Allied Warships

HMS Grenadier (T 334)

ASW Trawler of the Military class

NavyThe Royal Navy
TypeASW Trawler
ClassMilitary 
PennantT 334 
Built byCook, Welton & Gemmill (Beverley, U.K.) : Holmes 
Ordered7 Feb 1942 
Laid down13 Jun 1942 
Launched26 Sep 1942 
Commissioned10 Feb 1943 
End service 
History

Sold to mercantile owners on 10 April 1946. Renamed Thuringia (GY 321) for Great Grimsby & East Coast Steam Fishing Co Limited, Grimsby. Official number 166648. Converted for fuel-oil burning in August 1947. Sold to Northern Trawlers Limited, Grimsby in May 1966. Sold for scrapping to Clayton & Davie Limited. Arrived at Dunston-on-Tyne for breaking up on 30 October 1966.

 

Commands listed for HMS Grenadier (T 334)

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and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.

CommanderFromTo
1A/Skr.Lt. Arthur George Day, RNR27 Jan 1943late 1945

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Notable events involving Grenadier include:


9 Mar 1943
HrMs O 10 (Lt.Cdr. Baron D.T. Mackay, RNN) participated in A/S exercises off Tobermory together with HMS Mutine (T/A/Lt.Cdr. N.E. Morley, DSC, RNVR), HMS Grenadier (A/Skr.Lt. A.G. Day, RNR) and HMS Rhododendron (Lt. L.A. Sayers, RNR). (1)

28 Jun 1943

Convoy SL 132.

This convoy departed Freetown on 28 June 1943.

This convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Algenib (Dutch, 5483 GRT, built 1937), Appledore (British, 5218 GRT, built 1929), Arosa (Norwegian, 5043 GRT, built 1924), City of Lille (British, 6588 GRT, built 1928), Comliebank (British, 5149 GRT, built 1924), Conakrian (British, 4876 GRT, built 1937), Danby (British, 4281 GRT, built 1937), Delius (British, 6065 GRT, built 1937), Empire Baron (British, 5894 GRT, built 1926), Empire Chamois (British, 5684 GRT, built 1918), Empire Livingstone (British, 6997 GRT, built 1941), Empire Merganser (British, 6100 GRT, built 1919), Empire Treasure (British, 7022 GRT, built 1943), Eurybates (British, 6276 GRT, built 1928), Fort Camosun (British, 7126 GRT, built 1942), Fort la Maune (British, 7130 GRT, built 1942), Fort Thompson (British, 7134 GRT, built 1942), Gabon (Norwegian, 4651 GRT, built 1931), Gleniffer (British, 9559 GRT, built 1919), Hopestar (British, 5267 GRT, built 1936), MacGregor Laird (British, 4992 GRT, built 1930), Marquesa (British, 8979 GRT, built 1918), Neleus (British, 6685 GRT, built 1911), New Columbia (British, 6574 GRT, built 1920), New Texas (British, 6568 GRT, built 1919), Ocean Vestal (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942), Ocean Victory (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942), Orient City (British, 5095 GRT, built 1940), Rod-el-Farag (Egyptian, 6369 GRT, built 1910), Salando (Dutch, 5272 GRT, built 1920), Shahzada (British, 5454 GRT, built 1942), Streefkerk (Dutch, 6185 GRT, built 1921) and Takoradian (British, 5452 GRT, built 1937).

The tugs Empire Ace (British, 274 GRT, built 1943) and Empire Dennis (British, 274 GRT, built 1943) were also part of the convoy.

On departure from Freetown the convoy was escorted by the destroyer HMS Keppel (Cdr. M.J. Evans, OBE, RN), corvettes HMS Narcissus (Lt. W.G.H. Bolton, RNR), HMS Orchis (T/Lt. E.D.A. Dyer, RCNVR), HMS Tamarisk (Lt. S. Ayles, RNR), Aconit and Lobelia and the A/S trawler HMS Yestor (Lt. R.C. Holt, RNVR).

At 2230Z/29, in position 09°32'N, 16°44'W, HMS Keppel obtained a radar contact at 7500 yards which was approaching the convoy from the starboard quarter. This was thought to be a submarine. The submarine was chased and forced to dive by HMS Keppel but contact was subsequently lost. Aconit joined in the hunt. HMS Keppel then made off to rejoin the convoy, which she did around 0215Z/30, leaving Aconit in the area to hunt for the submarine until 0830Z/30 and if not in contact by that time she was to rejoin the convoy. The submarine in question was the German U-333 which managed to slip away.

Around 0500Z/1, in position 12°32'N, 17°54'W, HMS Yestor was detached to Dakar.

Around 1730Z/1, in position 14°05'N, 17°52'W, five merchant vessels joined the convoy coming from Dakar. This were the following;
Alsace (French (cable ship), 2092 GRT, built 1940), Canada (French, 9684 GRT, built 1912), Cap Cantin (British (former French), 3317 GRT, built 1933), Charles Schiaffino (French, 3664 GRT, built 1930) and Medie II (French, 5078 GRT, built 1922).

A 1338Z/6, south of the Canary Islands, in position 26°26'N, 15°09'W, the escorting Catalina aircraft reported a submarine dead ahead of the convoy at a range of 15 miles. HMS Keppel proceeded ahead to search for the enemy submarine but nothing was found. This must have referred to the German submarine U-193 which was attacked at 1334Z/6, by Catalina P 11, VP 92, Patrol Squadron 73, USN. The German submarine sustained damage two crewmembers were wounded one of which subsequently died. The German U-boat also fired on the plane which was damaged. Among the crew of the plane there was one dead and four wounded. HMS Keppel rejoined the convoy after a brief search.

Around 1430Z/8, in position 30°01'N, 12°00'W, the RFA tanker Fortol (2629 GRT, built 1917) joined the convoy coming from convoy RS 8. However the Fortol had never fuelled escorts using the astern method and had all hear gear stowed and given the sea conditions prevented from the hatches being opened to get it out, let alone to sea conditions being to rough to refuel underway anyway.

Around 1450Z/10, HMS Keppel arrived at Casablanca to fuel leaving again around 2045Z/10 and rejoined the convoy around 0300Z/11.

Around 0800Z/10, in position 32°46'N, 10°24'W, the patrol vessels USS PC-473 (Lt. D.F. Welch, USNR), USS PC-480 (Lt.(jg) F.W. Meyers, Jr., USNR) and USS PC-482 (Lt. N.P. Hallowell, Jr., USNR) joined the convoy coming from Casablanca.

Around 1800Z/10, the three USN patrol vessels parted company to return to Casablanca. The following merchant vessels parted company with the convoy to proceed to Casablanca escorted by these patrol vessels;
Alcase, Canada, Charles Schiaffino, Hopestar (with boiler trouble) and Medie II. Also both tugs parted company with the convoy also to proceed to Casablanca.

Around 0630Z/11, in position 34°24'N, 09°21'W, the convoy was joined by convoy MKS 16 coming from Gibraltar. This convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels;
Algerian (British, 2315 GRT, built 1924), Arlesford (British, 2472 GRT, built 1922), Audun (Norwegian, 1304 GRT, built 1925), Baron Forbes (British, 3061 GRT, built 1915, came from Lisbon), City of HongKong (British, 9609 GRT, built 1924), City of Lancaster (British, 3041 GRT, built 1924), Dux (Norwegian, 1590 GRT, built 1934), Empire Clive (British, 7069 GRT, built 1941), Empire Guinevere (British, 7072 GRT, built 1942), Empire Spey (British, 4292 GRT, built 1929), Empire Tern (British, 2479 GRT, built 1919), Fort Gibraltar (British, 7134 GRT, built 1942), Fort St. James (British, 7128 GRT, built 1942), Govert Flinck (Dutch, 7178 GRT, built 1942), Greathope (British, 2297 GRT, built 1926), Hartbridge (British, 5080 GRT, built 1927), Hoperange (British, 5177 GRT, built 1939), Kong Haakon VII (Norwegian, 7073 GRT, built 1942) and Macharda (British, 7998 GRT, built 1938). Also with this section was the rescue ship Rathlin (British, 1600 GRT, built 1936), rescue tug HMS Abeille IV, tug Empire Larch (British, 482 GRT, built 1941) and the trawler Portaferry (British, 356 GRT, built 1943, which was to become the M/S trawler HMS Probe after further outfitting in the U.K.). They were escorted by the destroyer HMS Velox (Lt. G.B. Barstow, RN), minesweepers HMS Shippigan (Cdr. M.H. Brown, DSC, RN), HMS Tadoussac (T/Lt. J.P. Davies, RNR) and A/S trawlers HMS Grenadier (A/Skr.Lt. A.G. Day, RNR) (had escorted the Baron Forbes from the vicinity of Lisbon) and HMS Lady Hogarth (T/Lt. S.G. Barnes, RNR).

On this convoy joining, HMS Velox was immediately detached to return to Gibraltar while the other escorts joined the now combined convoy for the moment.

Also on 11 July HMS Narcissus, Aconit and HMS Orchis fuelled from the Fortol in heavy weather. However the fuelling gear was damaged and Lobelia could therefore only be fuelled on 12 July.

Around 1300Z/12, HMS Tadoussac was detached for other duties.

Around 1630Z/12, the destroyer HMS Hurricane (Cdr. E.C. Bayldon, DSC, RN) joined and immediately proceeded to fuel from the Fortol.

Around 1815Z/12, the corvettes HMS Borage (T/Lt.Cdr. A. Harrison, RNR), HMS Dahlia (T/Lt. M.S. Work, RNR), HMS Meadowsweet (T/Lt. W.E. Saunders, RNVR) and HMS Monkshood (Lt. G.W. McGuiness, RNR) joined. These corvettes fuelled from the Fortol on the 13th. Fuelling was completed shortly before midnight and the Fortol then parted company to proceed to Gibraltar escorted by HMS Shippigan and HMS Lady Hogarth. The Empire Ace and Empire Dennis also went with them.

Around 1300Z/14, in position 41°40'N, 13°42'W, the destroyer HMCS Iroquois (Cdr. W.B.L. Holms, RCN) joined coming from Casablanca.

At 1515Z/14, the escorting aircraft reported a raft with six occupants in it about 38 miles ahead of the convoy. HMS Hurricane proceeded to search for this raft and at 1648Z/15, in position 42°20'N, 13°51'W, she picked up six survivors from the German submarine U-506 that had been sunk on 12 July 1943 by an aircraft.

Around 2220Z/14, the AA cruiser HMS Scylla (Capt. I.A.P. Macintyre, CBE, DSO, RN) arrived to provide cover just to the eastward of the convoy. She remained to the east of the convoy during the night. Around dawn on the 15th she closed the convoy to exchange some information before she made off to Gibraltar.

Around 2100Z/15, in position 44°53'N, 15°21'W, HMS Hurricane, HMS Borage, HMS Dahlia, HMS Meadowsweet and HMS Monkshood were detached to Gibraltar. HMS Hurricane transferred the six German survivors / POW's to HMCS Iroquois.

Around 0700Z/17, in position 48°51'N, 15°57'W, HMCS Iroquois was detached to Plymouth.

Around 2100Z/17, in position 50°32'N, 15°32'W, the following merchant vessels were detached to proceed ahead of the convoy to their destinations;
City of HongKong, City of Lille, Comliebank, Delius, Macharda and Neleus. [seven merchant vessels were detached according to the report, we have been unable to indentify the 7th vessel for the moment]. These ships all arrived at Liverpool on 20 July. They were escorted by Aconit and Lobelia which arrived at Greenock on 20 July.

Around 2000Z/19, in position 55°02'N, 11°21'W, the Empire Chamois was detached to proceed to Barrow in Furness where she arrived on 22 July.

Around 0400Z/20, in position 55°35'N, 10°04'W, the following merchant vessels were detached to Loch Ewe;
Appledore, Arosa, Cap Cantin, Danby, Dux, Empire Guinevere, Empire Livingstone, Empire Spey, Fort Gibraltar, Fort la Maune, Fort St. James, New Texas, Rod-el-Farag, Salando and Shahzada. Also the tug Empire Larch and trawler Portaferry were part of the Loch Ewe section. They were escorted by HMS Orchis.

HMS Keppel, HMS Narcissus and HMS Tamarisk arrived at Greenock on 21 July.

HMS Grenadier arrived at Liverpool on 22 July.

The remaining merchant vessels arrived in U.K. ports as follows;
On 21 July the following merchant vessels arrived in the Clyde;
Arlesford, Baron Forbes, Empire Baron, Empire Clive, Fort Camosun, Greathope, Hoperange and Marquesa. Also the Rathlin arrived in the Clyde on this day.

On 21 July the following merchant vessels arrived in Belfast Lough;
Algerian, Empire Merganser, Fort Thompson, Kong Haakon VII and Streefkerk.

On 22 July the City of Lancaster, Govert Flinck and Ocean Victory arrived at Barrow in Furness.

The remaining merchant vessels arrived at Liverpool on 22 July.

The destination of the Abeille IV was Milford Haven, arrival date not known but most likely 22 July. (2)

2 Oct 1943
HMS H 33 (Lt. D.G. Kent, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Bombardier (A/Skr.Lt. C.W. Burman, RNR), HMS Grenadier (A/Skr.Lt. A.G. Day, RNR) and HMS Skate (Lt. J.C. Rushbrooke, DSC, RN). (3)

3 Oct 1943
HMS H 33 (Lt. D.G. Kent, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Lough Foyle with HMS Bombardier (A/Skr.Lt. C.W. Burman, RNR), HMS Grenadier (A/Skr.Lt. A.G. Day, RNR), HMS Skate (Lt. J.C. Rushbrooke, DSC, RN), HMCS Kitchener (T/A/Lt.Cdr. W. Evans, RCNVR) and HMCS Arvida (T/Lt. D.G. King, RCNVR). (3)

16 Mar 1944
HMS United (Lt. N.R. Wood, RN) shifted from Stronoway to Tobermory and back. She was escorted by HMS Grenadier (A/Skr.Lt. A.G. Day, RNR). (4)

22 Mar 1944
HMS United (Lt. N.R. Wood, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Stornoway together with HMS Grenadier (A/Skr.Lt. A.G. Day, RNR). (4)

23 Mar 1944
HMS United (Lt. N.R. Wood, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Stornoway together with HMS Lancer (A/Skr.Lt. J.A. Cornelius, RNR) and HMS Grenadier (A/Skr.Lt. A.G. Day, RNR). (4)

24 Mar 1944
HMS United (Lt. N.R. Wood, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Stornoway together with HMS Lancer (A/Skr.Lt. J.A. Cornelius, RNR) and HMS Grenadier (A/Skr.Lt. A.G. Day, RNR). (4)

16 Mar 1945
HMS Grenadier (A/Skipper Lt. A.G. Day, RNR) picks up 30 survivors from the British merchant Inger Toft that was torpedoed and sunk by German U-boat U-722 3 nautical miles 270° from Neirst Point, Isle of Skye in position 57°25'N, 06°52'W.

Sources

  1. File 2.12.03.6382 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
  2. ADM 199/585 + ADM 199/964 + ADM 199/2101 + ADM 199/2190
  3. ADM 173/17787
  4. ADM 173/19217

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


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