HMS Abdiel (M39)

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History
United Kingdom
Name	HMS Abdiel
Builder	J. Samuel White, Cowes
Laid down	29 March 1939
Launched	23 April 1940
Commissioned	15 April 1941
Identification	Pennant number M39
Honours and awards	BISCAY 1941, CRETE 1941, LIBYA 1941, SICILY 1943
Fate	Lost, 10 September 1943
General characteristics
Class and type	Abdiel-class minelayer
Displacement	2,650 tons (standard) 4,000 tons (full load)
Length	127.4 m (418 ft) (overall)
Beam	12.2 m (40 ft)
Draught	3.4 m (11 ft)
Propulsion	Two shafts Geared turbines Four Admiralty 3-drum boilers 72,000 shp
Speed	40 knots (74 km/h)
Range	5,800 mi (9,334 km) at 15 knots (28 km/h)
Complement	244
Armament	As built: 6 × QF 4-inch (100 mm) Mark XVI guns on twin mounts HA/LA Mk.XIX 4 × QF 2-pounder (40 mm) Mk.VIII on quadruple mount Mk.VII 8 × 0.5-inch (12.7 mm) Vickers machine guns on quadruple mount Mk.I 156 mines
Armour	Magazine box protection, deck, side-plating, turrets and bulkheads, belt, internal boiler room sides (added 1936–1940).

HMS Abdiel was an Abdiel-class minelayer that served with the Royal Navy during World War II. She served with the Mediterranean Fleet (1941), Eastern Fleet (1942), Home Fleet (1942–43), and the Mediterranean Fleet (1943). Abdiel was sunk by German mines in Italy's Taranto harbour in 1943. Although designed as a fast minelayer her speed and capacity made her suitable for employment as a fast transport.