HMS Squirrel (J301)
Appearance
HMS Squirrel underway in Belfast Lough on completion.
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History | |
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United Kingdom | |
Name | HMS Squirrel |
Ordered | 30 April 1942 |
Builder | Harland and Wolff, Belfast[3] |
Yard number | 1206[1] |
Laid down | 20 August 1943 |
Launched | 20 April 1944 |
Completed | 16 August 1944[1] |
Commissioned | 16 August 1944 |
Fate | Hit a mine and subsequently scuttled, 24 July 1945[2] |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Algerine-class minesweeper |
Displacement |
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Length | 225 ft (69 m) o/a |
Beam | 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) |
Draught | 11 ft (3.4 m) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed | 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) |
Range | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
Complement | 85 |
Armament |
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HMS Squirrel was a
scuttled after striking a mine
in 1945.
Design and description
The turbine-powered ships displaced 850 long tons (860 t) at
deep load. The ship measured 225 feet (68.6 m) long overall with a beam of 35 feet 6 inches (10.8 m). The turbine group had a draught of 11 feet (3.4 m). The ships' complement consisted of 85 officers and ratings.[4]
The ships had two
Admiralty three-drum boilers. The engines produced a total of 2,000 shaft horsepower (1,500 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph). The ships carried a maximum of 660 long tons (671 t) of fuel oil that gave them a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[4]
The Algerine class was armed with a
Bofors 40 mm mounts began replacing the twin 20 mm mounts on a one for one basis. All of the ships were fitted for four throwers and two rails for depth charges.[4]
Construction and career
She was launched in 1944. Squirrel took part in
Phuket Island during the attack, and caught fire. After a half hour the flames were beyond control and she was abandoned. Survivors were rescued by HMIS Punjab.[7] She was scuttled by gunfire two hours later. Seven men were lost in the attack.[2]
References
- ^ a b McCluskie 2013, p. 153.
- ^ a b Brown 1995, p. 155.
- ^ "NMM, vessel ID 376280" (PDF). Warship Histories, vol x. National Maritime Museum. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 August 2011. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- ^ a b c Lenton, p. 261
- ^ Chesneau, p. 65
- ^ a b "Suicide Plane Attack Fails". The Southeast Missourian. Associated Press. 30 July 1945. p. 1. Retrieved 1 August 2011.
- ^ "The Royal Indian Navy 1939-1945". Inbiblio. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
Bibliography
- Brown, David (1995). Warship Losses of World War Two. London: Arms and Armour. ISBN 1854092782.
- 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.
- McCluskie, Tom (2013). The Rise and Fall of Harland and Wolff. Stroud: The History Press. ISBN 9780752488615.
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