ALGERINE-Class Fleet Minesweeper fitted with Turbine
propulsion machinery ordered on 15th November 1940 from Harland and Wolff, Belfast. Laid down on 14th April 1941 this minesweeper was to be called HMS RATTLER but the
name was changed to LOYALTY before launched on 9th December 1942. She was the third RN ship to carry this name,
introduced in 1650 for a 34 Gun Ship and last used for a
Stores Hulk purchase at Cadiz in
1694 and which foundered in 1701.Her build was completed
on 22nd April 1943, and she had been adopted by the civil community of Ripley
in Derbyshire after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National
Savings campaign held in March 1942.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
NORMANDY 1944
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On
a Field barry wavy of six White and Blue,
a sprig of three oak
leaves, Gold
M o t t o
“Fight for the King”
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 3
April Contractors trials and
commissioned for service in 18th Minesweeping
Flotilla.
(Note: This was the
second Minesweeping Flotilla comprised of ALGERINE
Class
ships to be formed.)
22nd Build completion and commenced
Acceptance Trials.
On completion took
passage to Tobermory for work-up and preparation for
operational minesweeping duties.
May After Work-up took passage
to Port Edgar to carry out minesweeping training.
Commenced
minesweeping training in Forth area.
June Joined HM Minesweepers
HOUND, HYDRA and READY for service in 18th
Minesweeping
Flotilla.
Took part in
minesweeping operation in Lyme Bay
July Deployed for mine clearance
in English Channel to ensure safe passage of
coastal convoys.
August Transferred for North Sea
minesweeping and convoy defence based at
Harwich with ships of
Flotilla.
(Note: HM
Minesweepers COCKATRICE, ORESTES and ONYX joined
the
Flotilla at Harwich.)
Nominated for service
at Dover with Flotilla and took passage to join ships
of 9th Flotilla.
25th Deployed for joint operation with 9th
Minesweeping Flotilla and cover
from RAF aircraft
which was intended to attract German aircraft to unusual
minesweeping
operations near French coast (Operation STARKEY)
(Note: During this
operation ships came under fire from shore batteries and
some
damage was sustained by HMS HYDRA causing casualties
and on
return to Dover came under further fire from British coastal
defence
causing further damage which put the ship out of operational
use for
some weeks.)
Little enemy air activity
resulted and the operation was abandoned.)
October Resumed North Sea deployment with
Flotilla.
November Transferred to Scapa Flow with
Flotilla for service with Home Fleet in place
of 15th Minesweeping
Flotilla comprised of smaller BANGOR Class.
15th
Remained at Scapa Flow
when HMS READY, HOUND, HYDRA and
COCKATRICE were
detached for duty in Iceland.
Deployed at Scapa
flow to ensure clear passage for Home Fleet ships.
December Transferred to Orkney and Shetland
Command and based with rest of
Flotilla as
Seidisfjord for anti-submarine patrol and local convoy escort.
(Note: Duties
included U-Boat search operations between Iceland the
Faeroes to intercept submarines in transit to and from bases in
Norway. See HITLER’S U-BOAT WAR by C Blair.)
1 9 4 4
January Iceland deployment in continuation.
to (Note: Despite the fact that
this Class had been prepared for service in
February arctic conditions
they were found ill-suited but still retained.
Some
of Flotilla took part in local escort of convoys to and from
North
Russia and experienced much extreme weather.)
March Nominated for return to UK
30th Took passage from Iceland to
Portsmouth with Flotilla.
April Under refit and repair
prior to joining Force G for minesweeping support
during planned
allied landings in Normandy
Nominated for
clearance of Channel 6 (Operation NEPTUNE)
On completion
rejoined Flotilla and took part in minesweeping exercises
in preparation for
NEPTUNE.
(Note: For details
of naval activities prior to and during NEPTUNE see
LANDINGS IN NORMANDY June 1944 (HMSO) and
OPERATION NEPTUNE by K Edwards.)
May Deployed for exercises
with HM Minesweepers HOUND, ONYX, HYDRA,
ORESTES and later
STORMCLOUD.
Took part in
Rehearsal exercises with Assault Forces including FABIUS II
and minesweep of
Newhaven. See references.
Escorted HMS STORMCLOUD
to Portsmouth after damage caused by
explosion of an
acoustic mine.
June Harbour preparations for
operation.
(Note: Four ISLES
Class Danlayers and three Motor Launches were
attached
to the Flotilla for NEPTUNE.)
4th Operation delayed 24 hours.
5th Sailed for clearance of Channel 6
prior to passage of first Assault convoys.
6th On completion of Channel 6 with
Flotilla deployed for minesweeping off
GOLD landing
Beaches.
Remained off
Beachhead for convoy defence and protection of Assault
Area with periodic
return to Portsmouth.
July Deployed for minesweeping
of anchorage areas after completion of NEPTUNE.
(Note: During this
period enemy attacks using midget submarine craft and
E-Boats
were a regular feature and included minelaying. See references.)
August Support of landings in
continuation.
22nd During minesweeping on return
passage to Portsmouth with HM
Minesweepers READY,
HOUND, HYDRA and RATTLESNAKE sweep
wires parted and
detached with HM Trawler DOON to recover sweep.
Under attack by U480
in position 50.09N 00.41 W about 27
miles south of
Nab Tower. Ship
capsized in less than seven minutes.
Captain and 18
ratings lost their lives.
(Casualty
List - note on casualties)
(Note: Replaced in
Flotilla by HMS TANGANYIKA.)
For more about Algerine-class Minesweepers, see
http://www.minesweepers.org.uk/index.htm