HMT Almond

History
United Kingdom
Name	HMT Almond
Builder	Ardrossan Dockyard
Launched	22 May 1940
Fate	Sunk 2 February 1941
General characteristics
Class and type	Tree-class trawler
Displacement	530 long tons (540 t)
Length	164 ft (50.0 m) o/a; 150 ft (45.7 m) pp;
Beam	27 ft 6 in (8.38 m)
Draught	10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)
Propulsion	One triple expansion reciprocating engine, 1 shaft; 850 ihp (630 kW);
Speed	11.5 knots (21.3 km/h; 13.2 mph)
Complement	35
Armament	1 × QF 12-pounder 12 cwt naval gun

HMT Almond was a Tree-class naval trawler of the British Royal Navy. Almond was launched in 1940 and served in World War II, being sunk by a mine on 2 February 1941.

Construction

Almond was laid down on 18 August 1939^[2] at Ardrossan Dockyard, on the south west coast of Scotland. She was launched on 22 May 1940,^[1] and commissioned on 20 August that year.^[2] At this latter time some crew members were posted to Ardrossan. They were billeted in civilian accommodation, some were joined by their family.

Service

She sailed to Tynemouth in order to have her armament fitted, then to Milford Haven, Wales, to commence minesweeping duties. She had a crew complement of 20, 19 of whom were killed when she was sunk by a mine on 2 February 1941, at about 2:00 pm, when returning to Falmouth, Cornwall after sweeping duties accompanied by another sweeper, which is currently unknown.^[3]

A dedication to HMT Almond can be seen at the RNPS Museum, Sparrows Nest, Lowestoft, Suffolk, England. This being the wartime headquarters of the RNPS. There is also a memorial in the adjacent park, Bell View.

Notes

^ ^a ^b Lenton and Colledge 1973, p. 447.
^ ^a ^b Helgason, Guðmundur. "HMS Almond (T 14)". uboat.net. Retrieved 12 December 2014.
^ Official Admiralty document ^[which?]

References

Gardiner, Robert; Chesneau, Roger, eds. (1980). Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946. London: Conway Maritime Press. ISBN 0-85177-146-7.
Lenton, H. T.; Colledge, J. J. (1973). Warships of World War II. Shepperton, UK: Ian Allan. ISBN 0-7110-0403-X.