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Source: ADM 1/9085
Annual Report on the
Progress of Minesweeping 1936
From: Senior Officer
1st MSF, HMS HALCYON
at Portland
Date: 24th November
1936
To: The Captain F O
& M, Portland Naval Base.
GENERAL NARRATIVE
1. On the occasion of
the last annual report, the 1st MSF consisting of HALCYON,
SKIPJACK,
HARRIER,
HUSSAR,
SPEEDWELL
and Dunoon
were with the Fleet at Alexandria, SPEEDWELL having joined the Flotilla, newly
commissioned on 30th October 1935. Attached to the Flotilla were Fareham
and Aberdare
from the 2nd MSF, also the trawler section of
Liffey, Garry
and Dee.
The whole under command of Captain VAC
Crutchley VC, DSC.
2. Fareham
and Aberdare
parted company to join 2nd MSF at Malta on 20th Dec 1935.
3. The Flotilla
remained at Alexandria during the winter except for 10 days cruise to Famagusta,
two sweepers and a trawler at a time during February.
4. HARRIER
and HUSSAR
were detached to the Suez Canal on the 30th March.
5. On the 16th April
1936 Captain Crutchley
was relieved by Captain WPC Manwaring
and the Flotilla sailed for England via Malta and Gibraltar, after HARRIER
and HUSSAR
had rejoined, on 28th April, to give leave to the ship's companies.
6. On
arrival in Home Ports, ships of 1st MSF gave 35 day's leave to ship's companies,
leave being given in one watch, and ships were docked and refitted.
7. On completion of
this period the Flotilla assembled at Portland at 24 hours notice to return to
the Mediterranean.
8. After a week the
Flotilla went to normal notice, and normal Portland routine and training was
gradually resumed.
9. Summer leave of 14
days was given to each watch at the end of July and during August. During this
period a conference was held in HMS Vernon to discuss proposed minesweeping
trials to be carried out by 1st MSF.
10. These trials were
carried out on return of the Flotilla to Portland and were completed by 29th
Sept.
11.Since the return
of the flotilla to England, Tiverton,
Dunoon and Selkirk have been paid off into
reserve, and NIGER and
SALAMANDER have been commissioned and joined the
Flotilla.
12. 1st MSF now
comprises HALCYON,
HARRIER,
SPEEDWELL,
HUSSAR,
NIGER, SKIPJACK
and SALAMANDER.
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