HMSAS Protea was the first hydrographic survey ship used by the South African Naval Service (which later became the South African Navy). The ship was laid down as a minesweeper to be named HMS Ventnor in 1917[5] but was renamed HMS Verwood in 1918[5] before she was launched. She was again re-named and launched as HMS Crozier on 1 July 1919.[5] The vessel was converted from a minesweeper to a hydropraphic survey vessel in 1921 and transferred to the South African forces in 1922, where she was commissioned as HMSAS Protea.[6] She served as a survey vessel until 1933 when she was returned to the Royal Navy.[5]Protea was eventually sold by the Royal Navy and renamed MV Queen of the Bay[5] where she went on to operate as a pleasure craft out of Blackpool. She was subsequently sold to the Spanish Navy and renamed Lieutenant Captain Remigio Verdia, and used as supply vessel to run blockades, smuggling supplies to the anti-fascists in Spain during the civil war.[2] She ran aground and sunk off Cartagena in Spain in 1939.[3]
Whilst named HMS Crozier (and commanded by Cdr D.E. St M. Delius OBE) the ship was re-assigned from the Royal Navy to the South African Naval Service and was to sail to South Africa, together with two minesweeper trawlers (HMS Eden and HMS Foyle). They ships became the first vessels of what was later to become the South African Navy.[7] and these three ships were to be transferred to South Africa under the terms of an Imperial Conference held in London in 1921. Under these clauses, South Africa would assume responsibility for hydrographic survey of its own waters, create a permanent sea-going navy, and expand the dockyard in Simonstown. To assist the South Africans, the British Government agreed to donate a survey ship and two minesweepers to South Africa, with Crozier, Eden and Foyle being the nominated ships.[Note 1] They sailed from Devonport, Plymouth on 15 December 1921[8]
The three ship convoy reached Madeira on 23 December 1921 and stopped in Sierra Leone to take on coal, drinking water and provisions. They next called at Lagos and Luanda and then Walvis Bay in South West Africa after a 14-day voyage and reached Simon's Bay on 11 January 1922, after a voyage of 50 days.[8] There was no official welcome for the first ships of the new navy, but there was a report in the Cape Times that read "His Majesty's Surveying Vessel Crozier, which with the trawlers Eden and Foyle, have been acquired by the Union Government to form the nucleus of the South African Navy, arrived here last night from England, calling en route at Gibraltar, Las Palmas, Sierra Leone, Lagos, St Paul de Loanda and Walfisch Bay. SM."[1]
South African Naval Service historyedit
Although being commissioned on 1 April 1922, she retained the name Crozier for a year after arriving in South Africa and was renamed HMSAS Protea on 2 December 1922.[1]
Image of HMSAS Protea after being refitted as a pleasure craft and renamed SS Queen of the Bay circa. 1935.
Notes and referencesedit
Notesedit
^Once in South African service, these three ships were named after prominent South African flowers. Crozier became Protea with Eden becoming Immortelle and Foyle was renamed Sonneblom
Du Toit, Allan (1992). South Africa's Fighting Ships: Past and Present. Rivonia, South Africa: Ashanti Publishing. ISBN1-874800-50-2.
Monick, Dr. S. (1990). "A man who knew men: The memoirs of Maj. J.G. Ind". Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies. 20 (1).
Wessels, Andre (2012). "(EN: Hydrographic survey ships in the service of the South African navy, 1922-2012) Hidrografiese opmetingskepe in diens van die Suid-Afrikaanse vloot, 1922-2012". Kovsie Scholar Repository, University of Free State. 37 (1): 232–250.
November 27, 2023
hmsas, protea, 1922, hmsas, protea, first, hydrographic, survey, ship, used, south, african, naval, service, which, later, became, south, african, navy, ship, laid, down, minesweeper, named, ventnor, 1917, renamed, verwood, 1918, before, launched, again, named. HMSAS Protea was the first hydrographic survey ship used by the South African Naval Service which later became the South African Navy The ship was laid down as a minesweeper to be named HMS Ventnor in 1917 5 but was renamed HMS Verwood in 1918 5 before she was launched She was again re named and launched as HMS Crozier on 1 July 1919 5 The vessel was converted from a minesweeper to a hydropraphic survey vessel in 1921 and transferred to the South African forces in 1922 where she was commissioned as HMSAS Protea 6 She served as a survey vessel until 1933 when she was returned to the Royal Navy 5 Protea was eventually sold by the Royal Navy and renamed MV Queen of the Bay 5 where she went on to operate as a pleasure craft out of Blackpool She was subsequently sold to the Spanish Navy and renamed Lieutenant Captain Remigio Verdia and used as supply vessel to run blockades smuggling supplies to the anti fascists in Spain during the civil war 2 She ran aground and sunk off Cartagena in Spain in 1939 3 Sister ship to HMS Crozier HMS Aberdare was a Hunt class minesweeper of the same Aberdare sub class before being refitting as a survey vessel and renamed HMSAS Protea HistoryUnited KingdomNameHMS VentnorNamesakeTown of Ventnor on the Isle of Wight EnglandOrdered1917BuilderWilliam Simons amp Co Renfrew ScotlandLaunched12 August 1919RenamedHMS Verwood in 1918United KingdomNameHMS VerwoodNamesakeTown of Verwood in Dorset EnglandRenamedHMS Crozier on 1 July 1919ReclassifiedConverted to hydrographic survey vesselUnited KingdomNameHMS CrozierNamesakePolar explorer Capt Francis Crozier RNCommissioned1 July 1919Decommissioned1921FateTransferred to South African Naval forces on 28 November 1921South AfricaNameHMSAS ProteaNamesakeProtea a genus of South African flowering plants Acquired28 November 1921Commissioned1 April 1922Decommissioned30 April 1933FateReturned to Royal Navy 30 April 1933NotesCommissioned into South African forces as HMS Crouzier on 1 April 1922 but only renamed HMSAS Protea on 2 December of that year 1 United KingdomNameHMS ProteaAcquired30 April 1933Stricken1935FateSold to Blackpool Steam Navigation Co in 1935 for 1 000United KingdomNameSS Queen of the BayPort of registryBlackpoolAcquired1935FateSold to Spanish NavySpain Second Republic NameLieutenant Captain Remigio VerdiaAcquired1938FateRan aground Cartagena in Spain in 1939 2 3 NotesUsed as smuggler and blockade runner during the Spanish Civil War 1936 1939 to smuggle supplies to the anti fascist forces 2 General characteristics as built Class and typeHunt class minesweeper 1916 Displacement800 long tons 813 t standard 4 Length70 4 m 231 ft o a 4 Beam8 71 m 28 6 ft 4 Draught2 29 m 7 5 ft 4 Installed power2 3 cyl cylindrical boilers 4 Propulsion2 shaftSpeed16 knots 30 km h 18 mph 4 Range1 500 nmi 2 800 km 1 700 mi at 10 knots 19 km h 12 mph 4 Complement85 7 officers and 78 other ranks 4 Armament1x QF 3 pounder Vickers 47 mm L50 gun Later removed when converted to survey vessel Contents 1 Royal Navy history 2 South African Naval Service history 3 Notes and references 3 1 Notes 3 2 Citations 3 3 BibliographyRoyal Navy history editWhilst named HMS Crozier and commanded by Cdr D E St M Delius OBE the ship was re assigned from the Royal Navy to the South African Naval Service and was to sail to South Africa together with two minesweeper trawlers HMS Eden and HMS Foyle They ships became the first vessels of what was later to become the South African Navy 7 and these three ships were to be transferred to South Africa under the terms of an Imperial Conference held in London in 1921 Under these clauses South Africa would assume responsibility for hydrographic survey of its own waters create a permanent sea going navy and expand the dockyard in Simonstown To assist the South Africans the British Government agreed to donate a survey ship and two minesweepers to South Africa with Crozier Eden and Foyle being the nominated ships Note 1 They sailed from Devonport Plymouth on 15 December 1921 8 The three ship convoy reached Madeira on 23 December 1921 and stopped in Sierra Leone to take on coal drinking water and provisions They next called at Lagos and Luanda and then Walvis Bay in South West Africa after a 14 day voyage and reached Simon s Bay on 11 January 1922 after a voyage of 50 days 8 There was no official welcome for the first ships of the new navy but there was a report in the Cape Times that read His Majesty s Surveying Vessel Crozier which with the trawlers Eden and Foyle have been acquired by the Union Government to form the nucleus of the South African Navy arrived here last night from England calling en route at Gibraltar Las Palmas Sierra Leone Lagos St Paul de Loanda and Walfisch Bay SM 1 South African Naval Service history editAlthough being commissioned on 1 April 1922 she retained the name Crozier for a year after arriving in South Africa and was renamed HMSAS Protea on 2 December 1922 1 Image of HMSAS Protea after being refitted as a pleasure craft and renamed SS Queen of the Bay circa 1935 Notes and references editNotes edit Once in South African service these three ships were named after prominent South African flowers Crozier became Protea with Eden becoming Immortelle and Foyle was renamed Sonneblom Citations edit a b c Monick 1990 p 41 42 a b c Wessels 2012 a b Queen of the Bay a b c d e f g h Du Toit 1992 p 5 6 10 a b c d e Du Toit 1992 p 10 110 National Archives of South Africa NASA Database Selection Monick 1990 p 40 41 a b Monick 1990 p 41 Bibliography edit Du Toit Allan 1992 South Africa s Fighting Ships Past and Present Rivonia South Africa Ashanti Publishing ISBN 1 874800 50 2 Monick Dr S 1990 A man who knew men The memoirs of Maj J G Ind Scientia Militaria South African Journal of Military Studies 20 1 Wessels Andre 2012 EN Hydrographic survey ships in the service of the South African navy 1922 2012 Hidrografiese opmetingskepe in diens van die Suid Afrikaanse vloot 1922 2012 Kovsie Scholar Repository University of Free State 37 1 232 250 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title HMSAS Protea 1922 amp oldid 1169306392, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
