HMS Protector (A146)

HMS "Protector" (A146) was an Antarctic patrol vessel of the Royal Navy.

She was laid down as a fast net layer by Yarrow Shipbuilders in Glasgow in August 1935, launched in August 1936 and commissioned on 30th December 1936. She served in the South Atlantic and in the Norwegian Campaign during World War II before being hit by an aerial torpedo in the Mediterranean. She was towed to Bombay and repaired before returning to Britain after the end of hostilities.

After time in the fleet reserve as a training ship she was refitted as an Ice Patrol Ship in Devonport, with a rudimentary hangar and flight deck for two Westland Whirlwind helicopters installed. She made her first Antarctic patrol in the winter of 1955/56, serving the Falklands and the British Antarctic Survey Bases, and returned 13 more times before she was sold for scrapping at Inverkeithing on 10 February 1970.

During her patrols she rescued the passengers and crew of the icebound MV "Theron", including Sir Edmund Hillary and Dr Vivian Fuchs. [ [http://khdutilities.co.uk/protector/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=50 HMS Protector Association] ] She was replaced by HMS "Endurance".

References

*Colledge