H .  M .  S .   G R I M S B Y   ( L 1 6 )

 

"GRIMSBY" Class Sloop ordered from HM Dockyard Devonport under the 1931 Programme on 1st Nov. 1932 and laid down on 23rd January 1932. The ship was launched by Mrs Forbes on 19th July 1933 as the 2nd RN  ship to carry the name. previously used by a WW1 trawler. Build was completed on 17tn May 1934. After commissioning at Devonport she visited Grlmsby and Mablethorpes before taking passage to Hong Kong where mlneeweeping equipment was fitted. All her pre-war service was east of Suez and she was recalled to UK for convoy defence duties after the outbreak of WW2.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

GREECE  1941 - CRETE  1941 - LIBYA 1941

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge : On a Field Silver a  Boar’s  head Black.

 

M o t t o

Premia post ardus:   'Rewards come after toil'

 

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 in Persian Gulf

                                Transferred to Home waters after outbreak of war and took passage to UK.

 

October                  On arrival deployed with Rosyth Escort Force for East coast convoy defence.

                                ( Note : Installation of two twin 4in HA mountings was not carried out due to a chronic need

                                for these weapons to be fitted in other Escorts)

 

November              East coast deployment in continuation.

to                            (For details of naval activities in North Sea, see THE BATTLE OF THE EAST COAST by

December              J P Foynes and Naval Staff History.).

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  East coast deployment in continuation.

to                            Nominated for refit.

March

 

April                       Taken in hand for refit at commercial shipyard in Leith.

 

May                        Refit terminated to meet urgent need for escorts in Mediterranean Fleet

                                See Naval Staff History (HMSO, 2001)

                                Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to U16.

                20th        Sailed from Devonport to Join Fleet at Alexandria.

                31st         On arrival transferred to Red Sea Escort Force for convoy defence.

 

June                        Joined Red Sea Escort Force and provided defence for convoys between Aden and Suez.

 

July                         Red Sea deployment in continuation.

to

December

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Convoy defence in Red Sea in continuation.

 

February

                11th        Joined military convoy WS5A as escort during Red Sea passage with HM Cruiser CALEDON,

                                HM Sloops FLAMINGO and INDUS (RIN).

13th        Detached from WS5A and returned to Aden.

                                (Note : This convoy was taking troop reinforcements to Egypt and had a strong escort when

                                within range of Italian air bases in Somaliland.)

 

March                    Joined Fleet at Alexandria for convoy defence in Eastern Mediterranean.

                                Deployed for escort of military convoys to Greek ports.

 

April                       Eastern Mediterranean duties in continuation.

                22nd       Assisted with evacuation of Allied troops from Greece (Operation DEMON).

                27th        Towed mercantile as SCOTTISH PRINCE to Suds Bay after this mercantile had been damaged

                                in air attacks north of Crete.

                30th        Took over tow of damaged HM Auxiliary GLENEARN from HM Destroyer GRIFFIN and

                                took ship to Alexandria.

                                (For details of Greek evacuation, see ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett

                                and Naval Staff History (HMSO – 2001).

 

 

May                        Deployed on support of military operations at Tobruk and defence of ships engaged in supply

                                of stores and transport of personnel to garrison.

                25th        Sank north of Tobruk in position 32.30N 24.30E after air attacks during support of Tobruk

                                garrison.