| Navy | The Royal Navy |
| Type | MS Trawler |
| Class | [No specific class] |
| Pennant | FY 651 |
| Built by | Cochrane & Sons Shipbuilders Ltd. (Selby, U.K.) |
| Ordered | |
| Laid down | |
| Launched | 21 Oct 1929 |
| Commissioned | Aug 1939 |
| End service | |
| History | Completed in December 1929. Returned to her owner in August 1945. |
Commands listed for HMS Cape Melville (FY 651)
Please note that we're still working on this section
and that we only list Commanding Officers for the duration of the Second World War.
| Commander | From | To | ||
| 1 | Ch.Skr. Alexander Flaws, RNR | late 1939 | 1940 | |
| 2 | T/Skr. James Edward Capps Wright, RNR | 28 Jun 1940 | 17 Aug 1940 | |
| 3 | T/Skr. George Sidney Peek, RNR | 17 Aug 1940 | 15 Jul 1942 | |
| 4 | T/Lt. Joseph Sutherland Watt, RNR | 15 Jul 1942 | 29 Aug 1942 | |
| 5 | T/Lt. John Leslie Wilson Matthews, RNVR | 29 Aug 1942 | mid 1945 | |
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Notable events involving Cape Melville include:
18 May 1940
Operation Quixote.
Cutting of underwater telephone lines between Scandinavia and the U.K.
On 18 May 1940 the auxiliary M/S trawlers HMS Cape Melville (Ch.Skr. A. Flaws, RNR), HMS Grampian (Lt.Cdr. A. Longmuir, RNR), HMS James Lay (Skr. W.H. Makings, RNR), HMS Milford Princess (T/Skr. J.W. Cook, RNR), HMS Milford Queen (T/Skr. F.J. Burgess, RNR) and HMS Pelton (Skr. J.A. Sutherland, RNR) departed Harwich to cut underwater telephone cables. They were escorted by the patrol vessel HMS Puffin (Lt.Cdr.(Emgy.) D.F. Beattie, RN). Cover for the operation was provided by the destroyers HMS Jackal (Cdr. T.M. Napier, RN), HMS Jaguar (Lt.Cdr. J.F.W. Hine, RN) and HMS Javelin (Cdr. A.F. Pugsley, RN).