HMS Squirrel was a turbine-powered Algerine-class minesweeper constructed for the Royal Navy during the Second World War. Launched in 1944, the vessel measured 225 feet (68.6 meters) in overall length with a beam of 35 feet 6 inches (10.8 meters). Her design included a displacement of 850 long tons (860 tonnes) at standard load, increasing to 1,125 long tons (1,143 tonnes) at deep load. The ship’s draught was 11 feet (3.4 meters), and she was crewed by a complement of approximately 85 officers and ratings. Power was provided by two Parsons geared steam turbines, each driving a single shaft, with steam supplied by two Admiralty three-drum boilers. These engines produced a total of 2,000 shaft horsepower (1,500 kW), enabling a maximum speed of 16.5 knots (30.6 km/h). Fuel capacity of up to 660 long tons (671 tonnes) of fuel oil allowed for a range of approximately 5,000 nautical miles (9,300 km) at a cruising speed of 10 knots (19 km/h). Armament on HMS Squirrel included a QF 4-inch (102 mm) Mk V anti-aircraft gun for surface and air defense, along with four twin-gun mounts for Oerlikon 20 mm cannon. Due to shortages during wartime, some ships carried a mix of twin and single mounts, and by 1944, Bofors 40 mm guns began replacing the 20 mm Oerlikons on a one-for-one basis. The vessel was also equipped with four throwers and two depth charge rails for anti-submarine warfare. HMS Squirrel participated in minesweeping operations off the west coast of the Malay Peninsula in July 1945, supporting the British East Indies Fleet. During these operations, she struck a mine near Phuket Island amid a Japanese kamikaze attack, which caused her to catch fire. The fire was uncontrollable after half an hour, leading to her abandonment. Survivors were rescued by HMIS Punjab, and HMS Squirrel was subsequently scuttled by gunfire two hours later. The attack resulted in the loss of seven crew members, marking a tragic end to her service.

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