H .  M .  I .  S .   G O D A V E R I   ( U 5 3 )

 

Modified BITTERN-Class Sloop ordered from John I Thornycroft, Woolston, Southampton under 1940 Build Programme for the Royal Indian Navy on 29th August 1940 with sister ship HMIS NARBARDA. Laid down on 31st Oct. 1940 as Yard No. 1386 she was launched on 21st January 1943 by Mrs Lail. Build completion date was 28th June 1943.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

BURMA 1945

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge : A Map of India and the Indian Ocean with a

border of lotus; sea Blue, British territory

Gold and Lotus proper.

 

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

 

1 9 4 3

 

June                        Contractor's trials.

                                Commissioned for RIN service.

                26th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

 

July                         On completion of trials and storing took passage to Scapa Flow.

                                Worked-up with ships of Home Fleet at Scapa Flow

                                Nominated for deployment in Home waters for Atlantic convoy defence on UK-Gibraltar route.

 

September             Atlantic convoy defence in continuation.

to

November

 

December

                22nd       Involved in collision with ss MANCHESTER PROGRESS and sustained structural damage,

                24th        Under repair at Londonderry.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                  Under repair.

                                Nominated for transfer to Eastern Fleet.

 

February                On completion of post repair trials joined escort for convoy UK-Port Said convoy

 

March                    On arrival detached and remained under RN control.

                                Retained for convoy defence and took passage to UK for further escort of military convoy.

                                Joined escort for Port Said convoy after arrival in UK.

 

April                       Part of escort for convoy to Port Said.

                                Onward passage to India approved.

                                Joined escort for convoy to Bombay at Port Said.

                25th        Joined Royal Indian Navy for and nominated for convoy defence in Indian Ocean.

 

May                        Deployment in Indian Ocean in continuation.

to

July

 

August                  Redeployed on anti-submarine patrol in Indian Ocean with HM Escort Carrier SHAH, Eastern

                                Fleet destroyers and frigates of Force 66.

                12th        Took part in sinking of U198 with HM Frigates FINDHORN and PARRET after sighting by

                                Avenger aircraft from HMS SHAH.

 

September             Anti-submarine patrol in Indian Ocean continued.

to

October

 

November              Remained in Eastern Fleet after formation of British Pacific Fleet.

 

December              Eastern Fleet deployment in continuation.

                                Under refit in HM Dockyard Bombay.

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Under refit.

to                            Nominated for support of military operations in Burma.

March

 

April                       Carried out post refit harbour and Sea trials.

                28th        Rejoined Eastern Fleet at Trincomalee.

 

May                        Prepared for support operations.

                                Part of escort for assault convoy taking 26th Indian Division to Rangoon with HM Indian Sloops

                                CAUVERY, NARBADA, KISTNA, SUTLEJ and HINDUSTAN.

                                (Operation DRACULA, for details see OPERATION PACIFIC by E Gray. THE FORGOTTEN

                                FLEET by J Winton and WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).)

 

June                        Deployed with same Sloops covered initially by HM Cruiser PHOEBE and later by HM Cruiser

                                CEYLON to intercept Japanese craft carrying cut supply and evacuation of Andamans

 

 July                        Deployed for patrol in Malacca Strait for support of minesweeping operations.

                                (Operation COLLIE: See above references).

 

August                  Nominated for support of allied landings in Malaya.

                                (Operation ZIPPER: This landing operation planned to take place before surrender of Japan

                                was postponed because of indecision in London and US insistence. See above refer ences and

                                Supreme Commander SEAC Final Report, Section E (HMSO).

                                Joined escort for assault convoy for landings in southern Malaya

 

 

P o s t   W a r  N o t e s

 

HMIS GODAVARI was deployed after VJ-Day for support of repatriation of allied personnel from Dutch East Indies and later for patrol duties with other RIN ships. She returned to Bombay later in 1945 and was deployed with a RIN Flotilla. On partition in 1947 this ship was transferred to Pakistan and was renamed PS SIND. She was retained in commission until 1959 when sold for breaking-up locally.