The THORNBOROUGH left the USA in February 1944 for Bermuda to work up. The following month she was allocated to Portsmouth Command and on 25 March left Bermuda escorting the new landing dock NORTHWAY, with HM Ships ASCENSION and TROLLOP for Portsmouth where they arrived at the beginning of April. Later in the month the THORNBOROUGH underwent boiler cleaning at Belfast, returning to Portsmouth on 27 April.
During operation ‘Neptune’ – the naval phase of the Allied landings in Normandy in June 1944 – THRONBOROUGH operated on Eastern Channel patrol duties and was later employed as a Coastal Forces Control Ship. Between July and September, she was involved in a number of engagements with German E-boats attempting to attack Allied convoys in the Channel. On 30 July, whilst on patrol north-west of Cap d’Antifer she engaged a group of E-boats, one of which was damaged.
On the night of 5/6 August the THORNBOROUGH and her sister ship RETALICT were attacked eight times by enemy torpedo bombers whilst proceeding to patrol off Cap d’Antifer, but suffered no damage; later, during the patrol the THORNBOROUGH, in company with three US PT boats engaged three E-boats who retired towards Le Havre under the cover of a smoke screen. On the morning of 11 August, whilst again patrolling off Cap d’ Antifer, she made radar contact with six enemy R-boats and a trawler, later controlling the subsequent attack on the convoy by three US PT boats.
At the beginning of October 1944 the Thornborough was transferred to the Nore Command and based at Harwich for the defence of the UK- Antwerp Convoy rout against E-boats THORNBOROUGH was in action once again, against E-boats on 29/30 November with H.M.Ships Retalick, MTB 741 and 776. In March 1945 she was allocated to Plymouth command for anti-submarine patrol duties
On 15 May 1945 H.M.S.THORNBOROUGH left Plymouth in company with H.M.S. HOLMES for St Peters Port, Guernsey to act under orders of the Naval Officer in Charge (NOIC) Channel Islands for A/S patrol and escort duties.
The following day the two frigates formed part of the escort for a number of landing ships carrying troops for the reinforcement and reoccupation of the Channel Islands.
On 20 May 1945 the THORNBOROUGH suffered underwater damage through striking am unkown submerged object. She was taken in hand for repairs at Devonport on 14 June, but later in the month approval was given for her to be reduced to reserve, category ‘B’ at four months notice for service; She was accordingly accepted into reserve at West Hartlepool on 25 July 1945. The THORNBOROUGH remained here, utilized as a living ship, until returned to the US Navy on 30 January 1947. She was sold for breaking up in Greece later that year.
Original: 08/06/02
Revised: 05/13/02