| HMT Almond | |
|---|---|
| Career |  |
| Name: | HMT Almond |
| Builder: | Ardrossan Dockyard |
| Launched: | 22 May 1940 |
| Fate: | Sunk 2 February 1941 |
| General characteristics [1] | |
| Class & type: | Tree-class trawler |
| Displacement: | 530 long tons (540 t) |
| Length: |
164 ft (50.0 m) o/a 150 ft (45.7 m) pp |
| Beam: | 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m) |
| Draught: | 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) |
| Propulsion: |
One triple expansion reciprocating engine, 1 shaft 850 ihp (630 kW) |
| Speed: | 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph) |
| Complement: | 35 |
| Armament: | 1 × QF 12-pounder 12 cwt naval gun |
HMT Almond was a Tree-class naval trawler of the British Royal Navy. Almond was launched in 1940 and served in World War Two, being sunk by a mine on 2 February 1941.
Construction[]
Almond was laid down on 18 August 1939[2] at Ardrossan Dockyard, on the south west coast of Scotland. She was launched on 22 May 1940,[1] and commissioned on 20 August that year.[2] At this latter time some crew members were posted to Ardrossan. They were billeted in civilian accommodation, some were joined by their family.
Service[]
She sailed to Tynemouth in order to have her armament fitted, then to Milford Haven, Wales, to commence minesweeping duties. She had a crew compliment of 20, 19 of whom were killed when she was sunk by a mine on 2 February 1941, at about 2.00 pm, when returning to Falmouth, Cornwall after sweeping duties accompanied by another sweeper, which is currently unknown.[3]
Missing, presumed killed, the crew members who died that day were:
Serial No 67 – OFFICIAL ADMIRALTY COMMUNIQUE – The Board of Admiralty regrets to announce the following casualties sustained:
- Temporary Skipper: J.C.CUTTER, R.N.R.
- Temporary Skipper: A.E. JOHNSON, R.N.R.
- ALEXANDER, John W. Ordinary Telegraphist. P/JX.174856.
- BRADBURY, John. Stoker, 2nd Class, LT/KX, 107433.
- BURNETT, Alfrad Stoker. LT/KX. 109743.
- BURNETT, David H, Stoker. LT/KX. 111489.
- CLARK, John T Seaman. LT/JX. 185294.
- EVES, William. Seaman. LT/JX. 198767.
- HOLT, William G. Second Hand, R.N.R. LT/X. 20089 A.
- HOPE, Albert. Engineman. LT/KX. 111443.
- KREBS, Emmanuel. Ordinary Seaman. LT/JX. 185294.
- McCANN, William. Ordinary Seaman. LT/JX. 210652.
- PARKER, George E. Ordinary Seaman. LT/JX. 198891.
- RAINSLEY, Frank T. Ordinary Seaman. LT/JX. 193915.
- REYNOLDS, Reginald J. Ordinary Signalman. D/JX. 191114.
- ROSS, Peter A. Seaman LT/JX. 205401.
- SCOTT, William. Stoker, 1st Class, R.F.R C/SS. 125877.
- WALLACE, James B. Ordinary Seaman. LT/JX. 210659.
- WARLOW, Thomas G.J. Stoker. LT/KX. 109957.
WOUNDED.
- FOSTER, Leo A. Engineman, R.N.R. LT/X. 5931. E.S.
Information of the actual incident has been provided by Leo Foster, the only survivor. Photographs of the crew members are available that were taken by the crew members themselves.
A dedication to HMT Almond can be seen at the RNPS Museum, Sparrows Nest, Lowestoft, Suffolk, England. This being the wartime headquarters of the RNPS. There is also a memorial in the adjacent park, Bell View.
Notes[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lenton and Colledge 1973, p. 447.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Helgason, Guðmundur. "HMS Almond (T 14)". uboat.net. http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/6575.html. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
- ↑ Official Admiralty document [which?]
References[]
- Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, 1922-1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. 1980. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
- Lenton, H. T.; Colledge, J. J. (1973). Warships of World War II. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allen. ISBN 0-7110-0403-X.
The original article can be found at HMT Almond and the edit history here.