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HMS Erne (1941) SL (4th) |
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This the fourth ship to carry the name HMS Erne was a Black
Swan Class (1939) escort vessel (sloop). Built by Furness Shipbuilding, laid down 22-Sep-1939, launched 05-Aug-1940, and completed 26-Apr-1941. While still in the builders yard, Erne received severe damage from a near miss on 30-Apr-1941, four days after completion. Repairs at the Tyne took until 21-Jun-1942. Started escort work on the Freetown route Jul-1942 and sank U-213 on 31-Jul-1942 en route to Freetown. Moved to Operation Torch, the North Africa landings on Nov-1942, and remained there until Feb-1943 when she started escort duty on the UK/Gibraltar route. Moved to the North Atlantic Jul-1943 until going for refit at Belfast Sep-1943 to Jan-1944. After this she moved to the Mediterranean, and underwent repairs at Taranto and Alexandria which took from Sep-1944 to Dec-1944. After completion went to Malta but grounded there and repairs at the UK took until Apr-1945. With the end of the war in Europe in May-1945, left to join the Pacific Fleet Jun-1945. Joined the main body of the Fleet at Tokyo. Returned to the UK on 19-Feb-1946 at Devonport to be paid off into reserve. Conversion to a static drill ship for the Solent division began in 1950 and took until 04-Jun-1956 when she took up her new duties and was renamed HMS Wessex. Sold for breaking up 27-Oct-1965, and broken up at Antwerp 1966. Won the Battle Honours: Atlantic 1942-45, North Africa 1942 and Sicily 1943. . |
Other HMS Erne -
Black Swan Class (1939) SL Outside Links |
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This page last edited -
22 December, 2012.
Copyright © Ian M King, except where otherwise indicated. |
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