H .  M .  S .   P E A C O C K   (U 9 6 )

 

Modified BLACK SWAN-Class Sloop built by John I Thornycroft at Woolston and laid down on 29th November 1942 as Yard No 4017.The ship was launched on 21st December 1943 as the 6th RN warship to carry the name which dates from 1651. During March 1942 following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign she was adopted by the civil community of Tadcaster in the North Riding of Yorkshire. Build was completed on 10th May 1944 and included improved design surface warning radar Type 276 instead of the earlier Type 271 designed in 1940. For details of use and development of radar in RN during WW2 see RADAR AT SEA by D Howse.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

CHINA 1900 - ARCTIC  1944 - ATLANTIC  1945

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge : On a Field White, upon a pedestal Black,  a peacock Proper

 

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

 

1 9 4 4

 

May                        Contractors sea trials and commissioning

                10th        Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

                                Nominated for duty with Home Fleet.

 

June                        On completion of trials and storing took passage to Tobermory.

                                Worked-up for operational service at Tobermory.

 

July                         On completion joined Home Fleet at Scapa Flow for convoy defence.

 

August                  Nominated for duty with 8th Escort Group to supplement anti-submarine defence of Russian

                                Convoy JW59B during passage to Kola Inlet.

                15th        Joined JW59 with HM Sloops KITE, MERMAID, HM Destroyers KEPPEL and WHITEHALL

                                Stationed ahead of convoy with HMS KEPPEL.

                                (Note: This convoy included ARCHANGELSK (Ex HM Battleship ROYAL SOVEREIGN and

                                ten Ex USN PT boats being transferred to Russian Navy.

                20th        Convoy under attack by Acoustic (T5) torpedoes fired by TRUTZ group of U-Boats during

                                which HMS KITE was sunk.

                24th        After detection by SWORDFISH aircraft of 825 Squadron from HM Escort Carrier VINDEX,

                                participated in sinking of U354 with HMS KEPPEL, HMS MERMAID and HM Frigate LOCH

                                DUNVEGAN in position 72.49N 30.4 E. See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.

                28th        Part of escort for returning convoy RA59A with same ships.

 

September

                1st           Took part on sinking of U394 in position 69.47N 04.41E, west of Lofotens with HMS KEPPEL

                                and HMS WHITEHALL after detection by SWORDFISH aircraft of 825 Squadron from HMS

                                VINDEX. See above reference.

                6th          Detached on arrival at Loch Ewe with comparatively little interference.

                                (For details see THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS by B Schoefield, CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA

                                Ruegg , CONVOY ! by P Kemp and ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman.)

                10th        Deployed for convoy defence in NW Approaches based at Scapa Flow and Greenock

 

October                  Convoy escort duty in continuation.

 

November              Under refit at Chatham.

 

December              On completion took passage to Liverpool to join 22nd Escort Group for duty in support of

                                Atlantic convoys.

                                (For details of Atlantic convoy support and defence tactics see THE BATTLE OF THE

                                ATLANTIC by D Macintyre, CONVOY ESCORT COMMANDER by P Gretton. ENGAGE

                                THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by Corelli Barnett and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair)

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                  Deployed with Group in support role.

                16th        Carried out sustained A/S search with Croup after the sinking of H M Escort Carrier THANE

                                in Firth of Clyde.

                                Participated in sinking of UU82 in North Channel with HM Sloops STARLING, .HART

                                AMETHYST, HM Frigates LOCH CRAGGIE and AMETHYST.

                                There were no survivors. (See above reference.)

 

February                Deployment with Group in support of convoys in continuation.

to                            During this period SCHNORKEL fitted U-Boats were concentrating on attacks in UK coastal

April                       waters.

                                (Note : The prime duty of support Groups was to detect and destroy any U-Boats threatening the

                                passage of convoys, including those to and from the Atlantic which were being routed

                                via the English Channel and SW Approaches.

                                (For details of U-Boat tactics and use of new weapons by A/S ships see SEEKAND

                                STRIKE by W Hackmann, ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett,

                                HOLD THE NARROW SEA by P Smith and HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)

 

May                        Nominated for service with British Pacific Fleet after refit.

 

June

                2nd         Taken in hand for refit at commercial shipyard in Liverpool to prepare for Pacific service.

 

July                         Under refit.

 

August

                9th          On completion transferred to Mediterranean Fleet since the need for Sloops by the Pacific Fleet

                                had lapsed.

                10th        Took passage to Malta to work-up for service.

                16th        Commenced work-up in Malta.

  

P o s t    W a r   S e r v i c e

 

HMS PEACOCK was retained in the Mediterranean after completing work-up and was used for duty as Guardship and interception of ships taking illegal immigrants to Palestine. She continued duty in Frigate Flotilla based at Malta until 1954 and then returned to Portsmouth to Pay-off.. The ship remained in Reserve Fleet, Portsmouth and was placed on the Disposal List in 1958 after the 1957 Defence Review. Sold to BISCO for demolition by Shipbreaking Industries she arrived in tow at the Breaker’s yard near Rosyth on 7th May 1958.