GRIMSBY-Class
Sloop ordered under the 1934 Programme
from HM Dockyard Devonport on 1st
March 1935 with HM Sloop ABERDEEN. The
ship was laid down on 14th August
1935 and was launched on 24th
March 1936
by Lady Plunkett Ernle-Ernle-Drax.
This name was used by a Royalist Ship,
captured in 1653 and renamed HMS
WEXFORD. The last ship to use the name
was a
WW1 minesweeper which was renamed HMS
FORD in 1918. Build was completed on
19th
November 1936 and manned by the
Portsmouth manning depot. This Sloop
was
selected as trials ship for the new
dual-purpose 4in mounting to be used
for
future builds of this type of
escort. On
completion of trials in November 1937
she refitted before being deployed for
foreign service in the Red Sea. The
ship returned to UK after the outbreak
of
WW2 so that her improved AA armament
could be used for convoy defence in
Home
Waters. Following a successful
WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign
during March 1942 she was
adopted by the civil community of
Wells, Somerset.
B
a t t le H o n o
u r s
NORWAY
1940 - ATLANTIC 1940-44 - NORTH
AFRICA 1942-43 -MEDITERRANEAN 1944 -
ENGLISH CHANNEL 1945
H e
r a l d i c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Blue a martlet Gold.
M
o t t o
'
Onward'
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
Deployed in Red Sea based at Aden.
3rd
Passage to Port Said for contraband
control duties in Mediterranean.
October
Mediterranean deployment in
continuation.
Recalled to Hone waters for convoy
defence and took passage to Portland.
11th
Arrived at Portland and transferred
for convoy escort duty in North Sea.
November
Under refit in Dundee.
December
21st
On completion resumed escort of East
Coast convoys between Methil and
Southend.
1
9 4 0
January
North Sea convoy defence duties in
continuation.
to
March
April
21st
Transferred to Home Fleet for AA
defence duties in Norwegian waters
with units deployed
in support of allied military
operations. To be deployed as AA
Guardship at Namsos and
Andalsnes. Passage with HM Sloop
PELICAN.
22nd
Detached from HMS PELICAN and took
passage to Andalsnes. Rejoined damaged
HMS
PELICAN and established tow. (Note:
HMS PELICAN was hit aft by a bomb
whilst on
passage to Namsos
and stern
structure demolished.)
23rd
Towed damaged Sloop HMS PELICAN to
Lerwick.
28th
Return passage to Andalsnes for AA
Guardship duties in place of HMS
BLACK SWAN.
29th
Under aitr attacks at Andalsnes.
30th
Relieved as Guardship by HM Sloop
AUCKLAND,
Embarked 340 personnel for evacuation
and took passage to UK
May
1st
Passengers disembarked on arrival.
Replenished ammunition.
2nd
Passage to resume AA Guardship duties.
11th
Deployed with HM Cruisers
ENTERPRISE,
CAIRO, HM Destroyer
HESPERUS and
ss MARGOT taking Scots Guards and
equipment
to Mo, south of Narvik. Heavy
expenditure of ammunition,
12th
Under air attacks during
disembarkation lasting several hours.
(Note: Air cover was provided during
passage but none was available during
period at Mo.)
25th
Deployed with HM Destroyers AMAZON and
VOLUNTEER as escort for damaged HM
Destroyer ESKIMO during passage in tow
to UK.
June
Norwegian coast and North Sea
deployment in continuation.
1st
Passage to UK after evacuation from
Harstad.
July
East coast convoy defence in
continuation
to
Deployed as escort for Convoys MT26
and FS38 in North Sea (August).
December
1
9 4 1
January
Nominated for convoy defence duty in
Western Approaches.
Passage to Londonderry.
February
Deployed for Atlantic convoy defence
based at
Londonderry..
to
March
April
Joined 1st AA Division of Western
Approaches Command for AA defence of
convoys in
NW and SW Approaches.
May
Atlantic convoy escort in
continuation.
June
Transferred to Newfoundland Escort
Force for convoy escort in the eastern
Canadian
seaboard area.
Took passage to Newfoundland
and joined Escort Force.
July
Deployment with Newfoundland Escort
Force in continuation.
August
Passage to
UK for refit.
Taken in hand for refit in commercial
shipyard at Middlesbrough.
(Note: Three 20mm Oerlikon guns fitted
for Close Range defence against
aircraft.
Modified RAF radar (Type 286M) fitted.
See RADAR AT SEA By D Howse for
details of development and use of
radar in
the Royal Navy.)
September
On completion joined Sloop Division of
Western Approaches Command for escort
of
Atlantic convoys between UK and
Freetown.
October
Freetown route convoy defence in
continuation.
November
Sloop Division re-designated 44th
Escort Group.
Remained with new Group in
continuation.
December
Freetown route convoy defence in
continuation.
1
9 4 2
January
Deployment for Atlantic convoy defence
with Group in continuation.
to
(For details of U- Boat deployments
see U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMS0).
May
June
2nd
Damaged in collision with tanker OIL
RELIANCE during escort of Convoy OS30.
Passage to Liverpool for repair and
refit.
Taken in hand for refit.
(Note: Type 286M radar replaced by
Type 286P.
Three additional 20mm Oerlikon weapons
fitted.
H/F DF outfit fitted. See SEEK
AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)
July
Under refit and carried out harbour
trials on completion of shipyard work.
August
Post refit harbour and sea trials.
September
Rejoined Group for escort of Freetown route convoys.
October
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
Nominated for escort of military
convoys
to and from
Gibraltar.
(Note: Radar Type 271 for surface
warning fitted.
See RADAR AT SEA.)
November
Escorted build-up convoys for North
African military operations after
landings.
(Operation TORCH - See above
references and BRITISH INVASION FLEETS
by
J de Winser for information about all
mercantiles and warships involved.)
December
Transferred to Western Mediterranean
for service with 43rd Escort Group
based at
Gibraltar for convoy defence.
1
9 4 3
January
Mediterranean convoy defence in
continuation.
to
February
March
Passage to
UK for service
at Londonderry with 39th Escort Group
for convoy defence
of convoys to and from Freetown
April
Deployed in Atlantic for convoy
defence with Group including Convoy
OS44.
For details of this crucial period see
THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D
Macintyre).
May
Deployed with escort for Convoy OS47
11th
Sank U 528 in position 46.55N, 14.44W
(Bay of Biscay) with 58 Squadron RAF
during
defence of Convoy OS47.
June
Atlantic convoy defence in
continuation.
July
Under refit in commercial shipyard at
Dundee.
(Note: Radar Type 291 and H/F DF
fitted.
HEDGEHOG Anti submarine Mortar fitted.
See SEEK AND STRIKE by
W Hackmann).
August
On completion of post refit trials
worked-up at Tobermory.
September
Rejoined Group after working-up.
26th
Escorted HM Auxiliary Minelayers
MENESTHEUS, AGAMEMNON and
PORT QUEBEC
of 1st
Minelaying
Squadron with HM Destroyers HARDY,
ROCKET and SALADIN
during minelay in
Northern
Barrage.
(Operation SN222C - See Naval Staff
History (MINING).)
October
Transferred to 41st Escort Group and
escorted convoy to Gibraltar.
On arrival deployed on A/S patrol in
Gibraltar area.
November
1st
Sank U340 in
position 35.49N 05.14 W (East of
Ceuta inside
Mediterranean)
with
Destroyers WITHERINGTON and ACTIVE and
aircraft of 179 Squadron RAF).
Captured survivors who had been
rescued by Spanish trawler.
For details see U-BOATS DESTROYED by P
Kemp.
17th
Sustained serious structural damage in
collision with US Navy PC473 and later
by
striking jetty on berthing in
Gibraltar.
Taken in hand for repair by HM
Dockyard
Gibraltar.
December
Under repair by HM Dockyard, Gibraltar.
1
9 4 4
January
Under repair.
to
March
April
On completion of post refit trials
deployed with 41st Escort Group for
defence
of convoys
in Mediterranean during passage to
Port Said.
May
Mediterranean convoy defence in
continuation.
to
August
September
Under repair in Haifa.
October
Transferred to 50th Escort Group at Alexandria
for convoy escort and patrol in
eastern
Mediterranean.
November
Eastern Mediterranean deployment in
continuation.
Nominated for return to UK.
December
Passage to
UK
(Note: Anti-submarine defences in Home
waters were being supplemented due to
increase
in SCHNORKEL fitted submarine attacks
on convoys in Western Approaches and
English Channel. See HOLD THE NARROW
SEA by Peter C Smith).
1
9 4 5
January
Deployed for convoy escort in SW
Approaches and English Channel at
Portsmouth.
February
Channel deployment in continuation.
20th
Escorted HM Coastal Minelayer PLOVER
during lay of defensive A/S minefield
A2 in
English Channel (Operation BUTTERMILK
– See above reference.).
March
29th
Escorted Netherlands minelayer VAN
DAMM during continuation of A2
minefield lay
(Operation BUTTERMILK).
April
6th
Escorted HMS PLOVER for lay of Deep
A/S minefield V2 in SW Approaches.
(Operation ARTIZAN – See above
reference)
May
Deployed at Portsmouth for local
duties.
to
Paid-off at and reduced to Reserve
status
July
Laid-up at Portsmouth
August
Nominated for reduction to Reserve at
Hartlepool.
4th
Arrived at Hartlepool and laid-up in Reserve.
P
o s
t W a r N o t
e s
HMS
FLEETWOOD was brought forward from
Reserve in February
1946 for use as the Radar Training
Ship attached to HMS DRYAD at
Portsmouth.
After conversion for her new role
commenced training duties .Amongst her
earliest tasks was to carry out
demonstration of first British
commercially
produced radar set for use in merchant
ships. She continued use as a training
ship until 1959 when placed on the
Disposal List. After sale to BISCO for
demolition by C W Dorkin she arrived
in tow at the breaker’s yard in
Gateshead
on 10th October that year.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
FLEETWOOD
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
20/09/39
|
20/09/39
|
BLUE
002
|
30/09/39
|
30/09/39
|
30/10/39
|
30/10/39
|
FS
0029
|
01/11/39
|
01/11/39
|
05/11/39
|
05/11/39
|
FS
0032
|
07/11/39
|
07/11/39
|
23/12/39
|
23/12/39
|
FS
0058
|
24/12/39
|
24/12/39
|
26/12/39
|
26/12/39
|
FN
0059
|
28/12/39
|
28/12/39
|
11/01/40
|
11/01/40
|
FS
0069
|
12/01/40
|
12/01/40
|
15/01/40
|
15/01/40
|
FN
0072
|
18/01/40
|
18/01/40
|
18/01/40
|
18/01/40
|
FS
0076
|
20/01/40
|
20/01/40
|
21/01/40
|
21/01/40
|
FN
0077
|
23/01/40
|
23/01/40
|
24/01/40
|
24/01/40
|
FS
0080
|
26/01/40
|
26/01/40
|
27/01/40
|
27/01/40
|
FN
0081
|
28/01/40
|
28/01/40
|
29/01/40
|
29/01/40
|
FS
0083A
|
31/01/40
|
31/01/40
|
08/02/40
|
08/02/40
|
FN
0089
|
11/02/40
|
11/02/40
|
12/02/40
|
12/02/40
|
FS
0094
|
14/02/40
|
14/02/40
|
12/02/40
|
12/02/40
|
MT
009
|
12/02/40
|
12/02/40
|
15/02/40
|
15/02/40
|
FN
0095
|
17/02/40
|
17/02/40
|
19/02/40
|
19/02/40
|
FS
0100
|
21/02/40
|
21/02/40
|
06/03/40
|
06/03/40
|
FS
0114
|
08/03/40
|
08/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
FS
0120
|
15/03/40
|
15/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
MT
029
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
FS
0126
|
23/03/40
|
23/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
MT
035
|
21/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
FN
0128
|
26/03/40
|
26/03/40
|
04/04/40
|
04/04/40
|
FS
0138
|
06/04/40
|
06/04/40
|
07/04/40
|
07/04/40
|
FN
0140
|
09/04/40
|
09/04/40
|
09/04/40
|
09/04/40
|
FS
0141
|
11/04/40
|
11/04/40
|
09/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
FS
0191
|
11/06/40
|
11/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
MT
085
|
09/06/40
|
09/06/40
|
16/06/40
|
16/06/40
|
MT
089
|
17/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
FS
0197
|
19/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
20/06/40
|
20/06/40
|
FN
0200
|
22/06/40
|
22/06/40
|
23/06/40
|
23/06/40
|
FS
0203
|
26/06/40
|
26/06/40
|
23/06/40
|
23/06/40
|
MT
094
|
25/06/40
|
25/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
FN
0206
|
29/06/40
|
29/06/40
|
05/07/40
|
05/07/40
|
FS
0215
|
07/07/40
|
07/07/40
|
09/07/40
|
09/07/40
|
FN
0218
|
11/07/40
|
11/07/40
|
12/07/40
|
12/07/40
|
FS
0221
|
14/07/40
|
14/07/40
|
16/07/40
|
16/07/40
|
FN
0224
|
17/07/40
|
18/07/40
|
19/07/40
|
19/07/40
|
FS
0226
|
21/07/40
|
21/07/40
|
22/07/40
|
22/07/40
|
FN
0229
|
24/07/40
|
24/07/40
|
31/07/40
|
31/07/40
|
FS
0238
|
02/08/40
|
02/08/40
|
03/08/40
|
03/08/40
|
FN
0241
|
05/08/40
|
05/08/40
|
07/08/40
|
07/08/40
|
FS
0245
|
09/08/40
|
09/08/40
|
10/08/40
|
10/08/40
|
FN
0248
|
12/08/40
|
12/08/40
|
13/08/40
|
13/08/40
|
FS
0251
|
15/08/40
|
15/08/40
|
14/08/40
|
14/08/40
|
FS
0252
|
16/08/40
|
16/08/40
|
28/08/40
|
28/08/40
|
FN
0265
|
30/08/40
|
30/08/40
|
01/09/40
|
01/09/40
|
FS
0269
|
03/09/40
|
03/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
FN
0272
|
06/09/40
|
06/09/40
|
12/09/40
|
12/09/40
|
OA
213
|
16/09/40
|
unknown
|
05/09/40
|
16/09/40
|
HX
071
|
20/09/40
|
20/09/40
|
30/09/40
|
30/09/40
|
OA
222
|
05/10/40
|
03/10/40
|
19/09/40
|
05/10/40
|
SL
048
|
10/10/40
|
09/10/40
|
16/10/40
|
16/10/40
|
OA
230
|
20/10/40
|
20/10/40
|
09/10/40
|
20/10/40
|
HG
045
|
27/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
05/01/41
|
05/01/41
|
EN
052/1
|
07/01/41
|
07/01/41
|
15/01/41
|
15/01/41
|
FS
0388
|
17/01/41
|
17/01/41
|
23/01/41
|
23/01/41
|
FS
0395
|
26/01/41
|
26/01/41
|
28/01/41
|
28/01/41
|
FN
0394
|
30/01/41
|
30/01/41
|
03/02/41
|
04/02/41
|
OB
282
|
07/02/41
|
08/02/41
|
20/01/41
|
09/02/41
|
SL
063
|
09/02/41
|
09/02/41
|
13/02/41
|
13/02/41
|
OB
286
|
17/02/41
|
17/02/41
|
30/01/41
|
17/02/41
|
SL
064
|
20/02/41
|
22/02/41
|
26/02/41
|
27/02/41
|
OB
291
|
03/03/41
|
03/03/41
|
10/02/41
|
04/03/41
|
SL
065
|
08/03/41
|
08/03/41
|
23/03/41
|
23/03/41
|
OB
301
|
27/03/41
|
27/03/41
|
15/03/41
|
27/03/41
|
HG
056
|
02/04/41
|
02/04/41
|
06/04/41
|
06/04/41
|
OG
058
|
12/04/41
|
21/04/41
|
22/04/41
|
23/04/41
|
OB
313
|
27/04/41
|
28/04/41
|
05/05/41
|
07/05/41
|
OG
061
|
09/05/41
|
19/05/41
|
17/04/41
|
10/05/41
|
SL
072
|
13/05/41
|
13/05/41
|
18/05/41
|
19/05/41
|
OB
324
|
24/05/41
|
27/05/41
|
09/05/41
|
24/05/41
|
SC
031
|
29/05/41
|
30/05/41
|
16/06/41
|
16/06/41
|
OB
335
|
24/06/41
|
02/07/41
|
16/06/41
|
27/06/41
|
HX
133
|
27/06/41
|
03/07/41
|
27/06/41
|
03/07/41
|
OB
340
|
13/07/41
|
13/07/41
|
16/07/41
|
19/07/41
|
HX
139
|
30/07/41
|
31/07/41
|
03/10/41
|
03/10/41
|
OS
008
|
25/10/41
|
26/10/41
|
27/10/41
|
28/10/41
|
SL
091
|
08/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
08/11/41
|
SL
091G1
|
12/11/41
|
12/11/41
|
12/11/41
|
12/11/41
|
SL
091GS
|
19/11/41
|
19/11/41
|
13/12/41
|
15/12/41
|
OS
014
|
01/01/42
|
03/01/42
|
04/01/42
|
07/01/42
|
SL
097
|
14/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
11/01/42
|
17/01/42
|
SL
097G
|
24/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
11/02/42
|
12/02/42
|
OS
019
|
01/03/42
|
03/03/42
|
04/03/42
|
07/03/42
|
SL
102
|
26/03/42
|
26/03/42
|
02/04/42
|
03/04/42
|
OS
024
|
22/04/42
|
22/04/42
|
26/04/42
|
26/04/42
|
SL
108
|
19/05/42
|
19/05/42
|
01/06/42
|
02/06/42
|
OS
030
|
04/06/42
|
19/06/42
|
29/09/42
|
29/09/42
|
OS
042
|
09/10/42
|
09/10/42
|
01/11/42
|
01/11/42
|
KMF
002
|
12/11/42
|
12/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
15/11/42
|
MKF
002
|
18/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
08/11/42
|
22/11/42
|
KMS
003G
|
26/11/42
|
26/11/42
|
01/12/42
|
01/12/42
|
ET
003
|
04/12/42
|
04/12/42
|
26/11/42
|
07/12/42
|
KMS
004G
|
13/12/42
|
13/12/42
|
05/12/42
|
14/12/42
|
ET
005
|
16/12/42
|
16/12/42
|
11/12/42
|
23/12/42
|
KMS
005G
|
unknown
|
27/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
ET
007
|
31/12/42
|
31/12/42
|
07/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
KMS
007G
|
23/01/43
|
21/01/43
|
23/01/43
|
24/01/43
|
ET
009X
|
27/01/43
|
27/01/43
|
07/02/43
|
07/02/43
|
MKS
007
|
17/02/43
|
17/02/43
|
06/03/43
|
07/03/43
|
OS
044
|
24/03/43
|
24/03/43
|
31/03/43
|
31/03/43
|
SL
127
|
24/04/43
|
15/04/43
|
05/05/43
|
06/05/43
|
OS
047KM
|
15/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
16/05/43
|
19/05/43
|
OS
047
|
25/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
30/05/43
|
SL
130
|
11/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
11/06/43
|
SL
130MK
|
18/06/43
|
21/06/43
|
07/10/43
|
07/10/43
|
OS
056KM
|
18/10/43
|
18/10/43
|
18/10/43
|
18/10/43
|
KMS
029G
|
20/10/43
|
20/10/43
|
27/03/44
|
27/03/44
|
KMS
045
|
06/04/44
|
06/04/44
|
09/04/44
|
10/04/44
|
MKS
046
|
21/04/44
|
21/04/44
|
25/04/44
|
26/04/44
|
KMS
048
|
04/05/44
|
05/05/44
|
14/05/44
|
14/05/44
|
GUS
040
|
22/05/44
|
09/06/44
|
03/05/44
|
25/05/44
|
UGS
041
|
30/05/44
|
30/05/44
|
08/06/44
|
09/06/44
|
MKS
052
|
20/06/44
|
20/06/44
|
23/06/44
|
23/06/44
|
KMS
054
|
02/07/44
|
03/07/44
|
14/07/44
|
15/07/44
|
GUS
046
|
20/07/44
|
08/08/44
|
04/07/44
|
23/07/44
|
UGS
047
|
29/07/44
|
29/07/44
|
07/08/44
|
07/08/44
|
MKS
058
|
17/08/44
|
17/08/44
|
23/08/44
|
23/08/44
|
KMS
060
|
02/09/44
|
02/09/44
|
16/10/44
|
16/10/44
|
MKS
065
|
28/10/44
|
28/10/44
|
02/11/44
|
06/11/44
|
KMS
067
|
12/11/44
|
12/11/44
|
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
|
20/03/45
|
20/03/45
|
WVL
109
|
21/03/45
|
21/03/45
|
03/04/45
|
03/04/45
|
WVC
113
|
04/04/45
|
04/04/45
|
12/04/45
|
12/04/45
|
BTC
126
|
15/04/45
|
15/04/45
|
12/04/45
|
12/04/45
|
TBC
126
|
15/04/45
|
15/04/45
|
30/04/45
|
30/04/45
|
WVC
138
|
01/05/45
|
01/05/45
|
01/05/45
|
01/05/45
|
BTC
145
|
04/05/45
|
04/05/45
|
01/05/45
|
01/05/45
|
VWC
143
|
02/05/45
|
02/05/45
|
02/05/45
|
02/05/45
|
TBC
146
|
05/05/45
|
05/05/45
|
03/05/45
|
05/05/45
|
BTC
147
|
06/05/45
|
06/05/45
|
13/05/45
|
13/05/45
|
VWL
170
|
14/05/45
|
14/05/45
|
15/05/45
|
15/05/45
|
BTC
159
|
18/05/45
|
18/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)