H .  M .  S .   C U C K M E R E   ( k 2 9 9 )

 

RIVER-Class Frigate ordered by the US Navy on6th October 1941 from Canadian Vickers at Montreal, Canada and laid down on 4th May 1942 for completion as PG104 but transferred to the Royal Navy under the UK/USA Lend/Lease Agreement. The ship was launched as HMS CUCKMERE on 24th October 1942 as the 1st RN warship to carry the name. Build was completed on 14th May 1943 and had been adopted by the civil community of Chailey, East Sussex in March 1942 after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

ATLANTIC 1943 - MEDITERRANEAN 1943

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge  : No details are given in the official Record of Heraldic Crests

but as the ship had no predecessor this is not unique and applies

to other RIVER Class Frigates.

 

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

 

1 9 4 3

 

May                        Contractors trials

                14th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials

                                On completion prepared for ocean passage

 

June                        Passage to UK with call at St Johns

                                Completed storing and took passage to Tobermory.

                                Nominated for service in Western Approaches Command.

 

July                         Passage to join Escort Group from Tobermory to commence operational service

to                            Deployed for convoy defence in NW Approaches.

September

 

October                  Nominated for escort of military convoy prior to allied landings in North Africa

                                (Operation TORCH)

                                (Note : For details see Naval Staff History, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY,

                                RELUCTATE ENEMIES by W Tute and for information about all mercantiles and

                                warships involved BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser)

                                Part of escort for military convoy prior to TORCH landings.

                                Retained at Gibraltar for convoy defence in Western Mediterranean and support of shore

                                operations.

 

November              Deployed for convoy defence based at Gibraltar.

 

December              Deployed in western Mediterranean for convoy defence.

 

                11th        During escort of eastbound Convoy KMS34 from Gibraltar torpedoed off Bougie by U223.

                                Ship sustained major structural damage and was towed to Algiers.

                                After survey it was decided not to carry out repair and she was declared to be a

                                Constructive Total Loss.

 

P o s t   W a r    N o t e

 

HMS CUCKMERE remained at Algiers until after the end of hostilities and was eventually returned to the US Navy on 14th November 1946 under the terms of the Lease Lend Agreement. She was then scrapped.