HMS Postillion (J296)

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

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Postillion
Builder	Toronto Shipbuilding Co., Toronto
Laid down	17 November 1942
Launched	18 March 1943
Commissioned	25 November 1943
Stricken	1976
Identification	Pennant number J296
Fate	Sold to Greek Navy in 1947
Badge
History
Greece
Name	Machitis
Acquired	1947
Stricken	1976
Fate	Sunk as target 1984
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 Postillion was a reciprocating engine-powered Algerine-class minesweeper during the Second World War. She was ordered for the United States Navy as USS AM 335, but was transferred on completion under Lend-Lease to the Royal Navy as Postillion. She survived the war and was returned to the USN, being sold to the Greek Navy in 1947.

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

The ship was put on order for the United States Navy in December 1941 at the Toronto Shipbuilding Company. She was laid down on 17 November 1942 as AM 335, launched on 18 March 1943 and completed 25 November the same year. At that point the USN had little need for her, and she was transferred to the Royal Navy under the Lend-Lease arrangement, being commissioned into the Royal Navy on 25 November 1943 as HMS Postillion. ^[3]

After war service she was returned to the USN in December 1946, and was sold to the Greek Navy in 1947 as Machitis. She was finally used as a target and sunk off Crete in 1984.

War Service

• HX-276 (Departed New York City, 22 January 1944, arrived Liverpool, 7 February 1944 - ESCORT 27/01 - 06/02)
• OS-120/ KMS-94 (Depart Clyde & Downs, 1 April 1945, Convoy Split 7 April 1945 - ESCORT 03/04 - 05/04)

References

1. Lenton, p. 261
2. Chesneau, p. 65
3. Elliott p.313

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.

External links

• HMS Postillion at uboat.net