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HMS Cricket (shore establishment)
Encyclopedia
HMS Cricket was the name given to a Royal Navy
shore establishment on the River Hamble
from 1943 to 1946. This name was previously used by the Insect class
gunboat
, HMS Cricket that was scrapped in 1942.
HMS Cricket was commissioned on 15 July 1943. Initially it was a "Royal Marine Landing Craft
Crew Training Base". It was established as an independent command with accounts being handled by HMS Shrapnel. The base was later used to assemble troops and landing craft
in the build-up to D-day
. From 23 May 1944, during the final preparations for D-Day
, the base was completely sealed. During the base's operation she was assigned a number of depot ships. The first was the Nab Happy Lass, from the time of commissioning until 30 April 1945. She was replaced by harbour launch 30455 until May that year, and was then succeeded by the petrol powered harbour launch 436622 until March 1946.
It was decided to close HMS Cricket after the end of the Second World War, a decision taken on 1 March 1946. The last arrivals were on 20 May 1946 and Cricket was probably decommissioned on 15 July 1946, three years after commissioning.
Its many buildings were subsequently used for temporary post-war accommodation for the civilian population of Southampton.
Manor Farm Country Park
now occupies this site.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
shore establishment on the River Hamble
River Hamble
The River Hamble is a river in Hampshire, England. It rises near Bishop's Waltham and flows for some 7.5 miles through Botley, Bursledon and Swanwick before entering Southampton Water near Hamble-le-Rice and Warsash....
from 1943 to 1946. This name was previously used by the Insect class
Insect class gunboat
The Insect class patrol boats were a class of small, but well-armed Royal Navy ships designed for use in shallow rivers or inshore. They were intended for use on the Danube...
gunboat
Gunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
, HMS Cricket that was scrapped in 1942.
HMS Cricket was commissioned on 15 July 1943. Initially it was a "Royal Marine Landing Craft
Landing craft
Landing craft are boats and seagoing vessels used to convey a landing force from the sea to the shore during an amphibious assault. Most renowned are those used to storm the beaches of Normandy, the Mediterranean, and many Pacific islands during WWII...
Crew Training Base". It was established as an independent command with accounts being handled by HMS Shrapnel. The base was later used to assemble troops and landing craft
Landing craft
Landing craft are boats and seagoing vessels used to convey a landing force from the sea to the shore during an amphibious assault. Most renowned are those used to storm the beaches of Normandy, the Mediterranean, and many Pacific islands during WWII...
in the build-up to D-day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
. From 23 May 1944, during the final preparations for D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
, the base was completely sealed. During the base's operation she was assigned a number of depot ships. The first was the Nab Happy Lass, from the time of commissioning until 30 April 1945. She was replaced by harbour launch 30455 until May that year, and was then succeeded by the petrol powered harbour launch 436622 until March 1946.
It was decided to close HMS Cricket after the end of the Second World War, a decision taken on 1 March 1946. The last arrivals were on 20 May 1946 and Cricket was probably decommissioned on 15 July 1946, three years after commissioning.
Its many buildings were subsequently used for temporary post-war accommodation for the civilian population of Southampton.
Manor Farm Country Park
Manor Farm Country Park
Manor Farm Country Park, formerly Upper Hamble Country Park, runs along the west bank of the River Hamble between the villages of Botley and Bursledon in Hampshire at ....
now occupies this site.