H .  M .  S .   A I R E   ( K 2 6 2 )

 

RIVER-Class Frigate ordered from Fleming and Ferguson of Paisley on 30th September 1941 under the 1941 Build Programme and laid down on 12th June 1942 as Job Number 1507 (Yard Number 597), The ship was launched on 22nd April 1943 as the first RN ship to bear this name and she had been ‘adopted’ by the civil community of Doncaster Rural District after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in February 1942. Build was completed on 28th July 1943. As shown in in the record below she never received particular mention for convoy defence during her service in the Atlantic. However this is by no means unusual since, as recorded in post war records, only two out of every twenty allied convoys were successfully attacked. Much publicity was given to the losses by U-Boat attacks but little was reported about those Atlantic convoys which arrived without incident. Over 90% of Atlantic convoys had uneventful crossings and their escorts had little opportunities to demonstrate the extent of the rigorous training and their defence capabilities. The contribution made by these ‘unsung’ ships companies to the safe and timely arrival of convoys was still one of the factors which enabled the allied navies to win the Battle of the Atlantic. After the end of hostilities in Europe she was deployed in the Far East but having survived the war she was wrecked in the South China Sea. whilst on passage to return to UK.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC  1943-45

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

No mention is made of an 'Official' Crest in the Admiralty Heraldic

Crest Record, but this is by no means unusual for ships entering

service during WW2, except those carrying a name previously used

and for larger warships.

 

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e

 

1 9 4 3

 

July                         Contractor's Sea Trials and commissioned for service

                28th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

 

August                  On completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory.

 

September             Passage from Tobermory to join Western Approaches Command for Atlantic convoy

                                defence on completion of work-up for operational service..

 

October                  Deployed for Atlantic convoy escort in continuation

to

December

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to                            (Note : Not detached for support of allied landings in Normandy)

December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Joined 8th Escort Group and prepared for service in Arctic with Russian convoys.

 

February                Deployed in NW Approaches with Group but not deployed for escort or support

                                of convoys to and from Kola Inlet.

 

March                    Deployed for convoy defence NW Approaches and for coastal convoy defence

to

April

 

May                        Nominated for service in East Indies Fleet after end of hostilities in Europe.

 

June                        Under Refit for convoy defence in Eastern Fleet.

 

July                         Passage to Ceylon.

 

August                  Joined East Indies Escort Force after VJ Day and not deployed operationally

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS AIRE was transferred to British Pacific Fleet in late 1945. and after arrival in Hong Kong she was used as an Accommodation Ship. Renamed HMS TAMAR in March 1946 she carried out this role until shore accommodation became available in December that year and then reverted to her original name. Whilst on passage to UK to Pay off she ran aground on Bombay Reef, south of Hainan, on 20th December 1946. The ship's company was saved by HM Depot Ship BONAVENTURE but the ship became a total loss.