HMS Grove (L77)

Last updated

History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
NameHMS Grove
Builder Swan Hunter, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom
Laid down28 August 1940
Launched29 May 1941
Commissioned5 February 1942
Honours and
awards
  • ATLANTIC 1942
  • LIBYA 1942
  • ARCTIC 1942
FateTorpedoed on 12 June 1942
BadgeOn a Field per fess wavy Red and Blue within a spur rowel upwards White, an escallop Gold
General characteristics
Class and type Type II Hunt-class destroyer
Displacement
  • 1,050 long tons (1,070 t) standard
  • 1,430 long tons (1,450 t) full load
Length279 ft 10 in (85.29 m) o/a
Beam31 ft 6 in (9.60 m)
Draught8 ft 3 in (2.51 m)
Propulsion
Speed
  • 27 knots (50 km/h; 31 mph)
  • 25.5 knots (47.2 km/h; 29.3 mph) full
Range3,600  nmi (6,700 km) at 14 kn (26 km/h)
Complement164
Armament

HMS Grove (L77) was a Hunt-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She had been completed in early 1942 at the Swan Hunter yard at Wallsend-on-Tyne.

Contents

Service history

Initial success

Grove, along with other ships of the 2nd Escort Group, namely Aldenham, Volunteer and Leamington, had sunk the German submarine U-587. This followed a 'Huff Duff' (High frequency Direction finding) interception.

Loss

While escorting convoy MW-11, Grove was hit by two torpedoes fired by U-77 on 12 June 1942. The ship sank with the loss of 110 men. [1] The destroyer Tetcott rescued 79 survivors. She had been returning to Alexandria from Tobruk, having run aground at Tobruk, damaging the port propeller shaft and the screw itself; her speed had been reduced to 8.5 knots (15.7 km/h; 9.8 mph). [2]

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References

  1. Guðmundur Helgason. "HMS Grove (L 77)". Uboat.net. Retrieved 16 May 2009.
  2. Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason. "HMS GROVE - Type II, Hunt-class Escort Destroyer". Service Histories of Royal Navy Warships in World War 2. Retrieved 16 May 2009.

Coordinates: 32°5′N25°30′E / 32.083°N 25.500°E / 32.083; 25.500