HMS Larne (J274)
HMS Larne was a reciprocating engine-powered during the Second World War. She survived the war and was sold to Italy in 1947 as Alabarda .
Design and description
The reciprocating group displaced at standard load and at deep load The ships measured long overall with a beam of. They had a draught of. The ships' complement consisted of 85 officers and ratings.The reciprocating ships had two vertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving one shaft, using steam provided by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. The engines produced a total of and gave a maximum speed of. They carried a maximum of of fuel oil that gave them a range of at.
The Algerine class was armed with a QF Mk V anti-aircraft gun and four twin-gun mounts for Oerlikon 20 mm cannon. The latter guns were in short supply when the first ships were being completed and they often got a proportion of single mounts. By 1944, single-barrel Bofors 40 mm mounts began replacing the twin 20 mm mounts on a one for one basis. All of the ships were fitted for four throwers and two rails for depth charges.
Construction and career
Service in the Royal Navy
The ship was ordered on 3 May 1942 at the Lobnitz & Company at Renfrew, Scotland. She was laid down on 25 January 1943 and launched on 2 September 1942. She was commissioned on 22 November 1943.On 31 July 1944, she was sent to the Mediterranean under the 7th Minesweeper Flotilla and supported Operation Dragoon on the 15 August. During Operation Edgehill on 15 October, she struck a sea mine while sweeping off Cape Kalouri, Greece, which caused major damage to her boiler and No. 1 fuel tank. Unfortunately, two of her engine room crew were also killed by the explosion. Moreover, the flotilla leader,, also struck a mine under her bow. The next day on the 16th, Larne was beached at Poros, East Coast of Greece. The ship was towed back shortly after and spent the remainder of the war under repair.
She was then sold to Italy in 1946 with the intention of replacing the lead ship of the Azio-class minelayer Azio, which was expected to be decommissioned.