14th/17th Minesweeper Flotilla

February 2018 February 2018 14th/17th Minesweeper Flotilla Marsamuscetto - the Hydraulic Dock. Base for mine-sweepers, patrol trawlers and Mls. Citta Vecchia in the distance. Art.IWMART3128.jpg 300px Marsamxett Harbour – the base for Malta-based minesweepers 1942–1944 United Kingdom United Kingdom Minesweeper Flotilla Marsamxett Harbour, Malta Mine Sweepers Battle of the Mediterranean Commander J J Jerome RN thumb|HMS Speedy in 1944 The 14th/17th Minesweeper Flotilla was a Royal Navy minesweeper flotilla based in Malta during the Second World War. History The flotilla comprised four fleet minesweepers from the Devonport based 14th M/S Flotilla – two Halcyon minesweeper 4 (Speedy J17 6 and Hebe J24 6) and two Bangor minesweeper 4 (Rye J76 6 and Hythe J194 6). The four vessels were detached from 14th M/S Flotilla in 1942 and designated 17th M/S Flotilla on arrival in Gibraltar. The flotilla commander was Cdr Doran RN in HMS Speedy. The flotilla proceeded to Malta in June 1942 as part of the Malta Convoy Operation Harpoon. The four sweepers cleared the approaches to Grand Harbour and led the Harpoon convoy into Malta. During its service in Malta the flotilla was known as 14th/17th Minesweeper Flotilla. The flotilla participated in the famous Malta Convoy Operation Pedestal during August 1942, which included the rescue of the oil tanker Ohio, for which Lt J. A. Pearson of HMS Rye was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.Jacobs Peter Fortress Islands Malta: Defence & Re-Supply During the Siege 2016 Pen and Sword 9781473882560 151–152 https://books.google.com/books?id=512qCwAAQBAJ&dq=HMS+Speedy+malta&pg=PA227 30 July 2017 en 14th/17th Minesweeper Flotilla, Malta, August 1942 HMS Speedy – Lt Cdr J. C. Brooks RN HMS Hebe – Lt Cdr G. Mowatt RN HMS Rye – A/Lt Cdr J. A. Pearson RNR HMS Hythe – Lt Cdr L. B. Miller RN sunk by U-boat in October 1943Gregan James Burdened but Unruffled: The Story of a World War II Submarine and its Crew 2016 Memoirs Publishing 9781861517029 https://books.google.com/books?id=BZyQDQAAQBAJ&dq=14th%2F17th+Minesweeper+Flotilla+malta&pg=PT112 30 July 2017 en Commander Minesweepers Malta, Cdr J. J. Jerome RN, also in HMS Speedy References 30em Sources Warships of World War II, by H. T. Lenton & J. J. Colledge, pub. Ian Allan Ltd. Malta Convoy, by P. Shankland & A. Hunter, pub. Collins (1961). External links Minesweeping in Malta Category:Royal Navy flotillas Category:Military units and formations of the Royal Navy in World War II Category:Military units and formations established in 1942 Category:Military units and formations disestablished in 1944