Allied Warships

HMS Conqueror (FY 006 / F 33)

Armed Yacht

NavyThe Royal Navy
TypeArmed Yacht
Class[No specific class] 
PennantFY 006 / F 33 
Built byThornycroft (Woolston, England, U.K.) 
Ordered 
Laid down 
Launched16 Jan 1911 
Commissioned 
End service 
History

Yacht completed in July 1911.
Requisitioned by the Admiralty in September 1939.
Displacement: 886 GRT.
Dimensions: 64.6 x 9.3.
Armament (as Auxiliary AA vessel): 2 4" gun, 1 12pdr AA gun, 2 2pdr AA (2x1), 4 20mm AA (4x1), 8 .5" MG AA (2x4), 8 .303" MG AA (8x1).
Speed: 15.25 knots.

Returned to her owner in 1945.

Served in A/S role and later as Auxiliary AA vessel.

 

Commands listed for HMS Conqueror (FY 006 / F 33)

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
1Capt. (retired) Ennis Tristram Ratcliffe Chambers, RN9 Sep 193922 Aug 1940
2Lt.Cdr. (retired) Eric Marcus McCausland, RN22 Aug 1940mid 1943
3T/Lt. Thomas William Craig, RNRmid 19432 Apr 1945
4T/A/Lt.Cdr. Stanley Reginald Brown, RNVR2 Apr 1945late 1945

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Notable events involving Conqueror include:


18 Nov 1939
HMS H 32 (Lt. R.F. Jenks, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Conqueror (Capt.(Retd.) E.T.R. Chambers, RN). (1)

20 Nov 1939
HMS L 27 (Lt. P.J. Cowell, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portsmouth with HMS Khartoum (Cdr. D.T. Dowler, RN) and HMS Conqueror (Capt.(Retd.) E.T.R. Chambers, RN). (2)

21 Nov 1939
HMS L 27 (Lt. P.J. Cowell, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portsmouth with HMS Puffin (Lt.Cdr. Hon. J.M.G. Waldegrave, RN) and HMS Conqueror (Capt.(Retd.) E.T.R. Chambers, RN). (2)

7 Dec 1939
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Puffin (Lt.Cdr. Hon. J.M.G. Waldegrave, RN) and HMS Conqueror (Capt.(Retd.) E.T.R. Chambers, RN). (3)

10 Jan 1940
HMS H 50 (Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) J.R.G. Harvey, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Kimberley (Lt.Cdr. R.G.K. Knowling, RN) and HMS Conqueror (Capt.(Retd.) E.T.R. Chambers, RN). (4)

22 Jan 1940
HMS H 31 (Lt. P.R. Ward, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Conqueror (Capt.(Retd.) E.T.R. Chambers, RN). (5)

6 Mar 1940
HMS H 32 (Lt. M.D. Wanklyn, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Valena (Capt. W.H. Poole, RNR) and HMS Conqueror (Capt.(Retd.) E.T.R. Chambers, RN). (6)

8 Mar 1940
HMS H 32 (Lt. M.D. Wanklyn, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Valena (Capt. W.H. Poole, RNR) and HMS Conqueror (Capt.(Retd.) E.T.R. Chambers, RN). (6)

28 Mar 1940
HMS H 32 (Lt. M.D. Wanklyn, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Conqueror (Capt.(Retd.) E.T.R. Chambers, RN) and HMS St. Modwen (Cdr.(Retd.) W.A. Ford, RN). (6)

22 Apr 1940
HMS H 32 (Lt. M.D. Wanklyn, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Portland with HMS Conqueror (Capt.(Retd.) E.T.R. Chambers, RN). (7)

4 Jul 1940
HrMs O 10 (Lt.Cdr. G. Quint, RNN(R)) participated in A/S exercises off Portland together with HMS Conqueror (Capt.(Retd.) E.T.R. Chambers, RN). (8)

5 Jul 1940
HrMs O 10 (Lt.Cdr. G. Quint, RNN(R)) participated in A/S exercises off Portland together with HMS Conqueror (Capt.(Retd.) E.T.R. Chambers, RN). (8)

4 Oct 1943
HMS Tradewind (Lt.Cdr. S.L.C. Maydon, DSO and Bar, RN) departed Dartmouth for Holy Loch. She was escorted by the French submarine chaser Chasseur 12 until 1725/4 when HMS Conqueror (T/Lt. T.W. Craig, RNR) took over the escort. Also HMS Clyde (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Brookes, DSC and Bar, RN) joined for the passage north. (9)

4 Oct 1943
HMS Clyde (Lt.Cdr. R.S. Brookes, DSO, DSC, RN) arrived at Falmouth, U.K. from New London, U.S.A. She was escorted in by HMS Conqueror (T/Lt. T.W. Craig, RNR). (10)

18 Sep 1944

Convoy SL 171.

This convoy departed Freetown on 18 September 1944.

On departure from Freetown the convoy was made up of the following merchant vessels; Adrastus (British, 7905 GRT, built 1923), Baron Napier (British, 3559 GRT, built 1930), Basil (British, 4913 GRT, built 1928), Custodian (British, 5881 GRT, built 1928), Eemland (Dutch, 4188 GRT, built 1906), Empire Flame (British, 7069 GRT, built 1941), Empire Friendship (British, 7058 GRT, built 1943), Empire Mariott (British, 5970 GRT, built 1941), Empire Stronghold (British, 7064 GRT, built 1943)), Hilversum (Dutch, 3717 GRT, built 1920), Rajahstan (British, 6391 GRT, built 1929), Silverteak (British, 6770 GRT, built 1930), Slesvig (British, 3098 GRT, built 1938), Sobo (British, 5353 GRT, built 1937), Souliotis (Greek, 4299 GRT, built 1917) and Thurland Castle (British, 6372 GRT, built 1929).

On departure from Freetown the convoy was escorted by the frigates HMS Odzani (Lt.Cdr. L.A. Sayers, RD, RNR), HMS Aire (A/Lt.Cdr. N.K. Boyd, DSC and Bar, RNR) and the patrol vessel HMS Kilham (?).

Around 0830Z/20, in position 10°09'N, 18°12'W, the Souliotis was ordered to leave the convoy and proceed to Bathurst as she was unable to keep up with the convoy. She arrived at Bathurst on 22 September but later went on to Dakar where she arrived on 24 September.

Around 2330Z/20, in position 11°38'N, 18°00'W, the Rajahstan left the convoy to proceed to Dakar for engine repairs. She arrived at Dakar on 23 September.

Around 0830Z/21, in position 12°54'N, 17°50'W, the Adrastus and Silverteak were detached to proceed independently to the U.K. They both arrived at Liverpool on 30 September 1944.

Around 1800Z/21, in position 14°05'N, 17°59'W, the minesweeping sloop Gazelle and the corvettes Lobelia and Commandant Drogou joined. They parted company around 1900Z/24 in position 23°00'N, 18°04'W. Most likely on these ships joining on 21 September HMS Kilham parted company as she arrived back at Freetown on 25 September. Perhaps she escorted the Slesvig which parted company around 2000Z/21, in position 14°20'N, 18°00'W, to Dakar.

Around 1300A/29, in position 34°18'N, 09°53'W, the following merchant vessels joined coming from Casablanca; Brighton (British, 7345 GRT, built 1943), Dalcross (British, 4557 GRT, built 1930) and Fort Drew (British, 7134 GRT, built 1943). They had been escorted to the rendezvous by the patrol vessels L'Ardent and L'Effronté.

Around 1000A/30, in position 36°16'N, 09°14'W, convoy MKS 62G coming from Gibraltar merged with the convoy which now became the combined convoy SL 171 / KMS 62.

The ships that joined, and thus made up convoy KMS 62G, were the following; Alex (British, 3932 GRT, built 1914), Baron Renfrew (British, 3635 GRT, built 1935), Caduceus (British, 4364 GRT, built 1927), Dunera (British, 11162 GRT, built 1937), Empire Spey (British, 4292 GRT, built 1929), Empire Stalwart (British, 7045 GRT, built 1943), Fairwater (British, 4108 GRT, built 1928), Fort St. Antoine (British, 7165 GRT, built 1943), Gloucester City (British, 3071 GRT, built 1919), Matheran (British, 8007 GRT, built 1942), Novelist (British, 6133 GRT, built 1940), Ocean Valley (British, 7174 GRT, built 1942), Pencarrow (British, 4841 GRT, built 1921), Samettrick (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943), Samothrace (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943), Samphire (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943), Samson (British, 7219 GRT, built 1943), Samsylvan (British, 7219 grt, built 1943), Samvigna (British, 7255 GRT, built 1944) and Thistleford (British, 4781 GRT, built 1928).

Also with them was the rescue ship Melrose Abbey (British, 1924 GRT, built 1929), depot ship HMS Vienna (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S.J. Holland, RNR) and submarine HMS Truant (Lt. E.C. Croswell, DSC, RN).

They were escorted by the corvettes HMS Knaresborough Castle (Lt. J.R. Freeman, RNR), HMS Leeds Castle (T/A/Lt.Cdr. W.T. Hodson, DSC, RNVR), HMS Oxlip (T/Lt. J.K. Craig, RNVR) and the minesweeper HMS Sharpshooter (Lt.Cdr. W.L. O'Mara, DSC, RN). On these ships joining HMS Odzani and HMS Aire parted company to proceed to Gibraltar.

On 30 September 1944, the merchant vessel Bothnia (British, 2407 GRT, built 1928) departed Lisbon to join the convoy.

Around 1045A/6, in approximate position 49°00'N, 07°15'W, the convoy split into a section bound for Plymouth and a section bound for Irish Sea ports.

During the passage from the Gibraltar area to the point the convoy split into two sections, four of the merchant vessels had straggled from the convoy. All arrived safely at their destinations though. The four ships in question were; Dalcross, Empire Mariott, Empire Spey and Thistleford.

The Irish Sea section was made up of the following merchant vessels; Alex, Basil, Bothnia, Brighton, Caduceus, Custodian, Dunera, Empire Friendship, Empire Stronghold, Gloucester City, Novelist, Ocean Valley, Samettrick, Samphire, Samsylvan, Samvigna and Thurland Castle as well as the Melrose Abbey and HMS Vienna. They were escorted by HMS Knaresborough Castle, HMS Leeds Castle and HMS Oxlip.

The Channel (Falmouth) section was made up of the following merchant vessels; Baron Napier, Baron Renfrew, Eemland, Empire Flame, Empire Stalwart, Fairwater, Fort Drew, Fort St. Antoine, Hilversum, Matheran, Pencarrow, Samothrace, Samson and Sobo as well as HMS Truant.

They were escorted by the frigates HMS Affleck (Cdr.(Retd.) C. Gwinner, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN), HMS Garlies (Lt.Cdr. R.L. Calpe, DSC, RN), HMS Gore (Lt. J.V. Reeves-Brown, DSC, RN), corvette HMS Aubretia (Lt.Cdr. G.D. Fowler, RNR), minesweeper HMS Sharpshooter and armed yacht HMS Conqueror (T/Lt. T.W. Craig, RNR). They had all just joined the convoy. The three frigates parted company with the Channel / Falmouth section off the Lizard.

The Channel / Falmouth section arrived at Falmouth on 7 October 1944.

21 Aug 1945
HMS Upshot (Lt. A.J. Boyall, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Plymouth with HMS Holmes (T/A/Lt.Cdr. P.S. Boyle, RNVR), HMS Cosby (Lt. L.A. Pepperell, RN) and HMS Conqueror (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S.R. Brown, RNVR). (11)

Sources

  1. ADM 173/15698
  2. ADM 173/15781
  3. ADM 173/15690
  4. ADM 173/16327
  5. ADM 173/16274
  6. ADM 173/16285
  7. ADM 173/16286
  8. File 2.12.03.6375 (Dutch Archives, The Hague, Netherlands)
  9. ADM 173/18249
  10. ADM 173/17745
  11. ADM 173/20194

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


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