INSECT-Class River Gunboat
ordered from Barclay Curle and launched on 17th December 1915 as the 3rd RN ship to carry the name. It was introduced for a Hired Ketch in 1808 and previously used by
a coastal destroyer in 1906 which was later renamed
TB1. Build of this ship was completed in 1916 During 1919 she was deployed at
Archangel during operations against Bolshevik
forces. and seriously damaged by shore fire. Following
her repair in UK the ship joined the Yangtse
Flotilla baaed at Hong Kong where she provided a British presence to protect British flagged shipping and British
nationals in an emergency.
B a t t l e H o n o u r
LIBYA 1941
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Red , a cricket Gold
D e t a i l s o f
W a r S e r v i c e
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1 9 3 9
September Nominated
for conversion for minesweeping duties.
to Taken in hand for conversion to new role.
December
1 9 4 0
Nominated for service at Alexandria
On completion took passage to join Mediterranean Fleet
Taken in hand for repair to defects on passage
1 9 4
1
January Under repair
to
April
May Prepared for
service in Inshore Squadron for support of military operations in
Eastern Mediterranean.
June Deployed off North African coast.
29th Escorted convoy with HM Sloop
FLAMINGO and HM South African Whaler
SOUTHERN ISLE to Mersa Matruh
30th Came under attack by 60 dive
bombers off Mersa Matruh and sustained major
damage. Boiler Room
flooded and ship disabled.
July Towed to Alexandria.
to (Note:
Initially by HMS FLAMINGO and later by HM Tug ST ISSEY
December Found beyond
economic repair and placed on the Disposal List.
(Note: Gun barrels were transferred to HMS
APHIS but not very
satisfactory)
Placed on Disposal List
1 9 4 2
Sold at Alexandria for breaking-up.