HMIS Investigator

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HMIS Investigator, later INS Investigator after India’s independence, was a Royal Indian Navy survey ship. It began life in 1925 as the cable layer Patrick Stewart, built in Renfrew by William Simons and Co. for the Indo-European Telegraph Company to lay Persian Gulf cables. The ship carried cable-laying gear supplied by Clarke, Chapman and Company and served with the IETC until 1930, when financial problems led to its sale to the Eastern Telegraph Company.

After four years with the ETC, the vessel was sold to the Royal Indian Navy in 1934, converted into a survey ship, and renamed HMIS Investigator. It served through World War II, being based at Calcutta in early 1940 under Commander Martin Henry St. Leger Nott. From 1941 it operated as an anti-submarine patrol sloop, and armament including a 4.7-inch gun was installed for this role.

Investigator remained in service until 1951, when she was taken out of service and sold for breaking at Bombay. Key details: about 1,572 GRT; length 233 ft 6 in (71.17 m); beam 37 ft 6 in (11.43 m); draft 13 ft 3 in (4.04 m). Propulsion came from two double-expansion engines (later described as two triple-expansion engines) built by W. Simons. Port registry was Bombay (1925–1930) and London (1930–1934). Official number 5606405.