HMS Auckland (L61)

HMS Auckland (L61) was an Egret-class sloop built for the British Royal Navy. She was active during the Second World War and was employed as a convoy escort and anti-submarine warfare vessel. Auckland was sunk in an air attack in the eastern Mediterranean in June 1941.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Auckland.

HMS Auckland (L61) in January 1939
History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Auckland
Builder: Denny of Dumbarton, Scotland
Launched: 30 June 1938
Commissioned: 16 November 1938
Identification: pennant number: L61
Fate: Sunk 24 June 1941
General characteristics [1]
Class and type: Egret-class sloop
Displacement: 1,200 tons
Length: 276 ft (84 m)
Propulsion:
Speed: 19.25 knots (35.65 km/h; 22.15 mph)
Complement: 188
Armament:

Construction

Auckland was ordered on 5 March 1937 from William Denny and Brothers, of Dumbarton, as part of the 1936 construction programme, and was laid down there on 16 June 1937. Originally named Heron, she was renamed Auckland when launched on 30 June 1938. She was designed as a general-purpose vessel, and intended for use as a survey ship around New Zealand. However, with the approach of war, Auckland was modified during her build for service as a convoy escort and anti-submarine warfare ship. She was completed on 16 November 1938.[2]

Service history

At the outbreak of the Second World War Auckland was stationed at Simonstown in South Africa. She was briefly employed in hunting for raiders in the South Atlantic before returning to the UK with convoy SL 9.

In January 1940 Auckland was stationed at Rosyth, serving as escort to east coast convoys in the North Sea.

In April Auckland took part in Operation Primrose, a planned landing in Norway, and later assisted in the evacuation of troops from Namsos and Andalsnes.[3]

In May Auckland was transferred to the Mediterranean for service in the Red Sea. After a refit she served as a convoy escort in the Red Sea, and in October was involved in the action around convoy BN 7.[4]

After a further refit in January 1941 Auckland joined the Mediterranean fleet. In April she was involved in an action in the Kasos strait, defending a troop convoy against an attack by Italian destroyers.[5]

In May she was escorting convoys to Tobruk, which was under siege by Axis forces in North Africa.

Fate

On 24 June 1941 Auckland was in company with Australian sloop HMAS Parramatta, escorting the oiler Pass of Balmaha to Tobruk. In the evening of 24 June they were attacked by Axis aircraft. Auckland was hit several times and wrecked; her crew abandoned ship and she sank. Most of her crew, 162 men, were saved by Parramatta.[6][7]

Notes
  1. Conway p57
  2. G Mason, HMS Auckland
  3. Roskill p183-4
  4. O'Hara p102
  5. O'Hara p116
  6. Roskill p519
  7. O'Hara p124

References
  • R Gardiner, R Gray : Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships: 1906–1921 (1985) ISBN 0-85177-245-5
  • Vincent O’Hara : The Struggle for the Middle Sea (2009) ISBN 978-1-84486-102-6
  • Stephen Roskill: The War at Sea: vol I (1954) (ISBN: none)
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