HMS Rifleman

7th MSF 2nd MSF “ALGERINE” Class Fleet Minesweeper fitted with Turbine propulsion machinery ordered on 30th April 1942 from Harland and Wolff, Belfast. Laid down on 20th April 1943 at the same time as sister ships RECRUIT and PLUCKY she was launched on 25th November 1943. The sixth RN ship to carry this name, introduced in 1804 for a Gun Brig built at Blackwall and purchased from the builder. It was last used for a destroyer built in 1910 at Cowes by JS White and sold in 1921. Her build was completed on 11th February 1944. This minesweeper was not “adopted” by any civil community in UK following a successful WARSHIP WEEK campaign for National Savings as her build had not been started.