Later
HUNT-Class coal burning minesweeper
ordered
from Ailsa Shipbuilders at Troon in 1917
and laid down
on 30 November that year. The ship was
launched on 11th June 1918 and was the
first Royal Navy ship
to
carry this name. Her build was completed
0n 6th November 1918. Deployed for in
the Mediterranean and Black
Sea for post-war war minesweeping she
was then reduced to Reserve status and
laid-up in Malta. she
was transferred to the China
Station and commissioned for
passage to Singapore where she again
Paid-off and was
laid-up
again in Singapore during April 1937.
She recommissioned in 1939 at Singapore
and later served with distinction
in the Mediterranean as outlined
below.
Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK
National Savings
campaign
February 1942 this ship was adopted by
the civil
community of Kirkby-in-Ashfield,
Nottinghamshire.
B a t t l
e H o n o u r
None
is recorded
(Note:
This seems incredible and is to be
checked)
H
e r a l d i c D a t a
No
details of a Badge
are recorded in the Official Record but
an unofficial Badge may have been
used..
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 3 9
August
Laid-up in Reserve at
Singapore.
28th
Commissioned for service at Singapore.
September
Carried out trials and prepared
for war service at Singapore as Senior
Officer
Minesweepers
ship.
(Note: Sister
ships HMS ABERDARE, BAGSHOT, DERBY,
FAREHAM,
HARROW,
HUNTLEY and WIDNES, also laid-up at
Singapore were also
prepared for
war service and except WIDNES
commissioned
later.)
October
Deployed at Singapore.
to
December
Nominated
for transfer to Mediterranean Station.
1
9 4 0
January
Deployed at Singapore
to
April
May
Passage
to Alexandria.
Pennant Number for visual signalling
purposes changed
to J23.
to
June
(Note: As this ship was a Coal
Burner this passage
would require careful planning
and may have
involved coaling at sea in the Indian
Ocean from a Collier.)
July
Under repair at Alexandria.
(Note: This
suggests an accumulation of defects
during
passage.)
August
Passage to Malta to join HMS FERMOY for
minesweeping duties
September
(Note:
Italian minelaying commenced and need
for minesweeping became vital to
ensure safe
passage of traffic.)
Deployed
with HMS FERMOY for minesweeping to
clear minelay NE of Malta.
October
Minesweeping south of Malta with HMS
FERMOY to clear Italian field recently laid.
23rd
Total of 10 mines dealt with.)
November Minesweeping
in continuation
with HMS FERMOY during which eight mines
were
swept.
(Note:
This
Class of minesweeper was only capable of
dealing with conventional
moored mines
as were destroyers fitted for
minesweeping
which were also
deployed off
Malta.
December Minesweeping
with HMS FERMOY
in continuation.
(Note:
Several enemy mines which had broken
their mooring
were washed ashore
and dealt
with by Shore disposal units.)
1
9 4 1
January Minesweeping
with HMS
FERMOY to ensure clear approach channels
available in
and out of
Grand Harbour.
February First
lay of acoustic and
magnetic mines by German aircraft.
(Note: Other
craft were requisitioned and fitted with
suitable equipment and
the two Fleet
Minesweepers to continue dealing with
contact
moored
mines.)
Minesweeping
operations with HMS FERMOY in
continuation off Malta.
March During
continuation
operations under constant air attacks
from which no damage
was
sustained.
April
Air attacks during
operations continued.
10th
Acoustic mine detonated during
sweep and
HMS
FERMOY sustained damage in
an
air attack.
11th
Awaiting repair by HM Dockyard
Malta
Under repair.
May
Under repair
(Note:
HMS FERMOY also under repair after
damage in air
attack on 30th April
sustained a
direct hit whilst in dry dock in Malta
and was damaged beyond
repair.
The only Fleet
Minesweeper available in Malta
but under repair.
June
Resumed minesweeping
duties.
(Note Three
trawlers were requisitioned in Malt and
fitted with Oropesa type
minesweeping
equipment to assist in clearance of
moored
mines.
July
Minesweeping
operations assisted by requisitioned
craft.
to
November
(Note:
Acoustic and magnetic minesweeping was
carried out by other
requisitioned
craft including tugs and drifters as
well as
HM Corvette
GLOXINIA which was
fitted for minesweeping.)
December
21st
During minesweeping operation
with three converted craft swept four
mines.
30th
Under attack by Ju88 aircraft
one of which was damaged by return
fire off St. Elmo.
31st
Under attack by Me109 aircraft
and sustained damage with some
casualties.
1 9 4 2
January
Deployed for Night
Minesweeping operations.
(Note: This
decision by Flag Officer Malta had been
made because of the
continual air
attacks on minesweepers.)
28th
Taken in hand for
repair and installation of 20mm Oerlikon
guns to increase
defence
against Close Range air attacks.
February
Resumed minesweeping
operations off Malta on completion of dockyard work.
March
Night operations in
continuation with other converted craft
April
Air attacks on Malta dockyard area
intensified.
1st
Sustained damage in air attack.
2nd
Awaiting dockyard repair in
dockyard area.
4th
Sustained further damage whilst
in Kalkara Creek after two near misses
Ship’s back
broken and vessel beached in Bighi Bay pending survey.
Declared
Constructive Total Loss on Survey
P
o s t W a r
N o t e
No
Fleet Minesweepers were
available in Malta until June 1942 when
HM Minesweepers HEBE, SPEEDY, HYTHE and
RYE arrived in Malta with HARPOON relief
convoy and replaced the two
vintage warships
which had carried the burden with
gallantry since
1940. The conduct of
the two HUNT Class Minesweepers
was recognised
by Flag Officer Malta in a signal of
praise to CinC Mediterranean Fleet in
January 1942. After the end of WW2 the
hulk was placed on the Disposal List and
was broken-up in situ during 1950.