HMS Redpole (U69)

Last updated

HMS Redpole FL18173.jpg
HMS Redpole anchored in 1943.
History
Naval Ensign of the United Kingdom.svgUnited Kingdom
NameRedpole
Namesake Redpole
Ordered27 March 1941
Builder Cammell Laird, Birkenhead
Laid down18 May 1942
Launched25 February 1943
Commissioned24 June 1943
Decommissioned1958
Identification Pennant number: U69
FateScrapped in 1960
General characteristics
Class and type Modified Black Swan-class sloop
Displacement1,350 tons
Length283 ft (86 m)
Beam38.5 ft (11.7 m)
Propulsion
  • Geared turbines
  • two shafts
Speed20 knots (37 km/h) at 4,300 hp (3,200 kW)
Complement192 men + 1 Cat
Armament

HMS Redpole was a modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Yarrow Shipbuilders Limited, Scotstoun on 18 May 1942, launched on 25 February 1943 and commissioned on 24 June 1943, with the pennant number U69. [1]

Contents

Construction and career

After tests and its operational commissioning in July 1943, HMS Redpole joined the 7th Escort Group in Greenock for the escort and support of convoys in the Atlantic, then in Gibraltar, for convoys in the Mediterranean.

In May 1944, she was in the service of Support Force G during the assault phase of the Allied landing planned in Normandy as part of Operation Neptune.

At the end of 1944, Redpole was assigned to the East Indies Fleet for training when some ships were transferred to the British Pacific Fleet.

In January 1945, she joined Task Force 64 to support the landings in Burma. She provided fire support with the Bombardment Force during the landings of the British 4th and 71st Brigades in the northern part of Ramree Island during Operation Matador.

From February to July 1945, she was in Auckland, New Zealand for repairs and technical improvements. At the end of the post-refit tests, she left for Sydney, Australia for service with the British Pacific Fleet, then found herself at Manus Forward Operating Base in the Admiralty Islands in August 1945.

HMS Redpole returned to Royal Navy control upon arrival and deployed with the British Pacific Fleet to Hong Kong to support repatriation operations. She remained in the Pacific until her return to the United Kingdom in 1946 to be placed on the reserve at Harwich.

Redpole in 1958 Het Britse fregat HMS Redpole (F 69, 1943-1960) arriveert in de haven van Rotterdam, 1958 (2009-003-127 003).jpg
Redpole in 1958

Three years later, the vessel was reactivated to serve as a navigation training vessel attached to HMS Dryad in Portsmouth and returned to service. Her armament was removed during a major refit, including the installation of a tripod mast and the provision of facilities for the practical training of junior officers in navigation.

On 7 July 1956, HMS Redpole collided with the Danish royal yacht Dannebrog breaking her bowsprit.

On 12 July 1957, she was involved in a collision with the Gosport Ferry Vadne ferry seriously damaging the ferry.

In 1958 the ship was withdrawn from its training role and returned to the reserve until 1960.

It was sold to BISCO on 11 November 1960 for demolition by JA White and arrived in tow at the demolition site in St. Davids on 20 November that year. [2]

Related Research Articles

HMS <i>Black Swan</i> (L57) Sloop of the Royal Navy

HMS Black Swan, was the name ship of the Black Swan-class sloops of the Royal Navy. This class was admired for its sea-going qualities.

HMS <i>Starling</i> (U66) Sloop of the Royal Navy

HMS Starling, pennant number U66, was a Modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was active in the Battle of the Atlantic during the Second World War and was the most successful anti-submarine warfare vessel of the Royal Navy, being credited with the destruction of fourteen U-boats.

HMS <i>Woodpecker</i> (U08) Sloop of the Royal Navy

HMS Woodpecker, pennant number U08, was a Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was active during the Second World War and was a successful anti-submarine warfare vessel, being credited with the destruction of six U-boats.

HMS <i>Leith</i> (U36) Royal Navy ship

HMS Leith was a Grimsby-class sloop of the Royal Navy that served in the Second World War.

HMS <i>Mermaid</i> (U30) Sloop of the Royal Navy

HMS Mermaid was a Modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. Mermaid saw service as a convoy escort during the Second World War, taking part in the sinking of two German submarines while escorting Arctic convoys to and from the Soviet Union.

HMIS <i>Narbada</i> Sloop of the Royal Indian Navy and Pakistan Navy

HMIS Narbada (U40) was a Modified Bittern class sloop, later known as the Black Swan class, which served in the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) during World War II.

HMIS <i>Kistna</i>

HMIS Kistna (U46) was a Black Swan-class sloop which served in the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) during World War II.

HMS <i>Wren</i> (U28) Sloop of the Royal Navy

HMS Wren (U28) was a Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was active during the Second World War and was a successful anti-submarine warfare vessel, being credited with the destruction of five U-boats.

HMS <i>Flamingo</i> (L18) Sloop of the Royal Navy

HMS Flamingo was a Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She saw service as a convoy escort during the Second World War, seeing extensive service in the Mediterranean and Far East in 1945.

HMS <i>Hart</i> (U58) Sloop of the Royal Navy

HMS Hart was a modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She saw service as a convoy escort during the Second World War, seeing service in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Far East in 1945. She also took part in the Korean War in 1950 and 1951.

HMS <i>Peacock</i> (U96) Sloop of the Royal Navy

HMS Peacock was a modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was built for service as a convoy escort during the Second World War, serving in the arctic and Atlantic convoys. After the Second World War she saw service in the Mediterranean. She was scrapped in 1958.

HMS <i>Enchantress</i> (L56) Sloop of the Royal Navy

HMS Enchantress (L56) was a Bittern-class sloop, built for the British Royal Navy. She was the lead ship of her class, being laid down as Bittern, but renamed as Enchantress before being launched by Lady Jean Alice Elaine Cochrane. She was active during the Second World War, serving mainly as a convoy escort, and was a successful anti-submarine warfare vessel, being credited with the destruction of an Italian submarine in 1942.

HMS <i>Haydon</i> Destroyer of the Royal Navy

HMS Haydon was a Hunt-class destroyer of the Royal Navy. She was a member of the third subgroup of the class, and saw service in the Second World War. Most of the ships of this class were named after British fox hunts. She was the first Royal Navy warship to bear this name, after the Haydon hunt in Northumberland. In 1942 she was adopted by the civil community of Wallsend in Northumberland, as part of Warship Week.

HMS <i>Lark</i> (U11) Modified Black Swan-class sloop

HMS Lark was a modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Scotts Shipbuilding and Engineering Company, Greenock on 5 May 1942, launched on 28 August 1943 and commissioned on 10 April 1944, with the pennant number U11.

HMS <i>Chanticleer</i> (U05) Modified Black Swan-class sloop

HMS Chanticleer was a modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton on 6 June 1941, launched on 24 September 1942 and commissioned on 29 March 1943, with the pennant number U05.

HMS <i>Nereide</i> (U64) Modified Black Swan-class sloop

HMS Nereide was a modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Chatham Dockyard, Kent on 15 February 1943, launched on 29 January 1944 and commissioned on 3 May 1946, with the pennant number U64.

HMS <i>Crane</i> (U23) Modified Black Swan-class sloop

HMS Crane was a modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton on 13 June 1941, launched on 9 November 1942 and commissioned on 10 May 1943, with the pennant number U23. She saw active service during the Second World War, initially performing convoy escort roles in the Atlantic before supporting the Normandy landings. In the final months of the war, Crane joined the British Pacific Fleet and saw service during the Battle of Okinawa. Post-war, Crane remained in south-east Asia and took part in hostilities during the Korean War. She was redeployed to the Middle East during the Suez Crisis before returning to Asia for service during the Malayan Emergency. Crane was withdrawn from service in the early 1960's and was scrapped in 1965.

HMS <i>Cygnet</i> (U38) Modified Black Swan-class sloop

HMS Cygnet was a modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by Cammell Laird, Birkenhead on 30 August 1941, launched on 28 July 1942 and commissioned on 1 December 1943, with the pennant number U38.

HMS Snipe was a modified Black Swan-class sloop of the Royal Navy. She was laid down by William Denny and Brothers, Dumbarton on 21 September 1944, launched on 20 December 1945 and commissioned on 9 September 1946, with the pennant number U20.

HMS <i>Woodcock</i> (U90) Modified Black Swan-class sloop

HMS Woodcock was built by Fairfields at Govan; laid down on 21 October 1941, launched on 26 November 1942, and completed 29 May 1943. She was the fifth Royal Naval vessel to carry this name.

References

  1. "HMS Redpole (U 69) of the Royal Navy - British Sloop of the Modified Black Swan class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 21 October 2020.
  2. "HMS Redpole, sloop". www.naval-history.net. Retrieved 21 October 2020.

Further reading