| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | Landing Ship Infantry |
| Class | [No specific class] |
| Pennant | 4.251 |
| Mod | LSI(S) |
| Built by | Cockerill (Hoboken, Belgium) |
| Ordered | |
| Laid down | |
| Launched | 30 Nov 1929 |
| Commissioned | 1941 |
| Lost | 29 Jul 1944 |
| History | Completed as passenger ship Prince Leopold in July 1930. Torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel in position 50.19'N, 00.53'W by the German submarine U-621 on 29 July 1944. Hit by U-boat |
| U-boat Attack | See our U-boat attack entry for the HMS Prince Leopold |
Commands listed for HMS Prince Leopold (4.251)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Lt.Cdr. William Snowdon Byles, RD, RNR | 4 Jan 1941 | 20 Dec 1942 |
| 2 | Lt.Cdr. John Alverdus Lowe, DSO, DSC, RNR | 20 Dec 1942 | 29 Jul 1944 |
You can help improve our commands section
Click here to Submit events/comments/updates for this vessel.
Please use this if you spot mistakes or want to improve this ships page.
Notable events involving Prince Leopold include:
23 Dec 1941
HMS Tuna (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) departed Scapa Flow for her 11th war patrol. She was part of Operation Archery, a commando raid on Vågsøy, Norway. Tuna was to act as navigational beacon for the surface ships involved in this operation.
The raid on Vågsøy was carried out by the British Light cruiser HMS Kenya (Capt. M.M. Denny, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral Burrough, RN), the British destroyers HMS Onslow (Capt. H.T. Armstrong, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Oribi (Lt.Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, DSO, RN), HMS Offa (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Ewing, RN), HMS Chiddingfold (Lt. L.W.L. Argles, RN) and the landing ships Prince Charles (A/Cdr. W.R. Fell, DSC, OBE, RN) and Prince Leopold (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Byles, RD, RNR). (1)
24 Dec 1941
Operation Archery.
Commando raid against the Norwegian island of Vågsøy.
Around 2100A/24, the light cruiser HMS Kenya (Capt. M.M. Denny, CB, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral H.M. Burrough, CB, RN), destroyers HMS Onslow (Capt. H.T. Armstrong, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Offa (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Ewing, RN), HMS Oribi (Lt.Cdr. J.E.H. McBeath, DSO, RN), the escort destroyer HMS Chiddingfold (Lt. L.W.L. Argles, RN), and the landing ships HMS Prince Charles (A/Cdr. W.R. Fell, DSC, OBE, RN) and HMS Prince Leopold (Lt.Cdr. W.S. Byles, RD, RNR) departed Scapa Flow for operation Archery. First they were to proceed to Sullom Voe where they arrived around 1330A/25. and Maaloy Island. The Force arrived at Sullom Voe on the 25th.
Heavy weather had been encountered on the passage to Sullom Voe and the operation was postponed 24 hours so that some weather damage to the landing ships could be made good.
The raiding force departed Sullom Voe around 1600A/26.
The arrived off the Vaagsfiord in perfect weather around 0740A/27. At 0640A/27 they had made rendezvous with the submarine HMS Tuna (Lt. M.B. St. John, RN) which acted as beacon.
Enemy positions were bombarded and troops were landed.
The enemy was caught by surprise but resistance was however stiff as an enemy unit of mountain troops was present at Måløy for a rest.
HMS Kenya engaged the enemy shore battery at Rugsundöy. She was also hit in return.
HMS Onslow and HMS Oribi sank the German patrol vessel V 5108 / Föhn (207 GRT, built 1911, former Norwegian whaler Hadarøy) in Måløy-Sund. The merchant vessels Reimar Edzard Fritzen (2936 GRT, built 1923), Norma (2258 GRT, built 1911, former Dutch Calypso) and Anita L.M. Russ (1712 GRT, built 1926) and Eismeer (1003 GRT, built 1941, former Dutch Duiveland) were either sunk or driven on the rocks.
HMS Offa and HMS Chiddinfold sank the German patrol vessel V 5102 / Donner (223 GRT, built ?) and the merchant vessel Anhalt (4621 GRT, built 1922).
The commandoes commenced to retreat back to the landing ships around 1400A/27.
The raiding force returned to Scapa Flow around 1600A/28. (2)
18 Jun 1943
' Shippigan Convoy '.
This convoy departed Falmouth on 18 June 1943.
It was made up of the landing ships HMS Prince Charles (A/Cdr. (Retd.) S.H. Dennis, DSC, RN), HMS Prince Leopold (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Lowe, DSO, DSC, RNR), HMS Princess Josephine Charlotte (Cdr. A.I. Robertson, RNR), HMS Princess Astrid (T/A/Lt.Cdr. (Retd.) C.E. Hall, RNR), RFA tanker Prestol (2629 GRT, built 1917) and the merchant vessel Empire Day (British, 7242 GRT, built 1941).
Escort was provided by the minesweepers Shippigan (Cdr. M.H. Brown, DSC, RN), Tadoussac (T/Lt. J.P. Davies, RNR), HMS Fly (Lt.Cdr. R.B. Chandler, RN) and HMS Mutine (T/A/Lt.Cdr. N.E. Morley, DSC, RNVR).
Distant cover for the convoy during part of the voyage was provided by the light (AA) cruiser HMS Scylla (Capt. I.A.P. Macintyre, CBE, DSO, RN).
The convoy arrived at Gibraltar on 24 June 1943. (3)
17 Oct 1943
Combined convoy MKF 24 / XIF 2A.
This convoy departed Port Said on 17 October 1943.
It was made up of the (troop) transports; Britannic (British, 26943 GRT, built 1930), Egra (British, 5108 GRT, built 1911), Glenartney (British, 9795 GRT, built 1940), Largs Bay (British, 14182 GRT, built 1921), Martand (British, 7967 GRT, built 1925), Maloja (British, 20914 GRT, built 1923), Stirling Castle (British, 25550 GRT, built 1936), Stratheden (British, 23722 GRT, built 1937) and Tamaroa (British, 12405 GRT, built 1922).
The headquarters ship HMS Largs (Capt. H.S. Allan, RNR) was also part of the convoy.
On departure from Port Said the convoy was escorted by the escort destroyers HMS Lamerton (Lt.Cdr. C.R. Purse, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Wilton (Lt. A.P. Northey, DSC and Bar, RN), RHS Kanaris and RHS Themistocles.
On 18 October 1943, the (troop) transports; Aronda (British, 9031 GRT, built 1941), Karoa (British, 7009 GRT, built 1915), Letitia (British, 13595 GRT, built 1925), Llandgibby Castle (British, 11951 GRT, built 1929) and Nieuw Holland (Dutch, 11066 GRT, built 1927) departed Alexandria to join the convoy which they did later the same day.
The were escorted by the AA cruiser HMS Colombo (Capt. D.H. Hall-Thompson, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Croome (Lt. H.D.M. Slater, RN) and HMS Tetcott (Lt. A.F. Harkness, DSC, OBE, RNR).
In the morning of 21 October 1943, the convoy arrived off Augusta where the Britannic, Glenartney, Largs Bay, Maloya, Martand, Stirling Castle, Stratheden, Tamaroa, and HMS Largs were detached and entered harbour.
The Aronda, Egra, Karoa, Letitia, Llangibby Castle and Nieuw Holland and the entire convoy escort then proceeded to Taranto where they arrived early in the morning of 22 August 1943.
The convoy departed Taranto in the late afternoon to proceed to Augusta. The escort destroyer HMS Haydon (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Watkin, RN) had joined the convoy escort. The Llangibby Castle and HMS Lamerton did not sail with the convoy.
Early in the afternoon of 23 October the convoy was back off Augusta. the Nieuw Holland was then detached and entered Augusta. The convoy was rejoined by the Britannic, Glenartney, Largs Bay, Maloya, Martand, Stirling Castle, Stratheden, Tamaroa and HMS Largs which had been detached on 21 October. More (troop) transports however joined coming from Augusta, these were; Duchess of Bedford (British, 20123 GRT, built 1928), Dunnottar Castle (British, 15007 GRT, built 1936), Durban Castle (British, 17388 GRT, built 1938), Otranto (British, 20026 GRT, built 1925), Reina del Pacifico (British, 17702 GRT, built 1931) and Sibajak (Dutch, 12226 GRT, built 1927).
Late in the afternoon of 23 October the convoy was off Malta where it was joined by the damaged light cruiser HMS Cleopatra (Cdr. M.J. Ross, DSC, RN) and the landing ships HMS Prince Charles (A/Cdr. (Retd.) S.H. Dennis, DSC, RN), HMS Prince Leopold (Lt.Cdr. J.A. Lowe, DSO, DSC, RNR), HMS Princess Josephine Charlotte (Lt. J.E. Bromley, RNR) and HMS Princess Astrid (T/A/Lt.Cdr. (Retd.) C.E. Hall, RNR).
On 25 October 1943, the convoy arrived at Algiers. Part of the convoy however went on to Oran. These were the Aronda, Egra, Karoa, escorted by HMS Croome, HMS Tetcott, RHS Kanaris and RHS Themistocles.
On 27 October 1943, the convoy departed Algiers. It was now made up of the following (troop) transports; Britannic, Duchess of Bedford, Dunnottar Castle, Durban Castle, Franconia (British, 20175 GRT, built 1923), Largs Bay, Maloja, Martand, Reina del Pacifico, Samaria, Sibajak, Stirling Castle, Stratheden, Tamaroa,
The light cruiser HMS Cleopatra, headquarters ship HMS Largs and the landings ships HMS Prince Charles, HMS Prince Leopold, HMS Princess Josephine Charlotte, HMS Princess Astrid, HMS Ulster Monarch (Lt.Cdr. N.A.F. Kingscote, RNR) were also part of the concoy.
The convoy was escorted by the AA cruiser HMS Colombo, escort destroyers HMS Haydon, HMS Wilton, sloop HMS Pelican (Cdr. J.S. Dalison, DSO, RN) and the frigates HMS Jed (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Freaker, DSO and Bar, RD, RNR), HMS Rother (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Hickey, RNR) and HMS Spey (Lt.Cdr. B.A. Rogers, RD, RNR).
The frigate HMS Evenlode (T/A/Lt.Cdr. A.L. Turner, RNR) departed Algiers on the 28th to overtake and join the convoy at sea which she did on 30 October.
On 28 October 1943, the convoy passed Gibraltar and the following ships were detached from the convoy; HMS Cleopatra, HMS Prince Charles, HMS Prince Leopold, HMS Princess Josephine Charlotte, HMS Princess Astrid, HMS Colombo and HMS Haydon.
From Gibraltar the following ships joined the convoy; (troop) transports; Esperance Bay (British, 13837 GRT, built 1922), Highland Princess (British, 14133 GRT, built 1930), Moreton Bay (British, 14193 GRT, built 1921), Rangitata (British, 16737 GRT, built 1929), Saturnia (Italian, 23940 GRT, built 1927), Strathaird (British, 22281 GRT, built 1932).
The landing ship HMS Prince Albert (Lt.Cdr. H.B. Peate, RNR) also joined as did the AA ship HMCS Prince Robert (Cdr. A.M. Hope, RCN) and the destroyers HMS Beagle (Lt.Cdr. N.R. Murch, RN), HMS Boadicea (Lt.Cdr. F.C. Brodrick, RN) and HMS Bulldog (Lt.Cdr. E.J. Lee, RN).
On 30 October 1943, HMS Wilton was detached to return to Gibraltar where she arrived at following day.
On 1 November 1943, the convoy was joined by the frigate HMS Tavy (T/A/Lt.Cdr. F. Ardern, RNR).
On 4 November 1943, HMCS Prince Robert arrived at Horta, Azores after having been detached from the convoy earlier on it approaching 50°N.
On 4 November 1943, HMS Prince Albert and HMS Bulldog arrived at Plymouth after having been detached from the convoy earlier.
On 5 November 1943, the convoy arrived in U.K. waters. The bulk of the convoy proceeded to Liverpool.
Sources
- ADM 199/1844
- ADM 53/114498 + ADM 199/396 + ADM 199/399
- ADM 199/767
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.