ROYAL NAVY SOUTH ATLANTIC COMMAND - ROYAL NAVY A B 36 SHIPS
16)AUBRETIA (CORVETTE)
Photo. www.naval-history.net
Completed: 1940
Displacement: 940 tons
Length: 205 ft
Beam: 33 ft
Draught: 11,5 ft
Propulsion: 1940-1941 program, single shaft, 2 × water tube boilers, 1 × 4-cycle triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine, 2,750 ihp (2,050 kW)
Speed: 16 kts
Range: 3,500 miles at 12 kts
Complement: 85
Sensors: 1 × SW1C or 2C radar, 1× Type 123A or Type 127DV sonar
Armament: 1 × 4 inch BL Mk.IX single gun, 2 × Vickers .50 machine guns (twin), 2 × .303 inch Lewis machine gun (twin), 2 × Mk.II depth charge throwers, 2 × depth charge rails with 40 depth charges originally fitted with minesweeping gear, later removed.
HMS Aubretia served in the south Atlantic at Freetown initially from February to October 42 and on second period from July to December 1943. when she was assigned several convoy duties and patrol missions. On 30 Mar 42 British Merchant Muncaster Castle while in convoy ST-18, was torpedoed by U-68 pos, 02º 02’N 12º 02’W some 400 miles southwest of Freetown.
HMS Aubretia joined by the Greek steamer Ann Stathatos rescued more than ten lifeboats including the master, 69 crew members, eleven gunners, two naval signalmen and 246 passengers and landed them at Freetown. Below an index of the aqctivities conducted by HMS Aubretia during the year of 1942.
Source: www.naval-history.net
1942
Saturday, 14th March
Convoy S.L. 103 Freetown to United Kingdom (36 ships), escorted by H.M.S. WIVERN, H.M.S. WALLFLOWER, H.M.S. TAMARISK, H.M.S. BURDOCK, and H.M.S. AUBRETIA sailed from Freetown.
Wednesday, 1st April
Convoy O.S. 22 Liverpool to Freetown (12 ships) arrived at Freetown, escorted by H.M.S. WESTON, H.M.S. TOTLAND, H.M.S. SENNEN, H.M.S. GORLESTON, H.M.S. CYCLAMEN, H.M.S. VIOLET, and H.M.S. SNOWDROP. H.M.S. AUBRETIA left the southbound port of the convoy to search for survivors from S.S. MUNCASTER CASTLE, locating them on 2nd and bringing them to Freetown.
Sunday, 5th April
AUBRETIA arrived at Freetown with further survivors from MUNCASTER CASTLE.
Saturday, 18th April
Convoy L.S. 2, Lagos to Freetown escorted by AUBRETIA and SNOWDROP arrived at Freetown.
Sunday, 19th April
AUBRETIA and SNOWDROP sailed escorting tankers to join convoy O.S. 24 and subsequently returned to Freetown.
Wednesday, 1st April
Convoy O.S. 22 Liverpool to Freetown (12 ships) arrived at Freetown, escorted by H.M.S. WESTON, H.M.S. TOTLAND, H.M.S. SENNEN, H.M.S. GORLESTON, H.M.S. CYCLAMEN, H.M.S. VIOLET, and H.M.S. SNOWDROP. H.M.S. AUBRETIA left the southbound port of the convoy to search for survivors from S.S. MUNCASTER CASTLE, locating them on 2nd and bringing them to Freetown.
Sunday, 5th April
AUBRETIA arrived at Freetown with further survivors from MUNCASTER CASTLE.
Saturday, 18th April
Convoy L.S. 2, Lagos to Freetown escorted by AUBRETIA and SNOWDROP arrived at Freetown.
Sunday, 19th April
AUBRETIA and SNOWDROP sailed escorting tankers to join convoy O.S. 24 Liverpool to Freetown and subsequently returned to Freetown.
Wednesday, 20th May
L.S. 5 Lagos to Freetown arrived Freetown, escorted by BRIDGEWATER, AUBRETIA, and VIOLET. Also, LOWESTOFT and DEPTFORD.
Thursday, 28th May
S.T. 25 Freetown to Takoradi (8 ships) sailed, escorted by AUBRETIA, COWSLIP, and M.L.s 261 and 274.
Tuesday, 7th July
Convoy L.S. 10, 5 Lagos to Freetown escorted by AUBRETIA and SNOWDROP arrived, also COMMANDANT DROGOU.
Friday, 17th July
ARMERIA sailed from Freetown, escorting to the westward; and AUBRETIA to Bathurst.
Wednesday, 22nd July
AUBRETIA left Bathurst for St Vincent.
Saturday, 25th July
AUBRETIA left St Vincent to join Convoy O.S. 34. Liverpool to Freetown
