Allied Warships

HMS Ruskholm (T 211)

MS Trawler of the Isles class

NavyThe Royal Navy
TypeMS Trawler
ClassIsles 
PennantT 211 
Built byGoole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd. (Goole, U.K.) : Amos & Smith 
Ordered15 Mar 1941 
Laid down14 Aug 1941 
Launched4 Feb 1942 
Commissioned12 May 1942 
End service 
History

Sold to the Portugese Navy on 2 September 1949.

 

Commands listed for HMS Ruskholm (T 211)

Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.

CommanderFromTo
1T/Lt. Thomas Grange Hornsby, RNR22 Apr 1942early 1943
2T/Lt. Robert Erskine, RNVRearly 1943mid 1943
3T/S.Lt. Thomas Paul Bush, RNVRmid 19431 Apr 1944
4T/S.Lt. Reginald Victor Brown, RNVR1 Apr 1944Jul 1945
5J Westwood, RNVRJul 1945early 1946

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Notable events involving Ruskholm include:


27 May 1943
HMS Trespasser (Lt. R.M. Favell, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Algiers with HMS Stroma (A/Skr.Lt. J.S. Harper, RNR) and HMS Ruskholm (T/Lt. R. Erskine, RNVR). (1)

12 Jun 1944

Combined convoy OS 80 / KMS 54.

This combined convoy was assembled off Oversay on 12 June 1944.

It was made up of the following transports; Baharistan (British, 5479 GRT, built 1928), Baron Fairlie (British, 6706 GRT, built 1925), Baron Tweedmouth (British, 3357 GRT, built 1927), Caduceus (British, 4364 GRT, built 1927), Cap Cantin (British (former French), 3317 GRT, built 1933), Cape Breton (British, 6044 GRT, built 1940), City of Worcester (British, 5469 GRT, built 1927), Clan Matheson (British, 5613 GRT, built 1919), Deido (British, 3894 GRT, built 1928), Empire Buckler (British, 7046 GRT, built 1942), Empire Galahad (British, 7046 GRT, built 1942), Empire Prospero (British, 6766 GRT, built 1943), Empire Zephyr (British, 6327 GRT, built 1941), Fort Chambly (British, 7130 GRT, built 1942), Fort Columbia (British, 7155 GRT, built 1942), Fort Kullyspell (British, 7190 GRT, built 1943), Fort Stager (British, 7132 GRT, built 1943), Framlington Court (British, 4888 GRT, built 1924), Govert Flinck (Dutch, 7178 GRT, built 1942), Hilversum (Dutch, 3717 GRT, built 1920), Isipingo (British, 7069 GRT, built 1930), Jenny (Norwegian, 4706 GRT, built 1928), Keilehaven (Dutch, 2968 GRT, built 1919), Llanberis (British, 5055 GRT, built 1928), Ottinge (British, 2818 GRT, built 1940), Philips Wouwerman (Dutch, 7089 GRT, built 1943), Radmanso (Swedish, 4280 GRT, built 1914), Sansu (British, 5446 GRT, built 1939) and Souliotis (Greek, 4299 GRT, built 1917).

The tanker (escort oiler) Esturia (British (tanker), 6968 GRT, built 1914) was to join later at sea after having parted company with the combined convoy SL 161 / MKS 51.

The rescue ship Syrian Prince (British, 1990 GRT, built 1936) was also with the combined convoy.

On assembly off Oversay the convoy was escorted by the escort carrier HMS Searcher (Capt. G.O.C. Davies, RN), destroyer HMS Highlander (Cdr. D.A. Rayner, DSC, VRD, RNVR), frigates HMS Bayntun (Lt.Cdr. L.P. Bourke, RNZNR), HMS Foley (A/Lt.Cdr. C.A.H. Bird, RNVR), HMS Helmsdale (Cdr. C.W. McMullen, DSC, RN) and the corvettes HMS Kenilworth Castle (Lt. J.J.Allon, RNR) and HMS Portchester Castle (Lt. A.G. Scott, RNR).

On 13 June 1944, the Baron Tweedmouth arrived in the Clyde and the Jenny arrived at Liverpool after having forced to return to the U.K.

On 16 June 1944, the Caduceus arrived in the Clyde after having forced to return to the U.K.

The Empire Prosepero was detached en-route to Horta, Azores.

Around 0500Z/22, HMS Searcher, HMS Highlander and HMS Foley parted company with the convoy to join the combined convoy SL 161 / MKS 51 which they did around 0920Z/22. HMS Highlander and HMS Bayntun then parted company to rejoined the combined convoy OS 80 / KMS 54, most likely tanking the tanker (escort oiler) Esturia with them.

Also on 22 June the convoy split into convoy OS 80 and KMS 54.

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Convoy OS 80, towards Freetown, was made up of the following transports; Cap Cantin, Deido, Empire Buckle, Empire Galahad, Hilversum, Ispingo, Llanberis, Sansu and Souliotis.

They were joined on 22 June 1944 by the transports Empire Foam (British, 7047 GRT, built 1941), Empire Gale (British, 7089 GRT, built 1941), Fort Vermillion (British, 7133 GRT, built 1942), King James (British, 5122 GRT, built 1925) and King Stephen (British, 5274 GRT, built 1928). These ships had departed Gibraltar on 21 June together with the new escort for convoy OS 80 which was made up of the frigates HMS Rother (Cdr. Y.M. Cleeves, DSO, DSC, RD, RNR), HMS Ballinderry (Lt.Cdr. E.F. Aikman, RNR), HMS Inver (Lt.Cdr. F.H. Gray, RNR) and the patrol vessel HMS Kilmelford (T/Lt. H. Brown, RNR).

On 23 June 1944, the transports Agen (French, 4186 GRT, built 1921), Argyll (British, 4897 GRT, built 1939), Chelma (French, 4968 GRT, built 1920), Montaigne (French, 2770 GRT, built 1920) and Paul de Rousiers (French, 3548 GRT, built 1942) joined coming from Casablanca which they had departed the day before. They were escorted by the destroyer Trombe, minesweeping sloop La Boudeuse and the patrol vessel / sloop Amiral Mouchez. The French escort vessels did not join the convoy. On 30 June 1944, the Agen, Cap Cantin, Chelma, Montaigne, Paul de Rousiers and Souliotis arrived at Dakar after having been detached from the convoy while the transports Charles Schiaffino (French, 3664 GRT, built 1930) and Hoggar (French, 5146 GRT, built 1923) joined the convoy coming from Dakar. Convoy OS 80 arrived at Freetown on 1 July 1944 though some of the ships proceeded to other destinations independently.

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Convoy KMS 54 proceeded towards the Straits of Gibraltar. This convoy was made up of the transports Baharistan, Baron Fairly, Cape Brenton, City of Worcester, Clan Matheson, Empire Zephyr, Esturia, Fort Chambly, Fort Columbia, Fort Kullyspell, Fort Stager, Framlington Court, Govert Flinck, Keilehaven, Ottinge, Philips Wouderman, Radmanso and Syrian Prince.

On 23 June 1944, the Cape Breton, Empire Zephyr, Esturia and Syrian Prince arrived at Gibraltar together with the original escort of the convoy; HMS Highlander, HMS Bayntun, HMS Foley, HMS Helmsdale, HMS Kenilworth Castle and HMS Portchester Castle.

From Gibraltar / Casablanca the transports / tankers Gallia (Norwegian (tanker), 9974 GRT, built 1939), Henry Dundas (British (tanker), 10448 GRT, built 1937), John Howland (American, 7191 GRT, built 1943), John Stagg (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943) and Paul H. Harwood (American (tanker), 7192 GRT, built 1918) joined the convoy.

Escort was now provided by the sloop HMS Fleetwood (Cdr. W.B. Piggott, DSC and Bar, OBE, RD, RNR), minesweeper HMS Hazard (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Smith, RN) and the corvettes HMS Anemone (Lt. J.B. Sparkes, RNR), HMS Bergamot (A/Lt.Cdr. W. McInnes, RNR), HMS Coltsfoot (T/A/Lt.Cdr. G.W. Rayner, RNVR), HMS Convolvulus (A/Lt.Cdr. R.F.R. Yarde-Buller, RNVR) and RHS Apostolis.

On 24 June 1944, the transports Cape Brenton and John Howland arrived in Oran Bay after having parted company with the convoy while the transports / tanker Alexander J. Dallas (American, 7180 GRT, built 1943), Darien (Panamanian, 3683 GRT, built 1924), Fomalhaut (French, 5795 GRT, built 1936), Garonne (Norwegian (tanker), 7113 GRT, built 1931), George Davis (American, 7177 GRT, built 1942), James Moore (American, 7177 GRT, built 1943), John Trumbull (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943), Lincoln Steffens (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942), Sidi-Brahmin (British, 2439 GRT, built 1910) and Tabitha Brown (American, 7176 GRT, built 1943) joined the convoy. With them came also the tug AST-76 (Army tug) and the salvage vessel USS Restorer (Lt. C.M. Boyd, USNR).

On 25 June 1944, the transports Fomalhaut, Fort Stager, Keilehaven and Sidi-Brahmin arrived at Algiers after having parted company with the convoy while the transports / tanker Esneh (British, 1931 GRT, built 1919), Laurent Meeus (Belgian (tanker), 6429 GRT, built 1930), Ocean Faith (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942), Samesk (British, 7219 GRT, built 1944) and Sheaf Crown (British, 4868 GRT, built 1929) joined the convoy. With them the AA cruiser HMS Caledon (Capt. R.F. Nichols, RN) also joined the convoy.

USS Restorer was soon detached to Dellys.

On 26 June 1944, the transport Ottinge arrived at Philippeville after having been detached from the convoy.

On 26 June 1944, the transports Anatina (Norwegian, 4986 GRT, built 1939) and William M. Stalwart (American, 7176 GRT, built 1942) joined the convoy coming from Bone. With these ships the M/S trawler HMS Ruskholm (T/S.Lt. R.V. Brown, RNVR) also joined the convoy.

On 27 June 1944, the transport Darien as well as HMS Caledon and HMS Ruskholm arrived at Bizerta after having parted company with the convoy while the transports / tankers Chloris (British, 1171 GRT, built 1910), Corchester (British, 2374 GRT, built 1927), David Holmes (American (tanker), 7218 GRT, built 1943), Empire Usk (British, 3229 GRT, built 1918)), Monte Cucco (Italian, 834 GRT, built 1943), Norrisia (British (tanker), 8246 GRT, built 1944) and Samual V. Shreve (British, 1813 GRT, built 1943) joined the convoy coming from Bizerta.

On 27 June 1944, the transport Radmanso arrived at Tunus (La Goulette) after having parted company with the convoy.

On 28 June 1944, the transport Monte Cucco arrived at Malta after having parted company with the convoy while the tanker Badarpur (British, 8079 GRT, built 1922) joined the convoy coming from Malta.

On 29 June 1944, the transports / tankers Alexander J. Dallas, Chloris, Corchester, Empire Usk, Esneh, Fort Columbia, Fort Kullyspell, Framlington Court, Gallia, George Davis, Govert Flinck, Henry Dundas, James Moore, John Stagg, John Trumbull, Laurent Meeus, Lincoln Steffens, Ocean Faith, Paul H. Harwood, Samesk, Samuel V. Shreve, Sheaf Crown, Tabitha Brown and William M. Stewart arrived at Augusta after having parted company with the convoy as did the tug AST-76. RHS Apostolis also proceeded to Augusta.

The following transports / tankers joined the convoy coming from Augusta; Bantria (British, 2407 GRT, built 1928), Empire Brook (British, 2852 GRT, built 1941), Morialta (British, 1379 GRT, built 1940), Ninella (British (tanker), 8134 GRT, built 1943), Northia (British (tanker), 8211 GRT, built 1944), President de Vogue (Norwegian (tanker), 9320 GRT, built 1935), Samblade (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943), Tobruk (Polish, 7048 GRT, built 1942) and Wallace E. Pratt (American (tanker), 7991 GRT, built 1937).

On 2 July 1944, the following transports arrived at Alexandria; Bantria, Empire Brook and Morialta. With these ships the escorts Fleetwood, Hazard, Anemone and Bergamot also arrived at Alexandria.

On 3 July 1944, the following transports / tankers arrived at Alexandria; Anatina, Badarpur, Baharistan, Baron Fairly, City of Worcester, Clan Mathesonn, David Holmes, Fort Chambly, Garonne, Ninella, Norissia, Northia, Philips Wouderman, President de Vogue, Samblade, Tobruk and Wallace E. Pratt . With these ships the escorts Coltsfood and Convolvulus also arrived at Alexandria.

Sources

  1. ADM 173/18255 + ADM 199/639

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


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