LÉ Cliona

❧

Wikipedia

HMS Bellwort entering Victoria Wharf, Birkenhead during World War II
History
United Kingdom
NameHMS Bellwort
NamesakeBellwort
Ordered12 December 1939
Yard numberJ1160
Laid down17 September 1940
Launched11 August 1941
Commissioned20 November 1941
Decommissioned1947
IdentificationPennant number: K114
FateSold to the Irish Naval Service, 1946
Ireland
NameLÉ Cliona
NamesakeCliodhna
Acquired3 February 1947
Commissioned3 February 1947
Decommissioned2 November 1970
IdentificationPennant number: 03
FateScrapped, 1970
General characteristics [1][2]
Class & typeFlower-class corvette
Displacement925 long tons
Length205 ft (62 m)
Beam33 ft (10 m)
Draught11 ft 6 in (3.51 m)
Propulsion
  • single shaft
  • 2 × fire tube Scotch boilers
  • 1 × 4-cycle triple-expansion reciprocating steam engine
  • 2,750 ihp (2,050 kW)
Speed16 knots (30 km/h; 18 mph)
Armament

LÉ Cliona was a Flower-class corvette in the Irish Naval Service. She was named after Cliodhna, an ancient Irish goddess of love; she was the former HMS Bellwort. She was one of three Flowers sold to Ireland in 1946 and was handed over to the Irish Naval Service on 3 February 1947 and commissioned Cliona by Lieutenant Walter J. Ready the same day. She was sold to Haulbowline Industries for scrap on 4 November 1970.

Construction

Bellwort was built by George Brown & Co of Greenock, Scotland. After wartime service in the Royal Navy she was handed over to the Naval Service on 3 February 1947 and commissioned Cliona by Lieutenant Walter J. Reidy the same day. She was sold to Haulbowline Industries for scrap and was removed to Passage West on 4 November 1970.[3]

Service history

From March 1942 onwards Bellwort served with close escort groups on South Atlantic convoys, stationed at Freetown. In three years Bellwort sailed with 42 trade convoys (outbound and homebound), contributing to the safe and timely arrival of more than 800 merchant ships. She was involved in one major convoy battle, around Convoy TS 37 in April 1943, which saw the loss of seven ships in one night. With the end of hostilities Bellwort was decommissioned and in 1946 she was sold.

Fire incident

On 29 May 1962, Cliona was participating in an annual exercise south off Roches Point.[4] Cliona had a press party including a number of RTÉ cameras embarked to do some filming for the new national broadcaster. The ship initially carried out a successful Hedgehog mortar exercise.[5] During her second pattern of depth charges, she suffered a premature explosion from a charge dropped from the port stern rail. The resulting explosion lifted the stern of the ship out of the water and the concussion ruptured fuel oil feed pipes in the after boiler room.

The leaking oil resulted in a serious fire which rapidly accelerated out of control. Stoker William Mynes closed the feed valves, isolating the supply of fuel to the fire. The Executive Officer, Lt. Pat O'Mahony, then entered the aft boiler room where he fought the fire for at least another thirty minutes. The fire was eventually extinguished, despite the Marine Rescue Coordination centre dispatching an oceangoing tugboat, Clonmel to the scene to assist, Cliona was able to proceed to Haulbowline under her own steam for an investigation and repairs.[6] At the time, neither Mynes or O'Mahoney were recognised for the bravery they showed in their fire fighting effort.[7] However, 'scrolls of commendation' were issued in recognition of the crew member's efforts some decades later.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Elliott p186
  2. ↑ Conway p62
  3. ↑ "Naval Service - Fleet History". military.ie. Irish Defence Forces. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012.
  4. 1 2 "Plaque for fire heroes of 1962 Navy vessel unveiled". Irish Examiner. 1 October 2016. Archived from the original on 21 October 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  5. ↑ "Incident on LE Clíona 1962". haulbowlinerevisited.com. 9 July 2015. Archived from the original on 21 October 2018. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  6. ↑ "LÉ Cliona crew to finally be honoured over 1962 naval fire". Irish Examiner. 19 August 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  7. ↑ Report to the Chief of Staff from Captain Thomas McKenna on fire damage to LE Cliona, 31 May 1962 (National Military Archives)