HMS Pelorus (J291)

300px HMS Pelorus in 1943
History
United Kingdom
Name:	HMS Pelorus
Builder:	Lobnitz of Renfrew, Scotland
Laid down:	8 October 1942
Launched:	18 June 1943
Commissioned:	7 October 1943
Identification:	Pennant number J291
Fate:	Sold, 1947
History
South Africa
Name:	HMSAS Pietermaritzburg
Namesake:	Pietermaritzburg
Builder:	Lobnitz & Co. Ltd. Renfrew, Scotland
Acquired:	1947
Renamed:	SAS Pietermaritzburg
Nickname(s):	PMB
Fate:	Scuttled in 1994
General characteristics
Class & type:	Algerine-class minesweeper
Tons burthen:	850 tons
Length:	225 ft (69 m)
Speed:	16.5 knots (30.6 km/h)
Complement:	85
Armament:	1 x 4-inch (102 mm) AA gun 4 x 20 mm guns (4x1)
Notes:	Led D-Day invasion

HMS Pelorus was an Algerine-class minesweeper, built by Lobnitz of Renfrew, Scotland and launched on 19 June 1943. She displaced 850 tons and had a crew complement of 85 men. Her armament consisted of a single 4-inch (102 mm) antiaircraft gun, and four 20 mm guns. She was powered by reciprocating engines generating 2,000 shp (1.5 MW) driving two shafts.

Service History

While equipped with minesweeping gear, she was primarily assigned to convoy escort duty in the Atlantic. In 1944, she led the D-Day invasion of Normandy.

In 1947 the ship was sold to the South African Navy and renamed HMSAS Pietermaritzburg (and later SAS Pietermaritzburg). She re-commissioned as an officers' training ship on 30 August 1962.

Scuttling

Still afloat well into the 1990s, many people wished to turn the ship into a maritime museum, but instead she was scuttled on 12 November 1994 to make an artificial reef at Miller's Point near Simon’s Town, South Africa.

File:Anchor winch on the Pietermaritzburg P6116581.JPG

Anchor winch on the wreck

The wreck settled upright on the sand and remained fully intact for a number of years. During storms in 2006, the wreck was badly damaged and broke into three parts. However, there are still a few places for divers to penetrate, therefore still making it a good wreck to dive. It houses abundant marine life and is a safe haven for a many species of fish. Maximum depth is 22 metres (72 ft) on the sand. The wreck and surrounding 300 metres (980 ft) was declared a South African National Heritage Site on 23 August 2013.

File:SAS Pietermaritzburg display Naval Museum Simonstown.jpg

SAS Pietermaritzburg display at the Naval Museum, Simonstown

External links

• BBC - WW2 People's War - HMS Recruit - June 1944
• Highs and lows of a once proud vessel
• SAHRIS Site Recording of SAS Pietermaritzburg SHIPWRECKID1512