HMS Grasshopper (1938)
Encyclopedia
HMS Grasshopper was a Royal Navy
. She was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders
as a river gunboat, and launched in 1939.
During the Second World War, Grasshopper helped secure the Chinese rivers as part of the gunboat squadron operating from Shanghai
, China. She was withdrawn and sent to Singapore
after the Japanese forces invaded China.
Grasshopper and her sister ship left Keppel Harbour
(Singapore) for Batavia on 14 February 1942. Later that day, while sailing south of Singapore, they were attacked by waves of Japanese bombers. Dragonfly sank in the shallow waters of the Riau Archipelago
where her wreck is a dive site; Grasshopper, heavily damaged, managed to beach at Lingga Island
and is also a dive wreck.
Judy (1937–1950), a pointer dog, was a mascot onboard this ship. She was captured after the ship's loss, was the only known dog to be registered as a Second World War Prisoner of War
, and was later awarded the Dickin Medal
by the PDSA
, considered to be the animals' VC
.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. She was built by Yarrow Shipbuilders
Yarrow Shipbuilders
Yarrow Limited , often styled as simply Yarrows, was a major shipbuilding firm based in the Scotstoun district of Glasgow on the River Clyde...
as a river gunboat, and launched in 1939.
During the Second World War, Grasshopper helped secure the Chinese rivers as part of the gunboat squadron operating from Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, China. She was withdrawn and sent to Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
after the Japanese forces invaded China.
Grasshopper and her sister ship left Keppel Harbour
Keppel Harbour
Keppel Harbour is a stretch of water in Singapore between the mainland and the southern islands of Pulau Brani and Sentosa. Its naturally sheltered and deep waters was to meet the requirements of British colonists attempting to establish a Far East maritime colony in that part of the world, and...
(Singapore) for Batavia on 14 February 1942. Later that day, while sailing south of Singapore, they were attacked by waves of Japanese bombers. Dragonfly sank in the shallow waters of the Riau Archipelago
Riau Archipelago
Not to be confused with Riau Islands Province, a province of Indonesia.The Riau Archipelago is the core group of islands within the Riau Islands Province in Indonesia, and located south of Singapore...
where her wreck is a dive site; Grasshopper, heavily damaged, managed to beach at Lingga Island
Lingga Island
Lingga Island is the largest and most populated of the Lingga Islands, Indonesia. It has an area of . It is located south of the Riau Islands off the east coast of Sumatra. The other major island of the archipelago is Singkep....
and is also a dive wreck.
Judy (1937–1950), a pointer dog, was a mascot onboard this ship. She was captured after the ship's loss, was the only known dog to be registered as a Second World War Prisoner of War
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
, and was later awarded the Dickin Medal
Dickin Medal
The Dickin Medal was instituted in 1943 in the United Kingdom by Maria Dickin to honour the work of animals in war. It is a bronze medallion, bearing the words "For Gallantry" and "We Also Serve" within a laurel wreath, carried on a ribbon of striped green, dark brown and pale blue...
by the PDSA
PDSA
The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals is a veterinary charity in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1917 by Maria Dickin to provide care for sick and injured animals of the poor...
, considered to be the animals' VC
VC
VC may refer to:* Vehicle code, a motor vehicle traffic legal system* Vanadium carbide, an inorganic compound* Vancouver Canucks, a NHL hockey team* Vanier College* Vassar College...
.