INSECT-Class River Gunboat ordered from Barclay Curie and launched on 17th December 1915 as the 5th RN ship to carry this name introduced in 1795 for a Gun Vessel hired in 1793 and foundered in 1801. Later in 1812 it was given to the American Schooner SPENCER when captured during the war with the United States. Two gunboats launched in 1855 and 1881 followed before its use for a River Gunboat. Build was completed in April 1916.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

SICILY  1943 - MEDITERRANEAN 1940-45

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge:  On a Field Green, a Cockchafer gold.

 

Motto

Chaffer not

 

 

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 3 9

 

September              Deployed with Yangtse Flotilla for patrol and protection of British interests.

to                            (Note:  China was at war with Japan and communist elements in China were in

December               open conflict with the Chinese government forces resulting in incidents which

                                 frequently involved safety of British flagged shipping  and British citizens.

 

1 9 4 0

 

January                   Selected for conversion to at Hong Kong to allow use for minelaying.

to                             Conversion not completed and ship transferred to East Indies Station.

December               Passage to join East Indies Squadron.

 

1 9 4 1

 

January                   Deployed in support of military operations.

to

December               Took part in operations in Persian Gulf in support of landings at Basra (June).

 

1 9 4 2

 

January                   Military support duty with Eastern Fleet in continuation.

to                             Nominated for transfer to Mediterranean for support of shore operations.

December

 

1 9 4 3

 

January                   Passage to Malta for support duties.

to

June

 

July                          Took part in support of assault landings in Sicily

                                 (Operation HUSKY – See Naval Staff History for details.

 

August                     Mediterranean deployment in continuation

to

December

 

  

1 9 4 4

 

January                     Mediterranean support duties in continuation

to                               Nominated for transfer to Eastern Fleet.

December

 

1 9 4 5

 

January                     Passage to Trincomalee to join Eastern Fleet.

to                               Deployed for support of military operations in Burma.

August

 

P o s t   W a r  N o t e s

 

HMS COCKCHAFER returned to Singapore after VJ Day and was Paid off. The ship was put in Reserve pending decision on her future. In 1946 she was placed on the Disposal List and sold for breaking up locally in 1947.