| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | Rescue Tug |
| Class | Assurance |
| Pennant | W 112 |
| Built by | Cochrane & Sons Shipbuilders Ltd. (Selby, U.K.) |
| Ordered | |
| Laid down | 23 Dec 1941 |
| Launched | 16 May 1942 |
| Commissioned | 9 Oct 1942 |
| End service | |
| History | HMRT Griper sold to the Singapore Harbour Board in December 1946. Griper was renamed Surabaja in 1962. |
We don't have any commands listed for HMS Griper (W 112)
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Notable events involving Griper include:
6 Feb 1944
Combined convoy OS 67 / KMS 41.
This combined convoy was assembled off Oversay on 6 February 1944.
It was made up of the following merchant vessels; Ary Lensen (British, 3214 GRT, built 1930), Baltrover (British, 4916 GRT, built 1913), Bangkok II (British (former French, 8056 GRT, built 1919), Baron Forbes (British, 3061 GRT, built 1915), Baron Graham (British, 3242 GRT, built 1925), Baron Haig (British, 3391 GRT, built 1926), Belnor (Norwegian, 2871 GRT, built 1926), Boltonhall (British, 4824 GRT, built 1935), Calgary (British, 7206 GRT, built 1921), Cape Wrath (British, 4512 GRT, built 1940), Clan Cameron (British, 7243 GRT, built 1937), Cochrane (British, 7203 GRT, built 1923), Danby (British, 4281 GRT, built 1937), Empire Buckler (British, 7046 GRT, built 1942), Empire Clarion (British, 7031 GRT, built 1942), Empire Conrad (British, 7009 GRT, built 1942), Empire Cormorant (British, 5760 GRT, built 1918), Empire Galahad (British, 7046 GRT, built 1942), Empire Gareth (British, 2847 GRT, built 1942), Empire Heath (British, 6643 GRT, built 1941), Empire Lancer (British, 7037 GRT, built 1942), Empire Mallory (British, 6327 GRT, built 1941), Empire Snipe (British, 2497 GRT, built 1919), Empire Unicorn (British, 7067 GRT, built 1943), English Monarch (British, 4557 GRT, built 1924), Errington Court (British, 4913 GRT, built 1925), Explorer (British, 6235 GRT, built 1935), Fort Chesterfield (British, 7100 GRT, built 1943), Fort Henley (British, 7138 GRT, built 1943), Fort Livingstone (British, 7135 GRT, built 1942), Fort Michipicoten (British, 7152 GRT, 1943), Fort Poplar (British, 7134 GRT, built 1942), Fort Prudhomme (British, 7167 GRT, built 1943), Fort St.Joseph (British, 7151 GRT, built 1943), Glaisdale (British, 3777 GRT, built 1929), Gloucester City (British, 3071 GRT, built 1919), Hardingham (British, 7269 GRT, built 1942), Ioannis Frangos (Greek, 3442 GRT, built 1912), Junecrest (British, 6945 GRT, built 1942), King Frederick (British, 5106 GRT, built 1920), Langleebrook (British, 4246 GRT, built 1930), Leeds City (British, 4758 GRT, built 1927), Lyras (Greek, 5685 GRT, built 1918), Marija Petrinovic (Yugoslavian, 5684 GRT, built 1918), Matadian (British, 4275 GRT, built 1936), Merchant Royal (British, 5008 GRT, built 1928), Neleus (British, 6685 GRT, built 1911), Norman Monarch (British, 7005 GRT, built 1943), Ottinge (British, 2818 GRT, built 1940), Parkhaven (Dutch, 4803 GRT, built 1920)), Pentridge Hill (British, 7579 GRT, built 1941), Persier (Belgian, 5382 GRT, built 1918), Rancher (British, 5882 GRT, built 1927), Rugeley (British, 4985 GRT, built 1936), San Rafael (Panamanian, 5379 GRT, built 1919), Sansu (British, 5446 GRT, built 1939), Silverlarch (British, 5064 GRT, built 1924), Silverlaurel (British, 6142 GRT, built 1939), Starstone (British, 5702 GRT, built 1938), Thistleford (British, 4781 GRT, built 1928), Tilemachos (Greek, 3658 GRT, built 1921), Tudor Prince (British, 1914 GRT, built 1940), Tynemouth (British, 3168 GRT, built 1940) and Wanderer (British, 5079 GRT, built 1925).
The rescue ship Accrington (British, 1678 GRT, built 1910) and the rescue tug HMRT Griper were also with the convoy.
On assembly off Oversay the convoy was escorted by the escort carrier HMS Pursuer (A/Capt. H.R. Graham, DSO, DSC, RN), sloops HMS Rochester (Cdr. H.V. King, OBE, DSO, RN), HMS Londonderry (Lt.Cdr. L.B. Philpott, DSC, RD, RNR), HMS Scarborough (Lt.Cdr. E.B. Carnduff, RN), frigates HMS Tavy (T/A/Lt.Cdr. F. Ardern, RNR), HMS Tees (Lt.Cdr. R.A.D. Cambridge, DSC, RNR), corvettes HMS Geranium (T/Lt. G. Wallace, RNR), HMS Mignonette (Lt. H.H. Brown, DSC, RNR) and the A/S trawlers HMS Cape Argona (T/Lt. L.B. Payton, RNVR) and HMS Stafnes (T/Lt. A.T. Motion, RNVR).
Four of the merchant vessels of the convoy had to return to the U.K. due to defects of weather damage, these were; Baron Forbes, Lyras, Silverlaurel and Wanderer.
On 10 February 1944, the escort oiler San Tirso (British (tanker), 6266 GRT, built 1913) joined the convoy from convoy SL 147 / MKS 38.
On 12 February 1944, fighters from HMS Pursuer shot down two German aircraft that were shadowing the convoy.
On 16 February 1944, the convoy split into convoy OS 67 and KMS 41.
HMS Stafnes had been detached from the convoy and arrived at Horta, Azores on 17 February 1944.
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Convoy OS 67, towards Freetown, was made up of the following merchant vessels; Calgary, Cochrane, Empire Buckler, Empire Galahad, Empire Lancer, Fort Henley, Fort Livingstone, Fort Poplar, Gloucester City, Leeds City, Marija Petrinovic, Matadian, Neleus, Persier, Sansu and Silverlarch. The frigate HMS Tees of the escort remained with convoy OS 67.
On 15 February 1944, the frigates HMS Odzani (Lt.Cdr. L.A. Sayers, RD, RNR), HMS Aire (A/Lt.Cdr. N.K. Boyd, DSC and Bar, RNR) and corvette HMS Stonecrop (T/A/Lt.Cdr. J.H.S. Fayrer, DSC, RNVR) had departed Gibraltar escorting convoy OS 67G (the Gibraltar section of convoy OS 67) which was made up of the following transports; Agia Marina (Greek, 4151 GRT, built 1912), Appledore (British, 5218 GRT, built 1929), Baron Douglas (British, 3899 GRT, built 1932), Empire Perdita (British, 7028 GRT, built 1943), Ingleton (British, 7203 GRT, built 1942), King Edgar (British, 4536 GRT, built 1927), King William (British, 5274 GRT, built 1928) and Van Ostade (Dutch, 2890 GRT, built 1942).
On these ships arriving at the rendezvous on the 16th the convoy split. The original escort of the combined convoy, minus HMS Tees then proceeded with convoy KMS 41 towards the Mediterranean.
On 16 February 1944, the tanker Neritina (British (tanker), 8228 GRT, built 1943) departed Casablanca to join the convoy. She was escorted by the patrol vessels USS PC-474 (Lt. H.C. Hummer, USNR) and USS PC-481 (Lt. N.W Roeder, USNR). On this ship joining the convoy the transport Leeds City parted company with the convoy and proceeded to Casablanca escorted by the two patrol vessels. They arrived at Casablanca on the 17th.
On 23 February 1944, the Fort Livingstone arrived at Dakar after having been detached from the convoy while the transports Kedoe (Dutch, 3684 GRT, built 1921) and Madagascar (British, 4861 GRT, built 1912) joined the convoy coming from Dakar. Also the the sloop / minesweeper Annamite joined the convoy.
The convoy arrived at Freetown on 26 February 1944. Some ships of the convoy did not enter Freetown but proceed directly to other destinations.
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Convoy KMS 41, made up of the remaining ships, proceeded towards the Mediterranean with the original escort of the combined convoy (minus HMS Tees).
On 28 January 1944, the following transports / tanker arrived at Gibraltar; Baltrover, Baron Graham, Baron Haig, Empire Cormorant, Empire Snipe, Errington Court, King Frederick, Langleebrook, Norman Monarch, Ottinge, Tilemachos and Tudor Prince as did the rescue ship Accrington, escort oiler San Tirso and HMRT Griper. The escort, made up of HMS Rochester, HMS Londonderry, HMS Scarbrough, HMS Tavy, HMS Geranium, HMS Mignonette and HMS Cape Argona also arrived at Gibraltar.
The following ships of the convoy meanwhile directly entered the Mediterranean; Ary Lensen, Bangkok II, Belnor, Boltonhall, Cape Wrath, Clan Cameron, Danby, Empire Clarion, Empire Conrad, Empire Gareth, Empire Heath, Empire Mallory, Empire Unicorn, English Monarch, Explorer, Fort Chesterfield, Fort Michipicoten, Fort Prudhomme, Fort St.Joseph, Glaisdale, Hardingham, Ioannis Frangos, Junecrest, Merchnant Royal, Parkhaven, Pentridge Hill, Rancher, Rugeley, San Rafael, Starstone, Thistleford and Tynemouth.
On passing Gibraltar they were joined by the following transports / tankers; Arena (Norwegian (tanker), 6362 GRT, built 1927), Harrogate (British, 1029 GRT, built 1925), Palacio (British, 1346 GRT, built 1927), Parame (French, 2337 GRT, built 1918) and Robert Y. Haine (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943). Also a new escort joined for the passage through the Mediterranean, this was made up of the following ships; AA cruiser HMS Colombo (Capt. H.W. Williams, RN), minesweepers HMS Hazard (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Smith, RN), HMS Aries (A/Cdr. M.A.O. Biddulph, DSC, RN) and the corvettes HMS Anemone (Lt. J.B. Sparkes, RNR), HMS Coltsfoot (T/A/Lt.Cdr. G.W. Rayner, RNVR), HMS Convolvulus (A/Lt.Cdr. R.F.R. Yarde-Buller, RNVR) and HMS Hyderabad (T/Lt. T. Cooper, RNR).
On 18 February 1944, the transports Palacio, Parame, Parkhaven, Robert Y. Haine and Tynemouth arrived at Oran after having been detached from the convoy while the following transports joined the convoy coming from Oran; Cara (British, 1760 GRT, built 1929), Cornelius Gilliam (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Cornelius Harnett (American, 7177 GRT, built 1942), David L. Swain (American, 7177 GRT, built 1943), Gabriel Duval (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Grand Quevilly (French, 2844 GRT, built 1914), Iceland (British, 1236 GRT, built 1914), James Barbour (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Louis McLane (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Moray Coast (British, 687 GRT, built 1940), Richard Montgomery (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Thomas Cresap (American, 7200 GRT, built 1943)), Thomas Nelson Page (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), William Blount (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942) and Zane Gray (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943). The self propelled fuel barges USS Anticline (2670 GRT, built 1943, Lt. A.R. Byron, USNR) and USS Syncline (2670 GRT, built 1943, Lt. A.E. Nichols, Jr., USNR) also joined the convoy.
On 19 February 1944, the transports Cara, Empire Mallory, Glaisdale, Hardingham, Harrogate, Ioannis Frangos, James Barbour, Junecrest, Merchant Royal and Thistleford as well as USS Anticline and USS Syncline arrived at Algiers after having been detached from the convoy while the following transports / tankers joined the convoy coming from Algiers; Benito Juarez (American, 7244 GRT, built 1943), Brighton (British, 7345 GRT, built 1943), Cuba (British, 11420 GRT, 1923), Daniel Huger (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Empire Dickens (British (tanker), 9819 GRT, built 1942), Empire Guinevere (British, 7072 GRT, built 1942), Imber (British, 1899 GRT, built 1920), Nathaniel Macon (American, 7177 GRT, built 1943), Nebraska (British, 8261 GRT, built 1920) and Samspring (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943).
On 20 February 1944, the transport Empire Gareth arrived at Bone after having been detached from the convoy while the transport Fort Bell (British, 7127 GRT, built 1943) joined the convoy coming from Bone.
On 21 February 1944, the transports Cape Wrath, Iceland and William Blount as well as HMS Colombo arrived at Bizerta after having been detached from the convoy while the following transports / tankers joined the convoy from Bizerta; Bourgogne (French (tanker), 9357 GRT, built 1937), British Justice (British (tanker), 6932 GRT, built 1928), Nea (Norwegian, 1877 GRT, built 1921), Thomas Pinckney (American, 7177 GRT, built 1942) and William L. Smith (American, 7196, built 1943). The rescue tug HMRT Patroclus also joined the convoy.
On 21 February 1944, the transport Boltonhall arrived at Tunis after having been detached from the convoy.
On 22 February 1944, the transports Empire Clarion, Imber and Moray Coast arrived at Malta as did the minesweeper HMS Aries after having been detached from the convoy while the transport Toscana (British (former Italian), 9442 GRT, built 1923) joined the convoy from Malta.
On 22 February 1944, the following transports / tankers departed Augusta to join the convoy; Empire Opossum (British, 5644 GRT, built 1918), Fort Erie (British, 7128 GRT, built 1943), Newbrough (British, 5255 GRT, built 1941), Nuculana (British (tanker), 8179 GRT, built 1942), Samnebra (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943) and Samphire (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943).
On 23 February 1944, the following transports / tankers arrived at Augusta after having parted company with the convoy; Arena, Ary Lensen, Benito Juarez, Bourgogne, Brighton, Cornelius Gilliam, Cornelius Harnett, Cuba, Danby, Daniel Huger, David L. Swain, Empire Conrad, Empire Dickens, Empire Guinevere, Empire Heath, Empire Unicorn, English Monarch, Fort Bell, Fort Chesterfield, Fort Michipiconten, Gabriel Duval, Grand Quevilly, Louis McLane, Nathaniel Macon, Nea, Nebraska, Richard Montgomery, Rugeley, Samspring, San Rafael, Starstone, Thomas Cresap, Thomas Nelson Page, Thomas Pinckney, William L. Smith and Zane Gray. HMRT Patroclus also arrived at Augusta.
On 26 February 1944, the following transports / tankers arrived at Alexandria after having parted company with the convoy; Clan Cameron, Empire Opossum, Fort Erie, Fort Prudhomme, Newbrough, Samnebra, Samphire and Toscana. From the escort HMS Hazard, HMS Anemone and HMS Coltsfood also arrived at Alexandria.
The remainder of the convoy arrived at Port Said on 27 February 1944.
12 Mar 1944
HMS Stubborn (Lt. A.A. Duff, DSC, RN) departed Holy Loch for Plymouth in tow of HMS Griper. (1)
Sources
- ADM 173/18858
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.