HMS Arbutus was a of the Royal Navy, which was active during the Second World War. She was a successful escort vessel, and took part in the destruction of two U-boats during the Battle of the Atlantic. Arbutus was torpedoed by a U-boat and sunk in the North Atlantic in February 1942 while aiding an under-attack convoy.
Arbutus was placed on order in July 1939, one of the first 26 "Flowers" of the pre-war building programme. She was laid down at the Blyth Shipbuilding Company, at Blyth, Northumberland, on 30 November 1939. She was launched on 5 June 1940 and completed 12 October 1940.[1] She commissioned on the same day under the command of Lt. Cdr. H Lloyd Williams, RNVR,[2] one of the earliest Volunteer Reserve command appointments.
After trials and working up Arbutus joined Western Approaches Command and was assigned to 6 Escort Group, led by JM Rowland in for convoy escort duties. In this role she was engaged in all the duties performed by escort ships; protecting convoys, searching for and attacking U-boats, and rescuing survivors. Over the next 14 months Arbutus escorted 26 convoys on the Atlantic routes,[3] [4] helping to bring over 750 ships to safety, though a number were lost in various incidents. She was involved in two convoy battles, and helped destroy two U-boats.
In March 1941, Arbutus, with 6 EG, escorted convoy OB 293 when it came under attack by a force of U-boats. The escort group mounted a vigorous and aggressive defence, resulting in the destruction of two U-boats and damage to a third, for the loss of two ships sunk and three damaged. During the two-night action, on 7 March 1941, Arbutus and found and attacked ; she was depth-charged and brought to the surface, where she was abandoned and sank.[5]
In April 1941 6EG went to the aid of convoy SC 26 which was under attack. On 5 April Arbutus, with Wolverine and, found and attacked, which was brought to the surface and abandoned. As she surfaced Arbutus was closing in order to ram her; when he saw she was being abandoned Arbutus then commander, Lt. ALW Warren, changed plans and attempted to capture the submarine before it sank. U-76 was boarded by several members of the corvette's crew, and efforts were made to secure and search the boat while Arbutus made fast to the U-boat with hawsers. However, U-76 was sinking too fast, and the capture failed. This was the first such instance of a U-boat boarding and acquisition in World War II, though it was unsuccessful;[6] the exploit was repeated the following month when U-110 was captured by ships of 3 Escort Group.
On 5 February 1942 Arbutus was escorting convoy ON 63 when it was detected by . The U-boat sent a sighting report and commenced shadowing, but the transmission was DFed and escorts and Arbutus ran down the bearing to attack. The U-boat commander, K/L H Zimmerman, responded aggressively, counter-attacking and torpedoing Arbutus as she approached. The corvette broke in half and sank, with the loss of half her crew.[7] 43 men, including her commander, were lost.[8] U-136 was subsequently depth-charged by Chelsea, damaged and forced to abandon her pursuit, saving ON 63 from further harm.[7]
During her service Arbutus was credited with sharing in the destruction of two U-boats:
| Date | U-boat | Type | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 March 1941 | N Atlantic, N of Rockall 60.25°N -14°W | Rammed by Mijdrecht, D/C by Arbutus, ; forced to surface, abandoned, sunk[9] [10] | ||
| 5 April 1941 | N Atlantic, S of Iceland 58.5833°N -40°W | D/C by,, boarded by Arbutus; sank due to damage received[11] [12] | ||