GRIMSBY-Class
Sloop ordered from HM Dockyard Chatham
under the 1933 Build Programme on 1st
May 1933 and laid down on 30th April
1934. The ship was launched by
Mrs Pearson, Mayor of Chatham on 5th
February 1935 as the
9th RN ship to carry the name,
introduced in 1652. It had last been
used for a
Transport Brig that was broken up
at Chatham in 1862 and
commemorated the long
association of the Borough with the
Royal Navy. The adoption of the
ship by the civil community of
Deptford following a successful
WARSHIP WEEK for
National Savings in March 1939 was
therefore especially appropriate.
After
completion the ship was deployed in
the Persian Gulf and returned to
UK after
the outbreak of WW2.
B
a t t l
e H o n o u r s
BEACHY
HEAD 1690 - BARFLEUR
1692 - CARTAGENA
1741 - MAURITIUS 1748 -
MINORCA 1756 - HAVANA 1762 -
ATLANTIC 1939-43 - NORTH
AFRICA 1942 -
MEDITERRANEAN
1944 - ENGLISH
CHANNEL
1945
H e
r a l d i
c D
a t a
Badge:
On a Field White. a
Martlet
Black under a mural crown Gold.
M
o t t o
Sicut
clim:
'Carry on as formerly'
D
e t a i l
s o f
W ar 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
August
On passage to
Singapore from
Persian Gulf.
September
Redeployed for convoy defence and took
passage to UK.
October
On passage to Portsmouth.
November
16th
Arrived at Portsmouth and prepared for
Atlantic convoy defence duties
December
Allocated to 2nd Escort Division based
at Liverpool
1
9 4 0
January
Deployed for defence of Atlantic
convoys in Western Approaches
14th
Part of escort for outward Convoy from
assembly in SW Approaches
Detached when convoy dispersed,
February
3rd
Involved in collision with ss ANTIGUA
during escort of Convoy OB28 without
major damage.
19th
Deployed with HM Sloop ABERDARE and HM
Destroyer WISHART as escort for
outward Convoy OG19F during passage to
Gibraltar from assembly in SW Approaches
25th
Detached from OG19F and joined escort
for inward Convoy HG20 during passage
from
Gibraltar
to
Liverpool.
March
6th
Detached from HG20 and took passage to
Plymouth.
(Note: For details of dates of convoys
see ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM IN WW2 by A
Hague.)
April
5th
Deployed for escort of inward Convoy
HG23 during passage to
Liverpool.
15th
Detached from HG23.
18th
Joined escort for inward Convoy HG26F
during passage to Liverpool in SW
Approaches.
19th
Detached from HG23.
26th
Deployed with escort for outward
Convoy OG27 on assembly in SW
Approaches.
27th
Detached from OG27 with Local Escort.
(Note: This ship was not deployed
during Norwegian operations.)
May
Deployed for convoy defence in SW
Approaches.
Pennant Umber for visual signalling
changed to U53-
June
Convoy defence in continuation.
to
July
August
Transferred to Rosyth for escort of
convoys in North Sea and NW Approaches
September
Coastal convoy defence in
continuation.
to
Nominated for service at Liverpool.
October
November
Joined Sloop Division in Western
Approaches Command baaed at Liverpool.
Resumed Atlantic convoy defence
duties.
December
Ocean convoy escort in continuation.
1
9 4 1
January
Atlantic convoy escort in NW
Approaches.
February
Under refit at commercial shipyard in
Liverpool.
to
(Note: RAF aircraft warning radar
modified for ship use (Naval Type
286M) fitted.
March
For details of development and use of
radar by RN see RADAR AT SEA by D
Howse).
April
On completion of post refit trials
resumed Atlantic convoy defence.
Deployed for escort of OG and HG
convoys between UK and Gibraltar.
May
Part of
escort
for Convoy HG69,
(Note: An unsuccessful attack was made
on this convoy by the Italian
submarine MARCONI.
For details of enemy submarine
activities see HITLER’S U- BOAT WAR by
C Blair
U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC and THE
BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by
D Macintyre.)
June
Gibraltar convoy escort in
continuation.
to
July
August
Part of escort for Convoy HG71 with
ships of 36th Escort Group.
11th
Carried out anti-submarine operations
after U-Boat detection by radar at 1.5
miles.
September
13th
Part of escort for Convoy HG72 with HM
Destroyers FAULKNOR, ENCOUNTER,
AVONVALE
and NESTOR (RAN) and drove off attacks
by Italian submarines.
15th
Joined FLOWER Class Corvettes of 36th
Escort Group escorting Convoy OG74.
(Note: Air cover from an Escort
Carrier was provided for the first
time by HMS
AUDACITY
which was also deployed with OG74)
20th
Under attacks by U-Boats and
Focke-Wolfe KONDOR aircraft.
Carried out unsuccessful
anti-submarine operations with HM
Corvettes PENTSTEMON and
MARIGOLD.
(For details of the unsatisfactory
defence of this convoy of which nine
merchant
ships were
sunk
see
BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D. Macintyre
and U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC
(HMSO).)
(Note: Serious weaknesses in the
defence were revealed and tactical
measures improved
as a
result
of
experiences during 1941.See CAPTAIN
GILBERT ROBERTS,
RN by M
Williams).
October
Atlantic convoy deployment in
continuation.
November
Took part in diversionary convoy
deployment in Mediterranean during the
8th Army
advance
from
El Alamein (Operation CHIEFTAIN –
Naval Cover for military Operation
CRUSADER).
December
14th
Joined escort for Convoy HG76 with HMS
AUDACITY, ships of 36th Escort Group,
seven
FLOWER Class Corvettes and three
destroyers from Gibraltar.
(Note: The Senior Officer of the
escort in HM Sloop STORK was Cdr. F.
J. Walker
who was
particularly renowned for his
successes in Anti-Submarine warfare –
See
RELENTLESS
PURSUIT by D E G Weymss. This convoy
had been selected for sustained
U-Boat
attacks
by German Naval Staff. See above
references and BUSINESS IN GREAT
WATERS by
J Terraine)..
18th
Convoy shadowed by U434 which was sunk
by HM Destroyers BLANKNEY and STANLEY.
21st
HM Escort Carrier AUDACITY sunk by
U741.
Sank U567 with HM Corvette SAMPHIRE in
position 44.02N 25.32W off Finisterre.
(See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.).
22nd
Sustained serious damaged in collision
with HMS STORK.
(Note: Two German prisoners rescued
from U574 by HMS STORK were killed.)
28th
On arrival in Liverpool taken in hand
for repair.
1
9 4 2
January
Under repair.
to
February
March
On completion of post refit trials
joined 36th Escort Group.
Deployed for escort of Freetown route convoys.
April
Atlantic convoy escort with Group in
continuation.
to
Nominated for convoy defence in
support of planned Allied landings in
Normandy
September
(Operation TORCH).
October
26th
Sailed from Clyde as part of escort
for military convoy KMF1 during
passage to Gibraltar
November
Deployed at Gibraltar and prepared for TORCH.
8th
Passage to Arzue, Oran as escort for
assault convoy. and led assault ships
to selected area
for disembarkation.
On release deployed for North African
coastal convoy defence in support of
military
operations.
December
7th
Redeployed for escort of coastal
convoys off
Algeria.
9th
Ran aground at Algiers and sustained
major structural damage
1
9 4 3
January
Passage
to
UK in Convoy MKS8.
February
Taken in hand for repair and refit at
Liverpool.
March
Under refit
to
August
September
Carried out post refit trials and
prepared for work-up.
October
Worked-up at Tobermory for operational
service.
Nominated for convoy defence in
Mediterranean with 37th Escort Group.
November
Joined escort for Gibraltar convoy
during passage to Mediterranean.
11th
Arrived at Gibraltar and took passage
to Alexandria.
December
Deployed in Eastern Mediterranean for
convoy defence.
1
9 4 4
January
Eastern Mediterranean deployment in
continuation.
to
February
March
30th
Joined escort for Convoy UGS 36
including 37 merchantmen and 18 LST's
on passage
from USA to Eastern Mediterranean.
Deployed to reinforce ships of US Task
Force 64 with HM Cruiser
COLOMBO,
HM Sloops
BLACK
SWAN,
AMETHYST and HM Corvette CAMPION.
31st
Under attack by U-Boats.
April
Mediterranean convoy defence in
continuation based at Alexandria.
to
July
August
Transferred to Taranto in continuation
of convoy escort duty.
September
Central Mediterranean convoy defence
in continuation.
to
Nominated far transfer to UK for
deployment in defence of coastal
convoys.
November
December
Passage to
UK.
1
9 4 5
January
Under refit.
February
Deployed at Portsmouth for convoy
escort in SW Approaches and English
Channel.
March
Channel convoy defence in
continuation.
16th
Escorted HM Coastal Minelayer PLOVER
during minelay of A/S defensive field
D1 in
English Channel (Operation
BUTTERMILK).
(For details of all minelaying
operations see the Naval Staff History
(MINING).)
April
Channel coastal convoy escort In
continuation.
May
Nominated for reduction to Reserve
after VE-Day.
June
Paid off and reduced to Reserve status
at Cardiff.
July
Laid up at Milford Haven.
P
o s t W a r N
o t e s
HMS
DEPTFORD
remained laid-up in Reserve at Milford
Haven until being placed on the
Disposal List in 1948. Sold to BISCO
on 8th March
1948 for breaking-up by T
W Ward the ship arrived at
the Breaker’s yard locally on
11th May
that year.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
DEPTFORD
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
28/09/39
|
03/10/39
|
GREEN
3
|
07/10/39
|
07/10/39
|
03/12/39
|
03/12/39
|
OB
045
|
unknown
|
05/12/39
|
05/12/39
|
05/12/39
|
OG
009
|
05/12/39
|
11/12/39
|
11/12/39
|
11/12/39
|
OB
051
|
unknown
|
14/12/39
|
22/12/39
|
22/12/39
|
OB
058
|
25/12/39
|
26/12/39
|
01/01/40
|
01/01/40
|
OB
064
|
04/01/40
|
05/01/40
|
27/12/39
|
05/01/40
|
HXF
014
|
08/01/40
|
08/01/40
|
11/01/40
|
11/01/40
|
OB
070
|
14/01/40
|
14/01/40
|
14/01/40
|
14/01/40
|
OG
014
|
14/01/40
|
19/01/40
|
20/01/40
|
20/01/40
|
OB
076
|
23/01/40
|
23/01/40
|
08/01/40
|
26/01/40
|
SL
016
|
27/01/40
|
27/01/40
|
02/02/40
|
02/02/40
|
OB
084
|
03/02/40
|
05/02/40
|
28/01/40
|
06/02/40
|
HXF
018
|
08/02/40
|
08/02/40
|
19/02/40
|
19/02/40
|
OG
019F
|
25/02/40
|
25/02/40
|
25/02/40
|
25/02/40
|
HG
020
|
06/03/40
|
06/03/40
|
10/04/40
|
16/04/40
|
HG
026F
|
19/04/40
|
19/04/40
|
21/04/40
|
28/04/40
|
HG
027
|
01/05/40
|
unknown
|
06/05/40
|
06/05/40
|
OB
143
|
09/05/40
|
09/05/40
|
09/05/40
|
09/05/40
|
OG
029F
|
14/05/40
|
14/05/40
|
15/05/40
|
15/05/40
|
HG
030
|
22/05/40
|
25/05/40
|
09/05/40
|
23/05/40
|
SL
031
|
26/05/40
|
26/05/40
|
30/05/40
|
30/05/40
|
OB
158
|
02/06/40
|
02/06/40
|
02/06/40
|
02/06/40
|
OG
032F
|
unknown
|
07/06/40
|
05/06/40
|
05/06/40
|
HG
033F
|
14/06/40
|
14/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
OG
034F
|
22/06/40
|
24/06/40
|
21/06/40
|
22/06/40
|
HG
035
|
01/07/40
|
01/07/40
|
05/07/40
|
05/07/40
|
OB
179
|
08/07/40
|
09/07/40
|
25/06/40
|
09/07/40
|
SL
037
|
12/07/40
|
12/07/40
|
17/07/40
|
17/07/40
|
OA
186
|
21/07/40
|
21/07/40
|
11/07/40
|
23/07/40
|
HX
057
|
26/07/40
|
26/07/40
|
03/08/40
|
03/08/40
|
OA
193
|
07/08/40
|
07/08/40
|
27/07/40
|
08/08/40
|
HX
061
|
11/08/40
|
11/08/40
|
13/08/40
|
13/08/40
|
OA
198
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
26/08/40
|
26/08/40
|
OB
204
|
unknown
|
29/08/40
|
10/09/40
|
10/09/40
|
SC
004
|
26/09/40
|
26/09/40
|
05/10/40
|
05/10/40
|
OB
224
|
12/10/40
|
12/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
SC
009
|
09/11/40
|
09/11/40
|
18/11/40
|
19/11/40
|
OG
046
|
05/12/40
|
05/12/40
|
09/12/40
|
10/12/40
|
HG
048
|
23/12/40
|
23/12/40
|
01/01/41
|
02/01/41
|
OB
268
|
04/01/41
|
04/01/41
|
23/12/40
|
07/01/41
|
SC
017
|
08/01/41
|
08/01/41
|
19/01/41
|
19/01/41
|
OG
050
|
31/01/41
|
31/01/41
|
06/02/41
|
06/02/41
|
HG
053
|
24/02/41
|
24/02/41
|
12/04/41
|
12/04/41
|
OB
309
|
16/04/41
|
19/04/41
|
26/04/41
|
26/04/41
|
OG
060
|
10/05/41
|
10/05/41
|
14/05/41
|
14/05/41
|
HG
062
|
02/06/41
|
02/06/41
|
14/06/41
|
14/06/41
|
OG
065
|
28/06/41
|
28/06/41
|
08/07/41
|
08/07/41
|
HG
067
|
24/07/41
|
24/07/41
|
30/07/41
|
31/07/41
|
OG
070
|
10/08/41
|
12/08/41
|
09/08/41
|
11/08/41
|
HG
070
|
unknown
|
23/08/41
|
18/08/41
|
18/08/41
|
HG
071
|
01/09/41
|
02/09/41
|
02/09/41
|
10/09/41
|
HG
072
|
15/09/41
|
17/09/41
|
12/09/41
|
12/09/41
|
OG
074
|
26/09/41
|
26/09/41
|
02/10/41
|
02/10/41
|
HG
074
|
18/10/41
|
18/10/41
|
28/10/41
|
28/10/41
|
OG
076
|
11/11/41
|
11/11/41
|
25/11/41
|
unknown
|
OG
077
|
13/12/41
|
13/12/41
|
14/12/41
|
14/12/41
|
HG
076
|
22/12/41
|
30/12/41
|
13/03/42
|
14/03/42
|
OS
022
|
01/04/42
|
01/04/42
|
03/04/42
|
03/04/42
|
SL
105
|
21/04/42
|
22/04/42
|
02/05/42
|
03/05/42
|
OS
027
|
19/05/42
|
19/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
13/05/42
|
LS
005
|
20/05/42
|
20/05/42
|
24/05/42
|
24/05/42
|
SL
111
|
16/06/42
|
16/06/42
|
21/07/42
|
21/07/42
|
HG
086
|
01/08/42
|
01/08/42
|
11/08/42
|
11/08/42
|
OG
088
|
24/08/42
|
24/08/42
|
29/08/42
|
29/08/42
|
HG
088
|
07/09/42
|
09/09/42
|
19/09/42
|
22/09/42
|
ON
132
|
24/09/42
|
08/10/42
|
12/09/42
|
25/09/42
|
SC
100
|
25/09/42
|
28/09/42
|
19/09/42
|
01/10/42
|
SC
102
|
03/10/42
|
06/10/42
|
22/10/42
|
22/10/42
|
KMS
001G
|
07/11/42
|
07/11/42
|
21/11/42
|
22/11/42
|
MKS
002
|
24/11/42
|
03/12/42
|
26/11/42
|
26/11/42
|
TE
006
|
30/11/42
|
27/11/42
|
06/12/42
|
06/12/42
|
MKS
003Y
|
07/12/42
|
23/12/42
|
17/02/43
|
19/02/43
|
MKS
008
|
01/03/43
|
01/03/43
|
27/10/43
|
28/10/43
|
OS
057KM
|
07/11/43
|
09/11/43
|
01/12/43
|
02/12/43
|
MKS
033
|
13/12/43
|
13/12/43
|
05/12/43
|
21/12/43
|
UGS
026
|
31/12/43
|
30/12/43
|
05/01/44
|
05/01/44
|
GUS
027
|
16/01/44
|
04/02/44
|
05/01/44
|
21/01/44
|
UGS
029
|
30/01/44
|
31/01/44
|
09/02/44
|
10/02/44
|
MKS
040
|
21/02/44
|
21/02/44
|
25/02/44
|
25/02/44
|
KMS
042
|
06/03/44
|
06/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
15/03/44
|
GUS
034
|
26/03/44
|
14/04/44
|
14/03/44
|
30/03/44
|
UGS
036
|
09/04/44
|
09/04/44
|
19/04/44
|
20/04/44
|
MKS
047
|
01/05/44
|
01/05/44
|
01/05/44
|
01/05/44
|
MKS
047G
|
03/05/44
|
03/05/44
|
06/05/44
|
06/05/44
|
KMS
049
|
16/05/44
|
16/05/44
|
24/05/44
|
24/05/44
|
GUS
041
|
01/06/44
|
19/06/44
|
13/05/44
|
02/06/44
|
UGS
042
|
07/06/44
|
09/06/44
|
28/05/44
|
03/06/44
|
KMS
051
|
08/06/44
|
09/06/44
|
18/06/44
|
19/06/44
|
MKS
053
|
29/06/44
|
29/06/44
|
04/07/44
|
04/07/44
|
KMS
055
|
14/07/44
|
14/07/44
|
24/07/44
|
25/07/44
|
GUS
047
|
31/07/44
|
18/08/44
|
14/07/44
|
02/08/44
|
UGS
048
|
07/08/44
|
08/08/44
|
17/08/44
|
18/08/44
|
MKS
059
|
28/08/44
|
28/08/44
|
04/09/44
|
04/09/44
|
KMS
061
|
14/09/44
|
14/09/44
|
06/02/45
|
06/02/45
|
TBC
061
|
09/02/45
|
09/02/45
|
25/02/45
|
25/02/45
|
BTC
080
|
28/02/45
|
28/02/45
|
25/02/45
|
25/02/45
|
TBC
080
|
28/02/45
|
28/02/45
|
26/02/45
|
26/02/45
|
BTC
081
|
28/02/45
|
01/03/45
|
27/02/45
|
27/02/45
|
TBC
082
|
02/03/45
|
02/03/45
|
27/02/45
|
01/03/45
|
BTC
082
|
02/03/45
|
02/03/45
|
01/03/45
|
01/03/45
|
TBC
084
|
04/03/45
|
04/03/45
|
16/03/45
|
16/03/45
|
WVL
105
|
17/03/45
|
17/03/45
|
20/03/45
|
20/03/45
|
WVL
109
|
21/03/45
|
21/03/45
|
28/03/45
|
28/03/45
|
WVC
107
|
29/03/45
|
28/03/45
|
05/05/45
|
05/05/45
|
WVC
143
|
06/05/45
|
06/05/45
|
09/05/45
|
09/05/45
|
BTC
153
|
12/05/45
|
12/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)