Repeat
SHOREHAM-Class Sloop ordered from built HM Dockyard Devonport in
March 1931 under 1930 Programme in March 1930. The ship was laid down on 7th
September 1931 and was launched on 23rd July 1932 by Lady Adddison
as the first RN ship to carry the name. It had been intended to name this ship
WESTON SUPER MARE, but this was changed before launch to WESTON. Build was
completed on 23rd February 1933 and the ship was manned by the Portsmouth
Division. Until 1939 she served in the south Atlantic and Red Sea. After a
WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942 she was adopted by the
civil community of Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.
B a t t
l e H o n o u r s
NORTH
SEA 1940 - ATLANTIC 1940-44 - ENGLISH CHANNEL 1945
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: In chief Gold, a rising sun Red, in base Blue, a fish silver.
M o t t
o
'Ever forward'
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
Under refit at Portsmouth.
13th Nominated
for convoy escort duty in North Sea.
During passage to join Rosyth Escort Force ran aground.
October
Deployed on escort duty for OA Series
convoys in North Sea and English Channel
to. (For
details of naval activities in Home waters in 1939-40 see the Naval Staff
History).
December
1 9 4 0
January North Sea
convoy escort in continuation.
February Detached
for escort of HM Auxiliary Minelayer PRINCESS VICTORIA during passage
to
carry out
minelay in East Coast Barrier
(Operation ID - See Naval Staff History (MINING).
On release resumed North Sea convoy defence.
March North Sea
deployment in continuation
to (For
details of North Sea activities see THREE CORVETTES by N Monsarrat and THE
April BATTLE
OF THE EAST COAST by J P Foynes).
May Pennant
Number for visual signalling purposes changes to U72.
31st Sank
U13 in position 52.27N 02.02E off Lowestoft during escort of Convoy FN184.
(For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
June North
Sea convoy defence in continuation.
to
(Note: During this period extensive anti-invasion patrols were maintained.)
December
1 9 4 1
January
Transferred to Northern Escort Force for convoy escort in NW Approaches and
North Sea.
to
Deployed between Forth and Clyde through Pentland Firth.
June
July
Transferred to Western Approaches Command for Atlantic escort duty with the
to
Londonderry Sloop Division.
September
October Joined
42nd Escort Group for escort of OS Series outward convoys to West Africa
to and
SL Series return convoys to Liverpool.
December (Note:
Other ships in Group were HM Sloops FOLKESTONE, LONDONDERRY,
WELLINGTON, HM Cutters SENNEN and TOTLAND (both Ex US Navy).)
1 9 4 2
January Deployed
as part of escort for outward Convoy OS18 to West Africa and return SL Series
convoy.
to
Continuation of Atlantic escort duty.
May
June Under
refit in Dundee during which surface warning radar Type 271 was fitted.
to (For
details of development and use of radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse)
August
September On
completion of post refit trials rejoined 42nd Escort Group.
to
Resumed Atlantic convoy escort.
December (For details
of weapons and tactics used in North Atlantic see SEEK AND STRIKE by
W
Hackmann, U-Boat WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR
by
C Blair.)
1 9 4 3
January Atlantic
convoy defence in continuation..
February Deployed
as part of escort for Convoy UC1 with ships of 44th Escort Group.
See above references
March
Deployment with 44th Escort Group for Atlantic convoy defence in continuation
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 WELLINGTON, 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.)
May
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
19th Joined
HM Destroyers ACTIVE, CLEVELAND, BOADICEA, Polish
destroyer ORP SLAZAK,
HM
Sloops LOWESTOFT, WELLINGTON, 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.
Nominated for refit.
June Under
refit in Belfast.
(Note: HF D/F equipment fitted
for detection of radio signals from U-Boats.
VHF Radio telephone equipment for
inter-ship communication.
Forward firing HEDGEHOG Anti-Submarine Mortar outfit.
(See SEEK AND STRIKE).)
July Under
refit.
Nominated for return to Freetown for convoy defence on completion.
August Carried
out post refit trials.
Resumed Atlantic convoy defence.
Nominated for escort of joint military convoy KMF22 and WS33 during passage to
Gibraltar.
17lh
Deployed with HM Cruiser SHROPSHIRE, HM Escort Aircraft Carrier HUNTER, HM
Destroyer
WRESTLER, HM Sloops CHANTICLEER , NARBADA (RIN), HM Cutter TOTLAND, HM
Frigates BARLE, ETTRICK and USK for escort of joint military convoy during
passage to
Gibraltar.
(Note: HM Cruiser CHARYBDIS joined on 20th and detached on 22nd.)
25th Detached from joint convoy on arrival at Gibraltar.
September
4th
Joined military convoy WS33 with HM Destroyer BULLDOG, HM Frigates BANN , NESS,
HM
Cutter TOTLAND and HM Corvette HYDRANGEA as escort during passage to Freetown.
9th
Detached from WS33 on arrival at Freetown.
Joined Local Escort Force for convoy defence based at Freetown.
October Deployed
for convoy defence of Ocean and Local convoys, to December
to
December
1 9 4 4
January Freetown
deployment in continuation.
to
February
March
Transferred to 55th Escort Group at Freetown in continuation.
to
Nominated for refit in Bermuda.
September
October Passage
to Bermuda
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard, Bermuda.
November Under refit
December Nominated
for return to UK to complete dockyard work and give leave.
(Note: Planned further deployment in West African Command not implemented.
This may have been made necessary because of the
age of the ship and the availability
of new construction ships.)
1 9 4 5
January Passage
to UK.
February
Outstanding refit work completed in HM Dockyard Portsmouth.
March
Deployed for escort of coastal convoys in
English Channel and SW
Approaches.
(Note: U-Boat operations by Schnorkel-fitted submarines were being concentrated
in
UK
coastal waters.
See BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS by J Terraine and SEEK AND STRIKE).
April
15th
Escorted Dutch Minelayer VAN DER ZANN for continuation of lay of Deep
Anti-Submarine defensive minefield V2 in SW Approaches to English Channel.
(Operation ARTIZAN - See Naval Staff History (MINING).)
May
Withdrawn for operational; service after VE-Day.
Paid-off and reduced to Reserve status at Portsmouth.
July Laid
up at Portsmouth
to
August
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS WESTON remained in Reserve
until 1947 when placed on the Disposal List. She was sold to BISCO for demolition by Howells.on 22nd May 1947, and arrived in tow at Gelleswick Bay later that year.
Addendum
CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS
WESTON
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
22/10/39
|
22/10/39
|
FS 0025
|
24/10/39
|
24/10/39
|
28/10/39
|
28/10/39
|
FS 0028
|
30/10/39
|
30/10/39
|
13/11/39
|
13/11/39
|
FS 0036
|
15/11/39
|
15/11/39
|
26/11/39
|
26/11/39
|
FN 0042
|
28/11/39
|
28/11/39
|
30/11/39
|
30/11/39
|
FS 0045
|
01/12/39
|
01/12/39
|
20/12/39
|
20/12/39
|
FN 0057
|
22/12/39
|
22/12/39
|
30/12/39
|
30/12/39
|
FS 0061
|
31/12/39
|
31/12/39
|
03/01/40
|
03/01/40
|
FS 0063
|
05/01/40
|
05/01/40
|
20/01/40
|
20/01/40
|
FS 0077
|
21/01/40
|
21/01/40
|
03/02/40
|
03/02/40
|
FS 0086
|
05/02/40
|
05/02/40
|
15/02/40
|
15/02/40
|
MT 012
|
16/02/40
|
16/02/40
|
16/02/40
|
16/02/40
|
FS 0098
|
18/02/40
|
18/02/40
|
11/04/40
|
11/04/40
|
MT 049
|
12/04/40
|
12/04/40
|
12/04/40
|
12/04/40
|
FS 0144
|
14/04/40
|
14/04/40
|
20/04/40
|
20/04/40
|
FS 0151
|
22/04/40
|
22/04/40
|
19/04/40
|
20/04/40
|
MT 055
|
20/04/40
|
19/04/40
|
01/05/40
|
01/05/40
|
FS 0160
|
03/05/40
|
03/05/40
|
01/05/40
|
01/05/40
|
MT 062
|
01/05/40
|
01/05/40
|
05/05/40
|
05/05/40
|
MT 064
|
05/05/40
|
05/05/40
|
08/05/40
|
08/05/40
|
FS 0166
|
10/05/40
|
10/05/40
|
16/05/40
|
16/05/40
|
FS 0172
|
18/05/40
|
18/05/40
|
27/05/40
|
27/05/40
|
FS 0181
|
29/05/40
|
29/05/40
|
07/06/40
|
07/06/40
|
FS 0190
|
09/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
07/06/40
|
07/06/40
|
MT 084
|
07/06/40
|
07/06/40
|
15/06/40
|
15/06/40
|
FS 0196
|
17/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
18/06/40
|
18/06/40
|
FN 0199
|
19/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
26/06/40
|
26/06/40
|
FS 0205
|
28/06/40
|
28/06/40
|
29/06/40
|
29/06/40
|
FN 0208
|
01/07/40
|
01/07/40
|
06/07/40
|
06/07/40
|
FN 0215
|
08/07/40
|
08/07/40
|
10/07/40
|
10/07/40
|
FS 0218
|
11/07/40
|
11/07/40
|
13/07/40
|
13/07/40
|
FN 0221
|
15/07/40
|
15/07/40
|
20/07/40
|
20/07/40
|
OA 187
|
22/07/40
|
unknown
|
29/07/40
|
29/07/40
|
FS 0236
|
31/07/40
|
31/07/40
|
01/08/40
|
01/08/40
|
FN 0239
|
03/08/40
|
03/08/40
|
06/08/40
|
06/08/40
|
FS 0244
|
08/08/40
|
08/08/40
|
09/08/40
|
09/08/40
|
FN 0247
|
11/08/40
|
11/08/40
|
17/08/40
|
17/08/40
|
FS 0255
|
19/08/40
|
19/08/40
|
20/08/40
|
20/08/40
|
FN 0258
|
22/08/40
|
22/08/40
|
24/08/40
|
24/08/40
|
FS 0261
|
26/08/40
|
26/08/40
|
27/08/40
|
27/08/40
|
FN 0264
|
29/08/40
|
29/08/40
|
31/08/40
|
31/08/40
|
FS 0268
|
01/09/40
|
02/09/40
|
01/09/40
|
13/09/40
|
HX 070
|
16/09/40
|
16/09/40
|
08/09/40
|
unknown
|
OA 211
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
22/09/40
|
22/09/40
|
OA 218
|
28/09/40
|
unknown
|
10/09/40
|
27/09/40
|
SL 047
|
30/09/40
|
28/09/40
|
06/10/40
|
06/10/40
|
OA 225
|
11/10/40
|
unknown
|
30/09/40
|
11/10/40
|
HX 077
|
15/10/40
|
15/10/40
|
20/10/40
|
20/10/40
|
OA 232
|
23/10/40
|
26/10/40
|
21/10/40
|
23/10/40
|
OB 232
|
26/10/40
|
26/10/40
|
15/10/40
|
26/10/40
|
SC 008
|
31/10/40
|
31/10/40
|
18/11/40
|
18/11/40
|
FS 0338
|
20/11/40
|
20/11/40
|
21/11/40
|
21/11/40
|
FN 0339
|
23/11/40
|
23/11/40
|
30/11/40
|
30/11/40
|
FS 0348
|
02/12/40
|
02/12/40
|
03/12/40
|
03/12/40
|
FN 0349
|
05/12/40
|
05/12/40
|
08/12/40
|
08/12/40
|
FS 0356
|
10/12/40
|
10/12/40
|
11/12/40
|
11/12/40
|
FN 0357
|
13/12/40
|
13/12/40
|
17/12/40
|
17/12/40
|
FS 0363
|
19/12/40
|
19/12/40
|
29/12/40
|
29/12/40
|
FS 0374
|
01/01/41
|
01/01/41
|
01/01/41
|
01/01/41
|
FN 0373
|
03/01/41
|
03/01/41
|
07/01/41
|
07/01/41
|
FS 0382
|
09/01/41
|
09/01/41
|
15/01/41
|
15/01/41
|
EN 057/1
|
17/01/41
|
17/01/41
|
26/01/41
|
26/01/41
|
EN 062/1
|
30/01/41
|
30/01/41
|
31/01/41
|
31/01/41
|
EN 065/1
|
03/02/41
|
04/02/41
|
05/02/41
|
05/02/41
|
OG 052
|
10/02/41
|
21/02/41
|
23/02/41
|
23/02/41
|
OB 290
|
27/02/41
|
27/02/14
|
07/03/41
|
07/03/41
|
OG 055
|
12/03/41
|
20/03/41
|
19/03/41
|
20/03/41
|
OB 299
|
24/03/41
|
25/03/41
|
11/03/41
|
24/03/41
|
HX 114
|
unknown
|
30/03/41
|
10/03/41
|
26/03/41
|
SC 025
|
29/03/41
|
29/03/41
|
23/03/41
|
14/04/41
|
SL 069
|
16/04/41
|
unknown
|
24/07/41
|
26/07/41
|
OS 001
|
09/08/41
|
10/08/41
|
15/08/41
|
20/08/41
|
SL 084
|
08/09/41
|
08/09/41
|
23/09/41
|
24/09/41
|
OS 007
|
12/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
15/10/41
|
18/10/41
|
SL 090
|
06/11/41
|
06/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
19/11/41
|
OS 012
|
07/12/41
|
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
|
05/02/42
|
07/02/42
|
09/02/42
|
11/02/42
|
SL 100
|
19/02/42
|
04/03/42
|
13/03/42
|
14/03/42
|
OS 022
|
01/04/42
|
01/04/42
|
09/04/42
|
09/04/42
|
SL 106
|
29/04/42
|
02/05/42
|
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
|
09/09/42
|
10/09/42
|
OS 040
|
27/09/42
|
27/09/42
|
03/10/42
|
03/10/42
|
SL 124
|
22/10/42
|
22/10/42
|
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
|
20/12/42
|
20/12/42
|
20/12/42
|
20/12/42
|
KMF 005A
|
20/12/42
|
22/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
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
|
15/02/43
|
15/02/43
|
UC 001
|
06/03/43
|
06/03/43
|
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
|
19/09/43
|
23/09/43
|
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 004
|
21/10/43
|
21/10/43
|
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
|
24/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
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
|
28/04/44
|
28/04/44
|
STL 021
|
05/05/44
|
05/05/44
|
09/03/44
|
19/05/44
|
ST 080
|
24/05/44
|
14/03/44
|
10/06/44
|
10/06/44
|
LTS 023
|
17/06/44
|
17/06/44
|
25/06/44
|
25/06/44
|
STL 025
|
01/07/44
|
01/07/44
|
09/07/44
|
09/07/44
|
LTS 026
|
12/07/44
|
15/07/44
|
10/08/44
|
10/08/44
|
TS 060
|
15/08/44
|
15/08/44
|
24/08/44
|
24/08/44
|
ST 085
|
28/08/44
|
28/08/44
|
10/09/44
|
10/09/44
|
TS 064
|
16/09/44
|
16/09/44
|
13/04/45
|
13/04/45
|
WVC 121
|
14/04/45
|
14/04/45
|
26/04/45
|
26/04/45
|
VWC 138
|
27/04/45
|
27/04/45
|
28/04/45
|
28/04/45
|
WVL 139
|
29/04/45
|
29/04/45
|
29/04/45
|
29/04/45
|
VWL 156
|
30/04/45
|
30/04/45
|
30/04/45
|
30/04/45
|
BTC 144
|
03/05/45
|
03/05/45
|
02/05/45
|
02/05/45
|
BTC 146
|
05/05/45
|
05/05/45
|
02/05/45
|
02/05/45
|
TBC 146
|
05/05/45
|
05/05/45
|
07/05/45
|
07/05/45
|
WVC 144
|
08/05/45
|
08/05/45
|
08/05/45
|
08/05/45
|
VWC 150
|
09/05/45
|
09/05/45
|
11/05/45
|
11/05/45
|
BTC 155
|
14/05/45
|
14/05/45
|
11/05/45
|
11/05/45
|
TBC 155
|
15/05/45
|
14/05/45
|
13/05/45
|
13/05/45
|
TBC 157
|
16/05/45
|
16/05/45
|
15/05/45
|
15/05/45
|
WVC 152
|
16/05/45
|
16/05/45
|
22/05/45
|
22/05/45
|
BTC 166
|
25/05/45
|
25/05/45
|
22/05/45
|
22/05/45
|
TBC 166
|
25/05/45
|
25/05/45
|
(Note on Convoys)