H .  M .  S .   P E N Z A N C E   ( L 2 8 )

 

HASTINGS-Class Sloop ordered under the 1928 Programme HM Dockyard, Devonport on 4th April 1929 and laid down on 29th July of that year. Launched by Mrs. Backhouse on 10th April 1930 she was the 3rd RN warship to carry the name, introduced in 1695 for a 6th Rate and then for a 5th Rate in 1747. She was completed on 15th January 1931 for service in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea and deployed there until 1938 when she returned to Chatham. Whilst in the Red Sea she carried out a significant amount of salvage work in 1934 when HM Sloop HASTINGS which had grounded and was not re-floated for nearly three months. Although intended to remain in Home waters when she returned from South Africa in May 1938 the ship was sent to the West Indies Station.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

MARTINIQUE 1762 - HAVANA 1762 - ATLANTIC  1940

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge : On a Field Black, the head of St John the Baptist Gold on a charger Silver.

 

M o t t o

Diligenter Pensa :   'Think carefully '

 

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 West Indies for contraband control and patrol based at Trinidad.

 

October                  West Indies deployment in continuation.

to                            (Note : Several German mercantiles were in ports in southern USA and islands

December              in the Caribbean. These were subject to surveillance.

                                See THE BLOCKADERS BY K Poolman. )

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                  Contraband control and surveillance in Caribbean area in continuation.

to                            Nominated for convoy defence duties.

February

 

March                    Passage to Bermuda for local escort of convoys to and from Halifax, Nova Scotia.

 

April                       Bermuda based deployment in continuation

 

May                        Pennant No for visual signalling purposes changed to U28.

                                Deployed at Bermuda in continuation.

June                        Deployed at Bermuda for patrol and convoy defence.

to                            Nominated for return to Home waters

July

 

August                  Passage to Sydney, Cape Breton to join escort for 1st convoy of SC series.

                15th        Sailed from Sydney with esc ort for Convoy SC1.

                24th        Torpedoed by U37 in position 56.16N, 27.19W south of Greenland during defence of

                                this Convoy.

                                There was heavy loss of life.