HMS Abercrombie (F109)

HMS "Abercrombie" was a Royal Navy "Roberts" class monitor of the Second World War. She was the second monitor to be named after General James Abercrombie.

HMS "Abercrombie" was built by Vickers Armstrong, Tyne. She was laid down 26 April 1941, launched 31 March 1942 and completed 5 May 1943. She used a 15-inch gun turret originally built as a spare for HMS "Furious".

On completion, HMS "Abercrombie" deployed to the Mediterranean and in July 1943, she provided support to the Operation Husky (the invasion of Sicily). On 9 September 1943, HMS "Abercrombie" was supporting the Allied landings near Salerno (Operation Avalanche), when she was damaged by a contact mine. She was repaired at the dockyard at Taranto in October and on completion, HMS "Abercombie" arrived at Malta on 15 August 1944. On 21 August 1944, whilst on an exercise south-east of Malta, she struck two mines and was again damaged.

On completion of repairs, HMS "Abercrombie" was despatched to the Pacific, but the war ended before she could arrive there.The ship returned to Chatham in November 1945 where she was used for Gunnery training and also as an Accommodation Ship until 1954. She was scrapped at Barrow beginning 24 December 1954

References

*Colledge
* Young, John. A Dictionary of Ships of the Royal Navy of the Second World War. Patrick Stephens Ltd, Cambridge, 1975. ISBN 0-85059-332-8
* Lenton, H.T. & Colledge, J. J. Warships of World War II, Ian Allen, London, 1973. ISBN 0-7110-0403-X

External links

* [http://www.uboat.net/allies/warships/ship/5463.html HMS Abercrombie at www.uboat.net]
* [http://www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk/roberts_class.htm Roberts Class Monitors at www.battleships-cruisers.co.uk]
* [http://www.naval-history.net/xGM-Chrono-03Mon-Abercrombie.htm HMS Abercrombie at www.naval-history.net]