Halcyon Class Minesweepers

HMS Sharpshooter 1944

 
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HMS Sharpshooter at Malta - Halcyon Class Minesweeper
HMS Sharpshooter at Malta

Date of Arrival

Place

Date of Departure

Orders, Remarks etc

 
Early in 1944 while HAZARD was lent to the Mediterranean 46th Escort Group, SHARPSHOOTER joined the 49th Escort Group.
On 5 January she was in collision with the ss LAURANA (hospital ship captured from the Italians), but was not badly damaged, just buckling plating and frames. (Ruegg)

?

Malta

14.1.44

Join convoy MKS 37 (Left Port Said 10th, Alex 11th, due Gib 21st)

21.1.44

Gibraltar

28.1.44

Sail with convoy KMS 39

?

Alexandria

3.2.44

 

4/2/44

Malta

14.2.44

Dockyard - Completes 14/2 joining convoy UGS31 16/2

14.2.44

Port Said

14.2.44

 

15.2.44

Alexandria

15.2.44

m with convoy GUS 31 - 27 MV's escorted by Dart, Gloxinia, Primula, Protea, SHARPSHOOTER (joins from UGS 31)

25/2/44

Gibraltar

1.3.44

m

1.3.44

At sea

11.3.44

UGS 33 onward sent M.S.C.1.5 Convoy UGS 33 due Port Said 12th. Escort - SHARPSHOOTER, Primula, Wolborough, Protea, Tetcott

11/3/44

Alexandria

18/3

BC NN 18/3

20.3.44

At sea

16.4.44

Convoy MKS 44 - left Port Said 20th, Alex 21st, 39 MV's. Escort - Dart, SHARPSHOOTER, Shiel, Erne, Wolborough, Corinthia, Nebula, Nimbus, Squall, Satsa. To BC NN 23/4


On 5 April while temporarily with MKS 44, SHARPSHOOTER was damaged by the explosion of a 'Gnat' (German Naval Acoustic Torpedo). (
Ruegg)

[Note: John Budd who was serving on Sharpshooter at the time does not recall this incident and no official report has so far been found]
 

16.4.44

Port Said

24.4.44

 

25.4.44

At sea

 

Convoy GUS 38, 51 MV's. Escort - Dart, Shiel, SHARPSHOOTER, Wolborough, Primula, Aphis, Scarab

1.5.44

Bizerta

3.5.44

D of D 29.6 Taken in hand 10.5 Haifa refit completes 16.6

3/5/44

At sea

8.5.44

Convoy UGS 39, due Port Said 19th. Escort - Dart, Shiel, Primula, SHARPSHOOTER, Wolborough

8.5.44

Port Said

8.5.44

 

9.5.44

Haifa

23.6.44

Repair and Refit

There were opportunities for Rest and Recreation

Sharpshooter leave ticket Port Said     Boxing Competition Ticket - Port Said
Leave ticket to go and see the boxing in Port Said
Source: C W Burn

Rest Camp - John Barr front right  
Nathanya Rest Camp - John Budd front right, back to camera, and stood by camel
Source: John Budd


Palm Beach, Ismalia during shore leave
Source: John Blackwell

Haircut on deck of HMS Sharpshooter
Haircut on deck of HMS Sharpshooter
Source: John Blackwell

Date of Arrival

Place

Date of Departure

Orders, Remarks etc

23.6.44

Port Said

24.6.44

GUS44 from Port Said: From Port Said, 12:40, June 24: HMS Sharpshooter and Shiel. On 30th June Sharpshooter, Shiel, Primula and Gloxinia left for Bizerta at 16:00

30.6.44

Bizerta

1.7.44

UGS45 to Port Said: HMS Sharpshooter (Senior Officer) Shiel , Gloxinia, Primula took over from US escort group 010800 July '44

Source: http://www.warsailors.com/convoys/ugs45.html

7.7.44

Port Said

7.7.44

 

7.7.44

Alexandria

19.7.44

D BC NN 16/7

19.7.44

At sea

30.7.44

Convoy MKS 56 - left Port Said 18th, 25 MV's

30.7.44

Gibraltar

2.8.44

 

2.8.44

At Sea

12.8.44

Convoy KMS 58 Gib to Port Said

12.8.44

Alexandria

24.8.44

SHARPSHOOTER is now required with M S duties with 1st MSF. Request she be sailed at first convenient opportunity. BC NN 21/8

24.8.44

At sea

24.8.44

with Convoy GUS 50, 18 MV's. Escort - Dart, Shiel, Gloxinia, SHARPSHOOTER

2.9.44

Malta

3.9.44

UGS51 to Port Said

7.9.44

Alexandria

17.9.44

D EDC 16/9  Convoy MKS 62.  Left Alex 17/9, 13 MV's. Escort - Dart, Primula, Wolborough (to Algiers), SHARPSHOOTER

23.9.44

Bizerta

23.9.44

MKS 62

27.9.44

Gibraltar

29.9.44

MKS 62

 

HMS Sharpshooter ERA's Mess 
ERA's Mess, C W Burn middle
Source: C W Burn

 


SHARPSHOOTER was not the only ship to discover that it was not easy to escape from the Med., but escape she did, probably staying with Convoy MKS62 mentioned above, for its last leg from Gibraltar to the UK. (
Ruegg)

7.10.44

Falmouth

?

12.10 Request SHARPSHOOTER may be taken in hand at Nore for urgent major defects.

Oct 44

SHARPSHOOTER entered the Medway to refit at Chatham, starting in October 1944.

?

Nore

9.11.44

4.11 Nore is requested to sail SHARPSHOOTER as soon as practicable for Lowestoft where she will be employed temporarily for engineering training duties.

9.11.44

Lowestoft

13.1.45

 


On 16th November she sailed up to Lowestoft for a further month's refit, after which she became a seagoing training ship for engineering personnel. (Ruegg)

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This site was last updated 17 Januar 2012