The Tree class trawlers were a type of anti-submarine vessel which served in the Royal Navy during World War II. They were nearly adentical to the Isles class trawlers, of which they are usually considered a subclass.
Six tree class trawlers were lost during the war: Almond, Ash, Chestnut, Hickory, Juniper and Pine. One (Mangrove) was transferred to Portugal in 1943.
By the end of 1946, only Olive and Walnut remained in service with the Royal Navy. [1] Both were sold in 1948.
Specifications[2]
- Displacement: 545 tons
- Length: 164 feet
- Beam: 27 ft. 8 in.
- Draft: 11'1" (mean)
- Propulsion:One triple expansion reciprocating engine, 850 ihp
- Speed: 12 knots
- Complement: 40
- Armament:One 12pdr AA gun, three 20mm Oerlikon AA guns, 30 depth charges
Ships in class
- Built by Ardrossan Dockyard Company, Ardrossan, UK
- HMS Acacia - Launched 1940, sold 1946
- HMS Almond - Launched 1940, war loss 1941
- Built by Cochrane & Sons, Ltd., Selby, UK
- Built by Cook, Welton & Gemmell, Beverley, UK
- HMS Birch - Launched 1939, sold 1946
- HMS Blackthorn - launched 1939, sold 1946
- Built by Ferguson Brothers, Ltd., Port Glasgow, UK
- HMS Juniper (T123) - Launched 15 December 1939, commissioned 9 March 1940; sunk in Norwegian Sea by gunfire from German heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper when intercepted by naval squadron under Vizeadmiral Wilhelm Marschall, 8 June 1940. [3]
- HMS Mangrove - Launched 4 April 1942, transferred to Portugal 1943 as Faial (P2)
- Built by Goole Shipbuilding & Repair Company, Goole, UK
- HMS Chestnut - Launched 1940, war loss 1940
- HMS Deodar - Launched 1940, sold 1946
- Built by Hall, Russell & Company, Aberdeen, UK
- HMS Olive (T126) - Launched 26 February 1940, sold 1948
- HMS Pine - Launched 1940, war loss 1944
- Built by A. & J. Inglis, Ltd., Glasgow, UK
- Built by Henry Robb, Ltd., Leith, UK
- HMS Hazel - Launched 1939, sold 1946
- HMS Hickory - Launched 1940, war loss 1940
- Built by Smith's Dock Company, Ltd., South Bank-on-Tees, UK
- HMS Rowan - Launched 1939, sold 1946
- HMS Walnut (T103) - Launched 1939, sold 1948
- HMS Whitethorn - Launched 1939, sold 1946
- HMS Wistaria - Launched 1939, sold 1946
References
- ^ Anthony Preston (ed.), Jane's Fighting Ships of World War II, p. 78. New York: Military Press, 1989. This largely a reprint of Jane's Fighting Ships 1946-47 with materials from some earlier editions.
- ^ Robert Gardiner (ed. dir.), Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships, p. 66. London: Conway Maritime Press, 1980.
- ^ Richard Humble, Hitler's High Seas Fleet, p. 57. New York: Ballantine Books, 1971.