Minesweeper BYMS20, artist Commander S.W. Hills. Acrylic 13cm x 23.5cm Framed under glass, good condition.
Built as BYMS-20 by Bellingham Iron Works, Bellingham, WA, USA; Launched 27 June 1942; Completed and transferred to Great Britain 29 August 1942; Reclassified BYMS-2020; Struck from the Naval Register 10 June 1947; Returned to U.S. custody 10 July 1947 and sold. Fate unknown. [www.navsource.org]
One of 80 minesweepers classified British Minesweepers (BYMS) and numbered BYMS-1 to BYMS-80 originally. Ordered in America for lend-lease to Britain. Pennant numbers for BYMS became BYMS-2001 to BYMS-2080 and she became BYMS2020.
She was with the 151st Minesweeping Flotilla based at Malta. Stanley Hills commanded her from March 1945 to January 1946, working in the Adriatic. [dates from www.uboat.net]
Mersea Museum Art Collection
Date: c1943