HMS Arbutus (K86)
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HMS Arbutus |
| Namesake: | Arbutus |
| Builder: | Blyth Shipbuilding & Drydock Co. Ltd |
| Laid down: | 30 November 1939 |
| Launched: | 5 June 1940 |
| Commissioned: | 12 October 1940 |
| Identification: | Pennant number: K86 |
| Fate: | Torpedoed, 5 February 1942 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Flower-class corvette |
| Displacement: | 925 tons |
| Length: | 205 ft (62 m) |
| Beam: | 33 ft (10 m) |
| Draught: | 13.5 ft (4.1 m) |
| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) at 2,750 hp |
| Range: | 3,500 nautical miles at 12 knots (6,500 km at 22 km/h) |
| Complement: | 85 men |
| Armament: |
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HMS Arbutus was a Flower-class corvette 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 sunk in the North Atlantic in February 1942.
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. She commissioned on the same day under the command of Lt.Cdr. H Lloyd Williams RNVR, 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 HMS Wolverine 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, 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 Camellia found and attacked U-70; she was depth-charged and brought to the surface, where she was abandoned and sank.
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