uboat.net

  Front page - Fighting the U-boats - Allied Warships

Follow us on Twitter
@uboatnet

Notable events involving Lulworth include:

27 Aug 1941
HMS Lulworth (Lt.Cdr. C. Gwinner, RN) picks up 27 survivors from the Norwegian merchant Segundo that was torpedoed and sunk west of Ireland in position 53°36'N, 16°40'W by German U-boat U-557.

23 Sep 1941
HMS Lulworth (Lt.Cdr. C. Gwinner, RN) picks up 37 survivors from the British merchant Niceto de Larrinaga that was torpedoed and sunk the previous day by German U-boat U-103 south-west of the Canary Islands in position 27°32'N, 24°26'W.

24 Sep 1941
HMS Lulworth (Lt.Cdr. C. Gwinner, RN) picks up 5 survivors from the British merchant St. Clair II that was torpedoed and sunk west-northwest of the Canary Islands in position 30°25'N, 23°35'W by German U-boat U-67.

26 Oct 1941

Convoy OS 10.

This convoy was assembled off Oversay on 26 October 1941.

The convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Aldermarin (Dutch, 7886 GRT, built 1920), Anglo-Indian (British, 5609 GRT, built 1938), Bennekom (Dutch, 5998 GRT, built 1917), Berwickshire (British, 7464 GRT, built 1912), Blommersdijk (British, 6855 GRT, built 1922), Clan Alpine (British, 5442 GRT, built 1918), Clan Chattan (British, 7262 GRT, built 1937), Custodian (British, 5881 GRT, built 1928), Derrymore (British, 4799 GRT, built 1938), Dundrum Castle (British, 5259 GRT, built 1919), Dunelmia (British, 5207 GRT, built 1929), Egyptian (British, 2868 GRT, built 1920), Elysia (British, 6757 GRT, built 1908), Empire Moonbeam (British, 6849 GRT, built 1941), Empire Ortolan (British, 4970 GRT, built 1919), Fana (Norwegian, 1375 GRT, built 1939), Gleniffer (British, 9559 GRT, built 1919), Halizones (British, 3298 GRT, built 1920), Henri Jaspar (Belgian, 5760 GRT, built 1929), Holmpark (British, 5780 GRT, built 1927), Industria (British, 4850 GRT, built 1940), Lagosian (British, 5412 GRT, built 1930), Lindenhall (British, 5248 GRT, built 1937), Lulworth Hill (British, 7628 GRT, built 1940), Mariso (British, 7659 GRT, built 1930), Marklyn (British, 3090 GRT, built 1918), Marsa (British, 4405 GRT, built 1928), Mary Kingsley (British, 5021 GRT, built 1930), New Brooklyn (British, 6546 GRT, built 1920), Rio Verde (Norwegian, 3223 GRT, built 1924), San Andres (Norwegian, 1975 GRT, built 1921), Silverteak (British, 6770 GRT, built 1930), Somerville (Norwegian, 4265 GRT, built 1929), Starstone (British, 5702 GRT, built 1938), Trader (British, 6087 GRT, built 1940), Trefusis (British, 5299 GRT, built 1918) and Twickenham (British, 4762 GRT, built 1940).

On assembly the convoy was escorted by the sloop HMS Bideford (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Moore, RNR), cutters HMS Culver (Lt.Cdr. R.T. Gordon-Duff, RN), HMS Landguard (Lt.Cdr.(Emgy.) R.E.S. Hugonin, RN), HMS Lulworth (Lt.Cdr. C. Gwinner, RN) and the corvettes HMS Freesia (Lt.Cdr. T.P.G. Crick, RN) and HMS Verbena (Lt.Cdr. D.A. Rayner, DSC, RNVR).

On 4 November 1941, HMS Verbena was detached.

On 13 November 1941, the destroyer HMS Vansittart (Lt.Cdr. R.L.S. Gaisford, RN) and the corvettes HMS Burdock (T/Lt. H.J. Fellows, SANF(V)), HMS Marguerite (Lt.Cdr. A.N. Blundell, RNR) and HMS Starwort (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Duck, RD, RNR) and the RFA tanker Rapidol (2648 GRT, built 1917) joined the convoy.

On 14 November 1941, HMS Bideford, cutters HMS Culver, HMS Landguard, HMS Lulworth, corvettes Freesia and the Rapidol were detached.

During 14/15 November 1941, cover for the convoy was provided by the heavy cruiser HMS Dorsetshire (Capt. A.W.S. Agar, VC, DSO, RN) and the light cruiser HMS Dunedin (Capt. R.S. Lovatt, RN).

The convoy arrived at Freetown on 18 November 1941.

31 Oct 1941
HMS Lulworth (Lt.Cdr. C. Gwinner, RN) picks up 22 survivors from the Dutch merchant Bennekom that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-96 in convoy OS-10 about 530 nautical miles west of Cape Clear in position 51°20'N, 23°40'W.

11 Jun 1942
HMS Lulworth (Lt.Cdr. C. Gwinner, RN) picks up 20 survivors from the British tanker Geo H. Jones that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-455 north-northeast of the Azores in position 45°40'N, 22°40'W.

11 Jun 1942
HMS H 28 (Lt. J.S. Bridger, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Lulworth (Lt.Cdr. C. Gwinner, RN) and HMS Bideford (Lt.Cdr. W.J. Moore, RNR).

After completing these exercises HMS H 28 set course for Rothesay escorted by HMS Tango (T/Lt. J. Hunter, RNR). (1)

14 Jul 1942
The Italian submarine Pietro Calvi was sunk south of the Azores by the British sloop HMS Lulworth (Lt.Cdr. C. Gwinner, RN). Lulworth forced the Italian submarine to the surface by depth charging and then shelled the Pietro Calvi rending it incapable to dive. In the end the Italians abandoned ship and scuttled the submarine.

8 Dec 1942
HMS H 34 (Lt. G.M. Noll, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Llandudno (T/Lt. E.M. Betts, RNR), HMS King Sol (Lt. P.A. Read, RNR), HMS Lulworth (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) C. Gwinner, DSO, RN), HMCS Prescott (Lt. W. McIsaac, RCNVR), HMCS Galt (T/Lt. A.D. Landles, RCNR) and HMCS Wetaskiwin (T/A/Lt.Cdr. J.R. Kidston, RCNVR). (2)

20 Jan 1943
HMS H 34 (Lt. G.M. Noll, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Hastings (Lt.Cdr. L.B. Philpott, DSC, RD, RNR), HMS Lulworth (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) C. Gwinner, DSO, RN), HMCS Kitchener (T/A/Lt.Cdr. W. Evans, RCNVR), HMCS Algoma (T/A/Lt.Cdr. J. Harding, RCNR), HMCS Regina (T/A/Lt.Cdr. H. Freeland, RCNR) and HMCS Moosejaw (T/Lt. L.D. Quick, RCN). (3)

19 Sep 1943
HMS H 33 (Lt. D.G. Kent, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Lulworth (Lt.Cdr. R.C.S. Woolley, RNR) and HMS Hastings (Lt.Cdr. L.B. Philpott, DSC, RD, RNR). (4)

21 Oct 1943

Convoy AKD 4.

This convoy departed Aden on 21 October 1943.

On departure from Aden the convoy was made up of the following ships;
Atlantian (British, 6549 GRT, built 1928), Baron Renfrew (British, 3635 GRT, built 1935), Bosworth (British, 6672 GRT, built 1919), Clan MacDonald (British, 9653 GRT, built 1939), Clan MacIver (British, 4500 GRT, built 1925), Imperial Valley (British, 4573 GRT, built 1924), Ioannis Fafalios (Greek, 6071 GRT, built 1918), Mount Helikon (Greek, 5525 GRT, built 1918), Nirvana (British, 6044 GRT, built 1914), Panaghiotis (Greek, 3575 GRT, built 1901), Romney (British, 5840 GRT, built 1929), Salween (British, 7063 GRT, built 1937), Streefkerk (Dutch, 6185 GRT, built 1921) and Sutherland (British, 5170 GRT, built 1940).

The submarine HMS Trespasser (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Favell, RN) also took passage in the convoy.

On departure from Aden the convoy was escorted by the sloop HMS Lulworth (Lt.Cdr. R.C.S. Woolley, RNR) and the corvettes HMS Freesia (T/Lt.Cdr. G.M. Berlyn, SANF(V)) and HMS Jasmine (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.A. Hoodless, RNR).

Around 2100D/24, south-south-west of Socotra, HMS Trespasser parted company to proceed independently to Colombo.

The Mount Helikon straggled from the convoy and did not rejoin. She proceeded to Kilindini / Mombasa independently.

On 31 October 1943, off Kilindini / Mombasa the three corvettes parted company with the convoy after a new escort had joined. This was made up of the A/S trawlers HMS Arctic Explorer (T/Lt. C. Pawley, RNVR), HMS Cape Warwick (T/Lt. K.J. Stern, RNVR), HMS Lady Elsa (T/Lt. A.M. Brown, RNVR) and HMS Northern Isles (T/Lt. J.M. Baldry, RNVR).

Also proceeding to Kilindini / Mombasa were the following merchant vessels Clan MacIver and Salween.

Joined from Kilindini / Mombasa was the following ship; Shirala (British, 7841 GRT, built 1925).

On 1 November 1943, the following ship joined the convoy coming from Dar-es-Salaam; Wyvern (Norwegian, 4007 GRT, built 1929).

On 6 November 1943, the following ships were detached to Beira; Atlantian, Bosworth and Streefkerk while the following ships joined coming from Beira; Alpherat (Dutch, 5759 GRT, built 1928), Fort Maisonneuve (British, 7128 GRT, built 1942) and Geronimo (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943).

On 8 November 1943, the following ships were detached to Lourenço Marques; Baron Renfrew, Imperial Valley, Panaghiotis, Romney and Wyvern.

The convoy arrived at Durban on 9 November 1943. (5)

31 Jan 1944
During 31 January / 1 February 1944, HMS Hawkins (Capt. J.W. Josselyn, DSC, RN) and, at least, HMS Lulworth (Lt.Cdr. R.C.S. Woolley, RNR) conducted exercises off Kilindini / Mombasa. (6)

5 Feb 1944

Convoy KR 8.

This convoy departed Kilindini on 5 February 1944.

It was made up of the following (troop) transports;
City of Paris (British, 10902 GRT, built 1922), Ekma (British, 5108 GRT, built 1911), Ellenga (British, 5196 GRT, built 1911), Khedive Ismael (British, 7290 GRT, built 1922) and Varsova (British, 4701 GRT, built 1914).

On departure from Kilindini the convoy was escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS Hawkins (Capt. J.W. Josselyn, DSC, RN), sloops HMS Lulworth (Lt.Cdr. R.C.S. Woolley, RNR), HMS Sennen (Lt.Cdr. F.H. Thornton, DSC, RNR) and the corvette HMS Honesty (T/Lt. M.J. Rowlands, RNVR).

Around 0100E/9, HMS Honesty parted company to proceed to Port Victoria, Seychelles.

Around 0620E/9 HMS Lulworth and HMS Sennen parted company to return to Kilindini.

Around 0830E/11, the destroyers HMS Petard (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Egan, RN) and HMS Paladin (Lt. E.A.S. Bailey DSC, MBE, RN) joined coming from Addu Atoll which they had departed on the 10th.

At 1435EF/12, the Khedive Ismael was torpedoed and sunk by the Japanese submarine I-27. The ship sank with heavy loss of life, there were almost 1300 casualties amongst the crew and passengers.

The convoy immediately scattered but reformed later. HMS Petard and HMS Paladin remained in the area to hunt the attacker and pick up survivors.

Additional escorts were sent to the convoy to replace HMS Petard and HMS Paladin which proceeded to Addu Atoll with the survivors they had picked up after they had managed to sink the I-27. They had forced the submarine to the surface with depth charges and later sank her with gunfire and torpedoes. HMS Paladin also closed to ram but the Commanding Officer of HMS Petard, who was the senior, ordered her not to do so at the last moment and HMS Paladin just managed to miss ramming the submarine. Her hull was however thorn open by a bow diving plane of the submarine and HMS Paladin went dead in the water. She later was able to get underway again.

The convoy later re-grouped and continued its passage to Colombo.

Around 1000FG/13, the destroyer HMAS Quickmatch (Lt.Cdr. R. Rhoades, DSC, RAN) joined. She had parted company with convoy BM 85A around 2120FG/12.

Around 1130FG/13, HMS Hawkins parted company with the convoy to proceed to Addu Atoll.

Two more destroyers joined the convoy later on the 13th, these were HrMs Van Galen (Lt.Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) which had been withdrawn from escorting a tanker to Trincomalee and HMS Rocket (Lt.Cdr. H.B. Acworth, OBE, RN) which had departed Trincomalee on the 12th.

The convoy arrived at Colombo on 14 February 1944.

24 Feb 1944

Convoy KR 9.

This convoy departed Kilindini on 24 February 1944.

It was made up of the following transports; Banfora (British, 9472 GRT, built 1914), City of London (British, 8956 GRT, built 1907), Egra (British, 5108 GRT, built 1911), Pulaski (Polish, 6345 GRT, built 1912) and Rajula (British, 8478 GRT, built 1926).

On departure from Kilindini the convoy was escorted by the heavy cruiser HMS Frobisher (Capt. J.F.W. Mudford, RN), destroyer HMS Relentless (Lt.Cdr. R.A. Fell, RN), sloops HMS Landguard (Lt. B.M. Skinner, RN), HMS Lulworth (Lt.Cdr. R.C.S. Woolley, RNR) and the corvettes HMS Freesia (T/Lt.Cdr. G.M. Berlyn, SANF(V)) and HMS Snowflake (Lt. E.J. Powell, RNR).

Around 1700C/26, HMS Relentless parted company to fuel at Port Victoria, Seychelles.

Around 1730D/27, HMS Relentless rejoined.

Around 0930D/1, the destroyers HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN), HMS Petard (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Egan, RN) and HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. G.A. Cox, NethN) joined the convoy coming from Addu Atoll. HrMs Tjerk Hiddes then received some fuel HMS Frobisher. HMS Landguard, HMS Lulworth and HMS Freesia were then detached to Port Victoria, Seychelles.

Around 0715FG/5, the destroyers HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN) and HMS Pathfinder (Lt.Cdr. T.F. Hallifax, RN) joined coming from Colombo.

The convoy was then split into two sections;
The Colombo section was made up of the City of London, Egra and Pulaski, escorted by HMS Frobisher, HMS Petard, HrMs Tjerk Hiddes and HMS Snowflake. It arrived at Colombo on 5 March 1944.

The Trincomalee section was made up of the Banfora and Rajula and was escorted by HMS Rotherham, HMS Relentless, HMS Pathfinder and HMAS Norman. It arrived at Trincomalee on 6 March 1944.

2 Jan 1945
HMS Vigorous (Lt. J.C. Ogle, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Kilindini with HMS Lulworth (Cdr. R.C.S. Woolley, RD, RNR) and HMS Sobkra (Lt. C.K. Mackenzie, RANVR). (7)

3 Jan 1945
HMS Vigorous (Lt. J.C. Ogle, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Kilindini with HMS Lulworth (Cdr. R.C.S. Woolley, RD, RNR) and HMS Sobkra (Lt. C.K. Mackenzie, RANVR). (7)

19 Jan 1945
Around 0800C/19, HMS Torbay (Lt.Cdr. C.P. Norman, DSO, RN) departed from Aden bound for Colombo. On departure A/S exercises were carried out with HMS Lulworth (Cdr. R.C.S. Woolley, RD, RNR) and HMS Jasmine (T/Lt. E.C. Leaver, RNR). Also a practice attack was made on HMS Jasmine. (8)

10 Feb 1945
HMS Vigorous (Lt. J.C. Ogle, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Kilindini with HMS Lulworth (Cdr. R.C.S. Woolley, RD, RNR) and HMS Solvra (T/Lt. M. Low, DSC, RNVR). (9)