HMS Britomart (J22)
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| History | |
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 United Kingdom
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| Name: | HMS Britomart |
| Ordered: | 11 August 1937 |
| Builder: | Devonport Dockyard |
| Laid down: | 1 January 1938 |
| Launched: | 23 August 1938 |
| Commissioned: | 24 August 1939 |
| Fate: | Sunk by RAF Hawker Typhoons on 27 August 1944 |
| General characteristics | |
| Class and type: | Halcyon-class minesweeper |
| Displacement: |
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| Length: | 245.25 ft (74.75 m) |
| Beam: | 33.5 ft (10.2 m) |
| Draught: | 6.75 ft (2.06 m) |
| Propulsion: | 2 x Admiralty 3-drum water-tube boilers, Parsons steam turbines, 1,750 shp (1,305 kW) on 2 shafts |
| Speed: | 16.5 knots (31 km/h) |
| Range: | 7,200 nmi (13,330 km) at 10 knots (19 km/h) |
| Complement: | 80 |
| Armament: |
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| Notes: | Badge: On a field barry wavy of six white and blue a decresant Gold overall a net Black |
HMS Britomart was a Halcyon-class minesweeper of the Royal Navy. She served during the Second World War and was sunk in 1944 in a friendly fire incident. The actor Robert Newton served aboard her.
Britomart was ordered on 11 August 1937 and was laid down at Devonport Dockyard on 1 January 1938. She was launched on 23 August that year, and commissioned on 24 August 1939. She was adopted by the civil community of Clowne, Derbyshire in 1942 following a successful Warship Week National Savings campaign.
After completing contractors' trials in August 1939 she took up her war station in the North Sea as part of the 1st Minesweeping Flotilla. In September she joined the flotilla, consisting of HMS Bramble, Hazard, Hebe, Sharpshooter, Speedy and Seagull at Scapa Flow. They were subsequently deployed on minesweeping operations to ensure a clear passage for Home Fleet ships passing in and out of the Fleet anchorage. The flotilla carried out these duties until November, when they were transferred to the Clyde following the sinking of the battleship HMS Royal Oak. They were deployed at Greenock. They resumed service in the North Sea in December 1939, ensuring the passages through the East Coast Mine Barrier were kept clear of mines.
January 1940 saw the flotilla transferred for Atlantic convoy defence duties, based out of Stornoway and covering the passage of convoys to Canada. Britomart and Bramble sailed for a refit in Leith in March which lasted until May. They rejoined the fleet at Scapa Flow in June and commenced their sweeping duties. This kept them occupied until February 1941, when Britomart, Bramble, Hebe and Sharpshooter were transferred to Harwich to sweep convoy routes as part of the Nore Command. Britomart came under air attack on 15 March whilst sweeping off Rye, East Sussex and was hit by a bomb. It struck near the wardroom, killing everyone inside and causing considerable damage. She made for Portsmouth under her own steam and escorted by Sharpshooter. Her repairs lasted from April to May, and on her return to service in June she joined the 3rd Escort Group with HMS Hazard and Bramble. August saw them based at Stornoway and deployed as local escorts for the Atlantic convoys, as well as their usual sweeping duties.
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