HASTINGS-Class
Sloop ordered from HM Dockyard Devonport under the 1929 Programme on 4th April
1929 with HM Sloop PENZANCE. She was laid down on 29th July 1929 and launched
by the Hon. Alice Brand on 10th April 1930 as the 6th RN ship to carry the name,
introduced in 1695 for a 5th Rate. It was previously used for a 3rd Rate built
in 1819 and sold in 1886. Her build was completed on 26th November 1930 and she
served in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea areas until 1937 when she returned to
Home waters. The ship then deployed with the Fishery Protection Squadron until
WW2. Unusually this sloop was fitted for minelaying
in August 1937 .During a later refit in 1939, which included the fitting of
anti-submarine detection equipment (ASDIC), the minelaying
equipment was removed. She was adopted by the civil
community of the Municipal Borough of Hastings in East Sussex after a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942.
B a t
t l e H o n o u r s
SYRIA 1840 - BURMA
1852 - BALTIC 1855 - ATLANTIC 1940-43
- BISCAY
1943
H e r
a l d i c D a
t a
Badge:
On a Field party per pale Red and Blue, a Lion passant Gold
M o t t o
Qui vincit regnant: 'Who conquers rules'
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 Under refit at
Devonport
3rd
Nominated for service with Rosyth
Escort Force on completion of refit.
October
Deployed at Rosyth for convoy
defence in North Sea.
to
December
1 9 4 0
January
North Sea deployment in
continuation.
11th Sustained
damage in collision with HM Trawler BRADMAN.
February
Resumed North Sea convoy escort duty on completion.
March
East coast convoy defence in continuation.
to (Note:
This ship was not deployed in operations off Norway.
November
Pennant Number for visual
signalling purposes changed to U27 (May).
December
1st
Sustained damage in collision with
ss LIMESLADE.
1 9 4 1
January
Resumed North Sea duties after repair.
February North Sea
convoy defence in continuation.
to
June
July
Transferred to Western Approaches Command for escort of UK/Freetown convoys.
(Note: Two 20mm Oerlikon guns fitted to improve close range defence.)
August
Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.
to
(Note: Type 286M Modified Ex RAF radar fitted.. See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse).
September
October
Deployed with 43rd Escort Group at
Londonderry for Atlantic convoy defence
(Note: Other ships in Group were HM Sloops HASTINGS, LEITH, SANDWICH and
HM
Destroyer NEWPORT.)
November Deployment
with Group in continuation.
December Transferred
to 44th Escort Group in continuation of Freetown route duties.
1
9 4 2
January Atlantic
convoy escort in continuation.
Nominated for transfer to 40th Escort Group.
February Passage to
join Group in West African Command for local escort of Atlantic and
coastal convoys based at Freetown.
(Note: Other ships in Group included m Sloops LONDONDERRY, BIDEFORD and
ship HM Cutter LULWORTH
Surface warning Radar Type 271 fitted for detection of surfaced U-Boats and
for convoy station keeping. See RADAR AT SEA).
March Freetown
area convoy defence in continuation.
to
June
July Part
of escort of Convoy SL115 to UK with 42nd Escort Group.
August Freetown
area convoy defence in continuation.
(Note: HEDGEHOG Anti-submarine Mortar fitted during this period.
See SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann).
1 9 4 3
January Freetown
area convoy defence in continuation.
February
Transferred to 40th Escort Group for convoy defence in North Atlantic.
March Deployed
with HM Sloop ABERDEEN. HM Cutters LULWORTH, LANDGUARD,
HM
Frigates WAVENEY and MOYOLA in North Atlantic.
14th
Part of escort for Convoy HX229A during passage from St Johns, Newfoundland to
UK.
Under heavy and sustained attacks by DRANGER and RAUBGRAF Groups of U-Boats
(See THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre, U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC HMSO and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
(Note: .This was a most crucial series of attacks and the extent of losses of
mercantiles in
convoy placed the whole system of convoy escort under intense examination.
See SEEK and STRIKE by W Hackmann and BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS
by
J Terraine.)
April
Deployed in support role with ships of Group to supplement the escort of Convoy
ONS3
which was under threat of U-Boat attacks.
18th
Because of earlier attacks made on other convoys and the support available from
other
ships already deployed for this purpose no serious attack was made by the
assembled U-Boat
Groups.
28th
Deployed with Group in support of escort for Convoy SC128 which was under attack
by
SPECH and AMSEL U-Boat Groups.
(For details of the defence of this convoy see above references.)
May
Atlantic deployment with Group in continuation.
to
(Note: By this time HF D/F radio direction finding outfits and improved
centimetric radar
July
equipment had been fitted in many North Atlantic escorts for detection of
aircraft and
surfaced submarines See SEEK AND STRIKE and RADAR AT SEA).
August Took part
in operations in Bay of Biscay and off Cape Finisterre with aircraft of RAF
Coastal
Command to deny use of coastal waters by U- Boats during their passage to and
from bases in
France
(Operations DERANGE and PERCUSSION – See THE BATTLE OVER THE BAY by N
Franks)
(Note: Under threat of Glider Bomb attacks which sank HM Sloop EGRET and badly
damaged
HM
Canadian Destroyer ATHABASKAN.).
September Deployed
with 37th Escort Group as escort for Convoy KMS27 in SW Approaches.
October Joined
39th Escort Group for Atlantic convoy defence.
(Note: Other ships in Group included HM Sloops Frigate TAVY, HM Corvettes
AZALEA,
BALSAM and MIGNONETTE.)
Deployed as part of escort for military Convoy MKS28 with ships of Group.
November Future
deployment under consideration due to age and poor record of operational
availability.
19th
Withdrawn from operational service and Paid off in Belfast.
December Prepared for
reduction to Reserve status.
1 9 4 4
January At
Belfast awaiting transfer.
February Passage to
Hartlepool to lay-up in Reserve.
March Laid-up
at Hartlepool.
April
Nominated for service with 3rd .Submarine Flotilla after refit
May Taken
in hand for refit to suit deployment as submarine target ship.
June Under
refit.
to
Re-commissioned for service.
August
September Joined 3rd
Submarine Squadron in Holy Loch.
October
Deployed as target and escort in
Clyde area during training exercises
1 9 4 5
January
Deployment for submarine training in Clyde area in continuation.
to
August
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS HASTINGS remained in commission after VJ
Day and continued duties in Clyde area with the 3rd Submarine Flotilla until
February 1946. The ship again Paid off on 16th February and was placed on the
Disposal List. Sold to BISCO for demolition by West of Scotland Shipbreakers in April that year the ship arrived at the
breaker’s yard at Troon on 10th April 1946.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
HASTINGS
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
03/11/39
|
03/11/39
|
FS 0031
|
05/11/39
|
05/11/39
|
09/11/39
|
09/11/39
|
FS 0034
|
11/11/39
|
11/11/39
|
19/11/39
|
19/11/39
|
FS 0039
|
21/11/39
|
21/11/39
|
11/12/39
|
11/12/39
|
FS 0053
|
12/12/39
|
12/12/39
|
30/12/39
|
30/12/39
|
FS 0061
|
31/12/39
|
31/12/39
|
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
|
16/02/40
|
17/02/40
|
19/02/40
|
19/02/40
|
FS 0100
|
21/02/40
|
21/02/40
|
27/02/40
|
27/02/40
|
FS 0107
|
29/02/40
|
29/02/40
|
11/03/40
|
11/03/40
|
FS 0119
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
MT 033
|
19/03/40
|
19/03/40
|
19/03/40
|
19/03/40
|
FS 0124
|
21/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
TM 031
|
22/03/40
|
22/03/40
|
23/02/40
|
23/03/40
|
FN 0102
|
25/02/40
|
25/02/40
|
24/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
FS 0128
|
26/03/40
|
26/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
MT 037
|
24/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
29/03/40
|
29/03/40
|
TM 035
|
30/03/40
|
30/04/40
|
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
|
11/04/40
|
11/04/40
|
FS 0143
|
13/04/40
|
13/04/40
|
18/04/40
|
18/04/40
|
FS 0149
|
20/04/40
|
20/04/40
|
18/04/40
|
18/04/40
|
MT 054
|
18/04/40
|
18/04/40
|
29/04/40
|
29/04/40
|
MT 061
|
30/04/40
|
30/04/40
|
07/05/40
|
07/05/40
|
FS 0165
|
09/05/40
|
09/05/40
|
07/05/40
|
07/05/40
|
MT 065
|
07/05/40
|
07/05/40
|
15/05/40
|
15/05/40
|
FS 0171
|
17/05/40
|
17/05/40
|
22/05/40
|
22/05/40
|
FS 0177
|
24/05/40
|
24/05/40
|
22/05/40
|
22/05/40
|
MT 071
|
22/05/40
|
22/05/40
|
02/06/40
|
02/06/40
|
FS 0186
|
04/06/40
|
04/06/40
|
02/06/40
|
02/06/40
|
MT 080
|
02/06/40
|
02/06/40
|
05/06/40
|
05/06/40
|
FN 0189
|
07/06/40
|
07/06/40
|
10/06/40
|
10/06/40
|
MT 086
|
11/06/40
|
11/06/40
|
11/06/40
|
11/06/40
|
FS 0192
|
12/06/40
|
12/06/40
|
14/06/40
|
14/06/40
|
FN 0195B
|
16/06/40
|
16/06/40
|
18/06/40
|
18/06/40
|
MT 090
|
19/06/40
|
18/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
FS 0199
|
21/06/40
|
21/06/40
|
22/06/40
|
22/06/40
|
FN 0202
|
24/06/40
|
24/06/40
|
30/06/40
|
30/06/40
|
MT 099
|
01/07/40
|
01/07/40
|
01/07/40
|
01/07/40
|
FS 0209
|
02/07/40
|
02/07/40
|
04/07/40
|
04/07/40
|
FN 0212
|
05/07/40
|
06/07/40
|
08/07/40
|
08/07/40
|
FS 0216
|
09/07/40
|
09/07/40
|
11/07/40
|
11/07/40
|
FN 0219
|
13/07/40
|
13/07/40
|
14/07/40
|
14/07/40
|
OA 184
|
19/07/40
|
unknown
|
15/07/40
|
15/07/40
|
FS 0222
|
16/07/40
|
16/07/40
|
18/07/40
|
18/07/40
|
FN 0225
|
20/07/40
|
20/07/40
|
07/07/40
|
19/07/40
|
HX 056
|
20/07/40
|
22/07/40
|
26/07/40
|
unknown
|
OA 190
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
26/07/40
|
26/07/40
|
FS 0233
|
28/07/40
|
28/07/40
|
05/08/40
|
05/08/40
|
OA 194
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
05/08/40
|
05/08/40
|
FS 0243
|
07/08/40
|
07/08/40
|
08/08/40
|
08/08/40
|
FN 0246
|
10/08/40
|
10/08/40
|
12/08/40
|
12/08/40
|
FS 0250
|
14/08/40
|
14/08/40
|
26/08/40
|
26/08/40
|
FN 0263
|
28/08/40
|
28/08/40
|
04/10/40
|
04/10/40
|
OA 224
|
06/10/40
|
unknown
|
27/09/40
|
09/10/40
|
SC 006
|
14/10/40
|
12/10/40
|
18/10/40
|
18/10/40
|
OA 231
|
23/10/40
|
23/10/40
|
12/10/40
|
23/10/40
|
HX 080
|
27/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
29/12/40
|
29/12/40
|
FS 0374
|
01/01/41
|
01/01/41
|
11/01/41
|
11/01/41
|
EN 055/1
|
14/01/41
|
14/01/41
|
17/01/41
|
17/01/41
|
EN 058/1
|
20/01/41
|
20/01/41
|
27/02/41
|
27/02/41
|
EN 078/1
|
02/03/41
|
02/03/41
|
06/03/41
|
06/03/41
|
EN 082/1
|
10/03/41
|
10/03/41
|
29/07/41
|
29/07/41
|
OG 070
|
30/07/41
|
12/08/41
|
15/09/41
|
15/09/41
|
BB 076
|
17/09/41
|
17/09/41
|
30/09/41
|
30/09/41
|
BB 082
|
01/10/41
|
01/10/41
|
10/10/41
|
10/10/41
|
BB 086
|
12/10/41
|
12/10/41
|
17/10/41
|
17/10/41
|
BB 090
|
19/10/41
|
19/10/41
|
23/10/41
|
23/10/41
|
BB 093
|
25/10/41
|
25/10/41
|
02/11/41
|
02/11/41
|
BB 096
|
04/11/41
|
04/11/41
|
13/12/41
|
15/12/41
|
OS 014
|
01/01/42
|
03/01/42
|
04/01/42
|
06/01/42
|
SL 097
|
24/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
11/01/42
|
17/01/42
|
SL 097G
|
24/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
11/02/42
|
11/02/42
|
BB 136
|
12/02/42
|
12/02/42
|
22/02/42
|
23/02/42
|
OS 020
|
10/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
14/03/42
|
16/03/42
|
SL 103
|
31/03/42
|
02/04/42
|
12/04/42
|
13/04/42
|
OS 025
|
29/04/42
|
29/04/42
|
04/05/42
|
04/05/42
|
SL 109
|
18/05/42
|
28/05/42
|
11/06/42
|
11/06/42
|
OS 031
|
28/06/42
|
30/06/42
|
21/05/42
|
22/06/42
|
HG 083
|
02/06/42
|
07/06/42
|
05/07/42
|
05/07/42
|
SL 115
|
25/07/42
|
26/07/42
|
10/08/42
|
11/08/42
|
OS 037
|
27/08/42
|
29/08/42
|
03/09/42
|
03/09/42
|
SL 121
|
21/09/42
|
21/09/42
|
11/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
KMS 005G
|
24/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
22/12/42
|
26/12/42
|
MKS 004
|
06/01/43
|
06/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
22/01/43
|
KMS 008G
|
04/02/43
|
10/02/43
|
07/02/43
|
08/02/43
|
MKS 007
|
17/02/43
|
17/02/43
|
09/03/43
|
15/03/43
|
HX 229A
|
19/03/43
|
26/03/43
|
05/04/43
|
08/04/43
|
ONS 003
|
24/04/43
|
28/04/43
|
25/04/43
|
29/04/43
|
SC 128
|
11/05/43
|
13/05/43
|
18/05/43
|
27/05/43
|
SC 131
|
28/05/43
|
31/05/43
|
28/05/43
|
02/06/43
|
ONS 009
|
04/06/43
|
09/06/43
|
26/05/43
|
04/06/43
|
SC 132
|
06/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
01/06/43
|
06/06/43
|
ON 187
|
09/06/43
|
15/06/43
|
16/06/43
|
20/06/43
|
ON 189
|
22/06/43
|
01/07/43
|
15/06/43
|
23/06/43
|
HX 244
|
26/06/43
|
30/06/43
|
09/07/43
|
11/07/43
|
ON 192
|
15/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
08/07/43
|
15/07/43
|
SC 136
|
19/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
15/08/40
|
15/08/43
|
FN 0253
|
17/08/43
|
17/08/40
|
14/08/43
|
22/08/43
|
MKS 021G
|
26/08/43
|
25/08/43
|
17/09/43
|
17/09/43
|
OS 055KM
|
25/09/43
|
28/09/43
|
28/09/43
|
02/10/43
|
OS 055
|
08/10/43
|
08/10/43
|
13/10/43
|
13/10/43
|
SL 138
|
24/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
SL 138MK
|
05/11/43
|
05/11/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)