ALGERINE-Class Fleet Minesweeper fitted with Turbine propulsion machinery ordered on 30th April 1942 from Harland and Wolff, Belfast. Laid down on 20th August 1943 at the same time as sister ship CHEERFUL. Launched on 6th May 1944, she was the ninth RN ship to carry this name, or the variant CAMELEON, introduced in 1777 for a 14 gun Sloop built in London which was lost during a hurricane in the West Indies in October 1780. Last used for a destroyer named CAMELEON built at Govan in 1910 and sold in 1921. Her build was completed on 18th May 1942. No record of an adoption by any civil community in UK after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign held during 1941-42 is recorded, as the ship had not been ordered.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
EGYPT 1801 - BURMA 1945
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Blue, on a flowering spray, a Chameleon, all Gold.
D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e
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1 9 4 4
September Contractors trials and commissioned for service in 7th Minesweeping Flotilla.
15th Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
On completion took passage to Tobermory to work-up for operational service,
October Deployed in Firth Of Forth for minesweeping training.
Took passage to join Flotilla based at Harwich for mine clearance operations in
Scheldt estuary.
(Note: Other ships in Flotilla were HM Minesweepers PINCHER, RECRUIT,
RIFLEMAN, PLUCKY, FANCY, SQUIRREL and VESTAL. These ships
were all fitted with Turbine propulsion machinery to ensure maximum
compatibility for maintenance and support during operations.)
November Transferred for loan service to Plymouth Command for anti-submarine patrols and
minesweeping based at Falmouth.
December Prepared for foreign service.
(Note: Ships of Flotilla were all individually withdrawn from operational duties
during this period for essential maintenance and repair in Home dockyards
before sailing to join the Eastern Fleet.
1 9 4 5
January Rejoined Flotilla in Channel area for local duties pending departure for Ceylon.
(Note: Ships were based at Portland or Falmouth.)
February Took passage for Gibraltar.
(Note: Ship may have been deployed as an escort for a convoy.)
March Passage in Mediterranean and Red Sea.
April Passage from Aden to Colombo.
14th Joined East Indies Fleet and deployed with HM Minesweepers PINCHER, PLUCKY,
RECRUIT, PICKLE, VESTAL and RIFLEMAN.
(Note: HMS FANCY and HMS SQUIRREL had been deployed for tow of a Floating
Dock from UK to Gibraltar but after the Dock had foundered during passage
their transfer to the East Indies Fleet had been delayed.. Only HMS SQUIRREL
rejoined the Flotilla as HMS FANCY was transferred to 19th Flotilla in the
Mediterranean during passage.)
Nominated for service in Force 65 of Eastern Fleet for joint minesweeping operation
with 37th Minesweeping Flotilla in support of planned military operation to capture
Rangoon (Operation DRACULA).
Joined Force 65 at Akyab, Burma.
29th Sailed with ships of Force 65 as part of escort for Convoy ABLE for minesweeping
operations in support of assault.
(Note: For details off other naval activities associated with DRACULA see WAR
WITH JAPAN (HMSO) and THE FORGOTTEN FLEET by J Winton.)
May
1st Commenced minesweeping to clear approach passage for assault ships.
3rd Deployed with Force 65 to ensure clear passage to enable ships to berth at Rangoon.
On release from DRACULA returned with Flotilla to Colombo.
Nominated for refit in South Africa and took passage to Durban.
June Taken in hand for refit prior to minesweeping support of planned British landings in Malaya.
July Under refit
(Note: Absence of this ship in Durban prevented her taking part in Operation LIVERY
a minesweeping operation off Phuket Island. During this operation two ships of
the Flotilla were lost, HMS SQUIRREL and HMS VESTAL
August On completion of post refit trials to passage to Trincomalee to resume operational
duties with Flotilla.
P o s t W a r N o t e s
HMS CHAMELEON rejoined 7th Flotilla at Singapore and remained in the Far East until February 1946 when she returned to UK with the six remaining ships of the Flotilla to Pay-off . The ship later recommissioned for service in the 2nd Minesweeping Flotilla, Mediterranean Fleet based in Malta. Between 1947 and 1954 she was deployed for Palestine patrol with other Fleet units and took part in the standard Exercise and Visits Programmes each year after 1948. In 1954 she returned to UK with HM Minesweepers PLUCKY, RECRUIT and RIFLEMAN of 2nd Flotilla. After arrival at Portsmouth on 13th December that year the ship was Paid-off and reduced to Reserve status. Laid-up at Portsmouth she was not recommissioned before being placed on the Disposal List in 1965, although she was refitted during this period when a SQUID anti-submarine mortar was fitted. Sold in 1966 to BISCO for demolition by Ardmore Steel at Silloth, Cumberland she arrived in tow t the breaker’s yard on 3rd April 1966.
For more about Algerine-class Minesweepers, see
http://www.minesweepers.org.uk/index.htm