H . M . S .  R E G U L U S   ( J 3 2 7 )

                                                                               

“ALGERINE” Class Fleet Minesweeper fitted with Reciprocating propulsion machinery ordered for the Royal Canadian Navy in July 1942 from Toronto Dry Dock. The ship was to be named HMCS LONGBRANCH but  was transferred to the Royal Navy before completion of build. Laid down on 15th April 1943 this minesweeper was launched as HMS REGULUS on 18th September 1943. She was the fourth RN ship to carry this name, introduced in 1785 for a 5th Rate and last borne by a submarine built in 1930 and lost in the Adriatic in December 1940. Build was completed on 30th May 1944. This warship was not “adopted” by a UK civil community after a WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

EGYPT 1802

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

                               

Badge : On a Blue field a demi-lion gold holding a star silver.

 

M o t t o

 

In Primus Pro Patria : “For the Fatherland first.”

 

D e t a i l s  o f   W a r   S e r v i c e

 

1 9 4 4

 

May                        Contractors trials and commissioned for service in 8th Minesweeping Flotilla.

       30th                 Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials.

 

June                        Completed trials and storing and prepared for Atlantic passage.

 

July                         Passage to UK for work-up

                               Nominated for service as Senior Officer’s Ship 8th Minesweeping Flotilla.

                               (Note : Flotilla was to comprise in addition HM Minesweepers COQUETTE, THISBE,

                                            MARY ROSE, MOON, PROVIDENCE, SEABEAR and ROWENA. All these

                                            were built in Canada except HMS ROWENA which was built on the Clyde. )

                               Deployed for Minesweeping work-up in Forth area based at Port Edgar.

 

August                    On completion of minesweeping trials prepared for foreign service

 

September              Passage to Gibraltar with sister ship HMS PROVIDENCE.

                               Deployed at Gibraltar for local minesweeping with HMS SKIPJACK, HMS TRUELOVE

                               (5th Minesweeping Flotilla) and HMS  PROVIDENCE.

 

October                  Took passage to Malta with HMS COQUETTE, HMS ROWENA and HMS PROVIDENCE.

                               (Note : HMS COQUETTE and HMS ROWENA of 8th Flotilla had joined at Gibraltar after

                                            passage from UK.

 

November              Deployed at Malta for local minesweeping until arrival of HMS THISBE.

                               HMS MARY ROSE and HMS MOON from UK to join Flotilla..

                               (Note ; HMS SEABEAR had been delayed by repairs in UK. The Flotilla w as then able to

                                           carry out minesweeping operations as a unit.)

 

December               Nominated for duties with ships of Flotilla for minesweeping off Taranto, Italy and took

                               passage to carry out mine clearance in Adriatic.

                               Deployed at Taranto.

                               (Note : 36 mines were swept during first day of operations.)

 

 1 9 4 5

 

January

         4th                 Transferred with Flotilla for minesweeping off Corfu and took passage

                               from Taranto with HMS THISBE, HMS ROWENA, HMS MARY ROSE and HM Trawler

                               FLUELLEN for Danlaying duty.

                               The other ships of the 8th Flotilla returned to Malta for repair.

         5th                 Commenced Flotilla operations to clear entrance to harbour at Corfu.

                               After successful sweep during which 30 mines were dealt with during clearance of entry to

                               harbour at Corfu.

         7th                 Resumed minesweeping off Corfu.

       10th                 Operations delayed by weather conditions.

       12th                 Resumed operations and carried out series of successful sweeps.

                               Detonated mine in southern Corfu Channel (Position 39.24N  20.10E) which caused major

                               damage to after structure with serious flooding.

                               Ship was disabled due to propeller and shaft damage with a significant List and stern structure

                               partially submerged. One rating working in the Tiller Flat was killed with several others

                               injured. Ship was abandoned and survivors rescued by BYMS and MLs working with the

                               Flotilla. Although taken in tow the ship sank 46 minutes after the explosion.