HMS Cromer (J128)
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | HMS Cromer (J128) |
| Operator | Royal Navy |
| Builder | Lobnitz & Co. Ltd. |
| Launched | 16 May 1940 |
| Commissioned | 4 April 1941 |
| Fate | Sunk 9 November 1942 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Bangor-class minesweeper |
| Displacement |
|
| Length | 189 ft (58 m) o/a |
| Beam | 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m) |
| Draught | 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) |
| Installed power |
|
| Propulsion |
|
| Speed | 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph) |
| Range | 2,800 nmi (5,200 km; 3,200 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement | 60 |
| Armament |
|
HMS Cromer was a Bangor-class minesweepers built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War.
Design and description
The Bangor class was designed as a small minesweeper that could be easily built in large numbers by civilian shipyards; as
deep load. The ship had an overall length of 189 feet (57.6 m), a beam of 28 feet 6 inches (8.7 m) and a draught of 10 feet 6 inches (3.2 m).[1] The ship's complement consisted of 60 officers and ratings.[2]
She was powered by two
Admiralty three-drum boilers. The engines produced a total of 2,400 shaft horsepower (1,800 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph). The ship carried a maximum of 160 long tons (163 t) of fuel oil that gave her a range of 2,800 nautical miles (5,200 km; 3,200 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[3]
The VTE-powered Bangors were armed with a
anti-aircraft gun and a single QF 2-pounder (4 cm) AA gun or a quadruple mount for the Vickers .50 machine gun. In some ships the 2-pounder was replaced a single or twin 20 mm Oerlikon AA gun, while most ships were fitted with four additional single Oerlikon mounts over the course of the war.[3] For escort work, their minesweeping gear could be exchanged for around 40 depth charges.[2]
Construction and career
She was named after the North Norfolk seaside town of the same name. The ship was mentioned in the first broadcast episode of "An American in England".[4] She was lost on 9 November 1942, mined and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Mersa Matruh, Egypt, in position 31°26′N 027°16′E / 31.433°N 27.267°E.[5] Her commanding officer, Robert Stephenson, went down with the ship.[6]
References
- ^ Lenton, pp. 253–54
- ^ a b Chesneau, p. 64
- ^ a b Lenton, p. 254
- ^ An American In England: Cromer
- ^ Uboat.net: HMS Cromer (J128)
- ISBN 978-1526706980.
Bibliography
- Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
- ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
- ISBN 1-55750-048-7.