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Allied Warships

HMS Grove (L 77)

Escort destroyer of the Hunt (Type II) class

NavyThe Royal Navy
TypeEscort destroyer
ClassHunt (Type II) 
PennantL 77 
Built bySwan Hunter and Wigham Richardson Ltd. (Wallsend-on-Tyne, U.K.): Wallsend 
Ordered 
Laid down28 Aug, 1940 
Launched29 May, 1941 
Commissioned5 Feb, 1942 
Lost12 Jun, 1942 
Loss position32.05N, 25.30E (See a map)
 
History

At 0537hours on 12 June 1942 HMS Grove (Lt.Cdr. James Wolferstan Rylands, RN) was hit by two torpedoes from U-77 and sunk north of Sollum, Egypt in position 32º05'N, 25º30'E. Two officers and 108 ratings were lost, there were 60 survivors. The destroyer had been part of the eastern convoy MW-11 under Rear Admiral P.J. Vian during the Operation Vigorous, a supply convoy to Malta.

Commanding Officer:
Lt.Cdr. James Wolferstan Rylands, RN
12 December 1941 - 12 June 1942 

Hit by U-boat
Sunk on 12 Jun, 1942 by U-77 (Schonder).


Noteable events involving Grove include:

27 Mar, 1942
On 27 March 1942 the German submarine U-587 was sunk in position 47º21'N, 21º39'W by depth charges by the British escort destroyers HMS Grove (Lt.Cdr. J.W. Rylands, RN) and HMS Aldenham (Lt. H.A. Stuart-Menteth, RN) and the British destoyers HMS Volunteer (Lt. A.S. Pomeroy, RN) and HMS Leamington (Lt.Cdr. H.G. Bowerman, RN) of the 2nd Escort Group, escorting the troop convoy WS-17. The u-boat was found after a HF/DF fix by the British destroyer HMS Keppel (Cdr. J.E. Broome, RN). (see map)


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