| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | Frigate |
| Class | River |
| Pennant | K 256 |
| Built by | Charles Hill & Sons (Bristol): Bellis & Morcom |
| Ordered | 20 Jun 1941 |
| Laid down | 18 Jun 1942 |
| Launched | 29 Dec 1942 |
| Commissioned | 7 May 1943 |
| End service | |
| History | After commissioning and working up HMS Bann went to the Mediterranean where in July 1943 she was involved in the Allied landings in Sicily, (operation Huskey) as a unit of support force east, under Rear Admiral Harcourt. In March 1944 HMS Bann was in the Selborne dry dock at Simonstown, South Africa for repairs to her bow, which had been damaged by striking the quay at Port Louis, Mauritius a few weeks previously. On 5 December 1945 HMS Bann was transferred to the Indian Navy where she was converted to a midshipman’s training ship by the Bombay Dockyard, and renamed Tir. Tir was decommissioned in 1979. |
Commands listed for HMS Bann (K 256)
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.
| Commander | From | To | |
| 1 | Lt.Cdr. Frank Arthur Shaw, RNR | 10 Mar 1943 | Aug 1945 |
| 2 | T/A/Lt.Cdr. Robert Hudson Jameson, RNR | Aug 1945 | 5 Dec 1945 |
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Notable events involving Bann include:
14 Jul 1943
Convoy MKF 18.
This convoy departed Malta on 11 July 1943.
This convoy was made up of the following troop transports; Duchess of Bedford (British, 20123 GRT, built 1928), Durban Castle (British, 17388 GRT, built 1938), Llangibby Castle (British, 11951 GRT, built 1929), Marnix van St. Aldegonde (Dutch, 19355 GRT, built 1930), Monarch of Bermuda (British, 22424 GRT, built 1931), Orontes (British, 20097 GRT, built 1929), Otranto (British, 20026 GRT, built 1925), Reina del Pacifico (British, 17702 GRT, built 1931), Ruys (Dutch, 14155 GRT, built 1937), Strathnaver (British, 22283 GRT, built 1931) and Tegelberg (Dutch, 14150 GRT, built 1937).
On departure from Malta the convoy was escorted by the destroyer HMS Anthony (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Wallace, DSC, RN) and the escort destroyers HMS Farndale (Cdr. D.P. Trentham, RN), HMS Calpe (Lt.Cdr. H. Kirkwood, DSC, RN), HMS Puckeridge (Lt. J.C. Cartwright, DSC, RN), ORP Krakowiak (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) W. Maracewicz), HMS Haydon (Lt. R.C. Watkin, RN), HMS Cleveland (Lt. J.K. Hamilton, RN) and HMS Tynedale (Lt. J.J.S. Yorke, DSC, RN).
The convoy arrived at Algiers on 13 July 1943. Empress of Russia (British, 16810 GRT, built 1913), Nea Hellas (British, 16991 GRT, built 1922),
The convoy, now joined by the (troop) transports Empress of Russia (British, 16810 GRT, built 1913) and Nea Hellas (British, 16991 GRT, built 1922) departed Algiers on 14 July 1943 and was now escorted by the destroyers HMS Wanderer (Lt.Cdr. R.F. Whinney, RN), HMS Wrestler (Lt. R.W.B. Lacon, DSC, RN), HMS Inconstant (Lt.Cdr J.H. Eaden, DSC, RN) and the frigates HMS Bann (Lt.Cdr. F.A. Shaw, RNR) and HMS Plym (T/A/Lt.Cdr. A. Foxall, RNR).
Around 0700B/15, the convoy arrived in Oran / Mers-el-Kebir anchorage where POW's were embarked.
The convoy departed for Gibraltar around 2000B/15 minus the Empress of Russia which remained behind to coal.
At 1100B/16, HMS Wanderer parted company with the convoy to proceed ahead of it to Gibraltar to effect repairs to her machinery. She arrived at Gibraltar around 1630B/16. She was then taken in hand for repairs but these could not be completed on time and it was decided that she was replaced in the escort by the frigate HMS Teviot (Lt.Cdr. T. Taylor, DSC, RN).
The convoy arrived at Gibraltar around 1900B/16.
The convoy departed Gibraltar for the U.K. around 0630B/17 minus the Nea Hellas and with the addition of two other ships; Samaria (British, 19597 GRT, built 1921) and Fort Lee (American (tanker), 10198 GRT, built 1943).
The escort was reinforced by the AA cruiser HMS Scylla (Capt. I.A.P. Macintyre, CBE, DSO, RN).
Between around 2020B/18 and 2155B/18, in approximate position 38°15'N, 13°25'W, the convoy was attacked by two or three FW 200 aircraft but no damage was done by these enemy aircraft.
Between around 1035B/19 and 1105B/19, in position 39°30'N, 16°20'W, the convoy was attacked again by a FW 200 aircraft but no damage was done due to effective AA fire from HMS Scylla.
Around 0920B/20, in position 43°00'N, 19°30'W, the light cruiser HMS Bermuda (Capt. T.H. Back, RN) joined the convoy.
Around 1500B/20, in position 44°10'N, 19°30'W, HMS Scylla parted company with the convoy to return to Gibraltar.
Around 2200B/21, in position 50°00'N, 16°30'W, HMS Bermuda parted company with the convoy to proceed to Scapa Flow.
The convoy arrived in U.K. waters on 23 July 1943.
9 Oct 1943
On 9 October 1943, convoy WS-33 arrived in South Africa from the UK with reinforcements for service in Burma, the convoy consisted of 4 ships. The British frigates HMS Bann, HMS Plym, HMS Teviot and HMS Trent were responsible for providing the Anti-Submarine escort on the last leg of the passage. (1)
8 Jan 1944
Convoy AB 27A.
This convoy departed Aden on 8 January 1944.
It was made up of the troop transports; Dunnottar Castle (British, 15007 GRT, built 1936) and Strathaird (British, 22281 GRT, built 1932).
On departure from Aden, around 1500C/8, the convoy was escorted by the destroyer HMAS Quiberon (Cdr. G.S. Stewart, RAN).
Around 1800C/8, the destroyer HMAS Norman (Cdr. H.J. Buchanan DSO, RAN) joined coming from Aden having overtaken the convoy. She had departed around an hour after the convoy had departed.
Around 0800E/11, the frigate HMS Bann (Lt.Cdr. F.A. Shaw, RD, RNR) joined coming from Bombay. HMAS Norman then parted company to return to Aden.
Around 0815E/12, the escort carrier HMS Battler (A/Capt. F.M.R. Stephenson, RN), destroyer HMS Redoubt (Lt.Cdr. N.E.G. Ropner, DSO, RN) and frigate HMS Kale (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Houchen, OBE, RD, RNR) joined.
Around 1200E/12, HMS Battler and HMS Bann parted company to proceed to Port Victoria, Seychelles.
Around 1030FG/14, the convoy arrived at Bombay. (2)
16 Jan 1944
Around 0945D/16, HMS Battler (A/Capt. F.M.R. Stephenson, RN) and HMS Bann (Lt.Cdr. F.A. Shaw, RD, RNR) arrived at Port Victoria, Seychelles from convoy escort duty.
They departed for Mauritius around 1415D/16. (3)
19 Jan 1944
Operation Thwart.
Attempt to intercept the German supply tanker Charlotte Schliemann.
The light cruiser HMS Newcastle (Capt. P.B.R.W. William-Powlett, DSO, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral A.D. Read, CB, RN) and the escort carrier HMS Battler (A/Capt. F.M.R. Stephenson, RN) departed Mauritius to patrol an area roughly near position 30°00'S, 68°00'E. A German supply vessel (Charlotte Schliemann (7747 GRT, built 1928) is suspected to be operating in that area to resupply U-boats operating in the Indian Ocean.
On 21 January 1944, the heavy cruiser HMS Suffolk (Rear-Admiral R. Shelley, CBE, RN) and the frigate HMS Bann (Lt.Cdr. F.A. Shaw, RD, RNR) also departed Mauritius to join HMS Newcastle and HMS Battler.
HMS Suffolk, joined HMS Newcastle and HMS Battler around dawn on the 24th.
In the morning of the 26th HMS Suffolk fuelled HMS Bann.
Around noon on the 29th, HMS Newcastle parted company with HMS Suffolk and HMS Battler to return to Mauritius.
In the evening of the 30th, HMS Suffolk and HMS Battler set course to proceed to the westwards to pastrol their way towards Durban.
HMS Newcastle arrived at Mauritius on 31 January 1944.
HMS Bann arrived at Mauritius on 2 February 1944 [Her exact movements during this patrol are unknown to us.]
HMS Suffolk and HMS Battler arrived at Durban on 4 February 1944.
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Also on 21 January 1944, the light cruiser HMS Kenya (Capt. C.L. Robertson, RN) and the destroyer HMAS Nepal (Cdr. F.B. Morris, RAN) departed Mauritius to patrol to patrol an area roughly near position 25°00'S, 65°00'E.
HMS Nepal returned to Mauritius on 28 January 1944.
HMS Kenya returned to Mauritius on 1 February 1944.
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The armed merchant cruiser HMS Canton (Capt. J.J.E. Barclay, RNR) also departed Mauritius for the operation. She arrived at Durban from patrol around 1400C on 2 February. (4)
19 Jan 1944
Around 0700E/19, HMS Battler (A/Capt. F.M.R. Stephenson, RN) and HMS Bann (Lt.Cdr. F.A. Shaw, RD, RNR) arrived at Mauritius from Port Victoria, Seychelles. (3)
17 Sep 1945
On 17 September 1945 HMS Bann spent one day in the Selborne dry dock at Simonstown, South Africa for repairs. (1)
Sources
- Personal communication
- Report of proceedings of HMAS Quiberon for January 1944
- ADM 53/118946 + ADM 199/1388
- ADM 53/118946 + ADM 53/118947 + ADM 53/120136 + ADM 53/120137 + ADM 53/120568
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.