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HMS La Malouine (K46)
Encyclopedia
HMS La Malouine was a Flower-class
corvette
of the Royal Navy
, serving during the Second World War
.
ordered by the French Navy (Marine Nationale)
. Only two of these were delivered to the Marine Nationale. One of these ships was La Malouine the other La Bastiaise. On completion by Smiths Dock Co. Ltd
La Malouine sailed for Portsmouth
for fitting out. It was here that she was commissioned
into the Marine Nationale in June 1940. However, France
surrendered
to Germany
on 22 June 1940. As a consequence of this event La Malouine was seized by the Royal Navy on 3 July 1940 and subsequently commissioned into the Royal Navy, by Lt. Cdr. R.W Keymer RN, on 29 July 1940. Throughout the remainder of the war La Malouine flew both the Tricolore
and the White Ensign
.
Of the other three ships ordered by France La Bastiaise was destroyed by a sea mine
whilst on sea trial
s at Hartlepool
. La Dieppoise and La Pampolaise were never delivered to the Marine Nationale and were commissioned into the Royal Navy as and .
, out of Freetown
, Sierra Leone
, in September 1940. At the end of September 1940 she formed part of the escort for convoy HX72, sailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia
. Eight merchant ships were lost during this convoy. La Malouine alone picking up 146 survivors from the , Dalcairn, Empire Airman
and the Frederick S. Fales. All these ships were sunk by the . By the end of 1940 she had taken part in nine convoys.
1941 found La Malouine as a member of the 2nd Escort Group operating out of the port of Londonderry
, Northern Ireland
. On 7 January 1941, in company with another corvette
, , she assisted in the sinking of the Italian navy submarine
Nani
. On 5 May, during an air raid on Belfast
, Northern Ireland
, La Malouine was damaged by a near miss and lost two of her crew killed. This required several weeks of repair. By July she was back on active service joining convoy SL81 out of Freetown
. This convoy lost six ships, including the Kumasian to on 5 August 1941. La Malouine picked up 59 of the Kumasians survivors. During 1941 La Malouine escorted 10 convoys.
Between January and May 1942 La Malouine was involved in 4 convoys. In February 1942 she was at Gibraltar
in company with the corvettes
, , , and .
. Other corvettes of her class involved were , and . The convoy left Hvalfjord on 27 June 1942 bound for Murmansk. By the time the remains of the convoy had arrived in Soviet Russia
, in mid July, 25 out of 36 merchant ships had been sunk. La Malouine, along with her sisterships, survived the voyage.
1943 began with La Malouine escorting convoy KMS.6G during which, on 6 January, east of Algiers
, the Benalbanach was lost along with approximately 400 lives. The period from January to June 1943 was spent escorting convoys from Freetown
to Liverpool
. Whilst escorting convoy OS.45, on 2 April, La Malouine picked up some of the 53 survivors from the torpedoed merchantman Katha, 515 kilometres (320 mi) west of Oporto. From June 1943 La Malouine returned to the Mediterranean where she escorted a further 11 convoys in addition to the six already undertaken in the first half of the year.
During 1944 La Malouine undertook escort duty on 14 convoys, covering both trans-Atlantic and Mediterranean routes. On 16 April whilst en route to Port Said
La Malouine assisted in the rescue of 72 crew from the liberty ship
Meyer London which had been attacked and sunk with an aerial torpedo
.
Records indicate that La Malouine undertook two convoys in 1945 the last of which was from Liverpool to Gibraltar in May of that year.
on 22 May 1947.
Flower class corvette
The Flower-class corvette was a class of 267 corvettes used during World War II, specifically with the Allied navies as anti-submarine convoy escorts during the Battle of the Atlantic...
corvette
Corvette
A corvette is a small, maneuverable, lightly armed warship, originally smaller than a frigate and larger than a coastal patrol craft or fast attack craft , although many recent designs resemble frigates in size and role...
of the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, serving during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Origin
La Malouine was one of four Flower-class corvettesFlower class corvette
The Flower-class corvette was a class of 267 corvettes used during World War II, specifically with the Allied navies as anti-submarine convoy escorts during the Battle of the Atlantic...
ordered by the French Navy (Marine Nationale)
French Navy
The French Navy, officially the Marine nationale and often called La Royale is the maritime arm of the French military. It includes a full range of fighting vessels, from patrol boats to a nuclear powered aircraft carrier and 10 nuclear-powered submarines, four of which are capable of launching...
. Only two of these were delivered to the Marine Nationale. One of these ships was La Malouine the other La Bastiaise. On completion by Smiths Dock Co. Ltd
Smiths Dock Company
Smiths Dock Company, Limited, often referred to simply as Smiths Dock, was a British shipbuilding company.-History:The company was originally established by Thomas Smith who bought William Rowe's shipyard at St. Peter's in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1810 and traded as William Smith & Co. The company...
La Malouine sailed for Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
for fitting out. It was here that she was commissioned
Ship commissioning
Ship commissioning is the act or ceremony of placing a ship in active service, and may be regarded as a particular application of the general concepts and practices of project commissioning. The term is most commonly applied to the placing of a warship in active duty with its country's military...
into the Marine Nationale in June 1940. However, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
surrendered
Armistice with France (Second Compiègne)
The Second Armistice at Compiègne was signed at 18:50 on 22 June 1940 near Compiègne, in the department of Oise, between Nazi Germany and France...
to Germany
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
on 22 June 1940. As a consequence of this event La Malouine was seized by the Royal Navy on 3 July 1940 and subsequently commissioned into the Royal Navy, by Lt. Cdr. R.W Keymer RN, on 29 July 1940. Throughout the remainder of the war La Malouine flew both the Tricolore
Flag of France
The national flag of France is a tricolour featuring three vertical bands coloured royal blue , white, and red...
and the White Ensign
White Ensign
The White Ensign or St George's Ensign is an ensign flown on British Royal Navy ships and shore establishments. It consists of a red St George's Cross on a white field with the Union Flag in the upper canton....
.
Of the other three ships ordered by France La Bastiaise was destroyed by a sea mine
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
whilst on sea trial
Sea trial
A sea trial is the testing phase of a watercraft . It is also referred to as a "shakedown cruise" by many naval personnel. It is usually the last phase of construction and takes place on open water, and can last from a few hours to many days.Sea trials are conducted to measure a vessel’s...
s at Hartlepool
Hartlepool
Hartlepool is a town and port in North East England.It was founded in the 7th century AD, around the Northumbrian monastery of Hartlepool Abbey. The village grew during the Middle Ages and developed a harbour which served as the official port of the County Palatine of Durham. A railway link from...
. La Dieppoise and La Pampolaise were never delivered to the Marine Nationale and were commissioned into the Royal Navy as and .
1940 to mid 1942
La Malouine took part in her first convoyConvoy
A convoy is a group of vehicles, typically motor vehicles or ships, traveling together for mutual support and protection. Often, a convoy is organized with armed defensive support, though it may also be used in a non-military sense, for example when driving through remote areas.-Age of Sail:Naval...
, out of Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
, Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, in September 1940. At the end of September 1940 she formed part of the escort for convoy HX72, sailing from Halifax, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the most populous province in Atlantic Canada. The name of the province is Latin for "New Scotland," but "Nova Scotia" is the recognized, English-language name of the province. The provincial capital is Halifax. Nova Scotia is the...
. Eight merchant ships were lost during this convoy. La Malouine alone picking up 146 survivors from the , Dalcairn, Empire Airman
SMS Teodo
SMS Teodo was a 6,561 ton collier built in 1915 for the Austro-Hungarian Navy. She was ceded to Italy in 1921 as a war reparation. She was renamed Barbana in 1924 and Barbana G in 1926. In 1940, she was seized by the United Kingdom and renamed Empire Airman...
and the Frederick S. Fales. All these ships were sunk by the . By the end of 1940 she had taken part in nine convoys.
1941 found La Malouine as a member of the 2nd Escort Group operating out of the port of Londonderry
Londonderry Port
Londonderry Port at Lisahally is a port near Derry, Northern Ireland. It is the United Kingdom’s most westerly port, has capacity for 30,000 ton vessels and accepts cruise ships. The current port is on the east bank of the River Foyle at the southern end of Lough Foyle, by the small village of...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. On 7 January 1941, in company with another corvette
Flower class corvette
The Flower-class corvette was a class of 267 corvettes used during World War II, specifically with the Allied navies as anti-submarine convoy escorts during the Battle of the Atlantic...
, , she assisted in the sinking of the Italian navy submarine
Regia Marina
The Regia Marina dates from the proclamation of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861 after Italian unification...
Nani
Marcello class submarine
The Marcello-class was a class of eleven submarines built by CRDA in Trieste for the Royal Italian Navy . The submarines were built from 1938 to 1939, and all eleven served in the Mediterranean at the start of the Second World War. After s 1940 sinking, the remaining boats were transferred to the...
. On 5 May, during an air raid on Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
, La Malouine was damaged by a near miss and lost two of her crew killed. This required several weeks of repair. By July she was back on active service joining convoy SL81 out of Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
. This convoy lost six ships, including the Kumasian to on 5 August 1941. La Malouine picked up 59 of the Kumasians survivors. During 1941 La Malouine escorted 10 convoys.
Between January and May 1942 La Malouine was involved in 4 convoys. In February 1942 she was at Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
in company with the corvettes
Flower class corvette
The Flower-class corvette was a class of 267 corvettes used during World War II, specifically with the Allied navies as anti-submarine convoy escorts during the Battle of the Atlantic...
, , , and .
With convoy PQ-17
In June 1942 La Malouine was assigned to the close escort group for Convoy PQ-17Convoy PQ-17
PQ 17 was the code name for an Allied World War II convoy in the Arctic Ocean. In July 1942, the Arctic convoys suffered a significant defeat when Convoy PQ 17 lost 24 of its 35 merchant ships during a series of heavy enemy daylight attacks which lasted a week. On 27 June, the ships sailed...
. Other corvettes of her class involved were , and . The convoy left Hvalfjord on 27 June 1942 bound for Murmansk. By the time the remains of the convoy had arrived in Soviet Russia
Soviet Russia
Soviet Russia usually refers to the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, one of the fifteen republics of the Soviet Union. It may also denote:* Soviet Russia , magazine of the Friends of Soviet Russia in the United States...
, in mid July, 25 out of 36 merchant ships had been sunk. La Malouine, along with her sisterships, survived the voyage.
After PQ-17 to 1945
Following her return from Russia, in September 1942, La Malouine found herself back in the Mediterranean undertaking 4 more convoys before the end of the year.1943 began with La Malouine escorting convoy KMS.6G during which, on 6 January, east of Algiers
Algiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, the Benalbanach was lost along with approximately 400 lives. The period from January to June 1943 was spent escorting convoys from Freetown
Freetown
Freetown is the capital and largest city of Sierra Leone, a country in West Africa. It is a major port city on the Atlantic Ocean located in the Western Area of the country, and had a city proper population of 772,873 at the 2004 census. The city is the economic, financial, and cultural center of...
to Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. Whilst escorting convoy OS.45, on 2 April, La Malouine picked up some of the 53 survivors from the torpedoed merchantman Katha, 515 kilometres (320 mi) west of Oporto. From June 1943 La Malouine returned to the Mediterranean where she escorted a further 11 convoys in addition to the six already undertaken in the first half of the year.
During 1944 La Malouine undertook escort duty on 14 convoys, covering both trans-Atlantic and Mediterranean routes. On 16 April whilst en route to Port Said
Port Said
Port Said is a city that lies in north east Egypt extending about 30 km along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, north of the Suez Canal, with an approximate population of 603,787...
La Malouine assisted in the rescue of 72 crew from the liberty ship
Liberty ship
Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
Meyer London which had been attacked and sunk with an aerial torpedo
Aerial torpedo
The aerial torpedo, airborne torpedo or air-dropped torpedo is a naval weapon, the torpedo, designed to be dropped into water from an aircraft after which it propels itself to the target. First used in World War I, air-dropped torpedoes were used extensively in World War II, and remain in limited...
.
Records indicate that La Malouine undertook two convoys in 1945 the last of which was from Liverpool to Gibraltar in May of that year.
Postwar
La Malouine returned to the UK and was decommissioned, eventually being scrapped at Gelliswick Bay, Milford HavenMilford Haven
Milford Haven is a town and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is situated on the north side of the Milford Haven Waterway, a natural harbour used as a port since the Middle Ages. The town was founded in 1790 on the north side of the Waterway, from which it takes its name...
on 22 May 1947.
Commanding officers
- Lt.Cdr. R.W. Keymer, RN - August 1940 to July 1941
- T/Lt. V.D.H. Bidwell, RNR - July 1941 to May 1943
- Lt. W.A. Ives - May 1943 to September 1944
- T/Lt. C Pawley - September 1944 until La Malouine decommissioned.
External links
- http://www.pq17.eclipse.co.uk/ HMS La Malouine at Convoy PQ17
- An account by Leading Seaman (ASDIC) aboard La Malouine during PQ17