HMS Spey (K246) was a of the Royal Navy (RN). She was active during the Second World War and was a successful anti-submarine warfare vessel, being credited with the destruction of three U-boats. In 1948 she was sold to the Egyptian Navy.
Construction Spey was built to the RN's specifications as a Group I River-class frigate. She was laid down at Smiths Dock Co., South Bank-on-Tees on 19 July 1941 and launched on 18 December 1941. The ship was commissioned the following year and was the second ship in the Royal Navy to carry the name, after the River Spey in Scotland. She was adopted by the civil community of Letchworth in Hertfordshire as part of Warship Week in 1942.
War service
Spey was initially assigned to Western Approaches Command for convoy defence duties. She saw extensive service on convoy escort missions. On 11 July 1942, while operating with Convoy OS 33, she shared the credit for the sinking of U-136.Blair (1996) p. 668Kemp p. 84, Neistle p. 43 In November 1942 she was deployed to the Mediterranean for convoy defence and support of the landings in Italy, code-named Operation Torch. During this operation the troopship Thomas Stone, with 1450 troops on board, was torpedoed. Spey and destroyers Wishart and Velox stood by while she was taken in tow; Spey eventually took some 800 troops on board and delivered the to Algiers.Blair (1998) p. 91 In April 1943 Spey was assigned to 1st Support Group, and in May assisted in the defence of convoys ONS 5, and SC 130. In February 1944, as senior ship of 10th Escort Group, Spey sank two U-boats in 24 hours, described by Blair as "a record of sorts".Blair (1998) p. 500 On 18 February, while escorting ON 224, Spey found and attacked U-406, sinking her with depth-charges and gunfire;Kemp p. 170, Neistle p. 62 The following day she found and destroyed U-386 in the same manner.Kemp p. 170-1, Neistle p. 60 In May 1944 she was withdrawn from operations, as she was due for refit.
Following refit she sailed for Ceylon and by the end of 1944 was deployed for convoy defence and support of operations in Burma. In January 1945 this included support for landings on the northern shore of Ramree Island. In July 1945 she was prepared to support the proposed landing operations in Malaya. On return to the UK she was laid up in reserve.
Post-war service Spey was sold to the Egyptian Navy in November 1948. She was refitted by Willougby (Plymouth) Ltd and sailed for Egypt in April 1950.Blackman, Raymond V B, Jane's Fighting Ships 1963-4, Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd, London, p72 During her service with the Egyptian Navy she is reported as having been used as a submarine support ship before being scrapped.Moore, John E (ed), Jane's Fighting Ships 1978-9, MacDonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd, London, p132
Successes During her service Spey was credited with the destruction of three U-boats: Date U-boat Type LocationLocations per Kemp; other sources may differ Notes 11 July 1942 U-136 Type VIIC Atlantic, NW of Madeira d/c by Spey, British sloop Pelican and Free French destroyer Léopard 18 February 1944 U-406 Type VIIC Atlantic, SW of Cape Clear d/c by Spey 19 February 1944 U-386 Type VIIC Atlantic d/c by Spey
References
Bibliography Clay Blair (1996): Hitler's U-Boat War Vol I:The Hunters 1939-1942. Cassell Clay Blair (1998): Hitler's U-Boat War Vol II:The Hunted 1942-1945. Cassell
Paul Kemp ( 1997): U-Boats Destroyed. Arms & Armour
Axel Niestle (1998): German U-Boat Losses during World War II. Greenhill
External links Comprehensive details of the Atlantic convoys and their fates. HMS Spey at naval-history.net