Allied Warships

HMIS Narbada (U 40)

Sloop of the Black Swan class

NavyThe Royal Indian Navy
TypeSloop
ClassBlack Swan 
PennantU 40 
Built byThornycroft (Southampton, U.K.) 
Ordered29 Aug 1940 
Laid down30 Aug 1941 
Launched21 Dec 1942 
Commissioned29 Apr 1943 
End service 
History

Transferred to Pakistan in 1948 being renamed Jhelum.

 

Commands listed for HMIS Narbada (U 40)

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.

CommanderFromTo
1Lt.Cdr. Arthur Walter Beeton, RIN1 Dec 1942

2A/Capt. John Lawrence, OBE, RINJan 1944Jun 1944
3A/Capt. Martin Henry St.Leger Nott, OBE, RINJun 194419 Mar 1945
4A/Capt. Hector Eric Felsor Paine, RIN19 Mar 1945

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Notable events involving Narbada include:


17 Jun 1943
During the morning, HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN), carried out A/S exercises off Scapa Flow with HMIS Narbada (Lt.Cdr. A.W. Beeton, RIN) and HMS Newark (Lt.Cdr. D.F. Townsend, RN).

During the afternoon A/S exercises were carried out with HMS Grenville (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Hill, DSO, RN) and HMS Obedient (Lt.Cdr. H. Unwin, DSC and Bar, RN). (1)

22 Jun 1943
During the morning, HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN), carried out A/S exercises at Scapa Flow with HMS Grenville (Lt.Cdr. R.P. Hill, DSO, RN) and HMIS Narbada (Lt.Cdr. A.W. Beeton, RIN).

During the afternoon A/S exercises were carried out with HMS Milne (Capt. I.M.R. Campbell, DSO, RN) and HMS Musketeer (Cdr. E.N.V. Currey, DSC, RN). (1)

23 Jun 1943
During the morning, HMS Truant (Lt.Cdr. J.G. Hopkins, RN), carried out A/S exercises at Scapa Flow with HMS Beagle (Lt.Cdr. N.R. Murch, RN).

During the afternoon A/S exercises were carried out with HMIS Narbada (Lt.Cdr. A.W. Beeton, RIN). (1)

1 Jul 1943
In the morning HMS Thrasher (Lt.Cdr. A.R. Hezlet, DSC, RN) conducted exercises for the C.O.Q.C. (Commanding Officers Qualifying Course) at Scapa Flow. HMS Renown (Capt. W.E. Parry, CB, RN) served as the target.

In the afternoon Thrasher participated in A/S exercises. Possibly with HMIS Narbada (Lt.Cdr. A.W. Beeton, RIN)

In the afternoon HMS Renown then conducted exercises with HMS Kent (Capt. A.E.M.B. Cunninghame-Graham, RN) and HMS Sheffield (Capt. C.T. Addis, RN).

HMS Renown then returned to harbour while the cruisers continued their exercises during the night of 1 / 2 July and only returned the following morning. (2)

17 Aug 1943

Combined convoy WS 33 / KMF 22.

This convoy was assembled off Oversay on 18 August 1943.

On assembly the combined convoy was made up of the following (troop) transports; Antenor (British, 11174 GRT, built 1925), Arundel Castle (British, 19118 GRT, built 1921), Boissevain (Dutch, 14134 GRT, built 1937), Cameronia (British, 19297 GRT, built 1920), Duchess of Bedford (British, 20123 GRT, built 1928), Duchess of Richmond (British, 20022 GRT, built 1928), Durban Castle (British, 17388 GRT, built 1938), Empress of Australia (British, 21833 GRT, built 1914), Glenartney (British, 9795 GRT, built 1940), Indrapoera (Dutch, 10825 GRT, built 1925), Johan de Witt (Dutch, 10474 GRT, built 1920), Marnix van St. Aldegonde (Dutch, 19355 GRT, built 1930), Monarch of Bermuda (British, 22424 GRT, built 1931), Orduna (British, 15507 GRT, built 1914), Ormonde (British, 14982 GRT, built 1917), Otranto (British, 20026 GRT, built 1925) and Tegelberg (Dutch, 14150 GRT, built 1937).

The convoy was escorted by the escort carrier HMS Hunter (Capt. H.H. McWilliam, RN), heavy cruiser HMAS Shropshire (Capt. J.A. Collins, CB, RAN), destroyer HMS Wrestler (Lt. R.W.B. Lacon, DSC, RN), sloops HMS Weston (Lt.Cdr. E. Gleave, RNR), HMS Chanticleer (Lt.Cdr. R.H. Bristowe, DSO, RN), HMIS Narbada (A/Cdr. A.W. Beeton, RIN), cutter HMS Totland (T/A/Lt.Cdr. H.E. Tourtel, RNR) and the frigates HMS Barle (Lt.Cdr. A.H. Davies, RNVR), HMS Ettrick (Lt.Cdr. J.E. Woolfenden, RD, RNR) and HMS Usk (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Pattinson, DSC, RNR).

The AA cruiser HMS Charybdis (Capt. G.A.W. Voelcker, RN) joined the convoy around 0955B/20.

HMS Charybdis parted company with the convoy around 2210B/21 and proceeded to Gibraltar arriving there on 22 August.

Around 1230B/22, HMAS Shropshire parted company with the convoy to proceed to Freetown.

The entire combined convoy arrived at Gibraltar on 24 August 1943.

From Gibraltar the convoys continued on as KMF 22 and WS 33.

8 Sep 1943

Convoy AB 10.

This convoy departed Aden on 8 September 1943.

It was made up of the (troop) transports; Ascania (British, 14013 GRT, built 192), Circassia (British, 11136 GRT, built 1937), Dilwara (British, 11080 GRT, built 1936), Dunera (British, 11162 GRT, built 1937), Empire Pride (British, 9248 GRT, built 1941) and Winchester Castle (British, 20012 GRT, built 1930).

On departure from Aden the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alaunia (Capt. R.H.C. Crawford, OBE, RNR) and the sloop HMIS Narbada (A/Cdr. A.W. Beeton, RIN).

The convoy arrived at Bombay on 14 September 1943. (3)

8 Aug 1944
During 8/9 august 1944, the escort carrier HMS Battler (A/Capt. F.M.R. Stephenson, RN) conducted flying exercises off Colombo. These included night exercises. She was escorted by the sloops HMIS Narbada (A/Capt. M.H.S. Nott, OBE, RIN) and HMIS Sutlej (A/Cdr. J.E. Cornish, RIN).

HMS Narbada parted company around 0310FG/9 before the exercises were completed.

Around 0800FG/9, the sloop HMS Flamingo (Lt.Cdr. T.H.B. Pounds, RN) and frigate HMS Jed (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Miller, DSC, RNR) joined.

Also on the 9th underway refuelling exercises were carried out by HMS Battler during first HMIS Sutlej and then HMS Flamingo was refuelled. (4)

22 Aug 1944
The escort carrier HMS Battler (A/Capt. F.M.R. Stephenson, RN), sloops HMIS Narbada (A/Capt. M.H.S. Nott, OBE, RIN), HMIS Sutlej (A/Cdr. J.E. Cornish, RIN), HMS Flamingo (Lt.Cdr. T.H.B. Pounds, RN) and the frigates HMS Jed (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Miller, DSC, RNR) and HMS Teviot (Cdr.(Retd.) T. Taylor, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Colombo.

They departed Colombo the following day for A/S operations in the Arabian Sea. Through code breaking the Allies were aware that enemy submarines were operating in the Arabian Sea which had also become clear when shipping was attacked with some success.

[No further details available for the moment, further research is required but it is possible the reports has not survived.] (4)

7 Sep 1944
Around 1400F/7, the escort carrier HMS Battler (A/Capt. F.M.R. Stephenson, RN) and sloops HMIS Narbada (A/Capt. M.H.S. Nott, OBE, RIN) and HMS Flamingo (Lt.Cdr. T.H.B. Pounds, RN) arrived at Addu Atoll from A/S operations. (5)

10 Sep 1944
Around 0845FG/10, the escort carrier HMS Battler (A/Capt. F.M.R. Stephenson, RN), sloops HMIS Narbada (A/Capt. M.H.S. Nott, OBE, RIN), HMIS Sutlej (A/Cdr. J.E. Cornish, RIN), HMS Flamingo (Lt.Cdr. T.H.B. Pounds, RN) and the frigates HMS Jed (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Miller, DSC, RNR) and HMS Teviot (Cdr.(Retd.) T. Taylor, DSC, RN) arrived at Addu Atoll from A/S operations in the Arabian Sea. (5)

13 Sep 1944
Around 0800FG/13, the escort carrier HMS Battler (A/Capt. F.M.R. Stephenson, RN), sloops HMIS Narbada (A/Capt. M.H.S. Nott, OBE, RIN), HMIS Sutlej (A/Cdr. J.E. Cornish, RIN), HMS Flamingo (Lt.Cdr. T.H.B. Pounds, RN) and the frigates HMS Jed (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Miller, DSC, RNR) and HMS Teviot (Cdr.(Retd.) T. Taylor, DSC, RN) departed Addu Atoll for an A/S search to the south-east of Addu Atoll. (5)

14 Sep 1944
Around 1600FG/14, the escort carrier HMS Battler (A/Capt. F.M.R. Stephenson, RN), sloops HMIS Narbada (A/Capt. M.H.S. Nott, OBE, RIN), HMIS Sutlej (A/Cdr. J.E. Cornish, RIN), HMS Flamingo (Lt.Cdr. T.H.B. Pounds, RN) and the frigates HMS Jed (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Miller, DSC, RNR) and HMS Teviot (Cdr.(Retd.) T. Taylor, DSC, RN) returned to Addu Atoll from the A/S search. (5)

15 Sep 1944
Around 1700FG/15, the escort carrier HMS Battler (A/Capt. F.M.R. Stephenson, RN), sloops HMIS Narbada (A/Capt. M.H.S. Nott, OBE, RIN), HMIS Sutlej (A/Cdr. J.E. Cornish, RIN), HMS Flamingo (Lt.Cdr. T.H.B. Pounds, RN) and the frigates HMS Jed (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Miller, DSC, RNR) and HMS Teviot (Cdr.(Retd.) T. Taylor, DSC, RN) departed Addu Atoll for A/S operations in the Arabian Sea. (5)

22 Sep 1944
Around 0830FG/22, the escort carrier HMS Battler (A/Capt. F.M.R. Stephenson, RN), sloops HMIS Narbada (A/Capt. M.H.S. Nott, OBE, RIN), HMS Flamingo (Lt.Cdr. T.H.B. Pounds, RN) and the frigates HMS Jed (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Miller, DSC, RNR) and HMS Teviot (Cdr.(Retd.) T. Taylor, DSC, RN) arrived at Colombo from A/S operations in the Arabian Sea. (5)

25 Sep 1944
Around 1530FG/25, HMS Battler (A/Capt. F.M.R. Stephenson, RN), HMIS Narbada (A/Capt. M.H.S. Nott, OBE, RIN) and HMS Jed (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Miller, DSC, RNR) arrived at Cochin from Colombo. (5)

5 Oct 1944
Around 1215FG/5, the escort carrier HMS Battler (A/Capt. F.M.R. Stephenson, RN) departed Cochin for Trincomalee. She is escorted by the sloop HMIS Narbada (A/Capt. M.H.S. Nott, OBE, RIN) and the frigate HMS Jed (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Miller, DSC, RNR). (6)

7 Oct 1944
Around 1930FG/7, HMS Battler (A/Capt. F.M.R. Stephenson, RN), HMIS Narbada (A/Capt. M.H.S. Nott, OBE, RIN) and HMS Jed (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Miller, DSC, RNR) arrived at Trincomalee from Cochin. (6)

Sources

  1. ADM 173/18284
  2. ADM 53/117695 + ADM 53/ADM 53/18227 + ADM 53/118527 + ADM 53/118432 + ADM 173/18227
  3. ADM 53/116865 + ADM 199/769
  4. ADM 53/118953
  5. ADM 53/118954 + ADM 199/1388
  6. ADM 53/118955

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


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