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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c) 1989

HMS GRASSHOPPER - Dragonfly-class River Gunboat

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Mosquito, sister-boat  (Photo Ships , click to enlarge) return to Contents List 
 

River Gunboat ordered from John I Thornycroft at Woolston and launched on 19th January 1939, She was the 9th RN ship to carry this name, introduced in 1779 and last used for a destroyer in 1909 which was sold in 1921. Build was completed in June 1939. This ship, unlike those in early design, was able to make the journey to China and under own power.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

CHINA  1860 - DARDANELLES  1915-16

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Blue, on a fesse wavy cottisied wavy White

a Grasshopper proper.

 

 

D e t a i l s    o f   War   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

 

 

September             Passage to join China Squadron for service with the Yangtse Flotilla.

 

October                 Deployed in Far East for Yangtse River patrol and to assist British communities.

to                           (Note:  China was at war with Japan and communist elements in China were in open

December                          conflict with the Chinese government forces resulting in incidents which

                                           frequently involved safety of British citizens.

 

1 9 4 0

 

                              Yangtse Patrol and assistance duties in continuation.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                  Yangtse Patrol and assistance duties in continuation.

to

November

 

December               After outbreak of war with Japan transferred to Singapore for support duties in

                                conjunction with military operations in defence of Malaya.

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                  Deployed in support of military units during the retreat to Singapore from

                                Johore area.

 

February                 Assisted in evacuation from Singapore.

                 14th       Capsized after Japanese air attacks off Rusuk Buaja Island, east of Sumatra.

                                Ship sank quickly with very few survivors. (Casualty List - note on casualties)

 

Special Note

 

In 1943 this name was used for a Combined Operations base at Weymouth.

 

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revised 4/6/110
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