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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 2001

HMS ALGERINE (J 213) - Algerine-class Fleet Minesweeper

HMS Fierce, sister-ship (Navy Photos/Mark Teadham, click to enlarge) return to Contents List 
 

ALGERINE-Class Fleet Minesweeper fitted with Turbine propulsion machinery ordered on 15th November 1940  from Harland and Wolff, Belfast. Laid down on 15th March 1941 this minesweeper was launched on 22nd December 1941 as the eighth RN ship to carry this name, introduced in 1810 for a 10 gun cutter built at Upnor and wrecked in the West Indies during 1813. It was last borne by a Sloop built at Devonport in 1895 and sold as a salvage vessel in 1919. Trials Build of this ship was completed on 24th March 1942 and she was adopted by the civil community of Sittingbourne, Kent in February 1942 following a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign..

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

CHINA 1841-42 - CHINA 1900 - CHINA 1956-60 -  NORTH AFRICA 1942-43

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Blue, an Algerian sword erect in front of

two pistols in Saltire, proper.

 

 

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e

 

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search

 

 

1 9 4 2

 

March                Contractors trials and commissioned for service in 12th Minesweeping Flotilla on formation.

      12th             Build completion and commenced First of Class Acceptance Trials.

      24th             On completion took passage to Tobermory for work-up and preparation for

                          operational minesweeping duties.

 

April                   After Work-up took passage to Port Edgar to carry out minesweeping training.

                            Commenced minesweeping training in Forth area.

 

May                    Passage to Harwich to join 9th Minesweeping Flotilla, temporarily pending formation

                            of new Flotilla. Deployed with 9th Flotilla for minesweeping off the East coast to ensure

                           safe passage of convoys to and from Thames estuary. Carried out escort duty

                           and patrol as required.

 

June                   North Sea deployment with Flotilla in continuation.

      to                 Nominated for foreign service as Leader on formation of 12th Flotilla.

September         Joined by sister ships HMS ALARM and HMS ALBACORE in 9th Flotilla.

 

October             Joined 12th Minesweeping Flotilla for duty as Leader on formation with HM Minesweepers

                          ACUTE, ALARM, ALBACORE and CADMUS.

                          Nominated for minesweeping duties in Mediterranean and support of planned

                          allied landings in North Africa (Operation TORCH – See Naval Staff History

                          and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett.)

      22nd            Remained in UK for repair after sweep fouled in propeller and did not join other four ships

                          which sailed for Clyde for escort of military convoy during passage to Gibraltar.

      26th             On completion of repair joined escort for military convoy KMF1 in Clyde

                          and took passage to Oran for provision of minesweeping support during landings.

 

November

        8th             Carried out mine sweep with Flotilla in advance of assault convoys to Algiers.

                          (Note: HM Minesweepers HUSSAR and SPEEDWELL were attached to

                                      Flotilla for TORCH.

        9th             Towed damaged destroyer HMS COWDRAY and beached stricken ship.

                          (Note: HMS COWDRAY had been damaged by air attack off Algiers and later recovered.)

       10th             Deployed with Flotilla for anti-submarine patrol off Algiers.

       13th             Carried out minesweeeping off Bougie during Operation PERPETUAL)

       15th             During deployment off Bougie with HMS ALARM came under attack by the Italian

                           submarine ASCIANGHI and sank after torpedo hit. Survivors were rescued

                           by HM Auxiliary AA Ship POZARICA.

                           in company but all officers and 80 of the ship’s company lost their lives.

                           (Casualty List - note on casualties)

 


 

For more about Algerine-class Minesweepers, see http://www.minesweepers.org.uk/index.htm

 

 

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