ROYAL NAVY SOUTH ATLANTIC COMMAND - ROYAL NAVY H
1)H 15 (MOTOR LAUNCH)
Image by A. I.
Key Defensive Roles at Freetown
Anti-Submarine Estuary Screening: Operating under the British West Africa Command, H 15 was tasked with patrolling the narrow entrance and bottleneck channels of the Sierra Leone River. Equipped with localized sonar (ASDIC) and depth charges, her job was to detect and deter German U-boats attempting to ambush merchant convoys.
Anti-Mining Harbor Patrols: Enemy submarines frequently attempted to drop magnetic or contact naval mines right outside the harbor boom defenses. H 15 performed relentless defensive sweep loops to monitor shipping lanes and protect hundreds of vulnerable merchant ships anchored in the bay awaiting transatlantic transit.
Convoy Marshaling and Inbound Guidance: The craft served as a local escort, meeting inbound ocean convoys (such as the SL and OS series) to safely guide them through swept channels, ensuring they safely reached the inner port without hitting defensive minefields.
