HMS Halcyon 1943 Minesweeper

HMS Halcyon in October 1942. She has a large LL cable reel mounted on the starboard side of her sweep deck, the twin Oerlikons have replaced the after 4in gun.
Source: Allied Minesweeping in World War Two

Date of Arrival	Place	Date of Departure	Remarks, Orders etc
17.2.43	Scapa	16.2.43	1^st Minesweeping Flotilla
18.2.43	Seidisfiord	25.2.43	1530/15 HMS HALCYON joined. HALCYON was part of the Local Western Escort for JW53 until 22/2, encountering violent storms.
27.2.43	Scapa	5.3.43	3/3 HALCYON has hull leaks requiring about 4 days in dock for repairs 4/3 HALCYON can be taken for docking defects at Aberdeen
5.3.43	Aberdeen	18.3.43	For Scapa
18.3.43	Scapa	26.3.43
28.3.43	Milford Haven	28.3.43
28.3.43	Plymouth	?
18.4.43	Gibraltar	19.4.43
29.4.43	Milford Haven	?
2.5.43	Scapa	13.5.43
14.5.43			Submarine O10 stopped with engine trouble: both diesels are out of service. Taken in tow by HMS Brecon. At 15:55 hrs: HMS HALCYON takes the tow over from HMS Brecon. The new speed is now 8 kts. 15.5.43: Due to the weather the speed has to be reduced to 4 kts. 16.5.43 at 09:30 hrs: Off Bressay Light (Shetland Islands) three steam drifters want to take over the tow. But this is not necessary; the O10 has enough battery power left to enter Lerwick harbour under her own power.
16.5.43	Scapa	31.5.43
1.6.43	Londonderry	21.8.43	25/7 During the night Salamander was damaged when SS St Enoch ran into her whilst Salamander was at anchor of Moville. As a result of the damage sustained, Salamander had to proceed up river to Londonderry, and Cockatrice took over her duties as danlayers. Flotilla delayed sailing until 1100 due to early fog, and then proceeded to area “B Middle”, sweeps were got out at 1200, G formation to Starboard in the order Harrier, Seagull and Onyx, Cockatrice and HALCYON danning. Arrangements can be made for HALCYON to be taken in hand for refit 21.8 at Smith’s dock, Middlesbrough

Halcyon Class Minesweepers HMS Gleaner, Halcyon, Salamander 6.8.43 Londonderry (IWM) Halcyon Class Minesweepers - HMS Gleaner, Halcyon, Salamander 6.8.43 Londonderry (IWM)

Gleaner, Halcyon, Salamander 6.8.43 Londonderry (IWM A18557/9)

Halcyon Class Minesweepers - HMS Salamander, Halcyon, Gleaner 6.8.43 Londonderry (IWM)

Date of Arrival	Place	Date of Departure	Remarks, Orders etc
23.8.43	Hartlepool	4.11.43	HALCYON taken in hand 26/8, to complete 7/10 Completes 21/10 Completes 28/10
5.11.43	Scapa	5.11.43
8.11.43	Seidisfiord	?
10.11.43	At sea	13.11.43	HALCYON formed part of local western escort to RA54A (13 ships) (which included Jason and Britomart).
13.11.43	Scapa	?
21.11.43	Aultbea	22.11.43	To overtake JW54B
22.11.43	At sea	2.12.43	Part of the Ocean escort for JW54B which left Loch Ewe on 22/11. Speedwell formed part of local western escort until 25/11. 2/12 HALCYON left the convoy and proceeded to Archangel.
2.12.43	Kola Inlet	15.12.43
21.12.43	Dvina Bar	28.12.43
28.12.43	At sea	30.12.43	Eastern local escort to JW55B from 28/12 to 30/12 included HALCYON and Hussar.
31.12.43	Archangel	31.12.43
31.12.43	At sea	1.1.44	HALCYON, Hussar and Speedwell provided local eastern escort to RA55B (8 ships).