French frigate L'Escarmouche

L'Escarmouche was a River-class frigate in the service of the Free French Naval Forces (FFNL) during World War II. Launched as HMS Frome in 1943, the ship was transferred to the Free French Naval forces and served in the postwar French Navy until her decommissioning in 1960.[1]

L'Escarmouche on 15 April 1944
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Frome
Ordered1941
BuilderBlyth Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.
Laid down19 December 1941
Launched1 June 1943
Completed1943
In service1943-1944
Out of service1944
IdentificationPennant number: K267
FateTransferred to FNFL in 1944
France
NameL'Escarmouche
Acquired1944
In service1944-1960
Renamed1944
FateDecommissioned in 1960
General characteristics
Class and typeRiver-class frigate

History

L'Escarmouche was laid down as HMS Frome in 1942 as a River-class frigate of the Royal Navy. She was launched on 1 June 1943, before being transferred to the FNFL and entering Free French naval service on 3 March 1944.[1] During her service in World War II, L'Escarmouche was primarily occupied with escorting transports and supply ships in the English Channel. In June 1944 she served as an escort for American transports heading for Utah and Omaha Beach on D-Day.[2] L'Escarmouche was escorting the landing ship Empire Javelin when the latter was sunk by either an undersea mine or a submarine-launched torpedo on 28 December 1944.[3] The frigate assisted in rescuing survivors from Empire Javelin, but failed to find an attacker after conducting a sweep for a U-boat. Following the end of the war, L'Escarmouche remained in the service of the newly formed French Fourth Republic. She was decommissioned in 1960.[1]

References
  1. "FFL L'Escarmouche (K 267) of the Free French Navy - Free French Frigate of the River class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 2018-02-15.
  2. Watson, Patrick (2007-12-11). Watson's Really Big Wwii Almanac: Volume I: January to June. Xlibris Corporation. ISBN 9781469101897.
  3. Johnstone-Bryden, Richard (2015-07-30). HMS Cavalier Destroyer 1944. Seaforth Publishing. ISBN 9781848323742.
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