BANFF-Class US Coastguard Cutter (Ex PONTCHARTRAIN) build by Bethlehem Shipbuilders at Quincy, Mass. and transferred under the US/UK Lend-Lease Programme on 3rd April 1941. The ship was laid down on 29th November 1927 and launched on 16th June 1928. Build was completed on 13th October that year and in common with other ships of this type her name during RN service was that of a British Coastguard Station, this one being  in Devon. The ship was fitted with RN Radar Type 271 after arrival in UK and she was primarily deployed for convoy defence between UK and West Africa.

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

ATLANTIC  1941-42 - ENGLISH  CHANNEL 1942 - NORTH AFRICA   1942

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

None is recorded in the Official List of Heraldic Crests

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

1 9 4 1

April

                3rd          Transferred to RN

                30th        Commissioned as HMS HARTLAND at New York manned by personnel from HM

                                Battleship MALAYA.

May                        Passage to Clyde.

                29th        Joined Western Approaches Command at Londonderry.

June

                2nd         Sustained structural damaged when involved in collision with mv WELSH COAST.

                                Deployed for local convoy escort in NW Approaches and joined escort for inward

                                Convoy HX130.

July

                19th        Modified in Thames commercial shipyard to suit RN escort duties.

                                (Note : Surface warning Radar Type 271 fitted.

                                See RADAR AT SEA by D Howse. for details of development and use of radar

                                in Royal Navy.)

August

                21st         On completion took passage to rejoin Western Approaches at Londonderry.

                                Deployed for escort of outward convoys in OS Series to West African and return inward

                                convoys of SL Series to Liverpool.

                                Joined escort for Convoy OS4 to Bathurst with HM Cutters GORLESTON, LULWORTH

                                and SENNEN.

September             Deployed for escorted of return Convoy SL88 to UK with HMS WALNEY.

October

                20th        At Belfast for fit of additional equipment.

                31st         Resumed convoy escort duty.

November

                5th          Passage to join HMS WALNEY in escort for Convoy OS10.

                8th          Slightly damaged by grounding.

December

                22th        At Belfast for installation of High Frequency Direction Finding outfit.

                                (Note : This equipment was used to determine the bearing of wireless signals and hen used

                                in conjunction with bearings from another escort or from shore stations fitted with

                                similar equipment could identify the position of transmitting ships or submarine.

                                See SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann.)

1 9 4 2

January

                12th        Returned to Londonderry to resume convoy escort duty.

                                Part of escort for outward Convoy OS 17 with HM Cutters GORLESTON, SENNEN and

                                TOTLAND.

February                Deployed as escort for returning Convoy SL99 with HMS WALNEY.

March                    Part of escort for inward Convoy SL102 with HMS WALNEY.

                                Joined escorted for outward Convoy OS22 with HM Cutters GORLESTON, SENNEN and

                                TOTLAND.

April

                                Deployed with HMS WALNEY seas escort for return Convoy SL104 rom Freetown.

May                        Escorted outward Convoy OS26 and return Convoy SL110.

June

                8th          Taken in hand for refit at Falmouth.

July

                31st         On completion resumed escort of West African convoys.

August                  Deployed with HMS WALNEY as escort for outward Convoy OS 38.

September             Deployed with HMS WALNEY as escort for return Convoy SL122.

October                 Nominated for special duties during at Oran during planned allied landings in North Africa.

                                (Operation TORCH).

                13th        Under repair and prepared for special duties at Belfast commercial shipyard,.

                20th        On completion returned to Londonderry.

                26th        Sailed from Clyde with HMS WALNEY to join TORCH operation at Gibraltar.

November              Embarked specialist personnel and landing parties at Gibraltar.

                8th          Followed HMS WALNEY into Qran harbour under cover of smoke-screen.

                                Sustained serious damage when under fire from French destroyer TYPHON and shore

                                batteries,

                                Manny casualties incurred including guns crews.

                                Ship abandoned and sank when magazine exploded.

                                (Note : For details see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett, Naval Staff

                                History and RELUCTANT ENEMIES by N Tute.)

Addendum

CONVOY ESCORT MOVEMENTS of HMS HARTLAND

by Don Kindell

These convoy lists have not been cross-checked with the text above

Date convoy         Joined convoy           Convoy No.           Left convoy           Date convoy

sailed                     as escort                                                                                  arrived

06/05/41                 07/05/41                 HX 125A               22/05/41                 22/05/41

01/06/41                 15/06/41                 HX 130                   19/06/41                 20/06/41

26/06/41                 01/07/41                 HX 135                   11/07/41                 12/07/41

02/09/41                 03/09/41                 OS 005                   17/09/41                 21/09/41

24/09/41                 27/09/41                 SL 088                    08/10/41                 08/10/41

02/10/41                 08/10/41                 HG 074                   18/10/41                 18/10/41

07/11/41                 10/11/41                 OS 011                   25/11/41                 28/11/41

30/11/41                 02/12/41                 SL 094                    20/12/41                 30/12/41

18/01/42                 25/01/42                 OS 017                   02/02/42                 07/02/42

27/01/42                 03/02/42                 SL 099                    16/02/42                 16/02/42

04/03/42                 04/03/42                 OS 021                   21/03/42                 24/03/42

24/03/42                 26/03/42                 SL 104                    12/04/42                 12/04/42

22/04/42                 23/04/42                 OS 026                   09/05/42                 09/05/42

13/05/42                 13/05/42                 SL 110                    04/06/42                 04/06/42

20/08/42                 20/08/42                 OS 038                   07/09/42                 07/09/42

14/09/42                 15/09/42                 SL 122                    06/10/42                 06/10/42

26/10/42                 26/10/42                 KMF 001               08/11/42                 08/11/42

(Note on Convoys)