HASTINGS-Class
Sloop
ordered from HM Dockyard Devonport under
the 1929 Programme on 4th April
1929 with HM Sloop PENZANCE. She was
laid down on 29th July 1929 and launched
by the Hon. Alice Brand on 10th April
1930 as the 6th RN ship to carry the
name,
introduced in 1695 for a 5th Rate. It
was previously used for a 3rd Rate built
in 1819 and sold in 1886. Her build was
completed on 26th November 1930 and she
served in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea
areas until 1937 when she returned to
Home waters. The ship then deployed with
the Fishery Protection Squadron until
WW2. Unusually this sloop was fitted for
minelaying
in August 1937 .During a later refit in
1939, which included the fitting of
anti-submarine detection equipment
(ASDIC), the minelaying
equipment was removed. She was
adopted by the civil
community of the Municipal Borough of
Hastings in East Sussex after a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings
campaign in March 1942.
B a t
t l e
H o n o u r s
SYRIA
1840 - BURMA
1852 - BALTIC 1855 - ATLANTIC
1940-43 - BISCAY
1943
H e r
a l d i
c D a
t a
Badge:
On a Field party per pale Red and Blue,
a Lion passant Gold
M
o t t o
Qui
vincit
regnant: 'Who conquers
rules'
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
Under refit at Devonport
3rd
Nominated
for service with Rosyth Escort Force on
completion of refit.
October
Deployed
at Rosyth for convoy defence in North
Sea.
to
December
1
9 4 0
January
North
Sea deployment in continuation.
11th
Sustained
damage in collision with HM Trawler
BRADMAN.
February
Resumed North Sea convoy escort duty on
completion.
March
East coast convoy defence in
continuation.
to
(Note: This ship was not deployed in
operations off Norway.
November
Pennant
Number for visual signalling purposes
changed to U27 (May).
December
1st
Sustained
damage in collision with ss LIMESLADE.
1
9 4 1
January
Resumed North Sea duties after repair.
February
North Sea convoy defence in
continuation.
to
June
July
Transferred to Western Approaches
Command for escort of UK/Freetown
convoys.
(Note: Two 20mm Oerlikon guns fitted to
improve close range defence.)
August
Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.
to
(Note: Type 286M Modified Ex RAF radar
fitted.. See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse).
September
October
Deployed
with 43rd Escort Group at Londonderry
for Atlantic convoy defence
(Note: Other ships in Group were HM
Sloops HASTINGS, LEITH, SANDWICH and
HM Destroyer NEWPORT.)
November
Deployment with Group in continuation.
December
Transferred to 44th Escort Group in
continuation of Freetown route duties.
1
9 4 2
January
Atlantic convoy escort in continuation.
Nominated for transfer to 40th Escort
Group.
February
Passage to join Group in West African
Command for local escort of Atlantic and
coastal convoys based at Freetown.
(Note: Other ships in Group included m
Sloops LONDONDERRY, BIDEFORD and
ship HM Cutter LULWORTH
Surface warning Radar Type 271 fitted
for detection of surfaced U-Boats and
for convoy station keeping. See RADAR AT
SEA).
March
Freetown area convoy defence in
continuation.
to
June
July
Part of escort of Convoy SL115 to UK
with 42nd Escort Group.
August
Freetown area convoy defence in
continuation.
(Note: HEDGEHOG Anti-submarine Mortar
fitted during this period.
See SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann).
1
9 4 3
January
Freetown area convoy defence in
continuation.
February
Transferred to 40th Escort Group for
convoy defence in North Atlantic.
March
Deployed with HM Sloop ABERDEEN. HM
Cutters LULWORTH, LANDGUARD,
HM Frigates WAVENEY and MOYOLA in North
Atlantic.
14th
Part of escort for Convoy HX229A during
passage from St Johns, Newfoundland to
UK.
Under heavy and sustained attacks by
DRANGER and RAUBGRAF Groups of U-Boats
(See THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC by D
Macintyre, U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC HMSO and HITLER'S U-BOAT WAR by
C Blair.)
(Note: .This was a most crucial series
of attacks and the extent of losses of
mercantiles in
convoy placed the whole system of convoy
escort under intense examination.
See SEEK and STRIKE by W Hackmann and
BUSINESS IN GREAT WATERS
by J Terraine.)
April
Deployed in support role with ships of
Group to supplement the escort of Convoy
ONS3
which was under threat of U-Boat
attacks.
18th
Because of earlier attacks made on other
convoys and the support available from
other
ships already deployed for this purpose
no serious attack was made by the
assembled U-Boat
Groups.
28th
Deployed with Group in support of escort
for Convoy SC128 which was under attack
by
SPECH and AMSEL U-Boat Groups.
(For details of the defence of this
convoy see above references.)
May
Atlantic deployment with Group in
continuation.
to
(Note: By this time HF D/F radio
direction finding outfits and improved
centimetric radar
July
equipment had been fitted in many North
Atlantic escorts for detection of
aircraft and
surfaced submarines See SEEK AND STRIKE
and RADAR AT SEA).
August
Took part in operations in Bay of Biscay
and off Cape Finisterre with aircraft of
RAF Coastal
Command to deny use of coastal waters by
U- Boats during their passage to and
from bases in
France
(Operations DERANGE and PERCUSSION – See
THE BATTLE OVER THE BAY by N
Franks)
(Note: Under threat of Glider Bomb
attacks which sank HM Sloop EGRET and
badly damaged
HM Canadian Destroyer ATHABASKAN.).
September
Deployed with 37th Escort Group as
escort for Convoy KMS27 in SW
Approaches.
October
Joined 39th Escort Group for Atlantic
convoy defence.
(Note: Other ships in Group included HM
Sloops Frigate TAVY, HM Corvettes
AZALEA,
BALSAM and MIGNONETTE.)
Deployed as part of escort for military
Convoy MKS28 with ships of Group.
November
Future deployment under consideration
due to age and poor record of
operational availability.
19th
Withdrawn from operational service and
Paid off in Belfast.
December
Prepared for reduction to Reserve
status.
1
9 4 4
January
At Belfast awaiting transfer.
February
Passage to Hartlepool to lay-up in
Reserve.
March
Laid-up at Hartlepool.
April
Nominated for service with 3rd
.Submarine Flotilla after refit
May
Taken in hand for refit to suit
deployment as submarine target ship.
June
Under refit.
to
Re-commissioned for service.
August
September
Joined 3rd Submarine Squadron in Holy
Loch.
October
Deployed
as target and escort in Clyde area
during training exercises
1
9 4 5
January
Deployment for submarine training in
Clyde area in continuation.
to
August
P
o s t W a
r N o t e s
HMS
HASTINGS remained in commission after VJ
Day and continued duties in Clyde area
with the 3rd Submarine Flotilla until
February 1946. The ship again Paid off
on 16th February and was placed on the
Disposal List. Sold to BISCO
for demolition by West of Scotland Shipbreakers
in April that year the ship arrived at
the
breaker’s yard at Troon
on 10th April 1946.
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS
HASTINGS
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
03/11/39
|
03/11/39
|
FS
0031
|
05/11/39
|
05/11/39
|
09/11/39
|
09/11/39
|
FS
0034
|
11/11/39
|
11/11/39
|
19/11/39
|
19/11/39
|
FS
0039
|
21/11/39
|
21/11/39
|
11/12/39
|
11/12/39
|
FS
0053
|
12/12/39
|
12/12/39
|
30/12/39
|
30/12/39
|
FS
0061
|
31/12/39
|
31/12/39
|
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
|
16/02/40
|
17/02/40
|
19/02/40
|
19/02/40
|
FS
0100
|
21/02/40
|
21/02/40
|
27/02/40
|
27/02/40
|
FS
0107
|
29/02/40
|
29/02/40
|
11/03/40
|
11/03/40
|
FS
0119
|
13/03/40
|
13/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
18/03/40
|
MT
033
|
19/03/40
|
19/03/40
|
19/03/40
|
19/03/40
|
FS
0124
|
21/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
21/03/40
|
TM
031
|
22/03/40
|
22/03/40
|
23/02/40
|
23/03/40
|
FN
0102
|
25/02/40
|
25/02/40
|
24/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
FS
0128
|
26/03/40
|
26/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
MT
037
|
24/03/40
|
24/03/40
|
29/03/40
|
29/03/40
|
TM
035
|
30/03/40
|
30/04/40
|
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
|
11/04/40
|
11/04/40
|
FS
0143
|
13/04/40
|
13/04/40
|
18/04/40
|
18/04/40
|
FS
0149
|
20/04/40
|
20/04/40
|
18/04/40
|
18/04/40
|
MT
054
|
18/04/40
|
18/04/40
|
29/04/40
|
29/04/40
|
MT
061
|
30/04/40
|
30/04/40
|
07/05/40
|
07/05/40
|
FS
0165
|
09/05/40
|
09/05/40
|
07/05/40
|
07/05/40
|
MT
065
|
07/05/40
|
07/05/40
|
15/05/40
|
15/05/40
|
FS
0171
|
17/05/40
|
17/05/40
|
22/05/40
|
22/05/40
|
FS
0177
|
24/05/40
|
24/05/40
|
22/05/40
|
22/05/40
|
MT
071
|
22/05/40
|
22/05/40
|
02/06/40
|
02/06/40
|
FS
0186
|
04/06/40
|
04/06/40
|
02/06/40
|
02/06/40
|
MT
080
|
02/06/40
|
02/06/40
|
05/06/40
|
05/06/40
|
FN
0189
|
07/06/40
|
07/06/40
|
10/06/40
|
10/06/40
|
MT
086
|
11/06/40
|
11/06/40
|
11/06/40
|
11/06/40
|
FS
0192
|
12/06/40
|
12/06/40
|
14/06/40
|
14/06/40
|
FN
0195B
|
16/06/40
|
16/06/40
|
18/06/40
|
18/06/40
|
MT
090
|
19/06/40
|
18/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
19/06/40
|
FS
0199
|
21/06/40
|
21/06/40
|
22/06/40
|
22/06/40
|
FN
0202
|
24/06/40
|
24/06/40
|
30/06/40
|
30/06/40
|
MT
099
|
01/07/40
|
01/07/40
|
01/07/40
|
01/07/40
|
FS
0209
|
02/07/40
|
02/07/40
|
04/07/40
|
04/07/40
|
FN
0212
|
05/07/40
|
06/07/40
|
08/07/40
|
08/07/40
|
FS
0216
|
09/07/40
|
09/07/40
|
11/07/40
|
11/07/40
|
FN
0219
|
13/07/40
|
13/07/40
|
14/07/40
|
14/07/40
|
OA
184
|
19/07/40
|
unknown
|
15/07/40
|
15/07/40
|
FS
0222
|
16/07/40
|
16/07/40
|
18/07/40
|
18/07/40
|
FN
0225
|
20/07/40
|
20/07/40
|
07/07/40
|
19/07/40
|
HX
056
|
20/07/40
|
22/07/40
|
26/07/40
|
unknown
|
OA
190
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
26/07/40
|
26/07/40
|
FS
0233
|
28/07/40
|
28/07/40
|
05/08/40
|
05/08/40
|
OA
194
|
unknown
|
unknown
|
05/08/40
|
05/08/40
|
FS
0243
|
07/08/40
|
07/08/40
|
08/08/40
|
08/08/40
|
FN
0246
|
10/08/40
|
10/08/40
|
12/08/40
|
12/08/40
|
FS
0250
|
14/08/40
|
14/08/40
|
26/08/40
|
26/08/40
|
FN
0263
|
28/08/40
|
28/08/40
|
04/10/40
|
04/10/40
|
OA
224
|
06/10/40
|
unknown
|
27/09/40
|
09/10/40
|
SC
006
|
14/10/40
|
12/10/40
|
18/10/40
|
18/10/40
|
OA
231
|
23/10/40
|
23/10/40
|
12/10/40
|
23/10/40
|
HX
080
|
27/10/40
|
27/10/40
|
29/12/40
|
29/12/40
|
FS
0374
|
01/01/41
|
01/01/41
|
11/01/41
|
11/01/41
|
EN
055/1
|
14/01/41
|
14/01/41
|
17/01/41
|
17/01/41
|
EN
058/1
|
20/01/41
|
20/01/41
|
27/02/41
|
27/02/41
|
EN
078/1
|
02/03/41
|
02/03/41
|
06/03/41
|
06/03/41
|
EN
082/1
|
10/03/41
|
10/03/41
|
29/07/41
|
29/07/41
|
OG
070
|
30/07/41
|
12/08/41
|
15/09/41
|
15/09/41
|
BB
076
|
17/09/41
|
17/09/41
|
30/09/41
|
30/09/41
|
BB
082
|
01/10/41
|
01/10/41
|
10/10/41
|
10/10/41
|
BB
086
|
12/10/41
|
12/10/41
|
17/10/41
|
17/10/41
|
BB
090
|
19/10/41
|
19/10/41
|
23/10/41
|
23/10/41
|
BB
093
|
25/10/41
|
25/10/41
|
02/11/41
|
02/11/41
|
BB
096
|
04/11/41
|
04/11/41
|
13/12/41
|
15/12/41
|
OS
014
|
01/01/42
|
03/01/42
|
04/01/42
|
06/01/42
|
SL
097
|
24/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
11/01/42
|
17/01/42
|
SL
097G
|
24/01/42
|
24/01/42
|
11/02/42
|
11/02/42
|
BB
136
|
12/02/42
|
12/02/42
|
22/02/42
|
23/02/42
|
OS
020
|
10/03/42
|
12/03/42
|
14/03/42
|
16/03/42
|
SL
103
|
31/03/42
|
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
|
11/06/42
|
11/06/42
|
OS
031
|
28/06/42
|
30/06/42
|
21/05/42
|
22/06/42
|
HG
083
|
02/06/42
|
07/06/42
|
05/07/42
|
05/07/42
|
SL
115
|
25/07/42
|
26/07/42
|
10/08/42
|
11/08/42
|
OS
037
|
27/08/42
|
29/08/42
|
03/09/42
|
03/09/42
|
SL
121
|
21/09/42
|
21/09/42
|
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
|
19/03/43
|
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
|
09/07/43
|
11/07/43
|
ON
192
|
15/07/43
|
22/07/43
|
08/07/43
|
15/07/43
|
SC
136
|
19/07/43
|
23/07/43
|
15/08/40
|
15/08/43
|
FN
0253
|
17/08/43
|
17/08/40
|
14/08/43
|
22/08/43
|
MKS
021G
|
26/08/43
|
25/08/43
|
17/09/43
|
17/09/43
|
OS
055KM
|
25/09/43
|
28/09/43
|
28/09/43
|
02/10/43
|
OS
055
|
08/10/43
|
08/10/43
|
13/10/43
|
13/10/43
|
SL
138
|
24/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
24/10/43
|
SL
138MK
|
05/11/43
|
05/11/43
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)