The bridge badge (at left) from HMS Richmond was given to the Ci-ty of Richmond, Virginia. (Photo: Richmond Times-Dispatch)
land, carrying out unspectacular, yet demanding duty, escorting convoys from Canada to mid-ocean rendezvous points off Iceland, before being assigned to the 2 lst Escort Group in Scotland's Clyde estuary. While escorting Russian convoy PQ-14 in 1942, Richmond was severely damaged in a collision with the Liberty ship SS Francis Scott Key. A gash in the port midships exposed her fireroom to the sea, necessitating drydocking. Later, on escort duty out of Halifax, she was involved in a collision with SS Reinholt, requiring further repair. From May to December 1943, she performed her convoy duties admirably without incident. Among other activities, Richmond participated in a fruitless search for a missing Swordfish aircraft on 10 July 1943 while escorting convoy XB-76. For her British/Canadian service she earned Atlantic (1939-45) and Arctic (1941-45) Battle Ho nours. In time, newer ships were coming on-line, and she was laid up in Britain from January to July 1944. Transferred to the Soviet U nion on 16 July 1944, she sailed under the name Zhivuchi ("Lively"). In Russian service, operating from the Northern Fleet bases at Polyarni and near Murmansk, she performed her most spectacular combat action-Zhivuchi depth-charged and deliberately rammed the submarine U-387 on 18 December 1944, sinking her. Fortunately, Zhivuchi was in better condition than another four piper, USS Borie (DD215), which had successfully rammed U405 in November 1943; her seams were opened to the sea, and she had to be sunk. In July 1949 Zhivuchi was returned to Britain and finally broken up. The ship's bridge badge, recently discovered in Richmond, came to the city in 1950. I tis a talisman of gratitude for American intercession in a difficult time. An identical badge is mounted on the presentday HMS Richmond (F-239), a Type 23 frigate built in 1993 at the Swan Hunter Shipyard. The history of Fairfax! Richmond provides a glimpse of the devotion of the men who sailed in her under three flags. ,!, Captain Monroe, an NROTC graduate of the University a/Virginia, served as gunnery officer in USS Aucilla (.A.0-56) and in the Amphibious Force. In the Naval Reserve, he served in the Arabian Gulf, in USS Constitution and at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
SEA HISTORY 98, AUTUMN 2001
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