H .  M .  S .  T W E E D   ( K 2 5 0 )

 

RIVER-Class Frigate ordered on 19th May 1941 under  the 1940 War Programme from A J Inglis of Pointhouse, Glasgow and was laid down on 31st December 1941. The ship was launched en 24th November 1942 as the 5th RN Warship to carry the name dating from 1759. Build was completed on 9th April 1943 and had been adopted by the civil community of Hatfield, Hertfordshire in March 1942 after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign. This Frigate was fitted with Turbine propulsion machinery.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

BISCAY 1943 - ATLANTIC 1942-44

 

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 this

name had been used previously this may have been an oversight.

 

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

 

1 9 4 3

 

March                    Contractor's sea trials and commissioned for service in Western Approaches Command.

 

April                      

                5th          Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

                                On completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory to work-up for operational

                                service.

 

May                        Joined Western Approaches Command for Atlantic convoy defence on completion of work-up

 

June                        Deployed for convoy escort.

to                            (For details of Atlantic convoy defence operations see THE BATTLE OF THE ATLANTIC

July                         by D Macintyre, U-BOAT WAR IN THE ATLANTIC (HMSO) and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR

                                by C Blair.)

 

August                  Joined 5th Escort Group with HM Frigate NENE, HM Canadian Corvettes CALGARY,

                                EDMUNSTON and SNOWBERRY.

                                Nominated for duty in Support role for Anti-Submarine operations in Bay of Biscay.

                                Deployed with ships of 5th and 40th Escort Groups off NW coast of Spain to prevent use of

                                coastal waters by U-Boats on passage to and from French bases (Operation PERCUSSION).

                                (Note : This was carried out in conjunction with aircraft of RAF Coastal Command and with 

                                cover against surface destroyer attacks by HM Cruiser BERMUDA.

                                For more details see CONFLICT OVER THE BAY by N Franks, ENGAGE THE ENEMY

                                MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and above references.)

                23rd        Commenced operations off Spanish coast

                25th        Under attack by Hs293 Glider Bombs controlled by Do217 aircraft.

                                HM Cutter LANDGUARD (Ex US Navy) damaged by near misses.

                28th        Further attacks by Hs293 Glider Bombs against ships of newly arrived 1st Support Group

                                HM Sloop EGRET sunk and HM Canadian Destroyer ATHABASKAN damaged.

                                Support Groups withdrew farther west.

 

September             Resumed convoy defence and support duties in Atlantic.

 

October                  Part of escort for Convoy HX261 with ships of Group.

 

November              Deployed in support role for convoys between UK and Gibraltar.

                19th        Deployed with 5th Escort Group and destroyers from Gibraltar in support of escort for

                                combined Convoy MKS30 and SL139 during passage from Gibraltar to UK which was under

                                attacks by SCHILL Groups of U-Boats,

                20th        Convoy and escorts under sustained U-Boat attacks during which U356 was sunk by HM

                                Frigate NENE, HM Canadian Corvettes CALGARY and SNOWBERRY.

                                (See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR for details.)

                                (Note : 17 survivors were rescued including the submarine captain)

                21st         Defences reinforced by 4th British Support Group.

 

December              Convoy escort and support for Gibraltar convoys in continuation with Group.

                                Deployed with HM Destroyer WATCHMAN as screen for HM Escort Carrier STRIKER for

                                support of passage of joint Convoy MKS34/SL143.

                                (Note : An extensive operation by RAF Coastal Command to intercept of two blockade runners

                                in Bay of Biscay was concurrent with this deployment.

                                See ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY.)

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Deployed in SW Approaches with Group in search for reported blockade runners and support

                                of passage of outward Convoy KMS38/OS64 .

                7th          Sunk by Acoustic (T5) torpedo by U305, SW 600 miles west of Cape Ortegal in position

                                44.18N, 21.19W) and foundered within a few minutes.

                                52 of crew were rescued by HM Frigate NENE.

                                (Note : U305 was part of the BORKUM Group of U-Boats engaged in attacking joint Convoy

                                MKS34/ SL143 on passage from Gibraltar.

                                See above references.)

                                (For details of tactical and weapon development see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann

                                and RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)