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 this minesweeper was launched on 22nd May 1944. She was the fourth RN ship to carry this name, introduced in 1806 for a 12 Gun Cutter sold in 1816 and last borne by a Destroyer built in 1897 and sunk in June 1916 off the Shetlands by a mine. Build was completed on 13th October 1944. This warship was not adopted by a UK civil community after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign held in during 1941-42 as her build had not been started.

 

 B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

None

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge: On a Field Blue, a cup Gold.

 

 

D e t a i l s   o f   W a r   S e r v i c e

 

(for more ship information, go to Naval History Homepage and type name in Site Search

 

 

1 9 4 4

 

October               Contractors trials and commissioning.

           13th          Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials

                            On completion took passage to Tobermory for work-up prior to operational service.

 

November           Deployed at Tobermory

 

December            Carried out minesweeping work-up and trials in Firth of Forth

                             Passage to Harwich for operational deployment

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                Deployed with 18th Minesweeping Flotilla for mine clearance and convoy escort to

to  March             ports in Belgium for passage of military convoys.

                             (Note: During this period extensive minelaying by aircraft, submarines and E-Boats

                                         was being carried out in Nore Command area. In addition attacks were being made

                                         on convoys to and from ports on the Channel and North Sea coasts. See HOLD

                                          THE NARROW SEAS by P Smith and ENGAGE THE ENEMY MORE CLOSELY

                                          by C Barnett

 

April                    Took part in minesweeping operations with ships of 18th and 10th Flotilla to clear approach

                             channel for access to Cuxhaven and Hamburg (Operation DROPKICK).

 

May                      Mine Clearance off coasts of Belgium, Holland and Germany in continuation based at Ostend.

to June.

 

July                       Transferred with Flotilla to Plymouth Command for mine clearance in SW Approaches and

to August              Bristol Channel.

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS CHEERFUL continued mine clearance in Plymouth Command until 1947 when she was transferred to the 3rd Minesweeping Flotilla at Port Edgar, on the Firth Of Forth for minesweeping training and trials. In October that year the ship was Paid-off and reduced to Reserve status at Devonport. She was brought forward for service in 1951 and after work-up at Portland joined the Fisheries Protection Flotilla. Before again being reduced to Reserve in 1954 she carried out Fishery Protection duties and attended the Coronation Review at Spithead in June 1953. Paid-off at Chatham she remained in the Reserve Fleet until placed on the Disposal List in 1963. This minesweeper was sold to BISCO and towed to Queenborough, near Ramsgate in September 1963 for breaking-up by Lacmots.

 

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For more about Algerine-class Minesweepers, see http://www.minesweepers.org.uk/index.htm