SHOREHAM-Class
Sloop ordered under the 1929
Programme from HM Dockyard Devonport on
4th December 1929. The ship was laid
down on 24th March 1930 and was launched
by Mrs Treffery
on 4th
November 1930 and was the 8th RN
ship to carry the name, introduced in
1696 for a 5th Rate. The
last ship to be given this name was a
WW1 minesweeper originally named FORRES
but renamed FOWEY in 1918 and in service
until 1935. Build was completed on 11th
September 1931 and she was manned by
Devonport Port Port
Division. This Sloop served in the
Persian
Gulf until August 1939 when she
went to Bombay for repair. In 1939 she
was manned by the Portsmouth Port
Division. Following a successful WARSHIP
WEEK National Savings campaign during
March 1942 she was adopted by the civil
community of Wincanton, Somerset.
B
a t t l
e H o n o u r s
QUEBEC
1759
- MARTINIQUE 1762 -
HAVANA 1762 -
YORKTOWN 1781 -
ATLANTIC 1939-45
H e
r a l d i
c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field
Blue, a
ship Gold with White sails bearing a
cross
Red over wavelets Silver and Green.
M
o t t o
Tien
te foy :
'Hold thy
loyalty'
De
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
Under repair at Bombay.
9th
On completion of repair in Bombay
transferred to Mediterranean.
October
Deployed on contraband control and
patrol in
Mediterranean.
Transferred to Freetown for Atlantic
convoy defence
November
Passage to Freetown for convoy escort in
Atlantic.
December
2nd
Deployed with escort for Convoy SL11 to
UK.
18th
Detached from SL 11 and took passage to
Southampton
On arrival taken in hand for refit at
commercial shipyard.
1
9 4 0
January
Nominated for service in Western
Approaches Command for Atlantic convoy
defence.
On completion deployed for Atlantic
convoy escort based at Plymouth,
30th
Took part in sinking of U55 in position
48.37N, 07.46W with HM Destroyer
WHITSHED and
RAF aircraft from 228 Squadron.
(See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.)
(Note: This submarine was operating
independently)
February.
Western Approaches deployment in
continuation.
March
14th
Deployed with HM Sloop BIDEFORD and HM
Destroyer WRESTLER for escort of
outward Convoy OG22F during initial
passage to Gibraltar in SW Approaches
19th
Detached from OG22F.
April
5th
Deployed with HM Sloop BIDEFORD and HM
Destroyer WATCHMAN as escort for
inward Convoy HG25 during passage from
Gibraltar to Liverpool in
SW Approaches.
15th
Detached from HG25 on arrival at
Liverpool and took passage to Plymouth.
26th
Deployed with HM Sloops DEPTFORD,
FOLKESTONE and HM Destroyer VIVACIOUS
as escort for outward convoy OG27 during
passage in SW Approaches.
27th
Detached from OG27 and took passage to
Plymouth.
May
Taken in hand for refit by HM Dockyard
Devonport for refit
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to U15.
June
Post refit trials on completion of
dockyard work.
July
Rejoined Western Approaches Command at
Liverpool for Atlantic convoy defence.
Deployed in Atlantic for convoy defence.
August
Western Approaches convoy defence in
continuation.
to
September
October
16th
Deployed with HM Corvette BLUEBELL to
join HM Sloop SCARBOROUGH the sole
escort
for Convoy SC7
under sustained U-Boat attacks.
18th
Escort increased by arrival of HM Sloop
LEITH and HM Corvette HEARTSEASE.
(Note: 17 of the 35 ships in SC7 were
lost.
The escorts had no
common defence doctrine which
contributed to the success of
the attacks.
See BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D
MacIntyre and BUSINESS IN GREAT
WATERS by John Terraine).
November
Transferred to Rosyth Escort Force.
Passage to Rosyth.
December
Deployed for convoy defence in North Sea and NW Approaches.
(Note: Modified RAF radar outfit fitted
(Type 286M) by this date.
For details of development and use of
radar in RN see RADAR AT SEA by D
Howse.)
1
9 4 1
January
Deployment for convoy defence in North Sea and NW Approaches in continuation.
to
Transferred to Atlantic convoy defence
based in
Clyde.
May
June
Western Approaches for Atlantic convoy
defence.
Nominated for refit and took passage to
Belfast.
July
Under refit at Belfast.
(Note Radar Type 286M replaced by Type
286P).
Two 20mm Oerlikon guns fitted for Close
Range defence.)
August
Resumed Atlantic convoy defence duties.
September
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
October
Joined HM Sloop ROCHESTER AND HM
Corvettes BLUEBELL, CAMPANULA,
CARNATION, MALLOW, HELIOTROPE, STONECROP
and French LA MALOUINE
in 37th Escort Group in continuation of
Atlantic convoy defence duties.
November
Deployed with Group for Atlantic convoy
escort
to
December
1
9 4 2
January
Group deployment in continuation.
to
(For details of convoy defence tactics
and weapons see THE BATTLE OF THE
ATLANTIC
February
by D MacIntyre and SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann).
March
Under refit at Liverpool.
to
April
May
Post refit trials.
June
Rejoined Group for Atlantic convoy
defence.
July
Resumed deployment with Group for
Atlantic convoy defence.
to
(For details
of U-Boat operations see U-BOAT WAR IN
THE ATLANTIC (HMSO),
September
BUSINESS
IN GREAT
WATERS by J TERRAINE and CONVOY ESCORT
COMMANDER
by W Gretton).
October
Under refit at Liverpool.
(Note: Radar Type 271 surface warning
radar fitted. See RADAR AT SEA.)
November
Resumed duty with Group in North
Atlantic.
to
December
1
9 4 3
January
Taken in hand for major refit at Milford
Haven.
to
(Note: HEDGEHOG Anti-Submarine Mortar
Outfit fitted (See SEEK AND STRIKE).
April
Four additional 20mm guns fitted and 0.5
inch machine guns landed.
This further refit reflects the age of
this ship.)
May
Post refit trials including new Mortar
outfit.
June
Rejoined Group in Atlantic for convoy
defence.
July
Atlantic convoy escort duty with Group
in continuation.
to
Nominated for service in Mediterranean.
December
1
9 4 4
January
Passage to Mediterranean for convoy
defence duty.
Deployed in Mediterranean.
February
Under repair at Alexandria.
to
Nominated for return to UK.
March
April
Passage to UK for further repair.
Taken in hand for repair at Milford
Haven.
May
Under repair at Milford Haven.
to
Resumed convoy defence in Atlantic.
August
September
Joined B23 Escort Group for Atlantic
convoy defence.
Deployed in NW
Approaches
October
Convoy defence in Home waters with
Group.
to
December
1
9 4 5
January
Convoy defence in Home waters.
to
April
May
After VE Day withdrawn from operational
use and deployed at Stranraer for duty
as Guardship.
June
Guardship at Stranraer and Lame.
to
(Note: During this period surrendered
German U-Boats were collected in Loch
Ryan prior to
August
destruction (Operation DEADLJGHT).
P
o s
t W a r N o t e
s
HMS
FOWEY remained as Guardship until
December 1946 when
she returned to Portsmouth. Early in
1946 this Sloop was selected for
transfer to Egypt and started refit in May
that year. .However this was
cancelled and placed on the Disposal List.
Sold to Wheelock Marsden
& Co Ltd for use as a mercantile in
October 1946. Under her new name, ss
ROWLOCK, she was used commercially
until 1950 when sold
for breaking up at Mombasa.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
FOWEY
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
30/09/39
|
30/09/39
|
BLUE
003
|
11/10/39
|
11/10/39
|
02/12/39
|
02/12/39
|
SL
011
|
18/12/39
|
18/12/39
|
27/01/40
|
27/01/40
|
OA
080G
|
30/01/40
|
31/01/40
|
10/02/40
|
10/02/40
|
OA
089
|
12/02/40
|
13/02/40
|
23/02/40
|
24/02/40
|
OA
097
|
26/02/40
|
26/02/40
|
16/02/40
|
29/02/40
|
HX
020
|
04/03/40
|
04/03/40
|
05/03/40
|
05/03/40
|
OA
104
|
07/03/40
|
unknown
|
11/03/40
|
11/03/40
|
OA
108GF
|
14/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
14/03/40
|
14/03/40
|
OG
022F
|
19/03/40
|
19/03/40
|
05/04/40
|
05/04/40
|
HG
025
|
15/04/40
|
15/04/40
|
20/04/40
|
20/04/40
|
OB
133
|
22/04/40
|
22/04/40
|
26/04/40
|
26/04/40
|
OG
027
|
27/04/40
|
01/05/40
|
21/04/40
|
28/04/40
|
HG
027
|
01/05/40
|
unknown
|
02/06/40
|
14/06/40
|
HX
047
|
17/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
17/06/40
|
OA
169
|
20/06/40
|
unknown
|
09/06/40
|
20/06/40
|
HX
049
|
23/06/40
|
24/06/40
|
27/06/40
|
28/06/40
|
OG
035
|
01/07/40
|
01/07/40
|
24/06/40
|
28/06/40
|
HGZ
|
01/07/40
|
04/07/40
|
15/06/40
|
01/07/40
|
SL
036
|
03/07/40
|
03/07/40
|
12/07/40
|
12/07/40
|
OA
183
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
01/07/40
|
17/07/40
|
SL
038
|
20/07/40
|
20/07/40
|
26/07/40
|
26/07/40
|
OA
190
|
30/07/40
|
unknown
|
19/07/40
|
31/07/40
|
HX
059
|
03/08/40
|
03/08/40
|
07/08/40
|
07/08/40
|
OA
195
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
21/08/40
|
21/08/40
|
OA
202
|
25/08/40
|
unknown
|
11/08/40
|
26/08/40
|
SL
043
|
31/08/40
|
31/08/40
|
04/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
OA
209
|
08/09/40
|
unknown
|
28/08/40
|
09/09/40
|
HX
069
|
12/09/40
|
12/09/40
|
19/09/40
|
19/09/40
|
OA
217
|
24/09/40
|
22/09/40
|
20/09/40
|
20/09/40
|
OG
043
|
24/09/40
|
03/10/40
|
13/09/40
|
25/09/40
|
HX
073
|
26/09/40
|
28/09/40
|
10/09/40
|
26/09/40
|
SL
047
|
28/09/40
|
28/09/40
|
12/10/40
|
12/10/40
|
OA
228
|
16/10/40
|
unknown
|
05/10/40
|
18/10/40
|
SC
007
|
20/10/40
|
21/10/40
|
24/12/40
|
24/12/40
|
FS
0369
|
26/12/40
|
26/12/40
|
07/01/41
|
07/01/41
|
EN
053/1
|
10/01/41
|
10/01/41
|
13/01/41
|
13/01/41
|
EN
056/1
|
17/01/41
|
17/01/41
|
04/02/41
|
04/02/41
|
EN
067/1
|
08/02/41
|
08/02/41
|
11/02/41
|
11/02/41
|
EN
070/1
|
14/02/41
|
14/02/41
|
23/02/41
|
23/02/41
|
EN
076/1
|
26/02/41
|
26/02/41
|
01/03/41
|
01/03/41
|
EN
079/1
|
05/03/41
|
05/03/41
|
11/03/41
|
11/03/41
|
EN
084/1
|
14/03/41
|
14/03/41
|
18/03/41
|
18/03/41
|
EN
087/1
|
22/03/41
|
22/03/41
|
19/03/41
|
19/03/41
|
EN
088/1
|
22/03/41
|
22/03/41
|
23/03/41
|
23/03/41
|
EN
090/1
|
27/03/41
|
27/03/41
|
29/03/41
|
29/03/41
|
EN
093/1
|
01/04/41
|
01/04/41
|
29/08/41
|
29/08/41
|
OG
073
|
13/09/41
|
13/09/41
|
17/09/41
|
17/09/41
|
HG
073
|
30/09/41
|
01/10/41
|
13/10/41
|
14/10/41
|
OS
009
|
01/11/41
|
05/11/41
|
24/10/41
|
24/10/41
|
OS
009G
|
01/11/41
|
01/11/41
|
01/11/41
|
01/11/41
|
SL
091G
|
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
091GF
|
18/11/41
|
18/11/41
|
25/11/41
|
25/11/41
|
OG
077
|
13/12/41
|
13/12/41
|
14/12/41
|
14/12/41
|
HG
076
|
16/12/41
|
30/12/41
|
31/12/41
|
31/12/41
|
HG
077
|
12/01/42
|
12/01/42
|
26/01/42
|
27/01/42
|
OG
079
|
07/02/42
|
07/02/42
|
22/02/42
|
22/02/42
|
HG
079
|
06/03/42
|
06/03/42
|
22/05/42
|
22/05/42
|
OS
029
|
30/05/42
|
11/06/42
|
13/05/42
|
30/05/42
|
SL
110
|
04/06/42
|
04/06/42
|
13/06/42
|
14/06/42
|
OG
085
|
25/06/42
|
25/06/42
|
20/07/42
|
20/07/42
|
OG
087
|
03/08/42
|
03/08/42
|
07/08/42
|
08/08/42
|
HG
087
|
17/08/42
|
18/08/42
|
31/08/42
|
01/09/42
|
OG
089
|
14/09/42
|
14/09/42
|
19/09/42
|
19/09/42
|
HG
089
|
30/09/42
|
30/09/42
|
08/11/42
|
08/11/42
|
KMS
003G
|
22/11/42
|
26/11/42
|
21/11/42
|
24/11/42
|
MKS
002
|
03/12/42
|
03/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
KMS
006G
|
05/01/43
|
09/01/43
|
05/01/43
|
11/01/43
|
MKS
005
|
20/01/43
|
22/01/43
|
21/05/43
|
21/05/43
|
OS
048KM
|
29/05/43
|
29/05/43
|
29/05/43
|
29/05/43
|
OS
048
|
07/06/43
|
07/06/43
|
13/06/43
|
13/06/43
|
SL
131
|
24/06/43
|
24/06/43
|
24/06/43
|
24/06/43
|
SL
131MK
|
04/07/43
|
04/07/43
|
19/07/43
|
20/07/43
|
OS
052KM
|
28/07/43
|
28/07/43
|
28/07/43
|
28/07/43
|
OS
052
|
07/08/43
|
07/08/43
|
14/08/43
|
14/08/43
|
SL
135
|
26/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
SL
135MK
|
06/09/43
|
06/09/43
|
17/09/43
|
20/09/43
|
OS
055KM
|
28/09/43
|
28/09/43
|
28/09/43
|
28/09/43
|
OS
055
|
08/10/43
|
08/10/43
|
02/11/43
|
02/11/43
|
SL
139
|
16/11/43
|
14/11/43
|
14/11/43
|
03/12/43
|
UGS
024
|
06/12/43
|
12/12/43
|
01/12/43
|
09/12/43
|
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
|
25/03/44
|
25/03/44
|
GUS
035
|
06/04/44
|
22/04/44
|
10/04/44
|
10/04/44
|
MKS
045G
|
11/04/44
|
11/04/44
|
11/04/44
|
11/04/44
|
SL
154MK
|
19/04/44
|
23/04/44
|
15/10/44
|
15/10/44
|
OS
092KM
|
25/10/44
|
25/10/44
|
25/10/44
|
25/10/44
|
KMS
066G
|
26/10/44
|
26/10/44
|
29/10/44
|
29/10/44
|
MKS
065G
|
30/10/44
|
30/10/44
|
30/10/44
|
30/10/44
|
SL
174MK
|
07/11/44
|
07/11/44
|
13/11/44
|
13/11/44
|
OS
095KM
|
22/11/44
|
22/11/44
|
25/11/44
|
25/11/44
|
MKS
068G
|
26/11/44
|
26/11/44
|
26/11/44
|
26/11/44
|
SL
177MK
|
05/12/44
|
05/12/44
|
18/12/44
|
18/12/44
|
OS
099KM
|
24/12/44
|
21/12/44
|
31/12/44
|
31/12/44
|
MKS
074G
|
10/01/45
|
10/01/45
|
22/01/45
|
23/01/45
|
OS
106KM
|
25/01/45
|
25/01/45
|
21/01/45
|
25/01/45
|
MKS
078G
|
29/01/45
|
29/01/45
|
02/02/45
|
02/02/45
|
OS
108KM
|
04/02/45
|
05/02/45
|
05/02/45
|
05/02/45
|
KMS
082G
|
09/02/45
|
09/02/45
|
14/02/45
|
14/02/45
|
MKS
083G
|
22/02/45
|
22/02/45
|
03/03/45
|
04/03/45
|
OS
114KM
|
06/03/45
|
07/03/45
|
01/03/45
|
06/03/45
|
MKS
086G
|
07/03/45
|
09/03/45
|
10/03/45
|
10/03/45
|
KMS
089G
|
16/03/45
|
16/03/45
|
21/03/45
|
21/03/45
|
MKS
090G
|
28/03/45
|
28/03/45
|
01/04/45
|
02/04/45
|
OS
120KM
|
05/04/45
|
07/04/45
|
01/04/45
|
05/04/45
|
MKS
092G
|
08/04/45
|
08/04/45
|
17/04/45
|
17/04/45
|
OS
123KM
|
19/04/45
|
23/04/45
|
15/04/45
|
21/04/45
|
MKS
095G
|
23/04/45
|
23/04/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)