August On completion of trials
and storing carried out Minesweeping work-up .
Joined HM
Minesweepers HALCYON, HARRIER, HUSSAR, LEDA,
NIGER,
SALAMANDER,
GOSSAMER, SKIPJACK and SPEEDWELL and SPHINX.
Nominated with
Flotilla for minesweeping in Nore Command based at
Dover.
September Deployed with Flotilla for
minesweeping in southern North Sea and English Channel to ensure
to clear passage for
coastal convoys.
December (Note: Extensive enemy
minelaying including magnetic mines was being carried out.
For details see
THE TORPEDOMEN by EN Poland, HM MINESWEEPERS (HMSO),
ENGAGE THE ENEMY
MORE CLOSELY by C Barnett and the Naval Staff History.)
1 9 4 0
January Transferred with
Flotilla to Rosyth in continuation of North Sea duties.
(Note: HMS
HALCYON and HMS HUSSAR remained at Grimsby as part of 4th Minesweeping
Flotilla.)
February Deployed in Moray Firth
with Flotilla for minesweeping.
3rd Under air attacks in
snow storm 15 miles north of Kinnaird Head.
Hit by bomb which
exploded in forward structure.
Sustained
extensive damage causing flooding of both Boiler Rooms.
Attempted tow by
HMS HARRIER failed due to weather conditions.
2nd Ship capsized and
drifted ashore 2 miles North of Lybster.
(Note: 54 of the
ships’ company lost their lives and survivors were rescued by ships of Flotilla.
This was the
first loss of a Fleet Minesweeper during WW2.)
(Casualty
List -
note on casualties)
F i
n a l N o t e
This name was carried forward
on 20th
April 1941 when given to an
Accommodation Camp at Alexandria,
Egypt on commissioning for use by
Mediterranean Fleet.
Addendum
Link to
www.halcyon-class.co.uk
by Bill Burn