uboat.net

  Front page - Fighting the U-boats - Allied Warships

Follow us on Twitter
@uboatnet

Notable events involving Narborough include:

9 Apr 1944
HMS United (Lt. N.R. Wood, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Tobermory together with HMS Spragge (Lt.Cdr. G.S. Grant, RD, RNR), HMS Duff (T/A/Lt.Cdr. F. Brock, RCNVR), HMS Waldegrave (Lt. T. Hay, RN) and HMS Narborough (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Muttram, DSC, RN). (1)

10 Apr 1944
HMS United (Lt. N.R. Wood, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Tobermory together with HMS Waldegrave (Lt. T. Hay, RN) and HMS Narborough (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Muttram, DSC, RN). (1)

4 Aug 1944
Around 0930B/4, HMS Ramillies (Capt. G.B. Middleton, CBE, RN) departed Spithead for Gibraltar.

At 1000B/4, on passing the boom, the destroyers HMS Whelp (Cdr. G.A.F. Norfolk, RN), HMS Wessex (Lt.Cdr. R. Horncastle, RN) and frigate HMS Narborough (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Muttram, DSC, RN) joined.

Around 1810B/4, off Start Point six frigates of the 3rd Escort Group joined. These were the following; HMS Duckworth (Cdr. R.G. Mills, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), HMS Berry (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.S. Pirie, RNVR), HMS Braithwaite (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Stoner, RN), HMS Cooke (Lt.Cdr. L.C. Hill, OBE, RD, RNR), HMS Domett (T/A/Lt.Cdr. S. Gordon, RNVR), HMS Essington (A/Lt.Cdr. W. Lambert, RNVR). They parted company the following day near the Scilly Islands.

Around 2300B/6, HMS Narborough parted company after the destroyer HMS Brilliant (Lt.Cdr. J. Smallwood, RN) joined.

HMS Ramillies, HMS Whelp, HMS Wessex and HMS Brilliant arrived at Gibraltar around 0145B/10.

HMS Ramillies departed again around 0430B/10 for Algiers. Now escorted by the destroyers HMS Whelp, HMS Wessex, HMS Wakeful (Lt.Cdr. G.D. Pound, DSC, RN) and HMS Wager (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Watkin, RN).

Around 1000B/11, HMS Ramillies, HMS Whelp, HMS Wessex, HMS Wakeful and HMS Wager arrived at Algiers. (2)

24 Nov 1944
HMS Vitality (Lt. K.S. Renshaw, DSC, RNR) conducted A/S exercises off Campbeltown with HMS Narborough (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Muttram, DSC, RN), HMS Louis (A/Lt.Cdr. R. Johnston, RNR), HMS Inglis (T/A/Lt.Cdr. A.P. Cobbold, RNVR) and HMS Lawson (Lt. J.P. Somerville, RN). (3)

19 Dec 1944
HMS Vengeful (Lt. A.S. Melville-Ross, DSC, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Larne with HMCS Lauzon (T/Lt.Cdr. W. Woods, OBE, RCNR), HMS Narborough (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Muttram, DSC, RN), HMS Loch Eck (Lt.Cdr. R.C. Freaker, DSO and Bar, DSC, RD, RNR) and HMS Braithwaite (Lt.Cdr. P.J. Stoner, RN). (4)

26 Jan 1945

Convoy CU 56.

This convoy departed New York on 26 January 1945.

It was made up of the following ships (New York Section);
Alcoa Pointer (American, 6711 GRT, built 1943), Aztec (Hunduran, 5511 GRT, built 1929), Black Warrior (American, 8271 GRT, built 1944), Brandywine (American (tanker), 11401 GRT, built 1943), Chantilly (American (tanker), 10195 GRT, built 1943), Cristobal (American, 10021 GRT, built 1939), Cross Keys (American (tanker), 10195 GRT, built 1943), Elisabeth Bakke (Norwegian, 5450 GRT, built 1937), Empire Law (British (tanker), 8128 GRT, built 1944), Empire Protector (British (tanker), 8148 GRT, built 1944), Exhibitor (American, 6736 GRT, built 1940), Exminster (American, 6683 GRT, built 1944), Explorer (American, 6736 GRT, built 1939), Fair Wind (American, 8258 GRT, built 1944), General G.O. Squier (American, 9943 GRT, built 1942), General J.R. Brooke (American, 9943 GRT, built 1943), General T.H. Bliss (American, 9943 GRT, built 1942), George Washington (American, 23788 GRT, built 1908), J.W. McAndrew (American, 7997 GRT, built 1940), Lone Jack (American (tanker), 10296 GRT, built 1944), Marine Robin (American, 11757 GRT, built 1944), Nordahl Grieg (Norwegian (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), Quaker Hill (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), Robin Sherwood (American, 7101 GRT, built 1941), Rogue River (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), Valdosta Victory (American, 7607 GRT, built 1945), Warrior (American, 6165 GRT, built 1943), Washita (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1943), Wauhatchie (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944), White Bird Canyon (American (tanker), 10172 GRT, built 1944) and White Falcon (American, 8258 GRT, built 1944).

On departure from New York the convoy was escorted by the destroyer USS Clark (Lt.Cdr. R.H. Hopkins, USNR, with COMTASKUNIT 61.4, T/Capt. H.T. Chase, USN on board) and the destroyer escorts USS Price (Lt.Cdr. J.W. Higgins, Jr., USNR, with COMCORTDIV 58, T/Cdr. E.E. Garcia, USN on board), USS Strickland (Lt.Cdr. A.J. Hopkins, USNR), Forster (Lt.Cdr. J.N. Clayton, USNR), Stockdale (Lt.Cdr. R.W. Luther, USNR) and Hissem (Lt.Cdr. W.W. Low, USNR).

Around 0300Q/27, the Warrior returned to New York due to damage to her hull. Around the same time the George Washington joined which apparently had sailed later to overtake and join the convoy. She was being escorted by the USS Stockdale.

Around 1000Q/27, the Boston Section of eight ships joined, these were the;
Cape Horn (American, 5124 GRT, built 1944), Chapel Hill Victory (American, 7607 GRT, built 1944), frederick Victory (American, 7607 GRT, built 1944), General George W. Goethals (American, 12093 GRT, built 1942), James Parker (American, 10021 GRT, built 1939), Malden Victory (American, 7607 GRT, built 1944), Sweepstakes (American, 8258 GRT, built 1944) and Thomson Lykes (American, 6762 GRT, built 1940).

The Boston Section had departed there also on the 26th and was escorted by the destroyer escorts USS Edsall (Lt.Cdr. M. MacLean, USNR, with COMCORTDIV 59, T/Cdr. A.W. Slayden, USN on board), USS Stewart (Lt.Cdr. A.C. Wilson, Jr., USNR), USS Daniel (Lt.Cdr. E.D. Boynton, USNR) and USS Clarence L. Evans (Cdr. W.C. Hughes, USNR).

Around 2210N/1, the Irish Sea Section parted company in approximate position 45°48'N, 26°00'W.

Irish Sea section

This section was made up of the following ships;
Aztec, Brandywine, Chantilly, Elisabeth Bakke, Empire Law, Nordahl Grieg, Quaker Hill and Washita.

This section was escorted by the USS Price, USS Strickland and USS Daniel.

Around 1650Z/4, the frigates (from the 15th Escort Group) HMS Louis (Cdr.(Retd.) L.B.A. Majendie, RN), HMS Inglis (T/A/Lt.Cdr. A.P. Cobbold, RNVR), HMS Lawson (Lt. J.P. Somerville, RN), HMS Loring (Lt. J.A. Ogilvy, RN) and HMS Narborough (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Muttram, DSC, RN) joined.

Around 0330Z/5, the Landing Ship Infantry HMS Royal Ulsterman (T/A/Lt.Cdr. A.T. Cook, DSC, RNR) joined.

Around 0735Z/5, the five British frigates of the 15th Escort Group, which had joined the previous day, were relieved by five frigates from the 5th Escort Group; these were HMS Bligh (Cdr. B.W. Taylor, RN), HMS Grindall (T/A/Lt.Cdr. D. Turquand-Young, RNVR), HMS Keats (T/A/Lt.Cdr. N.F. Israel, DSC, RNR), HMS Kempthorne (Lt. H.J.A. Wilson, RN) and HMS Tyler (A/Lt.Cdr. C.H. Ranking, RN).

Around 0945A/5, the Liverpool section of the convoy parted company escorted by USS Price. They arrived off / at Liverpool in the afternoon.

The remainder of the Irish Sea Section arrived in Barry Roads early on the 6th.

English Channel Section.

The other section proceeded towards the English Channel and was made up of the remaining ships and the remaining escorts.

Around 0800Z/4, ' Force 26 ' joined in approximate position 47°52'N, 06°51'W which was made up of the destroyers HMS Faulknor (Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN), HrMs Van Galen (Cdr. F.T. Burghard, RNethN) and the escort destroyer HMS Tanatside (Cdr. B.J. de St. Croix, DSC, RN).

Around 0820Z/4, the transports Canara (British, 7024 GRT, built 1942), Condesa (British, 10367 GRT, built 1944) and Straat Malakka (Dutch, 6439 GRT, built 1939) joined coming from Gibraltar which they had departed on 1 February.

Around 1530Z/4, the frigate HMS Loch Fada (Cdr. B.A. Rogers, RD, RNR) joined.

Around 1930Z/4, the Straat Malakka parted company to proceed to Falmouth escorted by HMS Loch Fada.

Around 0020Z/5, HMS Faulknor, HrMs Van Galen and HMS Tanatside parted company fter the frigates HMS Garlies (T/A/Lt.Cdr. L.M.M. Stamp, RNVR), HMS Gore (Lt. J.V. Reeves-Brown, DSC, RN) and HMS Hoste (Lt. P.J.H. Hoare, RN) had joined.

Around 0115Z/5, the frigates HMS Hargood (Cdr. P.G. MacIver, DSO, RD, RNR), HMS Holmes (T/A/Lt.Cdr. P.S. Boyle, RNVR), HMS Ascension (Cdr. W.J. Moore, DSC, RNR) and the motor torpedo boats MTB 750 (T/A/Lt.Cdr. J.A.C. Findlay, RNVR) and MTB 760 (T/Lt. N.G. Kennedy, RNVR) joined.

Around 0415A/5, the Black Warrior was detached to proceed direct to Cherbourg escorted by HMS Garlies, HMS Gore and HMS Hoste.

Around 0645A/5, the convoy stopped off the Isle of Wight as it was unable to enter the Solent due to thick fog.

Around 1300A/5, the convoy commenced to enter the Solent after the visibility had improved. By 1700A/5, the entire convoy was at anchor in the Solent. Parts of the convoy departed for their respective destinations later the same day.

28 Jan 1945
HMS Stubborn (Lt. A.G. Davies, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Loch Alsh with HMS Narborough (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Muttram, DSC, RN) and HMCS Lauzon (T/Lt.Cdr. W. Woods, OBE, RCNR). (5)

29 Apr 1945
Around 0800B/29, HMS Nelson (Capt. C. Caslon, CBE, RN) departed Spithead for Malta. She was escorted by the destroyers HMS Vidette (T/A/Lt.Cdr. G.S. Wooley, RNVR), HMS Watchman (T/A/Lt.Cdr. J.R. Clarke, DSC, RNVR) and the frigates HMS Hargood (Cdr. J. Pringle, RN) and HMS Waldegrave (Lt. T. Hay, RN). These escorts were relieved around 1920B/29 to the south of Start Point by the destroyers HMS Cavendish (Cdr. R.H. Maurice, DSO, RN) and HMS Caprice (Lt.Cdr. G.W. McKendrick, RN) coming from Falmouth and the destroyer ORP Garland (Kpt.mar. (Lt.Cdr.) K.J. Hess) and frigate HMS Narborough (Lt.Cdr. W.R. Muttram, DSC, RN) coming from Plymouth. The escorts from Plymouth were to part company on HMS Nelson passing 45°N and then return to Plymouth where they arrived on 1 May. The original escort from Portsmouth returned there early on April 30th.

HMS Nelson, HMS Cavendish and HMS Caprice arrived at Gibraltar around 2000B/2. (6)

As an Amazon Associate uboat.net earns a commission from qualifying purchases.