Date of Arrival

Place

Date of Departure

Orders, Remarks etc

As the Second World War approached the Fleet moved to its War Stations. Between June and October 1939 SPEEDWELL worked in the area from Harwich to Dover; by the start of hostilities on 3 September she was based at Harwich with the 5th Minesweeping Flotilla working off the East Coast
 

?

Harwich

12.8.39

12.8.39

Sheerness

14.8.39

14.8.39

Dover

23.8.39

24.8.39

Sheerness

31.8.39

24/8 Taken in hand for urgent repairs, completes 31/8

With two picket boats in tow for Harwich.

31.8.39

Harwich

1.9.39

?

Harwich

8.9.39

9.9.39

Dover

17.9.39

17.9.39

Harwich

20.9.39

20.9.39

Sheerness

21.9.39

20.9.39

Harrier and Skipjack sank two floating mines near the South Godwin Light Vessel. Later that day Harrier took on board 39 survivors of the torpedoed sloop Kittiwake. A few days later Harrier, Halcyon, SPEEDWELL, Skipjack, Salamander and Hussar commenced sweeping across the channel towards Calais.
 

21.9.39

Dover

19.10.39

19.10.39

Harwich

20.10.39

21.10.39

Grimsby

24.10.39

While sailing with the 5^th MSF off Cromer, on 21October 1939, an enemy aircraft attacked one of the ships in company; there were no casualties.

25.10.39

Grimsby

27.10.39

28.10.39

Grimsby

?

4.11.39

On 4 November she was involved in a collision with her sister HUSSAR, having just spent the last ten days of October under repair at Grimsby.
4/11 From FO Humber: SPEEDWELL taken in hand Hull today for collision repairs, expected completion 11/11
8/11 SPEEDWELL has been found in need of extensive repairs to machinery requiring not less than 4 weeks refit
10/11 SPEEDWELL is now refitting at Hull by Amos & Strick, anticipated completion 9/12
10/12 Completed refit and rejoined 5^th MSF

Source: ADM 100/184 Weekly M S Report Tyne Area to 28 Dec 39 (Extracts)

Available minesweepers included 5^th MSF:

HMS Sphinx, HMS SPEEDWELL, HMS Halcyon, HMS Harrier, HMS Dunoon, HMS Dundalk.

SWEPT CHANNELS

22.12.39

Coastal Channels: War channel to westward cleared to 16 cables from centre line from Lat 54°55’ N the Lat 55°10’N. One mine exploded, one cut … by 5^th MSF. 

23.12.39 

Coastal Channels: 5^th MSF War Channel area to Westward cleared 19 cables from centre line from Lat 54°55’ N the Lat 55°10’N. One mine exploded, four mines cut. 

25.12.39

Coastal Channels: 5^th MSF area to west of centre line war channel cleared to 21 cables from Lat 54°55’ N the Lat 55°10’N. 

26.12.39

Approach channels: 5^th MSF carried out clearance sweep from southern edge of S Tyne approach 4 cables wide. 

27.12.39

Coastal channels: 5^th MSF clearance sweep line 115°, from Tyne Entrance to War Channel, 3 cables to south 5 cables to north of line. 

28.12.39

Coastal channels: 5^th MSF War channels area to east of centre line cleared to 10 cables, from Lat 54°55’ N the Lat 55°10’N. One mine cut 094° 8 miles from North breakwater light.