HMS Onyx (J221)

HMS Onyx (J221) was a Halcyon-class minesweeper of the Royal Navy. Built by John Brown & Company, Clydebank, she was launched on 30 November 1936 and commissioned on 24 June 1937.

Halcyon-class minesweepers were designed for coastal sweeping duties and were vital for keeping sea lanes open during World War II. These ships were relatively small but well-equipped for detecting and neutralizing mines.

During her service in World War II, HMS Onyx participated in a variety of operations, including convoy escort duties, mine clearance operations in British waters and the Mediterranean, and support for amphibious landings. Specifically, she played a role in the North African campaign and the invasion of Sicily.

Following the war, HMS Onyx continued in service with the Royal Navy for a time, participating in further mine clearance operations to restore peacetime shipping routes. She was eventually scrapped, her fate typical of many of the workhorse vessels of the war era. Her legacy remains as a vital component of the Royal Navy's wartime efforts in keeping essential waterways safe and open.