HMS Pelorus (J291)
HMS Pelorus at anchor, 1943
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| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Name: | Pelorus |
| Namesake: | Pelorus Jack |
| Ordered: | 1 January 1942 |
| Builder: | Lobnitz, Renfrew, Scotland |
| Laid down: | 8 October 1942 |
| Launched: | 18 June 1943 |
| Commissioned: | 7 October 1943 |
| Decommissioned: | May 1946 |
| Identification: | Pennant number: J291 |
| Fate: | Sold to the South African Navy, 1947 |
 South Africa
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| Namesake: | Pietermaritzburg |
| Acquired: | Purchased from the Royal Navy, 1947 |
| Renamed: | Pietermaritzburg, 21 January 1948 |
| Struck: | 1991 |
| Nickname(s): | PMB |
| Fate: | Scuttled, 12 November 1994 |
| Status: | Diveable wreck |
| General characteristics (as built) | |
| Class and type: | Algerine-class minesweeper |
| Displacement: | |
| Length: | 225 ft (68.6 m) o/a |
| Beam: | 35 ft 6 in (10.8 m) |
| Draught: | 12 ft 3 in (3.7 m) |
| Installed power: |
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| Propulsion: |
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| Speed: | 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph) |
| Range: | 5,000 nmi (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph) |
| Complement: | 85 |
| Sensors and processing systems: |
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| Armament: |
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HMS Pelorus (pennant number: J291) was an Algerine-class minesweeper built for the Royal Navy (RN) during World War II. Upon completion, the ship became the flotilla leader of the 7th Minesweeper Flotilla, clearing mines off the east coast of England. In June 1944, the flotilla was assigned to sweep one of the beaches during the Normandy landings until she struck a mine the following month. After her repairs were completed, Pelorus was reassigned to the English Channel and the 6th Minesweeping Flotilla. The flotilla was transferred to the Indian Ocean in 1945 and spent some time escorting convoys. They participated in Operation Collie, a bombardment of Japanese positions in the Nicobar Islands, in July and then swept the Strait of Malacca and the approaches to Singapore in August.
After the war, she was sold to the South African Navy and renamed Pietermaritzburg. The ship was later converted into a midshipmans' training ship during the early 1960s. She served as a barracks ship from 1968 to 1991 when Pietermaritzburg was listed for disposal. The ship was scuttled as an artificial reef off the South African coast in 1994.
Pelorus displaced 1,030 long tons (1,047 t) at standard load and 1,325 long tons (1,346 t) at deep load. The ship had an overall length of 225 feet (68.6 m), a beam of 35 feet 6 inches (10.8 m) and a deep draught of 12 feet 3 inches (3.7 m). She was powered by a pair of vertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one propeller shaft, using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The engines developed a total of 2,400 indicated horsepower (1,800 kW) which gave a maximum speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h; 19.0 mph). The ship carried enough fuel oil that she had a range of 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km; 5,800 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph). The ship was armed with a single 4-inch (102 mm) Mk V dual-purpose gun and four single mounts for Oerlikon 20 mm (0.8 in) light anti-aircraft (AA) guns. For anti-submarine work, Pelorus was fitted with two depth charge rails, and four depth charge throwers. The ship was equipped with a Type 271 surface-search radar and a Type 291 air-search radar. Her crew numbered 85 officers and ratings.
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