23/01/45
|
unknown
|
HX
334
|
unknown
|
06/02/45
|
18/02/45
|
unknown
|
HX
339
|
unknown
|
03/03/45
|
03/05/45
|
unknown
|
HX
354
|
unknown
|
18/05/45
|
22/05/45
|
22/05/45
|
TBC
166
|
25/05/45
|
25/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)