ZAREBA.
Minesweeper Trawler.
Wildfire III, Queenborough.
Minesweeping Group 172.
The Zareba was at first based at Belfast in Northern Ireland but soon found her way to the Nore Command on the East Coast. Here she was based at Wildfire III, Queenborough but also worked out of Harwich. The East Coast was close to the German Air fields in Holland and came under greater threat from the Luftwaffe.
Later in the war, when more purpose built minesweepers came into service, the Zareba was converted to a Barrage Balloon Vessel. These accompanied convoys to keep enemy aircraft further away from the ships giving them less chance of hitting their targets. Without the partial protection of Barrage Balloons enemy aircraft have come so low when attacking they have been known to hit the masts of ships!
Zareba after her refit and fitted with 6-cyl diesel engine. Registered at Fleetwood, FD 333.
Type of Vessel: Steel Fishing Trawler converted to minesweeper.
Pennant: FY1814
Fishing Number: FD394 Fleetwood (1921). A618. Aberdeen (1948). FD333 Fleetwood (1968)
Other Names: Ellena.
Year Constructed: 1921.
Built by: A. Hall & Co Ltd,
Built at: Aberdeen.
Owner: The Clifton Steam Trawlers Ltd, Fleetwood 1921. Malcolm Smith Ltd, Aberdeen 1944.
Engine: T.3-cyl by A. Hall & Co Ltd, Aberdeen.
Speed: 12 knots.
Gross Tons: 257 tons. 100 net tons.
Length: 125.6 feet.
Depth: 12.6 feet
Fate: Survived war and broken up at Preston in 1970.
Watch these short minesweeping videos.
Minesweepers: https://youtu.be/aTsYiZFzv5M
A Bad Day in December 1940: https://youtu.be/Lw2pW31qH4s
15 August 1940. Requisitioned by the Admiralty, renamed Zareba and converted to a minesweeper (Hire rate £86.14.9d/month).
January 1941, ROYAL NAVY SHIPS, NORTHERN IRELAND, Belfast.
Minesweeping Group 151 - minesweeping trawler ZAREBA (no CO listed) at Belfast.
January 1942. ROYAL NAVY SHIPS, Nore Command, Sheerness, Wildfire III, Queenborough.
Minesweeping Group 172 - minesweeping trawlers INVERCAULD, ZAREBA, both at Harwich.
24 Nov 1944. Converted to Barrage balloon vessel.
1962. Converted to a motor trawler and had a diesel engine fitted.
6 February 1970. On her way to be scrapped she had a machinery failure and the Lytham St. Anne’s lifeboat SARAH TOWNSEND PORRITT went to her rescue and towed her to Lytham.
To find out more of the Zareba’s movements go to DRIFTERS AND TRAWLERS.
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST Dec 39
Not on list
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST July 40
Not on List.
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST June 41
Temp. Skipper R.N.R., S Ness, 21 Feb 41.
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST June 42
Temp. Skipper R.N.R., S Ness, 21 Feb 41.
Temp. Skipper R.N.R., F. L. Hadfield 9 Apr 42.
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST June 43
Skipper R.N.R., W. Limb, (In Command.), 13 Mar 43.
Temp, Skipper, R.N.R., J. Mitchell, 12 Sept 42.
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST June, 44
Temp, Skipper, R.N.R., A Hales, (In Command) 9 Nov 43.
Temp, Skipper, R.N.R., J. Mitchell, 12 Sept 42.
OFFICER ON NAVY LIST June 45.
On list but no officers.
If you, your father or your grandfather have any additional information about this ship, crew lists, stories, photographs, please send copies of them to be added to our records and this website.
Thank you.
Contact: johntenthousand@yahoo.co.uk
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The Zareba during WW2 before her refit in 1962.