HMS Pennywort

Vessel name on Arrival: HMS Pennywort

Original Builder: A & J Inglis Limited of Pointhouse, Glasgow + Kincaid

Original Yard No: 1087p

Official Number:

Vessel Type: corvette

GRT: 950

Year Built: 1941

Arrival Date: 24/01/1949

Breakup Started: 08/02/1949

Date First Beached: 18/03/1949

Date Breakup Completed:

Draught For’d: 8' 0"

Draught Aft: 8' 0"

Name Changes:

Other Information:

Flower-Class Corvette PENNYWORT                                  Pennant No. K 111

 

(Design based on the Christian Salvesen whale- catcher S.S. SOUTHERN PRIDE.  This Corvette differed from most of the others built as she was fitted out with an 'Acoustic Hammer', as well as mine-sweeping gear.  The 'acoustic hammer' was a device for exploding mines.)

 

12-12-1939  :  Ordered

11-03-1941  :  Laid Down

18-10-1941  :  Launched

05-03-1942  :  Commissioned

 

Length  :  62.6 mts  x  10.1 mts.                Displacement  :  950 / 1,160 tons

 

Propulsion  :  Single shaft/screw driven by a 4-Cylinder Triple Expansion Steam Reciprocating Engine

Boilers  :  Two single-emded cylindrical Boilers

Speed  :  16 knots

 

HMS PENNYWORT'S WAR CAREER

HMS did not distinguish her war career by the sinking U-Boats or enemy surface ships, that was not her role. Her principal role was convoy escort duties and the saving of survivors.

 

18-03-1943

Picked up 30 survivors from the American merchantman JAMES OGLETHORPE, which had been torpedoed by the German submarine U-758 in the North Atlantic.  The American vessel, with 30 men still on board, attempted to make St Johns, Canada, but was never heard of again.  She also picked up a further 40 survivors from the torpedoed Norwegian freighter ELIN K, which was sunk by the German submarine U-603 on the previous day.

 

18-03-1943

In company with HMS ANENOME, picked up a total of 54 survivors from British cargo/passenger liner CANADIAN STAR, which had been torpedoed by the German submarine U-221, in a position South-East of Cape Farewell.

 

25-08-1944

In a position North-West of Cap d'Antifer, along with HMS DAMSAY, picked up a total of 59 survivors from the British merchant vessel ORMINSTER, of the South American Saint Line, which had been torpedoed by the German submarine U-480 in the English Channel.  The freighter had been returning to the UK from the Normandy beaches.