In 2001 British Virgin Islands issued a set of stamps of Royal Navy ships visiting the islands.
The 35 ct of this set depict as given the HMS WISTARIA, most probably the intention was to depict the HMS WISTARIA launched in 1915, who was stationed in the West Indies, but instead the HMT WISTARIA completed in 1940 is depict, and so far I can find never has visited the islands.
HMS WESTARIA was built as a sloop by Irvine in Glasgow for the Royal Navy.
01 May 1915 laid down.
07 December 1915 launched as the HMS WESTARIA one of the Arabis class of 26 ships.
Displacement 1,250 tons, dim.81.61 x 10.21 x 3.58m. (draught)
Powered by one 4-cyl triple expansion steam engine, manufactured by shipbuilder, 2,000 hp, speed 16 knots.
Bunker capacity 130 tons of coal.
Range by a speed of 15 knots, 2000 miles.
Designed armament: 2 – 4.7 inch., 2 – 47mm Hotchkiss guns.
Commissioned 1916.
The class was built with triple hull at the bow to give extra protection against loss when working up mines.
Very successful ships, but they could only make designed speed with difficulty. Good sea vessels.
During World War I a unit of the 11th sloop flotilla at Gibraltar.
After the war stationed in the West Indies.
18 January 1931 sold to Ward, Inverkeithing to be broken up.
Source: Jane’s Fighting Ships of WW I.Ships of the Royal Navy by Colledge.
The depicted ship HMT WISTARIA (T113) was built as a trawler under yard No 1072 by Smith’s Dock Comp., South Bank-on-Tees for the Royal Navy.
19 June 1939 keel laid down.
10 November 1939 launched as the HMT WESTARIA one of the Tree class of which 20 were built.
Displacement 530 tons, full load 720. Dim.49.98 x 8.47 x 3.38m. (draught).
Powered by one triple expansion reciprocating steam engine, 850 ihp., one shaft. Speed 12 knots.
Armament 1 – OF 76mm AA gun, 3 – 20mm Oerlikon AA guns and 30 depth charges.
Crew 40.
16 February 1940 completed.
Joined the 11th A/S Strike Group of the Royal Navy at Aberdeen.
The class were a type of anti submarine vessels which served in the Royal Navy.
1940 Took part in the Norway Campaign
Thereafter used mostly in the North Atlantic between the U.K. and Greenland the rest of the war, but I could not find much on her war career on the net.
March 1946 sold, fate unknown.
British Virgin Islands 2001 35c sg?, scott?
Source: Ships of the Royal Navy Volume 2 by Colledge. http://www.miramarshipindex.org.nz and various internet sites.
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