INSECT-Class
River Gunboat ordered from
Barclay Curie and launched on 17th December
1915 as the 5th RN ship to carry
this name introduced in 1795 for a Gun
Vessel hired in 1793 and foundered in
1801. Later in 1812 it was given to the
American Schooner SPENCER when captured
during the war with the United States. Two
gunboats launched in 1855 and 1881
followed before its use for a River Gunboat.
Build was completed in April 1916.
B a t t l e H o n o u r s
SICILY
1943 -
MEDITERRANEAN 1940-45
H e r a l d i c D a t a
Badge:
On a Field Green, a Cockchafer
gold.
Motto
Chaffer not
D
e t a i l s o f W a
r S e r v i c e
(for more
ship information,
go
to
Naval History Homepage
and
type name in Site Search
1
9
3 9
September
Deployed
with Yangtse Flotilla for
patrol and protection of British interests.
to
(Note:
China was at war
with Japan and communist elements in China
were in
December open
conflict with the
Chinese government forces resulting in
incidents which
frequently
involved safety of British flagged
shipping and British citizens.
1
9 4 0
January
Selected
for conversion to at
Hong Kong to allow use for minelaying.
to
Conversion not completed
and ship transferred to East Indies Station.
December
Passage
to join East Indies
Squadron.
1
9 4 1
January
Deployed
in support of military
operations.
to
December
Took
part in operations in
Persian Gulf in support of landings at Basra
(June).
1
9 4 2
January
Military support duty with
Eastern Fleet in
continuation.
to
Nominated for
transfer
to Mediterranean for support of shore
operations.
December
1
9 4 3
January
Passage
to Malta for support
duties.
to
June
July
Took
part in support of assault
landings in Sicily
(Operation HUSKY – See
Naval Staff History for
details.
August
Mediterranean deployment
in continuation
to
December
1 9 4 4
January
Mediterranean
support duties in
continuation
to
Nominated for
transfer to Eastern Fleet.
December
1
9 4 5
January
Passage to Trincomalee to
join Eastern Fleet.
to
Deployed for
support
of military operations in Burma.
August
P o s t W a r N o t e
s
HMS
COCKCHAFER returned to Singapore after VJ
Day and was Paid
off. The ship was put in Reserve pending
decision on
her future. In 1946 she was placed on the
Disposal List and sold for breaking
up locally in 1947.