HMS Kinross was a Hunt-class minesweeper of the Aberdare sub-class, constructed for the Royal Navy during World War I. Launched on 4 July 1918 by Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Company in Govan, Scotland, she exemplified the enhanced design features of her subclass, which featured increased size and armament compared to earlier Hunt-class ships. The vessel displaced approximately 750 long tons at normal load and up to 930 long tons when fully laden. She measured 231 feet (70.4 meters) in overall length, with a beam of 28 feet 6 inches (8.7 meters) and a draught of 7 feet 6 inches (2.3 meters). Her propulsion system consisted of two vertical triple-expansion steam engines, each driving a single shaft, powered by two Yarrow boilers. These engines produced a total of 2,200 indicated horsepower, enabling a maximum speed of 16 knots (about 30 km/h). With a coal capacity of 185 long tons (188 tonnes), HMS Kinross had a range of 1,500 nautical miles at an economic speed of 15 knots. Armament on the Aberdare sub-class ships included a quick-firing 4-inch (102 mm) gun positioned forward of the bridge and a QF twelve-pounder (3-inch, 76.2 mm) anti-aircraft gun aft. Some ships in the class were fitted with additional smaller caliber Hotchkiss guns, though specific details for HMS Kinross are not provided. HMS Kinross’s service was brief; she was assigned to minesweeping duties during the final months of World War I. Tragically, her career was cut short when she struck a mine in the Aegean Sea and sank on 16 June 1919, less than a year after her launch. Her loss underscores the perilous nature of minesweeping operations and highlights her role in the Royal Navy’s efforts during the war.

This description has been generated using GPT-4.1-NANO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.