US Coastguard Cutter CHELAN built by Bethlehem
Shipbuilding Corporation, Quincy, Mass
and laid down on 14th November 1927. The ship
was launched on 19th May 1928 and build was
completed on 5th Sept. 1928. She was
transferred to the Royal Navy on 3rd April 1941
as part of the Lease/Lend
Agreement in 1940 and renamed HMS
LULWORTH when commissioned. This ship was the
first RN ship to carry the name, which like
those given to other US Coastguard Cutters transferred,
was that of a British Coastguard
Station. The Official List of adoptions by a UK
civil community after a National Savings
WARSHIP WEEK campaign in 1941-42 does
not include this Cutter
B
a t t l
e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC
1941-43 - NORTH AFRICA 1942 - BURMA
1945
H
e r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
No record of an officially approved Crest is
included in the
Admiralty List of Heraldic Crests
(Note: It may be assumed
that any US Badge such for ship’s
boats may have remained
in use.)
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 1
April
Prepared for transfer to RN.
May
12th
Formally transferred to RN from US Coastguard
Service.
(Note: Royal Navy ship's company included
personnel from HM Battleship RESOLUTION.
Commissioned for service as HMS LULWORTH.
Took passage for UK with call at Newfoundland.
22nd Arrived
in Clyde.
Repair arranged in Cardiff.
June
Passage to Cardiff.
6th
Taken in hand for repair at commercial shipyard.
(Note: Work carried out included modifications
to suit RN service for convoy defence.
July
Transferred to commercial shipyard at Newport
for completion of work.
12th
Allocated for service in Western Approaches
Command, based at Londonderry and to
be deployed for escort of OS Series convoys to
Freetown and return convoys in SL Series
to Liverpool.
On completion carried out post refit trials and
worked-up for operational service.
Deployed for convoy
defence on UK
- West Africa route.
23rd
Joined escort for Convoy OS4 to Bathurst,
Gambia.
September
Detached from OS4 on arrival at Bathurst.
(Note: This convoy was subject to U-Boat attacks
during which five ships were sunk.)
Passage to Freetown.
24th
Returned to Liverpool as part of escort fro
Convoy SL88 from West Africa.
(Note: To be confirmed)
October
West African route deployment in continuation.
8th
Remained with SL88 on merger with inward Convoy
HG74 for passage to Liverpool
18th
Detached on arrival at Liverpool
(Note: To be confirmed)
25th
Joined escort for outward Convoy OS10 for
passage to West Africa,
November
18th
Detached from OS10 on arrival at Freetown
19th
Joined escort for inward Convoy SL93 for passage
from Freetown to Liverpool.
December
10th
Detached from SL93 on arrival at Liverpool.
Took passage to Belfast for installation of
direction finding outfit.
13th
Taken in hand at commercial shipyard for
installation.
(Note:
For details of equipment used for detection and
destruction of U-Boats in
defence of Atlantic convoys see SEEK AND STRIKE
by W Hackmann.)
23rd
Resumed convoy defence duty at Londonderry and
joined escort for Convoy OS15
to West Africa.
1
9 4 2
January
13th
Detached from OS15 at Bathurst.
15th Returned
with HM Cutters CULVER and LANDGUARD
AS escort for Convoy SL98
during passage to Liverpool.
31st
HMS CULVER sunk by torpedo from U105 in position
48.34N 20.14W during
defence of
February
5th
Detached from SL98 on arrival at Liverpool..
22nd Joined
HM Cutter LANDGUARD for escort for outward
Convoy OS20 during passage
to Freetown.
March
14th
Joined inward Convoy SL103 with HM Cutter
LANDGUARD on departure from Freetown
as escort for passage to Liverpool.
April
2nd
Detached from SL103 on arrival at Liverpool.
12th
Joined outward Convoy OS25 with HM Cutter
LANDGUARD as escort during passage
to Freetown
29th
Detached from OS25 on arrival at Freetown
May
4th
Joined inward Convoy SL109 with HM Sloop
HASTINGS and HM Cutter LANDGUARD
as escort during passage to Liverpool.
11th
Under attack by U128 whose presence had been
detected by radio signals.
During depth charge attacks with HMS HASTINGS
sustained damage by explosions.
12th
Under attack by U126, U161 and U128, took part
in depth charge
attacks with other
escorts
which drove off the attacking submarines.
See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair for details.)
28th
Detached from SL109 on arrival at Liverpool.
(Note: Some ships from SL109 detached on 19th
May as SL109F and arrived on 25th.)
During defence of convoy sank the Italian
submarine PIETRO CALVI off the
Azores, and sustained major damage to forward
structure.
May
Escorted Convoy SL105 with HM Sloop HASTINGS and
HM Cutter LANDGUARD
On arrival in UK refit and repair arranged in
commercial shipyard.
June
Under repair in Belfast.
On completion resumed service with Group.
11th
Deployed with HM Sloops BIDEFORD and LONDONDERRY
as escort for outward
Convoy SL31 during passage to Freetown.
30th
Detached from OS31 with escort on arrival at
Freetown.
July
5th
Deployed as escort for inward Convoy SL115 with
HM Sloops BIDEFORD and
LONDONDERRY during passage to Liverpool.
14th
Sighted by U130 which was joined by U407 and the
Italian submarine PIETRO CALVI.
Following interception of wireless transmissions
using Direction Finding outfit carried
out search on relevant bearing.
Sighted U130 with PIETRO CALVI on surface off
the Azores.
See SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann for use of D/F
equipment)
Carried out depth charge attacks which forced
PIETRO CALVI to surface.
Engaged Italian with surface gunfire causing
extensive damage.
Carried out two unsuccessful attempts to ram
submarine.
Hit submarine amidships which caused structural
damage to ship.
Boarding party hampered by fire, flooding and
Italian crew abandoning the submarine.
Submarine capsized and leader of Boarding Party
was unable to escape and lost his life.
(Note: No significant documentation was
recovered when submarine capsized.
35 of the 78 crew of PIETRO CALVI were rescued
by the other two escorts.
An attack by U130 during this incident was
driven off by depth charges.
For details see HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR BY C Blair.)
26th
Detached from SL115 on arrival.
Took passage to Belfast for repair at commercial
shipyard.
August
Under repair
September
Nominated for defence of convoys to Gibraltar in
support of planned allied landings in
North Africa (Operation TORCH).
30th
On completion of repair and refit work resumed
convoy defence duties.
October
Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence.
Deployed for defence of military in support of
planned allied landings in
North
Africa (Operation TORCH).
(For details of TORCH see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE
CLOSELY by C Barnett,
RELUCTANT ENEMIES by W Tute, Naval Staff History
and BRITISH
INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser for information
about all mercantiles and warships
Involved.)
November
Deployed at Gibraltar for support of allied
landings and convoy defence.
On release from TORCH deployed for convoy
defence in Western Mediterranean.
December
Gibraltar deployment in continuation.
1
9 4 3
January
Deployed for military convoy defence with 40th
Escort Group,
Escorted KMS8 to Gibraltar.
February
Returned with Convoy MKS7.
Transferred with Group for defence of North
Atlantic convoys.
Joined HM Sloops ABERDEEN and HASTINGS, HM
Frigate MOYOLA, HM Cutter
LANDGUARD.
March
Passage to St Johns, Newfoundland for escort of
Convoy HX223 during Atlantic passage
with ships of Group.
(Note: This convoy of 39 ships from New York and
was re-routed to avoid attacks by
RAUBGRAF Group of U-Boats, but German
code-breakers ordered change of
U-Boat dispositions.
15th
Convoy sighted by U91 of RAUBGRAF Group and
summoned assistance.
Eleven U-Boats directed to carry out attacks,
during which ten ships were sunk.
(Note: Despite weather conditions and in the
absence of a Rescue Ship many of the
ships in convoy attempted rescue operations
which increased chances of torpedo
attacks by the submarines.
17th
Some air cover provided from Iceland and
Northern Ireland but during continued attacks
three more mercantiles were sunk.
19th
Air cover increased and further losses avoided.
(Note: See CONVOY by Martin Middlebrook, U-BOAT
WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO),
THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC, Naval Staff
Histories and HITLER’S
U-BOAT WAR by C Blair for details of defence of
HX229 which had one of the
heaviest losses in the Atlantic war.
U384 was the only submarine to be sunk. See
U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.
April
Part of escort for Convoys ONS3 and SC128 with
ships of Group.
(For details of this crucial stage see the above
references.)
May
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation
including convoy to and from Iceland..
June
Nominated for transfer to Eastern Fleet after
refit.
July
6th
Taken in hand for refit at Cardiff.
August
On completion of refit worked up and prepared
for foreign service.
September
Took passage to join Eastern fleet for convoy
defence
24th
Passage to Gibraltar.
29th
At Gibraltar.
October
Part of escort for Convoy UCSS8 from Gibraltar
to Alexandria
Passage to Kilindini with call at Aden.
November
5th
Arrived at Kilindini.
Escorted Convoy DKA5 to Aden and returned as
escort for Convoy AKD7.
December
Indian Ocean convoy defence between Kilindini
and Aden including Convoy DKA7
1
9 4 4
January
Deployment for defence of Indian Ocean convoys
in continuation.
to
(Note: These included Convoys KB8 and KR9 to Red
Sea, DKA9 to Aden, Convoys KD1
February
and AKD1 to Kilindini and Durban.)
March
Indian Ocean convoy defence deployment in
continuation
16th
Carried out unsuccessful depth charge attack on
Japanese submarine I37 which had sunk
three mercantiles off African coast on 16th
February
April
Deployment based at Kilindini in continuation.
to
Escorted convoys between Kilindini and Durban
and return convoys.
July
August
Transferred to South Atlantic for escort of
convoys from Cape of Good Hope.
Nominated for refit.
September
4th
Taken in hand for refit at Durban.
October
Under refit
to
November
December
Post refit trials and prepared for operational
service.
9th
Resumed Indian Ocean convoy defence.
1
9 4 5
January
Transferred to Trincomalee for convoy defence in
Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal.
to
Deployed for defence of convoys supporting
military operations in Burma.
March
Nominated for escort of assault convoy during
planned landings at Rangoon
(Operation DRACULA)
April
Passage to Kyaukpyu for escort of Convoy
CHARLIE.
29th
Sailed for Rangoon as part of escort for Convoy
CHARLIE.
For details of DRACULA see WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO,
THE FORGOTTEN FLEET
by J Winton and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS bv J de
Winser for information about all
mercantiles and warships involved.)
May
2nd
Deployed at Rangoon during DRACULA landings
On release from DRACULA deployed in Bay of
Bengal.
June
Convoy defence in continuation
24th
Sustained damage to underwater fittings by
grounding.
August
Nominated for escort of assault convoys to
Malayan coast (Operation ZIPPER)
(Note: This operation had been planned for an
earlier date but was postponed because of
difficulties in implementing the PYTHON Scheme
for release of long serving
personnel from SEAC and US insistence. See Final
Report of Supreme
Commander SEAC and above references.)
September
Deployed at Rangoon.
3rd
Sailed from Rangoon as part of escort for
Assault Convoy JME1F.
Detached from JME1F for escort of mercantile
CITY OF CALCUTTA to landing area.
P
o s t W a r
N o t e s
HMS
LULWORTH returned to UK from Colombo on 11th
November 1945 and arrived at Chatham on 4th
November. The ship was de-stored and RN
equipment removed before taking passage to USA
with a Steaming Crew. She was handed back to US
Coastguard Service at Boston on 5th January 1946
and sold for demolition in 1947, the next year.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS LULWORTH
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
09/05/41
|
11/05/41
|
SC
031
|
25/05/41
|
30/05/41
|
23/08/41
|
23/08/41
|
OS
004
|
09/09/41
|
11/09/41
|
14/09/41
|
16/09/41
|
SL
087
|
06/10/41
|
06/10/41
|
25/10/41
|
26/10/41
|
OS
010
|
15/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
SL
093
|
10/12/41
|
10/12/41
|
23/12/41
|
24/12/41
|
OS
015
|
11/01/42
|
13/01/42
|
15/01/42
|
18/01/42
|
SL
098
|
05/02/42
|
05/02/42
|
22/02/42
|
23/02/42
|
OS
020
|
10/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
14/03/42
|
16/03/42
|
SL
103
|
02/04/42
|
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
|
21/05/42
|
21/05/42
|
HG
083
|
07/06/42
|
07/06/42
|
11/06/42
|
11/06/42
|
OS
031
|
28/06/42
|
30/06/42
|
05/07/42
|
05/07/42
|
SL
115
|
25/07/42
|
26/07/42
|
25/10/42
|
26/10/42
|
KMS
002G
|
12/11/42
|
12/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
MKS
001X
|
23/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
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
|
25/03/43
|
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
|
17/09/43
|
17/09/43
|
OS
055KM
|
27/09/43
|
28/09/43
|
15/09/43
|
05/10/43
|
UGS
018
|
13/10/43
|
13/10/43
|
21/10/43
|
21/10/43
|
AKD
004
|
31/10/43
|
09/11/43
|
21/11/43
|
21/11/43
|
AKD
007
|
01/12/43
|
01/12/43
|
27/11/43
|
09/12/43
|
DKA
008
|
19/12/43
|
19/12/43
|
24/01/44
|
24/01/44
|
AKD
013A
|
31/01/44
|
09/02/44
|
05/02/44
|
05/02/44
|
KR
008
|
11/02/44
|
14/02/44
|
24/02/44
|
24/02/44
|
KR
009
|
04/03/44
|
06/03/44
|
11/03/44
|
23/03/44
|
DKA
015
|
01/04/44
|
01/04/44
|
06/04/44
|
06/04/44
|
AKD
020
|
12/04/44
|
12/04/44
|
27/04/44
|
27/04/44
|
KD
001/2
|
07/05/44
|
07/05/44
|
04/06/44
|
04/06/44
|
KD
004
|
14/06/44
|
14/06/44
|
30/07/44
|
30/07/44
|
CM
056A
|
05/08/44
|
05/08/44
|
27/08/44
|
27/08/44
|
MC
012
|
03/09/44
|
03/09/44
|
23/01/45
|
23/01/45
|
MC
014C
|
30/01/45
|
30/01/45
|
09/05/45
|
09/05/45
|
KRF
002/
|
11/05/45
|
11/05/45
|
08/07/45
|
08/07/45
|
RK
010/1
|
11/07/45
|
11/07/45
|
13/07/45
|
13/07/45
|
KR
018/1
|
16/07/45
|
16/07/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)