H.M.S. GAMBIA (C48) & H.M.S. GLASGOW (C21)

"The Gambia sailed from Plymouth on 12 December (1943) and arrived at Horta in the Azores three days later. During the next fortnight she and the Glasgow patrolled a line about 500 miles north-northwest of the islands, relieving each other at intervals to refuel at Horta."

in - nzetc.org.

H.M.S. GAMBIA

General characteristics:

Displacement: 8,530 tonnes standard

10450 tons full load

Length: 169.3 m (555.5 ft)

Beam: 18.9 m (62 ft)

Draught: 5.0 m (16.5 ft)

Propulsion: Four oil fired three-drum Admiralty-type boilers

four-shaft geared turbines

four screws

54.1 megawatts (72,500 shp)

Speed: 33 knots (61 km/h)

Range: 6520 nmi at 13 knots

Complement: 730

Armament: Twelve BL 6 inch Mk XXIII naval guns (4 × 3),

eight 4 inch guns (4 × 2),

eight 40 mm Bofors AA (4 × 2) guns,

3 quadruple 2 pounder ("pom-pom") AA mounts, 12 20 mm AA (6 × 2) guns.

Six 21 inch (2 × 3) torpedo tubes

Armour: 83 mm,

deck: 51 mm,

turrets: 51 mm,

Director control tower: 102 mm.

Aircraft carried: Two Supermarine Walrus aircraft

*

H.M.S. GLASGOW

General characteristics:

Displacement: 9,100 tons standard

11,350 tons full load

Length: 558 ft (170 m)

Beam: 61 ft 8 in (18.80 m)

Draught: 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m)

Propulsion: Four-shaft Parsons geared turbines

Four Admiralty 3-drum boilers

75,000 shp

Speed: 32 knots (59 km/h)

Complement: 748

Armament: Original Configuration:

Twelve[1] BL 6 inch Mk XXIII naval guns[2] in triple turrets

 (one aft turret later removed for eight 40 mm Bofors guns)

Eight 4 inch (105 mm) guns

Eight 40.5 mm guns

Eight 0.5 inch (13 mm) machine-guns

Six 21 inch (530 mm) torpedo tubes (later removed)

Aircraft carried: Two Supermarine Walrus aircraft.

in - Wikipédia

LLANGIBBY CASTLE

"Pela Union Castle Mail Steam Ship Co. Ltd. de Londres foram encomendados, em 1928, dois navios gémeos que foram baptizados de "Durban Castle" e "Llangibby Castle". Eram paquetes de dois canos com 11.951 toneladas de arqueação bruta, 147, 97 metros de comprimentos, 20,17 mt. de boca e 10,97 mt. de calado. Tinham capacidade para 250 passageiros em 1ª classe e 200 em classe única."

in - Maresias - Goulart Quaresma

Navios com estas características em tempo de guerra, dão muito jeito para o transporte de tropas, e foi o que aconteceu com o « Llangibby Castle », ao ser requisitado pela Royal Navy em Julho de 1940.

No dia 16 de Janeiro de 1942, integrando um comboio com destino a Singapura, foi atacado pelo U-402, que o danificou de tal maneira, que o fez abandonar o referido comboio e procurar abrigo no porto da Horta.

"The troopship was a prize won by these ships in the 1200-mile race against U-boats across the Atlantic. Hit in the stern by a torpedo fired by a U-boat while outward bound in convoy, the troopship was forced to seek haven in the harbour at Horta, in the island of Fayal, for repairs. The time limit for her stay in a neutral port was almost expired and the liner and troops were threatened with internment. U-boats were lurking in the neighbourhood ready to renew their attack on the crippled ship."

in - Merchantnavyofficers.com

Navio fundeado na Horta e aspecto dos estragos

 provocados pelo U-Boat (U-402).

Pintura alusiva ao acontecimento. (T.M.Kinnell)

O navio, chegou ao Faial no dia 19 de Janeiro e 21 dias depois, após reparações zarpou da Horta, acompanhado pelo rebocador Thames e 3 destroyers (já sabemos quais, ver posts anteriores).

Photos (Llangibby) - Merchantnavyofficers.com

Photo (U-402) - Wlb-Stuttgart.de

H.M.S. WESTCOTT (D47)

General characteristics

Displacement: 1,100 tons

Length: 300 ft (91 m) o/a, 312 ft (95 m)p/p

Beam: 26.75 ft (8.15 m)

Draught: 9 ft (2.7 m) standard, 11..25 ft (3.4 m) in deep

Propulsion: 3 Yarrow type Water-tube boilers

Brown-Curtis steam turbines

2 shafts

27,000 shp

Speed: 34 knots (63 km/h; 39 mph)

Range: 320-370 tons oil, 3,500 nmi (6,500 km)

 at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph), 900 nmi (1,700 km)

at 32 knots (59 km/h; 37 mph)

Complement: 110

Armament: 4 x QF 4 in Mk.V (102mm L/45), mount P Mk.I

2 x QF 2 pdr Mk.II "pom-pom" (40 mm L/39) or;

1 x QF 3 inch 20 cwt (76 mm), mount HA Mk.II

6 (2x3) tubes for 21 in torpedoes

in - Wikipédia

"February 1st  (1942) Arrived at Horta and carries out an anti-submarine operation with HMS CROOME and HMS EXMOOR against U-Boats waiting for LLANGIBBY CASTLE leave under tow of tug  THAMES for passage to Gibraltar.

February 2nd Rammed and sank U581 off Pico Island, Azores in position 38.24N 28.30W., 39 survivors rescued."

in - Naval History

H.M.S. EXMOOR (L08)

January 1942

"Took passage from Gibraltar with HM Destroyers CROOME and WESTCOTT to escort troop ship LLANGIBBY CASTLE which had been damaged by U402 whilst in Convoy WS15 and was at Horta, Azores."

in - Naval History

                          

Photo - Photoship.co.uk

H.M.S. CROOME (L62)

"U.402 damaged Steamer LLANGIBBY CASTLE (12,053grt) in 46-04N, 19-06W. Of 181 crew, 11 gunners, 1168 RN, RAF and military passengers, 26 passengers were lost. The steering gear and rudder was completely destroyed. German aircraft attacked her on the 19th and she arrived at Fayal, Azores the same day for light repairs. One crewman and one passenger were interned by the Portuguese at Fayal.

Destroyers WESTCOTT, EXMOOR, and CROOME departed Gibraltar on the 28th to refuel from oiler DINGLEDALE prior to escorting the damaged troopship.

WESTCOTT sank U.581 southeast of Fayal Channel in 39N, 30W on 2 February. Four crew were lost and 41rescued by the destroyer.

On 2 February 1942, the troopship departed Horta with CROOME, EXMOOR, WESTCOTT and tug THAMES.They were joined by destroyers LAFOREY and BLANKNEY, which departed Gibraltar on 4 February, and corvette PENTSTEMON, which was returning from escort duty. Destroyers LIGHTNING and WHITEHALL departed Gibraltar on 7 February, WISHART and VIDETTE from convoy OG.79 were ordered to join on 7 February. Destroyer WESTCOTT arrived at Gibraltar on 7 February. Destroyer WIVERN and the 37th Escort Group, just arriving with convoy OG.79, of sloops BLACK SWAN, FOWEY and corvettes BLUEBELL, CAMPION, CARNATION, LA MALOUINE, MALLOW, MYOSOTIS, and STONECROP departed Gibraltar on 8 February. All ships arrived safely on 8 February.

The troops on board were transferred to troopships ULSTER MONARCH and ROYAL ULSTERMAN for transport to Freetown. LLANGIBBY CASTLE was later sent on to the UK for repairs."

in - Naval History

Photo - Wikipédia

H.M.S. COOKE (K471)

"O Telégrafo" - 11 de Fevereiro de 1946

" - Também a tomar óleo entrou hoje a fragata Inglêsa «Cooke», de 1.500 toneladas, 75 tripulantes, procedente de Holl e destino a Boston. Consignaram-se ao S.B.N.O."

Photo - ussdempsey.com

Length: 93.27 m

Width: 11.28 m

Draught: 2.9 m

Displacement / max: 1420 tons / 1720 tons

Crew: 220

Drive

2 x generators, 2 x General Electric turbine

Performance: 120000sHP

Speed: 24 knots

Range: 5500nm when 15u

Equipment

3 x 76.2 mm (2x1/50-dp)

2-4 x 28mm (1x2-2x2) / 4 x 40pom-pom AA (1x4)

August 6, 1910 x 20mm AA gun (6/8/10x1)

2 x caster hlubiných charges (Hedgehog)

4 x hlubiných bomb thrower

2 x slide (depth charge tracks)  - in Navsource

ex-Dempsey (DE-267)

Pesquisa jornais - Aurélio Vieira


H.M.S. DOMETT (K 473)

Voltamos à edição do Jornal "O Telégrafo" do dia 11 de Fevereiro de 1946, para vermos as novidades marítimas do dia anterior:

" - A receber óleo entrou hoje a fragata Inglesa « Domett», de 1500 toneladas, 75 tripulantes, procedente da Inglaterra e destino à América."

photo - Carol Pyne Schreiber

Dimensions: 289' 5" (oa), 283' 6" (wl) x 35' 0" x 11' 0" (max)

Armament: 3-3"/50 Mk22 (1x3), 4-20mm Mk 4 AA (varied by ship),
4 Mk6 depth charge projectors, 2 Mk9 depth charge tracks

Machinery: 4 GM Model 16-278A diesel engines with electric

 drive,  6000 shp, 2 screws

Speed: 19 knots

 Range: 4,150 nm @ 12 knots

in - Navsource

Pesquisa jornais - Aurélio Vieira

H.M.S. MONTGOMERY (G95)

"Ex USS WICKES (Type B - CALDWELL Class) built by Bath Iron Works, Maine. The ship was laid down on 26th June 1917 and launched on 25th June 19l8. Commissioned on 31st July 1918 for service with the US Navy she was held in Reserve in 1939- The ship was transferred to the RN under the UK/US Lend/ Lease Agreement on 3rd September 1940 and commissioned as HMS MONTGOMERY at Halifax, Canada on 23rd October 1940. The name is which is common to a town in Alabama, USA and one in Wales had not previously been used for an RN ship. In March 1942 after a successful "WARSHIP WEEK" campaign for National Savings she appropriately was adopted by the civil community of the county of Montgomeryshire."

December 1943 -  Nominated for return to RN service based in UK.

(Note : Ex US Navy TOWN Class destroyer were being taken out of

operational use as new construction Escorts (eg CAPTAIN

Class Frigates being built in the USA and UK with other new

British built escorts becoming available for use.) Took passage

 from Canadian waters to UK with call at Horta in Azores.

in Naval History

HMS Montgomery

Commissioned: 23 October 1940

Fate: Scrapped, 1945

General characteristics

Displacement: 1,247 tons

Length: 314 ft 4½ in (95.822 m)

Beam: 30 ft 11¼ in (9.430 m)

Draft: 9 feet (2.7 m)

Complement: 100 officers and enlisted

Armament: 4 x 4" (102 mm), 2 x 1-pdrs., 12 x 21" (533 mm) tt, 2 dct.

Characteristics and photo - in Wikipédia

H.M.S. SALVEDA

Ontem falámos do H.M.S. Chanticleer, que foi rebocado para a Horta pelo H.M.S.Salveda, após sofrer um ataque ao largo dos Açores no dia 18 de Novembro de 1943. Aqui fica então uma foto e alguns detalhes sobre este rebocador que nos visitou em Dezembro de 1943:

Type - Salvage vessel

Class - King Salvor

Launched - 09/02/1943

Displacement - 1440 BRT

Length - 217 feet

Armament - 4 x 20mm AA

Max speed - 12 knots

Power - 1500 HP

Foto - Cyberheritage

H.M.S. CHANTICLEER (UO5)

Hoje viajamos no tempo, até 1946, mas primeiro uma pequena descrição do navio:


"Modified BLACK SWAN-Class Sloop ordered from Denny at Dumbarton under 1940 Build Programme on 9th January 1941. This ship was laid down on 13th June 1941 and was launched on 24th September in that year by Lady Denny as the 4th RN ship to carry the name, introduced in 1808. It had last been used by a WW1 trawler. Build was completed on 29th March 1943 and the ship had been 'adopted’ by Gravesend, Kent after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942. A new design anti-submarine ahead throwing mortar (HEDGEHOG) as well as surface and fire control radar were fitted during build.

18th November -  During defence of convoy from attacks by SCHILL U-Boat Group hit by acoustic torpedo  fired from U515.

December  - Towed to Horta, Azores by Salvage Vessel SALVEDA.

 

Special Note

The hulk was used as Base Ship for RN personnel serving at Horta and was renamed HESPERIDES. On 31st December 1943 this identity was changed to LUSITANIA II but the ship continued to be used as the Base Ship for the remainder of the European war when she was again Paid Off. The hulk was sold for breaking up in Lisbon in 1946."

In Naval History

Agora as notícias do "Telégrafo":

11 de Março de 1946 - Base Naval Inglesa

No "Hesperides" já flutua a bandeira portuguesa

"Desde ontem que se pode considerar oficialmente encerrada a Base Naval Inglesa na Horta, que durante os últimos anos de guerra tão assinalados serviços prestou à causa dos aliados. No navio "Hesperides", que foi adquirido por portugueses desde o meio dia de ontem, que em vez do pavilhão da marinha de guerra da nossa velha aliada flutua a nossa bandeira nacional.

Na véspera à noite os oficiais da base deram uma festa de despedida para a qual convidaram muitas das pessoas com quem conviveram durante a sua estada nesta ilha. A bordo da traineira "Valse", seguiram para a Inglaterra, via Terceira alguns marinheiros.

O Comandante da Base, oficiais e marinheiros que ainda se encontram na Horta, estão alojados na casa onde estava instalado o Hospital Naval Inglês."

12 de Março de 1946

Rebocado pelo "Corvo", partiu ontem para Lisboa o "Hesperides"

" Pilotado pelo nosso amigo Sr. José Rodrigues Bernardo, e levando a bordo catorze tripulantes, deixou ontem o nosso porto, a reboque do «Corvo» o destroyer inglês cuja popa havia sido desfeita por uma bomba de profundidade e que durante a permanência da base naval inglesa no porto da Horta serviu de aquartelamento das forças da nossa velha aliada.

Como se sabe, aquele barco foi comprado por um grupo de portugueses, e segue agora para Lisboa onde as suas magníficas máquinas serão mudadas para o paquete «Lima», da E.I.N."

Foto - Naval History

Pesquisa (jornais) -  Aurélio Vieira

Pesquisa (internet) - Luís Correia