uboat.net

  Front page - Fighting the U-boats - Allied Warships

Follow us on Twitter
@uboatnet

Notable events involving Aimwell include:

2 Aug 1942
Around 1600Q/7, the armed merchant cruiser HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN) and armed boarding vessel HMS Largs (Cdr. E.A. Divers, RNR) departed St. Thomas, Virgin Islands. They then joined the floating dock AFD 25 in tow of the tugs HMS Aimwell and HMS Favourite and escorted by the corvettes HMS Cowslip (Lt. F. Granger, RNR) and HMS Crocus (T/Lt. J.F. Holm, RNZNR).

The floating dock was on passage to Freetown. (1)

10 Aug 1942
HMS Aimwell was fuelled and watered while underway by HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN). (2)

15 Aug 1942
In the early morning hours floating dock AFD 25 broke its back in the swell. Salvage attempts were undertaken but late in the afternoon there was no other choice then to scuttle the dock which eventually sank in position 12°01'N, 40°50'W early in the evening.

The escort and tugs; the armed merchant cruiser HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN), armed boarding vessel HMS Largs (Cdr. E.A. Divers, RNR), corvettes HMS Cowslip (Lt. F. Granger, RNR), HMS Crocus (T/Lt. J.F. Holm, RNZNR) and tugs HMS Aimwell and HMS Favourite continued the passage to Freetown. (1)

16 Aug 1942
HMS Crocus (T/Lt. J.F. Holm, RNZNR) was topped off with fuel fuel while underway by HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN).

At 2055O/16, the corvette was detached from the group made up of HMS Asturias, HMS Largs (Cdr. E.A. Divers, RNR), HMS Cowslip (Lt. F. Granger, RNR), HMS Aimwell and HMS Favourite. (2)

17 Aug 1942
HMS Crocus (T/Lt. J.F. Holm, RNZNR) was topped off with fuel fuel while underway by HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN). At dawn on the 17th, it became apparent that HMS Aimwell had lost contact during the night with HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN), HMS Largs (Cdr. E.A. Divers, RNR), HMS Cowslip (Lt. F. Granger, RNR) and HMS Favourite.

A seach by the aircraft from HMS Asturias failed to find the missing tug. It was hoped she would proceed to Freetown independently.

During the day, HMS Cowslip was fuelled while underway by HMS Asturias. (2)

22 Aug 1942
Around 0930Z/22, HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN) and HMS Largs (Cdr. E.A. Divers, RNR) arrived at Freetown.

The missing tug (since 16 August 1942) HMS Aimwell was seen by them to enter harbour around 1050Z/22.

Around 1545Z/22, HMS Cowslip (Lt. F. Granger, RNR) and HMS Favourite also entered harbour. (2)

30 Oct 1942
HMS Asturias (Capt.(Retd.) H. Ardill, RN) conducted gunnery exercises off Freetown on a target that was being towed by HMS Aimwell. (3)

15 Jun 1943

Convoy XK 7.

This convoy departed Gibraltar on 15 June 1943 for the U.K.

It was made up of the following transports; Archangelos (Greek, 5692 GRT, built 1918), Brika (British, 4412 GRT, built 1929), Glaisdale (British, 3777 GRT, built 1929), Lanande (British, 7453 GRT, built 1920) and Penshurst (British, 1454 GRT, built 1921).

Also part of the convoy were the cable layer Aquilla (British, 450 GRT, built 1907) and the tug HMS Aimwell which was towing a part of HMS Porcupine.

The convoy was escorted by the corvette HMS Cyclamen (Lt.Cdr. H.N. Lawson, RNR), ASW whaler HNoMS Molde and the ASW trawler HMS Huddersfield Town (A/Skr.Lt. J.H. Consadine, DSC, RNR).

Distant cover for the convoy during part of the voyage was provided by the light (AA) cruiser HMS Scylla (Capt. I.A.P. Macintyre, CBE, DSO, RN).

The convoy arrived in U.K. waters on 26 June 1943. (4)

13 Dec 1943

Convoy AB 24.

This convoy departed Aden on 13 December 1943.

[The exact composition of this convoy is not clear to us for the moment and will require furter research.]

The repair ship HMS Resource (Capt.(Retd.) D.B. O’Connell, RN), tank landing ship Boxer (Lt.Cdr. G.B Herbert-Jones, RNR) and the tug HMS Aimwell were also part of this convoy.

On departure from Aden this convoy was escorted by the destroyers HMS Roebuck (Cdr. J.T. Lean, DSO, RN), HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN), HMS Quality (Lt.Cdr. G.L. Farnfield, DSO, RN) and the frigates HMS Derg (Lt. E.J. Binfield, DSC, RNR) and HMS Kale (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Houchen, OBE, RD, RNR).

Around 1200DE/15, the destroyer HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) joined and commenced fuelling from HMS Recource.

Around 1700DE/15, the escort carrier HMS Battler (A/Capt. F.M.R. Stephenson, RN), destroyers HMS Rotherham (Capt. F.S.W. de Winton, RN), HMS Rapid (Lt.Cdr. M.W. Tomkinson, DSC and Bar, RN) and frigate HMS Plym (T/A/Lt.Cdr. A. Foxall, RNR) made rendezvous with the convoy. They came from Bombay which they had departed, together with HMAS Nepal around 1500FG/12. HMS Rapid had joined the Battler group around 1415DE/15 having departed Colombo on 12 December 1943. HMS Plym actually did not join the convoy but proceeded independently to Aden where she arrived on 17 December 1943. HMAS Nepal proceeded to Kilindini where she arrived on 19 December 1943 escorting the troop transport Arundel Castle (British, 19118 GRT, built 1921) which she must have picked up at some point. HMS Battler, HMS Rotherham, HMS Rapid, HMS Roebuck, HMS Derg and HMS Kale arrived at Bombay with part of the convoy on 19 December 1943.

Around 1715DE/15, HMS Rescourse and the transport City of Lincoln (British, 8039 GRT, built 1938) and the destroyers HMAS Quiberon and HMS Quality parted company with the convoy. The City of Lincoln parted company with these ships around 1400FG/20 to proceed to Colombo where she arrived on 21 December 1943. HMS Rescource, HMAS Quiberon and HMS Quality arrived at Trincomalee around 1200FG/22.

3 Oct 1944
The damaged battleship HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN) departed Trincomalee for Aden. She is to proceed to the U.K. for full repairs. She is being escorted by the destroyers HMS Quadrant (Lt.Cdr. P.C. Hopkins, RN), HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN), sloop HMIS Jumna ( A/Cdr. K.R.U. Todd, RIN) and the frigate HMS Awe (Lt.Cdr. H.P. Carse, DSC, RNVR). The RFA tanker Arndale (8296 GRT, built 1937) is also with them to refuel the escorts as is the tug HMS Aimwell in case HMS Valiant breaks down or need assistance in steering as she is not able to steer a steady course due to the damage she had sustained. (5)

13 Oct 1944
HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN), HMS Quadrant (Lt.Cdr. P.C. Hopkins, RN), HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN), HMIS Jumna ( A/Cdr. K.R.U. Todd, RIN), HMS Awe (Lt.Cdr. H.P. Carse, DSC, RNVR) and HMS Aimwell arrived at Aden.

The tanker Arndale had been detached on the 8th after having fuelled the escorts. (5)

14 Oct 1944
Around 1130C/14, HMS Valiant (Capt. G.E.M. O’Donnell, DSO, RN) departed Aden for Suez. On departed from Aden she was being escorted by the destroyer HrMs Tjerk Hiddes (Lt.Cdr. N.W. Sluijter, RNethN) until 0615C/15. The frigate HMS Trent (T/A/Lt.Cdr. J.G. Rankin, DSC, RNR) was also present, unknown when she parted company. The tugs HMS Aimwell and HMS Bolt were also in company until 1545C/15. (5)