HMS Cromer (J128)

HMS Cromer was a Bangor-class minesweepers built for the Royal Navy during the Second World War.

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Cromer.

History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Cromer (J128)
Operator: Royal Navy
Builder: Lobnitz & Co. Ltd.
Launched: 16 May 1940
Commissioned: 4 April 1941
Fate: Sunk 9 November 1942
General characteristics
Class and type: Bangor-class minesweeper
Displacement:
  • 673 long tons (684 t) standard
  • 860 long tons (874 t) full
Length: 189 ft (58 m) o/a
Beam: 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m)
Draught: 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)
Installed power:
Propulsion:
Speed: 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range: 2,800 nmi (5,200 km; 3,200 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement: 60
Armament:

Design and description

The Bangor class was designed as a small minesweeper that could be easily built in large numbers by civilian shipyards; as steam turbines were difficult to manufacture, the ships were designed to accept a wide variety of engines. Cromer displaced 673 long tons (684 t) at standard load and 860 long tons (870 t) at deep load. The ship had an overall length of 189 feet (57.6 m), a beam of 28 feet 6 inches (8.7 m) and a draught of 10 feet 6 inches (3.2 m).[1] The ship's complement consisted of 60 officers and ratings.[2]

She was powered by two vertical triple-expansion steam engines (VTE), each driving one shaft, using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The engines produced a total of 2,400 shaft horsepower (1,800 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph). The ship carried a maximum of 160 long tons (163 t) of fuel oil that gave her a range of 2,800 nautical miles (5,200 km; 3,200 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[3]

The VTE-powered Bangors were armed with a 3-inch (76 mm) anti-aircraft gun and a single QF 2-pounder (4 cm) AA gun or a quadruple mount for the Vickers .50 machine gun. In some ships the 2-pounder was replaced a single or twin 20 mm Oerlikon AA gun, while most ships were fitted with four additional single Oerlikon mounts over the course of the war.[3] For escort work, their minesweeping gear could be exchanged for around 40 depth charges.[2]

Construction and career

She was named after the North Norfolk seaside town of the same name. The ship was mentioned in the first broadcast episode of "An American in England".[4] She was lost on 9 November 1942, mined and sunk in the Mediterranean Sea off Mersa Matruh, Egypt, in position 31°26′N 027°16′E.[5] Her commanding officer, Robert Stephenson, went down with the ship.[6]

References
  1. Lenton, pp. 253–54
  2. Chesneau, p. 64
  3. Lenton, p. 254
  4. An American In England: Cromer
  5. Uboat.net: HMS Cromer (J128)
  6. McCrery, Nigel (2011). The Coming Storm: Test and First-Class Cricketers Killed in World War Two. 2nd volume. Pen and Sword. p. 253-55. ISBN 978-1526706980.

Bibliography
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