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HMS Bideford (1931) SL (5th) |
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This the fifth ship to carry the name HMS Bideford was a
Shoreham Class (1931) escort sloop. Built at Devonport Dockyard, laid down 10-Jun-1930, launched 01-Apr-1931, and completed 27-Nov-1931. On commissioning went to the Gulf and remained there until Aug-1938 except for several refits at Colombo. Underwent refit at Mala from Aug to Dec-1938 and then returned to the Gulf until May-1939. Then she moved to the China Station and was still there when WW2 broke out. Returned to the UK Dec-1939 for refit at Devonport. Worked as convoy escort on the Gibraltar route until May 1940 when she took part in Operation Dynamo, the evacuation at Dunkirk. During this she was bombed and repairs took until Apr-1941. On completion of the repairs she served as convoy escort on the Gibraltar and Freetown routes until Feb-1942. Refitted at Hartlepool from Feb to Apr-1942. Then it was convoy escort work in the South Atlantic until Operation Torch the invasion of North Africa. During which she was in collision with the Canadian Corvette HMCS Louisburg, & repairs took from Jan to Apr-1943 at Avonmouth. Convoy escort work continued in the North Atlantic for the rest of 1943, after which she moved to the Mediterranean in Jan-1944, and remained there until Jan-1945. Returned to refit at Devonport and continued as convoy escort until May-1945. Her war service ended, when she was put into reserve at Milford Haven 08-Jun-1945. Passed to BISCO 14-Jul-1949 and broken up shortly afterwards. Won the Battle Honours: Atlantic 1939-45, Dunkirk 1940, North Africa 1942, Biscay 1943 and English Channel 1945.
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This page last edited -
26 June, 2012.
Copyright © Ian M King, except where otherwise indicated. |
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