H . M . S E G R E T ( L 7 5 )
EGRET-Class Sloop ordered from JS White of Cowes
under the 1936 Programme on 5th March 1937. The ship
was laid down on 21st July
1937 and launched by Lady Michelson as
the
3rd RN warship to bear this name which had been
introduced in 1813 for a 6th Rate and last borne by a destroyer built in 1903
and wrecked in 1915. After
commissioning on 11th November1938 this ship she was deployed in
the Red Sea.. In February 1942 following a WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign she was ‘adopted’ by the
civil community of Grantham and West Kesteven, Lincolnshire.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ATLANTIC 1939-42
- NORTH AFRICA 1942-43 -
BISCAY 1943
H e r
a l d i c D a t a
Badge
: On a Field Blue, over water in base barry wavy White
and Blue, an egret in flight White.
Motto
Noli mea levitate decipi: 'Don't be deceived by my lightness'
D.e t a i l s o f W a r
S e r v i c e
1 9 3 9
September Deployed on
patrol duty off Laurenco Marques to intercept German shipping in
the
Indian Ocean.
October Indian
Ocean patrol in continuation.
November Transferred
for escort duty in Home Waters.
Took passage via the Mediterranean.
On
arrival at Gibraltar diverted to Freetown, West Africa.
December Deployed as
escort for inward Convoy SLF13 from Freetown to UK.
1 9 4 0
January Detached
from convoy on arrival.
3rd
Sustained damaged in collision with SEA VALOUR on arrival.
10th Under
repair at Cardiff in commercial shipyard.
February Nominated
for duty with Rosyth Escort Force on completion of repair.
Deployed for defence of North Sea convoys.
March East
coast convoy defence in continuation
to
(Note : This ship, surprisingly, did not take part in the Norwegian operations,
May nor was
she involved in the evacuations at Dunkirk.)
June
Pennant Number changed to U75.
to East
coast convoy defence in continuation
November
December Transferred
to Western Approaches for convoy escort based at Londonderry.
1 9 4 1
January Deployed in
NW Approaches for convoy escort.
to
May
June Taken
in hand for refit in commercial shipyard in London.
(Note : Radar Type 285 for main armament fire-control and Type 286 for aircraft
warning were
fitted during this refit. For details of the development and use of radar in RN,
see
RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.)
July
Resumed escort duty in NW Approaches on completion.
August
Transferred to 44th Escort Group and joined HM Sloop SCARBOROUGH, HM Cutter
BANFF
HM Cutter FISHGUARD
and HM Destroyer BRADFORD for escort of convoys on
Freetown-
UK
route.
September Atlantic convoy
escort in continuation.
to (For
details of convoy defence see THE BATTLE OF TOE ATLANTIC by D Macintyre and
December U-BOAT WAR IN
THE ATLANTIC.)
1 9 4 2
January Freetown
convoy escort in continuation.
2nd
Grounded at Bathurst without damage
February Freetown
deployment in continuation.
to
Nominated for refit in UK
April
May Passage
to UK
22nd Taken
in hand for refit in Tyne shipyard.
June Under
refit.
(Note : Improved design 10 centimetre surface warning radar Type 271 and H/F
Direction
Finding equipment for interception of enemy radio transmissions fitted.
See SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann).
July
24th
Carried out post refit trials and on completion rejoined Group in continuation
of Freetown
convoy escort duty.
August Freetown
convoy escort duty in continuation..
to
(Note : For details of weapon development and tactics by escorts and submarines
during
September this period
of the Battle of the Atlantic, see SEEK AND STRIKE by W Hackmann).
October
Transferred to escort troop convoys to Gibraltar for North African landings.
(Operation TORCH)
(Note : Freetown route convoys were suspended during TORCH.)
November
1st
Escorted military convoy to Mediterranean for planned allied landings.
(Note : For details of North African landings see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY
by
C. Barnett,
Naval Staff History and for information about all warships and
mercantiles involved BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.).
December Deployed for
convoy defence in support of Military operations in North Africa.
1 9 4 3
January Atlantic
convoy escort on UK - Gibraltar route.
February
27th Part
of escort for joint military convoy WS27 to Freetown and KMF1OA to Gibraltar
with
HM
Sloop ERNE, HM Cutter FISHGUARD, HM Frigate TEST, HM Destroyers CLARE.
QUAIL, QUEENBOROUGH. RAIDER and WOLVERINE
(Note : HM Battleship MALAYA was also deployed as Ocean Escort).
March
4th
Detached with WS27 ships when convoy divided and deployed as escort
during passage to
Gibraltar.
6th
Passage to UK with escort for military convoy.
On
arrival in Clyde detached and took passage to Humber for refit.
April Under
refit at Humber commercial shipyard.
to
(Note : Anti-Submarine Ahead Throwing Mortar weapon (HEDGEHOG) and 20mm AA guns
June
fitted. See
SEEK AND STRIKE.)
July
6th Post
refit trials and passage to Londonderry to prepare for operational service in
10th Escort
Group.
20th
Deployed with HM Sloop PELICAN, HM Frigates JED, ROTHER and
WEAR as escort for
joint military convoy WS32 to Freetown and KMF20 to Gibraltar.
(Note : HM Cruiser CHARYBDIS provided cover from 22nd.)
25th
Detached from joint convoy as escort for ships of KMF20 when convoys divided
August Deployed
as part of escort for return Convoy MKF20 during passage from Gibraltar to UK.
Detached for duty in Bay of Biscay with ships of 1st and 2nd Escort Groups for
anti-submarine operations to prevent passage of German submarines to and from
ports in Bay of Biscay using coastal waters (Operation PERCUSSION).
(Note : Aircraft patrols had not proved totally successful in stopping the
passage of
submarines to and from Atlantic. Operation DERANGE - See CONFLICT
OVER THE BAY by N Franks).
27th During
deployment for A/S operations with HM Canadian Destroyer ATHABASCAN and
HM
Destroyer GRENVILLE came under attack by Glider Bombs
controlled by Do 217
aircraft in position 30 miles west of Vigo.
(Note :This was second such attack. HM Sloop BIDEFORD had been badly damaged by
on
25th August.)
Received a direct hit and sank quickly with only 35 survivors who were rescued
by HMCS
ATHABASCAN despite having been damaged by another bomb at the same time.
