HMS SPHINX (J69) was laid
down at Hamilton (Port Glasgow) 17th January 1938, was launched on
7th February 1939 and was commissioned 27th July 1939 with a Chatham
crew. She was
temporarily attached to
the Reserve Fleet for the Royal Inspection at Portland on 9th August
1939. HMS Sphinx then moved to the East Coast and at the start of
the War she commenced minesweeping the coastal channels and ports.
In January 1940 HMS
Sphinx moved to Scottish waters and on 21st January 1940 she rushed
to the aid of the destroyer HMS Exmouth which had been torpedoed 20
miles off Wick. There were no survivors. At about 0800
on 3rd February 1940,
SPHINX, Speedwell and Skipjack commenced sweeping north of Kinnaird Head.
At 0912 a bomb struck the SPHINX forward. It went through the back of
the T.S. , through the front of the bridge, through the forecastle
deck and burst on the Mess Deck. The explosion folded the forecastle
back on to the bridge and badly crippled the whole fore end of the
ship. The Captain (Taylor) was killed outright on the bridge. Attempts
were made to tow the ship. At about 0430 on 4th February a large wave
struck the ship forward and she immediately capsized. Five
officers and forty nine ratings were killed. She was the first Halcyon
to be lost.
The last hours of HMS Sphinx (National Archives ADM 1/10785)
See also
www.naval-history.net
