HMS Trumpeter (D09)

 

In July 1944, the squadron embarked on HMS Trumpeter for operations off Norway, mine-laying till September 1944, and in December a detachment was formed and transferred to HMS Premier for a few days. The remainder of the squadron operating from HMS Trumpeter or Hatston over the rest of 1944 and into 1945.

The squadron disembarked from HMS Trumpeter for the final time in May 1945, and subsequently the fighter flight was disbanded. After VE Day the rest of the squadron prepared for embarking on HMS Illustrious as part of the 4th Carrier Air Group, but a change of plans led to the squadron becoming a trials unit renumbering as 751 squadron and ceasing to exist at Machrihanish in September 1945.

 

H. M. S. T R U M P E T E R ( D 0 9 )

RULER Class Escort Aircraft Carrier obtained under US/UK Laid Lease Agreement. A mercantile which was to be named LUCIFER and under construction by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding Corporation, Seattle The ship was requisitioned by the US Navy for completion as an escort aircraft carrier.. She was laid down on 25th August 1943 and launched on 15th December 1942 as USS BASTION (CVE37). Build was completed to suit US Navy service by Commercial Ironworks at Portland on 4th August 1943 and then the ship was transferred to the RN and commissioned at Portland as HMS TRUMPETER. This ship was fitted with US Navy radar outfits during build. She was the second RN ship to carry this name which had previously been used by a trawler hired during WW1.

B a t t l e H o n o u r s

ATLANTIC 1943-44 - ARCTIC 1944-45

H e r a l d i c D a t a

Badge : On a Field Blue, a trumpet gold suspended therefrom the flag of The Lord High Admiral proper.

(Note : Approved after WW2)

D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e

1 9 4 3

July Contractors trials

August

4th Build completion and commissioned for Royal Navy service as HMS TRUMPETER

Carried out sea trials and shakedown.

26th Took passage to Norfolk

29th Transit of Panama Canal.

October Passage to east coast of USA.

6th Arrived at Norfolk Va.

Embarked AVENGER and CORSAIR aircraft for delivery to RN.

23rd Sailed for New York

November Deployed at New York.

Sailed from New York for Clyde.

(Note : Passage with routine convoy to be confirmed.)

1st Disembarked aircraft at Belfast

Nominated for service as a Ferry Carrier

Commenced service and took passage to New York to embark aircraft.

December Completed first ferry carrier trip and returned to New York for second load.

1 9 4 4

January Completed second passage and nominated for refit at Dundee.

February

4th Taken in hand for refit by commercial shipyard.

March Under refit

to Nominated for Home Fleet deployment on completion.

April

May Carried out post refit trials on completion of shipyard work 21st Passage to Rosyth for further modifications to suit RN service.

(Note : These may have included changes to petrol distribution system required after loss of HMS DASHER in 1943.)

June Deployed in Clyde after embarking 846 Squadron AVENGER aircraft and personnel.

Worked-up in Clyde are for operational service.

July

18th Under repair to post work-up defects in Clyde shipyard.

Passage to Scapa Flow on completion

August Joined 1st Cruiser Squadron, Home Fleet..

8th Carried out rehearsal in NW Approaches for planned operation off Norway.

9th Deployed with HM Aircraft Carrier INDEFATIGABLE and HM Escort Carrier NABOB, HM Cruisers KENT and DEVONSHIRE screened by HM Destroyers MYNGS, VIGILANT, VERULAM, VOLAGE, VIRAGO, SCOURGE, ALGONQUIN (RCN) and SIOUX for air attacks on airfield at Gossen and shipping (Operation OFFSPRING).

10th During air operations six Me110 aircraft and three steamers are damaged.

15th Joined HM Aircraft Carriers INDEFATIGABLE, FORMIDABLE, FURIOUS and sister ship HMS NABOB for air attacks on German battleship TIRPITZ lying in Kaafjord.

Ships of 5th Escort Group provided screen.

(Note : Cover was provided by HM Battleship DUKE OF YORK, HM Cruisers DEVONSHIRE and BERWICK screened by HM Destroyers MYNGS, VIGILANT, SIOUX (RCN), ALGONQUIN (RCN) KEMPENFELT, ZAMBESI and Norwegian STORD.). For details see CONVOY ! by P Kemp.

20th Operation delayed because of weather conditions.

22nd Launched aircraft to carry out diversionary attacks on airfields at Hammerfest and Banak.

Attacks made by Fleet carriers were unsuccessful as approach of aircraft had been detected.

Heavy fighter opposition and AA fire experienced (Operation GOODWOOD.)

See above reference for details.

(Note : During the operation HMS NABOB was torpedoed by U354 and had to be taken in tow. HM Frigate BICKERTON was also hit and had to be sunk.

25th Passage to Scapa Flow.

September

11th Deployed with HMS FURIOUS for air minelay and shipping attacks.

Cover was provided by HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE and Force was screened by HM Destroyers MYNGS, MARNE, MUSKETEER, VIGILANT, VERULAM, and Canadian ALGONQUIN.

12th Carried cut minelay south of Vosko Island. (Operation BEGONIA)

13th Returned to Scapa Flow on completion.

October

13th Sailed from Scapa Flow with HM Cruiser EURYALUS and HM Escort Carrier FENCER as Force 9 to carry out air minelay and shipping strikes screened by HM Destroyers MYNGS, ALGONQUIN, SIOUX, VOLAGE, SCORPION and SERAPIS (Operation LYCIDAS).

FENCER screened by HM Destroyers MYNGS, VOLAGE, SERAPIS, ALGONQUIN (RCN) and SIOUX (RCN) for air minelay (Operation LYCIDAS).

15th Embarked aircraft carried out minelay off Sado and Aaramsund in error (Note : This was due to poor identification of land position.).

16th Minelay carried out successfully and took return passage to Scapa Flow with ships of Force 9.

30th Deployed with Part of Force 9 to carry out anti-submarine air patrols in support of transit of return Convoy RA60 during passage to Loch Ewe from Kola Inlet.

14th Air minelay carried out near Ristos Island and Aarumsund Leads.

15th Second air minelay carried out in Ramsosund and shipping attacks in Fro Havet.

16th Returned to Scapa Flow with Force 9.

23rd Sailed from Scapa Flow with HMS DEVONSHIRE, HM Escort Carrier CAMPANIA as Force 2 for air minelay and shipping strike, screened by HM Destroyers SAUMAREZ, SERAPIS and three other destroyers for air minelay and shipping strike.

(Operation HARDY).

24th Air minelays carried out south of Lepsoy Island and in Haramsfjord.

Shipping strikes were cancelled and air strikes carried out on airfield at Gossen

27th Returned to Scapa Flow with Force 2.

November Home Fleet deployment in continuation.

December

6th Sailed from Scapa Flow with HM Aircraft Carrier IMPLACABLE and HM Escort Carrier PREMIER in Force 1 to carry out air minelay in Karm Sound and attacks on coastal shipping between Bergen and Stavangar (Operation URBANE).

7th AVENGER aircraft carried cut minelay.

Coastal targets attacked instead of shipping.

8th Attacks made on shipping at Fro Havet.

10th Returned to Scapa Flow with Force 1.

12th Sailed from Scapa Flow for minelay.

14th Deployed with HM Cruiser DEVONSHIRE, HM Escort Aircraft Carrier PREMIER and a destroyer screen comprising HM Destroyers ZEALOUS, ZEPHYR, SAVAGE, SERAPIS, SIOUX (RCN) and ALGONQUIN (RCN) (Force 2) for joint shipping strike and air minelay.

(Operation LACERATE).

Air minelay carried out in Ramosund.

Under air attack by Ju88, one of which was destroyed.

Two AVENGER aircraft crashed on landing without casualties.

Diversionary air strikes on air fields at Hammerfest and Banak not possible due to low cloud in target areas.

Later one aircraft ranged on deck lost overboard. in bad weather.

Planned air minelay in Skatestromme cancelled due to deteriorating weather

(Note : Minelay in Skatestrommen was cancelled after Force was shadowed.

15th Ship sustained weather damage.)

17th Returned to Scapa Flow with Force 2 881 Squadron aircraft embarked for planned operation.

21st Planned air attacks on shipping off Statlandet unsuccessful due to weather conditions.

(Operation FRETSAW.)

1 9 4 5

January

11th Deployed as Force 3 with HMS PREMIER, HM Cruiser DIDO, HM Destroyers OPPORTUNE, ZEST, ZODIAC and CAVENDISH to provide air cover and anti -submarine patrols during joint Home Fleet operations SPELLBINDER and GRATIS.

(Note: Force 1 comprising HM Cruisers NORFOLK and BELLONA with screen of three destroyers were to carry out attacks on convoy off Egersund.

(Operation SPELLBINDER)

HM Minelayer APOLLO screened by two destroyers was to carry out minelay in Karm Sound (Operation GRATIS)

During attack on convoy an escorting minesweeper M273 and two mercantiles were sunk with three others damaged.

Aircraft from carriers prevented torpedo attack by KG26.

For details see Naval Staff History (Mining).

Air minelay was carried out during GRATIS.)

February Under refit in Clyde shipyard.

March

15th Joined Russian Convoy JW65 with HM Destroyers SAVAGE and SCOURGE.

(Operation SCOTTISH)

(Home Fleet ships including HM Cruiser DIADEM, HM Escort Carrier CAMPANIA and a destroyer screen were already with this convoy. For details of all warships and passage of Russian convoys see CONVOYS TO RUSSIA by RA Ruegg, ARCTIC CONVOYS by R Woodman, CONVOY ! by P Kemp and THE RUSSIAN CONVOYS

by B Schoefield.)

20th HM Sloop LAPWING of Close Escort was sunk by honing torpedo from U968.

21st Detached from JW65 on arrival at Kola Inlet.

23rd Joined return Convoy RA65 with same ships.

(Note : Close escort sailed early for attacks on an assembly of U-Boats off Kola Inlet.

30th Detached from RA65 with Home Fleet ships and took passage to Scapa Flow.

April Home Fleet deployment in continuation.

6th Took part in operation to attack U-Boat facilities at Narvik with HM Escort. Aircraft

Carriers PUNCHER, QUEEN and SEARCHER (Operation NEWMARKET)

(Note : Operation called off due to adverse weather conditions.

May

4th Deployed with HM Escort Carriers SEARCHER and QUEEN as part of a Home Fleet Task Force to carry out attack on U-Boat facilities at Narvik.

(Operation JUDGEMENT – Last offensive operation by Home Fleet during WW2.)

(Note : Home Fleet ships included HM Cruisers NORFOLK and DIADEM, HM Destroyers CARYSFORT, OPPORTUNE, SAVAGE, SCOURGE and ZAMBESI joined later by HMS OBEDIENT and ORWELL on passage from Murmansk.)

During this operation the Submarine Depot Ship BLACK WATCH was sunk together with U711 which was alongside. This was the last U-Boat sunk by aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm. See U-BOATS DESTROYED by P Kemp.

5th During return passage to Scapa Flow joined ships of Home Fleet deployed for liberation at Copenhagen. (Operation CLEAVER)

6th Provided air cover during transit to Denmark.

8th Took return passage to Scapa Flow with Home Fleet ships.

Nominated for refit and took passage to Glasgow.

June Under refit in Clyde shipyard Nominated for duty in East Indies Fleet and prepared for foreign service.

(Note : Pennant Number R318 allocated for use to conform with US Navy identity for this type of warship.)

July

7th Sailed to join Fleet at Trincomalee.

30th Arrived at Colombo Joined 21st Aircraft Carrier Squadron.

(Note : Other ships in Squadron were : HM Cruiser ROYALIST, HM Escort carriers AMEER, ATTACKER, EMPEROR, EMPRESS, HUNTER, KHEDIVE, PURSUER, SHAH, SEARCHER, SMITER and STALKER

August Nominated for support of planned landings in Malaya (Operation ZIPPER)

(Note : This operation was delayed for various reasons including implementation of the PYTHON scheme to return servicemen to UK and American insistence after VJ Day. See Final report by SEAC and THE FORGOTTEN

FLEET by J Winton

Deployed as deck landing training carrier pending execution of ZIPPER September Embarked SPITFIRE aircraft for delivery to RAF after landings by assault forces.

(Note : HMS SHAH and HMS SMITER were also deployed as General Purposes Carriers.

See WAR WITH JAPAN (HMSO).

4th Sailed from Singapore with ships of Squadron/

6th Launched air patrols to provide cover for passage of Assault Convoy ME1F during passage.

8th Deployed at Port Swettenham.

(Note : Passage in Malacca Strait to provide air cover during landings to be confirmed.)

26th Arrived at Singapore

P o s t W a r N o t e s

HMS TRUMPETER was deployed for trooping duties within East Indies area until January 1946. The ship sailed for UK from Colombo on 6th January via the Mediterranean and called at Bombay and Toulon on passage. On arrival in Clyde she was de-stored and British equipment removed before return to USA during March that year. She was handed back to US Navy custody on 6th April 1946 and sold for use as a mercantile in 1948 renamed ALABASSERDJIK. After being resold in 1966 her name was changed to IRENE VALMAS until sold for demolition at Castellon, Spain in 1971. The name was re-introduced into RN use in 1947 when given to a Landing Ship, Tank (LST 3524) until 1956 when that ship was transferred to the Ministry of Transport. The 4th RN warship to carry this name was introduced again in 1988 for a Fast Training Boat deployed for training Royal Naval Reserve personnel at Southampton. She is still in commission.

    Citations:

  1. "Ships". Fleet Air Arm Officers Association. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
  2. Cocker (2008), p.79.
  3. Morison (2002), p.344.
  4. Poolman (1972), pp.74–75.
  5. Cocker (2008), p.80.
  6. Cocker (2008), pp.80–81.
  7. Poolman(1972), p.98.
  8. Morison (2002), p.342.
  9. Poolman (1972), p.57.
  10. Friedman (1988), p.188.
  11. Poolman (1972), pp.88–89
  12. Poolman (1972), p.89.
  13. Poolman (1972), p.155.
  14. Poolman (1972), p.135.
  15. Cocker (2008), p.147
  16. Poolman (1972), p.79.
  17. Poolman (1972), pp.102–103
  18. Plowman (2006), p.112.
  19. Plowman (2006), p.113.

    Bibliography:

  • Cocker, Maurice (2008). Aircraft-Carrying Ships of the Royal Navy. Stroud, Gloucestershire: The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-4633-2.
  • Plowman, Peter (2006). Australian Migrant Ships 1946-1977. Kenthurst New South Wales: Rosenberg Publishing. ISBN 978-1-877058-40-0.
  • Poolman, Kenneth (1972). Escort Carrier 1941–1945. London: Ian Allen. ISBN 0-7110-0273-8.

    Magazine References: +

  • Airfix Magazines (English) - http://www.airfix.com/
  • Avions (French) - http://www.aerostories.org/~aerobiblio/rubrique10.html
  • FlyPast (English) - http://www.flypast.com/
  • Flugzeug Publikations GmbH (German) - http://vdmedien.com/flugzeug-publikations-gmbh-hersteller_verlag-vdm-heinz-nickel-33.html
  • Flugzeug Classic (German) - http://www.flugzeugclassic.de/
  • Klassiker (German) - http://shop.flugrevue.de/abo/klassiker-der-luftfahrt
  • Le Fana de L'Aviation (French) - http://boutique.editions-lariviere.fr/site/abonnement-le-fana-de-l-aviation-626-4-6.html
  • Le Fana de L'Aviation (French) - http://www.pdfmagazines.org/tags/Le+Fana+De+L+Aviation/
  • Osprey (English) - http://www.ospreypublishing.com/
  • Revi Magazines (Czech) - http://www.revi.cz/

    Web References: +

  • http://www.acesofww2.com/
  • http://www.navsource.org/archives/
  • http://www.battle-fleet.com/
  • Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/

This webpage was updated 14th January 2017