From Toronto To Chanthaburi: H M S Minstrel - H T M S Phosamton

[cycloneJ]

a bit of a 'history channel' thread

bear with me, but I'll start almost 70 years ago in Canada, and get to Chanthaburi 'soon'.

Also - I am neither a navy or ship man, appreciate any corrections/amendments and explanation of some of the abbreviations used; where applicable I'll include a link to the source.

**************************

HMS Minstrel

Algerine Class minesweeper

Pennant number: M445

Completed on 7 June 1944, built by Redfern & Co, Canada.

In July 1945 she joined the 10th MSF, Nore Command Nov 1945 10th MSF, East Indies Jan 1946 11th MSF Feb 1946 7th MSF June 1946 11th MSF Paid off in Feb 1947 to Category B reserve at Singapore.

She was bought by the Royal Thai Navy in April 1947 and renamed HTMS PHOSAMTON on 20 Nov 1947

She attended the Queens Coronation Spithead review in 1953 whilst on Naval Cadet training.

* SHE IS STILL IN SERVICE as a training ship and is believed to be the oldest Steam Engined warship still in service.

Displacement: 850 tons

Dimensions: 225ft x 351/2ft x 9ft

Armament: 1 x 4", 4 x 40mm bofors AA Guns

A/S weapons: 4 x DCT

Range: 5,000 miles @ 10kts

Complement: 104 - 138 (wartime)

source

NOTE: * ? 2010

______________________________________

Couldn't locate a photo of HMS Minstrel. This is another Algerine Class minesweeper, HMS Mutine:

Algerine class

111 ships

Technical information

Type Minesweeper

Displacement 850 BRT

Length 225 feet

Complement 85 men

Armament 1 4" AA gun

4 20mm guns (4x1)

Max speed 16.5 knots

Engines Geared turbines, 2 shafts / Reciprocating (V.T.E.) engines, 2 shafts

Power 2000 SHP / 2000 IHP

Source

Edited March 8, 2013 by cycloneJ

[cycloneJ]

HMS Minstrel

Type: Minesweeper

Class: Algerine

Codename: J.445

Launched: May 10, 1944

Serv Commissioned: July 6, 1945

Removed: 02/1947 sold to Thailand

Shipyard: Redfern Construction Ltd.. (Toronto, Ontario, Canada)

****************

Algerine-Class

The Algerine-class was a class of minesweepers of the Royal Navy and the Commonwealth. 110 ships of the class were launched between 1942 and 1944 and served in World War II.

They were designed as small vessels that could serve in several roles, not just as minesweepers; in practice the desperate shortage of convoy escorts in the Battle of the Atlantic meant that they served mainly in that role; twelve Algerines of the Royal Canadian Navy consequently never had minesweeping gear fitted.

After the war, a number continued in service as patrol boats, survey ships, and training ships. Some were sold to other navies or into merchant service. At least one - HMS Pickle (commanded by Lt. Cmdr. Hallifax) - was still engaged in minesweeping duties in British waters as late as 1954. At least one Algerine is still in service with the Royal Thai Navy: HTMS Phosampton (ex-HMS Minstrel).

source

[cycloneJ]

A diversion: HMS Squirrel, another Algerine-class minesweeper with a Thailand-connection

HMS Squirrel was an Algerine-class minesweeper launched in 1944 and scuttled off Phuket Island, Thailand in 1945 after being damaged by a mine.

HMS Squirrel (J301)

From Wikipedia

Career (United Kingdom)

Name: HMS Squirrel

Ordered: 30 April 1942

Builder: Harland and Wolff, Belfast

Laid down: 20 August 1943

Launched: 20 April 1944

Commissioned: 16 August 1944

Fate: Hit a mine and subsequently scuttled, 24 July 1945

General characteristics

Class & type: Algerine-class minesweeper

Length: 235'

Beam: 35'6"

HMS Squirrel was an Algerine-class minesweeper launched in 1944 and scuttled off Phuket Island, Thailand in 1945 after being damaged by a mine.

Squirrel was taking part in minesweeping operations off the west coast of the Malay peninsula on 24 July 1945.

The operations were supported by the British East Indies Fleet, which defeated a Japanese kamikaze attack on HMS Ameer at the time.

However, one ship was lost - the Squirrel, with the loss of seven men

[cycloneJ]

more on HMS Squirrel - dive wreck

HMS Squirrel

Type: Mine Sweeper | Depth: 65m-72m | Visibility: 8m+

Information:

The HMS Squirrel was British mine sweeper of Algerine Class that displaced 990 tons for a length of 65m, 10.6m at the beam and a drag of 3.2m.

History: HMS Squirrel sank on July 24th 1945 after a fatal collision with a Japanese mine that left the ship so badly damaged that the crew had to abandon it and leave it to be scuttled by cannons located on Promthep Cap.

Dive site: South of Promthep Cap - Phuket

The Dive: The ship now lies on starboard heavily damaged. 20 and 100mm shells strewn about the wreck, portholes lying around, the twin propellers draped with fishing nets and many other interesting details leave a deep impression on the diver even in adverse diving conditions.

source

British Minesweepers HMS Vestal and Squirrel positively identified

After countless exploratory dives, a team from Deep-Blue Divers in Phuket have finally discovered an artefact carrying undeniable proof of the identity of the Vestal, the last warship to be lost by the British navy at the end of WWII.

Simultaneously the exact position of the wreck of the sister ship, the HMS Squirrel that sank two days before the Vestal, could also be identified. Both ships were lost during a minesweeping manoeuver in June 1945 close to the island of Phuket in Thailand.

Although both wrecks were identified in 2002 and 2006 as the two sister ships, the true identity of each remained unclear until April 2007. As both ships were Minesweepers of the Algerine-class and therefore structurally identical, the only hints to the identity of each were the records of eye witness reports. According to these we were led to believe that the wreck of the HMS Squirrel was the HMS Vestal. The proximity of this wreck to land fitted the eye witness reports and the assumption seemed to be a logical conclusion based on these reports.

However the latest discovery of a very special object bearing the name and date of production of the Vestal in a completely different location than expected plus newly released information from the British Admiralty National Archives giving very accurate details of the last location of the HMS Squirrel, have allowed us to remedy our assumptions and conclusively identify each of the two wrecks.

Both ships lie to the SW of the holiday island of Phuket in Thailand at depths of 72m (for the Squirrel) and 76m (HMS Vestal).

Source: Deep Blue Divers, Phuket

[cycloneJ]

She attended the Queens Coronation Spithead review in 1953 whilst on Naval Cadet training.

[cycloneJ]

Some photos of HTMS Phosamton

Thai model ship builder Somyot Khuptawatin with HTMS Phosamton

From: Model Ship Gallery: The ships of Somyot Khuptawathin

HTMS Phosamton moored at Chao Phraya 30 August 2010

Source: http://www.photos-de-navires.com

Un-dated photo of HTMS Photamson on Chao Phraya River

source: http://www.modelwarships.com/features/walkaround/htms/htms-main.html

[cycloneJ]

HTMS Phosamton, 1981

HTMS Phosamton April 9 2009 and 31 August 2011, Chao Phraya River

Source: Shipspotting

Edited March 8, 2013 by cycloneJ

[cycloneJ]

HTMS Phosamton - early 2012 - sinks at mooringsin Chao Phraya, and refloated

[cycloneJ]

one from the archives - 1953

[cycloneJ]

HTMS Phosamton: August 2012 - after the re-float, Chao Phraya, Bangkok

[cycloneJ]

October 2012 and on a cycle ride to Samet Ngam, (on the south side of Chanthaburi city, well signposted as King Taksin The Great Shipyard, from opposite Big C/Eastern Hotel area, highway 3146 3 km then turn right to Samet Ngam village (7.5km), a surprise to see an old navy ship moored at the pier. I'll get to that, but first:

Near the base of the pier is a building in honour of King Taksin the Great, a local co-operative weaving project, small museum and displays of items recovered from archaeological searches in the area, including the remains of a Chinese barque of that era kept in a covered pool.

350 years ago Samet Ngam and Tha Chalaep (western side of the river) were coastal shipping ports, and the site of King Taksin’s Shipyard. Leading up to 1767 he rebuilt his fleet here, and Tak led his forces from Chantaburi to the Chao Phraya River delta. After he had taken Thon Buri, he attacked the Pho Sam Ton camp in Ayutthaya and was able to seize the camp in two days.

Edited March 13, 2013 by cycloneJ

[cycloneJ]

1. Tha Chalaep and 2. Samet Ngam - ports on the Chanthaburi River inland from 3. Laem Sing

[cycloneJ]

and here we have the re-floated HTMS Phosamton moored at Samet Ngam (photos 2 November 2012)

According to poster/billboard it is to be stripped/sandblasted and repainted, to be used at a tourist/educational centre.

What it didn't say was whether it stays here, or elsewhere

[cycloneJ]

1. The view across the Chanthaburi River, from Samet Ngam, that is Tha Chalaep in the distance

2. Chanthaburi River - this way to Chan city

[cycloneJ]

HTMS Phosamton - 9 December 2012 - and visible progress on the exterior

Very much in the 'this may take some time' category, times I've visited never more than 6 people working

[cycloneJ]

HTMS Phosamton - 5 January 2013

Exterior - and a glimpse of the inside - a lot of work here.

[billd766]

Thanks for a very interesting thread.

[beano2274]

Which are the vessels that are going to be sunk soon near Phangan? Saw a list in the other newspaper today, but cannot remember which ones.

[cycloneJ]

A diversion - this one can be 'from California to Prasae, Rayong'

Just out of Chanthaburi province, 10km over the border with Rayong, is HTMS Prasae (formerly US Navy USS Gallup PF-47, Soviet Navy EK-22), at Paknam Prasae

Get there from Sukhumvit 3, 9km east of Klaeng then a further 10km to Paknam Prasae on Highway 3162

USS Gallup a Tacoma-class frigate, was built in California and launched 17 September 1943

Saw duty with US Navy in the Pacific until 26 August 1945

Transferred to Soviet Navy as EK-22 under a lend-lease agreement

Returned to US Navy on 14 November 1949 at Yokohama, Japan

Recommissioned 18 October 1950 for duty in the Korean conflict

Decommissioned and transferred to the Royal Thai Navy 19 October 1951 as HTMS Prasae

Decommissioned and struck from the Royal Thai Navy register 22 June 2000

Preserved as a memorial at Sattahip Naval Base then towed to Prasae 23 December 2003 as The HTMS Prasae Memorial

Photos

1: USS Gallup

2. HTMS Prasae, Chao Phraya River, 1969 source

3 & 4. HTMS Prasae, at Paknam Prasae, 2012

Edited March 15, 2013 by cycloneJ

[cycloneJ]

one more of the HTMS Phosamton, taken on Chao Phraya River 1969

source

[billd766]

A great thread as I said before and I am ex Royal Air Force, RN.

[Chao Lao Beach]

geez, you put some time into that.

Do they let you climb all over the boat?

[cycloneJ]

^ started out as just curiosity, and couldn't stop

Generated a bit of interest I found a few sites mentioning Algerine class ships, as late as Sept 2011 there was a reunion of ex-crew in UK, several sites had written off the Minstrel/Phosamton as 'scuttled' or 'scrapped' incorrectly - guess the sinking in Chap Phraya contributed to that, so I updated them and have had a few emails back, including from the Museum of the Royal Navy.

Samet Ngam's a nice quiet place to visit, wife works that side of the city near Big C and sometimes head out there for dinner in evening, and it's on one of my cycling routes. We went there for lunch on Sunday, nice little restaurant at a fish farm - roofed decks built out over the water, and got some better pics off their poster of when HTMS Phosamton sank at her moorings.

March 17 2013:

Not much change externally since January, but lots of hammering and grinder sounds from inside; this upper section has been stripped/repainted:

Edited March 19, 2013 by cycloneJ

[cycloneJ]

and some pics at Samet Ngam - 'King Taksin The Great's Shipyard' on Sunday 17 March 2013

and the Chanthaburi River

The pontoon with the Buddha used to be accessible by a similarly floating footbridge which has disintegrated - in fact when we were there in January the main pontoon was adrift, I see they have tied it up again, otherwise it would have headed down to Laem Sing and out into the Gulf.

The hills in the distance will be part of Namtok Phlio National Park

Edited March 19, 2013 by cycloneJ

[cycloneJ]

HTMS Prasae (see post 19)

Some photos taken today on a ride up the coast

[cycloneJ]

geez, you put some time into that.

Do they let you climb all over the boat?

That would be a 'no' and 'yes'

The steps have a padlocked gate however this is just a minor inconvenience to climb around if you are keen and reasonably agile

One of the beach vendors said it was open to the public on 'special days'

After 10 years 'beached' it is looking rather shabby, a lot of rust and really could do with another full sandblast and repaint - but I don't expect that will happen too soon! The whole surrounding area looks like they ran out of money - gardens, grounds and roads all unfinished and looks a long time since any work was done.

About 200m inland a huge bridge is under construction across the river, part of the Coast Highway which will bring a lot more vehicles/tourists to this area. Not that there is much to see - we wouldn't swim in the sea, too dirty, there's a mangrove area with raised boardwalks, nice enough coast views and the (rusting) ship.

Enjoyable day out though.

[gomangosteen]

December 2022 and an update on HTMS Phosamton - formerly HMS Minstrel, Algerine class minesweeper from WWII.

 

In 2018 there were various people here from the Thai navy inspecting the ship. I heard of two options, again, either refloating and towing out to sea as an artificial reef, or dragging into a channel to be dug in the river beach and then enclosing it, as per the HTMS Prasae in Rayong province.

 

Nothing eventuated.

 

The ship has settled into the riverbed at its mooring at the Samet Ngam pier on the Chantahburi river. Water flows through holes in the sides, the decks are corroded, collapsing. I doubt now that refloating to tow away / move would be an option. It can just gently corrode away and I suppose become a genuine 'shipwreck'.

 

 

[gomangosteen]

 

 

 

[gomangosteen]

A little history from 1953

The Royal Thai Navy was invited by the British government to attend a naval ceremony at Spithead in England on the occasion of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Spithead Review 

Phosamton (Thailand) Minesweeper

 

HTMS Phosamton departed Thailand on 4 April 1953, participated in the ceremony on 15 June 1953, and returned to Thailand on 31 October 1953.

 

Source

 

 

Edited January 3, 2023 by gomangosteen

[billd766]

I found this Photo of HMS Minstrel on this website.

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=HMS+Minstrel&sxsrf=ALiCzsZ9mSV89Qu1DHGFBU9s-40n_udHiQ:1672743496469&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&vet=1&fir=lZrYqpNbpKN7yM%2CZTykxDxH-0IH_M%2C_%3BnXswizN34M1_SM%2C0qfdNI4Px0RH2M%2C_%3Bpz_HrobGYNOHhM%2Cun_Cb-Cml9UOYM%2C_%3BOM5v0PvjZ4vKdM%2Co37wzDLpXCM8eM%2C_%3Bmax_Pp67NDdNHM%2C_G4zFcx0dpB0nM%2C_&usg=AI4_-kTaXkyo9wpAcIid-KYCnV5Xc0RFZg&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwil7KCPn6v8AhXpIbcAHbJgCIoQ_h16BAhQEAE#imgrc=nXswizN34M1_SM