HMS Gentian was an Arabis-class sloop built for the Royal Navy during World War I. Measuring 268 feet (81.69 meters) in overall length and 255 feet (77.72 meters) between perpendiculars, the vessel had a beam of 33 feet 6 inches (10.21 meters) and a draught of 11 feet (3.35 meters). Displacing approximately 1,250 long tons (1,270 tonnes), Gentian was powered by two cylindrical boilers feeding a four-cylinder triple expansion steam engine rated at 2,000 indicated horsepower, which allowed for a maximum speed of 16 knots (18 mph or 30 km/h). The ship's armament comprised two 4.7-inch (120 mm) guns or two 4-inch (102 mm) guns, supplemented by two 3-pounder (47 mm) anti-aircraft guns. Constructed by the Greenock & Grangemouth Dockyard Company at their Greenock shipyard, Gentian was launched on 23 December 1915 and completed by 28 February 1916. She was one of the first nine ships of her class, ordered on 6 July 1915. Initially assigned to Scapa Flow as part of the Grand Fleet, Gentian's primary role was minesweeping—keeping the approaches to the fleet’s base clear of mines. During her service, she was involved in anti-submarine operations, notably surviving a torpedo attack on 30 May 1916, likely from German submarine U-43. By the end of the war in November 1918, Gentian was part of the 2nd Minesweeping Flotilla, later transferring to the 1st Flotilla, and was listed as in reserve by May 1919. Following the war, she participated in the British campaign in the Baltic, known as "Operation Red Trek," supporting Allied efforts in the Russian Civil War and aiding Baltic independence. On 15–16 July 1919, while involved in minesweeping east of Saaremaa with HMS Myrtle, Gentian struck an unswept mine. Despite efforts to assist Myrtle, which also hit a mine and sank, Gentian managed to remain afloat briefly but capsized and sank on 17 July 1919. The wrecks of Gentian, Myrtle, and the light cruiser HMS Cassandra were located in 2010 by an Estonian Navy minesweeper.

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