HMS Rye (J76)

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Career Royal Navy Ensign
Class and type: Bangor class minesweeper
Name: HMS Rye
Builder: Ailsa Shipbuilding Co. Ltd., Troon, Scotland
Laid down: 27 November 1939
Launched: 19 August 1940
Commissioned: 20 November 1941
Fate: Sold on 24 August 1948
Scrapped at Purfleet in September 1948.
General characteristics
Displacement: 656 tons
Length: 174 ft (53.0 m)
Beam: 28.5 ft (8.7 m)
Draught: 8.25 ft (2.5 m)
Propulsion: Two Admiralty 3-drum water tube boilers
two shafts coupled to steam turbines
2,000 shp (1500 kW)
Speed: 16 knots (30 km/h)
Complement: 60
Armament:
  • One x QF 12-pdr 3 in (76.2 mm) gun
  • One x quadruple 0.5 in (12.7 mm) Vickers machine gun / single QF 2 pdr Mark VIII
Notes: Badge: On a Field per Pale Red and Blue, a demi-lion passant, Gold langued and armed Blue conjoined to the hulk of a ship White.

HMS Rye was a Bangor class minesweeper that saw service in the Royal Navy during the Second World War. She was built by Ailsa Shipbuilding Co. Ltd. in Troon, Scotland and commissioned in 1941. Her pennant number was J 76.

Contents

[edit] Wartime Service (1939-1945)

Rye saw service in the Mediterranean Sea based in Malta as part of the 14th/17th Minesweeper Flotilla. She served in the Malta Convoys, notably Operation Harpoon during which she rescued 84 survivors from the SS Chant, and in Operation Pedestal during which she was one of the ships that rescued the SS Ohio. The Rye's captain, Iain Pearson, was awarded a bar to his DSC for service during the Malta Convoys.

After service in the Mediterranean, Rye returned to Home waters and served with the 14th M/S Flotilla based in Plymouth. She took part in Operation Neptune, the naval component of Operation Overlord (D-Day). The flotilla took part in minesweeping operations from 5-30 June, initially clearing paths through the German minefields to the invasion beaches, and subsequently clearing wider areas to allow transport and supply vessels to operate in safety.

Rye was decommissioned on 24 August 1948. She was scrapped at Purfleet in September 1948. Her ensign is laid up in St Mary's parish church in the town of Rye, East Sussex.

The Rye and District Sea Cadets maintain the traditions of HMS Rye.

[edit] Crewmembers

Known crewmembers of HMS Rye:

  • Bober, Les – LSBA, sick berth attendant.
  • Jaques, Stan – AB, ASDIC operator.
  • Miller, DennisSLt.
  • Murgatroyd, George – WO Engineer.
  • Parkin, Philip – Lt RNVR, 1st Lieutenant
  • Pearson, J. A. – A/Lt Cdr RNR, DSC and bar, captain HMS Rye.
  • Prior, Rowlandleading rating, led the naval party from Rye that went aboard the Ohio (13 August, 1942) to secure a tow.
  • Steinhausen, Lionel – Lt RNVR, navigator.

[edit] Sources

[edit] External links