River Gunboat ordered from John I Thornycroft at Woolston and launched on 19th January 1939, She was the 9th
RN ship to carry this name, introduced in 1779 and last used for a destroyer
in 1909 which was sold in 1921. Build
was completed
in June 1939. This ship, unlike those in early design,
was able to make the journey to China and under own power.
B a t
t l e H o n o
u r s
CHINA 1860
- DARDANELLES 1915-16
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge: On a Field Blue, on a fesse
wavy cottisied wavy White
a
Grasshopper proper.
D e t a i
l s o f
War S e r v i
c e
1 9 3 9
September Passage to join China Squadron for
service with the Yangtse Flotilla.
October Deployed in Far East for Yangtse River patrol and to assist British communities.
to (Note: China was at war
with Japan and communist elements in China were in
open
December conflict with the Chinese
government forces resulting in incidents which
frequently involved safety of British citizens.
1 9 4 0
Yangtse Patrol and assistance
duties in continuation.
1 9 4 1
January Yangtse Patrol and assistance duties in continuation.
to
November
December After
outbreak of war with Japan transferred to Singapore for support duties in
conjunction with military operations in defence of Malaya.
1 9 4 2
January Deployed in support of military
units during the retreat to Singapore from
Johore area.
February Assisted in evacuation from Singapore.
14th Capsized
after Japanese air attacks off Rusuk
Buaja Island, east of Sumatra.
Ship sank
quickly with very few survivors.
(Casualty
List - note on casualties)
Special Note
In 1943 this name was used for a
Combined Operations base at Weymouth.
