HNLMS Medusa (1911)

HNLMS Medusa (HW 1, A 890) was a Dutch Hydra-class minelayer, built in Amsterdam and named after Medusa in Greek mythology.[2]

For other ships with the same name, see HNLMS Medusa.
History
Netherlands
Name: HNLMS Medusa
Namesake: Medusa
Builder: Rijkswerf, Amsterdam
Laid down: 12 December 1910
Launched: 23 June 1911
Commissioned: 20 December 1911
Decommissioned: 5 June 1965
Fate: Sold for scrap, 25 September 1965
General characteristics [1]
Class and type: Hydra-class minelayer
Displacement:
  • 593 t (584 long tons) standard
  • 657 t (647 long tons) full
Length: 49.68 m (163 ft 0 in)
Beam: 9.31 m (30 ft 7 in)
Draft: 2.68 m (8 ft 10 in)
Propulsion: 2 triple expansion engines, 800 hp (597 kW), 2 shafts
Speed: 11 knots (20 km/h; 13 mph)
Range: 1,440 nmi (2,670 km; 1,660 mi) at 6 kn (11 km/h; 6.9 mph)
Complement: 59
Armament:
  • 2 × 75 mm (3 in) HA/LA semi-automatic guns
  • 1 × 75 mm (3 in) L/55 No. 2 semi-automatic gun
  • 2 × .50 calibre machine guns
  • 1 × .25 calibre machine gun
  • 73 sea mines

Service history

In the late afternoon of 14 May 1940, under constant heavy attack, the Medusa sailed for the United Kingdom, reaching The Downs the following day.[2] She was first stationed at Falmouth alongside the two ships of the Douwe Aukes class[3] before being transferred to Holyhead on 31 July 1940 to be the tender to the Dutch depot ship Stuyvesant.[2] After the war the Medusa remained in the UK until 15 January 1946, before returning to the Netherlands to provide accommodation and training facilities for the Mine Service. She was officially decommissioned on 5 June 1965, being sold for scrap the following 25 September to the Jos Desmedt yard in Antwerp.[2]

References
  1. Visser, Jan (2009). "Hydra-class minelayers of the RNN". netherlandsnavy.nl. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  2. Mark, C. (1997). Schepen van de Koninklijke Marine in W.O. II [Ships of the Royal Dutch Navy in WWII]. Alkmaar: De Alk bv. pp. 94–103.
  3. Kindell, Don (2011). "Royal Navy Ship Dispositions, 10 June 1940". naval-history.net. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
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