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
to
Naval History Homepage
and type name in Site Search
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)