HMS Sylvia 1944 Algerine Class Minesweeper Alloy Boat Badge

~ HMS Sylvia 1944 Algerine Class Minesweeper Alloy Boat Badge ~

This is an original piece cast in alloy with a painted finish. It is a round plaque with roped border and crown. The centre depicts a ladies head in profile.

It is presented on a wooden plaque, secured by three screws.

Though such badges were normally made of bronze, towards the end of WW2, alloys and steel were often used instead.

The dates  1947-1949 presumably relate to a crew members years of service onboard her.

~ HMS Sylvia ~

HMS Sylvia (1944) wa an Algerine-class minesweeper launched in 1944 and sold for breaking up in 1958.

The Algerine-class minesweeper was a large group of minesweepers built for the Royal Navy (RN) and the Royal Canadian Navy (RCN) during the Second World War. 110 ships of the class were launched between 1942 and 1944.

The Algerine class vessels in service with the Royal Navy were employed mainly as minesweepers, though they were equipped as anti-submarine warfare vessels also, and could serve as escort ships as needed. Their ASDIC and depth-charge equipment was equal to that of the Flower-class corvettes, or even River-class frigates, though they were not equipped with forward-firing weapons like Hedgehog. Five Algerines were sunk in action, and four others were declared constructive total losses after sustaining damage.

The Algerines of the Royal Canadian Navy by contrast were employed as escorts. They were not fitted with mine-sweeping gear, though they were optimized for service in the Arctic. The Algerines served principally as senior ships in Canadian escort groups of the Western Local Escort Force and the Halifax Force. No RCN vessels of the class were lost.

~ Sylvia ~

Silvia is a female given name of Latin origin, with a male equivalent Silvio and English-language cognate Sylvia. The name originates from the Latin word for forest Silva and its meaning is spirit of the wood. The mythological god of the forest was associated with the figure of Silvanus.

In Roman mythology, Silvia is the goddess of the forest while Rea Silvia was the mother of Romulus and Remus.

~ Condition ~

The crest is in good condition for its age, with minimal paint wear.

~ Dimensions ~

The crest has a height of 21 cm (8.25 inches) and a width of 16 cm (6.5 inches)

#9806