HMS Cromer:

The HMS Cromer was a 672 GRT. Blyth Class (Bangor Class Type II) Minesweeper built at Lobnitz & Co. Ltd., Renfrew, Scotland (Yard No. 1028) for the British Navy. Her keel was laid down on 16 May 1940, launched 07 October 1940, and completed 04 April 1941. The ship was 49.4 meters in length, 8.5 meters in beam, and 2.51 meters in draught. Propulsion was provided by 2 Admiralty 3-drum small tube-type boilers, 2 triple-expansion engines (2,400 IHP), and twin screws for a top speed of 16 knots.

Armament consisted of a single QF 12-pdr 3-inch (76.2 mm) gun, one quadruple 0.5 in (12.7 mm) Vickers machine gun, and a single QF 2-pdr gun (Mark VIII).

Crew compliment was typically 60 officers and men for this class of ship.
The "HMS Cromer (J128)"
Upon commissioning the ship, under the command of Lt.Cdr. Arthur Edward Coles (RNR), was assigned minesweeping duties with the 9th Minesweeping Flotilla at Scapa Flow and for East Coast Convoy routes as far as Aberdeen, England. The ship's duties during this period also included clearing the gunnery firing ranges off of Cape Wrath.

In 01 July 1941, the HMS Cromer changes commanding officers and, under the command of Cdr. Robert Henry Vivian Sivewright, RN (retired), the ship continued conducting minesweeping operations with the 9th Minesweeping Flotilla in the home waters off of Britain in the English Channel.
Sometime prior to October 1941 the Cromer is transferred to the 14th Minesweeping Flotilla. The ship changed commanding officers again on 24 October 1941 with Cdr. Robert Hearfield Stephenson (DSO, RN) replacing CDR. Sivewright.

December 1941 finds the Cromer based at Rosyth, England conducting minesweeping operations between the Thames Estuary and Aberdeen until early 1942 when the ship is detached from the Flotilla and directed to proceed to Durban, South Africa, with HMS Cromarty and HMS Poole, arriving in April for service with the Eastern Fleet.
On 03 September 1942, the ship participates in Exercise TOUCHDOWN with Force "M" ships in preparation for landings at Majunga, Madagascar (Operation STREAM). However, it is not known if the ship participated in the actual taking of Majunga and Diego Suarez (now Antsiranana, Madagascar). HMS Cromer and HMS Cromarty are recognized as being the "Outstanding ships in the gallant 14th Flotilla" for the clearance of nearly 60 mines in Courrier Bay.

In October 1942 the 14th Minesweeping Flotilla is directed to proceed to the Meditteranean to join the Inshore squadron and conduct minesweeping duties along the Egyptian and Libyan coasts.
On 09 November 1942, the HMS Cromer deployed from Alexandria with HMS Cromarty and HMS Boston to conduct mine clearance operations off of Mersa Matruh. The minesweepers were later joined off of Ras Alam EL-Rum by two additional minesweepers of the South African Navy, the HMSAS Imhoff and HMSAS Treen. The area west of Mersa Matruh had previously been mined on 07 August 1942 by the Italian destroyers Antonio Pigafetta (Capt. Enrico Mirti della Valle) and Giovanni da Verazzano (CDR. Carlo Rossi). The Flotilla had swept 46 mines off the coast of Mersa Matruh and was nearing the end the day's minesweeping activities when the ship set off a magnetic mine. The resulting explosion killed CDR Stephenson and 44 members of the ships company and immediatley sank the ship. The HMSAS Imhoff was able to rescue a number of survivors (exact number not known). The ship sank at position 31.26N/27/16E in 70-100 meters of water.
Casualty List:
(MPK= Missing Presumed Killed)

ARTHUR, Sydney F J, Stoker Petty Officer, D/KX 61853, killed
BARLOW, Edward, Seaman, RNPS, LT/JX 286019, MPK
BIRD, Donald G, Coder, D/JX 223821, MPK
BROSNAN, Thomas G, Able Seaman, P/JX 179985, MPK
CARTY, Augustine, Able Seaman, D/SSX 35731, MPK
CASHA, Gaetano, Steward, E/LX 22630, MPK
CATANIA, Carmelo, Steward, E/LX 24312, MPK
CHESHIRE, Alfred A C, Signalman, RNVR, C/LD/X 4021, MPK
CLIFFORD, Michael J, Able Seaman, D/JX 286874, MPK
COE, Horace I R, Act/Leading Seaman, D/SR 934, MPK
COMPTON, Philip A, Ty/Paymaster Lieutenant, RNVR, MPK
DAW, Roy F, Stoker 1c, D/KX 97935, MPK
FEALEY, James, Ty/Leading Steward, D/LX 22590, MPK
FERN, Dennis, Stoker 1c, D/KX 121418, MPK
GRAY, John S, Stoker 1c, D/KX 93486, MPK
HANNAH, Lewis, Stoker 1c, D/KX 118397, MPK
HARLEY, Andrew J, Ordinary Telegraphist, C/JX 308677, MPK
HILLMAN, William, Ty/Stoker Petty Officer, D/KX 76522, MPK
HOPKINS, John H, Stoker 1c, D/KX 120605, MPK
HOWELLS, George W, Stoker Petty Officer, D/KX 80525, MPK
HUNTER, James A, Able Seaman, D/SSX 20011, MPK
HUTCHINGS, Herbert C, Act/Leading Seaman, D/JX 165182, MPK
JONES, William T, Able Seaman, D/SSX 23380, MPK
KELLY, Reginald, Engine Room Artificer 3c, D/MX 54321, MPK
KNOTT, Leslie J, Able Seaman, D/JX 200312, MPK
LAVERS, William A, Stoker 1c,D/KX 112464,MPK (Commemorated on Plymouth Naval Memorial,Devon. Panel 70, Col. 2)
LEACH, Charles T, Leading Cook (S), D/MX 54541, MPK
LEIGH, Frederick W J, Act/Leading Telegraphist, C 5396 (RNZNVR), MPK
LIN SANG, John, Cook (O), RNSR, D/SR 58409, MPK
LOCK, Victor H, Ty/Leading Supply Assistant, RNVR, D/DX 12, MPK
MARTIN, Charles E, Commissioned Engineer, MPK
MEACH, Alexander C, Canteen Manager, C/NX 2664, MPK
MIDGLEY, Joseph, Stoker 1c, D/KX 115673, MPK
PLATTS, Ernest, Ty/Petty Officer, D/JX 136418, MPK
POWELL, James, Act/Leading Stoker, P/KX 91095, MPK
PRICE, Trevor V, Able Seaman, D/JX 239826, MPK
REEVES, Arthur, Able Seaman, D/JX 198465, MPK
ROBERTS, Robert W, Act/Engine Room Artificer 4c,P/MX 79312,MPK (Portsmoush Naval Memorial, Panel 67, Col. 2)
RODGER, Bruce H, Petty Officer Telegraphist, D/J 106885, MPK
SEARLE, Leonard N, Stoker 1c, D/SKX 1, MPK
SELBY, James, Engine Room Artificer 4c, D/MX 61076, MPK
STEPHENSON, Robert H, Commander, killed
VARLEY, John, Ty/Act/Leading Stoker, D/KX 95328, MPK
WALKER, Eric T, Able Seaman, D/JX 238040, MPK
WILLIAMS, John, Stoker 1c, C/KX 118711, MPK
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Cromer
Cromer
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