HMS Fermoy (J40)

HMS Fermoy was a Hunt-class minesweeper of the Aberdare sub-class built for the Royal Navy during World War I. She was not finished in time to participate in the First World War, and was crippled by German bombers in 1941 and later scrapped.

History
United Kingdom
Name: HMS Fermoy
Namesake: Fermoy
Builder: Dundee Shipbuilding Company
Launched: 3 February 1919
Commissioned: July 1919
Fate: Damaged beyond repair 30 April 1941 by air attack in Malta and broken up
Notes: Pennant J40 / N40
General characteristics
Class and type: Hunt-class minesweeper, Aberdare sub-class
Displacement: 800 long tons (813 t)
Length: 213 ft (65 m) o/a
Beam: 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m)
Draught: 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
Installed power:
Propulsion:
Speed: 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range: 1,500 nmi (2,800 km; 1,700 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement: 74
Armament:

Design and description

The Aberdare sub-class were enlarged versions of the original Hunt-class ships with a more powerful armament. The ships displaced 800 long tons (810 t) at normal load. They had a length between perpendiculars of 220 feet (67.1 m)[1] and measured 231 feet (70.4 m) long overall. The Aberdares had a beam of 26 feet 6 inches (8.1 m) and a draught of 7 feet 6 inches (2.3 m). The ships' complement consisted of 74 officers and ratings.[2]

The ships had two vertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one shaft, using steam provided by two Yarrow boilers. The engines produced a total of 2,200 indicated horsepower (1,600 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph). They carried a maximum of 185 long tons (188 t) of coal[2] which gave them a range of 1,500 nautical miles (2,800 km; 1,700 mi) at 15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph).[1]

The Aberdare sub-class was armed with a quick-firing (QF) four-inch (102 mm) gun forward of the bridge and a QF twelve-pounder (76.2 mm) anti-aircraft gun aft.[2] Some ships were fitted with six- or three-pounder guns in lieu of the twelve-pounder.[1]

Construction and career

HMS Fermoy was built by the Dundee Shipbuilding Company. By 1923 she had become the depot ship for the Submarine Periscope School at Portland.[3]

She was bombed by Italian aircraft off Valletta, Malta, on 30 April 1941, then on 4 May 1941, and was written off as constructive total loss. She was eventually raised and sold for scrap.

Known Commanding Officers
  • 14 April 1923 – Hugh Richard Marrack, DSC.
  • 1 August 1924 – Alfred Gordon Hine, DSO.
  • 17 January 1939 to 4 May 1941 – John Guy Douglas Wetherfield.

See also

References
  1. Cocker, p. 76
  2. Gardiner & Gray, p. 98
  3. Downer, Barrie (1997). "Hugh Richard Marrack: A short biography". Submariners Association, Barrow-in-Furness Branch. Archived from the original on 28 May 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2009.

Bibliography
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