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SERVICE HISTORIES of ROYAL NAVY WARSHIPS in WORLD WAR 2

by Lt Cdr Geoffrey B Mason RN (Rtd) (c)1997

HMS CRICKET - Insect-class River Gunboat

Edited by Gordon Smith, Naval-History.Net

HMS Cicala,  sister-ship (scrapbook of Yeoman of Signals George Smith, click to enlarge) return to Contents List   
 

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

 

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search

 

 

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. 

 

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revised 4/6/110
further editing and formatting is required


 

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