HMIS Baluchistan (J182)

HMIS Baluchistan (J182) was a Bangor-class minesweeper built for the Royal Navy, but transferred to the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) during the Second World War.

History
India
Name: Baluchistan
Ordered: 20 December 1939
Builder: Blyth Shipbuilding Company
Laid down: 28 July 1941
Launched: 11 May 1942
Commissioned: 28 October 1942
Out of service: 1948
Pakistan
Name: Baluchistan
Acquired: 1948
Fate: Sold
General characteristics
Class and type: Bangor-class minesweeper
Displacement:
  • 656 long tons (667 t) standard
  • 820 long tons (833 t) full
Length: 174 ft (53 m) o/a
Beam: 28 ft 6 in (8.69 m)
Draught: 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m)
Installed power:
  • 2,000 ihp (1,500 kW)
  • 2 × Admiralty 3-drum boilers
Propulsion:
Speed: 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Range: 2,800 nmi (5,200 km; 3,200 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph)
Complement: 60
Armament:

Design and description

The Bangor class was designed as a small minesweeper that could be easily built in large numbers by civilian shipyards; as steam turbines were difficult to manufacture, the ships were designed to accept a wide variety of engines. Baluchistan displaced 656 long tons (667 t) at standard load and 820 long tons (830 t) at deep load. The ship had an overall length of 174 feet (53.0 m), a beam of 28 feet 6 inches (8.7 m) and a draught of 10 feet 3 inches (3.1 m).[1] The ship's complement consisted of 60 officers and ratings.[2]

She was powered by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving one shaft, using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The engines produced a total of 2,000 shaft horsepower (1,500 kW) and gave a maximum speed of 16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph). Baluchistan carried a maximum of 160 long tons (163 t) of fuel oil that gave her a range of 2,800 nautical miles (5,200 km; 3,200 mi) at 10 knots (19 km/h; 12 mph).[3]

The turbine-powered Bangors were armed with a 12 pounder 3-inch (76 mm) anti-aircraft gun and a single QF 2-pounder (4 cm) AA gun. In some ships the 2-pounder was replaced a single or twin 20 mm Oerlikon AA gun, while most ships were fitted with four additional single Oerlikon mounts over the course of the war.[3] For escort work, her minesweeping gear could be exchanged for around 40 depth charges.[2]

Construction and career

HMIS Baluchistan was originally ordered from the Blyth Shipbuilding Company for the Royal Navy as HMS Greenock in 1939. However, before she was launched, she was transferred to the Royal Indian Navy and eventually commissioned as Baluchistan.[4] She served in the RIN during World War II. Baluchistan was a part of the Eastern Fleet, and escorted numerous convoys between Africa, British India and Australia in 1943-45.[5][6][7]

After the independence, she was among the vessels transferred to Pakistan, where she was renamed PNS Baluchistan.

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References
  1. Lenton, pp. 253–54
  2. Chesneau, p. 64
  3. Lenton, p. 254
  4. "HMS Greenock (J 182) of the Royal Navy - British Minesweeper of the Bangor class - Allied Warships of WWII". uboat.net. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  5. "Eastern Fleet War Diary 1943". Naval-history.net. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  6. "East Indies Fleet War Diary 1944". Naval-history.net. 30 December 1944. Retrieved 25 August 2015.
  7. "East Indies Fleet War Diary 1945". Naval-history.net. Retrieved 25 August 2015.

Bibliography
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