GRIMSBY-Class Sloop ordered from HM Dockyard Devonport
on 1st May 1933 under the 1932 Programme and laid down on 25th September 1933.
The ship was launched by Lady Fullerton on 29th toy 1934 as the 6th RN ship to
carry the name which was first used for a Prize (ORESTE) taken in 1810. Build
was completed on 24 January 1935 and she sailed for New Zealand Station the
next month. She remained in the Pacific area until the outbreak of war in 1939.
This sloop was named after the capital city of New Zealand, unlike her sister
ships which carried the names of UK seaside towns. In March 1942 following a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign this ship was adopted by the
civil community of Wellington, Somerset.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1939-45
H e r
a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field White,
a Dolphin Blue and Gold over a Mural Crown Gold.
M o t t o
Suprema ut olim: 'Supreme as ever'
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
3rd
Transferred from New Zealand Division for deployment at Singapore.
19th On
arrival deployed for interception of German shipping in Malacca Straits.
October Patrol
duties based at Penang in continuation.
Nominated for return to UK.
November Took passage
via Red Sea.
December
9th On
arrival at Gibraltar to collect convoy at Freetown.
Passage to Freetown.
Deployed as escort for inward Convoy SL13 during passage to Liverpool
(Note: For details of dates of all convoy passages see ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM IN
WW2 by A Hague.)
1 9 4 0
January Nominated
for refit on arrival in UK.
9th Taken
in hand for refit at Cardiff to prepare for service in Western Approaches
February On
completion of post refit trials deployed with1st Escort Division based at
Plymouth
for escort of UK - Gibraltar route convoys in Channel and SW Approaches.
March Local
Escort of Atlantic convoys in continuation
to
April
May Pennant
Number for visual signalling purposes changed to U65
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
June
10th
Detached to assist with evacuation from Le Havre (Operation CYCLE).
Transferred to Liverpool after use of English Channel for Atlantic convoys
was
discontinued.
July
Resumed convoy defence duties on completion of CYCLE.
to (For
details of convoy defence and enemy tactics see THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
September by D
Macintyre and U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO).)
October Escorted
outward Convoy CG44 with HM Armed Merchant Cruiser PRETORIA CASTLE.
Threat of attack by German destroyers covered by deployment of destroyers of 5th
Flotilla in SW Approaches.
(See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith)
November Damaged in
collision with ss SARASTONE during escort
of Convoy HX43.
Under
repair in commercial shipyard at
Liverpool.
December On completion
resumed Atlantic convoy defence.
1 9 4 1
January Atlantic
convoy defence in continuation.
to
September
October
Transferred to 42nd Escort Group based at Londonderry.
Deployed for escort of outward OS Series to West Africa and inward return
convoys to
Liverpool.
Part of escort for return Convoy SL39 with ships of Group.
November Deployed as
part of escort for outward Convoy OS12 with ships of Group.
December Freetown
route convoy defence in continuation.
1 9 4 2
January Freetown
route convoy defence in continuation,
to
Nominated for refit
February
March Taken in
hand for refit at commercial shipyard in Belfast.
April Under
refit.
to
(Note: Surface warning radar Type 271 radar and HF D/F direction finding outfit
fitted for
June of
wireless signals
from U-Boats.
For details of development and use of radar equipment in RN see RADAR AT SEA by
D
Howse and for convoy defence details see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)
July On
completion of post refit trials resumed Free route duties.
August Convoy
defence in continuation.
to
Nominated for defence of military convoys to Gibraltar prior to allied landings
October in North
Africa.
(Operation TORCH - For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by
Corelli Barnett, Naval Staff History and for information about all mercantiles
and warships
involved BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.).
November Detached for escort of troop
convoys.
December Deployed for
escort of KMF/MKF series convoys in support of North African operations.
1 9 4 3
January Gibraltar
route convoy defence in continuation
to
(For details of improved weapons and tactics see SEEK AND STRIKE).
March
April
Deployed for Atlantic convoy escort with 44th Escort Group.
16th Joined
joint military convoy KMF13 to Gibraltar and WS29 to Freetown with HM Destroyer
RAPID, VENOMOUS, LAUDERDALE, HM Sloop WESTON, HM Cutters GORLESTON ,
TOTLAND,, HM Frigates EXE and NESS as escort during passage in NW Approaches.
20th
Detached from joint convoy when it divided into two sections for. onward
passages and
continued convoy defence duties in NW Approaches.
(Note: HM Cruiser NEWCASTLE was deployed as Ocean Escort.)
Return passage to Clyde
May
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
19th Joined
HM Destroyers ACTIVE, CLEVELAND, BOADICEA, Polish
destroyer ORP SLAZAK,
HM
Sloops LOWESTOFT, WESTON, HM Frigates EXE , NESS, HM Cutters GORLESTON and
TOTLAND as escort for joint military convoy KMF15 to Gibraltar and Convoy WS30
to
Freetown.
(Note: HM Cruiser SUFFOLK, HM Aircraft Carrier UNICORN and HM Armed Merchant
Cruiser ASTURIAS were deployed as Ocean Escort for this joint
convoy.)
25th
Detached from joint convoy when it divided into two sections for onward passage
and
returned to Clyde.
June
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation
July
Transferred to Freetown for escort of local convoys
August Freetown
local convoy defence in continuation.
to
December
1 9 4 4
January Freetown
local convoy defence in continuation.
to
March
April
Nominated for refit at Bermuda
May Passage
to Bermuda for refit.
June Under
refit in HM Dockyard, Bermuda.
to July
August Took
passage to UK for completion of refit work.
Refit work at Commercial shipyard in Clyde
September On
completion of refit carried out post refit trials.
Resumed operational service and took passage to Freetown.
October Joined
55th Escort Group at Freetown.
November Deployed on
escort of West African coastal convoys.
to December
1 9 4 5
January
Transferred with Group to Gibraltar for escort of Gibraltar-UK route convoys.
February Atlantic
convoy defence based at Gibraltar in continuation.
to
(Note: Atlantic convoys were re-routed via English Channel.).
April
May After
VE Day nominated for reduction to Reserve.
12th Accepted surrender of
U541 at Gibraltar.
Nominated for return to UK to Pay-off.
June
Passage to UK to pay off.
July Paid
off, de-stored and reduced to Reserve status
August Laid up at
Milford Haven.
P o s t W a r
N o t e s
HMS WELLINGTON was placed on
the Disposal List after VJ Day and sold to The Honourable Company of Master Mariners for use as a floating
Livery Hall. After conversion involving removal of machinery the ship was
moored in London on the Thames Embankment .
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS
WELLINGTON
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
18/12/39
|
18/12/39
|
SL 013
|
04/01/40
|
06/01/40
|
16/01/40
|
16/01/40
|
HG 015
|
25/01/40
|
25/01/40
|
07/02/40
|
08/02/40
|
OA 087
|
09/02/40
|
09/02/40
|
27/02/40
|
27/02/40
|
OG 020F
|
02/03/40
|
02/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
HG 023
|
30/03/40
|
30/03/40
|
01/04/40
|
02/04/40
|
OA 121
|
04/04/40
|
04/04/40
|
06/04/40
|
06/04/40
|
OG 025F
|
12/04/40
|
12/04/40
|
29/04/40
|
29/04/40
|
HG 028
|
06/05/40
|
09/05/40
|
19/05/40
|
19/05/40
|
OA 151
|
21/05/40
|
unknown
|
26/05/40
|
26/05/40
|
OB 155
|
28/05/40
|
29/05/40
|
29/05/40
|
29/05/40
|
OG 031
|
02/06/40
|
04/06/40
|
31/05/40
|
02/06/40
|
HG 032
|
10/06/40
|
unknown
|
21/06/40
|
21/06/40
|
OG 034
|
03/07/40
|
03/07/40
|
28/06/40
|
28/06/40
|
HG 036
|
07/07/40
|
08/07/40
|
17/07/40
|
17/07/40
|
OG 038
|
29/07/40
|
29/07/40
|
30/07/40
|
30/07/40
|
HG 040
|
14/08/40
|
14/08/40
|
19/08/40
|
19/08/40
|
OG 041
|
02/09/40
|
02/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
HG 043
|
18/09/40
|
18/09/40
|
27/09/40
|
27/09/40
|
OB 220
|
01/10/40
|
01/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
OG 044
|
24/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
31/10/40
|
31/10/40
|
HG 046
|
19/11/40
|
19/11/40
|
30/11/40
|
30/11/40
|
OB 252
|
04/12/40
|
04/12/40
|
22/11/40
|
05/12/40
|
SC 013
|
07/12/40
|
07/12/40
|
07/12/40
|
29/12/40
|
SL 058S
|
31/12/40
|
02/01/41
|
10/01/41
|
10/01/41
|
OB 272
|
14/01/41
|
14/01/41
|
02/01/41
|
15/01/41
|
SC 018
|
18/01/41
|
19/01/41
|
24/03/41
|
24/03/41
|
OB 302
|
unknown
|
30/03/41
|
17/03/41
|
29/03/41
|
HX 115
|
03/04/41
|
03/04/41
|
06/04/41
|
06/04/41
|
OG 058
|
21/04/41
|
21/04/41
|
24/04/41
|
24/04/41
|
HG 060
|
12/05/41
|
12/05/41
|
25/05/41
|
26/05/41
|
OG 063
|
07/06/41
|
07/06/41
|
14/06/41
|
14/06/41
|
HG 065
|
29/06/41
|
29/06/41
|
14/07/41
|
14/07/41
|
OB 346
|
01/08/41
|
01/08/41
|
05/08/41
|
08/08/41
|
SL 083
|
28/08/41
|
28/08/41
|
12/09/41
|
13/09/41
|
OS 006
|
29/09/41
|
03/10/41
|
05/10/41
|
08/10/41
|
SL 089
|
25/10/41
|
26/10/41
|
18/11/41
|
19/11/41
|
OS 012
|
08/12/41
|
11/12/41
|
12/12/41
|
15/12/41
|
SL 095
|
31/12/41
|
31/12/41
|
18/01/42
|
20/01/42
|
OS 017
|
07/02/42
|
07/02/42
|
09/02/42
|
11/02/42
|
SL 100
|
19/02/42
|
04/03/42
|
19/02/42
|
19/02/42
|
SL 100F
|
28/02/42
|
28/02/42
|
12/05/42
|
12/05/42
|
OS 028
|
30/05/42
|
30/05/42
|
04/06/42
|
04/06/42
|
SL 112
|
23/06/42
|
23/06/42
|
11/07/42
|
12/07/42
|
OS 034
|
30/07/42
|
30/07/42
|
04/08/42
|
04/08/42
|
SL 118
|
23/08/42
|
26/08/42
|
29/08/42
|
31/08/42
|
OS 039
|
16/09/42
|
18/09/42
|
02/10/42
|
10/10/42
|
XK 001
|
13/10/42
|
14/10/42
|
14/11/42
|
14/11/42
|
KMF 003
|
22/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
26/11/42
|
MKF 003
|
03/12/42
|
03/12/42
|
12/12/42
|
12/12/42
|
KMF 005
|
13/12/42
|
20/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
MKF 005
|
31/12/42
|
31/12/42
|
08/01/43
|
08/01/43
|
KMF 007
|
17/01/43
|
17/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
MKF 007
|
25/01/43
|
25/01/43
|
16/04/43
|
20/04/43
|
KMF 013
|
23/04/43
|
23/04/43
|
24/04/43
|
24/04/43
|
MKF 013
|
02/05/43
|
02/05/43
|
19/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
KMF 015
|
28/05/43
|
27/05/43
|
28/05/43
|
28/05/43
|
MKF 015
|
05/06/43
|
05/06/43
|
20/06/43
|
20/06/43
|
KMS 018A
|
29/06/43
|
29/06/43
|
07/08/43
|
07/08/43
|
OSS 052
|
14/08/43
|
12/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
TS 051
|
01/09/43
|
01/09/43
|
10/09/43
|
10/09/43
|
STL 001
|
15/09/43
|
15/09/43
|
19/09/43
|
19/09/43
|
LTS 002
|
24/09/43
|
24/09/43
|
27/09/43
|
27/09/43
|
STL 002
|
02/10/43
|
02/10/43
|
05/10/43
|
05/10/43
|
LTS 003
|
10/10/43
|
10/10/43
|
15/10/43
|
15/10/43
|
STL 003
|
22/10/43
|
20/10/43
|
03/11/43
|
03/11/43
|
LTS 004
|
10/11/43
|
10/11/43
|
13/11/43
|
13/11/43
|
STL 006
|
18/11/43
|
18/11/43
|
21/11/43
|
21/11/43
|
LTS 006
|
28/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
10/12/43
|
10/12/43
|
TS 054
|
16/12/43
|
16/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
STL 008
|
28/12/43
|
28/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
LTS 008
|
04/01/44
|
04/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
SL 147
|
25/01/44
|
02/02/44
|
02/02/44
|
02/02/44
|
ST 078
|
07/02/44
|
07/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
LTS 010
|
19/02/44
|
19/02/44
|
03/03/44
|
03/03/44
|
STL 013
|
10/03/44
|
07/03/44
|
12/03/44
|
12/03/44
|
LTS 013
|
20/03/44
|
20/03/44
|
28/03/44
|
28/03/44
|
STL 016
|
02/04/44
|
02/04/44
|
11/04/44
|
11/04/44
|
LTS 016
|
18/04/44
|
18/04/44
|
21/04/44
|
21/04/44
|
SL 156
|
03/05/44
|
03/05/44
|
04/09/44
|
04/09/44
|
OS 088KM
|
10/09/44
|
10/09/44
|
10/09/44
|
10/09/44
|
OS 088
|
20/09/44
|
20/09/44
|
24/09/44
|
24/09/44
|
STL 031
|
30/09/44
|
30/09/44
|
05/02/45
|
05/02/45
|
MKS 081G
|
07/02/45
|
13/02/45
|
05/02/45
|
07/02/45
|
KMS 082G
|
09/02/45
|
09/02/45
|
19/02/45
|
19/02/45
|
MKS 084G
|
21/02/45
|
27/02/45
|
21/02/45
|
22/02/45
|
KMS 085G
|
25/02/45
|
25/02/45
|
06/03/45
|
06/03/45
|
MKS 087G
|
09/03/45
|
14/03/45
|
07/03/45
|
09/03/45
|
KMS 088G
|
11/03/45
|
11/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
MKS 091G
|
28/03/45
|
03/04/45
|
29/03/45
|
29/03/45
|
KMS 092G
|
01/04/45
|
01/04/45
|
05/04/45
|
05/04/45
|
MKS 093G
|
08/04/45
|
14/04/45
|
07/04/45
|
08/04/45
|
KMS 094G
|
11/04/45
|
11/04/45
|
20/04/45
|
20/04/45
|
MKS 096G
|
23/04/45
|
28/04/45
|
05/05/45
|
05/05/45
|
MKS 099G
|
08/05/45
|
12/05/45
|
02/05/45
|
08/05/45
|
OS 126KM
|
08/05/45
|
08/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note on Convoys)