HMIS Punjab (J239)

Summary

HMIS Punjab (J239) was a Bathurst-class minesweeper which served in the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) during World War II.[1]

History
India
NamePunjab
Ordered24 January 1941
BuilderMort's Dock
Laid down26 May 1941
Launched10 October 1941
Commissioned20 March 1942
Out of service1949
FateScrapped
General characteristics
Class and typeBathurst-class minesweeper
Displacement1,025 tons (full war load)
Length186 ft (57 m)
Beam31 ft (9.4 m)
Draught8.5 ft (2.6 m)
PropulsionTriple expansion, 2 shafts. 2,000 hp (1,500 kW)
Speed15 knots (28 km/h; 17 mph)
Complement85
Sensors and
processing systems
Type 128 asdic
Armament1 × 12-pounder gun or 1 × 4 inchgun, 1 × 40 mm Bofors gun, 2-3 × 20 mm Oerlikon guns, up to 40 depth charges

History edit

HMIS Punjab was ordered in 1941, and built by Mort's Dock. She was commissioned in 1942, into the Eastern Fleet. She escorted a number of convoys until the end of the war.[2][3][4][5]

In July 1945, in support of the planned Allied amphibious landings in Malaya, Punjab with other RIN and Royal Navy vessels conducted minesweeping operations off Phuket.[6]

After the independence of India and the subsequent partition, she was among the vessels transferred to Pakistan.

Notes edit

  1. ^ "HMIS Punjab (J 239) of the Royal Indian Navy - Indian Minesweeper of the Bathurst class - Allied Warships of WWII - uboat.net".
  2. ^ "Eastern Fleet, Admiralty War Diary 1942".
  3. ^ "Eastern Fleet War Diary 1943".
  4. ^ "East Indies Fleet War Diary 1944".
  5. ^ "East Indies Fleet War Diary 1945".
  6. ^ "HMS Squirrel, minesweeper".