HMS Gleaner (J83)

HMS Gleaner was a ship in the Royal Navy that served during World War II.

It was laid down by William Gray & Company, Hartlepool, in 1937 for service as a survey vessel, but she was converted to a Halcyon class minesweeper.

On 12 February 1940, Gleaner sunk German U-boat U-33 (55°25′N 05°07′W / 55.417°N 5.117°W / 55.417; -5.117) using depth charges and deck gun. The captain was Lt.Cdr. H.P. Price, RN. The British seized some materials from the U-boat, including Enigma machine rotors VI and VII, whose wirings were unknown at the time. The seizure was one of the pinches that aided the cryptanalysis of the Enigma.

The British merchant ship Astra II was torpedoed and sunk. Gleaner rescued 20 survivors on 29 August 1940 (56°09′N 12°14′W / 56.150°N 12.233°W / 56.150; -12.233).

Gleaner rescued 68 survivors from the torpedoed Empire Tourist on 4 March 1944 (73°25′N 22°11′E / 73.417°N 22.183°E / 73.417; 22.183). The captain was Lt.Cdr. F.J.G. Hewitt.

It was sold for scrap in 1950.

References

• http://uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/3671.html HMS Gleaner (J 83)
• 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. OCLC 67375475.