HMS Hare (J389)

HMS Hare (J389)
History
United Kingdom
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
Nigeria
Name	Nigeria
Namesake	Nigeria
Acquired	May 1958
Commissioned	21 July 1959
Decommissioned	1962
General characteristics
Class and type	Algerine-class minesweeper
Displacement	1,030 long tons (1,047 t) (standard) 1,325 long tons (1,346 t) (deep)
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	2 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers 2,000  shp (1,500 kW)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 geared steam turbines
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	1 × QF 4 in (102 mm) Mk V anti-aircraft gun 4 × Bofors 40 mm

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.

Design and description

Main article: Algerine-class minesweeper

The turbine group displaced 940–980 long tons (960–1,000 t) at standard load and 1,225–1,265 long tons (1,245–1,285 t) at deep load. ^[1] 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. ^[2]

The Algerine class was armed with a QF 4 in (102 mm) Mk V anti-aircraft gun and four single Bofors 40 mm mounts. ^[1] All of the ships were fitted for four throwers and two rails for depth charges. ^[2]

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 1959. ^[5] 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. ^[6]

The ship was decommissioned in 1962 and returned to the United Kingdom. She arrived in Faslane on 6 November 1972. ^[7]

References

1. Chesneau, p. 65
2. Lenton, p. 261
3. "HMS Hare (J 389) of the Royal Navy - British Minesweeper of the Algerine class - Allied Warships of WWII". uboat.net. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
4. "royal naval volunteer reserve". www.cchla.ufpb.br. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
5. Mason, Geoffrey B. (2001). "HMS HARE (J 389) - Algerine-class Fleet Minesweeper". Naval History Net.
6. "Release of Information" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
7. "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.
• Elliott, Peter (1977). Allied Escort Ships of World War II: A complete survey. London: Macdonald and Jane's. 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.