HMS Gainsborough (1918) was a Royal Navy Hunt-class minesweeper ship that served during World War I. The ship was built by William Hamilton & Co. in Scotland and commissioned in 1919. It had a displacement of 800 tons and a top speed of 16 knots. During its service, HMS Gainsborough participated in various operations, including minesweeping duties in the North Sea and the English Channel. After the war, the ship was decommissioned and sold to a civilian owner. It was later requisitioned by the Royal Navy for service during World War II. During this time, HMS Gainsborough primarily operated in the Mediterranean and the Adriatic Sea, where it continued its minesweeping and anti-submarine warfare activities. In 1945, the ship was returned to its civilian owner and ultimately scrapped in 1948. HMS Gainsborough's service history reflects its crucial role in naval operations during both World War I and World War II, showcasing the importance of minesweepers in ensuring safe passage for allied ships and protecting against enemy naval threats.

This description has been generated using GPT-3.5-TURBO based on the Vessel's wikidata information and then modified by ShipIndex.org staff.