Allied Warships

IT Eritrea

Sloop of the Eritrea class

NavyThe Italian Navy
TypeSloop
ClassEritrea 
Pennant 
Built byCantieri di Castellamare di Stabia (Castellamare di Stabia, Italy) 
Ordered 
Laid down25 Jul 1935 
Launched20 Sep 1936 
Commissioned10 Feb 1937 
End service 
History

 

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Notable events involving Eritrea include:


8 Dec 1943
Around 0715FG/8, HMS Trespasser (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Favell, RN) departed from Trincomalee for Colombo to dock. This is to see if damage is done when Trespasser got stuck in fishing stacks on November 24th.

She was escorted by the Italian sloop Eritrea. (1)

14 Dec 1943
Around 0800FG/14, HMS Trespasser (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Favell, RN) departed from Colombo to return to Trincomalee.

But first A/S exercises were carried out with HMAS Lismore (T/Lt. L.C.G. Lever, RANR(S)). These were completed around 1310FG/14.

Around 1415FG/14, HMS Trespasser was joined by the Italian sloop Eritrea and course was set for Trincomalee. (1)

8 Jan 1944
Around 1730FG/8, HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) ended her 6th war patrol (3rd in the Far East) at Trincomalee. She was escorted in by the Italian sloop Eritrea which had joined around 1330FG/8. (2)

17 Jan 1944
HMS Taurus (Lt.Cdr. M.R.G. Wingfield, DSO, DSC, RN) and HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) carried out gunnery exercises off Trincomalee. Also attack exercises were carried out by both submarines during which Eritrea acted as target. (3)

18 Jan 1944
At 1130FG/18, HMS Tally-Ho (Lt.Cdr. L.W.A. Bennington, DSO, DSC, RN) ended her 6th war patrol at Trincomalee.

She was escorted in by the Italian sloop Eritrea which had joined at 0700FG/18. (4)

8 Feb 1944
HMS Sea Rover (Lt. J.P. Angell, RN) departed Colombo for Trincomalee. At sea she was joined by HMS Surf (Lt. D. Lambert, DSC, RN) which came from Aden. The submarines were escorted by the Italian sloop Eritrea. (5)

16 Feb 1944
Around 1645FG/16, HMS Taurus (Lt.Cdr. M.R.G. Wingfield, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) departed from Trincomalee for Colombo. They were escorted by the sloop Eritrea. (6)

18 Feb 1944
Around 0845FG/18, HMS Taurus (Lt.Cdr. M.R.G. Wingfield, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) and Eritrea arrived at Colombo from Trincomalee. Both submarines were then immediately docked together. (6)

22 Feb 1944
Around 1920FG/22, HMS Trespasser (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Favell, RN) ended her 9th war patrol (3rd in the Far East) at Trincomalee.

She was escorted in by Eritrea which had joined around 1715FG/22. (2)

26 Feb 1944
HMS Taurus (Lt.Cdr. M.R.G. Wingfield, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN) are undocked.

They then left Colombo for Trincomalee around 1400FG/26 together with HMS Stoic (Lt. P.B. Marriott, DSO, RN). They were escorted by the sloop Eritrea. (6)

28 Feb 1944
Around 1145FG/28, HMS Taurus (Lt.Cdr. M.R.G. Wingfield, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Templar (Lt. D.J. Beckley, DSO, RN), HMS Stoic (Lt. P.B. Marriott, DSO, RN) and Eritrea arrived at Trincomalee from Colombo. (6)

3 Mar 1944
HMS Stoic (Lt. P.B. Marriott, DSO, RN) departed Trincomalee for her 2nd war patrol (1st in the Far East). She was ordered to patrol in the Malacca Straits. She was escorted out by the Italian sloop Eritrea.

No logs are available for this period so no map can be displayed. (7)

12 Mar 1944
HMS Surf (Lt. D. Lambert, DSC, RN) ended her 5th war patrol (1st in the Far East) at Trincomalee. She was escorted in by the Italian sloop Eritrea. (8)

13 Mar 1944
HMS Sea Rover (Lt. J.P. Angell, RN) ended her 2nd war patrol (1st in the Far East) at Trincomalee. She was escorted in by the Italian sloop Eritrea. (9)

18 Mar 1944
HMS Storm (T/Lt. E.P. Young, DSC, RNVR) ended her 2nd war patrol (1st in the Far East) at Trincomalee. She was escorted in by the Italian sloop Eritrea. (10)

29 Mar 1944
Around 1600FG/29, HMS Trespasser (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Favell, RN) departed from Trincomalee bound for Colombo. This is the first leg of her trip home for refit.

She was escorted by the Italian sloop Eritrea. (11)

4 Apr 1944
HMS Surf (Lt. D. Lambert, DSC, RN) departed Trincomalee for her 6th war patrol (2nd in the Far East). She was ordered to patrol the Northern entrance to the Malacca Strait on an anti-submarine patrol.

Before proceeding on patrol A/S exercises were carried out with HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Cox, RNethN) and HMAS Nepal (Lt.Cdr. J. Plunkett-Cole, RAN).

HMS Surf was escorted out by the Italian sloop Eritrea. (12)

18 Apr 1944
HMS Templar (Lt. T.G. Ridgeway, RN) conducted excercises off Trincomalee. These included practice attacks on the Italian sloop Eritrea. (13)

19 Apr 1944
HMS Templar (Lt. T.G. Ridgeway, RN) conducted excercises off Trincomalee. These included practice attacks on the Italian sloop Eritrea. (13)

20 Apr 1944
HMS Surf (Lt. D. Lambert, DSC, RN) ended her 6th war patrol (2nd in the Far East) at Trincomalee. She was escorted in by the Italian sloop Eritrea. On returning to harbour noise trials were carried out. (12)

23 Apr 1944
Around 0945FG/23, HMS Tactician (Lt.Cdr. A.F. Collett, DSC, RN) ended her 11th war patrol (5th in the Far East) at Trincomalee.

She had met her escort, the Italian sloop Eritrea around 0520FG/23. (14)

5 May 1944
Around 1700FG/5, HMS Taurus (Lt.Cdr. M.R.G. Wingfield, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN) departed from Trincomalee for Aden.

She was escorted until shortly before 2200FG/5, by the sloop Eritrea. (15)

6 May 1944
HMS Storm (T/Lt. E.P. Young, DSC, RNVR) departed Trincomalee for her 4th war patrol (3rd in the Far East). She was ordered to patrol off the North coast of Sumatra and to conduct a special operation. She was escorted out by the Italian sloop Eritrea. (10)

6 May 1944
HMS Surf (Lt. D. Lambert, DSC, RN) departed Trincomalee for her 7th war patrol (3rd in the Far East). She was ordered to patrol the off the South-West coast of Siam and to lay a minefield off Tatutao Island. Before proceeding on patrol A/S exercises were carried out with HMAS Quickmatch (Lt.Cdr. O.H. Becher, DSC, RAN). She was escorted out by the Italian sloop Eritrea. (16)

8 May 1944
HMS Sea Rover (Lt. J.P. Angell, RN) conducted exercises off Trincomalee with the Italian sloop Eritrea. (17)

10 May 1944
Around 0845FG/10, HMS Tactician (Lt.Cdr. A.F. Collett, DSC, RN) departed from Trincomalee for her 12th war patrol (6th in the Far East). She was ordered to patrol in the northern entrance to the Malacca Straits and to lay a minefield.

She was escorted out until 1445FG/10 by the Italian sloop Eritrea on which also two practice attacks were made. (18)

12 May 1944
HMS Sea Rover (Lt. J.P. Angell, RN) departed Trincomalee for her 4th war patrol (3rd in the Far East). She was ordered to patrol off Penang. She was also to lay a minefield between the Sembilan islands and the coast of Malaya.

Before proceeding on patrol exercises were carried out with the Italian sloop Eritrea. On completion of these exercises Eritrea then escorted Sea Rover out until 1830 hours. (9)

14 May 1944
HMS Spiteful (Lt.Cdr. F.H. Sherwood, DSC, RCNVR) departed Trincomalee for her 2nd war patrol (1st in the Far East). She was ordered to patrol off Port Blair. She was escorted out by the Italian sloop Eritrea. (10)

23 May 1944
Around 0845FG/23, HMS Templar (Lt. T.G. Ridgeway, RN) departed from Trincomalee for her 10th war patrol (7th in the Far East). She is to patrol in the Malacca Straits. She is also to lay a minefield off the Dindings.

On departure gunnery exercises were carried out and also three attack runs on her escort, the Italian sloop Eritrea. Eritrea parted company around 1730FG/23 in position 08°46'N, 81°59'E. (2)

3 Jun 1944
Around 0700FG/3, HMS Tactician (Lt.Cdr. A.F. Collett, DSC, RN) ended her 12th war patrol (6th in the Far East) at Trincomalee. Before entering harbour noise trials were carried out.

She was escorted in by the Italian sloop Eritrea which had joined around 0245FG/3. (19)

13 Jun 1944
HMS Storm (T/A/Lt.Cdr. E.P. Young, DSC, RNVR) departed Trincomalee for her 5th war patrol (4th in the Far East). She was ordered to patrol in the Malacca Strait. She was escorted out by the Italian sloop Eritrea. (10)

18 Jun 1944
HMS Surf (Lt. D. Lambert, DSC, RN) ended her 8th war patrol (4th in the Far East) at Trincomalee. She was escorted in by the Italian sloop Eritrea. (20)

23 Jun 1944
HMS Spirit (Lt. A.W. Langridge, RN) departed Trincomalee for her 3rd war patrol (1st in the Far East). She was ordered to patrol North of Sumatra. She was escorted out by the Italian sloop Eritrea. (7)

25 Jun 1944
HMS Stratagem (Lt. C.R. Pelly, DSC, RN) conducted attack exercises off Trincomalee during which the Italian sloop Eritrea served as target. (21)

7 Jul 1944
HMS Templar (Lt. T.G. Ridgeway, RN) conducted gunnery and attack exercises off Trincomalee.

During these attack exercises the Italian sloop Eritrea served as target. (22)

15 Jul 1944
HMS Spirit (Lt. A.W. Langridge, RN) ended her 3rd war patrol (1st in the Far East) at Trincomalee. She was escorted in by the Italian sloop Eritrea. On arriving in harbour noise trials were carried out. (7)

15 Jul 1944
HMS Spiteful (Lt.Cdr. F.H. Sherwood, DSC, RCNVR) ended her 3rd war patrol (2nd in the Far East) at Trincomalee. She was escorted in by the Italian sloop Eritrea. (10)

15 Jul 1944
HMS Storm (T/A/Lt.Cdr. E.P. Young, DSC, RNVR) departed Trincomalee for her 6th war patrol (5th in the Far East). She was ordered to patrol off the West coast of Burma. She was escorted out by the Italian sloop Eritrea. (10)

18 Jul 1944
Around 1120FG/18, HMS Tally-Ho (Cdr. L.W.A. Bennington, DSO and Bar, DSC and Bar, RN) ended her 9th war patrol at Trincomalee.

She was escorted in by the Italian sloop Eritrea which had joined at 0600FG/18. (4)

28 Jul 1944
HMS Spirit (Lt. A.W. Langridge, RN) departed Trincomalee for Colombo. At Colombo repairs will be made to her damaged battery. She was escorted by the Italian sloop Eritrea. (23)

11 Jun 1945
HMS Vivid (Lt. J.C. Varley, DSC, RN) departed Trincomalee for her 8th war patrol (1st in the Far East). She was ordered to patrol in the Malacca Straits, mainly for air/sea rescue duties. She was escorted out by the Italian sloop Eritrea until 0200/12.

For positions and the attack position of HMS Vivid during this patrol see the map below. The positions were taken from the patrol report as no log is available for this period.

(24)

14 Jun 1945
Around 1400FG/14, HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. M.F.R. Ainslie, DSO, DSC, RN) departed from Trincomalee for her 21st war patrol (5th in the Far East). She was ordered to carry out a special operation.

She was escorted out for a while by the Italian sloop Eritrea on which also a practice attack was made.

[No log is available for this period so unfortunately no map can be displayed.] (25)

17 Jun 1945
HMS Statesman (Lt. R.M. Seaburne-May, RN) departed Trincomalee for her 10th war patrol (8th in the Far East). She was ordered to patrol off the North coast of Sumatra. Before proceeding on patrol radar tracking exercises were carried out with the Italian sloop Eritrea which on completion of the exercises also escorted HMS Statesman out.

No log is available for this period and the patrol report does not mention daily positions so therefore no map can be displayed. (26)

Sources

  1. ADM 173/18262
  2. ADM 199/1863
  3. ADM 173/18964 + ADM 173/18982
  4. ADM 199/1862
  5. ADM 173/18670
  6. ADM 173/18965 + ADM 173/18983
  7. ADM 199/1869
  8. ADM 173/18900
  9. ADM 199/1871
  10. ADM 199/1870
  11. ADM 173/19069 + ADM 199/1388
  12. ADM 173/18901
  13. ADM 173/18985
  14. ADM 173/18914 + ADM 199/1865
  15. ADM 173/18968
  16. ADM 173/18902
  17. ADM 173/18673
  18. ADM 173/18915 + ADM 199/1865
  19. ADM 199/1865
  20. ADM 173/18903
  21. ADM 173/18845
  22. ADM 173/18988
  23. ADM 173/18786
  24. ADM 199/1876
  25. ADM 199/1867
  26. ADM 199/1875

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


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