The fifth HMS Gleaner was a 'Halcyon' class minesweeper built by William Gray and Co. with machinery from Central Marine Engine Works. She was laid down on 17 June 1936, launched on 10 June 1937 and was completed on 30 March 1938.

The Gleaner was completed as a survey ship and when War broke out she was at Plymouth undergoing conversion to a minesweeper. On completion she joined the 1st Anti-Submarine Striking Force based at Belfast and patrolled the waters between Belfast and Liverpool. Late November and December saw her with the 2nd Anti-Submarine Striking Force, operating between the Clyde and Loch Ewe. In January 1940 she transferred the the 3rd Anti-Submarine Striking Force with which she scored her most famous achievement.

12 February 1940 saw Gleaner on patrol off the Firth of Clyde. At 0250 a hydrophone effect was picked up and traced until at about 0316 a U-boat, U33, was seen on the surface. U33 dived and lay on the bottom. Gleaner carried out a depth charge attack at 0353 but although the explosions were near, little damage was done. A second attack was carried out at 0412 which caused more damage to gauge glasses, lights etc. and caused several plates to leak water. The Captain decided to bring U33 to the surface which she broke at 0522. The Gleaner opened fire on the U-boat and turned to ram her, firing as she approached, but before she could do so the crew came out on deck and surrendered.

The Gleaner continued with anti-submarine duties until 12 August 1940 when she was detailed to relieve HMS Deptford as close escort to convoy OA198 off the west coast of Scotland, becoming a member of the Northern Escort Force. At 1420 on 16 August the escort aircraft reported having attacked and possible damaged a U-boat 180nm NW of Bloody Foreland. In a later report this aircraft claimed two direct hits by depth charges, the first blowing the U-boat to the surface with her decks awash. After the second, the U-boat healed over on it's side and sank. Gleaner was brought to the spot at 1630 where she carried out a sweep and at 1710 she signalled the aircraft she could not get a contact. German records have shown this to be U51. She was not sunk, as thought, but had suffered extensive damage to her machinery. Limping on the surface towards Lorient, she was attacked and sunk by HMS Cachalot on 20 August.

The Gleaner's second convoy, OA204, was not so fortunate. The convoy consisted of 21 ships in 6 columns, protected by Gleaner) and Clematis. At 2335 on 28 August 1940, the SS Hartismere was struck by a torpedo on the starboard side, underneath the bridge. One minute later the Commodore's ship, the SS Dalblair, was torpedoed amidships on her starboard side and sank in ten minutes. Gleaner sighted explosions and tried to cross ahead of the convoy, narrowly avaiding several collisions with ships which, without a Commodore and without any orders were scattering in all directions at full speed. Hampered by her lack of speed the Gleaner turned back to ensure the survivors were being picked up. AT 0045 on 29 August the SS Astra II, from the convoy, was tropedoed and sunk rapidly. Gleaner picked up 18 survivors and at daylight proceeded to escort the damaged Hartismere to the Clyde. Two other ships from the convoy were lost.

The remainder of her escort service between the Clyde or Oban to Methil was comparatively uneventful and in February 1942 she was taken in hand at Leith for conversion to a Fleet Minesweeper and to be fitted for Arctic conditions. On completion in May she joined the 1st Minesweeping Flotilla, Home Fleet and, as well as minesweeping patrols, she escorted convoys between Scapa Flow and the Icelandic ports of Hval Fjord and Seidisfjord and between Scapa and the Kola Inlet. This too was a quiet period for HMS Gleaner.

In June 1944, with other members of the 1st MSF, she took part in 'Operation Neptune'. On 25 August 1944 at 1540, HMS Gleaner suffered extensive damage from a near miss mine whilst sweeping to westward of Cap d'Antifer in follow up operations. Her main engine was put out of action and she was taken in tow for repairs in the UK. Once repaired she was involved in sweeps in the area of Margate Roads. On 14 March 1945 she was rendered unseaworthy following a collision with a pilot ship which left her with a six foot hole at deck level.

The Gleaner remained with the 1st MSF until 2 September 1946 when she paid off into reserve at Falmouth. On 12 May 1950 she was transferred to the British Iron and Steel Corporation for breaking up.