Navy | The Royal Navy |
Type | Minesweeper |
Class | Bangor |
Pennant | J 36 |
Mod | Reciprocating engined |
Built by | Lobnitz & Co. Ltd. (Renfrew, Scotland) |
Ordered | 28 Aug 1939 |
Laid down | 23 Nov 1939 |
Launched | 21 Jun 1940 |
Commissioned | 9 Nov 1940 |
End service | |
History | Sold 28 September 1948 and scrapped at Gateshead the following month. |
Commands listed for HMS Rhyl (J 36)
Please note that we're still working on this section.
Commander | From | To | |
1 | Lt. William Leslie O'Mara, RN | 31 Aug 1940 | 17 May 1942 |
2 | T/A/Lt.Cdr. Walter Robert Stanley Smith, RNVR | 17 May 1942 | 9 Oct 1942 |
3 | Cdr. Lionel James Spencer Ede, DSO, RN | 9 Oct 1942 | Sep 1943 |
4 | Lt. Derek Harold George Coughlan, RNR | Sep 1943 | Apr 1944 |
5 | Cdr. Roger Stannard Cameron, RNZNVR | Apr 1944 | 15 Jul 1944 |
6 | T/A/Lt.Cdr. Norman Eyre Morley, DSC, RNVR | 15 Jul 1944 | Nov 1944 |
7 | T/Lt. Douglas Arthur Elvidge, RNVR | Nov 1944 | late 1945 |
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Notable events involving Rhyl include:
11 Jun 1943
Operation Corkscrew.
Capture of Pantellaria and Lampedusa.
From Sfax, ' Convoy A ' sailed for the landings on Pantelleria. This convoy was made up the headquarters ship HMS Largs (Cdr. E.A. Divers, OBE, RNR, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral R.R. McGregor, RN), landing ships HMS Princess Beatrix (Cdr.(Retd.) T.B. Brunton, DSC, RN) and HMS Queen Emma (Capt.(Retd.) G.L.D. Gibbs, DSO and Bar, RN). They were escorted by the escort destroyers HMS Eggesford (Lt.Cdr. D.W. Austin, RN), HMS Lauderdale (Lt. G.D. Pound, DSC, RN) and HMS Whaddon (Lt.Cdr. J.B. Palmer, RN).
From Sousse, departed ' Convoy B ' and ' Convoy C '. ' Convoy B ' was made up of the landing ship HMS Royal Ulsterman (Lt.Cdr. W.R.K. Clark, DSC, RD RNR), 20 LCI(L)'s and 2 ML's. They were escorted by the escort destroyers HMS Lamerton (Lt.Cdr. C.R. Purse, DSC and Bar, RN) and HMS Wheatland (Lt.Cdr. R.deL. Brooke, DSO, DSC and Bar, RN). ' Convoy C ' was made up of landing ship HMS Misoa (Lt.Cdr. J.W. Grace, DSC, RD, RNR), gunboat HMS Aphis ( Lt.Cdr. F.Y. Bethell, RN), and 21 LCI(L)'s, 4 LCF's and 2 ML's. They were escorted by the minesweepers HMS Clacton (A/Lt.Cdr.(Retd.) L.S. Shaw, RNR), HMS Polruan (Lt. C.D. Sampson, RNVR), HMS Rhyl (Cdr. L.J.S. Ede, DSO, RN), HMS Stornoway (T/A/Lt.Cdr. C.R. Fraser, RNR) and the M/S trawlers HMS Hoy (T/Lt. G.H. McNair, MBE, RNVR), HMS Inchcolm (Skr. A.C. Whitcombe, RNR), HMS Mull (T/Lt. R.R. Simpson, RNR) and HMS Rysa (T/Lt. J.H. Cooper, RNVR).
From Malta departed the bombardment / cover force which was made up of the light cruisers HMS Aurora (Commodore W.G. Agnew, CB, RN), HMS Newfoundland (Capt. W.R. Slayter, DSC, RN, flying the flag of Rear-Admiral C.H.J. Harcourt, CBE, RN), HMS Orion (Capt. G.C.P. Menzies, RN), HMS Penelope (Capt. G.D. Belben, DSC, AM, RN) and the destroyers HMS Laforey (Capt. R.M.J. Hutton, DSO, RN), HMS Lookout (Lt.Cdr. A.G. Forman, DSC, RN), HMS Loyal (Lt.Cdr. H.E.F. Tweedie, DSC, RN), HMS Jervis (Capt. A.F. Pugsley, DSO, RN), HMS Nubian (Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSC, RN) and HMS Tartar (Cdr. St.J.R.J. Tyrwhitt, DSC, RN), HMS Troubridge (Capt. C.L. Firth, MVO, RN) and RHS Vasilissa Olga (Lt.Cdr. G. Blessas).
Eight motor torpedo boats and / or motor gun boats were also set to patrol in the area.
All forces sailed on 10 June to be off Pantellaria on 11 June 1944.
A final bombardment was then carried out and also aircraft from North African air bases carried out attacks. The island surrendered shortly before noon without further fighting. Rear-Admiral McGregor transferred his flag to HMS Tartar. HMS Largs, landing ships, landing craft and escorts were then ordered to proceed to Sousse.
The cruisers and fleet destroyers then proceeded to Lampedusa. Bombandment of that island commenced at 2245/11 and continued throughout the 12th. Also air bombardments were carried out. The island surrendered in the evening.
Weather was to bad to land at Lampion Island but the island appeared to be uninhabited.
The surrender of Linosa Island was accepted by HMS Nubian.
The forces that were still at sea were then dispersed. (1)
Sources
- ADM 199/639
ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.