HMS Snowflake (K211) was a Flower-class corvette that served in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. The ship participated in both the Battle of the Atlantic and the Arctic convoys of World War II.
Construction
The ship was ordered 3 Aug 1940 and laid down at Smith's Dock Company on 19 May 1941. The ship was launched 22 Aug 1941.
Career
The ship was commissioned 2 Nov 1941.
In April and May 1942, the ship was assigned to Convoy ONS 5. During this convoy, the ship commenced a depth charge attack on an Asdic contact on the evening of the 28th April. The ship remained continuously in action from then on engaging U-boat contacts. During the battle, U-532 launched six torpedoes at the ship. The closest one missed Snowflake by about 20 yards (18 m). After U-532 dived, Snowflake dropped three depth charges on the initial ASDIC contact and ten depth charges when contact was regained at 2,000 yards (1.8 km). Snowflake regained ASDIC contact at 1,400 yards (1.3 km) and dropped another pattern of ten depth charges. On the morning of 6 May the ship recorded her 10th separate attack on a U-boat.
On 6 May 1943, the ship was engaged in anti-submarine warfare with HMS Sunflower in the Western Atlantic Ocean. On manoeuvring to attack German submarine U-125, the submarine which was already damaged was scuttled with Snowflake's intended attack accounting for her sinking.
On 14 May 1943, together with HMS Duncan, the ship inflicted minor damage on the submarines U-304 and U-636. On 19 May 1943, together with HMS Duncan, the ship was credited with the sinking of German submarine U-381 following a successful depth charge attack.
However, on 12 June 1943, the ship's Commander reported to the Admiralty that a lack of training in communication procedures was a factor in why more submarines had not been sunk in anti-submarine patrols.
In 1947, the ship was converted for use as a weather ship. She was broken up in Dublin in 1962.
References
- ^ "HMS Snowflake (K 211) of the Royal Navy". uboat.net. 1940-08-03. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ^ Cherrett, Martin (2023-05-06). "Convoy fights U-Boat Wolfpack". by Martin Cherrett. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
- ^ Syrett, David (2018-10-24). The Battle of the Atlantic and Signals Intelligence. Boydell & Brewer. p. 147-153. ISBN 978-1-351-20767-6.
- ^ Dimbleby, Jonathan (2016). The Battle of the Atlantic. New York: Oxford University Press. p. 418. ISBN 978-0-19-049585-5.
- ^ Gannon, Michael (1998). Black May. London: Aurum Press. p. 136-138. ISBN 1-85410-588-4.
- ^ Niestlé, Axel (2014-06-30). German U-Boat Losses During World War II. Frontline Books. p. 164. ISBN 978-1-4738-3829-1.
- Niestlé, Axel (2014-06-30). German U-Boat Losses During World War II. Frontline Books. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-4738-3829-1.
- Haslop, Dennis (2013-11-07). Britain, Germany and the Battle of the Atlantic. London: A&C Black. p. 226. ISBN 978-1-4725-1163-8.
- ^ "Weather Watcher". Ocean Weather Ships. 1941-08-22. Retrieved 2024-10-06.
