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Notable events involving ML 181 include:

14 May 1941
Around 1020A/14, HMS Tigris (Lt.Cdr. H.F. Bone, DSO, DSC, RN) arrived at Falmouth.

She left again around 2050A/14 escorted by HMS ML 181 until 2245A/14. (1)

28 Apr 1944

Minelaying operation Hostile 26.

The object of this minelaying operation was to lay a minefield to the north-east of Ile de Batz.

Around 1945B/28, eight ML's of the 10th ML flotilla left Plymouth for this operation. They had a close escort of two MTB's.

The group was formed into two divisions. The first division was made up of ML 157 (T/Lt. T.B. Gwenlan, DSC, RNVR), ML 180 (T/Lt. R.J. McCullagh, RNVR), ML 184 (T/Lt. R.W.A. Winter, RNVR) and HMS ML 186 (T/Lt. F.O.S. Man, RNVR). HMS MTB 677 (T/Lt. A.H. Clayton, RNVR) was the close escort. The second division was made up of ML 159 (T/Lt. B.D. Gerrans, RNVR), HMS ML 181 (T/A/Lt.Cdr. H.T. Kemsley, RNVR, S.O. 10th ML Flotilla), HMS ML 259 (T/Lt. H.W.E. Johnson, RNVR) and HMS ML 488 (T/Lt. I.H.L. King, RNVR). HMS MTB 717 (T/Lt. B.H.C. Robinson, RNVR) was the close escort.

Cover was provided by the destroyers HMCS Haida (Cdr. H.G. De Wolf, RCN) and HMCS Athabaskan (Lt.Cdr. J.H. Stubbs, RCN). They departed Plymouth around 2300B/28 and were to patrol 6 nautical miles to the west and east of position (XX) 49°00'N, 04°10'W with the intention to leave around 0345B/29 for the return passage.

The outward passage was uneventful and completed in fine weather.

Between 0314B/29 and 0326B/29, each division laid a line of 14 mines and 2 MK I obstructors within an area enclosed by lines joining the following positions;
A) 48°55'03"N, 03°52'00"W,
B) 48°52'18"N, 03°52'36"W,
C) 48°51'00"N, 03°57'36"W,
D) 48°52'57"N, 04°00'09"W.

The total of 28 mines consisted of 20 MK XVII (49/50) / XVIII set at 20 feet and 8 MK 1/XVII set at 12 feet.

Sinker clocks were set to release on 21 May and flooders were set to operate on 10 June 1944.

Just after the lay had commenced, two signals were received from the C-in-C, Plymouth reporting the presence of an enemy plot to the southward and HMCS Haida and HMCS Athabaskan were ordered to intercept and they then left to proceed to do so at full speed.

On completion of the lay the minelaying force retired to the northward at 14 knots and at 0405B/29 an enemy report was received from HMCS Haida and continuous star shell was seen from that moment to the south-westward.

At 0416B/29 a very heavy explosion was heard and a burst of flame was seen of which it was later found out that this was HMCS Athabaskan being hit. At 0427B/29, another heavy explosion was heard and a large white mushroom shape cloud of smoke was seen which was HMCS Athabaskan blowing up.

At 0505B/29 the MTB's were detached with orders to search for survivors on orders of the C-in-C, Plymouth. This order was cancelled at 0537B/29 and the MTB's rejoined the force at 0838B/29 and they then entered Plymouth at 0955B/29. The destroyers HMS Offa (Lt.Cdr. R.F. Leonard, RN) and HMS Orwell (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Hodges, DSO, RN), which were covering an exercise in Lyme Bay, were withdrawn and sent to cover the minelaying force on their return passage. (2)

1 May 1944
HMS Seraph (Lt. T. Russell-Walling, RN) conducted A/S exercises off Plymouth with HMS ML 186 (T/Lt. F.O.S. Man, RNVR), HMS ML 189 (T/Lt. W.J. Court, RNVR), HMS ML 181 (T/Lt. H.T. Kemsley, RNVR) and HMS ML 481 (T/Lt. W.A.N. Fell-Smith, TRNVR). (3)