HMS Lennox (J276)

For other ships with the same name, see HMS Lennox.

HMS Lennox
History
United Kingdom
Name	Lennox
Namesake	Lennox
Ordered	3 May 1942
Builder	Lobnitz & Company, Renfrew
Laid down	3 March 1943
Launched	15 October 1943
Commissioned	18 January 1944
Decommissioned	November 1947
Recommissioned	1956
Decommissioned	February 1958
Identification	Pennant number: J276
Fate	Scrapped, 1960
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 2,400  ihp (1,800 kW)
Propulsion	2 shafts 2 vertical triple-expansion steam engines
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 × twin Oerlikon 20 mm cannon

HMS Lennox (J276) was a reciprocating engine-powered Algerine-class minesweeper during the Second World War.

Design and description

Main article: Algerine-class minesweeper

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

The ship was ordered on 3 May 1942 at the Lobnitz & Company at Renfrew, Scotland. She was laid down on 3 March 1943 and launched on 15 October 1943. The ship was commissioned on 18 January 1944. ^[3]

On 6 June 1944, she swept the seas off Juno Beach during Operation Neptune. On 17 September, she was deployed with her flotilla for Air Sea Rescue duties during Operation Market Garden.

In July 1945, she was deployed to Malaya for Operation Collie.

In March 1946, the ship was sent back to the UK and deployed with the Fishery Protection Squadron from September that year until November 1947. The ship was put into the reserve fleet by February 1948.

In 1956, she was recommissioned into the Fishery Protection duties and was deployed mainly off Iceland and North Norway until February 1958 when she was relieved by the new Type 14 Frigate, HMS Russell. After paying off remained in reserve and was refitted including installation of a Squid Mortar to improve her anti-submarine capability necessary for use as a convoy escort.

In 1960, she was put on the disposal list and sold to BISCO for scrap in Milford Haven in which she arrived in June 1961.

References

1. Lenton, p. 261
2. Chesneau, p. 65
3. "HMS Lennox (ii) (J 276) of the Royal Navy - British Minesweeper of the Algerine class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net". uboat.net. Retrieved 10 December 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.