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HMS Egret (1938) SL (1st) |
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This the only ship to carry the name HMS Egret was the name
ship of of a class of three escort sloops. Built by White, laid down 21-Jul-1937, launched 31-May-1938, and commissioned 11-Nov-1938. First went to the Red Sea as the Senior Naval Officers ship and arrived on station 31-Jan-1939. At the outbreak of WW2 joined the East India Station to patrol against German shipping. Returned to the UK 04-Jan-1940 and after repairs following a collision with the Sea Valour joined the Rosyth Escort Force for the rest of 1940. On 31-Jan-1941 served as convoy escort until Jun-1941. Refitted at London for six weeks. Then she served as convoy escort on the Freetown route until Oct-1942, except for a refit on the Tyne from May to Jun-1942. Nov-1942 to Apr-1943 was spend escorting convoys to and from North Africa at the end of which there was a further refit on the Humber, which lasted until Jun-1943. After this she formed part of the escort for convoy KMF 20 which left the UK Jul-1943. Returning with convoy MKF 20, Egret and her escort group were diverted to take part in an anti-submarine drive in the Bay of Biscay. On 27-Aug-1943 was attacked by aircraft, and was hit and sunk by a glider bomb. This was only the second glider bomb attack ever, the first being the near miss attack on HMS Bideford two days earlier. So Egret was the first warship to ever be lost by this type of weapon. Won the Battle Honours: Atlantic 1939-42, North Africa 1942-43 and Biscay 1943.
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- Egret Class
(1938) SL Outside Links |
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This page last edited -
29 May, 2012.
Copyright © Ian M King, except where otherwise indicated. |
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