History | |
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Name | HMT Almond |
Builder | Ardrossan Dockyard |
Launched | 22 May 1940 |
Fate | Sunk 2 February 1941 |
General characteristics [1] | |
Class and type | Tree-class trawler |
Displacement | 530 long tons (540 t) |
Length | |
Beam | 27 ft 6 in (8.38 m) |
Draught | 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m) |
Propulsion |
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Speed | 11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph) |
Complement | 35 |
Armament | 1 × QF 12-pounder 12 cwt naval gun |
HMT Almond was a Tree-class naval trawler of the British Royal Navy. Almond was launched in 1940 and served in World War II, being sunk by a mine on 2 February 1941.
Construction
[edit]Almond was laid down on 18 August 1939[2] at Ardrossan Dockyard, on the south west coast of Scotland. She was launched on 22 May 1940,[1] and commissioned on 20 August that year.[2] At this latter time some crew members were posted to Ardrossan. They were billeted in civilian accommodation, some were joined by their family.
Service
[edit]She sailed to Tynemouth in order to have her armament fitted, then to Milford Haven, Wales, to commence minesweeping duties. She had a crew complement of 20, 19 of whom were killed when she was sunk by a mine on 2 February 1941, at about 2:00 pm, when returning to Falmouth, Cornwall after sweeping duties accompanied by another sweeper, which is currently unknown.[3]
A dedication to HMT Almond can be seen at the RNPS Museum, Sparrows Nest, Lowestoft, Suffolk, England. This being the wartime headquarters of the RNPS. There is also a memorial in the adjacent park, Bell View.