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HMT Juniper

Coordinates: 67°20′N 4°10′E / 67.333°N 4.167°E / 67.333; 4.167
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History
United Kingdom
NameHMT Juniper (T123)
NamesakeJuniper
BuilderFerguson Brothers (Port Glasgow) Ltd., Port Glasgow
Launched15 December 1939
Commissioned9 March 1940
FateSunk, 8 June 1940
General characteristics
Class and typeTree-class trawler
Displacement545 long tons (554 t)
Length164 ft (50 m)
Beam27 ft 8 in (8.43 m)
Draught11 ft 1 in (3.38 m) (mean)
Propulsion1 × Triple expansion reciprocating engine, 850 ihp (634 kW), 1 shaft
Speed12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph)
Complement40
Armament

HMT Juniper (T123) was a Tree-class minesweeping trawler of the Royal Navy. She was built by Ferguson Brothers (Port Glasgow) Ltd. at Port Glasgow, launched on 15 December 1939, and commissioned on 9 March 1940.

A steel vessel of 545 tons, Juniper measured 164 feet (50 m) in length with a beam of 27 feet 8 inches (8.43 m) and a mean draft of 11 feet 1 inch (3.38 m) A single triple-expansion reciprocating engine of 850 indicated horsepower (630 kW) gave her a speed of 12 knots (22 km/h; 14 mph). The crew numbered 4 officers and 36 men. Armament comprised a 12-pdr AA gun, three 20 mm Oerlikon AA guns, and 30 depth charges.[1]

Juniper served in the early months of the Second World War and was sunk on 8 June 1940 in the Norwegian Sea at the close of the Norwegian Campaign. The previous day the German naval squadron under Vizeadmiral Wilhelm Marschall received Luftwaffe reports of two groups of ships. Marschall decided on his own initiative to attack the southernmost group, which was escorted by Juniper. On the morning of 8 June, Marschall (with the battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, heavy cruiser Admiral Hipper, and four destroyers) intercepted the British ships, sinking Juniper, the tanker Oil Pioneer, and the empty troopship Orama; they spared the hospital ship Atlantis. Juniper was sunk by gunfire from Admiral Hipper.[2]

Marschall then sent Admiral Hipper and the destroyers to Trondheim to refuel. Later that same day, Scharnhorst and Gneisenau encountered and sank the aircraft carrier Glorious and the destroyers Acasta and Ardent.[2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Robert Gardiner (ed. dir.), Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922–1946, p. 66. London: Conway Maritime Press, 1980
  2. ^ a b Richard Humble, Hitler's High Seas Fleet, p. 57. New York: Ballantine Books, 1971.

67°20′N 4°10′E / 67.333°N 4.167°E / 67.333; 4.167