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Notable events involving Woodruff include:

15 Aug 1941

Convoy WS 10X

This convoy departed U.K. ports on 14/15 August 1941 for Suez where the ships arrived between 1 to 4 October 1941.

The convoy assembled in the Clyde area on 15 August 1941.

The convoy was made up of the following troop transports; Brisbane Star (12791 GRT, built 1937), Orion (23371 GRT, built 1935), Strathmore (23428 GRT, built 1935), Strathnaver (22283 GRT, built 1931), And the transports Palma (5419 GRT, built 1941) and Port Jackson (9687 GRT, built 1937).

Escort was initially provided by the heavy cruiser HMS Dorsetshire (Capt. A.W.S. Agar, VC, DSO, RN) (joined at sea on 17 August 1941 until 28 August when the convoy arrived at Freetown), the AA (light) cruiser HrMs Jacob van Heemskerck (Cdr. E.J. van Holte, RNN) (15 – 17 August) and the destroyers HMS Whitehall (Lt.Cdr. A.B. Russell, RN) (15-17 August), HMS Witch (Lt.Cdr. C.H. Holmes, RN) (15-17 August), HMS Gurkha (Cdr. C.N. Lentaigne, RN) (17-19 August), HMS Lance (Lt.Cdr. R.W.F. Northcott, RN) (17-19 August), HrMs Isaac Sweers (Cdr. J. Houtsmuller, RNN) (17-19 August) and ORP Piorun (Cdr. S. Hryniewiecki) (17-19 August).

When approaching Freetown the convoy was joined on 26 August by a local escort made up of the destroyers HMS Brilliant (Lt.Cdr. F.C. Brodrick, RN), HMS Velox (Lt.Cdr. E.G. Roper, DSC, RN) (left the convoy before noon on 27 August), HMS Wrestler (Lt. E.L. Jones, DSC, RN) and the corvettes HMS Clematis (Cdr. Y.M. Cleeves, DSO, DSC, RD, RNR) and HMS Crocus (Lt.Cdr. E. Wheeler, RNR). The convoy arrived at Freetown on 28 August 1941.

The convoy departed Freetown for Capetown on 1 September 1941. Escort was now provided by the battleship HMS Revenge (Capt. L.V. Morgan, CBE, MVO, DSC, RN) and the corvettes HMS Amaranthus (T/Lt. W.S. Thomson, RNR), HMS Armeria (T/Lt. H.N. Russell, DSC, RNR), HMS Mignonette (Lt. H.H. Brown, RNR) and HMS Woodruff (T/Lt. T. Muir, RNVR).

HMS Amaranthus parted company with the convoy around 1445Z/2 to return to Freetown due to defects.

Around 2133Z/2, HMS Revenge was rammed by the transport Orion. Damage to HMS Revenge was only minor but damage to the bow of the Orion was more serious. She dropped out of the convoy for a while but was later able to catch up again and was able of a speed of 15 knots.

At 1237Z/3, HMS Armeria, HMS Mignonette and HMS Woodruff parted company with the convoy to proceed to Takoradi.

The convoy arrived at Capetown on 11 September 1941.

The convoy departed Capetown for Suez on 14 September 1941. Escort was still provided by HMS Revenge until 22 September 1941 when the light cruiser, HMS Ceres (Capt. E.G. Abbott, AM, RN) took over until the dispersal of the convoy on 27 September 1941 when it was near Aden. The ships of the convoy then continued independently towards Suez where they arrived between 1 and 4 October 1941.

21 Aug 1941

Convoy CF 2.

This convoy departed Durban on 21 August 1941.

It was made up of the following troop transports; Duchess of Bedford (British, 20123 GRT, built 1928), Durban Castle (British, 17388 GRT, built 1938), Nieuw Zeeland (Dutch, 11069 GRT, built 1928) and Sobieski (Polish, 11030 GRT, built 1939).

On departure from Durban, around 1830B/21, the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser Queen of Bermuda (Capt. A.T.G.C. Peachey, RN).

The convoy arrived at Capetown around 0830B/24.

At Capetown, the Greek Royal family boarded the Durban Castle.

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Around 1600B/26, the convoy departed Capetown in the same composition.

Around 0700Z/29, rendezvous was made in position 23°40'S, 04°30'E, with the armed merchant cruiser HMS Cilicia (Capt.(Retd.) V.B. Cardwell, OBE, RN) which joined as second escort.

Around 0715Z/31, the Durban Castle parted company with the convoy to the north-east of St. Helena in position 15°20'S, 05°10'W. She was to proceed to Trididad escorted by HMS Queen of Bermuda.

The remainder of the convoy arrived at Lagos around 1200A on 4 September 1941.

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Around 1700A/8, the convoy, now made up of the Duchess of Bedford, Nieuw Zeeland and Sobieski departed Lagos for Freetown. The convoy was now escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Cilicia and the corvettes HMS Armeria (T/Lt. H.N. Russell, DSC, RNR) and HMS Woodruff (T/Lt. T. Muir, RNVR).

The convoy arrived at Freetown around 0900N/13.

1 Sep 1941
The battleship HMS Revenge (Capt. L.V. Morgan, CBE, MVO, DSC, RN) and the corvettes HMS Amaranthus (T/Lt. W.S. Thomson, RNR), HMS Armeria (T/Lt. H.N. Russell, DSC, RNR), HMS Mignonette (Lt. H.H. Brown, RNR) and HMS Woodruff (T/Lt. T. Muir, RNVR) departed Freetown escorting convoy WS 10X.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy WS 10X ' for 15 August 1941.] (1)

8 Oct 1941
HMS Dorsetshire (Capt. A.W.S. Agar, VC, DSO, RN) and HMS Albatross (Capt. W.A. Dallmeyer, DSO, RN) departed Freetown to patrol in the mid-Atlantic between 06°N and 10°N and 28°W and 31°W. Two corvettes were sent along as escorts, these were HMS Mignonette (Lt. H.H. Brown, RNR) and HMS Woodruff (T/Lt. T. Muir, RNVR). (2)

31 Oct 1941

Convoy CF 3.

This convoy departed Durban on 31 October 1941.

It was made up of only one ship, the troop transport Volendam (Dutch, 15434 GRT, built 1922).

On leaving Durban the convoy was joined by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (Capt.(Retd.) J.G.P. Ingham, DSO, RN) as escort.

Around 0600B/3, the heavy cruiser HMS Hawkins (Capt. H.P.K. Oram, RN) joined and took over escort duties from HMS Alcantara which then parted company to proceed to Simonstown.

Around 0700A/12, the corvette HMS Woodruff (T/Lt. T. Muir, RNVR) joined. HMS Hawkins then parted company to proceed to Freetown.

The convoy arrived at Takoradi on 16 November 1941.

30 Nov 1941
HMS Severn (Lt.Cdr. A.N.G. Campbell, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Freetown together with HMS Wild Swan (Lt.Cdr. C.E.L. Sclater, RN), HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR), HMS Nigella (T/Lt. L.J. Simpson, RNR) and HMS Freesia (Lt.Cdr. T.P.G. Crick, RN). (3)

21 May 1942
HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) scuttles the British tanker Montenol with gunfire. The Montenol was torpedoed and damaged by German U-boat U-159 about 140 nautical miles east-south-east of Santa Maria, Azores in position 36°41'N, 22°45'W.

HMS Woodruff also picks up 5 survivors from the British merchant New Brunswick that was also torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-159 about 140 nautical miles east-south-east of Santa Maria, Azores in position 36°53'N, 22°55'W.

27 Oct 1942
The British merchant Stentor is torpedoed and sunk north-west of the Canary Islands in position 29°13'N, 20°53'W by German U-boat U-509. 207 survivors were picked up by HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR).

18 Dec 1942

Convoy WS 25.

The convoy was assembled off Oversay on 18 December 1942.

It was made up of the following (troop) transports; Britannic (British, 26943 GRT, built 1930, 4955 troops), City of Lincoln (British, 8039 GRT, built 1938), Esperance Bay (British, 14204 GRT, built 1922, 1805 troops), Highland Brigade (British, 14134 GRT, built 1929, 1882 troops), Highland Princess (British, 14133 GRT, built 1930, 1930 troops), Mataroa (British, 12390 GRT, built 1922, 1897 troops), Orion (British, 23371 GRT, built 1935, 5335 troops), Rangitiki (British, 16698 GRT, built 1928, 2598 troops) and Tarifa (Norwegian, 7229 GRT, built 1936).

On assembly the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruisers HMS Carnarvon Castle (Capt.(Retd.) E.W. Kitson, RN), HMS Cheshire (A/Capt.(Retd.) R.D. King-Harman, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), destroyers HMS Quilliam (Capt. S.H. Carlill, DSO, RN), HMS Wolverine (Lt. I.M. Clegg, RN), escort destroyer HMS Badsworth (Lt. G.T.S. Gray, DSC, RN), HMS Haydon (Lt. R.C. Watkin, RN) and HMS Rockwood (Lt. S.R. Le H. Lombard-Hobson, RN).

Around 1700Z/24, HMS Wolverine, HMS Badsworth and HMS Haydon parted company with the convoy to fuel at Ponta Delgada, Azores. They were not to rejoin the convoy. HMS Quilliam and HMS Rockwood had returned from fuelling at Ponta Delgada in the afternoon of the 24th, These two ships were to continue with the convoy to Freetown.

At 1225Z/26, the destroyer HMS Ilex (Lt.Cdr. V.A. Wight-Boycott, OBE, RN) joined the convoy.

Around 2005Z/28, HMS Rockwood parted company to fuel at Bathurst. She rejoined the convoy around 1100Z/30.

At 0900Z/29, HMS Ilex parted company with the convoy to proceed to Freetown. She rejoined around around 0900Z/31.

At 0545Z/30, the corvettes HMS Crocus (T/Lt. J.F. Holm, RNZNR) and HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) joined the convoy.

The convoy arrived at Freetown in the afternoon of 31 December 1942.

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The convoy departed Freetown in the same composition on 3 January 1943.

The convoy was now escorted by the armed merchant cruisers HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN), HMS Cheshire destroyer HMS Quilliam, escort destroyer HMS Rockwood, corvette HMS Crocus and the minesweeper HMIS Baluchistan (Lt. D.A. McDonald, RIN).

Around 0715A/6, the corvette Commandant d'Estienne d'Orves joined the convoy coming from Takoradi.

Around 1900A/6, the Highland Brigade was detached to Takoradi escorted by the Commandant d'Estienne d'Orves and HMIS Baluchistan. they arrived at Takoradi on the 7th.

Between 0850A/9 and 1300A/9, HMS Quilliam was fuelled by HMS Alcantara.

At 1000A/9, HMS Crocus was detached to Pointe Noire.

Between 1330A/9 and 1915A/9, HMS Rockwood was fuelled by HMS Alcantara.

Around 1920A/9, HMS Alcantara parted company with the convoy to return to Freetown.

Around 1830C/14, the destroyer HMS Express (Lt.Cdr. F.J. Cartwright, RN) joined the convoy. HMS Quilliam then parted company to proceed to Simonstown.

Around 1600C/14, HMS Quilliam rejoined the convoy after having fuelled at Simonstown. By now HMS Rockwood had also parted company with the convoy to proceed to Simonstown after having been relieved by the corvette HMS Genista (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Pattinson, DSC, RNR). On HMS Quilliam rejoining the convoy HMS Genista was detached.

The convoy arrived at Durban on 18 January 1943. (4)

19 Dec 1942

Convoy CF 10.

This convoy departed Capetown on 19 December 1942.

The convoy was made up of the (troop) transports; Almanzora (British, 15551 GRT, built 1914), Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (Dutch, 19429 GRT, built 1930), Largs Bay (British, 14182 GRT, built 1921) and Straat Soenda (Dutch, 6439 GRT, built 1939).

On departure from Capetown the convoy was escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) and the destroyer HMS Fortune (Lt.Cdr. R.D.H.S. Pankhurst, RN).

Around 0655B/21, HMS Fortune parted company with the convoy to proceed to Simonstown.

Around 1400A/27, the corvette HMS Hydrangea (A/Lt.Cdr. J.E. Woolfenden, RD, RNR) joined the convoy.

Around 1615Z/28, the escort destroyer HMS Holcombe (Lt.Cdr. S.H. Pinchin, DSC, RN) and corvette Commandant Drogou joined the convoy.

The convoy arrived at Freetown on 29 December 1942.

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The convoy departed Freetown on 1 January 1943 but now escorted by the armed merchant cruiser HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN), destroyer HMS Ilex (Lt.Cdr. V.A. Wight-Boycott, OBE, RN), escort destroyer HMS Holcombe and corvette HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR).

Around 1940Z/1, HMS Ilex was detached to participate in an A/S hunt off Dakar.

Around 1120Z/2, the corvette HMS Bellwort (A/Lt.Cdr. N.F.R. Gill, RNR) joined, having departed Bathurst on 1 January.

Around 1930Z/3, HMS Ilex rejoined the convoy having first fuelled at Bathurst. At the same time the Largs Bay escorted by HMS Woodruff parted company. The Largs Bay was to proceed to New York escorted part of the way by the corvette. HMS Woodruff arrived at Bathurst on 10 January.

Around 1800Z/4, HMS Holcombe parted company to proceed to Bathurst where she arrived on 6 January.

Around 0800Z/5, the sloops HMS Sandwich (Lt.Cdr. H. Hill, RD, RNR), HMS Leith (Lt.Cdr. E.C. Hulton, RN) and HMS Erne (Lt.Cdr. E.D.J. Abbot, RN) joined.

Around 0840Z/5, HMS Ilex and HMS Bellwort parted company to proceed to Bathurst where HMS Ilex arrived on the 6th and HMS Bellwort on the 7th.

Around 1200A/8, the convoy merged with convoy MKF 6. The three sloops did not join convoy MKF 6 but proceeded to Gibraltar where they arrived later on the 8th. (5)

1 Jan 1943
HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN), HMS Ilex (Lt.Cdr. V.A. Wight-Boycott, OBE, RN), HMS Holcombe (Lt.Cdr. S.H. Pinchin, DSC, RN) and HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) departed Freetown escorting convoy CF 10.

[For more info on this convoy see the event ' Convoy CF 10 ' for 19 December 1942.] (6)

21 Jan 1943
The armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) and the corvette HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) departed Freetown for Kingston, Jamaica. They were to proceed there to escort the newly constructed floating dock AFD 24 from New Orleans to Freetown.

While en-route they were ordered to proceed to Trinidad instead. (7)

28 Jan 1943
HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) was fuelled at sea by HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN). (8)

31 Jan 1943
The armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) and the corvette HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) arrived at Trinidad from Freetown.

By now it became apparent that the sailing of AFD 24 from New Orleans had been delayed. It was decided to employ both ships for anti blockade runner patrols in the meantime. (8)

12 Feb 1943
The armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) and the corvette HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) arrived at Recife from anti blockade runner patrol in the area between Trinidad and Natal. (9)

14 Feb 1943
The armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) and the corvette HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) departed Recife for Trinidad conducting an anti blockade runner patrol en-route.

On 18 February and 25 February and 3 March, HMS Woodruff was fuelled at sea by HMS Alcantara.

While on patrol they had been ordered to remain on patrol as long as endurance allowed and to arrive at Trinidad not later then March 9th. (10)

7 Mar 1943
The armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) and the corvette HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) arrived at Trinidadfrom anti blockade runner patrol. (11)

25 Mar 1943

Passage of floating dock AFD 24 from Trinidad to Freetown.

On 25 March 1943, the dock in tow of the tugs HMS Frisky and HMS Zwarte Zee departed Trinidad. Escort was provided by the sloop HMS Milford (Lt.Cdr. G. MacClelland, RN), corvettes HMS Tamarisk (Lt. S. Ayles, RNR), HMS Woodruff (A/Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) and the ASW trawlers HMS Morris Dance (T/Lt. S.A. MacKechnie, RNVR) and HMS Yestor (Lt. R.C. Holt, RNVR). A third tug was also present as stand by tug, this was HMS Oriana.

On 1 April 1943, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Alcantara (A/Capt.(retd.) J.D. Harvey, RN) and the corvette HMS Amaranthus (T/Lt. W.S. Thomson, RNR) departed Trinidad to overtake and join the 'convoy'. HMS Alcantara was to fuel the oil firing sloop and corvettes at sea during the passage to Freetown. The coal firing trawlers were to coal in Brazilian ports.

On 24 April 1943, the corvette HMS Snowdrop (Lt. P.A. Tinne, RNVR) and the motor launches HMS ML 296 (T/Lt. R.C. Breckenridge, RCNVR), HMS ML 289 (?), HMS ML 287 (T/Lt. J.B. Bramwell, RNVR), HMS ML 281 (T/Lt. P.S. Castle, RNVR), HMS ML 266 (T/Lt. D.R. Beverley, RCNVR) and HMS ML 209 (T/Lt. A.M.C. Scott, RNVR) departed freetown to make rendezvous with the convoy which did at 1130Z/26. ML 281 had however returned to Freetown on the 26th after having been detached due to a defective Asdic installation.

On 27 April 1943, the A/S yacht HMS Virginia (T/A/Lt.Cdr. J. Dobson, RNR) and corvettes HMS Armeria (Lt. M. Todd, RNR), HMS Cyclamen (Lt. A.G. Scott, RNR) and HMS Thyme (Lt. H. Roach, RNR) departed Freetown to join the convoy which they did early in the evening of the same day.

The dock and it's escorts arrived at Freetown on 28 April 1943.

7 May 1943
Le Centaure conducted A/S exercises off Freetown with HMS Milford (Lt.Cdr. G. MacClelland, RN), HMS Tamarisk (Lt. S. Ayles, RNR), HMS Woodruff (Lt. F.H. Gray, RNR) and HMS Yestor (Lt. R.C. Holt, RNVR). (12)

24 Jun 1943
Argo conducted A/S exercises off Freetown with HMS Milford (Lt.Cdr. G. MacClelland, RN), HMS Clarkia (Lt.Cdr. S. Darling, RANVR), HMS Cowslip (Lt.Cdr. F. Granger, RNR), HMS Woodruff (T/Lt. T. Muir, RNVR) and HMS Buttermere (Lt. J.D.E. Lewis, RNR). (12)

3 Apr 1945
HMS Vampire (Lt. C.W. Taylor, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Gibraltar with HMS Kilmarnock (T/Lt. I.H. Bargrave-Deane, RNVR) and HMS Woodruff (Lt. W.K. Tadman, RNR). (13)

9 Apr 1945
HMS Vampire (Lt. C.W. Taylor, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Gibraltar with HMS Enchantress (T/A/Lt.Cdr. A.J. Clemence, RNR) and HMS Woodruff (Lt. W.K. Tadman, RNR). (13)

12 Apr 1945
HMS Vampire (Lt. C.W. Taylor, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Gibraltar with HMS Eggesford (Lt. G.H. Evans, RN) and HMS Woodruff (Lt. W.K. Tadman, RNR). (13)

25 Apr 1945
HMS Vampire (Lt. C.W. Taylor, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Gibraltar with HMS Woodruff (Lt. W.K. Tadman, RNR) and HMS Coltsfoot (T/A/Lt.Cdr. G.W. Rayner, RNVR). (13)