HMT Macbeth (T138)

HMT Macbeth was a Shakespearian-class trawler anti-submarine naval trawler that served with the Royal Navy during the Second World War. She was built by the Goole Shipbuilding & Repairing Co. Ltd., Goole, UK. Macbeth was launched on 3 October 1940, and commissioned on 14 January 1941.

A steel vessel of 545 tons, she measured 164 ft in length with a beam of 27 ft and a mean draft of 11 ft. Macbeth was propelled by a triple expansion reciprocating engine of 850 ihp, giving her a speed of 12 kn. The crew comprised 4 officers and 36 men. Armament consisted of a 12pdr AA gun, 3 20mm Oerlikon AA guns and 30 depth charges.

Macbeth most notably participated in the Operation Dervish Convoy of August 1941 as an escort vessel. During the war she was adopted by the Mildenhall Rural District Council, as part of Warship Week.

One of the last two Shakespearian class trawlers remaining in service with the Royal Navy, Macbeth was sold in 1947.

Publications

 * Robert Gardiner (ed. dir.), Conway's All the World's Fighting Ships 1922-1946, p. 66. London: Conway Maritime Press, 1980.