HMS Hare (J389)
HMS Hare (J389) was a turbine engine-powered Algerine-class minesweeper during the Second World War. She survived the war and was sold to Nigeria in 1958 as HMNS Nigeria.
![]() HMS Hare (J389) | |
History | |
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Name | Hare |
Namesake | Hare |
Ordered | 30 April 1942 |
Builder | Harland & Wolff, Belfast |
Laid down | 27 November 1943 |
Launched | 20 June 1944 |
Commissioned | 10 November 1944 |
Decommissioned | 1959 |
Identification | Pennant number: J389 |
Fate | Sold to the Nigeria, May 1958 |
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Name | Nigeria |
Namesake | Nigeria |
Acquired | May 1958 |
Commissioned | 21 July 1959 |
Decommissioned | 1962 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Algerine-class minesweeper |
Displacement |
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Length | 225 ft (69 m) o/a |
Beam | 35 ft 6 in (10.82 m) |
Draught | 12.25 ft 6 in (3.89 m) |
Installed power |
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Propulsion |
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Speed | 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) |
Range | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
Complement | 85 |
Armament |
Design and description
The reciprocating group displaced 1,010–1,030 long tons (1,030–1,050 t) at standard load and 1,305–1,325 long tons (1,326–1,346 t) at deep load The ships measured 225 feet (68.6 m) long overall with a beam of 35 feet 6 inches (10.8 m). They had a draught of 12 feet 3 inches (3.7 m). The ships' complement consisted of 85 officers and ratings.[1]
The reciprocating ships had two vertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one shaft, using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The engines produced a total of 2,400 indicated horsepower (1,800 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph). They carried a maximum of 660 long tons (671 t) of fuel oil that gave them a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[1]
The Algerine class was armed with a QF 4 in (102 mm) Mk V anti-aircraft gun[2] and four twin-gun mounts for Oerlikon 20 mm cannon. The latter guns were in short supply when the first ships were being completed and they often got a proportion of single mounts. By 1944, single-barrel Bofors 40 mm mounts began replacing the twin 20 mm mounts on a one for one basis. All of the ships were fitted for four throwers and two rails for depth charges.[1]
Construction and career
Service in the Royal Navy
The ship was ordered on 30 April 1942 at the Harland & Wolff at Belfast, Ireland. She was laid down on 27 November 1943 and launched on 20 June 1944. Hare was commissioned on 10 November 1944.[3]
On 24 December 1944, HMS Upshot conducted anti-submarine exercises off Tobermory with Hare, Wave, Seabear and Imperialist. Few days later on the 29th, the same exercise took place but without Seabear and Imperialist.[3]
From 27 to 29 January 1945, Untiring conducted anti-submarine exercises off Campbeltown with Hare and Wave. Uproar joined the exercise on the last day. On 2 February, Unruly conducted anti-submarine exercises off Campbeltown with Hare and again on the 5th including Wave. On the 13th, Uproar conducted anti-submarine exercises off Campbeltown with Hare and Wave.[3]
Hare was decommissioned on 26 February 1946.[3]
She was then sold to Nigeria in May 1958 with the transfer ceremony took place in Portsmouth.[4]
Service in the Nigerian Navy
Hare was renamed HMNS Nigeria and was commissioned on 21 July 1958. To commemorate the occasion and as a gesture from the Royal Navy, HMS Nigeria's 1940 silver bell was presented to HMNS Nigeria for the return of the independent Government and people of the Federation of Nigeria.[5]
The ship was decommissioned in 1962 and returned to the United Kingdom. She arrived in Faslane on 6 November 1972.[6]
References
- Lenton, p. 261
- Chesneau, p. 65
- "HMS Hare (J 389) of the Royal Navy - British Minesweeper of the Algerine class - Allied Warships of WWII". uboat.net. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- "royal naval volunteer reserve". www.cchla.ufpb.br. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
- "Release of Information" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
- "HMS HARE". Ships Nostalgia. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
Bibliography
- Chesneau, Roger, ed. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946. Greenwich, UK: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
- Colledge, J. J.; Warlow, Ben (2006) [1969]. Ships of the Royal Navy: The Complete Record of all Fighting Ships of the Royal Navy (Rev. ed.). London: Chatham Publishing. ISBN 978-1-86176-281-8.
- Peter Elliott (1977) Allied Escort Ships of World War II. MacDonald & Janes, ISBN 0 356 08401 9
- Lenton, H. T. (1998). British & Empire Warships of the Second World War. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 1-55750-048-7.