HMS Pelorus (J291)
HMS Pelorus in 1943 | |
History | |
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United Kingdom | |
Name: | HMS Pelorus |
Builder: | Lobnitz of Renfrew, Scotland |
Laid down: | 8 October 1942 |
Launched: | 18 June 1943 |
Commissioned: | 7 October 1943 |
Identification: | Pennant number J291 |
Fate: | Sold, 1947 |
History | |
South Africa | |
Name: | HMSAS Pietermaritzburg |
Namesake: | Pietermaritzburg |
Builder: | Lobnitz & Co. Ltd. Renfrew, Scotland |
Acquired: | 1947 |
Renamed: | SAS Pietermaritzburg |
Nickname(s): | PMB |
Fate: | Scuttled in 1994 |
General characteristics | |
Class and type: | Algerine-class minesweeper |
Tons burthen: | 850 tons |
Length: | 225 ft (69 m) |
Speed: | 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h) |
Complement: | 85 |
Armament: |
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Notes: | Led D-Day invasion |
HMS Pelorus was an Algerine-class minesweeper, built by Lobnitz of Renfrew, Scotland and launched on 19 June 1943. She displaced 850 tons and had a crew complement of 85 men. Her armament consisted of a single 4-inch (102 mm) antiaircraft gun, and four 20 mm guns. She was powered by reciprocating engines generating 2,000 shp (1.5 MW) driving two shafts.
Service History
While equipped with minesweeping gear, she was primarily assigned to convoy escort duty in the Atlantic. In 1944, she led the D-Day invasion of Normandy.
In 1947 the ship was sold to the South African Navy and renamed HMSAS Pietermaritzburg (and later SAS Pietermaritzburg). [1] She re-commissioned as an officers' training ship on 30 August 1962.
Scuttling
Still afloat well into the 1990s, many people wished to turn the ship into a maritime museum, but instead she was scuttled on 12 November 1994 to make an artificial reef at Miller's Point near Simon’s Town, South Africa.
The wreck settled upright on the sand and remained fully intact for a number of years. During storms in 2006, the wreck was badly damaged and broke into three parts. However, there are still a few places for divers to penetrate, therefore still making it a good wreck to dive. It houses abundant marine life and is a safe haven for a many species of fish. Maximum depth is 22 metres (72 ft) on the sand. The wreck and surrounding 300 metres (980 ft) was declared a South African National Heritage Site on 23 August 2013.[2]
References
- ↑ Raymond V B Blackman (ed.). Jane's Fighting Ships 1963-4,. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. Ltd,. p. 215.
- ↑ "National Heritage Resources Act (25/1999): Declaration as a National Heritage Site" (PDF). Government Gazette 578 (36776). 23 August 2013.
Publications
- 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.
External links
- BBC - WW2 People's War - HMS Recruit - June 1944
- Highs and lows of a once proud vessel
- SAHRIS Site Recording of SAS Pietermaritzburg SHIPWRECKID1512
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Coordinates: 34°13′12″S 18°28′12″E / 34.22000°S 18.47000°E