Allied Warships
HMS Woodpecker (U 08)
Sloop of the Modified Black Swan class
HMS Woodpecker as completed
| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | Sloop |
| Class | Modified Black Swan |
| Pennant | U 08 |
| Built by | William Denny & Brothers (Dumbarton, Scotland) |
| Ordered | 8 Sep 1939 |
| Laid down | 23 Feb 1941 |
| Launched | 29 Jun 1942 |
| Commissioned | 14 Dec 1942 |
| Lost | 27 Feb 1944 |
| Loss position | 48.49N, 22.11W |
| History | HMS Woodpecker (Cdr. Henry Leslie Pryse, RNR) was torpedoed by the German submarine U-256 on 20 February 1944 in the North Atlantic in position 48º49'N, 22º11'W. Foundered while under tow to port on 27 February 1944. Hit by U-boat |
| U-boat Attack | See our U-boat attack entry for the HMS Woodpecker |
Commands listed for HMS Woodpecker (U 08)
Please note that we're still working on this section.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Lt.Cdr. (emergency) Rowland Etienne Sinclair Hugonin, DSC, RN | Nov 1942 | 6 Oct 1943 |
| 2 | Lt.Cdr. Henry Leslie Pryse, RNR | 6 Oct 1943 | 27 Feb 1944 |
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Noteable events involving Woodpecker include:
24 Jun 1943
German U-boat U-449 was sunk at 1600hrs on 24 June 1943 in the North Atlantic, north-west of Cape Ortegal, Spain, in position 45?00'N, 11?59'W, by depth charges from the British sloops HMS Wren (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Aubrey, RN), HMS Woodpecker (Lt.Cdr. R.E.S. Hugonin, DSC, RN), HMS Kite (Lt.Cdr. W.F.R. Segrave, RN) and HMS Wild Goose (Lt.Cdr. D.E.G. Wemyss, RN). (see map)
30 Jul 1943
German U-boat U-462 was sunk in the Bay of Biscay at position 45°33'N, 10°58'W.by a British Handley Page Halifax aircraft (Sqdn 502/S) and gunfire from the British sloops HMS Wren (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Aubrey, RN), HMS Kite (Lt.Cdr. W.F.R. Segrave, RN), HMS Woodpecker (Lt.Cdr. R.E.S. Hugonin, DSC, RN), HMS Wild Goose (Lt.Cdr. D.E.G. Wemyss, RN) and HMS Woodcock (Lt.Cdr. C. Gwinner, DSO, RN). (see map)
30 Jul 1943
German U-boat U-504 was sunk at 1543hrs on 30 July 1943 in the North Atlantic north-west of Cape Ortegal, Spain, in position 45°33'N, 10°56'W, by depth charges from the British Sloops HMS Kite (Lt.Cdr. W.F.R. Segrave, RN), HMS Woodpecker (Lt.Cdr. R.E.S. Hugonin, DSC, RN), HMS Wren (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Aubrey, RN) and HMS Wild Goose (Lt.Cdr. D.E.G. Wemyss, RN). (see map)
8 Feb 1944
German U-boat U-762 was sunk in the North Atlantic, in position 49°02'N, 16°58'W, by depth charges from the British sloops HMS Woodpecker (Cdr. H.L. Pryse, RNR) and HMS Wild Goose (Lt.Cdr. D.E.G. Wemyss, DSC, RN). (see map)
11 Feb 1944
German U-boat U-424 was sunk in the North Atlantic south-west of Ireland, in position 50°00'N, 18°14'W, by depth charges from the British sloops HMS Wild Goose (Lt.Cdr. D.E.G. Wemyss, DSC, RN) and HMS Woodpecker (Cdr. H.L. Pryse, RNR). (see map)
19 Feb 1944
German U-boat U-264 was sunk at 1707hrs on 19 February 1944 in the North Atlantic, in position 48°31'N, 22°05'W, by depth charges from the British sloops HMS Woodpecker (Cdr. H.L. Pryse, RNR) and HMS Starling (Capt. F.W. Walker, CB, DSO and Bar, RN). (see map)
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