 | 541 |
 | Peter Langsdale |
 | 1958 |
 |
HMS Grenville (F197) at Chatham
Rapid Class frigate, photographed at the Chatham Navy Day in 1958.
Launched on 12th October 1942, broken up 1983.
Grenville was one of 24 Type 15 frigates converted from WWII "emergency" destroyers during 1952-1957. The conversion was very extensive, including addition of a full deck for most of the ships' length, a completely new superstructure, and a new outfit of weapons and sensors; the result was a unique design unlikely to be confused with anything else. Grenville is distinguished from the rest of the class by the later addition of a third mast carring a massive air-search radar; this was a trial installation of the radar later fitted in the Invincible class carriers.
Grenville was laid down in 1941 and completed in May of 1943. Her Type 15 conversion was undertaken at Chatham Dockyard during 1953-54. She was not scrapped until 1983 - a remarkably long life for a ship built during the wartime emergency programs.
Picture Added on 26 February 2008.
Comments
I served on the Grenville in 1970. Did you know she was fitted with a periscope in the ops room.
Added by Kevin Hendry on 02 January 2009.
Added by Kevin Hendry on 02 January 2009.
Mt dad served on H.m.S. Grenville 1955 until 1957
is now deceased passed away on 25th december 2008 Mr Sidney Saunders Known as Sandy he was a stoker Mechanic.
Added by Elise Croft on 11 January 2009.
is now deceased passed away on 25th december 2008 Mr Sidney Saunders Known as Sandy he was a stoker Mechanic.
Added by Elise Croft on 11 January 2009.
my late friend anthony weston, served on the grenville during the 2nd ww.i believe his job to be an armourer, during hostilities. the ship was a capt(d)class.in the pacific campaign, they lived on sea biscuits and water for 22 days
before they could be replenished, this was supposedly, a record in its time.
Added by John Tait on 17 January 2009.
before they could be replenished, this was supposedly, a record in its time.
Added by John Tait on 17 January 2009.
I have a Certificate from a visit I did to HMS Grenville on 19th June 1970.
I have some black and white pics of me as a baby on the Focsle that day.
I later went on to join the RN as a Comms Rating in 1987 and served for 10 years prior to medical retirement. I will probably put the pics on Flickr.
Any takers shipmates ?
Added by John on 08 June 2009.
I have some black and white pics of me as a baby on the Focsle that day.
I later went on to join the RN as a Comms Rating in 1987 and served for 10 years prior to medical retirement. I will probably put the pics on Flickr.
Any takers shipmates ?
Added by John on 08 June 2009.
i have seen the orginal shield ot the grenville oakwood with on the top grenville and the 8 missies she made during ww 2
Added by Cmvanwanrooij on 29 July 2009.
Added by Cmvanwanrooij on 29 July 2009.
I served on the Grenville 56/57 as an ERA, she was a happy ship. In 56, the ship acted as guard ship to the Royal Yacht at Cowes; fitted the previous week, were some saluting guns on the aluminium superstructure; P. Philip arrive with Charles on a Sunday afternoon, these were fired causing mayhem with fibre glass insulation rain down on the mess!
The ship was always in and out on various dockyards, mainly due to a defective and/or alterations to asdic dome. The quarterdeck in the photograph may show the first helicoper land platform. The first landing of a helicopter took place outside Portsmouth in probably Sept.of 56.
At that time she was Capt.D of the Second Training Squadron at Portland hence the black band round the funnel.
The periscope in the operations room was install in 56 it had on chequered career, and the position restricted the use of the twin Bofors. During a stint in Chatham Dockyard some "matey" painted over the outside lens.
The Chief ERA was long serving by the name of 'Mo' Russell.
Swing the lamp tell the tale.
Added by Ed Chatwin on 05 August 2009.
The ship was always in and out on various dockyards, mainly due to a defective and/or alterations to asdic dome. The quarterdeck in the photograph may show the first helicoper land platform. The first landing of a helicopter took place outside Portsmouth in probably Sept.of 56.
At that time she was Capt.D of the Second Training Squadron at Portland hence the black band round the funnel.
The periscope in the operations room was install in 56 it had on chequered career, and the position restricted the use of the twin Bofors. During a stint in Chatham Dockyard some "matey" painted over the outside lens.
The Chief ERA was long serving by the name of 'Mo' Russell.
Swing the lamp tell the tale.
Added by Ed Chatwin on 05 August 2009.
Interesting comments by Ed Chatwin, which have filled in few gaps in the history of HMS Grenville.
Added by Ian Richardson on 05 August 2009.
Added by Ian Richardson on 05 August 2009.
On looking more closely at my original photograph, there is in fact a Westland Dragonfly helicopter sitting on the stern! I had never spotted it before. Many thanks to everyone for all this fascinating information, all derived from a little Kodak Brownie photograph! The original picture is only a couple of inches square.
Added by Peter Langsdale on 07 August 2009.
Added by Peter Langsdale on 07 August 2009.
served on the grenville 1959, icelandic patrols.lopo i/c the opps room. confirm that there was a periscope.
spent most of my watches on the port side of the bridge with Uncle Tom the fishery liason officer with the fishing fleet. (old mate was frank baker.
Added by John (taff) owen on 12 August 2009.
spent most of my watches on the port side of the bridge with Uncle Tom the fishery liason officer with the fishing fleet. (old mate was frank baker.
Added by John (taff) owen on 12 August 2009.
I think my Grandad Harry Hodgson may have served on the ship during WW2. if anyone knows of him I would love to hear grom you.
Added by Tim Meader on 08 September 2009.
Added by Tim Meader on 08 September 2009.
This is CM van Wanrooij again. photos of the orginal shield of the Grenville Oakwood with on the top Grenville and the 7 missions she made during World War 2 : Atlantic 1939, English Channel 1943, Mediterranean 1943/44, Anzio 1944, Normandy 1944, Adriatic 1944, and Okinawa 1945. I would like to show these photos to you but I don't know how. Can anybody help me?
Added by Cor van Wanrooij on 02 October 2009.
Added by Cor van Wanrooij on 02 October 2009.
Hi Cor,
On the homepage of this site it says:
'If you want to add your pictures please make sure they are no wider than 720 pixels and less than 200KB and use the form at the bottom of the page or send them to us at info@time-capsules.co.uk'
So if you don't know how to use this system you can always send them to me by email. That is assuming you know how to scan them?
Added by Marcel Gommers on 02 October 2009.
On the homepage of this site it says:
'If you want to add your pictures please make sure they are no wider than 720 pixels and less than 200KB and use the form at the bottom of the page or send them to us at info@time-capsules.co.uk'
So if you don't know how to use this system you can always send them to me by email. That is assuming you know how to scan them?
Added by Marcel Gommers on 02 October 2009.
When I served on the Grenville in 1970 we were fitted with a stablished radar and were sent up towards Iceland for rough weather trials to see if it worked. Remember going to St.Johns and Newport, Rhode Island afterwards. Finished up in Bermuda for Prince Charles's visit.
Added by Kevin Hendry on 02 October 2009.
Added by Kevin Hendry on 02 October 2009.
When I was serving in the RN disposal ships list in Portsmouth we where tasked with taking the Grenville to scrap from Guz to Chatham for break up on the Isle of Sheppy (Kent)Being a dead ship in tow we had to take our own form of generation with us to power the beer fridge, this was an old single cylinder diesel powering a small single phase generator, this was all packaged up in a wooden chacon along with the galvanized dustbins holding the fresh water. Cut to the quick I ended up having to salvage a similar generator from a small uperdeck compartment which could have been emergency wt power to replace the one that we took with us as it went u/s, couldn't have the boys drinking warm beer! Anyway got it all wired in even the coupling to the diesel was the same fired up first time, dont make them like they use to.
Shame she was covered in sea gull guano though dont know how long she was laid up in Guz before the tow but must have been a good few years. Other ships that we towed where HMS Matapan, HMS Hardy, looked after the Empire Gull up the trot in Pompey, fottie on the tank deck!
Added by W 'Alf' harding on 24 October 2009.
Shame she was covered in sea gull guano though dont know how long she was laid up in Guz before the tow but must have been a good few years. Other ships that we towed where HMS Matapan, HMS Hardy, looked after the Empire Gull up the trot in Pompey, fottie on the tank deck!
Added by W 'Alf' harding on 24 October 2009.
Hi Ed, Just dug out the old service record I was in Pompey, HMS Nelson from July 79 to to Feb 80 so it would have been between then, cant be certain but I have a feeling that it was toward the end of 79.
Yours aye, Alf
Added by Alf Harding on 29 October 2009.
Yours aye, Alf
Added by Alf Harding on 29 October 2009.
Hi Folks,
I was a National Service Radio Mech on HMS Grenville in 1956, with PO Tom Chantler and REM Harry Pomfret. Steamed up the River Loire to Nantes for Bastille Day in the July of that year. Then at Portland for several Months training Asdic Operators working with a Submarine (HMS Thermopolae)... Signals to the submarine were made with Hand Grenades thrown over the side, wich killed fish, that we 'netted' with a weighted wicker waste paper basket!. During this time, we had our own 'Liberty Boat' which was an ex Scottish Motor Fishing Vessel, and the Fish Hold had been fitted out with seats. Recreational trips were made on this to Weymouth to pick up 'parties' at the jetty, and we would then spend the day at Lulworth Cove. We made history when Richard Dimbleby made the first Television broadcast from a submerged submarine, and we had all the BBC engineers etc on board, in Weymouth Bay. Captain was Robertson, who took his Labrador dog to sea with him, as well as his 3 wheel Bond car !!! Radar was the 277 and 293 sets, and the latest Decca 974, which was an amazing piece of kit! It was that good, that the skipper closed all the 'deadlights' on the bridge, and brought the ship 'alongside' Weymouth Jetty, purely on the Radar picture !!! ...... After the 'Bump' and grinding of tortured steel against the concrete jetty, I don't think he had another whisky for at least another hour !!
Ships Radio entertainment came from a B40 receiver, which I switched on and off and tuned to stations. I left the Grenville to go to the Carrier HMS Centaur. Could tell a thousand tales, of events on what must then have been the slackest ship in the Royal Navy - Like the permanently 'paralytic' PO Chef, who allowed the Galley sink to be used for the ditching of the left over Tots, to save them putting it over the side!! The sink and its 'U' bend were never used, as the chef managed to catch it all, under the sink behind a sack of potatoes. Etc, etc !! ... Happy days!!
Added by John Haddleton (now 74 !!) on 12 November 2009.
I was a National Service Radio Mech on HMS Grenville in 1956, with PO Tom Chantler and REM Harry Pomfret. Steamed up the River Loire to Nantes for Bastille Day in the July of that year. Then at Portland for several Months training Asdic Operators working with a Submarine (HMS Thermopolae)... Signals to the submarine were made with Hand Grenades thrown over the side, wich killed fish, that we 'netted' with a weighted wicker waste paper basket!. During this time, we had our own 'Liberty Boat' which was an ex Scottish Motor Fishing Vessel, and the Fish Hold had been fitted out with seats. Recreational trips were made on this to Weymouth to pick up 'parties' at the jetty, and we would then spend the day at Lulworth Cove. We made history when Richard Dimbleby made the first Television broadcast from a submerged submarine, and we had all the BBC engineers etc on board, in Weymouth Bay. Captain was Robertson, who took his Labrador dog to sea with him, as well as his 3 wheel Bond car !!! Radar was the 277 and 293 sets, and the latest Decca 974, which was an amazing piece of kit! It was that good, that the skipper closed all the 'deadlights' on the bridge, and brought the ship 'alongside' Weymouth Jetty, purely on the Radar picture !!! ...... After the 'Bump' and grinding of tortured steel against the concrete jetty, I don't think he had another whisky for at least another hour !!
Ships Radio entertainment came from a B40 receiver, which I switched on and off and tuned to stations. I left the Grenville to go to the Carrier HMS Centaur. Could tell a thousand tales, of events on what must then have been the slackest ship in the Royal Navy - Like the permanently 'paralytic' PO Chef, who allowed the Galley sink to be used for the ditching of the left over Tots, to save them putting it over the side!! The sink and its 'U' bend were never used, as the chef managed to catch it all, under the sink behind a sack of potatoes. Etc, etc !! ... Happy days!!
Added by John Haddleton (now 74 !!) on 12 November 2009.
Grenville was my first ship and joined just in time for a workup at Portland ! I was in the foc'sle port side messdeck where George Darling, a three badge AB, taught me the finer points of uckers, small ship rules, and how to sling a mick.
Added by Kevin Hendry on 12 November 2009.
Added by Kevin Hendry on 12 November 2009.
Uckers I know about (my Dad was on HMS Eagle before and during part of WW2), but what does "sling a mick" mean?
Incidentally, I think it's amazing to get such a good response to a photo I took while I was a teenage Marine Cadet.
Added by Peter Langsdale on 12 November 2009.
Incidentally, I think it's amazing to get such a good response to a photo I took while I was a teenage Marine Cadet.
Added by Peter Langsdale on 12 November 2009.
Sling a mick was to sling a hammock, a lot of the old frigates still had some men sleeping in them in the 70s. Very snug but a bugger to sling when you had been ashore for a few pints, spent several nights sleeping on a 9" wide bench.
Added by Kevin Hendry on 12 November 2009.
Added by Kevin Hendry on 12 November 2009.
I served in the Grenville during 1970. At that time we were doing trials on the radar type 1006 (replacement for 987)which consisted of steaming in big circles in the Solent off Frazer gunnery range. each evening we would anchor in St Helens Roads and fishing became very popular with the ships company. I was in the forward seamens mess which had 9 bunks for 16 of us so most of us slung micks.
The open bridge was invariably used rather than the enclosed one. Watches in foul weather weren't much fun!
During the August we had the 2nd frigate squadron run in Hamburg. The world cup was on and a local company lent us a huge TV which was installed on the quarterdeck. That year England were knopcked out in the quarter finals by Germany....All the passengers on passing ferries took great delight in this! especially after 1966!! Happy days
Added by Simon Palmer on 13 November 2009.
The open bridge was invariably used rather than the enclosed one. Watches in foul weather weren't much fun!
During the August we had the 2nd frigate squadron run in Hamburg. The world cup was on and a local company lent us a huge TV which was installed on the quarterdeck. That year England were knopcked out in the quarter finals by Germany....All the passengers on passing ferries took great delight in this! especially after 1966!! Happy days
Added by Simon Palmer on 13 November 2009.
i served on the grenville around 1942-43 in ww11. my name freddy eagle if anyone remembers me would love to hear from you if yo still alive.
Added by Freddy Eagle on 26 January 2010.
Added by Freddy Eagle on 26 January 2010.
Added by Ian Richardson on 06 April 2008.