HMIS Indus (U67)
Encyclopedia
HMIS Indus (L67) was a Grimsby class
sloop
of the Royal Indian Navy
launched in 1934 and sunk during the Second World War in 1942. She was a slightly enlarged version of other vessels in the Grimsby class. She was named after the Indus River
. Indus served mainly as an escort vessel, and she was therefore lightly armed. Her pennant number
was changed to U67 in 1940.
On 6 April 1942 Indus was bombed and sunk by Japanese aircraft off Akyab, Burma in position 20°7′N 92°54′E
In March 1942, British Indian Army and British Army troops from Rangoon had to be withdrawn, as they were overwhelmed by the superior numbers as well as the air command of the Japanese. Akyab was the next port to be attacked by the Japanese in April. The Flag-Officer-Commanding of the Eastern Fleet refused to withdraw Indus and from the anti-infiltration patrol off Akyab. On 6 April, Indus suffered 3 direct bomb hits in a Japanese air raid, and sank in 35 minutes. Fortunately, there was no loss of life to her crew.
Grimsby class sloop
With the realisation that war was approaching, 13 Grimsby class sloops were laid down in the mid to late 1930s. Of these eight were built in the United Kingdom for the Royal Navy, four in Australia for the Royal Australian Navy and one for India...
sloop
Sloop
A sloop is a sail boat with a fore-and-aft rig and a single mast farther forward than the mast of a cutter....
of the Royal Indian Navy
Royal Indian Navy
The Royal Indian Navy was the naval force of British India. Along with the Presidency armies and the later British Indian Army it comprised the Armed Forces of British India....
launched in 1934 and sunk during the Second World War in 1942. She was a slightly enlarged version of other vessels in the Grimsby class. She was named after the Indus River
Indus River
The Indus River is a major river which flows through Pakistan. It also has courses through China and India.Originating in the Tibetan plateau of western China in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet Autonomous Region, the river runs a course through the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir and...
. Indus served mainly as an escort vessel, and she was therefore lightly armed. Her pennant number
Pennant number
In the modern Royal Navy, and other navies of Europe and the Commonwealth, ships are identified by pennant numbers...
was changed to U67 in 1940.
On 6 April 1942 Indus was bombed and sunk by Japanese aircraft off Akyab, Burma in position 20°7′N 92°54′E
History
HMIS Indus was a part of the Eastern Fleet during the war.In March 1942, British Indian Army and British Army troops from Rangoon had to be withdrawn, as they were overwhelmed by the superior numbers as well as the air command of the Japanese. Akyab was the next port to be attacked by the Japanese in April. The Flag-Officer-Commanding of the Eastern Fleet refused to withdraw Indus and from the anti-infiltration patrol off Akyab. On 6 April, Indus suffered 3 direct bomb hits in a Japanese air raid, and sank in 35 minutes. Fortunately, there was no loss of life to her crew.
Commanding officers
Indus commanding officers during her service were:- Commander Eric George Guilding (24 November 1938 - 23 September 1941)
- Lieutenant Commander Jesser Evelyn Napier (23 September 1941 - 6 April 1942) - Promoted to commander on 25 October 1941
- Commander James Wilfred JeffordJames Wilfred JeffordRear Admiral James Wilfred Jefford was the first Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Pakistan Navy, serving from its inception in 1947 until 1953. Most of his early career was in the Royal Indian Navy....