US
Coastguard Cutter USS
CHAMPLAIN built by Bethlehem
Shipbuilding, Quincy, Mass. The ship was laid
down on 23rd May 1923 and launched on 11th
October 1928. Build was completed on
24th January 1929; transferred
to the Royal Navy on 3rd April 1941 under the
1940 UK/USA Lend/Lease Agreement and
renamed
HMS SENNEN, when commissioned. She was the
first RN ship to bear this name,
that of a British Coastguard Station
like those given to other US Coastguard Cutters
transferred
B a t t l e
H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC
1941-43 - NORTH AFRICA 1942-43
H e r a l d i
c D a t a
No record of an officially approved Crest is
included in the Admiralty Record
of
Heraldic Crests but any US Navy Badge will have
been used where fitted to
ship’s
boats.
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
May
Transferred to Royal Navy at New York
12th Commissioned
for RN Service.
20th
Took passage from Halifax for Clyde with HM
Cutter SENNEN.
June
10th Damaged
in collision with drifter ANIMATE in Clyde.
12th
Under repair in Clyde shipyard
July
On completion Joined Western Approaches Command
at Londonderry for convoy escort
8th
Sailed
from Londonderry to join Convoy HX139.
Nominated for refit in London commercial
shipyard
August
Passage
to London for modifications to suit RN escort
duty.
4th
Under
modification in Thames shipyard.
(Note: Depth Charge equipment fitted comprised
four Throwers and two sets of Rails.)
30th Rejoined
Western Approaches at Londonderry.
Nominated fro escort of OS Series convoys to
West Africa and return SL Series convoys
to Liverpool.
31st
Sailed
with HM Cutters GORLESTON, HARTLAND and LULWORTH
for escort of Convoy
OS4 to Bathurst
Detached from OS4 to join military convoy WS11
with HMS TOTLAND as part of Ocean
Escort
during passage to Freetown.
September
4th
Detached with HMS TOTLAND and HM Indian Sloop
SUTLEJ to join SLOW Section of WS11
as escort during passage to Freetown when WS11
divided.
15th
Detached from WS11 Slow on arrival at Freetown
and took passage to Gibraltar as escort for
two tankers.
October
Passage to UK from Gibraltar.
28th
Under refit at Belfast for fit of additional
equipment.
November
14th
On completion rejoined Western Approaches at
Londonderry.
Joined 42nd Escort Group with HMS GORLESTON and
HMS TOTLAND for escort of convoys
between UK and West Africa.
(For details of tactics and weapons used during
Atlantic convoy defence see SEEK
AND
STRIKE by W Hackmann, THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
by D Macintyre, U-BOAT WAR
IN
THE
ATLANTIC and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
Escorted outward Convoy OS12 to Freetown with
HMS TOTLAND.
December
Escorted return Convoy SL95 to UK with HMS
TOTLAND and later by HMS GORLESTON.
1
9 4 2
January
Deployed as escort for outward Convoy OS17 to
Freetown with HM Cutters GORLESTON,
HARTLAND and TOTLAND to Freetown.
February
Deployed as escort for return Convoy SL10 with
HMS GORLESTON and HMS TOTLAND.
March
Escorted outward Convoy OS 22 with HM Cutters
GORLE3TON, HARTLAND and TOTLAND.
April
Escorted return Convoy SL106 with HMS GORLESTON
and HMS TOTLAND.
Nominated for refit after arrival in UK
May
Passage to Hull.
4th
Under refit at Hull.
(Note: Radar Type 271 for surface warning and
Type 286M were fitted.
For details see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
June
Under refit.
29th
On completion rejoined 42nd Escort Group at
Londonderry.
July
Deployed at Londonderry with 45th Escort Group.
August
Escorted outward Convoy OS39.
September
Escorted return Convoy SL1213 to UK.
October
Transferred for escort duty with military
convoys to North Africa for allied landings
(Operation TORCH).
(Note: For details see The Naval Staff History,
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by C. Barnett and for information about all
mercantiles and warships involved
BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.)
November
Deployed with escort for Convoy KMF2 to Algiers
with HM Cutter BANFF arriving on 11th.
Escorted return Convoy MKF2 to UK.
December
Deployment for defence of convoys to and from
Gibraltar.
1
9 4 3
January
Continued Gibraltar convoy defence.
23rd
Escorted return Convoy MKS6 during passage to
Clyde.
February
Transferred to 1st Escort Group for Atlantic
convoy support and defence.
March
Passage from Dakar to UK
April
Deployed for convoy defence in North Atlantic
with Group EG1 operating in the support role.
See above references.
15th
Deployed with HM Sloop PELICAN, HM Frigates JED,
WEAR and SPEY for support of
escorts of Atlantic convoys when under threat of
attack by U-Boat Groups.
Provided additional support to Convoy ONS4 which
was escorted by ships of Escort Group
B2 and under attack by MEISE Group of U-Boats.
Air cover was being provided by HM Escort
Carrier BITER.
(Note: This was the first participation of an
Escort Carrier in sinking of a U-Boat.
U203 was sunk by HMS PATHFINDER after attack by
SWORDFISH aircraft from HMS
BITER
The convoy arrived in Canadian waters without
loss.
For details of the transit of ONS4 see U-Boat
WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO),
HITLER’S U BOAT WAR and THE BATTLE OF THE
ATLANTIC by D Macintyre.)
26th Supported
passage of Convoy SC12Twhich avoided attacks by
AMSEL Group of U Boats.
May
Sailed from St Johns for support of Convoys CN84
and ONS5 with
HM Sloop
PELICAN, HM
Frigates JED, WEAR and SPEY
6th
Carried out Made gun attack on surfaced U267
which was able to escape with damage.
19th
Took part in sinking of U954 with HM Frigate JED
in defence of convoy.
(Note: There were no survivors from U954 amongst
whom was Leutnant Zur Zee Peter Donitz,
son of Grosssadmiral Karl Donitz.)
This submarine sinking was previously credited
to Liberator T aircraft of 120 Squadron
RAF, but post war analysis showed the U-Boat
attacked by this aircraft was U753 which
escaped. See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
20th
Deployed with ships of 1st Support Group in
support of passage of Convoy SC130
under
attack
by
U-Boats of the ODER Group.
Carried out attack in U209 with HMS JED
using HEDGEHOG mortar
and avoided torpedo
attack
by submarine.
June
Nominated for escort duty in Indian Ocean.
Under refit at Grimsby for service with Eastern
Fleet.
July
Carried out post refit trials on completion of
shipyard work.
August
Deployed at Tobermory to work-up for operational
service.
September
14th
Sailed for passage to
Kilindini through Mediterranean
after call at Gibraltar.
October
Passage in Indian Ocean
26th
Joined Kilindini Escort Force.
November
Deployed for convoy defence between Kilindini
and Aden.
Escorted Convoy DKA4 to Aden and returned with
Convoy AKD6
with HMS LANDGUARD.
Escorted Convoy DKA7 to Aden with HMS LANDGUARD.
Escorted returning Convoy AKD11A with HMS BANFF
and HMS LANDGUARD.
1
9 4 4
January
Deployed at Kilindini.
February Escorted
Convoy DKA12 to Aden.
March
Escorted returning Convoy AKD17
April
Deployed at Kilindini for convoy defence.
May
11th
Under repair at Diego Suarez.
15th
On completion rejoined Escort Force at
Kilindini.
June
Escorted Convoy OM5(?) to Aden.
July
Passage to Kilindini.
August
Deployed at Kilindini for convoy defence..
September
Escorted Convoy CM58 from Durban to Kilindini.
29th
Under repair at Durban.
30th
Repair work completed,
October
Passage to Capetown for refit.
10th
Under refit
(Note: During this refit a British 4in mounting
and additional 40mm weapons were fitted
to improve close range defence.)
November
Under refit.
to
December
1
9 4 5
January
Under refit
to
March
April
15th
On completion of post refit trials took passage
to Trincomalee
May
Deployed at Trincomalee for defence of convoys
in Bay of Bengal,
(Note: Extensive convoy traffic was in progress
to support occupation of Rangoon
See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO) and THE FORGOTTEN
FLEET by J Winton.)
June
Deployed for convoy defence in Bay of Bengal.
July
Nominated for escort of assault convoys for
planned landing in Malaya (Operation ZIPPER.)
to
(Note These landings were delayed due to |US
insistence and implementation of the PYTHON
August
Scheme to repatriate long serving personnel from
service in SEAC. See above references
and the Final Report of the Supreme Commander
SEAC (HMSO)
Passage to Madras for escort of assault convoy
to landing area near Port Swettenham.
September
1st
Sailed from Madras as part of escort for Convoy
JME15 during passage to Beach Head
9th
Detached from JME15 on arrival and deployed for
support of operations in Indian Ocean and
Dutch East Indies.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS SENNEN remained in the Indian Ocean after VJ-Day
until 16th December 1945 when she returned to UK
from Aden. The ship arrived at Chatham on 16th
January 1946 and after de-storing and completion
of repair she took passage for Boston for
returned to the US Coastguard Service. She Paid
off at Boston on 20th March and later that year
resumed coastguard service as USS CHAMPLAIN.
This ship was sold on 25th March 1948 after
being taken out of US Coastguard service.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS of
HMS SENNEN
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
18/05/41
|
18/05/41
|
BHX
128
|
20/05/41
|
27/05/41
|
20/05/41
|
20/05/41
|
HX
128
|
06/06/41
|
06/06/41
|
07/07/41
|
07/07/41
|
OB
344
|
16/07/41
|
16/07/41
|
16/07/41
|
18/07/41
|
HX
139
|
29/07/41
|
31/07/41
|
23/08/41
|
31/08/41
|
OS
004
|
09/09/41
|
11/09/41
|
05/10/41
|
21/10/41
|
SL
089
|
unknown
|
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
|
21/01/42
|
OS
017
|
05/02/42
|
07/02/42
|
09/02/42
|
11/02/42
|
SL
100
|
03/03/42
|
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
|
15/07/42
|
30/07/42
|
SL
116
|
03/08/42
|
04/08/42
|
29/08/42
|
31/08/42
|
OS
039
|
16/09/42
|
18/09/42
|
23/09/42
|
23/09/42
|
SL
123
|
14/10/42
|
14/10/42
|
01/11/42
|
01/11/42
|
KMF
002
|
12/11/42
|
12/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
MKF
002
|
22/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
10/12/42
|
12/12/42
|
MKF
004
|
18/12/42
|
18/12/42
|
07/01/43
|
08/01/43
|
KMS
007G
|
18/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
19/01/43
|
23/01/43
|
MKS
006
|
01/02/43
|
01/02/43
|
14/02/43
|
15/02/43
|
OS
043
|
04/03/43
|
04/03/43
|
12/03/43
|
12/03/43
|
SL
126
|
02/04/43
|
01/04/43
|
16/04/43
|
24/04/43
|
SC
127
|
25/04/43
|
03/05/43
|
13/04/43
|
26/04/43
|
ONS
004
|
28/04/43
|
05/05/43
|
21/04/43
|
06/05/43
|
ONS
005
|
08/05/43
|
12/05/43
|
11/05/43
|
19/05/43
|
SC
130
|
22/05/43
|
26/05/43
|
18/09/43
|
18/09/43
|
KMS
026
|
29/09/43
|
29/09/43
|
10/10/43
|
10/10/43
|
AKD
003
|
20/10/43
|
29/10/43
|
16/10/43
|
28/10/43
|
DKA
004
|
05/11/43
|
05/11/43
|
11/11/43
|
11/11/43
|
AKD
006
|
20/11/43
|
29/11/43
|
16/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
DKA
007
|
07/12/43
|
07/12/43
|
12/12/43
|
12/12/43
|
AKD
009
|
21/12/43
|
21/12/43
|
09/01/44
|
16/01/44
|
AKD
011A
|
23/01/44
|
23/01/44
|
05/02/44
|
05/02/44
|
KR
008
|
11/02/44
|
14/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
DKA
012
|
01/03/44
|
01/03/44
|
05/03/44
|
05/03/44
|
AKD
017
|
14/03/44
|
23/03/44
|
22/03/44
|
06/04/44
|
DKA
016
|
12/04/44
|
12/04/44
|
05/06/44
|
09/06/44
|
CM
054
|
11/06/44
|
11/06/44
|
14/06/44
|
14/06/44
|
AK
010/2
|
27/06/44
|
27/06/44
|
25/07/44
|
25/07/44
|
CM
057
|
01/08/44
|
01/08/44
|
18/08/44
|
18/08/44
|
AK
012/2
|
25/08/44
|
25/08/44
|
27/08/44
|
27/08/44
|
MC
012
|
03/09/44
|
03/09/44
|
12/09/44
|
13/09/44
|
CM
058
|
20/09/44
|
20/09/44
|
06/05/45
|
06/05/45
|
KRS
001/
|
08/05/45
|
08/05/45
|
16/05/45
|
16/05/45
|
KRS
005/
|
19/05/45
|
19/05/45
|
30/05/45
|
30/05/45
|
KRF
007/
|
02/06/45
|
02/06/45
|
01/07/45
|
01/07/45
|
KR
014/1
|
03/07/45
|
03/07/45
|
12/07/45
|
12/07/45
|
RK
011/1
|
14/07/45
|
16/07/45
|
26/07/45
|
26/07/45
|
KR
022A/
|
28/07/45
|
28/07/45
|
(Note
on Convoys)