ALGERINE-Class Fleet Minesweeper fitted with Reciprocating propulsion machinery and ordered from Lobnitz on 9th June 1943 and laid down on 30th June 1944. She was launched on 26th January 1945 and was the 9th RN ship to carry this name, introduced in 1656 for a 4 gun Dutch Privateer which was later expended as a fireship in the Medway during a Dutch incursion. The name was last used for a HALCYON-Class Fleet Minesweeper lost in December 1942 during the Battle of the Barents Sea. Build of this minesweeper was completed on 28th June 1945. Following a successful WARSHIP WEEK campaign for National Savings in March 1942 the 1938 built ship was adopted by the civil community of Aireborough in the West Riding of Yorkshire and it is presumed continued their association with the new warship.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
ARCTIC 1941-43 (Bramble (i))
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field White, a sprig of Bramble slipped and leaved proper.
D e t a i l s o f W a r S e r v i c e
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to
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1 9 4 5
May Contractors trials
June Commissioned for service in 3rd Minesweeping Flotilla as Senior Officer’s ship.
28th Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.
July On completion took passage to Tobermory to work-up.
Passage to Forth on completion of work-up
August Deployed in Forth for Minesweeping Exercises prior to joining Flotilla
to
September
October Joined Flotilla or formation and deployed for mine clearance in Home waters.
(Note: Other ships in Flotilla were HM Fleet Minesweepers MAMELUKE, MARVEL,
MYRMIDON, MARINER and ROMOLA of this Class.)
November Deployed with Flotilla for mine clearance in Home waters.
to (Note: Extensive British and German minefields existed in May 1945 and Flotilla carried out
December clearance in Home waters. Some ships were based at Londonderry for operations in
Irish Sea and NW Approaches based at Londonderry and others based in Forth for
operations off East Coast of Great Britain.
1 9 4 6
January Home waters mine clearance in continuation with Flotilla.
HM Fleet Minesweepers MANDATE, MYSTIC, NERISSA, POLARIS joined MS3 and HMS
MARMION, MARINER and ROMOLA transferred to newly formed 4th Minesweeping Flotilla.
February Mine clearance in Home waters in continuation.
to Deployed in SW Approaches based at Plymouth
October
November Redesignated 1st Minesweeping Flotilla and continued Home waters mine clearance based at Plymouth.
to HM Fleet Minesweeper COCKATRICE joined Flotilla.
December
1 9 4 7
January Home waters mine clearance duties with Flotilla in continuation in SW Approaches and North
to Sea.
December HM Fleet Minesweeper HOUND joined Flotilla and in place of HMS MAMELUKE which was
reduced to Reserve status.
1 9 4 8
January Nominated for reduction to Reserve status and Flotilla disbanded.
February Paid-off and reduced to Reserve status at Harwich with HMS NERISSA and HMS COCKATRICE.
March Accepted into Reserve and Laid-up at Harwich.
April At Harwich in Reserve Fleet.
to (Note: 22 other ships of the Class were in Reserve at Harwich.
December Pennant Number for visual signalling purposes changed to Flag J Numerics 273 to
conform with new system of identities used in the RN.
1 9 4 9 t o 1950
Laid-up at Harwich
1 9 5 1
January Nominated for service in 4th Minesweeping Flotilla as Senior Officer’s ship (MS4) on formation.
to Brought forward and re-commissioned at Harwich.
April (Note: This was part of a programme to increase RN capabilities following the outbreak of war in
Korea.
Other ships in Flotilla, all brought forward from Reserve were HM Fleet Minesweepers
MANDATE, PICKLE, PINCHER, RATTLESNAKE and RINALDO.)
May Passage to Portland to work-up with Flotilla prior to operational service.
Worked-up.
June Passage to Harwich with Flotilla.
July Deployed at Harwich for minesweeping exercises and preparation for Fleet duties as required.
to (Note: HM Depot Ship MULL OF GALLOWAY had also been brought from Reserve and was
December to be based at Harwich for the support of the Flotilla.)
HMS COCKATRICE and HMS CHEERFUL joined MS4 after delay.)
1 9 5 2
January Harwich deployment in continuation.
HMS Fleet Minesweeper LAERTES replaced HMS MANDATE which went into Reserve.
February Harwich training and Fleet duties in continuation
to (Note Ships of Flotilla were deployed for NATO and other RN exercises during this period
December and visited ports in UK and NATO countries during routine programme.
Designation of Flotilla changed to 4th Minesweeping Squadron.)
1 9 5 3
January Squadron duties based at Harwich in continuation.
HMS PINCHER detached for service in Fishery Protection Squadron
March Squadron deployment in Home waters
to April Nominated for attendance at Royal Review with ships of Flotilla.
May Prepared for Review
June Passage to Portsmouth
Attended Fleet Review
July Resumed Squadron training and exercise programme at Harwich.
to
December
1 9 5 4
January Squadron deployment in Home waters for minesweeping training and Home Fleet duties.
to
October
November HMS CHEERFUL and HMS COCKATRICE left for transfer to Reserve.
December Squadron deployment in continuation
1 9 5 5
January Home waters deployment with Squadron in continuation.
to (Note: These included NATO and Home Fleet exercises
March
April HMS PINCHER rejoined Squadron.
May Squadron duties in continuation
June Paid operational visit to Cuxhaven and Hamburg with ships of Squadron.
July Made independent visit to Antwerp and Brussels to take part in NATO celebration of the opening
of canal between Antwerp and Brussels.
On completion rejoined Squadron to take part in exercises with Royal Netherlands
Navy.
August Resumed Squadron deployment for training and Fleet exercises.
to
September
October Paid visit to London with HMS RINALDO, RATTLESNAKE and PINCHER.
November Squadron nominated for disbandment and nominated for duty in Fishery Protection Squadron
(MS5) with HMS RATTLESNAKE.
December Carried out final training exercises
1 9 5 6
January Joined Squadron based in Humber and deployed for patrols to ensure regulations relating to
use of Internationally agreed limits were correctly observed, including fishing in British Home
waters and adherence to net sizes.
(Note: Other ships in Squadron included HM Fleet Minesweepers RATTLESNAKE,
COQUETTE, MARINER, ORESTES, HOUND, TRUELOVE and LENNOX.)
1 9 5 7
February Deployed for Fishery Protection duties.
to (Note: Patrols were carried out in areas remote from the UK to follow the long established
December practices by fishermen of all nations. These included the Arctic Sea off North Russia
and Norway, Icelandic waters as well as the North Sea, Irish Sea and SW Approaches,
which were determined in some cases by the annual movement of types of fish.
Ships were also deployed for Home Fleet service during NATO and other exercises.)
1 9 5 4
January Fishery Protection duties with MS5 in continuation.
to (Note: ALGERINE Class minesweepers to be replaced in Squadron by new Type 14
October A/S Frigates during 1958-9
During this period opposition to use of Icelandic waters was increasing and the first
signs of active opposition were evident. This culminated in the 1st “Cod War” which
began in 1958.)
November Nominated for reduction to Reserve with HMS WELCOME.
(Note: HMS WELCOME had recently joined Squadron after foreign service.)
December Paid-off and destored prior to reduction of status.
1 9 5 8
January Prepared for Reserve Fleet lay-up
(Note: Ships going into Reserve had their main armament and upper-deck equipment
preserved, but this was not always carried out prior to being laid-up and if so
deferred until a routine period whilst in Reserve.)
February Accepted into Reserve
to
March
F i n a l P h a s e
HMS BRAMBLE remained in Reserve until placed on the Disposal List in 1961. Although offered for sale to
Dominica in place of FLOWER Class Corvettes, this was not taken-up and ship was sold to BISCO for demolition by King’s at Gateshead . The ship arrived in tow at the breaker’s yard during August 1961.
For more about Algerine-class Minesweepers, see
http://www.minesweepers.org.uk/index.htm