H. M. S. C O C K C H A F E R
"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
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 open
December 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
Persion 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 es
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.
DRAFT