H .  M .  S .   P E T E R H E A D   ( J 5 9 )

 

“BANGOR” Class Minesweeper fitted with Reciprocating propulsion machinery ordered on 6th July 1939 from Blyth Shipbuilders. Laid down on 15th March 1940 this minesweeper was launched on 31st October 1940 and after delay build was completed on 11th September 1941. She was the 1st RN ship to carry this name, which like others of the Class built in UK was that of a coastal town. She was “adopted by the civil community of  Dover, Kent after a successful WARSHIP WEEK National Savings campaign in March 1942.

 

B a t t l e   H o n o u r s

 

                                                         ATLANTIC 1942            ENGLISH CHANNEL 1942

                                                                              NORTH SEA 1942

                             

H e r a l d i c   D a t a

Badge : On a Field Blue, a Hart’s head caboosed Argent. armed Gold.

 

Summary of War Service

(Note : Further research is required to improve this record.)

 

1 9 4 1

 

Sepetember             Contractors Trials

              9th            Commissioned for service.

 

October                  Worked-up for operational service.

 

November               Deployed for minesweeping trial in Forth area.

 

December                Joined 9th Minesweeping  Flotilla for mine sweeping and convoy escort duties in

                                the English Channel based at Portsmouth, Poole and Portland..

                                (Note : Pending further investigation it is assumed that the Battle Homour ATLANTIC

                                            may have been for mine clearance under attacks  during this month)

 

1 9 4 2

 

                                Deployed in Home Waters

                                (Note : The Flotilla comprised HM Minesweepers BANGOR, BLACKPOOL

                                             BRIDLINGTON, BRIDPORT, RHYL joined during the year by

                                             SIDMOUTH and TENBY.

                                             In 1942 all of these ships took part in Operation JUBILEE, the attack on

                                             Dieppe in August.

                                             However although all were awarded the Battle Honour DIEPPE, this was

                                             not awarded to PETERHEAD and it is there presumed she was not deployed

                                             for mine clearance ahead of the assault force.

                                             The Flotilla also was deployed in the North Sea in October for the clearance of

                                             British mines from the East Coast Barrier to enable safe passage for destroyers

                                              to and from Harwich (Operation QO).

                                              The award of the Battle Honour NORTH SEA may be for this operation.

 

1 9 4 3

 

 

January                   Nominated for conversion for Air Sea Rescue duties.

to                             South Coast minesweeping and convoy defence on continauation

April                        Left Flotilla and taken hand for conversion

 

May                         Under conversion and minesweeping gear removed together with depth charge

to August                 throwers.

 

August                     Deployed for Air Sea Rescue duties

to December            (Note : Port of deployment to be investigated.

                                             As this service was provided by the Royal Air Force and sine the ship was

                                             designed for use in deep waters, the ship may have been deployed in the

                                             Atlantic Ocean or Bay of Biscay during the extensive ant-submarine

                                             operations in that area.)

 

1 9 4 4

 

January                     Air Sea Rescue deployment in continuation.

to April

 

May                           Nominated for service as a Senior Officer, Danlayer and transferred to Force “U” of

                                  Western Task Force. Took part with Flotilla in preparatory exercises with 14th

                                  Minesweeping Flotilla.

                                  (Note : This Flotilla comprised HM Fleet Minesweepers ROMNEY (SO), POOLE,

                                               RYE, WHITEHAVEN, all British Builr BANGOR Class and KENORA,

                                               GUYSBOROUGH and VEGREVILLE with HM Minesweeper GEORGIA

                                               HM Trawlers SIR GALAHAD and SIR LANCELOT for use as Danlayers.

                                               (Operation NEPTUNE).

                                  Nominated for this duty during clearance of Channel 2 to UTAH Beachhead in

                                  advance of US Assault ships in Force “U”.

                                  (For details of naval activities prior to and during landings see OPERATION

                                  NEPTUNE by K Edwards and LANDINGS IN NORMANDY, June 1944 (HMSO).

 

 

June                           Passage with Flotilla and Danlayers.to commence Dan lay for Channel 2.

                                  (Note : Operation was delayed by 24 hours. See references.)

                   5th          Deployed for Dan lay in Channel 2.

                    6th         After undetected arrival off UTAH beach with ships of Flotilla commenced further

                                  clearance operations in area between Channels 3 and 4.

                    7th         Deployed for minesweeping off assault area.

                    8th         During minesweeping operations off Brest ship was wrecked and ships company were

                                  rescued from sinking ship.

                                  (Note : The precise circumstances of this loss are not recorded in the references but

                                               the ship is recorded as being wrecked and later salved. See WARSHIPS OF

                                               WORLD WAR II by HT Lenton and JJ College. It is not recorded in many

                                               other standard references relating to losses, possibly because the

                                                hulk was salvaged. See Post War Notes,

 

P o s t   W a r   N o t e s

 

HMS PETERHEAD was salvaged, presumnably after the end of war in Europe. After survey she was

decalred a Constructive Total Loss and placed on the Disposal List. Sold to BISCO in 1947 and taken in

tow to Pembroke Dock for demolition by G  Hayes where the ship arrived in May 1948. This

summary is to be revised when more information becomes available.