H . M . S.    B U D E   ( J 1 1 6 )

 

“BANGOR” Class Minesweeper ordered from Lobnitz on 9th September 1939 and laid down on 2nd April 1940. The ship was launched on 4th September 1940 as the 1st RN warship to carry this name Build was completed on 12th February 1941 with Turbine propulsion machinery.  This ship was ‘adopted’ by the civil community of Bude, Cornwall after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942...

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

SICILY 1943                    SALERNO 1943

ANZIO 1944                    SOUTH FRANCE.

 

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

 

Badge : On a Field Blue, in front of a saltire couped White

a trident Black.

 

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

 

1 9 4 1

 

February            Contractors trials

                          Nominated for service with 9th Minesweeping Flotilla.

                          (Note: :Flotilla comprised HM Fleet Minesweepers BANGOR, BLACKPOOL,

                                      BRIDLINGTON, BRIDPORT, RHYL and ROMNEY already in commission..

             12th      Build completion and commenced Acceptance Trials

 

March                On  completion of  trials and storing carried out minesweeping work-up in Forth.

 

April                  Joined Flotilla at Scapa Flow with HM Fleet Minesweepers CROMER 

                          Deployed for minesweeping at Scapa Flow and for East Coast convoy routes as far south

                          as Aberdeen to ensure safe passage of traffic.

 

May                   Transferred with Flotilla to Portsmouth Command for minesweeping  in English Channel.

                           (Note ::Ships were based at Poole and when required for service east of Isle of Wight at

                                        Portsmouth.)

 

June                   Channel minesweeping in continuation.

to                        (Note : Minesweepers were fitted with small barrage balloons to deter low level aircraft

November                      attacks.)

                           Nominated for special duty in Nore Command (Operation QO)

 

December          Deployed in Nore Command to provide two additional gaps in existing East Coast

                          Barrier to enable destroyers based at Harwich and Sheerness to enable interception of

                          German warships attempting passage through English Channel.

                           (Note : This was in anticipation of break-out of SCHARNHORST and GNEISENAU

                                       from Brest to return to Germany.).

                                       13th Minesweeping Flotilla based at Harwich were also deployed for Operation QO)

 

1 9 4 2

 

January              Resumed duty at Poole for minesweeping in English Channel west of Isle of Wight.

to                        (Note  Ships of Flotilla were nominated for special operation in support of planned landings at July                                Dieppe. (Operation JUBILEE. This ship did not take part and may have been under

                                       repair or  refit.).

  

August               Channel deployment with Flotilla in continuation.

to                        Nominated for service in Mediterranean in support of planned allied landings in

September          North Africa. (Operation TORCH)

 

October              Took part in preparatory exercises in Irish Sea with 9th Flotilla prior to passage to

                           Gibraltar.

                           Transferred to 13th Minesweeping Flotilla to replace HMS ILFRACOMBE that

                           had been damaged in collision with sister ship HMS EASTBOURNE.

                           (Note : Other ships in Flotilla comprised :

                                       HM Fleet Minesweepers RHYL (SO), BRIXHAM, CLACTON,

                                       FELIXTOWE, POLRUAN, ROTHESAT and STORNOWAY.

 

November          Passage to Gibraltar with ships of  Flotilla

               7th        Part of escort for military convoy KMS1 during passage to ROGER and ZULU Beaches at

                              Arzue, Oran

                              For details see Naval Staff History and for information about all warships and mercantiules involved

                              BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.)

                           On release from beach head operations deployed with ships of 12th Minesweeping Flotilla

                           for minesweeping operations in western Mediterranean to ensure clear passage for

                           mercantile and military convoys to Tripoli.

                           (Note : Similar  operations were being carried out from Alexandria to Tripoli by ships

                                       of 14th Flotilla, also of this Class.)

 

December           Western Mediterranean minesweeping in continuation with Flotilla.

 

1 9 4 3

 

January               Operations along North African coast in continuation with Flotilla.

to

May

 

June                    On completion transferred to Malta to prepare for minesweeeping in support of planned

                            allied landings in Sicily  (Operation HUSKY)

                              For details see Naval Staff History and for information about all warships and mercantiules involved

                              BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.)

 

July

               9th       Deployed for clearance and maintenance of Tunis war channel for passage of asssault

                            and follow-up military convoys to Sicily beach heads.

 

August               Deployed at Malta and prepared for support of planned allied landings at Salerno

                           (Operation AVALANCHE)

 

September          Passage to Bizerta with ships of Flotilla.

               7th       Carried out minesweeping operations from Bizerta in advance of military Convoy FSS2

                           during passage to Beach Head.

               9th       On arrival deployed with Flotilla to carry out sweeping operations north ogf Salerno Bay

                           prior to US landings

               10th        Continued minesweeping operations in area

               12th        Released from AVALANCHE support and returned to Malta.

                               (Note : During AVALANCHE minesweeping off beach head 36 mines were swept by Flotilla.)

                               For details see Naval Staff History and for information about all warships and mercantiules involved

                               BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.)

 

October                  Deployed with Flotilla based in Malta

to                            Nominated with Flotilla to relieve 14th Minesweeping Flotilla in minesweeping operations to clear

November               Straits of Bonifacio in preparations for planned landings in south France.

  

December          Deployed for minesweeping of Sardinia with Flotilla.

 

1 9 4 4

 

January              Nominated for transfer to 12th Minesweeping Flotilla with HMS ROTHESAY for support

                           of planned allied landings at Anzio (Operation SHINGLE).

                           Passage to join 12th Flotilla for minesweeping during passage of assault convoys.

              22nd    Deployed at Anzio with 12th Flotilla in support of landings.

              27th     Passage from Anzio to rejoin 13th Flotilla in Sardinia.

 

February            Deployed in Sardinia area for minesweeping with Flotilla,

to

April.

 

May                   Nominated with Flotilla for minesweeping between Naples and Anzio to ensure safe

                           passage for military convoys supporting shore operations.

                           Passage to Naples with HMS STORNOWAY, HMS POLRUAN and HMS BRIXHAM of

                           Flotilla on relief by ships of 19th Minesweeping Flotilla.

                           Joined ships of 12th Minesweeping Flotilla for minesweeping off Italian coast on

                           arrival at Naples.

 

June                   Deployed to clear an approach Channel to Civitvecchia

                           (Note : Civitvecchia fell on 13th June.)

 

July                    Relieved in Flotilla by HMS ROTHESAY and returned to Naples to prepare for support

                           of planned allied landings in South France (Operation DRAGOON)

 

August               Deployed with HM Fleet Minesweepers ROTHESAY, POLRUAN, STORNOWAY and

                           BRIXHAM  in preparation for DRAGOON.

                9th      Sailed from Naples as part of escort for assault Convoy SS1B during passage to

                           ALPHA Beach area. after call at Ajaccio

                           For details see LANDINGS IN SOUTH FRANCE (HMSO) and for information about

                              all warships and mercantiles taking part BRITISH INVASION FLEETS by J de Winser.)

                13th       Sailed from Ajaccio

                14th       Detached from SS1B on arrival at Assembly Area

                15th       Carried out minesweeping operations to clear an assault channel to YELLOW Beach south of

                                St Tropez.

                            On completion deployed for further minesweeping along coast.

                             (Note : During these operations the Flotilla accounted for 179 mines and came under

                                          shore fire at times.)

               24th      Completed clearance of Gulf of Fos

 

September           Minesweeping operations in continuation to allow entry to major ports.

               24th      Minesweeping Task Group TG80.10 dissolved

                            Passage to Malta for Rest and Recuperation..

 

October               Nominated for minesweeping operations off Greece in Gulf of Patras and Gulf of

                            Corinth

                            Passage with Flotilla to commence operations of Greece

 

November           Greek deployment in continuation.

                            Nominated for return to UK

                            Passage to Malta to prepare for passage

                            (Note : During deployment off Greece with BYMS and Motor Launches 353 mines

                                        were swept by Flotilla.)

 

December             Passage to UK

                              Nominated for withdrawal from service with other ships of Flotilla.

 

1 9 4 5  

 

Januarry                Paid-off and de-stored

to                           Reduced to Reserve status. 

March

 

April                     Laid-up in Reserve.

to

August

 

P o s t   W a r   S e r v i c e

 

HMS BUDE was placed on the Disposal List and sold to Egypt in 1946. The ship was renamed NASR and was

later re-designated as a Corvette. She remained on the Active List of the Egypian Navy until after 1973