HMS Niger (J73)
 Niger in 1940
| |
| History | |
|---|---|
 United Kingdom | |
| Name | Niger |
| Ordered | 5 February 1935 |
| Builder | J. Samuel White, Cowes[1] |
| Laid down | 1 April 1935 |
| Launched | 29 January 1936 |
| Homeport | Dover, Kent |
| Identification | Pennant number: J73 |
| Fate | Sunk on 5 July 1942 from damage caused by a mine off Iceland. |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type | Halcyon-class minesweeper |
| Displacement | |
| Length | 245 ft 3 in (74.75 m) |
| Beam | 33 ft 6 in (10.21 m) |
| Draught | 9 ft (2.7 m) |
| Propulsion | Vertical triple-expansion, 2,000 kW ) |
| Speed | 17 knots (31 km/h) |
| Range | 7,200 nmi (13,330 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) |
| Complement | 80 |
| Armament |
|
HMS Niger was a
Second World War. On 5 July 1942, the vessel sailed into a minefield while escorting Convoy QP 13
and struck one of the mines, later sinking with only eight survivors.
Service history
In fog on 5 July 1942 Niger mistook an iceberg for
Naval Armed Guards died aboard the American Liberty ship John Randolph (7,191 GRT) and freighters Hefron (7,611 GRT) and Massmar (5,825 GRT);[4] and there were only eight survivors of the 127 men aboard Niger. Only Exterminator could be salvaged.[5] The value of the Northern Barrage was questioned following the accident.[6]
References
- ^ "Naval Ships of J. Samuel White". Archived from the original on 28 September 2013. Retrieved 23 March 2009.
- ^ "Mines and Mine Laying in Iceland WWII". Icelandic Coast Guard. Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
- ISBN 1-55750-019-3.
- ^ "Ships Sunk or Damaged July 1942 (63 ships)". American Merchant Marine at War. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- ^ "Convoy QP.13". Convoy Web. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
- ^ Lieutenant Commander Geoffrey B. Mason (2006). "British Naval Minelaying in World War 2". naval-history.net. Retrieved 12 January 2011.
