GRIMSBY-Class
Sloop ordered from HM Dockyard
Devonport
on 1st May 1933 under the 1932
Programme and laid down on 25th
September 1933.
The ship was launched by Lady
Fullerton on 29th toy 1934 as the 6th
RN ship to
carry the name which was first used
for a Prize (ORESTE) taken in 1810.
Build
was completed on 24 January 1935 and
she sailed for New Zealand Station the
next month. She remained in the
Pacific area until the outbreak of war
in 1939.
This sloop was named after the capital
city of New Zealand, unlike her sister
ships which carried the names of UK
seaside towns. In March 1942 following
a
successful WARSHIP WEEK National
Savings campaign this ship was adopted
by the
civil community of Wellington,
Somerset.
B
a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC
1939-45
H e r
a l d i c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field White, a Dolphin Blue and
Gold over a Mural Crown Gold.
M
o t t o
Suprema ut olim: 'Supreme as ever'
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
3rd
Transferred from New Zealand Division
for deployment at Singapore.
19th
On arrival deployed for interception of
German shipping in Malacca Straits.
October
Patrol duties based at Penang in
continuation.
Nominated for return to UK.
November
Took passage via Red Sea.
December
9th
On arrival at Gibraltar to collect
convoy at Freetown.
Passage to Freetown.
Deployed as escort for inward Convoy
SL13 during passage to Liverpool
(Note: For details of dates of all
convoy passages see ALLIED CONVOY SYSTEM
IN
WW2 by A Hague.)
1
9 4 0
January
Nominated for refit on arrival in UK.
9th
Taken in hand for refit at Cardiff to
prepare for service in Western
Approaches
February
On completion of post refit trials
deployed with1st Escort Division based
at Plymouth
for escort of UK - Gibraltar route
convoys in Channel and SW Approaches.
March
Local Escort of Atlantic convoys in
continuation
to
April
May
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed to U65
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
June
10th
Detached to assist with evacuation from
Le Havre (Operation CYCLE).
Transferred to Liverpool after use of
English Channel for Atlantic convoys
was
discontinued.
July
Resumed convoy defence duties on
completion of CYCLE.
to
(For details of convoy defence and enemy
tactics see THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC
September
by D Macintyre and U-BOAT WAR IN THE
ATLANTIC (HMSO).)
October
Escorted outward Convoy CG44 with HM
Armed Merchant Cruiser PRETORIA CASTLE.
Threat of attack by German destroyers
covered by deployment of destroyers of
5th
Flotilla in SW Approaches.
(See HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith)
November
Damaged in collision with ss SARASTONE
during
escort of Convoy HX43.
Under repair in commercial shipyard at
Liverpool.
December
On completion resumed Atlantic convoy
defence.
1
9 4 1
January
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
to
September
October
Transferred to 42nd Escort Group based
at Londonderry.
Deployed for escort of outward OS Series
to West Africa and inward return convoys
to
Liverpool.
Part of escort for return Convoy SL39
with ships of Group.
November
Deployed as part of escort for outward
Convoy OS12 with ships of Group.
December
Freetown route convoy defence in
continuation.
1
9 4 2
January
Freetown route convoy defence in
continuation,
to
Nominated for refit
February
March
Taken in hand for refit at commercial
shipyard in Belfast.
April
Under refit.
to
(Note: Surface warning radar Type 271
radar and HF D/F direction finding
outfit fitted for
June
of wireless signals
from U-Boats.
For details of development and use of
radar equipment in RN see RADAR AT SEA
by
D Howse and for convoy defence details
see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)
July
On completion of post refit trials
resumed Free route duties.
August
Convoy defence in continuation.
to
Nominated for defence of military
convoys to Gibraltar prior to allied
landings
October
in North Africa.
(Operation TORCH - For details see
ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by Corelli Barnett, Naval Staff History
and for information about all
mercantiles and warships
involved BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de
Winser.).
November
Detached for
escort of troop convoys.
December
Deployed for escort of KMF/MKF series
convoys in support of North African
operations.
1
9 4 3
January
Gibraltar route convoy defence in
continuation
to
(For details of improved weapons and
tactics see SEEK AND STRIKE).
March
April
Deployed for Atlantic convoy escort with
44th Escort Group.
16th
Joined joint military convoy KMF13 to
Gibraltar and WS29 to Freetown with HM
Destroyer
RAPID, VENOMOUS, LAUDERDALE, HM Sloop
WESTON, HM Cutters GORLESTON ,
TOTLAND,, HM Frigates EXE and NESS as
escort during passage in NW Approaches.
20th
Detached from joint convoy when it
divided into two sections for. onward
passages and
continued convoy defence
duties in NW Approaches.
(Note: HM Cruiser NEWCASTLE was deployed
as Ocean Escort.)
Return passage to Clyde
May
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.
19th
Joined HM Destroyers ACTIVE, CLEVELAND,
BOADICEA, Polish
destroyer ORP
SLAZAK,
HM
Sloops LOWESTOFT, WESTON, HM Frigates
EXE , NESS, HM Cutters GORLESTON and
TOTLAND as escort for joint military
convoy KMF15 to Gibraltar and Convoy
WS30 to
Freetown.
(Note: HM Cruiser SUFFOLK, HM Aircraft
Carrier UNICORN and HM Armed Merchant
Cruiser ASTURIAS were
deployed as Ocean Escort for this joint
convoy.)
25th
Detached from joint convoy when it
divided into two sections for onward
passage and
returned to Clyde.
June
Atlantic convoy defence in continuation
July
Transferred to Freetown for escort of
local convoys
August
Freetown local convoy defence in
continuation.
to
December
1
9 4 4
January
Freetown local convoy defence in
continuation.
to
March
April
Nominated for refit at Bermuda
May
Passage to Bermuda for refit.
June
Under refit in HM Dockyard, Bermuda.
to
July
August
Took passage to UK for completion of
refit work.
Refit work at Commercial shipyard in
Clyde
September
On completion of refit carried out post
refit trials.
Resumed operational service and took
passage to Freetown.
October
Joined 55th Escort Group at Freetown.
November
Deployed on escort of West African
coastal convoys.
to
December
1
9 4 5
January
Transferred with Group to Gibraltar for
escort of Gibraltar-UK route convoys.
February
Atlantic convoy defence based at
Gibraltar in continuation.
to
(Note: Atlantic convoys were re-routed
via English Channel.).
April
May
After VE Day nominated for reduction to
Reserve.
12th
Accepted surrender of U541 at Gibraltar.
Nominated for return to UK to Pay-off.
June
Passage to UK to pay off.
July
Paid off, de-stored and reduced to
Reserve status
August
Laid up at Milford Haven.
P o s t W a r
N o t e s
HMS WELLINGTON was placed on
the Disposal List after VJ Day and
sold to The Honourable Company of
Master Mariners for use as a floating
Livery Hall. After conversion
involving removal of machinery the
ship was
moored in London on the Thames
Embankment .
Addendum
CONVOY
ESCORT MOVEMENTS
of HMS WELLINGTON
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
|
|
|
|
|
|
18/12/39
|
18/12/39
|
SL
013
|
04/01/40
|
06/01/40
|
16/01/40
|
16/01/40
|
HG
015
|
25/01/40
|
25/01/40
|
07/02/40
|
08/02/40
|
OA
087
|
09/02/40
|
09/02/40
|
27/02/40
|
27/02/40
|
OG
020F
|
02/03/40
|
02/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
20/03/40
|
HG
023
|
30/03/40
|
30/03/40
|
01/04/40
|
02/04/40
|
OA
121
|
04/04/40
|
04/04/40
|
06/04/40
|
06/04/40
|
OG
025F
|
12/04/40
|
12/04/40
|
29/04/40
|
29/04/40
|
HG
028
|
06/05/40
|
09/05/40
|
19/05/40
|
19/05/40
|
OA
151
|
21/05/40
|
unknown
|
26/05/40
|
26/05/40
|
OB
155
|
28/05/40
|
29/05/40
|
29/05/40
|
29/05/40
|
OG
031
|
02/06/40
|
04/06/40
|
31/05/40
|
02/06/40
|
HG
032
|
10/06/40
|
unknown
|
21/06/40
|
21/06/40
|
OG
034
|
03/07/40
|
03/07/40
|
28/06/40
|
28/06/40
|
HG
036
|
07/07/40
|
08/07/40
|
17/07/40
|
17/07/40
|
OG
038
|
29/07/40
|
29/07/40
|
30/07/40
|
30/07/40
|
HG
040
|
14/08/40
|
14/08/40
|
19/08/40
|
19/08/40
|
OG
041
|
02/09/40
|
02/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
04/09/40
|
HG
043
|
18/09/40
|
18/09/40
|
27/09/40
|
27/09/40
|
OB
220
|
01/10/40
|
01/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
11/10/40
|
OG
044
|
24/10/40
|
24/10/40
|
31/10/40
|
31/10/40
|
HG
046
|
19/11/40
|
19/11/40
|
30/11/40
|
30/11/40
|
OB
252
|
04/12/40
|
04/12/40
|
22/11/40
|
05/12/40
|
SC
013
|
07/12/40
|
07/12/40
|
07/12/40
|
29/12/40
|
SL
058S
|
31/12/40
|
02/01/41
|
10/01/41
|
10/01/41
|
OB
272
|
14/01/41
|
14/01/41
|
02/01/41
|
15/01/41
|
SC
018
|
18/01/41
|
19/01/41
|
24/03/41
|
24/03/41
|
OB
302
|
unknown
|
30/03/41
|
17/03/41
|
29/03/41
|
HX
115
|
03/04/41
|
03/04/41
|
06/04/41
|
06/04/41
|
OG
058
|
21/04/41
|
21/04/41
|
24/04/41
|
24/04/41
|
HG
060
|
12/05/41
|
12/05/41
|
25/05/41
|
26/05/41
|
OG
063
|
07/06/41
|
07/06/41
|
14/06/41
|
14/06/41
|
HG
065
|
29/06/41
|
29/06/41
|
14/07/41
|
14/07/41
|
OB
346
|
01/08/41
|
01/08/41
|
05/08/41
|
08/08/41
|
SL
083
|
28/08/41
|
28/08/41
|
12/09/41
|
13/09/41
|
OS
006
|
29/09/41
|
03/10/41
|
05/10/41
|
08/10/41
|
SL
089
|
25/10/41
|
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
|
20/01/42
|
OS
017
|
07/02/42
|
07/02/42
|
09/02/42
|
11/02/42
|
SL
100
|
19/02/42
|
04/03/42
|
19/02/42
|
19/02/42
|
SL
100F
|
28/02/42
|
28/02/42
|
12/05/42
|
12/05/42
|
OS
028
|
30/05/42
|
30/05/42
|
04/06/42
|
04/06/42
|
SL
112
|
23/06/42
|
23/06/42
|
11/07/42
|
12/07/42
|
OS
034
|
30/07/42
|
30/07/42
|
04/08/42
|
04/08/42
|
SL
118
|
23/08/42
|
26/08/42
|
29/08/42
|
31/08/42
|
OS
039
|
16/09/42
|
18/09/42
|
02/10/42
|
10/10/42
|
XK
001
|
13/10/42
|
14/10/42
|
14/11/42
|
14/11/42
|
KMF
003
|
22/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
23/11/42
|
26/11/42
|
MKF
003
|
03/12/42
|
03/12/42
|
12/12/42
|
12/12/42
|
KMF
005
|
13/12/42
|
20/12/42
|
24/12/42
|
27/12/42
|
MKF
005
|
31/12/42
|
31/12/42
|
08/01/43
|
08/01/43
|
KMF
007
|
17/01/43
|
17/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
18/01/43
|
MKF
007
|
25/01/43
|
25/01/43
|
16/04/43
|
20/04/43
|
KMF
013
|
23/04/43
|
23/04/43
|
24/04/43
|
24/04/43
|
MKF
013
|
02/05/43
|
02/05/43
|
19/05/43
|
25/05/43
|
KMF
015
|
28/05/43
|
27/05/43
|
28/05/43
|
28/05/43
|
MKF
015
|
05/06/43
|
05/06/43
|
20/06/43
|
20/06/43
|
KMS
018A
|
29/06/43
|
29/06/43
|
07/08/43
|
07/08/43
|
OSS
052
|
14/08/43
|
12/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
27/08/43
|
TS
051
|
01/09/43
|
01/09/43
|
10/09/43
|
10/09/43
|
STL
001
|
15/09/43
|
15/09/43
|
19/09/43
|
19/09/43
|
LTS
002
|
24/09/43
|
24/09/43
|
27/09/43
|
27/09/43
|
STL
002
|
02/10/43
|
02/10/43
|
05/10/43
|
05/10/43
|
LTS
003
|
10/10/43
|
10/10/43
|
15/10/43
|
15/10/43
|
STL
003
|
22/10/43
|
20/10/43
|
03/11/43
|
03/11/43
|
LTS
004
|
10/11/43
|
10/11/43
|
13/11/43
|
13/11/43
|
STL
006
|
18/11/43
|
18/11/43
|
21/11/43
|
21/11/43
|
LTS
006
|
28/11/43
|
28/11/43
|
10/12/43
|
10/12/43
|
TS
054
|
16/12/43
|
16/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
20/12/43
|
STL
008
|
28/12/43
|
28/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
31/12/43
|
LTS
008
|
04/01/44
|
04/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
22/01/44
|
SL
147
|
25/01/44
|
02/02/44
|
02/02/44
|
02/02/44
|
ST
078
|
07/02/44
|
07/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
11/02/44
|
LTS
010
|
19/02/44
|
19/02/44
|
03/03/44
|
03/03/44
|
STL
013
|
10/03/44
|
07/03/44
|
12/03/44
|
12/03/44
|
LTS
013
|
20/03/44
|
20/03/44
|
28/03/44
|
28/03/44
|
STL
016
|
02/04/44
|
02/04/44
|
11/04/44
|
11/04/44
|
LTS
016
|
18/04/44
|
18/04/44
|
21/04/44
|
21/04/44
|
SL
156
|
03/05/44
|
03/05/44
|
04/09/44
|
04/09/44
|
OS
088KM
|
10/09/44
|
10/09/44
|
10/09/44
|
10/09/44
|
OS
088
|
20/09/44
|
20/09/44
|
24/09/44
|
24/09/44
|
STL
031
|
30/09/44
|
30/09/44
|
05/02/45
|
05/02/45
|
MKS
081G
|
07/02/45
|
13/02/45
|
05/02/45
|
07/02/45
|
KMS
082G
|
09/02/45
|
09/02/45
|
19/02/45
|
19/02/45
|
MKS
084G
|
21/02/45
|
27/02/45
|
21/02/45
|
22/02/45
|
KMS
085G
|
25/02/45
|
25/02/45
|
06/03/45
|
06/03/45
|
MKS
087G
|
09/03/45
|
14/03/45
|
07/03/45
|
09/03/45
|
KMS
088G
|
11/03/45
|
11/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
26/03/45
|
MKS
091G
|
28/03/45
|
03/04/45
|
29/03/45
|
29/03/45
|
KMS
092G
|
01/04/45
|
01/04/45
|
05/04/45
|
05/04/45
|
MKS
093G
|
08/04/45
|
14/04/45
|
07/04/45
|
08/04/45
|
KMS
094G
|
11/04/45
|
11/04/45
|
20/04/45
|
20/04/45
|
MKS
096G
|
23/04/45
|
28/04/45
|
05/05/45
|
05/05/45
|
MKS
099G
|
08/05/45
|
12/05/45
|
02/05/45
|
08/05/45
|
OS
126KM
|
08/05/45
|
08/05/45
|
|
|
|
|
|
(Note
on Convoys)