For other ships with the same name, see HMS Bluebell.
HMS Bluebell was a Flower-classcorvette that served in the Royal Navy in World War II. Ordered from Fleming & Ferguson of Paisley, Scotland on 27 July 1939, she was launched on 24 April 1940 and commissioned in July 1940. She served in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Arctic campaigns, escorting several convoys to Russia, and also took part in the invasions of Sicily and France. She was torpedoed and sunk by U-711 in the Kola Inlet on 17 February 1945 while escorting the convoy RA 64 from Murmansk. Only one member of her crew survived.
After commissioning and sea trials in July 1940, Bluebell was deployed on Atlantic convoy escort duties.[1] One of her first duties, in October 1940, was to meet Convoy SC 7 mid-ocean. She rescued all 39 officers and men from the cargo steamship SS Scoresby, which had been torpedoed and sunk on 17 October.[2]
In January 1941 Bluebell was attached to the 5th Escort Group, Western Approaches Command, based at Liverpool, to escort Atlantic convoys, transferring in September to the 37th Escort Group for the defence of convoys between Gibraltar and ports in West Africa. She returned to the UK in July 1942 to refit, and was assigned for service on the Russian Convoys. In September she sailed to Iceland to join the escort of Convoy PQ 18 to Arkhangelsk, returning in November, and resuming Atlantic convoy escort duties in December and January. In February 1943 she joined the escort of Convoy JW 53 from Loch Ewe to Kola Inlet, returning in March to resume duties in the Western Approaches.[1]
In June 1943 Bluebell was sent to the Mediterranean, and in early July was part of the escort for assault convoys during the initial landings in the Allied invasion of Sicily, remaining in the Mediterranean for further convoy escort duties until August when she returned to the Western Approaches.[1]
Between February and April 1944 she escorted Russian Convoys JW 57 and JW 58, and in May was transferred to Escort Group 143 to prepare for the invasion of Normandy. On 6 June she formed part of Convoy ECL1 escorting LSTs from the Bristol Channel to the landing beaches, then escorted follow-up convoys until released on 25 June. In August she was transferred to the 8th Escort Group and joined the escort force for Russian Convoy JW 59, returning in September.[1]
After further convoy defence and interception duties, on 2 February 1945 she was attached to the escort for Russian Convoy JW 64. After arriving at Kola Inlet she took part in anti-submarine operations against U-boats known to be gathering to carry out attacks on the return convoy. On 17 February, as Convoy RA 64 was assembling off Murmansk, Bluebell was hit in the stern by an acoustic homing torpedo fired by U-711, which caused her depth charges to explode. She sank in less than 30 seconds at 69°24′N33°42′E / 69.400°N 33.700°E / 69.400; 33.700.[3] From her crew of 86 ratings and officers there was only one survivor.[1]
Citationsedit
^ abcde"HMS Bluebell, British corvette, WW2". naval-history.net. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
^Helgason, Guðmundur (1995–2013). "Scoresby". Ships hit by U-boats. Guðmundur Helgason. Retrieved 11 August 2013.
^"HMS Bluebell (K-80)". wrecksite.eu. Retrieved 4 December 2010.
Referencesedit
Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN0-85177-146-7.
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For other ships with the same name see HMS Bluebell HMS Bluebell was a Flower class corvette that served in the Royal Navy in World War II Ordered from Fleming amp Ferguson of Paisley Scotland on 27 July 1939 she was launched on 24 April 1940 and commissioned in July 1940 She served in the Atlantic Mediterranean and Arctic campaigns escorting several convoys to Russia and also took part in the invasions of Sicily and France She was torpedoed and sunk by U 711 in the Kola Inlet on 17 February 1945 while escorting the convoy RA 64 from Murmansk Only one member of her crew survived History United Kingdom NameHMS Bluebell Ordered27 July 1939 BuilderFleming amp Ferguson Paisley Yard number559 Laid down25 October 1939 Launched24 April 1940 Completed19 July 1940 IdentificationPennant number K80 Honours andawardsAtlantic 1940 44 Sicily 1943 Mediterranean 1943 Normandy 1944 Arctic 1945 FateTorpedoed and sunk by U 711 17 February 1945 BadgeOn a Field White a Bell Blue banded and clappered Gold General characteristics Class and typeFlower class corvette Displacement940 long tons 960 t Length205 ft 62 m Beam33 ft 10 m Draught11 ft 6 in 3 51 m Propulsion2 fire tube boilers 1 4 cycle triple expansion steam engine Speed16 knots 30 km h at 2 750 hp 2 050 kW Range5 000 nautical miles 9 300 km at 10 knots 9 260 km at 18 5 km h Complement86 Armament1 BL 4 inch 100 mm Mk IX gun 1 2 pounder 40 mm pom pom 2 20 mm Oerlikon anti aircraft guns 2 303 inch 7 7 mm twin Lewis machine guns 1 Hedgehog A S Mortar 4 Mk II Depth Charge Thrower K gun 2 stern depth charge racks with 40 depth charges Service record Operations Battle of the Atlantic Arctic convoys Allied invasion of Sicily Invasion of Normandy Contents 1 Service history 2 Citations 3 References 4 External linksService history editAfter commissioning and sea trials in July 1940 Bluebell was deployed on Atlantic convoy escort duties 1 One of her first duties in October 1940 was to meet Convoy SC 7 mid ocean She rescued all 39 officers and men from the cargo steamship SS Scoresby which had been torpedoed and sunk on 17 October 2 In January 1941 Bluebell was attached to the 5th Escort Group Western Approaches Command based at Liverpool to escort Atlantic convoys transferring in September to the 37th Escort Group for the defence of convoys between Gibraltar and ports in West Africa She returned to the UK in July 1942 to refit and was assigned for service on the Russian Convoys In September she sailed to Iceland to join the escort of Convoy PQ 18 to Arkhangelsk returning in November and resuming Atlantic convoy escort duties in December and January In February 1943 she joined the escort of Convoy JW 53 from Loch Ewe to Kola Inlet returning in March to resume duties in the Western Approaches 1 In June 1943 Bluebell was sent to the Mediterranean and in early July was part of the escort for assault convoys during the initial landings in the Allied invasion of Sicily remaining in the Mediterranean for further convoy escort duties until August when she returned to the Western Approaches 1 Between February and April 1944 she escorted Russian Convoys JW 57 and JW 58 and in May was transferred to Escort Group 143 to prepare for the invasion of Normandy On 6 June she formed part of Convoy ECL1 escorting LSTs from the Bristol Channel to the landing beaches then escorted follow up convoys until released on 25 June In August she was transferred to the 8th Escort Group and joined the escort force for Russian Convoy JW 59 returning in September 1 After further convoy defence and interception duties on 2 February 1945 she was attached to the escort for Russian Convoy JW 64 After arriving at Kola Inlet she took part in anti submarine operations against U boats known to be gathering to carry out attacks on the return convoy On 17 February as Convoy RA 64 was assembling off Murmansk Bluebell was hit in the stern by an acoustic homing torpedo fired by U 711 which caused her depth charges to explode She sank in less than 30 seconds at 69 24 N 33 42 E 69 400 N 33 700 E 69 400 33 700 3 From her crew of 86 ratings and officers there was only one survivor 1 Citations edit a b c d e HMS Bluebell British corvette WW2 naval history net Retrieved 4 December 2010 Helgason Gudmundur 1995 2013 Scoresby Ships hit by U boats Gudmundur Helgason Retrieved 11 August 2013 HMS Bluebell K 80 wrecksite eu Retrieved 4 December 2010 References editChesneau Roger ed 1980 Conway s All the World s Fighting Ships 1922 1946 Greenwich UK Conway Maritime Press ISBN 0 85177 146 7 Colledge J J Warlow Ben 2006 1969 Ships of the Royal Navy The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy Rev ed London Chatham Publishing ISBN 978 1 86176 281 8 Lenton H T 1998 British amp Empire Warships of the Second World War Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press ISBN 1 55750 048 7 Marriott Leo 1983 Royal Navy Frigates 1945 1983 Shepperton Surrey UK Ian Allan ISBN 0 7110 1322 5 External links editClyde Warships database HMS Bluebell Warships of WW2 HMS Bluebell usurped Arnold Hague convoy database HMS Bluebell Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMS Bluebell K80 amp oldid 1222848616, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
