Over Christmas I met a gentleman who served during WW2 in the Royal Indian Navy. Any ideas on where he should look for his service record? Bart
Many thanks, Peter. I've passed the address on to my Indian friend. I don't know much about the Royal Indian Navy. I guess there isn't all that much to know. Except . . . Whenever the subject comes up talk soon turns to the mutiny that occurred shortly after the war. Wikipedia has an article on it, which, as far as I can tell, seems useful. Bart
Indian Naval forces The Indian Navy almost did not exist before WWII. When the war broke out, the British immediately provided ships and built ships to Indian navy which then only consisted of some small surface vessels. During the war India had 14 escorts all in all, 4 of type Erget 1200 tons built in 1938-40), 2 of type Black Swan 1470 tons built in 1939-1942, 4 ship of the "River" class of 1460 tons built in 1942, 4 Flower class corvettes of 925 tons built in 1940-41, and 9 minesweepers of 650 tons each. Read the rest here from:uboat.net - Fighting the U-boats - Ships
Almost ashamed to admit I'd never considered an Indian WW2 Navy before, despite being aware of their large land contribution (Grandad was an Indian Army Officer for a while I believe). Reading a Navy book and the thought crossed my mind, so I Googled and found... this thread on 'WW2Talk'. (Sure I've heard of that site before somewhere?) Does anyone know if this video is what it purports to be? [YOUTUBE]H1pu3YePg3M[/YOUTUBE] I know F all about Naval stuff, but that's a funny-looking boat they're sinking. I see they weren't exactly happy chaps postwar: Royal Indian Navy mutiny - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Sadly, that mutiny is most of what you get if you Google "Royal Indian Navy" - is there a better site out there on their WW2 History? ~A
hello, Just back from Durham, looking into HMS Mahratta, i was given a letter that states: After the los of HMS Mahratta, it was proposed that the Royal Navy give a replacement ship the same name as Mahratta, but this was denied by the Indian Navy, who wished to use the name for a ship in their own fleet, so looking up RIN Mahratta, I noticed that HMCS CHARLOCK, that was on loan to the Indian Navy, this ship was renamed RIN Mahratta.
Some more information for those interested: Royal Indian Navy (RIN) Officers 1939-1945 HyperWar: The Royal Indian Navy (official history 39-45) Royal Indian Navy in World War 2 - Ship Histories, Convoy Escort Movements, Casualties, killed and died Cheers Mark
For those interested there is some quite thorough and interesting information written by Len Barnett at this site: mainbombay Regards Rattler
I found this discovery intriguing and a puzzle: Royal Indian Navy (RIN) sloops on escort duty in the South Atlantic and visiting Glasgow in July-August 1941. Nowt like that is referred to in the account in the previous post - when skimmed through. Within a long. detailed history on: Allied Warships of WWII - Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Canton - uboat.net Compiled from official records. There are very few threads on the Royal Indian Navy, probably as many on the post-war mutinies as on the RIN's part in WW2.
Both had recently been completed the in UK, so presumably took part in some local convoy escort work whilst working up, prior to the heading east. Regards, Steve
Steve, Noted, I cite the full entry: From: Allied Warships of WWII - Armed Merchant Cruiser HMS Canton - uboat.net From the same source HMIS Sutlej was commissioned 23/4/1941 (launched 1/10/1940), so was in the Clyde / Glasgow. She left Scotland with convoy WS11 for the Far East, leaving 31/8/1941. On a quick glance she remained in the Indian Ocean afterwards. HMIS Jumna was commissioned 13/5/1941, with anti-sub training in the Clyde and a trip to Scapa Flow. Afterwards her next appearance is 30/12/1941 in the Indian Ocean and she remained there. Would the RIN have moved personnel to the UK to deliver the two boats?
Possibly: IWM photos collection has a few images of "men of the RIN aboard their new sloop" HMIS Narbada in Portsmouth harbour but that's later, on 20 May 1943. Seem to have been up at Scapa Flow in June.
Yes I'd imagine its highly that RIN personnel would have been shipped to UK to receive the escorts. I note that at least three of the later Black Swan's also remained in UK/European waters for some time after commissioning. HMIS Godavari - Wikipedia HMIS Kistna - Wikipedia HMIS Cauvery - Wikipedia Regards, Steve
Have to admit I've got a (very excessive compared with the reason) soft spot for Cauvery, Jumna and Narbada -- they were involved in supporting the early-1945 Arakan campaign, noseying their way up shallow chaungs to lend bombardment support to troops as they landed at places like Ruywa and Letpan. There's some great (unedited) footage (in amongst some less-impressive footage) of the landings at Ruywa on the IWM website, which also gives a good idea of the size of the 'beachheads' at some of the Arakan landings: AMPHIBIOUS LANDING IN THE ARAKAN AT RU-YWA [Allocated Title]
A few notes on HMIS GODAVARI time while based in Londonderry (LD). (This is not a complete list of full activities for the period covered or a full list of all convoys that the ship may have escorted, its just what I found when looking at this period and activities at LD). 1943 20 August, At Clyde, ordered to take on stores and proceed to LD for boiler cleaning. GODAVARI was t be based at LD and operate with WA Command until a convenient convoy was found that she may sail to her destination of Bombay. 16 September, sailed Lough Foyle to RV with ON-202 for escort, GODAVARI was detached from the escort just before midnight to return to LD. 28 - 29 September, escort KMS 027G 04 - 05 October escort MKS 26 02 November, GODAVARI intended to sail as escort with KMS 32, sailing was delayed due to illness of captain. Was due to join the later KMS 33 as escort. 12 November, increasing defects on GODAVARI, was considered inadvisable to sail the ship on long ocean passages. Defects were reported as structural weakness in the design similar to that experienced in other modified Black Swan class sloops. Arrangements were made for extra stiffening to e carried out before sailing the ship to India. 14 November, due to structural defects GODAVARI cannot sail with KMS 33, departure to India postponed indefinitely. 09 December, GODAVARI to escort KMS 36 and then onward routing to India. 18 December, GODAVARI is diverted and takes part in Operation Stonewall to search for outbound German blockade runners in Bay of Biscay. During the night GODAVARI is illuminated by allied aircraft involved by the search, but not attacked. 21 December, GODAVARI forms part of escort to KMS36/OS 62 22 December, GODAVARI in collision with merchant ship MANCHESTER PROGRESS. No2 magazine and CPO mess flooded, although not in danger of sinking, no immediate action could be taken owing to the gale force winds and high seas. 23 December, situation deteriorated, GODAVARI reported being cut down to the waterline and unable to make more than 4 knots, requested an escort to standby in case to CPO mess bulkhead failed and the ship foundered. Was escorted back to LD by HMS CLOVER 25 December, arrived LD
